How to Upgrade to Windows 10 from Windows 7/8 Easily?

Windows 10 is the latest version of the Microsoft Windows operating system that comes with a bunch of new features and improvements or what we call as fixes to the problems found in their earlier OS...

Credits: This article is copyrighted to <a href="http://ift.tt/1FFnkHx Krishna</a> who actively blogs at <a href="http://ift.tt/1EbTdZg;

Microsoft Officially Announces Lumia’s that will get Windows 10 Mobile

It seems that Microsoft will start rolling out Windows 10 Mobile in November, but the company has decided to act early in naming the handsets that will get the software when it launches. Redmond has named ten of its Lumia smartphones that are in line for the update, but it is not clear whether these are the first devices to get Windows 10 Mobile, or the only legacy smartphones under Microsoft’s wing that will get it.

Either way, the devices officially getting Windows 10 Mobile so far are:

Lumia 430, Lumia 435, Lumia 532, Lumia 535, Lumia 540, Lumia 640, Lumia 640XL, Lumia 735, Lumia 830, and the Lumia 930.

All of these devices run the Lumia Denim update and of course Windows Phone 8.1, which is seems to be a caveat for getting Windows 10 Mobile at this point.

T-Mobile’s Winning Run Continues

T-Mobile’s golden run continued through the second quarter of 2015 as the Magenta Network impressed again by recording more than 1 million overall postpaid subscribers for the fourth consecutive quarter. The company’s success has been unprecedented, but it shows no signs of slowing as 760,000 of the new postpaid’s were phone subscribers. Overall net additions stood at 2.1 million, making the ninth straight financial quarter in which the company has drawn in over 1 million net customers.

As for details, the fourth largest carrier in the United States recorded revenue of $8.2 billion, which is up 14% year-on-year. That overall revenue made $361 in income for the company, an improvement over the $63 million loss made through the first quarter of 2015.

T-Mobile declared a while ago that it would bring its 4G LTE to 300 million Americans eventually , and the company is now close to that figure, with 290 million currently able to get coverage.

"While the carriers continue to use gimmicks to confuse consumers, T-Mobile continues to listen to customers and respond with moves that blow them away. On top of adding 2.1 million new customers in the second quarter, we delivered 14% year-over-year revenue growth and 25% year-over-year Adjusted EBITDA growth. Overall, I think our results speak for themselves."-John Legere, CEO & president, T-Mobile

Samsung Sales Decline but Company Holds Market Dominance

Samsung has sat atop the global smartphone market for a few years, and that certainly does not look like changing anytime soon. However, the Korean company’s dominance is waning with the company declining over several consecutive quarters. The trend continued through the second frame of this year, allowing Apple to once again gain ground.

If you have followed this situation closely, you will know that while Apple has gained from Samsung’s declines, it is other companies that cause it. Apple’s iPhone has always been a phenomenal success, but Samsung growth and market dominance used to co-exist with Cupertino’s all-conquering smartphone. It is the emergence of brands like Xiaomi in Samsung’s key emerging markets that have hit the company most.

Perspective is necessary though, as Samsung is still comfortably the number one smartphone vendor in the world, with some 89 million sales through Q2. Most companies could not even manage half that figure, but it is a 7% dip fro Samsung from the 95 million units it sold through the same period last year. Apple’s iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus continued to impress and recorded a massive 47.5 million units sales, allowing Cupertino’s market share to grow a sizeable 35% year-on-year.

Motorola 2015 Moto G continues to check the Right Boxes

Over the last couple of years the Moto G has been the most impressive device in Motorola’s range, not the most decked out in terms of specs, but just a stunning blend of hardware and price. A handset that got most things right, and it’s no different with the 3rd generation model that dropped yesterday. However, while the new Moto G is still very good, it is not alone as a budget marvel these days, so has Motorola done enough to keep its affordable smartphone on top?

