Android News

Spend enough time around Android, or even PCs, and eventually you will come across the term, “the Linux kernel.” What is a kernel? What do we mean by the Linux kernel. Let’s find out!

We have been hearing a lot about the Oppo F1 Plus lately and most fans have come to expect it as the next iteration of the Oppo F1 "selfie expert", with hints of an even better front camera experience and a fingerprint reader. This all sounded exciting, but today Oppo brought an end to that, clarifying that the F1 Plus won't be a new model, but merely the Oppo R9 for international markets. That definitely clears the air and puts to rest the various rumors about the handset. As per the recent China announcement of the R9 and R9 Plus, the F1 Plus should be equipped with a 5.5-inch,...

Daily Steals is offering the Samsung Galaxy S6 for just $350, or the Exynos variant of the Galaxy S7 for $630. The latter comes with a Mophie charger for free.

Cricket Wireless has announced the U.S. carrier will sell the 4G LTE-enabled Samsung Galaxy Amp Prime. The 5-inch smartphone running Android 6.0 Marshmallow will make its debut for $149.99 and is targeted at those who live on social media and enjoy hunting down a bargain. Touting a premium S-AMOLED display for rich colors and sharp images, there are ample features packed into this smartphone to make it an absolute steal. As well as the Amp Prime, Cricket will also launch the Galaxy Amp 2, an entry-level handset with 4G LTE connectivity. This more affordable option will come with a 4.5-inch S-AMOLED display and will be made available from April 15 for just $99.99. Those interested in the Galaxy Amp Prime should be able to head to their local store and pick one up today. ...

Mainland Europe is getting the LG G5 a bit later than the US and South Korea, but Amazon Germany will start selling the flagship in the middle of the month and will offer a free Cam Plus grip. The phone - available in Gold, Silver and Titan - costs €700 and the grip alone is €100, but using the LGG5AKTION code, the grip becomes free. The deal is valid for orders until April 16. The grip helps shooting with an additional 1,200mAh battery and hardware controls - photo shutter and video recorder keys, plus a zoom dial. The LG 360 Cam and LG B&O DAC are available too, but you'll have...

HTC 10 is going official on April 12 but we know pretty much everything there is to know about company's next big thing. We know the design is a hybrid between the One M9 and One A9, we know about its Quad HD AMOLED screen and Snapdragon 820 chip, the possibility of a Snapdragon 652 model, its rumored retail price at €740, even the reported April 15 as a lunch date. HTC has begun a marketing campaign with teasers over the social networks, but the leaks are quite more revealing than HTC's hints. Today's leak show the black flavor of the HTC 10 shot next to its silver sibling. We've seen...

Twitter is rolling out an update for its iOS and Android apps that should make using the service a bit easier for the visually impaired. Starting today, users can now add descriptive or alternative text to images that they attach to their tweets. You get 420 characters, separate from the 140 for the tweet, to describe the image however you want. The text will then be read out by assistive technology or presented in braille on supported hardware, so the visually impaired can not just read the tweet but also get an idea of what the attached image is. Twitter is also making this...

eBay seller “breed” is selling the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge (SM-G925v) with 128GB of internal memory for just $470, including free shipping.

The Xiaomi Mi Note 2 is due for a replacement and we're expecting it in the coming months. Rumors of it kicked off a few weeks ago stating that it may have a dual-edge display, but today we have some more concrete info on the specs of the Mi Note successor. Xiaomi Mi Note (the first one) Starting with that supposedly curved display, the source says that it will be 5.7 inches in diagonal like the previous model. Resolution will be QHD, and a 3D touch pressure sensitive capability is being considered. The Mi Note 2 will be powered by either a Snapdragon 820 or an 823 chipset...

Samsung has a plethora of phones and tablets in its lineup, and regularly releases firmware updates for various devices. These can include major updates, which bring a newer version of the OS to a particular device, or minor ones that improve performance and stability and fix bugs. Software updates for Samsung devices roll out in various […]

China seems to be the hotbed for Samsung to launch their upcoming smartphones. They have listed the Galaxy J5 (2016) and Galaxy J7 (2016) on the website that boasts some improved metallic design and hardware. Starting with the J7 (2016), the phone comes with a 1.6GHz octa-core processor, 5.5-inch Super AMOLED Full HD display, 3GB […]

Samsung bundled the Gear VR with Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge preorders in India, but the company didn’t ship the virtual reality headset with the smartphone. Instead, it will start shipping the Gear VR (worth INR 7,900) to customers within 90 days from March 18, 2016. If you had preordered a Galaxy S7 or Galaxy S7 […]

After a month long delay, Foxconn has completed its acquisition of display manufacturer Sharp at a cost of 389 billion yen (approximately $3.5 billion).

