Exynos 8890-powered clamshell from Samsung in the works

Samsung is not giving up on the clamshell form factor and is working on a successor to last year's flagship-grade W2016 model (internal name SM-2016). Exclusive to China, that one had a retail price as much as two Galaxy S6's. The SM-2017 model, codenamed "Veyron" (yes, like the Bugatti), will come with updated chipset - replacing the Exynos 7420 of last year's model is the reigning performance champ Exynos 8890. The camera department appears borrowed from the current Galaxy S7 - a 12MP primary shooter, and a 5MP front facing unit. Samsung W2016 The display setup remains...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/exynos_8890powered_clamshell_from_samsung_in_the_works-news-18772.php

Apple to source chips from Intel for the next iPhone

Apple is going to source the modem for some versions of the iPhone 7 from Intel, Bloomberg reports. The AT&T variant and some versions meant for other markets will get an Intel chip instead of the customary Qualcomm solution. One key market that Qualcomm gets to keep is China - iPhones bound for there will still use a modem by the San Diego-based semiconductor maker. The info has been revealed by industry insiders, who have chosen to remain unidentified. The companies involved haven't commented on the matter. Intel's presence in the mobile chip market has been marginal so...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/apple_to_source_chips_from_intel_for_the_next_iphone-news-18771.php

OnePlus 3 first shipment of 7200 units enters India, declared unit value is $340

The first shipment of OnePlus 3 final units for commercial sale has entered India. The batch totals 7200 pieces at a unit value of INR 22,858 ($341), the Zauba import listing reveals. Now that's obviously not the final retail price, but speculation revolves around INR 25,000 ($370). Even so, the number is still significantly less than the CNY 2,999 ($460) price of the initial 1,000 units sold in China prior to official launch. If the final price in China is anything close to what the Indian customs data states, those 1,000 people will then be refunded the difference....

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/oneplus_3_first_shipment_of_7200_units_enters_india_declared_unit_value_is_340-news-18770.php

First-gen Motorola Moto 360 not going to get Android Wear 2.0

The Android version fragmentation spreads to Google's wearable platform as well. The recently revealed major update to Android Wear, v2.0, won't be coming to the Motorola Moto 360 (1st gen), Motorola Support tweeted. The bad news was revealed sort of mistakenly, as a reply to a user who was asking when the first-gen Moto 360 will be getting the security and features update, which hit the second-gen Moto 360 some hours ago. @timo_capa Unfortunately, Moto360 1 Gen will not receive the new update 2.0— Motorola Support (@Moto_Support) June 10, 2016 On a more positive note, the...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/firstgen_motorola_moto_360_not_going_to_get_android_wear_20-news-18769.php

Major third-party retailers are now selling Xiaomi Mi 5 in India

When the Xiaomi Mi 5 launched in India back in April this year, it was available online only through the Chinese company's India online store Mi.com. But that's no longer the case, as major third-party retailers have now also started selling the handset. Xiaomi's India subsidiary recently confirmed this in a tweet, revealing that the device is now also listed on Amazon, Flipkart, Snapdeal, and TataCLIQ. More choices - #Mi5 now available on https://t.co/D3b3Qt4Ujl and at @amazonIN @Flipkart @snapdeal @TataCLiQ! pic.twitter.com/z0E8IPU6pn— Mi India (@XiaomiIndia) June 9, 2016 A...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/major_indian_thirdparty_retailers_are_now_selling_xiaomi_mi_5-news-18767.php

Amazon offering gift cards with select Sonos products

If you're planning on purchasing a Sonos product, you might want to check out the deals Amazon is currently offering on the speaker company's devices. The discount being offered is in the form of gift cards of varying amount depending on what you purchase. The Sonos 5.1 Home Theater System is priced at $1,796 and comes with a $140 Amazon gift card, while the Sonos 3.1 Home Theater System sets you back $1,398 and comes with a $100 gift card. Then there are other products like Sonos Play:1, Play:3, and Play:5 that cost $199, $299, and $499, and come with gift cards worth $20, $30, and...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/amazon_offering_gift_cards_with_sonos_products-news-18768.php

