Apple called out for copyright infringement with 3D Touch

When you're as big as Apple, you get used to staffing a strong legal department pretty quick. Copyright claims and lawsuits have become such a mundane part of the tech business that we honestly can't even remember a time when Cupertino and Samsung weren't at each other's throats over some legal claim. Plus, suing a gigantic corporation is often a viable way to earn a few bucks and many have even turned it into a questionable, but still quite profitable business model. Still, there is always the honest case of being mistreated as a little player on the market and asking for some justice, which is precisely what Immersion out of California claims to be doing with its recent lawsuit against Apple and its Force Touch and 3D Touch technology. The claim revolves around three patents awarded to Immersion. The first is titled "Haptic feedback system with stored effects " and seems to describe software that shows previews after a light press and actions after a firm one. That does sound quite familiar to Apple's "Peek and Pop", but we definitely won't pass judgment. The second and third patents are "Method and Apparatus for Providing Tactile Sensations" and "Interactivity Model for Shared Feedback on Mobile Devices", which Immersion ties to Apple's haptic feedback on touch. But that sounds like a bit more vague of a claim. Currently Immersion is pursuing legal actions against Apple seeking reparations for damages, but has also filed a complaint with the International Trade Commission (ITC), requesting a sales injunction on the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus within the US, which sounds like the more troubling...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/apple_called_out_for_copyright_infringement_with_3d_touch-news-16618.php

Curious date bug can brick your iPhone pretty badly

A rather intriguing phenomenon has been circulating reddit and it has to do with a recently discovered vulnerability affecting most current iPhones. It appears that if you set the date on a 64-bit iOS device to January 1 1970 and then restart it, you get a vicious boot loop. Worse yet, simply restoring the unit through DFU can't fix the issues and you will most likely end up on a trip to the nearest Apple Store. Digging a bit deeper into the problem, it seems it relates to UNIX time, which is basically a standardized counter for the number of seconds since January 1 1970. It plays a pretty important role in the tech realm and from what we can gather, rewinding the clock so far back on the affected Apple devices, plus any potential timezone offset or other transformation to obtain a date and time metric results in a corrupt result that prevents the OS from booting. The bug was allegedly discovered by chance, as it so happens that iOS allows you to go as far back as 1970 withing the date setting, but doing so requires a lot of scrolling. As for the affected devices, it seems the odd behavior is only exhibited by 64-bit versions of iOS, which would go as far back as the A7 chip and iOS 7. In model terms that should mean any iPhone 5s an newer models, as well as potentially iPad Air and iPad Mini 2 tablets, running on at least iOS 7. Besides being a curiosity that we definitely urge you not to try on your device, unless you really feel like sending it in for repair, the bug actually has quite a lot of damage potential if it falls into the wrong hands. Consider this, most current devices, including the affected Apple tech, rely on NTP servers to automatically set their time and date. If a hacker were to theoretically spoof responses and pose as such a server on a Wi-Fi network, he could potentially kill every current iPhone or iPad on the same network. That does sound scary, but fear not, as there is a fix. It is a hardware one, but simply entails disconnecting the battery, waiting a bit and connecting it back up, which resets the corrupt settings. Sadly, that usually requires an Apple technician, unless you want to open the unit up yourself and void your warranty. Depleting the battery fully has also worked for some users, but it takes time and effort. Apple has been notified about the issue and all that remains is to see when and how it gets addressed. In the mean time, again, please resist the urge to try it for yourself, now that you know what is going to happen. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/curious_date_bug_can_brick_your_iphone_pretty_badly-news-16616.php

ZOPO teases new Speed 8 flagship unveiling at MWC 2016

In case you were wondering, no, there is no typo in the title, it is ZOPO, not the much better know Oppo brand. As far as Chinese manufacturers go, ZOPO is definitely no household name, but the relatively small company has brought us some interesting offers in the past and just like the ZOPO TOUCH that made its debut ant MWC 2015, the new Speed 8 handset planned for this year deserves a mention. The #MWC16 is upon us. Be ready to discover the new #ZOPO Speed 8... pic.twitter.com/849qvnr4wT— ZOPO Mobile (@ZopoMobileBrand) February 13, 2016 Today Oppo send out its invitation to the unveiling of their new flagship, which will take place at the Barcelona venue on February 24 at 10:30AM. As evident by the poster, it will be hosted by MotoGP World Champion Jorge Lorenzo, if that just happens to spike your interest in any way. Other than that, no new info has been shared about the Speed 8 and its specs, but we already have a pretty good idea what to expect, based on previous rumors. The handset is going to employ Mediatek's powerful Helio X20 SoC, actually making it one of the first devices on the market to experiment with the deca-core setup. Other alleged specs include 4GB of RAM, a 2K display and a fingerprint reader, mounted on the back. Source 1 | Source 2 | Source...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/zopo_teases_new_speed_8_flagship_unveiling_at_mwc_2016-news-16617.php

HP's might actually have an upcoming Windows 10 phone, dubbed the Elite x3

It has definitely been a while since HP's last appearance on the mobile scene and even longer since the company dipped its foot in Windows Mobile territory. However, 2016 might actually mark a return to said market, as suggested by a mysterious Windows 10 handset, that has been popping up in various rumors since the end of last year. Originally dubbed the HP "Falcon" a new leak, courtesy of reputable source Evan Blass, claims that the device will actually come out as the HP Elite x3. This is a slightly perplexing title choice, as a quick search reveals that the HP Elite x2, pictured below, is actually a 2-in-1 device released back in 2012 - quite a different cup of tea. Windows 10 Mobile-powered HP Falcon is coming to market as the HP Elite x3.— Evan Blass (@evleaks) February 12, 2016 In any case, it appears that @evleaks is referring to the same smartphone that was initially spotted in a GFXBench listing back in December 2015. According to said source, it will tun on Qualcomm's new Snapdragon 820 SoC and have a quite spacious 5.8-inch 2560 x 1440 pixel display - an impressive setup, especially within the Windows realm. Oddly enough, the same benchmark reported only 1GB of RAM, but that seems like a mistake, when considering the rest of the specs, like the 64GB of storage, for instance. The suggested camera setup also looks impressive on paper, with a 20MP shooter on the back and a 12MP one on the front. Besides the name change, Evan also mentioned that the device looks "pretty smart -- except, maybe, for the odd pattern of speaker grille holes.", which is cryptic at best, but does spark hopes that the HP Elite x3 will come with an elegant exterior. It is also worth noting that another industry source reported that the HP Elite x3 could actually be announced at MWC 2016, which could explain why we are starting to hear more and more about it. Here's to hoping the high-end Windows phone does become reality at the Barcelona venue in a few...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/hps_might_actually_have_an_upcoming_windows_10_phone_dubbed_the_elite_x3-news-16615.php

