2016 Chevrolet Malibu Preview

The 2016 Chevy Malibu is one of GM's most familiar nameplates, and in the modern era, it's been a family-car mainstay. But with the current Malibu, Chevy has a mid-size sedan that's subpar in a few ways--rear seat comfort, economy and styling. Chevy's watched while Fusions, Altimas, Legacys, and Accords have grabbed sales with looks, sky-high EPA...

LG G3 users on T-Mobile receive an update to Android Lollipop

In the United States, LG started rolling out Android 5.0 Lollipop for G3 owners on the Sprint and AT&T network since early February. And now, LG G3 owners on T-Mobile also received the firmware update. LG G3 owners on the T-Mobile network don't have to wait for an OTA update to Android Lollipop. The firmware is available via the LG Mobile Support Tool for a PC. With the LG Mobile Support Tool, all users need to do is connect the T-Mobile LG G3 to a PC or Mac to install the new update. The latter carries software version D85120b and build version LRX21Y. Android Lollipop brings Material Design with fluid animations, 3D views, and multi-colored themes to LG G3. A brand new ART runtime is also implemented. Source |...

Images of LG G4 in a protective case make the rounds

Images of the yet to be announced LG G4 wearing a protective case made the rounds online, courtesy of the manufacturer of mobile accessories Verus. The successor of LG G3 will make its official debut next month, on April 28. The case maker's images appear to fall in line with the recently leaked early press renders of LG G4. They showcase a slightly curved display, coupled with controls layout similar to the one found in LG G3. The actual cases are set to become available on April 30 - two days after the launch of LG G4. Rumored specifications of LG G4 include Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 with hexa-core CPU, 3GB of RAM, 32GB of storage, and 5.5" QHD display. There will be a 16MP main camera and 8MP front-facing snapper on board. Source...

2016 Scion iA Preview

For Toyota’s youth-oriented brand, Scion, the 2016 iA will be the badge’s first four-door sedan. It’s a generously sized subcompact, and prefaces two other small cars with which it will be closely related: new versions of the new Mazda 2 and Toyota Yaris that are due within a year. The iA has familiar proportions that don’t...

2016 Scion iM Preview

With the 2016 Scion iM, Toyota dealerships at last get a sporty compact hatchback to tangle—and tango—with the likes of the Ford Focus, Mazda 3, and Volkswagen Golf. Up until now, the only hatchback this size at Toyota and Scion dealerships was the somewhat homely, now-discontinued Matrix, a model that perhaps clung too closely to its...

2016 Cadillac CT6

Cadillac's upmarket shift hasn't gone as smoothly as it hoped. A universally praised redesign of the CTS moved it up in size and price, where sales have been tepid and customer-facing incentives have soared as high as a combined $10,000. Many have suggested it might have been better if the new mid-sizer didn't share its name with the formerly...

Huawei's mobile division wraps up 2014 with record revenue

Huawei released its audited annual report for 2014. The Chinese tech giant posted record revenue of $46.5 billion and net profit of $4.5 billion - up 20.6% and 32.7% respectively from the previous year. The company's Consumer Business Group which designs and manufactures smartphones and tablets saw its annual revenue grow by almost a third (32.6%) from 2013 to $12 billion. Healthy demand for the company's smartphones and tablets drove the revenue bump. The manufacturer invested $6.6 billion for research and development in 2014. That is 14.2% of Huawei's revenue and 29.4% more than in 2013. Overall, the company has spent a whopping $30.7 billion on R&D over the past decade. Huawei will likely continue growing throughout 2015. The company will launch its next flagship smartphone, the Huawei P8 on April 15. Source...

Sony outs Limited Edition Batman: Arkham Knight PlayStation 4

Sony took the wraps off a Limited Edition Batman: Arkham Knight PlayStation 4. The console is currently available for pre-order for $449.99. Batman: Arkham Knight gamers on PS4 will have access to bonus content, which includes custom skins and additional in-game missions. The additional content will be available when the game launches on June 23. [...]

Xiaomi gives the Mi4 a price reduction in China

Xiaomi gave the Mi4 smartphone a price reduction in China. From April 8 onwards, the popular high-end smartphone will cost 1,799 Yuan (about $290), down from 1,999 Yuan (about $322). A slightly lower end variant of the Xiaomi Mi4 with 2GB of RAM will cost 1,699 Yuan (about $274) in China. Previously, it was priced at 1,799 Yuan. Considering its new price tag, the Xiaomi Mi4 surely offers a lot of smartphone for the money. The smartphone features Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 chipset, 5" 1080p display, 13MP main camera, and 8MP front-facing unit. The new Xiaomi Mi4 pricing falls in line with the company's plans to boost its sales. The company plans to sell 100 million smartphones this year. Via...

Chromebit by Asus will turn your TV into a Chrome OS computer

Google announced the smallest member of the Chrome OS gang to date. Dubbed Chromebit, the Asus-made device is a tiny HDMI dongle, which turns any compatible display in to a Chrome OS computer.

Asus Zenfone 2 series hands-on: Second encounter

Asus announced the European expansion of its Zenfone 2 lineup on March 30 at a special press event held in Paris. The spotlight was shared between the Zenfone 2 lineup, the Transformer Book Chi hybrids...

Rumored Qualcomm Snapdragon 815 chipset doesn't exist

A couple of months ago we first heard a rumor talking about a purported Snapdragon 815 chipset from Qualcomm. This was supposed to carry ARM's big.LITTLE architecture, with an octa-core CPU, Adreno 450 GPU, LPDDR4 memory support, and a MDM9x55 built-in modem with Cat.10 LTE capabilities. The Snapdragon 815 was apparently going to be made using a 20nm process. There's only one problem with all of the above, it turns out. It's all fiction. At least this is what Qualcomm itself says, through the voice of Jon Carvill, the company's Senior Director of Public Relations. He spoke to Fudzilla and clearly stated that Qualcomm has no plans for a Snapdragon 815 SoC. In fact, the company's next top of the line mobile offering will be the Snapdragon 820, the successor to the Snapdragon 810. The Snapdragon 820 is expected to sample in the latter part of this year, while devices powered by it should be out either at the end of 2015 or at the beginning of 2016 - that is, if there won't be any delays. In the mobile chipset industry delays are nothing out of the ordinary, though, keep that in mind. The Snapdragon 820 will be built using a FinFET process, and it will be the first 64-bit SoC to come with a Qualcomm custom core, named Kyro. This will be based on ARMv8, but will be designed by Qualcomm. For comparison, note that the current king of Qualcomm chipsets, the Snapdragon 810, uses ARM-designed cores in a big.LITTLE...

Alcatel OneTouch Watch goes up for pre-order, yours for $149.99

Today Alcatel has officially started US pre-orders for its first smartwatch, the aptly named OneTouch Watch. The wearable was announced earlier this year, and it’s very affordably priced at $149.99.

