Windows 10 now claims nearly 10% of desktop OS market share

Launched around five months ago, Windows 10 now claims nearly 10% (9.96% to be exact) of the desktop OS market share, according to latest data from market research firm Net Applications. That’s an increase of just under 1% from November, when the share was exact 9%.

Given the fact that the OS’ market share rose 1.06% in the October-November period, the growth seems to have slowed down, although only a little. For those who aren’t in the know, the rise in Windows 10’s share has been around 1% for past few months now.

Windows 7 is still the most popular Windows OS with close to 56% market share. Among other older versions, Windows 8.1, 8, Vista, and XP now have a market share of 10.3%, 2.76%, 1.62%, and 10.93%, respectively. It’s worth mentioning that all versions except Windows 10 saw a dip in their share last month.

Overall, Windows claimed over 91.3% share of the OS market, down 0.07% compared to November. Other operating systems such as Mac and Linux claimed 7.02% and 1.66% share,…

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Samsung Galaxy Note5 starts receiving December security update in India

After the United States, the Samsung Galaxy Note5 has started receiving the December security update in India, too. Weighing in at 71.15 MB, the update bumps the firmware version to N920GDDU2AOL1, and also brings along improved voice call stability.

Over in the US, the T-Mobile and Verizon variants of the smartphone have already received the December security update. Other Samsung flagships, including the Galaxy S6 and S6 edge+, started receiving the update just a few days ago.

For those who haven’t received the update yet, you can also manually check for it by heading to your device’s settings. To know what all is included in the South Korean company’s December security update, head to the Samsung Security link below.

Via | Samsung…

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Microsoft Lumia 640 XL gets $50 price cut in US

The Microsoft Lumia 640 XL has received an official price cut in the US. The device (unlocked, white variant) is now listed on Microsoft Store website for $249.00, which is $50 down from its usual price of $299.00.

Specs-wise, the handset is powered by a Snapdragon 400 chipset, and sports a 5.7-inch (720 x 1280 pixel resolution) IPS display. It comes with 1GB RAM and 8GB expandable internal memory, and packs in a 3,000 mAh battery.

In terms of camera, the Lumia 640 XL features a 13MP rear unit and a 5MP front shooter. The device runs Windows Phone 8.1, but will be among the first to get the Windows 10…

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Android 6.0 Marshmallow rolling out to Moto G (3rd gen) in India

Motorola has started pushing out the Android 6.0 update to its third-generation Moto G smartphone in India. This was announced by the Indian arm of the company on Twitter.

Here is something new and amazing for your Moto G (3rd Gen.), the Android 6.0 Marshmallow! http://pic.twitter.com/0etB1IncHi— Motorola India (@MotorolaIndia) December 30, 2015

The update weighs in at 2GB and carries a software version of 24.11.25.en.US. The roll out in India comes just a week after the update started hitting the Moto G (2015) devices in the United States and Canada.

As for the update, aside from the regular Android 6.0 goodies, including Doze, Google Now on Tap, and redesigned app permissions, it also includes Google’s security patches for the month of December.

As in most cases, it’s a gradual roll out, so it may take some time before the update hits your device. Meanwhile, you can also manually check for it by heading to Settings -> About Phone -> System Update on your handset.

Source |…

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Most interesting news stories of 2015: Q4

Getting closer to the present, Q4 2015 was focused mostly on the upcoming Galaxy S7. Display sizes and shapes, dimensions and specs – most of these remain to be established for certain, though obviously they have long been settled upon by Samsung.

That said, the top read over the last quarter was the list of confirmed smartphones to receive Marshmallow. As with any Android release, the adoption of the latest version is a lengthy process and few devices will be graced with the coveted firmware, you were curious to know which ones.

Xiaomi was again responsible for some of the most interesting stories, this time with the announcement of the Redmi Note 3, mere months after the Redmi Note 2, and the Redmi Note Prime gathered almost as many hits. Sure enough, the Nokia C1 popped up again and again, now rendered running Windows 10, and if that one’s too smart for you, there’s always the 2.8-inch feature phone Nokia 230.