Galaxy S7 edge Injustice Edition South Korea launch set for June 13

If you are in South Korea, and are waiting for Samsung's Galaxy S7 edge Injustice Edition smartphone, you'll be glad to know that the device will go on sale in the country starting June 13, or coming Monday. What's worth mentioning is that only 1,000 units will be on offer, and you'll only be able to purchase the handset through Samsung's online store. As for the price, the phone will carry a tag of KRW 1.199 million, which translates into around $1025 at current exchange rates. The first 30 buyers will also get a Batman Injustice version figure along with the package, which...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/galaxy_s7_edge_injustice_edition_landing_in_south_korea_june_13-news-18765.php

Following Google and Samsung, LG launches its own security bulletin

Following the footsteps of Google and Samsung, LG has launched a security bulletin of its own, where the South Korean company will publish updates about security issues in its products and services. Currently the page contains information related to the May security update, with a link to Google's own bulletin. The issues are categorized according to severity: Critical, High, Moderate, and Low. There's even a section that lists issues specific to LG devices, although there's nothing in it this month. Source | Via

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/following_google_and_samsung_lg_launches_its_own_security_bulletin-news-18764.php

PlayStation 4 'Neo' officially confirmed, but won't be unveiled at E3 2016

The 4K-capable PlayStation 4, which has been the subject of rumors and leaks for quite some time now, has been officially confirmed by Sony. The confirmation came from the president and group CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment Andrew House. "It is intended to sit alongside and complement the standard PS4," House said. "We will be selling both [versions] through the life cycle." He further added that "all games will support the standard PS4 and we anticipate all or a very large majority of games will also support the high-end PS4." House also confirmed the device's current...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/playstation_4_neo_officially_confirmed_but_wont_be_announced_at_e3_2016-news-18766.php

Motorola on Moto X line-up: It is "alive and well"

If you recall, last month, there were reports that Motorola is planning to ditch its Moto X lineup in favor of a new 'Moto Z' branding. While the company did unveil a couple of Z series phones this week (Moto Z shown below), it has now confirmed that Moto X phones aren't dead. Here is the full statement from Motorola: Moto X is alive and well. In fact, Moto X Force recently launched in multiple new markets around the world. Moto X and Moto Z do share some great qualities, but they ultimately provide different experiences and make our portfolio more robust for consumers looking for...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/moto_x_line_is_alive_and_well_says_motorola-news-18763.php

Amazon to launch its own streaming music service, report says

Looks like the competition in the streaming music market is all set to heat up, once again. According to a new report from Reuters, Amazon is preparing to launch its own streaming music service that will rival similar offerings from existing players like Apple and Spotify. Nothing much is currently known about the service, except that it will cost $9.99 per month (which is pretty much a standard these days), and Amazon is currently finalizing licenses with labels. As for its launch, a "late summer or early fall" timeline is being suggested. The report notes that the upcoming service is...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/amazon_to_launch_its_own_streaming_music_service_report_says-news-18762.php

Verizon Galaxy S7 and S7 edge getting June security update

Verizon has started rolling out the latest security update (for the month of June) to Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 edge units on its network. The update bumps the software version to G930VVRU2APE1. It isn't yet known if any other changes are included in the update as Verizon's site just says "the current software update gives you the most up to date Android security patch on your device." As is usually the case, it may take some time for the OTA notification to pop up on your device. Meanwhile, if you feel patient, you can manually check for the update by heading to your handset's...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/verizon_galaxy_s7_and_s7_edge_getting_june_security_update-news-18761.php