Apple Music now boasts over 11 million paying subscribers

Apple has revealed that its Apple Music service now has more than 11 million paying subscribers. The revelation was made by company executives Eddy Cue and Craig Federighi in a recent interview. That number was at around 10 million last month, meaning the Cupertino-based company added a million new Apple Music paying subscribers in the past one month. Aside from Apple Music, stats on various other Apple Internet services were revealed. For example, iCloud has 782 million users; the company processes a whopping 200,000 iMessages per second; and 750 million worth of iTunes and the App Store purchases per...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/apple_music_now_boasts_of_over_11_million_paying_subscribers_-news-16609.php

Apple replacing faulty USB-C charge cables

Apple has launched a USB-C charge cable replacement program that will see the company providing replacements for the cables that were included with MacBook computers through June 2015. The iPhone maker says the cables in question have a design issue that may cause them to fail. "As a result, your MacBook may not charge or only charge intermittently when it's connected to a power adapter with an affected cable," the Cupertino-based company explained. The replacement program also covers Apple USB-C charge cables that were sold as a standalone accessory. Eligible customers will get a new, redesigned USB-C charge cable (see image above) for free. For more details on the program, head to the Source link...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/apple_replacing_faulty_usbc_charge_cables-news-16613.php

Windows 10 update starts hitting Microsoft Lumia 535 in Middle East

The Windows 10 update for the Microsoft Lumia 535 has started rolling out in the Middle East. Specifically, Lumia 535 users in Egypt and Jordan have reportedly confirmed the roll-out. Sadly, no other information related to the update - including even the version number - is available at the moment. On its part, Microsoft is yet to formally announce the roll-out. If you recall, there were reports last month that Windows 10 Mobile rollout for older Windows Phone device will finally begin in the "early to mid February" timeframe. So, the Middle Eastern roll-out is very much inline with that timeframe, and indicates that other regions (as well as devices) will get the update soon. This comes nearly a month after the update started hitting Lumia 535 units in Latin...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/microsoft_lumia_535_windows_10_update_reportedly_rolling_out_in_middle_east-news-16614.php

BlackBerry enters into patent licensing agreement with Canon

BlackBerry has announced that it has entered into a patent licensing agreement with Canon for what the company describes as "certain power charging technology used by Canon products." "Our agreement with Canon substantiates the value companies place on BlackBerry's innovative and foundational power charging patents for mobile and consumer electronic devices," BlackBerry said in a press release. "With the agreement in place, Canon can continue to incorporate convenient charging solutions in its exciting new products." While specific terms remain confidential, the Canadian company did reveal that the deal was signed in the month of November last...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/blackberry_enters_into_patent_licensing_agreement_with_canon-news-16612.php

Another price cut for Samsung's 18.4-inch Galaxy View tablet; now available for $449

Samsung's humongous Galaxy View tablet has received another price cut in the US. The 18.4-inch device now costs just $449, which is $50 down from the price tag it has been carrying for the past few months now. The discount is available on Amazon, but it shows up when the device is added to cart. Other third party retailers including Best Buy and B&H Photo are also selling the over-sized tablet for $449. The latest discount comes a few months after the Galaxy View received a $100 price cut in the country, something which happened just a couple of weeks after the tablet was launched in the US. Source 1 2...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/another_price_cut_for_samsungs_184inch_galaxy_view_tablet_now_available_for_449-news-16610.php

Apple Music now boasts over 11 million paid subscribers

Apple has revealed that its Apple Music service now has more than 11 million paid subscribers. The revelation was made by company executives Eddy Cue and Craig Federighi in a recent interview. That number was at around 10 million last month, meaning the Cupertino-based company added a million new Apple Music paid subscribers in the past one month. Aside from Apple Music, stats on various other Apple Internet services were revealed. For example, iCloud has 782 million users; the company processes a whopping 200,000 iMessages per second; and 750 million worth of iTunes and the App Store purchases per...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/apple_music_now_boasts_of_over_11_million_paid_subscribers_-news-16609.php

Apple wants judge to settle the iPhone unlocking case soon

If you recall, for the past few months, Apple and the US Justice Department are battling it out in court over whether the government can force the company to unlock the iPhones the latter is capable of. Now, the Cupertino-based firm wants the judge to settle the case soon. If you aren't already aware, the current case involves Justice Department's request to force Apple to extract data from a locked iPhone that the government agency wants to investigate. The device in question is an iOS 7-powered iPhone 5s, meaning Apple is capable of what the agency wants, but is reluctant fearing that doing so will tarnish the trust between the company and its customers. In a newly submitted letter, Apple has argued that the government is planning to make similar requests in future, so it's important for both parties to know what the court thinks, and that too without any further delay - the case has been dragging on for nearly 3 months now. "Apple takes no position on whether and to what extent information from the Apple device in the government's possession is relevant to any ongoing investigation, or necessary for the criminal defendant's sentencing. But Apple has received additional requests similar to the one underlying the case before this Court. Apple has also been advised that the government intends to continue to invoke the All Writs Act in this and other districts in an attempt to require Apple to assist in bypassing the security of other Apple devices in the government's possession," the company said in its...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/apple_wants_judge_to_rule_soon_on_whether_government_can_force_it_to_unlock_iphones-news-16611.php

HTC One smartwatch now said to be launching in April

Another HTC smartwatch rumor, and guess what... another delay. Just when we thought that the Taiwanese company would launch the long-rumored (in fact very long-rumored) device this Mobile World Congress, a new rumor is claiming otherwise. Back in December last year, the usually reliable leakster @evleaks said the wearable would be launched in February. But now, he is claiming that would happen in April. Small consolation, HTC fans: you'll be able to pick up the watch before the end of April.— Evan Blass (@evleaks) February 11, 2016 Meanwhile, there has been no word whatsoever on the device or its release time frame from HTC. FYI, rumors that HTC is developing a smartwatch first cropped up in 2013. So far, from what we've heard, it's an Android Wear-powered device with 360x360px display, and is codenamed...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/htc_one_smartwatch_now_said_to_be_launching_in_april-news-16608.php

LG H840 with 5.3-inch display and 3GB RAM spotted on GFXBench

A new LG phone has been spotted on benchmarking website GFXBench. The listing reveals that the device is powered by a Snapdragon 625 chipset and sports a 5.3-inch Quad HD display. It has 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal memory. In terms of camera, both front as well as rear units are listed as 8MP, although we're expecting the main camera to be better. As for the operating system, the listing says the handset runs Android 4.4 KitKat, which is definitely a mistake of some sorts. The smartphone carries a model number of H840, suggesting it could be a variant of the South Korean company's upcoming LG G5 flagship (LG-H830) - LG G5 Lite may...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/lg_h840_with_sd625_and_3gb_ram_spotted_on_gfxbench-news-16607.php

