HTC's Ultrapixel camera to cause supply delays?

Will the unique Ultrapixel camera module hold back the HTC one?

Is the headline feature of the HTC One to be the reason behind significant delays in shipping the phone around the world?

According to Android Authority, two components in the smartphone, including the camera module, are in short supply, based on information from investment bank KGI Securities.

In this information is correct, HTC may only be able to ship one-fifth of the phones it intends to, or between 800,000 and 1.2-million, says one KGI analyst.

Hold your horses

HTC is expected to launch in March, but could now begin delaying launches in some markets until stock is more plentiful.

This is obviously not the sort of set back HTC needs on the eve of launching a phone that many see as a return to form for the financially floundering phone maker. That a delay like this should be caused by one of the more interesting features of this phone is a cruel coincidence indeed.

The Ultrapixel camera has been receiving rave reviews from tech pundits during early hands-on and reviews. Capturing 4-megapixels worth of information, the larger pixels on the image sensor is capable of improved low-light photography and fast image capture.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/htcs-ultrapixel-camera-to-cause-supply-delays-1136612

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LG Optimus L7 II goes on pre-order in Germany for €249

LG introduced the second generation L-series Optimus line up at the recently concluded Mobile World Congress. The Korean manufacturer had recently launched its Optimus L3 II and now, the Optimus L7 II is officially available for pre-order in Germany from the Amazon store.

The LG Optimus L7 II comes with a 4.3" LCD display of WVGA resolution and the smartphone packs a punch with its 1 GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 processor along with 768MB of RAM. Furthermore, Optimus L7 II sports an 8-megapixel rear camera, 0.3-megapixel front facing camera, 4GB in-built memory with microSD support.

LG Optimus L7 II is powered by Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean and runs on 2,460mAh battery. The smartphone also features an enhanced notification area, latest QSlide 2 and other add-on custom applications from the house of LG.

LG Optimus L7 II is current priced at €249 (about $324) and the smartphone is expected to be available in Black and White color variants. Unfortunately, the exact date of stock availability is yet to be confirmed. Still it shouldn't take long now.

Source | Via

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/lg_optimus_l7_ii_launched_in_germany_priced_at_249-news-5670.php

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Neo N003 will be the cheapest handset with 1080p display

The Chinese market exclusive Neo N003 will be the most affordable Android smartphone featuring a 5" 1080p display. The handset's retail price will start at only 899 yuan ($145; €112) when it hits the shelves in the near future.

The Neo 003 will undercut the previous affordability champion toting a 1080p display, the iOcean X7 Youth by 100 yuan. The latter is also available only on the Chinese market.

The specifications of the Neo N003 include quad-core MediaTek MT6589 silicon, 13MP camera, and a 3000mAh battery to power the full HD display. A higher end version of the smartphone, priced at 1,499 yuan ($242; €186) will also be available. There are however, no details available about it at the moment.

Source | Via

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/neo_n003_will_be_the_most_affordable_handset_with_1080p_display-news-5669.php

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Samsung executive says Windows 8 is 'no better than Windows Vista'

Pointing the finer at Windows 8

Windows 8 is no better than Microsoft's much-maligned Windows Vista, at least in the eyes of Samsung memory chip division president Jun Dong-soo.

''The global PC industry is steadily shrinking despite the launch of Windows 8," said the senior Samsung executive today at the COEX InterContinental Hotel in Seoul.

"I think the Windows 8 system is no better than the previous Windows Vista platform."

Jun laid the blame for stagnant PC sales at Microsoft's doorstep and said that the PC industry would gradually phase out, in a grim forecast picked up by The Korea Times on Friday.

Not exactly putting the Win in Windows 8

Samsung is heavily cutting production of PC memory chips, according to Jun, who sees the market as volatile and cyclical.

That feelings are backed up by data from research firm IDC, which recently reestimated PC shipments for 2013 from 2.8 percent growth to 1.3 percent growth.

With just 345.8 million PC shipments projected by this IDC data, the firm echoed Jun's comments, citing "underwhelming reception to Windows 8" as well as tablets undercutting PC sales.

Not even the vast marketing effort by Microsoft has been enough for its new operating system.

The company committed up to $1.8 billion (about £1.2 billion, AUD$1.76 billion) to promote Windows 8, but has seen "little life" since the Oct. 26 launch.

Microsoft, meanwhile, has said that its Windows 8 sales on "on par" with those of Windows 7 during its first three months of availability.

The future of Samsung

Taking all of this into account, Samsung will be focusing on mobile memory for tablets and smartphones.

''The market will see a supply-and demand balance in the second quarter and Samsung expects more demand in the latter half for mobile DRAMs, which are more profitable than conventional chips,'' Jun told The Korea Times.

However, the even-handed executive said that Samsung is waiting to check consumer demand even for smartphones and tablets before it finalizes its investment plans in more facilities.

''Sony, Taiwan's HTC, Nokia and LG Electronics are very aggressive in their smartphone businesses, increasing the demand for mobile DRAM chips," he said, calling out some of Samsung's biggest rivals.

"But we should check out whether the demand is real or false. That's why Samsung is hesitating to finalize this year's investment.''

One smartphone that my spur that "real" consumer demand for the industry is the Galaxy S4, a phone from none other than Samsung.

