Android 5.0.2 Arrives on Sony T2 Ultra and Sony Xperia C3

Remember when we told you that Sony might not be updating to Android 5.0 Lollipop smartphones outside the Xperia Z line?

Well, scratch that from your mind, because Sony is dedicating its efforts to updating as many models as it can from its smartphone lineup. As Gizmo Bolt reports, this week Sony has started rolling out the Android 5.0.2 update for its Xperia C3 and Xperia T2 Ultra handsets. The new build is reportedly being implemented for users of the T2 Ultra in the Czech Republic, Germany, and Taiwan. For the time being, only the single-SIM variant (D5303) is apparently receiving Lollipop. Like with most updates, this one will probably happen gradually, so don’t be disappointed if the new build hasn’t made it to your smartphone just yet.

As for the Xperia C3, the new update is rolling out only for users in Taiwan, but its availability will certainly extend to other territories as well. In this case too, only the single-SIM variant (D2533) is getting the Lollipop treatment. After the update, both phones will be running on build 19.3.A.0.470.

In case you get tired of waiting to receive a notification, you can also take the proactive route and check if the new build has arrived manually, by going to the Settings section and checking for System updates.

Sony Xperia C3 and Xperia T2 Ultra getting new update
Image credits to Sony Mobile

Sony Xperia C3 is getting Lollipop
Image credits to Gizmobolt

Sony Xperia C3 is getting updated
Image credits to Gizmobolt

Sony Xperia C3 with Lollipop now 
Image credits to Gizmobolt

Sony Xperia C3, multi-window manager
Image credits to Gizmobolt

Xperia T2 Ultra gets Lollipop too
Image credits to Gizmobolt

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This Could Be the Sony Xperia Z5, May Come with USB Type-C Port

Sony’s latest flagship, the Xperia Z4, was quietly announced last week without the Japanese company hosting a big media event or anything of the sort.

We soon found out why that was the case. It’s because Sony plans to market the Xperia Z4 only in Japan, but according to sources familiar with the matter, the company is prepping another flagship which should be rolled out on the global market this summer. A few days ago, word of the Sony Xperia Z5 surfaced online, with the mention that the phone should make a debut by the end of the year. The time frames, however, don’t align, so we have to assume that the Sony Xperia Z5 is not the flagship the phone maker is planning to unleash on the international market following the release of the Xperia Z4, but an entirely different model.

Take a sneak peek at the Sony Xperia Z5

Well, this week, the Xperia Z5 continues to be in the news. The folks over at GSM Dome have managed to dig up a picture from China’s lofty social media website Weibo, which apparently depicts the real-life phone. The image is quite blurry and shows the back of the device, which appears to be metallic. We can also spot the rear camera in the top left position. It’s interesting to note that the post including the photo on Weibo made a reference to Type-C, which probably means the phone will arrive with a USB Type-C port. This isn’t a surprise given that this new standard will end up being implemented on most next-gen mobile devices coming out this year.

Chinese video streaming guru LeTV has already rolled out the first three smartphones taking advantage of USB Type-C. Apple and Google also launched laptops bundling this new port last month. The post also includes the number “9,” which could mean that Sony plans to unleash the phone earlier than it was originally anticipated. Maybe the phone could arrive in September.

Rumored specs of the Xperia Z5

Other rumored specs include a 1440 x 2560 pixel resolution, Qualcomm’s next-gen Snapdragon 820 chip (which will apparently be built by Samsung), an improved main camera (although don’t go thinking it will have OIS), and Qualcomm’s Sense ID fingerprint technology embedded. On top of that, Sony is finally said to be actively working towards designing a new look for the next-gen Xperia Z5. As we have seen, the Xperia Z4 follows the same aesthetic schematics as it predecessors and can be considered only an incremental update compared to the Xperia Z3 that came before it.

This could be the Sony Xperia Z5
Weibo / GSMDome

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Elephone Dual-Boot Smartphone with Windows 10/Android 5.0 Launching in Late June

A few days ago news about a Chinese company that plans to launch a Windows 10 for Phones device made headlines. An unnamed Elephone smartphone has been showcased at a trade fair in Hong Kong and the Chinese company confirmed it will be capable of dual-booting Android and Windows.

