Google Keep for iOS gets Notification Center widget and share sheet support

Google has pushed a small update for the Google Keep app on iOS, that adds a couple of useful features. The app now has a Notification Center widget, which lets you quickly create notes from the notifications itself without first opening the app, and even access recently created notes. The app also has support for share sheet, which means you can now mark text in Safari, for example, and then send it to Keep using the iOS share feature, and the text will be added to a new note in the app. Lastly, the app also lets you copy notes to Google Docs. Just open a note and select the Google Drive option from the drop down...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/google_keep_for_ios_gets_notification_center_widget_and_share_sheet_support-news-14897.php

Rumored HTC One X9 sporting 23MP camera and QHD display leaks out

Less than a month after HTC launched the highly anticipated One A9 smartphone, a new handset from the company has been leaked online. Dubbed One X9, the rumored device reportedly carries a model number of E56 and will cost RMB 2,999 (around $470). Specs-wise, from what the leak suggests, the smartphone will be either powered by Qualcomm's upcoming Snapdragon 820 SoC or Mediatek's deca-core Helio X20 chipset, and sport a QHD display, although size isn't known yet. The handset will have 4GB RAM and 64GB/128GB internal memory options, although it could also be launched with 3GB/32GB configuration to bring down the price. In terms of camera, the One X9 will sport a 23MP rear unit and a 4MP front shooter. Featuring a metal body and including dual HTC BoomSound speakers on the front, the device will pack in a 3,500mAh battery. Needless to say, none of this has been officially confirmed by the Taiwanese company, so take all of this with a healthy dose of...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/rumored_htc_one_x9_sporting_23mp_camera_and_qhd_display_leaks_out_-news-14888.php

18.4-inch Samsung Galaxy View tablet now available in the US

Samsung Galaxy View, the company's odd 18.4-inch device to bridge the gap between your regular-sized tablet and your TV, is now available for purchase in the US. It can be ordered from several outlets, including Samsung's own official website, though some differences in shipping dates are observed. If you buy it from the manufacturer, it'll take 3 to 5 days to get sent out, Amazon will have it in stock on November 14, while B&H is still quiet on availability. BestBuy is apparently the way to go, if you want to be among the first to grab the kitchen tablet - it can have one out of its warehouse tomorrow, not to mention it has it in stores. It's a whole different matter who at BestBuy decided the Galaxy View runs on Windows 10, so as to slap a screenshot of Microsoft's OS on top of it. Whichever way you choose of procuring the tablet, it'll cost you $600 minus a cent. For that, you'd be getting a FullHD 18.4-inch LCD display, Exynos 7580 chipset, 2GB of RAM and 32GB of expandable storage. And a kickstand with a handle. Source 1 2 3 4 |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/184inch_samsung_galaxy_view_tablet_now_available_in_the_us-news-14895.php

Apple Watch now available in India

The Apple Watch is finally available in the Indian market, just in time for the Indian festival Diwali when sales are high. All three variants of the Apple Watch will be available in India. The base Apple Watch Sports starts at INR 30,900 ($467) for the 38mm model and INR 34,900 ($529) for the 48MM model. The standard 38mm Apple Watch with Sport Band is priced at INR 48,900 ($740) and the 42mm Classic Buckle model is priced at INR 60,900 ($921). The 18 carat rose gold Apple Watch Edition with White Sports Band is priced at an eye-watering INR 820,000 for the 38mm model ($12411) and INR 990,000 ($14,984) for the 42mm model. The prices go all the way to INR 1,420,000 ($21,492) for the most expensive model. The prices in India are higher than the US ones due to the weaker Rupee and because they are inclusive of all taxes. The watches are currently available on Flipkart, although only a handful of variants are available there. For the full range you will have to visit your nearest Apple...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/apple_watch_now_available_in_india-news-14896.php

Shipments for some HTC One A9 color variants are getting delayed in the US

HTC was supposed to begin One A9 shipments in the first week of this month. However, a quick look at the device's official online listing reveals that some color variants will be delayed. As you can see in the screenshot above, HTC says that T-Mobile & ATT orders for Gray & Silver unlocked variants will ship on November 10, while Sprint orders for the models will begin shipping later in the month. Similarly, Gold unlocked One A9 for T-Mobile and AT&T will start shipping in late November, but the Sprint model will arrive only in mid-December. And finally, Red unlocked model for T-Mobile and ATT will begin shipping early December, while Sprint orders for the variant will ship in mid-December. Apparently, HTC is compensating users for the delay - according to a tip we received, the Taiwanese company sent out emails announcing the delay in shipments, and saying that they are making up for it by offering "25% off of accessories to protect and personalize your new phone." However, we aren't sure whether it's an isolated case or not. If you're planning to purchase the handset now, keep in mind that its price has been revised starting today - available for $499 now, up from its promotional price of $399. Thanks John for the...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/htc_one_a9_shipments_in_us_getting_delayed-news-14892.php

OPPO R7s goes on pre-order in Malaysia; Rose Gold variant also on offer

The Oppo R7s, the latest member in the company's R7 family of smartphones which was made official last month during GITEX in Dubai, is now up for pre-order in Malaysia. The device is now listed on Oppo's official Malaysia website carrying a RM 1,898 (around $435) price tag, and you can pre-order it without paying anything upfront. The pre-order period begins today and ends November 22. As for color options, the handset is available in Gold as well as limited edition Rose Gold, although the shipment time for the latter is listed as December. Another thing worth mentioning here is that if your pre-order is among the first 500 received by the Chinese company, you'll also get a free VOOC car charger along with the...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/oppo_r7s_goes_on_preorder_in_malaysia_rose_gold_variant_also_on_offer-news-14890.php

3RDi is a headband that puts a camera on your forehead

Capturing your action-packed life with a GoPro strapped to your head is neither the most comfortable experience, nor is it exactly high fashion. Well, aiming to address two two issues (and sort of succeeding with the first), a company called 3RDiTEK has come up with the 3RDi camera. The device is a headband with a built-in camera module on the front. It pairs via Bluetooth with a smartphone, where it offloads its footage, and is operated with touch controls on the frame - tap for a still image, slide to start a video recording. Video is where the 3RDi (get it, "third eye"?) is aimed, as it's resolution is only 1080p, so at this point you can forget about high-res photos. The early prototypes are still rather basic, but future 3RDi's will have a microSD port, a flash and a mic, and more stylish design, company founder says. 3RDiTEK is funding its idea on Indiegogo, with early backers getting the thing at a bargain $194 price, compared to its eventual $400 retail price tag. Don't get too excited though, as the 3RDi won't start shipping until Q4 2016, a full year from now. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/3rdi_is_a_head_band_that_puts_a_camera_on_your_forehead-news-14893.php

