Angry Birds 2 Review

Love it or hate it, Angry Birds is one of the most successful series of games of all time. Since 2009 when the first game released on iOS, the series has spanned fifteen titles across multiple platforms and become a billion dollar franchise. Six years since the original game released, Rovio has now released the sequel. While it may seem disingenuous to call it Angry Birds 2 considering how many games have been released since the original, it does make sense if you consider others as more of spin-offs of the original rather than sequels. Also, for the first time Angry Birds 2 brings some major changes to the bird-flinging action to warrant the sequel tag. So let's take a look at it, then. At its core, Angry Birds 2 still has you flinging birds at pigs inside elaborate but fragile structures. Break the structures and kill all the pigs before you run out of birds and you complete the stage. Depending upon how much destruction you cause and how many birds you use (fewer the better) you get a score that decides how many stars you get for that stage, three being the highest. That much is common to the original Angry Birds. Now here's the new stuff. Unlike the original, you can now choose which bird to use. The available birds appear at the bottom as cards and you can tap any of them to select whichever bird you think would be more appropriate for the situation instead of being stuck with a preselected bird. As you play more stages, more birds are unlocked. Along with birds, you also unlock spells that can be used to make finishing the level easier. The duck spell rains ducks everywhere and destroys all the pigs in that level in one move. The freeze spell turns all the structures into ice, making it easy for any bird to destroy them. The chili spell makes one of the pig explode, destroying everything around it. As you progress, you unlock more spells. As you cause destruction, you fill up a meter at the top right. When the meter fills up, you get an additional random card, which could either be one of the birds or a spell. This is why it's important to cause as much destruction as possible and not just concentrate on killing the pigs. In Angry Birds 2, each stage has multiple levels within and finishing one level lets you progress to the next with the remaining birds (similar to Angry Birds Epic). When you finish all the levels within a stage (usually 2-4) you move on to the next one. It's important not to use up all your birds at the first level so you have some left for the remaining levels in that stage. If you use up all your birds before that then the game is over. When game is over, you can either choose to continue by paying in gems, or restart that stage. Restarting uses one of the lives you have, and you only have five lives. If you use up all the lives you have to wait for them to refresh (a la Candy Crush Saga), or spend gems to get more lives. As you can tell, gems are important in the game if you're impatient and although you do get them every once in a while as you keep playing if you want more you have to spend real money, which is where the game's IAP component comes in. The birds are more or less identical to the original. There are seven of them, with most of them returning from the original but the weird green one is replaced with a silver one, who instead of flying back like a boomerang flies up and then straight down. All the birds have secondary attacks, even the otherwise useless red one, where you can tap on the screen just before they hit something to activate their ability, such as sending a shock wave for the small red bird, splitting into three for the blue one, shooting in a straight line for the yellow one, dropping an egg bomb for the white one, etc. This does make the game bit more interesting than simply lobbing the birds at the structures and with some planning and clever use of their abilities you can cause far more destruction. Angry Birds 2 has around 240 stages in the current game, with each stage having multiple levels within, so you could be playing this for days. They are split into multiple sections that unlock as you play, and more will be added later. The thing about the stages this time is that they are randomly generated every time. If you restart a stage, the structures get randomly rearranged, which never happened before in any Angry...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/angry_birds_2_review-news-13352.php

Microsoft Lumia 840 to follow Lumia 940 and 940XL, all by year-end

The long overdue Microsoft Lumia flagships are coming and, contrary to what some insiders suggested, they won't be named Lumia 950 and 950XL, a NokiaPowerUser trusted source reports. The high-end models will be named Lumia 940 and 940XL instead, without breaking the sequence from the existing Lumia 930. Additionally, a Lumia 840 is indeed in the works, as was previously indicated, and it will be launched before the end of the year, though we'll need to wait for the flagships' release first. And if the flagships do come out in November, we're in for a pretty Microsoft-packed holiday season. Again, the device is said to be named Lumia 840 and not 850 like another source claimed. Perhaps the most interesting bit, outed today, is Microsoft's move towards on-screen buttons. So far, Lumias have firmly relied on capacitive buttons in the bottom bezel, and an NPU poll showed that 44% of users are opposed to the concept of on-screen buttons on a flagship Windows Phone device. Despite that, all three of the above devices are most likely going to feature on-screen buttons. So, while that does give us plenty to look forward to from Microsoft by the end of the year, there are three more devices yet unaccounted for, if this other rumor is well founded in...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/microsoft_lumia_940_and_940xl_to_be_followed_by_lumia_840_by_year_end-news-13351.php

