Xiaomi Redmi 2S leaks, sized up against the 1S


2014 was a great year for Chinese maker Xiaomi, the company shooting from near irrelevance to third smartphone manufacturer globally. It appears that the company isn't wasting any time celebrating though as it's already preparing to release its next hot seller. The Xiaomi Redmi 2S has just leaked in several live shots and we even get to learn all of its key specs. The smartphone will sport dual LTE network support allowing it work in both its home market and abroad and will be built around a 4.7" 720p screen. Xiaomi Redmi 2S The chipset at the heart of the Redmi 2S will allegedly be a 64-bit Snapdragon 410 with a quad-core CPU running at 1.2GHz, Adreno 306 GPU and 1GB of RAM. Storage will be 8GB with the microSD card slot enabling further expansion. The rear camera on the Redmi 2S will feature an 8MP sensor, while the front-facing snapper will be a 2MP unit. Android 4.4.4 KitKat will be what the Redmi 2S will run out of the box. Finally, we also got to learn that the will measure 134 x 67.21 x 9.2mm and weigh 132 grams. Xiaomi Redmi 2S next to Redmi 1S The official announcement of the next Xiaomi Redmi smartphone is said to happen tomorrow so we should know if these rumors are true very soon. Source |...






Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_redmi_2s_leaks_sized_up_against_the_1s-news-10635.php

Archos announces a multitude of phones and tablets before CES


Archos has announced a whole slew of new devices, including four smartphones and three tablets. The first of the lot is the Archos 50 Diamond, something we saw being announced earlier last year but wasn't going to be announced till 2015. Well, it's 2015 now and the phone is going to be out soon. It has a 5-inch, 1080p display, Snapdragon 615, 2GB RAM, 16GB memory, 16 megapixel rear camera and 8 megapixel front camera, dual SIM connectivity, LTE, and a 2700mAh battery. The other three phones are relatively boring. There is the 45B Helium 4G with a 4.5-inch 854x480 display, Qualcomm 410, 512MB of RAM, 4GB memory, microSD card slot, and 5 megapixel rear camera. 50b Helium 4G instead has a 5-inch 720p display, 1GB RAM, and 8GB memory. 50c Helium has a 5-inch 854x480 display, MediaTek MK6732M, and 5 megapixel camera. All three have dual-SIM support. Lastly, there are the three tablets. The 70 Helium 4G, 80b Helium 4G, and 101 Helium 4G have a MediaTek MT8732 processor, 1GB RAM, 8GB memory with microSD, 2 megapixel camera on the back with flash, and VGA camera on the front. The 70 Helium 4G has a 7-inch 1024x600 display with 2,500mAh battery while the 80b Helium 4G has an 8-inch 1280x800 display and 3,600mAh battery. The 101 Helium 4G has a 10-inch 1280x800 display and 6,500mAh battery. No pricing or exact availability information is announced as of...






Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/archos_announces_a_multitude_of_phones_and_tablets_before_ces-news-10634.php

Top 10 most popular reviews of 2014


With 2014 just over it seems only natural that we take a look back at the devices that you, the readers, found most interesting in our reviews. It was definitely a strong year on both the iOS and Android front and unsurprisingly the flagship devices of this year stole the spotlight. Samsung has strong presence in the list with smartphones, like the Galaxy S5, Samsung Note 4, Galaxy Grand 2 and the Galaxy Alpha. HTC's One (M8) also seems to be a star performer, as well as LG's G3 and Sony's Xperia Z3 and its little brother - the Z3 Compact. Apple's new lineup didn't enjoy as much interest but that is easily justifiable, as both the iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus came very close to the end of the year and simply didn't have enough time to ramp up the numbers. Our major camera comparison showdown seems to blow everything else in terms of popularity with the top five contenders for best phone "shooter" of 2014. So if you think you might have missed out on any major hardware during the past 12 months or are in the market for a phone, be sure to check out the list of the top 10 devices that excited readers in 2014. .news-item .n-left { float: left; width: 25%; text-align: center; margin-left: -4px; } .news-item .n-right { float: left; width: 75%; } .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; } Camera shootout: Six enter, only one leaves If you have been following us throughout the years, you probably know that cameraphone shootouts are somewhat of our specialty from back when there were no iPhones or Androids. Now, it's been almost... HTC One (M8) review: One and only To say there are great expectations of the freshly announced HTC One (M8) would be a massive understatement. This is, after all, one the of flagships to shape the entire season. But a predecessor that failed to turn warm reception into good sales... Samsung Galaxy S5 review: Fab Five Every time the Samsung Galaxy S counter flips a digit, the world is getting ready to be amazed. The lineup that stood up to the iPhone and has been pulling Android to the very top of the food chain, is under new leadership effective last month... Samsung Galaxy S5 vs. HTC One (M8): Leather and steel HTC has made some of the best-looking smartphones in recent history while Samsung has some of the best-selling ones. That's very much true for the HTC flagship and yet to be seen about the Samsung Galaxy S5, but the clash is no less... Samsung Galaxy Grand 2 review: Double vision The Samsung Galaxy Grand was the big-screened Samsung phone for the masses last season - and one that conveniently offered an extra SIM slot. It didn't go as far as the Galaxy Mega pair, stopping instead at 5-inches sharp of screen diagonal... Samsung Galaxy Note 4 review: Four of a kind From an oddball that everyone was laughing at to becoming one of the most important Samsung announcement of the year - the Note series got to a place where now everyone else wants to be in too, including Apple... iPhone 6 vs. Galaxy Alpha vs. Xperia Z3 Compact: Three kings We're looking for the best phone with a sub-5" screen. At a time when the best features seem to only come with the largest display, there's a strange, almost rebellious feel to it. No need to tell you, we're enjoying it. The Apple iPhone 6, Samsung Galaxy Alpha and the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact are... LG G3 review: Dream catcher Late as usual but ever so strong. In an industry where timing is almost as important as quality, LG's highly anticipated G3 flagship makes landfall in the second half of 2014, a couple of months after the flagships of the other major players. Such a late... Sony Xperia Z3 Compact review: Not...






Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/top_10_most_popular_reviews_of_2014_-news-10608.php

Alcatel's OneTouch Pixi 3 series is OS-agnostic


Its first smartwatch isn't the only thing Alcatel is talking about today. TCL, the Chinese company behind the brand, has also unveiled an upcoming line of smartphones called Pixi 3 - to succeed the original Pixi from 2013 and the Pixi 2 from last year, undoubtedly. It comprises of four handsets, each with a different screen size : 3.5", 4", 4.5", and 5". The smallest of the bunch tops out at 3G connectivity, but the other three come with 4G LTE support built-in. The most interesting tidbit in Alcatel's otherwise detail-starved press release is that the Pixi 3 devices will be OS-agnostic, unlike the Pixi and Pixi 2 which ran 'just' Android. The new phones will thus be "compatible with three major operating systems: Firefox, Windows, and Android", according to the official press release. Unfortunately though, what Alcatel means by that isn't further explained. Since these are going to be affordable offerings, we do however assume we're more likely to see each size have three versions - one for each of the aforementioned operating systems. This seems more likely than loading all three operating systems on each handset. Either way, we're surely going to find out more about the Pixi 3 smartphones next week during CES. Source |...






Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/alcatels_onetouch_pixi_3_series_is_osagnostic-news-10633.php

New Android Lollipop ROM leaks for international Note 3


It's not the first time we're witnessing an Android 5.0 Lollipop ROM for the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 but this time the firmware looks to be better suited as a daily driver. The ROM amounts to 1.1GB (usual for a Note 3 ROM) and requires a few prerequisites before you can load it to you device. You'll need to use the Odin app (for either the 16GB or 32GB model) on a PC and know how to flash using it. Making a backup of your device is also recommended so that if something goes wrong you'll have your old ROM to fall back to. The new ROM brings a redesigned TouchWiz experience with the Android Lollipop carousel app switcher. The runtime has also been swtiched over to ART (Android Runtime) which is significantly faster at starting up apps but requires a lot more time to setup all the apps on your device during the first boot. ART means that the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 won't be compatible with the XPOSED framework - keep that in mind if you're using it on your Note 3. Head on over to the source link if you know what you're doing and want to check out the firmware and a flashing guide. And if you don't feel confident enough you can just wait for Samsung to release the firmware via an over the air update eventually. Source |...






Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/new_android_lollipop_rom_leaks_for_international_note_3-news-10632.php

Xolo unveils Q700 Club with IP55 certification, dual front speakers


Just over a week after its Q900s Plus went on sale, Indian smartphone manufacturer XOLO has unveiled a new version of the device. Dubbed Q700 Club, the smartphone is listed on the company's website at a price tag of INR 6,999 ($111). Specifications-wise, the device features a MediaTek (MT6582M) chipset with 1.3GHz quad-core CPU, Mali-400 MP2 GPU, and a 4.5-inch FWVGA IPS display. It sports a 5-megapixel rear camera with LED flash and a 0.3-megapixel front camera, and comes with IP55 certification for dust and water resistance. The smartphone runs Android 4.4.2 KitKat out-of-the-box, and comes with 1GB of RAM and 8GB of internal memory (which is expandable up to 32GB via microSD card). Connectivity options include 3G, GPRS/ EDGE, A-GPS, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Micro-USB, as well as Bluetooth. The Q700 Club sports dual front speakers, and comes pre-loaded with Hungama Music app, offering 3 months of unlimited music and video downloads. The dual-SIM device is expected to go on sale soon. Source |...






Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/xolo_unveils_q700_club_with_ip55_certification_and_dual_front_speakers-news-10631.php

BlackBerry Classic review: For old times' sake


The BlackBerry Classic is a quintessential BlackBerry, any way you slice it. With a hardware QWERTY keyboard and navigation buttons, a strictly business appearance and the best enterprise chops in the industry, the newcomer is reminiscent of...






Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/blackberry_classic-review-1186.php

Top 10 most popular blog posts of 2014


The Year 2014 is almost gone and it's time we take a look at what you liked best over our blog. This year was full of new devices, a plethora of flagships made it to the market and some of them surely turned not the jewels the companies had advertised them. Others do great, creating a buzz that kept making the news for quite a while. So, we already know what the most popular news were through 2014 and we are delighted millions of people really liked our reviews this year. We've put some of those over our blog and yet they still turned out quite hot reads. The most popular article at our blog is indeed the Asus Zenfone 5 review, while the runner up is also another review detailing the Lenovo P780. The statistics show you've really liked our weekly polls, and you all were very interested into making your favorite smartphone the champion of our unique Smartphone Champion League (won by the Nokia Lumia 1520). The Samsung Galaxy S5 was one of those buzz champs, occupying the spotlight in lots of blog posts. Its battery life test is among the most read articles, close to the attention our Motorola Moto E hands-on had received. Hoping for an even more eventful 2015 year with even more innovative tech, we present you the top 10 most popular blog post throughout 2014! .news-item .n-left { float: left; width: 25%; text-align: center; margin-left: -4px; } .news-item .n-right { float: left; width: 75%; } .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; } ASUS Zenfone 5 review The ASUS Zenfone 5 is one of the three Zonefone devices that were announced at CES earlier this year. Based on Intel's x86 Atom processors, the Zenfones... Smartphone Champions League completes - meet the champion Time to break out the champagne and celebrate the first winner of the Smartphone Champions League, the Nokia Lumia 1520. The first Lumia phablet had a lot... Lenovo P780 review Lenovo has been one of the biggest gainers in the smartphone market over the past couple of years. The company even did devices like the K900 and Vibe Z... Weekly poll: iPhone 6 Plus vs Galaxy Note 4, Galaxy Note Edge, LG G3 Following our Apple iPhone 6 poll, it's now time for its bigger brother, the iPhone 6 Plus, to go under the spotlight. This is the first time Apple is making... Motorola Moto E hands-on Motorola is part of a small subset of phonemakers that doesn't take part of specification races, but focuses on delivering great value at attractive price... Samsung Galaxy S5 clashes with the Sony Xperia Z2 and LG G2 Today we saw the unveiling of two great Android flagship smartphones - the Galaxy S5 and the Xperia Z2. They're the improved versions of their predecessors... Samsung Galaxy S5 battery life test The Samsung Galaxy S5 is bound to become one of the hottest selling handsets and so it must undergo heavy scrutiny. Battery life is an everyday worry... 10 things you didn't know your Galaxy S5 could do Here's something you may not have known: 10 hidden features that weren't really advertised in Samsung's promotion of the Galaxy S5 have been released today... XL Size: Apple iPhone 6 Plus vs. Samsung Galaxy Note 4 vs. LG G3 With the iPhone 6 Plus now official, we can finally pit it against the heavyweight, plus-sized Android superstars - the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 and the LG G3... Smartphone Champions League Grand Final So that's that then - the big day has finally come. 32 smartphones, 30 games and just over...






Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/top_10_most_popular_blog_posts_of_2014-news-10609.php

Microsoft Lumia 1330/1335 appears with LTE-Advanced connectivity


In the first day of the new year, the upcoming Microsoft Lumia 1330/1335 has made an appearance in China. The phone stars in a couple of photos revealing its size and general design. The phone is said to pack a 5.7" HD OLED display, making it far larger than the Lumia 535 to which it's compared in the second photo. Further specs revealed by the person who made the shots include a 14.1MP main camera with Zeiss optics and LED flash as well as a 5MP front-facing shooter. Internally, the Lumia 1330/1335 will feature a Snapdragon 400 MSM8926 chipset with quad-core Cortex-A7 CPU, 1GB of RAM and Cat4 LTE connectivity. In fact, the phone passed FCC certification under the RM-1062 product name, and revealed its support for LTE-Advanced networks. This makes it the first Windows Phone to rock the fast connectivity option. Considering the level of detail that has leaked of the Lumia 1330, we expect to see it launch in the Spring. Exact dates and pricing aren't available at this point, though. Source • Source (2) | Via • Via...






Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/microsoft_lumia_1330_1335_appears_with_lteadvanced_connectivity-news-10630.php

Huawei's Honor 6 Plus now available globally for $399


A couple of weeks after a Huawei spokesperson reportedly claimed that the company's Honor 6 Plus smartphone, which launched in China in mid-December, will not be available to customers in Europe or other Western Markets, the company has made it available to customers all over the world. The 16GB model of the device is now listed on Oppomart at $399, although the retailer is offering only the white model. Specifications-wise, the Honor 6 Plus sports a 5.5-inch 1080p display, an octa-core Kirin 925 processor, and Mali T628 MP4 GPU. It has 3 GB of RAM, 16/32 GB of internal memory (which is expandable up to 128 GB via a microSD card slot), and a 3600 mAh battery. The unique selling point of the device, which runs on the Android 4.4.4 KitKat with Emotion 3.0 UI, is its two 8MP camera sensors setup that lets you capture 13MP shots, and enable cool effects and super fast autofocus. Source |...






Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/huawei_honor_6_plus_now_available_globally_for_399-news-10629.php

Huawei 2014 smartphone sales soar by almost one-third


Chinese manufacturer Huawei saw its smartphone revenue increase by around 33% to over $11.8 billion last year, according to a Reuters report, which cited an internal memo from Richard Yu, the head of the company's consumer business. Huawei shipped around 75 million smartphones in 2014, up 40 percent year-on-year, but less than the previously stated sales target of 80 million units. According to a Wall Street Journal report, outside of the home market, smartphone sales were strongest in the Middle East, northern Latin America, and Southeast Asia. However, the company is facing intense competition from fellow Chinese smartphone player Xiaomi, which became the world's third largest smartphone manufacturer in Q3 last year. The Reuters report notes that the Beijing-based company had set a sales target of 60 million for the year 2014, which is over three times compared to its 2013 sales of 18.7 million. Xiaomi also recently became the world's most valuable tech startup. Via 1 | Via...






Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/huawei_2014_smartphone_sales_soar_by_almost_one_third-news-10628.php

OnePlus One gets official Android 5.0 Lollipop alpha ROM


OnePlus has been quietly developing its own Android 5.0 Lollipop based ROM for the OnePlus One. Following the controversy with Cyanogen licensing in India, the company had announced that it will be providing an early build to customers, which will replace the Cyanogen OS on their devices. The company has now released an alpha build of the ROM on its forums, and is available to download and flash right now. The ROM looks pretty much identical to stock Android Lollipop on Nexus devices but with a few minor changes, such as the ability to have either onscreen or physical navigation buttons. This is an alpha build so there definitely are bugs, many of which are listed on the forum and others no doubt you'll find while using it. There are also clear instructions on how to install the ROM and the things you need to keep in mind, so make sure you read everything properly and know what you're doing before you take the plunge. Source •...






Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/oneplus_one_gets_official_android_50_lollipop_alpha_rom-news-10627.php

Happy New Year 2015 from our team and best wishes to all


With 2014 coming to an end we can't help but feel a little nostalgic and look back at what the past twelve months have brought us. We couldn't be happier with what we do and we have all of you, our loyal readers to thank for our success. The website is slowly, but determinedly climbing up the internet statistics ladder and Alexa.com, now ranks us as the 328th most-popular website across the globe (at one point we even made it in the top 300). We are so very thankful for all the love and attention and promise to strive to better ourselves and our work constantly and remain dedicated to our work and our fans. During the past 360 or so days, we have been hard at work to bring you news and insights form the tech world and we managed to ramp up more than 3175 news articles, 2920 blog posts and as many as 170 reviews. We are also extremely thankful for all the support in different social media. Our YouTube channel now has almost 100,000 subscribers and over 73,000,000 views. We have also been experimenting with new and engaging lifestyle videos and commentary, which we hope will make for a better multimedia experience. Our Facebook group has also grown and now has over 800,000 likes and counting and so has out Twitter account, with over 75,000 followers reading along. We've also expanded our social media presence over at Google+, where we now have over 75,000 subscribers. Our team also spent many hours developing exciting new features. Our advanced Phone Finder underwent a massive overhaul and now looks and works better than ever. Looking through our extensive smartphone and tablet database has never been easier and we hope it serves as an aid to find the best device for your need. We have also made battery life scores more accessible and easily searchable through our interactive Battery life table. We are all set for 2015 and will be reporting live from CES 2015 (January 6 to January 9 2015) and can't wait to see what the New Year is going to bring to the tech world and we hope you stick around so we can share it with you. Happy New Year to you and all those you hold dear and we wish you true happiness, joy and success in the months to come. Cheers! The GSMArena team window.requestAnimFrame = ( function() { return window.requestAnimationFrame || window.webkitRequestAnimationFrame || window.mozRequestAnimationFrame || function( callback ) { window.setTimeout( callback, 1000 / 60 ); }; })(); // now we will setup our basic variables for the demo var canvas = document.getElementById( 'canvas' ), ctx = canvas.getContext( '2d' ), // full screen dimensions cw = 580, ch = 363, // firework collection fireworks = [], // particle collection particles = [], // starting hue hue = 120, // when launching fireworks with a click, too many get launched at once without a limiter, one launch per 5 loop ticks limiterTotal = 5, limiterTick = 0, // this will time the auto launches of fireworks, one launch per 80 loop ticks timerTotal = 80, timerTick = 0, mousedown = false, // mouse x coordinate, mx, // mouse y coordinate my; // set canvas dimensions canvas.width = cw; canvas.height = ch; // now we are going to setup our function placeholders for the entire demo // get a random number within a range function random( min, max ) { return Math.random() * ( max - min ) + min; } // calculate the distance between two points function calculateDistance( p1x, p1y, p2x, p2y ) { var xDistance = p1x - p2x, yDistance = p1y - p2y; return Math.sqrt( Math.pow( xDistance, 2 ) + Math.pow( yDistance, 2 ) ); } // create firework function Firework( sx, sy, tx, ty ) { // actual coordinates this.x = sx; this.y = sy; // starting coordinates this.sx = sx; this.sy = sy; // target coordinates this.tx = tx; this.ty = ty; // distance from starting point to target this.distanceToTarget = calculateDistance( sx, sy, tx, ty ); this.distanceTraveled = 0; // track the past coordinates of each firework to create a trail effect, increase the coordinate count to create more prominent trails this.coordinates = []; this.coordinateCount = 3; // populate initial coordinate collection with the current coordinates while( this.coordinateCount-- ) { this.coordinates.push( [ this.x, this.y ]...






Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/happy_new_year_2015_from_our_team_and_best_wishes_to_all-news-10620.php

Top 10 most popular news stories of 2014


Another year has passed and boy was it an eventful one! In the last moments of 2014 we take a look back at the most exciting news of the past twelve months. Time does fly by fast, especially in the tech world where is seems that the past 360 days represent a whole decade of innovation. The Android world definitely saw a lot of action during 2014. Samsung gathered the most interest, mainly with the unveiling of the newest generation of flagship devices. A lot of rumors and speculations surrounded the Galaxy Note 4, as well as its peculiar cousin the Samsung Note Edge and the Galaxy S5. The Korean tech giant was also busy delivering software support to its users, with a lot of Android KitKat OTA updates taking place during the past year as well as some interesting development regarding future Lollipop builds for various handsets. Sony had much the same mission on its mind and delivered a major KitKat roll out for a lot of its device lineup. Apple also had a busy year, dominating news outlets on numerous occasions. The California company pushed into the future with its 8th iteration of smartphones, as well as the rumor marathon leading to their announcements. But perhaps the iPhone 6 was not the biggest jaw-dropper Apple had to offer. 2014 marked a historical cornerstone in its history with the iPhone 6 Plus ushering the company into the phablet market for the first time. Microsoft also got its share of the spotlight with the official release of Widows Phone 8.1. The OS brought about numerous new features and improvements and represents another major step forward towards Microsoft's long-standing goal of uniting mobile and desktop OS versions into a fluent and uniform experience for users and developers alike. The past year has been a wild ride and we here at GSMArena are very glad that we were able to share it with you. Here's to a great 2014 and the hope for an even greater experience next year! .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; } Updated: Apple WWDC slides leak with iPhone 6 on them Apple's WWDC hits the stage this Monday and we already know Apple is planning to unveil iOS 8 and the latest OS X 10.10 but many are also contemplating if there will be an iPhone 6 announcement taking place. Update: after causing quite a stir on the web, it turned out that the video which... Google launches Android One in India with three new smartphones After announcing it first back at I/O 2014, Google today finally launched the first Android One devices in India. The first three phones to be launched are the Karbon Sparkle V, Micromax Canvas A1, and Spice Dream UNO. The Dream UNO is the cheapest at INR6,299 ($103), while the Sparkle V costs... Entry-level Samsung Galaxy V appears in a retail listing Another day, another entry level smartphone from Samsung! A retail listing from Vietnam reveals that the South Korean giant is gearing up to introduce a new smartphone dubbed Galaxy V to attract entry-level users. Samsung Galaxy V will come out with a 4-inch display with a resolution of 480 x... Galaxy Note 4 spotted on Samsung Mobile site The Samsung Galaxy Note 4 is just days away from being officially announced at the IFA trade show in Berlin, and the leaks keep piling up. The latest is in the form of a UAProf found on Samsung's mobile site, which confirms a large number of the devices' specifications. Besides the SM-N920T... Detailed images of the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 leak Here's what the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 may look like. While looking very similar to the front of the current Note 3 the back and sides look new. The phone appears to retain the plastic back with leather-like texture but the...






Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/top_10_most_popular_news_of_2014-news-10607.php

Sony creates limited edition Xperia Z3 series for Germany


Sony has launched a limited edition series of the Xperia Z3 devices, including the Z3, Z3 Compact, Z3 Tablet Compact. The devices feature an exclusive etched pattern on the glass back. Three designers were chosen for the job, who each chose a city of their choice to etch on the back of these devices as part of the Stadt Talente peoject. Vesa Tapani Sammalisto chose Berlin to etch on the back of the Z3, Shinpei Hasegawa chose Tokyo for the back of the Z3 Compact, and Jan Feliks Kallwejt chose Warsaw for the Z3 Tablet Compact. The devices are available as limited edition, with 33 being made of each and sold only in Germany. Source (German) •...






Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/sony_creates_limited_edition_xperia_z3_series_for_germany-news-10626.php

Xiaomi Redmi 1s with dual-LTE set to launch on January 4


Xiaomi will launch a new version of its popular Redmi 1s smartphone this coming Sunday, on January 4. The device will hit the shelves soon after its unveiling. Both SIM card slots of the newcomer will support 4G LTE connectivity. The current dual-SIM of the Redmi 1s does not support LTE connectivity at all. The new version of the Xiaomi Redmi 1s passed through TENAA in China earlier this month. Its specs include 64-bit Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 SoC, 1GB of RAM, 4.7" 720p display, and 8MP main camera....






Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_redmi_1s_with_duallte_set_to_launch_on_january_4-news-10625.php

Samsung Galaxy A3 and A5 arrive in the US in unlocked form


While Samsung hasn't officially launched the Galaxy A3 and Galaxy A5 in the US through any carriers, the two metal smartphones are now available to buy stateside. That's possible because they're being offered by Expansys, a third party retailer specializing in selling unlocked (SIM-free) units. So you won't be signing any long-term agreements with carriers to get them, but on the flip side you will be paying more for the handsets than you may be used to. Because these are unlocked devices, they're priced accordingly. So the Galaxy A3 will set you back $329.99, whereas the Galaxy A5 is going for $409.99. In both cases, you're getting dual-SIM functionality baked in, though as always only one of those slots supports high speed data connectivity. Both phones have 4G LTE, but before you buy make sure to check if your favorite carrier's bands are supported. Information about which bands each smartphone supports is available in their respective listings. It's still unclear whether we'll ever see the Galaxy A3 and A5 released by any US carriers, so if you must have one as soon as possible then this is pretty much your only option right now. Source 1 • Source 2 |...






Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_a3_and_a5_arrive_in_the_us_in_unlocked_form-news-10624.php

Oppo R5 will be up for pre-order in India on January 1


The Oppo R5 held the title of "world's thinnest smartphone" for what has to be the smallest amount of time ever. It was announced at the end of October, but by early December the Vivo X5 Max had already overtaken it in this insane race. Still, the thickness difference between the two is barely noticeable, so this doesn't mean that the R5 has suddenly become fat. No, it's the same slender slab it's always been. And now we know when pre-orders for it will start in India. If you want to be among the first people in the subcontinent to own an Oppo R5, then get ready to pre-order one starting on January 1 - that's in just a couple of days. The amount of cash you'll need to shell out for this privilege is INR 29,990. At the current exchange rates that translates into $473 or €389. Considering the upper-midrange specs inside the Oppo R5, that price seems reasonable. Naturally though, this phone's unique selling point will be how slim it is - even if it's not the world's slimmest anymore. An actual release date for the R5 in India has not been revealed by the Chinese company, at least not yet. The Oppo R5 has a 5.2-inch 1080p touchscreen, a 13 MP rear camera, a 5 MP front camera, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of storage, and a 2,000 mAh battery. It's powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 chipset with an octa-core CPU, and it runs Android 4.4.4...






Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/oppo_r5_will_be_up_for_preorder_in_india_on_january_1-news-10623.php

Android Lollipop has a memory leak bug, fix is on the way


Lollipop may be the latest version of the mobile OS developed by the search giant, but it's clearly not the most stable yet. In fact, the new and handsome iteration of Android has a memory leak bug that has some nasty effects. On Android 5.0.1, the bug kills open apps and forces constant reloading of the home screen. On Google's Android Issue Tracker it's been revealed that a few Nexus devices are affected, such as the Nexus 7 (2013), Nexus 4, and Nexus 5. In some cases the bug makes the Android system eat up to 1.2GB of RAM, whereas a normal value would be somewhere around 500MB. So this is a pretty big deal, and quite an annoying bug if you happen to encounter it. The good news is that a fix may have been found, and it will be included in the next software update from Google. The only downside right now is that there's no indication as to when that will begin rolling out. It's unlikely that we'll see a specific update only addressing this issue, so the fix will make it to the next planned release - whichever that happens to be, and whenever that comes out. So if you do suffer from the effects of this bug, you're still required to have some patience. Since Android 5.0.2 is already out for the Nexus 7 (2012), this bugfix will probably be released as part of Android 5.0.3. Source |...






Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/android_lollipop_has_a_memory_leak_bug_fix_is_on_the_way-news-10622.php

Samsung Galaxy Core Prime to land in the EU next year


The Samsung Galaxy Core Prime, which we've just reviewed, is apparently headed to Europe in the near future. So far, the handset has only been on sale in India, where it became available earlier this month. But it now looks like it will be up for grabs in the EU too - or at least in the Netherlands. Over there a few retailers have already listed it on their websites. The device should be out sometime in January, and you'll reportedly be able to get one for under €200. In fact, one Dutch store has priced the Galaxy Core Prime at just €160. That's a bit more than the asking price in India, but those of you who live in Europe are probably already accustomed to paying more for phones than people in Asia or the US. Since it's on its way to the Netherlands, we naturally assume more EU markets will get the Core Prime too in the coming weeks. The handset has 4G LTE support, a 4.5-inch 480x800 touchscreen, a 5 MP rear camera, and a 2 MP front-facing snapper. It's powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 SoC with a 1.2 GHz quad-core Cortex-A53 CPU, aided by 1GB of RAM. Internal storage is 8GB and expandable, the OS in charge is Android 4.4.4 KitKat, and there's a 2,000 mAh battery in there too. Source (in...






Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_core_prime_to_land_in_the_eu_next_year-news-10621.php

HTC to focus on the Desire lineup at CES


As expected the HTC One (M8) successor rumored as HTC Hima won't make it to CES 2015 in Vegas early next year. While HTC has already sent invitations for a special press event on January 5 in Las Vegas and HTC Hima has even leaked via AnTuTu, it seems the flagship won't be stealing the spotlight just yet. A newly released teaser on Weibo says "Always Desire more", which clearly means new Desire smartphone or smartphones will be announced at CES. This isn't such a surprise though as both HTC One and HTC One (M8) weren't introduced on CES, but prior and after the MWC expos in February-March. HTC may want to announce the new One flagship at a stand-alone event once again thus not sharing the news with any major competition. So, a new Desire or Desire phones are coming. One of them is probably the recently leaked HTC A-12 mid-ranger powered by the Snapdragon 410 chipset and offering a 4.7" 720p display. The rest of its rumored specs include 1GB of RAM, an 8MP cam and a 2,100 mAh battery. Android KitKat and Sense UI should be in charge of operations. HTC A12 will allegedly launch on AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, and Verizon Wireless in the United States. We will keep an eye out for more details on the handset going...






Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/htc_to_focus_on_the_desire_lineup_at_ces-news-10619.php

AdDuplex: Lumia 630 and 535 on the rise, LG may be coming back


Time for a final report on Windows Phone before 2014 comes to an end. There's some good news for Microsoft - the new Lumia 630 is weakening the stranglehold of Lumia 520 and LG might be coming back to the platform. First things first, the Nokia Lumia 630 is the second most popular WP handset worldwide, a wide margin behind the 520. Its LTE-enabled sibling, the Lumia 635, has now reached the Top 10. The entry-level Lumia 530 is also on board. Microsoft first own-branded phone, the Microsoft Lumia 535, managed to make its mark too - only in India for now where it matched the Lumia 530 for eighth place at 4.1%. Lumia 800's market share has slipped, which leaves the Lumia 710 as the only Windows Phone 7.x handset in the Top 10. Worldwide the 7.x branch accounts for 15% of devices, but regionally the story is different - it's on 69% of handsets in South Africa, 40% in Mexico but not even 1% in Turkey. AdDuplex Windows Phone Statistics Report, December 2014 from AdDuplex An LG VW820 with a 4.7" screen with 480 x 854px resolution was spotted in Korea by AdDuplex, which may signal the return of LG. The company dropped Windows Phone and went exclusively with Android back in 2012 but it may be looking to diversify its offerings, even including a WebOS smartwatch. The situation is pretty dire at the moment - there are as many as 30 different brands of Windows Phone handsets out there, but there's a "Nokia" label on 95.51% of all sold devices. Source |...






Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/adduplex_lumia_630_and_535_on_the_rise_lg_may_be_coming_back-news-10617.php

Samsung Galaxy Core Prime review: Core values


The Galaxy Core lineup represents Samsung's take on the essential smartphone. The Galaxy Core Prime updates the base formula in two areas - a better camera and a better chipset - and it serves as a smaller alternative to the Galaxy Grand Prime...






Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_core_prime-review-1185.php

Possible Xiaomi Mi5 black edition photo leaked


A rather interesting picture was brought to our attention by a tipper. The shot surfaced on Weibo and shows what arrears to be the next generation Mi smartphone by Xiaomi. The Chinese manufacturer is rumored to unveil the Xiaomi Mi5 at CES in a few days, so the leak seems credible enough. The handset bears a lot of similarity to the Xiaomi Mi5. Design seems to be pretty much the same, the signature MIUI is also clearly visible. This new mystery device does, however, appear to be significantly larger than the 5-inch Mi4. And although scale is hard to judge properly an estimate would put the display firmly in phablet territory - around 5.5 to 5.7 inches. The alleged Mi5 does appear to have a remarkably thin bezel, significantly thinner than its predecessor. Last month we reported on a set of spy production shots of what was supposedly the screen assembly for the same phone. Relying solely on visual comparison, they do seem to match up, but the newly leaked photo shows a black device with a lit-up screen, making it nearly impossible to spot the logo and the sensors and speaker position. So a definite match can not be confirmed. Diving further into the rumor mill reveals some alleged specs for the device. It is said to have 4G LTE connectivity, a QHD display with a Snapdragon 805 SoC and at least 3GB of RAM. While none of the information about the mysterious phone is confirmed and should be taken with a grain of salt we can at least rest easy, knowing that things will definitely clear up very soon, with CES right around the corner. Source |...






Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/possible_xiaomi_mi5_black_edition_photo_leaked-news-10616.php

ZTE unveils a redesigned logo and new company philosophy


The Chinese tech giant ZTE unveiled a redesigned logo. The new branding presents a new corporate identity, which falls in line with the company's focus on innovating in the M-ICT field. The latter stands for Media Information Communications Technology. ZTE's new logo is noticeably sleeker than the one its replaces - it embodies that company's new Cool-Green-Open philosophy. Going forward, the company will focus on products that are "dynamic, youthful and compelling to users, sustainable and environmentally responsible, as well as open-minded and collaborative." The Chinese manufacturer has a CES press conference scheduled for Monday, January 5. We will be covering it live, so be sure to tune in to find out what ZTE has in store for 2015. Source |...






Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/zte_unveils_a_redesigned_logo_and_new_company_philosophy-news-10615.php

Moto G (2014) with 4G LTE connectivity appears in Brazil


Unsurprisingly, Motorola has a Moto G (2014) with 4G LTE connectivity coming our way. The yet to be revealed successor of Moto G 4G appeared on Motorola's official website in Brazil. The LTE-capable second generation Moto G will feature a slightly larger 2,390mAh battery than the 3G-only model. The latter makes do with a non-removable 2,070mAh unit. The Brazilian product page of the new Moto G also reveals that the LTE model will only be available with 16GB of built-in memory. At 155 grams, the upcoming device will also be a tad heavier than its regular sibling (149 grams). Battery and weight aside, the LTE Moto G (2014) has familiar specs. They include Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 SoC, 1GB of RAM, 5" 720p display, 8MP camera, and stereo speakers. There is no word on the launch date of the new Moto G version just yet. We doubt it will be a long wait. Source (in Portuguese) |...






Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/moto_g_2014_with_4g_lte_connectivity_appears_in_brazil_-news-10614.php

Qualcomm teaser shows an LG G Flex sequel on the way


Qualcomm teased the successor of the curved LG G Flex on Twitter. The upcoming high-end smartphone will make its official debut next week during CES 2015 in Las Vegas - in line with past rumors. The image gives us a peak of a device's back without mentioning its manufacturer. However, the buttons on the back, coupled with the distinctive pattern that LG's self-healing polycarbonate totes, leave no room for doubt that the device is indeed from the Korean manufacturer. A new #Snapdragon 800 powered smartphone is launching next week at @intlCES - here's a first look. pic.twitter.com/6Sx8wQQsdE— Qualcomm (@Qualcomm) December 29, 2014 Curiously, the tweet states that the device will pack a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 chipset. We reckon that the company refers to the Snapdragon 801 or Snapdragon 805 however, as both are technically part of the 800 lineup. Seeing the device launch with last year's Snapdragon 800 seems unlikely. We will be live from Vegas next week, so be sure to tune in for the full scoop on the next LG G Flex. Source...






Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/qualcomm_teaser_shows_an_lg_g_flex_sequel_on_the_way-news-10613.php

Samsung Galaxy A7 and Galaxy Grand Max leak in Korea


The Samsung Galaxy A7 has leaked a lot up until this point, yet for some reason the smartphone maker still hasn't announced it to complement the two existing members in the A series - the A3 and the A5. So the Galaxy A7 just keeps on leaking. Today we can see it in a leaked catalogue for South Korea. This listing gives us another round of specs for the device. What's perhaps more interesting is that alongside the A7 the Galaxy Grand Max has leaked too, as part of the same leaflet. Samsung Galaxy A7 and Galaxy Grand Max So, here's what we should expect from the Galaxy A7, in terms of specs. It will come with a 5.2-inch 1080p Super AMOLED touchscreen, a 13 MP rear camera, a 5 MP front snapper, a 1.5 GHz octa-core processor, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of expandable storage, and a 2,500 mAh battery. It will run Android 4.4.4 KitKat and will sport connectivity options such as LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS. The A7 will be just 6.3mm thin and it will weigh 140g. Moving on, the Galaxy Grand Max has a 5.2-inch 720p LCD touchscreen, a 13 MP rear camera, a 5 MP front-facing camera, a 1.2 GHz quad-core CPU, 1.5GB of RAM, 16GB of built-in storage (expandable via microSD cards), and a 2,500 mAh battery. It too will come with Android 4.4 KitKat preinstalled, as well as LTE support. It's 7.9mm thin. These two phones are headed to South Korea in the near future, where the Galaxy A7 will be offered by all three carriers over there. There's been no word on whether these devices are going to be sold elsewhere in the future, but our guess would be that they will. It's just unclear...






Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_a7_and_galaxy_grand_max_leak_in_korea-news-10612.php

Samsung Galaxy Alpha may be discontinued by February


If you like the Samsung Galaxy Alpha, perhaps now's the time to go and purchase one. Because if the latest rumor from the company's native South Korea is to be believed, you won't be able to do that for much longer. The report says that Samsung will discontinue the production of the Galaxy Alpha by early February. The manufacturer will allegedly produce the metal-clad smartphone only until the materials it currently has in inventory for it are all used up - there are no plans to order more parts for the Alpha. This all apparently comes from an unnamed "industry insider", so the usual cautions apply about taking such things for granted. If you're wondering why Samsung may kill the Galaxy Alpha so soon after its release, that is said to have something to do with the Galaxy A5. That's supposed to be the replacement for the Galaxy Alpha, at least on the Korean market. There the A5 is expected to launch in the mid-January to early February time frame. Samsung will focus on more affordable devices in its home market next year, and the A5 is the first of those. The Galaxy A5 will be priced at approximately KRW 400,000 (that's about $363 or €298). Samsung clearly hopes it will be more popular in Korean than the Galaxy Alpha, which wasn't a huge success. Of course Samsung hasn't confirmed any of this yet, as you may have expected. So it can still go either way. Source |...






Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_alpha_may_be_discontinued_by_february-news-10611.php

Lollipop update for Galaxy S5 spreads further in Europe


The update to Android 5.0 Lollipop for the Samsung Galaxy S5 just keeps on spreading throughout the world, it seems. After Poland and South Korea, today it was Spain's turn to get the rollout on its way. This might mean that more European countries will have Lollipop on the Galaxy S5 soon. That's because Samsung generally tests its updates in one market, and that's usually Poland, after which a wider rollout quickly comes. The S5 handsets sold in Poland have already seen three Lollipop updates, so we assume Samsung is now pretty satisfied with the status of its software and has thus decided to expand its geographical reach. For now, units that were bought unlocked and SIM-free from Spain will benefit. But more territories will soon follow, that's pretty much a given. And after that happens, maybe we'll see the newest version of Android finally being headed to the Galaxy Note 4 as well. Source |...






Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/lollipop_update_for_samsung_galaxy_s5_spreads_further_in_europe-news-10610.php

Samsung Galaxy A7 and Galaxy E5 listed on Russian web site


Two of Samsung's new phones have hit the pages of Russian distributor Merlion, the Samsung Galaxy A7 and the Galaxy E5. They come with a full list of specifications, not that there was much left unknown about the two unofficial handsets. Samsung Galaxy A7 Starting off with the A-series flagship, the Samsung Galaxy A7 features a 5.5" 1080p screen. It's powered by the same chipset as one of the Galaxy Note 4 versions, namely the Exynos 5433 chipset. The phablet has the same dimensions as the Note 4, so it will be positioned as a more affordable alternative to Samsung's phablet top dog. The Galaxy A7 also packs a 13MP main camera, 5MP front-camera. Its well-versed in connectivity with 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 802.11ac and an IR blaster. The phablet will launch with Android 4.4 KitKat but there's no exact date or price yet. Samsung Galaxy E5 Next up is the Samsung Galaxy E5. This one comes in 4G LTE and 3G dual-SIM flavors. The phone will be more compact with a 5" 1080p screen (a bit bigger and heavier than the Galaxy S4). A comment on the bottom of the page mentions Galaxy S4 Active's ability to shoot photos underwater, but that's probably a mistake. The Galaxy E5 is powered by an unknown quad-core 1.9GHz processor and is listed as running Android 4.1, which is most likely another typo. It has an 8MP camera on the back and a 2MP selfie camera. Other than the optional dual-SIM, there's Wi-Fi 802.11ac and Bluetooth 4.0. Samsung Galaxy J1 A third phone is also on its way - the entry-level Samsung Galaxy J1. It will offer a modest 4.3" WVGA screen and run on a Spreadtrum SC6815 chipset with quad Cortex-A7 processor (1.2GHz) and Mali-400 GPU. It will come with 1GB RAM and 4GB of built-in storage. The front and back cameras of the Galaxy J1 are equals - 5MP stills and 1080p video. The phone will also have 4G LTE and 3G dual-SIM versions. Note that a Galaxy J1 version (SM-J100F) passed through GFX Bench with a Marvell chipset. The benchmark claims a 4.8" screen on that one and "0.6GB" of RAM. It remains to be seen which hardware setup Samsung has settled on. Source 1 | Source 2 | Via (in...






Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_a7_and_galaxy_e5_listed_on_russian_web_site-news-10605.php

HTC Hima specs show up on AnTuTu


Rumor mill patron @upleaks is back with more on the HTC Hima - the upcoming One (M8) replacement - and this time there's an AnTuTu screenshot to back up the claimed specs. Going against the flow of the market, HTC will keep the 5" screen size for its next flagship instead of going bigger (resolution stays at 1080p as well). The chipset will follow a more familiar path and move to a Snapdragon 810 - an ARM-designed 64-bit octa-core processor paired with Qualcomm's Adreno 430. 3GB of RAM will also be attached. The camera department will be a massive upgrade, however, with a 20.7MP camera catapulting HTC's flagship from the bottom of the range to the top. The selfie camera will match the 13MP camera of the HTC Desire Eye. The HTC Hima will launch with Android 5.0.1 Lollipop and Sense UI 7.0, but it may come after the MWC. Instead it's set to debut at its own event. It's not clear if this delay is deliberate (to avoid sharing the MWC stage with other flagships) or...






Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/htc_hima_specs_show_up_on_antutu-news-10606.php

HTC to hold a press conference on January 5 at CES


The annual CES expo is upon us, opening for the public on January 6 in Las Vegas, USA. It's a tradition major players to announce their devices the day before at dedicated pre-CES events. LG will be first opening first at 8AM local time, followed by Samsung at 2PM and Sony at 5PM. Sharp and Panasonic will be showing off their latest tech the same day as well. HTC has also sent invitations for an event on January 5 though the time is yet to be confirmed. The company is expected to introduce the rumored HTC One (M8) successor known as HTC Hima. It should be one really snappy device packing the fastest chipset available and running on 1080p resolution display. We'll be on CES to cover everything for you, so stay...






Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/htc_to_hold_a_press_conference_on_january_5_at_ces-news-10604.php

LG G4 to sport a stylus, directly compete with the Galaxy Note 4


According to unconfirmed information originating from Asia, the upcoming LG G4 is aimed to directly rival with the Samsung Galaxy Note 4. To do that, LG is said to equip the G4 with a stylus. More specifically, the LG G4 is said to sport a 5.3" display with a QHD resolution and very narrow bezels, akin to the G3. Internally, the G4 is believed to come out with a Snapdragon 810 chipset, 4GB of RAM and 32GB/64GB storage variations. LG filed for a trademark of the "LG G Pen" moniker earlier this month. We're likely to see the company try to emulate the success of the Samsung S Pen and work on a multitude of software features that enable superior multitasking than its competitors using the upcoming G Pen. While the rumor isn't backed up by solid evidence, it does seem plausible for LG to try and take on the Galaxy Note 4. It also aligns with previous reports that LG will be axing its Pro lineup. With MWC 2015 fast approaching, it's a matter of time for more evidence and rumors of the upcoming LG G4 to pop up. Source |...






Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/lg_g4_to_sport_a_stylus_directly_compete_with_the_galaxy_note_4-news-10603.php

Another Chinese retailer lists OnePlus Two


Just a few weeks after Coolicool listed OnePlus' upcoming smartphone, allegedly dubbed OnePlus Two, another Chinese online store Geekbuying has listed the device, revealing some more details. According to the listing, the smartphone will feature a Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 chipset with 2.7GHz processor and a 5.5-inch LTPS display with resolution of 1920x1080 pixels. It will come with 3GB of RAM, 64GB of internal memory (which cannot be expanded via microSD card), 16 megapixel rear camera, and 5 megapixel front camera. The device will run Color OS, which is based on Android 4.4, and will pack a 3,300mAh battery. However, the most interesting information the listing reveals is that the device, which is priced at $538.19, will begin shipping on February 10 next year. Needless to say, none of these specifications have been officially confirmed by OnePlus, so take it with a pinch of salt. Source |...






Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/another_chinese_retailer_lists_oneplus_two-news-10601.php

Symphony roar A50 - first Android One phone outside India


Android One has been steadily gaining speed ever since its initial announcement at Google I/O 2014. The exciting program represents the California tech giant's strive to rapidly advance in emerging smartphone markets, starting with India, by offering entry-level handsets with software support and up-to-date Android versions. This is a challenge to say the least, even for the likes of Google, but the endeavor showed results this September, with the launch of three Android One devices. This is a monumental achievement and represents a major step forward for the ever-growing India consumer base. But it comes as no surprise that well-supported, budget, stock Android devices have a universal appeal, as is evident by the success of the Motorola Moto G and Moto E in various European markets. The latest development in the spread of Android One smartphones comes from Symphony Mobile, who has made the Symphony roar A50, a device bearing the Android One specs, available through its website. The handset is prices at BDT 8700, or about $112, which is definitely in the budget range. The website seems to be having some trouble with the shopping functionality at the moment and we can't definitely confirm availability and delivery terms, but one thing is certain - there is movement on the Android One front. The Symphony roar A50 has mostly the same specs as other Android one phones, like the Karbon Sparkle V, Micromax Canvas A1, and Spice Dream UNO. They are all based on Google's reference design and have a 4.5-inch, 854x480 resolution IPS display, MediaTek MT6582 SoC with 1.3GHz quad-core Cortex-A7 CPU and Mali 400 MP2 GPU, 1GB RAM, 5 megapixel rear camera, 2 megapixel front camera, FM radio, dual SIM support. The new device does bear some minor improvements over the aforementioned three, namely that it has 8GB ROM, instead of 4 and a slightly larger battery at 1,780 mAh instead of 1,700 mAh. As we mentioned last week this is only one of many steps to come towards expanding Android One to new Asia markets, like Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. Those countries are all set to receive the initial array of three devices with Bangladesh apparently receiving the Symphony roar A50 as well. No official statement is available yet as to whether or when Android One will spread to US and European markets. It is a fact that the Karbonn Sparkle V is available through Amazon UK, but for the rather steep £123.51. All we can do is wait and see if Google goes the extra mile and decides to take on international supply challenges for the exciting and affordable Android One...






Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/symphony_roar_a50__first_android_one_phone_outside_india-news-10602.php

Meizu m1 note gets hands-on treatment, looks like the iPhone 5c


Meizu recently announced their m1 note, a big colorful Android smartphone that looks far too much like the iPhone 5c. But if you thought that comparison was far fetched, wait till you see these hands-on images. If that's not hilarious enough, you should check their website, which also looks like Apple's. Design aside, the phone does have some good specifications, along with a fairly decent camera. You can find more images, including camera samples and screenshots, in the link below. Source •...






Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/reuse-news-10600.php

Samsung Galaxy Note 4 S-LTE is about to launch in Korea


Samsung is about to launch a Galaxy Note 4 S-LTE model in South Korea. Sporting the model number SM-916, the latest version of the high-end phablet will hit the shelves in its homeland in mid-January. According to a recent benchmark database leak, the upcoming version of the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 will pack 64-bit Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 chipset. The rest of the device's specs will likely remain unchanged. The new model will be capable of offering download speeds of up to 300Mbps via carrier aggregation. In theory, the speeds can reach up to 450Mbps. Samsung Galaxy Note 4 S-LTE will be available on all major carriers in South Korea. There is no word on availability outside the country for the time being. Source (in Korean) |...






Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_note_4_slte_is_about_to_launch_in_korea-news-10599.php

Oppo N3 gets a network license in China, release imminent


The Oppo N3 was announced two months ago, but it's yet to hit the shelves. The smartphone was initially promised to hit 20 markets by the end of the year, but it couldn't quite manage to fit inside this deadline. Now however we are getting some signs that the delay might be a pretty minor one. The smartphone with a motorized camera has just cleared Chinese telecommunications authority TENAA getting a network license. This means the Oppo N3 can be legally sold in its homeland and it should be hitting the shelves any moment now. Given the company's initial release plans we expect at least a few more markets to join China in the first wave. As luck would have it, we just published our Oppo N3 review so you can go check it out to get all your questions about the phablet answered. If you decide to go for it, you should be prepared to part with about...






Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/oppo_n3_gets_a_network_license_in_china_release_imminent-news-10598.php

Oppo gives us a glimpse of its KitKat-based Color OS 2.0.4


Oppo is working hard, developing the next major version of its custom ColorOS platform. The beta branch of Color OS has now reached version 2.0.4 and the company has released a short video to demonstrate the progress it has achieved. The Android KitKat-based Color OS 2.0.4 is still only available for private testing with public release yet to follow. And while the company hasn't given an exact date for that happening, the Product manager who posted the video on the company's forums says it should be soon. We also got an official changelog with the major changes brought by the latest version of the Color OS: Update to Android 4.4.2 and support both the Find 7a and Find 7. Unified storage support for both devices, what's more now you don't need to use a PC tool to get unified storage anymore, you can simply do it all on your phone. New Camera, the new camera app with PI 2.0 engine, supports more camera mode and with expandable widgets which will allow 3rd party developers to develop new functions on this platform. Hopefully we'll get a more detailed version of this list by the time the ROM is ready for public distribution. Source |...






Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/oppo_gives_us_a_glimpse_of_its_kitkatbased_color_os_204-news-10597.php

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