24K gold plated iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus out in China

Gold is everywhere these days (in the mobile world that is). We're starting to see more and more 'gold' versions of smartphones, the latest being Microsoft's Lumia 930 and Lumia 830, which were just announced a couple of days ago. But those are still nothing more than new colors - they aren't using actual gold. The Chinese company NavJack, however, is now offering limited edition gold plated versions of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. And this is real, 24K gold we're talking about here. 24K gold plated iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus As you can see from the images above (click the thumbnails for full-size pictures), the gold plated iPhones even feature a carbon fiber-like finish on the back, for an added sense of exclusivity. NavJack is also adding a layer of Gorilla Glass 3 to the front panel of the iPhones, for whatever reason. We assume that's meant to make the screen side more drop and scratch resistant. Obviously the hardware innards of each iPhone are left unchanged by the transformation process. On the other hand, the gold plated iPhones do get a special box, which looks nothing like Apple's traditional packaging. Pricing for these 24K gold plated iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus models hasn't been announced yet, unfortunately. That said, they clearly will be anything but cheap. And we're guessing that the people who are in the target market for such devices won't care about the exact price levels - after all, in a sea of iPhones, it's very important that yours stands out somehow. And gold may just have that effect. Source (in Chinese) |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/24k_gold_plated_iphone_6_and_iphone_6_plus_out_in_china-news-10713.php

Oppo U3 is now official, launches on January 14

Oppo U3 has been in the news since last November, but it is just now the company has made the device official. It's a capable 5.9" phablet with an octa-core processor and 13MP rear cam with 4x optical zoom. Oppo U3 is expected to draw lots of attention just a day before Xiaomi announces its next flagship phone in China. The U3 packs a 5.9" 1080p display and runs on the MT6752 chip with octa-core 1.7GHz Cortex-A53 processor, Mali-T760MP2 graphics and 2GB of RAM. Oppo U3 (the headset is an optional upcoming Oppo accessory) One of the key features of the Oppo U3 is its rear 13MP camera with 4x optical zoon and 4K video capturing. The font 5MP cam for selfies is coupled with a LED flash for even better results in low-light scenes. The rest of the Oppo U3 specs include LTE connectivity, embedded AK4961 audio chip, and 16GB expandable storage. The Oppo U3 will launch on January 14 in China, but the pricing is yet to be revealed. No international availability has been mentioned so...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/oppo_u3_is_now_official_launches_on_january_14-news-10712.php

Xiaomi to unveil the Redmi Note 2 on January 15, not Mi 5

Xiaomi is holding an event on January 15, and so far the rumors have been pretty adamant that we should see the Mi 5 or Mi 4s unveiled on that occasion. Now though, things are becoming less clear. A pretty well known reseller of Chinese smartphones has listed the yet unannounced Xiaomi Redmi Note 2. This is supposed to be the successor to the company's first phablet, the Redmi Note, obviously. The listing gives us plenty of details about its hardware, thankfully. Before we proceed, do keep in mind that this isn't official just yet - so while the following specs certainly could be from the Redmi Note 2, there's no guarantee. Apparently Xiaomi's next phablet will come with a design that's extremely close to that of its current flagship, the Mi 4 (as you can see in the image below where the two are portrayed next to each other). So gone is the more blocky feel of the original Redmi Note. This gives the Redmi Note 2 a high-end look, which may explain why it's been referred to by company executives as its next flagship offering. The Redmi Note 2 will allegedly come with a 5.7-inch 1080p touchscreen, up from the 5.5-inch 720p unit in its predecessor. This will have 2.5D glass, which curves at the edges. The phone's back will be made out of glass too, apparently sporting the "world's first curved glass body". Running the show is Qualcomm's Snapdragon 615 chipset, coming with a 1.5 GHz octa-core processor, as well as an Adreno 306 GPU. 2GB of RAM will be in, and storage will be either 16 or 32GB. The cameras will be 13 MP (on the back) and 5 MP (on the front), the former with a dual-tone dual-LED flash too. The Redmi Note 2 will be kept alive by a 3,600 mAh battery, and the company's MIUI 6 will sit atop Android 4.4 KitKat. In terms of network support, we're looking at quad-band GSM, quad-band WCDMA (3G HSPA+), as well as LTE FDD on 1800/2100/2600 MHz bands. Dual-SIM functionality will be baked in too, with two micro SIM slots inside. The timing of this listing does in fact seem to suggest that the Redmi Note 2 will be the star of Xiaomi's show next week. Sure, a Mi 5 or Mi 4s may join it there, but that seems less likely. The Redmi Note 2 is priced at $249 for international customers, which means it may be even cheaper than that in China. Considering the specs, that's a great feat, but we've come to expect this from Xiaomi. The listing doesn't give us the dimensions of the new device, but so far the rumors about the Mi 5 claimed it would be impressively thin. Now if it turns out that all of those leaks were actually about the Redmi Note 2, then it should be very slim indeed. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_to_unveil_the_redmi_note_2_on_january_15_not_mi_5-news-10711.php

Polaroid's new Selfie smartphone faces legal trouble with Oppo

Following the hustle and bustle taking place at CES 2015, Polaroid somehow managed to slip through the cracks with its latest Selfie smartphone. The Polaroid Selfie rocks a familiar hardware design, which features a rotating 13MP camera. Image source: AndroidAuthority.com The phone is built around a 5.5" IPS display of 720p resolution and under the hood has an octa-core CPU in a likely MediaTek chipset, 2GB of RAM and runs Android 5.0 Lollipop. Internal storage is 16GB, but there's no microSD card slot for further expansion. That's all we have regarding specifications of the Polaroid Selfie. However, because of the phone's design which is an obvious Oppo N1 rip-off, the company might face issues with the creator of the original rotating camera phone. Here's the Oppo statement regarding the matter in full. It was recently reported that the Polaroid Selfie smartphone released at the CES 2015 has a remarkably similar design to the patented rotating camera phone OPPO N1. However, OPPO has not licensed the design of the rotating camera to any third parties, nor has us done that in any OEM way. We will continue to keep track of the event and reserves the right to take further legal action. OPPO is committed to delivering our customers with the most delightful electronic experience that is full of surprises through meticulous designs and smart technology. OPPO holds strong respect to intellectual properties and any innovation of technology and design. Sustainable innovation sits at the core of our business, and has made OPPO being a mostly talked new brand in the mobile industry. OPPO does not stop here with the rotating camera on N1. An upgraded model, the N3, was launched in late 2014 featuring a motorised rotating ‘selfie' camera, which could rotate for 206 degrees and makes new shooting modes like auto panaroma possible. Perfect for hands free...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/polaroid_selfie_is_official_with_13mp_rotating_camera_akin_to_oppos-news-10707.php

All iPhone 6 and 6 Plus models are now in stock at Apple

It finally looks like Apple was able to sort out its production issues for the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. Ever since their release last year, certain variations of the two models have been intermittently unavailable in the company's online store, almost certainly due to supply chain woes. Not anymore, though. For the first time all of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus models are showing as being either in stock or shipping within one business day. And the latter applies only to the unlocked units, which Apple began selling directly not long ago. If you go for carrier variations, though, you're all set to receive your brand new toy as fast as possible. No matter what you choose, an iPhone 6 or 6 Plus, whether you go for 16, 64, or 128GB of storage, and regardless of your carrier choice (be it AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, or T-Mobile), every single one of these phones is currently in stock. Hopefully this situation will last, and it will soon extend to the unlocked models. As always, if you go the carrier route you need to shell out $199 for a 16GB iPhone 6, and then add $100 more for each capacity bump. The bigger iPhone 6 Plus starts at $299 with 16GB of storage, and it too goes up in $100 increments. In unlocked form the iPhone 6 starts at $649 and goes all the way up to $849, while the iPhone 6 Plus is priced between $749 and $949. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/all_iphone_6_and_6_plus_models_are_now_in_stock_at_apple-news-10710.php