US and UK BlackBerry discounts for Valentine's Day

The official BlackBerry store is offering a couple of cool offers for this Valentine's Day weekend on the BlackBerry Priv. Up until February 24, the US and UK BlackBerry stores will be offering the BlackBerry Priv in black for a discounted price of $650 or £529. The deal is sold as a bundle so it also includes a complimentary set of accessories for your BlackBerry Priv at a value of $99 or £74. These accessories only include a smart cover case and a sync station that doubles a phone stand. Still, it's a great offer even with the discounted phone. Also, the BlackBerry Passport can be purchased for $399 or £349 in either black or white. Source: BlackBerry US UK |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/us_and_uk_blackberry_discounts_for_valentines_day-news-16606.php

Google finally decides to shut down Picasa, sort of

Amazingly, Google's Picasa photo service still exists. You probably thought that with the big launch of Google Photos last year Picasa would have been put out of its misery, but no. Not then, anyway. After a long time of analyzing the situation, the search giant has finally decided to "retire" Picasa and focus on Google Photos. Which obviously makes perfect sense, unlike running two different photo services at the same time. That said, Google still hasn't actually said when Picasa will be gone forever, just that the process will take several months. The Picasa desktop application will no longer be supported starting on March 15. It will keep working after that date, but won't be updated anymore. On the other hand, the web service will remain unchanged until May 1. And even after that, you'll still be able to view, download, or delete your albums, you just won't be able to create, organize, or edit albums anymore. Perhaps rather confusingly, you can always go to Google Photos and see your photos and videos from Picasa over there. Since this is the case, it's really unclear why it's taking Google this long to shut down Picasa for good. Anyway, expect some more news about this on or around May...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/google_finally_decides_to_shut_down_picasa_sort_of-news-16602.php

Skype for Android and iOS is getting ready for Valentine's Day with special video cards

Skype has been getting ready for the Valentine's Day weekend, and with the latest updates for its Android, iPhone, and iPad apps it comes with some new love-themed features. An all-new Love tab brings you emojis and emoticons specially crafted for the occasion (including a new set of emojis featuring custom compositions from Sir Paul McCartney, which should help you "express different forms of love through music"). And if you want to share other emotions, you can do that more easily too by searching through the various available emojis and emoticons. Furthermore, you can record a special Valentine's Day video message, complete with floating hearts as seen in the image above. According to Skype, this will "help set the mood". And if you're particularly proud of your creation, you can share it via email or to Facebook to make it more generally available. To do the video deed, you tap on the new heart symbol which shows up on iOS to the right of the Skype logo inside the app, and on Android after you hit the "+" button in the...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/skype_for_android_and_ios_is_getting_ready_for_valentines_day_with_special_video_cards-news-16601.php

Verizon starts pushing Marshmallow update to the Droid Turbo 2

The Droid Turbo 2 employee edition started receiving the update to Android 6.0 Marshmallow back in December, but for some reason it took Verizon this long to release the same software to the public. Anyway, it is finally out. If your phone hasn't yet notified you about the update, be patient as these things are usually staged - so it may be a while before all Droid Turbo 2 units out there get it. You'll need to be on Wi-Fi to download it. The new software comes with Now On Tap, App standby, Doze mode for better battery life, the new and improved app permissions system, adoptable storage, the slightly revamped Do not disturb mode, expanded volume controls, Direct share, and Attentive Display now part of Moto Actions. After applying the update, you'll be on build 24.14.9. Source 1 • Source...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/verizon_starts_pushing_marshmallow_update_to_the_droid_turbo_2-news-16605.php

iPhone 5se and iPad Air 3 will reportedly go on sale on March 18

According to some unnamed sources, the upcoming iPhone 5se and the iPad Air 3 will both become available from Apple, online and in stores, on March 18. If true, it means that Apple is planning a release of the two models very close to the much-rumored announcement date of March 15. The two events will thus occur during the same week, with the introduction on a Tuesday and the start of sales on Friday. While the company's plans could still change, the sources for this leak claim there will be no pre-order period for the two new devices. The iPhone 5se will look like the iPhone 5s from 2013, but it will come with the A9 chipset, NFC and Apple Pay support, always-on Siri activation, as well as the iPhone 6's camera. The iPad Air 3 is set to borrow many features from the bigger iPad Pro, such as the Smart Connector, Apple Pencil support, and four speakers. Its main camera may include a LED flash for the first time on an Apple...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/iphone_5se_and_ipad_air_3_will_reportedly_go_on_sale_on_march_18-news-16604.php

Samsung Galaxy A7 (2016) camera up-close [VIDEO]

Our review of the Samsung Galaxy A7 (2016) has been up for a week now, and you're probably already familiar with our impressions. This year's A-series 5.5-incher got praised for its supreme build, battery endurance, and color-accurate AMOLED display, to name a few. It was particularly interesting to see the new 13MP camera in action. It's used in no less than four models in the A family this year - from the A3 (2016), where it's only been stripped of OIS, to the A9 (2016), so if that many devices are relying on it, it better be good. And it sure is, to the point where it can rival the outgoing Galaxy S6 flagship. Okay, maybe not in all cases - there are instances, where the A7 struggles to match it top-shelf brother, for example shots in less than ideal light. We've summarized our findings in the video below for those who have just 2 minutes to spare. The rest can refer back to the camera section of the review where you can pixel-peep to your heart's...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_a7_2016_camera_upclose_video-news-16599.php

T-Mobile's HTC One M9 gets Marshmallow on February 16

If you own an HTC One M9 purchased from T-Mobile you may have been wondering when the update to Android 6.0 Marshmallow will finally hit your device. And today that information has been made public by none other than Mo Versi, HTC's VP of product management. The update has now received technical approval from the carrier, and the over-the-air rollout is set to commence on Tuesday, February 16. Of course, as with all such releases, do expect it to take a few days before Marshmallow graces all of T-Mobile's M9 units out there. But at least now we have a date to speak of. The Marshmallow update has already made it to units sold unlocked in the US, as well as those sold by Sprint. And it looks like TMo's M9 is next in...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/tmobiles_htc_one_m9_gets_marshmallow_on_february_16-news-16603.php

