Monster from China: Coolpad Fengsheng C+ with Snapdragon 810 CPU, 4GB RAM

China is the largest smartphone market in the world, but also one of the most competitive. Following Xiaomi's success in China, many OEMs are now launching cheap smartphones that are getting better and better quality-wise.

Unfortunately, for consumers in the rest of the world, these devices rarely go on sale internationally because they are sold by native companies that do not have the resources to sustain such an endeavor. Not yet at least. Coolpad is a Chinese handset maker that recently entered the Indian market with two smartphones. However, the company's main market remains China where its products are among the most popular.

The latest addition to Coolpad's portfolio of Android smartphones is called Fengsheng C+. According to a new report, the smartphone will soon be available for purchase in China, though details on pricing options have yet to be announced.

Lots of RAM, but disappointing display

What's interesting about Coolpad's Fengsheng C+ is that it's one of the not so many smartphones available on the market that packs 4GB of RAM. The bad news is the smartphone is equipped with an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor, which means it's possible that Fengsheng C+ will face some overheating issues. Even so, the phone's specs look rather appealing if not for the 5.5-inch capacitive touchscreen display that only supports HD (720p) resolution.

On the back, Coolpad Fengsheng C+ packs a 13-megapixel photo snapper with autofocus, LED flash and video recording, while in the front there's a secondary 5-megapixel camera for selfies and video calls. It's also worth mentioning that the smartphone is powered by a 2,500 mAh battery and packs 32GB of internal memory, which can be further expanded up to 64GB via microSD card slot. Other highlights of the Coolpad Fengsheng C+ include dual-SIM support, 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, microUSB 2.0, GPS with AGPS and Bluetooth 4.0.

Coolpad Fengsheng C+
Images credits to zol.com.cn

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Sony Xperia Z3+ Receives Small Software Update That Should Fix Overheating Issues

Qualcomm's Snapdragon 810 chipset is clearly faulty, as many benchmarks confirm it. HTC One M9, which is equipped with this particular SoC, had major overheating issues before it hit shelves, but the Taiwanese company delivered a small software update that partially solved the problem.

Basically, the update throttles down the CPU and GPU speeds in order to avoid overheating. While the solution solved the reported overheating issues, it drastically reduced the HTC One M9's performance in benchmarks. HTC also had to release another software update to keep the One M9 cooler while it charges. For whatever reason, the smartphone would overheat while charging even though the Snapdragon 810 processor shouldn't have been used that much during this task.

All the issues that HTC One M9 had with Qualcomm's Snapdragon 810 chipset are present in all devices powered by this processor. Even though the chipset maker does not wish to admit that Snapdragon 810 has major overheating issues, real-life tests confirm it.

All devices powered by Snapdragon 810 chipsets have overheating issues

Sony Xperia Z3+ is another flagship smartphone that uses the Snapdragon 810 chipset. We have already reported about the handset's major issues with the camera app, which closes down due to increased temperatures. The same goes for any hardware-demanding app that users ran on the Xperia Z3+. Sony is already aware of these issues and promised to deploy a software update, just as HTC did. However, it's been almost a month and Sony has yet deliver on that promise. According to a new report, the Xperia Z3+ is now getting a new software update that supposedly fixes these overheating issues.

The update is about 70MB in size, but we can't yet confirm that it does address the overheating problems, as Sony has not announced anything on that matter. If this is indeed a fix for the overheating issues in Sony Xperia Z3+, then expect your smartphone to score lower in benchmarks because it's the only way to solve these problems.

Sony Xperia Z3+ new software update
Image credits to PhoneBunch

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Nokia N1 Coming Soon to India, Indonesia

Nokia's amazing Android tablet, the N1 is only available in China and Taiwan, even though the Finnish company promised to bring its wildly popular slate to other countries.

If you expected Nokia to launch the N1 in Finland next, then you might be mistaken since the tablet has been recently spotted at Zauba, the Indian import/export commission. On top of that, Nokia N1 has been recently certified in Indonesia, which points to an imminent release in this country as well. Even though we don't have any confirmed info on availability and pricing options, we should mention that Nokia N1 is available in China for only $260.

If Nokia decides to offer the slate for around the same amount in India and Indonesia, it will probably increase N1's sales by a lot. Unfortunately, we can't say for sure since the tablet's value in Zauba is set to Rs 44,523, which translates to no less than $705 or €635. The good news is the value of a product appearing at Zauba is just for import/export purposes and rarely reflects the final price of the device.

