Gboard teardown hints at clipboard manager and floating mode in the works

The beta for Google's keyboard Gboard v7.5 is now out and it comes with a host of useful features, or at least hints of them. Chief among those is what effectively is a clipboard manager where you'd be able to see a list of things you've recently copied. Other implied functionality includes a floating mode, which will allow you to see more of the screen and won't cover up the area that isn't actively used for keys - the thing that happens with the current one-handed mode. A new search-as-you-type feature is in development too - the G in top left will light up when the app has found...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/gboard_teardown_hints_at_clipboard_manager_and_floating_mode_in_the_works-news-32834.php

Two more paintjobs for the Huawei P20 Pro to be shown at IFA

We haven't bothered trying to hide our fondness for the P20 Pro's color schemes, and it appears Huawei's design department will be making it even tougher to pick just the right option. Apparently, two weeks from now at IFA, the company will be announcing two more paintjobs for its flagship. Huawei P20 Pro in the existing Twilight and Midnight Blue color schemes The folks over at Android Authority have seen photos of the two new colors, though actually sharing them isn't an option. Anyway, one of them is a take on the existing Twilight gradient, enhanced with black. The other is...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/two_more_paintjobs_for_the_huawei_p20_pro_to_be_shown_at_ifa-news-32833.php

Motorola One (non-Power) certified: 5.86" 720p display, 3,000mAh battery

The Motorola One showed up on GeekBench the other day, and it turns out it's been to other places too. The toned-down version of the yet-unofficial One Power has passed by Chinese regulator TENAA where its listing reveals a ton of specs that the benchmark database wouldn't. Motorola XT1941-2 (Motorola One) at TENAA The handset that so far goes by XT1941-2 has a 5.88-inch display with a 1520x720px resolution in a 19:9 aspect - the Power's 6.2-inch screen is FullHD+. GeekBench told us that the chipset is the Snapdragon 625, and TENAA lists a total of three options for RAM...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/motorola_one_nonpower_certified_586_720p_display_3000mah_battery-news-32832.php

BlackBerry KEY2 receiving the August security patch in North America

A firmware update for the BlackBerry KEY2 is live in North America with users in the US and Canada getting the ABE181 build over the air. The update brings the security patch level up to August 5. The download is a little short of 400MB, and with security patches normally in double-digit megabytes, there's probably more to this update. Details remain scarce, though. If you happen to have the phone and the new build, do share in the comments any impressions you might have gathered. Via

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/blackberry_key2_receiving_the_august_security_patch_in_north_america-news-32831.php

Samsung Galaxy Note9 gets its first OTA update

Samsung has already pushed an update to the Samsung Galaxy Note9. Of course, the majority of folks who have one in possession is the media (present company included). We've not yet seen the update arrive on our international Galaxy Note9, so it looks like the first ones to get it might be North American Snapdragon variants. Either that, or we simply haven't received the notification yet. The update includes a toggle to switch between two Super Slow-mo capture modes. You can shoot either 0.2s of 960fps or you can go for 0.4s of 480fps in manual mode. On the flip side, auto mode detects...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_note9_gets_its_first_ota_update-news-32830.php

Huawei nova 3 goes on open sale on August 23, nova 3i Iris Purple on August 21

Huawei's nova 3 and nova 3i smartphones became available in India on August 7. So far, the nova 3 hasn't been offered on open sale, but that's going to change on August 23. The phone will still be priced at INR 34,999, and you'll still need to head to Amazon to grab one. The nova 3i, on the other hand, has only been available in black up until now. The Iris Purple color version will finally be out on August 21, also at Amazon. It will set you back INR 20,990 like the the black one. According to Huawei, the nova 3i has been a bestseller at Amazon, after seeing incredible demand in...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/huawei_nova_3_goes_on_open_sale_in_india_on_august_23_nova_3i_iris_purple_out_on_august_21-news-32823.php

