Analyst: iPhone 7 Plus to have 3GB of RAM, IPx7 rating, 2 different 12MP camera setups

The iPhone 7 is mere days away from its September 7 unveiling, but until that actually happens it's never too late for a forecast by a respected analyst. KGI Securities' Ming-Chi Kuo has rounded up all the available intel on Apple's next-gen smartphone in a new report. The important stuff goes as follows. The new A10 chipset will likely have its CPU clock set at 2.4GHz, though a lower number is not impossible to prevent heating and excessive power consumption. The iPhone 7 will keep RAM at 2GB, but the iPhone 7 Plus will pack 3GB to handle the processing for the dual camera. Mockups...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/analyst_iphone_7_plus_to_have_3gb_of_ram_ipx7_rating_2_different_12mp_sensors-news-20332.php

Alcatel's Movetime Wi-Fi smartwatch leads a pack of Move connected accessories

Alcatel's presence at IFA isn't limited to just a few tablets and a VR headset. The company has also brought an entire new line of connected accessories, under the common name Move. Chief among those is the Movetime WiFi Watch - a bit odd, but still a better label than the favored by oh so many manufacturers plain "Watch" (which does also happen to be Alcatel's previous-gen smartwatch name). The device is still based on Alcatel's own OS, and not Android Wear, but given the somewhat limited number of things you can do with a smartwatch to begin with, that shouldn't be much of an...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/alcatels_movetime_wifi_smartwatch_leads_a_pack_of_move_connected_accessories-news-20331.php

Moto E3 India launch set for September 19

The third-generation Motorola Moto E3, which was unveiled back in July this year, will be launched in India in around a couple of weeks from now - September 19 to be precise. This was revealed by Ken Wong, President, Lenovo APAC. To refresh, the new Moto E3 is powered by a Mediatek SoC with quad-core 1.0GHz processor, and sports a 5-inch HD display. It comes with 1GB RAM and 8GB of expandable internal memory, and packs in a 2800mAh battery. In terms of camera, the phone features an 8MP rear unit and a 5MP front shooter. It runs Android 6.0 Marshmallow out of the box. Via

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/moto_e3_india_launch_set_for_september_19-news-20326.php

Motorola's MotoMods help out in zombie apocalypse and catching thieves

Lenovo has published a couple of video ads for its MotoMods accessory backs for the Moto Z family of smartphones. Technically, it's four videos - each ad gets a short and a long version (the long, 1-minute ones are featured here). In the first one, a police chase is about to end with the suspect escaping, when the officer calls it quits on a building rooftop. And just when you thought it would be the power bank MotoMod that would somehow be involved in the resolution, the JBL SoundBoost comes to the rescue, because who doesn't prefer to run after criminals to the tune of music. In...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/motorolas_motomods_help_out_in_zombie_apocalypse_and_catching_thieves-news-20330.php

Samsung starts selling refurbished Galaxy flagships in US

A couple of weeks after there were reports that Samsung may start selling refurbished units of its flagship phones, the South Korean company has started offering such models in the United States. A quick look at the tech giant's US website reveals a new section dubbed Samsung Certified Pre-Owned Phones. Currently, the company is selling refurbished models of the Galaxy Note 3, S4, S5, S6, S6 edge, and the Galaxy Note 4. Keep in mind that none of the units is unlocked. You can save up to $265 on a purchase, but the payment has to be made up front. Source | Via

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_starts_selling_refurbished_galaxy_flagships_in_us-news-20325.php

A Google Street View update brings auto face blurring, 360 photos grouping

An update to Google Street View is in the works (or rather, it's been done, just not officially rolled out yet) that brings a bunch of new features to the Android app. These are mostly geared to 360 photos handling, and the app will now be able to auto-detect faces in them to speed up blurring. Activated by a toggle in the settings, the feature has been in the making for a few months, now going live. Additionally, the app will now automatically group 360 photos by time and location. Another official improvement is the added ability to share links to user profiles. In the...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/a_google_street_view_update_brings_auto_face_blurring_360_photos_grouping-news-20329.php

