BlackBerry Venice leaks again in new images

As it stands right now, the BlackBerry-branded Venice is a really poorly kept secret, especially with the launch of the device not rumored to happen until November. But of course leaks and rumors are part of the business, and considering how long BlackBerry has been part of it, the company’s probably not at all surprised to keep seeing their unannounced device making the rounds out of the Rumor Mill.

The latest batch of photos reportedly showcasing the Venice do indeed reveal a device that we’ve seen several times over the last several months, showing a slider device running Android but boasting a BlackBerry logo on its shell. That display is said to come in at 5.4 inches, for those keeping track, and according to the report from Android Authority, the device is running a Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 processor under the hood.

BlackBerry Venice leak2

The experience seems to be a close-to-vanilla Android effort, with only a few tweaks put in place by the manufacturer to spice things up. That seems to include a few more options when swiping up from the bottom of the display, which are offered alongside the standard Google Now option. The app switcher has been changed around, too, with the size of the apps listed therein changing in size depending on how often you use the app. It’s a nice idea, but it will be interesting to see how it works in practice.

On the back, the rumored 18-megapixel camera is fully detailed, but unfortunately there aren’t any sample images from the camera just yet. Hopefully BlackBerry’s megapixel heavy shooter can take some impressive pictures.

Based on these new images, what do you think of the Venice? Are you considering it for your next phone?

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In congested areas, AT&T won’t throttle customers until they hit 22GB of data

The task of managing grandfathered unlimited data plans has been a bit tricky for some carriers. Most have implemented a throttling system that prevents customers from taking up too much of the network with their data usage. With AT&T, unlimited data users in congested areas used to be able to use up to 5GB of data before they would be throttled. In a surprise move, AT&T has more than quadrupled that amount by bumping the data usage cap in congested areas to 22GB.

While this only affects customers who are grandfathered into plans with unlimited data, it should prove to be a popular move that allows the affected customers to take much more advantage of their unlimited data. The change likely stems from network improvement on AT&T’s side, as well as the fact that only a small percentage of AT&T’s customers actually have unlimited data, thus decreasing the chances of network abuse.

Do you have unlimited data with AT&T? What do you think of this change?

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Amazon has a 10-inch Fire tablet in the works

10-inch tablets celebrated a vogue when Android tablets first started to fill the market. Then they shrank away for a time as smaller, more portable tablets stole the scene. Flash forward to today, and larger tablets are starting to become prevalent again. Amazon, never one to miss an opportunity, looks to be cashing in on the movement by creating a 10-inch Fire tablet.

Amazon has traditionally had two size options of 7 inches and 8.9 inches for the Fire line. But a 10-inch option could either replace the 8.9-inch model or serve as a new tablet hub for multimedia and productivity, depending on how Amazon markets the device.

This latest leak comes courtesy of notorious leaker @evleaks, who gave us a picture to go along with the news. Per usual with Amazon, the style is rather plain, with a touch of industrial looks. The back appears to be made out of piano black gloss plastic with a large silver Amazon logo. We can also see front and rear cameras and a power button and volume rocker that are on top of the device. Interestingly, the device is styled to be used in portrait, but the power button and volume rocker on top also make it easy to use in landscape.

Perhaps the most interesting part of the leak is the software. Amazon looks to be toning down its heavy UI overlay. While the software has clearly been customized, it more closely resembles stock Android Lollipop and features new transparent UI elements, rather than the heavy textures and shadows that we’ve previously seen.

We’ll keep you posted on any future leaks regarding Amazon’s 10-inch Fire tablet.

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HTC One A9 rumors heat with new details from @evleaks

We’ve sifted through a lot of HTC One A9 rumors over the past few months, but we now have a few new details about HTC’s upcoming smartphone thanks to @evleaks. Previous rumors have claimed that the One A9 will feature a MediaTek processor, a QHD display and even 4GB of RAM — specs which may not come to fruition.

If @evleaks is correct, the HTC One A9 will come to market in November with a 5-inch 1080p display, the brand new Qualcomm Snapdragon 617 processor, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage, a microSD card slot, a 2150mAh battery, fingerprint sensor, 13-megapixel camera on the back of the phone and HTC’s trademark UltraPixel on the front to perfectly capture all your low-light selfies. To swap things up, @evleaks also shared that the HTC One A9 will feature a 7mm thick metal body which will be available in six colors.

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It’s hard to say how the HTC One A9 will fare against flagship devices from Samsung, LG and Apple, but it should do quite well competing against mid-range Android phones as long as the price is right. What’s your take on the latest HTC One A9 rumors?

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Sony Xperia Z5 Premium only runs 4K resolution viewing photos or videos

The Sony Xperia Z5 Premium boasts a crazy 4K display in a smartphone. It’s both amazing and silly. It’s amazing that we have such dense 4K panels these days, but it’s silly to have such a high resolution panel in a phone. However, the Xperia Z5 Premium doesn’t even use a 4K resolution most of the time anyway.

