Alleged Xiaomi Mi 6 render spotted online

The Xiaomi Mi 6 has been a constant presence in the rumor mill for quite some time now. Typically, that should mean we already have a pretty clear picture of what to expect, but, sadly, leaks have been so inconsistent and all over the place that we are still basically clueless. That being said, today we came across yet another alleged image of the handset. The Weibo find does look like a pretty official render, but given the circumstances, we can't really be sure. Looking at the image itself, it is black on black, which is not ideal, but at least a few major details are still...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/alleged_xiaomi_mi_6_render_spotted_online-news-24048.php

India retailer is offering the iPhone SE for as low as INR 19,999

If haven't be keeping taps on Apple's recent dealings in India, there is a lot you may have missed. Last month the US giant officially announced its plans to manufacture and sell iPhones in India. Things quickly developed from there, with Wistron being selected as a primary local manufacturer, a plant in Bangalore being set up, as well as supplier deal to cover the country's mandatory 30% local material quota (you can read more about that in the first article). Then it quickly became clear that Apple plans to initially make and sell iPhone SE units in India, with production expected to...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/india_retailer_is_offering_the_iphone_se_for_as_low_as_inr_19999-news-24051.php

Back in black: yet another set of Samsung Galaxy S8 shots leaks

What we have on offer is the upcoming Galaxy S8 pair side by side. And if you happen to feel like this is not the first time you are reading this, we can't blame you, since you're not far off. We already got one of these a few days ago, only in a different color. Now, we have black units, or possible dummy models to check out. But, just so you don't get the impression that "black" is the new things here, we'll just link this other leak from a couple of days ago, or better yet this one. Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+ OK, now that we have all that covered, here are the two new...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/back_in_black_yet_another_set_of_samsung_galaxy_s8_shots_leaks-news-24052.php

Samsung Galaxy C7 Pro may land in India soon

After China and Hong Kong, the Samsung Galaxy C7 Pro may well be on its way to India as well. The device with model number SM-C701F has recently received WiFi certification, and the model number has also been spotted on the company's India website. There's currently no information on exactly when the phone will be launched in India as well as what price tag it will carry in the country. In Hong Kong, where it went on sale last month, the handset costs around $435. Source 1 2 | Via

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_c7_pro_may_land_in_india_soon-news-24045.php

Google is pulling the plug on YouTube annotations on May 2

In case anybody had any doubts in the past, we feel it is now pretty safe to historically name YouTube as the next big multimedia content revolution. Sure, "online video" might be a more technically correct and inclusive, but let's be real, with over a billion hours of content consumed per day, YouTube in the undisputed king. That being the case, Google's multimedia arm can't afford to take its sights off the future even for a moment. So, it only comes natural that things like annotations - an old remnant, dating back to 2008, well before the HTML5 revolution, eventually get axed. Well,...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/google_is_pulling_the_plug_on_youtube_annotations_on_may_2-news-24049.php

Alleged Nokia 6 gets FCC certified

A 'Nokia' branded smartphone has received certification from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the United States. While the listing doesn't reveal exactly which handset it is, reports say it could well be the Nokia 6. The assumption is based on the fact that the device the agency has cleared carries a model number of TA-1038, while the Nokia 6 carries a model number of TA-1000 for China. If the phone in question is indeed the Nokia 6, then it would be reasonable to assume that its US launch isn't far off. Via

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/alleged_nokia_6_gets_fcc_certified-news-24044.php

Huawei Watch starts getting Android Wear 2.0 update

Earlier this month, Huawei Deutschland revealed that the original Huawei Watch will start getting the Android Wear 2.0 update by March end. Well, the good news is that the roll out has begun already. The update brings along several changes, including native Google Play app and on-screen keyboard. Other changes include redesigned UI, optimized performance, Google Assistant, customizable watchfaces, as well as the ability to make payments using Android Pay. Source | Via

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/huawei_watch_starts_getting_android_wear_20_update-news-24043.php

