Pokémon Go will begin field testing in Japanese Beta later this month

Nintendo's highly anticipated mobile game scheduled for release this year (still no estimation as to when the game will actually launch) will begin undergoing actual Beta testing in Japan late this month. The Beta program is intended to improve the existing build of the new mobile geo-based game. Users in Japan can sign up for the Beta but some areas you wander in might not even work. Even these users who are unable to use the Beta are required to keep the content of the unreleased game under wraps. So we might be able to see some early leaks in the next couple of months. Users are asked for their name, smartphone type (iOS or Android phone), Ingress username, and the level that you've reached on Ingress. The Ingress questions are optional to answer, but it would be in The Pokémon Company's best interest to select users who have experience with the GPS based game with essence of capture-the-flag. Pokémon Go was announced this past fall for release on mobile platforms: iOS and Android. The game was influenced by Niantic Labs first GPS based game called Ingress. Google was once the parent company of Niantic Labs until Nintendo invested into the independent company. When the trailer came out in the fall, gamers everywhere flipped their shit. They'd now be able to play Pokémon outside in the real world and other Pokémon trainers and maybe even encourage the younger generation to go outside and explore. If you haven't already, check out the Pokémon Go trailer release back in September. Source |...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/pokmon_go_will_begin_field_testing_in_japanese_beta_later_this_month-news-17079.php

Telus delays Marshmallow updates for Galaxy Note5, S6 edge, S6 edge+

The carrier Telus has some problems with the Marshmallow updates for the Samsung Galaxy Note5, Galaxy S6 edge, and Galaxy S6 edge+. Previously the Note5 and S6 edge+ were supposed to get the Marshmallow firmware on March 9 while the S6 edge update was scheduled for March 16. As it turns out, Telus had some minor setbacks, and those updates will be postponed for a few days. The Note5 and Galaxy S6 edge+ updates will arrive on March 13 while the S6 edge firmware will be ready for distribution on March 30. The regular Galaxy S6 Marshmallow update for the Telus model is still coming on April 13, no changes...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/telus_delays_marshmallow_updates_galaxy_note5-news-17076.php

Google files patent for popup books with AR elements

The first time I've ever seen anything with Augmented Reality was when using the AR cards that came with the Nintendo 3DS. This blew my mind back in 2011: You set a card on a coffee table or a desk and looked through the handheld console's telescopic 3D screen to find some characters pop up right out of the card. Moving the handheld around the card shifts the view of the 3D character on the screen. Google filed a couple of patents with the United States Patent and Trademark Office which outlined a story telling experience enhanced with AR elements that could be interacted with. The first patent was filed for an "interactive book" using pressure and motion sensors that are built into the pages. Next, a small lens would project images onto the pages depending on what the user presses or does to the pages. There would also be speakers embedded in the device to add to the experience. The other patent was for a kind of tablet that is embedded into the book, then, every page in the book has a secondary ‘vertical page' of sorts which would display content that compliments the physical page. As always, patents don't usually mean something will become real products, not even experimental hardware may ever be a reality. Even at this point In time, I'm surprised that we haven't really seen a sort of children's book with AR or VR elements used to enhance it. Source |...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/google_files_patent_for_popup_books_with_ar_elements-news-17078.php

Samsung to shut down Milk Music, reports say

I remember when I was working as a Samsung rep inside Best Buy last year, I was instructed to install Milk Music and Milk Video to every Samsung Phone that we handled. Many customers loved the idea of free radio stations with no ads for a year, and I am sure most of them didn't like the idea of continuing to pay for premium service after the year was up. Samsung seems to have given up on Milk Music and reports say Samsung is going to shut it down for good. The idea of having a music service that is exclusive to Galaxy phones was a great idea, however, the problem was that Samsung didn't leverage it as well as it should have, it didn't give customers a compelling music service that wasn't already a lot like Pandora. Even so, Samsung has left Milk Music out of its new lineup of TVs when there was no mention of being able to use the music service. Also, Samsung's Galaxy S7 and S7 edge announcement in MWC last month didn't make any mention of Milk Music either. Let's not forget that Samsung pulled the plug on Milk Video after just one year of launching the service in 2014. What did you all think of Samsung's Milk Music? Did you find it compelling at all? Did you ever use it on any occasion? Source |...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_to_shut_down_milk_music_reports_say-news-17077.php

HTC 10 reportedly won't have a version running Windows 10 Mobile

It looks like you're not likely to see a Windows logo on an HTC smartphone ever again. Or not anytime soon, anyway. Back in 2014, the One (M8) for Windows was basically the Windows Phone running version of the Android One (M8). Hence, some people may have hoped for HTC to pull the same stunt with this year's upcoming flagship device, which will be called 10. The hopes were there despite the fact that 2015's One M9 did not get a Windows variant. According to Evan Blass (of @evleaks fame), neither will the HTC 10. He firmly stated today that there won't be an iteration of the HTC 10 running Windows 10 Mobile. So it turns out that HTC has chosen to stick with Android alone for its smartphones, at least for the foreseeable future. On the other hand, if you're looking for a high-end Windows-powered handset, HP has surprisingly announced one at MWC - and obviously there's also Microsoft's very own Lumia 950 and 950 XL...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/htc_10_reportedly_wont_have_a_version_running_windows_10_mobile-news-17072.php

OxygenOS 2.2.1 update for the OnePlus 2 brings RAW support to the default camera app

A new software update has started rolling out today for the OnePlus 2. It's not going to change the underlying Android version unfortunately (so no Marshmallow for you), but it does come with some bug fixes and improvements. Chief among the latter is the added RAW support for the preinstalled OnePlus Camera app. RAW image capture has been supported in third-party apps ever since a previous update in September of last year, and now this is finally part of the built-in app as well. You'll also find that compatibility for Bluetooth devices and Ultra SIM has been improved, along with a GMS 3.0 upgrade. Roaming issues should have been mitigated, Romanian language support has been added, as well as some security patches. Finally, a fix has been deployed for an occasional image corruption issue in OnePlus Camera. As you might expect, the rollout will be incremental, so it may take a few days (or even weeks) for the update to reach your OnePlus 2 unit. But it is on its way, so all you can do is...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/oxygenos_221_update_for_the_oneplus_2_brings_raw_support_to_the_default_camera_app-news-17071.php

Samsung Galaxy TabPro S now available for purchase

Samsung unveiled the Galaxy TabPro S tablet at CES in early January. It's a 12" premium slate running on Windows 10 with a 12" Super AMOLED QHD display, and 6th generation Intel Core M dual-core 2.26GHz processor coupled with 4GB of RAM. a 5MP AF rear camera and a 5MP front snapper. Now, Samsung has finally made the Galaxy TabPro S tablet available throughout Europe. You can get it in the Netherlands via the official Samsung online store. Amazon UK and Amazon DE, among other retailers, have the slate in stock. Too. You can choose between 128GB and 256GB SSD options; you can also opt for an LTE-enabled model. The OS is also configurable - you can either get Windows 10 Home or Windows 10 Pro. Finally, there is a full-sized keyboard cover bundled within the retail box, and it comes with a touchpad and a flexible hinge. Oddly, Samsung UK has the TabPro S on pre-order, and it will ship on March 16, but you can get it through Amazon UK right now. The prices are the same we confirmed a while ago - the Wi-Fi 128GB SSD with Wind 10 Home options costs €999, add €100 for Windows 10 Pro, and another €100 for LTE capabilities. Note that the 4G model ships only with Windows 10 Pro. So, if you liked the tablet and its keyboard, now you can place your order. Additionally, you can get the official Bluetooth Pen and the port hub with HDMI and more USBs. Source •...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_tabpro_s_now_available_for_purchase-news-17075.php

