Telltale releases 6-min preview of next Walking Dead game starring Michonne

Following the mid-season premiere of The Walking Dead on Sunday, Telltale delivered a lengthy preview of its next game based on the series.

The new game is callled The Walking Dead: Michonne. It stars a blade-wielding character known as Michonne, who is played by actress Samira Wiley. She not only exists in the television series but also Robert Kirkman’s comic books, and she is terribly haunted by her past, which includes the loss of her partner and child during the immediate aftermath of the zombie outbreak.

According to Telltale Games, The Walking Dead: Michonne explores “the period in the comic book timeline where Michonne leaves Rick, their group, and her katana behind, in order to deal with emotional demons that have plagued her since the beginning of the apocalypse.” It is a self-contained story that does not piggy-back off the other Telltale Walking Dead Games, so you can start playing it straightaway as a newbie.

Telltale’s latest miniseries game consists of three episodes, the first of which will premiere 23 February on PC/Mac from the Telltale Online Store, as well as on Steam, the PlayStation Network, and Xbox Games Store. It will then arrive for iOS and Android devices on 25 February. The second episode will follow in March, followed by the third April. All three will be available for $14.99.

Check out the 6-minute preview for a closer look at what you can expect:

Samsung Galaxy S7 official features and pics revealed ahead of MWC launch

Samsung has created a dedicated web page for the Samsung Galaxy S7 that reveals a few key features about its next flagship device.

The “Galaxy Launch Pack” lists four significant aspects of the new phone, focusing on security, design, ease-of-use and the camera.

Each feature is teased with a tagline and an official picture.

“Experience privacy at its finest” is clearly a reference to Samsung’s own security technology. That could be pointing towards Samsung Knox being pre-installed, its biometric sensor in the form of a more advanced finger recognition system, or a bit of both.

“Meet the irresistible” is a reference to the design. Pictures of both the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge phones have leaked in the last few weeks and while they both look like they owe much to the previous generation, there is a slight softening to edges it seems.

“Worry-less discovery” is most likely referring to the user experience. A new form of Samsung’s TouchWiz interface is expected to be layered on top of Android 6.0.

Finally, the tagline “bring light to the night” refers to the camera and it will have better low light technologies.

READ: Samsung Galaxy S7, S7 edge, S7 edge plus: What’s the story so far?

One other thing we can garner from the official images posted by Samsung on its site is that they seem to confirm that recently leaked press images are real. The camera module is clearly the same as on the rear shots doing the rounds.

We’ll find out all the official details this coming Sunday though, 21 February, when Samsung holds its Unpacked event in Barcelona. Pocket-lint will be there to take you through every product launched.

Mobile World Congress 2016: Launches, smartphones, wearables to expect at MWC 2016

Mobile World Congress, or MWC to its friends, is the largest mobile trade show of the year. It’s where we’ve seen some of the biggest handset launches over the past few years, with everything mobile pouring into Barcelona at the end of February.

It’s organised by the GSMA annually and in 2016 we’re expecting to see some of the year’s biggest smartphones to be unveiled at the show. Some of these handsets we’ve been talking about for a while. 

Of course there are a lot of surprises to be revealed at the show, but here it is: here’s everything we’re expecting to see at MWC 2016. 

BlackBerry at MWC 2016

BlackBerry didn’t say much about mobile at CES 2016, except dropping in that we could expect Android devices to be launched this year rather than BB 10. Following the great BlackBerry Priv, that’s probably a smart move.

Rumours currently suggest a touch and type candybar phone going by the name BlackBerry Vienna. It looks like a budget Android handset based on the Leap, but including a keyboard. There’s been previous rumours that BlackBerry might move the Passport over to Android too. With BlackBerry reasserting itself in devices, MWC 2016 could be hugely important for the company. 

READ MORE BlackBerry Vienna: What’s the story so far?

Google at MWC 2016

Google’s Android seeps into almost every hall and aisle at MWC, with the company often having a small stand for business meetings, but then littering all its Android partners with pin badges and other fun stuff. Together not the same was the message in 2015 and with Android Wear adopting new partners, like New Balance, and more adopting Google Cast, there’s plenty of space for Google to play.

We’re not expecting anything to be announced, as that’s normally reserved for Google I/O in May. That’s probably where we’ll see the first details about Android N. But you can expect plenty of Android news of all flavours, from all quarters at MWC.

HTC at MWC 2016

The One M9 launched at MWC 2015 wasn’t the hit that HTC wanted, changing direction with a later launch of the One A9. We’re expecting to see the HTC One M10/Perfume launched in 2016.