Sony Xperia T3 gets the Android 4.4.4 KitKat update

Sony has issued a new firmware upgrade today, this time for its Xperia T3 smartphone. That said, this isn't Android 5.0 Lollipop we're talking about, even if that is technically the latest iteration of Google's mobile OS. Instead, Sony has made the Xperia T3 run what is the last variation of KitKat, namely Android 4.4.4. This represents a rather minor bump for the T3, which launched last summer running Android 4.4.2. And since it's not a big jump, there aren't a lot of new things inside the new software. You do however get the Bluetooth Unlock feature, and some stability enhancements which should be welcome. On the other hand, the 4.4.4 update for the Xperia Z2 brought over quite a few features first seen on the Z3. That's not the case here, presumably because the T3 is just a midranger, and not a flagship offering. The new software for the Xperia T3 has been seen rolling out in both India and Russia, and we assume more markets will follow. The update is going out for both LTE and 3G models. After applying it, you'll be on build 18.1.A.2.25. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/sony_xperia_t3_gets_the_android_444_kitkat_update-news-10709.php

Samsung Galaxy S4 Google Play Edition is no more

A couple of days ago the Moto G Google Play Edition vanished from the Play Store forever, and now another smartphone has had the exact same fate. It certainly looks like Google Play Edition devices are going extinct soon. Today the Samsung Galaxy S4 GPE "is no longer available for sale", to quote the exact language used by Google in its online storefront. Sure, the S4 was getting quite old by now, but its disappearance from the Play Store means there is now only one GPE device left: the HTC One (M8). That's a lot newer than the S4, so maybe it will stick around some more. Either way, right now the Play Store's Devices section lists just four products: the Nexus 6, the Nexus 9, the Nexus 5, and the aforementioned HTC One (M8) GPE. That's it, no more. This raises the question of whether the GPE program will continue, or if the One (M8) will be the last smartphone to be part of this initiative. Unfortunately we don't have any more information on this, so we'll have to wait and see. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_s4_google_play_edition_is_no_more-news-10708.php

Xiaomi's next flagship promises to be extremely thin

Xiaomi's next flagship, allegedly dubbed Mi5, is due to launch on January 15, which is less than a week away. Still, impatient leaksters continue to contribute. This time around it's a drawing, dated back to mid-November, of a metal chassis with dimensions 140.89 x 71.4 x 5.1mm. Previous info on the device has suggested a nearly bezelless screen and if that 5.1mm doesn't get much fatter covered in plastics, we are going to be looking at one seriously attractive Xiaomi top model. Xiaomi Mi5 frame | A batch of manufactured frames In the former leaks a 5.5 to 5.7-inch screen was speculated. A 5.5-incher, measuring 121.8 x 68.5mm might just be able to fit the aforementioned frame with room for minimal side bezels, but a 5.7-inch in such a narrow body would be nothing short of a miracle. Xiaomi will likely move to QHD resolution and will rely on a Snapdragon 805 chipset, paired with no less than 3GB of RAM. Meanwhile 3D renderings of a phablet that's allegedly named Mi4s have appeared, supposedly straight from a factory of Chinese manufacturer Foxconn. They were accompanied by hardware specs strangely similar to the ones above, making everything all the more confusing. It makes little marketing sense in launching two devices with same innards and only slightly different design, so it may all end up being a naming convention issue. Xiaomi Mi4s renderings Then a different source just tweeted yet another set of images, showing a scaled up Mi4 with practically no side bezels. They look rather obviously fake, but it's your choice if you want to believe them. Xiaomi Mi5 renderings After all, some six days from now the mysteries will be cleared at the official event. Via | Source 1 (in French) 2...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomis_next_flagship_promises_to_be_extremely_thin-news-10704.php

Ongoing funding for TOR-protected BOSS Phone

Do you want to have a phone with maximum possible security? Maybe the BOSS Phone is the gadget you've been waiting for. It's not yet available, but its crowd funding id doing great so far, and it you may have it this fall if everything goes as planned. So, the BOSS Phone, not Hugo Boss or BOSS Audio, is a 7" phablet secured with TOR encryption operating on root level. This means everything that happens on your BOSS Phone, including phone calls, will be encrypted and secure at military-grade level. In fact, the BOSS Phone is expected to be fully certified by the Anonymity experts at The Guardian Project. The specs of the Boss Phone are decent if not quite cutting-edge - a 7" display of 1200 x 1920 pixel resolution and an octa-core Cortex-A7 processor plus Mali-450 GPU, courtesy of the MediaTek MT6592 chip. The rest of the specs include an 8MP rear cam, 16GB expandable storage, LTE connectivity, dual-SIM capabilities, and a 3,000 mAh battery. BOSS Phone will be running on Android 5.0 Lollipop, with root-level TOR encryption. Briggs & Spriggs company is behind the project and it will charge you $355 for the BOSS Phone. The crowd funding is currently ongoing at Indiegogo until March 2. In case you are interested in this project, you can pledge your support on their project page. Shipping, if funding is successful, will being in...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/ongoing_funding_for_torprotected_boss_phone-news-10703.php

Consumer Electronics Show 2015 wrap-up

Much to the disappointment of tech geeks, CES 2015 couldn't go on forever. Some rumored announcements didn't take place, yet we got to see intriguing unexpected releases. In the following paragraphs you can check out what grabbed our attention. Samsung decided to delay the highly anticipated Galaxy S6 unveiling probably until the MWC in March. Instead it chose to build its press event around an SUHD television, a portable solid-state drive, and the Milk Music Streaming service. In a marketing move, the Korean manufacturer also displayed a set of cool Avengers props behind glass. No official word came from Sony on the inevitable Z4, but the Japanese did unveil a posh dedicated music player. Resurrecting the Walkman brand, the device is clearly targeted at audiophiles with money to spare, bearing a price tag of $1200. An all-steel version of the Smartwatch 3 also made the headlines. LG on the other hand caused more of a stir with the launch of its G Flex2, the next iteration of the manufacturer's curved phablet. The first device to bring Qualcomm's Snapdragon 810 powerhouse of a chipset to market packs a 5.5-inch 1080p display in a second-generation self-healing body making it an entirely more interesting offering than its predecessor. HTC brought to CES 2015 two new smartphones. The Desire 826 upper midranger is running Android 5.0 with Sense UI on top, is powered by a Snapdragon 615 chipset, and features a 5.5-inch 1080p display. The entry-level Desire 320 is understandably more modest, with an unnamed quad-core chipset, 4.5-inch FWVGA screen and region-dependent memory options. Still no official word on the HTC Hima, though. Asus generated significant interest with the launch of its Zenfone 2, which at $199 is shaping up to be an unbeatable proposition. True, which exactly hardware specs you get for that much cash is still unclear, but budget-friendly it will be. The star of the show, however, was undoubtedly the Zenfone Zoom, sporting a 3x optical zoom lens with hardware stabilization in front of its 13MP sensor. Chinese giant Lenovo announced a myriad of devices ranging from smartphones with quirky flashes to Yoga branded tablets and convertibles, to ultra-light alloy-clad laptops. Emerging brand BLU also flooded the floor with devices, each specifically-targeted and all budget-friendly. Flashlight-featuring Nokia 215 marked Microsoft's presence at the show. So reading back this quick summary, it turns out CES 2015 wasn't all that uneventful after all. Follow the links below for more info, images and detailed hands-ons. i.n,i { font: normal 7px Arial; color: white; background: #da0000; padding:1px 2px; text-transform: uppercase; font-style:normal; position:relative;top:-1px;left:5px; } #review-body th, #review-body td {font-size:12px;} CES 2015: Samsung Galaxy A5, Avengers movie props hands-on You can watch Sony's CES livestream from your couch Sony promises to roll out Android 5 to Xperia Z3 lineup next month Sony unveils a new stainless steel edition of SmartWatch 3, rolling out next month Sony unveils $1,200 Android-powered Walkman player with hi-res audio • Sony NW-ZX2 Music Player and Smartwatch 3 hands-on LG G Flex2 is a smaller, curvier Snapdragon 810 beast LG G Flex2 - specs • hands-on LG Aka - hands-on HTC to hold a press conference on January 5 at CES HTC Desire 320 brings quad-core CPU, 1080p video to the low end HTC launches Desire 826 with 64-bit Snapdragon processor HTC Desire 320 - specs HTC Desire 826 - specs • hands-on Asus announces the Zenfone 2 and Zenfone Zoom at CES 2015 ASUS introduces a trio of Windows Transformer Book Chi tablets Asus Zenfone 2 - ...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/consumer_electronics_show_2015_wrapup-news-10701.php

