September just got even busier, people. HTC has announced its own event in New York City on September 19th, thus joining the likes of Nokia, Motorola, and Apple as yet another major player to announce a hot new product this month.
Currently, there's no information on what is about to break cover. Our guesses range from a Windows Phone 8 handset, through a 10" tablet, all the way to a proper Android flagship. More than one product being announced is also likely given how quiet HTC has been recently.
In any case, we will be covering the event live from the spot, so you'll get the full scoop as soon as we get it. Be sure to stick around to find out.
Nokia Music is Nokia's second attempt with launching a free music streaming service, this time offering curated playlists and zero cost of entry for Lumia owners.
Nokia has been building hype around its Nokia 920 and 820 debuts tomorrow at Nokia World. To add to the flames, Nokia has announced that it will be launching a playlist-style, free music streaming service in the United States.
This won’t be its first foray into tunes: Nokia once boasted a now defunct music streaming service, Ovi Music Unlimited. The service had the support of music from EMI, Sony Music, Universal Music, and Warner Music, and with the purchase of select Nokia smartphones, owners were offered a free 12-month subscription to the service. Unfortunately for Nokia, with Spotify, Pandora and other streaming services, Ovi Music Unlimited never took off.
The new steaming music service, Nokia Music, will be made available completely free of charge for its users, and can be downloaded onto the Nokia 900 and 710 from Marketplace. It will be absent of subscriptions and registrations and users won’t find a hint of advertising on the service. Other music streaming services typically require users to pay a small fee to rid of the advertising. In addition to these perks, users can listen to music offline.
There’s even a geolocation feature that has been integrated into the service. Based on a user’s current location, the platform will discover live concerts, gigs and other shows that are happening around their position.
“The USA is the most vibrant and competitive digital music market in the world — by a wide margin. We have worked extra hard to ensure our service meets the expectations of the demanding, active and inspired music fans in the USA,” Jyrki Rosenberg, VP of Entertainment at Nokia, said in a statement.
The service has its limits however. Most notably, users will not be able to select specific artists, or songs. Instead, Nokia Music users will have to resort to listening to music from among the 150 playlists that are curated by Nokia’s expert music staffers in the United States and musicians like Lana Del Rey, Lady Gaga and Rhianna.
Nokia has a lot riding on the success of its smartphone business. The Nokia 900 phone, its first Windows Phone, wasn’t exactly the smashing success Nokia expected and needed. Now with its stock prices dropping into penny-stock territory, much of its future in the smartphone business is rides on the success of the 920 and 820. Whether incentives like Nokia Music will lure Android iPhone users to these new devices remains to be seen.
Could this be the new flagship Android phone? (credit: TheVerge)
Images of a new HTC smartphone leaked online over the Labor Day weekend, sending the rumor mill into overdrive.
The Chinese PhoneHK forum where the leaked images originated has since taken the pictures down, but not before the blurry shots had a chance to spread across the web.
First the facts. The leaked handset has a slim black form factor with red accents along both sides of the device, consistent with the design of HTC's past Android phones for Verizon.
A blurry Beats Audio logo can also be seen on the back of the mysterious smartphone, confirming its advanced sound capabilities.
Sadly, that is all that can be gleaned from the leaked shots, but that doesn't mean that the speculation stops here.
Could it be HTC's rumored 1080p handset?
The prevailing rumor is that the timing of the leaked handset matches up nicely with earlier rumors of a 1080p capable HTC device.
The HTC6435 was recently revealed through a benchmarking site, notable for offering 5-inch display supposedly capable of full HD resolutions.
It's also rumored to pack a 1.5GHz quad-core Snapdragon S4 chip with an Adreno 320 GPU.
However, the initial benchmark stats suggest it outperforms traditional S4 processors, suggesting it may be a modified version or even the next generation of chips.
It's still unknown if there is any connection between the leaked HTC handset and the powerful HD device rumored earlier this year.
If it turns out to be true, the mysterious smartphone could become a new flagship Android phone for Verizion to help balance the excitement over the rumored iPhone 5 and new Windows Phone 8 devices.
We put together our first list of some of the best Android tablet apps including TweetCaster and Craigslist HD.
We’ve been recommending our favorite Android apps for years, but as of late, the Android Market Google Play store has been getting more and more apps built from the ground up for tablets. As such, we give you our first five recommendations for the Best Android Tablet apps. We’ll update this list on a semi regular basis with new picks. Let us know which tablet apps you like, don’t like, or recommend in the comments below. Please, however, don’t just plug your own app. That’s not classy. For the rest of you: enjoy!
Check out our list of the best Android tablets so you can enjoy all these sweet apps.
