Nokia 6 Android 7.1.1 update starts hitting units in Hong Kong and Taiwan

After China, the Android 7.1.1 update for the Nokia 6 has started hitting units in Hong Kong and Taiwan. The update - which weighs in at around 1.8GB - also brings Android security fixes for May. Here's a statement from HMD regarding the update: "Nokia 6 in Hong Kong and Taiwan received Android 7.1.1 update and also the May security update today. We are delivering our promise to provide monthly security updates and also regular systems updates. China version was updated to 7.1.1 already in April and also received the May security update early this week." Via

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_6_android_711_update_starts_hitting_units_in_hong_kong_and_taiwan-news-24910.php

BlackBerry starts rolling out May security patch

BlackBerry has started rolling out a new update to its Android-powered smartphones. It's the security update that brings fixes for May. This month's #30dayPatchingSMR is now live, find out more here https://t.co/pvEST9Prq0 #BBSIRT— BlackBerry SIRT (@BBSIRT) May 5, 2017 The update is currently only hitting the unlocked units purchased directly from ShopBlackBerry.com (the company's online shop). If you have a carrier branded unit, you might want to check out with your carrier regarding the update schedule. Source | Via

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/blackberry_starts_rolling_out_may_security_patch-news-24909.php

Last Concept build for Sony Xperia X brings May now live

As promised, Sony has pushed out the last Concept build to participating Xperia X units. The update brings along Android security fixes May and some functionality changes. The update features improvements to low memory stability. Some fixes are also included, such as faster GPS fix and charging LED bug fix. Currently, those on the the Experimental track are getting the update, but stable track should also get it soon. Via

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/last_concept_build_for_sony_xperia_x_brings_may_security_patch_other_changes-news-24908.php

Sony Xperia XA1 review: Square one

The Sony Xperia XA was our unlikely favorite of the last season's Xperia X-series. A year later, some things have changed. The XA1 comes with upgraded internals and the once flagship-only 23MP camera...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/sony_xperia_xa1-review-1606.php

Samsung Pay comes to Taiwan, pilot project now live

Samsung Pay has arrived in Taiwan. The South Korean tech giant has launched a pilot project for the mobile payments service in the country. Participating banks include Citibank, Standard Chartered, Cathay United Bank, E.Sun Bank, Taishin International Bank, Taipei Fubon Bank, and Union Bank of Taiwan. While there's currently no official confirmation on when the official launch will happen, reports citing industry insiders say the date is May 23. So if that's true, the Taiwan launch of the service will happen just a week after the UK launch. The service is expected to launch in...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_pay_comes_to_taiwan_pilot_project_now_live-news-24907.php

Security update hitting Samsung Galaxy S7/S7 edge and Note5 units in India

Samsung has started pushing out a new update to Galaxy S7/S7 edge and Galaxy Note5 units in India. Weighing in at 169.79MB and 176.49MB for the S7 duo and just 14MB for the Note5, it's a security update that brings Android fixes for April. There's no official confirmation on what other changes (if any) the update brings along, although some improvements and bug-fixes are said to be included. As is usually the case with OTA roll outs, it may take sometime for the update to hit your device. Via

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/new_security_update_hitting_samsung_galaxy_s7_s7_edge_and_note5_units_in_india-news-24906.php

Sony Xperia XZs drops to $620 in US

The Sony Xperia XZs has received a price cut in the US, where the device was launched just a month back. It's currently going for as low as $620, down $80 from its launch price. Amazon has the black color variant listed for that price. Other retailers like Best Buy and Focus that are selling the handset still have the model listed for $699.99, so purchasing from Amazon will definitely save you some dollars. For more information, head to the Source link below. Source | Via

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/sony_xperia_xzs_drops_to_620_in_us-news-24905.php

Report says Moto Z2 Play will be slimmer, pack in smaller battery compared to Z play

