Apple no longer sells iPhones with a two year AT&T contract

Most people nowadays tend to go for carrier-subsidized deal on smartphones. It just seems logical since you are already paying for a subscription to a certain company and most people would prefer spacing out such a huge expense. This is definitely applicable for iPhones, especially in the US, which is why Apple has carrier plans listed as a first choice on its website. Recently, however, the AT&T subscription plan has undergone some changes. The iPhone 6 now comes with an AT&T Next subscription, instead of a two year contract. If you haven't heard of the payment plan, it is essentially getting a phone on credit. AT&T subsidizes the purchase and offers you to pay it back over 12, 18 or 14 months. At the same time, you are not bound to any carrier and can switch providers at will. This means that the AT&T unit is essentially SIM Free, but, as expected, interest does ramp up the overall price. The phone starts at $21.64 per month for a 16GB model and goes up to $24.97 and $28.30 for the 64GB and 128GB version, respectively. The iPhone 6 Plus comes with a similar deal at $24.97, $28.30 and $31.64. The figures do go up if you opt for a longer payment period. The new AT&T offer is already live at apple.com and should also apply at brick and mortar stores. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/apple_no_longer_sells_iphones_with_a_two_year_at_t_contract-news-12553.php

comScore US report says Android is still more popular than iOS

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/comscore_us_report_says_android_is_still_more_popular_than_ios-news-12552.php

Standardized security might waive Android Pay transaction fee

Mobile payments are well on their way to becoming the next big tech trend, whether we like it or not. Apple Pay has been at the forefront of the technology, investing heftily in the system, despite retailer distrust and numerous technical and legal issues. In fact, Cupertino has managed to be so persuasive that a lot of banks and card issuers have already agreed to enroll for the platform and also give Apple as much as 0.15% fee of the value of each card transaction. Tallied up, this amounts to a tremendous revenue, which Google expected to get in on with Android Pay, announced in late May. This, however, seems a lot less-likely after Visa Inc. and MasterCard Inc. recently took steps to standardize their tokenization security system, essentially preventing payment services from charging fees to issuers. This could put Google's new mobile payment service at quite a disadvantage. For anyone unfamiliar with tokenization - it is essentially a clever method of substituting sensitive personal and authentication data with a unique string of data, which holds no evident information in itself, but can be used to authenticate a customer in front of a trusted party. The whole tokenization scheme is absolutely vital for making secure mobile payments. Now Visa and MasterCard have insured it is free to use. And, considering their tremendous influence in the payment realm, the idea is sure to catch on quick. But not all is lost for Google and Android Pay. According to analysts the lack of intermittent fees might give the payment platform quite an edge among banks and card issuers. Furthermore, if there is one thing Google knows best, that is how to monetize from a user base of essentially free services. One estimate states that a single Android Pay user could be worth as much as $300 a year, mostly for advertising and marketing purposes. Google also plans to introduce coupons, promotions and other perks to users, which can bring even more indirect income. Meanwhile, nobody is quite certain what will happen to Apple's current contracts and payment fees. They might be waved sooner or later, but, considering the infancy of Apple Pay, most contracts with banks and card issuer still have about two years until they expire. Samsung Electronics is also affected by the issues, as the Korean giant made it clear that it is also developing a mobile payment system of its...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/standardized_security_might_waive_android_pay_transaction_fee-news-12551.php

Standardized security might wave Android Pay transaction fees

Mobile payments are well on their way to becoming the next big tech trend, whether we like it or not. Apple Pay has been at the forefront of the technology, investing heftily in the system, despite retailer distrust and numerous technical and legal issues. In fact, Cupertino has managed to be so persuasive that a lot of banks and card issuers have already agreed to enroll for the platform and also give Apple as much as 0.15% fee of the value of each card transaction. Tallied up, this amounts to a tremendous revenue, which Google expected to get in on with Android Pay, announced in late May. This, however, seems a lot less-likely after Visa Inc. and MasterCard Inc. recently took steps to standardize their tokenization security system, essentially preventing payment services from charging fees to issuers. This could put Google's new mobile payment service at quite a disadvantage. For anyone unfamiliar with tokenization - it is essentially a clever method of substituting sensitive personal and authentication data with a unique string of data, which holds no evident information in itself, but can be used to authenticate a customer in front of a trusted party. The whole tokenization scheme is absolutely vital for making secure mobile payments. Now Visa and MasterCard have insured it is free to use. And, considering their tremendous influence in the payment realm, the idea is sure to catch on quick. But not all is lost for Google and Android Pay. According to analysts the lack of intermittent fees might give the payment platform quite an edge among banks and card issuers. Furthermore, if there is one thing Google knows best, that is how to monetize from a user base of essentially free services. One estimate states that a single Android Pay user could be worth as much as $300 a year, mostly for advertising and marketing purposes. Google also plans to introduce coupons, promotions and other perks to users, which can bring even more indirect income. Meanwhile, nobody is quite certain what will happen to Apple's current contracts and payment fees. They might be waved sooner or later, but, considering the infancy of Apple Pay, most contracts with banks and card issuer still have about two years until they expire. Samsung Electronics is also affected by the issues, as the Korean giant made it clear that it is also developing a mobile payment system of its...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/standardized_security_might_wave_android_pay_transaction_fees-news-12551.php

