Apple iPhone 6s receives an aftermarket Black Gold coating

Sure, we know that this year's hero color for the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus is Rose Gold. But imagine the millions of people who are going to have one, while what you want the most is some exclusivity. Well, its Vietnamese company Karalux that comes to the rescue, offering a Black Gold plating service for the iPhone 6s in addition to its more orthodox 24K gold-plating jobs. The color is achieved by mixing gold with rhodium in a specific ratio and rhodium itself is 6 times more expensive than gold, the company's technical director says. The time consuming process of covering an iPhone with Black Gold takes 8 hours and as you could have guessed, it's not exactly cheap. A 64GB iPhone 6s dipped in the rhodium/gold pot will set you back $2,300 (VND 52 million), though you could save a couple of million and get the 16GB version, who are we to judge where your priorities...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/apple_iphone_6s_receives_an_aftermarket_black_gold_coating-news-14184.php

YouTube making strides towards October launch of subscription service

Ads-free YouTube might be as little as a month away. Almost precisely a year after the concept of a subscription-based service was first put into official words, Google's video sharing platform seems to be on the verge of delivering. Emails have been sent out to content creators, informing them of changes to terms and conditions effective October 22. The choice is to either agree and get on board, or "videos will no longer be available for public display or monetization in the United States". "A new ads-free version of YouTube, available to fans for a monthly fee" is also explicitly stated in the emails, leaving little doubt as to the reason behind the changes. Of course that should in no way affect regular unpaid users, we presume, as ads (and, uhm, ad blockers) have long since settled into our lives. No specific numbers have been uttered as to what the service will cost, but then again the purpose of the email is different. Apparently more will be known come October...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/youtube_making_strides_towards_october_launch_of_subscription_service-news-14182.php

Sony Xperia Z5 up for pre-order in Hong Kong and Singapore

Pre-orders for Sony's latest flagship Xperia Z5 are steadily covering more markets world-wide, though the smartphone is yet to actually start shipping. The company's Hong Kong and Singapore stores have now opened pre-orders too, and in Hong Kong you can go ahead and reserve a Z5 Compact as well. The price for the Xperia Z5 (Z5 Dual, too) in Hong Kong is listed at HKD 5,698 ($735), while the Z5 Compact is expectedly cheaper and goes for HKD 4,798 ($620). The pre-order period ends on October 5, and the phones are scheduled to start shipping on October 7. Meanwhile in Singapore you can only pre-order the Xperia Z5, and not the Compact. The price is set at SGD 998, which translates to $700. With pre-orders stretching to October 11, shipping will apparently commence a week after Hong Kong. If it's any consolation though, Sony will be bundling a DK52 microUSB charging dock free of charge. Source 1 Source 2 |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/sony_xperia_z5_up_for_preorder_in_hong_kong_and_singapore-news-14181.php

Meizu m2 note gets a £20 price cut in the UK

If you are in the UK and were eyeing up the Meizu m2 note, now seems to be the time to act. The handset has just gotten a £20 price cut on Amazon and now retails for £120. A minor caveat is that the reduction only applies to the Grey color variant, and the fresher Blue, Pink and White ones are still £140. For that you're getting a 5.5-inch FullHD phablet with the smaller 16GB of storage, with microSD expansion though. A Mediatek MT 6753 chipset, 1.3GHz octa-core CPU and 2GB of RAM are on board, together with a 13MP/5MP camera combo. The smartphone supports Cat.4 LTE over bands 1/3/7, meaning it should work on the EE and 3's networks. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/meizu_m2_note_gets_a__pound20_price_cut_in_the_uk-news-14180.php

BlackBerry Priv showcased (sort of) by company CEO

The BlackBerry Priv, the struggling Canadian manufacturer's first Android phone was just officially confirmed hours ago, and the company's CEO later appeared in a video with a live device in his hands. Johny Chen tried to show the device in action, but obviously new to the OS, kept saying that the Priv "runs Google" instead of Android. He also had trouble running Chrome on the demo unit, and it would have been nice if they had given him an already set up device, instead of one fresh off the assembly line. Anyway, he did manage to reveal that the Priv's sliding QWERTY keyboard is capacitive as well. So much like on the Passport, you'll be able to use it for gestures without pressing the keys. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/blackberry_priv_showcased_sort_of_by_company_ceo-news-14179.php

Vector smartwatches have a monochrome display and 30-day battery life

The smartwatch is still rocking back and forth trying to find its true calling. Manufacturers are exploring all sorts of compromises between the all-out bright colorful displays and the classic mechanical watches and with features ranging from comprehensive activity tracking and voice calls to simple notifications. It closer to the latter where Vector is positioning its lineup of smartwatches. A traditional case, either a 44mm round one, or a 40.5mm-tall rectangular one, comes in a choice of either plain brushed stainless steel or in black, rose cold and champagne gold colors. 22mm straight or tapered leather straps or a 22mm steel bracelet complete the classic look. Only, you won't find a mechanical movement inside and the watch face will be shown on an always-on monochrome display - customizable, naturally. In terms of design, that helps mask the otherwise huge bezels - with white hands on black background, they don't pop out as much. The smartwatch connects via Bluetooth to your phone (anything running iOS 8, Android 4.4 or WP 8.1 or newer versions) and can display notifications and reminders, and... Well, that's about it. There's no heart rate monitor, step counter, GPS or any of that fitness tracking stuff. But the smartwatch will be able to last a whole month on a single charge, Vector says. Try that, Apple/Huawei/LG G watches. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/vector_smartwatches_have_a_monochrome_display_and_30day_battery_life-news-14178.php

New Galaxy O7 benchmark also reveals mid-range specs

Nearly a month after a leaked AnTuTu benchmark result revealed its specs, the rumoured Samsung Galaxy O7 smartphone has been spotted on GFXBench, revealing almost similar, mid-range specs. The benchmark reveals that the handset will be powered by a Snapdragon 410 SoC, and sport a 5.8-inch 720p display - a 5-inch display was also reported (see image above), but that could be the Galaxy O5. Other specs that were revealed were: 1GB RAM, 8GB internal memory, 13 MP rear camera, 5 MP front shooter, and Android 5.1.1 Lollipop. For the uninitiated, it was late last month when rumour broke out that Samsung is working on a new O series of devices, the first of which will be the Galaxy O5 and Galaxy O7. However, it was later said that those names have been dropped, with the company opting for Galaxy Grand On and Galaxy Mega On instead, although it isn't yet exactly clear that the new names correspond to which previous...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/new_galaxy_o7_benchmark_reveals_midrange_specs-news-14177.php