There’s talk that HTC has pushed the handset back to April, so MWC might only see Vive and UA HealthBox getting a big push, although there’s rumours of a Desire T7, a mid-range phablet, to launch at MWC.

READ MORE HTC Perfume/One M10: What’s the story on HTC’s next flagship handset?

Huawei at MWC 2016

Huawei is making waves in the smartphone industry, having seen great gains, and producing some really strong handsets in 2015 with the Nexus 6P, Mate S and the 2016 launch of the Mate 8.

What’s missing for Huawei, then, is a regular flagship handset. That would be the Huawei P9 and while rumours for this next handset have already started, speculation suggests it won’t arrive at MWC.

Huawei might instead launch a dual-boot notebook. The Matebook is said to be coming with a stylus and there have been several other rumours when it comes to its operating system with Android and Windows cropping up, some claiming both will be on board. The latter is very unlikely though and if it is a 2-in-1 hybrid device, chances are it will be Windows 10. Huawei has a press conference scheduled for Sunday 21 February.

READ MORE Huawei P9: Specs, release date and rumours

Lenovo/Motorola at MWC 2016

Lenovo is reportedly ditching the Motorola branding to focus on the Moto name instead. With a big stake in smartphones, Lenovo is likely to have a presence at MWC, but probably pushing its Vibe smartphone brand.

If there’s a Moto handset that’s due an update, it will probably be the Moto E, although the company has traditionally launched new devices away from the trade show.

LG

LG at MWC 2016

LG has confirmed it will be announcing its next flagship – the LG G5 – at MWC. The company has scheduled a press event for 2pm on Sunday 21 February, where we expect to hear all the details.

The new handset is said to be a step-change in design for the most premium handset so far. It’s said to be modular in nature, with a metal body, but changeable battery, as well as offering additional Magic Slot functions. A dual display like the LG V10 has also been touted, as has dual rear cameras.

LG likes to make announcements early and it has already outed the X series smartphones. These mid-range devices pick out one hot feature, so if you want a great camera without the cost, the X cam will be for you. If you want a great display, the X screen will be for you.

READ MORE LG G5: What’s the story so far?

Microsoft at MWC 2016

Microsoft has made a big move recently, shifting over to Windows 10 and aiming for a single platform strategy across all its hardware. The phone side of things has got off to a slightly rocky start. We’re awaiting the update for legacy Windows Phone 8 devices for starters, and critical acclaim for Windows 10 (phone) hasn’t been great. 

Microsoft might be looking to expand its line-up of devices with a Lumia 650, an entry-level handset. And there have been recent murmurings about the possible arrival of a mid-range Lumia 750, perhaps even an 850, thanks to certification seemingly leaked from an official Chinese communications regulator. In addition, Surface Phone rumours still churn, but at the moment, we think that’s wishful thinking.

READ MORE Microsoft Lumia 650 specs and design leak and Massive leak suggests Windows 10 Microsoft Lumia 750 is heading to MWC 2016, maybe a Lumia 850

Samsung

Samsung at MWC 2016

Samsung has confirmed that the next Samsung Galaxy will launch at MWC 2016, with an event scheduled for 21 February, the same day as LG for anyone not paying attention. That could see the launch of the Samsung Galaxy S7, the SGS7 edge and possibly the Galaxy S7 Plus, although the latter is less likely.

We might also see the launch of a new sport-focused wearable, based on the design of the Gear S2 smartwatch, but there’s also a big hint dropped in the Samsung Unpacked 2016 teaser video, which shows Gear VR. Rumours have it that Samsung is going to announce a 360-degree camera, designed for capturing your VR content.

READ MORE Samsung Galaxy S7, S7 edge and S7 edge plus: What’s the story so far?

Sony

Sony Mobile at MWC 2016

The wheels of Sony’s updating machine never seem to stop, but following the IFA 2015 launch of the Z5 family, we can’t see that the company will dabble in the flagship space again so soon. Never say never though, this is Sony, after all. Sony has plans, however, as it’s issued invites to an MWC 2016 press conference on the Monday.

The SmartWatch 3 is getting a little older, so perhaps MWC will see Sony skip smartphones and focus on wearable updates. Serial leaker Evan Blass claims Sony will be launching a “tiny, smart Bluetooth headset at MWC” but whether that will launch alongside other devices is unclear.

There could also possibly be an update in tablets: the Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact is now 2 years old, or maybe we will see an update to the mid-range Xperia M handset. There’s few rumours at present, although some are already talking about the Xperia Z6.