This is the ultimate news aggregator, pulling in the stories you want to read from over 20,000 separate sources. The great thing about News360 is that it learns about your preferences through your social media accounts and apps like Evernote and Google Reader. You can access live news streams and share the stories that matter to you quickly and easily. The app is ideal for consuming news on tablets.
As long as you have a Netflix subscription you can enjoy the service on your Android tablet. You can stream TV shows or movies, and you can browse and rate what you watch. The tablet friendly interface is simple, and it enables easy navigation to the content you want, whenever you want it.
If you want to watch movies and TV shows on your Android tablet, and you have the right subscriptions, then you’ll also be interested in the apps from Comcast and HBO as well. Check out Xfinity TV and HBO GO.
HBO GO is another streaming content app that allows you to watch sports, TV shows, and movies. Xfinity TV is a bit different in that it allows you to use your tablet as a remote control, check TV listings, and schedule recordings.
If you don’t want to bother with subscriptions, but still want movies and TV shows on your tablet then check out Crackle. This ad-supported app offers up free content for you to enjoy. The content is updated every month and naturally most of it is dated. The app is actually owned by Sony and you can always check out the line-up at the Crackle website before you decide to download. There is a dedicated version of this app for Sony tablets called Crackle for Sony Tablet.
Access to thousands of magazines from across the world is what Zinio has to offer. You’ll get discounts on subscriptions and you can sync your latest copies across devices to enjoy them on your smartphone and computer as well. Tablets are ideal for reading magazines and Zinio has the best choice around.
If you don’t like magazines then you might want to check out Comics. It’s basically the same thing for comic books, giving you access to all the latest releases and allowing you to subscribe, buy single issues, and access a selection of free comics.
Get ad-free streaming music on you Lumia smartphone
Nokia has unveiled a new free music service for the US, aptly called Nokia Music and available now.
The core of Nokia's free service provides over 150 playlists to browse, curated by a group of US expert "musicologists." Along with the expert selection, playlists created by various artists will also be available from the likes of Lady Gaga, Lana Del Rey, and Rihanna.
Users hoping to put a more personal touch on their music selection can also use the Nokia Music create feature to generate a playlist based on a particular artist, drawing from millions of songs in the Nokia Music library.
Nokia makes streaming music local
Nokia is making a good case for users to try out its Spotify rival, making the service available both for free and ad-free with the ability to still access playlists offline.
Nokia Music also offers a "gig finder" feature, using location data to discover live music shows and concerts happening nearby.
"The USA is the most vibrant and competitive digital music market in the world - by a wide margin," said Nokia VP of entertainment Jyrki Rosenberg.
"We have worked extra hard to ensure our service meets the expectations of the demanding, active and inspired music fans in the USA."
The only catch is that Nokia Music is exclusive to the company's own smartphones, currently only running on the Lumia 900 and Lumia 710 handsets. However, the imminent onset of Windows Phone 8 devices next month should bring a slew of new Nokia Music capable smartphones to take advantage of the streaming service.
With confirmation that Apple and Amazon will be holding events this month, it comes as no surprise to learn another competitor in the mobile market will be hosting their own event.
HTC has sent out invites to a New York event to be held on September 19, where they promise to reveal "what's next."
There's no indication of what exactly HTC plans to show off at the event in two weeks, but with rumors about new HTC devices piling up in recent months, there's certainly no shortage of possibilities.
A new phone? A new tablet?
HTC has already revealed they've been developing a new tablet, though very little about the device has been shared beyond the acknowledgment of its existence.
A benchmarking for the HTC Vertex was discovered earlier this year, which may indicate HTC was planning to compete against the Nexus 7.
It's possible the Vertex is the tablet on display in these leaked photos, however no new concrete information about this mystery device has come to light.
Additionally, a few short weeks ago, photos of the HTC Proto were discovered, giving us the first glimpse at the new 4-inch phone.
Whether or not either of these two devices will be on hand remains to be seen, however HTC obviously has something important up its sleeve that they can't wait to show off.
No matter what HTC brings to the table, September is gearing up to be a very crowded month for reveals, so they had better bring their "A" game if they want to stand out from competitors.
Apple tools up as Samsung prepares legal challenge
Apple has pulled together 434 LTE patents in order to counter a legal threat from Samsung, according to reports on Tuesday.
Samsung has vowed to sue the bejesus out of Apple if, as expected, if unveils an LTE-enabled iPhone 5 during the launch event now confirmed for September 12.
Anticipating this, Apple has been acquiring and developing enough LTE patents to combat the legal challenge, according to the Chosun Ilbo website.
The company had no such patents last year, but now owns 318, according to the site, 44 of which it developed itself.
