Nokia X specs include a dual-core processor and 4

The Nokia X, a.k.a. Nokia Normandy, has been talked about for some time now. The latest information regarding Nokia's first ever Android smartphone comes again from evleaks, who has provided some of the key specs of the device.

One of the leaked specifications is a dual-core 1GHz Snapdragon processor. Exact SoC is unknown but previous reports had suggested the Snapdragon 200 8225Q, although that is a quad-core chip. The phone will also have 512MB of RAM and 4GB of storage memory.

Other specs include a 4.0-inch, WVGA (800 x 480) display, 5 megapixel camera, dual-SIM support and a 1,500mAh battery. If there was ever doubt that this is going to be a low-end device, this should take care of it.

The Nokia X will have Nokia's own application store on board, just like Amazon has on its Kindle Fire devices but you will also be able to install third party apps by sideloading them. The phone will allegedly be available in six colors.

Source

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_x_specs_include_a_dualcore_processor_and_4_display-news-7680.php

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IDC: Over a billion smartphones were shipped in 2013

In line with its prediction from November last year, IDC announced that more than a billion smartphones were shipped during 2013. According to the global market intelligence provider, smartphone vendors dispatched 1,004.2 million units worldwide last year – up 38.4% from 2012.

Demand for large-screen and low-cost smartphones were among the leading forces behind the staggering growth of the segment. Cheap devices were pointed as the key difference maker – they made huge part of the shipments in large markets such as India and China.

Samsung retained its double-digit leadership position among the smartphone vendors. Thanks to strong demand for its high-end models, as well as a wide selection of mid and low-tier devices, the Korean giant shipped 313.9 million units for a market share of 31.3%. However, IDC data shows that the company lost ground in Q4 last year to its rivals.

Apple came in as the second largest vendor, hot on the heels of its record-breaking fiscal Q1. Expansion of markets and healthy interest towards the latest iPhone lineup led the Cupertino giant to a 2013 market share of 15.3% with 153.4 million units shipped. The company had the lowest year-over-year increase among the vendors, but its official arrival on China Mobile gives it plenty of room for growth in 2014.

Huawei and Lenovo are ranked third and fourth respectively among the vendors. Huawei achieved the biggest increase on an annual basis, while Lenovo finished fourth despite its lack of presence in key markets such as North America and Western Europe.

LG took fifth place, barely edging ZTE on its way there. Thanks to a dramatically improved product portfolio, the Korean company posted growth rate which beat the market.

Overall, the market for mobile phones (including smartphones and feature phones) grew by 4.8% on its way to over 1.82 billion units.

Source

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/idc_over_a_billion_smartphones_were_shipped_in_2013_-news-7678.php

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Apple reports record revenue from the fiscal Q1 of 2014

Apple announced its financial results for the fiscal Q1 2014. The Cupertino giant achieved record quarterly revenue of $57.6 billion. Net profit hit $13.1 billion or $14.50 per diluted share during the period which covers from October to December of last year. Apple’s Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $3.05 per share of its common stock.

Apple’s revenue number shows an increase over the same period of last year, while the net profit has remained mostly the same. The company’s gross margin was 37.9%, while international sales brought 63% of the revenue during the fiscal quarter.

Thanks to the new product launches and busy holiday season, Apple sold a record number of iPhone and iPad devices in Q1. The company moved 51 million iPhones and 26 million iPads – impressive figures considering the size of its product lineup. The sales of Apple iPod devices decreased to a tad above six million, while the Mac range is responsible for a little over 4.8 million units.

Going forward, Apple expects the revenue in fiscal Q2 2014 to reach between $42 billion and $44 billion. Gross margin is expected to remain between 37% and 38%.

Source 1 | Source 2

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/apple_reports_record_revenue_from_the_fiscal_q1_of_2014_-news-7677.php

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Tim Cook calls mobile payments 'a big opportunity,' one of the prompts to Touch ID

Mobile payments were a thought behind Touch ID

Apple's old staples are selling well enough, but questions always swirl about what "one more thing" Cupertino has planned next.

