iPhone 6 components leaked in high-quality photos

Rumors claim that Apple’s manufacturing partners are already in the final validation stages for mass production of the iPhone 6. It would be safe to say that whatever leaks come next of any iPhone 6 component will be part of the final production units that customers will see at some point inSeptember. Today we see a new batch of these components, and the leaker was nice enough to carry a good camera along.

These recently leaked photos show us high-quality imagery of the iPhone 6′s front panel in both front and back, and also some of the buttons. If you had any doubts about the rumored curves of the iPhone 6, you’ll notice that these do indeed exist, but not in a way that will offer you any visible benefit aside from some extra comfort when holding the phone to your ear. The rest of the leaks do show that the iPhone 6 will standardize the look and feel of buttons across Apple’s iOS lineup, though we can only assume that these buttons will be the same for both the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 and the 4.7-inch model.

The iPhone 6 is rumored to be announced on September 9th, with a possible launch in stores on September 19th. We’ll keep an eye on more rumors as these emerge.

Source: Feld & Volk
Via: BGR

Will the Windows Phone HTC One M8 allow ROM-flashers to switch platforms?

Odds are looking very good that we’re just about to see HTC introduce a new version of its Android-running One M8, only this time reconfigured as a Windows Phone 8.1 handset. An HTC even scheduled for next week is likely to formally introduce us to the smartphone, and if what we’ve heard about its hardware is correct, it really will be the One M8 we know and love, just with a software swap. If we’ve got two versions of the same phone, each running a different platform, does that mean it will only be a matter of time before custom ROM enthusiasts find a way to convert a handset back and forth between the two? That might just be a possibility, at least according to a new rumor.

Word is that the bootloader that will arrive on this Windows Phone One M8 will be hardware-compatible with a couple of the versions of the versions of the Android One M8 we already have. And while no one’s saying it will be easy, that at least leaves the door open for a possible way to convert an Android M8 to a WP8.1 version.

Will any dev manage to actually deliver on that on that idea? Could it work the other way around, turning the WP8.1 M8 to an Android version? We’re probably still a long way off from dubbing this the reincarnation of the runs-friggin-everything HTC HD2, but it sure is a tantalizing prospect.

Source: Upleaks (Twitter)
Via: WMPoweruser

Early September Moto 360 availability hinted at by Google I/O follow-ups

With those invitations Motorola just started distributing for a September 4 event, the ones that pretty unambiguously feature an image of a watch among their highlighted products, it’s safe to say that we’re just about to learn of the start of retail sales for the Moto 360. But even if that announcement comes at the event, when might the smartwatch actually go up for sale? After all, a couple of the other products we’re hoping to see announced – the Moto X+1 and G2 – have been rumored to land on September 25, and September 10, respectively. Would the 360 fall closer to the former or the latter? A new clue has just arrived, as Google gets in touch with people who attended I/O back in June about the 360s they’ve got coming to them.

Google I/O 2014 attendees walked away with cool stuff like Google Cardboard and a LG or Samsung Android Wear watch, but the big draw – the Moto 360 – wasn’t yet available. Devs who attended would still be getting a 360, but it was a matter of waiting until the hardware was ready to start going out. Today, Google has begun contacting I/O attendees with news that their 360s are nearly ready to ship, and asking for their shipping details.

The pertinent bit from this message is the deadline Google gives: devs only have until September 5 to respond with shipping info. While not an absolute lock, the proximity of that date to the September 4 event sure has us feeling like 360 sales could begin, if not that very same week, then perhaps early the next.

Source: Android Police

Motorola invites us for its September 4th event.

Motorola’s got some new hardware coming up: on that much, we all should be able to agree. There’s the retail release of the Moto 360, sure, and beyond that we’re hoping to see the debut of the Moto X+1 and also maybe a new Moto G. But when is this all actually going to happen? The 360′s supposed to land before the end of summer, and rumors have mentioned dates like September 25 for the start of carrier Moto X+1 sales, or the new Moto G coming out on September 10. What about an actual launch announcement? Invites are going out now for a September 4 Motorola press event that sure looks like it’s going to feature all this hardware we’re expecting.

