Falcon Pro developer joins Twitter to work on Twitter for Android

Joaquim Vergès, creator of popular Falcon Pro Twitter app for Android, announced on Twitter that he has joined the Twitter for Android core UI team and will be working on the app. Vergès said he was tired of all the limitations imposed on third party apps by Twitter and wanted to make a killer official app with full APU and modern UI. He also clarified that Falcon will stay with him, although he didn't mention how often, if at all, he will be updating the app from now. Falcon Pro 3 is one of the best Twitter app on Android right now, as was its predecessor. One of the limitations faced by the previous app was that it reached the Twitter API limit, causing the developer to pull the app from the store but he continued working on it and updating the app. The current app features attractive UI and all the features you expect from a modern day Twitter app, and is regularly updated. Hopefully, he will bring some of his designer skills to the official Twitter app and make it behave like a modern day Twitter app should because it clearly doesn't right...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/falcon_pro_developer_joins_twitter_to_work_on_twitter_for_android-news-13452.php

New Moto app update brings location-based triggers

Android has become a truly versatile OS and it is always amazing to see all the creative things OEM's and developers are building on top of the platform. But "Vanilla Android" - the way it was meant and designed by Google also has its merits and consequently a lot of fans. Motorola has built a reputation for delivering a pure Android experience - no needless fluff or heavy features included. But, there are still a few small pieces of software that Motorola packages with its devices, like the Moto app. One of its key features is Motorola Assist - an automation engine that with little to no overhead makes your device aware of its surroundings and able to toggle settings accordingly. It is by no means as powerful as Tasker, but is invaluable for keeping your phone quiet at precisely the right time. Now with the latest v3.0 update, the Moto app can leverage you location as well. This allows you to tweak notification settings automatically when at work or at home. The software generally picks those up by itself, but you can teach it other locations as well and have a custom profile for each one. Motorola Assist already has time triggers, calendar events and even you driving status at its disposal and the addition of location to its arsenal truly makes your Motorola aware of its surroundings. The new Moto app is presumably designed to ship with the company's latest trio of new smartphones - the Moto X Style, Moto X Play and Moto X Pure Edition. However, it is also available on the Play Store and should work with any recent Motorola handset. If you happen to own one you should definitely check it out and be sure to report back with your findings. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/new_moto_app_update_brings_locationbased_triggers-news-13451.php

This odd physical keyboard for the Galaxy S6 edge+ just popped up online

A physical keyboard on a Samsung flagship, now that is something frankly nobody could have predicted. The photo was just recently posted on twitter, courtesy Evan Blass or @evleaks, which leads us to believe it might actually turn out to be genuine. S6e+ keyboard cover -- clever. pic.twitter.com/4eAJKPq9ph— Evan Blass (@evleaks) August 7, 2015 The odd accessory seems more like an April Fools' Day joke, but it looks like the Korean tech giant believes there might be a market for it. The keyboard appears to be a cover for the bottom half of the Galaxy S6 edge+ or rather a clip-on. It is quite reminiscent of the physical keyboards on some older Samsung models, like the Galaxy Pro. It even has buttons for back, home and menu at the bottom. The concept of clip on keyboards for touchscreen devices is definitely not new and was even around back in the monochrome screen days. However, resurrecting the idea seems slightly odd nowadays, especially on a device that shows off Samsung's latest and greatest curved AMOLED screen technology on a phablet scale. Still, Samsung has offered stranger things in the past and there might still be a market for the gadget. It fact, various sliding, folding and attachable keyboards have always been available from third parties, so there is at least some demand. We will leave it up to you to decide whether or not the photo is legitimate and does come from a proper press release as is supposed. In the meantime all we can do is wait for Samsung's grand Unpacked event", which is set for August 13 and will be the venue at which the Galaxy Note 5 and the Galaxy S6 edge+ are officially unveiled. If the keyboard case is in fact a reality, it will most-definitely be there. And who knows, maybe Samsung made one for the Note as well. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/this_odd_physical_keyboard_for_the_galaxy_s6_edge_just_popped_up_online-news-13450.php

Motorola is quick to respond to Stagefright vulnerability with a set of patches

If you are the Android-tinkering type then it is more than likely that you have heard of the recent Stagefright vulnerability found in Google's OS. And if not, well it all boils down to a bug, related to some core Android messaging and multimedia capabilities that could potentially allow a hacker to high-jack your Android device by simply sending you a message. The bug, discovered by Joshua Drake from the Zimperium security firm is pretty dangerous and could potentially affect any Android device starting from version 2.2 Froyo and up, which is almost any Android device currently out there. As you can imagine, this caused quite a stir in the community. Companies like Google and Samsung were quick to respond, promising a path, with the latter already applying the necessary fixes to AOSP, which was also vulnerable itself. Motorola is also already working on a fix and has recently released a full list of devices that it will be rolling out the required patch to as soon as possible. If you own one of these be sure to check for an OTA in the coming days and definitely install it for some extra piece of mind. The eligible handsets are: Moto X (1st generation and 2nd generation) Moto X Pro Motorola Droid Turbo / Moto Maxx Moto G (1st generation, 2nd generation and 3rd generation) Moto G LTE (1st generation and 2nd generation) Moto E (1st generation and 2nd generation) Moto E LTE (2nd generation) Motorola Droid Ultra, Droid Mini, and Droid Maxx As you might have noticed, the company's recently announced trio of moto X devices - Moto X Style, Moto X Play and Moto X Pure Edition are not on the list. That is because they will come with the fix bundled, as will all other future phones, since the changes have already been committed to AOSP. And for those of you aching for some more info on the Stagefright bug it is quite aptly named as it affects one of Android's core components, responsible for handling certain multimedia formats, such as MP4. The vulnerability itself exploits some integer overflow vulnerabilities and can be leveraged by delivering the necessary code to the victim as a multimedia message. In most cases the said message gets downloaded by the OS without need for confirmation from the user, after which the attacker can execute code remotely. As it turns out most any recent Android or Android-based OS is vulnerable to the bug, but luckily there are still no reports of actual attacks using Stagefright. However, if you are feeling concerned you should check if you are affected using this free app and look into disabling automatic background downloading of MMS messages, where possible of course. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/motorola_is_quick_to_respond_to_stagefright_vulnerability_with_a_set_of_patches-news-13449.php

Apple will reportedly unveil the next iPhone on September 9

For those of you who are waiting for the next iPhone, here is some good news: Apple will unveil the device in the second week of September, most likely on September 9, according to a latest report. The report also notes that alongside the new iPhone, the Cupertino-based company will also announce the iPad Pro as well as the next-gen Apple TV, something which is in-line with what we've already heard earlier. If recent reports are to be believed, the next iPhone will be called the iPhone 6S. It will feature a Force Touch display and the Series 7000 aluminum, which is up to 60% tougher than the current aluminum...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/apple_will_reportedly_unveil_the_next_iphone_on_september_9-news-13446.php