Patent enforcers
Apple also owns a majority stake in the 'patent enforcement firm' Rockstar Bidco, which has another 116 at its disposal. That brings Apple's total to 434.
Samsung, on the other hand, has a whopping 819 LTE patents and we're pretty sure the company's lawyers are sharpening their claws as we speak, following last month's legal mauling.
Are y'all ready for the next round of Apple vs. Samsung? Coming to a courtroom near California.
A nano-SIM found at T-Mobile may very well power the next iPhone
Apple scored a swift victory by having its proposed "nano-SIM" adopted as a new standard earlier this year, and we may not have to wait long to see the fruits of that labor.
The new, smaller SIM card standard was reportedly spotted at a T-Mobile retailer in Germany along with a letter from corporate promising details to come about "the latest generation of smartphones" available "in the near future."
Rumors have been flying in recent weeks that the iPhone 5 will be the first handset to include a nano-SIM.
Now that Cupertino has officially announced its Sept.12 media event, the writing appears to be on the wall.
First nano-SIM device
A translation of the nano-SIM letter from T-Mobile makes no reference to the iPhone, which analysts are expecting the company to be unveiled next week.
"Dear partners: You will receive today a new generation of SIM cards for the latest generation of smartphones that come in the near future on the market," the letter reads.
"Sort your SIM card please first not in their cards in hand and give it not out to customers. We will inform you shortly about how to proceed," the instructions conclude.
Apple's nano-SIM standard is smaller than even the micro-SIM used in the current iPhone 4S and new iPad, measuring only 12.3 x 8.8 x 0.67mm.
It's official: Apple will hold a press event on September 12, where it is expected to unveil the iPhone 5.
The rumor was true: Apple sent out invitations today to a press event that will take place on September 12. As usual, the event will be held at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco. Festivities will begin at 10am PT.
Apple is expected to debut the sixth-generation iPhone, commonly referred to as the “iPhone 5,” at the Sept. 12 event, which was first reported by iMore on July 30. The new iPhone will reportedly go on shelves on September 21, nine days after the event. That rumor is based on the fact that Verizon Wireless retail sales staff are forbidden from taking vacation from Sept. 21 through Sept. 30.
While the text of the invitation provides little hint as to what Apple will announce next week, a closer look shows a clear “5″ in the shadow of the “12,” a blatant indication that the so-called iPhone 5 will be announced at the event — and, much to our surprise, a hint that it might indeed be called “iPhone 5.”
The new iPhone — whatever it may be called — will reportedly sport a larger, 4-inch touchscreen, and a new 8-pin dock connector. Leaked photos and video show that the speaker and microphone grills have also been updated, and the headphone jack has been moved to the bottom of the device. Whether the leaked iPhone 5 and the real iPhone 5 are one in the same, well, we’ll just have to wait until next week to find out.
Apple is also expected to hold a second event in October during which it will reveal the long-rumored iPad Mini, a smaller version of the world’s most popular tablet that has a 7.85-inch screen, as opposed to the 9.7-inch screen of the first three generations of iPads.
The nano-SIM standard became official just this year and all rumors suggests the next-gen iPhone to be the first device using it.
Just like the micro-SIM slot used for the first time in the iPhone 4, the nano-SIM just feels right for the next iPhone.
With the iPhone 5 launch closing, the carriers are getting ready for its new slot. As you can see, T-Mobile is stocking up on nano-SIM cards for the "latest generation of smartphones that come in the near future" (translated). T-Mobile also instructed its staff not to give out these cards to customers yet.
So, the next iPhone will supposedly have a new SIM slot, a new connectivity port, new headphones, and new screen aspect ratio. The next iPhone seems to be dropping out everything Apple has relied on these years, and yet again replacing it with its own proprietary solutions.
Although widely expected, there was no iPhone 5 in 2011 after all, though the company did announce the iPhone 4S.
So we'll surely see a total revision of the iPhone during 2012. We've gathered together all the latest rumours on the new iPhone 5 to give us a reasonable picture of what Apple's latest handset might be like.
Apple has finally gotten round to sending journalists an invite to the launch of its new handset, with the iPhone 5 release date officially pegged for September 12. The shadow on the invite shows a 5, which almost definitely means Apple is to call its latest handset the iPhone 5 - so, no more 'new' then.
ORIGINAL RUMOURS
Given the pattern of Apple's iPhone launches, we're expecting the new iPhone 5 release date to be mid to late 2012.
At Apple's WWDC 2012 event in early June we learnt a lot more about iOS 6, but there was no hardware (well, apart from new Macs). Check out the launch news as well as iOS 6: everything you need to know.
