[VIDEO] This slick Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge concept could be mistaken for the Samsung Galaxy S6

Watch the video below and tell us: would you have guessed that was a Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge if you weren’t told what it was? We don’t blame you if you would, because concept artist Jermaine Smit made sure he stuck to realism for his latest work.


This concept video doesn’t showcase some wild and whacky design from a dream. Instead, Smit decided to make it based on all the rumors and leaks we’ve heard so far. That’s why it looks almost exactly like a Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge, and we even had to double check to make sure the B-Roll footage in this video wasn’t lifted from Samsung themselves.

But you’ll notice things like a tweaked home button and the inclusion of a USB Type-C port as differentiating factors compared to Samsung’s 2015 phones. Otherwise, he did a remarkable job putting the render together, and we wouldn’t be surprised if Samsung gave him a call to join their marketing team because this is some very slick work. Interested in more? Be sure to check out his Behance profile right here for concepts about all sorts of smartphones and tablets.

Photos of updated Google Glass Enterprise Edition exposed by the FCC

After reports of a work-focused “ Google Glass Enterprise Edition” began swirling around the net, photos of the upcoming headset have finally surfaced thanks to the FCC. The Commission posted a handful of photos in its documentation, showing the device from every angle and even open, exposing all of the device’s (hopefully improved) internal hardware.

For the most part, things look largely the same as previous models, with the exception of a large metal hinge being added, probably so the display can fold completely flat against the rest of the device. Word on the street is this updated version of Glass will be much more durable than previous models and distributed only to Google’s Glass for Work startups. A separate model — sans the display — aimed at fitness and sports is also said to launch sometime later.

Recently, the Google Glass team shifted gears, moving Glass out of Google’s X Labs and officially renaming it Project Aura. This may have had something to do with the team now reportedly working on more than just Glass with a handful of other wearables also in the works.

With the new Google Glass 2016 model already receiving its FCC certification, it seems it’s on a roll to finally launch next year. Although this wont be a general consumer release, who knows what else Google has planned for 2016. We imagine we’ll learn more during Google I/O where Google will more than likely make this new hardware available to developers to get up and coding on.

[VIDEO] Someone’s Samsung Galaxy S5 already has Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow up and running

According to Google’s latest Platform Distribution numbers for December 2015, Android 6.0 Marshmallow is only running on .5% of Android devices, just a small blip on the radar. For the vast majority of Android users in the world — those that don’t own Nexus devices — the wait for Android 6.0 Marshmallow is an excruciating one.


We know it’s coming. Most of the bigger name manufacturers have already committed to bringing the latest OS update to their older flagship devices. It’s just the waiting — and not knowing when to expect it — that’s the hard part. For Samsung Galaxy S5 owners, a leaked roadmap showed the update was still “awaiting approval” with no ETA in sight.

But one lucky Galaxy S5 owner seems to have received the update a tad bit early, with Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow already up and running on his device. It’s unclear if he received this update over-the-air, in which case it would be a pretty big mishap on Samsung’s part, or he simply flashed a leaked build meant for another Samsung device. In either case, don’t expect this rolling out to your handset anytime soon, especially if you live in the US where software updates face the usual carrier approval process.

Last week we told you guys about Samsung’s early software program where they gave a few lucky users the chance to test out the new Marshmallow update (in beta form) on the Samsung Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge in the UK and South Korea. The test period for the beta ends January 18th, so don’t expect a rollout until sometime after that date at the very least.

Samsung Galaxy S7 and larger S7 Edge dimensions compared against the S6

Earlier today, we told you guys all about rumors of this year’s Samsung Galaxy S7 being joined by a larger sized Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge model. We know the regular S7 would feature a slighter larger 5.2-inch display, while the S7 Edge would be a 5.5-inch curved AMOLED display.
If you’re anything like us, you’re probably wondering how this will translate into the overall dimensions of each these device and how much larger the S7 might be when compared to last year’s Samsung Galaxy S6, one of our favorite petite-sized Androids.


In a new leak tipped by Shai Mizrachi for Android Authority, alleged dimensions for both these devices appear to have been leaked, taken from what appears to be a 3D CAD render used by 3rd party case manufacturers. The best part about the leak is we get a look at the front and tops of the phones as compared against last year’s S6. This gives us a great idea of what to possibly expect when the pair of new Galaxy devices are announced in February of next year.

