Nokia 230 is Microsoft’s New Feature Phone

A blast from the past, it is still amazing to think that mobile juggernaut Nokia is now longer really with us in a hardware capacity… until now. While Nokia helped to put the Windows platform on the map in recent years, the company is still best known for being the feature phone king, the best-selling mobile phone maker in the world during the 2000-2010 decade. The Finnish brand is now back with a new feature phone, the Nokia 230.

Sort of. That burst of nostalgia quickly ebbs when you learn that this is Microsoft’s handset and not Nokia’s. Of course, Redmond purchased Nokia’s Lumia brand and with it came licensing of the Nokia name until 2016, so Microsoft has slapped the Nokia name on the 230, probably because it knows that Nokia is a hugely respected name in the feature phone market.

Don’t underestimate Microsoft in this market either, thanks to feature phone sales the company is the third largest mobile manufacturer in the world. In terms of feature phones the Nokia 230 gets just about every single thing right and it is even a good looking old thing too. We are sure those limited by economy will love this, while we can also see mobile enthusiasts and hipsters casting covetous glances to the 230 as a second device.

The specs are large unimportant on a handset like this, but some of the most important include the Series 30+ platform, 16MB of RAM, a 2.8-inch screen with 240 x 320 resolution, and a 2MP lens on the back and a 2MP lens on the front, both of which comes with LED flash. It also sports Bluetooth 3.0 and GSM connectivity. The handset ships with Bing Search, Opera Mini Browser, and MSN Weather all on board.

As we mentioned, the Nokia 230 looks great in that old school kind of way and will be on sale across Asia from December at the price of $55. Any takers?

SOURCE: MobileBurn

Xiaomi CEO Talks Up Delayed Mi 5 Flagship

Xiaomi has been delaying its Mi 5 flagship for what seems like an eternity. It has certainly been an eternity in smartphone flagship terms as the Mi 4 launched way back in the summer of 2014. To put that into perspective, most rival brands have release two new flagships since then, leaving Xiaomi’s Mi 4 looking just a bit dated.

We know why the Chinese giant has been holding off, it has been waiting for Qualcomm to launch the Snapdragon 820 processor, and in the meantime Xiaomi has treated us to high end offerings such as the just announced Redmi Note 3. However, now that Qualcomm has raised the curtain on the Snapdragon 820, Xiaomi can get underway in releasing the Mi 5, with the launch likely to take place during the first week of December.

The company’s CEO Lei Jun has recently said that the Mi 5 "is worth the waiting", and that the phone is "very very good". He didn’t mention any specific specs though and did not confirm when the smartphone will be launched.

Samsung Galaxy A7 close to Launch

Samsung is at work readying sequels for its entire Galaxy A series. The Galaxy A3 and Galaxy A5 have passed through the FCC in the United States, while the Galaxy A8 and a new Galaxy A9 have both been the subject of leaks recently. Today, the Galaxy A7 has passed through Chinese regulatory body TENAA, which means it is nearing its launch.

The Galaxy A7 (SM-7100) comes with a 5.5-inch Super AMOLED Full HD 1080p screen, a 64-bit Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 processor clocked at 1.5GHz, a generous 3GB of RAM, 16GB of native storage, and in a break from Samsung’s current trend there will also be a micro SD card slot to expand the storage memory.

A 2600mAh battery will keep the lights on, while a 13 megapixel camera sits on the back with a 5MP selfie lens rocking the front panel.

While Samsung has not officially announced the Galaxy it is expected that all the new A series devices will be launching in December, with the A7 mooted to be arriving on the 1st of next month.

LG Unveils the Ray with some Dodgy Advertising

LG likes to launch smartphone, much like its compatriot Samsung, and now the South Korean giant has rolled out the LG Ray, a modest entry level device that will be making its way Latin America and Commonwealth of Independent States countries.

There is nothing really special here, although LG is clearly pushing this as a design oriented smartphone as the company says it is both slim and metallic. It is a head scratcher for sure as the Ray is neither slim (9.8mm) nor metal (its plastic), but it does at least look like a metal smartphone.

In terms of specs, there is a 5.5-inch 720p screen, an unnamed octa-core processor, 1GB of RAM, LTE connectivity, 16GB of native storage, a micro SD card support, a 3,000mAh battery, 13 megapixel rear camera, and an 8 megapixel front facing lens.

With no launch date or price we will have to wait to see if this is worthy of a second glance.

Sony Xperia Z3+ Finally Makes it to U.S. Market

Sony’s smartphone strategy puzzles us. The company treats the U.S. market like an afterthought and then is worried because sales remain low against rivals. Sure, the uninterested U.S. market is hardly welcoming Sony with open arms, but still the company is not in the race to win it. Take the very good Xperia Z3+, a smartphone flagship that launched in June but is now only making its way to the United States.

Sony has catered for the discrepancy in launch time by slashing the price to $499.99, which is around $20 more than the Moto X Pure Edition with a wood or leather back. That means the Xperia Z3+ is entering a rather busy price point that is not short of enticing options. We are thinking of the likes of the OnePlus 2, Motorola Moto X Pure Edition, and several impressive Chinese smartphones. We could also throw the likes of the HTC One A9 into the mix and some of last year’s flagships like the LG G3 and HTC One M8. Of course, the Xperia Z3+ is last year’s flagship in a way, although it is an update of Sony’s 2014 driver.

You will get a well spec’d and ultra-smart looking device that oozes premium, although you will only be able to use it on AT&T and T-Mobile and not Sprint nor Verizon.

Of course, the Xperia Z3 was a very good smartphone, delivering plenty of quality with only a few caveats. Design is possibly one of the low points here, but we say that cautiously and it really does come down to taste. There is no doubt that the Xperia Z3+ (like its predecessor) oozes premium with its two glass panels sandwiching a metal frame and sides. It is a striking smartphone and we know plenty who think the Xperia Z3 is a design triumph, so those people will be happy to see the Xperia Z3+ arrive with no aesthetic changes. While we would be stupid to outright deride the design here, we do think that Sony's flagship range could do with a slight refresh as the move from Xperia Z to Z3+ or indeed Xperia Z4 has been minimal in terms of looks. It is worth noting that this device is thinner than the Xperia Z3, 6.9mm compared to 7.3mm.