Xiaomi Mi Note 2 variant with Snapdragon 820 SoC and 4GB RAM rumored

The Xiaomi Mi Note 2, which has been the subject of several rumors and leaks so far, will have a variant that'll be powered by Snapdragon 820 SoC and come with 4GB RAM, according to a latest rumor out of China. In addition, the rumor says that there will also be a top-end version with Snapdragon 821 chipset and 6GB RAM, something which has been already revealed by a recent leak. While the SD820 variant will have 32GB internal memory, the SD821 model will offer 128GB storage. Needless to say, none of this has been officially confirmed yet, so take it with a pinch of salt. Via

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_mi_note_2_variant_with_sd820_and_4gb_ram_rumored-news-20324.php

Sony on 'Make in India' : Discussions on, but nothing concrete yet

If you recall, Sony said last year that it is "very seriously" considering starting a manufacturing facility in India. Now, when asked if there has been any progress in this regard, the company's India Managing Director Kenichiro Hibi has said that they are still serious about it but nothing has moved on ground yet. "Don't deny any possibility. Still in discussion for opportunities in the future to expand manufacturing, but nothing concrete," Hibi said. "We are talking more seriously about what we can do in India." The Japanese company, which has manufacturing units in its home...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/sony_on_make_in_india__still_in_discussion_but_nothing_concrete-news-20327.php

Update to Verizon Note5 and Galaxy S6 edge+ brings Barcode Beaming support

Shortly after updating the Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 edge, Verizon has started rolling out a new update to Samsung Galaxy Note5 and S6 edge+ units on its network. Carrying a software version of VRU2BPG5, the update brings support for Barcode Beaming as well as new ways to share images and files. The Barcode Beaming Service - the change-log says - improves the recognition response of your favorite on-device coupons, loyalty cards, and more. As for new image and file sharing ways, the update introduces three: Profile sharing, Simple sharing, and Event sharing. The first one lets you...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/update_to_verizon_note_5_and_galaxy_s6_edge_brings_barcode_beaming_support-news-20323.php

Samsung Galaxy Note7 launched in China as units contain battery from different supplier

Samsung might have issued a global recall of Galaxy Note7 units over battery fire hazard, but that hasn't stopped the company from launching the handset in China, where the 4GB RAM variant is now available for purchase. Turns out Galaxy Note7 units destined for China are immune from the battery problem as they contain battery from a different supplier. This was revealed by the company in a press release, asking users in China to "rest assured." Following is the translated version of what the South Korean company said: Samsung Electronics officially announced, ease of use for the...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_note7_launched_in_china_as_units_contain_battery_from_different_supplier-news-20328.php

UK retailer offering £25 credit to those who pre-ordered Samsung Galaxy Note7

As you might already know, Samsung has announced a worldwide recall of the Galaxy Note7 over battery fire hazard, and all Note7 sales have been suspended. The company has already confirmed that shipments have been delayed as it's carrying out further quality testing on the handset. While retailers are not to blame to for the whole situation, some of them are doing their bit to offer solace to their customers. For example, if you are in the UK and had pre-ordered a Samsung Galaxy Note7 through Carphone Warehouse, it's worth knowing that the retailer is offering £25 (around $33) account...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/uk_retailer_offering_25_credit_to_those_who_preordered_samsung_galaxy_note7-news-20321.php

Samsung announces Galaxy Note7 exchange program in US

Shortly after confirming that it's recalling all Galaxy Note7 units around the world, Samsung has announced an exchange program for the phablet in the United States. The program - dubbed U.S. Product Exchange Program - gives Samsung Galaxy Note7 customers in the US a couple of choices. The first one is to exchange their current Galaxy Note7 device with a new Galaxy Note7 unit, which they'll get as soon as next week. The second choice is to exchange their current Galaxy Note7 for a Galaxy S7 or Galaxy S7 edge as well as replacement of any Note7 specific accessories. In addition,...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_announces_galaxy_note7_exchange_program_in_us-news-20322.php

