Microsoft Lumia 640 XL gets $50 price cut in US

The Microsoft Lumia 640 XL has received an official price cut in the US. The device (unlocked, white variant) is now listed on Microsoft Store website for $249.00, which is $50 down from its usual price of $299.00. Specs-wise, the handset is powered by a Snapdragon 400 chipset, and sports a 5.7-inch (720 x 1280 pixel resolution) IPS display. It comes with 1GB RAM and 8GB expandable internal memory, and packs in a 3,000 mAh battery. In terms of camera, the Lumia 640 XL features a 13MP rear unit and a 5MP front shooter. The device runs Windows Phone 8.1, but will be among the first to get the Windows 10...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/microsoft_lumia_640_xl_gets_50_price_cut_in_us-news-15811.php

Android 6.0 Marshmallow rolling out to Moto G (3rd gen) in India

Motorola has started pushing out the Android 6.0 update to its third-generation Moto G smartphone in India. This was announced by the Indian arm of the company on Twitter. Here is something new and amazing for your Moto G (3rd Gen.), the Android 6.0 Marshmallow! pic.twitter.com/0etB1IncHi— Motorola India (@MotorolaIndia) December 30, 2015 The update weighs in at 2GB and carries a software version of 24.11.25.en.US. The roll out in India comes just a week after the update started hitting the Moto G (2015) devices in the United States and Canada. As for the update, aside from the regular Android 6.0 goodies, including Doze, Google Now on Tap, and redesigned app permissions, it also includes Google's security patches for the month of December. As in most cases, it's a gradual roll out, so it may take some time before the update hits your device. Meanwhile, you can also manually check for it by heading to Settings -> About Phone -> System Update on your handset. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/android_60_marshmallow_rolling_out_to_moto_g_3rd_gen_in_india-news-15810.php

Most interesting news stories of 2015: Q4

Getting closer to the present, Q4 2015 was focused mostly on the upcoming Galaxy S7. Display sizes and shapes, dimensions and specs - most of these remain to be established for certain, though obviously they have long been settled upon by Samsung. That said, the top read over the last quarter was the list of confirmed smartphones to receive Marshmallow. As with any Android release, the adoption of the latest version is a lengthy process and few devices will be graced with the coveted firmware, you were curious to know which ones. Xiaomi was again responsible for some of the most interesting stories, this time with the announcement of the Redmi Note 3, mere months after the Redmi Note 2, and the Redmi Note Prime gathered almost as many hits. Sure enough, the Nokia C1 popped up again and again, now rendered running Windows 10, and if that one's too smart for you, there's always the 2.8-inch feature phone Nokia 230. Soda companies will have smartphones in their portfolios, apparently, if the Pepsi Phone P1 is indication of new trend. Meanwhile Sony is reported to be working on as many versions of the future Xperia Z6 as there are days in a week. A fair share of announcements took place over the last three months of the year too. Microsoft's long overdue flagship came in the shape of the Lumia 950 and 950 XL, the former making it to the top 20 most interesting news articles of the quarter. The HTC-copied-Apple-copied-HTC clamor was strong around the launch of HTC One A9, and Samsung made a complete overhaul of the A-series with brand new odd-numbered A's for 2016. .news-item .n-left { float: left; width: 28%; text-align: center; } .news-item .n-right { float: left; width: 70%; } .news-item a { padding-bottom: 0; padding-left: 0; } .news-item .n-right h2, .reviews-item .n-right h2 { clear: both; padding: 0 0 3px 0px !important; font: 400 19px Google-Oswald, Arial; margin-top: -4px; } .n-right p { line-height: 155%; } .news-item { padding-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; border-top: 1px solid #ccc; } .news-item p { margin-left: 0; } .n-right h2 a { text-decoration: none; color: #000; } The big Android 6.0 Marshmallow update list Here's a list of devices that have been confirmed to get updated to the new major Android version. EXCLUSIVE: Samsung Galaxy S7, S7 Plus sizes and renders leak It looks like the next Samsung flagship will have a huge 6.0" version, in addition to the standard 5.1" one. Xiaomi launches Redmi Note Prime with 5.5-inch display, 3100mAh battery This is the Chinese company's second made-in-India handset after the Redmi 2 Prime. Galaxy On5 shows up on Samsung's site, a 5'' entry-level phone It seems like someone jumped the gun and the On5 is not officially official. A user manual for the Galaxy On7 was uploaded too, but no specs. New render claims to depict upcoming Nokia C1 running Android and Windows 10 Mobile The much-rumored device is supposed to be Nokia's first after having sold its smartphone business to Microsoft. Sony Xperia Z6 family to have five sub-models, a 4-inch Mini among them The regular 5.2-inch diagonal to remain, a revival of the Ultra is also reported. Nokia C1 leaks again with alleged specs and a new render Sources hint at the possibility of a revamped better specs sheet for the handset. Pepsi Phone P1 - an affordable, metal phone with a fingerprint reader The soda-branded smartphone has a 5.5" 1080p screen, octa-core processor and dual-SIM LTE connectivity. LeTV Le 1s is official with a MediaTek Helio X10 chipset The phone launches on November 3 in China and India with a pricetag of $173. iPhone 7 might come with 3GB of RAM and waterproofing A new rumor claims these will be the two main new features for the next generation of Apple smartphones. Galaxy S7 chipset gets crazy high benchmark score The Exynos 8890 scored a new record in leaked benchmark from...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/most_interesting_news_stories_of_2015_q4-news-15769.php

