HTC M9 Prime to Arrive in Q1 2015, Before HTC M9

HTC One (M8), the latest flagship Android-based handset from the Taiwanese mobile phone maker, has been on shelves for only several months, but the company is already hard at work with its successor, it seems.

The handset, supposedly codenamed HTC M9, and most probably set to arrive on the market as HTC One (M9), if the current naming scheme from the company is anything to go by, is currently rumored to arrive on the market in the first quarter of the next year. The info comes from infamous tipster evleaks, that also claims that the handset will be accompanied by a premium version, called HTC M9 Prime. In fact, it appears that HTC might be actually planning to release the Prime model before the actual flagship device, yet specific details on when that might happen haven’t been unveiled as of now. However, the tipster does suggest that a premium version of the HTC One (M8) might never arrive, and that HTC would be focusing on the next high-end model instead. The company was previously rumored to have been working on a HTC M8 Prime model that was supposedly featuring a Quad HD touchscreen display, yet no confirmation on the matter has been provided as of now.

Moreover, the Taiwanese handset vendor decided to make official a cheaper flavor of the HTC One (M8), one that no longer features the aluminum design of the original, but replaces it with a plastic body. This resulted in a significant drop in price when compared to the flagship model. Next year, however, the company is expected to release HTC M9 Prime as a full refresh of the One Mx family, most probably with various hardware enhancements when compared to the HTC M9, though no info on what these could be has been shared as of now. Even so, we can assume that the Quad HD screen rumored for the M8 Prime will be present on the upcoming model, along with a faster processor and a better camera. The HTC M9 should feature improved specs when compared to HTC One (M8) too.

What remains to be seen, however, is whether HTC will also release a cheaper version of the flagship, the same as it did this year. If it does, then it would have its next One Mx model targeting a wide range of price points simultaneously, something that could prove great for sales. And the one thing that is certain at the moment is that it does need to sell more devices to return to profitability.

Allegedly leaked photo of HTC One (M8) Prime
Image credits to evleaks

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Samsung Galaxy S5 Mini Leaks in High-Res Photos, Full Specs Revealed

The mini version of Samsung Galaxy S5 has yet to be announced, but there are plenty of leaks suggesting that the smartphone will be quite decent in terms of hardware, as well as design.

Obviously, if you didn’t like the look of Galaxy S5, you won’t like the mini version either, as Samsung did not change much. You don’t have to take our word for it as the first high-resolution pictures showing the Galaxy S5 mini, alongside the original model, have just leaked online. This is not the first time a picture of the Galaxy S5 mini pops up online, but these are high-quality, so Samsung fans will have a better idea of what the smartphone really looks like. From what we can see, this is a prototype that’s very close to the final version that’s supposed to hit shelves this year, so you might as well think of it as the real deal. The pictures have been published by SamMobile and show that Samsung has kept the same design for both Galaxy S5 versions, with a few exceptions. For example, the mini version of Galaxy S5 does not feature a rubber stripe over the USB port like the original model. But that does not mean that it’s not IP67 certified. On the contrary, it looks like Samsung has managed to solve the issue with water infiltrating through the USB port inside the phone and has removed the rubber stripe covering it.

Hardware-wise, the specs of the Galaxy S5 mini are well known thanks to a series of benchmarks that have leaked as well. However, we recommend our readers to take the info with a grain of salt until Samsung confirms these specs. But in order to offer you an idea of what the Galaxy S5 mini might look like on the inside, here are some of the details that have recently appeared on AnTuTu benchmark. So, the Galaxy S5 mini will sport a 1.4GHz quad-core Exynos 3 Quad, a Mali-400 MP4 graphics processing unit and 1.5GB of RAM. The smartphone will come with 16GB of internal memory, which can be further expanded up to 128GB via microSD card slot.