LG G6 goes on sale in Malaysia

The LG G6 is now available for purchase in Malaysia, making it the second market after the company's home country of South Korea where the device has been launched. In Malaysia, retailer DirectD has the phone listed on its website for RM 3,899, which translates into around $880. Color options include Astro Black, Ice Platinum, and Mystic White. Next, the G6 will likely land in Israel, which is set to happen on March 22. Australia will get the phone on March 28, followed by the US and Canada, where the launch is set for April 7. Read our review of the phone here. Source | Via

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/lg_g6_goes_on_sale_in_malaysia-news-24046.php

BLU Life One X2 Mini with 5-inch display and 4GB RAM launched

BLU has launched a new smartphone, dubbed Life One X2 Mini. As the name suggests, it's a mini version of the Life One X2 that the company launched back in September last year. The Life One X2 Mini sports a 5-inch display, compared to the 5.2-inch screen the larger variant comes with. While chipset remains the same (Snapdragon 430), BLU says the SoC offers Mini "a 30% increase in performance compared to previous generation." The device comes with 4GB RAM and 64GB storage. A 13MP camera is on the back, while an 8MP shooter is on the front. The Life One X2 Mini measures 142 x 69.6 x...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/blu_life_one_x2_mini_with_5inch_display_and_4gb_ram_launched-news-24042.php

Super Mario Run's Android launch slated for March 23

Back in January this year, Nintendo revealed that Super Mario Run for Android will be launching this March. In line with that, the company has now confirmed that the launch is slated for March 23 (Thursday next week). Android version of #SuperMarioRun will be available on 3/23 with the Ver.2.0.0 update! Pre-register now: https://t.co/dAxzTlppnG pic.twitter.com/nQ0T4znOBt— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) March 18, 2017 The listing for the game is there on Google Play, but you cannot download it yet - there's only an option to pre-register (helpful to those who want to get...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/super_mario_runs_android_launch_slated_for_march_23-news-24041.php

HTC U Ultra gets a teardown video

A teardown video has been posted on YouTube where the HTC U Ultra posed for the video camera while its handler slowly dismantled it. The most difficult part of the disassembly process was the softening of the rear glass panel. Once that came off, screws held the phone together, underneath all the plastic covers that held the antennas. With the smartphone race these days, manufacturers are pushing the limits with screen sizes and razor-thin builds. This (as it appears on the video) is quite a step back for HTC. We really like the build on both the HTC 10 and the HTC 10 evo; the latter...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/htc_u_ultra_gets_a_teardown_video-news-24038.php

Moto G5 Plus receives its first software update, improves audio quality during video capture

Motorola's G5 Plus is now in the process of receiving its first ever software update. The phone was announced alongside the G5 at Mobile World Congress last month, and it's now starting to become available in certain markets. So its maker is making sure that any last-minute bugs in its software are fixed, by sending it the firmware build NPN25.137-33. If you haven't yet purchased a G5 Plus, the update to this version should be waiting for you when you unbox yours. The most important fix in the new release has to do with improving audio quality while recording video. Additionally, some...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/moto_g5_plus_receives_its_first_software_update_improves_audio_quality_during_video_capture-news-24037.php

UK: pre-ordering the £599 Galaxy Tab S3 nets you a free keyboard cover

Yesterday Samsung revealed the official release date and price for the Galaxy Tab S3 in the US. Today the Korean company has started taking pre-orders for the device in the UK, through its own online store. As anticipated based on a premature retailer listing, the new tablet does in fact cost £599. However, Samsung is offering a perk for those who pre-order, one which is sure to sweeten the deal. If you do decide to take the plunge and put in a pre-order for the Galaxy Tab S3, you will receive the keyboard cover for free. That's a £119 value and it will let you experience the Tab S3...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/uk_preordering_the__pound599_galaxy_tab_s3_nets_you_a_free_keyboard_cover-news-24036.php

