Chinese OEMs like Oppo are designing phones with insanely small bezels

Because not everyone can get their hands on flexible OLED displays, Chinese smartphone makers like Oppo are forced to get creative when it comes to their smartphone designs. The latest trend they seem to be focusing on are bezels. Before you get ahead of yourself, we’re not talking about bezels on the the top and bottom — we’re talking about side bezels.

Oppo is gearing up to announce a new smartphone and to prepare for its launch, it appears they’ve been seeding their own leaks to hype it up a bit. The phone — which still remains nameless — was “leaked” to Chinese tech outlets, and shows a phone running Oppo’s Color OS (which, we should add, is in desperate need of an overhaul) with stupid small bezels along the sides. According to an Oppo patent, the manufacturer is further adding to the illusion of a completely edge-to-edge display by using light refraction, similar to something we saw on the Sharp Aquos Crystal and the Moto 360’s displays.

It’s not the first time we’ve seen a device with stupid small side bezels. There was also the Meizu MX4 or last year’s Sharp AQUOS Crystal which manged to also eliminate the top bezel for a phone that looked more upside down than anything. Last week, Gizmochina also uncovered the LeTV X900, another Chinese smartphone with virtually non-existent side bezels and uses a USB Type-C connector.

We’ll have to admit, side bezels have never been a pain-point for us when it comes to smartphone design. Super thick bottom bezels (with black logo bars), really slick phones that slip out of your hand, or rear facing speakers — now those are a few things that really grind our gears. While having a phone with super small side bezels wont actually make it easier to hold or add any functionality in any way (kind of like the curved display on the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge), it sure does look pretty.

[Engadget Chinese | GSMArena]

Amazon “Unlocked” could be like Prime for Android apps

If you’re a fan of the Amazon Appstore you’re well aware of the free apps Amazon gives away every day. Anyone can take advantage of the deals, but you have to use Amazon’s own Android Appstore. An internal presentation obtained by TechCrunch suggests that Amazon will be taking free apps to the next level with a new program.

The program is called “Unlocked,” and it sounds a lot like Amazon Prime. The Unlocked program would offer paid apps for free, and even unlock all in-app purchases for “free-to-play” games. It’s unclear how the program will work, where the free apps will be located, and how much it will cost. Amazon already offers many perks for Prime subscribers, such as free shipping, movies, TV shows, and music. It would make perfect sense to roll this into the current Prime benefits.

Would you use the Amazon Appstore for the Unlocked program? Would you consider signing up for Amazon Prime if it meant free Android apps? Would you sign up for a standalone program to get free apps?

Latest HTC One M9+ leak shows a phone that looks like One M9 and has a 5.2-inch display

HTC didn’t unveil the HTC One M9 Plus (said to be branded as M9+ by the time it hits retail) like we were hoping and expecting them to, but that doesn’t mean it’ll simply disappear from the rumor mill. The latest information from OnLeaks reveals a couple of new details about the device.

The photo above shows a mockup of the latest prototype OnLeaks saw, and there’s some bad news: it looks like an HTC One M9, only taller and with more gizmos (with said gizmos being the home button / fingerprint scanner splitting the boomsound speakers on the front, as well as the dual camera on the rear. This design is vastly different from the original prototype as shown by @Evleaks.

The screen size of the HTC One M9+ will supposedly be just 5.2 inches, a far cry from phablet territory we were told to expect. That’s about .2 inches bigger than the current HTC One M9, so the devices should provide similar viewing experiences (though the design of the chassis could make its ergonomics differ significantly).

Speaking of the chassis, we also caught wind of the exact dimensions at 150.9 x 72.5 x 10.15 mm. For comparison’s sake, the HTC One M9 clocks in at 144.6 x 69.7 x 9.6 mm, which means the M9+ will be just a hair thicker in depth and a bit more wide thanks to its increased display size.

Even with an increased display size we’re not totally crazy about it being taller than the HTC One M9 by nearly 6 millimeters, but that is necessary to house the supposed fingerprint scanner and dual camera. We’ll have to wait to see its final design to judge whether it makes for a device that’s comfortable to hold vs one that’s needlessly long.

It’s worth noting that there has yet to be any confirmation that HTC is still planning to release this device. As it stands they’re in the very early stages and they could easily decide to scrap the launch if they feel it’s not worth it (which, if the above design is accurate, is becoming increasingly apparent that it isn’t).

