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Dom Esposito

@macmixing

Contributor to NewGeekGuide and 9to5Mac.

Email: dom@9to5Mac.com | YouTube Channel: youtube.com/dom

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LG G3 announcement: Specifications, features, and release date

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LG has finally unveiled the upcoming G3. It’s possible that this will be the most leaked smartphone of 2014, but at least all of the specifications and features are official now. This device is definitely a big step up from the G2 and will be a strong contender against the Samsung Galaxy S5 and HTC One M8. So what can you expect from the LG G3? Take a look at the full overview below.


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Full Comparison: Moto E vs Moto G vs Moto X (4K video)

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Currently, Motorola seems to be the king of budget smartphones. With the launch of the Moto G ($179.99) and more recently the Moto E ($129.99), it seems like Motorola has a smartphone tier for just about anyone. Motorola’s Moto X has also dropped in price to $349.99 off contract and just barely graces the budget phone border.

The good news is, there are plenty of budget Motorola devices to choose from, but now you’ll have to make a decision. Which one is the best for you? Let’s find out in our Moto showdown.


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Samsung Galaxy S5 Active exclusive features shown off in new video

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Last year when Samsung unveiled the Galaxy S4 Active, some of its primary features included a rugged design and water resistance. With the impending announcement of the Galaxy S5 Active, what will Samsung bring to the table that’s beyond the standard Galaxy S5 which already carries an IP67 dust and water resistance certification? Sure, you’re not getting a redesigned body, but that’s nothing a tough case can’t fix.

In a new video published by TK Tech News, we get a first look at exactly what makes the Galaxy S5 Active so special. Nothing has been confirmed by Samsung, but the videos below showcase what is claimed to be the upcoming smartphone and also happen to be very convincing.


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LG G3 specs are unofficially official, here’s what you can expect

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According to a PhoneArena tipster, LG has just announced the specifications for its widely leaked G3 flagship set to be officially unveiled on May 27th. Apparently LG held a (not so) secret briefing at a Korean retailer to get everything in order before the big unveiling.

If all of these specs and features make it to every market’s G3, we can definitely expect a monster-status flagship from LG this year. Unfortunately, with all of the leaks surrounding this device, there’s really nothing new here.


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Rugged Samsung Galaxy S5 Active revealed in two new videos

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A couple of new videos published by TK Tech News fully reveal what is claimed to be Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy S5 Active. In the videos below, we’re presented with a somewhat rugged variation of the Galaxy S5, but with a new housing. There’s no way to tell if this device is the real deal, but the videos are pretty convincing.

The Galaxy S5 Active shown in the video carries the model number SM-G870A, which aligns with previous leaks from @evleaks over the past week. This device appears to be an AT&T variant and between both videos we get a decent first look at it.


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HTC announces the ‘beautifully compact’ One mini 2

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The HTC One mini 2 has officially been announced. This compact smartphone takes on a similar design when compared to the One (M8), but in a smaller form-factor. It’s definitely an upgrade over the previous One mini, but with its size comes downgraded specifications.

The HTC One mini 2 packs a quad-core 1.2 GHz Snapdragon 400 processor, 1GB of RAM, a 4.5-inch 720p display, 16GB of storage (with an expandable SD card slot), and a a 2,100mAh battery. You’re also getting the same 5-megapixel front-facing camera, a 13-megapixel rear shooter, and HTC’s famous BoomSound speakers.


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LG G3 makes unofficial debut in gorgeous leaked press shots

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LG’s unveiling of the G3 is right around the corner, but lately we’ve seen quit a bit of action surrounding this unannounced flagship device. Recently, LG released an official teaser video for the G3, but today we get something that’s a bit more revealing. Full gallery below.

Thanks to a PhoneArena tipster, the world gets a clear look at LG’s upcoming smartphone. In these leaked press shots, the rumored 5.5-inch 2560 x 1440 resolution display is front and center with slim side bezels and light LG branding along the bottom bezel. The device appears to be shown in three different brushed metal colors including gold, silver, and black. Let’s just hope this really is brushed metal and not plastic that’s designed to look fancy.


