Another press images of Motorola Droid Turbo leaks

More press images of Motorola Droid Turbo made the rounds online. The high-end Android powerhouse for Verizon Wireless will make its debut in a little over a week, on October 28.

In line with past leaks, the new image showcases the device in black and red color scheme. The photo appears to show that the two color schemes will feature different texture on the back.

Rumored specs of the Motorola Droid Turbo include 5.2-inch QHD (2,560 x 1,440 pixels) display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 chipset with a 2.65 GHz quad-core CPU, 3GB of RAM, 32GB of storage, 21 MP rear camera with dual-LED flash, and huge 3,900 mAh battery. The handset will run Android 4.4.4 KitKat when it launches.

We will be covering the launch of Motorola Droid Turbo live. Be sure to tune in for the full scoop on the smartphone.

Xolo One is a $105 smartphone that will get Android 5.0 Lollipop

Xolo introduced the latest addition to its lineup of attractively priced smartphones. Dubbed Xolo One the new droid costs just INR 6,599, which translates to about $105, making it one of the most affordable KitKat-powered handset around. More impressively, the company has committed to updating the Xolo One to Android 5.0 Lollipop later on, making it one of the cheapest tickets to Google’s latest ride.

As you could expect at this price point, the hardware of the smartphone isn’t quite as impressive. The Xolo One comes with a 4.5” IPS screen of the lowly FWVGA resolution (854 x 480 pixels) that gives a pixel density of 218ppi. The handset is powered by a Mediatek MTK 6582M chipset with a quad-core Cortex-A7 CPU running at 1.3GHz, a Mali 400 MP2 GPU and 1GB of RAM.

The Xolo One comes with dual SIM slots and support for 3G and 21Mbps HSPA networks, but no LTE. There’s a microSD card slot for expanding the 8GB of available storage by up to 32GB.

On the photography side the Xolo One offers a 5MP fixed-focus camera with BSI sensor, LED flash and 1080p video recording as well as a VGA front-facer. Connectivity is covered by microUSB 2.0, GPS, Bluetooth 4.0 and Wi-Fi b/g/n.

The smartphone is powered by a 1,700mAh battery that should be able to last for up to 430 hours of stand-by and up to 19h of talk-time as long as you stick to 2G networks. If you switch to 3G however the numbers fall to 377 and 8 hours, respectively.

The Xolo One will be available in 6 different colors, including brown, black, white and red and will feature “leather finish back” (faux Samsung-style leather, we assume).

Android 5.0 Lollipop official - Nexus 5, 6, 7, 9 & 10

Tonight Google has finally released the biggest update to Android in years. Android 5.0 'Lollipop' as it's called has been announced alongside new hardware in the form of the Nexus 9 tablet and Nexus 6 smartphone. The operating system was first announced back at June's Google I/O conference, and is one of the most hotly anticipated Android updates ever. Android 5.0 Lollipop is a major departure for the mobile OS, with a completely redesigned interface, more fluid animations, a renewed focus on improving battery life and, for the first time, compatibility with 64-bit processors.

Android 5.0 Lollipop will go up against iOS 8, which along with the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus will give Apple devices a major boost. Google has been drip-feeding new features and announcements about Android 5.0 Lollipop over the past few months, so we've already got a lot to go on, even before the announcement.

We'll be regularly updating this article with all the latest updates, so keep checking back for the latest news.

Android 5.0 Lollipop release date

Revealed today, Android 5.0 Lollipop will be available first on Nexus 9, which can be pre-ordered from October 17th and will be available from the 3rd of November. The mysterious Nexus PLayer will also follow those dates. The Nexus 6 will follow a week or two later with pre-orders in 'late October' and on sale in 'late november'. 

Those with older Nexus devices, namely the Nexus 5, Nexus 7 and Nexus 10 (plus Google Play Edition devices) will receive updates to their devices 'in the coming weeks'. We're pleased to see the older Nexus 10 supported here, but otherwise there are few surprises.

Android 5.0 Lollipop updates for older phones

Any major Android release will be eagerly anticipated, but it's not much fun being stuck on an outdated version because your phone manufacturer doesn't plan to release an update. The situation with updates is starting to become clear but there's still a lot of announcements going on, so head over to our Android 5.0 Lollipop updates to find out if and when your handset is getting updated.

How to get Android 5.0 Lollipop developer preview now

If you want to get your hands dirty then an early version of Android 5.0 Lollipop is available right now as a developer preview form for the Nexus 5 smartphone and Nexus 7 tablet. You can download the developer preview of Android L 5 for free. With a bit of fiddling you can even install it on handsets from third party manufacturers; there's already a custom ROM for the HTC One (m7) and others are appearing every day on the XDA Developer forums.

Android 5.0 Lollipop Material Design

Android 5.0 Lollipop has over 5,000 new APIs ticking away behind the scenes, but the most obvious changes will always be the visual ones. The new 'Material Design' (Google's caps) scheme is set to appear on every Google platform, not just Android. Apparently Google drew inspiration from pens and inks, with every icon and user interface element casting an accurate shadow to give a sense of depth. Everything animates as you touch it, with objects flying into view and tapped icons rippling like puddle.