[via Twitter 1|2]

This is what it’s like to unbox the Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge [VIDEO]

If you don’t want your Samsung Galaxy S6 and Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge unboxing experienced ruined once it arrives on your doorstep this Spring, do not watch this video. But who are we kidding — you probably can’t help yourself! Neither could Samsung:

We’ve seen the device at every angle, explored every nook and cranny, and gotten to check out its most cool features, but one thing we can’t partake in right now that Samsung was able to is a good, old-fashioned unboxing. Be sure to indulge by hitting the play button above.

Here’s what the Oppo R7 will be like when the company unveils it next month

Oppo has a new champion arriving next month, and with as many leaks as we’ve seen going around we’d almost say there’s no reason for them to wait that long. It’s the Oppo R7, and it looks quite impressive.

From everything we’ve heard so far, the Oppo R7 will be one of the thinnest smartphones on the planet, if not outright claiming the title. It’ll do so with a form factor that’s just 4.85mm thin. To top that off the achievement won’t even require Oppo using a protruding camera lens.

One thing we’ve heard that will be a bit of a bummer is that the device’s battery capacity will have to take a hit as a result of its thinness, though Oppo’s VOOC fast charging technology should help alleviate some of the frustrations that come as a result. We’re hearing it’ll take just 5 minutes of charging to get 2 hours of talk time, and that the battery can be charged from 0% to 75% in just half an hour.

Another interesting point about the device’s design is the glass slathered over the front. Oppo will apparently use “2.5D” curved glass to make for a nice premium look, feel and effect. To be quite honest it all makes for a smartphone that looks quite “iPhone-ish,” but Samsung was able to borrow some design elements from Apple’s latest and greatest and they got by just fine.

Enough about the design — what about the specs? Prior rumors have put the Oppo R7’s specs in this rough ballpark:

• 4.7-inch 1080p display


• 20.7-megapixel rear camera


• Octa-core MediaTek processor


• 2000mAh battery

Doesn’t sound too bad on the surface, though we’ll obviously need more than just good numbers and good looks to see if it’ll be worth your attention come next month.

Samsung is considering an Avengers themed Galaxy S6, and this is what it could look like

There’s a good chance that the cross-section between people who like superheroes and people who like Android phones is pretty big. Manufacturers are well aware of this, which is why we’ve seen a few superhero-themed phones in the past. Samsung could be the next to take a dip into the world of comic books with the world’s most popular group of heroes.

According to rumors coming out of Korea, Samsung is considering producing handsets with a tie-in to the upcoming Avengers 2 movie. The phones seen above are concepts created by a fan on Twitter. They created a special version of the Samsung Galaxy S6 for ever member of The Avengers, including Nick Fury. We have to admit these concepts look pretty dang awesome. If Samsung does indeed go through with this it should make a lot of geeks happy (including myself).

Would you buy a Samsung Galaxy S6 Avengers Edition? Which Avenger would you want? Personally, I’m a fan of Thor, but Hawkeye concept is awesome too.

[via PhonesReview]

What happens when the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge is slammed to the ground like a firecracker? [VIDEO]

The Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge’s front and rear are slathered in glass, and many folks reveled in fear of what could happen should the unfortunate accident occur. Would it shatter into pieces made to look like the grotesque work of demon-like entities?

Well, one brave (or rich, or crazy) person decided to find out for himself. A video uploaded to Chinese video sharing site Youku shows someone slamming their Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge onto cold, hard pavement as if it were a contact firecracker the likes of which you’ve probably played around with as a kid.

The result? It actually came out completely unscathed. Not a single crack is to be had with all that glass, likely a testament to the super strong Gorilla Glass 4 being used. That doesn’t mean the Samsung Galaxy S6 is indestructible — no smartphone is — but if you were wondering if the occasional accidental drop would instantly result in irreversible damage then those fears should now effectively be put to rest.

Of course, that doesn’t give you cause to be careless once you finally receive your 0+ piece of circuitry so we’d still recommend slapping a case on and, you know, not being clumsy. Check the video out above.

HTC One M9+ renders leak again, still looks like the M8

Many people were expecting HTC to show off two devices at Mobile World Congress, but instead we just got the mildly disappointing HTC One M9 (our review). The second device is rumored to be named the HTC One M9 Plus. It’s a variant with a slightly bigger display, fingerprint scanner, and the Dual Camera from the One M8. A new leaked render shows off the M9+ and it’s still not terribly exciting.

If you thought the One M9 wasn’t enough of a change the One M9+ is even less. From the back it looks nearly identical to the One M8. The camera is still round and the second Dual Camera is still present. This device is rumored to have a 5.2-inch quad-HD display, MediaTek processor, 3GB of RAM, and a 20MP camera. We were originally expecting the M9+ to launch alongside the M9 as a phablet, but it’s looking more like this is simply a variant for other countries.

