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Thread: GSMArena

  1. #31
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    Default IDC: Apple retains tablet leadership in 2015, but sales decline

    Apple retained its position as the world's No.1 tablet vendor for the last quarter, although year-on-year sales saw a 24.8% decline, according to latest data from market research firm IDC. The Cupertino-based company shipped a total of 16.1 million tablets in Q4 2015, down from 21.4 million units shipped in the same quarter of 2014. Samsung came in second with 9 million units shipped, down from 11 million units the company shipped in Q4 2014, which is an 18.1% decline. The South Korean company's market share stood at 13.7%, compared to 24.5% share of the market Apple claimed. Amazon, Lenovo, and Huawei rounded up the top five with 7.9%, 4.8%, and 3.4% market shares, respectively. What's worth noticing here is the Amazon's annual growth of 175.7%, something the report attributed to the company's latest Kindle iteration, which it said was a runaway hit this holiday season. Talking about 2015 as a whole, while Apple and Samsung retained the top two spots with 24% and 16.2% market share, respectively, Lenovo climbed to the third spot with 5.4% share. Asus and Huawei rounded up the top five 3.4% and 3.1% of the market, respectively. Overall, the worldwide tablet market - which includes slate tablets as well as detachable tablets - continued to decline, with a negative year-on-year growth of 13.7%. However, separately, the market for detachable tablets was up, with shipments reaching an all-time high of 8.1 million devices. "This quarter was unique as we had new detachables in the market from all three of the major platform players," said IDC's Senior Research Analyst Jitesh Ubrani. "Despite lukewarm reviews, the iPad Pro was the clear winner this season as it was the top selling detachable, surpassing notable entries from Microsoft and other PC vendors." "It's also important to note that the transition towards detachable tablets has presented positive opportunities for both Apple and Microsoft. However, Google's recent foray into this space has been rather lackluster as the Android platform will require a lot more refinement to achieve any measurable success." "One of the biggest reasons why detachables are growing so fast is because end users are seeing those devices as PC replacements," said Jean Philippe Bouchard, Research Director, Tablets at IDC. "We believe Apple sold just over two million iPad Pros while Microsoft sold around 1.6 million Surface devices, a majority of which were Surface Pro and not the more affordable Surface 3. With these results, it's clear that price is not the most important feature considered when acquiring a detachable - performance...


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    Samsung Galaxy S7 camera to protrude just 0.8mm
    Seasoned leakster OnLeaks has outed a couple of schemanics, which show that Samsung has made subtle changes to the back design of the Galaxy S7 compared to the Galaxy Note5. Both phones have slightly curved backs, but whereas the Galaxy Note5 sports curves only on the left and right sides, the Galaxy S7 will sport them from each side on every edge of the back. Additionally, another schematics snapshot shows that the Galaxy S7 will have a camera bump, but not the same as the Galaxy S6. Samsung has tried to reduce the bump on the back and for the Galaxy S7 it's believed to be 0.8mm compared to the 1.7mm of the Galaxy S6's camera. Yesterday, @evleaks leaked an alleged press photo of the Galaxy S7's back. Previous leaks have suggested the phone will have four versions: Galaxy S7, Galaxy S7 Plus, Galaxy S7 edge, and Galaxy S7 edge Plus. In terms of specifications, expect a choice between the Exynos 8890 and Snapdragon 820 chipsets. Other rumors point a brand new 12MP 1/2.0" sensor. Samsung will reveal the Galaxy S7 on Sunday, February 21 in Barcelona. That's just a day before MWC 2016 officially kicks off. Source • Source (2) |...


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    Canon launches flagship EOS-1D X Mark II DSLR
    Canon has launched its newest flagship DSLR, the EOS-1D X Mark II, meant for professional photographers. Canon EOS-1D X Mark II The camera uses Canon's newest 20.2 megapixel full frame sensor. Backed by a new dual DIGIC 6+ image processor, the camera is capable of taking shooting in RAW at 14fps up 170 consecutive shots (or as many JPEGs as your memory card can hold). There's also internal 4K 60fps and 1080p 120fps video recording options built-in. ISO range is now 100 to 51200, expandable to 409600. The Mark II also boasts of a new 61-point Dual Pixel CMOS AF system with 41 cross type sensors, with an improved AI Servo III+ predictive algorithm for better accuracy. The camera has built-in GPS but for Wi-Fi you will need to get the WFT-E8 optional accessory that supports 802.11ac for file transfers to computers or smartphones. It is compatible with both CF and CFast memory cards. All of this packed in a weather sealed magnesium alloy body. The EOS-1D X Mark II is priced at $5999 body-only or bundled with a 64GB CFast card and reader for $6299. It will be available in...


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    Microsoft Lumia 850 photographed in the wild, looks just like the renders
    The Microsoft Lumia 850 starred in a few 3D renders late last year, but now there are photos of the actual device. There was a lot of uncertainty about the screen size, but the latest info points to 5.4" in size. Above it is a front-facing flash and what is probably an iris scanner for Windows Hello. Microsoft Lumia 850 (allegedly) Interestingly, the microUSB 2.0 port (and it does look like 2.0 rather than the new Type-C) is on top, while the 3.5mm audio jack is on the bottom. Things usually go the other way around. Anyway, the Microsoft Lumia 850 is expected to have a Snapdragon 617 chipset, like the HTC One A9 and the Samsung Galaxy A5 (that one actually uses S615, but close enough). Source (in Chinese) |...


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    Default Samsung announces Galaxy A5 and A7 for India

    Samsung has announced the 2016 models of the Galaxy A5 and Galaxy A7 for India.The A5 and A7 are company's mid-range smartphones with premium design and build quality. Both phones have a 1080p Super AMOLED display, Snapdragon 615, 16GB storage, 13 megapixel camera at the back, 5 megapixel camera on the front, and Android Lollipop, all in a metal and glass body. Only differences are the bigger 5.5-inch display on the A7 compared to 5.2-inch on the A5, 3GB RAM vs. 2GB, and larger 3300mAh battery vs. 2900mAh.The Galaxy A5 is priced at INR 29,400 ($433) and the Galaxy A7 at INR 33,400 ($492). They will be available starting February 15,...


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    VAIO announces Windows 10-powered Phone Biz with 5.5-inch display, 3GB RAM
    Nearly a year after foraying into the smartphone market, erstwhile Sony brand VAIO has unveiled its second smartphone. Dubbed Phone Biz, the device is powered by Windows 10 Mobile, and is apparently aimed at business users.Specs-wise, the handset is powered by a Snapdragon 617 SoC with octa-core processor, and sports a 5.5-inch Full HD display. It comes with 3GB RAM and 16GB internal memory, which can be expanded via microSD slot.In terms of camera, the Phone Biz features a 13MP rear unit and a 5MP front shooter. A 2,800mAh battery is there to keep the lights on.The mid-range smartphone is launching next month in Japan carrying a price tag of around $430. There's currently no information on if and when it'll be landing outside the Asian country.Source (Japanese) | Via 1...


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    Google will now also warn you about deceptive embedded content on websites
    Google has announced that it will now also start warning users about deceptive embedded content on websites they visit. In a blog post published yesterday, the company said that it's expanding Safe Browsing capabilities to protect users from things like "a deceptive download button, or an image ad that falsely claims your system is out of date."The Mountain View, California-based company said an embedded content on a web page will be deemed social engineering if it pretends to act, or look and feel, like a trusted entity (like your own device or browser, or the website itself), or tries to trick you into doing something you'd only do for a trusted entity — like sharing a password or calling tech support.The search giant also shared some examples of what will now be considered as deceptive content. Head to the Source link below to take a look at...


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    LG confirms February 21 unveiling for the G5
    Aside from Samsung's much-anticipated Galaxy S7 smartphone, LG's upcoming G5 is another flagship device that has been the subject of several rumors and leaks until now. While were sure that the G5 is coming this MWC, LG has now officially confirmed its unveiling date.(function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v2.3"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);}(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));Time for some play! With new friend comes new fun.Excitement begins at Barcelona on February 21st.#LG #LGG5 #G5Posted by LG Mobile on_Wednesday, February 3, 2016The South Korean company has confirmed through its social media channels that the successor to last year's G4 will be unveiled on February 21, i.e, a day before this year's Mobile World Congress officially kicks off.Interestingly, the Galaxy S7 is also set be unveiled on the same day. Just in case you missed, an LG executive said in an interview last month that the company "is ready to take on Samsung" this...


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    Google offering $10 Play Store credit to Chromecast/Chromecast Audio buyers
    If you are in the US or Canada, and are planning to purchase a Google Chromecast or Chromecast Audio, here is some good news: Google has announced that those who buy either device will be getting $10 Play Store credit.#Chromecast & #ChromecastAudio are the perfect pair. Get $10 @GooglePlay credit with either: https://t.co/MYO5FfBDbM pic.twitter.com/HtpvKovNQY— Google Store (@GoogleStore) February 3, 2016The offer started yesterday, and runs through February 24. Another point worth mentioning here is that the deal is only valid for purchases made through the Google Store. The $10 credit needs to be applied by May 31, and redeemed by the end of this year.Aside from Google, third party retailer Best Buy is also currently offering a $10 gift card with each purchase of Chromecast or Chromecast Audio.Source | Best...


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    Motorola Moto 360 (1st gen) and Sony SmartWatch 3 no longer available from Google Store
    The Google Store has stopped selling two smartwatches. These are the first-generation Moto 360 from Motorola and the SmartWatch 3 from Sony. Listings for both wearable devices now clearly say they are "no longer available for purchase."The news shouldn't come as a surprise given that the original Moto 360 watch was launched back in September 2014, while the SmartWatch 3 was released a month later. While Motorola has already launched the second-generation iteration for the Moto 360, Sony hasn't yet outed a SmartWatch 4.Those planning to purchase either of the smartwatch aren't completely out of luck though, given that third-party retailers like Amazon are still selling them.Source 1...


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    Galaxy S7 and S7 edge roll through the FCC
    The Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge have made an appearance through the FCC. Although the phone will not be announced until February 21, Samsung is getting a head start and preparing the logistics before launch.The model numbers for the S7 sand S7 edge are SM-G930A and SM-G935A, respectively. While these documents don't contain images of the alleged devices, they do contain the many variant model numbers for either model of the device.As usual, the FCC docs also list the various bands, connectivity options, and certifications like Bluetooth, Dual-band Wi-Fi, and NFC.The S7 and S7 Edge will feature either a 5.2 inch screen or a larger 5.7 inch screen if you opt for the edge display. It's powered by either an Exynos 8890 or a Snapdragon 820 as suggested.Source |...


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    Apple Music for Android lets you save music to an SD card
    The Apple Music app has been updated to allow users to store offline music onto an external storage option. This is a surprising move on Apple's side seeing as there has never been an iPhone with an expandable memory option.This change to the Android app is to the benefit of Apple. Some Android users have low end phones that might not have more than 8 GB of internal storage and could easily choose to subscribe to another music service that also lets users save offline music to a microSD card.Apple Music is downloadable from the Play Store for free and comes with a 3 month trial. $10 a month gets you an all-access subscription for music and Beats 1 online radio station.Source |...


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    Podcasts section starts showing up in Google Play Music for some
    Last year it was revealed that Google Play Music would get a Podcasts section in 2016, and now we can report that it's already live. For some lucky souls, at least.The feature will apparently become available for all before the end of this month. Until then, Google seems to be doing some A/B testing on this, but the new functionality is enabled server-side so it isn't part of an update to the Google Play Music app unfortunately.As you'd expect, a Podcasts entry shows up in the app's side menu, under Music library and above Browse stations. Once you tap on that you're taken to the new section, that comes with two tabs - Featured and Your podcasts. A search bar is at the top, naturally.When you decide to subscribe to a podcast, you're asked if you want to download the latest five episodes and get notified when new ones get released. The Now playing screen for podcasts is similar to the one used for music, save for one difference - the thumbs up and down buttons have been replaced with ones that let you skip 30 seconds forward and backward,...


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    Latest Pebble firmware update brings custom messages, third party access to the step and sleep tracker
    The latest firmware update for Pebble's various wearables is going out today. To install version 3.9 on your smartwatch, your Pebble app for iOS or Android needs to be up to date first (the required iterations are 3.6 for iPhone and 3.9 for Android).The newest firmware brings with it an API for the Pebble Health step and sleep tracker, which means developers are now able to use those stats for apps and watch faces. Health-enabled watch faces will show up in the Pebble appstore soon. Speaking of Pebble Health, this now allows you to show step distance in kilometers and not miles. It's also more accurate overall.If you use an iPhone, you can send custom responses to received messages through your Pebble smartwatch. As shown above, you set up your canned messages using the Pebble app for iOS first, then you'll be able to choose from those options once your wearable notifies you of a new message.If your handset runs Android, you can reply to incoming calls with a text message. Instead of answering a call, you send a voice note, emoji, or a custom message. And with the Send Text app for Android you can even start conversations from your Pebble. MMS notifications have descriptive icons from this point on, and they show any text that's included.Finally, the Watch-Only Mode which kicks in when your Pebble's battery is low now has a new look and gives you more time to find your smartwatch's...


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    Alcatel OneTouch Pop 4 lineup leaks ahead of MWC - meet the Pop 4S, Pop 4 Plus, and Pop 4
    TCL, the owner of the Alcatel OneTouch brand, is going to unveil a new Pop 4 lineup of smartphones at the MWC later this month. All of those leaked Pop 4 devices should be priced attractively low.Alcatel OneTouch Pop 4S is the flagship smartphone of the Pop 4 series with a 5.5" 1080p IPS display and Helio X10 chipset. The X10 SoC has been around for a while, and it turned out to be a favorite for the mid-range class. The particular chip in the Pop 4S will be offering an octa-core Cortex-A53 processor (4x 1.8GHz and 4x 1.0GHz), Mali-T860 GPU, and 2GB of RAM.The rest of the specs include 16/32GB expandable storage, a 13MP main camera with phase-detection and dual-LED flash, and a 5/8MP selfie snapper. Finally, the Pop 4S is LTE-enabled (Cat.4/Cat.6), utilizes a 2,960 mAh battery, and runs on Android 6.0 Marshmallow.Alcatel OneTouch Pop 4 Plus also has a 5.5" IPS display, but with a lower 720p resolution. It is powered by the Snapdragon 210 chip with a quad-core 1.1GHz Cortex-A7, Adreno 304 GPU, and 1.5GB RAM.The Pop 4 Plus will offer 16GB expandable storage, LTE Cat.4 connectivity, an 8 or 13MP main camera with an LED flash, a 5 or 8MP selfie shooter, and a 2,500 mAh battery. Android Marshmallow is in charge of operations, too.Finally, the Alcatel OneTouch Pop 4 is an entry-level offer with a 5" 720p display and the same Snapdragon 210 chipset as the Pop 4 Plus. The Pop 4 will be available with 1GB or 1.5GB RAM, depending on the market. Also depending on the market are the main camera - 8 or 13 MP, as well as the selfie snapper - 5 or 8 MP.The fixed specs available for all modes are the LTE Cat.4 connectivity, the 2,500 mAh battery, and Android 6.0 Marshmallow OS.All these three droids will premiere at the MWC in Barcelona later this month. And if they are indeed at the MWC floors, we'll deliver some shots and first-hand impressions to...


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    Fitbit intros Alta, its latest fitness tracker
    Today Fitbit has announced its latest fitness tracker, the Alta. It's already up for pre-order on its maker's website, priced at $129.95 in the US and €139.95 in the EU. It will start shipping in March in the US, and in April elsewhere.It comes with a "satin finish" and a stainless steel body. It has interchangeable bands, and it automatically tracks your activity, exercise, and sleep. It will also nudge you to move throughout the day. Its OLED display shows your progress towards reaching your goals as well as notifications from your smartphone.The Alta is positioned by Fitbit as its most fashionable device yet. Its body will be available at launch in silver, but a gold iteration is coming in the future. Band material options include leather.Its battery life is rated at up to five days on a charge, and it's said to be compatible with more than 200 devices running Android, iOS, and Windows Phone.Source |...


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    Oppo F1 review: Elegance on a budget
    The Oppo F1 is the ambassador for a whole new potential line of handsets within the manufacturer's portfolio and as such, it definitely deserves some attention.


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    HTC reports Q4 2015 financial results - upward trend, but still in the red
    HTC has released its financial report for Q4 2015, which in the case of the Taiwanese company is the quarter ending on December 31, 2015 (in the US that same period would be Q1, 2016). The consolidated results show a continuation of a positive trend for HTC, though it's still far from breaking even.The company reports a TWD 3.4 billion net loss after taxes, or roughly $101 million. That number was $139 million in Q3 and $252 million for the previous three months, so the upward trend is clearly visible. Revenue is quoted at TWD 25.7 billion ($766 million), which puts a halt on the free fall the company had been experiencing for the past year.This quarter's growth is attributed partially to the warm reception of the HTC One A9 in Asia, the US and Europe, and also the Desire series selling well during the holiday season. The UA HealthBox also got a mention in the report, though being announced in January, it can't really account for any cash brought in during the reported period, if ever.Source |...


