As many of you already know, the internet is abuzz with rumors of the new Nexus device. Originally, the rumor was that Google would not be making any more Nexus devices and then rumors started to surface of both a Nexus 6 and a Nexus 9. We’ve been lucky enough to have access to Nexus 9 information, but unfortunately Nexus 6 information is much more tightly held. The new Nexus 6 is going to be a roughly 6″ device which is expected to feature a 2560 x 1440 display along with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 SoC to power that additional GPU load expected from such a resolution. Thanks to Evan Blass, also known as Evleaks, we’ve got a leaked unwatermarked image of the Nexus 6.

What a depressing few days. I remember 1 thing that used to make me feel better, tho. No mark in deference to Nexus. pic.twitter.com/76zhSfu8rJ

— Evan Blass (@evleaks) October 14, 2014

  Most other details are still fairly highly rumored, but the expectation is that it will launch alongside the Nexus 9 which is supposed to be unveiled this week. This would make sense because both devices are expected to run on Google’s new Android L release, which is rumored to be called Lollipop. Android L is expected to launch simultaneously with both devices and be available to Nexus users as well. To add fire to the Nexus 9 and Nexus 6 rumors, HTC employee and Senior Global Online Communications Manager Jeff Gordon made the following tweet:

Something amazing, beautiful and highly confidential just arrived. pic.twitter.com/0C1KXI3lqO — Jeff Gordon (@urbanstrata) October 13, 2014

Many commenters on the photo made an obvious observation, that the box was too big for any one phone, very likely indicating that he had probably received an HTC Nexus 9 ahead of the launch which is expected to come tomorrow. Many people believe, logically, that if the Nexus 9 is launching tomorrow that we could very likely see the Nexus 6 come along side it.

I would not say that with 100% certainty because we have not been told this by any of our sources, but it isn’t necessarily something crazy to assume. As such, we have no exact idea when the Nexus 6 is coming, but we do know it’ll be big and very powerful. In fact, many people believe that the Nexus 6 is too big for a phone (myself included) and that Google should also release a more reasonably sized version of the Nexus 6, say a Nexus 4.7″ (obviously not going to be the name). Either way, the Android Lollipop (?) release should be an exciting announcement on its own and perhaps Google believes that people wanting a smaller Nexus device might just stick to the Nexus 5 which should still perform quite well.

The post Nexus 6 Leaks Ahead of Expected Launch appeared first on VR World.

Now-retired smartphone leaker Evan “Evleaks” Blass is in a tussle with TK O’Connor of TK Tech News over claims that O’Connor has used Blass’ multiple sclerosis as a vehicle to line his own pockets from the proceeds of a crowdfunding campaign in Blass’ name.

Shortly after Evleaks announced his retirement in August, O’Connor proceeded to set up an Indiegogo campaign to help Blass with his medical bills to pay for his MS treatment. To date the campaign has raised $9,275 of its goal of $100,000.

But on Saturday things between Blass and O’Connor took a turn for the worse, with Blass posting on Twitter that he had been the victim of fraud by O’Connor as he said — providing a screencap of an email from Indiegogo — that the funds from all who paid by credit card were routed into the bank account of O’Connor’s wife.

The reply from IndieGoGo to my inquiry regarding the delay: pic.twitter.com/paflwTL3vf

— Evan Blass (@evleaks) October 12, 2014

For his part O’Connor denies the claims put forward by Blass and uploaded a video to Instagram purporting to show that he’s transferred the funds to Blass’ bank account. But in a tweet Blass claims that the video is fake.

.@tktechnews‘ “rebuttal video” is doctored; name is correct, but address traces to a “D K O’Connor” in Beverly Hills. pic.twitter.com/ZwKBEhPqcl

— Evan Blass (@evleaks) October 12, 2014

O’Connor denies any wrongdoing. It should not be presumed that O’Connor is in anyway guilty of fraud as this case has not been heard before a court.