While early reports pegged the new iPhone release date for October, landing closely to last year's schedule, it seems we'll be seeing the phone in September this year as Apple looks to take on Samsung's new phone sooner rather than later, with multiple sources claiming we'll see Apple take to the stage on September 12, although claims we'll see it launch alongside the iPad Mini seem a bit outlandish.
Adding more fuel to the September iPhone 5 release date fire is the rumour which says pre-orders for the new iPhone will start on the same date - something we've seen Apple do with other products - with stock expected to ship on September 21.
It seems that Foxconn will again be manufacturing the handset. It'll put the Samsung Galaxy S3 "to shame" according to the CEO of Foxconn, Terry Gou - though he didn't say how.
According to reports, networks in both the UK and US are clearing stock and schedules ahead of the iPhone 5 release date falling in September - with German carrier Mobilcom Debitel advertising for the new iPhone in September, although this may be just guesswork.
This rumour has been further exacerbated by news that both AT&T and Verizon have reportedly told staff to forget taking holiday around the 21 Sept, which is often the biggest sign of an impending iPhone launch.
iPhone 5 name
We reckon iPhone 5 is still the possible name of the new iPhone, but it could follow the new iPad and end up being called, simply, the new iPhone. We really hope not. One thing is for sure, Apple has already filed a complaint over the ownership of the iPhone5.com URL.
Apple is apparently testing two versions of the next iPhone, which are known as "iPhone5,1" and "iPhone5,2" - so could handset number six for Apple actually be called number five?
iPhone 5 form factor
Unlike the iPhone 4S, the new iPhone will be a completely new design from what has gone before, so that means an entirely new casing as we saw with the iPhone 3G and, later, the iPhone 4.
Interestingly, someone who claimed to have seen a larger iPhone 5 prototype said in 2011 that Steve Jobs canned the new size and opted for the iPhone 4S. According to Business Insider, it was feared that a new size would create a two-tier iPhone ecosystem.
Beatweek also claimed in November 2011 that the 5-inch was scrapped "because Apple wouldn't be able to do it properly" this year. However, the Daily Mail (make of that what you will) then suggested that a four-inch version was likely and that Sony has already shipped top secret demo screens to Apple.
[Image credit: 9to5Mac]
A new iPhone 5 backplate leaked in early May - they were acquired by 9to5 Mac, but look like the combination of a lot of the other rumours we've heard about the shape and size of the new handset. These feature bigger speaker grills as well as a four inch screen and a two-tone back with brushed aluminum .
The two-tone back was also spotted in a video from eTrade Supply, which again showed the relocation of the headphone jack as well as a smaller connector and redesigned speaker grills.
A detailed video render of all the iPhone 5 rumoured/leaked images was also uploaded to YouTube in early June.
Another video claims to show off the front panel of the new iPhone, and confirms a similar width to the iPhone 4S but will be taller and thinner. The SIM trays will also be smaller than the previous microSIM options, with the new nanoSIM style the default now for even tinier component - which is backed up by news of mobile operators stockpiling nanoSIMs.
We've also seen a Chinese site claim to have a fully assembled iPhone 5 chassis - bringing together all the design aspects mentioned in previous leaks, including a smaller dock, relocated headphone jack, centralised front facing camera and two-tone back.
We've also seen another 'complete' iPhone 5 from another site, posted side-by-side with the iPhone 4... but let's be honest, these mock-ups are appearing all over the place now.
iPhone 5 connections
If you're a fan of your current iPhone dock, then look away now: rumours surrounding that famous Apple 30-pin connector on the base of the iPhone have flared up again, with Reuters reporting that the dock connector is getting smaller to make room for a 3.5mm headphone jack on the base of the new iPhone 5.
Some rumours are even claiming Apple will opt for a smaller 8-pin option over the current 30-pin port or rumoured 19-pin version - or a slight change to a 9-pin offering that will appear on the base of the device.
The latter seems to have been confirmed by a USB cable set for the new range of Apple products - although it looks a bit dull compared to the iconic 30-pin connector of yore.
Well, it had to happen sometime didn't it?
iPhone 5 specs
Based on the roadmap of mobile chip design specialist ARM (of which Apple is a licensee), we'll see a quad-core processor debut in the new iPhone 5 - probably called the Apple A6. We've seen other quad core handsets debut in 2012, so it's not too much of a stretch to say that the new iPhone 5 will be the same.
We had expected some kind of help in terms of predicting the iPhone 5 CPU from the launch of the new iPad, but the announcement of a slightly tweaked A5X processor really didn't help things there.