Gold 64GB Galaxy S6 and S6 edge now on pre-order at T-Mobile

Both the Samsung Galaxy S6 and the Galaxy S6 edge are now available to pre-order from T-Mobile USA in gold, with 64GB of built-in storage space. T-Mobile started taking pre-orders for Samsung's latest top of the line smartphones on March 27, but up until today the magenta carrier only offered up the black and white color versions for them. The gold-colored handsets have been marked as "coming soon" during this period, but now they're finally up for grabs as well. If you pre-order a gold Galaxy S6 or S6 edge from Samsung today, you can expect delivery before April 10, which is the official release date for both models in the US. This is the same for all colors of the devices, with T-Mobile trying to send every pre-ordered unit out as soon as possible, maybe even before the launch day. For now the gold S6 and S6 edge are only offered with 64GB of storage, though we assume the entry-level 32GB iterations will soon be up for pre-order too, along with those coming with 128GB. As for pricing, for a 64GB Galaxy S6 you need to put down $99.99, then followed by 24 monthly payments of $27.50. For the S6 edge you put down $99.99, followed by 24 monthly installments of $31.66. Source 1 • Source 2 | Via 1 • Via...

Microsoft intros Surface 3 tablet starting at $499, running ‘full’ Windows 8.1

The Surface Pro 3 has been out for a while now, but it’s quite expensive for the mass-market. So Microsoft decided to unveil the Surface 3 tablet today (sans the “Pro”). This is basically the successor to the Windows RT-powered original Surface and Surface 2, but it no longer runs that little-used iteration of the [...]

Samsung Galaxy Alpha will get Lollipop alongside the Note II

Samsung's websites for Finland and Denmark are giving us some interesting information about which devices the company plans to bring Android Lollipop to next. As you may know, the Galaxy Note 4, Galaxy Note Edge, Galaxy Note 3, Galaxy S5, Galaxy S5 Active, and Galaxy S4 have already received the tasty treat, at least in certain regions. But what's next for Samsung? Well, it turns out the Korean company also plans to bring Lollipop to the Galaxy Note II, Galaxy Alpha, and Galaxy S5 Mini. We've already heard about Lollipop making it to the Galaxy S5 Mini, as well as the Galaxy Note II - but another official confirmation is good to have. This also marks the first time Samsung has said anything conclusive about the Galaxy Alpha with regard to the Lollipop update, so it's good news for owners of that model too. Rollouts for the S5 Mini, Alpha, and Note II are apparently scheduled to happen "later in 2015", and unfortunately no more specific details are available right now. Previously, Samsung's French arm said Q2 was the time frame for the Galaxy S5 Mini's Lollipop update, so maybe that's true for all three handsets. If so, you're looking at a maximum of three months of waiting, from this point on, for the new software. As for the Galaxy Note II, it's nice to see Samsung still care about a device that's two and a half years old. Thanks for sending this in, Aamer Siddiqui and Peter! Source 1 (in Finnish) • Source 2 (in Danish) |...

Oppo promotes its VOOC fast charging tech in a party aftermath video

It’s becoming increasingly clear that design trends, pushing for even thinner devices, are ferociously clashing with the slow advancements in battery technology. Learning to accept that, Oppo has been going down a different road, focusing on fast charging as the obvious compromise.

Meizu MX Supreme leaks again, Nokia connection still uncertain

Nokia is rumored to be in cahoots with Meizu to get back into mobile phones. According to the deal with Microsoft there can't be any new Nokia-branded phones until 2016, but the new device is known as the Meizu MX Supreme. Will that kind of loophole even work? We don't know and there's not much info about the phone itself other than the division of labor - Meizu will be making the device while Nokia designs the hardware and software. A photo leaked previously that focuses on the Home button - which may or may not house a fingerprint sensor. A new photo gives us a better look at the device, which looks fairly similar to the MX4 Pro. That phone has a 20.7MP camera with a large sensor and 2160p video capture, which will be well-suited for Nokia's camera know-how. If any of this is true, of course. At this point it's not even clear if this is set to be an Android or a Windows Phone device. Thank you for the link, Claudiu! Source |...

Xiaomi announces Mi Note Pink edition at $403

China-based Xiaomi announced a new Mi Note Pink edition in an exclusive packing for the ladies with penchant for pink gadgets. As part of the exclusive packaging, Xiaomi includes a 5,000 mAh power bank. That's the second special edition for the smartphone this month - earlier Xiaomi introduced the Mi Note Bamboo edition with rear panel made from natural bamboo. The limited edition Mi Note Pink has the same hardware as the regular version. It features 5.7-inch 1080p curved Gorilla Glass 3 display, powered by quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 mobile chipset, 3GB RAM, 16GB storage, 13MP OIS camera at the back, 4MP camera in the front, Wi-Fi a/b/g/n/ac and packs a non-removable 3,000 mAh battery. The 13MP rear camera can record 4K quality video while the front facing camera can support 1080p video calls. Xiaomi has also included the fast charging feature which boosts the battery to 60 percent in 30 minutes. However, the Mi Note does miss out on expandable storage, NFC, FM Radio and ships with Android 4.4 KitKat based MIUI. As of now, Xiaomi hasn't clarified the availability of the Mi Note Pink edition. Do check our Mi Note review to learn more about this large screen phone. Source...

Galaxy S6 and S6 edge may double the S5 pre-orders in the US

The popularity of the Galaxy S6 and S6 edge took even Samsung by surprise as the company is reportedly scrambling to build enough units. Pre-orders in Switzerland are said to be quadruple what the Galaxy S5 drew in. Now Korean media is reporting that the US market is seeing higher demand too - allegedly US carriers have seen double the pre-orders they did when launching the S5. The Galaxy S6 and S6 edge hit US carriers last Friday and are expected to ship on April 11. These numbers haven't been officially confirmed by Samsung or by the carriers, however analysts are predicting a total of 55 million sales globally this year. SK Telecom and KT will be pulling the launch two days forward as SK is in hot water with the KCC due to illegal subsidies to draw in consumers. Rival carrier KT was looking forward to some special Galaxy S6 promotion to draw in some of KT's customer base. Source (in Korean) |...

Gionee V381 Specs surface in benchmark scores

A new mid-range Gionee device is definitely in the works and has already made the rounds at both the Chinese certification authority TENAA and as a freshly leaked GFXBench result. The handset is duded Gionee V381 and from the looks of it is a mid-range offer, with a slightly odd specs sheet. The phone should be powered by a quad-core MediaTek MT6752 chipset, clocked at 1.3 GHz and a Mali-T760 GPU. This is not a particularly popular combination, but it should offer adequate mid-range performance. It is, however, not entirely new for the Chinese manufacturer and can be spotted in the upcoming Gionee Elife S7 as well. Diving further into the V381 specs sheet, we find that the phone will have only 1GB of RAM and 8GB of onboard storage, extendable via SD card. Cameras include a 12MP main shooter with BSI Sensor, LED Flash, Full HD 1080p video recording, or even 4k, depending on which information you trust and a 2MP model on the front, capable of 720p. Luckily, the phone will be 4G-enabled with LTE TDD 2300 MHz and LTE FDD 1800 MHz. All in all, the Gionee V381 is firmly settled in mid-range territory, by today's standards. There is still some controversy, surrounding its display. TENAA lists it as a 5.0-inch panel, while GFXBench says it's 4.6 inches with a quite disappointing resolution of 960x540 pixels, which would definitely be a bummer. So for now, the display remains a mystery. The single-SIM phone should measure 144.2 x 71.0 x 9.5 mm and weigh in at 180.4 grams and RUM Android 4.4.4 KitKat out-of-the-box. The battery in the unit will have a generous 4200mAh capacity and should provide a lot of juice, which mostly makes up for the fact that it will be non-removable. Information on connectivity and sensors is also present, so apart from the display, we have a pretty complete picture of the upcoming Gionee V381. Availability and pricing are still unclear. Source 1 | Source 2(in Chinese) |...