LG Class arrives in Europe as LG Zero with $320 price tag

Back in September this year, LG launched its first metal-clad smartphone Class in its home country of South Korea. The device has now landed in Europe, although with a different name: LG Zero. The handset is, however, currently only available in Italy, where it is being offered in gold and silver color options, and carries a price tag of €299 (around $320). This compares to the KRW 399,300 (around $345) price tag the mid-ranger carries in South Korea. As for its availability in the US, while there has been no official confirmation from LG, the usually reliable leakster @evleaks had revealed in September-end that the smartphone will be available on AT&T, although there was no word on when and at what cost. Source (Italian) | Via 1 (translated)...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/lg_class_arrives_in_europe_as_lg_zero-news-14889.php

Xiaomi Mi Band 1S unveiled with a heart-rate sensor for less than $16

Xiaomi's long-awaited and oft-leaked update to the popular Mi Band has been officially revealed. The new Mi Band 1S adds an important feature, missing in the predecessor, and that's a heart-rate monitor. Making for a more complete activity tracker, the optical heart-rate sensor adds to the already available step counter and sleep monitor. Existing features like vibrating/LED notifications have been retained, naturally. The Mi Band 1S will also still be able to unlock your phone when within range, while others will be prompted for a password. Measuring a slightly different 37 x 13.6 x 9.9mm, the Mi Band 1S may not fit in the existing bracelets, if you've piled up different colors from the old version (36 x 14 x 9mm). The new model also weighs a half a gram more than the 5.0 of the Mi Band. An IP67 rating for dust and water protection has been kept too. Xiaomi Mi Band 1S The same 45mAh battery is inside the 1S, and while the previous model carried a 30-day endurance promise, we imagine the heart-rate sensor will take a significant toll on it, if used often enough. The Mi Band 1S will be available in China starting November 11 for a price of CNY99, or just short of $16. The two models will be sold simultaneously, the original Mi Band priced at CNY 69 ($11). Source 1 Source 2 |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_mi_band_1s_unveiled_with_a_heartrate_sensor_for_less_than_16-news-14891.php

Rumored HTC One X9 sporting 23MP camera and 2K display leaks out

Less than a month after HTC launched the highly anticipated One A9 smartphone, a new handset from the company has been leaked online. Dubbed One X9, the rumored device reportedly carries a model number of E56 and will cost RMB 2,999 (around $470). Specs-wise, from what the leak suggests, the smartphone will be either powered by Qualcomm's upcoming Snapdragon 820 SoC or Mediatek's deca-core Helio X20 chipset, and sport a 2K display, although size isn't known yet. The handset will have 4GB RAM and 64GB/128GB internal memory options, although it could also be launched with 3GB/32GB configuration to bring down the price. In terms of camera, the One X9 will sport a 23MP rear unit and a 4MP front shooter. Featuring a metal body and including dual HTC BoomSound speakers on the front, the device will pack in a 3,500mAh battery. Needless to say, none of this has been officially confirmed by the Taiwanese company, so take all of this with a healthy dose of...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/rumored_htc_one_x9_sporting_23mp_camera_and_2k_display_leaks_out_-news-14888.php

Trade-in an iPhone 5/5s and get big discounts on Samsung flagships in Russia

Samsung is reportedly offering big discounts on the 32GB and 64GB variants of its Galaxy S6 edge+ and Galaxy Note5 flagships, respectively, in Russia - all you have to do is to trade-in an iPhone 5/5s. While the discount offered on the former is RUB 10,000 (around $155), the price of the latter gets reduced by RUB 15,000 (around $235). Those who do not have an iPhone 5 or 5s, but own a Galaxy Note II, Note 3, Note 4, Note Edge, S4, or Galaxy S5 instead, can also avail the offer - the discount offered on the flagships remains the same. Via...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/deal_tradein_an_iphone_5_5s_and_get_big_discounts_on_samsung_flagships_in_russia-news-14886.php

HTC A9w with octa-core CPU and 5-inch display certified by TENAA

A new HTC smartphone has been spotted listed on the website of Chinese certification and regulatory authority TENAA. Dubbed A9w, the handset is quite similar to the newly-launched One A9 in both looks as well as specifications. The listing reveals that the device is powered by an octa-core 1.5GHz processor (should be Snapdragon 617), and sports a 5-inch AMOLED display with 1920×1080 pixels resolution. It comes with 2GB RAM and 16GB expandable internal memory. In terms of camera, the A9w features a 13MP rear unit and a 4MP front shooter. Weighing in at 143gms and measuring 145.75 × 70.8 × 7.26 (mm), the device runs Android 6.0 Marshmallow out-of-the-box. Connectivity options include Bluetooth, USB, GSM, TD-SCDMA, TD-LTE, LTE FDD, WCDMA, GPS, WLAN, while color options include charcoal gray, silver, gold, garnet color, etching gold, and iron black. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/htc_a9w_with_sd_617_and_5inch_display_certified_by_tenaa-news-14887.php

BlackBerry starts shipping Priv, offering free accessories as a thank you gesture

If you've pre-ordered a BlackBerry Priv directly from the company, you'll be glad to know that the device has started shipping - if not already, you'll be receiving an email from the company notifying the same. This means that you'll be receiving your unit shortly, although BlackBerry hasn't shared a specific timeline. In the email, the company also said that customers will also be getting free accessories as a thank you gesture. "As a thank you for buying from ShopBlackBerry, you will receive a complimentary PRIV slide-out hard shell case and a premium in-vehicle charger. Once your PRIV has been shipped, you will receive an email detailing how to redeem these accessories," BlackBerry said. If you aren't already aware, the Android-powered Priv is already available for purchase in the US from...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/blackberry_starts_shipping_priv_offering_free_accessories_as_a_thank_you_gesture-news-14885.php

BlackBerry Priv to arrive on Verizon soon, carrier confirms

BlackBerry Priv is now available for purchase in the US, although among carriers, only AT&T is currently selling it. However, for those on Verizon waiting for the handset, here is some good news: the carrier has confirmed that it will be carrying the device "soon." PRIV™ by BlackBerry. The first-ever BlackBerry powered by Android. Coming soon. https://t.co/xsZRn0ukN0 pic.twitter.com/QkZts5de11— Verizon News (@VerizonNews) November 6, 2015 The confirmation came in the form of a tweet (shown above) sent out by the company's @VerizonNews Twitter account. Interested users can now also sign up for updates related to the Verizon variant on the carrier's website (head to the Source link at the bottom). This comes just a week after a BlackBerry Priv was spotted online running on Verizon's network, although nothing could be deduced at that time as it was just a random...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/blackberry_priv_verizon_variant_coming_soon_carrier_confirms-news-14884.php