The iPad mini killer comes with more than decent specs

That being said, we expect Nokia to bring the Wi-Fi only tablet in India and Indonesia in the coming months. For those unfamiliar with the N1, also known as the iPad mini killer, here is a quick rundown of what it has to offer. First of all, the tablet sports a 7.9-inch IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen display that supports 1536 x 2048 pixels resolution and features Corning Gorilla Glass 3 coating. Hardware-wise, Nokia N1 is equipped with a 2.3GHz quad-core Intel Atom Z3580 processor, a PowerVR G6430 graphics processing unit and 2GB of RAM.

Although the tablet packs 32GB of internal memory, it does not feature microSD card slot for memory expansion, so that's all the storage you have at your disposal. It's also worth mentioning that N1 comes with a 8-megapixel rear-facing camera, a 5-megapixel camera in the front and a non-removable 5,300 mAh battery.

Nokia N1Image credits to Nokia

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Samsung Galaxy Note 5 Press Renders Leak

Italian blog HDBlog has just published two pictures of the alleged Galaxy Note 5, which confirm some of the latest info on the phablet.

Although previous rumors claimed that Samsung Galaxy Note 5 would pack USB Type C port, it looks like the South Korean company has no plans to replace the microUSB 2.0 port. These images, as well as the one leaked via a CAD file earlier today, confirm this information.

Also, we get glimpse of what appears to be Galaxy Note 5's platicky stylus. Some other piece of hardware visible in the press renders include a 3.5mm audio jack port and a loudspeaker on the bottom side of the phone. The protruding Home button probably hides the fingerprint scanner, while the back side of the Galaxy Note 5 reveals a thick camera module.

No other details accompany these images allegedly showing the Samsung Galaxy Note 5, but we already know most of the phablet's specs. The Galaxy Note 5 is expected to be officially unveiled in late August or early September at IFA 2015, but it will only hit shelves a few months later.

Samsung Galaxy Note 5 (bottom side)

Samsung Galaxy Note 5 (bottom side + display)
Images credits to HDBlog.it

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Xiaomi Mi5 Specs Leak Once Again: Snapdragon 820 CPU, QHD Display, 4GB RAM

Samsung Galaxy Note 5 and possibly Sony Xperia Z5 are the next flagship smartphones to be released on the market this year, but the 2015 will end in full force with the launch of the next Nexus smartphone and Xiaomi's Mi5 high end smartphone.

The have been quite a few leaks regarding Xiaomi's next flagship, which was originally slated for a July release. However, it appears that due to Qualcomm's Snapdragon 810 overheating issues, Xiaomi decided to delay the smartphone until later this year when the next generation of Qualcomm chipsets get released. Keep in mind that the information emerged online as a rumor, so there's no way to confirm it since the Chinese company refused to comment on these rumors.

Well, it looks like according to the latest hearsay, Xiaomi Mi5 is now on track for a November release. This means that the smartphone might be announced slightly earlier, though an exact release date will probably be announced closer to the event. Along with the release timeframe of the smartphone, new details on the phone's specs have just popped up via MobiPicker.

Quad HD display and fingerprint scanner

As expected, Xiaomi Mi5 will be a beast when it comes to specs. The smartphone will be equipped with Qualcomm's Snapdragon 820 chipset, which will be complemented by no less than 4GB of RAM. The smartphone will pack either 16GB or 64GB of internal memory, but it will also come with microSD card slot for memory expansion (up to 128GB). In the front, the Mi5 will boast a 5.3-inch capacitive touchscreen display that will support Quad HD (2560 x 1440 pixels) resolution.

In addition, the phone will pack a 16-megapixel camera on the back, as well as a 6-megapixel camera in the front for video calls and selfies. Last but not least, Xiaomi Mi5 will ship with Android 5.1.1 Lollipop operating system right out of the box, but it will also feature a 3,030 mAh battery and fingerprint scanner.

Xiaomi M5 mockup
Image credits to MobiPicker

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Nexus 5 (2015) Will Be Manufactured by LG, Not Based on LG G4

There have been much talk on Google's next Nexus smartphones, which are expected to be unveiled later this fall. As expected, the search giant is mum on these rumors, but that's mostly because nothing has been set in stone yet.