READ MORE Sony Xperia Z6: What’s the story so far?

Qualcomm at MWC 2016

Qualcomm is expected to be pushing the message behind Snapdragon 820 in a big way at MWC 2016. We’ve already seen the first SD820 handset launched, the LeTV Le Max Pro, at CES 2016, but we expect a lot more talk about power and efficiency in the latest smartphones at MWC. 

Then there’s wearables. With Intel grabbing headlines through various wearable partnerships with the likes of Tag Heuer, New Balance and Fossil, Qualcomm will probably want to point out that it’s powering a large number of Android Wear devices. It has announced a new chipset especially for wearables, Snapdragon Wear.

When is MWC 2016?

Mobile World Congress will be held on 22-25 February 2016, although the announcements usually come thick and fast before the show floor actually opens.

Usually the preceding Sunday is the big day to watch out for, so mark your calendars for 21 February, as that’s when some of the big press launches take place.

3D printed body parts are here: Jaw dropping? Print a new one

Science is moving so fast it may soon be able to replace human body parts by simply printing them. Eventually that process will even mean printing directly into the body. For now a big step has been made with 3D printed body parts.

The breakthrough has involved scientists from Wake Forest Baptist Medical Centre printing body parts that actually function normally when implanted in living creatures.

We’ve already seen a 3D printed liver but the issue here was that without blood vessels to feed the cells it died. This new technique involves creating a sponge like structure, which can grow.

The machine that creates these wonders is called The Integrate Tissue and Organ Printing System, or Itop. This combines bio-degradable plastic for structure and water-based gel to hold cells.

These have already been implanted in animals where the plastic was broken down and replaced by natural proteins made by the cells. Blood vessel and nerves then grew into the implants.

On a human scale this could mean replacing a broken part of a jaw, say, with the exact shape needed.

In the future these printers may be able to print right into the human body, using the same material as the patient so rejection isn’t an issue. Lost an arm? Just pop to your local limb dispenser and have a new one grown on. It’s a long way off but we’re going in that direction, and fast.

READ: 3D printed liver is here and it can survive for up to 40 days

Self-parking chairs are real, just clap and they tidy away

Chairs are one of the last things we imagined would become smart, yet Nissan has seen a way to make it so.

Inspired by the technology in it self-parking cars Nissan has applied the intelligence to chairs. What may have started as a marketing stunt has created something that could be genuinely useful.

The chairs, left haphazardly after a day’s use, can be tidied away by simply clapping. This will activate the homing manoeuvre and each chair will return to its correct place under the desk. Presumably this return position could be set as anywhere, not just under the desk.

The Okamura chairs used have been modified by Nissan to work in conjunction with four motion cameras and Wi-Fi control. The base features wheels and motors that allows the chairs to move around the room into position.

While these chair are cools and could be useful in an office environment, don’t expect to see them in shops soon. This is clearly just a proof of concept by Nissan to promote its cars. That said if this video proves to be popular there may end up being a market for chairs made for the lazy.

READ: BMW 3-Series (2016) first drive: Retaining the sports saloon crown?

When is Android 6.0 Marshmallow coming to my phone?

Google’s next mobile operating system update is called Android 6.0 Marshmallow and it has already started an international roll out to many devices.

As is tradition, it comes pre-installed on Google’s latest Nexus devices – the Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P – and it quickly pushed out an update for previous generation Nexus phones and tablets soon after.

But any new Android release kicks off the furore surrounding upgrades for the rest of the Android device-owning community. When will I get Android Marshmallow? Who will get Marshmallow first? We’re pulling all the details together so you have one easy stop to see when you’ll get your next Android upgrade for your smartphone or tablet.

Android 6.0 Marshmallow release date

Google’s Android 6.0 Marshmallow made its debut at the start of October for current Nexus device users in the US and quickly followed in other regions.

It was officially released in final form on 5 October 2015, with the final build available for those who wanted to collect the source files and update their Nexus devices. However, OTA updates should be available to all supported Nexus phones and tablets by now.

The new Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P were released on 22 October, and they both have it pre-installed. Android 6.0.1 was officially released on 7 December 2015 and in most cases, we’d expect updates to arrive on this latest version.

We’ve given the Android 6.0 Marshmallow preview a thorough review so you know what to expect when it does hit your device.

Android 6.0 Marshmallow update: Nexus devices

Android Marshmallow (Android 6.0) started rolling out to Nexus 5, 6, 7, and 9 from 5 October. There should be updates for the Nexus Player too for users of the device in the US.

