This smartphone has a secret. Flip it over, and there's a second screen on the back

Most modern smartphones have got two cameras, and some have even got space for two SIM cards, but very few have two screens. The Siam 7x is a new Kickstarter project for a smartphone that has all three of those features, and the company says it's the first to introduce dual-screen technology to smartphone buyers in North America.

The idea is to make multitasking easier, and to ensure we have crucial information instantly visible on our phones, something it achieves with a normal IPS touchscreen on the front and an E-Ink touch panel on the rear. While Siam may be the first to introduce such a device to the U.S., we've seen this technology before on the Yotaphone and Yotaphone 2 — the latter of which had its U.S. release plans cancelled.

Related: Here's our Yotaphone 2 hands-on review

Viewed from the front, the Siam 7x definitely has a design reminiscent of an iPhone, but that all changes when you flip it over to see the second screen. The 720p front screen measures 5-inches, while the 960 x 540 pixel E-Ink rear screen is slightly smaller at 4.7-inches. A MediaTek octa-core processor with an unknown amount of RAM powers the phone, there's a 16-megapixel camera on the back, and an 8-megapixel camera on the front.

The rear screen shows notifications, and supports little widgets for functions including the weather, music controls, and you calendar. It also works for reading ebooks, and for displaying maps. Android Lollipop is displayed on the front screen, and from the screenshots it does have a custom user interface over the top. Other Siam 7x features include a 2100mAh battery, 4G LTE connectivity, dual-SIM support, an FM radio, and Bluetooth 4.0.

Related: The popSlate case puts a second screen on the back of your iPhone

If the dual-screen concept doesn't get your blood pumping, then Siam's Kickstarter benefits may do. Back the project for $420 and not only do you get the phone and a case, but you also get a lifetime warranty and a free upgrade to the next Siam phone. That's the same with the $470 option, which also comes with a 32GB MicroSD card and a pair of heart rate monitoring earbuds. Pay $480, and the Siam 7x also comes with three months unlimited service in the U.S. provided by Jolt Mobile or Lyca Mobile.

The project is live on Kickstarter now, with a $50,000 target. If it gets funded, the good news is backers won't have to wait years for the phone to arrive, as Siam says deliveries will take place from December this year. Despite the focus on the U.S. market in the campaign blurb, the Siam 7x will ship anywhere in the world.

Source: This smartphone has a secret. Flip it over, and there's a second screen on the back

Samsung To Release Galaxy On5 & On7 In India Tomorrow

Samsung has announced plenty of devices this year, as it usually goes with this Korea-based smartphone OEM. The company has announced two flagship smartphones and two flagship phablets this year, along with a number of lower-end devices. Speaking of which, the company's second-gen A3, A5 and A7 devices popped up in benchmarks recently and are due to be announced rather soon. The Galaxy On5 and On7 mid-rangers, on the other hand, have already been announced in China not long ago, and it seems like Samsung intends to push them to more markets soon, read on.

This Korean smartphone OEM has teased the arrival of their 'On' devices to India for tomorrow on the company's official website. If you take a look at the image below this article, you'll get to see Samsung's teaser which is quite obvious. The Galaxy On5 was actually briefly listed on Flipkart quite recently, which only confirmed the two phones are on their way to India. Considering both of these devices were already announced in China, we know pretty much everything there is to know about them. That being said, let's check out Galaxy On5 and On7's specifications, shall we.

