01/26, 5:57am
Sprint offers T-Mobile customers $200 minimum trade-ins for switching
Sprint is refocusing its trade-in offer directly against main rival T-Mobile. Running until April 9, Sprint will offer T-Mobile customers a minimum instant trade-in value of $200 for their smartphone if they transfer their number over. Sprint is also allowing the offer to work alongside another promotion, granting up to $350 per line to cover early termination fees or installment billing balances.
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01/20, 4:21pm
Leak points to changes with UltraPixel camera system in next HTC flagship
The follow-up to the HTC One M8 looks a lot like its predecessor, according to the latest alleged leak. Surfacing shortly after the company revealed it would be holding an event at Mobile World Congress, photographs for what is believed to be called the HTC One M9 has surfaced, with the codenamed-Hima smartphone having relatively few external changes.
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01/19, 6:21pm
HTC smartwatch said to share data with Under Armour fitness platform
HTC may join Samsung in launching a wearable at Mobile World Congress in March alongside a new flagship. Though lacking in detail, a report claims the smartwatch will take advantage of a partnership between HTC and Under Armour, with the wrist-based tracker connecting to the sports apparel brand's own fitness service for health and fitness tracking.
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01/16, 12:22am
OnePlus still developing its own custom Lollipop-based ROM
Late last month, smartphone maker OnePlus asked their users for feedback on naming the custom ROM for the OnePlus One. An alpha release of the ROM, based on Android v5.0 "Lollipop," has been available at the OnePlus forums since just before the New Year. Today, an interview with Cyanogen founder Steve Kondik confirmed that Cyanogen plans to ship its own Lollipop/CyanogenMod 12 for the OnePlus One next month.
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01/15, 7:37am
Xiaomi flagship phablets have 5.7-inch displays, aluminum and glass body
Xiaomi has launched two new mobile devices, with a pair of phablet-sized smartphones The Xiaomi Mi Note is a smartphone with a large 5.7-inch 1080p display squeezed into a 6.95mm-thick aluminum and glass body, while the Mi Note Pro keeps the design the same but slips in some component upgrades, as well as increasing the screen resolution to 1440x2560.
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01/14, 3:10pm
Spiral 2 Project Ara prototype has Marbell, Nvidia processor options
Project Ara, Google's attempt to create a modular smartphone, will be initially released in Puerto Rico this year, the company has revealed. News of the project's initial launch details come at the same time as the search company revealed its second prototype device, an upgraded collection of modules and endoskeleton which it calls Spiral 2.
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01/13, 9:58am
Samsung Galaxy J1 may be first of budget J-series device range
A new budget smartphone from Samsung using a 64-bit processor is on the way, according to leaked images. Using a similar naming convention to the flagship Galaxy S-series, and more recent Galaxy A-series and Galaxy E-series smartphones, the Galaxy J-series appears to be a new entry-level collection, starting with the Galaxy J1 and its 4.3-inch 800x480 display.
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01/06, 3:33pm
P90 first Lenovo smartphone to use Intel Atom processor
Lenovo has launched two smartphones at CES, devices which were previously rumored to make an appearance. The Lenovo P90 is the company's first to use a 64-bit Intel Atom processor and Intel XMM 7260 LTE-Advanced modem, while the Vibe line is joined by the X2 Pro, complete with an accessory said to help improve lighting for self portraits.
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01/05, 11:46am
Snapdragon 810 octa-core 64-bit processor used in curved LG G Flex 2
LG has unveiled the latest iteration of its curved smartphone at CES, as part of its pre-event keynote address. The LG G Flex 2, the successor to the G Flex, is one of the first smartphones to be announced as using the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 810, an octa-core 64-bit processor clocked at 2GHz, which LG has paired with 2GB of RAM.
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01/02, 11:47pm
New budget Archos mobile devices include 4G connectivity
Archos is adding more phones and tablets to its Android device range, the company has revealed ahead of next week's CES. Alongside new versions of the 45b, 50b, 50c, 70 and 101 Helium mobile devices, the manufacturer has outlined some details for its 50 Diamond 4G smartphone, as well as its upcoming 4G-equipped 80b Helium budget tablet.
