ZTE Nubia Z11 and Nubia X8 renders leak

When last we heard of ZTE's future plans, the Chinese OEM (well, actually its Nubia sub-brand) was working on a successor to the high-end Nubia Z9, dubbed the Nubia Z11. The handset was said to build upon the success of its predecessor with an even more impressive specs sheet and what initial renders led us to believe would be a steep and quite ambitious display curve.


In contrast, this new set of renders of the alleged smartphone look a lot more conventional and believable in terms of design, but still quite impressive. A few live photos of the device have been unearthed as well and one look at them quickly reveals just how impressive the Z11 is expected to be. On the front, the device closely resembles the Z9, down to the curve in the display and the signature circle design on the home button. However, the Z11 looks amazingly thin. It could be an optical illusion, but from all the provided angles, it seems that the sides of the phone are almost completely covered up by the display, making for a totally new and refined look. The renders also suggest that the Z11 will have an arching glass back, quite similar to that of the Samsung Galaxy Note5.

Meizu MX6 to run on Helio X20 with 10-core processor

MediaTek announced the Helio X20 chip back in May last year and the first mass-produced samples were expected to be available to the manufacturers by the end of 2015. Elephone P9000 was the first smartphone to supposedly utilize the X20 chip, but as it turned out the phone was downgraded to the Helio P10 with an 8-core CPU.

Today AnTuTu's database gives us hope we will be seeing the first Helio X20 smartphone sooner rather than later. Apparently it will be the next Meizu flagship - the Meizu MX6. Someone probably tested the device on AnTuTu and it saved its specs.

So, the MX6, as purported by AnTuTu, will pack a 1080p display and run on the MT Helio X20 chip with a 10-core 3-cluster processor (2x Cortex-A72 at 2.5GHz, 4x Cortex-A53 at 2.0GHz, 4x Cortex-A53 at 1.4GHz), Mali-T880 MP4 GPU, and 3GB of RAM.

The rest of the rumored MX6 specs include 32GB storage and Android 6.0 Marshmallow base for the Flyme launcher.

There is still no official info on the matter, but the MX5 was among the first to utilize by the Helio X10 chip, so there is a good chance this Meizu MX6 rumor will come to pass.

Source | Via

Oppo F1 goes official, Vietnam gets it on January 13

Oppo F1 is the first member of the new F-series, which will be focusing on luxurious design and premium camera experience. It is now available on pre-order in Vietnam, but more markets will be getting it soon.

iPhone 5e now said to be the name of the next 4-inch Apple device

The next 4-inch smartphone made by Apple has been in the rumors for many months now, yet it still hasn't become official. That may change in the next few weeks, however, if we go by some recent speculation.

One thing that's been up for debate so far is what it's going to be called. The oldest rumors have referred to it as the iPhone 6c, then some people started calling it iPhone 7c, and today a Chinese analyst says it will actually be neither of those.



According to this person, Apple will name its new 4-inch device iPhone 5e, where "e" is supposed to roughly stand for "enhanced". This model will apparently be a slightly upgraded iPhone 5s, coming with support for Apple Pay, as well as VoLTE.

The main camera will reportedly be an 8 MP unit, while the SoC running things should be the A8, paired with 1GB of RAM. In China, the iPhone 5e is expected to cost CNY 3,288, which right now means $500 or €459.

Source (in Chinese) | Via

iOS 9.3 beta brings multi-user support to iPads, only in schools though

Yet another Android feature is coming to iOS, just on iPads for now. This time around it's multi-user support, which is now official with the release of the first beta of iOS 9.3 for developers. However, there's a big catch - at the moment multi-user support is only available for schools. Yet if Apple took the time to implement this, it's probably safe to assume that a wider release should follow in the future (with iOS 10 perhaps).

