NuAns is back with Neo Reloaded, but it's Android-powered

Back in 2015, Japanese company NuAns showed off its Windows 10-powered Neo smartphone for the first time. It's selling point was the TWOTONE interchangeable covers for its back. The phone debuted at CES 2016, post which the company announced its plans for the device's global launch through a Kickstarter campaign. The campaign, however, failed. Then earlier this month, it came to light that the company is coming back with a new version of the phone. And indeed, they are back, with a phone named Neo Reloaded. The key difference here is that the company has ditched Windows 10 Mobile in...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/nuans_is_back_with_neo_reloaded_but_its_androidpowered-news-23500.php

New GSMA mobile engagement study finds almost half of mobile users still only talk and text

It's not everyday you see an endeavor of this scale and potential importance to the mobile realm. GSMA has take upon itself to create and start conducting a new annual study and calculate what it is calling the new Global Mobile Engagement Index (GMEI). It is an unique figure that measures the population's level of engagement with mobile phones, taking into account both types of use cases and frequency. The gathered data covers smarthpones and more traditional handsets and spans across 56 countries (32 developing, 24 developed), at 1,000 online survey respondent (18+) per country, effectively...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/new_gsma_mobile_engagement_study_finds_almost_half_of_mobile_users_still_only_talk_and_text-news-23505.php

New rumor suggests both FullHD and QHD display options for the Xiaomi Mi 6

The Xiaomi Mi 6 has been frequenting the rumor mill for quite a few months now. Frankly, the immense fan interest has made it exceedingly hard to sort through all the alleged info on the device. Thus, you should take this new scoop, courtesy of a source on Weibo with the usual pinch of salt. The poster claims that the Mi 6 will come in two distinct variants - one with 4GB of RAM, 32GB of storage and a FullHD panel, while the other will ramp storage up to 64GB and offer a QHD display. Different storage options sound perfectly reasonable and were observed on the Mi 5 as well, however, having...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/new_rumor_suggests_both_fullhd_and_qhd_display_options_for_the_xiaomi_mi_6-news-23504.php

Sony slashes Xperia X price down to INR 24,990 in India

Competing well and staying relevant with a mid-range offer in today's market is an almost impossible task. The going is especially tough in India, where many value-driver Chinese manufacturers have focused their expansion efforts in recent years. Since, Sony isn't really known for its aggressive pricing strategy, discounts for devices like the Xperia X, were expected sooner or later. After slashing INR 10,000 off the rather exuberant INR 48,990 (around $735) launch price last year, Sony has now brought down the Xperia X even more to INR 24,990 (about $375). That is how much the...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/sony_slashes_xperia_x_price_down_to_inr_24990_in_india-news-23503.php

Sony slashes Speria X price down to INR 24,990 in India

Competing well and staying relevant with a mid-range offer in today's market is an almost impossible task. The going is especially tough in India, where many value-driver Chinese manufacturers have focused their expansion efforts in recent years. Since, Sony isn't really known for its aggressive pricing strategy, discounts for devices like the Xperia X, were expected sooner or later. After slashing INR 10,000 off the rather exuberant INR 48,990 (around $735) launch price last year, Sony has now brought down the Xperia X even more to INR 24,990 (about $375). That is how much the...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/sony_slashes_speria_x_price_down_to_inr_24990_in_india-news-23503.php

ZTE Hawkeye Kickstarter campaign has been cancelled

ZTE has announced that they have decided to phase out the Kickstarter campaign for the Hawkeye smartphone that was revealed by the company last month. The announcement came in the form of an update to the phone's Kickstarter page. The company, however, said that the project isn't over. "We are reevaluating the device for the winning Project CSX idea - an eye-tracking feature with self adhesive backing - and it will be implemented based on your feedback." This comes less than a month after the Chinese firm acknowledged that their decision to implement eye-tracking feature with self...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/zte_hawkeye_kickstarter_campaign_has_been_cancelled-news-23499.php