Android 5.1.1 update rolling out to Android One devices in India

The Android 5.1.1 Lollipop update has started rolling out to Android One smartphones in India. The devices that are receiving the update include the Micromax Canvas A1, Spice Dream UNO Mi-498, and Karbonn Sparkle V - all of them currently run Android 4.4 (KitKat). The over-the-air (OTA) update weighs in at around 11.8MB and carries a build number of LMY47V. If you haven't received it yet, you can manually check for it by heading to Settings -> About Phone -> System Updates on your device. As you might already know, the Android 5.1.1 update isn't a major one, as it is primarily aimed at fixing bugs and improving performance and stability. It does, however, bring the Lollipop experience to the aforementioned devices. Via 1 | Via...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/android_511_update_rolling_out_for_android_one_devices_in_india-news-12550.php

Under 25% of top 100 US retailers currently accept Apple Pay

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/under_25_of_top_100_us_retailers_currently_accept_apple_pay-news-12549.php

Android 5.1 update for Droid Turbo said to be coming on June 10

Just a few weeks after there were reports that the Android 5.1 update for the Motorola Droid Turbo will arrive in mid-June, it is now being said that the update - bearing build number 23.11.23 - will be released on June 10. The update will be released in waves, which means that it may take some time to reach your device. However, if you feel impatient, you can also check for it manually by heading to Settings > System Updates on your handset. If you aren't in the know, Sony also recently announced that it will bring the latest available Android 5.1 Lollipop to several of its...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/android_51_for_droid_turbo_said_to_be_coming_on_june_10-news-12548.php

Week 23 in review: Galaxy S6 Plus, S6 Active, HTC One ME

Another week just flew by and things were quit busy in the mobile world. Our news section was buzzing with interesting headlines, so let's have a quick look at the stories that you, out loyal readers, found to be the most interesting this week. Samsung, Samsung everywhere! The Korean tech giant has been dominating the news yet again. During the week, we saw a glimpse of what is allegedly a bigger version of the Galaxy S6 edge, dubbed S6 Plus. The leaked photos and the device itself is shrouded with a lot of mystery, but rumors are that it is, in fact, coming in the following weeks, boasting a 5.5-inch display and aiming straight for the middle ground between the Galaxy S and Galaxy Note series. The S6 Active has also had a major presence in the rumor mill. The rugged version of the current flagship has even appeared in a few photos, so, it should be on the way soon, as well. On a more financial note, there has been quite a lot of speculation about the success of Samsung's current pair of flagship device and, by extension, the condition of the business itself. The S6 and S6 edge seems to be selling well enough, but, perhaps, there might be more to the story than what meets the eye. One way or the other, we should get a clear idea of just how good the smartphones are doing once official sales reports come in. But enough about Samsung. The past few days witnessed a few device announcements. The HTC One ME was made official, at least in China, that is. The high-end device runs on MediaTek's brand new Helio X10 SoC and boasts an impressive specs sheet. The Meizu m2 note is another newcomer. The successor to the quite-successful m1 note has truly managed to preserve all the great features on its predecessor and even improve on some. All, while retaining a tantalizing sub-$200 price tag. Last, but not least, Asus announced a new selfie-centric phone with a 13MP front-facing camera, quite naturally dubbed ZenFone Selfie. Various leaks, rumors and speculations have also been pouring in about an array of other devices. We saw an exclusive look at XOLO's new brand - Black and the first device in its lineup. Also, Gionee has been working hard on not one, but three new offers. The Elife E8 should impress with a 23MP camera, while the M4 and the M5 have batteries of astounding capacity. The Meizu's MX5 also got portrayed in a few new pictures and Xiaomi is promising another device announcement on June 10. There has been more talk of a new 4-inch iPhone, so, that possibility seems to be on the table yet again. In other news, the Lollipop update frenzy is still on. Things seem to have shifted towards ironing out bugs in already updated devices, rather than newcomers to Google's latest OS, but, still, updates are flying all over the place. It is a good thing too, as Android M is already on the way and manufacturers and developers really need to keep up. If you think you might have missed something from the busy week, here is a list of what you, our readers, found most interesting in the tech world. .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; } Could this be the upcoming 5.5-inch Galaxy S6 Plus A couple of leaked shots claim to showcase the upcoming super-sized Galaxy S6 Plus. Exclusive: First look at the upcoming XOLO Black phone XOLO is launching a online-only sub-brand in India next month, with this being the first device. HTC One ME goes official with MediaTek Helio X10 SoC The high-end smartphone will hit the shelves in China in three color schemes. Galaxy S6 Plus rumoured to be unveiled in coming weeks The device, which is internally code-named as Project Zero 2, was earlier said to be announced at...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/week_23_in_review_galaxy_s6_plus_s6_active_htc_one_me-news-12539.php

