Cam Bunton

• Android
• Samsung Galaxy S7
• Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge
• smartphones
• Leaks

Galaxy S7 Edge specs allegedly leaked on AnTuTu Benchmark, suggest 12MP camera, 5.1-inch screen

Cam Bunton Jan 11 2016 - 3:46 am PT

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Recent rumors surrounding the upcoming Galaxy S7 have indicated that we’re expecting to see two different sized smartphones. Whether it’s going to be a 5.1-inch and 5.7-inch, or 5.2-inch and 5.5-inch screen (or combination of) depends on which rumors you’ve been reading. One seemingly constant rumor has been that the Galaxy S7’s dual-curve variant, the S7 Edge, will have a larger screen than the regular S7. Today’s leak suggests those rumors might be inaccurate.

A Weibo user published an AnTuTu Benchmark information screenshot for a device with model number SM-G935A. For those unaware, the upcoming Galaxy S7 allegedly has two model numbers: SM-G930 and SM-G935. The latter of those is the Edge variant. The ‘A’ at the end of this model could indicate that it’s an AT&T variant, or at least, a particular variation built for specific carriers/markets.

Looking at the specs above, the benchmark suggests the S7 Edge will indeed have a 5.1-inch screen, not 5.5″ or 5.7″. If true, this could mean Samsung is releasing two phones with the same sized-screens which makes a lot more sense than releasing a competitor to the S6 Edge Plus so soon after it landed. It could also mean that Samsung is releasing more than two variants of the S7. There has been vague speculation that the Korean tech giant will release 3-4 different models this year, but none of it has been even close to concrete.

Other claimed specs include the Snapdragon 820 processor, Quad HD resolution screen, 4GB RAM and 64GB storage. Perhaps most interesting, however, is the 12MP camera. It’s a significantly lower resolution camera sensor than the one found in the S6 and Note 5, which boasts 16 million pixels. That said, it’s widely expected that this 12MP sensor will use Samsung’s new BRITECELL technology which produces much better quality photos, in a sensor that’s much smaller. This would make more room for other components, like the larger battery. It would also mean the protruding camera housing on the back would be visibly smaller.

As with any leak, it’s worth noting that even those which look legitimate come with the caution that they might not be genuine. File this under ‘sketchy, but interesting’ for now.

• Android
• Google Play
• smartphones
• Lenovo
• Google Play Services

Lenovo chief: Google Play Services will be in China this year

Cam Bunton Jan 11 2016 - 2:31 am PT

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According to a report by Tech.Sina, Google will finally bring its services in to China. Lenovo chief, Chen Xudong claims Google is on track to bring its Play Services to the nation at some point in 2016, and that its desire to do so isn’t a secret. Google wants its services back in China, but has faced strong opposition from the government in the past, heavily restricting its presence there.

While Android has long been the dominant smartphone platform in China, Google’s presence there is still very limited. In fact, Google Play Services are practically non-existent. Before the Nexus 6P was built, it was rumored by a reliable publication that Google had chosen Huawei specifically because of its influence in China. With Huawei being a Chinese brand, and the biggest seller of smartphones in the country, its influence is huge. What’s more, Google also recently partnered with (and took a minor stake in) Mobvoi, one of the most widely-used and advanced Chinese AI and voice recognition companies.

Clearly, with Android being the most widely-used smartphone OS in China, Play Services aren’t required or critical to the platform’s success. Bringing Play Services in to China would mostly be an effort to help end fragmentation in a country where multiple app stores exist for Android.

No specific timeframe was given in terms of when we might see Google Play back in China. One can only assume getting the service approved takes multiple jumps over political hurdles and cutting through endless miles of red tape. We’ll keep you updated when/if there’s any more to share on the issue.

