Micromax Canvas A1 AQ4502 with 8GB internal memory launched

Micromax has quietly launched the Canvas A1 AQ4502, an upgraded version of the Canvas A1 AQ4501 Android One smartphone which was launched back in September last year.

Specs-wise, the device is powered by a Mediatek MT6582 SoC with quad-core 1.3 GHz processor, and sports a 4.5 inch FWVGA (854×480 pixels) IPS Display. It comes with 1GB RAM and 8GB internal memory (expandable up to 32GB via a microSD card), and packs in a 1,700 mAh battery.

In terms of camera, the handset features a 5MP rear unit and a 2MP front shooter. It offers support for Dual-SIM and runs Android 5.1 Lollipop. As for the price, the Canvas A1 AQ4502 is available for purchase from eBay for INR 6,039 ($95).

Source | Via

Samsung Galaxy S5 to get Android 5.0.2 update this month

The Android 5.0.2 update for the Samsung Galaxy S5 (SM-G900) will be rolling out early this month. The revelation was made by Australian carrier Optus on its website (see image below).

It's worth noting that the June time frame was mentioned by Optus while the update was being tested - the testing is complete now. The update is expected to bring bug fixes as well as performance improvements.

This comes just weeks after the South Korean company said that it would roll out micro-updates to its devices facing Lollipop update issues. It is, however, not yet known if and when other Samsung devices that have been updated to Lollipop will get the same update.

Source | Via

LG G4 Dual-SIM gets priced at $810 for India

LG is currently busy conducting the G4 trial program in several countries and expands the availability of the smartphone around the globe. For India, the company is planning to launch the G4 in June. A Mumbai-based mobile retailer spilled the beans about the LG G4 Dual SIM LG-D818N stating that the pre-order price will be INR 51,500 ($810/€735).

Pre-Book the #LG G4(Rs 51500/-) and get a chance to Receive the Phone from @SrBachchan himself http://t.co/T4oLA5DHRa http://pic.twitter.com/TdEwrNehmO

— Manish Khatri (@MAHESHTELECOM) May 31, 2015

As per the listing, you can book or buy the LG G4 Dual SIM model before June 15 to win an assured entry to the launch event and a chance to receive a phone from the Bollywood star Amitabh Bachchan. Actual stocks of the G4 dual-SIM would also be made available from tomorrow onwards.

Though the promotional image states that the launch might happen after June 15, the stocks to purchase or pre-order the G4 will start from June 1. Take a look at our LG G4 review if you are considering buying one.

HTC Desire 820G+, Desire 626G+ launched in Taiwan

HTC has introduced two dual SIM smartphones - Desire 820G+ and Desire 626G+ - in Taiwan. Both new smartphones pack similar hardware but have different screen sizes and a few other minor differences.

These new smartphones will be sold by HTC along with the local carriers in Taiwan. Both smartphones run HTC Sense UI 6.0 based on the Android 4.4.2 KitKat update.

Desire 826G+ features a 5.5” 720p HD display, MediaTek MT6592 chipset with 1.7GHz octa-core CPU, 1GB of RAM, 8GB of on-board storage, 8MP front camera, 13MP rear snapper, BoomSound support, and 2600mAh battery.

The Desire 626G+ packs a 5” 720p HD display powered with the same MediaTek MT6592 chipset tagging 1GB of RAM and 8GB of on-board storage. It has a 13MP rear camera and 5MP front camera. This device too packs a 2600 mAh battery.

HTC will sell the Desire 626G+ for TWD 4,990 ($162) and the Desire 826G+ for TWD 5,990 ($194). Source

Purported ZTE Nubia X8 images, details leaked

Following the launch of the Nubia Z9 earlier this month, ZTE is now busy working on the Nubia X8 successor. That become obvious, since the purported images and the details of the Nubia X8 were spotted on Weibo, the chinese micro-blogging website.

The Nubia X8 is said to feature a 6-inch massive display and sport a slim unibody design. Its rear resembles the HTC One Max design and one of the images shows a fingerprint sensor under the main camera lens.

As per the screenshot of Nubia X8 listing page, the smartphone will be 7.9mm thick. ZTE will pack the flagship with 4GB of RAM and offer it in 32GB and 64GB storage options.

However, the details that are reportedly spotted on the company’s website does carry a mockup/rendered Nubia X8 placeholder, so its unclear if they are the real deal.

Source (1), (2)

Gionee Elife E8 gets a video hands-on treatment

Gionee is expected to launch its next flagshipm Elife E8 in the second week of June. Meanwhile rumors about it are going strong. Recently, we also shared an exclusive live image of the Elife E8.

