BlackBerry set to launch a limited edition Gold Passport

BlackBerry is about to launch a limited edition Gold Passport. Only 50 pieces of the decked out smartphone will be available to order worldwide. A listing for the upcoming luxury version of the smartphone is already live in BlackBerry's online store in Canada. The handset is priced at $999. The Gold BlackBerry Passport will feature metal trim and frets adorned by the precious metal. Each device will be engraved with ‘Limited Edition' moniker, as well as a production number. BlackBerry Passport is already available in gold, though not directly from the manufactures. A Vietnamese jeweler showcased the smartphone with 24K gold plating a couple of months ago. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/blackberry_set_to_launch_a_limited_edition_gold_passport-news-10809.php

Check out all the new phones that debuted this week

It has been a busy week, with intriguing announcements taking place in various parts of the world. To make sure you haven't missed anything here's the quick recap of all the new phones that debuted over the past 7 days. Arguably, the most important event was Chinese manufacturer Xiaomi's press conference on Wednesday. After we had seen a fair share of rumors and leaks of its next flagship, the company unveiled not one, but two devices. The Xiaomi Mi Note and the Xiaomi Mi Note Pro appear identical at first glance, but the Pro moniker carries important benefits in the hardware department. Not that the vanilla Mi Note is too shabby, packing last-year's flagship Snapdragon 801 chipset, 3GB of RAM and 16/64GB of built-in storage. The device is firmly in phablet territory with a 5.7-inch 1080p screen. The Mi Note Pro builds upon that, featuring the latest Snapdragon 810, a whopping 4GB of RAM, and a QuadHD display of the same size. The Pro version will also boot Lollipop, unlike the KitKat 4.4.4 of its inferior sibling. The week saw the market premiere of the Tizen platform on a smartphone - Samsung Z1. The budget device was launched in India carrying a price tag of $92. The specsheet is understandably modest, with an entry-level dual-core processor, paired by 768MB of RAM and 4GB of expandable storage. Android apps will be able to run on the device via a third-party solution, providing a solid ground for the emerging Tizen OS. Microsoft announced two new smartphones this week (or 4, if count the dual SIM versions separately), both low-end Windows Phone 8.1 devices. The Lumia 435 sports a Snapdragon 200 with a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM and 8GB of internal storage. 2MP main camera and a VGA front shooter are present to meet basic needs. The Lumia 532 is slightly better-equipped, packing a quad-core processor and a 5MP main camera. The rest is all the same between the two, including the 4-inch 480 x 800 pixel display, the 1560mAh battery, and microSD expansion option. The Lumia 435 will set you back €70, while the Lumia 532 is a good €10 more expensive. Be sure to follow the links in the table below for quick access to the detailed hardware specs and official images. .news-item .n-left { float: left; width: 26%; text-align: center; } .news-item .n-right { float: left; width: 74%; } .news-item a { padding-bottom: 0; padding-left: 0; } .news-item .n-right h2, .reviews-item .n-right h2 { clear: both; padding: 0 0 3px 0px; font: 400 19px Oswald, Arial; margin-top: -4px; } .n-right p { margin-top: 25px; line-height: 155%; } .news-item { padding-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 10px; border-top: 1px solid #ccc; } .news-item p { margin-left: 0; } .n-right h2 a { text-decoration: none; color: #000; } .flat-button{ text-align:center; text-decoration: none !important; font: 400 22px Oswald,Arial !important; //font-family: sans-serif; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-size: 150%; //background: #0CADA7; padding: 20px 60px !important; display: inline-block; white-space: nowrap; -webkit-border-radius: 5px; -moz-border-radius: 5px; border-radius: 5px; margin: 10px 0; -webkit-transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out; -ms-transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out; -moz-transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out; -o-transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out; transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out; color: #fff !important;}.flat-button-1 { background: #0CADA7;}.flat-button-1:hover { background: #0A948F; color: #666666 !important;}.flat-button-2 { background: #FF7E47;}.flat-button-2:hover { background: #EE7440; color: #666666 !important;} Xiaomi Mi Note Pro specs gallery Xiaomi Mi Note specs gallery Samsung Z1 specs gallery Microsoft Lumia 532 specs gallery Microsoft Lumia 532 Dual SIM specs gallery Microsoft Lumia 435 specs gallery Microsoft Lumia 435 Dual SIM specs gallery Oppo R1C specs ...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/check_out_all_the_new_phones_that_debuted_this_week-news-10795.php

5" Moto G Titan and 4.3" Moto E Styx leak with Lollipop

Detailed specs of two exciting phones leaked from the most unusual of places today. Two upcoming additions to the Motorola lineup got listed on the website of UK retailer Argos, complete with detailed specs and even pricing info. The devices in question are called Moto G Titan and Moto E Styx and they are both powered by the latest available Android 5.0 Lollipop. The Moto G Titan is basically a 4G LTE version of the Moto G (2014). It fits in the same chassis as the current Moto, measuring 141.5x70.7x10.99mm but weighs 6 grams more at 155g. Its screen size is still 5", but the listing speaks of 1280 x 768 pixel resolution, rather than the 1280 x 720 pixel screen of the Moto G (2014). Given that the footprint hasn't been modified it's likely that this is a typo though as the different resolution would mean a different aspect display. Other confirmed Moto G Titan specs include 8GB of expandable storage, quad-core CPU and an 8MP camera. Finally, the price listed for the SIM-free model £159.95, which is slightly more than what Moto G (2014) currently costs, but that was to be expected from a 4G model. Moto G Titan and Moto E Styx leaked pages The other leaked phone is Moto E Styx and it is to the Moto E, what the Titan is to the Moto G. That is to say it adds 4G LTE connectivity, while maintaining the same size and likely design. This time however the upgrade also includes a snappier chipset as the CPU has been switched to a quad-core one from a dual-core on the original Moto E. Despite that the Moto E Styx is listed as costing £109.95, or about £10 more than the Moto E. We are yet to see actual photos of the two new smartphones, but given the identical dimensions they will probably look just like the current Moto E and Moto G. Here's hoping Motorola makes those official soon so we also learn when we will actually be able to buy...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/5_moto_g_titan_and_43_moto_e_styx_leak_with_lollipop_-news-10808.php