Xiaomi teams up with Redington to sell devices in physical stores in India

Chinese manufacturer Xiaomi is definitely doing well on its home market. The Brand has managed to build up a lot of user trust and even a formidable fan base, thanks to competitive pricing and Apple-style viral marketing. Expanding into international markets has been on Xiaomi's roadmap for some time and the company has already made significant steps to enter the emerging India market. However, this might be Xiaomi's biggest plunge into India sales yet, as the company announced that it will be offering its products in brick and mortar stores throughout the country. Currently, Xiaomi devices are selling mostly through India's largest e-commerce company Flipkat and that partnership is sure to continue. However, Xiaomi now hopes that through collaboration with Redington - one of the country's leading cellphone distributors, it will gain access to around 1000 to 1500 physical stores throughout 15 major cities, including Chennai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Mysore and Visakhapatnam. Those stores will initially offer a total of four Xiaomi products - Redmi 2, Mi 4, Mi 4i and Mi Pad for INR 5,999, INR 14,999, INR 12,999 and INR 12,999 respectively. The hopes are that the product line will expand soon and more locations will be added to the list as well. As for this first phase, Xiaomi plans to launch it in the next 45 to 60 days. If everything goes smoothly and the idea picks up speed, Manu Jain, India operations head at Xiaomi, believes that a total of 25% to 30% of all of the company's sales in India will be from physical stores. This is quite an ambitious step for Xiaomi, but definitely not one taken lightly. A few months ago the Chinese manufacturer entered into an exclusive partnership with The Mobile Stores - another India retailer. The deal included selling the Redmi Note 4G and Mi 4 smartphones in physical stores, mostly within the capital city. We are not certain what has become of the said venture, but it can definitely be seen as a smaller scale field test for the expansion. Last, but not least, to reaffirm its intentions for the India market, Xiaomi has also announced that it will set up a research and development unit in Bangalore. All things considered, the Chinese company is slowly, cautiously, but steadily covering new ground and the emerging India market is an ideal place to start. Hopefully this might be the stepping stone Xiaomi needs to enter the US market as well, which VP Hugo Barra has hinted is also on the roadmap, albeit still at least an year away. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_teams_up_with_redington_to_sell_devices_in_physical_stores_in_india-news-13447.php

Xiaomi teams up with Redington to sell devices is physical stores in India

Chinese manufacturer Xiaomi is definitely doing well on its home market. The Brand has managed to build up a lot of user trust and even a formidable fan base, thanks to competitive pricing and Apple-style viral marketing. Expanding into international markets has been on Xiaomi's roadmap for some time and the company has already made significant steps to enter the emerging India market. However, this might be Xiaomi's biggest plunge into India sales yet, as the company announced that it will be offering its products in brick and mortar stores throughout the country. Currently, Xiaomi devices are selling mostly through India's largest e-commerce company Flipkat and that partnership is sure to continue. However, Xiaomi now hopes that through collaboration with Redington - one of the country's leading cellphone distributors, it will gain access to around 1000 to 1500 physical stores throughout 15 major cities, including Chennai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Mysore and Visakhapatnam. Those stores will initially offer a total of four Xiaomi products - Redmi 2, Mi 4, Mi 4i and Mi Pad for INR 5,999, INR 14,999, INR 12,999 and INR 12,999 respectively. The hopes are that the product line will expand soon and more locations will be added to the list as well. As for this first phase, Xiaomi plans to launch it in the next 45 to 60 days. If everything goes smoothly and the idea picks up speed, Manu Jain, India operations head at Xiaomi, believes that a total of 25% to 30% of all of the company's sales in India will be from physical stores. This is quite an ambitious step for Xiaomi, but definitely not one taken lightly. A few months ago the Chinese manufacturer entered into an exclusive partnership with The Mobile Stores - another India retailer. The deal included selling the Redmi Note 4G and Mi 4 smartphones in physical stores, mostly within the capital city. We are not certain what has become of the said venture, but it can definitely be seen as a smaller scale field test for the expansion. Last, but not least, to reaffirm its intentions for the India market, Xiaomi has also announced that it will set up a research and development unit in Bangalore. All things considered, the Chinese company is slowly, cautiously, but steadily covering new ground and the emerging India market is an ideal place to start. Hopefully this might be the stepping stone Xiaomi needs to enter the US market as well, which VP Hugo Barra has hinted is also on the roadmap, albeit still at least an year away. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_teams_up_with_redington_to_sell_devices_is_physical_stores_in_india-news-13447.php

EU fails to find any illegal activity from Apple Music, but the affair is still far from over

Apple Music is now a little over a month into its existence and yet the Cupertino streaming service has already managed to stir up a lot of controversy and make more than a few enemies. Like most new Apple services, its music streaming platform was launched with a flying start - a rich library of music already acquired and about 11 million subscribers already signed up (9 million of which on a free trial, but still). As most of you might remember, the US tech giant was accused by several parties, including major competitor Spotify of breaking antitrust regulations and trying to strike exclusive and unfair deals with major music labels, including Universal, Sony and Warner. The European Commission is just one of the parties that took it upon itself to look into the matter and according to latest developments - has found no evidence of Apple deals with record labels intended to block rivals. The scandal revolves around two main accusations. One is that while dealing with the aforementioned record labels, Apple allegedly pressured said parties to cut off content to Spotify's free, ad-supported users. This, of course would be devastating for the service which currently has 55 million free users and only 20 million paying for premium access. There was even mention of an offer extended from Apple to Universal Music, saying that the tech giant would reimburse lost royalties if the latter would stop providing music videos to YouTube. The other point of concern is the limitations Apple is constantly tightening around third party music streaming apps on the App Store. Jango, Spotify, Rhapsody and others have often complained of being deliberately suffocated - an issue that is also being looked into. For instance, when a user subscribes to a music streaming service through Apple's App Store, it in tern, is entitled to 30% of the proceeds, which forces higher end-user subscriptions and makes ad-supported delivery almost impossible. The EU might have concluded with its investigation, but the scandal is far from over. It the US both the state and federal agencies are knee deep in the investigation and a statement should come soon. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/eu_fails_to_find_any_illegal_activity_from_apple_music_but_the_affair_is_still_far_from_over-news-13448.php

Apple Watch now available for purchase on Best Buy

As announced last week, Best Buy has started selling the Apple Watch in the US, hence becoming the first third-party retailer to carry the wearable device. You can purchase the smartwatch from its website as well as around 100 retail locations. However, what's worth mentioning here is that not all the models of the device are available on Best Buy - although it's carrying all Sport models, stainless steel models are currently limited to black or white sport band, or the Milanese loop, and the luxurious gold Edition isn't available at all. Several accessories, including the company's sport and Milanese bands as well as third-party bands, cases, and stands are also available. Released back in April, the Apple Watch is already available online, and at Apple Stores and some high-end fashion boutiques. The Canadian arm of Best Buy will begin selling the wearable on August 14, i.e. next week. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/apple_watch_now_available_for_purchase_on_best_buy-news-13445.php

Latest comScore data reveals shrinking gap between Android and iOS

Market research firm ComScore has released its latest numbers for the US smartphone market revealing an increase in iOS' market share and a slight decrease in Android's share of the market. Android remains the top smartphone platform in the country with 51.6% share of the market, slightly down from the 52.4% it had in the month of March. On the other hand, iOS' share was up from 42.6% to 44.1%. Windows Phone, BlackBerry, and Symbian rounded up the top-5 with 2.9 (down from 3.3), 1.2 (down from 1.6) and 0.1% share, respectively. As for smartphone manufacturers, Apple continued to be at the top with 44.1% market share, while Samsung came in second with 28.1% share of the market. LG, Motorola, and HTC rounded up the top-5 with 8.3%, 4.9%, and 3.4% share, respectively. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/latest_comscore_data_reveal_shrinking_gap_between_android_and_ios-news-13444.php