There is no doubt that the 2015 Moto G is still an interesting choice if you only have a couple of hundred bucks to spend, or indeed if you just want value for money. It is true that Motorola has only incrementally updated the device once more, but that is testament to how the company hit a home run with the original Moto G two years ago. The budget market has come on leaps and bounds since 2013, but even now the G stands out, although there are admittedly numerous other compelling options available these days. Not least last year’s Moto G, which is not that far away from the 2015 edition, although there are notable improvements with the new device.

The 2015 Moto G 2015 features a 5-inch 720p resolution screen with a pixel density of 294ppi, no improvement there but still standard for the class. This is the first Moto G to get 64-bit processing, with Motorola drafting in Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 410 to serve chip duties. The company has two variants of the 2015 G for you to consider, an 8GB storage option with 1GB of RAM, and a 16GB variant with 2GB of RAM. Needless to say the latter of those two options is the most intriguing and in fact is a bargain, while we would only advise the lesser model if cost cutting is your number one priority.

Either way, if you think those storage options are too small, Motorola has included micro SD card support up to an additional 128GB. Other hardware includes a near stock version of Android 5.1 which should see the 2015 Moto G get Android M quickly after its launch. Motorola has bumped the primary camera from 8MP to 13MP, and while megapixels aren’t everything it is nice to see more regardless. The snapper also boasts dual tone LED flash. Around the front there is a 5 megapixel lens which is more or less what was expected.

Cost has always defined the Moto G and it is no different here with Motorola managing to upgrade the smartphone and maintain affordability. The 8GB version comes in at $180, while the 16GB/2GB of RAM version weighs in at $220, still a very reasonable price in the circumstances.

Motorola Strikes Again, Moto X Play is a Winner

Motorola wowed this week with the launch of the Moto X Style a flagship device with a price of $400, but that was not the only surprise. The Moto X Play was also launched, a new mid-range smartphone that also dazzles as an affordable option with solid specs to boot. In fact, while some specs are different, it is best to see the X Play as an updated version of last year’s Moto X, and considering that its sub $300 price tag is a marvel.

The Moto X Style is a good looking smartphone in the flagship market, but Moto X Play is no slouch either. Not as outwardly stunning maybe, for its price the X Play is pretty enough and will also get Moto Maker to elevate it with your own personal touch. With the pre-purchase suite you can things such as different colors, engravings, and of course numerous materials as back covers. Stading alone, the Moto X Play looks a lot like last year’s Moto X flagship, although slightly updated and easier on the eye.

Motorola has brought 64-bit processing to its mid-ranger thanks to a Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 processor under the hood, a chipset that in our experience has always been a very able performer, which is why it has become a standard for mid-range handsets. 2GB of RAM provides the guts for the 615 to deliver optimum performance, while a 5.5-inch 1080p screen should not be too much of a drain on performance while still offering Full HD resolution in a device below $300.

There are 16GB and 32GB storage versions of the Moto X Play, and Motorola has included a micro SD card slot for expansion up to 128GB, going against a growing trend of ignoring this feature. A fairly huge 3630 mAh battery should give a lot of juice considering the lower specs of the Play, and indeed Motorola says that the device should be a barnstormer in terms of battery life and last for 48 hours with mixed usage.

Motorola hasn’t cut many corners and in fact surprised in some areas, such as cameras. The Play gets the same configuration as the Moto X Style, which means a 21MP rear snapper with LED flash, and a more than competent 5MP front facer.

Android 5.1 Lollipop provides the software, with Motorola again offering as close to a stock Android experience as makes no difference. The company is tight with Google’s OS and we expect Android M to makes its way to the Moto X Play very quickly after it launches.

The Moto X Style made jaws drop at $389, and Motorola has hit a home run twice at the same event by announcing that the Moto X Play will cost in the region of $300. The exact price has not been given, although Motorola revealed the Play will cost $400 less than normal flagships, which could actually mean as low as $280.