• Android
• Samsung
• smartphones
• tablets
• earnings

Samsung issues Q4 2015 guidance, profit up 15% year-on-year

Cam Bunton Jan 8 2016 - 2:50 am PT

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Samsung has issued its earnings guidance for the fourth quarter of 2015, and things look to be heading in the right direction, albeit slowly. Samsung estimates that its profit for the quarter reached 6.1 trillion Korean Won, or roughly $5.1 billion US Dollars. That was based on estimated sales worth 53.0 trillion Korean Won ($44B USD).

While other Android smartphone makers are struggling to make any progress financially, Samsung’s Q4 estimates (if accurate) will see them beat last year’s final quarter profits by 0.8 trillion Korean Won, or approximately $666 million USD. That’s an increase of 15% year-on-year.

If anything, it shows that Samsung’s 2015 focus on creating fewer, but higher quality handsets is working. A big part of that focus was moving away from the plastic flagships of the past to make solid, glass and metal handsets with market-leading specifications.

Rather unusually, however, Samsung did see a quarter-on-quarter drop from Q3 2015, in which it made 7.4 trillion Korean Won. Holiday sales are usually stronger than any other quarter for most tech companies, so Samsung may be a little worried to see the 18% drop from Q3 even if Q4 was an improvement on the same quarter in 2014. One explanation, of course, is that Samsung released its last high-end flagship smartphone right in the middle of Q3, while many other competitors waited until October/November.

As 2016 rolls in, the competitive landscape is only going to get tougher for Samsung. Companies like Huawei and Xiaomi are expected to renew their focus on markets where Samsung is normally very strong. And, if Huawei’s 2015 performance is anything to go by, Samsung should definitely be keeping an eye over its shoulder.

• Android
• Moto X
• Moto 360
• Motorola
• smartphones

Motorola offering $100 discount when you purchase new Moto X Pure and Moto 360 together

Cam Bunton Jan 7 2016 - 5:22 am PT

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Running up to the holidays, Motorola was offering some great discounts on its older Android and Android Wear products. Sadly, those same deals didn’t apply to the newer and rather fantastic Moto X Pure and Moto 360 from 2015. That changes this month, as the Lenovo-owned company begins offering money off for customers buying both products together.

Anyone buying the new Moto X Pure Edition (2015) and 2nd gen Moto 360 together will get $100 off at checkout. There’s no promo code to remember, just add the two products to your basket at Motorola.com in the US and the discount applies automatically. That means a package deal combining the two devices will cost you $599 for the base models, rather than the usual $699. Of course, adding extra storage to your phone or choosing a more premium material for the phone’s back or the Moto 360’s watch strap will cost extra.

This is the first time we’ve seen either of the new products with a significant discount anywhere in the US. The deal is available until January 12th, 10:59 Central Time.

• Android
• Samsung
• Samsung Galaxy S7
• smartphones
• Samsung Galaxy

Detailed Samsung Galaxy S7 renders published as Spigen cases land on Amazon

Cam Bunton Jan 7 2016 - 3:28 am PT

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With the Galaxy S7 expected to make its first official appearance next month at MWC in Barcelona, the number of leaks has increased, as has the quality of those leaks. We recently saw what claimed to be the schematics for the upcoming Android-powered flagships. More recently, some high quality renders were published by uSwitch, in collaboration with @OnLeaks.

As we’ve heard and read many times already, the S7 is unlikely to depart from the current design language of Samsung’s smartphones. It’s an all metal and glass affair, with a back which curves towards the edges a lot like the Galaxy Note 5. Not including the protruding camera, the phone is expected to measure 7.9mm thin, 142.5mm tall and 69.5mm wide. If accurate, the phone will be shorter, narrower, but slightly thicker than the Galaxy S6, more than likely to make space for the rumored bigger battery.

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDd8_NrkH7I]

As well as these detailed renders which claim to accurately show the dimensions and design of the next Samsung flagship, a number of cases have already turned up for sale on Amazon, including a bunch from well-known manufacturer, Spigen. Some — like the transparent Ultra Hybrid — are available to order now with an expected release date of April 1, 2016. Cases from other manufacturers claim to be available from as soon as next month.

