An update to Google Now brought deep integration with third-party apps to the already mighty personal assistant. Initially, there will be 40 apps available as as a source of Google Now cards.
Friday
The upcoming LG G4 might feature a 3K display
The yet to be announced LG G4 might pack a 3K display. A screenshot of a user agent profile revealed the possible bump in screen resolution over LG G3. The leaked document reveals an LG handset with the model number LG-VS999, sporting the eye-popping screen resolution of 2880 x 1620 pixels. LG G3 for Verizon features the model number LG-VS985, so we might indeed be looking at its successor. Curiously, another LG G4 suspect leaked out a couple of weeks ago with the AT&T model number H810 and 2560 x 1440 display. This leads us to think that the Verizon model might be more tricked out than its other carrier siblings. Nobody should be surprised in case the above scenario pans out. Verizon has a history of launching versions of popular smartphones with higher specs in the past. Sony Xperia Z3v and Motorola Droid Turbo are two recent examples. Rumored specs of LG G4 include Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 SoC, 4GB of RAM, 16MP camera, and 5.5" display. The handset is expected to debut in the near future....
Vine Kids launches for iOS, it’s exactly what it seems
Today the folks behind Vine, the app that lets you create six second looping videos, have announced a new venture. It’s called Vine Kids, and, like its name implies, it’s basically a special version of Vine, created just for kids.
LG G3 receives a new Lollipop update in Europe
The LG G3 is already rocking Android 5.0 Lollipop, as its initial update has spread across Europe since December. Now though, the Korean smartphone maker is in the process of pushing an additional firmware upgrade for the G3, at least it's doing so in Italy. So presumably other European countries will follow. This is still Lollipop, mind you, but it's a smaller update that's primarily meant to polish things around, making the experience better than before. The update comes in at around 90 MB. After applying it, you'll be running software version V20h, whereas the initial Lollipop update took that to V20e. The new version brings with it unnamed bug fixes and improvements, along with some new icons for the software-rendered Android keys, as well as smoother animations all-round. Source (in...
Galaxy Note 4 Lollipop update delayed due to Gear VR
With the Lollipop craze in full steam and the Galaxy Note 3 already up for a soak test in Russia it is only natural to expect that Samsung will give an equal share of attention to the Galaxy Note 4 and Galaxy Note Edge. We already saw a leaked manual for Android 5 with the device model on it so the OTA is getting closer, but no official news is available as of yet. Faryaab Sheikh, Editor-in-Chief of SamMobile might have just shed some light on the issue with a recent Twitter post. According to him the Galaxy Note 4 ROM is still in the hands of Oculus VR who are "tweaking the kernel" to ensure compatibility with the Samsung Gear VR. For anyone unfamiliar with the device it is Samsung's current take on virtual reality headset based on the popular Oculus Rift. Gear VR however takes the experience one step beyond by using a wireless setup. This is achieved with the help of a mobile display, in particular the 5.7-inch QHD Super AMOLED panel of the Galaxy Note 4. While compatibility issues might explain the delay the question still stands why this can't be achieved in a later update. This is supposedly what occurred on the Verizon version of the phone last month. Delivering Gear VR compatibility is most definitely a huge deal in terms of marketing strategy, but the fact of the matter is that a very miniscule percentage of all Samsung Galaxy Note 4 devices will ever be put inside a VR headset. So why make everybody wait for what is essentially a niche...
Nokia Lumia 930 on EE finally getting Lumia Denim update
The Lumia Denim update started rolling out last year, but it reached the Nokia Lumia 930 flagship only recently. Some 930's get it sooner than others, among the unlucky users were those on EE in the UK. The update has been arriving on 930's in other regions for two weeks now, but those on UK's largest carrier are only now joining the fun. Lumia Denim incorporates WP8.1 Update 1 and adds exclusive goodies like 4K video recording (at 24fps), Rich Capture and improvements to the image processing algorithm. By the way, the Lumia 930 will be one of the phones to get Windows 10 eventually. If you have a Nokia Lumia 930 from EE you can check for updates on your phone. If you're using the Developer Preview you may need to leave it in order to...
