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Tuesday

LG teases Wine Smart, a flip smartphone


Smart flip phones are odd ducks, an attempt to rekindle the nearly extinct form factor. They never get much attention but LG will be introducing a specimen soon - the LG Wine Smart. Wine is a series of flip phones available in the US, Canada but also in South Korea and Japan. There's a dedicated website - lgwinesmart-event.com - for the new device and it's entirely in Korean, so chances of western availability are slim. Everything else about the phone is unknown though, not even what OS it will be running. The teaser image shows a glowing button and the Korean text refers to a special button but with nothing on its function. The dates suggest the LG Wine Smart will be introduced this week so we'll be on the lookout for more details. Note that we've brightened the original image to make it easier to see. Source (in...





2015 Acura MDX

When heading off-road isn't at all a priority, but you want a utility vehicle that's luxurious and enjoyable, but also practical and sensible, the 2015 Acura MDX should land near the top of the list. The MDX has evolved over the last decade into a responsive, sharp-looking SUV that doesn't make many compromises–especially if...


2015 BMW 3-Series

The lineup of 2015 BMW 3-Series models is looking quite different than it did just a couple of years ago. Yes, coupes and convertibles have flown the coop (they're now called the 4-Series); but with the introduction of new Gran Turismo (3GT) hatchback models to the lineup, as well as a Sports Wagon -- plus many under-the-hood choices...


2015 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport

The 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport actually shares very little in common with its larger namesake, the Outlander. Instead, it focuses on urbanites with limited space and tighter budgets. It's a better vehicle for those who don't necessarily need a third row of seats or a vehicle large enough to create the occasional parking challenge...


Monday

Moto X (2014) review: Have it your way


The new Moto X arrived exactly a year after its predecessor brought us customizable looks, wrapped in a sleek body, proudly wearing the "Made in USA" label. The new flagship of the company is likely one of the last Motorola products developed during...





Voice over LTE launches at Verizon, native video calls too


Today Verizon has turned on VoLTE (Voice over LTE) functionality across its network in the United States. This means you'll be able to make voice calls over Big Red's 4G network too, as up until now you would have been bumped onto its 3G network for this purpose (LTE was data-only). This move will enable crystal clear HD quality voice calls, six-way conference calls, and even support for native video calling. This works without using an app - like 3G native video calls, if anyone remembers those. You can switch from a video call to an HD voice call and back with one tap. There are some caveats for all this, as you might expect. The VoLTE functionality is currently only available to you if you have a supported device. The list of those is pretty small right now, including only the LG G2 and Samsung Galaxy S5. That said, software updates enabling VoLTE will probably be issued for other smartphones soon. In the first batch of those we could see the LG G3, since the carrier has used it in some promotional images for the new service. The final, and possibly most important caveat is that HD voice calls don't work across carriers yet. So the higher quality audio will only kick in if you're calling another Verizon customer who has a supported phone. Clearly then, this technology deployment is in its early days, but in a few years we'll all probably wonder how we ever survived without VoLTE. Source 1 • Source 2 |...





Samsung Galaxy Note 4 has the best display as per DisplayMate


DisplayMate, a renowned company specializing in display tests, has praised the Galaxy Note 4's AMOLED in a detailed review. The 5.7" 2560 x 1440 pixel display of the Note 4 packs a pixel density of 518ppi, but that's not its only feature as Samsung has also worked a lot on evolving the quality of its OLEDs. The review is based on quite a lot of technically-oriented tests and its verdict is that the Note 4's display is currently the best in the market. It is better than the AMOLED on the Galaxy S5 and Galaxy Tab S. AMOLEDs have the reputation for being oversaturated and generally not accurate with colors. Not the one on the Galaxy Note 4 though, as under its Basic screen mode, it has the most accurate colors for the sRGB/Rec.709 spec of all smartphones and tablets the company has tested. The phone's Photo Mode bumps the screens compatibility to display the Adobe RGB gamut, which is 17% larger than the sRGB/Rec.709 standard. Viewed at an angle, Note 4's display suffers minor, 19% decrease in brightness and small white point color shift. As to be expected, the primary color shifts are at their worse at 30 degrees, but with a rating of 6.6 JNCD, it is rated at very good. The screen impresses when it comes to screen reflectivity, too. The average screen reflection with light from all directions is just 4.8%. The best value DisplayMate have ever measures for a smartphone is 4.4%, which is impressive. Finally, the Galaxy Note 4's screen was found to be 14% more power efficient than its predecessor's and is as much as 40% less power hungry than 1080p panels used by the HTC One and Sony Xperia Z2. You can check out the full display review by following the link...





