HTC One M9 Leaks in Live Pictures

With less than two weeks until the kick-off of Mobile World Congress 2015 trade fair, new info and pictures of the upcoming devices continue to leak online.

Apart from Samsung Galaxy S6, which is supposed to be officially announced on March 1 during an Unpacked event. We already have quite a lot of leaks and teasers for Samsung's flagship smartphone, but many details on HTC's upcoming One M9 handset popped up online in the last couple of the days as well. However, we did not have any pictures showing the HTC One M9 except for several good-looking concept designs, which were meant to show fans what the smartphone might look like. Fortunately, Android fans won't have to imagine what the One M9 will look like because the folks over at Phandroid have just published several live pictures received from a reliable source.

Judging by these pictures, the One M9 looks awfully similar to the current HTC One M8, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. Still, those expecting a complete redesign for the One M9 might be disappointed. There are a handful of changes meant to make HTC One M9's functionality smoother like the fact that the power on/off has been moved from the top side on the right side.

The One M9 will be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 chipset

Aside from that and the relocation of the volume keys slightly lower on the right side, there aren't other obvious changes on the front and sides parts of the HTC One M9. Along with the leaked pictures, Phandroid was also able to confirm that the smartphone would feature a Quaclomm Snapdragon 810 octa-core processor and an Adreno 430 graphics processing unit. The smartphone is also rumored to pack 3GB of RAM, as well as a 5-inch full HD capacitive touchscreen display. On the back, HTC One M9 is expected to boast a 20.7-megapixel camera and a 4-UltraPixel in the front.

It will be powered by a non-removable 2,840 mAh battery and will run Android 5.0 Lollipop operating system with HTC Sense 7.0 UI on top.

HTC One M9 (front & right side)

HTC One M9 (horizontal)

HTC One M9 (back)
Images credits to Phandroid

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Sony Xperia E2303 Mid-Range Smartphone Leaks: Octa-Core CPU, 5.2-Inch HD Display

As we're getting closer and closer to Mobile World Congress 2015 trade fair, more news about unannounced smartphones will continue to pour in.

After reports on HTC and Samsung's new flagship smartphones, it's time to take a look at other companies that won't be releasing any high-end devices but will still be present at MWC 2015 with some budget-friendly and mid-range handsets. Sony has already confirmed it won't be releasing two flagships per year, so the next top of the line smartphone from the Japanese company will arrive in the summer. Until then though, Sony does plan to launch a few mid-range smartphones, such as the Xperia E2303 and E2333, which have just been spotted in benchmarks.

As GSMArena points out these smartphones could be related in some way given their codenames and almost similar specs sheet. Speaking of which, these unannounced Xperia phones will be powered by Android 5.0 Lollipop operating system and will be equipped with Qualcomm Snapdragon chipsets.

Both smartphones will be demoed at MWC 2015

However, while Xperia E2303 will be powered by Snapdragon 615 chipset that accommodates an octa-core processor clocked at 1.5GHz, while the Xperia E2333 is supposed to come with a Snapdragon 610 chipset that features a 1.5GHz quad-core processor. Both smartphones are packed with 2GB of RAM and 5.2-inch HD (720) displays, but the E2303 has 16GB of internal memory, whereas the E2333 features only 8GB of storage. The good news is both come with microSD card slot for memory expansion, so there won't be any issues regarding storage space.

Last but not least, both Xperia smartphones will be equipped with 13-megapixel rear-facing cameras and 5-megapixel secondary photo snappers in the front. Sony is expected to showcase the Xperia 2303 and 2333 in early March at MWC 2015, though it's unclear whether or not they will be announced during a dedicated event.

Sony Xperia E2303 benchmark

Sony Xperia E2333 benchmark
Images credits to GSMArena

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HTC One M9 Plus Spotted with QHD Display, MediaTek MT6795 and 4K-Capable Camera Combo

HTC is one of the prominent device makers expected to take center stage at MWC 2015 in Barcelona to unveil its upcoming flagship device, the One M9.

There have been rumors circling around that the company is also looking to introduce a variation of the phone, called the One M9 Plus. It’s been uncertain whether or not the device will show up at MWC 2015, but it appears this will be the case after all.

HTC One M9 Plus specs show up

The folks at Tech Tastic have stumbled upon the device in Compubench, so we can give you the scoop on what specifications you can expect to encounter onboard this model. The One M9 Plus (OPK71) will apparently arrive with a 5.1-inch display with 2560 x 1440 pixel resolution. This is good news for those of you who were disappointed by the fact that the One M9 will arrive equipped with a display capable of only 1920 x 1080 resolution. The One M9 Plus is expected to bundle an octa-core MediaTek MT6795 chipset on the inside (Cortex A53 clocked at 1.9GHz) fitted with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage.