Huawei P9 looks different in new leaked renders, passes FCC, might not be outed on March 9

MWC has come and gone and Huawei hasn't yet unveiled its next flagship smartphone, the P9. When the Chinese company sent out invites for a March 9 event in Berlin a couple of days ago, we assumed this would be when the P9 would finally get official. But now it turns out that may not be the case. According to a report from China, Huawei will not be unveiling the P9 on March 9. Unnamed company officials have confirmed that the phone exists and is being worked on, but the project has apparently suffered some delays. These have to do with the need to improve some technical issues related to the much-leaked dual camera setup on the P9's back. Because of this, the release of the handset is reportedly delayed by a whole month. An exact date (either for the presentation or the start of sales) hasn't been mentioned, but we should all rest assured that the P9 will be out "in the coming months". The same source claims the P9 will not have 6GB of RAM, as previously rumored, nor a brand-new Kirin chipset - thus it's likely to use the same Kirin 950 found inside the Mate 8 phablet. Moving on, some new renders allegedly depicting the Huawei P9 have been leaked, as you can see. Though they confirm that dual camera setup once more, they are different than the last two batches - gone is the laser autofocus this time around, and the fingerprint sensor on the back is now round, and it was shown to be more squared in the past. Furthermore, the positions of the front-facing camera and proximity sensor are changed too. So now the actual design of the P9 has gotten quite unclear, with two differing perspectives both being claimed to be leaked renders of the real thing. Hopefully you've had a healthy serving of salt nearby for this one. An additional P9-related tidbit is that the FCC has certified a Huawei EVA-L09, and this could be one of the model numbers for the top of the line device. If so, then at least one of its four versions will feature a 2,900 mAh battery, as FCC docs have revealed. The cheapest hardware iteration for the P9 is said to cost CNY 1,888 ($289 or €264), while the most expensive one is bound to go for CNY 4,088 ($627 or €571). Source 1 (in Chinese) • Source 2 (in Chinese) • Source 3 | Via 1 • Via 2 • Via 3 (in...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/huawei_p9_looks_different_in_new_leaked_renders_passes_fcc_might_not_be_outed_on_march_9-news-17069.php

Verizon's Note5 is now receiving Android Marshmallow, HTC One (M8) will get it on Monday

Verizon isn't always the fastest US carrier when it comes to releasing Android updates for the handsets it sells, in fact it's usually one of the slowest. But that's not the case for the Samsung Galaxy Note5 as it turns out. Big Red is already rolling out the update to Android 6.0 Marshmallow for Samsung's premium phablet, just a couple of weeks after the new software was first released anywhere in the world. That's some fast turnaround indeed. Aside from all the goodies that Google's packed into Marshmallow, the update also brings with it certain improvements to Live Broadcast and Wi-Fi Calling for HD Voice users. The Amazon Appstore will no longer be preinstalled (thus dropping the number of app stores on the device to 'just' two). As always, this one is bound to be a staged rollout, so it might take a few days for it to reach your particular Note5 unit. If you're impatient, you can always force your handset to manually check for the new software by going to Settings > About phone. If, on the other hand, you own an HTC One (M8) bought from Verizon, you are mere days away from seeing Marshmallow on your device too. HTC VP Mo Versi has announced that the rollout will begin on March 7, which is this coming Monday. Source 1 • Source 2 | Via 1 • Via...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/verizons_note5_is_now_receiving_android_marshmallow_htc_one_m8_will_get_it_on_monday-news-17067.php

You can now claim your freebies for Galaxy S7 and S7 edge pre-orders in the USA

If you pre-order the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge from certain retailers you have been promised free stuff, most often - the Gear VR headset ($99 value) with a bunch of compatible games. Samsung Promotions official website is now live and allows you to claim your freebies. You must choose the retailer where you pre-ordered your Galaxy S7 or S7 edge and then you can learn what's your prize. AT&T, Metro PCS, Sam's Club, T-Mobile, US Cellular, Walmart, Verizon's Retail, pre-orders will receive Gear VR bundled with some compatible games. First they need to claim their prize via the Samsung Promotions website, otherwise they will not get any free stuff. By the way, T-Mobile is throwing a 12-months free Netflix subscription in addition to the Gear VR bundle. Users who pre-ordered at BestBuy, Costco, Sprint, and Target will get their Gear VR bundle delivered directly to their home without any further verification. Verizon Online is the only retailer to allow you to choose between the Gear VR with six games bundle of the dark gray model or the Samsung Gear S2 smartwatch (sold for $300 separately). All who pre-order the Galaxy S7 or Galaxy S7 edge between February 23 and March 18 are eligible for some free hardware. The supplies are limited though, so if those matter to you, consider placing an order sooner rather than later. The same goes for claiming the free stuff. Samsung Promotions •...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/you_can_now_claim_your_freebies_for_galaxy_s7_and_s7_edge_preorders_in_the_usa-news-17063.php

This weekend you can grab an Honor 5X in the UK for just £149

Huawei has been selling the Honor 5X in the UK for quite a while now. You can opt to buy the phone from its maker's official online store for £189.99. Yet if you choose a third party online retailer and do the deed this weekend, you can save £40. That's quite a lot given the already pretty small price of the Honor 5X. The deal is offered by Clove, and you can take advantage of it by using the promo code MAR5X16 when you go through checkout. This will lower the price of the device all the way down to £149, making the Honor 5X even better value for money than it already was. The one caveat is that you need to buy the handset before 11:59 pm on March 6 - that's this Sunday, so you basically need to act at some point during this weekend. The unit you're buying is SIM-free. The Honor 5X has a 5.5-inch 1080p touchscreen, a 13 MP main camera with LED flash, a 5 MP selfie snapper, Qualcomm's Snapdragon 616 SoC (with a 1.5 GHz octa-core Cortex-A53 CPU), 2GB of RAM, 16GB of expandable storage, LTE, and a 3,000 mAh battery. It runs Android 5.1.1 Lollipop underneath Huawei's EMUI...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/this_weekend_you_can_grab_an_honor_5x_in_the_uk_for_just__pound149-news-17070.php

