Thursday, April 9, 2015

HTC promises a software update to fix One M9 camera woes

HTC America's president, Jason Mackenzie has confirmed that a software update to fix the camera woes of HTC One M9 will be released in the United States between April 10 to April 17. The rollout of the new firmware will be dependent on the device's carrier version. @Monica_Renata @Crofty_71 @HTCUSA camera to see improvement w/ sw update coming tomorrow or 17th (next Fri) depending on carrier version— Jason Mackenzie (@JasonMacHTC) April 9, 2015 HTC dropped its UltraPixel technology and utilized a new Toshiba-made 20MP BSI sensor in the One M9 flagship. However, it seems that the company will take a while to adjust with the tough competition on the mobile imaging front - early reviews of the One M9 did mention some issues with luminance and HDR. You can find out all about HTC One M9 in our detailed...

Galaxy S6 sales on T-Mobile "nearly double those" of S5

T-Mobile US announced that sales of Samsung Galaxy S6 are "nearly double those of the Galaxy S5" in the first ten days of offering the device. The Big Magenta began shipping pre-orders of the new smartphone to its customers last week. The wireless carrier offers both the Samsung Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge. T-Mobile customers who order the smartphones will also receive a year of free Netflix. Samsung will surely be pleased with the news from T-Mobile. The Korean giant's Q1 2015 earnings guidance points at slumping profits. Samsung Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge will carry the task if bringing back the good times for the manufacturer. Sales of HTC One (M9) have also been stellar for T-Mobile. In its first ten days of availability, the smartphone has already surpassed the sales of its predecessor, HTC One (M8)....

Sprint's Galaxy Note 3 and Galaxy Note Edge receive Lollipop

Sprint is now in the process of pushing out the update to Android 5.0 Lollipop for both the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 and the Galaxy Note Edge. This follows last month's software release for the Galaxy Note 4 units sold by this particular carrier. In both cases, the updates are rolling out over-the-air, so your handset should notify you when it's ready to download and install. As software updates are rolled out in stages, it may take a few days before they reach all the devices out there. After applying the update, your Galaxy Note 3 for Sprint will run build N900PVPUEOC5. For this smartphone, the upgrade to Lollipop is all you'll see. In the case of the Galaxy Note Edge, however, some unnamed Wi-Fi calling enhancements are bundled too, along with "factory reset protection". If you own a Note Edge, the build you'll be running after applying the update is N915PVPU0AOC8. Source 1 • Source 2 |...

Huawei SnapTo becomes official, will be released on April 17

A couple of days ago the Huawei SnapTo was spotted at Amazon, and now the Chinese company has officially announced it. The SnapTo looks like a direct competitor to Motorola's Moto G, both in terms of pricing as well as when considering the specs in play. The Huawei SnapTo has a 5-inch 720p touchscreen, a 5 MP rear camera with LED flash, a 2 MP front-facing shooter, 1GB of RAM, 8GB of built-in storage (which is expandable via microSD cards), and a 2,200 mAh battery. It's powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 400 chipset, boasting a 1.2 GHz quad-core Cortex-A7 CPU and Adreno 305 GPU. 4G LTE support is included, and software-wise we're looking at Android 4.4 KitKat with Huawei's Emotion UI 2.3 on top. The phone is priced at $179.99, and you can pre-order one from Amazon in black or white. The release date is April 17 for the black model, while the white one is only expected in stock on May 15. Starting next week, the SnapTo will also be up for grabs at a few more retailers, including Best Buy, NewEgg, Fry's, as well as Huawei's official online store for the...

Huawei P8, P8 Lite press images leaked

Huawei is set to launch the new P8 and P8 Lite smartphones on April 15. A recent promo video teased the P8 smartphone briefly and left many wondering what the final product would actually look like. The Huawei P8 is set to arrive with a 5.2" 1080p display, 3GB of RAM, and 32GB storage. The Chinese company is reportedly using homegrown Kirin 935 chipset. At the rear is 13MP camera while a 5MP front snapper takes care of selfies. Running the Emotion UI based on Android 5.0 Lollipop it will pack a 2,520 mAh battery. A slightly toned down version, the Huawei P8 Lite will have a 5" 720p display, 2GB RAM, a 13MP rear camera, and 5MP front camera. This device too will run Emotion UI based on Android 5.0...

Nokia Lumia 640 available in the UK, 640 XL by the end of April

The Nokia Lumia 640 and Lumia 640 XL went up on pre-order in the UK in mid-March. Now the smaller of the two is available in stores, however if you wanted the 5.7" XL you'll have to wait until the end of the month. The Nokia Lumia 640 starts at £100 with a £15.50 a month contract. It's available at Carphone Warehouse, EE, O2, Vodafone, Three, Amazon, Tesco and Virgin. If you don't want a contract you'll have to shell out £144 for the LTE model. Color choices include glossy cyan and orange plus matte black. Carphone will offer a glossy white version exclusively. The bigger Nokia Lumia 640 XL will be available SIM-free from a number of retailers at £220. It will come in matte cyan, orange, black and white, plus glossy white. Both 640 phones will come with Windows Phone 8 but will be updated to Windows 10 when it becomes available later this...

Purported Sony Xperia Z4 press image spotted online

We reported that Sony is working on the Xperia Z4 smartphone set to launch sometime soon. While the specifications leak, we eagerly wait to see if there are any design changes. To our surprise, there are barely any visible changes as per a new leaked press image. Previously leaked press renders showed off the white colored model and this new leak shows the black version. Sony has followed its familiar OmniBalance design language. The control placement has been confirmed with the recent case leak. The Sony Xperia Z4 is expected tofeature a 5.2" Quad HD display, powered with quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 SoC, 4GB RAM, 32GB/64GB built-in storage, 20.7MP camera, and will pack non-removable...

