Counterclockwise: Nokia X, HTC Butterfly, Nokia 6700 classic Gold

Another weekend, another Counterclockwise - how else are you going to spend your Saturday and Sunday if not reminiscing about the past of mobile phones. This week the write-up is a little sad, several phones that were the first of their kind were summarily forgotten. To cheer you back up, we track down the culprits behind the resolution madness and window shop some gold-plated, diamond-studded phones. Flash in a pan We've covered Nokia's decision to go with Windows Phone over Android, but before all was said and done Nokia did make an Android phone. Late last year we were getting the first glimpses of Nokia Normandy - an ambitious name for a low-cost phone. We knew it will run a modified version of Android, but when the Nokia X was finally announced a couple of months later, the software looked more like Windows Phone than Android. The Nokia X family has since been killed off, as has the Nokia name itself - it's Microsoft Lumia now. We had to double check the dates here, it feels strange that Nokia X didn't even last a year. Samsung's Bada OS was unveiled in December 2009 and Samsung put up a $2.7 million prize stash for developers who create apps for the new platform. The end of the challenge was announced when Bada turned 1, with Samsung announcing a hopeful prediction of 5 million units sold by the end of 2010. Bada didn't last long, but neither did WebOS. HP - the new owner of the platform and Palm - gave the open source community an early present, the source code for the decommissioned OS. Of course, WebOS lived on for a bit, making an appearance in LG smart TVs, but its time on phones and tablets was done. Another OS announcement during the holiday season came from Canonical, which in 2013 announced that Ubuntu Touch will power a high-end phone in 2014. The year's almost done, but there's still a chance - a Meizu MX with Ubuntu Touch has been spotted in the wild. How long will this platform last? Resolution wars It was the iPhone 4 that set off the craze for high resolutions, but it quickly lost ground to Android. By the end of 2012 the first 1080p phone was already a reality and HTC really liked how it was selling - so much so that it released an international version of the Butterfly J (for Japan) and DROID DNA (for Verizon). Competition quickly heated up with Oppo launching the Find 5 in early December 2012. ZTE wanted in too. Oppo Find 5 Last year 1080p was old news and newcomer Vivo was getting ready to launch the Xplay 3S, the first phone with a QHD screen (2,560 x 1,440px). However, Oppo got there first with the successor to the Find 5. Oppo Find 7 All that glitters Holiday season is the best time of year to release an frighteningly expensive phone with more gold and precious materials on it than the crown jewels of a medium-sized country. In 2008 Vertu had partnered with French jewelers Boucheron and crafted a single edition phone. The Vertu Boucheron 150 was shaped from solid gold over the course of 1,000 hours, then polished by hand for 700 hours and then there was an extra 500 hours of hand crafting. Even the walnut chest that the phone comes in is massively impressive. Vertu Boucheron 150 and the walnut chest A year later Nokia unveiled something more accessible - Nokia 6700 classic Gold Edition. Draped in 18-carat gold the phone was surprisingly cheap - €370 ($545 at the exchange rates back then), but it didn't have nearly as much gold on it as the Vertu. Nokia 6700 classic White Gold Edition Luxury phones don't have to come from phone manufacturers themselves, some are decked out after the fact. In 2010 Alexander Amosu unveiled the iPhone 4 Diamond Spider - no gold on this one, but it was studded with 846 brilliant cut diamonds totaling 5.66 carats. Another perk was 24h global concierge service and a cool phone number - 07XXX 111111, fill in the Xs. Alexander Amosu iPhone 4 Diamond Spider Three years after the Boucheron 150, Nokia was selling another Vertu - no, actually it was selling Vertu, the wholly-owned subsidiary company. Two for one After all these hedonistic phones we almost skipped the unassuming Gigabyte GSmart Rola, which was announced in December 2010. One thing caught our eye though, it was labeled a dual-SIM phone, which got us wondering - which is the first dual-SIM...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/counterclockwise_nokia_x_htc_butterfly_nokia_6700_classic_gold-news-10467.php

Elephone P6000 is an Android 5.0-powered Chinese smartphone

It appears that Nexus 6 might not be the only available out-of-the-box option for Lollipop-hungry buyers as a Chinese smartphone manufacturer Elephone is also producing a device running vanilla Android 5. Despite its catchy name, Elephone is rather unknown and the handset in question is named P6000. According to their website, the interesting device will be available on December 27 for a price tag of approximately $170. As the price itself suggests, the handset is not a flagship offer and fits more into the mid-ranged category. It is built around a MT6732 SoC, clocked at 1.5GHz and a Mali Y760 GPU. It features a 5-inch 720p display, 2GB of RAM and 16GB onboard memory. Also on board there is a 13MP camera and LTE and the whole thing is powered by a 2,700 mAh battery. Even if the device does not offer premium hardware it is a peculiar offering so be sure to check it out for a budget taste of Android 5.0. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/elephone_p6000_is_an_android_50powered_chinese_smartphone-news-10476.php

Samsung is making Apple A9 chipsets on 14nm process

After a fierce court battle between Apple and Samsung, the iPhone manufacturer looked for other parts suppliers and TSMC got the Apple A8 manufacturing gig. The legal action is over (for now) and the two companies have made up, so now Korean media reports that Samsung is getting back the manufacturing order for Apple chipsets. According to Etnews, Samsung started making the Apple A9 chipset using a 14nm FinFET design. Samsung has two plants capable of making this chip, but for an unannounced reason it will only be making the A9 in Austin, Texas. Work on that plant was started in late 2012 with a $3.9 billion investment, specifically with the idea of making Apple chipsets. TSMC will not let go of the lucrative Apple deal easily and has a competing 16nm FinFET Plus process ready to go. Even though TSMC made the bulk of Apple A8 chips, Samsung still got a cut so sourcing the new chipset from two companies is quite likely. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_is_making_apple_a9_chipsets_on_14nm_process-news-10475.php

Motorola plans to offer affordable 4G smartphones in India

Motorola, apparently has big plans for the Indian handset market. In an interview for the Economic Times, Rick Osterloh, president and chief operation officer at the US tech giant stated that the company will be very aggressive in the 4G market come 2015. The transition to 4G will be quick. Next year, we are going to be very aggressive in the 4G value proposition for end users. India is absolutely essential (for global turnaround). India and Brazil are countries that we think first when we think about our business because that's the future. The market here is growing incredibly quickly. The India smartphone market has proven to be one of the fastest growing in recent years, which unsurprisingly has spiked a lot of interest in the tech world. Its importance is so formidable, that manufacturers, developers and vendors all around are tailoring products and marketing strategies specifically for the market. Android One is perhaps the best example of the game-changing effects the new vast user base is having on the sector. 4G is still very much in its infancy, with coverage available in only a few major cities in India. But Motorola are hoping to catch the major nation-wide roll-out, scheduled for early next year and captivate users with affordable 4G devices. Motorola is somewhat of an expert when it comes to targeting the lower market segments and it seems likely that Lenovo-owned company will have whopping success in the new market, especially judging by the unprecedented success of the Motorola Moto G and Moto E. Osterloh did not provide any specific information as to what devices are going to hit India's market or when that is set to happen. All we know is that Motorola, which is currently the fifth largest brand on the aforementioned market has aimed straight for a place among the top three. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/motorola_plans_to_offer_affordable_4g_smartphones_in_india-news-10474.php

Android 5.0 is now seeding to Samsung Galaxy S4 GPE

Samsung Galaxy S4 Google Play Edition is the latest Pure Google smartphone to get updated to Android 5.0 Lollipop. The new firmware is now seeding to the device over-the-air. The Galaxy S4 Google Play Edition is yet to receive Android 5.0.1 Lollipop, which is already available on some of its siblings. We doubt it will be a long wait before the latest OS build makes it to the I9505G. Android 5.0 Lollipop brings a host of new features and improvements to the Samsung Galaxy S4 GPE. They include fresh material design and brand new ART runtime, which is certain to speed up the device....