The two phones are actually quite similar, they sport different displays, batteries and camera sensors though. The Galaxy On5 features a 5-inch 720p (1280 x 720) display, while its bigger sibling ships with a 5.5-inch HD (1280 x 720) panel. The Galaxy On5 ships with an 8-megapixel rear-facing camera, and the Galaxy On sports a 13-megapixel snapper on the back. The 5-megapixel front-facer is available on both of these devices, and both of them are made out of metal. The Galaxy 'On' devices are powered by Samsung's Exynos 3475 quad-core processor clocked at 1.3GHz, and both of them come with 1.5GB of RAM. The smaller phones pack in a 2,600mAh battery unit, while the larger one comes with a 3,000mAh battery. Both of these devices ship with 8GB of internal storage which you can expand up to 128GB using a microSD card. The Galaxy On5 measures 142.3 x 72.1 x 8.5mm, while it weighs 149 grams. The Galaxy On7, on the other hand, comes in at 151.8 x 77.5 x 8.2mm, and it weighs 172 gra ms.

Source: Samsung To Release Galaxy On5 & On7 In India Tomorrow

Lenovo releases Grade A smartphones for first time smartphone users

Lenovo has recently announced its latest smartphone additions to their A Series line up, the Lenovo A1000 and A2010. Packed with features that allow users to accomplish work and enjoy leisurely activities at very accessible price points, the Lenovo A1000 and A2010 are ideal for students and young professionals looking to buy their first smartphone.

"With the launch of the Lenovo A1000 and A2010 smartphones, Lenovo continues to live up to our VIBE ON promise of delivering smartphones with the latest technology and features that millennials care about at a price they wouldn't expect. With the latest Android OS versions, quad-core processors, dual SIM support and ample storage space, these devices offer a great first-time experience that users will never forget" Dino Romano, Country Manager, Lenovo Smartphone Philippines said.

A SMART NEW WORLD AT ONE'S FINGERTIPS

The Lenovo A2010 is perfect for the first-time smartphone users who are looking to future-proof their purchase as it comes equipped with the Android 5.1 Lollipop and 4G LTE data speed. With a 64-bit quad core processing power and a complementary 1GB RAM, it allows users to check and send emails and upload files, take photos with its 5MP fixed-focus with LED flash rear camera and 2MP fixed-focus front camera as well as browse their various social media accounts with ease.

In addition, the A2010 offers a lot of storage for photos, videos and music with its 8GB ROM and up to 32GB expandable storage via microSD.

Young professionals will appreciate the convenience of dual SIM support so they can have one number for work and another number for personal consumption. At 9.95mm thin and 137g light, this 4.5" device is designed to provide one-handed comfort.

Lastly, its 2000mAh battery is big enough to last a full day of texting, browsing, photography, music listening, video watching and calling. With the Lenovo A2010, users can enjoy the latest technology without putting their wallet at risk.

COMPLETE ANDROID EXPERIENCE FOR FIRST TIME SMARTPHONE BUYERS

The Lenovo A1000 is a budget-friendly way to place the Android OS experience at their fingertips. Users can snap photos with its 5MP rear and 0.3MP selfie camera and share their fun filled moments on various social media platforms on a 4.0" smartphone device that comes with the latest Android 5.0 Lollipop, 1.3GHz quad-core processor and 1GB RAM plus expandable storage space of up to 32GB.

It has dual SIM support and can conveniently fit in any purse or pocket as it is only 10.6mm thin and weighs only 134 grams.

With a 2000mAh battery, it can keep the user going all day, making it the perfect companion for work and play.

Source: Lenovo releases Grade A smartphones for first time smartphone users

HTC Desire 828 Release Date, Specs & Rumors: Features 5.5-Inch Display, 13MP Camera with OIS

By Charmaine Montes , Christian Post Contributor

October 31, 2015|9:37 am

Taiwanese multinational smartphone manufacturer HTC isn't a popular name in the big and competitive tech world but even so, the company continues to do what they do best and that is to make smartphones.

Reuters

HTC

According to a report by Phone Radar, HTC's Desire smartphone line is the reason why the company is getting a little market share despite its flagship devices failing to astonish the users. This is why they are set to release another Desire smartphone which is dubbed as the HTC Desire 828.

It's actually the same device that was earlier found in the list on TENAA but it was listed under the name HTC Desire 828w and reports say that it passed through TENAA certification, which is the Chinese equivalent of the FCC in the United States.