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    XOXO and LOVE get you a free case/cover with OnePlus smartphone purchases
    OnePlus is offering its take on Valentine's day specials and is now bundling a free Rosewood case with OnePlus X purchases. What you need to do is enter the XOXO promo code upon checkout.Alternatively, if you're after the OnePlus 2, you can get a Black Apricot StyleSwap Cover free of charge. The promo code for this one is LOVE.A couple of caveats though. Only these two specific styles are part of the offer, one for each smartphone. If you've chosen a different case/cover, entering the promo code will add the correct one, deduct its price, but still keep the one you originally selected, so make sure you delete it.Additionally, if for some reason you've decided that now's the time to get both the OnePlus X and OnePlus 2, you can't claim both promo codes in the same order. Also, the fine print contains the magic words "while supplies last", so make sure you act...


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    Leaked Microsoft Lumia 650 press photo surfaces
    A new press shot of the upcoming Microsoft Lumia 650 is now out of the leak factory, courtesy of @evleaks. The photo shows the front of the device, which is rumored to sport a 5" 720p display and either a Snapdragon 210 or Snapdragon 212 chipset.Visually, the phone will look just like the Lumia 550, save for a metal frame, which add some extra polish. This isn't the first time we see a press shot of the phone, as it leaked in white and the phone even went on pre-order by mistake last week.Back then, the listing revealed the full spec list showing an 8 MP rear camera with LED flash, a 1.1 GHz quad-core processor, 1GB of RAM, 8GB of expandable storage, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, and a 2,000 mAh battery. It runs Windows 10 Mobile, naturally, and weighs 150g.Expect the phone to cost about $199 unlocked in the US, while in the Eurozone its price could be something like €199. Most probably, the phone will go official at MWC 2016 at the end of the month.Source |...


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    Lenovo returns to profitability, almost breaks even on Motorola
    Lenovo just did what Google could not - it broke even on Moto phones. The Mobile Business Group (which combines Lenovo and Motorola phones and tablets, plus smart TVs) posted quarterly sales of $3.2 billion (down 4% YoY).Motorola contributed $2 billion to that and saw shipments rise 25% quarter on quarter. Lenovo didn't quite break even though, it posted $30 million in pre-tax loss.As for phones bearing the Lenovo brand, they saw a huge rise in India and Indonesia (doubling and tripling sales) with 83% of sales coming from outside of China.It's not all good news, though, total smartphone volume fell 18% to 20.2 million units sold. In case you haven't heard, Lenovo will merge its smartphone brands and Motorola will soon become Lenovo Moto, joining the Lenovo Vibe brand.The company as a whole returned to profitability with $300 million net income on a revenue of $12.9 billion (down 8% YoY, 2% in constant currency).Source |...


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    Accessory-maker ZAGG acquires battery case maker Mophie
    ZAGG, makers of InvisibleShield screen protectors, tablet keyboards and more, will acquire battery case maker Mophie. The deal is expected to close at the beginning of April, subject to regulatory approvals.The merger will create a leader in market share for the two companies' respective fields. It will also improve product development and expand distribution.This will come from strengthened manufacturing in China and will leverage established distribution in the US, Europe and Asia. With combined engineerings and branding efforts, ZAGG believes it can bring better product development and increase brand recognition.ZAGG will pay $100 million, plus a bonus based on whether Mophie sales surpass $100 million for the year following April 1 2016. Mophie CEO and COO will keep their current positions, but will now answer to ZAGG CEO, Randy Hales.Source |...


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    Android 6.0 Marshmallow beta seeding to selected Galaxy Note5 units in the US
    Samsung has been seeking beta testers for its latest Android 6 Marshmallow updates in various markets such as South Korea, UK, and the US. If chosen, the users were able to install the beta version of Marshmallow on some of the Galaxy S6 smartphones.Samsung seems to be readying the Marshmallow update for Galaxy Note5 as the company has begun selection users in the US to receive the test build. About 200 people from the AT&T networks with Note5 devices have been chosen and if they followed the instructions correctly, the update should be already available.The Marshmallow firmware looks the same as on the Galaxy S6 series and utilizes the latest security improvements, too.The beta firmware update weights about 1356MB and has a build date of February 2.If you own a Galaxy Note5 from AT&T (the SM-N920A model), and you've signed up for beta updates, maybe you should check your email to see if you were chosen to be a beta tester.Anyway, this beta Marshmallow update means the firmware is almost finalized and the regular users should be getting it in a few...


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    Default A few new Lumia 850 renders leak online along with familiar photos

    Yesterday offered us a set of hands-on photos of the Microsoft Lumia 850 and today, samples from the same batch have resurfaced from yet another source adding quite a bit to the authenticity of the leak. Joining them we have a few fan-made renders that lets us get a better idea of the smartphone's looks.This is the latest in a long line of news and various info on the handset, reaffirming that the mid-range Windows 10 phablet will be outed this year. Without diving too much into the shots themselves, we will just note that even though the Lumia 850 is expected to come with a plastic body, like many of its siblings, there clearly looks to be some extra detail on the frame, maybe perhaps some metal.Other obvious changes include a repositioned microUSB 2.0 connector - now on the top and a 3.5mm jack on the bottom. As for specs, we currently believe that the Lumia 850 will be powered by a Snapdragon 617 chip - one of Qualcomm's new mid-range offers that just happens to be Microsoft's last addition to the Continuum requirements sheet, which naturally suggests support for the new phablet. The display is said to be a 5.7-inch one with a FullHD resolution, but there is still no info on memory.Source (in Chinese) |...


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    Default Samsung Galaxy J7 (2016) and Galaxy J5 (2016) pass Bluetooth SIG certi

    The Samsung Galaxy J7 (2016) and the Galaxy J5 (2016) are now one step closer to market launch, as they successfully passed Bluetooth SIG certification. The predecessors of the two phones came out in June 2015, but the 2016 editions might be a little early. According to leaked benchmark results, the Galaxy J7 (2016) will have two versions - one with an Exynos 7870 chip, and another with a Snapdragon 615. The two versions will have different screen resolutions on the 5.5" display and RAM. The Exynos one will tout a 720p screen and 2GB of RAM, while the Snapdragon model will come with 3GB of RAM and 1080p display. The chipset of the Galaxy J5 (2016) has also been revealed through a leaked benchmark, and it's going to be a Snapdragon 410 one with a 1.2 GHz quad-core Cortex-A53 CPU. The other known specs so far include a 12 or 13 MP rear camera with LED flash, a 5 MP selfie shooter, 2GB of RAM, and 16GB of built-in storage. Pricing and availability are yet to be announced. While MWC 2016 is a good opportunity for Samsung to officially reveal the phones, the company is unlikely to risk drawing any attention away from the Galaxy S7 lineup so those will probably come at a different point. Source • Source (2) |...


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    Apple starts iPhone screen protector installation program in Japan
    Apple has started iPhone screen protector installation program in Japan, along with Belkin. Apple customers in Japan will be able to hop down to their local Apple Store and get the Belkin screen protector professionally installed on their iPhone using an installation machine. The device allows placing the screen protector in place with the phone aligned on top and then when the protective film is pulled out the screen protector is precisely applied on top of the phone without any air bubbles. Still, if you're not satisfied, they will reapply another one for no additional cost. The application costs somewhere between $19 and $37 according to 9to5Mac. The program will be rolling out to other regions in...


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    Gionee S6 with 3GB RAM and 13MP camera lands in India
    Just a few months after it was launched, the Gionee S6 is now available for purchase in India, making it the first country outside of China where the device is now officially available. In India, the device is exclusively being sold by online retailer Flipkart, which currently has Gold, Silver, and Rose Gold color options in stock. As for the price, the handset carries a tag of INR 19,999, which translates into around $295 at current exchange rates. Specs-wise, the Gionee S6 is powered by a MediaTek MT6753 SoC with 1.3GHz octa-core CPU and Mali T-720 GPU, and sports a 5.5-inch 720p AMOLED display. It has 3GB RAM and 32GB expandable internal memory, and packs in a 3,150mAh battery. In terms of camera, the phone features a 13MP rear unit and a 5MP front shooter. It is just 6.9mm thick, and runs Android 5.1 Lollipop with the company's AMIGO OS 3.1 on...


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    Windows Store visits hit 3 billion mark
    Microsoft has released this month's report on Windows Store trends, revealing that the store has received a total of over 3 billion visits since Windows 10 was launched. The figure stood at around 2.5 billion in last month's report. The Redmond, Washington-based company also shared details on category-wise downloads for the Oct-Dec 2015 period. The data revealed that Games was the most popular category with over 30% downloads, while Utilities & Tools and Photo & Video rounded up the top three with 15% and 8% share, respectively. In terms of downloads by language, English - unsurprisingly - was at the top, followed by Spanish, Brazilian Portugese, Russian, and Hindi. The company also revealed several other interesting stats - head to the Source link below to take a...


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    New Microsoft Lumia 650 renders surface; European price leaks
    The upcoming Microsoft Lumia 650 will cost around €220 in Central Europe, according to a new report. The device will be available from carrier Orange in France, the report notes, adding that Cricket Wireless will carry it in the US. In addition to the price, some new renders of the Windows 10-powered handset - which is said to be aimed at business users - have also leaked, showing it from the side this time. The phone has been the subject of several leaks and rumors until now. It was earlier rumored to be unveiled in the first week of February, but subsequent reports have suggested that it has been delayed until the mid of this month. Via 1 2...


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    WhatsApp Web is now officially compatible with Microsoft Edge
    WhatsApp's Web extension now officially supports Microsoft's Edge Web browser. This was first noticed by users on Reddit. Until now, the functionality was officially only available on Chrome, Firefox, Opera, and Safari. It was not that users of Microsoft's Web browser were completely out of luck until now - there was a way out using which they could access WhatsApp Web on the browser. But it's always good to see official support arriving for the software you use. A quick look at the Reddit thread reveals that not every Microsoft Edge user is currently able to access WhatsApp Web. If that's the case for you, too, probably you need to wait a bit more given the possibility that the support is being currently rolled-out. Via |...


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    Apple asks Supreme Court not to take up Samsung's appeal
    Less than a couple of months after Samsung took its patent battle with Apple to the US Supreme Court, Apple has requested the country's highest court not to take up the South Korean company's appeal. For those who aren't in the know, Samsung moved the Supreme Court after agreeing to pay Apple $548 million to settle their yearslong patent legal case. The company is seeking a re-examination of the decisions made in the case so far, arguing that the jury isn't given all the details on how to understand the patents when dealing with design patent-related cases, as well as questioning the way damages are calculated in these cases. In its arguments filed yesterday, Apple said it sees no reason for the court to review Samsung's verdict. "Samsung had its day in court — many days, in fact — and the properly instructed jury was well-justified in finding that Samsung copied Apple's designs and should pay the damages that the statute expressly authorizes," the iPhone maker said. "While this litigation may be high-profile, it is legally unexceptional, and Samsung has shown no reason for this Court to prolong it." In its response to Apple's filing, Samsung said, "If the legal precedent in this case stands, innovation could be diminished, competition could be stifled, and opportunistic lawsuits could have negative effects throughout the U.S....


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    More Apple apps could land on Android
    Last November, the Apple Music app landed on Google Play, making it the first Apple app to be available on Android. Now, it looks like the Cupertino-based company is planning to bring some of its other popular apps to Google's mobile OS as well. CEO Tim Cook dropped hints about this at the company's recent "Town Hall" event for Apple employees. He said that Apple Music for Android was a sort of "testing the waters" to see if the company could further expand its services on Android. So does that mean Android users will soon be able to access Apple's iCloud and iMessage services, and not to mention Apple Pay? Well, only time will tell. We're hoping that Apple will divulge more details on this in the near future, probably at its annual developer conference this...


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    Huawei officially starts selling GX8 in US
    At this year's Consumer Electronics Show last month, Huawei announced that the GX8 will land in the US sometime this quarter. Inline with the announcement, the device is now available for purchase in the country. Amazon US currently has the device in stock (though only 14 units are left as of writing) and is selling it for $350. The phone is also listed on the Chinese company's official online store GetHuawei for the same price, but is currently out of stock. For those who aren't already aware, the GX8 is a version of the G8 smartphone which is already available in other markets. It is the second Huawei smartphone - after the Honor 5X - to be officially available in the US. Source |...


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    T-Mobile LG G4 seems to be receiving Android 6.0 Marshmallow update
    It looks like T-Mobile's version of the LG G4 (model number H811) is finally in the process of receiving the update to Android 6.0 Marshmallow. This has already made it to many other variations of the smartphone, so it's nice to see it landing on one more carrier version. Neither LG nor T-Mobile have officially announced the rollout yet, but it is happening, according to multiple people reporting as much on Reddit. Most of those who managed to install it have done so through the LG Bridge software for PCs and Macs, but there is one mention of an over-the-air update too. This means you should probably expect the OTA rollout to pick up some steam in the next few days, and hopefully reach all of TMo's G4 units out there soon. After you apply this update, you'll be on software version H81120I, by the way. There's no changelog to speak of just yet, but obviously all the new things Google has packed into Marshmallow are in - including Now On Tap, the battery-saving Doze function, the revamped permissions system, and much...


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    Bing for Android update brings it on par with iOS app, new design and features are in
    Microsoft has updated its Bing app for Android today, finally bringing it on par with the iOS version. This means the Android app has received a big redesign (which you can see in the screenshots below), as well as many new features. You can scan barcodes for products, and you'll get prices and customer reviews from big online retailers. If you search for "gas" or go to the Near Me section and select the Gas bubble you'll get fresh gas prices for your area. Then you can easily navigate to the station you're interested in. The redesigned home page requires just one tap to get to lists of restaurants, movies, images, videos, maps, deals, and attractions near you. Swiping up from the bottom lets you check out the current weather conditions and stay up to date with the major news stories of the day. The new Bing for Android is already available in the Google Play Store. Source |...


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    Huawei's Honor 5X is now available in Europe from £169.99 or €209.99
    It's February 4, so Huawei's countdown timer is gone from the page listing the Honor 5X in its European online store. Yes, the company's latest affordable smartphone is now available to buy if you're in Europe. Thankfully this means we now know how much it costs. The normal price is £189.99, €229.99, or CHF 229.90, depending on where you are. However, by just entering your email address in a form that can be found on the same page, you'll instantly receive a discount code which you can use to take that price down by £20, €20, or CHF 20. So essentially you'll be paying £169.99, €209.99, or CHF 209.90 for the device - while this promo code offer is still available. There's no telling how long it will last, though. Currently both the silver and grey versions of the Honor 5X are in stock and ready to be delivered to you, while for the gold model you will have to wait a few days (the exact number of which varies based on the country you order from). The Honor 5X can be purchased direct from Huawei if you are in the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Switzerland. The phone comes with a 5.5-inch 1080p touchscreen, a 13 MP rear camera with LED flash, a 5 MP selfie shooter, Qualcomm's Snapdragon 615 chipset (with a 1.5 GHz octa-core Cortex-A53 CPU), 2GB of RAM, 16GB of expandable storage, 4G support, and a 3,000 mAh battery. It runs Android 5.1 Lollipop underneath Huawei's EMUI...


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    The new Doom game launches on May 13 on PC, Xbox One, and PS4
    It's official, ladies and gentlemen, the new Doom game will become available on May 13. This has been years in the making, and it will be the fourth installment in the wildly popular series. The original Doom 3 was launched back in 2004, so it's certainly been a long wait for fans of the well-known first-person shooter. On May 13, the new game will be released for PC, Xbox One, as well as PlayStation 4, thus covering all the big platforms. It's already up for pre-order at the moment, with prices starting at $60 for a Standard Edition, while the Collector's Edition is double that. The Standard iteration includes the full game (with solo campaign mode as well as multiplayer support). The Collector's Edition adds a 12-inch LED-lit statue of a Revenant demon. Source |...


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    New Android Wear update brings support for speakers, new gestures
    Google has just announced the latest update to the Android Wear platform. The new software is going to be rolled out to all smartwatches running Android Wear. It's expected to reach all the devices within the next few weeks. Here's what to expect when that update notification finally hits your watch. The new version of Android Wear brings with it support for built-in speakers for wearables (and the Huawei Watch already has one, for example, along with the 49mm Asus ZenWatch 2). This means you'll be able to take and make calls from your watch. It's also possible to listen to audio or video messages through certain apps. New gestures have been incorporated into this release too. You can expand a card, bring up your apps, or return to your watch face with a push, lift, or shake. These gestures arrive in addition to the already available ones that let you scroll up and down your card stream by simply flicking your wrist. Finally, support for sending messages with your voice has been expanded to include popular third party apps. So with this update you're able to say something like "OK Google, send a WhatsApp message to George: I'll be right there". And, of course, that will result in George receiving a WhatsApp message containing those exact words. The other apps supported for this functionality are Hangouts, Nextplus, Telegram, Viber, and...


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    LG G Flex2 now $199.99 unlocked for a limited time
    The first smartphone from a major brand to run on the Snapdragon 810 chipset, the LG G Flex2 was announced at last year's CES and during most of its lifetime was the most affordable high-end device, often costing half of what competitors charged. But if even that was too much for you, you can now pick up one at $199.99 unlocked, in the US at least. There are a few more caveats, as with most such deals. For one, you can only order the Black color option (or as LG calls it - Platinum Silver), and not the flashier Flamenco Red we had for review. It's also an AT&T-branded version, previously locked and subsequently unlocked by carrier. You can expect to find AT&T bloatware installed, and potential updates will be dependent on AT&T's blessing. On the other hand, you'd be getting the better specced version with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage (there's a lesser 2GB/16GB variant). The self-healing back cover and eye-popping curved body are also carrier-independent features. You have some time to weigh the pros and cons, but don't overthink it - the deal expires in 5 days. Source |...