HTC 10 leaks in brand new press renders and live images

A very short while ago we told you about the fact that HTC won't be selling its next flagship smartphone as the One M10 (like everyone anticipated), instead opting to go with the much simpler moniker of HTC 10. And now, to complement the new name, two well-known leaksters have unleashed a torrent of new images of the device. First off, Evan Blass gives us full press renders for the upcoming handset. Now in case you're wondering how these renders would translate into real-life images of the HTC 10, wonder no more. Three live shots of the phone have been shared by @onleaks. Here they are for your viewing pleasure (make sure you click on the thumbnails to get the full-size pictures). HTC 10 live images Along with these, @onleaks has also revealed some "prototype specs" for the HTC 10. It's supposedly coming with a 5.15-inch QHD touchscreen, Qualcomm's Snapdragon 820 chipset on board, 4GB of RAM, a 12 MP main camera, and a USB Type-C port. None of these are surprising, of course, as we've heard about the 10 sporting these exact innards many times before. The 12 MP camera on the back should be of the UltraPixel variety, meaning it will be incredibly similar to the solution Samsung's chosen for its Galaxy S7 and S7 edge. Camera comparisons between the HTC 10 and the S7 will thus be very interesting indeed, especially as HTC itself has already claimed that its phone's camera will be "very compelling". HTC has already started teasing the handset, with an image and a video so far, but the company should probably just set an announcement date already, now that these leaked renders and pictures are out. At this rate, we assume a full spec list will be revealed pretty soon, so HTC might not want to drag things along any...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/htc_10_leaks_in_brand_new_press_renders_and_live_images-news-17074.php

Next flagship to be called HTC 10, not HTC One M10

HTC has already outed both a teaser image and a teaser video for its upcoming flagship smartphone, and we assume more such things are to follow before the official unveiling (which doesn't have a set date yet, or at least not one that has been leaked). In the meantime, however, leaker extraordinaire Evan Blass (also known as @evleaks) has something to say about this device's name. According to him, it will be marketed as the HTC 10, and not HTC One M10 as everyone has so far assumed. You heard it here first:"HTC 10"— Evan Blass (@evleaks) March 4, 2016 The latter (now probably debunked) option seemed logical enough, seeing as how the smartphone is going to be the successor to the One M9 from last year, which itself came after the One (M8). But it looks like HTC may have finally grown tired of the One brand (and its overuse), while the "M" made little sense from the beginning (it got there because the company at one point decided to use its handsets' codenames as actual names). HTC's teasers have incorporated the hashtag "powerof10", which, in retrospect, may have been a hint at the name - notice how it's not "powerofM10" or "powerofOneM10". The HTC 10 has been rumored to sport a 5.1-inch QHD AMOLED touchscreen, Qualcomm's Snapdragon 820 chipset, 4GB of RAM, 16 / 32 / 64GB of built-in storage, a fingerprint scanner, and a "very compelling" camera. It should run Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow from day...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/next_flagship_to_be_called_htc_10_not_htc_one_m10-news-17068.php

Lava Iris Fuel F2 goes official, available exclusively on eBay India

Lava Iris Fuel F2 was announced and launched immediately in India. It's an entry level handset running on Android Lollipop and priced at INR 4,444 or $66. Although it's a successor of the Fuel F1, the F2 is a less capable device. The Lava Iris Fuel F2 has a 5" FWVGA display and is powered by a quad-core 1.3GHz Cortex-A7 processor with 512MB RAM. The Fuel F2 packs a 5MP rear camera with an LED flash, a front 0.3MP snapper, and a 3,000 mAh battery. The Lava Iris Fuel F2 is a dual-SIM device, and it can tap to 3G networks. There is 8GB storage expandable via a microSD slot (up to 32GB). The phone is available exclusively through eBay India, and you can get it right now in black or white for INR 4,444 ($66). eBay •...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/lava_iris_fuel_f2_goes_official_available_exclusively_on_ebay_india-news-17065.php

Galaxy S7 and S7 edge feature moisture detection in USB slot

The latest Samsung flagships - the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge - are both beautiful and waterproof with IP68 certification. And both have their microUSB port exposed, which is something only Sony did before. It turns out Samsung has installed an additional failsafe on the USB port to prevent water damage. It's called moisture detection, and it won't allow you to charge the phone until the charging port is dry. If you pull the Galaxy S7 or S7 edge out of the water, you won't be able to charge it right away. Users report a message about moisture detected in the charging slot. It may take an hour, or even a few hours for the port to dry up, and until then you won't be able to charge your phone. This is very thoughtful otherwise, there is a chance you may end up killing your phone. There is this one user that reported his Galaxy S7 couldn't fast charge after his USB port was usable again post water submersion, which sounds bad. Normal charging was OK, but fast charging was impossible - there's no way to confirm if that's an actual bug at this point though. And while we are on the pool subject, you may find this video about Galaxy S7 edge pool test rather enjoyable. Thank you, Jason, for the tip! Source 1 (XDA) • Source...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/galaxy_s7_and_s7_edge_feature_moisture_detection_in_usb_slot_watch_it_swim_in_a_pool-news-17066.php

Windows 10 Mobile to hit Lumia 535, 635, 735, 830, 930, and 1520 next week

Microsoft promised to update all compatible Lumia smartphones to Windows 10 Mobile, but the new firmware is still nowhere to be found. There is no official release date either; it's just coming soon. A Vodafone Italy rep has compiled a list of upcoming updates for the carrier phones and published it on the carrier's official Twitter account. It suggests a bunch of Lumia smartphones will be getting the Windows 10 Mobile sometime next week. According to the list Lumia 535, Lumia 635, Lumia 735, Lumia 830, Lumia 930, and Lumia 1520 will get an OTA firmware with Windows 10 Mobile between March 7 and March 13. If this is true, this means the global rollout of those updates should happen very soon. Unfortunately, there is no official confirmation on this dates and Microsoft is still mum on the subject. The Vodafone list is as much of an official source as we have at this point. Source |...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/windows_10_mobile_may_arrive_on_lumia_535_635_735_830_930_and_1520_next_week-news-17062.php

Oculus Rift will arrive on Mac if Apple "ever releases a good computer"

Oculus founder Palmer Luckey was asked during an interview when the will they be adding Mac support to the Rift. His answer was simple, when Apple releases a good computer. Other than being the burn of the year so far, it's also true. Luckey's reasoning is that the current Macs simply do not have the graphical power to run something as intensive as VR on the Rift. Even the most powerful Mac Pro, with dual AMD FirePro D700 GPU, falls short of a single NVIDIA GTX 970, which is the minimum requirement to support Rift on the PC. Apple never prioritized gaming on the Mac and all the current machines are non-user upgradable now so you can't just install a more powerful graphics card like you could with the older Mac Pros. Even if Oculus added software support for OS X none of the machines will be able to handle it. Apple has shown an interest in VR recently but without the hardware support to match it's...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/oculus_rift_will_arrive_on_mac_if_apple_ever_releases_a_good_computer-news-17064.php

Android N System app gets previewed

We have taken a look at the Android N notification system previously, courtesy of Android Police. Now, they have released images of what is a work in progress Settings app that we might see in the coming Android N. One of the changes is that they have removed the lines between items that belong to the same category, and only put them between different categories. Also, items on the main list will now show additional info below them, such as the Battery item showing the battery status. Lastly, if you are in Do Not Disturb mode, the app shows a drop down at the top for some reason. If you click on any of the items on the main screen and go a level deeper, you will see the new hamburger menu appear on the top. This will let you jump to any of the other sections in the app without going back first. Again, these are essentially mockups of a work in progress build of Android N, so a lot can change in the final version. Check the source for more...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/android_n_system_app_gets_previewed-news-17061.php

