Trouble ahead? 4G LTE Kindle Fire doesn’t yet have FCC approval for sale

Amazon is marketing its new 4G LTE Kindle Fire HD tablet despite the fact that it hasn't yet received approval from the Federal Communications Commission. The situation has been described as unusual by attorneys and analysts familiar with the FCC's procedures.

You’d hope Amazon knows exactly what it’s doing, but the fact that it announced its new high-end 4G LTE Kindle Fire HD tablet before receiving approval for sale from the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) will strike some as a little odd, and has been described as unusual by attorneys and analysts with knowledge of the FCC’s procedures .

The FCC tests all new wireless communication devices to discover if they interfere with other signals. Once cleared, the product is allowed to go on sale. According to a Reuters report on Thursday, Amazon has yet to get the green light, despite promising to ship the product on November 20.

The report said that a confirmation email from the e-commerce giant in response to a pre-order for the 8.9-inch 4G LTE Kindle Fire HD said: “We will send you an email asking you to confirm your pre-order of Kindle Fire when it is approved for sale by the Federal Communications Commission.”

Speaking to Reuters about the situation, John Jackson, a wireless analyst at CCS Insight, said, “I can’t think of an instance where a device has been offered by a US carrier or an independent retailer that has not had FCC approval yet.”

Charles Golvin, a wireless analyst at Forrester Research, suggests that failure to get FCC approval prior putting the device on the market can probably be put down to Amazon’s lack of experience with wireless products.

It’s not just the selling of the device which is prohibited prior to FCC approval – marketing is also banned, unless a disclaimer is included in the promotional material.

Amazon is, however, clear about the situation with its new high-end tablet, stating on its website, “The 4G device has not been authorized as required by the rules of the Federal Communications Commission. This device is not, and may not be, offered for sale or lease, or sold or leased, until authorization is obtained.”

Mitchell Lazarus of law firm Fletcher told Reuters that in most cases companies with new wireless communication products go through the procedures with the FCC “so they don’t have to make these awkward disclaimers.”

It’s being suggested that approval may be taking a little longer than usual as the 4G wireless modem being used in Amazon’s tablet is of a new type, whereas many gadgets sent to the FCC for approval contain modems used in products previously passed by the FCC, and so go through the process more quickly.

The other Kindle Fires announced by Amazon on Thursday are Wi-Fi only devices and are fit for sale.

If the FCC does find some serious issues with Amazon’s priciest Kindle Fire, the company will have limited time to sort it out before the holiday season kicks off. Failure to have it on the shelves by then would be hugely damaging for the Seatlle-based company as it attempts to increase its share of a market still dominated by Apple with its popular iPad tablet. 

Source : http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/4g-kindle-fire-doesnt-yet-have-fcc-approval-for-sale/

Read More

Report: iPhone 5 will have international LTE support

Apple's LTE is going global

The Apple iPhone 5 may support LTE globally, allowing users to jump from country to country and continent to continent without losing their lightening fast connectivity.

This is according to a recent report, with sources telling the Wall Street Journal the device can pick up on LTE in places like the U.S., Europe and Asia.

While this is exciting in terms of connectivity and speed, the sources also said not every carrier will offer the service.

Showdown at the LTE corral

Apple needs to watch itself, however, as Samsung has threatened to sue if the Cupertino releases an LTE device.

Samsung holds 819 LTE patents and while the iPad 3 has LTE connectivity, the Korean company seems to be lying in wait for the iPhone 5, likely as payback for the $1.05 billion in damages it's supposed to pay Apple in lawsuit damages.

Apple has picked up several hundred LTE patents (434, to be exact) over the last year to cover itself against Samsung's potent patents, but that doesn't guarantee Samsung won't engage in a long, drawn out court battle with their rival.

TechRadar will have live coverage of Apple's Sept. 12 event from San Francisco, where we expect the iPhone 5 to make its prodigious debut.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/report-iphone-5-will-have-international-lte-support-1095688

Read More

Sources: two lower end Nokia Windows Phone 8s are coming

Lower than the 820?

With the launch of its first two Windows Phone 8 handsets earlier this week - the Lumia 920 and 820 - Nokia's been riding a roller coaster of positive reviews and lowered expectations.

Perhaps the introduction of another pair Windows Phone 8 smartphones, this time on the shallower end of the spectrum, will peak consumers interest even higher and send naysayers packing.

Sources talking to The Verge said the Finnish carrier is planning two such phones, the "Zeal" and "Flame."