Galaxy S6 dimensions revealed, port and button layout as well
The upcoming Samsung Galaxy S6 hasn't yet surfaced in live images, but based on numerous leaks, we can now paint a pretty accurate picture. Yet it seems that case manufacturers have precise details ahead of launch. After two rounds of case renderings of yesterday and the day before, now we're being treated to a set of drawings, detailing the dimensions of the future flagship. The schematics put to rest the fears of some that the footprint of the device will grow beyond what's manageable for one-hand use. Samsung have the Galaxy Note 4 in phablet territory, and they're maintaining the differentiation. The case inner dimensions at 143.5 x 70.7 x 7.2mm, which should be more or less the actual dimensions of Galaxy S6, are virtually identical to the current Galaxy S5's 142 x 72.5 x 8.1mm, when it comes to footprint. The 1mm difference in thickness should be pretty tangible, though. Digging down further into the details, the precise dimensions of the cutout on the back reveal a pretty large camera and sensor cluster and confirm the change of layout. In typical Samsung fashion, the left side is home to the volume rocker, while the power button is on the right. The bottom cutout arrangement leaves room for a microphone, USB port and a speaker, which was on the back the previous generation. The top will house a 3.5mm headphone jack and a secondary noise-cancelling microphone. The drawings are accompanied by an actual manufactured unit, which you can see below. Samsung Galaxy S6 Case The three case leaks are very much in concert, so the Samsung Galaxy S6 design may very well be final...
Samsung SM-T239 may be called Galaxy Tab 4 Lite 7.0 LTE, pack a 64-bit Marvell chipset
It seems that Samsung is updating its Galaxy Tab 4 lineup to 64-bit processors – the Galaxy Tab 4 10.1, the Tab 4 8.0 and now the Tab 4 7.0 as well. The 7″ device (model number SM-T239) was recently imported into India for testing.
Full specs of Xiaomi Redmi Note 2 leak
The Xiaomi Redmi Note, released in March 2014, is due for a successor, and one is evidently in the works. A new listing on the site of Chinese agency TENAA reveals its appearance and insides. Xiaomi Redmi Note 2 The new generation Xiaomi Redmi Note 2 is proving to be an incremental update, rather than an entirely new device. The new generation is built around a 5.5-inch display of 720p resolution. The chipset model isn't revealed, but the quad-core CPU rated at 1.2GHz suggests the Snapdragon 410. The new smartphone will feature 1GB of RAM and 8GB of storage, expandable by up to 32GB via microSD. Imaging department is represented by a 13MP main camera on the back, and a 5MP selfie unit, much like the predecessor. Overall dimensions have been kept the same at 154 x 78.7 x 9.5 mm, while weight has been trimmed down from 199g to 188g. The new smartphone will run Android 4.4.4 out of the box and will come in a rainbow of colors, including red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple, as well as a more formal black and white version. Availability remains to be confirmed, but the expected price is CNY799 ($128). Source |...
HTC One (M9) Hima DotView cover to feature additional color options
More rumors regarding the HTC One (M9) Hima are inbound and the latest round of them is concerning the DotView case. According to @upleaks, HTC is going to out additional DotView colors for the phone’s launch. Alleged photo of the One (M9) and One (M9) Plus leaked a couple of days ago revealing a familiar [...]
Samsung Galaxy Note Edge hitting Malaysia in February
The Samsung Galaxy Note Edge is slowly spreading over more and more markets. It is now set for official launch in Malaysia, where it will be available starting February. To publicize its unconventional phablet offering, the Korean company has released a promotional video with a couple of sky-diving thrill seekers. The Samsung Galaxy Note Edge is the pioneer in a current trend of display innovation. Based on the international version of the Galaxy Note 4, it packs the same Snapdragon 805 chipset with quad-core 2.7GHz processor, 3GB of RAM and a choice of 32/64GB storage options. What sets it apart is the 160-pixel display strip that curves around the smartphone's right side, offering additional functionality. The reel barely brushes on the smartphone's features though, but is nonetheless fun to watch. Two exorbitantly rich chaps use their smartphones to set a location where they meet up for a game of tic-tac-toe in mid air. The intense exchange of crosses and circles is disturbed by a call from one's Mom. Had he chosen to ignore her, the game could have remained uninterrupted, showcasing the edge screen's notification capabilities. The Galaxy Note Edge commands a RM500 premium over its ordinary sibling for a RM2,999 asking price ($826). Reportedly, quantities will be...
Huawei P8 may be announced in mid-April, not at the MWC
Huawei has a flagship in the works and a MWC event scheduled for March 1. New info suggests that the Huawei P8 will not be at that event though, instead it will be revealed on April 15 at a separate event in London. The company is mum on hardware details and only says that the phone will be an "absolution beauty." Huawei made it clear that it will focus on delivering premium devices in the mid and high-end markets. The Huawei P8 (no more Ascend) is poised to be at the top of that food chain with a slender metal chassis. It will reportedly have a "porcelain texture", a 5.2" 1080p display (Huawei's CEO says QHD just wastes battery) and a 13MP optically stabilized camera. The flagship is set to be powered by the in-house Kirin 930 chipset, which packs an octa-core 64-bit processor and will be built on a 16nm process courtesy of TSMC. So, what will we see at the MWC? Huawei has plans for tablets (reportedly the M-Series will be introduced) and wearables. There's also room for mid-rangers in the Honor and G series and a fresh rumor (with live photos) of a Huawei Mate 7 Compact....