We have already seen the Motorola Moto Z2 Play in leaked renders, and now some spec-related information about the device has been revealed. According to a new report, the phone will feature a slimmer frame compared to its predecessor. Report says the Z2 Play would be 6mm thick, which is a millimeter less compared to the Z Play. Not only this, at 145g, it will also be 20g lighter than its predecessor. However, the handset will pack in a comparatively smaller battery: 3,000mAh (Z Play featured a 3,510mAh battery). Other key specs that have been rumored include Snapdragon 626 SoC with...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/report_says_moto_z2_play_will_be_slimmer_pack_in_smaller_battery_compared_to_z_play-news-24904.php

Android Wear 2.0 is rolling out to Beta users of Huawei Watch

Huawei's first Android Wear smartwatch is still a great smartwatch today. Released in 2015, its looks still hold up today (better than the Huawei Watch 2 in our opinion). So you can understand why so many folks are patiently waiting for the new Android Wear 2.0 update. The Huawei Watch is now getting the AW update, however only those who are on the latest developer preview will get it first. Once the update rolls out to experienced testers with no issues, Huawei should give the green light to those units running stable software. The update should arrive for all variants of the Huawei...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/android_wear_20_is_rolling_out_to_beta_users_of_huawei_watch-news-24903.php

Red HTC U 11 appears, virtual render leaks

We've got a new scoop on the HTC's upcoming flagship device, the HTC U 11. We've already heard the device will come with a 3.5mm headphone jack to USB-C adapter, which directly implies that the device won't feature a headphone jack. What, are you surprised? Anyway, a new leak comes to us today from reliable rumor leakster, Onleaks. The HTC U 11 is featured in a rendered video with a bright red color scheme, which looks quite "hot", just in time for the summer. The backside is the just as glossy-red as the HTC U Ultra was glossy-blue. Anyway, if we are to believe this is the HTC U 11,...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/red_htc_u_11_appears_virtual_render_leaks-news-24902.php

Galaxy J7 (2017) once again leaks in full on GFXBench

Back in February a device named Samsung Galaxy J7 (2017) appeared on GFXBench. Now, a different version of the same device appeared on the benchmark website, hinting at better specs. The current listing suggests the new Galaxy J7 (2017) will have Full HD resolution on the 5.5" screen along with 12 MP cameras on the front and on the back. According to the benchmark, the chipset will be Samsung's in-house Exynos 7870 with octa-core CPU clocked at 1.5 GHz and a Mali-T830 GPU. The memory listed is 2.8 GB which might translate to 3 GB RAM while the storage is 16 GB, 11GB available to...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/galaxy_j7_2017_once_again_leaks_in_full_on_gfxbench-news-24900.php

Netflix mobile HDR and Dolby Vision coming in version 5.0

This year, we have not one but two HDR capable smartphones on the market, the LG G6 and the Samsung Galaxy S8. Yet, two months after the launch of these devices we still don't have any HDR content on mobile. So what gives? Well, it seems Netflix might be coming with some soon. According to the company's support page, HDR and Dolby Vision content will be coming soon on mobile. This will be available in the upcoming version 5.0 release of the Android app and the only device supported for now is LG G6. No support for the Galaxy S8 has been announced at this point. As for Amazon, the...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/netflix_mobile_hdr_and_dolby_vision_coming_in_version_50-news-24901.php

OnePlus 5 confirmed, coming this summer

OnePlus' successor of the 3 and the 3T will be named OnePlus 5 and will arrive this summer. This was confirmed to The Verge and is the first official information from Shenzhen. Until now we only had teasers, rumors and leaks. They suggested that the phone will arrive with 5.5" screen of QHD resolution and a Snapdragon 835 chipset. The RAM will be 6 GB but leaks for 8 GB appeared as well. OnePlus decided to skip the 4 since the number is considered unlucky in China. The company also said one of the reasons for picking the 5 is the number five jersey of a former NBA player Robert Horry,...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/oneplus_5_confirmed_coming_this_summer-news-24899.php

