Huawei’s much awaited Ascend Mate 7′s release is imminent, and looks to be happening this Thursday. To hold you over until then, some pictures of the device have been leaked showing the front and back of the 6-inch monster. The phablet will feature the finger scanner that has been rumoured, as seen in the photo above, and will also sport a 1080p display, 13/5 MP camera (back and front, respectively), 2 GB RAM and 16 GB ROM, and a whopping 4,000 mAh battery. The processor running the beast is a HiSilicon Kirin 920, which has four more powerful Cortex-A15 cores, and four less battery-intensive Cortex-A7 cores. As far as price goes, it’s anyone’s guess at this point, but don’t expect anything outrageous–Huawei is know for hitting that perfect price to maximize consumer value.

Source: cnBeta

Via: GSM Arena

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Another Galaxy Note 4 teaser video

Are you Ready to Note? Samsung has been asking us this question a bit too much lately, but it’s hard to deny the effect these teasers are having on the tech world. With each new video we get closer and closer to seeing what may be the best phone of the second half of 2014. The device should be announced at IFA Berlin on Wednesday.

Click here to view the embedded video.

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Android Headliner: IFA 2014 Preview

Typically, IFA hasn’t been a really popular show. Other than Samsung coming over and releasing their latest Galaxy Note products. However, in recent years, IFA has been the home of many holiday product launches. And this year looks to be the biggest show yet. So we are going to break it down by manufacturer and take a look at what we think we are getting at this year’s show.

Acer

Acer is typically always at IFA, but they don’t always have a ton to show off. However, this year we are expecting a few tablets and smartphones from them plus a wearable or two. Now we also may see them show off their latest Chromebook, the 13-inch model powered by the NVIDIA Tegra K1. But that’s probably about it. They do have the first press conference on Wednesday, September 3rd, at 11AM Berlin time. That’s 5am on the East Coast and 2am on the West Coast.

ASUS

Next up is ASUS. We’ve seen a few teasers from ASUS for IFA already, but for the most part we are expecting to see a smartwatch from ASUS next week. Likely running Android Wear, it’ll be named the ZenWatch. But what else could ASUS have up their sleeves, we have no idea. We could see some tablets from them as well, after all they did announce the Fonepad 7 earlier this week. Their press conference is at noon on September 3rd. And for those of you in the US, that’s 6am ET, and 3am PT.

Samsung

Now this is the big one. Samsung always holds an Unpacked event at IFA, although they aren’t listed on IFA’s press conferences. Typically, Samsung announces the new Galaxy Note here, and we expect nothing less. But what else do they have planned? Well there’s the rumored Gear VR, and we may even see a refresh of the Galaxy Note 10.1. But going back to the Galaxy Note 4, that thing will be a beast. Likely a 5.7-inch QHD display, and a Snapdragon 805 inside. We’ve got less than a week to find out! Their’s starts at 3pm in Berlin. For those in the US, that’s 9am ET, and 6am PT.

Sony

Sony is also kind of big. We expect a new smartphone, the Xperia Z3, and the Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact from them this time around. The Xperia Z3 is almost identical, spec wise, to the Xperia Z2, and the Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact is just a smaller tablet. Which I would love, as I did love the Xperia Z2 Tablet when I reviewed it earlier this month. Sony may also announce a new smartwatch at this event, but it likely won’t be running Android Wear, as Sony has pretty much said they are sticking with their own ecosystem. Sony’s event starts at 4pm in Berlin, and that’s 10am on the east coast and 7am on the west coast.

Lenovo

So what’s Lenovo got in store for us? Well tough to say, but we may see some new tablets and smartphones from Lenovo this year. We haven’t seen much in terms of leaks, which is why it’s hard to guess at what we’ll see. But as far as Android goes, I’d be willing to bet we see some new tablets and smartphones that may or may not make it into the US. Lenovo’s press conference is on Thursday, September 4th at 2pm. Which is 8am ET and 5am PT.

Huawei

This is going to be the interesting press conference, especially after seeing their teasers with a calculator, cats, and a safe. Obviously they’ve got some good stuff for us. We have seen rumors for the Ascend P7 with a Sapphire Display, and a Ascend Mate 7. But other than that, we have no clue what they’ve got for us. Huawei kicks things off at 3pm in Berlin. That’s noon-ET, and 9am PT.

