LG Icon Smartphone, Iconic Smartwatch Trademarks Spotted, May Launch Soon

In line with the latest reports saying LG is re-strategising its mobile business, the company seems to be working on a new series of smartphones. LG could soon launch a smartphone under the brand Icon and a smartwatch under the name Iconic. LG is already said to have noted that it will take a departure from its annual smartphone launch cycle. These moves by LG could be seen as a strategy to revamp its struggling smartphone business that has been incurring losses for several quarters now.

Coming back to the new nomenclature, according to the database of USPTO (the United States Patent and Trademark Office), LG has filed trademarks for a smartphone under the names: LG Icon, LG Aicon, and LG Aiconn. Additionally, it has also filed a trademark for the name 'Iconic' for a smartwatch. Famous tipster Evan Blass (aka @evleaks) first spotted the trademark and tweeted : "With LG rumoured to be rebranding its flagship G-series, I noticed that the company just trademarked "LG Icon" for a smartphone and "Iconic" for a smartwatch."

It remains to be seen if LG will rebrand the G series with Icon or whether it will launch smartphones under that name at all. Companies use the trademark filing to secure a particular name for their future products. They are at a discretion to keep or discard them.

Meanwhile, LG, at CES 2018, has reportedly said that will no longer fix a regular timeline to announce its handsets. Usually, it releases the G-Series smartphones in the first half of the year and the V-series in the second half. Alongside the shift from launch cycles, LG has also made it clear that it will release more variants of its existing lineup. The South Korean consumer electronics giant was expected to announce its latest flagship smartphone at Mobile World Congress 2018 in Barcelona

LG has reportedly said that it will not unveil new smartphones "just because other rivals do". Instead, it wants to increase the longevity of its existing lineup of smartphones by launching more "variant models in the G series or V series."

Interestingly, a ZDNet report quoted CEO and Vice Chairman Jo Seong-jin (aka Cho Sung-jin), as saying, "If there is something that is needed to be changed, we will change it." This is another hint at the changing of the name of the G-Series, or even the V-Series. Another report from South Korea has said that LG will be dumping the G brand and will not name the first flagship smartphone of 2018 as the G7.

Based on these reports, LG is clearly reassessing its smartphone business and everything is up for a change.

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Samsung Galaxy Note 9: Everything you need to know

 

The latest news and rumours about the Samsung Galaxy Note 9, which we anticipate launching in August 2018

The Samsung Galaxy Note 9 may be a glimmer in its maker’s eye, but we’re already looking at what the Korean tech giant has in store for its next Note handset. Hear that sound outside your window? That’s the rattle of consumerism, rolling its merry way down your street.

Samsung Galaxy Note 9: Features:

Mobile reporter Benjamin Geskin has mocked up a set of renders for the Galaxy Note 9, based on a handful of early rumours about what specs the handset may include.
The results look a lot like both the Note 8 and the iPhone X, with a 4K 6.4in display, a fingerprint sensor embedded into the screen, and an even fuller “infinity display”.

Samsung Galaxy Note 9: Design

There hasn't been an abundance of leaks regarding the design of the imminent Samsung Galaxy Note 9. What we can go on is the design of its predecessor, the Galaxy Note 8, which has a metal and glass build, a dual-rear camera and a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor – a design that we don't see the Note 9 deviating from too much.
There's one notable exception here – reports suggest that the fingerprint sensor might be embedded within the display, as opposed to the current rear-mounted sensor sported by the Note 8. Although, as ever, nothing's been confirmed this early in the game.

Could the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 be something completely different?

Based on this year’s releases, it would be easy to predict that all smartphones will look largely identical come 2020. That pattern may be bucked, however, with a whole new concept based on foldable technology.
A foldable phone from Samsung has been long-rumoured, with reports centred on a device dubbed the Samsung Galaxy X. A new handset line makes a lot of sense, but could Samsung instead decide to premier its new foldable approach with the Note 9?

The president of Samsung’s mobile division, Koh Dong-jin, has said the company is aiming to release a bendable flagship in 2018. Given the benefits this could bring to a phone with a large form factor, it may very well be the case that the Korean company wants the Note 9 to be a phablet that can be folded into your pocket.
Of course, all of this is guesswork. We’ll be updating this page with more concrete news are it surfaces over the coming months.

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Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+ Specs and releas date CONFIRMED

We finally have official details about Samsung's Galaxy S9 flagship, and know when it will launch

Samsung Galaxy S9 release date announced

Speaking to ZDNet at CES, DJ Koh, the firm's smartphone chief confirmed that the Samsung Galaxy S9 will be unveiled at Mobile World Congress in February. This year's annual tech conference takes place from 26 February to 1 March.

Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+ specs: What's inside?

