Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 edge on Rogers to get Nougat starting March 20

Users of Samsung Galaxy S7/S7 edge on Canadian carrier Rogers' network will be glad to know that their device will get the Nougat update in just over a week from now. The carrier has updated its OS upgrade schedule to reflect that the update will start rolling March 20 onwards. In addition, the updated schedule reveals that Huawei nova plus units will get the Nougat update soon. Also revealed is the date when Google's Pixel and Pixel XL phones on Rogers will get their next security update. Source | Via

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_s7_and_s7_edge_on_rogers_to_get_nougat_starting_march_20-news-23906.php

LG G6 to be launched in the US on April 7, no white color option

The LG G6 is selling by the thousands in its home country already, but the US isn't getting any of that 18:9 Full Vision goodness until April 7. It was the rumored launch date for the States since well before the phone's announcement, but @evleaks now has the press render to prove it. JIC you wanted some proof that April 7th is the US launch day for LG G6 [https://t.co/tFA2zlQY8X] pic.twitter.com/iwx2fSnnyP— Evan Blass (@evleaks) March 11, 2017 A date displayed on the lockscreen is a common way of conveying the message without actually saying it explicitly, and Evan Blass rarely gets...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/lg_g6_to_be_launched_in_the_us_on_april_7_no_white_color_option-news-23908.php

Amazon starts accepting pre-orders for Xperia XZ Premium in UK, shipments begin June 1

Amazon has started accepting pre-orders for the Sony Xperia XZ Premium in the UK. A quick look at the listing for the device on Amazon's UK website reveals a £649 price tag and a release date of June 1 (which is broadly in line with "late spring" launch time-frame Sony revealed at MWC. As for color options, the retailer only has the black variant listed. Aside from Amazon, Clove and Unlocked Mobiles are also accepting pre-orders for the Xperia XZ Premium in the UK, asking £649 and £640 for the handset, respectively. Source | Via

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/amazon_starts_accepting_preorders_for_xperia_xz_premium_in_uk_shipments_begin_june_1-news-23904.php

Samsung's acquisition of Harman finalized

Samsung Electronics has completed the acquisition of Harman, the company revealed in a statement today. The deal, announced last November, was initially met with opposition by Harman shareholders, but was later approved, and has now been finalized. Stockholders will receive $112 per share. The necessary approvals by US and other countries' regulatory bodies have also been acquired. Harman will operate as a standalone Samsung subsidiary with current CEO Dinesh Paliwal keeping his seat. President and Chief Strategy Officer of Samsung Electronics Young Sohn will be chairman of the...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsungs_acquisition_of_harman_finalized-news-23909.php

20,000 LG G6 units were sold on launch day in Korea

The LG G6 went on sale in the company's home country of South Korea yesterday, and now we have details on the device's launch day sales. According to a report out of the country, the company managed to sell 20,000 units on the first day. That, if you compare, is better than how the LG G5 performed on its launch day (around 15,000 units). The company, in case you aren't aware, had received over 40,000 pre-orders for the G6 in Korea. As for other markets, the phone will land in Israel on March 22, and its Australian launch is set for March 28. The handset is also up for pre-order in...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/20000_lg_g6_units_were_sold_on_launch_day_in_korea-news-23907.php

Update fixing Xperia Z5 'low in-call volume' issue coming next month, Sony confirms

Sony has confirmed that the 'low in-call volume' issue plaguing the Xperia Z5 series devices will be fixed in an update that is set to arrive next month - mid-April to be precise. Meanwhile, as a workaround, the company is advising users to perform a factory data reset. Here's the official statement from Sony: "I received information today that this will be fixed in an upcoming software update planned for release in the middle of April, 2017. In the meantime, a workaround is to perform a factory data reset. Please make sure that you backup data stored on the internal storage that...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/update_fixing_xperia_z5_low_volume_during_call_issue_coming_next_month_sony_confirms-news-23903.php

