Moto X gets detailed video tour, Open Mic voice command feature detailed

Moto X's touch-free rival to Siri detailed

The heavily-anticipated Moto X phone has posed for the cameras once again, this time in a sleek promotional video for Canadian mobile carrier Rogers.

The demonstration video details many of the new features that'll debut on the device, including the always-listening voice command software that does not require users to touch the device.

The so-called Open Mic feature will allow users to ask questions, bring up Google Now data, set alarms, or get directions just by talking to the device.

It's unclear at present whether the feature will be specific to the Moto X or is available more widely as part of a newer version of Android.

Flashy new camera app

Another intriguing new feature showcased, within the 2-minute video tour, is the ability to launch the Moto X's camera app by flicking the wrist twice.

Users will also be able to capture photos by tapping anywhere on the screen, while holding down a finger will take multiple photos.

There's also a new "Active Notifications" mode. Instead of a nondescript blinking light on the device, the screen will blink softly with an icon from the relevant app, for example Facebook Messenger.

Again, it's not certain whether these features will be Moto X specific or perhaps part of the rumoured Android 4.3 refresh.

With the device set to launch within the next few of weeks with an on-sale date reportedly scheduled for August 23, we probably won't have long to find out.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/moto-x-gets-detailed-video-tour-open-mic-voice-command-feature-detailed-1165774

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HTC One Mini photos surface again, specs get confirmed

Fellow tech journalists from AndroidNext.de have got their hands on some exclusive new photos and leaked screenshots of the yet unannounced HTC One Mini.

HTC One Mini

The HTC One Mini will make use of the same 4MP UltraPixel camera as its bigger brother. There is also a 1.6MP camera front-facing camera for video chats. The 4.3-inch screen has a 720x1280 pixel screen.

The smartphone will be powered by a dual-core 1.4GHz Snapdragon 400 chipset with Adreno 305 graphics and 1GB RAM (CPU-Z wrongfully reports the chipset as Snapdragon S4, but the GPU reveals it's the newer hardware).

HTC One Mini specs, according to AnTuTu and CPU-Z

This is not the first time we see photos of the HTC One Mini, and these are certainly not the clearest ones, but still the leaked screenshots confirm most of the rumored specs.

Previous rumors suggested the phone will launch in August so we suppose HTC will not delay the official announcement much longer.

Source

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/htc_one_mini_new_photos_surface_online_has_its_specs_confirmed-news-6375.php

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5-inch BlackBerry A10 (Aristo) leaks on video

We can't say we haven't seen the BlackBerry A10 before, but seeing it in action on video is a new ballgame altogether.

The video comes straight from Vietnam, courtesy of a mobile accessory shop, called Vivix. So far we don't have further details about the device itself.

Via

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/5inch_blackberry_a10_leaks_on_video-news-6374.php

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Leaked Moto X video ad shows the phone has a few neat tricks

The Moto X is far from been announced but we are already seeing various leaks all over the place. Next in the series is a leaked video ad for the phone, purportedly made by Canadian carrier Rogers.

Ever since the Nokia Lumia 1020 unveiling earlier this week, Motorola has been involved in various sorts of guerrilla marketing of its long-rumored upcoming smartphone Moto X, including, but not limited to, the appearance in the hands of a high-ranking Google executive and assorted other leaks.

This time, the newly leaked video shows some of the new features of the phone. We are yet to see whether these nifty features are some sort of differentiators for Motorola or whether they are simply part of the next Android iteration, which will supposedly premiere on the Moto X.

The new stuff shown in the video includes:

• Open Mic - an always-on mic for voice commands ala Google Glass;
• Active Updates - part of the screen auto wakes up to show notifications and the clock in standby;
• Camera is launched by twisting your wrist twice;
• No on-screen shutter key, you just touch anywhere on the viewfinder and the camera takes a picture
• Holding your finger for longer on the screen makes the camera quickly take several snaps in succession;
• The Moto X will launch to market (in Canada at least) as early as this August in both black and white.

Previously known, but now confirmed things:

• The LTE capabilities;
• The semi-transparent on-screen navigation keys.

We've also spotted a side slot for a SIM card, so we would guess the battery would be non-removable on this one.

Another fresh leak shows the Open Mic voice commands in action. These work even in standby.

Motorola also recently used its Twitter account to tease us with a set of blurry photos of a kid with the title "Either this kid is really fast, or today’s phones are really slow.".

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/leaked_moto_x_video_ad_shows_a_few_new_tricks-news-6373.php

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The Nokia Lumia 1020 available on pre-order in Germany for €799

A couple of German retailers have been found to already offer the Nokia Lumia 1020 on pre-order and both places are advertizing the phone for €799 SIM-free.

This sort of pricing hardly comes as a surprise since the current generation iPhone, which is traditionally the most expensive smartphone to buy, costs €789 for the 32GB version in Germany. And, as we saw with the announced US pricing ($300 with a 2-year contract with AT&T), this time around Nokia considers it has a true winner on its hands and is ready to price it as a true premium product.

The announcement of the Nokia Lumia 1020 made a big splash in the industry this week. Talking about the phone on stage, Nokia's CEO however only touched briefly upon European availability, saying the phone is coming to key European markets this quarter. And that's that.

In our Nokia Lumia 1020 preview, published earlier this week, we made a rather bold projection that the Lumia 1020 will cost around a €700 in the EU and we called it "way more than Nokia can afford to charge for its flagship at the moment." The price of €799 is quite steeper, so we are eagerly awaiting to see the actual price at launch.

Unfortunately, the two stores, which have the Lumia 1020 on pre-order, don't have any launch date to suggest, meaning they know as much as we do right now.

Leaked documents suggest that Telefonica (O2 and its sister networks) will be launching the phone in September, so that's as accurate launch date as we are going to get right now.

The same documents suggest that the Lumia 1020 will be sold in a 64GB version on O2 network, so if O2 is your carrier of choice, you might want to abstain from pre-ordering the device from third-party retailers.

If you live in the US on the other hand, and you are thinking of pre-ordering the phone (official pre-orders there start July 16), you would be best getting it from the Microsoft's online store as they would throw in a free camera grip to sweeten the deal.

Via

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/the_nokia_lumia_1020_available_on_preorder_in_germany_for_799-news-6372.php

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