smartphones

• Apps & Updates
• Android
• Google
• Apps and Updates
• Google Play
• smartphones

Google drops minimum premium app and IAP price in 17 countries

Cam Bunton Nov 17 2015 - 9:31 am PT

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Google has announced today that — following a successful trial in India — it will allow developers in 17 more countries to charge a lower price for its premium apps and in-app purchases. This news comes a couple of weeks after the company raised the maximum price, now giving developers much more flexibility in what they can charge customers, and hopefully enabling them to reach more customers.

The full list of countries this reaches, and the minimum prices:

• Brazil: R$ 0.99 (was R$2.50)
• Chile: CLP $200.00 (was CLP $500.00)
• Colombia: COP$ 800.00 (was COP$ 2000.00)
• Hungary: Ft 125.00 (was Ft 225.00)
• Indonesia: Rp 3,000.00 (was Rp 12,000.00)
• Malaysia: RM 1.00 (was RM 3.50)
• Mexico: MXN$ 5.00 (was MXN$ 9.90)
• Philippines: ₱15.00 (was ₱43.00)
• Poland: zł1.79 (was zł2.99)
• Peru: S/. 0.99 (was S/. 3.00)
• Russia: руб 15.00 (was руб 2.00)
• Saudi Arabia:﷼ 0.99 (was 2.00﷼)
• South Africa: R3.99 (was R10.00)
• Thailand: ฿10.00 (was ฿32.00)
• Turkey: ₺0.59 (was ₺2.00)
• Ukraine: ₴5.00 (was ₴8.00)
• Vietnam: ₫6,000 (was ₫21,000.00)

If you’re a developer in one of these countries, you can lower the prices of your app by going to the Google Play Developer Console and clicking “Pricing and Distribution” or “In-app Products” for your apps.

• Android
• Samsung
• Samsung Galaxy Note 5
• smartphones
• videos

Samsung Galaxy Note 5 now ships with warning not to insert S-Pen the wrong way

Cam Bunton Nov 17 2015 - 7:58 am PT

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A recently published YouTube unboxing video reveals that Samsung has begun shipping its Galaxy Note 5 handsets with a warning label, telling users not to insert the proprietary stylus in the wrong way. It may seem like pointing out the obvious, but Sammy has very real reasons for warning users.

When the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 launched earlier this fall, it was discovered that the device didn’t like having the S-Pen stylus inserted in to its silo the incorrect way. It’s not a fault as such, since inserting it the wrong way is user error, but the fact that this error would break the smartphone wasn’t as forgivable.

Thanks to the S-Pen’s new clickable top — and the catches which hold the stylus in place when stowed — the top would catch on the inner ‘hooks’ and either get stuck, or break them. We detailed exactly what happens in an in-depth post back when the issue first came to light.

Samsung did halfheartedly address the issue in a statement back when the problem was at its most prominent, and did so by pointing people to the user guide which shows the correct insertion of the S-Pen. Clearly though, the issues haven’t stopped since then, and Sammy wants to make it as clear as possible to Note 5 buyers that the stylus only fits in one way.

• Android
• Android 6.0 Marshmallow
• OnePlus 2
• OnePlus One
• update

OnePlus 2 and OnePlus One will get Android 6.0 Marshmallow update in Q1 2016

Cam Bunton Nov 16 2015 - 4:59 am PT

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We’re all eager to discover when our smartphones of choice will finally receive the Android 6.0 Marshmallow update – and for OnePlus smartphone owners, it’ll mean waiting until the beginning of next year.

OnePlus announced on its forums this morning that it will be rolling out Marshmallow-based builds of Cyanogen OS for the OnePlus One and Oxygen OS for the OnePlus 2 at some point in Q1 2016.

With the OnePlus 2, the manufacturer will be switching its proprietary fingerprint sensor firmware out in favor of the standard Marshmallow ones when it rolls the Android 6.0-based software in early 2016.

The OnePlus 2 will also be updated in Q1, and the update will include the new standard Marshmallow API for the fingerprint sensor. We’ve heard requests for us creating an API for the current fingerprint implementation in OxygenOS, but have decided against this since we’re switching over to the standard Android M implementation soon.

Although the company has built a version of Oxygen OS for the OnePlus One, the company is rightly focussing on rolling out the officially-supported Cyanogen OS update first. As for the latest phone, the OnePlus X, there are plans to push Marshmallow ‘as soon as possible’, we don’t have any specific timeframe from the manufacturer.

