Nexus 5 release date, news and rumors

Leaked photo of Nexus 5

The Nexus 5 is going to be the successor to last year's Nexus 4, and from what we know so far, it's going to be made by LG - just like the previous model.

We've seen numerous leaks of and about the device now - we even saw one from a Google promotional video for Android 4.4. KitKat - so we have a very rough idea of what he new Nexus 5 will be like.

If we go by the Nexus line's history, there are a few things we can gather in terms of what the device will feature, or not feature. To start, there typically isn't expandable memory in Nexus devices - whether we're talking tablets or smartphones.

It would be a safe bet to assume that the Nexus 5 won't have microSD support, so we're hoping that 32GB and 64GB options will be available.

Another thing - and this is pretty obvious - is that this upcoming smartphone will be the first to feature the latest version of Android: 4.4 KitKat.

Nexus 5 release date

The Nexus 5 may see a release date around November, much like its predecessor, the Nexus 4. Word is that the Google-powered LG smartphone will see an October announcement with a launch of a few weeks later.

Not surprisingly, we're seeing a lot of the phone getting leaked in the wild, too. Most recently, following an unusual trend of where devices are getting leaked, the Nexus 5 was spotted in a bar.

Moreover, a phone that looks very much like the coming Google phone was spotted at the FCC. The camera hold was as large as the module we've seen in leaked photos, so we suspect that the LG smartphone, labeled as model D820, is actually the Nexus 5.

Nexus 5 inspired by LG G2

Rumor has it that the new Nexus 5 is going to be heavily inspired by the LG G2, which is a good thing. While the hardware isn't as sexy as the HTC One, for example, it is by far the most powerful Android device so far this year.

In terms of specs and raw performance, the G2 is really incredible. Its high-resolution display is amazing, and it has great color and contrast.

The G2's benchmark performance is off the charts, and battery life doesn't seem to suffer at all as a result. We can only hope that the Nexus 5 does take all these elements from the G2, and place the power and volume buttons back where they belong - on the edges of the device.

Perhaps we can also expect that amazing 13MP camera, too, since it performed exceptionally well in most lighting conditions. Judging by the huge module on the back of the Nexus 5, however, we might be in for even more.

Nexus 5 processor and power

We've come to learn that the Nexus 5, which obviously isn't available yet, has destroyed the Samsung Galaxy S4 in benchmark tests.

This isn't a surprise if the Nexus device ends up taking its cues from the LG G2. In our review, the G2 did exceptionally well in benchmark testing.

Rumor is that the Nexus 5 will have a 2.3GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 with 3GB RAM. That's a lot of power and memory under the hood of a smartphone.

One thing we can be sure of is that the new Google phone will give other Android flagships a good run for their money.

Nexus 5 wireless charging

Perhaps it's a novelty for some of you, but wireless charging is very convenient. And it looks like the Nexus 5 will have this feature thanks to a little digging in Android 4.4 KitKat.

It's also more than safe to assume that if a device like the Nexus 5 were to have wireless charging, it will also have NFC.

What isn't clear is whether the charging device or dock is going to be sold as part of the package with the Nexus 5, or if it's going to be a separate accessory. Right now we'll hedge our bets and go with the latter.

Nexus 5 price

Right now it's anyone's guess whether the Nexus 5 will see the same pricing scheme as the Nexus 4. The newer model, if it turns out anything like the LG G2, will be a monster of a device in terms of specs.

Compared to the Nexus 4 the Nexus 5 is shaping up to be a smartphone in a completely new class. And with specs like that, it's hard to imagine that it will get the same pricing treatment that the Nexus 4 did with off-contract rates. Last year's model didn't even have LTE support!

We would expect the newer Google phone to hover around $499 - $699 off contract, and perhaps even higher if Google decides to offer a massive 64GB version.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/nexus-5-release-date-news-and-rumors-1181883

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Nexus 5 makes an appearance in yet another live photo

After appearing in an Android KitKat promo video, going through the FCC, and sitting unattended in a bar, the yet to be announced Nexus 5 smartphone made another unscheduled appearance. This time around, a live photo of the LG made Android powerhouse popped up in a forum thread at Macrumors.

The latest live photo of the Nexus 5 falls right in line with previous leaks. It clearly shows the handset’s relationship with the 2013 Nexus 7, thus further reaffirming that Google is on its way to unify the design of its own family of devices. The user who uploaded the photo has subsequently taken it down, so there’s no reason to doubt its authenticity.

The person who posted the image also left a couple of quick hands-on impressions. The Nexus 5 is said to be smaller than an LG G2 and (unsurprisingly) feeling a lot like the latest Nexus 7.

