GSMArena

**GSMArena** · 19-02-16, 13:34

SIM cards have gone from regular through mini and micro to nano and soon they will be the size of electrons. The Samsung Gear S2 classic 3G is the first product to support this new standard called eSIM.This is a built-in, programmable SIM that allows users to remotely connect to a device to a mobile network. This makes it easier to join a carrier of your choice (no trips to the store!).For now, the GSMA intends these eSIMs to be used for secondary devices - like the Gear S2 classic 3G smartwatch, tablets, smart bands and various Internet of Things devices (so you don't have to plug an actual SIM card into each and every smart appliance at home).These do not require an additional subscription but instead piggyback on your main contract. The GSMA plans to release additional specifications in June that will bring the eSIM standard to smartphones.It has the support of some of the biggest mobile device makers - Samsung (obviously), LG, Huawei and Microsoft. Apple is notably missing from this list; characteristically it has its own standard. Some of the world's biggest carriers, even chipset makers too.The Samsung Gear S2 classic 3G will be available in...

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iPhone 5se to come with an A9 processor

As usual, Apple hasn't revealed anything about its future devices, but it seems eager fans have already unearthed enough information to confirm that the Cupertino giant will stay true to the rumored spring announcement and will hold an unveiling event on March 15, presumably for a new phone and tablet.By all accounts, these are shaping up to be a new 4-inch iPhone and a refreshed iPad Air 3 model. As far as rumors go, the former will be referred to as the iPhone 5se and will allegedly resemble the retired iPhone 5S, but with a few notable upgrades. According to a report by Bloomberg, the handset will, in fact, be based on the Apple A9 chip, which powers the current 6s generation of iPhones.Other suggested additions to the new 4-incher include NFC, Apple Pay and Live Photos. 3D touch, however, is unlikely to come to the model. In the same report, Bloomberg also suggests the the new iPad Air 3 will get a major processor upgrade. It will presumably be powered by the same A9X silicon running the iPad Pro - quite a powerful piece of tech. Other suggested features for the upcoming tablet include support for the Apple Pencil as well as a Smart Connector, required for keyboards and other peripherals.If the March 15 unveiling does take place, sales of the devices may start as early as March 18.Source |...

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30% of your mobile data is consumed behind the scenes and Opera has a solution

Isn't it just great that we now live in a world where data can travel everywhere with you, seamlessly? Open up an instant messenger on your phone and voila, all your conversations are just where you left them last, perhaps on your PC or tablet. The same goes for your email, photos and most every data that you decide to hand over management of to Google, Apple, Microsoft or any other cloud service.However, as most of you have surely considered at one point or another, while this might happen "automagically", it does require quite a bit of background data usage, which most likely comes out of your data plan. Opera has always been a bit more concerned than most for proper mobile data utilization and its latest set of statistics provide a good reason why.According to data aggregated through Opera Max users in December 2015, around 30% of all mobile data consumption happens in the background. Various syncing and refreshing services eat up around 1MB out of every 3MB passing through your device and while the behind the scenes functionality is definitely an invaluable features, not all apps are particularly efficient with you data plan.According to the statistics, Facebook Messenger and Gmail do about 73% of their transfers behind the scenes, followed by Google Drive and WhatsApp, at around 50%. And while that doesn't mean said apps waste data, others might, due to lack of optimization or development oversights. If this happens to be a concern for you as well, Opera actually has a viable solution.Opera Max is a powerful Android app that helps you save on data through clever compression mechanisms, as well as monitoring tools and granular control over what and when gets a piece of the internet. Smart Alerts is a feature within Opera Max that informs you if an app is eating away too much data in the background and allows you to stop the leakage, if deemed unnecessary. You can get Opera Max free on the Google Play...

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New Windows 10 Mobile build rolling out to Lumia 950/950 XL and 550

Microsoft has started rolling out the February cumulative update for Windows 10 Mobile to non-Windows Insiders. The update, which bumps the device to to 10586.107, is currently hitting Lumia 950, 950 XL, and 550.The update brings along improvements related to reliability, stability, Bluetooth connectivity, battery usage, update system, as well as Microsoft Edge's PDF rendering and navigation. It also includes fixes for several issues, including:Fix for a problem causing erroneous low storage prompts for some users when trying to download phone software updates.Fix for a problem that caused erroneous prompts of Outlook account settings being out-of-date for some users, although account settings had not been changed.Fix for a problem that caused some phones to get stuck on BitLocker Recovery screen after a reset.If you haven't received the OTA notification yet, you can manually check for the update by heading to Settings -> Update & security -> Phone update -> Check for updates on your handset.Source |...

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**GSMArena** · 20-02-16, 13:40

It seems the failure of his first smartwatch (more of a smartbangle, really) hasn't dampened the enthusiasm of musician will.i.am, as he has come up with yet another one, called the Dial.The Dial, thankfully, looks more like a traditional smartwatch (if there even is such a thing). It still is a wide black band but it fits more like a watch, and has a large square display on the front. The Dial is self sufficient, which means it has its own 4G SIM and can work on its own without being paired to a smartwatch. You can take calls, messages, play music, and it even has basic fitness tracking features, such as a step-counter. There is also a voice assistant called AneedA. Also, there is a camera up front, presumably for video calls or selfies.The watch runs on a Qualcomm processor, possibly the Snapdragon 410 that everybody else is using, but the software is not your more common Android Wear but something proprietary.The Dial will be available exclusively through Three UK in April with a two-year contract, with prices being said to be around £20 per month. Doesn't exactly sound like a recipe for...

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Reuters: Xiaomi to use home-grown SoCs in some of its upcoming smartphones

Less than a year after there were rumors that Xiaomi is developing its own mobile chipsets, Reuters is reporting that some of the company's upcoming smartphones will be powered by home-grown SoCs.Specifically, the report says that the chipsets are aimed at the Chinese company's mid- to low-priced handsets (Redmi Note series), adding that the first of these devices will be launched in the second half of this year. A team of 200-300 people is currently working on the project.Xiaomi currently relies on Qualcomm and Mediatek for mobile chipsets. The report says the move will hit Mediatek hard as it supplies most of the company's mid- to low-priced smartphone chips - the number was around 20 million last year.If the report turns out to be true, Xiaomi will become the fourth smartphone vendor after Apple, Samsung, and Huawei to enter the mobile chipset...

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LG G5 pre-registrations are now open

Just a day before it goes official, LG's upcoming G5 flagship is now up for pre-registrations in the United States. Those signing-up will be among the first to know when the handset is available for purchase."The G5's fast processing speed will make this phone ideal for the ultimate multi-tasker," the pre-registration page says. "The G5 offers quick and easy access to all of your favorite apps and programs for when you need them most"The device has already been the subject of endless rumors and leaks. Specs-wise, while Snapdragon 820 chipset has already been confirmed, rumors says it will feature a 5.6-inch QHD touchscreen, 4GB of RAM, as well as Android 6.0 Marshmallow. The phone is also said to come with dual-camera setup on the back, with a fingerprint sensor below...

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BlackBerry Priv receives price cut in Canada

BlackBerry's Android-powered Priv smartphone has received a price cut in Canada, where carrier Bell is currently selling the device for CAD 299.99 on a regular two-year contract.Other local carriers like Rogers and Telus are currently selling the handset at higher rates. What's worth mentioning here is that Sasktel is also offering the Priv for CAD 299.99 as part of a limited time offer but the listing reveals that the device is currently out of stock online.For those interested in purchasing an unlocked unit instead, BlackBerry has the device listed on its website for CAD 899.Source 1...

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Oppo said to be unveiling next-gen VOOC tech at MWC 2016

We already told you that Oppo is expected to unveil a couple of big things at MWC, with one of them being a "groundbreaking power solution." While Oppo hasn't provided any more details as yet, it's now being said that the company is planning to unveil the next-gen VOOC tech.As you might already know, VOOC is a fast charging technology developed by Oppo that is claimed to be capable of charging the phone's battery from zero to 75% in only 30 minutes. While the current VOOC technology works as a wired charging solution, the new report says Oppo could announce wireless VOOC flash charging at MWC.This means that you'll be able to take advantage of the technology by just placing your Oppo handset on a wireless charging board. Needless to say, this hasn't been officially confirmed by the Chinese company, so take it with a pinch of salt. Oppo's MWC press event is on February...

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Samsung Pay set for March launch in China

Back in December last year, Samsung said that its mobile payments service Samsung Pay will launch in China "as soon as early 2016". Now, the South Korean company has announced that the launch will happen in the month of March, although no specific date was mentioned.The China launch will be followed by rollout in Australia, Brazil, Singapore, Spain and, the UK later this year. The company has also added Canada to the launch roadmap. For those who missed, recently-leaked promotion material revealed that the service will also be available in Russia soon.Samsung also revealed that around five million registered Samsung Pay users processed over 500 million dollars in the first six months. The mobile payments service is currently available in the company's home country as well as the United...

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Motorola says no Lollipop for DROID Ultra/Mini/Maxx, compensates by offering discounts on Turbo 2 and Maxx 2

Back in October last year, Motorola announced a list of devices that the company said will receive the Android Lollipop update. The list included the DROID Ultra/Mini/Maxx. However, it has now been announced that these handsets won't be receiving the update.The announcement was made by Motorola's senior director of software product management David Schuster on Google+. "We know how important software upgrades are to our customers, and we're very sorry that we are unable to provide the upgrade," he said in the post.Schuster, however, said that the company is compensating for this by offering DROID Ultra/Mini/Maxx users discounts on the Droid Turbo 2 and Maxx 2 - the former will be available for $524 ($100 off), while the latter will cost $334 ($50 off).The offer expires on Thursday, May 19, and the promo code must be redeemed by Thursday, June 2. For more details, head to the Source 2 link below.Source 1 | Source...

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MORE photos of the Samsung Galaxy S7 (and S7 edge)

Naturally, just a few days before the unpacked event, the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge pose for many more angles and shots for our eyes to feast upon.Moreover, the physical appearance of the Galaxy S7 is not too different from its predecessor. The curves that the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge make are more pronounced and round than those of the S6 or iPhone.The bump has definitely shown changes with some shrinkage. As well, a new rumor has surfaced pertaining its still a little difficult to confirm a possible drop in the pixel count of the camera sensor from the S6's 16MP camera to a possible 12.1MP.Head over to the source link at Android Headlines to check out the butt-load of photos of the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge.There are close-ups of the camera setup, all 4 edges, front, rear, and some views of the software information found on the Galaxy S7. There are also shots of the phone next to a ruler to better gage the actual size.Source (Android...

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Multiple accounts supported on Facebook Messenger for Android

Facebook's Messenger app for Android has been updated to officially allow users to manage more than one chatting account.Facebook had been undergoing testing for a bunch of new features in the past couple of months, with some of these features slowly pushed out to few users around the world.Facebook wants families to be able to potentially be able to use Facebook Messenger while sharing the same device. Switching between accounts will require the password of the account you are switching to so there's no need to worry about your housemates seeing your messages from a shared device.Source |...

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Apple employees given incentive to sell more iPhones

According to sources from 9To5Mac, Apple store employees are being offered rewards for selling more iPhones. This period allegedly starts on February 21 through March 26.This program will reward Apple reps rewards like all-expense trips to Cupertino for those who sell the highest number of iPhones in their regions. Though, strangely, Apple is calling it a way to "celebrate" the success of the iPhone.If you go back to the dates from the first paragraph, this actually sounds a lot like the period of hype that the Samsung Galaxy S7 will stir up after MWC all the way until the phone launches.Besides Apple's numbers plateauing from the previous year's financial reports, the company likely wants to power through the launch of the Galaxy S7 while raising its own number of phones sold for next year's financial reports.In addition, best performing stores will win store-wide parties and gear from Apple's gift...

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In-store display of Galaxy S7 promise early delivery for pre-orders

The Samsung Galaxy S7 bandwagon is at full speed without no signs of slowing down until after MWC next week.Photos of an in-store display that are (likely) not even supposed to be seen yet have leaked the interwebs showing the unreleased device. The picture is reportedly from a Three carrier store and wants to convince those who want the Â‘Next Big Thing' to pre-order it so they can get it earlier than others.From a leaked brochure earlier today, the Galaxy S7 will feature a Â‘pressure sensitive' 5.1 or 5.5 inch display, Android 6.0 Marshmallow, a Snapdragon 820 paired with 4GB of LPDDR4 RAM, microSD expandable memory, 3000/3600mAh battery, all enclosed in a similar looking body when compared to the S6. So while the phones may look similar in person, they are very different on paper.Source |...

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Microsoft extends free Office 365 offer for Lumia 950 and 950 XL owners to more countries

Last month we told you that Microsoft is offering a free one year subscription to Office 365 for people who purchase a Lumia 950 or Lumia 950 XL smartphone. However, at that point, the deal was only available in the US, UK, Germany, France, Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden.In the meantime though Microsoft has decided to extend this offer's reach to more countries. So, from now on, you'll also be able to take advantage of it if you live in India, Canada, Mexico, South Africa, or Australia. You do have to act before July 30, which is when it will expire.To get the free one year subscription to Office 365, just download the Lumia Offers app onto your Lumia 950 or Lumia 950 XL, enter your email address, and choose this particular promo. That's it. You'll then be able to download the Office apps onto one PC or Mac and one smartphone or tablet. This is a $69...

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Oppo A30 is a OnePlus X clone that just went official in China

Like the OnePlus X? Then you'll also like the just-unveiled Oppo A30. Seriously, they're exactly the same. To be precise, we're talking about the "champagne" edition of the OnePlus X, a.k.a white.The A30 has been listed on Oppo's official website for China, and, in all regards, it's identical to the white OnePlus X. That obviously makes you think that the oft-rumored close ties between the two companies are indeed true. Why else would OnePlus let Oppo sell what is basically just a rebranded OnePlus X?Oppo A30Anyway, here's a refresher on specs, in case you've forgotten all about the X's innards. The Oppo A30, like the OnePlus X, comes with a 5-inch 1080p touchscreen, a 13 MP rear camera with LED flash, an 8 MP selfie snapper, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 chipset (with a 2.3 GHz quad-core Krait CPU), 3GB of RAM, 16GB of storage, 4G LTE, and a 2,525 mAh battery. It runs Android 5.1.1 Lollipop. Its dimensions are 140 x 69 x 6.9 mm, and it weighs 138g.The Oppo A30 hasn't been priced yet, but a rumor out of China says we should expect it to cost CNY 1,999, which right now means around $306 or Â€275. It's unclear if it will ever be officially sold internationally, especially given the fact that you can already buy the OnePlus X in many countries, and for less cash - $299 or Â€269.Source (in Chinese) |...

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Le Max Pro with Snapdragon 820 could be out on February 23 for $567

Last month at CES Qualcomm and Chinese company LeTV unveiled the upcoming Le Max Pro smartphone, the world's first to sport the chipset maker's Snapdragon 820 under the hood.Now a new rumor out of China claims the Le Max Pro will go on sale in the country next Tuesday, on February 23. However, only 1,000 units could actually be available on that day.The Le Max Pro is said to cost CNY 3,699, which right now means about $567 or Â€509. This amount contradicts a previously leaked flyer which said the price would be CNY 3,500. And all of this information originates in a yet-unconfirmed rumor, so hopefully you've taken it with a pinch of salt.As a reminder, the Le Max Pro has a 6.33-inch QHD touchscreen, a 21 MP rear camera, 4GB of RAM, an ultrasonic fingerprint scanner, a USB Type-C port, and a 3,400 mAh battery. It runs Android 6.0...

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LG G5 gets the full leaked image treatment, front and back exposed

Samsung's upcoming Galaxy S7 and S7 edge have starred in a lot of leaks today, and now it's finally time for LG's G5 to shine too.The next flagship smartphone from Samsung's Korean competitor has been given the full leaked image treatment as you can see - it's had both its front and its back exposed.For the umpteenth time, the dual-camera setup on the rear is confirmed, along with the fingerprint sensor siting underneath that. The phone will also have laser autofocus and a dual-tone LED flash.The volume buttons are on the side, and it looks like the fingerprint scanner doubles as a power button. The handset seems to have a metal build, but that's not entirely certain at this point. The images don't appear to be renders, rather live shots of an actual G5 unit, although it isn't turned on.The G5 will get official this Sunday in Barcelona at MWC, and it's so far been rumored to sport a 5.6-inch QHD touchscreen, 4GB of RAM, as well as Android 6.0 Marshmallow on board. Qualcomm has already confirmed that the G5 will be powered by its Snapdragon 820...

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Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 edge brochure reveals all, March 11 launch

Well, here it is, as good as official. A Spanish brochure for the Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 edge spill the beans on the specs and the release date.The S7 will have a 5.1" screen, the Samsung Galaxy S7 edge a 5.5", both QHD SuperAMOLEDs. The chipset is listed as Snapdragon 820, which will likely serve both Europe and North America. It's paired with 4GB of RAM.Interestingly, the display is "pressure sensitive." This smells of a Samsung implementation of Force Touch.The brochure confirms a microSD slot and the built-in storage starts at 32GB (what bigger options we'll get is not clear). Batteries will be 3,000mAh on the smaller phone and 3,600mAh on the bigger one.The other expected feature, the water resistance, is also present on the list with an IP67 rating. That's dust-tight, resistant up to 1m of water for 30 minutes.The leaked brochure (click for full size)The Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 edge will launch on March 11 (that's in Spain, at least). Samsung will sell them in partnership with La Caixa (a Catalan bank).You can spend Â€700 for the S7 or Â€800 for the Galaxy S7 edge. Alternatively, the bank will help you get the S7 flagships on a monthly payment plan of Â€42.45 and Â€47.45 respectively. The smartphones will come packaged with a VR headset, though it's not quite clear if that's the current Gear VR model or a new edition, which we are yet to see announced.Thanks, 4R35UL1535, for sending this in!Source | Via (in...

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Watch the evolution of Samsung's mobile gadgets throughout the years

There is no denying Samsung has played a huge part in pushing the evolution of mobile devices ahead, long before Apple came up with the first iPhone.The Korean manufacturer had some of the most out-there back then, including a phone watch, a TV phone, and was among the first to embrace Android. Some of its regular mobile phones are responsible for the evolution of the displays, mobile cameras, among other upgrades.In just two days Samsung is going to unveil its next big thing - the Galaxy S7 series. To honor the event Samsung has posted a video, which will take you back to the very beginning when the phones were bigger than bricks.Enjoy!Samsung's latest UNPACKED event is going to happen on February 21 in Barcelona. Stay...

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Android Marshmallow now available for Moto E (2nd Gen) in India

The Motorola Moto E (2nd Gen) is finally receiving Android 6.0 Marshmallow update after a few months of uncertainty. Last October, Motorola announced its Marshmallow plans and the second Moto E was left out of the update list.Then just before Christmas Motorola had some change of heart and added the Moto E (2nd Gen) to its update schedule.The Moto G lineup has already been treated to Marshmallow, the Moto X series got it, too, even the Moto E 3rd Gen had its Marshmallow update. And now it's time for the Moto E (2nd Gen) to get it.Currently, the Marshmallow update is rolling out in India, but we expect even more markets to get it soon, if not already. If you own a Moto E (2nd Gen), you should keep an eye for the update notification.The OTA update weighs about 450MB, so you'll need at least double that space.Thank you, Meghan, for the...

