Microsoft Lumia 950, Lumia 950 XL launched at Rs 43699, Rs 49399 in India

New Delhi: Technology giant Microsoft on Monday launched two new flagship devices – Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL – priced Rs 43,699 onwards that will be based on its latest Windows 10 operating system (OS).

In July, Microsoft had unveiled Windows 10 for computers and tablets.

Packed with new features like Cortana and Microsoft Edge, the new OS is an attempt from Microsoft to lure back consumers who gave up on Windows for mobile devices.

"With the launch of Windows 10, we have ushered in an era of more personal computing which is all about interacting more easily, more naturally and more securely in a mobile-first, cloud-first world", Microsoft India Chairman Bhaskar Pramanik told reporters here.

He added that the devices are designed for Windows fans and professionals who desire a premium phone that takes full advantage of Windows 10.

"Lumia 950 (Rs 43,699) and Lumia 950 XL (Rs 49,399) are the first Lumia phones to come pre-loaded with Windows 10 in India. The flagship devices include innovative features like Cortana, Windows Hello beta for Lumia and Continuum for phones", Microsoft India General Manager Ajey Mehta said.

He however declined to comment on the sales targets for the devices.

Customers can pre-book the devices starting today at Microsoft Priority Resellers, Microsoft Store on Amazon.In and retail chains of Croma, Reliance and Sangeetha. The devices will be available from December 11.

The devices come loaded with the 'Continuum' feature which when connected to a supported Display Dock beams all the apps to a larger screen.

The dock has been priced at Rs 5,999, but will be free for initial buyers.

The Lumia 950 features a 5.2-inch display, 1.8HHz Snapdragon hexa-core processor, 3GB RAM, 32GB internal storage (supports 200 GB expandable storage) and 3,000mAh battery.

Lumia 950XL sports a bigger 5.7-inch display and 3,340mAh battery. Both the devices feature a 20MP PureView rear camera with triple LED flash and a front camera of 5MP with wide angle lens.

Lumia 950XL will feature liquid cooling technology to dissipate the heat, Mehta said.

Apple's iOS and Google's Android based smartphones and tablets have emerged as strong competition to the Redmond-based firm.

With the new OS, Microsoft plans to offer a seamless experience to users across devices like PCs, tablets, smartphones and XBox (its gaming device).

Since the launch, Windows 10 is already running on 110 million devices (including 12 million businesses).

Source: Microsoft Lumia 950, Lumia 950 XL launched at Rs 43699, Rs 49399 in India

Why Apple iPhone 7 May Be The Thinnest Phone Ever

Apple Inc.'s (NASDAQ:AAPL) iPhone 7 is likely to launch sometime late next year, but there are already numerous rumors circulating about the changes the company could bring with its upcoming flagship smartphone. Macotakara, which is considered a reliable source for Apple rumors, recently published a report claiming that the tech giant will axe the traditional 3.5mm headphone jack for the company's lightning port. The report states that Apple has decided to remove the jack as it plans on making the next iPhone 1mm thinner than the iPhone 6s. If the report is true, Apple will build a device that is highly likely to be the thinnest phone ever made; however, users will be deprived of the 3.5mm jack that they have grown accustomed to over the years.

The report highlighted that Apple's popular iPod Touch supports a 3.5mm jack and is still 1mm thinner than the iPhone 6s. Macotakara further said that the 3.5mm jack is already the thinnest one in the market, while also being the industry standard for well over two decades. This is not the first time where Apple has decided to remove the 3.5mm jack from its devices, as it previously mulled over installing the 2.5mm jack on its iPods, but was forced to adapt to the industry-standard 3.5mm jack after user outcry.

Apple has installed the 3.5mm headphone jack on all its devices over the last seven years. However, as technology is evolving and there are other options such as Bluetooth, the tech giant is hoping that its new lightning connector will take the reins from the 3.5mm jack as the industry leader. The company has also alluded toward headphones with a lightning connector briefly in WWDC last year.

The report stated that Apple would be including the new iPhone with the lightning connectors that will house a new digital-to-analog converter for delivering the best sounding earphones that the company has ever produced. There are also reports that the company is making an accessory that will convert all 3.5mm jacks to lightning ports so that users will have no problem with their existing earphones. However users have already starting complaining because every headphone sports a 3.5mm jack and without the DA converter, their existing hardware would be useless. Apple is pushing for the lightning connector with the purchase of Beats Audio, as the company is going towards Bluetooth headsets to get rid of wires once and for all.

Third-party manufacturers are yet to comment on this latest report, as they will now have to include lightning cables or lightning connectors with their headphones to make sure that they work with the iPhone 7. The iPhone 7 would certainly be a lot better in terms of design with the reduced thickness, but removing the industry-standard headphone jack could be the catalyst for the downfall of the iPhone 7.

Source: Why Apple iPhone 7 May Be The Thinnest Phone Ever

Samsung Galaxy J7 has Attention-Grabbing Features Making it a Cut Above Other Midrange Handsets

The Samsung Galaxy J7 and the Samsung Galaxy J5 officially hit the retail markets in July, or about three months after the Korean tech giant released its flagship smartphones for 2015 – the Galaxy S6 and the Galaxy S6 Edge.

It was obvious that Samsung wanted not only to redeem itself in the high-end segment of the smartphone market but also in the midrange category which is being dominated by Chinese handset manufacturers. After all, the midrange smartphone segment is actually bigger than the high-end category of the handset market.

In India for instance, when the Samsung Galaxy J7 hit the market, it went up against the likes of the Xiaomi Mi 4, the Asus ZenFone 2, the Lenovo Vibe X2, among a few other midrange smartphones, notes Specout.

The Korean tech giant managed to bring its strength on the Samsung Galaxy S6 and the Galaxy S6 Edge and it seems that it also carried it through in the development of the midrange handsets, the Galaxy J7 and the Galaxy J5.

A lite version of the Galaxy A7

Critics have cited the attention-grabbing features of the Samsung Galaxy J7 beginning with its 5.5-inch Super AMOLED display screen and its 64-bit octa-core processor. It also features a 13-megapixel rear-facing camera with a wide f/1.9 aperture and Pro mode, as well as a 5-megapixel selfie camera that features dedicated LED flash, details GSM Arena.

Some keen observers actually regard the Galaxy J7 as the lite version of the more expensive Galaxy A7. But the smartphone offers semi-premium features despite being confined to the midrange segment. Some are also saying that the Galaxy J7 could pass of as the Galaxy E7 Plus.

The Galaxy J7 comes with a plastic body measuring 152.2 millimeters high, 78.7 millimeters wide, and a thickness of 7.5 millimeters, which is 17% thinner than the average smartphones that were released in the last 12 months. In fact, even if it has a casing, the Samsung Galaxy J7 looks and feels thin.

Getting a grasp of the midrange segment

When the Korean tech giant launched its two midrange smartphones – the Galaxy J7 and the Galaxy J5 – in June and subsequently made it to the retail markets the following month, the company was seeking to get a good grasp of the segment. Samsung has successfully done it in the high-end handset market after the release of the Galaxy S6 and the Galaxy S6 Edge in April and it wanted to do the same in the midrange segment.

While Samsung is known to deluge the market with plenty of smartphone models, the company has refined itself over the years. Instead of merely dropping handset models after models just to give the competition plenty to contend with coming from its end, Samsung has become more discerning with its product offerings.

Unlike before when much of its smartphone models are being released to the markets rather haphazardly with the intention of capitalizing on the entire spectrum of consumers, these days, Samsung is more concerned with quality.

It has evidently shown its new thrust with the launching last March of its high-end flagship smartphones before following it up with the two superb midrange handsets in June.

The Samsung Galaxy J7 midrange smartphone is regarded as one of the best in the market now. More than its affordability, the device has actually brought back the confidence of midrange smartphone users to Samsung.

Given its high-end technical features and capabilities, the Galaxy J7 is actually a great smartphone that comes with a reasonable price.

The smartphone is quite a real investment because of its features. It is a classy device that has a pixel density of 267 ppi, which makes its display screen look better and brighter. Given the huge display, the smartphone has become suited for playing games, taking pictures, watching videos, in addition to its usual function as a communication device first and foremost.

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Source: Samsung Galaxy J7 has Attention-Grabbing Features Making it a Cut Above Other Midrange Handsets

Save more than £200 on a new Motorola smartphone in the UK for Black Friday

Motorola UK has kicked off its deals for Black Friday and Cyber Monday. The company is offering a bunch of deals across its catalogue of smartphones, including the Moto X Play and Moto E. Whether you're on the hunt for a replacement smartphone or a present for that special someone this holiday season, prepare to save up to 50% on Motorola's store.