Honor 5A Plus specs revealed by GFX benchmark

Honor is expected to release two new phones during an event to take place this Sunday June 12. The Huawei-owned company is going to announce the Honor 5A and Honor 5A Plus. The Honor 5A Plus was spotted on the popular benchmarking software GFXBench complete with specs. The alleged device features Android 6.0 with Huawei's EMUI, 5.5 inch 720p screen, a Snapdragon 615 octa-core 1.5GHz CPU, Adreno 405 graphics, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage, 12MP rear camera sensor with 1080p video recording. The same device was seen in a TENAA certification document just last month along with...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/gfx_benchmark_reveals_specs_of_the_honor_5a_plus_ahead_of_announcement-news-18760.php

YouTube Smart Offline lets viewers in India download videos overnight to save data costs

YouTube Red already offers offline viewing of YouTube videos but it is more of a necessity in developing countries as data is a costlier operation. Smart Offline will let users queue videos to be scheduled to download overnight, when data costs are off-peak for many Indian mobile providers. Once on the latest version of YouTube, users will be able to tap a download button where they'll be asked if they'd like to ‘download now' or ‘save overnight'. Smart Download only works when using data over a cellular connection and not Wi-Fi. YouTube's Smart Offline is rolling out now to...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/youtube_smart_offline_lets_viewers_in_india_download_videos_overnight_to_save_data_costs-news-18758.php

Unlocked Moto Z won't work on Verizon or Sprint

Verizon is clearly holding onto dear life for whatever exclusivity plan it has with the Droid brand. Big Red has no intention of letting go any time soon and the phone will even be a Verizon Exclusive for the first couple of months or so of the phones' lives. Droid-Life reports that the unlocked Moto Z will not offer the same ability to pop in a SIM card from any of the four major US carriers as the Moto X Pure edition did. You'll have to buy the phone in either an Unlocked GSM variant or a Verizon variant. Moto Z If you really wanted to, you could buy a Verizon variant of the...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/unlocked_moto_z_wont_work_on_verizon_or_sprint-news-18759.php

Moto 360 2nd Gen and Moto 360 get a software update with new features

Motorola is seeding new firmware updates for the Moto 360 2nd gen and Moto 360 Sport smartwatches. If you didn't get the notification, you just need to manually check for an update. The Android Wear OS is getting new security updates and stability improvements but there is more. Motorola has included some new features for its watches such as a Moto Body app update with new heart-rate features. Here is the changelog: Moto Body enhanced calorie calculation - Moto Body now takes heart rate into account when calculating calories burned. Moto Body heart rate continuous measure - Heart...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/moto_360_2nd_gen_and_moto_360_get_a_software_update_with_new_features-news-18753.php

Moto Z to come with unlimited "original quality" Google Photos backups for 2 years

Lenovo held its first Moto phone event since completing its acquisition with Motorola. The Moto Z was announced just yesterday with no pricing information and availability coming in September. Both the Moto Z Droid and Moto Z Force Droid on their respective US product pages show an offer for "Free storage with Google Photos". Note that both these models will be launching as Verizon exclusives while the "Moto Z" (without the ‘Droid' branding) is not listed on Motorola's US website yet. This news comes in not too long after an APK breakdown of the Google Photos app revealed that...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/moto_z_to_come_with_unlimited_original_quality_google_photos_backups_for_2_years-news-18757.php

New iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus cases show dual camera and Smart Connector on the bigger model

As we get ever closer to the fall and thus to Apple's next smartphone unveiling event, more and more rumors and leaks are starting to crop up regarding the upcoming iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. And this one is no different. Some new renders showing the two devices inside cases have appeared today. This time the case maker is Olixar, and just one case model has been listed for each phone (in three colors however). iPhone 7 cases Since case makers are usually sent handset schematics ahead of a new product's release (so they can have their accessories on the market in time),...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/new_iphone_7_and_iphone_7_plus_cases_show_dual_camera_and_smart_connector_on_the_bigger_model-news-18756.php

AT&T is now selling the Samsung Galaxy S7 active for $794.99

Just a few days ago, Samsung made the AT&T-exclusive Galaxy S7 active official after many months of rumors regarding it. And starting today, you can purchase this device from AT&T's online store if you want. There are a few options to choose from when buying it. First off, you can shell out the entire amount upfront, but that's a pretty steep $794.99. Alternatively, the carrier is offering you its Next installment plans. Using these, you can either pay $26.50 per month for 30 months, or $33.13 per month for two years with the so called Next Every Year arrangement. The former variation lets...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/at_t_is_now_selling_the_samsung_galaxy_s7_active_for_79499-news-18755.php