Samsung expects Galaxy S6 models to sell in record numbers

Samsung's latest pair of flagship devices have been generating a veritable storm of interest ever since their announcement at MWC 2015. Both eager customers and carriers have been piling up preorders, like there is no tomorrow and at this pace, the Galaxy S6 and S6 edge are set to swiftly break sales records. At a media event, this Thursday, Samsung's own J.K. Shin, gave his two cents on the matter and even expressed concerns about not being able to cope with overwhelming market demands, especially for the double-edged model. Even though all predictions indicate that the flat Galaxy S6 model will sell in greater numbers, especially in its native Korean market, there might be supply issues with the Galaxy S6 edge, as it is more difficult to produce. So, we can quite possibly expect initial shortages of the new curved Galaxy on various markets. As HMC Investment analyst Greg Roh noted: Some carriers are switching existing orders to get more of the S6 edge, and it looks like demand for the model will exceed supply throughout this year. That means average selling price will fall at a slower rate, which will have a positive impact on Samsung overall. What this all boils down to is a major chance for Samsung to regain some lost profitability in the next quarter. Even better, it seems the long-standing sales champion - the Galaxy S3, might finally be dethroned. Since its initial launch in 2012, the device has sold an estimated 80 million units. Samsung has declined to share its expectations of Galaxy S6 sales, but analysts believe the number might exceed 50 million in this year alone. More sold units, naturally equals more income for the Korean giant, but with the latest Galaxy model this is truer than ever, as, unlike most of its predecessors, it relies solely on Samsung's own Exynos chips. This could potentially boost profits even more. But does this mean that there will be no more Qualcomm SoC's in Samsung's future handsets? J.K. Shin made it clear that the partnership between the two companies is still strong and the motivation behind the switch in silicon is simply that: We have to use the best engines to make our products competitive, which is why we opted to use our own chips. The president and CEO also noted that: We may very well end up using products from Qualcomm again in the next Galaxy phone....

The Apple watch might come as late as May for some buyers

If you have been following the developments around Apple's smart wearable, you are surely aware of two important dates - April 10 and April 24. Preorders for the Apple Watch start tomorrow and initial units are said to ship two weeks later. As we recently mentioned, the gadget will be available for in-store pickup, but if you really want to be among the first to get your hands on one, it's all about the timing and preordering online is shaping up as a necessity. New information, suggest that even if you time everything right and preorder your unit as early as possible, come April 24, you could be set for a major disappointment. It turns out, that on certain online retail stores, most notable in Germany and the UK, shipping dates for different Apple Watch models vary significantly and extend well into May. This data comes from Apple's official German website, which had delivery estimates posted. It is still unclear if this was an accident or if the story is true for that matter, but a few shots of the market place, seem to have captured the delivery information, before it was taken down. Here is a synopsis of the different Apple Watch models and their expected shipping dates, according to the source: • Apple Watch Sport: Usually ships "24.04. to 5.8. " • Apple Watch with modern leather bracelet: Usually ships in "4 to 6 weeks" • Apple Watch Link Watch: Usually ships in "4 to 6 weeks" • Apple Watch with leather strap with loop: Usually ships in "4 to 6 weeks" • Apple Watch with classic leather strap: Usually ships "24.04. to 5.8. " • Apple Watch with Milanese bracelet: Usually ships "24.04. to 5.8. " • Apple Watch with Sport Armband: Usually ships "24.04. to 5.8. " • Apple Watch Edition: Usually ships "MAY" Initially limiting walk-in purchases could have been just one of a broader set of precautions the Cupertino giant has taken to prevent severe stock shortage. In this respect, postponed deliveries, especially outside the US are a definite possibility. So if you live outside the US and are hoping to get your hand on the new Apple Watch as soon as possible your best bet seems to be to preorder and hope for the best. Also, you might want to steer clear of Apple stores come April 24, as the launch is shaping up to be a crowd-packed mass event of Apple fans. Source |...

All glass Oppo A31 with LTE launched for $160

Oppo Mobile has quietly introduced a new dual-SIM phone - Oppo A31 for China. The new A31 features glass panel at the rear to join the competitive mid-range segment at $160. Bearing the dual-glass design, a metallic frame is what binds the glass panels together in an 8mm thin profile. Oppo has used a 4.5-inch display with 480x854 pixel resolution which might be a little setback. The phone is powered with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 chipset tha features quad-core Cortex-A53 CPU coupled with 1GB RAM, 8GB built-in storage, and micro SD slot to hold up to 128GB card. By default, it will run ColorOS based on Android 4.4 KitKat. At the rear is a 8MP camera sensor with f/2.2 aperture for covering wider area and LED flash to support it. In the front is a 5MP camera for clicking selfies and video calls. The A31 supports 4G LTE network SIMs in both SIM slots and packs a 2,000 mAh battery. For now, the phone will be made available in China and then hopefully in other markets such as India and select European countries. Source |...

Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 edge official drop tests released

A couple of days ago Samsung disclosed their official bending test routine, in light of a controversial third-party test, which claimed the Galaxy S6 edge brittle as, well, glass. It was only natural then that the company's own drop tests were released to the public, after countless Youtube attention-seekers had already published their own take and we reported on one doing it with particular zeal. There's nothing surprising in Samsung's test, and it's the same rig we already saw when the Galaxy Note 4 was released. The setup offers repeatable results and takes as much of the human factor as possible out of the equation. Both the Galaxy S6 and S6 edge devices are released into a free fall from chest height with the back hurtling towards the ground, with no major obvious consequences. The Galaxy S6 edge gets a dedicated test of its own, where it falls on its edge, possibly the least favorable scenario. It survives that too. Samsung goes on to explain how the smartphone is designed so the fist thing to hit the ground is the aluminum frame, thus minimizing the impact on the glass. Additionally the insides are supposedly arranged in such a way as to share the stress and limit the chances of breakage. Naturally, in a disclaimer of sorts, the video states that with proper enthusiasm you could actually break your Galaxy S6. But so you could break your watch' face and your car's windshield, so the difference between a surviving smartphone and a dead one is more or less the level of...