A tip suggested that the device is scheduled to be released soon, perhaps in the next couple of weeks, but there is no official statement yet on when it will exactly come out to the market. Little is also known about the handset but it has been said that its specifications will include a 5.5-inch Full HD display with 1920 x 1080 resolution.

Under its hood, one will be able to find a MediaTek MT6753 octa-core processor which will be clocked at 1.5 GHz. Its operating system will be Android 5.1.1 Lolloipop and will be equipped with a 2 GB of RAM. It will have an internal storage capacity of 16 GB and will be expandable through the MicroSD card slot.

As detailed by Handy Tech Plus, the device will come with dual variant. It will have a single SIM and dual SIM version. For photo taking purposes, the device will sport a 13-megapixel rear camera with LED flash and Optical Image Stabilization (OIS). For those who don't know yet, the addition of the OIS feature is a first in the Desire smartphone line.

The front panel will be equipped with a 5-megapixel camera with f/2.0 aperture and super wide angle lens. For improved sound and music experience, the Desire 828 is equipped with HTC's BoomSound speakers which are located on the front as well.

Source: HTC Desire 828 Release Date, Specs & Rumors: Features 5.5-Inch Display, 13MP Camera with OIS

Top 10 smartphones released in October 2015: OnePlus, Microsoft, Motorola, Sony and more

Top 10 smartphones released in October 2015:OnePlus, Microsoft, Motorola, Sony and moreOnePlus via Twitter

If you are in the market shopping for the latest smartphones, there are plenty of options to suit your varying needs. The high-end flagship race got intense in October, as major companies emulated Apple and Samsung by launching new devices. With festive shopping on, smartphone makers are luring customers with new products.

Here we have listed the top 10 smartphones that were launced in October, enabling buyers to chosse from a wide range of devices. 

OnePlus X

After a series of teasers, OnePlus finally launched the OnePlus X last week, bringing a new mid-range smartphone with great looks and features. The handset comes with a metallic build, 5-inch Full HD AMOLED display, 13-megapixel rear-facing camera with LED flash, f/2.2 aperture and an 8MP front snapper. Under the hood, OnePlus X is powered by a 2.3GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor, 3GB DDR3 RAM, Adreno 330 GPU for graphics and 16GB built-in storage with microSD card expansion up to 128GB.

The OnePlus X comes in Onyx (glass) and limited edition ceramic models but available only via invites. The handset is priced at Rs 16,999 for the Onyx variant and Rs 22,999 for the ceramic model.

Moto X Force and X Style

Motorola is back in the game with new releases. The most recent addition in the portfolio is the Moto X Force, which was launched shortly after the company released the Moto X Style. Both handsets have their own appeal.

The Moto X Style comes with a 5.7-inch QHD display, 21MP primary camera with dual-LED flash, f/2.0 aperture and plenty other features along with a 5MP front snapper. The handset is powered by a 1.8GHz hexa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 processor, Adreno 418 GPU, 3GB RAM and 16GB/32GB expandable memory. The Moto X Style runs on Android 5.1.1 Lollipop and a 3,000mAh battery with TurboPower feature.

The Moto X Force, as the name hints, is known for its sturdiness and packs a 5.4-inch QHD shatterproof display and same camera features as the X Style. The handset is powered by a 2GHz octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor, 3GB RAM, Adreno 430 GPU, 32GB/64GB expandable memory up to 2TB. Moto X Force packs a bigger 3,760mAh battery.

The Moto X Style 16GB variant costs Rs 29,999 and Rs 31,999 for the 32GB model. The Moto X Force, on the other hand, costs £449 ($764/€696/Rs. 49,850) and £534 ($818/€745/Rs.53,350) for the 32GB and 64GB models, respectively.