ZTE is officially back, may announce Axon 9 at IFA 2018

We all know what happened with ZTE. The United States banned the Chinese phone maker from operating in the United States for breaking sanctions and using American components in countries where the company was not supposed to. Now ZTE can operate again, but the it has to rebrand the name to re-enter the US. Several long months and back and forths between the Chinese and American governments, ZTE is out of its hiatus and is ready to announce phones again. Yesterday, ZTE tweeted a poster that confirmed it'd be at IFA where it is "Leading 5G Innovations" between August 31 and September 5,...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/zte_is_back_announce_axon_9_ifa-news-32829.php

Samsung Brazil caught passing stock photos as Galaxy A8 camera samples

Samsung is promoting the Galaxy A8 (2018) and tweeted some selfie pictures, accompanied by a text saying the phone highlights the essential parts of the photo, clearly meaning the people in it. Another user of Twitter with a keen eye and a @feliperas handle found out the images are stock photos from Getty Photos, dating back to 2015. Quer enganar quem, @SamsungBrasil? pic.twitter.com/Xy7b2dsRcz— Fᴇʟɪᴘᴇʀᴀs (@feliperas) August 16, 2018 The images Samsung Brazil posted are edited to mask the apparent fact they were taken with a professional...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_brazil_stock_photos_galaxy_a8_camera_samples-news-32819.php

vivo X23 photographed in the wild again, looks like the vivo V11 Pro

Our first glimpse of the vivo X23 was at an awkward angle that didn't let us appreciate the phone's design. Here's a better look. The top of the phone features the trendy new "water drop" notch design and - assuming the photos haven't been retouched - there's no chin. Also, check out the back and the way it reflects the light. It's supposed to feature a color gradient, though you can't quite see it in the photos. (Alleged) vivo X23 live photos The vivo X23 should launch on August 20 with a 6.4" display, a 3D face scanner (ToF) and an in-display fingerprint reader (which you...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/vivo_x23_photographed_in_the_wild_again_looks_like_the_vivo_v11_pro-news-32826.php

OnePlus 6T to be offered by T-Mobile, arriving in October likely priced from $550

Earlier this year OnePlus CEO Pete Lau said his company was working on having its smartphones sold by US carriers. And it now looks like the first carrier partnership will be with T-Mobile. The magenta carrier is set to offer the upcoming OnePlus 6T in the States, according to a new report sourced from "people familiar with the launch plans". T-Mobile will be the only carrier selling the OnePlus 6T in the US. Still, one carrier is better than no carrier, maybe more will join for the OnePlus 7 if all goes smoothly. Regardless of that, being offered by one of the 'big four' in the US should...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/oneplus_6t_to_be_offered_by_tmobile_arriving_in_october_likely_priced_from_550_-news-32825.php

Huawei Mate 20 Lite and its Kirin 710 chipset benchmarked

The Huawei Mate 20 Lite will be powered by a Kirin 710 chipset, the second phone after the nova 3i. Despite numerous leaks, the chipset wasn't named explicitly but specs by TENAA and these Geekbench results pretty much confirm it. The single-threaded performance is equal between the Mate 20 Lite and the nova 3i (the other Kirin 710 phone). There is a gap in the multi-threaded score, but that could be due to the pre-release status of the software. JRGRAPH_EXPANDABLE_VERSION = false; GeekBench 4.2 (single-core) Higher is better Huawei P20 Pro 1926 Xiaomi...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/huawei_mate_20_lite_and_its_kirin_710_chipset_benchmarked-news-32821.php

Google adds Gmail Confidential Mode to Android

Google rolled out an update with Confidential Mode for Gmail users on Desktop back in May and now the feature made its way to the Android application. The Gmail account on Twitter announced the arrival of the feature that lets you put a self-destruct timer of conversations to "protect sensitive information from unauthorized access." Confidential mode is now available on mobile devices and can help you protect sensitive information from unauthorized access. Learn more about this feature → https://t.co/lmQNElH6C1 pic.twitter.com/Nxtx2yU0pG— Gmail (@gmail) August 16, 2018 The...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/google_gmail_confidential_mode_android-news-32814.php

