Next-gen Apple AirPods case could charge other devices, just how big is it going to be?

Apple's AirPods are in a constant state of unavailability, with the 'Ships: 6 weeks' a permanent fixture on their product page. Apple's got plans for a follow-up though, and if a patent filing is any indication, the future AirPods will be a tad larger. Or their case, at least. The patent docs contain the provision for the case to serve as an inductive charger, potentially outputting power to iPods, iPhones, and even iPads and MacBooks. It's a pretty bold claim, even if patent filings do tend to be as broad and far-fetched as possible, just in case. Indeed the most likely device...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/nextgen_apple_airpods_case_could_charge_other_devices_just_how_big_is_it_going_to_be-news-24446.php

5.8-inch OLED iPhone 8 might be delayed due to 3D sensing troubles

We're being led to believe that there will be three iPhones come this Fall, and a new rumor suggests that the one you'll want may show up a month or two later than usual. The range-topping 5.8-inch iPhone 8 (if Apple doesn't come up with a different name) may be pushed to an October or November release due to issues with the 3D sensing tech that's set to debut on it. The 3D sensing is Apple's augmented reality tech that will gather images from the front and back cameras and a dedicated infrared sensor to be used for 3D selfies and in games that will be developed to utilize it. That's only...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/58inch_oled_iphone_8_might_be_delayed_due_to_3d_sensing_troubles-news-24445.php

Refurbished Galaxy Note7 surfaces, 3,200mAh battery this time

A couple of weeks ago Samsung confirmed what had been rumored for a while - refurbished Galaxy Note7s will be made available, only not in the US (and not in India, either). Well, now a few live photos allegedly showing one such unit have surfaced out of Vietnam, where the company does have manufacturing facilities, so it could very well be the real thing. Alleged refurbished Samsung Galaxy Note7 This new Note7 (which may not even be called that to avoid explosion references) has been assigned a different model number as the settings menu can attest to - N935 now, as opposed...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/refurbished_galaxy_note7_surfaces_3200mah_battery_this_time-news-24444.php

Root achieved on the Samsung Gear S3, Android Wear theoretically possible

An XDA thread was just updated this morning that briefly outlines the progress of getting Android Wear and/or TWRP (a custom Android recovery) running on a Gear S3 with some modified firmware. A developer has coupled the source files for the Exynos 7270 CPU (which the Gear S3 runs on) along with an internal firmware that gives the user full read/write access, which would allow for flashing anything that can be made for the Gear S3's hardware. The ultimate goal would be to get Android Wear running on the Gear S3. Currently the project is still in diaper stages of pre-development and...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_gear_s3_running_android_wear_is_theoretically_possible_root_achieved-news-24443.php

Samsung outlines Gear S3's "Value Pack" update

Today, Samsung outlines new features of the "Value Pack" update that has been rolling out to the Gear S3 and S2, which kicked off last week. The update focuses a lot on fitness and reminders. The Samsung Health UI has been updated from the watch and includes new workout features. Specifically, in the workout results window, you'll see visual information (charts and graphs) about the amount of time spent in certain heart-rate zones. In addition, a new stretch guide is added showing how you should stretch when inactive for longer than 30 minutes. Samsung Health will also automatically...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_outlines_gear_s3s_value_pack_update_-news-24442.php

Sony Xperia XZs review: Slow (e)motion

Slap a new camera on the Xperia XZ, et voila - you have yourself a brand-new flagship. Is Sony taking advantage of a smartphone-induced decrease in human attention span? Or just doing what everyone else does?