HTC

For the past few years, HTC hasn’t been at IFA, but it looks like they are making a return this year. From what we can tell, they are going to be announcing a few mid-range Desire’s like the Desire 820. Which will be a mid-range smartphone with a 64-bit chip, which will be exciting. We may see a smartwatch from HTC next week, but I wouldn’t count on it. We don’t yet have a time for their press conference, so it may just be one of those, let’s release press releases, type of thing.

Motorola

While Motorola isn’t actually at IFA, they are holding an event on September 4th in Chicago. In which I will be there to see what Motorola has to show us. According to their invite, it looks like we’ll be getting the Moto X+1, Moto G2, and the Moto 360, plus another wearable that looks interesting. So it’ll be exciting. There’s no time for their event yet either. But you can stay tuned to Android Headlines for all the information from Chicago.

Final Thoughts

There’s going to be a lot of goodies announced this year at IFA in Berlin. A lot more than in years past. Off the top of my head I can think of about a dozen devices being announced. Do any of them catch your eye? The Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact definitely catches mine.

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Deal: GreatShield HTC One M8 Case – $7.99

Amazon has a pretty good deal on a GreatShield case for the HTC One M8. This one is only $7.99 and it’s normal price is around $24.99. It’s available in Champagne gold, black, gray and navy blue. GreatShield [FUSION] case for the HTC One M8 (2014). Slim fitting with a smooth surface adding minimal bulk to your device. Reinforced edges absorbs shock-damage protecting your phone from accidental drops. Full access to all of the HTC One (M8) cameras, ports, slots and features. Hybrid design offers superb protection with a stylish low-profile finish.

GreatShield HTC One M8 Case [FUSION] Slim Hybrid Shock Absorbing Cover – Retail Packaging (Champagne Gold)

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More leaked HTC T1(Nexus 8) information including accessories and launch countries

Over the last couple of months there has been widespread speculation on the future of the Google Nexus range. Original rumors a few months back hinted that the popular Google devices would come to an end. However, within weeks of consumers digesting the news of Nexus’s death rumors began to circulate that the next Nexus (8) was in fact alive, kicking and on its way. This in turn sent the rumor mill into overdrive in terms of the upcoming device’s specs and what to expect. Although the device specs are highly debatable with conflicting data coming from different sources it seems tech tipster @upleaks may have the scoop on the much-loved Nexus. A few weeks back we reported that @upleaks had tipped the world that the device was actually being manufactured by HTC and was under the name ‘T1’ although @upleaks also offered ‘Flounder’ and ‘Volantis’ as alternative codenames for the device. In addition to the manufacturer there was also a number of specs provided in the tip suggesting the device will come with a G4-bit Tegra Processor (possible Tegra K1), a whopping 4GB RAM and a Qualcomm LTE Modem (MDM9x25). The leak also suggested NFC and GPS were included although the camera specs suggested were rather middle-of-the-road with only an 8MP rear camera and 1.2MP front shooter provided.

Today, it seems @upleaks has more information to offer for the HTC T1 (or Nexus 8 if you believe the rumors). Today’s leaks include information on the accessories and release countries. Firstly, in terms of the accessories, @upleaks suggests the device will be launched with a ‘Magic Cover’ and folio keyboard. The magic cover is just a case and the leak advises it will be available in both leather and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). The leather variant will be offered in two colours, Natural and Black while the TPU variation will be available in four colours (Coral Amethyst, Mint Indigo, Lime Stone and Indigo Black). In terms of the release of the device there was no firm information given regarding the launch date although with its close association with Google and the upcoming Android L due to hit the market in October it would be fair to assume sometime around October would be a good bet. Instead the leak informs us the GSM version will be launched in multiple countries including Europe, Russia, India, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Japan, Taiwan, Australia, NZ, Korea, and HK. There will also be a WiFi variant which will be released in a number of countries including South Korea and Japan.

For now this is still only just rumors but with repeated information coming from the same source it does seem highly likely that @upleaks is in-the-know. What do you think? Do you think these rumors are true? Let us know your thoughts by leaving a comment.