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    Huawei Honor 7 Premium Edition to launch in Europe soon
    Today was the official launch of the Huawei Honor 5X for Europe, and it can be purchased via the official online store in the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Switzerland. In the wake of the launch, Huawei teased another device it will be launching very soon in Europe - the Premium Edition of the Honor 7. While there wasn't any official specs sheet in this edition, Huawei detailed its storage - 32GB, and the retail box will be coming with a 9V/2A fast charger. Most of the specs will be the same as on the regular Honor 7 - a metal body with a 5.2" 1080p display, Kirin 935 chip with 3GB of RAM, a 20MP main camera, an 8MP selfie snapper, and a 3,100 mAh battery. You can find even more specs in our Honor 7 database listing. The Premium Edition of Honor 7 for Europe will be available in Gold and Mystery Grey colors. The pricing and exact date are yet to be...


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    Apple Pay is now available at 2 million locations in four markets
    Apple Pay was launched in 2014 with the iPhone 6 series and is currently supported by the iPhone 6, 6 Plus, 6s, 6s Plus, and the Apple Watch. The iPad Pro, Air 2, mini 3, and mini 4 can also use Apple Pay but within apps only. Apple had a target of physical 1.5 million locations for the 2015, and it managed to surpass this milestone by a lot. Today Apple Pay is available at more than 2 million locations globally and is continuing its expansion. That's still far from a wide-spread service, but its future sure looks more promising now. The next wave of supported merchants is going to include Chick-Fil-A, Crate & Barrel, and Au Bon Pain. Popular food chains like KFC, Dominos, Chili's, and Cinnabon will be adding Apple Pay later on. Apple Pay will also expand its reach to China later this year. Currently, it is available in four markets - USA, Hong Kong, Spain, and Singapore. Finally, Apple Pay got an enormous increase in in-app payments, a feature not widely advertised but often used nevertheless. Source |...


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    Gionee Elife S8 spotted on Geekbench running the Helio P10 SoC
    Last month it became clear that Gionee will follow-up MWC 2015 launch of the Elife S7 with at least one new device lined up for the event this year. By all accounts, that is going to be the Gionee Elife S8, which prior to the February 22 announcement made a quick stop at Geekbench (we are fairly certain GN9011 refers to it). The listing reveals a MediaTek MT6755 SoC, also known as the eight core Helio P10. This falls in line with the legacy of the Elife line, which typically employs MediaTek chips. The benchmark also reported 4GB of RAM on the handset, as well as an Android 6.0 platform. The cited scores are also not bad at 4511 points on multi-core and 1079 on single, courtesy of the ARM Cortex-A53 cores. Sadly, the leak doesn't offer any other information, but Gionee was kind enough to share some more insight on the Elife S8, a while back: At MWC 2016, GIONEE will introduce a new member to its S series - the Elife S8, an innovative mobile device that comes with hassle-free photo-shooting features and a pressure-sensitive display. While a pressure sensitive display is nothing really new, here's to hoping Gionee manages to introduce even more exciting uses for the technology and possibly more compatible and optimized software to make it worthwhile. Source |...


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    Default Adreno 530 (Snapdragon 820 GPU) benchmarked, competition crushed

    Everyone is eager to forget the Snapdragon 810 issues and move on to the 820. Early processor benchmarks didn't wipe out the competition, but maybe the new Adreno 530 GPU could impress. Qualcomm promised a 40% performance improvement on top of a 40% power reduction over the Adreno 420 used in the S810. Early GFXBench tests show the difference can be even bigger than expected. Only the iPhone 6s Plus GPU, the PowerVR GT7600 (6-core), comes close and even that one doesn't quite catch up. Even the Google Pixel C (a large tablet with a Nvidia Tegra X1 chipset ) barely wins out. .jrGraphContainer { background: none !important; border-bottom: 1px solid #eee !important;} ul.jrGraph { left: 146px !important; } ul.jrGraphControls { padding: 0; margin-left: -10px !important; } JRGRAPH_EXPANDABLE_VERSION = false; GFX 3.0 Manhattan (1080p offscreen) Higher is better ??? (Adreno 530) 48 Google Pixel C (Nvidia Maxwell) 48 iPhone 6s Plus (PowerVR GT7600) 39.5 Huawei Nexus 6P (Adreno 430) 25 Galaxy Note5 (Mali-T760MP8) 21 Huawei Mate 8 (Mali-T880 MP4) 17 GFX 3.1 Manhattan (1080p offscreen) Higher is better Google Pixel C (Nvidia Maxwell) 35.5 ??? (Adreno 530) 31.5 Huawei Nexus 6P (Adreno 430) 17 Galaxy Note5 (Mali-T760MP8) 15 Huawei Mate 8 (Mali-T880 MP4) 9.9 This is, of course, assuming the benchmark score is legit. And it says nothing of the promised battery savings. Thanks to madstunt for the...


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    Samsung Galaxy A9 Pro shows up on Zauba
    Early last week, there were reports that Samsung is working on a Pro variant of its Galaxy A9 smartphone. The variant was said to carry a model number of SM-A9100. Now, the device has been spotted on India's import-export tracking website Zauba. As is the case usually, the Zauba listing of the handset doesn't reveal much, except that it sports a large 6-inch display and carries a price tag of INR 24,179 (around $360). Keep in mind, however, that pricing information on Zauba is not always precise, and that seems to be true in this case given that the standard Galaxy A9 costs $490. As for availability, previous reports have suggested that the Galaxy A9 Pro is aimed at the Chinese market. The standard model - which was launched around Christmas last year - is also currently only available in...


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    Default BlackBerry lays off 200 employees in Canada and the US

    BlackBerry has just parted with "approximately 200 employees" total in both Waterloo, Ontario, and Sunrise, Florida. The company hasn't disclosed which branches of its operations the cuts are focused on, but earlier reports pointed at the BlackBerry 10 and Devices departments.The news comes a month after CEO John Chen asserted that the company's OS is "far from dead", a statement which was needed to clear the air after the previous day it was announced that BlackBerry will be switching entirely to Android for future smartphones. And while continuing support for existing devices certainly means that the OS is "far from dead", the lack of future BB10 devices does warrant cuts in the workforce.The layoffs are part of the struggling company's turnaround plan, which seems to be on the right track, given the last financial reports from December last year. At $15 million in the red, the company's loss was 4.5 times less than analysts had predicted, and the Priv seems to be doing nothing but good for BlackBerry.Source |...


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    Apple now sells the View-Master VR through its own stores
    Apple is now officially selling the View-Master Virtual Reality Starter Pack through its own stores, both physical and online. The VR/AR rig, similar to Google's Cardboard, but with View-Master's signature reels added on top, has already been available for both Android and Apple devices, but it's only now that the Cupertino company has made it available in its own retail chain.You can order it online, but it'll take a lengthy 3-4 weeks to ship. If you want one today, you can pick up a View-Master in Apple's physical stores, just check online if the one near you has it. The more prudent among you will certainly prefer Amazon, though, where the headset is available for $17.74 right now.Additionally, Apple stores are carrying the Experience packs (the reels, plus a card), each priced at $14.95. You need the card to unlock the experience in the app on your phone and to enjoy the augmented reality features. Source |...


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    Galaxy S7 wireless charging pad listed on UK retailer's website
    Samsung introduced built-in wireless (or rather inductive) charging capability with the Galaxy S6 a year ago, and made strides into making it nearly as quick as true wired charging by launching the fast wireless charger when the Note5 and Galaxy S6 edge+ came out last fall.Well, the Galaxy S7 range won't be missing the feature either, judging by a listing on a UK retailer's website. Clove's brief description of the accessory mentions that it's optimized for the upcoming Galaxy S7/S7 edge but will also be compatible with other smartphones complying to the Qi standard.And it's all fine and dandy, but the pictures show the existing Wireless Charging Pad mini, which has been available for a while now. The listing is clearly just a placeholder at the time, and it also doesn't seem too likely that Clove will give you a pound to pick up a charging pad, as the -£1.00 price suggests.The good bit is that Samsung isn't abandoning useful features (like microSD slot and removable battery) this time around. Wireless charging, coupled with the alleged 2-day endurance and 17 hours of video playback make a compelling case for the Galaxy S7, if they prove to be true.Thanks for the tip,...


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    Sony Xperia Z5 and Z5 Compact officially available in the US: February 7
    The Xperia Z5 and Z5 Compact will finally be available in the US starting this Sunday, February 7. The first retailers selling the latest Sony flagship phone will be: Best Buy, B&H, and Amazon.com.The Xperia Z5 and Z5 Compact feature a 5.2 inch 1080p or 4.6 inch 720p Triluminous display, a Snapdragon 810 paired with 2 or 3GB of RAM, a 2700 or 2900mAh battery, and an immersion rating of IP68 with capless USB port.Remember, though, Sony is not including the fingerprint sensor on its Z5 line of devices for the US for some reason, most likely due to logistics.The Xperia Z5 will be available unlocked for $599.99 while the Z5 Compact will go on sale for...


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    Deal: Nexus 5X going for $280 unlocked on eBay
    This is not the first, second, or third time that we've seen the Nexus 5X go on sale since its release this past fall. This time around, you can get a 16GB Nexus 5X for a full $100 less than the launch retail price of $380 from eBay.The listing only has the Quartz and Carbon colors available and ship from Nashua, New Hampshire. They even come with the Google Play Music promo card inside the box.So if you haven't jumped to the Nexus 5X yet, this is a great deal. Though, you might want to hold off for a 32GB model. Still, the Nexus 5X embodies everything the Nexus branding stands for while maintaining a low cost and receiving the latest updates directly from Google.The Nexus 5X features a 5.2 inch 1080p LCD IPS screen, a 2700mAh battery, Marshmallow 6.0 out of the box, a quick Snapdragon 808 hexa-core chipset paired with 2GB of RAM, all enclosed in great looking hardware crafted by LG.Source (eBay) |...


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    Galaxy Note 6 to land in the UK from the beginning, S7 edge+ not at all
    Last year Samsung managed to anger many Note series fans in Europe by not officially launching the Galaxy Note5 on the continent in 2015. For some reason, Samsung decided that only the Galaxy S6 edge+ was to be sold in Europe, at least at first. While the Note5 did eventually become available too, many early adopters didn't like how they were forced to pick the phablet with the curved screen even if they wanted the one with the S Pen.Amazingly, Samsung seems to have learned something from that ordeal. If a new report is to be believed, the Korean company will not repeat that story. What's more, its strategy for this year's flagship phablets seems to be exactly the opposite, at least for the UK. Namely, it's said that Samsung will bring the Note 6 to the UK from the beginning, while the Galaxy S7 edge+ will not see an official launch in the country. Ever.It's probably safe to assume that the same thing will happen in Continental Europe. The information allegedly comes from a "source high up at one of the UK's major networks". The reason for the change in strategy has to do with a "backlash from loyal Note fans" over what happened last year. And sales of the S6 edge+ (pictured above) in the UK were quite disappointing, which is possibly why that market won't see its successor.The Galaxy Note 6 is due for release in August. The 5.1-inch Galaxy S7 and the 5.5-inch S7 edge are going to be unveiled on February 21 at MWC in Barcelona, and they are to go on sale in early March according to the same source.Hopefully you have taken all of this with a grain of salt, since we're still many months away from the Note 6's announcement - hence, even if these plans are true right now, there's still time for them to...


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    HTC unveils new Desire 626 version in India
    In the hopes of selling some more units undoubtedly, HTC has today unveiled a new version of its Desire 626 smartphone in India. This is an ever so slightly revamped iteration of the original 626 from last year, packing in the dual-SIM support of the Desire 626G+, but pairing it with 4G LTE capabilities as well.The new Desire 626 has a 5-inch 720p touchscreen, a 13 MP rear camera, a 5 MP selfie shooter, the MediaTek MT6752 SoC at the helm (with a 1.7 GHz octa-core CPU), 2GB of RAM, 16GB of expandable storage, and a 2,000 mAh battery.Most of those things have been seen before in the 626 range, but what's definitely new is the software. The revamped Desire handset runs Android 5.1 Lollipop out of the box, with HTC Sense on top. That's in stark contrast to the original 626 shipping with Android 4.4 KitKat on board.The new device will become available in the subcontinent soon, priced at INR 14,990 - which means about $220 or €198 at the current exchange rates. The color versions are going to be called Blue Lagoon and White Birch. It's still unclear if it will ever launch elsewhere.Source 1 • Source...


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    Check out our Honor 5X video review
    The Honor 5X is surely a widely talked about phone. Especially with the company's first US-bound smartphone hitting the virtual shelves at the end of last month. The Honor 5X is a #NoNonsense smartphone with flagship-level features, all for $200 unlocked.The Honor 5X has a 5.5 inch 1080p LCD IPS display, a fast fingerprint scanner, a hefty 3000mAh battery, a 13MP camera, and Huawei's own feature-rich EM UI layered on Android 5.1.1 Lollipop, upgradable to Marshmallow and powered by a Snapdragon 615 chipset.We are currently working on the full length written review, so we wanted to give you a teaser of what to expect with the Honor 5X. We've compiled a video showing off the well-roundedness of the Honor 5X and what you really get for $200.Stay tuned for our in-depth written review of the Honor 5X as...


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    Samsung Z1 Tizen 2.4 update starts rolling out
    Samsung has finally started rolling out the Tizen 2.4 update (Z130HDDU0CPB1) to its Z1 smartphone. The update weighs in at around 262MB (~17MB for Tizen 2.4 Beta users), and is currently only available to users in India.Several new features are included in the update, such as WhatsApp Calling, Ultra Data Saving Mode, as well as the ability to create password-protected memos. In addition, many of the existing apps - including Camera, Message, Music Player, Smart Manager, Video Recorder, and Settings - have also received some changes.The OTA update is currently rolling out, so it may take a while before it hits your device. However, if you're feeling impatient, you can head to your device's Settings and check for it manually. Other countries, including Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka are expected to get the update next week.Via 1...


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    Samsung Galaxy A7 (2016) review: Stride across
    Samsung reinvented itself last year and that gave the A-series a chance for a coup. It took the great new design from the S-phones and parred it down to a mid-range price.


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    HTC One M10 leaks in full frontal live image
    According to recent reports, HTC has chosen to unveil its next flagship smartphone, the One M10, at a dedicated event and not at MWC in Barcelona at the end of this month. That may be wise, seeing has how both the LG G5 and the Samsung Galaxy S7 are set to become official at MWC.Recently we've seen a list of specs for the One M10 getting leaked, and today we are treated to what is alleged to be the first live image of the device.As you can see, the HTC logo is nowhere to be found on the front of the M10, and neither is the much-dreaded black bar that housed it in past One M series handsets. Under the screen we do however see a fingerprint scanner, which could double as a Home button.The power and volume buttons are on the right side of the phone, with the former being nicely ridged so you'll easily be able to tell which is which even if you're not looking. Interestingly, there doesn't seem to be a second front-facing speaker underneath the display, so perhaps the much-loved BoomSound speakers aren't going to be making a comeback in this model.The One M10 seems to employ a full metal construction, like its predecessors. Previously rumored specs had it coming with a 5.1-inch QHD AMOLED touchscreen, Qualcomm's Snapdragon 820 chipset, 4GB of RAM, 32GB of storage, a microSD card slot, and a 12 MP UltraPixel rear camera with laser autofocus and optical image stabilization. It shall run Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow with HTC Sense 8...


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    Apple Watch is now cheaper by £50 to £120 in the UK
    If you're in the UK and want to buy an Apple Watch, now's probably the time to do it. And make sure you choose either Currys or PC World as your supplier for Apple's first smartwatch.Why? Because both of those retailers are now offering the Apple Watch models with discounts ranging from £50 to £120. Those are quite the savings, especially for an Apple-made device.Let's exemplify. The 38mm Apple Watch Sport with a black or white strap is normally priced at £299, but it can now be yours for just £249. The 42mm stainless steel Apple Watch with the milanese loop band has a recommended retail price of £559, but is now offered for a mere £439.There are many more options to pick from, of course, with all iterations receiving a discount in the aforementioned range. It's unclear how long the new, reduced pricing will last, so make sure you act fast if you want to pick up a cheaper Apple...


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    The Apple Watch accounted for two-thirds of smartwatch shipments in 2015
    It is hardly surprising that Apple cashed-in big last holiday season, but it is interesting to note that according to Canalys, the company's smartwatch did particularly well, shipping 12 million units. Canalys estimates that this constitutes around two-thirds of all shipments - impressive volume indeed. In this chart, Cupertino is followed closely by Samsung with the Gear S2, which returned to the runner-up spot after releasing its improved designs. Pebble occupies the third spot and Huawei is forth. The latter is quite an impressive achievement form the Chinese OEM, which managed to top the likes of LG, despite having only one smartwatch to date.But statistics get even more interesting in the realm of bands, which would also include wearables without an OS and third-party app support. Here the Fitbit reigns supreme, followed closely by Xiaomi's Mi Bands, which sold just as well as the Apple watch at 13 million units during 2015. What this means is that the Fitbit actually outsold the Apple Watch in pure volume, possibly hinting that users still tend to go for more fitness-oriented wearables and let's not forget - cheaper ones.Analyst Daniel Matte commented on the matter saying: Software increasingly belongs on the wrist, and this is the direction the market is going . As the next step along this path, the Fitbit Blaze is the right product for the company to develop. It is competitively priced and is still being squarely focused on fitness.Canalyst's numbers also estimate that Fitbit, Apple and Garmin together contributed to an astounding growth of over 60% sequentially to the entire wearable device...


