Samsung Galaxy Note5 and S6 Edge+ on Verizon receive March security patch

Verizon has rolled out updates to the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+ and the Galaxy Note5 (or technically this, and this). Don't go hoping for Oreos, though - these two are past their expected two-year OS version update period, but security patches are more than welcome. Galaxy S6 Edge+, and what is definitely not the Note5's S-pen Both phablets are getting the March 1 security update from Google, and that's about it - at least according to the Verizon support pages. For those who enjoy keeping track of alphanumeric strings, the respective build numbers are NRD90M.N920VVRS3CRC1 for the...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_note5_and_s6_edge_on_verizon_receive_march_security_patch-news-30252.php

Huawei P20 Porsche Design likely coming too

Huawei is all about partnerships with premium brands - they have the Leica collaboration for the cameras, and they have Porsche Design for.... design. The company's two latest Mate iterations have come in special PD trim, and now apparently it's making its way to the P-series too. The quest for perfection continues with heritage brand @PorscheDesignThe future of luxury meets the future of technology. #DiscoverExceptional on 27.03.2018 pic.twitter.com/UvDEeWxu5E— Huawei Mobile (@HuaweiMobile) March 23, 2018 A tweet from Huawei Mobile is hyping us up for a meet-up of luxury and...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/huawei_p20_porsche_design_likely_coming_too-news-30251.php

iPhone X vs. Galaxy S9+ shootout

So which phone do you get when you get rid of your Google Pixel 2 XL? If you are after a great camera, chances are you are going to pick either the iPhone X or the Galaxy S9+. Well, this is exactly what happened to two of our editors.

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/apple_iphone_x_vs_samsung_galaxy_s9_plus_shootout-review-1739.php

Samsung Galaxy A6 receives Wi-Fi certification

Samsung's transitioning its A-series from odd to even numbers for this year, and that's so far brought us the Galaxy A8 (2018) and the A8+ (2018). An A6 and possibly an A6+ are on the way also, as evidenced by a couple of earlier GeekBench listings, and now we have a new episode in the A6's development. A Samsung device with a product code SM-A600FN, which we speculate to be the A6, has received Wi-Fi certification from the Wi-Fi Alliance. That would be the same SM-A600FN model from the benchmark database, though we're yet to see confirmation on the actual name it will have for the...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_a6_receives_wifi_certification-news-30250.php

OnePlus 5T won't be officially available in North America any more

OnePlus has confirmed that the OnePlus 5T is permanently out of stock in North America. This means those in the US or Canada who were planning to purchase the flagship officially from the company are now out of luck. The device was launched back in November last year, meaning it was only available in the region for four months. According to the Chinese company, the situation has arisen due to stronger-than-expected demand for the handset. The only option for North American OnePlus fans at the moment is to wait for the next flagship from the company, which should arrive sometime in...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/oneplus_5t_wont_be_officially_available_in_north_america_any_more-news-30249.php

Huawei Mate 11 (or Mate 20) to sport under-display fingerprint scanner

The much hyped and rumored for years under-display fingerprint sensing technology has finally arrived on the market this year with the vivo X20 Plus UD and X21 UD. These are the first smartphones to sport such a solution, in that case a Synaptics sensor. Huawei is apparently going the under-display route too, for its upcoming Mate 11 (or Mate 20 - since this year the P series went from 10 to 20). Yet Huawei is said to have chosen to use Qualcomm's ultrasonic fingerprint solution. In that case, the new Mate may be the first shipping model with that particular sensor built-in. Huawei...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/huawei_mate_11_or_mate_20_to_sport_underdisplay_fingerprint_scanner-news-30247.php

Honor View 10 finally becomes available in the US for $499

Honor's latest flagship smartphone is finally available in the US. The Honor View 10 was initially expected to reach the country in early January, but that hasn't happened for whatever reason. It went up for pre-order earlier this month, and today it's in stock. You can purchase one from the Huawei sub-brand's official online store. It's priced at $499 and you can choose between blue and black color versions, and you are going to receive an unlocked device. The Honor View 10 is powered by the same flagship Kirin 970 chipset that you can find inside the Huawei Mate 10 and Mate 10 Pro....