Moto Z Play still in the works, alongside Pro Camera Mod and Adventure Mod

Surely by now you know that yesterday was a big day for Motorola. Lenovo's subsidiary announced the Moto Z and Moto Z Force, as well as the MotoMods that you can snap onto the devices to extend their functionality. However, the third member of the Moto Z family was notably absent from that event. We're talking about the Moto Z Play, codenamed Vertex, which you can see in the image below, to the right of the other two Zs. The Z Play aims to succeed the Moto X Play from last year in Motorola's portfolio, as a more midrange offering compared to the other two. It's been rumored...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/moto_z_play_still_in_the_works_alongside_pro_camera_mod_and_adventure_mod-news-18754.php

Twitter admits to security breach, it's not the company's servers though

Twitter has finally acknowledged "numerous" Twitter account names and password had been indeed stolen. Twitter promises it has taken immediate action to reset those passwords, so the users should be safe. The breach didn't come from Twitter's servers though. According to the company, the hackers made lots of various attacks towards other websites and services which use Twitter plugins and store Twitter data. Here is the official statement: "We've investigated claims of Twitter @names and passwords available on the "dark web," and we're confident the information was not obtained from...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/twitter_recognizes_the_breach_its_not_the_companys_servers_though-news-18752.php

Huawei aims to become top dog in the smartphone realm by 2021

It's an ambitious goal to say the least, but Huawei does appear determined to become the top smartphone producer on a global scale by 2021. The roadmap was officially shared by chairman Richard Yu at the Converge tech conference in Hong Kong last week. He also had impressive data to fuel said ambitions. Despite the currently shrinking China market, after reaching a critical point of congestion, Huawei still managed a whopping 59% increase in smartphone shipments in Q1 this year. All the while Samsung's numbers for the same period look unchanged and Apple's are 14% down. On a global...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/huawei_aims_to_become_top_god_in_the_smartphone_realm_by_2021-news-18751.php

Apple to retire the Space Gray color for the iPhone 7, replace it with Deep Blue

Apple is going to announce the new generation of iPhones this September - the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. Some are expecting to see an iPhone 7 Pro model to make an appearance, but the picture still isn't clear on that one. One thing all the rumors have in common is the lack of change in the design - the 7th generation iPhones will be staying close to the iPhone 6 series, with minor exterior refinements such as the hidden antenna bands. We are even hearing these design refurbishments will happen for three years in a row from now on. And while we are still in the rumor mill, the rest of...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/apple_might_be_retiring_the_space_gray_color_for_the_iphone_7_in_favor_of_deep_blue-news-18749.php

Now you can leave video comments on Facebook posts

Facebook has launched a new feature dubbed Videos in Comments. As the name suggests, the feature allows you to to upload a video into comments and replies on posts, something which the company says enables "more engaging and immersive conversations." In a dedicated post, Facebook's Bob Baldwin revealed that the feature was developed at the company's 50th Hackathon early this year. "At the hackathon, we coded as quickly as we could all day, and by the evening we could feel the pieces starting to come together. A little past midnight, we had the feature mostly working on both desktop...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/now_you_can_leave_video_comments_on_facebook_posts-news-18743.php

Cyanogen OS 13.1 update is now out with new MOD features

A new Cyanogen OS update is out and it brings about an exciting new feature, called Mods. But, before we dive into the story, one thing that always seems to come up has to be clarified - we are talking about Cyanogen OS, as found on some YU and ZUK devices, as well as the OnePlus One. CyanogenMod, while also making great progress and already utilizing Android 6 Marshmallow in its stable builds, is a whole other OS that the update in question does not concern. Now that that is out of the way, what are mods? Simply put, they are various third-party app features, baked right into the OS...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/cyanogen_os_131_update_is_now_out_with_new_mod_features-news-18747.php