Sony reveals which phones will get updated to Android 9.0 Pie

Sony has officially revealed which of its phones are on the Android Pie update waiting list. Basically, if you have a recent flagship or a new mid-ranger, you're on the list. The premium Xperia XZ line (from the XZ Premium onward) can expect to get Pie in November (an earlier schedule had the update coming in September). Sony Xperia XZ Premium Sony Xperia XZ1 Sony Xperia XZ1 Compact Sony Xperia XZ2 Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium The Xperia XA2 lineup will have to wait until early 2019. Sony Xperia XA2 Sony Xperia XA2 Plus Sony Xperia XA2...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/sony_reveals_which_phones_will_get_updated_to_android_90_pie-news-32818.php

vivo V11 to go official on September 6

vivo is set to launch the all new V11 smartphone on September 6, according to a save the date card they started sending out. Vivo invite The invite is very low on information but fortunately, thanks to leaks, we know a few things about the vivo V11 already. For example, the phone has a fingerprint sensor built into the display, something that is also alluded to in the invite image. Apart from that, V11 also has a new display design with a smaller notch for the front camera. It's not quite the same as having no notch, as on the NEX S, but it's still less of an eyesore compared...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/vivo_v11_to_launch_in_india_on_september_6-news-32822.php

Deals: 15% off anything in eBay UK, 10% off in eBay Germany and Austria

Here are a couple of promos for your eBay shopping - one for the UK and one for Germany and Austria. In the UK, you can use the PIGGYBANK coupon to get 15% off anything. The deal ends at 8:00pm local time and as usual terms & conditions apply (key points: £20 minimum spend, £50 maximum discount). You can get a Huawei Honor 9 Lite for £150 pre-discount, £127 after. If you're looking for something higher-end, there's a Huawei P20 lite for £230 post discount. Then there are Apple gadgets like the iPhone 7 (32GB, unlocked) for £468 or an Apple Watch Series 3 for £306. All of these are new...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/deals_15_off_anything_in_ebay_uk_10_off_in_ebay_germany_and_austria-news-32817.php

Samsung is launching the Galaxy Note9 in India on August 22

Samsung introduced the Galaxy Note9 two weeks ago and the phone went on pre-order in India immediately after that. Today the company confirmed that the new flagship will hit the shelves on August 22 and it will hold a special event to mark the occassion. The 6/128 GB variant is priced at INR67,900 ($967/€850), while the 8/512 GB version costs INR84,900 which translates to $1,210/€1,063. The Galaxy Note9 128 GB is available in Metallic Copper, Midnight Black, and Ocean Blue colors, while the mightier version misses on the first color option. The phone arrives with 6.4" AMOLED...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_launch_galaxy_note9_india_august_22-news-32816.php

Cases for Sony Xperia XZ3 show single camera on the rear

Ever since Sony announced the IMX586 - a 48MP Quad Bayer sensor - plenty of rumors about the Xperia XZ3 came out claiming that it will feature a single camera. We even saw speculative renders and now we have one more data point. PU Leather cases for the XZ3 have shown up online with just two holes on the back - one for a lens and one for the fingerprint reader. Sony Xperia XZ3 cases showing a single camera However, things are far from settled. Other cases show a dual camera, which can also be seen in these alleged live photos of the phone, we've head dual camera rumors and...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/cases_for_sony_xperia_xz3_show_single_camera_on_the_rear-news-32815.php

Samsung Odyssey+ VR headset shows up on FCC with SteamVR support

The follow up to Samsung's Odyssey VR headset has just passed through the FCC revealing much of its features. It's called the Odyssey+ and bears the model number XE800ZBA. This suggests a small upgrade over the original Odyssey (XE800ZAA). According to the FCC listing the new VR headset has a bigger nose contact area, wider eye box and anti-fog (possibly referencing that the lenses will get foggy less because of the wider nose area). The Samsung Odyssey+ will add SteamVR support to the existing Windows Mixed Reality support. This means the new headset will be able to consume VR content...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_odyssey_vr_headset_shows_up_on_fcc_with_steamvr_support-news-32813.php

Video teaser shows off Oppo R17 Pro's triple camera and design

Oppo has released a video teaser for its upcoming R17 Pro, in which we see the phone's design and get a sneak peek at its triple camera. We know that the main sensor will have a Galaxy S9/S9+/Note9-like variable aperture - f/1.5-2.4 - and it's shown in the video. The question is what will the second and third camera be used for? Some suggest that the third sensor will be a Time of Flight 3D camera (ToF 3D) to enable AR functionality. The Oppo R17 Pro will feature an in-display fingerprint scanner, a 6.4-inch 1080x2280px AMOLED display with Oppo's water drop notch, up to 8GB of...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/video_teaser_shows_off_oppo_r17_pros_triple_camera_and_design-news-32810.php

