Cam Bunton

Smartphone manufacturers are climbing over each other to take full advantage of the rapidly expanding market opportunities in India. Chief among them is Chinese smartphone manufacturer, Xiaomi, which has just announced its first smartphone assembled in India, for the Indian market only. The Redmi 2 Prime still predominantly uses parts from China, but is assembled in Sri City.

As for the device itself, the Redmi 2 Prime offers a considerable memory and storage upgrade on the regular Redmi 2 without costing a whole lot more. For just under 7,000 Rupees ($110 USD) you get a device packing 2GB RAM and 16GB storage, that’s double the memory and capacity of the Redmi 2 which costs just under 6,000 Rupees ($94 USD). Both devices make use of Qualcomm’s 64-bit Snapdragon 410 processor and host 4.7-inch IPS HD (1280×720) displays and an 8MP camera on the back. What’s more, they’re dual SIM and can cope with LTE speeds up to 150Mbps.

Xiaomi plans to bring more of its manufacturing process to India, eventually producing more of its components and packaging within Indian borders. Hugo Barra, Xiaomi’s chief stated “this is like the typical chicken and egg story. Unless there is any smartphone manufacturing happening in the country, you cannot expect to get components locally.” So this is very much just the first step in its journey to cracking the Indian market.

Indian consumers can purchase the new Redmi 2 Prime direct from mi.com from today.

Motorola confirms StageFright bug fix coming to 11 smartphone lines including new Moto X and Moto G

Cam Bunton Aug 10 2015 - 3:15 am PT

Motorola has joined several other Android OEMs in confirming that it will be rolling out a StageFright software fix for many of its popular smartphone lines. As you’d expect, this includes the newly announced Moto X and Moto G handsets as well as a number of older devices.

The new devices will be patched from launch, while others may be subject to the usual carrier approval and testing. Carrier partners will receive the software and start testing on August 10th. In all, there are 200 variants of software to be patched, tested and released. So it could take time for you to get your fix.

The list of devices includes:

Moto X Style (patched from launch)
Moto X Play (patched from launch)
Moto X (1st Gen, 2nd Gen)
Moto X Pro
Moto Maxx/Turbo
Moto G (1st Gen, 2nd Gen, 3rd Gen)
Moto G with 4G LTE (1st Gen, 2nd Gen)
Moto E (1st Gen, 2nd Gen)
Moto E with 4G LTE (2nd Gen)
DROID Turbo
DROID Ultra/Mini/Maxx

As I’m sure you’re now aware, it recently came to light that Android had a serious, gaping hole left in its coding. Dubbed ‘Android’s worst vulnerability in Mobile OS history‘ StageFright would essentially allow anyone with the ability and motive to include malware in any video MMS message. It could potentially affect your phone before you even open or see the message. To be safe, be sure to read our guide on how you can protect yourself against it until your software fix arrives.

Galaxy Note 5 leaked in clearest images yet, complete with retail packaging

Cam Bunton Aug 10 2015 - 2:21 am PT

Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy Note 5 has been leaked in full, showing the device from almost every angle, complete with packaging and compared alongside the iPhone 6 Plus to show its relative size. As you can probably tell from the images, the photos were snapped by a retail worker. A Samsung rep had been in to his store with the two unreleased phablets (Note 5 and S6 Edge+).

Upcoming Huawei device leaks ahead of purported September launch

Cam Bunton Aug 8 2015 - 9:33 am PT

With Samsung pulling out of IFA this year and opting for hosting its own event, you may be left wondering if there’s anything worth looking forward to at this year’s tech show in Berlin. Thankfully, it looks as though Huawei is preparing to show off one of its own new devices. Two leaks have shown up on Twitter today, one press render from Evan Blass and another picture of a pre-release device running AnTuTu benchmark tests from Steve Hemmerstoffer.

