BlackPods: Apple's AirPods, only black

At $159, Apple's AirPods aren't exactly cheap, yet they're quite the bargain when you consider the wireless earbuds options. If only they could come in a color to match your Black iPhone 7, Jet or otherwise. Well, now they can, sort of, courtesy of a company called BlackPods. Jackpot! BlackPods (apparently both the name of the company and the end product) will take your ordinary shiny white AirPods, subject them to a 'three-phase approach' that yields a 'luxurious scratch-resistant finish', all for the nominal fee of $99. Alternatively, you can buy the AirPods straight from...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/blackpods_apples_airpods_only_black-news-23042.php

Kronaby connected watches promise 2-year battery life

We like the Samsung Gear S3 as much as the next guy, but at 3 to 4 days tops its battery life isn't really why we'd get one. How about 2 years then? That's as long as a Kronaby watch should last you, according to the manufacturer's claims. Of course the Kronaby watches aren't strictly smartwatches - they fall in the connected watches category where you get a proper analog watch (always on, if you look at things that way), with some extra smarts. Spanning four ranges of different designs, the Kronaby collection's features include vibrating notifications (which you can filter through...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/kronaby_connected_watches_promise_2year_battery_life-news-23041.php

Moto G5 clears FCC with 3,000mAh battery

The Motorola Moto G5 and G5 Plus are seemingly set for a Barcelona unveiling next month, but oddly it's been just the Plus version that's been the star in recent rumors. Well, it's the non-Plus that's stopped by the FCC, for a change. Moto G4 The US telecom regulator has given it the green light, and even if it's typically not the most prolific source of intel, sifting through the papers you could still find a few interesting bits. For one, the G5 will support NFC - a first for the G-series. FCC documentation excerpts The other thing, revealed by the FCC filing, is...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/moto_g5_clears_fcc_with_3000mah_battery-news-23040.php

Nougat-powered Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 Pro spotted on GFXBench

Looks like the Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 Pro may get the Nougat update soon. The device running the latest Android version (version 7.1.1) has been spotted on the GFXBench benchmarking website, indicating that the update is being tested by the company. This comes just over a month after the global variant of the phone started receiving the Marshmallow update. Sadly, there's currently no information on when exactly the Nougat update will be rolled out. Here's hoping that testing goes smoothly and the update arrives sooner rather than later. Source

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/nougatpowered_xiaomi_redmi_note_3_pro_spotted_on_gfxbench-news-23039.php

January security patch hitting Samsung Galaxy J2 Prime and Galaxy Grand Neo

Samsung has started rolling out a new update to its Galaxy J2 Prime and Galaxy Grand Neo (a.k.a Galaxy Grand Lite) smartphones. Arriving as software version G532GDXU1AQA4 for the former and I9060CUBS0AQA1 for the latter, the update brings Android security patches for the month of January. As is usually the case with OTA roll outs, it may take some time before the update notification pops 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. Via

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/january_security_patch_hitting_samsung_galaxy_j2_prime_and_galaxy_grand_neo-news-23038.php

Could this be the Samsung Galaxy S8's official press render?

Thursday and Friday brought a lot of news from the Galaxy S8 rumor stack including a leaked live-image and a full list of alleged specs, including a strange resolution that ends up being higher than the LG G6's. But anyway, the following is an image of what is believed to be an official render of the Samsung Galaxy S8. Source: Slash Leaks Now, if you compare the render to the live image we saw on Thursday, they coincide pretty well. The proportions of the camera module next to the rear-mounted fingerprint sensor look spot-on in the image. If we look at the front of the render,...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/could_this_be_the_samsung_galaxy_s8s_official_press_render-news-23037.php

Evan Blass leaks LG Watch Style in Silver and Rose Gold

CES remained quiet on the Android Wear front, but that's all about to change for MWC. With Google on its last Android Wear 2.0 Beta build and the launch date set to February 9, at least a couple of companies are expected to announce some new Android Wear devices.. But even before MWC, we are expecting Google and LG to both announce a couple of smartwatches made by LG which will debut the 2.0 version of Android Wear. These two watches are the LG Watch Sport and the LG Watch Style. The LG Watch Style is the model in question, and it has been leaked by Evan Blass on Twitter @evleaks in two...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/evan_blass_leaks_lg_watch_style_in_silver_and_rose_gold__-news-23036.php