Google return in China in doubt after employee outcry

Back at the beginning of the month we heard of a project called Dragonfly, aiming to bring back Google Search to China but with revised mechanisms and abiding by the censorship laws in China. Now The New York Times reported that a letter demanding more transparency to understand the ethical consequences has been circling around the Google offices and has already been signed by over 1,400 employees of the Mountain View company. The message asks leadership "to work with employees to implement concrete transparency and oversight processes". Undersigned Googlers expect future projects...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/google_return_china_doubt_employee_outcry-news-32808.php

Rumored vivo V11 leaks in live images with Waterdrop screen

Vivo is preparing a new smartphone called V11 and its photos and specs already leaked into the wild. Live images of the phone were initially leaked by a Belarusian website, later followed by detailed pictures of the Waterdrop notch from Russia. Specs of the phone were also outed, revealing the device will have an under-display fingerprint scanner, Snapdragon 660 chipset, and a flagship-tier camera. vivo V11 live images The vivo V11 is expected to have a 6.41" AMOLED screen with Full HD+ resolution and a massive ration of 19.5:9. The chipset in the phone comes with octa-core...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/rumored_vivo_v11_live_images_waterdrop_screen-news-32809.php

Google return in China under question after employee outcry

Back in the beginning of the month we reported about a project called Dragonfly, aiming to bring back Google Search to China but with revised mechanisms and abiding by the censorship laws in China. Now The New York Times reported that a letter demanding more transparency to understand the ethical consequences has been circling around the internal networks of Google and has been signed by over 1,400 employees of the Mountain View company. The message, acquired by NYT, is one page long and asks leadership "to work with employees to implement concrete transparency and oversight...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/google_return_china_under_question_employee_outcry-news-32808.php

Skype Preview on Android updated with call recording and SMS support

The newest Skype Preview version 8.29.76 for Android brings a couple of new features. You can now make Skype calls on your smartphone and record them right from the app. This might be a good option for those that used to rely on a third-party call recording app before their functionality was borked by the Android Pie update. The new feature is SMS messaging. You can choose two options for SMS: You can now use Skype SMS to send and receive text messages on your Skype account using Skype Credit. The second option is to send SMS messages using "SMS Connect" which will set your...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/skype_preview_on_android_updated_with_call_recording_and_sms_support-news-32807.php

Motorola One spotted on GeekBench with Snapdragon 625 and 4GB of RAM

This week, Motorola announced the Moto P30 exclusively for the Chinese market. The smartphone itself took inspiration from not only the iPhone X's notch, but basically the rest of its design. iPhone references aside, the global version of the P30 is rumored to be the Motorola One (leaked images here) and One Power. We're expecting the "One" to be the less spec'd device of the two. Today, the Motorola One appeared on GeekBench unofficially confirming that the device will run a Snapdragon 625 CPU and 4GB of RAM for apps. Meanwhile, the device that was benchmarked is running Android 8.1 Oreo....

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/motorola_one_spotted_on_geekbench_with_snapdragon_625_and_4gb_of_ram-news-32806.php

Huawei confirms Kirin 980 will be 7nm and will power the Mate 20 series in October

Huawei, by way of CEO Richard Yu, has confirmed that the Mate 20 series will launch in October and will be powered by the Kirin 980 - the world's first commercially available 7nm chipset. The new chipset will be 20% faster and 40% more efficient that the Kirin 970. It will reportedly have processor cores that peak at 2.8GHz. Huawei will announce the Kirin 980 at the IFA congress in Berlin in a few weeks. We'll get the full details then. As for the Huawei Mate 20 series, it will consist of the Mate 20, the Mate 20 Pro and the Mate 20 Lite. We know very little of the Mate 20,...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/huawei_confirms_kirin_980_will_be_7nm_and_will_power_the_mate_20_series_in_october-news-32802.php

