Samsung Unveils Galaxy Fame Lite, Trend and Core LaFleur Editions

South Korean mobile phone maker Samsung has been long rumored to plan the launch of LaFleur editions of many of its smartphones, and it appears that the company has decided to officially unveil these handsets in Russia. Starting today, users in this country can head over to the company’s website to have a closer look at LaFleur editions of Galaxy Fame Lite, Galaxy Trend and Galaxy Core smartphones, it seems. Previously, the company was confirmed to release similar versions of the Galaxy S4 and Galaxy S4 mini (both single- and dual-SIM variants) handsets, and they are listed online in Russia as well. All smartphones feature the same specs as their original models, but feature a redesigned outer case. Unfortunately, as SamMobile...

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Jolla Releases Software Update 1.0.3.8 for Its Sailfish OS Smartphone

Today, Jolla has announced a new software release for the owners of its Sailfish OS-based devices, namely version 1.0.3.8. Users should receive a notification on their devices as soon as the new OS version is available, but they will need a working Jolla account for that. However, those who have already purchased Jolla’s phone can also manually check on the availability of the new software version, by going to Settings > System Settings > About Product, pull down the pulley menu and select “Check for update.” The new release brings along a nice range of enhancements, including support for landscape mode for Browser, gestures and notifications, as well as pinch-to-zoom support in Camera viewfinder. The release notes for...

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Lenovo Won’t Change Motorola’s 2014 / 2015 Device Roadmap

Soon, Motorola will cease to be a Google company, and will become part of Lenovo, the Chinese vendor that confirmed earlier this week plans to purchase the handset maker. One of the main questions that emerged after the announcement was what would happen to the handsets that Motorola might have already had under development. Apparently, Lenovo won’t change the current device roadmap that Motorola has established for this year and the next, though things should be different starting with 2016 onwards. Little is known on what Motorola might have in store for its users in the coming months, but the good news is that Lenovo will allow it to launch the handsets it wants to. Hopefully, upgraded versions of Moto X and Moto G will hit...

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BBM for Gingerbread Leaked Available Ahead of Official Launch

BlackBerry has already confirmed plans to bring the BlackBerry Messenger to Android devices out there running under the Gingerbread version of the platform, and it seems that users can now get a taste of the application before its official release. The app will be officially pushed to the owners of Gingerbread phones and tablets starting with the next month, but a leaked build of the software is now up for grabs online, courtesy of N4BB. The BBM for Android beta APK aimed at said devices comes with a series of interface changes, with the top bar now being black (it is grey in the BBM for Android app already available for download). Moreover, the software features a “Find Friends on BBM” option, which has already been included in the...

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Lenovo Acquires Google's Motorola for $2.91 Billion (€2.13 Billion)

It looks like what started as a rumor earlier today proved to be 100% accurate, as Lenovo and Google have just announced they have reached an agreement for the acquisition of Motorola Mobility smartphone business. Google purchased Motorola Mobility back in 2011 for $12.5 billion (€9.15 billion) and the agreement it has reached today with Chinese company Lenovo mentions it will only get $2.91 billion (€2.13 billion) for the company. That means Google has decided to sell Motorola at a huge loss. Even though the Motorola Mobility's smartphone business shrank over the years due to layoffs and closing of operations in almost all countries except the United States and Canada, the selling price is still far from what Google originally paid...

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Samsung SM-G900L (Galaxy S5) Emerges in Korea with 5.1’’ 1080p Screen

Galaxy S5, the upcoming flagship smartphone from South Korean mobile phone maker Samsung, has been rumored to arrive on shelves in a variety of versions, and one of them seems to have just made an appearance in the company’s homeland country. Featuring model number SM-G900L, which falls in line with the various Galaxy S5 versions, the new handset was spotted over at South Korean wireless carrier LG U+. The phone appeared there with a 5.1-inch display capable of delivering a 1080 x 1920 pixels resolution, as well as with the Android 4.4 KitKat operating system loaded on top. Previous reports on Galaxy S5 suggested that Samsung would plan on launching it in two different versions, Prime and Standard, with the latter featuring a full...

