Moto M, Lenovo P2 could be launched on November 8

The oft-leaked Moto M and the recently-unveiled Lenovo P2 are reportedly due to be launched next week at a November 8 event in Guanzhou, China. Invites for the November 8 event are doing the rounds of Chinese media, and were obtained by TechDroider.

The Moto M (XT1662has seen several leaks over the past few months, starting with a TENAA listing back in August. Beyond revealing a few specifications and a metal unibody design, the smartphone's listing also showed a fingerprint sensor on the rear panel. Rumours surrounding the Moto M have since included leaked live images as well as renders that interestingly match the invite being shared.

We pretty much have a fair idea of what the Moto M could look like, and also what its specifications and features could be, courtesy of leaks and rumors. So far, what we know is that the Moto M could feature a 5.5-inch full HD (1080p) display. Under the hood of the Moto M, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 625 octa-core processor clocked at 2.0GHz paired with Adreno 506 GPU is expected to run. There are two variants of the smartphone expected in terms of RAM and storage. The Moto M with 4GB RAM and 64GB onboard storage is expected to be China exclusive, while the Moto M with 3GB RAM and 32GB onboard storage would be for markets outside China.

According to the latest leak, the Moto M is expected to be backed by a massive 5,100mAh battery, while previous leaks suggest a 3,000mAh battery. In the photography department, the smartphone is expected to sport a 16-megapixel rear camera and an 8-megapixel selfie camera. The connectivity options expected include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 4G LTE with VoLTE support and GPS. 

As for its look and design, leaked images suggest that it will sport a full metal body design, along with a curved back. The back panel could have antenna bands running along the top and bottom of the smartphone. The back, home and app switcher buttons on the Moto M are on-screen similar to other Moto smartphones. The rear panel of the Moto M also shows a fingerprint scanner embedded below the camera lens. This makes it the first Moto smartphone to feature a fingerprint scanner at the back. The rear camera lens is also accompanied by a LED flash.

There was another report which suggested that along with the Moto M, a larger variant of the smartphone called the Moto M Plus would be launched. This variant is expected to come with a 6-inch 1080p display, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 652 SoC, and a fingerprint scanner embedded into the home button up front. The Moto M Plus is expected to come with 4G LTE support and for power, it could feature a 3,000mAh battery. 

As for the Lenovo P2 smartphone, its specifications and features are already known since it has been unveiled. The Lenovo P2 flaunts a 5.5-inch Super AMOLED HD display. At the heart of the P2, runs Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 625 octa-core processor clocked at 2.0GHz. The smartphone comes in two variants of 3GB and 4GB RAM with 32GB and 64GB onboard storage respectively. An option to expand the storage up to 256GB via a microSD card is also available. In the photography department, the smartphone sports a 13-megapixel rear camera with AF, dual-LED flash, and a 5-megapixel selfie camera up front.

Its connectivity options include dual-SIM support, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, microUSB v2.0 and USB OTG. It is also equipped with a fingerprint scanner which is embedded on the home button. The smartphone runs on Android 6.0 Marshmallow and is powered by a massive 5,100mAh battery. According to its Europe pricing, the Lenovo P2 comes to around Rs 20,300 for the lower variant and Rs 24,400 for the higher variant. The smartphone was also scheduled to be launched in November. 

Samsung teases Galaxy S8 features: ‘Slick’ new design, improved camera and advanced AI are coming

Samsung is having a hard time getting over the massive Galaxy Note 7 fiasco, but it seems to be quite positive about next year’s Galaxy S8. We have already come across quite a few leaks about what the next year’s flagship device will bring to the table, and adding to the list is this tidbit that comes from none other than Samsung’s VP for Mobile Communications, Lee Kyeong-tae. The Samsung Galaxy S8 is expected to be unveiled at the Mobile World Congress 2017 in February 26.

Speaking to WSJ, Kyeong-tae said that the upcoming Galaxy S8 will feature “slick design” and will also come with “an improved camera.” Lee Kyeong-tae further said that the upcoming smartphone will come with “an enhanced artificial-intelligence service.” The enhanced AI is the Viv AI assistant, which is expected to debut on the Galaxy S8. Samsung had acquired the company behind the assistant earlier this year. Recently Samsung devices have the S Voice assistant onboard.

“We are expecting some difficulties until the first quarter of 2017, but we will achieve a business turnaround with the release of our new flagship smartphone,” Samsung’s vice president for mobile communications Lee Kyeong-tae said during a conference call, The Wall Street Journal reports.

From what we have come across so far, Samsung is expected to launch a Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 edge. However this time it may have different chipset and RAM for each of it phones. Going by the rumors, the Samsung Galaxy S8 could feature a 5.5-inch 4K panel with dual-curved edges and Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection on top. As for processors, one is expected to be powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 830 SoC, while the other will be powered by an Exynos 8895 SoC. Both the chipsets will be paired with 6GB and 8GB RAM respectively.

Rumors also suggest that the Galaxy S8 will come with an optical fingerprint sensor and will ditch the physical home button. Apart from that, the Galaxy S8 is also said to feature a dual-camera setup at the back, which is likely to be engineered by SEMCO. Other reports also indicate that the dual camera setup will feature a pair of 16-megapixel and 8-megapixel cameras. The rest of the features could include 4,200mAh battery, an iris scanner, wireless charging, rapid charging, and a built-in mini projector. Additionally, the smartphone might also offer S-Pen support, and Galaxy S7-like water and dust resistance capabilities.

