Meizu teases home button revolution for the m2 note

A lot of disconcerting info has been popping up on the upcoming Meizu m1 note successor, and consensus hadn't been reached even on the device's name. Some called it the Meizu m1 note 2, others Meizu note 2, but then a GFXBench entry listed it as m2 note. Well, apparently that last one is the real deal, as indicated by a post on Meizu's Facebook page. In terms of hardware, we know nothing more than what the benchmark listing revealed, which is a 5.6-inch FullHD display, Mediatek MT6753 chipset with an octa-core processor and 2GB of RAM. A 12MP primary camera, capable of 4K video recording, was quoted, and it will be accompanied by a 5MP selfie snapper. One other feature that was rumored to make its way to the new device was a fingerprint scanner, and meizu has neither confirmed nor denied that. And as if keen to fuel the rumors, the company's Indian branch has posted another teaser, promoting a Home button revolution. Whether that means simply a hardware button, or indeed added functionality, remains to be seen. We understand Meizu's desire to build hype around the launch of the m2 note only a couple of days from now. The unveiling is scheduled to take place on June 2 in Beijing so stay tuned. Source 1...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/meizu_teases_home_button_revolution_for_the_m2_note-news-12463.php

Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 revealed in a case leak

The successors to Samsung's premium tablet family Galaxy Tab S, so far known as Galaxy Tab S2, have been regulars at the rumor mill for the past few months. By now we've gotten a look at their alleged specs, and most recently a press image surfaced revealing a Galaxy S6-like design. Well, case manufacturers are again one step ahead, and a bumper back cover for the upcoming tablet has been spotted in wild. The silicone protector is for the larger 9.7-inch model, as there will also be an 8-inch offering. Much like the first generation, two sizes will be available, though in a newly adopted 4:3 aspect ratio. Alleged Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 bumper case A quick rundown of the specs points to a 1,536 x 2,048 pixel resolution on either diagonal, a Samsung-made Exynos chipset with an octa-core processor, 3GB of RAM and 32GB of built-in storage. The tablets will run Android 5.0.2 Lollipop upon launch which is expected to take place some time in...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_tab_s2_revealed_in_a_case_leak-news-12464.php

HP to bring a couple of Android tablets to India

HP is apparently going to make a couple of tablets available on the Indian market some time soon, as indicated by a local retailer. The two devices have very different target groups but both run the outdated Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, though HP's website states a KitKat update is available. The fist device is the HP Slate 7 Voicetab Ultra, and that name reveals a lot about the tablet. Bordering on the unacceptable, the 7-inch tablet could be used as a phone, albeit a very large one - it has an earpiece and all. Screen resolution is 1,200 x 1,900 pixels. Computing power comes courtesy of a HiSilicon (read Huawei) chipset, and although it's not explicitly stated, the 1.6GHz quad-core processor and Mali-450 GPU point to the Kirin 910. 2GB of RAM and 16GB of storage are on board, and a microSD slot provides expansion options. A 13MP/5MP camera combo is there to take care of capturing memories, and battery capacity is 5,000mAh. The other tablet is the HP Slate 8 Plus, which is a bit lower-specced. The 8-inch display comes with the rather low 800 x 1,200 pixel resolution, same chipset and storage, but only a single gig of RAM and a 5MP/1MP camera pair. The battery on the Slate 8Plus is rated at 4,800mAh. Both devices come with a microSIM slot and support quad band 2G/3G and a host of LTE bands, as well as 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi and Bluuetooth v4.0, so connectivity should be a non-issue. The retailer quotes prices at INR 29,990 ($470) and INR 22,990 ($360) for the Slate 7 Voicetab Ultra and Slate 8 Plus, respectively. The tablets are yet to appear on HP's Indian website...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/hp_to_bring_a_couple_of_android_tablets_to_india-news-12462.php

T-Mobile Lumia 435 now available on Walmart for just $50

The T-Mobile variant of the Microsoft Lumia 435, which was unveiled back in January this year, is now available on Walmart for just $49.88. It's worth mentioning that the device is listed on Microsoft Store website for $70. Specs-wise, the handset is powered by a Snapdragon 200 SoC with 1.2GHz dual-core processor, and sports a 4-inch WVGA screen. It comes with 1GB RAM and 8GB expandable internal storage, and packs in a 1,560mAh battery. In terms of camera, the Lumia 435 features a 2MP rear unit and a VGA front shooter. It comes with Windows Phone 8.1 pre-installed, and offers HSPA+ connectivity (no LTE support). Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/tmobile_lumia_435_now_available_on_walmart_for_just_50-news-12460.php

Micromax Unite 2 starts getting Lollipop update

The Unite 2, which was announced by Micromax back in May last year, has started receiving the Lollipop update. Sized at around 413MB, the OTA update brings Android 5.0 to the entry-level handset. The build is dated April 24. If you haven't received the update yet, you can manually check for it by heading to Settings -> About phone -> software update on your device. This comes just days after Micromax officially launched the Unite 3 smartphone in India. The device runs Android 5.0 Lollipop out-of-the-box, and is priced at INR 6,999 ($110). Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/micromax_unite_2_starts_getting_lollipop_update-news-12459.php

Oppo R7 now available for pre-order in the UK

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/oppo_r7_now_available_for_preorder_in_uk-news-12458.php