Deal: Brand new OnePlus 2 for $240

If you find yourself with a broken phone or outdated phone and refuse to buy another one because it might break the bank, then take advantage of this new offer for the OnePlus 2. The OnePlus 2 in question comes in its original and unsealed packaging in the 64GB model which is also the Sandstone Black color. The model number is A2005 which is the US-specific model, regardless of being the US model, it is unlocked for Global use. The OnePlus 2 has a Snapdragon 820 CPU, 5.5 inch 1080p screen, 4GB of RAM, and a 3,300 mAh battery for all-day juice. Bad news if you are trying to use...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/deal_brand_new_oneplus_2_for_240-news-20320.php

UK e-retailer lists prices for Xperia XZ and X Compact

Sony just pulled the wraps off of its new Xperia XZ and Xperia X Compact models, both of which can be checked out on our hands-on post. The Xperia X Compact has a 4.6 inch screen, Snapdragon 650 + 3GB of RAM, and a 2900mAh battery while the Xperia XZ has a 5.2 inch screen, Snapdragon 820 chipset + 3GB of RAM, and a 2700mAH battery. The big news now is that e-retailer Clove.co.uk listed both new smartphones and even took the liberty of pricing them as follows: Sony Xperia X Compact: Available in 3 colors: Universe Black, Mist Blue, and (just) White. £315.83 Ex VAT \ £379.00 Inc...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/uk_eretailer_lists_prices_for_xperia_xz_and_x_compact-news-20319.php

Amazon's Echo line of speakers with built-in Alexa assistant launch in the UK on September 14

Today Amazon has sent press invites for an event taking place in the UK on September 14. The invites themselves don't reveal anything about the conference's theme, but thankfully Amazon's Alexa digital assistant comes to the rescue and confirms this is all about the Echo. Have a listen for yourself: A video posted by Matt Brian (@mattbrian) on Sep 2, 2016 at 7:09am PDT The Echo line of smart speakers has received its latest expansion this March. All the Echo speakers come with Alexa built-in, and you can use Amazon's assistant to perform a myriad of actions since third party...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/amazons_echo_line_of_speakers_with_builtin_alexa_assistant_launch_in_the_uk_on_september_14-news-20317.php

TP-Link outs Neffos X1 and Neffos X1 Max smartphones

TP-Link may be most well known for its wireless networking equipment, but the Chinese company is becoming more and more serious about its mobile efforts too. At IFA TP-Link unveiled two new Neffos smartphones running Android, following the three models it made official back in January. The new Neffos X1 and Neffos X1 Max share many traits, including their hardware design and metal construction. As is the case more and more often, the main differences between them have to do with size. The X1 has a 5-inch 720p touchscreen and a 13 MP rear camera with Sony IMX298 sensor, f/2.0 aperture,...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/tplink_outs_neffos_x1_and_neffos_x1_max_smartphones-news-20318.php

Microsoft Lumia 950's price drops to all time low of £249 in the UK

With every month that passes, Microsoft's premier smartphones get even cheaper in the UK. Back in August we saw the Lumia 950 being offered for a mere £289, for example. But what if even that felt too expensive for you? Well, in that case congratulations for waiting another month. See, right now you can purchase the Lumia 950 straight from Microsoft's own online store for just £249. Yes, SIM-free. This is the lowest price we've ever seen for this particular device, but come October we assume it will go even lower. This doesn't seem to be a limited-time offer, at least not one of those...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/microsoft_lumia_950s_price_drops_to_all_time_low_of__pound249_in_the_uk-news-20316.php

LG V20 caught on video in good working order

LG will unveil the V20 next Tuesday, so understandably more and more leaks and details about it are being outed as we get closer to that day. Earlier we told you about the phone's color versions and their marketing names, and now we have a V20 shown in a video in good working order. It only makes a very short appearance though, so make sure you don't miss it (look about 25 seconds in). The general shape and design lines up almost perfectly with the previously leaked renders of the V20, even though we can't see the phone in its entirety. It seems like this video is going to be part of a...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/lg_v20_caught_on_video_in_good_working_order-news-20313.php