With the phone(s) not being official yet, it’s unlikely any of the images with the case listings are accurate. In fact, most appear to be renders of the current crop of Galaxy smartphones. What’s more, there’s always a chance the manufacturers haven’t received accurate schematics yet. We expect that once the phones are official, manufacturers will update the images.

While we expect many of these rumors and leaks to be accurate, it’s always reading with a helping of caution. Nothing is official until Samsung confirms it.

• Android
• BlackBerry PRIV
• smartphones

BlackBerry expands PRIV availability to Netherlands, Italy and Spain

Cam Bunton Jan 6 2016 - 9:05 am PT

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Last year, BlackBerry launched its very first Android smartphone. It was perhaps a sign that the company thought it needed a more widely adopted platform to have a chance of survival, or perhaps just that Android was finally secure enough to consider making hardware for. Either way, the first Google-powered BlackBerry is here at last. But it hasn’t exactly been widely available. Only shoppers in Canada, Germany, the US and the UK could get hold of one. Until today.

As the new year rolls in, BlackBerry has announced that it’s expanding availability to new countries. Now, consumers in Italy, Spain and the Netherlands can all order the BlackBerry PRIV for the first time. ShopBlackBerry sites in those countries have now been updated to include the Android-powered portait-slider.

We’re yet to see how big an impact the PRIV has had on BlackBerry’s fortunes. Over the past few years, the manufacturer has struggle to maintain relevance in a market saturated by low-end and feature-rich smartphones. Granted, those who have always enjoyed the BlackBerry OS still purchased newer devices like the Classic and Passport, but regular consumers saw no reason to continue buying them when iPhones and cheap Android devices could seemingly do more, and had many more apps available.

We’ll get a clearer picture of the PRIV’s performance over the coming quarters. Early indications are that it’s sold enough, and pleased enough customers that BlackBerry is already considering launching another Android phone with a different form factor at some point this year.

• Android
• smartphones
• Xiaomi
• Xiaomi Mi 5
• Weibo

Snapdragon 820-equipped Xiaomi Mi 5 will launch after Chinese New Year

Cam Bunton Jan 6 2016 - 4:56 am PT

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Xiaomi’s co-founder and SVP Liwang Jiang has confirmed on Chinese social network, Weibo, that the company is ramping up production of the Xiaomi Mi 5 ahead of a launch sometime after Spring Festival/Chinese New Year. The device will ship with the brand new quad-core Snapdragon 820 processor.

From the loosely translated page, it seems Xiaomi‘s production of the next flagship is hitting peak levels now to ensure that there’s enough stock for when the smartphone is released next month.

We don’t know much else about the Chinese manufacturer’s next smartphone. There have been rumors, as there always are, suggesting we’ll see a device equipped with a QHD resolution 5.2-inch display, giving it a huge pixel density of 565ppi. It’s also rumored to feature a massive 3,600mAh battery with Quick-Charge 3.0 support, suggesting we won’t see USB Type-C. Cameras are allegedly going to be 16MP and 13MP on the rear and front respectively.

As with virtually all of Xiaomi’s products, the Mi 5 is likely to punch above its price point. Pricing is rumored to be around the $300-$400 range, putting it right at the top of Xiaomi’s product line.

Perhaps more interesting than all the claimed specifications is watching to see if this device launches officially in more international markets. With Huawei stealing its thunder in China, Xiaomi needs to hit back and has been rumored to be planning a US launch at some point soon. With the Snapdragon processor inside, the Mi 5 could end up being its first major international handsets. Of course, that’s just speculation and wishful thinking. But it would be great to finally see the brand officially hit international store shelves.

• Samsung
• Google Chrome
• Chromebooks
• CES 2016
• Samsung Chromebook 3

Samsung introduces new, sleek 11.6-inch Chromebook 3

Cam Bunton Jan 6 2016 - 2:31 am PT

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Samsung has joined ASUS in offering a new ultra-portable Chromebook for the masses this year at CES 2016. While ASUS went with a ruggedized look, Samsung has gone with a more sleek appearance, while still promising a durable and long-lasting build.