Moto X Style Steals OnePlus 2’s Thunder

Just yesterday OnePlus launched its Flagship Killer, the OnePlus 2, but already the company is not the only brand offering flagship quality for a low price. Motorola has swooped and stolen much of OnePlus’ thunder with the launch of the Moto X Style, the American company’s new smartphone flagship. A stunning mix of looks, specs, and affordability, the Moto X Style may be the true flagship killer of this year.

It’s not a device without history either, Motorola has plenty of experience in delivering affordable smartphones, with the Moto G being a prime example (that also got a new handset at the company’s launch). The Moto X Style is something new though, it marks the first time that the company is aiming directly for affordability while cutting few corners and delivering a flagship experience. Lenovo purchased Motorola last year and being under the huge umbrella of the Chinese company means Motorola can be more creative with price, and the Style reflects that.

Previous Moto X models have hardly been design trail blazers and in fact have been among the blandest flagships out there, not ugly, but boring. Moto Maker was employed to make the original and second generation Moto X more beautiful, while making it arguably the only true personalized device on the market. Moto Maker returns on the Moto X Style and has even more options (wood rear panels, multiple materials, colors, and more), but this is the first X that is beautiful on its own, Moto Maker or not. The Style looks good with a 76% screen to body ratio, a rubberized rear plate, and curvy portrait sides, it follows the LG G4 in showing that plastic devices can still look cool in a world of “premium means metal”.

While you would not want to drop the Moto X Style in the bathtub, you could probably get away with accidentally passing it under the tap. That’s because it has an IP52 rating which makes its innards entirely dust proof and splash proof. That protection also serves the two stereo speakers that are nestled on the front.

Motorola never wowed with specs, but this time the company is really putting some top hardware in its flagship range. The X Style comes with a huge 5.7-inch LCD screen with Quad HD (1440 x 2560) resolution. We would have preferred IPS of AMOLED over LCD, but the bump to Quad HD is welcome and should produce stunning visuals.

Motorola decided to go with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 processor under the hood, and this was likely because of the problems with the flagship Snapdragon 810, and not because Motorola wanted to cut corners. Sure, the 808 is clocked slower than the 810, but it is 64-bit and unless you are a power user or a real grinder on intensive games you should not notice the difference. It is a compromise we can live with considering there is still plenty of uncertainty surrounding the overheating problems caused by the Snapdragon 810.

3GB of RAM supplements the processor, a standard amount in the flagship bracket and Motorola’s easy use of the Android platform should result in beefy performance without much lag. Speaking of Android, the Moto X Style ships with a near stock Android 5.1 out of the box and is all but guaranteed to be one of the first third party devices to land Android M when Google makes it available.

Other specs include 32GB of native storage (a 64GB version is also available), and finally a micro SD card slot has finally been added to the X series, allowing up to 128GB of additional storage space. A 21 megapixel camera serves on the rear as the main lens, and it comes with all the software tricks we would expect from a flagship, including F2.0, phase-detection autofocus, and dual-tone LED flash. Around the front there is a 5 megapixel snapper that is ideal for selfies with its LED flash.

A 3000mAh battery will be keeping everything running and the lights on, while Motorola has included its Turbo Charging software that allows 10 hours of mixed use from just 15 minutes of charge time.

All in all, this is a very enticing smartphone and really announces the Moto X range as a true flagship, arguably for the first time. The most decked out version of the device, the Style is ironically the most affordable too as it is reported to cost just $399 when it launches. That price is unconfirmed as is the launch date, but anywhere around $400 will make the Moto X Style (Pure Edition in the USA) a true bang for your buck bargain.

Is it better than the OnePlus 2? It’s a tough call to make, the OnePlus is admittedly $70 cheaper, but you get far more guarantees with the Moto X Style. OnePlus’ frustrating invite system means you are unlikely to even get its Flagship Killer anytime soon, and with Motorola you get Moto Maker, solid customer support, a non-forked near stock Android experience, a Quad HD screen, and a micro SD slot. The OnePlus 2 gets a beefier processor on paper and a fingerprint scanner, but is that enough to sway you? Which do you prefer?

OnePlus 2, the 2016 Flagship Killer?