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/android_50_is_now_seeding_to_samsung_galaxy_s4_gpe-news-10473.php

HTC Nexus 9 now available at T-Mobile with LTE support

The HTC-made Google Nexus 9 tablet is now available in its LTE-capable form at T-Mobile. Hence, the 4G infused model of the Nexus 9 makes its debut, this being the first US carrier to offer it. The magenta carrier will give you one for $0 upfront, then followed by 24 monthly payments of $24.99. This adds up to a grand total of $599.76, so it's definitely not a cheap offering this one. But then you probably already know that about the Nexus 9. On the other hand, you get 200MB of free data per month for the life of the device if you use it with T-Mobile. If you need more, for $10 monthly you can add it to your existing Simple Choice plan. It's good to see the tablet in stock at T-Mobile, especially after it was delayed earlier this month. Thankfully though, the delay was only a few days. The 4G variant of the Nexus 9 comes with 32GB of internal storage, and all the specs of the Wi-Fi-only model. So you'll have an 8.9-inch 2,048x1,536 touchscreen, the Nvidia Tegra K1 chipset with 2.3 GHz dual-core Denver CPU, and the Kepler DX1...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/htc_nexus_9_now_available_at_tmobile_with_lte_support-news-10472.php

Upcoming Sony Xperia E4 leaks ahead of MWC unveiling

Although the Xperia E3 has only been available since September, Sony is already working on a successor to its low-end smartphone. According to a comprehensive leak from Poland, we find out that the Xperia E4 should be made official at MWC 2015, and it will be in stores before the end of March. It will be priced at around $200. Two versions will be offered by the Japanese company. The E2105 will be the one with just a single SIM slot, while the E2115 will have dual-SIM support. The former has already been spotted in the records of the Indonesian authority that regulates the IT field. Sony Xperia E4 The Xperia E4 will come with a 5-inch 540x960 LCD touchscreen, and it will run Android 4.4.4 KitKat when it launches. An update to Android 5.0 Lollipop will apparently be offered sometime during the first half of 2015. The handset will be powered by MediaTek's MT6582 SoC, coming with a 1.3 GHz quad-core Cortex-A7 CPU, and a Mali-400MP4 GPU. This will be paired with 1GB of RAM. That's all we know for now, but more details are promised to come soon. The leak reportedly originates at a source inside the Swedish branch of Sony. Compared to its predecessor, the Xperia E4 flaunts a bigger and higher-res screen, and a CPU that is clocked around 100 MHz higher. The E4 also sports what is described as a high quality plastic build, with a ceramic feel. Source (in...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/upcoming_sony_xperia_e4_leaks_ahead_of_mwc_unveiling-news-10471.php

Samsung Galaxy Grand Prime review: Mirror shot

The Samsung Galaxy Grand Prime has an ambitious name, but behind it is an ordinary midrange phone. It puts functionality ahead of screen fidelity, throwing all the pixels they could afford at the front facing camera instead. As with other Galaxy Grands...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_grand_prime-review-1178.php

Alleged live photo of Samsung Galaxy S6 leaks out

Alleged live photo of Samsung Galaxy S6 made the rounds online. Samsung is expected to launch the successor of the Galaxy S5 at some point in early 2015. The handset in the photo above is said to be prototype of the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S6. It sports ultra-thin bezels and metal edges - we can't confirm if the entire back of the smartphone is made of metal at this point. Overall, the Samsung Galaxy S6 prototype seems to look a lot like Apple iPhone 6 Plus. The handset's curved edges are the main reason for the similarity. There is no word about the specs of the device at this point. Rumors point at Snapdragon 810 or Exynos 7420 chipset, 5.5" QHD Super AMOLED display, and 20MP camera. Source (in...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/alleged_live_photo_of_samsung_galaxy_s6_leaks_out-news-10470.php

Galaxy Note 4 with Snapdragon 810 confirmed by benchmark

A rumor surfaced this Thursday, regarding the possibility of a Snapdragon 810 updated version of the Samsung Galaxy Note 4. Benchmark profiles appeared today on the popular website Geekbench and they seem to prove that a handset, with a model number SM-N916S is a reality. Everything points towards the appearance of a Snapdragon 810 Galaxy Note 4 variant. This seems to be turning into a pattern for the Korean manufacturer. Samsung now has sort of a history of surprising, out-of-the-blue updates to existing flagships. One fairly recent example is the Galaxy S5 LTE-A which featured the QHD display, initially rumored to appear on the Galaxy S5 itself. The hardware update might seem weird, but is quite logical when looking at the bigger picture and the recent push toward a 64-bit Android platform. Samsung is definitely not one to shy away from new trends and will presumably adopt a 64-bit architecture as soon as possible. The new Qualcomm chip is a needed step to facilitate this in the current generation Note device. The 64-bit chip is not something completely new to the Note 4. Currently there is an Exynos 5433-powered version of the phablet on the market, which is by design a 64-bit SoC. The processor, however, is limited to using a standard 32-bit instruction set at present to facilitate compatibility with its Snapdragon 805 sibling. Whether or not the Galaxy Note 4 will usher into a 64-bit era with the Android 5 Lollipop update is still unclear, but the answer should become evident early next year. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/galaxy_note_4_spotted_with_a_snapdragon_810_soc-news-10469.php

Galaxy Note Edge hits UK, Vodafone gets exclusivity

Just as anticipated, the Samsung Galaxy Note Edge is finally available for purchase in the UK. Until January 9, 2015, Vodafone will be selling the phone exclusively. Vodafone offers the Galaxy Note Edge only on contract and there's no SIM-free pricing yet. You can get the phone for as low as £49 if you go with the Vodafone Red XL plan at £58.50/month for two years. This will get you unlimited minutes and SMS in addition to 10GB data. There are also other plans, but while cheaper, they bump up the upfront cost of the phone to anywhere from £199 to £479. You can browse them and find the best for you following the source link below. The Galaxy Note Edge is also available in the US, and a premium version of the phone is headed to Germany. It will cost a hefty €899 but will include a Flip Wallet, display cleaner, tips and tricks brochure, 64GB Samsung EVO microSD card and three years of warranty. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/vodafone_uk_starts_selling_the_galaxy_note_edge_exclusively-news-10468.php

Samsung unveils red Galaxy Note 4 for SK Telecom

Same as last year Samsung is launching a festive red color version of its current Galaxy Note. The Velvet Red Galaxy Note 4 is available only for SK Telecom in South Korea. Samsung released a red color option for the international version too, but that wasn't until February. The current color pallet for the flagship phablet is Frosted white, Charcoal black, Bronze Gold and Blossom Pink. Specs are unchanged with a 5.7" QHD Super AMOLED, an Exynos 5433 chipset, 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage and 16MP of optically stabilized camera. Also available in Red (more like Burgundy) are the Galaxy S5 and the Galaxy W...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_unveils_red_galaxy_note_4_for_sk_telecom-news-10465.php

