Meizu MX Supreme Leaks Yet Again, Are Meizu And Nokia Partnering Up After All?

It was rumored a while back that Nokia and Meizu are working on a phone together. That seemed really far-fetched at the time, and Lin Bin himself actually denied that Meizu is working with Nokia back in January. Despite all of that, rumors and leaks kept on coming, which was odd considering Lin Bin’s statement. We’ve seen a couple of leaks recently, reportedly showing off this Meizu MX Supreme device. Well, another one came our way, let’s check it out.

If you take a look at the image above, you’ll notice a device which closely resembles the Meizu MX4 Pro. This handset, like the MX4 Pro, has the physical home button below the display. This home button is differently-shaped though, as we’ve seen in many leaks thus far. This button is oval, not rectangular like one the MX4 Pro. The rumors thus far are stating that Meizu is in charge of the design of this device, and Nokia will pick the internals and will take care of software. We still don’t know if that means that Nokia’s Android launcher will come pre-installed here, or perhaps the device will ship with Meizu’s Flyme OS, but some of Nokia’s software features will be included. The rumors were rather vague thus far, new reports will hopefully bring more info.

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Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge: Australian pricing and availability

After revealing the Galaxy S6 and the S6 Edge back at the start of March, Samsung is working towards a global launch for both phones. This will see the new flagship and its Edge variant available in Australia -- and much of the world -- from April 10.

With the controversial removal of expandable memory from the S6 and Edge -- no more plugging in a Micro SD card -- Samsung is offering three different storage tiers across both phones: 32GB, 64GB and 128GB. Consumers will also get 100GB of storage on Microsoft's OneDrive when they purchase an S6 or S6 Edge.

The Galaxy S6 is priced at AU$999 for the 32GB version, AU$1,149 for 64GB and AU$1,299 for 128GB.

The Galaxy S6 Edge will cost AU$1,149 for the 32GB, AU$1,299 for 64GB and AU$1,449 for 128GB

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HTC's One E9+ is its latest phablet with a stunning screen

Just like that, HTC has quietly -- well, maybe unintentionally -- unveiled its latest phablet on its China website. With some minor differences, the One E9+ is pretty much what we saw on the certification database earlier this month. The biggest selling point of this half metal, half plastic device is perhaps its 5.5-inch Quad HD (534 ppi) display, making it the sharpest screen ever used on an HTC phone. Oddly, though, the website's spec sheet states a 1080p resolution, which we'll assume is actually meant for a lesser E9. Likewise with the 2GB of RAM instead of 3GB, as well as the 13-megapixel main camera instead of the 20-megapixel version mentioned on the product page.

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iPhone 7 To Stick To LCD Panels, No OLED On Cards

Going by Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)’s annual upgrade cycle, the iPhone 7 is at least 16 months away from launch. But there have already been plenty of rumors about the device. The Cupertino company is expected to release the iPhone 6S and 6S Plus this year. Apple surprised the markets by moving to OLED with Apple Watch. But the tech giant will stick to LCD panels for the iPhone 7, says JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) analyst Narci Chang.

Apple Insider obtained a copy of Chang’s research note. JPMorgan believes that Apple is not fully prepared to switch from LCD to OLED technology for the high-volume iPhone lineup. So, the company will “use LCD panels through the iPhone 7.” Earlier this month, Japan Display announced that it would build a new $1.4 billion LCD plant in central Japan.

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Samsung Galaxy S6 versus Apple iPhone 6: What do the specs tell us?

The iPhone 6 and the Galaxy S6 are the two rival flagships of the smartphone world, but you might be forgiven for finding it increasingly hard to tell them apart.
Some of the obvious features that distinguished the Galaxy S5 from the iPhone 5s - the plastic body, the removable battery and microSD card support - are gone in the new glass and metal S6. At the same time, the iPhone 6 with its larger screen and support for NFC adds features that had previously been associated with the Galaxy range. So when it comes to specs, how do they match up?