Here are a few examples of savings that can be achieved on the official online store:

Moto X 2nd Gen 16GB – £199.99 (saving £195)

Moto X 2nd Gen 32GB – £250 – (saving £195)

Moto X Play 16GB – £219 – (saving £60)

Moto X Play 32GB – £259 – (saving £60)

Nexus 6 32GB – £250 – (saving £229)

Nexus 6 64GB – £310 – (saving £229)

Moto E – £69.99 – (saving £39 + includes free shipping)

The offers will run until 11:59pm (GMT) on November 30, so you still have some time to decide on whether or not to pick one of the smartphones up.

Source: Save more than £200 on a new Motorola smartphone in the UK for Black Friday

One Plus 2 SALE – how to get your hands on the most exclusive smartphone of the year

The OnePlus 2 and OnePlus X are two of the best budget smartphone you can buy.

Featuring top-end specs at an affordable price they've been nicknamed 'flagship killers'.

However, smartphone fans can only get hold of these phones with a limited and exclusive invite.

Now the Chinese firm behind the OnePlus is giving everyone the chance to grab a OnePlus during a 4-day Black Friday event.

Both the OnePlus 2 and One Plus X will be available from Friday 27th – Monday 30th November.

Speaking about the deal on its blog OnePlus said: "Hope you're sitting down, because you're going to want to be on your A-game for this.

"Black Friday: Unlimited starts November 27 and lasts for four epic days with the OnePlus 2 and OnePlus X available invite-free every day."

The firm is also reducing the price of many of its accessories during this period.

ONEPLUS 2 & ONEPLUS X EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW

ONE PLUS 2 • From £239

OnePlus has packed its 2015 flagship smartphone with plenty of treats including a 5.5inch HD display, Qualcomm 810 processor and a decent battery.

There's also a fingerprint scanner and the smartphone also supports two Nano SIM cards with 4G LTE capability, which should appeal to frequent travellers.

The rear 13megapixel camera has a laser focus system and a two-tone LED flash.

OnePlus has also added support for 4K video capture as well as RAW images, which will be added soon after launch

ONEPLUS X • £199

The OnePlus X has a glass and metal finish which makes it look and feel similar to some of Apple's previous smartphones.

There's also a very tasty 5-inch 1080p AMOLED display, an impressive 13 megapixel rear camera with a f/2.2 aperture and an 8 megapixel front-facing selfie snapper.

And you'll get a Snapdragon 801 processor to power you through the day plus 16GB of expandable storage.

Source: One Plus 2 SALE – how to get your hands on the most exclusive smartphone of the year

Huawei Mate 8 Official Renders Leak, Could Go Official Very Soon

Chinese Android OEM Huawei is all set to announce its next flagship smartphone very soon. Dubbed the Mate 8, the flagship is rumored to be announced on the 26th of this month, so there is barely a day left before it goes official. Just before the announcement, leaked renders of the phablet have been posted online. The leaked renders seem to be official press shots, so they are highly detailed and show off the phablet in all its glory. One of the leaked renders also reveals the three different colors options that the Mate 8 will be offered in – Grey, Copper, and Gold. The Gold option isn't surprising of course, seeing how almost every new flagship Android smartphone these days is coming out in a Gold color option.

The premium phablet will be made out of metal, as can be clearly seen in these leaked renders. Huawei seems to have added quite a few unique touches such as the rear mounted fingerprint scanner, metal ring around the rear camera, and accentuated speaker grilles on the bottom. The side bezels also appear to be quite minimal, which means Huawei has worked hard to make the 6-inch phablet slightly less intimidating to use comfortably.

As far as specs go, the Huawei Mate 8 isn't exactly going to wow you, but it isn't going to be a major disappointment either. The phablet will be powered by Huawei's new Kirin 950 chipset, with four ARM Cortex-A72 cores and four ARM Cortex-A53 cores. Based on leaked benchmarks available so far, the Kirin 950 is a highly capable chip and even manages to outperform Samsung's Exynos 7420 chip in certain benchmarks. The display on the other hand, won't be quite as impressive. The phablet is rumored to feature a 6-inch 1080p display, which will boast of a 368ppi pixel density. That's significantly lower than the pixel density on most Android flagships on the market currently. Other rumored specs include 3/4GB RAM, 32/64GB internal memory (depending on the variant), 16 or 20 megapixel rear camera, 8MP front-facing camera, and a large 4100mAh capacity battery. The Mate 8 is expected to run Android 6.0 Marshmallow out of the box, with the company's Emotion UI layer on top.
Source: Huawei Mate 8 Official Renders Leak, Could Go Official Very Soon

OnePlus X Review, Specs, Pricing And Comparison: How Will OnePlus New Smartphone Fare Against Competition?

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The OnePlus X was officially unveiled this week and it looks absolutely stunning.

As reported by Venture Beat, the China-based mobile phone maker launched its third smartphone for North American users this week.

However, the smartphone oozes with exclusivity that OnePlus is only making the device available for invite-holders. And to get an invite, you will have to win one through a company contest or be "invited" to buy one from someone who's already bought the device.

We're not sure why OnePlus opted for that selling scheme, but let's see if the phone is worth the "exclusivity."

With regards to the look and feel, the report said that the phone features a 5-inch AMOLED full-HD display, an elegant black glass back plate and metal bezels. In short, it feels like a premium phone.

The handset is described as the company's decision to ditch the "techy" market and put effort into appealing to the "style-conscious" market, which the Apple iPhones have been thriving for years.

Of course, the specifications are still important, but it was made clear that after using the OnePlus X for a brief moment, you know that what you have in your hand is a class smartphone.

According to OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei, "It's a product geared towards a more mainstream audience, people who care about the size, the build quality, the materials more than the specs."

He added that, "The specs are more thoughtfully selected, because right now the additional benefit of having a faster processor for the user is not that big any more. People value things like design, first impressions, camera, and build quality much more."

As for the specifications, PC Mag reported that the OnePlux X is essentially a repackaged version of the OnePlus One.

The phone is slapped with a Snapdragon 801 processor, 3GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage with the option to expand it up to 128GB via microSD. What's more is that the phone can accommodate dual SIM cards.

And despite the rather "outdated" processor, it can still handle multitasking very well, with app switching and launching still relatively quick.

As for the camera, the OnePlus X still takes detailed and crisp shots with its 13-megapixel rear camera, and the autofocus and auto exposure are still reliable.

And if we are to compare the phone with other device in similar range, India Times noted that the OnePlux X holds its own very well against the Lenovo Vibe S1.

In conclusion, the phone looks great, but performs just "good." It's like a sports car with a superb packaging and body with above average innards.

All in all, the OnePlus X is a great smartphone that you can get for $250 — but only if you value style over substance.

© 2015 Jobs & Hire All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.

Source: OnePlus X Review, Specs, Pricing And Comparison: How Will OnePlus New Smartphone Fare Against Competition?

Xiaomi Mi 5 aka Gemini: Snapdragon 820, Fingerprint Scanner And More [Rumor Roundup]

Xiaomi has recently tweeted images, which teased the upcoming Redmi Note 2 Pro featuring a metallic build and fingerprint scanner and another seems to be the successor of the Mi Pad. The tweet also hinted that both smartphones are scheduled to launch on November 24.

Meanwhile, the company has been in news for its upcoming flagship smartphone - the Mi 5. The smartphone has been leaked for a quite sometime now. A leaked image on, Chinese social networking site, Weibo shows that the Mi 5 to have a curved glass back similar to the Samsung Galaxy Note 5.

SEE ALSO: GizBot Giveaway: Win A Moto X Play For Free

The Mi 5 is highly speculated and rumored to features fingerprint scanner, Snapdragon 820 processor and much more. Here are the rumors and leaks of the much speculated Xiaomi Mi 5, take a look at the slider below.

Stay tuned to GizBot for more updates!

Display

Xiaomi Mi 5 is rumored to have 5.2 inch QHD display with 1440x2560 pixels resolution. The smartphone to have 2K display and will come with Corning Gorilla Glass 4 protection.

Design

Weibo user by the name @KJuma, has leaked an image of the rumored smartphone showing the back of the device. The leaked image clearly show that the smartphone will come with a curved back on both sides similar to the Galaxy Note 5

Processor and RAM

The Xiaomi Mi 5 is rumored to be powered by Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon 820 SoC and paired with 3GB of RAM and Adreno 530 GPU. The Mi 5 will be among the first few smartphones to be powered by Snapdragon 820 SoC.

Fingerprint Scanner

The fingerprint scanner in smartphones are getting popular these days. As per the teaser image, Xiaomi's upcoming Redmi Note 2 Pro will be the first smartphone by the company to have fingerprint scanner on board. Well, the company's next flagship, Mi 5, will be equipped with fingerprint scanner. Unfortunately, there are no details about how the fingerprint scanner will work on the handset.

Camera

There is much speculation that the Mi 5 will be equipped with a 16 megapixel primary camera and an 8 megapixel front-facing camera.

Operating System

Xiaomi's interface, MIUI, is considered as one of the best mobile users interface. The rumored Mi 5 is expected to run on the Android 5.1.1 Lollipop with the latest MIUI 7 on top. But with the latest leak of benchmark test, the smartphone will have Android 6.0 Marshmallow out of the box.

