Sprint LG G3 in US now getting Lollipop OTA

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BY Unknown 00:26 0

Sprint LG G3 in US now getting Lollipop OTA

News has come today that Sprint has started seeding Android 5.0 to its own LG G3 units. This is definitely good news for eager US users, as Lollipop has been around for the handset in Europe since December last year.

This new update comes only days after AT&T updated their own units. The package is already being seeded and according to Sprint will bring the following benefits to the handset:

• Material Design for fluid animation, multicolored themes and 3D views
• More efficient battery use
• Android™ TV support
• Notifications on the lock screen and customizable options with prioritized notifications for events, reminders, messages and calls
• Updated Lock Screen features allow users to quickly access notifications and active apps
• Enhanced low vision and color blind capabilities for added Accessibility
• Integrated location menu enables users to easily activate GPS, Wi-Fi and mobile networks, while simultaneously checking the battery usage of apps running location service capabilities
• Enhanced Messaging with Google Hangouts™ support for SMS and MMS and a larger assortment of updated Emoji icons
• Upgraded Google Mobile Service™ apps automatically back up photos and video and can open, view, rename and share Google Docs and files

We have already had a chance to play around with Lollipop on the G3 and found that like many other smartphones the LG also behaves quite differently in performance benchmarks. If you are interested in what potential gains the OTA can bring you, take a quick look at our extensive post on the matter, as well as our equally thorough investigation of battery life with the new version.

For anyone on Sprint still not getting the update notification, check for it through the settings menu.

Xiaomi to open online store for the US, but won't sell phones

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BY Unknown 14:00 0

Xiaomi to open online store for the US, but won't sell phones

At its mysterious event in San Francisco today, Xiaomi has announced that it plans to open its own online store in the US in a few months.

However, the caveat of the century follows. See, Xiaomi will not be selling smartphones or tablets through that storefront. So the most craved items it makes will still be off limits to US-based customers, at least in an official manner.

Instead, Xiaomi will offer its increasing range of accessories, such as headphones (pictured above),fitness bands, power banks, and more. The US isn't the only 'western' market targeted by the company - it will bring is online store to other countries too.

One of the reasons why phones and tablets won't be made available for US customers is that apparently Xiaomi finds that localization of its MIUI ROM (which is reportedly being used on 100 million devices already) is very difficult.

There are also (unnamed) issues with hardware certification, software testing, infrastructure, as well as other logistical challenges, all of which conspire to keep Mi handsets and tablets out of the hands of American consumers, for now at least. And it doesn't help that it's a market in which people are used to buying their mobile devices from carriers, and not directly from the manufacturer's online store.

Xiaomi hopes that if it launches simpler products first, they'll help build brand awareness before it makes any bigger steps in the US. However, as of now a phone launch is not on the roadmap at all

HTC's mid-range Desire 626 coming to the US

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BY Unknown 12:00 0

HTC's mid-range Desire 626 coming to the US

When HTC launched the Desire 626 in Taiwan earlier this week, there was no word on whether the device would be available in other countries. But now, it looks like the mid-range smartphone is heading to the US at least.

According to popular leakster @upleaks, the Desire 626 would be launched in the US as a prepaid smartphone by Sprint, which is the third-largest cellphone carrier in the country behind Verizon and AT&T.

For those who are not in the know, the device is powered by a 1.2GHz quad-core Cortex-A53 CPU and sports a 5" 720p display. It has 1GB of RAM and 16GB of internal memory, which is expandable via microSD card. The device sports a 13MP rear camera and 5MP front snapper, and packs in a 2,000mAh non-removable battery.

BLU Studio Energy now available in the US with a 5000mAh battery

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BY Unknown 06:30 0

BLU Studio Energy now available in the US with a 5000mAh battery

Miami-based BLU announced today the launch of its Studio Energy smartphone on the US market. The smartphone was unveiled at CES in January alongside a number of budget friendly devices, targetting specific niches. Its headline feature is the huge 5000mAh battery, currently the highest capacity in the smartphone realm, the company claims.

That amount of juice translates into 45 days of standby time or 4 days of regular use, according to BLU's calculations. Thickness has been kept at a manageable 10.4mm, but weight may be more disturbing at 180g.