The new Chromebook 3 weighs a little over 2.5 pounds and has a reinforced metal body and 180-degree hinge to ensure that it’s not easily broken. What’s more, its shape and grippy finish are designed to make it easy to carry, but difficult to drop accidentally.

“We’re seeing more and more people flocking to Chromebooks as families, students and other consumers seek out easy-to-use, highly portable and affordable laptops as resources for personal use, education and even work,” said Gary Riding, senior vice president, Mobile Computing at Samsung Electronics America. “Samsung recognized that demand when we launched the first-ever Chromebook in 2011. We’re continuing to keep up with evolving consumer needs with this new iteration, which offers even more convenient features that solve consumers’ pain points, like all day battery life and fast charging capabilities.”

Specifications are typical of the smaller, more affordable Chromebooks:

• 11.6-inch 1366 x 768 resolution anti-glare display
• Intel Celeron N3050 processor
• Intel HD GPU
• 2GB or 4GB RAM
• 16GB storage
• 802.11ac Wi-Fi with 2x MIMO tech
• Bluetooth 4.0
• 2 x 1.5W stereo speakers
• 720p built-in webcam
• USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 ports
• HDMI out
• 3.5mm jack
• MicroSD card slot
• 11 hour battery life (33Wh)

Although exact pricing and release date details haven’t been announced, Samsung intends to launch the new Chromebook 3 at some point in the next few months. Similarly specced Chromebooks normally cost between $200-$250, anything more than that would surely make Samsung’s latest laptop unappealing.

• Google Chrome
• Chromebooks
• Asus
• CES 2016
• Google Brillo

ASUS’ new Chromebook C202 is hard to break, easy to fix

Cam Bunton Jan 5 2016 - 8:46 am PT

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Over the past couple of years the Chromebook market has really taken off, particularly in education, where kids of all ages are being handed Chrome OS-powered laptops to complete work and research on. Part of the draw is that the platform gives users quick and painless access to commonly-used tools and programs in the cloud. The other part is that they are, mostly, very affordable.

Adding to the range of child-friendly Chromebooks already available is ASUS who, this morning, unveiled a brand new rugged notebook. The C202 has been designed specifically to withstand being dropped and to suffer the kinds of abuse kids often inflict on our gadgets. The entire device is wrapped in a durable rubber bumper, has a spill-proof keyboard and scratch-resistant shell.

As well as having an impact-resistant outer shell, the Chromebook also has a hinge which can be rotated 180-degrees. So, even if a child is a little too enthusiastic in opening it up, the C202 will survive. And if it doesn’t, it happens to be very easy to fix.

ASUS kitted out the Chromebook C202 with a modular body held together by regular screws. Its design means you’ll be able to replace parts like the battery, keyboard and power socket without having to send it to someone who has all the right proprietary screwdrivers.

Spec-wise, there’s nothing eye-watering here, it’s a pretty basic low-end Chromebook. The 11.6-inch resolution display has a resolution of 1,366 x 768 and is powered by an Intel Celeron processor paired with either 2GB or 4GB of RAM, combined with the usual 16GB storage. ASUS states it has 10 hours of battery, which normally means you can expect between 6-9 hours depending on usage. It’s also equipped with an HDMI out port, SD card reader and two USB 3.0 ports.

Pricing for the 4GB model will be between $220 and $230 USD when it launches in February.

• Android
• smartphones
• tablets
• CES 2016
• alcatel onetouch

Alcatel OneTouch unveils new Pixi 4 smartphone and tablet range

Cam Bunton Jan 5 2016 - 6:35 am PT

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Alcatel OneTouch has built something of a name for itself at the affordable end of smartphone and tablet market. This morning at CES 2016, the company announced a brand new range of ultra low-end Pixi 4 phones and tablets, all powered by Android and a dual-core or quad-core processor, but each with a different-sized screen.