OnePlus raised the curtain on its new smartphone for 2016, the Flagship Killer OnePlus 2 is the handset in question and matches the previous model in being a very appealing product that comes with an interesting price considering the specs. So with the device now launched, here are all the important details in our OnePlus 2 Ultimate Guide:

Design

OnePlus has performed a balancing act, on the one had the design of the OnePlus 2 is merely incremental, but on the other the device looks different to its predecessor. The handset looks like a fresh product even if it is not a radical overhaul of what came before. The chassis is made from magnesium alloy, giving the device a premium touch, although the overall build is still plastic or another material. That because StyleSwap makes a return, allowing you to swap the rear plate for a variety of different materials and designs

New Features

OnePlus really has added a host of new features to help the OnePlus 2 live up to the company’s boast of being a flagship killer for 2015 and 2016. We are glad the company has avoided an incremental update, something that plagues the industry, in favor of trying to overhaul and really offer a new experience.

The OnePlus 2 ships with USB Type-C, which works like Apple’s Lightning Connector and lets you plug in the mini USB cable either way, ending unnecessary fiddling to plug it in correctly. It is worth noting that this is still USB 2.0 and not super-fast USB 3.0.

Probably not important for US and European consumers, some global customers will be pleased to see that OnePlus included dual-SIM capabilities on its new smartphone. Arriving for the first time on the new handset is optical image stabilization (OIS), making the 13MP rear camera lens closer to the OnePlus 2's flagship rivals in terms of image stability. The camera module also gets other high end touches such as a laser autofocus that offers touch free auto focus in 0.2 seconds.

Another new feature is a fingerprint scanner, which OnePlus has wisely planted into the home button, something we always prefer as opposed to a rear mounted scanner. As I mentioned, StyleSwap makes a comeback and hopefully is not a mess this time like it was on the OnePlus One, mainly because the company could not get its inventory and production to work properly. OnePlus says it has resolved any issues, meaning you can now swap your rear cover, with Sandstone Black, Bamboo, Rosewood, Black Apricot, and Kevlar the options so far.

Specs

Reports hinted that the OnePlus 2 would come a Quad HD screen, but the Chinese did not bump screen res and stuck with a 1080p Full HD panel again, while also carrying over the 5.5-inch size for the One. A Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor sits under the hood and is helped by a sizeable amount of RAM, 4GB to be exact. Yes, the Snapdragon 810 and while we are always wary of the 810, OnePlus is using the under clocked version that does not (apparently) produce overheating issues.

Other specs include 16GB or 64GB internal storage options (sadly there is no micro SD slot), a 3,300 mAh battery, and Android Lollipop.

The cameras have been changed from a software perspective, but the rear shooter stays with 13 megapixel resolution. It has undergone some changes though, such as Super-Resolution Mode. This new addition processes images up to 50 megapixel quality, just like the Oppo 7 which employed the same software. Around the front there is a 5 megapixel lens that will appease selfie fans.

Software

The OnePlus 2 arrives with the company's own OxygenOS, which was created when OnePlus ended its relationship with Cyanogen. The device comes with build 2.0 of the software, which is fairly middle of the road as far as Android skins go. It is nice to see that OnePlus has kept it near stock Android, although we would add that this is a forked version of Android.

Price and Availability

It is no surprise to see that the OnePlus 2 arrives slightly more expensive than its predecessor, the company already confirmed it would pre-launch. It is still a real bargain of a smartphone though and possibly the best value for money on the market (we’ll let you fight that point). The entry level 16GB/3GB RAM variant of this genuine flagship contender will cost just $329, while the 64GB/4GB RAM entry will still be an extremely affordable $389. The OnePlus 2 will start shipping August 11th in Canada, India, China, and the European Union.