Uber's new feature lets you send ride passes to those attending your event

Uber has announced a new feature that lets event planners send ride passes (free or discounted) to their guests. Dubbed UberEVENTS, the feature is currently in beta, and only available to select riders and Uber for Business users in New York City. The way it works is: the host will first have to create an event on Uber's website, following which they'll receive their guest passes via email, and then all they've to do is to send them to their guests. Upon receiving the pass, a guest will just have to enter the code (mentioned in the pass) under the Promotions section of the Uber app and request a ride to the event. That's it. What's good is that the guest passes are customizable, meaning host can set a maximum value for each ride as well as the number of rides they'd like each guest pass to be valid...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/ubers_new_feature_lets_you_send_ride_passes_to_those_attending_your_event-news-14176.php

Samsung Galaxy Note5 and S6 variants on Verizon getting security update

The Verizon models of some of the Samsung's newest flagship smartphones - including the Galaxy Note5 and Galaxy S6, S6 edge, as well as S6 edge+ - are receiving a new update. While there isn't much detail on what exactly the update brings (the change-list for all the devices just mentions Android security patches), it does come shortly after Samsung promised regular (about once per month) security updates for its devices in the wake of Stagefright. The update is currently rolling out, and should hit your device soon (if it hasn't already). Meanwhile, you can also manually check for it by heading to Settings > About device > Software update on your phone. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_note_5_and_s6_variants_on_verizon_getting_security_update-news-14175.php

Microsoft Lumia 950, Lumia 950 XL, and Lumia 550 get fully detailed in leaked slides

Microsoft's upcoming trio of Windows 10 smartphones got fully detailed ahead of their launch thanks to leaked slides from an internal presentation. Microsoft Lumia 950, Lumia 950 XL, and Lumia 550 will make their official debut alongside Microsoft Band 2 and Microsoft Surface Pro 4 at an event in New York City on October 6. In line with past leaks, Microsoft Lumia 950 XL will be the Redmond giant's flagship smartphone. Its specs include 5.7" QHD display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 SoC, 32GB of expandable memory, Iris scanner, and 3,300mAh battery with support for Qualcomm QuickCharge and Qi wireless charging. The Lumia 950 XL will sport 20MP PureView camera with triple-LED flash, coupled with 5MP front-facing snapper. Cable connectivity will take place via USB Type-C. Microsoft Lumia 950 will feature a more compact 5.2" QHD display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 chipset, and 3,000mAh battery. The rest of the device's specs match those of its larger sibling. Both the Lumia 950 XL and Lumia 950 will support Windows 10 Continuum. Users will be able to connect the devices to a full-size monitor via a dedicated dock. Microsoft Lumia 550 on the other hand, will be an affordable Windows 10 device. Its specs include 5" HD display, unnamed Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset with 1GHz quad-core CPU, 1GB of RAM, and 8GB of expandable memory. The rest of the handset's specs consist of 5MP main camera, 2MP front-facing unit, and 1,905mAh battery. The main camera will have LED flash. All in all, October 6 shapes up to be one busy day for Microsoft. We will be covering the company's product launch live, so be sure to tune in for the full scoop on the new products. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/microsoft_lumia_950_lumia_950_xl_and_lumia_550_get_fully_detailed_in_leaked_slides-news-14174.php

iPhone 6s Plus teardown unsurprisingly reveals heavy display assembly, smaller battery

Earlier today we reported on iFixit's teardown of the iPhone 6s, which revealed a very heavy display assembly and a smaller battery compared to the iPhone 6 from last year. Now it's time for us to see how the iPhone 6s Plus did in a teardown of its own. And, unsurprisingly, the bigger Apple handset seems to be just a bigger version of the iPhone 6s - at least when it comes to internals. Like its smaller sibling, the iPhone 6s Plus was found to have a heavy display assembly. It weighs a whopping 80g, 20g more than that of the iPhone 6s. The weight difference obviously accounts for the size differential between the two. However, last year's iPhone 6 Plus came with a display assembly weighing 60g too. Compared to it, the new model's added weight is all because of the 3D Touch technology. The battery capacity of the iPhone 6s Plus is 2,750 mAh, which is 165 mAh smaller than the one in the iPhone 6 Plus. The downgrade in this case was made to compensate for the added heft of the screen and the 3D Touch controller, allowing the phone to sport very similar exterior dimensions to its predecessor. Apple has used a custom 7000 series aluminum alloy for the construction of the iPhone 6s Plus. This contains 91.17% aluminum, 0.08% iron, 7.64% zinc, and 0.106% tungsten. The zinc is there to provide an increase in tensile strength compared to the alloy that was employed last year. In the end, the iPhone 6s Plus got a 7 out of 10 repairability score. Screen repairs are pretty easy to perform, as is accessing the battery (with the right tools and technique, however). Repairs to the Touch ID cable are more difficult since it's paired to the logic board, and the phone features proprietary Pentalobe screws on the exterior, requiring a specialty screwdriver to...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/iphone_6s_plus_teardown_unsurprisingly_reveals_heavy_display_assembly_smaller_battery-news-14173.php

Android-powered BlackBerry Priv officially confirmed

It is all official now, BlackBerry will be launching an Android-powered smartphone and it will be called Priv. This new information comes in an official company statement only hours after Evan Blass leaked the name online. BlackBerry's statement proves the existence of the slider, previously named Venice. Ever since we caught a glimpse of the unit at MWC 2015, it has been shrouded in a lot of mystery and we had to only make do with speculations. CEO John Chen says he has kept his promise to only do an Android if it can reach the high security standards of the company: Today, BlackBerry is announcing two new additions to its handheld device roadmap. First, the company will launch a flagship slider device, Priv, which will run on the Android operating system, bringing together the best of BlackBerry security and productivity with the expansive mobile application ecosystem available on the Android platform. In combination with BlackBerry's efforts to support Android for Work on the BES12 platform, the new device will offer best in class security for enterprise customers. BlackBerry expects the device to be available late in the calendar year in major markets in-store and online, and will release further details in the coming weeks. But, despite this new and exciting change of pace, BlackBerry also made it clear that it is not giving up on its BES12 platform and all it has accomplished and will keep building products and services upon it: While the new device will provide a choice in OS to new and existing customers, the company remains committed to the BlackBerry 10 operating system, which enables industry-leading security and productivity benefits. Second, the company will continue to develop and enhance the BlackBerry 10 operating system and is confirming plans to release platform updates focused on security and privacy enhancements, with version 10.3.3 scheduled to be available in March 2016. From what is known till now, the BlackBerry Priv is expected to be powered by a Snapdragon 808 chipset, and come with 3GB of RAM. It is said to feature an 18MP rear camera with dual-LED flash, and run Android...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/androidpowered_blackberry_priv_officially_confirmed-news-14172.php

