Alleged Oppo R17 and R17 Pro pass through 3C for certification

The Oppo R17 appeared on the web just the other week and we already know some of the features and the better part of the design. Now, a new 3C certification surfaced to tell us about two possible variants, but the information remains pretty vague. Two devices passed the certification process with model numbers PBEM00 and PBET00, which probably correspond to the R17 and R17 Pro. But the TENAA listing, from the other day, contradicts the 3C document, citing model numbers PBCM00 and PBCT00. That means that either the 3C certification is about other devices, or the TENAA one refers to the...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/alleged_oppo_r17_and_r17_pro_pass_through_3c_for_certification-news-32597.php

2018 iPad Pro to come with thin bezels, rounded display, no home button or notch

Rumors about Apple's upcoming 2018 iPad line have been rather frequent lately. While not intrinsically bad, the reports of expected design and functionality have also been all over the place, making it hard to pinpoint anything with certainty. While this is still very much the case, 6to5Mac have continuously been digging through code in the iOS 12 beta and do appear to have some conclusions. First off, both an icon asset and a split screen device simulation seem to show a new iPad Pro with rounded display corners. The icon or glyph was found as a part of the battery usage UI in iOS. It...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/2018_ipad_pro_to_come_with_thin_bezels_rounded_display_no_home_button_or_notch-news-32598.php

Our Xiaomi Mi 8 SE video review is up

The 'mini' fad came and went, and these days we get quite a few 'Lite' smartphones that want to capitalize on the clout of the high-end devices that bear the same name. Xiaomi felt like doing practically the same thing this year, but using the Apple-inspired 'SE' moniker for the lowest-end model in its Mi 8 lineup. That's not to say that the Mi 8 SE doesn't bring a lot to the table - and for an affordable price, which is something most people have come to associate with Xiaomi. So what's our verdict on it? Well, our full written review goes into all of the minute details. If you don't have...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/our_xiaomi_mi_8_se_video_review_is_up-news-32593.php

Honor Play coming to Pakistan this month as well

Honor Play is expected to launch in India about two days from now on August 6, but sources claim that the company isn't solely aiming at the Indian market. A new report reads that the handset will launch this month in Pakistan too and if initial rumors are to be believed, that's going to be as early as today. Honor Pakistan even uploaded a teaser video on its official YouTube channel. As expected, the device will offer great value thanks to its big 6.3-inch FHD+ display, Kirin 970 SoC and at least 4GB of RAM. Added features, such as GPU Turbo and 4D gaming sure make the handset...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/honor_play_coming_to_pakistan_this_month_as_well-news-32595.php

The HTC U12 Life might feature a Pixel-like two-tone design

HTC was originally rather adamant about keeping the U12+ as the sole release within the family. There is still no word of a vanilla U12 model on the horizon, but the rumor mill has been going on about the "Imagine Life" - aka HTC U12 Life. In a new development, a fresh pair of schematics of the alleged device has surfaced online, Showing off a design quite reminiscent of the Google Pixel line. By the looks of things, the U12 Life might have a dual-tone back. Unfortunately, since this is a schematic, we can't really know if this entails two separate materials, like on the Google...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/the_htc_u12_life_might_feature_a_pixellike_twotone_design-news-32596.php

Asphalt 9: Legends game review for iOS and Android

The Asphalt series will be familiar to anyone who has played mobile games. Started out back in 2004, the original game was launched on the Nokia N-Gage platform, the OG smartphone gaming platform that people often forget about these days while talking about gaming smartphones. The original game was an absolute blast. With stunning 3D visuals (for the time), an eclectic collection of licensed tracks and fun handling meant I sunk an ungodly number of hours playing it on my N-Gage QD. The later games took the series further in terms of visual quality and having even more, newer...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/asphalt_9_legends_game_review_for_ios_and_android-news-32552.php