Sony Xperia L1 gets certified in Russia

Sony is working on another new smartphone for its 2017 lineup, aside from the already official Xperia XZ Premium, XZs, XA1, and XA1 Ultra. It's called Xperia L1 and it was just certified in Russia. It's a bit surprising to see this being called L1, since that means it should act like a successor of sorts to the Xperia L. However, that device came out in May of 2013, and it's not usual to have four years passing between generations in the mobile world. Anyway, the L1 continues to show Sony's preference for adding the number "1" to the second model in a series (see the Xperia Z1 and XA1,...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/sony_xperia_l1_gets_certified_in_russia-news-24035.php

Black vivo Xplay6 is releasing next week

Ever since Apple debuted not one, but two different shades of black for its latest iPhones, black has seen somewhat of a revival in the mobile world. Many years ago it was the default color for phones, but in the meantime people grew accustomed to metallic hues such as silver or grey. Now apparently the world is ready to move back to black. Chinese smartphone maker vivo is aware of this trend, apparently. While it released the Xplay6 smartphone in just two versions - gold and rose gold - back in December of last year, it's now getting ready to add a new hue to that roster. The vivo...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/black_vivo_xplay6_is_releasing_next_week-news-24034.php

Unlocked Moto Z is down to $449.99 until tomorrow

Over the course of its life, the Moto Z has seen its fair share of deals. That said, most of those have been focused on convincing you to buy one alongside a Verizon contract. The unlocked Moto Z was at one point being offered for only $499.99, but that was last November. Now though, one retailer has actually beaten that, pricing the phone at the lowest level we've ever seen. If you buy an unlocked Moto Z from B&H, you'll only pay $449.99. The thing is - you need to hurry. The deal is only valid until tomorrow, March 18, at 11:59 PM EDT. That amount means you save a whopping $250...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/unlocked_moto_z_is_down_to_44999_until_tomorrow-news-24033.php

There's a class-action lawsuit in the making against LG for G4 and V10 bootloops

If you spend a decent amount of time on the internet reading phone-related things, you're probably already aware of the fact that LG's G4 and V10 have a tendency to be caught in bootloops after a few months of use. A bootloop is literally just that - the phone tries to boot but can't, so after the boot sequence is finished, it starts once again. And so on and so on until your battery is depleted. Now a few upset owners of the aforementioned devices have filed a proposition for a class-action lawsuit against LG in a California federal court. They're basically stating that the issue bricks...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/theres_a_classaction_lawsuit_in_the_making_against_lg_for_g4_and_v10_bootloops-news-24032.php

Galaxy S8 launches in April, leaked poster confirms

While the unveiling date of March 29 for the Galaxy S8 and S8+ is official, so far Samsung hasn't announced precisely when you'll be able to purchase one of its new flagships. However, all of the rumors we've heard so far on the matter pegged either April 21 or April 28 as the release date for the duo. To confirm the April time frame for the S8 and S8+ becoming available in stores, today a leaked poster surfaced. You can see it in the image to the left. It leaves absolutely no doubt as to which month the launch will occur in. Samsung is once again using the phones' minimal top and...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/galaxy_s8_launches_in_april_leaked_poster_confirms-news-24031.php

Galaxy Note5 gets Android Nougat update in Turkey, should spread to other markets soon

Today Samsung has started rolling out the update to Android Nougat for Galaxy Note5 units sold in Turkey. This follows similar rollouts for the Galaxy S6 and S6 edge, which have commenced earlier this month. The presence of Nougat on Note5 units in the wild in Turkey means that you should expect the update to hit other markets very soon. Samsung's rollouts usually go country by country, but once they start in a region they go out pretty quickly. As you can see from the screenshot to the left, the Nougat update comes over-the-air as a 1.3GB download. The firmware version for the new...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/galaxy_note5_gets_android_nougat_update_in_turkey_should_spread_to_other_markets_soon-news-24030.php