Razer announces updated Blade and Blade Stealth

Razer announced updated versions of its Blade Stealth Ultrabook and Blade gaming notebook at PAX this year. The Blade Stealth sees numerous improvements over the previous version that came out earlier this year. One of the changes is the switch to Intel's 7th generation Core-i7-7500U with Intel HD Graphics 620. It still comes in the same QHD (2560 x 1440) or 4K (3840 x 2160) display options, with the QHD model getting 128/256/512 SSD storage options and the 4K model getting 512GB/1TB SSD options. All but the very base 128GB model get 16GB RAM, with the base model staying at 8GB....

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/razer_announces_updated_blade_and_blade_stealth-news-20314.php

Google Pixel XL camera details leaked

A few details about the cameras employed by the upcoming Google Pixel XL smartphone have been leaked today by a person with a reasonably good track record. According to him, the bigger of Google's duo of devices being outed on October 4 will go with Sony-made sensors for both rear and front-facing shooters. The main camera will have 12 MP resolution and will use the Sony IMX378 sensor. There aren't any details about this model yet, but if you keep in mind that last year's LG Nexus 5X and Huawei Nexus 6P both featured the Sony IMX278, it stands to reason that the new sensor comes with...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/google_pixel_xl_camera_details_leaked-news-20312.php

The Lenovo P2 is a 5.5" midranger, the 4.5" A Plus can be had for €69

Just when we thought that Lenovo was done announcing devices after the K6 family was made official, we were greeted by a couple more new models - the Lenovo P2, and the A Plus. A quick glance at the specs reveals the two to be positioned in vastly different market segments. Lenovo P2 The Lenovo P2 is the better one, a nicely-specced midranger with a 5.5-inch FullHD AMOLED display. It's the Snapdragon 625 chipset doing the number-crunching, paired with 3GB or 4GB of RAM, while built-in storage is 32GB. Those are the global figures - the Chinese version will come with 4GB of RAM only, and...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/the_lenovo_p2_is_a_55inch_midranger_the_a_plus_can_be_had_for_69-news-20311.php

Alcatel Vision VR headset hands-on

This is more of a heads-on than a hands-on, but you get the idea. Alcatel is officially in the VR headset business with the Vision. It's a complete, all-in-one VR solution with an attractive design. Regarding hardware, you're looking at an octa-core processor (unnamed chipset so far), 3GB of RAM, 32GB of storage and the mandatory slew of sensors, including an accelerometer, gyroscope, and a proximity sensor. Taking care of the visuals are two 3.8" AMOLED screens, each with a resolution of 1080 x 1020. We're quite happy with the way it fits. You can adjust the strap to fit...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/alcatel_vision_vr_headset_handson-news-20310.php

LG V20 to come in three colors, shows trademark filing

LG has been building up hype for the upcoming LG V20 with small teasers, but here's one tidbit that slipped through by accident - the phone will come in three colors. The info comes from a trademark application filed in South Korea that names them - Urban Grey, Sweet Silver and Romantic Pink. They are playful names, though they are a bit vague - sorry, no pics in the application. The LG V20 is coming Tuesday, September 6 when sweet silver-tongued LG execs will paint romantic pink images of the V20 in the urban gray venues of San Francisco and Seoul. Source (in Dutch)

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/lg_v20_to_come_in_three_colors_shows_trademark_filing-news-20306.php

Lenovo K6, K6 Power, and K6 Note are official: Snapdragon 430, FullHD displays, Marshmallow