Samsung Pay's Singapore launch set for June 16

Less than a couple of months after revealing that its mobile payments service Samsung Pay is coming to Singapore in Q2 2016, Samsung has announced the exact launch date. In a press release today, the company said that the service will be available in the Asian country starting June 16. "We are excited to bring this service to Singapore consumers and we hope to introduce value-added services to drive and lead innovation in mobile commerce, giving consumers a safer, smarter and better mobile wallet," said Thomas Ko, Vice President and Global Co-General Manager of Samsung Pay at Samsung...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_pay_singapore_june_16-news-18742.php

Vague rumor claims iMessage might be coming to Android

In today's WTF news, there is a rumor that iMessage might be coming to Android. According to a "source familiar with the company's thinking" at MacDailyNews, Apple will be announcing iMessage for Android at WWDC this year. The source then goes on to say that the timings could change and if not WWDC it is "definitely" coming to Android some time this year. iMessage has been exclusive to Apple's devices since launch. It is one of the reasons iPhone owners find it hard to move to Android as they will no longer be able to use iMessage with their friends, and why some people are tempted to...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/vague_rumor_claims_imessage_might_be_coming_to_android-news-18744.php

New Pebble app tells you what keeps you happy

Pebble has released a new app that is aimed at helping users better understand how different environments and events impact their mood. Dubbed Happiness App, the application runs a one-week program where-in you are asked some questions - such as where you are, who you're with, and what activities you've done recently - daily on hourly-basis (working hours only). Once the program ends (meaning at the end of the week), you get an email containing detailed results (based on your responses) that - in a nutshell - help you understand exactly what makes you happy. Based on this...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/new_pebble_app_tells_you_what_keeps_you_happy-news-18741.php

Galaxy Note5 starts getting June security update

Samsung has started pushing out the latest Android security update to its Galaxy Note5 smartphone. Weighing in at around 270MB, the update is currently rolling out to unlocked Note5 units in Australia. The update brings along latest security fixes from both Google and Samsung, including a fix for a critical bug that, when exploited, lets anyone bypass your device's lock screen using a USB cable. Given that the update has just started rolling out, it may take some time before it hits your handset. Meanwhile, if you feel impatient, you can also manually check for it by heading to your...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/galaxy_note5_june_security_update-news-18739.php

Android's new Nearby feature notifies you of useful stuff based on your location

Google has launched a new feature for its Android operating system that the company says lets users discover things around them. Dubbed Nearby, the feature notifies you about stuff that could be useful to you based on your location/surroundings. "The right app at the right moment lets you get more done," the search giant said in a blog post. "For example, at a store, you may want a barcode scanner to check prices and reviews for an item. Or when you're at a museum, an audio tour would enhance the experience as you make your way around the exhibits." Not only this, some Google...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/androids_new_nearby_feature_notifies_you_of_useful_stuff_based_on_your_location_-news-18740.php

Samsung Gear Fit2 now available for purchase in select markets worldwide

Samsung has announced that its Gear Fit2 fitness band is now available for purchase in select countries around the world. These include the US, Canada, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and Australia. The company also said that the device "will gradually be launched around the globe." As you might already know, official Gear Fit2 pre-orders went live shortly after the device was made official, while third party retailers like Amazon started taking pre-orders a few days later. As for price, the device carries a tag of $180. The fitness band works with smartphones running Android OS 4.4...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_gear_fit2_now_available_for_purchase_in_select_markets_worldwide-news-18737.php

Canada will only get black variant of Moto Z

Lenovo has confirmed that only the Black (with Lunar Gray trim) color variant of its newly-announced Moto Z smartphone will be available in Canada. Other color options for the device include Black (with Rose Gold trim) and Fine Gold. There was, however, no word on the phone's Canadian pricing. As for availability, the Chinese company just said, "Moto Z will be broadly available in Canada at various retailers this fall." For what it's worth, the device is now listed on Motorola's Canada website, but currently, you can only 'Register for updates.' Via | Motorola Canada

