HTC launches One (M8 EYE), Desire EYE, and RE in India

HTC has launched a bevy of devices in India. The first of the lot is the new HTC One (M8 EYE), which was recently launched in China. The M8 EYE is essentially the same as the M8 with replaces the 4 UltraPixel camera on the back with 13 megapixel camera. The HTC One (M8 EYE) is priced at Rs. 38,990. Next is the HTC Desire EYE, which has a 13 megapixel autofocus camera with dual LED flash on the front as well as the back. The Desire EYE also has a 5.2-inch, 1080p display, Snapdragon 801 processor, 2GB RAM, 16GB memory with microSD support, stereo BoomSound speakers, and IPX7 water-resistant body. The phone will be available through Amazon but the price hasn't been announced so far. After this come the Desire 820 and Desire 820q. Both phones have 5.5-inch 720 display, 13 megapixel rear camera, 8 megapixel front camera, and 2600mAh battery. The only differences are the 820 has an octa-core Snapdragon 615 with 2GB RAM and the 820q has 64-bit quad-core Snapdragon 410 with 1GB RAM. The Desire 820 is priced at Rs. 24,990 and the Desire 820q is priced at Rs. 22,500. Then there is the Desire 516C. It has a 5.0-inch qHD display, Snapdragon 200 processor, 1GB RAM, 4GB memory with microSD support, 5 megapixel rear camera, VGA front camera, dual SIM support, and 1950mAh battery. The Desire 516C is priced at Rs. 12,990 and available exclusively through Snapdeal. Finally, there is the HTC RE. HTC's compact photo and video camera is priced at an introductory price of Rs. 9,990 and available exclusively through...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/htc_launches_one_m8_eye_desire_eye_and_re_in_india-news-9974.php

Sony SmartWatch 3 arrives in the Google Play store

Sony SmartWatch 3 quietly made its way to the Google Play store. The Japanese manufacturer's first Android Wear device is listed as coming soon. The wearable gadget is priced at $249.99. The price tag positions the IP68 certified Sony SmartWatch 3 as a premium Android Wear offering - it costs as much as the Moto 360. The exact launch date of the smartwatch is yet to be revealed. We doubt it will be a long wait. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/sony_smartwatch_3_arrives_in_the_google_play_store_-news-9973.php

Samsung Gear S tipped to have its own plan on Sprint

According to a leaked Sprint Wireless internal memo, Samsung Gear S will be offered with its own plan when available. The wearable device features 3G connectivity and a SIM card slot. If you are brave enough to use the Samsung Gear S as your only gadget capable of making calls, Sprint will offer a "connected device" plan for $10 a month. The option will include 1,000 minutes, the same number of messages, and 100MB of mobile data. The other, more sensible option for the smartwatch will be to add it to your already existing family share plan for $10 once again. The option will allow you to share minutes, messages, and data with your other devices. Samsung Gear S will be available on all major US carriers in the near future. Pricing and exact availability are yet to be revealed....

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_gear_s_tipped_to_have_its_own_plan_on_sprint-news-9972.php

Huawei Ascend Mate7 review: Stargazer

The Huawei Ascend Mate7 is the company's first phablet ready for primetime, with two credible midrangers in the Mate series giving Huawei the confidence to stand up to rival flagships. Never mind the digit in the title, the Mate7 is actually a 6" device...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/huawei_ascend_mate7-review-1150.php

iPhone 6 went on sale in China without much fanfare

Many were expecting China to be one of the initial launch countries for the new iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, but that didn't happen. Following the announcement of the devices, there was much speculation as to why Apple didn't receive timely certification from the Chinese authorities for the new phones. And though we might never know what took so long, the Cupertino company did finally get all the thumbs-up it needed in China, in order for its new products to go on sale. After the last certification was passed in late September, we learned that the official release date for the iPhone 6 in China would be today. Since there were apparently 20 million pre-orders logged for the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, you might have expected thousands of people lining up in the streets in front of Apple stores over there. But you'd be wrong, since the launch was mostly low-key - at least compared to past Apple releases in the country. At the Beijing Apple store, only around 100 people waited in line this morning prior to its 8 am opening time. These were all customers who had pre-ordered the devices. The reason for the small queue has to do with the fact that the handsets have been available at carrier stores and in other places since midnight. This calm and peaceful launch contrasts with what happened, for example, at the same Beijing venue in May 2011, when the white iPhone 4 got released. Then a fight between customers and employees broke out. And in January 2012, on the first day of iPhone 4S sales, a delay in the Apple store's opening led to something of a...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/iphone_6_went_on_sale_in_china_without_much_fanfare-news-9971.php

Nexus 9 gets priced in the UK as Amazon starts pre-orders

The Google Nexus 9 tablet by HTC is now available for pre-order at Amazon UK. This comes mere hours after the big retailer listed the Nexus 9 for pre-order in the US. With this move, we get to find out how much the tablet will cost in the UK. It's £319 for the 16GB version, and £399 for the one with 32GB of storage. In both cases, we're talking Wi-Fi-only here, as you may have gathered, because the model that has LTE connectivity too hasn't gone up for pre-order yet. Amazon's UK arm currently has the white and black variations of the tablet up for grabs. It's unclear when the third, "sand" color will be available in the UK. If you pre-order a Nexus 9, it should ship to you on November 3, as apparently that's the official release date for the UK too, and not just for the US. The Nexus 9 comes with an 8.9-inch 2,048x1,536 touchscreen, an 8 MP rear camera with LED flash, a 1.6 MP front snapper, and it's powered by an Nvidia Tegra K1 chipset, with a 2.3 GHz dual-core CPU that rocked the benchmarks...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/nexus_9_gets_priced_in_the_uk_as_amazon_starts_preorders-news-9970.php

Sony Xperia Z4 specs reportedly leak, Z3X might not exist

Sure, the Xperia Z3 hasn't been out for that much time yet, but it's clear that Sony is already working on its successor. And it looks like we may have gotten a whole lot of details about the upcoming Xperia Z4. All of the following reportedly comes from the same tipster that accurately leaked the Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact a while back. So that lends this info some credence, but it doesn't mean you shouldn't read this with a pinch of salt on hand. First off, this source claims the Xperia Z3X doesn't actually exist. A device apparently bearing that name was benchmarked at the beginning of this month. If the Z3X isn't a thing, then that benchmark result might have been fake, or maybe that handset is some kind of development prototype that won't make it to the market. Interestingly though, the Z3X shares a lot of specs with the rumored Z4. Which brings us to the Z4's innards. It's said to sport a 5.5-inch touchscreen with QHD (2,560x1,440) resolution, and a new curved rear camera sensor that will have about the same (20.7 MP) resolution as the ones in its predecessors. Powering the Z4 will be a 64-bit Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 SoC, with a 2.8 GHz octa-core CPU (having four Cortex-A57 cores and four Cortex-A53 ones). The RAM will be upped to 4GB this time around, and the minimum storage space will be 32GB (double that in the Z3's base model). The phone will sport Cat.6 LTE connectivity, for theoretical peak download speeds of 300 Mbps, and Bluetooth 4.1. There will also be a dedicated amplifier on board for better sound quality. The design of the Xperia Z4 will be very similar to that of its forerunners, still the same Omnibalance language employed yet again. Interestingly, Sony is said to give up on its six-month release cycle for flagship handsets starting with the Xperia Z4. So far, it has been the only company to push out two flagships per year - take the Z2 and Z3 from 2014, for example. But that's rumored to change, with the Z4 not being followed by a Z5 in 2015. The Xperia Z4 is apparently going to be introduced around March next year, probably at Mobile World Congress. Thanks for sending this in,...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/sony_xperia_z4_specs_reportedly_leak_z3x_might_not_exist-news-9969.php