Apple invests $500M in two R&D centers in China

Apple reported today in a press release that it will invest $500 million in R&D centers in Shanghai and Suzhou. They are expected to open later this year alongside the already announced offices in Beijing and Shenzhen. Apple aims to develop technical experts out of the Peking University, Tsinghua University, and Shanghai Jiaotong University graduates. The company stated that it has partnered with schools to include internship programs. Attracting local bright minds and gaining access to local academics that cannot afford to study and travel to the United States is the main...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/apple_invests_500m_in_two_r_d_centers_in_china-news-24027.php

AMD announces Ryzen 5 lineup of desktop processors

Following the launch of Ryzen 7, AMD has announced the second tier of its desktop CPU lineup, the Ryzen 5. Unlike the Ryzen 7, which targets the high-end of desktop computing, the Ryzen 5 is aimed at the mid-range and will compete with the more affordable Intel Core i5 series. The current lineup includes four SKUs, starting with Ryzen 5 1600X at the top, followed by Ryzen 5 1600, Ryzen 5 1500X, and then the Ryzen 5 1400 at the very bottom. The Ryzen 5 1600X is a 6-core part with 12 threads, 3.6GHz base clock speed and 4.0GHz boost clock speed and 100MHz XFR boost with certain...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/amd_announces_ryzen_5_lineup_of_desktop_processors-news-24025.php

Huawei P10 lite is finally official, hits the shelves on March 31

Huawei P10 lite is now official, after a series of full-blown leaks and retailers' listings. The latest addition to the P10 series is keeping the focus on performance, camera, and battery efficiency, and will launch in two weeks. Huawei P10 lite was already by various retailers across the EU so we knew almost everything about it but now we can officially confirm these were true. The hadnset brings a 5.2" display of 1080p resolution and runs on the Kirin 658 chipset with an octa-core A53 processor and Mali-T830MP2 GPU. There are 4GB of RAM and 32GB expandable storage on...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/huawei_p10_lite_is_finally_official_hits_the_shelves_on_march_31-news-24023.php

ZTE nubia Z17 leaks reveal specs, no dual camera

Earlier this week ZTE teased a smartphone with a dual-camera setup, the first in the nubia family. Latest leaks reveal that this probably won't be the nubia Z17 and hint that ZTE might announce more than one device. On these images, you can see that nubia Z17 will have only one camera on the back along with a snapper on the front. There is no fingerprint scanner on the front - it is placed on the back, so this earlier photo is likely not the Z17. The battery will be 5,000 mAh which isn't a first for nubia - the nubia N1 has the same one. Another info that can be read from...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/zte_nubia_z17_leaks_reveal_specs_no_dual_camera-news-24022.php

Exynos 8895 Galaxy S8 hits GeekBench, outscores Snapdragon 835 version

Samsung has a good track record of offering its flagship handsets with Qualcomm and its own Exynos chipsets depedning on market. Although Galaxy S8 and S8+ leaks so far have mostly focused on the Snapdragon 835 variant, the existence of an Exynos alternative is pretty much considered a given at this point. The chip in question should be the Exynos 8895 and although we do have its hardware specs laid out in detail, performance markers have, been a bit scarce. Today we finally get an early taste of benchmark results thanks to GeekBench. The listing apparently comes from an SM-G955F handset,...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/exynos_8895_pops_up_at_geekbench_and_scores_higher_than_the_snapdragon_835-news-24019.php

Sprint Galaxy S5 gets latest security patch, Galaxy A7 gets security update as well

A couple of Samsung Galaxy smartphones are receiving new security updates. The devices in question are Sprint variant of the Galaxy S5 and unlocked Galaxy A7 from 2015. The update for the latter is currently hitting units in Europe. Specifically, the update to Sprint Galaxy S5 includes March security patch, while that for the Galaxy A7 includes Android fixes for the month of February. The former weighs in at around 285MB and arrives as build number G900PVPU3CPEI, while the latter arrives as firmware version A700FXXU2BQB1. No word on what other changes (if any) these updates bring...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/sprint_galaxy_s5_gets_latest_security_patch_galaxy_a7_gets_security_update_as_well-news-24016.php

