Google releases Android L 64-bit emulator for x86 Intel CPUs

The Android developer community has released an Android L emulator image specifically for Intel's x86 64-bit architecture. It will allow developers to build or optimize older apps for the upcoming Android L OS and its new 64-bit architecture. Moving to 64-bit increases the addressable memory space, allows a larger number of registers and new instructions sets for developers. Apps built on Java will automatically gain the benefits of 64-bit but those built on the Android NDK will need some optimization to include the x86_64 build target. Using the new emulator developers will only be able to create apps for Intel's chips (Bail Trail and Atom) and Google's yet to release an emulator for ARM architecture (namely the 64-bit ARMv8) on which NVIDIA's 64-bit K1 chipset and Qualcomm's Snapdragon 810 are built. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/google_releases_android_l_64bit_emulator_for_intel-news-9893.php

Week 41 in review: Apple iPad Air 2, Mini 3, Motorola Nexus 6

Week In Review is back to recap all the major announcements of the week, which you might have missed. In the past Week 41 we saw a lot of rumors regarding the launch of upcoming products. Apple unveiled its October 16 event, at which the company is going to reveal the iPad Air 2 and iPad Mini 3. The Motorola Nexus 6 (Shamu) is also making the rounds with its 5.9" display. HTC made quite a stir with its Desire Eye smartphone and Re camera, while the new Samsung A-series of smartphones are leaking in full swing making everyone await their arrival. .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; } Motorola Nexus 6 goes through CPU-Z, confirms chipset More details regarding the Motorola-made Nexus 6 (codenamed Shamu) have appeared through the Geekbench benchmark database as well as thanks to a couple of CPU-Z screenshot posted on Twitter. The 5.9" Nexus 6 managed a multi-core Geekbench score of 3199, which is more than the score of both... HTC Desire Eye has 13MP selfie camera, S801 chipset There was a lot of speculation what the Eye will be, well it turns out it's the new Desire flagship. The HTC Desire Eye can be seen as an upgrade over the HTC One (E8) as it takes the 13MP camera with dual-LED flash from the back and brings it around the front too. That give the Desire Eye... Samsung Galaxy A7 has 1080p screen, A5 out in November Samsung's upcoming 'A series' of smartphones has been in the news a lot lately, with leaks coming left and right. This usually signifies an announcement arriving in the near future, and that could be just what's going to happen in this case. According to a new rumor, the Galaxy A5 will already... Details of the iPad Air 2 surface ahead of October 16 event New Apple iPad Air 2 details have surfaced originating from trusted sources within the Apple manufacturing chain. They reveal that the iPad Air 2 is going to be 0.5mm thinner than its predecessor due to a new display assembly. The Apple iPad Air measures 7.5 mm, which means the Air 2 will be just... Motorola DROID Turbo manual is out early, confirms specs The Motorola DROID Turbo manual has hit the web before the official announcement of the monster handset. The manual details a 21MP camera with dual-LED flash and 2160p video capture. The screen will be 5.2" big with QHD resolution (2,560 x 1,440 pixels) and will support Moto Display... iPhone 6 popularity skyrockets, iOS 8 adoption is sluggish How bad were the issues with iOS 8.0.1? Perhaps as bad as the iOS 5 rollout, when many people downloaded the hefty 800MB update only to find out it won't install (failing with an unhelpful "error 3200"). And they had to use an updated iTunes to make things even more frustrating. iOS 6 and 7... Sapphire crystal maker for Apple Watch goes bankrupt In a bit of baffling news, GT Advanced has released a statement saying it is filing for bankruptcy under Chapter 11. GT Advanced, in case you didn't know, is the company tasked with making those sapphire crystal screen covers for the Apple Watch. Apple also uses sapphire from the same company... Asus PadFone S launches in Malaysia for just $275 Asus has announced its plans to launch the PadFone S and the accompanying it PadStation dock in Malaysia. In the coming weeks, both will launch with a respective price tag of $275 and $152. For the money, the PadFone S brings a Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 chipset with a 2.3GHz quad-core...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/week_41_in_review_apple_ipad_air_2_mini_3_motorola_nexus_6-news-9890.php

Meizu MX4 makes its way to Malaysia for $322

The Meizu MX4 is setting foot in Malaysia by the end of this month. The phone is going to be made available from Meizu itself for a price of $322 (RM 1,048). For the price, Malaysian customers get the latest generation MediaTek MT6595 chipset with big.LITTLE architecture, 5.3" 1152x1920 IPS display by Sharp, 20.7MP Sony Exmor RS camera, and Android 4.4.4-based Flyme 4.0 OS. The Meizu MX4 is already up for pre-order internationally and the company's CEO Bai Yongxian states the company has received 7.7 million pre-orders for the device. The Meizu MX4 is available om 16GB or 32GB variants with prices of $449 and $489, respectively. Both price tags include shipping and import tax to select markets in Europe, North America, Africa, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/meizu_mx4_makes_its_way_to_malaysia_for_322-news-9892.php

Samsung Galaxy Note 4 review: Four of a kind

From an oddball that everyone was laughing at to becoming one of the most important Samsung announcement of the year - the Note series got to a place where now everyone else wants to be in too, including Apple...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_note_4-review-1147.php

Sharp Aquos Crystal lands on Boost Mobile and Sprint

The Sharp Aquos Crystal went official in Japan in mid-August and was due to launch on Sprint two weeks later, but due to some delays it is only now making its way to the US shores. Boost Mobile is getting the mid-range smartphone today for $149.99 sans contract. Sprint is offering the Aquos Crystal via its Easy Pay service with no initial down payment for 24 payments of $10. The carrier will also offer the phone off-contract for $149.99 starting October 21. The Sharp Aquos Crystal offers a 5" 720p panel, Snapdragon 400 with a quad-core 1.2GHz processor, 1.5GB of RAM, 8GB of storage and a 2,040mAh battery. It does pack a Harmon Kardon-branded sound package with Clari-Fi and LiveStage tech. The phone runs Android 4.4.2 KitKat out of the box and features an 8MP snapper with LED as well as a 1.2MP camera for selfies. We are yet to learn if Sharp plans to release its latest smartphones to markets outside the US and Japan. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/sharp_aquos_crystal_lands_on_boost_mobile_and_sprint-news-9891.php