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/sony_xperia_xzs-review-1600.php

T-Mobile is giving you a free tablet if you buy the LG G6

The LG G6 has become available at T-Mobile today, and the magenta carrier has cooked up a sweet deal for those of you who want to pick up a unit soon. For a limited time only, when you purchase a G6 on an installment plan, you can receive an LG G Pad X 8.0 tablet free of charge. Or rather, you'll get a prepaid MasterCard card with $240 on it, which is what the tablet costs. This will happen 6-8 weeks after your purchase, and you'll have to pay $10 per month in installments for the G Pad for two years. The G6 is priced at $26 down then followed by 24 monthly payments of $26, which all...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/tmobile_is_giving_you_a_free_tablet_if_you_buy_the_lg_g6-news-24441.php

Verizon's Pixels have their own Android 7.1.2 builds, rolling out right now

This Monday Google released the latest version of Android for the devices it handles, namely Pixels and Nexuses. Android 7.1.2 isn't a huge jump compared to 7.1.1, as you'd expect from the minor version incrementation. But it should fix some annoying bugs, so there's that. Today Verizon has started rolling out the software to Pixel handsets it sold, and oddly enough these get a different build number compared to all the other Pixels out there. What's more, Verizon's builds aren't even listed by Google on its factory images and OTA zip files pages. If you own a Pixel or Pixel XL...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/verizons_pixels_have_their_own_android_712_builds_rolling_out_right_now-news-24440.php

Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 9.7 and 8.0 are now getting Nougat updates too

We've already seen quite a number of Samsung smartphones receiving their fair share of updates to Android 7.0 Nougat, but the Korean company hasn't forgotten about the tablets it seems - especially the high-end models. Both the Galaxy Tab S2 9.7 and the Galaxy Tab S2 8.0 are now in the process of receiving the tasty treat. We're talking about the original, 2015 Tab S2 models. As of now, the 9.7-inch Wi-Fi-only device with the model number SM-T810 is getting Nougat in Germany, while the 4G-capable SM-T715 8-incher undergoes the same treatment in Italy. Once you apply the new software,...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_tab_s2_97_and_80_are_now_getting_nougat_updates_too-news-24439.php

ZTE nubia Z17 mini is coming to Europe, India, and other markets in late May

Yesterday ZTE sub-brand nubia took the wraps off its latest creation, the Z17 mini smartphone with dual rear cameras. The handset is set to go on sale in China on April 12, but ZTE is doing something pretty unusual with it. Namely, the Z17 mini will be one of very few nubia-branded devices to actually be officially sold in markets other than China. The phone will become available in Europe, India, and other unspecified locations starting in late May. Unfortunately more concrete details aren't available yet, but if you've been impressed by what the nubia Z17 mini offers in its metal-clad...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/zte_nubia_z17_mini_is_coming_to_europe_india_and_other_markets_in_late_may-news-24438.php

HTC U Ultra with sapphire crystal display glass lands in Europe on April 18

HTC's U Ultra comes in two versions. One has 64GB of storage and Gorilla Glass 5 on top of the display, while the other boasts 128GB of memory and a sapphire crystal glass on top of the screen. The former has been out in many markets for some time now, but the latter has so far been confined to the company's home of Taiwan. That's about to change, though. Starting on April 18, the sapphire-clad U Ultra will become available in Europe. This is true at least for Germany and Switzerland. As you'd expect, it will be anything but cheap. In fact, you'll need to shell out a whopping €849 or CHF...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/htc_u_ultra_with_sapphire_crystal_display_glass_lands_in_europe_on_april_18-news-24437.php

Here's a fresh batch of Samsung Galaxy S8 TV ads

Samsung has been seriously hyping up its Galaxy S8 duo through all means possible. We get a few videos every other day and as you imagine with that kind of production cost they are quite enjoyable to watch. The latest batch features a few made-for-TV ads released on YouTube, each with its own unique idea and story and focusing on one or another key feature of the new Galaxies. The display: The design: But the best, by far, is The New Normal. It's a video focused on the technologies today that seemed impossible in the recent past. A soft cover of The Beatles' Across the...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/heres_a_new_batch_of_samsung_galaxy_s8_ads-news-24436.php