Refurbished Lumia 928 goes for $240, new 925 for $262

Most Windows Phone deals typically involve a Lumia 530 or 630 if Microsoft is feeling generous. For a higher-end offering - though a refurbished one - there's the Nokia Lumia 928 from Verizon, which currently goes for $240, available in Black and White. Amazon has a similar deal but gets you a new device for $275. Both can be had for $0/$1 if you're willing to sign a contract. The Lumia 928 recently got the Denim update and while its dual-core processor is getting long in the tooth, the 8.7MP camera with stabilization and ZEISS lens, not to mention xenon flash still do a solid job. If you prefer AT&T, a similar Nokia Lumia 925 can be had for $262 from Amazon. This one is thinner, but lacks the xenon flash and built-in wireless Qi charging of the Lumia 928. Denim landed on the 925...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/refurbished_lumia_928_goes_for_240_new_925_for_262-news-10702.php

Xiaomi's $65, LTE-enabled Android passes through TENAA

What's the cheapest LTE-enabled phone you can buy? The answer may be this (yet to be named) Xiaomi, which recently passed the certification process at TENAA. By the looks of it it's a variation of the new Xiaomi Redmi 2, but while that one costs CNY 700, this new model will be just CNY 400 ($65/€55). Late last year Xiaomi struck a patent deal with local chipset maker Leadcore Technologies. It was a fairly small deal (under $17 million), but it gave the fast-growing smartphone manufacturer access to LTE. Xiaomi's ultra-cheap LTE phone (photos by TENAA) Still, those are huge markets and the new Xiaomi model sounds like a steal - it packs a 4.7" 720p screen, measures runs Android 4.4.4 KitKat, has an 8MP/1080p main camera and comes with 8GB of expandable storage. It's reasonably compact too, measuring 9.2mm thick and weighing 134g. Again, this it at $65. The phone is powered by a Leadcore chipset (replacing the Snapdragon 410 in the Xiaomi Redmi 2), which packs quad Cortex-A7 cores at 1.6GHz, 1GB of RAM and a dual-core Mali-T628. Note that this one is not a dual-SIM device, unlike the Redmi 2. TENAA reports both TD-LTE and FDD-LTE connectivity, even though Leadcore's competency lies in just TD-LTE. TD-LTE is used by some Chinese and Indian carriers and it's not compatible with the FDD-LTE that is more popular in the West. There's no info on when Xiaomi will unveil this device and which markets it will hit, but this will definitely fuel the company's already explosive growth. Source (in Chinese) |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomis_65_lteenabled_android_passes_through_tenaa-news-10699.php

EE adds 5.7M LTE users last year, becomes largest LTE carrier in EU

British carrier EE had a good year, adding 5.7 million 4G LTE users to its flock, bringing the total to 7.7 million - enough to makes it the biggest LTE carrier in Europe. EE now covers 80% of the country's population, aiming to bring that up to 98% by the end of this year. Coverage includes 510 cities that number 10,000 people or more 200 of which were added in Q4. EE isn't leaving rural areas behind either, over the last few months it expanded its coverage to 1,000 new villages bringing the total to 3,894. Curiously, the smallest village to get 4G LTE is Elvanfoot, South Lanarkshire, population 52. Yep, 52. Think about that the next time you can't get a decent 4G signal in a populous area. Speaking of, London and UK's busiest areas are getting "4G+" this year. The three areas with the most 4G traffic were Silicon Roundabout, Hoxton and Shoreditch High Street. 4G data transfer increasing six-fold from 2013 to 2014. Selfies and videos uploaded to Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, plus streaming video from the likes of BBC's iPlayer, YouTube and Sky Go account for most of the...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/ee_adds_57m_lte_users_last_year_becomes_largest_lte_carrier_in_eu-news-10698.php

Lenovo A6000 with Snapdragon 410 unveiled

Lenovo is hitting CES 2015 hard with a lot of interesting new device announcements and outshining a lot of the competition. Besides the Vibe X2 Pro and the Lenovo P90, along with an array of new laptops, including an improved ThinkPad X1 Carbon, and a smart band the Chinese giant has unveiled yet another smartphone - the Lenovo A6000. The Lenovo A6000 is powered by a 64-bit Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 chipset with 1.2GHz quad-core Cortex-A53 processor and bears a 5-inch 720p IPS display. The device comes with 1GB of RAM, 8GB of internal memory and two cameras - 8MP back shooter and 2MP front. Nothing too spectacular, but initial pricing puts the device at $169 or under INR 10,000. For that price tag the specs sheet is pretty impressive, taking into account that the A6000 will also come with 4G LTE connectivity as two SIM cards. The budget-oriented Snapdragon 410-based, 4G LTE handset that is specifically geared towards the India market, the company says. The rapidly-expanding tech and especially mobile sector there has caused a huge stir among technology giants and rapidly influencing marketing strategies and device lineups all around, even fueling such major ventures as Android One. Colin Giles, the company senior vice president for worldwide sales had this to say on the matter: "We think the Indian buyers will want to future-proof themselves for when 4G services become more widespread in country. Buying a smartphone is a big decision involving a sizeable portion of their disposable income and they wouldn't want to take a chance." The device is expected to be available in India around the end of January, exclusively through flipkart.com. Initial pricing info puts the device at $169 or under INR 10,000, but Lenovo says the specification as well as the price might me slightly adjusted by launch. Source 1 | Source...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/new_lenovo_a6000_snapdragon_phone_to_launch_soon_in_india-news-10697.php

Polaroid's L7 and L10 are budget-friendly Android tablets

Polaroid, the company best known for making instant cameras, has updated its L series tablet lineup with the addition of a couple of new devices. Dubbed L7 and L10, both are currently on display at the ongoing Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. Although details are scarce, the L7 (pictured above) is a 7-inch tablet, while the L10 (pictured below) is a 10-inch device. Both are Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled and feature what the company calls "super-fast" Quad-Core processors. In addition, each tablet also sports rear and front-facing cameras, as well as front mounted speakers. They run the all new Android 5.0 Lollipop operating system. As for the price, the L7 will cost $99.99, while the L10 will be available for $149.99. Both are expected to go on sale in the US sometime this spring. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/polaroids_l7_and_l10_are_budget_friendly_android_tablets-news-10696.php

Nokia sells 20,000 N1 tablets in China in 4 minutes

The Nokia N1 went on sale in China today, and the Finnish company exhausted the initial batch of 20,000 units in record time. It only took four minutes and two seconds to go through all that inventory. It looks like Nokia chose to go the flash sale route, perhaps inspired by Xiaomi's success with this model. The next opportunity to buy the N1 will come on January 15, if you're in China of course. Otherwise, you still have some waiting to do, as the N1 isn't yet available anywhere else. Aside from managing such great sales, the Nokia N1 is also busy crushing the competition in benchmarks. Yesterday we saw it destroy the iPad Mini 3 in AnTuTu, and now Apple's small tablet has had the same fate in another benchmark. The N1 scored 589 frames in GFXBench's Manhattan test, compared to 553 frames for the iPad Mini 3. In T-Rex, the score was 1,437 to 1,271, while in the 1080p T-Rex offscreen test the N1 got 1,691 frames and the iPad Mini 3 just 1,598. Nokia's new tablet runs Android 5.0 Lollipop and in China it's been priced at CNY 1,599, which is around $257. International pricing should hover around $250 too. The slate has a 7.9-inch 2,048x1,536 touchscreen, an 8 MP main camera, a 5 MP secondary snapper, and it's powered by Intel's Atom Z3580 SoC, which comes with a 2.3 GHz quad-core CPU. The tablet has 2GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage, as well as a 5,300 mAh battery. Source 1 (in Chinese) • Source 2 |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_sells_20000_n1_tablets_in_china_in_4_minutes-news-10695.php