Samsung undisputed smartphone leader in Q2, reports says

Engulfed by all the mobile tech innovations, amidst a hectic and ever-so-dynamic realm, we often tend to overlook the business side of things. Operating on an international scale is no mundane task and quarterly market reports tend to reveal trends and processes on a bigger scale that can make or break an OEM. The latest Counterpoint research numbers are now in and from the looks of things Samsung is still king of the smartphone world. It seems that the Korean giant has managed to skillfully counter declining sales of its current Galaxy S6 flagship, thanks to a wide variety of other offers, both in the premium and mid-range segments. Samsung managed a 19 % global share, compared to 10% for Apple, which is a distant second and 7% for Huawei in the third spot. There are, however, a few clarifications to be made. The aforementioned numbers are for mobile phones as a whole, when we narrow things down to smartphones only, which currently have about 75% market share, Samsung shines with an even more respectable 21% globally, followed by Apple with 14% and Huawei with 9%. Breaking things down by continent reveals an identical picture, except for North America, where Apple leads with a 31% share and Samsung is second with 24%. Also, bear in mind that the new iPhone 6s and 6s Plus have just hit user markets today and their sales in the following weeks are sure to change the picture in Q3. But, apart from Apple and Samsung, this batch of sales report does offer insight on a few other trends. Most notably, the impressive growth from various Chinese OEM's on international markets. Huawei has really been doing great for itself, while Xiaomi is another major success story as it already has a 5% share in the global smartphone market. In fact, in Asia alone, Xiaomi managed to surpass Apple with 11% of the market, compared to Cupertino's 10%. This trend will likely continue in the following months. Asian brands are on the rise - Asus, for instance, has been the fastest growing brand with 500% raise in shipments, followed closely by vivo with a growth of 400%. This, combined with major market expansions in India and Africa, where growth rates can exceed global values by as much as seven times, means that Chinese manufacturers are quickly becoming a strong force in the mobile realm. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_undisputed_smartphone_leader_in_q2_reports_says-news-14171.php

Samsung undisputed smartphone leader in Q2, reports says

Engulfed by all the mobile tech innovations, amidst a hectic and ever-so-dynamic realm, we often tend to overlook the business side of things. Operating on an international scale is no mundane task and quarterly market reports tend to reveal trends and processes on a bigger scale that can make or break an OEM. The latest Counterpoint research numbers are now in and from the looks of things Samsung is still king of the smartphone world. It seems that the Korean giant has managed to skillfully counter declining sales of its current Galaxy S6 flagship, thanks to a wide variety of other offers, both in the premium and mid-range segments. Samsung managed a 19 % global share, compared to 10% for Apple, which is a distant second and 7% for Huawei in the third spot. There are, however, a few clarifications to be made. The aforementioned numbers are for mobile phones as a whole, when we narrow things down to smartphones only, which currently have about 75% market share, Samsung shines with an even more respectable 21% globally, followed by Apple with 14% and Huawei with 9%. Breaking things down by continent reveals an identical picture, except for North America, where Apple leads with a 31% share and Samsung is second with 24%. Also, bear in mind that the new iPhone 6s and 6s Plus have just hit user markets today and their sales in the following weeks are sure to change the picture in Q3. But, apart from Apple and Samsung, this batch of sales report does offer insight on a few other trends. Most notably, the impressive growth from various Chinese OEM's on international markets. Huawei has really been doing great for itself, while Xiaomi is another major success story as it already has a 5% share in the global smartphone market. In fact, in Asia alone, Xiaomi managed to surpass Apple with 11% of the market, compared to Cupertino's 10%. This trend will likely continue in the following months. Asian brands are on the rise - Asus, for instance, has been the fastest growing brand with 500% raise in shipments, followed closely by vivo with a growth of 400%. This, combined with major market expansions in India and Africa, where growth rates can exceed global values by as much as seven times, means that Chinese manufacturers are quickly becoming a strong force in the mobile realm. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_undisputed_smartphone_leader_in_q2_reports_says-news-14172.php

Sony Xperia C5 Ultra review: Crowd selfie

It takes 6 inches or more to warrant the Ultra moniker and Sony only makes one of these a year. Fair enough, not everyone can handle a phablet. But if you have a use for all that FullHD screen real estate, the Sony Xperia C5 Ultra tops it up with an LED-flash-assisted selfie camera, expandable memory and LTE...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/sony_xperia_c5_ultra-review-1310.php

Samsung undisputed smartphone leader in Q2, reports says

Engulfed by all the mobile tech innovations, amidst a hectic and ever-so-dynamic realm, we often tend to overlook the business side of things. Operating on an international scale is no mundane task and quarterly market reports tend to reveal trends and processes on a bigger scale that can make or break an OEM. The latest Counterpoint research numbers are now in and from the looks of things Samsung is still king of the smartphone world. It seems that the Korean giant has managed to skillfully counter declining sales of its current Galaxy S6 flagship, thanks to a wide variety of other offers, both in the premium and mid-range segments. Samsung managed a 19 % global share, compared to 10% for Apple, which is a distant second and 7% for Huawei in the third spot. There are, however, a few clarifications to be made. The aforementioned numbers are for mobile phones as a whole, when we narrow things down to smartphones only, which currently have about 75% market share, Samsung shines with an even more respectable 21% globally, followed by Apple with 14% and Huawei with 9%. Breaking things down by continent reveals an identical picture, except for North America, where Apple leads with a 31% share and Samsung is second with 24%. Also, bear in mind that the new iPhone 6s and 6s Plus have just hit user markets today and their sales in the following weeks are sure to change the picture in Q3. But, apart from Apple and Samsung, this batch of sales report does offer insight on a few other trends. Most notably, the impressive growth from various Chinese OEM's on international markets. Huawei has really been doing great for itself, while Xiaomi is another major success story as it already has a 5% share in the global smartphone market. In fact, in Asia alone, Xiaomi managed to surpass Apple with 11% of the market, compared to Cupertino's 10%. This trend will likely continue in the following months. Asian brands are on the rise - Asus, for instance, has been the fastest growing brand with 500% raise in shipments, followed closely by vivo with a growth of 400%. This, combined with major market expansions in India and Africa, where growth rates can exceed global values by as much as seven times, means that Chinese manufacturers are quickly becoming a strong force in the mobile realm. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/q2_smartphone_sales_report_are_in_and_samsung_is_still_dominating_the_realm-news-14171.php

iPhone 6s and 6s Plus drop and bend tests come out in droves

As per tradition, further spurred by last year's iPhone 6 Plus bendgate, the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus drop and bend test videos have started flooding YouTube. Many tech blogs and vloggers have rushed to acquire the iPhone 6s duo only to start torturing it. And you can bet the new 7000-series aluminum that Apple uses for the latest iPhones will be the major thing to test. In fact, here's an interesting, and rather funny video, of two guys trying to bend an iPhone 6s Plus. And now for a couple of drop tests. Those aim to put Apple's claim of strongest glass in business to the test. There's a plethora of videos like this available, and certainly a lot more to come. If you want to check more iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus torment, the source link below is your...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/iphone_6s_and_6s_plus_drop_and_bend_tests_come_by_the_droves-news-14169.php