Google has rolled out a new update to its Google Photos app that brings along the ability to undo any edits that you make to images. Previously, this wasn't possible, with the app creating a new copy of the image each time an edit was saved. Thankfully, that won't be the case now. To take advantage of the feature, first open an image containing edits, then get into the edit mode by tapping the edit icon at the bottom (next to the share icon), and finally select the 'Undo edits' option that appears when you tap the overflow menu in the upper right corner. "Sometimes it takes multiple...

Sony has announced its list of product winners in the 2016 Red Dot design awards. Sony has a long history of doing well in picking up prizes on the design side and it hasn’t disappointed again this year. Sony won 18 Red Dot 2016 awards altogether, which includes two “Red Dot Best of the Best […]

If you aren’t a fan of putting a case on your BlackBerry Priv, the leather pebble grain holster may be a perfect option for you. This allows you to keep your phone secured to your hip without adding a ton of bulk when it is being used. Today, you can grab one for $34.95. ...

Chinese smartphone manufacturer Gionee has unveiled two new smartphones, its high-end Gionee W909 flip phone and a super mid-tier S8.

Analysts are now predicting that Samsung might post better-than-expected earnings for the first quarter of 2016 largely aided by the stellar performance of the Galaxy S7 and the Galaxy S7 edge. First quarter operating profits for the Korean giant are expected to clock in at 6 trillion won or $5.14 billion, a nominal improvement over […]

Samsung introduced inbuilt wireless charging to its flagship lineup with the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge, then later took it a step further by putting fast wireless charging on the Galaxy S6 edge+ and Galaxy Note 5. The feature can also be found on the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge, but oddly, it […]

The LG G5 officially goes on sale tomorrow, March 31, in its home country of South Korea and then in the US the following day. The modular flagship has been on pre-order for a week and AT&T has started shipping its units, Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile will follow suit soon. LG says that 200 carriers will offer the LG G5, with availability reaching Europe, Asia and the Middle East soon. It seems that the UK launch will be a week from now, April 8. There's no word on Canada, but can't be long now. G5's friends - the CAM Plus grip and B&O hi-fi adapter, along with the 360 CAM, 360...

The Xiaomi Mi 5 has a lot going for it. A Snapdragon 820 SoC, up to 4GB of RAM and an impressive 16MP camera with a 4-axis OIS system, to name a few. But the handset is also dressed to impress in the flagship circles it intends to mingle with, especially in its top-tier ceramic back variant. This material choice is definitely not unheard of, take the OnePlus X for instance, but it still seems to raise some flags with many users, who seem to typically associate ceramic with a brittle dinner plate or perhaps a vase. In an effort to address this, Xiaomi has released a stress test...

Brazilian football legend Pelé is suing Samsung for $30 million, claiming that the company broke off negotiations with him and used a look-alike in an advertisement that Samsung ran in The New York Times without his permission. The suit has been filed against the company this month in a federal court in Chicago. Samsung ran the […]

A new report out of Korea sees Samsung making some major profit for Q1 2016 due in part to the stellar shipments of the S7.

T-Mobile is taking orders for the LG G5 and is throwing in a free spare battery and 360 Cam. However, AT&T has already begun shipping out its G5 pre-orders.

Amazon is putting the kibosh on non-standard USB Type C accessories. That means that it should be safer, and simpler, to buy cables, adapters, or chargers for your Type C device, be it smartphone, tablet, or laptop.

After a never ending series of leaks and rumors, the Samsung Galaxy A9 Pro (2016) is finally official in China. The A9 Pro is a slightly upgraded version of the A9. It has the same 6.0-inch 1080p display and the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 652 in an identical design. The differences include 4GB RAM instead of 3GB, 32GB storage instead of 16GB, and a 16 megapixel camera on the back instead of 13. The battery has been boosted to 5,000mAh and supports fast charging. The phone runs on Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow. The Galaxy A9 Pro is priced at 3499 yuan ($540). Source • Via

Nintendo's first mobile app Miitomo will be available for download in the United States tomorrow, a couple of weeks after it was launched in the company's home country of Japan. This was announced by Nintendo in a press release, where-in the company also noted that the app will simultaneously also be launched in "several other countries." These regions include Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Luxembourg, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, Russia, Australia, and New Zealand. Those interested in knowing when Miitomo is ready to download can pre-register...