Moto M is going to have an insane 5100mAh battery, metal body: Official launch expected this year

Just two days back, we were treated with live images of the Moto M which showed what the smartphone could look like. Along with that, we also got a glimpse of at essential information like it will run on Android 6.0 Marshmallow with September security patches. By now, we already have a rough idea on the specifications and features of the Moto M, but a leaked image has now revealed key specifications about the smartphone. The Moto M is expected to be manufactured by Lenovo, not Motorola, and could be Asia exclusive. The Moto M will be launched along with the Moto M Plus in China first.

The latest leaked image was released by TheAndroidSoul and it reveals some key specifications about the Moto M which are in line with the previous leaks and rumors. What can be confirmed is the OS that is Android 6.0 Marshmallow which has been the same in the recent live images and leaked specifications as well. Under the hood of the Moto M, it will most likely be Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 625 octa-core processor clocked at 2.0GHz and paired with Adreno 506 GPU. As for the RAM and storage options, there would be two variants – one for China with 64GB onboard memory and 4GB of RAM, and one for markets outside China with 32GB onboard storage and 3GB RAM.

The Moto M is expected to boast a massive 5,100mAh battery which is clearly the highlight of the smartphone. According to the previous leaks and specifications, the Moto M could feature a 5.5-inch full HD (1080p) display. In the photography department, the Moto M could sport a 16-megapixel rear camera and an 8-megapixel front camera. The connectivity options which are expected include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 4G LTE with VoLTE support and GPS. The recent live images of the Moto M also revealed what the smartphone could look like. The images show that the Moto M will sport a full metal body design, along with a curved back. The back panel also shows antenna bands running along the top and bottom of the smartphone.

The back, home and app switcher buttons on the Moto M are on-screen similar to other Moto smartphones. The rear panel of the Moto M shows a fingerprint scanner embedded below the camera lens. This makes it the first Moto smartphone to feature a fingerprint scanner at the back. The rear camera lens is also accompanied by a LED flash. 

There is no official word on the launch date for the Moto M or the Moto M Plus, but there have been rumors suggesting that both the smartphones could be launched in China sometime in December.

Google Allo 2.0 for Android is out with direct replies, GIF keyboard support,Android Wear support, direct share, and more

Google has released the first major update to Allo since it first launched its latest messaging client in the third week of September. The latest update adds support for a bunch of features that Google has introduced in Nougat. Allo 2.0 is currently in the process of rolling out through the Play Store.

This includes support for multi-window multitasking, Direct Sharing, and Direct Replies. With support for multi-window multitasking, Allo users running Nougat can use the application in split-screen mode alongside other apps. To open Allo in split-screen mode, open the app and then proceed to hold the Recent Apps button. You can then select any other application that you want to run side-by-side to Allow as wall as a Monochrome theme which you can enable in Settings.

With Direct Sharing, which Google first introduced in Marshmallow, Allo users can now directly share content to their favorite contacts right from the share menu. Sadly, since Direct Sharing is so poorly implemented, the feature only sounds good on paper.

Other new features introduced with this update include support for GIFs keyboard and app shortcuts, which will only be available to Pixel and Android 7.1 running devices out there. For Android Wear users, Allo now has a basic Android Wear app making it easier to reply to chats right from your wrist.

Lastly, with support for Direct Replies, Allo users can respond to conversation right from the notification shade without having to open the application. Finally, you now get direct voice recognition when you're chatting with the Google Assistant.


Download : Google Allo 2.0

Moto M live photos leaked; show off metal unibody design, rear-mounted fingerprint scanner

After some images of the Lenovo-owned Motorola’s yet to be announced Moto M were leaked last week, two new live images of the smartphone has now surfaced online. Carrying model number is XT1662, the photos show off the purported Moto M’s essential information screen, which confirms that the smartphone will run on Android 6.0 Marshmallow with September security patches. The front panel of the smartphone shows an earpiece, selfie camera, proximity sensor and the display. The back, home and app switcher buttons are on-screen ones.

The second leaked image shows the rear panel of the smartphone, which confirms that the Moto M will be the first smartphone under the Moto brand to feature a fingerprint scanner at the back. It also shows that the primary camera of the smartphone will be accompanied by an LED flash. In addition to that, the live images also confirm that the smartphone will sport a full metal body design, along with a curved back that makes the handset thinner at its edges than in the middle. The back panel also features antenna bands along the top and bottom, which we have seen in earlier Moto M leaks as well.

Last month, similar live images of the smartphone were leaked, and the information revealed in that fall in line with this one. The live photo showed the Moto M carrying a model number XT1662 and running on Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow OS. Other than that, it revealed that the smartphone will feature a 5.5-inch full HD (1080p) display, and will be equipped with 32GB onboard storage and 4GB of RAM. The leak had also revealed that the Moto M will only be released in Asia, and will be manufactured by Lenovo, not Motorola.

Gathering the previous leaks by now we know, that the Moto M is likely be powered by MediaTek’s MT6755 octa-core processor clocked at 2.1GHz, paired with 4GB of RAM and 32GB onboard storage. However, there is no word on whether the storage will be expandable or not. In the camera department, a 16-megapixel rear camera and an 8-megapixel selfie camera. With 3,000mAh battery, connectivity options such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 4G LTE with VoLTE support and GPS are expected.
Besides the Moto M, a larger variant called the Moto M Plus is also expected to be revealed. The Moto M Plus could be a premium smartphone with a large 6-inch 1080p full-HD display. It is said to be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 652 SoC. Prior to this we have spotted the Snapdragon 652 on Xiaomi Mi Max Prime and LeEco Le 2. The smartphone also likely to come with fingerprint scanner embedded into the home button up front. Connectivity wise, the smartphone is said to support 4G LTE connectivity, and it will be armed with a 3,000mAh battery.

As per the launch date, Moto M and Moto M Plus smartphones are expected to launch in China first, but there is no word on when it could arrive in other markets. Some reports state that Lenovo is planning for a launch event sometime in December 2016.