Although the name would suggest that this is a smaller version of the Galaxy S5, it’s not really too small. The phone is said to come with a 4.5-inch Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen display that supports HD (720p) resolution and features Corning Gorilla Glass 3 coating. It also comes packed with fingerprint scanner, heart rate sensor, LTE and 3G connectivity, along with Bluetooth, IR Blaster, NFC (Near Field Communication) and GPS with A-GPS support. Samsung Galaxy S5 mini will ship with Android 4.4.2 KitKat operating system out of the box, and it is likely to receive an upgrade to KitKat 4.4.3 soon after launch.

Samsung Galaxy S5 Mini
Image credits to SamMobile

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OPPO N1 mini Goes Official with 13MP Rotating Camera

OPPO R3 is not the only new handset that Chinese vendor OPPO has made official today, as the smaller version of last year’s flagship N1 has also been revealed to the world.

The handset, called OPPO N1 mini, was hinted at last month, and has been fully detailed today, during a press event held in Beijing. The mobile phone arrives on the market with a 5-inch screen, which is indeed much smaller than the OPPO N1, but keeps the rotating 13-megapixel camera present on its predecessor. The handset also keeps the design of its larger counterpart and has been announced in three color flavors, namely white, blue and yellow. OPPO N1 mini will be released with a 5-inch IPS JDI touchscreen display capable of delivering a 1280 x 720 pixels resolution, as well as with a 1.6 GHz quad-core Snapdragon 400 processor inside, paired with Adreno 305 GPU.

Moreover, the handset sports 2GB of RAM, along with 16GB of internal memory. A microSD memory card slot should also be included, though nothing has been mentioned on it as of now. One of the main selling points of the new device will be, of course, its 13-megapixel rotating camera, which sports 1/3.2″ Sony IMX214 stacked sensor, 6-element lens, an f/2.0 aperture, and LED flash. At the same time, the mobile phone has been made official with support for 4G LTE and 3G networks, as well as with WiFi 802.11 b/g/n and Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity capabilities, and with a built-in GPS receiver. Oppo N1 mini is powered by a 2140mAh battery and sports a 9.2mm thick body. The handset weighs 150 grams, OPPO has unveiled. Apparently, the company managed to reduce the weight of the rotating camera module, which resulted in a lighter handset.

Moreover, we should note that the new device runs under OPPO’s own Color OS 1.4, which is based on the Android operating system. Moreover, OPPO has also unveiled that it has built the new smartphone using the same materials that were included in OPPO N1 last year. As fonearena claims, OPPO will make the new mobile phone available for purchase in China as soon as the next week, with a price tag of 2,699 Yuan ($434 / €320) attached to it. This makes it an affordable device, despite its high-end hardware capabilities. Most probably, the mobile phone will become available for purchase on other markets out there as well, yet no specific info on the matter has been provided as of now.

Oppo N1 mini
Image credits to Oppo

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OPPO R3 Goes Official with 5-Inch HD Screen

Today, Chinese mobile phone maker OPPO has officially announced the upcoming availability of a new handset in the R series, in the form of OPPO R3.

The new mobile phone has gone official during a press event held in Beijing and should arrive on the market in the not-too-distant future with 5-inch IPS touchscreen display capable of delivering a 1280 x 720 pixels resolution. The handset is set to land on shelves in China before the end of this month and will sport a price tag of 2299 Yuan ($369/€273) attached to it when that happens. The specs list that OPPO R3 will be released with is quite appealing, especially when considering the market segment that the phone is aimed at. The mobile phone was announced with a 1.6 GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor inside, as well as with Adreno 305 graphics. Moreover, the handset sports 1GB of RAM, along with 8GB of internal memory, and a microSD memory card slot to allow users to expand the available storage.

On the back, the new device features an 8-megapixel camera with LED flash, most probably capable of recording videos in full HD resolution. A 5-megapixel front camera is also present on the new smartphone, so that users could snap selfies and make video calls while on the go. The smartphone also sports OPPO’s O-Video feature, which was designed to combine both photos and videos and then upload them online. The functionality also makes it possible for users to re-scan images with their mobile phones in order to automatically play the video, as a recent article on fonearena explains. Moreover, the new device packs support for 4G LTE and 3G networks, as well as WiFi 802.11 b/g/n and Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity. It also includes a GPS receiver to offer support for navigation services.

