Microsoft is allegedly working on a new metal-frame "affordable flagship"

Things are definitely looking up for Windows fans in the mobile realm. Microsoft's October 6 event has a fresh new lineup in store, complete with a long-overdue flagship duo - the Lumia 950 and 950 XL, as well as the Microsoft Band 2 and the new Surface Pro 4. As rumors go, shortly after, an affordable Lumia 550 is going to join their ranks and it seems the only thing missing is a proper new mid-range device. Earlier today, we reported on Acer's promise to bring one such offer to the table in the face of the Jade Primo and its successor in 2016, but that is still a distant plan. However, Microsoft might actually have something in store to fill that niche shortly. Industry sources are discussing a brand new device that the US giant is allegedly developing and they are referring to it as an "affordable flagship". As such, it could more or less, be considered a spiritual successor to the quite popular Lumia 830, but Microsoft plans to make the offer a bit more tantalizing this time around, by adding some premium design in the shape of a metal frame. The material in itself is an exciting new concept within the extensively plastic Lumia realm, so this alone might prove enough to guarantee the device's success. Sadly, this is all we currently know about the alleged device, so take it with a grain of salt. We will be sure to keep you updated on the subject and hopefully some more information will be unearthed come October...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/microsoft_is_allegedly_working_on_a_new_metalframe_affordable_flagship-news-14293.php

The surface Pro 4 might actually come in two screen size options

October 6 is shaping up to be one spectacular Microsoft event. By all accounts, the New York venue will witness the unveiling of the eagerly-anticipated Lumia 950 and 950 XL flagship Windows phones, the Microsoft Band 2 and last, but definitely not least, the all the Microsoft Surface Pro 4. Its predecessor, the Surface Pro 3 is widely considered to be the definitive enterprise-level tablet, or all in one solution (whichever categorization you see more fitting) and Microsoft will really have to strain hart to top its jewel of mobile productivity. We have already heard a lot about the powerful new Surface Pro 4, but a new rumor ads and extra twist to the story, hinting at the possibility of two screen size options. One is said to be a 12-inch variant, just like the current Surface Pro 3, while the other should be the already widely-discussed 14-inch model, with a sharp resolution of 1440 x 2160 pixels. This is still largely unconfirmed and we are not quite sure how exactly it fits in with the previous information of switchable display size on the Surface Pro 4. But one, definitely does not exclude the other and considering the purported razor-sharp bezels of the unit, reducing the usable screen size while holding the device in tablet mode would still make a lot of sense, even in a smaller form factor. And while we're on the subject of design, industry sources suggest that not much will change in this iteration in terms of general outlook. Microsoft GM Brian Hall has even stated that the new Pro tablet will be compatible with the accessories of its predecessor, namely the docking station and Type Cover. Now, there is something you don't see every day. But, even though, you won't be required to upgrade your peripherals, you will still, most-likely, get the chance to, as a new and improved Type Cover is sure to be released. It might also be accompanied by a stylus, perhaps courtesy of N-Trig out of Israel. As for the rest of the specs of the Surface Pro 4, rumors currently hint at a new and more efficient Intel Skylake Core chip, up to 16GB of RAM and 500GB of SSD storage. And Windows 10 will undoubtedly be powering the...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/the_surface_pro_4_might_actually_come_in_two_screen_size_options-news-14292.php

Acer promises a Jade Primo 2 in 2016

If you were keeping a close eye on this year's IFA, then you surely remember Acer's Jade Primo demonstration. Showing up on stage with a powerful new Windows 10 device is more than enough to make a lasting impression, but also boldly touring its Windows 10 Continuum for Phones abilities definitely makes for a memorable unveiling. The Jade Primo is still some time away from end user markets, but it is indeed a true ambassador to a whole new line of Windows 10 devices that break away from the current status quo of underpowered hardware and bring along Mycroft's vison of a seamless, portable PC experience in the palm of your hand. A new statement from ST Lui, president of Acer's handset division highlights that the OEM has realized the importance of this new wave of Windows 10 smartphones and intends to keep working at it, along with a commitment for a Jade Primo 2 successor next year and hopes of up to 10 million smartphone shipments in 2016: Currently, a majority of our models are priced below US$199. But we have also been trying to ramp up the ASP of our products by introducing flagship models priced over US$300 per year. We launched the flagship Jade Primo in 2015 and plan to release two flagships, the Predator 6 and the Jade Primo 2 in 2016. This is all pretty exciting for the Windows realm, which is currently long overdue for a new line of higher end devices. It is also worth noting that while models like the eagerly-anticipated Lumia 950 and 950XL seem to be targeted as flagship offers, with prices in the $800 register, fans will also be able to get nicely equipped hardware it a mid-range price point, like the Jade Primo, also perfectly capable of Microsoft's new line of features, like the aforementioned Continuum. This development also give hope for Acer's new Predator gaming line of devices. Although still in its infancy, it does look quite promising, with offers, such as the Predator phone and tablet. They also made a debut at the IFA venue and from the looks of things, we can expect the Predator 6 phone to come out next year as well. Hopefully that goes for the predator 8 gaming tablet as well. For a more in-depth look at the Acer Jade Primo and Predator 6, check out our detailed hands-on review. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/acer_promises_a_jade_primo_2_in_2016-news-14291.php

VocalIQ speech recognition startup is now part of the Apple family

Buying out a promising startup has always been a huge part of the tech world and a major catalyst for development. Big players, such as Apple know this better than anyone and don't shy away from absorbing prospective initiatives. It the latest such deal, Cupertino has now found itself in control of the U.K.-based start-up VocalIQ, which has been doing innovative work in the field of advanced speech recognition through machine learning. Acquiring such know-how is not only a generally lucrative affair, but is also usually done to further some existing company projects and analyst believe that in this case it might be Apple's own digital voice assistant - Siri. The wise-cracking helper has definitely come a long way in term of functionality, but so have competitors like Google's voice search and Microsoft Cortana and the new stride in the area now seems to be toward natural communication. VocalIQ might de just what Siri needs to become a more fluent and engaging conversationalist. According to the company's website it has been keeping busy tinkering with neural networks and machine learning to make a new generation of intelligent and context aware AI. The main goal is to create a voice assistant that doesn't require you to learn a set of commands in order to get your message across, which is currently the case with most similar platforms, but rather be engaging enough to ask clarifying question and adapt to the user and his or her natural speech. This sounds terribly exciting on paper and Apple is actually not alone in this quest, as we have seen both Google and Microsoft innovate in this area, bringing the notion of context and preexisting conversation to their respective voice assistants. The race is still on to make the ultimate personal assistant and no definitive winner has emerged yet. As such, this deal might give Apple and extra edge in the AI competition. As for the deal itself and its financial and business aspect, Apple has kept the specific to itself, as usual: Apple buys smaller technology companies from time to time, and we generally do not discuss our purpose or plans. Last, but definitely not least, other rumors regarding the acquisition hint that it might boost development of Apple's alleged self-driving car project. This is largely unconfirmed as well, but is also quite possible, as earlier reports show that GM has also worked with VocalIQ in the past, towards a smart in-car eco-system. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/vocaliq_speech_recognition_startup_is_now_part_of_the_apple_family-news-14288.php

