Sony Xperia Z5 to Feature Fingerprint Sensor, SnapDragon 820 SoC; Release Date, Availabilty

Sony To Launch Xperia Z5 In Q4 2015; Favors New Design, 2K ScreenReuters

There are several rumours doing rounds online on Sony's upcoming Xperia flagship smartphone. One of them claims that the Japanese firm is gearing up to unveil three smartphones in the upcoming IFA 2015 event.

The three new phone will be Xperia Z5, Xperia Z5 Ultra and Xperia Z5 Compact, as per a TechTimes report.

While Xperia Z5 is the next flagship smartphone from Sony, Xperia Z5 Compact and Xperia Z5 Ultra are two other variants of the model.

The report further suggests that Sony is likely to make all the three models available in the market around September to take advantage of the following holiday season.

Months back, an image spotted on Chinese social media website Weibo purports that the upcoming Xperia Z5 will feature an all-metal case for extra ruggedness. The image also tips that Sony will feature the rear camera on the top left and will pack USB Type C port.

Xperia Z5 is also rumoured to feature a fingerprint sensor for extra security. Currently, both Apple's iPhone 6 and Samsung's Galaxy S6 already features the same.

Though there are no leaks available on other features, TechTimes speculates that Xperia Z5 might feature a 5-inch display and will come powered by SnapDragon 820 SoC and 4GB RAM along with memory expandability.

Xperia Z5 will purportedly pack a 4,500mAh battery and will run on Android 5.1.1 Lollipop OS. On the camera side, the device is expected to come up with a 21mp rear camera with dual-tone flash and 4K video-recording capability.

Source: Sony Xperia Z5 to Feature Fingerprint Sensor, SnapDragon 820 SoC; Release Date, Availabilty

Amazon finally releases Cloud Drive mobile apps, but they're bare bones

Amazon is inching closer to having a complete cloud storage solution with new Cloud Drive apps for iOS and Android.

The new apps allow users to view files and folders, preview documents and photos, play videos and music, and share files to other apps. It's intended as an all-purpose complement to the photo- and music-specific apps that Amazon already offers, with an emphasis on productivity.

Cloud Drive is Amazon's answer to online storage services such as Dropbox, Google Drive, and Microsoft OneDrive. At $60 per year, it's the cheapest unlimited storage plan you can get. Amazon also offers a $12 per year plan with unlimited photo storage and 5 GB for all other files, though Amazon Prime subscribers get this benefit for free.

The problem with Amazon's service is that it's just not competitive on features, even as it undercuts its rivals on pricing. For instance, Amazon still doesn't offer a proper desktop sync app, so the only way to add files from a computer is through a drag-and-drop interface. That's a non-starter for users who want to automatically make their documents or photos folders accessible through the cloud.

The new mobile apps are even more limited. Currently, there's no way to move files around, edit files, or upload new ones. Users can still upload photos using the sync feature in Amazon's Photos app, but editing and syncing a document isn't possible from phones or tablets right now. At least Amazon tells TechCrunch that it plans to invest in both apps going forward.

Why this matters: Cloud storage could become a killer app for Amazon, with low prices and helpful tie-ins to the company's other devices and services. While it's still hard to recommend for now, the new apps are a sign that Amazon is starting to take its feature set more seriously.

Source: Amazon finally releases Cloud Drive mobile apps, but they're bare bones

Xiaomi Mi5 Image Leaks Online; Main Camera Details Revealed

Xiaomi LogoREUTERS/JASON LEE/FILES

A snapshot of the much awaited fifth generation Xiaomi flagship smartphone Mi5 has surfaced online revealing key camera details.

Technology blog Gizmo China has gotten hold of the Xiaomi device, said to be the upcoming 2015 marquee phone Mi5. In the picture, we see the rear side of the handset. It features glossy black cover with trademark "Mi" logo at the bottom. On top to the right side, two camera modules separated by a couple of LED flash units can be seen. [View the new Xiaomi Mi5 snapshot, HERE]

Though there is no credible proof to suggest this device to be the genuine Xiaomi Mi5 prototype model, going by the recent series of reports, the trend among smartphone makers to equip dual-camera in their devices has been on the rise.

Even Xiaomi's Chinese arch rival OnePlus is also reported to have incorporated the dual-camera on the rear side of flagship smartphone slated for release later this month. Unlike Mi5's horizontal placement of the camera module, OnePlus 2 is said to feature vertically aligned snappers.

