February security update starts hitting Verizon Samsung Galaxy Tab S2

Verizon has started pushing out the February Android security patch to Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 units on its network. The update - which started rolling out yesterday - bumps the tablet's software version to LMY47X.T817VVRS2APB2.

Sadly, there isn't any detailed change-log included with the update, meaning it isn't yet clear what else the update brings along. "The current software update gives you the most up to date Android security patch on your device," Verizon's release notes say.

Given that the update has just started rolling out, it won't hit all Verizon Galaxy Tab S2 units at the same time, so be patient if your device hasn't got it already. In case you missed, the Motorola Moto X Pure Edition has also started receiving the February security update.

Vivo XPlay 5 with 6GB RAM spotted for the first time in a live shot

The Vivo XPlay 5 has been frequenting the rumor mill for quite some time now, with speculations going as far back as 2014. Initially, the device was hailed as one of the supposed early adopters of the Snapdragon 810 chip. Obviously, that didn't happen, and Snapdragon 810 is no longer Qualcomm's greatest chip. However, we are still waiting on the handset, which impresses with a Snapdragon 820 SoC as well as 6GB of RAM - a world first.

The aforementioned specs have already been confirmed by Vivo and the launch date set forMarch 1. There is even an impressive AnTuTu benchmark score already circulationg online, meaning that all we are left with is to wait for an actual glimpse of the device itself.

A newly uncovered live shot claims to provide precisely that. While we have seen renders in the past, a real unit in the flesh can be used as definitive proof of the Vivo XPlay 5's design. The front of the phone clearly features a pretty curved display on both sides and Vivo's typical row of capacitive buttons. As for other suggested specs - the panel itself is allegedly a 5.5-inch one with a resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels. We already mentioned the Snapdragon 820 SoC and whopping 6GB of RAM. Other than that, we have some insight on the camera setup, which will allegedly consist of a 16MP rear and 8MP front shooter.

As for pricing and availability, we know the March 1 unveiling is official and sources suggest that the Vivo XPlay 5 could cost as much as INR 50,000 although we find that a little too steep to believe.

Ulefone Power has a 6,050mAh battery, metal frame and wooden back for $180

While the established manufacturers got caught up in a race towards thin phones, battery capacities have suffered. Meanwhile, a clutch of lesser-known makers has realized there is untapped potential in this niche, and they've been coming out with monstrous battery capacities and attractive designs.

Take Ulefone, for instance, the maker of the Ulefone Power. The phone packs a massive 6,050mAh Sony battery, over twice the iPhone 6s Plus battery capacity. The battery promises four days of normal use, 63 hours of talk time and 75 days of standby.

Quick Charge tech is enabled and will fill up the whole battery in 2 hours. A 30-minute charge should be enough to last a typical day while a 5-minute charge is sufficient for 2 hours of talking.

The Ulefone Power has a metal frame around its 5.5" 1080p display (which sits behind 2.5D Gorilla Glass 3). For the back, you have a choice of abrasion-proof material or wood. There is even a fingerprint reader located on the back.

The phone comes with a 13MP Sony camera (IMX214, f/1.8 lens) with 1080p video capture with Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS) and a dual-LED flash. The front camera is a 5MP shooter.

The Power runs Android 5.1 (to be updated to 6.0 Marshmallow) on a 1.3GHz Mediatek octa-core processor with 3GB of RAM and a hybrid card slot - two microSIMs or SIM + microSD. There's LTE connectivity (150Mbps) and an IR blaster.

The best part is that the Ulefone Power is already available on certain online stores as a gray import for merely $180, and that's with all Google services preinstalled.

Wow, Chinese manufacturers are really into changing the smartphone market. This phone seems like a great deal even if you factor in the fact that there will probably be no aftersales support.

Galaxy S7 and S7 edge won't have front Samsung logo in South Korea and China

Samsung announced it's latest flagships - the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge - at the just concluded Mobile World Congress. Set to go on sale next month, the devices will be available in 60 countries in the first wave of their global launch.

However, it has now come to light that some regions will see slightly different looking Galaxy S7/S7 edge units - the difference is in terms of the front Samsung logo, which appears to be missing in the Chinese and South Korean variants of the handsets.

There's currently no information on exactly what's the reason behind the move, although reports say it could be related to how "simplified and elegant" the devices look sans the front logo as well as the customer feedback Samsung received through its surveys in these regions.

Also worth mentioning here is that this is not the first time the South Korean tech giant has done something like this - back in April last year, the company dropped its logo from the Japanese Galaxy S6 and S6 edge units.

LG G5 to launch in India in the next quarter

LG has announced that it will be releasing the G5 in India in the next quarter.