Facebook for iOS now previews Apple Music and Spotify songs in News Feed

Facebook wants people to share more music on its social network, it seems. Hence, the company is launching a new feature today, for now only in its iOS app. It's called Music Stories, and it's an enhanced way of showing songs and albums shared from Spotify or Apple Music in the Facebook News Feed. Such tracks and albums will be emphasized in the News Feed, and you'll be able to listen to a 30-second preview of the shared item without leaving Facebook. The preview is streamed from Apple Music or Spotify, depending on which service was used to share the song or album. If you like what you hear, you can buy from or save the shared song or album to the respective music service. Music Stories should support additional services soon. Unfortunately though, there's no word on when this feature might make it to Facebook's Android app. So that could take a while, if it ever...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/facebook_for_ios_now_previews_apple_music_and_spotify_songs_in_news_feed-news-14859.php

Pebble Time Round becomes available on November 8

Pebble announced its first round smartwatch back in September, yet it's still not out. That's all set to change very soon, as the company has just unveiled the official release date for the wearable. The Pebble Time Round will be available on November 8 at Best Buy, Target, Amazon, as well as through Pebble's own online store. Target and Best Buy will have it in physical stores too. The price remains the same $249 set when the Pebble Time Round first got official. If you've pre-ordered the smartwatch, you should know that shipments for pre-orders will commence on November 8 too. The Pebble Time Round comes with a 64-color always-on e-paper display. The wearable is 7.5mm thin and it weighs just 28g. Hence, it's apparently the world's thinnest and lightest smartwatch. It has a splash-resistant chassis, "days-long battery life", and "minutes-quick charging". It's available with two band sizes, 14mm and 20mm, in black, silver, or a special edition Rose Gold (which can only be paired with 14mm...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/pebble_time_round_becomes_available_on_november_8-news-14858.php

HTC One A9 full length commercial released

HTC has received a lot of flack for designing its new HTC One A9 to look like an iPhone 6, to which HTC responded that Apple was the one who copied HTC's unibody metal design cues from the One series. Ironically, HTC made an ad that tells its viewers to be different and stand out. The commercial below shows a bunch of people breaking away from conforming to society while inserting text titles reading: "BE BRILLIANT", "BE BOLD", "BE DIFFERENT". I think kind this of ad would have been much more effective for an HTC One M8 or One M9 as an attempt to break people away from using an iPhone, for example. I found another ad for a One M9 that focused more on showcasing HTC's Sense software features and hardware features that make it stand out from other Android phones. I think if HTC had swapped these two ad campaigns with each other,the ads themselves could have been so much more effective in their marketing. HTC seems to be struggling a bit with the direction it is taking and needs to figure it out soon if it wants to stay relevant in such a brutal industry. Be brilliant, be bold, and be different,...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/htc_one_a9_full_length_commercial_released-news-14854.php

Marshmallow enters Google's Android distribution chart for the first time

Back in September Lollipop finally went past 20% in Google's monthly Android distribution chart, and now, with the latest iteration of the report, Marshmallow is making its debut. Hopefully you weren't expecting the latest version of the OS to have a big impact already in terms of market share. Because it doesn't. It currently sits at 0.3%, which is just 0.1% past Froyo, a very, very old iteration of Android. But the good news is that it's there. And it can only go up from here, once more and more Android device makers start rolling out Marshmallow updates. Lollipop climbed to 25.6% of the market this month, a gain of more than 2% compared to the October data. Meanwhile, KitKat dropped to 37.8% from 38.9%, and Jelly Bean is now at 29% (down 1.2% from last month). The three oldest Android versions in the chart haven't seen much action over the past few weeks, with Gingerbread and Froyo still stuck at 3.8% and 0.2%, respectively, as Ice Cream Sandwich dropped a mere 0.1%. Older iterations of Android aren't part of the report because it uses data from the new Play Store app, which only works on Froyo or later. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/marshmallow_enters_googles_android_distribution_chart_for_the_first_time-news-14857.php

YouTube for Android now supports VR for all videos

YouTube's Android app is getting into the VR thing. Starting with an update that's rolling out from today via Google Play, the app now supports VR videos. There are two layers to this. First off, you can view VR videos - a new type of video that gives you "a sense of depth as you look around in every direction". These are actual VR videos, so to speak. There obviously aren't many at the moment, but the number should grow in time. The YouTube folks suggest a couple of such videos at the Source link below. Second, through YouTube for Android you can now view any YouTube video in "a kind of virtual movie theater". These are what one might call upscaled VR videos - as in, they haven't been shot as VR videos, but YouTube's doing some magic to make them seem more VR-ish. For both of these features, you need a Google Cardboard headset aside from an Android phone. To access a video in VR (or a VR video), you just select the new Cardboard option from the watch page menu in YouTube for Android, then drop your phone into your Cardboard. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/youtube_for_android_now_supports_vr_for_all_videos-news-14856.php

Gionee teases the Elife S6 ahead of its November 16 unveiling

Towards the end of last month Gionee first started teasing its upcoming Elife S6 smartphone. At the time we were given little more than the November 16 unveiling date. Today though the Chinese company has decided to continue its teaser campaign. And, thankfully, this time around we are given a few glimpses at the smartphone's design. The announcement is still scheduled for November 16. The device seems to be made out of metal, and a gold version will surely be available. Based on the images, it looks like the Elife S6 actually has the model number GN9010. A Gionee handset with that designation passed through TENAA a few weeks ago, with a back that looks identical to what we see in these teasers. If the GN9010 and the Elife S6 are one and the same, then expect to see a 5.5-inch 720p AMOLED touchscreen, a 13 MP rear camera with LED flash, a 5 MP selfie shooter, a 1.3 GHz octa-core CPU, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of expandable storage, 4G LTE, and a 3,150 mAh battery. It should run Android 5.1 Lollipop. The dimensions are 151.9 x 74.6 x 6.9 mm, and it weighs 145.2g. On paper, it seems identical to the Elife S Plus that got official in India a few days ago, except for two things - the design and the amount of RAM. The Elife S Plus has 3GB of RAM, and it looks different too. Source (in Chinese) |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/gionee_teases_the_elife_s6_ahead_of_its_november_16_unveiling-news-14855.php