Lollipop sporting ZTE Overture 2 arrives on Cricket for just $50

The successor to the ZTE Overture, which was launched back in June 2013, is now available in the US on Cricket Wireless. Dubbed Overture 2, the device is priced at $49.99 on contract - you can also get it for free thanks to a $50 mail-in rebate. Specs-wise, the handset is powered by a quad-core chipset clocked at 1.2 GHz, and sports a 4.5-inch display with a 854 x 480 (FWVGA) resolution. It comes with 1 GB of RAM and 8 GB of internal memory (expandable up to 32GB via a microSD card), and packs in a 2100 mAh battery. In terms of camera, the Overture 2 features a 5MP rear unit and a VGA front shooter. It also offers Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity, as well as support for Dolby Digital Plus. Source | Via | Image...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/lollipop_sporting_zte_overture_2_arrives_on_cricket_for_50-news-12457.php

Google and Qualcomm are working on a Project Tango smartphone

Google and Qualcomm have a Project Tango smartphone with 3D-sensing camera tech in the works. Currently the search giant is offering a Project Tango tablet for developer for $512 in the Google Store. The partnership between Google and Qualcomm will see the chipmaker incorporate the 3D-sensing camera technology into its smartphone reference designs. There are no definite plans for a consumer-friendly Project Tango handset for the time being. Source...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/google_and_qualcomm_are_working_on_a_project_tango_smartphone-news-12456.php

Renders showing the next ZTE flagship smartphone leak out

ZTE has launched a lot of high-end Nubia devices lately, but we haven't seen a flagship smartphone that isn't part of the Nubia line for ages. That seems to have been noticed by the Chinese company too, and it's apparently hard at work at a new top of the line ZTE handset that's Nubia-less for a later release. Three purported leaked renders of the device show the new design employed by ZTE, and it's clearly inspired by Apple's iPhone 6 form, as you can see (click the thumbnails for full size pictures). Next ZTE flagship The yet-unnamed ZTE upcoming flagship looks made from an unibody metal construction, and features a rear camera with dual-LED flash that is positioned right where the iPhones have it too. There's a plastic part that takes up the upper part of the back of the phone, which houses the antennas. The front of the smartphone supposedly comes with 2.5D glass, which is all the rage right now. Thanks to that, the phone comes with nearly zero lateral bezels. There's only one logo, and it's housed on the back, while the front is devoid of brands. It also appears it doesn't sport capacitive Android buttons, which means it might come with software-rendered buttons instead. Unfortunately there are no details about specs right now, but these should leak out in due...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/renders_showing_the_next_zte_flagship_smartphone_leaks_out-news-12455.php

Huawei Honor 7 tipped to feature 4GB RAM, 13MP OIS camera

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/huawei_honor_7_tipped_to_feature_4gb_ram_13mp_ois_camera-news-12454.php

Sony Xperia Z3+ preview: First look

The Sony Xperia Z3+ was only recently announced and we're happy it made it to our testing grounds so quickly. While we're already busy working on a full review, we decided to give you an early taste of what it's like...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/sony_xperia_z3_plus-review-1257.php

Is this Samsung with Snapdragon 808 the Galaxy S6 mini?

Today the GFX Benchmark database turned out quite generous on spilling the beans on upcoming smartphones. First we saw the Meizu m2 note in there with detailed specs and now we got a brand new compact Samsung droid. The new Samsung Galaxy goes under the SM-G9198 model number and according to the specs in GFX charts it packs a 4.6" HD display (1280 x 768) and runs on the Snapdragon 808 chip. The latter is the powerhouse underneath the newly released LG G4 and comes with a 6-core CPU (2x Cortex-A57 and 4x Cortex-A53), Adreno 418 GPU and 2GB of RAM. The SM-G9198 also features a 16MP 16:9 rear camera with 1080p video recording and a 5MP selfie snapper. The device runs on the latest Android 5.1.1 Lollipop. This is the first time we hear about this new gadget but its display size and top-notch specs suggest this might be the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S6 mini. Just like its bigger sibling, the SM-G9198 packs some premium tech as barometer and motion processor. Whether this turns out the Galaxy S6 mini or not, we are already eager to learn more. Hopefully more details will emerge soon and we'll be keeping you in the loop. Thank you, Anomylus, for the...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/a_46_samsung_with_snapdragon_808_leaks_is_this_galaxy_s6_mini-news-12453.php

Meizu m2 note full specs leak ahead of announcement

Meizu m2 note has leaked quite a few times throughout the past few months. The smartphone, which is also known as Meizu m1 note 2 and Meizu note 2, leaked via an official promo and some blurry shots last month. Today the Meizu m2 note was spotted in the popular GFX Benchmark's database, though the specs page is already gone. Still, lots of people managed to take some shots and we can tell you more about the upcoming device. According to the data on the GFX boards, the Meizu m2 note will pack a 5.6" 1080p display and should be powered by the MediaTek MT6753 chipset with an 8-core Cortex-A53 processor, Mali-T 720 GPU and 2GB of RAM. The m2 note is also rumored to feature a 12MP rear camera with 4K video recording, a 5MP selfie snapper, 32GB expandable storage, LTE connectivity and Android 5.1 Lollipop OS with Flyme OS. Meizu will be unveiling a new device on June 2, so the announcement of the m2 note, or whatever the name, is just around the...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/meizu_m2_note_full_specs_leak_ahead_of_announcement-news-12452.php