Week 3 in review: Mi Note, Lumia 532, 435, Samsung Z1

This week saw a lot of action in the mobile world. After all the dust had settled and last week's CES 2015 was officially over all seemed calm with no great action expected until the MWC kicks off. January 14, however brought about an unexpected avalanche of new devices that for one reason or another did not make their way to the Las Vegas event floor. Microsoft announced two new entry-level Windows Phone devices. They will both offer a 4-inch LCD screen, with a resolution of 480 x 800px and a Snapdragon 200 SoC, which is outdated at best. On the plus side the couple only costs €70/€80.. Samsung was also unsurprisingly present in the news and for two main reasons. One being ever growing rumors surrounding the next Galaxy S6 smartphone as well as impending Lillipop updates and the other the Samsung Z1. The handset got announced this week and while it has little to offer in terms of hardware it is unique as the first ever Tizen-powered smartphone. Xiaomi was also big on news this week with the announcement of two brand new flagship devices. Both look and sound incredibly exciting: the Mi Note with its Snapdragon 801 SoC, 3GB of RAM and 5.7-inch FHD display and the even more breathtaking Mi Note Pro with a beastly Snapdragon 810 SoC, whopping 4 GB RAM and QHD 5.7-inch screen. So if you think you might have missed something important from this week's we have gathered the highlights in the table below. .news-item .n-left { float: left; width: 16%; text-align: center; margin-left: -13px; } .news-item .n-right { float: left; width: 84%; } .news-item a { padding-bottom: 0; padding-left: 0; } .news-item .n-right h2, .reviews-item .n-right h2 { clear: both; padding: 0 0 3px 0px; font: 400 19px Oswald, Arial; margin-top: -4px; } .n-right p { line-height: 155%; } .news-item { padding-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 10px; border-top: 1px solid #ccc; } .news-item p { margin-left: 0; } .n-right h2 a { text-decoration: none; color: #000; } Xiaomi Mi Note Pro is official with QHD display, Snapdragon 810 SoC Xiaomi Mi Note Pro looks just like the newly announced Mi Note - it uses a dual-glass design with a 2.5D front and 3D rear glass. The footprint remains the same as the standard Mi Note, but the Pro version brings a better 5.7" display and more powerful innards. Xiaomi Ni Note Pro utilizes a... Xiaomi announces new Mi Note phablet with 5.7-inch display Xiaomi has finally announced its latest smartphone that it has been teasing for the past few days. The Xiaomi Mi Note is the company's latest flagship that it is using to compete against the Apple iPhone 6 Plus. The Mi Note is about the same size as the iPhone 6 Plus but has a bigger... Reuters: Sony is open to selling its mobile phone business According to a report in Reuters, Sony executives are open to all options to turn around the giant's struggling mobile division. including sale and joint venture. Potential paths include a sale or a joint venture with another partner. Despite churning out respectable smartphones, Sony is... Samsung Z1 Tizen-based smartphone goes official Just a day after there were reports that Samsung will launch its Z1 smartphone in India this week, the device has been launched with a price tag of INR 5,700 ($92). It is the company's first Tizen OS-based smartphone in the country, and is available in White, Black, and Wine Red colour... Six smartphones debuted today - see if you have missed any Today, on what was a seemingly uneventful day we saw the announcement of six new devices. Among them are four new entry-level Lumia handsets, well actually two - Lumia 435 and Lumia 532, just in both single and dual SIM variants. They will both offer a 4-inch LCD screen, with a resolution of 480... Galaxy Note 4 Lollipop manual appears, update imminent Samsung has updated the user manual for the Galaxy Note 4 to reflect on the changes the Android 5.0.1 Lollipop update is bringing. The firmware update is anticipated to land some time this month and the latest manual is a strong indication that the wait for owners of the phone will soon be... Galaxy...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/week_3_in_review_mi_note_lumia_532_435_samsung_z1-news-10794.php

Nokia Lumia 635 arrives on Sprint in the United States

Nokia Lumia 635 is now available for Sprint Wireless in the United States. Sprint is the third major carrier in the country to offer the budget-friendly smartphone after AT&T and T-Mobile. The device is available for $0 with a two-year contract or for $7 monthly for 24 months with Sprint Easy Pay. The off-contract price tag of the Nokia Lumia 635 is $168. Considering that the Lumia 635 is already quite affordable with no commitment, we reckon that signing a contract to get it for free is not a great idea. Opting for the Easy Pay plan or paying for the device outright is the way to go. You can find out more about the Nokia Lumia 635 in our full review. Source | Via...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_lumia_635_arrives_on_sprint_in_the_us-news-10807.php

Xiaomi Mi Note, Mi Note Pro priced for international orders

Xiaomi made its new Mi Note and Mi Note Pro phablets official just yesterday, at a special event. During that we were told how much they would cost in China, but so far we've had no idea what to expect internationally. See, like its previous high-end devices, Xiaomi's Mi Note and Mi Note Pro will be released in China first, at the end of this month. That said, it's unclear when the company will offer them elsewhere. And even when it does, it will only sell them in the handful of Asian countries in which it's already established a presence. If you live anywhere else and want a Xiaomi phone, you have to resort to resellers - online stores which buy the wares from China and then ship them to you. One of these companies, Oppomart (no relation with Oppo despite the name), has thankfully already priced the two new Xiaomi phablets for international orders. And while sometimes we see quite a markup when we compare reseller prices to official Chinese levels, that's not entirely true this time around. You'll be able to buy a Mi Note for $399. That's just $29 more than the $370 into which the handset's official pricing of CNY 2,299 currently translates. The situation is slightly different for the Mi Note Pro. This will go for CNY 3,299 in China, which is about $531, while Oppomart will send you one for $599. So the markup is higher in this case, but you are buying a pretty expensive phone to begin with. Keep in mind that shipping costs will have to be added to both of those amounts, and they probably vary based on where in the world you're located. Also note that you can't order the new phablets just yet. Expect to do that after the first flash sales conclude in China, so either at the end of January, or in early February. Source 1 • Source 2 |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_mi_note_and_mi_note_pro_priced_for_international_orders-news-10806.php

Galaxy Note 4 and LG G3 added to Sprint's leasing scheme

Back in October of last year, Sprint started offering its customers a leasing scheme for certain high-end smartphones. This started with the iPhone 6, but was then expanded to include both the Samsung Galaxy S5 and the Galaxy S5 Sport. And from today the carrier is adding two more handsets to this initiative. They are the LG G3 and the Samsung Galaxy Note 4. Sprint will lease you a G3 for $15 per month, and a Galaxy Note 4 for $25 per month. The prices are excluding taxes and fees, as you may have expected. When you sign the lease, if you're a "qualified customer" you'll pay absolutely nothing. After 24 months of benefiting from such a lease, if you are "in good standing", you'll have four options. You could turn in the phone you leased and lease another handset, paying only its monthly lease amount. Or you could purchase the leased device, continue leasing on a month-to-month basis, or return the smartphone you leased (in good working condition of course) and terminate your Sprint contract when the lease ends. It's your choice, naturally. Sprint says both existing and new customers can use the leasing...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/galaxy_note_4_and_lg_g3_added_to_sprints_leasing_scheme-news-10805.php

Sony Xperia C3 and C3 Dual review: Let me take a selfie

The Sony Xperia C3 is touted as a PROselfie smartphone but it could've easily been missed in a growing crowd of handsets boasting high-res wide-angle front cams. Sony's first 5MP front-facer with a 25mm wide-angle lens sure took a while...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/sony_xperia_c3_dual-review-1197.php

HTC Nexus 9 will be offered by O2 UK starting on Monday

This coming Monday, on January 19, the HTC-made Nexus 9 tablet will become available at O2 UK. Obviously you've been able to pick up a contract-free Nexus 9 for a while now, but if instead you wanted to get it with a data plan from an operator, then this surely is for you. You'll be able to purchase the Nexus 9 for as low as £29.99. To do that, you'll need to pick a plan that offers you 3GB of data each month and costs £32. If you're feeling generous (towards O2, that is), then you can go for a higher data allotment, all the way up to 8GB per month. This does mean you'll pay more, as you may have expected. There are intermediary options too, of course, a myriad of different contracts - one to suit every taste, it would seem (except if you need more than 8GB each month). The Nexus 9 will be offered by O2 on its Refresh tariff. That means that you'll be able to upgrade the device before the end of your contract if you pay off its remaining value. This somewhat mitigates one of the problems of such long-terms contracts with operators, allowing you to switch hardware when you get bored (or when the next Nexus tablet hits the market). It's still unclear which color versions O2 will have in stock. The Nexus 9 comes in three variants - black, white, and sand - the last of which only went on sale a few days ago. We'll find out on Monday though. If you have an older device around that you don't use anymore, then you can turn that in for O2 to recycle. And if you do that, you can receive a small price reduction for the Nexus...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/htc_nexus_9_will_be_offered_by_o2_uk_starting_on_monday-news-10804.php

Android 5.0 Lollipop update for the LG G2 is live in South Korea

The Android 5.0 Lollipop update for the LG G2 looks to be happening right now for some users in South Korea. According to LG Phone Firmware, which tracks the company's progress on updating its smartphones, the Lollipop update for the phone is seeding right now for LG G2 units working on SK Telecom and LG U+ netoworks. The update is marked under the version V30D, with the "3" indicates the Android version. V20A is a KitKat build, while the V20D is the build that brought Knock Code to the G2. In fact, you can go ahead and download the update yourself, but always be prepared to revert back to your stock build. In any case, this shows that LG will soon be releasing the update internationally as well. A recent video of the LG G2 running Android Lollipop appeared and there you can see what the update looks like. Thanks for the tip,...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/android_50_lollipop_update_for_the_lg_g2_is_live_in_south_korea-news-10803.php

Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 issues a thing of the past

The past few months have been plagued by rumors about Qualcomm's manufacturing issues with the Snapdragon 810 SoC, the chipset of choice for high-end devices in 2015. The company has tried to do its best to dissipate them, by reiterating how everything is perfectly fine, only to see another report pop up the following week. Digitimes, however, has gathered some research indicating that the semiconductor giant has managed to reach a resolution and the unit has already entered mass production. The recent unveiling of the LG G Flex2 and Xiaomi Mi Note Pro, both featuring the said piece of silicon, is a clear demonstration of that as well. Xiaomi's flagship is scheduled to start shipping as early as January 27, and LG's curved piece is available now for preorder. The Snapdragon 810 is Qualcomm's first venture into the big.LITTLE architecture. Built with a 20nm fabrication process, the chipset utilizes 4 powerful Cortex-A57 cores for perfomance demanding situations and 4 energy-efficient Cortex-A53 cores for battery conservation the rest of the time. Both sets of cores can be summoned to work together in the toughest computational cases. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/qualcomm_snapdragon_810_issues_a_thing_of_the_past-news-10800.php

HTC sends out MWC 2015 invites, is building a utopia

HTC sent out invites for its MWC 2015 event. The invite is pretty simple - a starry sky with the words "Utopia in progress" below the company's logo. Unfortunately that's all there is, no silhouettes of phones, no promises of ground-breaking flagships, nothing. Last year at the MWC all HTC brought was the Desire 816, a mid-range phablet and all we got is a short hands on. This year, however, everyone is expecting the 2015 flagships to emerge at the MWC stage. HTC invites us to MWC 2015 The HTC One (M9), if that's what they decide to call it, will reportedly make the jump to a 5" QHD screen, a Snapdragon 810 chipset, a 20.7MP camera on the front with maybe an UltraPixel selfie camera and a burly 3,500mAh battery to power it all. Of course, HTC could release another mid-ranger and call it a day, the utopia message is as ambiguous as it gets. Still, the MWC is a couple of months away so there's plenty of time for teasers and leaks to stoke the...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/htc_sends_out_mwc_2015_invites_is_building_a_utopia-news-10801.php

The Galaxy S6 to use a non-swipe fingerprint sensor

Fingerprint sensors finally gained popularity on smartphones, but the experience isn't always prefect. Some companies, like Samsung, used the swipe type of sensor where you had to swipe your thumb (or other finger) over the Home button, which wasn't always easy to do while holding a 5+ inch slab. Insiders claim that the company will be moving to the other kind of sensor - one that reads your fingerprint from your stationary digit. You just place your finger (at any angle) and hold it for a moment, that's how it works on the iPhones and the Huawei Ascend Mate 7. To accommodate the new sensor, Samsung has made the Home key on the upcoming Galaxy S6 bigger. It's not clear if it will work while the screen is off (like on the Ascend Mate 7) or not (like on the iPhones). The sensor will still offer the extensive TouchWiz functionality, including Private mode, Pay with PayPal, as well as signing into Samsung Account and supported websites. The Samsung Galaxy S6 will use a new TouchWiz software and may come in two versions - regular and Edge. The regular one will pack a QHD screen, the dual-sided Edge screen will be a bit above...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/the_galaxy_s6_may_use_a_nonswipe_fingerprint_sensor-news-10799.php

Sony Xperia Z4 gets certified by Japanese wireless authority

While CES has been the traditional scene for new Xperia Z announcements, this year the company seems to be keeping its ace for the Mobile World Congress. Meanwhile, the Xperia Z4 has been certified in its home country in three versions - NTT DoCoMo, KDDI and SoftBank. Al three support LTE, including VoLTE, which is the new generation in voice call technology and is slowly gaining support from carriers. The phones also support Wi-Fi a/b/g/n/ac. The new flagship is expected to keep the defining features of the Xperia Z3 - a 5.2" Triluminos display, water resistance and the traditional Xperia design language. The new flagship will most likely be powered by a Snapdragon 810 chipset, which will bring Cat. 9 LTE connectivity, that's 450Mbps. The Xperia Z4 Ultra and Z4 Compact will use the same chipset, but they will have screen sizes that are polar opposites - 6.44" and 4.7". The Xperia Z4 Compact will have the usual 20.7MP camera, a 5MP selfie camera, and a whopping 3,000mAh battery. The bigger Xperia Z4 Ultra will have a 16MP camera, 3,500mAh or 4,000mAh battery. Thanks to Claudiu for sending this in! Source 1 • 2 • 3 (in Japanese) • 4 |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/sony_xperia_z4_gets_certified_by_japanese_wireless_authority-news-10798.php

Xiaomi Mi Note supports both FDD-LTE and TD-LTE

The Xiaomi Mi Note went official yesterday with LTE Cat 9 support that grants it up to 450Mbps download speeds. Interestingly, Xiaomi seems to be planning a wider release of the phone than just China as the Mi Note is revealed to support both FDD-LTE and TD-LTE. FDD-LTE is more widely spread than TD-LTE and is used in the majority of LTE markets. Additionally, the phone supports WCDMA, TD-SCDMA 3G and basic GSM networks. If you're looking to import a unit for yourself, pre-orders open on January 20 and shipping begins on January 27. Pricing of the Mi Note starts at $370 (CNY 2299) for the 16GB model and $450 (CNY 2799) for the 64GB one. The Mi Note runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 with 2.5GHz quad-core CPU and Adreno 330 GPU, 3GB RAM and 16/64GB internal memory. It also supports dual 4G SIM...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_mi_note_supports_both_fddlte_and_tdlte-news-10797.php

OnePlus Two rumored to have 5.5" screen, QHD this time

There might still be those of you toiling hard to get an invite for the OnePlus One, but the OnePlus Two is in the works and it should be worth waiting for. Rumors have surfaced, claiming the next generation of an already solid performer to be even better. Unnamed sources claim the OnePlus Two, as it will likely be named, will retain the same 5.5-inch display size, but with resolution increased to QHD, as probably any respectable flagship this year. The high-end Snapdragon 810 will provide computing power and system memory is reported to be 4GB as the just-unveiled Xiaomi Mi Note Pro, which is shaping to be a chief rival. Battery capacity is quoted at 3,300mAh, a slight bump over the predecessor's 3,100mAh unit. The phone will run on Android 5.0 with the company's proprietary simplistic overlay. The OnePlus Two will carry a higher price tag at RMB2,699 yuan ($435) following a trend of emerging Chinese manufacturers to bump prices once the brand is established. A smaller OnePlus device might also be in development, for those who want flagship hardware, but can't bear the heft of a...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/oneplus_two_rumored_at_same_55_inches_qhd_this_time-news-10793.php

New batch Yu Yureka phablets will go on sale January 22

For better or for worse the eastern model of selling hotly anticipated smartphones involves squirting out small batches that are literally gone in seconds. This happened to the Yu Yureka, which got a limited 10,000 unit release on Amazon.in (the exclusive retailer) that was gone in 3 seconds. A new batch is incoming - it will go on sale on Amazon on January 22, 2 PM local time. Since demand outstrips supply, you need to register before you can buy a Yureka, something to do before the sale starts since the units will be gone in seconds. It's not clear how many units will be available this time. As before the phablet will cost INR 9,000 (which translates to $145) and offer an impressive feature set to go with it - a 5.5" 720p screen, 64-bit Snapdragon 615, 13MP camera and dual-SIM with LTE connectivity. The Yu Yureka runs Cyanogen OS 11, but bear in mind Micromax's track record with software isn't great. Cyanogen itself doesn't has run into some controversy in India. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/new_batch_yu_yureka_phablets_will_go_on_sale_january_22-news-10791.php

