Week 43 in review: Galaxy S5 Plus, Android 5.0 whitelist

Week In Review is back to recap all the major announcements of the week, which you might have missed. Week 43 saw the announcement of the Samsung Galaxy S5 Plus, which features a Snapdragon 805 chipset and Cat6 LTE. With the dust starting to settle around the announcement of Android 5.0 Lollipop, we made a comprehensive list of the phones that are already confirmed to receive it. In Apple-related news, the iPad Air 2 got benchmarked and reveals the full story behind its Apple A8X chipset. It was ahead of most competitors and neck and neck with the Nvidia Tegra K1. .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; } Here are the droids confirmed to get 5.0 Lollipop so far Google officially announced Android 5.0 Lollipop recently, and while that is great news and all, unless you are among the minority that is on Nexus or Google Play edition devices, what you are really looking for is when the OEMs, or the OEM of your device at least, will be pushing the update, if at all... Samsung unveils Galaxy S5 Plus with Snapdragon 805 With a quiet whisper Samsung unveiled the Galaxy S5 Plus - a Snapdragon 805 version of the company's 2014 flagship. This is the small late season upgrade, similar to the Galaxy S4 LTE-A that launched late last year. Just like its predecessor the new Plus model brings a faster LTE connection in... Nokia brand to be replaced with Microsoft Lumia If you've seen Microsoft's recent articles about Lumia you know it was coming. The Nokia brand has been phased out by calling the phones just "Lumia" and redirecting Nokia online properties to Microsoft.com. This rebranding effort will expand and soon the lineup will become "Microsoft... iPad Air 2 benchmark reveals 3-core CPU and 2GB of RAM Apple iPad Air 2 made a trip to the popular Geekbench benchmark and revealed juicy bits about itself. The freshly announced full-size tablet from Cupertino sports 2GB of RAM and rather curious 3-core CPU. While 2GB of RAM are hardly a surprise due to a number of leaks that suggested the... Apple iPad Air 2 GPU tested, outclasses Tegra K1 Someone has put the Apple iPad Air 2 through GFXBench's 2.7 T-Rex and 3.0 Manhattan's onscreen and offscreen (1080p) platform and we get to ogle at the framerates posted. The results show the iPad Air 2 is just as good and even at times better than the promising Tegra K1 chip and its Kepler GPU... iOS 8.1 is now rolling out, ready to download and install Last week during its iPad-related event, Apple announced that iOS 8.1 would be out starting today. And the company has kept that promise, for the latest version of its mobile OS has already started rolling out to devices. If you have an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, go to Settings > General >... Motorola Droid Turbo leaks out in live photos Motorola Droid Turbo for Verizon Wireless made yet another unscheduled appearance. This time around, the soon to be revealed Android powerhouse showed up in number of live photos. In line with past leaks, the images showcase the upcoming device in black color scheme. The photos also confirm... Google's Project Ara will have a store for its modular bits Google's modular smartphone effort, codenamed Project Ara, seems to be chugging along nicely ahead of its expected release in 2015. Team leader Paul Eremenko said in an interview at Purdue University that there will be a special store for Ara components, complete with recommendations and... Nexus 6 pre-orders...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/week_43_in_review_galaxy_s5_plus_phones_to_get_android_50_-news-10037.php

Samsung launches the Galaxy Mega 2 in India

The Samsung Galaxy Mega 2 has reached India today. Samsung has officially launched the mid-range phablet in the subcontinent. This comes after the Mega 2 has previously gone on sale in Malaysia, and got listed on the official Samsung website in Thailand. In the US, AT&T is due to start offering it today too. Over in India, the Galaxy Mega 2 is already available to buy from Samsung's own online store. It's priced at INR 20,900, which means about $341 or €269. It's being offered in both white and black, and the store says it does currently have sufficient stock. The Samsung Galaxy Mega 2 comes with a 6-inch 720p touchscreen, an 8 MP rear camera with LED flash, a 5 MP front snapper, 1.5GB of RAM, 8GB of internal storage, as well as microSD card support. A 1.2 GHz quad-core processor runs things, and dual-SIM support is built in, although in terms of mobile data connectivity the Mega 2 tops out at 21Mbps HSDPA. It also has Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth 4.0, and a 2,800 mAh battery. It runs Android 4.4 KitKat. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_launches_the_galaxy_mega_2_in_india-news-10042.php

Upcoming Huawei Honor 4X may cost $146 after all

A few days ago, we saw the Huawei Honor 4X comprehensively leaked after it got certified for sale on the Chinese market. The leak brought us some pictures of the handset, its specs, as well as a rumored price point of CNY 800 (that would be $130 or €103 at the current exchange rates). New information, however, seems to contradict that. According to another source, the Honor 4X will definitely be priced under CNY 1,000, though it will probably go for CNY 899. That translates into $146 or €115. It's not a big difference compared to what the previous rumor said, but it is one nevertheless. We should know for sure on October 28, since that's when Huawei will make this Honor-branded device official. The Honor 4X will sport a 5.5-inch 720p touchscreen, a 13 MP rear camera with LED flash, a 5 MP front-facing camera, 2GB of RAM, 8GB of built-in storage, and a microSD card slot for expanding that. At the helm will be a 64-bit Qualcomm chipset coming with a 1.2 GHz quad-core processor - this is almost certainly the Snapdragon 410, although it isn't named in the leak. The Honor 4X will support 4G LTE networks, and will run Android 4.4 KitKat. Source (in Chinese) |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/upcoming_huawei_honor_4x_may_cost_146_after_all-news-10041.php

HTC Nexus 9 hands-on: First look

The Nexus 9 by HTC was a hotly anticipated device on several fronts - it's the first tablet with Android 5.0 Lollipop, it brings HTC back into the tablet game, it's the first big Nexus tablet in two years and it's the first Nexus tablet that goes after a more premium market...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/htc_google_nexus_9-review-1154.php

Sony rumored to release a 12-inch tablet in early 2015

Sony is working on a 12-inch tablet, a rumor originating with "Taiwan-based supply chain makers" claims. This tablet is reportedly going to become available in the first quarter of next year, so before the end of March. It will be a high-end slate, and will also feature a stylus, apparently targeting markets with demand for graphics-related applications. Unfortunately, no other details are known at this point. So far, the Xperia Z2 Tablet (pictured above) is Sony's biggest offering in this space, coming with a 10.1-inch touchscreen. Since the source of this rumor has a rather shaky record, you should definitely take this with a hefty dose of salt, at least until we get another report on the matter. Many mobile device makers have been rumored to step into the huge tablet business, but so far few have actually done that. If this information does pan out, then it looks like Sony will position its big tablet as a direct competitor to Samsung's 12.2-inch Galaxy Note Pro, which also has a...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/sony_rumored_to_release_a_12inch_tablet_in_early_2015-news-10040.php