Sony Xperia XA (2017) stars in a new video leak

If you recall, not too long ago, a number of renders leaked of successor (to be named) of the Sony Xperia XA. The easiest way to tell is the positioning of the front-facing camera, as well as the USB-C port, and those corners with the funky design at around 01:36. Paired with some interesting music, the video by TechLover HD is about 2 minutes long and shows the purported Sony handset which carries the model number 'G3121'. The video shows a prototype of the aforementioned model in various angles, and a few menu screens that show its model number, Android version, and its January 5...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/sony_xperia_xa_2017_stars_in_a_new_video_leak-news-23035.php

WhatsApp may soon enable live-location sharing

A twitter account that's dedicated to reporting on new WhatsApp beta builds has tweeted of a new feature that its allegedly uncovered. @WABetaInfo tweeted a couple of screenshots of a newly spotted feature in version 2.17.3.28 for iOS and version 2.16.399 for Android. Users in a group chat would be able to broadcast their live location to the others on the group chat. 2.17.3.28 iOS | 2.16.399+ Android: Live Location feature, that tracks the live location of other group participants (DISABLED BY DEFAULT). pic.twitter.com/pYEXT1nxyR— WABetaInfo (@WABetaInfo) January 26, 2017 The...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/whatsapp_may_soon_enable_livelocation_sharing-news-23034.php

Alcatel to launch 5 smartphones at MWC, one of them modular

It looks like Sony isn't going to be the only company to introduce no less than five new smartphones at this year's Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. The show starts in late February, and a new leak tells us that Alcatel will be present too. Not just that, but it will have five new handsets of its own to showcase. Details are scarce about them at this point, but one will apparently be modular, with a system that will allow for different functions to be achieved through replaceable back covers. So yet another take on the whole modularity thing, after LG's failed 'Friends' attempt for the...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/alcatel_to_launch_5_smartphones_at_mwc_one_of_them_modular-news-23033.php

LeEco X10 gets benchmarked, will have dual cameras on the front and the back

Back in November China's TENAA certified the upcoming LeEco Le X850 for sale in the country, though it still hasn't launched. And now it looks like the same handset (or a slightly different version of it) was put through the paces of GFXBench, which as usual has resulted in a pretty complete listing of its specs on the benchmark's website. The phone's model number is said to be X85x, and the second "x" could obviously stand for "0". Then again, GFXBench also calls it X10 as if that may be its name, so it's unclear what's going on here. Finally note that there are some small differences...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/leeco_x10_gets_benchmarked_will_have_dual_cameras_on_the_front_and_the_back-news-23032.php

Upcoming BlackBerry Mercury to have the Pixels' rear camera, rumor says

TCL, which now makes BlackBerry-branded devices, showed us its next handset back at CES, but didn't tell us anything about it. The full unveiling will thankfully happen in less than a month, on February 25 at MWC in Barcelona. That's when we should finally find out what it's going to be called - Mercury, DTEK70, or something else. Until then, here's a new rumor about its cameras. It's said to feature the Sony IMX378 sensor on the rear, which is the same one used by Google for its Pixel and Pixel XL handsets, which take some of the best shots of any smartphones out there. So expect the...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/upcoming_blackberry_mercury_to_have_the_pixels_rear_camera_rumor_says-news-23031.php

Samsung Galaxy S8's unusual screen resolution revealed

Samsung and LG have been competing for decades now, and the two companies are always trying to one up each other in whatever way possible. This year, both will put out impressive new flagship smartphones, both of those with minimal bezels as countless rumors have told us so far. However, in the battle between Samsung's Galaxy S8 and LG's G6, the former has managed to best the latter in at least two areas. First, there's the chipset, which is rumored to be Snapdragon 835 for Samsung yet only last year's Snapdragon 821 for the LG - and that's a direct consequence of Samsung 'hoarding' all...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_s8s_unusual_screen_resolution_revealed-news-23030.php