Now Elife E8 was spotted in a video hands-on, showing the design and confirming the hardware it will pack. The handset was running Google Now Launcher and not the native Amigo 3.0 UI. Even the settings app does resemble the AOSP version.

The Gionee Elife E8 is a 9.6mm thick E-series smartphone with 6” display with 1440x2560 pixel resolution. It has a MediaTek MT6795 SoC with 2GHz octa-core CPU and PowerVR G6200 GPU alongside 3GB of RAM. Sporting 32GB storage, the phone comes with a microSD card slot for further expansion. By default, it will run Android 5.0 Lollipop-based Amigo 3.0 UI.

The rear 23MP snapper can combine several shots and produce images up to 100MP resolution. The smartphone will also offer dual Tone LED flash, lossless zoom, and 4K video recording. Under this camera is a fingerprint sensor, while at the front is a 8MP camera to shoot wide angle selfies. Gionee has packed a 3250 mAh non-removable battery inside.

Via

Week 21 in review: Xperia Z3+, S6 edge Iron Man, Android M

This week saw a few major announcements and naturally drew the most attention. The clear winner was the Sony Xperia Z3+ launch, which is an incremental upgrade over last year's Z3. The hardware is mostly the same, a bit thinner (at the cost of some battery capacity), improved waterproofing removed the need for a flap over the USB port and allowed Sony to drop the charging pogo pins.

The biggest change on the Xperia Z3+ is the chipset, a Snapdragon 810 with a 64-bit octa-core processor and a beefier GPU. We're curious to see how it copes with the smaller battery.

An even smaller announcement garnered tons of attention, an Iron Man Limited Edition for the Galaxy S6 edge. It looks cool in red and yellow, but the best thing about it is the Arc reactor wireless charger.

The next major version of Android was unveiled this week, dubbed M. The biggest change is the addition of granular permissions, but there are a large number of minor improvements. USB Type C and fingerprint sensors are supported natively, Google also unveiled the latest iteration of its mobile payment system.

From then on it's pretty much all rumors. A Xiaomi Mi 5 rumor promised a 5.5" screen, probably with QHD resolution. It's expected that the company will snag the upcoming Snapdragon 820 chipset, perhaps utilizing its ultrasound fingerprint sensor.

Lumia fans are pining for a new flagship (it's been so long) and their hope is the Lumia 940. It's rumored to follow the small/big trend and launch as a 5.2" model and a 5.7" XL model. There are hints that it could use USB Type C, which can output video to a big screen, turning the phone into a desktop via Windows Continuum.

It seems that there are always rumors about the iPhone and this week was no different. It has been a very long time since the last major camera update (8MP/1080p has been used since the 4S), but the iPhone 6s may change that. So far the scuttlebutt is that it will use a 12MP camera with smaller pixels, but compensate with a RGBW sensor that will boost low-light performance.

Sony Xperia Z3+ quietly launched globally

A revamped Xperia Z3, the new smartphone comes with Snapdragon 810 and little surprises.

Samsung launches Galaxy S6 edge Iron Man Limited Edition

With red and gold colored Iron man styling, this limited edition S6 edge has custom Avengers theme.

Android M detailed: granular permissions, mobile payments

The payments are joined by official fingerprint sensor support. Apps have a better way of integrating the web.

Android M developer preview now out for Nexus 5, 6, and 9

The Nexus Player Android TV box also gets its own developer preview image, interestingly.

Android M detailed: The little things

New cut/copy/paste UI, app standby, direct share, improved volume controls, updated UI, and much more.

Xiaomi Mi 5 may pack a 5.5-inch screen, Snapdragon 820 chipset

The new chipset supports Sense ID, ultrasound fingerprint sensing tech, which could be supported.

Lumia 940 and XL to have 20MP camera, USB Type C connectors

The two will have recent Snapdragon chipsets - 808 for the 5.2" model and 810 for the 5.7" XL model.

iPhone 6s camera rumored to use a 12MP RGBW sensor from Sony

The addition of the white pixel is to improve low-light performance. The rumor denies a dual-camera setup.

Microsoft and Sony fall out of top 10 smartphone vendors in Q1

According to mobile analyst Tomi Ahonen, Samsung was the top vendor in the first quarter, followed by Apple.

Galaxy S6, S6 edge camera update, Android 5.1 due in June

Samsung will bring simpler UI for exposure control and shutter speed alongside support for RAW capture.

6-inch Micromax Canvas Doodle 4 launches in India

The latest in the Doodle series by Micromax is now official, complete with requisite huge screen.

The Top 10 trending phones of week 22

Another week later, our traditional trending chart sees little action at the top. However, a major launch took place a few days ago, and that inevitably had an impact on the ranks further down the table.

