The Android 6.0 Marshmallow update for the HTC One M8 will begin rolling out in a couple of weeks, according to the usually reliable leakster LlabTooFeR, who made the revelation in a tweet.

Final M8 Android 6.0 and Sense 7.0 update for Europe will be available in about 2 weeks. It will be in build range 6.12.401.x …— LlabTooFeR (@LlabTooFeR) December 2, 2015

However, what’s worth noting here is that the update time frame mentioned in the tweet is specifically for the One M8 devices in Europe. The update will also include Sense 7.0 UI, LlabTooFeR noted.

For those who are not in the know, the update has already received the Bluetooth SIG certification in October, and HTC has also previously noted that the update will start hitting the handsets before the end of the year…

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In an effort to make its Gear VR a more commercially appealing offer, Samsung is launching a dedicated VR browser. The project bears the rather descriptive name “Samsung Internet for Gear VR” and its main purpose looks to be a more versatile solution for streaming online video on the headset, regardless of the source.

It’s a virtual reality web browser that seems aimed at letting people stream videos from places like YouTube without going through a dedicated app, while providing general internet access. It supports both 360-degree and 3D video streaming, as well as any HTML5 video from the web.

This is an important step for broadening the available content pool, which is currently limited to proprietary apps, like YouTube and Netflix. The browser is also specifically designed to accommodate the VR experience. Navigation, for example, is simplified via an on-screen keyboard and a “gaze mode”. Netflix on Gear VR already uses this technology, which simply allows the user to stare at things to get around, instead of having to tap on them with an external trackpad.

Samsung will make sure to import your existing bookmarks from your Galaxy’s default browser, although, we can’t imagine checking your mail or the news in eye-straining VR mode is really the end goal here.

Source |…

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Samsung’s latest flagship smartphones – the Galaxy S6 edge+ and Galaxy Note5 – received their first software update back in October this year. Now, the company has started rolling out another OTA update to both devices.

It’s difficult to say what’s new in the update as its change log is same as that of the previous update, which brought call stability, battery optimizations, as well as improvements related to the security of the device.

However, the new update – which weighs in at around 100MB and carries a build number of N920GUBU2AOK3 and G928IDVU2AOK8 for the Note5 and S6 edge+, respectively – does include Android’s November security patch. If you haven’t received the update notification yet, you can manually check for it by heading to Settings -> About device -> Software update on your…

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Apple’s marketing team hasn’t been sitting on their hands just because the iPhone 6s/6s Plus pair has long since launched. They’ve been hard at work keeping interest high, and often rely on some gentle celebrity touches.

This time it’s actor/producer/whatnot Jon Favreau and Penelope Cruz, who needs little introduction. Both videos reiterate the iPhone 6s’ tagline that “The only thing that’s changed is everything.”

The first video highlights the iPhone 6s’ power and performance in day-to-day tasks and gaming. Then the smartphone’s camera takes center stage, and Apple wants you to believe that it can get you on the phone with Mr. Favreau. He is so thrilled with your new student film, shot on iPhone, but looking like it’s been done by the pros, that he is dying to work with you.

And who to better advertise Siri’s prowess in voice recognition, than Penelope Cruz herself with her adorable Spanish take on the English language? We’d certainly forgive her for not knowing who the British prime minister was in 1968 (as if we did).

Source 1 Source 2 |…

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For those who still haven’t given up hope of owning an Asus Zenfone Zoom, we have some good news… and some bad ones.

The “thinnest phone with 3x optical zoom” was announced almost a full year ago (in January) and is going on sale in a couple of weeks, but only in Taiwan. Told you there’s bad news.

Coming with either an Intel Atom Z3580 or Z3590 chipset, 4GB of RAM and 64GB or 128GB storage, the phone is largely based on the regular Zenfone 2 (especially if you look at the Deluxe version).