Sometimes companies drop subtle hints in their invitations, but here Motorola’s practically beating us over the head with a hammer: the cootie-catcher/fortune-teller depicted here features tabs strongly indicating towards a new Moto X, Moto G, a smartwatch, and a Bluetooth earpiece we weren’t exactly expecting, but hey, the more the merrier!

Interestingly, this event is set to take place in the US, rather than over in Germany where most of the world’s smartphone attention will be focused, as we’ll be right in the middle of IFA 2014. Regardless of where it’s happening, rest assured that we’ll be on top of whatever announcements Motorola delivers, bringing you news of its latest products as soon as they debut.

Source: Motorola
Via: Droid Life

iPhone 6 in mass production ?

We’re just a couple of weeks away from the rumored Apple event where the company is supposed to unveil its latest and greatest iPhone 6,or at least one of them. As such, we have a ton of conflicting rumors regarding the final details in the device’s design, and the stage at which it currently is in its manufacturing process. Rumors point to the device hitting store shelves on September 19th, and judging by some of the latest reports, that might be right.

Asian sources claim that the iPhone 6 is currently hitting its “product validation testing.” This is the last test before the device enters mass production, and is used mainly to detect potential issues in the production cycle. During this milestone, a batch of iPhone 6 units is produced in order to fine tune the assembly line, and ensure product quality.

Sadly the report doesn’t provide any details as to how many iPhone 6 models are reaching this milestone, so it could be that we’re just talking about the 4.7-inch model. The next batch of iPhone 6 leaks should show us something closer to what customers will purchase in the next month or so.

Source: Weibo.com
Via: GSMArena

Motorola Nexus 6 might not be so big, after all

For the last couple weeks, we’ve been bouncing around this idea of a Motorola-made Nexus 6(codenamed Shamu), and one that could be significantly larger than either the Nexus 4 or Nexus 5, moving all the way up to a solidly phablet-sized 5.9-inch display. At least, that’s what we’ve been hearing, though there hasn’t been much in the way evidence – reliable or not – to back that claim up. Today, we finally see a clear description of this hardware, but if these new details are to be trusted, it doesn’t look like Shamu will be a whale of a phone, at all.

Remember those GFXBench figures we looked at yesterday? The ones that only offered performance data, but no real specs? The listing has since been updated with device info, and according to what’s reported there, the Nexus 6 could get a 5.2-inch quad HD 2560 x 1440 panel.

While the SoC isn’t spelled-out, the presence of an Adreno 420 GPU implies a Snapdragon 805. Other details include 3GB of RAM, what looks like 32GB of storage, a 12MP main camera, and a 2MP front-facer. Unsurprisingly, the software reports running Android L.

Well, that sounds a heck of a lot more like a Nexus phone than what we had to go on before. Then again, benchmark reports aren’t necessarily the most trustworthy, and all this data arriving after the performance info was published is a little suspect. That said, none of this suggests that these specs are necessarily wrong. We just may need a little more to be convinced.

Source: GFXBench
Via: phoneArena

Samsung galaxy Alfa specs and price.

Following weeks of leaks and rumors, Samsung has finally gone ahead and formally announced the Galaxy Alpha, a handset that takes a (small) step away from all the plastic that usually goes into the company’s designs and introduces a phone with a handsome ring of metal encircling its frame. Is the inside just as impressive as the outside? Let’s take a look at what makes the Galaxy Alpha tick.

We’re a bit removed from flagship territory here, with the Galaxy Alpha sporting a 4.7-inch 720p and running a 1.8GHz octa-core SoC, presumably an Exynos component.

We also see a decent-sized 12MP main camera, a 2.1MP front facer, and while there’s no room for storage expansion, the built-in 32GB of flash should keep you going for quite a while.

