Smartphone

As Motorola’s July 28th event draws near, more and more leaked images and renders of the upcoming Motorola handset refreshes continue to hit the Internet. This time we’re getting a look at leaked images (via MobileSyrup) of what is assumably a 3rd gen Moto G display dummy unit, and there just so happens to be a sticker affixed that confirms some previously rumored specifications of the device…
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YU announces the Yureka Plus w/ full HD 5.5-inch display, Snapdragon 615 for $157

Stephen Hall Jul 20 2015 - 8:45 am PT

Almost all phone manufacturers seem to be launching “Plus” handset variants this year, and Micromax subsidiary YU isn’t an exception. The company first launched its YU Yureka handset late last year, and now, you can buy a “Plus” version of the device that packs a higher-resolution screen and some very minor spec improvements across the board…
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Motorola quietly introduces the 2nd gen Moto Hint w/ new design, better battery

Stephen Hall Jul 20 2015 - 7:21 am PT

Motorola has seemingly introduced a revised 2nd generation Moto Hint, bringing some moderate improvements to the Bluetooth headset that the company introduced last year. It’s similar enough to last year’s model that most won’t even notice that there’s any difference, but upon closer inspection, this seems to be a worthy upgrade…
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PSA: Microsoft’s ‘Hyperlapse Mobile’ is now out of beta

Stephen Hall Jul 17 2015 - 1:47 pm PT

We told you in May about a new app from Microsoft called “Hyperlapse Mobile” (not to be confused with Instagram’s Hyperlapse), but it was at the time only available to an exclusive set of beta testers. Now, the app is publicly available to any and all that might want to give it a try, and — aside from its horrendous icon — I’m decently impressed.

Not much has changed since it was first introduced, and it’s still a little on the buggy side according to reviews, but overall users — myself included, briefly — are satisfied with the app’s resulting video footage. You can import existing video into the app, choose between multiple speeds, create selfie hyperlapses, and more.

You can get Microsoft Hyperlapse Mobile right now on the Play Store for free.

Picture of a Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+ dummy unit leaks out

Stephen Hall Jul 17 2015 - 7:01 am PT

If you’ve been following the Samsung rumor mill, you know that the Korean company is getting ready to launch at least a couple of new phones later this year. The Galaxy Note 5 is definitely one of the more anticipated Samsung handsets of the year, but it seems pretty clear that the company wants to release at least one variant of the Galaxy S6 line as well. Now we have even more evidence of that, with a photo of a Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+ dummy unit…

The photo (via AllAboutSamsung) is not anything remarkable, but it is the first time we’ve seen the Galaxy S6 Edge+ branding in the flesh. Other than that though, as you might guess, the S6 Edge+ doesn’t look to be anything more than a big version of the S6 Edge. If recent rumors are correct, Samsung is going with an Exynos 7420 and 3 GB RAM. SamMobile claims that the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 and S6 Edge+ will be unveiled on August 12th.

2015 Moto G allegedly shown off in leaked real-life pics

Cam Bunton Jul 16 2015 - 3:05 am PT

Motorola is preparing to refresh its lineup of Android smartphones and will do so with the new Moto G, Moto X and a couple of Droids if recent rumors and leaks hold any weight. While we’re waiting for the official announcement, a handful of new images have shown up on a Facebook page clearly showing what appears to be the 2015 Moto G.

According to the leak, this is one of the pre-release final test models. The post claims the device features a Snapdragon 410 processor, 2GB RAM and runs Android 5.1.1 (as seen on the settings screen above).

Pictures of this prototype virtually confirm everything we suspected about the next mid-range smartphone from Motorola. Especially from an aesthetic perspective. It has the long pill-shaped housing for the camera and Motorola dimple on the back and a shape which is very similar to the current Moto lineup. The one thing this can’t confirm, however, are reports that Moto G will be available to customize on Moto Maker for the first time.

There is one important — and easily ignorable — piece of information on these leaks that throw them in to doubt somewhat. On the settings screen you’ll see SKU number XT1542. Do a quick Google search on this model number and you’ll discover articles and leaks of the upcoming Moto X, a phone which is expected to have a 5.2-inch QHD resolution screen. As shown off in an early leak at GSMArena. It’s a curious leak, to say the least. Previous leaks suggested that the Moto G would have SKU number Xt1543.

There are several explanations for this. One that comes to mind for me is the leak which I recently called ‘sketchy’, with the Moto X “Sport”. It’s lack of metal means it doesn’t really look like a Moto X. Perhaps this is the rumored ‘Sport’ model. Or, perhaps Motorola has disguised its appearance to look different to the finished article. Perhaps – even – this Moto G prototype just has the wrong SKU in its software somehow.