Carphone Warehouse is offering the 32GB Nexus 5X for only £10 more than Google's 16GB listing

With the new Nexus pricing revealed, it became abundantly clear that Google is asking a pretty penny for its new smartphone duo. The pricing seems particularly steep In Europe. In the UK, for example, a 16GB Nexus 5X base model will set you back £339, which is dangerously close to the kind of cash a Galaxy S6 32GB costs - £380 on Amazon UK. That price point alone might be enough to discourage a lot of prospective buyers, but if, for some reason, you just can't resist the allure of the vanilla-Android device, getting it from Google might not necessarily be the best choice. Carphone Warehouse is selling the much more functional 32GB version of the handset for a mere £10 more, at £349.99. And if you are content with 16GB, then the UK vendor also seems to have a better deal at £299.99. That is for a SIM free device. As for other markets, the Nexus 5X seems to be overpriced all across Europe, but perhaps not quite so much in the US, where the phone runs for $380, but with the added bonus of $50 Play Store credit, if that is your thing, of course. For that hefty price tag, the Nexus 5X offers nice specs, albeit nothing really spectacular or that much of an improvement over the Nexus 5. It gives you a 5.2" 1080p display, Snapdragon 808 chip with a 1.8GHz hexa-core CPU, 2GB of RAM, USB Type-C, a 12.3MP camera and 16GB or 32GB of non-expandable internal storage. For a more in-depth look on the handset, check out our LG Nexus 5X hands-on...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/carphone_warehouse_is_offering_the_32gb_nexus_5x_for_only_10_more_than_googles_16gb_listing-news-14290.php

A new Stagefright vulnerability has been discovered and this time it looks even scarier

It seems the Stagefright storm hasn't quite passed after all. As most of you might remember, a few months ago a scary vulnerability in one of Android's core multimedia libraries was uncovered and found to affect almost every device powered by Google's OS, as early as 2.2 Froyo. Since then, there have been no reports of an actual exploit utilizing the bug, but, naturally, it gave the whole industry quite a scare, triggering a quick reaction from many OEM's like Motorola and Samsung, who issued emergency fixes. Just when we thought troubles had passed, Zimperium, the same security company that shed light on the initial vulnerability, now warns of two new bugs that have been found in the very same Android Stagefright component. According to the official description, the new duo of vulnerabilities can be exploited with specially crafted MP3 and MP4 files. The first is found in a function within libutils and could impact nearly any Android build, as early as Android 1.0. The second one, however, might be even more frightening, as it relates to a hole in libstagefright and allows for injecting malicious code and gaining root access on devices running Android 5.0 Lollipop and up. This new announcement seems to render a large chunk of the existing Stagefright emergency patches powerless and is troubling, since we were left with the impression that no new builds of Android would be affected any more. The existing measures, however, are far from useless, as they seem to have patched the previous MMS delivery method almost completely. If a hacker were to use these new back doors, it would theoretically have to be through the Web browser, either by methods of phishing, malicious apps and ads of even a man in the middle attack if the devices are on the same network. Now that we are all sufficiently scared, here's the good news. First and foremost, like the original Stagefright vulnerability, it is unlikely that this new batch will ever be used in an actual exploit, especially since Joshua J. Drake of Zimperium, largely responsible for uncovering the issues, has decided to be extra cautious this time around and not share a proof-of-concept exploit for this new vulnerability with the general public. Even the company's original Stagefringt detector app will receive an update to pick up the new threat only after Google has developed a patch. All things considered, we, as end-users, shouldn't really feel worried at this point. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/a_new_stagefright_vulnerability_has_been_discovered_and_this_time_it_looks_even_scarier-news-14289.php

Teaser hints Gionee Elife E8 landing in India next week

Gionee's Elife E8 smartphone, which was made official back in June this year, could be launched in India next week. The information comes courtesy of a teaser (shown below) revealing a new phone launch in the country's capital of New Delhi on October 8. There is currently no information on the price tag the handset will carry in India - in China, it costs RMB 3,999 (around $630 or INR 41,000). Specs-wise, the device is powered by a Mediatek Helio X10 chipset with an octa-core processor clocked at up 2GHz, and a PowerVR 6200 GPU. It sports a 6-inch QHD display, comes with 3GB of RAM and 64GB of internal memory, and packs in a 3500 mAh battery. In terms of camera, the Elife E8 features a 24MP rear unit and an 8MP front shooter. It runs Android 5.1 Lollipop-based Amigo 3.1 OS, and also includes a fingerprint scanner on the back. The smartphone could be exclusively sold online given that the teaser also mentions Gionee's entry into the e-commerce...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/teaser_hints_gionee_elife_e8_landing_in_india_next_week-news-14286.php

Moto E 2nd Gen and Moto X 2nd Gen carrier versions to not get Marshmallow update

Motorola just dropped the list of devices that will be getting the Android 6.0 Marshmallow update. It included phones such as the Moto X 2nd and 3rd gen, Moto G 2nd and 3rd gen, Droid Turbo/Moto MAXX/Moto Turbo, and unsurprisingly the Nexus 6. But if you looked closely you'd notice that the Moto E 2nd Gen, launched a mere eight months ago, is not part of the list. Somehow, a device so new, and launched on the promise of keeping the phone up to date, won't be getting a major update released within a year of its launch. But that's not all. The carrier versions of the Moto X 2nd Gen will also not be getting the update. This includes the AT&T and the Verizon models, that too weren't released a long time ago. Not to mention the carrier unlocked version of the same phone getting the update. Motorola sure has some explaining to...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/moto_e_2nd_gen_and_moto_x_2nd_gen_carrier_versions_to_not_get_marshmallow_update-news-14287.php

Samsung Gear S2 goes on sale in US

In line with the announcement made earlier this week, Samsung has started selling its Gear S2 smartwatch - which was unveiled back in August this year ahead of IFA - in the United States. Both Gear S2 and Gear S2 Classic is now listed on the company's US website. The listings reveal that only the Dark Gray variant of the wearable will ship in 1-3 days - the Silver variant as well as the Gear S2 Classic in Black will ship in 3-4 weeks. As for the price, while the Gear S2 carries a tag of $299.99, the Classic model will set you back $349.99. Keep in mind that the Gear S2 price mentioned here is for the Bluetooth version, as the 3G version is still listed as coming soon on the...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_gear_s2_goes_on_sale_in_us-news-14285.php

Lumia 950 will also come with triple LED flash, new leaked images reveal

A new set of Microsoft Lumia 950 and 950 XL images has leaked online, showing the devices (although prototypes) in the flesh. The most important detail the images reveal is that the Lumia 950's 20MP PureView camera will also have triple-LED flash (see image below) - previous leaks had suggested that only Lumia 950 XL's rear camera will have triple LED flash. The leaked images also give a better look at the low-infrared diode for the iris scanner on the devices - if you aren't in the know, you'll be able to unlock the devices by just looking at them. Additionally, it was also confirmed that both the high-end devices will have a dual-SIM version. Both Lumia 950 and 950XL are expected to be made official at the software giant's October 6 event next...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/lumia_950_will_also_come_with_triple_led_flash_new_leaked_images_reveal-news-14284.php