Samsung Galaxy Note 4 gets free Montblanc pen in the UK
A few months after entering into a partnership with Montblanc, Samsung is running a new promotion that offers a complimentary pen manufactured by the premium writing instrument maker with every purchase of a Galaxy Note 4.
Motorola Moto G 4G (2015) debuts in Brazil, already on sale
A LTE-enabled variant of the Moto G (2014) has been circulating in the rumor mill for quite some time now and now it's finally become a reality. Motorola has apparently opted out of an official announcement and instead the new handset crept up on us and appeared on the manufacturer's Brazilian page and is already available to purchase. The move was only logical since the first generation Moto G proved to be such a huge hit, both in emerging markets and even in places like the UK with the LTE upgrade only sweetening the deal even more. The budget-oriented, Moto G 4G (2015) offers a slick and clean almost pure-android experience just like its predecessors and comes with a few notable modifications over the base version. First and foremost Motorola has decided to stick with the dual-SIM setup and make it available in the 4G variant as well. The phone comes equipped with two micro SIM slots with presumably only one capable of LTE speeds. Other notable changes over the Moto G (2014) include a larger, 2,390mAh, battery which should compensate for the increased power consumption from the new modem. Onboard storage will be 16GB with no 8GB option available and physically the smartphone will retain its compact dimensions with only about 6g of extra weight due to the beefier battery. The rest of the internals are unchanged. The handset is still powered by a quad-core Snapdragon 400 SoC, clocked at 1.2GHz, has the same 5-inch 720p display and the same camera setup - 8MP main and 2MP front-facing shooter. A small, but significant detail to note is that the new device will be shipping with Android 5.0.2 Lollipop, while previous Moto G phones are still mostly running 4.4 KitKat and despite Motorola's best wishes are still waiting on an update. The new Moto G 4G (2015) can already be purchased from a Brazilian retailer for BRL 899, which is about $345. This definitely seems like a premium for a device that is supposed to be budget-oriented and it is. Brazilian handset prices are traditionally very high and not representative of what smartphones costs elsewhere. Despite its inconspicuous arrival the new Moto G 4G (2015) has all the right ingredients to continue to legacy of its predecessor and if Motorola manages to keep costs low than the handset definitely has a bright future ahead of...
Samsung Galaxy Tab S Pro hinted on the Google Play Store
Samsung has updated its Milk Music app and the description of the app listing compatible devices reveals the company is preparing to unveil a Galaxy Tab S Pro tablet. The upcoming slate is likely to have its launch at the Mobile World Congress in March.
Exclusive: Samsung Galaxy XCover 3 photos and specs leak
Samsung has always aimed to have a few devices on every shelf, top to bottom. Outdoor-targeted smartphones are no exception, but the two most recent offerings, Galaxy S5 Active and Galaxy S4 Active, have been based on the respective flagships. The more affordable Xcover range hasn't seen an update for two whole years, with the latest Galaxy Xcover 2 launched in January 2013. Well, that is about to change, as we've just been treated to an exclusive peek at the entirely new Samsung Galaxy Xcover 3. The device carries a model designation SM-G388F, and is fitted with distinctly average hardware. Samsung Galaxy Xcover 3 The tough smartphone packs a Marvell Armada PXA1908 chipset with a quad-core Cortex-A53 CPU and 1GB of RAM. No other specs have been revealed, but judging by the photos we could speculate that the screen size is close to 4.3 inches corresponding to a total footprint of around 150x78mm. The SoC supports resolutions up to 720p, but achieving that is rather unlikely at this size and price range. Performance isn't the Galaxy Xcover 3's main selling point though, ruggedness is, and by the looks of it, the phone will deliver. Design cues have been borrowed from the latest Galaxy S5 Active, namely the toughened corners, button shape and arrangement and sensor placement. The back reveals its status, however, with flash-camera-speaker layout of more lowly Samsung phones of late. It's also nicely textured and appears to provide a secure grip in muddy or wet hands, a supposedly frequent scenario. The upcoming smartphone will run Android 4.4.4. No word is out on pricing and availability, naturally, but stay tuned. Special thanks to our anonymous...
2015 BMW X6
The BMW X6 was once unusual in its form factor, but it's gained companions, from within the brand and without: the BMW X4 takes the coupe-crossover theme down a size, and Mercedes-Benz will soon follow with its GLE Coupe, a sexier take on what's now called the M-Class. Despite the growing popularity of the curvaceous utility concept...Counterpoint: Apple actually topped Samsung in Q4, 2014
While we know that Q4, 2014 was a blockbuster quarter for Apple, which sold a whopping 74.5 million smartphones during the period, the question whether that was good enough for the Cupertino-based company to become the top smartphone vendor in the world apparently doesn't have a single answer - it depends whom you ask. While IDC acknowledged that it was a close contest, with Samsung ahead of Apple, Strategy Analytics said it was a tie between the two companies. Now, another research firm by the name of Counterpoint is claiming that Apple actually shipped more smartphones than its South Korean competitor in Q4. The Counterpoint report notes that Apple led the smartphone market with 20.2% market share, followed by Samsung, which shipped 73.8 million units, good enough for 20% share of the market. Lenovo, Huawei, and Xiaomi rounded up the top five with 7, 6.6, and 4.6% market share,...