Fortnite for Android won't be available on the Google Play Store

Epic Games, creators of the incredibly popular battle royale style game 'Fortnite', have announced that the Android version of the game won't be available through the Google Play Store. Instead, it will be distributed through the developer's own website, confirmed CEO Tim Sweeney. The primary reason here seems to be financial. Like Apple, Google takes a 30% cut of every transaction that takes place on its store, whether it's the initial purchase or the in-app purchases. In return for that cut, the company provides the app developer with a platform to distribute its title, server...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/fortnite_for_android_wont_be_available_on_the_google_play_store-news-32594.php

Samsung Galaxy S8 getting August 2018 security patch

Surprise, surprise! Samsung is super fast with the monthly security patch this time around and it's rolling out Google's August security fix for the Galaxy S8 and although the report doesn't say anything about the Galaxy S8+, we are pretty sure the latter isn't left out and it's getting the OTA update as well. The patch has been spotted in Germany with build number G950FXXU3CRGH and it requires a 418MB download. Aside from the security patch, the changelog mentions improvements for the Game Launcher. In any case, if you still don't see the update prompt, we recommend scanning for...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_s8_getting_august_2018_security_patch-news-32591.php

Motorola Moto Z3 hands-on review

We've been waiting for the flagship model ever since the Moto Z3 Play was announced. Well, the wait is now over and the Moto Z3 is here. Announced last night as a Verizon exclusive, for the time being, the Moto Z3 doesn't bear the Force moniker and there are no claims of shatterproof glass. Moto has instead opted for a more conventional Gorilla Glass 3. The compatibility to the MotoMods as we know them is still in place, and as it turned out, they even have a brand new 5G Moto Mod in the works.

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/motorola_moto_z3_hands_on-review-1800.php

Huawei looking to become top smartphone manufacturer next year

Huawei is coming in strong this year with record-breaking market share in China for Q2 2018 according to various analysts. All of this comes amidst falling Chinese market, which is downright impressive. With climbing shipments, Huawei is adjusting its target. Initially, the company aimed to ship around 180 million units this year, but with 95 million moved in H1 alone the company is now expecting to reach 200 million. Let us remind you that Huawei's Mate 20-series are still yet to come later in the Q4 2018. According to the CEO, Richard Yu, Huawei's excellent performance is mostly...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/huawei_on_its_way_to_become_worlds_biggest_smartphone_manufacturer_next_year-news-32590.php

Asus ZenFone 5z gets major camera-improving update

Asus is rolling out a major OTA update for the new ZenFone 5z smartphone. Most of the improvements in it are about the camera and its app. The following is the complete list of changes in this update: Enabled RAW file support Enabled Panorama feature Added on/off button for EIS Enabled flash feature in Pro mode Filters upgraded to Real Time Filters Improved HDR functionality Improved camera stability Improved auto exposure Improved photo sharpness Improved autofocus functionality Improved slow motion quality and file size (720p) Increased audio...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/asus_zenfone_5z_gets_major_camera_improving_update-news-32589.php

Sharp enters smartphone OLED panels market

Samsung dominates the OLED market for portable devices with 90% of all sales - LG struggles is a very distant second with just 7.7%. How the entry of a third major player will change this is an interesting question and one Sharp has decided to find the answer to. Sharp is a renowned Japanese display maker and it's been supplying its own Aquos brand of smartphones with in-house made OLED panels but according to the executive vice president, Katsuaki Nomura, the firm wants to start exporting its screens. Reportedly, Sharp has already started mass production of its OLED panels back in...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/sharp_will_soon_enter_the_samsungdominated_oled_market-news-32585.php