Oppo N3 leaks again, shows three color versions

Oppo N3 has been in the rumorland for quite a while with specs and renders. Oppo even began teasing the smartphone on Facebook. The latest teaser picture once again confirmrs the Oppo N3 announcement date - October 29. The event will be taking place in Singapore. Meanwhile three new official-like renders reveal the Oppo N3 color options - pink, white, blue. Oppo has confirmed the N3 will come in two flavors - aluminum-lithium alloy and stainless steel - yet we don't know if each color will be available in both flavors. Oppo N3 is rumored to pack a 5.9" 1080p display and run on the latest Snapdragon 805 chipset with 3GB of RAM. Just like before the camera will be capable of 206-degree rotation and will feature a 13MP sensor with dual-LED flash. We'll be in Singapore to cover the event as it unfolds, so stay tuned! Source 1 | Source 2 |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/colorful_oppo_n3_leaks_again_oppo_confirms_october_29_event-news-9889.php

Lenovo announces Yoga Tablet 2 Pro 13.3" QHD Android tablet

At a global launch event yesterday, Lenovo announced the Yoga Tablet 2 Pro. The tablet runs Android and packs a 13.3" QHD display, but that's not even the coolest thing about it. In fact, the Tablet 2 Pro comes with an integrated projector, which allows you to beam the slate's display on up to 50" surface. Moreover, the Tablet 2 Pro comes with a 5W JBL subwoofer and two 1.5W front-facing speakers. This makes up for an 8W surround sound system, which promises to be quite good. The slate's battery is good enough for 15 hours of usage on a single charge, but no more specifics are available at this point. All of these neat features have made the tablet quite heavy at 950 grams. Since this is the latest slate in the Yoga family, it comes with cool stand allowing it for different viewing modes. In addition to the old Stand, Tilt and Hold, there's a new Hang mode which lets you hang the tablet on a wall, for instance. Under the hood of the tablet operates a quad-core Intel Atom Z3745 processor and 2GB of RAM. Internal storage is 32GB, while the microSD card slot allows for additional expansion of up to 64GB. In terms of connectivity, the Yoga Tablet 2 Pro supports USB on-the-go, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n (but no 802.11ac), Bluetooth 4.0 and LTE. At the back of the tablet, there's an 8MP f/2.2 camera with LED flash, while at the front 1.6MP 720p shooter takes care of video chatting. Check out a quick promo video of the tablet below. Lenovo Yoga Tablet 2 Pro will be available from the end of October with the non-LTE model costing...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/lenovo_announces_yoga_tablet_2_pro_133_qhd_android_tablet-news-9886.php

HTC One (M8 EYE) quietly goes on sale in China

HTC has quietly launched an updated version of the new HTC One. Called the HTC One (M8 EYE), the new model features just one change, but it also happens to be the one that everybody was asking for. HTC has swapped the 4 UltraPixel camera from the original M8 to a new 13 megapixel camera from the Desire EYE but retains the second depth sensor. It also gets the new HTC EYE Experience software from the Desire EYE, but then that is also being made available for the standard M8. Although the original M8 was critically acclaimed for being an excellent smartphone, the UltraPixel camera on the back was universally hailed as being unimpressive due to its low resolution (sometimes megapixels do matter). The latest update fixes that with a three time resolution boost, although low light performance likely won't be as good now. Regardless of that, the M8 EYE is only available in China for now for ¥3,999 ($652) and the only other market where it will be launched is apparently India. So those in other markets might have to import this one, or wait for HTC's next flagship. Source •...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/htc_one_m8_eye_quietly_goes_on_sale_in_china-news-9888.php

Lenovo Yoga Tablet 2 comes in 8" and 10", lower pricetag

The new generation Lenovo Yoga Tablet 2 family also comes in 8" and 10" versions, besides the gadget-packed 13.3" Pro version. The 10" model has a Windows 8 version as well as an Android one, while the smallest 8" model is Android-only. They are all powered by a quad-core Atom processor and share the Yoga Tablet's trademark kickstand. The new gen introduces the Hang mode - you basically hang the tablet like a picture. The three old modes - Hold, Tilt and Stand - are also possible. Inside the thicker bottom end of the tablet are stereo front-facing speakers by Dolby and Wolfson. The IPS LCD screens of the 10" and 8" models both have 1,920 x 1,200 pixel resolution, lower than the QHD screen of the Pro model but still fairly sharp in tablet terms - 226ppi and 283ppi respectively. The two tablets share in other specs too - like an 8MP f/2.2 auto-focus camera on the back and a 1.6MP selfie camera. They have 16GB of built-in storage and support microSD cards up to 64GB, plus you can attach USB On-the-go for more storage or accessories. The connectivity includes dual-band Wi-Fi b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0 and optional LTE (available only in some countries, but not in the US). The 10" Lenovo Yoga Tablet 2 measures 255 x 183 x 3-7.2mm and weighs 619g. The 8" model is 210 x 149 x 2.7-7mm and weighs 419g. The two tablets are available starting today at €230/$250 for the 8" model and €300/$300 for the 10"...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/lenovo_yoga_tablet_2_comes_in_8_and_10_lower_pricetag-news-9887.php

HTC One M8 gets Eye Experience with Android 4.4.4 KitKat

Just two days after announcing the Eye Experience software, which ships with the new HTC Desire Eye, the company has also launched an update for the HTC One (M8) to bring it up to speed. The Eye Experience is coming to the One (M8) alongside Android 4.4.4 KitKat, which also contains some security fixes. The Eye Experience improves the One (M8) camera software with some cool features - mostly involving the front-facing camera. You can now track up to 4 faces during video chat and ensure they're within the camera's view angle thanks to Face Tracking. It is followed by the Split capture feature that lets you use the front-facing and rear camera simultaneously. Thanks to the Eye Experience suite, you can take selfies by saying "cheese" or "action" and merge 4 selfies into a single photo by using Photo booth. The firmware version of the update is 3.28.401.6 and weighs 252.01MB. Currently, HTC is slowly seeding the update for unlocked One (M8) units in Europe, but other markets should follow shortly. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/htc_one_m8_receives_eye_experience_with_android_444_kitkat-news-9885.php

Sony Xperia Z3v goes official for Verizon Wireless

Sony took the wraps off the Xperia Z3v for Verizon Wireless in the United States. The IP68 certified high-end Android smartphone will hit the carrier's shelves later this month, on October 23 for $199.99 with a two-year contract. At a quick glance, the Sony Xperia Z3v looks identical to the Xperia Z2. However, as its name suggests, the newcomer packs the same display and internals as the Sony Xperia Z3. Furthermore, Verizon and Sony have collaborated to add Qi wireless charging capability into the device. The specs of Sony Xperia Z3v include Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 SoC with 2.5GHz quad-core CPU, 3GB of RAM, and 32GB of built-in memory. The latter can be expanded further via a microSD card slot. The display of the device is a 5.2" 1080p Triluminos with Live Color LED and X-Reality for mobile. It is the same unit as the one found in the Xperia Z3. Sony's highly capable 20.7MP camera with 4K video capture, 3,200mAh battery, and Android 4.4.4 KitKat are also on board. The Xperia Z3v supports PlayStation 4 Remote Play via Wi-Fi; it can pair with a PS4 wireless controller. Sony and Verizon will launch a number of accessories for the Xperia Z3v. They include Sony Smartwatch 3 for $249.99, CPW5 wireless charger with built-in battery ($59.99), and PS4 wireless controller with GCM10 mount ($59.99 and $39.99 respectively). Sony released a promo video of the Xperia Z3v. See it below. Source...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/sony_xperia_z3v_goes_official_for_verizon_wireless-news-9884.php