Samsung Galaxy S8+ with 6GB of RAM on pre-order in Korea

Samsung has started taking pre-orders for the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ in Korea today. You could order the regular 4GB models but also a Midnight Black Galaxy S8+ with 6GB of RAM and 128GB onboard storage for KRW 1,155,000 (€957). People who pre-order the Galaxy S8+ 6GB/128GB will get a Samsung DeX station as a bonus. The Galaxy S8 costs KRW 935,000 (€775) while the 4GB Galaxy S8+ costs KRW 990,000 (€820). Deliveries of pre-ordered units should begin in 18 days. Source

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_s8_with_6gb_of_ram_on_preorder_in_korea-news-24434.php

Samsung Galaxy C7 Pro launched in India

Samsung has launched the Galaxy C7 Pro in the Indian market. The phone is priced at INR 27,990 ($435) and available exclusively through Amazon India starting April 11. The Galaxy C7 Pro has a 5.7-inch 1080p Super AMOLED display, 7mm glass and metal body, new Snapdragon 626, 4GB RAM, 64GB expandable storage, 16 megapixel rear and front cameras, dual SIM, 3300mAh battery and Android Marshmallow. The phone will be available in Navy Blue and Gold.

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_c7_pro_launched_in_india-news-24432.php

Xiaomi Mi Max 2 spotted on GFXBench, specs detailed

Xiaomi seems to be keeping pretty busy lately- the Mi 6 is scheduled to come out this month and a refreshed Mi Pad 3 is already official. That pretty much only leaves the Mi Mix and Mi Max in line for a refresh. The Mi 6 has been frequenting the rumor mill, but now we finally get a more detailed look at the Mi Max 2. A GFXBench entry surfaced today, for a "Xiaomi Oxygen" device. Its 6.4-inch FullHD panel helps clear things up rather easily, while the reported Adreno 506 GPU lets the phone's mid-range nature shine through. This is probably the Snapdragon 660, mentioned in...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_mi_max_2_spotted_on_gfxbench_specs_and_all-news-24429.php

Xbox ‘Scorpio' hardware gets detailed

After months of secrecy since its reveal back in E3 2016, Microsoft has decided to reveal a few details about their upcoming Xbox console, codenamed ‘Scorpio'. So here's what we already knew before this; Scorpio is a mid-generation spec bump to the Xbox One platform (never mind the Xbox One S, which was also a minor spec bump) and not a whole new generation of console. The main goal here was to have native 4K gaming on all titles, unlike the upscaling or checkerboard rendering trick used by Sony on the PS4 Pro. It has 6 TFLOPs of performance on offer, making it the fastest console ever...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/xbox_scorpio_hardware_gets_detailed-news-24427.php

Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+ pre-orders will open in Malaysia on April 11

The Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+ will finally become available for pre-order in Malaysia on April 11 at 10AM local time. The S8 is going for RM 3,299 ($743.60) while the S8+ is going for RM 3,699 ($833.76). Samsung Galaxy S8 When pre-ordering in Malaysia, you can get a bunch of freebies. In fact, there are a lot of useful things here. The "Limited edition starter kit" comes with 1 clear case, 1 screen protector, wireless charging stand, and a USB charging cable. You also get a 5,100 mAh Samsung Battery Pack, and "Samsung Protection Plus", which extends your manufacturer's warranty by...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_s8_and_s8_preorders_will_open_in_malaysia_on_april_11-news-24426.php

Twitter sues the US Department of Homeland Security for trying to break the first amendment

If you don't know what's going on between Twitter and the United States Government right now, grab some popcorn and take a seat. We'll try to make it as simple as possible, as there is quite a bit of meat on this bone. Twitter is suing the United States Department of Homeland Security for demanding that Twitter unmask the anonymity of Twitter account @ALT_USCIS (Alternative US Citizenship and Immigration Services), which voices its direct opposition of the Trump Administration, its values (and its logic). The government tried to use a "limited purpose investigatory tool" that can...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/twitter_sues_the_us_department_of_homeland_security_for_trying_to_break_the_first_amendment-news-24425.php