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Google Play Games is ditching Google+ integration and Play Music is getting podcast support

Google looks to be amidst another one of its fairly regular Android app update frenzies and this time around it brings changes to Google Play Games and Play music. Good news for any of you avid Android gamers out there - Google Play Games will no longer require a direct link to a Google+ account. Instead, the search giant will be introducing a special Gamer ID, solely for the platform. It will resemble any other gaming account you might own, like one on Xbox Live or PSN and will thus allow a game alias and an avatar.The Gamer ID itself will only be linked to a regular Gmail account. Users will be able to find one another by the email address and also choose what game activity will be public and what private (that Candy Crush guilty pleasure of yours is save with Google).As for Google Play Music, AndroidPolice recently got its hands on a new v6.4 of the APK and discovered upcoming podcast support. At the moment, the functionality seems to be rather basic, compared to some competitor offers, which have things like smart playlists and variable speed playback. Still, it will be a nice addition to the mix and some digging around in the code does appear to show hints of more advanced features planned for the future, like playback sorting. It is also worth noting that a banner was discovered within the same APK, promoting the BRIT Awards 2016. This suggests that Google might have struck an exclusive deal for some sort of streaming rights on the performances which will happen at the upcoming Grammy-style music event in the UK.Source 1 | Source...

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Samsung Galaxy A9 (2016) review: A-lister

Prepare to meet the biggest premium phone Samsung has made. No, not the Note5, even that one is dwarfed by the Samsung Galaxy A9 and its 6" Super AMOLED screen.

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**GSMArena** · 21-02-16, 13:50

It all began with the announcement of the world's cheapest smartphone - the $4 Freedom 251 made in India. The company behind the project - Ringing Bells - received a huge coverage in the media and received beyond positive backup from users around the world.The first odd thing to happen was the change of the design shortly after the announcement. Few people noticed this, but it happened - Ringing Bells swapped the picture of the Freedom 251 on their website from a good-looking phone with thin bezels to a more generic 4" brick with rather thick bezels and just a single central key.But hey, this thing is supposed to cost $4, so nobody cared how the phone looks like.Recently, media representatives received prototypes of the phone, which raised more questions instead of building more hype. The shipped phones turned out to be Adcom phones with their logos covered by simple correction fluid. Adcom is a Chinese company and the model Ringing Bells has sent to its partners Adcom is selling for about $50 on the Indian market. and it's certainly not the Made in India phone, which they promised.What was even more disturbing was the phone's software - the UI used icons entirely identical to the Apple's iOS default icons.Finally, fellow journalists sought out Ringing Bells HQ for some questions, but the offices turned out to be empty.The company's CEO took some time to give answers to some of those pressing questions, but we aren't sure if these responses are not raising further questions.It turns out Ringing Bells indeed used an Adcom phone as a demo unit in an attempt to gauge the reception by the audience. The Freedom 251 smartphone will supposedly use the same specs, though the external design will differ in the final version.The same goes for the pre-installed software - it may look like iOS now, but Ringing Bells has designers, which are working on a custom UI and it will be different in the final product.The Adcom phones Ringing Bells gave to the media were just mere prototypes of what the phone may look like and what it may run on. It wasn't anything final, the idea was to gather impressions and decide how to proceed later on - a move, which raises an eyebrow.While all this sounds reasonable, it raises new questions - is the Freedom 251 just a concept then? It seems the company has no clue how the final phone will look like, what launcher it will feature, and where it will be made - India or China.The Ringing Bells CEO promised they are a registered Android Partner, although the company is not on the list. They have not submitted a phone for certification within the BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards), yet they are already selling it online. It looks like they are selling a concept, which is not even approved by the Indian authorities yet.For just two days the company received more than 60 million registrations and has since stopped accepting any new ones. Ringing Bells didn't anticipate such an interest, and it is yet to fulfill the first 30,000 orders made. Once those are completed, Ringing Bells promises to take more.Meanwhile Indian companies have asked the Telecom Ministry to check the Ringing Bells credentials. The company would certainly come under scrutiny.Long story short - Ringing Bells isn't certain how the final Freedom 251 will look like, what launcher it will utilize, or when it will be ready. No matter how we look at this, the Freedom 251 seems more like a concept phone, which may or may not make it to the market anytime soon.Source 1 | Source 2 | Source 3 (incl....

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Watch the Huawei MWC 2016 event live here

If you have been keeping a close eye on our MWC 2016 coverage article, then you surely know that there are quite a few events lined up for today. Huawei is up first with a 14:00 CET live stream.The YouTube link is already up, so you can grab a seat, get comfortable and prepare to follow along.As a quick recap, we are expecting to see the unveiling of the MediaPad T2 Pro 10.0 (10.1-inch 1080p display, Snapdragon 615 SOC, 2GB of RAM, 16GB storage). There is also word of a hybrid laptop, possibly with a larger 12.9-inch display and a Windows 10 OS. Last, but not least, Huawei will hopefully showcase the new P9 handset, allegedyl equipped with a 5.2-inch display, 4GB or perhaps even 6GB of RAM and the powerful Kirin 950 SoC.For more of the MWC schedule, check out our MWC 2016 coverage articlle....

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Huawei MediaPad T2 Pro 10.0 tablet spotted before official announcement

Huawei has an event scheduled for later today, but a Finnish site posted a sneak preview - photos and specs of the unannounced Huawei MediaPad T2 Pro 10.0.This is the replacement of the T1 10 from last year and it has improved specs throughout.The MediaPad T2 Pro 10.0 will have a 10.1" screen (yeah, we know) with 1080p resolution (a massive jump from T1's 9.6" 1,280 x 800px). Beside the screen is a 2mP selfie camera, while the camera on the back has an 8MP sensor (and a single-LED flash).The tablet will be powered by a Snapdragon 615 chipset with 2GB of RAM and 16GB storage (no word on Android version yet). The battery grew to 6,660mAh.Stay tuned for more details, Huawei's press conference starts today at 14:00 CET. And we'll be there - we expect to see some phones (like the P9), besides the MediaPad tablet, a hybrid laptop too.Source (in...

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Nextbit's cloud-focused Robin sold out already

Just a day after it went on sale, Nextbit's cloud-focused Robin smartphone has gone out of stock. All variants of the device are currently listed as 'Sold Out' on the company's website.You must really like us. We like you too, but 🙅 Robin is sold out. pic.twitter.com/Rl4Q82oW5xÂ— Nextbit (@nextbitsys) February 20, 2016When reached out for comment, Nextbit CEO and co-founder Tom Moss said, "We are thrilled at the reaction, and super thankful to our backers and fans. We are already ramping up on inventory post Chinese New Years to make sure everyone who wants one can get one soon."The handset carries a price tag of $399. Initial 1,000 backers of the company's kickstarter campaign have already had their units shipped.Source |...

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Leaked specs suggest HTC A16 is an entry-level phone

Shortly after Evan Blass leaked renders of an HTC device allegedly dubbed the A16, @LlabTooFeR - another reputed leakster - has leaked its specs, suggesting that the device is an entry-level phone.@LlabTooFeR Sorry, MSM8909 Snapdragon 210Â— LlabTooFeR (@LlabTooFeR) February 20, 2016According to the information @LlabTooFeR shared, the handset is powered by a Snapdragon 210 SoC and sports a 5-inch HD display. It has 1.5GB RAM and 8GB internal memory, which is further expandable via microSD card.In terms of camera, the HTC A16 features an 8MP rear unit and a 5MP front shooter. It packs in a 2,200mAh battery. While neither of the two leaksters commented on the price, there are reports that the device will carry a tag of around...

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Sony tipped to show off 'Smart Ear' Bluetooth headset at MWC

Sony will show off a smart Bluetooth headset - dubbed Smart Ear - at the Mobile World Congress, according to the usually reliable leakster @evleaks. He also shared an image of the device.Sony "Smart Ear" https://t.co/yUIfKk250E pic.twitter.com/eFtmoHqDQfÂ— Evan Blass (@evleaks) February 20, 2016The tipster had earlier this month revealed that such a device will be showcased at this year's MWC, and that it would be similar to the Moto Hint. However, it's only today that he shared the actual image.For those who aren't already in the know, Sony's MWC press event is set for tomorrow - February 22. The company's hasn't yet officially revealed what all will be showcased at the...

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Twitter is now more popular than Facebook in Japan

With over 1.55 billion active users, Facebook is undoubtedly the largest social network in the world. However, the story is a bit different in Japan, where a rival social network is more popular than Facebook.The rival we're talking about is Twitter. The company revealed last week that it had 35 million monthly active users in the Asian country, compared to Facebook's 25 million.In Japan, "we've seen more than a five-fold growth in usage in a really short time," said Shailesh Rao, Twitter's vice president of Asia-Pacific, Latin America and emerging markets. The figure stood at 7 million in 2011.It is, however, not yet known whether Japan is the only country where Twitter is bigger than Facebook.The micro-blogging company also revealed that globally it now has over 320 million monthly active users. In its home country of the US, however, the number dropped from 66 million to 65 million last...

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Alleged Sony Xperia PP10 leaks ahead of MWC

A new, unannounced Sony smartphone - allegedly dubbed Xperia PP10 - has leaked ahead of this year's Mobile World Congress (MWC). The leak comes from the usually reliable tipster @evleaks, who shared the device's image on Twitter.Tipped as the "Xperia PP10"...

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BlackBerry rumored to unveil their second Android phone at MWC

According to a new rumor, BlackBerry could announce their second Android-powered smartphone at this year's Mobile World Congress (MWC). Said to be codenamed Vienna, the device has already leaked in renders a few months ago, revealing a more orthodox BlackBerry design.The report says the handset is expected sport a 5-inch 1080p display and have both front and rear cameras with LED flash. The Vienna is said to be a mid-range phone with a price tag less than what the company's Priv carries.Back in December, BlackBerry CEO John Chen hinted that the company could launch a second Android phone in 2016. He, however, didn't reveal a specific launch time frame, saying that'll depend on how the Priv performs in the coming...

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MWC 2016 coverage

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Idol 4 and 4s, Plus 10: Alcatel at MWC 2016

Alcatel brought the whole family - two Idol 4 phones, Pixis of all sizes and even a Windows 10 hybrid laptop. The phones really like to party and have dedicated Boom button, which turns up the sound, launches the camera (and dose a few other things), while the stereo speakers can work in any direction you want.

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Alcatel Plus 10 is a hybrid Windows laptop with LTE in its keyboard

Meet Alcatel's first 2-in-1, the Alcatel Plus 10, and it's a Windows 10 device. Its detachable keyboard has unique functionality - it is an LTE hotspot.The tablet features a 10.1" IPS LCD with 1,280 x 800px resolution. It's powered by a quad-core Intel Atom x5 Z8350 1.92GHz processor. Memory is a little tight with 2GB of RAM and 32GB storage (you can add up to 64GB more with a microSD card).The Alcatel Plus 10 tablet also boasts stereo speakers on the front. There's also a 2MP selfie camera in the corner and a 5MP camera on the back.The keyboard has a full-size USB port, a microUSB and a microHDMI. It brings built-in LTE connectivity and can serve as a Wi-Fi hotspot for up to 15 devices. The tablet's own connectivity features Wi-Fi b/g/n and Bluetooth 4.0.The battery life is good for 8 hours of work in total. The split in capacity is uneven - 5,830mAh in the tablet, 2,580mAh in the keyboard.The Alcatel Plus 10 will be available in June in the following markets: Europe, Latin America, The Middle East and Africa. There are multiple color options, including a gray leather finish that's "silky to the touch." No pricing info...

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Alcatel unveils new IDOL 4 and IDOL 4S at MWC 2016

Today Alcatel announced its new flagship IDOL 4 and IDOL 4S models at the MWC venue. In a lot of ways, the devices are a logical upgrade over last year's IDOL 3 series, although, the OneTouch moniker seems to be absent this time around, but more on that later.The styling is quite similar and Alcatel has made sure to include its signature reversible design one again. This time, however, it has been taken one step beyond with three way reversibility - the phone can operate in both vertical orientations, horizontally and even when you turn it around the stereo sound orientation remains correct. And while we are on the topic of sound, both IDOL handsets promise a superb experience, thanks to the collaboration with JBL and Waves. This includes two powerful 3.6 watt speakers, Hi-Fi surround-sound for the headset, and optimization of audio presets both automatically and manually.The new Alcatel premium line comes in two main varieties. The basic IDOL 4, measures 147 x 72.5 x 7.1 mm and is equipped with a 5.2" FHD (1080 x 1920), IPS LTPS display.Underneath the hood is one of Qualcomm's new mid-range chips - the Snapdragon 617, along with 3GB of RAM and 16GB of storage (10GB user-accessible) with a microSD slot. The camera setup consists of a 13MP main shooter, with touch focus, auto HDR and the promise of ultrafast auto-focus (0.1-0.3 seconds). It is complemented by an 8MP front camera with a flash. Other features include Cat.6 LTE, as well as a dual-mic noise-canceling setup and dual 3.6W speakers.The more premium Alcatel IDOL 4S ups the stakes even further with a 5.5-inch QHD AMOLED display inside its 153.9 x 75.4 x 6.99 mm body. The processor is also improved - the Snapdragon 652. Storage is bumped up from the core model to 32GB (25GB accessible) and so is the battery - 3000 mAh, instead of the 2610 mAh, inside the IDOL 4.Another innovation to the series, which Alcatel made sure to stress upon is a new physical button, dubbed the BoomKey. It is mapped to do a whole bunch of interesting things across the Android 6.0 Marshmallow OS, some admittedly more logical than others. "Boom my camera" for instance is a quick way to shoot photos from standby and "Boom my music" promises audio optimization, no matter what is playing (although it raises the question why would you want to have it off). "Boom my videos", introduces "surprising effects in existing videos", "Boom my game" releases Nitro in Asphalt games and "Boom my view" intensifies the 3D parallax effect in the launcher.And while we are on the topic of 3D, a nice little addition to the IDOL 4 mix, comes courtesy of its retail box. It can be easily transformed into a Google Cardboard-style headset for an entry level VR experience.Last, but not least, as part of this year's announcement Alcatel OneTouch decided it is time to simplify the moniker and shorten in to Alcatel. The company still remains part of the TCL Communications family, so only the branding is changing, along with a new logo...

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Galaxy S7 and S7 edge prices confirmed, to hit the shelves on March 11

Samsung is going to unveil the Galaxy S7 series in just a day in Barcelona, but the leaks have been giving us tiny bits of information over the past few months. We pretty much know almost everything there is to know about the new flagships, but we finally get conformation of the pricing.We had reports the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge will go on pre-order on February 22, while the actual launch will happen on March 11 in many markets. We even heard the phones will retail at Â€699 for the S7 and Â€799 for the S7 edge, plus there is a chance the first to pre-order those to receive a free Gear VR headset.Now we can confirm all of those rumors. Leaked promotional materials plus tips that we personally received from employees at phone retailers across Europe reveal the exact prices of the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge - Â€699 and Â€799. We also know for sure that all who pre-order the devices not only will get them three days sooner and will get a free GearVR.Indeed, many official retailers will be throwing a free Gear VR headset for the first batch of pre-orders. The confirmed markets so far are the UK, Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands. The S7 flagships will go on pre-order this Monday - February 22 - and they both will ship on March 8. The actual in-store availability will begin three days later on March 11.We already had lots of confirmation on the specs of the devices, thanks to various tips and leaked materials. The Galaxy S7 will come with a 5.1" Super AMOLED Quad HD display and will run on either Snapdragon 820 or the new Exynos chip, both version featuring 4GB of RAM. The main camera utilizes a new 12.1MP sensor, and the microSD slot is expected to make a return. Also returning will be the IP68 dust and water resistance.The S7 and S7 edge are going official tomorrow, so we'll know everything in a few hours. Stay tuned!A big thank you to Max, Ciprian, and our other anonymous...

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LG K10 now available in Europe for Â€249

The LG K10 smartphone - which was announced at this year's Consumer Electronics show and went on sale around a week later - is now available for purchase in Europe, with Greece becoming one of the first European countries where the device is now up for sale.When the K10 was unveiled, LG said that aside from a 5.3-inch 720p touchscreen, 2,300mAh battery, and Android 5.1 Lollipop, all other specs of the handset will vary based on the country you buy it from. The model available in Greece is 4G-capable, powered by a Snapdragon 410, and comes with 1.5GB RAM and 16GB internal memory. In terms of camera, it has 13MP rear unit and a 5MP front shooter.Source |...

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**GSMArena** · 21-02-16, 13:50

Lenovo-backed ZUK has announced that its next smartphone will be launched in March. There is, however, currently no official information on the device, although some reports say it could be a Pro variant of the ZUK Z1 - a phone, which was launched back in August last year by a subsidary of Lenovo.It is also being speculated that ZUK might release a successor to the Z1, or an altogether different mid-range phone to compete with devices like the OnePlus X. In case you don't already know, there have been rumors about the ZUK Z2 launching this year. The device is said to be powered by SD820 SoC and feature a rotating camera (alleged render shown above).Whatever be the case, like the Z1, the new handset is also expected to make its sales debut in Hong-Kong/China before being available on international...

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Mysterious HTC A16 renders surface online

Sadly, by all accounts, HTC won't be unveiling the One M10 flagship at MWC 2016, but the Taiwanese manufacturer might still show up at the venue and bring some announcements. A fresh leak, courtesy of Evan Blass, showcases an unknown device, allegedly dubbed the HTC A16.Tomorrow's news, yesterday: HTC A16 pic.twitter.com/oCvO4abh5wÂ— Evan Blass (@evleaks) February 20, 2016Sadly, not much else is known about the device, but simply going by the model number, we can assume that it won't be a flagship offer, but rather more of a Desire-style one. This goes for design aspects as well - a plastic body, beefy main camera and BoomSound speakers. The latter seem to have undergone some modifications, at least on a cosmetic level, as the grill is now more compact. A16 could also be a working title and the device could easily end up in the Desire family.The only other thing worth noting from the renders, is the pair of odd holes, within a circular module on the back of the phone. These could be for a case or accessory, perhaps even some sort of charging, we can't say for...

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Reuters: Xiaomi to use home-grown SoCs in some of its upcoming smartphones

Less than a year after there were rumors that Xiaomi is developing its own mobile chipsets, Reuters is reporting that some of the company's upcoming smartphones will be powered by home-grown SoCs.Specifically, the report says that the chipsets are aimed at the Chinese company's mid- to low-priced handsets (Redmi Note series), adding that the first of these devices will be launched in the second half of this year. A team of 200-300 people is currently working on the project.Xiaomi currently relies on Qualcomm and Mediatek for mobile chipsets. The report says the move will hit Mediatek hard as it supplies most of the company's mid- to low-priced smartphone chips - the number was around 20 million last year.If the report turns out to be true, Xiaomi will become the fourth smartphone vendor after Apple, Samsung, and Huawei to enter the mobile chipset...

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LG G5 pre-registrations are now open

Just a day before it goes official, LG's upcoming G5 flagship is now up for pre-registrations in the United States. Those signing-up will be among the first to know when the handset is available for purchase."The G5's fast processing speed will make this phone ideal for the ultimate multi-tasker," the pre-registration page says. "The G5 offers quick and easy access to all of your favorite apps and programs for when you need them most"The device has already been the subject of endless rumors and leaks. Specs-wise, while Snapdragon 820 chipset has already been confirmed, rumors says it will feature a 5.6-inch QHD touchscreen, 4GB of RAM, as well as Android 6.0 Marshmallow. The phone is also said to come with dual-camera setup on the back, with a fingerprint sensor below...