The Android 6.0.1 factory images are available for those who want to manually update their phones if they haven’t received the OTA version yet.

Android 6.0 Marshmallow update: BlackBerry

That’s right, we now have BlackBerry on the Android update list. With the Priv launching on Android 5.1.1 Lollipop, the company hasn’t committed to a confirmed timeline for Marshmallow, but did tell Android Central that it would be some time in 2016.

BlackBerry has been true to its word on supplying security updates, however, and we’ve already seen a number of updates for the Priv. There’s no word on Marshmallow just yet.

Pocket-lint

Android 6.0 Marshmallow update: HTC

Unlike the other manufacturers out there, HTC operates a 90-day promise for updates, as well as promising that your device will be updated for 2 years following its release. In reality, 90 days is a target and some might get that update, while others might have to wait a little longer as it rolls-out in different regions.

HTC originally confirmed that the HTC One M9 and One M8 will get an update at “beginning end of 2015”, although it didn’t appear. Reports of the M9 updates starting in Asia followed in January, with M9 updates appearing in February. We’ve got Marshmallow on our UK One M9 and One M8.

We’ve begun rolling out the Android 6.0 Marshmallow update to the unlocked One M9 and selected carriers so you should see the update soon.

— HTC UK (@HTC_UK) January 26, 2016

HTC has revealed that the following will all be getting Marshmallow:

• HTC One M9+
• HTC One E9+
• HTC One M8
• HTC One E9
• HTC One ME
• HTC One E8
• HTC One M8 Eye
• HTC Butterfly 3
• HTC Desire 826
• HTC Desire 820
• HTC Desire 816

The company has also confirmed that it will share further info regarding other devices in the near future.

Oh, and if that wasn’t enough, HTC has unveiled the HTC One A9 which is shipping with Android 6.0 Marshmallow already, we’re awaiting the 6.0.1 update on that handset.

Android 6.0 Marshmallow update: Huawei

Huawei has revealed which devices in its line-up are getting the new software (with its own Emotion UI layered on top, of course).

The Huawei devices getting Android 6.0 are:

• Huawei P8
• Huawei P8 Youth Edition
• Huawei P8 Max
• Huawei Maimang 4 (the Chinese version of the G8)
• Huawei G7
• Huawei G7 Plus
• Huawei Mate 7
• Huawei Mate S
• Huawei Honor 7
• Huawei Honor 7i
• Huawei Honor 6 Plus
• Huawei Honor 6
• Huawei X2
• Huawei 4X
• Huawei Play 4C

Huawei announced that Android 6.0 Marshmallow began rolling out in November, although we’re yet to hear of examples.

Android 6.0 Marshmallow update: Honor

Honor is a sub-brand of Huawei, but it looks like Honor will be getting its Marshmallow sweetness a little later than Huawei, if the timeline from Honor India is anything to go by. The company tweeted to say that Marshmallow would be arriving in February 2016 to the following devices:

• Honor 7
• Honor 4C
• Honor 6 Plus
• Honor 6
• Honor 4X

Android 6.0 Marshmallow update: LG

LG announced that LG G4 owners will get the Android 6.0 Marshmallow update from the week beginning 19 October… in Poland. The rest of the supported regions in Europe, Asia and the Americas – including the UK and US – will “follow”.

Traditionally, that could mean a wait until early the following year, so we’d expect to see the update hit other LG G4 handsets in January or February 2016. It’s been confirmed that T-Mobile (US) as started pushing Marshmallow to the G4 from 4 February.

It also seems likely that the LG G3 will get Android 6.0, as it previously appeared as an option on a Korean LG support page.

LG will officially confirm and publish an upgrade schedule soon, however.

Android 6.0 Marshmallow update: Motorola

Motorola is a fast mover when it comes to Android updates. Thanks to minimal additions on devices, Motorola has sometimes updated as fast, or even faster, than some Nexus models.

It recently confirmed, for instance, that the following Moto devices will get Marshmallow:

• 2015 Moto X Pure Edition (third-gen)
• 2015 Moto X Style (third-gen)
• 2015 Moto X Play
• 2015 Moto G (third-gen)
• 2014 Moto X Pure Edition in the US (second-gen)
• 2014 Moto X in Latin America, Europe and Asia (second-gen)
• 2014 Moto G and Moto G with 4G LTE2 (second-gen)
• 2014 Moto Maxx
• 2014 Moto Turbo

The roll-out started initially in Brazil and India, for the 2015 Moto X Style (third-gen) and 2014 Moto X (second-gen). Now we’ve had reports that the latter has been updated more widely around the globe, including in the US and UK. An OTA update has started to hit Moto X (2014) devices.