• Processor: Snapdragon 845 (US & China-only), Exynos 9810 (UK, worldwide)
• RAM: 6GB
• Display: 5.8in and 6.2in
• Camera: Two 12-megapixel cameras with 10x optical zoom and 1,000fps
• Storage: 64GB internal space (up to 256GB with microSD card)
• Rear-mounted fingerprint reader
• Water-resistant IP68
• Better battery life over the S8 and S8+ respectively
• Integration with Bixby
• USB 3.1 Type-C
• 3.5mm headphone jack included, with AKG stereo speakers
• Android 8.0 Oreo

Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+: Design

We now have our first glimpse of what to expect with Samsung's Galaxy S9 and S9+. Leaked renders from case manufacturer Olixar suggest that both the fingerprint reader and rear camera arrangement will change slightly from the previous effort.
With the S9, the fingerprint reader is now situated below the rear camera, as opposed to the right. Likewise, the S9+ also benefits from the new fingerprint reader placement but also appears to be going the dual-camera route, just like with Samsung's Galaxy Note 8. Source: MobileFun.co.uk

Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+: Camera

Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who has correctly predicted many launches (notably from Apple), anticipates that both Galaxy S9 and S9+ will feature a dual-lens camera. This follows on from the dual-cam Samsung Galaxy Note 8.
According to Korean IT site ET News, Samsung will also feature a sensor capable of shooting at 1,000fps. This would allow super-slow-mo videos, close to Sony's recent effort with the Xperia XZ Premium, which has a sensor capable of 960fps.

Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+: Security

With the S9 and S9+, we'd expect to see a fingerprint sensor included, with its placement around the back of the phone, as it was with the S8.
Given the release of the iPhone X, which uses your face to unlock the device (through Face ID), we expect to Samsung to improve its facial recognition on the S9 and S9+.UniverseIce on Twitter, a renowned tipster, thinks the S9 (and S9+) will include a front-facing 3D sensor with face unlocking technology. With the release of the Samsung Exynos 9810 chipset, it all seems highly probable.

Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+: Android version

Android 8.0 Oreo was released in 2017, and given the update cycle of Samsung phones, it's expected the South Korean manufacturer will feature Android 8.0 Oreo on the S9 and S9+. Following the announcement of the Samsung Experience 9.0 Beta, this seems likely, too.

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Leaked Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 retail box says a Helio X20 and 4,100mAh battery will be on board

We have already had the chance of spotting the Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 out in the wild. Reportedly. From the looks of it, the metal-clad phone could be featuring what seem to be dual cameras, though we are still not convinced the lower cutout is not intended for a fingerprint scanner.

Anyway, a newly-leaked retail box that the Redmi Note 4 allegedly arrive in gives us a pretty good sneak peek at what the specs of the device could be.


It would probably be a 5.5", LTE-enabled device with a MediaTek Helio X20 chipset clicking and ticking under the hood.

Next up, the retail box suggests 3GB of RAM and 64GB of native storage on board. Right at the back, there will be a 4,100mAh juicer keeping the lights on.

The retail box suggests there will be a 13MP rear and a 5MP front-facing camera. There's no mention of anything dual camera-related here, though. This makes us think that the previously leaked Redmi Note 4 pic could have been a masterfully-edited image. Of course, we could be totally mistaken; Xiaomi is totally capable of putting a Mi 5-like home button up front, with the fingerprint scanner embedded right beneath it.

That's pretty much we can squeeze out from the leaked image. As a reminder, the device will probably go official on July 27, so we'll have to wait for 9 more days to find out if these leaked specs are any true.

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Moto G4 and G4 Plus Review

Three years ago, Motorola gave smartphone shoppers an affordable new budget option in the form of the first-gen Moto G. In the years since, we've seen the Moto G really grow up, in more ways than one. Not only has the Moto G grown from a 4.5-incher to its current 5.5-inch screen size, but it's also become a more and more capable handset, and one delivering an ever-growing number of configuration options.

That's more true than ever in 2016 with the arrival of the Moto G4 family, offering three distinct base models, including the Moto G4 Plus, which pushes the limit with some flagship-caliber specs like 4GB of RAM, 64GB of storage, laser-assisted auto-focus, and a fingerprint scanner. While it's always nice to see a manufacturer making its phones more capable, has the Moto G lost some of its mid-range underdog charm along the way?

We've been spending some time with two of the three new Moto G4 models, the standard Moto G4 itself and the higher-end Moto G4 Plus, in the interest of finding out. Is this family still a smart choice for smartphone shoppers looking to keep costs low? Is it worth splurging on the Plus model's upgrades? Read on to find out.

find out.

In the box:

Moto G4 (Plus)

Micro USB cable

TurboPower charging adapter

Introductory guide

Safety notice

The Moto G4 and Moto G4 Plus are two phones cut from the same cloth, with nearly identical appearance. Both phones represent a significant departure from last year's Moto G design, dropping the speaker underneath the display and instead moving it up top to the earpiece, and revamping the rear dimple/camera layout: while the iconic Motorola dimple is back, this time it's a part of the removable back panel itself, and lives separate from the camera assembly above it.

That removable back panel may allow for some after-market Moto G4 customization, but the real action takes place before you even get the phone out of its box. Motorola's Moto Maker online tool allows shoppers to personalize their handsets with options for alternate front bezel colors, camera accents, and yes – even the back panel (which you can also get engraved with a short message). It would have been nice for those back panels to feature a range of material options in addition to the all colors currently available, but for a budget phone the variety available isn't bad at all.