Lenovo P1c72 spotted at TENAA, likely the Vibe P1 Pro

The Lenovo Vibe P1 Pro was part of an extensive leak of Lenovo smartphones, which appeared all the way back in February, and were tipped to be announced at MWC in March. However, only the Vibe Shot materialized in Barcelona, while the rest remained in obscurity until a few weeks ago, when the Vibe S1 passed TENAA certification, followed by the Vibe P1. It was now the Vibe P1 Pro's turn to visit the Chinese telecom regulator, revealing plenty of details about its hardware in the process. You should keep in mind that we are relying on that initial February leak for the naming of the smartphone, while the TENAA entry lists the device with a P1c72 model number. Either way, the device comes with a 5.5-inch 1080p display, 1.5GHz octa-core processor (could be inside a Mediatek MT6752 or Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 chipset, it's not stated), generous 3GB of RAM, and less exciting 16GB of built-in storage, expandable nonetheless. The primary camera is a 13MP unit, while on the front you get a 5MP selfie snapper. Lenovo Vibe P1 Pro at TENAA It starts getting more interesting from here on, as there's what appears to be a home button on the front - not something we're used to seeing on Lenovo smartphones. Whether it's an actual physical button, or just a dedicated fingerprint sensor like on the new OnePlus 2, we can't tell. What we know is there's little point in abandoning the company's established design with capacitive buttons only, if not for implementing fingerprint recognition. However, the headline feature of the Lenovo Vibe P1 Pro has to be battery life. The smartphone comes with a 4,900mAh cell inside, which promises some serious endurance, though it may be a close call with the 4,000mAh regular Vibe P1 with its smaller screen and lesser hardware. The Vibe P1 Pro measures 152.9 x 75.6 x 9.9 mm which is reasonably compact for the screen size, though the huge battery has had its say on the thickness. At 189g, it's not exactly light either, but there might be another culprit for that - the device appears to feature an all-metal unibody, though we could be extrapolating from the overall HTC One-inspired looks. Source |...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/lenovo_p1c72_spotted_at_tenaa_likely_the_vibe_p1_pro-news-13350.php

Samsung Galaxy Note 5 specs leaked, no microSD



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_note_5_specs_leaked_no_microsd-news-13349.php

Samsung lets users delete pre-installed apps in China in light of lawsuit

One of the main sources of complaints by the whole spectrum of commenters - from the Samsung fan and user, to the Samsung basher, has been the inclusion of numerous pre-installed apps, bundled with the company's smartphones. A lot of those remain unused but can't be removed, eating away you precious storage, and taking up space on your homescreens (though hiding them does solve half the problem). Although the issue is not limited to the Korean manufacturer only, the feature-packed TouchWiz has typically been in the center of heated bloatware debates. Well, the matter has escalated in China, where Samsung is being sued by a committee, protecting consumer rights. The local version of the Galaxy Note 3, where 24 of the 44 installed apps couldn't be removed, was the one that ignited the lawsuit. Samsung is planning to address the matter by providing software patches, which will enable the removal of certain apps. The patches will be available for download at the company's after-sales centers. It doesn't end here, however, as the committee has stated that it will wait to make sure the company meets its promise, before dropping the lawsuit. Additionally, Samsung has stated on its Chinese website that even owners of its latest models, like the Galaxy S6, will be given the option to uninstall unwanted applications. Source |...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_lets_users_delete_preinstalled_apps_in_china_in_light_of_lawsuit-news-13348.php

Sony Xperia C5 Ultra, Xperia M5 handled before announcement



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/sony_xperia_c5_ultra_xperia_m5_handled_before_announcement-news-13347.php

First press renders of the Samsung Galaxy Note 5, Galaxy S6 edge+

It was about time we got treated to a few official images of Samsung's upcoming high-end phablets - after all the announcement of the Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 edge+ is scheduled for less than two weeks from now on August 13, and how tight of a seal can you keep on those leaks? The press renders in question come courtesy of @evleaks, and given his track record and previous live images, which popped up here and there, you can bet they are the real thing. The Samsung Galaxy Note 5 sports a bolder controls design, it's capacitive Task switcher/Back buttons nearly twice as large as those on the Galaxy S6 edge+. The thin bezels also catch our eye, and the groove in the top of the S-Pen keeps entertaining our minds, trying to figure out if it will be clickable or not. Meanwhile, the Galaxy S6 edge+ is little more than a Galaxy S6 edge on steroids, in terms of appearance, that is. Subtle details like the straight top and bottom edges, as well as comparatively thinner bezels versus its overall dimensions tell us it's the new...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/first_press_renders_of_the_samsung_galaxy_note_5_galaxy_s6_edge-news-13346.php

YotaPhone 2 will not make it to the United States after all



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/yotaphone_2_will_not_make_it_to_the_united_states_after_all-news-13345.php