Motorola has sold 3 million devices in India since Feb 2014
Back in February last year, Motorola made India's largest e-commerce website Flipkart its exclusive online retail partner, and now, the Economic Times is reporting that the Lenovo-owned company has sold 3 million smartphones in the country since then, with Moto G and Moto E smartphones making up for more than half of the sales. According to Amit Boni, head of Motorola's India operations, the company considers India as a "critical market," and is planning to increase its efforts in the country. Starting this year, the company will set up several Motorola experience centers that will also double up as service centers. The report also notes that moving forward Motorola is planning to launch new handsets in India before other global markets, and may also bring Moto Maker to the country - China is the only Asian country where the create-your-own-design store is available as of...
Thursday
OnePlus names its Android ROM 'Oxygen'
After things with Cyanogen went a bit sour, OnePlus announced that it is working on its own Android ROM for the OnePlus One. The company also released an alpha version, with a stable version arriving in February. The company has now announced the name for the ROM, and it will be called 'Oxygen'. Oxygen, OnePlus says, is, "all around us. It's part of us and everything we do. It creates the water that carves out valleys and moves mountains. By itself, it's simple and pure—a fundamental building block. But, as a part of something greater, it can do amazing things. Just like us." The company says the OnePlus ROM will be "open, customizable, and free of bloat and unnecessary features." OnePlus has promised more details on Febrary...
This could be a case for the upcoming Apple iPad Pro
Purported live photo of a protective case for the yet to be announced Apple iPad Pro made the rounds online. The image was posted by Nowhereelse and is said to come from a reliable source.
Alleged image of Samsung Galaxy S6 in a Spigen case leaks
Purported images of the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S6 made the rounds online courtesy of Spigen. The Korean manufacturer of mobile accessories has already listed several cases for the yet to be announced smartphone on Amazon. The latest leaked images of Samsung Galaxy S6 fall right in line with renders from another case maker, which emerged a couple of days ago. They confirm that the Galaxy S6 will have its LED flash and heart sensor on the right side of its camera, not below it like in the case of Samsung Galaxy S5. If the images are to be believed, Samsung Galaxy S6 will have the same back texture as the Galaxy S5. We doubt this will be the case when the device debuts. The handset is all but certain to feature an all-metal body a la Samsung Galaxy A series. The case maker's product listings point at a potential mid-April availability for the smartphone. Two of the accessories are going to be in stock on April 13. Considering the track record of Spigen in revealing devices before their launch through product listings, there is little room to doubt the credibility of the renders you see above. The company has leaked a number of high-profile devices in the past including Nexus 5 and iPhone 6. Purported specs of Samsung Galaxy S6 include Exynos 7420 chipset with octa-core CPU, 5.2" QHD display, 3GB of RAM, and 20MP camera. The device is expected to launch during MWC in Barcelona. Source 1 | Source 2 | Source 3 |...
Jolla Tablet returns to Indiegogo with 64GB of built-in memory
The Finnish manufacturer Jolla resumed the crowdsourcing campaign for its first ever Sailfish OS slate. The original Indiegogo campaign for the Jolla Tablet ended on December 9 last year with 480% funded. Jolla Tablet returns to Indiegogo with slightly improved hardware and special $249 price tag. The changes in the tablet include 64GB of built-in memory (up from 32GB on the original offering) and support for 128GB microSD cards. Laminated display, built-in gyro and compass, and slightly larger 4,450mAh battery are also features that were missing in the last campaign. The slightly improved Jolla Tablet will begin shipping to backers in June. Users who already ordered the Jolla Tablet with 32GB of memory should not despair - a $25 perk is available for those who are willing to upgrade their existing order. The 32GB version is still available to order for $219. Jolla's latest Indiegogo campaign will last through February. Source...
2015 BMW M4
With the new 4-Series taking the previous 3-Series coupe’s place in the BMW lineup, the M4 is a new name for an all-new version of the previous M3 Coupe. What makes the new M4 special enough to deserve the vaunted M badge? Many, many things, but foremost among them is a new, potent twin-turbocharged engine. Stylistically, the new...2015 BMW M3
The latest generation of the BMW M3 changes the prior formula considerably, but is still bred from the same stock. With a new turbocharged six-cylinder engine, a new look, and less weight, the new M3 seeks to claw back old ground, as well as blaze a new path forward. From the outside, the M3 doesn't veer dramatically from the 3-Series...
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