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to protect users from things like "a deceptive download button, or an image ad that falsely claims your system is out of date."The Mountain View, California-based company said an embedded content on a web page will be deemed social engineering if it pretends to act, or look and feel,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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