Selfie-obsessed Samsung Galaxy Grand Prime leaks


The selfie is easily the most popular genre of photo these days and Samsung may try to capitalize on that market with the Galaxy Grand Prime. Photos of the handset reveal its front-facing camera boasts 5MP resolution, a sizeable improvement over the 2MP shooters of previous Grands. The unofficial info about the Samsung Galaxy Grand Prime also reveals an 8MP main camera with 1080p video capture. The phone will be powered by a Snapdragon 400 chipset with 1GB RAM, running Android 4.4 KitKat. So far, so Galaxy Grand 2. Samsung Galaxy Grand Prime in the wild The new model will have a different screen though - 5" big but with qHD resolution. That's a bit of downgrade compared to the 5.25" 720p screen of the Galaxy Grand 2 but a slight improvement over the 5" WVGA of the first-gen Grand. Like other Grands, the Galaxy Grand Prime will be a dual-SIM device with 3G connectivity (HSPA going up to 42Mbps down, 5.76Mbps up). Other connectivity includes dual-band Wi-Fi a/b/g/n and Bluetooth 4.0. There's also 8GB of built-in storage expandable via microSD card slots. This info comes from Vietnam where the Galaxy Grand Prime is expected to arrive in October. This is Samsung's first phone with a high-res front-facing camera but the competition will be waiting for it - the bigger Sony Xperia C3 Dual is already available and the Nokia Lumia 730 Dual SIM should arrive by then too. Thanks for the tip, Nguyen! Source 1 • Source 2 (in...





Panasonic intros expensive Android phone with 1" camera


Panasonic gave up trying to make a name for itself selling smartphones in developed markets a while back, after the failure of its Eluga-branded devices. But now the company seems to want back in. Today at Photokina 2014 it introduced the Lumix Smart Camera CM1. This is, depending on how you want to look at things, either a smartphone with a great camera strapped to it, or the other way round. Certainly though, it will be the one real competitor for Samsung's Galaxy K Zoom. Like that device, the Lumix Smart Camera runs Android. It even comes with some very decent hardware innards, but undoubtedly its main attraction will be the camera. Panasonic has managed to cram a 1-inch sensor into it, which is extremely big for a smartphone, yet on par with high-end compact standalone cameras. In the Lumix Smart Camera CM1, the sensor comes with 20 MP resolution, and an f/2.8 Leica lens. It can record 4K video, though only at 15fps. 1080p videos are recorded at 30fps. As you may have imagined, the high-spec camera does take a toll on the device's dimensions. The CM1 is 21.1mm thick, and it weighs 204g. It's also got a 4.7-inch 1080p touchscreen, 16GB of built-in storage, a microSD card slot, 2GB of RAM, LTE (Cat.4, up to 150Mbps theoretical peak download speed), Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, NFC, and a 2,600 mAh battery. The Smart Camera is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 chipset, with a 2.3 GHz quad-core CPU. It runs Android 4.4 KitKat. This device will definitely not appeal to the mass-market. It's due to be out in November in France and Germany, and it will retail for €899 (that's around $1,163 at the current exchange rates). Plans to make it available in other markets haven't been announced yet, as Panasonic may want to see how well the Smart Camera CM1 is received in the aforementioned two countries before taking it elsewhere. Source (in...





2015 Mercedes-Benz G Class

The 2015 Mercedes-Benz G-Class has come far--very far--from its roots as a utilitarian vehicle for soldiers. Dating back several decades, it's now so archaic and old-fashioned that it's hopelessly hip (though hardly hipster)—a ridiculous anachronism that gets a smile form whoever's driving it, even if onlookers don't quite get...