Wednesday, April 8, 2015

The 16MP camera of LG G4 has been developed in-house

The 16MP main camera module of the upcoming LG G4 has been designed in-house. The Korean giant's components manufacturing arm, LG Innotek developed the high-end sensor, which is already in mass production. LG's innovative camera unit has a wide f/1.8 aperture. The latter allows the camera to receive 80% more light than the already stellar 13MP snapper found in LG G3. The 16MP main camera of LG G4 has been paired with an 8MP front-facing unit, whose resolution is the highest offered by LG for a selfie camera to date. The new front-facing camera features ultra-thin IR filter, which keeps infrared light from entering the camera lens. LG G4 will debut later this month, on April 28. The Korean manufacturer already confirmed that the smartphone will feature a new-generation 5.5" QHD display....

Alleged Huawei P8 prototype poses for the camera

Alleged live photos of a Huawei P8 prototype made the rounds online. The Chinese tech giant's next flagship smartphone will make its official debut next week, on April 15. The images reveal the upcoming smartphone in a case, which is designed to hide its identity. Manufacturers usually ship unannounced devices to in such covers to wireless carriers for testing. A shot of the device's settings menu reveals its specs. They include 1.8GHz quad-core CPU, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of built-in memory, and 1080p display. The OS on board is Android 4.4. with EMUI 3.0. Past rumors have pointed a 3GB of RAM for the device, though we won't be surprised if Huawei offers different memory variant as it has don't in the past.The lower amount of RAM could also mean that the device in question is the previously leaked Huawei P8 Lite. So far, it seems that Huawei P8 will be available in a number of different variants. Thankfully, we won't have to wait long to find out what the company has in store. Source (in French)...

vivo Xshot review: Shot in the dark

Another Chinese flagship but with a twist. If vivo rings a bell at all, it's most probably the X5Max, the world's slimmest phone. Not a bad thing to be known for but vivo isn't just about looks.

Sony Z Ultra Google Play Edition gets android 5.1 Lollipop

Android 5.1 Lollipop began seeding to Sony Z Ultra Google Play Edition. Sony's phablet is the latest stock Android device to receive the update - the Google Play editions HTC One (M8) and LG G Pad 8.3 also got the treatment over past couple of days. The update has build number LMY47D. It brings a host of bug fixes and improvements to the smartphone headed by beefed up security and HD voice support. Other Android 5.1 goodies include the ability control paired Bluetooth devices from Quick Settings. Users can also join Wi-Fi networks in similar fashion. The new firmware will begin seeding to the smartphone in batches. If you are an owner of a Google Play Edition Sony Z Ultra, head over to your device's settings to check if the update is...

Samsung Galaxy S5 on AT&T gets Lollipop update too

Yesterday AT&T started rolling out the update to Android 5.0 Lollipop for the Samsung Galaxy S4. A bit odd was the fact that the newer Galaxy S5 hadn't yet received the Android version bump at that point, and usually older devices get updates later than their successors. Regardless, AT&T is now doing right by the owners of Galaxy S5 units purchased from its stores. The Android 5.0 Lollipop update is now officially on the way to AT&T's Galaxy S5 as well. As you can see from the screengrab to the left, it's a pretty hefty 1.4GB download, so you must use Wi-Fi to get it. That is, of course, if you've already been notified about its availability. If that hasn't happened yet, don't worry - it will within a few days, as the rollout is staged. If you can't wait that much, you are able to manually check for the update by going to Settings > System > About device > Software update. After applying the update you'll be running Android 5.0 Lollipop, build LRX21T.G900AUCU3BOC4. According to AT&T's notes for this release, nothing carrier-specific has been added. Every new thing you'll see after updating is part of Samsung's interpretation of Android Lollipop. Source |...

Apple's iOS 8.3 is now out for all supported devices

After a few betas for developers and a couple of public beta releases for consumers, iOS 8.3 has been finalized by Apple. The new software version is now in the process of rolling out to all supported mobile devices. iOS 8.3 brings with it a very large number of bug fixes, but also some new features. Among these is a new emoji picker, new diversified emoji, wireless CarPlay support, two-factor authentication for Google accounts, and Apple Pay functionality enabled for the China UnionPay network. A few apps have received minor updates too, for example Passbook, Messages, and Photos. Siri got new languages and the ability to make calls via the speakerphone. You can now download free apps without having to enter your Apple password. Previously, iOS 8.1 brought support for Apple Pay, and iOS 8.2 incorporated all the bits necessary for the mobile OS to work with the Apple Watch. An update to iOS 8.4 could already be in the works, perhaps including Apple's upcoming streaming music service. Source 1 • Source...

HTC Desire 626G+ gets announced for India

Today HTC has unveiled a new smartphone for the Indian market. It's called Desire 626G+ and all appearances point toward it being just a regional variant of the Desire 626 - which HTC launched in its home market of Taiwan back in February. As you may have inferred from the Desire branding, this is a midrange offering, not a flagship device (HTC has, however, announced one of those too earlier today). The Desire 626G+ comes with a 5-inch 720p touchscreen, a 1.7 GHz octa-core CPU, 1GB of RAM, 8GB of built-in storage (expandable via microSD), a 13 MP rear camera, a 5 MP selfie unit, and a 2,000 mAh battery. The phone has dual-SIM support, no 4G LTE though - it tops out at 21Mbps HSPA. That's basically the biggest difference between this and the Desire 626, which does have LTE capabilities. The exact chipset isn't named in HTC's documents, but it's probably the MediaTek MT6752 - based on the CPU frequency and the fact that the Desire 626 uses this SoC. As for software, you get HTC Sense on top of Android, but the exact version employed is unclear. Again, if we go by the Desire 626, it should be Android 4.4.4 KitKat. HTC has decided to price the Desire 626G+ at INR 16,900, which right now means $271 or €250. That's quite a bit more than what the Desire 626 goes for in Taiwan - namely around $190. Anyway, the new handset will be offered in two color versions, Blue Lagoon and White Birch. It should become available in India in the near...