Earlier today, we also ran into most of the Nexus 5’s specs from a leaked log. Now that there is little left to the imagination, all we’re left with is to wait for the official announcement. The latter is expected to take place in October.

Via

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/nexus_5_makes_an_appearance_in_yet_another_live_photo-news-6884.php

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Windows Phone sales in Europe near double digits, begins to close gap with iOS

Europe doesn't hate on WP8

Not even Ballmer can cry with these numbers. Windows Phone sales were the highest ever in the last three months, accounting for 9.2% of smartphones sold in Europe's five major markets.

That's just the average in Great Britain, Germany, France, Italy and Spain, according to the numbers from consumer research firm Kantar Worldpanel.

Microsoft's mobile operating system has already crossed a double digit sales share in France with 10.8%. In Great Britain it's a solid 12%, which is a head-turning 7% year-over-year increase.

"Windows Phone's latest wave of growth is being driven by Nokia's expansion into the low and mid range market with the Lumia 520 and 620 handsets," said Dominic Sunnebo, strategic insight director at Kantar.

"These models are hitting the sweet spot with 16 to 24 year-olds and 35 to 49 year-olds, two key groups that look for a balance of price and functionality in their smartphone."

Windows Phone vs iOS vs Android sales

Microsoft is actually closing the gap between Windows Phone and iOS in some countries.

It's sales share in Germany, for example, is just one percentage point behind iOS.

Android still dominates smartphone sales throughout Europe, maintaining a 70.1% market share. But the report stated that its "dominant position is increasingly threatened" by Windows Phone and iOS growth.

"After years of increasing market share, Android has now reached a point where significant growth in developed markets is becoming harder to find," noted Sunnebo.

"Android's growth has been spearheaded by Samsung, but the manufacturer is now seeing its share of sales across the major European economies dip year on year as a sustained comeback from Sony, Nokia and LG begins to broaden the competitive landscape."

The rest of the globe

Windows Phone's popularity surge hasn't caught on everywhere in the world.

In the U.S., for example, Microsoft's mobile OS only accounted for 3% of smartphone sales in the last three months ending in August. That's a year-over-year increase of just 0.4%.

Sales of Windows Phone devices actually declined to a 2.1% share in China, going 2.6% in the wrong direction. But that's because Android was the only mobile OS to see an increase in the country, taking 9.2% more of the pie for a 72.4% share.

Australia was more kind to Microsoft, registering a 6.5% sales share for Windows Phone, an increase of 2.8%, according to the Kantar numbers.

With Windows Phone and Blackberry in switched positions, the new No. 3 could make a move on Apple's sales share in a couple of countries in the coming months.

• Read our LG Optimus L9 review for a 4G budget phone with Android.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/windows-phone-sales-in-europe-near-double-digits-begins-to-close-gap-with-ios-1185181

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Google’s Nexus 5 will allegedly feature nano-SIM card slot

Hot on the heels of the leaked specs from earlier today, another detail on the highly anticipated Nexus 5 made an appearance. The next generation, LG-made Nexus will reportedly feature a nano-SIM card slot.

The information on the smartphone appeared on the website of the Ukrainian wireless provider Life:) (yes, the smiley is part of its name). In a small-font disclaimer, the carrier states that it will equip its iPhone 5s, 5c, and Nexus 5 users with a nano-SIM card.

The Nexus 5 is expected to be unveiled before the end of October. As always, we’ll keep you posted on all details surrounding the smartphone.

Source (in Ukrainian) | Via

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/googles_nexus_5_will_allegedly_feature_nanosim_card_slot-news-6883.php

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HTC One Max might actually release on Oct. 17

It looks like the HTC One Max will release in mid-October

Those waiting on the edge of their seats for more HTC One Max news can celebrate today, as long as a completely unsubstantiated rumor of a slightly later HTC One Max release date is enough to satiate.

The latest comes from the Chinese site ePrice, which said late last week that the HTC One Max will launch on Oct. 17.

Previous rumors held that the HTC phablet would launch Oct. 15, so this report is not exactly blowing any minds.

Either way, it's thought that HTC will time the One Max to go out around the same time as Apple's new iPads - and ePrice said it will cost about the same as the Galaxy Note 3, which is rumored near $800 (about UK£550, AU$770).

HTC One Max rumors

The HTC One Max has been the subject of plenty of leaks and rumors.

The device's alleged fingerprint scanner got our attention early on, even before the iPhone 5S was confirmed to have one of its own.

Other HTC One Max rumors have described part of the phone's specs sheet, including Android 4.3, a 2.3GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 chip, a 5.9-inch 1080p display, and 2GB of memory

And there have been plenty of pictures.

Pocketnow said on Friday that the HTC One Max recently went through TENAA, the Chinese equivalent of the U.S.'s Federal Communications Commission, another sign that it's coming soon.