Expansys offering discount on Lumia 640, 640 XL, and G Flex 2

Expansys USA is offering a weekend special deal where you can purchase the Microsoft Lumia 640 and 640 XL, as well as the LG G Flex 2 at discounted rates. The online retailer is offering the G Flex 2 (Flamenco Red or Black colour) for $450, which is $120 less than its usual price of $570. Similarly, the Lumia 640 as well as its dual-SIM variant is available for $180 and $190, respectively, which translates into a discount of $30 for both devices. The dual-SIM version of the Lumia 640 XL can be grabbed for $250, down from its usual price for $290. The device, as well as its smaller brother, is available in Black, White, Orange, and Blue colour options. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/expansys_offering_discount_on_lumia_640_640_xl_and_lg_g_flex_2-news-12547.php

Samsung Galaxy J7 has its specs confirmed by a retailer listing

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_j7_has_its_specs_confirmed_by_a_retailer_listing-news-12546.php

iPhone 6s will be released on September 25, rumor claims

Apple hasn't even made iOS 9 official yet, and here we are talking about the launch date of the next iPhone. As you may know, this year Apple is expected to bring us an "s" release, which has so far been rumored to sport a higher-res 12 MP camera and 2GB of RAM, among other improvements. Yet if you've been anxiously wondering exactly when you'll be able to walk into your friendly neighborhood Apple store and purchase an iPhone 6s, wonder no more. According to a still unconfirmed rumor, the big date to circle in your calendar is September 25. One thing is clear: it's a Friday, and Apple has traditionally launched its iPhones on Fridays, for what it's worth. As for pre-orders, those are set to go live exactly one week earlier, on September 18. All of this information is supposedly valid for the UK, but the US release timeline for recent iPhones has always coincided with the dates for across the pond. So these details should also be of use to those in the US. Of course, all of this is assuming that one rumor so early in the game got it right. The info reportedly comes from a leaked internal communication at Vodafone UK, as the operator is outlining its launch plans for the next iPhone to its employees. That said, the email hasn't been shown, so do keep a pinch of salt nearby for this one. Interestingly, at this stage Vodafone chose to only refer to the device as the "new iPhone". That could mean the operator doesn't yet know what it will be called (hopefully), or that Apple is going to actually call it the "new iPhone" - a strategy it's tried before for the iPad with disappointing results. We don't get any sort of confirmation about the launch of a bigger iPhone 6s Plus alongside that "new iPhone", but that may come in time. We're still more than three months away, after all. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/iphone_6s_will_be_released_on_september_25_rumor_claims-news-12545.php

This year's Moto X is probably codenamed Calisto

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/this_years_moto_x_is_probably_codenamed_calisto-news-12544.php

Oppo R1x review: Sleek geometry

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/oppo_r1x-review-1260.php

Sony Xperia C4 and M4 Aqua are both shipping now

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/sony_xperia_c4_and_m4_aqua_are_both_shipping_now-news-12543.php

HTC to out a new hero product as part of sales damage control

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/htc_to_out_a_new_hero_product_as_part_of_sales_damage_control-news-12538.php

Two unknown Lenovo devices make a visit at TENAA in China

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/two_unknown_lenovo_devices_make_a_visit_at_tenaa_in_china-news-12537.php

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/micromaxs_first_4g_phone_canvas_knight_2_launched_for_260-news-12535.php

HTC launches One E9+ Dual SIM and Desire 326G Dual SIM in India

HTC has announced two new phones in the Indian market, the HTC One E9+ Dual SIM and the HTC Desire 326G Dual SIM. The One E9+ Dual SIM is identical to the standard One E9+, except for the dual SIM part. It has a 5.5-inch QHD display, 20 megapixel camera, MediaTek Helio X10 processor, 3GB RAM, 32GB memory with microSD support, and dual BoomSound speakers with Dolby Audio. The One E9+ Dual SIM is priced at Rs. 36,790 ($575) and will be available from June 4 in Meteor Grey, Gold Sopia, and Rose Gold The HTC Desire 326G Dual SIM is a budget smartphone with a 4.5-inch, 854x480 resolution display, 1.2GHz quad-core Spreadtrum SC7731G SoC, 1GB RAM, 8GB internal memory with microSD support, 8 megapixel rear camera, 2 megapixel camera, and 2000mAh camera. The phone oddly lacks LTE support, present in almost all phones in this price range. The Desire 326G Dual SIM is priced at Rs. 9,590 ($150) and is available in White Birch and Black...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/htc_launches_one_e9_dual_sim_and_desire_326g_dual_sim_in_india-news-12536.php