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    Verizon offer nets you a half off Droid Turbo 2 or Maxx 2 if you buy two
    As Valentine's Day is fast approaching, most retailers and carriers are starting to make their special offers for the occasion known. Such is Verizon's case today, for example.The carrier is offering you the following arrangement: if you buy a Motorola Droid Turbo 2 or Maxx 2, you can get a second unit for 50% off. You can in fact 'mix and match' the two models, so you can purchase two of the same, or one of each if you so desire. If you choose one Turbo 2 and one Maxx 2, then the cheaper of the two will be the one receiving the 50% discount. New device payment activation is required for both phones.This deal will remain available until February 25, so there's still plenty of time to take advantage of it if you want to.Source |...


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    Nearly 33% of all active iPhones are models with 4" displays
    There are numerous reports Apple will be unveiling a new iPhone model this March, together with the new iPad lineup and MacBook refresh. There are quite a few unbelievers there, but this recent report may help many understand why the possibility is more than real.According to Mixpanel's report on the iPhone models about 19% of all iPhone owners are still holding on to their beloved iPhone 5s. The iPhone 5 accounts for about 8% of the users while the iPhone 5c and iPhone 4s are 5.4% and 4.2% of all active iPhones.These numbers confirm that one-third of the active iPhones users are loving their 4" display and aren't exchanging it for a bigger one. If you add the iPhone 4s and older 3.5" models, we get a number close to 40% of users not using larger model iPhone.Sure, there are lots of reasons for people not upgrading their iPhones, but one of the most common explanations is because of the new bigger screen size. Many people are seeking an upgrade, Apple just isn't presenting them the device they want.These numbers can be easily translated into a demand for a smaller iPhone and then those rumors about an upcoming smaller iPhone 5se begin to make sense. We are sure Apple also acknowledges these shares and what's a better way to make those people upgrade if not an iPhone 5s spiritual successor - like an enhanced edition such as the iPhone 5se is rumored to be?Source |...


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    Samsung Galaxy S7 for T-Mobile benchmarked, Snapdragon 820 delivers
    The Galaxy S7 is just around the corner (February 21 announcement confirmed) and it's fair to say that Samsung will have little to surprise us with on the keynote. Specs and looks have been leaked time and time again to the tiniest detail, and the smartphone just can't come soon enough for us to actually put it through its paces.In the meantime, reports keep coming in on the S7's performance and it's hard not to be impressed with its alleged 2-day battery life. And now we're being treated to some GeekBench scores of what is likely a near final unit bound for US carrier T-Mobile.The Galaxy S7 in question is powered by the Snapdragon 820 (Exynos 8890 versions should also supposedly exist) and posts some pretty high numbers. The single-core result in particular is mightily impressive at around 2,300 points, while the Huawei Mate 8 we reviewed recently only managed about 1,600 with one of its Cortex-72 cores. Mind you, today's numbers are much higher than initial reports suggested, meaning Samsung and Qualcomm held back on performance in early designs. Today's figures are virtually the same as what Qualcomm's reference units were able to put out, which leads us to believe this is the Snapdragon 820 in its final form. That said, a single one of the Kryo cores inside Qualcomm's top chip is still behind (if only slightly) one of Apple's Twister cores in the A9 SoC found in the latest iPhone 6s.All four cores in the S820, on the other hand, easily top Apple's CPU, which only has a pair of Twisters. That said, T-Mobile's Galaxy S7 is still no match for the Mate 8 in the multi-core test. We'll be anticipating the Exynos 8890 to see how all of this year's flagship chips measure up.And if you believe none of this is actually relevant in the real life anymore, when high-end chips have surpassed the average user's needs, you may be half-right. But there are those that will take any performance improvement they can get - even better if paired with excellent battery life.Source |...


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    Samsung Galaxy S II tastes Marshmallow thanks to Cyanogen nightlies
    Samsung dropped the support for Galaxy S II a long time ago and officially the phone is stuck on Android 4.1 Jelly Bean (up from 2.3 Gingerbread) forever.But the Galaxy S II is one of the most popular Samsung smartphones ever, and it has been seeing various third-party ROMs throughout the years. Cyanogen, the most popular ROM maker out there, has granted the Galaxy S II support for KitKat and Lollipop.As of yesterday, the Cyanogen team released the first nightly build of CyanogenMod 13 based on Android 6.0 Marshmallow. Being a nightly ROM means there will be bugs and the OS is probably not stable enough for everyday usage.We are sure the fans still keeping their Galaxy S II units will be happy with the Marshmallow news. If you are interested in updating your Galaxy S II beyond Jelly Bean, Cyanogen is your best option right now.Source |...


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    Default Samsung Galaxy S7 said to last two days on a single charge

    The Galaxy S7 is coming and with February 21 already marked on the calendar, eager fans simply can't get enough of rumors, leaks and hints about Samsung's upcoming flagship offers. When it comes to next-get, the Korean giant won't simply limit itself to improved performance, battery life is in for a solid improvement as well. By all accounts, it is going to be a major one, as evident by the recently cited 17 hours of video playback at full brightness.A newly leaked pair of screenshots from what the dual-SIM variant of the Galaxy S7 show two days of uptime on a single charge. According to the post, courtesy of Eldar Murtazin, who has been the source of other S7 insights in the past, the score was achieved with an average usage pattern, which includes display brightness at 75% and LTE always on. We can't really be certain if improvement on such a scale is to be expected, but it does fall in line with a lot of the other improvements the handset will bring to the Samsung table. For one, there is the previously suggested...


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    Android 6.0 Marshmallow now seeding on Sony Xperia Z5
    Sony plans to update quite a few with the latest available Android 6.0 Marshmallow OS. It has been working on those updates for the entire Xperia Z5 series for quite some time, and they have been recently finalized.It was in just a matter of days for Sony to begin seeding those Marshmallow treats and the Xperia Z5 users are now receiving the new firmware over the air. Xperia Z5 Compact and Z5 Premium will be getting the same update any moment now, if not already.The first country to get the Marshmallow upgrade is Turkey, but we expect more markets to follow suit any time now.Yesterday Sony confirmed yet another smartphone to receive a Marshmallow update - the Sony Xperia M4 Aqua. Concept Marshmallow builds have been available for the Xperia Z3 series, which means the Xperia Z3 and Z3 Compact final updates should be upon us, too.Thank you, Ahmet Nuh, for the...


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    Canonical tries bringing the full PC Ubuntu experience in a tablet
    Remember the Ubuntu Edge? It was Canonical's quite ambitious endeavor to bring a full desktop-grade Ubuntu experience in a dockable mobile phone. It all started and sadly failed in crowdfunding all the way back in 2013, way before Microsoft was even close to its strikingly similar Windows 10 Continuum experience. Now, well over two years later, the project appears to be still alive and kicking and more relevant than ever, as evident by Canonical's announcement of a brand new tablet that offers the PC dock experience.The concept is relatively simple - make a mobile OS that utilizes the same core as its desktop counterpart, or at least a subset of it, like Window's Universal apps or a common Linux kernel with specialized scalable UI elements, as provided by Ubuntu. Then you can simply run the same apps across all your devices just with slightly different interfaces - no need for porting and costly additional development.The newly announced Canonical tablet is a modification of the Aquaris M10 from Spanish manufacturer BQ. It is equipped with a 10.1 display with a resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels. Under the hood is a Mediatek MT8163B SoC with quad-core CPU clocked at 1.3 GHz, 2GB of RAM and 16GB of onboard storage. It is definitely not a powerhouse, but the key features are the onboard HDMI and USB Host that allow you to dock the device to a monitor plus keyboard, mouse combo. Also, the 7,280 mAh battery is a definite plus.Just like Microsoft's Continuum, the experience is still in its infancy, but Canonical is confident that it already has a library of supported apps to cover most basic use cases. If nothing else, most browsers scale nicely and so do LibreOffice apps, so Ubuntu Convergence is usable even in this early state. Canonical also feels confident that Ubuntu's technically skilled fans will find a way to load the OS onto other devices, as the Convergence feature is now basically a part of the latest version of the Ubuntu mobile OS.Source |...


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    Default Poll results: Huawei Mate 8 bathes in fan love

    The Mate 8 has been enjoying very warm welcome, even helping Huawei win our Best of CES poll. Now on its own it's doing equally well, securing a formidable 78% of upvotes in the latest iteration of our Hot or not poll. The result beats the LG V10's 76% from a few months ago, but doesn't quite make it to the nearly unanimous approval of the Lumia 950 XL, at 88%. Judging by the comments, if there's something that made readers hit the thumbs-down side of the poll, was the camera, and that coincides with our own findings. Others focused their complaints on the GPU, and price was often mentioned as a drawback as well. For all its shortcomings though, the Mate 8 excels in plenty of other areas, and the numbers indicate that the pros more than make up for the...


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    Week 5 in review: iPhone 7 design and Galaxy S7 battery
    Another week and it looks like the Samsung Galaxy S7 stole the show yet again. This is definitely justifiable after the Korean giant finally set an official date for the MWC announcement - February 21, fueling fan interest even further. A pair of new models - the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge made their way through FCC, proving that at least one flat and one edged variant will be available in the US. We also managed to catch a glimpse of what is said to be the back design of the handset, which will apparently be disrupted only by a 0.8mm camera hump, much smaller than the one on the S6. Speaking of camera humps, Apple has apparently taken the outcry of its fans to heart, as reports claim that the iPhone 7 will have a flat back. And while we are on the topic of Apple, the Cupertino giant will offer a wave of March 15 announcements, prior to the new iPhone 7 in September. The event should see the unveiling of the iPad Air 3 and a new 4-inch phone - the iPhone 5se. The Xiaomi Mi 5 has also been a major topic of conversation throughout the week. The latest wave of leaks showcased the device in a GFXBench listing and offered a glimpse of its glass back panel. Windows fans can also rejoice, as the Xiaomi flagship will apparently have a Windows 10 variant as well. In other news, the LG G5 camera setup was revealed in detail thanks to a case leak. Also, the Microsoft Lumia 850 has been featured in a few leaks and so has the Lumia 650. .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; } iPhone 7 reportedly won't have camera hump, antenna bands on the back The next flagship smartphone from Apple will launch later this year, having a design that will be mostly similar to its predecessor's. Leaked Samsung Galaxy S7 photo shows the back design As per the photo, Samsung intends to keep the glass design of its upcoming batch of flagships. LG G5 case shows camera setup in detail A dual-LED flash and likely a laser autofocus window peek from in between the two lenses. Galaxy S7 and S7 edge roll through the FCC As per usual, the FCC reveals some physical evidence of a phone's legal entry into the US. The Galaxy S7 is to be revealed on February 21 at MWC. The Bluboo Xfire 2 comes with a metal body and fingerprint reader for $60 The latest addition to the little known OEM's lineup offers impressive value with a dual-SIM variant also available. Samsung confirms Galaxy S7 edge, wide and narrow edge features will be supported Functionality detailed on a company website, we're yet to see if the Koreans will go for a capital 'E' this time. Xiaomi Mi 5 to get a Windows 10 variant as well Aside from the OS, the Win 10 variant is said to be identical to its Android cousin. Samsung Galaxy S7 camera to protrude just 0.8mm The latest batch of leaks suggests Samsung made a lot of subtle changes to the back design of its upcoming flagship. World's most valuable company is no longer Apple Alphabet, the parent company that owns Google, has surpassed Apple as the most valuable company in the world. It's official: Samsung to unveil Galaxy S7 on February 21 The event is scheduled to begin at 19:00 CET in Barcelona, just a day before MWC 2016 officially kicks off. S6 and S6 edge get Marshmallow update in South Korea Comes with slight UI tweaks along with under the hood improvements. MediaTek confirms bug that affects Android devices running its chipsets The chip-maker says the...


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    Apple iPhone 5se to come in Pink, in addition to Silver and Space Gray
    The 4-inch iPhone is apparently happening, judging by the mounting rumors on the subject. Things have escalated to the point where we're now talking of a March 15 unveiling, alongside an iPad Air 3. There was significant debate on the naming, with sources pointing in different directions, but so far it's settled on iPhone 5se. So this iPhone 5se will come in at least three color options, Silver and Space Gray the more orthodox, but also Pink. And by pink this time we mean pink and not rose gold as on the current iPhone 6s/6s Plus (the 5.5-incher pictured above). A report from Japan cites exhibitors at the recent 81st Tokyo International Gift Show, who have compared the color to the one of the 6th-gen iPod touch and the 7th-gen iPod nano. It's unclear whether there will be a Gold color option, but Rose Gold seems to be reserved for the proper iPhone 6s. iPod touch In a way, the current iPod touch is already the iPhone 5se, minus the cellular radios. Specs of the 5se have been rumored to include a 4-inch display (duh...), A8 chipset, and 8MP/1.2MP camera combo - all of these are already aboard the iPod touch. The Bluetooth 4.2, Wi-Fi 802.11ac, and NFC chips from the iPhone 6s just need to be bolted on, plus a larger battery, and it's good to go. Source |...


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    Samsung Galaxy A9 Pro spotted on GFXBench with 4GB of RAM and a 16MP camera
    A couple of weeks ago a Samsung Galaxy A9 Pro was said to be under development, though it wasn't clear how it would differ from the regular Galaxy A9 (2016). The other day customs data revealed that the SM-A9100 model had entered India for testing, again leaving the specs a mystery. A new entry in the GFXBench database finally sheds some light on the matter. Starting off with what doesn't seem too believable, the listing states that the smartphone's display size is 5.5 inches. The plain Galaxy A9 (2016) is 6 inches in diagonal, the A7 (2016) is at 5.5 inches and whether there will be a 5.7-inch Galaxy A8 (2016) or not, a 5.5-inch A9 Pro just doesn't make sense. The rest, however, looks pretty good. An octa-core CPU with Cortex-A72 cores clocked at 1.8GHz inside a Qualcomm chip all sounds like the Snapdragon 652. One of the notable spec bumps is the 4GB of RAM versus the 3GB in the non-Pro A9. The other is the primary camera, which the benchmark reports at 15MP. The 4,608 x 3,456 pixel resolution makes for 15.92MP and we're inclined to call that 16MP, but GFXBench seems to count only a complete million pixels as a megapixel, hence the 3,264 x 2,448 pixel front camera (7.99MP) is reported as 7MP. Anyway, the Galaxy A9 (2016) has a 13MP primary camera, while the Galaxy A9 Pro will allegedly have a 16MP one. The specific pixel dimensions of the image hint at the Sony IMX298 sensor, used in the Huawei Mate 8, but we have no way of verifying this for the time being. Samsung has used Sony sensors in the past, including on the current Galaxy S6 flagship, so it won't be a first, that's for sure. That's all there is to know so far on the Galaxy A9 Pro (with a 2016 model year thrown in there somewhere, possibly), but by the looks of things, the smartphone is headed for official announcement in the coming weeks, and we'll keep you...


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    Motorola Moto X Force now £300 in the UK, £180 off
    The shatterproof Motorola Moto X Force has had its price slashed over at Carphone Warehouse in the UK. The retailer is now selling it for £299.99, or £180 off its regular price. We're talking about an unlocked SIM-free device. Meanwhile, on Motorola's UK site the Moto X Force goes for £499 (though you do get Motomaker in this case), Expansys currently sells it for £500 minus a penny, and you can find it on Amazon.co.uk for as low as £503.54. Makes it sound like a solid deal over at Carphone Warehouse, and you have close to 5 days left to make up your mind - the offer expires on February 11 at 8am. Thanks for the tip, Daniel! Source 1 2 3...


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    Live images of an alleged Microsoft Lumia 650 XL raise all sorts of questions
    Okay, we're officially confused. The Lumia 650 was supposed to be the absolute midranger, while the Lumia 850 was meant to sit higher up the Microsoft smartphone lineup, and rock a front-facing flash, and the general consesus was that both will be 5-inchers. These latest live images that have just surfaced, coming out of China, seem to paint a different picture. The source states that the smartphone in the photos is the Microsoft Lumia 650 XL, with a 5.4-inch 720p display. Judging by the side-by-side shot with a Lumia 1520, the alleged 650 does indeed look like a 5.4-inch device. There's nothing inherently wrong about that, the previous generation Lumia 600-series had the 640 and 640 XL at 5" and 5.7", respectively, so even if one diagonal is smaller, two differently-sized versions are sort of the norm with Microsoft (you're not forgetting the Lumia 950 and 950 XL either, are you). Scrolling down the Baidu post, we see that the 650 XL is powered by the Snapdragon 210/212 (only difference being CPU clock rate, both go by the MSM8909 internal designation at Qualcomm). Rumors so far had settled on this chip for the 650, so it looks entirely plausible that this 650 XL packs the same silicon. But here's where the puzzle falls apart - this supposed Lumia 650 XL looks just like the Lumia 850 from previous leaks, pretty detailed as of late too. Single speaker cutout towards the top of the front glass panel, instead of the 650's slits at the edges, a metal-looking frame, and most importantly - a front-facing LED flash. Alleged Lumia 650 XL/Lumia 850? So it's the 850 XL then, you say, or simply the Lumia 850, and it just comes in a single display size at 5.4 inches, instead of the rumored 5 inches. Well, alright then, by how can the 850 be powered by the lowly Snapdragon 200-series, what's going to happen to Microsoft's upper midrange? After all, there's not much space between the 850 and 950 for yet another device with, say, a Snapdragon 617, which was so far the rumored 850 chipset. Hopefully, some of these questions will be answered soon, if the Microsoft Lumia 650 does indeed get unveiled later this month. Source |...