Apple Confirms Arrival of new MacBook Pro with OLED touch panel, Touch ID button with fingerprint scanner

With the commercial release of macOS 10.12.1 Sierra on Monday,At an event scheduled for tomorrow, October 27, Apple is widely expected to launch the new MacBook Pros. Ahead of the launch, Apple has accidently let a few images of the new MacBook slip out. Turns out, some images of the new MacBook were hiding inside the latest MacOS Sierra update. Spotted by MacRumors, the images reveal some interesting new details about the new laptop. The images confirm that the new MacBook will come with an OLED touch bar sitting right above the keypad. And in order to make room for the touch bar, the Apple completely got rid of the function keys at the top of Mac keyboards, including the escape button. That goes for all the keys for keypad backlights, brightness control and the volume control keys as well.

In these photos, the Touch ID is placed right where the power button used to be. It is seamlessly integrated right next to the Oled screen and is hardly visible. The images also reveal that the speakers are situated at both ends of the keyboard on the new MacBook Pro.

Confirming the Apple Pay feature, one of the pictures shows it being used for Apple Pay, where an arrow points to the right corner of the touch strip, where a Touch ID fingerprint reader is located. This means that the OLED Touch strip will also have the Touch ID fingerprint sensor as part of it. The Touch ID power button will not only allow you to login without having to type a password, but also let you use the Apple Pay feature on MacOS Sierra. Imagine how easy shopping will become.

Before Apple itself accidentally teased a few details about the new MacBook Pro, leakster also manage to get out some purported details. Reports suggest that the 2016 MacBook Pro model will be offered in two sizes, which is 13.3-inch and 15.4-inch. Talking about the upcoming changes, one of the big talking points will be the ditching of the USB ports. The laptop instead will only offer USB Type-C port and a Thunderbolt 3 Port to connect other peripherals. To make up for the loss, Apple already sells a USB-C dock that offers an HDMI port, a USB 3.0 Port and a USB-C port for power. The port is priced at approximately Rs 5,300. Besides, the USB port, just like the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, the 3.5mm audio jack on the new MacBook Pro is expected to get an axe too. 

The MacBook Pro is expected to be the most significant upgrade among the entire Mac lineup. It is said to be lighter and thinner than its predecessor, and also be powered by Intel's Skylake generation processors with up to 2TB SSD storage. The laptops are also supposed to offer improved display quality and energy efficiency, and are rumoured to come with a "MagSafe-like adapter".

Other than that, the 13-inch MacBook Pro model could also come with a slightly different speaker placement. While the previous models had the speakers placed beneath the keyboard, the newer models may have them placed on either side of the keyboard, just like on the 15-inch MacBook Pro. The addition of the OLED panel could one of the reasons why the speakers are being moved. For the 15-inch model, Apple may also ditch AMD and shift towards ‘Polaris’ graphics card.

Also, besides the MacBook Pro, Apple is also widely expected to unveil a new 5K display, which is reportedly being developed by LG. This display could fill the gap that has been created due to discontinuation of the Thunderbolt Display. Reports also say that, at this event Apple is likely to kill the 11-inch MacBook Air and instead launch a new 13-inch Air with USB Type-C ports. The pricing details and other features are scarce at the moment, but we will get to learn more when Apple makes the new MacBook Pros official tomorrow.

Microsoft Windows 10 event 2016 is today: Here's how to watch live stream and what to expect

Microsoft's 'What's next for Windows 10' event on Wednesday is expected to be its yearly Windows 10 event which will see some major updates around the operating system. The Redmond giant however this year is likely to make fewer announcements compared to last year. The Microsoft event time 10am EDT (or 7:30pm IST) on Wednesday. Several announcements are expected from the company, from details about the next major Windows 10 update, to new Surface devices, and an new Paint app. The Microsoft event live stream will also be available on the company's site.

Microsoft has released several preview builds to people who are part of the Windows Insider programme. We can also expect the company to reveal upcoming updates planned for Windows 10 in 2017.

After years, Microsoft's Paint app in Windows is likely to get an update with some new features that are expected to add more utility to the tool. The redesigned app is expected to include support for 3D objects and this support can prove to be extremely useful for the developers and artists who will be working on apps meant for the company's augmented-reality platform HoloLens. A leaked video allegedly showed the new Paint app working and how easily 3D objects could be created and moved around in the workspace. 

Apart from software-related announcements and incremental updates to certain features in Windows 10, Microsoft is expected to showcase an all-in-one (AIO) PC under its Surface brand. The upcoming AIO under Surface branding is codenamed "Cardinal", as per the earlier report. It is expected to be showcased in three screen sizes - 21-inches, 24-inches, and 27-inches. Rumours claim that the Redmond giant may unveil all three at the event or at least one will be showcased. Unfortunately, the specifications of the alleged AIO PC have been successfully kept under wraps and speculations will likely begin as we approach closer to the event.

Microsoft is said to be launching the Surface AIO PC as a consolation of sorts as the unveiling of the second-generation Surface Book was reportedly shifted from the second half of 2016 to first half 2017 due to delay in CPU shipments by Intel. Previous reports have already suggested that Microsoft is working on a Surface Phone which is said to debut in early 2017.

The company is also rumoured to launch a new Surface Laptop, according to leaked trademark filing. Unfortunately, details around the Surface Laptop are scarce at the moment. Apart from the alleged Surface laptop, Microsoft has been also reportedly after Surface Studio, Surface Dial, and Dial trademark filings.

The Redmond Giant has already revealed that the event will be all about Windows 10 and Cortana started giving hints about Microsoft's Windows 10 event when users asked to "spark your imagination."