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/honor_view_10_finally_becomes_available_in_the_us_for_499-news-30246.php

Instagram announces new changes to the timeline based on feedback

Instagram has announced new changes to the timeline based on user feedback. One of these changes is the introduction of 'New Posts' button that lets you manually refresh. This prevents the previous automatic refreshing of the timeline that had a habit of yanking you out of whichever part of the app you were in and throwing you at the start of your timeline. Users can now manually refresh whenever they want without the app doing it for them. The other change is a slightly more chronological timeline. Instagram introduced an algorithmic timeline that sorted posts based on what it...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/instagram_announces_new_changes_to_the_timeline_based_on_feedback-news-30245.php

Huawei P20 loses the 40MP camera and 5x hybrid zoom of the P20 Pro

If the P20 Pro has three cameras, but the Huawei P20 has only two, which one gets dropped? The 40MP camera, the telephoto one or the black & white one? It turns out it's not going to be like that. The non-Pro model will simply go back to the battle-tested camera setup of the Mate10 - a 12MP color sensor and a 20MP b&w sensor. The camera will still offer a zooming feature, though at only 2x, it's not as impressive as Pro's 5x hybrid zoom. The P20 camera will still record 960fps videos at 720p resolution, according to detailed info from WinFuture. And it will keep the 24MP selfie...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/huawei_p20_loses_the_40mp_camera_and_5x_hybrid_zoom_of_the_p20_pro-news-30242.php

LG K9 debuts, is just a rebranded K8 (2018) for Russia

Earlier this month LG showed the K8 (2018) at the MWC in Barcelona and now, it's launching it in Russia under the name LG K9. Outside of the name nothing appears to have changed. The LG K9 has a 5-inch IPS LCD of the conventional 16:9 aspect and 720x1280px resolution, a 2,500mAh battery, 8MP main cam and a 5MP selfie one. The phone is still powered by Android 7.1 and offers LTE connectivity. Pushing the price down is the use of a Snapdragon 210 chip and 2GB of RAM. However the built-in 16GB of storage is expandable and there is a fingerprint reader on the back. Here's a quick...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/lg_announces_k8_2018_as_k9_for_russian_market-news-30241.php

Comparing the sizes of flagship chipsets: Qualcomm, Samsung, Huawei adn Apple

There are four major manufacturers of flagship chipsets - Qualcomm (Snapdragon), Samsung (Exynos), Huawei (Kirin) and Apple (A-series). Three of those tend to be used in the respective companies' own flagships. Apple certainly doesn't want to share while Samsung and Huawei rarely find outside customers. We often talk about the power usage of a chipset - it's important for the battery budget. Fabbing the chip at lower nanometers helps with that, but also balances the other important sheet. The price of a chip (patent costs aside) is proportional to its size. This makes it tricky to find...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/comparing_the_sizes_of_flagship_chipsets_qualcomm_samsung_huawei_adn_apple-news-30240.php

Apple will go after educational market with cheaper iPads next week

Apple is reportedly ready to announce a cheaper iPad model geared towards educators and students at its upcoming March 27 event in Chicago. Apple's new focus on education and a potential release of a lower-priced iPad for students is directly aimed at a market that's dominated by Google Chromebooks and Android tablets. The educational market is worth around $17.7B globally and Google holds a big chunk of it - 60% share. Currently Apple's cheapest iPad will run you €399 for a 32GB variant. On the opposite end there are a bunch of Chromebooks by Asus, Samsung and Acer that cost...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/apple_will_go_after_educational_market_with_cheaper_ipad-news-30238.php

Sharp Aquos S3 will be announced on March 28

Sharp will unveil its Aquos S3 on March 28 in Vietnam. The date and venue were confirmed by Sharp Mobile's CEO. This is the 6-inch S3, which would be announced a week after its smaller counterpart, the 5.5-inch Sharp Aquos S3 mini debuted. Where the mini has a single camera on the back, the Aquos S3 will have a 12MP+13MP dual setup and a 16MP selfie camera. The display will be an 18:9 2160x1080px panel, not the 17:9 1080x2040p display on the Aquos S3 mini. Like the mini, the Aquos S3 will have a top-placed notch on its screen. Finally, the Sharp Aquos S3 will have an...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/sharp_aquos_s3_will_be_announced_on_march_28-news-30235.php