Games from HTC's Viveport store will soon support the Oculus Rift

Platform lock-in sucks - especially when talking about nascent platforms like VR where content is pretty limited to begin with. So, here's some good news: HTC's Viveport VR store will soon support the Oculus Rift headset. The consumer launch is set for September 4, developers can start testing today. The support includes both purchased titles and ones rented via the Viveport Subscription. Games built with OpenVR should require no changes, which will help build up a wide selection of games for launch day. Like on Steam, icons will show at-a-glance compatibility info in the Viveport...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/games_from_htcs_viveport_store_will_soon_support_the_oculus_rift-news-32805.php

ARM unveils roadmap: Cortex-A76 to tackle Intel, Deimos and Hercules cores incoming

Earlier this year ARM unveiled the Cortex-A76, which promised 35% boost in performance. This core will be out later this year, but there's much more to come - the company announced a road map for 7nm and 5nm cores and is not shy about making comparisons with Intel. The A76 will be made on both 10nm and 7nm nodes. Its followup, codenamed Deimos, will be made on the 7nm node once it matures. Expect to see this in devices in 2019 with a 15% increase in performance over A76. The sequel to Deimos is Hercules and it will be made on both the 7nm node and the yet to be developed 5nm node....

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/arm_unveils_roadmap_cortexa76_to_tackle_intel_deimos_and_hercules_cores_incoming-news-32803.php

Nokia 6.1 Plus inches closer to Indian launch as teaser campaign heats up

HMD's teaser campaign heats up as the Nokia Mobile India Twitter account promises the "most awaited phone". The campaign operates under the #BringItOn hashtag and has been building anticipation for the August 21 event. The Nokia 6.1 Plus is the most likely device to be featured, though HMD hasn't confirmed anything officially. The support page has been up on the Nokia India site since late June. We are thrilled to bring you the Nokia smartphones event for the most awaited phone. Stay tuned to #BringItOn with #NokiaMobile pic.twitter.com/v1ZHBnTSri— Nokia Mobile India (@NokiamobileIN)...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_61_plus_inches_closer_to_indian_launch_as_teaser_campaign_heats_up-news-32804.php

Caviar's Samsung Galaxy Note9 has 1 kg of pure gold on its back

Samsung launched the Galaxy Note9 on August 9 with a price tag of $999/€999 for the basic 128 GB variant. It arrived in four fancy colors and Gorilla Glass 5 protecting the back panel. The luxury smartphone company Caviar that is based in Russia decided that price and looks are not flashy enough and launched the Galaxy Note9 with 1 kilogram of pure gold on the back. We're not joking, just look at the images. Caviar is not playing around The Samsung Galaxy Note9 Fine Gold Edition retains its internals with Caviar choosing to focus on the looks only. The Russian...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/caviar_isamsung_galaxy_note9_pure_gold-news-32800.php

vivo X23 hands-on images allegedly surface

The vivo X23 is going to be announced soon, possibly even on August 20 - that date leaked through the Chinese company's virtual assistant, Jovi. Someone in China already seems to have his or her hands on a unit, however, as evidenced by the two spy shots you can see below. They show a phone with a very small notch at the top of the display, akin to the one found in the Oppo F9 that recently became official. Oppo calls it a 'waterdrop' screen, and it's not surprising to see vivo using the same design as the two companies are both subsidiaries of BBK Electronics. Alleged vivo X23 in...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/vivo_x23_handson_shots_allegedly_surface-news-32799.php

Coolpad Mega 5A launched with 5.45" 18:9 screen

Coolpad has added a new entry-level smartphone to its Mega series. Slated as an offline-exclusive for India, the Coolpad Mega 5A comes with a 5.45-inch 1440x720px 18:9 display, a Spreadtrum chipset with a quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM and 16GB of expandable storage. It packs an 8MP+0.3MP dual camera on the back and a 5MP camera on the front. There's a 2,500mAh battery on board. The Coolpad Mega 5A will be available starting today in 8 states - Delhi NCR, Haryana, Telangana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra. It's priced at INR 6,999 (about...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/coolpad_mega_5a_launched_with_545inch_screen_and_entrylevel_price-news-32798.php