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01/02, 12:08pm
Custom ROM created following CyanogenMod issues in India
OnePlus has released the first iteration of its own custom Android Fork to OnePlus One users, as it starts to move away from CyanogenMod. The official custom ROM, which will be named by the users via a competition, effectively offers just the stock features of AOSP Android Lollipop at the moment, but the company is planning to improve the mobile operating system in future releases.
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12/23, 7:45am
Huawei Ascend GX1 runs Android KitKat, has six-inch 720p IPS display
Huawei has added another smartphone in its Ascend device range, one which is destined for sale on the Chinese market. The Ascend GX1 is a mid-ranged Android KitKat smartphone with a six-inch 720p IPS display, with the combination of its large display and slim body giving the device a high screen-to-body ratio of 80.5 percent.
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12/17, 12:54pm
Full keyboard, retro design main features of mid-range BlackBerry Classic
BlackBerry has formally launched a retro-styled smartphone it previously teased. Housed in a casing reminiscent of earlier models, the BlackBerry Classic has a few modern tricks up its sleeve to go with the familiar QWERTY keyboard, including an optical trackpad and a touch-enabled 3.5-inch 720x720-resolution square display.
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12/11, 11:32am
Production halts on Nexus 5, only black variant available on Google Play
Production for the Google Nexus 5 has finally ceased, it has been confirmed. The smartphone, the predecessor to the Nexus 6, is no longer being manufactured by LG for the search company and, despite a few slight availability issues for some variants, Google is going to continue selling the device until it runs out of stock completely.
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12/03, 6:39am
European launch of dual-screen Russian smartphone takes place in London
Yota Devices is bringing the YotaPhone 2 to market this month with a launch in Europe, starting with a pop-up shop in London tonight, before a wider release next year. The smartphone retains the same e-paper rear display concept as its predecessor, which can be used for various smartphone functions without using too much battery life, but houses it and other upgraded components inside a sleeker, curved casing.
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12/01, 5:56am
Leaked prototype photographs reveal possible Lumia device with PureView-style camera hump
Leaked photographs claimed to show a prototype Lumia smartphone may depict a previously-rumored device said to have Kinect-style gesture controls and a high-resolution PureView camera. The images, showing a device marked as a prototype from Microsoft Mobile, may in fact be a smartphone codenamed "McLaren" and may show what could have been the successor to the Lumia 1020.
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11/26, 1:13am
Home appliance, television Co-CEO could take over mobile, Shin might lose CEO role
The sharp decline in smartphone sales appears to be taking its toll on Samsung, as sources say the South Korean company is considering a management shake-up at the very top. A plan under consideration would see current head of the mobile division Jong-Kyun Shin replaced, and possibly losing his co-CEO role within Samsung.
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11/20, 1:59pm
Latest generation of Gorilla Glass claimed twice as durable compared to competitors
Corning has introduced the fourth generation of its hard-wearing glass, used by a large proportion of smartphone and mobile devices. Gorilla Glass 4 is said to be twice as resistant to damage compared to its competitors, and with initial shipments of the new glass already being sent to manufacturers, could make an appearance in new smartphones from early next year.
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11/11, 6:57am
Entry-level Windows Phone device replaces Nokia branding with Microsoft
As expected, Microsoft has launched its first Lumia smartphone without Nokia branding. The Microsoft Lumia 535 barely differs from the usual Lumia physical design, with the smartphone bearing a five-inch 960x540 IPS LCD screen and entry-level specifications held within a colorful polycarbonate body bearing the Microsoft logo on the back.
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11/06, 5:15pm
Nexus 6 goes on sale via Motorola, sells out within hours
Motorola is now selling the Nexus 6 directly in the United States, via its own online store, giving potential customers an alternative route to Google Play to acquire the smartphone. At the same time, the company is introducing its recently-leaked metal strap options for the Moto 360 through the store, as well as a champagne gold colored version of the Android Wear smartwatch.