Huawei trolls Apple and Samsung with P20 promotion

Yes, those are Huawei trucks parked in front of an Apple store. They parked in front of a Samsung store too. The company is getting cheeky with its promotion of the upcoming P20 phones. However, the trucks were spotted driving around and leaving pavement graffiti in London. And yet the P20 event will be held in Paris, France next week - on Tuesday to be exact. Huawei's power-washed pavement graffiti for the Huawei P20 The Huawei P20 Pro will have a triple camera and one of the image sensors will have a whopping 40MP resolution, according to rumors. The Huawei P20 will...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/huawei_sends_ad_trucks_to_london_to_promote_the_huawei_p20_phones-news-30236.php

Samsung silently releases updated Galaxy J7 Prime 2

Without any fuss, Samsung unveiled an updated Galaxy J7 Prime 2 on the Indian section of its website. The phone appears to be an updated version of the Galaxy J7 Prime with miniature design changes like the capacitive buttons. It arrives with Android Nougat out of the box, octa-core CPU on an Exynos 7 chipset and a revamped 13 MP selfie camera. Samsung Galaxy J7 Prime 2 The Samsung Galaxy J7 Prime 2's chip is most likely the same Exynos 7870, seen in the original J7 Prime, because the clock speed of the CPU is unchanged at 1.6 GHz. Specs like RAM, storage and microSD...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_silently_releases_updated_galaxy_j7_prime_2-news-30232.php

Nokia 1 and Nokia 7 Plus go on pre-order in the UK on Amazon

Amazon UK has opened up pre-orders for the Nokia 1 and Nokia 7 Plus with shipments promised to start on April 30. The Nokia 7 Plus comes in Black and Copper and costs £349.99. The Nokia 1 can be had in Dark Blue and Warm Red for £79.99. The rest of the new Nokia smartphones, they should all follow closely shortly as most of them are also expected in April. Nokia 1 Pre-order | Nokia 7 Plus Pre-order

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_1_and_nokia_7_plus_go_on_preorder_in_the_uk_on_amazon-news-30231.php

Xiaomi arrives in Portugal

Xiaomi keeps expanding its presence in Europe, with the newest country in the portfolio being Portugal. Devices from the Chinese manufacturer will be available next through retailers, including Worten, Fnac and Media Markt. Some devices are already listed, but as "out of stock". Our source adds that with the official introduction of Xiaomi in Portugal, all devices will have 2-year warranty as per EU regulations. The phones will also have support in Portuguese and some market-tailored features. Pricing will not be any different than any other EU country - they will most likely copy...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_arrives_in_portugal-news-30230.php

OnePlus 6 specs sheet leaks

Several days ago a leaked image, comparing prices of different flagships, suggested $749 (around €610) price tag of the OnePlus 6 with 256 GB. Today more specs leaked, including the chipset, RAM storage, and dual camera setup. According to the listing, OnePlus 6 will sport a 6.28" AMOLED screen with a resolution of 2280 x 1080, which unsurprisingly is the same panel as on the Oppo R15. The SoC is expected to be Snapdragon 845, though, with its CPU clocked at 2.7 GHz. The rear camera of the OnePlus 6 is listed as 16 MP + 20 MP with an f/1.7 aperture on both lenses, which is...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/oneplus_6_specs_sheet_leaks-news-30229.php

Vivo launches V9 smartphone in India

Vivo has launched the V9 smartphone in India a day after international announcement. The phone is priced at INR 22,990 and will be available through Amazon India. The V9 has the infamous notch design with a 19:9 aspect ratio, 6.3-inch 2280x1080 IPS LCD. It's powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 626 processor with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of expandable storage. In terms of imaging, the V9 has a dual camera system on the back with 16MP primary and 5MP secondary depth sensor. On the front is a 24MP selfie camera with AI assisted beauty modes. Lastly, it runs on a 3260mAh battery with Android...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/vivo_launches_v9_smartphone_in_india-news-30226.php