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LG posts official G3 teaser video, shows off sleek brushed metal design

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LG has just published a new teaser video for its upcoming G3 smartphone. The video doesn’t reveal much, but it definitely proves that most of the leaks we’ve seen recently were accurate.

According to this epic new video, the LG G3 looks incredibly thin and appears to have a brushed metal design (also leaked in gold), but we won’t know for sure until LG’s announcement. The video teases the G3’s optical image stabilization, referenced only by a moving camera sensor, and concludes with a tag line that reads, “Simple is the new smart” and the official announcement date of May 27th, 2014. Unfortunately, there’s not much else to see here, but the video does provide a look at the smartphone’s thin profile.


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Motorola announces budget friendly Moto E, adds LTE version to Moto G lineup (Video)

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Motorola has officially unveiled the Moto E. If you thought the Moto G was the company’s only budget smartphone, think again. The Moto E is redefining the industry with a launch price of only $129 in the US and £89 in the UK.

The Moto E may not be packed with the best specifications on the block, but it will certainly get the job done. Especially for the money. As far as specifications go, the Moto E has a 4.3-inch display covered by Gorilla Glass with a resolution of 960×540 (256ppi), 1.2Ghz dual-core Snapdragon processor, Adreno 302 GPU, 1GB of RAM, 4GB of internal storage, a 1,980mAh battery, and runs Android 4.4.2.


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HTC One M8 and Samsung Galaxy S5 compared to detailed Space Gray iPhone 6 mockup (Video)

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Based on all of the iPhone 6 dummy units we’ve seen, this rumored design closely resembles Apple’s fifth generation iPod touch, but that’s not all. As shown in the video below, the alleged iPhone 6 design looks very similar to another flagship smartphone released this year.

The HTC One M8 and iPhone 6 mockup look like cousins or long-lost brothers when it comes to their design. Of course there’s no confirmation that Apple is actually using this design for the iPhone 6, but almost all of these mockups have been manufactured based on “leaked” schematics and specifications.


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Google Play Music iPad app hidden inside iPhone version, public release likely soon

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We’re hearing that Google Play Music for iPad is getting close to release and a tipster has sent in a couple of videos showcasing what he/she claims is a pre-release of the new app. We’ve heard independently that Play Music for iPad was getting close to delivery and our tipster says this is a development build (see update below). The app will function similarly to the iPhone version, but redesigned for iPad.

We are still somewhat skeptical of the screenshots below, but the app’s functionality (shown in the videos) seems to be very similar to the iPhone version and it would make sense for Google to release it for iPad. Though we’re still unsure if the update will arrive as a universal build or if Google will have separate versions available in the App Store.


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Review: A month with the Samsung Galaxy S5 (Video)

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With the release of Samsung’s Galaxy S5, it was clear that the company had decided against reinventing the wheel. The Galaxy S line has been evolving for quite some time now, and more than ever, the smallest refinements make the biggest difference.

Over the past few weeks, I’ve had the chance to really put the Galaxy S5 through its paces. This flagship device may seem like a minor update from the outside, but as always, it’s important to not judge a book by its cover.


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HTC One (M8) Review: It’s almost perfect (Video)

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The HTC One (M8) has been one of the most anticipated smartphone releases in 2014. Following the success of the One (M7) wasn’t going to be an easy task, but somehow the company pulled it off. Well, almost. This is nearly one of the best smartphones for your money, but there are a few things that hold the HTC One (M8) just inches away from Android perfection.

With the M8, you’re getting an even better build quality than its predecessor. HTC claims that the One (M8) has a body constructed of 90 percent metal, which is a 20 percent boost over last year’s model. There is nothing about this device that feels cheap. It’s an epic win in the quality department. It may be a little slippery (and look like a stainless steel refrigerator), but overall I’m very happy with the build quality here.