Samsung Galaxy Note 4 UK launch delayed to October 17

The Samsung Galaxy Note 4 was supposed to hit the shelves in the UK tomorrow but there is going to be a small delay. An eager Twitter users asked Samsung Mobile about the launch who confirmed that the flagship phablet will be available a week later than originally planned. The timeline map released by Samsung a week ago put the UK among the countries where the Galaxy Note 4 will be available on October 10. That was for Samsung's own stores though, pre-orders for on-contract devices listed October 17 as the shipping date. A good part of Europe will also get the phablet at that date and now it seems so will the UK. Samsung is citing "amazing interest and demand" as the reason for the delay. The Samsung Galaxy Note 4 costs around £575 off contract but can be head for free with a contract worth at least £38 a...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_note_4_availability_in_uk_delayed_to_october_17-news-9883.php

Samsung Galaxy Ace 4 LTE lands in the UK on October 17

Samsung has partially revealed its launch plans for the Galaxy Ace 4 LTE in the UK. The phone will be available both online and in Samsung Experience Stores stores starting October 17. Sadly, pricing information is yet to be revealed. The company also said that O2 and EE are going to be one of the first carriers to offer it, but we presume Vodafone and T-Mobile UK are also going to join in. The entry-level specs sheet of the Galaxy Ace 4 LTE includes a 1.2GHz quad-core CPU, 1GB of RAM and a 4.3" LCD display with 800 x 480 resolution. The phone runs Android 4.4 KitKat out of the box and features Samsung Knox 2.0. At the back of the Galaxy Ace 4 LTE resides a 5MP camera with LED flash. Under the back cover operates a 1,800 mAh Li-Ion battery and the weight of the phone is a hair above 130 grams. The phone is not to be confused with the Samsung Galaxy Ace Style LTE, which packs an AMOLED display and has a different back cove featuring a cool stripe in the middle. That phone is already available for purchase in Germany with a €199 price...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_ace_4_lte_lands_in_the_uk_on_october_17-news-9882.php

Motorola Nexus 6 goes through CPU-Z, confirms chipset

More details regarding the Motorola-made Nexus 6 (codenamed Shamu) have appeared through the Geekbench benchmark database as well as thanks to a couple of CPU-Z screenshot posted on Twitter. The 5.9" Nexus 6 managed a multi-core Geekbench score of 3199, which is more than the score of both the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. The high result is thanks to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 chipset with a 2.65GHz quad-core Krait 450 CPU inside and 3GB of RAM. Furthermore, the Nexus 6 comes with QHD resolution resulting in a pixel density of 496ppi. The high-end specs sheet also features a 13MP camera with OIS and a dual-flash ring configuration akin to the Motorola Moto X (2014). The battery is rumored to have a capacity of about 3,200mAh, but won't be removable. This isn't the first time we see the Nexus 6 go through a benchmark. The phone also went through the GFXBench, which tested its Adreno 420 GPU. Needless to say, the phone did quite well. Android L is going to debut on the phone, as goes the tradition with new Android releases. A couple of weeks ago, a photo of the Nexus 6 leaked. In the photo, the phone relaxes next to the LG G3, which gives us a good idea of how big it's going to be. Source • Source (2) | Via • Via...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/motorola_nexus_6_goes_through_cpuz_reveals_specs-news-9881.php

Motorola DROID Turbo manual is out early, confirms specs

The Motorola DROID Turbo manual has hit the web before the official announcement of the monster handset. The manual details a 21MP camera with dual-LED flash and 2160p video capture. The screen will be 5.2" big with QHD resolution (2,560 x 1,440 pixels) and will support Moto Display - notifications of messages, calls and more show up on a sleeping display without wasting much power. While Moto Display is on you can use Moto Actions to wave over the phone to check the new message. Moto Voice is also on board with for always-on voice commands. The Motorola DROID Turbo passed through benchmarks where it left traces of a Snapdragon 805 chipset - 4x Krait 450 CPU @ 2.65GHz, Adreno 420 GPU and 3GB of RAM. The phone also had 32GB of built-in storage, but unfortunately the manual says nothing about a microSD card slot. We've seen the back of the device, which had a new take on Motorola's carbon fiber backs. Source (PDF) |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/manual_for_motorola_droid_turbo_is_out_early-news-9880.php

Three gets UK exclusivity for HTC Desire Eye

Three has announced it will be the only UK carrier to offer the newly announced HTC Desire Eye once it becomes available. The smartphone with front and rear 13MP cameras with dual-LED flash units went official last night in New York, and Three was quick to brag that it got the exclusivity deal. Three also announced it will be offering the Re Camera, but pricing and availability is yet to be confirmed. There is no information if Three's exclusivity is time limited or not. Naturally, you will be able to get a subsidized HTC Desire Eye with a 2-year contract, but again - the pricing and exact availability is to be specified later. It's unclear what happens if you aren't a Three user - the press release mentions that three will be the only operator to offer tha smartphone so an unlocked and SIM-free HTC Desire Eye might be available through other retailers. We'll keep you in the...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/the_new_htc_desire_eye_available_exclusively_at_three_uk-news-9879.php

HTC Desire Eye hands-on: First look

Portrait photography used to be something people dress up for, now teens snap a few "selfies" before breakfast. HTC goes all-in on the selfie craze with the new HTC Desire Eye where front and back cameras pack equally impressive 13MP sensors...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/htc_desire_eye-review-1146.php