IDC: Apple leads as tablet shipments shrink 8.5% in Q1 2017

Q1 2017 saw an 8.5% decline in worldwide tablet shipments, according to analysts from IDC. 36.2 million units were shipped globally, compared with 39.6 million a year ago. Four out of top 5 vendors saw a decrease in shipments. The exception is Huawei, which managed to raise its shipments 31.7% from 2 million in Q1 2016 to 2.7 million 12 months later. Apple stays on top for the period with 8.9 million shipped tablets, ahead of Samsung with 6 million. The Cupertino company saw a sharper decline than its Korean rival, though. Huawei is third ahead of Amazon and Lenovo. IDC...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/idc_worldwide_tablet_shipments_shrink_85_in_q1_2017-news-24898.php

Apple now king of wearables, main competitors decline

The wearable market is growing slowly but its dynamics are changing. According to Strategy Analytics, Apple ousted Fitbit from the top position with 3.5 million wearables shipped during the first quarter of this year. That's a jump of 59% compared to the same period last year. Apple raced ahead of the market, which grew only 21% annually for a total of 22 million units shipped. Fitbit went from first (with 4.5 million in Q1 2016) to third (with just 2.9 million in Q1 2017), a massive slump. Xiaomi also declined - from 3.8 million to 3.5 million - but it still kept enough market share...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/apple_now_king_of_wearables_main_competitors_decline-news-24897.php

Xiaomi left out the headphone jack on the Mi 6 for bigger battery

Last month, Xiaomi announced the Mi 6 in China. Upon closer inspection it was revealed that the phone does not have a headphone jack, like so many others in the past year. When asked why, Xiaomi had the same reason to give as Apple. According to the quote given to Android Central, not having the headphone jack allowed Xiaomi to make space for other components, such as a bigger battery. Indeed, the Mi 6 has a larger 3350mAh battery over the 3000mAh on the Mi 5 despite being roughly the same size. With the headphone jack gone, the Mi 6 now relies on the USB-C connector to output audio...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_left_out_the_headphone_jack_on_the_mi_6_for_bigger_battery-news-24896.php

Samsung Galaxy S8 Active has visited Netflix

The Galaxy S7 active couldn't tread water, but AT&T wants Samsung to have another go. Earlier, its code name leaked - Cruiser - and now the first footprints of this mysterious beast have been found in an unexpected place. Netflix confirms that the SM-G892A - aka Galaxy S8 active - supports HD streaming. Good to know, but kind of a spoiler, Netflix. The regular Galaxy S8 is already waterproof to an IP68 level (over 1.5m depth and 30 minutes), but so was the S7. What the S7 active added was MIL-STD-810G, so we expect to see the Galaxy S8 active uphold the same military standard....

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_s8_active_has_visited_netflix-news-24895.php

Refurbished Samsung Galaxy Note7 gets FCC certified

The Galaxy Note7 is being reborn. Samsung is inching closer to a relaunch after the device received FCC certification. A listing by the Federal Communications Commission appeared with model numbers SM-N935KOR, SM-N935K, SM-N935L, and SM-N935S. We know the refurbished Galaxy Note7 is behind this codename since we already reported a rumor about the same model name two months ago. The device is expected to have Exynos 8890 Octa chipset with 4 GB RAM. The battery might be 3,200 mAh and is going to be charged through the USB-C. Source

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/refurbished_samsung_galaxy_note7_gets_fcc_certified-news-24893.php

OnePlus 5 About screen shows 8GB

The OnePlus 5 was recently listed on OppoMart at a price of $450. That's not that a lot of money for the kind of specs being talked about - including 8GB of RAM. Check out this leaked screenshot of the About screen, which shows that much RAM plus 128GB of storage. Notice the software, Hydrogen OS. This means it's from the Chinese version. OppoMart (the store that leaked the price) lists only 6GB of RAM in the specs. It's possible this is a local version (more RAM is necessary in the region as competition is tough). Then again, OppoMart isn't terribly reliable when it comes to...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/oneplus_5_about_screen_shows_8gb_believe_it_or_not-news-24892.php