Mi 4i now available worldwide via Uniqbe

The Xiaomi Mi 4i - which is currently only available in select Asian markets including India, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Malaysia - can now be ordered from anywhere in the world, as the device is up for international pre-orders from Uniqbe. The Hong Kong-based retailer is selling the Mi 4i, which was released back in April this year, for $240 plus shipping (which varies depending on where you are ordering the device from). So, the handset - which carries a price tag of around $200 in India - should set you back somewhere around $300. If you aren't in the know, Xiaomi recently started rolling out an update to the device which was aimed at fixing a heating issue that some users had earlier...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/mi_4i_now_available_worldwide_via_uniqbe-news-12534.php

AT&T and Verizon Moto X (2014) now available on Best Buy for $300

Best Buy is now offering the AT&T and Verizon variants of the Motorola Moto X (2014) for just $299.99. That's a decent saving of $100 for AT&T customers and a whopping $250 for those on Verizon. The deal covers only the 16GB model (black colour) of the device, which was released back in September last year. It's also worth mentioning that the electronics retailer is also offering $25 in rewards certificates with the purchase of every new smartphone. The discount comes just days after Motorola announced that it will not be upgrading the ATRIX HD to KitKat, and will be compensating for it by offering the owners of the handset special pricing on the Moto X (2014) Pure Edition. Source 1 | Source 2 |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/at_t_and_verizon_moto_x_2014_now_available_on_best_buy_for_299-news-12533.php

LG G4 to launch in Canada on June 19

LG has confirmed that its latest flagship smartphone, the G4, will be launched in Canada on June 19. It will be available for purchase through Bell, Rogers, TELUS, Videotron, and WIND Mobile. The device, which was released back in April this year and is already available in the US, will be available in black leather and metallic grey variants in Canada. As for the price, there are still no official announcements, but it is being said that the handset will set you back $199.99 on contract and $699.99 off it. This comes just a day after the G4 went on sale in India, although it is yet to be officially launched there. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/lg_g4_coming_to_canada_on_june_19-news-12532.php

ZTE Nubia Z9 will officially arrive in the United States in Q3

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/zte_nubia_z9_will_officially_arrive_in_the_united_states_in_q3-news-12531.php

Samsung seals a long-term deal with ARM for Mali GPUs

Today Samsung and ARM inked a huge license deal - ARM granted a long-term license to Samsung for its Mali GPU series. Samsung has been using the Mali design in Exynos chipsets for quite some time now - the most recent case being the Galaxy S6's Exynos 7420, which is notable for its Mali T760 MP8 8-core graphics. Qualcomm's Adreno lineup and Imagination Technologies' PowerVR series are the competition to ARM's Mali GPUs, but it seems its future partnership with Samsung will surely help Mali stand its ground. ARM has already introduced a lot of interesting GPUs, both cost- and energy-efficient. There is the top-notch Mali-T880, which we'll most probably see in the next crop of flagships (Galaxy Note 5 too, maybe), while the T820 and T830 designs should provide reasonable graphic punch on the cheap. ARM's Mali has also been a choice for many MediaTek chips, while Huawei has been using Mali's in its HiSilicon offers as well. Samsung has been using Mali quite often, but now with this new deal the Mali future looks quite promising. Hopefully, this will turn out for the good of both companies, the fair competition, and for us - the...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_seals_a_longterm_deal_with_arm_for_mali_gpus-news-12530.php

Gionee to launch Marathon M4 with a massive 5000mAh battery

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/gionee_to_launch_marathon_m4_with_massive_5000_mah_battery-news-12529.php

Lenovo Vibe X2 is now getting Android 5 Lollipop

Lenovo Vibe X2 was set to get the Android 5.0 Lollipop on May 27, but it somewhat got delayed a few days. Worry no more though, as the Lollipop update is now live and available for download. We got reports from various users that Lenovo Vibe X2 is getting Lollipop in Asia. The OTA update is 1.1GB big and will treat your Vibe X2 with newer Android OS version, Material Design, lots of performance and battery improvements, among other stuff. We guess the Vibe X2 owners worldwide should be getting the notification any moment now, if not already. Thanks to everyone, who sent this...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/lenovo_vibe_x2_is_now_getting_android_5_lollipop-news-12528.php

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/motorola_moto_x_2015_tipped_to_feature_52_qhd_display-news-12527.php