Samsung introduced the Motion Photo feature with the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge, which records a short video of moments before the one you’re trying to capture each time you click a picture. You can view these videos on the phone by pressing the play button at the top in the picture gallery, but Samsung […]

Buying reliable USB-C cables has just gotten easier on Amazon, as the retailer has added non-compliant cables to the list of items prohibited for sale. The note added to Amazon's prohibited items page now lists the following: Any USB-C™ (or USB Type-C™) cable or adapter product that is not compliant with standard specifications issued by "USB Implementers Forum Inc." Non-compliant USB-C cables can have adverse affects on a device, as Google engineer Benson Leung found out when a faulty cable destroyed his Chromebook Pixel. The engineer has since tested hundreds of cables, calling out vendors like OnePlus for not complying to USB Implementers Forum standards. Commenting on Amazon's decision, Leung said: Really great news, but we all have to continue to be vigilant and call out any bad products we find on Amazon and other stores (both online and brick and mortar) as we find them. For more on the USB Type-C standard and how it affects your devices, be sure to check o...

The camera app on the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge comes with Pro mode, a feature that is already available on the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge. However, the advantage on the new devices is that the feature works even when video recording is active. Yes, you can change certain settings manually while recording a video. Once you activate […]

The Portuguese Professional Football League (LPFP) has announced it has teamed up with Samsung Electronics to allow its staff to compile and file official league match reports using Samsung tablets.   Until recently, official league staff had to fill out forms by hand and then fax copies to the league official board, meaning they reached … Continue reading Portuguese Football League to Use Samsung Tablets for Match Reports

Amazon has updated its list of prohibited listings to reflect that the it will no longer sell USB Type-C cables that aren't compliant with standard specifications. Here's the exact line added by the online retailer: Any USB-C™ (or USB Type-C™) cable or adapter product that is not compliant with standard specifications issued by "USB Implementers Forum Inc." The change was spotted by Google's Benson Leung, who has been examining USB Type-C cables for quite some time now. If you recall, he's the same guy who last year reported about OnePlus' USB Type-C accessories being out of...

Are you a Star Wars fan? Are you interested in Star Wars-themed stuff? If your answer to both questions in yes, then you'll be glad to know that comics based on the popular franchise are being sold at discounted rates. Google is offering up to 80% off on select comics (over 15 in number) - hit the Source link below to view the complete collection which has been hosted on Google Play. In case you don't already know, Star Wars: The Force Awakens debuts April 1 on digital platforms. Source

Yeah, you know where this is going. That poor Galaxy S7 Edge won’t live to tell the tale. That’s not surprising. But you know what is surprising? How dramatic the whole thing is.

Chinese manufacturer Gionee has unveiled a new entry-level smartphone. Dubbed P5 mini, the device is powered by a quad-core 1.3GHz Mediatek MT6580M‎ chipset, and sports a 4.5-inch (854 x 480 pixel resolution) IPS display. It has 1GB RAM and 8GB expandable internal memory, and packs in an 1,800mAh battery. In terms of camera, the device features a 5MP rear unit and a 2MP front shooter. Measuring 132x 66 x 9.1mm and weighing in at 153g, the handset offers dual SIM functionality and runs Android 5.0 Lollipop. Connectivity options include Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, micro USB 2.0, and...

After iOS, Adobe has now rolled out the Dropbox integration update to its Acrobat Reader app on Android, allowing users to access PDF files stored in their Dropbox account directly from the app. Dropbox, on the other hand, has also updated its Android app, adding a new "do more with your PDF documents" option, tapping on which launches Acrobat Reader from the cloud storage app for you to view and take action on files. Head to the Google Play links below to download the latest versions of Acrobat Reader and Dropbox for Android. Source | Google Play (Acrobat Reader) | Google...

Samsung and LG aren't the only vendors making high-end flip phones, as Gionee's latest offering in this space ups the ante with 4GB of RAM and a faux leather back. Dubbed the W909, the phone features two 4.2 720p IPS LCD displays, an octa-core MediaTek Helio P10 SoC, 64GB internal memory, microSD slot, 16MP camera at the back with PDAF, 5MP front camera, 2530mAh battery, USB Type-C connectivity, and a fingerprint sensor at the back. On the software front, you get the vendor's Amigo UI atop Android 5.1. The W909 is set to go on sale in China for ¥3,999 ($615). What do you guys think of the device? ...