According to Evan Blass, better known as @evleaks, the device is going to be announced on September 2nd, at an event during IFA. Although he doesn’t know what the device’s name will be, he does state that it will feature ‘Force Touch’. If true, this will make it one of the first smartphones announced with a built in sensor to detect pressure on the touchscreen. Of course, Apple is expected to implement the technology in to its upcoming smartphones, but Cupertino isn’t likely to announce anything new until September 9.

Launching at IFA on 9/2. Features force touch. Branding currently unknown (D-series?). pic.twitter.com/5w2t7m7Nsx

— Evan Blass (@evleaks) August 8, 2015

Add that to the images of what is almost certainly a prototype, or pre-release test unit, and we start to get a clearer picture of the device. Looking at the information on screen from the benchmark tests suggests we’ll see a 1080p display, with an octa-core 64-bit processor. If you were to look at design alone, you might think this is perhaps the next generation Huawei Ascend Mate device. However, look closely and you’ll realize that can’t be the case.

You’ll also see that it has a 13MP camera and runs Android 5.1.1. But what’s really interesting to me is the claimed DPI count (better known as PPI or pixels per inch). The benchmark states that it has a pixel density of 480ppi. If so, using a pixel density calculator, it can’t possibly be a follow-up to the 6-inch Mate7. 1080×1920 over 6-inches is 367ppi. So this could perhaps be the mini version of Huawei’s Ascend Mate 7, with a screen measuring 4.6-inches diagonally. That’s not forgetting, the Mate 7 was only announced in March this year.

Of course, this is all just speculation for now. We’ll find out all about this device once it has been announced. It’ll be intriguing to see where in the market this supposed device will sit alongside the Huawei P8 and P8 Lite and if it’ll be restricted to just specific markets, or available globally. It’s unlikely that this is the long-rumored Huawei Nexus phone, if it is being announced at IFA.

Verizon to kill subsidies, launch simpler data plans from August 13

Cam Bunton Aug 7 2015 - 9:53 am PT

Verizon will launch brand new, simpler data plans and kill subsidies as expected from August 13. Today, the company introduced a set of plans which will require customers to pay for their smartphones in monthly installments, or buy them outright, instead of having the cost subsidized.

Lara Croft GO by Hitman creators Square Enix launching for Android on August 27

Cam Bunton Aug 7 2015 - 7:00 am PT

laracroftgo

Hitman creators, Square Enix are about to launch their next mobile title for Android. Lara Croft GO will hit the Google Play Store on August 27 and will feature similar gameplay to the popular Hitman GO title. The developers promise beautiful graphics and challenging stages:

Square Enix Montréal today announced that Lara Croft GO™, the follow-up to the hugely successful Hitman GO® mobile game, will release on mobile platforms Aug. 27. The turn-based puzzle game offers a never-before-seen take on the iconic franchise, featuring challenging levels, gorgeous visuals and a mesmerizing soundtrack.

If it’s anything like the Hitman GO title, the Tomb Raider inspired version is going to be frustratingly addictive and could be one of the surprise hits of the year. Hitman GO was incredibly well reviewed. Just browsing through the Play Store listing shows glowing reviews. And — for once — it’s not a freemium game. So let’s hope Lara Croft’s version sticks to that pricing model.

As well as announcing the impending arrival of Tomb Raider GO, Square Enix has joined with Crystal Dynamics to launch an art contest. Artists are being invited to submit their own original Lara Croft GO-inspired artwork between now and August 21. The top 10 entries will be selected by a panel of “experts” and will be showcased during a party at PAX Prime in Seattle on August 28, one day after the game lands on the Play Store. Of these 10 entries, three will be selected to go to auction, with the proceeds going to Child’s Play, a “game industry charity”.

If you want to submit artwork, simply email info@square-enix-montreal.com with the subject line ‘Lara Croft GO Art Contest Submission’, along with your name.