• Android
• Samsung
• Samsung Galaxy S7
• smartphones
• AT&T

Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge allegedly already in testing at AT&T

Cam Bunton Nov 16 2015 - 2:55 am PT

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Over recent weeks and months we’ve read numerous reports regarding the Galaxy S7 and its dual-curve sibling. Most recently, the rumors have suggested the device will see an earlier-than-normal release, perhaps indicating that Samsung will unveil its next hot flagship before MWC in Barcelona. Some speculate we might even see an announcement as soon as January. A tweet from well-known leakster, Evan Blass, does nothing to discredit those rumors:

[tweet https://twitter.com/evleaks/status/665279918633295872 align=’center’]

Blass believes that with testing already happening at AT&T, we could see the phones land in the early part of Q1 2016. In other words: Between the beginning of January and mid-February. While the tweet alone doesn’t confirm anything, it certainly adds credibility to those previous launch timeframe rumors.

In recent years, Samsung has used MWC in Barcelona as the platform to announce the Galaxy S lineup. But it hasn’t always been that way. With MWC scheduled for 22-25 February in 2016, and big press events normally occurring before the conference officially kicks off, Samsung could once again use the Barcelona event to show off its next flagship phones. If it did, it would certainly (just about) fit in with Evan’s early-to-mid Q1 launch timeframe. Or Sammy could do what it did with the Galaxy Note 5 launch and decide to steal a march on a major conference by announcing its devices at a separate event beforehand.

It’s been reported in the past that Samsung will use Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 820 processor in the Galaxy S7 (at least in some markets). The powerful quad-core chips has just been officially outed by Qualcomm, and looks like it’ll be next year’s processor to beat. Saying that, it’ll be interesting to see how it compares performance-wise with Samsung’s own recently-announced Exynos 8890. If rumors are to be believed, the Snapdragon models will go for sale in China and the US, while the Exynos-equipped phones will be sold in Europe and other international markets.

• Android
• Samsung Galaxy Note 5
• Deals
• smartphones
• Samsung Galaxy

Deal: Unlocked Samsung Galaxy Note 5 available for $550

Cam Bunton Nov 13 2015 - 3:23 am PT

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The holiday shopping season is so close to kicking off, you can almost feel it. Those of you looking to snag a top flagship Android smartphone at a discounted price should look no further than the Samsung Galaxy Note 5. It’s undoubtedly one of this year’s best phones, and comes with a bunch of market-leading features and specifications. Up until now though, you could only get one by coughing up close to $800.

A retailer on eBay is currently offering the high-end phablet for just $550 with the option to spread payments over six months. The Samsung Galaxy Note 5 on sale from experienced seller, Breed, comes in brand new condition in the official Samsung retail packaging and is carrier unlocked. It has 32GB built-in storage and is compatible with AT&T and T-Mobile’s LTE network, with support for bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20 and 26.

As a reminder, the Note 5 packs in a Quad HD resolution 5.7-inch display, a fantastic 16MP camera on the back and 4GB RAM inside paired with a powerful octa-core Exynos processor. It’s powered by a 3,000mAh battery, and is compatible with fast-charging technologies through wireless and traditional plug-in charging methods.

If you want to take advantage of the deal, head on over to the eBay page and snag one, before the ‘limited quantity’ is depleted and none are left. At time of writing, more than 240 have been sold, and we don’t know how many are left.

• Android
• smartphones
• Xiaomi
• rumors
• Leaks

All-metal Xiaomi Redmi Note 2 Pro shows up at TENAA, complete with fingerprint sensor

Cam Bunton Nov 13 2015 - 2:16 am PT

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Back in August, Xiaomi launched the colorful plastic Redmi Note 2 phablet. The device featured a powerful 64-bit octa-core Helio X10 processor along with a full HD 5.5-inch screen, dual SIM support, 13MP Samsung camera and a huge 3,060mAh battery. On the specification side, the phone seems like a winner. Apparently, it just didn’t look like one. A leaked set of images from TENAA (China’s FCC equivalent) reveals the company is about to launch an almost all-metal version with a fingerprint sensor.

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• Apps & Updates
• Android
• smartphones
• apps
• Spotify

Spotify for Android now recommends local live concerts

Cam Bunton Nov 12 2015 - 7:50 am PT

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Spotify has updated its Android app to include local live concert discovery. The new feature, named Concerts, arrived on the popular streaming app this morning and uses similar technology to the Discover Weekly feature. It uses its knowledge of your favorite artists and listening habits to recommend live acts worth seeing nearby.

Our new Concerts feature lets you know when your favorite artists announce new concerts near you so you’ll never miss another show. And for artists, it’s easier than ever to get the word out to fans about new concerts. On your phone, simply open the Browse tab on Spotify and select Concerts to see a personalized list of what’s playing nearby.

If you’re travelling you can hit ‘change location’ and find concerts for the artists you enjoy all over the world. The Concerts feature uses Songkick’s services to gather information, and uses knowledge of your music listening patterns to determine the bands and singers you like, and those you might like to discover.