TAG Heuer's upcoming smartwatch teased, to be unveiled next week

We already know that Tag Heuer is set to launch a new smartwatch this year, and now the company has teased the device. The teaser came in the form of an image shared by the luxury timepiece maker on Twitter. The tweet also reveals that the wearable will be unveiled next week - March 14 to be precise. March 14, Stay Tuned... #ConnectedToEternity pic.twitter.com/ioLH1DdcO7— TAG Heuer (@TAGHeuer) March 10, 2017 As for specs, the company's CEO Jean-Claude Biver in a interview earlier this year revealed that the watch will feature GPS, have a comparatively longer battery life, better...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/tag_heuer_connected_teased_to_be_unveiled_next_week-news-23905.php

Nexus 6 March security update breaks Android Pay

Ever since the March security update for the Motorola Nexus 6 was made available, several users have been reporting that they are unable to use Android Pay after installing the update. Google recently confirmed the issue in reply to a user query on Twitter, saying they are investigating the problem. @MeKevinB Hi Kevin. We're aware of this issue and our team is investigating. Thanks for your patience!— Nexus (@googlenexus) March 9, 2017 The update was temporarily pulled. Although the factory image and OTA file for the update have been uploaded again, the company is said to have...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/nexus_6_march_security_update_breaks_safteynet-news-23902.php

HTC U Ultra (unlocked) now available for purchase in US

A few days ago, pre-orders for the HTC U Ultra started shipping in the US, and now, the device is officially available for purchase in the country. HTC has the phone listed on its official US website, and is selling it for $749. The model on offer is unlocked, and is compatible with AT&T and T-Mobile networks. This means those on a CDMA carrier like Verizon are currently out of luck. As for available color options, the list includes blue, white, and black. Source | Via

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/htc_u_ultra_now_available_for_purchase_in_us-news-23901.php

Huawei P10 review: The Mini-Mate

Huawei P10 makes one big leap for the P series, and one small step for the Mate lineup. The newly announced P10 builds on everything the P9 established last year - the beautiful design is now striking, the top-notch screen got even better, the balanced performance became monstrous, and of course, the iconic Leica Dual Camera received a massive upgrade.

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/huawei_p10-review-1588.php

Pink Xiaomi Mi Note 2 might be on the way

The Mi Note 2 is still Xiaomi's top of the line phablet, and it looks like it might be getting a new color option soon. So far, the Chinese company has announced three hues for the handset, namely black, silver, and gold. But these may be joined by another one in the near future. A Weibo user has leaked the image you can see below, which is said to depict the Mi Note 2 in the yet-unreleased Cherry Pink color version. It's unclear when exactly this will become available in China (where the leak originates), or whether it will ever make it to other markets. It's also a possibility...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/pink_xiaomi_mi_note_2_might_be_on_the_way-news-23900.php

Moto G5 is now available in Europe for €199

Motorola used its event at Mobile World Congress last month to officially unveil the G5 and G5 Plus, the latest smartphones in its line of affordable devices with decent specs. We've since seen them going up for pre-order in Germany, and getting a launch in India on March 15. The duo will arrive in Russia next month, but in the meantime the G5 has actually become available in one European country. We're talking about the Netherlands, where no less than three retailers already have the Moto G5 in stock and ready to be shipped to eager customers. The price for a SIM-free and unlocked handset...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/moto_g5_is_now_available_in_europe_for__euro199-news-23899.php

Mediatek and TSMC to produce 7nm chipsets

MediaTek announced the Helio X30 last summer and we are expecting the first phones with it to come in Q2 2017. Now we hear the Chinese is planning a major jump forward with its next SoC. The new chipset will be made on a 7nm process and will have 12 cores, sources report. The report says that Mediatek and TSMC are working together in bringing an even more efficient chipset to life. The 7nm SoC will have 12 cores, up from 10 in the Helio X30. Despite experiencing unsatisfactory yield rates for TSMC's 10nm process, Mediatek will keep working together with the Taiwan company for its...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/mediatek_and_tsmc_to_produce_7nm_chipsets-news-23891.php