Alcatel launches its own online store in the US

Huawei already has its own online store in the US, through which it sells the Ascend Mate 2 in unlocked form along with a bunch of accessories. And now fellow Chinese company TCL has created a virtual storefront of its own, for the Alcatel brand. Unlike Huawei, though, Alcatel also lists those devices that it has customized for carriers. So if you're in the US, you can now order Alcatel devices straight from their maker. The store is clearly a move meant to make the Alcatel brand more well known in the US. Its French origins mean it has a good deal of notoriety in Europe, but not so much across the pond. Alcatel's US store is powered by Amazon, which means you can get Prime benefits if you're subscribed to that. The brand already has an online presence in a few countries in Europe, which it plans to expand later this year. By the end of March, we should also see an Alcatel store in Canada. Up for grabs over at the company's US establishment are accessories (device covers, NFC tags, power banks, Bluetooth headsets, and more) but also some mobile devices too, as you'd expect. You can get the Alcatel OneTouch Idol X+, Idol Mini, Pop C9, and Idol 2S smartphones, as well as the Pop 7 and Pop 8 tablets. The unlocked devices are all up for pre-order at the moment, with the shipping date being January...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/alcatel_launches_its_own_online_store_in_the_us-news-10694.php

Golden Lumia 930 and 830 officially announced

Earlier today we saw the leaked images of a golden Lumia 930, and now Microsoft officially confirmed its existence, as well as that of a golden Lumia 830. Die-hard bling-bling fans shouldn't rejoice though, as the exact words used in the press release were "anodized gold color". Meaning you get the same aluminum frame (which is no bad thing all in itself) only colored differently in the manufacturing process. That also fits well with the previously leaked price of the golden 930, which at $470 didn't sound overly exclusive. Lumia 930 | Lumia 830 The devices will be produced in black and white only, so no green Lumia with a golden frame, sorry. Microsoft has also kept the original Nokia branding on these special editions which could potentially make them collectors items. The availability of the golden Lumias will span select countries in Europe, Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Africa, as well as China. If you're in India, your options are only limited to the 830 model. The 930 will go for sale towards the end of January, while you'll have to wait until some time in February to buy the 830. The specs remain unchanged from the original versions, as this is simply a limited edition cosmetic...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/golden_lumia_930_and_830_officially_announced-news-10693.php

CES 2015: BLU hands-on

BLU may be a comparatively small operation, but it brought out a lot more phones than most of the big players. They range from supremely thin to super-juiced, but none of them go north of the $200 mark when grab them off contract...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/ces_2015_blu-review-1194.php

Samsung Galaxy A3 and A5 finally coming to Europe

Following the official launch in India of the Galaxy A3 and A5 two days ago, it appears the European market will not be left out. Firmware versions have been made available by Samsung for both smartphones for an extensive list of countries, indicating that initial production issues have been resolved and a European launch is imminent. Specs of the devices shouldn't be different from the rest of world, meaning the Galaxy A3 gets you a 4.5-inch qHD Super AMOLED screen, Snapdragon 410 with a CPU ticking at 1.2GHz, 1.5GB of RAM and 16GB of built-in storage with the option of microSD expansion, and a non-removable 1900mAh battery. The Galaxy A5 ups the RAM to 2GB and the battery to 2300mAh, while packing a 5-inch screen of 720p resolution. A better 13MP main camera also comes in the Galaxy A5 over the A3's 8MP shooter. The two phones follow the design language of the Galaxy Alpha, offering the premium feel of an aluminum frame in a more reasonably-priced package. A month is a long time, but earlier reports could give you an idea of the pricing ballpark. Source ...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/galaxy_a3_and_a5_coming_to_europe_firmware_made_available-news-10692.php

Samsung expects Q4 2014 profits to drop 37% year-on-year

Samsung has announced its earnings guidance for the fourth quarter of 2014, revealing an operating profit of 5.2 trillion won ($4.7 billion), down approximately 37% from the year ago quarter, but still better than the 4.06 trillion-won figure it reported in Q3 2014, as well as analysts' expectations of 4.9 trillion won. While the South Korean company's smartphone business continued to struggle, analysts said that increase in profit compared to Q3 2014 is largely due to improvements in its semiconductor division. Samsung expects sales to be around 52 trillion won in the quarter, down 12.3% year-on-year. The company will release complete financial results later this month. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_expects_q4_2014_profits_to_drop_37_percent_yearonyear-news-10691.php

Verizon begins selling Galaxy Note Edge for $399.99 on-contract

After US Cellular, the biggest carrier in the United States, Verizon, has also launched the Samsung Galaxy Note Edge on its network. The Big Red is selling the device for $399.99 on a two-year contract or $799.99 unlocked. You can also get it for $33.33 per month on the company's Edge early upgrade program. As you'd probably know, aside from the curved display on its right edge, the Galaxy Note Edge is similar to the the Galaxy Note 4, which features a Snapdragon 805 chipset with quad-core 2.7GHz processor and a 5.7-inch Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 2,560 x 1,440 pixels(515 ppi). It has 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage, and packs in a 3,220 mAh battery. Verizon says the device, which is already available on AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile, will work on its XLTE network. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/verizon_begins_selling_galaxy_note_edge_for_400_on_contract-news-10688.php

Selfie-centered Samsung Grand Max unveiled in Korea

Samsung's event at CES 2015 was lacking in smartphone flair, instead focusing on domestic appliances and what they called SUHD television. In South Korea though, they are launching the Galaxy Grand Max which is to hit local shelves on January 9 at KWR 319,000 ($290). From the front the device is an unmistakable member of the family, so much so that it is becoming increasingly difficult to tell which exactly Galaxy this is. The back is what distinguishes it with yet another iteration of the faux leather concept around the otherwise familiar flash-camera-speaker layout. The phone features a 5.25" display of 720p resolution in a slender 7.9mm body weighing in at 161g. Running the show is the decent Snapdragon 410 with its CPU clocked at 1.2GHz and a modem supporting LTE Cat 4. It is joined by 1.5MB of RAM and 16GB of built-in storage, as usual with a microSD slot for expansion. Power will be provided by a 2500mAh battery, which should be about adequate. The main camera is a 13MP unit, but Samsung is marketing the Grand Max as a selfie device stressing the 120 degree wide angle lens of the 5MP front snapper. It also allows voice operation to let you focus on making funny faces instead of shutter release. Source (in Korean) |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/selfiecentered_samsung_grand_max_hits_korean_market_on_jan_9_-news-10689.php

Samsung shows its thinnest phone yet - the Galaxy A7

Samsung has hit somewhat of a stride as of late, releasing the Galaxy A5 and Galaxy A3 in India and officially announcing the Galaxy E7 and Galaxy E5 alongside them. And now at an official Samsung Galaxy A launch in Malaysia, Samsung also showed for the first time the new Galaxy A7 - it's thinnest smartphone yet. Samsung Galaxy A7 The Samsung Galaxy A7 is a metal unibody smartphone with a 5.5" 1080p Super AMOLED display with a waistline of 6.3mm - 0.4mm thinner than the Galaxy A5 and Galaxy Alpha. Packed inside is a 2,000mAh battery, a 64-bit Snapdragon 615 chipset with octa-core processor clocked at 1.5GHz, 2GB of RAM, LTE support and 16GB of built-in storage. Samsung Galaxy A7 The Samsung Galaxy A7 is expected to arrive in Malaysian stores in February costing RM 1,499 ($420/€354). Source 1 | 2 |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_shows_its_thinnest_phone_yet__the_galaxy_a7-news-10690.php

