New Oxygen OS update is headed to the OnePlus X today

A new software update is on its way to the OnePlus X starting today. It's not Marshmallow, in case you were wondering. Your OnePlus X will still run Android 5.1.1 Lollipop even after applying this update. But what Oxygen OS 2.1.3 does bring with it are several enhancements to the microSD card support on the device. You'll find UX improvements, along with exFAT SD card support, and the ability to move apps to and from the card. Thankfully, one nasty bug that made the handset reboot when you removed the SD card has been fixed. According to OnePlus, some unnamed security patches are in too, as well as "general bug fixes and optimizations". The over-the-air rollout starts today, but the new bits will first only arrive on around 10% of devices out there, to ensure that everything about the update procedure is working fine. A wider release will then follow in a few...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/new_oxygen_os_update_is_headed_to_the_oneplus_x_today-news-15202.php

Official Samsung Galaxy A9 listing hints at December 1 release

Ever since its first appearance in trademark documents way back in March, the Samsung Galaxy A9 has seen its fair share of rumors. Those include a few leaked specs sheets, the last one from only a few days ago, so it is safe to say we already have a pretty good idea of what the metal handset will offer. Still, a little official confirmation is always welcome and it comes in the form of a new listing for the device on the company's Iran website. The cited hardware coincides with what we already know, so it's almost official. The Galaxy A9 is equipped with the new Snapdragon 620 SoC with four next-get Cortex-A72 cores, four Cortex-A53 ones and a fresh new Adreno 510 GPU. The impressive new mid-range chip is backed by 3GB of RAM and 32GB of onboard storage with a microSD card slot for up to 128GB more. All this horsepower will be pushing pixels on a 5.5-inch Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 1080p, which adds up to 401 ppi. The camera setup includes a 16MP main shooter with HDR and autofocus and a 5MP selfie one. Connectivity is pretty standard with GPS, NFC, Bluetooth 4.0 LE and the A9 should boot Android 5.1.1 out of the box. The only piece of the puzzle still missing seems to be the battery capacity. The Samsung page also lists a December 1 launch date for the Galaxy A9 and we have every reason to believe the information. It is also worth noting that the enclosed photos are of the Galaxy A8 and merely a placeholder. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/official_samsung_galaxy_a9_listing_hints_at_december_1_release-news-15201.php

Mysterious Huawei handset pops up on GFXBench, could it be the Honor 5X Plus

The eagerly-anticipated Huawei Mate 8 is mere hours away from its November 26 unveiling, but the OEM has apparently found time and resources to keep the wheels turning on other projects as well. A newly unearthed GFXBench result offers a glimpse of one such handset. Codenamed Huawei ABC-UL00, it is believed to be a new addition to the Honor line, presumably the Honor 5X Plus. The revealed specs paint a decidedly mid-range picture. The phone is equipped with a 5.2 inch FullHD display and utilizes the OEM's custom Kirin 935 chip. We have already seen it powering the Honor 7 and Mate S and it is one of the better HiSilicon offers, although somewhat lacking in the GPU department. Memory is set at 3GB and the reported storage looks to be from a 64GB model, though other varieties might also be available. The camera setup features a 13MP shooter on the back and a 8MP selfie one. Other than that, GFXBench assures us that the Honor 5X Plus has all the standard connectivity options one would expect, life Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, also GPS and NFC. From the looks of things, the Honor 5X Plus might be Huawei's answer to the recently announced Xiaomi Redmi Note 3. However, with a fingerprint reader and a tantalizing price tag starting at RMB 899 ($140), it might prove a hard opponent to...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/mysterious_huawei_handset_pops_up_on_gfxbench_could_it_be_the_honor_5x_plus-news-15196.php