The Zeal, first learned about Tuesday, is pegged to fall somewhere in the middle of Nokia's Lumia offings.

It'll reportedly measure 4.3 inches and pack a 1.0GHz dual-core processor. According to the sources, the Zeal will have a Zune-inspired design and fit into Nokia's standard unibody frame.

A microSD slot, 512MB of RAM and 8GB of storage are the only other specs available now for the phone.

Expect to see Nokia launch its zealous mid-ranger in early 2013.

Not a one off

Seemingly stuck on coupling its Windows Phone 8 handsets, The Verge learned Friday another low-spec phone, the Flame, could come early next year as well.

This one should reach 4-inch in length and it too will have a 1.0GHz dual-core processor with 512MB of RAM.

However, it differs from the Zeal - so far at least - as it looks like it features a 5MP camera and has 4GB of storage.

Sources say the Flame may get an optional microSD card boost and to fall into the Lumia 610 and 710's price ranges.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/sources-two-lower-end-nokia-windows-phone-8s-are-coming-1095684

Read More

Samsung OS a viable option, Verizon CEO says

Bada bing, bada boom (credit: Samsung)

Samsung has the potential to be a strong No. 3 in the mobile operating system race, at least in the eyes of Verizon CEO Lowell McAdam.

During an investor conference call Friday, he painted the Korean electronics giant as a "dark horse" that could rival Apple iOS and Google Android.

Currently, Samsung's smartphones run either the Android OS or Windows Phone OS.

But by marrying its hardware expertise with new software, McAdam said, the company would free itself from relying on partners like Google and Microsoft.

It's a possibility…

The good news for Samsung is that it wouldn't have to start from scratch. The company has a working smartphone OS called Bada, which runs the Samsung Wave 3 and a few other devices available outside of the U.S.

McAdam didn't extend his speculation by saying whether or not he saw Bada leading this "dark horse" candidate to the No. 3 position.

However, he did cite the Apple vs. Samsung lawsuit verdict as another reason he believes Samsung could go down this path of independence, according to CNET.

Last month, a jury awarded Apple $1.049 billion, ruling that Samsung infringed upon several of the Cupertino company's patents. Appeals and an injunction hearing await.

Microsoft, Blackberry have potential, too

While McAdam referred to Samsung as the "potential elephant in the room," he did take a minute to visit the entire zoo of mobile OS manufacturers.

After all, Microsoft and RIM are two Verizon partners still vying for that No. 3 position that Samsung isn't even fully going after yet.

"What I like about Microsoft, it's not tied to one piece of hardware," he said of the Windows Phone operating system.

So far, Verizon has four phones running either the Windows 7 or 7.5 OS and McAdam said that he's excited about their products.

Likewise, he's not counting out RIM's BlackBerry line. Earlier this week, a Verizon executive said the carrier plans to sell BlackBerry 10 sometime this year.

It's unclear if Samsung will ever enter the fray with a renewed commitment to Bada or a newer operating system.

However, the company has enough electronics (from phones, to tablets, to HDTVs) that could support a mobile OS. Most importantly, Samsung seem to have the backing of at least one top carrier's CEO.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/software/operating-systems/samsung-os-a-viable-option-verizon-ceo-says-1095673

Read More

Apple ditching Siri processor provider

Is Apple switching up Siri?

Siri voice control may become a bit more robust and stretch it legs in the near future, according to an announcement from digital signal processing company Audience.

Apple uses Audience noise suppression technology, called earSmart, in the iPhone 4S to boost Siri's signal processing abilities. It's believed to be one of the reasons the voice command software was only available on the iPhone 4S.

But it looks like Siri won't need the extra hand moving forward.

In an investors’ statement, Audience said it believes Apple won't include the company's processors in future iPhones.

“Audience now believes that it is unlikely that [Apple] will enable Audience's processor IP in its next generation mobile phone,” the statement read.

“Audience is not aware of any intended changes by [Apple] to its use of Audience's processors or processor IP in prior generations of [Apple's] mobile phones.”

Siri grows up

Nothing Earth shattering, but this could foreshadow what's to come in Siri's future.

For starters, it could mean Siri's finally ready to shed its beta status, even though the digital assistant launch just under a year ago.

This might also be good news for users who own an iPhone older than the 4S. If Siri's voice recondition software becomes more robust it won't have to rely on the newest mobile chips.

Previously, Apple said the 4S with its A5 processor was the only iPhone with enough horsepower to run Siri. However, a developer has ported Siri to an iPhone 4 without many problems, and many hack enabled it on older devices.

