Unlocking Consumer Choice and Wireless Competition Act becomes law

For the past couple weeks, we’ve been following the very swift progress the Unlocking Consumer Choice and Wireless Competition Act has been making on its way to becoming law in the US. First the Senate passed the bill, and a week later the House gave its own approval. That just left a presidential signature needed before the Act would become law, and today President Obama’s delivering just that, restoring smartphone unlocking rights to Americans.

What does this law do? It used to be that the process of carrier-unlocking phones was granted a special exemption from the DMCA, which otherwise would prohibit users from modifying their phones (even hardware they fully owned) to defeat carrier locks. But the last time DMCA exemptions went up for renewal, this unlocking provision didn’t find itself among ones that made the cut, effectively making it illegal again. This law reverses that move, reinstating the exemption and legitimizing unlocking once more.

In addition to that, it directs the Library of Congress to consider exemptions for other wireless devices that are locked by carriers in a similar manner, like certain cellular-enabled tablets.

Even with this law in place, you’ll still need to fulfill any contractual requirements behind subsidized phones before being able to take them to other carriers, and there’s still the very real issue of modulation and band support to consider when moving from one network to another, but this is still a big victory for smartphone users.

Source: The White House
Via: Android Central

A Plastic Moto 360 ?

Announce a product, then don’t release it for a while, and rumors are bound to descend. Just look at Samsung and its Tizen-running Samsung Z, and how off-the-rails that whole project feels like it’s gone in the weeks following the phone’s initial introduction. Motorola’s generally done a pretty job at preventing similar gossip from consuming the Moto 360, itself announced all the way back in March, no doubt helped by the release of a number of official Moto 360 videos and the opportunity for hands-on interactions at events like Google I/O. But with the wearable still not available to buy, the inevitable has finally happened, and nay-saying rumors now claim that despite all Motorola’s talk about stainless steel and the in-person run-ins with watch’s hardware, the 360 may arrive with a plastic body for its commercial debut.

This is according to TechWeb out of China, which seems to equate the switch to a plastic body with the 360′s anticipated support for wireless charging. And to a degree, that makes sense, since metals tend to shield devices against the very electromagnetic fields wireless charging relies on. That said, that seems like the sort of problem Motorola would have tackled early on in its design work, and it’s a little hard to believe that it would only realize at this late stage metal might not be the best idea.

Could the 360 have plastic components? Sure. But we’re finding it hard to believe that Motorola would have gone to the extent it has to highlight the watch’s premium metal construction if that wasn’t a done deal. In any case, we’ve got under two months to go until sales are supposed to begin, so we’ll know the truth soon enough.

Source: TechWeb (Google Translate)
Via: Droid Life

Google Now Launcher may soon support a lot more devices

Last month we heard how ZTE was planning to really get down with Google’s vision for Android and hook its upcoming phones up with the Google Now Launcher. So far, you haven’t had a shot at the launcher unless you were running the Nexus 5 (on which it debuted), or a short list of other Nexus or Google Play edition models. Was this new ZTE effort a sign that its exclusivity was about to really start crumbling down? That may just be the case, as reports come in of the Now Launcher supporting a number of additional devices.

At least – that’s what some users are seeing. Right now it seems to be very hit-and-miss, but certain users are noting that the Play Store is indicating Now Launcher compatibility with handsets like the One M8, G3, and Galaxy S5. Then again, other users with those same devices aren’t having the same luck.

That could mean that Google is currently in the process of implementing these changes in availability, and not everyone’s seeing them go live all at the same time. There’s also the possibility that this is a glitch of some kind, and Google isn’t really intending to make the Now Launcher an option for additional smartphones, but until we hear otherwise, we’re optimistic that this really is the start of an official change.

Source: Android Central, Google

HP takes a stab at smartwatches with round-faced design

One of the hardest things to do in the mobile tech world, with so much competition from so many talented companies, is to stand out. In the growing field of smartwatches, one of the surest ways to grab attention right now is to deliver a round-faced model in a landscape dominated by squares and rectangles; Motorola’s doing just that, and a recent leak suggests OnePlus could be headed down that same road. Now HP hops on the bandwagon with a round offering of its own, as we learn about the joint effort from HP, designer Michael Bastian, and retailer Gilt.

It’s round -we know that much- and will feature interchangeable bands. It will also support Android and iOS. But for the moment, that’s close to all we know about this guy. It’s not going to be an Android Wear device, that much is clear, but what particular software it might run isn’t yet know. Will it be a simple notifier watch, like that Martian model we just looked at, or will it run a selection of apps?