New Android Lollipop developer preview and SDK now out

Google has now outed updated Android 5.0 Lollipop preview images for both the Nexus 5 and the 2013 Nexus 7. The new developer preview is based on build LPX13D. The original developer preview for what was then only known as Android L was announced back in June. The images were updated once in the meantime, in August, when they received support for Google Fit. And now we're at the third iteration of these images, and almost certainly the last - since Android 5.0 Lollipop is due to become available as a software update for the Nexus 5 and Nexus 7 in the coming weeks. Right now it's not clear what's new in the just-published images, but hopefully they'll show an Android 5.0 release that's almost finished. That said, they don't represent the final bits of Lollipop, and they're bound to still have some bugs. Hence, if you're not a developer, you should probably stay away from them, and wait for the official software to start rolling out. Speaking of developers, they will be happy to know that the Android 5.0 SDK is now out too. This allows developers to start working on getting their apps ready for the new OS version. Lollipop comes with 5,000 new APIs. The new SDK follows the preview release from this summer. Source | Via 1 • Via...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/new_android_50_lollipop_developer_preview_and_sdk_now_out-news-9968.php

Apple iPad Air 2 and mini 3 go on pre-order

Just as planned, the Apple store is back up today and it has some new goods to offer. The company's latest tablets are now available on pre-order and you can book your unit for next week shipment right away. The iPad Air 2 will start at $499 for the 16GB just as before. Just as on the iPhone, the 32GB version is now gone and the 64GB version will be at $599. A 128GB iPad Air 2 is also there for $699. You can get LTE on each storage version but it will cost you $130 extra. As usual European prices aren't quite as attractive (although the difference is smaller than with the iPhone). In the UK the Apple iPad Air 2 goes for £399/£479/£559 for its three versions, while LTE support adds a further £100. In Germany you need to pay €489/€589/€689 plus €120 for Cellular connectivity. Across the border in France prices go slightly higher - €10 extra for each version. The Apple iPad mini 3 is available in the same three storage options as its bigger brother - 16GB, 64GB and 128GB. It's priced at $399/$499/$599 ($130 extra for LTE) in the US, £319/£399/£479 (plus £80 LTE charge) in the UK and €389/€489/€589 (€120 for the LTE) in Germany. Going by the specs alone the Apple iPad Air 2 looks like an upgrade worth considering with its new 6.1mm profile, laminated display and beastly A8X chipset, but the mini 3 is merely a TouchID enabled version of the mini 2 that also comes in gold. Your thoughts on the duo are welcome in our comments...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/apple_ipad_air_2_and_mini_3_go_on_preorder-news-9967.php

Motorola Moto X (2014) now just $50 with Verizon contract

Looking to get the latest and greatest Motorola smartphone? If you don't mind tying your next two years with Verizon now's the time to reach for your credit card. The largest US carrier has launched a promotion for the Motorola Moto X (2014), allowing you to get the 16GB version of the smartphone for just $50 upfront. Naturally, you will also have to sign a two-year contract with Big Red, but you are still saving $50 from the usual price. You still get the option to fully customize the device, using the company's Moto Maker service. You have to act quickly though - the promotion will only last until the end of the weekend. Anyone willing to try the Moto X (2014) should follow the source link to place their orders. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/motorola_moto_x_2014_now_just_50_with_verizon_contract-news-9966.php

Samsung Galaxy Note Edge for Sprint passes through FCC

The Samsung Galaxy Note Edge is back at the FCC and this time it sports CDMA connectivity. The LTE bands that were certified reveal it's Sprints version dubbed SM-N915P. Previously we saw AT&T's version (SM-N915A) pass, T-Mobile's version (SM-N915T) did as well. This only leaves Verizon to round up the top four carriers in the US. The Galaxy Note Edge was supposed to have fairly limited availability but it seems that in the US at least it will be pretty easy to grab - as long as you can afford its price tag, of course. Which we don't know yet, but judging from other markets is going to be higher than the Galaxy Note 4. Sprint has published a statement that both the Galaxy Note 4 and Note Edge will be available with Sprint Family Share Pack and Sprint $60 Unlimited Plan and is taking preregistrations (AT&T and T-Mobile are too). Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_note_edge_for_sprint_passes_through_fcc-news-9964.php

Three UK will carry the new iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3

Apple iPad pre-orders start today and the UK is in the first wave of launches. You can get a 4G-enabled iPad Air 2 or iPad mini 3 from the UK section of the Apple store (they'll ship by next Friday) but in terms of carriers Three UK is the first to announce it will offer the tablet too. There are no prices as of yet, but the official no-contract pricing starts at £500 for the Apple iPad Air 2 Wi-Fi + Wireless and £420 for the iPad mini 3 Wi-Fi + Wireless. Be warned through, the new mini is a tiny, tiny upgrade (all you really get is Touch ID), so you might be better off picking up an iPad mini 2 at £340. Those are the prices for the new 16GB models, add £80 for each price bump (to 64GB and 128GB). This means a 128GB iPad Air 2 is £660. Meanwhile a 32GB iPad mini 2 Wi-Fi + Cellular is £380 (the 64GB or 128GB models have been discontinued). Of course all of that if without a plan, Three UK will presumably subsidize the cost to an extent that depends on what new contract you sign. The old iPad Air, for example, could drop to £50 up front at £36.10 a month. Anyway, Three UK is boasting 98% 4G LTE coverage of the UK population. The new iPad Air 3 supports the Cat. 4 LTE of Three's network (150Mbps downlink), while the iPad mini 3 only supports Cat. 3 (100Mbps, same as the mini 2). Another offer by Three is Feel at Home, which lets you use data abroad in 16 countries without racking up roaming...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/three_uk_will_carry_the_new_ipad_air_2_and_ipad_mini_3-news-9962.php