Limited edition Gold Nokia Lumia 930 photos surface

A few days ago we reported on a new golden line of Lumia devices that Microsoft intends to release in limited qualities on the Chinese market. As it turns out the two devices on the initial banner are the Lumia 830 and the Lumia 930, just like we thought. A leaked set of photos, portraying the Nokia Lumia 930 with a golden finish prove that the device does exist, which consequently means that the release rumor should also be true. Besides the obvious gold-colored frame the handset, dubbed Lumia 930 Golden Collector's Edition features a gold-plated Nokia logo on the back. Only 3000 units are set to roll off the production line for now, each with a price tag of CNY 2899 (about $470). From what is already known it appears that the two remodeled devices should hit markets in China today (January 8). Whether or not they will become available on other markets is still uncertain. Leaked photos of the Nokia Lumia 930 Golden Collector's Edition The Nokia Lumia 930 is currently one of Microsoft's high-end Windows Phone devices. It offers a Full HD 5-inch AMOLED screen, 2GB of RAM, 32GB onboard storage and is powered by a Qualcomm MSM8974 Snapdragon 800 SoC with a quad-core Krait 400 CPU and Adreno 330 GPU. It is also adorned with a 20MP PureView camera with Carl Zeiss optics. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/limited_edition_gold_nokia_lumia_930_photos_surface-news-10687.php

Huawei bringing contract-free Honor devices to US

Although Huawei is among the top five smartphone manufacturers in the world, it has little presence in the US. But that could change in the future as the company is bringing its Honor line of smartphones to the world's second largest smartphone market, according to a Wall Street Journal report. Although Huawei hasn't announced an exact date, the company plans to sell unlocked Honor smartphones in the US "sometime later this year", the report notes. At present, an overwhelming majority of US consumers are buying bundled smartphones, but Huawei's Devices Chief Marketing Officer Shao Yang is of the view that contract-free phones will gradually become more popular in the country. "For us, the most important thing is really how to reach the consumer directly," he said. Yang also revealed that due to budget constraints Huawei will focus mainly on digital advertising, although he didn't provide any details on the company's marketing budget. The news comes a week after there were reports that Huawei's smartphone revenue increased by around 33% to over $11.8 billion last year. The company shipped around 75 million smartphones in 2014, up 40%...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/huawei_bringing_contract_free_honor_devices_to_us-news-10686.php

Updated Android distribution chart shows gains for KitKat

Google has made its monthly update to the Android developer dashboard, specifically the "Platform Versions" chart. This tells us how much market share each Android iteration still has among currently active devices. The data is collected from the Google Play Store app. KitKat is now at 39.1% of the pie (and up 5.2%), though the three different versions called Jelly Bean are still in the lead when counted together. In total, Jelly Bean is installed on 46% of devices, though obviously KitKat keeps growing and should catch up in the next few months. If we don't count all Jelly Bean variants together, then KitKat is already in the lead. Gingerbread sticks around too with 7.8% of the market (though 1.3% less than before), while Froyo is at 0.4% and clearly on the way out. Google notes that versions with less than 0.1% distribution don't make it to its chart, which means Lollipop has yet to cross that incredibly low threshold, despite being the latest incarnation of the OS. This tells us that sales of the Nexus 6 and Nexus 9 aren't record breaking by any measure, at least not so far. KitKat is now more than a year old and it still hasn't managed to cross 50%, so it will take a very long time for Lollipop to rise, that's pretty much a...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/updated_android_distribution_chart_shows_gains_for_kitkat-news-10685.php

Amazon's Fire Phone is now down to $189 unlocked

Let's face it, Amazon's Fire Phone has been anything but successful, despite its overhyped introduction. The company's first smartphone has, in fact, been such a flop that it's already caused some $170 million in losses. That's quite the amount, even for such a big retailer. Since it banked on the Fire Phone's success, Amazon apparently ordered quite a few of them, and now it has a lot of units lying around. So it's resorted to cutting the price of the handset multiple times so far. The latest drop, from today, makes the device the most affordable it's ever been. That's because you can now grab a Fire Phone, SIM-free and unlocked, for just $189. That price level is usually reserved for much lower-end hardware in the Android world, but the Fire Phone does come with caveats of its own, chief among which is that it runs Amazon's forked version of Android which is devoid of any Google apps. Let's not forget that buying a Fire Phone means you get one year of free Amazon Prime, which in itself is a $99 value. So we're getting closer and closer to the point where Amazon simply starts giving its first smartphone away for practically nothing. It's amazing to think that when it launched, Amazon was charging $649 for an unlocked Fire Phone. That then changed to $449, $199, and now $189. Source | Via 1 • Via...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/amazons_fire_phone_is_now_down_to_189_unlocked-news-10684.php

iOS 8 now powers 68% of Apple's mobile devices

According to the latest data from Apple itself, iOS 8 is now on 68% of the devices that are currently registered with the iTunes App Store. Thus, we can assume that the same percentage of Apple mobile devices currently in use are running the latest version of the OS. That's up from 64% on December 22 of last year, 56% on November 12, 52% on October 29, and 46% on October 5. 29% of Apple devices are still on iOS 7, while those on even earlier iterations of the software make up just 4% of the pie at this point. If you were doing the math, the current distribution numbers add up to 101%, which is probably due to all of the numbers having been rounded upward. The fact that around two thirds of iPhones and iPads are now on iOS 8 is confirmed by two mobile analytics firms too. Mixpanel says iOS 8 has a 69.1% share, while Fiksu has it at 64.9%. Apple's numbers are from this Monday, as are Fiksu's. Mixpanel's data is from today. The adoption of iOS 8 has lagged behind what we've seen for iOS 7 over the same period, but it's still growing, albeit slowly. At the same time last year, iOS 7 was already installed on 78% of devices. It might just be that some people aren't able to free up the 2GB of space that the iOS 8 download requires. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/ios_8_now_powers_68_of_apples_mobile_devices-news-10682.php

Sony to sell both FHD and QHD versions of the Xperia Z4

Taiwanese ePrice has been a frequent source of rumors and the latest batch concerns the upcoming Sony Xperia Z4. According to an unnamed source, the next Sony flagship smartphone is going to be available in two versions - one with a 1080p display and another with a QHD one. The version with a higher-resolution display is going to retail in the US, while other markets will have to make do with the full HD version. Furthermore, it's said that Sony has managed to further improve the water resistant capabilities of the Xperia Z4. The phone would not have a flap cover on the USB port in order to keep the internals dry. The front-facing camera is also believed to be improved, but there's no further information on specifics. In December, an alleged photo of the Xperia Z4 leaked through an email. It shows a Sony-branded smartphone with a glossy metal frame and a camera shutter button on the right side. The rumored specs of the Sony Xperia Z4 include a Snapdragon 810 SoC with 4GB of RAM and Cat.6 LTE as well as a 5.2" display. Sony is anticipated to officially unveil the Xperia Z4 in either May or November. We hope to catch the phone at MWC 2014 in March, though. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/sony_to_sell_an_fhd_and_qhd_versions_of_the_xperia_z4-news-10681.php

Kantar: iOS gaining at the expense of Android

Kantar Worldpanel, a popular research agency has recently put out a report on mobile OS popularity. It covers major Europe, US and Asia markets and crunches usage numbers from September, October and November 2014 and it happens to show a shrinking gap between Android and iOS. According to the data in the US Google's OS had 48.4%, which is a 2.1% drop from the same period a year earlier, while Apple's iOS showed an increase of 4.3%, putting it at 47.4%, just a hair behind Android. The analysis goes on to real that Windows Phone retained its usual third place for the month in question with 3%, compared to 4.7% back in November 2013. In Europe the picture is quite different with Android gathering 66.8% and iOS - 23.8%. Even though the difference is much wider the popularity growth of the Apple is still evident. All of the stats can be vied in the table below. Germany 3 m/e Nov 2013 3 m/e Nov 2014 % pt. Change USA 3 m/e Nov 2013 3 m/e Nov 2014 % pt. Change Android 74.7 70.1 -4.6 Android 50.4 48.4 -2.0 iOS 17.3 21.4 4.1 iOS 43.1 47.4 4.3 Windows 5.7 7.1 1.4 Windows 4.6 3.0 -1.6 Other 2.3 1.4 ...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/ios_closing_in_on_android_popularity_according_to_kantar-news-10680.php