Instagram blocks links to Telegram profiles

Instagram is further buckling down on links to profiles for Snapchat or Telegram that are posted directly on the Instagram user's short profile. The image sharing giant has been caught denying users the ability to post links that directly link followers to their "follow-me" links. Another @Facebook tentacle closes on users' ability to share a link to their Telegram profile. #hypocrisy pic.twitter.com/xC6ydp3M0p— Telegram Messenger (@telegram) March 2, 2016 Telegram tweeted about this and gave it the hashtag #hipocrisy. Instagram spokesperson confirmed to Mashable that the use-case and reason for blocked links is that it is misuse of the platform and was not intended to be used to gain followers via direct "follow-me" links. Here is where the #hipocrisy comes in: direct "follow-me" links are allowed on Instagram profiles, only if the profile happens to be a Twitter profile. Telegram is still a fairly new feature-packed service, but it seems that these other messaging giants feel threatened by Telegram's potential and don't want to have any part in Telegram potentially gaining growing any faster than it already is. Source |...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/instagram_blocks_links_to_telegram_profiles-news-17060.php

Amazon Echo compatibility with Nest thermostats coming in two weeks

If you own an Amazon Echo and have a Nest smart thermostat, you'll be happy to know that they will begin to communicate with each other over the next couple of weeks. This new integration will allow users to simply tell Alexa to change the thermostat temperature to a specific temperature. Alexa's new Skills feature uses contextual information to learn about the user's preferences such as telling Alexa that you are leaving your home and Alexa would know to turn the thermostat off. Or you could tell Alexa to "tell the thermostat that I'm too hot." Nest also states that if you use IFTTT, there are already more than 50 recipes that you can use in conjunction with your Nest thermostat and Amazon Echo. Source |...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/amazon_echo_now_compatible_with_nest_thermostats-news-17059.php

Amazon removes storage encryption from Fire OS in new OTA

In light of all the Apple VS. FBI controversy, Amazon took it upon itself to push out an OTA to its own Fire OS devices that disables encryption. However, when asked about it, The Verge reports that Amazon claimed the decision was made several months ago when it was ‘removing features that customers were not using'. Encrypting storage was first introduced with Android 5.0 Lollipop which first came with some performance issues that had to be addressed. The issue at hand is now all of Amazon's products that run Fire OS will be updated to Fire OS 5, which disables encryption completely, rendering all customer's internal storage data, no longer protected in the hands of thieves. While Apple fights the good fight, @Amazon removes encryption as option from FireOS 5 | @csoghoian @normative @eff pic.twitter.com/nggBdtFG7j— David Scovetta (@davidscovetta) March 3, 2016 The update even tells customers that they need to back up their encrypted data before they can upgrade to the new Fire OS which lacks storage encryption. Why did Amazon decide to go through with decrypting Fire OS' internal storage? Especially at a time like this, speculation points to Amazon not wanting to become involved with the same issues that Apple faces with the FBI. We hope that Amazon decides to change its mind in deprecating encryption in its next OTA update. The customer deserves to have its data protected and if the customer no longer has the option, then those customers who really depend on storage encryption will likely switch to another device or another platform that will protect its customers' data, even as far as fighting through the court system. Source |...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/amazon_removes_storage_encryption_from_fire_os_in_new_ota-news-17058.php

Rando is a new iOS app that sends people random messages on your behalf

Ever felt like you wanted to message someone, but have no idea what to actually write? How about when you get the urge to send someone a picture, but simply can't decide which one? Well, there's a new app in town that's ready to tackle these exact use-cases. It's called Rando, and it's out for iOS already. You can grab it for free from the iTunes App Store. Rando sends people random messages on your behalf. You can pick between a photo, a GIF, or a quote. Say you go with a pic. By default, Rando offers to randomly send an image from your Camera Roll, without even showing you which one. Thankfully, you do get the option to see it before it's shared, but in order for that to happen you need to tap a blurry rectangle. GIFs are sourced from Giphy. It's unclear where quotes come from, so supposedly Rando has its own database for those. Like for pictures, you can either send the GIF or quote blindly, or opt to see it first. Sending is done via text, Facebook, Twitter, or any other app that you can share stuff to in...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/rando_is_a_new_ios_app_that_sends_people_random_messages_on_your_behalf-news-17057.php

Samsung Galaxy S7 edge teardown exposes all of its internals

While the Samsung Galaxy S7 got its first teardown last month, now it's time for the curvy S7 edge to receive the exact same treatment. The folks over at Chipworks have done the deed this time around, disassembling the handset and letting it reveal all of its secrets. The 12 MP camera module measures 12.1 x 12.1 x 5.4 mm. The Sony IMX260 sensor has been rumored to be inside, and while the exact model isn't written anywhere there is a Sony logo on the module's flex cable, so that tidbit could be true indeed. Near the camera module there's a STMicroelectronics K2G2IS gyroscope, used for optical image stabilization. The camera, as you may know, has 1.4 micron pixels, as well as a Dual Pixel autofocus system that's unique for the mobile world. Qualcomm's Snapdragon 820 (model MSM8996) chipset is present in this T-Mobile version of the S7 edge, along with 4GB of LPDDR4 SDRAM made by Hynix (though surely Samsung-made memory is present in other batches of the device). There's a big increase in interconnecting solder bumps between the top and bottom parts of the PoP (that's the package-on-package format in which the SoC is hidden under the RAM). This could either account for higher memory bandwidth or the need to dissipate more heat from the CPU and/or GPU. The touchscreen controller is made by Samsung itself, with part number S6SA552X. This hasn't been a widely used module so far, but that will probably change in the future. The Galaxy S7 edge also features a Knowles 9291S microphone, a Murata KM5D18098 Wi-Fi module, an NXP 67TO5 NFC controller, an IDT P9221 wireless power receiver, and an STM LPS25HB barometer. Make sure you hit the Source link below for the full...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_s7_edge_teardown_exposes_all_of_its_internals-news-17055.php

Rumored HTC Nexus to have 3D Touch along with upcoming Xiaomi, Oppo, vivo, and Meizu phones

With the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus Apple has introduced the 3D Touch feature, which works because the two handsets' displays are pressure-sensitive. Although this hasn't really taken the world by storm like some previous Apple innovations, it looks like its Android competitors are still looking into adding 3D Touch functionality to their devices. A new rumor out of China today claims that Google will add the necessary software to support this feature into the next Android release. As this will be built into the OS, phone makers won't have to create their own software implementations for it, which should speed up adoption. In fact, HTC is said to be adding 3D Touch to this year's Nexus phone, which it will make. It's been a while since we've heard anything about an HTC Nexus, and the last rumor on the matter said we'd see not one but two HTC-made handsets in 2016. If that's true, perhaps they'll both have pressure-sensitive screens. But the Nexus line isn't the only one getting the functionality. Xiaomi, Meizu, Oppo, and vivo are all said to be working on future devices with pressure-sensing displays. So it looks like this is bound to become a staple feature of Android smartphones later this year. That is, of course, if this particular rumor turns out to have been true. That's a big if, so don't take anything for granted just yet. Source (in Chinese) |...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/rumored_htc_nexus_to_have_3d_touch_along_with_upcoming_xiaomi_oppo_vivo_and_meizu_phones-news-17056.php