LG may be developing microLED screens for smartphones, trademark filings reveal

LG has filed the necessary paperwork for three new trademarks in the EU, and all of these are about marketing microLED displays. The trademarks the company wants to own are XµLED, SµLED, and XLµLED. If LG is granted these and actually plans on using them in shipping products, we're not sure how well they will be received - it's a bit weird to go with "µLED" instead of "microLED", that might result in people having issues with reading the names. Anyway, according to the filings, these trademarks are primarily for "mobile phones, smart phones". So far we've seen a huge microLED TV...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/lg_may_be_developing_microled_screens_for_smartphones_trademark_filings_reveal-news-30225.php

First Samsung Galaxy Note9 firmwares unearthed

Samsung has started developing the software of the Galaxy Note9, which is coming this Fall. The software carries two firmware versions - N960FXXE0ARB7 and N960FXXU0ARC5. Reports show that Samsung has started work on the Galaxy Note9's software earlier than it did for the Galaxy Note8, which could point to an earlier release of the device. However since the difference is just two weeks it's not gonna be a major change. The Galaxy Note9 could be Samsung's first smartphone with an under the screen fingerprint scanner although some rumors suggest it won't be. It will undoubtedly use...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_has_reportedly_started_work_on_galaxy_note9_software-news-30223.php

Samsung Pay launches in Italy

"Quanto costa?" asks Samsung Pay as it launches in Italy, its 21st market. The service works just about anywhere that credit and debit cards are accepted - both NFC and the older magnetic type. Besides paying, you can also take advantage of membership cards and promo coupons to bring down the price. Samsung Pay also has some exclusive deals in Italy - users get up to 20% discounts on some popular brands, including Moleskin, Daybreak Hotel, EF Education and Leroy Merlin. Samsung Pay is available on multiple Galaxy phones, including the new Galaxy S9 and S9+, but also Galaxy A and...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_pay_launches_in_italy-news-30222.php

Oppo A1 quietly unveiled in China, goes on sale April 1

Oppo is bolstering its entry-level range with the introduction of the Oppo A1. It has a tall-aspect 18:9 5.7-inch S-IPS LCD, 4GB of RAM, 64GB of storage and a 3,180 mAh battery. There's a lone 13MP camera on the back and a fixed-focus 8MP selfie camera. The Oppo A1 lacks a fingerprint scanner but makes do with Face recognition entry. Oppo will start selling the A1 on April 1 in China in Cherry Red and Dark Blue for CNY 1399 - or around €179. Via

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/oppo_a1_goes_quietly_official_in_china_goes_on_sale_april_1-news-30221.php

Ticwatch E and S Android Wear watches now available in Europe at £120/£150

Mobvoi's Ticwatch S and E smartwatches are now available in Europe. The letters stand for "Sport" and "Express" respectively and the designs have already won awards - an iF Product Design award for the S and Good Design Award for the E. Anyway, the straps are the major difference between the two. The Ticwatch S has a GPS antenna built into the breathable wrist strap for superior reception. The watch also has a sporty bezel with minute markings. Mobvoi Ticwatch in Knight, Aurora and Glacier colors The Ticwatch E also has a built-in GPS receiver, though its antenna is in the...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/ticwatch_e_and_s_android_wear_watches_now_available_in_europe_at_120_150-news-30220.php

Hublot introduces its first smartwatch with Wear OS

Google rebranded its wearable OS last week, and now we see one of the first smartwatches to be announced with Wear OS.Hublot, in partnership with FIFA, named the device Big Bang Referee 2018 World Cup Russia and will produce only 2,018 units, including custom-made versions for each referee during the tournament. Hublot is a luxury watch brand, so you should expect nothing short of glamour in this device. It will be constructed of titanium and Kevlar inside the 13,9 mm thick body. The default watchface will be an analog watch, giving the impression it is a standard conventional...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/hublot_first_smartwatch_wear_os-news-30217.php