Xiaomi Mi Band 1S to be released November 7th

The Xiaomi Mi Band turned a lot of heads last year when it matched the functionality of other entry-level fitness trackers at a much lower price tag of CNY79 ($15 dollars when it began selling in the US). Its successor, the Xiaomi Mi Band 1S, is reported to launch on November 7th just in time for China's biggest shopping day of the year, November 11th, Singles Day. The Mi Band 1S will still feature step counting, calorie counting, sleep monitor but will also be adding a heart rate monitor, and buzz notifications. It will remain water-resistant though. The Mi Band 1S is will cost CNY99, a modest increase from Mi Band's price (this could translate to a $5 or $10 increase in the US market). Xiaomi gobbled a large share of the wearables market with the Mi Band last year. The Mi Band 1S has big shoes to fill this year and we can't wait to see how it manages. Via |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_mi_band_1s_with_hrm_to_be_released_november_7th-news-14853.php

Lenovo planning a September 2016 Marshmallow update for the K3 Note

Lenovo's Android update tracker has just been updated to give a timeframe when specific devices will be receiving Marshmallow, if at all. To quickly clear the air - hugely popular devices like the K3 Note and A7000/A7000 Plus will indeed be graced with an Android M firmware, just not particularly soon. Okay, that might have been an understatement. All three models are listed for a Marshmallow release in September 2016, when Google will be gearing up to launch Android N, in all likelihood. It's the smartphones' budget nature that may be to blame, as models up the lineup will be updated sooner. The yet-to-be-released Vibe S1 and the Vibe P1 that recently hit the shelves will get Android M in June 2016. As of now, these 5 devices are the only ones with a confirmed Marshmallow update, the current flagship Vibe Z2 Pro (albeit a last-year model) will remain on 5.0 Lollipop for the time...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/lenovo_planning_a_september_2016_marshmallow_update_for_the_k3_note-news-14849.php

Cute video explains the essence of Tizen

The Tizen OS is still very much in its infancy, but in its short 3 year lifespan it has come a long way and shows great promise. Now, you might not think much of the platform and that is perfectly understandable, considering its limited spread and immaturity when compared to the big boys, but Tizen is growing at an impressive rate and with Samsung and Intel backing it, it might very well be the next big OS to fuel the...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/cute_video_explains_the_essence_of_tizen-news-14852.php

Meizu Pro 5 mini shows up in online store with super-mini specs

The Meizu Pro 5 mini has been flying under the radar for the most part, but to cropped up on a European seller's site with full specs and price. This is a rare entry into the premium mini flagship and while it differs from its Meizu Pro 5 sibling, it makes no sacrifices. It sports a 4.7" AMOLED display with 1080p resolution in what is likely a metal body. It's powered by a MediaTek Helio X20 chipset, unlike the Exynos 7420 in the bigger model. That's a different mix of cores, ten of them, including two of the latest Cortex-A72. The Meizu Pro 5 mini runs Android 5.1 Lollipop. There's 3GB of RAM on the 32GB model and a possibility of 4GB for the 64GB one (at least that's how it works on the Pro 5). The microSD slot allows for additional storage too. Meizu Pro 5 mini The camera has been changed too - a 16MP main shooter, replacing the 21MP sensor. The selfie camera stays at 5MP. Another change is that the Pro 5 mini is a dual-SIM phone, but may lack NFC. Surprisingly, the battery appears the same, 3,050mAh, though we wouldn't get too excited before an official confirmation. The fingerprint sensor is on board too. The Meizu Pro 5 mini specs verge on "too good to be true," but even with some corrections (the battery and the chipset are our top suspects) it will really liven up the premium mini market. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/meizu_pro_5_mini_shows_up_on_reseller_site_with_supermini_specs-news-14850.php

The Sony Xperia Z5 Premium on sale in Taiwan, gets first OTA

It appears Sony's current crown jewel - the 4K Xperia Z5 Premium has made it a bit quicker to the Taiwanese market than initially expected. The handset is seeing a limited launch in the region and reportedly only a few retailers have some available units, mainly intended to fulfill pre-orders, meaning that the most eager fans probably already got their hands on one. Wider availability for the handset should follow shortly, around the middle of the month and from the looks of things, suppliers need to stack up on the Chrome one, as it is generating the most interest. Also, we are getting reports that only hours after the first Z5 Premium units were turned on by lucky owners, the first firmware update became available. Launch-time OTA's aren't unusual, meant to correct issues that slipped passed final quality control and into user hands. Hopefully, whatever the case was, these first Xperia Z5 Premium units won't be acting up. The update package itself brings the build number up from 32.0.A.6.115 to 32.0.A.6.170 and according to the changelog delivers mostly performance enhancements. The Sony Xperia Z5 Premium is the very best of Sony's current lineup and the world's first 4K resolution smartphone. If that isn't enough to impress you, there is also the powerful Snapdragon 810 SoC, 3GB of RAM and a capable 23MP camera, not to mention a slick and rigid exterior, complete with an IP65/68...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/the_sony_xperia_z5_premium_has_reached_taiwan_and_even_has_its_first_ota-news-14851.php

Samsung may open up its payment service to third-party OEMs at some point

Samsung Pay is one of the more interesting contactless payment solution to come along in a while and probably the most ambitious one as well. If you haven't heard about it yet, it aims to successfully trick almost any traditional swipe payment terminal and transmit a secure version of you card information to it. The whole idea is almost too good to be true, but Samsung has made the magnetic field trickery possible and it is already enjoying quite a lot of popularity in Korea and the US. Now, in a new development, Samsung has disclosed some of its thoughts on the future of Samsung Pay and it appears opening up the platform to other manufacturers and non-Samsung devices in the future is possible. The information comes from Injong Rhee, executive vice president and head of enterprise business at Samsung's mobile division, so it is as credible as it gets. However, he also stressed the fact that currently the main focus is on rolling out the platform on various markets and building on its initial success - over one million subscribers and $88 million worth of payments already serviced. The prospect of Samsung Pay transcending outside the Korean giant's own device lineup is truly exciting and could potentially boost its popularity immensely. Sadly, that is about all we currently know on the matter. The system does require additional specialized hardware that currently only a select few high-end Samsung devices have, so opening the full set of features that Samsung Pay offers to other OEM's would also require licensing or selling the hardware component. However, Samsung Pay does also utilize a more conventional contactless payment technique as well - namely NFC. That means using any NFC-enabled mobile phone for the process would be possible. During the interview Injong also mentioned that the company intends to start bringing Samsung Pay to its non-flagship models as well, so we have that to look forward to. Here's to hoping more info comes shortly and Samsung does start working towards opening the platform soon. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_may_open_up_its_payment_service_to_thirdparty_oems_at_some_point-news-14848.php