4 million Mi 5 units sold in the first flash sale

Xiaomi announced the Mi 5 flagship at the MWC a few days ago, and it quickly became one of the most anticipated smartphones this year. The Mi 5 will be available in three different editions, and China is the first market to get it. The first flash sale in China sold 4 million units in no time - all Xiaomi has prepped for the occasion - and registered more than 17 million interest entries. The second flash sale is scheduled for March 8 (10 AM Beijing time) and is expected to sell at least as many phones. As it turns out Xiaomi didn't anticipate the huge demand, and it asked Foxconn and Inventec to increase the Mi 5 production. Naturally, China is the first market to get the Mi 5, but Xiaomi plans to bring the flagship to other key markets shortly after. And it can expect similar high demand there, too. We'll keep you in the loop as the story develops, but if you live in China and want a Mi 5, you should act fast. And with the second batch to enter production only now, some of the pre-orders may ship in April, or even May, as a report suggests. Source 1 | Source 2 |...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/4_million_mi_5_units_sold_in_the_first_flash_sale-news-17051.php

Samsung Upgrade Programme launches in the UK, nets you the latest Galaxy every 12 months

Today Samsung has announced the Upgrade Programme for the UK. This is basically the company's own device leasing scheme, which should also make its way to South Korea as past rumors have told us. The Upgrade Programme lets you get a Galaxy S7 or S7 edge by paying a 10% deposit upfront, and then making monthly payments for the phone. For the S7, the deposit is £56.90, and after that you'll pay £24.58 per month. After 12 months, you can upgrade to the next Samsung flagship (let's call it the Galaxy S8), by simply returning the S7 in "good working condition". And from that point on you pay 12 monthly installments for the S8. The good thing is that you can upgrade your device every year. On the other hand, there are plenty of caveats. First off, if you don't upgrade the handset after a year, you'll still have another 12 monthly payments to make on that S7, as the agreement is for 24 months (but Samsung will "cover" the 12 remaining installments if you upgrade and return your S7). And once you've upgraded to the S8, you've entered another two-year agreement (so if you don't upgrade to the S9 in 2018, then you still have 12 more payments to cover the price of the S8... and so on). The installments are not interest-free, as they are in the case of certain smartphone purchases from US carriers. With the Samsung Upgrade Programme, there's a 14.9% APR. And obviously the scheme does not include an actual contract with an operator, so you'll have to get that separately - or use a Pay as you go SIM. Still, despite the caveats, it's always nice to have yet another option to purchase a much-craved item such as a Galaxy S7 or S7 edge. It remains to be seen how far this Upgrade Programme will spread, geographically speaking, in the coming...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_upgrade_programme_launches_in_the_uk_nets_you_the_latest_galaxy_every_12_months-news-17054.php

Sony Xperia X and Xperia X Performance Dual ship with 64GB storage

The Xperia X and Xperia X Performance are the first devices to come under the new X series and will become available very soon. The Xperia X and Xperia X Performance are both 5" 1080p devices with 23MP rear snappers, 13MP selfie shooters, fingerprint scanners, and Android Marshmallow. The Xperia X runs on Snapdragon 650 chipset with 3GB RAM, while the Xperia X Performance utilizes Snapdragon 820 chipset with 3GB of RAM and adds waterproofing to the mix. Sony is going to launch dual-SIM options of both Xperia X and Xperia X Performance. The white papers of the devices have been recently uploaded on Sony's Dev Portal, and we found some interesting info inside. Apparently both Xperia X and Xperia X Performance will feature 64GB internal storage, double the amount of their single-SIM flavors. The firmware will occupy about 15.4GB of those, and 48.6GB will be available for your apps, multimedia, and files. The Dual SIM versions of the Xperia X and Xperia X Performance will accept nano-SIM cars only. Thank you, Ibrahim Gnono, for the tip! Source 1 | Source...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/sony_xperia_x_and_xperia_x_performance_dual_ship_with_64gb_storage-news-17053.php

Samsung had a planned VR stunt for the Oscars that got cancelled mere hours before the event

As it turns out Samsung had a special VR stunt planned for the Oscars ceremony a few days ago, which was cancelled just hours before the red carpet rolled. Samsung's idea was to get Casey Neistat loose at the Oscars with a Gear 360 VR camera. He was supposed to be skateboarding in the Dolby Theater and pass around Leonardo DiCaprio as he was walking towards the stage (to grab his overdue Oscar). Samsung planned this stunt for a while, brought Neistat to Dolby Theater, and everything was rehearsed. But then Samsung cancelled the stunt, and the company's presence was limited to just one TV spot. Casey Neistat still shot a VR video that you can watch here, so it wasn't all in vain. You can also check this vlog entry, where he talks about Samsung's cancelled stunt. Samsung is a major sponsor to the Oscars, so it's natural it gets special treatment when it comes to advertising. You probably remember Ellen DeGeneres and her famous selfie with the Galaxy Note 3 in 2014. The reason for the cancellation is unknown, but maybe it was for the best - it could have been awkward someone to be skating around during the actors' most cherished...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_had_a_planned_vr_stunt_for_the_oscars_that_got_cancelled_mere_hours_before_the_event-news-17050.php

4 million Mi 5 units sold in the first flash sale

Xiaomi announced the Mi 5 flagship at the MWC a few days ago, and it quickly became one of the most anticipated smartphones this year. The Mi 5 will be available in three different editions, and China is the first market to get it. The first flash sale in China sold 4 million units in no time - all Xiaomi has prepped for the occasion - and registered more than 17 million interest entries. The second flash sale is scheduled for March 8 (10 AM Beijing time) and is expected to sell at least as many phones. As it turns out Xiaomi didn't anticipate the huge demand, and it asked Foxconn and Inventec to increase the Mi 5 production. Naturally, China is the first market to get the Mi 5, but Xiaomi plans to bring the flagship to other key markets shortly after. And it can expect similar high demand there, too. We'll keep you in the loop as the story develops, but if you live in China and want a Mi 5, you should act fast. And with the second batch to enter production only now, some of the pre-orders may ship in April, or even May, as a report suggests. Source 1 | Source 2 |...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/4_million_mi_5__units_sold_in_the_first_flash_sale-news-17051.php

Sony Xperia Z5 series get Android Marshmallow in Japan

Sony has begun rolling out the Android 6.0 Marshmallow update for the entire Xperia Z5 lineup in Japan - Xperia Z5, Xperia Z5 Compact, and Xperia Z5 Premium. The Marshmallow update for Sony Xperia Z5 has been already available in Turkey. The new Marshmallow-based firmware improves on the battery manager, app permissions manager, notification area customizations, and it brings a new Xperia Home launcher as well as an updated Camera app. Sony UK announced the Marshmallow rollout for the Xperia Z5 series, the Xperia Z4 Tablet, and Xperia Z3+ units will begin on March 7. Now that Sony is seeding Marshmallow updates in Turkey and Japan, we believe March 7 should be the date for the global release for those updates. Thank you, Chary, for the tip! Source •...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/sony_xperia_z5_series_get_android_marshmallow_in_japan-news-17052.php

