July's Factory Images and OTA files are now Available for Nexus and Pixel Devices

 By Vaibhav Jain on July 05, 2017       

Every month, Google posts a new security update for the Nexus and Pixel line of devices. The Android security update for July 2017 are already live for a number of devices.

Google has posted both the OTA’s and the factory images for the selected Nexus or Pixel devices. The supported devices includes Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, Nexus 6, Nexus 9, Nexus Player, Pixel C, Pixel and Pixel XL. 

For now, we have July Security Firmware files based on Android 7.1.2 Nougat for the Pixel and Pixel XL (NHG47O, NJH47D, NKG47M, NZH54B), Pixel C (N2G48B), Nexus 6P (N2G48B), Nexus 5X (N2G47Z), and Nexus Player (N2G48B).

Nexus 6 (N6F27H) and Nexus 9 (N4F27I, N9F27F) gets July security patch based on Android 7.1.1.

Note that for the Google Pixel, NHG47O is for Verizon models, NZH54B is for Deutsche Telekom, NKG47M is for T-Mobile, Fi users, and Rogers, while NJH47D is for everyone else.

You can grab Factory Image or OTA file at the links below. 

Links: Factory Image | OTA File

Galaxy Note 8 is Real and Here are the First Images of the Phone!

 By Vaibhav Jain on July 05, 2017       

The entire world is looking for next Samsung flagship phone which is the Galaxy Note 8 to release at the earliest, but one has to wait until this September to get hands on it. Today, a facebook user 
has leaked the first real-life Images of the device confirming the design.

As you can see in the above leaked Image, the Galaxy Note 8 looks absolutely stunning and is on-par with the earlier leaked rumors. Below is the clear Image showing off the Galaxy Note 8's dual-camera setup and the fingerprint sensor.

Here's another Image of the Galaxy Note 8 inside a red case confirming the availability of the 3.5mm headphone jack and USB-C port. To the extreme right there's the S-pen inside its slot.

As per earlier reports the Note 8 will feature a 12-megapixel dual-camera sensor and independent optical image stabilization for the lens. Additionally, you will be getting a 6.3-inch edge-to-edge display with 18.5:9 aspect ratio, Exynos 8895 and Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 chipsets, depending on the market coupled with 6GB RAM.

That said, Samsung plans to release the Galaxy Note 8 this September and it's staying premium. We will let you know once we new information regarding the Galaxy Note 8, Stay tuned to our Facebook and Twitter page to get the first News. 

Source: Facebook

LineageOS gets major update, improves Jelly, adds long press power for torch, and more

 By Vaibhav Jain on July 05, 2017       

LineageOS is the latest sensation among custom rom lovers and developers. We already know that the Lineage OS is a continuation of what CyanogenMod was, the LineageOS 14.1 is based on Android 7.1.1 Nougat and has same build number system as CyanogenMod's.

Lineage OS is still in formation phase and the community developers are working actively to add new features to this project.
Now, the community has added some interesting new features to the custom rom including a new and improved Jelly browser, more reliable LineageOS updater, and tap-to-pay fix. Additionally the alarm clock can now set a system profile when an alarm triggers, and the ROM's media codecs have been updated.

The new update includes timeout for the ‘long press power button for torch’ option which can be set by going to Settings - Buttons -Automatically turn torch off. The Custom tiles have now been integrated into the framework, which means new toggles with more abilities can be added in the future

In addition to, the LineageOS now supports 8 new devices: Nexus 9 LTE, Motorola Droid 4, Motorola Droid RAZR, Motorola Droid Bionic, Motorola RAZR/RAZR MAXX (GSM), Motorola Droid RAZR/RAZR MAXX (CDMA), NVIDIA Shield TV 2015, and NVIDIA Shield Tablet.

via: AndroidPolice | Source: Lineage

Nokia 6 gets July Android security patch

 By Vaibhav Jain on July 05, 2017       

As promised, HMD is now rolling out the latest monthly Android security patch Software update to the mid-tier Nokia 6. The company has now released Android July 2017 Security update to the Nokia 6 with model no. TA-1003 in Taiwan and Hong Kong.