Xiaomi Mi 4 Windows 10 ROM available on June 1

Microsoft got Xiaomi's approval in March for developing and releasing a compatible Windows 10 ROM for the popular Chinese flagship. While Xiaomi isn't participating in the project and isn't endorsing it, the company is still keen on giving the Mi users rich ROM options. Microsoft has been working closely with a user group to bring Windows 10 to Xiaomi Mi 4 and it seems the project development is now warping up. Microsoft's Xiaomi user group announced the Mi 4-compatible Windows 10 ROM will become available for download on June 1. Anyone with a Xiaomi Mi 4 is welcome to try the new ROM. This will surely won't boost the Windows popularity, which is in dare need of bigger market share, but is a nice move. Plus, Microsoft plans to release such ROMs for the ZTE Nubia 9 and probably other smartphones. Windows 10 is going to be a universal operating system, which should create a lot more opportunities and far better integration between Windows-running desktops, slates and phones. You can sign up for the Windows 10 ROM for Xiaomi Mi 4 right here and be among the first to get it. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_mi_4_windows_10_rom_available_on_june_1-news-12450.php

Samsung Galaxy A5 starts getting Lollipop update in Poland

Just a couple of days after Samsung began rolling out the Lollipop update for the Galaxy A7, the Galaxy A5 (SM-A500FU), which was announced by the company back in October last year and released a couple of months later, has also started receiving the update. Weighing in at 1GB, the update brings Android 5.0.2 OS, a new TouchWiz UX influenced by the new Material Design, new lock-screen and notification panel, better battery life, as well as performance and stability improvements. The update is currently rolling out in Poland, where it is available both over-the-air (OTA) as well as via KIES. If all goes smoothly it should expected to reach more markets next...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/galaxy_a5_starts_getting_android_502_in_poland-news-12448.php

Nokia RM-1106 may be the Lumia 940 with a 5.2-inch 1080p screen

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_rm1106_may_be_the_lumia_940_with_a_52inch_1080p_screen-news-12447.php

Android M detailed: The little things

Yesterday, we talked about the six tentpole features in the new Android M release. But there's a lot more that Google didn't go into during the keynote, which we'll talk about now. Direct Share It was already easy to share content between apps on Android but with Direct Share, Android can now learn which apps you share content to frequently and place that at the top of the list, so if you share photos to the Facebook app a lot, it will be at the top. Direct Share also lets you share content to specific people that you contact you the most, so they are placed directly in the share sheet instead of having to hunt them in the contacts list. Improved text selection and floating toolbar The text selection in Android hasn't changed much in several years. You still get the same confusing, nondescript icons at the top when you select the text in an app. With M, you now get a floating toolbar with clear cut, copy, and paste buttons, with overflow menu for additional options such as search or translate. The selection now also moves forward word by word instead of letters to make it easier to mark text but you can go back to select letter by letter. This feature is not present in the current developer preview for some reason. There will also be undo/redo keyboard shortcut buttons. App Standby We talked about Doze, which puts the device in a deep sleep state when not used for long periods of time to save power. App Standby does this for individual apps. When the OS detects an app hasn't been used in a long period of time then it automatically puts it on standby, which disables its network access and suspends its syncs and jobs. When you plug in your device for charging, these apps can resume syncing in the background as usual. Improved volume control A lot of people were upset by the lack of a traditional Silent mode in Lollipop. With M, the silent mode is back, accessed by holding down the volume button and then once again to exit the vibrate mode. Only alarms work in the Silent mode, as they used to. Google also brought back the extended volume control options, which let you control the media and alarm volumes by a drop down next to the ringtone volume level. The Interruptions feature has been removed from the volume bar and now is a separate feature listed below. Do not disturb quick setting M has a new Do not disturb button in the notifications, which is essentially the previous Interruptions feature. You can choose between Total silence mode, Alarms only mode, or Priority only mode. You can customize these options from the notifications or the Settings app. Adoptable storage devices Users can now add an SD card, which will then be adopted by the system to behave like internal storage. The memory card will be formatted and encrypted and will be seen like internal memory. You can then install apps and other private data easily onto the memory card. Auto backup for apps Google will now perform full automatic data backup and restore for apps designed for M. The data will be in your Google account and will be synced across devices. Bluetooth stylus support The OS now includes improved support for Bluetooth stylus devices. Improved Bluetooth Low Energy Scanning A new approach to scanning method cuts down on the power required to perform the scan, provided the developer of the app implements the feature. Hotspot 2.0 Release 1 support Support for Hotspot 2.0 in devices like Nexus 6 and Nexus 9 to automatically connect to Hotspot 2.0 networks when you enter the area. 4K Display Mode Android M now supports display resolutions up to 4K. Improved Android for Work Includes features such as enhanced controls for Corporate-Owned, Single-Use devices, silent install and uninstall of apps by Device Owner, silent enterprise certificate access, auto-acceptance of system updates, delegated certificate installation, enterprise factory reset protection, data usage tracking, runtime permission management, VPN in Settings, and work status notification. Improved USB On-The-Go support Previously connecting a USB OTG drive in stock Android made it accessible in apps but the OS itself behaved as if nothing was connected. In M, you now get a notification that lets you explore the contents of the drive in a file explorer like...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/android_m_detailed_the_little_things-news-12446.php

Nexus 5 starts getting Android 5.1.1 update in India

The LG Nexus 5, which was released back in November 2013, has started receiving the Android 5.1.1 update in India. The over-the-air (OTA) update weighs in at around 24MB and carries a build number of LMY48B. If you haven't received it yet, you can manually check for it by heading to Settings -> About -> System Updates on your device. For those who aren't already aware, the Android 5.1.1 update isn't a major one, as it is primarily aimed at fixing bugs and improving performance and stability. This comes just a few days after the update started rolling out for the LG G Flex2 in...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/nexus_5_is_getting_android_511_update_in_india-news-12445.php