Meizu MX5 shown in a torrent of leaks ahead of launch

A surprising outburst of info on the upcoming Meizu MX5 has flooded us today, leading us to get ready for the imminent announcement of the smartphone. The successor to the very capable MX4 has been spotted on Chinese regulator TENAA's website and was later detailed in a hands-on video. The smartphone will reportedly feature a 5.5-inch display, which however won't see the rumored bump in resolution to QHD, and will instead remain at FullHD. Meizu will make a switch to AMOLED technology, as opposed to the IPS panel used on the MX4. This resonates well with the old rumor that the new model will come with a 16:9 aspect ratio, compared to Meizu's established 16:10 practice. Meizu MX5 at TENAA Computing power will come courtesy of a yet unannounced Mediatek MT6793 chipset with a 2.3GHz octa-core processor. Also 3GB of RAM will be on board and the 16GB internal storage will be expandable via microSD up to 128GB. The primary camera will be a 20MP unit, though a quoted 4x optical zoom lens leaves us more than skeptical. Meizu held back on the front cam and fitted a 3MP shooter, much to the disappointment of selfie lovers. Meizu MX5 live images The new smartphone measures 146 x 74.6 x 7.9mm, which is a whole millimeter thinner than the previous gen, but the footprint is mostly the same. Engineers have managed to fit a 3,150mAh battery inside, nonetheless. A fingerprint sensor in the home button provides another tick on the specsheet. You can check out the Meizu MX5 in action in the video below, though you need to be patient as the video isn't very quick to load (at least from where we access it). The Meizu MX5 will boot FlymeOS 4.5 on top of Android 5.0.1. Sources claim that official release is to be expected in August. Source (all in Chinese) 1 2 3 | Via 1...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/meizu_mx5_shown_in_a_torrent_of_leaks_ahead_of_launch-news-12526.php

Sony announces massive Android 5.1 upgrade plans

Sony made happy a lot of loyal fans today with one of the biggest update announcements we've seen lately. The company promised to bring the latest available Android 5.1 Lollipop to a plethora of devices. Recently Sony began seeding the 5.0 Lollipop firmware update to the first Xperia Z series, but the M2 and M2 Aqua users were left out of the loop. Luckily, we have some great news for them as well. Android 5.1 Lollipop is currently in development for lots of Xperia devices and it is scheduled for a July release. The Xperia devices, which will get the 5.1 update are: Sony Xperia Z3 series: Xperia Z3, Xperia Z3v, Xperia Z3 Compact and Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact Sony Xperia Z2 series: Xperia Z2 and Xperia Z2 Tablet Sony Xperia Z1 series: Xperia Z1, Xperia Z1 Compact, Xperia Z1S, Xperia Z Ultra and Xperia Z Ultra GPE Sony Xperia Z series: Xperia Z, Xperia ZL, Xperia ZR and Xperia Tablet Z Sony Xperia M2 and Xperia M2 Aqua Sony Xperia T2 Ultra Sony Xperia C3 The dual SIM flavors of the devices above will be treated with 5.1 Lollipop as well. The updates will roll out starting this July. Naturally, the availability of those updates will vary by markets and carriers, but eventually they should reach to all compatible devices out there. Thanks to everyone, who sent this in! Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/sony_announces_massive_android_51_upgrade_plans-news-12525.php

LG G4 goes on sale in India before official announcement

LG is yet to officially launch the G4 in India, but online retailer Infibeam is the first to start selling it before anybody else. The phone is now available for Rs. 50,000 ($780) with an additional Rs. 3000 ($47) off if you use discount coupon "STRIKEOFF3000". Also, you get a metallic finish back cover worth Rs. 2000 ($31) and a one time screen replacement worth Rs. 6,500 ($101) for free. The phone sold in India has the leatherback by default and comes in orange and black only. The LG G4 is the company's latest flagship smartphone. It has a 5.5-inch QHD display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 processor, 3GB RAM, 32GB memory with microSD support, 16 megapixel rear camera, 8 megapixel front camera, 3000 mAh replaceable battery, and Android 5.0...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/lg_g4_goes_on_sale_in_india_before_official_announcement-news-12523.php

Galaxy S5 Neo said to be powered by Exynos 7580 SoC

New details have emerged about the Samsung Galaxy S5 Neo, which has seen several leaks up till now. According to a report from Sammobile, the device will be powered by an Exynos 7580 SoC with 64-bit octa-core CPU clocked at 1.6GHz, and a Mali-T720 GPU. In addition, the handset will feature a 5MP front camera, just like the S6. All other specs remain the same as that of the S5 - a 5.1-inch Super AMOLED display with 1920 x 1080 pixels resolution, 2GB RAM, 16GB of internal memory, 16MP rear camera, and 2,800 mAh battery. The report also notes that the S5 Neo will come in both single- as well as dual-SIM variants (running Android 5.1 Lollipop out of the box), and will feature LTE-A connectivity. There was, however, no word on the release date of the...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/galaxy_s5_neo_said_to_be_powered_by_exynos_7580_soc-news-12524.php

LG G4c now available for purchase in Netherlands

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/lg_g4c_reportedly_available_for_purchase_in_netherlands-news-12521.php