Entry-level Lenovo Vibe B with 4.5-inch display and quad-core CPU launched in India

Lenovo has launched a new smartphone in India. Dubbed Vibe B, it's an entry-level device which is powered by MediaTek MT6735M SoC and sports a 4.5-inch FWVGA display. RAM is 1GB, while internal memory is 8GB (expandable up to 32GB). The camera department is handled by 5MP main unit and a 2MP front shooter. Measuring 132.5 x 66 x 9.9mm and weighing in at 144g, the handset runs Android Marshmallow. A 2,000mAh battery is there to keep the lights on. The Vibe B carries a price tag of INR 5,799, ($87). Source

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/entrylevel_lenovo_vibe_b_with_45inch_display_and_android_marshmallow_launched_in_india-news-23887.php

Google splits Hangouts into Meet and Chat

Google has split up its Hangouts messaging platform into two services, targeted primarily at business users. Called Meet and Chat, the two services will aim to offer video conferencing and group messaging for businesses and take on rival services from Slack and Microsoft. Both apps have the advantage of plugging into Google's G Suite of services or businesses. Hangouts Meet is a video conferencing service that would let businesses have full screen video calls between employees around the world. You can have as many as 30 people in a single video call called Meetings and you can...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/google_splits_hangouts_into_meet_and_chat-news-23890.php

Huawei P10 scores 87 in DxOMark tests

Huawei P10 was announced at MWC 2017 with its dual-sensor Leica camera with 20 MP RGB sensor and 12MP monochrome one with f/2.2 aperture, laser autofocus, and OIS. The device underwent DxOMark's image quality tests, and it scored overall 87 points, slotting just behind Google Pixel with 89 and Galaxy S7 Edge with 88, but ahead of Huawei Mate 9 which scored 85. Huawei P10 is the latest device that has the Leica optics and DxOMark put it under the tests for image color, quality, texture, noise, etc. both in photo and video mode. The test started with outdoor scenes. DxOMark states...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/huawei_p10_scores_87_in_dxomark_tests-news-23888.php

Honor V9 coming to Europe as the Honor 8 Pro

First, a quick note to Huawei - please, oh please stop the naming madness. We definitely don't want any more of the Huawei P8 Lite (2017)/P9 Lite (2017)/Honor 8 Lite/nova lite mess. And we are only taking the time to say this, since the Honor V9 appears to be headed to Europe, under a new name - Honor 8 Pro. The Chinese manufacturer has been sending out invites for an April 5 event. While the Honor flagship is not explicitly mentioned, we have heard rumors of a EU release before, so, it is only logical to assume so. And besides the confusing name change, there is actually a lot to like...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/the_honor_v9_is_probably_coming_to_europe_on_april_5_under_the_honor_8_pro_moniker-news-23889.php

OnePlus 3T no longer Amazon-exclusive in India, now listed on company's e-store

The OnePlus 3T landed in India back in December last year, and has been an Amazon-exclusive since. Well, that's no longer the case as the device is now available to order from the Chinese company's official India online store. Both 64GB and 128GB models are listed, although the latter is currently out of stock. Pricing is INR 29,999 ($450) and INR 34,999 ($525), respectively. Color options include Gunmetal and Soft Gold for the former and only Gunmetal for the latter. OnePlus is also offering a free protective case with each purchase. For more information, head to the Source link...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/oneplus_3t_no_longer_amazonexclusive_in_india_now_listed_on_companys_estore-news-23885.php