As for specs, it's a mix of been there, done that and brand new. The Xperia Z3+ retains the 5.2-inch 1080p screen found on the Z3, it is the exact same panel meaning no Quad HD market pushing display. That is hardly a major gripe considering we still get plenty of joy from a good 1080p screen, which this is. Under the hood things are improved, with Qualcomm's troublesome Snapdragon 810 making its way to the Xperia Z3+ with 3GB of RAM, a 20.7 megapixel rear camera, and an improved 5 megapixel front facing lens also along for the ride.

Sony has also improved the waterproofing, with an IP68 rating meaning this can be submerged in water up to 3 meters (9 feet) deep. Considering the Xperia Z3 is being updated to Android 5.0 Lollipop, we imagine that the Xperia Z3+ will get Lollipop out of the box.

The Z3 had an amazing battery, with Sony squeezing every last drop out of the 3100 mAh juicer to ensure market leading battery performance (we mean market leading too). To make the Xperia Z3+ thinner, the Japanese company decided to reduce the pack to 2900 mAh, but apparently improvements in other areas will mean the Z3+ is equally impressive in terms of battery life. Sony says it will last for two days, obviously we will have to wait to get the device in hand to prove that, but the company has been spot on in this department before.

Amazon’s Black Friday Deal Announced

Amazon doesn’t really need Black Friday to run a deal, the online retail giant is always having offers, especially for mobile apps (really, every Android users should get Amazon’s Store for this reason alone). However, when Black Friday does come around Amazon goes suitably deal crazy, and 2015 will be no different judging by these announced offers.

Discounts are not just limited to electronics, but if you are after a good deal on something from the mobile industry or electronics as a whole, here’s what Amazon is offering:

20 percent off on various Samsung Galaxy tablets
$34.99 Fire 7-inch tablet (from $50)
A mobile printer for less than $100
$25 off Amazon Fire TV (from $100)
$15 off Amazon Fire TV Stick (from $40) and Amazon Fire TV Stick with Voice Remote
50 percent off Sony Extra Bass Bluetooth Headphones
50 percent off on Sennheiser HD 598 Special Edition Over-Ear Headphones in Black (Amazon-exclusive)
$99.99 Kindle Paperwhite (from $119)
$30 off Kindle and Kindle for Kids Bundle
Fire Kids Edition for $84.99 (from $100)
Samsung 32-inch 1080p LED TV for $177.99
LG 49-inch 1080p LED TV for less than $370
Samsung 75-inch 1080p Smart LED TV for less than $2,000
A 60-inch 4K LED TV for $799.99
TCL 55-inch Roku Smart LED TV for $348
TCL 32-inch Roku Smart LED TV, $125
Hisense 55-inch 4K Smart LED TV, $448 (app-only deal)
A 50-inch 1080p LED TV, $149.99 (app-only deal)
Acer Home Theater Projector, $299.99
Vizio 38-inch 2.1 home theater sound bar for $79.99 (from $180)
$49 off Sonos 2-Room Streaming Music Starter Set (from $398)
40 percent off on a Polk Audio Omni S2 wireless speaker
25 percent off Denon Heos 1 wireless speakers
$100 off an Intel Dell 2-in-1 Laptop
Asus 15-inch laptop, $129
40 percent off select Acer desktops, monitors, Chromebooks and tablets
$99 Jawbone Up3 (from $150)
70 percent on select SanDisk memory cards and USB flash drives

SOURCE: Amazon
VIA: MobileBurn

Bin Lin Teases Xiaomi Redmi Note 2 Pro ahead of Launch

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 2 Pro is imminent, we know that much by the numerous benchmarks and leaks over the last weeks, while a TENAA certification last week sealed the deal for a November launch. That launch date is going to be November 24th and before the big unveiling, Xiaomi co-founder Bin Lin has teased the device once more.

Using his Weibo social media page, the executive showed a handset that by now is very familiar. The round camera module, flash, and round fingerprint scanner setup on the back matches pervious leaks of the Redmi Note 2 Pro.

The Redmi Note 2 Pro will come with a 5.5-inch screen with 1080p Full HD resolution and an octa core 64-bit MediaTek MT6795 Helio X10 processor clocked at 2.0GHz. There will also be 2GB of RAM, 16GB of expandable native storage, a 13 megapixel primary shooter, a 5 megapixel front facing lens, and even a fingerprint scanner. Rounding out the spec-list will be a 3060mAh juicer that should keep the lights on a long time, and Android Lollipop on board.

That is a respectable package overall, and as we are used to with Xiaomi, the Redmi Note 2 Pro will not bust the bank and will cost the same as $172. However, as always with the Chinese company, this will not be coming to western markets, so it's off to your local smartphone importer if you are interested in this.

Motorola Announces Design Oriented Moto X Pure Collection

Motorola has just revealed some new special edition smartphones that have been made in collaboration with New York based designer Jonathan Adler. The new Moto X Pure Collection offers consumers the recently launched Moto X Pure Edition with some new designs that will never be available through Motorola’s own Moto Maker pre-purchase customization suite.

That makes these handsets unique, although we hardly see the design merit personally, but then that’s why we run a mobile oriented website and not a fashion one we guess. At the very least these will appeal to those wanting something that is individual, even alongside the already very customizable Moto X Pure Edition.

The bonus here is that the price of the Moto X Pure Collection smartphones remains unchanged against a regular Pure Edition that has a leather or wood rear plate. That cost is $479.99 and in terms of specs there is a lot of smartphone here for the money. When the Pure Edition launched, we got our hands on it in its international Moto X Style form and here’s what we thought:

In the past the Moto X has been a rather bland looking smartphone, even with Moto Maker in tow making everything all colorful and personalized. The Moto X Style looks nice as a standalone handset, coming in standard colors it still carries an aesthetic appeal and shows that plastic devices can still be sexy (in fairness LG has also shown that this year). While LG jazzed the G4 up with a leather rear plate, Motorola has opted for a rubberized soft silicon to give the Style a unique twist. And don't worry, Moto Maker is still a pre-purchase option, so you can still have wood rear plates, funky colors, and just about anything else you want.