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BlackBerry Confirms BBM for Android 2.3.3 Gingerbread Coming in February

It's no secret BlackBerry is trying to bring one of the most popular services is still providing, BlackBerry Messenger (BBM), to as many customers as possible. We reported about two weeks ago the Canadian company plans to launch a BBM client for devices powered by Android 2.3 Gingerbread. The first details on the upcoming release of BBM for Gingerbread devices leaked in mid-January, but BlackBerry had been mum on the subject until recently. Today, Jeff Gadway, head product and brand marketing for BBM, announced his company will be launching BBM for Android 2.3.3+ Gingerbread devices very soon. “We’ve got some exciting BBM news for Android Gingerbread users – you’ve been asking and we’ve heard you loud and clear. We’re now pleased...

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Samsung’s Tizen-Based SM-Z9005 to Arrive as ZEQ 9000

Samsung hasn’t announced a smartphone running under Tizen as of now, but rumor has it that it could make the move as soon as the next month, at the MWC show in Barcelona, and that the first such handset from the company might be called ZEQ 9000. The mobile phone has made it online before, and even leaked in a hands-on photo via @evleaks, but no specific info on Samsung’s plans for it has emerged until now. However, the device was spotted recently on the Korean site MovePlayer, where the the ZEQ 9000 branding is visible once again. The SM-Z9005 is also said to be the dual-SIM version of the smartphone, with the single-SIM variant expected to arrive on shelves with model number SM-Z9000 attached. The available image with the device...

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Samsung Confirms 2K AMOLED Smartphone Panels, Points at 4K Too

South Korean mobile phone maker Samsung Electronics has officially confirmed that it has a 2k smartphone screen in the works. According to daum, Samsung unveiled that it was working on an AMOLED QHD (2560 x 1440 pixels) screen during the Semiconductor and Display Technology Roadmap Seminar, but did not provide specific info on what devices might feature it. However, it appears that the company also said there that a smartphone packing an AMOLED UHD (3480 x 2160 pixels) display could also be launched in the not-too-distant future. One thing that is certain is that a 4k resolution on a 5-inch device could be a little over the top. After all, 2k smartphones have yet to arrive on shelves and prove themselves worthy of spending money...

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Leaked iPhone 6 Logic Board with A8 Processor [Video]

The next-generation A8 System on a Chip (SoC) is allegedly shown in a new YouTube video uploaded by MrVoolp. This is the third such leak from this user in under a week. Apparently, someone at Foxconn has access to a lot of iPhone 6 parts, as both the chassis and (now) the logic board have been videotaped and posted online for everyone to glance at. We can’t confirm the accuracy of MrVoolp’s claims, but the hardware does seem to pertain to an Apple handset, albeit a much larger one than what we’ve become accustomed to. There are no clear markings on any of the chips shown in the video, but the source says we’re looking at the all-new A8 processor that will power the iPhone 6. Hit the play button and see for yourselves. iPhone 6 Parts New Processor A8 Exclusive Video credits...

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BlackBerry OS 10.2.1 Officially Announced, Changelog Available

Earlier today, BlackBerry 10 users around the world started to see the BlackBerry OS 10.2.1 update emerging on their devices, and the full changelog for the release is now available. The Canadian mobile phone maker has confirmed the rollout, announcing that users will benefit from hundreds of enhancements as part of it, and that they will be able to do more after installing it, while also being more productive than before. The company has also noted that the new platform release is available starting today in the US, Europe, Canada, the Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific and Latin America. The new operating system flavor is still subject to carrier approvals, but it should not be too long before all owners of BlackBerry 10 devices,...