And maybe one of the most important questions for a smartwatch: what will it cost? All this designer involvement and luxury connections sure don’t hint at a particularly affordable wearable, but for the moment nothing’s been confirmed. Right now, all we have is a rough ETA, with the watch due to make its formal debut sometime this fall.

Source: Gilt
Via: Android Central

HTC one M8 windows version pops up for verification.

Are we really about to see HTC release a Windows Phone edition of its Android flagship One M8? A week ago, that sounded like an old rumor that had little chance of coming true, but then all of a sudden all this buzz has descended upon the idea, with proponents not just insisting that this move was going to happen, but that it could occur quite soon, as well. And with HTC sending out invitations to an event later this month, it was like adding fuel to a fire. But where’s the actual evidence that this model even exists? Today we bring the goods, and a new certification doc might just out this Windows Phone handset.

The Global Certification Forum has posted a listing outlining the band support for HTC’s model HTC6995LVW. That suffix there indicates a home at Verizon, which had already been rumored, but what of the 6995? Well, 6525 was the One M8 itself, so there’s no clear connection there, but this does help convince us a little bit about the phone’s OS; after all, the old HTC 8X was the company’s model 6990, which this is just a stone’s throw from.

And while this particular version may be headed to Verizon, broad band support, both 3G and LTE, tells the story of hardware that’s capable of operation in multiple markets, all over the globe. That’s got us optimistic that HTC has some wide-reaching launch plans for this guy, and even if it’s a Verizon exclusive in the States, a close variant could find extensive support in Europe.

Source: GCF
Via: phoneArena

Oneplus one to ditch Cyanogenmod ?

OnePlus One could be without CyanogenMod

One of the exciting things about the OnePlus One was that it came rocking the CyanogenMod ROM, the first mainstream smartphone to do so in fact. That made it an instant fan favourite among those who simply must have Android and was one of the reasons why the One became an overnight sensation before even being rolled out.

The OnePlus flagship is now slowly trickling to consumers after one of the toughest launch windows in memory, but reports today suggest its love affair with the CyanogenMod could be over. In a move likely to outright piss off the Android fraternity, OnePlus could be about to ditch CyanogenMod in favour of its own in house OS.

It seems that the company is willing to cut loose CyanogenMod and go for its own cooked up Chinese sourced OS. It will still be Android of course, but it will not be the unhindered goodness of CyanogenMod, so if you are an Android enthusiast you can shed a tear now. While this may be sad news, there are some logical reasons behind OnePlus' move.

Firstly, it is likely the company is paying a license on the CM ROM, and considering the OnePlus One is likely making a loss for the company so any cost saving measures will be considered. The company is also using Cyanogen as a third party so is unable to tinker with it and progress, something that would be important for a brand as fledgling as OnePlus.

So, the One is among the most affordable and well spec'd handsets on the market, but would you still consider it with a Chinese cooked OS instead of CM?

source: Talk Android
Read more at http://www.mobileburn.com/23211/news/oneplus-could-ditch-cyanogenmod-for-the-one#gXOctHftRk2KoVi9.99

Oneplus one ditches color OS in China.

Two months after OnePlus officially unveiled its anticipated Android smartphone in May, Sina Tech reports that OnePlus is working on building its own ROM out of Taiwan to replace its current Color OS ROM (that's used in its phones in China).

This in-house ROM will be exclusively for the China market -- international models will still use CyanogenMod.

In talking with Sina Tech, Pete Lau, CEO of OnePlus, explains the decision to move its design and engineering teams to Taiwan is the result of recognizing the abundance of user-interface design and ROM engineering talent within the country. He adds that OnePlus plans on offering a China-focused ROM that's built in-house in time for OnePlus's second generation flagship phone.

Typically, Chinese mobile manufacturers like Oppo, Xiaomi, and Coolpad use forked versions of Android in China, as stock Android ROMs don't offer much functionality due to China's firewall limiting the functionality of Google products most of the time.

And despite what you might have heard around the web, OnePlus isn't splitting up with CyanogenMod, as that OS isn't on OnePlus devices in China in the first place.

In fact, OnePlus's partnership with CyanogenMod was a strategic play for international markets, and the partnership has met Zuohu's expectations according to his interview. He isn't about to let CyanogenMod go.

According to Zuohu, the North American market is in many respects the catalyst that's launching and nurturing globally recognized brands -- take Apple, Uber, Facebook, and Google.