Pandora declines commenting on sell-off rumors

Internet radio company Pandora has refused to comment on recent reports that it is looking to get acquired. "We won't comment on rumors," said Pandora's CEO Brian McAndrews during the company's recent earnings call. "We will say we're very confident in our ability to drive significant value to our shareholders," he added. "We're focused on working as an independent company." The New York Times had recently carried a report that Pandora held internal discussions about a potential sell-off, following which a Reuters report suggested that Yahoo, Hulu, and Amazon could be among the potential buyers. The rumors came just a few months after it was revealed that Apple Music has significantly dented Pandora's user-base. For those who aren't in the know, the company acquired several of Rdio's key assets after the later filed for bankruptcy last year. Via | The New York Times |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/pandora_declines_commenting_on_selloff_rumors-news-16598.php

Huawei Honor 5X is now available from Three UK

After having gone on sale in SIM-free form in the UK not long ago, the Honor 5X from Huawei is now also available from Three. This operator even claims an exclusive on the device, so you won't see the Honor 5X at the likes of Vodafone, EE, or O2. As you'd expect, the Honor 5X is affordable. You can get it for nothing upfront on contracts starting at £13 per month - in which case you get 100 minutes, unlimited texts, and 500MB. Thankfully there are many more options to pick from, including a £40 per month deal which nets you unlimited everything (including data). If you'd rather choose the Pay as you go route, the handset can be yours for £189.99 - which is exactly as much as it costs if you buy it SIM-free from Huawei itself. The Honor 5X has a 5.5-inch 1080p touchscreen, a 13 MP main camera with LED flash, a 5 MP selfie cam, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 616 chipset (with a 1.5 GHz octa-core Cortex-A53 CPU), 2GB of RAM, 16GB of expandable storage, 4G support, and a 3,000 mAh battery. It runs Android 5.1 Lollipop with Huawei's EMUI 3.1 on top. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/huawei_honor_5x_is_now_available_from_three_uk-news-16600.php

Shoemaker ASICS acquires Runkeeper app

ASICS, a popular Japanese sportwear maker, has bought the Runkeeper fitness-tracking app. It's hardly a surprise as Adidas kicked the acquisition season by getting Runtastic app. According to Runkeeper's track data, ASICS is the most popular shoe brand within its user database and this maybe one of the reasons for the move. Runkeeper's CEO is also keen on this kind of joint operations as it will provide for "a deeper, more trusted relationship with consumers". The companies are keeping mum on the value of this acquisition, but they both promise Runkeeper will suffer no significant changes or interruptions and will continue to work as it is. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/shoemaker_asics_acquires_runkeeper_app-news-16596.php

Microsoft boasts 1 billion gaming hours for Xbox One but Sony PS4 was still top seller in January

NPD's data for the first month of this year has arrived and its reveals status quo in Xbox One vs PS4 battle. Like December 2015, Sony's gaming console held onto the top spot in terms of sales in the US. As is usually the case, specific sales numbers weren't revealed. "Thanks to our fans and partners for making PlayStation 4 the top-selling platform and software sales leader in January, according to NPD," Sony said. "PS4 also saw impressive year-over-year growth in both hardware and software sales. We appreciate the support and will continue to deliver on our promise to bring the best entertainment experiences to gamers." While Microsoft again had to settle for the second spot, it still had something to trumpet - the number of gaming hours. "In January, the total number of hours spent gaming in one month on Xbox One worldwide surpassed 1 billion hours," the company said. "Looking ahead to this spring, fans can enjoy more great games with the upcoming releases of ‘Quantum Break,' ‘Rocket League' and ‘Tom Clancy's The Division.' We can't thank our fans enough for their continued support and passion for Xbox, and we're looking forward to bringing more of the games and experiences our fans want most in 2016." The NPD report revealed a decline in overall hardware sales. "As we enter 2016, the majority of console hardware sales will occur on eighth generation consoles as evidenced by the 96% share of console hardware sales from eighth generation consoles, up from 84% in January 2015," the market research firm said. In the battle of games, Call Of Duty: Black Ops III bagged the top spot - it was at the top in December as well as for the whole of 2015,...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/microsoft_boasts_1_billion_gaming_hours_for_xbox_one_but_sony_ps4_was_still_top_seller_in_january-news-16595.php

WSJ: Standalone VR headset from Google in the works

Less than a week after there were reports that Google is planning to launch a Samsung Gear VR competitor later this year, the Wall Street Journal is reporting that the Mountain View, California-based company is also working on a standalone VR headset. Google's existing Cardboard VR headset (Star Wars edition) As the term suggests, a standalone VR headset is one which doesn't rely on a smartphone, PC, or a gaming console to function. Currently, there isn't any such VR product in the market. "The headset will include a screen, high-powered processors and outward-facing cameras," the report said. It "appears to aim for a middle ground: a quality experience not tethered to an expensive PC or game console." Startup Movidius will supply the technology for the headset. As for the availability, things aren't set in stone it seems. While one of the WSJ's sources said the device could be unveiled this year, others refrained from offering any specific timeline, cautioning that it's in early stages of development and could even be scrapped. The Samsung Gear VR competitor, meanwhile, could be unveiled at Google's this year's annual developer conference along with a new VR-compatible Android version, the report...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/wsj_standalone_vr_headset_in_the_works_at_google-news-16594.php

LeTV Le 1s hands-on: First look

LeTV's claim for fame was at this year's CES where Qualcomm announced LeTV would be the make+r of the first phone with the high-end Snapdragon 820 chipset.

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/letv_le_1s_hands_on-review-1373.php

Huawei Honor Holly 2 Plus to hit the shelves next week

Unveiled late last month in India, the Huawei Honor Holly 2 Plus smartphone will go on sale starting next week - February 15 to be precise. Carrying an INR 8,499 (around $125) price tag, the device will be available for purchase through online retailers Flipkart and Amazon. Specs-wise, the handset is powered by a MediaTek MT6735P SoC, and sports a 5-inch HD IPS display. RAM is 2GB, while internal memory is 16GB, although expandable. It packs in a large 4,000mAh battery. The camera department is handled by a 13MP rear unit and a 5MP front shooter. Featuring textured design on its back and a poly-carbonate body, the Honor Holly 2 Plus runs Android 5.1.1 Lollipop with EMUI 3.1 on top. The handset is scheduled to get the Android 6.0-based EMUI 4.0 update soon. Source 1 2 |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/huawei_honor_holly_2_plus_to_be_available_for_purchase_starting_next_week-news-16591.php

Windows Store listings now tell you if an app is built for Win 10

Microsoft has issued a new update to Windows Store for Win 10. Although there isn't any change log included with the update, what's noticeable is the fact that the store listings now explicitly tell if the app in question is "built for Windows 10." Sadly, it isn't yet clear what other features or improvements come with the new version (if any). The only other thing known at the moment is that it bumps the store version to 2016.27.2.0. You can download the update by heading to the Downloads & Updates section. The Redmond-based company in its latest report on Windows Store trends revealed that the store has received a total of over 3 billion visits since Windows 10 was launched. Several other interesting stats were also revealed - head here to take a...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/windows_store_listings_now_tell_you_if_an_app_is_built_for_win_10-news-16592.php

