Samsung announces what caused the Galaxy Note 7 Battery Issue and Recall

 By Vaibhav Jain on January 23, 2017       

Samsung has officially announced the reason(s) why its Galaxy Note 7 smartphones overheated and caught fire.

According to Samsung there were two separate battery issues that investigations have identified. The first battery had a design flaw in the upper right corner that could cause a short circuit, while the second battery which was used for replacement units had a manufacturing issue that could lead to fires because of a welding defect. 

This is how Samsung plans to prevent future phones from catching fire:

Since the Samsung Galaxy Note7 recall, we've re-assessed every step of the smartphone manufacturing process and developed the 8-Point Battery Safety Check. It involves putting our batteries through extreme testing, inside and out, followed by careful inspection by X-ray and the human eye. We are making a stronger commitment to safer devices.

Samsung

Pure Nexus Gets an update, adds One-handed mode and Header options

 By Vaibhav Jain on January 23, 2017       

"Pure Nexus" is one of the most stable and finest custom roms available for the Google Pixel and the Nexus Smartphones. Even though the "Pure Nexus Project" is exclusive to Nexus and Pixel Smartphones, it has been ported to many other devices.

The Pure Nexus Project aims to bring stability and features to your Nexus device, while keeping Google's vision in line and not straying too far away from that. If you are looking for a stable ROM with true tested features and minimal bugs, then this is the place to be.

Recently, Pure Nexus Project Moderators released an update for the custom rom. It brings One-handed mode, as well as new Header option, which can be used to change header background.

Via: Reddit

Moto M Expands to 10 More Countries

 By Vaibhav Jain on January 22, 2017       

Last year, Lenovo unveiled The Motorola Moto M in an event at Guangzhou, China. The Device is already available to buy in China, UAE, India and has been expanded to 10 More Countries.

Now, Users in Indonesia, Libia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Poland, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Thailand and Ukraine will be able to purchase the Moto M.



The Moto M (M for all-metal) features a Splash-Proof 5.5 inch full HD display and weights 163g. With rear fingerprint sensor, the device is powered with MediaTek Helio P15 Octa-core CPU clocked at 2.2GHz. It comes in two variants 3GB/4GB RAM and 32GB/64GB Internal Storage which can be expanded upto 128GB through Micro-SD Card.

Via: Motorola Fans (twitter)

Moto Z (2017) with Snapdragon 835 Could Be In The Works

 By Vaibhav Jain on January 22, 2017       

A new variant of the Moto Z has appeared on the Geekbench benchmarking website. The listing reveals that the 2017 Motorola Smartphone with model no. XT1650 is powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 835 chipset, and has 4GB of RAM. The Smartphone runs Android 7.1.1, which is the latest Android version right now.



We already know that the given  model number "XT1650" is allotted to the Moto Z (2016). But, if the listing is legit, we might see Moto Z (2017) with Snapdragon 835 very soon.

Will you be upgrading from the Moto Z(2016) to Moto Z(2017)? Let us know why — or why not —in the comments so everyone else can benefit from your thoughts!

Source: Geekbench

DEAL: Get a new Samsung Galaxy S6 for just ₹28,999

 By Vaibhav Jain on January 21, 2017       

Paytm is now selling the Samsung Galaxy S6 (64GB Limited Edition) for just ₹28,999 (After 2000 Cashback).

In case you've forgotten, the Samsung Galaxy S6 sports a 5.1-inch Super AMOLED display, a Exynos 7420 Octa Core processor, 3GB of RAM, 32/64GB of storage, a 16MP camera, and a 2550mAh battery. As you can see, the device is quite a monster even for a early 2017 purchase.

Grab it here from Paytm (Use code: GET2000)

Lineage OS: Everything you need to know

 By Vaibhav Jain on January 21, 2017       

Lineage OS: Everything you need to know- Release date, News and Update!

Update: January 21, 2017

Lineage OS Boot Animation:

Updated: January 1, 2017

This is Lineage new Logo

Updated: December 27, 2016

Lineage OS Gerrit is Up, Access it here!

Article: December 25, 2016

CyanogenMod is dead, but the company will work on a new project named "Lineage" that will be used to define the custom Android releases.