Xiaomi unveils 55″ 4K TV with soundbar and subwoofer

Two TVs in one week – Xiaomi unveiled a 55″ 4K TV for CNY 5,000 ($800/€750). That’s the biggest Xiaomi Mi TV yet, the previous models were 49″ and 40″. Interestingly, the new Mi TV comes with a 6.2 sound bar and wireless all-aluminum subwoofer included in the box. The Xiaomi Mi TV 55″ will [...]

Xiaomi Redmi 2A with Leadcore chipset announced for $97

Xiaomi has announced new Redmi 2A smartphone in China with an attractive $97 price tag. The Redmi 2A packs a mobile chipset from the company that Xiaomi acquired last year. The new Redmi 2A is the affordable version of the existing Redmi 2 which costs $112. . Redmi 2A features a 4.7-inch 720p display and is powered by a Leadcore L1860C chipset, which offers quad-core 1.5GHz CPU and Mali-T628MP2 GPU. It offers 8MP snapper at the back and a 2MP front camera. The smartphone comes with 4G LTE dual SIM dual standby support and it runs Android 5.0 Lollipop with MIUI on top. The Redmi 2A draws its power from a 2,200 mAh...

Samsung and LG will settle washing machine conflict outside court

As some of you surely remember, Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics have been involved in a rather colorful dispute over alleged vandalism. The story involved LG appliances chief Jo Seong-jin, who was accused of orchestrating the deliberate damaging of several high-end Samsung washing machines by LG employees at two retail stores in Germany last September.

YU Yureka to get a Lollipop update in first week of April

Micromax birthed YU Televentures has been taking direct shots with tongue-in-cheek references at Mi India as part of its online promotion for its next handset. In the meantime, the existing owners of the Yureka handset raised a query against the anticipated Lollipop update. YU support team's email response to many concluded that the Lollipop update for the Yureka can be expected in the first week of April. For Yureka, the Lollipop update would basically arrive packaged as the CyanogenMod 12S version. Apparently, the CyanogenMod 12S update has been delayed for all supporting devices. Even OnePlus missed it along with the deadline for OxygenOS. Thanks for the tip,...

Latest Windows 10 build bundles the new Project Spartan web browser

After wooing the Windows users with a free upgrade to Windows 10, even for those with pirated versions, it’s clear that Microsoft has a bigger game plan. While that plan unfolds slowly, the Redmond headquartered software giant is rolling out new Windows 10 Technical Preview builds to early testers.

Xiaomi Mi Pad 2 leaked in live images

A year is a long time in the contemporary mobile world and even if tablets could have it a bit easier than smartphones, a proper update can never hurt. In this particular case we're talking about the Xiaomi Mi Pad 7.9, which was announced back in March last year and is apparently due to be replaced soon. Clues on the matter can be taken from a few hot leaked images of what is allegedly going to be the Mi Pad 2. The supposed future tablet has borrowed design elements from the Mi Note/Mi Note Pro flagship phablet pair, resulting in more refined looks than the all-plastic predecessor. Actually, it's fair to say that it's a Mi Note, stretched to Mi Pad proportions, as the rumor has it it will pack a similar glass back and slightly curved front panel. Additionally, the overall layout of the front is similar, with a central earpiece and sensor arrangement, an offset front camera and a Mi logo. An also leaked machined metal frame promises solid build while keeping weight manageable. Now that earpiece hints at a 3G/LTE version as well, as opposed to the Wi-Fi only first-gen. The report claims that the new version will come with Android 5.0 out of the box, skinned with the company's home-brewed MIUI 6 overlay. Sadly, there are no specs to accompany the photos, and we also have no way of verifying any of this, but it looks credible enough to be the real thing. Also... don't take the stack of bills as a reference to the device price - CNY100,000 translates roughly to $16,000, not really in line with current market...

Latest WhatsApp for Android update brings voice calling to everyone

WhatsApp has included the voice calling update in the latest version of the Android app. The feature is available through the 2.12.19 update and for now has to be downloaded through the company’s website, although should soon be available through the Play Store as well.

Moto X now available in red Horween leather back

Motorola has introduced a new color option for the Moto X 2014. You can now choose the red color option for the Horween leather back on your phone through Moto Maker. The red joins the existing black, orange, brown, blue, and football red (for Verizon) options. The new color is available through the Moto Maker in the US, UK, France, Germany, and Mexico. It's priced the same at $25 as other leather options. Source •...

Upcoming Huawei P8 reveals its specs during a TENAA visit

The yet to be announced Huawei P8 revealed its specifications in a TENAA certification filing. The Chinese giant's next flagship smartphone is expected to make its official debut in a little over two weeks, on April 15. As expected, the TENAA filing reveals the specifications of the upcoming device. They include a 64-bit Kirin 930 chipset with octa-core CPU, 3GB of RAM, and 32GB of built-in memory, which can be further expanded via microSD card slot. A 5.2" 1080p display and 13MP main camera will also be part of the setup. The device will boot Android Lollipop. Huawei P8's TENAA images reveal an slim body with metal frame and ultra-thin bezels. The smartphone is expected to carry a sub-$500 price tag when it hits the shelves....

Spotify-powered PlayStation Music goes live for PS4, PS3

Back in January, after phasing out Music Unlimited for PlayStation, Sony announced a new music service called PlayStation Music in partnership with Spotify. Now Spotify music is available to Sony PlayStation users located in 41 different regions across the world. New and existing Spotify users who link their accounts will be eligible for a free [...]

The unveiling of LG G4 is officially set for April 28

LG G4 will make its official debut next month, on April 28. The Korean giant sent out save the date press invites for the unveiling of its next generation flagship smartphone. In a manner befitting a flagship smartphone, the LG G4 unveiling will be a truly global affair. It will take place in New York, London, Paris, Seoul, Singapore, and Istanbul. The official invite hints that the upcoming LG G4 will feature leather in its build. Past rumors have already suggested that the Korean manufacturer will focus on using premium materials in its next flagship. Rumored specifications of LG G4 include Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 with hexa-core CPU, 3GB of RAM, 32GB of storage, and 5.5" QHD display. There will be a 16MP main camera and 8MP front-facing snapper on...

Samsung outlines the differences between Galaxy S6 and S5 in an infographic

With the Galaxy S6 about to hit the retail shelves worldwide, Samsung released an infographic, which outlines the differences between the newcomer and its predecessor. The graphic will surely help SM-G900 owners decide if a jump to the newer SM-G920 is worth it. You can find everything about Samsung Galaxy S6 in our detailed review. [...]

MediaTek Helio is a new family of high-end mobile chipsets

The Taiwanese chipmaker MediaTek launched a brand new family of high-end mobile chipsets dubbed Helio. The new product lineup will take on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 series and Samsung's Exynos in the top end of the market. The MediaTek Helio X10 series will debut first. The 64-bit chipset will pack and octa-core setup with 2.2GHz Cortex-A53 cores. The newcomer offers support for 120Hz display refresh rates, as well as slow-motion video capture at 480fps. A Helio P-series will debut later this year. There is no word on what specs the product range will offer. The first smartphones with MediaTek Helio internals will debut in Q2. The latter officially kicks off in April, so we won't have to wait long to find out what MediaTek has been up to. Source |...

