Alleged OnePlus 2 Mini gets approved by TENAA

The upcoming OnePlus 2 Mini just got a bit more real. The phone was just approved by TENAA, which is the telecommunications equipment certification center in China. According to the certification page, the phone, model number One E1000, has 4.99-inch 1920x1080 AMOLED display, 2.0GHz octa-core Snapdragon 810 processor, 3GB of RAM, 16GB storage with microSD support, 13 megapixel rear camera, 8 megapixel front camera, and Android 5.1.1 Lollipop. The phone measures in at 140 x 69 x 6.9mm and weighs in at 138g. The images suggest it will have glass panels on the front and back with a metal frame around the sides, similar to the OnePlus X. Some of the specs contradict the previous ones we have seen on GFX Bench results, although TENAA is infinitely more reliable than any benchmark info, as the latter can easily be forged. We will have to wait and see when OnePlus decides to take the wraps off the new model. Source •...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/alleged_oneplus_2_mini_gets_approved_by_tenaa-news-15806.php

Valve comes clean, admits Christmas day Steam glitch was due to DoS attack

We reported earlier that a weird glitch took over Steam on Christmas morning, as several users reported seeing other users' account information instead of their own. The issue was sorted out in a few hours, and later Valve confirmed that it was due to a caching issue. While that may have been the direct cause of the glitch, it was caused due to another problem altogether. Turns out, Steam was the target of a DoS (denial of service) attack, which prevented serving of store pages to users. It caused the traffic to the store to soar by 2000% over average traffic. In response to the attack, one of Steam's web caching partners deployed caching configuration to minimize the impact on Steam Store servers and continue to route legitimate traffic. A second caching configuration was deployed during the second wave of the attack, which incorrectly cached web traffic for authenticated users. This is what caused some users to see other users' pages. According to Valve, this would have allowed users to see the billing address, last four digits of their Steam Guard phone number, their purchase history, last two digits of their credit card number, and their email address. That's still a fair bit of information, especially since Valve initially said that no real information was seen by other users. The issue has since then been resolved but it shows rather poor communication from the company, especially since it concerned user...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/valve_comes_clean_admits_christmas_day_steam_glitch_was_due_to_dos_attack-news-15804.php

Pink Sony Xperia Z5 coming in January, rumor says

Sony is apparently looking to add a new color version to its Xperia Z5 lineup, if a new rumor out of Taiwan is to be believed. The company will allegedly launch the pink Z5 in Taiwan first, where it will land at some point in late January. Over there this hue will be exclusive to Chunghwa Telecom, which is one of the carriers you can pick from if you're in Taiwan. Hopefully the phone will then make its way to other territories across the world, but obviously nothing's certain in that regard since the pink Xperia Z5 isn't official yet. The launch is going to be perfectly timed for the Chinese New Year shopping season, as well as gift giving on Valentine's Day. Do note that the images are not leaked shots of the upcoming pink variation of the Xperia Z5, rather fan-created concept renders. There have been no leaks about the pink Z5 up to this point. If this pans out, it would sort of emulate the new color launch that Sony pulled off in late January of this year, that time around for the purple Xperia Z3. That one eventually became available throughout Asia, but in the UK as well. Clearly the new pink Z5 will sport the exact same internals as its siblings, with only the hue differing. Source (in Chinese) |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/pink_sony_xperia_z5_coming_in_january_rumor_says-news-15805.php

Xiaomi launching 70-inch Mi TV 3 variant

Over a couple of months after announcing the 60-inch 4K Mi TV 3, Xiaomi is launching a 70-inch variant of the smart TV. As with the former, the new model is also expected to be only available for purchase in China. The 70-inch variant is powered by an MStar 6A928 chipset with a quad-core Cortex-A17 CPU and Mali-T760 GPU, and sports an ultra-sharp 4K display. Internal memory is 2GB, but can be expanded up to 8GB. The TV is also said to feature Wi-Fi 802.11ac and Bluetooth 4.1 connectivity options. As for the price, it will set you back RMB 9,999, which translates into $1,540 at current exchange rates. For comparison, the 60-inch variant is priced at RMB...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_launching_70inch_mi_tv3_variant-news-15802.php

Microsoft says Lumia 950 XL out of stock at some UK retailers due to strong demand, refutes hardware problem reports

A day after there were reports that some retailers in the UK - including Carphone Warehouse (CPW) - have halted Lumia 950 XL shipments due to unknown hardware issues, Microsoft has issued a statement refuting the reports. "Demand for L950XL has been strong. CPW has listed L950XL as a pre-order purchase for more than a week as it has run out of stock and is awaiting more," the company said. "L950XL is available to UK customers via other outlets - see here. We are working to re-supply CPW and keep all our other channel partners stocked." Carphone Warehouse currently has the device listed for pre-order, with delivery expected by January 19. It's worth mentioning that Amazon Germany also recently halted the sales of the Lumia 950 XL saying that the device differs from its stated description, which in layman's terms means it is...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/microsoft_says_lumia_950_xl_is_out_of_stock_at_some_uk_retails_due_to_high_demand_not_due_to_alleged-news-15803.php

Following ban in India, Free Basics from Facebook suspended in Egypt

A week after it was banned in India, Facebook's Free Basics service - which aims to bring affordable Internet to the 5 billion people in the world who otherwise can't access it - has been suspended in Egypt. The service was suspended following the expiry of a mandatory permit that the Egyptian government issues. Free Basics was launched in the country only a couple of months ago, and according to Facebook, around 3 million people had already signed up for it, of which 1 million were accessing the Internet for the first time. "We're disappointed that Free Basics will no longer be available in Egypt," the social networking company said in a statement, adding that it hopes "resolve this situation soon." It isn't yet clear whether or not the suspension was related to net-neutrality concerns, as was the case in India. Via 1...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/after_india_now_egypt_shuts_down_facebooks_free_basics_service-news-15801.php