B&H offers $400 off the Moto Z with Hasselblad True Zoom bundle

Good news, Moto fans! You can get the unlocked Moto Z 64GB flavor in the USA, coupled with Hasselblad's True Zoom Moto Mod at a very attractive price. The unlocked Moto Z 64GB currently retails at $699.99, while the Hasselblad True Zoom Moto Mod is priced at $300. But as of today, B&H is selling the two in bundle for $599.99, down from $999.99. That's a total of $400 in instant savings. The B&H offer expires this Sunday, so if you are interested hurry up. The store also offers some smaller savings on other combos, such as the one with the Insta-Share DSP Projector. In case...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/b_h_offers_400_off_the_moto_z_with_hasselblad_true_zoom_bundle-news-23029.php

Honor 6X Review: Amped up

As more and more people buy smartphones online, the budget segment is becoming increasingly popular as consumers flock to buy smartphones through online retailers or brick-and-mortar stores like Best Buy. Last year, Honor's 5X was met with much acclaim; it offered value-added features for a price that didn't break the bank.

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/huawei_honor_6x-review-1560.php

No Windows 10 Anniversary Update for Acer Jade Primo

Remember the Jade Primo? One of the few non-Microsoft smart phones with Windows 10 Mobile. It was announced twice, Acer needed 6 months to actually produce the device and by the time it started shipping it, the specs were already kinda dated. Acer Liquid Jade Primo was one of the first handsets to support Continuum for phones, which was actually the main highlight for the device. Unfortunately, it now looks like Acer is dropping support for OS updates on it. A company's spokesperson said: "Unfortunately, the Anniversary Update for the Acer Liquid Jade Primo leads to instability...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/theres_no_windows_10_anniversary_update_for_acer_jade_primo-news-23028.php

Microsoft: Sales of Hololens are in the thousands

HoloLens, Microsoft's augmented reality headset has been on sale in several countries since the beginning of December. Both the Developer Edition and the Commercial Suite cost $3,000 and are sold through the Microsoft Store. At the Education technology conference BETT in United Kingdom Roger Walkden from the HoloLens team revealed, that sales of the headset are so far in the ‘thousands', insisting that's all the company needs. "We're not trying to sell hundreds of thousands or millions or anything, it's expensive, and it's not in huge numbers. So we're happy with the level of sales...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/microsoft_sales_of_hololens_are_in_the_thousands-news-23026.php

Toshiba may spin off NAND flash unit and if WD scoops it up, it will surpass Samsung

Sometimes one division in a company can drag down others - that's what is happening at Toshiba, where the NAND flash business is booming, but the conglomerate faces a multi-billion dollar write-down over issues with the Westinghouse nuclear power plant. Analysts at Mirae Asset Daewoo Securities say Toshiba leadership is considering spinning off the memory business as soon as possible (by the end of March) and Western Digital is reportedly the frontrunner to scoop up a 20% stake. WD (which acquired SanDisk recently) is currently third in the global NAND flash market (with a 17.1% share)...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/toshiba_may_spin_off_nand_flash_unit_and_if_wd_scoops_it_up_it_will_surpass_samsung-news-23027.php

Samsung SM-G390F gets WiFi certified, could be Galaxy Xcover 4

A new Samsung smartphone has received WiFi certification from the WiFi Alliance (WFA). The listing reveals that the device - which carries a model number of SM-G390F - runs Android Nougat out of the box. As for the device, going by the model number it carries, it could well be the successor to the entry-level Samsung Galaxy Xcover 3 from 2015, which launched with SM-G388F model number. There's currently no information on when the Galaxy Xcover 4 will be unveiled and what price tag it will sport, although given that it has started collecting necessary certifications, we expect to...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_smg390f_gets_wifi_certified_could_be_galaxy_xcover_4-news-23024.php