Android Pie (Go Edition) to arrive with optimized storage and faster boot times

Google unleashed the Android 9.0 Pie at the beginning of the month with a bunch of new features and polished design. Today the company introduced the Go edition of the new OS and the improvements it would bring to ultra-affordable smartphones in developing markets. According to the official blog post, the new OS has a 500MB smaller footprint, the boot is faster and more secure and will offer a dashboard for tracking and monitoring data consumption. The phones with Android Oreo (Go Edition) and the upcoming devices that will be with the Pie variant have some lite pre-installed apps...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/android_pie_go_edition_arrive_optimized_storage_faster_boot-news-32797.php

Samsung's foldable smartphone gets portrayed in concept renders

Samsung has been gearing up to launch its first foldable smartphone for a very long time now, and the device may finally become official at CES 2019 in January. While we impatiently wait for the Korean company's next innovation, the folks over at Dutch website NieuweMobiel teamed up with Jonas Dähnert to bring us a glimpse of what the handset may end up looking like. Samsung Galaxy F (or Galaxy X) concept renders The phone has been referred to as the Galaxy X, but there's also a chance it will be launched as the Galaxy F (reusing the name of a canceled model from a few years...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsungs_foldable_smartphone_gets_portrayed_in_concept_renders-news-32796.php

Moto Z3 now available for Verizon, costs $480

The Moto Z3 is now available on Verizon. You can pay its $480 price up front or spread it out across 24 months at $20 a month. The phone is available online here and here as well as offline in Verizon stores. If you're coming from another US carrier, by switching to Verizon and trading in your old phone, you can get up to $300 off that price. Note that shipping may take a week (that's what Motorola.com estimates, anyway). Moto Z3's claim to fame is that early next year there will be a MotoMod (pictured above) that gives the phone 5G connectivity. However, LG and Sprint stole some of...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/moto_z3_now_available_for_verizon_costs_480-news-32795.php

Sony Xperia XA3 benchmarked with Snapdragon 660 chipset

A Sony H4493 has passed through Geekbench, likely the Xperia XA3 or one of its variants (Plus/Ultra). The phone is powered by a Snapdragon 660 chipset, Sony's first, which should provide a boost in performance compared to the previous generation (the XA2 phones used Snapdragon 630). We say "should" as the scores posted by this model are not actually an improvement over the older phones. Still, it's early days and the software may not be ready for prime time (Android 8.0 Oreo). The Xperia XA3 boasts 6GB of RAM, which was only available on the top Xperia XA2 Plus in the previous...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/sony_xperia_xa3_benchmarked_with_snapdragon_660_chipset-news-32794.php

Oppo Realme 2 retail box leaked as company launches its official website

The Oppo-made Realme 2 is coming soon. We saw a press render of the new phone earlier today, then Realme launched its official website and now we bring you the Realme 2's retail box. The website features the Realme brand story as well as its only product so far - the Realme 1. Naturally, the site makes no mention of Realme's connection with Oppo. At this time we don't have any other details outside of the retail box, but we expect the Realme 2 to bring similar if not quite identical hardware to the Oppo F7. Oppo Realme 2 retail box It's unclear when Oppo's sub-brand Realme...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/oppo_realme_2_retail_box_leaked_as_company_launches_its_website-news-32793.php

Oppo R17 hands-on video shows under-display fingeprint scanner in action

Oppo R17 was unveiled on Monday with an under-display fingerprint scanner and a tiny notch for the selfie camera. The phone will go on pre-order on Saturday and will be officially released in a week, but it already appeared in a hands-on video, showing the fingerprint scanner in action. The Oppo R17 has an OLED screen, allowing the optical fingerprint reader to work. As the video shows, the scanner is not as fast as conventional ones, but the phone unlocks at the first try. We also see the tiny chin, the small notch and some side bezels. While the Oppo R17 is official, there are...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/oppo_r17_handson_video_fingeprint_scanner-news-32792.php