Microsoft teases wider Lumia Denim rollout, 930 getting it now

Microsoft promised that the Lumia Denim update will soon be released for a wider share of Windows Phone 8.1 devices and markets this month once partner testing has been completed. Until then the Lumia Denim update will continue to arrive in waves for devices - currently we have reports saying Lumia 930 owners are receiving the firmware update in the Middle East *Oman, Qatar, UAE), parts of Asia (Hong Kong and Taiwan) and Latin America (Columbia, Mexico, El Salvador and Costa Rica) as well as Europe (Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Norway and Denmark). Many WP8.1 Lumia devices have already received the Lumia Denim update in Europe and India, China while the Lumia 822, Lumia 928 and Lumia Icon (internationally known as 930) have gotten the update on Verizon in the US. The Lumia 830, Lumia 930, Lumia 1520 and Lumia Icon will receive the new Lumia Camera 5 with the new firmware. Lumia Denim will improve virtual voice assistant Cortana with natural voice scenarios, snooze for reminders and with car integration, "Hey Cortana" will be added as a wake-up phrase, users will get Live Folders on the homescreen, updated Glance Screen, improvements to Internet Explorer and the option to add a Consumer VPN. The Lumia Denim update is compatible with these devices - Lumia 520, 520T, 521, 525, 526, 530, 530 Dual SIM, 535, 535 Dual SIM, 620, 625, 630, 630 Dual SIM, 635, 636, 638, 720, 720T, 730 Dual SIM, 735, 810, 820, 822, 830, 920, 920T, 925, 925T, 928, 930, Icon, 1020, 1320 and 1520. Additionally the Windows Phone 8.1 GDR2 update is expected to drop sometime this year, perhaps we'll know more after the Windows 10 even after theJanuary 21. Source 1 |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/microsoft_teases_wider_lumia_denim_rollout_930_getting_it_now-news-10790.php

Lenovo launches A6000 smartphone in India

Lenovo has launched its newest budget smartphone, the A6000, in the Indian market. The phone is priced at Rs. 6,999 ($113) and will be available exclusively through online retailer Flipkart. Registrations for the phone open today at 6:00 PM IST. The Lenovo A6000 has a 5.0-inch, 720p IPS display, 64-bit quad-core Snapdragon 401 chipset, 1GB RAM, 8GB internal storage with microSD expansion, 8 megapixel rear camera, 2 megapixel front camera, stereo speakers with Dolby Digital Plus, 4G LTE connectivity, dual SIM support, 2,300mAh battery, and Android 4.4...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/lenovo_launches_a6000_smartphone_in_india_-news-10792.php

Android 5.0.2 factory images available for Nexus 10 and 7 2013

Android Lollipop has been a reality for quite some time now, but the massive OS overhaul is undoubtedly a huge venture and there is still a lot of work to be done to get a final polished product. Even though there are AOSP builds for pretty much all current Nexus devices it comes as no surprise that not only outside manufacturers are still knee deep in integrating Lollipop into their device lineup, but Google itself is also hard at work polishing rough-edges on its own standardized hardware. Today an Android 5.0.2 build war released on the Google Developers website for both the Nexus 10 and Nexus 7 WiFi - 2013 model tablets. This is a minor version update and it is primarily intended to patch a couple of minor bugs on the aforementioned devices. According to the changelog the build addresses issues with storage and alarm problems. A build with the same version number first saw the light of day late last month for the Nexus 7 2012 tablet. It patched the very same issues and presumably that device was the first to experience them. Google has not released the minor 5.0.2 update for Nexus 6, Nexus 5 and Nexus 9 yet, but that is only natural if said devices do not require the specific bug fixes. An OTA is not planned for the new build as of now, so nexus 10 and 7 WiFi 2013 owners can head on to the developer page and follow the manual update instructions. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/android_502_factory_images_available_for_nexus_10_and_7_2013-news-10789.php

User agent profile confirms QHD display for Samsung Galaxy S6

While we're waiting for the Samsung Galaxy S6 to show up this quarter (hopefully around the Mobile World Congress) we're treated to the latest leak. The User Agent Profile for a SM-G920A has been found confirming some of the details we're keen to know about the device, prior to launch. We didn't really expect anything different but the UAProf confirms the 1440x2560px (QHD) screen resolution of the device. What's interesting about the leak is the CPU information. According to the user agent profile the Samsung Galaxy S6 will use an ARM11-based chipset, which is hard to believe since this is a very old architecture (we're now at ARMv8-A while ARM11 is ARMv6). What's more is that ARM11 is solely 32-bit and there's no mention of 64-bit anywhere in the UAProf. The upcoming Samsung flagship is expected to come in two versions with the company's first 64-bit Exynos 7420 and a limited in numbers Snapdragon-powered version (similarly to the Galaxy Alpha) - so this UAProf may refer to some test model with pre-release hardware or that the CPU listing will be changed in a later time. The Samsung Galaxy S6 in the UAProf is expected to be the US-heading AT&T model. Thanks for the tip! Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/user_agent_profile_confirms_qhd_display_for_samsung_galaxy_s6-news-10788.php

Xiaomi Mi 4 to launch in India on January 28

Xiaomi has announced that it will be launching its last year's flagship device - the Mi 4 - in India on January 28. Unfortunately, no price was mentioned but we will update you on that as soon as that information is available. The Mi 4 has a 5.0-inch 19280x1080 display, Snapdragon 801 processor, 3GB RAM, 16/64GB memory, 13 megapixel rear camera, 8 megapixel front camera, 3,080mAh battery and MIUI 5.0 based on Android...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_mi_4_to_launch_in_india_on_january_28-news-10787.php

OnePlus One to get CM-based Android 5.0 next month

Cyanogen founder Steve Kondik revealed that OnePlus One will receive stable Android 5.0 Lollipop update next month. The ROM will be based on CyanogenMod 12 build. The Cyanogen-based ROM will not be available to OnePlus One users in India. As you probably know by now, Micromax has partnered with Cyanogen to offer its software exclusively on its Yu sub-brand. The Yureka smartphone is the first device from the Indian manufacturer to boot a Cyanogen-based ROM. OnePlus One users in India will receive an Android 5.0 Lollipop update developed by the Chinese manufacturer. OnePlus recently released an Android 5.0 alpha ROM for overly anxious users. Steve Kondik also shed some light on the tussle between Micromax and OnePlus in India. As it turns out, Cyanogen got "stuck" in the fight between the two companies. The developers had short exclusivity agreements with both companies - Cyanogen licensed its ROM for free to both Micromax and OnePlus. Source...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/oneplus_one_will_get_cyanogenbased_android_50_next_month-news-10786.php

BlackBerry Classic is now available to buy in India

For Indian lovers of that classic BlackBerry form factor, here's some good news. BlackBerry has finally decided to launch the Classic in the subcontinent today. Furthermore, the device is already available to buy, so you don't have to wait one moment longer if you've been craving it. The BlackBerry Classic is up for grabs at Snapdeal and at all BlackBerry Exclusive Stores. To get the latest iteration of a candybar BlackBerry with a full physical QWERTY keyboard underneath the screen, you'll need to pay INR 31,990. That translates into approximately $517 or €444. The Classic was made official last year as the successor to the Q10 from 2013. It comes with a 3.5-inch 720x720 touchscreen, an 8 MP rear camera with LED flash, a 2 MP secondary cam, and support for Cat.4 LTE (with theoretical peak download speeds of 150Mbps). It's powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset, with a 1.5 GHz dual-core Krait CPU and Adreno 225 GPU. It has 2GB of RAM, 16GB of expandable storage, and a 2,515 mAh battery. It runs BlackBerry OS...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/blackberry_classic_is_now_available_to_buy_in_india-news-10785.php