Alphabet posts 4Q profit, higher taxes hurt earnings

Alphabet Inc revealed its fourth-quarter financial results and they are somewhat of a mixed bag. During the holiday season revenue from advertising went up 17.4% to $22.4 billion. However earnings per share were $9.36, which is lower than the $9.67 expected by analysts. The CFO Ruth Porat underlined that the company broadens its business in hardware, app sales and cloud services which climbed 62% to $3.4 billion. Results could be even better but Google was hit with a higher tax rate of 22%, contributing to the dent in profitability. Google-branded hardware showed promise -...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/alphabet_posts_4q_profit_higher_taxes_hurt_earnings-news-23023.php

Samsung trademarks "Gear Fit Pro", new smart band incoming

The Samsung Gear Fit2 smart band launched a couple of months ahead of the Gear S3 smartwatches and now we may be in for an early upgrade. Samsung trademarked the name "Gear Fit Pro" suggesting an even more feature-rich band. Microsoft gave up on its Band but if anything, the competition is heating up. HTC partnered with Under Armour to create the three-piece HealthBox, Meizu is making the H1 SmartBand, Fitbit (known for its fitness trackers) bought Pebble, Nokia acquired health gadget maker Withings and there are plenty of other players in this field. Perhaps Samsung can leverage...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_trademarks_gear_fit_pro_new_smart_band_incoming-news-23022.php

T-Mobile boosts LTE capacity in Houston 20 times for Superbowl

With the forthcoming Superbowl LI between the New England Patriots and Atlanta Falcons, mobile carrier T-Mobile announced it is boosting up the capacity of its LTE netowork in and around Houston. Capacity at NRG Stadium, the game venue, is 20 times higher than it was an year ago. Since a lot of fans of both teams are flying from other places, both George Bush Intercontinental Airport and William P. Hobby International Airport also got blazed up - the coverage is now 10 times higher than it used to be. Overall, the greater Houston area now has 5x more capacity permanently, so...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/tmobile_boosts_lte_capacity_in_houston_20x_right_in_time_for_superbowl_li-news-23019.php

ZTE Axon 7 mini landing in Canada this week

The ZTE Axon 7 mini launched back in September last year. It's basically a smaller, cheaper, and lower-end alternative to the Chinese company's Axon 7 smartphone. Already available in several countries, the Axon 7 mini will go on sale in Canada this week. Carrier Virgin Mobile will be offering it for CAD 399 (around $305) outright. Of course, it'll also be available on a regular 2 year contract, costing CAD 49. Unlike the US variant, Canadian Axon 7 mini units won't be running the custom MiFavor UI - reports say the software will offer a more stock experience. Also, the Canadian...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/zte_axon_7_mini_landing_in_canada_this_week-news-23016.php

Moto Z Play Droid and Galaxy Tab S2 on Verizon receive minor updates

Verizon has started pushing out updates to the Motorola Moto Z Play Droid and Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 units on its network. Arriving as software version MCOS24.104-35-1-19, the update for the Moto phone brings along a notifications volume-related change. "The default notifications volume level has been increased to match the volume level used in the original software release," the Verizon software update page for the Moto Z Play Droid Edition says. The Galaxy smartphone gets firmware version MMB29M.T818VVRU1AQA3 and brings along the latest Android security patch (fixes for the month...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/moto_z_play_droid_edition_and_galaxy_tab_s2_on_verizon_receive_minor_updates-news-23017.php

Google Maps on Android gets new 'parking difficulty' feature

We already knew it's coming, and now the Google Maps feature - dubbed 'parking difficulty' has been officially launched. Currently only available on Android, the feature lets you know in advance how difficult it'll be to park at the destination you're headed to. "To see how hard it might be to park where you're headed, just get directions to your destination and look for the parking difficulty icon in the directions card at the bottom of the screen," Google explains in a blog post. Parking difficulties can be limited, medium, or easy, something which is calculated based on...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/google_maps_on_android_gets_new_parking_difficulty_feature-news-23015.php