Android in March: Lollipop inches past 5 percent

Another month has passed and the statistics are out for the Android versions distribution. The data is gathered over a seven day period prior to the release and the chart is based on the number of the devices that have visited the Google Play Store over that time span. With manufacturers gradually ramping up Lollipop builds for their smartphones, it's no wonder that Android 5.0 has reached a 5-percent market share. Even the latest 5.1 installment has made it to the chart, albeit at a tiny 0.4%. Meanwhile KitKat still holds the largest share at 41.4%, an increase by 0.5 points over last months' figures. It's at the expense of previous Jelly Bean builds - some manufacturers are still rolling out KitKat updates for those. Older releases of Google's OS are still going strong with both Ice Cream Sandwich and Gingerbread ahead of Lollipop in terms of popularity. The oldest OS version, still compatible with the current Play Store App - 2.2 Froyo - gets the same share as the latest 5.1...

Samsung Galaxy J5 and J7 specs leak

The Galaxy J-series is part of Samsung's recent mobile portfolio expansion and representative of the new, single-letter naming convention, which could finally put some order in the manufacturer's lineup. Currently, we have only seen one member of the J-line - the Galaxy J1, but naming conventions and a few Samsung trademarks have led us to expect a higher-specked J3, J5 and J7 model. New information has surfaced on the matter and a fresh rumor gives us a glimpse of the alleged specs sheets of the J5 (SM-J500F) and J7 (SM-J700F). It states, that the smaller, J5, will be equipped with a 5.0-inch HD LCD display and powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 SoC with 1.5GB of RAM and 8GB of storage. A microSD card slot is also thrown in the mix and the whole thing is powered by a 2600 mAh battery. The body weighs 149g and has a thickness of 8.5mm. The beefier Galaxy J7 will, allegedly, have a 5.5-inch HD LCD screen, the same amount of ram and a choice between 4GB and 8GB for storage. The processor, however, will be an octa-core Marvel PXA1936 chip, clocked at either 1.2 GHz or 1.5 GHz. The device also has a beefier battery at 3000 mAh and is slightly heavier at 170g, but also thinner with a 7.9mm profile. Both devices should also share a camera setup, consisting of a 13-megapixel main shooter and a 5MP secondary one, but an 8-megapixel option is not out of the question. 4G LTE connectivity will most likely be present on J-series phones as well and they should run Android 5.1 out of the...

Sony Xperia Z4 leaked case confirms controls placement

The Sony Xperia Z4 is set to complete this year's flagship team when it launches sometime in the summer. It will come bearing few surprises though, as the device was already leaked in press images, as well as spotted live, multiple times. In another round of revealing photos, we now get to see a set of bumper cases for Sony's upcoming high-end device. Case manufacturers are by necessity a step or two ahead of the general public and often provide valuable intel on future devices. This time the cases bring yet another confirmation on the omission of the magnetic charging connector, as you certainly wouldn't want to remove your case for each charging session. Apparently it was deemed unnecessary, now that the microUSB port has gone flapless and delivers the hassle-free charging, that the magnetic solution was there for. Sony Xperia Z4 bumper cases Other than that, the controls placement is also as previously expected, with a central cutout for the power button on the right side. Next to it is volume rocker, and the dedicated camera shutter button is further down, towards the end. None of this has much bearing on the actual launch of the handset, though. If anything, we can hope that the quantity of leaks suggests a nearing...

Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 10.1 with a new 64-bit chipset

Samsung has been testing an updated version of the Galaxy Tab 4 family for quite some time. The Galaxy Tab 4 8.0 was the first spotted running a brand new CPU and now rumors about the Galaxy Tab 4 10.1 following suit have been confirmed. The update in question has to do with the chipset. The old Snapdragon 400 is being swapped with a new 64-bit 410 model. While this is no major performance upgrade, the newer silicon is 64-bit, thus futureproofing the device and preparing it for the benefits of a Lollipop update. The rest of the specs sheet remains completely unchanged and so does the price tag. The device still comes with 1.5GB of RAM and a spacious but low-res 10.1-inch, 1280 x 800 pixel display. #twitter-widget-0 {width: 590px !important;} Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 VE 10.1 (Value Edition) SM-T533: old = "new", only change is Snapdragon 410. design & specs same http://ift.tt/1JnF1MZ Roland Quandt (@rquandt) April 7, 2015 This only leaves one member or the Tab 4 family to wallow in the 32-bit realm, but chances are the Galaxy Tab 4 7.0, smallest of the bunch, will be getting the same treatment pretty soon as well. The update will undoubtedly extend the lifecycle of all three devices and might just hint that Samsung isn't planning a new Tab 5 series quite yet. Thanks for the tip...

Asus to launch three ZenFone 2 models in India on April 23

Asus has finally started sending out invites for the launch of the ZenFone 2 on April 23. Scheduled launch will happen in the country's capital - New Delhi, and hopefully all models will be shown. On April 21, the ZenFone 2 will be launched in Malaysia as reported earlier. The Taiwanese company teases in its invite - World's First 4GB smartphone. For India, three different models will be introduced but there is no clue on the pricing yet. The cheapest variant will be the ZenFone 2 ZE500CL with a 5-inch 720p display, 1.6GHz dual-core Intel Atom Z2560 mobile SoC, 2GB RAM, 16GB storage, 8MP rear camera, 2MP front camera, and 2,500 mAh battery. A little higher than that is the ZenFone 2 ZE550ML with a 5.5-inch 720p display, 1.8GHz quad-core Intel Atom Z3560 SoC, 2GB RAM, 16GB storage, 13MP camera with dual-LED flash, 5MP front camera, and 3,000 mAh battery. Finally, the top model - ZenFone 2 ZE551ML - packs a 5.5" 1080p display, a more capable 2.3GHz quad-core Intel Atom Z3580 SoC, 4GB RAM and NFC. To know more about the ZenFone 2 models, take a look a our hands-on...