Based on the same premise, Zuohu says that CyanogenMod played a critical role in OnePlus's global ambitions -- particularly at launch. OnePlus's association off the bat with an internationally recognized ROM like Cyanogen helped establish OnePlus's authority as an internationally competitive brand.

But the question of why OnePlus has decided to wean itself off of Oppo's ROM in the China market isn't clear. We've reached out to OnePlus for answers and we'll update this article with its response.

Samsung Galaxy Alpha rumors deliver new launch date, spec rundown

For a minute there, it really looked like we were just about to get Samsung’s Galaxy Alpha. At least, there was this barrage of leaks introducing us to the phone over a very short time span, going back just a couple weeks, and rumors of an August launchquickly zeroed-in on a very early date: Monday, August 4. Well, the Alpha may still be nearly within reach, but the latest gossip has the phone arriving just a little further out.

This new report from Germany acknowledges that the August 4 date may have briefly been correct, but asserts that Samsung made a last-minute decision to move that announcement back until August 13 – still far in advance of IFA in September, but with just a little bit more of a wait for us.

We also pick up some new insight into the Galaxy Alpha’s hardware, building off what we already heard with some new details gleamed from benchmark reports. Those have the phone running an Exynos 5433, and packing 2GB of RAM, 32GB of storage, and a 12MP main camera (2MP front-facer). The 720p display resolution we’ve heard about a few times also finds new confirmation.

Finally, we get the note that the Alpha we’ve seen may not be the phone’s final design, and that Samsung could present something slightly different at that August 13 unveiling.

Source: All About Samsung (Google Translate)
Via: SamMobile

Yet another Galaxy S5 variant expected: Snapdragon 805, but no quad HD display

We’re pretty much done with the Galaxy S5 by this point, right? We got the GS5 proper, we got the GS5 Active, we got the GS5 mini, and those lucky folks in South Korea even got the tricked-out GS5 LTE-A “Prime” edition. But surely, that must be it, right? Anything from here on out’s going to be something new like a Galaxy Alpha or Galaxy F, and in just a couple weeks, it’s going to be Note 4 this and Note 4 that… isn’t it? Apparently the proverbial fat lady has yet to take the stage for her encore performance, as word comes in this evening that we could have one more Galaxy S5 variant on the way, a hybrid between the original and the LTE-A design.

Benchmark data appears to reveal Samsung’s model SM-G901, another Snapdragon 805-running model built for operation on the latest high-speed LTE-A networks, but one without the quad HD 2560 x 1440 display present in the GS5 LTE-A model we saw land in South Korea. Instead, this new version, which seems to be intended for the European market (just as we saw with a similar GS4 model last summer), will keep the original GS5′s 1080p screen.

On one hand, that’s a disappointment, and one that seems to suggest Samsung’s not yet willing to go all-in on quad HD. But there’s a silver lining here, and while the 805 and its powerful Adreno 420 GPU helped drive all those extra pixels on the Prime’s QHD display, imagine what kind of killer performance we might see when that same chip only has to run a 1080p screen.

Right now, there’s no sign of when Samsung might intend to formally announce this model, but considering the European focus, IFA sounds like a perfect venue.

Source: GFXBench
Via: Android and Me

iPhone logo will only glow in select devices ?

Most of Apple’s iPhone 6 rumors have focused on the company making some interesting additions to its future smartphone. Some rumors claim that we’ll finally see new technologies like NFC make it to the final design, and others believe that the carved logo will also allow for Apple to bring it’s famous “Mac-glowing” logo to its iPhone line-up. Sadly at this point anything can happen, and some new reports claim that this is not going to happen.

New sources claim that the logo is being cut out in a similar process to what we’ve previously seen on the iPad, and its main purpose is allow Apple to reach accurate coloration of the housing, in addition to serving as a good spot for antennas, and also for heat dissipation. The source doesn’t directly claim that the logo won’t glow, but it’s highly unlikely that this will happen in this first iteration of Apple’s new smartphone design. It would definitely be a cool and flashy addition to Apple’s next iPhone 6, but it could also prove to be unpractical if saving battery life is a must for any smartphone in the market.

The embedded video goes through the reasons why we might not see a glowing logo in this iPhone 6. Apple is famous for prototyping different models of a device before manufacturing, so it could be that the product existed and was ditched at some point.

