Sony will only focus on flagships in India from now on

Sony has confirmed it will focus its future efforts in India on flagships rather than mid-range and entry-level devices. In an interview with The Times of India, Sony India's Vijay Singh Jaswal told the outlet that "we aim to launch flagship products for our customers in India which will further enhance our presence in the market."

See also: Sony Xperia X Performance review – is it worth $700?85

It's no secret that the affordable mid-range and entry-level smartphone business is cut-throat, with major players from China like Xiaomi aggressively targeting developing markets. Apparently Sony has decided it cannot compete on that front any longer and will apply the same flagship-focused approach it has introduced elsewhere to India as well.

While flagship phones offer enticingly higher profit margins, their potential audiences are also much smaller. Especially in less flagship-obsessed countries like India. In India, value for money is the name of the game, and spending close to a thousand dollars for a flagship simply doesn't deliver the same bang for your buck as a device from Xiaomi, Lenovo, LeEco or OnePlus.

So while the move falls in line with Sony's broader approach to streamlining its product line to focus on flagship products, it also carries with it a lot of risk. If Sony can't convince Indians it should be the flagship manufacturer they turn to, they could be looking at having an incredibly small presence in the country (Sony reported just 0.3% growth in India year-over-year).

But the average spend on Sony smartphones in India increased by 55%. This is the trend Sony is banking on: sell fewer devices at higher premiums. It may work, but Sony will need to rethink its approach in the region to deliver the kinds of features the Indian market wants. Something Samsung and LG have clearly shown they are willing to do with their 'Make for India' devices.

Do you think Sony's approach will work? What kind of features would a Sony flagship for India need?

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Deal: Save £100 on a HTC 10

If you live in the UK and like the look of HTC's latest flagship, you can currently save £100 off the purchase price of an unlocked HTC 10. The offer is good for the next couple of weeks, expiring on August 18, and covers the black, silver and gold versions of the phone.

See also: Problems with the HTC 10 and how to fix them66

Simply use the code SUMMER100 at the checkout to pick up a HTC 10 for £469.99. The offer is restricted to purchases made through htc.com so it doesn't apply to Carphone Warehouse or HTC's other retail and carrier partners. Considering the additional flexibility an unlocked phone provides though, it's a pretty nice deal.

With the Galaxy Note 7 launching tomorrow, two new Nexus devices on the horizon, the LG V20 scheduled for a September unveiling and all the new releases at IFA 2016, we're hitting that fun time of year when last year's models – and those announced earlier in the year – start getting discounts to compete with all the sexy new things.

Will you pick up a HTC 10? What's your must-have phone right now?

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Marshmallow update coming to first-gen Galaxy A5

The Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow update is arriving for the first-generation Galaxy A5. The update is currently rolling out across Europe and South Africa, and should be coming to other markets soon. Currently it is only available for the SM-A500F and SM-A500FU models.

See also: Android 6.0 Marshmallow updates roundup137

As always, you can sit back, relax and wait for the OTA notification to appear or you can check for it manually via Settings > About phone > Software version. It delivers the usual batch of new features including Google Now on Tap, Doze Mode, granular app permissions and a bunch of Samsung-specific changes to the TouchWiz interface.

This update is likely to be the last major Android update the Galaxy A5 receives as the device is steadily approaching it's second birthday and it will be at least another six months before Android 7.0 Nougat starts rolling out to mid-range Samsung phones. Considering the original Galaxy A3 still hasn't received the Marshmallow update though, A5 owners are at least among the lucky ones.

Have you got the update yet? How's your battery life?

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Lenovo launches Vibe K5 Note and upgraded K5 Plus in India

The successor to the Vibe K4 Note has finally arrived in India with Lenovo launching the K5 Note at an event today. Apart from the big announcement, Lenovo also managed to surprise us with another launch, which is quite difficult to do in today's world of leaks and rumors.

The second device isn't new, but is essentially an upgraded version of the Vibe K5 Plus, with the original being launched in India back in March. There isn't a lot different with the upgraded iteration, but comes with an additional gig of RAM, with 3 GB, and the expandable storage capabilities have been enhanced to support a 128 GB microSD card.

Other specs remain the same, with the device featuring a 5-inch Full HD display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 616 processor, and a 2,750 mAh battery. Despite the upgrades, the great news is that Lenovo has kept the price the same as the original, and the upgraded Lenovo Vibe K5 Plus will also be priced at just Rs 8,499 (~$127).

Let's move on to the star of the show, which is the Vibe K5 Note. The device features a full metal unibody construction, with subtle curves along the sides, and at the top and bottom, at the back. Unlike its predecessor, the K5 Note comes with a speaker on the back, but the curve at the bottom allows for the sound to not be muffled.

The Vibe K5 Note comes with a 5.5-inch Full HD IPS LCD display, 32 GB of on-board storage, which can be further expanded via microSD card by up to an additional 128 GB. The device features a 13 MP ISOCELL camera, with phase detection auto focus, and dual LED flash, and features larger pixel sizes, to allow for better low light photography. Up front is an 8 MP front-facing shooter with a wide angle lens, that should let you get more in the scene.

The processor is the octa-core MediaTek Helio P10 processor, clocked at 1.8 GHz, and the device will come with either 3 GB or 4 GB of RAM, and keeping the device running is a large 3,500 mAh. Other features include a 1.5W speaker with Dolby ATMOS surround sound and support for Lenovo's TheatreMax technology, bundled with the ANT VR headset for converting games and videos in virtual reality. This time around, a controller will also be available, and those looking for more serious gaming controllers, will be able to pick up a Bluetooth controller from Amkette with the phone.