HTC U Ultra Sapphire Edition incredible scratch resistance verified

HTC released a special edition its U Ultra flagship with a sapphire screen and naturally everyone was curious if it's really as great as it sounds. Luckily Zack from the popular YouTube channel JerryRigEverything put the device under the scratch test along with a luxury Tissot watch and provided the answer. A hybrid glass $50 screen protector for Galaxy S8 was also thrown into the mix. The test consisted of attempting to scratch the three panels with objects with increasing hardness. The screen protector fails at the level 3 on the Mohs scale, meaning any gold or silver jewelry might...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/htc_u_ultra_sapphire_edition_is_incredibly_scratch_resistant-news-24890.php

OnePlus 5 listed on retailer with specs and $449 price tag

Despite a rocky first couple of years, OnePlus has really turned things around with its well-praised OnePlus 3, and then later, the just as well respected OnePlus 3T. OnePlus is expected to deliver again with its next major smartphone release: The OnePlus 5. This isn't the first time this happens: OppoMart has listed the OnePlus 5, complete with specs and a retail price of $449.00. The image used is the same leaked render of a black model with a dual-camera. Though, this model is still alleged and final hardware could look different. Check out the specs from the listing: Keep...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/oneplus_5_listed_on_retailer_with_specs_and_449_price_tag-news-24889.php

Nokia teases for May the fourth, confirms global launch timeframe

"May the fourth" is an unofficial Star Wars holiday that was made up by fans with the earliest records of the pun's usage dating back to 1979. Even Lucasfilm, the company that created Star Wars, has fully embraced the "spirit of the fandom". Now that that's out of the way, let's talk Nokia. Nokia released a Star Wars-themed teaser that featured all four upcoming Nokia devices, including the rebooted Nokia 3310. The Nokia 3 and Nokia 5 are chilling with Andy the Android robot when they start getting shot at. The Nokia 6 comes (as if Darth Vader) and says "I am your father". That's when the...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_teases_for_may_the_fourth_confirms_global_launch_timeframe-news-24888.php

Qualcomm to announce two other Snapdragon 63x models alongside 660

Qualcomm will be holding an event on May 9 to announce its Snapdragon 660 chipset as per the event invitations (in Chinese) that were sent to the press. The Snapdragon 660 will ultimately succeed the 652, but two other chip models will be announced at the event, according to two leakers on Twitter. I think you'll like what Qualcomm wants to show you on May 8/9, if you liked what they did with the SD65x and SD625.— Roland Quandt (@rquandt) May 4, 2017 We've seen leaks from Quandt before, and they've proven to be reliable. We've been seeing more rumors leaked by @mmddj_china as of...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/qualcomm_to_announce_two_other_snapdragon_63x_models_alongside_660-news-24887.php

New leak reveals Honor 9 is ditching the headphone jack

Today, a leak comes to us from The Tech Point which have revealed a render of the alleged Honor 9 in a black variant. The render comprises a purported Honor 9 from a few angles: top, bottom, front, back, and some of the left edge. The underside view is a perfectly symmetrical setup of a USB-C sport straddling between two identical grilles (the loudspeaker on the Honor 8 has the same number of holes, seven): one for the in-call mic and the other is a loudspeaker. This would, of course, mean that the supposed device featured in these renders will not be sporting a 3.5mm headphone...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/new_leak_reveals_honor_9_is_ditching_the_headphone_jack-news-24886.php

Motorola is working on an Android tablet with "Productivity Mode" baked in, rumor says

Aside from the upcoming Moto Z2 flagship smartphone, Motorola is allegedly also busy working on a new tablet. This is according to a new report from Android Police, claiming that the Lenovo-owned company is almost ready to get back into the Android tablet game that it left a very long time ago. In fact, very few well known smartphone makers are still producing Android tablets, so this new Motorola device could be significant. It's said to come with a unique feature (though one that it may actually be borrowing from certain Lenovo slates): Productivity Mode. This is seen in the...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/motorola_is_working_on_an_android_tablet_with_productivity_mode_baked_in_rumor_says-news-24885.php

iPhone supplier Imagination Technologies says Apple can't make GPUs without infringing its patents