Leak details where the Galaxy S5 Active will land in Europe

The Samsung Galaxy S5 Active is coming soon to Europe, that much has been made abundantly clear by some recent leaks. When exactly that will happen is still quite a mystery, but today we get to find out more about the 'where'. That is, which places in Europe will be lucky enough to get the rugged version of the Galaxy S5 on sale. This list is based on firmware versions for the phone, spotted on Samsung's servers. There's a chance that more firmware packages will be added later, so this list may not be exhaustive. So, the Galaxy S5 Active should make it to Austria, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Bulgaria, France, Switzerland, Poland, Slovenia, Germany, Italy, the UK, the Nordic countries, and the Baltics. Note though that in Norway it may be exclusive to Telenor. When it finally becomes available in Europe, the S5 Active has been rumored to set you back €629. It will be identical, in terms of specs, to the device that AT&T has been selling in the States for a few months now. It complements the 'vanilla' S5's IP67 rating with a MIL-STD-810G certification that ensures it will withstand salt, dust, humidity, rain, vibration, solar radiation, and thermal...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/leak_details_where_the_galaxy_s5_active_will_land_in_europe-news-10039.php

Samsung Galaxy S5 now said to get Lollipop in December

The Samsung Galaxy S5 may join the LG G3 in getting updated to Android 5.0 Lollipop before the end of this year. Earlier today, an LG rep apparently said as much regarding his company's current flagship smartphone. Now though it looks like LG's arch-rival from its home country of South Korea doesn't want to be left behind. According to a new rumor, Samsung will start rolling out the Android 5.0 update for the Galaxy S5 sometime in December. That's when the deployment will commence, though as usual it will take a few weeks for all regional versions of the S5 to get the new bits. Still, given that Google has yet to release a final variant of Lollipop, this would be a very fast update timeline for both the G3 and the S5, and the new software would come much sooner than for past flagships getting Android version bumps. A test build of Lollipop for the Galaxy S5 got previewed a few weeks back, and since Samsung was clearly already working on the update at that time, the rumored release time frame may just pan out. We'll have to wait and...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_s5_now_said_to_get_lollipop_in_december-news-10038.php

Samsung Galaxy Note 4 reaches 4.5 million sales in a month

According to South Korean outlet News1 the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 has hit 4.5 million sales globally about a month after its launch (it launched September 26). That's a little lower than the 5 million units its predecessor sold in its first month, but the Galaxy Note 3 got a wider release initially. The Galaxy Note 4 started off in South Korea and China and has been expanding its availability ever since. It started selling in the US only recently. The flagship phablet also experienced some delays in markets like the UK and India where sales started a week ago. As for China, Samsung rolled out the dual-SIM versions only a couple of days ago. The 4.5 million number doesn't seem to include the Galaxy Note Edge, Note 4's sibling with a two-sided screen, which is only now going on sale and in just a few markets. The Galaxy Note 4 may have hit a few bumps on the way out but Samsung needed a best seller as its Q3 earnings declined. Source (in Korean) |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_note_4_reaches_45_million_sales_in_a_month-news-10036.php

Meizu MX4 Pro live image, benchmarks appear

A live photo of the Meizu MX4 Pro has surfaced confirming the phone looks as we saw it in a couple of official photos last week. Additionally, the phone went through GFX Benchmark testing, confirming its key specs in the process. The Meizu MX4 Pro comes with a 5.36" display with a 2560 x 1536 pixel resolution (557 ppi) and is powered by an the Samsung Exynos 5 Octa with a quad-core Cortex-A15 and a quad-core Cortex-A7 CPU in addition to a hexa-core Mali-T628 MP6. RAM is reported at 3GB (not 4GB) and available storage is 12GB out of 16GB total. At the back, there's a 20.7MP Sony camera that's capable of shooting 4K videos. An 5MP snapper is placed at the front for selfies and it shoots QXGA videos. The phone runs Android 4.4.4 KitKat, which means Meizu is preparing an update for its Flyme 4 OS. Its current revision is based on Android 4.4.2 KitKat. Unlike the Meizu MX4, the MX4 Pro features a phsyical home button and not a capacitive one. The phone also keeps the slim bezels akin to the MX4 and we've seen it run YunOS 3.0 Source • Source (2) |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/meizu_mx4_pro_image_live_image_benchmarks_appear-news-10035.php

Amazon loses $437M in Q3, $170M due to Fire Phone failure

Amazon posted its Q3 earnings for this year - the company achieved $20.58 billion revenue which is a 20% increase compared to last year's Q3 when it pulled in $17.09 billion. The company's operating loss tips the scales at $544 million, though, a whopping increase compared to last year's Q3 loss of just $25 million. Net loss is $437 million. Amazon's results are a direct reflection of the company's Fire Phone not having the best market performance. The company was forced to make a writedown of $170 million to cover costs related to inventory and suppliers. Perhaps part of the reason the Fire Phone hasn't taken off is the crowded market or perhaps the fact that Amazon agreed to make its first smartphone an AT&T exclusive (aside from Amazon's own retail chain), which has hurt other companies in the past (here's looking at you, Nokia). The Fire Phone also launched at an ambitious $199.99 price with a contract but then quickly went down to $1. On a more positive note Amazon is rolling out a redesign of its US website with a huge carousel gallery and dark grey top bar, which will hopefully help it make it back up in the black. The departments dropdown is no longer dropped by default and menus have been rearranged slightly. Amazon will give users the option to get back to the "old" design too. Source | Via 1 | 2 | 3 |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/amazon_loses_437m_in_q3_170m_writedown_due_to_fire_phoney-news-10033.php

Samsung Galaxy A7 1080p screen, 64-bit processor confirmed

Last month there was some confusion about the screen resolution of the upcoming Samsung Galaxy A7, some sources said 720p others 1080p. A leaked User Agent Profile confirms the 1080p number for the SM-A700FD, which is a dual-SIM version of the device. The screen will have a 5.5" diagonal, giving it 400ppi pixel density, up from Galaxy Alpha's 312ppi. The profile also reveals that the Galaxy A7 will have a 64-bit processor (ARMv8-A instruction set) and will be clocked at 1.5GHz. Even the entry level A series phone, the Galaxy A3, will have a 64-bit processor - a Snapdragon 410 probably, with a quad-core Cortex-A53 processor at 1.2GHz (or 1.4GHz according to another User Agent profile). It seems that the Galaxy A5 will use the same chipset, but it's not clear yet if the Galaxy A7 will go up to Snapdragon 61x or simply go for an overclocked 410. The Samsung Galaxy A7 will launch with Android 4.4.4 KitKat (according to the profile) and is rumored to cost around $450-$500. Thanks to Michel for sending this in! Source | Via (in...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/leak_samsung_galaxy_a7_to_have_1080p_screen_64bit_processor-news-10034.php

Oppo confirms two device launches for October 29

As the date for Oppo's grand event for the N3 comes closers, the company intensifies its teasers giving us more hints about what we can expect. The latest one shows a second device standing next to the teased Oppo N3 behind a red curtain. This teasers gives some credential to previous leaks, which revealed an Oppo N3 with a different design than what we've already seen. Oppo made a big deal about its lithium-aluminum alloy and confirmed that one of the N3 versions is going to be made of it, while the other will be using stainless steel. The lithium-aluminum Oppo N3 certainly sounds more premium, but we are hoping both get the smart camera rotation and 16MP 1/2.3-inch sensor. The rest of the Oppo N3 main specifications should include a 5.9" 1080p display and the latest Snapdragon 805 chipset with 3GB of RAM. A fingerprint scanner is also likely. As for the pricing, all we have so far is a board sign saying the pricing of the Oppo N3 (which one isn't specified) will be $700 (€550). We'll know more when the company reveals the two phones on October 29, so stay tuned! Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/oppo_confirms_second_device_to_launch_with_the_n3-news-10032.php

LG G3 to get Android 5.0 Lollipop update by the end of 2014

The LG G3 is going to sport Android 5.0 Lollipop by the end of the year, according to an LG representative for the Netherlands and Belgium cited by TechTastic. He didn't give a more specific time frame, as we suspect the company is going to make an official announcement regarding its update plans. The LG G3 is probably going to be joined by the LG G Pro 2 since both are the company's flagships as of now. However, we suspect more devices will be blessed with Android 5.0 Lollipop goodness such as the LG G3 S, G3 Stylus, G2 and the mid-range L90 and L70. We don't know yet how LG plans to alter its most recent Optimus UI to better suit the new spirit of Android. The company likes to add a lot of additional features, so it'll be interesting to see how it manages to incorporate them in a hopefully clean and useful fashion. Motorola, Sony and HTC have already compiled a list of devices that are planned to receive the latest Android version....