Storage

The rumored Mi 5 will come with in two models, just like the current flagship Mi 4. The Mi 5 will be featuring a 16GB and 64GB of internal memory and might be come with option to expand memory.

Battery

Following the trend of Mi 4, the next flagship smartphone will pack a non-removable 3,000mAh battery.

Gemini

Xiaomi device with codename "gemini" has been spotted on Geekbench's benchmarking site, giving us a look at its hardware specifications. Going by the specification details revealed by the benchmarking suite, this mysterious Xioami smartphone seem to be flagship-level smartphone with high-end features.

Benchmark Result

The benchmarks result shows that Xiaomi Gemini has scored 4762 on multi core, which shows that the phone will be a powerful performer, but not the best out there.

Stay tuned to GizBot for more updates!

Story first published: Monday, November 23, 2015, 12:31 [IST]

Source: Xiaomi Mi 5 aka Gemini: Snapdragon 820, Fingerprint Scanner And More [Rumor Roundup]

Samsung SM-W2016 specs, rumors: Flip phone borrows hardware from Galaxy S6

Previously leaked reports have suggested that the world's largest manufacturer of Android devices, Samsung Electronics, will be launching two different variants of its upcoming flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S7. And it's unclear whether Samsung is planning to bring the SM-W2016 to the European or USA markets but let's hope so, because I'm excited at the prospect of playing a businessman circa 2002.

And finally in the news, leaked images of the hinted Samsung Galaxy Golden 3 continue to surface on TENAA, the Chinese Regulatory Authority.

In fact, the phone's design is not as passé as you might think.

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Design wise, it's quite reminiscent of the Note 5 or Galaxy Gear and sports dual 3.9 inch Super AMOLED displays running at 1,280 x 768 resolution.

Samsung, in what seems to be a half unexpected, half unbelievable move plus secretly anticipated by a few, unveils their new clamshell flip phone.

Flip phones were incredibly popular in the mid-2000s thanks to devices such as the Motorola Razr, and have recently enjoyed a burst of publicity thanks to one being featured in the music video for Adele's new single "Hello".

The Warriors almost Lost to the Nets. almostWhat's makes the shots more efficient is that a majority of Golden State's first-quarter field goals (69.7 percent) are assisted. Bogut gave the Warriors 10 points (5-of-7 shooting), a season-high 18 rebounds, four assists, three blocked shots and steals.

It has not been indicated if the phone will be sold in other countries outside China.

Samsung is not the first smartphone maker who is creating an Android phone with a clam shell device. We just have to wait and watch as there could be a lot more to expect from the phone. IBN Live also indicated that the clamshell phone will sport a curved rear shell similar to Samsung Se6 and Samsung Note 5. Others have said it will come in two sizes, a 5.2-inch screen, and a 5.8-inch screen, with at least one of them having a 4K display. We've been hearing various claims in this regard so far, but we don't really have any concrete information about the full picture of what Samsung are planning.

Samsung is not the only brand to embrace the retro looking phone.

Seven Dead In New Zealand Helicopter CrashThe deceased have not yet been identified, and efforts to recover the dead bodies have been stalled as a result of the weather. Three people were hurt in a helicopter crash in June, while a man died and five others were injured last year.

The W2016 is now listed on Samsung's official website for China, but oddly enough there isn't a proper spec list over there, at least not yet.

Samsung Galaxy S6 Clamshell clears TENNA certification

Source: Samsung SM-W2016 specs, rumors: Flip phone borrows hardware from Galaxy S6

Apple iPhone 7: New Tech Patent Hints Waterproof iPhone, Specs, News, Updates, Rumors

The iPhone 6s has just recently been released but with ever changing technology, the spotlight is now on the upcoming Apple flagship smartphone, the iPhone 7.

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So what are the rumored and expected upgrades and features of the iPhone 7?

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Display

In a report released by Forbes, they claimed that KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has predicted that the iPhone 7 will still be using an LED display instead of the more power efficient AMOLED display.

Waterproof

The Apple iPhone 6 is already water-resistant, so now, the rumors are that the iPhone 7 will not just be water-resistant, but it will be waterproof.

The rumor came from a leaked patent application with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Apple's patent application is said to be titled 'Liquid Expulsion From An Orifice' and is said to be an innovative way to remove liquid from inside the iPhone, specifically through the microphones and the speakers.

The Apple patent will use electrical charges to send the water that was able to get inside the phone back out.

Wireless Charging

Although more than a few Android devices are already capable of wireless charging, this feature is yet to be introduced to the Apple iPhones. It has yet to be reported that the iPhone 7 will be adding this feature in their upcoming flagship phone, but it is definitely one of the features that iPhone users is hoping to be added in the next Apple flagship smartphone.

Rumored Specs

The specifications of the iPhone 7 are nothing more than rumors for now, but it is said to be sporting a 4.7-inch display and will be 6.0 to 6.5 mm thick. It is also said that the upcoming iPhone 7 will be powered by the A10 smartchip, 2 GB RAM, a 2K display, and even an 8 MP front facing camera.

Source: Apple iPhone 7: New Tech Patent Hints Waterproof iPhone, Specs, News, Updates, Rumors

Xiaomi Mi Pad 2 to release Nov. 24; Xiaomi Mi 5 to be unveiled Dec. 3

The rumor mill is heavily hinting the Xiaomi Redmi Note 2 will be unleashed on Nov. 24. It isn't known if Xiaomi will announce the Xiaomi Mi 5 flagship smartphone or the Xiaomi Mi Pad 2 tablet at the launch event as its second new product.

A teaser image showing none other than the co-founder of the Chinese firm clearly indicates the Xiaomi Mi Pad 2 will be announced next week. By examining the image uploaded by Xiaomi co-founder and President Lin Bin on the Weibo social site, it can be seen the device sports a very slim profile. Moreover, there's no LED flash available for the rear camera.

The Xiaomi Mi 5 is a flagship smartphone and it goes without saying the handset will feature a flash for its high resolution rear camera. Hence, Phone Radar reported that Bin actually teased an image of the much awaited Xiaomi Mi Pad 2 tablet.

The entire specs of the Mi Pad 2 tablet aren't known yet. The original Mi Pad tablet that came out in 2014 came with a plastic body. Rumours are rife its successor will arrive with a metallic frame but will still continue to sport a 7.9-inch screen like the original model.

Some of the key specs of the Mi Pad 2 tablet were spotted on the GeekBench benchmarking site. It revealed the device features an Intel Atom X5-Z8500 chipset. This chipset is packed with a quad-core CPU that can deliver a maximum processing speed of 2.24 GHz. The older model features an Nvidia Tegra K1 2.2 GHz quad-core processor.

Although past speculations have suggested the Mi Pad 2 will come with the Windows 10 OS, the tablet is expected to come preloaded with Android 5.1 Lollipop OS. The Xiaomi Mi 5 handset might not be unveiled during the Nov. 24 launch event. Word is the company will hold an exclusive launch event on Dec. 3 to unleash its flagship smartphone.

Contact the writer at feedback@ibtimes.com.au or tell us what you think below.

Source: Xiaomi Mi Pad 2 to release Nov. 24; Xiaomi Mi 5 to be unveiled Dec. 3

'Microsoft Lumia 950' Review, Specs, Price, Features: Phone With High End Specs - 20 MP Rear Cam, 3 GB RAM, 564 PPI, And Microsoft Continuum

Posted by Staff Reporter (media@realtytoday.com) on Nov 19, 2015 07:00 AM EST more big

A new phone titled the Microsfot Lumia 950 sit on display at a media event for new Microsoft products on October 6, 2015 in New York City. Microsoft also unveiled a virtual reality head set titled the HoloLens, a tablet titled the Surface Pro 4, a laptop titled the Surface Book and a biometrics wristband titled the Band 2. (Photo : Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

We have seen Microsoft do its best in creating extremes smartphones. One day they go for a lower midrange affordable smartphone, the next day they introduce a super high end flagship such as the "Microsoft Lumia 950", although, the Microsoft Lumia series arguably do not go as appreciated by the majority of smartphone users as the iOS and Android flagships do.

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Still, the company manages to squeeze in top-of-the-ine specs inside a premium looking smartphone. As for the "Microsoft Lumia 950", it boasts of its massive 5.2 inches AMOLED screen with a resolution of 1440 x 2560 pixels, that is 564 pixel per inch density. The resolution is pretty much better than most phones on the market. Also, the phone is covered with Corning Gorlla Glass 3.

The phone runs Windows 10 and powered by the Snapdragon 808 chipset. For the CPU, the "Microsoft Lumia 950" uses a Dual-core 1.82 GHz Cortex-A57 & quad-core 1.44 GHz Cortex-A53. Furthermore, the phone uses the Adreno 418 GPU and its internal memory is 32 GB. The microSD capacity is also a massive 200 GB and the RAM size isn't compromised as well, it is also a big 3 GB RAM.