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**GSMArena** · 22-02-16, 13:50

@evleaks has unveiled an Xperia model that's supposed to be released at Sony's event at MWC tomorrow morning. The device could possibly be a new line of models or a spinoff of the Xperia C series. Since there's no front facing flash, it may or may not be an Xperia C model.*drops the other shoe* pic.twitter.com/v611vo0bAvÂ— Evan Blass (@evleaks) February 21, 2016The device in the leaked image features an Xperia logo on the rear along with a single LED flash, dedicated camera button, and large top and bottom bezels, likely because the side bezels are razor thin.There is also a standard shaped power button which obviously signifies lack of a proper fingerprint scanner that we've seen on the Xperia Z5.Sony's event is scheduled for 8:30AM this morning at MWC's local time. Source |...

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Here's an in-depth look at the Galaxy S7 camera

The Samsung Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge come with a few differences but share many identical specs.The camera is one of those and is a key focus on both devices. Samsung scaled down the resolution from 16MP to 12MP which has resulted in bigger pixels (1.4µm on the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge compared to 1.12µm on the Galaxy S6).Couple that with the larger aperture of f/1.7 - which is now also class leading in smartphones - and you've got a serious contender for the best camera on a smartphone.And the results are spectacular, there is no two ways anout that. Check out these camera samples that we shot in the unfavorable indoor light at the Galaxy S7 anouncement venue.Samsung Galaxy S7 edge camera samplesThe new Dual Pixel technology is an evolution of Phase Detect auto focusing, and it makes the Galaxy S7 wicked fast in acquiring focus. You can check out the video we took that demonstrates this better than any words could.But it's not all about the hardware - Samsung has put lots of work into the software behind the new camera.For starters there's Motion panorama which captures the moving subjects in the panorama, instead of just butchering them in the stitching process - it's like a panoramic video almost.Another feature, Motion photo, captures a three-second video before you've pressed the shutter - it also allows you to preserve a still photo. The built-in Hyperlapse mode is a first on a Samsung cameraphone as well, and it is a great add-on that makes digitally stabilized time-lapse videos.For the front-facing 5MP camera there's Spotlight which accentuates certain facial features in a selfie (Beauty Mode). There's also Selfie Flash, which uses the screen as photographic fill-light in low lit environments. Finally, Wide Selfie captures a panorama with the front-facing camera.The only thing we're not sure about is what Smart OIS stands for. There's no specific mention of optical image stabilization on the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge and the less protruding lens could mean it's only Electronic image stabilization (EIS). We'll certainly have to see about that before we pass our final judgement.Source 1 | Source 2 | Source...

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Samsung announces Gear 360, redefining the way we record content

Today in Barcelona, Samsung unveiled its newest consumer camera for recording videos in 360°, completely redefining the way we record and share moments to those around us.The camera looks like an eyeball and is about the size of a baseball. It's portable size and mobility will allow for a spike in the number of 360° videos consumers will produce and consume. The good news is the bottom of the Gear 360 has a standard tripod mount, though, Samsung will likely include a small tripod as seen in the press photos.It has two cameras, both on opposite sides of each other with super wide-angle lenses for capturing every angle around the device. You can also use the Gear 360 in a single lens mode, to only capture traditional format videos in 180°.The Gear 360 also features NFC and Wi-Fi direct to transfer videos directly to your Galaxy phone for stitching, fixing and sharing to friends and social media.The Gear 360 is IP53 certified for resistance against dust and splashes to encourage you to take your Gear 360 with you on your adventure.Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg also made a brief appearance at Samsung's Unpacked event to talk about a partnership with Samsung for optimizing the way we share VR videos on the largest social media platform in the world.Technical specifications are as follows

ual CMOS 15MP Sensors w/ F2.0 Fisheye lensesVideos: Dual Cam up to 3840x1920px @30fps/Single Cam up to 2560x1440px @30fpsImages: Dual Cam up to 7776x3888px or 30MP / Single Cam up to 3072x1728 or 5MPDimensions: 66.7 x 56.2 x 60mm 1GB RAM and up to 128GB of microSD memoryRemovable 1350mAh batteryWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Wi-Fi Direct, BT 4.1, USB 2.0, NFCThe Gear 360 is to be available in the second quarter of this year. As of this time, there is no pricing information available yet. Here are a few promotional videos for the Gear 360 which can be viewed on YouTube in 360° by clicking and dragging around the video.Source Source 2 (Samsung News...

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Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 edge benchmarked (the Exynos flavor)

The Samsung Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge splashed down at the MWC and while their cameras and screens are the biggest improvements, they come with brand new chipsets, which we promptly benchmarked.We tested both the S7 and S7 edge and the difference in form factor didn't make a difference in performance, so we united their scores.Note that this is the Exynos 8890 chipset, which is built on a 14nm process and features a total of eight custom Samsung cores - four small and four big ones. They work in tandem with Mali-T880 GPU to deliver awesome performance.AnTuTu 6 shows a sizeable jump in performance over the old guard, the S6 edge+.AnTuTu 6Higher is better Samsung Galaxy S7 / S7 edge 114250 Huawei Mate 8 91609 Huawei Nexus 6P 89345 Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+ 83167 LG V10 67547 Samsung Galaxy A9 (S652) 64591Samsung broke away from the stock ARM Cortex cores, but comparing them to the Huawei Mate 8 (Kirin 950, 4x A72 + 4x A53) the two seem on par (we don't have single-core scores for the Mate 8 though)..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; GeekBench 3 (multi-core)Higher is better Samsung Galaxy S7 / S7 edge 6395 Huawei Mate 8 6323 Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+ 5158 Samsung Galaxy A9 (S652) 4759 Huawei Nexus 6P 4539 Sony Xperia Z5 Premium 4194 LG V10 3607GeekBench 3 (single-core)Higher is better Samsung Galaxy S7 / S7 edge 2108 Samsung Galaxy A9 (S652) 1466Then there's the GPU. The Sony Xperia Z5 Premium has a Snapdragon 810 chipset, but it's meant to feed its monstrous 4K display and it actually topped the Galaxy S7 in a few tests.GFX 3.0 Manhattan (1080p offscreen)Higher is better Samsung Galaxy S7 / S7 edge 26 Sony Xperia Z5 Premium 26 Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+ 25 Huawei Nexus 6P 25 Huawei Mate 8 18 LG V10 15 Samsung Galaxy A9 (S652) 13GFX 3.0 Manhattan (onscreen)Higher is better Sony Xperia Z5 Premium 27 Samsung Galaxy S7 / S7 edge 25 Huawei Mate 8 18 Huawei Nexus 6P 17 Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+ 15 Samsung Galaxy A9 (S652) 13 LG V10 9.5GFX 3.1 Manhattan (1080p offscreen)Higher is better Samsung Galaxy S7 / S7 edge 26 Sony Xperia Z5 Premium 18 Huawei Nexus 6P 17 Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+ 15 LG V10 10 Huawei Mate 8 10 Samsung Galaxy A9 (S652) 9.3GFX 3.1 Manhattan (onscreen)Higher is better Sony Xperia Z5 Premium 19 Samsung Galaxy S7 / S7 edge 15 Huawei Mate 8 11 Huawei Nexus 6P 11 Samsung Galaxy A9 (S652) 9.1 Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+ 6.6 LG V10 5.7Basemark XHigher is better Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+ 26333 Samsung Galaxy S7 / S7 edge 24862 Sony Xperia Z5 Premium 24281 Huawei Nexus 6P 22825 Huawei Mate 8 15593 Samsung Galaxy A9 (S652) 15290 LG V10 15161The Samsung Galaxy S7 / S7 edge got its revenge in the Basemark ES 3.1 test though with a massive advantage.Basemark ES 3.1 / MetalHigher is better Samsung Galaxy S7 / S7 edge 732 Huawei Nexus 6P 504 Sony Xperia Z5 Premium 482 Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+ 348 Huawei Mate 8 311 LG V10 297 Samsung Galaxy A9 (S652) ...

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Lenovo unveiled the new Vibe K5 and K5 Plus mid-rangers

Lenovo was far from centrestage today at MWC, but it didn't skip on the venue altogether. It now has two new budget-friendly mid-rangers to add to its portfolio, which almost managed to slip by unnoticed amidst all the commotion.The Vibe K5 and Vibe K5 Plus share most of their hardware platform, as evident by the name. Both have a 5-inch display - 720p in the basic one and 1080p in the Plus model. The other major difference has to do with the processors - a Snapdragon 415 inside the Vibe K5 and a Snapdragon 616 for the Plus variant. The rest of their shared specs sheet includes 2GB of LPDDR3 RAM, 16GB of storage, plus a microSD card slot and a 2,750 mAh user-replaceable battery.The camera setup consists of a 13MP main shooter and a 5MP one on the front. Also, both devices are LTE-enabled, Dual SIM and boot Android 5.1 Lollipop. Last, but not least, the K5 family looks to be audio-centric with Dolby Atmos support and two speakers on board.Pricing is said to be $129 and $149 respectively and availability is still unknown, although it is already clear they won't be hitting the US...

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US pricing for the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge is out

The Samsung Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge are the company's most important phones of 2016 and AT&T has rushed to announce plans and prices for the duo.The two smartphones will be available for purchase on March 11.AT&TSamsung Galaxy S7AT&T will offer the Galaxy S7 with its 30-month Next 24 plan starting at $23.17/month for the 32GB version of the device.Samsung Galaxy S7 edgeThe same Next 24, 30-month installment plan is available for the 32GB Galaxy S7 edge, but it's a bit pricier at $26.50/month.The carrier will offer both devices in Black Onyx and Golf Platinum color options. The Galaxy S7 edge will enjoy an addition option - Silver Titanium.While AT&T hasn't yet listed the off-contract prices for the devices, we assume they'll cost $699 for the Galaxy S7 and $799 for the Galaxy S7 edge.T-MobileSamsung Galaxy S7T-Mobile will offer the Galaxy S7 starting $27.91/month for the 32GB model.Samsung Galaxy S7 edgeAs for the Galaxy S7 edge, it will start $32.50/month on T-Mobile for its basic 24 month plan.SprintSamsung Galaxy S7 Finally, Sprint will offer the the Galaxy S7 starting $27.09 per month.Samsung Galaxy S7 edgeThe Galaxy S7 edge is again a bit pricier and will start at $31.25/month.Don't forget that Samsung throws a free Gear VR and 6 games for it free if you pre-order between February 23 and March 18. Those who purchase it from BestBuy will also get a free 64GB microSD...

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**GSMArena** · 22-02-16, 13:50

At the ongoing Mobile World Congress, HP has unveiled a Windows 10 smartphone that it claims can be used as a full-fledged laptop as well as desktop. Dubbed Elite x3, the device offers some high-end specs, including Snapdragon 820 SoC, and 4GB RAM.The handset has 64GB of internal memory (which can be further expanded to 2TB via microSD), and packs in a large 4,150mAh battery that can be wirelessly charged. The phone also utilizes biometrics - there's an iris scanner on the front and a fingerprint scanner at the back (the latter wasn't present on the unit shown at MWC).The Elite x3 also utilizes the Windows 10 Continuum feature that allows you to use the handset as a PC replacement whenever you want. One problem with Windows 10 phones until now has been that they can't run full desktop apps. HP is aiming to solve the problem by offering an app catalog - dubbed HP Workspace - that'll give you access to virtualized apps on the new device.HP has also built a couple of accessories for the phone. These are the Desk Dock and Mobile Extender - both are optional. The former includes a DisplayPort, two USB-A and one USB-C port, as well as a wired Ethernet port.On the other hand, the Mobile Extender is basically a 12.5-inch diagonal display notebook form factor that wirelessly connects with the Elite x3 to offer a laptop-like experience. HP says the phone will be available this summer, although no exact date or month was mentioned. As for the price, it will be disclosed "closer to date of availability."Source 1 2 |...

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Existing Galaxy phones won't get the Galaxy S7's Always On feature

Rumors that Samsung's newest flagships - the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge - will come with the Always On feature turned out to be true when the devices were unveiled yesterday. However, if you already own a Galaxy phone and are hoping that your device will get the feature, you're sadly out of luck.The South Korean company has confirmed that none of the existing Galaxy handsets (not even flagships) are getting the feature. So, if you have your own reasons for purchasing a Galaxy S7 or S7 edge, add this one to the list as well.For those who aren't already aware, the Always On feature allows your phone to show some information - including clock, calendar, as well as a background image - even when it's locked and display turned...

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Sony Xperia X, X Performance and XA: Sony at MWC 2016

>As most others focus on phablets, Sony showed the 5" market a lot of love with the new Xperia X series. The Xperia X Performance is essentially a Z-phone in disguise. Better even, not even the Z5 has a brushed metal back.

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Only 32GB Galaxy S7/S7 edge will be available in US and some European markets

Just a couple of weeks after there were reports that only the 32GB variant of Samsung's Galaxy S7 and S7 edge will be available in some European markets, the South Korean company has confirmed that the 64GB variant won't be available in the US as well.There is currently no information on if and when the 64GB variant will be made available in these markets. As for the reason behind the move, reports say it's purely a business decision as both Europe and the US are major markets for Samsung and the 32GB variants of both S7 and S7 edge are said to have higher profit margins than their 64GB equivalents.Looking from consumers' point of view, this shouldn't be a very big deal for most given that both flagships come with expandable storage. Keep in mind, however, that although Android 6.0 is capable of treating expandable memory as internal storage, it isn't yet clear whether or not Samsung's newest flagships offer the feature.Via 1...

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Sony unveils Xperia Ear, Xperia Eye, Xperia Projector and Xperia Agent

This year Sony's MWC conference was really short and to the point, perhaps even too much so. Besides the new Xperia X handset family, the Japanese giant also introduced us briefly to a slew of accessories and other intriguing tech, sadly, without going into too much detail, which is understandable, since only the Xperia Ear is an actual product and the rest are still merely concepts at this point. Here is what we managed to gather.Xperia EarAs the name suggests, the small device is essentially an earpiece, but Sony has intended it to be more than a slick handsfree. It also doubles as your own personal assistant, equipped with voice prompts for relaying most useful information from your phone. This includes incoming calls, messages, calendar events, weather, traffic and news reports. And the communication works both ways, you can easily ask for any of the aforementioned information streams to be narrated and also initiate calls and even dictate quick messages or navigate to a logation.The device is said to communicate with your handset through NFC or Bluetooth, and it is built for continuous operation with the promise of an all-day battery and IPX2 water protection.Xperia EyeAgain, the name tells most of the story. The Xperia Eye is a tiny camera that is intended to easily clip on to clothes. It appears to have the right shape and form for an action cam, but its exterior suggests that Sony might not market it as such, but instead focus on its use as a daily life-vlogging or journal device. It is equipped with a 360-degree spherical lens for a natural field of view.The camera itself is also said to be smart enough to accept voice commands for hands-free operation and even detect faces and automatically snap stills. Specs on the actual camera and sensor are still pending.Xperia ProjectorInformation gets even scarcer at this point, but we think we got the gist of it. The projector is housed in a rather compact tower-shaped enclosure, obviously intended to stand close to the projection surface, be it a wall or a table.Judging from the quick video demo, it is not particularly bright or powerful (our best guess would be around 500 lumens or so, but official specs are still pending). It is, however, equipped with touch input technology, so you can create a quick interactable experience, albeit not on a very large scale.Xperia AgentLast, we have a rather odd-looking vase-shaped device. It is equipped with a rotating camera, touch display and also voice interactions. Its main purpose seems to be a hub for home automation. The demo clip shows it automatically turning on the lights and greeting its owner upon return, but its IoT implications might actually extend further than...

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Sony introduces us to Xperia X series in a set of promo videos

Sony just pulled a joker out of its sleeve and announced a whole new series of smartphones the company successfully kept under wraps until now. Totaling three 5-inchers at this point in time, the X series spans the midrange to high-end segments and bears a newly-refined design language.The new range needs proper introduction and the PR team has kicked off with a series of promo videos highlighting key features. The Xperia XA sits lowest in the lineup and gets the most light-hearted presentation, also flaunting its edge-to-edge display.The Xperia X (a model in itself) gets the 23MP camera of the flagship and and the video addresses that. The video of the Xperia X Performance focuses on, you guessed it, power. You can watch the videos below and get acquainted with the new range in wait of actual release this...

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Sony Xperia X series is here - Xperia X, X Performance and XA

Sony kept it short and sweet - it launched a new phone line, the Xperia X, and the first three phones in it. Meet the Xperia X, XA and X Performance.Sony Xperia XAll three phones have 5" screens, Sony didn't announce phablets nor minis. Sony's traditional sleek design has been changed up a bit with a metal back. The phone has been painted with a "tone-on-tone approach," so the front and back are a single, continuous color. Color options include Graphite black, White, Lime Gold or Rose Gold.The "future-focused" Smart Capture camera features Sony's Predictive Hybrid Autofocus, which lets you pick a target and tracks it. The 23MP main camera can launch and snap a photo all in 0.6 seconds. The Xperia X has a 13MP selfie camera.The phone promises to bring Sony's awesome battery life - two days of use between charges (the battery is 2,620mAh). The other Sony trademark, great sound - stereo speakers outside, Hi-Res Audio and DNC inside.Sony Xperia XThe Sony Xperia X is powered by a Snapdragon 650 chipset with 3GB of RAM and runs Android 6.0 Marshmallow. It comes with 32GB of storage, expandable of course.Sony Xperia X PerformanceIf you need more power, the Sony Xperia X Performance gets you a Snapdragon 820 chipset (3GB RAM, 32GB storage). This one is waterproof too, IP68, while the other two are not.Other than that it has a 5" 1080p display as before and a seamless metal back painted in a continuous color. The Graphite Black and White options feature an exclusive hairline finish.You get the same 23MP camera with Hybrid AF and a 13MP selfie cam. The main camera can record 4K video and can boost ISO up to 12,800.Sony Xperia X PerformanceLike on the X, the power button on the Xperia X Performance is a fingerprint reader.Sony Xperia XAThe Sony Xperia XA is a more affordable version of the X. It has a 5" 720p screen and a 13MP main camera (8MP selfie). It's powered by a MediaTek MT6755 chipset (2GB RAM, 16GB storage). It will launch with Marshmallow.This one does not have a fingerprint reader, no stereo speakers either. The battery is smaller too, 2,300mAh.Sony Xperia...

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ZTE announces the Blade V7 and Blade V7 Lite

ZTE Blade V7 and ZTE Blade V7 Lite went official at the MWC today. Both are targeting the young people and those with young hearts, as ZTE likes to say, and both will become available in selected markets later this year.Both phones support smart gesture controls and run on the latest available Android 6.0 Marshmallow OS.ZTE Blade V7The ZTE Blade V7 is made entirely of metal and is thick just 3.5mm at its thinnest point. It packs a 5.2" 1080p display covered with a 2.5D glass, and runs on the MediaTek MT 6753 chipset with an octa-core 1.5GHz Cortex-A53 processor, Mali-T720 GPU, and 2GB of RAM.The Blade V7 features a 13MP rear camera with a dual-tone dual-LED flash. It has a 5MP front snapper, which can use the screen as a flash. The rest of the highlighted specs include 16GB expandable storage, LTE connectivity, and a 2,500 mAh battery.The Blade V7 will be available in Germany, Spain, South Africa, Ethiopia, and Mexico in the middle of 2016. The pricing is yet to be announced.ZTE Blade V7 LiteThe ZTE Blade V7 Lite utilizes a smaller 5" 720p display with a 2.5D glass, and it retains the aluminum unibody design. The chipset in charge of the Blade V7 Lite is MediaTek MT6735P with a quad-core 1.3GHz Cortex-A53 CPU, Mali-T720 GPU, and 2GB of RAM.The Blade V7 offers an 8MP rear camera with auto-focus and an LED flash, as well as another 8MP fixed-focus snapper at the front, also coupled with an LED flash. There is 16GB expandable storage, LTE connectivity, a 2,500 mAh battery, and a fingerprint scanner on the back.The Blade V7 Lite is scheduled to launch this spring in Russia, Mexico, Spain, Germany, and Thailand. Pricing and exact availability will be specified later.We spent some quality time with both devices at the ZTE's MWC booth. You can learn more about them here.ZTE Blade...