Motorola announces which of its devices will get Android 6.0 updates

Since Android 6.0 Marshmallow will officially make its debut next week when it will land on Google's Nexus line of devices, Motorola thought it fitting to publish a blog post outlining its plans regarding Marshmallow updates. It's unfortunate that in this day and age very few smartphone makers are so upfront about their update strategies. As you'd expect, Motorola has published a list of its devices that are going to get updates to Android 6.0 Marshmallow. Yet you might not have expected the list to be this short, or for certain handsets to be missing from it. Let's start with the good news then. The following devices will see the newest version of Android: • 2015 Moto X Pure Edition (3rd gen) • 2015 Moto X Style (3rd gen) • 2015 Moto X Play • 2015 Moto G (3rd gen) • 2014 Moto X Pure Edition in the US (2nd gen) • 2014 Moto X in Latin America, Europe and Asia2 (2nd gen) • 2014 Moto G and Moto G with 4G LTE (2nd gen) • DROID Turbo • 2014 Moto MAXX • 2014 Moto Turbo Add to all of these the Motorola-made Nexus 6, which however will get its update straight from Google (as is customary in the Nexus program). You may have noticed that neither generation of the affordable Moto E has been included, nor the first-gen Moto G and Moto X. And while these two may be considered too old to update at this point, the second-gen Moto E is only a few months old. An actual release timeline for the updates for the devices that are getting them hasn't been outed yet, but Motorola says information on timing should become available "in the coming weeks". Moving on, the company has also announced that it's going to stop developing some of its apps and services that have functionality that's now either built into Android itself, is very similar to Android features, or for which there are many third party alternatives. Hence, Moto Assist will be gone in Android 6.0 Marshmallow, along with Motorola Migrate, and the Google Chrome extension found in Motorola Connect. The focus here is apparently on keeping things simple and bloatware to a minimum, and we assume most people would agree with this...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/motorola_announces_which_of_its_devices_will_get_android_60_marshmallow-news-14282.php

New Skype update takes advantage of iOS 9 features

Skype has updated its iOS app today, bringing it up to version 6.3. This is obviously not as big an update as version 6.0, which was released last month boasting a completely new design. However, Skype 6.3 for iOS does come with a few useful new things. First off, it is now fully compatible with iOS 9, the latest iteration of Apple's mobile operating system. This means you can use Slide Over and Split View on iPads, essentially running Skype while also using another app alongside it. This makes sharing things through Skype especially easy. You're now also able to reply to your Skype chats straight from the notification that shows up on your lock screen. And finally, it's easier to start a Skype chat from Spotlight search. That's because your Skype contacts now show up in Spotlight when you search for people, and from that point on it's a simple matter of tapping that contact to start Skype and get chatting. Download |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/new_skype_update_takes_advantage_of_ios_9_features-news-14283.php

Android Marshmallow might be coming to the LG G3 and G4 pretty soon

If you own a vanilla Android Nexus device, you should be getting Marshmallow on October 5. Some other more fast-paced manufacturers like HTC announced a list of its devices that will be getting the OTA and now LG might is joining the Android 6.0 fun. The clues were found on the company's Korean support website, where a few flagship models have Android 6.0 listed as an OS version option. Currently, these include the LG G3 F400S, F400K, and F400L, along with the LG G4 F500S, F500K, and F500L. The corresponding support pages are still unavailable, but here's to hoping this is some indication that the update itself will follow shortly. Source (in Korean) |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/android_marshmallow_might_be_coming_to_the_lg_g3_and_g4_pretty_soon-news-14278.php

Surface Pro 4 rumored to have extra thin bezels that change size

Tablets with keyboards - everybody's doing it. The best-known of them is the Microsoft Surface and we're due for a new one soon. The Microsoft Surface Pro 4 will reportedly feature a razor-thin bezel like the new Dell XPS 13 laptop. The top and side bezels are said to be close to invisible, while the bottom one will be thicker. The hardware Windows key (which was on the right in the Surface Pro 3) may be moving back to the bottom or getting dropped altogether. The bezels may not be fixed either. Take this with a grain of salt since it's pretty odd, but apparently the Surface Pro 4 display will switch between 13" (when docked) and 12" (when used as a tablet). This is dubbed Smart Frame. The most likely explanation is that edge pixels are turned off to artificially create a thicker bezel and make the tablet easier to hold. It sounds clever, perhaps even necessary if the Surface Pro screen really has bezels as thin as this rumor claims. Source (in Arabic) |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/surface_pro_4_rumored_to_have_extra_thin_bezels_that_change_size-news-14280.php

Samsung Galaxy Active Neo is official in Japan

Samsung announced today a new rugged smartphone - the Galaxy Active Neo. It's a Japan exclusive, but is expected to go international in few months. The Galaxy Active Neo is a mid-range device with a 4.5" WVGA (480p) display and powered by the Snapdragon 410 chip - quad-core 1.2GHz Cortex-A53 CPU, Adreno 306 GPU and 2GB of RAM. The Active Neo packs an 8MP rear snapper and a 2MP selfie shooter, 16GB expandable storage and 2,200 mAh battery. Its connectivity package includes LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.1 and NFC, while the OS in charge is Android 5.1 Lollipop. As it is an 'Active' phone, this means you'll get IP68 certification - that's dust and water resistance up to 1.5 meter and 30 minutes, plus MIL-STD-810G certification for salt and sea water, dust, humidity, rain, vibration, solar radiation, transport and thermal shock resistance. It can withstand 2 tons of load and survive a drop on concrete from 1.5 meters. NTT DoCoMo will be offering the smartphones starting November for JPY 20,000 or €150. There is a good chance the phone makes it to other markets later on. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_active_neo_is_official_in_japan-news-14274.php

Vodafone Call+ turns plain calls into a multimedia experience

Phone calls haven't changed much since Alexander Graham Bell. Sure, mobile phones dropped the wires, but it's still two people using their voices and ears. What if you could use an image or a map instead? That's just what Vodafone Call+ lets you do. You can send a picture or a location for your friend's phone to display while it's ringing. That way people will know why you're calling before they pick up. You can send more stuff during the call too, including stream live video. Message+ is the texting companion to Call+. It combines text messages in a threaded view and does group chat to boot. The app also lets you send fun stickers, photos, location, voice messages. You can extend Message+ functionality with add-ons. Note that Call+ is not a Wi-Fi calling solution, calls go through Vodafone's network and standard charges apply. You will need a data connection for the multimedia features to work though. Same goes for Message+ - texts are sent though SMS, multimedia through an Internet connection. You can grab Vodafone Call+ and Message+ (it's a single download) from the Google Play Store. By the way, if you have an Android Wear smartwatch you can use it check notifications from the...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/vodafone_call_turns_plain_calls_into_a_multimedia_experience-news-14279.php