Oppo partners with Dolby to add HE-AAC and JPEG-HDR to its phones

"Dolby is a leader in creating spectacular sight and sound experiences, and we are excited to partner with them to further our innovation and global growth," said Adler Feng, Director of Oppo IP Department as he signed a partnership that will encompass HE-AAC and JPEG-HDR. High-Efficiency Advanced Audio Coding is optimized for low-bitrate applications and especially streaming. HE-AAC is used by Netflix, Amazon Video, Google Play, Pandora and others. JPEG-HDR is a Dolby format and is a backwards compatible way to store High Dynamic Range images. The image is tone-mapped to SDR (which is...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/oppo_partners_with_dolby_to_add_heaac_and_jpeghdr_to_its_phones-news-30218.php

Apple to start trial production of next-gen iPhones soon

Apple reportedly wants to switch over from Touch ID to Face ID this year, but it won't repeat the mistakes of the iPhone X. Component shortages delayed the lucrative flagship and limited availability early on. This time around Apple will start its trial production run much earlier to make sure everything is running smoothly. This will kick off in the second quarter this year. The info comes from Taiwanese IC design houses, which expect to see their revenues go up soon. Keep in mind that the next-gen iPhones are not due until late Q3 (likely September again). For comparison, Apple started...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/apple_to_start_trial_production_of_nextgen_iphones_soon-news-30216.php

Xiaomi launches three new travel backpacks in India

Xiaomi has launched three new travel backpacks in India. Called the Mi Casual Backpack, Mi City Backpack, and the Mi Travel Backpack, these join the previously launched Mi Business Backpack in Xiaomi's accessory lineup. The Mi Casual Backpack has a checkered pattern design that comes in black, gray and blue. The material is 600D polyester and waterproof. The bag has two main compartments and a side pocket for bottles or umbrellas. It can accomodate a 15.6-inch laptop along with some books and other accessories for everyday use. It's priced at INR 899 ($13). The Mi City...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_launches_three_new_travel_backpacks_in_india-news-30219.php

Three new Samsung Galaxy J phones spotted ahead of launch

A month after patenting Galaxy J3 Star and Galaxy J7 Star, Samsung expands its celestial patent portfolio with two new entries. The Korean giant received a patent from the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for the names Galaxy J3 Orbit and Galaxy J7 Crown. In the same time, the highly rumored Galaxy J8 2018 is closer to a launch after a device with product number SM-J800FN was just certified by Wi-Fi Alliance. The phone will use a/b/g/n band connectivity, while earlier specs suggested Exynos 7870 chipset with an octa-core CPU. Samsung's own understanding of the...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/three_new_samsung_galaxy_j_phones_nearing_launch-news-30215.php

Latest Xiaomi Mi Mix 2s teaser video is a Pacific Rim crossover

Xiaomi changed gears fast - from Van Gogh and Strauss straight to kaiju. Yup, the latest teaser video for the Mi Mix 2s is a cross-promotion effort with the new Pacific Rim movie. Apparently, they don't hire just anyone to be on the Mix design team. If you want in, you'll have to spend years designing and building a giant monster-fighting robot. Makes you wonder what Philippe Starck did to be in charge of that team. Fantasy aside, you do get to see the Xiaomi Mi Mix 2s itself briefly at the end of the video. Via

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/latest_xiaomi_mi_mix_2s_teaser_video_is_a_pacific_rim_crossover-news-30214.php

Nubia V18 is now official, 4000 mAh battery in tow

Yet another smartphone went official in China this week - the Nubia V18. It's made of metal and packs a notch-less screen, which is the trending thing now. The Nubia V18 has a 6.01" LCD screen of 1,080 x 2,160 pixels and runs on the Snapdragon 625 chipset (8x A53 CPU, Adreno 506 GPU) with 4GB of RAM. The V18 has a single 13MP main camera with f/2.2 lens and a LED flash, placed in a way that oddly mimics a dual-camera setup. There is an 8MP f/2.0 selfie shooter at the front. Other notable specs include 64GB expandable storage, hybrid dual-SIM slot, a rear-mounted...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/nubia_v18_is_now_official_4000_mah_battery_in_tow-news-30213.php