Samsung Pay arrives in Sweden

Although sooner than expected, Samsung has launched its mobile payments service Samsung Pay in Sweden. To use the service, you'll need to have a compatible device designed for the Nordic market, a Samsung account, a Swedish SIM card, and of course, a connected credit/debit card. Samsung Pay in Sweden is currently in beta, with affiliated credit/debit card providers including Nordea, Eurocard, MasterCard, SEB, and Visa. Others including Swedbank and Handlesbanken will be added to the list soon. List of compatible Samsung devices currently includes the Galaxy S7/S7 edge and the...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_pay_arrives_in_sweden-news-23884.php

HP Elite x3 Bundle again drops to under $600 in US

Back in December last year, HP was offering a deal on the Elite x3 Bundle in the US for $599. In case you missed that promo, you'll be glad to know that it's back. This time Microsoft is offering the package at the same discounted price. The offer is valid until March 31, 2017, or while supplies last. For more information, head to the Source link below. Source | Via

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/hp_elite_x3_bundle_again_drops_to_under_600_in_us-news-23882.php

Nougat-powered Samsung Galaxy A3 (2016) spotted on Geekbench

We already know that Samsung is expected to roll out the Nougat update to its Galaxy A (2016) series of devices, and now, one of the devices running the latest Android OS version has been spotted in benchmark listings. The device in question is the Samsung Galaxy A3 (2016), and it has appeared on Geekbench running Android version 7.1.1. There's still no word on when the Nougat update for Galaxy A (2016) series would be rolled out, but we expect that to happen sooner than later especially given that company's flagship phones - the Galaxy S7/S7 edge and the Galaxy S6/S6 edge - have...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/nougatpowered_samsung_galaxy_a3_2016_spotted_on_geekbench-news-23883.php

Microsoft's Surface Studio PC coming to France this July

Microsoft has confirmed that its Surface Studio PC - which was made official back in October last year, and first went on sale the following month - will be launched in France this July. Initially, the PC will be available in "limited quantities" in the European country, but availability will improve starting September this year. With this, France will become the first market outside of the United States where the Surface Studio will be officially available for purchase. There's currently no official information on the price tag the PC will carry in France, although it's said to be...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/microsofts_surface_studio_pc_coming_to_france_this_july-news-23881.php

Latest Sony Xperia X Concept build brings X-Reality for video, March security patch

As part of its Concept for Android program, Sony has started pushing out a new update to participating Xperia X units. The update arrives as version 38.3.1.A.0.54, and brings along several new features including X-Reality for video. In addition, the update also improves adaptive brightness and fixes a bug where-in Low Battery Mode used wrong state post reboot. VoLTE is back, and the update also includes Android fixes for the month of March. Via

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/latest_sony_xperia_x_concept_build_brings_xreality_for_video_march_security_patch-news-23880.php

GBoard for Android gets emoji and GIF suggestions, live translation support

Google's own keyboard has grown immensely since it launched as a standalone app. These days, it finds itself as the default keyboard for many smartphones these days. GBoard has been recently updated to support translation of phrases directly in the keyboard. No longer will those dealing with multiple languages need to switch back-and-forth between an email or messaging app and Google's Translate app. Sadly, you'll still need to use the translate app if your message is in a foreign language. This feature has already been seen in GBoard 6.1 Beta, but is now rolling out with the latest...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/gboard_for_android_gets_emoji_and_gif_suggestions_live_translation_support-news-23879.php

Nokia 3, 5, and 3310 land in the UK in May

If you're in the UK and anxious to get your hands on one of those new Nokia phones, this is for you. Well known retailer Carphone Warehouse has already announced that it will be exclusively selling the Nokia 6 (including the Arte Black edition) in the UK, but now it looks like that may be just a limited time arrangement. Clove, an online retailer from the UK specializing in selling unlocked smartphones, has revealed when we can expect the new Nokias to be in stock in the country. The Nokia 3, 5, and 3310 should all become available at some point in May. Nothing more specific is known at...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_3_5_and_3310_land_in_the_uk_in_may-news-23878.php

Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 edge Android Nougat update is rolling out in Europe