As we saw yesterday, the MediaTek MT6795 is shaping up to be quite a beast. One of the most attractive qualities the chip brings forth is its ability to shoot super slow-motion 1080 videos at 480fps. The silicone bit should offer 2K support (which is what the One M9 Plus supports), 120MHz refresh rate and ClearMotion technology. It’s interesting how the current report claims the MT6795 will take advantage of Cortex-A53 cores. Yesterday, we speculated that, taking into account that the platform is a 64-bit affair, the chip should flaunt ARM Cortex-A57 cores.

Anyway, moving along - in the photography department, the handset will don an impressive 20MP/13MP camera combo which will be capable of shooting in 4K. Naturally, the handset will ship with Android 5.0 Lollipop out of the box, so you won’t need to worry about updates for now. We’re just a few days away from MWC 2015, so stay tuned to see if all this turns out to be the real deal.

HTC One M9 Plus shows up in benchmarks
Image credits to TechTastic

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Samsung Galaxy S4 Now Receiving Android 5.0 Lollipop Update

Samsung confirmed back in December that Android 5.0 Lollipop will arrive on older Galaxy smartphones like the S4 sometime in early 2015. The South Korean company did not provided an exact release date for the rollout, but that shouldn't be surprising since it never happened in the past.

The good news is Android 5.0 Lollipop is now live for Samsung Galaxy S4 smartphones and users in India are the first to get it. The update can be downloaded OTA (over the air) or through Samsung Kies desktop software. As shown on XDA Forum, the update nets in at a little below 1GB (990MB), so make sure you have enough storage on your smarpthone before attempting to upgrade. If you live in India, the update will bring your Galaxy S4 to Android 5.0.1 Lollipop and with it, the whole range of new features and improvements by Google. The update is rolled out in stages, so if it doesn't show on your smartphone right away, you should check for it in a few days by going to Settings / About Phone / System Updates.

The important improvements are underneath, TouchWiz UI looks the same

Moving on to actual change the Android 5.0 Lollipop brings to Galaxy S4, those who upgraded confirm they got slightly better battery life and a bit more speed when it comes to navigating the menus. However, the TouchWiz UI has remain the same to the point that you won't be able to tell the difference between the previous version and Lollipop. In fact, you shouldn't expect to many visual changes when upgrading to Android 5.0 Lollipop from a previous version, as Samsung did not redux its TouchWiz UI instead it only applied a few tweaks to make it work with the new OS.

Hopefully, the big changes will come with the Galaxy S6 that will be announced in early March, though many would prefer Samsung would drop TouchWiz UI entirely. Have you downloaded Android 5.0 Lollipop on your Galaxy S4? Share your thoughts with us in the comments.

Android 5.0 Lollipop update for Galaxy S4
Image credits to XDA-Developers forum

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Samsung Galaxy Note 4 Finally Getting Android 5.0.1 Lollipop Update, in Poland

Samsung Galaxy Note 4 owners, it seems your week is about to get a lot better. After months of waiting and hoping, your favorite tech manufacturer appears to have finally started rolling out the Android 5.0.1 Lollipop update for your new handset.

According to Sam Mobile, the new build is hitting users in Poland, so if you’re located in Europe, it shouldn't be that long before you received the much-hoped-for notification. As we mentioned before, the new build is based on Android 5.0.1 which is not the latest version available given the fact that Android 5.0.2 has made its way to a slew of Nexus devices. But taking into the consideration that Google has quietly made Android 5.1 official through a bunch of postings on its Indonesian Android One page, Samsung’s next update for the Galaxy Note 4 might skip the 5.0.2 version.

Android 5.0.1 finally arrives on the Galaxy Note 4

Anyway, going back to the current update, Android 5.0.1 for the Galaxy Note 4 brings a new look and feel, faster performance, lockscreen notifications, improved battery life and other specific Lollipop-goodies you have been craving for all of these months. The update is yet to be made available on Kies, so for the time being the only way to get the official Lollipop on your Galaxy Note 4 is to wait for the OTA to reach you. Or if you feel like taking the pro-active route, you can go ahead and go to Settings > About phone > Software updates menu and tapping on the Check now button.

Samsung might not have been among the first manufacturers to pick up the Android 5.0 Lollipop update as companies like Motorola and LG beat it to the punch. However, the Korean tech giant seems to be doing everything in its power to catch up. The device maker has rolled out similar updates for the Galaxy S5, Galaxy S4 and now the Galaxy Note 4. We expect that more Samsung handsets will be updated in the near feature. Moreover, the latest hearsay claims Samsung is also working on a Lollipop update for its premium AMOLED tablet duo, the Galaxy Tab S.