Roundup: 5 Best cases for LG G4 [Video]

Cam Bunton Aug 7 2015 - 6:00 am PT

The LG G4 has been around for a couple of months now, and since launch there’s been enough time for a handful of case-makers to get their wares to market. Although there might not be as many options as there are for Galaxy S or HTC One owners, there are still a good few cases on the market which I think you should consider. Unless you have a leather-backed G4, in which case, don’t bother. All the cases in this list came with a warning that they aren’t compatible with the leather back, or will probably ruin it over time…

Angry Birds 2 review: How Rovio wrecked a classic [Video]

Cam Bunton Aug 6 2015 - 9:42 am PT

Once upon a time there was a small Finnish game development company called Rovio. It wasn’t particularly famous, nowhere near the likes of EA Games, but then Angry Birds happened. The original title took the iOS App Store by storm before eventually landing on Android. Since those early days the brand has become one of the most recognizable brands in the world. There’s clothing, toys and even short animated shows as well as numerous movie tie-in games like Angry Birds Rio and Star Wars. What was once the popular darling of the App Store is now a digital behemoth.

Asus announces a slew of new phones, including ZenFone 2 Deluxe and 5,000mAh ZenFone Max

Cam Bunton Aug 6 2015 - 4:37 am PT

ZenFone Max and ZenFone 2 Deluxe

Asus has just announced the availability of a huge range of new ZenFone smartphones and ZenPad tablets at its ZenFestival event in New Delhi, India. Among them are the ZenFone Selfie, ZenFone 2 Deluxe, ZenFone 2 Laser and ZenFone Max. A couple of those were already demoed by the company at Computex in June, but now we know which market they’re heading to first: India.

Huawei Nexus prototype allegedly appears in sketchy leak

Cam Bunton Aug 6 2015 - 3:52 am PT

We’ve been hearing rumors for some time now that Google will partner with Huawei on its next flagship Nexus device. It may seem like a strange choice of manufacturer, but with its influence in China, Google sees a strong opportunity to piggy-back Huawei’s Chinese success and get its own services adopted there.

We’re supposedly expecting a device with a 5.7-inch QHD screen and Snapdragon 820 processor to be launched alongside a smaller LG-made device (refreshed Nexus 5 perhaps) sometime later this year. Today, a fresh leak has been published showing little detail, but what could be a prototype of the Huawei-made Pure Google device.

If you check out a few of the snapshot images originally taken from a blurry, unclear video, you’ll notice that the design is fairly similar to another Huawei smartphone. Although there are differences, you’ll see much of the design language is the same as the Huawei Ascend Mate 7:

The arrangement of the camera, fingerprint sensor and LED flash units is very similar in both. However, you’ll notice the camera on the supposed Nexus device is round, rather than square (matching the leaked LG Nexus cases). The LED flash is a long pill-shaped component rather than square, but the fingerprint sensor is much the same. Take a look at the original video leaked originally by Steve Hemmerstoffer:

Since the device isn’t powered on at all in the video, it’s hard to say with any certainty whether or not this really is the Nexus being leaked. Or even, if it’s a working prototype. For all we know, it could just be a tested physical dummy unit of a device Huawei is working on. Although, if it is genuine and this is the finished product, let me be the first to say that I’d love that all-black finish on a Nexus device. So dark, and stealthy.

BlackBerry puts its Android-related domains to use, launches ‘Android Secured hub’

Cam Bunton Aug 5 2015 - 11:51 am PT

The internet got more than a little excited about BlackBerry buying up a couple of Android-related domains a few weeks ago. Although they came at a time when rumors of an Android-powered BlackBerry smartphone were floating around, turns out they’re nothing to do with that. As was always the more likely scenario, BlackBerry has used these domains to show us how it keeps our Android phones secure through its BES12 enterprise management system.

In a blog post today, BlackBerry has announced Android Secured, a dedicated web space for keeping customers up to date on the management and security of Android phones. The new Android Secured hub can be found at www.manageandroid.com.

To that end we’ve recently launched the Android Secured hub for fresh news and updates on all things Android security and Android management. Check it out and be sure to visit again soon as we curate the top articles and stories that will keep you on the cutting edge.