Oppo R5 gets a price cut through flash sale, now goes for $249

When it was announced back in October of last year, the Oppo R5 was the world's thinnest smartphone, with its 4.85mm profile. This, coupled with its frame made from 3D-welded aluminum alloy, made it quite crave-worthy even if spec-wise it was nothing but a mid-ranger. Time has passed, though, and it looks like its original asking price of $499 (or €399 in the EU) has become a bit too steep for what this phone actually offers. So Oppo went ahead and started a "flash sale" for the R5 on its official online store. That's probably the Chinese company's way of enacting a price cut without calling it that, since there's seemingly no end date for this flash sale anywhere to be found. The bottom line is this: you can now grab an Oppo R5 for just $249 if you're in the US, or €239 if you're in the EU. Obviously you're getting a SIM-free and unlocked device. The Oppo R5 comes with a 5.2-inch 1080p touchscreen, a 13 MP rear camera with LED flash, a 5 MP selfie snapper, Qualcomm's Snapdragon 615 SoC at the helm (with an octa-core Cortex-A53 CPU clocked at up to 1.7 GHz), 2GB of RAM, 16GB of non-expandable storage, and a non-removable 2,000 mAh battery. It runs Color OS 2.0 based on Android 4.4...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/oppo_r5_gets_a_price_cut_through_flash_sale_now_goes_for_249-news-13443.php

Google Maps for iOS adds night mode for navigation

Following its latest update, which is already available in the iTunes App Store, Google Maps for iOS now comes with a night mode for the navigation screen. It's incredibly surprising that this feature has so far been missing from the app's iOS version, especially since the exact same functionality has been available in Google Maps for Android for a very long time. Regardless, it's now in there, so your iPhone won't blind you anymore while you're using Google Maps to navigate at night. Google Maps 4.9 for iOS also comes with the ability for you to label places so you can see them on your map and in search suggestions, and edit the photo captions you've posted. Additionally, the usual unnamed bug fixes are supposedly in too. So you might not consider this a big update, were it not for that glaring omission of the night mode, which is now finally...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/google_maps_for_ios_adds_night_mode_for_navigation-news-13442.php

Xiaomi Redmi 2 Prime may launch in India with more RAM, storage

Next week, on August 13, Xiaomi will officially unveil MIUI 7, the latest version of its Android-based mobile operating system. We've already heard that the Redmi Note 2 might finally debut at the same event, and now we can apparently add another device to the list. It looks like the Redmi 2 Prime will be launched in India soon. That's because it was listed by Amazon India for a while, and through that listing we have information about its specs. The Redmi 2 Prime is essentially going to be nothing but the slightly beefed up version of the original Redmi 2 which got official at the beginning of this year. This variation is already up for grabs in China with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of built-in storage, and for some reason Xiaomi will offer it as a newly named phone in India. The rest of the specs are shared with the entry-level model, so you're still going to get MIUI 6 based on Android 4.4 KitKat, a 4.7-inch 720p touchscreen, an 8 MP rear camera with LED flash, a 2 MP selfie snapper, and a 2,200 mAh battery. At the helm will be the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 SoC with a 1.2 GHz quad-core Cortex-A53...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_redmi_2_prime_may_launch_in_india_with_more_ram_storage-news-13441.php

Droid Turbo 2, Galaxy Note 5, S6 edge+ all headed to Verizon

While the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 edge+ are widely expected to be officially unveiled at the Unpacked event taking place on August 13, now a new leak is confirming their names. Furthermore, both phones are going to be sold by Verizon, perhaps unsurprisingly. We know all this thanks to the image you can see below, which is purported to be an upcoming inventory listing from Costco. That's not all it reveals, though. There is going to be a Droid flagship this year too, it turns out, and it will be called Droid Turbo 2. Even if this isn't mentioned in the listing, there's no reason to think any company other than Motorola is producing it. No specs have been outed this time around, so the Droid Turbo 2 remains a bit of mystery in this regard. That said, the Note 5 and S6 edge+ have been leaked an incredible amount of times already, so there really is little we don't already know about them. It looks like Costco is going to be offering Verizon's version of the Note 5 in black and white with 32GB of storage, while the S6 edge+ will also be stocked in its 64GB iteration, in the same color versions. Of course there could be more hues and storage versions to come, or perhaps this retailer will only sell a subset of what will be available from day one. It's unclear when any of these handsets will actually be in stores, but from this point on it's probably just a matter of...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/droid_turbo_2_galaxy_note_5_s6_edge_all_headed_to_verizon-news-13439.php

Motorola takes £155 off the price of the Moto X (2nd gen) in the UK

Back in June Motorola started a summer-themed promotion in the UK, and it looks like that turned out to be successful. That's because the company is now holding yet another summer sale in the UK. It's going to happen until August 31, so you still have plenty of time to take advantage of it. By far the biggest deal in terms of savings is offered on the Moto X (2nd gen), which is unsurprising given that its two successors, the Moto X Play and the Moto X Style, have already been announced. Yet if you don't mind owning last year's flagship, you can now purchase it for £155 less than its normal price. The new starting price is £240 when you order it through Motorola's Moto Maker customization service. That's not bad for a handset that was considered high-end in 2014. Motorola is also shaving £10 off the price of the Moto E (2nd gen), taking it down to £99 in the process. Although this isn't much in absolute terms, it's still essentially 10% off. To be able to take advantage of either offer, you'll need to insert a special promo code in the system on checkout. For the Moto X (2nd gen), the code you need is UKSUMMERSALE1, while for the Moto E (2nd gen) simply input UKSUMMERSALE2 into the appropriate...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/motorola_takes__pound155_off_the_price_of_the_moto_x_2nd_gen_in_the_uk-news-13438.php

Next Meizu high-end smartphone to be powered by Exynos 7420

Meizu has traditionally strayed away from Qualcomm chipsets, instead splitting its lineup between Mediatek and Samsung offerings. The MX line has been relying on Exynos-branded Samsung-made silicon from its conception, but the MX4 defected to Mediatek camp and the MX5 continued that trend. Given that the MX4 Pro, which is the only one, actually to carry the Pro moniker, relied on the Exynos 5430 SoC, one could speculate that the MX5 Pro could be powered by a Samsung chipset as well. Well that's only half true, it seems. From what we've been hearing there won't be an MX5 Pro, as the company is apparently in development of another device in its place. It's supposedly bigger and better, and what would be more befitting of an upcoming high-end smartphone than the current performance king, the Samsung-made Exynos 7420? A report originating in China states that Meizu's next generation top model will indeed be powered by the same chipset, featured in the Galaxy S6/S6 edge, and, for all we know, in the yet-to-be-announced Galaxy note 5 and S6 edge+. It's not just the chipset it will borrow, but allegedly also the dual-glass design. And with a price tag, quoted to be above $480, it's also getting pretty close to Samsung's current flagship. The usual reminder is due here as well - this is so far nothing but a rumor and it should be taken with a pinch of salt until it gets substantiated by more reliable data. Source (in Chinese) |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/next_meizu_highend_smartphone_to_be_powered_by_exynos_7420-news-13436.php

Apple gets rid of online store section, integrates it into product pages

The Apple online store is one of the biggest online stores in the business, not only housing company's own products but also accessories from various other brands. In which case, you'd be surprised to know that the store page does not exist anymore. But that doesn't mean you can't buy stuff anymore from Apple online. Instead of having a dedicated store page with all the products on it, Apple has instead provided a buy button on all its product pages. This means now if you're on the iPhone page, you can hit the buy button at the top and purchase from there instead of being sent to the store page. As for the accessories, they are now listed under the respective categories, so if you scroll down the main iPhone category page you will find the link to purchase the iPhone accessories at the bottom. Apple has also changed the top navigation bar that lacks the Store button on the left. Instead there is a new Bag button on the right that is available site-wide and lets you access your cart contents. There is also a new Music section now that houses iTunes, Apple Music, and...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/apple_gets_rid_of_online_store_section_integrates_it_into_product_pages-news-13431.php