It's now finally time for Samsung's Galaxy S6 and S6 edge to be graced with the update to Android 7.0 Nougat, at least in Europe. Owners of the two devices in certain countries on the continent have already been prompted to install the new software. So far it looks like the rollout has been started for Vodafone customers in Italy, Netherlands, Ireland, United Kingdom, and Romania, as well as Swisscom customers in Switzerland. We obviously expect the update to make its way to more regions and more carriers soon, now that the ball's rolling. The new build number for the Galaxy S6 edge is...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_s6_and_s6_edge_android_nougat_update_is_rolling_out_in_europe-news-23877.php

Another day, another Galaxy S8 and S8+ images leak

You didn't think a day would pass without a Galaxy S8 leak, did you? Latest images of the long-awaited Samsung flagship reveal and confirm once more that the device will be really tall and slim. In this leak we have only one device, so we are not quite sure if this is the Galaxy S8 or the Galaxy S8+. So far rumors suggest both devices are similar in proportions with the S8 having a 5.8" dual-curved screen while the S8+ display is 6.2" in diagonal. There is also a photo of a screen protector, specifically cut around the camera and alleged iris scanner. From the frontal...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/another_day_another_galaxy_s8_and_s8_images_leak-news-23876.php

Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ get certified by FCC

Another day, another bit of info about the upcoming Samsung flagship. We already know how the Galaxy S8/S8+ will look, how much it will cost and when is the official launch. Today we also got the info that the device is certified by FCC. The certification entry also revealed some model numbers of the devices for the US market. The images above reveal the Samsung Galaxy S8 is manufactured in Vietnam and has models SM-G950U, SM-G950U1 and SM-G950W. So we are going to see at least three variations of the Galaxy S8 on American soil. The other image we showed you above is...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/galaxy_s8_and_galaxy_s8_get_certified_by_fcc-news-23875.php

Pixel and Pixel XL have trouble with microphone, no easy solutions

Pixel is the first phone made by Google itself, and the device received plenty of positive reviews and commentaries since its arrival. However a recently uncovered issue with one or more of the microphones is souring the experience for some users. The problem causes a total audio input block on a call or while recording a video with the camera app. The Google Support Forum was flooded with complaints about microphone failure of Google Pixel and Google Pixel XL devices. According to a lengthy breakdown by Google employee, both phones have a failure-causing physical default in one of the...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/pixel_and_pixel_xl_have_trouble_with_microphone_no_easy_solutions-news-23873.php

Xiaomi unveils smart shoes powered by Intel

Xiaomi burst onto the sports tracker scene with its popular Band and now it is expanding its presence with its first smart shoes. The "90 Minutes Ultra Smart Sportswear" (that's the official name) is created in partnership with Intel, which provided the brain of the shoes - the button-sized Curie module. This CNY 300 pair of shoes (equivalent to $44/€41) have a 60 day battery life (never mind the name) and can track your movement - from walking or running, even climbing. At the end of the day you'll get a report of distance traveled, your speed and calories burned. As for the shoes...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_unveils_smart_shoes_powered_by_intel-news-23874.php

Google Allo gets Android Auto support with new update

Google has pushed out a new update to its Allo mobile messaging app that brings along some key features, including support for Android Auto. Sweet! Allo for Android Auto! pic.twitter.com/eUTGqLWfwy— Derek Ross (@derekmross) March 8, 2017 The app now also supports animated emojis. And finally, there are some bugfixes as well. Source | Via

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/google_allo_gets_android_auto_support_with_new_update-news-23869.php

Samsung sells the most smartphones in 2016, Apple comes second

Despite a difficult end to 2016, Samsung remained the top smartphone seller by shipping a whopping 308.5 million units last year, according to Strategy Analytics. Apple is a distant second with 215.5 million iPhones. However, high average selling prices and high margins gave Apple the lion's share of the profits - close to 80% of worldwide profits from smartphones ended up in its pockets, some $44.9 billion out of $53.7 billion total. In comparison, Samsung Mobile brought in 14.6% or $8.3 billion - a number certainly impacted by the Galaxy Note7 recall. Comparing operating profit...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_sells_the_most_smartphones_in_2016_apple_comes_second-news-23872.php