OnePlus 2 gets a teardown treatment, reveals innards

OnePlus 2 is yet to make its way to consumers' hands, but the folks over at it168.com have grabbed a hold of one, and have given it their customary teardown treatment. Now, it would have been easier, if the captions were in English, but regardless, it's always fun to look at a disassembled piece of tech. As we all know, the OnePlus 2 is powered by the Snapdragon 810 chipset and comes with LPDDR4 RAM, either 3GB or 4GB, depending on the variant. While there's no mention of fast charging in the smartphone's official specs, the teardown reveals the circuitry is there - expectedly, given that it's part of the S810's architecture. Perhaps most interestingly, the camera sensors in use are supplied by OmniVision. The primary imager is the 13MP OV13860 with 1/2.6" diagonal and 1.3 x 1.3 micron photosites, while the front camera relies on a 5MP OV5648 sensor with even larger 1.4 micron pixels. OnePlus 2 teardown For those that care, the cellular modems are SKY77814 and RF7389EU, and Wi-Fi is taken care of by Qualcomm's QCA6164 chip. The audio chip is TFA9890, courtesy of Dutch semiconductor manufacturer NXP. Of course, the components only tell half the story, and it's a lot more important how the smartphone performs as a package - something we're looking forward to finding out, once we get a review unit of our own. Source |...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/oneplus_2_gets_a_teardown_treatment_reveals_innards-news-13344.php

A brief site tour of the new GSMArena.com

Three weeks ago we launched the latest version of our site, bringing a completely new look and a bunch of new features. It was only natural that such a complete overhaul will cause some of our loyal readers trouble finding their way around, so this latest video of ours comes to the rescue. We've put together a short walkthrough, to help you get on better with the new and improved GSMArena.com. The clips should also be useful to new readers, who are yet to discover all features of the site. The powerful search box, refined phone finder, integrated blog section, specs highlight cards, three-phone comparison tool, advanced image viewer, the list goes on. We made sure we covered it all in our site tour, just hit...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/a_brief_site_tour_of_the_new_gsmarenacom-news-13341.php

Windows 10 has already nabbed 14 million installs, Microsoft reveals

Microsoft officially launched Windows 10 for PCs a couple of days ago, on July 29. There was much fanfare to this release, with many fan gatherings taking place across the world to celebrate the new OS version - like the one in Sydney, Australia, which is pictured in the image below. Windows 10 has already been installed more than 14 million times, its maker has revealed. And this was achieved in just the first 24 hours of availability. That's no small feat for such an incredibly short period of time. Obviously, the great distribution was also helped tremendously by the fact that Microsoft is giving away the update to Windows 10 for free for those who have Windows 7 or Windows 8.1. On the other hand, Microsoft is delivering the update in a phased manner, to make sure there are no ghastly errors. Had the company not applied this tactic, we surely would have already seen many more millions of computers running it. In the near future, more and more of those people who have already reserved their Windows 10 upgrade through the special Get Windows 10 app are going to get it. Source |...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/windows_10_has_already_nabbed_14_million_installs_microsoft_reveals-news-13343.php

Huawei Honor 7 review: Rags to riches

The Honor 7 is Huawei's bid to bring an extra touch of class to the upper midrange. Some serious hardware in a highly attractive shell may as well help the Chinese pull it off. Whether it is meant to co-exist with the P8 flagship or be its alternative...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/huawei_honor_7-review-1279.php

New prices surface for the Galaxy S6 and S6 edge in Europe



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/new_prices_surface_for_the_galaxy_s6_and_s6_edge_in_europe-news-13342.php

Sony teases upcoming gold color option for an Xperia



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/sony_teases_upcoming_gold_color_option_for_an_xperia-news-13338.php

Samsung partners with MasterCard to bring Samsung Pay to Europe

Samsung has announced partnership with MasterCard to bring the Samsung Pay service to Europe. Samsung Pay is the feature that allows users with high-end Samsung devices, such as the Galaxy S6 and the Galaxy S6 edge to make contact-less payments using NFC and MST technologies. According to Samsung, 'Samsung and MasterCard will together roll out Samsung Pay throughout Europe. Card issuers will be able to connect to the MDES (MasterCard Digital Enablement Service) platform and activate the Samsung Pay service upon launch. Cardholders from participating issuers can activate their credit, debit, reloadable prepaid and small business cards in the Samsung Pay service and use their mobile devices to make everyday purchases.' The service was previously announced for South Korea and the US, and will be arriving in those regions later this summer. The service will then be available in Europe some time...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_partners_with_mastercard_to_bring_samsung_pay_to_europe-news-13336.php

Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+ to allegedly cost around 800 Euros



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_s6_edge_to_allegedly_cost_around_800_euros-news-13335.php

Nvidia Shield gets Android 5.1.1, update fixes audio issues

Nvidia has rolled out an update for its Shield gaming-oriented tablet. The new firmware brings the Android version to the latest available 5.1.1 Lollipop. The internal release number is 3.1 and the concise but to the point changelog states that on top of the new OS version the update brings the usual stability and performance improvements and system wide optimizations. More importantly, the firmware includes a fix in the audio department, perhaps addressing a screeching speaker issue, reported by some users while playing certain games. Source |...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/nvidia_shield_gets_android_511_update_fixes_audio_issues-news-13332.php

