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ASUS releases the Zenfone C for Malaysian market

It looks like ASUS’s Zenfone revolution is gaining some traction, with the Taiwan-based tech company releasing a number of its Zenfone-themed models across markets in Asia and the sub-continent of India. Today, we have another Zenfone release to the Malaysian market – another sub USD$100 device to solidify ASUS’s strength in the lower market niches.



The ASUS Zenfone C seems to be a variant – or at least closely related to the ASUS Zenfone 4 A450CG. To that effect, it carries the model number ZC451CG. The Zenfone C sports a 4.5-inch 854x480 IPS display, powered by 1.2GHz Intel Atom Z2520 processor – the processor of choice for ASUS’s lower models. That is supported by 1GB of RAM and 8GB of internal storage space. It has a 5MP/O.3MP camera combo and a 2,100mAh battery. Everything software-side runs on ASUS’s Zen UI over Android 4.4 KitKat.


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It seems that ASUS is taking the Samsung strategy to task – that is, the early Samsung strategy of releasing new variants of their existing smartphones every quarter. This was the strategy that Samsung employed that gained them market saturation (and tons of profit), but it was also the cause of Samsung’s decline in the past year. ASUS should be careful in employing this as well.


The ASUS Zenfone C will be available for the Malaysian market in the next few days at a retail price of USD$96.00. Let’s see if this turns out well for ASUS.


VIA: AndroidOS.in





ZTE Blade S6 debuts with Android 5.0 pre-installed

ZTE has announced the latest device to wear its name and the smartphone is called the ZTE Blade S6. The new device is very thin with a profile only 2mm thick. Power for the smartphone comes from a Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 octa-core chipset MSM8939.



Right out of the box the smartphone runs Android 5.0 and has a 5-inch display that uses in-cell technology. One area of focus for the Blade S6 is the camera; the rear unit is a Sony IMX214 13MP autofocus unit. The front camera is a 5MP wide-angle fixed focus offering.


Power for the smartphone comes from a 2400 mAh internal battery. ZTE fits the device with 16GB of storage and 2 GB of DDR3 RAM. The smartphone also has Hi-Fi sound, proximity sensor, accelerometer, compass, gyro, and GPS. Bluetooth and WiFi are also featured.


The smartphone has Android 5.0 right out of the box as previously mentioned, but that OS is overlaid with the ZTE MiFavor 3.0 user interface. Dual nano SIM card slots are included and the smartphone has a 3.5mm headphone port and a microSD card slot for expansion. The smartphone will sell for $249.99 in the US and will be available via Amazon.


SOURCE: ZTE


An unlikely couple: Android Community Deals mini giveaway [DEALS]

It's January already, isn't it? You might think it were still Christmas time becuase of this mini bundle of free goodies we have from Android Community Deals. If you remain undecided whether to dive into the world of Android app development, we have a free mini course for you. And if you've been dreaming of owning your very own pair of Beats branded headphones, without coughing up a single dollar, now might be the perfect time to try your luck.



We've had a few deals recently that focused on the art of Android app development, and even some dedicated to games. But let's face it, not everyone might be willing to take the plunge immediately without testing the waters first. If you're of that opinion, today is your lucky day. We have here on Android Community Deals, courtesy of bitfountain, a short course that will take you through the basics. It will guide you through the process of installing Android Studio and learning Java, all for free. All you need to do is take some social networking steps and it's yours to devour.


Our second offer is "free" but won't be as easy. Aside from registering and doing a few social steps, you also have to take your chance in a sweepstake that will end on February 25. In exchange, however, you will be entitled to win an authentic Beats by Dre headphones, one of the hottest accessories in the market today. And it isn't just because of the brand, but because of the quality experience that you get.Normally $380, you will get it for absolutely free. That is, if you're the lucky one.


So what are you waiting for? Get those clicking fingers ready to click through our twin free bundle!


Android Community Deals is brought to you in cooperation with StackSocial. Generated revenue helps fund this site. Deals are curated by StackSocial and are not representative of the opinions of the Android Community staff.