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HTC M8 Leaked Wallpaper Confirms 1080p Display

HTC M8 or One+ (Plus), or whatever its name will be, was rumored to pack a stunning 2K display, but according to the latest hearsay that will not be the case with this smartphone. We reported several days ago some benchmark results pointed to an 1080p display instead of the rumored 2K screen, and now we have more proof that HTC M8 will indeed feature the former. Courtesy to @evleaks, we now have access to the official wallpaper of the unannounced HTC M8. The wallpaper has 2160 x 1920 pixels, which suggests the smarpthone will sport a large display that will support 1920 x 1080 pixels resolution. You can find the full sized original wallpaper here. No other details have been confirmed either than the 1080p resolution of the display,...

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BBM Voice and BBM Channels for Android to Arrive in February

Canadian mobile phone maker BlackBerry is getting ready for the release of voice calling features for BlackBerry Messenger for Android devices, and appears set to make it available as soon as the next month. The feature is called BBM Voice, and will provide users with the possibility to enjoy free calling to other BBM users out there. iOS users will also receive the new functionality. At the same time, the company is aiming at allowing Android users to browse and create BBM Channels from their devices, an option that has long been confirmed to arrive on other platforms beside BlackBerry 10. According to The Times of India, Krishnadeep Baruah, senior director, channel marketing in Asia Pacific for Blackberry was the one to confirm...

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Samsung Galaxy TabPRO Line and Galaxy NotePRO Set to Arrive in the US February 14

Yesterday I brought you news saying one of Samsung’s latest Galaxy NotePRO tablet might be arriving in Europe, February 7. But apparently an unnamed Samsung source speaking to RootzWiki claimed customers in the US can expect to see the Samsung’s Galaxy TabPRO series and the Galaxy NotePRO go on sale on Valentine’s Day (February 14). The insider also mentioned that Samsung employees would not going to be allowed time off between the dates of 2/14 and 2/16, so indicating the tech giant expects to sell a lot of tablets in the first few days. Nothing was mentioned of pricing, but European rates were leaked a while ago in the press and they go as follows: Samsung Galaxy TabPRO 8.4, Wi-Fi: €389 ($389?) Samsung Galaxy TabPRO 8.4, LTE:...

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Tango PC, a Fanless, Pocketable and Upgradeable Computer System

There are mini PCs, there are micro PCs, and then there are things like the Tango PC, which look more like portable HDDs than anything else. Nonetheless, they are full-fledged systems, albeit not overly powerful ones. Then again, when the package measures 4.9 x 3.15 x 0.5 inches / 125 x 80 x 13.5 mm, there's hardly any room to complain. Especially when, despite the small package, you can still upgrade the storage and memory and still be able to carry it in a pocket, like you would a wallet. Obviously, the performance won't match that of laptops or desktops. The size demanded sacrifices after all, not the least of which was the CPU. Since it's a fanless computer, the chip needed to make do with a low TDP and, thus, a low performance...

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CyanongenMod 11 Android 4.4 KitKat Nightlies for Nook Tablet Available

Owners of the original Nook tablet interested in trying out the new Android 4.4. KitKat build, should know than the official Cyanogenmod 11.0 (Android 4.4) nightlies has been released for their device. The ROM is compatible with Nook Tablet 512M/8GB and 1GB/16GB. The device code name is “acclaim”. Before trying out this new ROM, you should have a CWM recovery. If you’re installing CWM coming from a stock device, you will need a special SD card. Updating to Android 4.4 KitKat will offer increased performance and reliability over stock Android for your Nook, but note you might stumble upon a few issues too. For example from time to time boot hangs/crashed and users will be forced to reboot. This is an ongoing problem and a fix is currently...

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HTC’s Unannounced Octa-Core Smartphone Leaks Online

Taiwanese mobile phone maker HTC Corporation is reportedly gearing up for the launch of an octa-core smartphone, and allegedly leaked images with it are now available for your viewing pleasure. According to info coming from ePrice, which also brought said images online, the smartphone will be launched as part of the company’s HTC Desire lineup, which means that it will be only a mid-range phone. Furthermore, the news site brought some of the hardware specs for the device to the light, suggesting that it will hit shelves with a 5-inch touchscreen display, capable of delivering a 720p resolution. On the back, the phone should sport an 8-megapixel camera, supposedly capable of full HD video recording. It is also said to pack 1.5GB...