Nougat update starts hitting Huawei Honor 8 units in India

Huawei has started rolling out a new update to Honor 8 units in India. Arriving as version FRD-L02C675B310, the update brings along Android Nougat (version 7.0) and EMUI version 5.0. The update was being beta tested until now, but now the beta phase has come to an end. "Honor 8 with Nougat and Emui 5.0 is open to users in India now," the Chinese company said in a blog post. "FRD-L02C675B310 became open to public a week ago. The same version will be available to all users in batches by end of February." Global roll out for the Honor 8 Nougat update began last month, and units in the...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/nougat_update_starts_hitting_honor_8_units_in_india-news-23498.php

YouTube plans to remove 30-second unskippable ads

If you've been using YouTube for a few years now, then its hard not to notice how much it has changed and gradually morphed. Google's efforts all seem to be aimed at one goal - to position the video platform as a viable mainstream content provider, not unlike TV and capitalize on advertisement accordingly. A lot has already been said about the new policies and parts of the community are constantly expressing concern. But, without going into too much detail, we will note that nowadays popular content tends to be longer by design, aimed at ramping-up viewing times and often delivered by big...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/youtube_plans_to_remove_30second_unskippable_ads-news-23501.php

Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 edge on AT&T start getting Nougat update

Shortly after T-Mobile started pushing it out, AT&T has also begun rolling the Samsung Galaxy S7/S7 edge Nougat update. Weighing in at around 1.6GB, the update arrives as version G930AUCU4BQA6 for the S7 and G935AUCU4BQA6 for the edge variant. Aside from bumping the Android version to 7.0, the update also brings along some other changes, including network performance enhancements, Samsung Cloud and Samsung Pass, as well as Android security fixes for the month of February. Source 1 2

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_s7_and_s7_edge_on_at_t_start_getting_nougat_update-news-23497.php

LG G Pad III 8.0 starts getting Nougat update

The Nougat update for the LG G Pad III 8.0 has been released. Specifically, Canadian carrier Fido has started rolling out the update to units on its network. The update bumps the Android version to 7.0. Given the fact that it's an OTA roll out, it might take some time for the update to hit your device. Meanwhile, if you feel impatient, you can manually check for the update by heading to your handset's Settings menu. Source 1 2

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/lg_g_pad_iii_80_starts_getting_nougat_update-news-23496.php

Apple releases four new iPad Pro ads

Apple has launched four new ads for the iPad Pro. The underlying point of each of these is that the iPad Pro is good enough to be your personal computer, which each ad talking about a particular aspect. One of the ad talks about the lack of typical PC viruses on the iPad Pro, the other talks about availability of Microsoft Word, then the third one talks about the built-in LTE connectivity so you're not tied to your internet connection or Wi-Fi hotspots and the last one randomly boasts about how it is more powerful than most laptops, has data connectivity and a touchscreen. The...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/apple_releases_four_new_ipad_pro_ads-news-23495.php

Samsung teases Exynos 9 chipset, which could be powering the Galaxy S8

Last year's Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 edge were powered either by the Korean company's own Exynos 8 Octa chipset or Qualcomm's Snapdragon 820, depending on which market you bought one from. This year most leaks and rumors that have talked about the Galaxy S8 have focused on it sporting the upcoming Snapdragon 835, and how that impacts Samsung's competitors. However, it turns out that the S8 (and S8+) could have two separate versions too, each boasting a different chipset. While the SD835 will be inside the handsets in some places, in others you may find them powered by a yet-unannounced...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_teases_exynos_9_chipset_which_could_be_powering_the_galaxy_s8-news-23494.php

New LG G6 live images surface, highlight always-on display and shiny back

A couple of new live images portraying the LG G6 have been leaked today, and they are embedded below for your viewing pleasure. As you can see, this time around the phone is turned on, and we can glance at its Always-On Display functionality, showing the time, date, and battery capacity at all times. The rounded corners of the screen are in view here too, as are the minimal side bezels, the very small top bezel, and the slightly larger bottom one. People who love symmetry in bezels will unfortunately not dig the G6, that's for sure. The back is shiny, at least in this color version,...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/new_lg_g6_live_images_surface_highlight_alwayson_display_and_shiny_back-news-23493.php

