The smart assistant battlefield is quickly expanding to the future of cars

AI has been a major buzzword for well over a decade now, so picking it out as a distinct 2016 phenomenon wouldn't be justifiably be any measure. However, there is no denying that the field has really been flourishing as of late, hence the influx of increasingly better and smarter personal assistants and automation platforms. Cortana, Siri, Google Now, Assistant and Home, Amazon Echo and the Alexa platform - one of the next major tech battlefields is already busy trekking rapidly through the obligatory proprietary development stage. But now that our computers, phones and homes are...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/the_smart_assistant_battlefield_is_quickly_expanding_to_the_future_of_cars-news-22611.php

New rumor says Oppo Find 9 WILL arrive in H1 this year

After whether or not the Oppo Find 9 will ever arrive, it seems the next big question is: whether we'll see it launching in H1 2017, or not? Back in November last year, there was first a rumor that said the device will be made official in March 2017. This was followed by a couple of sources (a Chinese analyst and an employee of Qualcomm's Chinese arm) saying that won't happen. Now, according to a new rumor out of China, the device WILL INDEED arrive in the first half of this year. Oppo Find 9 concept render A company executive revealed this at a recent OPPO shopping guide...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/another_rumor_says_oppo_find_9_will_arrive_in_h1_this_year-news-22607.php

Blue Coral Samsung Galaxy S7 edge to officially launch in Europe soon

The Blue Coral color variant of Samsung's Galaxy S7 edge smartphone - which was made official by the South Korean company back in November last year - will soon be officially available in Europe. The device is listed on the tech giant's Netherlands website. You can't, however, officially order it at the moment as the listing currently says "Available soon." Some third party retailers seem have it in stock though. The model landed in India last month, where it carries a price tag of around $755. Aside from India, the new color option is also available in Singapore, Taiwan, South...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/blue_coral_samsung_galaxy_s7_edge_to_go_on_sale_in_europe_soon-news-22606.php

CES 2017: BlackBerry Mercury hands-on

BlackBerry is nothing short of a legend in the mobile realm. The brand easily matches the popularity of other titans, such as Motorola or Nokia and is still synonymous with quality and enhanced security. The latter has been the staple of the Canadian company's existence, mostly as a trusted enterprise communication solutions provider over the last few years.

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/ces_2017_blackberry_mercury-review-1547.php

Vodafone India announces SuperHour unlimited data packs

Mobile data has become such an integral part of the smartphone experience that most users and developers and service providers, for that matter, can't really imagine modern digital interactions and activities without it. Hence, it is rather disappointing to learn that getting a proper data plan from most carriers, even on the biggest markets is still mostly a drag. Vodafone India is looking to sweeten the deal for its prepaid customers. Users can now purchase a "SuperHour" pack for unlimited mobile data over the course of an hour. And the best part is, it only costs INR 16 or just around...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/vodafone_india_announces_superhour_unlimited_data_packs-news-22610.php

Samsung Galaxy S5 on Sprint gets December security update

Sprint has started rolling out a new update to Samsung Galaxy S5 units on its network. Arriving as build version G900PVPU3CPL2 and weighing in at around 237MB, the update includes Android security fixes for the month of December. The carrier is yet to update the Galaxy S5 software update page on its website, so it's currently difficult to say what else (if at all) is included in the update, although going by its size, it'd be reasonable to say that some other improvements and usual bug fixes are included as well. Thanks for the tip, Jason!!! Via 1 2

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_s5_on_sprint_gets_december_security_update-news-22605.php

ZTE Z986DL and Z986U clear Bluetooth SIG

Two new ZTE smartphones have been certified by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG). The listing reveals that the devices carry a model number of Z986DL and Z986U, respectively. Sadly, the listing doesn't reveal anything else about these handsets. But given that they have started collecting the necessary certifications, we expect to hear more on them in days or probably weeks to come. Source

