HTC One A9 (Aero) dummy unit images leaked

HTC is scheduled to announce a new device on October 20 and for all we know, it's going to be the One A9. Not the best kept of secrets, the smartphone has been photographed on a few occasions already, but now we get a more detailed look at it, albeit through a dummy unit. The leaked shots, courtesy of @OnLeaks, show the One A9 (conceived as HTC Aero) from multiple angles leaving little to the imagination. As a whole, it's the iPhone 6 lookalike we've come to expect from previous leaks. There's the enormous bottom bezel, which has no excuse for its existence, now that the Back/Home/Task switcher buttons have moved to the display and the chin only needs to accommodate the fingerprint sensor. The back has the contrasting antenna bands, a necessary eye-sore on metal-built smartphones. The camera lens is sticking out by a millimeter, but it's dead center, so Apple's legal department can remain at rest. HTC One A9 dummy unit What's offset from the center is the upside-down microUSB 2.0 port (no Type-C), but that's been HTC's way of doing it at least since the original One, so it must be an inherent part of the internal design. The bottom plate is pretty crowded too - other than the port, there's the 3.5mm jack, mic pinhole and speaker grille - not the tidiest design, but at least it allows the top to be perfectly minimalist. A microSD tray sits next to the one for the SIM card on the left side, so it's nice to see that HTC isn't turning its back on storage expansion. The right side is home to the volume rocker and power button, nothing revolutionary here...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/htc_one_a9_aero_dummy_unit_images_leaked-news-14421.php

GranitePhone is a security-obsessed phone by Sikur/Archos

After a seven-month period following its MWC announcement, the GranitePhone is now available for purchase. The phone, conceived by IT security specialists from Sikur, and made by Archos, can now be ordered from its dedicated website for the hefty sum of $849. The hardware you get for that is not unlike the existing Archos 50 Diamond. There's the 5-inch FullHD display, Snapdragon 615 chipset paired with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of built-in storage. The camera combo is the same 16MP/8MP affair, and even battery capacity is identical at 2,700mAh. Sikur GranitePhone The big change is the OS, where instead of Android 4.4.4 KitKat, you get Sikur's home-brewed Granite OS. The company promises "multiple levels of protection" including encrypted cloud storage, encrypted calls, encrypted messages, encrypted everything. The phone has been chosen by government and defense agencies, Archos informs us, as well as privacy-concerned...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/granitephone_is_a_securityobsessed_phone_by_sikur_archos-news-14419.php

Gionee's first made-in-India smartphone coming in next few weeks

Chinese smartphone manufacturer Gionee, which has just launched its Elife E8 smartphone in India, has said that its first made-in-India smartphone will be launched in the country before the festival of Diwali, which is just a month away now. "By March, 2016 we expect to assemble all phones that will be sold in India at two outsourced locations in the country," said Arvind R Vohra, Gionee's India CEO and MD. "So, we will be selling all 'Made in India' phones in India. We will have first such phone before Diwali." For those who aren't in the know, the company announced last month that it will be partnering with Foxconn and Dixon to start manufacturing handsets in India. While the Foxconn facility will focus on the F and P series smartphones, the Dixon facility will take care of the feature phones and other smartphones. In addition to this, Vohra also revealed that the company is also planning to enter the wearables market soon, with an announcement set for next year's Mobile World Congress (MWC) in February. Via 1 2 | Image...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/gionees_first_madeinindia_smartphone_coming_in_next_few_weeks-news-14414.php

Hulu will launch a VR app next month, in time for Samsung's new Gear VR release

The days when your brain used lack of content as a reasonable excuse not to follow your impulse and buy a VR headset seem to be numbered. For one, Hulu is launching its virtual reality app next month alongside the market release of Samsung's latest Gear VR rig. Not only will the new Oculus-made headset make it easier on your pocket with its $99 asking price, but you'll now have one more source of VR videos to feed into it. Hulu will be offering traditional 2D footage, but will also be working on adapting such content to the new medium. Think "Seinfeld", only you're watching it from inside Jerry's apartment. It doesn't stop there though, and the company is also working on an original series made straight for VR, without a 2D element at all. "The Big One", meanwhile, is a VR short already in production, coming from YouTuber/filmmaker/gamer Freddie...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/hulu_will_launch_a_vr_app_next_month_in_time_for_samsungs_new_gear_vr_release-news-14417.php

Report: Job cuts are coming to Twitter

Just days after co-founder Jack Dorsey - who is currently also the chief executive and chairman of payments startup Square - was announced as Twitter's new CEO, there are reports that the company is planning cost cutting measures, including job cuts. The layoffs are said to be company-wide, and are expected to be announced as soon as next week. There was, however, no word on which specific departments would be affected the most. In addition to job cuts, the microblogging company is also stopping a plan that focused on expanding its headquarters in San Francisco. When reached out for comment, a Twitter spokesperson said, "We're not commenting on rumor and speculation." For those who aren't aware, Dick Costolo, Twitter's former CEO, stepped down from his position back in July amid mounting concerns over slow user growth. Via 1...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/report_job_cuts_are_coming_to_twitter-news-14412.php

Unannounced OnePlus handset gets pictured at the FCC

Before the end of the year, OnePlus will launch its third smartphone ever, and the second one of 2015, to complement the OnePlus 2 in its portfolio. The new device will probably be smaller than the OnePlus 2, and it may be called either OnePlus X or OnePlus Mini. Not long ago a purported full list of specs for the OnePlus Mini got leaked, and now a new OnePlus handset passed through the FCC. And, unlike what usually happens at the US-based regulatory agency, this time we even get a picture of the phone. The model number for the device you see above is One E1005. This particular version comes with Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS, an FM radio, a 1.9 GHz processor, as well as support for LTE bands 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, and 8 and quad-band GSM. As can be seen in the image, it has a microUSB connector and not a USB Type-C port like the OnePlus 2. It also sports a metal frame, and a back that's either plastic or glass. Its dimensions are supposedly 139.7 x 55.8 x 6.85 mm, but if true it means this will be one oddly long and narrow device. These are all the details that the FCC has made public, but they do sort of match up with the idea of a smaller OnePlus phone coming soon. In fact, the Chinese company has already scheduled an event on October 12 in India, which is when this handset could become official. Source | Via 1 • Via...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/unannounced_oneplus_handset_gets_pictured_at_the_fcc-news-14409.php

Gione Elife E8 hands-on: First look

Gionee has established Elife as its flagship series. This year, Gionee decided to go big with the new E8, and quite literally at that. The E8 is a big phone thanks to a new 6.0-inch QHD but it also packs in quite a lot of features, including a 24 megapixel rear camera, a fingerprint sensor, and an octa-core MediaTek Helio X10 processor. All packed in a new metal body.