Honor 8X gets complete specs revealed

The as of yet unofficial Honor ARE-AL00 has made another appearance on regulatory platform TENAA this time with a detailed list of specs. The Honor ARE-AL00 is expected to launch as the Honor 8X (or 8S, or Honor 8X Max) and is rumored to use a Snapdragon 660 or 636. We can now add the rather large screen size of 7.12-inches to the mix of known facts. The ample canvas will have a resolution of 2244x1080 pixels. Powering the phablet will be a 4,900mAh battery. That's somewhat lower than the 6.9" Xiaomi Mi Max 3's, which packs in a 5,500mAh battery, but battery life is always about more...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/honor_areal00_listed_once_again_on_tenaa_this_time_with_complete_specs-news-32791.php

WhatsApp backup on Google Drive is now free

WhatsApp has been offering for quite some time to backup all your conversations, photos, and videos to Google Drive. It used to take up some space on the cloud, but today all users received emails saying the backup package will not count in the available quota of storage, meaning you can store all the data for free. The email from Google to every WhatsApp user Google sent out the message, stating the change is due to a new agreement with WhatsApp. The transition is starting today but might take some time to come into effect for everyone. The policy will be available to all by...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/whatsapp_backup_google_drive_free-news-32790.php

Realme 2 leaks ahead of official announcement

An image of the upcoming Realme 2 went live on the company's website ahead of official announcement. The image has since been taken down. Realme2 The image showed the new Realme 2 from the front and the back. There wasn't any accompanying information and the image didn't lead to a dedicated page for the device. The only thing accessible was the image on the homepage along with the tagline "A notch above". While that's not much to go on, the image does give us a few ideas as to what to expect. For one, the display now has the popular notch indicating a shift towards a more...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/realme_2_leaks_ahead_of_official_announcement-news-32789.php

Huawei Mate 20 Pro to have tiny notch and chin

On Monday leaked images of the front panel of a Huawei Mate 20 smartphone revealed a notch and sophisticated 3D face-scanning technology. Just three days later and we have more details from Twitter. Steve H., more commonly known as @OnLeaks, suggested the Mate 20 Pro will have 6.25" screen with a 6.8 mm notch and just 3.8 mm chin. According to my sources: #HuaweiMate20 Pro ≃ 6.25-inch (6.8mm notch + 3.8mm chin)— Steve H. (@OnLeaks) August 15, 2018 While the leakster is not sure if these numbers are for the Mate 20 Pro or the vanilla Mate 20, the numbers he shared are surely...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/huawei_mate_20_pro_notch_chin_tiny-news-32788.php

Google Voice app for Android updated with Contacts tab

Google Voice was recently revamped for iOS which included a bunch of changes, including a new dark green app icon and app elements. Not only this, but the app was also updated with Enterprise calling features and integration with G Suite accounts. The latest Google Voice update for Android is now rolling out via a server-side change that enables a new "Contacts" tab for easy access to your contacts right from within the Google Voice app. Since this isn't a new version of the APK, the app icon remains the same blue and white icon for now. The new Google Voice for iOS uses the new icon,...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/google_voice_app_for_android_updated_with_contacts_tab-news-32787.php

Google One upgrade plans now available in the US

Google is rolling out its Google One storage service in the US. Users in the states can now choose to upgrade their existing paid Google Drive plans over to Google One. Google One is Google's storage service that covers Google Drive, Gmail and Photos. The new starting plans for Google One include 100GB for $1.99/month, 200GB for $2.99/month and 2TB for $9.99/month. The 2TB plan replaces the previous 1TB plan at the same cost and those on 1TB Google Drive plan will be upgraded to 2TB Google One plan automatically. Beyond 2TB, the pricing remains the same as on Google Drive,...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/google_one_upgrade_plans_now_available_in_the_us-news-32786.php

Xiaomi Mi Max 3 in for review

It's big, it's huge, it's the Mi Max 3 - a phone with decent enough hardware, low price tag and screen of epic proportions. The Mi Max 3 comes with a 6.9-inch 2160 x 1080px IPS display - it wasn't too long ago that we used to have 7-inch tablets. The screen has rounded corners, no notch, acceptable side bezels and fairly small chin, which along with the tall 18:9 aspect ratio helps a little with the handling. Yet, no matter how good the screen-to-body ratio is the Mi Max 3 is not usable with just one hand. With a footprint this big and a slippery anodized aluminum back drops are more...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_mi_max_3_in_for_review-news-32781.php