Elsewhere, Motorola has not followed the likes of Samsung and Sony by making its handset waterproof, although with a rating of IP52, the Moto X Style will take a few splashes with no problem at all. There are also two stereo speakers nestled away inside, offering a solid audio experience for music and video playback.

Last year, the second generation Moto X was a mere incremental update over the original model and did not exactly inspire with barnstorming specs. The Moto X Style is different however and features the latest and greatest smartphone hardware. The handset ships with a massive 5.7-inch screen that now has Quad HD (1440 x 2560) resolution, while a 76% screen to body ratio means the new X is svelte enough but is not pushing the thinnest and most compact large screen devices out there.

We reported last month that Motorola would be avoiding Qualcomm's troubled overheating Snapdragon 810 processor in favour of the lower clocked Snapdragon 808. It is still a 64-bit chip, but is clocked at 1.8GHz maximum so there are no overheating issues. Again, this is something LG did with the G4 and while there are definite issue in performance for power users, it is obviously a compromise Motorola was willing to make. We imagine the X Style will perform similarly to the G4 and deliver pretty excellent speed and efficiency, but may start to wobble if you really want to throw a lot at it, which is something 99% of users would never do.

3GB of RAM will help the processor deliver top line performance and Motorola's typically light approach to Android will surely also help reduce any lag. The Moto X Style will launch with Android 5.1.1 on board, a near stock experience that is all but guaranteed to be at the front of the line when Android M launches later in the year.

Other specs include 32GB of native storage (a 64GB version is also available), and finally a micro SD card slot has been added, allowing up to 128GB of additional storage space. A 21 megapixel camera sits on the rear as the primary shooter, and it comes with all the bells and whistles 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 the lights on and Motorola has included its Turbo Charging software that allows 10 hours of mixed use from just 15 minutes of charge time.

Sony to Explore Manufacturing Own Processors

Sony has had plenty of success with its image sensors, which are market leading in their sector. The company could now be tempted to spread its component wings with a report today suggesting that the Xperia manufacturer is interested in making its own processors. Sony would be following in the footsteps as other mobile brands Apple, Samsung, Huawei, and LG.

Digitimes out of Taiwan (admittedly with a patchy track record) says that Sony is looking to follow a similar path to the main players in the industry.

Samsung and LG are unique amongst those as they design and build their own processors (Exynos and NUCLUN respectively). Apple (AX) and Huawei (Kirin) merely design their silicon and farm out the other producers, which in Apple’s case means great rival Samsung on occasion. Apple is the only one that uses its own chipsets exclusively and does not turn to other providers such as Qualcomm or MediaTek.

We would think that Sony is more interested in following the same route as Samsung and LG and will produce and design its own products. That will give the Japanese giant control over its processors but could also lead to another successful component division that provides for rival companies, much like the Exmor mobile imaging division.

Interesting UMi ROME, Metal and well Spec’d, yours for $90

Chinese brands usually tread the line between great value for money and just blatantly copying other companies, but the top manufacturers (Huawei, Xiaomi, ZTE, Lenovo, Meizu) typically infuse their own originality and have made an impact. However, copycats are still out there, so what is the UMi ROME, a copy of Samsung’s Galaxy Note 5, or a bargain smartphone that merely pays homage to Samsung’s phablet?

We’ll let you decide that, but what is clear is that by aping Samsung’s recent flagship output UMi has been able to deliver a device that looks cool and is also made of metal. Oh yes, this handset is also coming at a cost of just $89.99, although it will never come to the United States.

As for specs, the ROME comes with a 5.5-inch 720p AMOLED screen, a 64-bit, octa-core MediaTek MT6753 processor with ARM Mali T-720 GPU, and a healthy 3GB of RAM. UMi has also included 16GB of native storage (no confirmation of micro SD card support), a 13-megapixel Sony IMX164 sensor and a dual LED flash sitting on the back, and 2 megapixel front facing lens. With a 2500mAh battery we assume this will be a good performance in terms of battery life.

With Android 5.1 Lollipop running the show and some excellent specs, we expect this handset to be a good performer, especially with a solid chipset and generous amounts of RAM running with a 720p screen.

It is important to know that UMi has unveiled smartphones before and then simply never launched them, so if we never see the ROME out in the wild it would not be surprising. That said, the company says the device will be launching next month.

ASUS Details Android 6.0 Marshmallow Roadmap

ASUS is finally making a mark on the smartphone market and to continue to do that consumers will want to feel taken care of. With that in mind, the Tiawanese company has today revealed its roadmap for Android 6.0 Marshmallow upgrade, with the Asus ZenFone 2, the Asus Zenfone 2 Deluxe / Special Edition, the ZenFone 2 Laser, the ZenFone Selfie and the Asus Padfone S all getting the bump.

Okay, we understand if those rocking the original ZenFone’s are a little disappointed to miss out, but by time ASUS’ upgrade program gets underway those handsets will be two years old. In other words, aged enough for the company to discontinue support.

As for the handsets mentioned to be getting Marshmallow, it is no surprise to see the successful ZenFone 2 range dominate the roster. We would also say that the soon to be launched ZenFone Zoom will also get an upgrade, but we will have to wait for ASUS’ confirmation after the handset is officially made available.

Nvidia Launches New Shield Tablet

Nvidia has raised the curtain on its new Shield Tablet K1 today, a follow up to the original K1 gaming oriented slate that arrive last year with bags of power. This time out Nvidia has trimmed some fat to achieve a very appealing cost of just $199, and for that you are really getting a lot of tablet and excellent gaming performance.

Compared to last year, the new slate is $100 cheaper than the original K1 although there are not huge changes here, so this sequel is really Nvidia cutting the price and adding some extras. The company has only launched a 16GB Wi-Fi model so far, but don’t be surprised to see a LTE version with more native storage arrive down the line.