BlackBerry reacts to the Gartner report that said it has 0.0% market share

Yesterday market research firm Gartner released its latest report on the state of the mobile world. One interesting tidbit in there was that for the fourth quarter of 2016, sales of devices running BlackBerry OS reached an unflattering 0.0%. Today the Canadian company has sent us its official reaction to that report. Here it is: As has been widely communicated, our current strategy focuses on providing state-of-the-art software and security for enterprise and devices. As part of this aggressive pivot to software, we have shifted away from hardware and toward a licensing model where...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/blackberry_reacts_to_that_gartner_report_saying_it_has_00_market_share_in_smartphones-news-23492.php

vivo V5 Plus review: iPhone impersonator, bokeh king

How many front cameras is too many? Certainly not two - two is just right, vivo says, and ushers in the V5 Plus.

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/vivo_v5_plus-review-1570.php

Xiaomi promotes India head Manu Jain to Global Vice President

Xiaomi Global has assigned Manu Kumar Jain to the position of Global Vice President. Jain has served as the head of India operations since the day the Chinese brand opened shop in India in 2014. Apart from serving as the Global VP, he will continue to oversee the India operations as Managing Director. Jain's promotion follows the exit of Hugo Barra from the company last month, who previously held the position of Global VP. Barra has since then announced plans of heading Oculus at Facebook back at Silicon Valley. Under the leadership of Jain, Xiaomi India flourished tremendously...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_promotes_india_head_manu_jain_to_global_vice_president-news-23491.php

Apple to start manufacturing iPhone SE in India

Last month Apple reportedly selected Wistron as the primary manufacturer for all its iPhones in India. The Taiwanese partner of the Cupertino-based company set up a plant in Bengaluru in order to start the local production. According to industry sources speaking to Reuters, iPhone SE assembly will begin in the coming months. Apple's midranger is almost an year old but is still the cheapest devices the company offers in India. Apple shipped 2.5 million iPhones to India last year which is the most the company has ever sold. It ranks at 10th at India's smartphone market but last...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/apple_to_start_manufacturing_iphone_se_in_india-news-23489.php

HTC is dominating the VR market in China

VR was a hot topic all throughout 2016 and things are only looking up. With prices constantly going down, 2017 might realistically be the year for VR to go mainstream and companies that already have positions there like HTC might benefit the most from it. A couple of days ago, the Taiwanese business hinted at a new VR product already in development. It also made a strong and statement of its commitment by describing itself as "a VR company". It appears all the effort is really paying off. The HTC Vive is taking Facebook and Oculus head on, with some clear advantages in its favor in the...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/htc_is_dominating_the_vr_market_in_china-news-23488.php

5.5" Xiaomi also spotted on TENAA, is this another Redmi Note device?

Earlier today we told you about a Xiaomi device spotted at TENAA named Xiaomi MAE136, but apparently the Chinese regulatory agency approved another, bigger phone. Its codename is Xiaomi MBE6A5 and the specs reveal 5.5" FullHD display and a deca-core Helio X20/Helio X25 CPU with Mali-T880MP4 GPU. The RAM is 3GB and the internal storage is 64 GB and the MBE6A5 also has a microSD slot. The listing also reveals that the device will run MIUI 8.0 based on Android 6.0 Marshmallow and feature two SIM slots - microSIM and a hybrid nano/microSD. There is one camera on the back with 13 MP...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/55_xiaomi_also_spotted_on_tenaa_is_this_another_redmi_note_device-news-23487.php