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11/06, 9:53am
OnePlus co-founder aims for high sales, reveals low profit, marketing budget
There have been over half a million sales of the OnePlus One smartphone, a co-founder has advised. According to Carl Pei, the manufacturer is still aiming higher, with the intention to reach a milestone of 1 million smartphone sales before the end of this year, but the high sales are unlikely to help the company earn much of a profit, due to allegedly slim margins.
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10/29, 8:01am
Oppo N3 holds 16MP camera in motorized rotating module
Chinese mobile phone manufacturer Oppo has revealed two new smartphones it is planning to ship in the near future. Teased earlier this month, the Oppo N3 has a revolving camera module at the top capable of rotating on it's own, while the Oppo R5 aims to take the slimmest-smartphone crown, with its metal body measuring just 4.85mm thick.
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10/28, 1:50pm
Latest Droid iteration has flagship specifications, claimed 48-hour battery
Verizon is bringing another Droid smartphone to its network, with the introduction of the endurance-focused Droid Turbo. The Motorola-produced smartphone boasts a high battery life, with its 3,900mAh battery claimed to last for up to 48 hours of average usage from a single charge, a feature boosted by the Motorola Turbo Charger's ability to provide up to eight hours of power to the phone after just 15 minutes of charging.
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10/21, 7:27am
Slightly smaller HTC Desire 820 mini reduces screen size, downgrades internals
A smaller version of the HTC Desire 820, launched at IFA last month, has gone on sale in China. The Desire 820 mini switches out the 5.5-inch 720p display of the original device for a slightly smaller five-inch version, though it keeps the same resolution, and in a similar manner to other "mini" versions of existing smartphones, this version also has marginally downgraded internal components within its two-tone plastic frame.
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10/20, 3:52pm
Discounted accessories offered alongside OnePlus One for brief pre-order period
OnePlus is allowing potential users to bypass its invitation-based system for its smartphone, by opening itself up for pre-orders for a brief period of time. On October 27th, people can place orders for the OnePlus One directly from the manufacturer, though the window of opportunity will last for only one hour, starting from 3pm GMT (11am EST).
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10/15, 8:00pm
Nine phones set to receive Android after it releases, support could grow
With Google's announcement today that Android 5.0 Lollipop is coming soon, many consumers are waiting to find out if their smartphones and tablets will run the new operating system (OS). Owners of Motorola devices can make an informed decision on upgrades tonight if they choose, as the company said nine phones are getting the newest Android version after its launch.
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10/15, 1:16pm
Follow-up to Nexus 5 borrows Moto X styling, enlarges screen
After weeks of rumors, Google has finally launched the Nexus 6 smartphone, running Android Lollipop. At first glance, the Motorola-produced follow-up to the Nexus 5 bears a striking resemblance to the second-generation Moto X, complete with relatively few changes made to the external styling, but it boosts the screen to a phablet-sized 5.96-inch 1,440x2,560 display with a pixel density of 493ppi.
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10/15, 7:26am
All sides of smaller BlackBerry Classic shown in picture leak
A new set of photographs allegedly showing the BlackBerry Classic has leaked. The collection of images appears to reveal more of the rumored BlackBerry smartphone's physical appearance than in previous leaks, with all sides and the back of the device on display in the pictures, with some of the shots comparing it to the recently-announced BlackBerry Passport phablet.
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10/13, 5:16pm
Rotating camera module of Oppo N3 said to use motor rather than manual turning
Chinese phone manufacturer Oppo has started to tease the follow-up to the N1 smartphone. The Oppo N3 will allegedly have a large rotating camera module, a unique feature similar to its predecessor, though this time it is tipped to use an electric motor to swivel the camera around from the front to the back, rather than relying on the user to move it themselves.
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10/10, 8:37am
Variant of HTC One M8 has higher-resolution rear camera, retains other specifications
A version of the HTC One M8 spotted before the launch of the Desire Eye will be going on sale in China this month. The HTC One M8 Eye is effectively the same as the original smartphone, except the rear 4-megapixel Ultrapixel camera has been replaced by a larger 13-megapixel sensor, though it still retains the Duo Camera system and associated depth-related functionality.