Refurbished OnePlus X now on sale, starting at €170

If you have your heart set on a OnePlus X handset and don't particularly mind an open-box or refurbished unit, then India's Overcart is promising units just for you - as low as INR 12,799 (about €170). The devices in question are the cheaper Onyx version and as expected prices and conditions will vary. However, they all come with a six-month manufacturer warranty from OnePlus, bringing some extra reassurance to the deals. The sale itself will start on February 15 at precisely 2PM and as an extra bonus, you can also register over at the Overcart website for a notification beforehand. If this sounds a little sketchy to you, there is always the option to buy a brand new one from OnePlus, now invite-free, but it will cost you around $250 and even more in euro - €270. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/refurbished_oneplus_x_units_to_go_on_sale_in_india_starting_inr_12799-news-16590.php

Latest update brings new apps and watch faces to Samsung Gear S2

Samsung has pushed out a new update to its Gear S2 smartwatch that bumps the software version to R720XXU2BPA4, and brings along new apps and watch faces, as well as several other changes. The update brings three new apps, including World Clock, ESPN, and News Briefing, as well as Mendini watch faces. In addition, it adds a new search function in the Contacts application, and a screen time out option in the Settings -> Display menu. Your Gear S2 will now issue an alert when Bluetooth connection is disconnected, and also show an unread notification indicator on the watch face. Weighing in at around 91MB, the update includes some performance improvements and bug fixes as...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/update_brings_new_apps_and_watch_faces_to_samsung_gear_s2-news-16589.php

Samsung Galaxy S7 to cost €700, S7 edge to start at €800

Scheduled to be unveiled on February 21, we already know a lot about Samsung's upcoming flagship smartphones - the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge - given that they have been the subject of endless rumors and leaks until now. However, there has been little to no information on the exact price tag they'll carry. But looks like now we have an answer to that, too. According to a new rumor, the Galaxy S7 will carry a price tag of €700, while the S7 edge will set you back €800. The said prices are for the Exynos variants - as you might already know, the flagships will be powered by either Snapdragon 820 or Exynos 8890 SoCs depending on the region. The rumor also claims that the devices will only have a single, 32GB storage option as users will have the option to expand the memory via microSD card. Previous rumors have suggested that the devices will go on sale in both Europe and the US on March 11, with pre-orders beginning on the unveiling day...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/rumor_reveals_samsung_galaxy_s7_s7_edge_price-news-16585.php

Google offering 50% discount on Play Music gift subscriptions

If you are a Play Music fan, here is some good news: Google is currently offering 50% discount on the music streaming service's gift subscriptions. This means that a one-month gift subscription now costs just $4.99. Similarly, you'll have to pay just $14.98 and $29.97 for 3-month and 6-month gift subscriptions, respectively. If you aren't already aware, Google Play Music subscribers also get access to Youtube's Red and Music services automatically. Needless to say, the deal is only available in countries where Play Music offers gift subscriptions. Interested in the promo? Head to the Source link below to avail it. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/google_offering_50_discount_on_play_music_subscriptions-news-16586.php

Samsung Galaxy Tab S3, both 9.7" and 8", spotted in benchmarks

A couple of weeks ago two Samsung tablets were imported into India for testing - the SM-T718 and the SM-T813. Those have now passed through GFX Bench and confirmed suspicions that they are the successors to the AMOLED-packing Tab S2. The SM-T819, the 9.7" Samsung Galaxy Tab S3, will have a Super AMOLED screen with 2,048 x 1,536px resolution (same as the iPad and the Tab S2). Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 specs, according to GFX Bench It will come with a new chipset, though, the Snapdragon 652. It sounds like a mid-ranger, but actually, it has four Cortex-A72 cores and four A53s. Compare that to the four A57s and four A53s of the S810. There are two issues - first, the 28nm build (limits clockspeed and power efficiency) and the Adreno 510 GPU. Still, early benchmarks suggest some improvement over the Exynos 5433 used in the Tab S2 generation. .jrGraphContainer { background: none !important; border-bottom: 1px solid #eee !important;} ul.jrGraph { left: 146px !important; } ul.jrGraphControls { padding: 0; margin-left: -10px !important; } JRGRAPH_EXPANDABLE_VERSION = false; GeekBench 3 (multi-core) Higher is better Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 9.7 4275 Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 8.0 4122 GeekBench 3 (single-core) Higher is better Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 8.0 1312 Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 9.7 1225 Moving on, little else seems to have changed. The Galaxy Tab S3 will launch with the latest Android 6.0 Marshmallow. It will have 3GB of RAM, 32GB storage, 8MP/1080p main camera and 2MP/1080p selfie. 150Mbps LTE will be an option. The SM-T719, the 8" Samsung Galaxy Tab S3, will be virtually the same - same resolution as the bigger S3, same chipset, same camera. The only differences will be screen size and battery backup. Source (in German) |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_tab_s3_both_97_and_8_spotted_in_benchmarks-news-16584.php

Xiaomi Mi 5 camera sample by Hugo Barra himself packs plenty of detail

The Xiaomi Mi 5 is bound to become official in a couple of weeks, and as befitting a Xiaomi flagship (or any flagship, for that matter) it has been the star of numerous leaks. The company's president posted a shot captured with the Mi 5's camera a few days ago and now VP Hugo Barra has taken it to Facebook to share a sample of his own. The single shot of what looks like a Cycas Revoluta (we know our plants, also have access to the internet) presents plenty of detail even in its undoubtedly altered for social media state. Colors are nice, and the Mi 5 has done well with exposing the scene. (function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v2.3"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);}(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));Spent the holidays hanging out with my folks..aaaaand playing around with the insanely AMAZING #Mi5 camera. I didn't...Posted by Hugo Barra on Thursday, February 11, 2016 Naturally, Facebook posts aren't the best place to evaluate a camera, but they do the job to give us a hint at what to expect from Xiaomi's future smartphone. And is that the Mi 5 itself in the bottom right corner casting its shadow? Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_mi_5_camera_sample_by_hugo_barra_himself_packs_plenty_of_detail-news-16582.php