Xolo unveils Q900s Plus, claims it's the world's lightest phone

Just a few months after launching the Q900s, Xolo has unveiled its successor, dubbed Q900s Plus, which the company claims is the "world's lightest phone". That's a rather strange statement as it weighs the same as its predecessor - 100 grams and there are plenty of smartphone, let alone phones in general that weigh less. Either way, the Q900s Plus runs Android 4.4 KitKat and sports a 4.7-inch HD display. Other specifications are quite similar to its predecessor, including Qualcomm Snapdragon 200 (MSM 8212) chipset with 1.2 GHz quad-core processor and Adreno 302 GPU, 8-megapixel rear camera with LED flash, and 2-megapixel front-facing camera. The device has 1GB RAM, 8GB internal memory (which can be expanded up to 32 GB via microSD card), and a 1,800 mAh battery. Connectivity options include 3G, Wi-Fi, GPRS/ EDGE, GPS/ A-GPS, Micro-USB, and Bluetooth capabilities. The Q900s Plus is now listed on the company's website with a price tag of 8,299 INR ($133). Its launch date hasn't been confirmed but it shouldn't be far away now. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/xolo_unveils_q900s_plus_claims_its_worlds_lightest_phone-news-10464.php

Apple Online Store now supports PayPal in the US and UK

As of today the Apple Online Store in the USA and the United Kingdom has a new payment option - PayPal. In addition to payment with credit or debit cards, you can now complete your purchase with a PayPal transaction. There is more good news - in addition to the PayPal purchase, you can also opt for PayPal's Credit for up to 18 months, interest free. PayPal has been an option for Apple's App Store and iTunes Store, so it was really about time we see it premiere on its official Online Retail Store. For now, you can use PayPal only for purchases in the USA and the UK, but it should roll out in other markets shortly as well. With PayPal now available, this will also loosen the Apple's restrictions - even non UK/US residents will be able to buy stuff from the Store, but they still need to be shipped within the US/UK. Now that Apple is trying to push its Apple Pay service aggressively in the USA and later - worldwide, it will be interesting to see how long PayPal sticks...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/apple_online_store_now_supports_paypal_in_the_us_and_uk-news-10463.php

Huawei Ascend Mate7 Monarch edition marches in for $710

Huawei releases today the Ascend Mate7 Monarch edition, which is a slightly more premium version of the regular phone. The majority of specifications remain the same as the original with a few improvements. The 6" 1080p display is now protected with sapphire instead of Gorilla Glass, which should make it even harder to scratch or break. Additionally, the Ascend Mate7 Monarch packs 64GB of internal storage (54GB is user available), which in addition to the microSD slot with 128GB card support can give you a total of 182GB of storage. The phone is finished in the gold color option, which is one of the three originally available for the phone. Huawei is asking $710 (CNY 4399) for the Ascend Mate7 Monarch, which is $110 more than the original price of $600 (CNY 3699). The additional weight on the wallet is caused by the numerous perks Huawei is throwing to the owners of the phone. The company gives a special VIP card, which grants you 1 hour quick repair in case anything happens to the phone as well as a bottle of the fancy Mossel wine. In our in-depth Huawei Ascend Mate7 review we noted it's one of the best phones the company has ever made and this new version of the phone takes things up a notch on what's already a very nice phone. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/huawei_ascend_mate7_monarch_marches_in_for_711-news-10462.php

Nexus 5 production stops, but you can still buy it

With the Nexus 6 already here to carry on the family legacy it is only natural that the days are numbered for the Nexus 5. But the LG Nexus 5 still has a lot of appeal as the last-available budget-oriented Nexus device, a long-standing tendency for the smartphone line, which seems to come to an end with the Motorola's premium offering. A report surfaced today, stating that the production of the Nexus 5 has ceased. But what does that mean in terms of its availability? It is highly unlikely that the handset will magically disappear from the consumer market altogether. Vendors are sure to be sitting on some stock. The real question in how long will the LG pure Android device be available on store shelves. In the US the Play Store has been consistently out of Nexus 5 inventory, which does not foretell very long future availability for the device. This was further backed up by a recent statement form a Google spokesperson, who stated that: Once they are gone, they're gone, so we'd suggest people get them while they can. There might however still be time to grab one as further comments clarified that Nexus 5 sales will continue through Q1 2015, or as the tech giant stated: Nexus 5 will continue to be available for sale on Google Play and through select retailers in Q1 2015. So if you plan on acquiring a Nexus 5 be sure to do it quickly or else you're in for a tough scavenger hunt around local resellers once backed-up stock is all cleared out. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/nexus_5_production_stops_but_will_the_phone_disappear-news-10461.php

Cyanogen-powered Micromax Yu phone launches on Dec.18

Last month, Micromax officially announced its plans to create a new mobile device brand - Yu. The devices using this brand are to be sold online only, emulating the business models of Chinese companies such as Xiaomi and OnePlus. The first smartphone in the series was then said to get unveiled sometime in December, and today we know exactly when that will happen. Micromax has apparently started sending invites for its Yu event, which will take place on December 18. The invite itself doesn't reveal any details about the first Yu handset, as you can see. However, according to Micromax co-founder Rahul Sharma, "the phone is going to be a monster", as it will have "really cool specs". So we should probably expect a high-end offering for the new brand's debut. Also on December 18 we should find out which Indian ecommerce sites will be offering the Yu phone, as Micromax has reportedly been negotiating with various companies in the field. As for software, Cyanogen has committed to an exclusive relationship with the Yu brand from Micromax, which has even meant disappointing prospective owners of the OnePlus One in the subcontinent, who won't be receiving over-the-air updates for their devices running the well known custom ROM. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/cyanogenpowered_micromax_yu_phone_launches_on_dec18-news-10460.php

Samsung's upcoming Galaxy E5 and E7 have full specs leaked

Aside from the recently unveiled A series, Samsung is working on another new line of devices - this will be the Galaxy E series. Two handsets in it have been leaking a lot lately, namely the SM-E500 (Galaxy E5) and SM-E700 (Galaxy E7). We've already seen some specs for both of them, but today a rumor comes and gives us the full list. According to this report, the Galaxy E7 will come with a 5.5-inch 720p Super AMOLED touchscreen, a 13 MP rear camera, a 5 MP front snapper, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of built-in storage, and a 2,950 mAh battery. It will be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 SoC coming with a 1.2 GHz quad-core CPU. Its dimensions will be 151 x 77 x 7.2 mm, and it will run Android 5.0 Lollipop from day one. The Galaxy E5 should get a 5-inch 720p Super AMOLED display, an 8 MP camera, a 5 MP front-facing camera, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage, and a 2,300 mAh battery. It too will be powered by the same Snapdragon 410 chipset as its bigger sibling, though it's going to be even thinner, at 6.9mm, and will weigh 140g. Like the E7, the Galaxy E5 will also run Android 5.0 Lollipop. That Android version being preinstalled on these devices probably means they won't be in stores for at least another few weeks, since Samsung hasn't even updated its flagships to Lollipop yet (except the Galaxy S5 in some markets). Both the E5 and the E7 will reportedly feature non-removable batteries, though it's unclear whether that means they'll have metal bodies like the members of the A series. Yet if the E line does get metal designs too, then it's really unclear what the differentiating factor between these and the Galaxy A handsets will be, since their hardware specs are pretty similar...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsungs_upcoming_galaxy_e5_and_e7_have_full_specs_leaked-news-10459.php