Camera-wise, you won't be disappointed with the "Microsoft Lumia 950". It comes with a 20 MP rear cam with 4992 x 3477 pixels, Carl Zeiss optics, optical image stabilization, triple LED RGB flash, and autofocus. It has 1/2.4' sensor size, 1.12 µm pixel size, and PureView technology as well. The rear cam specs is kind of amazing, and way better than most smartphones. However, the front cam is just 5 MP, which isn't so bad either, just not very special.

The Microsoft 2015 flagship also comes with your usual smartphone features such as LTE, WiFi hotspot and Bluetooth connection. Luckily, there is also an FM radio that normally only comes in budget phones. Additionally, the phone boasts of the new Microsoft technology called 'Continuum', plus there is the Wireless Charging and Fast Charging functionality. Furthermore, the phone comes with OneDrive 15 GB cloud storage. The battery is a 3000 mAh battery and its power can last up to 288 hours of 3G standby. Two colors are available - black and white.

"Microsoft Lumia 950" Conclusions

Clearly, the company is moving forward with their flagships, with the "Microsoft Lumia 950" being one serious rival for it's competitors' flagships. The specs are really good, it may actually convince some Android and iOS fans to at least get their hands on the 950 and appreciate the model in all its beauty.

The phone will be coming in on November 20 through US carriers, with pre orders starting November 17. For the unlocked version, Microsoft's site is still saying that the phone is 'coming soon'. However, when the phone goes on sale, it will cost around $549.

© 2015 Realty Today All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.

Source: 'Microsoft Lumia 950' Review, Specs, Price, Features: Phone With High End Specs - 20 MP Rear Cam, 3 GB RAM, 564 PPI, And Microsoft Continuum

HTC One M9s Launched In Taiwan

The HTC One M9 is the company's flagship smartphone and was launched earlier this year. However it looks like before the end of the year, we are treated to another HTC One M9 variant and this time it comes in the form of the HTC One M9s, but despite sharing the name of HTC's flagship, that's pretty much where the similarities end.

The phone will come with a 5-inch Full HD display and under the hood, the handset will be powered by a MediaTek Helio X10 chipset. There will also be 2GB of RAM accompanying the device along with 16GB of storage, and the good news is that it will also support microSD cards so expanding the phone's memory should not be an issue.

As for the camera on the phone, the HTC One M9s will feature a 13MP shooter on the back. This isn't the same as the flagship, but the upside is that it will feature Optical Image Stabilization so even if the megapixel count isn't as high, hopefully the inclusion of OIS will help  make things better.

The front camera is of the 4MP UltraPixel variety, and last but not least users can look forward to a 2,840mAh battery that keeps the phone going. It is priced at $390 and will be available in Taiwan come 21st November. Unfortunately there was no mention of whether or not it will make its way stateside or to other markets.

Filed in Cellphones. Read more about HTC and HTC One M9.

Source: HTC One M9s Launched In Taiwan

Gionee's Flagship Smartphone Gionee S6 Launched in China

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Source: Gionee's Flagship Smartphone Gionee S6 Launched in China

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Photos of Blackberry's next Android smartphone Vienna leaked

Sandeep Girotra to be new Nokia head for India

Source: Vivo X6 phablet appears on China's TENAA

Samsung Galaxy S7 Premium Edition To Feature 4K Display And 14-Core GPU: Rumor

Rumors claim that Samsung is planning a Galaxy S7 Premium Edition which will have a 4K display and be powered by a 14-core GPU. The company has done something like this in the past, with the Galaxy S5 Prime.(Photo : Andrew Burton | Getty Images)

Samsung has just officially unveiled the Exynos 8890, which is the company's latest and most advanced chipset. The Exynos 8890 is expected to power the two variants of the Galaxy S7 that is expected to be released next year, which would be the next flagship smartphones of the company after the Galaxy S6 Edge Plus.

However, a new rumor is already circulating that concerns the just announced Exynos 8890, with the rumor claiming that a different version of the chipset will be used to power another variant of the Galaxy S7.

Samsung is said to be planning a Galaxy S7 Premium Edition, a super spec'd version of the smartphone that will only be sold in the company's home country of South Korea. The rumors state that the Galaxy S7 Premium Edition will have a 4K display, along with a dual-lens camera module that is manufactured by Sony.

It is also said that the Exynos 8890 will be powering the Galaxy S7 that would be released in all markets, expect in the United States and China, where Qualcomm's Snapdragon 820 will be used in the devices. The Exynos 8890 will use the Mali-T880 as its graphics processor with 12 cores, but according to the rumors, the Exynos 8890 for the Galaxy S7 Premium Edition will pack a Mali-T880 version with 14 cores.

ARM confirmed that the graphics processor could pack up to 16 cores, which would give a bit more credibility to the rumors.

The rumor's source is a post on the Weibo social network, which is not really a fool-proof source of information. A Galaxy S7 Premium Edition with 4K display and a 14-core GPU would be a great smartphone, but it is not entirely sure that the rumor is true at this point.

Samsung, however, has released improved versions of its flagship devices in the past, with the example being the Galaxy S5 Prime. This would mean that the idea of the Galaxy S7 Premium Edition is not as farfetched as some may think.

© 2015 Tech Times, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.

Source: Samsung Galaxy S7 Premium Edition To Feature 4K Display And 14-Core GPU: Rumor

The True Score on HTC One X9

Taiwanese multinational manufacturer of smartphones and tablets, HTC Corporation, is reportedly gearing to release another line of phone come Q1 of 2016. Adding to its HTC One series at the start of the year will be HTC One X9.

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The True Score on HTC One X9

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But is it true that HTC One X9 is just a mid-range smartphone?

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As PhoneArena.com revealed, "Initially believed to be a high-end smartphone, the unannounced HTC One X9 will likely be just a mid-range device, or at least that's what the latest details about it are leading us to believe."

Reliable sources familiar to HTC denied initial reported HTC One X9 specifications, even revealing the true specifications of the still unannounced HTC One X9.

In three consecutive tweets, LlabTooFer rejected initial phone specs reported by detailing it one by one. The first tweet denies rumors that HTC One X9 will be integrated with the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 820, and higher RAM and ROM:

HTC One X9 rumours (1/2):Snapdragon 820 or MediaTek Helio X20 - Wrong3GB or 4GB RAM - Wrong32-128 GB ROM - Wrong1440p screen - Wrong- LlabTooFeR (@LlabTooFeR) 9 Nov 2015

This was followed with its second part denying a high 23-megapixel camera and a powerful 3,500 mAh battery:

HTC One X9 rumours (2/2):23MP rear camera - Wrong4UP front camera - Correct3500 mAh battery - Wrong- LlabTooFeR (@LlabTooFeR) 9 Nov 2015

Finally, LlabTooFer revealed that HTC One X9 is being positioned to be released Q1 of 2016. LlabTooFer also revealed that HTC's 2016 flagship smartphone HTC One M10 will be released 2-3 months after HTC One X9.

HTC E56 (One X9) targeted Q1 2016 Device will be positioned lower than HTC One A9It will be released ~2-3 months before flagship "M10"- LlabTooFeR (@LlabTooFeR) 9 Nov 2015

Meanwhile, Twitter user Evan Blass who is currently connected with website Mashable and a former senior editor of Engadget, revealed the purportedly true specs of HTC One X9.

.@stagueve All wrong. E56 sports a Mediatek SoC & 5.5" FHD display. Memory is just 2GB/16GB, camera 13MP/4UP (OIS), w/ a 3000mAh battery.- Evan Blass (@evleaks) 9 Nov 2015

E56 is reportedly the model number of HTC One X9.

We'll bring you more information about HTC One X9 as it becomes available.

Source: The True Score on HTC One X9

Xiaomi 'Gemini' With Snapdragon 820 Spotted in Benchmarks

Xiaomi's new handset codenamed 'Gemini' has been spotted in a benchmark listing, tipping details about the innards of the rumoured smartphone. Additionally, the long-rumoured Mi Pad 2 as well as Redmi Note 2 Pro have been also spotted in listings.

Spotted at Geekbench browser benchmark, the rumoured Xiaomi 'Gemini' is said to be the codename for the company's next flagship, the Mi 5. One of the most notable features of the listing is it tips that the handset packs Qualcomm's recently unveiled Snapdragon 820 processor. Considering that Qualcomm has confirmed that smartphones featuring the new Snapdragon 820 processor will only be launched in early 2016, we can assume that Xiaomi's 'Gemini' will be revealed next year only.

A report from last week had also claimed that the Xiaomi's next Mi 5 flagship smartphone will pack Qualcomm's Snapdragon 820 SoC. The report however had suggested that Xiaomi may launch the smartphone on December 3 which now appears highly unlikely if it packs the Snapdragon 820 - unless launch and availability are widely seperated.