Under the hood once again is Nvidia’s own Tegra K1 chipset, which is actually the same processor as last year, but don’t be put off by age as this is a blazing piece of silicon. The Tegra K1 is a 2.2GHz quad-core Cortex-A15 CPU and a 192-core GeForce Kepler GPU that delivers huge benchmark scores, especially for gaming, which is what the Shield’s focus is on.

Other specs include 1920 by 1200 pixels 8-inch IPS screen, and it is hard not to argue for this as one of the best pound for pound tablets on the market, and almost a must if you are gaming oriented. The $199.99 price means some compromises have been made, such as the ShieldDirect Stylus 2 pen is now a $19.99 optional extra, while the device also ships without a charger.

Speaking of optional extras, there is a magnetic keyboard cover that costs $39.99, while the Nvidia gamepad will cost $59.99. We would say the gamepad is a solid investment as it really enhances the gaming experience offered by the Shield Tablet K1.

HTC One M9 Purchases get free Desire 626 Today

HTC has quite the offer on in the United States at the moment, but you will need to be quick as the deal ends at the close of the day. The Taiwanese company is offering a free (read completely free) Desire 626 smartphone with every purchase of the flagship One M9.

The One M9 is an excellent handset in most aspects, although it is not without its issues and has not been a sales success for HTC as previous iterations. It also does not come cheap at $649 off contract and unlocked from HTC, but still it is a handset that is worth a look if you want something from the flagship end of the market. It is an even sweeter prospect with a free Desire 626.

The 626 is hardly an amazing handset, but it is a competent budget device that would usually cost you $179.99 unlocked, so you would be getting a solid package here. As we mentioned, the deal only runs today, so you should get your skates on if you are interested, while the option is only open if you buy the One M9 from HTC directly.

How to Use Two WhatsApp Accounts in One Android Phone?

Just talk about messaging in 2015 and every one point their fingers at WhatsApp, which is undoubtedly the #1 instant messaging app that lets you send text messages, voice calls, video messages and...

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

BlackBerry Sticking with Android, Developing Vienna

BlackBerry is now a car carrying member of the Android family and the Priv is selling well enough early in its life that the company is even casting an eye to the future. That future will be the company going back to a tired and tested form factor that served it so well before the uniqueness of the Priv (sliding screen unveiling a keyboard) and the Passport (massive square).

The BlackBerry Vienna is a device in development that will be a QWERTY keyboard carrying handset that offers a svelte body next to the passport, and more conventional screen and deck design next to the Priv. It is unlikely to match either of those handsets in flagship quality, but will no doubt be aimed at those who email and note take a lot.

General specs are unknown at the moment, but the Vienna could be a welcome sight on Android and dare we say it, more welcome than the Passport. Rumors have been long that BlackBerry will update the Passport to run Android, but we would much prefer something new like the Vienna.

Wal-Mart going deal Crazy this Black Friday

Black Friday is imminent, which means retailers around the country will be offering huge deals on everything, including consumer electronics and smartphones. Wal-Mart, the largest retailer in the United States, will be among those slashing prices on numerous products in the mobile sector. A leaked copy of the company’s Black Friday circular leaflet has leaked online.

The Black Friday sale at Wal-Mart will start at 6pm on Thanksgiving. One of the deals on offer is Apple’s iPad Air 2, available for $399, which is a $100 discount on the slate. All Samsung smartphones come with a $150 discount directly and a further $100 off from the Black Friday gift card, meaning $250 off on every Samsung handset.
The iPhone is in the Wal-Mart Black Friday mix too with $200 in total savings, $100 from the discount and a further $100 from the card. For both Samsung and Apple, the deal is available with handsets running Verizon and AT&T, the two largest carriers in the U.S.

Models available include the Apple iPhone 5s, Apple iPhone 6, Apple iPhone 6 Plus, Apple iPhone 6s, Apple iPhone 6s Plus, Samsung Galaxy S3, Samsung Galaxy S4, Samsung Galaxy S5 and the Samsung Galaxy S6.

Samsung Unveils Exynos 8 8890 Chip

Pop quiz. What is the fastest processor on the market? It’s the Samsung Exynos 7 7420 chipset that is found in the top five best benchmarked smartphones in 2015. However, the 7420 now has a major rival with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 and the Huawei Kirin 950, two chips that will likely be quicker than the Exynos 7.

A day after Qualcomm unveiled the Snapdragon 820 Samsung has hit straight back by unveiling the Exynos 8 8890. This is a new octa-core processor with 64-bit capabilities and is built on a 14nm FinFET manufacturing process. Samsung promises that the Exynos 8890 will deliver 30% better performance compared to this year’s 7420, while it will manage to be 10% more power efficient.

Xiaomi Mi 5 Benchmarks with Snapdragon 820

Xiaomi has been stalling on releasing its Mi 5 smartphone flagship and the current Mi 4 is now nearly a year and a half old, which is an eternity in the smartphone industry. The Chinese giant has been waiting for Qualcomm to release the Snapdragon 820 processor and as that happened yesterday Xiaomi can now move ahead with the launch of the Mi 5.

The device has now passed through the GeekBench benchmarking software under the codename “Gemini” and as you can guess, the Mi 5 sports the Snapdragon 820. While all the specs of the handset are not listed, the results show that the handset comes with 3GB of RAM and ships with Android 6.0 Marshmallow out of the box.

Still no word on when the Mi 5 will launch, but we think it could be before the end of this month, even though most sources claim it will be early December.

LG Launches G4 White Gold Edition

When a flagship starts to get surpassed by newer, more spec’d models, companies will look for ways to revamp the handset. This may be advanced like a spec overhaul or simple like a new color, and LG has opted for the latter with the LG G4 White Gold Edition.

This handset has been unveiled in South Korea and adds a new colorway for the G4 comprising a white front and rear panel framed by gold strips on the side. It is worth noting that these strips are plastic despite their gold hue. LG says that this handset is marketed towards “women and young customers” but we have yet to figure out precisely why.

In terms of innards, the G4 White Gold Edition brings nothing new to the party for LG’s 2015 flagship, which remains a potent handset nonetheless. We imagine this will eventually get a global rollout once it does the rounds in LG’s homeland.