As with any location-based service, how great this is depends heavily on where you live. Sadly if, like me, you live in a remote city miles from anywhere, you’re likely just to be reminded that there are no concerts near you. Ever.

You can download the update app from the Play Store now.

• Android
• Motorola
• smartphones
• Lenovo
• earnings

Lenovo suffers Q2 loss, no thanks to smartphone sales and Motorola acquisition

Cam Bunton Nov 12 2015 - 5:50 am PT

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Despite a 16% year-on-year growth of revenue to $12.2 billion, Lenovo has just announced its first quarterly loss in six years. In its fiscal Q2 earnings results, the manufacturer blames both the competitive nature of the smartphone market and the restructure following its finalized Motorola acquisition for its losses.

Before tax, Lenovo lost around $324 million on unsold smartphone inventory and $599 million to “restructuring costs”.

The official HKFRS losses were driven by the realignment plans Lenovo disclosed during its Q1 results, including worldwide expense reduction actions across all businesses, the integration of the System x Business, the organization and brand alignment of Motorola and the Lenovo Mobile Business Group and clearance of smartphone inventory.

It’s not entirely bad news for Lenovo though. The addition of the Motorola brand has meant the company saw a year-on-year sales increase of 104% of in its Mobile Business Group. It sold $2.7 billion worth of smartphones, Android tablets and TVs. $1.4 billion of those were Motorola sales. Most of this growth is down to sales outside of China. Across the first two quarters of its financial year, 70 percent of its mobile products were purchased outside Chinese borders. This time last year, that figure was just 19 percent.

Unlike the rest of the tablet industry, Lenovo’s sales actually grew, selling 18.8 million units, up 11 percent from last year.

Despite making a loss last quarter, Lenovo is convinced that the mobile division will return to money making ways after the next couple of quarters. With the rise of competitive and affordable products from other brands, it’ll be a tough challenge. But, with the likes of the Moto G, Moto X and new DROIDs in its lineup, the company certainly has the hardware to compete. What’s more, it just opened its very first boutique retail store in Chicago to help boost high street presence.

• Android
• Samsung
• Samsung Galaxy Note 5
• smartphones
• T-Mobile

Gold Platinum Samsung Galaxy Note 5 now available at T-Mobile

Cam Bunton Nov 11 2015 - 7:39 am PT

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Along with its brand new Binge On unlimited video streaming, and double data Simple Choice plans, T-Mobile has also announced that the Galaxy Note 5 is now available in a fresh new coat of paint. T-Mo is now selling the Gold Platinum version of Samsung’s flagship phablet in both 32GB and 64GB flavors. Previously, T-Mobile only offered the black and white models.

[tweet https://twitter.com/askdes/status/664221347724132352 align=’center’]

You can order the Galaxy note 5 in gold on EIP with $0 down and 24 monthly finance payments of $29.17, or grab it with T-Mo’s JUMP! on Demand leasing program for as little as $15 per month as long as you trade in a phone. What’s more, if you use code NOTE5DEAL at checkout, you’ll get $50 off the full retail price. That’s $699 for the 32GB model and $779 for 64GB. Order direct from T-Mobile here.

It’s worth noting that if you want to save a little money on the Galaxy Note 5, you can pick up the black version on Amazon for just $633. What’s more, you’ll get it without T-Mobile’s preloaded bloatware and services.

• Android
• Samsung
• Samsung Galaxy Note 5
• Samsung Galaxy S6
• smartphones

Newest Samsung Gear VR now available to pre-order for $100

Cam Bunton Nov 10 2015 - 6:22 am PT

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Back at its event in August, when it launched the Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 Edge plus, Samsung also unveiled the first consumer-focussed Gear VR headset. The ‘Innovator Edition’ tag has been dropped, and you can now pre-order the latest version of the Samsung Gear VR from Best Buy for $99. It’s compatible with all the latest flagship Samsung Galaxy products including the Galaxy S6, S6 Edge, S6 Edge+ and Galaxy Note 5.

Samsung built the new Gear VR to be lighter and more comfortable to wear than its predecessor. It’s built with flexible padding, has an easy-to-use touchpad on the side, and ships with a 16GB microSD card loaded with 3D movie trailers and 360-degree videos to enjoy right out of the box.

Multiple companies are aiming to transform the way we view multimedia with virtual reality. Samsung partnered with Oculus to create an affordable, smartphone-powered headset, while Google developed the even more budget-friendly Cardboard. HTC went more high end with its Vive (which is yet to be released), and of course, there’s Oculus’ own-brand set among others. Even YouTube recently updated its Android app to enhance it with VR content and site-wide Cardboard compatibility.

In short, companies are seeing VR as the next step in multimedia and are betting big to make it happen. Whether or not the Gear VR becomes a lasting or memorable part of that move is yet to be seen.