For the complete rundown based on currently available specs, check out our handy table below:

Samsung Galaxy Alpha specs

Component	Description
Screen size	4.7 inches
Screen type	Super AMOLED
Resolution	1280 x 720 (720p)
Pixel density	312
SoC	Unconfirmed presumably Exynos
Type	Octa-core
Speed	(Quad 1.8GHz + Quad 1.3GHz)
GPU	Unconfirmed likely Mali-series
RAM	2GB
Storage	32GB
Expansion	None
Camera	12 MP
Flash	LED
Front-facer	2.1MP
Battery	1860mAh
OS	Android 4.4.4 (KitKat)
Bands	4G LTE Cat 6
SIM type	Pending
Bluetooth	4.0
WiFi	WiFi a/b/g/n/ac
NFC	Yes
Infrared	No
Sensors	Fingerprint / heart rate
Build	Metal frame
Size	132.4 x 65.5 x 6.7 mm 115g

Possible Samsung Gear VR shown off in new leaked image

Samsung has reportedly been looking to get into the virtual reality industry as of late, as leaks concerning its Gear VR have suggested. And those leaks are not all: a new report out of The Vergetoday suggests that a Samsung virtual reality headset may not be released too far into the future, even offering a first glimpse at what is likely the device in question.

First of all, we’d like to simply point out that The Verge does not corroborate the Gear VR moniker previously leaked in this report, though that’s what leaks in the past have detailed it as.

Moving on to the leak itself, we’ve now got a possible release date. Samsung will allegedly announce the virtual reality device at IFA 2014, likely at it’s UNPACKED 2014 Episode 2 event where the Galaxy Note 4 is also expected to break cover.

The headset is codenamed “Project Moonlight,” and it appears like the device itself is similar to what Google has done with Cardboard. You plug your phone in and suddenly you’re immersed in a world of virtual reality.

Previous leaks suggested that Oculus may be involved in the project, which wouldn’t be surprising considering that versions of the Rift use a Galaxy Note 3 display. The headset will likely work with the Galaxy S5 and Note 4, though we don’t know whether other Samsung phones (or other Android phones, for that matter), will be supported.

Source: The Verge

KitKat the most popular and most distributed Android version ?

Google has gone ahead this afternoon and updated its Android distribution numbers for the month of August. Of course, as with any release of new distribution data from Google, a bunch of different stories are told through the August 2014 Android distribution numbers, so let’s go through them, shall we?

Going down the list systematically, we can see that Froyo has remained unchanged from the last time Google gave us numbers to crunch, which is hardly surprising to us. Gingerbread has astonishingly increased in popularity (who the heck is still selling Gingerbread phones), moving from 13.5% to 13.6% this month. Ice Cream Sandwich is still declining, though, dropping nearly a whole percentage point from 11.4% to 10.6%.

Jelly Bean as a whole — meaning, Android versions 4.1 to 4.3.1 are all counted) is still the most popular OS, but it is seeing some small decline. Android 4.1.x used to make up 27.8% of the pie, and it now accounts for 26.5%. Android 4.2.x made up 19.7%, and it’s now at 19.8% for some reason. Android 4.3 formerly had 9.0%, while it’s now declined more than a full percent to 7.9%.

KitKat, the newest version of Android (no, theAndroid L developer preview does not count), has jumped from 17.9% to 20.9% — while the growth rate has declined from last month, it’s still slowly but surely capturing more of the Android market.

You can check out all the numbers in image form below.

Source: Android Developers

NVIDIA teases 64-bit Tegra K1 with Denver CPU

If you’re the sort of tech enthusiast who likes paying attention to the specs, by now you’ve no doubt heard about the NVIDIA Tegra K1 SoC, the company’s latest offering. It introduced the chip back at CES in January, and lately we’ve been hearing about a lot of hardware that will take advantage of the K1, from Google’s Project Tango dev tablet, to the new NVIDIA Shield Tablet, and maybe even that rumored HTC Nexus tablet. But what’s easy to miss is that there are two versions of this hardware, a 32-bit quad-core A15 version, and an upcoming 64-bit edition. This week, NVIDIA turned the spotlight on that 64-bit component, sharing a little about how it works.

The key to the 64-bit K1′s performance is its pair of dual Denver CPU cores. Rather than using a lot of hardware pipelining to optimize code execution, Denver uses software to generate tight microcode on the fly, delivering what NVIDIA describes as effectively doubled performance. Code only has to be optimized once, so regularly-accessed apps should see immediate performance gains.