Apple releases workaround for Messages bug; fix coming soon

Just days after it came into light, Apple has acknowledged the iOS Messages bug - which renders the app completely unusable if a certain text is received - and has also released a workaround for it. "Apple is aware of an iMessage issue caused by a specific series of unicode characters and we will make a fix available in a software update," the company posted on its support page. The workaround consists of 3 steps: first, ask Siri to read unread messages, then use it to reply to the malicious message (once you reply, you'll be able to open Messages again), and finally, go to the app and swipe left to delete the entire thread (or tap and hold the malicious message, tap More, and delete the message from the thread). Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/apple_releases_workaround_for_imessage_bug_fix_coming_soon-news-12444.php

OnePlus One tipped to get a global price cut on June 1

Earlier this week, OnePlus shared a teaser on its official Twitter account, hinting at a big announcement on June 1. While speculations have been rife that this might be something related to its next smartphone - the OnePlus Two, a new rumour is suggesting that the company is set to announce a global price cut for the One. According to a report from FoneArena, the Chinese company is expected to slash the price of the device by $50. This means that the 64GB model of the handset will be available at $298, while the 16GB variant will set you back around $248. Needless to say, none of this has been officially confirmed by the company, so take it with a pinch of...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/oneplus_one_tipped_to_get_a_price_cut_on_june_1-news-12443.php

Samsung regains top spot in global smartphone market in Q1

After losing the spot to Apple in the fourth quarter of 2014, Samsung is back on top as the leading smartphone maker in the world in Q1, 2015, according to a latest report from market research firm Gartner. Samsung sold a total of 81.1 million smartphones in the quarter, compared to 60.1 million units sold by rival Apple. However, the South Korean company's market share dropped to 24.2% from 30.4% in the same quarter last year. On the other hand Apple, which overtook Xiaomi to become the leading smartphone vendor in China in Q1, saw its market share rising to 17.9% from 15.3% in Q1, 2014. Lenovo, Huawei, and LG rounded up the top five with 5.9, 4.8, and 4.0% market share, respectively. As for mobile operating systems, Android was at the top, followed by iOS, Windows, and BlackBerry. However, except iOS, all other OS' saw their market share declining. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/gartner_samsung_regains_top_spot_as_leading_smartphone_vendor-news-12442.php

HTC confirms that One M9 and One M9+ will get Android M

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/htc_confirms_that_one_m9_and_one_m9_will_get_android_m-news-12441.php

Android M developer preview now out for Nexus 5, 6, and 9

Earlier today Google announced Android M, the next release of its mobile operating system, which will become available sometime during the third quarter of this year. Until then, though, the company has released the first developer preview of the new OS version. Just as last year, it's only called "M" for now, with the final naming due to be revealed at a later time. You can test drive Android M if you own an LG Nexus 5, Motorola Nexus 6, HTC Nexus 9, or Asus Nexus Player. Those are the devices for which preview images are already available for flashing. Do note however that this is intended for developers to use in improving their apps ahead of the final release of Android M. As this is a preview, bugs are to be expected. Also, the flashing procedure (detailed here) is quite involved, so if you don't have a bit of knowledge in the field you should probably not try this. Finally, understand that flashing the developer preview requires unlocking the bootloader of your device, which erases all the data on it. If you still want to proceed, the images are waiting for you at the Source link below. Google has planned to release three preview builds. The first one is out now, and the other two should come around one month apart each. The good thing is that those who have a preview build installed will get the new previews via over-the-air updates. On the other hand, once the final release of Android M is out, you will need to go the image flashing route, so you'll have to erase all the data on your device again. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/android_m_developer_preview_now_out_for_nexus_5_6_and_9-news-12440.php

AT&T will begin taking pre-orders for LG G4 tomorrow

AT&T announced that it will begin taking pre-orders for LG G4 tomorrow, on May 29 at 12:0am ET. The wireless carrier will offer the smartphone in Metallic Gray or Genuine Black Leather. Pricing for the Metallic Gray version of LG G4 will be $21 a month with $0 down on AT&T Next 24, or $629.99 outright. The leather back model will cost $669.99 with no contract, or $22.34 a month with $0 down with AT&T Next 24. LG G4 buyers on AT&T will receive a free spare battery with battery charger, as well as a 32GB memory card. For comparison, T-Mobile will give buyers of the device a free 128GB microSD card. LG G4 comes with a 5.5-inch QHD screen, Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 chipset, 3GB of RAM, 32GB of expandable storage, 16 MP rear camera with OIS and LED flash, 8 MP selfie snapper, and 3,000 mAh battery. You can find out all about the device from our detailed review. Source...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/at_t_will_begin_taking_preorders_for_lg_g4_tomorrow-news-12439.php