Other details tipped by the listing include Android 6.0 Marshmallow, 3GB of RAM, and a clock speed of up to 1.59GHz. The single-core score in Geekbench browser benchmark is 2,140 while multi-core score is 4,762.

In another Geekbench listing, Xiaomi's long-rumoured second Mi Pad tablet has been spotted. According to the listing, the Mi Pad 2 may feature a 2.24GHz quad-core Intel Atom x5-Z8500 processor clubbed with 2GB of RAM. Further, the listing claims the tablet runs Android 5.1 Lollipop.

Lastly, Xiaomi's Redmi Note 2 Pro, which was recently leaked in images, has been spotted in a Tenaa listing.

According to the Tenaa listing (via GizmoChina), the Xiaomi Redmi Note 2 Pro may feature Mediatek's MT6795 Helio X10 processor; a 5.5-inch full-HD display; 2GB of RAM; 16GB of inbuilt storage; a 13-megapixel rear camera, a 5-megapixel front camera, Android 5.0 Lollipop, and pack a 3060mAh battery. It also adds that the Redmi Note 2 Pro will measure 149.9x75.9x8.7mm and weigh 165 grams.

In-line with previous leak, the new leaked image spotted in Tenaa listing shows fingerprint scanner at the back panel. The Redmi Note 2 Pro is tipped to share the same specifications as the Redmi Note 2. The only difference would be an inclusion of a fingerprint sensor and a metal build.

Download the Gadgets 360 app for Android and iOS to stay up to date with the latest tech news, product reviews, and exclusive deals on the popular mobiles.

Source: Xiaomi 'Gemini' With Snapdragon 820 Spotted in Benchmarks

Samsung Galaxy S7 coming February 21, apparently

by Sean Keach 12 November 2015

As usual, the release date of the next flagship Samsung smartphone is a hot topic.

The latest information on that front suggests that device will be formally unveiled on February 21.

That's in opposition to a previous rumour that suggested the Samsung Galaxy S7 release had been pushed forward.

On August 8, a leak suggested Samsung was eyeing a release schedule for the new phone that had been advanced by one to two months – that had the device arriving as soon as December this year.

However, a later rumour pointed to a more likely early February launch date.

The latest musing on the matter comes courtesy of prolific mobile tipster 'Ricciolo', who tweeted the following:

If nothing really has changed, we'd expect to see the Samsung Galaxy S7 arrive at a dedicated 'Galaxy Unpacked' event, one day ahead of Mobile World Congress.

Next year's MWC is scheduled for February 22 to February 25, so February 21 seems the most likely date for now.

Related: Best Android Smartphones 2015

Which 2016 smartphone are you most excited for? Let us know in the comments.

Check out our Android Marshmallow features video below:

Source: Samsung Galaxy S7 coming February 21, apparently

Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 specs and features: 10 new features coming to 2016 flagship smartphones and tablets

Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 specs and new features Fed up with your current smartphone? Well there's plenty to get excited about with the Snapdragon 820. Here are 10 great features a Snapdragon 820-powered smartphone could have. Here's why you'll want a Snapdragon 820 in your next phone or tablet

By Chris Martin | 10 Nov 15

We're at the launch of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820. Here are the brilliant new features the processor will bring to flagship smartphones in 2016.

Although details about the chip have been floating around the web for a while, Qualcomm has now revealed exactly what advantages and upgrades it will bring. After all, as the firm said itself, the benefits need to be big enough and tangible for people to upgrade.

"The Snapdragon 820 has been holistically designed around enriching visual quality and audio clarity, as well as developing more intuitive ways to interact with devices, to generate deeply immersive experiences," said Qualcomm.

Snapdragon 820 specs

Let's break down the four main components of the Snapdragon 820 which are the CPU, GPU, DSP and LTE modem.

Kryo CPU 

An obviously important part of any SoC (system-on-a-chip), the Kryo CPU inside the 820 will bring up to twice the performance and twice the power efficiency when compared to previous generations. We'll come back to what the latter means for battery life later. 

The 64-bit-capable custom CPU is also the first to be made with a 14nm FinFET manufacturing process.

Adreno 530 GPU

On the graphics side of things, the Adreno 530 provides 40 percent better performance and power efficiency compared to previous generations. 

Hexagon 680 DSP

Announced already, the Hexagon 680 DPS (digital signal processor) is for tasks which can be done faster than the CPU and with less power. For simple things like playing an MP3, the 680 can double playback time. Qualcomm says it can be up to 3x faster than the CPU for certain tasks and 10x more efficient.

X12 LTE 

Last but not least is the X12 LTE modem which will provide 33 percent better performance and 15 percent better power efficiency. Users will be able to, in theory, get 600Mbps download speeds and 150Mbps upload speeds thanks to Cat 12 – that's double if you've got a phone with Cat 6 in your pocket.

It's also the first to support unlicensed spectrum bands to help with data capacity on networks (LTE-U). There's also 802.11ad for faster line-of-sight Wi-Fi, 11ac MU-MIMO (multi-user), Smart Wi-Fi Calling.

Snapdragon 820 new features

Qualcomm says the processor connectivity features are unmatched by any other mobile SoC, so let's look at them to see what you're 2016 phone will be capable of. Do be aware that these are just base features of the 820 and some are optional so manufacturing partners will choose which they want to invest time and money in.

Battery life and overheating 

These are probably two of the big questions on your lips right now when it comes to the Snapdragon 820. Will it provide better battery life and will it overheat? 

Well according to Qualcomm the news is good. Since the 820 is more power efficient, that not only will increase battery life but will produce less heat. In terms of numbers, the Snapdragon 820 consumes 30 percent less power compared with the 810 which has suffered from some heat issues in a number of phones. 

Quick Charge 3.0 

Also on the subject on battery life is quick charging. Quick Charge 3.0 is designed to be four times faster than normal charging. Compared to previous versions it's twice as fast as the original and 38 percent more efficient than Quick Charge 2.0. 

Qualcomm says it "employs Intelligent Negotiation for Optimum Voltage (INOV), an algorithm which allows your portable device to determine what power level to request at any point in time, enabling optimum power transfer while maximizing efficiency." 

Visual processing 

With phones now offering up to 4K resolutions visuals are more important than ever. Well Qualcomm says you can expect photorealistic video graphics thanks to the combined efforts of the Kryo CPU and Adreno GPU. It does this by implementing things like dynamic reflections, HDR rendering and temporal anti-aliasing.

Snapdragon Scene Detect

This is an interesting technology which Qualcomm says will intelligently work out what you're taking a photo of, detecting things like people, sky, sand etc. The system can be trained to recognise different things, even a type of food eg. Sushi. To do this it uses the Zeroth neural processing platform and the heterogeneous cores. 

The fact that it can detect different image types and scenes means the photos can be automatically organised into those different categories, making your life a bit easier.

Snapdragon Low Light Vision 

Low light is where everyone is striving to make improvements and Qualcomm's answer is adaptive brightness and noise reduction. It says the Low Light Vision system can compensate for HDR scene and motion artefacts usually created by camera or subject movement. The firm promises DSLR-like results without needing kit like a 'proper' lens. Bold claims, then.

Intelligent camcorder 

Also related to Scene Dectect, the Intelligent Camcorder has the ability to recognise and track multiple objects using 'computer vision'. Qualcomm even says it will be able to pick out your child in order to focus on them instead of anyone else, even across a football field full of kids.

Immersive Audio

Audio is an area often overlooked but the Snapdragon 820 aims to offer a better experience producing a 'center of sound that's faithfully sharp and immersive, unmatched on other audio platforms'. Immersive 3D sound is also touted for when you're wearing headphones.

Smart Protect

This looks for bad behaviour in software to stop malware before a security vendor has identified it. Qualcomm has taught the Snapdragon 820 what to look out for. Zero Day threat detection in real-time is a very nifty idea if it works.

Source: Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 specs and features: 10 new features coming to 2016 flagship smartphones and tablets

Huawei G7 Plus: All the Power of a Flagship at a Cheaper Price?

BERLIN, GERMANY - SEPTEMBER 04: A Huawei P8 lite smartphone lies on display at the Huawei stand at the 2015 IFA consumer electronics and appliances trade fair on September 4, 2015 in Berlin, Germany. The 2015 IFA will be open to the public from September 4-9. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images) (Photo : Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

The Huawei G7 Plus is a beautiful mid-range phone that boasts similar features to that of a flagship phone minus the hefty price tag. With its premium specs and stellar design, one could not help but think just that.

A report with Tech Times said that while the Huawei G7 Plus is no Huawei Nexus 6P, the new phone has a lot to offer for budget-conscious buyers who want a bang for their buck. The mid-range handset boasts a 5.5-inch full HD display (1080p) and comes with a powerful octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 processor that is clocked at 1.5GHz. The smartphone comes with 3 GB of RAM. This makes the image resolution to be sharp and crisp, making video browsing a more visually pleasurable experience. 