Verizon rolls out Android Lollipop update for LG G2

Android Lollipop update season is still upon us, and going strong by all accounts. The latest smartphone to be blessed with an upgrade that will make it run Lollipop is LG's G2. Specifically, Verizon's LG G2. The carrier nicknamed Big Red has already posted the update documentation (available here in PDF form), which means the new software should start rolling out today. As always, though, keep in mind that such rollouts are staged, so it might be a few days before you see the update reach your phone. In case you're impatient, you can always check for it manually by using the menu inside of Settings. After applying the update, you'll be running software version VS98039A. The new release updates LG's UI overlay to that employed by the G3, aside from bringing you all the things that Google changed in Lollipop. The new lock screen is in too, complete with notifications, and the Android buttons get a new design. Settings are searchable, and floating action buttons can be seen...

Your Google+ photos now show up in Google Drive

While not relaunched as a separate service (or at least not yet), as has been rumored for a long time now, Google+ Photos has received some neat integration with Google Drive today. In short, your Google+ Photos will now show up in a dedicated place in Google Drive.

iPhone 6C rear casing reportedly shown in leaked pictures

Last week we first heard about the prospect of Apple launching an iPhone 6C later this year, and today we already get a couple of images purportedly depicting its rear shell. The iPhone 6C is supposed to be the successor to the iPhone 5C (which didn't come last year at the unveiling of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus). Rumor has it that the iPhone 6C will become official alongside the iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus this fall. It's been alleged to come with a 4-inch touchscreen, just like the iPhone 5C, but with the A8 chipset employed by the iPhone 6. That said, the iPhone 6S should get an A9 SoC, so the 6C will be one generation behind in that regard (as was the 5C when it launched). The iPhone 6C is to have a Touch ID fingerprint sensor, as well as NFC support. In terms of design, little will be changed when comparing it to its predecessor. As you can see from the photos above, the body will be very colorful, and made out of plastic. It does however look like the 6C will get a dual-LED flash, as well as two distinct speaker grilles on the bottom. Hopefully you've had your standard-issue grain of salt nearby for all of this, as it's nothing but an unconfirmed rumor at this point. If the iPhone 6C does become reality, then expect it to be offered for free or $99 with a new two-year contract in the US. Thanks for the tip, Ashwin! Source | Via 1 (in French) • Via...

Gmail for Android update enables unified “All inboxes” view, smarter search

Today Google has announced a new update for its Gmail app for Android. This is supposedly already rolling out, so watch out for the new version (but keep in mind it might be a few days before it reaches you). The new Gmail for Android comes with a few new features, the most important of [...]

Sony Xperia Z4 gets benchmarked revealing specs

Earlier today we saw the LG G4 getting put through the paces of GFXBench, and thus having its most important specs revealed. And now it's apparently the turn of Sony's upcoming Xperia Z4. This device was spotted in the same benchmark's database, which is clearly a sign that someone at Sony is already busy testing it. And like all such benchmark results, this one too gives us a pretty complete list of specs for the device. The Xperia Z4 will sport Qualcomm's Snapdragon 810 chipset, unlike the aforementioned LG G4 which will apparently employ a Snapdragon 808. Sony's Z4 should also have a 5.1-inch 1080p touchscreen, 3GB of RAM, 32GB of built-in storage, a 20 MP rear camera with LED flash, a 5 MP front snapper, Bluetooth, GPS, NFC, and Wi-Fi. It currently runs Android 5.0.2 Lollipop. All of this information comes from the GFXBench data for the Sony E6553, which we assume to be the Xperia Z4 because it would make sense given Sony's naming convention. The letter in the model number changes each year, so for 2014 it was D, and Sony's first flagship of last year (the Z2) had the model number D65xx, while the Z3 was D66xx. Since the Z4 will be the first (and possibly only) top of the line handset from the company this year, an E65xx designation seems extremely likely. Source | Via (in...

Asus launches Zenfone 2 in Europe, available tomorrow

Today Asus has finally made the Zenfone 2 official for Europe. After already having sold 10 million Zenfones, mostly in Asia (but also Brazil), and reaching sales levels of 1.5 million units per month, Asus thinks Europeans will be interested in the Zenfone 2 range as well. Three Zenfone 2 models will be up for grabs in France starting tomorrow. While we can assume more European countries will follow soon, Asus hasn't said anything specific. The 'flaghsip' version of the Zenfone 2, the one with the model number ZE551ML (pictured above), will be available for €299 for a limited time, after which the price will become €349. This is the model that sports 4GB of RAM, 32GB of built-in storage, and an Intel Atom Z3580 SoC, with a 2.3 GHz quad-core CPU, along with a 5.5-inch 1080p touchscreen, microSD card slot, 4G LTE support, a 13 MP rear camera with dual-LED flash, a 5 MP selfie shooter, and a 3,000 mAh battery. It runs Android 5.0 Lollipop with Asus ZenUI on top. Next up, there's the Zenfone 2 ZE550ML. This has the same screen size, but the resolution is just 720p, and the chipset is different too - in this case an Intel Atom Z3560 with a 1.8 GHz quad-core CPU. This model comes with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of expandable storage, and will cost €249. Finally, the lowest-end of the bunch is the Zenfone 2 ZE500CL, which is going to battle it out with the Moto Gs of the world. It's also the cheapest Zenfone 2, as you'd expect, at €179. For that amount of cash you get a smaller 5-inch 720p display, an 8 MP rear camera, a 2 MP front-facing unit, an Intel Atom Z2560 SoC with 1.6 GHz dual-core CPU, 2GB of RAM, 8GB of built-in storage, and a 2,500 mAh battery. Like its siblings, it too runs Android 5.0 Lollipop out of the box. While it does have LTE support, the ZE500CL tops out at Cat.3, which means theoretical peak download speeds of up to 100Mbps, whereas the 5.5-inch versions both enjoy Cat.4 LTE, going up to 150Mbps. Asus also announced three accessories for Europe. A 10,050 mAh power bank called ZenPower will retail for €39.99, a simple flip cover will go for €29.99, while a 'deluxe' flip cover will cost €39.99. If you aren't too sure about a Zenfone, Asus will apparently give you a two-month trial period, during which you can get your money back if you aren't satisfied. We assume there are some conditions for this offer, though they haven't been made public...

Samsung Galaxy S6 vs. HTC One M9: Dressed to kill

The last two generations of HTC One and Samsung Galaxy S were separated by the looks versus practicality debate. Samsung's revamped design erodes this difference, while HTC stepped up its camera game...

Entry-level Xiaomi smartphone to launch on April 8

Xiaomi is rumored to announce a new smartphone in the upcoming days, probably on March 31 and it could go on sale as early as April 8. The handset will cost CNY 499 or just €75. The specs of the device also leaked - it will pack with a 4.7" 720p display and will run on Leadcore LC1860 chip with a quad-core 1.6GHz Cortex-A7 processor, Mali-T628MP2 GPU and 1GB of RAM. The rest of the rumored specs include an 8MP rear and a 2MP front snappers, 8 gigs of expandable storage. Android 4.4 KitKat with MIUI will be in charge of operations. The Leadcore LC1860 chip comes with a built-in LTE modem, but we are not sure the entry-level Xiaomi phone will be LTE-enabled. Xiaomi is expected to unveil a new device(or devices) tomorrow, March 31 and we'll see if this one makes the cut. Source...