Moreover, the specs list of OPPO R3 boasts a 3.5mm audio jack and a 2420mAh battery. The phone is only 6.3mm thick and weighs 140 grams. According to the Chinese vendor, this is the slimmest 4G LTE capable handset. OPPO has unveiled the mobile phone with its own Color OS 1.4 loaded on top. The platform, which powers other smartphones in the company’s lineup as well, is based on Google’s Android operating system. Unfortunately, OPPO has not provided specific info on when we might see the new device made official on other markets out there as well, though we suspect that it will launch it in additional countries in the not-too-distant future.

OPPO R3
Image credits to Oppo via fonearena

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Galaxy Note 4 (N910) to Come with 16MP Camera, Quad HD Screen

This fall, South Korean mobile phone maker Samsung Electronics is expected to make official a new device in the popular Galaxy Note series of smartphones, one that will allegedly be called Galaxy Note 4, and some more info on the handset is now available.

According to a SamMobile report, the smartphone will land on shelves with a Quad HD touchscreen display and with a 16-megapixel camera on the back, and will feature model number N910. Moreover, the news site claims that Samsung is planning the release of two versions of the device, one with a Snapdragon 805 CPU inside, and the other with an Exynos 5433 SoC. It will also sport a 2MP front camera, the same as Galaxy S5. The Snapdragon 805 will land on shelves in North America, Korea, China and Japan, while the Exynos 5433 model will be released in the rest of the world, and will also sport Intel’s XMM7260 Cat. 6 modem. In addition to sharing these details on Galaxy Note 4, SamMobile also unveiled that the previously rumored KQ / kqlte device from Samsung, the Galaxy S5 Prime, might have been cancelled.

Moreover, they claim that the G906 handset model that might be released with a Snapdragon 805 CPU and a full HD screen won’t be a true successor of Galaxy S5, but that it will arrive on shelves soon. At the same time, they note that the Galaxy F hasn’t been confirmed as of now, but that it is likely to be released with the same hardware specs as a rumored “kcat6” Galaxy S5 successor, packing an Exynos 5433 CPU and the Intel XMM7260 modem.

Samsung Headquarter
Image credits to Samsung

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Samsung Galaxy S5 Google Play Edition Allegedly Leaks Online

Galaxy S5, Samsung’s newest flagship Android smartphone, has been on the market for about two months now, and it seems that a new version of the phone will be released very soon.

According to the latest reports on the matter, Samsung is preparing the launch of a Google Play Edition of the device, and what appears to be a leaked image with the phone has emerged online today, via evleaks.at. The image shows the phone booting up, but it does not unveil too many details on the UI and software features packed inside it. The photo is not of best quality, but we can make an idea of what it will look like from the front. Of course, there’s no official confirmation available on the device, and it remains to be seen whether the actual Galaxy S5 Google Play Edition will turn out to be this way in the end.

One thing that appears to be almost certain, however, is the fact that Samsung will indeed launch this new flavor of the smartphone. It has already released such phone variants before, and other mobile phone makers out there made similar moves, some even with this year’s flagships, so we believe that it won’t miss this opportunity with Galaxy S5 either.

Samsung Galaxy S5 Google Play Edition
Image credits to evleaks.at

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iPhone 4 Will Not Get iOS 8

iPhone 4 has had a tumultuous existence. In its prototype stage, it was forgotten on a stool and leaked to tech sites, to Steve Jobs’ dismay. Then it incurred the dreadful Antennagate fiasco. Then Apple pulled it out of production only to reinstate the iPhone 4 production lines for “emerging markets.” Then it got pulled again.