Update finally ends touch issues on dual-SIM Lumia 535

The Microsoft Lumia 535 (first MS Lumia device ever) was well received by users on a tight budget but exhibited issues with touch sensitivity soon after launch. Microsoft was quick to provide a fix for the single-SIM variant of the phone but those with the slightly more expensive dual-SIM version were left out. But now Microsoft is issuing a firmware update that will bring an end to touch inaccuracies for both the single and dual-SIM Lumia 535. The update also enables Windows Phone's virtual assistant Cortana for Germany, France, Italy and Spain and the ability to add a cellular data toggle to quick actions in Action Center. Check for the update right now and if it isn't there it should arrive...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/update_finally_brings_end_to_touch_issues_with_dualsim_lumia_535-news-10678.php

BLU unveils 7 new phones: thin, powerful, Lollipop and more

BLU unveiled a large swath of new Android smartphones and not one of them is more expensive than $200. Yet there are premium features like super thin metal bodies, octa-core processors, LTE connectivity, massive batteries and more. BLU Vivo Air A rebadged Gionee Elife S5.1, the BLU Vivo Air has an impressively thin 5.1mm chassis. Its frame is made of an aluminum-magnesium alloy and weighs under 100g. The slender smartphone has a 4.8" AMOLED display with 720p resolution and Gorilla Glass 3 protection (same glass is used on the back too). The Vivo Air packs quite a punch for such a dainty frame with an octa-core Cortex-A7 processor, courtesy of a MediaTek MT6592 chipset. It's weighed down by the limited RAM though, 1GB. The phone runs Android 4.4 KitKat nad has 16GB of built-in storage. There's no LTE though, the phone tops out at 21Mbps 3G HSPA. The 8MP camera on the back records 1080p videos while the 5MP camera on the front will shoot all the selfies your Instagram followers can stomach. Despite being razor thin, the phone has a 2,100mAh battery. The BLU Vivo Air will be available in White Gold and Black starting mid-January at $200. You'll be able to find it at Amazon and other retailers. BLU Studio Energy The BLU Studio Energy is a twin of the Gionee Marathon M3 and just like it packs a massive 5,000mAh battery in a 10.4mm chassis. With 4 days of estimated battery life, the phone can handle 52 hours of calls with its two SIM cards. It has so much milliamps in its battery that it can even share them and charge other devices. In terms of hardware, the Studio Energy offers a 5" IPS display with 720p resolution and Gorilla Glass. It's powered by a more modest quad-core processor (with 1GB of RAM) and runs Android 4.4 KitKat too. Additional features include 8MP main camera, 2MP front camera, 21Mbps 3G HSPA connectivity and 8GB of built-in storage (plus a microSD card slot). The BLU Studio Energy will come at the end of the month at $190 in Black, White and Gold. BLU Life One and One XL The BLU Life One comes in 5" and 5.5" versions, the latter is dubbed Life One XL. Both boast LTE and dual-SIM connectivity thanks to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 chipset (with a 64-bit processor) and run Android 4.4 KitKat. A 5.0 Lollipop update is in the works. The small one is 7.6mm thick and has a 2,420mAh battery, while the 5.5" model is 8.3mm thick and has a 2,820mAh battery. The bodies of both feature an anodized aluminum frame. The Life One and Life One XL have 13MP cameras with 1080p video capture and 5MP selfie cameras. They come with 8GB of expandable storage. The two phones will come out at the end of March, the BLU Life One will cost $180, while the BLU Life One XL will be $200. BLU Studio X and Studio X Plus More affordable alternatives to the Life One series, the BLU Studio X and Studio X Plus are 5" and 5.5" Android smartphones respectively. The screens on both are IPS LCDs with 720p resolution. Measuring 10.5-10.6mm these two aren't as thin as their Life One siblings. The two Studio X phones are powered by a quad-core processor and a MediaTek chipset with 1GB RAM. They run Android 4.4 KitKat at launch with a planned Lollipop update to follow. Connectivity includes 21Mbps HSPA and dual-SIM telephony. An 8MP/1080p camera adorns the back, while a 2MP snapper lies on the front. Storage is 8GB. The duo will launch at the end of the month, costing $130 for the 5" BLU Studio X and $150 for the 5.5" BLU Studio X Plus BLU Studio G The runt of the litter is the BLU Studio G - a $90 dual-SIM phone with a 5" IPS display (480 x 854px). It has the same chipset as the previous two Studios but with only 512MB RAM. Interestingly, this one will also make the jump from Android 4.4 KitKat to 5.0 Lollipop. Connectivity is on par too with 21Mbps HSPA, while the camra department has been demoted a touch - 5MP/1080p on the back and 2MP on the front. The BLU Studio G is coming out at the end of the...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/blu_unveils_7_new_phones_thin_powerful_lollipop_and_more-news-10679.php

BLU unveils 8 new phones: thin, powerful, Lollipop and more

BLU unveiled a large swath of new Android smartphones and not one of them is more expensive than $200. Yet there are premium features like super thin metal bodies, octa-core processors, LTE connectivity, massive batteries and more. BLU Vivo Air A rebadged Gionee Elife S5.1, the BLU Vivo Air has an impressively thin 5.1mm chassis. Its frame is made of an aluminum-magnesium alloy and weighs under 100g. The slender smartphone has a 4.8" AMOLED display with 720p resolution and Gorilla Glass 3 protection (same glass is used on the back too). The Vivo Air packs quite a punch for such a dainty frame with an octa-core Cortex-A7 processor, courtesy of a MediaTek MT6592 chipset. It's weighed down by the limited RAM though, 1GB. The phone runs Android 4.4 KitKat nad has 16GB of built-in storage. There's no LTE though, the phone tops out at 21Mbps 3G HSPA. The 8MP camera on the back records 1080p videos while the 5MP camera on the front will shoot all the selfies your Instagram followers can stomach. Despite being razor thin, the phone has a 2,100mAh battery. The BLU Vivo Air will be available in White Gold and Black starting mid-January at $200. You'll be able to find it at Amazon and other retailers. BLU Studio Energy The BLU Studio Energy is a twin of the Gionee Marathon M3 and just like it packs a massive 5,000mAh battery in a 10.4mm chassis. With 4 days of estimated battery life, the phone can handle 52 hours of calls with its two SIM cards. It has so much milliamps in its battery that it can even share them and charge other devices. In terms of hardware, the Studio Energy offers a 5" IPS display with 720p resolution and Gorilla Glass. It's powered by a more modest quad-core processor (with 1GB of RAM) and runs Android 4.4 KitKat too. Additional features include 8MP main camera, 2MP front camera, 21Mbps 3G HSPA connectivity and 8GB of built-in storage (plus a microSD card slot). The BLU Studio Energy will come at the end of the month at $190 in Black, White and Gold. BLU Life One and One XL The BLU Life One comes in 5" and 5.5" versions, the latter is dubbed Life One XL. Both boast LTE and dual-SIM connectivity thanks to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 chipset (with a 64-bit processor) and run Android 4.4 KitKat. A 5.0 Lollipop update is in the works. The small one is 7.6mm thick and has a 2,420mAh battery, while the 5.5" model is 8.3mm thick and has a 2,820mAh battery. The bodies of both feature an anodized aluminum frame. The Life One and Life One XL have 13MP cameras with 1080p video capture and 5MP selfie cameras. They come with 8GB of expandable storage. The two phones will come out at the end of March, the BLU Life One will cost $180, while the BLU Life One XL will be $200. BLU Studio X and Studio X Plus More affordable alternatives to the Life One series, the BLU Studio X and Studio X Plus are 5" and 5.5" Android smartphones respectively. The screens on both are IPS LCDs with 720p resolution. Measuring 10.5-10.6mm these two aren't as thin as their Life One siblings. The two Studio X phones are powered by a quad-core processor and a MediaTek chipset with 1GB RAM. They run Android 4.4 KitKat at launch with a planned Lollipop update to follow. Connectivity includes 21Mbps HSPA and dual-SIM telephony. An 8MP/1080p camera adorns the back, while a 2MP snapper lies on the front. Storage is 8GB. The duo will launch at the end of the month, costing $130 for the 5" BLU Studio X and $150 for the 5.5" BLU Studio X Plus BLU Studio G The runt of the litter is the BLU Studio G - a $90 dual-SIM phone with a 5" IPS display (480 x 854px). It has the same chipset as the previous two Studios but with only 512MB RAM. Interestingly, this one will also make the jump from Android 4.4 KitKat to 5.0 Lollipop. Connectivity is on par too with 21Mbps HSPA, while the camra department has been demoted a touch - 5MP/1080p on the back and 2MP on the front. The BLU Studio G is coming out at the end of the...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/blu_unveils_8_new_phones_thin_powerful_lollipop_and_more-news-10679.php