YotaPhone launching in India today exclusively on Flipkart

The unique and rather interesting YotaPhone is launching today in India. The phone will be available exclusively through online retailer Flipkart and is priced at Rs. 23,499 ($382). The YotaPhone is a first of its kind device with a display on the front as well as the back. The display on the front is a 4.3-inch, 1280x720 LCD but the one on the back is a 4.3-inch, 640x480 resolution electronic paper display. The second screen is what's most interesting about this phone, as it always stays on and shows information, and due to the nature of electronic paper display, that only consume power while changing states, the display is very efficient. Other than that, the YotaPhone has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 MSM8960T with dual-core 1.7GHz Krait 300 CPU and Adreno 320 GPU, 2GB RAM, 32GB storage space, 13 megapixel rear camera, 1 megapixel front camera, 4G connectivity, 1,800mAh battery and Android 4.2.2 Jelly...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/yotaphone_launching_in_india_today_exclusively_on_flipkart-news-9963.php

LTE capable iPad Air 2 and iPad Mini 3 have proprietary SIM card

Apple's freshly announced iPad Air 2 and iPad Mini 3 with LTE connectivity will be offered with proprietary SIM card solution. Dubbed Apple SIM, the setup will allow users to easily switch between carriers without worrying about changing the chip inside their slate. The feature will be available for select carriers in the United States and the United Kingdom for the time being. Apple SIM is removable, so carriers can use a conventional setup if they are willing to. Curiously, the Cupertino giant made no mention of the innovative solution during today's announcement of the tablets. Limited to the iPad Air 2 and iPad Mini 3 for the time being, Apple SIM could have massive implications to the smartphone industry down the line. Should the manufacturer decide to include the functionality in an iPhone model down the line, we could well witness the end of the SIM card as we know it. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/lte_capable_ipad_air_2_and_ipad_mini_3_have_proprietary_sim_card-news-9961.php

Sony will update entire Xperia Z line to Android 5.0 Lollipop

Following in the footsteps of Motorola and HTC, both of which made their plans public already, Sony has today let us know which of its devices are due to get upgraded to Android 5.0 Lollipop. The L release of Google's mobile operating system finally got named yesterday. And now we have some good news for owners of Sony Xperia devices - specifically, those in the Z series. The following products are going to get the Lollipop update: Xperia Z, Xperia ZL, Xperia ZR, Xperia Tablet Z, Xperia Z1, Xperia Z1S, Xperia Z Ultra, Xperia Z1 Compact, Xperia Z2, Xperia Z2 Tablet, Xperia Z3, Xperia Z3v, Xperia Z3 Compact, and Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact. The Sony Z Ultra Google Play Edition will be the first one to be blessed with Lollipop. For the rest, the rollouts will commence in early 2015, starting with "the core Xperia Z3 and Xperia Z2 series", whatever that may mean. We assume that Sony's wording is referring to (at least) the Xperia Z3, Z3 Compact, Z3 Tablet Compact, and Xperia Z2, but nothing seems particularly set in stone just yet. Obviously the remainder of devices on the list above will get their updates at a later point in 2015, so there's still quite some waiting to be done. As for any handset not on this list, you probably shouldn't expect a miracle. Sure, Sony could add phones to it, but given past behavior that's rather unlikely. Thanks for sending this in, Amey...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/sony_plans_to_update_the_entire_xperia_z_line_to_android_lollipop-news-9960.php

Apple iPad Air, iPad mini 2, and iPad mini get price cuts

Apple made the iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3 official today at a special event. This, however, doesn't mean that their respective predecessors will not be sold anymore. In fact, the original iPad Air from last year and the iPad mini with Retina Display (also known as the iPad mini 2) will stick around and serve as cheaper alternatives to Apple's new slates. Surprisingly though, even the original iPad mini from 2012 will still be available. This will be the most affordable of the bunch, going for $249. The iPad mini 2 will set you back $299, so it's going to be $100 less than the new mini 3. Over on the Air front, to get an original iPad Air you'll only need to shell out $399, and again that's $100 less than the new model. Following this move, Apple will effectively have a five tablet lineup on sale, something that has never happened...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/apple_ipad_air_ipad_mini_2_and_ipad_mini_get_price_cuts-news-9959.php

Apple iPad mini 3 with Touch ID, gold color option unveiled

The third generation Apple iPad mini is official. It's called just "iPad mini 3," the Retina display is a given. However, it didn't get nearly as much attention as the iPad Air or nearly as many changes. It does get the Touch ID fingerprint reader though, which will work with Apple Pay. The screen keeps the size and resolution - 7.9" and 1,536 x 2,048 pixels - but the hardware itself has changed. The glass is now optically laminated, which makes it thinner and cuts down reflections too (as it eliminates the air gap between the screen and glass). The anti-glare coating further reduces reflections. The camera department is identical - a 5MP iSight camera and an HD FaceTime camera. Same goes for connectivity, no Cat. 4 LTE or Wi-Fi 802.11ac. Pre-orders start today and the Apple iPad mini 3 will ship next week. It comes in 16GB, 64GB and 128GB storage options for $400, $500 and $600 respectively. Add $130 if you want LTE. There's a new Gold version in addition to the Silver and Space...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/apple_ipad_mini_3_with_touch_id_gold_color_option_unveiled-news-9958.php

Apple announces the iPad Air 2, it is thinner and faster

The Apple iPad Air 2 is only 6.1mm, making it the thinnest tablet yet. It's also now available in Gold as well as silver. The tablet is powered by a custom Apple A8X chipset, which is a version made especially for the iPad family. The TouchID fingerprint sensor from the iPhone is finally available on the iPad Air 2. The iPad Air 2 has a 8MP F/2.4 camera and shoots 1080p video. The camera can take time-lapse videos, 120fps slow-mo videos and has burst mode. There is also a second mic to allow stereo audio recording, unlike the iPhone...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/apple_announces_the_ipad_air_2_thinner_faster-news-9956.php

iOS 8.1 unveiled on stage - Apple Pay, app permissions and more

Apple event featured a long portion on new software and the highlight of that was the announcement of iOS 8.1. Apple Pay is, of course, the headlining feature but there's more. Apple has changed how apps are handled - users can now check the permissions required by third-party apps and they can be disabled individually and re-enabled later. Also, Camera Roll is coming back after a brief absence in version 8.0. The other enhancement of the Photos app is that the Recently Added section now shows your full history, not just the last 30 days of photos. Photos can be viewed in full resolution too, no downscaling. There are some subtle changes too, like the ability to turn off voice dictation in the keyboard, bigger icons for widgets and a new iBooks icon. The new iOS 8.1 will start seeding on Monday, October 20....