Alcatel OneTouch’s latest Pixi range will come with 3.5-inch, 4-inch, 6-inch and 7-inch models, with the last of those being far more like a small tablet than a smartphone.

Although they’re clearly entry-level products, the new Pixi range have been loaded with a number of features to make them attractive to first-time smartphone buyers, or those with lower budgets. The pre-installed Polaroid software lets users design their own collages from photos and add borders and text, while the front-facing flash on the 4-inch and 6-inch models means you can take selfies in the dark. What’s more, the Arkamys optimized speakers means audio shouldn’t be terrible.

You can find the full list of key specs for each model below. No specific release date or pricing has been mentioned for any of the devices.

Pixi 4 (3.5) Specs

• 3.5-inch HVGA display
• Dual-core 1.1GHz Cortex-A7 processor
• 512MB RAM
• 2MP rear camera
• 0.3MP front camera
• 4GB storage (expandable)
• Runs Android 5.1 Lollipop

Pixi 4 (4) Specs

• 4-inch WVGA display
• Quad-core 1.3GHz Cortex-A7 processor
• 512MB/1GB RAM
• 4GB/8GB storage (expandable)
• 2MP/5MP rear camera
• 0.3MP/2MP front camera
• Android 5.1 Lollipop

Pixi 4 (6) Specs

• 6-inch 720p IPS display
• Snapdragon 210 processor, quad-core 1.1GHz
• 1GB RAM
• 8GB storage (expandable)
• 8MP rear camera
• 5Mp front camera
• LTE connectivity
• 2,580mAh battery
• Android 5.1 Lollipop

Pixi 4 (7) Specs

• 7-inch 1024 x 600 resolution
• 1.1GHz quad-core Cortex-A7 processor
• 1GB RAM
• 8GB storage (expandable)
• 2,580mAh battery
• GSM/3G networks
• 2MP rear camera
• 0.3MP front camera
• Android 6.0 Marshmallow

• Wear OS
• MediaTek
• wearables
• Smartwatches

MediaTek announces new processor designed specifically for smartwatches

Cam Bunton Jan 5 2016 - 3:42 am PT

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Taiwanese processor manufacturer, MediaTek has announced that it will soon begin producing a brand new compact processor built specifically for smartwatches. The company claims that it’s the first system-in-package chip to offer GPS, dual-mode Bluetooth LE and a MIPI-supported high resolution display all in one unit.

Although exact power and specifications aren’t mentioned, MediaTek claims that its chip is 41 percent smaller than solution from its competitors and can also enable much longer battery life. The press release states that devices with the MediaTek MT2523 chip can last more than a week on a single charge. If true, this could be a game-changer. Manufacturers will be able to make smaller, slimmer watches that last more than just the standard two days on a full charge.

“The MT2523, with its combination low power and rich features, marks a significant step forward for the smart watch and wristband industries, said  JC Hsu, MediaTek’s corporate vice president and general manager of IoT business unit. “Power combined with efficiency has always been the hallmark of MediaTek technology solutions and we are leading the charge in bringing this know-how to IoT products.”

MediaTek’s MT2523 product family is based around a highly integrated system in package (SiP) that contains a micro controller unit (MCU), dual-mode Bluetooth, GPS and a power management unit (PMU). The MCU enables wearable devices with lower power consumption and smaller form factors than Android Wear. The display component supports MIPI-DSI and serial interfaces, resulting in a high-resolution mobile screen. It includes 2D capabilities of true color, per pixel alpha channel and anti-aliasing fonts, plus 1-bit index color to save memory and computing power.MT2523’s low power comes from its ARM® Cortex®-M4 processor, which combines high-efficiency signal processing functionality with low power, low cost and ease-of-use benefits.

The new SiP will be available to manufacturers at some point during the first half of this year.