NVIDIA says that the 64-bit K1 will start showing up in commercial hardware later this year. It also teases that it’s “already developing the next version of Android – ‘L’ – on the 64-bit Tegra K1,” which is only going to fuel rumors that the HTC Nexus tablet could feature just such a chip.

Source: NVIDIA
Via: Droid Life

Possible Motorola Nexus 6 benchmarks drive hardware speculation

Late last month, we checked back in with the ongoing saga of what to expect for the next Nexus phone, hearing rumors that Motorola might get the tap and could deliver the biggest Nexus handset to date, a 5.9-inch phablet codenamed Shamu. At least, there were references in Android bug reports mentioning that codename, but not a ton of evidence detailing the hardware itself. Today we may come a little closer to understanding just what this device consists of, with some purported Shamu benchmarks turning up.

But fair warning here: when we say “a little closer,” we mean it, as there’s no clear spec breakdown or anything here. Instead, we’re extrapolating hardware details from performance figures. Just looking at the reported numbers for GFXBench 3.0′s “Manhattan” test, the phone identifying as Shamu pulls down figures roughly equivalent to what we see from phones known to have 1080p displays and Snapdragon 801 processors. So, maybe we’ll see the same thing on Shamu itself?

Honestly, that’s a lot looser than the sort of data we’d like to see, especially as we seek confirmation for so many details about this hardware. At the same time, though, it something, and given the dearth of good information out there, we suppose it’s not the time to be picky. Hopefully, though, we’ll come across something a little more definitive, and soon.

Source: GFXBench
Via: phoneArena

Sony Xperia Z3 benchmark leaks.

Sony is just a couple of weeks away from its event at IFA in Berlin, and the rumors continue to spike on what to expect. We’ve heard details of a Sony Xperia Z3 Compact in the works, along with a Sony Xperia tablet also in plans, but the hottest rumors fall around the flagship Xperia Z3, and today we get a couple of extra rumors that give the reported specifications some credibility.

GFXBench has already published the specifications of the Sony Xperia Z3, and these all match the existing rumors on what we can expect. We’re talking about a 5.15-inch 1080p display, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor (2.4 GHz quad-core Krait 400 CPU and Adreno 330 graphics), 3GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage, a 20.7 megapixel Exmor RS rear camera and a 2.1MP front-facing camera. There is some debate on how Sony will sell that 5.15-inch display, but regardless if they call this a 5.1 or a 5.2-inch display, the difference is minimal.

Sony’s IFA event happens on September 3rd, so set your calendars as we’ll be covering everything that happens. Are you disappointed that a good selfie camera is not included? Leave us your thoughts in the comments.

Source: GFXBench
Via: Xperia Blog

Reversible USB connector gets standardized: so much for Lightning envy

Say what you will about the problems inherent to using a non-industry-standard connector likeApple’s elected to use with Lightning on its latest iOS devices: for all the unnecessary compatibility issues that creates, there’s something incredibly graceful about Lightning’s ability to be inserted with no concerns for which way is up. Since late last yearwe’ve been talking about similar functionalitycoming to a connector that really would be a cross-manufacturer, cross-platform standard, with word that USB 3.1 would introduce a reversible “Type-C” connector. Work’s been underway to nail-down the specifics behind its design, and today that’s finally a done deal, as the USB 3.0 Promoter Group announces the completed Type-C spec.

Not only is Type-C reversible up-down on the connector end, but the cable itself is the same on both sides, no longer with a big PC end and a smaller phone connector.

With these standards now formalized, manufacturers can now start building cables that conform to the published specs, and device makers can start thinking about putting this connector on mobile devices. We’ve probably got a long way to go before it’s truly ubiquitous, so while you can look forward to some bumpy times full of adapters and a little confusion, we’re finally headed down a road that promises to take us to a much more straightforward to connect with and charge our phones.

Source: USB 3.0 Promoter Group (PDF)
Via: 9to5 Mac

Cyanogen Inc. clashes with OnePlus over treatment of women.