This is all reading the tea leaves though. Last time we heard about Siri coming to older devices, Apple said it had 'no plans' to do so. Yet the company has promised to bring Siri to the iPad 3 when iOS 6 rolls out in the fall.

We'll be sure to know more about Apple's plans for the future at its September 12 press conference, where it's rumored that the tech giant will announce the iPhone 5.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/apple-ditching-siri-processor-provider-1095667

Read More

Rumored HTC One X+ specs leak on Twitter

Specs out of the bag for another HTC phone (credit: Football4PDA)

Though the HTC One X+ hasn't officially been announced yet, that hasn't stopped a healthy dose of details on the phone from spilling.

Last month, a possible benchmark for the One X+ was discovered on NenaMark's website, leading many to believe HTC was about to announce a successor to their flagship One X smartphone.

Now a new leak has revealed the supposed hardware details of the One X's slightly beefier brother.

An anonymous developer divulged the details in a rather cluttered tweet, which came complete with all the pertinent information about HTC's rumored device.

Same size, better processor

As originally reported, the One X+ will apparently use a nVidia Tegra 3 processor, though it won't be just any old 1.7GHz chip.

Believed to be included with the One X+ is a new Tegra 3+ AP37 1.6GHz quad-core / 1.7GHz single-core processor.

Like the original One X, this updated version will come with 1GB RAM and 32GB ROM, as well as an identical 1800mAH battery.

Additionally, the tweet suggests the One X+ will use Android 4.1.1: Jelly Bean, as was originally revealed in the NenaMark benchmarking.

Unfortunately, the leak didn't reveal which service provider will be carrying the device.

HTC will be hosting an event on September 19, where we may learn more about this rumored phone, along with their "unique" tablet, or even the HTC Proto.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/rumored-htc-one-x-specs-leak-on-twitter-1095656

Read More

Flipboard now an in-magazine shopping destination for Levi’s clothing

Flipboard announces its partnership with Levi's to kick start its foray into m-commerce. Users can now purchase clothing from within the app.

For years now, reader apps have slugged along with an advertising business model that hasn’t exactly been lucrative. With the debut of Flipboard’s new social shopping catalogue, however, its e-commerce strategy could break ground for the experimentation of new business models among reader apps.

Piggybacking on New York Fashion Week, which is in full bloom for the Spring/Summer 2013 line, Flipboard has announced “The New Levi’s Collection.” Flipboard, in conjunction with Levi’s, will sell the clothing brand’s fall season fashion for both men and women. In other words, the magazine-style reader is now a shopping platform — one where users can easily purchase what they see from within the app’s new Style category, found in the Content Guide.

In magazine fashion, the Style category will be accompanied by images uploaded using Instagram, curated articles by Levi’s staffers, and a behind-the-scenes look of the “insider’s view of life at Levi’s.” Flipboard calls the experience Catalogue 2.0, as it offers a shopping experience that’s completely restricted to Flipboard, a mobile-only application.

Flipboard is not the first magazine-like app to have tackled m-commerce. Publishers were once scrambling to figure out how to offer a compelling tablet-based magazine that consumers would be willing to purchase, despite offering similar content in its print publication. In 2010 Marie Claire and ELLE magazines, both, owned by Hearst, were among the first magazine app in the iTunes App Store with an m-commerce solution that integrated a shopping platform within the reading experience.

There isn’t much to lose for both Flipboard and Levi’s now that the technology platform has already been developed. Flipboard most likely takes a commission for every sale made, similar to a drop shipping solution, and (of course) every purchase request notifies Levi’s to ship out the appropriate product.

This strategy could get the folks at Zite, Pulse, News.me, and other mobile readers thinking about supplementing their revenue with an m-commerce business model, and we couldn’t blame them. M-commerce is one of the fastest growing subsets within e-commerce.

Source : http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/flipboard-levis-shopping/

Read More

FedEx preparing for 'surge volume' Sept. 21-24, hinting at iPhone 5 release date

The shadow for the "12" looks conspicuously like a "5"

A FedEx insider has released an internal memo that provides yet another hint of a Sept. 21 new iPhone 5 release date.

The memo describes as "surge volume" that'll take place Sept. 21-24, exactly when the new iPhone 5 release is rumored to be taking place.

The FedEx communiqué instructs employees that training classes previously scheduled during the period starting Sept. 21 have been postponed to Nov., just as similar internal communications from Verizon and AT&T recently forbade employees from taking holidays during that week.

The ban on vacations and postponement of scheduled activities could indicate these companies are expecting to move high product volumes during that time.