Huawei devices to start getting Lollipop next month

Huawei is one of the companies lagging behind in the roll out of the Android 5.0 Lollipop update. Yet the Chinese company is bringing some good news now, as it has put up a list of smartphones pegged to get the Lollipop update starting next month. Of course, the updates will be rolled out in phases. The Ascend Mate7 will be the first to get Lollipop, followed by the Ascend P7 and Ascend Mate 2. There are some devices which will be upgraded directly to Lollipop from current Jelly Bean state. It is surprising that the freshly introduced Honor 6 Plus and Honor 4X will have to wait for the Lollipop update until sometime in August. It is going to be a long wait for Huawei device owners for the Lollipop update wrapped in the Emotion UI, but at least now we know it's coming. Source |...

Lollipop for Xperia Z3 Dual, Z1, Z1 Compact, Z Ultra due next week

Sony is already rolling out the Android 5.0 Lollipop update for its Xperia Z2 and Z2 tablet across different regions. In the mean time, the company has promised to release the Lollipop update for the Xperia Z3 Dual, Z1, Z1 Compact and Z Ultra devices the next week. 2/2 #Xperia Z3 Dual, Z1, Z1 Compact and Z Ultra next week, followed shortly after by T2 Ultra & C3. Then Z Series - more on timings soon.— Sony Xperia News (@SonyMobileNews) April 7, 2015 Following that, Sony will release the Android 5.0.2 Lollipop update for the T2 Ultra and C3 smartphones. And finally, the company will roll out the update for the original Z series phones - Z, ZL, ZR and Z...

HTC One M9+ with 5.2" QHD screen, duo camera unveiled

Since the MWC 2015, HTC has been caught in the whirlwind of rumors and badly kept secrets about the One M9+ as well as the two One E9 variants. Today the Taiwanese handset market has formally launched the new One M9+ at a press event held in Beijing, China. The One M9+ features a 5.2" QHD (1440 x2560 pixels) display and runs Android 5.0 Lollipop with HTC Sense 7 on top of it. It packs 32GB built-in storage and has a 20MP rear f/2.2 camera with secondary lens on the top for depth-sensing. For the selfie enthusiasts, there is a UltraPixel camera in the front. One major highlight of this smartphone is the 2.2GHz MediaTek MT6795T chipset armed with an octa-core CPU and 3GB RAM. HTC BoomSound speakers with Dolby Surround sound support come on the front along with a home button which integrates a fingerprint sensor with support for the AliPay payment system in China. There is no clarity on whether the One M9+ if sold outside China will bear fingerprint sensor. By default, the One M9+ offers a 2840 mAh battery to power the smartphone. HTC will introduce the phone in three color options - Gunmetal grey, Amber Gold, and Silver Gold color...

LG to give out 4,000 G4 trial units to consumers before the launch

LG has announced a new promotional campaign for its upcoming flagship smartphone - G4. As part of this campaign, the company will dole out 4,000 G4 smartphones to select individuals from 15 different countries as part of a public testing campaign. LG has made the the testing program page live in Korea and confirmed it will soon also come to Turkey, Indonesia, Singapore, United States, China, India, Brazil, Canada, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Mexico, Japan, and Hong Kong. Usually, the phone makers send an upcoming device to reputed media houses and individuals to let them test it and share feedback before it launches. As is the standard procedure, all those who receive the device have to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) to protect the phone from being shown and talked about before the actual launch happens. About 4,000 consumers can participate in this test drive at LG's official website and social media channels dedicated for this campaign. The applicants can go ahead to post about it on social media networks such as Facebook, Twitter, and Weibo. Then LG will select the participants to test the phone for 30 days and give them various assignments to be completed during the trial. The campaign will be rolled out in 15 countries prior to the official launch in those respective regions. LG G4 is set to launch on April 28 with new improved camera, Quad HD dispaly, powerful Qualcomm SoC and...

Tuesday, April 7, 2015

Android 5.1 Lollipop is now seeding to HTC One (M8) GPE

Android 5.1 Lollipop is now seeding to HTC One (M8) Google Play Edition. The new firmware is seeding to the device over-the-air. The update is a tad larger than 244MB. It brings a host of bug fixes and improvements to the smartphone headed by beefed up security and HD voice support. Other Android 5.1 goodies include the ability control paired Bluetooth devices from Quick Settings. Users can also join Wi-Fi networks in similar fashion. The new firmware will begin seeding to the smartphone in batches. If you are an owner of a Google Play Edition HTC One (M8), head over to your device's settings to check if the update is...

Huawei SnapTo is a Moto G rival with a $179.99 price tag

Huawei is about to launch a Motorola Moto G rival in the United States. Priced at $179.99 with no contract, the LTE-capable Huawei SnapTo will launch on Amazon across the Atlantic in a couple of days, on April 9. The Chinese giant's budget smartphone is already available for pre-order on Amazon in black or white color scheme. The retailer has listed the smartphone as Huawei Expo despite the fact that the promo materials point at a SnapTo name. Huawei SnapTo packs a Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 chipset with 1.2GHz Cortex-A7 quad-core CPU and Adreno 305 GPU. There's a gig of RAM and 8GB of expandable memory on board. The device's display is a 5" 720p LCD unit. A 5MP main camera, 2MP front-facing unit, 2,200mAh battery, and full connectivity suite are also among the highlights in the spec sheet. Huawei SnapTo boots Android 4.4 KitKat with Emotion UI...

Alleged photos and video of iPad mini 4 housing leak

Live photos and video footage of an alleged Apple iPad mini 4 housing made the rounds online. The yet to be revealed slate is expected to be a significant improvement over the iPad mini 3 it is bound to replace. The leak comes courtesy of Nowhereelse and is said to be from a reliable source of past tips. It reveals that the upcoming tablet will feature similar design language as the iPad Air 2. The metal housing clearly belongs to a variant of the tablet with cellular network connectivity. A SIM card slot is also visible in the video footage. Apple will likely unveil the iPad mini 4 at some point in the fall this year. We'll keep an eye out for more leaks of the device going forward. Source (in...