Read more: OnePlus 2 Sketches Leak Online, Tipped to Come in 3 Variants with Dual-Camera Feature

Expected features of Xiaomi Mi5:

As per our previous reports, Xiaomi Mi5 is likely to boast 5.3-inch QHD (2560x1440p) display with pixel density of 540 plus ppi (pixels per inch) and may run on Android 5.1.1 Lollipop OS backed by new Qualcomm chipset Snapdragon 820 with sumptuous 4GB RAM. It is also said to flaunt 16mp dual-camera and a 6mp snapper on the front.

Xiaom Mi5 is expected to be launched around November this year.

Source: Xiaomi Mi5 Image Leaks Online; Main Camera Details Revealed

The 17 best smartphones in the world

Flickr/Kārlis DambrānsThe Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge.

We won't see any major new smartphone releases for another two months or so. But if you need a phone now, there are plenty of great choices.

Here's our ranking of the best phones you can buy right now in the U.S. based on factors including design, software and hardware features, content selection, carrier availability, and price. We've included the approximate unsubsidized cost for each.

View As: One Page Slides
Source: The 17 best smartphones in the world

iPod Touch 6 Release Date Could Be July 14 With New Colors From Apple: Do You Care? [POLL]

(Photo : Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) The iPod Touch may be getting an overhaul from these three-year-old models. A photo in Apple's latest version of iTunes shows dark blue, gold and dark pink color options that aren't yet available in stores. Despite a general decline in iPod enthusiasm, the new products could go on sale as soon as July 14.

The iPod Touch 6 release date may be July 14, and official pictures show three new color options. Is this product something that the smartphone-wielding world wants? That's the topic of this Design & Trend poll!

Speculation of a new iPod Touch began on Wednesday when 9to5Mac readers found a suspicious image in the most recent iTunes update. When plugging in a brand new iPod with the latest build installed, an image is displayed that shows an iPod Touch, iPod Nano and iPod Shuffle in an array of new colors not yet available. Specifically, hues of gold, dark blue and dark pink are shown in the image.

After some light research, it was found that the new graphic was intentionally added for a genuine purpose. The consensus is that these brightly colored iPods will likely be coming soon. As for how soon, the dark blue iPod Touch displays July 14 on its calendar. The release date might be then.

One caveat that's worth noting is that very few physical changes are visible in the new models. The biggest difference is found on the iPod Touch, which no longer features a hole for the camera loop. This lack of design alteration has led many to speculate that the update may only offer new colors rather than hardware.

That being said, Apple's recent rumor history might denote otherwise. Current leaks of the iPhone 6S seem to imply that the upcoming device will look nearly identical to its predecessor. However, under the hood, there will be a substantial spec upgrade. Maybe the Cupertino kids are planning on a similar theme for the iPod Touch 6.

Even though that prospect may be exciting for some, not every Apple follower is enamored with the news. Many comments on the source story expressed belief that iPods are no longer relevant, so their manufacturer should retire them.

In rebuttal, many fellow users suggested that the iPod Touch is still exceptionally useful for those that need a dedicated music player. It's also commonly leveraged as a worthy product for younger or older customers that don't want to invest in a monthly iPhone contract.

Whether these changes denote a color refresh or a full sixth-generation offering, there's no denying that the iPod lineup could use some buzz. After all, it's been nearly three years since the current touch iteration first became available. Many are hoping that the next one will include the larger screen sizes of the iPhone 6 and updated hardware.

Do you think the recent photo reveal references the iPod Touch 6, or are we looking at a simple cosmetic overhaul? Are iPods still relevant? Let us know in the poll and comments section!

Source: iPod Touch 6 Release Date Could Be July 14 With New Colors From Apple: Do You Care? [POLL]

Microsoft Lumia 940 and 940 XL Release Date, Expected Features and Other Details

Microsoft Offers Generous Rs. 7,000 Cash Back On Lumia 930, Lumia 830 Purchases For Holi Festive SeasonMicrosoft

Microsoft is yet to reveal the release date of its upcoming devices – the Lumia 940 and the 940 XL – but so much has been written about it and almost all the key features of the devices have been leaked over the last few weeks.

The Lumia 940 and Lumia 940 XL are expected to see the light of day in the fourth quarter of 2015. AdDuplex, an advertising platform for Windows Phone, has revealed two devices - Microsoft RM-1104 with a 5.2-inch 1080p display, and Microsoft RM-1100 with a Quad HD (1440x2560) display – in a slide, giving a hint that launch of Microsoft's upcoming devices are imminent. 

The Microsoft RM-1104 codenamed 'Talkman' is believed to be the Lumia 940, and the Microsoft RM-1100 codenamed 'Cityman' is said to be the Lumia 940 XL.