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    Apple now sells the View-Master VR through its own stores
    Apple is now officially selling the View-Master Virtual Reality Starter Pack through its own stores, both physical and online. The VR/AR rig, similar to Google's Cardboard, but with View-Master's signature reels added on top, has already been available for both Android and Apple devices, but it's only now that the Cupertino company has made it available in its own retail chain. You can order it online, but it'll take a lengthy 3-4 weeks to ship. If you want one today, you can pick up a View-Master in Apple's physical stores, just check online if the one near you has it. The more prudent among you will certainly prefer Amazon, though, where the headset is available for $17.74 right now. Additionally, Apple stores are carrying the Experience packs (the reels, plus a card), each priced at $14.95. You need the card to unlock the experience in the app on your phone and to enjoy the augmented reality features. Source |...


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    Galaxy S7 wireless charging pad listed on UK retailer's website
    Samsung introduced built-in wireless (or rather inductive) charging capability with the Galaxy S6 a year ago, and made strides into making it nearly as quick as true wired charging by launching the fast wireless charger when the Note5 and Galaxy S6 edge+ came out last fall. Well, the Galaxy S7 range won't be missing the feature either, judging by a listing on a UK retailer's website. Clove's brief description of the accessory mentions that it's optimized for the upcoming Galaxy S7/S7 edge but will also be compatible with other smartphones complying to the Qi standard. And it's all fine and dandy, but the pictures show the existing Wireless Charging Pad mini, which has been available for a while now. The listing is clearly just a placeholder at the time, and it also doesn't seem too likely that Clove will give you a pound to pick up a charging pad, as the -£1.00 price suggests. The good bit is that Samsung isn't abandoning useful features (like the microSD slot and removable battery it scrapped with the Galaxy S6 generation) this time around. Wireless charging, coupled with the alleged 2-day endurance and 17 hours of video playback make a compelling case for the Galaxy S7, if they prove to be true. Thanks for the tip,...


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    Sony Xperia Z5 and Z5 Compact officially available in the US starting February 7
    The Xperia Z5 and Z5 Compact will finally be available in the US starting this Sunday, February 7. The first retailers selling the latest Sony flagship phone will be: Best Buy, B&H, and Amazon.com. The Xperia Z5 and Z5 Compact feature a 5.2 inch 1080p or 4.6 inch 720p Triluminous display, a Snapdragon 810 paired with 2 or 3GB of RAM, a 2700 or 2900mAh battery, and an immersion rating of IP68 with capless USB port. Remember, though, Sony is not including the fingerprint sensor on its Z5 line of devices for the US for some reason, most likely due to logistics. The Xperia Z5 will be available unlocked for $599.99 while the Z5 Compact will go on sale for...


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    Deal: Nexus 5X going for $280 unlocked on eBay
    This is not the first, second, or third time that we've seen the Nexus 5X go on sale since its release this past fall. This time around, you can get a 16GB Nexus 5X for a full $100 less than the launch retail price of $380 from eBay. The listing only has the Quartz and Carbon colors available and ship from Nashua, New Hampshire. They even come with the Google Play Music promo card inside the box. So if you haven't jumped to the Nexus 5X yet, this is a great deal. Though, you might want to hold off for a 32GB model. Still, the Nexus 5X embodies everything the Nexus branding stands for while maintaining a low cost and receiving the latest updates directly from Google. The Nexus 5X features a 5.2 inch 1080p LCD IPS screen, a 2700mAh battery, Marshmallow 6.0 out of the box, a quick Snapdragon 808 hexa-core chipset paired with 2GB of RAM, all enclosed in great looking hardware crafted by LG. Source (eBay) |...


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    Galaxy Note 6 to land in the UK from the beginning, S7 edge+ not at all
    Last year Samsung managed to anger many Note series fans in Europe by not officially launching the Galaxy Note5 on the continent in 2015. For some reason, Samsung decided that only the Galaxy S6 edge+ was to be sold in Europe, at least at first. While the Note5 did eventually become available too, many early adopters didn't like how they were forced to pick the phablet with the curved screen even if they wanted the one with the S Pen. Amazingly, Samsung seems to have learned something from that ordeal. If a new report is to be believed, the Korean company will not repeat that story. What's more, its strategy for this year's flagship phablets seems to be exactly the opposite, at least for the UK. Namely, it's said that Samsung will bring the Note 6 to the UK from the beginning, while the Galaxy S7 edge+ will not see an official launch in the country. Ever. It's probably safe to assume that the same thing will happen in Continental Europe. The information allegedly comes from a "source high up at one of the UK's major networks". The reason for the change in strategy has to do with a "backlash from loyal Note fans" over what happened last year. And sales of the S6 edge+ (pictured above) in the UK were quite disappointing, which is possibly why that market won't see its successor. The Galaxy Note 6 is due for release in August. The 5.1-inch Galaxy S7 and the 5.5-inch S7 edge are going to be unveiled on February 21 at MWC in Barcelona, and they are to go on sale in early March according to the same source. Hopefully you have taken all of this with a grain of salt, since we're still many months away from the Note 6's announcement - hence, even if these plans are true right now, there's still time for them to...


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    HTC unveils new Desire 626 version in India
    In the hopes of selling some more units undoubtedly, HTC has today unveiled a new version of its Desire 626 smartphone in India. This is an ever so slightly revamped iteration of the original 626 from last year, packing in the dual-SIM support of the Desire 626G+, but pairing it with 4G LTE capabilities as well. The new Desire 626 has a 5-inch 720p touchscreen, a 13 MP rear camera, a 5 MP selfie shooter, the MediaTek MT6752 SoC at the helm (with a 1.7 GHz octa-core CPU), 2GB of RAM, 16GB of expandable storage, and a 2,000 mAh battery. Most of those things have been seen before in the 626 range, but what's definitely new is the software. The revamped Desire handset runs Android 5.1 Lollipop out of the box, with HTC Sense on top. That's in stark contrast to the original 626 shipping with Android 4.4 KitKat on board. The new device will become available in the subcontinent soon, priced at INR 14,990 - which means about $220 or €198 at the current exchange rates. The color versions are going to be called Blue Lagoon and White Birch. It's still unclear if it will ever launch elsewhere. Source 1 • Source...


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    Check out our Honor 5X video review
    The Honor 5X is surely a widely talked about phone. Especially with the company's first US-bound smartphone hitting the virtual shelves at the end of last month. The Honor 5X is a #NoNonsense smartphone with flagship-level features, all for $200 unlocked. The Honor 5X has a 5.5 inch 1080p LCD IPS display, a fast fingerprint scanner, a hefty 3000mAh battery, a 13MP camera, and Huawei's own feature-rich EM UI layered on Android 5.1.1 Lollipop, upgradable to Marshmallow and powered by a Snapdragon 615 chipset. We are currently working on the full length written review, so we wanted to give you a teaser of what to expect with the Honor 5X. We've compiled a video showing off the well-roundedness of the Honor 5X and what you really get for $200. Stay tuned for our in-depth written review of the Honor 5X as...


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    Samsung Z1 Tizen 2.4 update starts rolling out
    Samsung has finally started rolling out the Tizen 2.4 update (Z130HDDU0CPB1) to its Z1 smartphone. The update weighs in at around 262MB (~17MB for Tizen 2.4 Beta users), and is currently only available to users in India. Several new features are included in the update, such as WhatsApp Calling, Ultra Data Saving Mode, as well as the ability to create password-protected memos. In addition, many of the existing apps - including Camera, Message, Music Player, Smart Manager, Video Recorder, and Settings - have also received some changes. The OTA update is currently rolling out, so it may take a while before it hits your device. However, if you're feeling impatient, you can head to your device's Settings and check for it manually. Other countries, including Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka are expected to get the update next week. Via 1...


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    Samsung Galaxy A7 (2016) review: Stride across
    Samsung reinvented itself last year and that gave the A-series a chance for a coup. It took the great new design from the S-phones and parred it down to a mid-range price.


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  9. #39
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    Default HTC One M10 leaks in full frontal live image

    According to recent reports, HTC has chosen to unveil its next flagship smartphone, the One M10, at a dedicated event and not at MWC in Barcelona at the end of this month. That may be wise, seeing has how both the LG G5 and the Samsung Galaxy S7 are set to become official at MWC. Recently we've seen a list of specs for the One M10 getting leaked, and today we are treated to what is alleged to be the first live image of the device. As you can see, the HTC logo is nowhere to be found on the front of the M10, and neither is the much-dreaded black bar that housed it in past One M series handsets. Under the screen we do however see a fingerprint scanner, which could double as a Home button. The power and volume buttons are on the right side of the phone, with the former being nicely ridged so you'll easily be able to tell which is which even if you're not looking. Interestingly, there doesn't seem to be a second front-facing speaker underneath the display, so perhaps the much-loved BoomSound speakers aren't going to be making a comeback in this model. The One M10 seems to employ a full metal construction, like its predecessors. Previously rumored specs had it coming with a 5.1-inch QHD AMOLED touchscreen, Qualcomm's Snapdragon 820 chipset, 4GB of RAM, 32GB of storage, a microSD card slot, and a 12 MP UltraPixel rear camera with laser autofocus and optical image stabilization. It shall run Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow with HTC Sense 8...


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    Apple Watch is now cheaper by £50 to £120 in the UK
    If you're in the UK and want to buy an Apple Watch, now's probably the time to do it. And make sure you choose either Currys or PC World as your supplier for Apple's first smartwatch. Why? Because both of those retailers are now offering the Apple Watch models with discounts ranging from £50 to £120. Those are quite the savings, especially for an Apple-made device. Let's exemplify. The 38mm Apple Watch Sport with a black or white strap is normally priced at £299, but it can now be yours for just £249. The 42mm stainless steel Apple Watch with the milanese loop band has a recommended retail price of £559, but is now offered for a mere £439. There are many more options to pick from, of course, with all iterations receiving a discount in the aforementioned range. It's unclear how long the new, reduced pricing will last, so make sure you act fast if you want to pick up a cheaper Apple...


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    The Apple Watch accounted for two-thirds of smartwatch shipments in 2015
    It is hardly surprising that Apple cashed-in big last holiday season, but it is interesting to note that according to Canalys, the company's smartwatch did particularly well, shipping 12 million units. Canalys estimates that this constitutes around two-thirds of all shipments - impressive volume indeed. In this chart, Cupertino is followed closely by Samsung with the Gear S2, which returned to the runner-up spot after releasing its improved designs. Pebble occupies the third spot and Huawei is forth. The latter is quite an impressive achievement form the Chinese OEM, which managed to top the likes of LG, despite having only one smartwatch to date. But statistics get even more interesting in the realm of bands, which would also include wearables without an OS and third-party app support. Here the Fitbit reigns supreme, followed closely by Xiaomi's Mi Bands, which sold just as well as the Apple watch at 13 million units during 2015. What this means is that the Fitbit actually outsold the Apple Watch in pure volume, possibly hinting that users still tend to go for more fitness-oriented wearables and let's not forget - cheaper ones. Analyst Daniel Matte commented on the matter saying: Software increasingly belongs on the wrist, and this is the direction the market is going . As the next step along this path, the Fitbit Blaze is the right product for the company to develop. It is competitively priced and is still being squarely focused on fitness. Canalyst's numbers also estimate that Fitbit, Apple and Garmin together contributed to an astounding growth of over 60% sequentially to the entire wearable device...


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    Verizon offer nets you a half off Droid Turbo 2 or Maxx 2 if you buy two
    As Valentine's Day is fast approaching, most retailers and carriers are starting to make their special offers for the occasion known. Such is Verizon's case today, for example. The carrier is offering you the following arrangement: if you buy a Motorola Droid Turbo 2 or Maxx 2, you can get a second unit for 50% off. You can in fact 'mix and match' the two models, so you can purchase two of the same, or one of each if you so desire. If you choose one Turbo 2 and one Maxx 2, then the cheaper of the two will be the one receiving the 50% discount. New device payment activation is required for both phones. This deal will remain available until February 25, so there's still plenty of time to take advantage of it if you want to. Source |...


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    Default 2016 Moto G and Moto X shots surface online

    After yet another popular generation of Moto X and Moto G , Lenovo seems to have every intention to keep the lineups going for even better financial results and possibly even substantial profits in 2016. This is evident by a fresh set of photos that depict early prototypes of some of the company's future devices and judging by the design language, they are most definitely from the Moto family.Despite some easy to spot similarities, the alleged Moto X and Moto G for 2016 look quite different from their current generations. This goes especially for the former, which according to the report will now have a slimmer metal body. The shots appear to confirm this, although it is difficult to get a clear view of the device.Still, one thing is unmistakably present - the signature "M" logo on the back. Seeing it is rather encouraging in light of the recent confusion that arouse from Lenovo's announcement that it will be phasing out the Motorola brand on smartphones. Luckily, the issues was later cleared up and it appears Lenovo will go through with its much more sensible plan to simply shift focus towards the more "contemporary" Moto brand. Back to the shots at hand. The second batch of more colorful units are said to be the new Moto G and the resemblance to the current gen is a lot more apparent this time around. The signature camera module with the Moto dimple is there and so are the curves on the top and bottom of the device. Also, the swatch of back panels in a variety of colors falls in line with the customizability you would expect from the G series. One small new detail to note is that it would appear the Lenovo logo is now present on the bottom of the back plate as was to be expected.Source |...


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    Save $50 on Microsoft Band 2, $100 on Surface Pro 4
    If you are in the US and are planning to purchase either the Microsoft Band 2 or the Surface Pro 4, you'll be glad to know that the Redmond, Washington-based company is currently offering discounts on both devices.The new Microsoft fitness wearable - the Band 2 - has received a $50 price cut, meaning it's now available for $200. Announced yesterday, the promotion runs through February 20.Limited time only. Get the new #MicrosoftBand for $199.99, a savings of $50. Ends 2/20/16. https://t.co/GLARgSL76W pic.twitter.com/4bqlufr0g7— Microsoft Band (@microsoftband) February 7, 2016In addition to the Band 2, the Surface Pro 4 is also currently selling at discounted rates in the US. A quick look at the Microsoft Store listings of the device's variants reveal that it has received a $100 price cut. Also announced yesterday, the deal ends February 27.Save $100 on select Surface Pro 4 devices, until 2/27/16. While supplies last. https://t.co/RfaJBhtpmS pic.twitter.com/8leY8fqNP8— Surface (@surface) February 7, 2016Source 1...


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    Wait, what? A hidden chess game in Facebook Messenger?
    If you are a chess lover who also happens to be a user of Facebook's Messenger app (which crossed the 800 million active users milestone last month), here's some thing of your interest - aside from chatting, the mobile messaging app also allows you to play the game with your friends.The feature was discovered by a Reddit user. While we don't know when it was first introduced in the app, it has been there for at-least over a month now given that the Reddit thread itself is that much old.As per the information shared on the thread, you can start playing chess with someone by typing @fbchess play and end it by typing @fbchess resign - head to the Reddit link below for other instructions on how to play the game.Via |...


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    New Verizon Galaxy Note 4 update brings performance optimizations and latest security fixes
    Verizon has started rolling out a new update to Samsung Galaxy Note 4 units on its network. It bumps the software version to LMY47X.N910VVRU2BPA1, and brings along performance-related optimizations as well as latest security patches.The update, however, doesn't bump the device's Android version, which stays at 5.1.1 (Lollipop) - the Android 5.1.1 update for Verizon's Galaxy Note 4 variants was released only last month, despite being first rolled out by Samsung back in August last year.Coming back to the new update, like always, you'll see a notification when the OTA update hits your Galaxy Note 4. However, if you're feeling impatient, you can also head to your handset's settings menu and manually check for the...


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    New update brings Marshmallow goodies to Moto 360 (2nd gen)
    Motorola has started pushing a new update to its second-generation Moto 360 smartwatch. The update brings along the usual Android Marshmallow goodies like Doze and new permissions model.In addition, it also includes support for six new languages, including Mandarin (Taiwan), Cantonese (Hong Kong), Indonesian (Indonesia), Polish (Poland), Dutch (Netherlands), and Thai (Thailand).Of course, other features - like new wrist gestures - that are there in the latest Android Wear update announced by Google last week are also included, but don't expect support for built-in speakers given that the wearable device doesn't pack any.The update is rolling out in phases, and will hit all Moto 360 (2015) units "over the next few days," the company says.Source, as well as some performance and stability-related improvements are also included in the...