• Want a fingerprint scanner now? Try the iPhone 5S - and read our review right here.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/htc-one-max-might-actually-release-on-oct-17-1185131

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Lumia 929 may be arriving on Verizon come November, plus a 'mysterious' tablet too

Another Lumia for Verizon? (credit: evleaks)

Verizon has the Lumia 928 and the older Lumia 822 up for grabs in its store, but another Windows Phone may be headed to Big Red.

Windows Phone Central claims the Lumia 929 will hit the checkmark carrier's shelves quite soon - Nov. 6 to be exact.

The 929 will supposedly sport a 20MP camera and 1080p 5-inch display costing you around $500 (about £309, AU$535) off-contract.

WPH notes that the 929 release date coincides with the massive Lumia 1520's own launch, a rumored first-time phablet from Nokia that seems to be headed for competitor AT&T in November.

And perhaps a tablet too?

A mysterious tablet may also join the Lumia 929 pretty soon.

An FCC filing shows that a Nokia device called the "RX-114" has been approved - and Engadget noticed the report features LTE bands which can be supported on various carriers, including Verizon.

The Lumia 2520 (formerly known as Sirius) has already made the rumor rounds as Nokia's first tablet and could be the device in question.

We'll find out more quite soon at Nokia's upcoming Oct. 22 Abu Dhabi event especially since a combo of six phones, tablets or whatever might just show up.

• Need to know what phones Verizon has to offer? Check out our list of the latest and greatest here!

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/lumia-929-may-be-arriving-on-verizon-come-november-and-a-mysterious-tablet-too-1185094

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Samsung on the defensive over gold phone rat race with Apple

One of Samsung's earlier gold phones, the 2008 Beijing Olympics E848

Welcome to another game of Apple vs. Samsung, where two of the richest tech companies in the world - and their fans - fight pointless, petty battles and everyone, loses every time.

This time Samsung finds itself on the defensive as Apple fans accuse it of copying the gold iPhone 5S with its gold Galaxy S4.

Samsung revealed the gold Galaxy S4 to the world last week, but the phone was actually announced in the Middle East in late August and launched there before the iPhone 5S was even unveiled - and there lies only part of Samsung's argument.

In fact official the Samsung blog Samsung Tomorrow on Saturday published a non-comprehensive chronicle of its history with gold handsets, the first of which actually dates back to 2004.

All that glitters is at least colored gold

The SamsungMobileArabia Twitter handle sounded off last week about the gold Galaxy S4, pointing out that it went on sale in the UAE 2 days before the iPhone 5S was unveiled.

And according to the company's blog post, Samsung's first gold phones were the Anycall SCH-E470, SPH-E3200 and SPH-E3250 from 2004.

Since then it launched gold-colored phones (some even with real gold) in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, and 2013, including the Samsung Galaxy Golden flip phone this year. Not all were widely available (or available at all), but they existed nonetheless.

And the gold Galaxy S4 was launched in the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and Qatar in September.

There's no indication that this battle will reach a court, since luckily even Apple and Samsung can't trademark a color (yet).

Normally that wouldn't stop fans from fighting the companies' petty battles for them in message boards and comments - but maybe we can put this one to bed, people?

• In the meantime Apple's ramping up production on the gold iPhone 5S due to high demand. Hm - maybe it's onto something after all.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/samsung-on-the-defensive-over-gold-phone-rat-race-with-apple-1185103

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Galaxy Note 3 and Galaxy Gear hit the AT&T stores on October 4

AT&T has just announced the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 phablet and the Samsung Galaxy Gear smartwatch will become available for purchase on the AT&T website and throughout the AT&T brick and mortar stores on October 4.

The pre-order campaign for the two devices has been going for a while now, but it concludes today with actual Galaxy Note 3 and Galaxy Gear shipments starting tomorrow. It appears that AT&T will need three days to finish handling the pre-orders before it's ready to start selling the Samsung duo.

The Galaxy Note 3 phablet costs $299.99 with a two-year AT&T contract, or $35 per month with the AT&T's Next program. The Galaxy Gear is $299.

You can check the dedicated AT&T webpages for Galaxy Note 3 and Galaxy Gear.

If you are still sitting on the fence regarding the purchase of the Galaxy Note 3, you should definitely check out our detailed preview.

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/galaxy_note_3_and_gear_hit_the_at_t_stores_on_october_4-news-6882.php

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Kantar: Windows Phone exceeds 9% market share in Europe

According to the latest smartphones sales data from analyst company Kantar Worldpanel, Windows Phone has reached a new high in market share across the five major European markets (UK, Germany, France, Italy and Spain).