iPhone 6s and 6s Plus now available in retail outlets across 12 countries

The new iPhone 6s and the iPhone 6s Plus is now available for purchase. Both models can now be purchased in Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Singapore, the UK and the US. In the US, customers can get their new iPhones with $0 down payment and $27 or $31 (for the 6s and 6s Plus, respectively) monthly payment for 24 months from the retail outlets, Apple.com, select carriers, and authorized retailers. Also, exclusively at Apple's retail stores in the US, customers can choose the iPhone Upgrade Program that gets them a new iPhone every year unlocked from the carrier of their choice with AppleCare+ for $32 for the 6s and $37 for the 6s Plus per month for 24 months. Apple will also be selling all the new accessories alongside the new iPhones, including the new leather and silicone cases and the color-matched metallic finish Lightning Docks. The iPhone 6s and 6s Plus are available in 16GB, 64GB, and 128GB in gold, silver, space gray, and rose...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/iphone_6s_and_6s_plus_now_available_in_retail_outlets_across_12_countries-news-14168.php

iPhone 6s torn down by iFixit, display assembly weighs 60g

It's the same every year come September for iPhone fans the world over - long lines forming overnight in front of Apple stores. There's that dedication, and then there's fly-half-way-across-the-world-to-Australia dedication to be among the first to get your hands on an iPhone 6s, and that's exactly what repair specialists from iFixit have done. The crew picked up this year's hero Rose Gold color option, as an extra bit of flair can never hurt the disassembly. As usual, the process starts with undoing two proprietary Pentalobe screws, which keep the screen in place. Stronger adhesive gives more resistance than the old generation, but suction cups emerge victorious eventually. It's the 4.7-inch display assembly that accounts for the biggest changes thanks to the 3D Touch tech. The complete module now weighs a massive 60g - 15g more than the old iPhone 6 and the single heaviest component of the smartphone. The fact that the display is the first to come off earns the iPhone 6s points for repairability - it's the part that gets replaced most often. Underneath is the battery, with capacity reduced to 1,715mAh from the 1,810mAh of last year's model. It's removed by simply pulling on the adhesive that holds it in - easy to access and replace. The Taptic engine gets the X-ray treatment, in action too. The crew then walks us through the cameras and the logical board with all the expected circuitry - the A9 chip, 2GB of Samsung-made RAM and, in this case, 16GB of storage. In the end the iPhone 6s scores a 7/10 repairability rating, a rather impressive feat these days. The Samsung Galaxy S6, in comparison, gets a lowly...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/iphone_6s_torn_down_by_ifixit_display_assembly_weighs_60g-news-14167.php

Meizu Pro 5 coming to India next year, existing phones to get Flyme 5.0 update

Meizu recently announced their new flagship series of smartphones, the first of which is the Pro 5. The phone will be available in China in October with the Flyme OS 5.0 update arriving on November 15. While talking about the company's India plans, Meizu clarified that the Pro 5 will not be launching in India this year but early next year, with the Flyme OS 5.0 update out of the box. Talking about the existing devices, Meizu also confirmed that the existing range of devices in India, the m2 note and the MX5, will be getting the Flyme OS 5.0 update later this year. You can read out quick hands-on of the phone...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/meizu_pro_5_coming_to_india_next_year_existing_phones_to_get_flyme_50_update-news-14165.php

64GB Nexus 6 now available for just $370 on Expansys

The Motorola-made Google Nexus 6 smartphone - which was released back in November last year - is now up for sale on Expansys USA, which now selling the 64GB variant of the device for as low as $370. That's around $180 in savings as the model usually sells for $550. Although color options include both Cloud White and Midnight Blue, the latter seems to out of stock currently. The price cut comes just days before Google's September 29 event, where the company is expected to unveil the next generation of Nexus devices made by LG and Huawei - the handsets are expected to debut as Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P. What's also worth mentioning that the Nexus 6 will probably be one of the first devices to get Android 6.0...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/64gb_nexus_6_now_available_for_just_369_on_expansys-news-14162.php

Verizon will now let you upgrade your iPhone every year

Verizon has announced a new plan that will allow you to turn in your old iPhone and upgrade to a new one every year. However, only those who purchase Apple's new iPhones - the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus - with the carrier's Device Payment option will be eligible for the upgrade. Those who've already pre-ordered any of the two new iPhones and elected the Device Payment option are automatically enrolled in this program, Verizon said in a press release, adding that those not willing to upgrade can can pay off the full price of their iPhone in 24 monthly payments. "That's a better option than those lease plans offered by other companies, which can include surprise balloon payments just 18 months into your agreement, or ask you to turn over your phone without getting anything for it," the company...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/verizons_new_plan_will_let_you_upgrade_your_iphone_every_year-news-14161.php

Android 6.0 Marshmallow to start rolling out on October 5, says Canadian carrier

While we already know that the next generation of Nexus devices - which are expected to be announced during Google's September 29 event - will run Android 6.0 Marshmallow out-of-the-box, it wasn't clear when the new Android version would start rolling out to older devices. However, that was until now. According to an updated software release schedule (see image above) from Canadian carrier Telus, Android Marshmallow will begin rolling out on October 5, with the Nexus 5 and Nexus 6 becoming the first handsets to get it. The carrier, however, says that the date is subject to change. For the uninitiated, two Nexus phones - made by LG and Huawei - are expected to be unveiled on September 29. The devices are expected to debut as Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P, respectively - you can take a look at their leaked press renders here and...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/android_60_marshmallow_to_start_rolling_out_on_october_5_says_canadian_carrier-news-14160.php

Samsung and Oculus announce new, more affordable Gear VR headset

Samsung and Oculus took the wraps off an updated and more affordable Gear VR headset. The virtual reality accessory will begin shipping in the United States in November with a $99 price tag. The latest Gear VR will be compatible with Samsung Galaxy S6, Galaxy S6 edge, Galaxy Note5, as well as the Galaxy S6 edge+ via microUSB connection. At 310 grams, the headset is also lighter and more comfortable to enjoy than last year's first iteration. In addition to the new Gear VR, Oculus also announced a bevy of upcoming content for the platform. It includes various TV shows from the likes of Lionsgate, Netflix, Hulu, and 20th Century Fox among others, as well as gaming titles that include Minecraft....