Could this be the upcoming 5.5-inch Galaxy S6 Plus

There has been quite a lot of talk of Project Zero 2 (formerly known as the Project Zen) lately - a device which is said to be a bigger version of the Galaxy S6 edge. The debate is still out on whether or not the project is what the rumor mill claims it to be, but, by all accounts a new Samsung Galaxy device is coming in the next few weeks. Now, a set of leaked shots might be the first glimpse to date of the alleged Galaxy S6 Plus. The handset appears to be a beefier version of the Galaxy S6 edge, although, frankly, it is quite hard to judge size from the given perspective. The pictured device looks almost identical to the Galaxy S6 edge and the only real difference we managed to detect at first glimpse is a slightly changed icon set, which isn't really indicative of anything. The home button also seems to be missing its chrome accent, but, it could just be the angle or lighting and the rather perplexing blacked out areas also distort perception quite a bit. Specs-wise, the handset is said to be powered by a Snapdragon 808 chipset with a hexa-core processor, and sport a 5.4- or 5.5-inch Super AMOLED dual-edge curved display. It is expected to come with 32GB internal memory, and feature a 5MP front and a 16MP rear camera. This puts the Plus model in kind of an odd spot in Samsung's lineup. On the one hand, it does spout pretty capable hardware, but, the SoC Is still not top of the line. On the other, a 5.5-inch display bridges the gap between the Galaxy S and Galaxy Note series, which, could undermine sales on a lot of fronts and seems like a slightly odd decision. Still, nothing is official yet, so like all rumors, take it with a pinch of salt. It is also worth noting that according to some other speculations, the Galaxy S6 Plus should be launched in September and the IFA trade show in Berlin. That is still some time away, so, anything is...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/could_this_be_the_upcoming_55inch_galaxy_s6_plus-news-12522.php

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/counterpoint_samsung_tops_indias_premium_smartphone_market-news-12520.php

Microsoft begins selling Lumia 535 in US for $149

Microsoft has finally started selling the Lumia 535 in the United States. The device, which was released in December last year and was only available in the country through Expansys, is now available for purchase from the US Microsoft Store for $149. Specs-wise, the handset is powered by a Snapdragon 200 SoC with a quad-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A7 CPU and an Adreno 302 GPU, and sports a 5-inch display with 540 x 960 pixels resolution. It comes with 1GB RAM and 8GB expandable internal memory, and packs in a 1905 mAh battery. In terms of camera, the Lumia 535 features a 5MP rear unit as well as a 5MP front snapper. It runs Windows Phone 8.1. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/microsoft_begins_selling_lumia_535_in_us_for_149-news-12519.php

HTC One ME goes official with MediaTek Helio X10 SoC

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/htc_one_me_goes_official_with_mediatek_helio_x10_soc-news-12518.php

Android 5.1.1 update for the Galaxy S6 gets detailed on video

Quite a lot has already been said about the upcoming update to Android 5.1.1 Lollipop for the Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 edge. Its rollout should happen in June or July, according to past mumblings, and it's going to bring a few new features to the two devices. All the stuff that Samsung will unleash alongside the bump in OS version to Android 5.1.1 is neatly detailed in the video below by the folks from SamMobile. They've used some test builds to get the news out, which means certain things may still change before the update starts rolling out. Speaking of which, it's likely that the S6 models will be the first Samsung handsets to get Android 5.1.1. After them, the Galaxy Note 4 should follow, with older flagships receiving the goods even later. Samsung will add iPhone-like exposure controls to its camera app, RAW support, and there will also be a Guest Mode baked in. More subtle things are going to be in too, such as the ability to disable the S Finder and Quick Connect buttons from the notification dropdown. The home screen wallpaper can take on a motion effect, while the Themes menu gets a Themes Store button at the bottom of the installed themes...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/android_511_update_for_galaxy_s6_gets_detailed_on_video-news-12517.php

Xiaomi is announcing a new product on June 10

Xiaomi released a teaser about an upcoming water-related event on June 10 in China. The picture and its text mean water, but there is nothing beyond that. Many have been waiting for a water and dust proof Xiaomi for quite a while, but the company hasn't delivered such a smartphone just yet. This may change on June 10 though. Xiaomi has quite a big water purification business in China too, so the upcoming event might have nothing to do with smartphones. Instead the teaser might be hinting for a new and cheap water cleansing device. We'll know more on June...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_is_having_a_waterrelated_event_at_june_10-news-12516.php

Apple again rumored to be working on a 4-inch iPhone

The age-old rumor about a cheaper, smaller iPhone model would not die so easily. As per some Apple component suppliers, the Cupertino headquartered company is working on a new 4-inch iPhone. Rumors point that AUO, a display supplier will be offering the screen panels to Apple for stepping back to the 4-inch size. The report also mentions that component makers from China and Korea would also be shipping components necessary for this new more compact iPhone. Given that the information is based purely on the supply chain buzz, we can not confirm it and urge you to take them merely as speculations. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/apple_rumored_of_working_on_a_4inch_iphone_reported_suppliers-news-12515.php