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/gionee_elife_8_handson-review-1320.php

Soak test for Moto X Pure Edition starts soon, could be Android 6.0

Motorola has started sending surveys for a software soak test to owners of the Moto X Pure Edition (2015), which is basically the US version of the Moto X Style sold internationally. Unfortunately the company isn't saying what exact firmware update is the one that the soak test will be sent out for. However, it seems pretty likely that we're talking about Android 6.0 Marshmallow, since no other new versions of the OS have come out from the time the phone was launched. Soak tests are sent out by Motorola to people who sign up for them in order to make sure that its over-the-air rollouts are going to work flawlessly when a new update is then released for every device out there. They are also a good way to spot last minute bugs in the wild. Of course, this could be nothing more than a security patch of some sort, but obviously given Motorola's history of quick Android updates (especially for its unlocked high-end devices) there's also a possibility that it is indeed the first step in pushing out a Marshmallow release for the Moto X Pure...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/latest_moto_x_pure_edition_soak_test_starts_soon_could_be_android_60-news-14408.php

Samsung Galaxy A9 spotted in AnTuTu, S620 chipset confirmed

The Samsung Galaxy A9 poked its head above water again, surfacing at the AnTuTu benchmark database. It casts another vote for a 5.5" 1080p screen, even though the naming scheme suggests the A9 should be better than the Galaxy A8 (5.7" 1080p). It's definitely better in terms of chipset - the Snapdragon 620 has next-gen CPU cores and a next-gen GPU. The eight Cortex-72 cores should be much faster than the A53s used in current mid-range octa-cores. The Adreno 510 will also bring a much needed performance boost for 1080p gaming. And there's more RAM, 3GB. There's 32GB of built-in storage, but AnTuTu failed to detect the camera resolution. The Samsung Galaxy A9 (SM-A9000) ran Android 5.1.1 Lollipop when the test was ran (which was most likely a pre-production version). Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_a9_spotted_in_antutu_s620_chipset_confirmed-news-14402.php

Elon Musk takes a jab at Apple, says it only hires people Tesla fires

Tesla's CEO Elon Musk is currently in Germany, discussing the future of electric vehicles with the local government. However this didn't stop him from taking digs at Apple while interacting with media. During an interview with German business newspaper Handelsblatt yesterday, when he was asked to comment on Apple hiring Tesla's engineers for its car efforts, Musk revealed that the people hired by the iPhone maker are those which were fired by the automaker. He added that this is the reason he jokingly calls Apple the Tesla Graveyard. "If you don't make it at Tesla, you go work at Apple," he said On whether he considers Apple as a serious competition, he took another jab at the Cupertino-based company, saying making a car is not as easy as making a smartphone or a smartwatch. "Did you ever take a look at the Apple Watch? (laughs) No, seriously: It's good that Apple is moving and investing in this direction," he said. "But cars are very complex compared to phones or smartwatches. You can't just go to a supplier like Foxconn and say: Build me a car. But for Apple, the car is the next logical thing to finally offer a significant innovation. A new pencil or a bigger iPad alone were not relevant...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/elon_musk_says_apple_hires_people_tesla_fire_calls_the_iphonemaker_teslas_graveyard-news-14403.php

Starbucks to start accepting Apple Pay this year; Chili's and KFC to hop on in 2016

Coffee chain Starbucks will start accepting Apple's mobile payments service this year, while Chili's and KFC will hop on the Apple Pay bandwagon next year. This was announced by the Cupertino-based company's Vice President Jennifer Bailey at the Re/code technology conference yesterday. In fact, Starbucks has already begun an Apple Pay pilot program at some of its stores, and the company plans to expand it to all of its 7,500 stores next year. Earlier this year, consumer electronics chain Best Buy announced that it has updated its official iOS app with support for the payments service. At that time, the US-based company had also said that all its stores in the country will begin accepting Apple Pay later this year, something which started happening last month. This comes just over a week after Samsung released its own mobile payments service, dubbed Samsung Pay, in the US. The service already had a successful launch in the company's home country of South Korea. Via 1...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/starbucks_to_start_accepting_apple_pay_this_year_chilis_and_kfc_to_hop_on_next_year-news-14401.php

BlackBerry Priv handled unofficially: thinner than Note5

One lucky Redditor got to handle the BlackBerry Priv, something we've seen only the BB CEO do so far. The initial impressions are quite positive. Most surprising is that the Priv is reportedly thinner than the Galaxy Note5, which is a slender 7.6mm thick. As for weight, it was reported more than the Note5 (171g). The BB slider is not a small device though, rumors put its screen at 5.4". The screen was sharp (expected resolution: QHD) and it has a 2.5D glass (curved on the sides). The Priv's slider offered a pleasant sliding action, something we've all but forgotten since touchscreen slabs took over. The screen sliding up does not throw off the weight balance of the phone so typing on the hardware keyboard below is comfortable. When the slider is closed, the phone shows an on-screen keyboard for quick typing. BlackBerry Priv handled by a lucky Redditor In the dark the 18MP camera took longer to lock focus than the Galaxy phablet. The software running on the Snapdragon 808 chipset was as smooth as a Nexus 5 with Marshmallow. The BlackBerry Priv will come with Google Play Services, though it's not clear how deep BB customization will run. Hit the source link for the full discussion over at...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/blackberry_priv_handled_unofficially_thinner_than_note5-news-14398.php

Apple iPhone 6s and 6s Plus arrive in 42 new countries

Apple has revealed that the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus smartphones, which were released on September 25 in the first wave of countries, will be available in over 40 more countries by October 10 - tomorrow. Over 35 countries will get the handsets today. These include Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Greenland, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Isle of Man, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Maldives, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and Taiwan. Those regions where the devices will be released tomorrow are: Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and UAE. A third wave will see the flagships releasing in 24 additional countries starting October 16, including Turkey, India, and Malaysia, taking the total count of countries to over 75 and making it the fastest iPhone roll-out ever. The Cupertino-based company plans to release the smartphones, which are now available unlocked in the United States, in more than 130 countries by the end of...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/iphone_6s_6s_plus_to_arrive_in_40_new_countries_by_tomorrow-news-14397.php