Microsoft's Hyperlapse app for Android gets 1080p video and microSD support

Microsoft has lots of useful apps for Android but Hyperlapse is definitely one of the top picks. The app allows you to shoot stabilized time-lapse videos, but until today it was limited to 720p output. Microsoft pushed a new version to the Play Store, which adds support for shooting and saving hyperlapse videos at 1080p resolution. The 720p option is still set as default, so you should tweak the settings of the app after updating. But there is more. In addition to the added 1080p video support, Microsoft Hyperlapse now allows you to save the video on your microSD card. Nice! To use these new additions to the Hyperlapse app, your phone should be able to shoot 1080p videos, of course. Some launchers may not allow the app to save on the microSD card, so you should have that in mind, too. The app is now available for download in the Play Store. It's free so if you didn't have the chance to use it, you may want to give it a try. Play Store •...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/microsofts_hyperlapse_app_for_android_gets_1080p_video_and_microsd_support-news-17048.php

Xiaomi Redmi 2 Pro now available in Brazil

The Xiaomi Redmi 2 Pro name popped up last October as the US FCC cleared the device, but we never heard it since. That's until today - the phone has been launched in Brazil. The Redmi 2 Pro is identical to the Redmi 2 Prime - it's the 16GB model of the Xiaomi Redmi 2 with 2GB RAM. In case you need a refresh - the Redmi 2 Prime, also known as Redmi 2 Pro in Brazil, packs a 4.7" 720p IPS display and runs on the Snapdragon 410 chipset with a quad-core Cortex-A53 CPU, Adreno 306 GPU, and 2GB of RAM. The rest of the specs include an 8MP rear camera, a 2MP front snapper, 16GB expandable storage, LTE connectivity, dual-SIM support, and a 2,200 mAh battery. The Redmi 2 Pro comes with MIUI 6.0 on board. Brazil is getting the Redmi 2 Pro in dark gray only, and it costs BRL 699 or $183. The regular Redmi 2 (8GB storage, 1GB RAM) has been available in Brazil for a while already. Just a quick reminder - the Redmi 2 has won the award for the best affordable smartphone at the MWC in February, so we might be getting it release on more markets soon. Thank you, Harsh, for the...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_redmi_2_pro_now_available_in_brazil-news-17049.php

Samsung Galaxy J7 (2016) and J5 (2016) will have laser autofocus according to Chinese certification

Chinese regulatory authority TENAA has sure had a busy day today. Having already released its certifications for the Oppo R9 and R9 Plus as well as the Samsung Galaxy A9 Pro, TENAA is now gracing us with the full details of the upcoming Galaxy J5 (2016) and Galaxy J7 (2016). The successors to the original J5 and J7 from last year are due for a release soon. In the meantime they've kept on leaking, and now they've been put through the paces of TENAA, which has revealed that they could be sporting metal frames. The Galaxy J5 (2016) can be seen above. It's got a 5.2-inch 720p Super AMOLED touchscreen, a 13 MP rear camera with LED flash and laser autofocus, a 5 MP selfie snapper, a 1.2 GHz quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of expandable storage, and 4G on board. It runs Android 5.1.1 Lollipop. Its dimensions are 145.7 x 72.3 x 7.9 mm, and it weighs 155.4g. It will be offered in white, gold, and pink gold. This particular model, the SM-J5108, is headed to China Mobile. TENAA has certified not one but two iterations of the Galaxy J7 (2016), the SM-J7108 for China Mobile and the SM-J7109 for China Telecom. You can see the former above this paragraph and the latter underneath. They share most of the specs as you'd expect, with one difference being in the processor's clock speed. Whereas the J7108 has a 1.6 GHz octa-core CPU, the J7109 has to make do with a 1.5 GHz octa-core chip. This may mean they're actually employing different SoCs, but there's no way of knowing for sure right now. Otherwise they're the same, each featuring a 5.5-inch 1080p Super AMOLED display, a 13 MP rear camera with LED flash and laser autofocus, a 5 MP selfie shooter, 3GB of RAM, 16GB of expandable storage, and running Android 5.1.1 Lollipop. The J7108 will be available in gold and white, while the J7109 will be offered in black and gold. Their measurements are almost identical, but not quite so. The J7108's dimensions are 151.7 x 75.9 x 7.6 mm, and it weighs 165g. On the other hand, the J7109 measures 151.7 x 76 x 7.6 mm, and it weighs 166g. Source 1 (in Chinese) • Source 2 (in Chinese) • Source 3 (in Chinese) |...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_j7_2016_and_j5_2016_will_have_laser_autofocus_according_to_chinese_certification-news-17045.php

Micromax's share of Indian smartphone market plummets, CEO resigns

Micromax, which is the number two smartphone player in India, saw a massive erosion of its market share in Q4, 2015. According to market research firm Canalys (which tracks phone shipments in the country), the company's share plummeted to 13.2% last quarter from 21.7% the quarter prior. On the other hand Samsung, which sits at the top, further consolidated its position - its share of the market increased from 22% to 26.1% last quarter. The third spot was claimed by China's Lenovo with 11% market share. Meanwhile, in a related development, Micromax's CEO Vineet Taneja has resigned. He was on the job for the past two years. Officially, the company said Taneja left "to pursue other interests," adding that "the co-founders and senior leadership are very well entrenched in to the operations and the business is as...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/micromaxs_share_of_indian_smartphone_market_plummets_ceo_resigns-news-17047.php

Samsung Galaxy A9 Pro is fully revealed by TENAA as well

Ever since January the upcoming Samsung Galaxy A9 Pro has been in the rumors, supposedly arriving soon in China. We've already seen it in the databases of both GFXBench and AnTuTu, on which occasions we've found out most of its specs. And now the A9 Pro has been certified for sale in China by TENAA. The regulatory authority has thus outed the first images of the device, along with a pretty comprehensive list of its specs - like it always does. The Galaxy A9 Pro will have a 6-inch 1080p Super AMOLED touchscreen, a 16 MP rear camera with LED flash, an 8 MP selfie cam, a 1.8 GHz octa-core processor, 4GB of RAM, 32GB of expandable storage, dual-SIM functionality and LTE. It runs Android 6.0 Marshmallow. Its dimensions are 161.7 x 80.9 x 7.9 mm, and it weighs 210g. The exact chipset employed isn't named by TENAA, but from the benchmark runs that were leaked in the past we know it's the Qualcomm Snapdragon 652. Compared to the non-Pro A9, you're getting a higher-res main camera, 1 extra GB of RAM, as well as a newer version of Android from day one. And since it's 10g heavier and 0.5 mm thicker than the A9, we assume the A9 Pro will also sport an even bigger battery than the 4,000 mAh cell inside the non-Pro version. The Galaxy A9 Pro will be available in China in black, white, and gold, and it's rumored to have NFC on board complete with support for Samsung Pay. Its estimated price is between CNY 3,300 and CNY 3,600 (that's $504 to $550 or €462 to €504 at the current exchange rates). Source (in Chinese) | Via 1 (in Chinese) • Via...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_a9_pro_is_fully_revealed_by_tenaa_as_well-news-17044.php