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/ios_81_unveiled_on_stage__apple_pay_app_permissions_and_more-news-9957.php

Just on time: Apple iPad Air 2 images leak

Just as Apple and fans are gearing up for the event that's taking place in a matter of minutes one Weibo user by the name of Mrlee has leaked two images of what looks like the Apple iPad Air 2. The images show an iPad with the same design but with a TouchID finger-scanning button instead of the simple home button of old. Apple iPad Air 2 We're guessing the images are legit as Apple is expected to unveil the same-looking device but with the new home button to match the iPhone trend. Apple already gave us a glimpse on its latest line of iPads yesterday and we're expecting an iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3. At least one of the two new iPads (the Air) will likely carry a more powerful version of Apple's 64-bit A8 chip - the A8X. Likely, should and would are now over - we're about the get the full details in a bit. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/just_on_time_apple_ipad_air_2_images_leak-news-9955.php

Apple's event is starting soon, here's the livestream

Here we go again - Apple has another event starting up in its home base at Cupertino and lucky few go tickets to attend it live. Chances are you're not one of them but you can watch a livestream, or rather you have the opportunity to watch a livestream. Apple plays it elitist here, only Apple devices - be they Mac OS X or iOS - get to watch. Everyone else is not invited. We know that there's a high percent of repurchasing going on with current iPhone users, but we still get a little miffed every time Apple does this. Anyway, you can watch the livestream in its usual place - apple.com/live - but for unwelcome Windows/Android folks we'll try to post a contraband stream here. If you've watched one of those before you'll know they are far from a sure thing and drop often. Not that Apple's official stream for the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus announcement didn't experience technical issues (among which surprise Chinese translation). There's still about an hour left before the Apple leaders take the stage so you might want to read our "what to expect" post. Fair warning, it's full of...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/apples_event_is_starting_soon_heres_the_livestream-news-9954.php

Tegra K1 (Denver) and Nexus 9 benchmarked

The Tegra K1 comes in two versions - 32-bit and 64-bit - but they are more different than NVIDIA's naming scheme suggest. The one we've tested in the Xiaomi MiPad and that powers the NVIDIA Shield tablet is based on four Cortex-A15 cores. The one in the new Nexus 9 tablet, however, is the interesting one - it's based on NVIDIA's first custom processor core design, dubbed Denver. The processor has only two cores but similar to Apple's Ax chipsets they are noticeably more powerful than their Cortex and Krait counterparts. The Nexus 9 was just announced yesterday so there are no reviews out but there is a Geekbench 3 score. It shows impressive single-core performance - the 2.2GHz Cortex-A15 in the NVIDIA Shield manages 1,088 while the Denver core scores 1,903. .jrGraphContainer { background: none !important; border-bottom: 1px solid #eee !important;} ul.jrGraph { left: 40px !important; } ul.jrGraphControls { padding: 0; margin-left: -10px !important; } JRGRAPH_EXPANDABLE_VERSION = true; Geekbench 3 (single-core) Nexus 9 1807 iPhone 6 1625 NVIDIA Shield 1088 Moto X (2014) 977 OnePlus One 968 Sony Xperia Z2 912 Galaxy S5 910 HTC One (M8) 907 LG G3 902 The multi-core tests even out with the quad-cores, but still maintains a small lead over the likes of Snapdragon 801. Geekbench 3 (multi-core) NVIDIA Shield 3258 Nexus 9 3220 Moto X (2014) 2915 iPhone 6 2908 Galaxy S5 2733 HTC One (M8) 2659 OnePlus One 2593 LG G3 2264 Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/tegra_k1_denver_and_nexus_9_benchmarked-news-9953.php

Samsung Galaxy Note Edge to hit Russia and India this year

Samsung has made it clear that the Galaxy Note Edge is going to be a limited availability device, but at least two more markets may breathe a sigh of relief today. The company has said in an announcement the phone will start selling in India and Russia. In Russia, the phone will start selling some time between November and December for $1225 (RUB 49,990). Samsung didn't specify a time frame for the phone's launch in India, but we guess it will be similar to Russia's. The phone is also planned to go on sale in the UK with a price tag of £650. The Samsung Galaxy Note Edge is also carrying a high price tag in China where the phone should launch by the end of October. There, customers will have to cough up about $1,139 or €880 (CNY 7,000) for the pleasure of owning the curved phablet. Judging by the latest FCC filings, Samsung is going to introduce the phone in the US as well. AT&T is yet to reveal its pricing conditions for the Galaxy Note Edge. We do expect it to start at $399 on contract in the best case scenario. Via • Via...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_note_edge_to_hit_russia_and_india_this_year-news-9952.php

Sony adds Xperia Z1, Z2, M2 to AOSP, unveils unified kernel

Sony is enhancing its reputation as a ROM-friendly maker. It added AOSP code for the Sony Xperia Z2, Xperia Z1 and Xperia M2 to the SonyXperiaDev GitHub. The company denied making AOSP ROMs and this indeed isn't it - the camera and the modem have been disabled (so you can't make calls), really not a daily driver. Sony did announce unified kernels though - the above three devices plus all Qualcomm MSM8974-based devices (that's Snapdragon 800) will be based on the same kernel, which will make custom ROM development easier. Before each device had a separate branch for the kernel, making things harder for device maintainers. It's not just custom ROMs either, the company says this change will make contributing to the official kernel easier. MSM8974-based devices include the Xperia Z1 Compact and the Xperia Z Ultra (which also had a Play Edition version at one point). Interestingly, the Xperia M2 (and its dual-SIM and Aqua versions) are based on MSM8926, Snapdragon...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/sony_adds_xperia_z1_z2_m2_to_aosp_unveils_unified_kernel-news-9951.php