Lineage OS (Another open-source operating system for smartphones and tablet, based on the Android mobile platform) will be a continuation of what CyanogenMod was, However Lineage OS is still in formation phase. The success of this project depend entirely on how much support it receives from the development community.

So, yes, this is us. LineageOS will be a continuation of what CyanogenMod was. To quote Andy Rubin, this is the definition of open. A company pulling their support out of an open source project does not mean it has to die.
Check back for more information on Tuesday.   - Lineage Team | December 24, 2016

So, we will be getting more information regarding the Lineage OS on Tuesday i.e. on 27th December. We'll continue to post any major Lineage news right here on TechDroider.

You can follow Lineage OS at LineageOS.org, Twitter, Facebook and Google+

Samsung Galaxy S8: This could be the best look yet

 By Vaibhav Jain on January 20, 2017       

Over the past couple of days, leaks of the "Samsung Galaxy S8" have made various appearances, first as just rumor of Samsung going all bezel-less with the S8, few speculated Pictures and then as Case maker render.

The Galaxy S8 render that you see below, is the latest to surface ahead of the official announcement by Samsung. The leak came from PriceRaja and this could be our best look at the upcoming Samsung's flagship.

The site claims that the Galaxy S8 will feature an Iris scanner, which would scan your face and eyes to unlock the handset.

Now, if previous rumors are to be believed, Samsung plans to release Galaxy S8 in two variants, a smaller Galaxy S8 variant, and the larger Galaxy S8 Plus smartphone.

According to PriceRaja, the above render is of the Samsung Galaxy S8 (non-plus) and it sports 5.5" 4K display. 

If This is the Galaxy S8, What do You Think?

Samsung finds two reason behind the Galaxy Note 7 fires

 By Vaibhav Jain on January 20, 2017       

Samsung will officially announce the reason(s) why its Galaxy Note 7 smartphones overheated and caught fire on Jan. 23. But an early report by the Wall Street Journal lists the reasons before Samsung's event.

According to the WSJ, the main reason behind Galaxy Note 7 fires and recall was irregularly sized batteries that caused the phone to overheat. Other reason was "the batteries were manufactured defectively." 



We will hear more from Samsung about "Note 7 exploding batteries" on Jan. 23 in an announcement, which will be livestreamed in Chinese, English and Korean on its websites. Koh Dong-jin, Samsung's mobile president, will give details of the probe. 

Via: Phonearena | Source: WSJ

"Timewave" Moto Mod will add "5D touch" to the Moto Z

 By Vaibhav Jain on January 19, 2017       

The Motorola Moto Z was one of the most innovative Smartphone of the year 2016. 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.

Now, a company named "Esper" is working on a new Moto Mod called "Timewave". This futuristic Module can add additional functionalities to your Moto Z phones. 

Pressing a button on Moto Mod can launch meditation, a 60 second stretch timer, log that you drank water, and much more. The back is a '5D' touch surface that enable custom actions, such as:

• Launch app
• Navigate home
• Activate voice control
• Scrub through video
• Scroll through page,
• Share
• Use as a keyboard to play music!
• and more...

The next stage in human evolution, joining with our digital souls: Esper (Follow this project at Tryesper)

Source: Reddit

Xiaomi is Announcing the Redmi Note 4 Today in India, Watch the Event Live Here!

 By Vaibhav Jain on January 19, 2017       

The Redmi Note 4 will be officially announced today during a live streamed event from New Delhi, India at 11:30AM(IST). 

Xiaomi is expected to announce the SD625 variant. The Smartphone will be exclusively available on Flipkart.


During this Livestream, we are sort of expecting to see the price of the Smartphone and Launch day offers. You can watch out the live event here-

Motorola to release Nougat for unlocked Moto Z next month, Moto Z Play in March

 By Vaibhav Jain on January 19, 2017       

Motorola will start rolling out Android 7.0 Nougat update for unlocked (Sold directly by Motorola) variant of the Motorola Moto Z from next month, while both the Verizon and unlocked versions of the Moto Z Play would get Android 7.0 in March.

