New phones of the week

This week saw a few exciting launches and a couple of headscratchers. And, surprisingly, they all hail from the East even though there's a new BlackBerry. But we'll get to the new hardware strategy of the Canadians in a minute.

The Xiaomi Redmi Pro garnered the most attention. It boosts the status of the mid-range Redmi line with a 5.5" OLED display (1080p, naturally). And it has a high-end Helio X25 chipset, a chip several flagships use, along with 4GB of RAM and 128GB storage. The more affordable option uses Helio X20 (same chipset, lower clock speed) and 3GB/32GB memory.

It's the dual-camera that was the focus of pre-launch teasers, though. It promises DSLR-like bokeh effects from the 13MP main sensor and 5MP depth sensor. Prices start at CNY 1,500 ($225) and top out at CNY 2,000 ($300), available August 8 (only in China for now).

Xiaomi Redmi Pro

Then there's the Gionee M6, which rethinks security. It has a fingerprint reader, but also a dedicated security chip that boasts 10 layers of protection. The M6 is a fairly big device with its 5.5" screen and impressive 5,000mAh battery.

But the Gionee M6 Plus tops that with a 6" screen (1080p AMOLED) and a 6,020mAh battery! Both M6 versions can charge other devices, they have battery capacity to spare. Plenty of storage too, up to 128GB. They don't have a 3.5mm audio jack, though.

                  Gionee M6 • Gionee M6 Plus

The BlackBerry DTEK50 sounds like an electronic component you buy in bulk. And it kind of is, it's meant for a business to buy for all its employees. But that's not what is interesting about BlackBerry's new $300/€340 Android phone.

Technically, this isn't even a BlackBerry phone, instead it's a rebranded Alcatel Idol 4 with minor changes (like downclocking the chipset and removing the second SIM slot). It does have all of BB's software perks, though.

      BlackBerry DTEK50

Here's another oddball. The Sharp Basio 2 has hardware keys for calls and messages. No, not capacitive, proper pressable buttons. We haven't seen those for years! And they have built-in LEDs to notify you of new calls and messages! Plus, the phone has a sliding cover over the camera. We remember when Sony Ericsson used to make those.

Put this one in the cabinet of curiosities, it will probably never launch worldwide. But come on, admit it, you kind of miss hardware call buttons.

Sharp Basio 2 SHV36   via:http://www.gsmarena.com/

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Official Apple lightning EarPods allegedly caught on video

If you have been following the various rumors and developments regarding Apple's next iPhone lineup even loosely, then you surely know about the still ongoing 3.5mm jack debate. As sources pile up over time, we have to say that things are definitely gravitating towards a new iPhone without probably the most standard of standard jacks out there (seriously, go show your grandparents one, alongside a fancy USB Type-C connector, see which one they recognize).



Of course what this logically leads up to is the necessity for a whole new wave of lightning-based audio peripherals or at least a buildup of the already existing base, as probably even Apple wouldn't be daring enough to leave us with wireless audio alone. Continuing the same logical chain, Apple does still need to provide a standard way for users to consume audio from the sole digital output left available. That can be done in one of two ways - an active adapter from lightning to a 3.5mm jack, like the one we saw a couple of moths back or an active pair oh headphones, which we allegedly caught a glimpse of recently as well.

While both approaches are really nothing technologically new or challenging, the real question is which one of these solutions will Apple decide to officially bundle with the iPhone. A newly uncovered YouTube video might just tip the scale towards a full set of EarPods, as it does appear to show an official-looking pair already working with the iPhone 6s, media controls and everything. You can check the video out for yourself.

And just to gravitate back to the technological side of things, as misconceptions and outlandish ideas really seem inevitable given the current situation - digital audio is not something new, despite what any early USB Type-C tech adopters or Apple will eventually start suggesting. Lightning ports can already output digital audio, in fact that is how iPod docks work and the same goes for most mobile USB connectors, Type-C and older micro USB alike (some conditions do have to be met though). All this new transition boils down to is a fight over where your audio gets to be converted from digital to analog and then relayed to your years, as the latter don't really know how to turn one's and zeroes into sound waves.

There is a lot to be said about each approach to what is essentially the age-old task of digital to analog conversion. This is an important point to make and one that we have tried to lay out in detail in a recent editorial.Giving it a quick read-through definitely couldn't hurt before Apple likely unleashes a whole new wave of misunderstood and overpriced tech come September's iPhone announcements.