Dual-SIM Samsung Galaxy Note 5 to have microSD support

The rumors on the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 have been rocking between microSD support and lack thereof in the past weeks. While obviously that's already been decided by Samsung, we have no way of knowing it yet and we're still relying on word of mouth at that point. So this latest report, coming from Taiwan, claims that the dual-SIM version of the upcoming high-end phablet will indeed support microSD storage expansion. The feature will be implemented in the now increasingly popular way where the microSD card shares a slot with the second SIM - not the best solution if you actually need to use both SIM cards, but single-SIM users will be able to get the coveted memory expansion. One possible caveat is that the dual-SIM versions of flagships have been reserved to certain markets and notoriously difficult to come by elsewhere, so you may need to resort to non-official channels to acquire one. It is a viable option though, if you absolutely must have that 128GB music collection on you at all times. Of course, good as it may sound, all this is nothing but a rumor. Had there been a photo of the card tray, we'd be more inclined to believe it, but as it stands now, the best option is to just wait out the 6 days until the official announcement on August 13. Source (in...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/dualsim_samsung_galaxy_note_5_to_have_microsd_support-news-13430.php

Samsung recounts the history of the pen, says S Pen is 'perhaps the most advanced ever'

From the brush pens of Asian calligraphers to the goose quills of Charles Dickens to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's fountain pens to the S Pen of the Samsung Galaxy Note. The company is looking and the history of writing utensils and some of their greatest users to stir up excitement for its upcoming flagship (coming next week!). Last year Samsung partnered with fountain pen masters Montblanc for an improved writing experience with the S Pen - both with software that simulates different styles real-world pens but with an actual Montblanc-manufactured stylus. The company is mum on what it has in store for the fifth generation, saying only "It is exciting to consider how it will continue to evolve and improve as time goes...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_recounts_the_history_of_the_pen_says_s_pen_is_perhaps_the_most_advanced_pen_ever-news-13429.php

BlackBerry Passport Silver Edition lands on Amazon

The Passport Silver Edition - which was announced by BlackBerry earlier this week - is now available for purchase in the US from Amazon. The online retailer is selling the device for $549, and you can get one shipped as soon as tomorrow. What's worth mentioning here is that the handset - which also brings a stainless steel frame aside from the new color - is already available for purchase in the country from BlackBerry, which is not only selling it at the same price but also offering some free accessories worth $130 for a limited time - there's no such offer on Amazon. Keep in mind that the model Amazon is selling is only compatible with GSM carriers like AT&T and T-Mobile, which means that it won't work with carriers like Sprint, Verizon, Boost, or Virgin. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/blackberry_passport_silver_edition_now_available_on_amazon-news-13427.php

US officials say Russian hackers compromised Pentagon computers

US officials have revealed that Russian hackers managed to compromise the Pentagon's Joint Staff unclassified email system last month. Calling it a "sophisticated cyberattack," they said the intrusion occurred around July 25, following which the system was shut down and taken off line. The attack, which affected around 4,000 civilian and military employees of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, apparently used an automated system that quickly collected large amounts of data, and then distributed it to thousands of accounts on the Internet. It is being suspected that the attack was co-ordinated via encrypted accounts on social media. While it isn't yet clear whether the Russian government was behind the cyber-attack, officials say that the scope of the intrusion indicates that "It was clearly the work of a state actor." As for the data that was compromised, they say it didn't include any classified information. Meanwhile, the system is still offline, although it's expected to be back up in a few days, likely before the end of this...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/russian_hackers_reportedly_compromised_pentagon_computers_last_month-news-13426.php

Xiaomi Redmi Note 2 may be outed alongside MIUI 7 on August 13

Xiaomi is set to take the wraps off the next iteration of its mobile operating system based on Android on August 13. But at that event we apparently might see a new smartphone being announced alongside MIUI 7. New rumors are popping up in China saying that the long-awaited Redmi Note 2 will finally become official on that occasion. Furthermore, a leading Chinese online retailer has mentioned August 16 as the possible date on which pre-orders for the new handset are due to start. And finally, we have the image above. This is purported to be an internal screengrab from Xiaomi's online store, showing the price of the 32GB version of the upcoming Redmi Note 2 as CNY 799. That's about $128 or €117 at the current exchange rates. But there's surely going to be an even cheaper model with 16GB of storage. And speculation has it that this will be offered for just CNY 699 ($112, €103). That price point would make it a tough competitor for Meizu's recently unveiled m2 note. As for specs, past mumblings spoke about the Redmi Note 2 sporting a 5.5-inch 1080p touchscreen, a 13 MP rear camera, a 5 MP selfie cam, 2GB of RAM, and a 3,020 mAh battery. It could be powered by MediaTek's MT6795 SoC with a 2 GHz octa-core CPU. Source 1 (in Chinese) • Source 2 (in Chinese) |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_redmi_note_2_may_be_outed_alongside_miui_7_on_august_13-news-13424.php

Pebble Time Steel is now available for pre-order

Pebble opened the pre-order books for its top-end Time Steel smartwatch. The wearable device is set to begin shipping in six to eight weeks. Available in three different finishes, the smartwatch is priced at $249 for a variant with genuine leather band. Opting for a version with stainless steel bracelet will set you back an extra $50. On a side note, Pebble began shipping the Time Steel to Kickstarter backers. Early adopters should begin receiving tracking numbers from today onwards. As you probably know by now, the Pebble Time Steel is a more premium version of the regular Time. You can check out our review of the latter over here. Source...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/pebble_time_steel_is_now_available_for_preorder_-news-13425.php

Samsung is testing an 18.4-inch tablet, import records reveal

In the Android world, there are small tablets, medium-sized tablets, big tablets, and then we have Samsung's Galaxy Note Pro 12.2 and Galaxy Tab Pro 12.2. Compared to every other tablet out there, they are positively huge. However, they may not be Samsung's biggest tablets for long. It turns out that the Korean company is already working on a much bigger device, one sporting an 18.4-inch touchscreen. What you see in the image above is the fact that such a huge tablet has entered India for testing and evaluation purposes. After it's gone through those tests and finished its evaluations, it's going to be destroyed. This will probably prevent more leaks for a while, even if this is actually going to turn into a real product. That's a big if, though. With such a huge screen, this would be very much into niche territory, and a rather small niche at that. Still, for some commercial settings even this size could work. Which might be the reason for Samsung to think about releasing it. Oddly enough, the value of each unit of this tablet has been set at just INR 32,371 in the import documents, which means about $507 or €464. That's a bit less than we were expecting given that its huge display surely can't be cheap. Then again, this number may just represent how much it costs Samsung to produce each unit, in which case it makes more sense. Source (in French) |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_is_testing_an_184inch_tablet_import_records_reveal-news-13423.php