Facebook Messenger gets "M" assistant

Facebook Messenger has released a new assistant called "Messenger M". We're actually quite glad it was not named "M assistant. But anyway, the premise of M is: you can receive suggestions to take actions (right from the message screen) based on the context of your conversation. All this sounds quite familiar. is starts with "Google" and ends with "Assistant". No, no, M is not a fully-fledged smartphone assistant. It's more like Google Assistant's debut in Google Allo when it first came out (The major difference is that Facebook Messenger already has 1 billion monthly active users). M...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/facebook_messenger_gets_m_assistant_-news-24424.php

Samsung Galaxy Note8 has been assigned software build numbers

Now that the Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+ rumor mill is no longer churning, the next device we'll be hearing a lot about over the next several months is going to be the Galaxy Note8. What that said, SamMobile reports that the Korean electronics giant has already begun developing software for the successor to the Galaxy Note7. Along with the Galaxy Note8, the report also mentions the software build numbers for the refurbished edition of the Galaxy Note7. After a few weeks of rumors and speculation, Samsung confirmed, just last week, that the Note7 was going to be refurbished, though, it would...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_note8_has_been_assigned_software_build_numbers-news-24423.php

Android Wear 2.0 is now headed to the LG G Watch R and original Watch Urbane

Android Wear 2.0 finally started rolling out at the end of last month, even though it was initially supposed to come out last fall, and then got delayed to February. Better late than never, right? Well, yes, but then Google found a big nasty bug even after the rollout commenced, so it had to pause things and fix it. Now it finally looks like that unnamed bug is behind us, as more and more smartwatches are receiving the coveted Wear 2.0 update. It's already made it to the Fossil Q Founder, Casio Smart Outdoor Watch, Tag Heuer Connected, Polar M600, Fossil Q Wander and Q Marshal, the Michael...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/android_wear_20_is_now_headed_to_the_lg_g_watch_r_and_original_watch_urbane-news-24422.php

Galaxy S8 fast wireless charging convertible stand goes up for pre-order

We've already let you know that the DeX Station dock for the Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+ is available for pre-order. And now it's time for another accessory for the Korean company's new flagship duo to get the same treatment. It's the "Samsung Fast Charge Wireless Charging Convertible Stand W/ AFC Wall Charger", to use the full name listed by Amazon. The retailer will charge you $89.99 for one unit, and you can choose between black and "Tan" as colors. The fast wireless charger (since that's what it is) will become available on April 20. The neat thing about it is that you can use it...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/galaxy_s8_fast_wireless_charging_convertible_stand_goes_up_for_preorder-news-24421.php

LG G6 arrives at Sprint tomorrow for half off its normal price

Earlier today LG announced that it's commencing the global rollout of the G6, its latest flagship smartphone which it unveiled at MWC in February. And now Sprint is already launching a half off deal for the phone. The G6 will become available at Sprint tomorrow. And starting then, for a limited time, you'll be able to pick one up for just half of the normal price. You need to use installments for this to work, but you will be paying $14.75 per month for two years instead of $29.50. This means that the sum total of your payments for the handset will end up being $354, and not $708....

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/lg_g6_arrives_at_sprint_tomorrow_for_half_off_its_normal_price_-news-24420.php

Comcast becomes a wireless carrier with Xfinity Mobile

Comcast may not be the most loved company in the US (far, far from it, in fact), but it does have a lot of customers. Sure, some (or many) of those don't really have a choice, but that's a discussion for another day. The company has just announced that it's jumping into the wireless carrier business with Xfinity Mobile. Comcast Xfinity Mobile will be a MVNO operating on Verizon's network, and it will become available later this year. There's a catch, however - you'll have to be a Comcast customer to use Xfinity Mobile. Additionally, it doesn't seem like bringing your own device to the...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/comcast_becomes_a_wireless_carrier_with_xfinity_mobile-news-24419.php