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/zte_z986dl_and_z986u_clear_bluetooth_sig-news-22604.php

Google is pulling the plug on the Hangouts API and third-party app support

For all the amazing work and achievements Google can credit itself in the tech realm as a whole, there is one area which has seemingly and rather inexplicably always eluded the online giant. Social efforts in all shapes and forms, including messengers and the infamous Google+ have always been a weakpoint in the chain and the current situation isn't really that much better. Allo and Duo seem to be center-stage in the IM package Google is currently trying to push to end users. Thus, Hangouts' faith is still quite uncertain and while Google is sticking to its promise not to retire it,...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/google_is_pulling_the_plug_on_the_hangouts_api_and_thirdparty_app_support-news-22609.php

Nokia E1 leaked specs and release details

HMD Global device passed certifications last week and now we know more about the device. It is indeed the entry-level Nokia Android Phone, going under the name Nokia E1. On Friday, a new leak revealed more about the specifications of the device. HMD will equip Nokia E1 with 1.4 GHz Quad-core Snapdragon 425 CPU with Adreno 308. The RAM will be 2GB with 16 GB internal storage. There is no information if the device will sport a microSD slot but with that kind of storage it looks likely. The display will be 720p with 5.2 or 5.3-inch diagonal but the technology is still unclear. The...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_e1_leaked_specs_and_release_details-news-22594.php

Motorola Moto Z starts receiving Nougat update in China

The Motorola Moto Z has started receiving a new update in China. Arriving as build version NCC25.106-11, the update brings along Android 7.0 Nougat. This comes well over a month after the company officially announced the global roll out of the update. For those who aren't aware, the update makes the device compatible with Google's Android-powered VR platform Daydream. Given that the roll out has just begun, it may take time for the update to hit your device. Meanwhile, if you feel impatient, you can manually check for it by heading to your handset's Settings menu. Via

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/motorola_moto_z_starts_receiving_nougat_update_in_china-news-22603.php

Whopping 63 billion WhatsApp messages were sent on New Year's eve

New Year's eve saw people sending a total of whopping 63 billion WhatsApp messages, according to Facebook, which owns the mobile messaging service. Of the total, nearly 14 billion messages were sent in India alone. While images constituted around 8 billion messages, nearly 2.5 billion WhatsApp messages were videos, a WhatsApp spokesperson revealed. The 63 billion figure assumes significance given that back in April 2016 it was revealed that both Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp combined were sending 60 billion messages each day. WhatsApp alone was responsible for 30 billion messages...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/whopping_63_billion_whatsapp_messages_were_sent_on_new_years_eve-news-22608.php

Samsung Galaxy C9 Pro to soon be available outside of China

The Samsung Galaxy C9 Pro was made official back in October last year, and currently, it's only available for purchase in China. Now, according to new reports, the device will soon be available in markets outside of China as well. Specifically, it's being said that several Asian countries - including India, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia, and Vietnam - will be getting the handset. The exact launch time-frame, however, isn't yet known for any of these markets. Given that the international variant of the phone has already started collecting...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_c9_pro_to_soon_be_available_outside_of_china-news-22602.php

Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 gets WiFi certified

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 has received Wi-Fi certification from the WiFi Alliance (WFA). The listing reveals that the LTE variant of the device, carrying a model number of SM-T825, has been certified. Last we heard about the tablet was in November last year when it was spotted on Zauba, a website that tracks India's import and export. There were rumors earlier in 2016 that the 9.7-inch device will be officially unveiled in September (Samsung even effectively confirmed the launch time-frame), but that, as we all know, didn't happen. The tablet is now said to be launching sometime...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_tab_s3_gets_wifi_certified-news-22601.php