As the name implies, multi-user support (which Apple is calling Shared iPad) lets different people (or, in this case, students) use the same hardware, with all of their content being "ready to go" as soon as they log in. All their apps, books, and documents will just be there, thanks to "intelligent caching" - apparently there won't be a need to wait for anything to download.

watchOS 2.2 beta allows multiple Apple Watches to pair with one iPhone

The new iOS 9.3 beta for developers isn't the only thing Apple is releasing today. The company has also made the watchOS 2.2 beta available for developers. This latest iteration of the software running inside the Apple Watch comes with one big new feature.

You can now pair multiple Apple Watches with one iPhone. This is only possible if all of those wearables are running the watchOS 2.2 beta release, and if that iPhone has the iOS 9.3 beta installed.




The watchOS 2.2 beta also brings with it a new Nearby menu, which you can find in the Glances section of the Maps app. Nearby will show you sub-categories like Food, Drinks, Shopping, Travel, and Health, letting you choose which one you're interested in. Meanwhile, Glances will run searches and show you quick directions when you need them.

With watchOS 2.2, developers can create more detailed workout summaries in their apps. This means you may see things such as "active energy burned" or the amount of time spent exercising listed inside your favorite fitness apps.

Unlike for iOS, Apple doesn't currently have a public beta program for watchOS, so you'll only get these new features on your watch when the software is finalized. That's probably going to take (at least) a few weeks.

Source

ZTE Blade D Lux debuts in Vietnam and Singapore

ZTE has launched a new smartphone in its Blade series of affordable offerings. It's called Blade D Lux, and so far it's only been made available in Vietnam and Singapore. However, we assume it will be headed to other countries too in the near future.

The D Lux is a lower-midrange product, as you'd expect from the Blade line. It comes with a 5.5-inch 720p touchscreen with 2.5D glass on top, a 13 MP rear camera with LED flash, an 8 MP selfie cam, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 chipset (with a 1.2 GHz quad-core CPU), 2GB of RAM, 16GB of expandable storage, LTE, and a 3,000 mAh battery.




It runs Android Lollipop, though whether that's 5.0 or 5.1 is up for debate, since both version numbers show up in different parts of the ZTE website. The Chinese company is clearly aiming this one at young people, and especially selfie lovers thanks to the high-res front-facing snapper.
The Blade D Lux can be had in Vietnam for VND 3.89 million, which currently translates into $173 or €159. Over in Singapore, the device will be sold by the M1 carrier for SGD 239 ($166, €152).

Source (in Vietnamese) | Via

Verizon's Galaxy Note 4 is only now receiving the Android 5.1.1 update

Seemingly wanting to confirm that "better late than never" saying, Verizon has only now decided to release the Android 5.1.1 Lollipop update for its version of the Samsung Galaxy Note 4.

The flagship phablet from 2014 has actually been on the receiving end of this update ever since August of 2015, but that's for internationally sold unlocked units. As always, if you buy yours from a carrier you can wait a lot more.



Case in point, here we are in January 2016, a few months after Google's launched Android 6.0 Marshmallow, and Big Red is sending out Android 5.1.1 to the Note 4. Anyway, after applying the update you'll be on software version LMY47X.N910VVRU2BOK3.

As this is an over-the-air rollout, it may be a few days before it reaches your phone and you get that update notification. If you're impatient, you can manually check for the new software's availability by using the dedicated menu inside Settings. This update adds things, but also removes others - namely, the Amazon Appstore and Amazon Widgets will be gone after the installation.

Source | Via

Vertu's new Signature Touch for Bentley becomes official

Vertu and Bentley are repeating history with a new smartphone collaboration. While the first Vertu for Bentley device was based on the original Signature Touch from 2014, the new one presented today is actually just a rebranded second-gen Signature Touch.

The Vertu Signature Touch for Bentley has two-tone Beluga and Hotspur Bentley leather, with Hotspur stitching. The phone features "knurled side keys, a unique pillow rail and sound bar and a 3D Bentley logo". You can further personalize it choosing from eight leather colors and 16 stitching options.




You also get a "unique Bentley app" with it, which will bring you exclusive content, tailored events, VIP access and "special features designed to integrate the Signature Touch with the range of Bentley models", whatever that may mean.