OnePlus X Champagne Edition now available for purchase in India

The OnePlus X Champagne Edition is now available for purchase in India, where Amazon has it listed for INR 16,999, which translates into $255 at current exchange rates. FYI, It is the same price at which the standard Onyx variant can be purchased. The model made its debut in China, and is already available for purchase in several other countries. OnePlus has also announced open sales of the device on every Tuesday, but, unfortunately, that's only for international markets. This means, in India you'll have to have an invite to get the limited-edition variant, although an invite to the standard model will do. Source 1...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/oneplus_x_champagne_edition_now_available_for_purchase_in_india-news-15799.php

Twitter for Mac update brings what you've been asking for

Twitter has released a major update to its Mac client, bumping it to version 4.0.0 and bringing features like inline video playback, GIFs support, and group direct messages. With the update, Twitter for Mac users will be able to see videos play directly in their feed, see animations without leaving their timeline, as well as create and receive private notes with up to 50 people. In addition, you'll now also be able to mute specific accounts, and get your Twitter Highlights right on your desktop. The update also brings along an updated design, an optional dark theme, as well as Quote Tweet feature. The updated app is now available for download from the Mac App...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/twitter_for_mac_update_brings_what_youve_been_asking_for-news-15800.php

LG G5 to reportedly come with V10-like secondary display, Magic Slot

LG's upcoming flagship smarphone - the G5 - will come with a secondary display similar to the one that the V10 sports, according to a report from VentureBeat. The 160 x 1040 pixel resolution display will also be there on several other LG phones coming next year. As per the report, the smartphone will also come with a dual rear camera set-up - something that we already know - giving the main 16MP camera a 135-degree wide-angle capability. "In between the two lenses is a circle with a quartet of elements in a square configuration, according to the briefed individual, who was also shown images of the upcoming flagship," the report says. "Two of those are LED flash bulbs, while another one is a laser for assisting with autofocus, first deployed on 2014's LG G3. The fourth element is also found on G4: a so-called RGB sensor to further assist with autofocus and other scene-recognition functions." In addition, the device will also feature what the report calls a Magic Slot. "It is said to enable some functional expansion by way of hardware modules. The examples we were given range from an array of specified cameras — action, 360 VR, 'party' — to an audio amplifier to a physical keyboard." As for the other specs, the report notes that the G5 will be powered by a Snapdragon 820 chipset, and sport a 5.3-inch QHD display. RAM will be 3GB, while internal memory will be 32GB. Featuring an 8MP front camera, the device will pack in a 2,800mAh battery, and also come with a fingerprint sensor on the back. There's no word on the pricing. As for availability, the report says the handset will see a "first quarter 2016 launch."...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/lg_g5_to_come_with_v10like_secondary_display_report_says-news-15798.php

Surface Pro 4 landing in India on January 7; Microsoft sends press invites

Last month, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella announced that the Surface Pro 4 will land in India in January. And just last week, Microsoft's India chairman Bhaskar Pramanik revealed that the device will be launched in the country in the "first week" of the month. And now, we have the exact launch date. The Redmond, Washington-based company has sent out press invites (see image below) confirming that the launch event will be held on January 7 - which is exactly one week from now. If you aren't in the know, the tablet - which was launched in the US a couple of months ago - will be the first device in the line-up to be officially launched in...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/surface_pro_4_landing_in_india_on_january_7_microsoft_sends_press_invites-news-15797.php

BlackBerry Priv reportedly coming to T-Mobile in January

As of now, the only US carrier that sells the BlackBerry Priv is AT&T. This might change, however, next month when T-Mobile (reportedly) launches the BlackBerry "Venice". One of Phone Arena's readers revealed T-Mobile's internal work calendar, with the launch of the BlackBerry Venice (The codename for the BlackBerry Priv) on January 26. Right now, the only way to get a BlackBerry for T-Mobile is by purchasing it unlocked, directly from BlackBerry's US online store. Still steep, it starts at $699.99. T-Mobile customers will now be able to acquire the new Android-powered BlackBerry with Jump On Demand, letting customers switch out their phones up to three times a year. The BlackBerry Priv is the first Android-powered BlackBerry device that put emphasis on security features for enterprise users. It features a 5.4 inch screen with an 18MP rear shooter powered by 3GB of RAM paired with a hexa-core Snapdragon 808 chipset. It also features a slide up screen that reveals BlackBerry's signature tactile QWERTY keyboard. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/blackberry_priv_reportedly_coming_to_tmobile_in_january-news-15796.php

T-Mobile's reply to YouTube's throttling accusations: "we are optimizing it"

Remember last week when YouTube accused T-Mobile of throttling video traffic? T-Mobile's reply: it wasn't throttling the video traffic but simply optimizing content for mobile consumption. The FCC will be keeping a close eye on T-Mobile with Binge-On's controversial nature against Net Neutrality since the service technically puts a kind of preference on a certain type of traffic than all other traffic. Remember, YouTube was the one who told the Wall Street Journal that T-Mobile was throttling YouTube's traffic. Saying that while reducing charges is good for customers, throttling traffic without customers' knowledge doesn't justify the former. T-Mobile clams the problem with its inability to correctly identify YouTube traffic is the system that flags video traffic to be exempt from the data allotments. Since the Q&A at the Uncarrier event, the point of implementing a better system to tell video traffic apart came up, T-Mobile answered that there are still some kinks to work out in the process of telling video traffic apart. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/tmobiles_reply_to_youtubes_throttling_accusations_we_are_optimizing_it-news-15795.php