It’s all speculation for now, but this is probably our best look yet at an unreleased Motorola phone. I just wish we knew for sure which Moto it was.

OnePlus 2 will get a “new and improved” invite system with reservation list

Cam Bunton Jul 16 2015 - 1:10 am PT

OnePlus sparked conversation, controversy and frustration last year when its sought-after debut smartphone launched. Its invite system meant you could only get hold of a OnePlus One if you received an invitation to buy one. With the OnePlus 2 — due to be announced in 11 days — the company will still have an invite system in place, but promises that it is “new and improved”.

That ‘Commodore’ phone isn’t a Commodore at all — it’s the Orgtec WaPhone

Stephen Hall Jul 15 2015 - 10:51 am PT

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As discovered by a commenter over at Android Police, the “Commodore” handset that went viral yesterday — largely due to nostalgia — is actually the Orgtec WaPhone, a device that is completely and utterly boring and not notable at all. We knew that this was probably the case considering Commodore’s history, but it wasn’t until now that we found the exact phone that the “Commodore PET” is based off of. And by “based off of,” we mean “an exact replica of.”
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ZTE officially unveils the Axon Phone, its high-powered flagship competitor

Stephen Hall Jul 14 2015 - 2:12 pm PT

ZTE isn’t exactly known for premium smartphones, but now the Chinese company is taking a stab at delivering something that’s a bit on the higher-end. It doesn’t exactly set any records, but it’s definitely a decent piece of hardware — and its internals are about on par with that of this year’s Samsung, LG, and HTC headliners…
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Leak suggests that Motorola will be bringing the 2015 Moto G to Moto Maker

Stephen Hall Jul 14 2015 - 7:27 am PT

According to a tweet early this morning from evleaks, Motorola seemingly might be planning to bring the company’s upcoming 2015 Moto G handset to the famed Moto Maker phone customization tool.
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Waterfield Designs Gear Pouch review: Carry all your favorite gadgets and accessories in style

Cam Bunton Jul 11 2015 - 6:16 am PT

Despite the fact that smartphone and hardware manufacturers are pushing towards a wire-free utopia, we’re still no closer to ridding ourselves of pesky accessories, pens, earphones and other paraphernalia our smartphones seem to crave. Let’s face it, you don’t always want to carry around a huge backpack or messenger bag. And even when you do, you don’t want to have all your loose gear rattling around inside.

Waterfield Designs is a brand well known by bag aficionados, and one which has earned my attention and affection over the years. The Gear Pouch does nothing but make my appreciation for their wares stronger.

OnePlus 2 will be smaller than OnePlus One, have larger 3,300 mAh battery

Stephen Hall Jul 9 2015 - 10:19 am PT

OnePlus One with a OnePlus 2 underneath

OnePlus held an AMA on Reddit this morning, and actually used the opportunity to give us some more details about the upcoming handset. According to various OnePlus team members (who did indeed verify themselves), the phone will have a slightly larger 3,300 mAh battery (up from 3,100 mAh of the OnePlus One), while the physical size of the phone will actually be moderately smaller than that of its predecessor…
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Upcoming OnePlus 2 set to have 4 GB of LPDDR4 RAM

Stephen Hall Jul 7 2015 - 10:07 am PT

Continuing its obnoxious parade of announcing the OnePlus 2 specs one at a time, the “Never Settle” company has come out today to announce that the OnePlus 2 is going to have 4 GB of LPDDR4 RAM.
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Sony Mobile CEO: Cash flow is ‘very healthy,’ no plans to leave the smartphone business

Stephen Hall Jul 7 2015 - 8:49 am PT

Following news of intense mobile unit layoffs and more than underwhelming 2014 results, rumors began spreading that Sony Mobile had plans to essentially shutter its smartphone business. These were proven false for the time being when the company launched its Xperia Z4 handset (and the subsequent Xperia Z4v for Verizon stateside), but now Sony Mobile CEO Hiroki Totoki has come out (via Arabian Business) to further reiterate that it has no plans to leave the smartphone business…
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At long last, Android OEMs facing lawsuits against bloatware

Cam Bunton Jul 6 2015 - 5:39 am PT

At long last, action is being taken against bloatware on Android devices. Samsung and Oppo are facing lawsuits over their use of pre-installed apps. Both companies are being sued by the Shanghai Consumer Rights Protection Commission, as revealed in a report by the Shanghai Daily. In a study of 20 phones, multiple devices were found to have apps which were not only pre-installed but also unremovable.