We also know from personal experience that the new Moto X Force has received an over-the-air update.

We had heard that Motorola confirmed that it was in the approval process for the 2015 Moto X Pure Edition (third-gen) so it is highly possible that has received its update by now too.

Android 6.0 Marshmallow update: Nvidia

Nvidia was swift when it came to getting the last Android update (Lollipop) to its Shield Tablet and it has been equally speedy getting Marshmallow to the current device. The Nvidia Shield Tablet K1 now has an over-the-air Android 6.0 update waiting for you to install, if you haven’t already.

Although the original Shield Tablet update started, Nvidia then withdrew the update because some users were finding that Wi-Fi didn’t work following the update.

The company announced at CES 2016 that Android 6.0 Marshmallow is heading to Shield Android TV however so that will be ready soon for installation. Nvidia has also said it will be enhancing the startup process on Shield Android TV meaning fewer steps before you get to your favourite apps, movies and games.

Google

Android 6.0 Marshmallow update: OnePlus

OnePlus has confirmed that Marshmallow is coming to the OnePlus 1, and that Cyanogen OS will be updated some time in early 2016. The OnePlus Two with Oxygen OS will be updated in Q1 2016. OnePlus confirmed it will use the native support for the fingerprint scanner in Marshmallow. The OnePlus X will also get updated, but there’s no word on a timeframe.

To recap, OnePlus has confirmed the following devices will receive the update to Android Marshmallow:

• OnePlus 1
• OnePlus Two
• OnePlus X

Android 6.0 Marshmallow update: Samsung

Last OS update, Samsung had its version rolling out 31 days after the Google launch. But not all phones actually got it right away. Variations in network can play a role here, and some see quite a delay. It also looks like Samsung is running a phased roll-out, if a timeline that appeared on TimesNews is correct.

Samsung released the 6.0.1 Marshmallow updated for Galaxy S6 and S6 edge phones in South Korea on 30 January 2016.

Samsung began rolling out Android 6.0 Marshmallow updates for the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge from 15 February.

A leaked release schedule from SamsungViet claims updates for Q1 2016 will arrive on the Galaxy Note 4, Note 4 Duos, Note Edge, Galaxy Note 5, Galaxy S6, S6 Edge, S6 Edge+, S6 Duos, Galaxy S5, S5 Neo and S5 LTE-A.

The source slates updates for Q2 for the Samsung Galaxy Alpha, Galaxy Tab A, Galaxy Tab S2 9.7 and Tab S2 8.0.

Another leak, on 26 January, from XTech Leaks, says the Galaxy S6 edge+ and Galaxy Note 5 will be first due for the update in February. This will be followed by the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge between February and March. Since that has been proved accurate the other information is also likely reliable.

The Samsung Galaxy S5, Note 4 and Note edge should get the update in between March and April. This leak was accompanied with the below image apparently showing Samsung’s schedule.

Xtech

Android 6.0 Marshmallow update: Sony Xperia

Sony has published a list of device that will be updated to Android 6.0 Marshmallow. The list includes:

• Xperia Z5
• Xperia Z5 Compact
• Xperia Z5 Premium
• Xperia Z4 Tablet
• Xperia Z3+
• Xperia Z3
• Xperia Z3 Compact
• Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact
• Xperia Z2
• Xperia Z2 Tablet
• Xperia M5
• Xperia C5 Ultra
• Xperia M4 Aqua
• Xperia C4

Sony’s twitter feed says that it will begin rolling out Marshmallow updates from 7 March in the UK on the Xperia Z5 series, Z4 Tablet and Z3+.

We will update as soon as there are any confirmations of timeline for Android 6.0 Marshmallow updates.

LG G5: What’s the story so far?

The LG G5 is the flagship smartphone set to succeed the South Korean company’s G4 handset that was released in April 2015.

The LG G4 came with the choice of a premium leather finish and stunning f/1.8 16-megapixel camera. Despite the strong praise it received however, it didn’t quite find the favour that LG perhaps wanted. The G5 therefore has a lot to prove and it looks like it might do it, with LG seemingly throwing everything into its next flagship smartphone.

Rumours are now in full swing for the LG G5 with a better processor, battery, metal build and iris scanner just a few of the speculated upgrades. We’ve rounded up everything there is to know about the LG G5 based on the rumours and speculation and as usual, we will update this feature as we hear more.