Meizu M5s passes 4.25M registrations in a day

Meizu announced the M5s on Wednesday. The phone has a 5.2" 2.5D IPS display with HD resolution and a Mediatek MT6753 chipset with an octa-core Cortex-A53 CPU. There are two versions with different internal storage - one for CNY799 ($115) with 16GB and a CNY999 ($145) one with 32 GB. With such prices we shouldn't be surprised that the registrations for the flash sale on February 20 reached 4.25 million. Keep in mind that those are only pre-registrations that require nothing more than an email address and no money have changed hands at this point. That said, it's almost certain...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/meizu_m5s_passes_425m_registrations_in_a_day-news-23485.php

New Samsung Galaxy S8 cases reveal even more hardware details

We are yet to see an official render of the Samsung Galaxy S8. But thanks to various accessory makers we already have a pretty good idea of what the device will look like. The latest images come from the Australian brand UAG. The company listed several Galaxy S8 cases on its website, revealing that the device will have iris scanner, as previously we reported. Along with it and the front camera we see some more sensors and light diods. The lack of physical button/fingerprint sensor on the front is also a confirmation. There is a button below the volume keys on the left...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/more_samsung_galaxy_s8_cases_reveal_even_more_detail-news-23483.php

Alleged Sony Xperia XA2 passes through the FCC

We have already seen spy shots of what is said to be the Xperia XZ successor, as well as the Xperia XA one. Now, the latter apparently made a stop over at the FCC. Sadly, this yields little to no actual new information on the handset itself. It is somewhat interesting to note that Sony appears to be sticking with its usual placement for the FCC ID on a hidden label, next to the SIM slot. If, however, the document does indeed describe the Xperia XA2 or XA (2017), it makes an unveiling at MWC 2017 a lot more plausible. Sony Xperia XA2 (allegedly): Square-shaped and...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/alleged_sony_xperia_xa2_passes_through_the_fcc-news-23481.php

New rumor suggests Snapdragon 835 SoC and 6GB RAM for LG V30

While the upcoming LG G6 might miss on the Snapdragon 835 SoC (thanks to Samsung), the successor to LG's V20 smartphone may well be powered by that chipset. The information comes courtesy of a new rumor out of China. In addition, the rumor suggests that the V30 will have 6GB RAM, feature a dual camera setup on both back as well as front, and will come with a better DAC compared to the V20. It also says the phone will have "more mysterious features," although no details were provided on them. As for availability, the rumor reveals H2 2017 time-frame. No details related to pricing...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/new_rumor_suggests_snapdragon_835_soc_and_6gb_ram_for_lg_v30-news-23477.php

Samsung Galaxy C7 Pro escapes China

The Samsung Galaxy C7 Pro, which was made official last month and has only been available in China since is now starting its journey across other markets. Confirming previous reports, the device has been launched in Hong Kong. The phone is now listed on the South Korean company's official Hong Kong website, although you currently can't place any orders. At least one third-party retailer is currently accepting pre-orders for the device, though, asking HKD 3,398 ($435) for it. Source 1 2

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_c7_pro_is_no_longer_chinaexclusive_now_available_in_hong_kong-news-23478.php

Huawei MediaPad T3 clears TENAA with 8" display, Android Nougat

The Huawei MediaPad T3 (KOB-L09) has been certified by the Chinese telecommunication regulatory TENAA. The listing reveals the tablet is powered by a quad-core 1.4GHz processor and sports an 8-inch display of 1280×800 pixel resolution. The Honor-branded device has 3GB RAM and 32GB internal memory. The camera department is handled by a 5MP rear unit and a 2MP front shooter. Measuring 211.1 x 124.7 x 7.95mm and weighing in at 350g, the MediaPad T3 runs Android 7.0 Nougat and packs in a 4,650mAh battery. Huawei MediaPad T3 8.0 KOB-L09 aka Honor Pad (3?) seen at TENAA. 1280x800, SD425...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/huawei_mediapad_t3_clears_tenaa_with_8inch_display_android_70_nougat-news-23474.php