Sony's new PS4 media remote can also control your TV and cable box

Sony's new Universal Media Remote for PS4 - which was leaked earlier this year in retail listings - is now up for pre-order on various retailers, including Amazon, Best Buy, Gamestop, and Toys R Us. Carrying a price tag of $30, the device will be released on October 27. The Japanese company describes the remote as "a convenient and intuitive way to navigate and control your favorite PS4 entertainment Apps and Blu-Ray Disc player right from your couch." The device is Bluetooth-enabled, and can be used to control up to three devices in addition to the PS4, including a TV, cable box, and audio receiver. The Universal Media Remote will be compatible with several PS4 apps, including Blu-ray Disc Player, Crunchyroll, FUNimation, HBO GO, Media Player, NBA GAME TIME, Netflix, NFL Sunday Ticket, PlayStation Video, PlayStation Vue, Twitch, and ...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/sonys_new_universal_media_remote_for_ps4_can_also_control_your_tv_and_cable_box-news-14399.php

Meizu Pro 5 delayed until November due to factory flood

The Meizu Pro 5, which was made official later last month and was scheduled to go on sale on October 12 won't be released until next month. According to the company, the delayed was caused by floods that hit a manufacturing facility in the Chinese city of Guangdong. The facility in question manufactures the unibody chassis. There was, however, no word on whether the unfortunate situation would affect the release or sales of any of the Chinese company's other devices. If you aren't already aware, the Pro 5 is powered by a Samsung Exynos 7420 chipset, and sports a 5.7" Super AMOLED screen of 1080p resolution. It comes with 3GB/4GB RAM and 32GB/64GB memory options, and packs in a 3050mAh battery. In terms of camera, the handset features a 21MP rear unit and a 5MP front shooter. It runs Android 5.1 Lollipop-based Flyme 5...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/meizu_pro_5_wont_be_released_until_november-news-14395.php

Motorola launches Moto X Style in India

Motorola has announced the Moto X Style for the Indian market. The phone will be available exclusively through Flipkart and pre-ordering starts from October 14, midnight. The Moto X Style has a 5.7-inch QHD IPS LCD, Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 processor, 3GB RAM, 16/32GB storage with microSD support, 21 megapixel rear camera with 4K video and phase detection autofocus, 5 megapixel front camera, front stereo speakers, water repellant coating, 3000mAh battery with Turbo Charging, and Android 5.1 Lollipop. The 16GB variant is priced at INR 29,999 ($462) and the 32GB at INR 31,999 ($493). The phone will only be available in black and white/champagne gold...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/motorola_launches_moto_x_style_in_india-news-14394.php

OnePlus 2 to be available in India sans invite on October 12

OnePlus has announced that its latest flagship, the OnePlus 2, will be available for purchase on Amazon India without any invite on October 12, which is coming Monday. However, the open sale will last for just one hour - 12:00 to 1 PM. "While we've alleviated the invite demand to a reasonable extent on account of faster roll-outs, we feel that we owe it to you all to make it a bit more convenient this time around," the Chinese smartphone manufacturer said in a blog post. It's worth mentioning that this would be the first open sale for the "2016 flagship killer" ever since it was released back in August this year. The handset, which went on sale in Malaysia last month, costs INR 25,000 (around $385) for the Sandstone Black variant...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/oneplus_one_to_be_available_in_india_sans_invite_on_october_12-news-14393.php

Lumia 950 will be AT&T exclusive after all, Microsoft confirms

Shortly after Microsoft announced its new Windows 10-powered Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL smartphones earlier this week, there were reports that the former will only be available through AT&T. However, it was later said that the deal isn't an exclusive one. Clearing the confusion, Microsoft has now issued a formal statement on the matter, confirming that the Lumia 950 will indeed be an AT&T exclusive, at-least for the near future. "We're refocusing our channel strategy, narrowing it in the short-term and planning for broader operator availability long-term," the Redmond, Washington-based company said. "While there was interest across the board from U.S. operators, currently we've made the decision to have AT&T carry the Lumia 950, and then sell both the Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL unlocked through our own channel in Microsoft stores. In Europe, Deutsche Telekom will carry the Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL, and we'll have more to share about other carriers shortly." Although initially, it was being said that an exclusive deal with AT&T is the only option Microsoft has because no other US carrier is interested in carrying the new Lumia flagship duo, that proved not to be the case after T-Mobile CEO John Legere confirmed that they are ready to sell the devices. To be clear: We did not turn down the new Windows devices. MSFT gave to AT&T. If @microsoft wakes up, we'll talk about @TMobile carrying— John Legere (@JohnLegere) October 8,...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/lumia_950_will_be_at_t_exclusive_after_all_microsoft_confirms-news-14392.php

Facebook Messenger update brings support for Apple Watch

Facebook Messenger has received an update, bumping it to version 38.0 and bringing some new features, including support for the Apple Watch. The update comes just a month after Apple announced that the Messenger app would soon be available on their smartwatch. As you can see in the image above, in addition to normal messages, Facebook Messenger on watchOS 2 also allows you to send and receive 'likes', voice clips, as well as stickers. Other features that the update brings along include the ability to find the app contacts and conversations from your phone's search screen (this is for iOS 9 only), as well as Messenger access from the list of multi-tasking apps on your iPad. The updated app is now available for download from the App Store (click the Source link below). Source | Image...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/facebook_messenger_update_brings_apple_watch_support-news-14391.php

Apple quietly begins selling unlocked iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus in the United States

Apple quietly began selling unlocked iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus in the United States. The SIM-free variants of the smartphones arrive on the market less than two weeks after the product family's retail launch. The SIM-free Apple Phone 6s sports the model number A1633. Its larger sibling features the model number A1634. Both devices require the buyer to pay their retail price in full at the time of purchase. The iPhone 6s starts at $649, while the iPhone 6s Plus will set you back $749 and up. Today, Apple will also launch the iPhone 6s family in a plethora of European markets, as well as Mexico and Taiwan. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/apple_quietly_begins_selling_unlocked_iphone_6s_and_iphone_6s_plus_in_the_united_states-news-14390.php

Skype is giving you 20 minutes of free calls to apologize for its big outage

On September 21, Skype suffered one of its worst outages in history. The extremely popular service for chatting and calling was down for many hours for most users, a development which obviously didn't go unnoticed. The Microsoft-owned company did eventually manage to get things under control again, and it's been smooth sailing ever since. Now though it looks like Skype is giving people 20 minutes of free calls as an apology for the outage. These are going to be available for 7 days since the moment you receive a message from the company detailing the promotion. You can use those minutes to call 60 landline and 8 mobile destinations across the world. "Sometimes saying sorry just isn't enough", Skype says, which is why it's cooked up this idea. Look for the free minutes to arrive in your account in the next few days. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/skype_is_giving_you_20_minutes_of_free_calls_to_apologize_for_its_big_outage-news-14389.php

Lenovo K3 Note review: Note for less

It was not that long ago that you could hardly get a feature phone for $150, and these days this amount gets you a ridiculously good smartphone like the Lenovo K3 Note. It's an affordable large-screen phablet with little compromise on the important stuff.