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Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 edge Euro pricing: off and on contract

Last night we saw US and UK pricing for the Samsung Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge, now we wake up to Euro prices.GermanyAmazon Germany lists both phones in Black, White and Gold. The Galaxy S7 costs Â€700 for the 32GB option and ships March 11. The Samsung Galaxy S7 edge is Â€800. MediaMarkt has the same pricing.T-Mobile Germany offers the Galaxy S7 for Â€39.95 upfront and Â€62.95 am month, the S7 edge is Â€139.95 upfront and the same Â€62.95 monthly. Note that the monthly charge is for the first 12 months of the 2-year contract, the second 12 months it's Â€69.95. Prices corrected, thanks Giorginho!Note that Amazon does not list the Gear VR. So you might want to pre-order from the Samsung website, which will net you a free Gear VR headset.SpainIn Spain MediMarkt charges Â€720 for the S7 and Â€820 for the S7 edge. Carrier Movil Spain has the S7 and S7 edge listed on its site, but there's no pricing yet.ItalyWe move on to Italy where the price is slightly higher, Â€730 and Â€830 respectively.All these prices are for the 32GB models, we didn't see any 64GB options.FinlandFinland has the priciest units yet - Â€750 for the S7 and Â€850 for the S7 edge. And if you pre-order you get a free Gear VR headset (worth Â€150 normally). Thanks for the info, Kristijan!NetherlandsThe Netherlands chiming in. Â€700 for the Galaxy S7 off contract and starts from Â€37 a month. The Galaxy S7 edge is Â€800 off and Â€41/month on contract. Pre-orders get a free Gear VR. Thanks for sending this in, Hans!SwitzerlandMediaMarkt Switzerland is charging CHF 720 for the S7 and CHF 820 for the S7 edge. Pre-orders get the Gear VR. Thanks, Somerandomguy!RomaniaOrange is asking Â€700 for the Galaxy S7 off contract, Â€350 upfront with contract. The S7 edge is Â€800 off, Â€440 upfront on contract. Vodafone is cheaper, charging Â€684 for S7 on contract. Off contract things depend on the monthly tax, it ranges from Â€630 upfront and Â€7.74/mo and Â€0 upfront and Â€86.19/mo. Mulțumiri, Lilian! PolandS7 - PLN 3199 (Â€730), S7 edge - PLN 3599 (Â€822). Dzięki, Adamtekl!EstoniaÂ€720 for S7, Â€820 for the S7 edge, Gear VR for pre-orders. TÃ¤nan, Marx!Thanks for the early morning tip,...

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vivo confirms 6GB RAM, SD820 for XPlay 5

Turns out the rumors were correct, as it has now been officially confirmed that vivo's upcoming XPlay 5 flagship will have a whopping 6GB RAM, making it the world's first smartphone to come with that much RAM. The confirmation came in the form of a teaser, which also revealed that the handset will be powered by SD820.The XPlay 5 was confirmed by the Chinese company last week, and just a day after that it was revealed that the device will be made official on March 1, which is just a week away from now. Aside from 6GB RAM and SD820, vivo has already confirmed that the phone will feature dual-curved display.Previous rumors have also suggested that the flagship will feature solar charging, as well as come with a 6-inch display, 16MP/8MP camera combo, and 4,300mAh battery. Given that the phone is nearing its announcement, we expect to see other key specs getting confirmed in the coming...

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Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 landing in India next week

Xiaomi has announced that its Redmi Note 3 smartphone will be launched in India next week - March 3 to be specific. The device is the company's first phone with a fingerprint sensor and a full-metal body.Specs-wise, the model that'll be launched in India is powered by the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 650 and sports a 5.5-inch 1080p display. It comes in 2GB/16GB and 3GB/32GB memory options, and packs in a 4,050mAh battery.In terms of camera, the model features a 16MP rear unit and a 5MP front shooter. Measuring 150 x 76 x 8.7mm and weighing in at 164g, the handset runs Android 5.0.2 (Lollipop). There's currently no information on exactly how much the device will cost in India - the Chinese price tag for the 16GB variant is RMB 999 (around $155).Registration details for the launch event can be accessed by heading to the Source link...

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Deal: Buy Galaxy S7 or S7 edge in US and get other 50% off

If you are in the US and are planning to purchase either of Samsung's newest flagships, here's a deal for you: the carrier is currently running a 'buy one, get second half-off' promo on the devices, allowing you to lease or buy one Galaxy S7 or S7 edge and get a second one for half the price."Get two Galaxy S7, two Galaxy S7 edge or one of each with this great deal," the carrier said in a press release. In addition, Sprint has also introduced a Galaxy Forever program, which lets you upgrade to the latest Galaxy smartphone any time after making 12 payments on a Sprint Lease.This means you can lease a Galaxy S7 or S7 edge from Sprint (which you can do starting March 11) and return it in exchange for the Galaxy S8 next year."We're inviting consumers to join the millions of customers who have switched to Sprint with an offer that lets everyone get their hands on each new generation of Samsung Galaxy smartphones from Sprint every year," said Marcelo Claure, Sprint CEO. "With Galaxy Forever, our customers can easily swap out their new GS7 or GS7 edge for the next generation after just 12 payments of less than $26 per month - that is less than a dollar a day. There has never been a better time to get your hands on the hottest Samsung Galaxy smartphones from Sprint."For more details, including pricing information, head to the Source link...

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These are the carrier deals for the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge in the UK

In case you missed, the US pricing and availability for the Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 edge is already out. However, if you are in the UK, you'll be glad to know that the flagships are already up for pre-order there. As for the pricing, here are the carrier deals for the devices in your country:EESamsung Galaxy S7EE is offering the 32GB Galaxy S7 at a monthly cost of £49.99 (for 24 months) and an upfront cost of £9.99.Samsung Galaxy S7 edgeThe edge variant (32GB model) can be yours for £9.99 upfront followed by £54.99 per month.Both handsets are available in Black Onyx and Gold Platinum color options.O2Samsung Galaxy S7O2 is offering the 32GB Galaxy S7 variant for £54 monthly and an upfront cost of £9.99.Samsung Galaxy S7 edgeThe edge version (32GB model), on the other hand, costs less - £9.99 upfront followed by £51 a month for 2 years.Color options for both flagships include Black Onyx and Gold Platinum.VodafoneSamsung Galaxy S7If you want to purchase the Galaxy S7 from Vodafone, you'll have to shell out £9 upfront followed by £50 a month for the next 24 months.Samsung Galaxy S7 edgeThe edge variant can be yours for as low as £9 upfront followed by 24 monthly instalments of £56 each.Black Onyx and Gold Platinum color variants are available for both devices.ThreeSamsung Galaxy S7Three UK is offering the Galaxy S7 (32GB model) for as low as £41 a month on a regular 2-year contract with an upfront payment of £29.Samsung Galaxy S7 edgeThe edge variant can be purchased for as low as £49 upfront followed by 24 monthly instalments of £47 a month.As with all other carriers mentioned here, Three also has both handsets in Black Onyx and Gold Platinum color options.Those pre-ordering the devices (from any of the carriers) before March 6 will receive their unit(s) on March 8, which is three days before their general release.Source (EE) | O2 | Vodafone | Three...

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Alcatel makes its new POP 4 line official

The Alcatel POP4 lineup is certainly devoid of any excitement, but one thing nobody can complain about is a lack of choice. The newly announced POP 4 family includes the Alcatel POP4, POP4+, and POP4S.In keeping with tradition, Alcatel took full advantage of the MWC venue for yet another year and made sure to update its POP family as well. This includes a total of three handsets with low to mid-range specs sheets.First up, we have the POP 4. It comes with a 5-inch 720p, IPS display, housed inside a body, measuring 140.7 x 71.4 x 7.99 mm. Plastic, as expected, is the material of choice across the entire lineup, which is not necessarily a bad thing, especially when you intend on keeping costs low. Under the hood, we find a basic quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 210 SoC, along with 1GB of RAM and just 8GB of onboard storage, thankfully expandable with up to 32GB more.Other features include Cat.4 LTE and a 2500 mAh battery. The camera setup consists of an 8MP primary shooter and a 5MP front-facing one, with 84.4 degrees wide-angle lens.Moving up in the food chain, we have the slightly upgraded POP 4+. Its display is 5.5 inches though the same resolution. Another change is the 1.5GB of RAM and 16GB of storage. The processor, camera, battery and everything else remains the same.Last, we have the top offer in the face of the POP 4S. Its footprint is similar and understandably so, as it does have the same 5.5-inch display, only with FullHD resolution. RAM is set at 2GB, while storage stays the same at 16GB. The processor is also quite a bit more powerful - the MediaTek MT6755M. The camera setup is also improved with a 13MP shooter on the back and the same 5MP on the front, and the battery is rated at 2960 mAh.A key aspect of the new POP 4 family is style and customizability. The new curved back design gives the handsets an extra touch of elegance and color plus pattern options are abundant: Hairline-Brushed, Leather, Wood and Baby Skin, to quote a few of the available covers.Also, since Alcatel has a history of selling devices in bulk to carriers around the world, it won't surprise us to see even the specs sheet tweaked once retail units eventually start to hit shelves.Make sure you check out our Alcatel POP4 hands-on from the MWC...

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**GSMArena** · 23-02-16, 13:52

As you probably know, Samsung finally made the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge official yesterday, following many months of leaks. We've gone hands-on with the two devices, we've taken an in-depth look at the camera they are sporting (paying special attention to the autofocus mechanism), and we've even seen a teardown of the S7 already. And now we have some new information about the camera which is included in both the Galaxy S7 and the S7 edge. Despite what many rumors had claimed, Samsung hasn't used its own Britecell sensor. This is obvious from the camera's specs, when you consider that the Britecell sensor has 1 micron pixel size, while the S7 duo employs one with pixels that are 40% larger. It turns out that the sensor Samsung is using for the S7 models is made by Sony, and its model number is IMX260. This follows in the footsteps of the IMX240 which was used last year in the Galaxy S6 line and the Note5. Both the Galaxy S7 and the S7 edge should use this Sony IMX260 sensor in all markets, which means image quality is going to be the exact same everywhere. Interestingly, the front-facing camera's sensor is identical to the one from 2015's flagships. On the other hand, it looks like Samsung has developed a custom audio chip for the S7 family. A device info app identifies this as the "Lucky CS47L91 Sound" - and "Project Lucky" was actually the codename for the Galaxy S7. So it could be that this is a custom-made chip by the Korean company. Hopefully it will enable higher-quality audio when compared to past top of the line Samsung...

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Samsung's Dual Pixel auto focus explained and why it's the best out there right now

Yesterday Samsung announced all the juicy details about its upcoming Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge smartphone and for us geeks, the camera was one of the most interesting bits of the announcement. Samsung is using the 1/2.5" Sony IMX260 sensor. Compared to the Galaxy S6, the new sensor has bigger individual pixels (1.44 microns) and the optics have a wider aperture (f/1.7). Samsung has also shaved off some of the height of the camera hump on the back, and it's now down to just 0.46mm. The Galaxy S7 duo camera also comes with something they call Dual Pixel autofocus. Among these tidbits the Dual Pixel autofocus technology took a back seat but we think it's the most advanced aspect of the module. In its essence, Dual Pixel is the same Phase Detect technology that top-tier smartphones, DSLRs and mirrorless cameras have been using for quite some time in one form or the other. However, Samsung chose to name it differently from regular Phase Detection autofocus because their latest implementation is unlike anything we've seen before on a smartphone. It's Phase Detection 2.0 for the smartphone world. We've seen our share of smartphones touting Phase Detect autofocus last year. They all use a hybrid autofocus solution, which combines the benefits of contrast detect and phase detect autofocus systems. Where Phase detection really shines is in good lighting where it allows hybrid autofocus systems to acquire accurate focus faster than conventional contrast detection systems. In its smartphone implementation phase detection usually relies on special photodiodes embedded into the pixels on the sensor. Apple even went as far as branding them as 'Focus pixels' when they announced the iPhone 6 - a proprietary term they came up with to describe conventional technology. These photodiodes, however, are scattered few and far between across the sensor surface and only as few as 5-10% of the total number of sensor pixels are phase detection enabled. Now, with Dual Pixel technology, Samsung has embbeded a phase detection photodiode in each and every pixel on the camera sensor. The camera can quickly obtain accurate focus on any objects in the frame regardless of its position. The system works impressively well - even by dedicated camera standards. And it's lightning fast too - take a look: Dual Pixel technology isn't new - it has already been featured in leading DSLR and mirrorless camera sensors, but it's superior to anything we've seen on a cameraphone. One thing's for sure - mobile photography is about to ascend to a whole new level this...

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**GSMArena** · 23-02-16, 13:52

Microsoft had a small presence at the MWC, mostly to show off the new Lumia 650. It's hard to pin down where this phone belongs - it combines a premium metal frame and OLED screen with low-end specs.

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Oppo announces Super VOOC - fully charging a battery in 15 minutes

Oppo held a special press event today at the MWC in Barcelona and announced a new Super VOOC charging, which will be utilized by future Oppo headsets. Unfortunately, they don't have a product to utilize it just yet. The Super VOOC is capable of recharging a 2,500 mAh battery in just 15 minutes. It can also achieve about 45% of charge in 5 minutes. The new VOOC charging works over both microUSB and USB Type-C ports and requires the new Super VOOC Flash Charger plug, a new special cable, and a connector made from high-quality military-grade materials. Oppo will be adding support for Super VOOC in its upcoming smartphones, once the technology is ready for mass production. The Super VOOC charges at 5V but is capable of directly transmitting the power to the battery without any voltage conversion. This way they are able to achieve up to 97% of charging efficiency. And here is more about the process: VOOC Flash Charge added an intelligent MCU chip (flash core) in the adapter in order to achieve revolutionary voltage open-loop and multi-stage, constant-current charging. VOOC Flash Charge creatively changes circuit topologies, meanwhile creates an all-side, five-level protection technique from the adapter to the interface as well as the device, securing the safety as well as the speed. Because of the difference in charging mechanism and efficiency, the temperature of a smartphone using VOOC Flash Charge remains significantly lower during the charging process than a phone using a high-voltage solution. VOOC Flash Charge-enabled devices will heat up by a maximum of only 3.3 degrees Celsius. Because temperatures can be regulated so effectively during charging with VOOC Flash Charge, the smartphone can safely be used during the charging process. For instance, you can Flash Charge your smartphone while surfing the Internet, watching videos, or playing games. Finally, you should know that if you decide to use a competitor's fast charger with an Oppo smartphone capable of Super VOOC, it will revert to regular slow charging "due to the temperature spikes caused by quick charging and screen brightening simultaneously." The Super VOOC is still experimental technology, but the company hopes to implement it in Oppo smartphones in the near...

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Samsung's Lens case offers lens attachments for the S7 and S7 edge

The Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 edge definitely caused a stir yesterday, but even after the show, Samsung still had quite a bit more to show fans at its spacious MWC booth. Samsung Lens case Besides a slew of typical accessories, the Korean giant also unveiled its official take on external lenses for its new flagship models. The concept is not new, but seeing it done in an official accessory and with a huge emphasis on quality is quite a different experience. You can find our initial impressions of the Lens case, as well as samples in the review...

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Skype to pull the plug on its Qik video messaging service next month

Microsoft-owned Skype has announced that its Qik video messaging service - which was launched back in 2014 - will be shut down in March. The company said the last day the service will be available for use will be March 24. The Skype Qik app allowed users to record and send 42-second videos either to a single recipient or a whole group. In addition, users could also record 5-second videos, dubbed Qik Fliks, that can be stored and used as canned responses. Skype explains that since the app was launched, "we have learned that many of you are already doing these things in Skype, and as a result, we migrated some of Qik's most used features into the Skype app you already know and love." "We've enabled video messaging in Skype and fun features such as filters, to make your messages even more personal. To send a video message in Skype today, simply look for the video message icon in the media bar." And that's the reason the company thought it's time to pull the plug on...

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Samsung Galaxy S7 to be available in 60 countries in first wave of its global launch

While we already know that Samsung's newest flagships will go on sale starting March 11, the date has now been officially confirmed by the company's mobile chief Koh Dong-jin. He also revealed that the flagship will be available in 60 countries in the first wave of its global launch. "The Galaxy S7 is slated to go on sale in 60 countries on March 11. We expect its sales to surpass shipments of the previous model, the Galaxy S6," Dong-jin said on the sidelines of the ongoing Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. Estimates say around 38 million S6 units were shipped last year. Commenting on S7's features, he said, "We tried to add as many features as possible (to the Galaxy S7) that were discontinued in the previous models." He, however, said that more work needs to be done at the hardware level. "Although there are still things to overcome in terms of hardware, I believe it is not a big...

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World's first 6GB RAM phone vivo XPlay 5 leaks in renders

Given that vivo's upcoming flagship - the XPlay 5 - will be made official on March 1, it isn't surprising that teasers and leaks related to the device are now coming thick and fast. We already know that XPlay 5 will be the world's first smartphone to come with 6GB RAM. Plus, it will be powered by SD820, and feature dual-curved display. Now, a few alleged renders of the handset have leaked online, giving us what could be the first look of the phone. Looks beautiful, isn't it? Meanwhile, vivo is continuing with its teaser campaign, revealing key specs and features of the XPlay 5. The latest teaser from the company reveals that the device will feature Hi-Fi 3.0...

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Le Max Pro becomes world's first SD820 smartphone to go on sale

Turns out the rumors were true. The Le Max Pro from LeEco (formerly LeTV) became the world's first SD820 smartphone to go on sale after a limited number (1,000) of units were made available for purchase today. There are, however, a couple of interesting facts about the sale, which started at 12pm China time. Firstly, the units up for grabs were not commercial models, but engineering models instead. And secondly, they were available for just CNY 1,999 (around $305) - earlier rumors had suggested the device will cost somewhere between CNY 3,500 and CNY 3,700 ($530-$570). Specs-wise, the Le Max Pro sports a 6.33-inch QHD touchscreen, and comes with 4GB RAM, 21 MP rear camera, ultrasonic fingerprint scanner, a USB Type-C port, and 3,400 mAh battery. It runs Android 6.0...

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Sony Xperia X to carry Â€599 price tag in Europe, Xperia XA to cost Â€299

Of the three X series phones Sony unveiled yesterday at the MWC, we now have some information about the European pricing for two - the Xperia X and XA. While the former carries a price tag of Â€599, the latter will cost you Â€299. Both devices are currently listed on Amazon Germany, which is taking pre-orders for them. The Xperia X Performance doesn't appear to be listed - its absence further corroborates reports that the device won't be launched in the country. Over in the US, Sony is taking pre-registrations for the Xperia X and X Performance. There's, however, currently no word on their pricing and availability. Source 1 2 |...

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WhatsApp's Android beta program goes live on Google Play

WhatsApp has finally launched its Android beta program on Google's Play Store, making it easier for early adopters to test latest pre-release builds of the mobile messaging service. If you're interested in joining the program, first head to the service's Play Store beta listing, and then tap on the 'Become a Tester' option (make sure you're logged into your Gmail account at this point). Once done, just update the WhatsApp app (or download if you don't have it already) by heading to Google Play. Before you join the program, do keep in mind that testing versions may be unstable or have a few...