HTC Desire Eye has 13MP selfie camera, S801 chipset

There was a lot of speculation what the Eye will be, well it turns out it's the new Desire flagship. The HTC Desire Eye can be seen as an upgrade over the HTC One (E8) as it takes the 13MP camera with dual-LED flash from the back and brings it around the front too. That give the Desire Eye a unique face - a much larger than usual front-facing camera is positioned above the screen and it gets a dedicated dual-LED flash and a microphone. It's getting the same treatment as the back camera, which has a dual-LED flash and a microphone too. There's another microphone on the bottom of the device for a total of three mics used for better audio through noise cancellation. HTC Desire Eye in Blue Both cameras can record 1080p@30fps video. The one on the back has an f/2.0 aperture and a 28mm lens, while the one on the front has a wider 20mm lens but a smaller f/2.2 aperture. HTC's trademark BoomSound speakers are harder to see but still on board. They flank the larger 5.2" screen of the HTC Desire Eye, an LCD with 1080p resolution. Besides selfie camera and screen size, the Eye also trumps the One (E8) with an IPX7 rating - water resistance up to 1m of water for half an hour. The Desire Eye carries much better specs than most of the Desire family. It's powered by a Snapdragon 801 chipset with 2GB RAM and runs Android 4.4 with the latest Sense software and two camera-centric apps - Eye Experience and the new Zoe. HTC Desire Eye in Red Anyway, the phone also boasts LTE connectivity, dual-band Wi-Fi a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 4.0 with aptX, NFC and a microUSB port. The port is left uncovered while maintaining the IPX7 rating, just like the HTC Butterfly 2. The Desire Eye has 16GB of built-in storage, expandable by microSD cards (up to 128GB) and a 2,400mAh Li-Po battery. With front-facing stereo speakers, a large front-facing camera and a larger screen, the Eye is not the most compact device around, measuring 151.7 x 73.8 x 8.5 mm. The HTC Desire EYE will be offered by AT&T exclusively at launch. Further availability and pricing details will be available later on. The HTC Eye Experience app will help you use the two 13MP cameras to the fullest. Split Capture divides the photo 50/50 between front and back cameras, while Crop-Me-In creates a single photo with you photoshopped into the back camera image. The impressive front-facing camera on the Desire Eye also targets high-quality video calls. To make things easier it can track up to four faces and keep them in place so people can relax and not worry about positioning while they chat. This even works with third-party video call apps like Skype. HTC EYE Experience will roll out to the following models (full feature list to be confirmed at roll-out): HTC One (M7), HTC One (M8), HTC One (E8), HTC One mini, HTC One mini 2, HTC One Remix, HTC One Max, HTC Desire 612, and HTC Desire 816 in the coming months. Then there's the new Zoe. Recent HTC phones came with just a promise for a new app for months on end but the wait is over. The new version offers collaborative video editing and it integrates with RE - HTC's new action camera. Zoe is not completely done even after all this wait, the new content engine will launch later this year. HTC Zoe app will be available for all Android devices Zoe is not just for HTC phones - not even just for Android. HTC will release Zoe apps to the general Android population and even iOS later this year. iOS...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/htc_desire_eye_has_13mp_selfie_camera_s801_chipset-news-9878.php

Watch the HTC Double Exposure event live here

October 8 has come and HTC is having its promised press event in New York. The company is anticipated to announce at least two new products - a selfie-centric smartphone and its debut action camera. The smartphone is believed to be the HTC Desire Eye with a 13MP front-facing camera joined by a dual-LED flash. Rumors suggest the phone is packing a 5.2" 1080p display and a Snapdragon 801 chipset with 2GB of RAM. The phone is also water resistant and boasts an IPX7 certification. We'll report on everything there's to know about the phone once the event kicks off. HTC will also announce a non-smartphone product, namely the Re action camera. It looks like a periscope and is poised to go against the likes of GoPro and Sony Action Cam. So far, we know that it's going to be a wide-angle camera, but not much more. Follow the live stream below and find out with...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/watch_the_htc_double_exposure_event_right_here-news-9876.php

Apple officially confirms an iPad event for October 16

The Apple event on October 16 is now official after the company sent out invites to the press. The event going to be held in Apple's Town Hall auditorium on the Infinite Loop Campus in Cupertino, California at 10AM PT / 1PM ET. The invite containing the words "It's been way too long" leads to the event that will see the debut of Apple's refreshed iPad Air and iPad mini. Thanks to the plethora of leaks surrounding the two we know they're both packing the Apple A8 chipset with an M8 co-processor, Touch ID, Apple Pay. Both slates will be thinner than their predecessors with the iPad Air 2 measuring just 7mm (and sacrificing the vibrate/mute button because of it). Additionally, the company is preparing to announce a new iMac line-up. It's going to tout new, higher resolution screens - 6400 x 3600, 5760 x 3240, and 4096 x 2304 pixels. It's also possible that Apple is ready to also reveal a 12-inch MacBook with Retina display, but we haven't heard much about it. Mac OS X Yosemite Beta 5 and Golden Master Candidate for developers have started seeding today and we suspect Apple is going to be ready for the OS final release to coincide with the October 16 event. Expect updated iWork and iLife apps as well as redesigned iTunes 12. The event is a little more than a week away, so stay tuned as we'll cover every bit of...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/apple_schedules_an_ipad_event_for_october_16-news-9877.php

Asus PadFone S launches in Malaysia for just $275

Asus has announced its plans to launch the PadFone S and the accompanying it PadStation dock in Malaysia. In the coming weeks, both will launch with a respective price tag of $275 and $152. For the money, the PadFone S brings a Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 chipset with a 2.3GHz quad-core CPU and 2GB of RAM. Internal storage is 16GB and is expandable, too. The phone is built around 5" IPS display of 1080p resolution and the phone supports Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC and LTE. The PadStation, which is sold separately, quickly turns the PadFone S into a tablet. The dock comes with a 4,990mAh battery, which can charge the phone when docked and its 9" display packs a 1920 x 1200 resolution. The combined price of the two is $427 (RM 1,398), which is half the price Asus asked for the original PadFone two years ago. The Asus PadFone S will initially be available in black, but a white color version will be available later down the road. Asus hasn't detailed plans for a wider release, but we'll let you know if we hear...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/asus_padfone_s_launches_in_malaysia_for_just_275-news-9874.php

Sprint cuts Galaxy Note 4 pre-order price to $300

The Samsung Galaxy Note 4 phablet is hitting the US next week and carriers are taking pre-orders. Sprint had one of the higher pre-order prices at $350, but it has changed its mind and sliced $50 off that to match key rivals AT&T and Verizon. Sprint doesn't specify what it will do with users who pre-ordered at $350, but hopefully they won't be charged for booking their units earlier. You can also get the Galaxy Note 4 with $0 down payment and pay $30 a month for 24 months instead. This is similar to T-Mobile's Uncarrier plan where you pay $0 upfront and $31.24 for 24 months. Verizon is charging $35 for 20 months on its early update Edge plan, while the equivalent AT&T Next plan costs $34.42 for 24 months. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/sprint_cuts_galaxy_note_4_preorder_price_to_300-news-9875.php