Nexus 6 is available from the Play Store in the UK again

The Motorola Nexus 6 is once again out in the Google Play Store for the UK. You can order one, but there are caveats. First of all, only the blue 32GB model is actually available, while white units and ones with double that storage capacity are nowhere to be seen. The biggest problem, however, is that the listing says the device will be shipping in around three to four weeks. So it will be 2015 before the phone you order today will make it to your doorstep. And there's still no availability info for the 64GB Nexus 6 or for the white version. If you do want to take the plunge, know you'll have to shell out £499 for the model that is available. If you don't want to wait weeks for delivery, you could instead order one from Carphone Warehouse. The price is the same, and there's even free next day delivery. Plus, you can get it with operator contracts, and not just SIM-free. Once again, we're talking about the 32GB blue Nexus 6. The white handset is only available for pre-order at this retailer, as are both 64GB variations (which cost £549, by the way). The models that are up for pre-order should start shipping sometime during the last week of the...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/nexus_6_is_available_from_the_play_store_in_the_uk_again-news-10458.php

Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 SoC will support 450 Mbps LTE

It's already pretty clear that most of next year's flagship Android smartphones will be powered by Qualcomm's upcoming Snapdragon 810 chipset. A while back this was rumored to have encountered some issues, but the company making it has assured us that it's on track for a release in the first half of 2015. And when it does make it into your next handset, the Snapdragon 810 will support even speedier LTE networks than previously thought. That's because Qualcomm has today announced it will upgrade the chip to support Cat.9 LTE, which comes with theoretical peak download speeds of 450 Mbps. That's up from the Cat.6 LTE which the Snapdragon 805 tops out at, enabling 300 Mbps downloads in the best of conditions. The maximum theoretical peak upload speed will remain 50 Mbps, as it has been since Cat.3 LTE devices appeared on the market long ago. Cat.10 LTE will go beyond that, up to 100 Mbps for upload, but apparently we're still going to have to wait for that. The Snapdragon 810 will achieve the 450 Mbps maximum speed because its modem will be able to utilize three 20 MHz carriers simultaneously, through carrier aggregation (CA). The company has already tested its solution with "multiple commercial network and test equipment companies, as well as an over-the-air demonstration in a commercial network environment" and found that it works as advertised. This will be Qualcomm's first SoC to feature Cat.9 LTE. And of course it will be backwards compatible with earlier standards, such as GSM/EDGE, CDMA1x/EVDO, TD-SCDMA, and WCDMA/HSPA+. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/qualcomm_snapdragon_810_soc_will_support_450_mbps_lte-news-10457.php

Apple Watch production issues resolved

A couple of interesting rumors about the future of Apple device releases have surfaced today. The information provided mostly by supply chain sources and summarized by Taiwan's United Daily News concerns the production schedules of the Apple Watch and the iPhone 6s. Diligent readers will remember, that back in October Rosenblatt Securities analyst Brian Blair hinted that the California tech giant might be having production issues with various Apple Watch components. This put initial plans for a release in February 2015 in serious jeopardy and there was also talk of a preliminary limited wave of units initially hitting the market. Today's rumors, however, bring good news ant it appears the initial mass release schedule for the Apple Watch in February 2015 might still be possible. According to the cited sources a lot of the supposed yield problems threatening the wearable have been resolved. This is also backed up by data as Quanta - the company in charge of assembling the new smartwatches has already increased its employee count five times from an initial 2,000 up to 10,000 workers. This, combined with similar actions undertaken by other hardware vendors supplying crucial Apple Watch components should allow Apple to meet the February launch date with 3 to 5 million units on the first shipment. With a total of 24 million devices planned for production, this should me more than enough for a full scale release. The same rumor pool also brings news about the iPhone 6s. The release of the next iteration of the legendary smartphone won't be coming in the Spring as some earlier rumors suggests. This however seems very unlikely and for very good reasons. Typically the "S" line brings only internal improvements over the already existing device lineup, with little to no visual change. Given Apple's track record it seems only logical that this is also going to be the case with the iPhone 6s. That being said the Cupertino-based company simply does not have enough time to develop and market its new A9 chips. Any new phone release before the new SoC is a fact is simply unfeasible. An educated prediction would consequently put a possible iPhone 6s release for Fall 2015 and in line with the company usual practices. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/apple_watch_production_may_begin_as_early_as_january-news-10456.php

64-bit Xiaomi passes the TENAA, is is the Redmi 2?

A new Xiaomi smartphone has passed through the TENAA with a couple of images and a peek at the specs. The device looks much like the Redmi 1S and could prove to be its successor - the Redmi 2. It's going to arrive with a 4.7" 720p display and a 64-bit chipset (likely the Snapdragon 410) with a quad-core 1.2GHz processor and 1GB of RAM. Other confirmed specs include 8GB of expandable storage, 8MP back camera, 2MP front one, a 2,220mAh battery and Android 4.4.4 KitKat. Mysterious Xiaomi smartphone The listing also revealed that the rumored Redmi 2 has three red-colored capacitive keys under the screen as customary to Xiaomi phones. The power button and volume rocker are on the right side, there's an LED flash underneath the 8MP camera lens and a speaker grille to the left of it. Rumor has it the upcoming Xiaomi smartphone will pack LTE (TD LTE and LTE FDD) alongside WCDMA. The expected weight of the device is tipped at 134g. Mysterious Xiaomi smartphone The Xiaomi Redmi 2 is expected to arrive in black, white, red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple and have a price around RMB599-699 (around $100)....

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/64bit_xiaomi_passes_the_tenaa_is_is_the_redmi_2-news-10455.php

Meizu teasers promise a Dec 23 event, likely for the Blue Charm

Meizu has scheduled an announcement quite close to Christmas - December 23 - which will be held in Beijing. The company has officially released only tantalizing tidbits, but the rumor mill claims that Meizu is going after Xiaomi's Redmi 1S and Redmi Note affordable devices with a new Blue Charm line. Going by the rumors, the line will consist of the Meizu K52 (a codename, obviously), which is set to be a super mini with a 4.6" 1080p screen, octa-core Cortex-A53 processor (64-bit enabled), 2GB of RAM and Mail-T760 GPU. Early pricing info is that the K52 will be in the CNY 1,000 range ($160 or so), the only official statement is that CNY 800 ($130) is too low. The latest image posted on Meizu's Facebook account says "no blue," which may just be the company's way to toying with our expectations of the Meizu Blue Charm Note. The phablet is expected to pack a 5.5" screen and the same chipset as the Meizu K52. Despite its name, the Blue Charm Note will come in a variety of bright colors, including orange. These devices will most likely run Android, though Meizu has plan for an Ubuntu version of its MX4 flagship so it just might throw us a curve ball. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/meizu_teasers_promise_a_dec_23_event_likely_for_the_blue_charm-news-10454.php