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Lenovo Pokes Fun At Apple: Vibe X2 Name Might Launch With Android Lolipop

Yesterday, Lenovo sent invites for an event held at the IFA show, Berlin, to be held on the 4 September 2014. If you have seen Apple’s invite for their event on the 9 September, Lenovo are taking something of a dig at Apple. That’s because Apple’s invite says, “Wish we could say more.” We believe that the invite is for the new smartphone that’s just been certified by the Chinese authorities, now confirmed as the Vibe X2. The invite gives us more than a hint of Android Lolipop! I am not expecting a handset to come with Android L so soon as it’s scheduled to be released later in the year. Perhaps the name of the next version of Android has just been outed?

The Vibe X2 has been widely leaked and will come with a 5.0-inch 1080p screen with either an octa or dual core processor, 2 GB of RAM and a 13 MP rear camera. They’ll be a 5 MP front camera for those important duck faced selfies. We don’t know the processor type but if there is indeed a dual core version, perhaps this will be the dual core 64-bit Tegra K1, which is also rumoured to reside inside a HTC manufactured Nexus tablet? If this turns out to be the case then the X2 could be quite the smartphone.

Lenovo is a large Chinese computer manufacturer and last year, became the largest manufacturer of personal computers including the successful ThinkPad laptop range. They’re also the largest smartphone manufacturer of mainland China but also have a successful range of innovative tablet devices too, such as the Yoga 10. In January, Lenovo agreed to purchase Motorola Mobility from Google, designed to increase their international presence and inject some fresh Android DNA into the business. Lenovo’s intention is to make the Motorola business profitable in just eighteen months and a major way of doing this will be to sell smartphones to North American and British consumers.

The Vibe X2 has been designed and manufactured before the deal with Motorola has been finalised, but it looks good enough to compete with the best of the well known manufacturers. In the Western markets, a better known brand is likely to make all the difference. Would you prefer the Vibe X2 if it wore a Motorola badge instead? Would it make the difference to you?

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Deal: Philips DOT Wireless Portable Bluetooth Splash Proof Speaker – $50.24

Right now, Amazon has the Philips DOT Wireless Bluetooth Speaker on sale for just $50.24. It’s actually not in stock until September 1st, which is Monday. It’s available in black, blue and pink. Built-in microphone for hands-free phone call. Convenient auto-sensor for music on/off. Audio-in for easy portable music playback.

Philips DOT Wireless Portable Bluetooth Splash Proof Speaker SB2000P/37

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Sony Could Be Making Future Xperia Devices All Metal Starting in 2015

Smartphones have come a long way not only in features and capabilities but in design and materials as well. While some companies like HTC have found that a metal device is what the people like, others still have yet to use the alloy. Sony is getting ready to launch a new approach to the Sony Xperia line of devices, this time around they’ll be all metal-according to Digitimes.

All metal devices give a device more of a “high-end” feel, even if the specs aren’t up to par. Though it’s safe to say that most metal devices are the high-end models of the particular year they’re launched during. Sony could be getting ready to change things up and use an all metal alloy chassis for their Xperia line.

In the past, Sony has used metal, however in very small amounts. The Sony Xperia devices have had a plastic chassis with metal alloy edges. This design has helped Xperia devices feel more high-end, however the demand for metal is rising. This rise in demand has caused a metal craze amongst companies. More and more rumors or announcements have suggested that companies will be or have been launching devices with more and more metal.

HTC has launched mostly metal devices in their One series. Each year, they’ve added more and more metal to their One series devices. Samsung is said to be following suit, launching the Samsung Alpha series in the second half of 2014. Though Sony may decide to hold off until their flagship release in 2015. Attached to the rumor is word that for Sony, the 2015 metal flagship device could set new standards for Sony flagship devices. It could be that starting next year, all Sony flagship devices will be made of metal.

Metal does seem to be a great way to differentiate the materials amongst the high, mid, and low-end devices. Metal for the High-end, and plastic for the mid to low end devices. What are your thoughts, do you prefer all metal or all plastic? What are the reasons behind your choice? Let us know down below or on our G+ page.

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Tholotis will let you blur, dim, and tint your Android wallpapers for pure home screen perfection

We’ve been curating hand-picked Android wallpapers for awhile now (see past editions here ). Contrary to what some might think, not every awesome piece of high-res art or pictures will make a good fit on your Android’s homescreen. While this largely depends on personal tastes, generally, having a wallpaper that’s considered “too busy” can make it difficult to easily locate icons on your homescreen. This can be especially painful when you locate that perfect wallpaper or want to use a snapshot of a loved one, only to find it conflicts with your theme’s color pallet, or is simply too bright or (again) busy.