Although some of the phone's specs were listed by Elephones and some of the pictures showing the smartphone were also displayed at the trade fair, the actual phone or a prototype wasn't showcased. Today, the folks over at Neowin received new information regarding the upcoming Elephone smartphone. Some of the phone's features and its release date have been confirmed. More pictures have been published as well, so let's see what's coming for both Android and Windows Phone fans. From what we can tell, Elephone's new smartphone is aimed at both Android and Windows Phone users, so those who would want to switch to Microsoft's OS but don't really want to give up Android's advantages will want to choose this particular device.

The Android version of the smartphone may ship in May

Elephone's smatphone will ship with both Android 5.0 Lollipop and Windows 10 for Phones operating systems, and will be capable of dual-boot. We already know the handset packs 4GB of RAM and a powerful quad-core processor provided by Intel. Elephone's high-end device will also boast an impressive 20.7-megapixel Sony camera on the back, as well as 32GB of storage inside. The phone will be powered by a more than 3,800 mAh battery and will sport a 5.5-inch capacitive touchscreen display that supports 2560 x 1440 pixels resolution.

According to Elephone, its dual-boot flagship smartphone will be launched sometime in late June. The other version of its flagship handset that will only run Android OS will ship beginning in May. Obviously, the smartphone will only be available for purchase in China, at least at the beginning. So there you have it folks, a Windows 10 smartphone may be launched as early as June.

Elephone dual-boot flagship
Image credits to Neowin

Elephone Android flagship
Image credits to Neowin

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Gionee’s Elife S8 Flagship Might Beat the Samsung Galaxy S6 at Pixel Density (PPi)

Chinese smartphone maker Gionee attracted attention upon itself when it launched what back then was considered the world’s thinnest smartphone, the S5.5 (it was only 5.6 mm / 0.22 inch thin).

The company currently sits on a lofty portfolio of devices and has received a good response from users, both for hardware and software. Gionee is also in the process of prepping its upcoming flagship, which will probably be dubbed the Elife S8. And now, a new Gionee smartphone has recently been spotted in the GFX Benchmark showing an impressive list of hardware specifications. We’re not 100% sure we’re dealing with the Gionee Elife S8 here, but there's a big chance this is exactly the case, given what this phone packs on the inside.

Gionee Elife S8 could come with an advanced display

The upcoming model appears to sport a relatively small display, of the 4.6-inch variety, with QHD resolution on top (1440 x 2560 pixels). If the benchmark entry is correct, the Gionee Elife S8 will end up boasting one of the most crisp displays on the market with a pixel density of 639ppi. For the time being, the smartphones with the crispest displays on the market are Samsung’s newest darlings, the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge, both of which boast 577ppi. Gionee might be able to jump in front of Samsung for a while when pixel density is concerned, but the Korean tech giant is said to be working on UHD (2,160 x 3,840 pixel resolution) Super AMOLED displays for mobile devices.

Actually, a recent report claimed Samsung might be looking to use such a panel in the upcoming Galaxy Note 5. If the information turns out to be genuine, the Galaxy Note 5 will make a debut with a 5.89-inch display and a whopping 748ppi, thus surpassing Gionee’s offering. In related news, Sharp recently unveiled the world’s first 5.5-inch mobile display with UHD resolution and an outrageous 806ppi.

So, as you can see, pixel density in mobile devices is on the rise and will continue to ascend throughout the year. The benchmark also sheds light on other specs, including a quad-core MediaTek 6795 chipset, 3GB of RAM, 32GB of internal storage, and a 24MP/8MP camera combo. Sadly, the benchmark listing doesn't say anything about the design of the product, but we have to imagine it will be very sleek.

Gionee’s Elife S8 listed in benchmarks
Image credits to GFX Benchmark

Current Gionee’s Elife S7 flagship

Current Gionee’s Elife S7 front and back
Image credits to Gionee

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Sony Xperia Z4 to Sell Only in Japan, Another Flagship for the Global Market Coming in May

In an unexpected move today, Sony pulled the veil off the Xperia Z4 flagship we have been seeing leak online for the past few months.

We weren't anticipating the phone to be making a debut today, but here it is, boasting a look very similar to the previous Xperia Z3 handset. Which is to say Sony hasn't really toyed with the overall design schematics of the new phone. Naturally, you’re going to see a bunch of subtle improvements, but nothing too out of the ordinary really. The phone has been made a tad lighter and skinnier and there’s the Snapdragon 810 under the hood to juice things up, but apart from it, that’s about it. Anyway, it was pretty puzzling that Sony decided to launch the Xperia Z4 without making a big fuss about it, after all we’re talking about a flagship device.