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Sony Xperia X Performance up for pre-registration in US, won't be coming to UK and Germany

As you might already know, Sony announced a trio of X series phones - the Xperia X, X Performance, and XA - at the ongoing Mobile World Congress yesterday. Out of the three, the X Performance is the most powerful - it packs in a SD820 SoC. Now, we have some information on the device's availability. The handset is coming to the US for sure. A quick look at Sony's US website reveals that the company has already started accepting pre-registrations for the device (as well as for the Xperia X) in the country. There's, however, currently no information on exactly when it will be launched in the US, and whether or not it will be available through carriers. As for the X Performance's European availability, the phone isn't coming to the United Kingdom. This was seemingly confirmed by the marketing material shared by the UK arm of the Japanese company. As you can see in the image below, there's no mention of X Performance, while other phones unveiled at the MWC are listed. In addition, the phone is also missing from the announcements made by carriers in the UK. Aside from the UK, reports say the handset won't be available in Germany as well, although we're yet to hear an official confirmation on this. Source |...

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T-Mobile posts Galaxy S7 and S7 edge unboxing video completely underwater

T-Mobile decided to make a video that will catch people's attention as well as raise awareness about the new Galaxy S7's IP68 immersion rating meaning that it is dust resistant and can be submerged underwater up to 5 feet for up to 30 minutes at a time. Des, T-Mobile's product manager, filmed a video completely underwater of him with a snorkel and T-Mobile retail uniform, unboxing a Galaxy S7. And yes, he took the entire box under water and unboxed it, underwater. He is murmuring the entire video because of all that water, so the video has had to include subtitles to understand what he's saying. He also turns the phone on, takes tests shots with the camera, and even takes a video call, all underwater. The Galaxy S7 was announced this past weekend at MWC in Barcelona. It features a 5.1" AMOLED display, Snapdragon 820 CPU paired with Adreno 530 GPU, 12.1MP camera, IP68 immersion rating, and will be available in Black, White, Gold, and...

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Google to create RCS client for Android, enhanced SMS for all carriers

Carriers are looking at options that might finally replace standard SMS messaging with Google's involvement. Google is going to create a new standard messaging app to take advantage of RCS messaging across carriers between Android devices on worldwide carriers. RCS stands for Rich Communication Service and it's like an enhanced version of SMS offering high-resolution photo sharing, instant group chats, read receipts, and more. The GSMA Intelligence group, responsible for bringing us major events like MWC in Barcelona and Shanghai, reports that Google will be working to provide a standardized RCS client for Android users. Ultimately, these features are nothing new to iPhone users who have had iMessage for years now. But these features could finally be available to Android users with a more widely adopted standardized protocol of sending messages and content back and forth. Source |...

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Verizon has been field testing 5G technologies, aims for 2017 launch

Verizon put a release today from MWC in Barcelona, Spain. Big Red has been working with a few companies to test the blazing fast speeds that 5G technologies can bring to customers. Verizon has been working with other companies like Apple, Intel, Samsung, Nokia, Qualcomm, and Ericsson to develop components and technologies to incorporate 5G into reality. Verizon calls this group of companies its own "5G Technology Forum". Verizon plans to ".expand this testing significantly over the next several months." and work closely with other large wireless companies in Asia to aid in reaching its 5G launch goal of 2017. The video below shows the various technologies and testing scenarios used to test these new 5G speeds like testing in office and home settings, the latter of which had several TVs streaming 4K content through the 5G connection. Verizon's more recent experience with Fios Cable Internet over the last few years will surely aid in its own development of 5G wireless technologies. This sure reminds us of Samsung's original plan to launch 5G service in the year 2020 and cuts the estimated launch time by about 3 years thanks to the help of the other members of Verizon's 5G Technology Forum. Source |...

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Galaxy S7 and S7 edge don't have Samsung's music and video players preinstalled

Samsung will not be shipping the newly unveiled Galaxy S7 and S7 edge with two of the apps we've gotten used to having on its handsets. We're talking about Samsung's music and video playing apps. These will not be part of the package you'll see when you first turn on either smartphone. Instead, you will get Google Play Music and Play Movies bundled with the two flagships. If you do find yourself missing Samsung's own music and video players, rest assured that they will only ever be a few taps away, as part of the 'Galaxy Essentials' pack in the Galaxy Store. From there you can quickly download either one of them (or both) and start using it (or them) in no time. On the other hand, Microsoft's app suite will come preinstalled on the S7 duo - think Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneDrive, and Skype. And that makes sense when you consider that Microsoft is probably paying Samsung for the inclusion of these apps on its...

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Volvo is bringing Spotify to its cars

Today at MWC in Barcelona Swedish car maker Volvo has announced that it's bringing a native Spotify app to its cars, starting with the new XC90, S90, and V90. The app will be preinstalled in Volvo's Sensus user interface, which makes use of "the large real-estate of the tablet-like touch screen" in the aforementioned models. You've been able to listen to Spotify tunes in your Volvo car even up until this point, but only via Bluetooth or Apple CarPlay. The new native Spotify app will enable "a much richer experience and a search functionality that non-native applications cannot deliver", according to the press release. The app will be accessible "this spring" to Volvo owners in every country where Spotify is available. It will "get the most out of the Bowers & Wilkins sound system" that you can find in the Volvo XC90, S90, and V90. Use of the app will require a Spotify Premium subscription of course, with a 30-day free trial being an option for those who have never used the service...

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Samsung Gear S2 classic 3G goes on pre-order at Verizon tomorrow

Last week Samsung announced that the 3G-capable version of its Gear S2 classic smartwatch will become available in the US on March 11. At that moment the Korean company mentioned AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon as the carriers which are going to sell the first ever device to sport an eSIM. And now one of those networks has finally come out and shared the full details of the Gear S2 classic 3G's launch in its stores. We're talking about Verizon. The watch will be up for pre-order from Big Red online tomorrow, on February 23. It will be priced at $399 outright, or $349 with a new two-year contract. If you already have a service agreement with the carrier, you'll be able to add the Gear S2 classic's connection for just $5 per month (this is the price of the service, not the device, mind you). Aside from the network connectivity, the 3G version of the Gear S2 classic comes with the same specs as the non-3G iteration. It has a 1.2-inch 360x360 circular AMOLED touchscreen, a 1 GHz dual-core processor, 512MB of RAM, 4GB of storage, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, wireless charging, and a 300 mAh battery. It runs Tizen, it's IP68 certified for dust and water resistance, and it comes with an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a heart rate monitor, a barometer, and ambient light...

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LG is already mocking Samsung's Galaxy S7

Yesterday the two biggest Korean smartphone makers both unveiled their respective flagship smartphones for 2016. The Samsung Galaxy S7 and LG G5 each have their own strengths, of course, and you can read more about those in our detailed hands-on reports for them. Today, mere 24 hours after they've both had their big events, LG has already taken to Twitter to mock its main competitor's new smartphone. Think not what your phone can do, but what you can do with your phone #LGG5 #G5TheRealDeal pic.twitter.com/P3m9jbU00vÂ— LG Jordan (@LGJordan) February 22, 2016 LG obviously thinks its G5 is better than the Galaxy S7, and wants you to know that too. Apparently the number "7" is better used in a list of 'friends of the G5' instead of the name of a new handset. Or something along those lines. LG clearly wants to emphasize the modularity of the G5, which is one area where Samsung's Galaxy S7 simply can't compete. On the other hand, it remains to be seen whether this will actually have any effect on sales of the two devices - LG would like that to be a positive one for the G5 and a negative effect for the S7. But given the history of the two brands, that could be unlikely. Thanks for the tip,...

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Here's what we know about LG G5's US availability and pricing so far

As you might already know, LG's newest flagship smartphone - the G5 - was unveiled at the ongoing Mobile World Congress yesterday. If you are in the US, and are planning to purchase the device, here's what we know about its availability and pricing so far: AT&T AT&T has confirmed that it will carry the LG G5 as well as its companion devices including the 360 CAM virtual reality camera, LG 360 VR, and the LG 360 Sound Bluetooth speaker. The pricing and availability-related information will be shared in the coming weeks. Sprint Sprint will also offer the flagship handset along with the LG 360 Cam and LG TONE Platinum companion devices. The carrier said that pricing and availability date will be announced soon. Verizon Verizon said it will start offering the G5 as well as "select" companion devices this spring. Silver and titanium color variants of the phone will be available. T-Mobile T-Mobile just confirmed that it'll carry the flagship smartphone. All other details including the device's price and availability will be made available later. Online retailers Among major online retailers in the US, only Best Buy has currently announced that it'll be carrying the handset, with pre-orders beginning March 18. So, as you can see, details are scarce at the moment, but the good news is that all of the Big Four US carriers will be carrying the device. We'll share more information on the G5's availability and pricing as soon as we hear something about it. Source (AT&T) | Sprint | Verizon | Best...

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**GSMArena** · 24-02-16, 14:00

Microsoft has made yet another app for Android, this time a keyboard. The Microsoft Hub Keyboard looks like a simple keyboard at first but it has a few tricks up its sleeve.The keyboard has four main features. The clipboard feature shows you text you had previously copied so you can paste it with a couple of taps. The documents feature lets you login to your Office 365 account and paste the URL of the files by typing their names. The contacts feature lets you type the name of the contact and paste their details by tapping on the suggestions above. Lastly, there is a built-in translator, which can translate the text you're typing to any other language.That aside, the keyboard is extremely basic and does not even have autocorrect, which makes typing extremely difficult. There also doesn't seem to be any way to access emoji if you're using this keyboard. Some of these drawbacks makes the keyboard hard to use for basic typing and the addition of the features above doesn't really make up for that. Would have been better if Microsoft had worked on the fundamentals first before adding more features.Download Â•...

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DisplayMate: Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 edge have 'Best Performing Displays'

Samsung has had the best mobile displays in recent years and it should come as no surprise that DisplayMate has crowned the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge "Best Performing Display."The Galaxy S6 wore the crown last year (until the Note5, anyway), but the S7 generation brings some strong improvements. The 5.1" screen on the S7 is built on a hard glass substrate while the curved 5.5" S7 edge screen uses a flexible plastic substrate.The new screens are significantly brighter - 24% better than the S6. This improves sunlight legibility. By the way, AMOLED displays (not just the S7 display) can be used with polarized glasses, so you won't be blinded by the sun.The display can go in the polar opposite direction too - the Super Dimming Mode can limit the brightness to a mere 2 nits.This will prevent eye strain even in the darkest environments.Automatic brightness is now intelligent - it learns what brightness levels you like in the different lighting conditions and matches your preferences automatically.The Always On display is a new addition to the S-series too. It senses when the phone is face down (or in a pocket/bag) and switches off, so it doesn't waste power. When it's on, it uses between 50mW and 90mW with a brightness of 60 nits (less if the phone is in a dark room).In terms of image quality, Basic screen mode matches the S6 and Note5 as the "most color accurate displays." Photo mode switches from sRGB to Adobe RGB (which is 17% larger) and the Galaxy S7 offers accuracy rarely possible in consumer...

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Xiaomi Mi 5 prices start at $300, will be available on March 1

Xiaomi just revealed its flagship Mi 5 smartphone and amazed everyone at the Mobile World Congress with its affordability. There are three versions of the phone, which is geared towards the Chinese market, and will start at just $306 (CNY 2000).For that price, you get Snapdragon 820 chipset, 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage. If you want 64GB of internal storage, the price goes up to $352 (CNY 2300). Finally, the Xiaomi Mi 5 Pro with ceramic back will have 4GB of RAM and 128GB of storage for the price of $413 (CNY 2700).Pre-orders for the Xiaomi Mi 5 are currently open in China and the release date for the device is March 1. Currently, there's no official information whether the company will sell the device outside...

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Xiaomi announces Mi 5 at MWC 2016

Xiaomi just dived straight into the international convention scene with its first ever global stage handset announcement. This, of course, is the eagerly-anticipated Xiaomi Mi 5.The device is a flagship offer through and through, definitely worthy of rubbing shoulders with the likes of the LG G5 or the Samsung Galaxy S7, so also taking into account the growing international interest towards the brand, we can expect global announcements like this one to become a trend.The Xiaomi Mi 5 comes with a trendy curved design on the back much like the Xiaomi Mi Note. In fact, the exterior of the Mi5 is heavily inspired by the Mi Note, which is very popular among fans. The Xiaomi Mi 5 is equipped with a 5.15-inch IPS display with a 1080p resolution, ultra-bright 16-LED backlighting (as opposed to 12LEDs), and almost no side bezels for an exquisite look. Sunlight Display technology is upgraded as well and promises contrast adjustment on a per-pixel level.Below the screen there is a physical home button, which is also a fingerprint reader. This is actually a first for Xiaomi. The elegant body of the Mi 5 measures exactly 69.20 x 144.55 x 7.25mm, so it's just a tad thicker than the Mi Note. It is also surprisingly light, tipping the scale at 129g with a 3D glass back and including the fairly big 3000 mAh battery. While the regular version will have a glass back, there will also be a higher-end ceramic back option called Xiaomi Mi5 Pro.But, according to VP Hugo Barra, who led the presentation himself, the main treat hides under the hood of the Mi 5.A recurring theme during the presentation was speed. The phone is allegedly fast on a whole different level. In part, this is thanks to Qualcomm's top of the line Snapdragon 820 SoC. This is backed up by 3GB or 4GB of fast LPDDR4 RAM for a snappy Android experience. Interestingly enough, the entry level 32GB one has a clock speed of 1.8 GHz and 3GB of RAM, the 64GB has the same amount of memory and a processor speed of 2.15GHz. The Pro simply adds another gig of RAM. Storage has also received a major upgrade with a focus on speed. Instead of using eMMC, the Xiaomi Mi 5 can be picked up with up to 128GB of UFS 2.0 memory, which promises significant increases of 80% and more over eMMC 5.0 (think what Samsung did with the Galaxy S6). The Snapdragon 820 chip also supports Quick Charge 3.0.There is also a significant increase in network connectivity. Thanks to technologies like 3x Carrier aggregation, the onboard 4G+ or 4G Advanced is capable of theoretical Cat.12 LTE speeds of up to 600 Mbps. VoLTE is also included. NFC is now also smarter with card virtualization and write mode. The camera setup on the Xiaomi Mi5 is also very impressive at 16MP with an aperture of f/2.0 and 4-axis optical image stabilization, which is a brand new technology as well. The sensor itself is the Sony IMX 298, which comes with phase detection auto focus and deep trench isolation technology. It is a worthy shooter for a 2016 flagship, and interestingly enough, Xiaomi has managed to fully tuck it inside the body, so there is no camera bump. Naturally, in combination with the powerful Snapdragon 820 chip, it can record 4K video as well. On the front, we have a 4MP UltraPixel camera - lifted from the Mi Note.On the software side, the Xiaomi Mi 5 is running on the company's famous and quite popular MIUI 7 OS. It is still based on Android, but it is now version 6.0...

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Xiaomi announces Mi 4s in China

As we reported before, Xiaomi also announced the new Mi 4s before the Mi 5 launch in Beijing, China.Xiaomi Mi 4sThe Mi 4s seems somewhat like the successor to last year's Mi 4i, with its slim design and impressive but not too impressive spec sheet. It looks like it will slot somewhere between the existing Mi 4 and the upcoming Mi 5.The Mi 4s has a glass panel on the front and back, sandwiching the metal frame in the middle. On the front is a 5-inch 1920x1080 resolution display, which keeps the dimensions to a reasonable 139.26 x 70.76 x 7.8mm and the phone weighs just 133g.Inside, there is a new Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 chipset with 3GB of RAM and 64GB of storage space with microSD slot. On the back is a 13 megapixel camera with PDAF and two-tone LED flash. There's also a fingerprint sensor.Connectivity-wise, the phone supports 4G+ with VoLTE, dual SIM and USB Type-C. The phone runs on MIUI 7 on top of Android. It is powered by a 3260mAh battery with Qualcomm Quick Charge 2.0 support.The 64GB model is priced at 1699 Chinese Yuan ($260). It will be available in black, white, gold, and...

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PlayStation VR press event set for next month, invites sent out

Sony has sent out press invites for a PlayStation VR event which will be held next month - March 15 to be precise. The invitation says the event will begin with a presentation on the headset followed by hands-on demo of the device.There's still no information on when the headset will go on sale. If you recall, GameStop CEO Paul Raines, said in a recent interview that they "will launch the Sony product this fall." However, we expect the launch to be inline with the "first half of 2016" release time-frame already promised by Sony.As for the price, the PlayStation VR was spotted listed on the websites of three different Swiss online retailers last month, carrying price tags in the range of CHF 499 - CHF 552.45, or $500 - $555 at current exchange...

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Xiaomi could announce Mi 4S alongside Mi 5 today

Xiaomi is all set to unveil its Mi 5 flagship today in China. If you recall, there have been rumors that the company could announce another device at the event. Looks like now we have some idea on what that device would be.A leaked poster from Chinese retailer Suning reveals the Xiaomi Mi 4S, and reports say this would be the second device that will be unveiled at the event.The leak also reveals some of the Mi 4S' specs. It is powered by a Snapdragon 808 chipset and sports a 5-inch full HD display. The handset features a 13MP rear camera with Phase Detection Auto Focus (PDAF) and dual LED flash, as well as a fingerprint sensor at the back.Needless to say, none of this has been officially confirmed. But that won't take long as the event is set to begin...

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Meizu Pro 5 mini won't see the light of day

For those who were looking forward to the mini variant of the Meizu Pro 5 smartphone, there is some bad news: the 4.7-inch device won't see the light of day. This was confirmed by the Chinese company's founder and CEO Huang Zhang on Weibo.The reason cited was that the recent earthquake in Taiwan has adversely affected their supply, and most of their inventory has been damaged. Hanging on to the Pro 5 mini would have delayed the device beyond acceptable limits so they decided to ditch the project altogether.Zhang said the company will now focus on the Pro 6 flagship instead. So we now know that a Pro 5 successor is in the...

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MWC 2016: Samsung's Galaxy S6 edge and Gear S2 bag best smartphone and connected device awards

The Samsung Galaxy S6 edge smartphone - which is the predecessor to the South Korean company's newest Galaxy S7 edge flagship - has won the "Best Smartphone 2015" at this year's Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.Not only this, the tech giant's Gear S2 smartwatch - which comes in standard, 3G, Classic, and now Classic 3G variants - was named "Best Connected Consumer Electronic Device" in the Best Mobile Handsets & Devices category."We are honored to be recognized for our industry-leading technology," said DJ Koh, President of Mobile Communications at Samsung Electronics. "At Samsung we remain committed to providing mobile devices that are inspired by consumers and always underpinned by a focus on progress and...

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Watch the Xiaomi Mi 5 launch event here

One of the eagerly-anticipated debuts at MWC 2016 comes courtesy of Xiaomi in the Mi 5 flagship. The Chinese giant has been enjoying high domestic and international interest, especially over the last year and, this time around, the company's VP Hugo Barra has decided to dive head-on into one of the industry's major events where he will be hosting the global launch of the Xaiomi Mi 5. Mind you, the announcement is global, but judging from the company's track record, availability for the handset probably won't be.The event is set for later today February 24 at 9:00 CET and you can follow along using the live stream below.As for the Xiaomi Mi5, it is still shrouded in a lot of mystery, mainly concerning all its alleged variants. The most recent leak suggested it would have two versions. The base model is expected to have a 5.2" 2K (1440x2560) IPS display and should run on Snapdragon 820 chip with 4GB of RAM. The rest of the specs include a 16MP rear snapper and a front 8MP selfie shooter. Another new feature is expected to be the fingerprint reader in the home button on the front.Tune back in when the event kicks off to see how close these rumors came to the real...