Microsoft sold less than 1 million Lumia phones last quarter

Microsoft has released its Q4 2016 earnings report, revealing that phone revenue was down 81% compared to the same quarter the year prior. While the company had sold 4.5 million Lumia phones in the last quarter of 2015, we didn't get an exact figure for the same period of 2016. However, by all accounts the number is below 1 million. Overall, the software giant reported a revenue of $26.1 billion non-GAAP ($24.1 billion GAAP), while the company's net-income stood at $6.5 billion non-GAAP ($5.2 billion GAAP). For the complete report, head to the Source link below. Source | Via

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/reports_say_microsoft_sold_under_1_million_lumia_phones_last_quarter-news-23014.php

BBC100-1 could be BlackBerry's first dual-SIM phone, specs tipped

A mysterious BlackBerry device dubbed BBC100-1 was spotted on Indonesian regulator's website in December last year. Nothing was known about the device at that time, except that it's from a company called BB MERAH PUTIH, PT. But now, most of the device's key specs have been revealed - thanks to popular tipster Roland Quandt, who spilled the beans in a tweet. BlackBerry "BBC100-1": Snapdragon 425 1,4 GHz, 5.5in, 720p HD, 4/32GB, 13/8MP, Dual-SIM, 3000mAh.— Roland Quandt (@rquandt) January 26, 2017 Quandt says the phone is powered by Snapdragon 425 SoC, and sports a 5.5-inch HD...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/bbc1001_could_be_blackberrys_first_dualsim_phone_specs_tipped-news-23013.php

Nougat-powered Samsung Galaxy S7 active gets WiFi certified

Looks like the active variant of the Samsung Galaxy S7 smartphone - which is an AT&T exclusive - is set to get the Nougat update soon as an Android 7.0-powered model has been granted WiFi certification by the WiFi Alliance (WFA). This comes nearly a month after a Galaxy S7 active running Android 7.0 Nougat was spotted on popular benchmarking website GFXBench. Sadly, there's currently no information on when the update will be rolled out, but given that it has started collecting necessary certifications, we expect the roll out to begin sooner than later. Source

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/nougatpowered_samsung_galaxy_s7_active_gets_wifi_certified-news-23012.php

Nexus 6 on AT&T receiving latest security patch

AT&T has started pushing out a new update to Motorola Nexus 6 units on its network. Weighing in at 26MB and carrying a software version of NBD91W, it's a security update that brings along Android fixes for the month of January. Aside from the latest security patch, no other change is included in the update (which is still based on Android 7.0) - at-least that what the official AT&T Nexus 6 software update web page says. Given that the roll out has just begun, it may take time for the update notification to pop up on your device's screen. Meanwhile, if you feel impatient, you can...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/nexus_6_on_at_t_receiving_latest_security_patch-news-23011.php

Google opens Daydream VR platform for all developers

Announced less than a year ago, Google's Daydream platform is essentially the successor to Google's Cardboard viewer. Daydream VR was meant to be baked into Android N and provided a new VR experience with the included motion controller. At CES, a couple of smartphone makers announced a partnership with Google to bring Daydream compatibility to its devices. Huawei's Mate 9 lineup, Asus' Zenfone AR, and ZTE's Axon 7 have all announced official compatibility with Google's Daydream VR platform, as well as the Daydream View headset. Google Daydream main menu Today, Google has...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/google_opens_daydream_vr_platform_for_all_developers-news-23010.php

Sony Xperia X Concept build gets Sony's new ‘Battery Saver' feature

A new experimental update pushed to the Sony Xperia X Concept firmware brings the build number up to 38.3.A.0.83 and the return of a feature that replaces the older STAMINA mode from before the days of Android's Doze. Sony's new ‘Battery Saver' aims to bring some of the features left behind with STAMINA mode. Back before Android brought Doze in Marshmallow, Sony had its own battery saving solution called "STAMINAmode". It worked software magic to reduce power consumption without a major hit to performance. When Xperia phones began updating to Marshmallow, the feature was removed to give...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/sony_xperia_x_concept_build_gets_sonys_new_battery_saver_feature_-news-23009.php