BlackBerry Demand Outweighs Supply on Amazon

For many, the Priv is the last throw of the hardware dice for BlackBerry; if it is not a success it is thought that the company will pull out of the hardware market. The Canadian giant has denied that repeatedly, but nevertheless the Android backed Priv seems to be a handset that will define whether BlackBerry has a future in hardware. With that in mind we imagine CEO John Chen and co will be delighted that the handset has already sold out on Amazon.

The U.S. online retail giant put the Priv on sale for $699.99 early yesterday and by the end of the day the flagship had sold out. Of course other retailers are also selling the Priv, while the sliding device is also available exclusively on AT&T, but still selling out on Amazon is good news.

The obvious question is how many handsets were available on Amazon in the first place? No specific figures have been offered by BlackBerry of the retailer, but any number is excellent for the company. It is important to remember that the company has been selling virtually no smartphones, so any kind of buzz is something to be happy about. Whether the device will become a bona fide success in terms of rival handsets is unclear, but BlackBerry probably has the biggest hit it has had in years on its hands.

SOURCE: MobileBurn

Xiaomi Tabbing LG for OLED Screens

LG is one of those tech giants (like Samsung and Sony) that can make plenty of money from hardware in the smartphone market without releasing any smartphones. For Samsung is its processors, and for Sony it is image sensors, while LG’s go to component is screens. The TV giant knows a thing or two about panels and has apparently piqued the interest of Xiaomi, which is likely to opt for LG displays on its future handsets.

The Chinese company is reportedly ready to ditch LCD screens in favor of OLED panels, and LG is the company that Xiaomi is in negotiations with to supply the components. LG enjoys a solid market share of the panel market, but even so, this is a major coup for the company as Xiaomi is a rising brand that sells millions of smartphones each year.

Snapdragon 820 Chipset Unveiled by Qualcomm

Qualcomm is waving goodbye to the Snapdragon 810 as its flagship and has today launched the Snapdragon 820, a new flagship chipset. Needless to say, the curtain being raised on Qualcomm’s new silicon has wide implications for the rest of the smartphone market as many of the next generation of top line handsets will be carrying this processor.

Xiaomi has confirmed in no uncertain terms that it is holding off launching its Mi 5 flagship smartphone until the Snapdragon 820 lands. Indeed, now the 820 is out expect the Chinese company to launch its flagship within a month, while the likes of Sony, HTC, LG, and even Samsung are likely to showcases devices with the 820 on board over the next three to six months.

After dominating the processor industry for years, Qualcomm faced a tough 2015 as the Snapdragon 810 became mired in problems. Namely, it run too hot and created poor performance as devices struggled to cool off; Qualcomm long said the issue was fixed, but there were reports consistently that the 810 was a troublemaker. So much so that Samsung ignored Qualcomm entirely for the Galaxy S6 range and Galaxy Note 5, favoring its own Exynos 7420 instead.

Sammy was not the only company worried about the Snapdragon 810, LG and Motorola both opted for the lesser Snapdragon 808 for their 2015 flagships, and Xiaomi has been holding out for the Snapdragon 820 for a reason.

So, the new chipset has a lot of wrong’s to right and on paper at least it seems to be up to the task, with Qualcomm adamant there are no overheating issues here. The Snapdragon 820 comes with support for Quick Charge 3.0, which is 38% faster than Quick Charge 2.0 and four times faster than normal charging. The new Adreno 530 GPU promises photo realistic graphics, while Wi-Fi 802.11ad and 802.11ac 2x2 MU-MIMO support means ultra-fast Wi-Fi should be attainable.

On top of this, the Snapdragon 820 is the first processor to ship with LTE-U support, from Qualcomm or anyone else. The 64-bit quad-core CPU uses Qualcomm's own Kryo cores (running as fast as 2.2GHz) and is capable of supporting cameras up to 28 megapixels and for 4K ultra HD playback and recording.

SOURCE: MobileBurn

Microsoft Lumia 950 coming to AT&T November 20th

We have expressed worries before that the lack of availability is going to hamper Microsoft’s new Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL flagship. The former will only be available via Microsoft directly, while the Lumia 950 will be only on AT&T in the United States. The company has announced today that AT&T will start selling the 950 from November 20th.

Having the support of the second largest carrier in the nation is not a bad thing, but exclusivity to the carrier is and we think the lack of coverage across other retailers and carriers will harm overall sales. Sadly, it seems that this fantastic smartphone will suffer like all other Windows platform handsets and never be given the coverage it deserves.

Huawei P9 Max Promises Plenty through AnTuTu

Huawei has had a really busy year through 2015, but the company continue to rout handsets. So much so that it is sometimes hard to keep up, but the next smartphone to be launched should stand out from the crowd. It is the Huawei P9 Max, a device that is expected to launch November 29th and will be the Chinese company’s new phablet flagship.

Phablet is the right word too as an AnTuTu benchmark score reveals that the P9 Max will sport a massive 6.2-inch screen, making this one of the biggest smartphones on the market. We expect that panel to be Quad HD, and at this size that pixel dense resolution should look stunning. Huawei is going for raw power with the P9 Max, which will sport the company’s new Kirin 950 chipset.

Previous tests have shown that this silicon is going to be the fastest currently available, beating Samsung’s Exynos 7420. However, AnTuTu’s results showed that the P9 Max had a lower score than the Meizu Pro 5, which does come with Samsung’s 7420. Either way, in the real world we imagine that the P9 Max is going to be a stunning performer that is among the fastest on the market.

According to the results on the benchmarking software, the new Huawei P9 Max will be shipping with Android 6.0 Marshmallow out of the box.

Source: MobileBurn

Vivo X6 Shows Up in Official Image

The Vivo X6 has been making headlines recently because it is going to be the first smartphone to come with dedicated graphics memory, 1GB of it in fact. The handset will also be coming with a deca-core processor, although at the moment the Chinese company has not officially announced the device. Instead, Harper’s Bazar has done the next best thing, all but confirming that the X6 is real.

The handset was shown in an official photo for the Victoria’s Secret show, which Harper’s Bazar is covering and Vivo is sponsoring.