Verizon is giving you 50% off the LG Tone Pro Bluetooth headset if you buy a V10 smartphone

Verizon's latest deal concerns the V10, LG's latest high-end smartphone. If you decide to purchase the device from the carrier, you get $100 in instant savings, but also 50% off the LG Tone Pro Bluetooth headset. The accessory normally retails for $69.99, yet you can pick one up for just $35 if you also get the V10. You do however need to pay $23.83 for 24 months for the phone, using Verizon's installment plan. That adds up to $572, which is a good price for such a top of the line device, especially as the V10 is only a few weeks old at this point. And if you add the Tone Pro headset to your cart at the same time, you can get a nice amount of savings on that too. The caveat here is that it appears that this offer is only valid this weekend, so you need to act fast in order to take advantage of it. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/verizon_is_giving_you_50_off_the_lg_tone_pro_bluetooth_headset_if_you_buy_a_v10_smartphone-news-15809.php

Most interesting news stories of 2015: Q3

The third quarter of the year was perhaps the most action-packed. And not just because Apple's launch events customarily take place in this period, as do Samsung's Note series releases. No, there was plenty of other stuff going on. It was the Nokia C1 that made headlines again with two of the top three stories depicting the alleged Finnish (or Finnish-Chinese) return to the smartphone world. Placing in between those two, the announcement of Xiaomi's MIUI 7 Android overlay proved to be bigger news than almost everything this quarter. The Sony Xperia Z5 generation was often in the news too, rumors and all, but it was our own microscope examination of the Premium's 4K display that gathered the most hits. Sony's explanation on when and why it actually does work in UltraHD was almost as interesting, and the smartphone's announcement itself trailed both these stories. The continuous rumors and leaks regarding the Samsung Galaxy Note5 and S6 edge+ were top reads, right up to the phones' unveiling in mid-August. Again, the actual Unpacked event wasn't quite as interesting to you. Motorola announced three Motos in July, the Moto G (3rd gen), Moto X Play, and Moto X Style. Solid specs and competitive pricing made all three interesting to read about, as much as the iPhone 6s Plus' revealing. Sure we knew the next Android would be M, but the specific type of candy remained a mystery until August 17. Marshmallow became the official name, and officially one of the most interesting stories of the quarter. .news-item .n-left { float: left; width: 28%; text-align: center; } .news-item .n-right { float: left; width: 70%; } .news-item a { padding-bottom: 0; padding-left: 0; } .news-item .n-right h2, .reviews-item .n-right h2 { clear: both; padding: 0 0 3px 0px !important; font: 400 19px Google-Oswald, Arial; margin-top: -4px; } .n-right p { line-height: 155%; } .news-item { padding-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; border-top: 1px solid #ccc; } .news-item p { margin-left: 0; } .n-right h2 a { text-decoration: none; color: #000; } Nokia's upcoming C1 Android smartphone allegedly shown in leaked renders This has been rumored to become the Finnish company's first in a line of new smartphones coming in 2016. Xiaomi announces new MIUI 7 based on Android 5.1 Lollipop Comes with a new image gallery with face detection, new themes, Mi Roaming, and Kids Mode. Live photos offer the first real look at the Nokia C1 Android phone The screen resolution has been promoted to 1080p according to the latest leak, unfortunately the pics offer no proof of that. Sony Xperia Z5 tipped to launch in September It is said to be powered by the yet-to-be-released Snapdragon 820 SoC, and pack in a 4,500mAh battery. Motorola Moto G (3rd gen) officially launched, two versions after all The midranger comes with either 1GB RAM and 8GB storage or 2GB/16GB; Snapdragon 410, 13MP camera and IPx7 certification for both. Galaxy J1 Ace featuring Super AMOLED display appears The budget-friendly device carries a price tag of INR 6,400, which translates into around $95. Sony Xperia Z5 Premium 4K display goes under our microscope Sony stole the show at IFA by introducing the world's first 4K display in a production smartphone, the Xperia Z5 Premium. Lenovo A7000 Plus goes official in the Philippines with 5.5" 1080p display As its name suggest, the newcomer is an updated version of the Lenovo A7000 that debuted in April. Obi Worldphone SF1 and SJ1.5: affordable Androids, premium design The SJ1.5 will cost $130 but features a a polycarbonate unibody layered on a magnesium-titanium frame. Samsung Galaxy Note 5 and S6 edge Plus hardware detailed 5.7-inch QHD displays on both, Note 5 to be powered by Exynos 7422, S6 edge Plus sticks with Qualcomm. Sony explains why the Z5 Premium only uses its native 4K resolution when needed A new official statement clears the air around the debated 4K capabilities of...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/most_interesting_news_stories_of_2015_q3-news-15767.php

Netflix said to launch its service in India soon

One of the world's largest online video streaming company - Netflix - could soon be bringing its service to India. According to the sources at The Hindu, Netflix is expected to announce its India plans at CES this year. The Hindu further reports that Netflix will be partnering with one of the 4G service providers in India. For now, only Bharti Airtel and Reliance have 4G networks in India, and only the former has an operational network while the latter is only available for employees. Last year we had reported that Netflix could be launching its services some time this year, with some of the more iconic Indian shows being included as part of the service. It remains to be seen what the Indian portfolio will be like, and how many of the US television shows make it to India, as it's unlikely Netflix will be able to make all of them available without running into licensing issues. Secondly, there is also the question of censorship, and whether or not Netflix will be allowed to stream its content without going through the Indian censor board certification...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/netflix_said_to_launch_its_service_in_india_soon-news-15808.php