LG G4 rumored to come with 16MP camera, Snapdragon 810

This year's top Android smartphone from LG is probably going to be the G4, going by the naming convention the Korean company has been using for a few years now. This device should be unveiled in the coming months, but so far few details about it have surfaced. Today a rumor originating in Greece tells us what camera resolution to expect the G4 to pack, along with the chipset that LG will choose. The screenshots above are reportedly from an Android 5.0 Lollipop dump, and and they reveal that the LG G4 will sport a 16MP camera, with the top resolution of 5,312x2,988. This means we're looking at a 16:9 sensor here. Furthermore, the G4 is said to come with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 SoC, despite the overheating issues that have been rumored time and time again to be plaguing this particular part. LG's already announced a smartphone with this chip, the G Flex 2, and apparently the G4 will follow in its footsteps. On the other hand, the G4 will come with a QHD (2,560x1,440) touchscreen, unlike the G Flex 2 which has a 1080p panel. This is natural, considering that the G3 had the higher resolution too. The exact screen size for the G4 hasn't been revealed yet, but it could be 5.3". RAM should be at least 3GB, though with the Snapdragon 810 being 64-bit LG could go for 4GB, like Xiaomi just did with its Mi Note Pro. Obviously you shouldn't take any of this for granted right now. If these details are real, then expect them to get confirmed by other rumors and leaks in the near future. Source (in Greek) |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/lg_g4_rumored_to_come_with_16mp_camera_snapdragon_810-news-10784.php

Xiaomi Mi Note gets benchmarked, overtakes the Mi 4

A few hours ago, Xiaomi took the wraps off its two new phablets - the Mi Note and the Mi Note Pro. While the latter comes with the best possible specs for this day and age, the "lower-end" Mi Note is probably worthy of flagship status too, despite not coming with the latest chipset or screen resolution. It will be cheaper than the Pro model, though, which could mean it's going to be good enough for many people. And if you were wondering how it performs in benchmarks, we already have the answer for you. Xiaomi Mi Note AnTuTu benchmark results Someone was kind enough to put the Mi Note through the paces of the AnTuTu benchmark while playing with it at Xiaomi's launch event. The screenshots you can see above are proof about how well it managed to do. The Xiaomi Mi Note scored a respectable 46,714 points overall, coming in below the Meizu MX4 and the Samsung Galaxy Note 4. Those two use different chipsets, though, so perhaps the comparison to them doesn't make much sense. The OnePlus One, on the other hand, features the exact same Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 SoC as the Mi Note, and as you can see Xiaomi's phablet has scored slightly more than that handset. It's also outclassed the HTC One (M8), Huawei Ascend Mate 7, as well as Xiaomi's own Mi 4. Clearly then, the Mi Note Pro should be in the running for top dog in benchmarks, but we haven't yet seen any proof about how it performs in such synthetic tests. Yet we assume that news will come soon. Source (in Chinese) |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_mi_note_gets_benchmarked_posts_decent_results-news-10783.php

T-Mobile launches new Simply Prepaid plans

To properly complement its rather successful Simple Choice postpaid plans, T-Mobile has today unveiled its new Simply Prepaid offer. The three plans that make it up are quite similar to the carrier's old Simple Choice Prepaid options, but they're thankfully cheaper now. For $40 each month, you'll get unlimited talk and text, and 1GB of high-speed data. $50 nets you 3GB, and for $60 you get 5GB of data, while the other unlimited perks stay the same. You do get access to 4G LTE with Simply Prepaid, but the pretty big caveat is that by "high-speed data" T-Mobile means 8Mbps. That's the maximum you'll ever reach with these plans. And when you go over your data cap, the speed will fall down to 128kbps, which really won't be useful for much. With Simply Prepaid, you also get access to such services as Wi-Fi calling, in-flight texting, and visual voicemail. The new plans will become available from T-Mobile on January...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/tmobile_launches_new_simply_prepaid_plans-news-10782.php

Bank of America says 1.1 million cards now use Apple Pay

Bank of America is one of the major partners for Apple Pay and alongside its financial results, the company revealed today that nearly 800,000 customers have started using Apple's new payment method. As a result, more than 1.1 million cards have been added to Apple Pay just from Bank of America alone. In addition, the good news for Apple Pay continue as adoption grows with new grocery chain stores adding support for the payment method. In Northern California and Nevada, USA super market chains Lucky, Save Mart and FoodMaxx will allow customers to pay with Apple Pay. In December, Apple Pay was embraced by L&N Federal Credit Union, UW Credit Union and M&T Bank bringing the total number of issuing banks up to 23. Source • Source (2) |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/bank_of_america_boasts_11_million_cards_use_apple_pay-news-10781.php

ZTE Blade S6 leaks, iPhone 6 feels it's looking in a mirror

An online retailer has spilled new photos of the upcoming ZTE Blade S6. The phone passed through TENAA back in December under the ZTE Q7 model name and resembles the look of the iPhone 6 Plus. In addition to the single official-looking image of the phone, there are also several hands-on snaps. The phone measures 157 x 78 x 7.9mm and weighs 160 grams. Under the hood of the ZTE Blade S6, there's a MediaTek MT6752 chipset with a 64-bit 1.5GHz octa-core CPU and 2GB of RAM. The phone is built around a 5.5" 720p display and runs Android 4.4.4 KitKat. At the back, there's an 8MP snapper with dual LED flash. Last of the known specs is the internal memory, which is 16GB. Further information regarding availability and pricing is scarce, but the retailer in question has mentioned to GizmoChina that we should expect the Blade S6 to become available in the coming weeks. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/zte_blade_s6_leaked_in_an_online_listing_sports_familiar_looks-news-10780.php

Apple iPhone 6s to pack 2GB of LPDDR4 RAM

The latest set of rumors regarding the Apple iPhone 6s suggest that the company will using 2GB LPDDR4 memory. Previously, it was purported that Apple hasn't decided if it shouldn't stick with LPDDR3, since its 35% less expensive and its suppliers couldn't have made enough LPDDR4 memory chips. However, if the rumor is true, the company isn't facing the latter problem anymore. The RAM modules for the iPhone 6s are believed to be made by Hynix, Samsung and Micron-Elpida, splitting the work 50%, 30% and 20%, respectively. It's Micron-Elpida, which experienced production issues and was reportedly behind schedule, but not any longer. LPDDR4 memory is not only two times faster than LPDDR3, but also keeps power consumption the same while at it. Furthermore, there's some chatter that the Force Touch feature from Apple Watch could make it to the iPhone 6s. This would be a hard task for the company since it requires a lot of work and at this point it's not clear if the benefits will be worth it. Source | Via • Via...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/apple_iphone_6s_suggested_to_employ_2gb_lpddr4_memory-news-10779.php

TSMC reports strong Q4 earnings thanks to strong Apple orders

TSMC has announced its Q4 financial results, and it appears all is very good for the chip maker. The company reports that 2014 is its best year mainly because of the chip orders coming from Apple. Net profit for the quarter was $2.51 billion, while revenue rose by 53% to $7.02 billion The chip maker marks 2014 as its strongest year yet with profit of $8.33 billion, up 40% from $5.93 billion in 2013. This makes TSMC the world's largest contract chip maker by revenue. The company added that it plans to boost its spending to $12 billion in 2015 up from $9.52 billion in 2014. The added capital expenditure will be used for speeding up the migration to more advanced chip-making technology. It's clear that TSMC has to stay competitive and doing so requires additional funds. Competitors like Samsung and Intel are breathing down the company's neck and it's not clear if TSMC will manage to sneak a similar contract with Apple for 2015. TSMC has allegedly already signed a deal to make the Apple A9X chips for the upcoming iPad model, according to analyst company KGI, but that's yet to be confirmed. The Taiwanese company is also a favorite for the A10 chip production if rumors are to be believed. Source | Via • Via...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/tsmc_reports_strong_q4_earnings_thanks_to_apple_deal-news-10777.php