Latest details of the device provided by smartphone gaming benchmark site GFXBench claimed that Microsoft RM-1100 aka Lumia 940 XL will sport a 5.7-inch screen with 2559 x 1440 pixels, powered by Octa-core Qualcomm (ARMv7) processor with Adreno 430 GPU, come packed with 14 GB internal memory, 1.5 GB RAM, and 17 MP (4992 x 3744) main camera with UHD (4K) (3840 x 2160) video recording and 4.8 MP (2592 x 1936) front snapper with FHD (1920 x 1080) video recording. The benchmark site added that the device will come with features like accelerometer, compass, gyroscope, lightsensor, nfc, and proximity. 

According to reports by Windows Central and NokiaPowerUser, the Lumia 940 XL will come with features like metallic unibody frame, 5.7-inch QHD display with 2560 x 1440 resolution display, Octa-Core Snapdragon 810 processor with Adreno 430 GPU, 32 GB internal memory with microSD card slot, 3 GB RAM, 20 MP main camera with PureView and 5 MP front snapper, 3300 mAh removable battery, and USB Type-C. 

Meanwhile, the Lumia 940 is expected to sport a 5.2-inch QHD display with 2560×1440 resolution, powered by Hexa-Core Snapdragon 808 processor with Adreno 430 GPU, come packed with a 32 GB of internal storage with a microSD card slot, 3 GB RAM, house a 20 MP main camera with Pureview and 5 MP front snapper, 3000 mAh removable battery and come with USB Type-C, according to Windows Central and NokiaPowerUser websites.

However, it may be mentioned that the aforementioned specifications of the devices are not confirmed yet.

Source: Microsoft Lumia 940 and 940 XL Release Date, Expected Features and Other Details

Olympus Air A01 turns your smartphone into a mirrorless camera

Olympus has announced its Air A01 add-on camera for smartphones, which turns your Android or iOS device into a very capable mirrorless camera, will be getting a wider release and heading to the US. Previously only available in Japan, the Olympus Air A01 is a smartphone-controlled camera similar to the Sony QX1, but features a Micro Four Thirds lens mount with a matching 16-megapixel sensor and is an open platform for developers.

We've previously seen a number of add-on cameras for smartphones which claim to offer DSLR-like features, including the Sony QX100, Kodak Smart Lens and more recently the DxO One. However, because they all feature built-in lenses they're more like compact camera equivalents rather than interchangeable lens cameras. The Olympus Air A01 is different in that it allows users to mount Micro Four Thirds lenses, in the same way the Sony QX1 uses an E-mount.

In addition to its Micro Four Thirds mount, the Air A01 features the same 16-megapixel Live MOS sensor (17.3 x 13 mm) and TruePic VII image processor as cameras like the OM-D E-M5 II. This enables a burst speed shooting at 10 fps (frames per second) an ISO range up to 12,800 and Full HD 1080p video recording at 30 fps. RAW capture is also possible, and the Air A01 features a silent electronic shutter with a 1/16,000-second maximum shutter speed.

Once the Air A01 is wirelessly connected to a smartphone or tablet users can then control it using a dedicated OA.Central for Olympus Air app. This allows focusing, using a FAST 81-point AF system, by tapping the screen of the smartphone, and making changes to settings such as exposure, white balance and ISO speed. Smartphone photographers can also use the app to access to the same P, A, S and M modes as on an interchangeable lens camera, apply filters, or instantly transfer images.

While the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled Olympus Air A01 can store images and video on a microSD card, they can also be automatically uploaded and securely stored on Amazon Cloud Drive. The device itself measures 56.9 x 57.1 x 43.6 mm (2.2 x 2.3 x 1.7 in) weighs 147 g (4.2 oz) and can be clipped onto a smartphone using the included smartphone holder. The built-in battery is said to be good for 320 shots on a full charge.

The Air A01 can also be used when not attached to a smartphone, enabling use in situations and positions it might be difficult to use a traditionally shaped camera, and automatically knows which way around the cylindrical device is being held. It also features a tripod mount which could be handy for remote shooting.

In addition to appealing to smartphone photographers who want better quality and the creative freedom allowed only by an interchangeable lens system, the Air A01 will also be of interest to developers and makers as it's an open platform. This means developers can produce their own apps for the camera using the available software development kit and makers can easily create accessories.

The Olympus Air A01 will be available in the US from this month in black or white for US$300 body-only, or $500 bundled with a 14-42-mm EZ lens. It will also launch in Canada in August, unfortunately no other international availability has been announced yet.

You can check out the Olympus Air A01 in the promo video below.

Product page: Olympus Air A01

Source: Olympus Air A01 turns your smartphone into a mirrorless camera