ZTE also unveils nubia NeoAir VR camera

Undoubtedly, the nubia Z17 mini was the star of the show for ZTE's sub-brand at its event which took place earlier today. However, the smartphone wasn't the only product which became official on that occasion. ZTE also announced the nubia NeoAir VR camera. This is a small device that boasts two fisheye lenses, each with a 210-degree field of view. The NeoAir creates 360-degree photos (at 3,008x1,504 resolution) and videos (shot in 2,560x1,280). Both of its sensors have f/2.4 aperture. The NeoAir VR weighs just 26.5g, and it measures 37.6mm in diameter. It has a USB Type-C connector,...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/zte_also_unveils_nubia_neoair_vr_camera-news-24418.php

Xiaomi Mi 6 has most specs revealed by GFXBench

As we wait for the Xiaomi Mi 6 to become official at some point this month, someone in possession of a prototype decided to put it through the paces of GFXBench for Android. Thankfully, that has resulted in a pretty complete list of specs of the device becoming public in the benchmark's database. GFXBench refers to it as "Xiaomi Sagit" but the chipset it has clearly reveals that this is indeed the Mi 6 we're talking about. The handset thus features a 5.1-inch 1080p touchscreen, a 12 MP rear camera with 4K video recording, and an 8 MP selfie shooter that's also capable of snapping 4K...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_mi_6_has_most_specs_revealed_by_gfxbench-news-24417.php

NVIDIA announces new Titan Xp graphics card at $1200

NVIDIA has announced a new variant of last year's Titan X based on the Pascal architecture, mercifully called the Titan Xp so there is no more confusion. The Titan Xp is a spec boost over last year's Titan X Pascal and gets back the crown of the fastest graphics card available on the market from the 1080Ti. The CUDA core count goes from 3584 to 3840. The base clock speed hasn't been specified but the boost clock speed goes from 1531MHz to 1582MHz. The floating point performance has gone from 11 TFLOPs to 12 TFLOPs. Meanwhile, the memory remains the same 12GB GDDR5X but the...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/nvidia_announces_new_titan_xp_graphics_card_at_1200-news-24416.php

WhatsApp to implement UPI based payment system in India

Facebook owned WhatsApp is finally throwing its hat in the online payment system, starting first with India, its biggest market in the world. The company is said to be working on a system based on India's UPI or Unified Payments Interface to allow person to person transactions. The UPI system was borne out of India's drive towards a cashless digital economy and has been adopted all the major banks and even some services such as Truecaller. Facebook currently has a job opening for Digital Transactions Lead, India in Menlo Park, California, with one of the job requirements being ‘Ability...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/whatsapp_to_implement_upi_based_payment_system_in_india-news-24415.php

Samsung ordered to pay $11M to Huawei over patent infringements

The Quanzhou Intermediary Court ordered Samsung to pay CNY80 million to Huawei after infringing patents. The sum equals $11.6 million and is a compensation for using a 4G license in over 20 devices, including the Galaxy S7. The verdict is a result of a lawsuit filed in May by Huawei in two countries - China and the United States. The Korean company responded with filing a lawsuit for infringing IP certification patents. Huawei sought compensation for over 30 million products sold in 2016 that generated $12.7 billion revenue for the Korean conglomerate. After the court's decision...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_ordered_to_pay_11m_to_huawei_over_patent_infringements-news-24414.php

UK pre-orders for the Samsung DeX dock start at GBP 129.99

Samsung decided to take another attempt at delivering a smartphone-powered desktop experience with this year's Galaxy S8 pair. In case you missed it, we are talking about the DeX Station - the company's new phone dock. Retailer Clove listed the powerful accessory on its site today, for GBP 129.99. This mostly falls in line with the $149.99 pre-orders are currently going for in the US. As for availability, Clover is keeping quiet and we only have the vague US April timeframe to go on. Just as a quick reminder, the DeX station is compatible with both the Galaxy S8 and S8+....

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/clover_uk_is_taking_preorders_for_the_samsung_dex_dock_at_gbp_12999-news-24413.php

Huawei P10 Plus review: Eyes wide open

Show-stealing looks and imaging prowess, the Huawei P10 Plus was one of the headliners at the MWC with good backing on the inside (by a little less special sibling) and not too heavily challenged from the outside. Early in the new season though, the competition is just about starting to hit harder, so the big tests are ahead of the P10 Plus.