But below is a non-exhaustive lists of the specs of both devices. I've tried to boil this down to the elements most interesting to a business audience, so any omissions are mine. You can find much greater detail on the specs of the iPhone 6 here and Galaxy S6 here.

It's also worth noting that Apple's handset was unveiled in September last year (check out the gallery of pictures from the launch at the bottom of this page) and Samsung's top of the range device isn't going on sale until next month, so we're not directly comparing like-with-like here.

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iPad Pro 2015 rumors: Stores clear iPad Air 2, iPad Mini 3 stocks with big discounts

With rumors about the coming of the iPad Pro, retailers and stores are apparently trying to clean their inventory of its Apple tablets.

Though there is no official word on when the iPad Pro would actually be coming out, the frenzy of deals that stores like Best Buy, AT&T, Verizon and so on could signal that it will be out soon.

For the folks who have been longing to get one, this is perhaps the best time to do so. Imagine an iPad Air 16GB (gray model) dropping its price to $379.99 or the 32GB version for just $429.99? These are certainly great deals that customers would want to take on.

Best Buy and B&H are offering big price discounts on their remaining stocks of the discontinued iPad Air models and this should be the best time as ever to get hold of the high capacity tablet.

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HTC One M9 review

There are few more distinctive Android phones on the market than the HTC One line. The company that experimented with unibody metal when most smartphones were plastic, HTC’s critical acclaim is increasingly at odds with its commercial success — or lack thereof. They barely squeaked a profit last quarter, though it was the first time it spilled black ink in over a year, so with the One M9 it hopes to continue that ambling turnaround with a phone that is both a critical and commercial hit.


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HTC executive hints that the HTC One (M7) might get Android 5.1 after all

On Thursday, a tweet from HTC VP of Product Management Mo Versi broke the hearts of countless HTC One (M7) owners when he said that the phone would not be updated to Android 5.1 (except for the Google Play edition of the handset). After all, HTC's guarantee covers two years of updates after a device is launched, and the former flagship had already been on a magical journey from Android 4.1.2 to Android 5.0 in that time span.

But Friday night brought a new tweet from the executive. In this message, Versi said that he had heard all of the comments from One (M7) owners who own a carrier branded model of the device. He noted that most of the bug fixes to repair issues caused by the Android 5.0 update are already baked inside HTC's current software. He also added that he understands the concerns of One (M7) owners, and closed by giving them a ray of hope offered by two words, "Stay Tuned."

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Apple Loop: iPhone 6 Vs Galaxy S6, iPhone Rules China, Apple Watch Will Fail, Apple Disrupts Samsung

Taking a look back at another week of news from Cupertino, this week’s Apple Loop looks forward to the iPhone 6 vs Galaxy S6 rumble, the ‘failure’ of the Apple Watch, Tim Cook the Alchemist, iPhone 6 sales in China, the return of Launcher, iOS 8.2′s secret app, and the undeletable apps.

Apple Loop is here to remind you of a few of the very many discussions that have happened around Apple over the last seven days (and you can read our weekly digest of Android news here on Forbes).


The big topic of conversation over the next month will be the launch of the Android-powered Samsung Galaxy S6. With Samsung’s marketing budget and market share, it’s the Android device most likely to challenge the supremacy of the iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus in terms of unit sales and market share.

Gordon Kelly has taken a closer look at the two challengers from each side in 2015

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Samsung is working to make 128GB of storage a reality even for mid-range phones

Samsung late on Wednesday made an announcement that can be both very exciting and somewhat annoying for smartphone and tablet fans. The company seems to be on the right track fixing one of the two most annoying smartphone issues you might be currently dealing with – including built-in storage and battery life – but its solution isn’t necessarily something you’re going to immediately like. Specifically, Samsung is looking to improve storage needs for its Galaxy device buyers by increasing the amount of built-in memory users would have access to.