LG

LG G5 release date 

LG has scheduled an event for 21 February in Barcelona, which is the Sunday before Mobile World Congress kicks off and the same day rumoured to see the arrival of Samsung’s Galaxy S7 and S7 edge. 

Journalists were invited to attend the unveiling of its “next flagship smartphone”, with LG sending out the usual “save the date” notice, along with an image of a green music box and a “Play Begins” teaser.

Following the save the date, LG officially confirmed it would unveil the LG G5 at the show. On 3 February, LG posted images on Twitter that showed people gesturing as if they were holding a smartphone.

The images also reference the number “5” several times and are captioned with “#LGG5” as well as the date of the company’s upcoming event and “#MWC2016”. If that isn’t enough proof for you though, LG Korea’s Social site also published the above GIF that specifically states LG G5 Day is “coming soon” on 21 February.

Dubizzle

LG G5 design

LG is expected to go full premium for the G5. This follows Samsung’s move to a premium metal and glass unibody for the Galaxy S6 range.

A report out of Korea suggests the LG G5 will come with full metal unibody design. A source that claims to have seen the G5 said the design has “taken a major step forward”, something echoed by a source talking to Venture Beat, who says the phone borrows from the recently launched LG V10. On the rear should be a fingerprint reader and it should accommodate a second ticker display, as seen on that aforementioned device.

There have also been a few renders emerge based on eye-witness accounts of the new LG G5. Apparently the device will be modular to accommodate a removable battery in the all metal design. It has also been claimed the LG G5 will have a flat rear rather than rounded like its predecessors.

Android Authority has produced a sketch of what the LG G5 might look like based on insider information, and also concurs that there could be a removable section to give access to the battery. The measurements of the handset are said to be 149.4 x 73.9 x 8.2mm, with the volume controls moving from the rear back to a more conventional side position.

A new device then appeared in a protective case. Thought to be the LG G5, a fingerprint scanner can be seen on the rear, below a dramatic camera array. The casing disguises the rest of the handset, but it’s not uncommon for engineering samples to be tested in these sorts of covert conditions.

LG itself has revealed the G5 behind the touch-enabled Quick Cover case but as the images only present the front of the handset, the design speculation regarding the rear of the device can’t be confirmed as yet.

There have been some images republished by PhoneArena however that do show what appears to be a dual-camera setup with a fingerprint sensor below, supporting the rumours. The images were taken from an e-commerce site in Dubai that is selling what it is claiming to be a “brand new LG G5”. The device is going for 2,500 dirhams, which is around £470 and apparently comes with a valid IMEI.

LG

LG G5 display

The G4 sported a Quad HD resolution so it would be reasonable to expect that in the LG G5. There is a chance LG may go down the same path as Sony did with the Z5 Premium and cram in a 4K display but we’re not holding our breath. According to Weibo leakster Zealer, the G5 will feature a 5.6-inch 2560 x 1440 pixel resolution display.

The above GIF was officially outed by LG on its Facebook page. The rumour is that the G5 will use similar dual layer LCD screens to the V10, meaning an Always On display that doesn’t consume much battery life. This was then further supported by the unveiling of the touch-enabled Quick Cover case by LG, which from the images released appears to work in tandem with the always-on display.

Venture Beat adds further information regarding the sizes, claiming an anonymous source has confirmed the G5 will feature a main display at 5.3-inch 2560 x 1440 resolution and a second smaller 160 x 1040 display on top, as seen on the LG V10.

CNET Korea also claims the LG G5 will have two displays, one of which will be a 5.3-inch 2560 x 1440 screen. It’s not clear so far exactly what size LG will settle for. The G4 is 5.5 inches, the V10 is 5.7 inches.

Android Authority

LG G5 camera

The LG G4 set the bar very high with its f/1.8 16-megapixel camera. With Samsung showing off its low-light specialist Britecell camera, LG is going to have to innovate again.

According to Weibo, LG may opt to use a 21-megapixel sensor. We expect plenty of LG extras added to that (likely) Sony sensor to give it a unique sell. LG also used an 8-megapixel front-facing selfie camera in the G4. The Weibo leakster says to expect that to be at least as high in resolution for the G5.

The anonymous source of Venture Beat says the rear snapper will actually be a lower 16-megapixel sensor however, but it will apparently feature dual lenses capable of 135-degree wide-angle shots. This also supports the 8-megapixel selfie camera claim. According to Droid Life, the LG G5 will support dual rear camera of 16-megapixel and 8-megapixel resolution and it appears there are dual rear cameras based on the leaked device images.