The Huawei G7 Plus is now officially available in China, reports International Business Times. The follow up to 2014 Huawei G7 has been currently been listed by VMall, which is Huawei's official online store. The mid-range smartphone also features a 90 percent aluminum aviation grade chassis and is available in silver, gray and gold colors, as opposed to its predecessors black and white only offerings. The Huawei G7 Plus measures approximately 152.5 x 76.5 x 7.5mm and weighs 167 grams.

The Huawei G7 Plus also features a feature commonly seen on flagship phones -- a fingerprint sensor at the back of the phone, located right under the rear camera. When it comes to the phone's camera, it features an above par camera device of 13MP coupled with dual-tone LED flash. The camera also features an RGBW sensor as well as an auto-focus along with a 5 MP front camera, which makes it a must-buy for selfie lovers on a budget.

The Huawei G7 Plus is a step up above last year's Huawei G7 with its power packed punch of features that will make consumers forget that it is a mid-range phone. While it certainly does not make itself to be as good as the rest of the flagship phones in the market, the Huawei G7 Plus provides a worthy alternative for those who want to have the experience of a flagship phone but are hesitant about shelling out the bucks for one. 

The dual-SIM smartphone also supports 4G LTE, 3G and Wi-Fi as well as Bluetooth. The handset runs on Android 5.1 Lollipop, but can be upgraded to Android 6.0 Marshmallow in Feb. 2016.

The Huawei G7 Plus comes with a $330 price tag.

© 2015 Latino Post. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.

Source: Huawei G7 Plus: All the Power of a Flagship at a Cheaper Price?

Xiaomi Mi5 Release Date & Specs: Next-Gen Flagship With Fingerpring Recognition Technology To Be Unveiled Wednesday?

First Posted: Nov 09, 2015 07:30 AM EST

The highly anticipated Xiaomi Mi5 has been long-rumored to be the first handset to be powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 820 chipset as well as the first Xiaomi offering to sport fingerprint recognition technology. Whatever its specs turns out to be, all doubts regarding the Mi5 may soon be put to rest this Wednesday, Nov.11.

A recently leaked Xiaomi teaser, first sourced by Times News, showed what seemed to be a smartphone draped behind a red curtain with a question mark on it. The ad had a heading that called the event the "Mi Dual 11," most probably as a reference to Nov. 11, 2015, the date where the event will be held.

There's also a quote that reads, "This time we play the big! (sic) New phone finale debut at 0:00 on November 11 onwards." Now, if the word "finale" was actually supposed to be "finally," then it would make sense to speculate that Xiaomi is referring to its long-awaited flagship as the device that will "finally" be introduced on Nov. 11.

As for the specs of the Mi5, Xiaomi was reportedly torn between the Snapdragon 820 chipset and Mediatek's 10-core Helio X20. The former has support for Qualcomm's Ultrasound technology while the latter was by far the faster processor.

A prototype of the Mi5 fitted the Helio X20 garnered 73,075 points on the AnTuTu benchmark. The score easily outperformed the Exynos 7420-powered Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge. Both top-tier Samsung devices scored just around the 70,000 mark, per GSM Arena.

According to Phone Radar, the Mi5 will be released with the Helio X20 under the hood since mass production of the Snapdragon 820 couldn't meet the late 2015 timeframe. This could explain why Xiaomi is reportedly sporting the Mi5 with their own fingerprint recognition technology.

Rumor has it that the Snapdragon 820 version of the Mi5 will launch sometime in early 2016 after Qualcomm completes mass production of its latest SoC.

Several announcement dates for the Mi5 have been reported in the past, but, so far, none of them have turned out accurate. Fortunately, this latest date is just a one-day wait, so anxious fans shouldn't feel too depressed when its another false alarm.

For the meantime, Xiaomi Today listed the other specs of the Mi5 to include:

 5.3-inch Quad HD (1440x2560) display with 554ppi pixel density

 4GB of RAM

 16GB or 64GB storage space models with no support for external memory expansion

 16-megapixel back camera with dual-LED flash and eight-megapixel front-facing unit

 3,030 mAh battery

 USB Type-C port

Xiaomi's upcoming flagship smartphone is said to retail in China for ¥1,999 or approximately $316. It will boot the company's new Android-based OS called the MIUI 7.

TagsXiaomi, Xiaomi Mi5

© 2015 Latin Post. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.

Source: Xiaomi Mi5 Release Date & Specs: Next-Gen Flagship With Fingerpring Recognition Technology To Be Unveiled Wednesday?

Samsung Note 5: The most productive Android smartphone yet

South Korean electronics giant Samsung, known for innovation in hardware and user interfaces, recently launched its flagship Note 5 smartphone in India priced at Rs.53,900. Samsung has aimed the Note series at consumers who like productivity on the go and are also in the 'creative' business. We got our hands on the device (32 GB memory) and here is what we think of it:

What is good?

The phone, which has curved edges along with a shiny metallic colour finish, has distinct good looks. The built quality is superb and it feels very compact as well. The new advanced stylus also locks into the phone and there is no need to worry about it falling down.

The Note 5 comes with a big 5.7-inch quad-HD Super AMOLED display and there is no complaining about it. Be it work, movies or games, the screen works only to please the consumer.

There is no doubt that Samsung's own Exynos 7420 processor, combined with a 4 GB DDR4 RAM is a force to reckon with. The phone can easily handle switching between heavy games. It also did not lag while using at least 30 apps at the same time, meaning that using apps like photoshop for a long time should not be a problem. Going by Geekbench 3 scores, the phone ranks top with a score of 1,457 on single core performance and 4,638 on multi-core performance.

The Note 5 shares the same camera DNA as the Galaxy S6. While all modes and aperture control remain the same in the Note 5, which clearly is the best in the industry according to DxOMark tests, Samsung now offers consumers the option to choose aspect ratios of photos, including wide ones. The phone captures good detail in all light conditions. Colour and white balance are reliable and the auto-focus works swiftly. The front five-magapixel camera is also a deal sweetener as it can capture wider selfies and groupies.

The most interesting aspect of the phone is the stylus and other features that come with it. Interestingly, Samsung has integrated the option of using the stylus while the screen is switched off. The phone enters a special mode which lets the user write anything on the screen and save it for later use.

The stylus has also been improved, making it sleeker, comfortable to hold and improving its touch precision. This enables creative people to draw better sketches with greater accuracy. The stylus menu or what Samsung calls the 'Air Command' menu has also been improved, allowing users to add shortcuts of most-used apps, including the regular screen write, action memo and S Note functions.

The Note 5 also comes with a fingerprint sensor which secures the phone. Samsung also offers its Knox feature, a new Android-based solution specifically designed to enhance security of the current open source Android platform.

The battery is superb and the fast charging works really well. In spite of very heavy usage, it lasted for over 18 hours which is exceptional. The fast charging comes in handy on occasions when one has just f orgotten to charge the phone or wants some extra juice to finish the assignment on hand.

Other connectivity features on the phone remain same with Bluetooth module 4, Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct and NFC. The phone, which supports 4G-LTE, can run only a single nano-SIM.

What doesn't work for the phone?

The phone, due to its metal and glass body, is a tad heavy. Also, the big size could be a problem with pockets. Holding the phone for longer durations could also be a problem which sort of magnifies if one thinks of longer duration of stylus-based usage.

Strangely, the phone sometimes gets heated up on heavy gaming or usage of the Wi-Fi Direct feature, but it cools down fast as well. Heating might be a particular irritant for users.

Also, the phone's battery drains off a little too quick once the display brightness is turned to maximum.

Verdict: After having used the Note 5, there can be only one conclusion - that it is the most productive Android phone yet. The integration of a good stylus, huge screen, super fast processor and an efficient battery with fast charging make it an all rounder. Basically the phone combines all the good innovations of Samsung put together. In our opinion, if productivity on-the-go is a must, then this device can please any consumer.

Full specifications: 5.7-inch Quad-HD Super AMOLED, 2560 x 1440 (518ppi) display | octa-core (2.1GHz Quad + 1.5GHz Quad), 64 bit, 14 nm processor | 4 GB RAM (LPDDR4) | 32/64GB | 16-megapixel OIS (F1.9) rear camera and five- megapixel (F1.9) camera | 3,000mAh battery with fast charging both on wired and wireless | 4G-LTE | Android 5.1 (Lollipop) | Wi-Fi | Bluetooth 4.2 | NFC.

Source: Samsung Note 5: The most productive Android smartphone yet

Sony Xperia Z5 Compact review: Heavyweight flagship in a bantamweight body

Ever since Apple ditched smaller-sized handsets when it introduced the iPhone 6, Sony has been unrivaled when it comes to the one-handed smartphone. Despite Steve Jobs' famous quip "no one's going to buy a big phone", every major smartphone manufacturer has followed a trend in recent years of producing bigger devices. Every major manufacturer, that is, except Sony.