Apple iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus pre-orders exceed 4 million in 24h


Apple unleashed the pre-order campaign for the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus on September 12 and now the company boasts four million orders have been made in the first 24 hours. The demand is more than Apple anticipated and as a result, while many people will receive their phones in September as promised, a large number of orders will be delayed to October. This is a new record for the company, as pre-orders for the iPhone 5s and 5c last year were estimated at around 2.2 million. The iPhone 5's pre-orders reached at 2 million units for the first day of its availability. On September 19, Apple will start selling the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus in its stores, as well as in carrier partner retail locations and through authorized resellers. The first wave of countries comprises of the U.S., Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Puerto Rico, Singapore and the UK. The second wave of countries where the two phones will be available on September 26 includes Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Isle of Man, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Turkey and the United Arab...





2015 Infiniti Q70

The Infiniti Q70 -- previously known as the M (or the M37 or M56) -- doesn't just serve as a very stylish, sporty luxury sedan, but also as the flagship sedan of the Infiniti lineup. And fittingly, this year the Q70 gets a new long-wheelbase model that may plot the Q70 more directly against flagships like the BMW 7-Series and Jaguar...


2015 Mercedes-Benz E-Class

The Mercedes-Benz E-Class covers a lot of ground, offering many different options for different kinds of buyers. There's a traditional sedan and wagon, as well as coupe and convertible models. Add to that a choice of rear- or all-wheel drive, and five different engine options, including an AMG variant that puts out up to 577 hp, a...


LG G3 Stylus goes on sale in Latin America and Central Asia


The LG G3 Stylus is going on sale this week. The company will launch the phone initially in Brazil, as other countries in Latin America will follow soon after. Central Asia and the Commonwealth of Independent States nations will also be among the first to be able to buy the phone. Pricing and additional details regarding the launch will be announced locally by LG in the coming days. The G3 Stylus will be offered in both single and dual-SIM configurations. Both will pack NFC connectivity and will be available in black, white and gold. The phone features LG's Rubberdium stylus pen which helps you be more productive on the phone's 5.5-inch qHD IPS display. Despite the low resolution, we enjoyed our time with the phone on the IFA 2013 grounds. You can check our hands-on with LG G3 Stylus. The rest of the LG G3 Stylus specifications include a quad-core Cortex-A7 CPU, 1GB of RAM and 8GB of internal storage complemented by a microSD card slot. The 3,000mAh battery is removable and the phone runs Android 4.4.2 KitKat. At the back, there's a 13MP camera with LED flash, while selfies are done with a 1.3MP...





Galaxy Note 4 coming to the UK in mid-October, Note Edge is not


The Samsung Galaxy Note 4 launch price and date for the UK were unveiled by local retailer Clove. The new phablet flagship will launch a month from now in the week that starts on October 13 and will cost £575 with VAT. That's slightly higher than the €699 price for the German pre-order. Clove also has information on the Galaxy Note Edge, the innovative phablet with a two-sided screen and the info is, unfortunately, negative - it won't be available at launch. Clove (and perhaps other retailers) will look to import units from elsewhere but that's bound to have an effect on price. The Samsung Galaxy Note Edge in fact will not be available in most of Europe, we guess that Germany is among the lucky few. Carphone Warehouse and Expansys will also be taking pre-orders for the Galaxy Note 4 soon though they haven't announced price or launch date yet. Source 1 • Source...





New Moto X gets $50 discount, now sold directly in the UK


The new Moto X (2014) pre-orders start tomorrow, but customers can also purchase an unlocked, Pure Edition of the phone. Normally, the latter costs $499, but students with an active .edu e-mail account can take advantage of a $50 discount. This will cut the price of the 5.2" 1080p smartphone with a Snapdragon 801 chipset and 13MP camera to $449, which is pretty great value in our book. Meanwhile, Motorola has began selling its devices directly in the UK. Now, UK residents can go to the Motorola website and get the Moto G (2nd gen) for £149 ($242). Only time will tell when the phonemaker will offer the latest Moto X to UK customers, too, but it shouldn't be long now. Source • Source (2)| Via • Via...





2015 Lexus RC

The Lexus RC is the brand's first purpose-built coupe since the long-departed SC. It's taking the plunge again with the new two-door in a bid to directly challenge cars like the BMW 4-Series, Audi A5, and Mercedes C-Class Coupe--and it comes far closer than either of its coupe-convertible efforts (the SC430 and IS C) ever came. Shorter...