The phone still comes with all of Vertu's perks, such as the dedicated concierge, as well remote locking and wiping through the new Lost Phone service.

All 2016 Moto devices will have fingerprint scanners, Lenovo exec says

Despite basically pioneering the concept of a smartphone with a built-in fingerprint scanner with the Atrix 4G back in 2011, Motorola hasn't been quick to jump back on this train last year, when such sensors have been featured in pretty much every high-end Android device.

That will change in 2016, however. Chen Xudong, SVP of Lenovo and president for Lenovo China and Asia Pacific, has revealed that all Moto-branded handsets launching this year will have fingerprint sensors. That's a 180-degree change from the Lenovo subsidiary's recent antics, and it will surely be welcomed by the brand's fans.

The Lenovo exec has shared an additional detail about the Moto portfolio for 2016: there will be no more phones launching with screens smaller than 5 inches. So we assume there won't be a new Moto E this year.

The Moto brand will mostly be used for higher-end offerings from this point forward, while the budget devices will generally bear Lenovo's Vibe moniker. In total, between the two brands, no more than 15 models will be launched in 2016.

Finally, Chen Xudong stressed that Google services will "definitely" re-enter China before the end of the year. This means that the Play Store might finally battle it out over there with the dozens of local app stores for Android, while staple Google properties such as Gmail and Maps could once again be openly used by people living in the mainland.

Source (in Chinese) | Via

Xiaomi Mi 5 is said to arrive in two different versions

Chinese smartphone makers sometimes like to launch their flagships in two different iterations, differently priced based on how much RAM and internal storage they pack. And now Xiaomi seems determined to take this to a new level, if a new rumor out of China is to be believed.

An alleged mobile industry insider is claiming that there will be two hardware versions for the Mi 5. One of them is pictured below, and is the one we've seen leaking a lot lately. This comes with 2.5D curved glass both on the front as well as on the back, and with a metal frame. This iteration will apparently come with 1080p screen resolution.



However, there will be a more premium model too, which will have a full metal body and a display with QHD resolution. Interestingly, the screen's size is said to be the same in both cases.

Motorola begins allowing bootloader unlocks on Verizon Moto X (2014)

If you own a Motorola Moto X (2014) on Verizon, here is some good news: the carrier has started allowing bootloader unlocks on the smartphone. The news came courtesy of Motorola Forums Manager.


"Hey, everyone. Just wanted to let you know that we did get the green light to unlock the bootloader on Verizon 2014 Moto X (2nd Gen) devices," Matt (the forums manager) said, while making it clear that they can't do this for devices on other carriers.

For those planning to unlock the bootloader for the first time, keep in mind that the process - which allows you to install third-party ROMs - will void the warranty of your device. Plus, there are many other risks, too. Head to the Source 2 link below for all the details, including how to unlock the bootloader on your Motorola device.

Source 1 | Source 2

Samsung Galaxy J1 (2016) leaks in renders now

The Samsung Galaxy J1 successor, which has allegedly already cleared the FCC hurdle in the US, will come in at-least black, white, and gold color options, according to new renders leaked by the usually reliable leakster @evleaks.

Microsoft Lumia 950 now £410 at Amazon UK, 950 XL is £450

The Microsoft Lumia 950 price in the UK slipped a little lower, now resting at £410 (the previous cheapest price point was £420). The big Lumia 950 XL actually went up a bit to £450 (up from £440).

That's on Amazon UK and it is way lower than the official price listed on the Microsoft Store – there prices start at £450 and it's £530 for the XL model. Note that white 950 XL isn’t available (stock for that has been problematic recently).


Carphone Warehouse has the Lumia 950 in stock for £420, while the Lumia 950 XL is on pre-order for £470. Those are the SIM-free prices, With both CW and Amazon you can get a contract with a small upfront cost and £30-&Pound;35 a month, depending on the plan and model.

Source | Via

iPhone shipments estimated at 55M for March quarter, first YoY decline since 2007 launch

Investment firm Piper Jaffrey has adjusted its estimate for Apple's current quarter iPhone shipments. Down 12%, the projected figure for the quarter ending in March (Q2 2016 by US policy) is now 55 million units shipped, as opposed to the previous 62.5 million units.