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/lg_g3_to_receive_android_50_lollipop_update_by_the_end_of_2014-news-10031.php

GT Advanced and Apple terminate their partnership

GT Advanced Technologies, the company supplying Apple with sapphire for the Apple Watch, has announced the partnership between the two companies is over. Less than a year old, the deal drove GT Advanced to bankruptcy after the company didn't stick to the agreed timelines for sapphire production and Apple had to abandon its plans for sapphire-protected iPhones and hold back a payment of $139 million. The latest deal between the two company makes GT Advanced shut down its factories in Mesa, Arizona and Salem, Massachusetts. The company will sell its sapphire furnaces and try to repay the $439 million that Apple gave it in advance. As a result of the shutdown, approximately 650 Mesa employees have been laid off. An Apple spokeswoman had this comment to add: "Apple put a lot of effort into an ambitious new sapphire manufacturing process with GTAT which is not ready for production. We're going to continue evaluating GTAT's progress on larger sapphire boule development, as well as consider other options for the facility. We remain committed to the city and we're going to work with Mesa and Maricopa County to help the GT Advanced employees who will be impacted by this find new jobs." This may or may not have an impact on the Apple Watch launch scheduled to happen "early next year", but it certainly makes sapphire screen iPhones (or any non-Vertu phones really) unlikely for at least a couple of more years. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/gt_advanced_and_apple_terminate_their_partnership-news-10030.php

It's official - Lumia phones will be branded 'Microsoft Lumia'

The Nokia Lumia brand is no more - from now on there will only be Microsoft Lumia. However the Nokia phone brand isn't completely dead, Microsoft will continue to sell current Nokia Lumia handsets and provide the support that users expect. Also, features phones like the Nokia 130 will continue to be sold, we should also see new feature phones being introduced. Tuula Rytilä, Senior Vice President of Marketing for Phones, gave an interview in which she detailed the future course of the Lumia brand. She points out that the rebranding is already underway with former Nokia-branded apps coming under the Microsoft umbrella. Similarly Nokia sites are in the process of moving to Microsoft. It's not clear when the first Microsoft Lumia device will be unveiled, "soon" is the only answer we're getting. However, unless Microsoft sneaks in an announcement just before Christmas chances are that CES in January or the MWC in February next year is when the first devices will be unveiled. Microsoft's strategy from its very inception is to put a PC on every desktop, now they will be focusing on a phone in every pocket. This comes on the back of record Lumia sales, so Microsoft has a decent chance of securing Windows Phone as the third horse in the smartphone OS...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/its_official__lumia_phones_will_be_branded_microsoft_lumia-news-10029.php

Microsoft sold a record 9.3 million Lumia smartphones last quarter

Microsoft released its earnings report for the first quarter of the fiscal 2015. The Redmond-based tech giant took home net income $4.5 billion from $23.2 billion of revenue. The company's quarterly revenue is a drastic improvement over the $18.53 billion it achieved for the same period last year. Net income has dropped from last year's $5.24 billion due to $1.14 billion worth of restructuring expenses that stemmed from the Nokia acquisition. Microsoft sold a record 9.3 million Lumia smartphones. The number is a drastic increase over the 5.8 million units sold in the previous quarter, and more than the 8.8 million devices from the same period last year. The Lumia hardware business is responsible for $2.6 billion in revenue for the quarter. The warm reception enjoyed by the Microsoft Surface 3 Pro resulted in $908 million in revenue. The number is up a whopping 127% from the same quarter in the fiscal 2014. The gross margin from the tablet business is positive, so Redmond is making money from it. The Xbox division isn't doing too shabby either. It moved 2.4 million Xbox One and Xbox 360 consoles. You can find out Microsoft's full breakdown of its financials alongside its forward looking statements at the source link below. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/microsoft_sold_a_record_93_million_lumia_smartphones_last_quarter-news-10028.php

LG G3 Screen goes official with NUCLUN octa-core chipset

LG officially announced the G3 Screen phablet. Designed for its home market, the previously leaked handset comes with LG's first application processor, which is dubbed NUCLUN. The brand new chipset features ARM big.LITTLE technology for efficient multitasking. Its octa-core setup consists of four 1.5GHz ARM Cortex A-15 cores for high performance computing and four 1.2GHz ARM Cortex-A7 ones for less demanding tasks. LG's new SoC features LTE-A connectivity that supports download speeds of up to 225Mbps. LG will utilize its in-house solution in more products going forward. As its name suggests, LG G3 Screen features the same design language as the LG G3 we already know. However, the newcomer features larger 5.9" 1080p IPS display. The rest of the device's specs are rather familiar. They include 2GB of RAM, 32GB of expandable storage, 13MP camera with OIS+, 2.1MP front-facing unit, and 3,000mAh battery. The OS on tap is Android 4.4 KitKat. The physical measures of LG G3 Screen are 157.8x 81.8x 9.5mm, while its weight tips the scale at 182 grams. The device will be available in black or white. Source...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/lg_g3_screen_goes_official_with_nuclun_octacore_chipset-news-10027.php

Google's Project Ara will have a store for its modular bits

Google's modular smartphone effort, codenamed Project Ara, seems to be chugging along nicely ahead of its expected release in 2015. Team leader Paul Eremenko said in an interview at Purdue University that there will be a special store for Ara components, complete with recommendations and reviews. This will emulate the Google Play Store and its software sales, but for the modular hardware that will make up the Ara. He also reiterated that the Ara MDK is free and open and available to everybody. So presumably anyone could create a module, just like theoretically anyone can make an Android app. If you do that, you then put it up for sale in the Play Store - while for Ara hardware modules you'll be able to do the same, using the upcoming Ara module marketplace. This will allow module makers to sell them directly to consumers, which is apparently what Google wants. It will be interesting to see how many different modules will be dreamt up by developers, and how many the Ara module marketplace will stock when it launches. In the mobile software world, for a long time success was measured by how many apps were available for a platform. So if Project Ara wants to emulate that, then it should have a lot of modules listed in its store. Project Ara was started at Motorola, but Google kept it when it sold the phone maker to Lenovo. The base price for the modular smartphone will be around $50. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/googles_project_ara_will_have_a_store_for_its_modular_innards-news-10026.php