Google launches Android One in India with three new smartphones


After announcing it first back at I/O 2014, Google today finally launched the first Android One devices in India. The first three phones to be launched are the Karbon Sparkle V, Micromax Canvas A1, and Spice Dream UNO. The Dream UNO is the cheapest at ₹6,299 ($103), while the Sparkle V costs ₹6,399 ($105) and the Canvas A1 costs ₹6,499 ($106). All three phones are being sold exclusively through three different online stores. The Karbonn Sparkle V will be sold on Snapdeal, the Micromax Canvas V1 through Amazon, and the Spice Dream UNO through Flipkart. In terms of specifications, all three phones are based on Google's reference design, and as such are pretty much identical. All three have a 4.5-inch, 854x480 resolution IPS display, MediaTek MT6582 SoC with 1.3GHz quad-core Cortex-A7 CPU and Mali 400 MP2 GPU, 1GB RAM, 4GB storage space with microSD card slot, 5 megapixel rear camera, 2 megapixel front camera, FM radio, dual SIM support, and replaceable 1,700mAh battery. The only differences will be in the design and minor software enhancements. The best thing about these phones is that they all run stock version of Android, 4.4.4 KitKat in this case. The phones will get OS updates directly from Google for two years since launch. These phones will also be first in line with the Nexus devices to get Android L, or any future release. Google also has done partnership with Airtel, India's biggest mobile carrier. Users on Airtel will be able to download Android updates for free (that is, without being charged for data downloads) for the first six months. Airtel users will also be able to download up to 200MB worth of apps from the Google Play Store every month, which won't be counted towards their mobile data. Another interesting feature is that Android One users will be able to download and watch YouTube videos offline, something not yet available on any Android device. They will also get one year free subscription to content on Google Play Newsstand. Apart from this, the individual online stores selling these phones also have additional offers available, including financing options, discounts on accessories, and free memory card. India is just the first country to receive Android One. Google will be bringing Android One devices to other countries, including Indonesia, the Philippines and South Asia (Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka) by the end of the year, with more countries to follow in 2015. There will also be other Androd OEMs, who will be joining Micromax, Karbonn, and Spice later. These include Acer, Alcatel Onetouch, ASUS, HTC, Intex, Lava, Lenovo, Panasonic, Xolo, and Qualcomm. Android One is a great initiative by Google to bring smartphones to the masses. But with devices like Xiamomi Redmi 1s and Moto E (which are similarly priced and offer better specs) already on the market, not to mention the lack of availability of these phones outside the aforementioned online retailers, we would have to wait and see how successful it is. Source 1 • Source...





Phones4U goes into administration after getting dropped by carriers


In a stunning development, high street UK mobile phone retailer Phones4U has gone into administration. This comes after both Vodafone and EE refused to extend their carrier contracts with Phones4U, effectively bringing an end to the retailer in its current state. A Phones4U statement reads as follows: "The unexpected decisions by both Vodafone and EE have come as a complete shock to the business. The company is in a healthy state and both EE and Vodafone had, until very recently, consistently indicated that they saw Phones 4u as a long-term strategic partner." EE has made the following statement to Pocket-lint: "In line with our strategy to focus on growth in our direct channels and to move to fewer, deeper relationships in the indirect channel, and driven by developments in the marketplace that have called into question the long term viability of the Phones 4u business, we can confirm that we have taken the decision not to extend our contract beyond September 2015. We will monitor developments and work to provide any necessary support for customers who joined EE through Phones 4u." This obviously came without much warning to the retailer, as last Friday Phones4U began accepting preorders for the new Apple iPhone 6 and 6 Plus. Regarding the status of the preorders, Phones4U spokesman Robert White said "Any orders that have not already been dispatched will be cancelled and any payments refunded to customers." After O2's departure in May, Vodafone's last week and EE today, Virgin Mobile remains the only UK carrier currently selling devices through Phones4U. It's unknown what caused such a mass carrier exodus from Phones4U, a retailer which by all accounts generated over £100 million in profits and has 550 standalone stores. As of today, all of the current 5,596 staff continue to be employed, but the company's 720 retail outlets will be closed. Both Phones4U and Dialaphone websites are no longer taking orders, with www.phones4u.co.uk showing the following statement: We'll have more on this story as it develops. Source |...