Microsoft can be expected to announce new updates to its Cortana digital voice-assistant as well. Recently, researchers at Microsoft claimed that their speech recognition system reached 'human parity'.

Windows Central also reports that Microsoft may finally reveal its competitor to Amazon Echo and Google Home. The new voice-activated speaker is rumoured to be dubbed HomeHub and will marketed as a product for being part of user's living room. Report claims that most of the features of the HomeHub will be controlled via Cortana.

Reliance Jio now reportedly has the highest data traffic in the world

Reliance Jio has long been perceived as the catalyst to the next revolution in the Indian telecom market. With its ultra low-cost data plans and schemes like free voice calls for lifetime and free 4G data up to 4GB under its Welcome Offer, Reliance Jio has been aiming to instantly gain 100 million subscribers. And as expected, it was met with an overwhelming response from users across the country. The operator seems to continue to grow in popularity despite some grave concerns about the call drops and declining data speeds. Now, a report by global financial services company Credit Suisse says Reliance Jio has a data traffic of 16,000TB per day as compared to China Mobile’s 12,000TB and Vodafone Global’s 6,000TB data per day. India’s top telecom operator Airtel stands at 2,000TB per day data traffic.

In terms of sheer data volume, Reliance Jio has become one of the top telecom operators in the world, reports Economic Times. Do remember, Reliance Jio hasn’t officially announced these figures. Credit Suisse also commented on declining 4G speeds of Reliance Jio. The brokerage said slowing Jio 4G network “is understandable” as the operator is “getting stress-tested.” Reliance Jio had revealed that it had gained 16 million new subscribers within a month of the commercial roll out. Jio says it adds 0.6 million to 1.1 million customers a day every day. A couple of months ago, Reliance Jio had reported that its network sees consumption of 26GB data per person as of June-end. Though at the time, Jio had just 15 lakh customers. 

Reliance Jio’s massive data traffic can also be attributed to the free data offers it has been giving out. The company was offering unlimited free data with select handsets under the Preview Offer and later it extended the same, though a cap of 4GB per day, with the Welcome Offer. The 4GB data is still very high for a daily cap considering a lot of users have 1GB or 2GB monthly data plans. Offers like free data and voice calls have been biggest draw for Reliance Jio. But it will be interesting to see whether Reliance Jio sees the same amount data traffic on its network once the free offer is over. 

Even as Reliance Jio is amassing big numbers, the operator hasn’t been really able to cope up with massive data traffic. According to a recent Ookla speed test report, Reliance Jio has seen a downward trend in average data speed. Shortly after the Ookla report, TRAI’s report on its website revealed Jio was offering the slowest 4G data speeds. According to the TRAI data, Airtel has the maximum average 4G download speed at 11.4Mbps while Jio delivers an average speed of 6.2Mbps. Idea is at third spot with 7.6Mbps speed while Vodafone offers an average speed of 7.3Mbps.

Reliance Jio has however turned down these reports about the declining data speeds. “With reference to statistics published TRAI’s analytics website, we have performed an internal analysis of the same. Based on this analysis, we believe that the comparison of Jio speeds with other operators has an inherent bias against Jio data usage. Historically, we have observed that a disproportionate number of speed tests are performed once the FUP comes into effect. This is so since most users don’t consider performing the test until they observe a deterioration of speed. Such users also tend to perform multiple tests until full speeds are restored,” Reliance Jio had said in a statement.

Another problem that Reliance Jio has continue to grapple with is interconnect issue, which has caused massive call drops on its network. In a major relief to the newcomer, the regulator TRAI has floated a consultation paper to resolve issues related to point of interconnection between Reliance Jio and other telecom operators.

Xiaomi Mi Note 2 with dual-edge curved OLED display, Snapdragon 821, 22.56 MP rear camera launched in China: Price, specifications and features

After months of leaks and rumors, Xiaomi has finally taken the wraps off its new flagship smartphone at its ‘Curved to impress’ event in Beijing, China. Called the Mi Note 2, the smartphone is successor to the Mi Note that was launched back in January 2015. The smartphone's highlight is the use of both front and back 3D curved glass, which also gives the Mi Note 2 a dual-edge curved display like the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge, though perhaps not as extreme in scope. The company is calling it a two-sided curved display. The smartphone will be offered in two color options – glacial silver and piano black color options.

The Xiaomi Mi Note 2 will be available in three variants: a 4GB RAM/ 64GB inbuilt storage model priced at CNY 2,799 (approximately Rs 28,000), a 6GB RAM/ 128GB storage model priced at CNY 3,299(approximately Rs 33,000), and the Global Edition 6GB RAM/ 128GB storage model priced at CNY 3,499(approximately Rs 35,000). The last has support for global LTE bands (with support for up to 37 LTE bands). There is no word on when Xiaomi plans to launch it in India.

Xiaomi Mi Note 2 specifications and features 

The Mi Note 2 features a 5.7-inch dual-edge flexible OLED display covered with Corning Gorilla Glass protection. Xiaomi has also added sunlight display pro mode for legibility under direct sunlight and reading mode to ensure it does not cause strain on your eyes. The display has a screen to bezel ratio of 77.2 percent and contrast ratio of 100,000:1. It is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 821 quad-core chipset clocked at 2.35GHz paired with 4GB or RAM + 64GB storage and 6GB of RAM and 128GB UFS 2.0 storage.

The smartphone features a 22.56-megapixel rear camera (Sony IMX 318 Exmor R sensor) with electronic image stabilization (EIS), phase detection auto-focus (PDAF) and LED flash. The EIS works similar to what we’ve seen in the Pixel and Pixel XL cameras.  There is also a front-facing 8-megapixel selfie camera with auto-focus functionality. Xiaomi has also added group selfie optimization feature that takes multiple shots and lets you choose the best one.