Galaxy Note9 retail box reveals key specs and features

After today's leaked intro video of the Galaxy Note9, it's time for some real numbers and detailed specs. They come from an official retail box for the Russian market. It holds almost everything we would want to know about the Note9's exciting new features. The Note9 boasts a 6.4-inch QHD+ Super AMOLED display confirming what was previously speculated but more importantly, the specs sheet mentions Galaxy S9+'s dual camera setup on the back - 12MP main lens with adjustable aperture (f/1.5-2.4), Dual Pixel PDAF support and a secondary telephoto one with 12MP resolution and f/2.4...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/galaxy_note9_retail_box_reveals_key_specs_and_features-news-32587.php

vivo celebrates India Independence day with $30 NEX S and V9 sale

India is celebrating Independence Day on August 15, and as part of the celebrations, vivo is launching a series of promos on its online store. For the 72nd holiday, vivo is bringing 72 hours of special offers between August 7 and August 9, including flash sales of bestsellers vivo NEX S and vivo V9 for the symbolic amount of INR1,947 (no more than $30/€25). Commemorating India's 72nd year of independence, vivo is also offering earphones and USB cables from its online store for only INR72. There is also up to INR4,000 cashback on all credit and debit card transactions for select...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/vivo_nex_s_and_vivo_v9_are_30_for_independence_day_in_india-news-32586.php

Oppo will be first to release Gorilla Glass 6 phone

Corning introduced its latest iteration of the Gorilla Glass two weeks ago and manufacturers are fast to take advantage of the new glass. The company says that Oppo is going to be the first OEM to integrate it into its new smartphone. Corning adds that more smartphone makers are looking to take advantage of the protective glass and it's working closely with them. The Gorilla Glass 6 is said to be two times more durable than its Gorilla Glass 5 predecessor. This means that the material can survive 15 drops from 1 meter and it's considerably more resistant to pressure. The results are...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/oppo_is_the_first_one_to_take_advantage_of_the_new_gorilla_glass_6-news-32581.php

Huawei Mate 20 Lite specs shine on TENAA

Huawei is preparing to launch the Mate 20 lineup this Fall, and the Lite version is now much less of a mystery. Yesterday its photos were published by TENAA and today specs were filled in. The Mate 20 Lite will have an unusually tall screen, massive battery and the latest Kirin 710 chipset. Huawei Mate 20 Lite TENAA photos The SoC of the Huawei Mate 20 Lite is not listed, but the octa-core 2.2 GHz CPU clearly points to the Kirin 710 that appeared in the Huawei nova 3i as well. The display measures 6.3" and has a resolution of 2340 x 1080 pixels, which has a ratio of...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/huawei_mate_20_lite_specs_shine_tenaa-news-32579.php

Samsung Galaxy Note 4 gets a battery life-boosting update

The Galaxy Note 4 is a 4-year-old phone so it's nice to see Samsung still taking care of it. The update is minor, though, so don't expect a new OS version at this point. The OTA update has been spotted in the Netherlands and it's 224MB big. The changelog points to improved security, but users say it still shows February 2018 security patch. Our best guess is that Samsung just applied a critical security fix without implementing the latest one from July. In addition, the update brings better power management, performance and stability although, no specifics are givene. Since it's...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_note_4_receives_update_addressing_battery_life_and_security-news-32580.php

Deals: 10% off anything from eBay UK

Usually, eBay offers discounts for items from select sellers only. Today eBay UK is casting a wider net - 10% off anything you buy. The promo will run until later today at 20:00 local time. You are limited to two redemptions, but you could use the discount code PICKANY even if you have items from multiple sellers in your cart. You need to spend at least £20 and can get up to £50 in discounts. There are some other conditions, e.g. you need to be a registered eBay UK user, pay with PayPal, credit or debit card and a few others. The most important detail is that you can't stack the 10% off...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/deals_10_off_anything_from_ebay_uk-news-32582.php

Xiaomi launches Qin featurephones for $30

In a somewhat shocking move Xiaomi just announced a featurephone series called Qin. It is a crowdfunded device, designed by Xiaomi, and arrives with some AI capabilities and 4G radio. The project was backed up by over 23,000 people alreadyt. At time of writing pre-orders total CNY6,5 million. The Qin series shares the name of the famous Chinese dynasty, but in English, it sounds more like "chin." The first two phones are similar in looks - 2.8" screen with a resolution of 240 x 320 pixels, tucked along with the keypad in a 132 x 53.8 x 8.5 mm body. There is a dual slot for micro...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_qin_feature_phone_official-news-32576.php

