Post Loopt acquisition, Green Dot announces Gobank, the first mobile-only bank

Green Dot, a pre-paid debit card provider, announced and teased its first ever mobile-only banking solution, Gobank.

For those of you wanting to see a revolutionized banking industry, allow us to introduce Green Dot’s Gobank, a mobile-only, penalty free banking solution unveiled at Green Dot’s press conference in San Francisco today.

Those of us with commercial banking accounts know a thing or two about fees . To maintain a checking or savings account, these payments are small but it add up over time, and penalties will hit your wallet even harder. Green Dot CEO Steve Streit says that over $30 billion in penalty fees were collected by banks last year, and unlucky souls who opened new accounts could have added another $30-$50 on top of that. 

This is where Gobank comes in, with a completely free mobile banking solution. In case you aren’t quite grasping the concept, that means there are not brick-and-mortar locations you can visit. All activities, including deposits, sending money to friends, and transferring money between types of accounts, can be done via smartphone. The only non-mobile service that Gobank offers is a tangible debit card and 45,000 Greendot ATMs across the United States. In other words, you’re more likely to find a Greendot ATM than ones from Chase or Bank of America.

The app itself has four major features. Like Chase and just about every bank with a mobile app these days, you can deposit a check that gets sent straight to your checking account with a picture, front and back, of the check. Second, you can store away some money for a rainy day or toward a vacation fund that you can’t spend, which Gobank calls the “Money Vault.” Think of it like Gobank’s version of a savings account, but it’s fee-free and customizable.

Sending money is a social experience on Gobank. Friends can be notified via SMS, email, or Facebook about a money transfer between Gobank accounts. If your friends don’t have Gobank, then the process defaults to a Paypal facilitated transfer.

The most entertaining feature that Streit and Greendot EVP of mobile products and technology, Sam Altman, appeared to be proud of is Fortune Teller. “We have a philosophy that tech is entertaining,” Streit tells me. Consumers expect apps to be entertaining.” With Fortune Teller, users are able to set budgets and billing options for any recurrent payments they may have, including monthly insurance payments, utility bills, or rent. Based on this information, Fortune Teller is like your digital personal finance angel. Say you want to purchase a Macbook; Gobank will tell you whether or not it’s a smart investment based on your budget.

Users can be issued a tangible debit card for $9 that can be used for daily transactions. And it works with Square and other payment processing services. To take this service a step further into “fun” territory, Gobank customers can elect to receive a personalized debit card with a picture of their choosing from their mobile device’s library or even from Facebook.

Now where Gobank really sets itself apart from competitors is its groundbreaking audacity to charge its users absolutely nothing to maintain a Gobank checking account. Green Dot is (pardon the pun) banking on the confidence that some users will pay up to $9 per month voluntarily just because they love the app and want to throw their support behind the app. There aren’t even any overdraft charges to penalize you should you accidentally spend more than you have. Streit says that Green Dot expects people that overdraft will pay back what they owe.

Gobank will also make money by collecting a cut from merchants for every time a customer uses their Gobank debit card. There’s also revenue for Gobank in value-added services like the purchase of the debit card, and float income.

Gobank is a two year work in progress for Green Dot that required the prepaid debit card company to purchase a Utah bank back in 2011 and then the mobile location-based app Loopt in 2012. So despite the challenges of convincing consumers that a bank can be mobile-only, Streit assures me that Gobank isn’t just an experiment. Green Dot has a lot invested in (and riding on) its attempt to evolve the model of modern personal finance — which is perhaps the most difficult industry to change. 

Source : http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/green-dot-announces-and-teases-gobank-the-first-purely-mobile-bank/

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New ClamCase Pro keyboard turns your iPad into a MacBook Pro

ClamCase has just unveiled its second-generation Bluetooth keyboard for the iPad.

Tablets are already replacing laptops as portable computers for some, with detachable keyboards making it easier and more convenient to work on the go. A newly released keyboard for the iPad simulates a MacBook Pro experience even further with a sleek and airy design.

Accessory maker ClamCase has just introduced its ClamCase Pro: a lightweight Bluetooth keyboard that can transform an iPad into essentially an ultrabook. The keyboard even resembles that of the MacBook Pro, sporting an aluminum silver finish and a black set of keys. The case also supports Apple’s tablet at various angles, allowing for more flexibility while writing.

According to ClamCase’s official website, the Pro model is thinner and lighter than its predecessor and also provides protection for iPad devices. The keyboard maker’s website even simulates the layout of Apple’s product pages, making it easy to mistake ClamCase’s device as one straight from Cupertino, Calif.