Speaking about the device, Mr Amit Gujral, Marketing Head – Mobiles, LG India, said “We are really happy to see all the positivity around the LG G5 ever since its global unveil at the MWC. In fact, in a survey conducted in Korea the LG G5 topped consumer preference leaving its closest competitors trailing far behind. We hope to make this available to users in India very soon and are optimistic that consumers will love its revolutionary design and features.”

The G5 is the company's latest flagship smartphone with a unique modular design that allows the users to swap out the bottom portion for a camera grip with an extended battery or a H-Fi DAC and amplifier with B&O Play. It also features two cameras at the back, one with a particularly wide-angle lens.

More details about the launch will be released at a later date.

24K gold-plated Samsung Galaxy S7/S7 edge now on pre-order

The oldest status symbol meets the newest - the Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 edge were announced barely a week ago at the MWC and there's already a company advertising a gilded version.

You have a choice of 24K Gold, 18K Rose Gold or Platinum plating. The company, Truly Exquisite, is already taking pre-orders starting at £1,700.

If you pre-order, you can expect your S7 or S7 edge 21 days after Samsung officially launches the flagships on March 11. Worldwide shipping is free and there's a 1-year warranty.

The gold plated phones will arrive in a "Luxury Wooden Box" and besides the usual accessories and Gear VR headset, the box will contain a free Wireless Charging Pad.

Truly Exquisite has committed to donate 5% of its revenues to various charities around the world.

Xiaomi Mi 5 coming soon to India, will also be available in “other global markets

Xiaomi announced its latest flagship smartphone - the Mi 5 - at this year's Mobile World Congress yesterday. While we already know that the SD820-powered device will be available for purchase in China starting March 1, we now have at-least some idea on its international availability, too.

Clearing any doubt whatsoever we've had until now, the Mi 5 will indeed be available in markets outside of the company's home country of China. Xiaomi VP Hugo Barra revealed yesterday that the phone will land in the neighboring country of India soon. This will be followed by a release in "other global markets," he said.

The handset carries a price tag of around $300 in China. We expect the company to reveal region-specific pricing info once the exact launch markets and dates are announced.

Samsung Galaxy S7 edge hands-on( Camera test)

We had the opportunity to spend the day with the Samsung Galaxy S7 edge and we set out on a photo tour of Barcelona, MWC's home city in the last ten or so years.

The camera is quick to launch and shot to shot time is lightning fast. We noticed the Galaxy S7 edge comes with a few more pre-installed shooting modes than the S7 and both had fewer out of the box than the S6.

The interface favors one-handed use and even on the 5.5" screen of the S7 edge, the home screen shows a 4x4 grid of huge icons. We flipped that to 5x5 and prefer it that way, but we can see where Samsung is coming from.

The Galaxy S7 edge feels really comfortable in the hand and we attribute that to the curved back. The smaller Galaxy S7 definitely feels thicker and heavier than its predecessor.

Despite their metal and glass build, we had a pretty firm grip on the two phones (all metal phones can be harder to hold). That said, they got smudged up with fingerprints really fast.

The Always On screen gets the job done and while it's faint compared to the maximum brightness of the screen (for the sake of battery life), we could still see the clock even in direct sunlight.

The day may be over, but we're not done yet with the Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 edge. The latter will take on the LG G5 in an epic head-to-head before we leave Barcelona.

The ZOPO Speed 8 is now official, the first with Helio X20

Today at the Barcelona venue we made sure to make some time for a quick visit to ZOPO's booth, We had a very good reason for doing so too, and it is called the Speed 8. Now, we won't go into praising nor dismissing the not particularly famous Chinese manufacturer, but an ambitious slogan, such as "the first deca-core smartphone in the world" definitely deserves some attention.

As promised, the Speed 8 was unveiled today at the MWC venue by none other than MotoGP World Champion Jorge Lorenzo. Promises also look to be kept as the handset is indeed powered by Mediatek's Helio X20 SoC. Seeing how this is the first deca-core mobile chip in production and the Speed 8 is the first product to utilize it, the aforementioned title looks to be deserved, although there is the small matter of actually launching to market, but we won't get into semantics too much.

Other than that, the ZOPO Speed 8 comes with a 5.5-inch FullHD display, 4GB of RAM and 32GB of storage, all powered by a quite spacious 3600 mAh battery. Its camera setup consists of a 21MP main camera with a Sony IMX230 sensor, a dual-tone LED flash, and an 8MP selfie shooter. There is also a round fingerprint scanner on the back, and the USB port is of the new Type-C variety.It is also worth noting that the ZOPO Speed 8 is a Dual-SIM handset with 4G LTE connectivity on board and boots Android 6.0 Marshmallow.

Microsoft giving away a Display dock and Office 365 subscription to Lumia 950/950XL owners in India

Yes, you read it right - free stuff is awaiting any current of future owner of Microsoft's pair of flagship phones in India. The first deal is for a one-year subscription to Office 365 Personal. The suite will allow you to use the latest Office apps on the device, as well as PCs and tablets, along with cloud storage and syncing. Normally, it would cost you about INR 3,299, so it's a fairly good deal. You can get it from the Lumia Offers app, just tap on the "1-year Office 365" deal.