Android M detailed: granular permissions, mobile payments

Developers at Google I/O got a glimpse of the next major version of Android known only as M for now. There are six major improvements that mostly focus on how apps work and interact with each other. Android's wireless payment system also got a big boost, in part thanks to unified fingerprint sensor support. App permissions Android M is moving to an iOS-style permissions. You don't get asked about all permissions lumped together at install time, instead the app will ask for each permission the first time you use it. You can go into the Settings screen to view what permissions an app is using and revoke or allow them. You can also view all apps that use a certain permission. Custom Chrome tabs So many apps today have a web component that forces you to jump between a browser and the app or as web view embedded into the app. The Chrome team proposes a different solution - style Chrome to look like a part of the app. The app can launch a custom Chrome tab, style it and add buttons to make it feel almost like a native part of the app. App links What if an app needs to interact with something other than a browser? Android M adds a secure way for apps to verify that when they send a request (e.g. open Twitter and show this tweet), the receiving app that handles the request is legit. The OS will verify it cryptographically with the web server, which will thwart malicious apps. Android Pay Google has been trying to make mobile payments work for years now, Android Pay is the latest iteration. It will leverage a phone's NFC hardware to stand between the store and your credit card. The store - or even apps that sell things - will never see the details of your credit card as Pay keeps that private. The service will work with major cards, US carriers (AT&T, T-Mo, VZW) as well as a variety of stores: McDonald's, Subway, Best Buy, Coca Cola, Pepsi, you name it. Fingerprint sensors Some vendors are already leveraging fingerprint sensors to secure payments, now Google is making that functionality an official part of Android. Android M will abstract away the different kinds of sensors, presenting apps with a consistent API, which is bound to make life easier for developers. Power & charging Project Volta was the first step and with M Google is pushing ahead with improving battery life with Doze. Phones running the new OS will use their motion sensors to detect when the phone is just laying around and doze off. Dozing makes apps check with servers and run background activities less often. The longer the phone has been dozing, the less often apps get to do stuff. Still, phones can quickly wake up when needed. The result is that a Nexus 9 lasted twice as long running Android M than it did on Lollipop. Another part of battery life is quick charging. Google is adopting the USB Type C standard for its new power delivery modes, which can charge a phone much faster (3x to 5x). And since Type C is bi-directional you can even make the phone send power down the cable - imagine phones with huge batteries being used as battery packs. Google Now on Tap Google Now is also getting smarter with the new "on tap" functionality. It has improved natural language understanding, so you can ask it questions in a natural way - "his", "it", "this", the system is smart enough to figure out what you mean. The service is also aware of where you are in the UI. A quick demo showed Now on Tap answering "What's his real name?" while the phone was playing Skrillex. Google's knowledge graph provided the answer, Now on Tap made the connection (his ->...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/android_m_detailed_granular_permissions_mobile_paymets-news-12438.php

Samsung's project Valley might start the era of foldable devices

Samsung has been working on flexible displays for quite some time now and the Galaxy Note Edge and S6 edge are a definite testament to its huge success. But, flexible is one thing, while foldable opens up a whole new array of challenges and possibilities. Samsung has been working hard tackling the latter and we have already seen some impressive prototypes in action. Now, according to some industry sources, the time might have finally come to reap the benefits from all the hard work. If said rumors are true, Samsung might be on the verge of creating the world's first foldable-display phone. The project in question is codenamed 'V' or 'Valley' and that is pretty much all we know about it so far. It is reportedly in very early stages and could be scraped at any moment, if it hits a snag. But, the valley metaphor is quite indicative of what the Korean tech giant is trying to achieve. It is still unclear whether Samsung is aiming for one fluent screen all the way, or rather two intertwined, but still flexible screens. Either way, there has been a lot of talk about advancements in this area, so, perhaps, the story isn't all that...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsungs_project_valley_might_usher_in_era_of_foldable_devices-news-12436.php

Watch the Google I/O keynote presentation right here

Google's annual I/O conference is about to begin shortly and up first is the all-important keynote presentation. We will be covering the speech live as it goes, but, you can also tag along for yourself. We have embedded the player for you below. Just as a quick reminder, we are expecting to hear about the next Android version, codenamed Android M, as well as, possibly some new device announcements. If rumors are true, we might have a two new Nexus phones - one from LG and one from Huawei. There is a sea of other things we are hoping to hear about during the keynote, like project ARA and the future of IoT. You can also check our previous article for a full rundown of our...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/watch_the_google_i_o_keynote_presentation_right_here-news-12437.php

LG G5 tipped to come with iris recognition

The LG G4 is only now making its way to store shelves, but that in no way means that the company is not hard at work on the successor. Aiming to one-up rivals in the biometrics department now that fingerprint scanning is becoming a mainstream feature, the G5 is said to bring iris recognition to the table. Indication of that comes from reports in Korean publications, which state that LG has teamed up with local biometrics specialist Irience to implement the feature in the future smartphone. The development is at a pretty advanced stage too, with the hardware module already completed. More work remains to be done on the software side of things, but the estimate is that two to three months from now the tech will be ready. At this point the engineers are focused on increasing the scanning range from the current 30cm to a more usable arms-length 50cm. LG hasn't yet joined the fingerprint bandwagon and might as well skip the feature altogether and offer iris recognition instead. Now, we'll need to wait and see whether that will happen in the mysterious second company flagship for 2015, expected this fall, or the G4 successor a year from now. Meanwhile, the security-obsessed among you can grab the recently announced Vivo X5Pro, where such a feature is already present. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/lg_g5_tipped_to_come_with_iris_recognition-news-12435.php