OnePlus has already managed to attract a lot of criticism for the way it’s introduced its first smartphone, the OnePlus One. From the invitation system, to that smash-your-phones contest, toissues with scalpers, or even botched run-ins with regulatory agencies, it sometimes feels that this company is making every mistake it can – but then again, as an upstart, it has some growing pains to work through. The latest OnePlus controversy has just landed, and this one is drawing Cyanogen Inc. into the conflict.

It all started with the announcement of a new OnePlus One invite giveaway, this time only open to women. The company asks ladies to send in a pic of themselves displaying a OnePlus logo, for forum members to vote upon, with the 50 top submissions getting invite codes and t-shirts. Right there, OnePlus was treading on extremely thin ice, risking turning this into a beauty pageant. But then it had to go and push things one step further, dropping a “ladies, no nudity please” warning.

The contest is already being called sexist, demeaning, and objectifying, and has managed to catch the attention of Cyanogen, OnePlus’s software partner on the One. In no uncertain terms, the company tweeted that “we value all of our users and do not support any contest that objectifies people.”

Just now, as we go to post this news, OnePlus has finally taken the contest thread down. Prior to that, it was urging commenters to stay on topic and not derail the thread with their complaints.

Source: OnePlus (thread closed), Cyanogen Inc.(Twitter)
Via: Phandroid

Samsung Galaxy Alfa Released.

We’ve heard a lot about the Samsung Galaxy Alphain the past, ranging from rumors and leaks to spot-on reports that predicted the phone would belaunched today. The Samsung Galaxy Alpha announced today is, according to the official press release, “the evolution of Galaxy Design”, and the phone maker is proud to unveil its new design approach.

“Sophisticated design in a carefully constructed compact body” is the tagline for the device that has a metallic frame (sorry, no unibody design for those who expected it based on previous rumors). “The Galaxy Alpha was built and designed based on the specific desires of the consumer market. With an entirely new appearance, the Galaxy Alpha focuses on both beauty and functionality combining a stunning metal frame and slim, light weight design with the same powerful hardware and features users expect from a flagship Galaxy mobile device”, said JK Shin, CEO and Head of IT & Mobile Communication at Samsung Electronics.

The phone features an octa-core chip (dual quad-core) comprised of a quad-core processor clocking at 1.8GHz and a quad-core unit operating at 1.3GHz, and has a 4.7-inch Super AMOLED screen with 720p resolution. There are 2GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage with no expansion slots, a 12MP main shooter, 2.1MP webcam, 1,860mAh battery, WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 4.0, USB 2.0, and NFC. It runs Android 4.4.4 KitKat with Samsung’s own TouchWiz user interface on top of it.

Beginning of September is when you should look for the Samsung Galaxy Alpha and color options include Charcoal Black, Dazzling White, Frosted Gold, Sleek Silver, and Scuba Blue. There’s no word on exact markets of pricing at the moment.

Source: Samsung

Samsung pursues spending cuts in wake of earnings upset

Early this summer, rumors were already circulating that Samsung, despite the release of high-profile phones like the Galaxy S5, wasn’t shaping up to report big earnings, and indeed, when the numbers finally came out late last month, we saw the lowest quarterly profit in a long while. Granted, it’s still bringing in billions, but that sort of slow-down is nonetheless troubling to a company that’s been enjoying the sort of unchecked momentum that Samsung has. Now it looks like the manufacturer is taking steps to turn things around, as we get word of new cost-cutting measures.

If you were Samsung and you were looking to save some money, where would you make cuts? Maybe scale back your massive advertising expenditures? Save on development and support costs by streamlining your handset selection to just a few key models? According to reports, though, the focus right now is on operating expenses, and specifically cutting down on travel costs. While the company is admittedly spending tens of millions a year on things like executive airfare, we’re just not sure that’s going to make any impact when hundreds of millions are on the line.

If anything, these efforts might be attempts by Samsung execs to keep themselves off the chopping block; right now there’s no formal word of layoffs, but rumors suggest that restructuring could be in the works. Other incidents, like many execs voluntarily returning incentive pay, also seem to reflect that same attitude.