Apple may pay Foxconn more for each iPhone 6 Plus

A media report from Taiwan claims Apple could be ready to pay more to Foxconn for its manufacturing services for the iPhone 6 Plus. This would hopefully have the effect of encouraging the Taiwanese company to make more iPhone 6 Plus units. Those are needed because the market demand for Apple's first phablet apparently exceeded expectations. So Apple needs some more iPhone 6 Plus inventory, and fast. Hence the presumed pay hike to Foxconn. Right now, the giant electronics manufacturer is said to earn $20 for each iPhone 6 Plus it makes. But Apple wants to increase that to $24-25. That would obviously boost Foxconn's results for the fourth quarter of this year. But some of the cash difference may make into its workers' pockets, to encourage them to produce more goods. The increased pay per iPhone might however be a limited time offer from Apple, with future levels predicted to gradually return to the original amount. Of course you should view this as nothing more than a rumor, unless it gets confirmed somehow. Source (in Chinese) |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/apple_may_pay_foxconn_more_for_each_iphone_6_plus_it_makes-news-10025.php

HTC One Mini 2 gets a pink version in the UK

If you're interested in the HTC One Mini 2, but so far haven't found its color variations appealing, then this is for you. Aside from the grey and gold hues which have been available for quite a while, over in the UK Carphone Warehouse has started selling the smartphone in pink too. What's more, the pink version is exclusive to this particular retailer. It's unclear however whether this is a timed exclusivity deal which will expire at some point, or if it will last forever. Either way, if you want a pink HTC One Mini 2 right now, the only place to get it is Carphone Warehouse. The smartphone isn't priced differently for the pink hue. You can get it for free if you pick an operator's plan that is at least £20 per month. This cheapest deal is at O2, and it will net you 300 minutes, unlimited texts, and 300MB of 3G data each month. There are many more contract options to pick from, though. Alternatively, you can purchase the device outright, in SIM-free form, for £379.95. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/htc_one_mini_2_gets_a_pink_version_in_the_uk-news-10024.php

LG announces global rollout plans for the G Watch R

Following a report saying the round LG G Watch R would become available for purchase in the UK as soon as tomorrow, the Korean device maker has put out a press release outlining its rollout plans for the wearable. The G Watch R is LG's second smartwatch running Android Wear, coming after the original square G Watch introduced earlier this year. LG expects the G Watch R to be up for grabs in European countries such as France, Italy, Spain, and the UK at the beginning of November. You may get it even sooner than that, at least in the UK. "Key markets" in North America, Asia, and CIS will receive the G Watch R at some point after it lands in Europe. And "in the weeks ahead" the wearable will also become available in Google's Play Store. Unfortunately these are all the details LG put forth, so we're still low on specifics. We could assume that the G Watch R will make it to quite a few markets by the end of this year. The G Watch R was announced at IFA in late August. It comes with a 1.3-inch round P-OLED touchscreen with 320x320 resolution, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 chipset with a 1.2 GHz CPU, 512MB of RAM, 4GB of built-in storage, 9-axis sensors, a heart rate monitor, a barometer, and a 410 mAh battery. It's also dust and water resistant, being IP67...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/lg_announces_global_rollout_plans_for_the_g_watch_r-news-10023.php

Great deal: Nokia Lumia 530 only 50 pounds in the UK

If you want to get a smartphone that's dirt cheap but isn't dirt or filled with dirt this may just be the deal for you. UK customers are being treated to a superb promotion for the Nokia Lumia 530 - £49.95 with a prepaid SIM or even £29.95 for pay as you go users that are eligible for an upgrade. You'll need to get a £10 top-up for the SIM which puts the total price at £60. Given that most carriers give you some credit in a prepaid SIM this doesn't look half bad as a trade off. Previously the retailer's price for the Lumia 530 was £90. Carephone Warehouse boasts about an exclusive yellow option for the Nokia Lumia 530 but you can also get it in Black, Orange and Green. Other retailers are yet to catch up to the lower price, though. For the small amount of money you get a 4" 480x854 display, 4GB of storage, microSD card slot, Snapdragon 200 chipset, an FM Radio, GPS, a 1,430mAh battery and the latest Windows Phone 8.1 with Nokia's Lumia Denim package. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/cheap_goods_nokia_lumia_530_only_50_pounds_in_the_uk-news-10022.php

Huawei hits 16.8 million shipments in Q3 this year

Huawei is transitioning to a big player with premium options and already has concrete results to show. The company has shipped 16.8 million smartphones in Q3 this year and 26% of them were mid to high-end devices. It grew 23% overall compared to last year and 18% in its home country of China. The company also showed impressive growths in developing markets (the Middle East and Africa especially, where shipments are up 322% compared to last year. The CEO is confident and makes comparisons with market-leader Samsung, which is having difficulty penetrating some developing markets where Huawei is ahead of the Koreans. The new Huawei Ascend Mate7 alone has sold one million units since its recent introduction. Its price starts at CNY 3,000 ($490) but there's a pricier version at CNY 3,700. Huawei's CEO says that until recently there was a distinct lack of domestic premium devices and CNY 3,000 was considered the upper limit of what users will buy. In response most Chinese manufacturers focused on ultra low-cost devices, which puts Huawei's 26% mid-range to high-end statistic in better perspective. Huawei will face further issues though, Chinese carriers have ended subsidies and have been lowering marketing budgets for three years running. Source 1 • Source 2 (in...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/huawei_hits_168_million_shipments_in_q3_this_year-news-10021.php

LG G Watch R hits the UK tomorrow for £224.99

If you've been waiting for the LG G Watch R, you will finally be able to purchase one tomorrow, provided you are in the UK. The G Watch R will be available online through Clove for £224.99 (including VAT) in black color only. The LG G Watch R is the first Android Wear device with a full circular display, unlike the semicircular display on the Moto 360. Circular displays might not be the most efficient design to show information but they do make the smartwatch look more like an actual watch and the G Watch R looks almost identical to a regular watch. The price is a bit steep in the UK but it should be around $250 when it launches in the...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/lg_g_watch_r_hits_the_uk_tomorrow_for_22499-news-10020.php

LG Liger (F490L) photographed, benchmarked extensively

The LG Liger (F490L) made a bold appearance before its official announcement - complete with specs, hands-on photos and even benchmarks and chipset info. The phone will join the LG G3 family with similar looks but a bigger display (5.9") and LG's own Odin chipset. LG Liger (F490L) hands-on photos The chipset features four Cortex-A15 cores and four Cortex-A7. Initially we saw it clocked at 1GHz, now CPU-Z shows 1.2GHz as the top speed for the A15s. The app may have detected the A7 clock though, the A15 cores are allegedly clocked at 1.5GHz. More LG Liger photos As a consequence the AnTuTu 5 score is not particularly impressive, even against the Snapdragon 801-packing LG G3. Considering the 5.9" IPS screen has been dropped to 1080p resolution, the LG Liger may be more of a mid-ranger rather than a flagship phablet. Benchmarks Other specs include 2GB of RAM, 16/32GB of storage, 13MP camera (no word on OIS but laser focus is on board) and a 3,000mAh battery. It measures 157.8 x 81.8 x 9.5mm. .jrGraphContainer { background: none !important; border-bottom: 1px solid #eee !important;} ul.jrGraph { left: 56px !important; } ul.jrGraphControls { padding: 0; margin-left: -10px !important; } JRGRAPH_EXPANDABLE_VERSION = false; AnTuTu 5 Higher is better Samsung Galaxy Note 4 46824 HTC One (M8) 44020 Sony Xperia Z3 40393 LG G3 - EU version 39905 LG Liger (F490L) 25460 Thanks to hnl for sending this in! Source 1 • Source 2 • Source 3 (in...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/lg_liger_f490l_photographed_benchmarked_extensively-news-10019.php