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/canada_will_only_get_black_variant_of_moto_z-news-18738.php

Pre-orders for Blocks modular smartwatch are now live

Remember Blocks? The world's first modular smartwatch which was in the news late last year. Well, if the device caught your fancy, you'll be glad to know that it's now available to pre-order. Carrying a price tag of $330, the wearable is available in three color options: onyx black, sunrise red, and marble white. You also get to choose 4 modules from a total of 6 available options, including modules for extra battery, heart rate, GPS, adventure, flashlight, and programmable button. Extra modules cost $35 each. Shipping charges are extra - $11 for the US, and $15 for the rest of the...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/preorders_for_blocks_modular_smartwatch_are_now_live-news-18736.php

Lenovo releases YouTube videos for smart shoes, connected homes, and bendable phones

Lenovo Tech World was packed with many new devices and Lenovo also shows us a peek at what future products and ideas the company is working on for the (hopefully near) future. Among these new videos are a pair of Smart Shoes, crazy bendable devices with flexible screens, and Lenovo's potential in the connected home business. Lenovo's Smart Shoe is powered by Intel's array of motion and tracking sensors for recording fitness data such as step count and interactive fitness programs. The platform of the shoe houses LED lights that can light up in different modes and interact with...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/lenovo_releases_youtube_videos_smart_shoes_connected_homes_and_bendable_phones-news-18734.php

Sony Xperia X Performance will in fact make it to the UK in mid-July priced at £549

The controversy regarding the Sony Xperia X Performance's presence in the UK (or lack thereof) has been put to rest today. The confusion (and anger for some Sony fans) all started back when the company announced that the top of the line member of the new X family wouldn't make it to the UK and Germany, with absolutely no reasoning given. Then some time later the company changed its tune, saying it won't sell the phone direct to consumers in the UK, but might offer it through certain third party retail partners. And today this has been confirmed by one of those partners - Clove. This...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/sony_xperia_x_performance_will_in_fact_make_it_to_the_uk_in_midjuly_priced_at__pound549-news-18735.php

Lenovo Moto Z and Phab2 Pro hands-on: First look

At its Tech World event, Lenovo revealed how it both competes against and cooperates with Google. The new Moto Z flagship has its own take on modular smartphones, something the search giant has been trying to get off the ground for a few years. Then there's the Tango pioneer Phab2 Pro, which is Google brains running on Lenovo brawn.

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/lenovo_moto_z-review-1450.php

Lenovo announces two more Phab devices, Phab2 and Phab2 Plus

Lenovo World took place today live from San Fransisco where the newly owned Motorola and Lenovo announced a two new smartphone lineups for both the Moto and Lenovo brands. The Lenovo Phab2 Pro is the first consumer phone to incorporate Tango, Google's camera system that is able to detect physical objects in 3D. The other two Lenovo phones don't have Tango built in. For the price, they are compelling devices that give other budget phones a run for their money. Lenovo will release these devices in the US with desire to reach for a better presence in the US mobile market. Like the Lenovo...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/lenovo_announces_two_more_phab_devices_phab2_and_phab2_plus-news-18733.php

MotoMods help the Moto Z get more battery life, pump out better sounding music, or project onto a wall

The biggest unique selling point for the newly outed Moto Z and Moto Z Force has nothing to do with the devices themselves. That's because Lenovo thinks it can bring something entirely new to the smartphone party with MotoMods. These are the modular accessories that snap onto the backs of the Z and the Z Force. They connect through those 16 small pins you can see on the lower side of the handsets' rears, and they stay put by the power of magnets. Lenovo has presented a few MotoMods, but it's also asking eager developers to participate and create their own. The simplest of mods are...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/motomods_help_the_moto_z_get_more_battery_life_pump_out_better_sounding_music_or_project_whats_on_th-news-18732.php