Preorder listings for the Lumia 950 and 950 XL are up form a Russian retailer

Few devices have been getting quite as much attention lately as the Lumia 950 and 950 XL and we can definitely understand why. A new proper flagship in the Windows realm has been long overdue and fans are understandably excited. The duo should be officially released on October 8, which is still a few days away, but that hasn't stopped at least a couple of retailers from leaking details about said smartphones. Today, however, a Russian online store by the name of Bayon might have officially become the first one to offer pre-orders on both models. This confirms the specs sheets for the duo yet again and also gives us some perspective on the Russian pricing. Interestingly enough, there is one extra detail revealed - the 950 XL seems to be available in Dark Blue, as well as the classic Black and White colors. The smaller Lumia 950 is listed for 56,990 rubles ($865), while the bigger XL one goes for 62,990 rubles ($956). That is quite a hefty price to pay, but it is also worth noting that we are talking about the dual-SIM variant here and also local Russian prices for handsets do tend to be slightly higher than most other places. However, the numbers aren't that much off, compared to what we have seen from a recent Spanish leak - €749 ($838) and €659 ($738), respectively for the dual-SIM Lumia 950 XL and Lumia 950. As for the specs, the Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL have a 5.2" and 5.7" displays, both at QHD resolution, 3GB of RAM and 32GB of expandable memory. The first has a more powerful Snapdragon 810 chipset and a 3,300mAh battery, while smaller Lumia 950 has a slightly less powerful Snapdragon 808 chip and a smaller 3,000mAh battery. Both phones will share a 20MP PureView camera with triple-LED flash. Interestingly both the Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL have USB Type-C cables and Microsoft plans to use the combined data-transfer and video out capabilities of the new connector along with the Windows 10 Continuum feature to turn the handsets into portable desktops. Source 1(in Russian) | Source 2(in Russian) |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/preorder_listings_for_the_lumia_950_and_950_xl_are_up_form_a_russian_retailer-news-14273.php

Motorola teases Moto X Style in India

After recently launching the Moto X Play in India, Motorola has begun teasing the Moto X Style on its Twitter account. We have two tweets for now, neither confirming the release date and one just saying coming very soon. Motorola recently announced the Moto X Play in India, which has just become available for purchase. The Moto X Style is the bigger and more accomplished brother, with a 5.7-inch QHD display, Snapdragon 808, 3GB RAM, 21 megapixel camera, and stock Android 5.1 Lollipop. Although Moto Maker is not available in India, Motorola will likely offer the Style in various pre-configured color and material options as with previous generations of Moto X. Source 1 • Source...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/motorola_teases_moto_x_style_in_india-news-14276.php

Huawei Honor 6 gets Android 5.1.1 Lollipop with EMUI 3.1

Huawei Honor 6 is now getting the Android 5.1.1 Lollipop, enhanced with the new EMUI 3.1 launcher. The first country to get the new firmware is India, but oddly the update is now available via the OTA service just yet. Huawei has uploaded the ROM on the official Huawei India website, so you can download it from there and update it manually. Just few people reported for OTA notifications. The file is 1.3GB big, so in case you'll do the update manually, you should free at least 3GB on your phone. There is no official changelog for the new firmware, but it will upgrade your KitKat up to the latest Lollipop and bring some traces of Material design, lots of under-the-hood optimizations, better security and switch to ART runtime for better performance. Huawei Honor 4C and Honor 4X already got the update - in case you've missed the news you can found the ROMs over the source link. Now it's turn for the Honor 6. Other markets should be getting the update very soon and hopefully the OTA release is just around the corner, too. Souce •...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/huawei_honor_6_gets_android_511_lollipop_with_emui_31-news-14272.php

Official-looking Lumia 550 render leaked

An official-looking press render of the upcoming entry-level Microsoft Lumia 550 smartphone has been leaked, courtesy of the usually reliable leakster @evleaks. The device has already been the subject of several leaks in the past, with the most recent leak showing the smartphone in four color versions - white, red, blue, and black. Specs-wise, the Lumia 550 is said to be powered by a Snapdragon 210 SoC and sport a 4.7-inch 720p AMOLED touchscreen. It is expected to come with 1GB RAM and 8GB expandable internal memory, and pack in a 1,905 mAh battery. In terms of camera, the Windows 10 Mobile-powered device is said to feature a 5MP rear unit and a 2MP front shooter. The handset, along with the high-end Lumia 950 and 950 XL, is expected to be made official at the company's October 6 event next week. Via 1...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/officiallooking_lumia_550_render_leaked-news-14268.php

Amazon decides to stop selling Google Chromecast and Apple TV

Amazon has said that it will stop the sales of Google Chromecast and Apple TV later this month. The reason cited by the e-commerce giant is that the devices do not play well its Prime Video service. "Over the last three years, Prime Video has become an important part of Prime," Amazon said in the e-mail to its marketplace sellers. "It's important that the streaming media players we sell interact well with Prime Video in order to avoid customer confusion." New listings for the media-streaming devices from Google and Apple are no longer permitted, while existing inventory listings will disappear starting October 29, Amazon revealed. Meanwhile, the company is recommending Roku, Xbox, PlayStation, and its own Fire TV as "excellent choices" for customers. It's worth mentioning that Google and Apple are the number 2 and 4 players, respectively, in the market which is dominated by Roku. Amazon claims the third spot. Via | Image...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/amazon_decides_to_stop_selling_google_chromecast_and_apple_tv-news-14267.php

Sony Xperia Z5 now available for purchase in UK

The Sony Xperia Z5 smartphone - which was announced last month - is now available for purchase in the UK, where mobile phone retailer Carphone Warehouse has all the four color options (black, white, gold, and green) in stock. As for the price, the SIM-free version is available for £550 (around $830). You can also purchase the device on contract where-in you'll be required to pay £42 (around $60) each month. Other retailers in the country are expected to start selling the handset next week. This comes less than a week after the Xperia Z5 Compact went on sale in several European countries. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/sony_xperia_z5_now_available_for_purchase_in_uk-news-14266.php

Apple iPhone 6s review: The more it changes.