Google and Apple say many vulnerabilities highlighted by Wikileaks have been fixed

Shortly after Wikileaks released a cache of documents revealing details on CIA programs aimed at hacking popular mobile operating systems such as Android, Chrome, and iOS, Google said that many of the vulnerabilities highlighted in the leak have already been fixed. "As we've reviewed the documents, we're confident that security updates and protections in both Chrome and Android already shield users from many of these alleged vulnerabilities," said Heather Adkins, Google's Director of Information Security and Privacy. As for the remaining vulnerabilities, Adkins noted, "our analysis...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/google_says_many_of_the_vulnerabilities_highlighted_in_latest_wikileaks_leak_have_already_been_fixed-news-23870.php

Report says Samsung Galaxy S8 will feature facial recognition

The Samsung Galaxy S8 rumors have already revealed that the fingerprint sensor has been moved to the back, and there's also an iris scanner. Now, according to a new report, the phone will also feature facial recognition as well. "Due to some limits of iris scanning such as speed and accuracy, we have decided to add facial recognition to the Galaxy S8," the report cites a Samsung official as saying. "With a face scanner, it will take less than 0.01 seconds to unlock the phone." Coming out of the tech giant's home country of South Korea, the report says Samsung has already started...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/report_says_samsung_galaxy_s8_will_feature_facial_recognition-news-23871.php

ZTE Z986 with 6-inch display and Android 7.1.1 spotted on GFXBench

A new ZTE smartphone has been spotted in benchmark listings. Listed on GFXbench as ZTE Z986, the device is powered by a Snapdragon SoC with octa-core 2.0GHz processor, and sports a large 6-inch full HD display. RAM is 2GB, while storage is 16GB. The camera department is handled by a 12MP or 13MP main unit and a 5MP front shooter. The handset runs Android version 7.1.1 out of the box. Source | Via

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/zte_z986_with_6inch_display_and_android_711_spotted_on_gfxbench-news-23865.php

Nougat roll out for Asus Zenfone 3 has resumed

Back in January this year, shortly after launching it, Asus suspended the ZenFone 3 Android Nougat update rollout due to some bugs. Looks like all the issues have been ironed out as the roll out has now resumed. The update is for ZE552KL and ZE520KL models, and brings along Android version 7.0. Other changes include addition of bundled notifications switch, improved touch performance, and removal of Asus Share Link. Users should at-least have 1.5GB free storage on their device before starting the software update. For more information, head to the Source links below. Source 1 2 |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/nougat_roll_out_for_asus_zenfone_3_has_been_resumed-news-23868.php

Deal: LG V20 + LG 360 Cam for under $500

If you are an LG fan in the US, and are in the market for a flagship smartphone, you might want to checkout the deal retailer B&H is offering: pay only $499.99 for a bundle containing the LG V20 and LG 360 Cam. The V20 on offer is the 64GB variant, and carries a model number of US996. The handset is compatible with AT&T, T-Mobile, as well as Verizon. It's official price is $799.99. The LG 360 Cam, on the other hand, costs $199.99. So in total, the deal saves you $500. The promo ends March 10 (1PM EST). For more information, head to the Source links below. Source 1 2 | Via

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/deal_lg_v20__lg_360_cam_for_under_500-news-23866.php

BlackBerry Aurora officially announced

As expected, BB Merah Putih - which holds the license for making, marketing, and selling BlackBerry-branded smartphones in Indonesia - has officially announced the BlackBerry Aurora. The phone "is not only the first BlackBerry-branded device to ever be produced in Indonesia, but it is the first BlackBerry device in the world to be equipped with dual-SIM functionality," says Stanly Widjaja, Vice President BB Merah Putih. Specs-wise, the handset is powered by Snapdragon 425 chipset and sports a 5.5-inch 720p touchscreen. It comes with 4GB RAM and 32GB internal memory. The camera...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/blackberry_aurora_officially_announced-news-23864.php