All in all, a Sept. 21 iPhone 5 release date is looking more and more likely.

And so it begins

The Sept. 21 iPhone 5 release date was initially rumored back in July, when the Apple event taking place on Sept. 12 first came to light.

That event has since been confirmed by Apple - the Cupertino tech giant sent out an invite recently with the words "It's almost here. 12."

The shadow for that "12" looks conspicuously like a big "5," removing any room for doubt as to what's being announced at the Sept. 12 event.

Another site, GottaBeMobile, claimed on Friday that "a trusted source" has also confirmed the Sept. 21 iPhone 5 release date.

What to expect from the iPhone 5 announcement

iPhone 5 rumors have been flying for months, with the latest claiming that the new iPhone won't be the only new Apple product in the spotlight on Sept. 12.

In fact, two or three new iPods could be introduced alongside the iPhone 5.

Other recent rumors indicate that the iPhone 5 will have a larger, 16x9 4-inch screen and a bigger battery to compensate for it.

No matter what, there're only five days left to take in all these iPhone 5 rumors, so enjoy it while it lasts.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/fedex-preparing-for-surge-volume-sept-21-24-hinting-at-iphone-5-release-date-1095651

Read More

Best Windows Phone Games

Microsoft might be a distant third in the mobile race, but that doesn't mean there aren't plenty of fun, addicting games for the Windows Phone. Check out our roundup of Best Windows Phone games.

It’s not often that one can say Microsoft is an underdog. The company is one of the largest in the world and easily the most notable name in personal computing. But when it comes to the mobile phone market, Microsoft has yet to make a noticeable dent. After some tough attempts at breaking in, they may have finally found a nice niche with the Windows Phone. The operating system still isn’t knocking on iOS or Android’s door, but it has picked up dedicated user base. Keeping fans in the fickle phone market can be tough, but Microsoft have kept their users happy. Perhaps a great selection of games for those on the go have helped. Here’s some of our favorite games for Windows Phones.

Angry Birds ($1)

What is a list of great mobile games without Angry Birds? While it might be an obvious choice, it’s that way for a reason. Angry Birds is undoubtably one of the most fun and addictive games that you can house on your handset. Load up some flying feathered friends and send them for a ride as you try to topple the fortresses of pigs that have stolen precious eggs. It’s about as much of a classic as one can get in the young world of mobile games, but none of its original appeal has worn off.

Fruit Ninja ($1)

Every warrior has to start somewhere — you can’t just go out and start breaking boards and cinderblocks on day one. There’s no better way to work your way up to unleashing your inner kung-fu than with Fruit Ninja. The concept is silly and the construct is simple, but don’t be surprised if you fire up this game at the start of a commute and you go a few extra stops just to keep playing. Fruit of all sorts comes flying across the screen and its your job to chop it up as fast as possible, launching juice in all directions. If only making fruit salad was this fun.

Little Acorns ($3)

There are few things more determined than a squirrel that wants to protect its stash of nuts. Little Acorns gives you the chance to help out a furry friend by guiding him through 80 levels in attempts to prepare for winter. Little Acorns channels the gameplay of classic platformer mechanics and the undeniable appeal of an adorable squirrel to create a game experience that is tough to put down. How can you not help the little guy get ready for the oncoming cold? Especially when it’s so fun.

Pool Pro Online 3 ($3)

Pool is a game that has been around for generations, ever since the cavemen used sticks to hit rocks into holes in the ground. While that information is completely unfounded, here’s something that is true: Pool Pro Online 3 is a blast. It takes the familiar game of pocket billiards and really emphasizes the “pocket” part by putting it on your phone. Then it cranks up the competition with online play against friends or strangers. Work your way up the leader boards to prove you’re a true pool shark.

Feed Me Oil ($1)

One occasionally has to wonder just way oil tycoons make so much money for just happening across the strange black liquid. If Feed Me Oil gives any insight into what a oil worker has to deal with on a daily basis, whatever they make isn’t enough. The game presents a weird world where the ground is alive with crazy creatures that crave crude oil. You’ll have to direct the black gold from a broken pipe to the mouths of these odd little characters. Use the tools provided, but mostly use your brain to make it through this quirky puzzler.

iStunt 2 ($3)

Watching extreme sports events can often make one tempted to attempt the action they see on screen. Save yourself the embarrassment of performing a flurry of face plants by getting iStunt 2. The game takes you to the virtual slopes and puts you in control of a snowboarder that is more than capable of pulling off the most insane of in-air moves. With a great physics engine, awesome action, and game bolstering boosts, iStunt 2 has all the excitement of sliding down the slope with none of the dangers of having a piece of plastic strapped to your feet.