The home screen, lock screen, settings pull-down menu, main settings page and even the onscreen navigation buttons have received a makeover. Android 5.0 Lollipop will also include new system widgets to match the design scheme. Finally, every Google app will be redesigned to match the new look, with some having already been upgraded in time for the developer preview release.

Certain redesigned apps were teased behind closed doors at Google I/O, but that hasn't stopped leaked images appearing online. The highest profile leak so far has revealed a completely new look for the Play Store, on both tablet and smartphone. Images of a work-in-progress version of the app show a greater focus on images, a simplified layout, more colour coordination and more prominence for film trailers or app/game teaser videos. The leaked images still show Google has some work to do, as detailed content appears to be missing, but it should make it much easier to browse through the expansive Play Store to find what you're looking for once the update arrives.

The notifications system has been completely overhauled for Android 5.0 Lollipop as well. Currently, Android users have to unlock their device to check, respond to or dismiss notifications, but with Android L they will be able to do this from the lock screen. They will appear as a stack of Google Now-like cards, which can be scrolled through rather than flooding the screen. Each one has an in-line preview, giving context.

Read our review of the amazing new Moto G

Android 5.0 Lollipop features

Android 5.0 Lollipop isn't all about looks; it will also include lots of clever new features. Personalised unlocking is one of our favourites. Essentially it makes your smartphone or tablet search for familiar Bluetooth gadgets, Wi-Fi networks, locations and even voice imprints to deactivate any lockscreen protections, letting you jump straight into your phone when it knows you're nearby. If the device can't detect any of these metrics, anyone trying to use it will be presented with the standard lockscreen.

The recent apps page will become the recent content page, displaying all your content in one list of Google Now-styled cards. You'll be able to jump between apps and the web, with links in Google search results jumping straight from the browser into the relevant part of an app. Although not strictly built into Android 5.0 Lollipop, Google will also be giving its mobile webpages and search an overhaul in time for its release. The Material Design will be carried across, along with smooth animations and a slicker interface.

Google will be updating its stock Android keyboard for Android 5.0 Lollipop, adding more personalisation and scrapping the individual tiled keys - instead each letter will sit on a flat background, which should make it easier for those with larger fingers and thumbs to type quickly. Also set to arrive are a Do No Disturb mode, which automatically deactivates all notifications and audio during set times, support for Bluetooth 4.1 and a completely redesigned Audio backend with support for USB audio devices.

Android 5.0 Lollipop rumoured features - Multi-Window

Google has been pretty transparent about the features we can expect from Android 5.0 Lollipop, but that doesn't mean the company isn't also working on things that aren't ready for the public to see just yet. One of the biggest appears to be a multi-window mode, which would let you open several apps at once rather than force you to toggle between them one at a time.

According to AndroidPolice, Google has been working on multi-window support for the best part of a year, with the intention of adding it to Android once the next version of the operating system is officially released. It would work by swiping apps in the 'recents' menu to either the left or right side of the screen when your device is in landscape mode, or to the top or bottom when in portrait mode. The apps would then snap to fill half the screen. You could display two apps at a time - not four, as seen in Samsung'sGalaxy Tab Pro tablet range.

^ AndroidPolice mockup of the rumoured multi-window mode

You will apparently be able to set how much of the screen is dedicated to each app - either an equal 50/50 split, or 25/75, and drag text and images between the two open apps. According to the unnamed AndroidPolice source, the feature would be built into Android and wouldn't require apps to support it specifically, although it doesn't work particularly well in its early stage. If it does appear, we doubt it will be at launch then; intead we think Google may add it in a point update to Android 5.0 Lollipop once it's happy with performance.

Android 5.0 Lollipop performance

The biggest back-end change is the move from the Dalvik runtime to ART. Part of the operating system at a basic level, the ART runtime supports ARM, x86 and MiPS instructions, and a mix of AOT, JIT and interpreted code. Essentially Android now speaks a lot more languages and will work on more CPUs than its predecessor. This alone could improve performance by as much as twofold over Dalvik, without developers making any code adjustments.

DirectX 11-level graphics will finally make their way to Android using the Android extension pack. This set of APIs support advanced effects such as tessellation, geometry shaders, texture compression and compute shaders, and have the potential to put mobile devices on par with games consoles and PC games.

Android 5.0 Lollipop battery life

Google has concentrated on improving battery life in Android 5.0 Lollipop with Project Volta. Similar to how Jelly Bean's Project Butter was an effort to make animations feel smoother and more responsive, Project Volta includes a new battery historian to better visualise battery discharge. This will help users work out what a device was doing at any given point in a battery cycle to find out which apps are draining the most power.

A battery saver mode will be included in stock Android for the first time with Android 5.0 Lollipop, after being a common tweak for third party manufacturers. It will activate automatically when your battery drops below a certain percentage, downclocking the CPU, disabling extra features like location reporting and dimming the display. Google says a Nexus 5 running Android 5.0 Lollipop gets around 90 minutes of extra use over the course of a typical day, without actually changing how a customer uses their phone.