Google Assistant fully rolling out to non-Pixel devices

Google Assistant is ultimately the successor of Google Now, and the assistant's transition has taken a while. Debuting on Google Allo, then making its way to the Google Pixel with Android Nougat, and more recently, though slowly, making its way to more non-Pixel/Nexus devices. The initial rollout began over a week ago. Droid-Life reports that it has received an influx of notifications and messages on various social media with happy readers reporting that Google has flipped the switch for Google Assistant on non-Pixel devices. In fact, the rollout is in full effect. We summoned...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/google_assistant_fully_rolling_out_to_nonpixel_devices_-news-23863.php

T-Mobile's throttling threshold raised to 30GB per billing cycle

Every US carrier has a threshold for customers on unlimited data plans. Usually, the threshold is around 22GB within a single billing period. What this means is once you hit the threshold, your data session will be set to a lower priority than others who are on tired-data plans, or to those who haven't yet reached the threshold. T-Mobile's deprioritization threshold has been 28GB in the fine print of its unlimited data plans for some time now. T-Mobile has quietly updated this threshold to 30GB within a single billing cycle. This section of text can be found in the company's "About" page...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/tmobiles_throttling_threshold_raised_to_30gb_per_billing_cycle-news-23862.php

BlackBerry Aurora will be unveiled tomorrow in Indonesia, out on March 16

TCL may hold the license for making BlackBerry-branded smartphones to be sold in most of the world, but some markets are excepted. One of those is Indonesia, where local company BB Merah Putih will be developing, marketing, and selling its own BlackBerry-branded phones. The first one of those is called Aurora, and we've already seen it leaked in a press render not long ago. BB Merah Putih is making the Aurora official at an event tomorrow, ahead of the handset's shipping date of March 16. If you're in Indonesia you can already order one from retailers such as Dinomarket, and the price...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/blackberry_aurora_will_be_unveiled_tomorrow_in_indonesia_out_on_march_16-news-23861.php

iPhone 7 and 7 Plus cases by Louis Vuitton start at $1,180 and go up to $5,500

There are some companies out there that will take an iPhone 7 or 7 Plus, cover it in gold and/or other expensive materials, and then sell it to you for a few thousand bucks. But maybe you're not into that. You want your iPhone to be pristine, yet still have more money than you know what to do with. Here's an idea, then. Louis Vuitton made some iPhone cases. They're called Eye-Trunk because the luxury fashion brand wanted a play on "i" and the fact that it used to make trunks. Or something like that. Anyway, the cheapest case costs $1,180 and the most expensive model goes for $5,500. And...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/iphone_7_and_7_plus_cases_by_louis_vuitton_start_at_1180_and_go_up_to_5500-news-23860.php

Microsoft thinks it's a good idea to put ads in your Windows 10 File Explorer

Microsoft has been trying to make the concept of ads in operating systems acceptable for a while now, using Windows 10 as its testbed. We've seen lock screen ads, notification ads telling you that Chrome is eating your battery and you should switch to Microsoft Edge, and even some weird targeted pop-up ads for Chrome users informing them about Microsoft's Personal Shopping Assistant. So by now you should have gotten used to this. That said, Microsoft is ready to take things to the next level - specifically, the Windows 10 File Explorer. That's a pretty essential app that we assume most...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/microsoft_thinks_its_a_good_idea_to_put_ads_into_your_windows_10_file_explorer-news-23859.php