Armed with a 4,070mAh battery and support for Quick Charge 3.0, connectivity options include USB Type-C, dual-SIM card slots, 4G LTE with VoLTE support, Bluetooth, NFC, Wi-Fi 802.11ac and SAP GPS for precision and accuracy. In terms of 4G LTE band, the smartphone supports six types and 37 bands for global roaming. There is also support for 4G+ that can reach maximum speeds of 600Mbps.

Xiaomi has also added the ultrasonic fingerprint scanner on the front, which uses Qualcomm’s Sense ID feature to precisely read your fingerprints. It is the same as we’ve previously seen in the Mi 5s. The smartphone also includes support for 24-bit Hi-Fi sound (192kHz) with HD lossless audio.

Samsung Galaxy Note 7 Customers Offered Galaxy S8, Galaxy Note 8 Upgrade Programme for 50 percent off

Samsung Electronics is offering an upgrade programme option to Galaxy Note 7 customers in South Korea who trade in their recalled device for a Galaxy S7 phone, marking its latest attempt to retain customers.

In a statement on Monday, Samsung said customers who trade in their Galaxy Note 7 phone for either a flat-screen or curved-screen version of the Galaxy S7 can trade up for a Galaxy S8 or Galaxy Note 8 smartphone launching next year through an upgrade programme.

The world's top smartphone maker permanently ended Galaxy Note 7 sales due to continued reports of fire from the flagship device. In addition to offering refunds or exchanges for a Galaxy S7 smartphone, Samsung has already offered financial incentives amounting to KRW 100,000 ($88.39) to affected customers in South Korea.

Users in the upgrade programme will need to pay only half the price of a Galaxy S7 device, rather than the full amount, before exchanging to the Galaxy S8 or the Galaxy Note 8, Samsung said.

In offering the Galaxy Note 8 upgrade option, Samsung indirectly reinforced previous statements that the Note series will not be discontinued. The company said the availability of such a programme in other markets will be dependent on the situation in each country. It did not elaborate.

Samsung has stepped up marketing and promotion for its Galaxy S smartphones to try to make up for some of the lost sales. The Galaxy Note 7's collapse is already costing Samsung $5.4 billion in operating profit between the third quarter of this year and the first quarter of 2017.

Some analysts say Samsung will need to offer incentives to affected customers as part of their efforts to limit long-term damage to its brand and reputation from the Galaxy Note 7's failure.

Huawei Mate 9 Pro with dual-curved 5.9-inch QHD display, 4X optical zoom leaked

It is raining curves so to say. The upcoming Xiaomi Mi Note 2 is all but expected to flaunt a dual-edge curved display, joining the ranks is the Huawei Mate 9 Pro. Huawei is hosting an event in Germany on November 3 where it will be launching the Mate 9 (codename Manhattan). But a leak now suggests that there will be a ‘Pro’ variant that will sport a curved display.

Renders of the Huawei Mate 9 Pro (codenamed Long Island) shared by leakster Evan Blass show a design that in our opinion is very similar to the Samsung Galaxy Note 7. The leakster reveals that the device will flaunt a 5.9-inch display with QHD (2560×1440 pixels) resolution. In comparison, the Mate 9 is expected to feature a full HD (1920×1080 pixels) display. The reason for the bump in resolution is because the Pro variant will support Google’s Daydream VR, and it makes a lot of sense since a 1080p resolution stretched on a 6-inch display would mar the overall virtual reality experience. Besides the difference in display resolution, both the Mate 9 and Mate 9 Pro share a lot of the same specifications and features.

Huawei Mate 9, Mate 9 Pro specifications and features

In comparison to the Mate 9 Pro, the standard Mate 9 will feature a 5.9-inch full HD (1920×1080 pixels) display. Under the hood will be Huawei’s own Kirin 960 octa-core chipset paired with 4GB of RAM. The smartphones are expected to be available in three storage options — 64GB, 128GB and 256GB. On the software front, the Mate 9 Pro is expected to run on Android Nougat 7.0 out-of-the-box wrapped under Emotion UI 5.0.

Among the talking points will surely be the dual-camera setup at the back complete with Leica branding. While the overall functionality of the cameras is expected to be same as the recent Huawei P9 flagship smartphone, the number of megapixels will be bumped up to 20-megapixels. The setup consists of a Monochrome and a RGB sensor. Along with the Picture Quality Algorithm developed by both the companies, one sensor calculates the color information, while the other picks up light. The result is a photo that has relatively better colors, details and sharpness, even in low light conditions.

One of the surprises on the Huawei P9‘s camera was the missing optical image stabilization support (OIS), but that is likely to change with the upcoming smartphones. The rest of the camera features expected are f/2.0 aperture, 4x optical zoom, laser auto-focus, hybrid auto-focus feature, contrast focus and depth focus

According to Blass, the Mate 9 Pro will be the highlight of the launch event on November 3, but all this won’t come cheap. The top-end Mate 9 Pro variant could be priced at a whopping $1,300 which is approximately Rs 93,600. Prices for the Mate 9, on the other hand, are expected to start from  $480 (Rs 32,100 approximately) for the 64GB variant and go up to $700 (Rs 46,800 approximately) for the 256GB variant.

Google Pixel, Pixel XL to go on sale in India from October 25: Price, specifications, features

Pre-orders for Google’s new Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones kicked off on Flipkart and Croma’s online store earlier this month. Prices for the smartphones start from Rs 57,000 and go up to Rs 76,000 for the top-end variant. Flipkart is currently offering various deals for buyers, including exchange offers, no cost EMI and cashback offers for card users. But if you are among those who prefer getting some hands-on time with a phone before buying it, there’s some good news. Google India has announced that both the Pixel smartphones will be available at stores from October 25.