The number, if it proves correct, will mark the first year-on-year decline in iPhone shipments since the launch of the original iPhone in 2007. To be fair, even the initial estimate was dangerously close to the 61.2M units shipped in the same period last year, itself a massive increase over the 43.7M from 2014. Piper Jaffrey's forecast for Q3 (ending in June), has gotten its due cut as well, from 48.5M to 45M units shipped.


The analysts' revision is a result of persisting rumors from Apple supply chain companies, stating that Cupertino has been reducing part orders. While previously insisting that a single supplier's reduced orders aren't indicative of overall shipments, the investment firm has been forced to reconsider, after cumulative reports from multiple suppliers.

The numbers result in revenue expectations around the $55.8 billion mark, come the Q2 report. For Q1 the company projects a revenue of about $77 billion, based on 75 million iPhones, 5.8 million Macs, 17.5 million iPads, and 6 millions Watches shipped.

Via

TP-Link outs three Android smartphones - Neffos C5L, C5, and C5 Max

Neffos is the new brand established by TP-Link for its first entries in the smartphone market. The Neffos C5L, Neffos C5, and Neffos C5 Max by TP-Link are the first three smartphones aiming to carry the flag for the brand.

All three Neffos smartphones run on Android 5.1 Lollipop, skinned with lightweight-looking proprietary launcher.



The Neffos C5L is the smallest entry of all - it has 4.5" FWVGA display and runs on the Snapdragon 210 chip (4x Cortex-A7 at 1.1GHz, Adreno 304, 1GB RAM). While the hardware doesn't sound impressive, it should be more than enough for a sub-HD smartphone.

The other C5L key features include 8GB expandable storage, 8MP main snapper, a 2MP selfie lens, LTE connectivity and a 2,000 mAh battery.

Snapdragon 820-powered Galaxy S7 passes through AnTuTu

AnTuTu posted on its Weibo account the detected specs of the Samsung Galaxy S7, the 5.1" one (model number SM-G935A). This, as it turns out, is the Snapdragon 820 version, which has essentially the same specs as the Galaxy S7 edge+ version.

The chipset is paired with 4GB of RAM and runs Android 6.0 Marshmallow (with TouchWiz, of course). This particular unit comes with 64GB of storage, but obviously that's no guarantee that Samsung will be moving up from using 32GB as base. And also no word on a microSD slot, as expected.

Samsung Galaxy S7 specs as detected by AnTuTu

The Galaxy S7 has a new camera setup – 12MP BRITECELL sensor on the back and 5MP snapper on the front. The new camera promises better low-light performance and a wider dynamic range compared to the current model.
We will have to feign surprise when Samsung unveils the S7 lineup, we know its ins and outs already. One thing that's not 100% clear is how the Snapdragon and Exynos chipsets will be distributed across the 5.1", 5.5" and 6" models.

Source (in Chinese) | Via

All-metal Nokia smartphone leaks in photo, could be one of three 2016 models

Now that 2015 is officially over, Nokia can enjoy a well-deserved breath of freedom. If you don't remember, the Microsoft buyout of the Finish's Titan's mobile business involved a particular non-compete clause that prevented the company from releasing smartphones under the Nokia brand. That expired on December 31, 2015 and eager fans can hardly contain their excitement at the possibility of new Nokia handsets.

Actually Nokia's eventual return to the smartphone business in 2016 has been debated for quite some time now and after a lot of ups and downs and a few disappointing denials, it seems that the last official statement from Nokia CEO Rajeev Suri seals the deal. Now that the New Year is officially upon us, it is natural for the next wave of leaks and rumors to start rolling in, like this new shot that indeed appears to depict a Nokia-branded smartphone.

Xiaomi Redmi 3 announced with Snapdragon 616 SoC, 4,100mAh battery

Xiaomi has officially announced the Redmi 3 smartphone. The device is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 616 chipset, and sports a 5-inch 720P HD display. It comes with 2GB RAM and 16GB expandable internal memory, and packs in a large 4,100mAh battery.