For the moment, at least, none of this threatens to have much of an impact on Samsung’s efforts to keep delivering new phones.

Source: The Korea Herald
Via: SamMobile

iPhone 6 backplate allegedly leaked in pictures

Just as we suspected, the iPhone 6 rumors continue to surface. After previously seeing purportedpictures of the retail box — which raised a few questions though — we are now seeing, above and below, what is claimed to be a picture of the iPhone 6 backplate.

In the image above we can take a close look at the camera, the flash, as well as the microphone on the back, while the picture below seems to show off the back of the device in its entirety. We can’t verify the veracity of these iPhone 6 backplate pictures, but with all the dents and scuffs, chances are they could be real. Of course, adding to that the fact that they’re in line with what we’ve seen leaked before, adds to the accuracy, but we’ve seen well executed fakes before, so keep your skeptical hat on. There are also no details accompanying the images and we don’t know whether this is the 4.7 or the 5.5-inch device (allegedly), but September 9 will probably clarify things and answer all questions.

Source: Twitter (1)(2)

Moto G2 launch details rumored, and we could be in for a big price bump

Last week we took a break from the rumors surrounding Motorola’s efforts to deliver a new Moto X, and instead started looking at what might be in the future for some of its more budget-focused models. Some benchmark data sure seemed to point at development work towards a new low-to-mid-range handset with a five-inch 720p display. And while there was no hard evidence linking it to the name, rumors suggested that this might be a new Moto G. As we wait to get the full details on this device, a new rumor attempts to shed a little light on what the launch situation might look like.

Reportedly, sales of the Moto G2 (G+1?) could begin on September 10. With that date less than a month away, that doesn’t give Motorola much time to announce the phone, and with IFA 2014 falling between now and then, it’s a likely venue for any such news.

We might also be looking at a pretty sizable price increase. That bigger display sure hinted that things might be going up a little, but this source suggests that European sales could start at 250 EUR, significantly more than both the 3G and 4G Moto G models. While that could be seen as a negative, it may just mean that Motorola has other plans for the very-low-priced segment of its lineup. Sure, we already have the Moto E, but maybe we’ll see a new model arrive to fill the space between the E and this apparent G2.

Source: GSM Arena
Via: phoneArena

Nokia Lumia 830 leaks reveal a flagship camera on mid-tier specs?

Microsoft is already teasing what to expect for itsIFA 2014 event. We know that devices like the rumored Nokia Lumia 730 might be part of the show, and its “selfie phone” capabilities will be the big news here. Still, Nokia is famous for not launching just one device at its events, and another device we’ve been following is the Nokia Lumia 830.

This Lumia 830 would be the successor to the old Lumia 820 that saw the light of day a couple of years ago. We’ve seen some leaked photos that proved to be a tad controversial as we did see a camera hump that’s similar to what we currently know on the Lumia 1020. Still, we know this device is a mid-tier phone, but today’s leaks talk about a 20.1 megapixel PureView camera, along with a 4.5-inch 720p display, and microSD support.

It’s hard to predict if this device will be part of the devices announced by Microsoft on September 4th, but a mid-tier phone with a flagship camera is an amazing way to reach to broader segments of the smartphone market. The device is being teased as a Verizon exclusive, just like we currently see with theLumia Icon in the US, so let’s see where this leads.

Source: TK Tech News
Via: WPCentral

iPhone 6 front panel in two colors leaked in photos

There are some substantial changes coming toApple’s next-generation iPhone 6. From a dramatic redesign, to the possibility of two models that are much bigger than the current iPhones we see, Apple is clearly out to address the needs of many consumers today. That said, there are a couple of parts that may change in size, but that will retain aesthetics as much as possible in order to bring that familiar iPhone look that everybody can tell from a distance, and that’s part of today’s leaks.

We get some additional photos of the iPhone 6 front panel, and this time it seems to include all the wiring it needs to be connected to a finalized backing. The leaked photos show us both panels in black and white, but it’s still hard to predict if these will be launched in sapphire or corning glass as we’ve seen in the past. What we do know is that the screen looks almost identical to the existing iPhone 5s, something that may be good and bad.