Facebook testing multiple account management and SMS integration on Android

Some Facebook Messenger users over on Android Police have reported that their Facebook Messenger app has been looking different for a couple of weeks now. On top of all the changes already made, Facebook is testing a few new features for a future app release. The most unusual of which is SMS integration for Android. A few years ago, Facebook Messenger featured a way to set Messenger as your default SMS app. This was a way for users to quickly message people both on Facebook and SMS quickly without leaving the app. The problem was that it wasn't adopted as much as the Facebook Team had hoped. Just like the Facebook message color is blue, the SMS color is purple to differentiate it from a Facebook message. The feature has been pulled back in 2014 but Facebook's new business strategy for the year involves being able to look up people to talk to by name, not even using a phone number. There are some new Material Design elements found like the blue action bar and the blue status bar. Facebook is testing several different layouts and hasn't seemed to finalize on one yet. Also new, is multiple Facebook account support. The ability to add more than one account to Facebook Messenger account on a single device. This would be especially useful for business users who manage multiple business accounts with high volume customer interaction. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/facebook_testing_multiple_account_management_and_sms_integration_on_android-news-16581.php

Rose gold and platinum Samsung Gear S2 Classic will be out in the US tomorrow

Last month, the two new Gear S2 Classic models Samsung unveiled at CES began their global rollout. And now this is about to take them to the US. Both the rose gold and the platinum Gear S2 will become available stateside tomorrow, for a recommended retail price of $449.99. You'll find them at Samsung's own online store, as well as at Best Buy, Amazon, Macy's, and other outlets in the country. Both smartwatches are only plated with the metal that's mentioned in their names, and not actually made out of a solid piece of it - hence the rather affordable pricing. You get an Ivory genuine leather band with the rose gold model, and a black genuine leather band with the platinum one. Spec-wise nothing has changed from the original Gear S2 Classic, so these models also have the same exact innards. We're talking about a 1.2-inch circular Super AMOLED touchscreen with 360x360 resolution, a 1 GHz dual-core processor, 512MB of RAM, 4GB of storage, IP68 certification for water and dust resistance, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, a bunch of sensors (including a heart rate monitor), and a 250 mAh battery with support for wireless...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/rose_gold_and_platinum_samsung_gear_s2_classic_will_be_out_in_the_us_tomorrow-news-16578.php

Instagram will show how many times videos are watched

Just a few days ago, Instagram revealed that all its users would get to use multiple accounts inside its apps starting later this week. And today the Facebook-owned photography-focused social network is at it again, with yet another new feature being announced. It's something much simpler this time around, but should prove very useful for the content creators using Instagram. "Over the next few weeks", view counts for videos will be shown underneath them, as portrayed in the screenshots below. A view is registered once a video has been watched for at least three seconds. This introduction comes as apparently "views are the most widely expected form of feedback on video". The information about how many times a video was viewed will replace that about how many likes it's received. To get to the number of likes, you'll need to tap on the word "views". Instagram promises that this is only the first of many ways in which it plans to improve its handling of video content this year. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/instagram_will_show_how_many_times_videos_are_watched-news-16580.php

HTC One M10 camera specs leak

By all accounts, HTC's next flagship will skip MWC 2016 and possibly come out a bit later, on April 11, but the delay hasn't deterred eager fans and leaksters from gathering info on the handset. An new source now claims to have the inside scoop on the camera info of the handset, codenamed "Perfume". According to the info, the phone is going to have a 12 MP Sony IMX 377 sensor on the back with a pixel size of 1.55 um. It will be supported by laser autofocus as well as phase detection autofocus. As for the front camera, HTC is apparently referring to it as an UltraPixel one. However, its sensor is said to be a 5MP Samsung s5k4e6 one, which has 1.34µm pixel size - much smaller than the 2µm of the original UltraPixel cameras. OIS was previously said to appear in both the front and back shooter. HTC Perfume "UltraPixels":Main Camera - Sony IMX377 12MP 1.55um + Laser Autofocus + PDAFFront Camera - Samsung s5k4e6 5MP UltraPixel— LlabTooFeR (@LlabTooFeR) February 11, 2016 As far as we currently know, other specs on the One M10 include a QHD AMOLED display, with a diagonal of either 5.1 or 5.2 inches. The smartphone will be powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 820 chipset, which will be aided by 4GB of RAM and 32GB of storage (of which around 23GB will be user-accessible). A microSD card slot will be available too. A fingerprint scanner is also suggested, most-likely in the home button below the screen. In terms of OS, it will most-likely boot Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow with HTC Sense 8 on...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/htc_one_m10_camera_setup_leaks-news-16577.php

Marshmallow update is now rolling out for the original Moto 360 too

A few days ago Google announced the latest version of Android Wear, 1.4, which is based on Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow, along with the new features this will bring to a smartwatch near you. Then, shortly after that, we saw the rollout of the update commence for the second-generation Moto 360. While that's still not reached all units, Motorola has also started pushing out the update to its first smartwatch, the original 360 from 2014. The image below confirms that at least some people have already received and installed it. The new software has support for more languages, screen dimming, new wrist gestures, Doze mode (which should improve battery life), manual settings for date and time, audio improvements for Bluetooth headsets, and the ability to send messages with your voice through popular third-party apps. As with all staged rollouts, it could still be a few days until every Moto 360 device out there pops up the coveted notification, so all that's required now is a bit of...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/marshmallow_update_is_now_rolling_out_for_the_original_moto_360_too-news-16579.php

Samsung Pay launching in the UK and Spain "very soon"

Samsung Pay is expected to launch in the UK and Spain early this year. The head of Samsung Pay Europe revealed that the launch will be "very soon," but said the exact date and other details will be revealed at the MWC. The Samsung Galaxy S7, the start of Samsung's MWC show, will be unveiled on February 21 and we'll most likely see Pay piggyback on its media attention (the MWC is held in Spain, after all). Also in the first wave of expansion for this year is China, with Australia, Singapore and Brazil following later. It's not just the S7 that supports Samsung Pay, the new Galaxy A (2016) series does...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_pay_launching_in_the_uk_and_spain_very_soon-news-16572.php

A free Samsung VR headset to come with each Galaxy S7 pre-order

Samsung Galaxy S7 is going to premiere at a special UNPACKED event at the MWC next week. It has been in Rumorland for quite some time and the speculations have gone wild throughout the past few days. Samsung is also keen on getting a piece of the growing VR market, and as suggested by Rory O'Neill, Vice President Brand & Product Manager of Samsung Electronics, most of the VR content will be in fact produced by the consumers. That's why Samsung will be offering a free Gear VR headset with each Galaxy S7 smartphone or at least in the Netherlands. As per some reports Samsung Netherlands will be throwing a free Gear VR headset with each Galaxy S7 pre-order placed between February 21 and March 10. The Galaxy S7 is going to be unveiled on February 21, which means it will go on pre-order in Europe on the very same day. It's unclear whether this promotion will expand to other markets, but if Samsung wants some nice share of the VR universe, the logic says yes. In just a few days the Galaxy S7 will say ‘hi' from Barcelona for the first time. Naturally, we'll be there to cover the event for you as it unfolds. Source 1 • Source 2 • Source...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/a_free_samsung_vr_headset_to_go_with_each_galaxy_s7_preorder-news-16576.php