Tizen-powered Samsung Z3 to launch later this year

Samsung has big plans for its Tizen platform and is working to ship the upcoming Samsung Z3 smartphone in second half of this year. The new Samsung Z3 will be a successor of the current Z1 as the Korean giant is planning to skip the Z2. As per the rumors, the Samsung Z3 smartphone will pack more power and punch than the first-gen Tizen device - Z1. The new Z3 will feature a 5-inch display and is powered by a 64-bit Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 chipset paired with 1GB of RAM and 8GB of internal storage. The upcoming 9mm thick Tizen smartphone will have a 2MP front camera and a 5MP rear snapper with flash support. Offering Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, the Z3 will also come with Wi-Fi Direct along with Bluetooth 4.0 and the usual accelerometer and proximity sensor. The handset will be powered by a 2,000 mAh...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_z3_running_tizen_to_launch_later_this_year-news-12514.php

Samsung Galaxy E5 and E7 will be getting Lollipop in Q3

Samsung Galaxy E5 and Galaxy E7 are budget flavors of the A-series, losing the metal frames to plastic. Both phones come with Super AMOLED 720p displays and run on the Snapdragon 410 chipset. The E5 is the smaller 5" model with 8MP camera, while the E7 is bigger at 5.5" and packs a 13MP rear snapper. Both Galaxy E5 and E7 were launched last February running Android KitKat, but they are now entering Samsung's official Lollipop queue and their updates are scheduled for completion during Q3 (July-September) this year. Sammobile got official confirmation that the Android 5.0 Lollipop updates are indeed happening and will go live in the next quarter. There is no word on the 5.1 revision though, but we suspect Samsung may skip it in favor of the next major Android...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_e5_and_e7_will_be_getting_lollipop_in_q3-news-12512.php

LG Watch Urbane Review: Formal attire

LG is a veteran of sorts in the emerging niche of smart wearables. The Watch Urbane is a third generation device refining one of the early circular designs that seem to be the thing now. Smart watches are aiming for a less gadgety...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/lg_watch_urbane-review-1259.php

Samsung US spills the beans on the Galaxy S6 Active

Samsung US mistakenly uploaded all details on the still unannounced Galaxy S6 Active. Its full specs and manual are out, its design is confirmed too - the leaks were right about the Galaxy S5 Active similarities. The Galaxy S6 Active was rumored for quite a while, and today it is all but official. Samsung's support page reveals all details we need to know. Samsung Galaxy S6 Active has the same specs as its regular counterpart - a 5.1" Quad HD Super AMOLED display, Exynos 7420 chip with an 8-core processor, 32GB non-expandable storage, a 16MP rear and a 5MP front camera, and a 2,550 non-removable battery. The Galaxy S6 Active is as big as the Galaxy S6 at 143.5 x 70.6 x 6.85 and weighs the same - 138 g. It has hardware control keys as the Galaxy S5 Active and an additional hardware Active key on its left side. Naturally, as the Active moniker suggests, the Galaxy S6 Active is water and dust-proof, but there is no info if the S6 Active will come with MIL-STD-810G certification as well, which will add salt, dust, humidity, rain, vibration, solar radiation, transport and thermal shock resistance. We guess this final piece of intel will come out at the official announcement. The Galaxy S6 Active should launch in Cameo White and Titanium Black, and probably even more paintjobs. We expect the S6 Active to be an AT&T exclusive at launch (as the manual's pictures suggest), but later to hit the international markets just like its previous Active siblings. With Samsung US prepping its official Galaxy S6 Active pages, the announcement should happen any moment now. Not that there's much mystery remaining at this...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_spills_the_beans_on_the_galaxy_s6_active_all_details_are_out-news-12513.php

Gionee confirms key specs, launch date for Elife E8, Marathon M5

The stream of leaks detailing the Gionee Elife E8 and Marathon M5 was clear indication of their imminent announcement and now we have a date and time. Coming straight from Gionee, we have confirmation of a scheduled launch event, set to take place in Beijing on June 10, 19:00 local time. Gionee president William Lu will take the stage at China Film Directors Center and go into detail on the two smartphones' features. The company will also officially announce its cooperation with National Geographic photographer Fritz Hoffman. Alongside the event details, Gionee has disclosed, or rather confirmed, the headline features of both devices. The Elife E8 will sport a 23.7MP primary camera, which will be able to capture photos up to a whopping 100MP in resolution. We gather that will happen through stitching of multiple images, but that's just speculation. The rest of the specs, detailed by a TENAA listing, include a 6-inch QHD AMOLED display, 2GHz octa-core processor, 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage. Additionally, the handset will have a fingerprint scanner on the back. The Chinese regulator didn't get the camera resolution right, though, so don't bet on these numbers. Meanwhile, the Marathon M5 will be true to its name and pack an ample 6,020mAh battery, which Gionee promises will deliver four-day autonomy. The company hasn't elaborated on the teased dual battery feature though. Either way, it's exciting times for Gionee and make sure you stay tuned for our coverage of the...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/gionee_confirms_key_specs_launch_date_for_elife_e8_m5-news-12511.php