Strategy Analytics: Tizen overtakes BB OS for fourth place

There are many hopefuls in the smartphone OS race. Windows Phone (now Windows 10 Mobile) is fairly secure in its third spot, while BlackBerry held on to fourth after dropping through the ranks. It seems that the freefall of the Canadians continues and now Tizen occupies the fourth place, according to Strategy Analytics. Tizen has the advantage of being backed by smartphone giant Samsung, which has been expanding its Tizen portfolio. Much more than its Windows lineup, which has essentially been abandoned. Tizen has found a niche in the budget segment in India where it's second behind Android. The OS also powers Samsung's latest Gear S2 smartwatches and select smart TVs. Anyway, that's not great news for the RIM guys, but it does explain the recent jump to Android with the new BlackBerry Priv. Android itself took a small hit, as did Windows, only iOS rose. Even Firefox OS, which accounts for a tiny sliver of the market declined. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/strategy_analytics_tizen_overtakes_bb_os_for_fourth_place-news-14845.php

Huawei Watch arriving at the UK for £290

It's been a long wait, but smartwatch aficionados based in the UK can now look forward to a Huawei Watch from Vmall and Selfridges and soon Google Play Store too. The Selfridges search tool yields no results as of yet, but Vmall has a number of configurations (those aren't available for immediate purchase though). The most affordable version - pairs cold-forged 316L stainless steel with sapphire crystal and a black leather band. It goes for £290, essentially matching the €400 price on the continent. It seems that the silver color option is £30 cheaper than the black one. You also get Link and Mesh bands, which start at £330. The ceiling is around £600 if you go for the priciest Huawei Watch options. The UK Google Play Store should soon put the Watch on its virtual shelves too. In the US you can get $50 off if you grab a Huawei Nexus 6P, hopefully the brits will get a similar...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/huawei_watch_arriving_at_the_uk_for__pound290-news-14847.php

The Kirin 950 SoC goes official, posts a record AnTuTu score

It's November 5 and sure enough, just as promised, Huawei pulled the curtains on its latest mobile chipset - the Kirin 950. The silicon in question has been generating quite a lot of attention with leaked specs and benchmark scores that promise industry-leading performance. It appears that the rumor mill got everything right and there are no real surprises in the hardware. The Kirin 950 is an impressive chip indeed, manufactured using a 16nm FinFET process and utilizes flip transistors. The latter entails building transistors vertically, instead of just horizontally, which equates to less power consumption. In fact, Huawei promises a 40% increase in performance and 60% decrees in power needs. As for the architecture inside the Kirin 950, it is an octa-core CPU, utilizing four high-power Cortex-A72 cores, clocked at up to 2.53 GHz and an additional four power-saving Cortex-A53 ones, working at 1.8 GHz. They are configured in a big.LITTLE setup, providing a lot of flexibility between power and battery consumption on the fly. The Kirin 950 also has a small i5 co-processor, which is always on and helps the device stay constantly aware of its surroundings by monitoring various sensors. It is also a huge improvement over the second-generation i3 chip with power usage brought down from 90 mA all the way to 6.5 mA. The Kirin 950 also shows great promise in the graphics department. It is equipped with a high-end Mali T880MP4 GPU, said to be twice better in terms of performance, compared to the Mali T880 inside the Kirin 930. Network connectivity is covered by a Cat. 6 LTE, which voice calls should also benefit from, considering Huawei's new push towards VoLTE. The technology reportedly doubles the audio frequency range and significantly slashes latency. It is still too early to expect proper performance figures for the Kirin 950, especially before it appears in an end-user device. Still Huawei did show off a stellar test score of almost 83 000 points on AnTuTu with a demo rig. That's easily the highest we've seen from any device so far and means the upcoming Huawei Mate 8 will have some proper power underneath its hood....

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/the_kirin_950_soc_was_officially_unveiled_today_in_beijing-news-14843.php

Sennheiser announces new € 50,000 Orpheus headphones

At some point you may have come across the name Sennheiser Orpheus. They were a one of a kind pair of headphones from the German manufacturer that you won't normally see on its catalog. That's because only 300 of them were made and, well, they were obscenely expensive. The original Orpheus were made 25 years ago. Now, Sennheiser has come up with a successor, one that has been 10 years in the making. The new Orpheus are every bit as extraordinary as the original and in many ways, even more so. For starters, they come with their own tube amplifier, made out of glass and a solid block of Carrara marble, with brass knobs that are painted in chrome. The vacuum tubes are connected to the spring-loaded damped marble housing to prevent structure-borne noise and surrounded by high quality quartz bulbs that protect against airborne noise. The amplifier accepts optical, coaxial, and USB inputs for audio and has its own 8 internal DACs, four for each channel to increase accuracy and decrease distortion and noise. That's not all, though. The new Orpheus are the first electrostatic headphones with their own internal Cool Class-A MOSFET amplifier housed within the earcups, one on each side. This eliminates the capacitive reactance of the cable delivering a 200% more efficient ultra-high impulse fidelity. The diaphragms are made out of 2.4 micrometer platinum-vaporization, the transistors are gold-vaporized ceramic, and the cables are 99.9% OFC silver-plated. The drivers have a frequency response of 8Hz to 100kHz and a distortion of 0.01% at 1kHz, 100 dB SPL. The Sennheiser Orpheus costs...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/sennheiser_announces_new__50000_orpheus_headphones-news-14846.php

Vivo X6 teasers confirm 4GB RAM, 4G LTE

Vivo continues its teaser campaign about the Vivo X6, officially confirming the 4GB RAM spec and also 4G connectivity. The teaser animation shows that more apps can fit in 4GB RAM, boosting multitasking, but it says nothing about the most interesting rumored features of the X6. That would be the 1GB of dedicated video RAM, like discrete computer GPUs have. So far, smartphones shared their pool of RAM between the processor and the GPU. Teasers for the Vivo X6 We'd also welcome official info on the chipset soon, rumored to be a 10-core MediaTek Helio X20. There's a not really official video showing the Vivo X6 and against the iPhone 6s Plus. The Vivo launches apps that little bit quicker in this admittedly unscientific test. 您还没有安装flash播放器,请点击这里安装 Also, the video was shot in the dark so that only the screens are visible, except for the very last second. It seems like the Vivo was wrapped around in duct tape to conceal its design. Source (in Chinese) |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/vivo_x6_teasers_confirm_4gb_ram-news-14844.php