Over a million people have requested OnePlus 2 invites till now

It looks like the OnePlus 2 smartphone, which was unveiled just days ago, has generated a lot of interest. A quick look at the its sign-up page reveals that over 1 million people have already requested an invite to purchase the handset. That number is increasing at a pretty fast rate given that around 760,000 people were on the reservation list when we checked a couple of days ago. "In comparison, the original OnePlus device has sold over 1.5ql million units to date, an extraordinary testament to the growth of the brand since its founding December 2013," the Chinese company said. "Following the global success of last year's OnePlus One, the launch of the OnePlus 2 reaffirms the brand's commitment to the highest level of craftsmanship in the industry today." Source |...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/over_a_million_people_have_requested_oneplus_2_invites_till_now-news-13331.php

Report says Uber planning to invest $1 billion in India, targeting 1 million rides a day

According to a latest report from Financial Times, Uber is planning to invest a whopping $1 billion in India with an aim to up its ridership to as much as 1 million per day. The start-up is currently estimated to provide around 200,000 daily rides in the country. In India, Uber currently operates in around 18 cities. To achieve the aforementioned target, the report says, the company will not only have to expand its footprint in the Asian country, but also boost its investment in product, hiring, and payment. It is expected that a major chunk of the investment will be used to further expand the subsidies Uber offers to attract first time passengers and new drivers. The report comes just a few weeks after a court in India revoked a government ban imposed on the online taxi firm that restricted it to operate in the country's capital of New Delhi. Via 1 | Via...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/report_says_uber_planning_to_invest_1_billion_in_india_targeting_1_million_rides_a_day-news-13329.php

Xiaomi tipped to launch a Windows 10 tablet soon

Xiaomi will launch a Windows 10-powered tablet in the ongoing quarter, according to a known Chinese analyst Pan Jiutang. The device will be the successor to the Mi Pad tablet (shown in the image below), which the company unveiled back in May last year. However, there was no word on whether the new tablet will run the standard Windows 10 version or the mobile version, dubbed Windows 10 Mobile. It's worth mentioning that Microsoft recommends the standard edition for tablets with displays larger than or equal to 8-inches. The device could be unveiled on August 16, when the Chinese company traditionally announces the new version of its MIUI user interface. Needless to say, none of this has been officially confirmed by the Xiaomi, so take it with a pinch of...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_tipped_to_launch_a_windows_10_tablet_soon-news-13330.php

Apple to reportedly launch next-gen Apple TV in September

The next-gen Apple TV, which has been rumoured for quite some time now, will be unveiled in September this year alongside the new iPhones, according to a new Buzzfeed report. As per the report, the device is expected to be powered by the Cupertino-based company's A8 SoC, and feature an improved remote with a touchpad input. It is also said to come with increased storage and Siri on board. In addition to the new Apple TV, the company will also debut a new App Store and an SDK for developers to create apps for the device. Finally, the report also says that the rumored Apple streaming TV service won't be announced alongside the new Apple...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/apple_to_reportedly_launch_nextgen_apple_tv_in_september-news-13328.php

Microsoft announces which Lumias will get Windows 10 first

The desktop PC version of Windows 10 has been out since yesterday, but the mobile variation of Microsoft's latest OS is still in the making. Furthermore, we don't even have an exact release date for Windows 10 Mobile yet, so it may take a few months for it to actually surface. In fact, the latest rumors on the matter talk about a November launch. In the meantime, however, you might want to know which Lumia-branded smartphones are going to get the update to Windows 10 first. Microsoft has helpfully published an official list. So, if you own a Lumia Lumia 430, Lumia 435, Lumia 532, Lumia 535, Lumia 540, Lumia 640, Lumia 640 XL, Lumia 735, Lumia 830, or Lumia 930, you'll be among the first people on the planet to experience the final version of Windows 10 Mobile when it hits. If you have a different Lumia, there's no reason to panic just yet. Microsoft has confirmed that the above are not the only Lumias to get Windows 10, just the first in line for the update. So the new OS should make its way to many more models at some point. In all cases, the update to Windows 10 Mobile will be free. On this occasion, Microsoft has once again promised that all Lumias running Windows Phone 8.1 with the Denim software will eventually get upgraded to Windows 10. Source |...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/microsoft_announces_which_lumias_will_get_windows_10_first-news-13327.php

AT&T's Galaxy Tab 4 10.1 skips Android 5.0, jumps to Android 5.1.1

The update to Android 5.0 Lollipop for the Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 10.1 units sold in either Wi-Fi-only or LTE-capable unlocked form has been out since May. And now AT&T has issued a new software release for its version of this tablet, but here's the thing. This isn't Android 5.0, it's actually Android 5.1.1. Right now that's the absolute latest iteration of Google's mobile operating system. AT&T's Galaxy Tab 4 10.1 thus jumps straight from Android 4.4.2 KitKat (the version it launched with last year) to Android 5.1.1 Lollipop, which is not something that we see happening very often. If you own this device, expect to see the update notification popping up in the following days or weeks. Once that happens, you'll need to download a 926MB file over Wi-Fi, and then patiently wait for it to install. After applying the update, you'll be running build number LMY47X.T537AUCU1BOG5. If you're tired of waiting for that notification, you can always manually check for the update by going to Settings > General > About device > Software update. Source |...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/at_ts_galaxy_tab_4_101_skips_android_50_jumps_to_android_511-news-13326.php