One of the most recent reports about a possible area of interest for Apple is the mobile payments space, and CEO Tim Cook brushed on the topic during the company's earnings call today.

Cook, who refrained from levying the call's opening remarks as he normally does, replied to an investor question about mobile payments that it's an area "we've been intrigued with, and that was one of the thoughts behind Touch ID."

Though he said there's nothing to announce today, he noted plenty of commerce travels through Apple's devices and services. He said of mobile payments: "It's a big opportunity on the platform."

Apple into the future

As for future tech, executives on the earnings call played their cards very close to the vest.

Oppenheimer said in prepared remarks that Apple is investing heavily in R&D for future products and services, though he didn't elaborate. Corporate Controller Luca Maestri also teased that the company is investing "in areas that are not visible," adding the company is "very excited about them."

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/tim-cook-calls-mobile-payments-a-big-opportunity-one-of-the-prompts-to-touch-id-1219190

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Alleged camera samples from Sony D6503 Sirius emerge

The latest bit which the rumor mill brought on the upcoming Sony D6503 Sirius flagship is a pair of camera samples. Allegedly captured with the upcoming device, the photos are naturally shot with an internal testing firmware.

Like the Xperia Z1, the Sony D6503 packs a 20.7MP camera. The duo of images showcase the newcomer’s camera chops alongside a couple of photos captured by Sony Xperia Z1. Check them out below.

The Sony D6503 photos were capture in Superior Auto Mode. The image of the desk and the speakers has been taken in the dark, with no light source except for the device’s flash.

Passing any sort of judgment on the photos at this point in time would be wrong. However, it's safe to point put that the photos from the Sony D6503 Sirius show somewhat less noise than those captured with the Xperia Z1. The Superior Auto Mode on both devices is evidently tuned differently as well since the Z1 hasn't activated the flash on the first photo.

Already leaked on a number of different occasions, Sony D6503 Sirius is more than likely to break cover next month during MWC in Barcelona.

Source 1 | Source 2 | Via

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/alleged_camera_samples_from_sony_d6503_sirius_emerge-news-7676.php

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Riding high: Apple sold 51m iPhones, 26m iPads in the last three months

Apple takes a bite out of previous sales

If you're getting a little ill over Apple's continued success quarter after quarter, we suggest you turn away from the rest of this story.

The company reported Q1 2014 results today (covering October 2013 - December 2013), and among its high notes was word Cupertino set an all-time quarterly iPhone sales record with 51 million units sold. That's up from 47.8 million in the year-ago quarter.

iPads also hit the all-time quarter record mark, striking upon 26 million compared to 22.9 million a year ago.

Macs also saw an upswing, selling 4.8 million compared to 4.1 million during the same quarter last year. Not bad for a 30-year-old piece of tech.

We'll be listening in on the company's earnings call and will flush this story out with more details as they become available. Will we hear anything about the iPhone 6, iPad Pro or iWatch? Stay tuned.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/riding-high-apple-sold-51m-iphones-26m-ipads-in-the-last-three-months-1219182

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NSA extracting data from mobile app leaks

The news about the NSA's reach into our personal devices is becoming more and more harrowing each day. Recently leaked documents from the government agency show that the NSA has been successfully extracting data from our mobile applications for years.

The NSA, through analyzing and zeroing in on the configuration data of said mobile apps, are able to find location data (based on GPS), ethnicity, age, and other personal data.

The document also delineates clearly how agents can tap into our personal data that mobile applications send to ad networks. One such popular app that is referenced in the documents is Angry Birds. NSA agents were able to capture the data the game was sending to advertisers as it was in transit.

Mobile apps aren't the only smartphone features that the NSA is able to exploit. Google map queries are also susceptible. Every time you pull up the map application, the NSA is able to pinpoint your location, as your GPS information is provided without encryption. The documents revealed that this is especially the case with Android smartphones.

Even scarier is the NSA's ability to enable “hot mic” recording, meaning that they can turn on your phone's microphone without your knowledge and listen in on your conversations. They also possess the ability to access files that are stored locally on your phone in addition to other data such as text messages, pictures, calendar dates, emails; anything, really.