Source: iCrackuriDevice
Via: BGR

Samsung’s partnership with Oculus VR brings familiar HW to new Rift dev kit

This may be pushing the limits of what counts assmartphone news, but bear with us for a moment: Samsung and Oculus VR have been partnering up for work on what’s promising to be a real virtual reality renaissance. We know Oculus itself has been thinking about Android compatibility since its early days, and more recently the company has been helping Samsung develop the technology it’s using for its own Gear VR headset accessory. But now as a new version of the Oculus Rift dev kit arrives, and hardware fans tear it down to see what makes it tick, we’re starting to realize just how deep this connection between Samsung and Oculus has become, as a familiar component shows its face.

Officially, the Rift dev kit 2 (DK2) employs a “low persistence OLED display” that offers a resolution of 960 x 1080 per eye – so, 1920 x 1080 total. And who do we know that makes 1080p OLED displays?

Buried within the Rift DK2′s guts, behind the lenses and new IR trackers, you’ll find the display panel from the Galaxy Note 3. Not just a circuit board, either, but the complete front panel from last year’s phablet, bezel and all, with cut-outs for the home button, camera, sensors, and earpiece. The Rift DK2 may be pushing it harder than the Note 3 did, bumping the refresh rate up to 75Hz from 60Hz, but this is the very same hardware.

This discovery has us seeing Samsung’s Gear VR in a whole new light. While before it was easy to dismiss it as a cheap approximation of what you’d get with a purpose-built VR headset like the Oculus Rift, if they’re both essentially using the very same displays, that criticism gets a lot harder to justify.

Source: iFixIt
Via: Engadge

Moto X+1 wish list.

I would hesitate to call the Moto X a success story. By the usual definition we tie to “successful” smartphones, the Moto X does not apply. Motorola hasn’t sold tens of millions of Moto Xs like Samsung does with the Galaxy S series every year. And it didn’t help pull Motorola out of quarter after quarter of revenue losses like the One M8 has done for HTC.

Still, I wouldn’t consider the Moto X a failure either – not by a long shot. It was easily one of the most intriguing smartphones to launch in 2013. Motorola introduced some truly compelling features alongside its overly modest flagship. And even today, the Moto X garners just as much respect as its seemingly more deserving comrades.

The Moto X wasn’t huge like the other 2013 flagships, it didn’t house wildly impressive, envelope-pushing specifications, and it provided one of the most forgettable camera experiences in a smartphone to date, despite the marketing fluff Motorola spun about the Clear Pixel technology.

And yet, the Moto X is a phone we’re still talking about today. It’s a phone I still have no problem recommending to first-time and even repeat smartphone buyers. It’s still a fantastic smartphone, even if it has aged in the 11 months it’s been on the market. I popped my SIM card back in the Moto X a few weeks ago to make a video and I left it there for a week and a half – until I had to swap SIMs back to my One M8 for another video.

Despite not being a grand slam, the Moto X is still oddly and inexplicably relevant. And its successor,the so-called X+1, is highly anticipated. It will soon be approaching its unveiling, and like the Moto X before its official announcement, it’s generating a great deal of hype. Of course, as much as we loved the Moto X, it wasn’t perfect and we have some … suggestions for improvement. Below you will find our Moto X+1 wish list.

Moto Maker v2

One of the defining features of the Moto X, as the rumors long suggested, was customizable hardware. Unfortunately, “customizable” wasn’t exactly what we had been hoping for. It wasn’t configurable specs, but rather personalized color schemes and signatures. With the online portal, dubbed Moto Maker, you could select different colors for the back and front, different accent colors, a customized boot message, a personalize signature on the back of the phone, and even the color of the cable and AC adapter included in the box. You could even match the color of your headphones to your Moto X if you bought them through Moto Maker.

Later, Motorola added a new backplate material:wood.

Albeit very cool, Moto Maker wasn’t terribly revolutionary. Phones have come in various colors for years, and some of the cheapest smartphones on the market, like the Moto E, comes with swappable backplates.

That’s why I’d like to see Moto Maker version 2.0, where you can customize (to a light degree, anyway) the internals of the phone. You could choose between 2GB or 3GB of RAM, severaldifferent storage options, camera upgrades, etc.

We’ve already heard that the X+1 will likely come with Moto Maker, and we’ve seen a leak which included a wooden back and silver metal trim. Here’s to hoping the customization options are far more in-depth this time around.

A great camera with OIS

Motorola talked up its Clear Pixel camera in the Moto X, claiming it could capture more light and take superior photos. In short, that … wasn’t true, and it didn’t take us long to figure that out. The camera was easily one of the most disappointing features of the Moto X.