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Samsung Galaxy S III Neo+ Goes Official in China

A new Samsung smartphone went official in China this week, in the form of Galaxy S III Neo+, which is now listed on the company’s website in the country with model number GT-I9300I attached to it. The smartphone comes with about the same specs and features as the original handset, but packs support for dual-SIM connectivity (3G + GSM), a 4.8-inch HD (720p) Super AMOLED display, and a 1.4GHz quad-core processor packed inside, as SammyHub notes. Moreover, the device comes with an 8-megapixel camera on the back, as well as with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, a 2100mAh battery, and a microSD memory card slot for expansion purposes. Moreover, the new Samsung Galaxy S III Neo+ arrives on shelves with the Android 4.3 Jelly Bean operating...

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Galaxy S5 to Pack Better One-Handed Operation Capabilities

South Korean mobile phone maker Samsung Electronics is reportedly planning on including better support for one-handed operations inside its Galaxy S5 smartphone, after being granted new patents for the functionality. The guys over at GalaxyClub.nl have discovered info on said patents on the Korean patent information website KIPRIS, which might be hinting at the user interface that Samsung plans on loading on top of Galaxy S5. The device might provide users with the possibility to select a corner of the screen they want to use for the function, with apps and notifications put at their fingertips there. The feature should prove great on a large screen, such as the 5.2-inch one expected on Galaxy S5. Additionally, Samsung has received...

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Carpad T68 MAX "Mini" Tablet Arrives with 6.95-Inch Screen and Octa-Core Processor

Chinese device makers are seemingly on a roller-coaster of unleashing octa-core devices that blur the line between smartphones and tablets. This is the case of the Carpad T69 MX, the flagship device of this unknown Chinese brand (via GSMInsider). This product has a wide 6.95-inch LTPS + OGS display with an impressive 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution, so it can be thought of a mini-tablet of sorts. Most 7-inchers coming out of China and India today sport calling capabilities, so it’s getting increasingly difficult to understand where the line between tablets and smartphones is drawn. The T59 MAX draws power from a MediaTek MT6592 octa-core processor clocked at 1.7GHz complete with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage. I also have...

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VTX3D Radeon R9 290X/ R9 290 X-Edition Debut

There never seems to be a surplus of factory-overclocked cards, so VTX3D has decided this would be as good a time as any to release a pair of new Radeon R9 series boards. So here they are, the VTX3D R9 290X/ R9 290 X-Edition, with 4 GB of GDDr5 VRAM (each), dual-fan coolers (black and red) and clocks GPU clocks 30 MHz above those of the reference adapters. Which is to say, the VTX3D R9 290X X-Edition operates at 1030 MHz and the memory at 1250 MHz, while the R9 290 X-Edition can manage 975 MHz GPU and 1250 MHz memory. The newcomers have Ferrite Core Choke and SVI2 power management, plus digital PWM and a Multi Phase Design. Sadly, the prices of the VTX3D Radeon R9 290X/ R9 290 X-Edition were not mentioned in the announcement. VTX3D...

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MSI Launches New FM2+ Gaming Motherboards for AMD APUs

For Micro-Star International, the word “gaming” isn't just a label it describes products under, it is an actual brand that has been strapped to the two newest motherboards to leave its laboratories. Said two motherboards are called A88X-G45 Gaming and A88X Gaming. The former is a Full-ATX model, while the latter is a micro-ATX motherboard. Since they possess the FM2+ socket, that means they're ready to welcome AMD's Kaveri APUs. Both newcomers have MSI Audio Boost technology, MSO USB Audio Power technology, MSI Real USB Power, Killer LAN networking and Military Class 4 Components (Hi-c Cap, Super Ferrite Choke and Solid CAPs). OC Genie 4 and Click BIOS 4 are included as well. That said, both mainboards have 4 DDR3 DIMM memory slots...