In France, Microsoft's mobile OS has scored 12% market share, while in the UK it's powering 10.8% of the smartphones sold in the three months ending in August. This is the first time ever Windows Phone has scored double digits in such major markets.

The company explains the success of the OS with Nokia's expansion into the low- and mid-range markets. Phones like the Lumia 520 and Lumia 620 are some of the most popular smartphones running Windows Phone, as they are "hitting the sweet spot" appealing to users between 16 to 24 years as well as the 35-49 year-olds.

However, it's not all good news for Microsoft, as in Italy, its OS is marking a slight decline - from 10.3% to 9.5% year-over-year. In China, the fall is pretty dramatic - 2.6 percentage points on an yearly basis - from 4.7% to 2.1%.

In Australia and the United States, WP is still on the rise. The platform holds a 6.5% market share in Australia, marking a growth of 2.8 percentage points YoY, while in the US the growth isn't as fast-paced at 0.4 percentage points rounding up to a market share of 3%.

Overall, Android is still the most popular mobile operating system on the market with a market share in Europe of 70.1%. Apple's iOS is a very distant second at 16.1%, while Windows Phone is third with 9.2% of the market. BlackBerry is fourth at 2.4%, losing more than half of its share since 2012.

Source | Via

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/kantar_windows_phone_exceeds_9_of_smartphone_sales_in_europe-news-6881.php

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Sony Xperia Z1 review

Ratings in depth

Sony was the first of the big-name manufacturers to launch a new 2013 flagship smartphone back in March, with the Sony Xperia Z, a 5-inch model outwardly rather similar to its new Z1.

The Xperia Z beat the HTC One and Samsung Galaxy S4 to market, offering a quad-core processor, 1080p display, 13 megapixel camera, 2GB of RAM, and water and dust resistance. It was awesome. And still is, seeing as so little time has passed since it arrived.

But now there's a new Sony flagship for the autumn/winter season, in the large, glossy shape of the Xperia Z1. There's a more powerful processor inside, a higher-spec camera and a new metal chassis, but it's still recognisably related to the older Z, both in design terms and the software it runs.

It's a premium model too, with the Z1 currently being sold direct from Sony for a stonking great £599, the price you pay for a metallic, 5-inch machine, powered by what's generally agreed as being the fastest and most capable mobile processor available today. Given the Xperia Z's only seven months old and was no slouch, is there really a need for the Z1 upgrade so soon after?

As with the Xperia Z, the Z1's 5-inch screen displays at full HD 1920 x 1080 resolution. The key upgrades here are hidden inside, with the Z1 powered by a faster Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 chipset clocked at 2.2GHz and backed up by the same 2GB of working RAM as the Z, plus an upgraded aluminium chassis that rounds off the sharp edges of the Z in favour of a gentler, colder, metallic feel. The headline feature is the 20.7 megapixel camera sensor, on paper a vast upgrade over the 13MP unit inside the older Z.

As with the Xperia Z, the Z1 is certified to IP standards for dust and water resistance, so ought to be 100 per cent impervious to the more mundane threat of pocket fluff. Indeed, the phone's ports -- microSD, USB and micro-SIM -- are all hidden behind rubber stoppers, to keep water, dust and fluff at bay. The Z1's 3.5mm headphone jack is open to the elements on the top-left corner of the phone, so Sony's done a bit of useful work here to waterproof that and do away with the rubber stopper.

We thought the addition of a flap over the USB connector would be a textbook first-world problem causing frustration on a daily basis, but no. It pops out easily. It pops back in easily. It's a second and a half worth investing each day in return for a fully waterproof phone.

Holding the Sony Xperia Z1 is a treat to the senses too, as the Z1 features a full glass exterior as well as a smooth, featureless and button-free front. The back's so shiny you could mistake it for a display, albeit a broken display that's stuck showing the Sony logo in the middle.

Sony's designers have ensured that the Z1's plastic sides extend by a fraction of a millimetre over the phone's glassy rear. This acts as a shock absorber and means the glass should be protected from casual tosses onto hard surfaces - although we've scratched the back a little already. But that was probably from chucking it in the sea to check its water resistance, so we have only ourselves to blame.

The Z1 is cool to the touch

It feels big and wide, although thanks to also being rather tall as well it manages to balance pretty nicely in the hand. It's also cool to the touch, with the aluminium sides giving your hand the odd chill when it's been out on a table for a while.

Sony's also stuck with its idea of putting the power button on the side of the phone a little above the middle, meaning it's easy to find and naturally appears where your fingers tend to sit when holding a phone of this size.

Just about possible to hold in one hand

But being so slim and smooth has you worrying. Putting it in a pocket makes you stress that it's so slick it's surely only a matter of time before it somehow works itself up and out onto the floor. But that's not happened to us yet. We are probably just worrying too much. It encourages you to worry, as it's such a large lump of a phone you're always aware of its presence.