The current supplier of graphics chips for iPhones, Imagination Technologies, is fighting back against Apple after the Cupertino company previously announced that it would develop its own graphics solutions within two years. If that were to come true, Apple wouldn't buy chips from Imagination after that time, and this perspective has tanked that company's shares recently. Its stock price went down by more than half within a single day of Apple's revelation, and has only lowered since. To be able to fight back, Imagination is selling off two businesses, one which is focused on embedded...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/iphone_supplier_imagination_technologies_says_apple_cant_make_gpus_without_infringing_its_patents-news-24884.php

Just in: Oppo F3 hands-on

Oppo released the F3 for five key markets, but before it hits the shelves, we snatched a unit for our tests. The company dubbed the Oppo F3 the "Selfie Expert," so we tinkered around a bit with the front camera to see if it stands up to its name, before sending the device to our labs for external tests. The F3 review unit we got here is Gold in color but it can easily be mistaken for Rose Pink in certain lighting or at an angle. The back is the only gold-colored part though, which is how Oppo has always preferred to have it. Design-wise, the back panel doesn't look particularly...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/just_in_oppo_f3_handson-news-24853.php

Oppo R11 leaks in a TV commercial

A TV commercial for the Oppo R11 leaked on Thursday, confirming the name of the device, its design and its camera features. It will be the first R-series phone by Oppo with two cameras on the back while the front shooter will be 20 MP. The 20-second video shows a girl that is too short to take a video of street performers, but a handsome, tall guy helps her out. He takes the phone to a proper height while she is mesmerized by his looks. The ad ends with the actual name of the device Oppo R11 next to three units, revealing at least two color options - Pink and Gold. According to...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/oppo_r11_leaks_in_a_tv_commercial-news-24883.php

Huawei Watch 2 arrives in the UK

Huawei introduced its first smartwatch in two years at MWC in Barcelona this February and the device is now making its way to the store shelves in the UK. The Huawei Watch 2 is arriving in three variations - the Sport Carbon Black, the 4G Sport Carbon Black and the Classic in stylish Titanium Grey. The latest smartwatch from Huawei is one of the first devices that comes with Android Wear 2.0 out of the box, and it will be available on Amazon.co.uk this week. If you buy the device, you will also receive a free pair of Plantronic wireless headphones. Retailers will have the Watch...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/huawei_watch_2_arrives_in_the_uk-news-24880.php

MIUI 9 might come with split-screen function

Xiaomi rolled out the latest MIUI 8.2 update in February and is now busy polishing the next version of its in-house launcher - MIUI 9. The company accidentally sent out an email to app developers about bringing two new features - split screen and PIP (picture-in-picture). All Xiaomi phones with Android 7.0 Nougat will get the new functions along with the MIUI 9, including popular devices like the Mi 6, Mi 5c and Redmi Note 4. According to inside info, Xiaomi wants to implement the feature even in devices running Android 6.0 Marshmallow. Last month Xiaomi started a poll on MIUI...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/miui_9_might_come_with_splitscreen_function-news-24879.php

Samsung Galaxy Note5 on Verizon gets new security update

Verizon has started pushing out a new update to Samsung Galaxy Note5 units on its network. Arriving as software version N920VVRS3CQD1, it's a security update that brings along Android fixes for the month of April. Going by the details provided on the handset's Software Update page on the carrier's website, nothing else is included in the update - no new features anyway, but some bugfixes are to be expected. Source | Via

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/verizon_galaxy_note5_gets_security_update-news-24877.php

Sony Xperia XA1 and XA1 Ultra go on sale in Europe

The Sony Xperia XA1 and Xperia XA1 Ultra are now on sale in Europe - we found it in several stores across several countries. The smaller XA1 costs €280 while the Xperia XA1 Ultra is priced at €380. In Germany, you can get visit MediaMarkt, which promises to ship your XA1 today or an XA1 Ultra in 11-12 days. Amazon will be slower, you can get an XA1 by May 12-15, but the Ultra won't be available for a month or two. Otto claims it can ship either phone in 3 weeks. Some of MediaMarkt's other European stores also have units. The Dutch store has the Xperia XA1 ready to ship now in Gold,...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/sony_xperia_xa1_and_xa1_ultra_go_on_sale_in_several_european_countries-news-24878.php