Nokia 130 now available in China, Pakistan and Nigeria


The first (and perhaps only) feature phone that Microsoft has unveiled, the Nokia 130, is now available in stores in China, Pakistan and Nigeria. The rollout to other countries will continue in the following weeks. The Nokia 130 has a recommended retail price of just €19 for the single-SIM version. That's CNY 151, PKR 2,530 or NGN 4,010 by today's exchange rates. There's a dual-SIM version of the phone that will cost a bit more. Red, black and white color options are available. Nokia/Microsoft are very proud of the 130's battery life, even made an infographic about it. It's good enough for about a month of standby or 46 hours of music playback. The phone has a microSD card (up to 32GB) for music storage. There's also FM radio built-in The phone has Bluetooth for local connectivity (with Nokia's SLAM for easier connections). The Nokia 130 has a flashlight and can be used as a backup phone if something goes wrong. It supports charging over USB (so you can use your regular chargers), the lengthy standby helps...





Oppo N3 teaser confirms its name, next month announcement


Oppo released a couple of teasers of its upcoming N3 camera-centric phone and today we are treated to a third one. This time it reveals more information about the phone's launch event. It will happen in Singapore next month, but Oppo hasn't provided an exact date just yet. However, it confirms the phone will carry the Oppo N3 moniker. We got a very good first look of what the phone will look like thanks to press images sent to us. The photos reveal the company will keep the rotating swivel camera module from the N1, but further details are...





Snapdeal announces Karbonn Sparkle V Android One phone


Google hasn't yet officially announced Android One devices but the respective online stores who will be selling these devices just can't wait. After Flipkart prematurely pulled the trigger on Spice Android One Dream UNO Mi-498, Snapdeal has now put up a product page for the (sensibly named) Karbon Sparkle V. Although the design is slightly different of the Karbonn phone compared to the Spice, it is essentially the same phone underneath with Google's reference design. It has a 4.5-inch, 854x480 IPS display, 1.3GHz quad-core CPU and Mali 400 GPU, 1GB RAM, 4GB storage space with microSD card slot, 5 megapixel rear camera, 2 megapixel front camera, dual-SIM support, 1,700mAh battery and Android 4.4 KitKat with guaranteed updates. The Karbonn Sparkle V is priced at ₹6,399 ($105). Source •...





'Windows Phone' branding to be dropped in favor of just 'Windows'


Microsoft is currently in the process of scrapping the 'Windows Phone' name in favor of the simpler 'Windows'. Leaked documents that surfaced earlier stated this but leaked images of an upcoming device confirms this. An upcoming device by the name of My Go GoFone GF47W comes with just the Windows name printed on the back, instead of the usual Windows Phone. This phone even goes as far as having a simple circle up front for the Home button instead of the usual Windows logo. Microsoft is planning to unify all Windows devices under one brand name, which meant the Windows Phone name had to go. Microsoft will also be dropping the Nokia name from future Lumia devices. Source •...





Sunday

Exclusive: Leaked Oppo N3 press images show rotating camera


We first heard that the Oppo N3 is coming last week, when the company released an image teaser on its Facebook page. Now, thanks to an anonymous tipster, who we have very good reasons to trust, we get to see what it will look like. The images we were sent reveal a very unorthodox design, which incorporates the trademark feature of the Oppo N series - the rotating camera. This means that, just like on the N1, you will be able to use the Oppo N3's primary camera for selfies, enjoying its full quality for your self-portraits. We also see that the Oppo N3 will come with a dual LED flash - another feature it shares with its predecessor. However, it's quite obvious that the new phablet will be far slimmer with the camera module placed in the only bulging part on top. The N1 thickness was uniform with the camera not requiring any extra depth. We are still very much in the dark regarding the Oppo N1 screen resolution, chipset or even camera specifications, but we are hoping the company will soon give us some extra info about it. Special thanks to our...





New Moto X pre-orders in the US will kick off on September 16


Motorola spilled the beans on the new Moto X pre-order details in the United States. AT&T will begin taking orders for the smartphone this coming Tuesday, September 16. The on-contract pricing of the customizable smartphone is $99.99. More details on the new Moto X pricing by the company's partners around the globe will be released soon. SIM Unlocked Moto X Pure Edition will also be available for $499.99 with no contract. Tinkerers will be able to unlock its bootloader too. In addition to the 2014 Moto X, the manufacturer will begin taking orders for the Moto Hint wireless headset, as well as the Motorola Turbo Charger. The duo of accessories will cost $149.99 and $34.99 respectively. Source...