Tholotis is a wallpaper app who’s name comes from the Greek word for “blurriness” and looks to fix this first world problem by allowing users to not only defocus or blur backgrounds (making them appear less busy), but also tint/dim background images as well. The app utilizes the same open-source design resources as Muzei and features a clean and minimal interface that’s easy to navigate.

Although free to download, there is an in-purchase (located by swiping left on the main screen) that unlocks the ability to color tint images as well (see right screenshot above). While this may not sound too appealing, we were surprised to find how wonderfully well this works with photos taken using your phone. Tholotis is definitely one of those must-have Android apps for anyone who enjoys customizing their homescreens to perfection. Download link provided below.

Tholotis – Blur (Playboard) | Tholotis – Blur (Play Store)

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Lenovo takes a dig at Apple, possibly hints at Android L with September 4 invite

Lenovo, like everyone else, is hosting an event next month to introduce the Vibe X2. Invites have been sent out for an event on September 4 during IFA 2014. There is a comedic part and an interesting part to Lenovo’s invite. The comedic part has to do with Apple and its September 9 event and the interesting part involves Android L.

Hit the break to see the break for more.

What you are looking at above is the invitation for Apple’s event being held on September 9. The caption is “Wish we could say more.” Lenovo responded to this by remaining mum on any details for their event, too. The Lenovo event’s invitation says “We can’t say anything either.” Lenovo is saying what everyone else says: of course you cannot say anything. That is the whole purpose of hosting an event. These companies all stay quiet in the run up to the date or release a teaser (or seven).

The interesting part of Lenovo’s invitation is the lollipop. This could be to indicate that the next version of Android will be named Lollipop. Google has yet to give the upcoming version of Android a name, but lollipop certainly seems likely. We found out from last night’s WiFi certification that the Vibe X2 would have at least Android 4.4.2; therefore, Lenovo could be implying that a software update with Android L will arrive at launch or as soon as possible.

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Samsung Galaxy Note 4 shows itself again in an odd box

There was a video that surfaced recently allegedly showing the Galaxy Note 4 within a dummy box. The only part of the device actually exposed was the display. Now, an image showing something similar has appeared. Again, the massive Samsung device is encased in some sort of box. A screenshot from the About device menu reveals that it is running Android 4.4.4, the latest version of the operating system.

The only other thing worth noting is that the home button looks taller. This could be what allows the new fingerprint technology to be present in the Galaxy Note 4.

Source: Android Central

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Leaked image shows Motorola Moto X+1 lacking flash next to camera

The latest leak involving the next Motorola flagship shows its back panel. The image above was obtained by TK Tech News and shows what is likely a prototype of the Moto X+1. The reason we call it a prototype is because the device here is missing any sort of flash to operate with the camera. The source notes that this is seemingly the leather back panel with aluminum frame. Again, Motorola is aiming for choice and customization with its flagship device.

Source: TK Tech News

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HTC T1 tablet will have a slew of accessories upon being available, LTE variant on the way as well

It is only a matter of time before HTC announces its upcoming T1 tablet that will have beastly specifications. Being that all signs point the T1 as the Nexus 8, an October launch seems likely as Android L is expected to arrive then. From Google itself, accessories for Nexus devices have remained scarce. With this tablet, however, Google and HTC are making sure they offer plenty of accessories. Leaked information reveals that a Magic Cover will be available in either leather or thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). The leather material will come in Natural or Black choices. The TPU Magic Cover will be offered in Coral Amethyst, Mint Indigo, Lime Stone, Indigo Black. In addition to this, a folio keyboard will be made specifically for the tablet.

Like the Nexus 7, the T1 tablet will have both WiFi and LTE-enabled variants. The source, @upleaks, claims that a ton of countries will be getting the WiFi variant including Japan and Korea. That part is expected. For the LTE variant, it will be “coming to Europe, Russia, India, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Japan, Taiwan, Australia(include NZ), Korea, HK.” Of course, the market also dictates what kind of internet connection the tablet can have. So not all of the aforementioned places will have a device capable of LTE speeds. It will work on GSM and WCDMA networks.