Apple iPad Air 2 GPU tested, outclasses Tegra K1

Someone has put the Apple iPad Air 2 through GFXBench's 2.7 T-Rex and 3.0 Manhattan's onscreen and offscreen (1080p) platform and we get to ogle at the framerates posted. The results show the iPad Air 2 is just as good and even at times better than the promising Tegra K1 chip and its Kepler GPU, which was the previous graphics champ. The scores below show the iPad Air 2 beat the Tegra K1 in both offscreen tests - the same tests that are both capped at 1080p and indicate the raw power of the GPU. The onscreen tests offer less framerate because of the above-1080p native resolution of the iPad Air 2 but it still managed to pull ahead of the Xiaomi Mi Pad 7.9 which has the same screen resolution and Nvidia's latest chip inside. .jrGraphContainer { background: none !important; border-bottom: 1px solid #eee !important;} ul.jrGraph { left: 70px !important; } ul.jrGraphControls { padding: 0; margin-left: -10px !important; } JRGRAPH_EXPANDABLE_VERSION = false; GFX 2.7 T-Rex (1080p offscreen) Higher is better Apple iPad Air 2 72 NVIDIA Shield Tablet 65 Xiaomi Mi Pad 7.9 53.1 Apple iPhone 6 Plus 44.6 Apple iPad Air 25 GFX 2.7 T-Rex (onscreen) Higher is better NVIDIA Shield Tablet 54.2 Apple iPad Air 2 53 Xiaomi Mi Pad 7.9 39.6 Apple iPad Air 21 GFX 3.0 Manhattan (1080p offscreen) Higher is better Apple iPad Air 2 32.7 NVIDIA Shield Tablet 31 Xiaomi Mi Pad 7.9 27.3 Apple iPhone 6 Plus 18.6 GFX 3.0 Manhattan (onscreen) Higher is better NVIDIA Shield Tablet 27.6 Apple iPad Air 2 24.7 Xiaomi Mi Pad 7.9 19.8 The Nvidia Shield Tablet was only able to beat the Apple iPad Air 2 on the onscreen tests as its screen resolution is 1080p. More importantly the iPad Air 2 achieved superb framerates in all but the onscreen Manhattan test - easily above the 30fps threshold. We're eagerly waiting to see how much better the 64-bit Tegra K1 will be than the 32-bit one in the Shield Tablet and Mi Pad 7.9. As it happens GFXBench lists a Nexus 9 unit (the HTC-made Google tablet with the 64-bit Tegra K1) with scores in both T-Rex and Manhattan but there's nothing in the Info screen to indicate this is legitimately the Nexus 9. Naturally we will be doing our own testing on the iPad Air 2 and Nexus 9 once we get our hands on them. Thanks, Philo for the...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/apple_ipad_air_2_gpu_tested_outclasses_tegra_k1-news-10018.php

HTC One (M8 Eye) won't be coming to Europe

An updated flavor of HTC One (M8) with a 13MP dual camera setup on the back was recently launched in China and India. The phone is called HTC One (M8 Eye) and is otherwise absolutely identical with the original HTC One (M8). HTC's UltraPixel technology was always criticized for sacrificing good light performance to achieve a small gain in low-light shots. In addition to the low-res shots, the 4MP sensor also limits the video recording capabilities to just 1080p (4K requires at least 8MP 16:9 sensor). It seems HTC is experimenting other possibilities with the HTC One (M8 Eye), but unfortunately the EU citizens won't be able to try this new option. HTC One (M8 Eye) is already available in China and India, but now we know we won't be seeing it in Europe. HTC Product Manager confirmed the One (M8 Eye) was designed for a limited market reach and especially for India. He also specified the original HTC One (M8) is still company's holiday flagship, even though there are new handsets like the selfie-centric HTC Desire Eye. Well, there you have it. If you hope for a better HTC One (M8) for the holiday season - you can't have it unless you live in India or China. By the way, the same HTC Product Manager shared that HTC Dot View case is company's most successful accessory ever and we'll be definitely seeing more of it in the future...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/htc_one_m8_eye_wont_be_coming_to_europe-news-10017.php

Motorola Droid Turbo leaks out in live photos

Motorola Droid Turbo for Verizon Wireless made yet another unscheduled appearance. This time around, the soon to be revealed Android powerhouse showed up in number of live photos. In line with past leaks, the images showcase the upcoming device in black color scheme. The photos also confirm the handset's specs. Speaking of specs, they include 5.2-inch QHD (2,560 x 1,440 pixels) display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 chipset, 3GB of RAM, 32GB of storage, 21 MP rear camera with dual-LED flash, and huge 3,900 mAh battery. The handset will run Android 4.4.4 KitKat when it launches. Motorola Droid Turbo will launch in less than a week, on October 28. We will be covering the event live, so be sure to tune in for the full scoop on the smartphone....

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/motorola_droid_turbo_leaks_out_in_live_photos_-news-10016.php

Samsung Galaxy Note 4 Developer Edition is headed to Verizon

Samsung Galaxy Note 4 Developer Edition quietly appeared on the manufacturer's website in the United States. The developer-friendly flagship phablet is headed to Verizon Wireless in the near future. Curiously, the Developer Edition is cheaper than the regular Samsung Galaxy Note 4 at full price with no contact. The version with unlockable bootloader is listed for the highly acceptable $663.53, whereas the regular model is listed at $699.99 at Verizon. The price difference is even more dramatic with the AT&T version, which costs $825.99 with no commitment. In short, the Developer Edition for Verizon is the pick of the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 range in the United States. There is no word if Samsung Galaxy Note 4 Developer Edition will be available to carriers other than Verizon in the United States. Chances are that it will stay exclusive to the Big Red. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_note_4_developer_edition_is_headed_to_verizon-news-10015.php

Archos 50 Diamond with 4G LTE announced for 2015

At an event in Paris today, Archos officially announced the 50 Diamond. This is actually quite a high-end phone for the French company that usually focuses on extremely cheap devices. The Archos 50 Diamond comes with a 5-inch 1080p IPS touchscreen, a 16 MP rear camera with LED flash, and an 8 MP front snapper. Powering things up is a 64-bit Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 chipset with an octa-core CPU sporting four Cortex-A53 cores that can go up to 1.7 GHz and another four of those that are only clocked at 1 GHz. 2GB of RAM are in, and the built-in storage space is 16GB, yet there's also a microSD card slot for adding capacity. The phone supports Cat.4 LTE (150Mbps theoretical peak download speed, 50Mbps up), and it has dual-SIM functionality (dual-active). Its battery capacity is 2,700 mAh, its dimensions are 146 x 70.4 x 8 mm, and it weighs 146g. It runs Android 4.4.4 KitKat. Perhaps the most interesting detail about this device is its price. The Archos 50 Diamond will retail for €199, which is a decent amount given the specs here and the LTE connectivity. Unfortunately though, the 50 Diamond will only make it to the market in early 2015. Source 1 (in French) • Source...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/archos_unveils_the_50_diamond_with_4g_lte-news-10014.php