Source

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Xbox One package with extra controller, $50 gift card, and more for just $300

If you are in the US and in the market for a gaming console, here's a deal for you: Best Buy is offering a $299.99 package that includes the Xbox One Rise of the Tomb Raider Bundle, a Special Edition Covert Forces Wireless Controller, Insignia Battery Charging Station, free games, as well as a $50 gift card.

The package usually costs $534.95, meaning if you avail the deal, you'll save somewhere around $235. The retailer is offering both shipping and store pickup options. There's, however, no word on when the deal ends, so you may have to act fast.

Source | Via

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Android 7.0 Nougat could be release as soon as next month

If you have been keeping track of Google's work on the next major Android update, then you have surely noticed that the search giant is definitely pushing thing along a lot faster this time around. Instead of waiting for Google I/O 2016, the first developer preview builds of the OS came out on March 9, two moths or so earlier than expected. It was only after a quite popular crows-sourced naming campaign that Android 7.0 received its official Nougat desert title and that was held off quite a bit until July 1.

So it would appear Google is definitely on a new schedule this time around and the main goal seems to be to get the OS into developer's hands as soon as possible all the while perfecting and adding features on the go and dealing with PR. Now that the fifth and final Preview buildis out everybody is anxiously anticipating the official release. It only makes sense to keep to momentum going and a new report by Evan Blass (@evleaks) claims Google will do just that and stick to the initially promised time frame and deliver its build by the end of September.

 Follow

Evan Blass @evleaks

Android 7.0 releases next month, with the 8/5 security patch. Sorry Nexus 5 owners, no Nougat for you 

7:57 AM - 30 Jul 2016

 
•  406406 Retweets
 
•  466466 likes

This is definitely great news and also fits nicely with some third-party update schedules that we have been hearing about, as well as a reoccurring rumor that the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 will come out running Android Nougat on September 2. Naturally, however, Nexus users will be first in line for the new desert update and according to Evan Blass, Google intends to offer official support for every device that came out after the Nexus 5. That is bad news for owners of the three year old handset, but we can't really blame Google for moving on, plus the modding community is sure to hook it up with ROMs in no time.

As already mentioned, Android Nougat is still in active development and historically features from preview builds don't always make it in full and to the very last one in a final release. That being said, besides the Name and the somewhat odd cat-catching Easter egg game, we can't really provide a list of new features with any certainty. However, there are quite a few potential candidates to be excited about.

For instance, Nexus 6P beta testers got to play around with something called Sustained Performance Mode (SPM), which should allow app developers to inform the system of the resources a certain task will take up, as well as its duration and have Android manage to load better and save some battery in the process. Also, there have been signs of a new seamless OS update feature, effectively using a second partition for the process and then simply switching over to it once its done without the long wait. Also better multi-language support is anticipated and so are a few other less-popular changes, like the removal of the Dark Theme and Desktop shortcuts.

Source

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Apple's Lightning-to-3.5mm adapter for the iPhone 7 supposedly surfaces in Vietnam

Most rumors talking about the iPhone 7 have mentioned that this year Apple is ditching the 3.5 mm headset jack for good. So at this point, after hearing this information from dozens of different sources, we're pretty much convinced it will happen. But, you may wonder, what will Apple do to keep its fans' anger in check?

Well, apparently it all comes down to shipping a Lightning-to-3.5mm adapter in the box. When you buy one of the new iPhones, you also get the adapter. So if you have a pair of headphones that connect through that 3.5mm jack, you'll be able to continue using them.Such adapter cables have been seen before (at the end of May at Computex), but what you can see in the Vietnamese video below is purportedly the original thing - aka the Apple adapter itself.

Apple supplier Foxconn reportedly has a factory in Vietnam that makes cables and adapters, and as such it's already started working on the Lightning-to-3.5mm contraption for the next iPhones. Obviously the cable shown here could be fake, but it does look like something Apple would design. It is after all simple and white.

Interestingly, if you stick it into an iDevice running iOS 10 betas, it works without a worry. On the other hand, if you try to use it with an iPhone or iPad running iOS 9, you'll get an error message saying "This accessory is not supported by this device".

Thanks for the tip, Anh hiew!

Source (in Vietnamese)

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Samsung Galaxy On5 (2016) passes through FCC

The SM-G5700, which was spotted on Zauba late last month and is alleged to be the 2016 iteration of Samsung's Galaxy On5 (SM-G550) smartphone from last year, has been certified by the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC), suggesting that it could be launched sooner than later.

For those who aren't aware, the device has already been spotted on benchmarking website Geekbench, revealing some of its key specs, including Exynos 7570 chipset with quad-core 1.4GHz CPU, 2GB RAM, and Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow. The Zuaba listing for the device revealed a 5-inch display.