Apple Pay should receive a reward program at WWDC

Apple Pay has had a rather turbulent upraising, ever since it was announced back in September 2014. Cupertino's NFC-based wireless payment service has hit more than a few snags in the short time it has been around, ranging from technical and hardware problems to user and retailer distrust. But whether the tech giant wants to admit it or not, it has been working extra hard to shove the platform into use any way it can and by all means necessary. One testament to this dedication is the huge saga Apple has been tackling ferociously to push the payment system into China, as well as the US and Canada. Industry sources now hint at yet another major effort to boost the popularity to Apple Pay. Rumors state that Cupertino is preparing a rewards program to compliment Apple Pay, which should be announced at this year's WWDC on June 8. The idea is that Apple Pay users will get the benefit of various perks when they use the NFC payment system instead of more traditional methods. Currently, the only real incentive to opt for ApplePay was convenience and even though that has proven to be enough of an incentive for a lot of people, Apple wants to give current and prospective users more reasons to switch to Apple Pay. Some could argue that this is also a strategic move against competitors like Google Wallet and Samsung, which recently acquired LoopPay, both presumably headed in the same direction. An NFC payment war could, indeed, be looming, but both of these services are currently limited to Android, whereas Apple Pay naturally requires iOS and we don't really see anybody opting for one or the other because of payment methods quite yet. It is not yet clear what kind of perks Apple will offer. Perhaps some reward point system will be put into place, or a much simpler and straight-forward discount plan. It is also important to see what vendors take part in the initiative. All of this and more is most probably going to be addressed at WWDC. We might even see the rewards program get officially announced, but, it is expected that it won't start to function before the roll-out of iOS 9 later this fall. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/apple_pay_should_receive_a_reward_program_at_wwdc-news-12434.php

Lumia 940 and XL to have 20MP camera, USB Type C connectors

It's been too long since the last Lumia flagship, but rumors hint at what's to come. The info allegedly comes from sources close to Microsoft who say that the Lumia 940 will have an 830-like design. The phones are based on an aluminum frame, the back is polycarbonate. The Lumia 940 will have a 5.2" QHD screen (1,440 x 2,560px), but there will be an XL version too. The Microsoft Lumia 940 XL will have a bigger 5.7" screen. The batteries should be 3,000mAh and 3,300mAh respectively. Both will bring a 20MP PureView camera (and not 25MP), plus a 5MP selfie camera. The two will have 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage, but the chipsets may be different. The 5.2" model at least will use a hexa-core processor, most likely a Snapdragon 808 like the LG G4. The big 5.7" model will pack an octa-core, probably a Snapdragon 810. Additional info about the Lumia 940 duo indicates a USB Type C connector, which may be used for the Continuity feature, which can switch between touch mode and desktop mode. Type C connectors can carry data, video and power simultaneously, making the setup simpler. A Lumia 840 is also in the works, already in testing. Source (in...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/lumia_940_and_xl_to_have_20mp_camera_usb_type_c_connectors-news-12433.php

Meizu teases the m1 note 2, announcement due on June 2

The Meizu m1 note 2, which was little more than a rumor until a live image surfaced a few days ago, is now all but confirmed by the Chinese company itself. In a newly released teaser image, an outline of the upcoming smartphone shows the relocated power button on the left side, below the volume rocker. At this stage little more is known about the smartphone, which is to replace the existing m1 note 5.5-inch phablet. Previous intel suggests that in place of the capacitive home button on the current model, a brand new physical button will be employed, but there's still no confirmation whether it will house a fingerprint sensor. Perhaps the feature will be reserved for the sequel to the high-end MX4 model. The new handset will boot Android Lollipop and that's about all the info, that's trickled out of Meizu's design labs. The price is rumored to remain unchanged from the present model's CNY999 (about $160). With a launch date set for less than a week from now on June 2, all the mysteries will be cleared in due time. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/meizu_teases_the_m1_note_2_announcement_due_on_june_2-news-12432.php

Lenovo shows off smartphone that can project screen on any surface

Lenovo showcased a new technology called Smart Cast that will allow the smartphone to project the phone's screen on to any surface. The technology makes use of a laser projector, a first on any smartphone, that can project normally on a wall as we have seen before on certain smartphones. But you can also twist the projector module and have the phone project on a flat horizontal surface, like a table. The phone can then project its display contents on the surface and you can interact with the projection as if it's the display itself. It can do things like project the keyboard on the table for you to type on, or the entire screen so you can play a game like Fruit Ninja. No device has been announced with this feature yet but they would be coming out in the near future....

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/lenovo_shows_of_smartphone_that_can_project_screen_on_any_surface-news-12431.php

Moto Maker now lets Chinese users customize Moto X

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/moto_maker_now_available_in_china_to_customize_the_moto_x-news-12430.php

Galaxy S6, S6 edge camera update due with Android 5.1 in June

Android 5.1 Lollipop will bring new camera interface and features to Samsung Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge. The new firmware is expected to arrive on the duo of flagship smartphones in June. With Android 5.1, the already capable 16MP camera of Samsung Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge will receive support for capturing images in RAW format. The snapper will also get simplified pro mode and shutter speed control. Another slight tweak in the camera UI will let users control exposure levels by simply dragging their finger up or down. In a way, this mimics the functionality offered by Apple in the iPhone camera app. Source...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/galaxy_s6_s6_edge_camera_update_due_with_android_51_in_june-news-12429.php

YotaPhone 2 will reportedly have two successors

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/yotaphone_2_will_reportedly_have_two_successors-news-12428.php

Asus ZenFone Selfie tipped with 13MP front-facing camera

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/asus_zenfone_selfie_tipped_with_13mp_frontfacing_camera-news-12427.php