Samsung details future Tizen versions



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_details_future_tizen_versions-news-13325.php

Samsung confirms some features of the Gear A round smartwatch



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_confirms_some_features_of_the_gear_a_round_smartwatch-news-13324.php

Ads are starting to show up in Google Play Store searches

Back in February, Google announced that it would start offering up advertising space in the Play Store's search results on Android. An initial trial run of this new functionality has been in place ever since with a handful of developers. And now Google is opening up the system to all advertisers and developers. This means you're bound to see a lot more such ads starting in the near future. As is obvious from the screenshots above, the paid-for listings look exactly the same as the normal search results when you look for an app in the Play Store. The only thing that's different is that small "Ad" mention, in white text on a yellow background, which can be found immediately to the left of the developer's name for the sponsored app. How well those ads will be tied to the actual search terms you've used remains to be seen, but Google certainly has a lot of experience here from web searches. So perhaps this new ad system has a chance of not being too annoying, and maybe it's even sometimes going to be useful. Source |...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/ads_are_starting_to_show_up_in_google_play_store_searches-news-13323.php

Galaxy S5 Neo goes up for preorder in the Netherlands



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/galaxy_s5_neo_goes_up_for_preorder_in_the_netherlands-news-13322.php

Microsoft outs free 90-day trial for Windows 10

Yesterday was the big launch day for Windows 10, the latest version of Microsoft's ubiquitous operating system. As promised, updates to the new OS are free if you're coming from Windows 7 or Windows 8.1. But what if you are on an older iteration, or if you run Linux? Or if you aren't sure if Windows 10 is for you? Well, in that case, you can grab a free 90-day trial of the new OS. That's right, Microsoft is also offering people three months of use of Windows 10 for free. There are caveats here, though. First off, it's the Enterprise edition that you can test drive. This means most of the apps that come with Windows 10 Home or Windows 10 Pro are nowhere to be found. Let's name a few of the ones you'll be missing: Mail, People, Calendar, Photos, and even Cortana. Oh, and you won't even get the Windows app store, so you'll have to get your software the old-fashioned way, by downloading installer files from third parties and then running them. All of this is happening because, as its name implies, Windows 10 Enterprise edition isn't really meant for consumers to use. It's geared at Microsoft's corporate customers - but that doesn't mean you can't try it out yourself. Just be aware of the aforementioned limitations. For detailed installation instructions, make sure you hit the Via link below. Source |...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/microsoft_outs_free_90day_trial_for_windows_10-news-13321.php

Sony teases new Xperia for August 3



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/sony_teases_new_xperia_for_august_3-news-13320.php

Samsung Galaxy J2 appears in a leaked GFXBench result

The Samsung Galaxy J2, an upcoming addition to the company's budget-minded J-series, is nearing, as evidenced by an entry on GFXBench' website. The benchmark listing brings confirmation on a few key specs, and announces the debut of the Exynos 3475 SoC. The chipset features a 1.3GHz quad-core Cortex-A7 processor and a Mali-T720 GPU, presumably a single-core version. There's a single gig of RAM on board, and the 4.3GB amount in the cell labeled Storage would indicate an 8GB total on the chip, with the difference taken up by the system. Further down the specsheet we can see a 5MP primary camera, which isn't capable of 1080p video recording - a surprise, given that the J1 can do it. On the front you get a basic 1.9MP shooter with video capped at SVGA resolution. We're a little skeptical as to the credibility of this data, our doubts fueled by the comparison to the J1. Another alarm is raised by the display size, which is quoted at 5.7 inches with a 540 x 960 pixels resolution. While the qHD resolution seems likely, a diagonal larger than the 5.5 inches of the Galaxy J7 is hard to believe, and we're left with previous rumors in the 4.5"-4.7" ballpark. Given the contradictions between this present piece of info and previously available GeekBench listing as well as yet another floating rumor, we'd rather wait for some more reliable intel before putting our money on any of the above. Source |...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_j2_appears_in_a_leaked_gfxbench_result-news-13319.php

Razer Serval now available on the Google Store for $79

The Razer Serval game controller is now available for purchase on the Google Store in the US. The controller is priced at $79. The Serval is a Bluetooth controller for Android devices. It is primarily meant for the Razer Forge Android TV system but also works seamlessly with any Android smartphone or tablet. The controller has a holder attachment where you can clip on your smartphone and features a complete array of controls, including two joysticks, D-pad, four ABXY buttons, four shoulder buttons, controls to switch between up to four paired Bluetooth devices, and Android navigation controls. If you want a high quality wireless controller for your Android smartphone or tablet, this could be it. Google...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/razer_serval_now_available_on_the_google_store_for_79-news-13318.php