The Top 10 trending phones chart is a recap list of the devices that gathered the most hits throughout the week. In other words, the chart represents the interests of the majority of you, our visitors.

You guessed it, the Sony Xperia Z3+ is the big name that became official mid-week, and for the little time it had, it managed to enter the chart in seventh spot. Comparisons to older models brought in the Xperia Z2 too, even further up in fourth position. Why it isn't the Z3 instead, is a question that will remain unanswered.

The top positions remains occupied by the Samsung Galaxy S6, now even more closely followed by the Galaxy Grand Prime. The Asus Zenfone 2 ZE551ML is in third second week in a row.

The Xiaomi Mi 4i returns to the chart in ninth, after slipping off the Top 10 for a couple of weeks. The rest are all typical participants, who seem to constantly keep you interested.

The Apple iPhone 6 is rocking between 4th and 5th each week, and has settled in 5th spot this week, inching ahead of the Galaxy S5. A couple of other Samsung handsets, the Galaxy A5 and E7 complete this week's chart in 8th and 10th respectively.

Oh, and just in case you were wondering, the LG G4 is in a distant 27th position.

Samsung Galaxy S6

RANK: 1

WAS: 1

specs review

Samsung Galaxy Grand Prime

RANK: 2

WAS: 2

specs review

Asus Zenfone 2 ZE551ML

RANK: 3

WAS: 3

specs review

Sony Xperia Z2

RANK: 4

NEW IN

specs review

Apple iPhone 6

RANK: 5

WAS: 4

specs review

Samsung Galaxy S5

RANK: 6

WAS: 6

specs review

Sony Xperia Z3+

RANK: 7

NEW IN

specs review

Samsung Galaxy A5

RANK: 8

WAS: 5

specs review

Xiaomi Mi 4i

RANK: 9

NEW IN

specs gallery

Samsung Galaxy E7

RANK: 10

WAS: 9

specs review

Counterclockwise: superhero edition

Welcome back to Counterclockwise, the weekly trip down memory lane. This week we indulge in a conspiracy theory – Samsung is Marvell, Nokia is DC.

The Dark Knight uses Windows Phone

In 2012 Nokia was launching its first Windows Phone handsets and Batman quickly became a fan. The Nokia Lumia 900 "The Dark Knight Rises" limited edition was manufactured in a limited run of 900 units and distributed across the UK.

The phone featured the legendary bat logo on its back and came with the Dark Knight Rises app. The app offered wallpapers, ringtones and a Claim Gotham City challenge that worked as a Foursquare game.

Then there was the Lumia 800 Dark Knight Rises limited edition, which also came branded with the bat logo. The retail box featured a bat as well. Surprisingly this one was even more exclusive – only 40 units were made!

Nokia Lumia 800 Dark Knight Rises Limited Edition

Even the runt of the litter, the Lumia 710 got a Dark Knight Rises edition. This one went to T-Mobile in the US and was more widely available and affordable. It wasn’t as cool though, the logo was just painted on (instead of laser-engraved) and it was available in multiple colors. We just don't think yellow or pink work well for Batman.

Man of Steel, Windows of Phone

A couple of generations later Nokia continued to co-promote with DC properties, this time it was Superman. A Superman-branded limited edition of the Nokia Lumia 925 was in the works, though we're not 100% sure it actually launched.

Anyway, the phone had a cameo in the Man of Steel trailer and was invited to the premiere.

Iron Man's arc reactor powers the Galaxy S6 edge

A few days ago Samsung launched an Iron Man limited edition of the Galaxy S6 edge. The phone was painted red and yellow to match the millionaire Avenger, which looks beautiful, but the coolest feature is the Arc reactor wireless charger.

Samsung also gave away Avengers-themed cases for every Galaxy Note 4 bought in the US. This time the Hulk, Thor, Captain America, Hawkeye and the Black Widow were invited too.

Notes also have an odd feature called Penvatars, which got Marvell-ized too. It replaces the usual dot that follows the S Pen as you hover it above a Galaxy Note 4 or Note Edge screen with your favorite Avenger.

HTC tries to steal Captain America

Robert Downey Jr. is the star of some questionable HTC ads so you'd think that the company will try some Iron Man cross-promotion, but it seems that Samsung outbid the Taiwanese phone maker. HTC still managed to book Captain America and the HTC One was featured in The Winter Soldier.

Well, okay we don't know how that fits with our conspiracy theory, but there it is.

Meizu teases home button revolution for the m2 note

A lot of disconcerting info has been popping up on the upcoming Meizu m1 note successor, and consensus hadn't been reached even on the device's name. Some called it the Meizu m1 note 2, others Meizu note 2, but then a GFXBench entry listed it as m2 note. Well, apparently that last one is the real deal, as indicated by a post on Meizu's Facebook page.