Thanks to the positioning of the power button it is just about possible to use the Xperia Z1 in one hand. It's not entirely comfortable to hold, though, as the angular slab design and glass back has you panicking that it's a very droppable item. Your fingers end up seeking out the docking port as the only gripping spot, as that's the only feature on the left-hand side of the Z1 that isn't completely smooth and flush.

The front... no, wait, this is the back. The back looks like the front. It's all glass and smooth, although we suspect it's not made from stuff as tough as that which covers the front, as a fair few tiny scratches have developed in a little over a week of use.

The back looks like the front

The right-hand edge features the microSIM card tray - which can be pulled out with a fingernail - power button, volume up/down toggle and the camera shutter button, the latter of which can be used to open up the camera by holding it down for a second or so.

The SIM tray is peculiar, housing an impossibly flimsy piece of plastic that's used to insert the SIM, which is so thin it's bordering on paper-like. If you're a regular SIM-swapper it'll be a nightmare, as this teeny holder is definitely one of the few weak spots in the Z1's design.

The left-hand side has the microSD slot and USB connectors, which sit above the docking station pins, while the bottom edge is all speaker grill. It's not the best place for a speaker as, what with this being such a huge phone, you often end up supporting it with a finger or thumb while using it - blocking or at least changing the level of the audio when simply adjusting your grip. Not a massive flaw, but a minor annoyance all the same.

Well-positioned buttons make holding easier

The bottom of the display is allocated for Android's software buttons, which are presented here in standard Back, Home and the Recent Apps multitasking button. There's enough chin beneath the display to ensure these software buttons aren't too low down the Z1's body, again helping to make one-handed use a little easier. No mean feat when dealing with a 5-inch monster.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/reviews/phones/mobile-phones/sony-xperia-z1-1177393/review

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Bluetooth 4.0 not coming to high-end Lumias, says Nokia Australia

Nokia Australia announced in a series of tweets that Bluetooth 4.0 Low Energy support is not coming to the Lumia 820, 920 and 1020 smartphones with the upcoming GDR3 Bittersweet shimmer update.

Nokia Australia later clarified the reason behind the lack of Bluetooth 4.0 LE support within the next major WP8 release is hardware limitations.

That sounds a bit strange, given that the recently released Nokia Amber update adds Bluetooth 4.0 LE to the Lumia 520, 620, and 720, while Lumia 625 has it out of the box.

@rath79 Hi Gary, Bluetooth v4.0 Low Energy (LE) technology will not be available for Nokia Lumia 8xx, 9xx and 1020.

— Nokia Australia (@NokiaAustralia) September 30, 2013

Bluetooth 4.0 LE is rather useful for many accessories, such as temperature sensors, heart-rate and fitness monitors, plus the rumored Nokia Treasure Tag accessory.

Even though the information comes from Nokia Australia, we are still hoping this is some kind of misunderstanding and waiting for an official statement from Nokia's HQ.

Source | Via

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/bluetooth_40_not_coming_to_highend_lumias_says_nokia_australia-news-6880.php

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Fujitsu Arrows A hits Softbank, lasts a day after a 10min charge

The Japanese carrier Softbank has unveiled its upcoming smartphone lineup and the most interesting one among them is the Fujitsu Arrows A running on Android 4.2 Jelly Bean.

The smartphone is powered by Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon 800 chipset and comes with a 5" 1080p display and a 13MP camera. It has 64GB of internal storage, which is further expandable via a microSD slot.

What's interesting about this Japanese fella is Fujitsu promises three days of battery life on a single charge, and a whole day of battery endurance after only 10 minutes of charging.

Finally, the Arrows A comes with a fingerprint reader on its back and probably supports finger unlock feature.

Fujitsu Arrows A will hit the Softbank network in December.

Source | Via

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/fujitsu_arrows_a_headed_to_softbank_lasts_a_day_after_a_10min_charge-news-6879.php

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Nokia Lumia 520 is Microsoft's best-selling device right now

Big up the budget

The state of the PC industry was summed up this week in an internal meeting at Microsoft, where it was revealed that the Nokia Lumia 520 is the biggest selling Windows device on the market at the moment.

The budget-friendly smartphone, according to Softpedia, is the most popular Windows device going, with its sales outgrowing that of any other Windows-based tablet, PC or laptop.

Although there were no official figures stated in the meeting, given the amount of advertising spend on Microsoft Surface and Windows 8, it is interesting to see a cheap phone surpass Microsoft's own hardware and software offerings – although the low cost will definitely have a factor towards the Lumia 520's popularity.