That Samsung Galaxy S4 is expected to be the company's next big announcement scheduled for next week, Thursday, March 14.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/computing/pc/samsung-executive-says-windows-8-is-no-better-than-windows-vista-1136413

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Leaked Lenovo smartphones come trotting look-alike designs

Designed with the female in mind (credit: MyDrivers)

Lenovo only recently unveiled its K900 smartphone, with an expectation it would arrive in China in the coming months.

Among other features, the Android-powered 5.5-inch phone is slated to come packing the processing prowess of the Intel's new Z2580 dual-core processor.

While all eyes are on the impressive K900 - a phone that is yet to arrive on shelves - it appears Lenovo has been busy crafting some additional smartphones with similar specifications.

Curiously enough, this leaked duo of devices share almost as much in common with several HTC designs as they do with Lenovo's own device.

HTCopycat

The two leaked Lenovo phones, the S920 and S820, were spotted by MyDrivers, which revealed not just the first images, but also the first details on specifications.

Both of the phones are expected to include the quad-core MediaTek MT6589 processor, and run Lenovo's modified version of Android 4.2: Jelly Bean.

The S920 will feature an admittedly mondo 5.3-inch screen, with a centered camera with single flash plashed to the right of the lens.

Not the same, but you can see the similarities (Credit: MyDrivers)

If you look closely at the image, you can find some definitive inspiration from the HTC One X present, as the backs of the two devices are, besides the color, eerily identical.

The same could be said of the S820, which has fewer details available, but with it's rear panel has a startlingly coincidental appearance to the HTC One S. That bright orange gets us thinking about HTC's Windows Phone 8 offerings, namely the 8S and 8X.

The One X is home to a smaller 4.7-inch screen than the S920

Ladies love Lenovo

Very few other concrete facts about either of Lenovo's devices exist at the moment, though the manufacturer clearly has a market in mind for the S820.

According to MyDrivers, the S820 is going to be marketed as the next fashion phone for women.

HTC One S - comparable to the S820?

Both smartphones are slated to release in China first, and there's are no guarantees either device will make it to other markets. It gets a little harry when there's a chance your devices could be confused for a competitors product. Just ask Samsung.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/leaked-lenovo-smartphones-come-trotting-look-alike-designs-1136398

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BlackBerry CEO: We'll pass on super low-cost phones

Not afraid to take a stand

While some phone makers are chopping prices to make devices more affordable, BlackBerry has no desire to compete in the budget phone arena, CEO Thorsten Heins said this week.

At a conference in Waterloo, Ontario, Heins bluntly addressed the fact that BlackBerry has no current plans to release phones costing $50 to $60 (UK£33 to £40, AU$49 to $58) or lower.

"This is not BlackBerry," he declared, as reported by Bloomberg.

That said, the Canadian phone maker will launch cheaper devices for developing markets like India, where it sells the BlackBerry Z10 for $800 (UK£530, AU$780). The newly-renamed fruity firm just won't dip quite as low as phones from Asian rivals like ZTE and Huawei.

To reiterate

Heins's pronouncement adds to a point made by BlackBerry European MD Stephen Bates to TechRadar in February.

"We've brought out these high-end devices as a statement of intent - to demonstrate vividly the new BlackBerry," Bates said. "But we don't see us getting to the entry level tier for some time; certainly not this year."

Indeed, BlackBerry's focus has been locked on high-end smartphones since the launch of BlackBerry 10.

Compare that to Nokia: the high-end market not being what it had hoped, Nokia recently announced several more affordable phones, including the Lumia 520.

Heins reported that the expensive Z10 sold out in India after just two days, so maybe BlackBerry won't have the same problem there.

The Z10 is still making its way out across the globe, with a U.S. release date rumored for March 22. We'll know soon enough whether BlackBerry's higher-price strategy pans out or not.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/blackberry-ceo-well-pass-on-super-low-cost-phones-1136382

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BlackBerry isn't looking to enter the $50 phone arena

The BlackBerry Z10 sold out quickly in India, said Heins

While some phone makers are making devices more and more affordable, BlackBerry has no wishes to compete in the budget phone arena, CEO Thorsten Heins said this week.

At a conference in Waterloo, Ontario, Heins reiterated the fact that BlackBerry has no current plans to release phones at $50 to $60 (UK£33 to £40, AU$49 to $58) or below.

"This is not BlackBerry," he reportedly said.

That said, the Canadian phone maker will launch cheaper devices for developing markets like India, where the $800 (UK£530, AU$780) BlackBerry Z10 is currently available, said Bloomberg on Thursday. They just won't dip quite as low as phones from Asian rivals like ZTE and Huawei.

To reiterate

Heins was adding to a point that BlackBerry European MD Stephen Bates told TechRadar in February.

"We've brought out these high-end devices as a statement of intent - to demonstrate vividly the new BlackBerry," Bates said. "But we don't see us getting to the entry level tier for some time; certainly not this year."

Indeed, BlackBerry has focused on high-end smartphones since the launch of BlackBerry 10.

Compare that to what Finnish company Nokia is doing: the high-end market not being what it had hoped, Nokia announced several more affordable phones, including the Lumia 520.

Heins reported that the expensive Z10 sold out in India after just two days, so maybe BlackBerry won't have the same problem.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/blackberry-isnt-looking-to-enter-the-50-phone-arena-1136382

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