Samsung accidentally outs the Galaxy Note9 intro video

Less than a week remains until Galaxy Note9's launch on August 9, but it appears that Samsung's official New Zealand YouTube channel didn't get the date right. A full-blown intro video of the device was uploaded and judging by the name and the fact that it was quickly taken down afterwards, it must have been an accident. The video is all about the updated S Pen and its enhanced functionality, the expandable storage and all day battery life. The S Pen appears in yellow and the Galaxy Note9 itself is in Coral Blue. The "all new powerful S Pen" references Bluetooth and additional...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_accidentally_puts_up_the_official_galaxy_note9_intro_video-news-32577.php

Google Pixel 3 XL flexes SD845 muscles on Geekbench

The upcoming Google Pixel 3 XL has had its fair share of leaks over the past two months but they are mostly photos and we still know relatively little about its specs. We've already confirmed the single camera setup on the back, the notched display design and we even got to see one in white. Today's leak, however, is more about the internals. A Geekbench listing shows Google's Pixel 3 XL running the benchmark with Snapdragon 845 chipset, 4GB of RAM and Android 9.0 P. The chipset isn't really a surprise since the SD845 is a logical upgrade over the SD835 on last year's Pixel 2 XL but...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/google_pixel_3_xl_scores_well_on_geekbench_flexes_sd845_muscles-news-32575.php

Samsung schedules IFA press conference for August 30

This year the annual IFA trade show is taking place from August 31 to September 5 in Berlin. Last month we got an invitation from Sony and now Samsung has also announced it is having a press conference on August 30. Samsung is having a separate announcement for all smartphone lovers on August 9 when the Galaxy Note9 will be unveiled, but the company is planning to also unveil new Smart TVs and other home appliances like refrigerators and washing machines, according to the invitation slipped in our mailbox. The mobile devices division will have its time under the stage lights...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_schedules_ifa_press_conference_for_august_30-news-32574.php

Huawei shipped more notched smartphones than any other company in the first half of the year

Yesterday news broke that Huawei overtook Apple to become the world's second biggest smartphone maker, despite its lackluster presence in the US. However, the Chinese company has another achievement it can be proud of - it's apparently the company that is selling more notched smartphones than anyone else. This has surfaced today through data from Sigmaintell Consulting. In the first half of 2018, Huawei shipped 25.4 million handsets with a display notch. The second place goes to Apple with 20.7 million units, followed by Oppo, vivo, and Xiaomi. Huawei P20 and P20 Pro In total, the...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/huawei_shipped_more_notched_smartphones_than_any_other_company_in_the_first_half_of_the_year-news-32572.php

Moto Z3 debuts with fingerprint scanner on the side, 5G mod

Today Motorola has announced the Moto Z3 smartphone at a special event in Chicago. It comes after the Z3 Play in the same family, yet while that's a mid-ranger through and through, the Z3 is more of a flagship. It still supports MotoMods but will be the last Moto Z device so from next year you can probably say goodbye to the modular system. The phone has the power button on the left side and the fingerprint scanner on the right side. It also employs a stock-ish version of Android that has a navigation button that's reminiscent of the one Google added to the Android P beta releases. Moto's...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/moto_z3_unexpectedly_becomes_official_with_fingerprint_scanner_on_the_side-news-32573.php

Android P may be released on August 20

Google has been testing the next Android release for a few months, emulating what it's done last year with Oreo. Similarly, the company hasn't yet unveiled an exact release date for the final build of Android P, only mentioning it would come out in the third quarter of the year (so before the end of September). That's where Evan Blass of @evleaks fame comes in, sharing the image you can see below. According to his sources, August 20 is when supported Pixel and Nexus devices are going to start receiving the update to Android P. If this pans out, we hope the official dessert name for...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/android_p_may_be_released_on_august_20-news-32571.php