Microsoft Translator arrives on iOS and Android with wearable support

Microsoft has a competitor for Google Translate, and today it's launched it as an app for both iOS and Android. Furthermore, the Microsoft Translator mobile app comes with built-in support for both the Apple Watch as well as Android Wear smartwatches. So using it you can translate stuff by just speaking to your watch, never needing to take out your phone. Of course you can also use the app on your handset or tablet too if you so wish. Microsoft Translator currently supports instant translations between 50 languages. You can use it with your watch for spoken translations, or with your phone or tablet when you need to translate typed text. It works either way. You're able to pin your most frequently used translations and settings for faster access through your smartwatch. You can also browse your history if you want to. Microsoft Translator is powered by the technology that's used in Bing and Skype. It's available today for free from the iTunes App Store and the Google Play...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/microsoft_translator_arrives_on_ios_and_android_with_wearable_support-news-13422.php

T-Mobile unveils the ZTE Obsidian, out on August 13 for $99.99

T-Mobile has announced a new Android smartphone today. It's the ZTE Obsidian, and it will become available from the magenta carrier, online and in stores, on August 13. This is a lower-end offering, aimed at those who prefer a cheap device with the basics covered. It's got a 4.5-inch 854x480 touchscreen, a 5 MP rear camera with LED flash, a 2 MP selfie shooter, 1GB of RAM, 4GB of expandable storage, and a 1,800 mAh battery. It's powered by MediaTek's MT6735M chipset, boasting a 1 GHz quad-core CPU. The Obsidian comes with 4G LTE support and it runs Android 5.1 Lollipop. It will be offered by T-Mobile for $99.99 all-in. Alternatively, you'll be able to use the carrier's famous installment plan to pay nothing upfront then followed by 24 monthly installments of...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/tmobile_unveils_zte_obsidian_out_on_august_13_for_9999-news-13421.php

OnePlus 2 passes 2 million invite requests after one week

After a week or so of having its invite request page up, OnePlus is now announcing that more than 2 million people apparently want to get their hands on a OnePlus 2. Or at least on an invite for the phone. Unlike what happened with the OnePlus One last year, this time around the Chinese company will issue invites to people on the waiting list created on that dedicated page. This is arguably the easiest way to grab a OnePlus 2 invite, though it may not turn out to be the fastest. At the moment, the exact count is 2,384,338. That many people have requested an invite for the OnePlus 2. While this number is incredibly big (and keeps growing), you shouldn't forget that wanting an invite (or even getting it) does not necessarily mean making a purchase. Then again, if even 10% of those people do actually intend to buy a OnePlus 2, it looks like it will be quite the success,...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/oneplus_2_passes_2_million_invite_requests_after_one_week-news-13420.php

Microsoft announces Windows 10 release date and new Chatpad for Xbox One

Microsoft has announced that the Xbox One console will be getting the major update announced at E3 in November. Although the company doesn't specify it every time, the update is based on the new Windows 10 operating system, unlike the Windows 8 that the current Xbox One UI is based upon. The new update will bring many features, but most importantly there will be a brand new UI that is also faster than before. You will also have a panel on the left that can be brought upon any time you want even within game to see your friends list and access other features of the console. The update also brings new sections such as Community, which helps you keep track of popular games, content, and people on Xbox Live, and Watch, which makes it easy to find new movies and TV shows. The OneGuide feature has also been updated. The new OS also integrates Cortana so you can just use your voice to access features of the console without pressing a single button. Along with the update, Microsoft also announced a new Chatpad for the Xbox One, a la the Xbox 360. This one also snaps to the bottom of the Xbox One controller and allows you to type comfortably while chatting with your friends, or whenever you need to enter text. The Chatpad will be available mid-2016 for the Xbox One controller and works with the Xbox One and Windows...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/microsoft_announces_windows_10_release_date_and_new_chatpad_for_xbox_one-news-13419.php

More than 11 million subscribed to Apple Music

Apple announced that more than 11 million users subscribed for Apple Music. The service launched just over a month ago and offers three months trial before the billing begins. The number is impressive, but we shouldn't forget it's a free trial and nobody has been charged for the service yet. But Apple says 2 million of those 11 million subscribers have opted for the Family plan, which allows for up to six people to share one Apple Music subscription. Apple is targeting lots of different groups worldwide and is really trying to expand the Apple Music reach before the first trials are over. Its toughest competitor is Spotify and recently both companies had some arguments leading Spotify to file a complaint to the FTC. Whatever turns out, Apple Music is surely sticking around. If you haven't yet, you should definitely give it a try. After all three months of free trial is more than enough to decide whether it's for you or not. After that Apple Music Individual plan costs $9.99 in the USA, €9.99 in most of the EU countries, €4.99 in Bulgaria and Romania, £9.99 in the UK, and there are even some markets in Asia where you can get it as low as $2.99. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/more_than_11_million_subscribed_to_apple_music-news-13417.php

Asus Zenfone 2 Deluxe and Zenfone 2 Laser go official

In the middle of a fairly quiet week Asus introduced new Zenfones to bolster an already strong lineup. The Asus Zenfone 2 Deluxe is a prettied up version of the Zenfone 2 from earlier this year, while the Zenfone 2 Laser is a version of the 5" model but with a better camera performance. Asus Zenfone 2 Deluxe Even with the same dimensions as the model from March, the Zenfone 2 Deluxe stands out with its curious "premium-crafted polygonal design." It features 500+ triangles joined together for a "crystal miracle." The Zenfone 2 Deluxe is still a dual-SIM phone with a 5.5" 1080p screen (Gorilla Glass 3 on top) and is powered by the same Intel Atom chipsets - Z3560 and Z3580. This time both feature 4GB RAM (the older model had paired the Z3560 with 3GB RAM). Another improvement is that the base storage is now 64GB RAM and you can go up to 128GB. You can add another 128GB with a microSD card. It runs Android 5.0 Lollipop as before. The camera setup is the same - 13MP for photographing others, 5MP for yourself. Video capture resolution is not listed but we suspect it's still at 1080p. Inside is a 3,000mAh battery with BoostMaster fast charging - 60% in 39 minutes. Asus Zenfone 2 Laser Like the ZE500CL, the Asus Zenfone 2 Laser has a 5" 720p screen and is more compact than its 5.5" siblings. The change is the camera - it's now 13MP (up from 8MP), which can be extended up to 52MP with Super Resolution mode. And as the name suggests there's Laser autofocus. The main camera features 5 lenses and an f/2.0 aperture, while the 5MP selfie camera (up from 2MP) has a wide-angle 85° lens with f/2.0 aperture. The laser autofocus system promises focus locks in 0.3s and works even for macros. There's Super HDR mode for shooting against bright light and a low-light mode for "4x light sensitivity and noise reduction". Unlike the other two 5" Zenfone 2 models, the Asus Zenfone 2 Laser is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 (the others use Intel Atoms). It has 2GB of RAM and 8GB or 16GB of storage (expandable, of course). The 5" screen has 720p resolution and it's a non-IPS panel, but at least it's protected by Gorilla Glass 4. Like its big bro it runs Android 5.0 Lollipop and has LTE connectivity. The battery is either 2,070mAh or 2,400mAh, this could be a regional thing. Source 1 • Source...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/asus_zenfone_2_deluxe_brings_better_storage_and_looks_zenfone_2_laser_improves_the_camera_for_the_co-news-13418.php

The design process of the Vertu Aster is as beautiful as it is pricy

Working in London, drawing inspiration from luxury watches, trying out expensive materials and a lot of manual labor is how a Vertu is born. It's easier to show than describe so the company put together a two minute video of how Vertu Aster Summer Collection 2015 is made. If "summer collection 2015" sounds like a boutique clothes thin, the reality is that some of the techniques used in crafting the pricy leather backs and pouches for the Vertu smartphones are very similar. It's not just soft materials though there's a lot of titanium to hand-polish before the phone can go into the shop. Enjoy the "elegant film portrait depicting our dedication to creating the unique" in Vertu's own...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/the_design_process_of_the_vertu_aster_is_as_beautiful_as_it_is_pricy-news-13415.php