It's how the saying goes. And you know, it's not about Apple and the iPhone at all. It's where the industry has been heading for a while now. In the race for screen size and processing power, the major makers' flagships are like pro athletes finishing within milliseconds of each other...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/apple_iphone_6s-review-1314.php

AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon will all sell the newly outed LG V10

If the LG V10 that was announced a few hours ago seems interesting to you, and you live in the US, here's some important information. We already know which carriers will offer the new smartphone through their stores, online and offline. So if you like to get your handsets from carriers, this is for you. AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon will all sell LG's latest phablet at some point in the near future. Unfortunately neither company has mentioned an actual release time frame for the V10, or anything about pricing. All of this information should come out later. Verizon will get an exclusive color version of the V10, dubbed Luxe White. If you want this hue, you'll have to pick Big Red as your carrier. AT&T and T-Mobile haven't announced any such exclusive arrangements. The LG V10 has a secondary ticker screen above its main display, and it comes with two 5 MP front-facing cameras, to allow for outstanding selfies as well as group selfies (or "groufies"). The phone features a 5.7-inch QHD main touchscreen, a 2.1-inch 1,040x160 secondary display, a 16 MP rear camera with OIS, laser autofocus, and LED flash, 4GB of RAM, 64GB of expandable storage, Qualcomm's Snapdragon 808 SoC at the helm, and a 3,000 mAh battery. It runs Android 5.1.1...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/at_t_tmobile_and_verizon_will_all_sell_the_newly_outed_lg_v10-news-14265.php

Huge Galaxy View tablet has specs confirmed through benchmark

Samsung has teased its upcoming Galaxy View tablet last month during its IFA event. This is going to be the company's biggest mobile device yet, as it's so far been rumored to sport a whopping 18.4-inch touchscreen. That is, if the Galaxy View turns out to be the tablet with the model number SM-T670. Today the T670 was spotted at GFXBench, which means that its specs have once again been confirmed, through the benchmark's info listing. The device apparently has an 18.5-inch 1080p touchscreen, a 2 MP front camera, no rear camera, 2GB of RAM, 32GB of storage, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS, and it's powered by an unidentified Samsung Exynos 7 Octa chipset. This comes with a CPU sporting four Cortex-A57 cores and four Cortex-A53 cores, and the maximum clock speed seems to be 1.6 GHz. The GPU is a Mali-T720. The prototype that's been benchmarked was running Android 5.1.1 Lollipop at the time. The lack of a rear camera seems surprising at first, but imagine how odd it would be to actually take pictures with an 18-inch tablet. The Galaxy View will allegedly be targeted at businesses and the education market, as well as consumers - in this case as a device for the living room. Since the Galaxy View has recently been Bluetooth certified, it should be announced soon. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/huge_galaxy_view_tablet_has_specs_confirmed_through_benchmark-news-14264.php

LG V10 and Watch Urbane 2nd edition: First look

LG invited us over to meet its best gadgets yet - the LG V10 flagship and the LG Watch Urbane 2nd edition. Both outshine their predecessors with unique features, like a secondary screen and Android Wear's first LTE connection.

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/lg_v10_watch_urbane_2nd_ed_handson-review-1315.php

The Nexus 6 is now available for $299.99 in the US

Google refreshed the Nexus smartphones two days ago and both the LG Nexus 5X and Huawei Nexus 6P sound very interesting. The previous generation Motorola Nexus 6 is still quite an attractive offer though, especially with its new price. While the new Nexus 6P is retailing at $500 and is already on sale, we shouldn't retire yet its predecessor - the Nexus 6. It offers a 6" Quad HD AMOLED screen, Snapdragon 805 chip with 3GB RAM, and a 13MP OIS camera. And now you can have this for $299.99. A trusted seller on eBay has already sold more than 850 units of the phone and the quantities are rather limited. Still, the phone is still in stock and you can have it right now. If this price suits you right, then you should hurry up and check the offer now. We guess Motorola and Google will be lowering the official price down to a similar number in time for the Black Friday and the upcoming holiday season, so if you miss the offer now, we are sure there will be more opportunities. eBay |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/the_nexus_6_is_now_available_for_29999_in_the_us-news-14263.php

Updated BBM for iPhone gets Apple Watch support

If you want to be able to glance at your BBM messages on your Apple Watch, now you can. BlackBerry has launched a BBM for iPhone update, which brings support for the Apple Watch enabling replying quickly via "Yes", "No" or "OK", emoticons or voice input. On the iPhone side, you can also shoot a quick reply from the notification shade. The update has PayPal integration in tow, as well. Here's the complete BBM for iPhone v291.0.0.84: iOS 9 support with quick reply Users can now send videos in chats Apple Watch support Official BBM Sticker Club subscription in the BBM Shop PayPal integration for sending money to BBM contacts as an attachment Enhancements to BBM Voice connectivity View, like, and comment on group pictures and other events from within BBM feeds. Bug fixes and performance improvements Follow the source link to install BBM for your iPhone. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/updated_bbm_for_iphone_adds_apple_watch_support-news-14262.php

Here's another look at the Microsoft Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL

"Leaks" and "promotion" are starting to blend together as yet more official images of the Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL have "leaked" on Microsoft's own website. The list of images even include one of the actually unofficial leaks from earlier. Microsoft Lumia 950 XL "leaks" At this point little about the Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL remains a secret, save for the price. They should be unveiled on October 6. The screens are 5.2" and 5.7" respectively, both QHD, 20MP Zeiss cameras and Windows 10. Microsoft Lumia 950 Interestingly both the Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL have USB Type-C cables and Microsoft plans to use the combined data-transfer and video out capabilities of the new connector along with the Windows 10 Continuum feature to turn the handsets into portable desktops. Source (in...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/heres_another_look_at_the_microsoft_lumia_950_and_lumia_950_xl-news-14261.php

LG chief promises mobile sales to improve in Q4 2015

LG mobile division's chief anticipates the company's sales performance to improve in Q4 2015. Cho Juno told Reuters LG will lean on its latest high-end and mid-range phones to boost market share. Clearly, the LG V10, which was announced today is going to lead the charge for the traditionally profitable holiday season. The LG Watch Urbane 2nd Edition would also help with its classy looks. Chu Juno hasn't provided specifics on target sales, but the company has to figure out its razor thin margins first. In Q2 2015, the company saw a 99.7% drop in operating profits. Additionally, the executive mentioned LG is prepping up a mobile payment service of its own, but has given no further...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/lg_chief_promises_mobile_sales_to_improve_in_q4_2015-news-14260.php

Android Lollipop 5.1.1 for Huawei Ascend Mate7 is now available

Over a year after its initial release and a couple of substantial price cuts later the Huawei Ascend Mate7 is still a pretty tantalizing offer. It just seems that Huawei though well ahead when designing the Mate and coincidentally or not, it now offers a combination of quite a few trendy features, like a metal body, spacious 6.0-inch display and always-on fingerprint reader, all with the added bonus of a dropping price tag. Better yet, Huawei hasn't forgotten about the phablet, as evident by the new Android 5.1.1 update that just popped-up on its support website. The new OS brings an array of core Android improvements to the handset, as well as the updated EMUI 3.1. Currently the software package is available for two of the most popular variants of the Mate7 - the MT7-L09 and MT7-TL10 and can be downloaded from the source link. Both weigh about 1.20GB, so it should be a more or less complete overhaul. Over the air roll out should be under way as well, but you could just as easily use the default updater to get the job done with the downloaded ZIP yourself. And for anybody interested in purchasing the premium handset here is a quick rundown of the rest of the specs: The already mentioned 6.0-inch display has a resolution of 1080p and is powered by the company's own octa-core Kirin 925 processor, featuring four 1.8GHz Cortex-A15 cores and four 1.3GHz Cortex-A7 cores alongside a Mali-T628 GPU. Storage options include 16GB and 32GB and memory is set at 2GB or 3GB, respectively. A 13MP/5MP camera due take care of the shooting department and a 4100 mAh battery powers the...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/android_lollipop_511_for_huawei_ascend_mate7_is_now_available-news-14258.php