ZTE confirms its presence at this year's MWC

ZTE's sub-brand nubia has confirmed its presence at this year's Mobile World Congress (MWC). The company sent out invitations for media to visit its stand at the industry's largest event. While the teaser reveals where exactly nubia products will be showcased at the MWC venue, there aren't any details on which products will be displayed. Also, it looks like nubia won't be holding any MWC-specific press conference, so chances of new announcements are slim. Still, rumors say the successor to the nubia Prague S (allegedly dubbed Prague S2) could be showcased at the event so hope...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/nubia_confirms_its_presence_at_this_years_mwc-news-23479.php

Mi Mix successor already in the works, confirms Xiaomi CEO

Less than four months after Xiaomi announced the Mi Mix, the Chinese company has confirmed that it's working on the successor to the device (allegedly dubbed Mi Mix II). The confirmation came in the form of a Weibo post from none other than the company's CEO Lei Jun. Here's the complete post (translated): "Today, I am pleased to meet again with international design master Philip Stark, who introduced me the design concept of millet MIX next generation, and then we both will continue to explore how to make these exciting innovations as a reality The product. Come on, millet!" It's...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/mi_mix_successor_already_in_the_works_confirms_xiaomi_ceo-news-23476.php

OnePlus 3T 128GB variant up for grabs in India through Amazon

If you are in India and have been waiting for the 128GB variant of the OnePlus 3T smartphone, you'll be glad to know that the model is currently listed on Amazon's India website. The device carries an INR 34,998 price tag, or around $520. What's, however, worth mentioning here is that in order to make a purchase, you should be a member of the retailer's Prime service. Also, it's only a one-day sale - as of writing around 7 hours were left. The model will be available to all Amazon customers February 25 onwards. If you are an Amazon Prime member, head to the Source link below to...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/oneplus_3t_128_gb_variant_up_for_grabs_in_india_through_amazon-news-23475.php

Galaxy S7 and S7 edge on T-Mobile start receiving Nougat update

If you are a Samsung Galaxy S7 or S7 edge owner on T-Mobile, and have been waiting for the Nougat update, you'll be glad to know that the rollout has begun. The update is currently only hitting the S7 edge units that were part of the company's Galaxy Beta Program, but it's reasonable to assume that the standard S7 models as well as units that aren't running Nougat beta software will also get the update soon. The update weighs in at around 117MB and also brings along Android security fixes for the month of February. The magenta carrier is yet to update the respective software update...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/galaxy_s7_and_s7_edge_on_tmobile_start_receiving_nougat_update-news-23473.php

Nougat update for Samsung Galaxy S7/S7 edge starts hitting units in Taiwan

Samsung's Galaxy S7 and S7 edge flagship smartphones have started getting the Nougat update in Taiwan. Arriving as G930FXXU1DQBI for the S7 and G935FXXU1DQBI for the edge variant, the update weighs in at around 1,260MB. As is usually the case with OTA roll outs, it may take some 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 1 2

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/nougat_update_for_samsung_galaxy_s7_s7_edge_starts_hitting_units_in_taiwan-news-23472.php

Lenovo Phab2 Pro with Tango AR by Google drops down to $449.99 unlocked

If you don't mind using first-generation stuff, you probably won't mind testing out the Google-developed Tango AR (augmented reality) tech that's built into the Lenovo Phab2 Pro smartphone. This was in fact the first handset to launch packing Tango, when it debuted last year. Ever since its release it's been available for $499.99 unlocked, but now you can grab one for less. Exactly $50 less, to be specific. Lenovo's own online store for the US is offering this deal, and it's valid for both color versions of the device: grey and gold. You need to add whichever one you prefer to your cart,...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/lenovo_phab2_pro_with_tango_ar_by_google_drops_down_to_44999_unlocked-news-23471.php

