Apple iPhone 5s was the top selling smartphone in the U.S. last month

For those who figured that the mid-range Apple iPhone 5c would cannibalize sales of the Apple iPhone 5s, guess again; the new full-featured version of the iPhone managed to lead all four major U.S. carriers in smartphone sales for the month of September even though the phone didn't launch until September 20th. Over the opening weekend, Apple said...

$179 BLU Studio 5.5 now official with two SIM slots, quad-core CPU

BLU has announced its Studio 5.5 affordable smartphone, which offers a large screen and a quad-core CPU at a very attractive price point. It's built around a 5.5" TFT display with a resolution of 480 x 854 pixels, which makes for a pixel density of 178ppi. Under the hood, the BLU Studio 5.5 packs a 1.2GHz quad-core Cortex-A7 CPU and a PowerVR SGX544...

Moto Maker rumored to hit Verizon Wireless on November 11

As expected the AT&T exclusivity of the Moto Maker customization tool for the Moto X is nearing an end. According to a @evleaks, Verizon Wireless will begin offering the service to its customers next month, on November 11. Currently, Verizon customers interested in the Moto X can pick only between two color schemes - Woven White and Woven Black....

Nokia Lumia 1020 Leather Case Hands On

Amongst the many accessories that Nokia launched along with the Lumia 1020, like the Wireless charging shell and the Camera Grip we already went hands on with, there was another limited edition accessory that made its way into the list, albeit very silently for any one to notice. And that accessory, as revealed by our friends at the PureViewClub...

Watch as the Nokia Lumia 1020 parachutes into Dubai

In less than three weeks, Nokia World will be taking place in Abu Dhabi; during the event we expect to see the Finnish based manufacturer introduce six new devices including the Nokia Lumia 1520 phablet and the Nokia Lumia 2520 tablet. In the United Arab Emirates, near Abu Dhabi, is Dubai where a Nokia Lumia 1020 descended into the country thanks...

LG, Samsung, Google, Intel, Cisco, SAP and others interested in bidding for BlackBerry?

BlackBerry's board, as you probably know, has agreed to sell the company to its biggest stockholder; while Fairfax Financial agreed to pay $4.7 billion or $9 a share for the troubled smartphone manufacturer, under the terms of the deal Fairfax was supposed to deliver a merger agreement to BlackBerry by Friday. Failure to do so would reduce the time...

Ads start appearing in Gmail's promotions file

Last week, we asked the musical question, "are ads coming to the Gmail for Android app?" On Friday, we heard that indeed, they were; and on Saturday morning, we saw the ads start to appear. The ads are beginning to show up in the promotions mail folder, which is not the primary folder must of us use most often. Yeah, Google was able to keep the Android...

New leak reiterates November launch for Moto Maker on Verizon

One of the most annoying things about the release of the Motorola Moto X was that the Moto Maker customization software was available only to AT&T customers and no one else. The early rumors on the topic said that Moto Maker would be opening up to other carriers in November, and a new leak is reiterating that claim at least for the Verizon variant...

Android loses a little of its U.S. market share, but still owns more than half

Metrics firm comScore has its monthly update of U.S.market share, designed to get some of you excited and the rest of you picking a fight; it's like watching an NHL contest. Or better yet, it's like watching those now classic commercials by Microsoft that show iOS and Android fans going at it. So with your adrenaline all revved up, let's take a look...

Former iOS chief Forstall may return for Apple-Samsung damages retrial

The last time we heard about Scott Forstall, the embattled iOS chief was leaving Apple after refusing to take the blame for the disaster that was Apple Maps. Forstall allegedly refused to sign an apology and was asked to leave the Cupertino campus; and apparently he was asked to take all of his skeumorphics with him. Jony Ive took over and iOS 7 ended...

Buy the Apple iPhone 5c from Walmart for $45 on contract; retailer undercuts Best Buy's $50 deal

Early this morning, when you were getting ready for work and we were already slaving over a hot QWERTY keyboard, we told you that Best Buy was offering the Apple iPhone 5c for just $49.99 with a signed two-year contract; now comes word from Walmart that they will undercut the big box retailer and offer the mid-range version of the iPhone for $45...Source:...

Specs of Samsung's flexible display smartphone appear

After all these years of research and development, the flexible display smartphone might soon become reality. Samsung is already rumored to bring its first smartphone with flexible display this month and we even heard from the companies executives, regarding their plans to introduce a curved display smartphone. Thanks to a new report, we also get...