Gigabyte GSmart Mika M3 becomes official in Greece

Last month Gigabyte introduced a lot of new Android smartphones, but it looks like there's going to be a new Mika model to complement the GSmart Mika M2 in the company's portfolio. This is the Gigabyte GSmart Mika M3, which has just become official at a special event in Greece, during which the other, already announced devices were present too. Gigabyte GSmart Mika M3 The Mika M3 comes with a 5-inch 720p IPS touchscreen, a 13 MP rear camera with LED flash, and an 8 MP front snapper. It's powered by a 1.3 GHz quad-core processor, aided by 1GB of RAM. Internal storage is 8GB, expandable via microSD. Keeping things running is a 1,900 mAh battery. In terms of connectivity, the handset tops out at HSPA+, so don't expect 4G support. There is, however, dual-SIM functionality built in. The Mika M3 runs Android 4.4 KitKat, it weighs 146g, and its dimensions are 144 x 70.5 x 8.3 mm. The Gigabyte GSmart Mika M3 should become available (at least in Greece) before the end of the year. Compared to the Mika M2, it has a smaller battery, but higher-res front-facing camera. Source (in...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/gigabyte_gsmart_mika_m3_gets_official_in_greece-news-10013.php

Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact review: Rain or shine

True to its name, the Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact is small, light, durable and powerful. Hardly a surprise to anyone who's been watching Sony lately. Two generations of mini superphones saw the Z Compact series become the benchmark for design...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/sony_xperia_z3_tablet_compact-review-1152.php

LG Liger (F490L) with in-house chipset gets pictured

LG's first foray in the mobile chipset business has definitely been a very long time coming. The SoC codenamed Odin is going to make its debut very soon, though, after almost one full year of leaks about it. And the first device to be powered by the LG Odin chip is apparently going to be the F490L, codenamed Liger. Thanks to a some marketing material that got snapped by someone, you can see it below for the first time. The Liger got Bluetooth certified at the beginning of this month, and now that marketing documents for it are being created at LG HQ, it seems likely that it will be in stores very soon. In fact, just yesterday we heard that the first Odin-powered handset would be out before the end of October, joining the G3 family. That said, the Liger is basically going to serve as a 'test run' for LG's chipset. Its specs tell us that much - this won't be a new flagship offering, that's for sure. Thanks to the leaked document above, we find out that the Odin SoC will actually be called Nuclun, and it will have an octa-core CPU with four cores clocked at 1.5 GHz and four at 1.2 GHz. Past rumors and leaks said the higher-clocked ones would be Cortex-A15, while the lower-clocked cores would be Cortex-A7. According to the source of this leak, the chipset has support for Cat.6 LTE, which allows for theoretical peak download speeds of up to 300Mbps. The LG Liger also comes with a 5.9-inch 1080p touchscreen, a 13 MP rear camera with OIS+, a 2.1 MP front snapper, 2GB of RAM, 32GB of built-in storage space, and a 3,000 mAh battery. Its design is very much in line with that of the G3, as you may have expected. Its dimensions are 157.8 x 81.8 x 9.45 mm. Based on its model number, it's headed to LG U+, one of the three carriers in South Korea. Whether it will ever be launched internationally is still a mystery at this point. Source (in Korean) | Via 1 (in Japanese) • Via...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/lg_liger_f490l_with_inhouse_chipset_finally_gets_pictured-news-10012.php

Samsung Galaxy Note 4 duos quietly launches in China

Samsung has unveiled three dual-SIM versions of its Galaxy Note 4 flagship. All three are China-centric, one will come to China Telecom, one to China Unicom and one is intended for SIM-free release. The first SIM on all three models boasts LTE - both TDD and FDD flavors (that is Chinese and international) - while the second SIM is 2G only (900/1800/1900). microSIM cards are used in all slots. The China Telecom and the SIM-free versions offer 2G and 3G CDMA connectivity on the first SIM. The carrier-free version of the phone supports all the TDD LTE bands needed by both China Telecom and China Unicom (one more actually) and most of the same FDD LTE bands for roaming. This means it should work on either carrier. The SIM-free version is priced CNY 5,400 ($880/€700), but we don't have the prices of the other two. The single-SIM version goes for CNY 5,200. Source (in...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_note_4_duos_launches_in_china-news-10010.php

Meizu MX4 with YunOS goes on pre-order today

The Meizu MX4 has been on sale for a while now but Meizu in partnership with Alibaba are launching pre-orders for a YunOS version of the smartphone. The pre-orders start today and end on November 10, they are for China only for now. To reserve an MX4 you'll need to deposit CNY 99 ($16), just make sure the payment goes through by November 10. The total price of the handset is CNY 1,800 for the 16GB model, the same price as the FlymeOS-powered version of the device. The price translates to $295/€232 though it's not clear when - and if at all - the handset will get a retail launch in the west. If you're wondering what's the difference between the FlymeOS that Meizu normally uses and the YunOS for this model, the answer is not much. Yun is based on Flyme and incorporate all its features (both are ultimately based on Android), though retail giant Alibaba has added its own performance, security and cloud tweaks. The specifications of the phone remain unchanged - a 5.36" phone with 1,152 x 1,920 pixel resolution (418ppi), MediaTek MT6595 octa-core chipset (Cortex-A17/A7), a 20.7MP camera with 2160p video capture, LTE Cat. 4 and, unfortunately, no microSD card slot. So think twice before pre-ordering the 16GB model. Note that this isn't the rumored Meizu MX4 Pro handset, which is quite similar but has a QHD screen instead. Also note that a Gold-color version with FlymeOS went on pre-order yesterday. Thanks to Chris for sending this in! Source (in Chinese) |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/meizu_mx4_with_yunos_goes_on_preorder_today-news-10009.php

New Oppo N3 leak reveals pricing, confirms 5.5

Just when we thought we'd go a day without any Oppo N3 leaks as the company has not posted any new teaser, here comes an impatient retailer to fill in the gap. An ad board in front of a Chinese phone shop has spilled the beans on a few of the specs of the upcoming smartphone, including its price. The board that you see pictured confirms that the Oppo N3 will come with a 5.5" screen of 1080p resolution. It looks like the company won't be following up on the Find 7 with another QHD smartphone just yet. The 16MP camera is also mentioned in the ad, although it comes as no surprise. As you know the 1/2.3" camera is mounted on a motorized piece that can rotate 206 degrees so it works both as a front-facing and a regular camera. Most crucially, the Oppo N3 price was revealed - CNY4,298 translates to $700 or €550. It's still unclear what kind of storage you will be getting at that price point, but it could have certainly been worse, when you think about the lithium-aluminum alloy that will be used on one of the versions of the smartphone. We are just a week away from the announcement now, so we should find all the missing bits soon...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/new_oppo_n3_leak_reveals_pricing_confirms_55_1080p_display-news-10008.php