AT&T's Samsung Galaxy S4 is now receiving Lollipop update

It looks like the HTC One (M8) isn't the only handset sold by AT&T that's getting a new Android version today. The latest update to Android 5.0 Lollipop is now rolling out to Samsung Galaxy S4 devices bought from AT&T. The Galaxy S4 has been on the receiving end of this tasty treat for a few weeks now, but in different regions or at different carriers. If you own a Galaxy S4 purchased from AT&T, you should be notified about the update within the next few days. If you're impatient, you can manually check by going to Settings > More > About device > Software update. The download comes in at 947MB, and you must grab it via Wi-Fi. After applying the update, your phone will run Android 5.0.1, build number LRX22C.1337UCUGOC3. Aside from everything that Lollipop brings with it, you obviously also get Samsung's refreshed TouchWiz UI - with punchier colors and whatnot. In this software release, AT&T has removed the Code Scanner, Browser Bar, and Softcard apps - so you'll have less bloat. Thanks for the tip, Kurt...

Sony Xperia C4 gets pictured in live image leak

Just yesterday we saw a purported leaked render showing the upcoming Sony Xperia C4, and today we're treated to an alleged live image of the handset. As you can see, this is an actual photo, in which the Xperia C4 is seen in working condition. The design we see here lines up pretty well with what the leaked render from yesterday showed us, so at this point we assume this is in fact a handset in development by Sony. It's not the only new smartphone that Sony is currently working on - the Xperia Z4 and Z4 Ultra are probably in that situation too, along with a device that we currently know only by its codename Lavender. All of these might become official in the near future. The Xperia C4 will be the successor to the Xperia C3, as you may have imagined. Like that phone, it too will focus on selfies, since it has a front-facing LED flash. The C4 has been codenamed Cosmos and its model number will be E53xx. We still don't have leaked specs for the C4, but it should run Lollipop from day one, and Sony is apparently going to offer it in three colors: turquoise, white, and black. Judging by the fact that the C3 was a midranger, we assume its successor will play in the same...

Samsung Galaxy S6 Active shows up in AT&T inventory listing

Last year Samsung outed the Galaxy S5 Active to complement the 'vanilla' S5, and this year should see the same thing happen all over again with the Galaxy S6. The S6 Active has already seen its specs leaked, so now we're just waiting to see some leaked images, and for Samsung to finally make it official. While none of those things have happened yet, the Galaxy S6 Active has purportedly been spotted inside an inventory listing originating at AT&T. If this isn't just a Photoshopped picture, then it means that AT&T is getting ready to sell the S6 Active. This wouldn't be a surprise at all, seeing as how the same carrier also offered the Galaxy S5 Active last year. To recap, the S6 Active is supposed to come with a 5.1-inch QHD Super AMOLED display, Samsung's own Exynos 7420 chipset with octa-core CPU, 3GB of RAM, 32GB of storage (perhaps expandable via microSD), a 16 MP rear shooter, a 5 MP selfie snapper, and a huge 3,500 mAh battery. It will run Android 5.0 Lollipop from day...

New HTC One M9+ images surface ahead of tomorrow's unveiling

The HTC One M9+ will finally be announced tomorrow at a special event in China, according to previously leaked promo materials. In the meantime however, we're treated to a couple of new images depicting the upcoming smartphone. This may actually be the last M9+ leak before the unveiling, for what it's worth. HTC One M9+ This device has been in the news for many weeks now, through a lot of rumors and leaks, and we've already seen it from all possible angles. It should come with a 5.2-inch QHD touchscreen, 3GB of RAM, and 32GB of expandable built-in storage. Chipset-wise, we might see two different solutions - MediaTek's MT6795 for Asian markets, and Qualcomm's Snapdragon 810 for other countries across the world. Anyway, everything should become clear in less than 24...

ZTE Nubia Z9 will have no side bezels, official confirms

Last month ZTE made the Nubia Z9 Max official alongside the Nubia Z9 Mini, but many have been wondering why the flagship Z9 itself wasn't unveiled. Apparently ZTE is still working on the Nubia Z9, and it's finally due to be announced soon. The smartphone has leaked a lot over the past few months, and many times we've heard it would come with practically no side bezels for the screen. Today this has been more or less confirmed by Ni Fei, general manager of the Nubia line at ZTE. The official said we should expect "no borders" for the display, along with a launch in the near future. Unfortunately no other details have been mentioned, but past rumors did reveal a few things about ZTE's next flagship Nubia-branded handset. It should come with QHD resolution, at least 3GB of RAM, and Qualcomm's Snapdragon 810 chipset at the helm. It's still unclear whether you'll ever be able to officially purchase the Nubia Z9 (or the Z9 Max or the Z9 Mini) outside of China. Since its inception, the Nubia brand has catered primarily to the needs of Chinese consumers, but perhaps it would be a good idea for it to truly go international in the future. Source (in Chinese) |...

LG G4 event invitation confirms f/1.8 lens, LED flash, laser focus

The wait is drawing to an end for yet another of this year's major flagship announcements. The LG G4 is coming and invitations for the launch event are more revealing than ever. An official press image of the back camera highlights its lens' aperture - a confirmation of the fast f/1.8, which was already teased in a promo video. Instrumental in capturing images in less than ideal conditions, LG's lens lets in a whole 11% more light than the f/1.9 lens on the Samsung Galaxy S6. The camera is flanked by a dual-tone LED flash and a laser focus sensor on either side, while the familiar volume controls and power button sit beneath. Overall, it's a typical LG G-series aesthetic. What's more eye-catching is the leather, which covers the back. Although it was hinted previously, we now get to see it in what appears to be its final form, surrounding the camera and controls, complete with stitching and all. The unveiling of the new flagship will take place on April 28, with events scheduled to take place in London and New York...

The Golden editions of Lumia 930 and Lumia 830 now available

Microsoft officially announced golden versions of the Lumia 930 and Lumia 830 in early January this year, saying they will be available "soon." Well, not quite soon but the Nokia Lumia 930 in Gold is now available from select retailers in Europe, the Middle East, the Asia Pacific and Africa. The Nokia Lumia 930 in Gold comes unlocked. Unfortunately there's no pricing info, but the regular color options are about £360 in the UK and €350 in mainland Europe. The plastic panels can be Black or White, while the metal rim of the phone has a golden hue. The Nokia Lumia 830 Gold Edition is available too, in Black Gold and White Gold. In Germany, for example, it goes for €300. Source 1 (in German) • Source...

