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4.7-inch Alcatel OneTouch Idol 3 available in US and Canada from Friday

Months after its initial announcement at MWC in Barcelona, Alcatel OneTouch is finally making the smaller, 4.7-inch Idol 3 available to buy in the US and Canada. You will be able to order the device for $179 from the company’s online store or  Alcatel’s official Amazon store from Friday, August 14. In terms of design, the 4.7-inch model looks virtually identical to its bigger brother. But it does come with different specifications.

Instead of housing a full HD display panel, the smaller phone comes with a 1280×720 resolution screen. Thanks to its size, that still pushes it over the 300ppi mark. It has a 13MP rear camera, 5MP front camera and has a 2,000mAh battery to keep it going all day. What’s more, it’s powered by a Quad-core 1.2GHz processor paired with 1.5GB RAM and with 16GB of internal storage. Like the bigger model, you can expand the memory using a MicroSD card, but only up to an extra 32GB. Surprisingly, for a phone this small, it still manages to pack in a pair of stereo front facing speakers powered by JBL audio, just like the 5.5-inch model.

On the software side, it runs Android 5.0.2, what’s more, a security update to patch the Stagefright bug will be available to download OTA as soon as you power the device on.

Overall, it’s a promising device but it will be interesting to see how well it compares to Motorola’s latest Moto G. At the same price point, and similar-ish specs, these two devices are clear competitors.

Latest comScore data shows iOS continuing to gain on Android in US market

Research firm comScore today released its report on United States smartphone subscriber market share for the three month period ending in June. The report, released monthly, tracks the rankings of the top smartphone OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) and operating systems by consumer adoption. Month-to-month fluctuations in market share aren’t often major, but the data gives us more context around how the top players are doing as we eek towards the 2015 holiday season.


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9to5Toys Lunch Break: Bose SoundTrue On-Ear Headphones $90, Samsung Galaxy S6 (unlocked) $480, more

Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: TwitterRSS FeedFacebookGoogle+ and Safari push notifications.

Today’s can’t miss deals:

Bose SoundTrue On-Ear Headphones in black or white: $90 shipped (Reg. $120)

Samsung Galaxy S6 smartphone 32GB (unlocked): $480 shipped (Reg. $800) | eBay

Verizon Wireless Prepaid LG Optimus Exceed 2: $20 shipped (Reg. $70)

Refurb HTC One M9 32GB flash 4G LTE (unlocked): $380 shipped (Reg. $500+) | eBay

Samsung Galaxy Note 4 32GB (unlocked): $370 shipped (Reg. $700) | eBay

More new gear from today:

Games/Apps: LEGO Marvel Super Heroes from $14, Hunger Games goes free, Korg iOS sale, more

More deals still alive:

Canon’s refurbished T5 DSLR w/ 18-55mm lens kit is on sale for $252 shipped (Orig. $549)

 

Two Philips Hue connected light bulbs (multiple styles) for $100 shipped (~$120 value)

New products & more:

The CydeKick uses renewable energy to charge your iPhone while you ride

 

Could this Galaxy S6 Edge+ keyboard cover possibly be real? [Update: Yes]

Update: Yes, it’s real.

Evan Blass of evleaks has a pretty solid track record, and we’ve cited his leaks hundreds of times. This time, though, we can’t tell if what he has leaked is a joke or if it’s actually a real product on the way from Samsung. As you can see above, it looks like the Korean company might maybe possibly eventually release a keyboard cover for the yet-to-be-announced Galaxy S6 Edge+.

Knowing Samsung, this could very well be the real deal. And Evan hasn’t exactly been known to be a jokester when it comes to his leaks. He’s ended up wrong a couple of times, but I can’t remember many times that he has just posted a “leak” that was purely a practical joke. With that in mind, I have to say that this cover looks absolutely horrid — and useless.

A physical keyboard is something that many have desired since the move away from BlackBerry-esque devices, but I don’t know if this is the solution. I would much prefer that some companies — like BlackBerry, maybe? — make a smartphone that actually has a physical keyboard built-in. This hunk of plastic covering up half of your screen is surely be a nuisance and nothing more.