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/huawei_p10_plus-review-1598.php

Deal: Pre-order Galaxy S8 and get Gear VR or $150 gift card for free

Members of Sam's Club can pre-order the latest flagship Galaxy S8 and get two sweet deals - either a Gear VR with Controller if the order is placed online before April 12 or receive a $150 gift card for orders paid between April 21 and April 30. Or if you want to have two Galaxy S8 devices, you can always get both. Samsung Gear VR with Controller Getting Samsung's VR headset & controller can happen if you order on Sam's Club website before the weekend of Easter and then you have to submit your receipt by May 14. Then in 6-8 weeks, Samsung will ship you the Gear VR. The deal...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/deal_preorder_galaxy_s8_and_get_gear_vr_or_150_gift_card_for_free-news-24412.php

Dual camera ZTE Nubia Z17 mini debuts

The ZTE Nubia Z17 mini is now official and it turns out most of the rumors about it were correct. The phone, a medal-clad stunner endorsed by Cristiano Ronaldo, offers two 13MP OIS cameras on the back - one monochrome and another color sensor . The front camera is an impressive 16MP snapper with a bright f/2.0 lens and an 80-degre wide field of view. The display is a 5.2" 1920x1080px (424ppi) LTPS panel with a slight 2.5D curve to the glass and 1500:1 contrast. The Nubia Z17 mini comes in two configurations - a model with a Snapdragon 652 chip and 4 gigs of RAM and one with a...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/zte_nubia_z17_mini_is_official_with_dual_camera-news-24411.php

LeEco teases Le Max 3 - to come with its own AI on April 11

LeEco has sent out official press invites for an April 11 event, teasing its new smartphone with an image of a robot with the the tagline AI atop. This is by far the most interesting thing we've seen of the upcoming LeEco smartphone. LeEco's personal assistant should be able to recognize and execute simple commands like making a call or setting up a calendar appointment. But it might also be able to work with third party apps and should get better with time, the more you use it. There's a good chance the Le Max 3 will have Google's Assistant as well, so long as the phone has Android 7...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/leeco_teases_le_max_3__to_come_with_its_own_ai_on_april_11-news-24410.php

Nokia 5 gets certified by FCC

Nokia 5 was launched at MWC 2017 and quickly gained track as an affordable alternative of the trending Nokia 6. The device with the model name TA-1044 was just certified by the Federal Commision Certification, suggesting that its market release is inching closer. Latest info says that HMD plans to launch the device across 120 markets simultaneously, including the United States. Nokia 5 is powered by Snapdragon 430 CPU and has 2GB RAM and the Android is 7.1.1 Nougat. The device has €199 price tag but it may vary depending on the market. Source | Via

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_5_gets_certified_by_fcc-news-24409.php

Twitter launches data-friendly Twitter Lite

Twitter launched today a faster data-saving version of its mobile website. That way it becomes the third leading platform with a step towards data-friendly internet after Facebook Lite and YouTube Go. The company announced on its blog that "45% of mobile connections are still on 2G". That's why it optimized the speed and navigation of mobile.twitter.com. Now the site launches 30% faster and navigates quicker while still providing the key features - your timeline, Tweets, DMs, trends, notifications and more. More than 40% of data is saved with the optimized mobile site, and it can...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/twitter_launches_datafriendly_twitter_lite-news-24408.php

LG begins global rollout of the G6

After an initial rollout in South Korea, LG has now started the global shipment of its flagship G6 smartphone worldwide. This includes markets like North America, Asia, Europe, Central and South Americas, which will be getting the phone in the coming weeks. LG is planning on making the device available on over 200 carriers and operators worldwide. The G6 is the current crème de la crème in the LG lineup, replacing last year's G5, which met with considerable amount of criticism for its ill-conceived modular design. The new G6 instead has a standard candy bar design with a new 18:9...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/lg_begins_global_rollout_of_the_g6-news-24407.php