The latest update weighs in at around 149 MB and features the latest security patch. You won't get new features or improvements with this update.

The Nokia 6 is available only in three markets i.e. China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. HMD plans to make all the three Nokia Android phones available in most of the countries by July 2017.

Recently HMD promised that the Nokia 3, Nokia 5 and Nokia 6 will be getting software updates for till next 2 years. That means, the Nokia 6 and other two devices will be getting Android O for sure.

Via: NPU

Redmi Note 5 leak hints at Snapdragon 630/660 chipset and 3,790mAh battery

 By Vaibhav Jain on July 04, 2017       

There's no fact denying that the Redmi Note lineup are one of the best selling devices for Xiaomi. After a huge success of Xiaomi's Redmi Note 4, the company is now all set to unleash the Redmi Note 5.

We now have few leaked details of the upcoming Redmi Note 5. According to the leaked presentation, the Redmi Note 5 will feature a 5.5” 1080p IPS display and a 3,790mAh battery with QuickCharge 3.0 (over a USB-C port). The Redmi Note 5 will sport a 16MP rear camera with Sony IMX 234 sensor, f/2.0 aperture and 0.3s focus lock (PDAF). You also get a 13MP selfie shooter.

The Redmi Note 5 will be coming in two variants, one with Snapdragon 630 and other with 660. Both are very efficient chipset as they are built on a 14nm process. The device will be available in 3GB/32GB, 4GB/32GB, and 4GB/64GB storage variants.

That said, Xiaomi plans to reveal the Redmi Note 5 later this year. The rumored price are as follows: 3GB RAM / 32GB storage for $175, 4GB RAM / 32GB storage for $205, 4GB RAM / 64GB storage for $220.

Source: iGeekphone

This could be our first clear look at the Moto X4

 By Vaibhav Jain on July 04, 2017       

A month ago, we saw a presentation video allegedly confirming the specs of the Moto X4 and now, popular tipster, Evan Blass on Venturebeat has leaked the Moto X4 in all its glory.

If you recall, Motorola released three generations of the Moto X- the Moto X, Moto X2, and the Moto X Style, which was the third generation. And, it's no wonder that Motorola is looking to resume the product portfolio by launching the Moto X4. 

According to the latest leaks, Motorola and Lenovo plans to launch the Moto X4 in the fourth quarter at a mid-tier price. Additionally Moto X4 will be the first non-Nexus-or-Pixel-branded handset to offer Fi-compatibility.

As you can see in the above image, the Moto X4 is having a curved display with front facing fingerprint sensor, which can be used for navigation as well. The aluminum back is having dual-rear camera with Moto branding.

The Moto X4 will feature a 5.2-inch Full HD glass layered with 3D glass on top. It will be powered by the Snapdragon 630 chipset (eight cores all running at 2.2GHz) along with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage. The device will sport a 3000mAh battery.

The Moto X4 will be the first smartphone after 2016, to feature IP68 level of certification. Moto X4 features 8-megapixel and 12-megapixel rear shooters, along with a 16-megapixel selfie cam up front.

Source: Venturebeat | Image: Evan Blass

Asus Zenfone 4 Max Announced with Dual Rear Camera Setup and 5000mAh battery

 By Vaibhav Jain on July 04, 2017       

Asus has finally announced its first Zenfone 4 series Smartphone, the Asus Zenfone 4 Max with dual-rear cameras and a giant battery. The device comes with two variants with different SoC and GPU.

Just like the 2015 Asus Zenfone 3 Max, the Zenfone 4 Max prioritizes power with a giant 5000mAh battery. The device features a 13MP dual-camera setup with one sensor having f / 2.0 aperture, while the second sensor features wide-angle lens of 120 °.  You get a 8-megapixel front facing camera with LED Flash.

The Zenfone 4 Max comes with a 5.5-inch IPS display with 2.5D Curved glass. It comes in three variants, 2GB RAM with 16GB storage, 3GB RAM with 32GB storage, 4GB RAM with 64GB storage with microSD card slot (expandable up to 256GB). The device runs Android 7.0 Nougat with ZenUI 3.0 on the top.