Apple iPad Air 2 dummy photographed extensively

The new generation of iPads may be as close as a week away but rumors have been trickling in for a while. Yesterday we reported on a number of updates for the iPad Air 2, now it's time to look at some pictures of an Air 2 prototype. They come from Vietnam and seem to show a dummy used to develop cases. The design seems to be unchanged from the previous generation, which suggests the iPads will not follow the iPhones in shedding last year's design. The new iPhones do take some cues from the rounded aluminum design of the iPad Air. iPad Air 2 front and close-up detail Close-ups show a curvature on the glass, like iPhone 6's ion-strengthened glass. The Home key is also finally TouchID-enabled, after last year's models missed out on this features. iPad Air 2 back and detail Reportedly the new iPad Air 2 will measure just 7mm thick, a hair thinner than the 7.5mm iPad Air. The new iPads will allegedly be unveiled at an event on October 16, next Thursday. They are also expected to improve the cameras, add 2B of RAM and bump up the storage options (starting at 32GB). The sides of the iPad Air 2 Thanks to Claudiu for sending this in! Source (in Vietnamese) |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/apple_ipad_air_2_dummy_photographed_extensively-news-9872.php

LG to launch the G Watch R in Europe in November for €299

A couple of days ago we reported that LG is planning to launch the circular G Watch R in South Korea on October 14, but in Europe those eager to get a hold of the smartwatch will have to wait a bit longer. The LG G Watch R has been listed by a retailer in the Netherlands suggesting the watch will arrive in the week of November 3 - 7. The price of the LG G Watch R is higher than its G Watch predecessor. The circular smartwatch will cost €299, compared to the €199 for the square. In terms of specs, the smartwatch has a rounded screen complete with a 1.3″ rounded POLED (plastic organic light-emitting diode) 320 x 320 display, Snapdragon 400 chipset and a 410mAh battery that will reportedly be able to endure for one day and a half to two days with the always on feature enabled. The watch is also IP67 certified. If you are wondering if the G Watch R is worth the money, you can check out our hands-on of the smartwatch. Certainly, it looks a lot better than its square brother. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/lg_to_launch_the_g_watch_r_in_europe_for__euro299-news-9871.php

Galaxy Note Edge hits Japan this month, pre-orders available now

Samsung has confirmed the Galaxy Note Edge premium phablet is going to launch in Japan this month. It will be available through KDDI and NTT DoCoMo carriers. The Galaxy Note Edge is already available on pre-order, you can check with your preferred carrier for your options. The announcement happened during the Galaxy Note Edge World Tour. Samsung Galaxy Note Edge is also available on pre-order in some EU countries - the UK pre-order price is £650, while the German retailers ask for €999. Samsung considers the Note Edge as a niche device, so the premium price is to be expected. There is no official information on the release date though. You can check our Samsung Galaxy Note Edge hands-on at IFA right here. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/galaxy_note_edge_hits_japan_this_month_preorders_available_now-news-9870.php

iOS and Windows see small gains in US while Android dominates

comScore has published numbers for the average users on all the major platforms as well as users on a particular smartphone brand in the US. The data was collected over a period of three months ending in August 2014 and compared with previous data of three months ending in May 2014. Comparing the three platforms, Android continues to dominate the US market with 52% of the user base at the end of August-14, down slightly from 52.1% by the end of May-14. Meanwhile, iOS has gone from 41.9% to 42%. Windows Phone went from 3.4% to 3.5%, while BlackBerry (2.3%) and Symbian (0.1%) maintained their numbers. As for individual OEMs, Apple continues to lead by having 42% of the entire US smartphone user base, followed by Samsung at 28.9%, and LG at 6.7%. Motorola and HTC come in last place and are the only ones who saw a drop in August since May. Source •...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/ios_and_windows_see_small_gains_in_us_while_android_dominates-news-9869.php

Apple iOS 8.1 beta 2 is now seeding to developers

Apple began seeding iOS 8.1 beta 2 to registered developers. The latest beta arrives in a tad over a week after the first one got out. Almost 57MB in size, the update brings bug fixes and improvements to the platform. The Bluetooth connectivity issue we told you about last week is likely among the them. Since its launch, Apple iOS 8 has already gone through a couple of updates. Reportedly, Apple is already working on iOS 8.2 and iOS 8.3....

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/apple_ios_81_beta_2_is_now_seeding_to_developers-news-9868.php

HTC sheds light on its future plans for wearable devices

HTC executives shed some light on the company's plans for a wearable device in a conversation with Re/code. In line with past rumors, the Taiwanese manufacturer confirmed that it will not enter the market for such products until next year. According to Jason Mackenzie, the head of HTC Americas, the company originally had plans to launch a wearable in this time frame. However, the gadget is not ready for the spotlight just yet. Furthermore, Drew Bamford, the man in charge of the HTC Creative Labs team that works on wearables, took a jab at the competition. He pointed to the media that none of the current manufacturers has gotten the wearable device concept right. In short, HTC wants to really make a wearable device before it sends it to the retail shelves. Source ...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/htc_sheds_light_on_its_future_plans_for_wearable_devices-news-9867.php

Meizu MX4 with Ubuntu Touch makes an appearance

Images of Meizu MX4 running Ubuntu Touch made the rounds online. By default, the high-end Chinese smartphone runs Android-based Flyme OS. There is no official information on future availability of the Linux-based OS for the smartphone just yet. Rumor has it that the yet to be revealed, previously leaked Meizu MX4 Pro might offer Ubuntu Touch as an option. All in all, the Meizu MX4 shapes up to be a stellar choice for users who like to experiment with different operational systems. In addition to Flyme OS and Ubuntu Touch, the handset has also been spotted with YunOS on board. The latter is an Android-based ROM made by the Chinese retail behemoth Alibaba. Source (in Chinese) | Via ...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/meizu_mx4_with_ubuntu_touch_makes_an_appearance-news-9866.php

HTC Desire 612 outed by Verizon, available on October 9

AT&T is already selling the HTC Desire 610, and now Verizon wants in on that game. The carrier nicknamed 'Big Red' has taken to asking HTC for a slight redesign, however, and with that comes a new name too. Verizon will be offering the HTC Desire 612 starting on October 9 (which is this Thursday). The new look isn't the only thing that's different about Verizon's 612 - its screen is higher-res than that of the Desire 610 too. It's still a 4.7-inch panel, but with 720p HD resolution (and not 540x960 qHD). The other specs have remained intact. You can expect the Desire 612 to pack a 1.2 GHz quad-core processor, 8GB of built-in storage, microSD card support, an 8 MP rear camera with LED flash, a 1.3 MP front-facing snapper, dual front-facing stereo speakers, and a 2,040 mAh battery. The phone runs Android 4.4 KitKat and has support for Verizon's XLTE network for fast data speeds. The Desire 612 will be free with a new two-year contract from the carrier. You'll also be able to get it using Verizon's Edge installment plan, if you...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/htc_desire_612_outed_by_verizon_available_on_october_9-news-9865.php