ASUS Japan teases new Zenfones and Zenwatch

ASUS is teasing a launch of a smartphone and a smartwatch on its Japanese website. We'll know for sure what the company has in store for Japan on October 28, but until then we can only assume what ASUS is preparing. The company unveiled the ZenWatch at IFA 2014 sporting a a 1.63" AMOLED display with a resolution of 320 x 320px, resulting in 278ppi and a Snapdragon 400 chipset with a 1.2GHz CPU and 512MB of RAM. Based on the teaser image and what we saw on the IFA showroom floor, this might be just a local launch but we can't help but hope for a brand new device. As for the smartphone, it's anyone's guess. We could see new Zenfone 6 Zenfone 5 or the Zenfone 4. All are very affordable and offer decent specs for their price. Stay tuned for October 28, when we'll update on you what ASUS will unveil. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/asus_japan_teases_a_launch_of_a_phone_and_a_smartwatch-news-10007.php

LG G3 gets a software update, improved UI responsiveness

LG has issued a software update for the G3. The major fix the company brings to its Android flagship is fixed user interface responsiveness, following a number of complaints from unhappy owners. The LG G3 update weighs 174MB, but sadly, there's no official changelog so far. Users, who've already flashed it report improved battery life in addition to faster UI navigation. The firmware update is based on Android 4.4.2 KitKat and is currently seeding in India, Thailand and some European countries. Check out if it is available for your device from the LG Mobile Support Tool. Before attempting the update, it is advised to back up any important information. Better be safe than sorry. If you've received the update feel free to tell us in the comments what changes you...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/lg_g3_gets_a_software_update_improving_ui_responsiveness-news-10006.php

Sony Xperia E3 gets a $60 price cut in the United States

Sony Xperia E3 received a serious price cut in the United States. The entry-level LTE smartphone is available for $139.99 with no contract. The deal is offered by the online retailer Expansys. The new price tag is $60 less than the original $199.99 that the seller was asking for the Sony Xperia E3. Announced alongside the Xperia Z3 and Xperia Z3 Compact during IFA last month, Sony Xperia E3 is the company's most affordable LTE smartphone. Its specs include Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 SoC, 4.5" FWGA display, 1GB of RAM, 4GB of expandable storage, and 5MP camera. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/sony_xperia_e3_gets_a_60_price_cut_in_the_united_states-news-10005.php

Samsung Galaxy Core Max goes official in China

Samsung launched the Galaxy Core Max in China. Sporting the model number SM-G5108Q. The dual-SIM smartphone combines mid-range specs and TouchWiz-ed Android 4.4 KitKat. Samsung Galaxy Core Max features 1.2GHz quad-core CPU, a gig of RAM, and 8GB of built-in, expandable memory. The display is a 4.8" Super AMOLED unit with qHD resolution (960 x 540 pixels). The main camera of the device is an 8MP unit, while the front-facing snapper is a 5MP solution. The handset is powered by a 2,200mAh battery. Physical measures of the handset are 136.3 x 69.6 x 8 mm. Its weight tips the scale at 132 grams. We don't know details on the pricing and the exact availability of the Samsung Galaxy Core Max just yet. Source (in Chinese)...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_core_max_goes_official_in_china-news-10004.php

iPad Air 2 benchmark reveals 3-core CPU and 2GB of RAM

Apple iPad Air 2 made a trip to the popular Geekbench benchmark and revealed juicy bits about itself. The freshly announced full-size tablet from Cupertino sports 2GB of RAM and rather curious 3-core CPU. While 2GB of RAM are hardly a surprise due to a number of leaks that suggested the memory bump, the CPU setup surely is a curious one. Past iPad models have stuck to a dual-core CPU. The Geekbench score is quite impressive too - it clearly indicates that the iPad Air 2 is quite a performer. We will reserve final judgements for our full review, but, at a quick glance, the 4477 score is the highest we've seen. Doubling the RAM in the iPad Air 2 is likely a step to accommodate the previously rumored split-screen multitasking. The latter is expected to appear on the slate via a future update. Source...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/apple_ipad_air_2_benchmark_reveals_3core_cpu_and_2gb_of_ram-news-10003.php

iPad Air 2 and iPad Mini 3 arrive at T-Mobile on October 29

If you've been wondering just when you'll be able to purchase an iPad Air 2 or iPad Mini 3 from T-Mobile, the mystery has been solved today. The magenta carrier itself has unveiled both the pre-order date as well as the actual release date for Apple's new tablets. They will be up for pre-order starting tomorrow, October 22. And they will become available one week later, on October 29. To get a 16GB iPad Air 2 you won't need to pay anything upfront, but you'll have to deal with 24 monthly installments of $26.24. If you want the 64GB model, you have to shell out $99 when you buy the tablet, with the installments remaining unchanged. The same is true for the 128GB SKU, though in that case you're required to put down $199. For the iPad Mini 3, the situation is similar, though the 24 monthly installments will set you back $22.08. If you're going for the 16GB tablet, there's nothing to pay upfront. For the 64GB model, it's $99 down, while the 128GB version requires an upfront payment of $199. Needless to say, all of these come with 4G LTE data connectivity built-in, they're not Wi-Fi-only. T-Mobile reminds its Simple Choice plan customers that they can add a tablet to their plan and match the data they already have for $10 per...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/ipad_air_2_and_ipad_mini_3_arrive_at_tmobile_on_october_29-news-10002.php

Dual-SIM Samsung Galaxy A3 visits the FCC sans 4G LTE

Samsung's upcoming Galaxy A3, A5, and A7 smartphones have so far been leaked a lot. That said, none of them has gotten official yet, so to get information about these handsets we have to look to other sources. Take the FCC for example. The US certification authority has just given the all clear to the Samsung SM-A300H/DS. According to the FCC documentation, this will be a 3G-only variant of the Galaxy A3, one that will furthermore come with dual-SIM support (hence the "DS" in its model number). The lack of 4G LTE connectivity means this particular SKU could be targeted at markets where there are little to no LTE deployments. Obviously though, the Galaxy A3 should also become available in at least one 4G-friendly iteration, though that will have a different model number. Aside from being the smallest of the three A siblings, the Galaxy A3 is also going to be the lowest-end. It's been rumored to come with a 4.52-inch 540x960 touchscreen, an 8 MP rear camera, a 5 MP front-facing snapper, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 chipset with a 1.2 GHz quad-core CPU, 1GB of RAM, 8GB of built-in storage, and microSD card support. It should run Android 4.4.4 KitKat from day one. Source | Via 1 (in Japanese) • Via...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/dualsim_samsung_galaxy_a3_visits_the_fcc_sans_4g_lte-news-10001.php

Nokia brand to be replaced with Microsoft Lumia

If you've seen Microsoft's recent articles about Lumia you know it was coming. The Nokia brand has been phased out by calling the phones just "Lumia" and redirecting Nokia online properties to Microsoft.com. This rebranding effort will expand and soon the lineup will become "Microsoft Lumia". Lumia is already the de facto face of Windows Phone - it accounts for about 90% of the market. Microsoft has been busy signing up new vendors but they will struggle to gain significant market share as the big names have mostly neglected WP. Nokia, the company, still exists but as part of the agreement with Microsoft it won't make new phones for at least several more years. Instead it has shifted its focus to things like mapping and, with no exclusivity to consider, it has been bringing its software to Android. Will Microsoft put its own logo on the devices or will a more restraint Lumia logo suffice? Keep in mind that Microsoft is treading lightly, not to annoy other WP vendors by showing favoritism to its in-house...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_brand_to_be_replaced_with_microsoft_lumia-news-10000.php