In terms of camera, the device features a 13MP rear unit and a 5MP front shooter. Measuring 139.3 x 69.6 x 8.5mm and weighing in at 144g, the handset ships with the company's MIUI 7 OS. The Redmi 3 offers support for dual-SIM functionality as well as 5V/2A fast charging.

Design-wise, the device comes with a full metal body and "an all-new lattice design, made up of 4166 stars woven together to reflect a gorgeous arrangement of diamonds," the company said in the press release.

New alleged Mi 5 images (black variant) leak online

A couple of new images alleged to be of Xioami's upcoming Mi 5 flagship smartphone have surfaced online. The images, which were posted on Weibo but have since been taken down, show the black-colored variant of the device.

Top 10 trending phones of week 1

New year, same story - the Samsung Galaxy J7 was and remains on top of our weekly trending chart. And its trustworthy sidekick J5 is up there next to it, in what has become one of the longest-standing podium pairs.
The Galaxy J2, which would join them on occasion, is now down to 6th, and the 3rd spot has been claimed by the Lenovo K4 Note, announced this week. Down the chart is mostly Samsung, with the Galaxy A5 (the old one) re-entering the chart in 5th.
In 5th we find the Galaxy S6, which may have lost a bit of its luster and has long since surrendered its crown, but is nonetheless a regular on the chart. Another permanent fixture, the Galaxy Grand Prime is in 7th this week, followed by the Note5.

Week 1 in review: CES 2016, Galaxy and iPhone rumors

The first week of the year saw plenty of announces coming from CES 2016 in Las Vegas, while a few manufacturers chose to have their own events outside the US.

Huawei, Asus, LG, Samsung, ZTE, Alcatel and BLU announced new products. Huawei added the MediaPad M2 tablet to its lineup in addition to detailing the availability of the Honor 5X, Mate 8 and GX8. The maker also unveiled two smartwatches - the Watch Elegant and Jewel, both exclusive for ladies.



LG revealed a whole new K series of smartphones. The LG K10 and K7 are the first two members, but pricing and availability details are still unknown.

Of course, Samsung also had a few announcements of its own. The company revealed the Windows 10-running Galaxy TabPro S pricing will start at €999. The Gear S2 Classic will have Platinum and 18K Rose Gold options for those fancy dinner parties, while the 13.3" and 15" Notebook 9 Series will launch in "select markets" early 2016.

Finally, the week didn't go without a few iPhone and Galaxy S7 leaks and rumors.

Nokia 230 24K-gold-plating costs more than the phone, still worth it

We understand the urge to have your flagship LG V10 gold-plated, and the gold bath adds an extra bit of flair to curved-body Samsung high-end models Galaxy S6 edge and Note5. But what about that Nokia 230 that you keep in your car's glove box for backup, or use as a secondary phone for basic needs?

Now Vietnamese specialists in the field of luxury customization Karalux can have the 230 gold-plated in 24K yellow gold too, to match your smartphone attire. We're only assuming that once you're looking into gold-plating, you have a smartphone to boot, but even if the unassuming Nokia feature phone is your primary means of communication, at VND 1,500,000 ($67) the treatment is still a bargain.



That's the price if you bring in your own Nokia 230, but for VND 2,800,000 ($125) the company will happily pull a ready gold-plated one off its store shelves. So in effect, the gold-plating costs more than the phone itself. But who's to say that you can't have some bling just because you refuse to be bothered with constant notifications and want a battery life longer than a day.

Source

Apple working with Beats to bring wireless earbuds to the iPhone 7

It's fair to say that quite a few people were infuriated by rumors that Apple might be abandoning the 3.5mm headphone jack for the iPhone 7 in favor of Lightning-connected accessories. There's an ongoing petition to keep the connectivity option, signed by more than 215,000 people, and counting.