Pinnacle Africa launches a budget Windows Phone handset

Pinnacle Africa has just announced a new WP smartphone, dubbed Proline SP4. It's headed for the South African market and starting on January 30, the smartphone will be available in stores at a price of just ZAR999 ($87). The Windows Phone 8.1 device features a Snapdragon chipset with a quad-core processor, Adreno 302 GPU and 512MB of RAM. The 4GB internal storage can be expanded up to 64GB via microSD. Screen size is 4 inches with a 480 x 800 pixel resolution. A 4MP camera on the back is the primary shooter, and you get a VGA front unit, mostly useful for video calls. Rather basic specsheet, but adequate at the price point. The dual SIM phone packs a generous 1,920mAh battery in a body measuring 125 x 64 x 10.6mm with weight kept at 125g. Replaceable back covers in a choice of white, green and orange will be available. And if it all sounds familiar it's just because the Proline SP4 is merely a rebranded Blu Win JR. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/pinnacle_africa_launches_a_budget_windows_phone_handset-news-10778.php

Windows Phone 8.1 GDR2 update still alive, certified

With all the Windows Phone 10 rumors going around, there was speculation that Microsoft will focus on bringing the major update and skip over the smaller WP8.1 GDR2 update. That seems to have been wrong as the Bluetooth SIG had issued a certification for "Windows Phone 8.1 Update 2," aka GDR2, about a month ago. The new minor update is supposed to bring support for the Snapdragon 805, 2K displays and an alphabetical order for the settings menu. The first two don't really concern existing devices, but we're sure this isn't the complete GDR2 changelog. The update itself was expected in October, obviously that didn't pan out. There is no information about the actual release date, but Microsoft has scheduled a Windows 10 event for January 21 (that's next Wednesday), we should learn more about WP8.1 GDR2 and Windows Phone 10 (and desktop 10) then. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/windows_phone_81_gdr2_update_certified_still_alive-news-10776.php

Apple seeds iOS 8.2 beta to devs, adds Apple Watch support

Apple has recently seeded Mac OS X 10.10.2 beta to developers with various connectivity improvements. Today Apple has released the beta version of iOS 8.2 to the dev community. A further inspection of the next notable iOS release reveals integrated support for the upcoming Apple Watch. The text suggests Apple Watch will have a dedicated stand-alone app, which will serve for content and smartwatch app transfer. Apple Watch was announced last Fall, but its release is yet to be detailed beyond the announced "early 2015" and starting from $349. Various sources indicate the Watch will kick off in March, while the Apple's employees will begin their Apple Watch familiarization in mid-February. Now that the iOS 8.2, which is supposed to be released in March, brings support for Apple Watch, it is all but officially confirmed the awaited Apple Watch will go on sale in March. Or at least that's what we can all hope...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/apple_seeds_ios_82_beta_to_developers_brings_apple_watch_support-news-10775.php

Nokia N1's impressive run continues, new batch sold out

Last week, when the Nokia N1 tablet went on sale in China, the first batch of 20,000 units sold out in only 4 minutes. The second batch went on sale today and it too sold out in minutes. Although there's no word on the number of units that were up for grabs, the flash sale lasted longer this time around, the report notes. As clear from the snapshot above, the third batch is set to arrive on January 22, with registration opening tomorrow. The Nokia N1 sports a 7.9-inch 2,048x1,536 touchscreen display and is powered by Intel's Atom Z3580 SoC, which comes with a 2.3 GHz quad-core CPU. It features an 8 MP main camera, a 5 MP secondary snapper, and packs in a 5,300 mAh battery. The tablet comes with 2GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage, and runs Android 5.0...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/n1s_impressive_run_continues_sold_out_in_minutes_again-news-10773.php

Galaxy S6 to ditch Snapdragon 810 over overheating fears

Last month, there were reports that overheating issues with Snapdragon 810 SoC could delay next generation flagships, especially the Samsung's upcoming Galaxy S6 smartphone. Now the rumor mill is abuzz with reports that the South Korean company could ditch the Qualcomm chipset in favor of its own Exynos-series chip, although not completely. According to a Digitimes report, the Galaxy S6 will be available in two versions, using either the Snapdragon 810 SoC or an Exynos chipset. Initially, around 90% of the models will be powered by the latter, while only a small number will use the Qualcomm chipset. However, after the overheating problem is fixed, Samsung will increase the number of devices using the Snapdragon 810, the report notes. Earlier this week, there were again rumors that the Galaxy S6, which is expected to be unveiled at the Mobile World Congress in March in Barcelona, will come in both regular and edge...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/galaxy_s6_could_ditch_snapdragon_810_over_overheating_fears-news-10771.php

Xiaomi Mi Note Pro is official with QHD display, Snapdragon 810 SoC

Xiaomi Mi Note Pro looks just like the newly announced Mi Note - it uses a dual-glass design with a 2.5D front and 3D rear glass. The footprint remains the same as the standard Mi Note, but the Pro version brings a better 5.7" display and more powerful innards. Xiaomi Ni Note Pro utilizes a (Sharp/JDI) 5.7" IPS display of QHD resolution (that's 515ppi) and runs on the best Qualcomm chipset there is to date - the Snapdragon 810. It offers an octa-core processor with 4x Cortex-A57 @ 2.0GHz and 4x Cortex-A53 @1.5GHz, Adreno 430 graphics accelerator and the whooping 4GB LPDDR4 RAM. The rest if the notable specs include LTE Cat.9 connectivity for up to 450Mbps downlink speeds and 64GB internal storage. The 13MP rear camera features a Sony IMX214 sensor, optical image stabilization and dual-tone flash, while the battery inside is a 3,090 mAh unit. There is also a front 4MP UltraPixel camera for great selfies. The standalone sound processor ESS ES9018K2M mobile Hi-Fi Edition should improve the audio quality further with high fidelity and rich detail, while it will also provide native support for various formats such as APE, WAV, FLAC and DSD. Xiaomi Mi Note Pro runs on Android 5.0 Lollipop skinned with the latest MIUI launcher. The phone will launch in China at CNY 3,300 (€450), but exact date is yet to be...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_mi_note_pro_is_official_with_qhd_display_snapdragon_810_chip-news-10774.php

Xiaomi announces new Mi Note phablet with 5.7-inch display

Xiaomi has finally announced its latest smartphone that it has been teasing for the past few days. The Xiaomi Mi Note is the company's latest flagship that it is using to compete against the Apple iPhone 6 Plus. The Mi Note is about the same size as the iPhone 6 Plus but has a bigger 5.7-inch 1920x1080 resolution display. The display, manufactured by Sharp/JDI, has a 95% NTSC color gamut and 1400:1 contrast ratio with adaptive dynamic contrast. There is also a reading mode that reduces short wavelength blue light that creates additional eye strain. Xiaomi Mi Note The sides of the Mi Note are made out of metal while both the front and back are made out of Corning Gorilla Glass 3. The front has a 2.5D glass with a gentle curve around the edges and the back has what Xiaomi calls 3D glass with a more pronounced curve. The phone will be available in black and white. The Mi Note has a 13 megapixel Sony IMX214 CMOS sensor on the back with f/2.0 aperture and optical image stabilization. There is also a two-tone flash on the back. On the front is a 4 megapixel camera with 2 micron pixel size, identical to the HTC One UltraPixel camera. The Mi Note measures 155.1x77.6x6.95mm and weighs 161g. Inside there is a Sony/LG Li-ion 3,000mAh battery. The phone will be running on the new MIUI 6 software. Unfortunately, the hardware specifications of the phone are entirely unknown at this point but we will update you on that as soon as we find...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_announced_new_mi_note_phablet_with_57inch_display-news-10772.php