Microsoft Lumia 950 and Lumia 950XL

Microsoft launched the first Windows 10 smarpthones, Lumia 950 and Lumia 950XL. The two flagship devices spell class, performance and luxury. The Lumia 950 features a 5.2-inch Quad HD screen while the Lumia 950XL sports a 5.60 inch screen with same resolution. Both phones have a 20-megapixel primary camera with Zeiss optics lens with triple LED RGB natural flash and 5MP front snapper.

The Lumia 950 is powered by a 64-bit hexa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 processor, while the Lumia 950XL is treated with a 64-bit octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 chipset. 3GB of RAM and 32GB expandable storage up to 2TB is common for both phones.

The Lumia 950 packs a 3,000mAh battery and a 3,340mAh unit powers the Lumia 950XL. International pricing for both phones is yet to be revealed but reports suggest the Lumia 950 will be priced at Rs 38,000 and the Lumia 950XL priced slightly higher at Rs 43,000. The handsets were launched for $549 and $649, respectively.

Sony Xperia Z5 Premium and Xperia Z5 Dual

Sony upped the ante on the flagship race by launching the two high-end devices, Xperia Z5 Premium and Xperia Z5 Dual. The Xperia Z5 Premium is the higher-end variant with a 5.5-inch 4K UHD display, 23MP Sony Exmor RS primary camera, 5MP secondary shooter and 32GB internal space with microSD card support up to 200GB. The handset is powered by a 64-bit Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 octa-core processor, 3GB RAM and Adreno 430 GPU. The premium variant of the flagship has a 3,430mAh battery, fingerprint scanner, dual SIM and Android 5.1 Lollipop.

The Xperia Z5 Dual packs identical specifications as the premium variant with some downgrades. These include a 5.2-inch Full HD display and a smaller 2,900mAh battery while rest of the features remains intact.

The Xperia Z5 Premium is priced at Rs 62,990 while the standard variant costs Rs 52,990.

Lenovo Vibe P1 and Vibe P1m

Lenovo expanded its smartphone offering with Vibe P1 and Vibe P1m in India this month. The handsets pack powerful batteries, addressing the most pressing concerns of short-lived phones. The Lenovo Vibe P1 sports a 5.5-inch Full HD display, 13MP main camera with LED flash, 5MP front snapper and a 4,900mAh battery. The handset is powered by a 1.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 octa-core processor, 2GB RAM, 32GB expandable memory and Android 5.1.1 Lollipop based Vibe UI. The handset also has a fingerprint scanner, dual SIM support, 4G LTE support at a reasonable price.

The Lenovo P1m is more of a budget device with a 5-inch HD screen, MediaTek quad-core processor 16GB expandable memory, 8MP main camera and 5MP front snapper. The handset sports a 4,000mAh battery and supports dual SIM, 4G LTE and runs on Android 5.1.1 Lollipop based Vibe UI.

The Lenovo P1m is priced at Rs 15,999 while the Vibe P1m costs Rs 7,999.

HTC One A9

HTC welcomed a new smartphone, One A9, popularised by its iPhone-like design. The handset is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 617 Octa-core SoC, 2GB/3GB RAM, 16GB/ 32GB expandable memory up to 2TB and a 2,150mAh battery. It boasts a 5-inch Full HD screen, 13MP primary camera and UltraPixel front snapper. It also has a fingerprint scanner on the Home button and runs on Android 6.0 Marshmallow.

The HTC One A9 16GB/ 2GB RAM variant is priced at $399.99 (around €352/Rs 26, 050) while the higher-end model costs £429.99 (around $664/Rs 43,235).

BlackBerry Priv

After long-running rumours about the first Android-based BlackBerry smartphone, the Priv finally made its debut. The Canadian smartphone maker launched the handset by accepting pre-orders for the device in the US, the UK and Canada.

The BlackBerry Priv comes with a 5.4-inch QHD screen, 18MP primary camera with dual LED flash, 2MP front camera, 32GB expandable memory up to 2TB and a 3,410mAh battery. It is powered by a 64-bit class based 1.8GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 SoC, Adreno 418 GPU, 3GB RAM and supports 4G LTE.