Vivo thinks it can create the fastest smartphone ever by including 1GB of dedicated graphics. Computing equipment can come with dedicated GPU power, but this would be a first for smartphones and we are at the very least excited to see how this works. As for other specs, the Viva X6 will be a dazzling smartphone with a metal construction, featuring a deca-core Helio X20 processor, 4GB of RAM, 21 MP camera, and 4000 mAh battery.

Samsung’s Galaxy Golden 3 Flip Phone

Ah the good old flip phone, the form factor that refuses to go away. It still amazes us how these handsets have a market in Asia from companies like Samsung and LG. The former Korean giant has just had its latest flip phone passed through TENAA in China, the Samsung Galaxy Golden 3.

The device manages to marry the form of a feature flip phone with the specs and hardware of a mid-range smartphone. The Galaxy Golden 3 comes with a 720p screen between 3.9-inch and 4.6-inch, a 2.1GHz octa core Exynos processor, 3GB of RAM, 64GB of storage with no micro SD port, a 16 megapixel camera, a 5 megapixel front facing lens, and Android 5.1.1 Lollipop.

Samsung Galaxy View Hits U.S. Market

We are not completely sold on Samsung’s new 18.4-inch Galaxy View tablet. Where in the market does it fit in? It is not a true tablet offering because it is not portable enough, while some Android apps will not refit to the screen properly. Likewise, it is not a PC alternative because it is not rich enough in features, cannot run all programs, and is simply not as productivity minded.

Either way, we are willing to give the Galaxy View a chance and consumers will be able to do the same as the slate has now launched in the United States. This is the Wi-Fi only model and will cost $599 directly from Samsung in the U.S. The LTE variant is expected to come later in the month, with AT&T rumored to be carrying the View.

Samsung says the Galaxy View is the largest Android product on the market, although that may not last long as other companies are apparently going bigger in the coming month. Nevertheless, the View is huge, boasting a Full HD 18.4-inch screen. Under the hood there is Sammy's own Exynos 7520 processor, 2GB of RAM, a choice between 16GB or 32GB of storage, micro SD card expansion, a 2.1 megapixel front camera, stereo speakers, LTE connectivity, and Bluetooth 4.0. A 5700mAh battery means the Galaxy View is good for 8 hours of video playback.

Xiaomi Redmi 2A changed up with more RAM and Storage

Xiaomi’s Redmi 2A is a huge selling smartphone. It struck a sweet spot between solid entry level specs and an affordable $78 price tag. However, despite the device selling 10 million units, the Chinese company has decided to give a revamp.

This is not a new sequel, rather a boost to the existing Redmi 2A. Earlier in the year, Xiaomi co-founder Lei Jun said that optimum smartphones should have at least 16GB of native storage and 2GB of RAM. The mega-budget smartphone Redmi 2A only features 8GB of storage and 1GB of RAM, so it decided to update the device to fit into the “optimum” configuration.

That means the new re-tooled Xiaomi Redmi 2A comes with 16GB of storage and 2GB of RAM, while the rest of the specs look the same. That means a 4.7-inch 720p screen, a 1.5GHz Leadcore LC1860 SoC, 8 megapixel primary camera, 2 megapixel front facing lens, and a 2200mAh battery.

Also remaining the same is the price, so consumers get a better performing handset for no extra cost.

LG Class Available in Europe as LG Zero

You may remember the LG Class, a handset that was launched two months ago, before the V10 it was the first smartphone the company ever made with metal. The result was a stellar looking product that came at a high cost considering its relatively modest specs. After is Asia debut, the LG Class is now launching in Europe, where it will be called the LG Zero.

What the Zero will ask of consumers is, do they want excellent aesthetics or higher end specs? Casual users will probably choose the former, but enthusiasts would probably prefer quality specs. Either way, there is no doubt that the LG Zero is a sexy piece of kit. Its specs are a bit more underwhelming though, especially in a $300-$400 price band that is becoming busy with excellent smartphones.

The Zero gets a 5-inch screen with a 720p resolution, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 412, 2GB of RAM, LTE connectivity, NFC, Bluetooth 4.1, 16GB of internal storage, a micro SD card slot, 2050 mAh battery, 13 megapixel rear camera, and an 8 megapixel front facing lens.

In Europe the LG Zero will retail for 300 Euros, while there have been reports that the device is also bound for the United States, where it will be carried by AT&T.

HTC to Debut One X9 Soon

We have been pretty critical about HTC on these pages regarding two things, the company bombarding the market with high end smartphones, and the One A9 that was billed as a flagship but simply isn’t one. It is an interesting position the company is in, not wanting to flood the market further, but also knowing that the A9 is simply not a competitor against similarly priced handsets.

That means HTC has to go again, it has to work on another flagship to be launched soon, and that device is likely to be the One X9. The device will probably not roll out until the first quarter of 2016, although a leaked promotion image almost suggests that the X9 is ready to go. Either way, this is HTC as it should have been with the One A9, delivering something that is worthy of the flagship moniker.

Firstly, the promotion image reveals that handset to be good looking and we know when HTC decides to do good looking, the company is just about the best out there. The One X9 certainly fits that, it look slick and beautiful, while its specs will finally see HTC deliver the “hero device” that the One A9 was supposed to be.

Such features as BoomSound front facing stereo speakers are back, while HTC is positioning the One X9 to compete shoulder to shoulder with the best devices on the market. There will be a Quad HD screen, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor, 4GB of RAM, 64GB of native storage, a 3500mAh battery, and a 23 megapixel primary camera.

We want HTC to succeed, the One M7 is still one of the very best smartphones ever and the company has showed that it can shake the industry. However, we have been burned badly by HTC, the 2015 edition of the company, and especially with the One A9. All we have to say regarding the One X9 is:
We hope this is true

Microsoft Website Update Suggests Windows 10 Mobile Coming Soon

Last month Microsoft launched Windows 10 Mobile and the Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL smartphones, two handsets that ship with the new platform. Older Lumia device still locked on Windows Phone 8.1 are having to wait for their update, but it seems Microsoft is now moving the gears and that the roll out will begin shortly.