AT&T Samsung Galaxy S8+ also gets Oreo

AT&T started pushing Android Oreo to the Galaxy S8 units on its network two days ago and now the Galaxy S8+ is also getting a taste of the new OS. The company issued a support page on the software update to Oreo 8.0, revealing what is new in the package. Samsung Galaxy S8+ The build number R16NW.G955USQU2CRB9 is 1.51 GB in size and along with the new OS that has notification dots, autofill and better picture-in-picture mode, it also comes with February 1 security patch. There is also Samsung Experience 9.0 that was recently introduced along with the Galaxy S9. You should...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/at_t_samsung_galaxy_s8_plus_oreo-news-30212.php

No, this isn't the LG G7 in Lime Green

LG decided to scrap the G7 project and start all over again, leading to a delayed launch of the flagship. We showed you the possibly canceled device last month, and now a presentation slide of the G7 in Lime Green color appeared online, leaking from an LG computer at MWC 2018. The poster also includes the line "Life's Good when you play more" that was the leading marketing slogan for the LG G5 launch back in 2016. The phone should come "with LG ThinQ Mods", suggesting a modular design, but the image is fake even if the device itself aligns with previous rumors . The LG G7 should...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/lg_g7_lime_green_notched_display-news-30210.php

Samsung unveils Exynos 7 9610 with 480fps slow-mo support

Samsung has just announced its latest Exynos 9610 SoC - it's part of the Exynos 7 series, which typically powers upper mid-range smartphones such as company's A lineup. The new Exynos 9610 has an octa-core processor with 4x Cortex-A73 cores running at 2.3GHz and 4x Cortex-A53 ones clocked at 1.6GHz. The GPU in charge of graphics is Mali-G72MP3, a good upgrade over the Mali-G71MP2 in the previous Series 7 chip. The Exynos 9610 has a new ISP with support for 4K @ 120fps video recording and Full HD @ 480fps slow-mo capturing. A camera coupled with this SoC will be able of stacking...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_unveils_exynos_7_9610_with_480fps_slowmo_support-news-30211.php

Chrome to completely block videos from autoplaying with sound

Google Chrome stopped autoplaying videos with sound on specific websites with a right-click option when version 64 was launched. Today the company posted the code, introducing a new set of criteria that sites should meet in order to be able to play videos with sound. The list is so long that practically no tab will autoplay with sound once Chrome 66 is released. According to Chromium Blog, the user must have tapped or clicked on the site while browsing in order to begin autoplay with sound. On mobile, the site has to have been added to the Home Screen. Desktop users has to have...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/chrome_completely_block_videos_autoplaying_with_sound-news-30209.php

vivo V9 has notched screen and a 24MP AI selfie camera

Today vivo unveiled the selfie-centric vivo V9 with a 24MP selfie camera and a 16MP+5MP dual camera on the back, both equipped with AI-bolstered portrait mode. The vivo V9 is powered by a Snapdragon 626 chipset with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. It runs vivo's heavily skinned UI on top of Android 8.1 Oreo. On the front, the vivo V9 packs a 19:9 6.3-inch IPS LCD with nearly no bezel and a notch on the top - about the same as the screen on the recently-announced vivo X21. Said notch houses the selfie camera which powers the AI Face Access feature, allowing you to unlock the vivo V9...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/vivo_v9_has_an_ai_cam_iphone_xlike_portrait_mode_and_notch-news-30188.php

Samsung Galaxy S9 ARCore support coming soon

Google's ARCore SDK currently doesn't support Samsung's latest flagship smartphones - the Galaxy S9 and S9+. However, that's going to change soon. As per a member of Google AR team, support for these devices is coming soon. Here's exactly what they said: Support for the S9 and S9+ will be added in the next release, which should be released in the coming weeks. In case you aren't aware, ARCore is Google's answer to Apple's ARKit. It's aimed at enabling augmented reality experiences for existing and upcoming Android smartphones without the need for any additional hardware. The...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_s9_arcore_support_coming_soon-news-30206.php

Mark Zuckerberg releases statement in light of ongoing data scandal

In case you missed what's going on with Facebook, here's the low down. A data mining and analytics firm called Cambridge Analytica took Facebook user data and misused it in violation of Facebook's terms and guidelines. This misuse of data played a large role in the influencing of voters in the US 2016 presidential elections. Today, founder and CEO of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg, has broken his silence and released a lengthy statement on Facebook surrounding the ongoing data scandal between Cambridge Analytica, Facebook, and the influencing of users during the 2016 US electrions. We have...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/mark_zuckerberg_releases_statement_in_light_of_ongoing_data_scandal-news-30204.php