LG G4 and G Pad X8.3 go on sale at Verizon tomorrow

After US Cellular, Sprint, and T-Mobile, it's now finally Verizon's turn to announce availability details for the LG G4. The carrier nicknamed Big Red goes one further, though, as it's also unveiled a new tablet on this occasion - the LG G Pad X8.3, which got leaked a couple of weeks ago sporting the correct launch date in its renders. The LG G4 will be up for pre-order starting tomorrow, May 28. It will be available in stores on June 4, but pre-orders will be shipped before that. The device can be yours through Verizon's Edge plan for $22.91 per month for two years, adding up to a full price of $549.99. This carrier will have three color versions up for grabs: Metallic Gray, Genuine Black Leather, and the Verizon-exclusive Ceramic White with 3D patterns. If you buy your G4 from Big Red, you are eligible for LG's US promotion, offering a free 32GB microSD card as well as a second battery and charging cradle. You can get an LG G Pad 10.1 for $99.99 ($50 off what it normally goes for) or an LG Watch Urbane for $299.99 if you buy a G4. The new LG G Pad X8.3 will become available tomorrow. Its normal price will be $129.99 with a new two-year contract. That said, if you also purchase an LG G4, then the tablet can be yours for just $49.99, though you'll still need to sign a two-year agreement for the tablet too. The G Pad X8.3 comes with an 8.3-inch 1,920x1,200 IPS touchscreen, a 1.5 GHz octa-core processor, 16GB of expandable storage (of which 9GB is user-accessible), an 8 MP rear camera, a 2 MP front-facing unit, dual stereo speakers, a full size USB port, 4G LTE, and a 4,800 mAh battery. It runs Android 5.0 Lollipop. Basically, it looks like this is an updated version of the original G Pad 8.3, which Verizon has also...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/lg_g4_and_g_pad_x83_go_on_sale_at_verizon_tomorrow-news-12426.php

T-Mobile's Sony Xperia Z1s is now receiving Lollipop update

Sony has been rolling out Lollipop updates left and right to its Xperia Z series devices for many weeks now. Multiple generations of the company's flagship line have so far been upgraded to Android 5.0, and today the time has finally come for the T-Mobile-exclusive Xperia Z1s to receive the same treatment. The update to Android 5.0.2 Lollipop is now rolling out over-the-air for this device, with the new software having build number 14.5.B.0.236, as evidenced by the image below. As always in these cases, the rollout is going to be staged over the next few days or weeks, so it may still be a while before your particular handset notifies you about the update. Though no matter how long it takes, at least it's now on its way. And of course you can manually check for it by choosing the relevant option in your phone's Settings menu. The Lollipop update brings with it the new Material Design UI, new Xperia wallpapers, themes, a new media app, the revamped lockscreen and notification drawer, along with the usual performance...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/tmobiles_sony_xperia_z1s_is_now_receiving_lollipop_update-news-12425.php

Xiaomi finally launches US and EU accessory store next week

Last we heard anything about it, Xiaomi's online accessory store for the US and a few EU countries was supposed to go live in mid-May. For whatever reason, though, the Chinese company has decided that a June launch would be better. So today it's sent us word that its much-awaited first foray into 'Western' markets will happen early next week. In the US, the online store will open at 7 PM PDT on June 1, while in France, Germany, and the UK it will be available from June 2 at 1 PM CEST. The different launch hours are as puzzling as what happened to the May inauguration. In Xiaomi's store you'll be able to find two power banks, a pair of headphones, as well as the Mi Band for fitness freaks. The 5,000 mAh power bank can be yours for just $9.99, while the 10,400 mAh model costs $13.99. The Mi Headphones, with their large 50mm diaphragm, will go for $79.99. The Mi Band will require you to shell out $14.99, and it's just received support for syncing with Google Fit. All orders will be shipped from China, and there will be a (not yet detailed) return policy too, in case you're not satisfied with the product you get. You also obviously receive warranty, since you're buying straight from the maker of these accessories. Xiaomi boasts that its 10,400 mAh power bank is the best selling such accessory in the world, with over 10 million units moved globally ever since its initial release in December 2013. The Mi Band is IP67 certified for dust and water resistance, and it has 30-day battery life. Xiaomi is currently selling 1 million of these each...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomis_us_and_eu_accessory_store_finally_goes_live_next_week-news-12424.php

Low-end Huawei Honor phone with gold frame surfaces at TENAA

In the near future it looks like we should see a new low-end member join Huawei's Honor line of smartphones. While we don't yet know what its name will be, the device passed through the required TENAA certification in China with the model number SCL-AL00. Oddly though, not a lot of specs have been made public for it, but we do have the pictures you can see below (click the thumbnails for full size images). Huawei Honor SCL-AL00 The Honor SCL-AL00 should sport a Qualcomm chipset with a 1.09 GHz quad-core Cortex-A7 CPU, along with 2GB of RAM. The memory amount is certainly a nice surprise given the old ARM architecture used by the SoC. The phone is going to run Android 5.0 Lollipop from day one, undoubtedly hidden underneath Huawei's own Emotion UI overlay. It will have dual-SIM functionality and support for 4G LTE networks, but that's about all we know about it thus far. As the certification shots attest, the Honor SCL-AL00 will probably be made out of plastic, but it will come with a frame that seems to have a 'rose gold' type of color. Whether that is going to be metallic-looking plastic or actual metal remains to be seen. Source (in Chinese) |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/lowend_huawei_honor_phone_with_gold_frame_surfaces_at_tenaa-news-12423.php

Gionee Elife E8 is fully pictured in a new set of renders

Mere hours ago we exclusively showed you an image of the upcoming Gionee Elife E8, and now we have a new render of the same device. This time around, we finally get to see both its front and back, side by side. The Elife E8 has been leaking a lot lately, ahead of its possible introduction in June at a dedicated event in Beijing. So far we know it will boast a 23 MP rear camera that will be capable of taking 100 MP pictures through software tricks, but also some lossless zoom shots a la the Nokia Lumia 1020. Other specs for it include a 6-inch QHD AMOLED touchscreen, an 8 MP front snapper, 3GB of RAM, 32GB of storage, a 3,250 mAh battery, and MediaTek's MT6795 SoC with octa-core CPU at the helm. The handset should run Android 5.0 Lollipop underneath Gionee's own Amigo OS. It will be 9.6mm thick, and will come with a fingerprint scanner on the back. Thanks for the tip,...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/gionee_elife_e8_is_fully_pictured_in_a_new_set_of_renders-news-12422.php