BlackBerry Keyone starts receiving the Oreo update today

Any Canadians with a BlackBerry Keyone? Check your phone, there should be an Oreo update waiting for you. The update started its rollout already - it was initially scheduled for the 13th, but there was a minor delay. Anyway, Keyones from other countries should join in before long. The update brings the Android version to 8.0. The updated for phones on Rogers also includes Wi-Fi calling support. The BlackBerry Keyone originally launched with 7.1 Nougat in early 2017. The Oreo update has been tested in a closed beta for a couple of weeks now. And if you're wondering "why not 8.1?", we...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/blackberry_keyone_starts_receiving_the_oreo_update_today-news-32783.php

Motorola announces list of devices getting updates to Android 9 Pie

Motorola is the latest Android device maker to announce which of its products are due to be updated to the latest iteration of the OS - Pie. Google sent this out to its handsets last week, and Essential followed. Other companies are still at the stage of unveiling lists of phones that will at some point taste Pie. Motorola is planning to update the Moto Z3, Z3 Play, Z2 Force Edition, Z2 Play, X4, G6, G6 Plus, and G6 Play. That's it. If you own any other Moto smartphone, you're out of luck. The company says these models will receive Android 9 Pie updates "this fall". Nothing more...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/motorola_announces_list_of_devices_getting_updates_to_android_9_pie-news-32785.php

Alexa and Cortana can now trade places: Alexa on Windows 10, Cortana on Echo

Alexa and Cortana are now BFFs - you can use Alexa-enabled devices to talk to Cortana and vice versa. This feature was unveiled by Microsoft and Amazon at Microsoft's BUILD developer conference, but was limited to beta testers. It is now available to a wider audience as a public preview. Note that this is available only in the US for now. Here's how it works. Say you have an Amazon Echo. You can say "Alexa, open Cortana" and then ask her about your schedule, send an email and anything else the assistant can do. You can do multiple commands without having to say "Open Cortana" before each...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/alexa_and_cortana_can_now_trade_places_alexa_on_windows_10_cortana_on_echo-news-32782.php

Gold-plated 2018 iPhone is up for pre-order, will set you back £100,000

The three upcoming iPhones that Apple will launch next month have been leaking a lot. One thing that we still don't know is what they'll be called, however. That hasn't stopped the gold-plating experts at Goldgenie from choosing to refer to the successor to the iPhone X as the iPhone Xs. What's more, you can already pre-order a "Billionaire Solid Gold Edition" of the iPhone "Xs". It comes with 18k gold plating and can be yours for the eye-watering amount of £100,000. The good news, if you can call it that, is that pre-ordering only requires a 50% deposit. You then have plenty of time...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/goldplated_2018_iphone_is_up_for_preorder_will_set_you_back__pound100000-news-32784.php

Huawei P20 Pro, Nokia 7 Plus and Honor 10 win EISA awards

EISA (Expert Imaging and Sound Association) has published its top picks for 2018-2019 in the "Mobile Devices" category. Let's start with the Honor 10, which was voted the best lifestyle smartphone. The handset won the award due to its head-turning design with stunning color schemes and NPU chip inside that drives those AI features such as scene recognition when shooting stills. Nowadays Instagram is a lifestyle and you'd need the perfect selfie and the best possible photo of the place you've been to. So the Honor 10 delivers. And unsurprisingly, the Huawei P20 Pro takes the best...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/the_huawei_p20_pro_wins_the_eisa_award_for_best_smartphone-news-32779.php

vivo X23 tipped to sport Snapdragon 670 and advanced 3D face recognition

The vivo X23 is still pretty much a mystery and we have nothing solid on it. We just heard about vivo X21's successor yesterday from the most unusual place - vivo's own Jovi smart assistant. According to Jovi, the handset will arrive on August 20 although, it seems way too early given the limited information that has leaked. Translated Weibo post Luckily, there's a new report going around detailing some of the key specs. The handset will feature a Snapdragon 670 chipset paired with at least 8GB of RAM and it's built around a 6.4-inch "full-screen" display. We don't know if the...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/vivo_x23_tipped_to_sport_snapdragon_670_and_advanced_3d_face_recognition-news-32776.php