ASUS announces plans to begin manufacturing smartphones in India with Foxconn

ASUS has announced that it will start manufacturing smartphones in India in collaboration with Foxconn, to support India's 'Make in India' campaign. The devices will be manufactured in Foxconn's plant in Sri City, Andhra Pradesh. The first phone to be manufactured will be the recently launched Zenfone 2 Laser, which will soon be followed by the Zenfone Go. ASUS aims to produce 150,000 smartphones in India per month by the end of the current financial year, which will account for almost 80% of the sales in India. "India offers us a huge opportunity as smartphone penetration is just 10%. We are excited to announce our local manufacturing facility that will cater to the growing demands of the market", said Peter Chang, Regional Head - South Asia & Country Manager - System Business Group - ASUS India. "The Indian government's focus on ‘Make in India' has opened a plethora of opportunities for international companies. It is an opportune time to make the announcement as it will enable us to bring our cutting edge products to consumers who are looking for features and design sensibilities of a high-end smartphone at an economic price." Chang further added, "We are aggressively targeting the Indian market. We aim to achieve 5% market share in the country by next year and empower all our customers with...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/asus_announces_plans_to_begin_manufacturing_smartphones_in_india_with_foxconn-news-14259.php

DoCoMo's Sharp Aquos Compact, Aquos Zeta have razor-sharp bezels

Sharp is the real master of vanishing bezels, unfortunately the best models always seem to stay Japan-only. So, are you ready to see the best compact phones you'll probably never be able to buy? By the way, the duo is headed to NTT DoCoMo. Sharp Aquos Compact SH-02H A phone with a 4.7" screen - 1080p at that! - measures only 126 x 66 x 9mm. For comparison, Xperia Z5 Compact's 4.6" 720p screen fits inside 127 x 65 x 8.9mm. The screen is an IGZO LCD driven at "double-speed", 120Hz. The Sharp Aquos Compact has water resistance, IP68 for dunks in water. It has a 13.1MP main camera (the Sony does have the lead here) with an f/1.9 aperture. The selfie cam is a 5MP shooter. Sharp Aquos Compact SH-02H for DoCoMo The phone is powered by a Snapdragon 808 chipset with 3GB of RAM and it has 16GB of expandable storage. It's running Android 5.1 Lollipop. There's also a 2,810mAh battery, LTE and Wi-Fi a/b/g/n/ac connectivity too. The Aquos Compact is fairly light at 120g and features "Nuance sheets," basically various decals you stick to the back. Sharp Aquos Zeta SH-01H Bigger, but still small, the Aquos Zeta boasts a 5.3" screen inside a 139 x 74 x 8mm body. For comparison, a 5.1" Galaxy S6 is 143.4 x 70.5 x 6.8mm. The screen is a 1080p IGZO unit again. The rest of the hardware is almost identical too - IP58 water resistance, 13MP camera, Snapdragon 808 chipset with 3GB of RAM, 32GB of storage this time and a 3,100mAh battery. The camera on the back has a "proximity sensor," which may be a Google mistranslation of a laser autofocus system. Sharp Aquos Zeta SH-01 for DoCoMo Both phones support a mobile payment system (FeliCa), but the Sharp Aquos Zeta has an additional fingerprint sensor (the swipe, it's placed on the back). This one is available in a Disney theme too as the DM-01H, coming in Sparkle Pink and Sparkle Blue. Disney-themed version of the Aquos Zeta Source 1 • Source 2 (in Japanese) |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/docomos_sharp_aquos_compact_aquos_zeta_have_razorsharp_bezels-news-14257.php

OS X El Capitan now available for download

Apple has released the final version of OS X El Capitan on the Mac App Store. Those with compatible machines, that would be most Macs sold in recent years, should head over to the store and download the free update, which is just over 6GB in size. The default and simplest method is to just update your existing OS X installation but you could do a fresh install by extracting the installation file, burning it to a USB drive, and booting from it. OS X El Capitan brings many improvements, such as improved split-screen window management, improved Mission Control, updated Notes, Mail, Maps, and Photos apps, improved Spotlight search, pinned tabs in Safari, improved performance, and a new typeface - San...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/os_x_el_capitan_now_available_for_download-news-14256.php

You can now hide your Tumblr blog from the Web

Tumblr has added a new feature that enables you to control who gets to see your blog. The feature is in the form of a new toggle switch which you can use to choose whether or not your blog is viewable on the Web. Should you decide to switch it off, anyone visiting your blog at its URL will get a 404 error. Of course, your followers will still be able to see your stuff in their dashboards. "Just a simple layer of privacy to let you better control who gets to see your stuff and who doesn't," the company said in a blog post. You can find the new toggle switch in the blog settings of your web dashboard. This comes a few months after Tumblr introduced a feature dubbed Block that, as the name suggests, lets you prevent users from following/messaging you, like/reblog/reply to your posts, as well as see your posts/blog in search results. Source | Image...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/you_can_now_hide_your_tubmlr_blog_from_the_web-news-14255.php

Apple starts roll out of iOS 9.0.2, stops signing iOS 8.4.1 and 9.0

Just a week after iOS 9.0.1 started rolling out, Apple has pushed the iOS 9.0.2 software update, which brings fixes related to iMessage, iCloud Backup, and screen rotation, as well as improvements related to the stability of Podcasts. The new update brings along a fix for an issue related to the setting to turn off/on app mobile data usage. The issue that prevented iMessage activation has also been fixed. Similarly, issues that prevented iCloud Backup during manual backup and incorrect screen rotation when receiving notifications are also fixed in this update, which weighs in at 62.1 MB. In addition to pushing out iOS 9.0.2, the iPhone maker has also stopped signing iOS 8.4.1 and 9.0, which means that you won't be able to roll-back from a more recent iOS version to these versions. Via 1...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/apple_starts_rolling_out_ios_902_stops_signing_ios_841_and_90-news-14254.php

Outlook for Web gets Facebook-style 'likes' and Twitter-style '@mentions'

Microsoft has announced that it has added a couple of new features to its Outlook for Web service. These include Facebook-style Likes and Twitter-style Mentions. Now you can endorse a specific email by liking it, something which you can do by clicking the thumbs-up icon in the reading pane, similar to the way you do it on Facebook. "This turns the icon from gray to blue, notes within the email that you liked the message and adds a thumbs-up icon in the email list view," the company said in a blog post. You'll also get a notification when somebody likes your email. Moving on, the Mentions feature lets you grab someone's attention as well as automatically include them in an existing email thread. To use the feature, just add the @ symbol (see image above) in the email body, followed by the contact name. "Their name will be highlighted in the message in blue and they will receive an @ flag in their inbox view next to the message," the software giant said. Although the Likes feature will begin rolling out today, it'll currently only be available to Office 365 First Release customers whose Office 365 plan includes Exchange Online. Office 365 commercial customers will start getting it towards the end of the month. Similarly, the Mentions feature - which will begin rolling out in the mid of the month - will also be initially available to First Release customers only. Office 365 commercial customers will get it next...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/outlook_for_web_gets_facebookstyle_likes_and_twitterstyle_mentions-news-14252.php