Droid Life

LG G5 hardware specs

The LG G5 is expected, according to an anonymous source of Venture Beat, to ship with a Snapdragon 820 CPU with 3GB of RAM and 32GB storage. That’s an entirely possible load-out, and we suspect that LG will stick to offering a microSD card slot for expansion.

A new feature called Magic Slot will allow for hardware upgrades, claims the same source. It should allow the rear camera to shoot 360-degree photos, allow for the attachment of a physical QWERTY keyboard, audio amplifier and more. This accessory function might explain the “play” angle of the invite, making for a device that will do more than your average smartphone.

CNET Korea claims the Snapdragon 820 will be on board but it says there will be 4GB of RAM compared to the 3GB claimed by Venture Beat. LG has released different devices in different territories, so it’s entirely possible that Korea and US markets could get 4GB, with other regions getting 3GB.

It’s also thought that the LG G5 will offer USB Type-C, based on shots revealing that latest connection type.

CNET Korea

LG G5 battery

According to the Venture Beat source, the battery will be 2800mAh making it smaller than the G4, but with a more efficient chip and Android 6.0 OS that should not be an issue.

However, there are rumours that the LG G5 will have a removable bottom section, meaning you can slide the battery out of the all-metal body. In the report, initially from CNET Korea, there’s no mention of the battery capacity, but LG has been one of the last companies to abandon changeable batteries: perhaps the LG G5 will continue that trend.

LG G5 iris scanner

According to Korean reports and a Weibo leak the LG G5 may feature an iris scanner for security authentication.

The company developing the tech is called Irience. The algorithm is still being worked on but the hardware is ready and able to recognise an individual iris up to 50cm away.

The iris security feature is expected to be good enough for use with banking apps as it is, apparently, superior to fingerprint recognition.

LG G5 software

Little has been said about software features to expect from the LG G5, but a user agent report details that the phone will launch with Android 6.0 Marshmallow.

LG’s invite, however, points to play, which could mean that there are a range of entertainment features to be expected.

What to know more?

Keep you eyes on our LG hub, as well as on your MWC 2016 home page, where we’ll be covering off everything the launches at the Barcelona show.

LG G5 photos leaked from the wild to reveal metal unibody build

Some of the most convincing and clear photos of the LG G5 flagship smartphone so far have leaked revealing a metal build and a rather lumpy design.

LG is expected the reveal the G5 at Mobile World Congress on 21 February. Despite LG actually teasing the Always On display feature, there are still leaks. In this case in the form of photos of the handset after it was imported to UAE from the US.

The rear shows that dual camera which has also leaked via the rumour mill. The photos show a raised fingerprint reading button in the centre. It appears to be a metal unibody that curves round at the edges. The volume rocker is clearly visible and there also appears to be another button at the other end of the same side, suggesting a dedicated camera shutter button.

The front of the G5 is nearly all screen with the black standing out against the metallic edging of the frame. The bottom appears to be silver featuring the LG logo, while the black top is clearly discernible from the screen of the handset.

Other leaked details suggest the G5 will have a 5.6-inch QHD display, dual rear camera of 16 and 8 megapixels, run on a Snapdragon 820 CPU with 3GB of RAM and use a 2800mAh battery.

This latest leak also purports that the price will be AED 2,500 which is about £470.

READ: LG G5: What’s the story so far?

What does the LG X series reveal about the LG G5?

LG has a habit of pre-announcing devices before they officially debut. It’s a tactic the company has used for a while meaning by the time we get to the upcoming event or show, there are normally few surprises remaining.

The LG G5 is the next hotly-anticipated device and although it has been heavily rumoured, almost all the official details regarding the upcoming flagship have been kept close for now. LG announced the official case for the device as well as the “Always-on” display, which isn’t much, but has it in fact revealed more than we think elsewhere?

In the week leading up to Mobile World Congress, LG has revealed two mid-range smartphones that will sit in what it is calling the X series. One of the devices focuses on display, while the other is all about the camera. Could LG be combining the two specialist features on these two mid-rangers into one device for the LG G5?

Here is how the LG X screen and LG X cam compare against the rumoured specs for the LG G5. They may give away more than you’d initially think.

LG X series vs LG G5: Display

The LG X screen is the mid-ranger that has a special focus on display. It comes with a 4.93-inch Full HD main display and a secondary 1.76-inch “Always On” display with a 520 x 80 resolution. The second display is the same low powered display that can be found on the V10. It allows for at-a-glance notifications and information including time and date.