In terms of hardware, we know nothing more than what the benchmark listing revealed, which is a 5.6-inch FullHD display, Mediatek MT6753 chipset with an octa-core processor and 2GB of RAM. A 12MP primary camera, capable of 4K video recording, was quoted, and it will be accompanied by a 5MP selfie snapper.

One other feature that was rumored to make its way to the new device was a fingerprint scanner, and meizu has neither confirmed nor denied that. And as if keen to fuel the rumors, the company's Indian branch has posted another teaser, promoting a Home button revolution. Whether that means simply a hardware button, or indeed added functionality, remains to be seen.

We understand Meizu's desire to build hype around the launch of the m2 note only a couple of days from now. The unveiling is scheduled to take place on June 2 in Beijing so stay tuned.

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Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 revealed in a case leak

The successors to Samsung's premium tablet family Galaxy Tab S, so far known as Galaxy Tab S2, have been regulars at the rumor mill for the past few months. By now we've gotten a look at their alleged specs, and most recently a press image surfaced revealing a Galaxy S6-like design.

Well, case manufacturers are again one step ahead, and a bumper back cover for the upcoming tablet has been spotted in wild. The silicone protector is for the larger 9.7-inch model, as there will also be an 8-inch offering. Much like the first generation, two sizes will be available, though in a newly adopted 4:3 aspect ratio.

Alleged Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 bumper case

A quick rundown of the specs points to a 1,536 x 2,048 pixel resolution on either diagonal, a Samsung-made Exynos chipset with an octa-core processor, 3GB of RAM and 32GB of built-in storage. The tablets will run Android 5.0.2 Lollipop upon launch which is expected to take place some time in June.

Source

HP to bring a couple of Android tablets to India

HP is apparently going to make a couple of tablets available on the Indian market some time soon, as indicated by a local retailer. The two devices have very different target groups but both run the outdated Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, though HP's website states a KitKat update is available.

The fist device is the HP Slate 7 Voicetab Ultra, and that name reveals a lot about the tablet. Bordering on the unacceptable, the 7-inch tablet could be used as a phone, albeit a very large one - it has an earpiece and all. Screen resolution is 1,200 x 1,900 pixels.

Computing power comes courtesy of a HiSilicon (read Huawei) chipset, and although it's not explicitly stated, the 1.6GHz quad-core processor and Mali-450 GPU point to the Kirin 910. 2GB of RAM and 16GB of storage are on board, and a microSD slot provides expansion options. A 13MP/5MP camera combo is there to take care of capturing memories, and battery capacity is 5,000mAh.

The other tablet is the HP Slate 8 Plus, which is a bit lower-specced. The 8-inch display comes with the rather low 800 x 1,200 pixel resolution, same chipset and storage, but only a single gig of RAM and a 5MP/1MP camera pair. The battery on the Slate 8Plus is rated at 4,800mAh.

Both devices come with a microSIM slot and support quad band 2G/3G and a host of LTE bands, as well as 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi and Bluuetooth v4.0, so connectivity should be a non-issue.

The retailer quotes prices at INR 29,990 ($470) and INR 22,990 ($360) for the Slate 7 Voicetab Ultra and Slate 8 Plus, respectively. The tablets are yet to appear on HP's Indian website though.

Source

T-Mobile Lumia 435 now available on Walmart for just $50

The T-Mobile variant of the Microsoft Lumia 435, which was unveiled back in January this year, is now available on Walmart for just $49.88. It's worth mentioning that the device is listed on Microsoft Store website for $70.

Specs-wise, the handset is powered by a Snapdragon 200 SoC with 1.2GHz dual-core processor, and sports a 4-inch WVGA screen. It comes with 1GB RAM and 8GB expandable internal storage, and packs in a 1,560mAh battery.

In terms of camera, the Lumia 435 features a 2MP rear unit and a VGA front shooter. It comes with Windows Phone 8.1 pre-installed, and offers HSPA+ connectivity (no LTE support).

Source | Via

Micromax Unite 2 starts getting Lollipop update

The Unite 2, which was announced by Micromax back in May last year, has started receiving the Lollipop update. Sized at around 413MB, the OTA update brings Android 5.0 to the entry-level handset. The build is dated April 24.

If you haven't received the update yet, you can manually check for it by heading to Settings -> About phone -> software update on your device.

This comes just days after Micromax officially launched the Unite 3 smartphone in India. The device runs Android 5.0 Lollipop out-of-the-box, and is priced at INR 6,999 ($110).

Source | Via