Apple's iPad event starts soon: what to expect

October 16 is here and Apple's event is hours away. The two new iPads are the hotly anticipated announcements but we're also likely to see new iMacs, the chances of new MacBooks are lower according to the rumor mill. The event will be held in Apple's Town Hall auditorium on the Infinite Loop Campus in Cupertino, California at 10AM PT / 1PM ET. iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3 The Apple iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3 will be the stars of the show no matter what else gets announced. We've seen multiple leaks, even one from Apple itself. Whether that was a genuine screw up or Apple just wanted to steal some of Google's thunder we'll leave to conspiracy theorists to discuss. Both tablets will support Touch ID, which was only available on the iPhone 5s last generation, presumably as a test run. Apple Pay is also expected as part of the new iPad package, which will be secured with the Touch ID fingerprint reader and will include single-purpose NFC. The rumor mill is pointing to thinner bodies too - 7mm, down from 7.5mm. There was speculation that shaving the thickness will lead Apple to drop the mute switch on the side but yesterday's schematics suggest otherwise. Both cameras will be updated though, front and back, the back camera in particular jumping from 5MP to 8MP. The storage will be increased as well, now starting at 32GB and going all the way up to 128GB. This would be nice to see as the iPhone setup of starting at 16GB and skipping 32GB just means you have to splurge $100 extra for the 64GB. 16GB would work even worse on a tablet. There will be more processing power too, thanks to the Apple A8X chipset. It will allegedly be a beefier version of the A8 from the new iPhones with more GPU resources and 2GB RAM. In fact this might be Apple first RAM upgrade since the iPhone 5/iPad 3 of 2012. Going by the chatter there may be a new display - Retina HD. However, Apple's marketing machine calls both the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus screens "Retina HD" despite the smaller phone having the exact same pixel density as the iPhone 4. The screen tech might change to a laminated design though (similar to the iPhone screens), which will help make the tablets thinner. Mac computers The iMac - Apple's All-in-one computer - may be getting an upgrade. All we've heard so far are the screen resolutions - 6400 x 3600, 5760 x 3240, and 4096 x 2304 pixels. The latest iMac addition is from June this year with a new entry-level 21" device, these will be presumably be higher end and bigger. A new class of 12" MacBooks with Retina display may be born on stage but there's no more info than that. The MacBook Pro and MacBook Air got small bumps in July and April respectively but there haven't been any properly new MacBooks in a year. Software Finally, Apple will be showing off new software (says the rumor mill) - new versions of iWork and iLife, a redesigned iTunes 12, plus new iterations of the beta Mac OS X. iWork got a minor update in May this year, but like the Macs there should be brand new versions instead of small...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/apples_event_starts_soon_what_to_expect-news-9949.php

Google Nexus 6 to launch in 28 countries this year

With the Nexus 6 now official, Motorola has detailed the phone's availability. The latest Nexus flagship is going to be available for purchase in 28 countries across Europe, North America and Asia-Pacific, including India. However, that's as far as Motorola has gone in terms of specifics. The Nexus 6 will make its debut outside the US by the end of 2014, but again, nothing more specific has been disclosed. The phone is available in Midnight Blue and Cloud White and costs $649 in the US. For that money you get a 5.96" QHD display, Snapdragon 805 chipset with a 2.7GHz quad-core CPU and 3GB of RAM. Android 5.0 Lollipop is making its debut on the Nexus 6 and with the introduction of the battery-sparing Project Volta, it should make great use of the phone's 3,220mAh battery. Yesterday, alleged European pricing of the phone popped up from German retailers Media Markt and Saturn. According to that 32GB Nexus 6 will sell for €569, while the 64GB version will go for...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/google_nexus_6_to_launch_in_28_countries_this_year-news-9950.php

Live photo of Oppo N3 reveals a fingerprint reader on the back

We've seen numerous leaks about the Oppo N3, all of which focus on its camera - the rotating 16MP shooter is indeed the defining feature of the upcoming Oppo camera phone but the closely cropped teasers were concealing the fingerprint reader on the back. A live photo of the device shows the back in its entirety and reveals the alleged fingerprint reader. The back has gotten some press previously, advertising its space-grade metal construction of aluminum-lithium alloy. However the teaser for that was positioned specifically to avoid the showing the back - we guess Oppo was saving that for another big revealing teaser. The Oppo N3 will have a durable, lightweight construction thanks to the alloy build, the 16MP camera will have a large 1/2.3" sensor and will rotate 206°, the phone will pack a 5.9" 1080p screen and be powered by a Snapdragon 805 chipset with 3GB RAM. The official unveiling should take place at the end of the month, on October 29. Source (in Chinese) |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/live_photo_of_oppo_n3_reveals_a_fingerprint_reader_on_the_back-news-9948.php

HTC One, One (M8), One mini and mini 2 to get Android 5.0 Lollipop

HTC has responded a lot of questions on Twitter about its plans about Android 5.0 Lollipop. The new version of the OS was detailed a while ago, but its official premiere was yesterday with the Motorola Nexus 6 and HTC Nexus 9 devices. Understandably, many HTC users began asking about Android 5.0 Lollipop updates and HTC was eager to share its plans with them. Four phones were officially confirmed to get an Android 5.0 Lollipop update: HTC One (M7) - Android 5.0 Lollipop update in 90 days HTC One (M8) - Android 5.0 Lollipop update in 90 days HTC One mini - Android 5.0 Lollipop update, schedule TBA HTC One mini 2 - Android 5.0 Lollipop update, schedule TBA The 90 days deadline starts once HTC receives the final Android 5.0 Lollipop build from Google. HTC says it will be announcing the complete list of compatible devices, so those four might not be the only ones getting the latest Android OS version. We bet the HTC Desire Eye will be getting the same treatment, as well as some of the latest Desire smartphones. Hopefully the HTC One Max users won't be forgotten...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/htc_one_one_m8_one_mini_and_mini_2_to_get_android_50_lollipop-news-9947.php

Samsung announces the Exynos 7 Octa, is the old Exynos 5433

Samsung announced an interesting move today by renaming its Exynos 5433 chipset to the Exynos 7 Octa. The chipset is powering one of the versions of the Galaxy Note 4 and was previously known as the Exynos 5 Octa (5433). Apparently Samsung thought its first 64-bit chip deserved better treatment than that. With the Exynos 7 Octa, the company is going to have a much better time with customers differentiating the more powerful Galaxy Note 4 from the Galaxy Alpha, which also packs an Exynos 5 Octa (5430). However, it's a much less powerful one with a quad-core 1.8 GHz Cortex-A15 and quad-core 1.3 GHz Cortex-A7 CPU. The Exynos 7 Octa features a octa-core cpu consisting of four Cortex-A57 and for Cortex-A53 cores made using Samsung's 20nm manufacturing process. This results in a 57% boost performance over the previous generation Exynos 5 Octa chipset and thanks to the new manufacturing process, draws less power, too. Give how well the Snapdragon S805 Galaxy Note 4 fared in our review, we are really eager to see what the Exynos units will do. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_announces_the_exynos_7_octa_is_the_old_exynos_5433-news-9946.php

The Nexus 6 is water resistant, like the Moto X (2014)

The Motorola-made Google Nexus 6 has been granted some water resistance, matching the Moto X (2014). And although Google doesn't point the water resistance out on its product page for the Nexus 6, Motorola does. Under "water resistance" on Motorola's page it just says Yes which doesn't give a clear indication of what liquid torture the Nexus 6 can handle. We're guessing splash damage and not full-on immersion thanks to a water-repellent coating, which Motorola has been known to apply. Nonetheless this is a great addition and marks the Nexus 6 as the first of 6 Google-branded devices to have the feature. The Motorola Nexus 6 premiered yesterday with a 5.96" AMOLED of QHD resolution, Snapdragon 805 with 3GB of RAM, 13MP camera with 4K video recording and Android 5.0 Lollipop - it will cost €569 (32GB) and €649 (64GB). Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/the_nexus_6_is_water_resistant_like_the_moto_x_2nd_generation-news-9945.php

