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Purism announces final specs of Librem 5 Linux phone, excepts to start shipments in Q3 of 2019

The Librem 5's specifications have been finalized, but the hardware looks outdated. Considering the phone's $700 price tag, it's unlikely that the Librem 5 will garner any significant market share. However, the Librem 5 is focused...

Sam Medley, 30 Jul 2019 23:14

Hitman 2 main character, Hitman 3 in the works

Hitman 3 is in development already, Hitman 2 gets a new map

As revealed in a YouTube documentary by IO Interactive employees, a third Hitman game is already in the works. Hitman 2 gets a new DLC today, namely Siberia (The Prison), and Hitman 3 could bring back the episodic structure that w...

Codrut Nistor, 30 Jul 2019 12:00

Action Launcher 42 now available (Source: Action Launcher)

Action Launcher 42 now available with theme enhancements and improved integration

Released at the end of last week, Action Launcher 42 comes with full theme support — light, dark, and full black options available, color matching and custom color selection for the Quicktheme feature, improved Google Discover/Now...

Codrut Nistor, 30 Jul 2019 10:25

Could the Honor 10 be in line for yet another software update? (Source: The Financial Express)

Some official tweets hint at Android Q for the Honor 10 and 8X

The Honor 8X and 10 may be updated to new versions of their Android skin soon. This may lead to speculation that these 2 phones may also get the next major software upgrade, which would be EMUI 10. When asked about this via Twitte...

Deirdre O Donnell, 29 Jul 2019 18:41

The classic FPS titles Doom and Doom II go mobile

Doom and Doom II now available for iOS and Android

The legendary FPS titles Doom and Doom II are now finally available for iOS and Android handsets. While they are not free, they come for a fair price of US$4.99 each. Doom includes the "Thy Flesh Consumed" expansion and Doom 2 com...

Codrut Nistor, 29 Jul 2019 14:09

LG V30 originally planned to rollout 9.0 Pie to the V30 in Q2 2019. (Image source: LG)

LG V30 Android 9.0 Pie update goes live in 9 countries, and here is how to install it

Rejoice V30 owners, for LG has finally released Android 9.0 Pie for its former flagship. The OS update introduces gesture controls, upgraded system apps and more. Some early adopters have reported experiencing laggy UI and gesture...

Alex Alderson, 28 Jul 2019 23:56

Google Nest has partnered with the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation. (Source: Google)

Google Nest has free smart speakers for those living with paralysis in the US

Google Nest - the new name for this company's smart-home arm - has partnered with the Reeve Foundation to help members of the community built around this organization. They are individuals affected by paralysis or movement loss di...

Deirdre O Donnell, 28 Jul 2019 19:14

The OnePlus 7's new SKU on its sales page. (Source: OnePlus)

The OnePlus 7 ships in a new, 12GB variant - but only in its home market

The 7 is an updated version of the 6T that launched alongside the OnePlus 7 Pro flagship smartphone. It was originally sold in SKUs with either 6 or 8GB of RAM. Now, it is also available with 12GB - but this model is for the Chine...

Deirdre O Donnell, 28 Jul 2019 16:30

The Switch running on Android. (Source: Langer Hans)

Breakthrough: The Nintendo Switch can now run Android

The Nintendo Switch has been extremely receptive to mods so far and the good folks over at XDA-Developers have taken things up a notch with a new release that allows Switch users to flash an Android 8.1 ROM on their consoles.

Ricci Rox, 28 Jul 2019 13:28

Honor wants its smart screen to look a little like the new 9X series. (Source: ProPakistani)

Honor's 'Vision' is a smart TV with a pop-up camera

Honor now plans to release its first smart TV in the near future. This product is to be called the Vision, and will be powered by a newly-announced SoC, the Honghu 818. It will also incorporate a pop-up camera for user authenticat...