Now some new insider info reiterates the 3.5 jack's future demise, adding that Apple and its subsidiary Beats Electronics are working on developing wireless earbuds to launch alongside the iPhone 7. And we're talking wireless-wireless, with no cables at all, much like the Moto Hint, the Earin, and the Bragi Dash.




iPhone 6s retail package
What might very well be called the Airpods (Apple has the trademark registered) are reported to feature microphones too, for noise cancelling and summoning Siri. No ports will be found on them, instead they will ship with a carrying case with built-in battery - again, a similar design to already existing solutions.

BlackBerry CEO: BB 10 far from dead; another Android phone this year

BlackBerry CEO John Chen has said that the company's BB 10 operating system is "far from" dead. He made the comment in a post on the company's official blog, where-in he also revealed that BB 10-powered phones such as Passport, Classic, and others will be getting security and privacy enhancements this year.

"The coming version 10.3.3 will be certified for NIAP compliance, meaning it will have passed the strictest government-grade security tests, enabling us to further support our government and regulated customers who use BlackBerry 10 devices and demand the highest levels of security," he said in the blog post.

"We are also planning a version 10.3.4 for later this year with even more security improvements."
While we already know that BlackBerry will only be launching Android phones in 2016, Chen revealed that only one such device will be launched in 2016, adding that the company will be sharing its road-map at an appropriate time.

Source

Samsung announces Q4 2015 earnings guidance; Y-o-Y profits grow

Samsung Electronics has announced earnings guidance for the fourth quarter of the year 2015. The company forecasted an operating profit of 6.1 trillion Korean won (around $5.08 billion), which is up around 15% compared to the 5.3 trillion won figure the company reported in Q4 2014.


However, compared to Q3 2015, when the company reported a profit of 7.4 trillion won, the profit was down around 18%. The forecast also missed market expectations - analysts were expecting the company to report a profit of around 6.6 trillion won.

Overall sales revenues are forecasted to be around 53.0 trillion won (around $46.4 billion), slightly up from the 52.7 trillion won figure reported in the same quarter of the year 2014. Samsung is expected to release final figures towards the end of this month.

Source

Xiaomi Redmi 3 to come with large 4,100mAh battery

Just a day after revealing its display size and launch date, Xiaomi has confirmed that the Redmi 3 will come with a large 4,100mAh battery. The confirmation again came in the form of a teaser posted on Weibo.


In the Weibo post, Xiaomi also stressed that despite the large battery, the phone is thin thanks to the high energy density tech used.

So, the specs that have been officially confirmed until now include a 5-inch display and a 4,100mAh battery. In addition, it has also been confirmed that the device features an all metal body with a unique plaid design on the back.

As for the remaining specs, rumors say the handset is powered by a Snapdragon 616 SoC, has 2GB RAM and 16GB internal memory, and features 13MP rear and 5MP front camera. It is said to run Android 5.1.1 Lollipop out-of-the-box.

The Redmi 3 is set to be launched next week on January 12.

Source (Chinese)

Xiaomi Mi 5 confirmed to rock Snapdragon 820 chipset

Xiaomi co-founder Liwan Jiang has confirmed on Weibo the Xiaomi Mi 5 will feature a Snapdragon 820 chipset. The phone will be presented on January 21 at a special event. Sales are expected to start February 8, in time for the Chinese New Year.


Additional rumored specifications include 4GB of RAM, a 16MP main camera and a 13MP selfie one. The 5.2" QHD display boasts a 565 ppi pixel density. The battery will have 3,600mAh capacity and support Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0.

The price of the Xiaomi Mi 5 isn't confirmed yet, but reports suggest it would be between $385 and $462.

Source | Via

BlackBerry moving completely to Android in 2016

Following the moderate commercial success and generally positive reception of its latest Priv smartphone, BlackBerry has announced that it is going all-in as far as Android is concerned. Company CEO John Chen confirmed in an interview at CES that all BlackBerry smartphones launched this year will run Google's operating system.