OnePlus pins the 3T against the Google Pixel XL in another charging test

OnePlus released a video today featuring the OnePlus 3T and the company's proprietary fast-charging solution called Dash Charge. The video pinned the Google Pixel XL against the OnePlus 3T in a charge off. Both devices were set to a destination and they batteries were charged with the Google Maps app navigating for 30 minutes. The OnePlus 3T was connected to the official OnePlus Dash car Charger while the Google Pixel XL used a Belkin 27W USB-C Car Charger. Given that these phones have different charging temperatures, the OnePlus 3T charges cool while the Pixel usually warms up while...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/oneplus_pins_the_3t_against_the_google_pixel_xl_in_another_charging_test-news-23008.php

New LG G6 leaked image shows us its top right side

The official-looking images of the upcoming LG G6 just keep on leaking. A few days ago we saw a shot of the top half of the device and its left side, and today it's time to take a closer look at its right side. That said, it's becoming pretty odd that these pictures all leave out the G6's bottom half - is there something in there we aren't supposed to see? That's anyone's guess at this point. Anyway, today's image shows an identical design to the one from earlier in the week, so it's clearly of the same phone. Once again we get to wonder at the G6's minimal top and side bezels, as well as...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/new_lg_g6_leaked_image_shows_us_its_top_right_side-news-23007.php

Galaxy S8 live images leak alongside full spec details and launch date

If you're excited for the Samsung Galaxy S8, today is a good day for you. That's because a new, huge leak is bringing us pretty much all the details about the Korean company's next flagship, including images (see below), specs, as well as unveiling and release dates. And all of this comes from the usually reliable Evan Blass (a.k.a @evleaks), so there's no particular reason to doubt the information. There will be two Galaxy S8 sizes, as rumored before. The smaller model will have a 5.8-inch screen, the larger a 6.2-inch display, both of the dual-curved Super AMOLED variety, and both with...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/galaxy_s8_live_images_leak_alongside_full_spec_details_and_launch_date-news-23006.php

Google Pixel 2 to have even better camera and higher price, will be joined by cheaper model

Google's Pixel and Pixel XL aren't all that old at this point, but the rumor mill has already started discussing their successors. A new report today claims to shed some light on Google's next smartphones, but it is apparently based off of just one source, so have your grain of salt nearby for this one. Although we'll be referring to just one Pixel 2 device, we assume that Google will once again launch two, in two different sizes. The Pixel 2 is said to come with an even better camera than the original, with Google reportedly putting an emphasis on great low-light photography. The snapper...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/google_pixel_2_to_have_even_better_camera_and_higher_price_will_be_joined_by_cheaper_model-news-23005.php

Twitter introduces new Explore tab

Twitter has announced the new Explore tab, an Instagram-esque section that should make keeping tab of things happening outside of your timeline easier. Explore combines three of Twitter's existing features; search, trends, and Moments. Instead of a tab just for Moments and search and trends being in another area, the new Explore tab will bring them all under one roof. This is similar to the Explore tab on Instagram, that combines the search and suggested content from people you don't follow but may have common friends or interests with. The Explore tab is rolling out today on...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/twitter_introduces_new_explore_tab-news-23004.php

Huawei P10 may get in Green and Purple versions

The Huawei P10 premiere is one month away and the rumors are thriving already. We've heard the P10 will come with a refined design, a curved QHD display, the latest Kirin 960 chip, and second or third-gen Leica camera with monochrome and RGB sensors, both OIS-enabled. We've seen some P10 renders already, and today we get to show you even more. The renders below supposedly reveal the two new special paintjobs - Green and Purple - which should spice up the lineup. Huawei P9 got Red and Blue flavors in celebration of its popularity, but this time around Huawei may be including the...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/huawei_p10_may_launch_in_green_and_purple_yamaha_and_harman_kardon_chips_rumored-news-23003.php