Chinese smartphone sales continue to drop in Q2 2018, Huawei grows

The Chinese smartphone market isn't necessarily in a bad shape, but it has been declining for a while. Since Q3 2017, the numbers have been going down, which makes it as the first market in the world to have such correction. In Q2 2018, the local shipments went down 7% YoY but grew a little compared to the last quarter of this year. Interestingly enough, Huawei is the only brand in the top 5 in China to achieve growth. The nice 22% year-over-year boost brought its market share from 20% in Q2 2017 to 26% in Q2 2018. In contrast, the rest of the smartphone manufacturers have either lost...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/chinese_smartphone_sales_continue_to_drop_in_q2_2018_huawei_grows-news-32570.php

Deal: Best Buy slashing up to $250 off of Apple Watch Series 3 LTE

It looks like Best Buy is clearing some stock and is offering some good deals on wearables lately. First, the Samsung Gear S3 got discounted last week and now Apple's Watch Series 3 with cellular is part of Deals of the Day. The offer is available only for today and it shaves off up to $250 from the price with the most affordable options being $299. The best part is that there's a lot of options to choose from - aluminum, stainless steel and Nike participate and there are more. Source

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/deal_best_buy_slashing_up_to_250_off_of_apple_watch_series_3_lte-news-32569.php

Xiaomi Mi A2 review

The Xiaomi Mi 6X has finally gone global and we have a play date with the international Mi A2. Some big shoes it has to fill - the Mi A1 was such a well-rounded yet affordable smartphone that it would regularly feature in our review conclusions as the main alternative for a wide range of competitors. Can the Mi A2 top that?

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_mi_a2-review-1798.php

Oppo R17 leak shows an under display fingerprint reader

We've been wondering about the fingerprint reader on the Oppo R17 - if it's not on the back, will it be under the display? That's exactly what the latest leak claims, showing a telling "fingerprint" graphic on the display. But the credibility of this rumor is under question. Note the dual rear camera - it's vertical. In the images from TENAA the camera was horizontal. We tend to believe TENAA more than random rumors, though there's chance there has been a mix-up. The Oppo R17 may have an under display fingerprint reader See, the official image of the Oppo F9 Pro shows a...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/oppo_r17_leak_shows_an_under_display_fingerprint_reader-news-32568.php

Facebook and Instagram release tools to monitor your social media presence

Facebook and Instagram launched tools that let you monitor your activity on their networks. Available as an option in the Settings menu and currently rolling out to all global users it might take some time for the tool to reach everyone. Facebook and Instagram have virtually the same tool for monitoring activity The Your Activity panel is quite similar in Facebook and Instagram. It has a bar graph for the last seven days, with a big number, showing the daily average. If you think you need to cool it down, there is an option to set a daily reminder that will arrive as a push...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/facebook_instagram_your_activity-news-32566.php

ZTE unveils limited edition Camouflage nubia Red Magic

The China Joy tech exhibition kicks off in a few hours and ZTE is bringing a treat - a new limited edition color option for the nubia Red Magic. The gaming phone initially launched in Red and Black, the new option is a Camouflage paint job. ZTE nubia Red Magic: limited edition Camouflage edition An ultraviolet laser was used to etch the markings on the back and there's a special fingerprint-resistant coating to keep the phone looking pristine. There's a rumor going around that the cooling system has been upgraded for this model, though it seems that this isn't the case. As...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/zte_celebrates_china_joy_expo_with_limited_edition_camouflage_nubia_red_magic-news-32567.php

Lenovo to be the first one to release 5G ready smartphone?