LG Watch Urbane 2nd Edition debuts as the first Android Wear device with LTE

Alongside the premium V10 phablet, LG announced a successor to the Watch Urbane smartwatch. Dubbed LG Watch Urbane 2nd Edition, the newcomer is the first Android Wear device with 4G LTE support. LG Watch Urbane 2nd Edition packs a brand new 1.38" fully circular P-OLED display with a resolution of 480 x 480 pixels. The resolution results in the highly impressive pixel density of 348 ppi. The rest of the device's specs include an industry standard Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 SoC, 768MB of RAM, and 4GB of built-in memory. Built-in sensors include accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer, heart rate sensor, and GPS. The 2nd Edition LG Watch Urbane has an IP67-certified stainless steel body that measures 44.5mm wide and 14.2mm thick. A 570mAh hexagonal battery by LG Chem powers the smartwatch. It is worth noting that the latest LG Watch Urbane features non-removable bands. The latter contain essential hardware components this time around. LG Watch Urbane 2nd Edition will first make its way to retailers in the United States and South Korea. There is no word on pricing just yet....

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/lg_watch_urbane_2nd_edition_debuts_as_the_first_android_wear_device_with_lte-news-14253.php

LG V10 goes official with secondary display and a duo of front-facing cameras

LG officially announced the high-end V10 smartphone with secondary display and a duo of front-facing cameras. The Korean manufacturer's latest flagship phablet will hit the shelves in Korea this month in five different color schemes - Space Black, Luxe White, Modern Beige, Ocean Blue, and Opal Blue. Just as the leaks suggested, the defining feature of the LG V10 is an secondary display located above the handset's 5.7" QHD unit. The 2.1" additional screen has a resolution of 1040 x 160 pixels and can display app shortcuts and other relevant information in always on mode. In addition to ints rather unique display setup, LG V10 packs a duo of 5MP front-facing cameras. One of the units has a standard angle lens, while the other on offers a wide angle solution for easy group selfies. LG V10 features a body with 316L stainless steel frame and display covered by dual-layer Gorilla Glass 4.The removable back cover of the device is made of silicon-like material dubbed Dura Skin. Specs-wise, LG V10 packs Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 SoC, 4GB of RAM, and 64GB of expandable memory via microSD card slot. A fingerprint sensor, Hi-Fi DAC, full connectivity suite, and 3,000mAh removable battery are also on board. The handset boots Android 5.1.1 Lollipop. The main camera of the smartphone is the same 16MP unit with f/1.8 lens and laser autofocus found in LG G4. This time around, LG has brought manual controls even to the smartphone's camcorder. Users can even adjust the sound volume of the clips they record. Physical measures of the LG V10 are 159.6 x 79.3 x 8.6mm. Its weight tips the scale at 192 grams. LG V10 will also launch in the United States, China, as well as other markets in Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East. Specific launch details about each market will be announced in the near future....

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/lg_v10_goes_official_with_secondary_display_and_a_duo_of_frontfacing_cameras-news-14251.php

ZUK Z1 makes its international debut tomorrow with Cyanogen OS

The Lenovo-backed ZUK Z1 is now finally ready to make its international debut, about a month and a half after its official unveiling in China. The affordable smartphone is set to become available to order through eBay's Spanish and French operations in just a few hours - at midnight in both Spain and France, to be exact. As previously revealed, the international model will run Cyanogen OS 12.1 based on Android 5.1.1 Lollipop. It will also carry some Lenovo branding, at least on the box and in the user guide. This has presumably been done in order to take advantage of Lenovo's superior brand recognition. Otherwise however, the handset is the same one that's been announced in August. It comes with a 5.5-inch 1080p touchscreen, a 13 MP rear camera with LED flash, an 8 MP selfie snapper, Qualcomm's Snapdragon 801 chipset at the helm, 3GB of RAM, 64GB of storage, 4G LTE support, dual-SIM functionality, a fingerprint scanner, a USB Type-C port, and a 4,100 mAh battery. At eBay.es you'll be able to buy one for just €279.99, while eBay.fr will offer it for €285.99. These prices may only be valid for a limited time according to the...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/zuk_z1_makes_its_official_international_debut_tomorrow_with_cyanogen_os-news-14249.php

Sony Xperia Z5 has the best mobile camera ever tested by DxOMark

Just yesterday DxOMark added the Huawei Nexus 6P and its camera to its charts, and the new Google phone had some pretty impressive results. It climbed to the No.2 spot in the charts, behind only Samsung's Galaxy S6 edge. Today though we have a new king of the DxoMark tests when it comes to mobile cameras. And that is the Sony Xperia Z5. According to the experts at DxO Labs, this handset currently has the best mobile camera they've ever tested. With a general score of 87, it's one point above the Galaxy S6 edge, thus snatching the coveted No.1 spot from Samsung's device. The Nexus 6P therefore drops to third place, while the LG G4 is now fourth. The last in the Top 5 is the Samsung Galaxy Note 4. However, you've probably noticed that a big name is missing - DxOMark hasn't yet tested either of the new iPhones, so things may change again when it does. Until that point, Sony can savour this win. According to DxoMark, for photos the Z5 has the best autofocus performance tested to date, very good white balance and color rendering, a good flash with pleasant white balance, good detail preservation regardless of light conditions, and low noise in low-light situations. On the other hand, artifacts are visible with blue sky saturation, and an attenuation is sometimes visible in the corners when using the flash. For videos, the camera reportedly has "impressive image stabilization that's far ahead of the competition", good autofocus, good detail preservation, low noise, and accurate color rendering along with decent white balance. On the flip side, tremors can be visible even when using a tripod, exposure convergence can be very slow, autofocus is slow in low-light, and color shading is present in low-light conditions too. Thanks for the tip,...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/sony_xperia_z5_has_the_best_mobile_camera_ever_tested_by_dxomark-news-14250.php

Samsung's Gear S2 and S2 Classic will be out in the US on October 2

Samsung announced the Gear S2 and Gear S2 Classic smartwatches at the end of August ahead of IFA, and ever since then you've probably been wondering when you'll be able to buy one. And today the official answer has arrived, at least if you're in the US. Over there, the Gear S2 and Gear S2 Classic will become available on October 2, which is this Friday. You'll find them at Samsung's online store, Amazon, Best Buy, and Macy's. You'll need to shell out $299.99 to purchase the Gear S2, while the S2 Classic will go for $349.99. If you haven't yet gotten to know the two, make sure you go through our detailed hands-on experience. Oh, and note that the cellular-enabled Gear S2 and Gear S2 Classic will be offered by AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon at some point before the end of the...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsungs_gear_s2_and_s2_classic_will_be_out_in_the_us_on_october_2-news-14248.php

Microsoft Store UK lists Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL

The official Microsoft UK store now lists the Lumia 950 and Lumia 950XL smartphones in the "Windows 10 Ready Phones" section of the site. Clearly, this is a result of a mistake, as the phones are supposed to be officially announced on October 6. As you can see, pricing isn't specified and has been listed as "XXX.XX." The specs confirm previous reports about the upcoming Lumia flagships. As per past leaks the Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL will have a 5.2" and a 5.7" displays, respectively, both at QHD resolution. The Lumia 950 XL will have a more powerful Snapdragon 810 chipset, 32GB of expandable memory and a 3,300mAh battery. The smaller Lumia 950 will have a slightly less powerful Snapdragon 808 chip and a smaller 3,000mAh battery. Both phones will share a 20MP PureView camera with triple-LED flash as well as USB Type-C port. Less than a week from now, at the company's October 6 event, we'll get to see the debut of the duo alongside the Lumia 550 mid-ranger. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/microsoft_store_uk_lists_lumia_950_and_lumia_950_xl-news-14247.php

Nexus 5X costs €480 in Europe, £340 in the UK, ouch!