While it’s great that at least something will look familiar on the iPhone 6, it’s clear that the bezels on the display are dated when compared to devices like the LG G3. This does make one-handed usability on a bigger display less comfortable, but we’ll see how Apple plans to handle that.

Source: AppleClub
Via: 9to5Mac

Android 4.4.4 OTA reaches the OnePlus one

One of the many reasons to purchase a [OnePlus One] is the OS, CyanogenMod 11S. Apart from having a bunch of neat software features, it’s also quite close to vanilla Android — which means that its maintainer, Cyanogen Inc., can provide over-the-air updates to it reasonably quickly. Today the device is getting its July (yes, July) OTA, and within this OnePlus One Android 4.4.4 update is a couple of goodies many may appreciate.

In addition to the security fixes part of Android 4.4.4, this update brings a couple notable enhancements to the One: namely, those include new Google apps, Clear Image, a new colder color calibration for the phone’s display, the prevention of off-screen gestures in your pocket, the addition of support for capacitive buttons in the recovery, a greater illumination for said buttons, a bump up in stability, and a ton of miscellaneous fixes:

Fixed issues with vibration being disabled during Quiet Hours
Fixed lockscreen not updating the track information during music playback
Fixed microphone volume for all formats in the Voice Recorder app
Fixed “OK, Google” not triggering voice search in Google Now
Fixed Viber calls not working
Fixed battery percent not updating in custom lock screens
Fixed PicasaSync
Fixed Camera “O” gesture activating lockscreen instead of triggering camera
Fixed wallpapers not applying in full screen, taking the wrong size when cropping, etc

Android Police has also discovered some other changes, including the addition of Heads Up notifications, changes to on-call speaker volume and mic sensitivity, and the addition of the ability to search in Settings. The model number is also now being reported differently, and the mobile data indicator shows “LTE” instead of “4G” when you’re using a 4G LTE network.

They also have an update ZIP bringing you up to version XNPH30O, so click through the Via if you want to get the update on your One handset.

Source: OnePlus 1, 2
Via: Android Police

Sony Xperia E1, E1 Dual net Android 4.4 update

Sony’s recently been one of the best OEMs with regard to Android updates, providing updates to its flagships (and other phones) quickly after the source code hits AOSP. The latest phones to get in on the fun are part of the Sony Xperia E1 line, with the Sony Xperia E1 Android 4.4 update rolling out as we speak.

Apart from Android 4.4 (we’re not sure what version of Android 4.4, but it’s likely we’re talking either 4.4.3 or 4.4.4), Sony has thrown in some goodies of its own. Take a look at the full changelog below to check those out:

• Google’s Android 4.4; KitKat as standard – bringing performance & UI optimisation…
• We’ve added our tweaked Status Bar and Quick Settings… now more intuitive and customisable (and pretty easy on the eye)… cleaned up to ensure you only get the notifications you really need
• If you’ve got a Sony PlayStation 4, you might recognize our new user interface – we’ve added the same sleek launch animation and livewallpaper across the lock and home screens
• Better storage choice – you now have the option to easily move applications from internal memory to SD card – we recognised the need to have more control over your content… as something particularly useful for devices with slightly less space
• We’re also uplifting Sony’s entire native app portfolio to the latest versions – bringing tweaked / improved / current experiences for (to name but a few): Messaging, Smart Connect, TrackID, Sony Select, and Battery STAMINA Mode, Sony’s Media apps: WALKMAN, Album and Movies
• And proving pretty popular, now totaling over 2 million downloads (!) – our unique custom interface experience: “Xperia Themes”, with downloadable UI packs from Sony Select – skin up to 280 assets across your Xperia smartphone with a variety of styles…

Of course, let us know if the Sony Xperia E1 Android 4.4 update has become available to your phone yet down in the comments. The next phones up for an update are part of the Sony Xperia M2 line, so it seems Sony’s on a roll — anyone impressed?

Source: Sony Mobile

iPhone 6 retail box leaked.