Yi 4K+ action camera gets official with 60fps video recording

Following up on its widely praised original action camera and then the 4K-capable model introduced last year, Yi has taken the wraps off its third such device, simply called the Yi 4K+ action camera. The CES unveiling wasn't an unexpected move from the Xiaomi-backed company, since it's teased the move beforehand. As is obvious from its name, the 4K+ still tops out at 4K video recording, but this action camera comes with a first: support for shooting 4K at 60fps. That's a yet-unmatched feat, and something that might help the Chinese upstart even more in its battle with the likes of...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/yi_4k_action_camera_gets_official_with_60fps_video_recording-news-22600.php

Samsung Galaxy C7 Pro live images leak

Samsung has been rumored to launch the oft-leaked Galaxy C7 Pro and Galaxy C5 Pro this month, with their possible release date being January 21. That is starting to make more and more sense considering how many times we've seen either of them being leaked in the past few weeks. Only today we saw the C5 Pro in a benchmark, and then in a purported live image - which got outed alongside pricing information for that and the C7 Pro too. The C5 Pro and C7 Pro are clearly eager to join the already official C9 Pro in Samsung's portfolio, introducing the new three-thin-lines antenna band design to...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_c7_pro_live_images_leak-news-22599.php

The Pixels' Google Assistant is getting keyboard input soon

The Google Assistant situation is a huge mess at the moment. There are three different Google Assistants, and each have a specific featureset, which means some things are missing from one of them but not others, and so on. The Google Assistant that's exclusively built into the OS of the Pixel and Pixel XL phones can only take commands via voice - you simply can't write in order to ask it something. On the other hand, the Google Assistant that lives inside the Allo chat app can be talked to or texted, but only replies via text and never speaks to you. The third Google Assistant is the one you...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/the_pixels_google_assistant_is_getting_keyboard_input_soon-news-22598.php

Xiaomi Mi Note 2 is shown in more colors: green, purple, and pink

There's a game Samsung usually likes to play, and it's called 'launch more color versions for a device once it's been out for a few months'. Now it looks like Xiaomi felt inspired by this strategy and decided it was time to apply it too. First we saw the white Mi Mix yesterday, and now the Chinese company is showing three new colors for its Mi Note 2 flagship phablet at CES, ones never before seen for the handset that launched in black, gold, and silver. At some point in the (hopefully near) future you'll be able to purchase a Mi Note 2 in green, pink, and purple too. We assume that...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_mi_note_2_is_shown_in_more_colors_green_purple_and_pink-news-22597.php

Xiaomi Mi 6 runs AnTuTu, allegedly scores record-breaking 210,329 points

Xiaomi's Mi 6 is supposedly going to be the first smartphone made by a Chinese company to sport Qualcomm's Snapdragon 835 chipset, which was just detailed at CES. The next non-phablet Xiaomi flagship device will reportedly look like a smaller Mi Note 2, while its official announcement could take place on February 6. Sales probably won't start earlier than March, however. But what about its performance? Well, today a Weibo user in China claims to have gotten access to a screenshot showing the AnTuTu benchmark score for a prototype Mi 6, shared by a friend who has the handset. Here it...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_mi_6_runs_antutu_allegedly_scores_recordbreaking_210329_points-news-22596.php

Galaxy C5 Pro purportedly captured in live image, pricing leaks for the C7 Pro too

Mere hours ago the upcoming Samsung Galaxy C5 Pro was spotted on GFXBench, after having been leaked and rumored for many weeks now. This smartphone, along with the also yet-unannounced C7 Pro, should be joining the already official C9 Pro in the Korean company's portfolio at some point this month, with sales in China apparently set to start on January 21. Today a new leak purportedly brings us the first ever live shot of the Galaxy C5 Pro, shown below for your viewing pleasure in its blue hue. The huge levels of pixelation in the picture are there to protect the source, we assume,...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/galaxy_c5_pro_purportedly_captured_in_live_image_pricing_leaks_for_the_c7_pro_too-news-22595.php

CES 2017: Asus Zenfone AR hands-on

We got our hands on the Zenfone AR and we are eager to share our first impressions. The most important thing you must know is the device is equipped with Tango, the Augmented Reality platform that adds an information layer on top of the physical surroundings in 3D using a set of cameras on the back. Tango is Google's technology and Asus are only the second manufacturer to make a phone with it - the first one was the Lenovo Phab2 Pro, which we reviewed recently.