Apple shipped 2.5M iPhones in India in 2016

Apple set a record for biggest amount of sold iPhones in India for 2016 with 2.5 million units, according to Counterpoint research data. In Q4 the company sold 62% of all the "premium" devices in India with price over $450 thanks to the iPhone 7 launch. In overall sales volume, however, Apple isn't anywhere close to the top. The Indian market in 2016 was dominated by Samsung at 24%, followed by Vivo at 10%. The third position is shared by Xiaomi and Lenovo with 9% each. Counterpoint points out that Chinese companies Vivo, Xiaomi and Lenovo have a combined 46% market share in 2016...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/apple_ships_25m_iphones_in_india_for_2016-news-23002.php

The creator of Flappy Bird is back at it with Ninja Spinki Challenges

2013 was the year Flappy Bird was released and got a lot of people smashing their phones in frustration after yet another crash. But the game didn't live long since author Dong Nguyen pulled it off. Now he made another challenge - Ninja Spinki Challenges. It is yet another 8-bit graphics title and is once again annoyingly difficult. The designer teamed up with Japan's Obokaidem in his Vietnamese studio to create something that is both hard and has an actual win option. We remind you that Flappy Bird's only goal was to get a higher score, there was no ending to the game. Now...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/the_creator_of_flappy_bird_is_back_at_it_with_ninja_spinki_challenges-news-23001.php

HMD: There is no white Nokia 6 on sale yet

Yesterday we wrote of a white version of the immensely popular Nokia 6 being sold in the Philippines. Well, the Communications Director of HMD Global denied the existence of such device. We haven't launched Nokia 6 in Philippines market. The seller is a 3rd party retailer on Lazada platform and is not an authorized seller. Now, that was pretty clear from the start, but it appears the white color has been merely a mistake in the listing. The listing on Lazada has actually already been changed to black. The price stays PHP 18,590 or about $370 (the official JD.com retail sells the...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/exclusive_hmd_there_is_no_white_nokia_6-news-23000.php

Galaxy S7 and S7 edge get Nougat in India, Samsung Pay teased

Samsung has just launched the Android 7.0 Nougat updates the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge in India. The company has begun a global rollout recently and India is the next market to get the latest and greatest from Google. The OTA firmware for both devices is quite hefty at about 1.3GB and includes the latest Android, as well as improvements to TouchWiz, Always-On-Display, and security . There is one more surprise for the Samsung fans in India - Samsung Pay app comes as part of the Nougat update. There is an official teaser included, which says "The future of payments is coming soon!". This...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/galaxy_s7_and_s7_edge_get_nougat_updates_in_india_samsung_pay_teaser_included-news-22997.php

Sony might unveil a 4K, SD835 flagship at MWC, along with four other phones

Keeping to its usual schedule, MWC 2017 is now just about a month away. Excitement over at camp Sony is pretty high and the official event time is already set - February 27, at 7:30 GMT. There have been a few renders and photos floating about recently, but nothing really all that revealing. Well, a new source now claims to offer a lot of insider on Sony's future lineup, with details for a whopping total of 5 smartphones, lined up for the event. The rumor comes courtesy of a quite shady site in Georgia, so you should probably break out the whole salt shaker for this...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/sony_might_unveil_a_4k_sd835_flagship_at_mwc_along_with_four_other_phones-news-22996.php

Chrome and Firefox will now tell you about insecure HTTP connections

Google and Mozilla kick it up a notch warning you about sites vulnerable to hacking. Coming with the latest updates of Chrome v56 and Firefox v51 web broswers, you'll know when you are submitting sensitive information over insecure HTTP connections. Warnings like that were a thing before, but now they graduate from beta to stable. Firefox shows a grey lock with a red dash over it in the address bar when you are browsing a site that is asking for your password. Previous versions don't have that though if you were in a secured HTTPS website, there was a green lock icon. Chrome...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/browsers_will_take_new_steps_to_tell_you_about_insecure_http_connections-news-22999.php

watchOS 3.2 to bring SiriKit support

One of the wasted opportunities with Apple Watch is the limited Siri functionality compared to iOS, which means apart from basic queries the watch always told you to perform the action on the iPhone. That's about to change with the upcoming watchOS 3.2 update, which would finally bring SiriKit to watchOS. SiriKit is what enabled iOS to integrate with third-party apps so you could, for example, call for an Uber or send a message on WhatsApp using Siri. With SiriKit on watchOS, you will be able to perform all these same actions on an Apple Watch without having to pull your phone...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/watchos_32_to_bring_sirikit_support-news-22998.php