Deirdre O Donnell, 27 Jul 2019 18:07

The new FCC listing shows the new Galaxy Watch's screen. (Source: FCC)

New Samsung Galaxy Watch gains FCC registration

An upcoming Samsung smartwatch with the model number SM-R830 has been approved by the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC). This registration shows that the watch has a 40mm variant, and will come in stainless steel or alumi...

Deirdre O Donnell, 27 Jul 2019 16:54

The TicPods Free. (Source: Buzz This Viral)

Deal | Mobvoi is offering TicPods Free at US$30 right now

The TicPods Free are some of the most prominent AirPod alternatives out there. They are made by Mobvoi, also known for the Ticwatch Pro. This OEM is selling their wireless earbuds at US$99.99, or $30 less than their recommended pr...

Deirdre O Donnell, 26 Jul 2019 20:42

The alleged teaser for the iQOO Plus 5G. (Source: Weibo)

The ROG Phone 2's Chinese pricing may work out great for mobile gamers, if not for Vivo

Vivo is set to release a phone that will not only support 5G, but will also feature the latest flagship processor from Qualcomm. A promotional image supposedly associated with this phone (the iQOO Pro 5G) has leaked via Weibo. It ...

Deirdre O Donnell, 26 Jul 2019 19:24

The Black Shark 2 Pro's AnTuTu scores (orange) compared to those of the 2 (blue). (Source: Weibo)

AnTuTu confirms Snapdragon 855 Plus (and the performance to match) for Xiaomi Black Shark 2 Pro

The benchmarking authority AnTuTu has released its first set of results for the upcoming Xiaomi Black Shark 2 Pro. They indicate that the phone has made what may be significant gains over its early-2019 variant. This is due to the...

Deirdre O Donnell, 26 Jul 2019 15:27

Microsoft PowerPoint online with updated header (Source: Microsoft Tech Community)

Microsoft drops the "Online" from Office Online

Since many major software suites are slowly moving to an online-only approach, it is not a big surprise that Microsoft has decided to rename its Office Online suite by removing the "Online" part. However, the branding change does ...

Codrut Nistor, 26 Jul 2019 12:20

Worms W.M.D is free this weekend (Source: Steam)

Worms W.M.D: Play it for free until Sunday at 1 PM PDT

Released back in August 2016, Worms W.M.D is closely related to Worms Armageddon in terms of gameplay, adding new features such as tanks and buildings that can be used for protection. Available for multiple platforms, Worms W.M.D ...

Codrut Nistor, 26 Jul 2019 09:21

The Mate 10 Pro is one of the devices to receive the update. (Source: AnandTech)

Super EMUI 9.1 update hits a bunch of Huawei and Honor phones

Huawei sent out its new EMUI 9.1 update to current-gen flagships like the P30 and Mate 20 phones a while ago. Older Huawei and Honor phones got the beta a few weeks ago and are now receiving the stable version of the software.

Ricci Rox, 25 Jul 2019 20:57

The Redmi K20 Pro. (Source: NDTV Gadgets)

New mod brings 75Hz refresh rate to Redmi K20-series screens

Some XDA contributors have posted on new mods that increase the display refresh rate of the Redmi K20 (or Xiaomi Mi 9T) and K20 Pro to 75 hertz (Hz). This mirrors earlier unofficial development work on the Mi 9. By all accounts, t...

Deirdre O Donnell, 25 Jul 2019 20:41

The Honor 20 Pro will be on sale soon. (Source: Honor)

Honor 20 Pro worldwide sales are now official

Honor released its current flagship, the 20 Pro, in a May 2019 event. However, it has not been available to buy outside of China since. This will change soon, as the company has announced that it will release this phone to other m...

Deirdre O Donnell, 25 Jul 2019 20:00

Sony releases the RX100 VII, a new compact camera with full-frame powers

With up to 60 auto-focus (AF) or auto-exposure (AE) calculations per second and 20fps shooting, Sony claims to have packed flagship speeds into its latest compact camera. The RX100 VII has a 20.1MP Exmor RS sensor and the latest g...