Apple Watch review: Uncharted territory

Apple certainly took its sweet time with this one. After years of rumors Apple Watch finally showed its face on September 9 last year and started to reveal its secrets. And it wasn't until the end of April that actual sales begun and with long waiting times at that...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/apple_watch-review-1256.php

Bug in iOS crashes Messages app if a specific text comes in

Bugs are an integral part of software, but some are more interesting (and potentially damaging) than others. Case in point: a new bug in iOS renders the Messages app completely unusable if a certain text is received. That text has to be formatted in a specific way, and it contains a specific string of characters. But once you get it, two things generally happen: if you were already in Messages, the app itself will continuously crash, becoming useless in the process. Yet that's perhaps not the worst case scenario. If you receive the text while you're looking at the lock screen, your iPhone will spontaneously (and without any notice) reboot itself. Unfortunately the special text can be sent from other iPhones as well as Android devices, so your friends (or even strangers) could be pulling a bad trick on you in the near future. Of course, the fact that the string of text required to be used for this to happen is incredibly specific means that this is unlikely to occur accidentally. That might be a good thing or a bad thing for you, possibly depending on how prank-inclined your friends are. Interestingly, the crashing can be undone too - all that's needed is for the person who sent you that malicious string of text to send you another message, regardless of the content. We assume Apple has already started working on a fix for this odd bug, so the situation clearly won't last...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/bug_in_ios_crashes_messages_app_if_a_specific_text_comes_in-news-12421.php

Here's what to expect from Google I/O 2015

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/heres_what_to_expect_from_google_i_o_2015-news-12420.php

Two Motorola QHD flagships with Lollipop leak

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/motorola_is_working_on_quad_hd_flagship_with_lollipop-news-12419.php

Xiaomi Mi 5 may pack a 5.5-inch screen, Snapdragon 820 chipset

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_mi_5_may_pack_a_55inch_screen_snapdragon_820_chipset-news-12418.php

Android 5 Lollipop now seeding on Samsung Galaxy A7

Last month Samsung treated the Galaxy A3 to sweet Android Lollipop in Russia and later pushed the update across other markets. A week ago UK's Three spilled the beans on the upcoming Lollipop updates for the bigger Galaxy A5 and A7 models - they should launch in June in the UK. Today Samsung began rolling out the Lollipop update for the Galaxy A7 in Russia. It includes Android 5.0.2 operating system, performance and stability improvements, better battery life and a new TouchWiz UX influenced by the new Material Design. The update for the Galaxy A7 is available over-the-air and via Kies. If you live in Russia and own a Galaxy A7, you should be getting the notification very soon, if not already. Other markets should be following suit very soon, if all goes smooth with the soak test. It seems Three UK was right about the timing, so the Galaxy A5 update should be just around the corner as well. If you are impatient you may download the Russian ROM from this link and flash it via Odin. This may void your warranty...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/android_5_lollipop_now_seeding_on_samsung_galaxy_a7-news-12417.php

Black leather LG G4 exclusively at Carphone Warehouse

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/black_leather_lg_g4_now_retails_exclusively_at_carphone_warehouse-news-12416.php

YU gets 500,000 registrations for the Yuphoria flash sale

YU's second phone, Yuphoria, is off to a great start. The company claims to have received over 500,000 registrations for the upcoming flash sale of the device. Now registrations does not equal actual sales, but a good chunk of those people are going to end up with the device tomorrow when it goes on sale. We reviewed the Yuphoria and found some issues with it that made us not recommend the device but a lot of people still seem interested in it. The phone will be available starting tomorrow at 2PM IST on Amazon India for Rs. 6,999...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/yu_gets_500000_registrations_for_the_yuphoria_flash_sale-news-12415.php

Possible Asus Zenfone 3 spotted on TENAA

The Asus Zenfone 2 family was never one with clearly identifiable model names and a new entry on TENAA's website hints that another smartphone may be joining it. The Chinese regulator lists a device with a model number Z00EDB, which some even suggest could be the future Zenfone 3, at least one of the lower-specced phones of the bunch, that is. The smartphone is built around a 5-inch 720p IPS display, much like the current Zenfone 2 ZE500CL. The Z00EDB is powered by an unnamed chipset with a quad-core 1.2GHz processor inside. 2GB of RAM and 16GB of base storage are on board, with the option for microSD expansion. Alleged Asus Zenfone 3 The camera on the back is an 8MP unit, again borrowed from the existing 5-incher in the range, but there's a dual-tone LED flash and the overall arrangement is new. Another window, flanking the lens, may suggest a laser autofocus capability. A 5MP selfie camera is present too. Other than that, the overall aesthetic is kept unchanged. The phone measures 143.7x71.5x10.7 mm, which makes it smaller than the Zenfone 2 ZE500CL and it's also 10g lighter at 145g, but no battery figures are quoted. The new phone boots Android 5.0.2 out of the box. It remains to be seen whether an Asus Zenfone 3 will emerge from this device, or it's just another addition to the existing Zenfone 2 lineup. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/possible_asus_zenfone_3_spotted_on_tenaa-news-12414.php