Via

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Microsoft only sold around 1.2 million Lumia phones in the April to June quarter

Although Microsoft hasn't revealed how many Lumia smartphones it sold in the second quarter of this year through its regular quarterly financial results, the company has an SEC filing out today that clears that up. In the document, Microsoft mentions that in its fiscal year 2016 (which started on July 1, 2015, and ended on June 30 this year), it sold 13.8 million Lumias in total.

The number for the April to June quarter of 2016 (Microsoft's fiscal Q4) is easy to calculate because we have official numbers for all the other three quarters - sales were 5.8 million in Q1, 4.5 million in Q2, and 2.3 million in Q3.

That means the company managed to nearly halve its Lumia sales from the January to March quarter to the April to June quarter. In this year's Q2 (its fiscal Q4) Microsoft only sold 1.2 million units. That's abysmal performance but really isn't surprising considering how Microsoft has been moving away from focusing on building smartphones lately. The trend is clear, with sales also nearly halving from its fiscal Q2 to fiscal Q3. At this rate in a few quarters Microsoft won't be selling any smartphones at all.

Source | Via

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AT&T announces Trek 2 HD tablet, available on August 5 for $0.99

Today AT&T has unveiled the successor for its first own-brand Trek HD tablet from last year. The new device is called AT&T Trek 2 HD, and like its predecessor it's an affordable tablet that runs Android.

The Trek 2 HD comes with an 8-inch "HD" touchscreen (resolution is probably 1,280x800), a 1.5 GHz octa-core Qualcomm processor, 16GB of expandable storage, a pair of 5 MP cameras (one on the front, one on the back), dual front-facing Dolby Audio speakers, a USB Type-C port, and a 4,600 mAh battery with quick charging support. It runs Android 6.0 Marshmallow and weighs 12.8 ounces.

The tablet will become available online and in AT&T stores on August 5 for $0.99 with a two-year contract. Alternatively, you can pick one up using the carrier's installment plan, in which case you pay $7.50 per month for 20 months - adding up to a full retail price of $150.

Source | Via

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Galaxy Note7 now rumored to be out in Europe on August 16

Samsung's Galaxy Note7 is almost here. Almost official, as its dedicated special launch event is taking place next Tuesday, on August 2. We pretty much know everything about it already, save for one thing - when exactly will you be able to buy one? Well, that actually might depend on where you live. A report from earlier this month said the Note7 would go on sale on the day of its announcement, however that may only be valid for South Korea.

In Europe, on the other hand, the release date could be August 16. At least it will be in the Netherlands, according to a new rumor out of that country. If this pans out, then it's pretty likely that many other EU countries will get the phone on the same day. Apparently only the silver and black colors will be available from day one, with gold and blue to follow later.

The Note7 will probably cost €849 in the Eurozone. It's going to have a 5.7-inch QHD Super AMOLED touchscreen with curved edges, a 12 MP Dual Pixel rear camera, a 5 MP selfie snapper, the Exynos 8893 chipset or the Snapdragon 821, 4GB of RAM, and a 3,500 mAh battery. Its dimensions will be 153.5 x 73.9 x 7.9 mm.

Source (in Dutch) | Via

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Sony Xperia XA Ultra is already $57 cheaper in the US, two days after launch

This has got to be some kind of a record. Sure, price cuts soon after launch are nothing new for Sony's X family smartphones in the US - after all, it only took around two weeks for us to see a $50 discount for the Xperia X, while the X Performance took four days to go from $700 to $579.99.

Yet the Xperia XA Ultra became available in the US two days ago. And now it's already being sold by Amazon for $57 less than before. The phone's recommended retail price is $369.99, but the mega retailer is selling the black version for $312.22. That's almost 16% off. In two days.

It goes without saying then that this is great for people who like the XA Ultra but didn't find its initial price in the States very enticing. Unfortunately there's no telling if Amazon's new price is a limited time offer or not, so if you feel this is a fair amount to pay for the Xperia XA Ultra, then perhaps you should buy one as soon as possible.

Via

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The iPhone 7 might feature a 3D touch home button

After a myriad of leaks and rumors, we are now fairly certain that the new iPhone lineup will be available in the middle of September. This shortness in time also tends to give the rest of the Apple rumor collection a certain air of plausibility as well. However, that logic seems to be failing quickly, with head-turning latecomers to the show, like the recent iPhone 6SE naming rumor or the shots of a trio of devices, instead of a duo.