This certainly sounds quite scary to those of us concerned about their privacy, but here's hoping that the NSA only uses these powers only in extremely critical cases.

Source | Via

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/nsa_extracting_data_from_mobile_app_leaks-news-7675.php

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Red Nexus 5 exposed in trove of Twitter pics

Clues are stacking up (credit: @artyomstar)

We pick up where our fellow gadget gumshoe left off.

Another clue has stumbled into the case of the red Nexus 5. Make that a whole mess of clues, a rarity in this crazy mixed-up world of smartphone sleuthing.

By way of @artyomstar, our peepers spy a legitimate-looking Nexus 5 box, identical to the one you'd find encasing the black or white version save for the red hue of the kit on the cover.

Our tipster went one further - upon opening the box, a scarlet Nexus 5 stared us straight in the face. At first glance the stamped "Nexus" is as hard to read as a fog-shrouded street sign, but a second look reveals the lettering right where it should be.

Are we any closer to finding this handset put up in the Play Store? That, unfortunately, is a mystery for another day.

More blips!

Here's looking at you, blips.

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Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/red-nexus-5-exposed-in-trove-of-twitter-pics-1219144

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T-Mobile US to launch LG G Flex and Optimus F3Q on February 5

T-Mobile USA has announced the availability of two new LG smartphones - the curved 6" G Flex and the Optimus F3Q with a sliding-out QWERTY keyboard. The LG G Flex has been around for a few months, while the Optimus F3Q was just a rumor until today.

So, the LG G Flex will hit the carrier's stores on February 5. You can have it for $672 with a six-month free Netflix subscription, or you ca opt for $28 payments for 24 months with a selected T-Mo plan and $0 upfront.

LG Optimus F3Q is only now getting its official debut. It packs a 4" WVGA IPS display and runs on Snapdragon 400 chipset with a 1.2GHz dual-core Krait processor, Adreno 305 GPU and 1GB of RAM.

There are 4GB of expandable storage, a 5MP rear camera, a VGA front snapper, Wi-Fi, 3G, NFC and, of course, the five-row sliding-out QWERTY keyboard on board. You've probably guessed already this is the same device as the already available LG Optimus F3 but with a keyboard. It even runs on the same Android 4.1 Jelly Bean version.

LG Optimus F3Q

The Optimus F3Q will also launch on February 5. It will cost either $312, or 24 payments of $13.

Source | Via

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/tmobile_us_to_launch_lg_g_flex_and_optimus_f3q_on_february_5-news-7674.php

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Android 4.4 KitKat test firmware leaks for AT&T Galaxy S4

Now that the Galaxy Note 3 KitKat firmware is rolling out globally, Samsung is focused to deliver the latest Android version on the Galaxy S4 as well. It seems there are already test firmwares and one of those has popped up over at XDA Developers.

Two weeks ago we saw a test KitKat firmware for the international I9505 model. Today's firmware is for the AT&T-bound Samsung Galaxy S4 (SGH-i337) and features everything the Note 3 has already offered - Android 4.4 KitKat, the latest TouchWiz, faster UI, better RAM management, new status bar icons.

The firmware is 1.51 GB big, but has some issues so unless you desperately need to have KitKat on your AT&T Galaxy S4 right now, you should probably wait for the official update. Early adopters report an issue with the video player and a specific video codec, which makes the S4 crash and reboot.

In case you decide to try it, you can find the download links by hitting the source link below. Note that the firmware contains a new bootloader, which means once you go KitKat, you will NOT be able to go back to Jelly Bean easily.

According to the latest reports, the official KitKat ROM for the Galaxy S4 should become available in February or March.

Source | Via

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/android_44_kitkat_test_firmware_leaks_for_at_t_galaxy_s4-news-7673.php

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A batch of red LG Nexus 5 units caught on camera

LG might be readying new colorful edition for the Nexus 5 flagship after all. First we saw what seemed to be an official Play Store listing with six new colors - yellow, red, blue, green, orange, and purple. Unfortunately this turned out to be fake. And just when we thought the rumor is dead, we saw a red Nexus 5 posing in front of a camera.