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    Marshmallow update for Sprint HTC One M9 now rolling out
    Sprint has started rolling out the Android 6.0 update for HTC's One M9 smartphone. Although the process commenced last Friday, not all One M9 units are expected to get the update at the same time given that it may be a staged roll out as the carrier notes on its website.The update bumps the firmware version to 3.41.651.3 and brings along the usual Marshmallow goodies, including Doze, Google Now on Tap, and redesigned app permissions.This comes less than a month after the Canadian carrier variants of the handset started receiving the Marshmallow update. Unlocked One M9 units in the US started getting the update back in December last year.Over in the UK, the update started hitting unlocked units as well as select carrier variants late last...


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    Google Chromecast 2 and Chromecast Audio said to be landing in Australia later this month
    The Chromecast 2 and Chromecast Audio, which were announced by Google back in September last year and are currently available only in select countries, will soon be available in Australia.According to a report by Ausdroid, both devices are now listed in the Australian appliance and media retailer JB Hifi's inventory system, and are expected to launch in a couple of weeks from now. As for the price, the devices will carry a tag of $59 each."The SKU's are in the system, with JB using 937278for the Chromecast 2 and 937282 for Chromecast Audio - both of which unfortunately do not show up in a search on their site," the report said.Both Chromecast 2 and Chromecast Audio are also being offered by Kogan Australia, the report notes, adding that the retailer has currently listed the devices as Coming Soon, with 1-2 weeks shipping time-frame for the black version of Chromecast. While the price tag for both devices remains the same ($59), Kogan will also charge you a delivery...


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    Now RM-1154 (Lumia 650 DS) clears the FCC hurdle
    We already know that the Microsoft Lumia 650 will come in both single- as well as dual-SIM variants, carrying model number RM-1152 and RM-1154, respectively. We also know that the former has passed through the FCC. And now. it has come to light that the latter has also cleared the regulatory hurdle, and has been approved for sale.The mid-range device - which has already been the subject of several leaks and rumors until now - is expected to be made official sometime next week. As for the price, it is expected to carry a tag of €220 in Europe, and around $200 in the US.For those who aren't already aware, rumors - along with alleged live images - of an XL variant of the Lumia 650 sporting a 5.4-inch 720p display also surfaced this past weekend. If true, the variant should also get unveiled along with the standard single and dual-SIM models.Source |...


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    Best Apps and Games of the Week
    These are some of the best apps and games that came out this week.Day One 2The original Day One was a journaling app for iOS. The new one still does that, but with a few new features, such multiple photos per entry, multiple journals with unique names and colors, custom reminders, entry management, timeline filters, timezone support, 3D touch support, map view, Day One Sync 2.0, and more.iOSRemember The MilkRemember The Milk is a to-do app that just got a massive update. New features include subtasks that breaks down your tasks into smaller, more manageable tasks, drag and drop reordering, colored tags, organized sidebar navigation, custom sorting and grouping, list sharing, ability to give tasks to your contacts to complete, and a lot more, including a brand new interface. The app is available on iOS, Android, Mac, and the web.iOS • AndroidAirmailAirmail is a popular email client for OS X, and it is now on the iPhone. Airmail on the iPhone is a powerful and highly customizable email app, with everything you'd want in an email client, and more, including support for 3D Touch on the new iPhones and iCloud sync with the desktop client. Recommended for those who are looking for an alternative for the default Mail app.iOSCastBoxCastBox is a free podcast app for Android. You can listen to hundreds of free podcasts and radio stations and subscribe to them so new episodes are downloaded as they are available.AndroidSplash CarsSplash Cars is a top down driving game where you race around literally painting the town red, or any other color. While you do that, you also have to avoid the cops, and get other people to join in your crusade to color your surroundings. It's more fun than it sounds.iOS • AndroidAdventures of ManaAdventures of Mana is a remaster of the Game Boy classic Final Fantasy Adventure. It's a classic action RPG and should be right up the alley for Final Fantasy fans. It's also worth a shot if you haven't played FF or RPG games before but want to give the genre a try.iOS •...


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    Weekly poll: Samsung Galaxy A5 (2016) and A7 (2016), hot or not?
    Samsung's alphabet goes like this: E, J, A, S. That is if you want to arrange its series from "budget" to "premium," but this doesn't tell the whole story - the new A-series is closer to the S-series than it is to the Js.So far we've examined the middle of the pack - the 5.2" Galaxy A5 (2016) and the 5.5" Galaxy A7 (2016). There are also the 4.7" A3 and 6" A9 (plus a rumored 5.7" A8) too, but it's the A5 and A7 in the spotlight today.The Samsung Galaxy A5 (2016) is a knock-out - a phone with a premium design and a premium build. We even think it's slightly better than the Galaxy S6 flagship, but there's a catch.The price. It costs almost as much as the S6 right now and that's not easy to justify. Both have fingerprint readers and Samsung Pay and we don't miss the QHD resolution too much (the A5 has a 1080p screen). The camera just isn't as good, though - not for photos, not for video.We like having a microSD slot again (even if we have to give it up to use the second SIM slot). What do you think?The Samsung Galaxy A7 (2016) is built on the same platform, the key difference is screen size - 5.5" (with 1080p resolution). In terms of pricing, it's positioned much better, a good deal cheaper than the Galaxy S6 edge+, for example.Like the A5 (2016), the 13MP camera on the A7 has a bright f/1.9 aperture and optical image stabilization.The Galaxy A7 (2016) has its own problems, though. It's not a big upgrade over the original A7, which also has a metal frame, a 5.5" 1080p Super AMOLED and a Snapdragon 615 chipset.Are the fingerprint reader and camera improvements enough?You have a week - and two reviews - to make up your mind before you cast your...


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    Top 10 trending phones of week 5
    The Lenovo Vibe K4 Note's reign in our Top 10 trending chart has come to an end after a three-week stretch in the number 1 spot. The Samsung Galaxy J7 and J5 pair returns to the top with the larger model reclaiming the gold.And that's pretty much everything notable that's happened this week. There are no new entries to speak of and only the occasional shuffling in the lower parts of the chart.We find the Galaxy S6 in 4th, same as last week, and the J2 has remained stationary too, in 5th. The Grand Prime hasn't moved an inch either, and stays in 6th. The iPhone 5s and 6s have kept their spots, 8th and 10th, respectively. It's the Galaxy Note5 and the Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 that have swapped places. Samsung's phablet has climbed two spots up to 7th, while the Redmi Note 3 is between the two iPhones in 9th..news-item .n-left { float: left; width: 25%; text-align: center;}.news-item .n-right { float: left; width: 75%;}.news-item a { padding-bottom: 0; padding-left: 0; }#review-body .news-item .n-right h2,.reviews-item .n-right h2 { clear: both; padding: 0 0 3px 0px; font: 400 19px Google-Oswald, Arial; margin-top: -4px;}.n-right p { margin-top: 25px; 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 .phone-name { display: inline-block; width: 325px; overflow: hidden; vertical-align: text-bottom;}.n-right h2 a { text-decoration: none; color: #000;}.flat-button{ text-align:center; text-decoration: none !important; font: 400 22px Google-Oswald,Arial !important; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-size: 150%; padding: 20px 60px !important; display: inline-block; white-space: nowrap; -webkit-border-radius: 5px; -moz-border-radius: 5px; border-radius: 5px; margin: 10px 0; -webkit-transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out; -ms-transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out; -moz-transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out; -o-transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out; transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out; color: #fff !important;}.flat-button-1 { background: #0CADA7;}.flat-button-1:hover { background: #0A948F; color: #666666 !important;}.flat-button-2 { background: #FF7E47;}.flat-button-2:hover { background: #EE7440; color: #666666 !important;}.n-right .rank-info { display: inline-block; font-family: "Google-Oswald",i€‹Arial,i€‹sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 100;}.n-right .rank-info .current-rank { font-size: 23px;}.circle { background: none repeat scroll 0 0 #8fb28f; border-radius: 50%; height: 23px; width: 23px; display: inline-block; margin: 0px 10px -1px 10px;}.arrow { width: 0; height: 0; border-style: solid; display: inline-block; margin: 0px 10px -1px 10px;}.arrow-up { border-width: 0 15px 25px 15px; border-color: transparent transparent #0cada7 transparent;}.arrow-down { border-width: 25px 15px 0 15px; border-color: #ff7e47 transparent transparent transparent;} Samsung Galaxy J7 RANK: 1WAS: 2 specs review Samsung Galaxy J5 RANK: 2WAS: 3 specs review Lenovo Vibe K4 Note RANK: 3WAS: 1 specs gallery Samsung Galaxy S6 RANK: 4WAS: 4 specs review Samsung Galaxy J2 RANK: 5WAS: 5 specs review Samsung Galaxy Grand Prime RANK: 6WAS: 6 specs review Samsung Galaxy Note5 RANK: 7WAS: 9 specs review Apple iPhone 5s RANK: 8WAS: 8 specs review Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 (MediaTek) RANK: 9WAS: 7 specs review Apple iPhone 6s RANK: 10WAS: 10 specs...


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    Week 5 in review: iPhone 7 design and Galaxy S7 battery
    Another week and it looks like the Samsung Galaxy S7 stole the show yet again. This is definitely justifiable after the Korean giant finally set an official date for the MWC announcement - February 21, fueling fan interest even further. A pair of new models - the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge made their way through FCC, proving that at least one flat and one edged variant will be available in the US. We also managed to catch a glimpse of what is said to be the back design of the handset, which will apparently be disrupted only by a 0.8mm camera hump, much smaller than the one on the S6.Speaking of camera humps, Apple has apparently taken the outcry of its fans to heart, as reports claim that the iPhone 7 will have a flat back. And while we are on the topic of Apple, the Cupertino giant will offer a wave of March 15 announcements, prior to the new iPhone 7 in September. The event should see the unveiling of the iPad Air 3 and a new 4-inch phone - the iPhone 5se. The Xiaomi Mi 5 has also been a major topic of conversation throughout the week. The latest wave of leaks showcased the device in a GFXBench listing and offered a glimpse of its glass back panel. Windows fans can also rejoice, as the Xiaomi flagship will apparently have a Windows 10 variant as well.In other news, the LG G5 camera setup was revealed in detail thanks to a case leak. Also, the Microsoft Lumia 850 has been featured in a few leaks and so has the Lumia 650..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;} iPhone 7 reportedly won't have camera hump, antenna bands on the back The next flagship smartphone from Apple will launch later this year, having a design that will be mostly similar to its predecessor's. Leaked Samsung Galaxy S7 photo shows the back design As per the photo, Samsung intends to keep the glass design of its upcoming batch of flagships. LG G5 case shows camera setup in detail A dual-LED flash and likely a laser autofocus window peek from in between the two lenses. Galaxy S7 and S7 edge roll through the FCC As per usual, the FCC reveals some physical evidence of a phone's legal entry into the US. The Galaxy S7 is to be revealed on February 21 at MWC. The Bluboo Xfire 2 comes with a metal body and fingerprint reader for $60 The latest addition to the little known OEM's lineup offers impressive value with a dual-SIM variant also available. Samsung confirms Galaxy S7 edge, wide and narrow edge features will be supported Functionality detailed on a company website, we're yet to see if the Koreans will go for a capital 'E' this time. Xiaomi Mi 5 to get a Windows 10 variant as well Aside from the OS, the Win 10 variant is said to be identical to its Android cousin. Samsung Galaxy S7 camera to protrude just 0.8mm The latest batch of leaks suggests Samsung made a lot of subtle changes to the back design of its upcoming flagship. World's most valuable company is no longer Apple Alphabet, the parent company that owns Google, has surpassed Apple as the most valuable company in the world. It's official: Samsung to unveil Galaxy S7 on February 21 The event is scheduled to begin at 19:00 CET in Barcelona, just a day before MWC 2016 officially kicks off. S6 and S6 edge get Marshmallow update in South Korea Comes with slight UI tweaks along with under the hood improvements. MediaTek confirms bug that affects Android devices running its chipsets The chip-maker says the...


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    Apple iPhone 5se to come in Pink, in addition to Silver and Space Gray
    The 4-inch iPhone is apparently happening, judging by the mounting rumors on the subject. Things have escalated to the point where we're now talking of a March 15 unveiling, alongside an iPad Air 3.There was significant debate on the naming, with sources pointing in different directions, but so far it's settled on iPhone 5se. So this iPhone 5se will come in at least three color options, Silver and Space Gray the more orthodox, but also Pink.And by pink this time we mean pink and not rose gold as on the current iPhone 6s/6s Plus (the 5.5-incher pictured above). A report from Japan cites exhibitors at the recent 81st Tokyo International Gift Show, who have compared the color to the one of the 6th-gen iPod touch and the 7th-gen iPod nano. It's unclear whether there will be a Gold color option, but Rose Gold seems to be reserved for the proper iPhone 6s.iPod touchIn a way, the current iPod touch is already the iPhone 5se, minus the cellular radios. Specs of the 5se have been rumored to include a 4-inch display (duh...), A8 chipset, and 8MP/1.2MP camera combo - all of these are already aboard the iPod touch. The Bluetooth 4.2, Wi-Fi 802.11ac, and NFC chips from the iPhone 6s just need to be bolted on, plus a larger battery, and it's good to go.Source |...


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    Default Samsung Galaxy A9 Pro spotted on GFXBench with 4GB of RAM and a 16MP c

    A couple of weeks ago a Samsung Galaxy A9 Pro was said to be under development, though it wasn't clear how it would differ from the regular Galaxy A9 (2016). The other day customs data revealed that the SM-A9100 model had entered India for testing, again leaving the specs a mystery.A new entry in the GFXBench database finally sheds some light on the matter. Starting off with what doesn't seem too believable, the listing states that the smartphone's display size is 5.5 inches. The plain Galaxy A9 (2016) is 6 inches in diagonal, the A7 (2016) is at 5.5 inches and whether there will be a 5.7-inch Galaxy A8 (2016) or not, a 5.5-inch A9 Pro just doesn't make sense.The rest, however, looks pretty good. An octa-core CPU with Cortex-A72 cores clocked at 1.8GHz inside a Qualcomm chip all sounds like the Snapdragon 652. One of the notable spec bumps is the 4GB of RAM versus the 3GB in the non-Pro A9.The other is the primary camera, which the benchmark reports at 15MP. The 4,608 x 3,456 pixel resolution makes for 15.92MP and we're inclined to call that 16MP, but GFXBench seems to count only a complete million pixels as a megapixel, hence the 3,264 x 2,448 pixel front camera (7.99MP) is reported as 7MP.Anyway, the Galaxy A9 (2016) has a 13MP primary camera, while the Galaxy A9 Pro will allegedly have a 16MP one. The specific pixel dimensions of the image hint at the Sony IMX298 sensor, used in the Huawei Mate 8, but we have no way of verifying this for the time being. Samsung has used Sony sensors in the past, including on the current Galaxy S6 flagship, so it won't be a first, that's for sure.That's all there is to know so far on the Galaxy A9 Pro (with a 2016 model year thrown in there somewhere, possibly), but by the looks of things, the smartphone is headed for official announcement in the coming weeks, and we'll keep you...


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    Motorola Moto X Force now £300 in the UK, £180 off
    The shatterproof Motorola Moto X Force has had its price slashed over at Carphone Warehouse in the UK. The retailer is now selling it for £299.99, or £180 off its regular price. We're talking about an unlocked SIM-free device.Meanwhile, on Motorola's UK site the Moto X Force goes for £499 (though you do get Motomaker in this case), Expansys currently sells it for £500 minus a penny, and you can find it on Amazon.co.uk for as low as £503.54. Makes it sound like a solid deal over at Carphone Warehouse, and you have close to 5 days left to make up your mind - the offer expires on February 11 at 8am.Thanks for the tip, Daniel!Source 1 2 3...


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    Live images of an alleged Microsoft Lumia 650 XL raise all sorts of questions
    Okay, we're officially confused. The Lumia 650 was supposed to be the absolute midranger, while the Lumia 850 was meant to sit higher up the Microsoft smartphone lineup, and rock a front-facing flash, and the general consesus was that both will be 5-inchers.These latest live images that have just surfaced, coming out of China, seem to paint a different picture. The source states that the smartphone in the photos is the Microsoft Lumia 650 XL, with a 5.4-inch 720p display. Judging by the side-by-side shot with a Lumia 1520, the alleged 650 does indeed look like a 5.4-inch device.There's nothing inherently wrong about that, the previous generation Lumia 600-series had the 640 and 640 XL at 5" and 5.7", respectively, so even if one diagonal is smaller, two differently-sized versions are sort of the norm with Microsoft (you're not forgetting the Lumia 950 and 950 XL either, are you).Scrolling down the Baidu post, we see that the 650 XL is powered by the Snapdragon 210/212 (only difference being CPU clock rate, both go by the MSM8909 internal designation at Qualcomm). Rumors so far had settled on this chip for the 650, so it looks entirely plausible that this 650 XL packs the same silicon.But here's where the puzzle falls apart - this supposed Lumia 650 XL looks just like the Lumia 850 from previous leaks, pretty detailed as of late too. Single speaker cutout towards the top of the front glass panel, instead of the 650's slits at the edges, a metal-looking frame, and most importantly - a front-facing LED flash.Alleged Lumia 650 XL/Lumia 850?So it's the 850 XL then, you say, or simply the Lumia 850, and it just comes in a single display size at 5.4 inches, instead of the rumored 5 inches. Well, alright then, by how can the 850 be powered by the lowly Snapdragon 200-series, what's going to happen to Microsoft's upper midrange? After all, there's not much space between the 850 and 950 for yet another device with, say, a Snapdragon 617, which was so far the rumored 850 chipset.Hopefully, some of these questions will be answered soon, if the Microsoft Lumia 650 does indeed get unveiled later this month.Source |...