Report: Galaxy S8's facial recognition tech will be used for mobile payments

Last week, there were reports that the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S8 will feature facial recognition technology, which will be used to unlock the phone. Now, a new report is suggesting that the tech will be used for mobile payments as well. Artistic render of the Samsung Galaxy S8 Specifically, the report suggests that the handset will use fingerprint, iris as well as facial detection for user verification when they try accessing services like Samsung Pay, making the S8 first Galaxy smartphone of its kind. The company is "already working with banks to help them embrace facial...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/report_says_samsung_galaxy_s8s_facial_recognition_tech_will_be_used_for_mobile_payments-news-24014.php

Huawei P10 goes on pre-order at Vodafone UK, available on March 31

Over in the UK, Vodafone chose to be the first mobile network operator (of many) to officially commence pre-orders for the Huawei P10. The handset is being offered in black or silver only for now, despite the many color versions Huawei announced. If you're interested in the P10 and Vodafone is your operator of choice, you can pre-order one for £10 upfront if you pick a two-year plan that costs £42 per month. Such an option would give you 24GB of data in the UK, 2GB of roaming data, along with unlimited minutes and texts both inside the country and while roaming. The cheapest monthly...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/huawei_p10_goes_on_preorder_at_vodafone_uk_available_on_march_31-news-24012.php

Gmail can now stream video attachments

At the beginning of this month Gmail started supporting attachments of up to 50MB at long last, and today's feature addition to the web-based client probably has something to do with that. Rolling out in the next 15 days to all Gmail users is a video streaming capability for attachments. This means you will no longer be required to download a video attachment in order to watch it. Once this reaches you, video attachments will show a thumbnail from the clip. When you double-click on that, the content will just start streaming inside a video player that's very similar to the one YouTube...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/gmail_can_now_stream_video_attachments-news-24011.php

Microsoft Surface Book 2 to reportedly be a traditional laptop, ditching 2-in-1 design

According to a new rumor supposedly coming out of "sources from the related upstream supply chain", a new Microsoft Surface Book is already in mass production. The company will apparently unveil this new product either at the end of this month or in April. The Surface Book 2 will be cheaper than its predecessor, starting at $1,000. However, that price point will be achieved by ditching what has been one of the original Surface Book's main selling points, namely its 2-in-1 detachable design. The Surface Book that's now on sale can be a tablet or a laptop, depending on what you want to use...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/microsoft_surface_book_2_to_reportedly_be_a_traditional_laptop_ditching_2in1_design-news-24010.php

OxygenOS 4.1 for OnePlus 3 and 3T upgrades to Android 7.1.1

OnePlus has pushed out OxygenOS 4.1.0 for both the OnePlus 3 and the 3T, which brings with it a couple of additions and miscellaneous improvements and bug fixes. The first big change is the upgrade to Android 7.1.1 from the 7.0 that was in the previous build. 7.1.1 comes with a bunch of changes on the Nexus devices, however, the list of changes on custom ROMs like OxygenOS is very small and the only thing we could spot is a new emoji set with more gender diverse emoji. Another thing that the update adds is expanded screenshots, which lets you scroll and take longer screenshots. The...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/oxygenos_41_for_oneplus_3t_upgrades_to_android_711-news-24007.php

Amazon's Alexa is now available in its iOS app

The main Amazon app for iOS is getting a big upgrade today (though it is a staged rollout so it will take a week to show up for everyone). Alexa, the company's very own virtual assistant, is now integrated into the app. You can use it by tapping the microphone in the search bar. You can ask it questions, let it help you shop, and tell it to play some music. The assistant also has access to the books in your Kindle library, in addition to the music from Amazon Music Unlimited, Prime Music, and purchased songs and albums. Once it starts playing media, playback controls will appear...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/amazons_alexa_is_now_available_in_its_ios_app-news-24009.php