Amidst all the clamor around its high-profile announcements at IFA (you know, the Moto Z Play, Hasselblad MotoMod, Yogas), Lenovo has also thrown in a few affordable mid-rangers. The K6 family (no "Vibe" this time) consists of three models, the plain Lenovo K6, K6 Power, and K6 Note, and they share a lot of the same specs. It all starts with the Snapdragon 430 chipset that powers all three, and that means an octa-core CPU with 4 Cortex-A53 cores clocked up to 1.5GHz, and another 4 capped at 1.2GHz. The Lenovo K6 proper has 2GB of RAM and either 16GB or 32GB of storage, the Power comes in...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/lenovo_k6_k6_power_and_k6_note_are_official_snapdragon_430_fullhd_displays_marshmallow-news-20305.php

alcatel POP 4 tablets comes in 10" and 7" variants, the alcatel XL joins them

The latest alcatel announcements at IFA 2016 are the 10" and 7" POP4 tablets as well as the XL smartphone. The trio features metallic design and place high importance on audio quality, thanks to MaxxAudio tech coming from company Waves. The alcatel XL smartphone features the MediaTek Helio P10 chipset with an octa-core processor. The phone packs a 6" 1080p display, making room for a 3,500mAh battery. At the back of the XL is a 13MP camera with dual LED flash. It's joined by a 5MP snapper at the front. Below the camera, there's also a fingerprint sensor. As for the POP4 tablets,...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/alcatel_pop_4_tablets_comes_in_10_and_7_variants_the_alcatel_xl_joins_them-news-20304.php

Updated UI for Google Now is under testing

Google has made some changes to the UI of its Google Now app, and the updated UI is now showing up for some users, indicating that the Mountain View, California-based company is currently testing the changes. The new UI, as you can see below, contains multiple small, circular icons that essentially serve as search shortcuts for various categories, including weather, dining, movies, and shopping. Aside from launching a search, the icons - as you'd have guessed - trigger related smart cards. There's currently no information on when the updated UI will be publicly rolled out, although...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/google_now_with_updated_ui_is_under_testing-news-20298.php

IFA 2016: All the good stuff from IFA 2016 is here [RECAP]

We're getting ready to wrap things up as far as this year's IFA is concerned - the main bulk of announcements is over and the expo floor is now open to the public after a few hectic press-only days. A good time for a recap, don't you think? We'll go in the order the devices were unveiled. Acer Acer unveiled a couple of affordable Androids - the 5" Liquid Z6 (€120, coming November) and 5.5" Liquid Z6 Plus (€250, December). There was also the Acer Icona Talk S - a voice call enabled 7" tablet (€170, September). All three run Android 6.0 Marshmallow. Acer Liquid Z6 • Acer Liquid...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/all_the_goodstuff_from_ifa_2016_is_here-news-20301.php

It's official: Samsung is recalling the Galaxy Note7 over battery fire hazard, sales halted

The reports about Samsung Galaxy Note7's battery catching on fire have been spreading throughout the last few days and Samsung quickly acknowledged the issue and said there is an ongoing investigation. A prompt and swift decision was promised and the official press release is now out. Samsung is now recalling all Galaxy Note7 around the world. A replacements will be issued ASAP to all users who return their phablet, regardless of date of purchase. Meanwhile all Note7 sales are suspended until the faulty devices are withdrawn from the market and only unaffected Note7 units remain in...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_recalls_galaxy_note7_over_battery_fire_hazard_sales_halted-news-20299.php

Microsoft postpones Sunrise Calendar app's shutdown

If you recall, the Sunrise Calendar app - which was acquired by Microsoft last year - was scheduled to be shut down on August 31. But that didn't happen. And as it turns out, the software giant has postponed the shut down. "[W]e have chosen to wait a little longer in order to deliver a few more Sunrise-inspired features in Outlook," the Redmond, Washington-based company said in a statement. "Once those features are released, the Sunrise app will officially be shut down." There's currently no information on exactly when the company will pull the plug on the app now. Via

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/microsoft_postpones_sunrise_calendar_apps_shutdown-news-20297.php

New update to Verizon Galaxy S7 and S7 edge brings HD Voice improvements

Verizon has pushed out a new update to Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 edge units on its network. Carrying a software version of VRU2APG5, the update brings along improvements to HD Voice performance as well as support for NextRadio and Barcode Beaming for UPC codes. HD Voice-related improvements include reduced call drops and "improvements to prevent the device from unintentional powering off and restarting." Moving on, "the latest software update unleashes the FM tuning capabilities of your Galaxy S7," the change-log says. "You'll be able to see, hear, and interact with your favorite...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/new_update_to_verizon_galaxy_s7_and_s7_edge_brings_hd_voice_improvements-news-20294.php