New photos of Lumia 1030 leak, device said to be here to stay

A few interesting photos found their way to Baidu today. They show a Lumia prototype device, which is said to be the 1030 McLaren. Interestingly enough we saw very similar photos last month of what appears to be the same unit and perhaps even the same photo-shoot. Back then, the Lumia at hand was said to be a cancelled successor to the Lumia 1020, but the new info says it's actually an upcoming Microsoft smartphone. The newly leaked shots, unlike the initial ones, show a lot more from the device. It appears to be fully working and we can gather bits and pieces for its specifications from the new post. The alleged Lumia 1030 will supposedly feature a 1080p display, 2GB of RAM, 32GB onboard storage and if initial rumors are to be believed, a quad-core Snapdragon chipset. A clearer close-up view of the PureView module, Zeiss-certified camera and confirmation thatthe device will have a dual-LED flash, as opposed to the xenon one found in its predecessor. One of the photos also reviews that the new handset will support 4G, while another clearly shows a microSD slot along with a micro SIM. We also got a few side-by-side shots with the iPhone 6 for size reference. As curious as these new photos are the new alleged Lumia 1030 is still not confirmed in any official way so it may indeed end up as a dead prototype. So this new information should be taken with a grain of salt for the time being. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/leaked_photos_of_nokia_lumia_1030_mclaren-news-10453.php

Nexus 9 now available in India on Amazon

If you're in India and have been waiting to get your hands on the Nexus 9, you can stop refreshing the Google Play Store because it is now available on Amazon. Although the tablet has been listed on the Play Store for almost a month now it still shows as coming soon. Amazon, however, is selling it right now. Amazon has only the 16GB WI-Fi model, that too only in the Indigo Black color, so your options are a bit limited. It is priced at the same Rs. 28,900 ($465) as the Play Store. The advantage of ordering from Amazon right now is, one, you can actually order it, and two, you get a Rs. 2,000 gift card from Amazon to spend on their store, along with 10% off for HDFC Bank credit and debit card customers, bringing the effective price down to Rs. 24,010 ($386). You can purchase it from the link...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/nexus_9_now_available_in_india_on_amazon-news-10452.php

Samsung Galaxy Grand 3 makes a visit to TENAA in China

The upcoming Samsung Galaxy Grand 3 made a visit to TENAA in China. The mid-range phablet is bound to make a debut in the near future. In line with past rumors, the Chinese regulator filing reveals that Samsung Galaxy Grand 3 packs 64-bit Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 chipset, 1.5GB of RAM, and 16GB of expandable memory. A 5.25" 720p display, 13MP main camera, 5MP front-facing unit, and Android 4.4.4 round up the list of known specs. Unsurprisingly, Samsung Galaxy Grand 3 is thinner and lighter than its predecessor. Its measures are 146 x 74.8 x 7.95 mm, while its weight tips the scale at 140 grams. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_grand_3_makes_a_visit_to_tenaa_in_china-news-10451.php

Apple and IBM launch the first wave of business apps of iOS

Apple and IBM launched the first wave of MobileFirst business apps for iOS. The duo of tech giants entered into a global enterprise mobility partnership back in July. The first wave of solutions is available for banks, retail and insurance businesses, financial institutions, telecommunications companies, airlines, and governments. Citi, Air Canada, Sprint, and Banorte are among the first client to use IBM MobileFirst iOS solutions. IBM MobileFirst apps for iOS are utilized in secure environment and feature embedded analytics. Applications can be tweaked to fit the needs of an organization. They can be managed and updated via IBM's secure cloud services. More IBM MobileFirst apps are expected to debut next year. Source...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/apple_and_ibm_launch_the_first_wave_of_mobilefirst_business_apps_of_ios-news-10450.php

Verizon's Galaxy Note 4 is updated to support the Gear VR

Samsung started selling its Gear VR accessory a couple of days ago, but one little known thing is that carrier-customized versions of the Galaxy Note 4 won't work with it out of the box. They each need to receive a software update to enable using the Gear VR. That is now in the process of happening to Verizon's version of the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 phablet. There's an update for it already rolling out, and sure enough, it will make it work with the Gear VR. Aside from that, the new software brings with it a transparent Amazon widget, a name change for the Isis wallet (to Softcard), and an updated Galaxy Essential widget. Many known bugs have been fixed too. So now you get more legible fonts, Spanish support for the Mobile Hotspot function, improved Wi-Fi performance, no more email notification issues, and text that can be selected and copied from any Calendar entry. An error that prevented accessing the Security menu in Settings is gone, as is a compatibility issue between Google Drive and the Office viewer, and an error affecting fingerprint scanning has been resolved as well. After applying the update, you'll be running software version KTU84P.N910VVRU1ANJ5. Your Android iteration won't change, this isn't a Lollipop update. And as always, it might be a while before your particular device is prompted to download and install the new bits. Source (PDF) |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/verizons_galaxy_note_4_is_updated_to_support_the_gear_vr-news-10449.php

Microsoft Lumia 535 Dual SIM review: The first of many

It's a Lumia like the rest of them. A new youth player promoted to the first team, which will have no trouble blending in. It's just a different name on the familiar kit. Microsoft is starting from the bottom up - an entry level handset, no redesign to speak of...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/microsoft_lumia_535_dual_sim-review-1177.php

Samsung Galaxy A7 gets new round of leaked specs

So far, Samsung has only officially announced two smartphones in its new A series - the Galaxy A3 and the Galaxy A5. But they're going to be joined by the Galaxy A7 at some point, as has been made evident by a myriad of leaks over the past weeks. While still not unveiled by the Korean mobile device maker, the Galaxy A7 has today had a new round of specs leaked. Some of them do conflict with older reports, however. This time around we're told that the A7 will sport a 5.5-inch 1080p touchscreen, a 13 MP rear camera, a 5 MP front snapper, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of built-in storage, and a 2,600 mAh battery. The interesting bit is that we shall apparently see the Samsung Exynos 5433 chipset at the helm, which will come with an octa-core CPU with four Cortex-A57 cores clocked at up to 1.8 GHz, and four Cortex-A53 cores clocked at up to 1.3 GHz. This is the same SoC used in the Exynos variant of the Galaxy Note 4, so it's quite surprising to see it in the supposedly midrange A7 as well. Past rumors and leaks had us believing that we'd see a Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 in this phablet, which would fit better with its aspirations. But that was either scrapped or we'll see two different variations of the device, one with each chipset. If that's the case, though, then the Exynos iteration should be a lot more powerful than the Snapdragon model. Because of the SoC used, the Galaxy A7 won't be a bargain. Like the other handsets in the A line, it will have a metal construction. It will run Android 4.4 KitKat when it launches. Its dimensions will be 150 x 75 x 6.3 mm, and it will weigh 150g. With so many leaks about it arriving week after week, the Galaxy A7 may be made official...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/upcoming_samsung_galaxy_a7_gets_new_round_of_leaked_specs-news-10448.php