Google Maps on iOS brings more transit details and restaurant wait times

iOS users should download the latest version of Google Maps so they can take advantage of some new transit features. Version 4.47 of Google Maps brings additional details when getting directions via public transit. Rather than highlighting the intersection where an underground train entrance is and expecting you to find it, Google Maps will tell you exactly which entrance you need to go into to take the correct train. For instance, on some New York City Subway lines, the entrance may only serve one direction of the train and a rider may not realize it until they realize the stops are in...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/google_maps_on_ios_brings_more_transit_details_and_restaurant_wait_times_-news-30203.php

Huawei P20 dummy gets compared to a real life P20 Lite in hands-on images

Huawei has made the P20 Lite official before its higher-end siblings, the P20 and P20 Pro, which will both be revealed at an event on March 27 in Paris. In the meantime we've seen a constant wave of leaks regarding these devices, and here's the latest one. A P20 dummy unit has been handled for a short photo shoot. In the first image below it's compared to a real life P20 Lite - specifically, a nova 3e, which is that model's Chinese branding. The second shot gives us yet another view of the P20's back with its dual cameras, boasting a new design for Huawei's top of the line...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/huawei_p20_dummy_gets_compared_to_a_real_life_p20_lite_in_handson_images-news-30202.php

Apple announces new Spring Collection for Watch bands

Apple has announced its Spring Collection of Watch bands. These include an incredible 25 new bands in different colors and finishes, which add on top of the already incredible 61 bands currently available on Apple's website. Woven Nylon in Blue Stripe • Nike Sport in Black/White • Nike Sport Loop in Pearl Pink • Hermès Double Tour in Indigo • Hermès Single Tour in Blanc The Woven Nylon bands now get a new striped pattern on top of the existing options. A new range of Nike Sport Loop band has been introduced in addition to the standard Sport Loop series. The new Hermès...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/apple_announces_new_spring_collection_for_watch_bands-news-30201.php

Qualcomm unveils Snapdragon 845-powered VR development kit

Earlier, Qualcomm announced a Snapdragon 845-based VR platform and today the company unveiled the developer kit. It consists of a VR headset and new software to aid developers in creating "truly immersive experiences". It also supports HTC Vive Wave, so it can run the same apps and games as the Vive Focus. The headset supports room-scale movement with 6 degrees of freedom. It is fully wireless too and uses "inside-out" tracking, meaning it doesn't require external hardware (lighthouses and such). It features a boundary system that will help devs navigate users away from real-world...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/qualcomm_unveils_snapdragon_845powered_vr_development_kit-news-30195.php

Full Oppo F7 specs leak via sales pitch notes

We are just days away from the official Oppo F7 announcement, but this latest leak has left little to none for Oppo to unveil. We already saw pictures and teasers, but now we get to learn all F7 specs thanks to a leaked sales pitch manual. So, the Oppo F7 will pack a 6.23" notched LCD display of 1,080 x 2280 pixels. It will be powered by the Helio P60 chip by MediaTek with an octa-core processor (4x A73@2.0GHz + 4x A53@2.0GHz), Mali-G72MP3 GPU, and 6GB of RAM. The leaked sales pitch Being the next Selfie Expert entitles the F7 to a marvelous front-facing camera. It should...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/final_oppo_f7_specs_leak_via_sales_pitch_notes-news-30199.php

Google reportedly acquiring Lytro, the maker of light field cameras

The talk around town is that Google is in the process of acquiring Lytro, maker of light field cameras. Neither company has officially confirmed the deal, but the rumored price is $40 million or even as low as $25 million - a precipitous fall from the once $360 million valuation. The employee headcount might take a hit too, though presumably all 59 light field patents will go over to Google. Perhaps it's not a coincidence that Google launched a Welcome to Light Fields app just days ago, which shows what can be done in VR. Light field cameras capture much more than regular 2D cameras,...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/google_reportedly_acquiring_lytro_the_maker_of_light_field_cameras-news-30198.php