Xiaomi to announce super-thin flagship smartphone next week

Xiaomi has unveiled its plans to host a launch event for a new, super-thin flagship smartphone. The company is holding the event on January 15 at the National Conference Center in Beijing and has outed a teaser image to focus on the upcoming phone's thinness. There aren't any rumors regarding the specs of the phone so far. However, a Xiaomi representative has shared an interesting tidbit, that the upcoming flagship will be thinner than cicada insect's wings. Naturally, this is an over-exaggeration and we are yet to see how far the whole diet thing went. Surely, there will be more teasers of the device in the coming week. For now, all we can do is wonder just what is going to be inside the flagship. Xiaomi was one of the most successful smartphone makers in 2014 with more than 61.12 million smartphones sold. The company strives to reach 100 million in 2015, so it better have some killer offerings in the pipeline. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_schedules_an_event_to_announce_a_superthin_flagship_smartphone-news-10677.php

New superMHL will one day bring 8K@120fps output to phones

The MHL Consortium is looking to future-proof its TV-out connector with the new superMHL standard. Laughing in the face of 4K TVs everywhere the new connector can output 8K image. At 120 frames per second. And 48-bit color depth. Our condolences to internal storage and microSD cards alike. The superMHL connector supports HDR imagery and can power multiple display (up to 8) from a single source. When connecting to multiple devices (TV, disc player, AV receiver), it can unify their controls so you only need one remote. The connector can practically operate a small cinema with support with Dolby Atmos, DTS-UHD and 3D audio support. And because outputting 8K@120fps can't be easy, the connector will also supply 40W of power. To cut down on frustration the new Type C connector can be plugged in either way, similar to the new USB standard. superMHL steps on even more USB toes by offering a data connection between devices. Samsung played a big role in the development of superMHL standard and the new connector, so its next flagships are almost certain to be among the first ones to carry it. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/new_supermhl_will_one_day_bring_8k120fps_output_to_phones-news-10676.php

CES 2015: Samsung Galaxy A5, Avengers movie props hands-on

Samsung's press conference at CES didn't include any new mobile phones or tablets. The Korean manufacturer focused on its innovative SUHD TV, portable SSD drive and Milk Music...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/ces_2015_samsung-review-1193.php

Alcatel unveils LTE-packing Pop 2 phones, Pop 10 tablet

Alcatel's new Pop 2 devices are bringing LTE connectivity in multiple form factors and at a reasonable price. Announced at CES 2015, the four new members of the Pop family start with a 4" Android smartphone and scale to a 10" tablet with a dedicated keyboard dock. All three Pop 2 phones are powered by a Snapdragon 410 chipset with a quad-core 64-bit processor. The chipset also provide Cat. 4 LTE - that's 150Mbps downlink speed. The 5" model is the flagship of the line with a 1080p IPS screen and Android Lollipop. There's an 8MP camera on the back and a 2MP one on the front. The phone packs a 2,500mAh battery and will come in Volcano Black and Full White. Next up is the 4.5" model, which is much more colorful than its bigger counterpart. It has a wide variety of exchangeable back covers (we count 9 colors) and two color options for the front (black or white). Anyway, the Alcatel One Touch Pop 2 4.5" is a dual-SIM phone that runs an older version of Android, 4.4 KitKat. The screen also takes a step back - the resolution is 480 x 854px as does the camera also, a 5MP shooter with LED flash. The smallest of the bunch is the Alcatel One Touch Pop 2 4" model, which also has exchangeable back covers. Similarities continue with nearly the same screen resolution (480 x 800px) and a 5MP camera. The Alcatel One Touch Pop 10 is the company's new LTE-enabled tablet. It has a 10" IPS screen and Alcatel claims it's the thinnest and lightest of its size. At 7.9mm it's certainly not the thinnest, but the 400g of weight actually supports the claim for 10" tablets. It has a bespoke keyboard dock that turns it into a mini laptop. The keyboard has a mini trackpad too. The One Touch Pop 10 tablet is powered by a quad-core processor in a MediaTek instead of Intel and has only 8GB of built-in storage. There's a 5MP camera on the back and a 2MP one on the front. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/alcatel_unveils_ltepacking_pop_2_phones_pop_10_tablet-news-10675.php

Chinese manufacturer TCL is reviving Palm

Palm is one of those legendary companies that every self-respecting tech geek knows in detail and holds in high regard. This is more than justified as the American former tech leader had a tremendous influence on the smartphone world back in its date and was at the forefront of mobile innovation thanks to its superb devices and the revolutionary Palm OS and its successor webOS. The company, however, like many early Silicon Valley players went through a lot of turbulence and sadly didn't make it out in one piece. Now it seems there might still be light at the end of the tunnel for the legendary brand, as TCL (the Chinese company that makes the Alcatel OneTouch smartphones and is a very big player on the TV market) has announced that it intends to bring the Palm back to life and restore some of its former glory. TLC's concept is to stick to traditions with the restoration and in a way retaining Palm's roots as a "Silicon Valley" company. This all sounds very enthusiastic, especially for dedicated Palm fans, but not much is left of the original giant. That previously mentioned turbulent story is indeed a very rocky one. As many of you may remember Palm was a household name back in its glory days and fueled the US mobile scene, putting out spectacular products like the Pre and Pixi series, which were arguably ahead of their time. This was all powered by the very innovative Palm OS, which later set the ground for webOS, which still had many fans and by which some developers still swear. This is when luck started to shift for the California-based company as they were acquired by HP on July 1, 2010. A few rather unsuccessful webOS-powered devices followed and as a result further production of webOS-powered tech was ceased. Palm/HP Veer and Pre 3, arguably last of their kind In 2013, however the Linux-based OS, along with a portfolio of patents and a group of remaining employees from what was once Palm passed along to LG who ensured its future by making it open-source and incorporating it in its smart TVs. All that has left was the Palm brand itself, which HP sold last October to a subsidiary of the TCL Corporation and the ground was set for the upcoming resurrection operation. The Chinese manufacturer has indeed undertaken a formidable challenge, as a lot of expectations are placed upon it to deliver worthy successors to the Palm brand and satisfy a very particular and dedicated fan-base. Whether or not splitting smartphone efforts between two brands (Alcatel OneTouch and Palm) is a smart choice for TCL and weather properly executed new Palm devices can meet user requirements are all pungent questions. For now all we can do is rejoice at the news of the second coming and hope for the...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/chinese_manufacturer_tcl_is_reviving_palm-news-10674.php

Oppo U3 may pack 4x optical zoom, but probably not

Oppo love being able to attach "world's bestest" monikers to their new devices and this time is no different. According to information from Chinese regulator TENAA, their engineers have managed to fit a 4x zoom lens (if slightly protruding) into the 9mm thick body of the upcoming Oppo U3, thus beating the just-announced Asus Zenfone Zoom in both range and dimensions. Oppo U3 The whole thing sounds too good to be true - and judging by photos of the device, it most likely is. Chalk it up to a mistranslation or whatever, but this doesn't look like a camera with a mechanized lens. Even a Nokia-style zoom is unlikely since the sensor is only 13MP. At best this is similar to the Super Zoom the company puts on its Find flagships. Specs of the device have also come to light. It's built around a 5.9-inch display of 1080p resolution, resulting in a pixel density of 373ppi. An octa-core processor running at 1.7GHz alongside 2GB of RAM will make sure the Oppo U3 runs smoothly, while 16GB of built-in storage should be enough to get you started. A microSD card slot will allow expansion for those who need it. The phone measures 156.8 x 81.8mm. When it comes to design, the phablet is a plain rectangle with rather sharp corners and minimalistic bezels. It has been pictured in both black and white, with the white version sporting a carbon-fiber like back, and the black one - a more bland dotted patern. Alongside the U3, Oppo are also launching an attractive new headset, dubbed Oppo PM-3, for all music lovers. Oppo U3 | Oppo...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/oppo_u3_may_pack_4x_optical_zoom_but_probably_not-news-10673.php