Snapdragon Wear 2100 SoC unveiled, LG already working on smartwatches

Qualcomm's on fire today. Not only has the US chipmaker announced 3 smartphone SoC's, but it's also followed up with a brand new platform for wearables, dubbed the Snapdragon Wear. The sole chip in the new range at this point is the Snapdragon Wear 2100, bringing significant improvements over the so far default smartwatch choice, the Snapdragon 400. The dedicated solution for smart devices you'll be strapping to you wrist or chest this year is 30% smaller in physical size than the S400, enabling more compact designs and thinner wearables. It also boasts 25% better power efficiency than the old model. The Snapdragon Wear 2100 chipset packs a quad-core Cortex-A7 CPU clocked at up to 1.2GHz, and its Adreno 304 GPU (featured in some of the 200-series chips) can feed displays up to 640x480 pixels at up to 60Hz. Two versions of the chip will be available, one tethered (Bluetooth/Wi-Fi only), the other - connected, with full 2G/3G/LTE cellular connectivity. The chip also supports NFC and GPS, and comes with Quick Charge 2.0 capabilities. LG was also keen to point out the collaboration between the two companies in the field. Wearables branch vice president David Yoon indicated that the Korean giant is already working on smartwatches, but also other wearables, to be launched later this year. Source 1 Source 2 Source...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/snapdragon_wear_2100_soc_unveiled_lg_already_working_on_smartwatches-news-16575.php

Qualcomm announces new Snapdragon 625, 435 and 425 chipsets

Here's the mid-range chipset from Qualcomm that we've been waiting for, the Snapdragon 625. The company also brought faster LTE connectivity to the 400-series with the 425 and 435. Snapdragon 625 Despite its low model number, the S625 is the first 600-series chipset to be built on a power-efficient 14nm process. This allows its eight Cortex-A53 cores to be clocked at over 2GHz. This is also the third 600-class chip (after the 650, 652) to record 4K video (with both AVC and HEVC codecs); it also supports up to 24MP cameras with its dual ISP. It's paired with an X9 modem for Cat. 7 LTE - up to 300Mbps downloads and 150Mbps uploads. The chipset also supports Wi-Fi ac. Other goodies include an Adreno 506 GPU and Quick Charge 3.0. The only limiting factor is the display support - the Snapdragon 625 tops out at 1,900 x 1,200 at 60fps or 1080p at 30fps. So, we won't see it in QHD flagships, but premium mid-rangers are about to get better. You can expect new devices with the 625 in the second half of this year. Finally, Qualcomm mentioned that the 625 uses up to 35% less power than its Snapdragon 617 predecessor, so all the goodies won't cost you anything in terms of battery life. Snapdragon 435 This one is built on the old 28nm process, so its eight Cortex-A53 cores top out at 1.4GHz. Also, it comes with Adreno 505 GPU and supports displays up to 1080p at 60fps. It's still a solid offering with an X8 modem (Cat. 7 for 300Mbps down, 100Mbps up), Wi-Fi ac and Quick Charge 3.0. This is the first 400-series chipset with Cat. 7 LTE. The S435 chipset supports 1080p video recording (AVC and HEVC) from 21MP cameras. Snapdragon 425 A small difference in model number, a huge difference in hardware. The Snapdragon 425 chipset has a quad-core processor, Cortex-A53 up to 1.4GHz (28nm build), and an old Adreno 308 (which means no OpenGL ES 3.1 support). Display support is capped at 1,280 x 800 at 60fps. At least you get to keep the 1080p video capture (max camera resolution is 16MP, though). The Snapdragon 425 uses an older X6 modem, which puts its maximum speeds at Cat. 4 levels - 150Mbps down, 75Mbps up. You still get Wi-Fi ac. Quick Charge version 2.0 is supported. Both the Snapdragon 435 and the 425 are pin-compatible with last year's S430, so phone-makers have an easy upgrade path to the new chipsets. X16 modem You may have glossed over the modem designations, but to compare it quickly to the high end, the upcoming Snapdragon 820 chipset has an X12 chipset. It boasts download speeds of up to 600Mbps. Today Qualcomm also announced the X16 - the first modem to reach 1Gbps (that's 1,000Mbps) download speeds. It's also the first modem to be built on a 14nm process (the X12 is at 20nm). This modem won't arrive in consumer devices until 2017 though. Anyway, the X16 modem also supports LTE-U, aka LTE-Unlicensed, which operates in the 5GHz spectrum, sharing room with household...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/qualcomm_announces_three_new_chipsets_the_snapdragon_625_boasts_4k_video-news-16574.php

Right to be forgotten to expand over all Google domains

Google offers the ‘right to be forgotten' option for all EU citizens, by EU regulations. If a person asks Google to remove all information about him, Google is obliged to remove any references and information from its search engine. As this rule applies to EU citizens and for the EU only, Google scrubs such information only from its .fr, .co.uk, .bg, .de, and similar EU Google Search domains. This allowed for an easy workaround - just open Google.com or any other non-EU Google Search website and repeat the search string. This is about to change in just a few days, though. Google is going to address this workaround, and the ‘right to be forgotten' rule will apply to all Google domains when used within the EU (detected by IP address). Soon, the only way to see results under the ‘right to be forgotten' rule will require you to be out of the EU or use a proxy server. According to BBC, Google will apply the new rules in mid-February and if some information is under the ‘right to be forgotten' rule it won't be accessed by any Google Search engine invoked within the EU borders. Source •...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/googles_right_to_be_forgotten_to_expand_over_all_google_domains-news-16573.php

HTC One M10 render shows its hybrid One M9 and A9 looks

As expected, the HTC One M10 will break away from the old M-design and inherit that of the One A9. We had a peek at a murky photo a week ago, but now we can gawk at smooth 3D renders. The M10 does look quite a bit like the A9 with its flat back with beveled sides. One noticeable change is that the camera is below the top antenna line, just like it was on the previous M models. You can see the laser focus element below the flash. The big camera on the front will reportedly be quite impressive too. One disappointing feature of the A9 was also brought over to the One M10 - no stereo speakers, not on the front, not on the back. On the plus side, the HTC logo below the screen, the one that needlessly took up vertical space, is gone. Now the M10 is expected to be the same size as the A9, despite the slightly bigger screen. HTC One M10 (leak) • HTC One A9 • HTC One M9 The phone is expected to have a 5.1" QHD AMOLED screen, a Snapdragon 820 chipset and a 12MP UltraPixel camera. The updated Sense UI is expected to be much closer to stock Android. The HTC One M10 may not show up at the MWC, but it should launch on April 11. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/htc_one_m10_render_shows_its_hybrid_one_m9_and_a9_looks-news-16570.php