What sets the Zenfone Zoom apart is the 3x optical zoom. That’s achieved with the Hoya-made zoom mechanism that extends the lens inside the phone, rather than sticking them out the back. The impressive camera also features optical image stabilization and laser autofocus.

It’s the mechanism you can see below. The image sensor has 13MP resolution and can record 1080p video.

Below are some official camera samples showing off the camera’s capabilities.

Official camera samples

The Asus Zenfone Zoom will hit Taiwan’s five major carriers in mid-December in Black and White, soon after in Pink too. The Z3580/64GB version costs TWD 14,000 ($430/€400), while the Z3590/128GB version will be TWD 16,000 ($490/€460). The Pink one will be the cheapest option – TWD13,000 for 128GB storage.

Source | Via (in…

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Microsoft is offering its latest Windows 10 flagship smartphones – the Lumia 950 and 950 XL – at €50 discount to German Windows Insiders. The company has sent out emails to the members of the Insider program in the country informing them about the price cut.

This means that Insiders in the Germany can now purchase the 950 and 950 XL for €549 and €649, down from their regular prices of €599 and €699, respectively. It’s worth mentioning that the deal is available only on unlocked handsets from T-Mobile Germany.

In addition, the offer also includes a couple of free accessories, including a Display Dock and a personalized Mozo cover. It’s a limited time offer that ends December 13.

Source (translated) |…

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The Data Saver feature in Chrome for mobile let you save some time and data by compressing images on the web pages, something Opera pioneered a while back. But if you’re on a particularly slow connection, even that could take a while.

So for users stuck with such a connection, Google has improved the feature further. Now instead of simply compressing the images, Chrome will disable them altogether, so you are only really loading the text on the page. If you want, you can choose to enable all the images on a page, or a particular image.

The improved Data Saver feature is currently rolling out to users in India and Indonesia, and eventually everywhere…

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The Asus ZenWatch 2, which was launched by the company a few months ago, will go on sale in the UK soon. This was revealed by the Taiwanese company on Twitter, although no specific date was mentioned.

#ZenWatch2 is coming!

Register for updates here: https://t.co/wO7vgJQtRH http://pic.twitter.com/EfcFTXj0nP— ASUS UK (@ASUSUK) December 1, 2015

As you can see in the tweet above, those interested in the smartwatch can meanwhile register for updates by heading to the link shared by the company. The UK pricing for the wearable is also currently not known – the Google Store in the US started selling it for $149.99 a couple of months ago.

As for the specs, the device is powered by a Snapdragon 400 SoC, and has 512MB RAM and 4GB internal memory. It comes in two variants: the 49mm model sports 1.63-inch (320 x 320 pixel resolution) AMOLED display, while the 45mm one features 1.45-inch (280 x 280 pixel resolution) AMOLED…

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Motorola has announced the availability details of the Sport variant of the second generation Moto 360 smartwatch, which was unveiled back in September this year. The wearable will be available in the UK and France starting December 18.

As for the US, the device will land there in 2016. It will be available for purchase from Motorola.com and select other online retailers starting January 7, while Best Buy stores and Moto Shop in downtown Chicago will begin selling it on January 10.

As far as the price is concerned, Motorola didn’t reveal the tag the smartwatch will carry in the UK and France, but did say that it will cost $299 in the United States. Several other countries including Brazil, Canada, China, Mexico, and Spain will also get the Moto 360 Sport sometime next…

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The Android 6.0 Marshmallow soak test for the third-generation Moto X Pure Edition has begun in the United States. The news was announced by Motorola’s senior director of software product management David Schuster on Google+.

As with any soak test, Schuster said they’ll be monitoring the progress of the test for next week, and if everything goes as per their expectations, they’ll proceed to a full launch. This effectively means that the official update could arrive in a week or so.

Some users of the smartphone received the Marshmallow update last month, triggering reports that the soak test has begun. But Motorola quickly refuted those reports saying it’s just a “TestDrive.”

If you aren’t already aware, the Moto X Pure Edition (2015) is basically the US version of the Moto X Style sold…

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