New 5-inch Xiaomi phone passes through TENAA, might be the Redmi 5

A new Xiaomi smartphone has been spotted at TENAA today. The Chinese regulatory agency has certified it for sale in the country, and this process has resulted in the images you can see below becoming public. A few of the device's specs have been outed too, but less than usual for whatever reason. According to some speculators in China, this could be the Redmi 5 we're looking at. On the other hand, others expect it to be branded Redmi 4X and sit alongside the recently unveiled Redmi Note 4X in the company's portfolio, with an updated design compared to the Redmi 4 but only slightly improved...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/new_5inch_xiaomi_phone_passes_through_tenaa_might_be_the_redmi_5-news-23470.php

Google Home can now order things for you

While the rumored voice call functionality is still quite far off at this point, the Google Home speaker has received some new smarts today. The search giant has announced that you can use the Google Assistant inside Google Home to order stuff. This currently works with all retailers participating in Google Express, so you can easily get all the essentials. You can order from companies such as Costco, Whole Foods Market, Walgreens, PetSmart, Bed Bath & Beyond, along with more than 50 other nationally and locally available businesses. The entire list can be found at this website. To...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/google_home_can_now_order_things_for_you-news-23469.php

Apple outs two new ads for Portrait Mode

Remember those ads for the iPhone 7 Plus' Portrait Mode that Apple released a few days ago? They were all about cuteness, with a dog and a little boy being the stars. Yet the company isn't done promoting the major differentiating feature for the iPhone 7 Plus' camera (even compared to the non-Plus iPhone 7). And so, today it's outed two new promo videos for Portrait Mode. As they're both just 15 seconds long, expect to see them during a TV ad break near you very soon. With this batch, Apple tells people that they will create better-looking profile pictures for their social media accounts...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/apple_outs_two_new_ads_for_portrait_mode-news-23468.php

Unlocked LG G5 for AT&T can be yours for just $299.99

We're now exactly ten days away from LG's grand unveiling of the G6, its next flagship smartphone. This will take place on February 26, and the new device is sure to be a very interesting entrant in the mobile world. But what if you don't care about the latest and greatest? Well, if you don't mind ignoring LG's failed "Friends" experiment comprising of modular accessories for it, the G5 from last year could be a good choice for you perhaps. While it may not be as flashy as its successor, you can now purchase an unlocked LG G5 for just $299.99. That's sure to be less than half of the...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/unlocked_lg_g5_for_at_t_can_be_yours_for_just_29999-news-23467.php

Huawei Mate 9 Pro review: Time-saver edition

If you remember, Huawei announced the Mate 9 Porsche Design along with the regular Mate 9. It used the same hardware except for the screen, which was AMOLED and a curved one at that. It was also prohibitively expensive, and it was only going to be sold through Porsche Design exclusive boutiques. It set off a gadget craving that the regular Mate 9 could not fulfill.

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/huawei_mate_9_pro-review-1569.php

Really Blue Google Pixel and Pixel XL are now up for pre-order in Canada at Rogers

A few days ago Rogers proudly announced that it would be exclusively selling the Really Blue color version of the Google Pixel in Canada, but failed to provide any other details about it in the process. So up until now we didn't know how much it would cost or when it would be available. Today the carrier has started taking pre-orders for both the blue Pixel and the blue Pixel XL, though it's still not saying when they will be in stock. And that's not surprising, given how appallingly Google has been managing its phones' distribution ever since they launched. Anyway, if you want to...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/really_blue_google_pixel_and_pixel_xl_are_now_up_for_preorder_in_canada_at_rogers-news-23466.php

Asus Zenfone 3 Go leaks with specs and renders

Asus' naming convention is getting more and more confusing with each passing day. Navigating already official models is a challenge in itself, but when it comes to analyzing leaks, it really takes some dedicated investigative work to get the facts straight. This time around, however, we have an almost suspiciously straight-forward scoop. The Zenfone 3 Go appears to be a revival of the budget "Go" line. Last we saw a Go unit up on offer was in 2015. The original Asus Zenfone Go ZC500TG bore the typical Zenfone 2 design language, including the bulky arching back and a horizontally centered...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/asus_zenfone_3_go_leaks_with_specs_and_renders-news-23464.php