The final blow has yet to come, though. In fall, when everyone will be sitting on the edge of their seat waiting for iOS 8 to arrive in their OTA software updaters, iPhone 4 users will be left out in the cold. Apple confirmed its extinction in a brief compatibility chart on Monday. That’s quite a series of blows for what was once the world’s most coveted smartphone. But it’s also reality. It’s a lot like Darwin’s evolution of the species, where nature selectively favors the apt to carry on their genes, while pushing the weak to the bottom of the food chain. The phone lacks strength to run the software, so it’s deprived of it. Simple as that.

So what’s the iPhone 4 user to do in a situation like this? Well, Apple is still willing to give users credits for trading in these handsets, so the best option for them would be to consider upgrading to a newer model. Not necessarily iPhone 6 or anything too fancy, but at least a 4S. That’s the minimum requirement for iOS 8.

iPhone 4
Image credits to iFixit

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How to Downgrade iOS 8 Back to iOS 7.1.1

So, you heard Apple started rolling out the iOS 8 beta and you decided to install it on your non-developer device. Chances are you’re not having the time of your life right now. Even if you do manage to get it up and running, there’s still the matter involving crashing apps and unreliable services.

Luckily for you, some of us make it our job to tell you how to fix your situation. Grab your iPhone’s USB cable and proceed with these simple steps to restore your iDevice to its previous state (assuming that state was iOS 7).

Step 1

Download the appropriate iOS 7 / 7.1 / 7.1.1 IPSW for your iDevice using the good ol' Interwebs. Surely you don’t expect us to fetch the links for you. Just use your Google skills. You’ll get there eventually. Oh alright, here's your firmware on end of post.

Step 2

With the iOS 7 IPSW downloaded to your desktop, connect your iDevice to the Mac / PC and let it show up in the iTunes bar. Right click your device and back it up. However, do note that if you want to revert to a state you’ve previously backed up, then you can just follow Step 3.

Step 3

Disconnect your iDevice from the computer and put it into DFU mode like this:

1. Power off the device 
2. Start holding Power button for 3 seconds
3. Hold Home button but don't let go of the Power button for 10 seconds
4. Keep holding Home and let go of Power, and stay like that for 15 seconds just to be sure you got it right

You should now be in DFU. Please note that it’s easy to mess up entering DFU, so if things don’t go as described in the following steps, it probably means you’ll need to retry.

Step 4

Connect your device to the computer again. This time the system should alert you that you have a device waiting in DFU mode. Choose the option to Restore iPhone with the ALT key held down (on Windows it’s the Shift key that does the trick here). This is to be able to selectively install any IPSW you have sitting on your hard drive. Which takes us to step 5.

Step 5

When prompted, select the iOS 7 IPSW that should be sitting on your desktop and hit Open. Click Restore when prompted and let the gadgets work their magic. In a few minutes you should be back in iOS 7 land. You’re welcome!

Here are firmware download link (Apple Servers):

iPhone6,2 (7.1.1)

iPhone6,1 (7.1.1)

iPhone5,4 (7.1.1)

iPhone5,3 (7.1.1)

iPhone 5 GSM (7.1.1)

iPhone 5 CDMA (7.1.1)

iPhone 4S (7.1.1)

iPhone 4 2012 GSM(7.1.1)

iPhone 4 CDMA (7.1.1)

iPhone 4 GSM (7.1.1)

iPhone 3GS (6.1.6)

iPhone 3G (4.2.1)

iPod touch 5G (7.1)

iPod touch 4G (6.1.6)

iPod touch 3G (5.1.1)

iPod touch 2G (4.2.1)

iPod touch 1G (3.1.3)

iPhone in DFU mode alert
Image credits to Apple

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iOS 8 Jailbreak Good to Go, Patches Need Minor Adjustments

Well-known hacker Stefan Esser has announced plans to jailbreak Apple’s iOS 8 using existing exploits that he developed on iOS 7.1.1. Not wanting to burn the vulnerabilities, the security expert will likely refrain from releasing the jailbreak until iOS 8 Final debuts this fall.