Amazon expands Echo family of smart speakers with Tap and Echo Dot

Amazon's Echo smart speaker that has a digital assistant built-in has been a surprising success for the retailer ever since its launch in 2014. So now Amazon is adding two other members to the newly-established Echo family. Meet the Amazon Tap and the Echo Dot. The Amazon Tap is basically the portable version of the original Echo which was rumored back in January. It's portable because it has a battery (so no need to keep it plugged in like the Echo) that will last for around 9 hours of use. It connects to Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, and like the Echo it comes with the Alexa digital assistant built-in. However, since it's battery-powered Alexa isn't always listening for your commands like on the Echo - you have to tap the microphone button on the device before you talk to her (hence the name of the speaker). The Tap has 360-degree omni-directional audio with Dolby processing. It's up for pre-order already for $129.99, and will be released on March 31. The Echo Dot is very small, and it's primarily meant to connect the intelligence of the Alexa digital assistant to your existing speakers. It has a 7-microphone array like the full-size Echo, but only a very small speaker. The idea is that you'll use an audio cable or Bluetooth to pair it to your existing speakers. You can also use it as a smart alarm clock, for example, all on its own. This device costs $89.99, but oddly you can only get one through an Amazon Fire TV or Echo speaker, by asking Alexa to place the order. You have to be a member of Amazon Prime to receive it. Source |...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/amazon_expands_echo_family_of_smart_speakers_with_tap_and_echo_dot-news-17046.php

Oppo R9 and R9 Plus pass through TENAA, no Snapdragon 820 on board

Over the past few weeks we've seen a lot of rumors popping up regarding the upcoming Oppo R9. Despite the fact that the previous two members of the R-series have been nothing more than mid-range in terms of specs, the R9 was supposedly going to be a true flagship, with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 chip powering it. Well, that theory has now been debunked courtesy of TENAA. The Chinese equivalent to the US FCC has certified both the R9 and the R9 Plus for sale. As usual, this process has revealed both images of the two handsets, as well as a list of some of their specs. Let's start with the R9, pictured above. It has a metal build as you can see, and it comes with a 5.5-inch 1080p AMOLED touchscreen, a 1.95 GHz octa-core processor, 4GB of RAM, 32GB of expandable storage, 4G support, dual-SIM functionality, a 2,850 mAh battery, and two 16 MP cameras - one on the front, one on the back (which also has a LED flash). It runs Android 5.1 Lollipop. Its dimensions are 151.8 x 74.3 x 6.5 mm, and it weighs 145g. While the SoC employed isn't mentioned by name, it's clearly not the Snapdragon 820, since that features a quad-core CPU, not octa-core. Based on the clock speed alone, we could see MediaTek's Helio P10 inside the Oppo R9, but that's just speculation. Moving on to the R9 Plus (pictured above), once again the fully metallic construction is obvious. This handset sports a 6-inch 1080p AMOLED touchscreen, the same 16 MP cameras as its smaller sibling, a 1.8 GHz octa-core processor, 4GB of RAM, 64GB of expandable storage, a 4,120 mAh battery, dual-SIM support, and 4G LTE. Oddly, it seems to be running Android 5.0 Lollipop, which is a rather ancient version of the OS at this point. Its dimensions are 163 x 80.8 x 7.4 mm, and it weighs 185g. Once again the Snapdragon 820 can't be at the helm, yet in this case we get a different SoC than in the R9. If we were to speculate, we'd assume the R9 Plus has the Snapdragon 652 inside (only based on the CPU clock speed and number of cores). So the R9 and R9 Plus certainly look like solid mid-rangers, but not the flagships they've been rumored to be. Perhaps Oppo will finally unveil the Find 9 this year then. And speaking of unveilings, the R9 duo will go official on March 17. Source 1 (in Chinese) • Source 2 (in Chinese) | Via 1 • Via...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/oppo_r9_and_r9_plus_pass_through_tenaa_no_snapdragon_820_on_board-news-17043.php

LeEco Le 1s shatters records in India

Chinese company LeEco's (formerly LeTV) Le 1s smartphone landed in India back in January this year, and went on sale (through flash sale model) the next month. Looks like the phone has received tremendous response in the country as latest reports say it has become India's top selling smartphone online. LeEco managed to sell more than 200,000 units of the Le 1s in the India within a month, which is said to be a new record. Till now there have been three flash sales of the device in the country, with the company receiving a total of 20,28,000 registrations for the handset - another record. And finally, the company also received a record-breaking total of 2,20,000 orders for the handset within the shortest time span of 31 seconds. "We are deeply humbled by the response we have received from our Indian consumers which has helped us achieve this leading industry position in such a short span of time," said Atul Jain, COO, Smart Electronics Devices, LeEco India. "LeEco is in the true sense a game changer purely because of its disruptive business model and a user-centric ecosystem providing consumers a chance to experience disruptive technology at its best." If you aren't already aware, LeEco first entered the smartphone market less than a year ago in China. There too, the company impressed by selling nearly 3 million Le 1s units in over a couple of...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/leeco_le_1s_shatters_records_in_india-news-17039.php

Last year's Sony Xperia Z3+ now available for half the launch price in India

The Sony Xperia Z3+ landed in India in June last year carrying a hefty price tag of INR 55,990 (around $830 at current exchange rates). Now, less than nine months after the launch, the device has received a solid price cut. The handset (32GB, black color) is now available for as low as INR 25,999 (around $385), which is over 50% less than its launch price. Retailer Amazon has the model listed on its website for that price. A quick look at Sony India's website reveals that the phone is being officially sold for INR 42,990 (around $640). Specs-wise, the Xperia Z3+ is powered by Snapdragon 810 SoC and sports a 5.2-inch 1080p display. It comes with 3GB RAM and 32GB expandable internal memory, and packs in a 2,930mAh battery. In terms of camera, the handset features 20.7MP rear unit and a 5.1MP front shooter. It runs Android 5.0 Lollipop out-of-the-box, but is set to receive the Marshmallow update this month. Source (Amazon) | Sony...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/last_years_sony_xperia_z3_now_available_for_half_the_launch_price_in_india-news-17036.php

Teaser suggests Oppo R9 will support VOOC fast charging

The R9 was confirmed by Oppo earlier this week, and shortly thereafter it came to light that the smartphone will be unveiled this month - March 17 to be precise. Now, the Chinese company has posted another teaser for the device confirming support VOOC fast charging. This means the upcoming R9 will offer 2 hours of talk time with just 5 minutes of charging. Keep in mind that VOOC is different from Super VOOC, which Oppo announced at this year's MWC. The latter is capable of fully recharging a 2,500 mAh battery in just 15 minutes. If you aren't already aware, the Oppo R9 is being marketed by the company as a camera-centric phone. Its rumored specs include Snapdragon 820 chipset, 6-inch QHD touchscreen, 21MP/13MP camera combo, 3 or 4GB of RAM, 64GB of expandable storage, 3,700 mAh battery, and Android...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/teaser_suggests_oppo_r9_will_support_vooc_fast_charging-news-17038.php