Deal: Amazon discounts Honor phones up to 35% in Germany

Easter is right around the corner and retailers give their best to lure shoppers on their side. Amazon and Huawei are pushing a massive promotion on various Honor phones, including the latest flagship View 10. Offers are found both at the German and the UK Amazon website, ranging from 5% to over 35% discount. We already covered the sales on the British side, so now we compare them with the German deals. Honor View 10 Honor 6A is down to €119 for the Gold version, while the Grey or White can be purchased for €110, instead of the original price of €169. Last year flagship Honor 9...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/deal_amazon_honor_phones_35_percent_discount_germany-news-30196.php

WhatsApp co-founder wants you to delete your Facebook account

Brian Acton, who co-founded WhatsApp with Jan Koum in 2009, has declared it's time for you to leave Facebook, following the recent scandal with Facebook's alleged indirect involvement in the US Elections of 2016. A little backstory in case you missed it - data mining and analytics firm Cambridge Analytica misused Facebook user data in violation of Facebook's guidelines and terms, leading to a continuing, huge scandal. The data played a huge role in influencing voters in the 2016 US Elections to favor then-candidate Donald Trump. The scandal has lead to a big drop in Facebook stock value in...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/whatsapp_cofounder_wants_you_to_delete_your_facebook_account-news-30197.php

Motorola continues retail expansion in India with 100 new Moto Hubs

Motorola is continuing to strengthen its offline retail presence in India with the launch of 100 new Moto Hub outlets in the state of Karnataka. 50 of these will be in the capital city of Bengaluru and the rest spread across 7 other major cities. This comes shortly after the company announced that it has opened 50 new Moto Hubs in the city of Mumbai. Motorola plans to open 1000 Moto Hubs across 100 Indian cities by the end of 2018. Moto Hubs are small retail outlets, usually found in malls. Apart from having multiple stores now in New Delhi and Kolkata along with the...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/motorola_continues_retail_expansion_in_india_with_100_new_moto_hubs-news-30200.php

Sharp Aquos S3 mini unveiled: notched phone on a budget, similar specs to the S2

The Sharp Aquos S3 isn't what you would call "official", but the Aquos S3 mini is. Don't ask how that works and don't get us started on a 5.5" screen getting called "mini". It's a 17:9 screen (1,080 x 2,040px resolution), the top row of which houses houses a notch similar to the Aquos S2. The LCD is bright at 550 nits and with high color fidelity (135% of sRGB). In fact, there are more than a few similarities with the S2, including the Snapdragon 630 chipset. There's plenty of RAM (6GB) and storage (64GB + hybrid microSD slot) for such an affordable phone. The dual camera was...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/sharp_aquos_s3_mini_unveiled_notched_phone_on_a_budget-news-30194.php

JoJo Bizarre special edition LG V30+ goes on sale in Japan

LG, has collaborated with NTT DoCoMo to offer a new special edition of its V30+ former flagship. 10,000 units will come to Japan, under the name JOJO L-02K. The name is a reference to popular Manga series JoJo's Bizarre Adventure. The themed V30+ will offer an exclusive white on black color scheme with the show's art on the back, show-themed wallpapers, UI themes as well as an augmented reality camera app and JoJo manga editor. JoJo L-02K The LG V30+ JOJO L-02K differs from the regular version in battery size - it packs a smaller 3,060mAh power pack compared to the...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/jojo_bizarre_special_edition_lg_v30_plus_goes_on_sale_in_japan-news-30193.php

Caviar celebrates Putin's reelection win with new golden iPhone X

Apple launched the iPhone X at $999, and some people jokingly said that it should be made of gold for that price. The Russian luxury company Caviar took the statement to heart and had been introducing various versions of the flagship, including one with a meteorite-coated body and a variant with over 300 precious stones. The latest product by Caviar is called iPhone X Putin Golden Age and celebrates Vladimir Putin's win at the Russian elections last week where over 76% of the citizens voted for him. Instead of having a fancy sticker or a bumper case, Caviar has rebuilt the...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/caviar_putin_election_win_new_golden_iphone_x-news-30190.php