From just skimming over it quickly, it appears to be a collation of various articles and videos from across the web which BlackBerry thinks is important to share with its enterprise customers. There is some BlackBerry-created content too, like an eBook on enterprise mobile security (for example). This is undoubtedly a push to reaffirm the company’s relevance in a market where so many people now want to bring their own phones to work. And where companies don’t necessarily want to fork out for an iPhone.

This doesn’t necessarily mean we won’t see a BlackBerry Android device. The manufacturer’s own chief, John Chen said the company might as long as they can make it secure. What’s more, there have been supposed leaks of a BlackBerry ‘Venice’ portrait-slider which may or may not be on its way.

Panasonic CM1: Possibly the best camera ever put on an Android phone [Camera Samples]

Cam Bunton Aug 5 2015 - 6:46 am PT

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Often when referring to your smartphone, it is said that “the best camera is the one you have with you”. In other words, the camera on your smartphone, in your pocket, is better than the DSLR you’ve got sat on a shelf at home. Despite the rise of quality lenses and sensors, using a smartphone still isn’t quite as good a ‘proper’ camera. There have always been compromises. At least, there have been until now.

Panasonic’s CM1 may be thicker than your average phone, but it’s easily pocketable, not too uncomfortable to hold and has an epic 20MP camera with 1-inch sensor, a 6-element Leica lens, manual controls and a maximum aperture of f/2.8. What does that mean for image quality?

HTC One M9 software update enables Wi-Fi calling for EE UK customers

Cam Bunton Aug 5 2015 - 2:49 am PT

If you’re an EE customer in the UK and have an HTC One M9, you might want to check your settings menu for software updates. The latest — launching today — brings Wi-Fi calling to your phone and enables you to make calls and send texts using a Wi-Fi network.

EE customers in the UK have been able to make use of Wi-Fi calling for the past couple of months, but only on a very select few handsets. Namely: iPhones and Samsung Galaxy S6 phones. Now the list of compatible handsets has grown. Today, HTC has announced that EE customers should receive a software update to enable on the feature on its flagship One M9.

WiFi calls are seamlessly integrated into general usage, and are therefore indistinguishable from regular calls from an HTC handset. WiFi Calling from EE and HTC uses the phone’s normal dialler and contacts book to make calls, and the normal text button to send text messages. Customers don’t need a stand-alone app, a unique HTC interface will automatically detect whether to use WiFi or cellular each time the HTC One M9 is used to make a call.

It’s an incredibly useful feature to have (as any T-Mobile US customer will tell you) particularly if you live in an area where cellular coverage can be a little unreliable. The update is available immediately.

OnePlus auctioning OnePlus 2 invites on eBay for charity

Cam Bunton Aug 5 2015 - 2:22 am PT

In a blog post this morning, OnePlus announced that it is auctioning off 100 OnePlus 2 invites on eBay with the proceeds going towards the UNICEF Tap Project. Fifty invites have already landed on OnePlus’ official eBay shop with the other fifty due to hit the store a little later.

All invites are for the 64GB Sandstone Black OnePlus 2 and the auctions work just like any regular eBay auction. Winning bidders will be sent the invites by email and once received, will be able to use those to immediately go and buy one the new OnePlus 2 handsets from the manufacturer’s store. All invites will be sent out on August 10th and unlike regular invites, winning bidders will have an entire month to purchase the phone. With the reservation list having already hit the 1 million mark, there will surely be a number of people clamoring to get an invite any way they can.

Part of this move was in order to combat the invites which would unofficially make their way to eBay. In the past, people have been selling their OnePlus invites online and pocketing the pure profit. With this strategy, OnePlus doesn’t just open up a more “official” way to buy invites, it’s also helping out an important cause.

UNICEF’s Tap Project was started to get clean, safe water to children in underprivileged areas and 100% of OnePlus’ eBay auction proceeds will go straight to the charity. If you’d like to, you can read more about the charity here. OnePlus Invite auctions on eBay last 5 days and — at time of writing — there are invites that have raised more than $500.

As promotional moves go, this is a hugely redeeming strategy from a company which has drawn so much negative attention over the past couple of years. Kudos, OnePlus.