The other offer is actually even more tantalizing. If you are planning on getting a Lumia 950 or Lumia 950XL, you can skip on purchasing the dock as well. Just go over to Amazon India, for instance, get the phone and then, once you have it in your possession, head on over tohttp://getdock.in and insert your IMEI for verification. Then the Display Dock and an HDMI cable should come within the next seven working day. We are not exactly sure if the offer will apply to all units already in the wild, but, you can always try for yourself and share your results in the comments.

MWC 2016: Samsung's Galaxy S6 edge and Gear S2 bag best smartphone and connected device awards

The Samsung Galaxy S6 edge smartphone - which is the predecessor to the South Korean company's newest Galaxy S7 edge flagship - has won the "Best Smartphone 2015" at this year's Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.

Not only this, the tech giant's Gear S2 smartwatch - which comes in standard, 3G, Classic,and now Classic 3G variants - was named "Best Connected Consumer Electronic Device" in the Best Mobile Handsets & Devices category.

"We are honored to be recognized for our industry-leading technology," said DJ Koh, President of Mobile Communications at Samsung Electronics. "At Samsung we remain committed to providing mobile devices that are inspired by consumers and always underpinned by a focus on progress and innovation."

Xiaomi announces Mi 5 at MWC 2016

Xiaomi just dived straight into the international convention scene with its first ever global stage handset announcement. This, of course, is the eagerly-anticipated Xiaomi Mi 5.

The device is a flagship offer through and through, definitely worthy of rubbing shoulders with the likes of the LG G5 or the Samsung Galaxy S7, so also taking into account the growing international interest towards the brand, we can expect global announcements like this one to become a trend.

The Xiaomi Mi 5 comes with a trendy curved design on the back much like the Xiaomi Mi Note. In fact, the exterior of the Mi5 is heavily inspired by the Mi Note, which is very popular among fans.

The Xiaomi Mi 5 is equipped with a 5.15-inch IPS display with a 1080p resolution, ultra-bright 16-LED backlighting (as opposed to 12LEDs), and almost no side bezels for an exquisite look. Sunlight Display technology is upgraded as well and promises contrast adjustment on a per-pixel level.

Below the screen there is a physical home button, which is also a fingerprint reader. This is actually a first for Xiaomi.

The elegant body of the Mi 5 measures exactly 69.20 x 144.55 x 7.25mm, so it's just a tad thicker than the Mi Note. It is also surprisingly light, tipping the scale at 129g with a 3D glass back and including the fairly big 3000 mAh battery.

While the regular version will have a glass back, there will also be a higher-end ceramic back option called Xiaomi Mi5 Pro.

But, according to VP Hugo Barra, who led the presentation himself, the main treat hides under the hood of the Mi 5.

A recurring theme during the presentation was speed. The phone is allegedly fast on a whole different level. In part, this is thanks to Qualcomm's top of the line Snapdragon 820 SoC. This is backed up by 3GB or 4GB of fast LPDDR4 RAM for a snappy Android experience. Interestingly enough, the entry level 32GB one has a clock speed of 1.8 GHz and 3GB of RAM, the 64GB has the same amount of memory and a processor speed of 2.15GHz. The Pro simply adds another gig of RAM. Storage has also received a major upgrade with a focus on speed. Instead of using eMMC, the Xiaomi Mi 5 can be picked up with up to 128GB of UFS 2.0 memory, which promises significant increases of 80% and more over eMMC 5.0 (think what Samsung did with the Galaxy S6). The Snapdragon 820 chip also supports Quick Charge 3.0.

There is also a significant increase in network connectivity. Thanks to technologies like 3x Carrier aggregation, the onboard 4G+ or 4G Advanced is capable of theoretical Cat.12 LTE speeds of up to 600 Mbps. VoLTE is also included. NFC is now also smarter with card virtualization and write mode.

The camera setup on the Xiaomi Mi5 is also very impressive at 16MP with an aperture of f/2.0 and 4-axis optical image stabilization, which is a brand new technology as well. The sensor itself is the Sony IMX 298, which comes with phase detection auto focus and deep trench isolation technology. It is a worthy shooter for a 2016 flagship, and interestingly enough, Xiaomi has managed to fully tuck it inside the body, so there is no camera bump. Naturally, in combination with the powerful Snapdragon 820 chip, it can record 4K video as well. On the front, we have a 4MP UltraPixel camera - lifted from the Mi Note.

On the software side, the Xiaomi Mi 5 is running on the company's famous and quite popular MIUI 7 OS. It is still based on Android, but it is now version 6.0 Marshmallow.