Deirdre O Donnell, 25 Jul 2019 19:24

Some material that may be part of the Xiaomi Black Shark 2 Pro's promotion. (Source: IndiaShopps)

Xiaomi Black Shark 2 Pro is now slated to come with DC-dimming

As with last year, Xiaomi is projected to update its gaming phone with a mid-year upgraded variant. It is likely to be called the Black Shark 2 Pro in 2019. It already has a reservations page on the retailer JD.com, which has let ...

Deirdre O Donnell, 25 Jul 2019 18:28

Nokia may release a pop-up camera phone soon. (Source: Twitter)

Nokia 8.2: now tipped to be the OEM's first pop-up camera phone

The renowned leaker Ishan Agarwal claims to have heard that Nokia will release its first phone with a pop-up selfie camera soon, and that it will be the 8.2. The sensor to be housed in this module may be a 32MP shooter. The 8.2 is...

Deirdre O Donnell, 25 Jul 2019 15:24

The next generation of Samsung flagship cameras may have an edge over current models. (Source: AndroidPIT)

Samsung trademarks names for new smart camera features

Some new trademarking applications associated with the OEM Samsung have reportedly been filed with UK and EU authorities. They are for "Smart ISO" and "AI ISO", and apply to Class 9 equipment. This suggests a new dimension of cont...

Deirdre O Donnell, 25 Jul 2019 14:36

Netflix has a new deal for its Indian customers. (Source: Netflix)

Netflix launches mobile-only plan in India for equivalent of US$2.90 per month

Netflix has announced a new price-tier for its subscription plans in the Indian market. It goes for just INR 199 (about US$2.88) per month. For this, the user can only use the app on 1 device, which could be either a smartphone or...

Deirdre O Donnell, 25 Jul 2019 14:06

The Motorola Moto E6. (Source: Android Enterprise Partners)

Latest Moto E6 leak suggests underwhelming specs, even compared to the E5

The Moto E series has often been a compelling option for those in the market for a budget smartphones. It seems, however, that its next upcoming generation may fail this promise in 2019 somewhat. The Moto E6 is now listed on an of...

Deirdre O Donnell, 24 Jul 2019 22:41

CHUWI is adding 45W charging to its crowdfunding champ, the Minibook

The CHUWI MiniBook is the focus of an extremely successful campaign on Indiegogo. The device in question is a UMPC with an 8-inch screen, a Lenovo Yoga-like hinge and as much as 16GB in RAM. The OEM is celebrating an important mil...

Deirdre O Donnell, 24 Jul 2019 21:50

Pokemon Masters pre-registration now live (Source: Pokemon Masters official site)

Pokemon Masters pre-registration has begun

The result of a recent partnership between DeNA and The Pokemon Company, Pokemon Masters is a new strategy game that throws into 3-on-3 real battles sync pairs that consist of a Trainer and a Pokemon. Those interested can pre-regi...

Codrut Nistor, 24 Jul 2019 21:38

Gallery Go now available as a light Google Photos replacement with offline capabilities (Source: Google Play)

Google Photos gets lighter as Gallery Go — an Android Go app designed for offline use

Gallery Go was introduced earlier today during a special event held by Google Nigeria. This app is optimized for Android Go devices and focuses on offline capabilities while offering some machine learning-based capabilities alread...

Codrut Nistor, 24 Jul 2019 20:03

The new feature appears to allow texting while a phone is locked. (Source: XDA)

Google Assistant gets the ability to text from a lockscreen on some phones

According to a new report, Google has released a new feature for the Assistant to a select group of users. This function allows them to compose and send texts directly from their phone's lockscreens. This sounds convenient, but al...

Deirdre O Donnell, 23 Jul 2019 19:47

The Asus Zenfone 6. (Source: First Post)

New update brings major improvements to the Asus Zenfone 6 ahead of highly awaited US release

Since launch, the Asus Zenfone 6 has received a number of OTAs geared towards smoothening out the kinks in the phone's software and improving the overall user experience. Yesterday, the flagship received another one such update, m...