Tiki Towers ($3)

Visit any zoo and take a look at the monkeys. They are fascinating creatures for a variety of reasons. Sometimes it’s because how close their actions mirror our own and sometimes it’s because they fling around inappropriate items. The monkeys in Tiki Towers are a little more sophisticated than that. These primates have built some bamboo-based creations to help them navigate some puzzling and tough terrain in hopes of discovering lost treasure. Play through 45 levels across 5 islands as you help the monkeys achieve their ultimate goal.

Zombies!!! ($5)

The idea of a zombie apocalypse has become a bit marginalized by its overuse in pop culture. One can’t take a trip to the movie theater, flip channels, of walk into a trendy t-shirt shop without seeing something referencing zombies. But don’t let the over-saturation fool you, the threat is out there. Nothing makes it more apparent than Zombies!!!, a game that puts you right in the middle of an undead uprising. Fight through infested territories as you try to survive the onslaught of corpses. It’s a blast and great training for the day the inevitable real life infection spreads.

Source : http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/best-windows-phone-games/

Read More

New Intel chips coming as sales outlook takes a hit

Can the chipmaker turn things around with new processors?

Intel is one of the top chipmakers in the world, but according to analysts' predictions and the Santa Clara, Calif. company's own financial outlook, things are not looking up in the PC business.

Reuters reports that at least eight analysts have shared bad tidings for Intel, with poor economies in major markets (Europe, the US and China) and increasing demand for mobile devices (versus desktops/laptops) to blame.

A report from Gartner in July claimed that PC sales had fallen flat for the seventh quarter in a row during the second half of 2012.

And another analyst, Citigroup's Glen Yeung, told CNBC on Friday that "the worst third quarter in the history of PCs" is right around the corner.

"I would point out that this is the first time ever that Microsoft has changed operating systems, and it's not just PCs," Yeung said. "This time, there's a tablet involved, there's a smartphone involved."

Intel's negative outlook

Intel's lowered its own third-quarter revenue estimate, citing "weaker than expected demand in a challenging macroeconomic environment."

Intel rolled back its estimates by a full eight percent, a figure Reuters claims is "much more severe than expected."

And Intel's shares have fallen 11 percent since the end of April.

Blame poor economies all you want, but the fact is that Intel has fallen behind in the processor arms race, losing ground to chipmakers like Qualcomm in the mobile arena.

With forecasts so low, what can Intel do to bolster its fortunes?

Lean on Microsoft

Intel is looking forward to Microsoft's impending Windows 8 launch with hope in its heart and dollar signs where its eyes should be.

Intel's Ivy Bridge chip successor "Haswell" is expected to be introduced for the 2013 holiday season, and as TechRadar has pointed out in the past, Haswell chips are estimated to consume half the power of current processors.

That makes them a huge draw for energy-conscious customers and those craving better battery life.

Meanwhile, Intel's current Ivy Bridge architecture will power Windows 8 PCs in the fall.

Any number of those factors could combine to sell some PCs in the next year or so. In fact, Intel's counting on it.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/computing-components/processors/new-intel-chips-coming-as-sales-outlook-takes-a-hit-1095633

Read More

Motorola Razr M first impressions: Maximized screen real estate at its finest

Here's our first look at the budget-friendly model of Motorola's new Droid Razr line ahead of its September 13 release date.

Motorola announced an updated line of its Razr smartphone family this week, and the first of the three to be released is the Motorola Razr M — otherwise known as its budget-friendly edition. At $100 (with a 2-year contract,) the phone stacks up competitively to other budget phones on the market such as the HTC One V. Here’s our first look at what Motorola has in store for its Razr line.

It’s funny to think that a 4.3-inch screen phone these days is considered “compact,” but that’s exactly how Motorola described the Razr M during its press conference Wednesday. The near edge-to-edge design offers more screen per square inch — which makes the advertised 4.3-inch screen bigger than it sounds. The 960 x 540 resolution display itself is truly vivid especially under the gorilla glass, and the whole device feels more expensive than your average budget phone. Thanks to its Kevlar back, the anti-scratch and added grip makes for a beautifully-designed phone that feels like it’s worth a ton more than one Benjamin.

While the Motorola Razr M comes with an internal memory of 8GB and 1GB of RAM, storage is expandable with the micro-SD slot placed right on the side of the phone. The SIM card slot is also right next to it, so no more opening the back of your phone and digging your nails in to remove either chips. The device is runs on Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, which is a bit of a disappointment, but Motorola says all the new Razr phones should be getting Jellybean by the end of the year.