Huawei Mate 9 durability test reveals sturdy panels

Torture tests are somewhat of a YouTuber specialty and the Huawei Mate 9 is yet another great smartphone to get the treatment for your viewing pleasure. Zack from the popular channel JerryRigEverything provided us this latest video. In the beginning he acknowledges the rugged construction of Huawei Mate 9 with the physical bolts visible on the frame. He removes the screen protector and then starts performing a scratch test of the IPS LCD. Plastic screens, such as the Honor 6X, scratch at level 4 while a sapphire glass screen scratches at level 9 on a basis of 1 to 10. The Mate 9...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/sassy_durability_test_of_huawei_mate_9_reveals_sturdy_front_and_back_panel-news-23465.php

Apple's WWDC 2017 conference to take place June 5-9

Apple has announced that its Worldwide Developer Conference will be taking place this year between June 5-9. WWDC will be returning to San Jose this year after a long period, at the McEnery Convention Center, away from the usual Moscone West in San Francisco, which has been the hub of Apple events for the past several years. The San Jose venue is only minutes away from the new Apple headquarters in Cupertino. As usual the main event will be the keynote where we can expect to see the latest developments in iOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS, with a lesser chance of seeing some new...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/apples_wwdc_2017_conference_to_take_place_between_june_59-news-23463.php

Two new high-end LG smartphones pop up on Geekbench

With MWC right around the corner, all eyes are on LG and its next G6 flagship, set for a February 26 unveiling. But it seems that's not the only hot new product the Korean giant is cooking up. A few days ago a mysterious LG H871 handset popped up on Geekbench. Today brings two more handset listings of the same nature. Their models names are LGE LGUS997 and LGM-G600L and the testing app reports 4GB of RAM and a Snapdragon MSM8996 chipset in both. This, along with the reported Android Nougat ROM is the only information we have to go by. Unfortunately, the chipset model does introduce...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/two_new_highend_lg_smartphones_pop_up_on_geekbench-news-23454.php

Honor V9 to be available outside China as Honor 8 Pro

Huawei announced it will unveil Honor V9 on February 21 - the week before MWC. The device has a ChinaMobile branding on its back, indicating its China-exclusive status. But according to a company insider the device will go global just under a different name. The V9 will be rebranded to Honor 8 Pro and revealed at the Huawei event on February 27 in Barcelona. The Honor V9 is powered by the octa-core Kirin 960, clocked at 2.4 GHz and has a 5.7" QHD display. The RAM options are 4GB and 6GB while storage options include 64 GB or 128 GB. The device has a massive 3,900 mAh battery and a...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/honor_v9_to_be_available_outside_of_china_under_the_name_honor_8_pro-news-23462.php

Huawei P10 real photos leaked by FCC

Huawei P10 official unveiling at MWC is drawing closer one day at a time. But leaks surface faster than ever - after we showed you the blue, gold and green P10 color optionsin renders, now we see actual real-life photos of the device, leaked by the Federal Communications Commission. Back • Front • Right side • Left side The new images hardly show anything we didn't know already - the P10 will look similarly to the Huawei P9 but with the fingerprint sensor mounted on the front. The back is metal, with antenna bands following its edges. The dual-camera setup is horizontal...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/huawei_p10_real_photos_leaked_by_fcc-news-23460.php

Archos will be making tablets with Kodak branding

Archos and Kodak signed a brand licensing deal today with Archos CEO Loïc Poirier and VP of Kodak's Consumer Products Group, Brian Cruz making the following comments: We are very proud to become one of Kodak's licensees to jointly develop their brand into the tablet world. We truly look forward to putting these devices into people's hands. We are excited to be adding ARCHOS to our portfolio of brand licensees . ARCHOS has a strong track record in the computer tablet sector. The French brand was the first to introduce a GOOGLE ANDROID tablet in 2009 and is recognized as a key...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/archos_will_be_making_tablets_with_kodak_branding-news-23461.php