Alcatel One Touch Fierce XL with Windows 10 is headed to T-Mobile

The Android-powered iteration of the Alcatel One Touch Fierce XL has already been announced by T-Mobile and MetroPCS, but we're still waiting for the Windows 10 running version of the same device to become official. That's probably going to happen soon, however, as a new rumor today claims T-Mobile will launch the Windows variant too. This will be the magenta carrier's first smartphone running Windows 10 Mobile. TMo will offer the handset in cyan, a color perhaps more reminiscent of Lumia devices of old. The Windows 10 iteration of the Alcatel One Touch Fierce XL will have a 5.5-inch 720p touchscreen, an 8 MP rear camera, a 2 MP selfie shooter, Qualcomm's Snapdragon 210 SoC powering things, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of expandable storage, support for VoLTE and Wi-Fi Calling 2.0, capacitive buttons, and a non-removable 2,500 mAh battery. So it's definitely in the lower-midrange segment. It's apparently going to become available from T-Mobile "in the coming weeks", and you should be able to buy one for less than $100 sans contract. The Fierce XL could be just the first of many Windows 10 Mobile devices to launch at T-Mobile, because the carrier has set up an extensive training guide on Microsoft's new OS for employees to take advantage...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/alcatel_one_touch_fierce_xl_with_windows_10_is_headed_to_tmobile-news-15794.php

ZTE teases a January 5 event, Nubia Z11 might get unveiled

Today on its official Weibo account ZTE's Nubia sub-brand is teasing something that will happen on January 5. It's probably going to be big, hence the need for the teaser, but it's unclear exactly what we are to expect. This may be when the Nubia Z11 becomes official as the company's next flagship smartphone. The Z11 has so far been rumored to sport a bezelless curved screen 5.2 inches in size and with QHD resolution, a 20.7 MP rear camera with dual-tone LED flash, a 13 MP selfie snapper, 4GB of RAM, 128GB of built-in storage, and Qualcomm's Snapdragon 820 chipset at the helm. It's also reportedly going to have a fingerprint scanner on the back, as well as a metal construction. On the other hand, ZTE could only be launching an international website (and, presumably, online store) for its Nubia brand on January 5. That's because the company has recently purchased the nubia.com domain name for a whopping $2 million, so it stands to reason that it would want to put that to good use as soon as possible. Anyway, we expect some more teasers in the next few days, which will hopefully reveal more about the upcoming January 5 event. Source (in Chinese) |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/zte_teases_a_january_5_event_nubia_z11_might_become_official-news-15793.php

The LG G3 Marshmallow update officially available

Well, it is indeed official now - Android 6.0 has been released for the LG G3. And it is happening in Poland as we speak, but just so we're clear, it has started today, not yesterday. From what we gather, the firmware has to be installed via a PC, and an OTA update is not available for the time being though it could happen eventually. Both 16GB/32GB storage versions are eligible, and what looks like a soak test is so far limited to unlocked Polish market handsets. The procedure was more or less established over the past couple of months with the G4 - initial Marshmallow release in Poland, followed by South Korea, and then Europe. So while it may take a while to reach widespread availability, you can rest assured that Marshmallow is coming to your LG G3, sooner or later. Source 1 Source 2 Source...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/lg_g3_marshmallow_update_officially_available-news-15792.php

Lenovo said to release an Exynos 8870 device next year

Word travels fast in the mobile realm and once the cat is out of the bag on a topic, follow-up rumors seem to pile up almost instantly. It was only mere hours ago that we first heard of the Exynos 8870 SoC - a Samsung chip that will allegedly offer a toned-down version of the flagship Exynos 8890. That means it will probably feature the same in-house Mongoose 64-bit ARMv8 cores as the performance cluster, along with four more Cortex-A53 ones, just working at lower clock speeds. Initial info on the chip claims that it will be produced specifically for third-party Samsung clients, like Meizu, with the Meizu Pro 6 said to be one of the ambassadors of the SoC. Now, a mysterious industry source claims that Lenovo will be using the Exynos 8870 in one of its 2016 devices as well. Expected performance of the new chipset is along the lines of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820, so even though it might not be as powerful as the 8890, it is still a flagship-grade offer, which means the Lenovo in question should be as well. The existence of the Exynos 8870 or any deal with Meizu or Lenovo is yet to be confirmed by Samsung or any of the other parties involved, but such a development does sound pretty plausible. Plus, it is worth noting that both Lenovo and Meizu have used Exynos chips in the past, so the partnership is not entirely new. Also, the Exynos 8870 might not be the only upcoming chip that Samsung is preparing for internal use and possibly third-party sales. Exynos 7650 and Exynos 7880 models were also spotted online, both said to perform in the Snapdragon 652 range (formerly known as the Snapdragon 620, before the renaming fiasco). They could, in turn, power a new line of mid-range offers in 2016. Source (In Chinese) |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/lenovo_said_to_release_an_exynos_8870_device_next_year-news-15791.php

Report: Apple considering LG and Samsung as flexible OLED suppliers

Earlier this month a report came out of Japan that JDI will build up capacity to manufacture OLED displays for an upcoming iPhone. Now a report out of Korea states that Samsung Display and LG Display will be mass producing displays for the iPhones. Like the JDI plans, this is a long-term investment for the Korean giants and the displays will ship in 2017 at the earliest or even 2018. They will invest a total of $12.8 billion over the next couple of years (Apple may provide part of that cash). LG will kick things off with 30,000 a month of Gen. 6 units, later moving to between 45,000 and 60,000 units a month. The upper limit is set by the size of the Gen. 6 substrate - it's enough for 60,000 5" displays (and obviously less for bigger ones). Interestingly, they will reportedly make flexible OLEDs. The LG factory has experience making flexible Gen. 4.5 displays, but the move Gen. 6 will be done cautiously. Samsung Display will provide a bigger share (30% more units) because it already has a functioning manufacturing line that can supply around 90,000 displays. An estimated 200,000 displays a month is required to meet iPhone-scale sales. ETnews reports negotiations between Samsung and Apple are not smooth sailing though. Part of the issue seems to be that Apple wants to buy the displays cheaply (single-digit percent profit margin), while Samsung Display has been making bank on selling Super AMOLEDs to Chinese smartphone companies. Neither Korean company has signed a deal with Apple yet and there are strong expectations that JDI and Foxconn will win the...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/report_apple_considering_lg_and_samsung_as_flexible_oled_suppliers-news-15785.php