It will also give Microsoft some peace of mind that its buyout of Nokia should reap dividends for the company – a company that gave outgoing CEO Steve Ballmer the 'time of his life'.

More blips!

Here are more bliptastic blips that Nok all other news out of the park:

• Ctrl+alt+delete was a huge mistake, says Bill Gates
• Stay out of royalty-riddled minefields with YouTube's new music library
• Popular Science kills online comments because they're 'bad for science'

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/nokia-lumia-520-is-microsoft-s-best-selling-device-right-now-1185024

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Official doc confirms Sony Xperia Z1 mini existence, specs

Some leaked documentation, allegedly belonging to Japanese carrier NTT DoCoMo, is referencing the specs of the local version of the Sony Xperia Z1 (SO-01F) as well as a device dubbed Sony Xperia Z1 f (SO-02F). It's believed that the Z1 f is actually the long-rumored Xperia Honami mini.

The smartphone is said to shares the quad-core 2.2 GHz Snapdragon 800 and 20.7 MP camera with the bigger Xperia Z1. The difference comes from the display - 4.3" 720p vs 5" 1080p, battery -2300 mAh vs 3000 mAh, and dimensions - 127 x 64.9 x 9.4 mm vs 144 x 74 x 8.5 mm.

NTT DoCoMo documents on Xperia Z1 mini (click to enlarge)

The specs in the document align nicely with some previous leaks, but they also contradict others about the size.

Still anything's possible and we expect to Sony put an end to all speculations by making the smartphone official.

Source

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/alleged_official_documentation_gives_xperia_z1_mini_specs-news-6878.php

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iPhone 5S and 5C can now hop onto O2's 4G

All the Gs

The iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C have touched down with more LTE love than ever, but O2's 4G network was missing from the lineup of networks offer the super fast speeds on the new handsets from launch.

But that's now changed, with O2 customers able to hop onto 4G on their flashy new iPhones starting today.

But hold your horses. In order to enjoy the speedier speeds you'll need to update your carrier settings, which you can do by connecting the phone to Wi-Fi or iTunes.

Your iPhone will then be able to support the 800mhz band on which O2's 4G runs.

Double time

Needless to say, you'll also have to be in an area that's actually covered by O2's 4G. So that's London, Leicester, Leeds, Birmingham, Bradford, Coventry, Sheffield and Nottingham.

Those of you in Edinburgh, Newcastle, Liverpool, Glasgow or Manchester can also expect to be covered by the end of the year.

• Still not sure which one's right for you? Go read our extensive reviews of the iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/iphone-5s-and-5c-can-now-hop-onto-o2-s-4g-1185000

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Network confirms Galaxy S4 and Galaxy S3 Android 4.3 release date

Make it better. Make it faster. Make it work with the Gear.

A network in France has decided that the world needs to now a little more about Android 4.3 updates, which will be of most interest to those eyeing the Samsung Galaxy Gear.

French carrier SFR has published a table of when the updates will be landing in France, and corroborates information that's been leaking out from around the world when it comes to Samsung Galaxy S4, Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.3 updates - as well as some info on the HTC One as well.

With Android being far more open than iOS on the iPhone 5S, device updates have to go through a few levels of testing, from Google to OEMs, and then onto the networks. Being the final link in the chain, network update plans should be the most accurate.

credit: SFR

SFR even goes so far as to confirm that the update should be pushed out OTA, with it also being available on Samsung's KIES software, for the Galaxy devices.

Unfortunately for those on the older Note 2 and Galaxy S3, details are a bit sketchier, although these updates will be pushed out before the year is out, with November being touted.

Canadian updates to follow suit

Galaxy devices in Canada should also be updated before the 2013 death knell is sounded, with MobileSyrup reporting that the Galaxy S4, Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note 2 will all be updated in one go this November.

There is, as yet , no official word about when the update will hit the Galaxy S4 Active, S4 Zoom or S4 Mini, if at all.

Amongst other things, the Android 4.3 update brings support for Bluetooth LE, required for compatibility with Samsung's smart watch, the Galaxy Gear.

Via IntoMobile and Phandroid

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/network-confirms-galaxy-s4-and-galaxy-s3-android-4-3-release-date-1184942

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Lenovo Vibe Z with 1080p display, Snapdragon 800 goes official

After announcing the Lenovo Vibe X at IFA 2013, the company has added a second member to the Vibe family dubbed Vibe Z.

The Lenovo Vibe Z was previously known as K910 and sports a metal body and a design similar to the Vibe X, which the company hopes to appeal to the younger demographic outside China.

The Lenovo Vibe Z sports a 5.5" display of 1080p resolution. The phone is powered by the a 2.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 chipset, 2GB of RAM and Adreno 330 GPU. As you'd imagine, this configuration runs Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean without problems.