Soda companies will have smartphones in their portfolios, apparently, if the Pepsi Phone P1 is indication of new trend. Meanwhile Sony is reported to be working on as many versions of the future Xperia Z6 as there are days in a week.

A fair share of announcements took place over the last three months of the year too. Microsoft’s long overdue flagship came in the shape of the Lumia 950 and 950 XL, the former making it to the top 20 most interesting news articles of the quarter. The HTC-copied-Apple-copied-HTC clamor was strong around the launch of HTC One A9, and Samsung made a complete overhaul of the A-series with brand new odd-numbered A’s for 2016.

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The big Android 6.0 Marshmallow update list
Here’s a list of devices that have been confirmed to get updated to the new major Android version.

EXCLUSIVE: Samsung Galaxy S7, S7 Plus sizes and renders leak
It looks like the next Samsung flagship will have a huge 6.0″ version, in addition to the standard 5.1″ one.

Xiaomi launches Redmi Note Prime with 5.5-inch display, 3100mAh battery
This is the Chinese company’s second made-in-India handset after the Redmi 2 Prime.

Galaxy On5 shows up on Samsung’s site, a 5” entry-level phone
It seems like someone jumped the gun and the On5 is not officially official. A user manual for the Galaxy On7 was uploaded too, but no specs.

New render claims to depict upcoming Nokia C1 running Android and Windows 10 Mobile
The much-rumored device is supposed to be Nokia’s first after having sold its smartphone business to Microsoft.

Sony Xperia Z6 family to have five sub-models, a 4-inch Mini among them
The regular 5.2-inch diagonal to remain, a revival of the Ultra is also reported.

Nokia C1 leaks again with alleged specs and a new render
Sources hint at the possibility of a revamped better specs sheet for the handset.

Pepsi Phone P1 – an affordable, metal phone with a fingerprint reader
The soda-branded smartphone has a 5.5″ 1080p screen, octa-core processor and dual-SIM LTE connectivity.

LeTV Le 1s is official with a MediaTek Helio X10 chipset
The phone launches on November 3 in China and India with a pricetag of $173.

iPhone 7 might come with 3GB of RAM and waterproofing
A new rumor claims these will be the two main new features for the next generation of Apple smartphones.

Galaxy S7 chipset gets crazy high benchmark score
The Exynos 8890 scored a new record in leaked benchmark from…

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Verizon is giving you 50% off the LG Tone Pro Bluetooth headset if you buy a V10 smartphone

Verizon’s latest deal concerns the V10, LG’s latest high-end smartphone. If you decide to purchase the device from the carrier, you get $100 in instant savings, but also 50% off the LG Tone Pro Bluetooth headset. The accessory normally retails for $69.99, yet you can pick one up for just $35 if you also get the V10.

You do however need to pay $23.83 for 24 months for the phone, using Verizon’s installment plan. That adds up to $572, which is a good price for such a top of the line device, especially as the V10 is only a few weeks old at this point. And if you add the Tone Pro headset to your cart at the same time, you can get a nice amount of savings on that too.

The caveat here is that it appears that this offer is only valid this weekend, so you need to act fast in order to take advantage of it.

Source |…

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Most interesting news stories of 2015: Q3

The third quarter of the year was perhaps the most action-packed. And not just because Apple’s launch events customarily take place in this period, as do Samsung’s Note series releases. No, there was plenty of other stuff going on.

It was the Nokia C1 that made headlines again with two of the top three stories depicting the alleged Finnish (or Finnish-Chinese) return to the smartphone world. Placing in between those two, the announcement of Xiaomi’s MIUI 7 Android overlay proved to be bigger news than almost everything this quarter.

The Sony Xperia Z5 generation was often in the news too, rumors and all, but it was our own microscope examination of the Premium’s 4K display that gathered the most hits. Sony’s explanation on when and why it actually does work in UltraHD was almost as interesting, and the smartphone’s announcement itself trailed both these stories.