The plot thickens

While on the surface this is a case of he said-he said, a recent expose posted by Phandroid’s Derek Ross on Medium adds a level of complexity to the issue. According to O’Connor’s bio he is a former professional hockey player that’s played in the NHL, IHL and Japan’s regional league. During his tenure in the NHL, O’Connor said that he played for the New Jersey Devils and the Anaheim Ducks. After his retirement, O’Connor said that he coached two professional junior league teams.

But if Ross’ expose is to be believed this isn’t the case. Ross went through team rosters and found that the only person that could fit the timeline presented by O’Connor is someone named Myles O’Connor. When asked by Ross, O’Connor said that he changed his name to Myles in 2007. Some Googling by Ross cast serious doubt to claims made by O’Connor. The real Myles O’Connor is a clothing store proprietor from Calgary, Canada that runs a family owned shop recently featured in Oilfield Pulse magazine.

(Screencap credit: Derek Ross/Medium)

According to whois results obtained from Ross digging through previous online properties connected to TK and his wife Patricia Pizer, TK Tech News is not owned by an O’Connor. From the records, TK’s real name is Thomas Connors and he appears to have no connection to professional hockey aside from being a fan.

Late Sunday Blass tweeted out an October 2012 press release from the Department of Homeland of Security which said that an individual named Thomas W. Connors from Winters Park, Florida, where Thomas “TK” Connors resides, was arrested for impersonating a DHS agent. The release also says that Connors was wanted on several felony probation violations in Florida including attempted murder of a police officer, felony assault, and felony fraud charges.

Same guy? http://t.co/nDvLSc8LOr is also registered out of Winter Park + date matches mugs. Alleged crimes are scary pic.twitter.com/RAivCFPV07 — Evan Blass (@evleaks) October 13, 2014

This matches a court docket from the website of Winter Park’s county, which lists court proceedings. A story published by an Atlantic Media property at the time said that Connors also outfit his car with emergency lights.

A case against Evleaks?

During exchanges on Twitter, Connors suggested in a YouTube video which has since been made private that Blass was facing an investigation by US authorities (the investigating agency was not named) for allegedly illegally accessing trade secrets (leaks). Though Blass has always maintained that his sources feed him information, he could be facing an uncomfortable legal situation if it’s found out that he has commissioned leaks or if he improperly accessed confidential information himself (for more, read this on a possible precedent Microsoft has set going after a leaker). Connors posted to Instagram screenshots of what appears to be Blass asking Connors for legal assistance.

The authenticity of these screenshots cannot be verified at the time. At the time there is no official evidence to suggest that Blass is facing an investigation, nor are there any related civil or criminal proceedings occurring against him at this time.

There will be more on this issue on Bright Side of News* as it no doubt develops throughout the week.

The post Evleaks Says He’s the Victim of Crowdfunding Fraud appeared first on VR World.

The web’s most prominent serial leaker has announced his retirement from the business.

Evan Blass, better known by his nom-de-web Evleaks, announced his retirement on Twitter over the weekend. Citing his declining health due to multiple sclerosis, and his inability to find a sustainable way to monetize hardware leaking, Blass decided to call it quits.

All good things must come to an end. Thank you for an amazing two years. [RETIREMENT]

— Evan Blass (@evleaks) August 3, 2014

“It mostly comes down to money,” Blass said in an interview with The Next Web. “Trying to monetize a stream of Twitter leaks is not easy. First I tried monthly sponsorships. Then weekly. Then single sponsored tweets. I took donations — felt like online panhandling.”

Blass said that efforts to monetize his website — evleaks.at — failed because there was little incentive for users to visit the site. Blass posted most of his content on Twitter, and the bulk of those that did visit his site used some sort of adblocker.

For Blass his favourite leak was the HTC M8 Prime, a phone that, while dead now, has a 3D rotating render that is just “beautiful, hypnotizing” as he said to TNW during the interview.

Blass won’t likely be making a return to the gadget leaking scene anytime soon, as he said he’s planning to start another career now and is looking for a more stable full-time position — with a 401k.

The post @Evleaks Signs Off appeared first on VR World.