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/lenovo_k3_note-review-1319.php

OnePlus running pizza-style '60 minutes or free' delivery promotion for its One smartphone in India

Taking cue from some of the leading pizza delivery companies in the country, OnePlus has launched a promotional campaign in India under which the company is promising to deliver its One smartphone to customers within 60 minutes, else they'll get it for free. "Can you ever imagine receiving a smartphone in about the same time as you order a pizza? At OnePlus, we think it's possible," said Vikas Agarwal, General Manager - India, OnePlus. "At OnePlus we always look to challenge the status quo and wow our fans by making the user experience even better." "Therefore we are daring ourselves this time to deliver the original flagship - The OnePlus One - to our fans in Bengaluru who wish to own the phone, within the guaranteed 60 minutes or give it away for free." The Chinese smartphone manufacturer has partnered with Blowhorn - a local online marketplace for last mile logistics - for the promotion, which will run for 3 days - October 8, 9 and 10. To take advantage of the promotion, all you have to do is to place your order through the Blowhorn app, which is available for download from the Google Play Store. The 60-minute countdown begins once your order is accepted. And if due to any reason, the delivery gets delayed, you'll not have to shell out a single penny from you pocket and the phone will be yours. While the promotion is currently limited to Bengaluru, it will be expanded to other cities in the future, the company...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/oneplus_running_pizzastyle_60_minutes_or_free_delivery_promotion_for_its_one_smartphone_in_india-news-14387.php

Apple iPad Pro will be available to order in late October, rumor says

The (literally) biggest device Apple announced last month at its fall event was the iPad Pro. The 12.9-inch tablet is the largest Apple's ever made, and it's still not available to purchase unfortunately. That, however, may change towards the end of this month. According to certain unnamed sources that are said to be reliable, you'll be able to order an iPad Pro online starting in late October. That said, deliveries will probably start in early November. That's also when the iPad Pro will be up for grabs in physical stores, the same people go on to say. The exact same timeline apparently applies to the new Apple TV set top box too: like the tablet, it will be available online at the end of the month, with shipping starting in early November, which is also when it will be found in...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/apple_ipad_pro_will_be_available_to_order_in_late_october_rumor_says-news-14388.php

comScore: Apple is largest OEM, Android most popular mobile OS in the US

The latest US smartphone market stats for August are in, courtesy of market research firm comScore. A total of 191.1 million people in the US own a smartphone in the three month period ending in August, resulting in a 77.1% mobile market penetration. The analytic data shows that Apple is still the leading OEM in the US with 44.1% of the market, up 0.6 percent points from last month. It's followed by Samsung and LG with 27.4% and 9.1%, with the latter managing to grow its presence 0.9 percent points. Motorola and HTC are following with 4.7% and 3.4%, respectively. As for smartphone platform market share, Android is still the top dog, despite a small fall from the previous three month period. Now, Android takes 51.7% of the market, while Apple is at 44.1% after a 0.6 percent point rise. Microsoft's mobile OS is down slightly and is at 2.9%. comScore has also run an analysis on the top smartphone apps and Facebook is at the top, as it's installed on 3 out of 4 smartphones in the US. Next up is Facebook Messenger and YouTube at 59.8% and...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/comscore_apple_is_largest_oem_android_most_popular_mobile_os_in_the_us-news-14386.php

Belgian image sensor company Softkinetic is now part of the Sony family

News just got out about Sony's latest purchase - a Belgian image sensor technology company by the name of Softkinetic. Its business is be centered around 3D technology, from the development of CMOS 3D sensors and camera modules, through connecting middleware hardware and software, all the way to analyzing and mapping algorithms. No specifics about the deal have been disclosed and we can't really be certain where the new company fits in Sony's grand scheme, but the Japanese giant did roughly sketch out that the additional know-how will be put to good use in its thriving camera sensor division. Softkinetic's current tech is actually pretty impressive, despite its predominantly conceptual nature. The unifying technology behind the company's DepthSense products is a concept referred to as "Time-of-Flight". It entails measuring how long it takes for light to make the trip from the camera and back and then using said data for 3D special mapping. The whole Softkinetic platform is allegedly smart enough to understand human gestures and actions, down to the most subtle ones, as well as recognize shapes and objects. Hence, it will be quite interesting to see what Sony's intentions are for the company, especially now that the Japanese giant is pondering on the very future of its mobile business. Source 1 | Source 2 |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/belgian_image_sensor_company_softkinetic_is_now_part_of_the_sony_family-news-14385.php

Unofficial Samsung Galaxy J3 spotted with big upgrades over the J2

Hot on the heels of the J2 (announced just a month ago), the Samsung Galaxy J3 has already passed the Geekbench test. The phone offers a great deal of upgrades over the affordable Super AMOLED-packing Galaxy J2. The screen goes up to 5" 720p, though software measurements of the diagonal are inaccurate and this may still be a 4.7" screen. The resolution is a definite upgrade though, coming from 540 x 960px. Then the chipset - a Snapdragon 410 with a faster 64-bit Cortex-A53 processor. RAM and storage stay at 1GB and 8GB respectively. The camera on the Galaxy J3 should be much better, perhaps the biggest update over the original. An 8MP camera with 1080p video capture, plus a 5MP/1080p selfie camera. For reference, the main camera on the J2 was worse than the J3's selfie camera at 5MP/720p. The Galaxy J series had an entry level device (J1 then J2) and a high-end device (J7), but no mid-range. The Samsung Galaxy J3 could be just what the J lineup needs to fill that hole. Source 1 • Source 2 |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/unofficial_samsung_galaxy_j3_spotted_with_big_upgrades_over_the_j2-news-14384.php