Turn Any GSM HTC M8 Variant into a Dev Edition Phone

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HTC’s M8 has been, since its release, a fantastic device to play with. HTC truly did a remarkable job with it and as of yesterday, we now have source for Lollipop. A few days ago, HTC rolled Android for Dev edition devices. What? You don’t have a dev device? How about turning yours into one? Give it a go!


The post Turn Any GSM HTC M8 Variant into a Dev Edition Phone appeared first on xda-developers.


Snapchat’s Discover lets media publishers enter their ephemereal world

Messaging apps are continually evolving into more than just ways to exchange messages or even pictures. With so many out there like LINE, Viber, WhatsApp, etc, competitors are pulling out all the stops to become the app of choice. SnapChat has a following all its own, with the ephemeral nature of the pictures exchanged. Now they're branching out into publishing as they introduce a new feature called Discover, where media companies can now also enter their realm with pictures, videos, and stories.



But in keeping with the original nature of Snapchat, the content will be available on a limited amount of time for users, which can be a challenge for both the publishers and the users as well. But it also gives a certain amount of urgency that can serve its purpose for certain types of stories, particularly current events. Each edition of Discover includes photos, videos, long form layouts, and yes of course, even advertising (but we're promised it's gorgeous). The compiled stories are refreshed every 24 hours as expected, given the news cycle on social media.


Snapchat has made Discover easy to use and navigate. Just tap on the edition you want, and if you want to view the Snaps, just swipe left. If you're interested to know more about the Snap, just swipe it up for additional information. During the announcement of this new feature, initial media companies included are Vice, CNN, National Geographic, ESPN, Cosmopolitan, among others.




This is probably the biggest step that SnapChat has taken in its quest to not just become a place where people exchange pictures that sometimes they're not proud of (if you know what we mean) into a legit media platform. Their Stories feature, launched last 2013, allowed users to go beyond just sharing ephemeral pictures, but rather use them to create stories (and they didn't disappear!). Let's see if their loyal users would also bite on this new feature.


VIA: Snapchat





Enjoy Music Your Way with Flare

flare

There are various things that people look for in a music player. Most of them are spread out across various programs. How about having a single music app with lots of customization options? If this sounds interesting, check out Flare!


The post Enjoy Music Your Way with Flare appeared first on xda-developers.


Samsung Gear VR now available at Best Buy, sort of

Good news: The Samsung Gear VR, that wonder toy that brings virtual reality to the masses (well, at least those who own a Samsung Galaxy Note 4), is now out to market and available at Best Buy. Bad news: the Gear VR "Innovator Edition" is just available via the online store, so buying this VR headset is still a very Internet-driven process. But at the very least, it is now within the grasp of the consumers out there and no longer just a pipe dream.



Best Buy has started retailing the USD$200 virtual reality headpiece via its online portal, along with the other cool stuff you can find at very consumer-friendly prices. Prior to this, you could only get the Gear VR either through AT&T or the Samsung website. The device comes with 16GB of memory and is preloaded with fun stuff you can use your Gear VR for, but more games and apps are set to be available via the Oculus VR app hopefully soon.


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Here come two important reminders about the Gear VR -- at the top of the list is that it works only with the Samsung Galaxy Note 4. Oculus, makers of the upcoming Rift head-mounted display, partnered with Samsung in creating the ultimate, affordable virtual reality device, and as of now, only the Galaxy Note 4 is able to provide the power needed to make that experience you’re seeing in your head as close to reality as possible. So if you buy a Gear VR, make sure you have the Galaxy Note 4 first.


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The second is, at the moment, what Best Buy and all the other outlets are offering is the Gear VR Innovator Edition, which means that this isn’t yet the final version of the device. Considering the limited amount of content you can currently enjoy with the Gear VR, plunking two Benjamins for this wonder toy might not be up your alley. Otherwise, if you’re feeling quite adventurous exploring the cusp of virtual reality—and if you have a Galaxy Note 4—then go ahead to Best Buy’s online store and make your virtual purchase a reality.


VIA: Engadget





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