We already know that Moto X Play, Moto X Style and Moto Z Play and most of the other Moto devices will get Android 7.0 Nougat by the end of January. While the Moto G4 Play will probably follow Moto X Family and will be updated to Android 7.0 Nougat later on.



Nougat adds battery optimization, multi-screen support, security improvements and the new Motorola boot animation. We have already updated our Moto Z to Official Android 7.0 Nougat, take a look- 




Via: AndroidCentral

OxygenOS 4.0.2 is now rolling out for the OnePlus 3 and the OnePlus 3T

 By Vaibhav Jain on January 19, 2017       

Following the OxygenOS 4.0 based on Android 7.0 Nougat which released before 2017, the company is now rolling out OxygenOS 4.0.2 OTA update for the OnePlus 3 and the OnePlus 3T.

Apart from Android 7.0 Nougat Interface and Features, Here are some highlights of OxygenOS 4.0.2 update for the OnePlus 3/3T-

• Improved Shelf Customization
• Updated APN Settings for select Carriers
• Fixed Proximity Sensor bug during calls
• Fixed Google Play Store download bug
• Increased System Stability

After update, users might face fluctuations in WiFi connectivity according to OnePlus.  

Source 1 | Source 2

Sony Sends Out Invites To MWC 2017 Event: Mid-range Xperia Phones Expected

 By Vaibhav Jain on January 18, 2017       

Sony has just sent invites to the press for an event during MWC in Barcelona. The invite shows #SonyMWC tag and says the company will unveil new products on February 27th.

According to Xperia Blog, Sony is expected to launch at least two new mid-range Xperia Smartphones at the event. 

Via: Xperia Blog

Budget Android One phones reportedly coming to the U.S.

 By Vaibhav Jain on January 18, 2017       

Back in 2014, Google launched Android One platform in India with an idea of selling $100 entry-level phones with Pure Android and the promise of quick updates.



With the Nexus brand apparently gone, and the Pixel positioned at the high-end of the market, Google is rumored to bring its budget-segment Android One phones to the U.S. to fill the void in the budget category.

Tying up with LG, Google is planning to launch Android One Smartphone in the U.S. before the middle of the year. The phones will be priced in a range between $200 and $300.

There's the possibility that Google could integrate Google Assistant, Allo and Duo apps to the upcoming Android One phones.


Source: The Information | Via: Android Central

Snapdragon 835 Powered Nokia P1 To Be Announced at MWC 2017

 By Vaibhav Jain on January 18, 2017       

Few days ago, HMD made Nokia 6 official! The device is China exclusive and there's no Official statement on whether this device will come outside China or not!

Watch out our Nokia 6 Unboxing!

However, Nokia has something for global markets, which the company will announce on February 26, a day before Mobile World Congress officially kicks off in Barcelona.



According to latest rumors from Russian publication Worket, Nokia might announce high-end Nokia P1 at MWC 2017, which is powered by Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 835 chipset paired with 6GB of RAM.

The Nokia P1 is expected to feature a 5.3-inch display with Gorilla Glass Glass 5, fingerprint scanner on the right side, and a 3500 mAh battery with quick charging capabilities. The device will run Android 7.0 Nougat out of the box and will look like Sharp Aquos Xx3. 

For photography, the device will feature 22.6-megapixel rear camera with Zeiss-certification and will feature its own rumored virtual assistant named 'Viki'. It will be priced at about $800 for the 128 GB model, and $950 for the 256 GB one.



Will you be buying this iPhone killer Nokia P1? Let us know in Comments!

Source: Worket | Via: PhoneArena

Motorola to introduce smart outdoor products in 2017

 By Felipe Berhau on January 18, 2017       

Motorola keeps getting bigger! Now through a brand licensing deal with Zenus Technology, you will see Motorola-branded outdoor products this year. This includes lanterns and smart speakers.

For nearly 90 years the Motorola name has been synonymous with quality, innovation and trust around the world. Over 100 million products sold each year carry the Motorola name and demonstrate the brand's lasting power and continued relevance in today's ever-evolving marketplace.