As you can see (and seemingly confirmed by other leaks), both the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge will have slightly curved backs, similar to the Galaxy Samsung Note 5, only much less prominent. We’ll keep our fingers crossed that Samsung had the sense to include a bigger battery in what appears to be a slightly thicker form factor, but we’ll have to wait and see. The camera also seems to less pronounced, a feature of Samsung’s newly announced BRITECELL camera tech.

Our favorite part is that the regular S7 and S6 are both reportedly the same height, with a slightly smaller bottom bezel coming on the S7. With most Android flagships unapologetically growing taller each year, it’s nice Samsung isn’t sipping that Kool-Aid — at least not with their staple. You’ll also noticed the absence of an IR blaster along the top, something we really hope doesn’t come to pass (we love universal remote functionality).

Despite telling myself that I would calm my mammaries for next year’s Galaxy device, I’m already feeling the hype take hold. Anyone else excited for next year’s new Samsung releases?

New alleged Samsung Galaxy S7 case renders give us a closer look at the thing

GSMArena and case manufacturer ITSKINS have teamed up again to provide another set of case renders for an upcoming phone. 2016’s top challenger — otherwise known as the Samsung Galaxy S7 — is the device being paraded this time.

The renders are quite interesting a couple of different ways. For starters, they seemingly confirm that the Samsung Galaxy S7 will have an overall shape and size similar to this year’s Galaxy S6. There are a couple of subtlties worth noting, namely that the curve on the rear of the regular Galaxy S7 will be more profound, while the Galaxy S7 Edge won’t have a rear curve ( which makes sense as it’ll have a curved display).


The renders also show a different home button compared to what previous CAD renders told us to expect. While the home button on those renders were wider and squared off, Samsung seems to have simply made a bigger version of the Samsung Galaxy S6’s home button.

But there’s reason to hold off on believing that either set of the leaked renders are telling the truth. Case manufacturers typically only get dimensions for depth, width, and height of the device, but don’t always necessarily have access to intricate details about other external quirks.

The biggest evidence of this was seen with the Nexus 6P’s leaked cases — manufacturers’ early renders covered up the device’s rear panel which houses sensors, and it was only after the device was made official that the renders were tweaked to reflect that. That said, we’d imagine something like the home button’s exact shape is something case manufacturers would need in case they are looking to create full body cases (like the Otterbox Defender) so it’s possible ITSKINS does have access to that info.

All that aside, it’s still important to remember that case renders are not to be taken as gospel. We’ve seen some case manufacturers use fan-made renders to show off their cases early, and it wouldn’t surprise us if this Galaxy S7 render was simply a modified Samsung Galaxy S6 as rumors say to expect a near-identical design. Take it for what you will.

$2,440 buys you a gold plated BlackBerry Porsche Design P'9983 from Vietnam

The gold plating experts from Vietnam are back again with a new offering. This time, Karalux focused its efforts on BlackBerry's Porsche Design P'9983, launched last year with BlackBerry OS 10.3 on board.


If you still enjoy the Canadian company's own operating system (and thus don't care about the newer, Android-running Priv), this might be for you - especially if gold is your thing.


You can now buy a gold plated P'9983 from Karalux for VND 55 million, which currently translates into $2,440 or €2,226. This price is valid for international orders, if you're in Vietnam you only need to pay VND 50 million ($2,219, €2,023). In either case you're getting a smartphone plated with 24k gold.

As you may have expected, the handset's innards aren't touched, so in terms of hardware you're getting the same 3.1-inch 720x720 touchscreen, Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro chipset with 1.5 GHz dual-core CPU, 2GB of RAM, 64GB of expandable storage, 8 MP main camera, 2 MP selfie shooter, and 2,100 mAh battery.

On the other hand if you already have the device and just send it in for gold plating, you'll shell out either VND 15 million ($665, €607) or VND 20 million ($887, €810), depending on which type of gold you prefer.

The plating process takes three straight working hours, because more than ten different stages are involved, according to the chief engineer responsible for the P'9983's gold plating.

Rumor: Samsung Galaxy S7 will cost you more money, but comes with an iris scanner

According to a report out of Poland, you might want to start saving up for the Samsung Galaxy S7 you plan on buying next year. If this report is legit, Samsung plans on hiking the price for the Galaxy S7 series. According to Evan Blass (who once upon a time was well-known by his @evleaks Twitter handle), we will see four variations of the manufacturer's flagship model in 2016. They include the Samsung Galaxy S7, Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge, Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge Plus and the Samsung Galaxy S7 Plus.