Nokia N1 launches in China with a $260 price tag

Just as scheduled, the Nokia N1 officially launched today in China following a special event in Beijing. At its official announcement in November, the Nokia N1 was detailed to cost $249 without taxes and the Chinese price is similar at CNY 1,599 or roughly $257. The Nokia N1 comes with a 7.9-inch 2,048x1,536 pixel touchscreen display and an Intel Atom Z3580 chipset with a 2.3 GHz quad-core CPU and 2GB of RAM. There's 32GB of storage, , an 8 MP rear camera, a 5 MP front snapper, and a 5,300 mAh battery on board. The slate runs Android 5.0 Lollipop with Nokia's Z Launcher on top. Thanks to its powerful chipset, the slate has topped the AnTuTu CPU efficiency and image processing benchmarks. According to the benchmark's database, the N1 managed to score 45,121 in the CPU test easily beating the iPad Mini 3's result of 28,446. In the image processing test component, the N1 leads the iPad Mini 3 with 12,623 to 10,102 points. Nokia is expected to launch the N1 tablet in Europe in February. Source|...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_n1_launches_in_china_with_a_260_price_tag-news-10672.php

Moto G Google Play edition gets discontinued

The first generation Moto G, which was available on the Play Store in Google Play edition form, is no longer being sold. The phone was launched last year shortly after the standard version, and perplexed many as the standard version had close to stock software already and as such didn't differ much from the Google Play edition. The first generation model didn't stick around for long as Motorola quickly updated it with a second gen model last year itself, so it was only a matter of time before it disappeared from the Play Store as well. The Moto G now joins the many Google Play edition devices that have been discontinued in the past year, leaving the HTC One (M8) as the only surviving Google Play edition device left. Source •...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/moto_g_google_play_edition_gets_discontinued_-news-10671.php

Apple Watch to go on sale in March, new report says

Apple is on track to launch the Apple Watch by the end of March this year, and retail training is set to start next month, according to a new report. The company had earlier only said that device would launch in early 2015. As per the report, the tech giant is currently wrapping up work on the smartwatch software, and it is now busy with other things like testing the device's battery and improving the inductive charging mechanism. The Cupertino-based company is also planning on familiarizing Apple Retail Store employees with the new product through training programs that are scheduled to be held from February 9-16 at Apple offices in either Cupertino, California, or Austin, Texas. The report, however, notes that the current plans are not set in stone, and "unexpected delays in software development and manufacturing" could force the company to delay the launch even...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/apple_watch_to_go_on_sale_in_march_says_report-news-10669.php

Motorola reenters China with Moto G, Moto X, and new Moto X Pro

Motorola is reentering the Chinese market following the acquisition by Lenovo and it is doing so by launching three phones in the market. These include the Moto G 4G LTE, the Moto X, and the new Moto X Pro. While the first two are familiar to us, the third one isn't too different than something that goes by the name of Nexus 6. Indeed, the Moto X Pro is pretty much the Google Nexus 6 but with Motorola branding. All three phones are expected to go on sale in early 2015. Moto X buyers will be able to vote for their favorite colors and materials that they'd like to see at launch and following the Spring Festival will also be able to customize the phone before ordering using Moto Maker on Motorola's...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/motorola_reenters_china_with_moto_g_moto_x_and_new_moto_x_pro-news-10670.php

HTC Hima may employ a MediaTek SoC, at least in China

HTC's successor for the One (M8) from last year is clearly in the works, and it's allegedly codenamed Hima. We've known this for quite a while now, and we've even seen multiple rounds of leaked specs for this device. All of those did have one thing in common - a Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset for the Hima. But the phone may not employ that silicon in every single country where it will be sold, according to a new rumor out of China. Apparently there's a pretty high probability for HTC to also pick a high-end MediaTek SoC and use that in at least one version of the Hima. This may end up inside the China-bound variation of the smartphone, if not in more regional variants. The source of this report claims that there's a pretty high chance for this to happen. On the other hand, given how many past mumblings talked about Qualcomm silicon being used, we assume that the MediaTek version, if it exists, will be confined to a few countries. The MediaTek SoC might be cheaper than Qualcomm's best, so HTC could go that route in extremely price-sensitive markets in order to better compete with affordable flagships from Chinese smartphone makers. All that said, at this point this is still nothing but an unconfirmed rumor, so don't take it too seriously just yet. Source (in Chinese) |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/htc_hima_may_employ_a_mediatek_soc_at_least_in_china-news-10668.php

CES 2015 Misc brands: Sony, Nokia, Acer, Lamborghini

CES 2015 is now well under way and we've already seen numerous intriguing devices come out under various brands, big and small. Smartphones may be our specialty, but we're also in other smart gadgets too.

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/ces_2015_various-review-1191.php

CES 2015: HTC Desire 826 hands-on

HTC announced two new Desire smartphones at CES 2015 in Vegas - the high-end Desire 826 and affordable Desire 320. The latter is already on sale in North America, while the HTC Desire 826 is yet to be released later in January...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/ces_2015_htc-review-1192.php

Kodak announces its first Android smartphone, the IM5

The latest entrant into the smartphone realm is none other than Kodak, though what it has unveiled today is less of a camera running Android, and more of an actual smartphone. It looks like one and has smartphone specs, so it's definitely (just) a smartphone. The Kodak IM5 comes with midrange innards mostly, except for the camera which features "unique image management software". More on that in a bit. The handset has a 5-inch 720p touchscreen, a 13 MP rear snapper with LED flash, a 5 MP front camera, 1GB of RAM, 8GB of built-in storage, and microSD card support. Running the show is an unnamed 1.7 GHz octa-core processor, though the clock speed makes us think it's part of a MediaTek chipset (probably the MT6592). The Kodak IM5 runs Android 4.4 KitKat, and it will be updated to Android 5.0 Lollipop, even if a clear timeline for that hasn't been given (or a reason for it not launching with the latest software in the first place). Expect the IM5 to become available in Europe towards the end of March, followed by a global rollout later on. It will cost €229, and when it eventually lands in the US you'll be able to pick one up for $249 (sans contract of course). Camera-wise, you'll get an app that will let you quickly edit photos, share them on social media, or directly print them, since it's apparently going to be "compatible with home printers". This is clearly just an attempt to capitalize on a very well known brand, since the hardware is nothing spectacular. Whether enough people will fall for that remains to be seen. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/kodak_announces_its_first_android_smartphone_the_im5-news-10667.php

CES 2015: Lenovo Vibe X2 Pro, P90 hands-on

Lenovo brought so many new devices at CES - phones, a wrist band, tablets and laptops, and we are still digging through the press releases just to be sure we didn't miss anything...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/ces_2015_lenovo-review-1190.php

New ZTE Nubia Z9 images confirm extremely slim bezels

It's not the first time we've seen alleged live photos of the successor to the ZTE Nubia Z7 but a new batch has just popped up. Sadly we didn't get any technical specs this time either. If you couldn't tell that the home button is the distinctive Nubia red circle, the inscription on the back leaves no doubt about which family the device belongs to. ZTE Nubia Z9 The front is all about the display with bezels brought to a minimum. Expect to hear marketing talk of "impressive screen-to-body ratio" upon launch. The reflections on the front hint that the glass is curved towards the edges, Galaxy Note 4 style. It's not all good though, the pictures show a far-from-perfect positioning of what is probably the power button at the top right which makes unlocking the device a two hand operation. Double-tap-to-wake wouldn't be a bad idea. Of course, as always, none of this is set in stone. The source also claims ZTE is running into technical difficulties, which delay manufacturing, so we'll just have to wait around and...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/more_leaked_images_of_the_zte_nubia_z9-news-10666.php