The keyboard isn’t available yet, but users can preorder the device here for $170. It seems like a bit of a steep price, but most high-end iPad keyboards fall in that price range. Logitech’s Bluetooth Ultrathin Keyboard Cover for the iPad will run you about $100, and Belkin’s Folio case costs about the same.

In terms of words per minute, ClamCase boasts that you can type up to 76 words every 60 seconds, while Zagg’s keyboard only measured at 73 words per minute. This data comes from ABC News’ words per minute test, which reported that Logitech’s keyboard reached 71 words every 60 seconds.

The polycarbonate shell makes the ClamCase Pro scratch resistant and more durable, and it also comes with a soft touch hinge for grip. The original ClamCase was voted as one of the top rated iPad keyboards by PC Mag in November alongside Logitech’s option.

Check out the video below to get a hands on glimpse at the new ClamCase Pro keyboard.

Source : http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/clamcase-pro-keyboard-ipad/

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Sony Xperia Tablet Z leaked specs reveal 10 inch, full HD device

Sony may be working on a tablet version of its new Xperia Z

Sony's new Xperia Z impressed at CES 2013, leaving little question Sony was ready to start competing with the big boys on the smartphone market.

Based on some new reports, it seems the company is also taking some steps to make just as big a splash in the battle for tablet supremacy.

Specifications for the rumored Xperia Tablet Z have surfaced, and echo some of the main features the Xperia Z boasted about at CES.

Though Sony has yet to make any official announcement about the Xperia Tablet Z, if these specs end up panning out, consumers looking for a powerful Android tablet will have a tough choice ahead of them.

Sony's double-down

The Xperia Tablet Z doesn't just share a very similar name with its little smartphone brother, it also shares some of the same DNA.

According to the leaked specs, the Xperia Tablet Z will be waterproof, dustproof, and will sport a similarly thin stature as the Xperia Z.

The 10.1-inch screen will include a full 1920 x 1080 HD display, powered by a 1.5GHz quad-core Snapdragon processor and 2GB RAM.

There's no indication as to whether or not the Xperia Tablet Z will use the same Bravia Engine technology behind the Xperia Z's sharp screen, but there's little reason for Sony not to use it again here given the positive response to the engine in its latest smartphone.

Along with that nice screen will reportedly come 32GB of memory, and an 8.1 megapixel rear camera and a 2.2MP front-facing camera.

The Xperia Tablet Z is also believed to include Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean, as well as compatibility for LTE networks, WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0, and NFC abilities.

There's no indication as to when or where Sony will debut the new tablet, but reports point to a launch during the second-half of 2013.

By that time, Apple, Google, Samsung, and more competitors may have new tablets ready to tackle such a potentially formidable foe.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/mobile-computing/tablets/sony-xperia-tablet-z-leaked-specs-reveal-10-inch-full-hd-device-1125326

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Watch out! New study shows 1 in 3 smartphone owners use devices while driving

A recently released survey highlights just how many drivers are making phone calls or texting while being the wheel.

Ever have that one friend that’s always looking at his or her smartphone? Well according to a new survey from McKinsey & Company, many drivers happen to fall under that category.

Of nearly two thousand surveyed drivers, 35 percent admitted to using their smartphone while behind the wheel. To break it down even further, 89 percent of those who use their phone while driving voted that they use their device for making phone calls. With 68 percent of the vote, the second most popular smartphone task was navigation. In third was using SMS-based text messaging at 39 percent, and surfing the Web or using social networks placed in fourth with 31 percent.

The report, titled “Mobility of the Future,” also revealed some insight as what age group these drivers tend to fall into. Fifty-five percent of those between the ages of 18 and 39 that were polled said they feel the need to stay connected via mobile devices while in the car. However, only 27 percent in the 40 to 69 age range said the same.

The full report was conducted in June 2012 and reached a total of 4,000 people. Answers from 3,673 were used in the survey, but only 1,949 of these people answered questions about using smartphones while driving.

McKinsey’s findings were revealed at the Detroit Auto Show, but did not provide much detail as to the types of phones used while driving. It’s worth noting that any type of distraction while operating a motor vehicle can be dangerous. A similar report conducted in the UK this past August found that fiddling with Facebook updates while driving could make drivers more likely to drift across lanes or hit the car in front of them, according to Tech Radar.

This type of behavior has pushed UK car insurance company esure to launch an app that addresses these issues. DriveOFF uses GPS technology to automatically disable audio and visual notifications while driving over 10 miles per hour. It’s currently available for free for Android devices, but there’s no word on when this could hit iOS smartphones and tablets.

This isn’t the first report to surface in recent months about the dangers of smartphones. Over the summer, a study outlined the dangers pedestrians face when texting while walking.