Many of you probably remember several weeks ago new reports claimed Google will launch not one, but two Nexus smartphones this year. Sadly, the company is also said to have dropped plans for another Nexus tablet this year. Anyway, the unannounced Nexus smartphones are said to be manufactured by Huawei and LG, as they will target different price tiers. In fact, Google is trying to appeal to consumers who prefer phablets, but also to those that like to go with standard sized displays.

Germany blog AndroidPIT claims source close to the matter confirmed that the Nexus 5 (2015) will indeed be manufactured by LG. 

It remains to be seen whether or not there will be a second Nexus smartphone

When the first rumors about the Nexus smartphones emerged online, Google wasn't yet sure that LG should build one of its Android smartphones, instead it played with the idea because the South Korean company has the necessary expertise for the task. But now it looks like Google has finally decided that LG is best suitable to build the Nexus 5 (2015), so the only thing that remains to be decided is whether there will be a second Nexus smartphone and what company is going to build its.

In the same piece of news, Google and LG will redesign the Nexus 5 (2015) from ground up, which means it will not be based on LG G4's blueprint. Also, the Nexus 5 (2015) name is not yet set in stone, so Google might launch it on the market under a different name. No additional details on the phone's specs have been given, but we expect the Nexus 5 (2015) to be unveiled this fall along with Google's new Android M operating system.

Nexus smartphones
Image credits to Google

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Sony Xperia Z5 Launching in September with Snapdragon 820 CPU, 4GB RAM

Sony Mobile has been launching two flagships smartphones per year for a long time, but the Japanese company announced back in 2014 that it will limit new releases to just one flagship each year.

After this year's Xperia Z4/Xperia Z3+ fiasco we thought Sony will announce its next top of the line smartphone only next year, but it looks like we were wrong. According to a new report, Sony plans to launch its unannounced Xperia Z5 flagship smartphone sometime in September. In fact, the device might be officially unveiled at IFA 2015 trade fair and will probably for on sale later this year. We're not sure when and where the Xperia Z5 will be made available for purchase, but the cited source also has some specs to share with us.

If you're a long-time Xperia user here is what you should expect to be included in the next high-end smartphone in the series.

Xperia Z5 Compact and Xperia Z5 Ultra also in the pipeline

First of all, Sony Xperia Z5 is said to be equipped with Qualcomm's Snapdragon 820 chipset, which hasn't been commercially released yet, but it's already being tested with some prototypes like Xiaomi Mi5. The powerful CPU will be complemented by no less than 4GB of RAM. There's no mention of storage, but we expect the Xperia Z5 to pack microSD card for memory expansion. Rumor has it that the smartphone will feature a 21-megapixel camera with Sony Exmor RS IMX230 CMOS sensor, autofocus, LED flash and 4k video recording.

The Xperia Z5 will be powered by a huge 4,500 mAh battery and will definitely feature a fingerprint recognition sensor. We also expect the smartphone to ship with Android 5.1.1 Lollipop operating system right out of the box since Android M won't be available until its unveil. In the same piece of news, Sony is rumored to be readying even more high-end smartphones for later this year, including the Xperia Z5 Compact and Xperia Z5 Ultra.

Sony Xperia logo
Image credits to Sony Mobile

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Samsung Galaxy A8 Shows Up in Brochure, Brings New 16MP ISOCELL Camera

Rumor about Samsung Galaxy A8 continue to emerge, but the South Korean company has yet to unveil the smartphone. The Galaxy A8 is expected to be Samsung's slimmest Android smartphone at only 5.9mm thickness.

We already know most of the phone's specs courtesy to all the leaks in the last couple of weeks, but it looks like the folks over at SamMobile have just published a new piece of information about the Galaxy A8. It appears that Samsung is likely to pack a new 16-megapixel ISOCELL camera sensor inside the Galaxy A8. According to the cited source, the camera sensor (LSI3P3) that will be packed inside the Samsung Galaxy A8 has a slimmed-down pixel size of 1.0 µm. Also, the thickness of the camera module has been reduced to 5mm, which makes it 23% sleeker than Sony's IMX240 module that's now included in the Samsung Galaxy Note 4.

This is probably one of the reasons the Samsung Galaxy A8 has only 5.9mm thickness making it the one of the slimmest smartphones launched by the South Korean company. In the same piece of news, the Galaxy A8 recently popped up in a brochure in South Korea, which points to a imminent launch in the not so distant future.