Apple agrees to pay €318 million as settlement in Italian tax fraud case

Apple has agreed to pay a sum of €318 million (around $350 million) to settle an Italian tax fraud case, according to a report from the country's daily newspaper La Repubblica. The Cupertino-based company has been accused of tax evasion between 2008 and 2013. It is alleged that the iPhone maker failed to pay €880 million in corporate taxes during this five year period, and the amount was transferred to its subsidiary in Ireland, a country where the corporate tax rate is less than half of that in Italy. Although the probe completed in March this year, the settlement took time as there were reportedly lengthy negotiations between Apple and Italian authorities. On its part, the country's tax office has now confirmed that a deal has been reached, but it did not reveal the financial details of the settlement. While Apple hasn't yet commented on the settlement, it had earlier said that the company is "one of the largest tax payers in the world and paid every euro of tax it owed wherever it did...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/apple_agrees_to_pay_318_million_as_settlement_in_italian_tax_fraud_case-news-15787.php

Lumia 950 and 950 XL software update starts rolling out in UK and Ireland

Microsoft has started rolling out a new update for the Lumia 950 and the 950 XL, starting in UK and Ireland. The update brings the version number to 01078.00027.15506.020xx. The update includes the following changes: Stability and performance improvements. Improvements for SD memory card support. Improvements for automatic display brightness settings. Fix for a camera problem that was causing noisy images in low-light conditions for some users. Fix for a 4K video problem that was causing stripes to show up while playing back recorded videos for some users. Make sure to check your device to see if the update is available to download....

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/lumia_950_and_950_xl_software_update_starts_rolling_out_in_uk_and_ireland-news-15784.php

Sony Xperia Z6 Lite with Snapdragon 620 SoC to come in 2016

The Xperia Z5 family definitely brought a new and very overdue spark of life to the OEM's presence in the mobile realm and naturally got fans excited about the future of the brand. Consequently, rumors of a 2016 Xperia Z6 lineup have been flying all over the pace, but there are often conflicting and seem to raise more questions than they answer. Initial leaks hinted at a total of five models, including a 4-inch Z6 Mini, 4.6-inch Xperia Z6 Compact, 5.2-inch Z6, 5.8-inch Xperia Z6 Plus and a 6.4-inch Xperia Z6 Ultra - talk about spoiled for choice. However, a leaked T-Mobile roadmap later omitted any mention of a Z6 Mini, dropping the number of devices down to four - two allegedly powered by a Snapdragon 820 and the other by a Snapdragon 620 SoC (now renamed by the Snapdragon 652). However, a new Chinese source just added another twist to the mystery with talk of a Z6 Lite. According to Mobile-dad, the device will have a 5.0-inch display, placing it right between the Z6 Compact and basic Z6. The website also claims that said handset will be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 650 SoC (known as the Snapdragon 618, prior to the renaming). A suggested price of $385 is also listed for the handset, along with a May 2016 release frame, but we can't really be sure which market this refers to, nor can we vouch for the authenticity of the source as a whole. Source (in Chinese) |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/sony_xperia_z6_lite_with_snapdragon_620_soc_might_be_joining_the_oems_2016_lineup-news-15783.php

Samsung's entire 2016 smart TV line-up will feature IoT support

Samsung has announced that all the TVs in its 2016 line-up will feature Internet of Things (IoT) support as well as SmartThings platform integration. For those wondering, SmartThings is an open platform that lets users connect, manage and control smart devices and IoT services, something which they can do directly from their smartphone and SUHD TV. The South Korean company says that its upcoming SUHD TVs will apply the home-grown IoT hub technology, allowing them to act as the controller for the entire smart home. The IoT ready TVs will be showcased at the upcoming Consumer Electronics Show (CES), which is scheduled to be held during January 6 - 9 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Although the TVs will be SmartThings-enabled at launch, "the functionality will be activated regionally as SmartThings expands its platform availability," Samsung...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsungs_entire_2016_smart_tv_lineup_will_feature_iot_support-news-15781.php

Teaser says Lenovo K4 Note has 'killer display'

The upcoming Lenovo K4 Note smartphone has a "killer display". This was revealed by the Chinese company in a recent teaser that was posted by Lenovo India on its Twitter account. The message accompanying the teaser says, "When is a display more than just a sum of its pixels?" When is a display more than just a sum of its pixels?Get ready to thrill your senses with the K4 Note#KillerNote2016 https://t.co/OnTMpyU0jY— Lenovo India (@Lenovo_in) December 29, 2015 The device has been the subject of many teasers recently. Late last week, the company confirmed that the handset will come with a fingerprint sensor as well as near field communication (NFC) capabilities. Prior to that, it was officially confirmed that there will be 3GB RAM. The K3 Note successor is expected to be launched on January 5 - press invites have already been sent and the event will be held in India's capital city of New...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/teaser_says_lenovo_k4_note_has_killer_display-news-15782.php

Over 300 Flash bugs were discovered (and fixed) this year

Adobe Flash was in news for all the wrong reasons this year - as you might know, a lot of Flash vulnerabilities were discovered this year. If you're wondering exactly how many, here the number: 316. Yes, a total of 316 Flash bugs were discovered (and fixed) in 2015. For those doing the maths, that's around 6.1 fixes per week. The last quarter of the year, especially, saw the company fixing a total of 113 bugs, which is roughly 1.5 per day. It's worth mentioning that Facebook's chief security officer Alex Stamos called for an end to Adobe Flash support back in July this year. His comments came just a week after hackers compromised an Italy-based spy software company's systems, revealing a major Flash vulnerability. Oh, and by the way, a new - and yet another - Flash vulnerability was recently discovered, and Adobe has released a patch for it. Head to the Adobe link below to know more about it. Via |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/over_300_flash_bugs_were_discovered_this_year-news-15780.php