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10/08, 5:18pm
Identical cameras, flash on front and rear of HTC Desire Eye
HTC has used its "Double Exposure" event to launch its selfie-friendly smartphone, just as previously rumored. The HTC Desire Eye features identical 13-megapixel cameras on the front and back, along with a dual LED flash for each side, with the smartphone putting both image sensors to good use with a number of new camera-related software additions.
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10/06, 8:02pm
Huawei smartphone measures 6.5mm thick tries to take on other flagships
In May, Huawei unveiled the latest iteration of its Ascend P flagship Android smartphone line, the Ascend P7. Measuring a svelte 6.5mm thick and packing decent specifications, it is a stylish phone that aims to take on major flagship devices from other manufacturers. Does it do enough to conquer its opponents, or does its specifications let down its appearance? Find out in Electronista's review.
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10/06, 6:40am
Desire Eye reappears with high-resolution front camera, front flash
The recently-leaked image of the alleged HTC Desire Eye smartphone may be incorrect, another image leak suggests. A smartphone said to be the Desire Eye is pictured sharing the same design language as the Desire 820, unlike the HTC One M8-based version found on a Chinese regulator website last week, and though the appearance is different, the high-resolution camera rumor remains almost the same.
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10/03, 10:29am
Chinese regulator listings show new HTC One variant images
Another variant of the HTC One (M8) smartphone has apparently surfaced in TENAA filings in China. The device, said to be called the HTC One (M8) Eye, appears to have the same list of specifications as the flagship, though it appears HTC will be combining the Duo Camera from the M8 with the higher-resolution rear camera from the HTC One E8.
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10/02, 10:08am
Assorted leather options available for upscale Vertu Android device
Luxury smartphone manufacturer Vertu has unveiled the latest in its high-priced mobile device collection. The Vertu Aster is an Android 4.4 device with a 4.7-inch 1080p sapphire-protected display, and while it has relatively high specifications, the luxurious materials used in its construction pushes the price tag up far above any comparable flagship smartphone.
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09/30, 6:38am
Modules from Project Ara will be switchable while smartphone is in use
Google's modular smartphone project will allow users to replace individual modules from the mobile device while it is still running. The majority of Project Ara modules will be hot swappable, with exception to the processor and display, so users will not be required to shut down the device before making any changes to the hardware.
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09/26, 10:30am
Thin Blue Vivo IV has 5-inch 1080p display, ships unlocked
A smartphone from Gionee with a 5.5-mm body has gone on sale in the United States as an unlocked device, though it now forms part of the Blu Vivo range. Previously known as the Gionee Elife S5.5, the Blu Vivo IV retains the thin body and specifications of the original, and combines it with a five-inch 1080p Super AMOLED display.
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09/25, 5:53am
Updated Moto X believed to be inspiration for Nexus 6 smartphone
The next version of the Nexus smartphone from Google could look like an enlarged Moto X, a report claims to show in an image. The rumored device is said to be called either the Nexus 6 or Nexus X, with Motorola expected to reuse some of the design of the updated Moto X to create a larger nexus device running on Android L.
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09/24, 10:37am
Touch-enabled physical keyboard of BlackBerry Passport detects flicks, swipes
BlackBerry has used its three simultaneous media events to launch the BlackBerry Passport smartphone. Just as rumored, the mobile device has a square 4.5-inch 1440x1440 touchscreen with a touch-enabled physical keyboard below, allowing the keyboard to detect swipes, flicks and taps similar to display-based gestures, but without the user blocking their view of the screen with their fingers.
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09/22, 8:04am
Entry-level clamshell smartphone from LG destined for sale in South Korea
LG has launched an Android smartphone in South Korea, taking the unusual form of a clamshell mobile device. The LG Wine Smart has a 3.5-inch 320x480 display which flips up in the top half of the phone, while the lower section below the hinge displays a number pad and function keys familiar to users of the older-style mobile phones.
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09/17, 8:05am
Moto Maker UK sends e-mail with final Moto X design, not open to pre-orders
Motorola has enabled Moto Maker in the United Kingdom, offering customization of the new Moto X. Added just after the company commenced direct sales to the country via the website, the portal allows users to modify their future phone in an identical way to the United States version of the site, though unlike in the US, British customers do not get the option to actually order the device just yet.