A series of tweets from the renowned security expert indicate that the iOS 8 jailbreak is pretty much a go. Esser says all he needs is to spend a few hours with the beta and find some relocated code to apply existing vulnerabilities. “Download finished. Initial tests show that iOS 8 beta does not fix anything. Dumped kernel fine, but code changed and patches are not found. [...] I guess tomorrow I need a few hours in the office to fix the code and then the JB should be iOS 8 beta compatible. [...] Only question is if Cydia runs at all in iOS 8,” he said. Esser recently discovered new holes in Apple’s mobile software allowing him to compromise the latest firmware, iOS 7.1.1. He showed off the feat on YouTube but refrained from releasing the actual jailbreak to the public. As avid jailbreakers will remember, Apple patched existing exploits with the release of iOS 7.1, making the newly-discovered bugs very precious indeed.

The good news is that these newly-found vulnerabilities also seem applicable to iOS 8, meaning Esser and his hacking buds know about them while Apple doesn’t. When iOS 8 is released this fall, it will basically be vulnerable-on-arrival (VOA). We’re coining the term right here, right now. Jokes aside, iOS 8 seems poised to receive its much deserved jailbreak, as the firmware versions before it. The popularity of these hacks has diminished substantially in recent times, but the hackers are still at it and many people out there still use jailbreaking as a way to download unapproved software, such as icon sets and themes. With iOS 8 slated to launch this fall, it could well be at least three to four months before jailbreak fans can get their hands on Esser’s work.

In the meantime, everyone who is a developer and has a paid subscription to the iOS Developer Program can download iOS 8 beta 1 and play around with the software at will. A beta of OS X 10.10 Yosemite is also available in the form of a Developer Preview. More information on these two topics can be found in the related links below.

Stefan Esser tweet
Image credits to Stefan Esser's Twitter feed (@i0n1c)

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OS X Yosemite Includes Awesome Screen Recording Feature for iOS 8 App Previews

A function that hasn’t been discussed at WWDC, a screen-casting feature in OS X Yosemite will allow developers to create app previews to show their app in action by recording the movement on their Mac’s display.

Described by Apple as short videos that showcase what’s great about an app, App Previews are meant to help users decide if they should download a certain app or not. “Customers can watch App Previews directly from your app details page in the App Store. App Previews are composed primarily of device-captured footage of your app to help customers make more informed download decisions,” the company explains. The App Store currently doesn’t offer general support for videos. Only a handful of apps have videos in their descriptions, and those apps have already received preferential treatment from the Cupertino giant. Now Apple wants to make video demos ubiquitous, almost as if the company has considered our piece of advice from earlier this month. So how do you create an App Preview in OS X Yosemite? Well, first off you also need to be running iOS 8 on your development device. Another thing you’ll need is the Lightning cable that came with your iDevice. Apple explains the procedure:

“Just connect your device to your Mac using the Lightning connector and it will be automatically available as a video camera. You can capture anything you’re doing on-screen directly to your Mac using QuickTime Player. Edit your captured footage in your favorite video editing app and upload it iTunes Connect—just like your screenshots—to submit it for review along with your next app update.” Each App Preview is device-specific, so developers will need to pay attention to the formatting rules for the app they’re preparing to demo. In other words, you can’t create a showcase video for an iPhone app using a large iPad display. It will ruin the experience and confuse your customers.

Also, submitting or viewing App Previews will requires an iDevice with at least a 4-inch Retina display. In other words, iPhone 4 and anything below that is officially out of the mix. Apple notes on its developer site that “You may only submit a single set of App Previews designed for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad against one language localization. App Previews will appear in all countries where your app is available.” Furthermore, App Previews will appear on the app details page only on devices running iOS 8 and newer. Developers who are looking to leverage this new feature will only be able to submit an App Preview after iOS 8 debuts this fall.

OS X Yosemite and iOS 8 screen recording (App Preview) feature
Image credits to 9to5mac.com

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