Meizu Blue Charm Note logo and specifications out in the open

Yesterday we saw an unofficial photo of what is set to be the new Meizu Blue Charm Note. Today another piece of the production puzzle has leaked - a rendering of the supposed logo for the handset, along with some information on possible specs. The logo itself is nothing too spectacular or outrageous. A nicely done and quite stylish blue rendition of the letter "M". In the specs department, currently two versions of the device are rumored. One will have a 4.6" display, while the other will pack a sizeable 5.5" screen. Further hardware includes a MediaTek MT6572 SoC along with 2GB of RAM and 16GB ROM. On the physical side both handsets are said to have less than 3mm wide bezels and bear a small white home button, much like the rest of Meizu's device lineup. They will also be available in a cheerful array of colors, including blue, orange and a more traditional white option. Interestingly enough and contrary to initial speculations, both variants of the Meizu Blue Charm Note are rumored to support two SIM cards, peculiarly placed in a single slot. Pricing is said to begin at CNY 799 or around $130 but this is still very preliminary and is subject to change. Furthermore the two variants of the smartphone will undoubtedly have a price difference to go with the difference in display...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/meizu_blue_charm_note_logo_and_specifications_out_in_the_open-news-10447.php

You can get a OnePlus One without an invite for the holidays

Most of the time you need an invite to buy a OnePlus One, but the company is feeling generous this holiday season and is letting you grab one without an invite. Pricing starts (as usual) at $300 and the phone will arrive by December 25 (so Santa won't be late). The deal is valid until supplies last, but before you commit we should remind you that the phonewon't be getting CyanogenMod updates in India. You can read our review for details on the plucky phone that tries to take on big money flagships on a budget. OnePlus has sold the One without invites a couple of times before, >most recently...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/you_can_get_a_oneplus_one_without_an_invite_for_the_holidays-news-10446.php

Xiaomi Mi 4 with international LTE support to arrive December 16

Xiaomi announced today that the long anticipated Xiaomi Mi 4 FDD-LTE will be available starting next Tuesday - December 16. This of course comes as great news because the original Xiaomi Mi 4 is equipped with a FDD-LTE modem which is mostly unusable outside China. The new FDD modem will still work on China Unicom as well as most international 4G networks. Initially only the white 16GB OF Xiaomi Mi 4 will be available for a price tag of CNY 1,999 or about $320. The 64GB black FDD-LTE version still has no official release date or price announced. Other than the alternative modem, the new Xiaomi Mi 4 will remain practically unchanged. The flagship will still ship with a high-end setup, featuring a 5-inch Full HD display, a Snapdragon 801 SOC and 3GB of RAM. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_mi_4_with_international_lte_support_to_arrive_december_16-news-10444.php

Xiaomi infringes Ericsson patents, ordered to stop sales in India

The Delhi High Court has ordered Xiaomi to stop sales, advertising, manufacturing or importing of devices in India. This is the result of the company infringing upon Ericsson's standard essential patents. Ericsson has managed to get an injunction against Xiaomi, which prevents the later from operating in India. According to Ericsson, the company had tried contacting Xiaomi several times in the past but were ignored. When asked regarding the injunction, Xiaomi India Head Manu Jain said they have not received any notice from the court but will work with the court and Ericsson to resolve the matter. As of now, all Xiaomi products will be taken offline soon from Flipkart, which has also been made party to the case, when the companies receive an official notice from the High Court. Source •...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_infringes_ericsson_patents_ordered_to_stop_sales_in_india-news-10445.php

Samsung Galaxy Alpha features Corning Gorilla Glass 4

Corning has announced that the Samsung Galaxy Alpha, which was introduced back in August this year, features the recently unveiled Gorilla Glass version 4 (GG4). "Corning spends a great deal of time collaborating with Samsung to recommend solutions that will continually improve their device design and performance," said Cliff Hund, general manager and president, Corning East Asia. "Device makers want to go thinner without sacrificing damage resistance. Samsung is not only meeting these requirements, but is on the cutting edge of smartphone design. The Galaxy ALPHA is the culmination of our close collaboration with Samsung." The company claims that the latest iteration of its most famous product can survive 80 percent of drops from 1m (3.3ft) on a rough surface, and is twice as tough as its competitors. It is 0.4 mm thick, which is almost half compared to the last year's GG3 (0.7 mm). Samsung says the Galaxy Alpha, which is less than 7 mm thick, is one of the slimmest Galaxy devices ever. Aside from Alpha, the recently announced Samsung Galaxy Note 4 also features GG4. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_alpha_features_corning_gorilla_glass_4-news-10441.php

Samsung Galaxy S6 specs leak through AnTuTu screenshot

We have recently seen a leak of an AnTuTu benchmark screenshot that displayed the specs of the upcoming Galaxy S6. Today, another such screenshot has emerged with slightly different specs. As before, the new screenshots shows the phone having a QHD display, with an octa-core CPU and Mali-T760 GPU, which according to the previous screenshot is the upcoming Exynos 7420 based on 20nm process and 64-bit architecture. The phone was also said to have 3GB RAM. The difference here is that while the previous screenshot claimed a 20 megapixel rear camera, the new one mentions 16 megapixel. Perhaps these are two different variants of the phone meant for different markets (the Korean models usually have better specs) but we'll have to wait and see to find out for sure. Source 1 •...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_s6_specs_leak_through_antutu_screenshot-news-10443.php

Apple Pay bank support grows as iOS 8 adoption reaches 63%

Apple Pay, the company's latest advancement in wireless, one touch transactions is quickly gaining popularity, mostly thanks to Apple's devoted push towards gaining substantial third-party support in the US. The last week saw three new banking institutions join the list of partners - L&N Federal Credit Union, UW Credit Union and M&T Bank. Now the addition of Fremont Bank and the National Institutes of Health Federal Credit Union bring the total number of issuing banks up to 23. This definitely represents a significant coverage of the payment sector on Apple's part, even for the United States and it comes as no surprise that the new convenient payment service is boosting the popularity of iOS 8.1, which brings support for Apple Pay. iOS 8, according to official App Store statistics, now powers 63% of the Apple OS devices, a raise from 60% at the end of November. This might not seem as much, but it is a definite improvement over the slow adoption of the new version during October, with only 1% rise over a period of two weeks. Apple Pay is predominantly designed for the latest generation of iDevices, like the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, which can conduct secure wireless payments with the help of NFC and Touch ID. However the new service does also hold a certain appeal to older Apple hardware owners as it enables easier one-click in-app purchases, which by itself should be enough to encourage updating the...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/apple_pay_bank_support_grows_and_so_does_ios_8_popularity-news-10442.php

Vivo X5 Max goes official with 4.75mm waistline, 1080p AMOLED

Just as promised, Vivo officially launched the X5 Max today. This is the thinnest smartphone in the world with a profile of just 4.75mm achieved with the help of one the thinnest screens measuring just 1.36mm thick. The Vivo X5 Max sports a 5.5" Super AMOLED display of 1080p resolution and has dual SIM slots - one for a microSIM and the other for nanoSIM cards, which if not needed can be used to accommodate a microSD card. Under the thin hood of the Vivo X5 Max resides a Snapdragon 615 chipset with an 1.7 GHz quad-core Cortex-A53 and 1.0 GHz quad-core Cortex-A53 64-bit CPU and 2GB of RAM. Internal storage is 16GB. Impressively, Vivo has managed to fit a 13MP camera with a Sony IMX214 sensor at the back along with an LED flash. At the front, there's a 5MP snapper for selfies. Unlike its closest competitors in terms of waistline, the Oppo R5, the X5 Max sports a 3.5mm headphone jack. The X5 Max runs Android 4.4.4-based Funtouch OS 2.0. Apparently, Vivo thinks that Karaoke is an important activity for the X5 Max owner and has preloaded a Karaoke app that uses the Yamaha YSS-205X chip, which is further enhanced by the Hi-Fi 2.0 support from the phone's speakers. Vivo will start selling the phone on December 22 for $485 (CNY 2,998). Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/vivo_x5_max_is_official_with__475mm_waistline-news-10440.php