Google's ambitious Project Ara has been canned

If you recall, just a few months ago, Google revealed that the Developer Edition of its much-hyped Project Ara modular smartphone will start shipping this fall - in fact, Ara's official website still says that. However, a new report from Reuters says that the company has suspended the project. Citing a couple of sources, the report notes that the move is "part of a broader push to streamline the company's hardware efforts." While that's certainly bad news for those who were looking forward to the product, there seems to be a silver lining - the report notes that Google may license...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/googles_ambitious_project_ara_has_been_canned-news-20296.php

Microsoft's Next Lock Screen app now lets you perform web searches without unlocking your device

Microsoft has pushed out a new update to its Next Lock Screen Android app. While the app's version stays at 3.7.1, the update brings along a useful feature: the ability to perform web searches without unlocking the device. Currently, the only search engine supported by the app for this feature is Bing. Here's what the change-log says: "Bing search: enable search experience on your lock screen. You can now do quick search without unlocking your phone." To download the updated app, head to the Source link below. Source | Via

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/microsofts_next_lock_screen_app_now_lets_you_perform_web_searches_without_unlocking_your_device-news-20292.php

Report says Google will unveil Pixel phones early next month

According to a new report, Google will make official the Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones at an event early next month - October 4 to be precise. In addition, a 4K-capable Chromecast as well as a Daydream VR headset will also be revealed at the same event. While the new Chromecast will either be called the Chromecast Plus or Chromecast Ultra, the headset may be carry Daydream View moniker. The report notes that the Mountain View, California-based company will also take the opportunity to fully detail its Amazon Echo competitor Home. There's, however, currently no information on the...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/report_says_google_will_unveil_new_pixel_phones_daydream_vr_headset_and_4kcapable_chromecast_next_mo-news-20295.php

Samsung issues official statement on Galaxy Note7 battery fiasco

Following reports of some Samsung Galaxy Note7 units exploding during charging, there have been rumors that the South Korean company is mulling recalling units that have already been sold. Now, the tech giant has issued an official statement on the matter. "In response to questions on Galaxy Note7, we are conducting a thorough inspection with our partners," Samsung said. "We will share the findings as soon as possible. Samsung is fully committed to providing the highest quality products to our consumers." While the statement does not reflect what steps Samsung is planning to address...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_issues_official_statement_on_galaxy_note7_battery_fiasco-news-20293.php

Google expands its Early Access beta testing program to more developers

If you recall, at this year's I/O conference, Google unveiled a new Play Store section - called Early Access - for users to try out beta apps and games before they're officially released. At launch, which happened sometime in June, the company partnered with 29 developers for the program. Now, the search giant has opened up the beta testing program to more developers. "If you are a developer getting ready to launch on Google Play, you can nominate your app or game to be part of Early Access," the company said in a blog post. "New titles are added weekly and thousands of users are...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/google_expands_its_early_access_beta_testing_program_to_more_developers-news-20291.php

Samsung Gear S3 landing on T-Mobile this fall

T-Mobile has revealed that it will start selling the newly-unveiled Samsung Gear S3 smartwatch (frontier variant) sometime this fall. The revelation was made by the magenta carrier in a tweet yesterday. The @SamsungMobileUS Gear S3 frontier is our first LTE connected smartwatch. Look for it to hit stores this fall! pic.twitter.com/QJtWnEbilw— T-Mobile (@TMobile) August 31, 2016 Aside from Samsung, mobile carriers as well as major retailers including Best Buy, Amazon, and Macy's will be carrying the wearable in the US. "AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon will carry the LTE connected version...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_gear_s3_landing_on_tmobile_this_fall-news-20267.php