Sony Xperia Z4 is exclusive to Japan

Well, a new piece of information sheds light on why Sony chose to make a quiet rollout. According to the Russian Hi-Tech.Mail.Ru website, the Sony Xperia Z4 will be marketed only in Japan and won’t be made available on the international market, in this exact configuration. So what about the rest of the world? Will we be left out? Well, it appears that Sony is prepping a different flagship device for the global market with an official announcement date likely scheduled for around May. We’re not sure what these differences are going to be all about, but in all possibility the international Xperia Z4 model might not be all that different from the Japanese version.

On the other hand, Sony could be looking to make some hardcore modifications. Not so long ago we told you that information concerning Sony’s next-gen flagship, the Xperia Z5, had already leaked out into the world. So could there be a connection between Sony’s next international flagship and the Xperia Z5? It could be. Yet, the earlier report said the Xperia Z5 would take advantage of Qualcomm’s next-gen Snapdragon 820 platform, which should be out towards the end of the year.

But given that Sony is poised to roll out a global version for its latest flagship in May, the two pieces of info don’t seem to be adding up. So we’ll just have to wait and see what else surfaces about Sony’s international flagship. We’ll update you when it happens.

Sony Xperia Z4
Image credits to Sony Mobile

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Sony Xperia Z4 vs. Huawei P8 (Specs Shootout)

Spring seems to be a good season to launch flagship devices, and lots of phone makers are doing it. To make a point, last week we saw Huawei unveil its P8 handset during a press event, and this week, quite unexpectedly, Sony has pulled the veil off the Xperia Z4.

But the Japanese tech giant didn't do it with bells and whistles and contented itself with rolling out its latest flagship device via a press release where we’re given the hard, cold facts. No fancy media event involved. If you’re a bit confused by the flagship avalanche and you’re wondering which smartphone model might be worth your buck, we’re here to offer you a detailed comparison between the two new top-tier devices.

Design

The Huawei P8 arrives with a metal unibody similar to what you’ve seen with the iPhone 6 and HTC One M9. But Huawei ditched the subtle curvature in order to offer a device that’s rectangular in shape, which actually makes holding it in your hand a bit awkward. Unlike other phone makers (Samsung immediately comes to mind), Huawei hasn't ventured in any new territory while its design schematics are concerned, and that might be a good thing for those who love the way the company does things. The phone comes with a relatively thin body of 7.5 mm / 0.25 inches (although the Sony phone beats it) and a weight of 144 g / 0.31 lbs.

As for the new Sony Xperia Z4, the phone is extremely similar to its predecessor, the Z3. It comes with a metal frame and a glass body that hides the fairly large battery. However, compared to the previous model, the Xperia Z4 is a tad slimmer, coming at 6.9 mm / 0.27 inches, and a bit lighter at 144 g / 0.31 lbs (its predecessor tipped the scales at 152 g / 0.33 lbs).

Display

Huawei is a very well-known proponent of FHD displays on smartphones, so the P8 arrives with a 5.2-inch screen with 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution. The company claims that, this way, the battery life won’t be subjected to too much strain.

Meanwhile, Sony’s new Xperia Z4 utilizes the same display standard. The phones are identical in size, meaning the Xperia Z4 also comes with a 5.2-inch display with FHD res. However, if we’re to listen to the rumor mill, Sony will also push out a QHD version, as the market’s standard dictates today.

Camera

Well, the Huawei P8 brings something quite interesting in the photo department. The camera sensor inside the new flagship works with four types of sub-pixels including Red, Green, Blue and White. This setup should make the snapper mode efficient in low-lighting environments. The 13MP main shooter benefits from optical image stabilization and can rotate up to 1.6° which is double than what the iPhone 6 Plus camera can do. The selfie-centric camera is of a 8MP variety. The image processor inside the shooter will apparently be able to bestow DSLR quality to the images, but such statements are yet to be verified.

As for the Sony Xperia Z4, the main camera is a bit more impressive, being of a 20.7MP capacity with 4K video capabilities, exactly as the one on the Z3. Up in front we find a 5.1MP camera for video calls and selfies.