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No Xperia Z6, X series to replace Z series, Sony confirms

Update: Sony Bulgarian account contradicts Sony Germany account, says X series is not a replacement but a completely new line instead. Most probably neither knows what they are talking about.Original story follows:While we were expecting to see as many as five of them, Sony has confirmed that there won't be any Xperia Z6 at all. The confirmation came in the form of a Facebook comment by the German arm of the Japanese company.In addition, the company also revealed that the new Xperia X series of smartphones - which was announced at the ongoing MWC in Barcelona - will replace the Z series. "A Z6 will not exist. The new X series is under a modified concept that meets the needs of our users even more accessible," the Google translated version of the comment read.So, what does this mean. Well, going by what all Sony has confirmed, it'd be safe to assume that the the new SD820-powered Xperia X Performance is Sony's flagship for the year. The other two phones that the company unveiled at MWC are the Xperia X and XA.Source 1 2 |...

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Quick demo video reveals HoloLens Start Menu and navigation

A tutorial video of the Actiongram App has been posted to YouTube and shows a basic demo with the HoloLens including a view of the Start Menu and basic navigation of the Actiongram app.If you've never seen it before, HoloLens a pretty interesting way of literally introducing PC elements into your physical environment and these are among the first leaks toward a semi to fully-finished Start Menu.The Start Menu in the short clip shows a top cluster with status information like Wi-Fi connection signal, time, and volume. Cortana makes an appearance right above Microsoft's Live Tiles and two shortcuts perhaps to take photo or video.This same top cluster makes its way to the All Apps window and to navigate between apps, the user is required to point up or down onto a scrolling bar.Check out the YouTube video below to see the quick demo of the what the Holo Lens can do.Source |...

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Xiaomi skyrocketed number of wearables sold in 2015

Xiaomi has shown the most growth in the wearables business, growing a full 951% from the year before. It achieved this feat by selling very low priced wearable tech in China. For example, the Mi Band Pulse only costs $13 and capable of continuous heart rate monitoring.Apple has yet to officially announce an accurate number of Apple Watch units sold, even in its financial reports. The IDC has put out numbers for the year and for the last quarter of 2015 as to who were the best performing wearables companies worldwide by number of units sold.For Q4 and including the past Holiday Season, Apple placed 2nd in the number of units sold in the quarter with 4.1 million Apple Watches sold worldwide. Fitbit sold the best amount of wearables at 8.1 million in just Q4 and a total of 20 million units for the whole year.This is Apple's first fiscal year selling Apple Watches and it has already snagged the top 3 spot worldwide for the entire year. Apple will keep improving more and more, but Xiaomi's ultra-low price point could potentially slide them to the top of the list in the next couple of years or so.Source |...

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Viber 5.8 update for iOS, 3D Touch and iPad Split View support

For those of you using Viber on an iOS device, you'll be happy to hear that the free message and calling app is being updated to version 5.8 which brings support for 3D Touch, Split and Slide views on iPad.Also new is the ability to view all photos shared in a single conversation and the ability to see which friends have read or liked your messages in a group chat. The app's search function has also been updated to yield better results.Viber is a free messaging and calling app that allows users from all over the world to share images, videos and audio clips with each other for absolutely no charge. The VoIP service launched in December 2010 and is available cross-platform on various mobile software and PC OSes including Linux, Windows and MAC OS.Source |...

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Oppo filed patent for UI theme to change color depending on user's outfit

Back in January, Oppo quietly filed a patent for a UI feature. A tipster has found such a patent that will automatically adapt to the user's clothing color and calculate the correct color to change the UI's theme to.Many phones today are available in very neutral colors perhaps for this reason: black, white, silver, or gold might match with any outfit. Oppo wants to take it a step further and incorporate a phone's UI theme to match your outfit.Details of the patent state that the phone would be able to take an image and analyze the colors of a piece of clothing. This RGB value would be calculated by averaging the colors found in the image. Then, a theme with a variably changing color will show a theme with new accent colors.Would this kind of feature interest you? Anybody can do this even today if you buy a bunch of cheap cases of different colors. You can pop off a case, and snap on another color that matches your outfit for the day.It's not known if such a feature will ever actually make it to smartphones any time soon, but Oppo found it necessary to patent the idea before another similarly phonetic company decides to go crazy with filing patents.More recently, Oppo introduced a new lightning fast charging standard, capable of fully charging a 2,500mAh battery in about 15...

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YouTube app for iPad Pro finally supports native resolution, no more pixel stretching

Today, Google finally pushed out an update to the YouTube app, specifically for the iPad Pro. Since the iPad Pro's launch, users were only able to use the YouTube app for the iPad's resolution.This means the iPad Pro was displaying the same amount of pixels as the iPad Air, therefore stretching all the pixels and made it rather unpleasant to navigate YouTube and watch videos.This update brings the YouTube to the iPad pro in its native resolution of 2732 x 2048px. It also squashes a few bugs but has not yet been updated to support the iPad Pro's Split View or Picture-in-Picture mode.If you don't want to use the official YouTube app or need to view YouTube videos in Split View while you write a research paper, there are a bunch of third-party apps that can play YouTube videos and support Split View and Picture-in-Picture.The iPad Pro is a 12.9 inch Apple tablet with available keyboard attachment running Apple's mobile iOS starting at $799 in the US.Source |...

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Huawei Honor 6 gets Android 6.0 Marshmallow update

The Huawei Honor 6 is now being updated to Android 6.0 Marshmallow. Users in India are reporting receiving the OTA update, which weighs in around 700MB and updates the build number to H60-L04C675B810 and the OS to the newest major release of Android.The update is rolling out slowly for now and may not be available to all devices, particularly locked units which should get the update a bit later. You should check your phone to see if the update is available on your...

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LG G5 vs G4 vs. iPhone 6s vs. GoPro: Camera shootout

One thing is for sure, LG didn't play it safe - the LG G5 turned V10's dual-camera setup 180°. Unlike previous dual-camera setups, this one allows users to capture photos with a traditional FoV, wide-angle shots or both at the same time. We did an impromptu shootout with both G5 cameras, pitting them against various well-respected opponents.

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**GSMArena** · 24-02-16, 14:00

It's not every day that a phone maker partners with a company known for creating mobile apps in order to design a new handset, but that's exactly what's going on with Cubot and Cheetah Mobile. They're both Chinese companies, but that hasn't stopped them from jointly unveiling the CheetahPhone at MWC in Barcelona today.Unlike many other Chinese devices, this one is officially on its way to Europe, where you'll be able to pre-order it from Amazon for Â€199 sans contract. Pre-orders will start on March 20, and the phone will start shipping at some point in April. After that, it will also be launched in Africa.So what do you get for that amount of money? Well, the CheetahPhone packs a 5.5-inch 1080p touchscreen, a 13 MP Samsung-made rear camera with LED flash, and an 8 MP selfie snapper. It's powered by the MediaTek MT6753 chipset, which comes with a 1.5 GHz octa-core Cortex-A53 CPU and the Mali-T720 GPU. Built-in storage is 32GB, which is complemented by 10GB of cloud storage and a microSD card slot. 3GB of RAM will ensure the apps running in the background never have to close because of low memory. A fingerprint scanner is on the back.The CheetahPhone runs Android 6.0 Marshmallow, on top of which there's the Cubot launcher which has been optimized by Cheetah Mobile. All of the Cheetah Mobile apps come preinstalled, and they are deeply integrated into the UI. Its makers boast that the CheetahPhone is exactly as long and as wide as the Samsung Galaxy S7 edge, though not as slim. The battery capacity is still a mystery...

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Microsoft updates Next Lockscreen for Android

In case you forgot, Microsoft has this useful Next Lockscreen app for Android, which replaces your default lockscreen. It has been around since late October 2014.The app has been updated quite a few times throughout the years, sometimes with new features. Today, the Next Lockscreen gets another major update with new functionalities and bug fixes.The new version of Next Lockscreen for Android supports PIN, pattern, and fingerprint (if available) unlock. The smart lock can be based on location (work, home).The location awareness also allows the new Next Lockscreen to change your wallpapers based on your location.A new feature called Smart Contacts premieres with the new version. The Next Lockscreen learns the contacts you communicate with the most and will offer shortcuts for them in the lockscreen.The Next Lockscreen retains its previous features - Weather, App shortcuts, Calendar, Music controls, quick access to the camera, flashlight, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, among others.You can get the new version from the Play...

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**GSMArena** · 25-02-16, 14:10

The Pebble Time smartwatch has received a price cut in the US. Daily deal aggregator and online retailer Groupon has the timepiece listed on its website for $135, down from its MSRP of $200 (the device is usually available for around $150).That's not all of it. You'll get an additional 15% discount upon entering the coupon code SALE3. This brings down the cost of the watch to $115 (or around $125 if you include taxes). Shipping is free. It's a limited time deal - the listing currently shows less than 14 days left until the promo expires.Just to recall, the smartwatch went on sale in the US back in July last year, and in December it received an update that included the ability track health without the need for a third party app.Source |...

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Sony officially confirms that future Xperia Z phones won't happen

As most Sony fans are surely aware, the OEM's signature "Z" series has been caught up in an end-of-life crisis for a few days now, with its fate hanging in the balance ever since the MWC introduction of the new X line of handsets.Today Sony finally issued an official statement on the matter and everything seems clear, but it is definitely not what many would call good news. Short and rather grim, it reads:The Xperia Z line has reached its culmination - Xperia X series represents a new chapter and evolution of our product strategy. Whilst the Xperia Z series was all about bringing the best of Sony's advanced technologies to smartphones, Xperia X series is based on bringing smart, adaptive Sony user experiences across camera, battery performance and hardware / software design.So, it is official - the legendary Z line will be no more, despite our previous expectations of a rich Z6 family. It also sounds like the new X series will be more or less taking its place.However, there seems to be yet another grim forecast in the statement. While Sony is clearly attempting to soften the blow with adjectives such as "smart" and "adaptive", the real intention seems to be a new focus on a wider mid-range device lineup. This can already be seen to some extent in the Xperia X, XA and even the Xperia X Performance, which despite its Snapdragon 820 SoC, powerful camera and most other Sony bells and whistles, still lacks behind the Z5 Premium in the display department. Still, the move could prove a vital step to saving Sony's already struggling mobile business and expanding its market reach. Plus, the first trio of Xperia X devices, might not have mindblowing innovation to offer, but we still found them to be excellent devices in our hands-on...

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Foxconn acquires Sharp in deal worth $6.2 billion

Just over a month after there were reports that Foxconn is in talks to acquire Sharp, the deal has been sealed for a total of JPY 700 billion ($6.2 billion), according to Japanese financial newspaper Nikkei. Foxconn was earlier said to have made a $5.1 billion bid.It's worth mentioning that the Taiwan-based iPhone manufacturer, which was formally known as Hon Hai Precision Industry, was not the only bidder for Sharp - the Innovation Network Corporation of Japan was also in the race.The state-controlled fund, which was said to be interested in keeping Sharp ownership inside Japan, reportedly offered the Japanese company a JPY 300 billion injection as well as a JPY 200 billion credit line.No other details related to the deal, which is yet to be officially announced, were...

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Google outs a couple of expensive cables for Chromecast Audio

Google has started selling a couple of cables for the audio-only Chromecast Audio.RCA Cable for Chromecast Audio Â• Optical Cable for Chromecast AudioThe first cable is a standard RCA cable that will plug into almost any pair of speaker system. The cable is about a foot long and comes in a violent shade of lemon yellow.The second is an optical (or TOSLINK) cable, which is a digital interface and should provide a cleaner output for connecting to an AV receiver or amplifier. This one is also a foot long and comes in the same shade of lemon yellow.The cables are pricey and cost $15 for each. You can probably get cheaper and longer cables on Amazon that are probably just as good, if not better.Source 1 Â• Source 2 Â•...

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iOS 9 adoption slows down, stays at 77% figure reported earlier this month

Apple has released its latest iOS adoption numbers, revealing status quo. The latest figures say the version 9 of the company's mobile operating system now powers 77% of compatible devices, which is the same as what was reported earlier this month.The rate of iOS 9 adoption is, however, still better than its predecessor iOS 8, which hit the 77% mark in mid-March last year. As before, iOS 8's adoption still stands at 17%, while 6% of compatible devices are running earlier iOS versions.In case you aren't already aware, the adoption numbers are calculated based on the usage of Apple's App...

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Lenovo Thinkpad Yoga 2-in-1 gets a whopping $530 price cut

If the $799 price tag of Lenovo's Thinkpad Yoga 2-in-1 touchscreen laptop has kept you away from it all this while, here is some good news: the device has received a whopping $530 price cut in the United States.The laptop - that can have its screen folded to give you a tablet-like experience - is now selling for $270. Amazon has it listed for that price on its US website, and the deal is said to be available for limited time only.For $270, you get a 2-in-1 laptop powered by Intel N2940 Quad-Core 1.83GHz processor and featuring an 11.6-inch touchscreen of 1366 x 768 pixel resolution. It has 4GB RAM and 128GB SSD built in storage. The device runs Windows 10...

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Xiaomi Mi 5 coming soon to India, will also be available in "other global markets"

Xiaomi announced its latest flagship smartphone - the Mi 5 - at this year's Mobile World Congress yesterday. While we already know that the SD820-powered device will be available for purchase in China starting March 1, we now have at-least some idea on its international availability, too.Clearing any doubt whatsoever we've had until now, the Mi 5 will indeed be available in markets outside of the company's home country of China. Xiaomi VP Hugo Barra revealed yesterday that the phone will land in the neighboring country of India soon. This will be followed by a release in "other global markets," he said.The handset carries a price tag of around $300 in China. We expect the company to reveal region-specific pricing info once the exact launch markets and dates are...

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Both Samsung Galaxy S7 and LG G5 ditch Android 6.0's adoptable storage feature

If you recall, Android 6.0 Marshmallow brought along the concept of 'adoptable storage,' where-in the system adopts a microSD card and makes it behave like internal storage. While both Samsung Galaxy S7 and LG G5 sport expandable storage, it has now come to light that they don't support the 'adoptable storage' feature.The problem with the feature is that it requires the memory card to be formatted first and then encrypted, before it starts behaving like internal memory. And once the card gets adopted, you can't remove it (sure, you can do that physically, but that's not recommended) .That's the reason why Samsung isn't supporting the feature. The company said, "Samsung decided not to use the Android Marshmallow 'adoptable storage' model. We believe that our users want a microSD card to transfer files between their phone and other devices (laptop, tablet, etc), especially the photos and videos they shoot with the camera.""With adoptable storage, first of all the card may be erased the first time it is inserted into the device. This behavior may be unexpected by many users and we don't want our users to lose their files. Second, once Marshmallow starts using a card for adoptable storage, it cannot be read by other devices, so it loses this ability to be used for file transfer.""Adoptable Storage is also primarily targeted towards emerging markets where devices with only 4-8GB of onboard storage are common. We think that our model of using microSD for mass storage is more in-line with our owner's desires and expectations for how microSD should behave."For those in the US and Europe who like to install lots of apps (especially large gaming apps), this is bad news given that the South Korean company has already confirmed that only the 32GB variants of its newest flagships will be available in these...

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Upcoming Vizio TVs to reportedly offer Chromecast-like features out-of-the-box

According to a new report, Google and TV manufacturer Vizio are working to integrate Chromecast-like streaming functionality directly into TV sets. These new TVs will be available this year - "as early as this spring," the report says.Unlike traditional smart TVs, the new line of Vizio TVs won't feature any apps. Instead, you can think of them as Chromecast with a screen, allowing users to view content (like video and music) streamed from their mobile devices.The report further says that instead of a traditional remote, users will be able to interact with the TV via an Android tablet that includes apps and services required for streaming. However, the plan to use a tablet as a dedicated remote control isn't yet...

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HTC M10 teased on Twtter, nothing but chamfer

A few days ago, an alleged leak of the HTC M10 surfaced the web and showed an HTC One device with a really wide, almost exaggerated, chamfered edge surrounding the device.The photo wasn't doing the phone any favors aesthetically, but the chamfers were an eye sore. Okay, they were pretty ugly, but this is just the problem with leaks: someone takes a really bad photo of a device and people make comments putting the device down before it's even official. It isn't fair. But let me NOT ramble on about that.#powerof10 pic.twitter.com/KiKyX4ycuIÂ— HTC (@htc) February 24, 2016The photo on twitter shows only a silhouette of the device and the only thing visible is a chamfer. This chamfer confirms that leak I mentioned earlier about the ugly chamfer.The company used a hashtag #powerof10 which could very well be HTC's marketing tagline for the M10. Are you ready for HTC's big announcement? Keep an eye out for an event date since no such date has been confirmed yet.Source |...

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Oneplus 3 to launch in Q2, to be drastically different from predecessors

We've all heard about Oneplus. It was the company who promised to sell a phone that was a flagship killer. The company got so much attention with the introduction of the Oneplus One.It was a $300 phone that was sold unlocked and designed to directly compete with the other leading flagships at the time like the more costly devices like the Nexus 5, Galaxy S5 or LG G3 while offering similar or better features that users look for in a phone like NFC, great camera, and long lasting battery life.In a CNET interview with Oneplus co-founder, Carl Pei stated that the US market will be very important for Oneplus this year with more traditional marketing methods. Could this mean that the invite system will be shelved for the new flagship?Perhaps. The company said it was very excited about the Oneplus 3 and thinks it will captivate interest like the Original One did, the Oneplus 2 wasn't as well received when someone decided to strip NFC from the phone altogether, thought it did sell more units than the OnePlus One.It was not all flowers and roses for the Chinese startup company at the beginning. The company decided to go unconventional and set up an invitation-only program to sell the OnePlus One. So for several months after the phone's launch, it was still damn-near impossible to get your hands on one of these suckers.Oneplus was able to use all this positive (and negative) attention that it'd been getting with the launch of the Oneplus One to build a reputation and customer base. The Chinese startup says it has 800,000 active forum users who support the Oneplus community and inspire the company's design choices for its smartphones.Source |...

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New leaks of iPhone 5se diagrams, power button relocated

Apple has a new 4 inch iPhone under wraps, one that will directly succeed the iPhone 5S. The iPhone 5se is closer to becoming a real thing.9to5Mac was able to source early schematic diagrams from a case maker. These diagrams show very similar dimensions to the iPhone 5 and 5S except for a repositioned power button which was moved from the very top edge to the right-upper edge of the body, just opposite the volume keys and physical notification switch.Many customers voices their opinions, stating that a 4.7 inch screen would be more difficult to reach all corners of the display. This is one of the reasons you can double-tap on the home button to bring the UI elements halfway down the screen.Other angles of the diagram reveal a very subtle curvature around the device. While the edges are still flat, the seams between the body and glass are curved to the likes of the iPhone 6 and beyond.The iPhone 5se will allegedly be revealed by Apple at a March 15th event, come with the internals of an iPhone 6S, improved camera setup, live photos, NFC for mobile payments, and a new Rose Gold color option. It will reportedly come in 16 and 64GB size options and will cost the same as the iPhone...

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Verizon outs Android 5.1.1 update for the Sony Xperia Z3v and the Z2 Tablet

Verizon has started pushing out over-the-air updates to Android 5.1.1 Lollipop for both the Xperia Z3v smartphone and the Z2 Tablet. This rollout might of course be considered a bit late since the next version of the OS, Marshmallow, has already been out for months. Then again, perhaps the 'better late than never' mantra applies here.For both devices, the new software version is 23.4.B.0.319. Aside from everything that Google included in the 5.1.1 release of Android (including security patches), Sony's update also brings with it HD Voice support for the Xperia Z3v.As always in these cases, the rollout will surely be staged, so it might take a few days before it reaches every single Z3v and Z2 Tablet out there. If you're impatient you can manually check for the availability of the new software by going to the appropriate section in Settings. Full release details for both devices can be found at the Source links below.Source 1 Â• Source 2 |...