At the back, there's a 13MP camera with LED flash, which is similar to the one found on the Lenovo Vibe X. At the front, there's a 5MP snapper. The phone measures just 6.9mm thick, but battery size hasn't been detailed yet.

Lenovo has announced its plans to update the device to Android 4.4 KitKat in the future. Specific plans aren't yet revealed, as isn't the pricing and availability of the Vibe Z.

Source | Via

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/lenovo_announces_vibe_z_with_55_1080p_screen_and_snapdragon_800-news-6877.php

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Leaked Nexus 5 log reveals most of the specs

Myce.com got their hands on a log from the Nexus 5 (also called LG D820 and Hammerhead) and AndroidWorld.it dug though it. Some 133 thousand lines were searched but the reward was probably worth it - a number of interning specs for the upcoming pure-Google phone were confirmed.

Most of the stuff is no surprise – a 5" screen (actually, 4.97") with 1080p resolution, 442ppi pixel density, a Snapdragon 800 chipset with 2GB of RAM and 16GB storage (on that concrete model, there might be others with more and hopefully not less storage). The phone ran Key Lime Pie (a.k.a. Android 4.4 KitKat), build version KRS74H.

It seems that the camera has been changed to an 8MP snapper (the Nexus 4 also got a lower-res camera than the Optimus G it was based on). It's too early to tell if there will be optical image stabilization (probably not though). There's a 1.2MP front-facing camera too.

The Nexus 5 will pack dual-band Wi-Fi a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC and GPS connectivity. The model whose log file leaked ran on North American LTE bands, but we should expect a Euro version too.

Pieces of the leaked log with the salient info

The phone will have wireless charging built in and while battery capacity wasn’t in the logs, FCC docs point to a 2,300mAh unit. There will also be a full set of sensors – accelerometer, magnetometer, gyroscope, proximity and light sensors as well as a barometer. The FCC measured the phone at 131.9mm tall and 68.2 mm wide, there's no info on thickness.

A case maker, SPIGEN, puts the Nexus 5 launch date at October 31, a month from now.

Thanks for the tip, Emanuele!

Source (in Italian)

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/leaked_nexus_5_log_reveals_most_of_the_specs-news-6876.php

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Android 4.4 KitKat leak reveals wireless charging on Nexus 5

We're gonna need a bigger mouth

New details about the Nexus 5 have surfaced thanks to a leaked log file of Android 4.4 KitKat running on the device, where it's expected to make its debut.

The screenshots, leaked by Myce, show a bunch of new details about the 'Hammerhead', which is believed to be the Nexus 5's code name.

This includes information that the Nexus 5 will have a resolution of 1920 x 1080, but even more interesting is the suggestion that the phone will offer wireless charging.

It's a tasty, tasty future

There's even a cheeky reference to Key Lime Pie, which was set to be the name of the next update before Google shook hands with the chocolate maker.

The entire log file contains 1330 000 lines of code and has a build date of September 15, but as it contains some personal details we won't be seeing the whole lot posted.

According to Nestle, KitKat should be touching down in October. The Nexus 5, meanwhile, recently made an appearance in some rather impressive benchmark tests.

• Here's everything we know about Android 4.4 KitKat

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/android-4-4-kitkat-leak-reveals-wireless-charging-on-nexus-5-1184918

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LG G Pro Lite Dual to have stylus, lower-end screen and chipset

The LG G Pro Lite Dual is back with a brand new leak and while last time we wondered why it was called "Lite," now we wonder why it's called "Pro." There's also a curious change – the phablet will have a stylus that can be sheathed into the device's body, Galaxy Note style (unlike the LG Vu's, which had no slot for the stylus).

The dual-SIM LG G Pro Lite Dual will reportedly have a 5.5" IPS screen like its single-SIM sibling, but that screen will only have qHD resolution (540 x 960 pixels) with half the pixel density. But it's the chipset that got the greatest cutback – instead of a Snapdragon 600, the G Pro Lite Dual will have only a dual-core 1GHz processor, according to the new leak. It will have 1GB of RAM (down from 2GB) and 8GB built-in storage (down from 16GB/32GB) with a microSD card slot.

LG G Pro Lite Dual will have a stylus

The phablet will run Android 4.1.2 with LG's customizations (KnockOn, Guest mode, etc.) and will pack an 8MP camera with a BSI sensor. There will also be an FM radio and a 3,140mAh battery (same as the Optimus G Pro). The dimensions will be almost identical, 150.2 x 76.9 x 9.5mm (there's no info on weight).

The phone will launch in Russia mid-October at RUR13,000 (around $400 and half the price of the Optimus G Pro in Russia), where it will compete against the likes of Samsung Galaxy Grand Duos, Galaxy Mega 5.8 and Sony Xperia C.