Google Play Music All Access now available in India

Google has launched the Google Play Music ‘All Access' service in India. Although the ability to purchase music was launched in September last year, the All Access streaming service was not available until now. Being late to the market that is already saturated with services like Apple Music, Saavn, Gaana, Airtel Wynk and more, Google decided to go aggressive with the pricing, which is one of the lowest of all the services available in India, at INR 89 per month, which is about $1.3. You also get the 30-days free, however, we have seen some accounts get only 14-days and we are not...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/google_play_music_all_access_now_available_in_india-news-24406.php

Netflix's rating system gets a much-needed update

Netflix has released a video on its YouTube account that announces its update to the title-rating system. The video explains the current star-rating, which is totally irrelevant now and the video could have done without the unnecessary explanation. However.com, Netflix has gone the way of YouTube and replaced its star-rating system to a like/dislike affair. "It's kind of like dating apps, actually". Yeah, okay Netflix. We're not sure about you guys, but some of us here at the office, myself included, had no idea how the star ratings were calculated (heck, I didn't even know there was a...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/netflixs_rating_system_gets_a_muchneeded_update-news-24404.php

Samsung Galaxy S8's Bixby button can be remapped, confirmed on video

Many of you must be really excited about the new Samsung Galaxy S8. But many of you are probably not really excited for Bixby. Not to worry, as a new video that surfaced through Reddit shows that the button can be re-programmed to open something else, say. Google Assistant? Okay, or maybe Pokemon GO. You know who you are. Anyway, Dylan Bertwell from YouTube walked into a Best Buy store and played with the Galaxy S8. He found that the Bixby button can easily be reconfigured to open another application by using a third-party app. The app in question is called All in One Gestures and is...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsungs8bixbybuttoncanbechanged-news-24405.php

Pebble app updated to keep working after servers go offline

Pebble was one of the first products of its kind. It was born from KickStarter and put the modern smartwatch on the map before larger companies swooped in and made it their own. It's simplistic interface and vast library of third-party applications was just enough to grow a cult-following. The smartwatch that started it all After Fitbit's acquisition of Pebble last year, many of you who use a Pebble have shown concern about what happens after Pebble's cloud services are shut down. The Pebble platform currently relies on a number of cloud-based services to perform things...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/pebble_app_updated_to_keep_working_after_servers_go_offline-news-24403.php

Apple Watch Series 3 to land in the second half of this year

Are you a fan of Apple's wearables yet not impressed by the recently unveiled spring band collection (pictured below)? Are you anxiously waiting to hear anything about a third-generation Apple Watch? Well then, read this. The Apple Watch Series 3 will be launched in the second half of this year, according to unnamed sources from the upstream supply chain. The features of the upcoming model haven't been detailed in this report, but previous rumors did talk about an unveiling taking place in the fall. Also from past leaks we know that the Series 3 should come with enhanced performance...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/apple_watch_series_3_to_land_in_the_second_half_of_this_year-news-24402.php

Honor Beta program launches in the US

Huawei sub-brand Honor has certainly been a busy bee today. Not satisfied only with announcing the Honor 8 Pro and the Honor 6C for European markets, it's prepared something for its American audience as well. It's not a device, though, it's the Honor Beta program. This lets you trial pre-release software and hardware from the company, in exchange for "candid feedback". The Honor Beta program has its own Facebook group where all the details are laid out. That said, if you want to join the program you need to fill in the form at this website. You don't automatically get in. There's an...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/honor_beta_program_launches_in_the_us-news-24401.php

Google Home with built-in mesh Wi-Fi router in the works

Last fall Google made a new push into hardware. Sure, we're talking about the Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones, but let's not forget that the company also launched the Home smart speaker and its own wireless mesh networking solution. Google Home and Google Wifi are each priced at $129 a pop at the moment. Yet Google is apparently looking into combining the two. That's right, the next Google Home may come with a built-in mesh Wi-Fi router. That is, if a new report allegedly originating at "a person with knowledge of the project" pans out. You could also call the new product a Google Wifi with...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/google_home_with_builtin_mesh_wifi_router_in_the_works-news-24400.php