The first products to be released are:

• LUMO smart lanterns: they come with Bluetooth and sync with a dedicated app that let you set up the color (over 16 million colors to choose!). 
• Hybrid & Modular flash lights: MotoMods go outdoors! These ones will tell you the temperature. You will be able to attach power banks, alarm clocks and speaker "mods".
• Wearable LED lights: you can charge them through its micro-USB port and even include a pedometer that will sync with the dedicated app.
• Weather radios: AM/FM radios that charge through solar energy. 
• Bluetooth speakers: featuring IPX4 water resistance, these speakers will feature Touch2Share technology.

The new Motorola products will be part of "Motorola Home", which is the name the company uses for all its licensed products and can be found at the motorolahome.com website. Last year, Motorola-branded home networking products were introduced and quickly became Amazon best-sellers. At the same time, Motorola is the best selling baby monitor brand in the US and Europe thanks to licensing deals like this one. 

Source

Moto G4 Plus gets December Security patch and a new System Animation

 By Vaibhav Jain on January 17, 2017       

Motorola has already updated the Moto G4 Plus and Moto G4 to Android 7.0 Nougat. However, The Moto G4 Plus is now getting a new software update with Security Patches, bug fixes and Stability improvement.



This new update contains December, 2016 Security patch, Notification tone volume fix and a new OS update animation, It costs around 114MB. This update is available for both the Moto G4 Plus users running Soak test and Official update.

Gif via: AndroidPolice

Here's the changelog- 

• Notification tone volume: We have introduced improvements to the volume of the notification tone.
• Android security: Includes the updates of Android security patches until January 1st 2017.
• Stability improvements: Includes changes that fix bugs and improve the stability of your phone.

Screenshot:-

What do you think about this Google Pixel 2 concept?

 By Vaibhav Jain on January 15, 2017       

Last year, Google gave us the first two Pixel Smartphones i.e. Pixel with 5" Display and Pixel XL with 5.5" Display, with some extra Artificial intelligence in the form of the fledgling Google Assistant. 

Both Google Pixel and Pixel XL were great devices but things like water resistance and an orignal design were left out because they ran out of time. For 2017, Google has already decided and is all set to really show their vision for the highest-end Android phones. 



Also Read: Google Pixel 2: What Features to Expect

Now, Designer Milineam N from behance has come up with an exciting new concept of Google's next flagship. Take a look-

This new concept shows 2017 Google's Phone with a all-glass back and a metal uni-body structure. 

To the back, we have a centered sensors and dual microphone followed by Camera and fingerprint sensor. You will find Google's "G" logo at the bottom.

If this goes real, will you buy it? Share your thoughts below! 

Source:- Behance

Samsung Galaxy J3 Emerge Official Specs

 By Vaibhav Jain on January 15, 2017       

Samsung Galaxy J3 Emerge Specification
OS And Hardware
OS	Android OS, v6.0 Marshmallow || Touchwziz UI
Processor	Octa-core 1.4 GHz Cortex-A53
Chipset	Qualcomm Snapdragon 430
GPU	Adreno 505
Body
Dimensions	140.9 x 70.1 x 8.7 mm
Weight	147g
Colors	Silver
Display
Type	HD
Screen Size	5.0 inches
Resolution	720 x 1280 pixels (~294 ppi pixel density)
Memory
Card slot	microSD, up to 256 GB
Internal	16 GB
RAM	1.5 GB
Camera
Primary	5 MP, F1.9
Secondary	2 MP, F2.2
Multimedia
3.5mm jack	Yes
Battery and Power
Type	Li-Ion 2,600 mAh battery
Talk time	23 Hours
Status
Announced	2016, January
Price
US Dollor	$234.99,

Motorola will update most of its eligible Moto Devices to Android 7.0 Nougat by the end of January!

 By Vaibhav Jain on January 14, 2017       

After updating Nexus 6, Moto Z, Z Force, G4 Plus and G4 to Android 7.0 Nougat, Motorola is all set to roll out Android 7.0 Nougat to other eligible devices. 