Samsung Galaxy S5 Google Play Edition pops up yet again

Samsung Galaxy S5 Google Play made another cameo. This time around, the yet to be revealed smartphone appeared on the official Android page, which was updated to mark the launch of version 5.0 Lollipop. Samsung's flagship smartphone with stock Android quietly showed up amongst the plethora of devices that are available with stock version of the OS. The list includes the freshly announced Nexus 6 and Nexus 9, as well as the likes of HTC One (M8) Google Play Edition, and LG Nexus 5. There is no word on when or if the Samsung Galaxy S5 Google Play Edition will go official. Considering the fact that the first leak of the handset took place back in April, we are a tad skeptical about its availability. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_s5_google_play_edition_pops_up_yet_again-news-9944.php

Puls by Will.i.am is a wearable that can make calls

As expected, the popular musician Will.i.am launched his own wearable device. Dubbed Puls, the bracelet-like gadget is presented as a smart cuff, not a run of the mill smartwatch. Puls by Will.i.am has 3G connectivity and a SIM card slot. Like the Samsung Gear S, the wearable can make phone calls among its other talents. The device will be capable with AT&T in the United States and O2 in the United Kingdom. The Android device (we are yet to find out if it runs Android Wear) packs Qualcomm Snapdragon SoC, 1GB of RAM, 16GB of built-in storage, and GPS. Its battery wraps around the entire bracelet. Additional Puls features include music streaming service and a voice assistant. A capable fitness app will also be on board. Puls will have a number of fashion-centric accessories available for it. They include a jacket that can charge the device wirelessly, as well as a backpack with built-in speakers and step counter. Pulse by Will.i.am will launch in select AT&T stores in time for the holiday shopping season. Pricing of the device is yet to be revealed. Source 1 | Source...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/puls_by_william_is_a_wearable_that_can_make_calls-news-9943.php

Lenovo will establish a new smartphone company in China

Lenovo announced that it will establish a new company for smart devices in China. Set to open for business on April 1, 2015, the new venture by the Chinese tech giant will take on the likes of Xiaomi by focusing on an internet-based business model. The move aims to give Lenovo a piece of the rapidly emerging consumer mobile device market in China. Lenovo's offspring will focus on direct-to-consumer sales - a move, which guarantees product pricing that will compete with that of Xiaomi's lineup. The new company will focus not only on devices, but also app development. Its goal will be to stay close to its customer base. Lenovo will also continue selling devices under its own brand as well. The latter will continue to sell products through the open market and its carrier relationships. Details on the structure of the new company will make the rounds over the next few months. Source...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/lenovo_will_establish_a_new_smartphone_company_in_china-news-9942.php

iPad Air 2 and iPad Mini 3 get confirmed by Apple

Just as Google was busy announcing its new Nexus family, Apple managed to confirm the names of the two new tablets that it will introduce at its special event tomorrow. They will be the iPad Air 2 and iPad Mini 3, the latter being the successor to the iPad Mini with Retina Display from last year and thankfully returning to a more concise naming scheme. The names surfaced on iBooks via screenshots in the iOS 8.1 user guide for iPads. The screenshots have since been pulled, as you'd expect. They also confirm that the design of the new tablets will be mostly unchanged compared to their predecessors. That said, both the iPad Air 2 and the iPad Mini 3 will sport Touch ID fingerprint sensors in their Home buttons, as has been leaked extensively until now. The iPad Air 2 will also get a new Burst Mode for the camera, a feature first introduced on the iPhone 5S from last year. Since Apple's getting ready to publish the user guide for iOS 8.1, we assume this version of the OS will be released tomorrow alongside the new tablets. And it should support Apple Pay. A new A8X chipset has been recently rumored to feature in at least one of the new iPads, along with a gold color option and improved camera...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/ipad_air_2_and_ipad_mini_3_get_confirmed_by_apple-news-9940.php

Motorola details which of its devices will get Lollipop

The Nexus 6 will be Motorola's first product to ship with Android 5.0 Lollipop preinstalled, but what about the smartphone maker's previous wares? Fret not, for Motorola plans on updating quite a few handsets to the latest version of Android. And while it hasn't provided any indication as to when we should expect the updates to start rolling out, the company did tell us which of its devices will get to taste Android 5.0. So, without further ado, here's the list: Moto X (first and second generation), Moto G (first and second generation), Moto G with 4G LTE, Moto E, Droid Ultra, Droid Maxx, and Droid Mini. While everyone was expecting the Moto X to receive Lollipop, it's very nice to see a low-end phone such as the Moto E on track to run the absolute latest version of Google's mobile operating system. Last year Motorola shocked the tech world by issuing some incredibly fast updates to Android 4.4 KitKat for a few of its smartphones, so hopefully this year the wait won't be long...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/motorola_details_which_of_its_devices_will_get_android_50_lollipop-news-9939.php

Google unveils Android 5.0 Lolipop as an official name

Along with the announcement of the Nexus 6 and the Nexus 9 today, Google also announced that the next iteration of their mobile OS, which we so far knew under the codename Android L, will actually be called Android 5.0 Lolipop. Android Lolipop one of the top picks of the rumor mill, but another not so distant possibility was also Lion, which seemed quite reasonable, bearing in mind it will follow right after KitKat. Android 5.0 Lollipop will ship on the just announced Nexus 6 and Nexus 9, but it will also will also be available on Nexus 5, 7, 10 and Google Play edition devices in the coming...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/google_unveils_android_50_lolipop_as_an_official_version_name-news-9938.php

Google Nexus 6 is official with 6-inch QHD screen and S805

Without any sort of special event, Google has just announced the Motorola-made Nexus 6 smartphone running Android 5.0 Lollipop. The phone features a 6" 2560 x 1440 pixel display, which gives it a pixel density of 496ppi. The premium display is backed up by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 chipset with a 2.65GHz quad-core Krait 450 CPU inside and 3GB of RAM. At the back, there's a 13MP f/2.0 camera with dual-LED flash. At the front, there are two stereo speakers and a 2MP front-facing camera. The battery is a 3,220mAh unit, which isn't user replaceable. However, it sports Turbo Charging, which allows you to get up to 6 hours of use from the Nexus 6 with only 15 minutes of charging. Google promises the phone can make it through 24 hours of usage without problems. Pre-orders for the Midnight Blue and Cloud White Motorola Nexus 6 start on October 29 with shipments scheduled to start some time in November. You can buy the 32GB, SIM-free version of the phone from the Google Play Store for $649. Although not officially confirmed, in Europe the 32GB and 64GB models are expected to retail for €569 and €649,...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/google_nexus_6_is_official_with_6inch_qhd_and_snapdragon_805-news-9937.php