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Zopo Speed 8 hands-on: Zopo at MWC 2016

Zopo Speed 8 is the world's first smartphone to feature the MediaTek's flagship Helio X20 SoC. In case you don't know about this beast - it's the first chipset with a deca-core processor (yes, this means 10 CPU cores).

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Gmail for Android gets rich text formatting and instant RSVPs

The latest update for the Gmail app for Android brings with it two nifty new features. First off, you have support for rich text formatting, as seen in the first screenshot below.This means you can now add italic, bold, highlighted, underlined, and colored text to your emails to make them pop just a little bit more. All of these options allow you to easily emphasize what's important in your communications.The other new thing in Gmail for Android is the ability you now have to quickly RSVP to calendar invitations. This works with Google Calendar and Microsoft Exchange. When receiving such an invite, you can see your schedule for that time frame with one tap, and then RSVP instantly.Google has added these features because it's trying to make the email experience better on mobile devices, seeing as how more than two thirds of all Gmail users check email with their...

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First official HTC One M10 teaser image shows chamfered edges

The many rumors which claimed HTC wouldn't unveil the One M10 flagship smartphone at MWC, instead opting for a different special event later on, have been true it turns out. The grand announcement may or may not happen on April 11, as previously rumored. In the meantime, the Taiwanese company has released the first teaser image of the M10.As you can see, we're treated to a view of the upcoming smartphone's edges, which look like they're made out of one metallic piece, with plenty of chamfering going on.The image was posted on HTC's official Twitter account, alongside the hashtag "powerof10". This pretty much confirms that the number 10 will be in the phone's name, so it's probably going to be marketed as the One M10 after all. Its codename is Perfume.Past rumors had the One M10 coming with a 5.1-inch QHD AMOLED touchscreen, Qualcomm's Snapdragon 820 running things, 4GB of RAM, 32GB of expandable storage, a 12 MP UltraPixel rear camera with phase detection and laser autofocus, as well as optical image stabilization, a 5 MP UltraPixel selfie shooter, and a fingerprint scanner. It will run Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow with HTC Sense 8 on...

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ZOPO Speed 8 hands-on from MWC 2016

ZOPO Speed 8 is the world's first smartphone to feature the MediaTek's flagship Helio X20 SoC. In case you don't know about this beast - it's the first chipset with a deca-core processor (yes, this means 10 CPU cores).We did a tour to ZOPO's booth and grab a Speed 8 for a quick hands-on.It packs a 5.5" IPS 1080p display, comes with a 21MP Sony IMX230 camera with phase-detection AF and a dual-tone flash, and there is an 8MP selfie shooter with a front LED flash, too.Check out the full hands-on of the ZOPO Speed 8...

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LG won't be making a Nexus smartphone this year

LG's created three Nexus smartphones so far, starting with the Nexus 4 from 2012 and including the Nexus 5X from last year (pictured below). Its Nexus offerings have generally been well-received, and thought to exhibit a pretty good price to features ratio.There's bad news for fans of LG-made Nexus handsets, however. The Korean company will not be making a new one in 2016. This comes straight from an LG spokesperson, so it's pretty much official - we won't have a successor to the Nexus 5X this year, at least not one bearing LG's logo on it.The reason for this move apparently has to do with LG needing to focus on its own brand, and devices such as the recently unveiled G5. A Nexus smartphone is usually perceived as being more a Google offering than one from the company actually making it, and profit margins on Nexuses probably aren't great either.LG's break from the Nexus program doesn't mean we won't have any new such phones this year, though. Last month a rumor claimed HTC would be putting out not one, but two Nexus devices in 2016. Obviously that's not confirmed yet, so it's still possible that some other company will get involved too.LG will bring the canceled Watch Urbane LTE 2nd Edition smartwatch back to the market at some point in the second half of this year, according to the same spokesman who shared the news about the company's Nexus plans (or lack thereof). The watch got canned last November because of certain issues with its display, which seem to have been quite big since it's taking LG so much time to reengineer the wearable. Anyway, there's going to be another new LG smartwatch hitting the streets before 2016...

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Samsung Galaxy S7 edge hands-on: Camera test

We had the opportunity to spend the day with the Samsung Galaxy S7 edge and we set out on a photo tour of Barcelona, MWC's home city in the last ten or so years.

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**GSMArena** · 25-02-16, 14:10

Ever since Apple unveiled Siri for iOS, owners of computers running the company's Mac OS X have been wondering when the personal assistant would land on that platform too. And according to a new rumor on the matter, 2016 will be the year when this finally happens.Apple allegedly plans to make Siri the headline feature of the upcoming Mac OS X 10.12 release, which will probably be introduced initially at WWDC in the summer, and will then be rolling out in the fall.Apparently, there have been test versions of Mac OS X with Siri built-in since 2012, but only this year will the user experience be polished enough for Apple to launch this publicly.Siri for Mac will live inside the menu bar, in the right corner of it to be precise. The Siri icon placed there will activate the voice control feature. Once you click on the icon, you'll get a dark transparent interface similar to the one in the mockup above, complete with colorful sound waves which indicate speech input.Siri will also get its own pane in the Mac System Preferences, and you'll even have the option to choose a keyboard shortcut to activate it. And the "Hey Siri" command will work while the Mac is plugged in.Aside from Siri, the new Mac OS X version isn't said to introduce many new features, just minor UI tweaks here and there. Don't forget not to take any of this for granted however, because plans can change from now and until the announcement of Mac OS X...

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**GSMArena** · 26-02-16, 14:11

Samsung announced it's latest flagships - the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge - at the just concluded Mobile World Congress. Set to go on sale next month, the devices will be available in 60 countries in the first wave of their global launch.However, it has now come to light that some regions will see slightly different looking Galaxy S7/S7 edge units - the difference is in terms of the front Samsung logo, which appears to be missing in the Chinese and South Korean variants of the handsets.South Korean variant on left Â• Chinese variant on right There's currently no information on exactly what's the reason behind the move, although reports say it could be related to how "simplified and elegant" the devices look sans the front logo as well as the customer feedback Samsung received through its surveys in these regions.Also worth mentioning here is that this is not the first time the South Korean tech giant has done something like this - back in April last year, the company dropped its logo from the Japanese Galaxy S6 and S6 edge units.Source (Samsung Korea) | Samsung China | Samsung...

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Ulefone Power has a 6,050mAh battery, metal frame and wooden back for $180

While the established manufacturers got caught up in a race towards thin phones, battery capacities have suffered. Meanwhile, a clutch of lesser-known makers has realized there is untapped potential in this niche, and they've been coming out with monstrous battery capacities and attractive designs.Take Ulefone, for instance, the maker of the Ulefone Power. The phone packs a massive 6,050mAh Sony battery, over twice the iPhone 6s Plus battery capacity. The battery promises four days of normal use, 63 hours of talk time and 75 days of standby.Quick Charge tech is enabled and will fill up the whole battery in 2 hours. A 30-minute charge should be enough to last a typical day while a 5-minute charge is sufficient for 2 hours of talking.The Ulefone Power has a metal frame around its 5.5" 1080p display (which sits behind 2.5D Gorilla Glass 3). For the back, you have a choice of abrasion-proof material or wood. There is even a fingerprint reader located on the back.Here's a hands-on we managed to find:The phone comes with a 13MP Sony camera (IMX214, f/1.8 lens) with 1080p video capture with Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS) and a dual-LED flash. The front camera is a 5MP shooter.The Power runs Android 5.1 (to be updated to 6.0 Marshmallow) on a 1.3GHz Mediatek octa-core processor with 3GB of RAM and a hybrid card slot - two microSIMs or SIM + microSD. There's LTE connectivity (150Mbps) and an IR blaster.The best part is that the Ulefone Power is already available on certain online stores as a gray import for merely $180, and that's with all Google services preinstalled. Wow, Chinese manufacturers are really into changing the smartphone market. This phone seems like a great deal even if you factor in the fact that there will probably be no aftersales...

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Vivo XPlay 5 with 6GB RAM spotted for the first time in a live shot

The Vivo XPlay 5 has been frequenting the rumor mill for quite some time now, with speculations going as far back as 2014. Initially, the device was hailed as one of the supposed early adopters of the Snapdragon 810 chip. Obviously, that didn't happen, and Snapdragon 810 is no longer Qualcomm's greatest chip. However, we are still waiting on the handset, which impresses with a Snapdragon 820 SoC as well as 6GB of RAM - a world first.The aforementioned specs have already been confirmed by Vivo and the launch date set for March 1. There is even an impressive AnTuTu benchmark score already circulationg online, meaning that all we are left with is to wait for an actual glimpse of the device itself.A newly uncovered live shot claims to provide precisely that. While we have seen renders in the past, a real unit in the flesh can be used as definitive proof of the Vivo XPlay 5's design. The front of the phone clearly features a pretty curved display on both sides and Vivo's typical row of capacitive buttons. As for other suggested specs - the panel itself is allegedly a 5.5-inch one with a resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels. We already mentioned the Snapdragon 820 SoC and whopping 6GB of RAM. Other than that, we have some insight on the camera setup, which will allegedly consist of a 16MP rear and 8MP front shooter.As for pricing and availability, we know the March 1 unveiling is official and sources suggest that the Vivo XPlay 5 could cost as much as INR 50,000 although we find that a little too steep to...

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Now you can blur literally anything in your YouTube video

Building on the face-blurring capability it introduced back in 2012, YouTube has launched a new tool that lets you blur anything in your video, even if the object in question moves. Dubbed Custom Blurring, the tool is currently only available on the desktop website."Whether you want to blur sensitive information such as a license plate or cover up a wardrobe malfunction without reshooting an entire scene, the new Custom Blurring tool will let you blur objects throughout your video, right within YouTube," the company said in a blog post.To use the tool, first choose the video you want to edit and then select the Custom Blurring option from the Blurring Effects tab of the Enhancements tool. Once done, select the object you want to blur by drawing a box around it (as shown in the GIF above)."At any time, you can move the blurred area, resize it and choose when the blur starts and stops. There is also a "Lock" option to blur something that doesn't move at...

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Microsoft cans Project Astoria for porting Android apps to Windows

Last year at the Build conference, Microsoft announced what was called Project Astoria, a bridge that will allow developers to port their existing Android apps easily to Windows 10. The feature eventually disappeared from Windows 10 builds that came out after that, which caused some people to wonder what was happening with the feature. Microsoft has now confirmed that it will no longer be working on that.Microsoft stated that the company will instead focus only on the iOS Bridge that allows developers to port their iOS apps to Windows, instead of having one each for iOS and Android as "having two Bridge technologies to bring code from mobile operating systems to Windows was unnecessary, and the choice between them could be confusing."Microsoft also recently acquired the company Xamarin that lets developers write their apps in one language and then customize it for different platforms. Microsoft thinks these two methods, along with the Web Bridge (for porting web apps) and Project Centennial (for porting existing Win32 and .NET apps) will be enough options for developers looking to port their apps to Windows 10 platforms.Source Â•...

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One M10's camera will be "very, very compelling," says HTC

Looks like HTC is very bullish on the camera of its next flagship smartphone - most likely to be called the One M10. The Taiwanese company has said that the device will offer "a very, very compelling camera experience.""We can confidently say that HTC will have a very, very compelling camera experience," Chief Financial Officer Chialin Chang said in an interview at MWC 2016. "We're making this comment after we've seen what's going on in the market -" he was, obviously, referring to Samsung's and LG's latest offerings.The One M10 is rumored to feature a 12MP UltraPixel rear camera with phase detection and laser autofocus as well as optical image stabilization, and a 5MP UltraPixel front shooter. In case you aren't already aware, an UltraPixel camera has bigger pixels, which let in more light to provide comparatively higher quality imaging experience even in...

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February security update starts hitting Verizon Samsung Galaxy Tab S2

Verizon has started pushing out the February Android security patch to Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 units on its network. The update - which started rolling out yesterday - bumps the tablet's software version to LMY47X.T817VVRS2APB2.Sadly, there isn't any detailed change-log included with the update, meaning it isn't yet clear what else the update brings along. "The current software update gives you the most up to date Android security patch on your device," Verizon's release notes say.Given that the update has just started rolling out, it won't hit all Verizon Galaxy Tab S2 units at the same time, so be patient if your device hasn't got it already. In case you missed, the Motorola Moto X Pure Edition has also started receiving the February security...

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Samsung Galaxy S6 edge (128GB, unlocked) now selling for just $460 in US

With Samsung unveiling its latest and greatest Galaxy S7 and S7 edge and the devices all set to go on sale next month, it shouldn't be surprising that last year's Galaxy flagships have started receiving price cuts. Case in point: Galaxy S6 edge.The edge variant of the Galaxy S7 predecessor is now available in the US for $460 - that's for the unlocked, 128GB gold-colored model. QualityCellz on eBay is selling the device for that price. The model on offer is compatible with both GSM carriers and Verizon.For comparison, Amazon has the 32GB version listed for around $550, while T-Mobile is selling the 128GB variant for $680. In case you missed, the handset also won the "Best Smartphone 2015" at this year's Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.Source |...

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HTC smartwatch will "turn the industry on its head," says CEO

HTC CEO Cher Wang is confident that the company will make a splash in the smartwatch market with its own offering. She talked about the device in an interview at the just concluded Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.However, she didn't say much except that, "When HTC comes out with a smartwatch, we will turn the industry on its head." CFO Neither Chang, who was also present alongside Wang, said the company still needs to figure out how a smartwatch would fit with other HTC products before launching one.Rumors that HTC is developing a smartwatch first cropped up way back in 2013, with the latest ones suggesting that the wearable device - allegedly dubbed HTC One - will be launched in April this...

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HTC One M10 rumored to come in three storage options

HTC's upcoming One M10 flagship - which is known internally by the codename Perfume - will come in three internal memory options: 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB. This was revealed by the usually reliable leakster @LlabTooFeR.HTC Perfume is supposed to have 3 internal memory options: 16GB, 32GB and 64GB (depends on the market).Â— LlabTooFeR (@LlabTooFeR) February 24, 2016He, however, said that the availability of these storage options will depend on the market. Aside from different internal memory options, the device is also already rumored to come in two different hardware versions (also depending on the market): one powered by Snapdragon 820, while the other one with a yet-unknown MediaTek SoC.Other rumored specs of the device include 5.1-inch QHD AMOLED touchscreen, 4GB RAM, 12MP/5MP UltraPixel camera combo, and Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow. It is also said to feature a fingerprint scanner. In case you missed, HTC recently officially released a One M10 teaser image showing the handset's...

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Moto X Pure Edition starts receiving February security patch

Google's latest security patch is being rolled out to Moto X Pure Edition users soon. The process should take a few days for it to fully roll out and as you know, it'll be rolled out in random batches of devices.This update will bring up your Android security patch level to February 1, 2016. Also, if you'd like, you can check out Google's latest overview of what has been patched for...

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Apple to allegedly launch 9.7 inch iPad Pro at March event

Apple plans to unveil the iPhone 5se along with an iPad device. However a new report claims that this iPad device will be a new variant of the iPad Pro. Apple will allegedly launch a 9.7 inch iPad Pro, complete with Apple Pencil compatibility and possible discontinuation of the original iPad Air.This new iPad Pro model will bring the same internals as the 12.9 inch model, while sporting a more compact design, still aimed for productivity. The report also says that Apple is working on a smaller detachable keyboard to connect to the new 9.7 inch iPad Pro's Smart Connector.This new alleged smaller iPad Pro will also feature the same quad-speaker setup, available in the same color and memory capacity configurations as the iPad Pro with pricing more in line with the current iPad Air 2.This new iPad Pro might even slow down or discontinue production of the older generation iPad Mini 2 and the first generation of iPad Air devices. This should help Apple to streamline its iPad product line.At the same event. Apple will also announce a new 4 inch iPhone 5se with updated hardware internals, live photos, Apple Pay, and the latest camera technologies.Source |...

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Xiaomi confirms 18 LTE bands for Mi5, compatible with all major US carriers

Xiaomi posted a Q & A on its own official forum with some more specific information about the newly announced Mi5. The Xiaomi Mi5 supports LTE bands: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 7 / 8 / 12 / 13 / 17 / 18 / 19 / 20 / 25 / 26 / 27 / 28 / 29 with bands 38 / 39 / 40 / 41 left with uncertainty.The Mi5 will also be bootloader locked by default. The company explicitly states it does not condone or recommend that you unlock your bootloader for security reasons. It even goes a step further and recommends that you use "Mi Cloud" services in the event that your phone does get lost or stolen. An unlocked bootloader will not protect your data in either of these cases.Besides this information, the Q&A also talks about general differences between the new Mi5 models, specs, pricing and availability.The Mi5 will launch in the company's home country of China and will be available on March 1 for a price of around $300. This makes the Mi5 the cheapest phone with a Snapdragon 820 CPU...

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Deal: AT&T or Verizon branded LG G4 for $300

LG is getting a lot of attention with the latest flagship offering, the LG G5. Therefore, the LG G4 is being heavily discounted and available for your benefit. An eBay seller has brand new, unopened 32GB LG G4s in Metallic Gray going for $300.You can choose between a Verizon branded and AT&T branded device (reminder that Verizon phones do come factory unlocked). These devices also come with the standard 1 year manufacturer's warranty.The LG G4 was released in April of 2015 and features a 5.5 inch screen with 1440p resolution. It sports a snapdragon 808 hexa-core CPU paired with 3GB of RAM and an Adreno 418 GPU.The G4 was also among the best smartphone cameras available last year. It has a 16MP main sensor with OIS and laser focus with an 8MP front-facing cameras for higher quality...

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iPhone 5se unveiling now rumored to happen on March 22

The oft-leaked new 4-inch iPhone 5se has so far been rumored to be officially introduced at an event on March 15. On the same occasion, Apple will reportedly also announce the iPad Air 3 as well as certain improvements for the Apple Watch (but not a new wearable).Now though a new rumor out of South Korea claims that Apple's big spring event has been pushed back - though just by exactly one week. Hence, it's apparently going to take place on March 22.Unfortunately Apple itself hasn't yet sent out invites, so take all of this with a pinch of salt since it could be nothing more than speculation. The iPhone 5se should cost $450 with 16GB of storage, sans contract. Past leaks have said it would sport specs borrowed from the iPhone 6, but in a body the same size as that of the iPhone 5s.Source (in...

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LG G5 vs. Samsung Galaxy S7 edge: Flagship slugfest

This is why we love the MWC - some of the best phones of the year were announced almost side by side. Two of the headliners are the LG G5 and the Samsung Galaxy S7 edge and we know how heated the competition between G-series and Galaxy flagship can get.

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All about the Samsung Galaxy S7 edge [VIDEO]

We got our hands on a Samsung Galaxy S7 edge in Barcelona and had some time to play with it. You bet we took it for a walk around the beautiful Catalan city and snapped quite a few shots with its camera.We find the S7 edge quite an attractive and capable fella, and it left us with very positive impressions. The same goes for its camera, which introduces ground-breaking auto-focus tech.We already have a pretty detailed article up online, but we're proud to show you the phone on...