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Video Shows Sailfish OS on Google Nexus 4

Google phones have always proved to be great modding devices among enthusiasts, to load not only various custom Android versions on them, but other operating systems as well. A newly posted video, embedded below for your viewing pleasure, proves exactly that, as it shows a Nexus 4 smartphone running under Sailfish OS. The video shows the work of Lithuanian developer Simonas Leleiva, who managed to successfully port the new mobile operating system to the 2012 smartphone. What you’ll be seeing in the video below is the Recovery menu of the Nexus 4 being used to boot up into a clean install of Sailfish OS, as esphoneblog notes. The entire installation, boot up and setup process takes only a few minutes. The move was possible mainly due...

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Sony Xperia KitKat Boot Animation Now Available for Download

Yesterday, we had the chance to have a look at a video showing the leaked boot animation of Sony’s KitKat-powered Xperia devices, and the feature is now available for download. Users with rooted devices interested in taking it for a spin can now grab it from the Xperia.cz forum and install it, either via System > Media, or via Recovery. The downloadable file will simply replace the boot animation file in system > media, though it would also require for users to set the right permissions to enjoy it. As XperiaBlog notes, some users might consider the new animation as lacking the dynamic that the Jelly Bean one has to offer. As mentioned yesterday, users can also download and put on their smartphones wallpapers extracted from the Sony’s upcoming Xperia Sirius smartphone, for...

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Wi-Fi Only Sony Xperia Z Ultra “Tablet Edition” Real Photos and Manual Leak

Earlier today I brought you news about Sony’s official website seemingly confirming the existence of the Xperia Z Ultra Wi-Fi only model. Previously, the device has been spotted in the AnTuTu benchmark database, scoring a massive 35,073 points and most of its specs have been leaked too. The Xperia Z Ultra so-called “tablet edition” is expected to sport a Snapdragon 800 MSM8074 SoC processor, Adreno 330 GPU, a 6.4-inch screen, 2GB of RAM, 32GB of internal storage and an 8MP camera on the back. Now the device gets confirmed for real, as FCC has uploaded all the internal and external test photos for Xperia Z Ultra SPG412 Wi-Fi. On top of that, they have added a complete user manual for the new model. Popping for a visit at the FCC...

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Huawei Honor 3C 2GB to Arrive in China on January 24

Chinese mobile phone maker Huawei is expected to start selling the 2GB version of the Honor 3C smartphone in its homeland market starting with January 24, the latest reports on the matter suggest. According to GizChina, while the Honor 3C with 1GB of RAM has already managed to prove successful, the new version should attract even more users on its side. Starting with Friday, users in China will be able to buy the new model, which includes the same 1.3GHz MT6582 quad-core processor as the already available variant. The mobile phone will also sport a 13-megapixel camera on the back, along with a 5-inch display. It is powered by a 2300mAh battery, the same as the current model. Huawei Honor 3C 2GB is expected to become available in...

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Octa-Core Phablet iBerry Auxus Nuclea N2 Up for Pre-Order in India for Rs 19,990

We reported about a week ago that Indian OEM iBerry planned to introduce its first octa-core smartphone in India at some point this month. Well, it looks like the company has just kicked off pre-order for the Auxus Nuclea N2, which is set to go on sale on January 23. For the time being, the high-end smartphone is available for only Rs 19,990 ($325 / €240) off contract, but once the pre-order period ends, customers will be offered the Auxus Nuclea N2 for no less than Rs 23,990 ($390 / €285). The sequel to the iBerr Auxus Nuclea N1 comes with a powerful 1.7 GHz octa-core MediaTek MT6592 processor, which is complemented by a Mali 450-MP4 graphics processing unit and 2GB of DDR3 RAM. In addition, the high-end smartphone packs 16GB of...

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