According to a tip to 9to5Mac, the CPU will be the S5L8950X. Again this could be a derivative of the A5, but as 9to5Mac points out, Apple is probably working on a low-power 32nm version of the processor. As we could well have guessed, that processor will be manufactured by Samsung but designed by Apple itself.
New photos have shown what some believe to be the new internal chipset, which features an A6 power unit, which may up the level to quad-core power - or could be more to allow things like NFC on board too.
Alternative other pics have hinted that we're just going to see a dual-core power unit, which would fit with previous Apple strategy of not always going for specs...many believe dual core chips are still powerful enough, and Apple could definitely follow suit.
The same report suggests 1GB of RAM, which seems right to us.
Images of a range of internal gubbins, all claiming to be parts of the iPhone 5, have made their way onto the internet - possibly revealing more about Apple's sixth generation handset.
These are interesting for a number of reasons: the battery size update is only 10mAh, which hints at not much increase in processor power, nor screen size. However, it's perfectly plausible Apple has managed to make a more efficient version of its chipset ahead of a flagship phone launch.
The antennas inside the motherboard are updated too, so once again signal performance should be enhanced... and really does make it seem likely that we'll see some sort of 4G support.
After the new iPad's launch brought 4G (of sorts) to an Apple device, it's widely expected that 4G will come to iPhone 5. And with many 4G handsets already announced in the US, it can't be long before the iPhone supports 4G technologies - even if there isn't a UK spectrum auction until late this year or maybe early next.
Because of the 4G fuss over the new iPad in the UK, we'd expect this to be played down in any UK handset - or the UK might get a different version to the US entirely, although this is unlikely, since Apple would rather keep the production costs down through manufacturing only one model.
Many sites have reported that Steve Jobs was working hard on the iPhone 5 project, which will apparently be a "radical redesign". We shall see... but the fact the iPhone 4S was so similar to the iPhone 4 suggests that he was working on something pretty special before his death.
The Wall Street Journal has previously reported that: "One person familiar said the fifth-generation iPhone would be a different form factor than those that are currently available… it was unclear how soon that version would be available to Verizon or other carriers."
According to Bloomberg, sources familiar with Apple's plans said Jobs "had worked closely on the redesigned phone before his death".
Various sources claim the iPhone 5 will feature a larger, 4-inch screen. Digitimes quotes the source as saying that Apple is expanding the screen size "to support the tablet PC market as the vendor only has a 9.7-inch iPad in the market."
On 23 May 2011, we reported on rumours that the iPhone 5 could feature a curved glass screen. These rumours also came from Digitimes, which said that Apple has purchased between 200 and 300 special glass cutting machines because they're too costly for the manufacturers to invest in.
In March 2012, new reports suggested that the new iPhone 5 would come sporting a larger 4.6-inch retina display, while April rumours even suggested the next iPhone will use new touch technology.
However, Apple CEO Tim Cook seemed to dampen the 'larger screen' speculation at the recent D:10 conference, saying the company has "one phone with one screen size, one resolution".
Those of you who are keen Apple watchers will, however, know that he is wrong - the currently-available 3GS does not have the same resolution as the iPhone 4 and 4S.
Whatever, it seems Sony is involved with the display and it has been making the screen since February, ramping up production from May. A larger screen will also be welcomed by developers, as Mobilebloom points out.
The consensus now is that the new iPhone 5 will sport a 4-inch screen, which is merely lengthened to enable older apps to run with black lines above and below. It will also use new in-cell technology to produce a thinner, lighter screen.
We've seen what looks like the front panel of the new iPhone through an online video, suggesting a larger screen, 4.06-inches in size and with a 16:9 aspect ratio. The fact that the beta version of iOS 6 has a scalable option to increase the OS to fit a 640 x 1136 resolution has added more fuel to the larger screen fire.
With the tech being inside the Google Nexus S and Samsung Galaxy Nexus, as well as a host of other top smartphones, the time for NFC may finally be here.
On 24 June 2011 it was reported that the Google Wallet mobile payment platform could feature on the new iPhone. Eric Schmidt admitted that Google is looking to port the software to other manufacturers.
The developer in question has not been named, but is working on a dedicated iOS app which includes NFC reading for mobile transactions. When questioned how confident he was on the information he had received his reply was "Enough to bet the app development on".
We've also seen a pic of the internals for the new iPhone (pinch of salt and all that) that shows a space perfectly formed for the contactless technology.
Apple would be a big name to add into the NFC ranks, and would help push the technology more firmly into users' pockets. The likes of Visa and Mastercard are working hard on making contactless payments a part of every day life, and while our conversations with these companies haven't yielded concrete information, they're very hopeful Apple will be coming on board soon.
iPhone 5 camera
Sony makes the camera for the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S. Speaking at a live Wall Street Journal event, Sony's Sir Howard Stringer was talking about the company's camera image sensor facility in Sendai, a town that was recently ravaged by the recent Japanese earthquake and tsunami.