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/ces_2017_asus-review-1546.php

CES 2017: Samsung Chromebook Pro hands-on

The Samsung Chromebook Pro is upon us after making its debut on the CES 2017 floor. The company has decided its high time for a new device in their Chromebook lineup after the OS finally can run Android apps. Those will run rather well on the Chromebook Pro's 2GHz Intel M3 processor and 4GB of RAM. Not only do they run well, but also look great on the laptop's 12.3" touch screen. It has a 2400 x 1600 resolution (3:2 ratio) and 234 ppi. But wait, there's more: it rotates 360 degrees to transform into a tablet. This is quite cool, as Android apps are built with touch in mind. There's...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/ces_2017_samsung_chromebook_pro_handson-news-22593.php

CES 2017: Samsung Odyssey 17 hands-on

While the PC market feels glacial compared to the smartphone market, there's one niche that keeps buying new and expensive devices. Many PC makers have dedicated gaming divisions and now Samsung wants a piece of that action. The result of that is the new Odyssey series that even has its own logo. You can see it on the lid (in its red backlight glory) on the first two laptops - Odyssey 15 and 17. We spent some time with the bigger model, basking in the RGB light of its keyboard. This is exclusive to the 17.3" model where you can pick the color of each key (the 15.6" model has to make do...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/ces_2017_samsung_odyssey_17_handson-news-22589.php

The Blade V8 is another new dual-camera smartphone, courtesy of ZTE

The ZTE Blade V8 Pro definitely turned some heads at its CES 2017 announcement. We already managed to secure some hands-on time with the phone and frankly, kind of liked it. The "Pro" moniker already suggested there's another model coming, but now it is official - ZTE unveiled the basic Blade V8. Now, you would be forgiven for thinking the pair isn't related in any way. The ZTE Blade V8 has a radically different exterior. It is still just as elegant, perhaps even more so, thanks to the diamond-cut metal body and 2.5D front glass. The clean front side does offer some similarity, but...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/the_blade_v8_is_another_new_dualcamera_smartphone_courtesy_of_zte-news-22592.php

Dell announces UP3218K UltraSharp 32-inch 8K monitor

Dell has announced its newest flagship monitor at CES this year, the UP3218K UltraSharp 32-inch with an astonishing 8K resolution. Along with the crazy high resolution, the monitor also supports outputting 1.07 billion colors and 100% coverage of Adobe RGB and sRGB color spaces. For those not aware, 8K is 7680x4320 pixels, which is approximately 33 megapixels. It is four times the resolution of 4K and 16 times the resolution of 1080p. Only the NVIDIA 10-series GPU are currently rated to output at 8K at 60Hz, so you're going to need a powerful computer to even display your desktop...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/dell_announces_up3218k_ultrasharp_32inch_8k_monitor-news-22587.php

CES 2017: LG K10 (2017) and LG Stylus 3 hands-on

LG managed to move quickly towards the end of last year. The Korean giant wasted no time in officially announcing at least some of its plans for the 2017 lineup. This includes a brand new "K" family of devices - K3, K4, K8 and the top-of-the-line K10, as well as the Stylus 3.