We don’t expect iPhone 6-related rumors, leaks, and reports to slow down; on the contrary, we’re anticipating that more and more will surface until Apple will finally unveil the 2014 smartphone line-up, which everyone takes for granted will contain two iPhone 6 devices with larger screens, at 4.7 and 5.5-inches. We’ve recently seen some Apple logos being leaked, indicating that they most probably will not glow, and now we’re looking at what is claimed to be the iPhone 6 retail box.

While the veracity of the pictures (above and below) can’t be verified, we’re left with what we’re seeing. The stills allegedly originate from an early Apple beta tester, but this information is the only one that’s being made public. Stills of what could, or could not be the retail packaging of the iPhone 6, or a Chinese knock-off. As TechRadar notes in the original report, the Health app appears to be missing from the render on the box, something (we think) Apple would want to push. There’s also a third picture depicting a device. Again, whether this is the real deal or not is unknown, we’ll have to wait until September 9 to find out (the date Apple will reportedly make an announcement).

Source: TechRadar

Additional Sony Xperia Z3 compact images surface.

Despite Sony’s best efforts to stem the leaks surrounding the likely-upcoming Xperia Z3 and Z3 Compact, they just keep on coming. We’re greeted today with a new batch of alleged Xperia Z3 Compact pics, showing off more of what we’re expecting.

The new images don’t tell us much more about the phone, but they do satisfy our craving for more information about Sony’s ventures. As you can see in the image above, the camera looks confirmed as a 1/2.3-inch 20.7MP Exmor RS sensor with an LED flash, and the magnetic charging port, 3.5mm headphone jack, and dedicated camera button are all back for another round.

Rumors have it that the Z3 Compact will have a 4.6-inch 720p display because of battery life concerns, but XperiaBlog cannot confirm (or lend any credence to) that at this time.

In case you’re craving more images, head over to the source link to look at the full gallery of snapshots. In addition to these new Z3 Compact pics, we also have a set of new Z3 images; there’s nothing new there, though, so feel free to move right along unless you want to take a look at the side profile of the upcoming device.

Source: XperiaBlog

HTC One Max 2 details emerge, complete with Snapdragon 805 mention

Last year’s HTC One line-up consisted of the One (M7), One Mini, and the One Max. We’re pretty certain that we’re looking at the same trio for 2014 as well, and, with the One (M8) and the One Mini 2 already out, rumors are starting to build up around the One Max successor. Some refer to it as the M8 Prime, but we prefer to go with the HTC One Max 2 tentative denomination.

According to the report, we should be expecting a phone that looks “exactly” like the One M8, which is really no surprise. Said device will allegedly no longer feature a fingerprint scanner, like the One Max did on the back, below the camera. The report also claims that it will be powered by a stronger, faster processor than the Snapdragon 801 inside the M8, namely the Snapdragon 805. Other details, like additional specs (though a 5.9-inch screen is being mentioned by the report), or a launch time-frame are as of this moment not available.

Source: TKTechNews

Samsung Galaxy Alfa to launch this Wednesday.

These may not be Samsung’s best quarters when it comes to its sales of mobile devices, but that doesn’t change the fact that the company remains the biggest smartphone maker in the world. This is one of those companies that doesn’t mind pushing something directly from an R&D lab to a retail store, win or lose, so it’s hard to see this Korean giant slow down in its plans to continue as the smartphone king. The Galaxy Alpha is a clear example another experiment that Samsung is willing to push forward, and rumors say this will happen very soon.

New reports from some Korean sources claim that Samsung may announce this device on Wednesday, August 13th, just like we reported on previous rumors. The specs aren’t something out of this world for the most part if we consider the 4.7-inch 720p display, but the rest is actually good. In addition to this being Samsung’s first aluminum phone, we hear a Snapdragon 805 processor making the cut, along with 2GB of RAM and 32GB of non-expandable storage. Other reports even claim that there will be a 64GB variant available for those in need, as the lack of microSD support is a problem for many.

We’re still not sure what markets will receive this Galaxy Alpha, but with previous rumors of US variants, it shouldn’t take long for it to reach these shores.

Source: Money Today, SamMobile
Via: Phone Arena