Android 5.1.1 rolled out for the Wi-Fi-only Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 (2014)

Samsung has finally started rolling out the long-awaited Lollipop update for the Wi-Fi-only version of its Galaxy Note 10.1 (2014) tablet. The two year-old device carrying a model designation SM-P600 follows its LTE (SM-P605) brother, which started getting Android 5.1 a month earlier. The Exynos 5420 powered device, released two years ago, naturally comes second to the cellular model with a Snapdragon 800 inside. A similar pattern was observed with the different versions of the Galaxy Note Pro 12.2. The update for the S-Pen-packing 10-incher weighs in at 1.3GB and has first been made available in Spain, with other countries to follow. The more impatient among you can hit the link down below, where you can download the firmware for manual...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/android_511_starts_rolling_out_for_the_wifionly_samsung_galaxy_note_101_2014-news-14841.php

OnePlus X can now be ordered in Europe

As originally promised, the OnePlus X can now be ordered in the EU, straight from the company's website. Starting today, the Onyx glass-backed version is available for purchase at €269. You can also pick up 3 of the 5 announced protective cases for an additional €24.99 a pop. Unfortunately, the fancy Ceramic body option is not yet available, and neither is the third Champagne flavor. The other caveat is that you'd need an invite, but that's been the way OnePlus has been doing business since its inception. Use your #OnePlusX invite today! EU Sales start now on https://t.co/15G0yY11p8 pic.twitter.com/Yz7oSwxXQb— OnePlus (@oneplus) November 5, 2015 The company's smaller model features a 5-inch FullHD AMOLED display and is powered by the aging but still relevant Snapdragon 801 chipset, coupled with 3GB of RAM. There's 3GB of RAM on board and the 16GB of built-in storage is expandable unlike on the OnePlus 2. In case you missed it, you can read our first impressions from the OnePlus X in our hands-on...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/oneplus_x_can_now_be_ordered_in_europe-news-14842.php

Surface Pro 4 coming to India early 2016

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella announced at the company's Future Unleashed event in India, that the company will be bringing the fourth generation Surface tablet, the Surface Pro 4, to the Indian market in early 2016. The Surface Pro 4 will be the first device to be launched in India, as Microsoft has so far kept the Surface lineup away from the Indian market. The Surface Pro 4 is the latest and greatest version, with a new 12.3-inch 2736x1824 resolution display, Intel Skylake processor, multiple SSD options up to 1TB, and a thinner magnesium casing. Microsoft did not reveal which configurations of the Surface Pro 4 will be available in India and what the pricing is going to be like. There's also no word on whether the Surface Book will also be sold some time in...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/surface_pro_4_coming_to_india_early_2016-news-14840.php

Android 6.0 Marshmallow rolling out to LG G4 in South Korea

LG started rolling out the Android 6.0 Marshmallow update to the G4 smartphone in Poland last month, and now the update has begun hitting the flagship device in the company's home country of South Korea. Poland isn't particularly a major market for the company, so last month's roll out there was essentially a test run. And with Android 6.0 now rolling out in a main region like South Korea, it looks like LG didn't face any major issues with the update in the European country. In South Korea, G4 devices with model numbers LG-F500K, LG-F500L, and LG-F500S are currently getting the update, which brings features like the new Doze mode that helps save your device's battery, better permissions management and microSD support, and more. A couple of LG apps - Q+ and Bridge - have also been renamed to Memo Capture + and AirDrive, respectively. There's currently no information on which regions will be getting the update next. Via 1...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/lg_g4_receiving_android_60_marshmallow_in_south_korea-news-14839.php

Samsung outs a duo of high-end Ativ Book 9 notebooks with Windows 10

Samsung took the wraps off a duo of hight end Ativ Book 9 notebooks with Windows 10 on board. Dubbed Ativ Book 9 Pro and Ativ Book 9 Spin, the laptops will hit the shelves this month, priced at $1,599 and $1,399 respectively. As its name suggests, Samsung Ativ Book 9 Pro is the more capable member of the duo. Its entry-level configuration features a 15.6" 4K display, Intel Core i7-6700HQ, NVIDIA GeForce GTX950M, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of RAM. Additional features of the Pro include a quartet of speakers and USB Type-C port. The battery life of the notebook is rated at up to 6.5 hours. Samsung Ativ Pro 9 Spin on the other has 13.3" QHD+ display that rotates 360 degrees. An Intel Core i7-6500U CPU, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB SSD are also on board. The notebook weighs only 2.87 lbs. The duo of notebooks will be available directly from Samsung, as well as from BestBuy in the United States....

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_outs_a_duo_of_highend_ativ_book_9_notebooks_with_windows_10-news-14838.php

Apple releases second public beta of iOS 9.2

Last week Apple made the first public beta of iOS 9.2 available for those who had signed up for its software beta testing program. And today, just six days later, we get the second experimental iteration of the next version of the company's mobile operating system. iOS 9.2 Public Beta 2, as Apple is calling it, is now rolling out as an over-the-air update for devices which have had the first public beta installed. If you are part of the company's software beta testing program, the update notification is imminent, if you haven't received it already. The new beta improves the Safari View Controller, which can now be dismissed through a swipe. Bugs related to the iCloud Keychain and Apple Watch have been fixed. And finally, there's a new feature: support for AT&T's upcoming NumberSync service, which will let you make and receive calls on or from any of your devices, using your AT&T phone number. That seems to be everything that's included in this release. At the rate things are going, you should probably expect a new iOS 9.2 beta to land next week. Source 1 • Source...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/apple_releases_second_public_beta_of_ios_92-news-14837.php

6,000 mAh Microsoft Portable Power DC-21 can now be had for just $24.99

The Microsoft Portable Power DC-21 is an external battery pack that's so far been sold for $49. It comes with 6,000 mAh of capacity, which means that when full it can charge almost any smartphone out there at least twice. And no, the device you charge doesn't have to run Windows 10 or Windows Phone for this accessory to work. So, the good news now is that if you want one of these, you can get them for just $24.99. That's almost half price compared to the amount charged before, thus this is a pretty good deal. The Microsoft Portable Power DC-21 is available in three colors: white, orange, and green. You can pick one up from the Microsoft online store. Charging the DC-21 itself takes around four hours (or three to reach 80% charge). Since this is likely to be a way for Microsoft to clear its remaining stock of the DC-21, if this deal seems interesting to you, perhaps you should take advantage of it as soon as possible. Via 1 • Via...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/6000_mah_microsoft_portable_power_dc21_can_now_be_had_for_just_2499-news-14835.php