Everyone is betting big on the upcoming 5G networks - from carriers to smartphone manufacturers. So the race to be the first OEM to release 5G-capable smartphone is on, but that won't happen until Qualcomm releases its Snapdragon 855 with the 5G-capable modem. In a recent Weibo post, Lenovo's VP, Chang Cheng, said that Lenovo will be winning the race next year with the first 5G smartphone using Qualcomm's Snapdragon 855 chip. But shortly after the publication, the post got deleted, so we are left with only with the screenshot. Either Lenovo is hyping up its fans, or it has something...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/lenovo_to_be_the_first_one_to_release_5g_ready_smartphone-news-32565.php

Oppo Find X Lamborghini Edition arrives on August 10 for $1,500

When Oppo announced the Find X, everyone was amazed by the unique slider design. Then the company said there is an even more premium version, created in collaboration with Lamborghini, and with Super VOOC charging support to boot. Now it's time for that particular version to hit the shelves as the Oppo Find X Lamborghini Edition was listed on the company website for pre-order until August 10, when shipments will begin. The Oppo Find X Lamborghini Edition shares key specs with the regular Oppo Find X - 6.42" AMOLED panel with practically no bezels, Snapdragon 845 and 8 GB RAM. To...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/oppo_find_x_lamborghini_edition_arrives_preorder-news-32564.php

Nokia 6.1 Plus coming to India soon

After its official launch in China as the Nokia X6, the Nokia 6.1 Plus began its global rollout with Hong Kong and now it's about to hit India. All the Nokia fans out there tell us your favorite Nokia smartphone experience and stand a chance to witness the next exclusive launch event. Click the link below to participate and stay tuned for more! https://t.co/uJpt3Onj7w pic.twitter.com/yrFkgnqpAE— Nokia Mobile India (@NokiamobileIN) August 1, 2018 HMD Global just teased a launch event in India and has organized a contest for the fans that want to attend it. Of course, we can't be sure...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_61_plus_might_be_coming_to_india_pretty_soon-news-32563.php

Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 could come on September 15 with no chin

The Xiaomi Mi Mix series kickstarted the final wave in the pursuit for all-screen front panels and and we can't wait to see how far the Chinese brand can push away those bezels in the next generation. And judging by the poster below, we have every reason to be hyped. With the recently launched vivo NEX and Oppo Find X, the upcoming Mi Mix 3 will have a tough time competing with the impressive screen-to-body ratios. But with that thin lower chin, it might still stand a chance. Other important info that we could gather from the poster is the announcement date - September 15. It's in...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_mi_mix_3_could_launch_on_september_15_with_virtually_no_chin-news-32562.php

BlackBerry Evolve and Evolve X go official with massive batteries

BlackBerry and its Indian manufacturing partner Optiemus announced together the Evolve series that includes two smartphones - BlackBerry Evolve and BlackBerry Evolve X. The two phones share tall screens, dual cameras and massive 4,000 mAh batteries that power Android Oreo. BlackBerry Evolve & Evolve X getting unveiled BlackBerry Evolve X Like the BlackBerry Key2, the Evolve X has a Snapdragon 660 chipset with octa-core CPU, clocked at 2.2 GHz. The GPU is Adreno 512, while the RAM is 6 GB. Storage on board is 64 GB, but there is microSD for up to 256 GB...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/blackberry_evolve_x_official-news-32561.php

Huawei Mate 20 Lite certification listing reveals design

The only vague info we got about the budget version of this year's upcoming Mate 20-series, called Mate 20 Lite, is that it will come in two variants. Well today we have the usually helpful TENAA posting its certification listing and shedding some light on its design and specs. Huawei Mate 20 Lite TENAA photos The Mback layout is identical to last year's Mate 10 Lite. The rear-mounted fingerprint reader accompanies a slightly protruding dual camera setup on the back and luckily for most, the notch is out of the question. TENAA listing Unfortunately, though, the...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/huawei_mate_20_lite_is_tagging_along_pending_tenaa_certification_reveals-news-32558.php