Sidecar as we know it is shutting down

San Francisco-based ride-sharing service Sidecar is shutting down on December 31 (at 2PM Pacific Time). This was announced by the company's co-founder and CEO Sunil Paul in a blog post on Medium. Image credit: Hayne Palmour IV U-T San Diego "Today is a turning point for Sidecar as we prepare to end our ride and delivery service so we can work on strategic alternatives and lay the groundwork for the next big thing," Paul said. "This is the end of the road for the Sidecar ride and delivery service, but it's by no means the end of the journey for the company." For those who aren't in the know, founded in 2011, Sidecar was one of the first start-ups in the ride-sharing and car-hailing market, which is currently dominated by the likes of Uber and Lyft. It managed to raise a total of $35 million from investors including Union Square Ventures and billionaire Richard...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/sidecar_as_we_know_it_is_shutting_down-news-15778.php

New Samsung Gear S2 update is aimed at improving battery life

Samsung has started rolling out a new update to its Gear S2 smartwatch that is primarily aimed at improving the battery life of the device. Weighing in at 4.85MB, the update bumps the software version to R730TUVU1AOL3. A quick look at the change-log (see image below) suggests that the What's new section only lists "Battery life has been optimized". However, the update could also include some regular bug fixes and stability improvements. To install the update, open the Samsung Gear app on your phone and head to Settings. Once there, go to the About Gear option, and then tap the Update Gear button. This should do the...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/new_samsung_gear_s2_update_is_aimed_at_improving_battery_life-news-15776.php

iPhone 7c mass production expected to start next month, report says

Earlier this month, there were reports that the rumored Apple iPhone 7c will be launched in September 2016. However, a recent China Mobile roadmap revealed an April launch. While there's still no confirmation on the launch time frame, a new report is suggesting that the device will go into mass production soon. As per the report, Apple is already done with a small-scale trial production of the smartphone, and the mass production is expected to begin in January. In addition, it was also revealed that the handset will be similar to the iPhone 5s in shape and size, and will also come in three color options just like the latter. Finally, the report also notes that the iPhone 7c (or iPhone 6c, or whatever it is called, as the name is also not yet confirmed) will pack in a 1,642 mAh battery. As for the price, the device is rumored to carry a tag of somewhere between $400-$500, presumably off...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/apple_iphone_7c_mass_production_expected_to_start_next_month_report_says-news-15779.php

New lawsuit claims Apple slows down older iPhones on iOS 9

A new lawsuit is demanding $5M in damages from Apple for intentionally slowing down performance of legacy iPhones. The plaintiff claims that Apple has been engaging in deceptive business practices of purposely slowing down 100 members' iPhone 4S's. After performing the upgrade in software, these iPhone 4S's have apparently become so bogged down that they have become unusable in day-to-day conditions. Both first and third-party app loading delays are significantly longer with reported freezing and crashing as well. This bogging down of software performance is said to encourage users to upgrade their old devices to newer iPhones. The lawsuit continues by also claiming false advertisement from the installation notes for the new update. While these notes mention faster performance, enhanced security, longer battery life, and new app features, these same notes lack a warning of possible compatibility issues on older devices like the iPhone 4S. The same lawsuit is aimed at Apple's ecosystem saying that rather than upgrading to another phone OS, Apple's business structure of apps and music is more likely to keep people from jumping ship to avoid losing the investments of money spent on apps and...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/new_lawsuit_claims_apple_slows_down_older_iphones_on_ios_9-news-15777.php

Xiaomi Mi Pad 2 (64GB variant) sells out within a minute on launch day

Announced last month in China, the all-metal Mi Pad 2 tablet from Xiaomi comes in both 16GB and 64GB memory configurations. While the former has been available for purchase, the latter was launched in the country this week, only to be sold out in just 60 seconds. That's right. According to a report out of China, the device was out of stock within a minute of going on sale. Not only the 64GB variant, but the standard 16GB model was also sold out on that day, the report notes. It isn't, however, clear whether the sell out was due to a strong demand of the tablet or limited stock. For those who aren't already aware, the 16GB Mi Pad 2 costs RMB 999 ($155), while the 64GB variant carries a price tag of RMB 1,299...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_mi_pad_2_64gb_variant_sells_out_within_a_minute_on_launch_day-news-15775.php

Chinese company FiresVR launches a new VR headset JiDome-1

While virtual reality is still somewhat of a novelty, it hasn't stopped companies like FiresVR from making new VR hardware. The headset is going to be called the JiDome-1 and is among the first VR products directly comparable to Samsung's Gear VR. The company calls itself "the Xiaomi of China's VR industry". While other products like the Samsung Gear VR, Holo Lens, or the Oculus Rift are manufactured in China, they don't have many "official" Google Cardboard-type of VR accessories. This is the first company making a real VR product for China. The headset was demonstrated with a Xiaomi Note flagship phone but the company still has to work on compatibility with more phones on the market. Due to hardware and software limitations with the technology used, as of right now, the JiDome-1 is only compatible with 30% of the phones on the market. The JiDome-1 is said to be available to developers in the first quarter of 2016. It uses an optical structure that is able to adapt to different screen sizes. The headset features a 9-axis gyroscope and proximity sensor, cooling fans, and will hold a price tag for developers who wish to purchase it of ¥199 which converts to around 30 dollars. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/chinese_company_firesvr_launches_a_new_vr_headset_jidome1-news-15774.php

AT&T finally testing cross-VoLTE between US carriers

VoLTE is such a great way to hear callers with crystal-clear quality. While this feature is such a great advancement in the telecommunications industry, the problem with it is that they haven't enabled this feature for calls made between callers of different service providers. As of right now, if an AT&T caller dials a Verizon subscriber, both the recipient and the caller will only be hearing each other in standard audio quality. The only way for callers to take advantage of higher quality VoLTE is if the recipient happens to also be on the same cellular network as the caller. Well, also as of now, AT&T has announced that in very few markets, they have already begun testing VoLTE calls between AT&T and other carriers. It isn't explicitly mentioned which carriers they are testing, but there has been a previous mention of Verizon being such carrier. AT&T also mentions that it is also working with "other" carriers to bring the same cross-compatibility for VoLTE, acknowledging the previous announcements with Verizon in mind. The purpose of AT&Ts post was to announce the company's milestone of 27 million VoLTE subscribers in the US with reach to over 295 million Americans. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/_at_t_working_on_crossvolte_between_us_carriers-news-15773.php

Lenovo Vibe Shot review: Shoot to thrill

The Vibe series often breathes fresh air into the stale smartphone design segment and the Lenovo Vibe Shot wants to serve double duty by trying to break into the difficult high-end smartphone photography market as well.