Creating and sharing themes for Samsung Galaxy S6 coming this April

The latest version of Samsung’s proprietary launcher – TouchWiz – finally introduced themes support. The Galaxy A series (A3, A5 and A7) were the first devices to feature TouchWiz themes, joined by the Galaxy Note 4 and the Galaxy S6 later on.

SK Telecom faces sales ban just as Galaxy S6 nears launch

Galaxy S launches seem to carry a curse for SK Telecom. Last year the Korea Communications Commission (KCC) imposed a ban on SK preventing sales for 45 days right around the time the Galaxy S5 was supposed to launch. Now that the Galaxy S6 launch date is nearing, KCC is imposing another ban. Pointing to illegal subsidies (as much as $450 for iPhone 6 subscribers), the KCC will ban the carrier from selling any phones and signing on new subscribers for 7 days. The telecom will also have to pay a fine of KRW 23.5 billion ($21.2 million). Both SK Telecom and Samsung are concerned how this ban will affect their businesses. It seems like the KCC hasn't settled on an exact day to enforce the ban. Samsung Galaxy S6 units are supposed to ship on April 10, so the ban may delay SK's launch. The other two major carriers, KT and LG U+, are unaffected by the ban and will be offering special...

LG G4 hits GFX Bench with Snapdragon 808 chipset

The LG G4 has appeared in the GFX Benchmark database, revealing the key specs. They are pretty close to what has been rumored so far, though the chipset is a surprise. The chipset reported features a hexa-core processor with Cortex-A57 cores plus an Adreno 418 GPU. That's certainly not the Snapdragon 810 found in the LG G Flex2. Instead it's the the Snapdragon 808 announced in April last year alongside the 810. The phone will come with Android 5.1 Lollipop, 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage (23GB user available). The LG G4 will have a 5.5" QHD screen, same as the current model, but will upgrade the camera to 16MP with 2160p video. The selfie camera has been bumped up to 8MP with nearly 2160p video (the numbers reported by the benchmark don't seem to match a standard resolution). Looking at the benchmark scores, the new GPU beats last year's Adreno 330 in the LG G3. Qualcomm said it should be 30% faster than the 330, but didn't compare it to the 420. Again, going by the benchmark scores, the Adreno 418 seems to be in the middle between those two GPUs. .jrGraphContainer { background: none !important; border-bottom: 1px solid #eee !important;} ul.jrGraph { left: 76px !important; } ul.jrGraphControls { padding: 0; margin-left: -10px !important; } JRGRAPH_EXPANDABLE_VERSION = false; GFX 3.0 Manhattan (1080p offscreen) Higher is better LG G Flex2 22 LG G4 (rumored) 14.9 LG G3 11 GFX 3.0 Manhattan (onscreen) Higher is better LG G Flex2 (1080p screen) 22 LG G4 (rumored, 2160p screen)) 9.4 LG G3 (2160p screen) 7.7 So it remains to be seen if two A57s and four A53s can beat for Krait 400 cores. At least they'll produce less heat than the Snapdragon 810 chipset. The LG G4 is rumored to arrive in April and we've already had a good look at its new, slightly curved design. There was some talk it will be demoted from its flagship position and going by the chipset this seems true, at least compared to the LG G Flex2. Source |...

Lollipop update rollout for the Sony Xperia Z range continues

Sony was neither quick, nor especially thorough with bringing the Android 5.0 update to its smartphone lineup. The rollout started only two weeks ago with a soak test in the Nordic and Baltic countries on the Xperia Z3 and Z3 Compact. It was later followed by the Z3 Tablet Compact and the Z2 generation, both smartphone and tablet. Newsflash from today, Sony is expanding the availability of the update "to further markets worldwide", although that's as specific as it gets and no road map has been released with countries and dates. Additionally, the Zperia Z2 and Z2 Tablet will receive the coveted update, starting next week. What was only a rumor last week, that the Xperia T2 Ultra will receive Lollipop, is being confirmed, so as it turns out Sony's policy to only update the flagship Z-series isn't all that strict. Even more surprisingly, the Xperia C3, a midrange phablet announced last summer, is also on the list for a planned upgrade, proving that the Japanese company may turn out to be more open-minded after all and actually listen to its customer base....

Samsung will unify the web browser app on its phones, tablets and TVs

While many Android vendors have switched to Chrome and the default and only web browser out of the box on their phones, Samsung maintains the heavily-customized Internet app. Tizen Indonesia has revealed that the app will be rebranded Samsung Browser and will be available on all Samsung platforms. For the next version, the company will [...]

Alleged image of LG G4 with a stylus spotted

LG has been working on the LG G4 as the successor of the G3 launched last year. The South Korean company is reportedly also developing a LG G4 Note to compete directly with the Samsung Galaxy Note 4. Few images of a mysterious LG device surfaced online last week and was attributed as the G4. But now a new image of the LG device with a stylus appeared and it appears to be picturing the same device. There's no way to estimate which device it was - G4, G4 Note or LG G4 Stylus. Last year, the company introduced the G3, G3 Stylus, and G3 Beat variants so it might repeat that feat this year. There's no official info pointing in any direction at this point so take it all with a grain of...

Asus Zenfone 3 to come with a fingerprint sensor

Fingerprint sensors are all the rage these days, and after Apple brought the feature back to prominence with the iPhone 5S, major manufacturers have been quick to jump on that bandwagon. Next in line is Asus, apparently, as evidenced by the words of no other than the company's CEO. At a press conference last week in Beijing for the launch of the current Zenfone 2 in China, Jerry Shen, commander in chief of the Taiwanese electronics manufacturer, was quoted as saying that the future Zenfone 3 will come equipped with a fingerprint reader of its own. Realizing that it's likely a whole year before that one comes to market, the company exec hinted that we may actually see the feature later this year in a facelift to the Zenfone 2. Now there are those who may frown upon the possibility of making payments with their smartphone, secure as it might be. However, other daily tasks can undoubtedly benefit from the tech, like safer and quicker unlocking, securing folders or even logging in websites. We're only left to hope that Asus has learned from Samsung's experience and brings a working implementation of the otherwise nifty feature. The Korean company's first-gen sensor in the Galaxy S5 and Galaxy Note 4 was much too picky but that was finally addressed in the Galaxy S6, bringing it up to par with the Apple solution. Source (in Chinese) |...

Samsung Galaxy S6 edge survives over 20 minutes under water

Samsung didn't waterproof the new Galaxy S6 and S6 edge like it did with their predecessor. So, what happens if you drop your Galaxy S6 edge in water? TechSmartt decided to find out and dunked the an S6 edge into a bowl of water with the stopwatch running. The phone lasted over 20 minutes before powering off. That's a lot more than can be expected from a phone with no official water resistance rating, but it was not without taking some damage. After some drying and charging the Galaxy S6 edge came back to life, though there was still water in the device (visible in the front-facing camera. The phone also tended to reboot or even not boot at all after the experiment. So, definitely don't go put your Galaxy S6/S6 edge in water on purpose, though it looks like it has a good chance of surviving an accidental drop if you pull it out quickly and dry it properly. Note that depths plays a part, an IPX7 rating for example specifies up to 1m of water. Source |...