Samsung Galaxy Note 4, Lock Screen

Samsung Galaxy Note 4, Apps

Samsung Galaxy Note 4, About device

Samsung Galaxy Note 4 , Device info

Samsung Galaxy Note 4 , Settings

Samsung Galaxy Note 4 , more Settings

Samsung Galaxy Note 4 , soft version
Images credits to Sam Mobile

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ASUS 4 GB GeForce GTX 750 Ti Strix Graphics Card

A new graphics card has been released by ASUS, one that bears a brand name often associated with gaming-grade hardware.

Which is somewhat intriguing because the new video card is not really what you would call gaming-grade. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 750 Ti may not be as “mediocre” as the GTX 750, but it is still a mid-range video card. On the other hand, CPUs and APUs with integrated graphics did away with the real low end a while ago, which turned the former mid-range into the new low end, and by extension, the performance segment into the mid range. Basically that means that the GTX 750 Ti is a pretty strong video card despite being the (second) weakest Maxwell-based board.

As good as it was, however, ASUS decided to give it twice the memory capacity, leading to the release of the GeForce GTX 750 Ti Strix 4GB. This card has the GM107 GPU (640 CUDA cores) clocked at 1,124 MHz / 1,202 MHz Boost, and the VRAM at 5.4 GHz. Sadly, the price is unknown. But since the 2 GB board is priced at $160 / €160, the 4 GB one should at least get close to the two hundred mark. GDDR5 memory isn't cheap.

ASUS GeForce GTX 750 Ti Strix 4GB

ASUS GeForce GTX 750 Ti Strix 4GB full view

ASUS GeForce GTX 750 Ti Strix 4GB side view

ASUS GeForce GTX 750 Ti Strix 4GB video port view
Images credits to ASUS

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First Project Ara Modules Appear: Innolux Displays and Sennheiser Audio

The first modular smartphone kit to arrive under the Project Ara banner should be launched later this year. While we wait on the big occasion, we thought you’d like to know that developers are working on the modules that will actually let you achieve device customization.

And the first parts are in. Display maker Innolux has already unveiled a 4.5-inch, 1280 x 720 pixel Ltps display with 600 cd/m2 brightness plus a 1 mm / 0.03 inch border panel. The module is resistant against scratches and such, thanks to Corning’s Gorilla Glass technology. Innolux also plans to start manufacturing 3D and E-Ink displays for Project Ara. Moreover, German audio specialist Sennheiser has started preparations for designing high-end audio modules.

The first one is called Amphion and is actually a premium sound card that goes in the smartphone. It comes with a 150 milliwatt class G headphone amp, low-noise headphone jack plus low-latency digital signal processor. A second version is being touted as Proteus and is equipped with two audio jacks. Have you ever wanted to share with somebody the lovely tune you were listening to? Just passing along one ear-bud is usually useless in such a situation, but with a module like Proteus your friend could plug in his/her headphones too.

These are pretty cool developments and we expect more to come our way soon, especially from the camera department.

Innolux display for Project Ara

Proteus sound module from Sennheiser

Proteus sound module has two jacks

Amphion sound module from Sennheiser
Images credits to Phonebloks

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Canonical Reveals the Hardware Specs of the Ubuntu Aquarius E4.5 Phone

Canonical has revealed the specs for the Aquarius E4.5 phone that will launch with Ubuntu Touch, although they were not exactly a state secret.

Information about the launch of the Ubuntu-powered Bq Aquarius E4.5 phone in February was made public only a month ago, so it's not really a secret what phones will be used by the Spanish partners at Canonical. Meizu, the partners from China, have been much more secretive and it's likely that they will wait until the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona scheduled to start on March 2. In the meantime, even if Meizu was the first company to confirm the release of an Ubuntu phone, it looks like Bq beat them to the punch, although they are aiming at different users. The specs detailed by Canonical show that Aquarius E4.5 is an affordable device with medium hardware specs. It doesn't seem like much, but it's addressed at people who don't want to spend too much on a high-end phone, but still want to own a smartphone.

Aquarius E4.5 specs are not a secret

The phone was revealed a few months back and the hardware specs were also made available. Nonetheless, Canonical felt that users need to hear the information from an official source and they have also released details about Aquarius E4.5. "A strong innovative brand who operates in Europe with over 600 staff. With mobile, in 2013 bq shipped almost 1.5 million devices and in less than a year has become Spain’s second biggest seller of unlocked smartphones. The Aquarius E4.5 Ubuntu edition will be available in Europe and can be purchased soon via the bq site," wrote Canonical on fullcirclemagazine.org.