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/lenovo_vibe_shot-review-1357.php

iPhone 7 rumored to get rid of the antenna stripes, waterproofing confirmed

We've already heard that one of the defining features of the upcoming iPhone 7 is set to be its waterproofing. This has been 'confirmed' today by a new rumor out of China. Both sizes of the iPhone 7 are expected to be waterproof. They will also apparently employ some "new compound materials" which will be used to hide their antennas and do away with those plastic stripes once and for all. This would let Apple streamline the iPhone design even more than before. Around 30-35% of the iPhone 7 chassis will be made by Catcher Technology, which will remain the largest supplier of this component for Apple. The information above reportedly comes from a research firm analyzing Catcher's future sales. As always with such things, don't forget to take everything you've just read with a solid dose of salt. Do however keep in mind that this is already the second rumor talking about waterproofing for the iPhone 7, so there may be some truth to that. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/iphone_7_rumored_to_get_rid_of_the_antenna_stripes_waterproofing_confirmed-news-15772.php

Windows 10 reaches 200 million installs

As 2015 draws to a close, Microsoft's latest operating system is reaching a new milestone in terms of device installations. Windows 10 has now been installed over 200 million times. That's up from 14 million in the first day since it became available, 50 million in less than three weeks after that, and 110 million at the beginning of October. 200 million is certainly an impressive number, and even more so when you consider that it's been reached in only five months. So we've got an average of 40 million installs of Windows 10 per month. Then again, this evolution is hardly surprising given how Microsoft has been pushing users of Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 to update to Windows 10 (which, let's not forget, is a free process). Microsoft's goal is to reach 1 billion installs in three years, and that could very well happen, at least based on these first five months of availability. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/windows_10_reaches_200_million_installs-news-15771.php

Lumia 850 cases leak out confirming the phone's design

Microsoft's upcoming upper-midrange smartphone, the Lumia 850, has been leaking quite a lot lately. So far we've seen it portrayed in leaked press renders, and we even had a couple live images to look at. This time around we're treated to some shots depicting the Lumia 850 inside some protective cases. And while these pictures obviously don't show us the entirety of the phone, they do seem to confirm the design of the Lumia 850 in those leaked renders. Microsoft Lumia 850 The handset will allegedly feature a metal frame, and according to a spec leak from back in July, it will also sport a 5-inch 1,280x768 touchscreen, a 10 MP main camera with Zeiss optics and LED flash, Qualcomm's Snapdragon 410 SoC powering things, 1GB of RAM, 16GB of expandable storage, and a 2,650 mAh battery. It will obviously run Windows 10 Mobile. If these shots of it inside the cases are accurate, then you should expect one of the Lumia 850's colors to be blue. While it was initially thought to arrive in 2015, it's now very likely that this smartphone will only get official next...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/lumia_850_cases_leak_out_confirming_the_phones_design-news-15770.php

Patent reveals Samsung's plan for a smart ring

It seems that the next arena for wearables will be rings. Patents reveal Samsung's ideas about what a smart ring can do. Essentially, it can be used as a controller for smartphones, tablets, smart TVs and even smart home devices. The main method of operation is rotation - rotating the ring left or right can trigger predefined functions and if you have a screen on hand (e.g. your smartphone), the ring can be used to navigate more complex menus offering more functions. Samsung sees the ring changing channels, turning off the lights and raising the blinds, even some unique (but unspecified) functionality for social networks like Facebook. The Samsung Gear S2 has a rotating bezel, the smart ring will have functionality based on that. Other tech companies have smart ring patents too, but they are all very different. Microsoft is thinking of a ring that recognizes gestures (e.g. sliding your finger over some surface) instead of rotation. Google sees the ring as a controller for Glass (what the Wiimote is to the Wii). Apple just wants a smaller...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/patent_reveals_samsungs_plan_for_a_smart_ring-news-15766.php

Intel just acquired fellow chip maker Altera - plans to leverage its know-how for smarter chips

Intel just completed the biggest acquisition in its corporate history - a $16.7 billion deal to buy the US-based Altera. Тhe company is largely unknown in the end-user realm and understandably so, as it specializes in delivering programmable logic devices (PLDs) and mostly what is knowns as field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs). We won't be going into too much technical detail, but a simple introduction to the technology in question and why it is important is necessary. Most of the processors we have grown accustomed to in our lives are versatile, general purpose units that can perform many tasks. This goes for Intel's chips as well as the silicon found inside our smartphones. However, in some cases, you don't really need an all-encompassing solution, but rather a more efficient custom one designed for one purpose. This is where application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) come in. Right in the middle ground there are FPGAs, which allow some logical reconfiguring at the client side depending on current needs. Intel hopes that it can leverage this technology to better meet the needs of its corporate clients like Facebook, Google and Microsoft, specifically to improve complex tasks like facial and other pattern recognition. Said companies already use Intel's Xeon server processors, so it makes a lot of sense to strive for complete end-to-end solutions. In fact, the company's long-term vision is to actually combine both tech in a single chip solution, but as CEO Brian Krzanich explains, that is still a little way off. In the meantime, starting 2016, Intel will be offering Altera chips alongside its own lineup. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/intel_just_acquired_fellow_chip_maker_altera__plans_to_leverage_its_knowhow_for_smarter_chips-news-15764.php