HTC One E9 press renders leak, announcement imminent

HTC One E9 and One E9+ have been in our rumor section for quite some time. We recently learned that the HTC A55 we thought is the One E9 is actually the One E9+ and it was quietly revealed by HTC China ahead of its debut on April 8 in Beijing. HTC One E9+ is powered by a 64-bit MediaTek MT6795M chipset with octa-core CPU, 2GB RAM, and 16GB of expandable storage. It features a 13 MP camera at the back and 4MP UltraPixel camera at the front. Now, back to the HTC One E9. It is rumored to pack a lower resolution display and camera - it should feature a 5.0" or 5.5" 1080p display and a 13MP rear camera. Previous rumors suggest a Snapdragon 810 chip instead of MediaTek, but this is yet to be confirmed. Today we got some leaked press renders of the HTC One E9 for you, courtesy of @upleaks. The device looks identical to the HTC One E9+ though this is hardly a surprise - a big display at front, stereo BoomSound speakers and a plastic rear panel. HTC One E9 The One E9 and One E9+ are rumored to hit different markets this spring. Hopefully we'll know more on April 8, when at least one of them will be officially detailed. Source |...

LG UK teases LG Watch Urbane with new promo video

LG already launched the Watch Urbane LTE in in South Korea, now the spotlight is shifting to its non-LTE sibling. LG UK posted a short video of the LG Watch Urbane on its YouTube channel, meaning it’s coming soon, though the video doesn’t give an exact date.

HTC Butterfly 3 to allegedly be exclusive to the Asian markets

Perhaps unsurprisingly so, the upcoming HTC Butterfly 3 is said to be exclusive to the Asian markets. This information comes from the upleaks Twitter account. BUTTERFLY3(B3) will be exclusive to Asian markets.— @upleaks (@upleaks) March 30, 2015 The Butterfly series has mostly been intended for the Asian markets, with both the previous phones launching in Asia first and then had a limited release elsewhere. The Butterfly 3, too, is said to launch in Japan first but will then likely be available in some other markets, such as India. If you're outside Asia, however, you likely won't see that phone in official form but HTC might have some similar variant for...

Grab the Lumia 530 in Australia for AUD29 starting April 2

Those living in Australia can benefit from a great Lumia 530 deal. Local retailer Big W is holding a promo of the device and sells it for AUD29.

HTC One (M7) receiving Lollipop OTA in India, Singapore, Malaysia

HTC has started rolling out the Android 5.0 Lollipop update for its 2013 One flagship device - One (M7) in India, Singapore, Malaysia, and other regions. The Taiwanese company finally is reaching out with the OTA to several regions for the two year old handset. The One (M7) gets the Lollipop OTA packaged in a build version 7.21.707.105 measuring 774.82MB for India. The build will have different version number for each region but will be more or less around 800MB. The new Lollipop update packs the new Lock screen and notification user interface with improved privacy features. The Recent apps menu will support multiple pages and removes the current limit. This update is same as the one that was rolled out for Europe last month. We recommend to download the Lollipop OTA on Wi-Fi network and let us know if you find something interesting with the update. Thanks for the tip - Akshay and Harsh...

LG Spirit quietly listed on company's India website for $228

LG has just announced the global rollout of its new mid-range devices and now one of them has already gone live for the Indian market. The South Korean company's India website has listed the Spirit for INR14,250 ($228). The Spirit follows the rear-mounted power and volume buttons design, which started with the LG G2. The all new LG Spirit, with model number LG-H422, boasts of a curved design and features a 4.7-inch 720p display. It houses a quad-core 1.3GHz mobile chipset with 1GB RAM and packs 8GB storage, which can be expanded with up to 32GB microSD card. Flaunting an 8MP rear camera with LED flash and auto focus, it boasts fancy features, such as Gesture Shot. The 1MP front facing camera can deliver selfies ideal for social networks. By default, it runs Android 5.0.1 Lollipop wrapped in LG UI and supports dual-SIM configuration with smart forwarding option. Knock Code feature for security has been integrated and a 2,100 mAh battery powers the handset. #twitter-widget-0 {width: 590px !important;} NEW launch " #LG Spirit" (LG H-422) Rs.13690/- Key specifications: ✨Gently Curve design... http://t.co/NuwjyGVRzY http://ift.tt/1DbWQOr Manish Khatri (@MAHESHTELECOM) March 29, 2015 Though the official MRP of Spirit is INR14,250 ($228), an Indian retailer has revealed its best price at INR13,690...

Leaked documents suggest Apple Watch will not be sold to walk-in customers at launch

Just a few weeks before the launch of Apple Watch, documents have been leaked detailing how Apple will handle the sales of the wearable. As per the documents, that were obtained by MacRumours, the Cupertino-based company will not be selling the device to walk-in customers at launch.

Samsung Z1 gets another OTA update

Samsung's Tizen-based Z1 smartphone, which went on sale in India back in January this year, has received another over-the-air (OTA) update. Sized at 26.9MB, the update has build number Z130HDDU0BOC7 and brings Tizen to version 2.3.0.1. Given the size of the update as well as the fact that there is no change log available for it, it's safe to assume that it is primarily a bug-fix or performance update. However, there have been reports that the update has brought along the ability to download Asphalt 8 game updates using cellular data - it was previously restricted to WiFi...

LG announces global rollout of Magna, Spirit, Leon, and Joy

LG's latest mid-range smartphone quartet went official in mid-February, just before MWC 2015. The South Korean company has now announced the global rollout of its mid-rangers - Magna, Spirit, Leon, and Joy. Out of the four, only Magna, Spirit, and Leon will be available in 3G or LTE variants. Metallic back covers are used to distinguish the LTE models. The hero of the quartet is LG Magna with 5" 720p display, 1GB RAM, 8GB ROM, 8MP rear camera, 5MP front camera, Android 5.0 Lollipop with LG UI, and 2,540 mAh battery. It packs 1.3GHz quad-core CPU and 21Mbps HSPA+ network connectivity. The LTE variant boasts a 1.2GHz quad-core CPU with Cat. 4 LTE. LG Spirit bears similar set of hardware as Magna with minor differences like a 4.7" 720p display and a 2,100 mAh battery. Select markets will get Spirit with 5MP rear camera and 1MP front camera. The Leon packs same SoC options and network chips for 3G or LTE models. It offers 4.5" FWVGA display and a VGA front camera. A 3G variant will feature 1GB or 768MB RAM, 8GB or 4GB storage and 8MP or 5MP rear camera options. The LTE variant features 1GB RAM, 8GB storage, and 5MP rear camera. A 1,900 mAh battery powers these versions. The entry-level Joy will ship with Android 4.4 KitKat, 4" WVGA display , and 11.9 mm thickness. A dual-core CPU is packed in this device along with 512MB RAM, and 4GB storage. At rear it packs 5MP fixed focus camera and VGA camera in the front. It has the same 1,900 mAh battery as the LG...

Halo 5 is coming to Xbox One this fall, on October 27

Halo 5 is coming to Xbox One this fall. Microsoft announced the arrival of the hotly anticipated video game via the official Xbox Twitter feed.