We're still wheezing after yesterday's reveal that a $500 Nexus 6P that will cost €650 in Europe, now we just need to lay down after seeing the Nexus 5X prices - a $380 phone, mind you. Google Store Finland has put up the pricing info for the 5X and the 16GB model is €480. 16GB! If you want more (which you probably do) you're looking at €500+. In the UK the 16GB model is £340. That's dangerously close to the kind of cash a Galaxy S6 32GB costs - £380 on Amazon UK (you can even find it for less), in euro the situation is pretty similar. While the Nexus 6P is pretty great, the Nexus 5X is not that much of an upgrade over the Nexus 5. And the 5X isn't really an expensive phone... if you're in the US at least. Thanks for the tip, Petri! Via (in...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/nexus_5x_costs_e480_in_europe_p340_in_the_uk_ouch-news-14243.php

Apple Music, iBooks, and iTunes Movies services launched in China

Apple has announced that its Apple Music streaming service, as well as iBooks and iTunes Movies services are now all available in China. The Cupertino-based company specifically noted that Apple Music in China also features music from local artists including Eason Chan, Li Ronghao, JJ Lin, and G.E.M. "Customers in China love the App Store and have made it our largest market in the world for app downloads," said the iPhone maker's senior vice president of Internet Software and Services Eddy Cue. "One of the top requests has been more great content and we're thrilled to bring music, movies and books to China, curated by a local team of experts." As for the price, Apple Music will set you back 10 RMB ($1.57) each month after the initial three-month free trial period. On the other hand, Movies on iTunes will cost 5 RMB ($0.79) for HD rentals and 18 RMB ($2.83) if you're purchasing, while paid iBooks start at 0.5 RMB...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/apple_music_ibooks_and_itunes_movies_launched_in_china-news-14241.php

Sony Xperia M2 and M2 Aqua leapfrog 5.0, get 5.1 Lollipop update

Sony has announced a software update though perhaps not the one you've been hoping for. Or is it? Sony Xperia M2 and M2 Aqua owners will certainly be glad to hear that finally get to see what this "Material design" business is all about with the jump to Android 5.1.1 Lollipop. The Xperia M2 duo was plodding along on 4.4.4 KitKat until now. Other than the new UI design, the update includes more customization options - you get finger control over the volume, silent and alerts functions. There's LinkedIn integration now, information about meetings and participants will show up in the Calendar. And finally, you can snap selfies remotely with the SmartWatch 3. Not mentioned officially, but the update also plugs the Stagefright vulnerability. Sony warns that the rollout is a phased process and may not reach you immediately. When it does, your Xperia M2 and Xperia M2 Aqua will go up to firmware version 18.6.A.0.175. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/sony_xperia_m2_and_m2_aqua_leapfrog_50_get_51_lollipop_update-news-14242.php

Check out the official Nexus 6P and 5X camera samples

Google talked a lot about the camera on the Nexus 6P and the 5X. Both phones share the same 12.3 megapixel camera with 1.55 μm pixels, f2.0 aperture, and laser autofocus system and apparently it's a good camera; DxOMark has already placed it No. 2 on its smartphone chart right behind the Galaxy S6 edge. But while we will be doing our own testing later in the review, here are some camera samples from Google if you need to see what the images are like. Looking at the images, and hoping they aren't doctored in any way, we can see that the camera has great color reproduction, good contrast, decent dynamic range, good amount of detail, and remains relatively clean and bright even in low light. This might not be the best camera on a phone out there but it looks like it will be good enough for most...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/check_out_the_official_nexus_6p_and_5x_camera_samples-news-14240.php

Here's the Japan-exclusive gold Nexus 6P you're not getting any time soon

Google announced the Nexus 6P and the Nexus 5X yesterday. The 6P has a unibody anodized aluminum construction that comes in aluminum (silver), graphite (black), and frost (white) colors. But there is a fourth color, and it's only exclusive to Japan for now. This is the gold colored Nexus 6P and as you can tell it looks quite stunning. Unfortunately, you will have to switch the website region to Japan to even see this image. As for the phone itself, there is no word on when, if at all, this color will be available in other...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/heres_the_japanexclusive_gold_nexus_6p_youre_not_getting_any_time_soon-news-14239.php

Latest Google Maps update brings support for Apple Watch

The Google Maps iOS app has received an update, bumping it to version 4.11.0, and bringing several new features as well as some bug fixes. The most prominent feature the update brings to the table is the support for Apple Watch - it adds a companion app for the smartwatch. As you can see in the image above, the app contains buttons to direct you home and work, as well as to show you recent routes. It also offers turn-by-turn directions. However, what you actually get is a very basic version of Google Maps compared to the feature-rich version you're already used to on smartphones - there's just a blue arrow showing you the direction along with distance information. Other features the update brings include the ability to call business and get directions directly from a list of places, as well as to compare ETAs across driving, transit, walking, and biking. The updated app is now available for download from the App Store. Source | Via 1...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/google_maps_update_brings_support_for_apple_watch-news-14237.php

Nexus 5X and 6P India pricing revealed

Google has updated the Google Store India page with the new Nexus 5X and the Nexus 6P. Unfortunately, neither can be purchased or pre-ordered at the moment and all you can do now is join a waiting list without even knowing the price. However, you will notice at the bottom the page shows pricing for the new accessories. If you click on one of them and then scroll down again you will see the two phones as part of suggestions. Turns out, the Nexus 5X will start at INR 31,900 ($485) for the 16GB model, whereas the 6P will start at INR 39,999 ($608) for the 32GB model. Only starting prices are visible for now and we will have to wait till the phones are up for pre-order to see pricing for other variants. As for the accessories, you can purchase a universal 15W USB Type-C charger for INR 1,799.99, USB Type-C to Type-C cable for INR 1,399.99, USB Type-C to USB Standard A-Plug cable for INR 909.99, and USB Type-C to USB Standard-A adapter for INR 909.99. The Nexus 6P folio case is priced at INR 3,900, the standard case at INR 2,800, the ADOPTED Protective case for INR 1,800, and the Speck CandyShell Grip case for INR 3,000. The 5X Folio case is priced at INR 3,200, standard case at INR 2,800, ADOPTED Protective case for INR 1,800, and Speck CandyShell Grip case for INR...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/nexus_5x_and_6p_india_pricing_revealed-news-14238.php