Today we get to see something better - a whole batch of red-flavored Nexus 5 retail boxes. You can see official markings, IMEIs, serial numbers and everything.

Red Nexus 5 retail box

It seems the red Nexus 5 is real and will probably launch shortly. The previous rumors suggested a yellow edition is coming too, so those six new flavors might deserve the benefit of the doubt.

Source | Via

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/a_batch_of_redflavored_lg_nexus_5_caught_on_camera-news-7672.php

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Samsung and Ericsson settle patent quarrel for $650 million

Swedish company Ecisson announced today that it has reached an agreement with Samsung to end their 2012 patent infringement case. Samsung has accepted to pay up $650 million in addition to years of royalties.

The details regarding what royalties Samsung has accepted to pay are still unclear. The case started in 2012 on the grounds that Samsung has infringed several Ericsson patents including ones for clearer voice transmission, touchscreen functions and network efficiency.

Both companies signed their first licensing deal in 2001 when Samsung approached Ericsson to use its handset and network patents. The deal was then renewed in 2007, but things slowly went south in 2011 when the deal expired. The reason for this was Samsung's accusation of Ericsson higher royalty rates demands.

Over the weekend, Samsung also struck a long term license agreement with Google. The Korean company has also been in ongoing talks with Apple to reach an out-of-court agreement on their never-ending patent war.

Source

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_and_ericsson_to_settle_patent_quarrel_for_650_million-news-7671.php

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Getting marathon fit with your smartphone

Time to stick on those trainers

If the New Year has inspired you to get fighting fit, then you've hit the right page. Technology has the tools to help you get in the shape of your life but it's not easy to know which product is right for your goals.

We've enlisted the help of T3.com Editor-in-chief and ultra runner Kieran Alger to put together a four-part guide to help you uncover everything you need to go from couch slouch to marathon finisher.

Running a marathon is a bucket list favourite but training your body to be able to conquer the 26.2 miles is a really daunting prospect. From what kit to buy, to how many miles to run each week, marathon training takes time, dedication and, really importantly, knowledge.

You could shell out for a personal trainer or even join a running club but there's also a new way to turn yourself into an endurance runner – using your smartphone.

While it won't run the miles for you, use your mobile right and it can take the pain out of knowing how to get marathon-ready.

Our four part guide
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4

Whether you're brand new to running or you've got the odd half marathon under your belt, this four-part marathon training guide gives you everything you need to get yourself to the finishing line.

We'll show you the best smartphones for the job, which run-tracking apps to download and which phone-based training plans to follow. We'll also share the best motivational ebooks to read, where to go for tips on technique and how you can use your handset to run further and faster.

From start to finish

For those who are just starting out, the first part of the marathon fitness plan will help you build up to running for 30 minutes non-stop. Once you've achieved that, part two takes you through the essentials you'll need to complete the journey from couch to 5k.

Next we'll show how you can use your phone to keep your running fresh and exciting, as well as the things you can use to build on your base level of fitness, in preparation for your first 10k.

The final part is all about getting ready for the big test – achieving that dream of running your first full marathon. We'll show you how to get a training plan that matches your goals, how to eat like a long distance athlete and best of all, how to share your new-found physical excellence with all your friends, family and colleagues.

So you want to be a marathon runner? Step this way…

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/getting-marathon-fit-with-your-smartphone-1219023

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Kantar: WP, Andrdoid grow but lose some momentum

Kantar has just released its statistics on the smartphone OS market share for the quarter ending in December. The report shows Android and Windows Phone expansions continue through 2013 with steady growth even though it might be losing its momentum. Meanwhile BlackBerry and iOS lose users in all key markets.

Smart OS share year-over-year comparison (December)

The 2013 year has been great for Windows Phone even though Nokia didn't make the breakthrough sales it was hoping for. Microsoft's OS increased its market share in all markets but Latin America. It saw big gain in the UK (from 5.9% to 11.3%), France (from 5% to 11.4%), Italy (from 12.7% to 17.1%) and Spain (from 1.2% to 5.6%).