Android One lands in Pakistan with QMobile A1

Cam Bunton Jul 6 2015 - 2:09 am PT

Android One has arrived in Pakistan at long last, and does so with the launch of the QMobile A1 smartphone. In a blog post this morning, Google announced that consumers will be able to snag one of these new handsets for just 11,500 PKR (around $110 USD) starting today.
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Image of forthcoming ‘Venice’ Android-based BlackBerry slider phone leaks out

Stephen Hall Jul 3 2015 - 7:18 am PT

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Evan came out last night to post an image of what looks to be a BlackBerry Passport running Android, and many were confused thinking it was the rumored slider phone coming to AT&T. Well, that picture was “just a Passport” according to Blass, and now he has posted a press render he says is indeed Venice, the phone that Reuters told us about in a report early last month…

This might be our first look at BlackBerry’s Android smartphone (Update)

Stephen Hall Jul 2 2015 - 5:56 pm PT

Update: As I thought, this isn’t the slider. It’s just a Passport.

There seems to be some confusion — sorry for being obtuse. This is no slider, it's just a Passport: https://t.co/0AExZulvMy

— Evan Blass (@evleaks) July 3, 2015

Evan Blass just can’t stop. Earlier today he came out on Twitter to say that BlackBerry’s Android-powered “Venice” smartphone is on its way to AT&T, and now he has shared an image of what looks to be some kind of BlackBerry device running Google’s mobile operating system.
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Samsung’s unreleased Galaxy A8 smartphone leaks in new hands-on footage (Video)

Stephen Hall Jun 30 2015 - 7:12 am PT

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Samsung has yet to officially announce the much-rumored Galaxy A8, but now we know basically anything we might need to know about it (via Nowhereelse). The phone, which is apparently the thinnest that Samsung has ever made, can be seen from every angle in a recently-leaked hands-on video that managed to slip of the hands of Chinese telecom regulator TENAA…
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Newly leaked renders almost certainly show the 2015 Moto G in the flesh

Stephen Hall Jun 29 2015 - 2:10 pm PT

The Moto G is set to get a refresh sometime over the next couple of months, likely alongside the company’s flagship Moto X. We first saw some leaked shots of this Moto G (2015) a couple of weeks ago, but that was a sketchy (and blurry) barely-lit picture taken with a potato. Now, we have our first look (via TechnoBuffalo) at what look to be PR renders of the refreshed budget handset…

Hugo Barra talks Xiaomi’s long-term U.S. plan, challenges in interview with Re/code (Video)

Stephen Hall Jun 26 2015 - 7:28 am PT

Hugo Barra, perhaps best known for his involvement with the Android team in its earlier days at Google, is now based over in China working at a company late last year named as the most valuable startup in the world. Known for its high-quality budget Android phones, TV sets, smart device accessories, wearables, and more, Xiaomi hasn’t yet officially launched any of these products in the US. Barra spoke to this at Re/code‘s Code Conference recently, mentioning the company’s long-term plan to eventually make it to United States shores despite many challenges…
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OnePlus defends its marketing strategy, says it just wants to build community with fans

Stephen Hall Jun 24 2015 - 9:15 am PT

Following the announcement that the OnePlus 2 would have a USB Type-C port, Mobile Syrup wrote an open letter on Monday to OnePlus calling for sanity. Most who have watched OnePlus evolve as a company agreed wholeheartedly with this letter. From teasing a “game changer” that ended up being a miniature drone barely made available, to teasing the end of the OnePlus One invite system several months after the phone finally hit the market, the company has been known to be really loud (and many times obnoxious) about nothing. But OnePlus says that there’s a reason for all of this…
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Deal: Get a Moto E, a Motorola Bluetooth speaker, and a year of service for $95

Chance Miller Jun 22 2015 - 4:52 pm PT

From 9to5toys.com:

Groupon is offering the highly praised Moto E smartphone bundled with a Bluetooth speaker and 1200 Tracfone minutes for $99.99. Using the coupon code GOODS5 drops the price even further to $95. On Amazon, the Moto E, Bluetooth speaker, and Tracfone service would cost you $238 in total.

The Moto E has been praised for offering a great Android experience for such an affordable price, so this deal makes it even more enticing for first time Android users or first time smartphone users in general. It’d also make a great burner phone if you’re in need of one of those.

The Moto E includes a 4.3-inch touchscreen with 3G connectivity. Unfortunately it runs Android 4.4 KitKat, but includes WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0, and a 1.2GHz dual-core processor. It’s not great, but for the price and bundle it’s hard to beat.

You also get 1200 Tracfone minutes included in the bundle, as well as 1.2GB of data service and 1200 text messages. The Tracfone service is good for a year.

Buy the bundle on Groupon now. The coupon code GOODS5 drops the price to $95.