Huawei P8 lite hits the US with $249.99 no-contract price tag

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/huawei_p8_lite_hits_the_united_states_with_24999_nocontract_price_tag-news-12510.php

Leaked ZTE Star 3 renders reveal dual rear camera

ZTE's premium Star lineup may be in for an update, if a set of recently leaked renders are to be trusted. The images reveal slender body lines in keeping with the established design aesthetic of the series. The pictured smartphone features minimal bezels around a display, likely sized at 5.5 inches, though the source hasn't stated it explicitly. Separate circular volume buttons, much like the ones introduced with the iPhone 4 sit on the right side of the device. However, the absence of a power button on either side, or the top, suggests an error on the the designer's part, and it probably goes to show that the renders represent a very early stage in the smartphone's development. Alleged ZTE Star 3 renders It is the dual camera setup on the back that should gather the most attention, though. The two equally sized lenses suggest that the future smartphone may come with 3D capturing capability as well as some nifty post-shot focusing effects. Two color options are pictured, and the dark gray one reminds of the sandpaper-style back of the OnePlus One. It is the shiny blue model, though, which is the absolute stunner of the duo. Bear in mind that the current ZTE Star 2 model was announced in December 2014, so the sequel is likely a good 6 months away. With all this time remaining and the lack of material evidence to support these images, you shouldn't be surprised if the new model ends up quite...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/leaked_zte_star_3_renders_reveal_dual_rear_camera-news-12509.php

Huawei Honor 7, Oppo A51 leaked by TENAA

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/huawei_honor_7_oppo_a51_leaked_by_tenaa-news-12508.php

Verizon's Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge getting their first update

A couple of months after Verizon started shipping Samsung's latest flagships - the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge, the carrier has rolled out the first update to the devices. It bumps the handsets to software version VVRU1AOD5. It's a minor update as it is aimed mostly at fixing bugs, although it does bring a new drawing mode in the photo editor and some layout changes to the HD Voice calling screen. If haven't already, you should soon receive a notification for the OTA update. If you're feeling impatient, you can also check for it manually by heading to About device -> Software update on your...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/verizon_galaxy_s6_and_s6_edge_getting_their_first_update-news-12506.php

New Nokia 105 is a $20 featurephone for the masses

In today's high-tech world, feature phones are a dying breed, but Microsoft still hasn't given up on such products. The fact is that they are still essential for a lot of developing markets and novice or non tech-savvy users. Consequently, feature phones are still quite popular and tend to move in big volumes if they are priced and marketed right. Microsoft seems to have all of these bases covered with the new Nokia 105. It takes after its namesake predecessor, which, by the company's own account, has been selling about 100 units per minute since 2013. So, there is definitely some revenue to be made even at budget-friendly price points, like the $20 the Nokia 105 should go for. The price definitely makes the small device quite universally affordable, but Microsoft has also put in quite a few improvements over the previous generation. The new rounded design is a lot more-comfortable and with a color choice of black, white and cyan, the phone can be unobtrusive, or colorful and vibrant. Whichever is to your liking. The Nokia 105 also boats space for up to 2,000 contacts, which should be plenty for almost anybody. Battery live is also quite impressive. The small, replaceable 800mAh battery can pump out enough juice for up to 15 hours of talk time and 35 days standby. The Nokia 105 also comes in a Dual-SIM variant, for even greater flexibility. You can't really expect much from a 1.45-inch LCD screen and a Series 30 platform, which is quite limiting as far as functionality goes. However, if you are willing to spend a little more, Nokia recently unveiled another similar device - the Nokia 215, which brings a lot more advanced functionality and puts social networking on the...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/the_new_nokia_105_aims_to_bring_mobile_communication_to_the_masses-news-12507.php

Mysterious LG smartphone gets a Bluetooth Certification

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/mysterious_lg_smartphone_gets_a_bluetooth_certification-news-12503.php

Motorola offering ATRIX HD owners $100 off Moto X as apology

Back in November 2013, Motorola announced plans to bring Android 4.4 KitKat to its ATRIX HD smartphone, but the update never came. Now, the company has announced that it will not be upgrading the handset to KitKat, and will be compensating for it by offering ATRIX HD owners special pricing on second-generation Moto X (Pure Edition). As per the offer, the owners of the Atrix HD smartphone can grab a Moto X Pure Edition device starting at $299.99. In addition, the company is also offering them a Motorola Whisper Bluetooth headset for $49.99, usually priced at $149.99. Keep in mind that your Atrix HD must have an active phone number to be eligible. Also, the offer - which is US-only - expires on June 30. Click the Source link below for more information on the offer. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/motorola_offering_atrix_hd_owners_100_off_moto_x_as_apology-news-12505.php