Asus announces Zenfone Max with 5,000 mAh battery

Asus just launched a new mid-range smartphone entirely focused on battery life. Dubbed Zenfone Max it comes with an ample 5,000 mAh battery that should give it extra long power autonomy. The massive battery of the smartphone can even charge other devices when connected to the phone. Exact endurance numbers haven't been quoted, but given the humble internals we expect them to be impressive. The Asus Zenfone Max is built around a 5.5-inch IPS display of 720p resolution that has Gorilla Glass 4 protection on top. It is powered by a Snapdragon 410 chipset with a 1.2GHz quad-core CPU and 2GB RAM. Internal storage is 16GB, but that's further expandable via the microSD slot. The primary camera on the Zenfone Max features a 13 megapixel sensor, dual-LED dual-tone flash and laser-assisted autofocus, while the 85-degree wide-angle lens selfie snapper produces images of up to 5MP resolution. The dual-SIM device will launch in October, running on Android 5.0 Lollipop with Zen UI 2.0 on top. It will support 4G LTE networks, 3G with HSPA+, GPS and Bluetooh 4.0....

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/asus_announces_zenfone_max_with_5000_mah_battery-news-13416.php

ASUS announced Zenfone 2 Deluxe, Zenfone Selfie, Zenfone 2 Laser, and Zenfone Max in India

ASUS has launched four new smartphones in India: The Zenfone 2 Deluxe, the Zenfone Selfie, the Zenfone 2 Laser, and the Zenfone Max. The Zenfone 2 Deluxe is basically the Zenfone 2 ZE551ML but with 64/128GB internal memory as standard and a new back cover finish. It still has the Intel Atom Z3580, 4GB RAM, 5.5-inch 1080p display, 13/5 megapixel cameras, LTE, ASUS BoostMast fast-charging technology, and ZenUI running on top of Android 5.0. The Zenfone 2 Deluxe starts at Rs. 22,999 ($360) for the 64GB version. Next is Zenfone Selfie, which has a 13 megapixel camera on the front and back, laser autofocus, two tone dual LED flash on the back, 5.5-inch 1080p display, Snapdragon 615 processor, 3GB RAM, LTE, dual SIM with dual standby, and Android 5.0. The Zenfone Selfie starts at Rs. 15,999 ($251). The Zenfone 2 Laser comes in three variants at 5-inch, 5.5-inch, and 6-inch displays with resolution "up to" 1080p, "up to" Snapdragon 615, and "up to" 3GB RAM (perhaps ASUS shouldn't launch so many variants if it's too lazy to list exact specs for all of them). There is also a 13 megapixel camera on the back and laser autofocus on all models. The three variants are priced at Rs. 9,999 ($157), Rs. 13,999 ($220), and Rs. 17,999 ($282), respectively. Lastly, there is the Zenfone Max that has a massive 5000mAh battery that can also charge other devices when connected to the phone. There is also a 5.5-inch IPS display, Snapdragon 410 processor, 2GB RAM, 13/5 megapixel cameras with laser autofocus at the back. The Zenfone Max will be available in...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/asus_announced_zenfone_2_deluxe_zenfone_selfie_zenfone_2_laser_and_zenfone_max-news-13416.php

Angry Birds 2 beats download records, passes 20M in a week

Despite many special editions and offshoots it took nearly 5 years for the smash hit Angry Birds to get a true sequel. Even after all this time the level of excitement has not cooled off and Angry Birds 2 beat download records and passed the 20 million mark during its first week of availability. It took 9 whole months for the original to reach these levels. It became the #1 game on iPhones and iPads in over 100 countries, harkening back to the glory days when the original became hit on iOS. The game is a hit on Android too, launching over 1.4 billion birds at the dastardly pigs, beating the game's levels over 300 million times. Angry Birds 2 is breaking into China thanks to Rovio's partnership with Kunlun. "A new generation of Chinese gamers are getting to know the angry feathered flock, and we see a bright future together with Kunlun, one of the Chinese game industry's largest and most important players," says Chief Commercial Officer Alex Lambeek. Don't miss our review of the game to find out what's new. You can download Angry Birds 2 from the Apple App Store and from Google Play store (but not the Windows Phone...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/angry_birds_2_beats_download_records_passes_20m_in_a_week-news-13414.php

Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2015 teaser reveals S6 edge+ silhouette

As Samsung already announced, it's holding a major press event in New York on August 13. From what we gather so far, the keynote will be focused on the Galaxy Note 5 and the Galaxy S6 edge+ phablets, but this new teaser suggests there may be a third device, even larger at that. The lone image, joined by a countdown timer to the event, depicts the three devices stacked on top of each other, but it's about as vague as it gets. Mysteriously lit, the Galaxy S6 edge+ is on top, its curved edge gently accented. The Galaxy Note 5 is underneath, only it's facing down, so you can see the curve on its back, similar to the one of face of the S6 edge+. The S-Pen has been popped-out, with the groove in its top end highlighted, further fueling our suspicions that a novel means of ejection has been implemented. And then there's the third device - a substantially larger one, firmly in tablet territory. Given that the theme of the teaser is "BIG", it could be the recently announced Galaxy Tab S2 in its 8-inch incarnation, but the strips in the bottom part of the frame weren't present in the official images, so this one will remain a puzzle, if only for another...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_unpacked_2015_teaser_reveals_s6_edge_silhouette-news-13413.php

Moto G (3rd gen) review: Good as gold

It is hardly a surprise that the third generation Motorola Moto G is one of the most anticipated smartphones of 2015. After all, in less than two years after the first iteration of the smartphone (Moto G became the most successful phone in the company's history) made its debut, the Moto G product family has successfully redefined what a budget Android handset should look, feel, and perform like and how much it should cost.

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/moto_g_3rd_gen-review-1281.php

New algorithm could automatically remove obstructions from photos

We've all had to deal with this issue at one point or another - you managed to capture that one perfect shot and time it just right, but sadly a nasty fence or your own reflection are in the way and horribly distracting. Well, researchers at Google and MIT have been working on a software solution for the problem and it looks like they are onto something. The algorithm promises to almost magically remove obstructions from photos. An ideal usage would be for fences, like in the demonstration, as anything bigger simply blocks objects and filling in lost content is going to be very tricky. Michael Rubinstein, a research scientist at Google, familiar with the project explains that the algorithm relies on the phenomenon of motion parallax. It is a perceptive illusion that leads us to believe objects that are closer to us move faster than the ones further away when we change our own vantage point. The software leverages this effect by analyzing a few consecutive shots taken by panning the camera slightly, much like a panorama shot. It then distinguished between the different layers and attempts to remove the one in the foreground, which should be the unwanted obstruction. Since they're moving differently, we can use that information to figure out there are two layers we're actually looking at, and we remove one of them, This approach is quite clever and according to Tianfan Xue, lead author to the MIT paper, it can currently be applied to reflections, dirt and water on windows, as well as the aforementioned chain fences. The technology has already been tested in practice at a local zoo, where it produced a lot of clean and impressive, "fence-free" shots with the use of nothing more than Android phones. Rubinstein says that Google has expressed interest for the algorithm, so it is entirely plausible that after the bugs get worked out, it makes its way as a new camera mode. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/new_algorithm_could_automatically_remove_obstractions_from_photos-news-13412.php