Ricci Rox, 23 Jul 2019 19:14

The Xiaomi Mi 6 can now run a stable version of Pie. (Source: GSMArena)

The Xiaomi Mi 6 is issued with its official update to Android Pie

The Xiaomi Mi 6 is now over 2 years old; nevertheless, its maker has been working on an update to Android Pie for this former flagship. This project is now complete, and has resulted in an OS called MIUI 10.4.1.0. Those who still ...

Deirdre O Donnell, 23 Jul 2019 19:14

The Motorola P50 is now available. (Source: Motorola)

The Motorola P50 is the One Vision re-branded for the Chinese market

Motorola has released a phone called the P50 in China. This device is nearly identical to the One Vision, except that it runs ZUI 11 rather than stock Android 9.0 (Pie). It also comes in a 6GB RAM flavor, whereas its alternative v...

Deirdre O Donnell, 22 Jul 2019 22:45

The Samsung Galaxy S8. (Source: Walmart)

A Samsung Galaxy S8 reportedly helps avert a potential tragedy at sea

According to a new report, a Canadian citizen was able to call for help for himself and his island-hopping fellow tourists using his Samsung Galaxy S8, the only device that apparently survived when their boat capsized off the coas...

Deirdre O Donnell, 22 Jul 2019 20:16

The Apollo 11 hatch replica. (Source: Microsoft)

Microsoft celebrates the first moon landing's 50th anniversary by making an Apollo 11 hatch replica

Microsoft has marked an important NASA anniversary by taking part in Project Egress, in which engineering teams were challenged to re-make a component of the Apollo 11's landing module. The Redmond cohort were charged with making ...

Deirdre O Donnell, 22 Jul 2019 19:43

The LG V20 is due to receive Android 9.0 Pie this quarter. (Image source: LG)

Android 9.0 Pie is on the horizon for the LG V20

Good news LG V20 owners, it looks like your handset will receive Android 9.0 Pie in the not too distant future after all. While the South Korean company pushed the roll-out of Pie to its successor from Q2 to Q3, there is promise o...

Alex Alderson, 22 Jul 2019 15:30

Star Citizen Alpha 3.6 now live - Kraken carrier (Source: Roberts Space Industries)

Star Citizen Alpha 3.6 goes live with a full law and crime overhaul

Three months since the release of the Alpha 3.5 update, Star Citizen Alpha 3.6 comes with a complete overhaul of the law and crime systems, hover mode for ships and vehicles, a few new vehicles/ships and weapons, as well as illega...

Codrut Nistor, 22 Jul 2019 12:58

Plants vs Zombies 3 pre-Alpha now live (Source: Electronic Arts)

Plants vs Zombies 3 is now in pre-Alpha stage

Six years since the release of Plants vs Zombies 2 for phones and tablets, Plants vs Zombies 3 is now ready for Android users ready to take it for a spin in a very early stage. A pre-Alpha version has just surfaced on Google Play,...

Codrut Nistor, 22 Jul 2019 10:25

Tech journalists have noticed something unusual about the Galaxy S10 5G sold by Sprint. (Source: The Verge)

The Sprint Samsung Galaxy S10 5G may be bootloader-unlockable

The Samsung Galaxy S10 5G sold by Sprint is reportedly the Exynos-powered variant of this phone, and not the Qualcomm Snapdragon variant that may be sold elsewhere in the United States. Therefore, the former may be OEM-unlockable,...

Deirdre O Donnell, 20 Jul 2019 20:41

Is this promotional poster for the UMIDIGI X real? (Source: GizmoChina)

UMIDIGI allegedly has a new triple-camera phone ready for launch

A leak pointing to a new mobile device with an in-display fingerprint scanner, a 4150mAh battery and rear triple cameras from UMIDIGI ha sprung online. As one of its cameras is allegedly a 48MP sensor, it is likely that this phone...

Deirdre O Donnell, 20 Jul 2019 19:47

It seems HongMeng has less to do with phones than once thought. (Source: PC Tech Magazine)

HongMeng OS is not intended for phones: Huawei executive

Huawei has reportedly developed a whole new operating system known as HongMeng. It has been speculated that this software exists as a contingency for the OEM's uncertain position with respect to the use of Android. However, the co...