Moto Z and Moto Z Force announced with MotoMods snap-on attachments

The rumors were true, as it turns out. Today Lenovo has unveiled not one but two new Moto Z smartphones - the Moto Z and Moto Z Force. These are basically two versions of the same flagship smartphone, where the former is thinner and the latter has a bigger battery and a ShatterShield screen that the company guarantees won't break when you drop it. The Moto Z (seen below) is 5.2mm thin, and it's made from "aircraft-grade aluminum and stainless steel". It has a 5.5-inch QHD AMOLED touchscreen, Qualcomm's Snapdragon 820 SoC, 4GB of RAM, and 32 or 64GB of expandable storage. The rear camera is...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/moto_z_and_moto_z_force_announced_with_motomods_snapon_attachments-news-18731.php

Oppo A59 is official, launches in China on June 18

The Oppo A59 just went official in China with sales commencing on June 18. The phone sports a 5.5" IPS display of HD resolution resulting in a pixel density of 267ppi. Under the hood, there's a MediaTek MT6570 chipset with a 1.5GHz octa-core Cortex-A53 CPU, Mali-T860 GPU and 3GB of RAM. Users have 32GB of built-in storage to play with, but there's also a microSD card slot for further expansion. The phone runs Android 5.1 Lollipop, which is quite dated now, but is enhanced by the company's ColorOS 3.0 UI skin. Oppo A59 official images At the back, there's a 13MP...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/oppo_a59_is_official_launches_in_china_on_june_18-news-18728.php

Lenovo Phab 2 Pro is the first Tango smartphone

As rumored recently, Lenovo has today taken the wraps off the first Project Tango phone. It's the Lenovo Phab 2 Pro, and it's been more than a year in the making. This follows the Tango tablet that launched in 2014, after the original Tango announcement earlier that year. The point of Tango is to have an AR experience that 'disappears' into the background, isn't obvious but is useful and helps you do stuff easier and better. Google thinks these AR features are going to become the next GPS, so to speak. The Phab 2 Pro has a metal unibody, and you'll be able to buy it in gold or...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/lenovo_phab_2_pro_is_the_first_tango_smartphone-news-18730.php

HTC unveils $1,200 Vive Business Edition with dedicated customer support line

Maybe you're one of those people who looked at the HTC Vive's $799 price and thought "that's way too cheap". In that case, you'll be happy to hear that the Taiwanese company has a solution for you starting today. It's called the HTC Vive Business Edition and it costs $1,200 in the US, £849 in the UK, and €1,080 in the Eurozone. What do you get for that amount of cash? The exact same package you'd get by paying $799 as a consumer, plus a dedicated customer support line and the ability to buy more than one headset. Seriously, that's it. Like the consumer version, the Vive Business...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/htc_unveils_1200_vive_business_edition_with_dedicated_customer_support_line-news-18729.php

Lenovo Tech World livestream: watch Moto Z, Project Tango and more

Crowds at San Francisco are gathering for the Lenovo Tech World event. It starts in a few hours and promises several exciting launches. Lenovo calls out Project Tango by name and will launch the first Tango-enabled phone to consumers. The goal is to transform VR and AR from something niche to an everyday thing. Then there's the tantalizing line "find out how Moto will transform the smartphone in a snap." If you've been paying attention, you know that's for the Moto Z flagship, which will have a modular design with snap-on modules. If and if you haven't, we have a rumor roundup for...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/lenovo_tech_world_livestream_watch_moto_z_project_tango_and_more-news-18726.php

The French sentences Uber to pay €800,000, two executives to pay fines as well

Uber has been an active presence in courts all over Europe, and faced bans in Netherlands, France, Romania, Bulgaria, and Italy. Many other countries are still investigating Uber and decisions are yet to be made. In the wake of those struggles the French criminal court has finally come up with a decision - Uber has to pay a €800,000 fine, half of it as a suspended sentence. Two of its executives - Uber France CEO Thibaud Simphal and Uber Europe GM Pierre-Dimitri Gore-Coty - are also fined to pay €30,000 and €20,000 respectively. Half of those penalties are suspended, too. UberPop has...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/the_french_sentences_uber_to_pay_800000_two_executives_to_pay_fines_as_well-news-18727.php