Today's report states that one reason for the price hike could be the new iris scanner that Sammy plans on stuffing into the entire Galaxy S7 line. With the iris scanner on board, a steely stare at your Samsung Galaxy S7 should be able to unlock the handset, verify your identity, and basically do all of the things that a fingerprint scanner can do. Because everyone has unique patterns in their eyes, the iris scanner is the most precise type of biometrics available

Recently, we passed along to you images of some new cases said to be made for both the Samsung Galaxy S7 and the Samsung Galaxy S7 Plus. One of the photos contained an image that was claimed to be that of the Galaxy S7, which will apparently include a rectangular home button. The Galaxy S7 should be unveiled on February 21st, the day before MWC opens in Barcelona, during the Samsung Unpacked 2016 event. And a leaked road map showing China Mobile's upcoming handset launches reveals a March release for the Galaxy S7.

With this report in mind, we could see the Samsung Galaxy S7 carry a retail price above $700 at the time it is released in the U.S.

Mountek AIRSNAP is the most stable vent mounted car dock we’ve ever used [DEALS]

We were big fans of the Mountek’s CD slot car mount when we reviewed it a little over 3 years ago. A brilliant way to repurpose your car’s long forgotten CD player, we’ve been using it just about every day since and quite frankly, couldn’t live without it. Since then, the nGroove has undergone a few revisions, with Mountek creating a version that uses magnets to hold your phone in place instead of traditional arms.


But, no matter how much we love the CD slot mount — it’s definitely not for everyone. While we do all our music listening by streaming it from the cloud, there are still people out there that use CD’s (for our younger readers, these are like tiny records that only store about 80 minutes worth of music) or have decks installed that don’t even include a CD slot.

In an attempt at covering all their bases, Mountek has introduced the AIRSNAP, a magnetic dock that attaches to your car’s air vent. We know what you’re thinking — car vents suck and normally you’d be right, especially when you’re using with a larger 5.5-inch+ smartphone. But the AIRSNAP is different in that it features a tiny stabilizing arm to ensure the mount is held securely without your phone wiggling and wobbling around on the road.



That’s not to say there is no shake. Air vent blades aren’t the most stable things to attach to. But in our test, it was far better than most other vent mounts we’ve used. Just keep in mind that while the AIRSNAP works great with most air vents, newer cars with those cylinder-type vents aren’t compatible. You’ll also want to mount the AIRSNAP on the highest possible air vent blade to keep airflow unobstructed.

Inside the the AIRSNAP are 4 powerful magnets just underneath a grippy rubber that, when paired with 1 of the 2 included steel “Badges”, provides a level of convenience and a streamlined look that simply can’t be beat. The steel badges that come inside the box feature 3M adhesive on the back and while you could attach these directly to the back of your phone, it’s a little less intrusive to just stick them to the underside of your favorite smartphone case. In the case of our Nexus 6, we didn’t even need to stick it on using the adhesive and everything worked just fine. There are even larger tablet-sized badges (sold separately) if you want to go that route.

Overall, we were quite pleased with the AIRSNAP. Although we prefer a CD slot mount (less shake, even if it is more of an eyesore), this is a great alternative for those that still listen to CDs, or can’t stand suction cup mounts. Simply put, it’s another great addition to Mountek’s current dock offerings and we give it an enthusiastic 2 thumbs up. Normally priced at $30, the AIRSNAP is included in Amazon’s Deal of the Day for only $22.46.

Pros
-Small, minimal design
-Significantly more stable than other vent mounts
-Magnets making docking/undocking incredibly easy
-Even larger sized devices are held securely in place

Cons
-Only comes with 2 steel Badges for your devices (3 would have been nice)
-Not well suited for case-less phones, especially those with a curved back
-A little on the pricey side

Buy on Amazon: Mountek AIRSNAP ($22.46)

[VIDEO] New video provides an animated look at the inside of the BlackBerry Priv

The BlackBerry Priv might not have been able to single-handedly kick start the company's hardware sales in the fiscal third quarter. But things should change for the better early next year. BlackBerry's first Android powered slider will soon be available from the largest mobile carrier in the U.S., Verizon, and that can only mean more Priv units will get rung up. The Verizon version of the phone has already cleared the FCC.