Xiaomi announces Mi Bluetooth speaker for India

Xiaomi has announced the new Mi Bluetooth speaker for India. The speaker has a compact design with an aluminum body, and comes in a variety of colors. Inside, there are two full range drivers and a passive radiator. There is also a microphone for handsfree calls. The speaker also has a microSD card slot to play music off the card, as well as an aux input. The 1500mAh internal battery has a claimed life of 8 hours on a full charge. The Mi Bluetooth speaker is priced at INR 1,999 ($30), and will be available around March...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_announces_mi_bluetooth_speaker_for_india-news-17042.php

Samsung Pay now covers more than 70% of US' credit and debit card market, Samsung claims

Samsung has revealed that Samsung Pay is now supported by 70 major banks and credit unions in the United States, claiming that the mobile payments service now covers over 70% of the country's credit and debit card market. The revelation was made by the South Korean company in a press release where-in it announced that service now also also supports eligible credit and debit cards from Wells Fargo, an American multinational banking and financial services holding company. Samsung recently revealed that Samsung Pay has attracted around 5 million users and the company has processed more than $500 million in transactions since the mobile payments service made its debut in the US, something which happened in September last...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_claims_samsung_pay_now_covers_more_than_70_of_us_credit_and_debit_card_market-news-17035.php

Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 hands-on: The Snapdragon Edition

The Redmi series has always been Xiaomi's bread and butter. Combining good design, features, and reasonable performance at a very attractive price, the Redmi series has redefined for many what a good budget smartphone should be like.



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_redmi_note_3_snapdragon-review-1405.php

Xiaomi launches Redmi Note 3 in India

Xiaomi today announced the Redmi Note 3 for the Indian market. The phone is priced at INR 9,999 ($148) for the 16GB model, and INR 11,999 ($178) for the 32GB model. The Redmi Note 3 for India runs on the brand new Snapdragon 650 SoC and 2GB of RAM on the 16GB model and 3GB RAM on the 32GB model. It also has a new 16 megapixel camera with f2.0 aperture and phase detect autofocus. Then there's the 5.5-inch 1080p display, 5 megapixel front camera, and a massive 4,050mAh battery. The Redmi Note 3 is also the first Xiaomi phone to have a fingerprint sensor and the first Redmi phone to have a metal body. The phone runs on MIUI 7 on Android 5.1 Lollipop. The Redmi Note 3 will be manufactured in India as part of the country's Make in India initiative. The Redmi Note 3 will be available through Mi.com and Amazon, starting March 9 at 2 PM, and on Flipkart and Snapdeal at a later date. The phone will be available in silver, gold, and...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_launches_redmi_note_3_in_india-news-17041.php

Watch Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 India launch event here

Xiaomi is launching it's newest Redmi smartphone in India, the Redmi Note 3. The event is being held in New Delhi and is being presented by company Vice President, Hugo Barra. We already have the specs for the device, if you're interested, and something more later once the device has been announced. For now, you can catch the live stream of the keynote...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/watch_xiaomi_redmi_note_3_india_launch_event_here-news-17040.php

Fitbit's Blaze smartwatch is now available for purchase

Unveiled at this year's Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in January, the Fitbit Blaze smartwatch is now available for purchase. The wearable device, which carries a $200 price tag, was up for pre-order until now. The watch is now listed on major US online retailers including Amazon and Best Buy. It comes with a choice of Black, Blue or Plum wristbands, although you can also purchase leather straps in three different colors for $100 each and a stainless steel bracelet for $130. In terms of functionality, the wearable offers heart rate monitoring, all-day activity and sleep tracking, music control, as well as call, text, other alerts. The company claims a 5-day battery life for the smartwatch. Source (Amazon) | Best...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/fitbits_blaze_smartwatch_is_now_available_for_purchase-news-17034.php

Xiaomi announces rollout of MIUI 7.2 China stable build; global build coming soon

A couple of months after the MIUI 7.1 started hitting supported devices, Xiaomi has announced the roll-out of version 7.2 of its MIUI ROM. The OTA update is currently rolling out to Chinese variants of the company's devices, while global roll-out is expected to happen soon. The devices that are now getting the update include the Mi 5, Mi 4S, Mi Note Pro, Mi 4c, Mi Pad 1, Redmi Note 4G (Single SIM), and Redmi 1S. A second set of devices - including the Mi Note, Mi 3, Mi 4, Mi 4i, Mi 2/2S, Mi Pad 2, Redmi 3, Redmi Note 3, Redmi Note 2, Redmi Note 4G (Dual SIM), Redmi Note 3G, Redmi 2A, Redmi 2 - will get it next week (around March 9). If you haven't yet received the update notification and are feeling impatient, you can also head to the company's official forum (Source link below) to download the ROM package for your device. The thread also lists full change-log for the...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_announces_rollout_of_miui_72_china_stable_build_global_build_coming_soon-news-17037.php

Xiaomi reportedly sells over 200K Mi 4S units first day

The Xiaomi Mi 4S was announced late last month, and the device went on sale in China earlier this week. Now, according to reports from Chinese media, over 200K units of the handset were sold on the first day itself. The Chinese company hasn't yet officially revealed the device's first day sales figures. However, a local retailer Suning revealed that it sold over 110,000 units on the launch day, of which 50,935 units were sold online, while 64,853 were sold through offline channels. Given that Suning wasn't the only retailer selling the Mi 4S in the country, the 200,000 figure reported by Chinese media seems realistic. The phone carries a price tag of RMB 1,699 (around $260), and comes in black, white, gold, and pink color...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_reportedly_sells_over_200k_mi_4s_units_first_day-news-17032.php

T-Mobile LG G4 now available for just $350

If you're a T-Mobile customer and in the market for an LG smartphone, here is a deal for you: the magenta carrier has given LG's last year flagship - the G4 - a price cut. The device (Metallic Gray model) is now available for $350, down from its previous price of $600. This doesn't seem to be an online-only deal (there's no mention of it at-least), meaning you can purchase a T-Mobile LG G4 at that price from the carrier's physical retail stores as well. For those on AT&T or Verizon, as we've already reported, you can grab an LG G4 unit for just $300. As you might already know, LG announced its newest flagship - the G5 - last month at this year's Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. The device will be available to pre-order in the US in a couple of weeks from...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/lg_g4_now_available_for_350_in_us-news-17033.php

Blackberry Priv now available from Verizon

If you've been waiting for the Android-powered Blackberry to arrive at big Red, your wait is now over. Verizon is offering the Blackberry Priv for the full retail price of $720 or $30 per month for a period of 24 monthly payments. The Blackberry Priv is Blackberry's first comeback out of a ditch it dug itself in. It features a 5.4 inch 1440p display, Snapdragon 808 Hexa-core processor, 18MP camera, 3GB of RAM, and a 3410mAh battery. The phone also features a display that slides up to reveal a physical QWERTY keyboard, the same kind that Blackberry has pioneered into its own hardware for years. Source |...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/blackberry_priv_now_available_from_verizon-news-17031.php

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