LG device rolls through the, looks like a new G4 variant

Documents for a new LG device have appeared on the FCC's website yesterday with the product number "H815PX". The LG G4's product number for the South American and South African variant is "H815P". It is not clear why LG would keep the "815**" code since the US variants use the numbers "H810", and "H811" for AT&T and T-Mobile, respectively, while Sprint and Verizon models don't even start with "H" but "LS" and "VS". The original launch of the LG G4 did not include wireless charging out of the box, rather, an optional charging cover was required to use this feature. These FCC documents show wireless charging as a major feature of this device. Could this be a variant of the LG G4 with wireless charging out of the box coming out in time for the holiday season? Could this even be the LG G5? Unlikely - perhaps this is just a refresh of the LG G4 and not even a brand new phone. We just don't see how this can be an LG G5 when the product number on the documents is so close to the original G4's "H815" released back in April of this year. At this point, for all we know this could even be an LG V10 variant. There isn't any way of knowing until LG sends out invitations for an event or carriers start selling new variants of the same phone. Via |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/lg_device_rolls_through_the_fcc__another_lg_g4_variant-news-14832.php

Huawei Y3 launches as the UK's cheapest smartphone

Today Carphone Warehouse launched a new device in the UK, and it's claiming that this is the cheapest smartphone in the country. We're talking about the decidedly low-end Huawei Y3, which you can already grab from the aforementioned retailer. Clearly, the price is the headline feature here. The Huawei Y3 is just £59.99 unlocked and SIM-free. Alternatively, you can get one for free if you choose a £5 per month plan from iD, the Carphone Warehouse's own MVNO. That particular two-year contract brings you 150 minutes, 5,000 texts, and 250MB of 3G data each month. If you want more, you have to pay more, of course. For example, for a whopping £44.99, you could get unlimited minutes, unlimited texts, as well as 10GB of data from EE. There are many other options in between, though. If you order a Huawei Y3 today, it will be delivered to your doorstep on November 6, which is this Friday. Or you can collect it from a Carphone Warehouse store on the same day. Now let's see what exactly it is you're getting for the money. The Huawei Y3 has a 4-inch 480x800 touchscreen, a 5 MP rear camera with dual-LED flash, a 2 MP front-facing unit, the Spreadtrum 7731 chipset with a 1.2 GHz quad-core CPU at the helm, 512MB of RAM, 4GB of expandable storage, no 4G, and a 1,730 mAh battery. It runs Android 4.4 KitKat with Huawei's Emotion UI 3.0 Lite on top. Black and white color versions are available. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/huawei_y3_launches_as_the_uks_cheapest_smartphone-news-14836.php

Skype now has a share button of its own

If when you see those Facebook and Twitter share buttons across the Web the first thing that comes to your mind is "why doesn't Skype have one?", then you'll be happy to know that Microsoft has obliged. The Skype team has announced its own share button today, one that webmasters can add to their websites (naturally). And when you, a visitor of a website, click or tap on that Skype share button, you can easily share the content with your friends. Here's what happens. After you click or tap on the button, a window comes up onto the page asking you to sign in to Skype. After you do that, you need to pick one or more Skype friends you'd like to share with, and then just hit Send. You can even add a message to be shared along with the link. Skype says its button "works great for both desktop and mobile sites", and there are several versions of it for you to choose from (if you're a developer). All the necessary information for adding the Skype share button to your website can be found here. The button is already live on MSN.com (yes, it still exists, amazingly), as well as sify.com. And you should probably expect to see it in a lot more places very...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/skype_now_has_a_share_button_of_its_own-news-14834.php

Samsung Gear S2 review: Shifting gears around

Samsung is definitely a veteran on the smartwatch scene, perhaps even more so than LG. The Korean giant has already done a few experiments in the field, some of which arguably quite successful, but the Gear S2 might just be the biggest one yet.

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_gear_s2-review-1334.php

Upcoming Oppo A53 gets outed by TENAA

At the end of September an Oppo A33 got detailed thanks to the fact that it was certified by TENAA, China's equivalent of the FCC. And now the regulatory agency is at it again, outing yet another unannounced Oppo device - the A53. As their respective model numbers imply, the Oppo A53 is a bit higher-end than the A33, though you shouldn't expect flagship-quality specs here. In terms of looks, the A53 (which you can see below) is clearly recognizable as an Oppo handset, sporting design cues that have been seen in past offerings from the Chinese company. The Oppo A53's listing by TENAA has also thankfully revealed most of its specs. It has a 5.5-inch 720p touchscreen, a 1.5 GHz octa-core processor, 2GB of RAM, a 13 MP rear camera with LED flash, a 5 MP selfie shooter, and 16GB of expandable storage. It runs Android 5.1.1 Lollipop and has 4G LTE support. You can expect to see it launching in silver and gold color options, at least in China. It's still unclear what it will be called when it becomes official, or whether it will be sold internationally as well. Source (in Chinese) |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/oppo_a53_gets_outed_through_tenaa_certification-news-14833.php

BRITECELL is a new Samsung trademark, likely for the 1/2" Galaxy S7 sensor

Now that the word is out that Samsung might be going in a whole new direction for the Galaxy S7's camera, sources have dug up a patent filing that all but confirms the rumor. What could BRITECELL possibly mean, but a rather obvious word play on "bright" indicating a sensor with low light shooting capabilities, just like we'd expect from a 12MP type 1/2" imager. And we know it's a sensor that the trademark defines, because Samsung's current lineup of smartphone sensors is called ISOCELL. That, and also the fact that the patent docs contain the words "image sensor for mobile phones". Meanwhile, another source in Korea reports that the Galaxy S7 will be released in early February 2016. That rings well with previous rumors for a January launch - an announcement in late January could very well mean availability in the first weeks of February. Additionally, the same report states that the Galaxy S7 will be the first smartphone to support Cat. 12 LTE for exorbitant 600Mbps downlink speeds (theoretical, but still). We already know that the Snapdragon 820 is one chip that will be able to achieve this feat, and it seems a proper time for it to hit the market - the Snapdragon 810 premiered on the LG G Flex2 around the same time this year. Then again, the source states that the Exynos 8890, due to enter production next month, also integrates a Cat.12 modem. So, apparently, at least two of the rumored three chipset variants of the next-gen flagship will come with support for highest available cellular data speed transfers. Via 1 Via...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/britecell_is_a_new_samsung_trademark_likely_for_the_1_2_galaxy_s7_sensor-news-14831.php