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Budget accessory roundup: Five great cases for the Samsung Galaxy S5

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If you recently picked up a shiny new Galaxy S5, there’s a good chance you’re looking for a great case or two. Luckily, there’s already a wide variety of accessories available to cover up your device without turning it into a brick.

We’ll take a look at the best five cases for the Galaxy S5 that will provide protection and/or style and not break the bank. The cases mentioned here are order by curent pricing/availability, but this will vary from day to day, so check out the associated links for more information.


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Google Glass appears to be available to the public, get ’em while you can

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It looks like Google is allowing anyone to purchase Glass. Normally you’d need to receive an invite to happily spend $1,500 on this futuristic device, but according to a recent post on Reddit (via Engadget), Mount View’s popular wearable is available to anyone willing to pony up the dough.


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OnePlus unveils Android-powered One smartphone, a flagship-quality device that won’t break the bank

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OnePlus has officially unveiled its first flagship device. The OnePlus One carries flagship specifications, but you won’t have to break the bank to get it. The device will be available starting at $299 for the Silk White 16GB model, and $349 for the Sandstone Black 64GB model.

The OnePlus One packs a 5.5-inch LTPS IPS with TOL 1080p display, 2.5GHz quad-core Snapdragon 801 processor, 3GB of RAM, 3,100mAh battery, a 5MP front-facing camera, and a 13MP rear camera. The device has a magnesium frame, giving the device a total weight of 162 grams. OnePlus claims this is the “lightest 5.5-inch phone in the world.”


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Review: Cogito Pop smartwatch for Android (video)

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When you put the word “smart” in front of anything, most people tend to think that it’s going to be some kind of advanced product. Most smartwatches on the market have a display and offer a simplified (or detailed) look at information from your smartphone along with access to third-party apps and services.

CONNECTEDEVICE is the company that’s trying to put the “watch” back in smartwatch. What if your smartwatch was created with the primary purpose of showing the time? Well, that’s exactly what the Cogito Pop does. It offers style and functionality, but don’t expect anything fancy here. The Cogito Pop puts notifications on the back burner and that’s not necessarily a bad thing.


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Google may be working on a budget friendly $100 Nexus smartphone

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It would be surprising if Google didn’t unveil a new Nexus device before the end of the year. Currently, the Nexus 10 is still out of stock and Google’s Nexus 5 is beginning to show its age. If anything, we hope to see a Nexus 6 in the near future, but Google might be working on a frugal Nexus smartphone as well.

According to Chinese site MTKSJ.com (via GforGames), Google may be working with chip maker MediaTek on a budget Nexus device that could be priced as low as $100. This could really shake things up in the mobile market and would be a direct competitor to ex-Google company Motorola and its Moto G smartphone. The Nexus line is already known for its low-priced devices with high-end specifications, but a $100 Nexus device could definitely broaden Google’s mobile market share.


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Report: The man behind Samsung’s ‘The Next Big Thing’ is now an HTC employee

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According to a report from Bloomberg, HTC has recently hired Paul Golden. If you haven’t heard of Golden, you’re probably familiar with Samsung’s Galaxy brand that he helped create during his role as Chief Marketing Officer at Samsung.

Bloomberg mentions that “two people familiar with the matter” say that Golden was recently hired as a contractor for HTC. Golden is working as an adviser and reporting to HTC’s chairman Cher Wang. At the moment, there aren’t any long-term employment plans for Golden, but his three-month contractor position could definitely become beneficial for HTC.


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Full comparison: Samsung Gear 2 Neo vs Samsung Gear Fit (video)

newshotOut of the three smartwatches recently released by Samsung, the Gear 2 Neo and Gear Fit seem to be questioned the most. Both of these device are priced at $199 and offer similar features, but which one should you buy? Take a look at our full comparison video between these two wearables to find out.

If you’re looking into the Gear 2, you may be surprised to find that the extra $100 will only get you a camera and a slightly different (metal) build quality on the face of the watch. When compared to the Gear 2 Neo, everything else is identical. With that being said, the best options you should consider are the Gear Fit and Gear 2 Neo.


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