Availability really hampered the original OnePlus One, while the company’s marketing strategy was often left wanting. OnePlus says it is more prepared this time, but the frustrating invite system is still being used and we can’t see nothing but annoyance in trying to buy this smartphone. It is a very good device, but not one we think is worth jumping through a myriad of hoops for, only to have to wait months to get it anyway

Samsung Galaxy Note 5 Leaked Images Clearest Yet

Samsung is almost ready to release it's latest in the series of Galaxy Note devices the Note 5.  Above is very clear shot of what seems to be a prototype in gold.  While it's not in in it's finished state you can tell a lot of things from the device as it sits.

The first thing that jumps out is all the AT&T bloatware...err I mean software extras.  This mean that it's state bound for sure and quickly.  The S-pen is still there and it looks like Samsung is sticking with the finger print scanner up front. It's keeping the weird "Apple" headphone jack at the bottom bit but it's packing any other surprises here.

Review of rumor specs:

• 5.7-inch QHD AMOLED display
• Exynos 7422 SoC
• 4GB RAM,
• 16MP camera
• 4,100mAh battery

This device should be announced inside the next three weeks....stay tuned.

Is Anyone Going to Carry the Nokia Hardware Banner?

No matter how you feel about the devices Nokia has made in the past you can't deny one thing......Nokia made some quality hardware.  From the old school 3310, to the all aluminum N8 to right down to the last Lumia devices to come off the line Nokia devices were durable,  reliable and simply quality all around.

Now Microsoft has bought off Nokia's hardware division and seems to simply be cranking out whatever designs Nokia had left in the pipeline. While none of these devices are flagship devices they are still Nokia quality.  With all the layoffs Microsoft have done they got rid of almost of the leftover Nokians.  There are rumors that Microsoft will be outsourcing Lumia's production to Foxconn and use a new design. Even Nokia themselves stated if they make phones again it will be them designing a device and simply lending their name to it.  Someone else will produce, market, sell and service these devices.  They will not be the Nokia quality of old.

So that begs the question who's going to pick up the torch and run with it.  The only company that comes close in my mind is HTC.  While they haven't figured out what to do about a camera they are the only company that doesn't think thin, thin plastic devices are the way to go.  Samsung has great internals but very fragile hardware, all of the up and coming OEM's are making fast, high spec'd devices made out of thin plastic that all REQUIRE cases.

Let me know if you have a Nokia device now who are you switching too?

Samsung Galaxy Note 5 Will Launch on August 13th

There have been several different reports on  when Samsung's next device in the Note series will launch.  But now according to a report from Korean media the date will be August 13th.  Also expected to launch is the Galaxy S6 Edge Plus.  This is earlier then normal for Samsung and the reason given is that they want to beat Apple out of the gate with new devices.

The rumored specs on the new devices haven't changed much but I will put the latest below for you anyway.

Galaxy Note 5:

• 5.7 inch QHD Super AMOLED display
• Exynos 7422 processor,
• 4GB of RAM
• 16MP main camera with optical image stabilization (OIS),
• S-Pen.

Galaxy S6 Edge Plus:

• 5.7 inch QHD Super AMOLED display
• Exynos 7422 processor,
• 3GB of RAM
• 16MP main camera with optical image stabilization (OIS),
• S-Pen.

Let's see if these new devices can stop the tide of cheap high powered Android devices that are starting to eat away at Samsung's worldwide market share.

VIA

Asus VivoWatch Coming for Windows Mobile Devices

As of yet Microsoft has not truly entered the smartwatch game....sure there is the Microsoft Band but that is more of a wearable and less of a watch.  The other day Microsoft's president Satya Narayana Nadella stated the they will be relying more and more on other OEM's to make devices for them and that statement seems to be true starting right now.

Now a filing has come to light by ASUS to make the first Windows Mobile watch the ASUS VivoWatch.  While there isn't a ton of technical details yet as you can see below this watch is filled with all the features you would expect out of a smartwatch.

What do you guys think is it "time" for you to get a smartwatch?

VIA

Nokia Teases Event at the End of the Month

Nokia has been pretty quiet lately.  Ever since Microsoft bought them out they have been planning something more then just the tablet they have already released, but no one knows quite what.... Now it seems on July 28 in LA they are ready to let everyone know well......something.