The Windows Phone momentum is slowing though. Once we compare the the report for the one from November (Kantar uses rolling three-month averages) we can see the OS actually lost some share in France (from 12.9% to 11.4%), USA (from 4.7% to 4.3%), China (from 2.7% to 1.1%) and Australia (from 6.9% to 5.2%).

Android is still the most popular smart OS, winning at every key market and still growing everywhere. Its biggest success was in Latin America, where it increased its share from 62.6% in 2012 to 83.5% in 2013. Other noticeable YoY increase happened in Germany (from 69% to 75.4%), Italy (from 54.2% to 66.2%), and the EU (from 62.9% to 68.6%).

The Android OS has also lost some tiny bits in few markets compared to its November results - 0.7 percentage points in the UK, 1.5 percentage points in Italy, 1.1 percentage point in Spain, and 0.5 percentage point in the EU.

Apple's iOS has lost shares in all markets through 2013, the biggest one being in Italy (from 23.1% in 2012 it nearly halved to 12.8% in 2013). It also lost a significant amount of users in its homeland, USA, where it went from 49.7% in 2012 to 43.9% at the end of 2013.

Luckily for Apple, the December's holiday season was good, as the iDevices sales went up and the iOS has managed to increase its share over November in all markets but the UK (it lost 0.5 percentage points there).

Finally, BlackBerry's share is shrinking by the minute. It lost lots of users everywhere except for China, where it increased its share from none to 0.1%. Its biggest user decline was in Latin America from 10.3% in 2012 down to 2.8% by December 2013.

Smart OS share year-over-year comparison (November)

So, Android is still the dominant smart OS out there and it is rapidly increasing its lead. Windows Phone popularity is going up, but unless Microsoft comes up with something better this spring with the 8.1 update, it may have a hard time keeping its momentum. The iOS isn't threatened just yet, although it has long lost the market share war to Android, while BlackBerry seems doomed.

Source | Via

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/kantar_wp_market_share_continues_to_rise_loses_momentum-news-7670.php

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HTC may take another swipe at Moto G with octa-core smartphone

HTC set to go even brighter

HTC might be on the verge of launching the refresh to its five star HTC One handset, but that doesn't mean it has forgotten its other customers (you know, those who can't afford £500) as it looks to take on the budget market with a new Desire model.

Suggestions that HTC is planning on launching a new budget model first surfaced last week, and today more details have emerged giving us a rather colourful taste of what is on offer.

Chinese site ePrice has been passed pictures apparently showing a new HTC handset in a variety of colours (red, orange, blue and yellow), leaving it to take to take on the incredible budget Moto G handset.

Cheap and cheerful?

­The new handset is expected to include a 5-inch 720p HD screen with an 8MP camera, leaving the UltraPixel technologies to remain on the high end HTC One range.

The upcoming Desire will apparently run Sense 5.5 over the top of Android 4.3 Jelly Bean, leaving it lagging behind the KitKat toting Moto G.

The leak also suggests that a MediaTek octa-core processor and 1.5GB RAM will also come inside the upcoming budget handset, retailing at 2000 Yuan (around £200, $330, AU$380).

While we can't vouch for the authenticity of the shots - so take the report with a decent pinch of salt - we may be looking at an MWC 2014 launch for this handset.

• Does the HTC Desire 500 warrant a baby brother?

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/htc-taking-another-swipe-at-moto-g-et-al-with-colourful-handsets--1218958

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BlackBerry eyes up MWC 2014 for new handsets launch

Stack 'em high, sell 'em cheap

BlackBerry's woes are well documented, but the Canadian firm isn't giving up without a fight as news surfaces that it's planning to launch some new handsets very soon.

The news comes from Foxconn's CEO Terry Gou, whose company recently signed a deal with BlackBerry to design and produce a series of low-end handsets for emerging markets over the next five years.

BlackBerry is said to be eyeing up MWC 2014 in Barcelona as the platform to showcase its new wares, with Gou being quoted by Focus Taiwan saying: "We are working with them to design a new device, and we will showcase multiple devices at the trade show in Barcelona in February."

BlackBerry set to emerge

One of the rumoured entry-level handsets is apparently codenamed "Jakata", and will be targeted at countries such as Indonesia and Mexico.