Google's Nexus smartphone successors might be called Pixel and Pixel XL

Just a couple of days ago, a rumor arose that the company was no longer going to use the "Nexus" name to the upcoming Marlin and Sailfish smartphones that are to be built by HTC. Android Police reports that two independent sources almost confirm that the two aforementioned smartphones will not be named after the previous Nexus models before them. Rather they will be named with Google's Pixel Brand. The Sailfish will carry the name "Pixel" and the 5-and-a-half-inch Marlin device will be called "Pixel XL". Just to speculate, the newest Android version is already out way before the...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/googles_nexus_smartphone_successors_might_be_called_pixel_and_pixel_xl-news-20290.php

Apple will remove outdated and broken apps from the App Store

According to an email sent to developers, Apple has stated that it is going to start removing old and outdated apps from the App Store. Including apps that haven't been updated in a while and apps that have been abandoned by their developers. "We are implemending and ongoing process of evaluating apps, removing apps that no longer function as intended, don't follow current review guidelines, or are outdated," - Apple (in the email) In order to combat some search engine optimization, Apple is also making naming guidelines stricter by not allowing apps to have names longer than 50...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/apple_will_remove_outdated_and_unmaintained_apps_from_the_app_store-news-20289.php

Huawei P9 now available in dark red or blue

Huawei's announcement also brought some minor news. The company is releasing two new colors for the dual-camera Huawei P9, in addition to announcing a couple of new products and launches. The Huawei P9 will become available in some really pretty blue and red colors. The red one of deep and a lot like cranberry or burgundy. Meanwhile the blue colored P9 looks like a similar shade of the Samsung Galaxy Note7's Coral Blue. Of the two, I am really digging that blue P9. This shade of blue works perfectly with the black camera glass on the rear. The new Huawei P9 colors run for 545...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/huawei_p9_now_available_in_dark_red_or_blue_-news-20288.php

Apple accidentally tips off "Beats" product to be announced on Sept 7

Unsure if any of the media was supposed to know about it, Apple (allegedly) sent an email to a French news outlet saying "Do not miss this event, a selection of new Beats by Dre products will be revealed by September 7th, 2016." Apple's new iPhone 7 will likely not include a 3.5mm headphone jack, so it's not clear as to what Apple will include with the new iPhone when it comes to replacing the a pair of earbuds that every iPhone model came bundled with. There are mixed rumors of Apple including a pair of regular earpods with a lightning plug instead of the regular...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/apple_accidentally_tips_off_beats_product_to_be_announced_on_sept_7-news-20287.php

Facebook Messenger gains Instant Video

Today Facebook has announced a new feature for its Messenger service. It's called Instant Video. The social network says it's "perfect for sharing quick moments with friends who aren't right by your side or making your conversations richer by seeing each other face-to-face when you are messaging". Here's how it works. If you have the latest version of the Facebook Messenger app for Android or iOS, then inside any conversation thread just tap on the video button in the top right corner. Once you do this, the friend you're communicating with will instantly see you in a video that floats over...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/facebook_messenger_gains_instant_video-news-20286.php

GoPro Karma drone launches on September 19

There are products that have been a very long time in the making, and then there's GoPro's first drone. We've known about this since May last year, and the company outed the first teaser for it last December. Yet here we are, many months later, and the GoPro Karma drone still hasn't surfaced. But it won't be long now. GoPro has revealed the drone's official unveiling date, and it's September 19. So we get to find out everything there is to know about it in less than three weeks. Change is in the air. Karma takes flight 9.19.16. https://t.co/UAcbQ0p20s #GoProKarma #GoPro...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/gopro_karma_drone_launches_on_september_19-news-20285.php

Alcatel Vision is a standalone VR headset that runs Android

Alcatel has an intriguing offer for those into VR. The company just unveiled the Vision, a standalone headset that runs Android. This basically comes with smartphone guts itself, so there's no need to put your handset inside in order for it to work - like in the case of Samsung's Gear VR. The Vision has two 3.8-inch AMOLED screens with 1,080x1,020 resolution each, an octa-core processor, 3GB of RAM, 32GB of storage, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, LTE, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a proximity sensor, and a 3,000 mAh battery that's apparently good for about three hours of continuous use. To make...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/alcatel_vision_is_a_standalone_vr_headset_that_runs_android-news-20284.php

Acer at IFA 2016: Liquid Z6 and Z6 Plus hands-on

While Sony went after high-end smartphones this time around, Huawei opted to show us mid-rangers, Acer was the one to give us low-cost yet attractive devices. We saw three devices to premiere at IFA - Liquid Z6, Liquid Z6 Plus, and Iconia Talk S.