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/ces_2017_lg_k10_stylus_3_-review-1544.php

Nougat update for Motorola Moto Z starts rolling out in Europe

Over a month after Motorola officially announced the global roll out of the Moto Z and Moto Z Force Nougat update, the update has started hitting European Moto Z units. Arriving as version NPL25.86-15, the Android 7.0 update weighs in at around 1.5GB. The update also brings compatibility with Google's Android-powered VR platform Daydream. As is usually the case with OTA roll outs, it may take sometime before the update notification pops up on your device's screen. You can manually check for the update by heading to your handset's Settings menu. Via

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/nougat_update_for_motorola_moto_z_starts_rolling_out_in_europe-news-22588.php

Sennheiser announces three new Bluetooth headphones at CES

Sennheiser has announced a trinity of Bluetooth wireless headphones. The first is the HD 4.50 BTNC Wireless. It has a full size, closed back circumaural foldable headphone design with wireless Bluetooth audio, active noise cancellation, NFC pairing, aptX support, external controls, and 19 hour battery life with noise cancellation enabled (25 hours with it disabled). The HD 4.40 BT Wireless is mostly the same but without the active noise cancellation and folding design. HD 4.50 BTNC Wireless • HD 4.40 BT Wireless Lastly, there is the Momentum In-Ear Wireless, which...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/sennheiser_announces_three_new_bluetooth_headphones_at_ces-news-22576.php

LG announced Q4 financial guidelines

LG announced its quarterly results expectations for October-December 2016. The preliminary earnings results show sales revenue of 14,78 trillion Korean Won (about $11,8 billion). This is 11.8% more than Q3 when sales got to 13,224 trillion KRW / $10,5 billion. This holiday season was better compared to last year, although the YoY growth stands at the more conservative 1.5%. Even though sales are up, the earnings before interest and taxes is actually negative value - there is 35,3 billion KRW loss. This translates to $28,2 million and is the first quarterly operating loss for LG...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/lg_announced_their_q4_2016_expectations-news-22584.php

HTC U Play is Ocean's little brother with a 5.2" screen

HTC is bypassing both CES and the MWC with its "For U" event scheduled for January 12. The event should bring a new series to live with at least two phones - the HTC U Ultra and HTC U Play. The latter will have a 5.2" screen and apparently no 3.5mm headphone jack. The HTC U Play is codenamed "Alpine." The second phone will be bigger - HTC U Ultra with a 6" screen and again no headphone jack. This one is dubbed "Ocean." Then there's the "Ocean Note", which should come in at 5.5" to 5.7". The Ocean models should have curved screens and will focus on providing a top notch camera...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/htc_u_play_is_oceans_little_brother_with_a_52_screen-news-22586.php

Huawei Honor 6X landing in India January 24

The Huawei Honor 6X - which went official back in October last year, and is currently available in China, the US, and Europe - will be launched in India on January 24. The company has started sending media invites for the launch event. While the invite doesn't explicitly reveal the name of the phone, the fact that it'd be a dual camera phone and the tag #SWAGphone used in Honor India's Twitter account are more than enough to confirm that the Honor 6X will be the star of the event. There's currently no word on how much the device will cost in India. In the US, the handset carries a...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/huawei_honor_6x_landing_in_india_january_24-news-22583.php

Kodak Ektra coming to US and Canada this April, will cost $549

Kodak has announced that its Android-powered Ektra smartphone will arrive in the US and Canada in Q2 this year. Specifically, the company said the device will be available to pre-order in both countries in April. The announcement was made by the company at the ongoing Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. As for price, it was revealed that the handset will carry a tag of $549. For comparison, in Europe - where the Ektra is available since early December - the phone is being officially sold for €499 (around $528). Key specs of the device include Helio X20 SoC, 5-inch...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/kodak_ektra_coming_to_us_and_canada_this_april_will_cost_549-news-22582.php

76% of Apple's mobile devices are now running iOS 10

Apple has released its latest iOS adoption numbers, revealing that the version 10 of its mobile operating system now powers 76% of compatible devices. That's a rise of 13% compared to the last time these figures were released, which happened in November. In October, the adoption rate stood at 60%. Coming to other versions, iOS 9's share now stands at 18%, while earlier iOS versions claim just a 6% share. The Cupertino-based company recently rolled out iOS version 10.2, which brought along a host of changes, including over 100 new emoji as well as new wallpapers and iMessage screen...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/over_75_of_apples_mobile_devices_are_now_running_ios_10-news-22581.php