Key features

23 megapixel camera

4K video recording

Waterproof design

Pirce as reviewed: £429

4.6in Screen

The Japanese giant offers three versions of its latest flagship smartphone: The Xperia Z5, the Xperia Z5 Premium, and the Xperia Z5 Compact.

Sony skipped a model when rolling out the mini version of its flagship Z4 smartphone, so the Z5 Compact actually follows on from the Z3 Compact. The Z5 features an improved camera, an updated design and a new fingerprint sensor – but is all this enough to buck the trend and tempt people back to a smaller device?

Sony Xperia Z5 Compact: Design

Sony has kept with its "OmniBalance" design language that it has used throughout its range of Xperia smartphones and tablets. There are several subtle differences from its Compact predecessors, including a new frosted glass back and a lipped edge on both sides that helps protect it from scratches.

The Z5 Compact is the smallest of the Sony Xperia Z5 rangeIBTimes UK

The Xperia Z5 Compact is thicker than its larger counterpart, which has led to some unfair comparisons to it being a "brick". However, it adds to a sense of sturdiness that Sony has rightfully gained a reputation for in recent years. Like the rest of the Xperia family, the Z5 Compact is waterproof, though it now comes without the fiddly flaps that were griped about by owners of the older devices.

The location of the fingerprint scanner halfway up the right side of the device is convenient and means that the size of the screen does not need to be compromised by additional hardware cluttering up the front.

Sony Xperis Z5 Compact: Screen

Despite the smaller size of the smartphone, Sony has still managed to pack in a 4.6in screen - only 0.1in smaller than the much larger iPhone 6.

The Z5 Compact still hasn't made the leap to a Full HD display, though on a screen this size it seems unnecessary. A minor flaw, common with other Sony screens, is that under certain light conditions and with the screen tilted to a certain angle, it is possible to make out the touch-sensitive panel just below the glass.

Sony Xperia Z5 Compact: Camera

Sony has pioneered in the smartphone camera field, largely thanks to the Japanese tech giant's in-house camera technology. Its 23 megapixel (MP) sensor is larger than the Z3 Compact's, which clocked in at 20.7MP. In the review of the Z3 Compact last year, IBTimes UK noted "there really isn't much need to cram in any megapixels beyond this point", though Sony obviously thought differently.

The Z5's 23MP rear camera is one of the best ever fitted to a smartphoneIBTimes UK

The Z5's outstanding optics and image sensor are almost too good, as loading the camera and navigating around its functions can prove slow. This is the fault of its underlying software, though a better compromise with the hardware could probably be found.

Sony's flagship phones have featured 4K capabilities as standard in since the Xperia Z3, though previous models have experienced problems with overheating. This has led Sony to include a warning when the camera app is first opened, stating that the camera may shut down. In over a week of testing, using both the 4K video and augmented reality functions, the camera didn't shut down once.

Sony Xperia Z5 Compact: Battery, hardware and software

This is another area where the Z5 Compact really shines. Sony has fitted in the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor as it's Z5 counterparts, as well as 2GB of RAM, 32GB of storage and a massive 200GB microSD storage.

The previous generation of Sony Xperia Z smartphones were widely criticised for their tendency to overheat, which could cause power-intensive apps to shut down. While warnings still pop up before using features like AR and 4K with the camera, the device didn't ever shut down during prolonged periods of 4K filming.

The Z5 Compact's fingerprint sensor does not always work first timeIBTimes UK

The fingerprint sensor has already been mentioned for its convenient placement (for those who are right-handed), and it is an excellent addition for security-conscious users. There was a slight issue in that it usually failed to unlock the device on the first attempt.

Finally, Sony is rightly considered one of the best in the business when it comes to smartphone battery life and the Z1 Compact doesn't disappoint. It easily meets the two-day battery life that Sony officially boasts of, and can even go a day or two more with light use.

Sony Xperia Z5 Compact: Price and conclusion

The Sony Xperia Z5 Compact is the only high-end contender for anyone looking for a smaller device, but to simply call the Sony Xperia Z5 Compact the best small phone on the market is to not give it due credit. Despite its size, it is able to pack in the same features and performance as the rest of the Z5 family, all of which offer worthy competition to the heavyweights of the iPhone 6s and the Samsung Galaxy S6.

At £429 it's £50-£100 cheaper than other flagships, making it also a great option for anyone looking for a premium phone at a lower price.

Scores:

Design: 10/10 – A design sharp enough for James Bond that's also waterproof.

Screen: 9/10 – A large screen for a small device .

Software: 8/10 – Still a bit of bloatware, but overall a crisp take on Android.

Camera: 10/10 – Improving on what was already one of the best smartphone cameras on the market, while throwing in a few fun AR gimmicks.  

Value: 9/10 – Packs in the same performance and features of its larger counterparts.

Overall: 9/10 – The only option if you want a premium compact device.

The Good

Excellent camera.

Unrivaled in its size category.

Impressive two-day battery.

Decent performance (even underwater).

The Bad

Fingerprint sensor doesn't always work first time.

Source: Sony Xperia Z5 Compact review: Heavyweight flagship in a bantamweight body

QiKu plans to launch two new budget flagship smartphones in India very soon

By: Tech Desk | Updated: November 6, 2015 4:44 pm QiKu, a joint venture between Qihoo and Coolpad plans to launch two new smartphones in India very soon

QiKu, a joint venture between Qihoo and Coolpad, is planning to launch two new smartphones in India. The smartphones will be available in two versions Qiku Terra 808 and Qiku Terra 810.

The Qiku Terra was launched in China couple of weeks back and the company sold 35,000 units within 8 seconds of the sale. The QiKu smartphones will feature a 6-inch display with a resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels. The QiKu Terra 810 will come with 4GB RAM and 64Gb internal storage while QiKu Terra 808 will come with memory option of 3GB RAM and 16GB storage.

The smartphones rock a 13-megapixel Sony camera with f/1.8 aperture and an 8-megapixel camera at the front. Both the phones will also come with a rear fingerprint scanner and huge 3,700mAh battery.

The QiKu smartphones will be loaded with 360 OS, a forked version of Android 5.1 Lollipop.

© The Indian Express Online Media Pvt Ltd

Source: QiKu plans to launch two new budget flagship smartphones in India very soon

Samsung BRITECELL Trademark Hints At a Larger 1/2” Camera Sensor for the Galaxy S7

Samsung has recently patented BRITECELL according to recent filings. The trademark filing doesn't really reveal any details about the sensor though, except that it is an 'image sensor for mobile phones'. The patent application was filed on October 30th, so this does suggest that the sensor could be used on the Galaxy S7 flagship smartphone next year.

Recently a report from China suggested the Samsung Galaxy S7 could be equipped with a 12 megapixel 1/2" type sensor, with a focus on image quality rather than resolution. A few days earlier, we even heard rumors suggesting that Samsung could utilize Sony's new IMX300 Exmor RS sensor on the Galaxy S7, along with its in-house developed 20 megapixel ISOCELL sensor. However, the evidence of a new BRITECELL sensor does add more credence to the 12MP rumors as a larger sensor would allow for superior low-light imaging performance, similar to the latest Google Nexus 5X and the Nexus 6P. At 1/2″, the sensor on the Galaxy S7 will be slightly larger than the custom Sony sensor used on the latest Nexus duo. Earlier this year, we also heard reports of LG going with a custom-made 1/2" type camera sensor for its next-gen G5 flagship smartphone next year.

Of course, there are also chances that the BRITECELL term could be utilized to market the 20MP sensor as well, as it features a RWB color pattern that is claimed to improve light sensitivity, giving it superior low-light performance compared to the previous-gen ISOCELL sensors from Samsung. Regardless of whatever sensor Samsung plans to market as BRITECELL, there is no doubt that the Galaxy S7 will be a pretty impressive cameraphone if this year's high-end Galaxy smartphones are any indication. The Galaxy S6, Galaxy S6 Edge, Galaxy Note 5, and the Galaxy S6 Edge+ all feature a very capable camera, among the best smartphone cameras that we have seen this year.

Yet another new report claims the Samsung Galaxy S7 could be priced lower than the Galaxy S6, mainly due to the fact that smartphone sales are slowing down, and Samsung cannot take any major risks with its next flagship smartphone. Analyst Pan Jiutang believes the Galaxy S7 could be priced around 10% lower than its predecessor, giving Samsung an edge over its main rival Apple whose smartphones are priced at a significant premium. Still, we suggest taking this information with a grain of salt as the information isn't confirmed, even though it may have come from a rather reliable source.

The Samsung Galaxy S7 is rumored to be announced in January next year, with sales expected to begin somewhere in the middle of February 2016. It is rumored to be powered by both the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 and Samsung's in-house developed Exynos 8890 M1 SoC. The smartphone is expected to feature a stronger magnesium alloy build, high-quality ESS DAC for audiophiles, and an upgraded camera.