BeatsPill+ is the first Beats speaker post Apple acquisition

You can't be a part of Apple and not have a Plus model, Beats Electronics will testify. The first product out of the company after the acquisition is the BeatsPill+ wireless speaker. Sporting an updated design compared to the Pill 2.0, the new model keeps the shape of its namesake, but has the controls on a flat top plate and the drivers firing forward instead of up at an angle. 63mm high, the Pill+ is 17mm taller than the Pill 2.0, and it's also 2cm longer. That doesn't prepare you for the 745g of heft - the thing is 2.4 times heavier than the 2.0. The stereo speaker has a 2-way crossover for a total of four drivers. The Pill+ connects wirelessly via Bluetooth, and if you pair it with a phone, you could use its speakerphone function. You can sync a couple of Pill-pluses and have each play a separate channel, or just have both pump out the same signal for more bang. BeatsPill+ speaker The battery inside Beats' latest creation should be good for up to 12 hours of playback, and when it dies you can charge it with the included AC adapter and USB-to-lightning cable. That's one of the most significant changes in the design, as the old model came with a standard microUSB connector, and the new one has a full-size USB and Lightning. As before, you can use the speaker to charge other devices. The BeatPill+ will be sold in black or white and has a MSRP of $229.95, but is yet unavailable for purchase. You can sign up on the company's site to get notified when that...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/beatspill__the_first_beats_speaker_post_apple_acquisition-news-14383.php

Sony is giving its mobile division a year to turn profitable or face a split

It's a dog-eat-dog world out there and a lot of industry pioneers and former titans, like Siemens and Nokia, for example, have all but disappeared from the handset scene. Others, like Sony have been struggling to stay relevant and afloat in the market. But being successful on a large scale and long-term means that you really have to address the weaker links in the system. Sony has been making strides in this respect and things seem to be turning around with the new lineup of Z5 premium phones, as well as solid mid-range offers like the M5, but things might not be moving fast enough. The company CEO Kazuo Hirai gave the mobile division a year or so to start bringing in a profit, before resorting to other measures: We will continue with the business as long as we are on track with the scenario of breaking even next year onwards, . Otherwise, we haven't eliminated the consideration of alternative options. While this statement definitely has a doomsday vibe, it doesn't necessarily mean that Sony's mobile business will disappear completely in twelve months or so. More likely, the division will be spun off like its PC business. Another viable survival path might be similar to Alcatel's current strategy of catering to carrier needs, rather than end users. But that seems a lot less likely, given Sony's current product vision. Still, Hirai remains hopeful: I do have a feeling that a turnaround in our electronics business has shown progress. The result of three years of restructuring are starting to . show,But we still need to carry out restructuring in smartphones. In any case, something should be done to improve Sony's mobile business, which currently has around 17.5% market share on its home turf in Japan, less than 1% in the US and is headed towards a huge operating loss for the current fiscal...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/sony_is_giving_its_mobile_division_a_year_to_turn_profitable_or_else_it_faces_an_uncertain_future-news-14382.php

InFocus M812 goes on sale for $300

US-based smartphone maker InFocus launches its latest flagship the M812 today in India. Available through Snapdeal, the phone costs $300 (INR 19,999) and packs quite the features for the price. The InFocus M812 is built around a 5.5" 1080p IPS display with Gorilla Glass 3 layer of protection. Beneath the aluminum unibody ticks a Snapdragon 801 chipset and 3GB of RAM. Internal storage is 16GB but sadly isn't backed by a microSD card slot for further expansion. At the back there's a 13MP shooter with a f/1.8 aperture and dual-tone flash. The front camera is 8MP. The phone boots with Android 5.0 Lollipop garnished with the InLife UI on top. Finally, check out the InFocus M812 promo video...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/infocus_m812_goes_on_sale_costs_300-news-14381.php

The PlayStation 4 gets a price cut to $350

There is nothing like a healthy competitive market to help deliver a constant stream of new and better deals to users and few modern businesses know this better than the gaming industry. Keeping a console fresh, relevant and appealing is no easy task, especially with the hardware's extended life span so constant bundles, exclusives and price drops definitely seem to be the way to go. In keeping with this tradition, starting tomorrow (October 10) the PlayStation 4 gets a new permanent price cut down to $349.99 (that is for the base 500GB model). This comes alongside the release of Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection, which will be bundled with the console. Besides the US, the price cuts will be carried over to Canada where the same bundle will go for the equivalent CAD 429.99. If you were keeping a close eye on Sony then this new price drop comes as no surprise, as it does follow a previous permanent discount in Japan. Also, this effectively brings the price of the PlayStation 4 to Xbox One levels once again, leaving the two consoles to battle it out based on performance, exclusive titles and functions alone. The next scheduled bundles for the PS4 are said to come in mid-November, with titles like Star Wars Battlefront and Disney Infinity 3.0: Star Wars. For more details, check out the chart below. Bundle (Release Date) Current Price (MSRP) New Price (MSRP) (effective 10/9) UNCHARTED: The Nathan Drake Collection PS4 Bundle (10/9) US$399.99 / CA$449.99 US$349.99 / CA$429.99 Limited Edition Call of Duty: Black Ops III 1TB PS4 Bundle (11/6) US$449.99 / CA$549.99 US$429.99 / CA$499.99 Limited Edition Disney Infinity 3.0: Star Wars PS4 Bundle (11/13) US$449.99 / CA$549.99 US$399.99 / CA$469.99 Limited Edition Star Wars Battlefront PS4 Bundle (11/17) US$449.99 / CA$549.99 US$399.99 / CA$469.99 Star Wars Battlefront PS4 Bundle (11/17) US$399.99 / CA$449.99 US$349.99 / CA$429.99 NHL 16 PS4 Bundle (Available now, Canada...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/the_playstation_4_now_goes_for_350_in_the_us_and_canada-news-14380.php