Above you see invitations for a "nowhere now here" event on the Evening of July 28th at the Hudson Loft in LA for "VIP's" .  While sadly I am not one of those VIP's I can't wait to see what they have in store.  There is no further information available as of now on what this event is about.

It's not going to be about smartphones, they can't make them till 4Qtr of next year....I don't think they are going to launch their tablet stateside. So....we are going to guess it's about their "Here Maps" suite.  What about it I don't know but you read this post expecting me to predict something and now I did.

Whatever it is keep it here and in 8 days when I find out what it is exactly I will report back to you.

VIA  

2015 Moto G Leaks in Pictures of the Device in the Wild

The latest version of the Moto G is scheduled to land at the end of this month officially.  However it looks like someone couldn't wait that long to show it off.  (or a prototype of it)  This set of pictures surfaced of someone using this device in the wild and showing off the new design.

Rumored specs to go along with this device are:

• Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 SoC,
• 2GB of RAM
• Android 5.1.1

VIA

HTC Says One M8 will get Android M

When it comes to updating to new Android builds quickly, HTC is among the best and as soon as Google launched Android M two months ago the Taiwanese company confirmed its current One M9 and One M9+ flagships would get the update within 90 days. Now HTC has also confirmed that 2014’s One M8 will also be upgrading to M, not revelatory news per say, but welcome confirmation nonetheless.

HTC’s Mo Versi, the company’s VP of Product Management is usually the one to break this kind of news and this time it was no different. He used twitter to say that One M8 would indeed get Android M, and he had actually already said this last month when responding to a direct question from a One M8 users.

As we mentioned, it is no surprise that the One M8 is getting bumped to Android M, the device falls within HTC’s Advantage Program where smartphones under two years old are guaranteed support.

Oppo Launches Mirror 5

Chinese company Oppo announced a new mid-range smartphone today, the rather appealing Mirror 5, a handset that has plenty going for it. Chief among those things is its classy design, with Oppo deciding to follow the trend of making aesthetics and important point even at lower price points.

The Mirror 5 certainly fits the bill in terms of a good-looking smartphone and actually looks far more premium than its modest specs suggest. Oppo cut the glass covered back plate so that it reflects to look like a diamond, which may not seem classy at all on paper, but in the hand makes the Mirror 5 seems like a very desirable handset.

Oppo has coupled that slick design with a solid affordable spec package that includes a 5-inch qHD screen (960 x 540) up front, while under the hood there is a 64-bit Snapdragon 410 processor clocked at 1.2GHz. 2GB of RAM aids the chipset and a 2420 mAh battery will make sure things stay up and running. Native storage is restricted at 16GB, but Oppo has added a micro SD card slot for those who want to expand space.

A less than stellar 8 megapixel snapper serves as the main camera, although the lens features 1.4um pixel size and an F/2.2 aperture and may be better than its humble megapixel count hints. Oppo has put more thought into the secondary lens and has added a 5 megapixel selfie oriented shooter on the front. The camera software is appealing too, including such goodies as the ability to shoot GIFs, time-lapse videos, Beautify 3.0, Pure Image 2.0+ engine, Slow shutter, Audio Photo, and more.

Oppo's own ColorOS is present on top of Android 5.1 Lollipop, and is not the worst Chinese Android UI out there. Given Oppo's poor history in terms of updating, we will be interested to see whether the Mirror 5 receives Android M in the future (when that software launches of course). The company says the Mirror 5 will arrive in emerging markets such as Asia, Latin America, and Africa, although sadly did not mention the United States or Europe.

Huawei Nexus Coming Q4 with Fingerprint Scanner

While not officially announced, it is no secret that Huawei is teaming up with Google to build the new Nexus flagship, the Chinese company taking over duties from Motorola. We are finding out more and more about this handset and the latest report sheds some light on the blistering specs the Huawei Nexus will boast.

Leaks by former @evleaks whistle-blower Evan Blass, the Huawei device is shaping up to be a beast. Blass has been making a comeback in the leaking business over the last few weeks and while he is sometime wide of the mark he has been right so many times that we err towards believing him most times.