Source: Samsung BRITECELL Trademark Hints At a Larger 1/2" Camera Sensor for the Galaxy S7

Indian Smartphone Shipments Grew 20% Annually, 4G Handsets Witness 2400% Growth: Report

4G is the flavour of 2015 – just a year back, only some flagship smartphones had 4G on them, however, today every third smartphone sold is a 4G LTE handset. According to counterpoint research report for 3Q 2015, 4G LTE smartphones witnessed a rise of whopping 2400 percent compared to last year.

Overall Smartphone growth also remained quite healthy with a growth rate of 20 percent annually and 12% sequentially in Q3 2015 (July-Sept). According to the report more than 1 in 3 mobile phones sold is a smartphone.

This is a great news for Indian smartphone market, especially because the report shows that market demand is back on track after declining for two consecutive quarters fueled by cheaper smartphones as more and more feature phone users quickly upgrade to smartphones for the first time.

Some Highlights

Make in India: One in Four mobile phones sold during the quarter was "Made in India".

4G LTE Handsets: One in Three smartphones shipped were LTE smartphone

Online Smartphone Sales: One in three smartphones sold were through online channels

Every third mobile phone sold was a smartphone in third quarter

Smartphone Market Share

While Samsung increased the market share in terms of overall mobile handset shipment, they witnessed fall in terms of smartphone shipments. They now command 23.2 percent market share compared to 24.5 percent in previous quarter.

On the other hand, Micromax further increased their market share from 16.7 percent to 17.7% percent.  Homegrown Smartphone brand Intex made handsome gains in market share in third quarter. Intex increased from 9.9 percent to 11.7 percent, whereas Lenovo went from 7.5 percent in 2Q 2015 to 9.8 in 3Q 2015.

Interestingly, for the first time Xiaomi market share declined sequentially in India since its debut. The report stated that their smartphone shipments declined by almost 46% due to fierce competition from Lenovo and Micromax's Yu brands especially in the higher volume sub-$100 segment.

For the first time, Lava (excluding Xolo) surpassed Microsoft and thereby capturing fourth spot in the overall handset market. Lava managed to increase its smartphone market share to 7% level with healthy demand for Lava IRIS series, especially the ATOM 2 and X1 selfie smartphone were among the bestselling models.

Among other brands, Lenovo made healthy gains in market share thanks to their Lenovo K3 Note Smartphone. The K3 Note was the best-selling smartphone in India during Q3 2015.

Apple's market share in India remained at 1% percent, however in terms of revenue share they now have almost 9% share depicting the prowess of Apple's brand equity and premiumness.

[Source]

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Source: Indian Smartphone Shipments Grew 20% Annually, 4G Handsets Witness 2400% Growth: Report

10 Best Flagship Smartphones for November 2015

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Source: 10 Best Flagship Smartphones for November 2015

This Apple iPhone 6s clone is selling for just £22

iPHONE lookalike goes on sale with a price 20 times cheaper than the real thing.

YOUTUBE

LOOKALIKE: The iPhone 6s clone features a 5-inch display

We're guessing Apple's design team won't be overjoyed with this.

This iPhone 6s clone is the latest export from China and from the outside it looks identical to Apple's flagship smartphone.

However, there is one very big difference between the two devices and that's the price.

Whilst Apple's iPhone 6s will set you back £539, its Chinese knockoff replica will only set you back around £22.

Price isn't the only difference between these phones, as the fake device also features a low resolution display, slow processor and meagre 4GB of storage.

And you won't be playing with 3D Touch, taking stunning photos or using Apple's iOS 9 as these features aren't included.

In fact the iPhone clone actually runs on a modified version of Google's Android.

There is one other big problem with this device as it's only on sale in China and a round trip to the Far East is likley to cost more than popping to your local Apple Store.

YOUTUBE

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE: The iPhone 6s replica features three colours

The US tech giant rencently announced record sales of its iPhone device with 48 million of them flying off shelves in just three months.

Apple has also revealed mammoth profits for the year with a quarterly revenue of $51.5 billion and quarterly net profit of $11.1 billion.

The firm's new Apple TV has also just gone on sale and its iPad Pro looks set to launch later this month.

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Source: This Apple iPhone 6s clone is selling for just £22

Apple To Collaborate With Samsung For iPhone 7 Release [REPORT]

Although it is still possibly a year away, Apple continues to make preparations for the release of the iPhone 7. And the latest reports from South Korea suggest that the consumer electronics giant will be collaborating with its great rival Samsung this time out.

IMAGE: CONCEPT iPhone 7 Samsung / Apple collaboration

Korea is, of course, Samsung's homeland, and the latest rumors out of this East Asian location suggest that the most obvious competitor for Apple at the head of the mobile marketplace has won an important contract. Samsung will be producing some of the screen orders for the Apple Watch smartwatch, and it could lead to a surprisingly future collaboration with the iPhone 7.

It seems that Apple will utilize similar screen technology in the iPhone 7 to that used previously in the Apple Watch. Followers of Apple will no doubt already know that the Apple Watch features an OLED display that has been critically acclaimed, even if its smartwatch has yet to reach the mass market that Apple is ultimately hoping for. OLED has also been widely utilized by Android smartphone makers, most notably Samsung itself.

With Samsung screen technology having been particularly commended in recent years, there have been rumors previously that Apple may consider shifting to OLED sooner rather than later, and this may now materialize with the release of the iPhone 7, expected for September 2016.

And according to ETNews, Samsung has already provided OLED display samples which may be utilized in the next generation iPhone. Apple reportedly wants to use OLED in order to increase specifications in the smartphone series that are currently being held back due to a variety of production bottlenecks.

OLED in iPhone 7

Sources close to Apple suggest that the corporation is yet to make a final decision on this technology, but it is suggested that the corporation will make this choice in November. Apple has more of a reputation for caution with regard to introducing new technology, and if the company is not certain about the potential of OLED and the feasibility of including it in the iPhone 7, it certainly won't be scared about holding it back until 2017.

This potential source of business will certainly be important to Samsung, but sources close to the Apple corporation state that Samsung is still competing with other display providers for Apple products. LG is already supplying OLED displays for the Apple Watch, and JDI is expected to strengthen its relationship with Apple for higher-end displays in the foreseeable future. This somewhat obscure company will continue to provide screens for the 2016 iPhone, with plans for the production of the device already being laid out internally at Apple.

So it seems increasingly unlikely that screen technology will be a major aspect of the iPhone 7. With this in mind, it is interesting to note the possible screen resolution of the Apple handset. The iPhone range has perhaps disappointed somewhat in this department in comparison to the Samsung Galaxy series, with the most recent phablet-sized iPhone 6s only capable of full HD.

Thus, considering that the Apple iPhone 7 is supposed to be a significant departure from previous devices, as indicated by the entirely new seventh generation number, a screen upgrade is somewhat overdue. In other areas of the smartphone marketplace, the debate has been more about whether 4K technology will come to fruition.

It seems unlikely that there will be a 4K iPhone 7, but Apple could upgrade the screen technology included in the device to quad HD, and produce a full HD smartphone version. This would be an attractive proposition for Apple's legions of loyal fans, and would push the iPhone 7 back in the right direction in terms of screen technology. It is just possible that an OLED 4K panel could be included, but considering the relatively meagre spec jumps that Apple has included in recent iPhone devices, this seems fairly unlikely.

Release date

Apple is likely to release the iPhone 7 in September 2016, and already some media outlets have mentioned a possible date for the device. September 7, 2016 has been mentioned in some quarters, and this would correlate with previous Apple iPhone device releases.

It is possible that there could be a price increase for the iPhone 7, though, after Apple froze the price of its flagship smartphone in the last two releases. This would seem to be particularly likely if Apple is going to include significant new physical elements in the handset, with analysts already expecting a redesign of the iPhone concept with the iPhone 7, possibly allied to this OLED display.

Intel LTE modem chip

Another major rumor for the iPhone 7 is that it could incorporate an Intel LTE modem chip. This is a critical aspect of the smartphone, with the LTE chips responsible for transmitting wireless 4g data into the iPhone. These have previously been supplied by Qualcomm, with the 9X45 LTE chip used in all the current iPhones. But it is being suggested in some quarters that Intel could be utilized as a secondary supplier in order to help satisfy demand for smartphones.

Design

Aside from the fact that it is largely expected that Apple will completely reboot the design of the iPhone 7 for the next generation smartphone, waterproofing is being suggested in many quarters as a possible new innovation. This will not only make the iPhone 7 a more practical device for consumers, but possibly also offer some health-tracking functionality.

Rumors have originated from posts submitted on the Chinese site Weibo, with a non-metallic, dustproof chassis also linked with the next generation iPhone 7. This would help ensure that the iPhone 7 is a more obvious partner to the Apple Watch, as the consumer electronics giant attempts to improve the reputation of the smartwatch range with the second-generation release next year.

Series 7000 aluminum, sapphire glass and new colour choices have also been linked with the iPhone 7, as Apple prepares itself to significantly evolve its key product range.

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Source: Apple To Collaborate With Samsung For iPhone 7 Release [REPORT]