Angry Birds 2 launched on Android with spells and multi-stage levels

Launched back in December 2009, Rovio's hugely popular Angry birds has been treated to innumerable spinoffs, but it wasn't until yesterday that a proper sequel was released. And this brand new version comes loaded with time-killing features. Throwing strategy into the mix, you'll now be able to choose which bird from your arsenal to send next, hurtling at the pigs, and it makes it look easier than it actually is. Additionally some levels now have multiple stages, for an extra intense pig-annihilation experience. You also get to fight some bosses now, and Foreman, Chef and King Pigs won't let you pass without breaking a sweat. Adding a twist to ordinary bird slinging, you'll now be able to cast spells on the enemy, useful for when things get tricky and you start pulling your hair after the 140th try at a stage. When the fun in solo play starts dying out, you can head over to the Arena, where you can take part in tournaments and challenge players...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/angry_birds_2_launched_on_android_with_spells_and_multistage_levels-news-13317.php

Amazon signs up Clarkson, Hammond, and May for exclusive web series, coming in 2016

Amazon has announced that it has signed up former Top Gear stars Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May for an exclusive web series that will release in 2016 on Amazon Prime. The show will go into production soon. Just like Top Gear, this yet to be named show will be based on cars, and will be produced by the trio's long time executive producer Andy Willman. Talking about the show Clarkson said, "I feel like I've climbed out of a bi-plane and into a spaceship.", possibly referring to the online only nature of the new show as opposed to Top Gear airing only on BBC. Clarkson was fired from Top Gear back in March after he physically attacked the show's producer. After his departure from the show, his co-hosts and friends, Hammond and May, also left the show mid-season, with BBC suspending the show indefinitely. Since then BBC has hired Chris Evans to lead Top Gear but no co-hosts have been selected so far and there is no information on when that show will be back. Meanwhile, fans of the show who have been clamouring to see the trio in action again now have something to look forward to. This is a big win for Amazon, however some people might be miffed as Amazon Prime is not available in many regions even where Amazon...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/amazon_signs_up_clarkson_hammond_and_may_for_exclusive_web_series_coming_in_2016-news-13316.php

Sony's latest financial report is in the black, but mobile sales are down



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/sonys_latest_financial_report_is_looking_up_but_no_thanks_to_mobile_sales-news-13315.php


Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/verizons_galaxy_note_5_to_house_exynos_7420_4gb_of_ram-news-13313.php

Canon ME20F-SH is company's first ultra-high-sensitivity video camera, capable of ISO 4,000,000

Canon has announced the new ME20F-SH video camera for extreme low light photography. The main selling point here is the ultra high sensitivity sensor that can shoot with a minimum subject illumination of less than 0.0005 lux at maximum 75 dB gain setting, equivalent to an ISO sensitivity of over 4,000,000. Previously this kind of low light recording would have required an infrared illumination, which can only record in black and white but the ME20F-SH can do full color recording. Making this possible is a 2.26 megapixel full frame CMOS sensor. While the resolution might seem low, the sensor is as big as on a DSLR, which means the pixel size is 19μm square, which is more than 5.5 times the surface area of EOS-1D X sensor pixel, allowing it to capture way more light. The ME20F-SH can record videos in 1080p resolution up to 60fps, has Canon Log and Wide DR modes for a flatter profile and wider dynamic range while shooting, EF mount for support for Canon's EF lenses, 3G/HD-SDI and HDMI outputs to connect to an external monitor or recorders (the camera has no built-in display or memory as is often common for high-end video cameras), Canon's proprietary 2.5mm stereo mini-mini-jack and round 8-pin RS-422 jack for remote terminal, 3.5mm stereo microphone jack, and 4-pin XLR DC11-17V power input. The Canon ME20F-SH will go on sale in December 2015 for a suggested retail price of $30,000. The camera will be ideal for those recording in extremely low light situations, such as for night time wildlife shooting, or astrophotography, and other scenarios where light would be a...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/canon_me20fsh_is_companys_first_ultrahighsensitivity_camera_capable_of_iso_4000000-news-13314.php

Acer tipped to announce four new Windows Phone devices at IFA 2015



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/acer_tipped_to_announce_four_new_windows_phone_devices_at_ifa_2015-news-13310.php

Amazon Dash buttons, that let you instantly order products, are now available for $5 each



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/amazon_dash_buttons_that_let_you_instantly_order_products_are_now_available_for_5_each-news-13311.php


Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsunga_q2_2015_earnings_reveal_a_small_quarteronquarter_increase-news-13312.php