The last time a BlackBerry phone was so eagerly anticipated by Verizon subscribers, it was back in 2008 when BlackBerry's first touchscreen phone was launched. The BlackBerry Storm 9530 came out of the box half-baked with a number of hardware and software flaws. This was supposed to be BlackBerry's answer to the Apple iPhone, and it failed miserably (although the BlackBerry Storm 2 9550 was a major improvement in every way).

A new promotional video was released today for the Priv, and by using animation to display how the device is put together, viewers are supposed to get the feeling that the components inside the slider are well protected from drops. That might be the case, but keep in mind that there is no protection against spills and rain. Don't even think about submerging the slider. Perhaps a sequel version of the phone will include IP certification.

Ever wonder what the inside of the BlackBerry Priv looks like? You can get a quick look at the phone's innards and how it all fits together, by clicking on the video below.

[VIDEO] Deal: Turn your phone into a gaming machine with the PhoneJoy GamePad 2

If you’re a big mobile gamer, you know that touchscreen controls aren’t always the best. In fact, most of the time they suck. Android Area has a nice deal on a gamepad that connects with your phone and gives you more traditional physical controls.

The PhoneJoy GamePad 2 is an expandable, portable controller for your phone. It can expand to accept any smartphone in portrait or landscape mode, including big boys like the Nexus 6P. Once docked, your handset takes on a second life as a powerful gaming machine.

The GamePad 2 normally goes for around $80, but right now you can snag it from Android Area for just $60. It may be a little late to give this as a Christmas gift, but it’s never too late to buy something awesome for yourself. Grab it before it’s gone!
Expands to three times its original size
Fits most any smartphone or tablet (iPhones & Androids)
Includes 12 powerful stainless steel springs
Packs three different navigation & play modes
Delivers up to 14 hours of play time on one charge
Charges quickly via USB cord
Supports the ability to connect your smartphone or tablet to your TV via MHL to play on the big screen

Samsung Galaxy S7 & S7 Plus Cases Leaked

Just over a couple of weeks after we brought you exclusive Samsung Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Plus renders, images showing protective covers for the yet-to-be announced flagship smartphones have leaked online.


The images reveal things like a rectangular home button, a bulging out rear camera unit, volume buttons on the left, and power button on the right. A quick comparison reveals that all this is inline with what the renders had revealed.

The Galaxy S7 Plus case (shown above) suggests a design similar to the S7, although it does indicate a huge display - the Plus variant is expected to be a 6.0-inch device. Micro USB and headphone ports, as well as speaker grill are all at the bottom of the devices.

For those who aren't already aware, aside from the Galaxy S7 and S7 Plus, the flagship is said to have two more variants: the S7 edge, and S7 edge Plus.

The Samsung Galaxy A9 is now official with 4,000mAh battery, 6-inch display, 3GB of RAM and more

Enough of the leaks and the teasing: the Samsung Galaxy A9 is finally here. While the line is positioned at the mid-tier, the Galaxy A9 stretches toward the high-end side of things with its specs.

Let’s jump right into the tale of the tape:
6-inch 1920 x 1080 Super AMOLED display
13 megapixel rear camera with optical image stabilization, 8 megapixel front camera
64-bit Octa-Core Snapdragon 652 chipset
3GB of RAM, 32GB of storage + microSD slot
4,000mAh battery
Android 5.1.1 Lollipop
Fingeprint scanner + NFC

And, of course, it’ll be one of the nicest looking mid-range handsets you’ll find thanks to metal craftsmanship. Samsung’s aiming to launch this thing in China by the end of the year. We’re not yet sure on exact pricing, but if you’re outside of China and want to import it expect to pay a bit more than something like the HTC One A9.

[VIDEO] Android 6.0 beta seeding to Galaxy S6 and S6 edge in the UK

What do you know - the Marshmallow beta for the Samsung Galaxy S6/S6 edge that was supposed to be exclusive to South Korea, has started rolling out in the UK as well. The TouchWiz-zed Android 6.0 firmware comes in the form of a 1.2GB download and brings quite a few changes.

The RAW image capture, which was rumored for previous updates is now finally a reality, as well as the option to manually select a shutter speed. Adding apps to a folder is now possible from within the folder and lockscreen shortcuts are no longer limited to camera and dialer and can now be customized.