HTC will officially announce the One M9+ at an event in China next week. What do you think of this device? Is this what the One M9 should have been? Do you prefer the One M9?

[via @upleaks]

This is what the inside of a Samsung Galaxy S6 looks like

When you get you first look at the inside of a Samsung Galaxy S6 you might begin to understand why Samsung had to do away with a replaceable battery. Stuff is packed in their tight, so much so that even removing the battery looks like a giant pain.

MyFixGuide did the honors of providing the first teardown of the phone. As we suspected, the glass isn’t coming off the back plate easily without some hot air gun action, and just as we heard in Samsung’s manual there are a good deal of screws to deal with after the fact. Once inside you’ll be rewarded with a view of some impressive engineering work and a collection of quality components.

These teardown guides serve to show the process of getting into a phone’s inner bits for purposes of repair, but they’re not to be meant as guides for your average consumer. That is to say, you shouldn’t be trying to replicate the process at home — best to stick to a Samsung repair technician or anyone with a fair amount of experience and knowledge on assembling and taking apart smartphones. Head to the jump if you want to take a look at the full gamut.

[via MyFixGuide]

If Material Design was a game, it would look like these three Android games [VIDEO]

I love simple games and I love Material Design. So when I first discovered a game called Bing Bong I was very excited. It combined simple and addictive gameplay with a Material-esque design. Then I found out that the same developer had made other games with the same style. The three games can stand on their own, but together they make for an addictive combination. Let’s take a look.

Bing Bong

I’m not sure which game came first, but Bing Bong is the one I played first. In this game you control a green dot that is constantly going up and down across a street of traffic. Each time you successfully get to the other side you earn a point. You have to avoid blocks of varying sizes to cross the street. The green dot is constantly moving, but you can slow it down by pressing your finger on the screen.

The game becomes all about timing. Will you be able to make it past that block at full speed? If you slow down now will that make you hit the next block? You’re constantly adjusting your speed to perfectly cross the street unharmed. It’s easy at first, but gets difficult quickly.

Righty Tighty

In Righty Tighty you play as a red dot. Your goal is to collect the white dots and bring them to the goal. The red dot is constantly moving, but every time you tap the screen it will make a right turn. Like in Bing Bong, there are blocks of varying sizes constantly crossing your path. Also, the red dot is constantly growing, which makes it increasingly more difficult to avoid obstacles. You have to return a white dot to the goal to reset your size.

Pivot

The simplest of the three games is Pivot. You play as a blue dot this time, but you still have to collect white dots to earn points. The blue dot is constantly moving in a circular path. Tap your finger on the screen to go in the opposite direction. There are no goals this time. You get a point for simply collecting a white dot. Blocks of varying sizes are still trying to get in your way, and the wall is also an obstacle.

***

I like these games a lot because they feel like a family. Each one has its unique aspects, but they all share the same basic foundation. They’re beautifully simple, yet extremely addictive. The developer has done a great job with the little details, like how the music intensifies the longer you survive in Bing Bong.

All three games have Google Play Game integration for leaderboards and achievements. The games are free with very few ads (which can be disabled completely for .99). You can download all three in the Play Store. Enjoy!

Make your Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge look like AOSP Material Design with this theme

There are many people out there who aren’t fans of TouchWiz and were elated to hear Samsung might go with a stock-like design for the Samsung Galaxy S6’s user interface. Unfortunately that never came to pass, but that doesn’t mean you can get something close to the real deal.

One designer has finished a Material Design stock-looking theme for the Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge, and it’s now available for free over at the Samsung Theme Store. What you’ll get is a theme that’ll make your phone resemble something like a Nexus thanks to new designs for the dialer, notification shade, icons and other system elements.

Samsung’s influence will still be quite prevalent throughout much of the user interface, naturally, but at least you can feel a bit more at home if you’ve been missing that AOSP look and feel. Be sure to head to the Samsung Theme Store on your phone and give it a try!

[via Google+]

This is what the OnePlus 2’s USB Type-C cable will look like

It was only a couple of days ago that OnePlus confirmed their latest smartphone would look to use USB Type-C, a new USB standard that features identical-sided cables, two-way transfer + charging (your smartphone could charge your wireless headset!) and more.

So how does it look? For OnePlus 2, pretty damn sexy. You can see a photo of it above, courtesy of MyDrivers. It features OnePlus’s signature red, the logo on each end, and a flat tangle-free design to protect the innards of the cable.

It looks pretty neat, and we’re sure it’ll do well to get folks excited for the OnePlus 2 and the possibilities enabled thanks to the advent of USB Type-C.