Acer Chromebase Touch review: An affordable all-in-one touchscreen desktop PC [Video]

Cam Bunton Aug 4 2015 - 2:30 pm PT

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The rise of Chrome OS has been nothing short of fantastic. With so many of our daily computing needs being met with online services, having a laptop which “only runs a web browser” and a bunch of useful web apps isn’t such a bad idea anymore. You can save on costs massively, and still be able to do almost anything you need to do. Unless you need lots of storage for gaming or media, it’s hard to argue against buying a Chrome-based notebook.

But is the same true of a desktop? I’ve been using the Acer Chromebase Touch for the past week or so and, as much as there are frustrations, there are also things I really enjoyed.

Google brings Android One to Thailand with the i-mobile iQ II

Cam Bunton Aug 4 2015 - 11:30 am PT

Update: Google has now announced the expansion to India on its blog.

Google continues its roll-out of Android One devices in Asia today, with the launch of i-mobile’s iQ II in Thailand. This is the first Android One smartphone to be available in Thailand and costs 4,444 THB (roughly $126 USD).

The i-mobile iQ II has a 5-inch 1280 x 720 resolution display, an 8MP rear camera, 2,500mAh battery and 16GB internal storage with the option to expand up to 32GB. What’s more, it has dual-SIM support, 1GB RAM and a 2MP front facing camera.

As an Android One phone, the i-mobile iQ II combines hardware that’s been tested by Google with the latest version of Android (Lollipop 5.1.1). Android Lollipop offers Google’s new Material Design interface, up to 2x better performance, a battery saver feature, and smarter notifications.

For those unaware, the program is intended to create high quality, affordable smartphones for developing markets using readily available parts to keep cost down. Most recently, Google announced that a new generation of hardware, in the form of the Lava Pixel V1 is making its way to the original Android One market: India. Other countries have also recently been introduced to Android One, including Pakistan and Myanmar.

Customers in Thailand can buy the phone direct from i-mobilephone.com in black or white.

Possible Sony Xperia Z5 and Compact leak shows larger power button with built-in fingerprint sensor

Cam Bunton Aug 4 2015 - 8:01 am PT

Having just launched its latest super mid-range smartphones, Sony will turn its attention to the next flagship launch which is surely just around the corner. If a recent leak holds any truth, the next Xperia could jump on the fingerprint sensor bandwagon and incorporate the feature in to its side-mounted power button.

An image tweeted by Vizileaks shows what it claims to be the next generation Xperia Z and Z Compact separated by an iPhone 5s. For the sake of saving confusion, we’ll call them the Xperia Z5 and Z5 Compact for now.

What’s really interesting about these images is that they clearly show fingerprint recognition setup screens on the display. The closest device (Z5) shows the progress icon, which isn’t too dissimilar to those we’ve seen on other phones. Look at the furthest phone and you can see a tutorial screen clearly showing the user how to register the fingerprint; by placing their thumb on the power button.

This power button seems vastly different in design to previous Xperia phones. It’s a large, pill-shaped button rather than a tiny, fiddly round button like the one featured on the Z3.

[tweet https://twitter.com/vizileaks/status/628208495758852096 align=’center’]

Like previous iterations of Xperia, it would appear that the next pair will feature very similar form factors to every other Android-based Sony smartphone in recent history. Although unsurprising, that is a little disappointing.

Sony announced a new Xperia Z at IFA last year, and we wouldn’t be surprised if the company chose to refresh its lineup once again at the Berlin tech show. It would fit in with the manufacturer’s release schedule, although there’s no guarantee Sony will choose to do so this year.

OnePlus founder: Third phone will be out before the end of the year

Cam Bunton Aug 3 2015 - 5:02 am PT

In a quick, but far-reaching, interview with USA Today, Carl Pei (OnePlus co-founder) states that his company will have a second phone out this year, hopefully in time for Christmas. He didn’t give any clues as to what the phone may or may not feature, but he did say it’d be a tough choice between using the OnePlus 2 or this unreleased phone as his daily driver.