Acer Liquid Jade S goes official with 64-bit MediaTek SoC

Acer took the wraps off the Liquid Jade S smartphone. An updated version of the Acer Liquid Jade, the dual-SIM newcomer is the Taiwanese manufacturer's first device with 64-bit chipset. Acer Liquid Jade S packs MediaTek MT6752M SoC with 1.5GHz octa-core CPU. The rest of the device's specs include 2GB of RAM, 16GB of expandable memory, 5" 720p IPS display, and 13MP main camera. The handset boots Android 4.4.4 KitKat. Physical measures of the Acer Liquid Jade S are 143 x 69 x 7.78mm, while its weight tips the scale at 116 grams. The smartphone is powered by a 2,300mAh battery. The smartphone will launch on December 18 in Taiwan for 6,990 TWD (about $224). A launch in India is also in the cards. Source 1 | Source 2 |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/acer_liquid_jade_s_goes_official_with_64bit_mediatek_soc_-news-10439.php

Vivo X5F gets certified by TENAA as a thicker X5 Max

Tomorrow Vivo should finally make the much-teased X5 Max smartphone official. But it turns out that's not the only handset that could get unveiled in mere hours. TENAA, the Chinese equivalent of the FCC, has certified a Vivo X5F for sale in the country. And this looks like it's essentially going to be a cheaper, smaller, and thicker version of the X5 Max. The Vivo X5 Max will almost certainly become the world's thinnest smartphone, with a profile that's been rumored to be as slim as 3.75mm. On the other hand, the X5F is likely to keep the same overall design, but it will be 6.3mm thick according to TENAA's documentation. It will also sport a 5-inch 720p touchscreen, a 13 MP rear camera with LED flash, and a 5 MP front-facing snapper. At the helm will be a 1.5 GHz octa-core CPU, aided by 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage, expandable through the use of microSD cards. Source (in Chinese) | Via 1 (in Romanian) • Via...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/vivo_x5f_gets_certified_by_tenaa_as_a_thicker_x5_max-news-10438.php

Meizu Blue Charm Note and Meizu K52 leaked in pictures

Back in March, a device supposedly to be called Meizu Blue Charm Note first leaked, and now it may be close to an official announcement. That is because it has appeared in another leaked image, which you can see below. Or rather, the back cover of the handset has. The Blue Charm Note's cover is the orange colored one in the middle. The leak from earlier this year showed it in blue, but spoke of it actually coming in many youth-alluring colors. So orange is one of them, it seems. On each side of the orange back cover we see a couple of other back plates which are rumored to be made for the so far elusive Meizu K52. This device had its specs revealed thanks to a benchmark run earlier this month, but we haven't seen it until now. Meizu's inspiration for these handsets seems to have been the iPhone 5C. Anyway, the Chinese company did promise it had three more products in the pipeline for 2014 back when it launched the MX4. One of those is the already introduced MX4 Pro, and the other two could be the Blue Charm Note phablet and the K52. The Meizu K52 should come with a 4.6-inch 1080p touchscreen, a MediaTek MT6752 SoC with a 1.7 GHz octa-core CPU, 2GB of RAM, and 16GB of internal storage. On the other hand, the Blue Charm Note could be Meizu's competitor for the very well sold Xiaomi Redmi...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/meizu_blue_charm_note_and_meizu_k52_leaked_in_pictures-news-10436.php

Apple releases iOS 8.1.2, addresses ringtone issues

Just a few weeks (and less than a month) after it pushed out iOS 8.1.1, Apple is back today with yet another new iteration of its mobile OS. iOS 8.1.2 comes with its share of unnamed bug fixes, and it also addresses what surely has been a pretty annoying issue for some. Namely, for certain devices ringtones purchased through the iTunes App Store may have gotten automatically deleted - in error, of course. Thankfully, this will no longer be the case with iOS 8.1.2. There's also a special Web page now set up by Apple for those affected. You can go there from your iOS device and restore the ringtones you lost. The update to iOS 8.1.2 comes in at around 30MB in size, depending on which device you install it...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/apple_releases_ios_812_addresses_ringtone_issues-news-10437.php

Samsung Galaxy E5 (SM-E500) has a few specs revealed

Samsung is working on a new Galaxy E series of smartphones, according to recent rumors and findings. So far two handsets have surfaced as part of this new line, the SM-E500 and the SM-E700. And until today we knew a bit more about the latter, since some of its specs got leaked a few days ago. The same has today happened for the SM-E500, which may be introduced officially as the Galaxy E5 (if we assume Samsung will use the same naming scheme as for the A series phones). The E500 will sport a 5-inch 720p touchscreen, and will be powered by a 32-bit SoC with a 1.2 GHz processor. It should run Android 4.4 KitKat, obviously with Samsung's TouchWiz layer adorned on top. This information comes from user agent profiles that have already been set up by Samsung on its website for two SM-E500 versions, as well as data from an Indian import tracker. For comparison, the Galaxy E7 (or SM-E700) will have a 5.5-inch 720p display and a processor clocked at up to 1.5 GHz. Source 1 • Source 2 • Source 3 | Via (in...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_e5_sme500_has_a_few_specs_revealed-news-10435.php

HTC Desire 620 gets announced for Europe, out next year

HTC first unveiled the Desire 620 in late November, but then it did so only for its home market of Taiwan. Now though, the handset has been announced for Europe, where it's set to land sometime during the first quarter of 2015 (so before the end of March). The Desire 620 could be viewed as a successor of sorts to the Desire 610 that became available earlier this year. The new phone comes with a 5-inch 720p Super LCD touchscreen, an 8 MP rear camera with LED flash, a 5 MP front snapper, 1GB of RAM, 8GB of built-in storage, and a microSD card slot. Running the show is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 SoC with a 1.2 GHz quad-core CPU, and there's a 2,100 mAh replaceable battery in tow too. The Desire 620 has support for 4G LTE networks, alongside Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi, GPS, and NFC. It runs Android 4.4 KitKat with HTC Sense 6. It will be offered in three color versions - white, grey with a light grey accent, and grey with an orange accent (which you can see above). The Desire 620 can clearly serve as HTC's competitor for the new Moto G, at least in terms of specs, but it remains to be seen whether it can match Motorola's offering when it comes to...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/htc_desire_620_gets_announced_for_europe_out_next_year-news-10434.php

Snapdragon 810-powered Galaxy Note 4 now in testing

A rumor is currently circulating, stating that the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 will soon be getting with a brand new chipset. The SoC in question is allegedly the Qualcomm Snapdragon 810. Samsung's flagship device currently comes in two hardware flavors - the in-house developed Exynos 7 Octa and the Qualcomm Snapdragon 805. These are both solid chips, but the Snapdragon 805, being by far the more popular and powering significantly more units is lacking in one particular respect - it features a 32-bit architecture. This could potentially cause issues with the phablet's futureproofing, given the strong push to a 64-bit application ecosystem, introduced by Android 5.0 Lollipop. The Snapdragon 810 remedies this issue, as it is a true 64-bit octa-core CPU. It also brings the Adreno 430 GPU to the table, which is also a significant improvement over the current Adreno 420 found in the Galaxy Note 4. The new device is allegedly already being tested by the three major South Korea mobile carriers, but that is unconfirmed either. A Snapdragon 810 Note 4 sounds tantalizingly good, but for the time being all we can do is wait for further development to the...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/snapdragon_810_powered_galaxy_note_4_being_tested-news-10433.php