Sony Lavender rumored in works with 64-bit MediaTek SoC

Sony is about to introduce yet another mid-range smartphone with interesting set of specifications. The serial leaker upleaks has shared details of an upcoming device codenamed Sony Lavender. Sony Lavender:Model Number E5503, Type Number PM-0861-BV, Software 29.x, FHD Display, MT6752.— @upleaks (@upleaks) April 7, 2015 Bearing the model number E5503, the Sony Lavender is not to be confused with the Sony Cosmos with model number E5306. The new Lavender dubbed smartphone will feature a full 1080p resolution display. Lavender will be powered by the 64-bit octa-core MediaTek MT6752 mobile chipset that will also offer support for 4G LTE networks. By default, it will run Android 5.x Lollipop wrapped in Sony's own...

Sony Xperia Z4 Ultra reportedly in the works

Sony has definitely been taking its time with device announcements, most notably the Xperia Z4. The company's eagerly-anticipated flagship has been keeping fans on their toes for a few months now and, judging from what we have already seen, when it does finally arrive, it might be more of a disappointment, than anything else. That being said, a new report hints at another device also in the works, allegedly named Xperia Z4 Ultra. If rumors are true, the device will be a successor, of sorts, the Xperia Z Ultra, which came out in 2013. Display size is said to be around 6 inches, so we can expect a very similar form factor to the aforementioned device, which boasts a rather tablet-like 6.44 inch screen. As far as the rest of the specs sheet goes, the device will allegedly be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 SoC, which is indeed a step above the Snapdragon 800 in the original Z Ultra. On the other hand, the previous Ultra was slightly lower specked than the current Xperia Z3 flagship and if the latest info on the Z4 is to be believed, that would mean the new Z4 Ultra will share the CPU of the upcoming flagship and the bigger screen puts it in kind of a strange position. Industry sources claim that Sony is trying to reduce the number of entry-level devices in its lineup and is rather focusing on the mid to high-end segment. This could very well be the reason for the beefier specs sheet, but honestly, it seems a lot of chaos has settled in Sony's struggling mobile division. But with sales predictions for 2015 set at 38 million, only about a million less than last year, optimism is still present it the Japanese...

Samsung Galaxy Note 4 gets a firmware update, not Lollipop 5.1

Samsung has apparently released a new software update for the international version of its Galaxy Note 4 flagship, as evidenced by a tip we got from one of our readers. But don't get your hopes up, it's not Android 5.1, instead it's a different build based on Android 5.0.1. The build carries an internal designation LRX22C.N910FXXU1BOC3 and so far was only spotted in The Netherlands a couple of weeks ago. Today's tip comes from Germany, so it's safe to assume a continent-wide availability in the weeks to come. What our reader reports is that the new update brings overall improvements in stability and fluidity of the user interface. What's more immediately noticeable is the return of Silent mode, a feature lost with the earlier Samsung Lollipop builds. Thanks to Daniel Ciocoiu for the...

LG teases G4 with f/1.8 rear camera in a video

LG is slowly releasing the teaser videos for the upcoming launch of its flagship smartphone - G4. A new teaser video sheds light on the imaging capabilities of the handset. The South Korean company pushes a teaser video that points at a wide-angle f/1.8 aperture for the rear camera for better low light performance. Rumors point that the G4 will pack 16MP rear camera capable of 4K video recording. So far, we've heard that the LG G4 will come with a 5.5" QHD display, Snapdragon 808 SoC and 3GB RAM. LG is set to launch the G4 on April...

Microsoft unveils Lumia 640 and Lumia 640 XL for India

As reported earlier, Microsoft has finally introduced two new Lumia 6 series smartphones for the Indian market. The new Lumia 640 is priced at INR11,999 ($192) and Lumia 640 XL is priced at INR15,799 ($253). Microsoft will sell the Lumia 640 from the Flipkart website as well. Microsoft Lumia 640 features a 5" IPS ClearBlack display, Snapdragon 400 SoC, 1GB of RAM, 8 GB of expandable storage, 8MP rear snapper with LED flash, 1MP front-facing camera, and a 2,500 mAh battery. While the Lumia 640 XL has a 5.7" IPS ClearBlack display with same internal hardware as the Lumia 640 but features a 13Mp rear camera with f/2.0 Carl Zeiss optics, a 5MP front-facing camera and a 3,000 mAh battery. Both smartphones will come with free one-year Office 365...

LG officially announces UX 4.0 for the LG G4

LG is showing off the upcoming version of its Android interface, which will power the upcoming LG G4 (coming at the end of the month). LG UX 4.0 builds on the three versions that came before it, starting with the LG Optimus G in 2012. A promo video released yesterday spent a minute recounting the key features of the first there versions - Quick Memo and QSlide of the original, then the KnockON and KnockCode of the second version and the Gesture and Touch shooting options of the third one. LG UX 4.0 for the upcoming LG G4 Finally, LG UX 4.0 adds Camera Manual Mode and Smart Notice. The camera of the LG G4 will offer three modes - Simple, Basic and Manual - to adjust to your skill level. Simple is just a point-and-shoot, while Manual Mode will give you full control over the camera settings. Smart Notice is not a new feature despite what the press release claims, it was on the LG G3. It imitates Google Now, it learns your daily routine and keeps track of your travel plans to provide you with relevant info on time. Additional features include an improved calendar, which lets you set up reminders for events you're invited to on social networking with a simple drag and drop. The new gallery will group photos by event, based on location. Okay, that's hardly new, but the LG G4 will compose unique ringtones for your contacts. Benchmarks have revealed a lot about the G4's hardware - a 5.5" QHD screen, Snapdragon 808 chipset with 3GB RAM, plus a 16MP/2160p main camera and 8MP/2160p selfie...