iPhone 6s: Samsung and TSMC A9 chips yield different battery life

The Apple iPhone 6s/6s Plus pair has been available for two weeks now and initial hype around its new camera and 3D Touch is starting to wear off. Curious minds are now digging deeper and are looking into the difference between the Samsung and TSMC A9 chips in terms of performance and battery life. The Samsung-made piece is manufactured on a 14nm production line, while TSMC employed a 16nm process. Teardowns revealed the former to measure 96 sq.mm, and the latter is a bit larger at 104.5 sq.mm. All that would lead you to believe the Samsung A9 to be more efficient, but in practice that appears not to be the case. A couple of folks have rounded up a number of iPhones with different chips and done some comparison tests with results that are rather startling at first, but not all that disturbing in the end. For example, running GeekBench parallel on two devices with identical settings shows the Samsung chip to be 33% less efficient than its TSMC counterpart. Or if you spin it the other way around, the TSMC will last up to 50% longer than the Samsung. In consecutive runs of GeekBench, that is, which is an isolated CPU benchmark and in no way representative of actual use. An hour-long YouTube video playback test results in 15% vs. 14% drop in battery level for the two respective chips, well within the margin of error for such a short test. Another YouTuber has attempted a more life-like usage scenario for his comparison. The test kicks off with a 30-minute timelapse recording, which leaves the Samsung-equipped iPhone 6s at 84%, while the TSMC one is at 89%. Ten minutes of 4K video capture later, both phones are down an additional 9%, and an iMovie export of the same 4K video leaves the two devices at 60% vs. 66%. It couldn't go without some GeekBenching but in this case it was from a performance point of view and the TSMC model scores marginally higher. No difference is found between the two when subjected to a GPU-focused GFXBench Metal, and after the entire ordeal the iPhone 6s with a Samsung chip inside is left with 55% of juice, while the other one shows 62%. There's an app in the App Store called Lirum that can tell you the model of the chipset you got, but this can only happen post-purchase. In the end, there's no way of knowing, which one you're getting before you actually buy it. That said, unless your smartphone use is dominated by timelapse recordings (whose isn't), it shouldn't make much difference for purposes practical. Source 1 Source...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/iphone_6s_samsung_and_tsmc_a9_chips_yield_different_battery_life-news-14379.php

Nexus 6P will be exclusively sold by SoftBank in Japan

The Huawei-made Google Nexus 6P smartphone, which was made official last week along with the LG-made Nexus 5X, will be carrier exclusive to SoftBank in Japan. The carrier will begin taking pre-orders for the device on October 9 - tomorrow. What's good is that you'll also be able to pre-order the Japan-exclusive Gold color model of the handset (shown above), although only in the 64GB configuration. The model is officially called Nexus 6P Special Edition. Another thing worth mentioning is that none of the colors will be available in the 128GB configuration. Meanwhile, both NTT and Y!Mobile will sell the Nexus 5X - while the former will carry only Quartz and Carbon color options, the latter will offer Ice variant as well. There is currently no word from any of the carriers on the pricing of the devices. Via 1...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/nexus_6p_will_be_exclusively_sold_by_softbank_in_japan-news-14378.php

Report: Hackers using LinkedIn to connect with potential victims

Cybersecurity firm Dell SecureWorks published a report yesterday revealing that they discovered a network of fake LinkedIn profiles which they say belonged to an Iran-based hacker group known as Threat Group-2889 (TG-2889). A total of 25 such profiles were identified. While a few among them were those of "leaders" (who claimed they held top positions in industries like technology, banking, and oil), others were supporting personas (those who supported and lend credibility to "leaders"), the report noted. Of the more than 200 legitimate LinkedIn profiles that were found to be connected to these fake ones, majority belonged to those who worked in the middle-east, especially in the telecommunications sector. The remaining belonged to those working for governments and defense organizations. When reached out for comment, a LinkedIn spokesperson said that all fake profiles have since been...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/report_hackers_using_linkedin_to_connect_with_potential_victims-news-14376.php

Gionee launches Elife E8 in India

Gionee has launched its flagship device - the Elife E8 - in the Indian market. The phone is priced at INR 34,999 ($539) and will be sold exclusively through Snapdeal. This is the first time Gionee will be selling any of its devices officially through an online retailer in India. The Elife E8 has a 6.0-inch, QHD AMOLED display, MediaTek Helio X10 chipset, 3GB RAM, 64GB storage, 24 megapixel rear camera with OIS and phase detection autofocus, 4K video, 8 megapixel front camera with autofocus, fingerprint sensor, 3500mAh battery, and Android 5.1 Lollipop. The phone will be available starting October...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/gionee_launches_elife_e8_in_india-news-14377.php

Zuckerberg says net-neutrality principles not relevant for Internet access

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has said that net-neutrality principles are not relevant for Internet access. He made the comment at a conference hosted by Vanity Fair magazine. "If an operator wants to advantage their own video program and charge more for Netflix, then that is bad," he said, adding that "if you're a student in India and you're getting access to some basic tools to do your homework for free and you can learn some more, it's really hard to see how that is hurting anyone." He also pushed for universal Web access, saying that it is one of the "fundamental challenges of our generation." This comes just a couple of weeks after the social networking company changed the name of its Internet.org app to Free Basics. For the uninitiated, Facebook's Internet.org initiative aims to bring affordable Internet to the 5 billion people in the world who otherwise can't access it. However, the initiative has been facing net-neutrality concerns. Via | Image...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/zuckerberg_says_netneutrality_principles_not_relevant_for_internet_access-news-14375.php

Kantar: Windows Phone market share rises in several countries

Market research firm Kantar WorldPanel has released its latest report on mobile operating system market share. The report, which covers the 3 months ending August, reveals that Windows Phone's share has increased in several countries around the world. As you can see in the image above, the countries where Windows Phone has seen its market share increase considerably include Germany, France, and Australia, where the share has risen 3.6, 3.2, and 2.3%, respectively. "Windows Phone share has experienced some growth in France, Germany, and Australia, and maintained share elsewhere, but we have not seen any major impact on the overall market, despite some aggressive price points," said Carolina Milanesi, chief of research at Kantar Worldpanel ComTech. "At the Windows 10 New York launch on October 6, we saw Microsoft refocused on offering a companion phone for users of Windows 10, and enterprise-class devices to IT departments - a more modest goal perhaps, but certainly a more realistic...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/windows_phone_market_share_rises_in_several_countries-news-14374.php