Huawei P11 will probably be announced at MWC 2018, exec says

This year Huawei chose to make its flagship smartphone official at Mobile World Congress, which was a departure from what the company's done in the past few years when it favored standalone events in April. And it turns out that the 2017 P-series launch in February was no one-off accident. In fact, the company plans on doing the exact same thing for the P10's successor next year. So expect the Huawei P11 to "probably" become official at Mobile World Congress 2018. Or rather, if it once again goes the pre-MWC route, on the Sunday before MWC 2018 starts. The information comes from Bruce Lee,...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/huawei_p11_will_be_announced_at_mwc_2018_exec_says-news-23858.php

New Android Wear smartwatches coming this fall from Movado, Tommy Hilfiger, and Hugo Boss

More Android Wear 2.0 smartwatches are on the way later this year. The latest announcement on the matter comes from the Movado group, which is proudly proclaiming that it's partnered with Google to deliver a new wearable collection this fall. You'll thus see new devices running Android Wear and bearing the brands Movado, Tommy Hilfiger, and Hugo Boss (all owned by the Movado group). The Movado smartwatches will be called Connect. Five men's styles will be offered, with a starting price of $495. These will be unveiled at Baselworld and will be sold in the US, UK, Canada, and the Caribbean....

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/new_android_wear_smartwatches_coming_this_fall_from_movado_tommy_hilfiger_and_hugo_boss-news-23857.php

Facebook 360 app for Samsung Gear VR now available

Today Facebook has launched a dedicated app for Samsung's Gear VR headset. It's called Facebook 360 and is already available through the Oculus app on Samsung handsets that are compatible with the Gear VR. Facebook 360 has been created with the aim of making it easy for you to browse through the millions of 360-degree videos and photos that are posted to the social network, and experience them in the immersiveness of VR. There are more than 1 million such videos already up, and more than 25 million images. Facebook 360 shows you the 360-degree content posted by your friends and...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/facebook_360_app_for_samsung_gear_vr_now_available-news-23856.php

HTC U Ultra can now be yours for $635.99, $113 off the usual price

If you're interested in the HTC U Ultra, then you can buy one from the company's own online store for the US. In that case, you need to pay $749 for an unlocked unit, and shipping has just started earlier today. But if you want to save a decent chunk of cash you'll go the eBay route. One seller over there, with a whopping 99.9% positive feedback, is currently offering the phablet for just $635.99. That's $113 less than the official price, and you can even pick from multiple colors: black, pink, and white (blue is currently out of stock). The device is obviously unlocked, and it even...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/htc_u_ultra_can_now_be_yours_for_63599_113_off_the_usual_price-news-23855.php

Meizu M5s review: Shiny armor, rusty ammo

Meizu M5s might be coming late to the series, but the phone has a certain charm worthy of our attention. The M5s is akin to the M5 in lots of ways, but the choice of materials and chipset are not among those.

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/meizu_m5s-review-1586.php

Samsung Gear S3 Frontier gets an update

Samsung suits its smart watches with in-house Tizen OS, instead of relying on Android Wear. The latest and mightiest of all wearables by the Korean company is the Gear S3 Frontier, and as the leading device, it is also the pioneer when we're talking about firmware updates. The SM-R765 model (the one with LTE) got another upgrade today. It is mostly bug fixes but also includes an unknown new feature called 'Jansky Wearable'. We still don't know if this is a Watch Face or something you can do with the watch, but hopefully an early adopter will be able to fill us in. The Gear S3...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/gear_s3_frontier_gets_a_tizen_update-news-23854.php

Oppo F3 Plus specs leak online

After a few street ads in the Philippines and an official press invite, we are now pretty certain Oppo is preparing to launch the F3 and F3 Plus pair on March 23. From the looks of things, it is almost certain that Oppo is rising up to the dual-selfie challenge, set by vivo, with the V5 Plus family. Now there is yet another piece of information to back this theory up and it comes in the shape of an alleged specs sheet for the Oppo F3 Plus. If the leaked shot is to be believed, the F3 Plus will have a dual selfie setup, featuring a 16MP sensor and an 8MP one. The rest of the...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/oppo_f3_plus_specs_leak_online-news-23853.php