Seagate announces new 2TB Game Drive for Xbox

Seagate has announced a new Xbox branded portable USB 3.0 hard drive. The drive has a capacity of 2TB and is priced at $109.99. The drive works with both, the Xbox One and the Xbox 360. While the Xbox does come with capacious internal storage options, with the Xbox One topping out at 1TB, the sizes of games makes it easy to burn through that much storage easily, with several games now coming in at around 50GB each if you choose to download them. This makes having an external drive for your console a worthwhile investment if you intend to keep all your games. Having said that, Seagate's drive might be a bit expensive as you can use pretty much any other drive (the non-Xbox branded version of this same drive costs $79 on Amazon). But it's a small premium to pay if you want it with the branding and the exclusive Xbox green...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/seagate_announces_new_2tb_game_drive_for_xbox-news-13411.php

Sony Xperia C5 Ultra to carry $425 price tag in Hong Kong

When Sony announced the Xperia C5 Ultra earlier this week, there was no word on its pricing and exact launch date. However, the device is now listed on the company's Hong Kong website, revealing a HK$ 3,298 ($425) price tag for an unlocked, dual-SIM unit as well as a release date of August 14. Specs-wise, the Xperia C3 successor is powered by a 1.7GHz octa-core MediaTek MT6752 chipset, and sports a a 6-inch, 1920x1080 resolution IPS display. It comes with 2GB RAM and 16GB expandable internal memory, and packs in a 2930mAh battery. In terms of camera, the handset features a 13MP unit both in front and at the back. It runs Android 5.0 Lollipop. For those who aren't aware, the Xperia C5 Ultra will only be available in selected countries across emerging markets. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/sony_xperia_c5_ultra_to_carry_425_price_tag_in_hong_kong-news-13410.php

Meizu m2 note to go on sale in India next week

The Meizu m2 note - which was announced a couple of months ago in June - will be available for purchase in India starting next week, i.e. August 10. The device will be an Amazon exclusive in the country, and will carry a price tag of INR 9,999 ($157) - this is apparently for the 16GB variant. Meizu #m2note is up for grabs. Priced at just Rs. 9999, exclusively available on Amazon.in from 10th August. pic.twitter.com/n9olt8xVxq— MEIZU India (@Meizu_India) August 5, 2015 Specs-wise, the successor to the popular m1 note is powered by a Mediatek MT6753 SoC with octa-core 1.3 GHz Cortex-A53 CPU and Mali-T720MP3 GPU, and sports a 5.5 inch FullHD display. It comes with 2GB RAM and 16/32GB expandable memory options, and packs in a 3100 mAh battery. In terms of camera, the handset features a 13MP rear unit and a 5MP front shooter. The model that'll go on sale in India will come with Android 5.1-based Flyme OS pre-installed. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/meizu_m2_note_to_go_on_sale_in_india_next_week-news-13408.php

WhatsApp for iOS now lets you include videos in chat backups

WhatsApp's iOS app has received an update, bumping it to version 2.12.5. The update brings some new and useful features, such as the ability to include videos in chat backups, custom notification settings for individual chats, and automatic loading of messages on scroll, among others. The updated app lets you backup your videos along with your chats, something which you can do by heading to Settings -> Chats and Calls -> Chat Backup. In addition, now you can also set custom notifications for individual chats, and even mute the ones that make a lot of noise. The update also lets you mark chats as unread or read with a swipe to the right. Moving on, now you can directly share contacts from the Contacts app and locations from Apple Maps with others on WhatsApp. Also, older messages now load automatically as you scroll chats. Another useful feature the update brings is that now you can control the amount of data consumed during WhatsApp calls, something which you can do by heading to Settings -> Chats and Calls in the app. Finally, the updated app also features better support for VoiceOver, and brings improved design for cropping photos and videos. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/whatsapp_for_ios_now_lets_you_include_videos_in_chat_backups-news-13409.php

Samsung and Google promise monthly security updates from now on

Recently a pretty nasty vulnerability in Android was discovered. It's being called Stagefright, and it affects versions 2.2 Froyo and newer of the OS. There is a fix, and thankfully it's now starting to be deployed through over-the-air updates by different manufacturers and carriers. But to ensure a more swift response to future situations of this nature, two companies that are very important to the Android ecosystem have announced some similar measures today. Let's start with Google, the developer of Android and the company in charge of software updates for the Nexus line. It has unveiled that, going forward, it will release monthly security updates for the Nexus devices, in addition to the usual platform updates. The first such security patch is in fact rolling out right now to the Nexus 4, Nexus 5, Nexus 6, Nexus 7, Nexus 9, Nexus 10, and Nexus Player, fixing the aforementioned Stagefright exploit. According to Google, Nexus devices receive security updates "for the longer of three years from initial availability or 18 months from last sale of the device via the Google Store". At the same time, Samsung, the biggest Android device maker, has committed to implementing a new security update process for its products. This will fast track patches when new vulnerabilities are uncovered. The updates will come to Samsung devices over-the-air "regularly about once per month". The Korean company is already doing some fast tracking in issuing a patch for the Stagefright bug, but it "plans to further develop this process and implement it as a timely security update practice". Source 1 • Source...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_and_google_both_promise_monthly_security_updates_from_now_on-news-13407.php

BlackBerry Passport Silver Edition is now up for pre-order in the UK

Yesterday BlackBerry took the wraps off its latest smartphone - the Passport Silver Edition. While it's really little more than a new color variant for this model, the company launched it like it's an entirely new device. The silver hue and metal frame do look nice, but on the inside the specs are identical to those of the black Passport. Anyway, if you're a fan of the new Silver Edition, you probably know that it's already available to buy in the US. But what if you're in the UK and desperately crave one of these? Well, all you can do for now is pre-order one. That will ensure you'll be among the first people to own the BlackBerry Passport Silver Edition when it is released in the UK sometime in late August. Online retailer Clove already has the phone up for pre-order for £399, so you can go ahead and secure one for yourself over there. The Passport comes with a 4.5-inch 1,440x1,440 square touchscreen, a 13 MP rear camera with OIS and LED flash, a 2 MP front-facing unit, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 SoC with 2.26 GHz quad-core Krait CPU aided by 3GB of RAM, 32GB of expandable storage, and a 3,450 mAh battery. It runs BlackBerry OS...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/blackberry_passport_silver_edition_is_now_up_for_preorder_in_the_uk-news-13405.php

Leaked image shows the Xperia Z5 and Z5 Compact from new angle

A couple of days ago an image surfaced claiming to depict both the upcoming Xperia Z5 and the Xperia Z5 Compact from Sony for the first time. In that shot, both phones were turned on and showing the instructions for training their respective fingerprint sensors. Thus, we found out that these are going to be the first Xperia smartphones to come with such scanners. These will be embedded inside the handsets' power buttons. And now we're basically getting a better look at those buttons. What's of note here is that the buttons are still on the right side of the devices, having a placement similar to what we've seen from past Xperia flagships. It's just that now they'll also serve authentication purposes through those embedded fingerprint scanners. While placing a fingerprint sensor on the front of a phone (embedded in the Home button) or on its back (under the camera) have pretty much become the norm, Sony is going a different way with the Z5 duo. Obviously don't forget that these images may not be the real deal. That said, the two Z5 devices are probably going to get official at an event on September 2, so the fact that they're leaking now isn't at all surprising. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/leaked_image_shows_xperia_z5_and_z5_compact_in_new_angle-news-13404.php