Google to offer developers a better subscription revenue split

Earlier today, Apple sort of jumped the gun on its own WWDC event and announced a few rather important changes coming to the App Store and developers. Among these was a new 85/15 revenue split for subscription services, which will replace the current arrangement of 70% for the developer and 30% for Apple. Google was quick to respond and revealed that it is planning to implement the very same split within the Play Store as well. And in an attempt to silence the "copycat" debates that are sure to commence in the comments, we will mention that the search giant claims the feature has been in...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/google_will_also_be_offering_developers_a_better_subscription_revenue_split-news-18724.php

Lenovo Moto Z: rumor round-up

The Moto Z flagship will be unveiled in just a few hours on the stage of the Lenovo Tech World event, so it's last call for rumors. Here's a quick summary of everything we've seen so far. First off, obviously, it's Moto Z, the Moto X name has reportedly been retired (at the same time Sony switched from Z to X, weird, huh?). The defining feature of the Moto Z will be its modular design, using MotoMods modules. Unlike Project Ara (which originated at Motorola, but stayed at Google), you only get one module that covers the entire back (with a cutout for the camera). Unlike the LG G5,...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/lenovo_moto_z_rumor_roundup-news-18723.php

Martin Hajek concept: iPhone Pro with Pencil, Smart Connector

Here's an interesting idea - what if Pro = Stylus in Apple's mobile world? There's not much precedence for that, just the iPad Pro (and certainly not the Mac(Book) Pro). Still, artist Martin Hajek (known for beautiful 3D renders of Apple products based on leaked blueprints) imagined such a world. The iPhone Pro is shown off with an Apple Pencil. Since the Pencil is 8.9mm in diameter, it can't sheath into the phone Galaxy Note-style. Instead, it may be attached (at least tied) to cases for the Pro. Another feature associated with the iPad Pro is the Smart Connector, which allows...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/martin_hajek_concept_iphone_pro_with_pencil_smart_connector-news-18725.php

Google Fi adds support for the U.S. Cellular network

Google Fi, the mobile virtual network operated by the search giant, added a third carrier to its roster - U.S. Cellular (the other two being Sprint and T-Mobile). U.S. Cellular offers 4G LTE in 23 states in both urban and rural environments. The carrier specializes in finding areas where its competitors have spotty coverage and building towers there - it's the Obi-Wan of people who can't get good reception with the major carriers (not uncommon in rural areas). This is a boon for Google Fi users because Fi phones pick the best network for your current location. They can be connected...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/google_fi_adds_support_for_the_us_cellular_network-news-18721.php

More photos of the OnePlus 3 surface

It seems like OnePlus is determined to squeeze out every last bit of viral hype before it actually releases the OnePlus 3. Then again, it could very well be eager fans behind the recent avalanche of leaks about the flagship. Regardless, with the unveiling officially set for June 15 and the dreaded invite system allegedly ditched for good, we can't help it but hop on the hype train ourselves. OnePlus 3 THere is the latest batch of shots of the OnePlus 3 leaked online. Once again they come courtesy of a Weibo user and this time around look to be official renders, probably...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/more_photos_of_the_oneplus_3_surface_online-news-18720.php

Apple announces subscription model, search ads for App Store

Some big news is coming out of Apple this week regarding the App Store, and it's not even WWDC day yet. In an interview with The Verge and The Loop, Phil Schiller, Senior Vice President, Worldwide Marketing at Apple, laid down some major changes that are coming to the App Store. ("App Store" henceforth in this article will refer to the one on iOS, OS X, and tvOS.) One of the big changes coming is Apple's greater adoption of the subscription based payment model. Right now, only a certain type of apps can use subscription based payment, apps that usually fall under the category of news,...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/apple_announces_subscription_model_search_ads_for_app_store-news-18722.php