The Huawei Nexus will come with a Qualcomm made Snapdragon 820 processor, a chipset that has not even been launched yet but should be by the Nexus launch date. That chipset will be coupled with 4GB of RAM, while there will be a 5.7-inch Quad HD screen on the front, a full 0.3-inches smaller than the behemoth panel on the Nexus 6.

The big news is that Huawei will include a fingerprint scanner, a new feature for the Nexus range but not one that is a total surprise. For a start Huawei already puts fingerprint scanners in its smartphones, and Google included a fingerprint API within the Android Pay software that comes with Android M.

Case maker ITSKINS Leaks Dimensions of Upcoming Samsung Note 5 and S6 Edge

There has been more then a few leaks for the upcoming Samsung devices the Galaxy Note 5 and the Galaxy s6 Edge.  Specs have varied slightly from report to report however now we at least know for sure the dimensions of these devices.  Thanks to Case maker ITSKINS that sent renders of the upcoming Galaxy Note 5 and the Galaxy S6 Edge Plus to GSMArena.

The Note 5 will have dimensions of 153.3mm x 76.1mm x 7.9mm. Which you can use to calculate the screen diagonal, which will again stand at 5.7".  Plus it's keeping it's S-Pen and doesn't look like it will have a glass back this time.

 

The Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge Plus will have dimensions of 154.4mm x 75.8mm x 6.9mm.  The extra edges of the screen make this one almost impossible to calculate screen size.  It is assumed it will be around the 5.5 inch to 5.7 inch area.

Anyone have more of an interest in these devices since you have some idea on what they will look like?

The Samsung Galaxy A8 Arrives

Samsung has raised the official curtain on the Galaxy A8, its latest mid-range smartphone in the A series, which also includes the Galaxy A3, A5, and A7. Indeed, the last device in the range was the Galaxy A7 and the new Galaxy A8 now unseats that handset as the thinnest Samsung has ever made.

At just 5.9mm thin, the A8 is svelte and it is also light at 151 grams, which we think is incredible considering the device is a true phablet with a 5.7-inch screen. That panel is a Super AMOLED Full HD 1080p display, while the specs include a 64-bit Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 processor clocked at 1.5GHz and paired with 2GB of RAM.

Samsung is offering two storage variants, 16GB or 32GB, but media hounds will be happy to see the company included a micro SD card too, something it didn’t do with the Galaxy S6 flagship. A decent camera set up has been added by Samsung too, with a 16 megapixel lens serving as the primary shooter and a 5 megapixel dealing with selfie duties around the front. A 3050 mAh battery should keep things ticking along for a decent amount of time, although that will depend on whether Sammy’s own TouchWiz drains the juicer quickly or not. Samsung’s software UI is here over Android 5.1 Lollipop.

As Samsung unveiled the Galaxy A8 on its Chinese website, we presume it will be landing in that country first. The handset will undoubtedly arrive in other regions later on though, although no pricing details have been offered yet.

Nokia Makes Statement About Making Smartphones Again: It’s Complicated

There was previous reports that Nokia was going to get back into the smartphone game next year to which Nokia said nothing about.  Now they have released their own statement confirming those reports.  However since Nokia sold all it's mobile operations to Microsoft it's not that simple.  Nokia will not be making phones instead "The right path back to mobile phones for Nokia is through a brand-licensing model. That means identifying a partner that can be responsible for all of the manufacturing, sales, marketing and customer support for a product."  This would be the 4Q of 2016 at the soonest.  Check out the full statement below:

Nokia comments on media speculation about mobile devices

The following has been posted by Robert Morlino, spokesman for Nokia Technologies

July 13, 2015

For 14 years Nokia was the biggest cell phone maker in the world, and the brand became a household name -- one that evoked quality, innovation and human connection. The brand is still recognized that way by millions of people around the world, which is incredibly gratifying and a huge compliment for the people who helped create it. So it’s not surprising that today, the question comes up all the time: will Nokia return to mobile devices?