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    Apple now sells the View-Master VR through its own stores
    Apple is now officially selling the View-Master Virtual Reality Starter Pack through its own stores, both physical and online. The VR/AR rig, similar to Google's Cardboard, but with View-Master's signature reels added on top, has already been available for both Android and Apple devices, but it's only now that the Cupertino company has made it available in its own retail chain.You can order it online, but it'll take a lengthy 3-4 weeks to ship. If you want one today, you can pick up a View-Master in Apple's physical stores, just check online if the one near you has it. The more prudent among you will certainly prefer Amazon, though, where the headset is available for $17.74 right now.Additionally, Apple stores are carrying the Experience packs (the reels, plus a card), each priced at $14.95. You need the card to unlock the experience in the app on your phone and to enjoy the augmented reality features. Source |...


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    Galaxy S7 wireless charging pad listed on UK retailer's website
    Samsung introduced built-in wireless (or rather inductive) charging capability with the Galaxy S6 a year ago, and made strides into making it nearly as quick as true wired charging by launching the fast wireless charger when the Note5 and Galaxy S6 edge+ came out last fall.Well, the Galaxy S7 range won't be missing the feature either, judging by a listing on a UK retailer's website. Clove's brief description of the accessory mentions that it's optimized for the upcoming Galaxy S7/S7 edge but will also be compatible with other smartphones complying to the Qi standard.And it's all fine and dandy, but the pictures show the existing Wireless Charging Pad mini, which has been available for a while now. The listing is clearly just a placeholder at the time, and it also doesn't seem too likely that Clove will give you a pound to pick up a charging pad, as the -£1.00 price suggests.The good bit is that Samsung isn't abandoning useful features (like the microSD slot and removable battery it scrapped with the Galaxy S6 generation) this time around. Wireless charging, coupled with the alleged 2-day endurance and 17 hours of video playback make a compelling case for the Galaxy S7, if they prove to be true.Thanks for the tip,...


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    Default Google launches flood alerts feature in India

    Google has just announced that it's introducing its flood alerts feature in India. The feature will be available through Google Public Alerts, which is basically a platform that the company uses for disseminating emergency messages. Clicking on an alert will display related details such as a map, expected timeline, as well as tips on how to stay safe. "Using data provided by the Central Water Commission (CWC), users can now find flood alerts with river level information for more than 170 areas in which the CWC has active observation stations," the Mountain View, California-based company said in a blog post. Accessible through both Desktop and mobile, these alerts will be available on the company's web search, Google Maps, Google Now cards in the Google app, as well as on the Public Alerts...


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    Microsoft Lumia 640 drops to $49 in US
    The Microsoft Lumia 640 has received an official price cut in the United States. The device is now listed on the Redmond, Washington-based company's US online store for $49 off contract, down from its usual price of $60. The $11 discount is available until the beginning of the next week - February 15 to be precise (seems like a Valentine's Day offer). An important thing worth mentioning here is that the handset on offer is locked to AT&T. This comes just over a month after the XL variant of the Lumia 640 received a $50 official price cut in the country. That deal, however, has expired...


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    Alleged Meizu MX6 gets radio certification in China
    A new Meizu phone has received radio certification in China. The device's listing reveals that it carries a model number of M681Q, and offers support for GSM / TD-SCDMA / WCDMA / CDMA2000 / TD-LTE / FDD-LTE networks. Reports say that the handset is the Meizu MX6. The MX6 has been the subject of very few rumors so far. From what all has been rumored until now, it is powered by a MediaTek Helio X20 SoC with 10-core CPU and Mali-T880 MP4 GPU, and sports a FHD display. It has 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal memory. Packing in a large 4,000mAh battery and featuring a 21MP/8MP camera combo, the MX5 successor is said to be running Android 6.0 Marshmallow. Previous reports have tipped an April launch for the...


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    Unlocked Samsung Galaxy S6 now available for $450 in US
    Samsung's last year's flagship smartphone - the Galaxy S6 - has received a price cut in the US, where online retailer Amazon is now selling the 32GB model for as low as $450. The price goes up to $470 depending on the color option you choose. Compatible with both AT&T and T-Mobile, the Black Sapphire variant costs $451, while the Gold and White variants are listed for $457 and $460, respectively. The Blue Topaz variant is the costliest, carrying a $470 price tag. Samsung is selling the 32GB unlocked unit for $600, while Best Buy has it listed for $530. The price drop shouldn't come as a surprise given that the phone is fast approaching its first birthday, and not to mention that its successor - the Galaxy S7 - is all set to be unveiled in less than a couple of weeks from now. Source | Samsung |...


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    Google is offering 2GB of free Drive storage to those who take an account security checkup
    Today is Safer Internet Day - a day aimed at promoting the safe, responsible, and positive use of digital technology. And just like last year, Google is celebrating the day by offering free Drive storage to those who perform a security audit of their Google account. In case you didn't take it last year, the Google Security Checkup lets you quickly review and manage your Google Account's security settings. These include recovery options, connected devices, account permissions, and 2-step verification settings. Those who complete the audit - a process which takes just a few minutes - will be entitled to 2GB of free Drive storage. Keep in mind that the free storage might not show up immediately. Last year, Google gave a week's window to complete the security checkup - it isn't yet clear how much time do we have this year, so act fast if you want that extra Drive storage. Via | Google Security...


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    Google Store's $50 discount on Nexus 5X ends this week
    Late last month, we told you about Google's $50 discount on the Nexus 5X in the US, which came just a couple of weeks after it received a $30 price cut. Given that Google initially didn't mention any end date for the promo, we thought the price cut was permanent. However, turns out that's not the case. The Mountain View, California-based company has now revealed that the deal ends this week - February 12 to be precise. This means those who want to take advantage of the price cut now only have a few days to act. With the discount, the 16GB model of the LG-made handset will cost you $299, while the 32GB variant will set you back...


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    Huawei GX8 now available from company's official US online store
    When Huawei officially started selling its GX8 smartphone in the United States last week, it was only available for purchase through Amazon. Although the device was listed on the company's official online store, it wasn't in stock. That, however, was until now. A quick look at the GX8's listing on GetHuawei.com now reveals that the handset is in stock. Available in Mystic Champagne, Space Grey, and Horizon Gold color options, it carries a price tag of $350. Aside from GetHuawei, the GX8 is now also listed on BestBuy's website at the same price. It will also be available from the retailer's physical stores as well as Newegg starting today. For those who aren't already aware, the GX8 is a version of the G8 smartphone which is already available in other markets Source |...


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    Alcatel Fierce XL with Windows 10 to land at T-Mobile this Wednesday for $139
    Last December word got out that T-Mobile would sell Alcatel's first Windows 10 smartphone, the OneTouch Fierce XL. And in January at CES, Alcatel finally made the handset official, yet without saying anything about availability or pricing. Now a new report claims to shed some light on both of those matters. First off, apparently the Alcatel Fierce XL with Windows 10 is due to land at T-Mobile this Wednesday, on February 10 - so in just a couple of days. Next up, it's said to cost a mere $139 all-in. This being the magenta carrier though, we assume you'll be able to purchase it using an installment plan, in which case that sum will be spread across many months. If all of this is true, expect TMo to say something official very soon. The Windows-running Alcatel OneTouch Fierce XL comes with a 5.5-inch 720p touchscreen, Qualcomm's Snapdragon 210 SoC (with a 1.1 GHz quad-core Cortex-A7 CPU), 2GB of RAM, 16GB of expandable storage, an 8 MP rear snapper, a 2 MP front-facing shooter, 4G LTE, and a 2,500 mAh battery. Source |...


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    Instagram makes multiple account support official for all
    Instagram has been experimenting with adding support for multiple accounts to its Android and iOS apps for months now - the first reported instance of people seeing this was in November. But that was all testing, and the feature has not so far been available to all users of its apps. This week, however, that will change. The Facebook-owned photo sharing service has officially announced that multiple account support is coming to everyone. This will be part of version 7.15 of the Instagram app for iOS and Android, which will make it to the iTunes App Store and the Google Play Store in the next few days. Once you get the new app, you can head on over to your profile settings and easily add another account. After that, if you tap on your username at the top of your profile you'll be able to switch between accounts. And once you have multiple accounts added, you'll see your profile picture in various places throughout the app, so you aren't confused as to which particular account you're currently...


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    Samsung Galaxy S7 edge shows up in a live image too
    It's been only a few hours since the first purported live image showcasing the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S7 got outed. And now it's time for the Galaxy S7 edge to get the exact same treatment. The difference is that in this case, we're shown the curvy front of the handset, whereas with the 'vanilla' S7 all we saw was its back. The Galaxy S7 edge comes with a curved screen, as you'd expect, and the picture shows the results of putting it through the paces of the AnTuTu benchmark. This benchmark run is available in AnTuTu's database, which sort of confirms the authenticity of this leak. That said, many people do have Photoshop skills, do keep in mind. Anyway, if this is real then the S7 edge's model number is confirmed too, as being SM-G935 (followed by another number or a letter depending on which area it's going to be sold in). According to past leaks, the Galaxy S7 edge will have a 5.5-inch QHD AMOLED touchscreen, the Samsung Exynos 8890 chipset or the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 (depending on market), 4GB of RAM, a 12 MP rear camera with f/1.7 aperture, a 5 or 8 MP selfie camera, 32 or 64GB of storage, a microSD card slot, and a 3,600 mAh battery. It should run Android 6.0 Marshmallow, with Samsung's TouchWiz UI on top. One of its differentiating features (also to be seen on the plain S7) could be Always On Display. Source (in French) |...


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    Goldgenie's new 24k iPhone 6s Elite celebrates the Year of the Monkey
    The gold-plating experts at Goldgenie are back again, with a new limited edition offering no less. We're talking about an iPhone 6s plated with 24k gold and a special engraving on the back that celebrates the Chinese Year of the Monkey (which we've just entered). The full name of the new product seems to be Year of the Monkey 24k Gold iPhone 6S Elite. Aside from all the gold, what sets this one apart from the other Goldgenie models is the laser engraved monkey symbol that takes a good chunk of the back side of the phone, as you can see. Oh, and there's also the fact that only 99 of these units will ever be made, and each one will feature its own unique number engraved right underneath the monkey symbol. This is apparently going to turn it into a very valuable collector's item. As with any Goldgenie product, this one isn't cheap either. You need to shell out at least £2,497 (that's approximately $3,599 or €3,221 at the current exchange rates) to get one. You can pick from 16, 64, or 128GB of storage, and the phone will be delivered to you in a "luxury cherry oak display...


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    Xiaomi Redmi 3 battery life endurance test [VIDEO]
    Xiaomi Redmi 3 turned out a real surprise and it easily ended up being one of the strongest recommendations we've made this season. The affordable fella is made of metal, packs a 5" 720p IPS display, and runs on the Snapdragon 616 chipset. But the biggest highlight of its specs sheet is the beefy 4,100 mAh battery. The Redmi 3 has been enhanced with the latest MIUI 7 running on top of an Android 5.1.1 Lollipop core. This version of the launcher promises significant battery life optimizations. In fact, we found out Xiaomi has dropped the Performance/Balanced/Battery Saving modes, and now you can toggle only the battery saver mode. Before we continue with the battery life test video, we want to remind you about the change in our battery testing routine. Starting with the Xiaomi Redmi 3, we will be testing all devices on a fixed level of brightness of 200nits instead of merely positioning the slider at 50%. You can read more about what brought along this change in our dedicated Redmi 3 review chapter. Enjoy the video! You can find our full-blown review of Xiaomi Redmi 3 right here. Special thanks to HonorBuy.com for providing the review...


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    Galaxy S7 will have Always On Display, trademark filing implies
    It now seems like new information, leaks, and rumors about the Samsung Galaxy S7 arrive multiple times each day, as we get closer and closer to the February 21 unveiling date for the handset. A very short while ago the first alleged hands-on image of the Galaxy S7 got outed, and now we have new details about one of its features. Among many other things that were leaked in a report in January was the fact that both the Galaxy S7 and the S7 edge would sport a feature called Always On Display. And now this has been pretty much confirmed by a trademark application that the company filed in the US. As you can see, Samsung wants to own the trademark for the term Always On Display, and in the domain of mobile phones and tablets no less. Always On Display does sound a bit vague, so it's unclear if it will be granted to Samsung as a trademark, but the filing itself tells us that the company is working on such a feature. This is expected to function in a similar fashion to what we've first seen from Nokia Windows Phones a few years ago. Since the Samsung flagships have AMOLED screens, and these only light up the pixels that are actively showing something, you don't waste a lot of power by displaying things like a clock and perhaps notifications on a black background on a small portion of the screen. Of course there's no mention in the USPTO filing of the Galaxy S7 itself (or the edge model), so there is a slim chance that Samsung only wants to use Always On Display for other upcoming phones, perhaps the Note 6. But the February 2 filing date does seem to strongly imply that this is in fact all about the S7 family. Source | Via (in...


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    Samsung Galaxy S7 leaks in its first live shot
    It's not long now before MWC 2016 kicks off, which also means that Samsung's February 21 unveiling of the Galaxy S7 is closing in fast as well. The sea of rumors about the eagerly-anticipated flagship has been abundant to say the least, but as the deadline inches nearer, it was only natural for the first live shots of the phone to start popping up online. The leaks comes from Vietnam and looks very believable. The unit has a curved back, as well as an almost non-existent camera bump, just like previous rumors have suggested. It is hard to say weather the material on the back panel is actually glass, but even if it is not, it could be due to the unit's prototype nature. The shiny metal frame is also easy to spot and the description accompanying the shot mentions it is now a magnesium metal frame, rather than an aluminum one. Speaking of the additional info, it confirms a lot of the previously suggested aspects of the Galaxy S7. First, there is the performance gap between the Snapdragon 820 version and the Exynos 8890 one, with the latter said to be about 15% more powerful both in CPU and GPU tests. There are also mentions of waterproofing and awesome battery performance with zero to eighty percent charging within 30 minutes. However, the leak doesn't explicitly prove or disprove the two day battery life rumor we have been hearing. The leakster goes on to describe the Britecell rear camera as having a resolution of 12MP and an aperture of f/1.7. To top things off, a couple of prices are also mentioned - 16.49 million dong (roughly $740) for the Galaxy S7 and 19.9 million dong (roughly $890) for the S7 edge. Finally, following the MWC unveiling, the source claims the devices will be introduced to Vietnam on March 3 and go on sale March 18 or about a week later than the alleged March 11 date in...


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    Amazon Kindle discounts: 7" Fire for $40, Paperwhite for $100
    Amazon has aggressively slashed prices of its Kindle products. The cheap 7" Kindle Fire drops $10 to just $40. If you buy popcorn at the movie theater, you'll probably spend more. Other promotions include $50 off the Kindle Fire HDX 8.9 (now $430), $50 off the Kindle Fire HD 10 (now $180) and $20 off the Kindle for Kids tablet (now $80). These price cuts will end on February 14, except the HDX 8.9 one, which runs until April 1. Amazon's Kindle e-readers are discounted too - $20 off the Kindle Paperwhite (now $100), $30 off the 3G-enabled version (previous generation, though, 6th), $20 off the basic Kindle (now $60). These also end February 14, except for the Paperwhite 3G. There is a number of Essentials Bundles that are also discounted, including $25 off the Kindle Voyage Essentials Bundle (now $255, ends April 1). These promos are US-only and I couldn't find anything similar in Europe (par for the course, really). Source |...


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    Lenovo Vibe X3 hands-on: First look
    A couple of years ago, Lenovo hardly had any phone presence outside of China. But in the meantime, the company has made some serious strides, particularly in price-sensitive markets where multiple well-priced models follow one after the other.


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    Samsung patent reveals plan to turn S Pen into a transforming kickstand
    The touchscreen killed the stylus, but the Samsung Galaxy Note made it popular again. Patent filings reveal Samsung has a new function for its S Pen - a kickstand. The schematics show a stylus that has a hinge at its middle. The idea is you pull out the S Pen half way and bend it to shape a kickstand. This locks the stylus into place. Straightening the stylus unlocks it so it can be put back in or pulled out completely. The patent was filed in the third quarter of 2015, too late for the Note5, but perhaps the Galaxy Note6 will bring the design to life. Source | Via (in...


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    Huawei P8lite shipments reach 10 million in 9 months
    Huawei has announced that it has shipped over 10 million units of its P8lite smartphone since its launch in spring last year. The firm also noted that the device - which is expected to get the Android 6.0 Marshmallow update soon - is the first Huawei smartphone which has been relatively more successful in global markets than in China. The press release also revealed that global sales of all devices in the P8 series - which consists of P8, P8lite, and P8max - has crossed the 16 million mark. It also provided some details on Huawei's this year's monthly shipments, saying the company managed to ship over 12 million smartphones last month, which is an year-on-year increase of 93%. Finally, it was also revealed that Huawei has been shipping more than 10 million smartphone units every month since October 2015. As you might already know, the company shipped a total of over 100 million smartphones last...