The Razr M also comes with a dual-core Qualcomm MSM8960 Snapdragon S4 processor, 8 MP back camera, and a 3 MP front-facing shooter. The dual-core processor makes the Razr M run extremely fast. Switching between screens is swift, and you can program your own pages and add them as needed. To delete, simply hold and drag the app icon or page to the trash can.  

What’s new about the Razr M is a circle interface that allows you to customize shortcuts. For example, new text messages can appear on the most prominent circle while the second circle is dedicated to weather. For each city you add, you can flip the circle to navigate through the cities and get updated weather information for each location.

According to Motorola, one full charge can deliver an impressive 20 hours of battery life but we’ll see if that claim holds true. Be on a lookout for our full review shortly. In the meantime, the Motorola Razr M is available for pre-order now at Verizon with an official release date of September 13. To get the $100 price, you will have to mail in a $50 rebate through Verizon.

Source : http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/motorola-razr-m-first-impressions-maximized-screen-real-estate-at-its-finest/

Read More

HTC announces One SC, SU and dual-SIM ST for China

HTC unveiled three exclusive droids for China Mobile - the One SC, One SU and the dual-SIM One ST. They all run on Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich skinned with HTC Sense 4.0 UI.

HTC One ST

Let’s start with the one we already met yesterday – the One ST. As it turned out, the previous leak turned out perfectly accurate. The One ST packs a 4.3-inch SuperLCD2 WVGA display and is powered by a 1GHz dual-core processor. The specs sheet continues with 1GB RAM, 4GB storage, 5MP camera (BSI sensor, F2.0, LED flash) with 720p video recording, Beats Audio and a microSD slot.

HTC One ST

The One ST is a dual-SIM phone with support for dual-standby. It also supports 3G with HSPA+ networks but only on the primary SIM card.

HTC One ST will be available in three colors – white, red and black. No word on the pricing and the availability yet.

HTC One SC and One SU

HTC One SC and One SU share identical specifications but different designs. They both have 4.3-inch WVGA displays, 1GHz dual-core processors, 1GB RAM, 4GB storage, 5MP camera (BSI sensor, F2.0, LED flash) with 720p video recording, HSPA+ connectivity, Wi-Fi, GPS, Beats Audio and a microSD slot. Yes, these specs are also identical to the One ST, sans the dual-SIM functionality.

HTC One SC

The One SC has a rather extravagant design, while the One SU is a standard HTC affair.

HTC One SU

The pricing and the availability of the One SU and SC is also TBA.

Source • Via

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/htc_announces_three_chinese_droids__one_sc_su_and_dualsim_st-news-4777.php

Read More

Report: Expect 6 iPhone 5s priced to match iPhone 4S

N42, aka iPhone 5, blasts off next week

Apple has all but officially confirmed the launch of its iPhone 5 Sept. 12, thanks largely to a "5" hiding in plain sight on its invites to an event that day.

While we can expect the next-gen iPhone to hold the quintuplet moniker, Apple has reportedly been referring to the iOS handset as "N42."

No one will call the iPhone 5 by its company codename, however it's important to note the reference when talking about how much the device is going to cost you at the register.

According to a published report, the iPhone N42's (aka the iPhone 5's) price points mirror those of the iPhone 4S.

Dollars, colors and GBs

Taken from a "well-known U.S. retail chain," the iPhone 5 should be priced in the U.S. as follows:

• N42A-USA: $199
• N42B-USA: $199
• N42A-USA: $299
• N42B-USA: $299
• N42A-USA: $399
• N42B-USA: $399

"A" and "B" indicate black and white. The price jumps are presumably related to 16GB, 32GB and 64GB variations, as is the case with the iPhone 4S on a two year deal.

TechRadar predicted this 4S-based pricing scheme, citing the likelihood the phone will probably be an evolutionary step in the iPhone line, a la the Siri-packing smartphone.

If we see some revolutionary technology next Wednesday, then perhaps these prices will be rendered completely bogus, but from the leaks we've seen, it's likely the phone is a retooled though not necessarily groundbreaking device.

Apple might offer a 128GB version, though you can expect to pay a load more for that capacity.

Order up

Sources speaking with 9to5Mac say pre-ordering should start soon after the iPhone 5's unveiling, though many international customers will have to wait to get them as shipping won't begin immediately.