Samsung Galaxy J5 (2017) gets certified by FCC

The Galaxy J5 (2017) is a mid-tier smartphone by Samsung that has been leaking bit by bit. It already got Wi-Fi certified, benchmarked at Geekbench and GFXBench, and even alleged images of the phone surfaced. And now it also got certification from the FCC, suggesting a market release is nearing. The listing reveals that the phone will come in three variants - the SM-J530GM, the SM-530YM/DS and the SM-J530GM/DS. Last year the Galaxy J5 (2016) was revealed by Samsung in April, but this time a launch in May looks more realistic since FCC certification is one of the last steps before...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/galaxy_j5_2017_gets_certified_by_fcc-news-24876.php

Qualcomm aims to ban iPhone imports in the US

The lawsuit-infused conflict between Qualcomm and Apple got even more intense after the chipset company requested the International Trade Commission to ban the import of iPhones from Asia to the US. This comes as an additional hit from Qualcomm, after the San Diego-based enterprise launched a lawsuit against Apple, claiming that it made its chips look inferior to Intel's. Up until the iPhone 7, Qualcomm was the sole supplier of modems for all Apple phones. The latest devices though started using a mixture of Intel and Qualcomm hardware. The Free Trade Commission also jumped in with...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/qualcomm_aims_to_ban_iphones_import_in_the_us-news-24875.php

Midnight Black version of OnePlus 3T is sold out

The Midnight Black version of the OnePlus 3T now belongs on the extinct list - the last few units are gone and the limited edition color option is officially sold out. The story behind Midnight Black is interesting, it was meant to be the original color for the third generation. Did you get one? Are you sorry you missed it? Perhaps you shouldn't be, the OnePlus 5 may arrive sooner than you thought. Source

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/midnight_black_version_of_oneplus_3t_is_sold_out-news-24874.php

Samsung Galaxy S8 corners are very fragile, drop tests reveal

The Galaxy S8 is gorgeous but the Infinity Display takes away some rigidity. German testers from test.de have put the Samsung flagship in their special testing drum, and it broke faster than other devices. © Stiftung Warentest The German company has built a unique drum that lets phones fall from 80 centimeters over and over. This kind of drop test challenges the overall durability of the device. According to test.de, most smartphones went through 100 falls without significant damage, just some scratches or light dents. Yet the rounded corners of the Galaxy S8 proved to be a weak...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_s8_is_really_fragile_drop_tests_reveal-news-24872.php

Oppo F3 with dual front camera launched in India

Oppo launched another "Selfie Expert" - the Oppo F3, at an event in India. The smaller sibling of the F3 Plus has a dual front camera setup - a 16 MP unitwith 1/3.1" sensor size and f/2.0 aperture along with an 8 MP F/2.4 wide-angle one for selfies with all your friends. The camera on the back has a 13MP 1/3-inch sensor with dual-tone LED Flash, PDAF and F/2.2 lens. The Oppo F3 is built around a 5.5" LCD of Full HD resolution with Gorilla Glass 5 on top of it. Under the gold back panel beats a Mediatek MT6750 chipset with octa-core CPU. The SoC also has room for 4 GB RAM and 64...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/oppo_f3_with_dual_front_camera_launched_in_india-news-24873.php

Sony Xperia X Performance gets a $200 price cut in US

The Sony Xperia X Performance has received a solid price cut in the United States. The device is currently going for $299.99, which is down $200 from its usual price of $499.99. Retailer B&H Photo has all color options listed at that price tag. Other third-party retailers like Amazon and Best Buy are also selling the device, but offering comparatively lesser discounts. For example, the lowest price on Amazon currently is $367.09, while Best Buy has the device listed for $399.99. Meanwhile, the X Performance has started getting the Android 7.1.1 update in Canada. Weighing in at...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/sony_xperia_x_performance_gets_200_price_cut_in_us-news-24871.php