The Battery centric smartphone comes in two variants, Snapdragon 430 and Snapdragon 425 paired with Adreno 308 and Adreno 505 GPU. It will be available in Russia starting at RUB 13,900 ($235/€205) for the S425 quad-core model with 2GB of RAM and 16GB storage.

Asus

This is the Moto Z2 Force, Heading to AT&T

 By Vaibhav Jain on July 04, 2017       

A few month ago, Motorola's roadmap for 2017 got leaked, which showed us that Motorola will launch Moto Z2 Force, the successor to the Moto Z Force. Previously, there was a 360-degree CAD render of the phone which showed the design of the smartphone. 

Today, a new render of is posted by Evan Blass, which illustrates the Moto Z2 Force for AT&T in full glory. The Z2 Force will come in Gunmetal color. From the front, the phone will look like the Moto G5 series, and it will also come with a dual tone front-facing LED flash. 

At the back, the Moto Z2 Force will feature similar design language with the magnetic pins located at the bottom. The devices will feature dual-rear camera with a bump.

The Moto Z2 Force will feature 5.5-inch display, with an unknown resolution. The Z2 Force is rumored to feature a shatterproof display and Snapdragon 835 SoC.

OFFICIAL: List Of Xiaomi Phones Getting Nougat

 By Vaibhav Jain on July 04, 2017       

Xiaomi just released the official list of devices getting the newest Android version. As usual, expect this year products and also some of the 2016 portfolio to get the new Android Nougat 7.0 or 7.1.1 by the fourth quarter. 

The Mi 5, Mi 5s, Mi 5s Plus, Mi 4c, Mi 4S, Mi Note 2, Mi Mix, Redmi Note 4X are among the 14 devices said to get Android 7.0 Nougat update. However, Xiaomi has already started rolling out the Nougat update for the Mi 5.

Additionally, the list also mentions the Xiaomi devices that will be getting Android 7.1 and it includes, Mi 6, Mi Max 2, Mi 5c and Redmi 4X. 

Well, I am literally shocked to see that one of the most popular Xiaomi Smartphone, the Redmi Note 4 will not be getting Android 7.0 Nougat update. Instead, the company is updating Mi Note and other old devices to Nougat.

However, even if your device is not in the list, there are chances that your Xiaomi smartphone may get an update to MIUI 9, which is expected to come with new features.

Source

Nokia 6 Copper color to hit the markets soon

 By Vaibhav Jain on July 03, 2017       

The Nokia 6 is one of the tough Smartphone we have ever seen, adding another layer to its feature Nokia is all set to bring the beautiful Copper color variant of the Nokia 6. 

However, the company hasn't revealed the availability date of the Nokia 6 Copper color variant. Earlier this month, HMD Global confirmed that they will bring Nokia 6 Arte Black edition to India and other countries pretty soon. The company has started teasing the Copper color variant of the Nokia 6 on their twitter handle.

The Nokia 6 costs ₹14,999 and will be exclusively sold on Amazon India. You will be able to pre-order the Nokia 6 Starting July 14. For now, the Nokia 6 will be available in standard Black color option.

The Nokia 6 features a 5.5" 1080p screen with Gorilla Glass, classic Nokia design and an impressive audio quality. The phone comes with an aluminum unibody and runs on a Snapdragon 430 SoC paired with 4GB of RAM. Its camera should follow the Nokia trend and impress everyone. It's 16MP with an 8MP front shooter.

Source: Nokia | Image: Cnet

Xiaomi X1 with Bezel-less Display, Snapdragon 660 and dual cameras on the way

 By Vaibhav Jain on July 03, 2017       

According to the latest reports out from Chinese social platform Weibo, Xiaomi is all set to launch two smartphones under new X series called Xiaomi X1.

The Xiaomi X1 is said to come in two display variants. The first variant will come with a Bezel-less 5.5-inch display with a resolution of 1080 x 2160 pixels. It is said to be powered by the recently announced Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 chipset paired with 4GB/6GB of RAM. 