Microsoft gives Xbox One S £30 price cut in UK, freebies included as well

The Xbox One S gaming console has received a price cut in the UK. A quick look at Microsoft's UK online store reveals that both 500GB and 1TB variants are being sold at discounted rates - the former for £219.99 and the latter for £269.99 (£30 price cut in both cases). Not only this, a couple of freebies are included as well: Forza Horizon 3 game + battery hatch with 500GB model, and Gears of War 4 + battery hatch with 1TB variant. Finally, those purchasing any Xbox One model will also get 40% off Xbox LIVE Gold 3-month membership. The promo runs through January 15. Head to the Source...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/microsoft_gives_xbox_one_s_30_price_cut_in_uk_freebies_included_as_well-news-22580.php

Motorola Moto Z Force Droid starts getting December security update

A new update has started hitting Motorola Moto Z Force Droid Edition smartphones in the United States. It's a monthly security update that brings Android security fixes for the month of December. A quick look at the release notes posted by Motorola on its website reveals that nothing else is included in the update. Given that the roll out has just begin, it may take time for the update notification to pop up on your device's screen. Meanwhile, if you feel impatient, you can manually check for the update by heading to your handset's Settings menu. Source

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/motorola_moto_z_force_droid_starts_getting_december_security_update-news-22579.php

Samsung Galaxy A8 (2016) is now available outside of South Korea

The Samsung Galaxy A8 (2016) - which was launched back in October last year, and first went on sale in South Korea - is now available outside of the tech giant's home country as well. Specifically, Samsung Gulf and Samsung Taiwan have the device listed on their respective websites. As for price, the handset carries a tag of around $490 in the UAE, and the pricing should be similar in Taiwan as well. In October, the phone showed up on India's import and export tracking website Zauba, hinting at an imminent launch in the country. But since then, there has been no news on that...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_a8_2016_is_now_available_outside_of_south_korea-news-22578.php

Samsung Galaxy C5 Pro now spotted on GFXBench

The Samsung Galaxy C5 Pro, which has already cleared TENAA and also received Wi-Fi certification from the WiFi Alliance (WFA), has now been spotted on the GFXBench benchmarking website. The listing reveals 5.5-inch display for the device. If you compare, that's not inline with what we've been hearing until now - TENAA had revealed a display size of 5.2-inches. It's, however, worth mentioning that benchmarks (GFX in particular) sometimes do get their display size estimates wrong. Anyway, as for other key specs - including octa-core 2.2GHz CPU, full HD display resolution, 4GB/64GB...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_c5_pro_now_spotted_on_gfxbench-news-22577.php

Just in: Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017) hands-on

Rumors about Samsung Galaxy are going wild all the time and people tend to be a bit too critical. But there are some devices which deserve some love for their simplicity. We are talking about the new A-series that were silently launched in the beginning of January. Galaxy A3 (2017), Galaxy A5 (2017) and Galaxy A7 (2017) didn't receive quite the attention they actually deserve but we guess it would take some time until Samsung's first rate marketing engine kicks into a higher gear. And that won't happen on all markets as the new A-series is not available everywhere on the same terms i.e....

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/just_in_samsung_galaxy_a5_2017_handson-news-22571.php

Just in: Samsung Galaxy A3 (2017) hands-on

Is it strange that we think the Samsung Galaxy A3 (2017) is adorable? It just looks so tiny after months of bigger than big slabs. This one is smaller than the iPhone 7, something few premium Androids can claim. This color option is also close to our heart - dark as the Black Sky at night, it makes everything flow together smoothly. On the front, the Super AMOLED display almost merges with the black frame, making the clock of the Always On Display seem to float into the void. AOD is not the only thing that the Galaxy A3 (2017) loans from the Galaxy S7, the overall design is nearly...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/just_in_samsung_galaxy_a3_2017_handson-news-22566.php