Galaxy Tab S2 will be available in Hong Kong starting next week

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S2, which was made official last week and is already up for pre-order in Europe, will go on sale in Hong Kong on August 4. The device comes in 9.7-inch and 8-inch variants and is available in Wi-Fi only or Wi-Fi and LTE configurations. The Wi-Fi version of both 9.7-inch and 8-inch variants is priced at HKD3,888 ($500) and HKD3,088 ($400), respectively, and will be available in black and white color options starting August 4. The gold color model for both will be available in mid-August. Similarly, the LTE version is priced at HKD4,888 ($630) and HKD4,088 ($527) respectively, and will be available in black and white color options in mid-August, with gold color model going on sale later that month. Those purchasing the tablet will also get an Expedia discount code valued at HKD150 ($20), extra 100GB cloud storage on Microsoft OneDrive for two years, free 3-month Audible subscription, and free download of 1 book per month from Kindle. There are also many other offers - click the Source link below. Source |...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/galaxy_tab_s2_will_be_available_in_hong_kong_starting_next_week-news-13308.php

Google's Project Loon to provide internet access across Sri Lanka

The island nation of Sri Lanka has entered into an agreement with Google to provide country-wide Internet access using the latter's Project Loon. This would make Sri Lanka the first country to have universal Internet access through the search giant's project, which aims to provide Internet connectivity using helium-filled balloons. "The entire Sri Lankan island - every village from (southern) Dondra to (northern) Point Pedro - will be covered with affordable high speed Internet using Google Loon's balloon technology," said the Asian country's foreign minister Mangala Samaraweera. The plan is to provide local service providers access to the balloons, effectively improving the quality of their service and reducing their operational costs. The service is expected to launch by March next year. Via 1 | Via...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/googles_project_loon_to_provide_internet_access_across_sri_lanka-news-13309.php

ZTE unveils V3 variants with aluminum body starting $160



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/zte_unveils_v3_variants_with_aluminum_body_starting_160-news-13307.php

Apple iPhone 6s case renders reveal unchanged design



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/apple_iphone_6s_case_renders_reveal_unchanged_design-news-13301.php

OnePlus 2 invites have already been requested by more than 760,000 people

Love it or hate it, the OnePlus invite system is here to stay. The Chinese company will apply it for the launch of the OnePlus 2 as it did for the OnePlus One last year. So in order to buy a OnePlus 2 you'll need an invite. Certain things have changed, though, with OnePlus promising it will make it a lot easier for people to get invites for its second smartphone, compared to its first. And a big part of this is OnePlus' own invite signup page. Over there anyone can go and request an invite for the OnePlus 2 - no more need to hunt down invites on social media and forums. It looks like this has been an incredibly successful thing to do for OnePlus, as more than 760,000 people have already used the page to signup for an invite. Now this obviously doesn't guarantee that all of those people will actually buy a OnePlus 2 when they receive their invite, but even if only a small percentage of them do OnePlus will still have a big seller on its hands. Keep in mind that the company has sold 1.5 million OnePlus Ones in a year, so moving a few hundred thousand units of the OnePlus 2 at launch (or as fast as it can produce them) would certainly be a step up. To learn more about the OnePlus 2, make sure you go through our hands-on first...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/oneplus_2_invites_have_already_been_requested_by_more_than_760000_people-news-13306.php

Google and Amazon both offer savings on the Chromecast

It's been a (long) while since Google launched its media streaming HDMI dongle, the Chromecast. That said, sales seem to be going well even now. And in order to move more units than ever, Google has a deal for you if you're interested in the Chromecast. While it generally isn't expensive at all, having a recommended price of $35, this deal lets you have one for even less. You just have to buy two. That's right, if you buy two Chromecasts from Google's online hardware store, you'll only need to pay $55 for both of them. This basically makes each one $27.5. On the other hand, though, at the moment Amazon is running a promotion whereby it instantly applies a $10 gift card when you order a Chromecast. This, paired with Amazon's $29.99 price for the dongle means you can essentially get one Chromecast for just $19.99. If you go through with ordering a Chromecast, you'll also receive a free movie rental from Google Play if you set up your device before the end of the...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/google_and_amazon_both_offer_savings_on_the_chromecast-news-13305.php

Google Translate adds 20 more languages to instant video translation

The Google Translate app for both iOS and Android is receiving a big update over the next few days. First off, Google has added 20 more languages to the app's instant video translation feature. This lets you point your mobile device's camera to the text you need to translate, and instantly transforms the contents into your language. Following this update, the feature now works with 27 languages. The initial ones were English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish, and the new version adds Bulgarian, Catalan, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Filipino, Finnish, Hindi, Hungarian, Indonesian, Lithuanian, Norwegian, Polish, Romanian, Slovak, Swedish, Thai, Turkish, and Ukrainian. Note that Hindi and Thai can only be translated to or from English. Aside from this live video translation, Google Translate can also use a picture you've snapped of some text you want translated. This feature works with 37 languages. Another improved thing in the app is its voice conversation mode. This enables real-time translation of (spoken) conversations across 32 languages. This should now be faster and "more natural" even on slow networks, Google says. Source |...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/google_translate_adds_20_more_languages_to_instant_video_translation-news-13303.php