Put the Alcatel Idol 4s back in the package for a VR experience

The Alcatel OneTouch Idol 4s was recently accidentally listed on the company's website, revealing all specs ahead of the alleged MWC announcement. What it didn't tell was that the upcoming smartphone will come bundled with a VR headset. Or rather, inside one. The retail packaging of the Idol 4s will double as a Google Cardboard-style rig, only made of plastic. Having in mind that Samsung sells one of these (the Gear VR) for $99 or $199, depending on generation, the inclusion of a VR headset with the smartphone is a nice touch, especially considering its alleged sub-$400 price point. The Idol 4s will also have the hardware to facilitate its VR use - a 5.5-inch QHD AMOLED display, Snapdragon 652 and 3GB of RAM. There will also be a 16MP/8MP camera combo, each with a flash, and the reversible design of the Idol 3 will be taken to the next level. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/put_the_alcatel_idol_4s_back_in_the_package_for_a_vr_experience-news-16571.php

TSMC allegedly to be the sole manufacturer of iPhone 7 processor

According to a report by South Korea's The Electronic Times, TSMC is to become the sole supplier for the next generation AX processor in the upcoming iPhone 7. According to the report, TSMC won the contract with Apple over Samsung due to its more efficient 10nm manufacturing process, and is expected to go in full production in June. Both TSMC and Samsung are the suppliers for the A9 processor in the iPhone 6s. Unfortunately for Samsung, users noticed differences in heating and battery life between the chipsets from the two companies, with the TSMC one coming out the better of the two. This wouldn't be the first time Apple went with just TSMC. After a long time of relying on Samsung to supply its chips, Apple switched to TSMC for the A8 and A8X, and even the A9 would have been made entirely by TSMC had Samsung not stolen TSMC's trade secrets, which is said to have helped the company get the contract with Apple. With the A10, TSMC is likely to be the sole supplier for Apple, assuming it can keep up with the demand. Source •...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/tsmc_allegedly_to_be_the_sole_manufacturer_of_iphone_7_processor-news-16569.php

Samsung closing in on Apple in the US

Parks Associates's latest report on the sate of the US mobile market reveals a few interesting facts. Perhaps most intriguing is the reduced gap between the to titans in the realm - Apple ans Samsung. The former currently controls 40% of the local mobile market, but the Korean giant is quickly catching up with 31%. Samsung's US expansion is definitely impressive, but other foreign OEM's are exhibiting the same trend, although on a much smaller scale. Third place on the list goes to LG, with 10% market share and other major brand names, like Motorola and HTC have about 5% reach, combined. On a global scale, Samsung still led the race in 2015, with a total of 324.8 million units shipped, leaving Cupertino at second place with about 231.5 million sales. Another interesting trend, unearthed in the Parks Associates's research concerns smartphone upgrade cycles. The numbers show that about a third of iOS users still own a handset that is more than two years old, while only 30% of Samsung users are on a device as dated. This could be interpreted as a testament to the futureproofing of Apple handsets, but it might also have to do with carrier efforts to shorten hardware upgrade cycles as much as possible and encourage more frequent sales. Operators are pulling out all the tricks to encourage phone upgrades... The once-familiar two-year contract, which tied consumers to a two-year phone upgrade cycle, is gradually fading. U.S. carriers started to do away with two-year contracts in 2012, and by the third quarter of 2015, only 51% of mobile consumers had a contract, down from almost 70% at the end 2011. A few other curious statistic from the report state that: More than 70% of smartphone users now watch short streaming video clips, and more than 40% watch long streaming videos on their device. Almost 40% of smartphone users use the voice recognition function; among iPhone users, more than half have used Siri. 36% use Wi-Fi calling 35% stream music from the phone to speakers 26% use a payment app for purchases at a retail location 24% stream video from the phone to a second screen (e.g., TV, PC, etc.) Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_is_eating_away_at_apples_market_share_in_the_us-news-16568.php

Get a free Galaxy S6 with any current Samsung flagship on AT&T

A great time to get a nice deal on the outgoing Samsung Galaxy S6 flagship, now that the Galaxy S7 is right around the corner. An unlocked Galaxy S6 is now going for $450 in the US, but if you're on AT&T and looking for a contract, you can can get one for free. Of course, that's the marketing talk, and the reality is somewhat different. First off, you need to buy one of the current Samsung top-shelf models (the Galaxy S6 itself, S6 edge, S6 edge+, S6 active or Note5), and then also activate a second line. The primary line must be on an AT&T Next plan $70 or up, while the new one gets an AT&T Next 24 subscription (effectively a 30-month commitment). Three bill payments into the subscription AT&T will start waiving the monthly installments for the second smartphone up to $30/month for a total of $595, rendering it "free". Reading the tiny text also reveals that the offer applies not only to the Galaxy S6, but also to the S6 active, and other select Samsung models. It's then your best bet to contact AT&T directly if you want to get a different combo. The offer expires in March 31, and is void in Connecticut, Rhode Island and Miami-Dade. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/get_a_free_galaxy_s6_with_any_current_samsung_flagship_on_at_t-news-16567.php

Marshmallow update for Android Wear promises battery boost

With a little over 1% penetration, Android 6.0 Marshmallow is still very much a rarity within the mobile realm and an illusive update most users are still waiting on. But it appears you handset won't be the only device to benefit from the update, Android Wear units will eventually get a taste of Marshmallow goodness as well and with potential major benefits. One of the main expected consequences of the new OS is improved battery life for the wearables. As most of you surely remember, Doze is a key feature of Android 6.0 and it appears it will be carried over to the wearable version as well. We can't really say how much this will extend average battery life, which currently sits at around two days, depending on usage, as well as how it will play with always on mode enabled. Still, there is bound to be at least some improvement, so we'll take it. As for availability, we understand that last generation Moto 360 watches already ship with the new Wear 1.4 OS. As for other devices, it appears a rollout has been in progress for a few days now, but no official update schedule has been provided. It is also worth noting that the new update brings support for speakers and making calls (currently limited to the Huawei Watch and the 49mm Asus ZenWatch 2, which have a built-in speaker), as well as a number of new gestures and voice...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/marshmallow_update_for_android_wear_promises_battery_boost-news-16566.php