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    Jeweler Damiani crafts Gold and Diamonds covers for Lumia 950
    Current luxury phones typically run Android, but Italian jeweler Damiani and Microsoft have partnered up in order to change that. The solution is a replacement cover for the Microsoft Lumia 950. The cover comes in Black or White leather and features two concentric rings of White or Rose gold respectively. Ten brilliant cut diamonds are studded between those rings. Only 99 covers will be made - each numbered sequentially. Be prepared to pay €1,950 (£1,500/$2,135) in a Damiani store boutique in Rome or Milan for the diamond-studded covers(soon to be in other stores too). And while diamonds are forever, smartphones age quickly. When you decide to retire your 950, Damiani will turn the gold and diamonds into a pendant for you. Source |...


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    Default OnePlus 2 gets a permanent price cut, now down to $349

    OnePlus made some significant changes recently - the OnePlus X went on sale invite-free while all orders above $100 are shipping worldwide free of charge. But apparently the company had more treats in the pipeline. As of today, the OnePlus 2 gets a permanent price cut - its new price is $349 (or €345 in EU), down from $389. This is the price for the 64GB model, as the 16GB one has been discontinued. But this isn't all. If you purchased a OnePlus 2 in the past 15 days, you'd be getting $40 refund (or the equivalent of currency you chose to pay with). You can learn more about the new price cut here. OnePlus says the price will stay this low forever, so maybe we won't be seeing another price cut in the...


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    Default Opera Apps Club is is an "all you can eat" app store for Android

    Opera, once known mostly for its browser, has been diversifying its activities. Its latest venture is Opera Apps Club, a Netflix-like, all you can eat subscription service.Basically, you sign up for the Club and can download any app from the 150 global and local publishers and developers. Payment is done through the carrier, so no need for credit cards (great in emerging markets where plastic money is rare).Ads are removed from ad-supported apps and you get credit for in-app purchases. 34 carriers are supported currently and Opera can customize the experience for each carrier.The app is based on Bemobi (which Opera acquired in 2015) and promises to reach 500 million customers, giving publishers and developers a new way to monetize their content.One key piece of info is missing though - how much is it?Source |...


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    Samsung Galaxy S7 edge flaunts its curves in a new render
    The Samsung Galaxy S7 edge is mere days away from official status (February 21, alongside its simpler non-edge brother Galaxy S7), and for all the leaks on the matter, official renders are hard to come by. Well, here's one.Trusted leakster @evleaks is giving us a glimpse of the S7 edge's curved left side, showing minor refinements to the design. The announcement date is displayed on the screen too, in typical fashion.Just a reminder, we already saw the Galaxy S7 edge in the flesh, boasting a 134K Antutu 6 score. As with all pre-release live images though, that one is poorly lit and blurry, so this render is welcome,...


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    Google completely drops Flash ad support in favor of HTML5
    Google has announced that it will be switching to HTML5 100% for its ad networks, dropping the existing Flash format. This will enable the ads to be playable on a vast majority of the devices, such as on mobile, where Flash is not supported.Starting June 30, 2016, ads built in Flash can no longer be uploaded to AdWords and DoubleClick Digital Marketing and starting January 2, 2017, ads in the Flash formats can no longer run on the Google Display Network or through DoubleClick.Google has advised advertisers to update their ads to...


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    Apple Music to be available on Sonos starting today
    Speaker company Sonos has announced that its connected systems will begin supporting Apple Music starting February 10 at 9 am ET. The company has been beta testing testing the support for around a couple of months now."The feedback from Apple Music members on Sonos during the beta period has been great," said Apple's senior vice president of Internet Software and Services Eddy Cue. "Sonos plus Apple Music provides an amazing listening experience at home - and we're excited to offer it to all Sonos customers starting tomorrow."To use the service, Apple Music subscribers simply need to head to the Sonos controller app and select Add Music Services; then scroll down to the Apple Music icon, and...


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    New update to WhatsApp's BB10 app brings Web link previews
    WhatsApp for BlackBerry 10 has received a new update, bumping the version to 2.12.340.2 and bringing along several improvements and fixes. As per the change log, the update adds support for Web link previews for outgoing messages.In addition, the updated app now also supports additional web client features, including Message info and recent emoji sync, as well as includes better organization of phone numbers on the Contact Info screen.Message history backup process should now cause fewer problems with normal app functionality, while issues encountered when connecting via proxy servers have also been fixed. The update is said to be live now, and can be downloaded from BlackBerry World.Via | BlackBerry...


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    Motorola starts rolling out Moto G (2nd Gen) Marshmallow update
    The Android 6.0 Marshmallow update for the second-generation Motorola Moto G has started rolling out. The update is currently hitting both 3G and LTE-enabled variants in India.The roll-out comes over a couple of weeks after the company started soak testing the update in India. The soak-test was also launched in Brazil at the same time, but we're yet to hear about the public roll-out there, although that shouldn't take long if it hasn't started already.The update brings along the usual Marshmallow goodies, including Doze, Google Now on Tap, and redesigned app permissions. For those who aren't yet aware, Motorola has already posted Marshmallow update release notes for the Moto G 2014 on its India support website - head to the Source link below to to take a...


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    VAIO says no plans to launch Phone Biz in US
    VAIO has revealed that it currently has no plans to launch to its newly-announced Phone Biz smartphone in the United States. The revelation was made by the US subsidiary of the erstwhile Sony brand in a tweet.@KeefWhiteJR @StuffDudesLike1 At this time there are no plans to bring VAIO Phone Biz to the US.— VAIO (@VAIO_US) February 6, 2016The Windows-10 powered device, which is apparently aimed at business users, was unveiled by the company earlier this month in Japan. Carrying a $430 price tag, the mid-range phone will go on sale in the Asian country in April.Specs-wise, the Phone Biz powered by a Snapdragon 617 SoC, and sports a 5.5-inch Full HD display. RAM is 3GB, while internal memory is 16GB, although expandable. It packs in a 2,800mAh battery and features a 13MP/5MP camera combo.Source |...


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    LG-made Google Nexus 5 now available for just $140 in US
    The LG-made Google Nexus 5 smartphone, which was launched way back in 2013, can now be purchased for just $140 in the US. Ebay seller mobilepros1 is currently offering the refurbished variant for that price.Aside from the United States, the device can also be shipped to "many other countries," although keep in mind the extra shipping cost that'll be applicable if you're ordering the phone from a non-US location.As is the case usually, the seller says that the device is available in limited quantities (with around 140 units sold at the time of writing), so act fast if you want to take advantage of the...


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    LG confirms Always ON feature for LG G5, still teasing us
    LG took to Facebook to tease a new feature found on the highly-anticipated LG G5 which will be announced at Mobile World Congress on February 21. LG posted a GIF on the site showing only a rough outline of the LG G5 showing off its Always ON screen.The caption says "Never go asleep while others do. LG G5, Always ON."It's not clear whether this screen would be literally Always ON. However, if LG feels it must mention it, then perhaps it would be different than other phone makers' implementations of a screen that displays notifications while on stand-by.Other phones like the Moto X, and newer Nexus devices have their own solutions for peeking at notifications while the phone is asleep. It's only peeking though, these screens do not stay on permanently, they might only pulsate briefly and then go back to sleep.LG could be implying that the LG G5's screen would never turn off. While this might be a new feature that we haven't seen before. It's way too minor a detail to convince the market to buy the LG G5.We'll have to wait and see what LG brings to the table at Mobile World Congress later this month.Source |...


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    Valentine's Day bundles for the Honor 5X and Honor 7 will be out in the UK on February 11
    As Valentine's Day is fast approaching, more and more smartphone makers are outing their special deals for the occasion. This time around it's Huawei we're talking about, and some special bundles it will make available for the UK through its online store.On February 11, from 9:30 am to 10:59 pm GMT, you'll be able to buy either the Honor 5X or the Honor 7 from Huawei's online store for the UK and get some free stuff in the process. If you're interested, make sure you visit the Source links below on Thursday.The £189.99 Honor 5X will be offered alongside the Honor Bluetooth AM08 wireless speaker as well as two £40 Gameloft vouchers, all for no additional cost. Huawei says you're looking at £100 in savings here.Moving on, the Honor 7 will get the wireless speaker and two vouchers too, but also the £13.99 smart flip cover - once again, for no additional cost (aside from the £249.99 you pay for the device itself).Source 1 • Source 2 |...


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    AdBlock Fast for Samsung's Android browser is now back in the Play Store
    At the beginning of this month Samsung released a new version of its Internet browser for Android 5.0 and up. This adds a new API which developers can use to create ad-blocking extensions. Just a few days later, one of the first such extensions, AdBlock Fast, landed in the Play Store - only to be pulled by Google soon after.There's a happy end to this story, however. The developers behind AdBlock Fast appealed Google's decision to pull their app out of the Play Store, and today the search giant has reversed its stance on the matter. Hence, the plugin is once again available to download from the de facto Android app store.What's more, the developers have updated AdBlock Fast and it now works with Samsung devices running Android 4.0 and higher (previously your handset had to be at least on Lollipop).Source |...


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    AT&T LG G4 is now receiving Android 6.0 Marshmallow update
    So far, we've seen the LG G4 getting updated to Android 6.0 Marshmallow in South Korea, Europe, and Canada. Additionally, units sold by Sprint, US Cellular, and T-Mobile have already received their taste of Google's latest treat. And now it's time for the G4 sold by AT&T to be in the exact same position.The over-the-air rollout is apparently under way as you read this, so if you have a G4 purchased from AT&T you might receive that coveted update notification at any time. If this hasn't happened yet but you're impatient, you can always manually check by using the appropriate menu in Settings. It's a 971 MB download, though, so maybe use Wi-Fi to grab it.After having updated your G4, it will be on software version H81020n. Aside from everything that Google's packed into Android 6.0 (features such as Doze mode, Now On Tap, and the new permissions system for example), this release also comes with support for video calling, AT&T notes.Source |...


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    HTC Nexus 9 is 40% cheaper for Valentine's Day
    HTC's Hot Deals portal is now celebrating Valentine's Day for tablet lovers. Thus, you can get the Nexus 9 for 40% less than usual. What's more, if you're among the first 200 people to order the 32GB LTE-capable model, you'll even receive a free Logitech keyboard for the tablet. This offer expires at 11:59pm PT today, so make sure you act fast if you're interested.As usual in these cases, you have to use HTC's official online store to take advantage of the deal. Right now the $239.40 16GB Wi-Fi-only model isn't in stock, so you'll have to go with the 32GB versions. In Wi-Fi-only form the tablet goes for $287.40, while the LTE iteration is now priced at $359.40.HTC is also offering 40% off all accessories sold through its official online store for the US. Oh, and in case you were wondering, all of this is only valid for "purchases to a valid shipping address in the 50 United States and the District of...


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    Microsoft Lumia 650 will cost €199.99 in Ireland, its specs get confirmed again
    After many, many months of leaks about it, Microsoft is finally about to make the Lumia 650 official around the middle of this month (with in-store availability following closely). Before that happens, however, we've got another bit of leaked info regarding the mid-ranger.This time around the news comes from Ireland, where the device will allegedly be sold for €199.99 sans contract. That pretty much fits with previous pricing information we've seen, be it from the Czech Republic or the UK.Aside from this tidbit, we also get to peek at the alleged store card you can see above, which neatly lists the Lumia 650's main features - thus confirming them yet again.So, the handset should have a 4.97" touchscreen, an 8 MP rear camera, a 5 MP selfie snapper, a 1.3 GHz quad-core processor, 16GB of built-in storage, HD voice support, and Glance Screen. It will obviously run Windows 10 Mobile. The metal construction gets a mention...


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    Twitter's First View lets advertisers reserve a top spot in your timeline for 24 hours
    Twitter's a great place for keeping up with online trends and consequently, a great medium for setting them - a fact that Twitter's advertising clients know too well. With First View, the social giant aims to open up a whole new area of possibilities for social marketing. The idea is simple - give an advertiser the exclusive rights to the very top advertising spot in the timeline.This theoretically means that every time you open the app, or log in on the website, you will be greeted by said sponsored content. This is quite a powerful outlet, so we can only imagine it won't sell cheap at all. Also, most likely to prevent user annoyance, Twitter will be limiting each advertising deal to 24 hours, after which it will be substituted for another one, which will get absolute rights to the spot for another 24 hours and so forth. The ad itself will have text and also a promoted video, which, by the looks of it, will autoplay - an even better attention-drawer.The new First View feature won't be available to everyone at launch. Instead Twitter intends to test it out with a circle of its "managed users" in the US, or in other words, major advertisers. A global rollout is scheduled for the coming months.Source |...


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    Samsung Galaxy S7 edge to have 3,600mAh battery, say FCC docs
    Curious eyes have staked out regulatory organs around the world, looking for Galaxy S7 findings (water resistance, Always On display). The latest comes from the FCC, where Samsung disclosed the battery capacity and connectivity features of the S7 and S7 edge.The Samsung Galaxy S7 edge will have a 3,600mAh battery, a solid bump over the 3,000mAh battery of the S6 edge+. The phone has LTE, Wi-Fi ac, Bluetooth and NFC. This filing was for the South Korean version, which will come in SK Telecom, KT and LG U+ flavors.The Samsung Galaxy S7 will have the same connectivity options. This too was a Korean model, which will hit the three major carriers in its home country. Battery capacity is not specified, it should be lower though (smaller size and...


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    First Xiaomi Mi 5 camera samples surface online
    With MWC 2016 almost upon us, it is understandable to be waiting on the Samsung Galaxy S7, or the HTC One M10, but we definitely wouldn't blame you, if you have your eyes set a little bit more to the East at Xiaomi's upcoming flagship offer. The eagerly-anticipated Xiaomi Mi 5 is shaping up to be quite a powerful device and a true flagship in every aspect.Leaks of the phone are already abundant and so are specs details, but camera samples are definitely a novelty. The pair of shots come courtesy of Xiaomi's President, Lin Bin and were shared on Weibo, along with a note that they are, in fact, taken with the new Xiaomi Mi 5.The whole uploading process has definitely led to some compression, but the samples are still quite impressive. They show a lot of detail and nice colors. But perhaps most impressive is the fact that the primary subject in both shots is a bird mid-flight. Capturing that requires some fast and accurate autofocus. This falls in line perfectly with the previously suggested camera hardware for the Mi 5 featuring a 16MP sensor with optical image stabilization, laser autofocus and a dual-tone LED flash.As for the rest of the specs on the Mi 5, they are still somewhat open for debate, but according to a recent GFXBench listing, the phone will have a 5.7-inch, 1080p display and will be powered by Qualcomm's new Snapdragon 820 SoC. Memory will be set at 3GB for RAM and 64GB for storage. We have also heard rumors of another 4GB version, as well as 16GB, 32GB and 128GB storage versions. Xiaomi Mi 5 (leaked images from GearBest)The Mi 5 flagship is on its way, debuting on February 24 and it is definitely shaping up as an exciting...


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    Marshmallow coming soon to Galaxy S6/S6 edge in Poland
    Android Marshmallow started seeding on the Galaxy S6/S6 edge in South Korea less than two weeks ago, and by the looks of things it's coming to Europe. Poland's T-Mobile has tweeted that the update to Google's latest OS version is on the way, but hasn't specified how close it actually is.Poland has traditionally been the place, where updates happen first, of course not counting Samsung's homeland. Lollipop pioneered on the Galaxy S5 there back in December 2014, and the Galaxy Note 4 made the jump straight to Android 5.1.1 last August.Android #marshmallow jest już w drodze na nasze Samsungi #s6 i #s6Edge Gwiazdka przyjdzie wcześniej w tym roku? @SamsungPolska— T-Mobile Polska (@TMobilePolska) February 8, 2016Mind you, the tweet mentions the update for the Galaxy S6 edge as well, but our Polish is a little rusty and we're finding it hard to interpret the Google-translated "earlier this year". It's likely going to come later this year, logic dictates, as it actually needs to bring a few more edge features on top of the new OS release.Source |...


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    Imagination holds Terminator-inspired hardware competition
    Time-travelling robot assassins may not have brought about the apocalypse (yet!), but they sure are entertaining to watch. Imagination (in collaboration with Hackster.io) is running a Terminator-themed hardware competition.The goal is to create some Terminator-inspired, Creator Ci20-powered device. The Ci20 is Imagination's Raspberry Pi alternative - powered by their MIPS CPU cores and PowerVR GPUs. The top price includes a Creator Ci40, the new board that's currently being Kickstarted.Here are the prizes:1st place (worth $400)A bag of Imagination-powered goodies, including a Meizu MX5 smartphone, the upcoming Creator Ci40 dev board and other cool accessories and add-on boards from MikroEletronika (£100)2nd place (worth $200)A Securifi Almond router and a Creator Ci40 dev board3rd place (worth $150)A chipKIT Wi-FIRE dev board and a Creator Ci40 dev boardFor inspiration, here's the entry from Alex Eastabrook. You can read his blog post for more...


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    Default Moto G now available on Amazon India

    Amazon has announced that it will now be selling the Moto G smartphones in India.Previously, Flipkart had exclusive rights over the Motorola devices. Eventually, Amazon started selling the Moto E and the Moto 360 devices in India. With today's announcement, the company will now be selling both, the standard Moto G as well as the Moto G Turbo Edition, in India.The pricing for all the models is identical to Flipkart, that is, INR 9999 ($147) for the 8GB Moto G, INR 10,999 ($162) for the 16GB Moto G, and INR 12,499 ($184) for the Moto G Turbo...


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