Aquarius E4.5 is a rather small device, judging by today's standards, with a 4.5-inch screen and a 960×540 resolution. It also comes with a 13MP capable camera, a 2150mAh battery, and a Quad A7 processor at 1.3GHz. The exact date for the launch of the Ubuntu edition for this phone hasn't been pinpointed yet and the announcement only mentions soon. The previously announced launch date was late February, and there is no reason to think that it won't happen then.

Aquarius E45 Specs:

Screen:

4.5″ qHD (960×540)

Camera:

5MP Fixed Focus+13MP Autofocus

Dual Flash

SIM:

Dual micro sim

Battery:

2150mAh

Connectivity:

GSM/GPRS/EDGE/WCDMA/HSPA+

CPU:

Quad A7/1.3GHz

RAM:

1GB

Sensors:

Gyroscope, Proximity, Light

Ubuntu Touch on Bq Aquaris e4.5 rendering

This is what the Ubuntu Touch phone might look like

Aquaris e4.5 front

Bq Aquaris e4.5 with white back

Bq Aquaris e4.5 with black back

Aquaris e4.5 with black back

Aquaris e4.5 features Android 4.4.4

Aquaris e4.5 with Android

Aquaris e4.5
Images credits to bq

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Google Project Ara Modules Will Be Compatible with BLOCKS Modular Smartwatch

A while ago we talked about the BLOCKS modular smartwatch platform, which is built according to rules similar to Google’s Project Ara, an initiative that aims to build a smartphone made out of swappable modules.

At first, these two endeavors seemed like separate projects, but it turns out that at some point in the future they will be intertwined. That translates into the fact that some Project Ara modules will be made compatible BLOCKS’ modular smartwatch. According to a member from the BLOCKS team, they have already met with Project Ara’s team to discuss the further implementation of the idea.

So in the near future you’ll probably be able to swap out a camera, battery, sensor, secondary notification display or microphone from your smartphone and go on to use it on your smartwatch. Imagine that you have to go out for a run but want to leave your smartphone at home. Just swipe out the cellular module and put it on your smartwatch and there you go, you are covered in case your boss tries to contact you while you’re out. This is a pretty exciting development, which makes a lot of sense. After all, most smartwatches are designed to be paired with smartphones to be of any use to you.

Project Ara teams up with BLOCKS

Several modules of BLOCKS

Colored parts of BLOCKS

Several looks of BLOCKS

BLOCKS will come in many shapes and formes
Images credits to Phonebloks

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Sapphire Radeon R9 290X with 8 GB Memory Launched

Overclocked graphics cards are the name of the game immediately after every new video board release, but today we aren't looking at yet another NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960. Instead, the AMD crowd is retaliating, so to speak.

Perhaps that is not altogether appropriate to say, since the board that Sapphire has just released is in no way meant to compete with NVIDIA's newest Maxwell model. Which is not to mean that it is weaker. Quite the opposite, Sapphire has launched one of the best single-GPU cards yet, the Radeon R9 290X Tri-X 8GB. This video card is an incarnation of the Radeon R9 290X single-GPU top-tier adapter from AMD, only with 8 GB instead of “only” four.

The Sapphire R9 290X Tri-X 8GB

The GPU, known in most circles as the Hawaii, runs its 2,816 GCN stream processing units (Graphics Core-Next) at a clock of 1,020 MHz. Considering that the normal board is content with 1,000 MHz (1 GHz for short), you can already see the factory overclock at work. However, one could also make a good case for the overclock being more or less minor. That's where the dual-BIOS comes in. The point is to allow buyers to manually overclock the graphics adapter themselves, and for the secondary BIOS to act as the fallback plan. If overclocking goes too high and too far, leading to a no-boot scenario, the card can be rolled back to factory settings with a single switch.

That said, the 8 GB of GDDR5 VRAM are run at 1,375 MHz (5.5 GHz Effective frequency) through a 512-bit interface. As for the cooler, it is a triple-fan monstrosity (fans with dust repelling bearings and dual ball races) with a black and red color theme and five heatpipes, a central 10 mm one, and four subsidiaries. Aerofoil section blades make sure airflow is strong and efficient with little noise. All in all, the video card, with its 6-phase power design and two 8-pin power ports, can pull as much as 375 Watts total including PCI-Express power.

Availability and pricing

The Sapphire R9 290X Tri-X 8GB graphics card should be put up for order soon, for around one thousand dollars / euro based on current trends and the prices of other high-end adapters. Sapphire didn't give any numbers in the PR. Or it could end up at under six hundred, or between six and seven hundred. A second search through retail channels confirms that the potential price range is surprisingly wide.

Sapphire R9 290X Tri-X 8GB

Sapphire R9 290X Tri-X 8GB side view

Sapphire R9 290X Tri-X 8GB full view
Images credits to Sapphire

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