Next Samsung Exynos SoC rumored to feature Cat.10 LTE

LTE Cat. 6 is quickly becoming the standard with new flagship handsets. It delivers quite respectable data speeds of up to 300Mbps on the downlink wherever capable enough networks are available. And while carriers still have a long way to go to catch up to current tech, chipset manufacturers are already preparing to move forward. Recently Qualcomm announced a Cat.10 LTE-capable chip, which boasts speeds of up to 450 Mbps. The chipset in question, however, is not the Snapdragon 810, that will power a lot of next generation flagships, as it features Cat. 6 LTE. But surprisingly enough, Cat. 10 modems might be closer to consumer markets than we thought. According to the Korean media, Samsung will be shipping Exynos devices with the new technology as early as next year. Rumors even extend further and speculate that the Samsung Galaxy S6 might support the new bandwidths in its Exynos-powered version. This marks a huge step forward for Samsung for two main reasons. Firstly if the Korean tech giant does manage to incorporate Cat. 10 LTE in consumer devices in time for the arrival of the next Galaxy S flagship, that would give the company's own SoC a formidable advantage over Qualcomm's Snapdragon series. Perhaps even more importantly this would mark another move towards a full in-house chip manufacturing process for Samsung. Having its own CPU, GPU and Modem would allow Samsung to pursue new development strategies and consumer markets. This, however is still entirely in the realm of speculations and for the time being Samsung will most likely be sticking to the current scheme of offering Qualcomm chips its their own. There are a number of reasons for this arrangement ranging from lower costs to marketing and manufacturing concerns and Samsung might even never achieve, or for that matter want a completly closed production circle. Source (in Korean) | Via 1 | Via...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/next_samsung_exynos_soc_rumored_to_feature_cat10_lte-news-10432.php

Kirin-powered Huawei Honor 4X gets listed before announcement

According to an oizoioi report, a Kirin 620-powered version of the Huawei Honor 4X is now available for pre-sale. This is particularly interesting given the fact that the company hasn't yet announced the device - a launch event is scheduled for December 16. The device is powered by the Kirin 620, rather than the Snapdragon 410 used on the original version. The home-baked chipset still offers 64-bit and LTE support, but it features an octa-core CPU and the Mali 450 GPU. Other features include a 5.5 inch HD display, 13 MP rear camera, and 5 MP front camera. In addition, the device packs in a 3000mAh battery, and will be available in two versions: a lower-end version with 1GB of RAM and a higher end version with 2GB of RAM. As for the price, the report says the 1GB version is expected to retail for 799 yuan ($129), while the 2GB version is expected to retail for 999 yuan ($161). Aside from the Honor 4X LTE, the upcoming event will also see the launch of the Honor 6Plus with Dual Rear...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/lte_enabled_huawei_honor_4x_goes_on_pre_sale_before_launch-news-10431.php

75,000 Xiaomi Redmi Notes to go on sale in India later today

The Xiaomi Redmi Note was temporarily on sale in India a week ago, but the 50,000 units lasted only 6 seconds. There's a new batch coming to Flipkart, this one a bit bigger - 75,000 units. You still need a registration before sale begins at 2pm local time (you won't have time to make one). The Xiaomi Redmi Note is priced at INR 9,000 (the equivalent of $145 or €118). There's a 4G version incoming that will cost another INR 1,000 on top of the base price, but that one won't be available until later this month. It's also powered by a quad-core Snapdragon 400 chipset instead of the octa-core MediaTek chipset the 3G version uses. The smaller Xiaomi, the Redmi 1S, went back on sale yesterday for INR 6,000, this time no registration required. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/75000_xiaomi_redmi_notes_to_go_on_sale_in_india_later_today-news-10430.php

US Cellular offers Nexus 6 at $200 on contract, $660 off

US Cellular is now selling the Nexus 6, starting at $200 with a 2-year contract, the 64GB version is a $50 upgrade. You can also grab the device with a pre-paid SIM at $660, but 64GB storage will cost you an extra $70. AT&T has already started shipping the device at $250 (32GB) or $683 off contract. Sprint is asking $300 for the Google phablet with a 2-year contract. There's also T-Mobile which is asking $650 for the 32GB model and $700 for the 64GB (no subsidies here though). Verizon is yet to officially offer the device, but the Google Nexus 6 does work on its network. For now though, US Cellular seems to be offering the best deal for the Motorola-made phablet. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/us_cellular_offers_nexus_6_at_200_on_contract_660_off-news-10429.php

Android Studio sees version 1.0 - first stable release

The Android OS has come gone a long way since its modest early versions. Core libraries, features and mostly APIs receive constant updates and redesigns to utilize new and improved hardware and bring better experiences to the user. Android 5.0 Lollipop brought about a brand new virtual machine - ART and a thoroughly reviewed code base. It was only natural that the development tools receive an equal treatment. The Android Studio has been in the works, ever since last year's Google I/O. It is a monumental effort that aims to fully replace the Eclipse environment, which is clunky, unreliable and in later versions simply cluttered with too many modules and extensions. Google's primary objective with the new Android Studio is to offer the Android SDK as a single fluently integrated IDE, with all the bells and whistles to facilitate a new highly streamlined development process to go along with the ever so intuitive mobile OS it powers. A stable build of the IDE can now be downloaded from the Android developer portal. As already mentioned it truly acts like a one-stop tool for all your android projects and promises to put an end to unwieldy emulation, hellish dependency and version management as well as many more developer nightmares. There are some notable and exciting features of the Android Studio 1.0 that definitely deserve to be mentioned. The IDE is now entirely based on JetBrains' immensely popular IntelliJ editor and delivers advanced code completion, refactoring, linting and code analysis. Google have also gone to great lengths to ensure that its own services, platforms and APIs are easily usable within Android projects. The studio comes with extended Google Service template support, seamless GitHub integration as well as simplified integration mechanisms for Google Cloud Platform services, such as Cloud Messaging and App Engine. The new Android Studio is also very much in tune with the fairly recent expansion of Android to a lot of new hardware platforms. The IDE is designed to offer a fine-tuned experience and proper set of tools, depending on what flavor of the OS the application is meant for - from traditional handsets all the way to Android Wear, Android TV, Android Auto and even Google Glass. Every device type and form factor is readily available for ensuring a uniform design and user experience as well as for debugging with the help of the highly-optimized and pre-configured Virtual Device Manager and emulator. Apache Maven is thrown into the mix to put an end to dependency management nightmares. All this and much more comes inside a complete package, neatly tied up and supported by Google. So if you are still battling with Eclipse or are just now starting to explore the Android platform you can't go wrong with the new Android Studio 1.0, which is firmly settling in as the standard all-in-one power tool. Source | Via 1 | Via...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/android_studio_sees_version_10__first_stable_release-news-10428.php