Samsung Galaxy A7 has 1080p screen, A5 out in November

Samsung's upcoming 'A series' of smartphones has been in the news a lot lately, with leaks coming left and right. This usually signifies an announcement arriving in the near future, and that could be just what's going to happen in this case. According to a new rumor, the Galaxy A5 will already be in stores in November. If that's going to pan out, then we may see it get officially unveiled later this month. As previously leaked, the A5 should cost around $400-450 without a contract. The biggest model of the three, the Galaxy A7, which has so far been said to sport a 5.5-inch screen, now gets a rumored resolution too. At least in China, that is apparently going to be Full HD (1080p). This might mean that in other territories the Galaxy A7 will only come with a 720p display. Keep in mind though that this particular device may not get a worldwide launch like its smaller siblings, the A3 and A5. All the members of the new A line should have metallic frames, emulating the design of the recently outed Galaxy Alpha. The Galaxy A3 and A5 have been the stars of a hands-on video mere hours ago. The A5 did a photo shoot a while back, while the A7 is still the most mysterious of the...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_a5_out_in_november_a7_has_1080p_screen-news-9864.php

Moto 360 on pre-order in the UK at £200

Pre-orders for the Motorola Moto 360 smartwatch are underway in the United Kingdom. The first units may ship starting next month though various sites cite different time frames. Amazon UK has the Dark Chrome/Black Leather version at £200 and expects to start shipping on November 1. Clove UK might beat it by a few days, at least for a lucky few - a limited number of units will ship out in late October, but the first significant stock will come in November. Expansys, O2 and MobileFun also have the Moto 360 smartwatch on pre-order but don't list any prices. MobileFun does have the Silver/White Metal and Black Dark Chrome/Metal versions (the ones with metal wristbands) at £230, plus the other leather option with Black Leather. The metal versions will presumably launch later but there's no way to tell right...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/moto_360_on_preorder_in_the_uk_at_200-news-9863.php

HTC Butterfly 2 review: Caterpillar

The Butterfly series may not be the bread winner for HTC but has proven to be among the most innovative in the family. The HTC Butterfly 2 has a good foundation to build on: a solid screen, the trademark stereo speakers and HTC Sense 6...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/htc_butterfly_2-review-1145.php

OnePlus One update brings RAW format, new audio codecs

The OnePlus One is now getting a massive OTA update. The new CyanogenMod firmware - CM 11S 38R - brings a plethora of new features, improvements and bug fixes. Notable upgrades in this firmware are the added RAW format in the Camera app, expanded audio codec playback capabilities, better battery life and ANT+ support. The battery life also got a boost, while quite a few bugs got squashed. Here is the official complete change log of CM 11S 38R firmware for OnePlus One: Improves the responsiveness of the touchscreen. A new and very cool lockscreen. Ability to take photos in RAW format. Enhanced audio capabilities (24 bit, 96/192khz—flac/alac/wav files without resampling). ANT+ support. Added method for users to report bugs directly to Cyanogen. Added pause button during video recording. Improved battery life. And these are the bug fixes coming as part of the 11S 38R update: Fixed issues with camera exposure compensation stuck in ‘auto'. Fixed issues with ‘4G Preferred' option not connecting to 3G data. Fixed issues with delay in torch activation. Fixed issues with unresponsive screen requiring reboot. Fixed issues with static in speaker when changing volume while headset plugged in. Fixed issues with rotation not triggering when rotated slowly. Fixed issues with Quiet Hours / system UI causing battery drain on last day of month. Fixed issues with camera not starting when LED torch is already on. Fixed issues with Bluetooth volume low on connection. The update is rolling out in stages, but it will reach every OnePlus One owner very soon, if not already. Happy...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/oneplus_one_update_brings_raw_format_new_audio_codecs-news-9862.php

ZTE announces ZTE Grand XMax for Cricket

ZTE and Cricket have joined forces to launch the Grand XMax. The phone is built around a 6" 720p display and is quite thin measuring just 7.8mm. Powering the phablet is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 200 chipset with a 1.2GHz quad-core CPU and 1GB of RAM. It helps run Android 4.4 KitKat nicely with Evernote, Amazon and KingSoft Office apps pre-loaded. The Grand XMax features a 3,200mAh battery and weighs 171 grams. Strangely ZTE states the battery is going to be good for only 6.5 hours of 3G talk time or 860 hours of stand-by. In terms of connectivity, the phone also offers Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n and Bluetooth 4.0. At the back, there's an 8MP camera capable of shooting just 720p video. Nevertheless, it features an LED flash. There's also a 1MP front-facing camera for selfies and video chat. Happily, the phablet rocks a microSD card slot to complement the 8GB of internal storage. Cricket will start offering the device on October 10 for...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/zte_announces_zte_grand_x_max_for_cricket-news-9861.php

Details of the iPad Air 2 surface ahead of October 16 event

New Apple iPad Air 2 details have surfaced originating from trusted sources within the Apple manufacturing chain. They reveal that the iPad Air 2 is going to be 0.5mm thinner than its predecessor due to a new display assembly. The Apple iPad Air measures 7.5 mm, which means the Air 2 will be just 7.0mm. In order to make this happen, the display and glass are laminated into a single piece, just like the last few iPhone generations. However, the thinness of the tablet has resulted in Apple having to remove the mute/vibration button. The volume rocker buttons are going to be more inset, too. Some of the companies that have been tasked with the job of making the displays are TPK, GIS, Sharp, Samsung and LG, according to The Michael Report. Furthermore, the speakers now take a single row grill instead of the iPad Air's two. This has made the grill a bit larger than they currently are. The microphones have been switched to a new location just to the right of the camera module and the other is on the left side of the tablet. The cameras themselves are getting an update with Apple bumping the 5MP unit to an 8MP one and the front-facing camera will now support 720p FaceTime video calls. As for the chipset, the Apple A8 chip is going to take the wheel of the Air 2 complete with 2GB of RAM. Internal storage options are said to be 32GB, 64GB and 128GB. We should also see the Apple iPad Air 2 tout a TouchID fingerprint home button, NFC connectivity to enable Apple Pay. At its October 16 event, Apple is also expected to unveil the iPad Mini 3 with similar features to its larger brother. Expect TouchID, Apple Pay and the A8 chipset to be key features of the specifications list. Lastly, Apple is going to talk about its new iMac line-up with higher resolution displays and reveal more details of OSX Yosemite. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/details_of_the_ipad_air_2_surface_ahead_of_october_16_event-news-9860.php