ASUS ZenFone 2E Review: Nothing unexpected from this ZenFone 2 turned GoPhone

I recently reviewed the ASUS ZenFone 2, and — like many others — had mostly great things to say about it. The phone has been a success for ASUS, a company which has previously had trouble getting any respect or recognition for any of its Android entries. That changed with the ZenFone 2 at CES 2015, when the company announced that the higher-end model, the one that I reviewed, would be shipping with 4 GB of RAM. In the real world, having 4 GB of RAM over the typical 3 GB doesn’t make much difference, but it was impressive nonetheless. Now, ASUS is taking a step back. They’ve taken the ZenFone 2 and gone the opposite direction, introducing an AT&T GoPhone variant of their flagship. And it’s pretty much exactly what you’d expect…


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Google and MIT have created an algorithm that brings amazing obstruction-free photography [Video]

When you’re taking a picture, it’s not rare for obstructions like fences and reflections to make the resulting image less than ideal. Given a few frames, though, shouldn’t it be possible to do some post-processing and eliminate these problems? That’s what Google and MIT have demonstrated in a paper entitled “A Computational Approach for Obstruction-Free Photography”. It’s fascinating stuff.

If you’re taking a picture in a window, it’s pretty common that a reflection of inside the room or car could obstruct what would otherwise be a really nice looking photo. And that’s what this algorithm seems to focus on most. The team demoes several examples of taking several frames, and actually separating the obstructing reflection, leaving a clear image of the background.

It seems to work well with photos taken through fences and other situations too, the end result providing an image of the background as well as a fairly accurate representation of what the obstruction looks like by itself. This could have plenty of applications for everyday smartphone photography, but perhaps for forensic research as well. You’ll just have to watch it for yourself. Hopefully, this tech isn’t far from being added to the Camera app.

Kantar: Samsung and LG account for 78% of US Android smartphone sales

Consumer insights and research firm Kantar Worldpanel has released its smartphone sales data for the second quarter of 2015, which runs from April through June, and it’s a bit of a mixed bag for Android. Growth in the United States and China, but declines in Europe. Android also saw market consolidation stateside during the three month period.

Let’s get the bad news out of the way. In the second quarter, Kantar says Android posted its “strongest year-on-year share drop in Germany” since the beginning of 2015. 81% of all smartphones sold in Germany during the same period last year were powered by Android, compared to 75% this year — other smartphone operating systems have seen gains in the country during the same period.


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

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.

Ultra-secure Turing Phone now available to reserve online

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.


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

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.


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YotaPhone 2 won’t be coming to North America, company refunding backers

Well, this is sad: despite a successful Indiegogo campaign which saw the company pass its funding goal in mere hours, Yota Devices just announced that the “two fronts” YotaPhone 2 with its secondary always-on ePaper display won’t be coming to North American shores. The Verge first reported on this news.
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Motorola DROID (2015) rear shell/chassis leaks, features wireless charging and Moto X-style design

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.


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3rd generation Moto G gets unboxed early, comes with 2 swappable back covers

Motorola has at least a few major announcements scheduled for tomorrow, but it looks like there aren’t going to be many surprises when it comes to the new Moto G. We’ve seen almost a dozen leaks already (including renders, more renders, real photos, more real photos, and even more real photos), but now we have what is essentially a full reveal. The packaging is in another language, but this unboxing is probably the clearest look we’ve had yet at what the company is going to be showing off tomorrow…
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T-Mobile pushes minor battery improvements to its Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge

 

T-Mobile has today released minor updates for the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge this morning, including some improvements for battery life. Both phones received Android 5.1.1 fairly recently, and now, the “Uncarrier” is releasing a couple of bug fixers. The S6 update notes battery improvements and “various bug fixes and device improvements” for the Galaxy S6, and the S6 Edge adds a “cocktailbar error fix”…
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Past meets future: LG’s new ‘Gentle’ flip-phone runs Android 5.1 Lollipop

This morning, LG announced a brand new Android flip phone to join its ranks. The LG Gentle, or LG U Plus, will be sold for 200,000 Korean Won (roughly $171 USD) to early adopters, and be available in both navy or burgundy.