The BLU Studio Energy features a 5-inch display of 720x1280 pixels resulting in a 294ppi density. Computing power comes from a quad-core processor, clocked at 1.3GHz, coupled with 1GB of RAM. An 8MP camera on the back is responsible for capturing the world, while a 2MP front snapper takes care of selfies.

The newly launched smartphone will boot Android 4.4 out of the box, but the company promises a Lollipop update in June. The device is available now on Amazon for $149, unlocked.

iOS overtakes Android in the US in Q4 2014, report says

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BY Unknown 02:14 0

iOS overtakes Android in the US in Q4 2014, report says

If you needed more proof about how successful Apple's iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus have been, especially in the US market, then this is going to be it.

According to the analysts at Kantar Worldpanel ComTech, iOS has managed to take the lead from Android in the US smartphone market in the fourth quarter of 2014 (so between October and December).

Granted, Apple's managed to sell only slightly more iOS devices than all Android makers combined - the difference is just 0.1%. Still, it's interesting because the last time something like this happened was in Q4 of 2012.

For the last three months of last year, Kantar says 47.7% of smartphones sold in the US were iPhones, while 47.6% ran Android. Windows Phone accounted for 3.8% of the market, while BlackBerry had to make do with just 0.3%.

Throughout the holiday quarter, the iPhone 6 was the best selling smartphone in the US, as well as the most popular handset to be given as a gift. Samsung's Galaxy S5 was the second best. When it comes to brand loyalty, Apple is leading again, with 87% in the US and Europe. Samsung fares the best out of the Android device makers with 62%.

Obviously though, Android remains the biggest mobile OS worldwide, with a 66.1% share in Europe and 77% in China. That said, smartphone penetration is still just 59% in the US and 67% in the top five European markets, which means there's still growth to come.

While reading the numbers above keep in mind that ComTech is a consumer panel, getting its data from interviews with ordinary people. This is different from other approaches, which prefer to track actual shipments of devices from manufacturers to retailers and carriers.

Windows-powered One (M9) rumored, to be US exclusive

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BY Unknown 02:08 0

Windows-powered One (M9) rumored, to be US exclusive

HTC Hima has been in the rumorland for quite a while, leaking with pictures, specs, camera samples and everything. It should be announced at the MWC in March in Barcelona as the HTC One (M9) and will be coming with a 5" 1080p display, Snapdragon 810 chipset 20MP dual camera setup at the back and an 4MP UltraPixel sensor for selfies at front.

The upcoming Hima has already been tipped to come running on Windows as well. Today @upleaks confirmed the HimaW is the codename for the Windows 10 model of One (M9) and it won't be announced at the upcoming MWC but on a later date.

The popular tipster also mentions the HimaW will be sold exclusively in the USA. That's certainly heart-breaking news for WP and HTC fans elsewhere.

Microsoft and Qualcomm have already announced we can expect Snapdragon 810-powered Windows devices in 2015, plus HTC has already released a Windows version of its One (M8) flagship.

Xiaomi schedules event for February 12 in San Francisco

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BY Unknown 01:55 0

Xiaomi schedules event for February 12 in San Francisco

Xiaomi may be the world's third-biggest smartphone maker, but most of its products never leave China. The company is reportedly looking to open up shop in India, but now the company is taking a trip to the US.

There, in San Francisco specifically, the company will hold an event on February 12. It's not clear what the topic will be though – opening a store, recruiting employees or just visiting? The company has already unveiled two new devices this year – Redmi 2 and Mi Note (with a Mi Note Pro version), so it's probably soon for a new announcement

Whatever the reason, the event is a big deal – San Francisco is the home of many startups and tech giants are a stone's throw away, with both Apple and Google campuses not far from there (Xiaomi's VP of International Hugo Barra is a former Googler). The location can't be a coincidence and sends clear message, especially to the former giants that Xiaomi leapfrogged to get into the Top 3.

Motorola offers up to $100 discount for US customers

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BY Unknown 01:22 0

Motorola offers up to $100 discount for US customers

Motorola is having a sale on its US website, and you can save up to $100.

If you spend $499.99, you can get $100 off, or if you spend $249.99, you can get $35 off. The offer is available on Motorola devices and accessories till February 14.

For the $100 off you'd at least have to purchase the Moto X or the Nexus 6, while you'd have to at least get the Moto 360 to get the $35 off. Unfortunately, phones like the Moto G and Moto E are too inexpensive to fall under either price points.