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_and_oculus_announce_new_more_affordable_gear_vr_headset-news-14159.php

Google Keep finally brought its note taking talents to iOS

The popular note taking application Google Keep finally made its way to Apple iOS. The app is available for both iPhone and iPad devices running iOS 8 or later. As expected, Google Keep for iOS offers the same functionality as its Android sibling. It allows users to create notes and lists, add multimedia to them, as well as share them with other Google Keep users. Invested in Google Keep for iOS? Head over to the source link below to download and install the app. Source ...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/google_keep_finally_brought_its_note_taking_talents_to_ios-news-14158.php

Samsung Galaxy Tab E 9.6 is now available at Verizon with 4G LTE

The mid-range Galaxy Tab E 9.6 that Samsung announced in Asia back in June has now made its official debut in the US. This happened thanks to Verizon, as the carrier saw fit to offer the tablet in its portfolio. The Galaxy Tab E 9.6 is already available at Big Red, online and in stores, for $329.99 if you want to pay the full retail price. Alternatively, you can shell out $13.74 per month for two years, if you choose the carrier's tablet installment plan, or pay $129.99 and sign a new two-year contract. Verizon's version of the Tab E 9.6 packs 4G LTE support, as well as a beefier battery than the international model. It comes with a 9.6-inch 1,280x800 touchscreen, a 5 MP rear camera, a 2 MP front-facing unit, a 1.3 GHz quad-core CPU, 1.5GB of RAM, 16GB of expandable storage, and a 7,300 mAh battery. It runs Android 5.1.1 Lollipop. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_tab_e_96_is_now_available_at_verizon_with_4g_lte-news-14157.php

New HTC One A9 live image leaks confirming specs yet again

The upcoming HTC One A9 (codenamed Aero) just keeps on leaking. A few hours ago we brought you leaked press renders showing all of its color versions, and now it's time for a new image to feast your eyes upon. This one is a live image, showing a One A9 out there in the wild somewhere. We've seen something like this before, but this time around the picture quality is better. The photo comes to confirm some of the One A9's specs for the umpteenth time, thanks to what can be seen on the phone's screen. We should thus expect it to sport Qualcomm's Snapdragon 617 SoC, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of storage, a 5-inch 1080p touchscreen, and a fingerprint scanner which can be seen below the display as part of that huge bottom bezel. The One A9 may get official at an event next week, on September 29, or its unveiling could be scheduled for October according to one past rumor. If this pans out, then expect to see multi-city events happening in the US for this purpose, and the One A9 getting a big marketing budget afterwards. Source (in Chinese) |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/new_htc_one_a9_live_image_leaks_confirming_specs_yet_again-news-14156.php

First Samsung Gear S2 batch snatched in two hours in South Korea

There's a healthy demand for the Samsung Gear S2 smartwatch in its home South Korea, it would appear, judging by the rate at which pre-orders accumulated. Scheduled to be made available in the country on October 2, the wearable was briefly listed on Samsung's local site, now sold out. The limited batch of 1,000 units of the Gear S2 and Gear S2 Classic was gone in two hours. Korean analysts note that the market reception is as warm as those enjoyed by the original Gear S and the Apple Watch. Meanwhile, industry sources have stated that the smartwatch will come with 16 to 18 apps on board, no less than a dozen of which you won't be able to remove. Running Tizen OS, the Gear S2 (Classic or not) won't let you get of rid of obvious basics like Messages, Calls, Email, Gallery and S-Health. Buddy is one the other apps you'll be getting, which will be a permanent fixture on the Gear S2, and it's a sort of auto favorite contacts. Looking for My Device (a shorter, more watch-friendly name may be in order, perhaps) may be genuinely useful for locating connected smartphones behind the couch, while Syrup Wallet is a simple payment solution for membership-based services. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/initial_batch_of_samsung_gear_s2_units_snatched_in_two_hours_in_south_korea-news-14155.php

ZTE Axon Elite starts selling on eBay UK

ZTE has started selling the Axon Elite in the UK through eBay. The phone that made its European debut at IFA at the start of the month retails for €419.99 (£299.99 or $469.99). The company is holding a special promotion for the first day of sales only and will throw in a free 64GB microSD card. ZTE is quite proud of the Axon Elite, which was awarded a "User Experience Gold Award" by the IDG and German Industry and Commerce at IFA. The ZTE Axon Elite sports a 5.5" 1080p display and is powered by a Snapdragon 810 chipset. Internal storage is 32GB but is expandable by further 128GB via the microSD card slot. You can check out our hands-on to know more about the...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/zte_axon_elite_starts_selling_on_ebay_uk-news-14154.php

LG G4 stops by DxO Labs, rated second best

Some 5 months after the release of the LG G4 and hot on the heels of rumors of the G5's sensor, DxO Labs has published its review of the smartphone's camera. Putting image quality within the confines of numbers is bound to be a flawed procedure, but when done consistently makes for some straight-forward comparisons. The LG G4 takes the podium, second to the Samsung Galaxy S6 edge (and, by extension, the identically equipped S6, S6 edge+ and Note5), with the same 83 points as the Galaxy Note 4 and Motorola Moto X Style. Oddly the Moto X Style's 83 points are not as good as the others' - its bar is shorter by a few pixels. That's the overall image quality score, and in still images the G4 posts an even higher rating of 86 (still second). The best results the phone scores in the autofocus category, where it gets praise for being "fast, accurate and consistent". Detail and exposure also get especially high marks, as well as the noise reduction algorithms. Video shooting is not as exciting, where the 79 mark places the G4 in third, behind the S6 edge and the iPhone 6. While exposure and colors are rated high, the stabilization shows imperfections manifested by "jello effect along with visible juddering and residual motion". In all fairness, it's still better than the S6 edge and the iPhone 6 in this test. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/lg_g4_stops_by_dxo_labs_rated_second_best-news-14153.php

New LG V10 teaser offers a glimpse of the device's dual-screen

As you have probably heard, LG is planning to spice things up a little with the upcoming LG V10. What started out as a quirky and quite questionable dual screen phablet, has now passed through TENAA and appeared in a few leaks, more or less proving its existence. But if there was any doubt left, LG's new teaser for the product, definitively proves that the smartphone will be unveiled on October 1. The video itself doesn't really offer too much info, nor does it give us a proper look and the V10. All we get is a glimpse of the second screen near the top of the unit, along with what looks to be a dual front camera setup. Thankfully, a previous render does offers a better view of the V10, with the small secondary screen clearly visible above the main display. In this render it's filled with five app shortcuts, but perhaps it will have some other uses too - we can imagine LG might allow it to also show a few contacts, for example, in a similar fashion to the Edge display on Samsung's Galaxy S6 edge and Galaxy S6 edge+. The teaser video does offer a vague reference to personalization with the "be you" slogan, so we can only assume that this will be LG's main marketing angle for the device. It is still interesting to see exactly how the second screen will work. According to the aforementioned TENAA listing, the LG V10 will spout a spacious 5.7-inch QHD display and run on the Snapdragon 808 SoC, just like the LG G4. Memory is set at 3GB and 64GB of expandable storage. The camera setup consists of a 16MP main shooter with a dual-LED flash and what is listed as a 5MP shooter on the front....