Samsung opens up Galaxy Note9 pre-orders in United States

Samsung is launching the Galaxy Note9 on August 9. The date is a bit earlier than usual, but this is due to the poor Galaxy S9 performance on the market. The Korean company has just opened pre-orders (also called reservations) on its US website, sweetening the deal with $450 savings when you trade your current smartphone. Samsung does not specify this is the Galaxy Note9, but the visuals suggest this is indeed the phablet. You can enter name, email and ZIP code to reserve a unit for you. There are six options for carriers - Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, US Cellular or an unlocked...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_opens_up_galaxy_note9_preorders_in_united_states-news-32559.php

Google is developing a censored search engine for China

Google is said to be working on project Dragonfly which aims to bring the search back in China. The company is developing an engine that will blacklist websites and terms about human rights, democracy, religion and protests - all of them really sensitive topics in China. The project has been underway since the fall of 2017 and has been demonstrated to Chinese officials at CES in January. According to internal documents, acquired by The Intercept, the final version could be launched in the next six to nine months, pending approval from the Chinese government. If the project goes...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/google_developing_censored_search_engine_china-news-32557.php

Google Podcasts support coming to Android Auto soon

Back in June, Google released its own Podcasts app for Android, aptly called Google Podcasts. However, since its release, some have likely been wondering when the app would get official Android Auto integration. Android Police reports that one of its readers began seeing Google Podcasts integration working, but not entirely. According to this reader, if you start Playing a Google Podcast before firing up Android Auto, it appears in the media controls. However the option to actually select Google Podcasts among other music apps like Google Play Music or Pocket Casts is not...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/google_podcasts_support_coming_to_android_auto_soon-news-32556.php

YouTube starts calling Stories what they are, rolls them out to more people

The Stories format that Snapchat introduced way back when doesn't show any signs of going away anytime soon. On the contrary, it seems like every single online service worth its salt is adding just such a feature. Following Instagram and WhatsApp and even Facebook itself, last November Google-owned YouTube announced its own spin on the model, which it called Reels. Well, say goodbye to Reels because this functionality is now called Stories and it's recently been rolling out to more people as an extended test. Last year Reels was only accessible to creators with more than 10,000...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/youtube_starts_calling_stories_what_they_are_rolls_them_out_to_more_people-news-32555.php

JBL Link View smart display with Google Assistant goes up for pre-order

If Lenovo's Smart Display with Google Assistant, which got official a few days ago, hasn't impressed you, perhaps this will. The JBL Link View is the second Google Assistant-powered smart display to hit the market, and it's now up for pre-order at its maker's official online store. You can have one if you pay $249.95. Shipping starts on September 3. The Link View has an 8-inch "HD" touchscreen (exact resolution unknown, but we assume it's 720p), "legendary JBL sound" with deep bass and clear highs, a 5 MP front-facing camera for video calls, wireless Bluetooth streaming from your...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/jbl_link_view_smart_display_with_google_assistant_goes_up_for_preorder-news-32554.php

Oppo F9 hands-on image, more promo posters surface ahead of August 15 launch

Oppo has been teasing the upcoming F9 for a couple of days now, with its small triangle-shaped notch and VOOC charging. The online campaign continues with the promo images below, which present us with two color versions of the handset: Sunrise Red and Twilight Blue. At the same time, the company has started plastering billboards across Indonesian cities, showcasing the phone in the hands of actress Chelsea Islan. The billboards tell us that VOOC will enable two-hour talk time from just a five-minute charge. The Sunrise Red variant of the F9 has also been leaked in a hands-on...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/oppo_f9_handson_image_and_promo_posters_surface_ahead_of_august_15_launch-news-32553.php

iPhone X Plus will have iPad-like landscape UI

Earlier today we've shown you purported dummies of the three upcoming iPhones launching this September. Since one of those models will be the biggest iPhone ever, you may have been wondering if Apple was planning to do something special with its user interface. This leak confirms that it is. Thanks to the latest beta of iOS 12, the version of the OS that will be preinstalled on the 2018 handsets, we can see that the company will use an iPad-like landscape UI for the iPhone X Plus - the 6.5" device (the official name hasn't been leaked yet). As evidenced by the screenshots above and...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/iphone_x_plus_will_have_ipadlike_landscape_ui-news-32551.php