Frankly, 10-megapixels is plenty, but I’d like to see the addition of optical image stabilization and simply better photos all around. Not much else needs to be said about the X+1′s camera – it just needs to be better than last year’s. And trust me, there’s plenty room for improvement.

A derivative of the X8 Mobile Computing System

Motorola also chose not to go with a cookie cutter SoC. Instead of using the prefab Snapdragon 600 or Snapdragon 800 like most of its competitors, Motorola opted for its own custom recipe: the X8 Mobile Computing System. The X8 Mobile Computing System is comprised of eight different cores: four graphics processor cores, two application processor cores, and two low-power cores to power the Moto X’s unique features.

With Touchless Control, you can speak to the Moto X, even when its on standby and across the room, and you can control it via voice. And when you pick the phone up, take it out of your pocket, or receive a notifications, the display lights up with a simple alert that barely sips any battery.

Some of these features come baked into the newer Snapdragon chips, so it’d be nice to see some additional horsepower packed into the X+1 without losing part of what made the Moto X so impressive.

Bigger battery with Qi

The battery life of the Moto X was surprisingly great. I could last at least most the day on a single charge, which is more than I can say for most smartphones. Any improvement in that area – especially with a higher-resolution display and more advanced processing power – would be welcomed.

Even better would be Qi wireless charging, as our own Adam Doud noted. Wireless charging with Touchless Control (assuming the feature sticks around; I don’t see why it wouldn’t) is a match made in tech heaven. You could still use and control the phone without having to pick the phone up and constantly disconnect from the charger. Why Motorola didn’t do this last year with the original Moto X I don’t quite understand.

5-inch 1080p display

I wouldn’t necessarily call the Moto X’s display disappointing. I never had a problem with the 720p resolution. At 4.7-inches, 720p is plenty, even if my love for pixels tells me more is better.

I do, however, have a problem with the size of the display. Maybe it’s an optical illusion since the Moto X is comparatively small for housing a 4.7-inch display. Or maybe I’ve simply used too many bigger smartphones and feel the need for more real estate.

Either way, I’d like to see the display jump to around 5-inches without changing the physical footprint all that much. The size of the phone itself is great, but I’d like a bigger screen for sure.

What items are on your Moto X+1 wish list? Do you want a larger screen? A better camera? All the things we want? Or do you want something totally different? Sound off below with your Moto X+1 wish list!

HTC’s new J Butterfly is the waterproof One (M8) you always wanted

HTC has been on a roll of positive results this year, something that we’ve all wanted to happen as this is one of the last remaining smartphone pioneers of our time. The HTC One (M8), and the legacy left by last year’s HTC One have been both responsible for the company’s return to success, and it seems that HTC is out for more.

HTC and KDDI have just announced the new J Butterfly for the Japanese market. Surely this is an exclusive for that market, but if any of you remember the old Droid DNA, you’ll also remember that it was based off the original J Butterly. What makes this phone hot is that it’s almost like an HTC One (M8) in specifications, but the things that differ are actually a fix to the things we wish we had. The spec sheet includes a 5-inch 1080p display, a Snapdragon 801 processor, WiFi 802.11ac, LTE-Advanced, 150Mbps 4g, 2GB of RAM, Android 4.4 KitKat, in addition to the improved 13 megapixel duo camera, and a waterproof body.

HTC has an event planned for August 19th and most of us still wonder what to expect from it. If there is another Droid DNA in the works, this would be HTC’s opportunity to gain some extra fame in the US market this fall.

Source: KDDI
Via: Engadget

Samsung Smartphone Sales are down.

You’d think that the world’s biggest smartphone maker is having a blast with the launch of devices like the Galaxy S5, but that’s actually far from the truth. Samsung’s quarter results are in, and instead of making its investors happy, it turns out that the company is actually doing as bad as it had forecasted. Samsung warned its investors that the “weak demand” for smartphones and its increase in marketing expenses could hit the company hard, and so it did.

Samsung announced profits of $6.1 billion (6.25 trillion won) compared to its $6.96 billion (7.7 trillion won) of last year, and which would be its lowest quarterly profit in two years. Historically Samsung’s phone business has been a major contributor to its revenue, but the company admits that the Galaxy S5 hasn’t been as hot as expected, and that’s particularly odd since the iPhone continues to sell like hotcakes, and the entry-level sector was being dominated by companies like Huawei and Lenovo last quarter.