Samsung Gear VR allows New York Fashion Week attendees to experience Milan

Car makers have embraced VR, so why not fashion designers? Samsung has expanded its presence at the New York Fashion Week and brought the Gear VR along. Last year, the company focused on the Oculus Rift and showed people a future where they view clothes in virtual reality before hitting the Buy button. This year Samsung's mobile headset was used for a similar purpose - even though people are sitting in folding chairs, they are really checking out the latest collections in a film shot in Milan under the theme "Dreaming of Italy." All in full 360° view. This is an all-digital fashion show...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_gear_vr_allows_new_york_fashion_week_attendees_to_experience_milan-news-23452.php

Asus AIO VR, a stand-alone virtual reality headset, leaks

Most portable VR headsets at the moment require a smartphone to provide the screen and processing power, but there are a few standalone units out there. Asus is reportedly working on one - the Asus AIO VR, to be launched in 2017. AIO stands for All In One and usually refers to self-contained desktop computers, but in this case indicates that the headset has everything it needs all in a neat package. This makes it different from last year's VR headset from Asus. From the image, it seems that the AIO VR will have a cloth exterior similar to Google's Daydream. That is not to say this...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/asus_aio_vr_a_standalone_virtual_reality_headset_leaks-news-23459.php

Nougat update hits Sprint's HTC One A9

Precisely a month after HTC announced the Nougat rollout for the One A9 in the US, the Android 7.0 update is now coming to the Sprint version of the handset. The build number is 2.18.651.2, for those of you that seek to find meaning in arbitrary numbers. The 'extensive' changelog published on HTC's support page for the One A9 lists two key changes - Nougat and the January Security patch. Yes, it's February 16 today - that's how updates tied to a carrier work. The update should arrive over the air to Sprint's One A9 units, but if it's taking too long, you can head over to HTC's...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/nougat_arrives_on_sprints_htc_one_a9-news-23457.php

MIUI 8.2 ROM is now rolling out

If you own a fairly recent Xiaomi handset, chances are, you have a reason to get excited. Starting today, the Chinese manufacturer has started officially seeding the latest MIUI 8.2 update. And in keeping with its usual support policies, the software will eventually be available to a large number of Xiaomi models. The devices, currently supported by MIUI 8.2 are: Mi Max, Mi Max Prime, Mi 4i, Mi 3, Mi 4, Mi Note, Redmi 1S and Redmi Note 4G. Owners of these handsets should already be on the lookout for an OTA, through the Updater app. Manual flashing is also an option, with all...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/miui_82_rom_is_now_rolling_out-news-23456.php

Apple to replace home button with ‘function area' on iPhone 8

Apple is closer than ever to the no-home-button phone. Latest reports suggest we should expect three devices in 2017, including an OLED screen-packing iPhone 8 with no physical buttons on the front. It will sport a 5.8" OLED with 5.15" display area, while the other part is going to be reserved for ‘function area', the report suggests. According to the KGI analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the next iPhone "will come with other biometric technologies that replace the current fingerprint recognition technology". There's no word to what other technology could be used by the Cupertino...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/apple_to_replace_home_button_with_function_area_on_iphone_8-news-23455.php

Tho new high-end LG smartphones pop up on Geekbench

With MWC right around the corner, all eyes are on LG and its next G6 flagship, set for a February 26 unveiling. But it seems that's not the only hot new product the Korean giant is cooking up. A few days ago a mysterious LG H871 handset popped up on Geekbench. Today brings two more handset listings of the same nature. Their models names are LGE LGUS997 and LGM-G600L and the testing app reports 4GB of RAM and a Snapdragon MSM8996 chipset in both. This, along with the reported Android Nougat ROM is the only information we have to go by. Unfortunately, the chipset model does introduce...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/tho_new_highend_lg_smartphones_pop_up_on_geekbench-news-23454.php