Deal: Galaxy S8/S8+ on T-Mobile come with free Gear VR

If you are planning to purchase the Samsung Galaxy S8 or S8+ flagship smartphone, you might want to check out the deal T-Mobile is offering: those purchasing the devices from the magenta carrier will get a Gear VR with Controller for free. Yeah, the deal is similar to the one that was only available to pre-order customers earlier. This new offer is available to those who make a purchase on or before May 14. Purchases made between April 21 and April 27 are also eligible. To qualify, the unit should be purchased on EIP, JUMP! On Demand, or at full price. The list of participating...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/tmobile_offering_free_gear_vr_with_controller_with_samsung_galaxy_s8_s8-news-24870.php

AT&T's Galaxy S6 series starts getting Nougat

AT&T has started pushing out a new update to Samsung Galaxy S6 series devices on its network. The update is hitting the Galaxy S6, S6 edge, and S6 active units, and brings along Android 7.0 Nougat. The update weighs in at 1.22GB for the S6, 1.27GB - 1.36GB for the S6 edge, and 1.21GB - 1.28GB for the active variant. Aside from the new OS, it also includes Android security fixes for April, as well as some "other fixes and enhancements." For more information, head to the Source links below. Source 1 2 3 | Via

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/at_ts_galaxy_s6_series_starts_getting_nougat_update-news-24868.php

Samsung offering free Entertainment Kit with Galaxy S8/S8+ purchase

Samsung has launched a new promotion where-in the company will be offering a free Entertainment Kit to those who purchase the flagship Galaxy S8 or S8+ smartphone. The kit includes a Clear View Standing Cover, a 64GB EVO+ memory card, and 6 months of Netflix. The offer - dubbed Samsung Infinitely Entertaining Offer - has just been launched, and runs through May 16. An "Offer Claim Form" must be submitted between May 5 and June 30 (or while supplies last - a total of 200,000 kits are up for grabs). Registrations need to be done through the Shop Samsung app. For more details on the...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_offering_free_entertainment_kit_with_galaxy_s8_s8_purchase-news-24867.php

More Canadian carriers, including Rogers, release Samsung Galaxy S6 Nougat update

While several Canadian carriers have already released the Nougat update to Samsung Galaxy S6 units on their network, now you can add three more names to the list: Rogers, Bell, and BellMTS. The update brings Android version 7.0. The update arrives as firmware version G920W8VLU5DQD1. In addition to the Galaxy S6, some Canadian carriers have also pushed out the update to Galaxy S6 edge units on their networks. That update carries a firmware version of G925W8VLU5DQD1. Via

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/more_canadian_carriers_including_rogers_release_samsung_galaxy_s6_nougat_update-news-24869.php

Gmail for Android gets anti-phishing security checks

Google has started pushing out a new update to its Gmail for Android app. The update brings along a new security feature: anti-phishing security checks. "When you click on a suspicious link in a message, Gmail will show a warning prompt helping you keep your account safe," the company explains. Here's the warning prompt in question: Coincidentally or not, this new feature comes shortly after a huge phishing attack related to Google Docs came into light. The Mountain View, California-based company has addressed that issue. Source

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/gmail_for_android_gets_antiphishing_security_checks-news-24866.php

Alleged Alcatel Idol 5 leaks on GFXBench again, but with a MediaTek Helio P20 CPU

We've already seen this same device leak a few weeks ago. We saw an Alcatel device with the model number: 6060. We are seeing the same model again, but this time there are some peculiar differences. While the previous Alcatel 6060 leak had a Snapdragon 625, 3GB of RAM, and an Adreno 506 GPU, this new device shows a Mediatek Helio P20, 2GB of RAM, and a Mali-T880 GPU. Everything else appears to be the same as the first leak: a 12MP main camera capable of 4K recording and an 8MP front facing one. There's also a 5.2-inch 1080p screen. But what's peculiar is that both of these result...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/alleged_alcatel_idol_5_leaks_on_gfxbench_again_but_with_a_helio_p10_cpu-news-24865.php