When asked by few users about When their Moto Devices will be getting Android 7.0 Nougat Update, Moto_Ger Official twitter account tweeted that the Moto X Play, Moto X Style and Moto Z Play and most of the other Moto devices will get Android 7.0 Nougat by the end of January. While the Moto G4 Play will probably follow Moto X Family and will be updated to Android 7.0 Nougat later on.

We have no idea whether Motorola will update "Powered by Mediatek" moto devices to Android 7.0 Nougat, which includes Moto M and Moto E3 Power.

Source: Moto_Ger

Moto G5 Plus will be announced on February 26th

 By Felipe Berhau on January 14, 2017       

Motorola has just sent invites to the press for an event during MWC in Barcelona. The invite shows both Motorola and Lenovo logos and the iconic "Hellomoto" word. The invite says it will all happen on February 26th.

As you know, the only Motorola device that has been leaking in recent weeks is the Moto G5 Plus, and it even passed through the FCC recently. It's rumored to come with 4GB of RAM, a 5.5" 1080p screen and a new all-metal design similar to the Moto Z. 

The FCC listing also revealed there will be other variants of this phone, one having 2GB of RAM, so it's very likely that the Moto G5 will come in Plus and Play variants like in 2016.

Source

3D renders of the Samsung Galaxy S8 surfaces online

 By Vaibhav Jain on January 13, 2017       

Over the past couple of days, leaks of the "Samsung Galaxy S8" have made various appearances, first as just rumor of Samsung going all bezel-less with the S8 and then as few speculated Pictures.

Now, 3D renders of the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S8 has surfaced online giving us the first look of Samsung's next flagship from each angle. 

Taking a closer look at the above renders, the Galaxy S8 is having dual speaker grills, and there's no home button and dual-camera setup as expected.

Earlier rumors also says that Samsung Galaxy S8 will be powered by Snapdragon 835 processor which comes with Quick Charge 4.0.



The Smartphone looks gorgeous in these renders, Will you be buying the Samsung Galaxy S8? Let us know in comments!

Source: GSMArena

Moto G5 India launch set for March 2017, will be priced at ₹14,999

 By Vaibhav Jain on January 13, 2017       

We have already seen multiple leaks, rumors and even real life Images of the upcoming Motorola Moto G5 Plus smartphone.

According to Igyaan, Motorola will launch the Moto G5 and the G5 Plus in India in March 2017 while the Moto G5 Play will be announced later on. 

The 4GB RAM model of the G5 Plus will go on sale with a starting price of  ₹14,999. There will be two storage options i.e. 32 GB / 64 GB.

As per earlier leaks, the device will be announced in March and will be offered in two color options, Silver and Gold when Motorola officially announces the devices at its press event.

The Moto G5 Plus will pack a 5.5" Full HD display, Snapdragon 625, octa-core clocked at 2.0GHz paired with Adreno 506, 4GB RAM and 32GB Internal storage. 




The device will sport 13-megapixel rear cameras with dual-LED flash, and 5-megapixel front-facing camera for video chat and selfies. The G5 Plus is said to include a 3080mAh battery, Front facing fingerprint sensor and Android 7.0 Nougat.

Source: iGyaan

Nokia 6 gets more than 380,000 pre-orders in 24 hours

 By Vaibhav Jain on January 13, 2017       

Nokia fans have reserved more than 380,000 of its much-anticipated Nokia 6 Android-Phone within the first 24 hours of pre-orders.



Exclusively available only in China from January 19th, one can now pre-register the Nokia 6 on JD.com for 66 CNY (about $9). Though , that $9 fee for each Nokia 6 reservation, which will be deducted from the phone's retail price of $245.




The Nokia 6 features a 5.5" 1080p screen with Gorilla Glass, classic Nokia design and an impressive audio quality according to HMD.

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: JD | Via: hdblog

Moto X Play to get Android 7.0 Nougat in Europe by the end of January

 By Vaibhav Jain on January 13, 2017       

Motorola kept its promise and is still one of the fastest when it comes to updating its devices! Now we have official confirmation of the exact date you will see Android 7.0 Nougat in your Moto X Play.

The Android 7.0 Nougat is already available for the Moto Z, Z Force and Moto G4 Phones, Nougat adds battery optimization, multi-screen support, security improvements and the new Motorola boot animation.