According to 9to5Mac, he said something along the lines of, "Our best sensor technology is built in one of the [tsunami] affected factories. Those go to Apple for their iPhones… or iPads. Isn't that something? They buy our best sensors from us."
Sources have also suggested the new iPhone could have an 8MP camera again. Indeed, Sony announced in January 2012 that it had developed new back-illuminated stacked CMOS image sensors which are smaller in size. It's also been reported that the new iPhone will have an HD front-facing camera as well.
An interesting titbit via MirrorlessRumors is that a removable iPhone back panel that would include the camera lens has been spotted in a patent document. It seems to show that the device would work either by swapping the panel, or rotating the panel to change lenses - but don't expect this to be used in the new iPhone, since Apple very much likes to keep things simple.
iPhone 5 price
If the iPhone 5 is an evolutionary step like the move from the iPhone 4 to the iPhone 4S then we'd expect the price to stay more or less the same, although in the UK higher VAT rates may well mean a higher price tag.
It's pretty much nailed on that the new iPhone will cost around £500 in the UK for a 16GB or 32GB model (depending on the capacity Apple whacks in there). Unless the iPhone 5 comes with some truly next generation technology, that pricing model should hold firm.
In the US, the iPhone 4S came in at $199 for the 16GB model, 32GB for $299 and 64GB for $399 on a two year deal - and the same will likely appear again, although there's a chance we'll see a 128GB capacity for an even higher price.
The reason it would be so cool is that it would give the iPhone the same 'premium' feel while offering a new style of design. We might not see it yet, but there will likely be an iPhone based on this material in the future.
iPhone 5 review
TechRadar is renowned for its detailed phone reviews where we look at every aspect of a handset, and we'll be bringing you a full, in-depth iPhone 5 review when we get our hands on one.
So whether you're reading our new iPhone 5 review or the more standard iPhone 5 review, you'll know that you're getting a knowledgable and fair take on Apple's latest device. If it's worth upgrading to we'll let you know, and we'll be heavily comparing it to the best on the market... which just happen to be from Apple's courtroom adversaries, HTC and Samsung.
The battle for your budget tablet affections is really ramping up. Which 7-inch tablet should be commanding your attention?
If you’re in the market for a small tablet (say around the 7-inch mark) then you are spoiled for choice right now. There are some great options on the market, persistent rumors about some impending new releases, and prices are getting competitive. Let’s take a look at the contenders, kicking off with the Android platform.
Our Nexus 7 review makes it pretty clear that Google’s 7-inch Jelly Bean tablet is a beauty. It’s cheap; it’s feature-packed; and it runs the very latest version of the Android platform. With a class-leading quad-core processor and a high resolution IPS LCD screen (1280 x 800 pixels), what’s not to like? The lack of a microSD card slot disappointed some people, and the Nexus 7 depends on Wi-Fi (there’s no mobile network option), but beyond that it’s an impressive piece of kit.
Kindle Fire
Amazon’s offering has been around for a while now. It’s a solid device and Amazon is able to link in a great selection of content, but specs-wise it pales in comparison with the Nexus 7. If you primarily want an e-reader then go for a cheap Kindle. If you want a tablet then go for the Nexus 7. The Kindle Fire simply isn’t the best at anything at the moment, though that may change this week. Amazon is rumored to announce a new Kindle Fire.
Nook Tablet
The Nook Tablet is almost identical to the Kindle Fire when it comes to specs, which puts it behind the Nexus 7 too. It does boast a microSD card slot and slightly longer battery life than its competitors, but is that enough? At the moment, it’s tough to beat the Nexus 7.
Other Android tablets
You may also consider the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 (7.0) which is freshly available on Verizon’s 4G LTE network, but at $350 we think it has priced itself out of the market. You could pick an older entry in the Samsung Galaxy tablet range for less and there are other options out there including the Acer Iconia Tab range, but none of them measures up to the Nexus 7 when it comes to bang for your buck.
On the Android horizon
There have been various rumors about a Kindle Fire 2. It could be a larger tablet to compete with the iPad, or perhaps it will be another 7-inch tablet with upgraded internals. We’ll have to wait and see, but a Kindle Fire upgrade seems imminent. Amazon enjoyed enough success with the original to make a follow up a foregone conclusion.