Google revealed the date on its Twitter account with a tweet that read, “The future is exciting. And by future we mean 3 days from now. #Pixel will start reaching stores on 25th October #madebygoogle.”

Google had revealed that along with online partners, the new Pixel smartphones will also be available via offline retail chains like Reliance Digital, Vijay Sales, Croma and Jumbo among others. For those wondering, recent reports have claimed that Google has tied up with HTC (the manufacturer of the Pixel smartphones) to provide after-sales service for the Pixel smartphones in India.

The timing of the launch couldn’t have been any better for Google, as the last week before Diwali is when festive shopping fever is at its all-time high. With Apple’s iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus not widely available in India, and the failure of Samsung’s Galaxy Note 7, Google’s new smartphones are seen as the only other competitor at the premium mobile segment. 

Google Pixel, Pixel XL specifications and features

The Google Pixel sports a 5-inch full HD (1080p) AMOLED display, while the Google Pixel XL sports a 5.5-inch QHD AMOLED display. Both displays have a 2.5D curved glass on top and are protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 4. The Pixel sports a 2,770mAh battery that is said to be good enough for 26 hours of talktime, and up to 19 days on standby mode, while the Pixel XL sports a 3,450mAh battery that is said to be good enough for 32 hours of talktime and up to 23 days on standby mode. Apart from the difference in size and battery, both devices come with the same set of specifications and features. 

Under the hood is Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 821 quad-core processor paired with 4GB of RAM. On the photography front, the smartphones are equipped with a 12.3-megapixel rear snapper with f/2.0 aperture, 1.55μm pixels, PDAF and laser auto-focus. The rear camera also supports 4K video recording. Up front, there is an 8-megapixel fixed-focus selfie camera with f/2.4 aperture and 1.4µm pixels.

The smartphones also feature a fingerprint scanner placed at the back, and IP53 certification that makes them resistant to water and dust to an extent. Connectivity options include 4G LTE support, USB Type-C port for charging and data transfer, Bluetooth 4.2, GPS, Wi-Fi 802.11ac and NFC.

On the software front, both smartphones run on Android Nougat 7.1 out-of-the-box wrapped under the Pixel UI. One of the highlights of the new smartphones is the built-in Google Assistant, which is the company’s take on Siri and Alexa. It is more capable than Google Now, and is more contextually aware about what’s happening on your smartphone. One can simply converse with the AI and ask questions like weather, distance from one place to the other, or route from source to destination, and more.

Moto G4, Moto G4 Plus Start Receiving Android 7.0 Nougat Update in India

Lenovo has finally begun the rollout of Android 7.0 Nougat update for the Moto G4 and Moto G4 Plus smartphones. The Android 7.0 Nougat brings in improvements to the user experience with new multitasking features, more efficient notification controls and improved data saver and battery features. Some of the most prominent upgrades are the on-the-go Doze mode, split screen, quick app switch and direct reply feature, among others. Motorola warns users that they cananot downgrade to a previous software version after installing the latest update.

Notably, the update announcement on the Motorola India website comes shortly after the company began soak testing the update in Brazil earlier this week. Soak testing is the process of releasing the update to a few end users, verifying and fixing any issues, and then rolling it out the general populace. It appears the soak test was successful, as the update has now started rolling out to general users in a phased manner.

How to install the update?

In order to install the update, the first thing a user must ensure that their smartphone’s battery is at least 50 percent charged and is connected to a Wi-Fi network. Now, when a user receives a notification message for this update, follow these simple steps.

• Select the Settings icon in the apps menu

• Select "About phone".

• Select "System updates"

• Select "Yes, I’m in". After the software is downloaded, select "Install now".

• After the software is installed, your phone will re-start automatically.

• Your phone is now updated.

Other than that, the update will come with some common Nougat feature for all eligible Android devices. It will come with productivity features like Quick switch, which will make multitasking much easier. Users will be able to switch between one app to the other by just double tapping the overview or the recent apps button to switch between the two most recently used apps. It also comes with a Multi-window view feature, which lets a user run two apps side by side on their screen. The feature can be activated by long-pressing the overview or the recent apps button. However, it is important to note that the feature will be compatible only if the developer of an app has enabled the feature. Additionally, the app supports a work mode toggle, which users to conveniently turn on and off their device’s work apps and related notifications for a better work-life balance.

For performance, the update brings in features like Data saver, which as the name suggest, helps reduce cellular data usage. When a user’s Data saver is on, apps running in the background won’t be able to access cellular data. Under the feature, users can choose which apps have unrestricted cellular data access. To turn Data saver on, open Settings from the app tray and go to Data usage, then tap on Data saver. To adjust data access for individual apps, got to Unrestricted data access option.

Then, the update comes with an interesting Doze on the Go feature, which lets a user’s device go into lower power usage when it is not being used and it’s screen is off. This is even if a user is on the move. Android Nougat also has a new JIT compiler, which improves the runtime device performance, helps reduce the amount of storage space required for apps, and helps make app and system updates much faster. Along with that, it has many stability improvements, which Includes changes that address bugs and help improve the stability of a user’s smartphone.

Quite similar to iOS, the Android Nougat update comes with a direct reply feature, which allows users to quickly reply to messages right from the notifications. When a user receives a message, they just have to swipe the status bar down and tap on “Reply” on the message notification. They can type and send their response, without opening the app. Again, this feature works only on compatible applications.