Samsung Bio-Processor can track muscle mass and body fat

Samsung delivered more info on the Bio-Processor it unveiled a while back. The chip aims to make health-tracking wearables both more capable and smaller. The Samsung Bio-Processor integrates analog front ends, a digital signal processor, a power management circuit, a microcontroller and eFlash. This means it can do all the necessary processing itself, without external components (other than the sensors). If discrete components are used for the same functionality, they will take up four times as much space. The chip can measure skeletal muscle mass, body fat, heart rate and rhythm, skin temperature and stress level. Combining these individual measurements can enable new use cases for health tracking apps. Samsung has prepared a wrist band, board and patch reference designs and says that the chip will hit mass production soon. You can expect wearables with the Bio-Processor to be available in the first half of 2016. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_bioprocessor_can_track_muscle_mass_and_body_fat-news-15762.php

HTC One E9 and One E9+ are getting the December security update

Google has begun working on more regular Android updates after the 'stagefright' exploit. The latest security patches are integrated into the so-called December security update. HTC has been working fast to incorporate those fixes within its phones and recently has begun seeding the update on the HTC One A9. As of today the One E9 and One E9+ are also getting the December Security Update. The first market to get the update is HTC's homeland - Taiwan, but we expect the update to roll out in even more markets very soon. The new firmware weighs about 360MB and includes all new security fixes, squashed some bugs and improves on the overall performance. If you own an HTC One E9 or One E9+, you should be getting this update any moment...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/htc_one_e9_and_one_e9_are_getting_the_december_security_update-news-15763.php

Check out this gorgeous Samsung Galaxy S7 edge concept video

Samsung Galaxy S7 rumors are definitely in season and as 2015 draws to a close, leaks and speculations are only intensifying. We are sure to learn more about Samsung's next major flagship release as we draw closer to the alleged Q1 release, but for now, we are left with the daunting task of sorting through often conflicting renders and information on the range of screen choices. Last we heard, the basic Galaxy S7 will have a flat 5.1-inch and 6" options, while the S7 edge will come in 5.5 and 6 inches. This was apparently enough for one eager fan to produce a gorgeous render of what he believes the S7 edge will look like and have it star in a short concept video. Jermaine Smit's clip has truly great looks. It showcases the alleged unit in Platinum Silver, Gold Platinum, Pink Gold, and Sapphire Black colors and could actually be mistaken for the real deal, which deserves some credit. It is definitely worth checking out. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/check_out_this_gorgeous_samsung_galaxy_s7_edge_concept_video-news-15761.php

Samsung Galaxy A9 to carry price tag of around $500

When the Galaxy A9 smartphone was made official by Samsung in China last week, its pricing and availability details weren't revealed. However, thanks to new info, we now have an idea about the price tag the device will carry in the Asian country. A leaked screenshot , which was shared by a user on Weibo. It reveals that the handset will cost RMB 3,199 in China. For those doing the maths, that's $495 at the current exchange rates. For that price, you get a smartphone powered by Snapdragon 652 (which used to be SD620) and sporting a 6-inch (1080 x 1920 pixel resolution) Super AMOLED display. RAM is 3GB, while internal memory stands at 32GB, although it's expandable. A 21MP camera is at the back, while an 8MP snapper is on the front. There's also a large 4,000 mAh battery to keep the lights on. The Galaxy A9 runs Android 5.1.1 Lollipop out of the box, with planned upgrade to v6.0...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_a9_rumoured_to_carry_price_tag_of_around_500_in_china-news-15760.php

'Rise of the Tomb Raider' coming to PC in January on Steam

PC gamers rejoice! If you have been anticipating the release of the new Rise of the Tomb Raider on PC, you will only have to wait a month or so. According to the new Steam page, the game is expected to release in January 2016. Rise of the Tomb Raider is the second game in the series after the franchise was rebooted back in 2013. The new game has been an Xbox One exclusive since it came out last month, however, it was always going to be a timed exclusive, with the PC release being pegged sometime in early 2016. Now with the help of the new Steam listing, we know it's coming next month itself. As for PS4 gamers, the game is expected to hit the platform sometime later next...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/rise_of_the_tomb_raider_coming_to_pc_in_january_on_steam-news-15759.php

EXCLUSIVE: Samsung Galaxy S7 to come in three sizes, 5.1'', 5.5'' and 6''

Okay, so there has been a miscommunication. We talked some more with our contacts over at ITSKINS and asked them to measure the screens of the Galaxy S7 family to try and cut through the multiple conflicting rumors. 5.7-inch screen? 5.5-inch? 6-inch? Curved, not curved? From the info our contacts have, it turns out that Samsung will simplify the lineup instead of complicating it with small/big + curved/flat choices. The base Samsung Galaxy S7 will have a flat 5.1" screen, no curved option. The Galaxy S7 edge will have a bigger 5.5" screen and there won't be a flat-screened S7 of that size. The big-screened device, the Galaxy S7+, will have a flat 6" screen and no curved option. Samsung Galaxy S7 (5.1") • Galaxy S7 edge (5.5") • Galaxy S7+ (6") Unless an additional version is planned (one for which ITSKINS doesn't have any info), then your main choice will be screen size - small, medium, large. The medium version will come with a curved screen so it will target style-conscious consumers, while the 6" slab will go after power users. Is this lineup better? Would you have wanted another 5.1" Galaxy S edge model? If you did, well nothing is set in stone yet but chances are you'll be...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/exclusive_samsung_galaxy_s7_to_come_in_three_sizes_51_55_and_6-news-15757.php

LG G3 starts receiving Marshmallow update

Last month there were reports that the LG G3 will start receiving the Android 6.0 update in mid-December, however that didn't happen. But the good news is that the update has now started rolling out. As expected, the update is currently hitting G3 devices in Poland. This was confirmed by LG Poland executive Jaroslaw Bukowski in a tweet, which apparently has since been deleted. If you aren't already aware, LG uses Poland as a sort of test bed for its software updates. Once the roll out is successful there, the update starts hitting devices in other regions worldwide. For example, the recent LG G4 Marshmallow update followed the same...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/lg_g3_starts_receiving_marshmallow_update-news-15749.php

