Samsung Galaxy Camera goes on sale in the UK in two days

The Samsung Galaxy Camera drew a lot of attention when it was announced though launch date and pricing details were a bit slim. Samsung put out a press release today, saying the camera will be in the UK stores in a couple of days.

The Samsung Brand Store will get in on November 7, while other stores will get it the next day. The other stores are Carphone Warehouse, Phones4U and Jessops. Both brick-and-mortar and online stores will be selling the camera.

Jessops already have the Galaxy Camera on pre-order (in black and white) and are asking £400 for it ($640, €500) with a free 8GB SanDisk microSD to complement the 8GB of built-in storage.

Carphone Warehouse and Phones4U still haven’t put up the Camera up on their sites and Jessops only offers it through their online site (no in-store pickups yet).

By the way, a Samsung NX1000 EVIL camera with 20-50mm lens goes for £380 in the same store, so you should consider how important it is for you to have an Android powered camera.

Just so we're clear, it's an Android 4.1 Jelly Bean-powered camera with the internals of the Galaxy S III (including the quad-core CPU at 1.4GHz and 4.8" Super Clear LCD with 720p resolution) packed inside a point-and-shoot camera body (1/2.3 sensor" 16MP BSI sensor, 23mm wide-angle lens and 21x optical zoom).

By the way, the Samsung Galaxy Camera has 3G and 4G LTE connectivity, though that's for data only.

Source | Via

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_camera_goes_on_sale_in_the_uk_in_two_days-news-5043.php

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Sony C6603 'Yuga' camera sample leaks, hints at a 13MP sensor

The Sony Yuga had its display and quad-core Krait internals leaked in the not so distant past, and now its camera draws our attention thanks to a leaked Picasa sample photo.

The EXIF data of the photo hints that Sony will be using a 13MP Exmor RS CMOS sensor with f/2.4 aperture. Also, the Android firmware is 10.1.A.0.270, which is said to represent Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean.

Other than that, the photo doesn't tell us much about Sony's future flagship Android device. The Yuga and Odin are expected to be Sony's flagship models for 2013 and might be unveiled at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona at the end of February 2013.

Source | Via

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/sony_c6603_yuga_camera_sample_leaks_hints_at_a_13mp_exmor-news-4973.php

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Goodbye OMAP? Texas Instruments to stop investing in mobile processor business

Texas Instruments has announced it will stop investing in mobile chips, and turn its attention to the "embedded processor" market instead.

The saying goes “when the going gets tough, the tough get going,” however it appears Texas Instruments took it in a slightly different way to the rest of us, as it has announced it’s taking a step back from the incredibly competitive mobile processor market.

It was TI’s Senior VP of Embedded Processing Greg Delagi who announced the news at an investor meeting on September 25, saying “the [smartphone] opportunity is less attractive as we go forward,” and talked about the market being “dominated by a couple of players.”

While Texas Instruments may not be as well-known as Qualcomm or Nvidia, it is America’s second largest chip manufacturer and its OMAP processors can be found in devices such as the Amazon Kindle tablet, B&N’s new Nook tablets, a wide variety of Huawei smartphones, the Panasonic Eluga, several Motorola Droids and Kobo’s new range of Android tablets too.

Texas Instruments may be taking a step back, but it’s not a total retreat, as Delagi promised that it would continue to support smartphones and tablets that use OMAP chips, but wouldn’t be dedicating the same level of investment as it had done in the past.

What this will mean for the forthcoming OMAP 5 isn’t clear. This exciting chip is expected to start appearing in devices towards the end of this year or early next, and uses ARM’s dual-core Cortex A15 architecture, much like Samsung’s Exynos 5 Dual. A video showing an early test indicated the OMAP 5 was set to be quite a beast, so let’s hope it’s still on its way.

So what will Texas Instruments be doing instead? It’s going to concentrate on something called “embedded processing,” where chips are used in appliances, big industrial machinery and most importantly, cars. Delagi showed the embedded processing market to be worth $18 billion, and that the automotive slice of that pie was worth $6.5 billion alone.

The news has seen Texas Instruments’ stock take a fall, and analysts voice their concern over the decision. That said, others predict that if embedded processing takes off, the move could be very profitable.

Source : http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/texas-instruments-stops-mobile-processor-investment/

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iTunes getting major revamp this October

Big changes are on the way for iTunes

Though Apple's iPhone 5 and iOS 6 will be getting most of the attention from today's press conference, they weren't the only stars of the show.

Apple also introduced a major revamp to their iTunes service, set to arrive in late October for Mac and PC clients.

The latest updates to what Apple called "the world's most popular media player" will incorporate plenty of cosmetic and interface changes, as well as a few new tricks to make the existing package even more impressive.

iCloud improvements

With more than 200 million people using iTunes on the Cloud, it should come as no surprise that Apple will be including better iCloud integration when the update arrives.

No matter where you bought your music, movies, or books on iTunes, iCloud will seamlessly incorporate that purchase into all of your libraries.

More importantly, you will now be able to continue watching or listening to movies and music exactly where you left off, and you'll be able to resume playing your media on any device with iTunes.

Cosmetic changes

Once the October update arrives, iTunes will be ditching the sidebars in favor of a full-window interface.

The new grid-style view for your library will allow you to see everything you have in a specific category, be it movies, music, TV shows, or books.

Clicking on an album will let expand the screen to show you a track listing, all the while keeping the rest of your library in plain sight for continued exploration.

There's also an all new MiniPlayer, which will give users the ability to listen to and search for new songs without having to open their entire library.

Additionally, iTunes will add Up Next, which will offer improved insight into what songs are coming up in the playlist, and will allow you to change your queue without much fuss.

iTunes on iOS

The Mac and PC versions of iTunes aren't the only ones getting a bit of polish.

Coming along with the Sept. 19 iOS 6 release is a new version of iTunes for all iOS devices.

Since 60% of all iTunes downloads come from mobile devices, it certainly makes sense for Apple to continue their redesign across all their brands.

iTunes will incorporate a carousel view, and the new library view will be utilized across music, movie, and book stores.

You'll also be able to continue browsing the store while previewing a new song, and will allow you to share your media selections on Facebook and Twitter.

With a new wave of iPods also on the way, this iTunes update couldn't be coming at a better time.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/computing/apple/itunes-getting-major-revamp-this-october-1096703

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Watch the Motorola On Display event live here

After Nokia's impressive event, it's now time to focus our attention on what Motorola and its On Display event in New York.

This is the first press conference Motorola is having since the company was acquired by Google, which makes it all the more interesting to see what will be announced.

So, grab a drink, take a comfortable seat and tune in to the live stream below. As you can see, Motorola is already using the perks of being part of Google by using YouTube to stream its event worldwide.

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/watch_the_motorola_on_display_event_live_here-news-4762.php

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Nexus 7 Vs. The World: Our favorite cheap tablets

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. 

All three of these Android tablets are priced at $200 (for the 8GB versions) and they all have 7-inch displays. You can see a full comparison table in our Nexus 7 vs. Kindle Fire vs. Nook Tablet: $200 tablet showdown.

Nexus 7

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.

Source : http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/best-cheap-tablets/

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