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Hugo Barra: Xiaomi Mi 5 to launch only in core markets, global availability - doubtful

Yesterday Xiaomi announced the Mi 5 flagship - a genuinely impressive device with three different versions. It features either glass/metal or glass/ceramic build and packs a 5.15" IPS 1080p display, a Snapdragon 820 chip with 3GB or 4GB RAM, a 16MP OIS rear camera, a 4MP UltraPixel selfie snapper, 32/64/128GB storage, and a 3,000 mAh battery. It is also the first device to introduce the Marshmallow-based MIUI 7.Xiaomi's VP Hugo Barra announced the company's latest and greatest at a dedicated event held at the MWC. It quickly gathered lots of positive first impressions, not only for its specs but because of the hint of an international availability later on.As it turns out, the global launch may have been exaggerated. In a recent interview, Hugo Barra revealed Xiaomi only has plans for making Xiaomi Mi5 available only on the current markets it operates on. He confirmed Xiaomi is eyeing other markets, but "it's far too early to make any statements".Barra continued that he isn't withholding information; he honestly doesn't know how the things will pan out in the future. He wants Xiaomi to become officially available in Europe and the USA but this expansion is only on the wishlist for now. What he hopes for though is that the announcement event in Barcelona wouls help build up Xiaomi's brand internationally.Later this year the Mi 5 should hit Xiaomi's core markets - China, India, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Philippines, and probably, Brazil. We might see it in even more markets after that, but as of now it's rather unlikely. It seems the rest of the world is left to rely on gray...

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New Android Support Library 23.2 brings day/night mode and bottom sheets to app devs

Google has posted a few snapshots of Android Support Library 23.2 including an interesting pair that seems to showcase a Bluetooth connection interface complete with a new UI element - a sandwich menu. This could be a sneak preview of a new setting layout within the next Android N version of the OS or not.But, considering the screencaps showcase the new Day/Night modes in the AppCompact theme and by design the Android Support Library usually works across many Android versions, we are a lot more inclined to believe that Google is simply using an internal app with a Bluetooth menu to showcase the new feature.Hamburger menu in Settings menuSuch is the case with the just announced Bottom Sheets feature, which is showcased in the Google Maps app where this new design element is used to show context info. It can also be used to display info that is usually found on pop-ups.New Bottom Sheets demoed in appsIt remains seen whether this Hamburger menu will really be part of the next Android version, but one thing is for certain - the rest of the new UI features should come to older Android versions as...

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**GSMArena** · 26-02-16, 14:11

GSM Association has announced the winners of the annual Global Mobile Awards (Glomo). This year there were eight competing categories, each with at least few subcategories.The main categories are:Category 1: The Connected Life AwardsCategory 2: Best Mobile ServicesCategory 3: Social & Economic DevelopmentCategory 4: Best Mobile AppsCategory 5: Best Mobile Handsets & DevicesCategory 6: Best Mobile TechnologyCategory 7: Government Excellence AwardsCategory 8: Outstanding AchievementWe won't list all winners, but here are some of the highlights.BEST SMARTPHONE 2015 - SAMSUNG GALAXY S6 EDGEBEST LOW COST SMARTPHONE (SUB $100) - XIAOMI REDMI 2BEST MOBILE TABLET - MICROSOFT SURFACE PRO 4BEST WEARABLE TECHNOLOGY - ACTIVHEARTS heart reate measuring headphonesBEST CONNECTED CONSUMER ELECTRONIC DEVICE - SAMSUNG GEAR S2BEST OVERALL MOBILE APP (JUDGE'S CHOICE) - GOOGLE CARDBOARDBEST MOBILE MUSIC APP - SOUNDCLOUD APPBEST NEW MOBILE DEVICE AT MWC 2016 - LG G5If you want to learn all the winners and get more info on each of them, you should check the official awards page.The LG G5 was chosen as the best new device introduced at the MWC 2016 while the LG G5 & Friends accessories were among the most loved gadgets at the expo.GSMA Â•...

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**GSMArena** · 27-02-16, 14:22

The US Court of Appeals has overturned the 2014 verdict of a California federal court that held Samsung guilty of infringing on Apple's smartphone patents and directed the former to pay $119.6 as damages.Apple had dragged Samsung to court alleging that the latter infringed on its "quick links" patent along with two other patents covering the iPhone's slide-to-unlock and auto-correct features. For those who aren't aware, the quick links feature lets devices recognize data such as phone numbers and turn them into clickable links.In its verdict yesterday, the appeals court rejected Apple's allegations saying that Samsung did not infringe on the iphone maker's "quick links" patent as the South Korean company's technology for detection and linking is completely different, and adding that the other two patents cited in the case were invalid. Interestingly, the court observed that it is in fact Apple which has infringed on one of Samsung's patents.Commenting on the decision, a Samsung spokesperson said, "Today's decision is a win for consumer choice and puts competition back where it belongs - in the marketplace, not in the courtroom." On the other hand, Apple declined to offer any comment.The verdict comes less than a month after Apple - in a separate case - asked the US Supreme Court not to take up the South Korean company's appeal. That case has so far seen Samsung agreeing to pay Apple $548 million to settle...

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Samsung reportedly manufacturing 17.2 million S7 units before April

The highly anticipated Galaxy S7 and S7 edge are expecting to break last year's initial number of Galaxy S6 units in the first three months following its announcement.A Korean media outlet reports that Samsung is preparing to manufacturer a total of 17.2 million Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge units by April of this year.Samsung is really hoping to break its previous record set by the Galaxy S6 and S6 edge which sold roughly 15.8 million units in its first three months after launch with the second most successful device title held by the Galaxy S4 selling just over 15.2 million units in its initial sale period.Also, the company has reportedly changed its ratio of S7 and S7 edge where the S6 was manufactured 4:1 with the S6 edge constantly in short supply. This time around, Samsung wants to use a 6:4 ratio since it was not able to predict the roaring demand that the S6 edge had last year.Samsung hopes the overwhelming reception to the Galaxy S7's announcement this year at MWC is indication to the S7 and S7 edge's success and should break the S6's record for the first three months of sales.Source |...

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Modder improved cooling for Nexus 6P, warranty voided undoubtedly

Senior XDA member Gorgtech performed a hard modification to his warranty-less Nexus 5 and 7 so decided to do the same to his Nexus 6P whose warranty was voided as well.An XDA thread shows the tedious and difficult disassembly of the Nexus 6P, starting with carefully heating and removing the camera glass, which takes a steady hand and lots of patience.Gorgtech then removes the entire rear panel which looks even more difficult than the camera hump's glass. Once the more problematic parts were out of the way, screws and clips hold the boards in place.The post shows you where to add thermal paste to improve the cooling ability of the Nexus 6P, ultimately reducing the amount of thermal throttling of the roaring Snapdragon 810 chip.Head over to the XDA thread if you're feeling indubitably adventurous. I've repaired and ruined a bunch of devices in my day, but I will not likely try such a modification. Maybe if I still have the phone after my factory warranty expires, I MIGHT consider it.Source |...

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Sprint decided to bring back the 2 year contract, but why?

The American wireless industry has been phasing out the traditional 2 year contract in light of phones coming out more frequently and customers becoming disgruntled at being stuck with a 1-2 year old phone until next year.Sprint hasn't been doing particularly well in the past few years and continues to lose customers to other carriers. Since then they've been downsizing and cutting costs anywhere they could, they even removed Sprint's own in-house repair centers from several stores in the beginning of the month. Sprint also gave store employees more cleaning duties to cut store maintenance costs.The other 3 major carriers have already gotten rid of new 2 year contracts (unless you have a grandfathered 2 year agreement, you'd still have the option of renewing), so why did Sprint decide to bring back the 2 year contract?Perhaps Sprint is in desperate need of customers that it needs to sell service to every customer it possibly can. The older generation of customers might still be oriented with a 2 year contract. Here's what I mean:The customer is attracted to the idea of slapping down one or two-hundred dollars and walking home with a brand new phone that he or she now owns (with the only caveat being that they were obligated to fulfill this contract for 24 months). The thing is, a 2 year contract for 1GB of data is $65.00 plus taxes and regulatory fees while a 24 month finance plan with the same amount of data is $64.34, plus taxes and fees (a difference of just 66 cents). The advantage of one over the other is one keeps you stuck with a phone while the other allows you to switch phones after 12 monthly payments.Maybe this group of customers is scared off when finding out their financed phone will cost six to seven-hundred dollars (total amount paid after 24 months) and are too stubborn to understand how a lease or financing program will benefit them, or let them switch phones more often, than a 2 year commitment.Maybe I'm totally off. Maybe it's a stubborn executive that wants to bring back the 2 year contract.For the American wireless industry and competition's sake, let's hope Sprint can turn it around and take it back to the good ol' days of 2010-2011 when Sprint launched the first 4G WiMax network in the world and thrived with phones like the Samsung Moment and the HTC EVO 4G was Sprint's thriving star.Source |...

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Verizon gifts free Gear S2 or Gear VR for every Galaxy S7 pre-order

You may already know that Samsung is throwing in a free Gear VR headset with every Galaxy S7 or Galaxy S7 edge pre-order, regardless of market. However, US carrier Verizon has managed to best even this offer.If you pre-order either of Samsung's newest flagship smartphones, Big Red will give you a free Gear VR or a free Gear S2 smartwatch. This is great news for people who aren't that much into VR at this point, and who consider a smartwatch a much more useful gift in such a circumstance. It's also worth pointing out that the Gear S2 has a higher retail value compared to the VR headset.To take advantage of this promo, you need to pre-order the S7 or S7 edge from Verizon and get it on device payments before March 18. Then you register your new device at this website by March 31. After verification of the offer claim, you will receive your free Gear S2 or Gear VR in around 4 to 6 weeks.Source |...

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Acer outs promo video for upcoming Liquid Jade Primo Windows 10 phone

Acer has already showcased the Liquid Jade Primo a few times - at IFA last year, then at CES and at MWC. Yet now after many months of talking about it, the company finally seems intent on actually launching the handset running Windows 10 Mobile. The Jade Primo's release should happen next month. In the meantime, its maker has created a new promo video for the device, one that clearly positions the Jade Primo as a workhorse.That means businesses might be the primary intended customers for this smartphone, which is a trend we're seeing more and more of in the world of Windows 10 Mobile (most recently with the Microsoft Lumia 650 and the HP Elite x3, for example). Bottom line, the Jade Primo will help you get work done, especially thanks to its support for the Continuum feature in Windows 10.As a quick reminder, the phone comes with a 5.5-inch 1080p touchscreen, a 21 MP rear camera with dual-LED flash, an 8 MP secondary cam, Qualcomm's Snapdragon 808 chipset at the helm, 3GB of RAM, 32GB of expandable storage, and a 2,800 mAh...

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Google Inbox gets new snooze options

Inbox, Google's pretty radical reinterpretation of the Gmail interface, is getting an update over the next week or so. And it's all about making its snooze functionality work better for more people. The snooze menu has also received a redesign of sorts.First off, you'll be able to choose from two new snooze times when you want to put certain things off for a while - "later this week" and "this weekend". These have apparently been highly requested through the Inbox feedback process, and they should decrease the use of custom-set snooze times.Finally, you can now choose what your "weekend" days actually are, similarly to how you can set your preferred morning time to receive emails. This is easy and straightforward to set up, as you can see in the second screenshot above, and should work well with the custom snooze time of "this weekend" of course. It's also clearly going to be extremely useful for those who live in places where the weekend isn't made up of Saturday and Sunday.Source |...

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Asus will send out Marshmallow updates in Q2, here's the full list of devices getting them

Last November, Asus outed a list of devices that it would update to Android 6.0 Marshmallow. Unfortunately, no timeline for update rollouts was mentioned at that point. And here we are more than three months later, and Asus has yet to push the new software to any of its wares.The good news is that now we finally have a (very rough) timeline to speak of. Asus will send out Marshmallow updates during the second quarter of this year, so from April to June. The company has revised its list of devices getting the Marshmallow treat, adding three smartphones that weren't in the initial roster.These are the ZenFone Max ZC550KL, the ZenFone 2 Laser ZE551KL, and the ZenFone Zoom ZX551ML. They join the following devices which were already slated to receive the update: PadFone S PF500KL, ZenFone Selfie ZD551KL, ZenFone 2 (ZE550ML and ZE551ML), ZenFone 2 Deluxe ZE551ML, ZenFone 2 Deluxe Special Edition ZE551ML, and ZenFone 2 Laser (ZE500KG, ZE500KL, ZE550KL, ZE600KL, and ZE601KL).Source |...

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LG Nexus 5X is now the cheapest it's ever been at $269.99

The smaller and more mid-range of the two Nexus smartphones unveiled last year is now cheaper than it's ever been. One seller on eBay is offering brand new, unlocked LG Nexus 5X units (with 16GB of storage) for just $269.99.That's $10 less than what was asked for the phone in another promotional offer earlier this month, also on eBay. And the $269.99 price will save you $30 compared to Google's official pricing for the device.If you're interested, keep in mind that there's apparently a limited amount of units up for grabs at this price, so better hurry if you want to pick one up. The white model is sold out already, so you can only choose from the Carbon and Quartz hues. Shipping is free, and done from New Hampshire, which means you shouldn't get a sales tax no matter where you are in the...

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New 4-inch Apple device now rumored to be called iPhone SE

March is only a few days away now, and that means we're ever closer to Apple's much rumored spring event during which a new 4-inch iPhone is set to become official. Alleged details about this handset have been leaking for a long time, but perhaps the most disputed aspect of it has intriguingly been the name.We've so far heard it could be called iPhone 7c, or the iPhone 6c, or the iPhone 5se. And today a new report claims it will be none of those. Instead, Apple is likely to choose to call it iPhone SE. "SE" will apparently stand for "special edition", if the unnamed sources behind this one are to be believed.If this is true, then it will be interesting to see what a possible successor to the iPhone SE will be called, if there will ever be one. iPhone SE2? iPhone SEs? The New iPhone SE? It's anyone's guess at this point.Anyway, the iPhone SE's pricing will match that of the iPhone 5s (pictured above), it's been revealed. It will look identical to that handset, except for slightly curved edges around its sides. It will come with the A9 chipset, an "upgraded" 8 MP main camera, NFC and Apple Pay support, as well as the latest Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and LTE radios. It will be offered with either 16 or 64GB of storage.Apple's event during which the iPhone SE will be announced might take place on March 15 or March 22, according to some contradictory rumors we've heard. In either case, it's availability should follow mere days after the unveiling. A new 9.7-inch iPad Pro will be revealed on the same...

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Unknown vivo handset gets benchmarked and has specs outed

Chinese smartphone maker vivo is set to announce its much awaited new entrant in its high-end Xplay line on March 1, as the company has already confirmed. Yet it looks like vivo could unveil another device on that occasion, or perhaps just slightly lower-specced version of the Xplay 5.That's because a yet-unofficial vivo smartphone, bearing the model number PD1522A, has been benchmarked using GFXBench, which means a pretty complete list of its specs has been outed.This definitely isn't the Xplay 5, at least not its highest-end iteration if there will be more than one. That will be powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 820 chipset, as vivo has acknowledged, and this will be aided by a whopping 6GB of RAM.The PD1522A, on the other hand, has the Snapdragon 652 at the helm, and 'just' 4GB of RAM. So it could be a different device altogether, or the entry-level version of the Xplay 5, as Chinese companies often release multiple iterations of their wares, with slightly different specs and price points.Whatever the case, the vivo PD1522A also comes with a 5.4-inch QHD touchscreen, a 16 MP rear camera, an 8 MP selfie shooter, 128GB of storage, as well as Android 5.1.1 Lollipop on board.Source |...

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Facebook's live video streaming lands on Android in the next few days

Following a celebrity-only release last year, Facebook's live video streaming feature went out to all iOS users starting in January. And now the time has finally come for the exact same thing to roll out to Facebook users with Android devices.The social networks has announced that live video streaming should become available to all Android users in the US within the next week. After that, the functionality will be rolled out to other countries, though no exact time frames have been mentioned.As for iOS users, live video streaming on Facebook is already a possibility for those in 30 countries, and the global rollout is continuing.Once you get the new feature, if you want to use it just tap "What's on your mind?" at the top of News Feed and select the Live Video icon. Before going live, you can enter a quick description and select who gets to see your broadcast. During your live session, you see how many people are watching, the names of friends who are among them, and you get a real-time stream of comments. Once the live broadcast is over, it will be saved in your Timeline just like any other...

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LG G5 goes up for pre-order in the UK, priced at £539

The LG G5 has now been put up for pre-order in the UK by one online retailer. The handset, which got its grand unveiling last Sunday, has been priced at £539, VAT included. The units being sold are SIM-free and unlocked, as you'd expect from that pricing.Clove, the company that's already listed the G5, says deliveries are due to happen sometime around early April. However, the price isn't 100% official yet, which means it might change between now and then.The store offers the G5 in "titan", silver, or gold, in all cases with 32GB of built-in storage. The phone comes with a 5.3-inch QHD IPS touchscreen, a dual camera system on the back (with 16 MP + 8 MP resolution), an 8 MP selfie snapper, Qualcomm's Snapdragon 820 SoC running things, 4GB of RAM, and a 2,800 mAh battery. It runs Android 6.0.1...

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Disproved: Xiaomi Mi5 LTE bands aren't compatible with all major US carriers

Update 26.02 Turns out the Xiaomi Mi5 doesn't support the initially reported LTE bands. The forum post has been amended and now lists the following bands.Network4GFDD-LTETDD-LTEbands 1 / 3 / 7bands 38 / 39 / 40 / 413GTD-SCDMAWCDMACDMA 2000bands 34 / 39bands 1 / 2 / 5 / 8bands BC0 / BC12GGSMCDMA 1Xbands 2 / 3 / 5 / 8BC0 / BC1Xiaomi posted a Q & A on its own official forum with some more specific information about the newly announced Mi5. The Xiaomi Mi5 supports LTE bands: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 7 / 8 / 12 / 13 / 17 / 18 / 19 / 20 / 25 / 26 / 27 / 28 / 29 with bands 38 / 39 / 40 / 41 left with uncertainty.The Mi5 will also be bootloader locked by default. The company explicitly states it does not condone or recommend that you unlock your bootloader for security reasons. It even goes a step further and recommends that you use "Mi Cloud" services in the event that your phone does get lost or stolen. An unlocked bootloader will not protect your data in either of these cases.Besides this information, the Q&A also talks about general differences between the new Mi5 models, specs, pricing and availability.The Mi5 will launch in the company's home country of China and will be available on March 1 for a price of around $300. This makes the Mi5 the cheapest phone with a Snapdragon 820 CPU...

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24K gold-plated Samsung Galaxy S7/S7 edge now on pre-order

The oldest status symbol meets the newest - the Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 edge were announced barely a week ago at the MWC and there's already a company advertising a gilded version.You have a choice of 24K Gold, 18K Rose Gold or Platinum plating. The company, Truly Exquisite, is already taking pre-orders starting at £1,700.If you pre-order, you can expect your S7 or S7 edge 21 days after Samsung officially launches the flagships on March 11. Worldwide shipping is free and there's a 1-year warranty.The gold plated phones will arrive in a "Luxury Wooden Box" and besides the usual accessories and Gear VR headset, the box will contain a free Wireless Charging Pad.Truly Exquisite has committed to donate 5% of its revenues to various charities around the...

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Assassin's Creed Identity action RPG game now available on iOS

Assassin's Creed franchise has been flourishing since its inception and even though some of the latest games turned out controversial because of their issues, it's still one of the most popular series in the gaming community.It's no surprise the Assassin's Creed games have spread over the mobile platforms too, and the latest title is already available for purchase.Assassin's Creed Identity is a new action RPG game, which takes place in Renaissance Italy and it's about the mysterious Crows. The game has RPG elements - you choose the class, you customize your character, and continue building it throughout the game.The game costs $4.99 and is available on iPhone 5 or later and the iPad 3 or later. Android version is in development and will launch in the Play Store this spring.App Store Â•...

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