LG announces Optimus Pro G for the Korean market

LG took the wraps off the Optimus Pro G last week but the announcement was curiously devoid of any useful specifications. Now, the company has announced the phone for the Korean market and thankfully, there are now some specs for us to drool at.

You may already be acquainted with the 5.5-inch, 1920 x 1080 resolution display on the Optimus Pro G, which LG says is the largest on any of its phones yet. The display is surrounded by a narrow bezel, which makes the phone 76.1mm wide, narrower than the Galaxy Note II, which is 80.5mm wide and has an identically sized display.

Inside, the Optimus G Pro runs on Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 chipset, with a 1.6GHz quad-core Krait 300 CPU and Adreno 320 GPU. Then there is 2GB of RAM and 32GB of internal memory, with a microSD card slot. The Optimus G Pro runs on Android 4.1, Jelly Bean.

On the back the Optimus G Pro has an 13 megapixel camera with LED flash and on the front a 2.1 megapixel camera. With a new feature called Dual Recording, the phone lets you record a video with both the cameras enabled simultaneously, with the feed from the front camera inserted into the main video for a picture in picture effect.

Lastly, the Optimus G Pro has a 3,140mAh battery with wireless charging support, which should hopefully be enough to power the phone long enough.

The phone will go on sale this week in Korea and will be displayed at MWC later this month.

Source

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/lg_announces_optimus_pro_g_for_the_korean_market-news-5552.php

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Sony Xperia Z goes up for pre-order on Vodafone UK website

Vodafone UK has put up the Sony Xperia Z smartphone for pre-order on their website.

You can go for either a one year or two year contract. The one year contracts start at £39 per month, with the cost of the phone being £179 and go up to £52 per month with the phone costing £59.

Meanwhile, the two year plan will set you back by at least £29, with the phone costing £149 and go up to £42 per month with the phone being free.

Sony is also throwing in a pair of MDR-1R headphones worth £200 for the first 1,000 customers. Both black as well as the white versions are available.

Source

Thanks, Joel.

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/sony_xperia_z_goes_up_for_preorder_on_vodafone_uk_website-news-5551.php

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Sony Xperia C680X test scores hint at 1080p screen, 4.2 Jelly Bean

Sony unveiled its first two flagship Androids for the year early on at CES – the C660X Xperia Z and C650X Xperia ZL – but there seems to be another high-ender on the way, the Sony C680X.

The model name cropped up at html5test.com, a website that benchmarks a browser’s compatibility with the HTML5 standards. The browser was running on Android 4.2 Jelly Bean device with a 1080p screen. Unfortunately, we don’t know how big that screen was.

We checked the other usual sources (Picasa, GLBenchmark, NenaMark, Indonesia’s Postel) for more info on the device but there’s nothing yet.

Considering that the difference between the C650X Xperia ZL and C660X Xperia Z is mostly in the external shell (different dimensions and waterproofing), how much different can the C680X Xperia be? And will there be a C670X?

We might find out at the MWC, but seeing how late the first leak about the C680X is, we don’t think it’s particularly likely. The C210X Xperia L and C530X Xperia SP are more likely candidates to be at Sony’s booth at the show.

Source

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/sony_xperia_c680x_test_scores_hint_at_1080p_screen_42_jelly_bean-news-5550.php

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Google might be plotting retail store roll out by the holidays

Where we'll play with the next Nexus?

Google is reportedly taking a "build it and they will buy" approach to its products as a new rumor has the search engine giant and Android progenitor building its own standalone retail locations in the U.S. by year's end.

An "extremely reliable source" speaking with 9to5Google told the site that the first of Google's new stores will be ready for business by holiday season, 2013.

The first stores will be in major metropolitan areas with the express purpose of getting products like the next Google Nexus, Chrome and, most importantly, upcoming products into customers' hands.

Already Google runs Chrome store-within-store models at Best Buys and 50 PCWorld/Dixon's in the U.K., but the new stores will reportedly be completely independent with sales flowing directly from Google to customer.

Did Google Glass prod?

While having customers see, touch and interact with devices as a means to a sale is a retail model Apple perfected, it sounds like Google's inspiration for its own stores actually stemmed from Google Glass.