We also know that Barnes & Noble is working on a new Nook device. The release date is uncertain, but we can expect something capable of carving out a niche in this competitive space.
iPad mini
Is the iPad mini fact or fiction? We still don’t know, but all those iPad mini rumors just won’t go away. If Apple was to release an iPad mini then there’s no doubt it would represent a real challenge for all these 7-inch Android tablets. The deciding factor could be pricing. Suggestions of superior specs and a comparable price tag simply don’t add up. If Apple was to drop an iPad mini for around the $200 mark and accept a slim profit margin in order to strike out at its competitors then it would certainly do well. We’re not convinced that’s really Apple’s style, though.
The wealth of iPad apps available and Apple’s legion of loyal fans would make it successful even at a higher price point than the competition.
BlackBerry PlayBook
RIM’s original tablet release didn’t set the world on fire, but the software has been updated since then, and the price has fallen. Check out our BlackBerry PlayBook 2.0 review to get a feel for what it can do. The latest PlayBook supports 4G, but it certainly isn’t cheap.
What it offers over the Nexus 7: Well there’s a rear-facing camera that can record HD video, but not much else. The price of the U.S. version of the latest BlackBerry PlayBook has not been announced yet, but it could be north of $500 off-contract and that’s way too high to compete.
Microsoft Micro Surface
There were rumors about a 7-inch Microsoft tablet prior to the Surface being announced, but the new tablet turned out to be sporting a 10.6-inch display. The Microsoft Surface was unveiled but there was no word on pricing. If you look at the specs and size, you might wonder why it’s mentioned here at all. Well, Engadget reported that an anonymous source told them that the Surface would ship in October for just $200. That would mean Microsoft would make a loss on each one so it seems unlikely, but if it turned out to be true then the Surface would be a really strong contender.
What should you buy?
It’s a predictable answer, but if you want to buy a budget tablet tomorrow then it has to be the Nexus 7. If you’re willing to wait a while then the next Kindle Fire is likely to be worth a look and there’s always an outside chance that the iPad mini will make an appearance. It will also be interesting to find out what the Surface will cost.
We’ll make sure you know about it if something better than the Nexus 7 comes along.
The LG Intuition has been off in rumor land for some time, but that’s no more - it was officially unveiled today by Verizon. The phablet looks exactly like its international sibling but has a few extra tricks in its bag of features.
The LG Intuition features a 5-inch IPS XGA 650-nit bright display and runs on a 1.5GHz dual-core processor. There is still no info on the chipset, but we hope for a dual-core Krait with Adreno 225 GPU instead of the Korean Optimus Vu’s dual-core Scorpion and Andreno 220 GPU duo. By the way we've already met with the latter and you may check our encounter with it right here.
The Intuition comes with 1GB RAM, 32 gigs of internal storage, an 8 megapixel snapper, Wi-Fi, LTE connectivity and Bluetooth 3.0. The Android version ticking inside is Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich skinned with LG’s latest UI.
Verizon will released the LG Intuition on September 6 and it will cost $200 with a 2-year contract. If you made a purchase between Sept. 6 and Sept.10 you’ll also get the LG Tone Stereo Bluetooth headset for free.
Also announced by Verizon is the Samsung Galaxy Stellar - an LTE-enabled mid-ranger for first-time smartphone users. It uses the same two homescreen modes we already saw in the Jelly Bean ROM for the Galaxy S III.
The Galaxy Stellar utilizes a 4-inch WVGA capacitive display, a 1.2GHz dual-core processor (no info on the model yet), a 3.2 megapixel camera, a microSD card slot, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and LTE connectivity.
Samsung Galaxy Stellar for Verizon
Verizon will launch the Galaxy Stellar on September 6 as well, and will go free with a mandatory 2-year contract.
Will this be the first BlackBerry 10 handset? (credit: n4BB)
One of RIM's first BlackBerry 10 handsets, the BlackBerry L-Series has sprung a fuzzy photo leak.
According to N4BB, the site that acquired the photo through no doubt nefarious means, the L-Series will be the first BlackBerry 10 handset to launch, followed closely by the N-Series.
The titular L may come from the BlackBerry London and Liverpool codenames which have petered out of use over the past few months.
Colourific
The site's sources think the handset will launch in a posh-sounding gun-metal grey finish, while the photo shows a number of apps.
Because there's not a great deal else to say about the photo, we're going to list them for you: contacts, browser, calendar, BBM, text messaging, App World, a memo app, docs, pictures, music, videos, 'story maker' (video editing, presumably), Facebook and maps.
There's also a page marker along the bottom of the screen which speaks of around ten screens of apps, one with a grid icon that could possibly be something to do with multitasking.