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/new_lg_v10_teaser_offers_a_glimpse_of_the_devices_dualscreen-news-14152.php

New Lumia 950 XL leak confirms some specs we already knew

A new leak has surfaced online, confirming some of the already-known key specs of Microsoft's upcoming Lumia 950 XL smartphone. The said leak is in the form of a screenshot of the device running build 10547 of Windows 10 Mobile (shown below). The screenshot above confirms that the Lumia 950 XL will be powered by a Snapdragon 810 SoC, and sport a 1440 x 2560 QHD display. It was also confirmed that the handset will have 3GB of RAM. Other specs that we already know are: 32GB expandable storage, 20 MP rear camera, 5 MP front shooter, USB Type-C port for charging, and 3,300 mAh battery. As for the price, a recent leak suggested that the dual-SIM variant will carry a tag of around $840, at least in...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/new_lumia_950_xl_leak_confirms_some_specs_we_already_knew-news-14151.php

Android-based BlackBerry Venice to be marketed as Priv

Android-based BlackBerry Venice smartphone, which has been the subject of various rumours and leaks in the recent months, will be launched as BlackBerry Priv, according to the usually reliable leakster @evleaks. At retail, Venice transforms into the... BlackBerry Priv— Evan Blass (@evleaks) September 23, 2015 Back in June this year, in the wake of reports that BlackBerry is planning to launch an Android phone, the Canadian company's CEO John Chen had said that they are open to Android if they can make the phone secure enough. And the name Priv (which seems to be short for privacy or private here) certainly falls in line with that vision. From what is known till now, the handset is expected to be powered by a Snapdragon 808 chipset, and come with 3GB of RAM. It is said to feature an 18MP rear camera with dual-LED flash, and run Android Lollipop. Via 1...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/androidbased_blackberry_venice_to_be_marketed_as_priv-news-14150.php

Microsoft ditches Bing in favour of Baidu in China

Microsoft has entered into a partnership with China's largest online search company Baidu that will see the latter's search engine Baidu.com becoming the default homepage and search for the software giant's Edge browser in Windows 10. "Today, we're excited to announce another partnership with a leader in China - Baidu," said Yusuf Mehdi, Windows and devices vice president, in a blog post. "With over 600 million active users, Baidu is one of the most frequently used Internet gateways in China." The partnership will also make it easy for Baidu customers to upgrade to Windows 10 via the Chinese company's new Windows 10 Express distribution channel. In addition, Baidu will also deliver Universal Windows Applications for Search, Video, Cloud and Maps for the latest Windows OS, Mehdi noted in the blog post. It's worth mentioning that Microsoft is already in partnership with some of the well known Chinese firms, including social networking and gaming company Tencent, internet security company Qihoo 360, Lenovo, and Xiaomi. Source | Image...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/microsoft_ditches_bing_in_favour_of_baidu_in_china-news-14149.php

HTC One A9 leaked press renders confirm iPhone-esque design, multiple colors

Hot on the heels of today's leaked blurry photo, alleged press images of the upcoming HTC One A9 made the rounds on Twitter, courtesy of @evleaks. The renders showcase the device in six different colors and confirm its iPhone-esque design. HTC One A9 will be available in Acid Gold, Opal Silver, Deep Garnet, Carbon Gray, Rose Gold, and Cast Iron when it goes official. The smartphone scheduled to debut next week, on September 29. Previously rumored specs of the One A9 include a Qualcomm Snapdragon 617 chipset, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of expandable memory, 13MP main camera with OIS, 4MP front-facing snapper, and Android Marshmallow. A 5" 1080p AMOLED display and 2,150mAh battery are also said to be on board. Source...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/htc_one_a9_leaked_press_renders_confirm_iphoneesque_design_multiple_colors-news-14148.php

Updated Vertu Signature Touch goes official with Snapdragon 810 and 4GB of RAM

Vertu took the wraps off and updated Signature Touch smartphone. The latest iteration of the handset features Qualcomm's Snapdragon 810 chipset and 4GB of RAM. The rest of the newcomer's specs include 5.2" 1080p display covered by sapphire crystal, 21MP main camera with 4K video capture, and 2.1MP front-facing unit. There's 64GB of built-in memory on board, coupled with a microSD card slot with support for cards up to 2TB in size. Vertu Signature Touch packs a duo of stereo speakers. Its connectivity options include Wi-Fi a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC, and 4G LTE support. The smartphone boots Android 5.1 Lollipop with Google Services, as well as Vertu's own concierge goodies. The smartphone will be available for pre-order in select company boutiques between September 28 and October 8, with sales due to kick off on October 16. Pricing of the latest Signature Touch ranges between £6,500 and £13,700 depending on the combination of metal and exotic leather you...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/updated_vertu_signature_touch_goes_official_with_snapdragon_810_and_4gb_of_ram-news-14147.php

Samsung Pay is off to a robust start in Korea with $30 million in transactions in the first month

Samsung revealed that Samsung Pay is off to a robust start in Korea. The Korean giant's recently announced payment service has raked in $30 million in transactions in the first month after its launch. Thanks to wide acceptance among local businesses, Samsung Pay accumulated more than 1.5 million transactions through September 20. Curiously, 60% of all payments have been made by the Samsung Galaxy Note5. Samsung Pay will launch in the United States in less than a week, on September 28. The tech giant has plans to roll out the service in the United Kingdom, China, and Spain in the near future. Source...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_pay_is_off_to_a_robust_start_in_korea_with_30_million_in_transactions_in_the_first_month-news-14146.php

Samsung Galaxy S7 will have two variants like its predecessor

According a report by SamMobile, the yet to be revealed Samsung Galaxy S7 will be available in two variants. The latter will include one with flat screen and another one with a dual-edge solution. The Galaxy S7 with flat display will sport the model number SM-G930, while its edge sibling will carry the SM-G935 moniker. Both versions have been confirmed to launch in Europe, China, Korea, Canada, as well as the United States. More markets will certainly join this list going forward. The Galaxy S7 family is internally known as Project Lucky. However, its two variants are reportedly referred to as Hero and Hero2. Specs-wise, Samsung Galaxy S7 is expected to feature a version with Exynos 8890 chipset, as well as a variant with Qualcomm Snapdragon 820. Both models will be equipped with Samsung's zippy UFS 2.0 flash storage. The report claims that a microSD card slot might make it back to the spec sheet of the Galaxy S7, though this particular bit is unconfirmed. The same goes for the camera of the smartphone, which could feature either dual-sensor setup, or a 20MP ISOCELL sensor. Source...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_s7_will_have_two_variants_like_its_predecessor-news-14145.php