HTC One Max receives its GCF approval; phablet one step closer to unveiling

The HTC One Max is probably the most talked about and eagerly awaited handset that has yet to be unveiled by its manufacturer; it feels like we have been writing about this beast for months now, so it is with great pleasure that we can tell you that the device has received GCF approval. That allows Taiwan based HTC to scratch one more item of its...

How to root Samsung Galaxy Note 3 the easy way

Chainfire's CF-Auto-Root has been modded to include an easy root for the just outed Samsung Galaxy Note 3, tested with the SM-N900 (Exynos), SM-N9005 (International Qualcomm), and SM-N900T (T-Mobile US) versions of the handset so far, as well as a few files for the rest of the US carrier versions that are still in testing...Source: http://www.pho...

Tomorrow marks two years since Steve Jobs death

On October 5 at around 3pm, Steve Jobs passed away in his home in Palo Alto, Califronia...Source: http://www.phonearena.com/news/Tomorrow-marks-two-years-since-Steve-Jobs-death_id479...

Press image of Nokia Lumia 1520 in Red surfaces

Nokia's upcoming phablet, the Lumia 1520 has already shown up in live images and we even saw the press render of the upcoming device. Now, another press image of Nokia's first phablet has surfaced, showing the 6-inch smartphone in its red outfit. Nokia Lumia 1520, which was formerly known as Bandit will be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor...

Best Buy slashes $50 off the iPhone 5c and Galaxy S4

For a limited time only, Best Buy has announced that it'll be slashing the upfront cost of the Apple iPhone 5c and the Samsung Galaxy S4...Source: http://www.phonearena.com/news/Best-Buy-slashes-50-off-the-iPhone-5c-and-Galaxy-S4_id479...

KDDI's winter collection brings the lightest waterproof 5-incher, and the amazing Sharp Aquos SHL23

Sharp's finest sports a 4.8" Full HD IGZO display with 460ppi pixel density, 2.3 GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 and 16 MP camera with the record for a mobile f/1.9 aperture, all wrapped in a slim waterproof body. The kicker, however, is that the Japanese have managed to fit a 3000 mAh battery inside, which, combined with the low-power IGZO display technology,...

Note 3 and Galaxy S4 won't be getting the full eight core Exynos performance patch, says Samsung

Since your Note 3 and Galaxy S4 are sporting the current thermal envelopes, calculated to run with only four cores at once, the fix won't apply to them, at least officially, unless you don't mind the risk of frying your handset....Source: http://www.phonearena.com/news/Note-3-and-Galaxy-S4-wont-be-getting-the-full-eight-core-Exynos-performance-pa...

Samsung launches dual-SIM version of the Galaxy Note 3

Samsung has just launched the dual-SIM version of the Galaxy Note 3 phablet. Most of the recent Galaxies received a dual-SIM treatment shortly after release and the Galaxy Note 3 is no exception. The first country to get the dual-SIM Galaxy Note 3 is China, though the gadget is carrier unlocked and can be exported and used on other countries around...

Fujitsu Arrow Tab: fingerprint sensor and top of the line specs

Japanese Fujitsu probably isn't on your list to watch, as far as mobile devices go, though the company has come up with some pretty compelling devices in the last weekSource: http://www.phonearena.com/news/Fujitsu-Arrow-Tab-fingerprint-sensor-and-top-of-the-line-specs_id479...

Original U.S. voice of Siri goes public

It is a voice that is just as famous as the devices you hear it on; ever since the introduction of the Apple iPhone 4s, we all know the sound of Siri. On Friday morning, Susan Bennett of Atlanta stepped forward to claim that she is the original U.S. voice of Apple's virtual personal assistant. Bennett is a voice over artist who had no idea how famous...

Maps for iPhone and Glass win Google two design awards

Google has undergone a remarkable transformation - from a quick search engine with non-existent design to suddenly a company that is in the fore-front of design trends…Source: http://www.phonearena.com/news/Maps-for-iPhone-and-Glass-win-Google-two-design-awards_id479...

Samsung Galaxy S4 and Note 3 won't get true octa-core update

Samsung recently brought the true octa-core performance to its Exynos chips. The Exynos 5 Octa big.LITTLE chip, which is currently powering the Galaxy S4 and Note 3, was also expected to gain the ability to run all of its cores simultaneously via an update. However, Samsung's senior technical expert, Oleg Artamonov has confirmed that both flagship...

Note 3 and Galaxy S4 with Exynos 5 Octa won't be getting the full eight core performance patch, says Samsung

Since your Note 3 and Galaxy S4 are sporting the current thermal envelopes, calculated to run with only four cores at once, the fix won't apply to them, at least officially, unless you don't mind the risk of frying your handset....Source: http://www.phonearena.com/news/Note-3-and-Galaxy-S4-with-Exynos-5-Octa-wont-be-getting-the-full-eight-core-pe...