Continuing the same trend of alleged surprises, a new rumor suggests the next iPhone will have a 3D touch home button. The idea is that it will work similar to recent MacBook touchpads. This means being able to distinguish between different levels of force and also providing a vibration or "haptic" feedback to the user, instead of actually pushing in a key.

It definitely sounds plausible, but there is a lot to be said about usability and reception, as the round, physical home button has become somewhat of a constant presence in the iPhone family.

In another rather intriguing development, the same source also hints at the possibility of a Black iPhone option this year. This, of course would be a welcome sight for many, especially those who remember the elegance of the Black iPhone 5s.

Source (in Japanese) | Via

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New Samsung Galaxy Note 7 mega leak: official renders, specs info and preliminary price

The Galaxy Note 7 is now practically hours away from its unveiling, as Samsung's Unpacked event is set for August 2nd. Among other things, that means a much-needed break from the endless stream of rumors and leaks. However, in what looks like a final burst @OnLeaks has shared a motherload of high-quality renders of the phablet.

Judging from past experience, these are almost certainly Samsung's official press renders, a theory we can only confirm once the Korean giant uploads them come Tuesday. They don't offer any extra information that we don't already know by now, but you can't really beat the level of high-resolution detail we have here. Not only do we get an all-round view, but also the black, silver and blue colors are all accounted for.

Also making an appearance is a render of the new Gear VR headset. If you missed it, the refreshed virtual reality accessory is to accommodate the Note 7, since it is already confirmed to use a USB Type-C connector. However, it will allegedly support older generations as well, including Galaxy S6, S7, Note 4, and Note5. Preliminary info hints at a price of $90, which sounds fair.

Speaking of money, the Galaxy Note 7 is said to cost about EUR 850 on launch. For that you get a 153.5mm x 73.9mm x 7.9 mm device, weighing in at 168 grams. Its hardware includes a 5.7-inch, QHD Super AMOLED display, 12MP camera on the back and a 5MP shooter on the front. For chipset variants, we currently believe there will be an Exynos 8893 version, clocked at 2.3GHz, as well as a Snapdragon 821 version - most probably for the US market. RAM will likely be 4GB as early prototypes show, although there is still the rumolr of a 6GB version floating around. And all that will be powered by a 3,500 mAh battery.

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Galaxy Note7 (SM-N930FD) receives certification in Russia

Samsung's upcoming Galaxy Note7 smartphone has been certified in Russia. The device that has received the certification carries a model number of SM-N930FD, meaning it's a dual SIM variant ('D' at the end).

This comes several weeks before the Note7 is scheduled to be unveiled, suggesting that the South Korean company plans to launch the device in Russia without any delay. This is based on the fact that the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge were certified in Russia a couple of weeks after they were made official.

The Galaxy Note7 has been the subject of a several rumors and leaks so far, with the latest one suggesting that the device will come with a few extra S Pen features, particularly within the Air Command interface.

Via

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Leak hints at new S Pen and Air Commands on the Samsung Galaxy Note7

If you haven't marked the date yet, then you definitely should. We are talking about August 2, of course, when the official unveiling of the Samsung Galaxy Note7 is currently believed to take place. Now that that is officially less than a month away, the hype is real and the rumor mill is crawling with speculations, wishful thinking and, thankfully, also the occasional plausible rumor.

According to iGyaan.in, who obtained an internal Samsung memo, the Samsung Galaxy Note7 will come with a few extra S Pen features, particularly within the Air Command interface. The word is that the Korean giant has baked in two new quick shortcuts, titled Dictionary and Speaking. The first likely refers to a handy translate feature, while the latter sounds like a text to speech engine of some kind.

iGyaan also speculates that the S Pen itself will get a redesign. If you recall a recent set of exclusive renders, we received, the design of the Note7 seems to necessitate some sort of push to eject mechanism for the stylus, just like on the Note5. However, considering the latter suffered form a known issue, allowing the S Pen to be jammed in backwards, we can only imagine that Samsung has re-engineered the accessory to some extent this time around.

Last, but not least, the source also claims that the iris scanner on the Note7 will be able to lock apps and other files as well as the device itself, much like the fingerprint reader currently does. The Snapdragon 823 chipset also gets another confirmation.

Source | Via

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New Cortana for iOS update brings ability to remember things

Microsoft has pushed out a new update to Cortana's iOS app that bumps it to version 1.9.0 and brings along a new feature that lets the voice-controlled virtual assistant to remember things for you.

"Ask Cortana to remember things for you, like where you parked, and she'll save it for you in your reminders," the change-log for the update says. Aside from this, the update also includes improved feedback input experience.

To download the updated app from the App Store, head to the

Source

link below.

Source | Via

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