While the Moto G4 is far from alone in the 5.5-inch space, there's something about Motorola's design that makes these handsets feel slightly larger than most – and if we were forced to try and pin that down, the big, round curves around the handsets' edge may have a lot to do with that. Despite their size, these phones feel seriously light, and we almost wish they came in a little more substantial than they do with their shared 155g mass.

Motorola's clear that neither G4 is waterproof nor intended to be submerged, but the phones still get a water-repellant nano-coating to help keep them functional through the occasional light splash – just don't go nuts.

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Two Nokia Android phones sporting 2K screens, SD 820 and IP68 certification leaked

Back in May, it was revealed that the Nokia name would once again return to the smartphone scene, featured on devices made by the Finnish manufacturer HMD global. This news generated waves of excitement in the mobile tech scene, so we made a poll asking our readers whether they thought Nokia could succeed in today's oversaturated Android smartphone market. The majority of you answered with “Yes, absolutely!”, and if the latest rumors are anything to go by, then there really might be a reason for excitement.

The latest leak suggests that there are two Nokia-branded devices in the works – a 5.2-inch and a 5.5-inch smartphone – both of which will reportedly sport a robust and premium metallic design evocative of the famous “Nokia feel” that we have been yearning for. Both handsets will reportedly be powered by Snapdragon 820 CPUs and will be IP68 certified – like the Galaxy S7, S7 Active and S7 Edge – which means complete dust resistance and protection from immersion in up to 3 ft of water for 30 minutes.

As far as screens go, the 5.2- and 5.5-inch sizes have been confirmed by two separate sources – Nokia Power User (NPU) and GizmoChina – though the latter claims 2K resolution for both, while the former states that “while display resolution is not confirmed yet we can expect a QHD resolution OLED display” on both devices.

As far as the camera department goes, the bigger of the two phones is expected to feature a 22.6MP rear shooter. The sensors on both could be the “most sensitive ever and will be based upon Nokia’s extensive research on wonder material Graphene”, NPU claims.

According to GizmoChina, the two Nokia handsets will launch in China, with the bigger of the two going on sale for around $500. The new Nokia smartphones are expected to be unveiled toward the end of 2016 but could be pushed to a Q1 2017 launch.

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IPHONE 7 RUMORS AND NEWS LEAKS

Enjoying the feel of that sparkly new rose gold iPhone 6S in your hand, and the joy of 3D Touch? We don’t want to spoil that love affair, but Apple’s already working on the iPhone 7 — and rumors about it are beginning to heat up.

Here’s what we think we know about Apple’s next major smartphone release so far.

Apple could make some big changes on the iPhone 7’s spec sheet. The latest rumor from 9to5Mac hints that the next iPhone may finally come with a minimum of 32GB of storage. The news comes from one IHS Technology analyst, whose sources and research seem to confirm that Apple will finally increase the amount of storage on the base iPhone model.

Up until the iPhone 6S, Apple’s phones only sported 1GB of RAM, even though many Android competitors used 3 or 4GB of RAM in their flagship phones. Now reports hint that the iPhone 7 will get even more RAM than the 6S, with rumors of 3GB of RAM popping up for the iPhone 7 Plus. The claim has been made more than once, and TrendForce is the latest to join the fray.

The well known tech analyst Ming-Chi Kuo also chimed in on the iPhone 7 with another report, claiming the phone will run on a new A10 chip built entirely by TSMC, a Taiwanese chip manufacturer that has worked with Apple in the past (and built some of the current A9 processors).

He also claims the iPhone 7 Plus will have 3GB of RAM, while the iPhone 7 will only use 2GB. Foxconn will apparently manufacture the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus, and it should launch toward the end of this year, Kuo said

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Samsung Galaxy J3 Pro with 5-inch HD display, 2GB RAM, 4G LTE announced

Samsung Galaxy J3 Pro smartphone has finally gone official in China, few days after it got ceritifed by TENAA. It has a 5-inch HD Super AMOLED display, is powered by a quad-core processor, runs on Android 5.1 (Lollipop), has a 8-megapixel rear camear with LED flash and a 5-megapixel front-facing camera. It has dual SIM support and 4G LTE connecivity. The back cover has metal-like finish even though it is made of polycarbonate material.

Samsung Galaxy J3 Pro specifications

5-inch (1280 x 720 Pixels) HD Super AMOLED display

1.2 GHz quad-core processor

2GB RAM, 16GB internal memory, expandable up to 128GB with microSD

Android 5.1 (Lollipop) OS

8MP auto focus rear camera with LED Flash, f/2.2 aperture

5MP front-facing camera, f/2.2 aperture

Dimensions: 142.2 x 71.3 x 8mm; Weight: 139g

3.5mm audio jack, FM Radio

4G LTE / 3G HSPA+, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.1, GPS, NFC

2600mAh battery

The Samsung Galaxy J3 Pro comes in Gold and Gray colors and will head to China Telecom for the price of 990 Yuan (US$ 150 / Rs. 10,090). No word on availability yet.

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Gadget Leak

Gadget Leak

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