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/acer_at_ifa_2016-review-1489.php

Sony Xperia XZ and X Compact are up for pre-order in the UK already

A few hours ago Sony took the wraps off the Xperia XZ and Xperia X Compact, its latest smartphones. And while the company itself stayed mum about any exact release dates and price levels for the duo, thankfully we have other sources for that sort of information. First up, in the UK Amazon is already taking pre-orders for both models, in SIM-free form of course. The Xperia XZ can be yours for £599.99, while the X Compact is priced at £379. The latter will start shipping on September 28. In both cases, all of the color versions are available. Unfortunately though, the retailer doesn't list a...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/sony_xperia_xz_and_x_compact_are_up_for_preorder_in_the_uk_already-news-20283.php

Lenovo at IFA 2016: Moto Z Play and Yogas hands-on

Lenovo is having quite the showing at IFA 2016, too. The Moto Z lineup gets another member - the midrange Moto Z Play, accompanied by a 10x zoom Hasselblad camera True Zoom MotoMod, and there's a couple of new sleek Yoga convertibles.

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/lenovo_at_ifa_2016-review-1488.php

Canon announces EOS C700 Cinema camera

Canon has announced its flagship camera in its Cinema EOS series of cameras, the EOS C700. With a camera of this scope, there is a lot to talk about, but here are some of the highlights. Two new 4K sensor options. The C700 and C700 PL have a 4.5K rolling shutter CMOS sensor with 15 stops of dynamic range. This option also includes Canon's Dual Pixel CMOS AF technology for quick autofocus. Alternatively, you can opt for the C700 GS PL variant that comes with a 4.5K global shutter CMOS sensor that has a slightly lower 14 stops of dynamic range and no Dual Pixel CMOS AF. Modular...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/canon_announces_eos_c700_cinema_camera-news-20282.php

Reliance Jio 4G launching next week; tariff plans announced

India-based oil-to-telecoms conglomerate Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) has announced that its telecom leg Jio will start offering 4G services from next week - September 5 to be precise. The announcement was made by none other than the RIL's chairman Mukesh Ambani at the company's AGM today. Ambani termed Jio as a step towards fulfilling Indian PM's Digital India dream. "Jio is more than just a business. It is a commitment to enrich the life of every Indian," he said. "Jio's mission is to meet this exploding need, to go from data shortage to data abundance." Aiming to disrupt the...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/reliance_jio_4g_launching_next_week_tariff_plans_announced-news-20276.php

Samsung starts Galaxy Note7 recalls in Belgium, blames faulty battery packs

Following the reportedly halted Galaxy Note7 distribution in Korea after reports of the smartphone exploding during charging, the company is allegedly thinking of recalling every single one of them. According to South Korean media outlet Chosun Ilbo, Samsung had originally planned to exchange the Galaxy Note7 batteries of customers free of charge. However, the new plan is to reportedly issue a refund or exchange with a new phone altogether. Samsung reckons its various manufacturing partners burdened with the task of producing the phone's battery pack are to blame. More specifically,...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_on_the_brink_of_galaxy_note7_recalls_blames_faulty_battery_packs-news-20281.php

ZTE at IFA 2016: Axon 7 mini hands-on

ZTE has multiple product lines - last year at IFA we saw an Axon, a Nubia and a Blade and that was just the phones! This year, the Axon line is back with a mini offering. While the 5.5" Axon 7 is heating up in the US, a more compact (if not 'mini') 5.2" Axon 7 mini comes to provide an alternative.

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/zte_at_ifa_2016-review-1483.php