Facebook unveils live video broadcasts for celebrities

Today Facebook has announced a new feature. This one is going to be exclusive to celebrities, though. Starting today, verified athletes, musicians, politicians, and "other influencers" will be able to share live video with their fans. This will happen through Facebook Mentions, the special app designed just for celebrities. Obviously though, you won't need a special app to watch said live video broadcasts from your fav celeb - they will show up in your News Feed on the Facebook website and in all of its mobile apps. This being Facebook, you can like, share, and comment on the live videos as they're being broadcast. You also see when your friends or other public figures start watching a stream. And if you don't catch the live broadcast, you'll be able to watch any such video later on the specific celeb's page. The first famous people to take advantage of this new feature will apparently be Dwayne The Rock Johnson, Serena Williams, Luke Bryan, Ricardo Kaká, Ashley Tisdale, Lester Holt, Martha Stewart, and Michael Bublé. At this point it doesn't look like Facebook has any plans to let everyone broadcast live videos - it's celebrities only for now. Source 1 • Source 2 |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/facebook_unveils_live_video_broadcasts_for_celebrities-news-13406.php

Garmin announces Forerunner 25 - GPS running watch

Garmin has announced a new GPS running watch called Forerunner 25. The watch uses GPS to track the distance you ran, your pace, your steps, heart rate, and use that to tell you how many calories you burned. The watch also pairs with your phone to transfer all that data to the Garmin app on your phone, where you can keep a track of all of it and even upload it to Garmin Connect, a free online fitness community. The watch will also show you basic notifications from your phone on the screen. The watch has a battery life of 10 hours in training mode with GPS on, and 10 weeks in watch/activity tracking mode. Subtract two from each number if you choose to go with the small watch face version. The Forerunner 25 comes in two sizes, with black/red and black/blue options available for the large face, and black/purple and white/pink available for the small watch face, although it would have been better if all the colors were available for all the watch sizes. The Forerunner 25 is priced at $169.99 for the standard version and $199.99 for the one with the heart rate sensor and will begin shipping in Q3 of this...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/garmin_announces_forerunner_25__gps_running_watch-news-13403.php

T-Mobile cuts Galaxy S6 and S6 edge prices by up to $200

Not long ago word got out that Samsung would be cutting the prices of the Galaxy S6 and S6 edge, in order to help the two devices sell better across the world. And while we've already seen the new pricing in Europe, it's now time for a US-based carrier to act too. T-Mobile is the first to drop the prices for the duo in the US. For both the Galaxy S6 and S6 edge, you now have to pay $100 less than before if you go with the 32 or 64GB versions. If you want to buy either phone with 128GB of storage, you'll benefit from a $200 price cut. So the 32GB Galaxy S6 now costs $579, while the 128GB model goes for $659. The S6 edge starts at $679 for the 32GB iteration, and goes up to $759 if you need 128GB. Of course, this being T-Mobile, you don't necessarily have to pay all of that upfront, since you can use the carrier's installment plans to nab a handset for $0 upfront followed by 24 interest-free monthly payments. At this point no other US carriers have announced similar moves, but they may do so in the near future. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/tmobile_cuts_galaxy_s6_and_s6_edge_prices_by_up_to_200-news-13402.php

Nokia N1 officially headed to UK and Ireland

So far the only way to get a Nokia N1 in UK and Ireland was to import it from Asia, but the tablet will soon become available via official channels. The tablet is priced at £219 and you will be able to order it in the upcoming weeks. NokiaShop UK will be offering the slate, but you can only register your interest for now. Once it becomes available for order, you will be able to purchase one. Until now the Nokia N1 was available exclusively in China in Taiwan since the beginning of 2015. The company behind NokiaShop isn't Nokia itself, but a third-party firm called Colourful (2018) Limited. Still, they promise official support and warranty for the Nokia N1. This is hardly surprising and the Nokia N1 slate isn't made by Nokia either, it's a Foxconn creation. Anyway, Nokia N1 is quite an attractive chap even half a year after its launch. It offers a high-res 7.9" screen, powerful Intel Atom Z3580 chip, reversible USB Type-C connector, 32GB storage and Android Lollipop with Nokia Z launcher. You can learn more about the N1 in our in-depth review. So, if you live in the UK and Ireland you will be able to get yourself the Nokia N1 very soon. Hopefully other markets will get similar treatment...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_n1_officially_headed_to_uk_and_ireland-news-13401.php

Full specs leak for Qualcomm's upcoming Snapdragon 820 SoC

The Snapdragon 820 has been frequently discussed during the past few months. After the major overheating scandal that engulfed the Snapdragon 810 and definitely took its toll on Qualcomm's standing in the mobile industry as a whole, the company is needs to do some major damage control with its next generation of chips. A lot is riding on the Snapdragon 820 and its success, which has left the industry anxious to know more about the silicon. A few rather interesting slides have been unearthed form a presentation on the Snapdragon 820, more specifically its MSM8996 version. They are quite thorough in describing the new technologies employed in the high-end Snapdragon. Most of the information aligns with what we have previously heard so it has a high chance of being the real thing. The Snapdragon 820 will use a 14nm FinFet manufacturing process, to catch up to Samsung's Exynos 7420. More importantly, Qualcomm has once again ditched the stock ARM cores and designed a custom architecture - we previously believed it would be called Kryo, yet the document at hand refers to it as Hydra. Perhaps the return to custom cores is exactly what the doctor prescribed to the ailing company. Apparently Qualcomm is so confident in Hydra that it is cutting down the number of cores to four, instead of the eight found in the Snapdragon 810, which it promises will still deliver a whopping 35% performance improvement. This is coupled with a new Adreno 530 GPU, which accounts for an additional 40% improvement in the graphics department, as well as 30% better power efficiency. The Snapdragon 820 will support dual-channel LPDDR4 memory with speeds of up to 1688 Mhz. Camera capabilities have also been greatly improved. The new chip can handle up to 28MP cameras now with programmable preprocessing and post-processing DSP, which will give manufacturers an even greater level of control. Naturally, the rapid advancements in multimedia have been reflected in the hardware as well. The MSM8996 will come fully prepared to handle 4K videos at 60fps. Another interesting new addition is a dedicated low-powered sensor for handling "emerging always on cases". The timeline says that Snapdragon 820 will see the light of day around the end of 2015. However, this most-likely refers to initial shipments to OEMs, meaning we can realistically expect the first batch of flagship phones and tablets with a Snapdragon 820 SoC to appear in Q1 2016. Source (in Chinese) |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/full_specs_leak_for_qualcomms_upcoming_snapdragon_820_soc-news-13400.php

Huawei teases a new Honor smartphone for August 8

Huawei is already prepping its next Honor device for a proper announcement, just two months after the Honor 7 went official. The company released the first teaser for the new Honor today and it spills the beans on the official premiere - August 8. According to the teaser picture we should expect an "amazing" new Honor. But that's all we got, there are no details on the device itself. Luckily we allegedly saw the new Honor just two days ago, courtesy of a TENAA leak. The device introduces a new pop-up camera module, which offers high resolution snappers on both ends, both accompanied by dual-LED dual-tone flashes. The pictures also suggest an almost bezel-free display, a new hardware key for popping up the cam module and some reports suggest this key may double as a fingerprint scanner, too. The new Honor will most probably run on a Kirin chipset and use Huawei's EMUI based on Android Lollipop. But there is no point in guessing now, we'll know all about it in a few...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/huawei_teases_a_new_honor_smartphone_for_august_8-news-13398.php