Samsung unveils Galaxy S5 Plus with Snapdragon 805

With a quiet whisper Samsung unveiled the Galaxy S5 Plus - a Snapdragon 805 version of the company's 2014 flagship. This is the small late season upgrade, similar to the Galaxy S4 LTE-A that launched late last year. Just like its predecessor the new Plus model brings a faster LTE connection in addition to the improved performance. The Galaxy S5 originally launched with the Snapdragon 801 chipset that included a 2.5GHz quad-core processor. The new processor is also at 2.5GHz but it's a new core - Krait 450. The chipset also has a new generation GPU - Adreno 420 - breaking away from the 3xx series. The other change is LTE Cat. 6, upgrading from Cat. 4. The difference is 300Mbps downloads instead of 150Mbps, the uplink remains at 50Mbps. If you were thinking it, yes, this is the same Snapdragon chipset that the Galaxy Note 4 comes with. The Samsung Galaxy S5 Plus is otherwise identical to the version that launched early this year. It has a 5.1" 1080p screen and not a QHD screen like the Galaxy S5 LTE-A. There's a 16MP camera with 2160p video (no OIS like the Note), 2GB RAM and 16GB storage, the same 2,800mAh battery too (though the new chipset should be more power efficient). Dimensions and weight remain the same, the IP67 rating too. Right now the phone is available only in the Netherlands from what we can tell, Samsung's press site doesn't even have a press release for it. Thanks for sending this in, Gijs! Source | Via (in...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_unveils_galaxy_s5_plus_with_snapdragon_805-news-9999.php

Apple Watch the most anticipated wearable, PwC study finds

PricewaterhouseCoopers has published a study on the smart wearables market, which shows that the Apple Watch is the most hotly anticipated device. 59% of people questioned said they are looking forward to trying the first Apple smartwatch. A potential smartwatch by Amazon would also enjoy significant interest - 57% of the survey participants would like to see the retail giant come up with its own wearable. Google-powered devices aren't that far behind with 53% interest. Of course with Android Wear smartwatches already on sale for a few months, chances are plenty of people have already jumped on board and aren't on the waiting list anymore. In fact, according to the study one in five US adults already own a smart wearable of one kind of another, which means that pioneers have been handsomely rewarded for their speed. However, 33% of those early adopters have abandoned their purchasing device within one year so there's obviously huge potential for improving. 76% of all respondents said that they don't see the smart wearables as a potential replacement for a gadget they already have - instead it should serve to bring new functionality. There's obviously huge potential in the smart wearable niche at present given the sheer number of large players that aim to participate and the amount of marketing dollars they bring to it. We'll have to wait for at least another year until for things to settle down before we find out who manages to get the largest slice of the pie,...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/apple_watch_the_most_anticipated_wearable_pwc_study_finds-news-9998.php

Apple now requires iOS developers to use 64-bit code

Ever since Apple unveiled the iPhone 5s, it has been keen to brag about the 64-bit support of the Apple A7 chip. Starting February, it will require developers to develop their apps to work on the 64-bit architecture as well as the 32-bit one. This means that the company is slowly but surely moving to a 64-bit only support in iOS. There are currently Apple products that are still using 32-bit CPU architecture, so the company is unlikely to require developers make apps using only 64-bit compliant code for at least another year. In addition, Apple has also launched a Swift mini-site to lure developers to start using its capabilities. Swift is Apple's new programming language for iOS and Mac applications. Google is also headed in the 64-bit code direction with the launch of Android 5.0 Lollipop. The search giant still doesn't require developers to start making 64-bit compliant applications yet, but we're sure this time will come sooner or later. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/apple_requires_ios_developers_to_use_64bit_code-news-9997.php

Meizu MX4 gets a gold version, pre-orders start tomorrow

Looking to get an MX4 with a touch of extra bling? Meizu has you covered as the company has just announced a gold version of its latest flagship. The new variant was announced at a Flyme + YunOS presentation held in China today and pre-orders will start tomorrow. You can book your unit from Taobao, Tmall and through Weibo starting from 10 AM tomorrow morning. Pricing and specifications remain unchanged over the silver version. Unfortunately, unless you live in China, you chances of getting a gold Meizu MX4 now are pretty slim. There will be just 10,000 units available initially and they will all be distributed in the manufacturer's homeland. We are hoping that by the time Meizu finally expands the availability of the MX4 abroad there will be more units available, though. Meizu has promised to share more details on the international release of the MX4 shortly - we'll naturally keep you in the...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/meizu_mx4_gets_a_gold_version_preorders_start_tomorrow-news-9996.php

Latest Oppo N3 teaser confirms fingerprint scanner

Oppo keeps its N3 teaser campaign going and the latest image it has shared once again is once again about the rotating camera of its upcoming phablet. And while the precision optics are clearly the focal point, the most interesting bit is a bit further down the back of the phone. The image shows the fingerprint sensor, which we first saw in a leaked live photo last week. It's centrally located on the back panel so it falls underneath your index finger when you hold the phone. At this point it's unclear what kind of functionality the finger scanner will enable (outside of securely unlocking your phone), but we hope Oppo has though of a few cool uses of it. We are also yet to find out if it will be a swipe-scanner similar to the one found on Samsung Galaxy smartphones and the HTC One Max or a touch one like the ones on the Apple products and the recently released Huawei Ascend Mate7. The latter has the coolest implementation we've seen so far and we hope the Oppo N3 manages to match it. The wait until we find out certainly isn't going to be long - the Oppo N3 will premiere next week, on October 29. We'll be covering the whole thing live, so make sure you tune to our homepage when the time comes for the full scoop of the device. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/latest_oppo_n3_teaser_confirms_fingerprint_scanner-news-9995.php

LG's Odin-powered phone coming this month, joining the G3 family

LG's in-house chipset codenamed Odin has been in the rurmorland for two years already. As the rumors have it, the Odin smartphone was delayed numerous times due to overheating issues and production hiccups. According to the latest report though those have been solved and we are going to see the mysterious phone announced any moment now. If those report is authentic, then we should be seeing the Odin-running smartphone as early as this week. The insider claims the phone will be launched as part of the LG G3 series and it will be a test run for the proprietary chipset. Apparently LG isn't ready to promote the Odin on a flagship device just yet and wants to play it safe. The Odin chipset is rumored to feature a big.LITTLE configuration for the processor with four Cortex-A15 and four Cortex-A7 cores. This is a powerful combination, but it should be retired soon in favor of the 64-bit ARM cores already premiering on the Exynos 7 Octa and a few Snapdragon chipsets. Hopefully LG will surprise us with the GPU - it could either be ARM's Mali-T604 (for the quad-core variant), the Mali-T760 (for the octa-core CPU), or maybe even a PowerVR Series 6. Just three weeks ago we saw an LG Liger (F490L) device make it through the Bluetooth certification authority and it is highly possible this is indeed the upcoming Odin-powered smartphone. So, the announcement should be happening any moment now, but there is no into yet if the phone will be a South Korea exclusive or...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/lgs_odinpowered_phone_coming_this_month_joining_the_g3_family-news-9994.php