Thanks again to Freddie!

Source (in Russian)

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/lg_g_pro_lite_dual_to_have_stylus_lowerend_screen_and_chipset-news-6875.php

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Huawei Ascend P6 review

The Huawei Ascend P6 represents the Chinese smartphone manufacturer's biggest attempt yet to join the Android elite. It boasts a level of design and a range of quietly innovative features that are in many ways worthy of Samsung, HTC, LG and Sony at their best.

Despite this, it's not quite in the same category as the absolute top-spec beasts such as the HTC One, Samsung Galaxy S4, and Sony Xperia Z. In fact, with its 4.7-inch 720p display and 8-megapixel camera it's closer in raw specs to the likes of the Google Nexus 4 and the Samsung Galaxy S3.

Infact the Huawei Ascend P2 features slightly better specs such as a 13MP rear camera, although it's body isn't as premium as the P6's.

Of course, with the phone set to be offered for around £25 per month on contract, the Ascend P6 will also be considerably cheaper than the current top crop. You might even call it an upper-mid range device.

But you get the feeling Huawei is taking a slightly different approach here. With some of its sleek hardware, software design cues and focus on style and functionality over willy-waving specs, the Huawei Ascend P6 appears to be following Apple's lead more than any of the aforementioned Android giants.

It's immediately clear the moment you take it out of its classy, compact white box. The super-slim, squared-off body, flat surfaces and metallic rim are pure iPhone 5 (though the colouring of our black model is closer to the iPhone 4S). It even comes with its own pre-packed 'bumper', but don't worry - we didn't notice any death-grip issues.

That's not to say that the Huawei Ascend P6 is a straight-ahead iPhone knock-off - its rounded bottom edge and subtly textured rear see off that charge.

Unlike the major devices listed above, then, the Huawei Ascend P6 doesn't have a distinctive design language to call its own, but that doesn't mean it isn't a pleasure to hold and to look at.

The handset's sleek design isn't just easy on the eye, either. At a shade under 6.2 mm thick, Huawei is claiming that this is the slimmest smartphone in the world. It's certainly a good 1.4 mm thinner than the iPhone 5 and a whopping 3.1 mm slimmer than the HTC One, which is the closest Android phone to this in terms of premium feel.

At 120g, the Huawei Ascend P6 is also a good 10 grams lighter than the Samsung Galaxy S4 or the Google Nexus 4.

All in all,the phone's lightness and slimness, allied to an extremely thin bezel, makes for a rare 4.7-inch smartphone that's viable to use one-handed - provided you have reasonably long flexible fingers, of course.

Going back to that 4.7-inch display, whilst it's 'only' a 720p model - which means it can't compete with 1080p big-hitters like the HTC One for sheer sharpness - it is one of the better examples of its kind.

Colour reproduction is excellent, and you can tweak the colour temperature within the settings menu if you're used to a warmer or cooler display.

There's even a Magic Touch feature that enables you to use the phone with your gloves on, which is a fantastic thing to have when you live in a generally chilly country like the UK.

This should really be in more smartphones by now, but so far it's only really Nokia (although the likes of Samsung and co. are getting on board slowly) that's adopted it with any enthusiasm. Well done Huawei.

In terms of external ports and buttons, Huawei has made some interesting decisions. The power button and volume rocker placement is pretty tradition, up high on the right hand side. In both look and ultra-clicky feel they reminded us of the Asus PadFone 2 equivalents, which is no bad thing.

The most notable thing on the controls front is the lack of physical or capacitive control keys. Rather, Huawei is one of the few third party manufacturers to follow Google's lead and opt for virtual buttons built into the UI (more on which in a moment).

The ports are even more unorthodox. You'll find the microUSB port situated on the top edge of the Ascend P6, which is unusual in itself. But the truly out-there element here is the 3.5mm headphone jack, which is situated right at the bottom of the left hand edge.

That would be odd enough, but then there's the bizarre metal nub-like cover that we initially mistook for a lanyard hook. Once removed, it turns out that it's a small drawing pin-shaped tool for accessing the Ascend P6's SIM and microSD trays.

It looks quite stylish when in place and serves its purpose well when out and in use, but what do you do with this tiny metal object when you're using the headphone socket? Lose it, we suspect.

Still, at least there is a microSD slot present to require such a tool. With a paltry 8GB of internal storage available here, additional memory is sorely needed. For music fans, gamers, and power users 8GB definitely won't be enough, so we're extremely glad that Huawei included a microSD slot - even if accessing it proves a little fiddly.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/reviews/phones/mobile-phones/huawei-ascend-p6-1159762/review

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