BlackBerry is shifting its focus to a more business-orientated view, but insists it isn't giving up on the consumer side of things - and perhaps its new focus here is low-cost, low end devices.

It's not clear whether BlackBerry will aim to bring any of the rumoured handsets to the UK, or indeed how many phones it will actually reveal during MWC at the end of February.

• Here's what else you can expect at MWC 2014

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/blackberry-eyes-up-mwc-2014-for-new-handsets-launch-1218949

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Samsung Galaxy Gear 2 to rock a radical new flexible design

Just wait until Paul Le Monkey hears about this

The Galaxy Gear might not have been a triumph, but at least a number of Samsung bods have recognised that a rethink is needed for its next smartwatch.

Rumours of what the Galaxy Gear 2 may or may not feature have been floating about for months, and the latest we're hearing is that the watch will have a completely new design with a flexible display.

How that new design will actually look isn't made clear, but "an industry source" told ZDNet Korea that Samsung is changing up the parts that "looked dull or boring," which hopefully means cutting down that bezel for one thing.

Galaxy quest

The same source also said the Galaxy Gear 2 is likely to be launched in April or March in London. Samsung previously said that the Galaxy S5 would launch at this same time, joined by the new Galaxy Gear.

Interestingly, this new tipster also claims that the big unveiling is set to happen in London. Could this be where the S5 is also unveiled? It certainly makes sense for Samsung to bundle the two closely together.

Samsung is reportedly keeping a close eye on what Apple and LG are up to with their own smartwatch efforts. Here's hoping the Korean company has something more appealing by the time the iWatch (probably) rolls around.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/portable-devices/samsung-galaxy-gear-2-to-rock-a-radical-new-flexible-design-1218919

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ASUS PadFone E sits between the mini and Infinity

ASUS went ahead and announced the PadFone E, a middle man in its lineup of smartphone and tablet hybrids. The PadFone E sports modest specs a looks pretty similar to the PadFone mini.

It sports a Snapdragon 400 chipset with a quad-core 1.4 GHz Cortex-A7 CPU, 1 GB of RAM and 4.7" 1280 x 720 display. Powered by Android 4.3 Jelly Bean, the hybrid sports a 13 MP LED-enabled back-mounted snapper and rather modest 1,820 mAh battery.

The dock brings a 720p 10.1" screen and 5,000 mAh battery of its own, which can charge the PadFone E. It also has a 1 MP front-facing camera.

ASUS PadFone E

The weight is a reasonable 126 g for the smartphone and 526 g for the slate. Both come in either Johnnie Walker Black or Pearl White.

The Asus PadFone E is expected to cost around $560 in Taiwan, making it the cheapest 10.1-packing PadFone ever. However despite sporting both a big tablet display and small portable smartphone one the PadFone E's slate is nothing more than a battery with a dead screen without its smaller companion.

Source (in Chinese) | Via

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/asus_padfone_e_sits_between_the_mini_and_infinity-news-7669.php

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Nokia Lumia 1520 mini may launch as Lumia 930 with fewer headlining specs

Finally something that sounds realistic

We've heard a few things about the upcoming Nokia Lumia 1520 mini, including that it might be called the Nokia Lumia 1520V, or even the Lumia 930.

We're now able to put a potential face to those names, as well as reveal a little more about what the Lumia 1520V may pack inside its slender frame.

An image spotted on microblogging site Weibo MiLeaks claims to show the upcoming Nokia Lumia 1520V (the V stands for Viisi, the Finnish word for five). Interestingly, the picture shows the full three columns of live tiles that also adorn the Lumia 1520 phablet.

That 4.3-inch full HD screen which has been rumoured previously might actually be a 4.45-inch HD screen with a more realistic sounding 768 x 1280 screen, according to WMPoweruser who spotted the new specs on WPBar.

Nokia Lumia 1520V vs iPhone 5S for size (Credit: @MiLeaks)

New specs sound sensible

Other leaked specs include a 2370mAh battery, giving it slightly more juice than the 2300mAh battery that is found in the upcoming Sony Xperia Z1 Compact - which seems more palatable than the 3000mAh option we've seen elsewhere.