Xiaomi announces partnership with Amazon and Snapdeal

On the eve of its fifth anniversary, Xiaomi is expanding its partnership in India to Amazon and Snapdeal. Previously, the company had an exclusive partnership with Flipkart to sell phones online but now consumers will be able to purchase Xiaomi devices through the country's top three online retailers. Along with these three, Xiaomi will also continue selling its devices through Airtel and The MobileStore offline. Along with the partnerships, Xiaomi also announced some special offers for April 8 when it will be celebrating its fifth anniversary. The Mi 4 will have a Rs. 2,000 discount. The Redmi Note 4G buyers will get a free 10,400mAh Mi Power Bank or Mi In-Ear Headphones through online partners or 5,200mAh Mi Power Bank through offline partners. The Redmi 2 and Mi Pad will be available without registration. All offers will be valid on April 8...

Huawei teases the P8 in a promo video

A mysterious man, dressed in a black hooded cape, walks around the world gathering light in a new promotional video released by Huawei. The official launch of the company's next flagship, the Huawei P8, is set to take place on April 15 and Huawei is creating the all-important hype before the event. What we could try to read into the video, titled "Capture the wonder of light", is that the P8 may come with improved available-light shooting capabilities. So far it has been rumored that the P8 will sport a 13MP main camera, but no info has surfaced on the lens aperture. It will be interesting to see what the company's engineers have managed to fit in the slim 6.6mm body. Other than that, the Huawei P8 is said to pack a 5.2-inch 1080p display, 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage. In latest news, insider info claimed that a yet-unannounced Kirin 935 chipset will find its place within the P8, but that remains to be seen. Huawei has been pretty subtle in its marketing campaign for the P8, kicking off with an image emphasizing on battery life. The battery inside is a 2,600mAh unit, so will need to see how that plays out. Another set of images followed, highlighting the P8's stronger screen, perhaps indicating the use of Corning's latest Gorilla Glass 4. The camera took center stage in the next poster, while an ambiguous calculator with currency symbols suggested an attractive price...

Lenovo launches the A7000 in India for $144

Lenovo has launched the new A7000 smartphone in India. The phone is priced at Rs. 8,999 ($144) and will be available exclusively through Flipkart and the frustrating flash sale system. The Lenovo A7000 has a 5.5-inch 720p display, MediaTek MT6752 chipset with octa-core 1.7GHz CPU and Mali-T760MP2 GPU, 2GB RAM, 8GB expandable internal memory, 8 megapixel rear camera, 5 megapixel front camera, dual-SIM support, LTE, 2900mAh battery, and Android 5.0 Lollipop. The A7000 is the first phone in the world to have Dolby Atmos...

Sony Xperia Z4 photo sample surfaces

Sony has been keeping fans on their toes for months, waiting for the Sony Xperia Z4 announcement. During this time, rumors and speculations have been plentiful. We already have some idea of the device's specs, as well as renders and even, most recently, a few alleged live photos. Today, another piece of the puzzle saw the light of day - a photo sample that is most likely from the Xperia Z4. The original shot has EXIF data that squarely points in the direction of the 20.7MP shooter of the device. Even the model number "Sony E6553" is there, so everything looks quite believable. The full-size sample is available at the source link. Sony Xperia Z4 camera sample The shot itself (taken at ISO 50) looks good enough with a decent level of detail. Conditions also appear quite favorable, as the picturesque shot was taken in broad daylight in a UK national park that is if the enclosed GPS coordinates are accurate. Upon further inspection, however, it seems the Z4 shares much of the camera hardware of the Xperia Z3 and shows the same image processing. Also, there's noticable corner softness. While a single daylight sample is definitely not enough to go by in terms of camera quality, it appears the Xperia Z4 won't be a huge upgrade over the Z3. Equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 chipset with octa-core CPU, 3GB of RAM and what appear to be the same 5.2-inch display and camera hardware as its predecessor, it looks like Z4 hopefuls will be faced with the same situation HTC are having now. There is still hope, however, that the legendary Japanese manufacturer has a trick or two in store, to make the Z4 desirable, because, otherwise, the future isn't looking too bright for the struggling mobile division. Source |...

Monday, April 6, 2015

HTC One (M8) for AT&T will get Android 5.0 tomorrow

HTC One (M8) owners on AT&T in the United States will begin receiving Android Lollipop tomorrow. Mo Versi, HTC's VP of product management announced on Twitter that the update has received technical approval. AT&T HTC One (M8) Owners! We just received technical approval for Lollipop OS! Thank you for all your patience, OTA to start tomorrow.— Mo Versi (@moversi) April 7, 2015 The update will be available over-the-air. It brings a host of improvements to the HTC One (M8) headed by brand new ART runtime and Material Design update for the device's native applications. AT&T is the latest major carrier to update HTC One (M8) to Android Lollipop. The device's variants on Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon are already running the new firmware. We benchmarked HTC One (M8) with Android 5.0 Lollipop back in January. You can find out about the change in its performance in our blog post. Source...

LG G Pad 8.3 Google Play Edition gets Android 5.1 Lollipop

Android 5.1 Lollipop is now seeding to LG G Pad 8.3 Google Play Edition. The new firmware is seeding to the device over-the-air. The update is a tad larger than 200MB. It brings a host of bug fixes and improvements to the slate headed by beefed up security. Other Android 5.1 goodies include the ability control paired Bluetooth devices from Quick Settings. Users can also join Wi-Fi networks in similar fashion. The new firmware will begin seeding to the tablet in batches. If you are an owner of a Google Play Edition LG G Pad 8.3, head over to your tablet's settings to check if the update is available....

Samsung's Q1 2015 earnings guidance points at dip in profits

Samsung revealed its earnings guidance for the first quarter of this year. The Korean giant expects to post consolidated operating profit of around 5.9 trillion Korean won ( about $5.4 billion) from 47 trillion won of revenue (about $43.2 billion). The company's quarterly profit will be almost a third less from the $8.2 billion in the same period last year. Revenue is estimated to dip by a tad above 10% - it was $51.8 billion in Q1 2014. With Samsung Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge due to hit the shelves this month, it is reasonable to expect that the manufacturer will begin to turn things around. The company will release its full earnings report later this month. Source...