HTC-made Google Nexus 9 announced with Tegra K1 chip

As expected, today Google announced its latest tablet - the HTC-made Nexus 9 tablet. The tablet runs on Android 5.0, which has just been confirmed to be called Lollipop and packs a 9" IPS LCD with the unusual for Android 4:3 aspect ratio and a resolution of 2048 x 1440 pixels. It's powered by the Nvidia Tegra K1 chip with a 2.3GHz CPU, the very potent Keepler DX1 GPU and 2GB of RAM. The available storage is either 16 or 32GB, but there's no expansion slot. The HTC nature of the Google Nexus 9 shines through with the BoomSound stereo speakers. The Google Nexus 9 will be available on preorder starting from October 17, while actual sales begin on November...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/htcmade_google_nexus_9_announced_with_tegra_k1_chip_43_screen-news-9936.php

BlackBerry Passport review: Ticket to ride

Canadian manufacturer BlackBerry looks to bring its no-nonsense smartphone approach in a form factor that is.unusual, to say the least. It's a company that's no stranger lately to being in the red for quarters on end and the Passport is yet another attempt by...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/blackberry_passport-review-1149.php

Google Nexus 6 and Nexus 9 European pricing pops up

The Nexus-related leaks today just keep on coming and the latest one refers to the Motorola-made Nexus 6 and HTC-produced Nexus 9 pricing. The pricing details in question originate from German retailers Media Markt and Saturn. The Nexus 6 will be available in two color and storage options. Both the 32GB and 64GB models will be available in black and white and will retail for €569 and €649, respectively. Note, that the Nexus 6 won't sport a microSD card slot. As for the HTC Nexus 9, its base Wi-Fi 16GB model will retail for €399, while the 32GB model sans LTE will cost €489. The high-end model with LTE and 32GB of storage will go for €569. All models are available in black and white. Admittedly, the pricing of the two devices isn't what Nexus customers have been accustomed to. The higher prices are a direct result of the premium specifications that the two devices tout. The Motorola Nexus 6 sports a Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 chipset with a 2.65GHz quad-core Krait 450 CPU inside and 3GB of RAM. The front of the phone houses a 5.9" QHD display as well as stereo speakers. The battery is rumored to be 3,200mAh and the main camera is 13MP with OIS and dual LED flash. The specifications of the HTC Nexus 9 are equally high-end with an 8.9-inch 2,048 x 1,440 display, a 64-bit Nvidia Tegra K1 chipset, an 8 MP rear camera, a 3 MP front snapper, and dual front-facing speakers. It will weigh 480g and will come with a brushed aluminum frame, and not an all-metal design. Both devices were rumored to go official today, so stay tuned! Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/motorola_nexus_6_and_htc_nexus_9_european_pricing_pops_up-news-9935.php

BlackBerry Classic specs detailed, small update over Q10

The new BlackBerry CEO trying to bring the company back to its roots where it had hardware keyboards and success. The unusual BlackBerry Passport is part of that strategy but the mass-market piece of the puzzle is still not official - the BlackBerry Classic. We've seen the device in the CEO's hands and leaked photos with some specs, but now the entire spec sheet is out. Unofficially, of course. The first Classic device will measure 131 x 72.5 x 10.2mm and weigh the hefty 178g. BlackBerry Classic It will have a square 3.46" LTPS TFT display with 720 x 720 pixel resolution (294ppi). The BlackBerry Classic earns its name with the traditional 35-key backlit physical keyboard and an optical trackpad. For calls there are three microphones for noise cancellation. The phone will be powered by an aging Qualcomm MSM8960 chipset (with dual-core Krait at 1.5GHz) coupled with roomy 2GB of RAM. There's 16GB of built-in storage expandable with up to 128GB microSD cards. Power comes from a non-removable 2,515mAh battery and some versions have built-in Qi wireless charging. BlackBerry Classic The main camera is an 8MP/1080p shooter, while the front-facing camera is a 2MP snapper with 720p video. The connectivity section includes a nanoSIM slot, NFC, Wi-Fi with Miracast, microUSB with SlimPort, the 3G/4G situation is unclear. It's not clear when the Classic will be unveiled but the overall upgrade over the current BlackBerry Q10 doesn't sound huge. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/blackberry_classic_specs_detailed_small_update_over_q10-news-9934.php

LG unveils optically stabilized 20.7MP camera module

The Korea Electronics Show had an interesting entry - an optically stabilized 20.7MP camera from LG. Of course the company demonstrated only a camera module but it's not hard to imagine it will end up in the LG Optimus G Pro 3 and LG G4 before long. The camera module features improved image stabilization compared to the OIS+ tech used in the LG G3. LG even claims it's better than the OIS system in the new Galaxy Note 4 with double the correction angle. LG doesn't come out and say it but the 20.7MP resolution is characteristic enough to point to a Sony Exmor sensor, the one used in the Xperia Z family since the Z2. Source (in Korean) |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/lg_unveils_optically_stabilized_207mp_camera_module-news-9933.php

Samsung Galaxy Golden 2 manual shows high-end specs

Rare as they might be, flip Androids do exist, the Galaxy Golden is even getting a successor as per a recent leak. The Samsung Galaxy Golden 2 is actually a pretty high-end device though it's headed to China Telecom so you may never see one in person. The new device upgrades the screens, which were the most disappointing part of the original Golden. Now two identical screens are used both inside and outside - 4.6" Super AMOLEDs with WXGA resolution (1,280 x 768 pixels), a sizable increase from 3.7"/3.5" WVGA screens. The processing power has been increased significantly as well with a Snapdragon 801 chipset - quad-core Krait 400 at 2.5GHz, 2GB RAM and Adreno 330. The phone runs a current Android 4.4.4 KitKat. The camera department on the Samsung Galaxy Golden was beefed up as well with a 16MP main camera with 2160p video capture. A 2MP front-facing camera is also included. The connectivity is a bit uncertain but the phone does have two microSIM slots. The phone does have GSM and CDMA as is typical for Chinese phones but the leaked page of the manual is mum on LTE details. Source (in...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_golden_2_manual_shows_highend_specs-news-9932.php

Oppo N3 new teaser released, hints for smart camera rotation

Oppo is going to make the Oppo N3 cameraphone official on October 29, but the company has been teasing it via the social networks for quite a while. We are already familiar with its build options - stainless steel or aluminum-lithium alloy. Lots of previous rumors and leaks also shed some light on the Oppo N3 specs - a 5.9" 1080p display, Snapdragon 805 chipset with 3GB of RAM, plus a 16MP rotation camera with the ample 1/2.3" size. Today Oppo has released another batch of teasers including a video. They all reveal another interesting aspect of the Oppo N3 - the camera module will actually have tiny motors and will be capable of automatic rotation rather than having to twist it yourself as on the N1. Here is the video: And this is the new teaser picture. Oppo N3 will go official in Singapore on October 29. We'll be there to cover the event for you as it unfolds. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/oppo_n3_new_teaser_released_hints_for_smart_camera_rotation-news-9931.php

