iOS 9.3 beta 7 now available to developers and public beta testers

Apple has started seeding the iOS 9.3 beta 7 release for developers and public beta testers. This is the last beta release of the OS before its expected public release next week.

The iOS 9.3 beta 7 includes a new Night Shift mode that changes the display temperature at night for less eye strain. Another new feature is the Touch ID and password-protected items in the Notes app.

Finally, there are new CarPlay features and expanded 3D Touch options on apps, which now includes the Settings menu.

Expect more information about the latest iOS release next week at the Apple’s March 21…

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Game makers get new developer tools from Google

Today Google announced a new batch of tools to make monetization and promotion of games a bit easier to handle. For starters, the Play Store now has an Indie Corner, which features games from indie game developers. Hopefully, this will make new game discovery easier for people who want to experience indie-made games.

As for the tools themselves, the new video recording API allows players to record gameplay and share it on YouTube without too much hassle. A more developer-focused feature is the ability to change how much things cost inside the game without uploading new APK…

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Marshmallow update starts hitting HTC Desire Eye

A few months after leakster @LlabTooFeR revealed that HTC’s Desire Eye smartphone will receive the Android Marshmallow update sometime later this year, the update has started rolling out. It comes in two parts, and weighs in a total of 1.6GB.

Bringing Android version 6.0.1 along with version 7.0 of the Taiwanese company’s Sense UI, the update is reportedly hitting Desire Eye units in the UAE as well as some European countries including Italy. In the United States, AT&T variants of the phone are said to be getting it later this month.

HTC USA has already released a list of phones…

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Apple is the most valuable brand, Google jumps over Samsung for second

Brand value is an intangible but important asset – it shows marketing strength and loyalty among consumers. Apple holds down the top spot for many years running and its meteoric growth shows no signs of slowing down.

Google – or rather Alphabet, the re-organized company – finally overcame Samsung and claimed the second spot (the Big G had been behind Samsung since 2012).

This pushed Samsung to third, the technology giant showing only modest growth. The South Korean company is at just over 50% of the brand valuation of Apple.

Besides Google, Amazon was the big winner. It grew a…

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OnePlus 2 gets a permanent price drop in India

OnePlus has announced a permanent price drop on its flagship smartphone, the OnePlus 2.

Both models receive an INR 2,000 price cut. The 64GB model is now priced at INR 22,999 ($341) and the 16GB model at INR 20,999 ($311).

OnePlus says the price cut is due to “timing and scale” and that their operations have scaled-up sufficiently to allow them to sell the phone at a lower price.

Amazon

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Get $50 gift card with Moto 360 (2nd gen) and Moto 360 Sport purchase

If you’re in the US and are planning to purchase either a second-generation Moto 360 or a Moto 360 Sport, here’s a deal for you: electronics retailer Best Buy is offering a $50 gift card for free with each purchase of either of the smartwatch.

As for the price, the retailer has the Sport version listed for $299, while the Moto 360 (2nd gen) will set you back between $299 and $399 depending on the band and finish you go for. Keep in mind, however, that the Moto Maker customization option isn’t available at Best Buy.

Another thing worth mentioning here is that you’ll get the gift card…

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UMi Touch is a MediaTek-powered WP flagship

Windows Phone has been starving for proper high-end mobile devices for quite some time now. To the US giant’s credit, recent efforts like the Lumia 950 and 950 XL have been breaking the status quo, there is still a long way to go. Thankfully, Windows 10 is a lot more welcoming to third-party efforts and Chinese OEM are not known to waste time when it comes to filling new market niches.

One such company, by the name of UMi, has now announced the UMi Touch – a MediaTek-powered handset that will sell for just $149 and is promising support for Windows 10, as well as Android. This is a…

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LG K5 and K8 coming this week: Android on a budget

LG is bolstering its budget K-series with two new devices – the K5 and K8. Both have 5″ screens. “The K8 and K5 will be fantastic choices for anyone who is seeking a smartphone with great looks, great looks, at a great price,” says Juno Cho, President and CEO of LG Electronics Mobile.

The two phones will launch this week. The LG K8 (which was announced in February) will be available in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, CIS and Latin America. The LG K5 will arrive in fewer regions – Europe, CIS and Latin America (in Mexico it will be known as the Q6).

LG K5

The LG K5 has a “metallic…

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Lenovo announces Vibe K5 Plus in India

Lenovo has launched the Vibe K5 Plus in India. It is a budget smartphone, along the lines of the company’s previous A6000 and A7000 smartphones, and competes alongside rival devices such as the Coolpad Note 3 and the Xiaomi Redmi Note Prime.

The Vibe K5 Plus has a 5-inch, FullHD 1080p scratch-resistant display. It is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 616 (4x 1.7GHz Cortex-A53 + 4x 1.2GHz Cortex-A53 + Adreno 405) along with 2GB of RAM and 16GB storage with microSD support up to 128GB.

The phone has dual SIM support along with Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.1, A-GPS, and FM…

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Charge is a mobile network for data-only service

Until now, there hasn’t been any way to purchase a data-only service besides tacking it onto an existing mobile phone plan. This is the first time in the US that a carrier, or MVNO alike, offers data only plans without requiring a phone line first.

The company does plan to incorporate GSM compatible SIMs in the future but as of now, the MVNO will piggyback on Sprint’s nationwide network and will be compatible with any Sprint-enabled device, phones and tablets, alike. All Nexus smartphones since the Nexus 5 all the way up to the current-gen 5X and 6P. Obviously, the Phone and Messaging apps…

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