Android 5.1 might bring new TouchWiz to Galaxy Note 4

According to a new report, an update to Android 5.1 Lollipop will bring updated TouchWiz UX to Samsung Galaxy Note 4. The latest TouchWiz debuted alongside Samsung Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge. Most global versions of the Korean giant's flagship phablet are currently running Android 5.0.2. Should it arrive alongside Android 5.1, the new user interface will surely be a welcome addition to the Galaxy Note 4. Unsurprisingly, Samsung Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge will be the first to receive Android 5.1. There is no timeline on the update for the Note 4. You can find out all about the latest TouchWiz UX by Samsung in our Galaxy S6 review. Source...

Likely Nvidia Shield Portable successor gets Bluetooth and Wi-Fi certification

It looks like the Nvidia Shield Portable gaming console is about to get a replacement. The likely successor of the device appeared in Bluetooth and Wi-Fi certification filings.

Apple Watch Edition buyers will have access to a number of special perks

According to report in 9to5Mac, buyers of the $10,000 and up Apple Watch Edition will be treated to e number of perks. The special treatment for the big spenders will begin with no waiting in line when they are buying the watch or need help with it.

2016 Mazda CX-5

The Mazda CX-5 scores big points with the editors at The Car Connection, and a quick look and a short drive are enough to explain why. It's smart-looking, handles well, and is stocked with plenty of features. It's also right-sized for the kind of drivers it appeals to, and on top of all that, it's one of the safest vehicles in its segment...

HTC One E9+ (A55) appears on the company's website in China

After a number of rumours and leaks, HTC quietly listed the One E9+ smartphone on its website in China. The Taiwanese manufacturer has not mentioned a launch date or price for the new handset yet. The actual specifications of HTC One E9+ are close to the previously rumored ones. The handset features a 5.5" Quad HD display with 534 ppi pixel density - the sharpest screen to appear on an HTC phone to date. Oddly, the specifications page lists the display as having 1080p resolution. HTC One E9+ is powered by a 64-bit MediaTek MT6795M chipset with octa-core CPU, 2GB RAM, and 16GB of expandable storag. It features a 13 MP camera at the back and 4MP UltraPixel camera in the front. Featuring a dual nano-SIM configuration, the smartphone will support both FDD-LTE and TD-LTE network bands. Other features include dual-band Wi-Fi a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 4.1, NFC, and dual front speakers. Weighing 150 grams, the smartphone includes a 2,800 mAh battery. By default it will run Android Lollipop, dressed in HTC Sense 7 UI. The One E9+ will be offered in meteor grey, gold sepia, and classic rose gold two-tone colour options. Source |...

Counterclockwise: HTC Dream, Galaxy S, Xperia

Counterclockwise is a weekly write-up that looks back on the history of mobile devices, concentrating on the current time of the year - late March in this case. This time around we got caught up tracking the launches of the flagship Android phones by HTC, Samsung, Sony and LG, but there was also enough time for a couple of curiosities. Game of Phones HTC made the first Android phone in partnership with a US carrier, the T-Mobile G1. The HTC-branded device was known as the Dream and in late March 2009 it was arriving in Europe. Looking through the archives we see that late march has seen some bitter rivalry between Android flagships. A year later to the day Samsung unveiled the I9000, aka Galaxy S. From the humble beginnings, Android flagships were getting quite sophisticated with large, sharp displays and HD cameras. The Galaxy S was not alone though, the Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 hit the shelves just a couple of days after Samsung made its announcement. As for HTC, it was still working close with Google. The HTC Desire was arriving in T-Mobile UK stores alongside the Xperia X10. The Desire was the HTC base for the Nexus One. A couple of years in, Android already had its biggest players vying for consumer attention. A year later LG was pushing for dominance with the LG Optimus 2X, the first dual-core Android and first phone with 1080p video recording. This was a year before the Optimus G, which took the Nexus line away from Samsung, which had snatched it away from HTC. Samsung's first Nexus device, the Nexus S, was based on the original Galaxy S and came out soon after it in late 2010. The next installment was only loosely based on the Galaxy S II and was dubbed Galaxy Nexus. Anyway, the Galaxy S II itself was close to launch in March 2011 and one unit was already previewed. Samsung Galaxy S II HTC wasn't taking the Nexus coup laying down. The HTC Pyramid was going around the rumor mill, the device to become the Sensation. HTC couldn't decide on a name for its flagship line - Magic, Desire, Sensation, but it finally settled on One. A year later the HTC One X was nearing launch and impressed with benchmarks of its two Krait cores. That was the AT&T model though, the international version was going to use the latest Tegra, the chipset line that also powered LG's Optimus 4X. The latest S flagship was close too, the Samsung Galaxy S III had leaked though the image and specs proved inaccurate. Anyway, it did come with a quad-core processor as did the international One X. Sony was ahead in that it was already shipping the Xperia S, but the phone was a bit behind the curve. It had a dual-core processor - a Snapdragon chipset, but pre-Krait. While a dual-core Krait could put up a fight against a quad-core Cortex-A9 in a Galaxy S III or a One X, the Scorpion didn't cut it. Also, the 4.3" 720p screen of the Xperia S while sharp was smaller than its opponents. Big screens is a trend that is still defining the mobile market. A year later Sony had unveiled the Xperia Z line, including the Xperia ZL. That generation was catching up and had a quad-core Krait processor and a large screen (5" 1080p). Samsung had also switched to Snapdragon after the mostly Exynos-powered S III generation. The 70% of Galaxy S4 units would be powered by Snapdragon 600 (the latest Qualcomm chipset at the time, the Xperia Z/ZL were a generation behind). HTC still wasn't 100% happy with its flagship name and decided to drop the letter. So, the HTC One it is. Or will be anyway, as the launch got pushed back from March 2013 to late April except for several markets. Android's March madness as Samsung was launching the Galaxy S5 across the world. HTC had reconsidered the letter thing and added brackets for good measure as the HTC One (M8) launched with a dual-camera. Sony got out of lockstep as after the Xperia Z/ZL generation it started a "two flagships a year" strategy. It seems like it abandoned it after the Xperia Z3 launch late last year though. LG also took itself out of the yearly year rush and launched the LG G2 and LG G3 later than its competition, but brought better specs in a bid for the top. This March saw the latest Galaxy S and HTC One launch, we're still waiting for Sony's and LG's devices. Double down on storage Before smartphones, most phones didn't...

Samsung Galaxy S6 edge survives a brutal drop test video

Samsung brags about the Corning Gorilla Glass 4 panels used for the Galaxy S6 edge and it might have a good reason for that. Both the back and the dual-curved 5.1-inch Super AMOLED display have protected by Corning's latest. A Korean video demonstrated the true strength of the glass panels used in Galaxy S6 edge through a brutal drop test. In the video, the woman first shows the display working normally and then slams the phone three times on the floor. The result was rather impressive with the phone sustaining next to no damage. That's hardly a scientific approach to testing the toughness, but it should certainly give Galaxy S6 owners some extra piece of mind - even if they do drop their new and expensive phone, chances are it won't mind too much. Thanks for the...