Counterpoint: Nokia was the 9th smartphone brand globally by shipments

Despite selling phones with the old Nokia name, HMD the company is quite young - it was founded in December 2016, less than two years ago. That makes it all the more impressive that it is now a Top 10 manufacturer globally by shipments, according to data from Counterpoint Research. Comparing the second quarter of this year to that of 2017, HMD's shipments grew a whopping 782%. In total, that's 4.5 million units shipped or about half what established players like LG and Lenovo (plus Motorola) are doing, not to mention HTC and Sony, which aren't even in the Top 10. That puts HMD and...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/counterpoint_nokia_was_the_9th_smartphone_brand_globally_by_shipments-news-32548.php

New dummies give us even better idea of 2018 iPhones' design

We've seen some renders of the 6.1-inch iPhone that's supposed to be the most affordable of the bunch with an LCD panel and also some high-quality renders of the plus-sized 6.5-inch iPhone model. But this is the first time we see the 5.8-inch middle-ground model - the direct successor to 2017's iPhone X. The pictured dummies give us a good idea of what all three 2018 iPhones will look like. They will all have slim bezels (except for the "budget" iPhone) and notches. Those will house the advanced Face ID recognition. The 6.1-inch LCD model will have a single rear camera, while...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/2018_iphones_dummies_showcase_the_front_and_rear_design-news-32549.php

Lenovo Watch X Plus goes on sale tomorrow

Announced back in June, the Lenovo Watch X has been on the market for around CNY 299 ($44) but today, the company announced its slightly pricier and more capable Plus variant. The Watch X Plus comes with Milanese black or silver straps while the screen is OLED with luminous hands. A sapphire glass protects the screen while the housing is made of 316L stainless steel. It offers the barometer, gyroscope, geomagnetic and heart rate sensors and even blood pressure measurement. A 600 mAh battery keeps it alive for about 45 days of standby time - just like the standard Watch X - and can...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/lenovo_watch_x_plus_goes_on_sale_in_china_tomorrow-news-32545.php

Our Alto's Odyssey Android game review is up

Alto's Odyssey won over the hears of many mobile gamers with its beautiful scenery and simplistic gameplay. It's iOS version has been out for quite some time but it's only now when the game hits Android's Play Store. So a review of the game felt like something worth doing. As always, the graphics are stunning and the ever-changing and randomly generated scenery is all we needed to keep playing this soothing and chill game. However, Will has some small complaints about the overly simplified gameplay and the sometimes unoptimized background for gaming under the sun. Hear what else Will...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/our_altos_odyssey_android_game_review_is_up-news-32547.php

Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 10.5: official introduction video and infographics

Samsung just unveiled the Galaxy Tab S4 10.5, but what is it about and how does it improve on the Galaxy Tab S3 9.7? Well, our hands-on review can help answer the questions. Or you could watch the official introduction video. It stars two Directors of Product Marketing from Samsung and spans 5 minutes. The video starts from basics - what's in the boxing, the new screen size (with narrower bezels to boot), the new S Pen and so on. Don't have 5 minutes? Here's the Tab S4 infographic, which covers the key facts. For example, AKG helped tune the quad 1.2W speakers on the tablet. Also,...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_tab_s4_105_official_introduction_video_and_infographics-news-32550.php

Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 10.5 hands-on review

Tablets never killed the PC, but they did change how we look at laptops - between keyboard add-ons and styluses, a modern 2-in-1 is an alleged Swiss knife of productivity. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 10.5 is bundled with an S Pen and you can get a Book Cover keyboard if you type more often than you sketch.

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_tab_s4_105_hands_on-review-1797.php