Android 6.0 Marshmallow beta on the Galaxy S6 edge

The power menu has changed from the small pop-up window it used to be for ages to a row of icons on a blurred background. And now that we've mentioned power, the update brings back the option to disable fast charging, if you're particularly concerned about your battery's health.

Android 6.0 Marshmallow beta on the Galaxy S6 edge

A redesign of the notification shade marks the departure from Lollipop, much like the blue/green combo introduced us to it. The new color scheme was featured in an earlier Samsung Marshmallow leak, and people seemed to believe it was fake on those grounds alone - well, apparently it's the real deal.

New leak suggests LG G5 will feature dual rear camera setup

LG's upcoming G5 flagship smartphone, which has been the subject of some rumors and leaks until now, will come with a dual camera set-up (16MP + 8MP) at the back.
This was revealed in a new leak, which came courtesy of a Reddit user who also shared the following image that apparently shows the device's body partially obscured by a black box.

A number of other specs were also revealed, including 5.3-inch Quad HD display, SD820 SoC with 3GB RAM, 8MP front camera, as well as a SIM and microSD slot. In addition, the leakster said that the device will also have a color spectrum and a heart rate sensor fitted in the camera assembly, as well as a fingerprint sensor embedded in the power button.

Other features that were revealed include a USB-C port, bottom firing speaker, as well as IR blaster on top. There was no word on the launch time frame though - recent reports have suggested that will happen in February.

Deal: Get the 32GB Nexus 6 for $249.99, 64GB for $299.99 at Amazon

If you aren’t against the idea of going with a year-old smartphone (that can still hold its own and has Marshmallow, to boot) then Amazon has a great deal going. The Nexus 6 (not to be confused with the Huawei-made Nexus 6P) is going for just $249.99 at Amazon. That’ll get you the 32GB model, andadding $50 gets you double that storage.


The Nexus 6 should remain one of the first devices in line for new versions of Android over the next couple of years. It received Marshmallow about as timely as its 2015 counterparts, and its hardware is likely to be able to handle any big updates Google has for the future.

32GB Nexus 6 for $249.99

64GB Nexus 6 for $299.99

China Mobile lets loose March arrival expectations for the Samsung Galaxy S7

The Wall Street Journal told us to expect a Samsung Galaxy S7 launch to happen in March 2016, and considering their information is rarely incorrect we’d say it was worth believing. But if you aren’t as trusting, maybe word from one of the carriers who will sell this thing will make you a believer.

China Mobile recently held a presentation showing their launch plans for the earlier parts of 2016. Alongside a hodgepodge of devices planned from local talent, Samsung’s Galaxy S7 had a spot of its own on the March column of the presentation slide. This would appear to line up with earlier rumors of a February announcement, as Samsung typically doesn’t like to wait longer than a month before delivering announced flagships.

There weren’t any other details to be had from China Mobile, but let’s recap what we know about the device.
It’ll look like the Samsung Galaxy S6 in terms of design.
It’s likely to use Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 820 and their in-house Exynos 8890, depending on region.
Samsung is said to be using a pressure sensitive display.
There will be no microSD slot or removable battery, just like last year’s models.
It will have USB Type-C.
There will be 4 different modes: S7, S7 Edge, S7 Edge Plus, S7 Plus, with the main difference being in size.

We’ll have to await more concrete details to make their way through the rumor mill before knowing exactly what’s in store, but one thing we’re sure about is that the Samsung Galaxy S7 — like all previous devices in the lineup — will look to push the bar for high-end flagship devices in more ways than one.

[VIDEO] Android’s latest ‘Be together, not the same’ commercial features finger puppets in all shapes and sizes

Everybody has a fingerprint, but no two are exactly the same. Google’s latest Android commercial tries drive this point home, showing casing a variety of fingerprint puppets in multiple personalities, colors, and sizes.
The video is yet another in Android’s “Be together, not the same” series which is supposed to show consumers that when it comes to Android, not every device is the same — and that’s okay. In fact, it could be the platform’s greatest strength.

Why finger puppets? Well, perhaps it had a little something to do with Google finally adding support for fingerprint sensors in Android Marshmallow, or just the uniqueness of the fingerprint in general, but either way the playful video is a fun way to get their point across.

What do you guys think? Is Google hitting the mark when it comes to “Be together, not the same” ad campaign?