Watch Xiaomi unveil its new devices

Xiaomi has hinted that it will have not one but two flagships announced tomorrow, however, the manufacturer made it clear that the Xiaomi Mi 5 will not be one of them, despite benchmark score and other leaks about it. What does this leave? The Xiaomi Redmi Note 2 is a good bet - its Redmi 2 sibling launched last week. The new Redmi Note is expected to have a bigger, sharper screen (5.7" 1080p) than its predecessor and be powered by Qualcomm's mid-range Snapdragon 615 chipset with an octa-core 64-bit processor. International cost is expected to be around $250, but the second phone that may be announced tomorrow will cost just $65. Based on the Xiaomi Redmi 2, but with a Leadcore chipset, the new phone will redefine the entry-level with pretty impressive specs - 4.7" 720p screen, Android KitKat-based software, 8MP/1080p camera and LTE. Then again, there's the Xiaomi MiPad 2, which may swap out the Tegra chipset for an Intel one. It will reportedly keep its iPad mini-like screen but will adopt a more rectangular design. There's also talk of a Snapdragon 810 device making an appearance, alongside a Snapdragon 801 device, but details on those are scarce. All this is speculation, of course, you can watch the livestream over at Xiaomi's website, but you'll need to know Chinese. The video below promises an English commentary and you can follow Xiaomi's Facebook and Weibo accounts for timely info. The event starts at 2 PM Beijing time (that's 6 AM GMT), but in case you sleep through it we'll have the official info up for your...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/watch_xiaomi_unveil_its_new_devices-news-10764.php

Google lays out details about Project Ara Spiral 2 prototype

Google took the wraps off the first Project Ara modular phone that will be commercially available at a dedicated developer conference. Dubbed Spiral 2, the handset will first launch in Puerto Rico in the second half of this year. The Project Ara Spiral 2 model specifications include dual application processors (Marvell PXA1928 and Tegra K1). A 720p display, 5MP camera, microUSB port, battery, and speaker are also part of the setup. Network connectivity options consist of 3G modem, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth. There are 11 working modules for the Project Ara 2 smartphone. Google plans to have as many as thirty options available by the end of this year. Google will sell the Spiral 2 chassis and modules in Puerto Rico in partnership with local carriers. A number of small trucks will also be involved in the sales process - they will surely allow the device to reach even more users. The next Project Ara prototype, Spiral 3, will offer LTE connectivity and better battery life. An inductive system contactless data between modules will also be on board. Source | Via ...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/google_lays_out_details_about_project_ara_spiral_2_prototype-news-10770.php

Samsung is reportedly in discussions to buy BlackBerry

Samsung is in talks to purchase BlackBerry. Reuters reports that executives from both companies have met last week to discuss the transaction. The Korean manufacturer has allegedly offered a price in the range of $13.35 to $15.49 per BlackBerry share - well above today's opening price. This brings the total of the transaction to as much as $7.5 billion. An acquisition of BlackBerry will give Samsung access to the company's immensely rich portfolio of patents. It will also instantly transform the Korean company in to a major player on the highly-lucrative enterprise market. BlackBerry has denied any discussions about such talks with Samsung in a short statement. However, it is more than likely that the representatives from both companies have met informally to discuss the matter. After all, this is not the first time there has been talk about a sale of the Waterloo-based company. Unsurprisingly, BlackBerry's stock price surged right after news about the acquisition got out. The stock price jumped almost 30% to $12.60. BlackBerry's statement brought the after hours price to $10.65 - still more than a dollar above this morning's price. Source | Via...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_is_reportedly_in_discussions_to_purchase_blackberry-news-10769.php

New Xiaomi Note gets rumored size, price, and specs

Tomorrow's Xiaomi event is going to bring us two new handsets, it seems. The Chinese smartphone maker itself has hinted at this through some of its teasers for the event, so that's pretty much certain. Just what those phones will be, however, has been a bit of a mystery. For a long time we've heard rumors about the Mi 5 being unveiled tomorrow, but then Xiaomi went and flat out denied this through another teaser image (which you can see below). Furthermore, the company has hinted that we'll see the word "Note" in at least one of the things it's announcing in less than 24 hours. So what is that? New rumors talk about the device being called Xiaomi Note. This will be a higher-end offering than the Redmi Note, mind you, so it's basically going to mean the debut of a new line of handsets. Like its name implies, it will be a phablet. According to a Chinese market analyst, the Xiaomi Note will have a bigger screen than the iPhone 6 Plus, but not bigger than 6 inches. So that means it will be somewhere in between 5.5" and 6", with the most likely size being 5.7", the same one employed by Samsung's Galaxy Note 4. In terms of specs, the rumors say we should expect 1080p resolution on that screen, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 chipset, 3GB of RAM, and a 13 MP rear camera. These specs are pretty much identical to those of the smaller Mi 4, so the Note will serve as a bigger version of that. This means that the device that leaked as the Redmi Note 2 not long ago might actually be this Xiaomi Note, given its uncanny resemblance to the Mi 4. The new Note will allegedly cost around CNY 4,000, which at the current exchange rates means approximately $645 or €547. This would make it the most expensive Xiaomi handset ever, and if this is true it would mark quite a departure from the company's usual focus on affordability. A further leak claims that the other product Xiaomi will introduce tomorrow will sport a Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 chipset. It would be only the second ever announced phone to employ that particular SoC, after the LG G Flex 2 which was made official at CES. Since Xiaomi has told us that it won't unveil the Mi 5 tomorrow, then this could end up being called Mi 4S. Perhaps it will have the same design as its predecessor, just packing more capable innards. We'll have to wait and see, but thankfully we're now mere hours away from the big event. Source 1 (in Chinese) • Source 2 | Via 1 • Via...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/new_xiaomi_note_gets_rumored_size_price_and_specs-news-10768.php

Dual-screen Yotaphone 2 to be released by T-Mobile

Ever since it was originally unveiled back in February of last year, we've known that the Yotaphone 2 was eventually headed to the US market too. But it still hasn't made it. Thankfully though, a new rumor claims that this is now on track to happen soon. Apparently T-Mobile will be the carrier offering the Yotaphone 2 to the American public. The release will happen either in March or in April, according to certain unnamed "sources that are familiar with the matter". Of course you should consider that even if this timeline is valid as of now, it may change in the future. Still, it looks like the two-screened device is finally close to making its debut in the US. It's already available in some countries in Europe, the CIS, and the Middle East, so it's about time. Furthermore, the Yotaphone 2 is said to also be offered by a Canadian carrier sometime this year, but we don't yet know when exactly or which company is going to sell it. T-Mobile's pricing of the smartphone hasn't been revealed, but going by how much it costs elsewhere you should expect to pay a flaghsip-level amount for...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/dualscreen_yotaphone_2_will_be_released_by_tmobile-news-10767.php

HTC's Lollipop update schedule leaks, original One is next

Yesterday the HTC One (M8) started receiving the update to Android 5.0 Lollipop in earnest, after the original rollout for the Google Play Edition units last month. Now the Developer Edition version joins in on the Lollipop fun - but not only that, even the One (M8) models sold unlocked are getting the new bits. You might however be wondering which will be the next HTC smartphone to be updated. And the completely unsurprising answer for that seems to be the original One from 2013. That's according to the table you can see below, which is said to be an accurate representation of HTC's plans on the matter. Only the two One flagships are due for a Lollipop treat this month, but things will pick up in February. That's when the HTC One (E8), Desire Eye, One (M8) Eye, and Butterfly 2 should be seeing the new software. Then, in March, the One Max, HTC One Dual-SIM, Desire 816, Desire 820u, One Mini 2, and the Chinese variations of the One (E8) and One (M8) Eye will follow suit. The last HTC devices to get Lollipop will do so either in March or in April. These are the Desire 610, Desire 820s, Desire 510, and the original One Mini. And that's it. HTC is apparently working to finish the Lollipop updates by the end of April, so it can then gradually issue updates to a new version of Sense starting in May. This will be introduced alongside the company's next flagship device, and will presumably come to a few of its past higher-end offerings as well. A word of caution, though. Even if this information may be 100% accurate right now, update time frames can slip. Also, there's absolutely no way to tell if these details are truthful, since HTC hasn't officially said anything about the updates. If this does pan out, then we're looking at a pretty big number of handsets that are getting the latest version of Android, which is great news. And the rollouts won't be taking too long either, compared to some past experiences. Source (in...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/htcs_lollipop_update_schedule_leaks_original_one_is_next-news-10766.php