The phone will also feature rear dual-camera setup with either a Sony IMX362 sensor or IMX386 sensor, 3.5mm audio jack and a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner. The Standard model of this device will be priced as follows: 4 GB RAM + 64 GB storage for 1,999 Yuan (~$294) or 2,299 Yuan (~$339), while the high-end model will be available as 6 GB RAM + 128 GB storage for 2,499 Yuan (~$368) or 2,799 Yuan (~$412).

The second variant of the Xiaomi X1 will feature a 5.5-inch Full HD display with front facing fingerprint sensor and dual rear camera. It will be powered by the Snapdragon 660 SoC and will come with 6GB of RAM.

Additionally, the leaker also claims that we would get to see the unveiling of the Xiaomi Mi 6 Plus, Xiaomi X1 and MIUI 9 ROM in this month.

Via: Techupdates | Image Dennis Voloskov

Motorola shows off Next Wave Of Moto Mods, including Studio and Action Mod

 By Vaibhav Jain on July 03, 2017       

The Moto Z is one of the most innovative Smartphone we've have ever seen. Being modular, Moto Z is designed to accommodate add-on modules that snap to the back of their cases. From a Simple Style Case to a Pico Projector, Moto Mods can be attached to the back of Moto Z, Moto Z force or Moto Z Play via magnetic pins.

Motorola is betting big on the future of Moto Mods, with the company promising at least 12 Moto Mods a year and showing off several upcoming ones during an event at Ghana. The company also announced a 360-Camera module, and new Moto Smartphones during the same event. (Also Read: Motorola announces Moto 360 Camera Moto Mod.)

First, Lenovo-Motorola showed a ROKR Moto Mod, which is a kind of dedicated Speaker Module made by Marshall. Next is a Studio Moto Mod with a Mic on the top and Marshall branding to the rear. There was also a DTV Mod made by DirecTV, an American direct broadcast satellite service provider.

Another mod appears to be a DSLR Mod with Camera Lens support, essentially turning the phone into the DSLR Camera. Finally, there's an Action Moto Mod with Rotatable Camera. 

All of these are simply concepts at this point, and Motorola is expected to launch them soon along with the Moto Z2 Smartphones. We will let you know once we new information regarding these Moto Mods, Stay tuned to our Facebook and Twitter page to get the first News. 

Thanks Puru Khilari | Video: GhanaWeb | Featured Image: Imaan Naeem

Motorola announces Moto 360 Camera Moto Mod (Updated)

 By Vaibhav Jain on July 03, 2017       

Alright, here’s the news. As you might be aware of the fact that Motorola is betting big on the future of modular phones and Moto Mods especially, here comes another news about a new Moto Mod, already launched on June 20.

During a press event in Ghana, West Africa where the company announced the 2016 Moto Z, Moto C, Moto E, and Moto G, Motorola also announced its upcoming Moto 360 Camera Moto-Mod for the Moto Z Smartphones. The event went unnoticed, but thanks to Puru Khilari for notifying Techdroider about this.

The Moto 360 is a 360-degree Camera module with two lenses which gets attached to the 16-pins magnetic connector of the Moto Z. For now, we don't have any information regarding the specifications and availability of the Moto 360 Camera module.

As you can see in the below images, the Moto 360 Camera Moto Mod is having a white back with a 360-degree camera attached to it, which will allow Moto Z users to take 360-degree videos and Images. 

That said, you can watch the launch event here at GhanaWeb TV and Here. We will let you know once we get clear Images and new information regarding the Moto 360 Camera or new upcoming Moto Mods, Stay tuned to our Facebook and Twitter page to get the first News.

Update: Motorola shows off Next Wave Of Moto Mods, including Studio and Action Mod

Update 2: Here's the Render of the Moto 360 Camera Moto Mod

Thanks Puru Khilari and Brandon Ackroyd from Tiger Mobiles for Notifying us about this

Xiaomi to begin MIUI 9 Closed Beta testing: Release Details, Eligible Smartphones and Features

 By Vaibhav Jain on July 02, 2017       

We all know that the MIUI 9 will be the next iteration of MIUI and is rumored to come with tons of new features and improvement over the MIUI 8.