New, iPhone 5-specific accessories like cables, cases and adapters (pluggable into an 8- or 9-pin dock, of course) are also reportedly set to ship with what will surely be a hot commodity.

Until next week, check out TechRadar's "New iPhone 5 release date, news and rumours" page and tune in Wednesday to see how close - or completely off the mark - we were in our predictions.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/report-expect-6-iphone-5s-priced-to-match-iphone-4s-1095607

Read More

The HTC One X+ and the HTC 8X leak online

HTC is holding a press event on September 19, but it seems it couldn’t keep the curtain over the TBA phones.

The Twitter user Football4PDA (obviously a reputable XDA dev) spilled the beans on the HTC’s next flagships.

The first one is the Android 4.1 Jelly Bean-running One X+. The smartphone is based on the latest quad-core Tegra 3 AP37 chipset with a quad-core 1.6GHz processor, which is capable of running at 1.7GHz in single core mode.

The rest of the specs include 1GB of RAM, 32GB internal storage, 134.36 x 69.9 x 9.3 mm measurements and 129g of weight. Those measurements are pretty good indications for a 5-inch or so HD (or more) display. HTC Sense 4.5 UI is expected to run on top of Android Jelly Bean.

The next revealed device is the HTC 8X (C620a model name), based on Windows Phone 8. The phone packs a 4.3-inch HD display and runs on a 1.2GHz dual-core processor (Krait, perhaps). Other notable features are the 1 gig of RAM; the 16 gigs of internal storage; the 8MP camera with 28mm wide angle lens and bright, F2.0 aperture and 1080p video recording; and “ultra-wide angle” front camera; NFC and Beats Audio.

There is an asterisk next to the 16GB storage, which either indicates the presence of a microSD slot, or HTC will promote the 7GB SkyDrive cloud storage.

We guess the event on September 19 will be all about those two fellas.

Source 1 • Source 2 • Via 1 • Via 2

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/htc_one_x_and_htc_8x_surface_via_twitter-news-4776.php

Read More

What I want to see from Apple on September 12: Absolutely nothing

Apple doesn't need to debut the iPhone 5 on September 12 -- it needs to debut nothing at all.

Less than a week from today, Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook will take the stage at the obnoxiously named Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco to drop yet another bomb on the U.S. mobile phone industry: The so-called iPhone 5. 

If the rumors are to be believed — and this year, they are — the only major difference between the iPhone 5 and the two previous models is a slightly bigger 4-inch screen. That’s it — a change of just 0.5 inches. Yes, there will be some hardware upgrades, battery-life improvements, and other nuts-and-bolts tweaks. But as far as a “wow” factor goes, it looks like we’re going to have to settle for a screen size that Android devices have had for years. And you know what? People are going to buy the crap out of it. 

As bored as I am by the new iPhone’s purported growth spurt, I’m not particularly interested in any of the other realistic features Apple might add to some “dream phone” either. NFC? Yawn. Quad-core processor? Psh. Wireless charging? Whatevs. All these features would be great, I suppose — but they have been done before, and will be done again and again and again by the time the iPhone 6 makes its way into the world around this time next year.

No — what I really want to see from Apple is something so mind-blowing, so thunderously outrageous, that it would send shockwaves around the globe and immediately earn a place in the history books.

I want to see Apple announce absolutely nothing. 

You heard me — nothing. I want to watch Tim Cook stand before the entire world and say, “Good morning, folks. You’re probably all expecting us to announce an extraordinary new iPhone packed full of life-changing innovations that will add excitement and energy to lives of millions of people around the globe. But we’re not going to do that — because we don’t have to. Our iPhone business alone is — get this — bigger than all of Microsoft. We have $117 billion in cash just sitting around. That’s enough to put an end to world hunger four times. We could find a cure for cancer with that kind of loot. But that’s just not our style. Instead, we’re going to sit back for a year and laugh at the peons as they try their very best to out-design and out-sell us. So that’s it: The iNothing, or whatever you idiots want to call it. Thanks for coming. Exits are to your rear. There’s punch and pie in the lobby.” 

That’s what I want to see from Apple on September 12 — the will to simply not give a damn. 

I say this not because I dislike Apple and wish for it to commit suicide — an entirely possible outcome of such a move. To the contrary — I am an Apple fan, through and through. I am writing this on a brand new MacBook Air, which is connected to a massive Thunderbolt Display, which sits next to my iPhone 4S. If Apple made pants, I’d probably wear them. 