Alcatel OneTouch Conquest and Elevate announced for Boost Mobile

Today Sprint has unveiled two new smartphones for Boost Mobile, one of its prepaid brands. Both are made by Alcatel, and they're both going to be quite affordable. First off we have the Alcatel OneTouch Conquest (pictured below). This comes with IP67 certification, being able to withstand being submerged into up to 1m of water for up to 30 minutes. Additionally, it's dust tight, completely protected against dust ingress. It has a 5-inch 720p IPS touchscreen with Dragontrail glass, a 5 MP rear camera with LED flash, a 2 MP selfie cam, a 1.2 GHz quad-core processor, 1GB of RAM, 8GB of expandable storage, 4G LTE support, a 2,500 mAh battery, and it runs Android 5.0 Lollipop. The Conquest is available now from Boost Mobile for $129.99 plus tax, though sans any long-term contract requirement. Moving on, the Alcatel OneTouch Elevate (pictured above) will become available at Boost in August for $99.99 plus tax. It has a 4.5-inch FWVGA touchscreen, a 5 MP rear camera with LED flash, a 2 MP front-facing unit, a 1.1 GHz quad-core processor, 4G LTE support, and a 2,000 mAh battery. It runs Android 5.1 Lollipop, rather surprisingly for such a low-end device. Source |...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/alcatel_onetouch_conquest_and_elevate_announced_for_boost_mobile-news-13304.php

Yahoo makes its Livetext app official for the US, four more countries

Earlier this month we saw a new mobile app by Yahoo go live in the iTunes App Store in a few markets - namely Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Ireland. And now the company is ready to launch Livetext in five additional countries. This is notable because the US and the UK are among those, as are Canada, Germany, and France. So for many people this will be the first time they can use the app. That said, intentionally limiting a new app's geographical reach like this is a bit baffling. Livetext pairs one-to-one text messages with a video live stream, as showcased in the screenshots above and the video presentation below. You chat with your friends as you would in other messaging apps such as WhatsApp, Viber, or Facebook Messenger. But what's unique here is that the text is overlaid onto a live video stream from the person you're talking to. Even more unique is that there's no sound associated with the video, nor is there an option for you to turn sound on. So you can't video chat with people using this app - the video part is just kind of there as a background for the text messages. This is clearly a formula no one's ever tried before, but it does have shortcomings. Aside from the lack of sound, you don't get group messaging, at least not at this stage. Livetext will be available in the iTunes App Store and the Google Play Store tomorrow in the aforementioned countries. It's unclear if Yahoo will release it to any other territories in the future. Source |...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/yahoo_makes_its_livetext_app_official_for_the_us_four_more_countries-news-13302.php

Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+ confirmed to have 16 MP camera

The curved-screen phablet version of the Samsung Galaxy S6 edge is apparently going to be unveiled on August 13 alongside the Galaxy Note 5. Recently we've heard that the Galaxy S6 edge+ will come with 4GB of RAM, as well as Samsung's own Exynos 7420 chipset - the same one found in the smaller Galaxy S6 and S6 edge. And now it's time to find out some more about the camera inside the S6 edge+. This will be a 16 MP unit with a 1/2.6" sensor. This means the S6 edge+ will share yet another spec with its smaller siblings, since the cameras in the S6 and S6 edge feature the exact same hardware. This information has been revealed because the camera module for the S6 edge+ has been imported into India a few days ago. And this means that Indian export tracker Zauba has caught it and created a record for it, as you can see from the screenshot above. The Galaxy S6 edge+ is really shaping up to be nothing more but an oversized S6 edge, though the extra RAM will probably make it stand out - as will its size, obviously. It should have either a 5.5" or a 5.7" QHD Super AMOLED curved touchscreen. Source (in...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_s6_edge_confirmed_to_have_16_mp_camera-news-13299.php

OnePlus will sell its USB Type-C cable for around $5

One of the novel features that the recently announced OnePlus 2 brings to the table is its USB Type-C port. This has already been embraced by certain laptops, such as Apple's new MacBook or Google's new Chromebook Pixel, and it's sure to spread to more smartphones in the future. The problem with any such new interface is that it requires new cables. When you buy a OnePlus 2 you'll obviously get the necessary data / charging cable in the box, but if for some reason you want just the cable, you'll be able to order that too. OnePlus has revealed that it will start selling the USB Type-C cable for around $5. This will happen three weeks or so after the OnePlus 2 launches on August 11. So towards the end of August you'll be able to go to the Chinese company's web store and order one of its red cables - with a USB Type-C connector at one end, and the well known USB Type-A plug at the other end. This is what people call 'normal size' USB so it will plug into anything with a USB port. The neat thing about OnePlus' cable is that it will be reversible at both ends. Apparently the $5 price for the cable is either at or below cost for OnePlus, but the company still wants to get as many Type-C cables out there as possible. And it certainly won't hurt its image given that its logo is front and center on the cable. For comparison, OnePlus currently asks for $9.99 for the microUSB cable made for the...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/oneplus_will_sell_its_usb_typec_cable_for_around_5-news-13300.php

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