[VIDEO] Watch the Motorola Droid Turbo 2 survive 900ft drop with only a flesh wound

Motorola made bold claims earlier this year when they said their new smartphone, the Motorola DROID Turbo 2, featured a shatter-proof display. Many YouTubers took this as a challenge, putting the device through extreme stress tests most other devices would never survive. But time and time again, no matter how hard people come at the Motorola DROID Turbo 2, the device just wont crack.

That’s probably because, unlike most displays, the Droid Turbo 2’s doesn’t have any glass in it all, with Motorola opting instead for multiple layers of plastic for a 100% shatter-proof durability. Proving once again you simply can’t crack thin sheets of plastic film, UnlockRiver is taking a crack at the Turbo 2, dropping it from more than 900ft in the air using a drone. Does the Turbo 2 survive? You’ll have to watch the video to find out:

This could be the next Moto X flagship with a nice helping of metal

Motorola is surely hard at work on their flagship products for 2016, and although the company typically waits until mid-late summer to dish out details we may already have our first look at one of their ideas.

The photo you see below was leaked in Chinese social circles. First thing’s first: the legitimacy of the photo is in question. It’s not that there’s strong evidence that it’s fake, it’s just that we don’t know how trustworthy the source may be. That said, we’d say someone would be going FAR out of their way to fake something so elaborate.

With that out of the way let’s talk about we can see. We can see a device that seems to be draped in metal. This isn’t a new trait of Motorola’s — in fact, their original DROID was one of the first Android phone with a metal build — but it’d be the first time in a long time that we’ve seen it from them.

The shots we get only show the rear, so that’s all we can speak on right now. Thankfully, said rear isn’t without its interesting bits, starting with that huge camera module we see up top. It’s a circular puck that houses Motorola’s logo and a lens that looks quite a bit larger than we’re used to. We’re not sure what Motorola would do with the camera for this thing, but considering they’re one of the few who have yet to jump on the optical image stabilization train we’d hope that prominent bump will be used to house the technology for that. A bigger lens could also hint toward exceptional low-light performance.

We’re not sure what Motorola would do with the camera for this thing, but considering they’re one of the few who have yet to jump on the optical image stabilization train we’d hope that prominent bump will be used to house the technology for that. A bigger lens could also hint toward exceptional low-light performance.

Looking lower on the rear we can see a few prominent speaker grills. They don’t look great, to be honest, but remember that this could just be a prototype and there’s no guarantee that they’d go with that design for the launch. Heck, there’s no guarantee this thing is even real, so don’t pass many conclusions either.

There’s not much else to know about the device right now, but you can be certain we’ll be looking to find out more. What are you thinking so far? Let us know with a shout below!

(VIDEO) Nvidia demonstrates Android 6.0 Marshmallow on the Shield Tablet K1

NVIDIA wants you to know that Marshmallow for the SHIELD Tablet K1 is nearly ready, and they’ve done so with a nice teaser showing the goods off. Will O’Neil — whom you may remember from when TechTV was still a thing — takes us through the update, which doesn’t depart far from Marshmallow’s natural kit but does add a couple of new NVIDIA-specific things.

For starters, NVIDIA has introduced an updated camera app that gives more options which take advantage of the Tegra X1’s impressive image processor. You’ll be able to make all sorts of changes that are processed on the fly to snap the exact photos you want. We also get refined GeForce Now implementation that’ll bring the streamable console games up-front and center.

Everything else — granular permission control, Google Now on Tap and Doze Mode — are all Marshmallow. So, when’s it coming? That’s the question everyone wants the answer to, and the question that NVIDIA still isn’t yet ready to deliver an answer for. That said, if they’re so proud of their progress that they’re releasing this teaser then we imagine they’re quite close to pushing it live.

Samsung Galaxy S7 to have pressure sensitive display, USB Type-C, 4 different variants at launch [RUMORS]

New Samsung Galaxy S7 rumors are always interesting, and today brings forth some very big expectations. The first comes out of the Wall Street Journal, who has heard from sources that Samsung is looking to go with pressure sensitive displays for their 2016 flagship.

We’re not all too surprised Samsung was considering the move after Apple introduced it in the iPhone 6S and 6S Plus, but there wasn’t anything solid to cling on when it came to affirmation. While Samsung won’t be considered the innovator in this case, they’ll certainly maintain their status quo of pushing exciting new technology and standards whenever and wherever available. Samsung’s also said to be exploring USB Type-C which would improve not only data transfer rates, but also offer natural fast charging (though Samsung’s 2015 phones already charge nearly as fast as USB Type-C devices).