The LG G5 is confirmed to be coming with an “Always On” display too after the company uploaded a GIF on its Facebook page presenting the feature and there are also rumours claiming it will have a secondary display. There were no details on size or resolution but based on the rumours, it is likely the G5 will have a larger main display than the X screen, as well as a higher resolution.

A 5.3-inch main display with a Quad HD resolution has been suggested for the G5 with a secondary display offering a 1040 x 160 resolution. While the X screen handset doesn’t offer any details for the size and resolution, it does suggest that if the mid-ranger is Full HD, a higher resolution and probably larger size will be present on the flagship. We’d also expect the same technology as the X screen.

LG X series vs LG G5: Camera

The second mid-ranger that was announced – the LG cam – focuses on the camera. It features 13-megapixel and 5-megapixel dual rear cameras. These are coupled with an 8-megapixel front-facing camera.

What does that tell us about the G5? Well the new flagship has been rumoured to be coming with dual rear cameras, as well as an 8-megapixel front-facing camera. It is likely at least an 8-megapixel front camera will appear on the G5 as if the mid-ranger offers this, it would be odd for the flagship to come down, especially as the G4 also comes with an 8-megapixel front snapper.

The rumour for the G5’s dual rear cameras sits at 16-megapixel and 8-megapixels that are capable of 135-degree wide-angle shots. With the mid-range device offering the dual-camera setup, it is certainly a rumour that is now more plausible for the G5 and a bump in resolution wouldn’t be completely nuts either. LG also didn’t show off any images of the rear of the X cam smartphone – funny that.

LG X series vs LG G5: Design

The LG X screen measures 142.6 x 71.8 x 7.1mm and comes in black, white and pink gold colour options. The LG X cam measures 147.5 x 73.6mm and has a curved rear between 5.2mm and 6.9mm. It will be available in titan silver, white, gold and pink gold.

The LG G5 has plenty of rumours surrounding its design, including the idea that it will be fully-metal with a fingerprint sensor and a modular section to accommodate a removable battery. Its measurements have been touted as 149.4 x 73.9 x 8.2mm, which if true suggests a very similar footprint to the X cam device but a little thicker and taller.

There haven’t been any rumours surrounding the LG G5’s colour options but from the X series, it looks like pink gold is a thing.

LG X series vs LG G5: Hardware

The LG X screen has a 1.2GHz quad-core processor, a 13-megapixel rear camera and an 8-megapixel front camera. There is also a 2300mAh battery on board. The LG X cam on the other hand has a 5.2-inch Full HD display, 1.14GHz octa-core processor and a 2520mAh battery. Both have 2GB of RAM, 16GB of storage and run on Android Marshmallow.

The LG G5 is expected to arrive with the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 chip 3GB or 4GB of RAM and 32GB of storage. It is also thought USB Type-C will be on board along with microSD support and a removable 2800mAh battery. Given the hardware load out of the mid-rangers, the specs predicted for the G5 seem entirely reasonable.

LG X series vs LG G5: Conclusion

Do the X series devices tell us anything concrete about the LG G5? No, but they do set a couple of benchmarks for the new flagship device.

They also make a couple of the rumours surrounding the LG G5 a little more plausible like the dual cameras and the secondary display because if these features are available on a mid-range device, there is no reason not to combine them and bump up the other specs for the flagship.

Store 360TB on a coin-sized quartz, for 14 billion years, thanks to 5D lasers

Superman’s parents got it right when they stored all of his home planet Krypton’s history on a crystal. Now us earthlings are catching up thanks to a breakthrough that uses five dimensional laser writing on nanostructured glass.

The breakthrough was made at Southampton University where over 360 terabytes were stored on a single coin sized disc. These discs should be able to keep humanity’s data safe forever as they have a lifetime, at room temperature, of virtually unlimited time.

To put that in perspective they are able to withstand temperatures of up to 1000 degrees Celsius and can remain intact at 190 degree Celsius for just shy of 14 billion years.

Data is written to the clear fused quartz discs using ultrafast laser which fires extremely short and intense pulses of light. This writes files in three layers of nanostructured dots separated by five micrometres, which is one millionth of a metre.

The team that created this invention are now looking for partners to further develop and commercialise the tech. So you could soon be recording data to a more permanent solution. Granted it will likely start out as a server solution, but may end up in personal devices in the not too distant future. Be careful what you record then.

READ: Holograms are finally here: Plasma lasers used to create images in mid-air