Hackers attacked LoopPay, a Samsung subsidiary that helped develop Samsung Pay

According to a New York Times report, Chinese hackers in March this year infiltrated the computer systems of LoopPay, a company which was acquired by Samsung just the prior month and helped develop the South Korean firm's mobile payments service Samsung Pay. As per the report, it was only in August - which means after a long gap of 5 months - that the hack was discovered. LoopPay executives said that the hackers, popularly known as the Codoso Group or Sunshock Group, were apparently after the company's Magnetic Secure Transmission (MST) technology. It's worth mentioning that MST is central to Samsung's mobile payments service, which launched in the US just last week. Both companies said they were confident that the hack did not affect Samsung Pay in any way, and that's why the service's US launch wasn't delayed. "Samsung Pay was not impacted and at no point was any personal payment information at risk," said Samsung's chief privacy officer Darlene Cedres. "This was an isolated incident that targeted the LoopPay corporate network, which is a physically separate network. The LoopPay corporate network issue was resolved immediately and had nothing to do with Samsung Pay." While law enforcement wasn't involved as LoopPay claims no data or information was stolen, the Massachusetts-based firm did hire a couple of private forensic teams that are still investigating the...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/hackers_attacked_looppay_a_samsung_subsidiary_that_helped_develop_samsung_pay-news-14373.php

Google for iOS updated with the ability to play GIFs in image search results

Google has updated its iOS app, bumping it to version 9.0 and brining a few new features, including some interesting ones such as the ability to play GIFs. The updated app now lets you tap and play animated GIFs in image search results, something which is not only convenient but also saves you some time. In addition, you can now also add a photo or review for your favorite local places, as well as get map results right within the app whenever you search for an address. The updated app is now available for download from the App Store. This comes just over a month after an update brought along a couple of new features - always-active OK Google and improved local search results - to the app. Source | Image...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/google_for_ios_updated_with_the_ability_to_play_gifs_in_image_search_results-news-14372.php

Samsung's giant Galaxy View tablet approved by FCC

The Samsung Galaxy View tablet, which was recently spotted at GFXBench, has been approved by the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The device carries a model name of SM-T677A. If you take a look at the sketch of the back of the tablet (see image above), you'll notice that there's an AT&T logo in the top middle, suggesting that the slate is designed to work with AT&T's network. Other details like the letter 'A' in the name (along with the list of supported LTE bands) also reportedly confirm that the Galaxy View is headed to the carrier. In addition, the sketch also confirms that the device will feature stereo speakers on its back. FCC documents also reveal that the tablet will have a width of 447 mm, height of 272 mm, and a diagonal size of 513 mm. The screen would be about 18.6-inches. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsungs_giant_galaxy_view_tablet_clears_fcc-news-14371.php

WhatsApp content backup to Google Drive finally becomes official

A new feature of WhatsApp that lets you back up all your content from the messaging app to Google Drive has been in testing for many months now. It worked for some people on certain versions of WhatsApp back in April, for example, but not everyone got this ability enabled. Now it turns out that those who did may have either used beta versions of the messenger, or were simply lucky to be randomly selected to test this feature. That's because WhatsApp content backup to Google Drive only (finally) became official today. What's even stranger is that this has happened through an announcement by Google, not WhatsApp - and not Facebook, the owner of the messenger. Anyway, as you'd expect the feature lets you back up all of your WhatsApp content to Google's cloud service. So when you change your phone you'll be able to pull all your past chats from Google Drive and use WhatsApp as you did on the old device. For an online service, this is one thing that has surely been missed so far. You can choose whether the backups should contain videos, but chat history, voice messages, and photos are always included. You pick the frequency from daily, weekly, or monthly. Oh, and there's a "never" setting too in case you simply don't want to back anything up. Unfortunately the rollout for this is expected to take several months for whatever reason. So we may be well into 2016 when you can finally take advantage of the backup option, depending on how lucky you are (or...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/whatsapp_content_backup_to_google_drive_finally_becomes_official-news-14370.php

LG V10 arrives in South Korea first, available tomorrow for $693

After many leaks and rumors, LG finally made the V10 official at the beginning of this month, and now it's almost ready to become available. The smartphone with two screens and two front-facing cameras will go on sale in LG's native South Korea first, starting tomorrow. It will be priced at KRW 799,700, which right now translates into $693 or €616. That makes it a premium offering when it comes to price, but given how things work in the mobile world we wouldn't be surprised if it was going to be slightly cheaper in the US. Speaking of which, there's still no telling when the V10 will arrive in any market outside of South Korea. In LG's home country there will be a version of the V10 on offer from each of the three carriers over there. And if you buy one before October 31, you'll get some freebies such as a second battery and a battery charger. Perhaps this promotion will make its way to other countries too when the V10 launches. The LG V10 has a 5.7-inch QHD touchscreen, a 2.1-inch 160x1,040 secondary display, a 16 MP main camera with OIS, laser autofocus, and LED flash, two 5 MP cameras for selfies, Qualcomm's Snapdragon 808 at the helm, 4GB of RAM, 64GB of expandable storage, and a 3,000 mAh battery. It runs Android 5.1.1 Lollipop. Source (in Japanese) | Via 1 (in Romanian) • Via...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/lg_v10_arrives_in_south_korea_first_available_tomorrow_for_693-news-14369.php

Asus will launch a ZenPad tablet in India on October 9

In just two short days from now, Asus is set to launch a new tablet in India. This will be part of its ZenPad line which made its official worldwide debut in June. Since then we've seen the ZenPad S go on sale in the US, and it or one of its siblings may now be headed to the Indian market. The image you can see below is a teaser posted by Asus' Indian arm on its Twitter account, basically confirming the launch date. The tablet in the teaser looks like it could be either the ZenPad 8 or the ZenPad 7, but unfortunately Asus hasn't posted more details yet. All should thankfully be revealed on October 9, so only a little bit more patience is required. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/asus_will_launch_a_zenpad_tablet_in_india_on_october_9-news-14367.php

Sony Xperia Z5 Compact review: The overachiever

When it comes to the Compact family, Sony has quite a reputation to live up to. The Z3 Compact is arguably one of the company's most-successful models.