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09/15, 9:26am
Large 1-inch camera sensor on back of Panasonic Lumix smartphone
Panasonic has used Photokina to launch an Android smartphone with a high-resolution image sensor powering its rear camera, similar to the Nokia Lumia 1020. The Lumix CM1 boasts a 1-inch 20-megapixel sensor paired with an f/2.8 Leica lens, capable of recording 4K video, with the camera functionality supported by a mechanical shutter and manual controls.
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09/15, 8:10am
Motorola starts directly selling Moto G from UK website
Motorola has updated its online store in the United Kingdom, giving citizens the ability to directly purchase devices directly from the manufacturer, rather than diverting sales to retailers. The updated site, spotted by Pocket-Lint, stocks the second-generation Moto G for £150 ($), with separate pages offering to register visitors for updates for the Moto 360 and new Moto X. Moto Maker is expected to become available on the UK site in the near future.
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09/12, 4:46pm
Unlocked, unbranded version of updated Moto X said to be on the way
Motorola will be bringing out a version of its updated Moto X with a stock installation of Android, according to a report. Just like the Google Play Edition of the original Moto X, the 2014 edition of the smartphone is said to have a "Pure Edition" on the way, with the device believed to ship unlocked, unbranded, and without any extra software typically loaded onto smartphones by carriers.
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09/11, 12:22pm
Lack of AT&T exclusivity of budget Fire Phone in US allegedly at issue
AT&T may have prevented Amazon from creating a second, lower-cost smartphone, according to a report. The retailer was apparently working with HTC on such a device, but the carrier was apparently unhappy with the terms of the partnership, wanting exclusivity of both devices in the United States, rather than just of the higher-specification Fire Phone.
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09/10, 4:52pm
Initiative to make as many users as possible able to use Wi-Fi calling
At today's latest "Uncarrier" event, wireless provider T-Mobile has unveiled a series of programs to kick-start Wi-Fi calling across its network. The carrier has revealed that every smartphone it sells going forward will be capable of Wi-Fi calling. Additionally, it is launching an initiative to provide a 802.11ac Wi-Fi router for free to Simple Choice plan users who own a smartphone capable of Wi-Fi calling. Finally, T-Mobile is short-cycling its Jump program, and allowing users not eligible for a yearly upgrade to buy a new Wi-Fi calling-capable device.
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09/10, 1:43pm
Budget Alcatel OneTouch smartphones go on sale at T-Mobile
Two more Alcatel OneTouch smartphones have surfaced, following its IFA launches with the pair of budget-priced mobile devices heading to T-Mobile. The Fierce 2 has a 5-inch 960x540 display and a quad-core 1.2GHz processor, while the lower-specification Evolve 2 has a smaller four-inch WVGA display with a dual-core 1.3GHz processor.
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09/08, 1:36pm
UK, Germany first European countries to receive Amazon smartphone
Amazon has lowered the cost of the Fire Phone in the United States, down to 99 cents on a two-year contract. At the same time, the retailer revealed it is bringing the Fire Phone to Europe, with the United Kingdom and Germany set to be the first markets on the continent to receive the device at the end of this month.
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09/08, 9:42am
BlackBerry Q20 shows classic design lines of earlier BBOS devices
The BlackBerry Classic has allegedly resurfaced following its announcement at Mobile World Congress in February, with images of the device appearing on Weibo. The smartphone, also known as the Q20, appears to be shown in the photographs with a square display similar to the BlackBerry Passport, though its physical design has rounded corners and a general appearance similar to earlier BlackBerry devices.
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09/05, 11:31am
LG G Watch R will have October release, cost more than G Watch
The LG G Watch R, the round-faced sequel to the G Watch, will be shipping in October, the company has revealed. Speaking to the Wall Street Journal, a spokesperson declined to state how much exactly the Plastic OLED-based Android Wear device will cost when it goes on sale next month, but did advise it would be more expensive than the $230 price the original launched with.
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