Source: @upleaks (1) (2) (3)

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WhatsApp Update With Android Wear Support Is Now Available For Non-Beta Users

WhatsApp was surprisingly quick off the draw after the release of Android Wear, updating its sideloaded beta app with Wear support early this month. Now the 2.11.362 update is available on the general play store release, so even users who don't want to use the beta (or who don't know about it) can get richer WhatsApp chat notifications on their wrists. Huzzah!

The update to the main app includes most of the standard Wear messaging stuff: full long message viewing, nested/stacked messages with sliding navigation between them, and the usual reply via voice option.

WhatsApp Update With Android Wear Support Is Now Available For Non-Beta Users was written by the awesome team at Android Police.

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11 best new Android apps released in August 2014

August is coming to a close and that means a lot of things are about to happen. IFA is going to show us most of the autumn lineup of smartphones, people are going back to school, and the holiday season is officially almost here. Before all those exciting things happen, let’s take a look at the best new Android apps released in August of 2014.

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Blur – A Launcher Replacement

[Price: Free with in app purchases]

Blur is a new application from the makers of EvolveSMS and Talon for Twitter. It brings with it Google Now Launcher style functionality and alongside Google Now, it allows users and app devs to create cards and customize the experience. It’s brand new but it’s definitely worth a shot if you like Google Now Launcher but wish it could do other things too.

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Device Unlock

[Price: Free]

T-Mobile’s Device Unlock app is in its infancy right now but it’s primed to be a must have app for T-Mobile subscribers. The app’s premise is simple. It will unlock your device to work on other networks. For now the selection of phones it supports is very slim but eventually it should support more so keep your eye on it.

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Duet

[Price: Free / $3.00]

Duet is a fun minimal brain teaser game where you control two balls that revolve around a central point. You must spin the balls to avoid obstacles and continue on. The game features a bunch of levels for free and you can get more stuff if you fork out the $3.00 for the full version. It’s a lot of fun and the core game is free to play so why not try it?

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Google News and Weather

[Price: Free]

The once dead Google News & Weather has come back to life and is now available in the Google Play Store. The revived app also comes with a brand new card UI that brings a modern touch to the old app. It’s free in the Google Play Store right now if you want to give the revamped news and weather app a try.

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Guardians of the Galaxy: TUW

[Price: $2.99]

One of the best summer blockbusters of the year also came accompanied by a pretty decent mobile game. This is an action adventure game that also has some RPG elements. There are no in app purchases which will appeal to a number of gamers and it’s pretty cheap all things considered.

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Hangar

[Price: Free with in app purchases]

Hangar is an application that essentially puts a small app dock in your notification pane so you can get to your favorite apps more quickly. It’s a great tool for minimalists who don’t like apps on their home screen or people who heavily multitask. You can customize it yourself or let the app choose based on your tastes.

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Locket Lock Screen

[Price: Free]

Everyone remembers Locket Lock Screen as the app that used to let you tap on advertisements on your lock screen to earn money. Now it’s marching to a different tune as a news aggregator lock screen replacement. It’ll feed you news you want straight to your lock screen for you to check out every time you turn your device screen on. It’s in beta, but it’s also free so it’s worth checking out.

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Surgeon Simulator

[Price: $5.99]

Surgeon Simulator is already a classic on PC but it’s not available for Android. In this slightly twisted surgeon game, you’re supposed to operate on people and save their lives. Keywords there are supposed to. In reality you can do pretty much whatever you want and you can have a lot of admittedly grotesque fun with it. It’s a paid game but there are no in app purchases.

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Swing Copters

[Price: Free with in app purchases]

While I personally dislike this game, I can’t deny that its popularity and ability to kill time by making you hate yourself is something to truly behold. It’s not a fun game but it isn’t not fun if that makes sense. It’s free to play and you can hate yourself right along with all the rest of us who have played it.

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TapPath

[Price: $0.99]

TapPath is a potentially useful application that allows you to control how your device reacts to tapping on links. For instance, a single tap will open the link in a browser while a double tap may add it to Evernote and a triple tap will let you share it on social media. The possibilities are nearly endless and if you deal with third party links a lot then you should totally have TapPath.

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Wally

[Price: Free]

Last and certainly not least this month is Wally. This is a beautifully designed wallpaper app that really shows off the elegance of material design. It has a really good wallpaper selection and it’s just really fun to use. If you want some new wallpapers, give this app a shot.

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Wrap up

If there were any more awesome apps released in August of 2014 that you’d like to talk about, leave us a comment below and tell us about it!

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