Sennheiser Momentum In-Ear Review

The Momentum is Sennheiser’s series of premium portable headphones for the fashion-conscious crowd. While there is an undeniable whiff of Beats envy in the series, as that’s pretty much the same target audience that Beats caters to, being Sennheiser, the Momentum products didn’t at least sound terrible. The earphones also come with four different silicon [...]

The Top 10 trending phones of week 13

The Samsung Galaxy S6 is on top of our weekly trending phones chart yet again, and leads by a country mile. A good 100k hits per day behind, the affordable and hugely popular Galaxy Grand Prime takes the second, inches ahead of another offering by the Korean giant, the Galaxy A7. The Top 10 trending phones chart is a recap list of the devices that gathered the most hits throughout the week. In other words, the chart represents the interests of the majority of you, our visitors, and is an indication of what currently interests you. It's not all Samsung, but the highest placed contender from a different brand, the Asus Zenfone 5, is in sixth place. The Lenovo A6000 is climbing up the ranks and after it entered the chart in tenth spot last week, we now see it in lucky seventh. The HTC One M9 doesn't get much fan love, and is following a downward trend which finds it in ninth spot this week. The iPhone 6 rounds off the chart in 10th position, waiting for better times. .news-item .n-left { float: left; width: 26%; text-align: center; } .news-item .n-right { float: left; width: 74%; } .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; font: 400 19px Oswald, Arial; margin-top: -4px; } .n-right p { margin-top: 25px; line-height: 155%; } .news-item { padding-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 10px; border-top: 1px solid #ccc; } .news-item p { margin-left: 0; } .n-right h2 .phone-name { display: inline-block; width: 252px; 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 Oswald,Arial !important; //font-family: sans-serif; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-size: 150%; //background: #0CADA7; 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: "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; } Samsung Galaxy S6 RANK: 1WAS: 1 specs review Samsung Galaxy Grand Prime RANK: 2WAS: 4 specs review Samsung Galaxy A7 RANK: 3WAS: 2 specs review Samsung Galaxy A5 RANK: 4WAS: 3 specs review Samsung Galaxy E7 RANK: 5WAS: 9 specs gallery Asus Zenfone 5 RANK: 6WAS: 6 specs review Lenovo A6000 RANK: 7WAS: 10 specs gallery Samsung Galaxy S5 RANK: 8WAS: 5 specs review HTC One M9 RANK: 9WAS: 8 specs review Apple iPhone 6 RANK: 10WAS: 7 specs...

2015 Maserati Quattroporte

After being reborn for the 2014 model year, Maserati's big sedan is back with a handful of updates. The Quattroporte continues as the brand's top four-door, now accompanied by the smaller, related Ghibli. It's as stylish as ever and offers luxury and performance in equal doses with a choice of modern twin-turbo engines. Up close, the latest...

Weekly poll: HTC One M9 Hot or Not?

The One M9 had to endure many jokes on the subject, still we un-ironically ask – HTC One M9, Hot or Not? HTC has polished its acclaimed design and leaped forward in the camera department with a 20MP/2160p shooter, while keeping what we love most about the One family – metal unibody and stereo speakers.

Week 13 in review: bezelless Oppo and launches in India

Another week passed and it is one again time to look back and see what excited the mobile world during the past few days. Oppo has been generating a lot of attention with its new bezelless screen technology. It started up slow with a leaked schematic of the new technology and, what is essentially an optical illusion looked like a really good way to have an edge-to-edge screen on the cheap. The technology seems to be really close to production, especially after a video was leaked, showcasing a working Oppo phone. The device is most likely going to be dubbed Oppo R7 and it shouldn't be too long until it hits consumer markets. So we have the new bezelless technology to look forward to. India had a huge presence in the news section during the week. A few devices, like the highly-anticipated Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 edge, as well as the Huawei Honor 4X, 6 Plus made their debut in the growing market. And a few other handsets were rumored to hit retail stores in the region pretty soon, like the Lenovo A6000, Lumia 640 and 640 XL. A few upcoming smartphones were also spotted and rumored this week, like the Lenovo K3 Note, a new budget Xiaomi device, a mid-ranger Xiaomi phone dubbed Ferrari, form the same manufacturer as well as the Meizu MX Supreme. Rumors have also been plentiful about a few of the more-popular, upcoming flagship devices, like the LG G4, which was allegedly showcased in a few live photos. The Huawei P8 also made an appearance and so did the HTC One M9+ and One E9. A new, third generation, Moto X (2015) should debut pretty soon as well. If you think you might have missed something from the busy week, here is a list of our most popular stories. .news-item .n-left { float: left; width: 16%; text-align: center; margin-left: -13px; } .news-item .n-right { float: left; width: 84%; } .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; font: 400 19px Oswald, Arial; margin-top: -4px; } .n-right p { line-height: 155%; } .news-item { padding-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 10px; border-top: 1px solid #ccc; } .news-item p { margin-left: 0; } .n-right h2 a { text-decoration: none; color: #000; } Leaked video shows the bezelless OPPO R7 in action The Oppo R7 has almost no bezels at the sides and expected to be as slim as R5. Android 5.1 rolling out to Micromax Canvas A1 in India The latest version of Google's OS is available via an OTA update for the Android One device. Lenovo A6000 to go on open sale in India from March 23 to 25 The Chinese company has been only conducting flash sales of the budget smartphone till now. Samsung Galaxy S6, S6 edge launched in India Free screen replacement till a year and benefit points for the early buyers of the S6 and S6 edge. Xiaomi to launch a new budget model, will cost more than $65 An alleged spy photo of the new budget phone reveals its similar looks to the Redmi 2. Lenovo K3 Note is a new 5.5-inch midranger for $145 The FullHD phablet packs a 64-bit chipset and 2GB of RAM, puts the Meizu m1 note in its crosshairs. Asus Zenfone 2 arrives in China, only the 5.5-inch models There are three versions of the 5.5" 1080p version of the Zenfone 2 with different RAM, storage and CPU. Xiaomi's handset dubbed Ferrari leaks with FullHD screen, Lollipop Loaded with Snapdragon 615 SoC, 2 GB RAM, the smartphone runs Android 5.0 Lollipop-based MIUI. LG G4 will reportedly not feature a metal body The Korean manufacturer is still expected to launch a smartphone with metal body this year. Apple planning to release three new iPhones later this year Industry sources have stated that the Cupertino company will out an iPhone 6S, 6S Plus and a 6C model. Alleged HTC One M9 Plus mockup reveals its design The image compares the M9 Plus to the regular HTC One M9 and is said to be based on a device...

Xiaomi outs upgraded Piston in-ear headphones

Xiaomi took the wraps off the third generation of its popular Piston in-ear headphones. The new headset features updated design, build quality, and sound signature. In the sound department, the new Piston headphones offer “Spiral Pipe” sound chamber for better bass performance. The microphone is a small interference, low distortion unit for better call quality. [...]

T-Mobile's Galaxy S6, S6 Edge gets first OTA update

Samsung's new Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge are yet to go on sale, but those lucky enough to get their units a few days in advance are already been treated to their first firmware update. To enhance that experience, Samsung has pushed an OTA update for the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge owners on T-Mobile. The update weighs 178.67 MB and packs mostly stability improvements and under the hood performance tweaks. There is a brief mention of new and/or enhanced features but the exact features have not been listed in the changelog. We presume all Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge devices will get this OTA update once the smartphones hit the...