Razer's new Project Ariana is an immersive video projection system for a new gaming experience

If you are a fan of new-age immersive gaming experiences, then you might remember the intriguing IllumiRoom concept Microsoft demoed all the way back in 2013. At the time, the advanced projection system was truly futuristic, but also really expensive and unfeasible to bring to end users at a reasonable cost. Fast forward to CES 2017 and Razer appears to be demoing its own version of pretty much the same concept. Project Ariana is, simply put, an advanced projection mechanism, intended to extend the gaming experience and picture beyond the monitor for better immersion. It seems Razer feels...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/razers_new_project_ariana_is_an_immersive_video_projection_system_for_a_new_gaming_experience-news-22570.php

Nexus 6 finally gets its Android 7.1.1 Nougat update as factory images and OTA files go live

Although Google released Android 7.1.1 Nougat for its Pixels and Nexus devices last month, the Motorola Nexus 6 was left out from the initial rollout. This was later confirmed by the company as having to do with a "last minute bug". It was eventually fixed and Google promised that the Nexus 6's first taste of Android 7.1.1 would become available in early January. Well, here we are. It's early January alright, and if you're the impatient type who doesn't mind using the command line from time to time, you can grab a factory image or OTA zip file from Google's developer site and flash either...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/nexus_6_finally_gets_its_android_711_nougat_update_as_factory_images_and_ota_files_go_live-news-22575.php

Xiaomi announces Mi Router HD at CES for China

Among the list of items Xiaomi announced at CES that will only be available in China is the new Mi Router HD. The Mi Router HD is a 2600Mbps 802.11ac Wi-Fi router with 4x4 MU-MIMO functionality, four high-gain PCB array antennae, and Qualcomm IPQ8064 network processor. But along with that it also includes a choice of either 1TB or 8GB of surveillance quality hard drive that can be used for backing up your devices and syncing with your Dropbox account. All of this is housed in an aluminum alloy body. The Mi Router HD will launch sometime in Q1 in China for under $200 for the 1TB...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_announces_mi_router_hd_at_ces_for_china-news-22574.php

Xiaomi announces white Mi Mix at CES, still China-only

Just as leaked, rumored, and hinted at by the company's own teasers over the past few days, today during its CES press conference Xiaomi has made the white version of the Mi Mix official. This has a pearl-like finish, according to Xiaomi VP Hugo Barra, who was on stage to introduce it to the world. The specs stay the same as for the initially revealed black model, as you'd expect. Unfortunately the white Mi Mix, like the black one, will only be sold in China. An actual release date hasn't been mentioned. Despite what many had been hoping, Xiaomi still hasn't announced its...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_announces_white_mi_mix_at_ces_still_chinaonly-news-22573.php

Today it's time for Verizon to kill its Samsung Galaxy Note7 units

Following a bit of a controversy regarding its initial decision to seemingly not send out the final update for the Galaxy Note7, Verizon then changed its mind and announced it would just be skipping the holiday season. The carrier's release date for the infamous update was set as January 5, and guess what day today is? That's right. From this point on all remaining Note7 units purchased from Verizon will be receiving the software update that, once installed, will prevent the phones from charging. The message you can see in the screenshot to the left will pop up letting owners know...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/today_its_time_for_verizon_to_kill_its_samsung_galaxy_note7_units-news-22572.php

Xiaomi will livestream its first ever CES event, watch it here

Xiaomi's conquest west continues and in just a few hours we'll witness the first ever CES event from the young company. Tantalizingly, the CES page on Mi.com promises a "2017 CES Mi Product Launch." The event starts at 7PM GMT and it will be broadcast live on YouTube. Here's the thing though, the new product may prove to be a coat of paint - a teaser image published a few days ago hinted at a White version of the Xiaomi Mi Mix. Not that we're complaining, the Mix is one of our very favorite phones of 2016 and it could look cool in white. Xiaomi posts clues on Twitter Better...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_will_livestream_its_first_ever_ces_event_watch_it_here-news-22568.php