Samsung Galaxy Golden 2 flips through TENAA

The yet to be revealed Samsung Galaxy Golden 2 flip phone made its way through TENAA. Sporting the model number SM-W2015, the upcoming smartphone is bound to replace the original Samsung Galaxy Golden, which debuted during this month last year.

Despite its old school form factor, Samsung Galaxy Golden 2 packs proper flagship specs. Highlights include Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 SoC, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of expandable memory, and Android 4.4.4 KitKat.

The handset features two 3.9” AMOLED displays with a resolution of 1280 x 768 pixels. Its main camera is a 16MP unit, coupled with a 3.7MP front-facing solution.

Physical measures of the Samsung Galaxy Golden 2 are 153.5 × 78.6 × 8.5mm. Its weight tips the scale at 173 grams.

There is no word on when will Samsung Galaxy Golden 2 made its debut. Don’t expect to see it outside of select markets in Asia.

HTC launches One (M8 EYE), Desire EYE, and RE in India

HTC has launched a bevy of devices in India. The first of the lot is the new HTC One (M8 EYE), which was recently launched in China. The M8 EYE is essentially the same as the M8 but replaces the 4 UltraPixel camera on the back with 13 megapixel camera. The HTC One (M8 EYE) is priced at Rs. 38,990.

Next is the HTC Desire EYE, which has a 13 megapixel autofocus camera with dual LED flash on the back as well as the front. The Desire EYE also has a 5.2-inch, 1080p display, Snapdragon 801 processor, 2GB RAM, 16GB memory with microSD support, stereo BoomSound speakers, and IPX7 water-resistant body. The phone will be available through Amazon but the price hasn't been announced so far.

After this come the Desire 820 and Desire 820q. Both phones have 5.5-inch 720p display, 13 megapixel rear camera, 8 megapixel front camera, and 2600mAh battery. The only differences are the 820 has an octa-core Snapdragon 615 with 2GB RAM and the 820q has 64-bit quad-core Snapdragon 410 with 1GB RAM. The Desire 820 is priced at Rs. 24,990 and the Desire 820q is priced at Rs. 22,500.

Then there is the Desire 516C. It has a 5.0-inch qHD display, Snapdragon 200 processor, 1GB RAM, 4GB memory with microSD support, 5 megapixel rear camera, VGA front camera, dual SIM support, and 1950mAh battery. The Desire 516C is priced at Rs. 12,990 and available exclusively through Snapdeal.

Finally, there is the HTC RE. HTC's compact photo and video camera is priced at an introductory price of Rs. 9,990 and available exclusively through Snapdeal.

Samsung Gear S tipped to have its own plan on Sprint

According to a leaked Sprint Wireless internal memo, Samsung Gear S will be offered with its own plan when available. The wearable device features 3G connectivity and a SIM card slot.

If you are brave enough to use the Samsung Gear S as your only gadget capable of making calls, Sprint will offer a “connected device” plan for $10 a month. The option will include 1,000 minutes, the same number of messages, and 100MB of mobile data.

The other, more sensible option for the smartwatch will be to add it to your already existing family share plan for $10 once again. The option will allow you to share minutes, messages, and data with your other devices.

Samsung Gear S will be available on all major US carriers in the near future. Pricing and exact availability are yet to be revealed

Sony Xperia Z4 specs reportedly leak, Z3X might not exist

Sure, the Xperia Z3 hasn't been out for that much time yet, but it's clear that Sony is already working on its successor. And it looks like we may have gotten a whole lot of details about the upcoming Xperia Z4.

All of the following reportedly comes from the same tipster that accurately leaked the Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact a while back. So that lends this info some credence, but it doesn't mean you shouldn't read this with a pinch of salt on hand.

First off, this source claims the Xperia Z3X doesn't actually exist. A device apparently bearing that name was benchmarked at the beginning of this month. If the Z3X isn't a thing, then that benchmark result might have been fake, or maybe that handset is some kind of development prototype that won't make it to the market. Interestingly though, the Z3X shares a lot of specs with the rumored Z4.

Which brings us to the Z4's innards. It's said to sport a 5.5-inch touchscreen with QHD (2,560x1,440) resolution, and a new curved rear camera sensor that will have about the same (20.7 MP) resolution as the ones in its predecessors.

Powering the Z4 will be a 64-bit Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 SoC, with a 2.8 GHz octa-core CPU (having four Cortex-A57 cores and four Cortex-A53 ones). The RAM will be upped to 4GB this time around, and the minimum storage space will be 32GB (double that in the Z3's base model).

The phone will sport Cat.6 LTE connectivity, for theoretical peak download speeds of 300 Mbps, and Bluetooth 4.1. There will also be a dedicated amplifier on board for better sound quality. The design of the Xperia Z4 will be very similar to that of its forerunners, still the same Omnibalance language employed yet again.

Interestingly, Sony is said to give up on its six-month release cycle for flagship handsets starting with the Xperia Z4. So far, it has been the only company to push out two flagships per year - take the Z2 and Z3 from 2014, for example. But that's rumored to change, with the Z4 not being followed by a Z5 in 2015.

The Xperia Z4 is apparently going to be introduced around March next year, probably at Mobile World Congress.

Thanks for sending this in, KF!