The company has updated is Windows Support website to show details about Windows 10 Mobile for consumers, and how they can update their current handsets to the build. Redmond is not saying when the update will begin, and we are guessing it will be staged, coming to some smartphones before it does to others.

Speaking of smartphones, Microsoft has already confirmed that the following handsets will be getting Windows 10 Mobile: Lumia 430, Lumia 435, Lumia 532, Lumia 535, Lumia 540, Lumia 635 (versions with 1 GB of RAM), Lumia 640, Lumia 640 XL, Lumia 735, Lumia 830, and Lumia 930.

Google Tweet Lands Company in Trouble with Nexus Consumers

Liar, liar, pants on fire. Google has got itself into some trouble with consumers who have recently bought the LG Nexus 5X and Huawei Nexus 6P smartphones, and it’s all over a tweet. The Android company behind the Nexus handsets said that it was shipping orders on a first come, first serve basis. However, consumers were quick to point out that is not the case at all.

After the tweet was sent out, consumer started showing proof that their handsets were purchased before others, but they got their device later. Google’s reply was to say “Some models have different wait times” which is of course true, the Nexus 5X ships quicker than the Nexus 6P, while storage variations and other things need to be taken into account.

However, this too was quickly shown to not be true as consumers started showing proof from same models, revealing that it is not a first come, first serve basis at all.

Pebble Round Coming to U.S. on November 8

Pebble was one of the first companies to embrace the wearable idea with its e-ink screen Pebble and then Pebble Steel. Since then smartwatches have added features and become more advanced, but still the startup company has carved a niche with its stripped back approach. Today Pebble announced that the Pebble Round smartwatch will be landing in the U.S. on November 8, with pre-orders starting now.

The device was launched back in September as the company’s first round faced wearable and comes with such features as an e-paper display with LED backlight. The smartwatch is splash-resistant, comes with a stainless steel chassis, activity tracker, access to Pebble's appstore, and battery life up to 2 days. It boasts a color back-lit screen and is svelte at just 7.5mm, which Pebble says makes this the thinnest smartwatch on the market.

The Pebble Round will be available in bricks and mortar locations for Best Buy and Target, while online you can grab one from Best Buy, Target, Amazon, and from Pebble’s online store. The wearable can be pre-ordered right now and will be shipping for $249.99.

Huawei G7 Plus, a Show Stopping Mid-Range Smartphone

We are starting to see manufacturers focus on offering strong specs and design married with affordability, with plenty of handsets now arriving with high end appeal, but reasonable price tags. Chinese companies have been doing this longer than most, and Huawei is launching its new G7 Plus today, a handset that really pushes the limits of mid-range as far as possible before we start talking about flagships.

A dazzling array of specs and hardware make the G7 Plus an enticing prospect for just $330, putting it in an ever appealing price point that also includes the OnePlus Two and Motorola Moto X Pure Edition, among others. The main talking point here is probably the all metal design, which gives the G7 Plus a look and feel beyond its price, especially as Huawei opted to use aviation grade aluminum and cover 90% of the device with it.

As for the innards and hardware, the Huawei G7 Plus features a 5.5-inch display with Full HD 1080p resolution, a 64-bit Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 processor, 3GB of RAM, 32GB of native storage, micro SD expansion, a 3000mAh battery, and a 13 megapixel rear camera with optical image stabilization, sapphire lens, RGBW sensor, and wider aperture. Yes, it also sports a fingerprint scanner on the rear, adding further to a very impressive spec list.

With some truly giant specs and a stunning design, the Huawei G7 Plus looks like a winner, even if the company’s own Android UI is probably going to hamper the experience. Indeed, next to the vastly more expensive, but similarly spec’d HTC One A9 ($500), the G7 Plus is a bona fide bargain.

BlackBerry Talks Android Security

One of the questions surrounding the BlackBerry Priv flagship is how the company will manage to implement its market leading security nous on the Android platform. That should be the notoriously unsecure Android platform as 98 per cent of all mobile based malware attacks happen on Google’s platform. Today BlackBerry has said how it will make sure the Priv upholds the company’s excellent security reputation.

Google has recently said that it will issue Android updates every month for its stock Android smartphones, giving frequent security patches for users. BlackBerry has said once Google sends the updates out, it will send them to the Priv via an over the air (OTA) upgrade. BlackBerry says it is working with carriers to ensure that the turnaround for these monthly updates is quickly.

Android is as dangerous beyond what is fixable via a monthly update, and in those more serious circumstances the Canadian company says it will send out hotfixes that solve the problem in the code. BlackBerry can quickly patch all Priv’s directly, the company revealed.

Samsung Continuing to Restructure Mobile Division

2014 was a rocky year for Samsung as it saw sales decline and then inevitably profits slipped too. On these pages, we have always argued that it was not a terrible year per say, but it was being compared to other years where Sammy enjoyed a level of unprecedented dominance. That kind of winning cannot go on forever, especially when rivals are clawing back ground.

We have heard it all recently, such as the company pulling out of the smartphone market entirely within five years. Samsung itself largely admits that sales will likely continue to fall as the market evens out to allow more competitors. However, the restructuring of the Galaxy smartphone division will continue into 2016 says Kwon Oh-hyun, CEO of Samsung Electronics. He points out that the company wants to be an innovator and not just one of the crowd.

"We should adapt ourselves to the new environment instead of sticking to our success in the past. I believe now is the time for us to turn ourselves into a first mover from a fast follower."

Xiaomi Mi 5 Flagship Coming Next Month

Xiaomi has said earlier in the year that it is waiting for Qualcomm to launch the Snapdragon 820 processor before it will in turn unveil its Mi 5 flagship smartphone. We expected that would be early in 2016 as the Snapdragon 820 was widely predicted to land in January. However, it is being reported today that the 820 will land sooner than thought and that means we could see the Mi 5 on December 3.

The reports suggest that Qualcomm will unveil the Snapdragon 820 on November 20 and that Mi 5 will comes a couple of weeks later. Of course, Xiaomi has been waiting a long time as the Mi 4 current flagship will be is well over a year old and its specs are behind its competitors. We expect that the Mi 5 will rectify that with market leading specs.