Lenovo Vibe X3 (Lemon X) shows up at Chinese expo and TENAA

The saga of the still unannounced Lenovo Vibe X3 continues. So far we've heard that this may have been codenamed Lemon X. Then again, the Lemon X could be another device. Anyway, we've seen leaked renders allegedly showing the Vibe X3 a few days ago, and now the exact same handset has been both certified by TENAA and handled in a couple of hands-on photos from a Chinese expo. First off, the new TENAA certification is odd, because it's been seemingly done once before for the Vibe X3 - and for a unit that actually had the name Vibe on its back. On the other hand, the new phone, the one certified now, has different specs. So the plot thickens. A while back a Lenovo X3 got benchmarked, and it boasted the exact same specs as the newly certified device. Confusing indeed. If this is the Vibe X3, then expect it to sport a 5.5-inch 1080p touchscreen, Qualcomm's Snapdragon 808 SoC with hexa-core CPU, 3GB of RAM, 64GB of storage, a 21 MP rear camera with dual-tone flash, an 8 MP selfie shooter, 4G LTE, dual-SIM functionality, and a 3,500 mAh battery. It runs Android 5.1.1 Lollipop. Its dimensions are 154 x 76.4 x 9.4 mm and it weighs 175g. As you can see, it has a fingerprint scanner on the back and two stereo speakers on the front. This device (whether it's the Vibe X3 or not) has also been seen in the flesh at the 2015 China Telecommunications Exhibition, an encounter which thankfully resulted in the two hands-on shots you can see below. This phone definitely seems to have been designed with heavy input from Motorola employees, since it looks closer to a Moto device than past Lenovo offerings. Hopefully it will become official soon. Source 1 (in Chinese) • Source 2 |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/lenovo_vibe_x3_lemon_x_shows_up_at_chinese_expo_and_tenaa-news-14142.php

iOS 9.0.1 is already out to fix the bugs in iOS 9

Exactly one week ago, Apple released iOS 9, the latest version of its mobile operating system. The company has since reported record-breaking adoption numbers for this release, but apparently it does have its fair share of bugs. That conclusion seems obvious from the fact that, only one week later, iOS 9.0.1 is already rolling out. The update is around 35MB in size (which can, however, vary depending on device). As you might expect from a .0.1 release, this one's all about the bug fixing. An issue which prevented people from completing the setup assistant is now gone, and thankfully so is one that meant alarms and timers could sometimes fail. That's certainly not something you want to happen. Pausing video in Safari and Photos sometimes resulted in a distorted frame being shown, but that's no longer the case. And finally, people with a custom APN setup used to lose cellular data connectivity in iOS 9 - but not anymore. Needless to say then, this is a must-grab update, especially if you've been affected by any of these problems. Expect the update notification to reach all devices currently on iOS 9 in a short while. If you haven't gotten yours but are impatient, just go to Settings > General > Software update and manually...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/ios_901_is_already_out_to_fix_the_bugs_in_ios_9-news-14144.php

LG Nexus 5X gets the leaked press render treatment too

A very short while ago we showed you the first leaked press renders for the upcoming Huawei Nexus 6P, and now it's time for the other 2015 Nexus to be portrayed in all its glory. The LG Nexus 5X will come in three color versions (unlike the Huawei Nexus 6P's four), and they are white, black, and "ice blue". You can get an idea of what these look like in the second leaked render below. The Nexus 5X features front-facing stereo speakers, a fingerprint scanner on its back, and a laser autofocus system for its main camera alongside the dual-LED flash. Material-wise we may be looking at polycarbonate here, whereas the Huawei model could sport a metal unibody construction. Previously leaked specs for the LG Nexus 5X talked about it having a 5.2-inch 1080p touchscreen and Qualcomm's Snapdragon 808 running the show with its hexa-core CPU. The handset will also come with a USB Type-C port, a 12.3 MP rear camera, a 5 MP selfie cam, 2GB of RAM, 16GB base storage, and a 2,700 mAh battery. It will run Android 6.0 Marshmallow. The Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P will be unveiled by Google at an event next week, on September 29. The Nexus 5X could be priced from...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/lg_nexus_5x_gets_the_leaked_press_render_treatment_too-news-14143.php

Leaked blurry photo shows HTC One A9 in a white color scheme

A blurry photo of HTC One A9 made the rounds online, showcasing the handset in a white color scheme. The mid-range smartphone is expected to debut at the end of this month, on September 29 alongside a high-end HTC device. Despite the photograph's subpar quality, the upcoming One A9 clearly resembles a lovechild of Apple iPhone 6 and Samsung Galaxy S6. The handset appears to pack a metal body, as well as a fingerprint sensor that's integrated into its home button. Rumored specs of HTC One A9 include a Qualcomm Snapdragon 617 chipset, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of expandable memory, 13MP main camera with OIS, and 4MP front-facing snapper. A 5" 1080p AMOLED display and 2,150mAh battery are also said to be on board. Past report suggests that the handset will boot Android 6.0 Marshmallow out of the box. Source (in...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/leaked_blurry_photo_shows_htc_one_a9_in_a_white_color_scheme-news-14140.php

Pebble Time Round goes official with circular body

Pebble took the wraps off its most elegant smartwatch to date. Dubbed Pebble Time Round, the wearable device features a classic-looking circular body that weighs only 28 grams. According to its manufacturer, the Pebble Time Round is the thinnest smartwatch in the world at 7.5mm. The device is available with 14mm or 20mm band. Both Pebble Time Round variants are available in black or silver finish. A special-edition Rose Gold color is reserved exclusively for the version with 14mm band. Like the regular Pebble Time, the Round boots the manufacturer's exclusive OS. In line with its name, the Pebble Time Round has a circular 64-color display. Pebble Time Round will begin shipping in November with $249 price tag. Reservations for the smartphone are now open on Pebble's official website. Source...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/pebble_time_round_goes_official_with_circular_body-news-14141.php