The Alcatel A3 XL is a new budget handset with a whopping 6-inch display

TCL seems to be keeping its efforts on the budget scene alive and well in 2017, now with the launch of a new "A" family of smartphones. The exact wording used to describe it is "a new premium range of affordable mobile devices" and while, we remain skeptical on the first point, competitive pricing seems almost guaranteed given Alcatel's recent track record. Alcatel A3 XL Kickstarting the new family is the Alcatel A3 XL. If we had to point out one definitive feature on it, it would definitely be the large 6-inch IPS LF panel. It is housed in what appears to be a plastic...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/the_alcatel_a3_xl_is_a_new_budget_handset_with_a_whopping_6inch_display-news-22540.php

CES 2017: ZTE Blade V8 Pro hands-on

ZTE continues to march forward in 2017 to becoming an authority on the US smartphone market. That's why the Chinese company is taking CES 2017 very seriously and its right here in Las Vegas where the company is proudly showcasing the Blade V8 Pro.

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/ces_2017_zte_blade_v8_pro-review-1543.php

The Misfit Vapor can dive up to 50m underwater but sidesteps Android Wear

Misfit is best known for its fitness trackers but after joining Fossil it seems that the company wants in on the smartwatch action. The Misfit Vapor uses a proprietary platform (it's not an Android Wear device), but it will give the new Casio a run for its money. Speaking of running, the Vapor has a built-in GPS receiver, an optical heart rate monitor, an altimeter so it can faithfully track your running or cycling routes. It can connect to Bluetooth headphones and play music from its 4GB of memory, but you can't quite leave your phone at home - there's Wi-Fi connectivity but no...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/the_misfit_vapor_can_dive_up_to_50m_underwater_but_sidesteps_android_wear-news-22569.php

Sony unveils new headphones and portable speakers within its EXTRA BASS range

Sony is a veritable veteran on the audio scene. The Japanese giant was busy developing high-end acoustic gear long before mobile phones were even a thing. So, every new release is understandably met with a fair bit of excitement from most enthusiasts. Sony added a total of four headphones models and two wireless speakers to its EXTRA BASS line. It is good to see that the company is still adapting to modern consumer needs, since the new gear is, and we quote: "made for today's heavy-hitting bass lines and dropping beats". A quick rundown, roughly arranged by MSRP starts...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/sony_unveils_new_headphones_and_portable_speakers_within_its_extra_bass_range-news-22567.php

Coolpad Conjr is an affordable metal phone with a great camera and terrible chipset

Coolpad released an oddball phone - the Conjr. It's a $180 phone that offers some really top notch specs but a strange choice of chipset derails the whole thing. The Coolpad Conjr has a sleek metal body with 2.5D glass on the front (70.6% screen-to-body ratio). The screen, by the way, is a 5" IPS LCD of 720p resolution. Its camera department is particularly impressive, the main camera has a 13MP sensor and OIS, while the selfie cam has an 8MP sensor. Both cameras have LED flash and f/2.2 aperture. There's even a fingerprint reader on the back. And here's where it goes wrong -...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/coolpad_conjr_is_an_affordable_metal_phone_with_a_great_camera_and_terrible_chipset-news-22565.php

Samsung limits Galaxy Note 7 battery at 15% in Korea

Samsung will update once more its Galaxy Note7 in Korea, the company said. It has recalled 94% of devices worldwide but the Asian country stays as the market with least returns. Last month Samsung capped the Note7 batteries to 0% and basically bricked the handsets in Russia, Singapore, Malaysia and Philippines and such update is currently deployed in United States. In Europe the cap is at 30%. Samsung already ended its refund program in the end of 2016 but according to sources the manufacturer is going to offer Note7 buyers 50% discount for the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy Note 8. We...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_limits_galaxy_note_7_battery_at_15_percent_in_korea-news-22564.php