Vivo teases X6 today, instead of the Xplay 3S successor

Vivo was expected to unveil the successor to the Xplay 3S today, instead the company offered a teaser - an image of a gift box with X6 on its lid. There's not much else about this new device, except that it will focus on four things: stability, speed, battery life and durability. This more or less lines up with what we've been hearing about the Xplay 3S, it may just turn out to be a case of mistaken identity. The rumor mill paints an impressive picture, though don't trust it fully. If the rumors are correct, the Vivo X6 will somehow fit a big 4,000mAh battery inside a 4mm chassis. The phone is expected to have a Nexus 6-like 6" QHD AMOLED display with Force Touch. Vivo X6 teaser image As for speed it will allegedly come with MediaTek's 10-core Helio X20 chipset and 1GB of dedicated video RAM. All current split one pool of RAM between the CPU and GPU, so the X6 could be a pioneer. A 21MP main camera and 12MP selfie camera are also in the cards. Vivo will reveal more info about the Vivo X6 to its Weibo followers in the coming days, seemingly culminating in a November 9 announcement. The fate of the Xplay 3S is not clear. Source (in Chinese) |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/vivo_teases_x6_today_instead_of_the_xplay_3s_successor-news-14830.php

ZTE Nubia Z9 Max Elite with side-mounted fingerprint sensor receives TENAA certification

Last month, we told you about the existence of the Elite versions of the ZTE Nubia Z9 Max and Nubia Z9 Mini smartphones. Turns out it has just been certified by Chinese certification authority TENAA, adding weight to the expectation that the devices will be launched soon. The listing for the Nubia Z9 Max Elite reveals pretty much what we already know: 1.8Ghz processor, 5.5-inch 1080p display, 16MP rear and 8MP front camera, 3GB RAM and 16GB internal memory, as well as a side-mounted fingerprint sensor. In addition, it was also revealed that the handset runs Android 5.1.1 Lollipop out-of-the-box, measures 154.79 × 76.69 × 8.0 mm, weighs in at 165 grams, and will be available in black and white colors. Connectivity options include WiFi, Bluetooth, and 4G LTE. The smartphone is also expected to pack in a 2,900 mAh battery and feature a USB Type-C port. Source (translated) |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/nubia_z9_max_elite_with_sidemounted_fingerprint_sensor_receives_tenaa_certification-news-14827.php

Analyst: Apple will bring back the 4'' iPhone in next year

There have been "iPhone mini" rumors since before Apple introduced the 5.5" iPhone Plus, but now that the 4" has languished people are starting to miss it. So much so that KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes Apple can move 20-30 million of such a phone. He gives the following prescription for the specs: metal casing (since the 5s far outsold the 5c), Apple A9 chipset to handle iOS9 and 10 (since the A7 in the 5s is getting really rusty), no 3D Touch (to differentiate the bigger phones). Kuo believes that Apple will hand the manufacturing contract to Foxconn exclusively sometime in the first half of next year. The analyst says Apple will move to further differentiate the biggest and mid-size iPhone 7 models, by giving the Plus extra RAM. Again, this is what an analyst believes is the best move for Apple, whether the leadership at Cupertino agrees remains to be seen. Looking at Android, there's basically no 4" flagship, even the Xperia Z Compact line is at 4.6". Would you pick a 4" iPhone 7 over a 4.7" one? Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/analyst_apple_will_bring_back_the_4_iphone_in_next_year-news-14828.php

Repair shop in China can upgrade the storage on your iPhone, iPad

What if you could take your iPhone to the shop and have more storage added? It's no longer an "if," at least in China where one repair shop has cracked the puzzle of upgrading iPhones and iPads. Apple has software protection in place that verifies that the hardware is the right configuration. That is circumvented through a loophole that may be closed in the future. For the time being, the shop owner reports that 70+ devices have been upgraded and they work fine. Some app data might be lost, some apps may need to be re-installed, but ultimately an iCloud backup can save you most of the headache. Working with these chips by hand is difficult, but special tools were created to help with the process. Even so, the motherboard on the iPhone 5s is too small and cramped to safely swap out the memory chip. An iPhone 6 is much easier and most iPads reportedly work. There's no word on the new iPhone 6s generation though. As for the price, CNY 580 ($92/€84) nets you 128GB storage, CNY 450 ($71/€65) gives you 64GB. Most people go for the bigger option as a lot of the cost is for the work involved. Considering Apple is charging $100/€110 to go from 16GB to 64GB, it's a pretty sweat deal. One that will probably end soon when Apple catches wind of this. Source (in Chinese) |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/repair_shop_in_china_can_upgrade_the_storage_on_your_iphone_ipad-news-14826.php

180,000 Gear S2 units reportedly sold out in eight hours in China

While we already knew that Samsung's Gear S2 smartwatch has been a hit in the company's home country of South Korea, a new report is indicating that the wearable is creating waves in China, too. As per the report, the demand for the Gear S2 in China is soaring, with the launch sale on popular third-party retailer JD.com seeing 180,000 units of the smartwatch getting sold out in less than eight hours. For those who aren't already aware, in China, the wearable device carries a price tag of CNY 2,198 (around $350) for the standard model and CNY 2,398 (around $380) for the Classic model. Previously market research firm Strategy Analytics said that the Gear S2 - which is already available for purchase in the US and UK - could turn out as a serious competitor to the Apple...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/180000_gear_s2_units_sold_out_in_eight_hours_in_china-news-14825.php

Twitter replaces stars with hearts

If you're on Twitter, you may have noticed a new UI change on the company's website and mobile apps. The longstanding star button for favoriting tweets has now been replaced with a heart button. You can say a lot with a heart. Introducing a new way to show how you feel on Twitter: https://t.co/WKBEmORXNW pic.twitter.com/G4ZGe0rDTP— Twitter (@twitter) November 3, 2015 The functionality is identical; instead of a star you now have a heart. Twitter is going with the familiar terminology Likes/Liking to go with the new button. There is also a neat little animation that takes place when you click on the button. Twitter's ideology is that the previous star button could be confusing to newcomers, whereas with the heart button there is no confusion as to what the functionality is. Also, the heart button works across a number of situations, such as showing appreciation or support whereas the star button was more. emotionally stunted, so as to speak. Naturally, this caused a bit of an uproar among some who preferred the star button but overall most people seem to be taking well to it. It probably won't seem like a big deal to most people, though. That's because it isn't,...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/twitter_replaces_stars_with_hearts-news-14829.php