Sony launches Xperia C5 Ultra and Xperia M5 ‘super mid-range phones’

Cam Bunton Aug 3 2015 - 1:41 am PT

Just a few days after the press renders leaked, Sony has officially taken the wraps off its newest ‘super mid-range smartphones’. The Xperia C5 Ultra is a large phablet, while the M5 is a more traditional size and shape for a smartphone. Both are aiming to offer almost-flagship specs for a lower price, and will hit store shelves in select markets from the middle of August.

Purported Galaxy Note 5 specs leaked: Octa-core Exynos chip, 4GB RAM, more…

Cam Bunton Aug 1 2015 - 3:15 pm PT

Not long after he leaked the official press renders for the Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 Edge+, Evan Blass let us in on the next Samsung phablet’s likely specification list. The device code-named Samsung Noble, model SM-N920 will supposedly feature a 5.66-inch QHD display, 4GB RAM and an octa-core Exynos 7420 processor made up of two quad-core chips (2.1GHz plus 1.5GHz). Alongside those, it’s predicted Samsung will pack in a 16MP rear camera, a 5MP front camera and run it on Android 5.1.1.

Perhaps the least surprising specification, but most disappointing, is the purported lack of expandable memory. Like the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge launched earlier this year, Samsung is going to go with internal storage only and not offer Micro SD card support.

Rains->Pours. Samsung Noble (SM-N920/self-reported): Exynos 7420 SoC (4×2.1GHz+4×1.5GHz), 5.66″ 2560×1440, 4GB/32GB, 16MP/5MP, 5.1.1, no SD.

— Evan Blass (@evleaks) August 1, 2015

Samsung is expected to announced the Galaxy Note 5 and its curved sibling at a press event on August 13. Let’s hope we have at least a few surprises from the Korean tech giant when the next Unpacked event kicks off. Right now, we seem to have a pretty clear picture of the next devices coming our way.

Ultra-secure Turing Phone now available to reserve online

Cam Bunton Aug 1 2015 - 5:05 am PT

Right at the beginning of July, Turing Robotics announced a brand new phone which promised to be ultra-durable and ridiculously secure. Now, the phone is available to reserve online. There are three colors to choose from: Beowulf, Pharaoh and Cardinal. Those will be available in three storage options, the usual 16GB, 64GB and 128GB storage models will cost $610, $740 and $870 respectively.

Press renders of Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 Edge+ leaked

Cam Bunton Aug 1 2015 - 4:20 am PT

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Barely a week goes by when we don’t get another piece of the puzzle to add to the ever-clearer image of what Samsung’s going to announce in two weeks time. We’ve seen leaked schematics, unofficial 3D renders and photos as well as the usual rumors on release date and specifications. Now, what looks like an official press render has leaked out courtesy of Evan Blass on Twitter.

Samsung and MasterCard partner to bring Samsung Pay to Europe

Cam Bunton Jul 31 2015 - 2:54 am PT

Samsung Pay, the manufacturer’s contactless mobile payment service, is rolling out in Europe soon thanks to a partnership with MasterCard in the EU. Once the service launches officially, card issuers will be able to enroll in MasterCard’s Digital Enablement Services (MDES), and apply the capability to all kinds of MasterCard credit, debit, prepaid credit and small business cards.

What makes Samsung Pay a different to most mobile payment services is that it works with both Magstrip and NFC POS terminals, meaning you will be able to pay virtually anywhere that has a card machine.

Motorola DROID (2015) rear shell/chassis leaks, features wireless charging and Moto X-style design

Cam Bunton Jul 30 2015 - 12:47 pm PT

At its event just a couple of days ago, Motorola took the wraps of three new phones: Moto X Style (or Pure Edition), Moto X Play and the all-new Moto G. But if recent rumors are worth their weight, we could see a new generation of the DROID family make an appearance too. Recent leaks show a design similar to the Nexus 6/Moto X, but with little accents and features that show it to be at least a little unique.