LG G4 Receiving Android 6.0 Marshmallow

LG has been working with Google closely this year on the Nexus 5X smartphone and the company’s proximity to the Android parent means that the G4 flagship smartphone is getting Android 6.0 Marshmallow quicker than most. After being rolled out in Poland last month, the update is now coming to LG’s homeland of South Korea.

It is best to think of the Polish Marshmallow launch as a tester, this is the full rollout starting for the G4. It is the first non-Nexus smartphone to get the build, while only the HTC One A9 (announced last week) will ship with Marshmallow out of the box, so far at least.

Android 6.0 Marshmallow brings with it plenty of new features, including native support for fingerprint scanners, a new Doze feature, which shuts down background apps when not in use, and Google Now on Tap. We suspect that LG may update some of its software and even enhance the aesthetic of its UI to fit in with the Marshmallow design language.

Xiaomi to Hit Africa Market

Xiaomi has built itself into one of the major smartphone manufacturers in the world by selling products in emerging markets, starting in China and then expanding through Asia and into India. While the next major frontier for the Chinese brand is the United States and Europe, the company is still not finished making its presence felt in emerging markets, with Africa the latest to get Xiaomi's smartphones.

This month Xiaomi will be making its debut on the continent, however the company is oddly not selling its ultra-budget handsets there just yet, instead favoring to offer the Redmi 2 and Mi 4 flagship. Xiaomi has not said which specific nations it will be expanding to, although Nigeria and South Africa are obvious choices.

The Redmi 2 sports a 4.7-inch screen with 720p resolution, a 64-bit Qualcomm Snapdragon 410, 1GB of RAM, 8 megapixel rear camera, 2 megapixel front facing lens, 2200mAh battery, and Android 4.4.4 KitKat. Considering that is a fairly old overall package, the price of $160 seems a little on the steep side.

So too the Mi 4, which is Xiaomi's flagship, but an aging one. It will cost the equivalent of $320:

The plastic body is similar to the iPhone 5c or an array of Microsoft/Nokia efforts, and like those handsets the Mi 4i comes in a variety of bold colors (pink and yellow for example). Make no mistake, this does not ape those mentioned rivals though, the Mi 4i does look like an original work, something that is important for a company that has oft been accused of ripping off rivals.

Down to the specs, this is not an out and out flagship. It is more of a high end smartphone that offers a few flagship kicks along the way. For example, it gets a 1080p screen, a 64-bit mid-range Snapdragon, and a 13 megapixel rear camera. You can check out the full specs below:

Software: MIUI 6 with Android 5.0 Lollipop

Screen: 5-inch JDI laminated screen with 1080 x 1920-pixel (Full HD) resolution

Chip: Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 (2nd generation) octa-core chip with 64-bit processing

RAM and Storage: 2GB RAM, 16GB of internal storage

Material: polycarbonate wrap-around body

Colors: available in black, white, red, cyan, pink

Camera: 13-megapixel rear camera (Sony/Samsung sensors) with f/2.0 lens and dual-tone flash

Secondary front camera: 5-megapixel with f/1.8 lens

Battery: 3120mah battery

Former Google executive Hugo Barra announced the device during an event in New Delhi, India (more on that later) and talked up the camera of the Mi 4i. For example, the already stellar HDR mode on the regular Mi 4 has been enhanced and Barra was adamant in claiming it was the best such example of the technology in the smartphone industry.

The battery is also interesting. It is smaller physically than other juicers, including the one in the first Mi 4, but this new battery still manages to have a capacity that is 38% larger than the norm for this device category.

Vivo X6 to Boast Dedicated Graphics Memory

Chinese companies have made a splash by mixing affordability with blazing specs, and Vivo is one of the brands slowly becoming a market force. The company’s next high end smartphone is going to be the X6 and from what we are seeing and hearing, it is going to be something special. Indeed, it could be a game changer.

Vivo is looking to make the fastest smartphone ever, and the company thinks it can do that by adding 1GB of dedicated graphics memory. Of course, that is something we have seen in PCs for years, but it is a unique approach for a smartphone. Aside from that, the other specs will be mind boggling, including a deca-core Helio X20 processor, 4GB of RAM, 21 MP camera, and 4000 mAh battery.

All wrapped in what looks like an elegant metal body.

Nexus 5X Europe Bound

While the Huawei made Nexus 6P is facing a back log and shipments are back to mid-December, the LG built Nexus 5X is likely to be more available. That handset has now had its Europe release announced and will be landing on the Old Continent on November 9 and pre-orders are open now if you are interested in this solid mid-ranger.

The Nexus 5X, with all its stock Android 6.0 Marshmallow goodness is now available in the Google Play Store in European nations. Unfortunately some of the freebies shipped with the U.S. version are not present here, such as $50 Google Play Store credit, or the 90-day free Play Store Music subscription. It is also being reported that a conversion of currency from dollar to Euro sees European consumers paying $149 more for the 16GB Nexus 5X and $154 more for the 32GB variant.

Indeed, the Nexus 5X is such a potent all-round device that it provides a compelling alternative to the more expensive and bigger Nexus 6P from Huawei. Of course, the 6P is a full on flagship and shapes up pretty spectacularly itself, but nevertheless there is a lot to like about the Nexus 5X.

Aesthetically the Nexus 5X is not a huge departure from the original LG Nexus from two years ago, although it has been modernized and looks good. Like all Nexus smartphone, the 5X is not going to push the sexiest devices in its price class, but it is a solid looking smartphone regardless.

The specs are where LG and Google have made the most improvements, and in that regard the Nexus 5X is mostly a brand new handset. It gets a 5.1-inch IPS LCD display with Full HD 1080p resolution, a hexa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 processor, the same chipset used in LG?s 4G flagship. Other specs include 2GB of RAM, the same 12.3 megapixel snapper found on the Nexus 6P, a 5 megapixel front facing lens, a 2700mAh juicer, and 16GB or 32GB storage options.

Some other specs include a front facing speaker, a one tap fingerprint scanner on the rear, and USB Type-C compatibility.