Samsung is also forecasting these same results for next quarter. The company does see a sales hump with the launch of devices like the Galaxy Note 4, but it’s not expecting the same level of success that it has found in previous years. Rumors of a bigger iPhone at times when the smaller one is doing just fine is a key indicator for Samsung’s need to worry.

Do you think it’s time for Samsung to reinvent its smartphone designs, or what would you suggest Samsung do to regain its popularity? Leave us your thoughts in the comments.

Source: Samsung
Via: Engadget

Verizon launches sapphire-screened Kyocera Brigadier

Kyocera’s Brigadier first leaked back in the spring, and at the time, there wasn’t much reason to be excited about it. The phone seemed like it would just be the latest in a long series of ruggedized Androids that may offer exceptional durability, but with little in the way of real stand-out features, nor high-end specs. And so we largely forgot about the phone until it popped back on our radar earlier this week, as a source leaked some Verizon documentation to us that identified the Brigadier as the first Kyocera model to use the company’s Sapphire Shield – its branding for a highly scratch-resistant synthetic sapphire display. It seemed like a launch was due at any moment, and sure enough, Verizon has gone official with the smartphone today.

That leak we brought you is proving to be right on the money, as we can now confirm details like the Brigadier’s 4.5-inch 720p screen, 8MP camera (with 2MP front-facer), 2GB of RAM, and 16GB storage with support for microSD expansion. The phone’s mystery SoC is now identified as a 1.4GHz Snapdragon 400, and all those ratings against dust, water, shock, and extreme temperature are present. It even supports Qi wireless charging.

As for that sapphire screen, Verizon says the phone has been tested by independent labs and is “far less likely to break than leading strengthened touch–panel glass.” With test conditions including dropping the phone screen-first onto rocks, that sounds pretty darn durable.

So what’s this sapphire luxury gonna run you? Not that much, as it turns out. On-contract, the Kyocera Brigadier is just about $100, though the full off-contract price is a scant $400. Considering Verizon still sells the 4.3-inch dual-core Kyocera Hydro ELITE for $350, that’s a pretty affordable upgrade.

Source: Verizon

Oneplus one round smartwatch ?

What’s next for OnePlus, following the launch of its One handset? Another smartphone is probably a safe bet, but what about other form factors? There was that rumor earlier this month about a OnePlus Tab tablet, but that one quickly turned out to be a fake. Today we’re checking out another leak – and hopefully one that will stand up to a little more scrutiny – as a OnePlus smartwatch is seemingly revealed.

According to these design sketches, this “OneWatch” would offer some of the hottest features from the most anticipated smartwatches at the moment; those include things like the circular display we’re looking forward to from the Moto 360 and a sapphire glass crystal as Apple may use on its iWatch. OnePlus may also take advantage of curved batteries, embedding the watch’s power source right into its strap – a smart space-saving move, we guess, but one that threatens to limit user customization with aftermarket straps.

Other possible hardware details include a low-power OLED display, support for Qi wireless charging, and a configurable hardware button.

It all sounds quite nice, but the leak doesn’t arrive without a few hitches. For instance, the screenshot depicting a device render doesn’t quite match the design sketches, missing that custom button. Even the sketches themselves seem inconsistent, especially in regard to strap design; maybe that curved battery was only an idea that won’t make it to production.

And then there’s the big software question: just what will the OneWatch run? With the circular display, Android Wear seems like an obvious choice, but how well might that platform mesh with OnePlus and its custom-ROM-loving, CyanogenMod ways?

For the moment, it’s an intriguing concept, but one that still leaves us with a ton of questions.

Source: BGR India
Via: phoneArena

Meizu MX4 leak shows off some stupid-thin bezels

Smartphone manufacturers continue to push engineering limits towards the elimination of side bezels for their handsets’ screens. Some of them gave it the old college try, only to run up against seemingly unavoidable physical limitations, like LG with its flagship G3. Some of them might just conquer bezels entirely, like we’ve heard Samsung could be aiming for with its curved display tech. Today we’re looking at a leak attributed to the anticipated Meizu MX4, which may offer some of the narrowest bezels we’ve ever seen for a traditional smartphone display.

Granted, this is just the front panel, and the phone’s body may add a little extra along the edges, but this looks like a fantastically thin place to start from. Based on the leaked schematics included with these pics, those side bezels could be just 1.1mm wide.