The product, though oft-talked about, would need to be met first hand by the public. What better way to do that than through conveniently located shops?

Furthermore, the stores would also provide a platform for other projects like driverless cars and mini-drone delivery systems to meet potential buyers.

Last year, an analyst told TechRadar that retail locations were a distinct possibility for Google in 2014-2015. Looks like Google may be moving ahead with its plans on a faster timetable.

Find the Nexus 4

The Nexus 4 would have a fine time selling at a Google store where customers could ask clerks point blank if the handset was in stock instead of learning from a "Sold Out" Google Play message.

Until we maybe one day get standalone shops, Google took some of the burden of tracking the uber-popular handset down for us by launching a Nexus 4 finder Thursday.

It's straightforward enough: type in your address and Google will find retail locations that have the handset within five, 10, 20 and 50 miles of your location. The idea is to check availability before heading in, though you'll actually have to phone ahead.

T-Mobile is the only official U.S. retailer at the moment, so you'll be seeing all T-Mo options when you search.

A company rep told us this wasn't the first time Google's created such a tool: Mountain View made one for the Nexus 7 that's still up and running.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/google-might-be-plotting-retail-store-roll-out-by-the-holidays-1131588

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Sony Xperia ZL to hit Europe in April, priced at €599

The Sony Xperia ZL is coming to the old continent this spring for €599.99, and is slated to be available in Germany first through retailer Phone House. It will be available both online and in-store in black and white (but not red) color variants.

The Xperia ZL is a flavor of the new Sony flagship, the Xperia Z, without the extra waterproofing protection, and with a slightly smaller but thicker frame.

While you wait for the newest flagship duo of the Xperia family to come to your region, why not check out our preview of the Xperia Z, fresh off the presses?

Source

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/sony_xperia_zl_headed_for_europe_in_april-news-5544.php

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HTC G2 could be firm's next entry-level smartphone

There's more Android goodness to come from HTC

Hot on the heels of the HTC M7/HTC One bandwagon comes word of the HTC G2 which could be the Taiwanese firm's next budget blower.

The folks over at Phone Arena have been sent a screenshot of what is apparently the Sense 5.0 overlay for Android running on the HTC G2's 320x480 display.

In terms of design the Sense 5.0 styling appears to be very similar to the screenshots we've seen previously on what it being claimed is the HTC One, which adds a bit more weight to this particular leak.

Like a G2

Rumours suggest that the HTC G2 will sport a 1GHz single-core processor, 3.5-inch display and we'd hope a suitably entry level price tag as well.

HTC has a special event lined up on February 19 where it will unveil its next flagship smartphone, thought to be called the HTC One, and there's a chance we could see the G2 pop up there too.

Otherwise HTC's presence at MWC 2013 in Barcelona at the end of the month would provide another suitable platform for the firm to announce the low-end handset.

We don't expect HTC to stick with the G2 name as it's already been used for the G2 Touch - better known as the HTC Hero.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/htc-g2-could-be-firms-next-entry-level-smartphone-1131254

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Samsung announces REX series of features phones in India

Samsung has launched a new range of budget feature phones in India. Called the REX, the series includes four models: REX 60, REX 70, REX 80 and REX 90.

The REX 60 is the cheapest of the lot and has a 2.8-inch QVGA resolution resistive touchscreen, 1.3 megapixel camera, dual-SIM support, 15 hours talk time and Samsung's TouchWiz UI.

The REX 70 has a 3.0-inch, QVGA resolution display, 2 megapixel camera, dual-SIM support and 13 hours of talk time.

The REX 80 has similar features as the REX 70 but a higher resolution 3 megapixel camera and 14.7 hours of talk time.

The top-of-the-line REX 90 has a 3.5-inch, HVGA display, 3.2 megapixel camera, dual-SIM support, Wi-Fi and 15 hours of talk time.

The prices for these devices start at ₹4,280 ($79) for the REX 60 and go up to ₹6,490 for the REX 90 ($120).

The launch event is still underway and we will update as we get more details.

Source

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_announces_rex_series_of_features_phones_in_india-news-5543.php

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