The answer is: it’s complicated.

Let’s take it from the top. As you probably know, we sold essentially all of our Devices & Services business to Microsoft in April 2014. With it went all of the enormous manufacturing, marketing and channel distribution capabilities you need to be in the business of making & selling phones.

The Nokia that exists today remains focused on the connected world, through mobile network infrastructure, location & mapping services, and technology development & licensing. We also aim to continue bringing our iconic design capabilities and technology innovation to the mobile space, and in the form of amazing products people can someday hold in their hands. However, we’ll do it in a completely different way from before.

The right path back to mobile phones for Nokia is through a brand-licensing model. That means identifying a partner that can be responsible for all of the manufacturing, sales, marketing and customer support for a product.

If and when we find a world-class partner who can take on those responsibilities, we would work closely with them to guide the design and technology differentiation, as we did with the Nokia N1 Android tablet. That’s the only way the bar would be met for a mobile device we’d be proud to have bear the Nokia brand, and that people will love to buy.

To summarize, we will look for the right partner who can take on the heavy lifting and work closely with us to deliver a great product. As we agreed with Microsoft, the soonest that could happen is Q4 2016 -- so it’s safe to say Nokia won’t be back (at least in phone form...) before then.

How to Change Font on Android Device With/Without Rooting?

The Android phones or for that matter any mobile device or a tablet comes with their own default/custom fonts. Most of the times, they look pleasant to our eyes. But, there will be always some...

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Huawei to Make the Next Nexus Devices?

Huawei is a huge smartphone company struggling to break into the American market.  There are a few devices here and there sold on Ebay and Amazon but major carriers have yet to pick them up.  Google is looking to announce it's Play Store for China and needs a partner to do so.  Solution?  Well according to reports it's for both of these companies to pair up and make some Nexus devices.

While the details are still a little fuzzy according to employee at the Huawei's UK branch this exactly what is going to happen.  Not only would the benefits listed above be realized but also perhaps Google could get back to it's original intent with the Nexus series.

You remember a great low cost Android device running stock Android and showing off just how great stock android is if no one skins it? Huawei makes great, quality devices with lots of power for not a lot of money.  Here's hoping this rumor is true for it would be a consumer win all they way around.

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Google Beefs Up Security by Teaming Up with Blackberry

Google has been trying to get the enterprise sector for a while now but could never quite convince the public that their devices were secure enough to trust with their sensitive business data.  Now they have teamed up with mobile leader in protecting data BlackBerry and have announced Google Play for Work with BES12.

This means you can have the fun of Android device (which most of  your staff owns) and business security of a Blackberry (which you want/need for you business)  Check out  the details below.

ANDROID LOLLIPOP AND BES12: BETTER TOGETHER

Android Lollipop delivers key enterprise functionality and addresses any previous enterprise security concerns. BES12 supports Android Lollipop, allowing you to confidently deploy Android devices in your organization.

Lowest TCO

Achieve the lowest TCO, reduce complexity, optimize pooled resources, and ensure maximum uptime with the modern architecture of BES12.

Unified administration console

Manage all endpoints through one, consolidated, easy-to-use console.

Comprehensive EMM

Whether you manage a single, hardened, connected endpoint or allow personal device usage, BES12 gives you control over the availability and usage of devices, apps, activities and critical data through flexible deployment models (BYOD/COPE/COBO) and can be deployed on-premise, in the cloud or as a hybrid.

Client-side lockdown

Control all the corporate assets being used on your employees’ mobile devices, regardless of ownership model.

World-class global support

Industry-leading support is included with all BES12 annual subscriptions.

End-to-end security

Using industry-leading encryption, containerization, app-wrapping and BlackBerry’s secure global infrastructure, BES12 locks down critical data both on-device and in-transit. With secured work spaces on Android devices, all of your data traffic is routed through a single secure connection behind your firewall, via our world-renowned NOC, protecting your most important asset – your business data.

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