'Until Next Alarm' option disappears from stock Android menu due to bug

Several stock Android users are reporting an interesting and somewhat amusing bug on their devices. The 'Until Next Alarm' option that appeared in the Notifications within the Do Not Disturb menu has gone missing, and no one knows why. Actually, there is one theory, as one reader posted in the comments on Android Police. It's due to a bug in the method, which polls if there is an alarm in the next 6 days. When it calls roll(DATE, 6), neither the month nor the date get shifted to the next month, so if you're near the end of the month, it tests against December 1, 2015 instead of January 1, 2016. As such, this issue will get fixed next month but will repeat itself in the last six days, assuming Google doesn't fix it until then. It's a small glitch in the implementation, but nothing to be alarmed about (sorry, couldn't...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/until_next_alarm_option_disappears_from_stock_android_menu_due_to_bug-news-15755.php

Now a 12-inch Samsung Windows 10 tablet gets Wi-Fi and Bluetooth certified

We already told you about an 8-inch Android tablet from Samsung getting Wi-Fi and Bluetooth certified. And now, a 12-inch Windows 10-powered Samsung tablet has received these certifications. The device carries a model number of SM-W700. For those who aren't in the know, this is not the first time we're hearing about a 12-inch Windows 10 Samsung tablet - back in August this year, there were rumors that the South Korean company is working on such a device, and that it could be released at some point in the future. While there's no confirmation, the tablet is said to be powered by a 14nm Intel Core M processor and sport a 2560 x 1600 or 3840 x 2400 pixel resolution display. Weighing in at 600g and having a thickness of 6.2mm, the device is rumored to come with 4GB of RAM as well as the...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/now_a_12inch_samsung_windows_10_tablet_gets_wifi_and_bluetooth_certified-news-15753.php

Report says SD820-powered HP 'Falcon' Windows 10 phone may be made official at MWC 2016

If you recall, HP Falcon's existence first came to light when an SD820-powered Windows device with that name was spotted listed on benchmarking site GFXBench. Although we initially treated the news with skepticism, subsequent reports have essentially confirmed that the Windows 10 device is indeed for real. Now, a new report out of Germany is claiming that the handset will likely be made official at the upcoming Mobile World Congress (MWC), which is scheduled to take place between February 22 and February 25 next year. The report, however, notes that HP is yet to take a final call on whether or not to go ahead with the project. Aside from the Snapdragon 820 SoC, the GFXBench listing had revealed that the handset sports a 5.8-inch 2560 x 1440 pixel resolution display and features a 20MP rear and a 12MP front...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/report_says_sd820powered_hp_falcon_windows_10_phone_will_be_made_official_at_mwc_2016-news-15754.php

Gionee F105 with 5-inch display and quad-core CPU passes through TENNA

A new Gionee smartphone has been certified by Chinese certification and regulatory authority TENAA, revealing some of its key specs. Powered by a 1.3GHz quad-core CPU, the device sports a 5-inch (1280 × 720 pixel resolution) IPS display. The handset has 2GB RAM and 16GB expandable internal memory, and packs in a 2,400mAh battery. In terms of camera, it features an 8MP rear unit and a 5MP front shooter. Measuring 144.0 × 71.3 × 8.1 (mm) and weighing in at 155g, the smartphone runs Android 5.1 Lollipop out-of-the-box. The Gionee F105 comes in two color options, including white and gold. It's worth mentioning that several Gionee smartphones have received certification from the Chinese agency in the last few months. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/midrange_gionee_f105_with_5inch_display_and_quadcore_cpu_passes_through_tenna-news-15750.php

AT&T Lumia 950 now available for $0 down

If you're planning to purchase the AT&T variant of the Microsoft Lumia 950 flagship smartphone, you'll be glad to know that Amazon is now offering the device for zero down "with device financing." Of course, you'll have to sign a regular, two-year contract with the carrier. A quick look at AT&T's website reveals that the carrier usually sells the Windows 10 smartphone on-contract for $150. For those who are interested in the deal, it's worth knowing that the device on offer is the black colored 32GB Lumia 950 variant. If you aren't already aware, Microsoft is currently selling the AT&T Lumia 950 (no contract) at discounted rates - the device is listed on the Microsoft Store website for $549.00, which is $49.99 less than its regular price of $598.99. Source 1...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/at_t_lumia_950_now_available_for_0_down-news-15752.php

Online payments support coming to Samsung Pay in US next year

If you're a Samsung Pay user in the US, here is some good news: you'll soon be able to use the mobile payments service to make online payments. This was announced by Samsung Pay global co-general manager Thomas Ko. There was, however, no word on whether or not the functionality - which Ko said will be enabled sometime in 2016 - will only be limited to in-app shopping. It's worth mentioning that rival services including Android Pay and Apple Pay already support in-app purchases. In addition, he revealed that the payments service will also be expanded to lower-priced Samsung phones sometime next year - currently, only select Galaxy phones are supported, including the S6, S6 edge, S6 edge+, and Note5. "Wider handset availability of Samsung Pay as well as online payment support is coming soon," he was quoted as...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/online_payments_support_coming_to_samsung_pay_in_2016-news-15751.php

Honor 7 receiving Marshmallow in India, registration required

The Honor 7 in India will be receiving the long-awaited Marshmallow update, however, you must first register your Honor 7 online with your IMEI and current software version. The Honor 7 sports a 1080p, 5.2 inch display powered by Huawei's 64-bit Kirin 935 chipset paired with 3GB of RAM. The camera features a 6 lens setup made with sapphire glass and a 20MP sensor. The company has a Google form link where one can submit the handset's information, then, within the next couple of days, the OTA will be pushed and downloaded to the device. To find your software version, you can go into the Settings app, then tap About Phone and the software version looks something like PLK-UL00C67.. . You can also get the IMEI number by heading into the dialer and punching in *#06# and then pressing the "CALL" button. Source | Honor registration...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/honor_7_receiving_marshmallow_in_india_registration_required-news-15748.php