Japan Display Inc is bringing flexible LCD screens soon

Flexible smartphones are shaping to be the next big thing and everyone wants in. Samsung started a program called Project Valley last year and LG showed a rollable 18-inch display. This technology has only looked possible with OLED screens so far but it appears the good old LCD might still be in the game. Japan Display announced it is currently working on a flexible LCD. The Liquid-Crystal-Display has a glass layer and that's why all the LCD phones have a flat screen. Japan Display CEO Shuji Aruga said they already started using plastic instead of glass. While not as flexible as...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/japan_display_inc_is_bringing_flexible_lcd_screens_soon-news-22995.php

Xiaomi will be skipping MWC 2017

There is little doubt that Xiaomi is already working hard on its next big flagship. The Mi 6 has already appeared in leaked shots, benchmarks and more than a few rumors. It seemed like the Chinese giant was going to unveil the phone at MWC 2017 and perhaps even earlier. While a surprise announcement is still not out of the question, a company spokesperson just confirmed that Xiaomi doesn't have anything new to showcase at MWC 2017 and will thus be skipping the event entirely. VP Hugo Barra's departure from the company might be viewed as a sign of turmoil as well....

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_will_be_skipping_mwc_2017-news-22994.php

HTC 10 Nougat update roll out in mainland Europe has been paused

Earlier this month, HTC had to halt the HTC 10 Nougat update roll out due to bugs. The company quickly fixed the issues and the seeding resumed in Europe earlier this week. But as it turns out, the update is currently only available in the UK as the Taiwanese company had to again pause the rollout in mainland Europe due to some technical reasons. This was revealed by Graham Wheeler, who is HTC's Product and Services Director for the EMEA region. For HTC 10 users in mainland Europe, we've unfortunately had to pause the rollout as we look into a technical issue and work to correct...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/htc_10_nougat_update_roll_out_in_mainland_europe_has_bee_paused-news-22993.php

Google Maps' Popular Times feature now shows real-time data on iOS

In November last year, Google pushed out an update to its Maps Android app. The update enhanced the app's Popular Times feature (which, allowed you to see how busy a place typically is on different days of the week) by adding real time information. Now, the update has finally arrived to iOS so iPhone users can take advantage of it as well. Google Maps version 4.27.0 on Apple's mobile OS platform now lets you see how crowded a place is and the average time people spend there for easier decision making. In addition, the iOS app now also lets you quickly access addresses in your...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/google_maps_popular_times_feature_now_shows_realtime_data_on_ios_as_well-news-22991.php

Hugo Barra joins Facebook as Oculus leader

Hugo Barra surprised everyone with his Facebook post from several days ago that he leaves his position at Xiaomi after 3.5 years in the company. He was behind the global expansion that transformed Xiaomi from a startup to one of the top tech companies in the world. And now we know where he will continue to inspire people - Oculus. Barra is joining forces with Mark Zuckerberg as vice president of virtual reality at Facebook and will lead the Oculus team. Zuckerberg himself first posted the news on his Facebook page: Hugo shares my belief that virtual and augmented reality will be...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/hugo_barra_joins_facebook_as_oculus_leader-news-22992.php

ZTE Axon 7 Nougat update delayed, won't be coming this month

Back in November last year, ZTE href="zte_axon_7_will_receive_android_70_nougat_update_in_january-news-21569.php">said that the Nougat update for the Axon 7 will be rolled out in January. Following this, the Chinese company even launched Axon 7 Nougat beta programs in Germany and the US. However, it has now been revealed that the update has been delayed. According to a Facebook post from ZTE Germany, the update won't be coming this month, but will be made available sometime in Q1, meaning either in February or March. The company says the software in its current state doesn't meet...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/zte_axon_7_nougat_update_delayed_wont_be_coming_this_month-news-22990.php