According to twitter tipster @NextLeaks the Lumia 1520V will actually launch as the Nokia Lumia 930, presumably as an update to the Nokia Lumia 925.

Given that @NextLeaks has only posted six tweets to date, we are currently advising a far less healthy dose of salt, even if the Lumia 930 name seems a little more realistic.

Either way, we shouldn't be left waiting to long to find out who is right with the Lumia 1520 mini expected to launch alongside Windows Phone 8.1 in April.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/nokia-lumia-1520-mini-may-launch-as-lumia-930-and-sport-fewer-headlining-specs-1218880

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LG announces 2013 four quarter and full year financial results

LG has revealed its fourth quarter and full year financial results for the year of 2013. The company made $53.1 billion in terms of net revenue with $203.65 million net profit in the full year of 2013, an improvement over 2012. Operating profits increased to $1.17 billion in 2013 from $1.08 billion in 2012.

As far as just the fourth quarter is concerned, LG earned $14.03 billion in terms of net revenue and $223.89 million of operating profit. Unfortunately for LG, the company also faced $60.21 million in terms of net loss due to higher non-operating expenses.

The mobile sector of LG's business reported a 29 percent increase in annual revenue to $11.85 billion year-on-year and an 18 percent increase in fourth quarter revenues to $3.38 billion quarter-on-quarter thanks to strong performance by the G2 and Nexus 5. LG shipped 13.2 million smartphone units last quarter, which is a 54 percent increase over last year.

You can read more about LG's financial report in the link below.

Source

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/lg_announces_2013_four_quarter_and_full_year_financial_results-news-7668.php

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LG G Pro 2 confirmed for a MWC 2014 debut

Tell us more, LG, tell us more

We now know at least one product we'll definitely see for sure at MWC 2014: LG has announced that it will announce the LG G Pro 2 at the phones show in February.

Unfortunately we'll have to wait until the show kicks off to find out anything more concrete about the handset, which looks set to take the LG Optimus G Pro's place in LG's oversized phone line-up.

Go Pro

It may not be the eagerly awaited LG G3 (which is now pegged for a later 2014 release date), but the LG G Pro 2 will see the original Pro's get a spec-boost if some leaked information is anything to go by.

We're expecting a 1080p 6-inch screen (up from the original Pro's 5.2-inch affair) as well as a Snapdragon 800 processor, 3GB of RAM and Android 4.4 KitKat.

Whether we'll see the handset launch in the US, UK or Australia is anyone's guess at this point, but given that the G Pro never made it beyond Korea's borders then we'd say possibly not.

• Find out what we made of the LG Optimus G Pro

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/lg-g-pro-2-confirmed-for-a-mwc-2014-debut-1218851

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This week in review: the news that you might have missed

You're busy, we get that. So here's a recap of all the big stories that happened this past week that you shouldn't have missed. This is the week in review.

LG's Phablet, the Flex was made available for ATT this week in the US and all around Europe on February 1st. Looks like the Note series of phones has a worthwhile contender.

The Galaxy S5 is purported to be unveiled on February 23rd. There haven't been many reliable leaks on the handset, but we do know it will have a fingerprint scanner. If the release date rumors are true, then we'll know everything about the device in a few weeks.

There were reports that Apple's iPhone 6 will carry a 4.8” screen and may be made available as early as June. It might be just what the Cupertino based tech giant needs to take some market share from the gargantuan-screened Droids that are everywhere.

The rumored Lumia 929 (aka ICON) was caught on video, and a dummy unit of the phone was spotted in public as well. It's been one of the worst kept secrets in the mobile world, but is looking to be a formidable WP device.

A red Nexus 5 was spotted in Vietnam, and there are murmurs that there will be a yellow version coming out as well. Seeing that the device is a big seller, it would make sense to LG to branch out and give it additional paint jobs.

Are there any other prominent news stories that you were particularly excited about? Let us know in the comments!

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/this_week_in_review_the_news_that_you_might_have_missed-news-7664.php

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