Six smartphones debuted today - see if you have missed any

Today, on what was a seemingly uneventful day we saw the announcement of six new devices. Among them are four new entry-level Lumia handsets, well actually two - Lumia 435 and Lumia 532, just in both single and dual SIM variants. They will both offer a 4-inch LCD screen, with a resolution of 480 x 800px and a Snapdragon 200 SoC, which is outdated at best. On the plus side the couple only costs €70/€80 and will run WP 8.1 so you can expect modern software and the support to go with it from the budget devices. Samsung also made the news with the announcement of the Samsung Z1. Is is an equally modest device, but sets itself apart from the crowd as the first ever Tizen-powered smartphone. Weather or not the new platform will gain speed is all up to user reception and Samsung's effort to draw in app developers and third party support. For the time being the little smartphone is a unique and highly experimental breed, but the Korean giant might just have something big planned if it delivers on its promise to make Tizen compatible with Android apps. Last, but not least we have the Oppo R1C, which was the first one to make an appearance today. The smartphone bears mid-lever hardware and is equipped with a Snaprdagon 615, along with 2GB of RAM and a 5-inch 720p display. From what we have seen so far the device definitely looks slick with a shiny back panel and a beautiful 6.85mm body. So if you missed anything from this device-busy Wednesday be sure to check the table below. Also give us your thoughts on which smartphone of the bunch you are most excited about. .news-item .n-left { float: left; width: 26%; text-align: center; } .news-item .n-right { float: left; width: 74%; } .news-item a { padding-bottom: 0; padding-left: 0; } .news-item .n-right h2, .reviews-item .n-right h2 { clear: both; padding: 0 0 3px 0px; font: 400 19px Oswald, Arial; margin-top: -4px; } .n-right p { margin-top: 25px; line-height: 155%; } .news-item { padding-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 10px; border-top: 1px solid #ccc; } .news-item p { margin-left: 0; } .n-right h2 a { text-decoration: none; color: #000; } .flat-button{ text-align:center; text-decoration: none !important; font: 400 22px Oswald,Arial !important; //font-family: sans-serif; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-size: 150%; //background: #0CADA7; padding: 20px 60px !important; display: inline-block; white-space: nowrap; -webkit-border-radius: 5px; -moz-border-radius: 5px; border-radius: 5px; margin: 10px 0; -webkit-transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out; -ms-transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out; -moz-transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out; -o-transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out; transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out; color: #fff !important;}.flat-button-1 { background: #0CADA7;}.flat-button-1:hover { background: #0A948F; color: #666666 !important;}.flat-button-2 { background: #FF7E47;}.flat-button-2:hover { background: #EE7440; color: #666666 !important;} Samsung Z1 specs gallery Oppo R1C specs gallery Microsoft Lumia 532 Dual SIM specs gallery Microsoft Lumia 435 Dual SIM specs gallery Microsoft Lumia 532 specs gallery Microsoft Lumia 435 specs ...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/here_are_todays_six_surprising_phone_announcements-news-10765.php

Oppo Mirror 3 64-bit mid-ranger announced, costs $280

Oppo has been pretty hard at work recently and after we told you about the sapphire-crystal R1C, here's more info on the Mirror 3, the company's brand new entry into the lower midrange. The new smartphone packs a 64-bit Snapdragon 410 SoC, with a 1.2GHz quad-core CPU, paired with a modest 1GB of RAM. Built-in storage is rather low at 8GB, but is easily expandable via microSD. The display is a 4.7-inch 720p IPS unit with a 312ppi pixel density. The Mirror 3 will run the proprietary ColorOS in its 2.0.1 iteration on top of Android 4.4. Oppo Mirror 3 The main camera on the back employs an 8MP Sony IMX179 sensor behind a fast f2.0 lens. The sensor itself is a 1/3.2" piece of silicon, resulting in a 1.4 micron pixel size. No contemporary smartphone can can go without a selfie snapper, and this one offers a 5MP unit. Battery capacity is okay at 2000mAh, and Oppo claims that the supplied 2Amp charger is capable of topping that up in 90 minutes. We're not particular fans of glossy plastic backs like the one on the Mirror 3, but we'll reserve judgement until we get to hold one in our hands. The bezels too, appear rather generous, which is probably to be expected at its price point. The Mirror 3 is announced in white, but official photos in grey and black are also in existence. The price at launch is 5,990,000 Vietnamese Dong or $280. Source (in Vietnamese) |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/oppo_mirror_3_64bit_midranger_announced_will_cost_280-news-10763.php

Leaked images show two hues of purple coming to the Xperia Z3

Purple had become a sort-of trademark color for Sony's premium Xperia Z line, until the Xperia Z3 came along and broke the streak. The third-gen flagship added Copper and Green to the traditional Black and White color options, but Purple may soon make a comeback. And not a moment too soon either, the Xperia Z4 family is expected at the MWC in early March so the window for Z3 launches is closing. ePrice has gotten hold of unreleased product images. It looks like there will be two versions - one dark purple and one that's a more traditional Xperia purple. It doesn't look like a color balance issue as the screens look okay. These two are reportedly slated for a Valentine's day launch or the Lunar new year (February 19). Source (in...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/leaked_images_show_two_hues_of_purple_coming_to_the_xperia_z3-news-10762.php

MediaTek predicts single-digit growth in tablet shipments in 2015

MediaTek has issued a forecast suggesting tablet shipments are going to rise in 2015, but at a much slower pace than last year. More specifically, the chip maker is anticipating a single-digit growth rate for the tablet market this year with the most positive forecast standing at 9%. According to the company's estimations, about 175 million Android tablets were shipped for the past year, while iPads number 70 million and Windows tablets reached 15 million units. The overall tablet shipments for 2014 reached 260 million units. In 2013, this number was 217.1 million, as per IDC's data. The reason for the slowdown is the increasing popularity of smartphones with large screens. They've enjoyed growing user adoption over the last few months and this is hurting the tablet market. So much so, that the growth in iPad shipments slowed down in 2014, but interestingly Windows tablets market a slight increase. Gaming, education and enterprise markets will keep the tablet market afloat in 2015, MediaTek predicts. Demand for replacing old units is also going to be responsible for the low, but nevertheless positive growth. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/mediatek_predicts_singledigit_rise_of_tablet_shipments_in_2015-news-10758.php

Galaxy Note 4 Lollipop manual appears, update imminent

Samsung has updated the user manual for the Galaxy Note 4 to reflect on the changes the Android 5.0.1 Lollipop update is bringing. The firmware update is anticipated to land some time this month and the latest manual is a strong indication that the wait for owners of the phone will soon be over. A video demonstrating Android 5.0 Lollipop running on the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 surfaced last month. In it, we saw that the general look and fell of TouchWiz UI is left untouched, with the new release bringing only minor visual changes - most notable in the notification area. There should be a lot more going on under the hood though with expected major performance boost and improved battery thanks to Project Volta. As we already reported, Samsung is jumping straight to the latest version of the OS, skipping the initial Android 5.0 release for the Galaxy Note 4 and Galaxy Note Edge. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/galaxy_note_4_lollipop_manual_appears_update_imminent-news-10761.php

New Samsung Galaxy A7 actually has a 1080p display

Looks like Samsung made a bit of a blunder in the spec sheet of the newly announced Galaxy A7. When the phone was announced a couple of days ago, the spec sheet mentioned it had a 5.5-inch HD Super AMOLED display. Turns out, that wasn't quite right, as the A7 has a FHD or a Full HD (1920x1080) resolution display instead. Samsung has since then corrected the mistake everywhere, with all official sources now listing the display as FHD instead of just HD. If the display resolution was something that bothered you about the phone, we guess this correction should calm you down now. Source 1 • Source 2 • Source...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/new_samsung_galaxy_a7_actually_has_a_1080p_display-news-10757.php