Nexus 6 sized up against the iPhone 6 Plus in a photo

The Motorola Nexus 6 popped up in a leaked render yesterday and now we get to see the phablet again, this time compared to the Apple iPhone 6. In the photo, you can see just how large the Nexus 6 is compared to the 5.5" iPhone 6 Plus. The Motorola-made phone is slightly taller and wider, but it has a 5.9" QHD display and front-facing speakers to show for it. The phone also made an appearance in CPU-Z, which confirmed its internals. Expect to see a Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 chipset with a 2.65GHz quad-core Krait 450 CPU and 3GB of RAM. At the back, there's a 13MP camera with OIS standing between the two LEDs of the flash. Naturally, the Nexus 6 will run the latest Android L-release. Its name is still under tight wraps, though Google enjoys teasing us with it. The Nexus 6 also leaked in an AT&T listing today. It suggests the phone's on-contract price is going to be $49.99. Both the Nexus 6 and Nexus 9 could get their announcements later today, if the rumor mill is to be trusted. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/nexus_6_and_iphone_6_plus_get_close_in_a_photo-news-9930.php

Nexus 6 and Nexus 9 rumored to be launching tomorrow

If the latest rumor on the matter is to be believed, tomorrow we'll be treated to the official announcement of both the HTC-made Nexus 9 tablet as well as the Nexus 6 phablet by Motorola. But don't expect a big event or anything like that - they'll apparently be introduced via a blog post by Google. This reportedly has to do with the fact that Android L isn't finished yet, though it's unclear how that has prevented Google from holding a gathering for this product launch. Regardless, both of the new devices will run Android L from day one. The Nexus 9 has had all of its previously leaked specs 'confirmed' once more by yet another anonymous source. So it should have an 8.9-inch 2,048x1,440 touchscreen, a 64-bit Nvidia Tegra K1 chipset, an 8 MP rear camera, a 3 MP front snapper, and dual front-facing speakers. It will weigh 480g and will come with a brushed aluminum frame, and not an all-metal design (this solution was reportedly chosen in order to keep costs down). An 'origami' magnetic case for the Nexus 9 will be announced too. The Nexus 9 will be up for pre-order starting on October 17, and it should become available on November 3, though these dates could be changed. There will be a 16GB Wi-Fi-only version which will cost $399, and a 32GB model with LTE connectivity built-in going for $499. Both will sport microSD card slots for storage expansion. This particular rumor comes with no additional information about the Nexus 6, but it just got a leaked press render mere hours...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/nexus_6_and_nexus_9_rumored_to_be_launching_tomorrow-news-9926.php

Droid Turbo gets leaked press pics, official unveiling date

Verizon has just started sending out press invites for an event it will hold on October 28. As you can see, these plainly state that during that event the next Droid-branded handset will be unveiled. Furthermore, the carrier has recently reactivated its Droid Does website, which is currently counting down to October 28. So it's pretty clear that the oft-leaked Droid Turbo will finally get official in a couple of weeks. Recently we saw the smartphone's manual making it to the Internet, and today a couple of press renders of the Droid Turbo have surfaced too, alongside yet another confirmation of its specs. Motorola Droid Turbo for Verizon It will come with a 5.2-inch QHD (2,560x1,440) touchscreen, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 chipset with a 2.65 GHz quad-core CPU, 3GB of RAM, 32GB of storage, a 21 MP rear camera with dual-LED flash, and a huge 3,900 mAh battery. It will run Android 4.4.4 KitKat when it launches. The body of the Turbo is apparently made out of scratch-resistant "metallized glass fiber", with a Kevlar-reinforced back panel and Gorilla Glass 3 on the screen. It's even splash-proof, being able to withstand everyday spills and survive in up to 20 minutes of downpour, a leaked marketing document reportedly says. Source 1 • Source...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/droid_turbo_gets_leaked_press_pics_official_unveiling_date-news-9925.php

Sprint leases existing customers an iPhone 6 for $5 per month

If you're already the carrier's customer, Sprint will now lease you an iPhone 6 for just $5 per month if you so wish. The iPhone 6 Plus can also be had, though for $10 each month. The arrangement is meant to keep existing customers happy, after a series of moves that were aimed at attracting new ones. If you use this new and rather cheap method of getting one of the iPhone 6 models, you do get to keep your existing smartphone plan if you want to. After two years pass, you have a bunch of options. You can give the iPhone 6 back to Sprint and receive a new model, you can purchase the device you've been using, or even continue leasing it on a month-by-month basis. After these 24 months, you'll be able to turn the iPhone 6 back and terminate service at any time. The offer is available until January 15,...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/sprint_leases_existing_customers_an_iphone_6_for_5_per_month-news-9924.php

Xiaomi Redmi Note 2 phablet will be powered by Snapdragon 615

The successor to the Redmi Note is in the works - alleged back panels of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 2 have leaked alongside basic specs and price for the phablet. The Redmi Note 2 will keep the 5.5" screen though the bezels got bigger and the device now measures 159 x 82mm, up from 154 x 78.7mm for the current model. It's not clear if the resolution will stay at 720p, but we know the the camera still has a 13MP sensor. Any changes to the video recording facilities are yet to be revealed though by the looks of it, the new camera will at least get a dual-LED upgrade. The chipset on the Redmi Note 2 will be upgraded to a 64-bit enabled Snapdragon 615 (with an octa-core Cortex-A53 processor) and there will be 2GB RAM on all models (some versions of the original had 1GB). The rumored price for the phablet is CNY 1,500 - that's $245/€194. That's 50% over the launch price of the previous Redmi Note device, so we'll if Xiaomi has upgraded enough to justify the price. Source (in Chinese) |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_redmi_note_2_phablet_will_be_powered_by_snapdragon_615-news-9922.php

Huawei Honor Holly launches in India with a 5" 720p display

Huawei officially revealed the Honor Holly for the Indian market. With the affordable smartphone, the Chinese company is offering an alternative to the recently launched Android One initiative. Paying the $118 (INR 6,999) price for the Huawei Honor Holly gets you a 5" 720p display and dual-SIM functionality. The phone also features a MediaTek chipset with a 1.3GHz CPU (number of cores is unknown at this point), 1GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage. The Honor Holly feature an 8MP snapper teamed up with a 2MP front-facing one. The battery of the phone is 2,000mAh and it runs Android 4.4.2 KitKat out of the box. Naturally, Huawei's Emotion UI is garnishing the OS. The Huawei Honor Holly is available exclusively at online retailer Flipkart and it doesn't seem willing to leave India's...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/huawei_honor_holly_launches_in_india_with_a_5_720p_display-news-9923.php