The MX4 isn’t likely to be a one-trick pony, either, and beyond this super-thin bezel, the hardware could offer specs like a Snapdragon 805 SoC, 3GB of RAM, and a 16MP main camera with 5MP front-facer – all very much flagship-level stuff. Display resolution is a little less certain, but we know Meizu was teasing quad HD displays some six months back, and one could easily end up on this device. The company may not be one of the more well-known Android OEMs, but with hardware like this phone’s shaping up to offer, it might be one worth paying more attention to.

Source: ePrice (Weibo)
Via: GSM Arena

Sony schedules an event for IFA.

The past month or so’s been a relatively busy time for Sony and its mobile lineup, as we’ve tackled rumors looking not just at new phones, like theXperia Z3 and Z3 Compact, but also at accessories for those handsets, like a new lens-style camera add-on. While formal announcements could come at any time, the odds are good that the company’s gearing up for a big event at this year’s IFA expo in Berlin. Today we learn just when that will occur, as the company reveals plans for a September 3 press conference.

This time last year Sony had already teased its IFA event, but it would still be a couple weeks before we knew about the specific date (September 4, not too far off this year’s). When the day finally rolled around, Sony announced those first-gen QX-series lens-style cameras, as well as the Xperia Z1. It’s a bit shocking to realize just how young that phone still is, especially with the Z2 already out and us looking forward to a possible Z3 launch at this year’s IFA.

In addition to that hardware we’re specifically expecting, it wouldn’t be that surprising to see Sony introduce a new tablet and maybe even a wearable. And the company still hasn’t managed to shake offrumors of a possible Windows Phone model, even if that’s seeming less likely as time goes on.

Source: Xperia Blog

Leaked images shows new Xperia Z3 compact images.

Late last month a leak outed what were claimed to be front panels for the Sony Xperia Z3 and Z3 Compact. While a little hard to believe at first, a series of subsequent leaks detailing the Z3 have really brought us around to the idea that this is a model Sony’s working on. But what of the smaller phone, the presumed Z3 Compact? We haven’t heard much of it since then, but now a new series of photos has arrived alongside some hardware rumors – the question is, is this the Z3 Compact or not?

Here’s the problem: while the basic shape of the phone is a close enough match to that front panel pic from last month, some of the details are off – the front-facer appears to be in a different place here, for instance. And instead of the shiny glass we’d expect, the bezel around the screen appears to be a matte plastic – not to mention missing its Sony logo.

Could we excuse those inconsistencies as evidence of multiple variants of the same basic hardware, or maybe just early prototype builds? Sure, but we should also keep in mind that the identification of this device as the Z3 Compact may not be nearly so clear-cut.

We’re also a little concerned about the specs attached to these images. Considering the top-tier hardware the Z1 Compact got, rumored details for the Z3 Compact like a Snapdragon 801 SoC, 3GB of RAM, and another 20.7MP camera are believable enough. But then there’s the claim the phone could get a 4.6-inch 1080p screen. That’s both a bit larger than we’d expect for a Z-series Compact model (not to mention larger than the phone seemed in that comparison pic), as well as quite small for a 1080p panel; we’re not sure we’ve seen a phone with such a dense 1080p display before.

In light of all this, the Z3 Compact is looking like a lot less of a sure thing than the Z3 itself, and we’re going to need to see some more evidence before we’re fully sure of just what we’re dealing with.

Source: Weibo
Via: Xperia Blog

HTC to have an event in Aug ?

The next couple months are shaping up to be chock-full of smartphone announcements. IFA in early September is bound to bring us a ton of new devices, and shortly after that we’re expecting news of the iPhone 6. We’ve even been picking up on word of a few possible launches for August, and an invite just landed for what may be a notable one, as HTC prepares for an August 19 event.

But what could the company have to share? A few subjects come to mind, like that One M8 for Windows (or W8, if you will) and the recent rumors that the phone could launch sometime this quarter. Sure, there’s been little hard evidence for the phone’s existence, but it’s a possibility worth considering.

Or maybe HTC will bring news of new availability for an already announced device – something likethe plastic One E8, perhaps.

Then there’s the chance this isn’t about a phone at all. That talk about an HTC tablet keeps popping back up, and what about the company’s smartwatch plans? It may have issued that denialabout accidentally outing its wearable in a promo video, but that doesn’t mean that a smartwatch isn’t under development.

What are you hoping HTC has ready to announce?

Source: HTC
Via: WPCentral

Microsoft announces Windows Phone 8.1 Update 1

Windows Phone 8.1 has finally seen its public release, following months of availability as a Preview for Developers. But as Windows Phone users all over the world start installing their 8.1 updates, Microsoft already has its eyes on what’s next, and today gives us a little taste of what to expect, announcing the coming availability of WP8.1 Update 1 and going over some of the software’s key features.