The next Moto Z will unsurprisingly be called Moto Z2

Motorola's next flagship smartphone now has a name, courtesy of serial leakster @evleaks. The 2017 iteration will be called Moto Z2, surprising absolutely no one. When you look at Moto's lineup and see the newly announced G5, or the G4 from last year, or the E3... you instantly realize that its devices' branding is all about using one letter and one number. The former tells you what line a model is part of (and its price range), while the latter lets you know which generation of that series you're looking at. So, second-gen Moto Z ends up being Moto Z2. That all makes sense. What...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/the_next_moto_z_will_unsurprisingly_be_called_moto_z2-news-24399.php

HTC U Ultra receives its first software update

The recently released HTC U Ultra is now in the process of receiving its first ever software update. This has started rolling out today according to Mo Versi, the company's VP of Product Management. A Twitter user and U Ultra owner has confirmed getting the update with the screenshot you can see to the left. The new software version is 1.15.401.12, and it's a 638MB download. The changelog is pretty sparse, but it does mention the fact that the HTC Sense Companion app is now pre-installed. That's the app that houses all of those "AI" features that HTC talked about at the U Ultra's...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/htc_u_ultra_receives_its_first_software_update-news-24398.php

Honor 6C also becomes official in Europe with €229 price tag

Earlier today Huawei sub-brand Honor unveiled its latest flagship smartphone for the European markets, namely the Honor 8 Pro. However, the top of the line device wasn't the only new Honor handset to become official today. It's been joined by the much more affordable Honor 6C, which will become available at the end of this month in Europe. It will be priced at €229, and offered in gray, silver, and gold color options. At that price, it's understandable that the Honor 6C packs much less of a punch compared to the Honor 8 Pro. However, keep in mind that the Nokia 6 will launch in Europe soon...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/honor_6c_also_becomes_official_in_europe_with__euro229_price_tag-news-24397.php

YouTube TV brings you live TV in six US cities for $35 per month

YouTube TV was originally announced back in February, and today it has finally gone live. It's a streaming video service that delivers live TV from major broadcast networks such as ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC, alongside "popular cable networks". The obvious catch? It's US-only of course. The not-so-obvious catch? It's currently only available in Chicago, LA, NYC, Philadelphia, and the San Francisco Bay Area. That's it. You pay $35 per month for YouTube TV, and that gives you six different accounts for your household. Each of those gets unlimited DVR storage in the cloud, so you'll never run...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/youtube_tv_brings_you_live_tv_in_six_us_cities_for_35_per_month-news-24396.php

Galaxy S8+ sees more demand than anticipated, Samsung ups production levels

Samsung's Galaxy S8+ is going to do better, sales-wise, than the company anticipated. This is according to a new report out of South Korea, which cites unnamed industry sources. These claim that the bigger model in the company's flagship duo has received positive early reactions from retailers, which have placed orders for more units than Samsung initially expected them to. Thus, Samsung has upped the production levels for the Galaxy S8+, which will now make up 45% of the total number of S8 units made. The initial plan was to have the split at 60/40, with 60% of the devices being...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/galaxy_s8_sees_more_demand_than_anticipated_samsung_ups_production_levels-news-24395.php

Nikon celebrates 100th anniversary with special edition products

Nikon is completing its 100th anniversary this year on July 25 and the company has some special edition models in tow to celebrate the occasion. The first of the bunch is the D5 100th Anniversary Edition, which comes with a metallic gray finish, 100th Anniversary logo, an engraving on the bottom that says "NIKON - CONTRIBUTING TO MANNED SPACE FLIGHT SINCE 1971", commemorative leather strap embossed with 100th anniversary logo, body cap imprinted with 100th anniversary logo, metal case with a plate engraved with 100th anniversary logo and serial number and an anniversary booklet to...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/nikon_celebrates_100th_anniversary_with_special_edition_products-news-24394.php