2.8-inch aluminum Nokia 230 is official

Microsoft just pulled the wraps off the Nokia 230 and its 230 Dual SIM counterpart. This newest featurephone relies on a trifecta of aluminum build (sort of), front-facing flash and an affordable price. The Nokia 230 features a 2.8-inch display with 240 x 320 pixel resolution (QVGA). It has a total of 16GB of RAM, reminiscent of simpler times, but that's enough for the Series 30+ to run Opera Mini, Bing Search, and MSN weather. There's no internal storage to speak of, in the sense of keeping MP3s internally - microSD cards up to 32GB are the way to go. Nokia 230 press images A 2MP rear camera is on board, capable of shooting 1,600 x 1,200 pixel images and videos at 240p/15fps. It has a flash too, but most importantly so does the front-facing 2MP shooter, which can also capture higher-res VGA videos (640 x 480 pixels). There's a very basic set of wireless connectivity options with only dual-band 900MHz/1800MHz GSM support and Bluetooth 3.0. There's an FM radio receiver, too. A microUSB port takes care of charging, and there's also a 3.5mm headphone jack. The phone measures 124.6 x 53.4 x 10.9mm and weighs 91.8g grams. It's mostly made of polycarbonate, but has a sand-blasted aluminum back cover for a touch of premium on a $55 device. Behind it is a 1,200mAh battery, which Microsoft promises is good for up to 27 days of standby on the single-SIM version and 22 days for the dual-SIM. Availability starts in December. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/28inch_aluminumbacked_nokia_230_is_official-news-15198.php

Fossil Q Founder is an Android Wear watch with classic looks

Fossil (in collaboration with Intel) has unveiled a stylish Android Wear watch, the Fossil Q Founder. Yep, the one they've been teasing since August. It has a steel chassis and a round display (with a Moto-like "flat tire" display) and comes with a selection of steel and leather bands. Fossil has prepared several companion apps that will help you load a new Fossil dial - one you download or one you make yourself. The Fossil Q Founder smartwatch can track your activity - walking, running, jumping - and the Q Curiosity feature will alert you to interesting details on your surroundings. "Technology is a major disruptor in many industries right now - even fashion. But to successfully merge the two, you need to have the fashion design expertise and focus on it first," said Jill Elliott-Sones, chief creative officer at Fossil. The smartwatch is powered by Android Wear and supports Android (4.4+) and iOS devices (iPhone 5 and later, iOS 8.2+). The retail package comes with a wireless charging dock. There's no word on screen type or resolution, no mention of water resistance either. The Fossil Q Founder will go on sale today in select Fossil stores, starting at $275. It seems that the initial units will come with a stainless steel band, the leather band option is marked "coming soon." By the way, if this one is too gadget-y for you, the Q Grant smartwatch has a classic look (with physical dial and arms) but more limited functionality. Source |...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/fossil_q_founder_is_an_android_wear_watch_with_classic_looks-news-15199.php

Large 5.5'' screen and 8MP selfie camera - meet the LG Ray

The LG Ray X190 goes after the crowd shopping for a large screen on a budget. The smartphone is similar to the LG G4 Stylus and has a 5.5" IPS display, plus an impressive camera setup for its price range. It brings an 8MP camera for selfies, plus a 13MP/1080p one for general photography. The design of the new phone is fairly similar to the G4, with a brushed aluminum look on the back (not actual aluminum though) and hardware keys below the camera. It measures 9.3mm thick and packs a fairly large 3,000mAh battery. The LG Ray does have its limitations though. Starting with the screen, it only has 720p resolution (267ppi). Then there's no LTE (just 3G), dual-SIM is optional. Also, the battery officially promises a mere 10 hours of talk time (really?). LG Ray X190 The phone runs Android 5.1 Lollipop with features borrowed from the flagship G-series, including Knock Code and Gesture Shot. The MediaTek MT6592M chipset packs an octa-core processor, but an outdated Mali-400 GPU and only 1GB of RAM. In Russia the LG Ray X190 will cost RUB 15,000 ($232/€215). Tech there usually gets a hefty markup, so expect a more affordable price tag...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/large_55_screen_and_8mp_selfie_camera_meet_with_the_lg_ray-news-15200.php