Android Nougat also has a bundled notification update, which has multiple notifications from the same app bundled together into a single notification group. Drag the status bar down and tap the group to expand it and see or take action on individual notifications. This makes the notification panel clutter free and more organized. Additionally, the update gives a user more notification controls, by allowing them to press and hold on a notification to toggle the settings directly. A user can silence or block future alerts from an app in the notification itself. Which, personally, I think is a blessing! 

Samsung Galaxy C9 Pro With 6GB of RAM, 6-Inch Display, Snapdragon 653 chipset, 16 MP selfie camera listed Online hours ahead of launch

Samsung is all set to launch a new smartphone in China on Friday, widely expected to be the Galaxy C9. The company is also anticipated to launch a variant called the Galaxy C9 Pro. Now, just hours ahead of the launch, the latter phone has been listed on major Chinese online retailer T-Mall. The listing is complete with price, specifications, and images. The smartphone is not yet available to buy.  Samsung Galaxy C9 Pro sports a CNY 3,199 (roughly Rs. 31,700) price tag.

Samsung Galaxy C9 Pro will feature a large 6-inch Full HD AMOLED display and will be sleek with a thickness of 6.9mm. It will be powered by the recently announced Qualcomm Snapdragon 653 SoC, Adreno 510 GPU, along with 6GB of RAM and 64GB of on-board storage, which will be expandable up to 256GB using a microSD card. On the photography front, the smartphone will sport a 16-megapixel primary and a 16-megapixel secondary camera, both of which will have f/1.9 aperture. Additionally, the leaked images show that the smartphone will come with Samsung Pay, using both NFC (Near Field Communication) and MST (Magnetic Secure Transmission). 

Other than that for connectivity, the smartphone will support Type-C USB post, fingerprint sensor on its home button,dual-SIM (Nano+Nano). The Galaxy C9 Pro will be fuelled by a 4,000mAh battery and will run on Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow OS. The smartphone will be available in two colors – a gold and a rose gold variant.

Motorola Moto X (2016) with dual-front speakers, selfie flash leaked; here’s what we know so far

Earlier this week, photos of what were touted to be ‘Moto M’ and ‘Moto M Plus’ devices were spotted online. The latest addition to the list of leaks about upcoming Motorola smartphones is what could possibly be a new Moto X. The smartphone was first rumored earlier this year and expected to feature new-age hardware elements like a dual-camera module and 4K video recording capabilities among others. Now giving a visual to the earlier leaked speculations is an image shared by serial leaker Evan Blass who has shared an image with #mysterymoto tag.

With the launch of Moto Z, there were rumours of Motorola killing the Moto X series but it seems the Moto X series could very well be alive. 

Motorola is already pushing modular smartphone as the next big innovation with the Z series. In an exclusive conversation with indianexpress.com, Lenovo’s Ken Wong had said, “Market is moving from general purpose to scenario-based devices”. It is unclear whether next Moto X will be modular smartphone but it is very much likely.

Earlier this year, a Moto X (2016) smartphone carrying model number XT1650 was spotted on benchmarking website GeekBench, revealing some of the specifications of the rumored device. According to the leaked details, the smartphone sports a 5.5-inch Quad HD display (2560×1440 pixels) and is powered by a 2.1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 Quad-core chipset with 4GB of RAM and Adreno 530 GPU. The details further hinted at the speculated Moto X (2016) smartphone coming with 32GB of onboard storage with no mention of further storage expansion.

The Moto X (2016) is likely to feature a 21-megapixel + 16-megapixel dual camera setup at the rear which could possibly make it the maximum in terms of megapixel count as compared to all the smartphones with dual-camera module released recently. However, for selfies, the Moto X (2016) will continue to be restricted to 5-megapixel snapper. It is yet unclear if the company wants to follow LG and HTC in adding depth sensors or wide-angle sensors for its speculated device. In terms of connectivity, the smartphone is expected to come with Bluetooth 4.0, GPS, 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 802.11ac support. The smartphone in all possibility run the newer Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow.

As with the USB Type-C port, the dual-camera module is also set to gradually become an industry norm with more smartphones offering the feature aimed at better smartphone photography. It is still a rumor that Motorola too will add the dual-camera setup to its anticipated Moto X (2016) smartphone and whether it will also bring the feature to a premium variant of the device.

Xiaomi Mi Note 2 price, specifications and features revealed ahead of October 25 launch

There are been many contrasting rumours about the Mi Note 2. Some claim that the smartphone will sport dual edge display and a dual camera setup, while the others claim only one of them will make it to the smartphone. In any case, Xiaomi has scheduled an event on October 25 where all the official details of the Mi Note successor will be out of the bag once and for all. But before that happens, presentation slides claimed to be for the upcoming event have been leaked on Weibo, revealing all specifications and pricing details of the Mi Note 2.

The photo only shows the front-side of the Mi Note 2, and one of the first things you notice is the dual-edge curved display. To be very honest though, we are unsure if this is really the Mi Note 2, as it looks a bit different from the renders leaked before. In fact, the image shows a device that seems very much like the Samsung Galaxy S7 edge, but with the MIUI on top. It could very well be a copy-paste job using a photo editing tool like Photoshop.

Xiaomi Mi Note 2 specifications and features 

According to the GSMArena , the Xiaomi Mi Note 2 flaunts a 5.7-inch dual-edge curved display with QHD (2560×1440 pixels) resolution. Under the hood is Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 821 quad-core chipset clocked at 2.35GHz. The processor will be paired with either 4GB of 6GB of LPDDR4 RAM, and the phablet is expected to be available in two storage variants — 64GB, 128GB. The screen will feature 3D Touch and below the glass that covers it is an ultrasonic fingerprint reader like on the Mi 5s. There will be an iris scanner too, a second biometric security option.