After announcing its 128GB UFS 2.0 storage module for smartphones and tablets a few weeks ago, the company now says it’s also making 128GB 3-bit NAND eMMC 5.0 storage for the same kind of devices. The UFS 2.0 kind of memory brings SSD-like performance to mobile devices, as the first Galaxy S6 data transfer benchmark tests have shown. But UFS 2.0 memory might be too expensive for mid-range handsets and tablets.

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HTC’s ‘Uh-Oh’ Protection is desperate — and awesome

HTC announced the One M9 several weeks ago, and the response has been tepid from most corners of the Internet. Samsung is getting much more attention for the big changes it’s making to the Galaxy S6 this year. HTC needed an angle to get people excited about the M9 again, and now it might have one: HTC Uh-Oh Protection will offer one free phone replacement within the first year, no questions asked. Is it a little desperate? Maybe, but it’s also potentially awesome if you’ve got a bad case of butter fingers.

Let’s imagine you have a Samsung Galaxy S6 and break the screen. You just made a multi-hundred dollar mistake, unless you’re paying monthly for phone insurance (which has its own drawbacks). With the One M9, you can give HTC support a ring, and a new phone will be dispatched with overnight shipping to replace your busted one. You send the old one back after you get it. This requires a $299 hold on your credit card, but you don’t have to go without a phone.

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Switch to iPhone, get money: Apple may offer gift cards to Android users who defect

Apple already gives some assistance to new customers switching over from Android, helping them move their photos, contacts, email accounts, music, and so on from their Android phone to a new iPhone. Soon, according to a report on 9to5Mac, that assistance could include cold, hard cash—well, cold hard gift cards, anyway.

Citing unnamed sources, 9to5Mac claims Apple will launch a trade-in program, wherein you turn in your smartphone—even an Android smartphone—and receive a gift card. This program is still unconfirmed (I’ve reached out to Apple PR for comment), so we don’t have details on when it’ll start or how much Android switchers can expect to get.

The Apple Watch launches next month, and an Ipsos survey recently found that up to 60 million American adults are at least considering buying one—and almost 13 percent of that chunk doesn’t already own an iPhone, meaning they’re considering buying an iPhone and an Apple Watch together. Apple is probably anticipating at least a small bump in iPhone sales (which are already fantastic) when the Watch debuts.

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Samsung Galaxy S6 to start at $250 in Canada, while Apple hikes iPhone 6 prices on falling loonie

Samsung announced Canadian pricing today for its new flagship phone line, the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge.

And while Apple is substantially upping the prices of its iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus with the falling Canadian dollar, Samsung appears to be keeping its prices in line with its typical flagship releases.

The Galaxy S6 starts at $250 for a 32 gigabyte version with a two-year contract, with the S6 Edge a hundred dollars more at $350. With no contract, the same phones are $750 and $850.

The 64GB S6 is $360 for the S6 with a contract, $860 with no contract and $460 for the S6 Edge with a contract and $960 with no contract.

The 128GB S6 is $470 with a two-year term, $960 without; the Edge is $570 on a two-year term and $1,070 with no contract.

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The HTC One M9 finally has a release date – but not in the U.S.

The HTC One M9 is by far one of the best Android phones of the year, even if HTC may have lost the battle with Samsung at MWC 2015, at least when it comes to the attention received by their latest mobile devices during the show. Samsung’s Galaxy S6 models, and especially the S6 edge, surprised the audience, being completely new designs, while the HTC One M9 is more of a refinement of last year’s top HTC phone.

Even so, the HTC One M9 will certainly impress many potential buyers, and the phone already has a release date and pricing details for Taiwan. More interestingly, ePrice reports the phone will be available in two distinct versions, when it comes to storage.

According to the Taiwanese site, HTC has set a release date for both a 32GB version (the one that was announced in Barcelona, Spain) and a 64GB model. Both devices will start selling on March 16th, as confirmed by HTC North Asia general manager Dong Junliang, with prices set at 21,900 TWD (or $693) and 23,900 TWD (or $756), respectively.