The ‘Gentle’ is aptly named, and is designed to be both soft to the touch and comfortable to hold in your palm. Flip the phone open and there’s a large traditional physical keypad with bespoke buttons for functions like launching camera and messages, for example. Although you can use the directional pad to control the phone, the 3.2-inch 480×320 LCD display is touch sensitive too.

Specs include a modest 1.1GHz quad-core processor, 1,700mAh battery, 3MP rear camera, 1GB RAM and 4GB storage with the option to expand via MicroSD card. It runs Android 5.1 Lollipop and is equipped with USB 2.0, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity.

It’s not the first, and almost certainly won’t be the last Android-powered clamshell launched in Korea. They are seemingly very popular with the older generation who want the latest tech in a familiar form factor.

OnePlus 2 launch event VR viewing app now live on the Google Play Store

Update: OnePlus has also launched its invite page, where you can add your email address to the reservation list. Head on over to OnePlus’ site and read more about this year’s invite system.

OnePlus has been teasing us for weeks, or even months, about 2016’s “flagship killer”. The OnePlus Two is going to be announced at an event on Monday, July 27 from 7PM Pacific Time, and will be the first smartphone announcement to use Google Cardboard VR to enhance the experience. OnePlus has been sending out its own Cardboard units to fans and members of the press, and now the viewing app has finally hit the Google Play Store.


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Xiaomi partners with Uber to deliver smartphones “within minutes” to Singapore, Malaysia buyers

While Amazon is experimenting with shipping products by drone and offering two-hour deliveries, Xiaomi is taking a novel approach to delivering its own wares in Singapore and Malaysia. In partnership with Uber, the company will now let customers order their brand new Mi Note smartphone, and have it delivered within a few minutes.

Xiaomi’s chief, Hugo Barra announced the partnership on his Facebook page just a short while ago.

“Ordering a Mi Note follows the exact same process as calling for an Uber — you simply open the Uber app, use the slider at the bottom to select “Xiaomi” (which shows Xiaomi-orange colored Uber cars on the map equipped to deliver the new smartphone), and hit request. Payment will be charged directly to the credit card tied to your Uber account and a Mi Note will be delivered to you within a few minutes.”

It’s hard to think of anything more convenient than being able to place an order for a smartphone with a few taps of your finger, and have it land on your doorstep in the same hour.

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Four new budget Android devices now available from T-Mobile online & in-stores

Grand Prime

As previously announced, T-Mobile today is releasing a handful of new mid-range smartphones today. Hot on the heels of unveiling its new Advanced Messaging platform, the carrier also confirmed that five new Android devices are coming. Those devices are: the Samsung Galaxy Grand Prime, the Kyocera Hyrdro WAVE, the Alcatel Onetouch Pixi 7 tablet, the HTC Desire 626s, and the Samsung Galaxy Core Prime.


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Huawei smartphone shipments up 39% year-on-year, to 48.2M in first half of 2015

Huawei shared some of its financial results on Monday, showing a strong first half of 2015, and it has now shared one additional key piece of data: smartphone sales. Huawei told Reuters that it had shipped 48.2M smartphones globally in the first half of the year, up 39% year-on-year.

Our usual caution should be noted: shipments does not necessarily indicate sales. There’s no telling what percentage of those devices are sitting on warehouse shelves or in retail stores. But assuming there is some reasonable correlation between the two, it does lend weight to the earlier suggestion that the company is on-track for its target of 100M sales by the end of the year, as sales should increase significantly during the holiday season.

Huawei has had a rather troubled history in the U.S. thanks to unproven allegations of involvement in state-sponsored spying, exiting the country in 2013 (bar white-label products for other brands) before returning in 2014 with the Ascend Mate2.

OnePlus 2 revealed in TENAA images, shows physical “home” button and more

The OnePlus 2 looks to have been outed by the Chinese certification body, TENAA. These images appear to show front, back and side profiles of the next-generation OnePlus smartphone, which looks like it’ll include a physical home button similar to the Samsung Galaxy S6 – presumably where the built-in fingerprint sensor will be housed … 
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