Performance

In the hardware department, the Huawei P8 takes advantage of the company’s home-grown HiSilicone Kirin 930 chip with 2GHz octa-core CPU on the inside, fitted with 3GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage. A negative point here is that the flagship lacks a microSD slot for storage expansion. Just like the Samsung Galaxy S6, the P8 doesn't offer a user replaceable battery. However, if you prefer something more traditional in terms of silicone, the Xperia Z4 has a Snapdragon 810 processor running under its hood (like on the HTC One M9) fitted with the same 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage.

The good news is that, even if the rumor mill whispered at some point that the Xperia Z4 might be losing its microSD card slot in the vein of the Galaxy S6, this didn't prove to be the case. So luckily, those needing more storage will be able to increase it via microSD up to 128GB. We should also mention that Sony’s smartphone is IP67-certified for dust, and also IP5 and IP8-certified for water.

Operating system

Both flagships run Android 5.0 out of the box, but the Huawei P8 has the company’s EMUI 3.1 UI plastered on top, which brings along an interesting feature. It’s called Knuckle Gestures and allows users to double tap with their knuckles on the screen and take a screenshot. They can also crop it out with help from their knuckles. Albeit we’re not told in the press release, Sony is probably bundling its phone with its usual skin that is riddled with lots of extra applications and features. If this is a good thing or not, it’s up for users to decide.

Battery

The Huawei P8 runs on a 2,680 mAh battery, while the Sony Xperia Z4 is sustained by a tad larger 2,930 mAh battery, but neither has been rated by their respective manufacturer. So at this moment, we can’t tell you anything about how long the phones can survive on a single charge.

Availability

The Huawei P8 will be available in four colors including Mystic Champagne, Prestige Gold, Titanium Gray and Carbon Black. The 16GB model will go on sale in Europe around May for a price of €499 / $530. The 64GB variant will start selling for €599 / $635.

As for the Sony Xperia Z4, the company is offering it in Aqua Green, Black, Copper and White versions. The handset will go on sale later this summer in Japan only, and Sony kept mum about pricing specifications.

What will you choose, the Huawei P8 or Sony Xperia Z4
Image credits to Huawei/Sony Mobile

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This is Why Microsoft Doesn’t Want to Kill Windows Phone

It’s a well-known fact that Windows Phone is well behind Android and iOS in terms of market share across the world, and it’s also no secret that several experts and analysts recommended Microsoft to simply give up on its mobile platform and concentrate on what it does best.

But there’s no doubt that Windows Phone is here to stay, and with Windows 10 Microsoft is getting even more serious about its mobile efforts, with the company trying to bring together all of its platforms. And as far as a former designer who worked for Windows Phone is concerned, Microsoft not only that doesn’t want to kill the smartphone OS, but it also needs it to continue its mobile push because, as he said in an AMA on Reddit, a small market share is better than nothing. Right now, Windows Phone has somewhere between 2.5 and 3.0 percentage points in market share, according to various research firms, but Microsoft needs to keep Windows Phone alive because they have to compete in the mobile OS market as well.

“Windows Phone is small, relatively speaking. But absolutely speaking it still sells a lot of units. And they can’t not have an OS. So it’d be nice if they had more market on mobile, but having zero just topples the whole strategy,” he said.

Windows Phone 8.1 devices will be upgradeable to Windows 10

When Windows 10 will become available later this year, Microsoft will allow all devices running Windows Phone 8.1 to install it at absolutely no charge, with the company saying that handsets with 512 MB of RAM would support the OS with some feature limitations. This is needed because of the obvious hardware restrictions created by the reduced amount of memory, but no matter the device, everyone should be able to experience the new operating system when it launches. According to AMD, Windows 10 is likely to debut in late July, with some sources saying that RTM is scheduled for June. At this point, it’s not yet clear if the phone version can launch together with the PC flavor or shortly after that.

Nokia Lumia 1020
Image credits to Nokia/Microsoft

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Sony Xperia Z4 Officially Introduced with 5.2-Inch Display, Snapdragon 810 CPU

Japanese handset maker Sony Mobile has just announced its new flagship smartphone, the Xperia Z4. The phone does seem to look like the devices shown in the pictures leaked in the last couple of weeks, so there's no surprise here.

There aren't any surprises when it comes to specs either, but let's take it step by step. First of all, the Xperia Z4 doesn't come with a full-metal body, though it does feature a metal frame. Software-wise, Sony Xperia Z4 ships with Android 5.0 Lollipop operating system out of the box. As expected, the smartphone is IP67 certified for dust, but the device is also IP5 and IP8 certified for water. According to Sony, the Xperia Z4 will be available in Aqua Green, Black, Copper and White. The smartphone should go on sale later this summer in Japan, after which it will be rolled out globally.