Samsung to acquire stake in Best Buy, vice chairman Lee calls Apple's CEO 'Captain Cook'

Best Buy might be in trouble, but Samsung got money and hunger for the US market - that seems to be the underlying motives behind top level meetings between executives of the two companies in Seoul...Source: http://www.phonearena.com/news/Samsung-to-acquire-stake-in-Best-Buy-vice-chairman-Lee-calls-Apples-CEO-Captain-Cook_id479...

Sony Xperia Z1 drop test: physical survival, emotional ruin (video)

Dropped from about 5 feet (1.5 meters), the premium materials of the handset barely registered a scratch, even when the Xperia Z1 landed flat on its screen, which with most phones results in glass shards under your skin if you try to operate it it afterwards. That all-important operation part, however, the Z1 didn't get right, as the screen lit up,...

The Rise of Samsung (infographic)

In light of today's record quarterly profit guidance Samsung just reported, we thought we'd share this "Rise of Samsung" infographic with you that puts the whole conglomerate in historical perspective. The mobile business might be maturing, but it still brings over 2/3 of Samsung's operating profit, which it forecasts to be the astonishing $9.2-$9.6...

Nokia Smartwatch Leaked?

Two pictures of a purported Nokia Smartwatch have leaked onto the internet. Could this be announced at the Nokia World event on the 22nd of October, or is it just some long forgotten prototype? We all know that the wearable gadget revolution is here. Google brought its Glass into the limelight with a firm vision(pun intended) on the future, Pebble...

5"+ iPhone, 12.9" iPad and an iWatch with LG flexible OLED to come from Apple next year

Now that the iPhone 5s announcement is behind us, and the iPad 5 and mini 2 launches seem imminent, what's in store for us from Apple for next year? Korean media seems to have the answer, confirming with its own sources once again that the team from Cupertino is working on a larger screen iPhone, even larger iPad, and a smart watch...Source: http...

Mysterious Nokia device spotted running on Snapdragon 800 and Adreno 330 graphics

A mysterious Nokia device has surfaced on GFXBench and it’s a powerhouse featuring the latest and most powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 system chip with Adreno 330 graphics…Source: http://www.phonearena.com/news/Mysterious-Nokia-device-spotted-running-on-Snapdragon-800-and-Adreno-330-graphics_id479...

Samsung to use cheapo MediaTek processors for 2014 phones

Next year Samsung is to go CCC, or Cheap Chinese Chipset, as reports are coming it will start using MediaTek's quad- and octa-core silicon for its low- to midrange handsets in the second half of 2014...Source: http://www.phonearena.com/news/Samsung-to-use-cheapo-MediaTek-processors-for-2014-phones_id479...

Samsung to use cheapo MediaTek processors for its 2014 phones

Next year Samsung is to go CCC, or Cheap Chinese Chipset, as reports are coming it will start using MediaTek's quad- and octa-core silicon for its low- to midrange handsets in the second half of 2014...Source: http://www.phonearena.com/news/Samsung-to-use-cheapo-MediaTek-processors-for-its-2014-phones_id479...

Android 4.3.1 update surprises Nexus 7 2013 owners, rolling out now

Owners of the new Nexus 7 started receiving an unannounced update of their devices, bumping Android to version 4.3.1…Source: http://www.phonearena.com/news/Android-4.3.1-update-surprises-Nexus-7-2013-owners-rolling-out-now_id479...

HTC One Max leaks with a microSD card, removable back

The HTC One Max has leaked over in China sporting a removable back panel and a microSD card underneath. We've already seen a similar HTC One device, which also had a second SIM card but this HTC One Max appears to be single SIM. We also get a new glance of the One Max next to a Samsung Galaxy Note 3 but the information says the HTC phablet has a 5.7"...

Top Samsung Mobile executive Kevin Packingham departs

Kevin Packingham, who you may remember from several media events introducing new Galaxy smartphones and phablets, has left Samsung. The details surrounding his departure are unknown. As early as Tuesday, Packingham's departure was announced internally. While Samsung Mobile spokeswoman Ashley Wimberly declined to clarify whether his departure was voluntary,...

Microsoft wants Windows Phone to run on HTC’s Android phones – Report

Microsoft is apparently trying to court HTC, one of the major Android OEMs, to make Windows Phone run on its Android Phones, according to a report from Bloomberg. Another report from Android Central claims that HTC engineers are already looking at providing Dual Boot options of Windows Phone and Android for its upcoming devices. This is a surprising...