Moving on, another solid source — @evleaks — has caught glimpse of a product database which tells of not 1 or even 2 variant, but 4 different Samsung Galaxy S7 variants. Here’s what we’re told to expect from Samsung in the early parts of 2016:
Samsung Galaxy S7
Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge
Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge Plus
Samsung Galaxy S7 Plus

That’s a whole lot of variation, we’d say. The Plus variants are sure to be big-sized models of the other two and we wouldn’t expect much difference otherwise. This launch strategy by Samsung could be risky, but it allows them to cover all their bases in a market where Apple has made an increased demand in bigger phones.

It’s wise for the company to launch their phablets alongside the standard models to keep pace with the bitten fruit company, but whether it will help their financial performance improve remains to be seen.Recent rumors suggest the Samsung Galaxy S7 lineup won’t be all that different from the lineup preceding it, though that’s mostly in the areas of looks and there are still other tricks (like the aforementioned pressure sensitive displays) Samsung could have up its sleeve to make it a worthy upgrade.

Samsung Galaxy A9 leaks with massive 4000mAh battery

Battery life is a common problem in smartphones today. Despite the complaints from users, phones keep getting thinner, and batteries keep getting smaller. Every once in a while, there comes a phone that bucks this trend. The Samsung Galaxy A9 is one such device, and thanks to some leaked documents, we can see it now.

The Galaxy A9 is set to be the flagship phone for Samsung’s A-series. It has mid-range specs, but high-end looks. A strategy similar to another phone with the “A9” moniker. The A9 will join the previously announced A3, A5, and A7. With the A9 you’ll get a 6-inch 1080p Super AMOLED display, Snapdragon 620 processor, 3GB of RAM, 13MP camera, and the massive 4,000 mAh battery we alluded to. Unfortunately, the A9 will be launching with Android 5.1.1.

Samsung has also included a fingerprint scanner on the A9, so you can use Samsung Pay. Most of these specs would be good enough for a high-end device, but the processor is firmly mid-range. All in all, it looks like an excellent phone, but don’t expect to see it here in the US. The A9 will be available in China in January for CNY 3,000.

ASUS, LG make fun of iPhone’s new smart battery case and its ridiculous hump

So, instead of sacrificing a bit of thinness for a bigger battery pack, Apple has opted to go for an unsightly hump for users to attach to their iPhones. The hump — which comes in at a whopping $99 — adds additional battery power over the internal unit.

If self-admission that their batteries aren’t large enough to satiate most power users’ need isn’t enough embarrassment, ASUS and LG want to drive that home with some funny marketing. The two companies used the opportunity to ridicule Apple on Twitter, noting that their devices provide more battery life without having that ridiculous hump to show for it.

Of course, this probably won’t do much in the way of keeping Apple from selling more phones than the other two companies combined, but it sure does get a kick out of us internet folk.

Here’s a clearer idea of what the Samsung Galaxy S7 is said to look like, complete with case renders [VIDEO]

The Samsung Galaxy S7 is right around the corner, apparently, so you can expect the leaks to keep flowing in. Uswitch and Onleaks are the benefactors this time, with the duo putting together some clear renders of what they believe the Samsung Galaxy S7 will look like based on the specifications sent to case manufacturers.

Not much has changed from the earlier rough CAD drawings we were treated to. It still looks like a Samsung Galaxy S6, so don’t expect any huge design overhaul (which earlier rumors advised). The one notable difference is that the home button appears to be more rectangular and squared off at the corners, as well as a tad wider overall. It’s not a big change, but certainly noticeable to those who use Samsung phones daily.

The “Plus” variant of the Galaxy S7 also apparently comes with a more “rounded” frame than the original. We’re not sure how big the difference will be when we get the actual device in our hands, but it shouldn’t be off-putting to those who prefer their devices to be more squared off. The renders also corroborate the notion that the microSD slot we once hoped to return is nowhere to be found.

We obviously can’t pass full judgment on leaked CAD renders alone, but what are you feeling so far? Are you OK with the fact that Samsung is going with a more iterative design this time over something more evolutionary? Be sure to sound off straight ahead!