Rather, I say this out of tough love. As I see it, Apple sits on the brink of losing its greatness. Not because Steve Jobs is gone and Tim Cook is screwing things up (though he very well may be), but because people are simply worn thin by this Apple-dominated world we live in. We’re tired of Apple winning year after year, whether it deserves to or not. We’re tired of its lawsuits and its “most-valuable” status. We’re tired of minor refinements sold as innovation. And we’re tired of Siri not knowing how to properly look up directions to the nearest liquor store.

What I’m saying is, Apple needs some time off because we need some time off from Apple. 

Giving up a year of its product life would give us time to miss Apple, to wonder what it’s up to, like a summer vacation fling. And it would make whatever devices the company releases after its hiatus that much more anticipated and appealing. 

Alas, Apple will keep releasing iPhones, and people will keep buying them. It will keep suing companies to maintain its competitive edge. And its stock price will just keep going up and up and up. It shouldn’t — but it will.

One of these days, however — maybe as soon as next week — Apple is going to release a flop just as a rival comes out with something that genuinely deserves our adoration and hard-earned dollars. Crowds at the famous Apple Stores will begin to thin out. Geniuses will stand around twiddling their thumbs. The torrent of rumors will slow to a trickle. The stock price will fall. And there will be poor Tim Cook, slouched on his white Peruvian alpaca leather couch, sipping a glass of neat brandy, slowly caressing the head of his precious Ashera cat. And he’s going to think, “Shucks, if only I’d listened to that bald bastard Andrew Couts, then maybe we’d still be on top.”

Source : http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/what-i-want-to-see-from-apple-on-september-12-absolutely-nothing/

Read More

Nokia Lumia 920 release date set for November?

Will the 920 be a bright spot in a dreary month?

Word on the street is that Nokia's impressive Lumia 920 will launch in Europe in November.

That's later than we're expecting the iPhone 5 to launch but still early enough to make its way onto a fair number of Christmas wishlists.

The rumour comes from an unidentified European network who reckons that the larger countries like the UK will get the 920 in early November, while smaller ones have to wait until the second half of the month.

Speak easy

There's no guarantee that this rumour is for real but with Nokia staying schtum on the matter (we've asked them if there's any truth to it) it's the best we have to go on for now. No hint of a US release date at this point, we're afraid.

The November release date will at least mean that we'll be able to make fine use of the fact that the Nokia Lumia 920 is glove-compatible.

If that feature doesn't have you reaching for your wallet, perhaps the 4.5-inch screen, 32GB of storage or 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor will. That, or the bright array of colour options.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/nokia-lumia-920-release-date-set-for-november-1095549

Read More

Apple cuts back chip orders from Samsung, the war rages on

You are all aware of the recent major US patent lawsuit involving Apple and Samsung. So far their patent quarrels had not have any impact on their component supply deal, which has Samsung provide most of the memory chips that Apple uses in its mobile device.

According to Reuters and several other news outlets, all citing anonymous sources, with the iPhone 5, Apple is now steering away from Samsung as its main chip supplier. Instead, the company is looking to strengthen its supplies from competing chip manufacturers such as Toshiba, Elpida and Hynix.

Photo by Reuters

So what are we witnessing here? Is it that Apple is getting ready for a long war, or it's just that it doesn't like to do any further business with Samsung?

It could also be that Samsung is using its chip manufacturing deal as a leverage in their patent brawls across the world or just on the contrary, it's Apple that's using the cutting back of the orders as a leverage. Apple is supposedly Samsung’s largest components client with estimates pointing that their deal is supposedly bringing billions in yearly revenue. Well, we may never learn the truth.

Source | Via
Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/apple_cutting_back_chips_orders_from_samsung_aims_independence-news-4775.php

Read More

Nokia Lumia 920 to start selling in only 10 weeks time

The Nokia Lumia 920 is a marvelous piece of technology. Nokia has really put its back into making the smartphone standout in several respects such as the extraordinary display and the innovative camera.

Among the last pieces of info that we didn't know about it was its availability schedule. We heard Steve Ballmer saying we are going to see a lot more of Windows Phone 8 in the next month or two, but here's some insider info on the availability of the Lumia 920.

An anonymous source from an Eastern European carrier has whispered to Reuters that they will start selling the Lumia 920 in mid-November, while Western European countries should be getting it even sooner, in the first half of November. When you think about it, November 1 is only 8 weeks from now. Wow, this summer's end is really closing in fast. But we digress.

The release of the Lumia 920 cannot come fast enough. We can't wait to put it through its paces in our obstacle reviewing course.

Source | Via
Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_lumia_920_to_start_selling_in_10_weeks-news-4774.php

Read More