HTC One (M8) gets Lollipop update in Europe

The HTC One (M8) is taking the Android 5.0 Lollipop update around the world and today it has disembarked on the Old Continent. The news comes from Senior Global Online Communications Manager, Jeff Gordon, who posted it on Twitter. Updates from users started in from users - Germany, France and Nordic gave the thumbs up, but the update is rolling out in waves so it may not be available in your region right this minute (about an hour ago there was a negative report from the UK). The update spruces up the interface with a new lock screen and a new app switcher, but Sense 6.0 remains largely unchanged. The update is heftier than in other regions, weighing in at 780MB and brings the ROM version up to 4.16.401.10. Versions of the update for other regions were 580MB and 650MB. You can go to the Settings menu to check if the update is available. Make sure you're on Wi-Fi though, that's a rather large...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/htc_one_m8_gets_lollipop_update_in_europe-news-10962.php

EXCLUSIVE: Samsung J1 photos and specs leak

Just as revealed earlier, Samsung is preparing to introduce a new entry-level family of smartphones and its first member is the Galaxy J1. We've been tipped the full list of specifications as well as a photo of the phone. For the most part, they seem to align with the previously leaked information about the phone. The Samsung Galaxy J1 is powered by the Spreadtrum Pike chipset featuring a 1.2GHz dual-core Cortex-A7 and 512MB of RAM. The display of the phone measures 4.3" and has WVGA resolution (480 x 800 pixels). Internal memory is 4GB and is expandable by another 64GB thanks to the microSD card slot. At the back, there's a 5MP snapper recording 720p@30fps video as well as an LED flash. A 2MP camera for selfies and video chat sits above the display. The phone is quite compact at 129 x 68.2 x 8.9mm and weighs 130 grams. The battery is 1,850mAh. Connectivity includes Wi-Fi b/g/n with Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth 4.0 and A-GPS + GLONASS. The Galaxy J1 runs Android 4.4 KitKat and will be available in a dual-SIM version as well. Pricing and availability remain unknown for now, but we reckon it won't be long before the company officially announces the little fella. Keep in mind that we've no way of verifying the source of the leak and even though both the spec sheet and the image we got seem legit, it may all still end up being an elaborate hoax. So take it with a healthy pinch of salt. Special thanks to our tipster who chose to remain...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/last_quarter_saw_apple_selling_its_billionth_ios_device-news-10954.php

Huawei says its real competitor is Samsung, not Xiaomi

Huawei may well be behind Xiaomi in local as well as international rankings, but that doesn't mean it considers the latter as its competitor, or so claimed the company's CEO Richard Yu, who said that Huawei instead sees Samsung as its real rival. Yu also said that Xiaomi, which has apparently reached the number two position in China now, stands no chance in the high-end segment of the market, while adding that the startup's Mi Note as well as Mi 4 devices offer no advantages over Huawei's Ascend Mate 7 and Honor 6 Plus, respectively. The news comes just a few days after Yu slammed Xiaomi's recently unveiled Mi Note Pro for having poor battery...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/huawei_says_its_real_competitor_is_samsung_not_xiaomi-news-10952.php

Alleged Galaxy S6 case shows the flash and HR sensor have moved

Where there's smoke, there's fire and where there's an unannounced phone there's a case maker to leak it. The Galaxy S6 rumors are building up, getting more frequent and more detailed as the MWC nears, and a lot of them are about its back. There's uncertainty whether it will be removable or not, while some rumors suggest it will be removable with a series of advanced snap-on accessories. The leaked image shows a case very similar to a Galaxy S5 Active case, but the interesting part is that shows a different arrangement for the LED flash and heart rate sensor. Alleged Galaxy S6 case It's to the right of the camera instead of below the camera. This might be for ergonomic reasons - make it easier to position your index finger over the HR sensor - or due to an internal redesign of the new phone. Of course, the third possibility is that this is either a Photoshop job or a concept and not the real device. The uncertainty will be lifted on March 2 at the...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/alleged_galaxy_s6_case_shows_the_flash_and_hr_sensor_have_moved-news-10956.php

Samsung Galaxy Note 3 gets Lollipop update in Russia

Android 5.0 is slowly making its way to more devices. So slowly, in fact, that as of January 5 it didn't even get its slice in the pie chart of the operating system's distribution. However, for the lucky owners of a Samsung Galaxy Note 3 in Russia, the update is already seeding, beating the Galaxy Note 4 in the race to get it. Users in different parts of the world, who can't wait for their localized versions, can download the coveted update and apply it manually by following the link at the bottom. The Lollipop update for the Galaxy Note 3, which we saw previewed in a beta, brings the modern Material design to the aging 2013 top-tier phablet. Samsung's TouchWiz overlay on the Note 3 was criticized for not being optimized for the large screen, and that is now going to change. Other improvements, inherent to the new OS version are increased battery life and a general performance boost. The Android 5.0 update is said to carry some of the latest Galaxy Note 4 features over to its older brother, better multi-window support being one example. Now that the official update has started rolling out, we could only hope that global availability will follow...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_note_3_gets_lollipop_update_in_russia-news-10957.php

5-inch Meizu m1 goes official with capable hardware for $110

Just as promised today, at the "connected" event, Meizu announced the latest addition to its smartphone lineup - the Meizu m1. The budget-friendly device is Meisu's answer to the Xiaomi Redmi 2, which recently received a hardware update with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of storage. The new m1 is a bit larger than the rival Xiaomi with a 5-inch 1280x768 pixel display with 300 ppi density. The chipset was also showcased as being superior - the smartphone uses a 64-bit Mediatek MT6732 SoC, which features a quad-core Cortex-A53 CPU, clocked at 1.5GHz, as opposed to the 1.2GHz Cortex A53 chips in the Redmi 2. Generally there was prevailing trend of direct comparison between the two devices all throughout the event, which even extended to a slide with benchmark scores as a testament of superiority. Despite the in-depth overview of the m1, Meizu simply skipped over the device's RAM suggesting that the phone will initially ship with only 1GB of RAM, half of what Xiaomi will offer after the upcoming update. This is definitely the weakest aspect of the m1, but perhaps Meizu will decide to go down the same road and quickly churn-out an updated version with 2GB. Going further down the specs sheet we find 8GB on onboard storage, but with 128 GB microSD card support, presumably again to shine over the Redmi 2 with its 16 GB and 32 GB microSD. However, seeing how we are talking about budget-devices, investing about as much in a huge memory card to go along with it seems highly unlikely and 16GB would have been a better choice, despite what the presentation wanted us to believe. Cameras on the Meizu m1 seem more than adequate for the price range. The main snapper boasts a formidable 13MP sensor, again dwarfing the 8MP shooter on the Xiaomi front and the front sensor is an equally nice 5MP unit with F2.0 aperture. Meizu did not skimp on the battery either as the m1 is equipped with a 2,610 mAh cell, more spacious that the 2,200 mAh in the Redmi 2. As far as physical appearance goes, the m1 has a slick unibody design with brightly colored plastic (did someone say iPhone 5c?). Initially it should be available in peppermint green, yellow, pink, blue, green and white. Its exact dimensions are 140.2 x 72.1 x 8.9mm, which is a bid bigger than the Xiaomi, but distinctly thinner. The first Meizu m1 units should be available for pre order in China on February 5 for CNY 699, or about $110. At this price tag the m1 is indeed a tantalizing alternative to the Xiaomi Redmi 2, especially if Meizu decides to update the handset with more RAM shortly. If you are considering both devices bear in mind that both offer LTE connectivity, but only the Redmi 2 is dual-SIM...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/meizu_m1_is_official_at_112-news-10955.php