Deirdre O Donnell, 20 Jul 2019 18:42

What really happened to the Eve V? Its manufacturer finally explains itself

The Eve V was once hailed as a 'Surface Pro killer', as it offered a worthy alternative to this 2-in-1 (on paper at least) at a low price compared to that of the Microsoft product. However, its manufacturer (also called Eve) ran i...

Deirdre O Donnell, 20 Jul 2019 16:20

Some OnePlus users can now try out Android Q DP3. (Source: Android Developers)

OnePlus releases Android Q Developer Preview 3 for the 7 and 6 series

OnePlus has just posted download links for its latest Developer Preview (DP3) for the next upcoming major Android update. It contains the latest features of both this OS and OxygenOS, the OEM's custom skin for the same. This build...

Deirdre O Donnell, 20 Jul 2019 15:37

Take a slice of Pie for the LG V30. (Image source: Droid Life)

LG continues to leave the V30 out in the cold, but there is a flashable Beta version of Android 9.0 Pie if you are feeling brave

Android 9.0 Pie is here for the LG V30, sort of. The OS update has reared its head online as a Beta, just like the one for the G6 recently did. The upgrade process is not for the faint-hearted though and comes with some prerequisi...

Alex Alderson, 19 Jul 2019 22:12

The Google Stadia controller will also have a 3.5mm jack. (Source: Latest World Trends)

Reddit AMA reveals more details on Google Stadia

Google's Director of Product for Stadia, Andrey Doronichev, completed an AMA on Reddit yesterday (July 18, 2019) to shed more light on the company's new streaming-based gaming platform. The executive took pains to liken it to Xbox...

Deirdre O Donnell, 19 Jul 2019 19:58

A comparison between the One Action and One Vision. (Source: 91Mobiles)

The Motorola One Action is now an Android Enterprise Recommended device

The One Action is now almost certainly Motorola's next Android One device. A phone of this name has reportedly been found on the Google databases that pertain to this program. Its entries appear to confirm a 21:9 aspect ratio and ...

Deirdre O Donnell, 19 Jul 2019 19:17

The Polymega base unit. (Source: Playmaji)

The Polymega is a new modular console that can offer various different classic gaming systems in one

Playmaji, Inc. and extreme Co., Ltd. have announced the release of their new product: the Polymega. This new kind of console supports various classic CD-gaming platforms, including Neo Geo, PS1 and Sega Saturn. However, it also al...

Deirdre O Donnell, 18 Jul 2019 20:19

DuckDuckGo adds new features to its mapping system, courtesy of Apple Maps

DuckDuckGo, the privacy-focused search engine, has added a few new features to its mapping service. These include improved local searches, support for a Dark Mode, and more. The features were added through Apple's MapKit JS framew...

Sam Medley, 18 Jul 2019 16:46

LG Pay now available in the US

After countless delays, LG Pay is now finally available for the US market. This mobile payment service will be supported by the LG G8 ThinQ at launch and will reach the LG V50, V40, V35, and G7 ThinQ in the coming months. LG Pay s...

Codrut Nistor, 18 Jul 2019 12:49

Sub-US$4 Netflix plan coming to India and a few other markets

Netflix will offer a cheaper, mobile-only plan in several markets

The new Netflix plan only allows its users to watch the content on a single device — smartphone/phablet or tablet — at a time. It does not work on streaming devices such as Roku or Chromecast, PCs/laptops, or smart TVs. In India, ...

Codrut Nistor, 18 Jul 2019 11:06

Researchers at Symantec discover media file vulnerability in WhatsApp and Telegram

WhatsApp and Telegram are popular secure messaging apps that feature end-to-end encryption to keep messages safe. Even still, the apps have a glaring backdoor that could allow attackers to alter media files sent through the apps. ...

Sam Medley, 17 Jul 2019 22:23