One could say this move has been a long time coming, and it's better late than never. Once an industry juggernaut, BlackBerry has struggled for a good part of the last decade to find favor with new users, who care increasingly less about BlackBerry's core strengths in enterprise and security and more about things like apps and games, something the now distinctly long in tooth BlackBerry OS was never good at. The move to Android has already won the company some brownie points in the past few weeks so it's good to see the company continue down that road.

Chen refused to comment on the availability and details of the upcoming devices.

Source

Xiaomi MIUI 7.1 to reportedly hit more devices starting next week

As you might already know, the latest iteration of Xiaomi's mobile OS - MIUI 7.1 - started rolling out earlier this week. While the list of supported devices was comprehensive, some handsets were left out.


Image credit: Thomson Reuters

Now, according to a new report, the update will hit more devices starting next week - Janaury 11. The new devices that are reportedly set to receive the update include the Mi 2/2S, Redmi 1S 3G, Redmi 2, Redmi 2A, and Redmi Note 3.

The update will be available both as OTA as well as direct download from the Chinese company's official website. The report also notes that devices running MIUI 5 or 6 will also be eligible to receive the update.

Via

Snapdragon 820-powered LeTV Le Max Pro to cost around $535

Chinese company LeTV's latest smartphone - the Le Max Pro - will carry a price tag of RMB 3,500 (around $535) in China. This was revealed by a leaked screenshot/teaser obtained by a Chinese website.


If you aren't already aware, the Le Max Pro was unveiled by Qualcomm as the first Snapdragon 820-powered smartphone at the ongoing Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas earlier this week.

As for other specs, the handset has a 6.3-inch (2,560 x 1,440 pixel resolution) display and 4GB RAM, sports a 21MP rear camera, and runs Android 6.0 Marshmallow with custom LeTV skin on top. It also features ultrasonic fingerprint technology and supports WiFi ad.
There's currently no information on when the Le Max Pro will go on sale.

Via (translated)

Lenovo phasing out Motorola brand for smartphones

When Lenovo completed the acquisition of Motorola Mobility back in 2014, it said "We plan to not only protect the Motorola brand, but make it stronger." However, looks like the Chinese company's priorities has changed with changing times as the brand is now being phased out.


"We'll slowly phase out Motorola," said Motorola Chief Operating Officer Rick Osterloh.
Motorola's phone business will now come under the Lenovo name, meaning it will be merged with Lenovo's phone business, with high-end smartphones using the Moto branding while budget devices using the Vibe brand.

You'll also see future Moto products featuring the blue Lenovo logo, although Motorola's batwing-like "M" logo will still be there. The Motorola name, however, won't vanish completely - it'll live on as a division under Lenovo.

Via

All-metal Nubia X8 leaks in live photos

Nubia, ZTE's premium sister company, is planning to launch a couple of devices on its January 18 event. As it's often the case, one of the phones to be announced at the event has leaked.

What you see below are live photos of the Nubia X8 - a metal-clad smartphone with a fingerprint sensor below the main camera. According to the source of the photos, the phone features a massive 6.44" screen akin to its predecessor, the Nubia X6.


Rumor has it, that the Nubia X8 will pack a Snapdragon 820 chip as well as a 4,500mAh battery. We'll know everything about the phone once it becomes official. Hopefully, Nubia announces it on January 18.

Lastly, the company is anticipated to reveal the Nubia Z11. It is said to feature a curved glass and a Snapdragon 820 as well.

Source | Via

Windows 8 support killed

Windows 8 has been around for well over three years now, but it might not be here much longer. The stage on which Metro design made its first debut, but it was also plagued by a lot of serious problems from the very start.


Most who have encountered the OS agree that in an effort to work towards a touch-based future, Microsoft perhaps took things a bit too far – an approach that was detrimental to the classic desktop experience in many ways.

Hence, the US giant was quick to address the issues with a much improved service pack, dubbed Windows 8.1 near the end of 2013 and not long after with the undoubtedly more streamlined Windows 10. Now, it appears, Microsoft is wasting no time in sweeping the original Windows 8 under the rug. A quick look in the online support database reveals that no more updates are planned for the OS after today.