Google Assistant starts spewing out ads on the Google Home and phones

It was only a matter of time, right? Google, an ad company (based on its main revenue stream), is serving up ads - phrased like that it doesn't seem like a big deal. But how many of you would have expected the much-lauded Google Assistant to start telling you ads? Well, that's exactly what it's doing. If you use the daily briefing feature that you can trigger by asking "What's my day like?" you'll hear something new today. In between the summary of your commute, reminders, calendar events, weather and the presentation of the most important news, this briefing has an ad. New Beauty & the...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/google_assistant_starts_spewing_out_ads_on_the_google_home_and_phones-news-24008.php

Huawei P10 Lite gets listed in Portugal too, once again priced at €349

At this point we're done believing that Huawei will ever make the P10 Lite official in the traditional sense - with an unveiling event or at least a press release acknowledging its existence. Instead, we're pretty sure it's just going to become available, and that's bound to happen soon. We've already seen it go up for pre-order in both the Netherlands and Italy, and today a retailer in Portugal has put up a listing for the phone. Oddly though, its entire website is down at the moment - not just this specific page. Like in Italy, the price has been set at €349 unlocked and SIM-free. The...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/huawei_p10_lite_gets_listed_in_portugal_too_once_again_priced_at__euro349-news-24006.php

Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 lands in the US on March 24 for $599.99

That premature Best Buy listing from a couple of days ago was right, as it turns out. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 really is going to cost $599.99 in the US. The price has been made official by the Korean company today. Additionally, we also get launch details. The tablet will be up for pre-order starting tomorrow (coincidentally or not, at the same time as the LG G6), and it will become available on March 24, which is next Friday. At the same time the keyboard accessory for the tablet goes on sale for $129.99. Pre-orders will be taken care of by Samsung's own online store as well as...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_tab_s3_lands_in_the_us_on_march_24_for_59999-news-24005.php

AT&T announces LG G6 launch details, Verizon confirms previously leaked info

Earlier today T-Mobile shared launch details for the much anticipated LG G6, and now it's time for both AT&T and Verizon to do the same. In the case of the carrier nicknamed Big Red, the official info basically confirms what's been leaked mere hours ago. AT&T is starting pre-orders for the G6 tomorrow. The phone will become available on April 7, just like at T-Mobile. It will cost you $24 per month for 30 months or $30 per month for 24 months using the carrier's Next installment program. In both cases, that adds up to a full retail price of $720. That's $70 more than what T-Mobile will...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/at_t_announces_lg_g6_launch_details_verizon_confirms_previously_leaked_info-news-24004.php

Google confirms Assistant is not rolling out to tablets

The Google Assistant has been in the works for some time now. The helpful AI made its debut in Google Allo and then lingered for a while as a Google Pixel exclusive. Thankfully, the online giant decided to give its partners some love and the Assistant in now part of a wide Android 6.0 and up roll-out. So, it is clearly being groomed to act as a successor to Google Now for most users. However, the original release notice only mentioned Android smartphones with no talk of tablets whatsoever. That was an easy detail to glance over, but now it's clear it was no accidental omission. A...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/google_confirms_assistant_is_not_rolling_out_to_tablets-news-24003.php

Samsung Galaxy S8 to shoot 1000 fps videos

Samsung Galaxy S8 which leaked earlier today in some more photos will stay with its 12 MP camera but will match the Sony Xperia XZ Premium for slo-mo videos - it will shoot 1000 fps videos. The iris scanner will also be improved with a tiny 3.7 MP camera for better eye recognition, industry sources revealed. There's plenty of leaks and rumors about the Galaxy S8, but this one sure sounds interesting. The camera is said to retain its 12 MP resolution, but this time the Korean company added DRAM enabling the super high framerates. Sony Xperia XZ Premium that was unveiled at MWC 2017...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_s8_will_shoot_1000_fps_videos-news-24002.php