Now, According to the latest reports from Mydrivers, Xiaomi is all set to begin MIUI 9 Closed Beta testing. That means, the MIUI 9 update won't be coming to all Xiaomi devices, instead it will be available first for the selected users of closed beta group.

Xiaomi has formed a Secret group for developers and testers for testing the MIUI 9 update. Since it's a close beta, the MIUI 9 update will be available only for testers. Additionally, the MIUI 9 closed beta is expected to live by the end of this month. We don't have any information regarding the criteria to become a closed beta tester for MIUI 9.

The rumored devices that will be getting MIUI 9 update are Xiaomi Mi 6, Mi Note 2, MI MIX, Mi 5, Mi 5s, Mi 5C, Mi Max 2, Mi Max, Redmi Note 4, Redmi Note 4X, Redmi 4, Redmi 4X, Redmi Note 3, Redmi 3s and Mi Pad 3.

The MIUI 9 will be based on Android 7.0 Nougat, you will be getting a new UI, PIP mode, Split screen, and enhanced features along with Android 7.0 Nougat goodies. That said, the MIUI 9 is expected to be available for public by the end of August. Thoughts?

Moto E4 is now available in India for Rs. 8999

 By Vaibhav Jain on July 02, 2017       

A few weeks ago, Motorola announced the Moto E4 and Moto E4 Plus with 2.5D curved glass and fingerprint sensor. The Moto E4 Smartphones are now officially available for purchase in India, Brazil, México, Philippines and Colombia.

Now, According to a Mumbai-based retailer Mahesh Telecom, the Moto E4 can now be purchased in India for Rs. 8999. However, the company hasn't said anything about the availability and pricing of the Moto E4.

The Moto E4 sports a 5" HD display with 2.5D curved glass, 5MP front camera with selfie flash, 8MP autofocus camera with LED flash, 2800mAh battery, NFC support, MT6737 Quad-core processor/ Snapdragon 425/ 427, 2GB RAM, 16GB internal storage. The device will be available in Iron Grey, Blush Gold, and Oxford Blue color options.

The Moto E4 Plus is the exact same phone as the Moto E4 in terms of design and color options, Specs wise, the E4 Plus features a 5.5" HD display, 13MP rear camera, 5MP selfie shooter, a giant 5000mAh battery, MT6737 Quad core CPU/ Snapdragon 425/ 427, 3GB RAM, 16GB internal storage with LTE support.

Note that India gets the Mediatek variant instead of Snapdragon, which is exclusive to the US.

Source | Via

Galaxy Note Fan Edition vs Galaxy Note 7: 3 key differences

 By Vaibhav Jain on July 02, 2017       

The Galaxy Note Fan Edition is now official with Bixby Assistant and a brand new battery that might prevent fires and explosions. The Galaxy Note FE is exactly a carbon copy of the Galaxy Note 7 with few upgrades and downgrades. In this article we will talk about Key differences that you will find in Galaxy Note FE and the Galaxy Note 7.

Bixby Assistant: The Samsung Galaxy Note Fan Edition comes with Samsung's own new Bixby Assistant, which was launched along with the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus. However, the Note FE doesn't feature Bixby button. The Note 7 on-the-other-hand came with Samsung's old Touchwiz. You also get 'Bixbee Home' and 'Bixbee Reminder' along with the Note FE.

Battery: We all know that the Note 7 fiasco was caused due to faulty batteries, but now Samsung has downgraded the battery from 3,500mAh to 3,200mAh after implementing the 8 - point battery safety test.

Fan Edition: Design wise, the Samsung Galaxy Note FE is the carbon copy of Galaxy Note 7. However, there's a 'Fan Edition' logo on the rear of the device, which differentiates the two.

That said, the Note 7 is reborn as Note FE, you can find the Galaxy Note FE pricing, specs and availability details here.

Samsung Galaxy Note Fan Edition goes official: Pricing, Specifications, Availability

 By Vaibhav Jain on July 02, 2017       

The most anticipated Samsung Galaxy Note Fan Edition is now official with Bixby assistant and a brand new battery that might prevent fires and explosions. 