In the photography department, the Mi Note 2 will be equipped with a dual-camera setup at the back - one 23MP Sony IMX318 sensor and a 12MP IMX378. The slides don’t say what those two cameras will be used - the 12MP sensor is far too good for mere depth information like on the Redmi Pro. Actually, IMX378 is the same sensor used in the last Nexus and Pixels, which were great at low-light shooting. Our money is on wide/telephoto cameras.

Xiaomi could leverage Qualcomm’s ClearSight technology for capturing crisp photos with less noise, even in low-light conditions. We have already seen a similar setup on the Mi 5s Plus and the same could be expected on the Mi Note 2 as well. For selfie lovers, the device is expected to come with a 16-megapixel front-facing camera.

While that is all that the listing reveals, previous rumors have claimed that the Mi Note 2 will come with a 4,100mAh battery and Quick Charge 3.0 support. Interestingly, the image here shows a physical button below the display that is likely to have a fingerprint scanner embedded. This would contradict previous rumors about Xiaomi opting for Qualcomm’s Sense ID ultrasonic fingerprint scanner placed below the front glass. The phablet is also expected to include connectivity options like dual-SIM card slots, 4G with VoLTE HD voice calling support, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi 802.11ac, NFC and GPS. On the software front, the phablet could run on Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow-based MIUI 8. 

As for the price, the 4GB variant is seen to be priced at CNY 2,799 (roughly Rs. 27,800) and 6GB RAM variant is seen to be priced at CNY 2,999 (roughly Rs. 29,800). 

Samsung Galaxy On Nxt launched in India, priced at Rs 18,490: Specifications, features

While Flipkart still hasn’t fulfilled its promise of revealing the Samsung Galaxy On Nxt, which was scheduled to happen at 8pm on Thursday, someone at Samsung India seems to have jumped the gun by listing the smartphone on the company’s website.

According to the listing, which was still live at the time of publishing this post, the smartphone will be priced at Rs. 18,490 and be available in Gold and Black colours. The Galaxy On Nxt was earlier confirmed to be Flipkart exclusive, and we'll have to wait for details from the e-commerce major for details on when the phone will go up for purchase.

In tune with the teaser video posted by Samsung, the Galaxy On Nxt features a full metal unibody design and comes with a full HD display with 2.5D Gorilla Glass on top. Given the recent Galaxy Note 7 fiasco, the launch of Galaxy On Nxt at Rs 18,490 is likely to minimize the burning disappointment in the hearts of Indian users who had been long waiting for the flagship device.

Samsung Galaxy On Nxt specifications and features

The Galaxy On Nxt features a 5.5-inch full HD display offering 1920×1080 pixels resolution. In line with the rumors, the smartphone is powered by a 1.6GHz octa-core processor paired with 3GB of RAM. It further includes 32GB of internal storage, which is expandable up to 256GB with the help of a microSD card.

On the camera front, the Galaxy On Nxt features a 13-megapixel rear camera with f/1.9 aperture and flash. The f/1.9 aperture claims to offer brighter and clearer images even in low light, and the camera is further capable of video recording in full HD (1920×1080) @30fps. For selfies, the smartphone offers an 8-megapixel front camera.

In terms of battery specification, the Galaxy On Nxt is backed by a 3,300mAh battery, which is claimed to offer up to 15 hours of LTE internet usage time and up to 21 hours of talk time. The Galaxy On Nxt is a dual-SIM smartphone that offer 4G LTE capabilities. A lot of smartphones these days claim to offer memory expansion and dual-SIM support, but offer a hybrid slot. The Galaxy On Nxt however features two separate trays for SIMs and a microSD card slot. 

Other connectivity options include GPS, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n 2.4GHz, and Bluetooth v4.1. Unlike the fetish with USB Type-C connectors, the Galaxy On Nxt keeps it regular with a standard USB 2.0 support, fingerprint sensor is thrown into the home button for good measure. It is run on Android Marshmallow. 

Samsung Galaxy On Nxt launching in India today

Samsung India is holding a event in Kolkatta on Thursday where it will launch two smartphones, with one of them expected to the next Samsung Galaxy On smartphone. In a series of tweets on Wednesday, Samsung teased the launch and also confirmed that the upcoming Galaxy On smartphone will be Flipkart exclusive.

Meanwhile, Flipkart has listed the device on its website. "Samsung Galaxy On Nxt..all that you need reveal today at 8 PM," reads the listing. This means that the phone will either be launched at 8 PM or will be available for purchase/registration from 8 PM today.

Samsung Galaxy On Nxt specifications and features

The smartphone is expected to feature a 5.5-inch full HD (1920×1080 pixels) display, 2GHz Snapdragon 625 octa-core processor, Adreno 506 GPU, and 3GB of RAM. There is also likely to be 32GB onboard storage, which will be further expandable up to 256GB.

In the photography department, the Galaxy On Nxt is expected to sport a 13-megapixel rear camera with f/1.9 aperture and LED flash. Up front, could be an 8-megapixel selfie camera with f/1.9 aperture as well. The smartphone is expected to be powered by a 3,300mAh non-removable battery and would be equipped with fast charging support.

As for connectivity, the expected options are dual-SIM support and 4G VoLTE support. For software, the Samsung Galaxy On Nxt will probably run on Android Marshmallow but an update to Android Nougat is expected to be available shortly after the launch. Also, the home button on the Galaxy On Nxt is expected to double up as a fingerprint scanner. Although they differ in terms of the series, it is believed that the Galaxy On Nxt could be an upgraded rendition of the Galaxy J7 Prime.

To recall, Samsung earlier this month unveiled the Galaxy On8 priced at Rs. 15,900 which was exclusively available via Flipkart. The biggest highlight of the Samsung Galaxy On8 was its 5.5-inch full-HD Super Amoled display.