Octa-core Snapdragon 615 CPU and 3,050 mAh battery

For those out of the loop, here are some of the phone's confirmed specs via “rumor mill.” First of all, the Galaxy A8 is a phablet that sports a large 5.7-inch Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen display that supports full HD (1080p) resolution and 386ppi (pixel per inch). On the inside, the sleek smartphone is said to be equipped with a 64-bit octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 processor, 2GB RAM and 16GB of internal memory. As mentioned earlier, Samsung Galaxy A8 will boast a thin 16-megapixel ISOCELL camera sensor, while in the front there's will be a 5-megapixel front-facing camera for selfies and video calls.

We also know that the smartphone will be powered by a 3,050 mAh battery and will ship with Android 5.1.1 Lollipop operating system with the latest version of TouchWiz UI on top.

Samsung Galaxy A8
Image credits to GSMArena

16MP ISOCELL camera sensor
Image credits to MyDrivers

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BlackBerry Venice Android Slider Leaks in Press Render

BlackBerry plans to launch a slider smartphone powered by Android operating system. Codenamed BlackBerry Venice, the handset is bound to AT&T in the United States, but it might arrive at other carriers as well.

A completely different Android smartphone might be launched by the Canadian company later this year as well, but this is the first time we hear about it. It looks like a picture of an Android-powered BlackBerry Passport leaked earlier today along with information about Venice's upcoming release at AT&T. Now, the same @evleaks published a press render of the unannounced BlackBerry Venice. The device looks very stylish in the picture, but we're hoping the real thing will be quite the looker as well. The image leaked shows the bottom side of the BlackBerry Venice, which features the microUSB and 3.5mm audio jack ports.

The physical QWERTY keyboard that Venice is expected to pack is not shown in the picture because the slider is closed, but it surely has one.

Two Microsoft apps included, but not BlackBerry software

We also get to see some of the apps that will come preloaded on the BlackBerry Venice. Beside the usual Google apps and services like Maps, Drive, Chrome, Hangouts and Photos, we can also see two Microsoft apps: Skype and Bing. Unfortunately, there's no BlackBerry-related service or app showing on the phone's display, so we must assume they have been left out from the picture or they might be listed on the second page of the drawer. Aside from that, we're left with the information we got from previous rumors like the fact that the Venice will be powered by a hexa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 processor and 3GB of RAM.

BlackBerry Venice is also said to sport a 5.4-inch capacitive touchscreen display that supports Quad HD (2560 x 1440 pixels) resolution, as well as 18-megapixel camera in the back. In the front, the smartphone will pack another 5-megapixel camera for selfies. The Venice is expected to unveil sometime this fall and will probably make it to market in November, but the information has yet to be confirmed by BlackBerry.

BlackBerry Venice
Image credits to @evleaks

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How to Enable Colored Title Bars in Windows 10

Windows 10 build 10162 sure comes with plenty of improvements, but one of the undisclosed tweaks allows insiders to use colored title bars in the operating system.

This feature, however, is not enabled by default, and users must turn to a small registry trick to enable it. It doesn't take more than a couple of minutes, and once you enable it, it stay this way forever. The color of the title bars is the same as the accent color you choose in Windows.

How to do it 

As WinAero notes, first and foremost, you need to navigate to the following folder (this is the one where all the work will be done, so make sure you keep it open all the time):

C:\Windows\Resources\Themes

Select the “aero” folder and create a copy in the same directory - press “Yes” when prompted by UAC and press “Skip” when asked to make changes to some specific files. Once the copying is done, rename “aero - Copy” (or whatever name you used) to “windows.”

Open the new “windows” folder and rename “aero.msstyles“ to “windows.msstyles.” Next, open the “en-US” folder in the newly created “windows” folder and rename “aero.msstyles.mui” file to “windows.msstyles.mui.”

Go back to the main themes folder and create a copy of the “aero.theme” file and rename the copy to “windows.theme.” Right-click the new windows.theme file, open it with Notepad and look for the following line in the [VisualStyles] section:

Path=%ResourceDir%\Themes\Aero\Aero.msstyles

Replace it with the following line:

Path=%ResourceDir%\Themes\windows\windows.msstyles

Once you complete all these steps, all you have to do is double-click the new windows.theme file and you're done. Colored title bars should be applied in Windows 10. If you want to go back to the default configuration, simply double-click the original aero.theme file and the original settings should be re-applied.

Colored title bar in Windows 10 build 10162

Gallery Image
Image credits to WinAero

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