Huawei Nexus 6P gets portrayed in leaked press renders

At this point we're less than a week away from Google's September 29 event, during which it's going to announce the next generation of Nexus devices (and perhaps a new Chromecast too). So, understandably, we're seeing more and more leaks about these products. Just in the past few hours the retail boxes for the LG Nexus 5X and Huawei Nexus 6P have been revealed, and the LG-made handset had its specs confirmed by a retailer. And now it's time to see exactly what the Huawei Nexus 6P is going to look like, courtesy of two leaked press renders. The first one shows the white version's front and back. As you can see, the front fascia will be black even if its back is (mostly) white. The design of the phone in these renders aligns perfectly with what we've seen in past leaks, so it's probably what we'll get from Google next week. A couple of front-facing stereo speakers can be noticed, the fingerprint scanner is on the back, and overall the phone seems to be quite thin - especially as there was the need for that big hump housing the camera in the top part. It's an interesting design decision from Huawei and Google to not have just the camera module stick out, instead creating that whole odd-looking black bar. Anyway, moving on we get an idea of what four color versions for the Nexus 6P look like. More could be announced, though, if not initially then later on. And apparently the gold one might be limited to certain markets only. Silver, black, white, and gold is what they are, but we assume the PR departments from Huawei and Google will think of much more appealing names for these hues. The front for all variants is probably going to be black, just like it is for the white model pictured above. In case you've forgotten, the Huawei Nexus 6P is expected to feature a 5.7-inch QHD touchscreen, Qualcomm's Snapdragon 810 chipset at the helm, Android 6.0 Marshmallow from day one, 3GB of RAM, 32 / 64 / 128 GB of storage, and a USB Type-C port. Source 1 • Source...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/huawei_nexus_6p_gets_portrayed_in_leaked_press_renders-news-14139.php

Meizu Pro 5 hands-on: First look

Meizu today announces its new series of flagship devices, the Meizu Pro, and the first phone to be launched under the new series is the Meizu Pro 5. The Pro 5 represents the very best of what the company has to offer right now. It has a unibody aluminum design, 5.7-inch FullHD display, Samsung Exynos 7 processor, 21 megapixel camera with phase detection and laser autofocus, fingerprint sensor, and USB Type-C.

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/meizu_pro_5_handson-review-1309.php

LG G5 tipped to come with a 20MP 1/2'' Sony sensor, Snapdragon 820

The LG G4 was universally praised for its camera output and we were big fans of it ourselves. About 5 months after it was made official, we're beginning to hear its successor mentioned every now and then. An anonymous source, who claims to have inside information, is now shedding light on two of the most important bits of the potential G5's hardware. The camera, for one, will use a new Sony-made 20MP sensor with a half-inch diagonal - one of the largest around. For example the G4 has a 1/2.6" diagonal, this year's Samsung Galaxies (S6/S6 edge/S6 edge+/Note5) and the iPhone 6/6 Plus use a smaller 1/3" chip, and Sony's own Xperia Z5 series boast a 1/2.3" imager. All those are of course miniature compared to the 1/1.2" sensor of the Nokia PureView 808, but iconic or not, the 808 is ancient history. What's even more interesting though, is that the new sensor will only be provided to LG, and won't be used by other manufacturers. The source also states that the upcoming LG flagship will be powered by the Snapdragon 820 chip. That's an easy assumption to make without insider information, but reports have been surfacing that LG is in development of its own top-end chipset. Apparently though, LG will stay in Qualcomm's camp for yet another generation. The source has been deemed trustworthy, but even if the above is correct at the time of writing, there's no less than 6 months before we get to see the LG G5, so bear in mind that things may...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/lg_g5_tipped_to_come_with_a_20mp_1_2_sony_sensor_snapdragon_820-news-14138.php

Samsung Galaxy S5 mini gets Android 5.1.1 Lollipop in the USA

Samsung began rolling out the latest Android Lollipop revision - 5.1.1 - to the Samsung Galaxy S5 mini. The first one to get the new firmware are the US Cellular S5 mini owners. To be more specific - the model currently getting the update is SM-G800R4. If you have this model and can't wait for the OTA notification, you may follow the source link below and flash it manually. The update brings all Android 5.1.1 important security fixes and improves the system stability. There are no new apps or notable features outside of the ones part of the new Android release. While the update is currently rolling for the US Cellular users, the rest of the S5 mini phones should be following suit very...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_s5_mini_gets_android_511_lollipop_in_the_usa-news-14137.php

Poll: Apple iPhone 6s and 6s Plus - hot or not

We normally keep those for the weekends, but the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus are big enough deal to warrant an exception. We've deliberately waited for this one in order for the first batch of reviews to come out in order for you to form an educated opinion. The supercharged iPhone duo is bound to start selling in just two days. It's about time then that you decide whether you will take the plunge or not. We're working hard to grab retail units of the two phones and will start tirelessly testing them as soon as possible. Until that happens, make sure to cast your vote below. Are the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus hot or...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/poll_apple_iphone_6s_and_6s_plus__hot_or_not-news-14136.php

Gionee Pioneer P3S goes official with a bigger screen, more storage

Gionee introduces a new budget smartphone - the Pioneer P3S, which is a prompt upgrade over the 2013's Pioneer P3. The new S model bumps the screen size, RAM amount and storage capacity. The Gionee Pioneer P3S features a 4.5" FWVGA display and runs on the rather dated MT6582 chip. The MediaTek's platform offers a quad-core 1.3GHz Cortex-A7 processor, Mali-T400 GPU and 1GB RAM. Those are the same specs as the previous P3 model, but the RAM is doubled. The Pioneer P3S also sports a 5MP AF rear camera, a VGA front snapper, 16GB expandable storage and a 2,000 mAh battery. The connectivity package includes 3G and dual-SIM capabilities. Gionee Pioneer P3S runs on Android 5.1 Lollipop with Amigo 3.1 launcher. It will go on sale in India this week for INR 5,999 or about $90. Unfortunately, that's currently the price of the much better Xiaomi Redmi 2, so you might want to consider your options before placing a bet. Source 1 • Source...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/gionee_pioneer_p3s_goes_official_with_a_bigger_screen_more_storage-news-14135.php

LG Nexus 5X key specs outed on Amazon, 16GB base model

Easily one of the most anticipated releases ahead of us, the LG Nexus 5X is likely to be unveiled on September 29. Little has been left to the imagination, and the smartphone has shown up in benchmark listings and more than one blurry hands-on photoshoot. If that wasn't revealing enough, Amazon.in has now jumped the gun and listed the upcoming Nexus 5X, confirming some key specs. Yes, it is going to have a 5.2-inch FullHD display, and yes, it will be powered by the Snapdragon 808 chipset. No surprises in the imaging department, either - rumors of a 12.3MP primary camera and a 5MP front-facing one turn out to be true. Apparently the base model will come with just 16GB of internal storage. Big brother Huawei Nexus 6P, set to launch alongside the LG model, will reportedly have versions going all the way up to 128GB, but don't be surprised if the Nexus 5X only has 16GB/32GB variants. Another new bit of info is the battery capacity, quoted at 2,700mAh, and dimensions are stated to be 154 x 76 x 10mm, though we might see fractions of a millimeter added or deducted from these rounded numbers. Whether it's 175g (in the weight cell) or 177g (item weight, what's the difference?), the Nexus 5X is pretty hefty for its size. The listing contains no images (not that we haven't seen a fair share), and the smartphone is obviously listed as "Currently unavailable". No price yet, either. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/lg_nexus_5x_key_specs_outed_on_amazon_16gb_base_model-news-14134.php