Xiaomi Mi Mix to finally break out of China next week

The Xiaomi Mi Mix will be available in Vietnam starting March 22, the company announced at an event in Ho Chi Minh City. Distributor Digiworld will handle the sales. Aside from the Mi Mix, the products on offer will include the Redmi Note 4, Redmi 4A and an assortment of power banks. Less than a month ago it was announced that the bezelless concept-phone-turned-reality Mi Mix was going to be sold in the UAE, with a launch date mentioned for sometime in March. We're half way through it, and word hasn't gotten out yet that folks are buying Mi Mixes in the Middle East, so Vietnam...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_mi_mix_to_break_out_of_china-news-24001.php

WhatsApp to bring back text status updates after backlash

WhatsApp is bringing back the text status updates, according to a report by Techcrunch. The latest beta of the Android app includes the feature and will roll out to the stable version in the next few weeks. iOS version will be getting it later. Last month, WhatsApp replaced the text status updates that allowed users to inform others of their availability, with Snapchat-like video stories. This resulted in backlash from users as nor did anyone, ever, ask for a Stories feature to be implemented in WhatsApp but the previous text status messages was a regularly used feature of the...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/whatsapp_to_bring_back_text_status_updates_after_backlash-news-24000.php

LG G6 to cost $624 at T-Mobile, sales starting on April 7

Yesterday we told you that LG G6 will start shipping across the US in a combo with Google Home. Today T-Mobile confirmed the info and also updated us on the launch date and pricing. The sales of the latest LG flagship will begin on April 7. T-Mobile will be offering it on its website and in stores across the United States for $624 or 24 monthly installments of $26 with the Equipment Installment Plan. EIP means that the carrier will give you the device for such price only with a new data plan contract. Along with the LG G6, you will also receive a Google Home, but only if you...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/lg_g6_to_cost_624_on_tmobile_sales_starting_on_april_7-news-23997.php

LG G6 review: Cutting corners... Like a pro

Cutting corners - it's the story of the LG G6's life. Literally - the smartphone's display doesn't end in right angles, it's soft arcs instead. Figuratively - the G6 isn't packing the absolute greatest hardware on the market.

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/lg_g6-review-1590.php

HTC sells a smartphone factory to boost VR business

Former smartphone giant HTC sold a Shanghai phone manufacturing facility so it boost its investments in the VR business. The buyer Xingbao Information Technology paid CNY630 million or approximately $91.17 million for the plant. Thedeal with XIT should not hurt distribution and sales of the latest HTC U Ultra and HTC U Play. Source | Via

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/htc_sells_a_smartphone_factory_to_support_vr_business-news-23996.php

HTC readies Desire 650 dual sim, a MediaTek-powered ODM device

The Spring is coming tweet made HTC fans perk up their ears, but a reliable leakster may have just poured cold water on their hopes. Apparently, HTC is set to release the "Desire 650 dual sim", which will differ from the current Desire 650. It will be an ODM device (meaning someone makes it for HTC) and will feature ODM customizations to Sense 8.3, custom software not found on true-blood HTCs. The phone will come only in Dual SIM flavor and will be powered by a MediaTek chipset (the original Desire 650 from mid-2016 used an old Snapdragon 400). The new phone could launch in the US for...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/htc_readies_desire_650_dual_sim_a_mediatekpowered_odm_device-news-23995.php

Black Samsung Galaxy S8 leaks in new photos

Samsung Galaxy S8 just refuses to wait patiently for its official announcement - images of the upcoming flagship leaked once more. The new photos are of the black version of the phone and align nicely with previous ones. Samsung Galaxy S8 is reported to have 5.8" Super AMOLED dual-curved display with extremely thin bezels. The chipset will be Snapdragon 835 with 4 GB RAM, but there are reports that China will get a 6 GB RAM version. The phone will come with redesigned user interface and entirely new AI voice assistant named Bixby. Along with Galaxy S8, a...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/black_samsung_galaxy_s8_leaks_in_new_photos-news-23994.php