Google releases statement about Google Docs phishing attacks

Google has addressed a huge phishing attack that was spreading all over the place today. A "phishing" scam is a way of manipulating a victim into providing access to your accounts without their knowledge or by tricking them with a fake login page that looks like the real one. Google says that it has disabled the accounts associated with the scam and will take necessary precautions to prevent a similar kind of attack. Developers will likely no longer be able to name things after other Google services word for word. (1 of 3) Official Google Statement on Phishing Email: We have taken...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/google_releases_statement_about_google_docs_phishing_attacks-news-24864.php

Sony Xperia XZ Premium pops up on GeekBench

Someone has performed a benchmark test on a Sony Xperia XZ Premium device which carries the model number: G8141. GeekBench was the test of choice which also revealed RAM and the Android version: 4GB and 7.1.1, respectively. The GeekBench listed scores the Xperia XZ Premium with 1943 and 5824 in the single and multi-core tests. Despite having a Snapdragon 835 chipset, the unreleased Sony device's performance numbers seem marginally muffled compared to a couple of other SD835-powered smartphones. For example, Samsung's S8+ with the SD835 chip scored 6106 in multi core and 1915 in the single...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/sony_xperia_xz_premium_pops_up_on_geekbench-news-24863.php

HTC U 11 would not have headphone jack, but comes with an adapter

The headphone jack has been debated about ever since Motorola was the first to pull an Apple before Apple did. In short, both companies released a feature smartphone in 2016 without a headphone jack, though Apple (iPhone 7) called it "courage" and Motorola (Moto Z) was trying to make a stupidly thin phone. According to well-acclaimed leakster LlabTooFeR, the HTC U 11 will not feature a headphone jack, but instead, HTC will include a USB-C to 3.5mm headphone jack adapter so you can still use your favorite pair of wired headphones. #HTCU11 will have USB-C -> 3.5mm adaptor inside the...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/htc_u_11_wont_have_headphone_jack_but_comes_with_an_adapter-news-24862.php

Google Allo gets chat backups, incognito groups, and link previews as Duo passes 50 million downloads

Google's Allo messaging app is in the process of receiving some new features today. No, it's not getting a web-based client, or SMS support of any kind. Not yet, at least. But it does now feature chat backup capabilities, allowing you to store your past chats locally, in the cloud on Google Drive, or both. Next up, group conversations can be had in incognito mode too. Previously, this was only available for one-on-one chats. Incognito mode enables end-to-end encryption and lets you set an expiry time on your messages. Google Assistant and Smart Replies aren't usable in this...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/google_allo_gets_chat_backups_incognito_groups_and_link_previews_as_duo_passes_50_million_downloads-news-24861.php

T-Mobile is now selling the LG G6 for just $500

When it launched the LG G6 last month, T-Mobile priced it at $650 full retail, or $26 upfront followed by 24 monthly installments of $26. But that was before Samsung's Galaxy S8 hit the streets. Now that the G6 has a big competitor going after it, the magenta carrier has decided to give LG's offering an even bigger advantage, price-wise. So at the moment you can purchase a G6 from T-Mobile for only $500 outright, or $20 upfront and $20 monthly for two years if you're into doing the installment thing. Additionally, if you buy before May 7 you get a free Google Home smart speaker...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/tmobile_is_now_selling_the_lg_g6_for_just_500-news-24860.php

TrendForce: No 4GB RAM on iPhones in 2017

TrendForce published on Wednesday its predictions that smartphones will have 3.2 GB RAM on average by the end of 2017. This is an increase by 33.4% over 2016's 2.4 GB average memory capacity. The analysts also predicted that the 10th anniversary iPhone, also known as iPhone 8, will have no more than 3 GB RAM and fans of the Apple smartphone shouldn't expect a 4GB RAM device before 2018. TrendForce expects the 5.8" AMOLED iPhone and the 5.5" LCD iPhone to have 3 GB RAM, while a smaller 4.7" LCD model to stay with 2 GB RAM. On the other hand, Android makers increased the RAM mainly...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/trendforce_next_iphone_will_have_no_more_than_3_gb_ram-news-24859.php