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/sony_xperia_z5_compact-review-1318.php

Caviar's new Putinphone is based on the iPhone 6s

Russian phone customization company Caviar is back at it again, with yet another version of the Putinphone. The update was necessary of course, since Apple has launched a new iPhone. So, predictably, the new Putinphone is based on the iPhone 6s. You get the same internals, but a totally different exterior, as you'd expect. Vladimir Putin's face is encrusted in gold on the back, as are a few lines from the Russian national anthem, and in between them sits the presidential emblem. All of the gold elements described above contrast with the "restrained and somewhat muted" titanium base used for the phone's back. The color, texture, and strength characteristics of titanium apparently all accurately reflect "the essence of a strong, invincible and strong-willed character, inherent to the person who never gives up". The new Putinphone's official name is Caviar Ti Gold Supremo Putin «Anniversario Edizione 63», and it's called that in honor of the birthday of the Russian president. Only 63 units will be made. The price is RUB 199,000 ($3,174 or €2,822 at the current rates) for the 64GB model, while the 128GB version goes for RUB 209,000 ($3,334 or €2,964). If you order such a device, you will receive it inside the "luxurious" wooden case you see above. You also get a free car charger. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/caviars_new_putinphone_is_based_on_the_iphone_6s-news-14368.php

Barnes & Noble unveils the 9.6-inch Samsung Galaxy Tab E Nook

Book store chain Barnes & Noble has announced the latest tablet in its Nook line today. And like the last few offerings to bear the Nook brand, this is also nothing more than a rebranded Samsung tablet. The new model is the Galaxy Tab E Nook, and it's based on the 9.6-inch Galaxy Tab E. It comes with Nook Profiles, which let you customize the on-device experience for any family member. Lots of relevant kid-friendly content is promised, so parents shouldn't have a hard time finding stuff for their children. Of course the tablet comes with the Nook store preinstalled, which boasts over 4 million books, 110,000 children's books, and 100 bestselling US magazines available for subscriptions or single sales. If you buy a Galaxy Tab E Nook before the end of the year, you'll get $5 in credit to build your Nook library. And if you trade-in another tablet, you can save up to $200. The Galaxy Tab E Nook is priced at $249.99, and you can find it in Barnes & Noble stores and online. If you trade-in an old Nook device you'll get $50 off, and if you trade-in "select iPad, Kindle, and Samsung tablets" you'll receive a $25-200 credit, potentially lowering the price of the new device all the way to $49.99. The hardware is identical to what you can find in the non-Nook branded Samsung Galaxy Tab E 9.6. So you get a 9.6-inch 1,280x800 touchscreen, a 5 MP rear camera, 2 MP front-facing unit, 1.3 GHz quad-core processor, 1.5GB of RAM, 16GB of expandable storage, and a 5,000 mAh...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/barnes___noble_unveils_the_96inch_samsung_galaxy_tab_e_nook-news-14366.php

Samsung rumored to implement in-house GPU in 2017-2018

It's not news that Samsung is building its own GPU to complement home-grown Mongoose CPU cores already in testing. It's the only logical step after in-house SoCs have evolved from a regional option to a global chipset of choice with the Exynos 7420 in the entire 2015 flagship lineup. According to a Korean source outed on Chinese social site Weibo, this said new GPU will make it to production devices in 2017 or 2018. We're looking at a Galaxy S8/S9 here, unless Samsung decides to abandon its current naming scheme, or changes the update cycle. There's an intermediate step before it gets there, though, and that's HAS or Heterogeneous System Architecture. The concept relies on integrating the CPU and GPU on the same bus which will result in a significant graphics performance boost and overall speed improvements. This step of the roadmap still includes ARM's standard Mali GPUs. Mind you, a few months ago insiders claimed that Samsung is pushing in-house GPUs some 5 years further down the road, so who do we believe now? Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_rumored_to_implement_inhouse_gpu_in_20172018-news-14365.php

The Samsung Galaxy S7 might actually have three processor variants

Although still quite a few months away, the Galaxy S7 is already exciting the tech world and stirring up controversy. Samsung reassured fans that the absence of a Qualcomm chipset in the S6 lineup isn't the end of the two parties partnership and by all accounts it seem that the Korean giant's next flagship will once again have a Snapdragon version, probably the Snapdragon 820. In a new development, however, the S7 might actually come with three different chipset options. One of those should be the Exynos 8890 - already spotted in a few benchmark scores. According to an industry source, the third option will also be an in-house chip - the Exynos 7422. You might remember that it was initially rumored to power the Note5, but that never came to pass. Still, it appears that Samsung hasn't abandoned the project and might equip the Indian version of the Galaxy S7 with it. Presumably with the added bonus of a lower price tag. As for the Snapdragon 820, it is said to hit China and US markets, leaving the Exynos 8899 in Korea, Japan and Europe. If this comes to pass, it will be a Samsung first and could potentially add a lot of confusion to the next Galaxy flagship, which will almost certainly also be offered in an edged variant. There has even been talk of a 5.7-inch Galaxy S7 variant, but that seems quite unlikely, as it would effectively collide markets with the Note...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/the_samsung_galaxy_s7_might_actually_have_three_processor_variants-news-14363.php

Huawei announces Honor 7 and Honor Z1 Band in India

Huawei has announced the Honor 7 for the Indian market. The phone is priced at INR 22,999 ($354) and will be available exclusively through Flipkart starting October 15. The Honor 7 has a full metal body, 5.2-inch Full HD LCD, HiSilicon Kirin 935 processor with octa-core (2.2GHz Cortex-A53 x 4 + 1.5GHz Cortex-A53 x 4) CPU and Mali-T628 MP4 GPU, 3GB RAM, 16GB storage with microSD support, 20 megapixel rear camera (Sony IMX230) with phase detection autofocus and two-tone LED flash, 1080p video, 8 megapixel front camera, 3100mAh battery, and fingerprint sensor. Huawei is also launching the Honor Band Z1 in India, which is priced at INR 5,499 ($85). It's a fitness band with a circular OLED display, dust and water resistance, and works with both, iOS and Android. The Band Z1 will be available by the end of...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/huawei_announces_honor_7_and_honor_z1_band_in_india-news-14364.php

10,000 Xperia Z3 and Z3 Compact owners can test drive Android Marshmallow

This way for the Marshmallow trial. Sony's Concept for Android initiative will allow 10,000 Xperia Z3 and Xperia Z3 Compact owners to beta test Android's new major version. The new software is built on feedback Sony received from the initiative launched earlier this year. If you want in, you'll have to check in with the Concept Sign-up app. It's first come, first serve so there's an element of urgency. Note that the test is limited to select European countries: Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Iceland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, United Kingdom, Ireland or Germany. If you're selected for the test, you'll get a notification in the next few weeks. The software should start rolling out soon after that. Sony plans to update the Z3 family (including the Tablet Compact), the Xperia Z2 and Z2 Tablet and several other devices to Android 6.0...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/10000_xperia_z3_and_z3_compact_owners_can_test_drive_android_marshmallow-news-14362.php