ZTE is rolling out Android 7.1.1 for the Axon 7

ZTE hit a home run with the Axon 7 - flagship specs, accompanied by a stylish exterior and amazing sound setup at a much lower price than you'd expect. It is one of the few handsets out there that successfully managed to take on the OnePlus 3 in the unique value segment it spearheaded. Perfectly aware of this, the Chinese manufacturer has really been keeping on top of things in the software department. The first Nougat update hit units last month and already an even newer Android 7.1.1 OTA is being pushed to users. The new package doesn't bring as many new features as the initial...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/zte_is_rolling_out_android_711_for_the_axon_7-news-23993.php

New Samsung Gear 360 appears in FCC

Samsung Gear 360 came out last year and now a newer edition of the 360-degree camera is on the way. FCC listings revealed a 3D render of the "Next Gear 360" along with the ID of the device. Samsung is working on a better version for the new Gear 360 with a handle and a power button like a gun-trigger, according to FCC listings, published yesterday. Unfortunately, many of the details are heavily redacted, so we don't know any specs of the camera. There is a 3D render though that reveals the device will be smaller (45 mm width) and will be handheld, scrapping the tripod from the first...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/new_samsung_gear_360_appears_in_fcc-news-23992.php

HTC's Pot-O-Gold contest: you can win a gold-plated HTC One from 2013

Happy St. Patrick's Day, 2013 everyone! Wait, what? HTC is offering one lucky pub dweller a chance to win a "super limited 24K gold plated edition" of the original HTC One. Yes, the One from 2013. And to be clear, this is gold plated so the amount of actual gold is very little. At least you could smelt down old Vertus, but no amount of green beer can make this sound like a solid idea. HTC One (from 2013) plated in 24K Gold... this leprechaun needs to upgrade more often If you do want a piece of gilded nostalgia, you can subscribe to HTC's mailing list, that's all you need to...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/htcs_potogold_contest_you_can_win_a_goldplated_htc_one_from_2013-news-23991.php

The Xiaomi Mi 6 may launch with Snapdragon 821 initially, with S835 later

It seems that the March launch of a Snapdragon 835-powered Xiaomi Mi 6 will not happen due to availability issues. So rumor has it that the company has reconfigured one of the three versions of the upcoming flagship so that it could launch earlier by switching to Snapdragon 821. Several other companies have done the same - LG with the G6, Sony with the Xperia XZs. Xiaomi's first in-house chipset isn't up to the task and the rumored higher-end chip isn't official yet. In the end, the top of the line version with a Snapdragon 835 may launch 1-2 months after the S821 and Helio X30...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/the_xiaomi_mi_6_may_launch_with_snapdragon_821_initially_with_s835_later-news-23990.php

Verizon's LG K8 (2017) gets Wi-Fi certified

The LG-VS501 - which has already cleared the FCC and is expected to be the Verizon variant of the LG K8 (2017) - has been granted WiFi certification by the Wi-Fi Alliance (WFA), suggesting an imminent launch. The LG K8 (2017) was officially unveiled back in December last year. Specs-wise, it is powered by Snapdragon 425 SoC and sports a 5-inch HD display. Memory configuration is 1.5GB/16GB, while camera configuration is 13MP/5MP. The device runs Android 7.0 Nougat. It's already available from US Cellular. Source | Via

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/verizons_lg_k8_2017_gets_wifi_certified-news-23986.php

March security patch hitting Sony Xperia X, X Performance, X Compact, and XZ

Sony has started pushing out a new update to its Xperia X, X Performance, X Compact, and XZ smartphones. Arriving as build number 39.2.A.0.442 for the Xperia XZ and X Performance, and 34.2.A.0.333 for the Xperia X and Xperia X Compact, the update brings along March security patch. There's currently no information on what other changes (if any) are included in the update. Given the fact that it's an OTA roll out, it may take time for the update to hit your device. 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/march_security_patch_hitting_sony_xperia_x_x_performance_x_compact_and_xz-news-23984.php