The BlackBerry Priv in the US costs $699 (around Rs. 43,450) and £559, $899 CDN in the UK and Canada, respectively.

Huawei Honor 5X

While all major smartphone companies launching new phones with great specs, Huawei joined the bandwagon by releasing Honor 5X in China. The handset sports a 5.5-inch Full HD IPS display, 13MP camera with dual LED flash, 5MP front snapper and a 3,000mAh battery. It is powered by a Snapdragon 616 chipset, Adreno 405 GPU, 16GB expandable memory and comes in two variants with 2GB RAM and 3GB RAM. Additionally, the handset features a fingerprint scanner and supports 4G LTE.

In China, the 2GB variant of the Honor 5X is priced at CNY 999 (about Rs 10,200) and the 3GB RAM model costs CNY 1,399 (about Rs 14,300).

Coolpad Note 3

Among the high-end releases this month, Coolpad made an outstanding appearance with its Note 3 smartphone. Priced at Rs 8,999, the handset comes with a fingerprint scanner, 5.5-inch HD screen, 13MP primary camera, 5MP front snapper and 16GB expandable memory. It is powered by a 1.3GHz 64-bit Mediatek MT6753 octa-core processor, 3GB RAM and Android 5.1 Lollipop-based COOL UI 6.0. CoolPad Note 3 packs a 3,000mAh battery and also supports 4G LTE.

Oppo Neo 7

Following the trend, Oppo also released its own budget device, the Neo 7, complete with a 5-inch qHD screen, 8MP primary camera, 5MP front snapper, 2,420mAh battery and dual SIM 4G LTE support. It is powered by a 1.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 SoC, Adreno 306 GPU and 1GB RAM. Available in black and white colours, Oppo Neo 7 costs Rs 9,990.

Article Published: October 30, 2015 18:05 IST

Source: Top 10 smartphones released in October 2015: OnePlus, Microsoft, Motorola, Sony and more

Nintendo To Release Smartphone Apps

At a press conference, Nintendo announced plans for Miitomo. It's the first of 5 new apps developed for smartphone devices. Partnering with DeNA, Nintendo plans to release Miitomo by spring 2016 – with a tentative deadline of March 2017 to release all 5 of the games. Nintendo's move to mobile was announced back in March of this year with the announcement of their partnership with DeNA, the owner of the Mobage portal and social network.

READ MORE SEE LESS

Source: Nintendo To Release Smartphone Apps

Spyder Releases Commuter Charger for Smartphones and Tablets

Spyder Digital Research today launched the Commuter. The Commuter is a 3-in-1 universal battery charger that combines a wall charger, car charger and internal battery pack into a single device for ultimate convenience. Here's more info:

Ideal for travel, the minimalistic and compact design eliminates the need for multiple devices, cables and accessories and is optimal for on-the-go power, featuring:

. 2600mAh internal battery, providing an extra eight hours of talk and five hours of video. AC wall adapter and universal DC/car charger. USB port for compatibility with all tablets, smartphones, and other devices charged by USB cable. Rubberized non-slip coating for better grip. Slim and compact design, and only slightly larger than a credit card (measuring 3.6 x 2.4 x 0.8 in.). An on/off button to let users control power supply. An included MicroUSB cable.

The Spyder Commuter is available for $49.99 at Amazon.com. For more info visit www.spyderstyle.com

-----------------------------------------------------

Check out our iPhone Case, bag, battery and keyboard Reviews at:http://www.mobiletechreview.com/iPhone-Case-Reviews.htm

Check out our iPad Case, bag, battery and keyboard Reviews at:http://www.mobiletechreview.com/iPad-Case-Reviews.htm

--------MTR News

Source: Spyder Releases Commuter Charger for Smartphones and Tablets