Yes, the 4K display goes mostly unused. The phone only bumps the resolution up to 4K when viewing photos and videos, otherwise it runs 1080p. And considering the strain 4K would put on both the processor and the battery, that’s probably for the best. But 1080p is a little disappointing when many high-end smartphones have a 1440p resolution, though it’s arguable that even 1440p isn’t necessary.

What do you guys think? Did Sony make the right call? Should the Z5 Premium even have a 4K display in the first place?

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Samsung may launch device with foldable display in January

Samsung is no stranger to strange smartphone designs. The company has released Android-based high end flip phones, devices with gently curved displays, and now devices with sharp curves in the sides of the display. Screens are Samsung’s specialty.

The latest rumor going around is that Samsung is planning to release a new device with a foldable display. We have all seen bendable displays like the LG G Flex, but they only flex a little bit. This display will fold, which would be pretty awesome. A display that folds in half means that, unfolded, the screen size will be double the size of the folded device.

The rest of the rumored specs for the device are a Snapdragon 820 processor, 3GB of RAM, a microSD slot, and a non-removable battery. We’ll see if these rumors hold true, but it’s exciting that Samsung will be bringing another new display technology to the market.

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Facebook working on a dislike button, but not the one we want

A lot of people have been begging for a dislike button on Facebook. We all have those friends that just post things we want to dislike. It’s human nature. And Mark Zuckerberg announced today that a dislike button is in the works, though it’s not quite what people wanted.

He said that Facebook is trying to avoid a system like Reddit, where posts can be downvoted. And I can see what he means, Facebook isn’t exactly a place where things should be downvoted. You post what you want, unlike Reddit where you post what others want to see. The system will soon be in its testing phase, so don’t expect to see a public launch just yet.

The dislike button will be for disliking sad post, and other such cases where you’d feel bad for liking a post but want to show your support. Yes, it’s not what people have been asking for, but it’s arguably for the best that people don’t get a real dislike button. Although, it would truly be fun.

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OnePlus announces new Hard Graft Wild luxury phone case

OnePlus promised us something luxurious, and here it is. The company was referring to a case for the OnePlus 2 called the Hard Graft Wild phone case, which has finally been announced.

This case is coated in Tuscan leather, handmade in Italy, and has a soft wool felt inside to protect your device. It also has two pockets for things like cash and cards. It’s not very form fitting and it doesn’t open, but it’s a nice pouch for those who need it.

It’s currently not in stock, but it will run you $99.99 when it’s available. Now that’s a luxury price point. What do you think of the case, and will you be getting it? Leave a comment!

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Snapchat update will let you pay to Replay any Snap

Snapchat is all about ephemeral messages that disappear after you view them, but starting today, you can pay for the ability to re-view a Snap.

A new Snapchat update is rolling out that includes the ability to buy Snap Replays. You can get three Replays for $0.99, but it’s worth noting that you can only Replay a Snap once, so you’ll have to be sure to pay attention the second time you view a Snap.

The addition of the ability to buy Snap Replays is notable because it’s the first time that we’ve seen Snapchat add an in-app purchase. It’s a way for the app to make money outside of advertising, and while $0.99 just to Replay some Snaps might sound like a lot of money to some, I bet that there are a lot of Snapchat addicts that’ll drop $0.99 on a pack of Replays like it’s nothing.

Also included in today’s Snapchat update is a feature called Lenses. To use the feature, you switch to your device’s front-facing camera and then press and hold on your face. You’ll then be able to swipe left between different Lenses, which add a weird feature to your face.

snapchatlenses

Rounding out the Snapchat update are some “fun surprises” like Trophies, which Snapchat will quietly award you for doing random things like earning a high Snapchat score or sending stores from Discover.

You can grab Snapchat for Android at the Google Play link below.

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HTC one-day sale slashes price of One M9 by 25%, Nexus 9 by 40%

Looking for a good excuse to pick up the HTC One M9 or the Nexus 9 tablet? HTC has announced a one-day (ends tonight at 11:59PM PST) sale on the HTC One M9, Nexus 9, HTC RE and all its accessories. HTC’s flagship One M9 gets a 25% price cut, bringing the cost of the phone down to $486.75. Add in HTC’s running $100 Google Play credit on top of that and you’re looking at quite an incredible deal.

The Nexus 9 is getting a 40% price cut to the 16GB ($239.40) and 32GB ($287.40) models, and the HTC RE’s 50% discount brings its price to $99.50. If you already own all three devices, you can always pick up a few accessories from the HTC online store for half their usual price.

We’re sure HTC will be offering some amazing discounts on its products during the holiday shopping season, but we still recommend heading over to HTC’s online store to find the perfect product before supplies run out.

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