The Killer Experience you've been waiting for can now be yours starting Aug 3, 11:59 pm. See you there! #KillerNote5 http://pic.twitter.com/DxqdaftXKY

— Lenovo India (@Lenovo_in) August 1, 2016

As we know, the Lenovo K5 Note will be available exclusively from Flipkart from midnight on August 4. The 3 GB of RAM version will be priced at Rs 11,999 (~$180), while the 4 GB iteration will set you back Rs 13,499 (~$202). There will also be a lot of special offers made available in the first 24 hours, including getting the controller and headset bundle for an additional Rs 999 (~$15), and the gaming controller and headset bundle for an additional Rs 1,999 (~$30) only, as well as great exchange offers, especially if you have an older Lenovo device that has been purchased from Flipkart.

Oh yes, and before hurrying to Flipkart for booking the Vibe K5 Note, you can experience the smartphone first hand using the Ola app. Flipkart has tied up with the app-based taxi hailing service to offer you a preview of the Vibe K5 Note at your doorstep within minutes after you request an Ola Prime cab.

If you're located in Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore, or Pune, then all you need to do to experience the Vibe K5 Note and AntVR headset is book a ride with Ola Prime between August 1-2 to unlock the new category 'VR-Ride' on August 3, or between August 3-4 to unlock the category between August 5-6 between 11 am to 6 pm.

Do let us know in the comments below about your experience with the Vibe K5 Note and AntVR headset!

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Here’s how to watch the Galaxy Note 7 launch live in 360 degrees

If you can't make it to New York and score yourself a press pass for the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 launch, never fear. You can tune into the live stream and watch the whole thing go down from the comfort of your own home. In glorious 360-degree action. You've actually got a few ways to watch the Galaxy Note 7 launch, so take your pick from the following options.

See also: Official Galaxy Note 7 wallpapers: download them here52

On your mobile or PC you can simply visit Samsung Mobile's YouTube page or slap http://ift.tt/1AYeWks into your browser of choice and be sure to choose '360 live stream'. If you happen to own a Gear VR then things get a little more exciting. Simply download the Unpacked 360 View app from the Oculus Store and launch it from Gear VR when the show begins at 11 AM EST on August 2.

Full details of the device will then appear on Samsung's website (presumably with pre-orders), where you can play spot-the-difference to see if any of the repeatedly leaked specs, renders and features are any different from reality. We'll also be bringing you a full hands-on from the event too, so keep it locked to Android Authority for everything you need to know about the Galaxy Note 7.

What is your favorite Note 7 feature? Will you be buying one?

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Confirmed: LG V20 launching with Android 7.0 Nougat in September

Via its Korean newsroom overnight, LG confirmed a few things about its upcoming V10 successor. First off, the name LG V20 is now official, we know it will arrive before the end of September and V20 will be running Android 7.0 Nougat out of the box; one of the first Android devices to do so.

See also: Despite the LG G5, LG still made money last quarter39

LG promises the "V20 will be a new standard for premium phones [with] more enhanced multimedia capabilities". But LG also notes a "close cooperation" with Google to launch the V20 with Android 7.0 on board.

Whether this means we'll see a slightly less bloated and skinned version of Android on the V20 we'll just have to wait and see. From what we're hearing though, LG is keeping a pretty tight lid on the V20, so we may not see as many pre-release leaks as we have in the past.

The rumor mill around the V20 has been fairly quiet, but this confirmation of the name and release date does match earlier reports. The September arrival of a third-party device running Android Nougat also lines up nicely with rumors of an August launch for the Android 7.0 update.

Are you psyched for the V20? What changes should LG make?

Don't miss: What to expect from IFA 2016

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Google’s free Wi-Fi at railway stations connecting 2 million Indians

It was in 2015 that Google's head honcho Sundar Pichai promised the availability of Wi-Fi at a 100 railway stations across India, an initiative that aimed at connecting millions of passengers who flock to them on a daily basis. In the first phase of the project, Google has implemented free Wi-Fi in 23 stations so far, in partnership with RailTel.

The free Wi-Fi project has been lauded as one of the most successful initiatives, and now caters to two million Indians. Google had kickstarted the initiative after it joined hands with the telecom wing of Indian Railway and decided to provide free Wi-Fi in each of the stations every month. As one might have already deduced, the initiative is still in its early phase, and needless to say it will turn out to be an even bigger success once launched across India.

Google CEO Sundar Pichai said his company continues to work with Indian Railways to bring internet connectivity to more people. The announcement was made on the sidelines of Alphabet's second quarter earnings call, where the company reported profits in ads.

There are already two million people logging in every month. They are using as much as 15 times the data that they would otherwise use in a full day on their cellular networks.

Google has already come up with a list of the 100 top railway stations through which nearly 10 million people pass through. Considering the fact that the stations are usually a point of transit, the people who get a chance to experience the high-speed Wi-Fi are different. Every station is backed by a 1Gbps plus backhaul through the fiber, alongside multiple access points for the users, thus eventually achieving a better consistency with low latency.

According to media reports, the free Wi-Fi is way better than the paid Internet services offered in Tier-2 cities and other remote regions. Another mention-worthy fact is that Indian Railway is one of the World's largest rail networks in the world, and is used by more than 8 billion every year. The sheer number of users coupled with the low connectivity at most of the places has fueled the need for the free Wi-Fi, and it seems that Google has been heading in the right direction.

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