Samsung says that the Galaxy Note FE is made using the Galaxy Note 7 and other unused material. It is the first eco-friendly project from Samsung that will minimizes waste of resources by utilizing 'Galaxy Note 7' parts.

Specs and Design wise the Galaxy Note FE is the carbon copy of the orignal Samsung Galaxy Note 7 with 'Fan Edition' logo on the back. It with a 5.7 inch Quad HD dual edge Super AMOLED display with 4GB RAM, 64GB ROM and supports microSD card upto 128GB, It is powered with 3200mAh battery. As far as camera is concerned we have a 12MP f/1.7 Dual Pixel camera on the backside, 5MP camera on the front.

Samsung Electronics plans to sell the Galaxy Note FE in the Korea starting July 7 for KRW 699,000(~USD $600). Being a limited edition, the device is with a limit of 400,000 units. The overseas launch and pricing will be decided later.

This Nokia Vision Smartphone Concept blows the Galaxy S8 out of the water

 By Vaibhav Jain on July 01, 2017       

This year's Nokia 9 will be the most anticipated phone of 2017, which is rumored to release later this year. Unlike the Samsung Galaxy S8 and LG G6, the Nokia 9 won't feature an enhanced display. 

Now, a new concept of the imaginary Nokia Vision Smartphone has posted online by Jonas Daehnert and it looks absolutely futuristic. As you can see in the below image, the Nokia Vision 2018 will have edge-less display on either sides, same as the Galaxy S8. Also, the phone in the images has very very small chin compared to current Nokia Smartphones.

Coming to the rear, it is having the vertical dual-camera setup, and the NOKIA branding. There's no physical fingerprint scanner in these renders, so we assume that the Nokia Vision will be having an In-display fingerprint sensor.

We have already seen the Nokia 9 in real life Images and it's going to be the first dual-camera Smartphone from Nokia. The Nokia 9 won't feature a bezel-less display, instead the finnish brand is saving it for the 2018. Would you like to see the upcoming Nokia Smartphone with thin bezels? Let us know in the comments below. 

Google Appears to be Testing a New search results layout

 By Vaibhav Jain on July 01, 2017       

According to a bunch of users, Google is testing some sort of rounded cards with 4 mysterious colored dots to the Google Search for Android, iOS, and on the mobile web. 

The latest UI has rounded card corners and 4 colored dots. Additionally, the headlines and titles uses Blue color, while the page summary is now gray instead of black. The URL color is now green instead of black.

The new UI looks more colorful and alive, We haven't seen this new design on any of our devices, but according to the latest reports, few users are already testing this new UI on their Android and iOS devices.

Samsung Galaxy J7 (2016) explodes in little boy's hands

 By Vaibhav Jain on July 01, 2017       

After the Note 7 fiasco, Samsung took a huge step with its batteries of the Galaxy S8 Smartphones that might prevent fires and explosions. Samsung also plans to re-launch the Note 7 FE, but it looks like the Korean Giant has some other problem to take care of.

According to the latest reports, a Samsung Galaxy J7 (2016) exploded in 4-year old's hand while playing game. However, no one got injured due to the explosion and that's a good thing.

Naureen Ahsan, a Pakistani mother, had lent a Galaxy J7 (2016) smartphone to her four-year-old nephew. Apparently, the kid was playing "My Talking Tom" game when the phone got overheated and exploded. It's good to see that no one got hurt although "this incident was terrifying for all of us," Ahsan said.

“Today my daughter’s mobile Samsung Galaxy J7 (2016) blasted due to may be over heating or lagging due to games..we are unable to share this picture with Samsung’s page. My 4-year nephew was playing ‘my talking tom’ game in it when it got over heated and had a blast. Allhumdulliah he is safe. And my daughter too…but this incident was terrifying for all of us.”

Ahsan concluded her Facebook comment by warning the parents and saying “Keep your children away from mobiles and stay safe everyone :)”. She has uploaded several images showing a bloated battery and the burnt remnants of the handset. 

Source: ValueWalk