To be honest, the hardware doesn't look that different to the kit handset we saw in July when we formulated our first thoughts on the new OS in our hands on BlackBerry 10 review.
But who are we to judge? We'll have to wait and see what RIM's officially got up its sleeve when it launches its BlackBerry 10 line up in January 2013.
The UK’s retailer Phones4U is now taking pre-orders for the newly announced Xperia T. The first users to pre-order it will even get Sony’s SmartWatch as a gift. Nothing out of the ordinary so far.
If you take a closer look on the Xperia T press images on phones4u.co.uk, you’ll find one with the AT&T’s logo below the home button (attached above). What’s even more interesting is that the American Xperia T comes with a slightly different rear panel than the international model. This could be a hint for some additional LTE functionality or a removable back cover.
Anyway, the shots seems legit so we guess an AT&T announcement is imminent. Stay tuned!
Originally introduced at SXSW, Vivogig brings its concert-focused photo app to the massive in a much more complete package.
Last year at SXSW, Vivogig released its concert photo-sharing platform just before the beginning of the festival’s Music Week. Admittedly, the launch was pushed out the door in order to make the show, and founders Tanner Moehle and Daniel Senyard both explained to be what I was seeing was a very surface version of what they hoped to do with it.
Now, the team is ready to push a big update that will enable a whole new host of functionality and features that the currently dead-simple beta version of Vivogig hasn’t had up to this point. Now the app will include a find your friends tool, location stamping, an upgraded interface, big, screen-filling photos in the stream, song previews via iTunes integration, hashtags, and the ability to follow other users as well as featured artists and a VIP section with behind-the-scenes content from performers.
Other improvements include a streamlined shooting experience, making it faster to shoot and share, “So you’re spending as little time as possible looking down at your phone,” the team tells me, something they also emphasized back in March. The fun and fancy of Instagram is the filter-choosing process, but that also means you’re stuck staring at a screen instead of, say, a concert. This is what Vivogig wants to prevent, while still creating a concert-focused photo experience.
Niche? Absolutely – but any good Instagram addict knows that concerts and events are some of the most popular photos shared on the application.
Given its position, I had to ask Vivogig if there we’re Instagram-like filter plans in the pipeline. Last time I asked this question, the duo spoke about getting eyes off screens and on the stage, but Moehle says that if they do choose to introduce filters, they’ll do it differently. “Something that shows off the lighting,” he says.
And what about video? Given that Vivogig is focused on social, live performances, and media, you’d imagine that the undeniably hot (and confusing) social video market might hold some intrigue for the startup. But you’d be wrong – for all the reasons critics keep bringing up: That even powerful smartphones can’t compete when it comes to A/V. “We didn’t find one band that like the idea of crowd-sourced video,” veteran music industry exec and chief strategy officer for Vivogig Raymond McGlamery tells me. “Labels will want their performance rights the minute we start uploading videos – they will pull stuff like that down.” Clearly, video and audio quality suffer when taken from a smartphone and bands and their management don’t want anything less than the best circulating out there. “Even as video gets better and better, audio won’t ever be able to get there from a stationary source that you can still make phone calls from,” McGlamery points out.
Since Vivogig’s initial launch in Austin, the startup has managed to raise 300,000 and is closing its angel round now. The partnerships Moehle and Senyard talked to me about at the time are still in the works, and together with McGlamery (formerly of Ticketmaster and Warner Bros), to talk with venues, media companies, labels, and managers about using Vivogig as a means to promotion. Specifically, McGlamery mentions concert hall holding contests for best user-taken photos, and getting bands to directly promote using Vivogig and weaving their into their branding. Of course, before this next phase is fully launched, the team wants to solidify the app itself.
“The original is great and it works, but it doesn’t have the functionality that will benefit people we’re talking to and we’ll have some big announcements in that department soon,” McGlamery says.
AT&T announced the latest addition to its LTE smartphone portfolio - the Pantech Flex. Following the footsteps of its well equipped and affordable relative, the Pantech Burst, the newcomer aims at first time smartphone buyers by combining solid specs, ease of use, and an affordable price tag.
The Pantech Flex features a 1.5GHz dual-core CPU (likely a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4) and a 4.3" qHD Super AMOLED display. There is an 8MP camera, capable of recording full HD video on the back, and a 2MP front-facing snapper. The rugged-looking handset tips the scale at 130 grams.
Software wise, the Pantech Flex boots Android 4.0 ICS. In order to become more appealing for first time smartphone buyers, the Flex features Pantech's proprietary Easy Experience. The latter offers new users smartphone functionality, dressed in feature phone attire.
The Pantech Flex will be available for AT&T on September 16. It will be priced at the sweet $49.99 with a two-year contract.