It will go on sale later this summer in Japan

When it comes to hardware, Sony's latest flagship smartphone has been confirmed to pack a 64-bit octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor, 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal memory, which can be further expanded up to 128GB via microSD card slot. Sony Xperia Z4 is only 6.9mm thin, which makes it even thinner than its Xperia Z3 predecessor. On the back, the smartphone boasts an impressive 20.7-megapixel camera with autofocus, LED flash and video recording, while in the front there's a secondary 5.1-megapixel camera for video calls and great selfies. It's also worth mentioning that the Xperia Z4 will be powered by a non-removable 2,930 mAh battery, which hasn't been rated by the manufacturer yet.

Along with Xperia Z4's announcement, Sony also unveiled a handful of accessories, which will be released on the market around the same timeframe as the smartphone. A waterpoof Cover Window, as well as desktop holder will be available for purchase later this summer too.

Sony Xperia Z4
Images credits to Sony Mobile

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Sony “Xperia Z Fourth Generation” Images Leak, Possibly Launching in June

There's no doubt that Sony will launch its next flagship smartphones in the coming months. The Japanese company confirmed it will release new top of the line handsets once per year.

Lots of rumors about the unannounced Xperia Z4 leaked online in the last few months, but it's still unclear when exactly Sony plans to make it available on the market. Up until several months ago, the handset maker would release two flagship smartphones per year, one in the spring and the other one in fall. However, this year the Xperia Z4 might be released on the market in the summer or fall. This weekend a new image of Sony's upcoming flagship smartphone, which is referred to as the “Xperia Z Fourth Generation.” According to XperiaBlog, the device in the image published recently is tagged as a design concept.

The smartphone is codenamed “i1-4,” which is another indication that this could be in fact the highly anticipated Xperia Z4, since the Xperia Z1 was codenamed “i1.”

The Xperia Z4 might be released along with Xperia Z4 Tablet

One of the images also show a full-metal body smartphone and a short description with the tagline 'The New Metal Expression': “Making the metal more solid and sleek, in high polished surfaces created by metal plating, all we do this with a new anodizing technology.” The same leak also provides some details on the possible release of the Xperia Z4. According to a document named Sony Product/Service Launch Calendar, the next flagship smartphone launch is pegged for release for FY2015 Q1.

This means that the Xperia Z4 could be launched on the market in either of these three months: April, May or June. The most probable timeframe for the release of Xperia Z4 is June, because that means the flagship smartphone will be launched along with Sony's Xperia Z4 Tablet. Since these are only rumors based on images and documents that have been confirmed as official, we recommend our readers to take it with a grain of salt. Stay tuned for more updates on the matter.

Sony “Xperia Z Fourth Generation”

Sony “Xperia Z Fourth Generation”

Sony “Xperia Z Fourth Generation”

Sony “Xperia Z Fourth Generation”

Sony product/service launch calendar
Images credits to WikiLeaks

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Android 5.1.1 Lollipop Coming Soon for Nexus 7, Nexus 9 Tablets

Earlier this month it was revealed that, after having rolled out the Android 5.1 Lollipop update, Google is already working on Android 5.1.1.

A reference to the new build was spotted in the Android SDK manager, so we argued that the new version shouldn’t take long to become available. Now the new build has been spotted on Google’s own Android audio latency info page running on the Nexus 7 and Nexus 9 (as seen at Android Police). While the Android 5.1 update is available for some Nexus devices, the Nexus 9 has Android 5.0.1 running on it and the Nexus 7 benefits from the services of Android 5.0.2 Lollipop.

For those frustrated that their Nexus tablets aren’t rocking Android, the good news that comes today is that Google is planning to update both tablets to Android 5.1.1 directly. The build number for the Android 5.1.1 Lollipop update will be LMY57W for the Nexus 7 2013, whereas the Nexus 9 will be updated to LMY47S.

For the time being, we don’t have any information on what Android 5.1.1 might be bringing to the table, compared to Android 5.1, although the jump seems to be a fairly small one. So most likely, we’re going to see some bugs being squashed. Hopefully, the pesky memory leak one will finally get the boot too.

Nexus 7 and Nexus 9 to get Android 5.1.1 soon
Image credits to Android Police

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