Samsung Galaxy Alpha A5 and A3 return on video

The Samsung Galaxy Alpha duo from Mexico is back, this time starring in a two minute video. We get a short tour of the hardware and a confirmation that the software is Android 4.4.4 KitKat with TouchWiz on top. The whole Alpha line will feature a metal frame like the Galaxy Alpha but will not be flagship devices. Samsung Galaxy Alpha A5 For one, they are powered by Snapdragon 410 - Qualcomm's mid-range 64-bit chipset - for another the Galaxy Alpha A5 has a 5" 720p screen, while the smaller Galaxy Alpha A3 has a 4.5" qHD screen. Both Super AMOLED but not spectacularly sharp. The bezels around the screen aren't thin like we're used to on premium devices either. Samsung Galaxy Alpha A3 Both the Samsung Galaxy Alpha A3 and A5 were put through the GFX Benchmark leaving behind some specs. Not that we didn't know most of them from previous rumors, but it's another confirmation. Both phones are powered by Snapdragon 410 - quad-core Cortex-A53 @ 1.2GHz, Adreno 306, 1GB RAM - and have 16GB of built-in storage. The back cameras are 12MP and 8MP for the Alpha A5 and A3 respectively, while the front-facing cameras are 5MP shooters. All cameras record 1080p video. The benchmark also confirms the screen resolutions (screen diagonal measurements by software are inaccurate). There will be a third member of the family, the Galaxy Alpha A7, but it doesn't feature in the video. Design-wise the Alphas are hard to tell apart - the white one on the left is the bigger Alpha A5, the white one on the right is the smaller Alpha A3 (both confirmed via their About screens). We don't know the launch date for the three Galaxy Alpha A phones but we do know their price range - the Galaxy Alpha A5 will be around $400-$450, while the Galaxy Alpha A3 will be cheaper but not by much at $350-$400. Source 1 | Via (in French) • Source 2 • Source...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_alpha_a5_and_a3_return_on_video-news-9858.php

Now official: LG Watch R to go on sale in South Korea on October 14

LG has announced that it will be selling the G Watch R in South Korea starting October 14, one week from now. The company hasn't announce the date for international launch yet. The G Watch R is LG's second Android Wear watch after the G Watch and the first smartwatch with a legit full circle display. The original G Watch was one of the two launch devices for the Android Wear platform and was available in several markets but the G Watch R's availability is yet...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/lg_watch_r_to_go_on_sale_in_south_korea_on_october_14-news-9859.php

Sony confirms 32GB storage for T-Mobile Xperia Z3

Sony Mobile US has posted the official page for T-Mobile's Xperia Z3. Unlike the international Z3 flagship, the one headed to T-Mobile US will feature 32GB internal storage. Don't you worry, microSD expansion is still available. Sony Xperia Z3 for T-Mobile will be available only in black color and it is listed as coming soon. Sony is holding a special New York press event in just two days where many expect the manufacturer to announce the availability of the entire Xperia Z3 lineup for the States. Sony Xperia Z3 is already available in lots of markets worldwide. We've also met with the flagship and you can learn all about the water-proof smartphone from our review. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/sony_confirms_xperia_z3_for_tmobile_to_come_with_32gb_storage-news-9857.php

iPhone 6 and 6 Plus go on pre-order in India

The iPhone 6 and 6 Plus is now available in India. The country's top two online retailers - Flipkart and Amazon - have begun accepting pre-orders for both models in all their configurations. The phones will be delivered on October 17, which is the official launch day. The iPhone 6 is priced as follows (prices in INR) 16GB - 53,500 64GB - 62,500 (64,500 on Amazon) 128GB - 71,500 The iPhone 6 Plus is priced as follows (prices in INR) 16GB - 62,500 64GB - 71,500 128GB - 80,500 (N/A on Amazon) Both models are available in Space Gray, Silver, and Gold in all three capacities. You can head over to the links below to preorder your iPhone 6 and 6 Plus in India. Flipkart •...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/iphone_6_and_6_plus_go_for_preorder_in_india-news-9856.php

Samsung's Q3 earnings guidance reveals declining profits

Samsung announced its earnings guide for Q3 2014. The Korean giant expects a significant drop in profits over the same period last year - about 60% to be precise. The company expects to record profits of 4.1 trillion won (about $3.8 billion) from approximately 47 trillion won in sales. The latter are down 20% from this time last year. Smartphone sales by Samsung are slightly up for the period. However, increased marketing costs and declining product prices hurt the company's bottom line. Samsung will release its full earnings report towards the end of this month. Source...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsungs_q3_earnings_guidance_reveals_declining_profits-news-9855.php

HTC USA outs a teaser for its event on October 8

HTC USA released a teaser for its upcoming event in New York City on October 8. The tweet brings the following message: "Don't adjust your screen. Just focus on the date." Don't adjust your screen. Just focus on the date. #HTCLive http://t.co/Eyc1sYHxxw— HTC USA (@HTCUSA) October 6, 2014 The image in the tweet shows the back of an HTC One (M8) changing angles. The device in question could well be the previously leaked HTC One (M8) Eye. In addition to the abovementioned device, HTC is expected to launch an HTC Desire Eye handset with 13MP front-facing camera. An already teased action camera by the Taiwanese manufacturer is also coming our way. We will be covering the HTC event live from the spot. Be sure to tune in for our full coverage. Source...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/htc_usa_outs_a_teaser_for_its_event_on_october_8_-news-9854.php

Gold BlackBerry Passport appears in live photos

A gold version of the BlackBerry Passport made the rounds in live photos. The images reveal BlackBerry's freshly launched flagship with a frame covered by the precious metal. We don't know yet if the luxuriously appointed version of the device has been made by BlackBerry itself or a third-party. In any case, considering the target audience of the smartphone, as well as the markets where it is popular, we reckon that there will be plenty of potential customers for a gold option. BlackBerry Passport has been quite popular since its retail launch. The company sold over 200,000 units only a couple of days after launching the smartphone. Source...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/gold_blackberry_passport_appears_in_live_photos-news-9853.php

Sapphire crystal maker for Apple Watch goes bankrupt

In a bit of baffling news, GT Advanced has released a statement saying it is filing for bankruptcy under Chapter 11. GT Advanced, in case you didn't know, is the company tasked with making those sapphire crystal screen covers for the Apple Watch. Apple also uses sapphire from the same company for the camera covers and the Touch ID fingerprint sensors of its iPhone lineup. You may obviously be wondering what effect this bankruptcy filing will have on the release timeframe of the Apple Watch. That's still unclear, but just a few hours ago we heard that Apple's first wearable could be delayed slightly, arriving on the market in February in limited quantities. That might be related to GT Advanced's situation, but there's no more information right now. The sapphire maker will apparently be able to continue normal operations, hoping to resolve its issues with creditors soon. It will begin a reorganization plan to improve its balance sheet. Its CEO insists that this doesn't mean it's going to close its doors, seeing as how its business model is sound. As of September 28, the company still had around $85 million in cash. On the other hand, one could speculate that the dire situation in which GT Advanced now finds itself may have something do with the fact that Apple chose not to use its sapphire screen covers for the iPhone 6 models, despite countless rumors to the contrary. That decision allegedly had to do with low yields on the material. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/sapphire_crystal_maker_for_apple_watch_goes_bankrupt-news-9852.php