Motorola Germany has just tweeted the official date of the new Android 7.0 update rollout for the Moto X Play. 

@theadamparton Yes, Android 7 will be available for Moto X Play by end of January. Please find further info here: https://t.co/qgHOc8V8cx

— Moto Deutschland (@Moto_GER) January 12, 2017

As you can see, the Moto X Play will get the update by the end of this month i.e. January! Currently we have no idea whether this update will be rolled out globally or not!



Source: Moto_Ger

HTC U Play Official Specs

 By Vaibhav Jain on January 12, 2017       

HTC U Play Specification
OS And Hardware
OS	Android OS || HTC Sense
Processor	Octa-core, 64-bit
Chipset	MediaTek Helio P1
Body
Dimensions	145.99 x 72.9 x 3.5 ~ 7.99 mm
Weight	145g
Colors	Blue, Pink and Black
Display
Type	Super LCD
Screen Size	5.2 inch, FHD
Resolution	1080 x 1920 pixel (428 ppi)
Multitouch	Yes
Protection	Corning Gorilla Glass
Memory
Card slot	microSD, up to 2 TB
Internal	64 GB
RAM	4 GB
Camera
Primary	16-megapixel
Features	f/2.0, PDAF, OIS
Secondary	16 MP
Battery and Power
Type	2500mAh Fast charging (5V/2A)
Stand-by	up to 427.54 hours
Talk time	up to 15.21 hours
Status
Announced	2016, January
Price
US Dollor	-

HTC U Ultra Official Specs

 By Vaibhav Jain on January 12, 2017       

HTC U Ultra Specification
OS And Hardware
OS	Android OS, 7.0 Nougat || HTC Sense
Processor	64 bit Quad-Core
Chipset	Qualcomm Snapdragon 821
Body
Dimensions	162.41 x 79.79 x 3.6-7.99mm
Weight	170g
Colors	Blue
Display
Type	Super LCD 5
Screen Size	5.7 inch, Quad HD, Second display: 2.0 inch (160x1040)
Resolution	2560x1440 pixel
Multitouch	Yes
Protection	Corning Gorilla Glass 5/Sapphire Glass
Memory
Card slot	microSD, up to 2 TB
Internal	64 GB
RAM	4 GB
Camera
Primary	12 MP
Features	UltraPixel 2 - f/1.8, 1.55um, LAF, PDAF, OIS
Secondary	16 MP
Battery and Power
Type	3000 mAh battery
Stand-by	up to 13 days
Talk time	up to 26 hours
Status
Announced	2016, January
Price
US Dollor	$749

Moto G 2015 is getting new update with July and October Security patch

 By Vaibhav Jain on January 12, 2017       

Motorola has already ditched Moto G 3rd generation from the list of devices getting Official Android Nougat. However, The Moto G 3rd Generation is now getting new software updates with Security Patches, bug fixes and Stability improvement.



First update contains July Security patch and costs 12.9MB, the new build no. is 24.71.2.en.03. The Second update contains October Security patch and costs 63.7MB, the new build no. is 24.201.5.en.03.

Screenshots:-

Thanks Prashanth Reddy Nall for tip!

Moto G5 Plus Press Image Leaks, Shows Off Design And Confirms earlier leaks

 By Vaibhav Jain on January 12, 2017       

We have already seen multiple leaks, renders and real life Images of the Upcoming Motorola Moto G5 Plus. What appears to be an official press image of the 5.5-inch Moto G5 Plus has been published by a weibo user.

As per earlier leaks, the device will be announced in March and will be offered in two color options, Silver and Gold when Motorola officially announces the devices at its press event.

The Moto G5 Plus will pack a 5.5" Full HD display, Snapdragon 625, octa-core clocked at 2.0GHz paired with Adreno 506, 4GB RAM and 32GB Internal storage. 



The devices will sport 13-megapixel rear cameras with dual-LED flash, and 5-megapixel front-facing camera for video chat and selfies. The G5 Plus is said to include a 3080mAh battery, Front facing fingerprint sensor and Android 7.0 Nougat.

Thanks for tip! 

Source: Weibo DuanRui