The continuous rumors and leaks regarding the Samsung Galaxy Note5 and S6 edge+ were top reads, right up to the phones’ unveiling in mid-August. Again, the actual Unpacked event wasn’t quite as interesting to you.

Motorola announced three Motos in July, the Moto G (3rd gen), Moto X Play, and Moto X Style. Solid specs and competitive pricing made all three interesting to read about, as much as the iPhone 6s Plus’ revealing.

Sure we knew the next Android would be M, but the specific type of candy remained a mystery until August 17. Marshmallow became the official name, and officially one of the most interesting stories of the quarter.

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Nokia’s upcoming C1 Android smartphone allegedly shown in leaked renders
This has been rumored to become the Finnish company’s first in a line of new smartphones coming in 2016.

Xiaomi announces new MIUI 7 based on Android 5.1 Lollipop
Comes with a new image gallery with face detection, new themes, Mi Roaming, and Kids Mode.

Live photos offer the first real look at the Nokia C1 Android phone
The screen resolution has been promoted to 1080p according to the latest leak, unfortunately the pics offer no proof of that.

Sony Xperia Z5 tipped to launch in September
It is said to be powered by the yet-to-be-released Snapdragon 820 SoC, and pack in a 4,500mAh battery.

Motorola Moto G (3rd gen) officially launched, two versions after all
The midranger comes with either 1GB RAM and 8GB storage or 2GB/16GB; Snapdragon 410, 13MP camera and IPx7 certification for both.

Galaxy J1 Ace featuring Super AMOLED display appears
The budget-friendly device carries a price tag of INR 6,400, which translates into around $95.

Sony Xperia Z5 Premium 4K display goes under our microscope
Sony stole the show at IFA by introducing the world’s first 4K display in a production smartphone, the Xperia Z5 Premium.

Lenovo A7000 Plus goes official in the Philippines with 5.5″ 1080p display
As its name suggest, the newcomer is an updated version of the Lenovo A7000 that debuted in April.

Obi Worldphone SF1 and SJ1.5: affordable Androids, premium design
The SJ1.5 will cost $130 but features a a polycarbonate unibody layered on a magnesium-titanium frame.

Samsung Galaxy Note 5 and S6 edge Plus hardware detailed
5.7-inch QHD displays on both, Note 5 to be powered by Exynos 7422, S6 edge Plus sticks with Qualcomm.

Sony explains why the Z5 Premium only uses its native 4K resolution when needed
A new official statement clears the air around the debated 4K capabilities of…

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Netflix said to launch its service in India soon

One of the world’s largest online video streaming company – Netflix – could soon be bringing its service to India. According to the sources at The Hindu, Netflix is expected to announce its India plans at CES this year.

The Hindu further reports that Netflix will be partnering with one of the 4G service providers in India. For now, only Bharti Airtel and Reliance have 4G networks in India, and only the former has an operational network while the latter is only available for employees.

Last year we had reported that Netflix could be launching its services some time this year, with some of the more iconic Indian shows being included as part of the service.

It remains to be seen what the Indian portfolio will be like, and how many of the US television shows make it to India, as it’s unlikely Netflix will be able to make all of them available without running into licensing issues. Secondly, there is also the question of censorship, and whether or not Netflix will be allowed to stream its content without going through the Indian censor board certification…

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Most interesting news stories of 2015: Q2

With both major events on the calendar falling in the first quarter, the April to June period was a quieter time. The most read story was the announcement of the Lenovo K80 – an Intel Atom-powered 5.5-inch phablet with 4GB of RAM and a 4,000mAh battery. Oddly enough, it was also the last time we heard of the K80.

Nokia made the news despite not being an actual player in the smartphone world. Or thanks to that, as every time word got out on its return, you flocked to read the details.

Yu only made it to the third spot this quarter with the launch of its second smartphone, the Yuphoria. The announcement of the Xiaomi’s Mi 4i was another top read, in the absence of a Mi 5.

An alleged Sony Xperia P2 leak caused the Internet to explode, but the device never really materialized, and in hindsight it was likely just someone’s vision of the perfect Sony smartphone. Instead, Sony’s interim flagship Xperia Z3+ launched in Japan, carrying a Z4 badge.