HTC Nexus 9 has its name confirmed by Taiwan's FCC

The next Nexus tablet will be made by HTC and will be called Nexus 9. This might not be new to you, but it's now been confirmed as fact by the NCC, Taiwan's equivalent of the FCC. Earlier today we told you that an HTC tablet with the model number 0P82100 got certified in the US by the FCC. And now Taiwan's equivalent of that agency has done the same. Only in doing so, the NCC managed to confirm that this is the Nexus 9. Have a look below, at a screenshot of the certification document. The Nexus 9 name can clearly be seen here, along with the same 0P82100 model number that everyone expected to be representative of this tablet. And now it's pretty much official - as official as it can be without a press release from Google and HTC, of course. Over the past few days the leaks about the Nexus 9 have intensified, so we're probably going to see it getting unveiled pretty soon. Past rumors had that happening around mid-October, and we're almost there. The Nexus 9, which allegedly got photographed recently, should sport a 64-bit Nvidia Tegra K1 chipset, an 8.9-inch touchscreen with 2,048x1,440 resolution, an 8 MP rear camera, and stereo speakers - if previous leaks are to be believed. Source (in Chinese) |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/htc_nexus_9_has_its_name_confirmed_by_taiwans_fcc-news-9851.php

LG G Watch R to cost more than its square brother, sales start soon

According to ETNews and ZDNet Korea, LG is planning to launch the G Watch R in South Korea on October 14. However, a local online retailer is rumored to have stroke a deal with LG and offer the watch exclusively for a week, starting tomorrow. As for the suggested price, the LG G Watch R is believed to be slightly more expensive than its G Watch rectancular brother. The rounded watch will go on sale for about $332 (KRW 352,000), compared to the original G Watch, which costs $250 (KRW 270,000). The reports state that LG hasn't decided about pricing and availability of other regions just yet. The LG G Watch R has a rounded screen complete with a 1.3″ rounded POLED (plastic organic light-emitting diode) 320 x 320 display, Snapdragon 400 chipset and a 410mAh battery that will reportedly be able to endure for one day and a half to two days with the always on feature enabled. The watch is also IP67 certified Lastly, don't forget to check out our LG G Watch R hands-on. Source • Source (2) |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/lg_g_watch_r_to_cost_more_than_its_square_brother_sales_start_soon-news-9850.php

TLC considers purchasing a stake in HTC

TCL Chairman Li Dongsheng has a post on his Weibo account in which he hints a possible tie-up between his company and HTC. In the post, Dongsheng expresses his admiration for Cher Wang, founder and chairman of HTC and suggests that both companies could pose a serious threat to the likes of Apple and Samsung. This isn't the first time TCL's Chairman hints at operations behind the scenes in this Weibo account. Previously, he noted made a small indication of TCL's partnership with Baidu on the TV front. Back in 2004, TCL invested €55 million in Alcatel's phonemaking business in return of 55% shareholding and a year later bought the remaining 45% for $8.1 million. Now, 9 years later, Alcatel is doing nicely and showcased some great smartphones at IFA 2014. HTC's latest quarter results show the company only managed to return a profit thanks to tightening its belt and cutting costs. Similarly to what it did with Alcatel, TCL could invest a considerable amount of money in HTC resulting in the phonemaker having more room to breathe and produce great products. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/tlc_and_htc_might_be_in_talks_for_a_mutual_tieup-news-9848.php

Apple Watch delayed for February in limited quantity

At its announcement event back in September, Apple announced that the Watch will be available early 2015, but Rosenblatt Securities analyst Brian Blair believes the company is having production issues. As a result, the Apple Watch won't go into mass production until January, 2015 at the earliest. Because of the delay, the Apple Watch can realistically launch as soon as February next year, but only in limited quantities. The main suppliers for the watch's parts will be able to produce enough parts for about 15 million Apple Watch units. All of them are going to be made by Quanta, one of Apple's partners for the Watch production. Blair believes that if Apple sees demand in its first wearable gadget, then it can turn up the production to around 20 to 25 million units. Apple announced that the entry level Watch Sport will cost $349, but no further pricing details were disclosed. However, long-time Apple analyst John Gruber believes the Watch Edition is going to retail for at least $1,999. The Apple Watch with stainless steel and sapphire glass is allegedly going to start at $999. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/apple_watch_delayed_for_february_in_limited_quantity-news-9847.php

iPhone 6 popularity skyrockets, iOS 8 adoption is sluggish

How bad were the issues with iOS 8.0.1? Perhaps as bad as the iOS 5 rollout, when many people downloaded the hefty 800MB update only to find out it won't install (failing with an unhelpful "error 3200"). And they had to use an updated iTunes to make things even more frustrating. iOS 6 and 7 reached 50% adoption in a little over a week after they launched. Meanwhile iOS 8 is staying closer to the iOS 5 trajectory and is currently under 40% nearly three weeks after its introduction. Of course, the iOS 8.0.1 issues saw many people hold off on updating but 8.0.2 has fixed that. Maybe people decided to wait a bit more in case new issues are revealed. The adoption of the new iPhones is very polarizing. One the one hand the iPhone 6 shot up, crossing the 2% mark in just five days, while previous models took as long as twenty days. On the other hand the big iPhone 6 Plus is staying close to iPhone 5c adoption rates. Of course, the 5.5" iPhone is suffering from availability issues, which undoubtedly contribute to the sluggish sales. Of course, those are relative numbers and there are more iPhones out there now than when the iPhone 5c launched. Still, it shows that Apple users have limits on how much of a screen bump they'll tolerate. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/iphone_6_popularity_skyrockets_ios_8_adoption_is_sluggish-news-9846.php

Alleged HTC-made Nexus 9 gets FCC certification

News about a rumored HTC Nexus 9 tablet has been relatively sparse since we first heard about a potential partnership with HTC earlier this summer. Now, following certification for the device from the US FCC authority, it appears that the Nexus 9 is one step closer to release. The FCC lists a tablet numbered 0P82100, which has been rumored to be the model number that the HTC-made device sports. Configurations include both 16GB and 32GB models of the tablet, with the usual array of connectivity options including Bluetooth, NFC, and support for the latest 802.11ac wireless standard. Rumors are that the Google Nexus 9 from HTC could be announced as early as October 15, and FCC certification at this stage almost guarantees that we'll have a new Nexus tablet in time for the holidays. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/alleged_htcmade_nexus_9_gets_fcc_certification-news-9844.php