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Samsung Galaxy S6 and Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge review, including video, prices, specs and comparisons

Update: We've fleshed out the display section with results from DisplayMate's testing, and explained the S6's new UFS 2.0 storage technology. See the relevant section for more details

As expected, Samsung released not one flagship smartphone, but two at its MWC launch event in Barcelona: the Samsung Galaxy S6 and the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge. And, just as expected, the phones represent a significant departure for Samsung in the design department, with both boasting a metal and glass construction reminiscent of the iPhone 4, and an attention to detail previously missing from its flagship handsets.

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Sony confirms Android Lollipop update will be released only for Xperia Z series smartphones

Users of Sony's Xperia Z series smartphones are in for a treat, as the Japan-based technology giant has revealed that the Android 5.0 (Lollipop) update will be released only for that series.

Replying to a query posted by an Xperia smartphone user, Sony tweeted that the Android Lollipop will be officially rolled out only for the Xperia Z series handsets, and not for other Sony smartphones.

The smartphone maker also apologised to other Sony smartphones users, notably the Xperia E and Xperia M series, as these users would not receive the Android Lollipop update.

Sony's latest update adds meat to earlier reports that indicated an impending Android Lollipop launch for the entire Xperia Z smartphone family.

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HTC releases two One M9 teaser videos

As you might start to expect after officially announcing their latest flagship phone at MWC this week,HTC has released a couple teaser videos for the HTC One M9. One of which is narrated by the man behind the Iron Man mask himself, Robert Downey Jr.

Both videos are, as mentioned, simply teasers. The first gives a few close ups, then simply shows the new 5-inch phone floating in space. Aside from this being an official video from HTC, it feels an awful lot like the fan renders of the One M9 we saw a little while back. Just the phone without many unnecessary embellishments.

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The last word: Is the Galaxy S6 an iPhone clone?

Ahead of Sunday’s huge Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge unveiling at the annual Mobile World Congress trade show in Spain, there was a lot of chatter focused on similarities between the Galaxy S6 we saw in leaks and Apple’s iPhone 6. Many people suggested that Samsung was getting ready to copy the iPhone once again with its new flagship phones — in some ways of course, that would be a good thing — and leaked images of handset prototypes certainly made it appear as though that would be the case.

Now that the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge are official and we have spent some time with both new models, it’s time to determine once and for all whether or not Samsung’s latest and greatest is the blatant iPhone ripoff many Apple fans have said it is.

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MEGA PATENT DUMP! Ericsson, Smartflash blitz Apple: iPhone, iPad menaced by sales block

Linkfest Emboldened by its $533m patent-infringement win against Apple just a few days ago, Smartflash is suing the iPhone maker AGAIN – and Ericsson is joining the fray.

Ericsson v Apple
The Swedish telecoms giant has filed two complaints to the US International Trade Commission (ITC) – one accusing Apple handhelds of ripping off Ericsson's patents on 2G and 4G mobile broadband connectivity, and the other claiming the California giant is using Ericsson's patents on Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, radio electronics, and other technology without permission.

Ericsson wants the ITC to ban imports of Apple's China-built iPhones and iPads, which are allegedly infringing the Swedes' patents, into America. The Euro giant has sued Apple in the patent-holder-friendly eastern district court of Texas in the US, again alleging patent infringement, demanding jury trials, and calling for injunctions against Apple hardware.

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Android Circuit: Galaxy S6 Is Metal, Samsung Trashes Apple, Sony's Last Android Gamble

Taking a look back at the week’s news across the Android world, this week’s Android Circuit highlights a number of stories including Samsung’s strong marketing around the S6, the metallic look of the new Galaxy handsets, Sony leaks its new tablet, pay to be seen in Google Play’s app store, Android’s marketshare dominance, Android for Work released, reviewing the LG G Flex 2, and the launch of Pebble Time.

Android Circuit is here to remind you of a few of the many things that have happened around Android over the last seven days (and you can read the weekly Apple news digest here).

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