A couple of weeks before its announcement, the LG G4 was leaked in full glory making for one of our top Q2 stories. Perhaps that’s why you don’t see the actual unveiling in the list below.

It was around this time that we first heard of the BlackBerry Priv. BlackBerry’s first Android device first showed up on April 27, but no one was talking about Android just yet, and neither did the screenshots suggest such a development.

There was the obligatory Lollipop update buzz too, with the Samsung Galaxy A7 leading the way. The Xperia Z-series started getting Android 5.0 during this period too. You were also queuing up to read what Google had in store for you with Marshmallow, at the time only known as Android M.

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Lenovo unveils K80, a phone with 4GB RAM and 4,000 mAh battery
This comes a few months after Asus announced the ZenFone 2, the world’s first smartphone with 4GB RAM.

Nokia will launch new smartphones in 2016, CEO now says
The Finnish company won’t be directly producing them, instead choosing to license its brand to partners.

Yu Yuphoria brings metal frame, 4G LTE at INR 7,000 price point
The Yu mid-ranger runs Cyanogen OS 12 and packs a Wolfson audio chip. Registrations start today.

Micromax Canvas Spark with Lollipop launched for $79
The phone will be offered via flash sales exclusively on Snapdeal from April 29.

Sony Xperia P2 leak promises compact phone with great camera
A massive battery too, a whopping 4,240mAh . The camera is rumored to have large pixels and OIS.

Huawei G Play Mini becomes official in Italy
This smartphone shares all of its specs with the Honor 4C, but has a slightly different design.

Android 5 Lollipop now seeding on Samsung Galaxy A7
Samsung began seeding Android 5.0.2 Lollipop on Galaxy A7, Russia is the first to get it.

LG G4 gets revealed ahead of its scheduled debut
A product page of the smartphone with a number of official images and specs went live for several hours.

Huawei devices to start getting Lollipop next month
The Lollipop update wrapped in Emotion UI roll out plan pans out from May to September.

Elephone P8000 packs a 4,200 cell and 3GB of RAM for $210
The 5.5-inch Chinese smartphone comes with Lollipop and worldwide LTE support.

New Samsung Galaxy Tab 5 specifications leak
The next flagship tablet by Samsung will come in two variants – SM-P355C and SM-T355C.

Sony Xperia Z4 launches with 5.2″ FHD…

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Poll results: Samsung Galaxy Note5 is the Phablet of the year 2015

First phones, now phablets – Samsung made it a clean sweep in our devices of the year polls. Last week, we asked you to pick your favorite phone of the year, which turned out to be the Galaxy S6 and this week in the Phablet category the Galaxy Note5 received the same resounding support.

There is no denying it, with a total score just shy of 40%, Samsung is basking in fan love yet again. It is also quite encouraging that even four months after its initial release the fifth iteration of the original phablet family is captivating fans and keeping prospective EU buyers on their toes, pending the still eagerly-anticipated 2016 release on the Old Continent.

The rest of the top ten phablet chart also offers an interesting insight into fan preferences. We find the Sony Xperia Z5 Premium at second place with a respectable runner-up score of 15%. A quick look at last week’s phone poll, reveals that the basic Z5 scored around the same ball park with 18% (especially considering that chart had only eight participants). This consistency is definitely encouraging for Sony and its long-overdue proper flagship line, but the same can’t really be said for the Apple duo. Although still in the honorable fourth spot, the iPhone 6s Plus can only boast 9% of votes, compared to 19% for its smaller sibling. Again, these results are not exactly directly comparable, but it is definitely clear that Apple loyalists still tend to go for the more compact form factor.

Quite the opposite observation can be made about the new Nexus family. The Huawei Nexus 6P gathered a lot of approval, snatching 12% of all votes, more than double the interest shown for the LG Nexus 5X last week. The Microsoft Lumia 950 XL and LG V10 also deserve a mention, both with 8% of votes in the Phablet…

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