Remember that folder support we’ve been talking about? The update will introduce Live Folders to the platform, letting you group apps for a denser, more feature-packed Start screen. Even tucked away in folders, tiles will still be visible, letting you keep on top of app activity. Speaking of tiles, the Windows Phone Store’s tile will now let you see an automatically refreshing series of app previews, changing every few hours.

We’ve also recently been discussing Cortana’s spread to other nations, and Microsoft confirms beta availability for China and the UK, as well as an alpha release for Canada, India, and Australia. Like we heard before, the voice of Cortana will change for these regional editions.

You can also look forward to an updated Xbox Music app with restored background sync and gesture controls, the ability to select multiple parts of an SMS conversation at once, VPN enhancements for WiFi users, and the arrival of access controls through the WP App Corner.

So how do you get your hands on this update? The preview release for developers will arrive first, landing next week. The target is a little less clear for a consumer-level release, but Microsoft says to look for it in the coming months.

Source: Microsoft
Via: The Verge

Samsung Galaxy Alfa launch a week away?

The story behind Samsung’s Galaxy Alpha has rapidly been coming together over the past couple weeks, going from a name, to a spread of leaked pics, to hardware details in just a span of days. The breakneck pace at which news of the phone’s been developing is not looking like it’s due to slow down anytime soon, and word comes in today that the Alpha’s launch could already be within sight.

According to SamMobile, which published one of the two currently available sets of Galaxy Alpha photos, the smartphone may be publicly announced by Samsung next Monday, August 4.

An earlier rumor also suggested that an August launch could be possible – avoiding some of the IFA crowds – but we hadn’t heard a specific date before. We might have assumed something that was still a week or two further out, so this talk of an early August 4 launch managed to catch us a little by surprise.

But even if that’s when the phone goes official, we still don’t quite know what to expect for retail availability; just when might sales of the Galaxy Alpha begin? And that leads us to another important question, namely what Samsung could be thinking for a price tag. It’s been difficult to get a sense for how the Alpha will coexist alongside the GS5 mini, and maybe pricing will finally make it clear just how these two models stack up.

Source: SamMobile

More LG vista leaks for Verizon wireless.

This past weekend we brought you an exclusive leak concerning Verizon’s plans for the LG G Vista. We got an updated launch date, with it looking like VZW would get the G Vista out by the end of the month, and also got to see some detailed descriptions of the phone’s hardware. The odd thing was, some of this new data didn’t agree with previous rumors – would the phone arrive with a qHD or a 720p 5.9-inch display? As we get closer to the G Vista’s launch, a new leak attempts to set the record straight, and despite what we got from our source, it’s looking like the phone might be 720p, after all.

At least, this new leak is accompanied by images of the phone itself, and seems to reveal final retail packaging, going a long way to make the details revealed here seem official. And that 5.9-inch screen is clearly identified as having a 720p resolution. We also get more detail about other specs, like having the SoC spelled-out as a Snapdragon 400, rather than the unspecified 1.2GHz quad-core mentioned in our earlier leak. And there’s stuff here that was fully absent from that previous find, including descriptions of the G Vista’s 8MP main camera (with G3-style laser assist) and its 1.5GB of RAM. Those are things we heard before, but it’s reassuring to see them like this now, following that recent confusion.

That July 31 launch date returns, too, making it look like we really are just days away from seeing Verizon make the G Vista official. We’ll be looking forward to that news, as we’re still waiting to learn about pricing.

Source: Droid Life

LG G3 in multiple colour option.

The LG G3 has gained a lot of praise everywhere for its design and features. At times when competing smartphones are doing an excellent job in filling up the spec sheet, LG has done a great job in stepping things up a notch. That said, those of you that were interested in buying the G3 in some of the color options that were announced in May have found it peculiar that not all five color options are available yet, or at least not until next month.

LG has just confirmed that the missing colors Moon Violet, and Burgundy Red will be available in August. Sadly we can’t predict which markets will be served with the colors initially, as the tweet from LG teases that this will depend on carriers in some places. Hopefully that doesn’t become another carrier exclusive deal in the United States, as we’ve seen in the past as well.

What’s important is that you will get more color options for one of the most iconic devices of the year. Do you care about these two color options being mentioned, or have you already purchased an LG G3 in Metallic Black, Silk White or Shine Gold? Let us know in the comments down bellow.

Source: LG (Twitter)
Via: Phone Arena