Source : http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/study-smartphone-while-driving/

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New BlackBerry Z10 and X10 leaks show off the goods in photos and video

The BlackBerry X10 (or N-Series) photos from Instagram

Images and video of two new BlackBerry devices have reportedly appeared online just a couple weeks ahead of the Jan. 30 BlackBerry 10 launch.

First, two photos of the QWERTY BlackBerry X10 (or N-Series) popped up on the social photo-sharing site Instagram on Monday, if a source on the Crackberry forums is to be believed.

Then, on Tuesday, the Austrian site Telekom-Presse posted the first hands-on video with the BlackBerry Z10 (aka the L-Series), the touchscreen-only counterpart to the X10.

Neither leak really shows off much that wasn't already known or suspected about either device, but it's interesting to see them both popping up more and more as the BB10 launch approaches.

BlackBerry X10 N-Series

Crackberry forum user antheauxny posted the two images of the BB10 X10 on Monday night after reportedly searching Instagram for the #BlackBerry hashtag.

The keyboard-equipped phone appeared with its power cord plugged in and again in someone's hand.

Despite the physical QWERTY keyboard, some traditional BlackBerry buttons are missing, but those functions will no doubt be replicated on the touchscreen in BlackBerry 10.

YouTube : http://youtu.be/lRw32eVaTlo

BlackBerry Z10 L-Series

The video featuring the BB Z10 is a little more revealing, though, giving an in-depth 7-minute look at the phone's hardware, as well as the BlackBerry 10 OS itself.

The previous rumors of a 4.3-inch screen now seem just shy of the actual 4.2-inch mark, according to the video's German-language narrator, as reported by Engadget.

The site also reported on Tuesday that the narrator lists a 1.5GHz dual-core ARM Cortex A9 processor, 2GB of memory, and 16GB of storage on the Z10.

15,000 BlackBerry 10 apps

On Monday it was reported that 15,000 BlackBerry 10 apps had been submitted in less than two days during a Research in Motion-sponsored "port-a-thon" for developers.

That's good news for those looking to jump in bed with BB10 on day one, though doubtless not all of those apps will be approved.

Last week, RIM's chief marketing officer reportedly revealed that BlackBerry 10 devices will cover all price points, ideally leaving no consumers behind.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/new-blackberry-z10-and-x10-leaks-show-off-the-goods-in-photos-and-video-1125310

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Disney Infinity preview: The Magic Kingdom declares war on Skylanders and Minecraft

Disney Interactive announced its most ambitious video game to date on Tuesday. The company and developer Avalanche Studios are calling Disney Infinity a gaming platform rather than a game, a multi-part product that is equal parts Skylanders and Minecraft.

Disney took the lid off Disney Infinity on Tuesday afternoon, and the company’s latest bid to conquer the video game market looks like it may succeed where previous tent pole releases like Epic Mickey have failed. The game, developed by Just Cause developer Avalanche Software, is more ambitious than any other mainstream game Disney has ever attempted, and it does so by capitalizing on two wildly popular titles. Disney Infinity is the company’s answer to both Skylanders and Minecraft, arguably the most successful family-friendly games in recent memory.

During its announcement press conference, Disney described its Disney Infinity as a gaming platform rather than an individual game, and given the swath of products that fall under the banner, that certainly seems to be true. Disney Infinity will be available on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Nintendo Wii, and Nintendo Wii U. Disney also announced it for mobile devices, but while a tablet was shown, no OS was specified. It also announced it for PC and “online” platforms, implying that it will may even be offered as a social network or browser-based game.

Like Avalanche’s Toy Story 3 game, though, Disney Infinity is multiple games in one on all of these platforms. The first Disney Infinity release in June is a starter pack. This comes with three plastic figurines of Mr. Incredible from The Incredibles, Sully from Monsters University, and Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean. Like Activision’s Skylanders, these figures represent a player’s data while playing Disney Infinity - but rather than just holding statistics specific to each character, these figures actually represent whole games.

The first game is called a Playset. Placing a figure on a circular disc for reading data, you can play though a full game based on the property the figure comes from. Disney showed off open-world games like a brawler for The Incredibles that lets you fight the villain Syndrome and his army of robots in a crumbling city. Meanwhile, the Monsters University game was based around stealth and humor, sneaking up on rival monster college students to scare them, as well as customizing frat houses in the universe. The Pirates game was also action-centric, showing off a level inspired by the original Pirates of the Caribbean theme park ride. 

While you can’t mix figures within these IP-specific games – no Mr. Incredible attending Monsters University - Disney Infinity’s main attraction lets you mix everything together. The “Toy Box” is an open world game not unlike Mojang’s Minecraft or Media Molecule’s LittleBigPlanet. A fully 3D, customizable world, Toy Box is accessed using a second, hexagonal plastic base that multiple figures can go on. Any “toys” unlocked in specific Playsets – whether they’re weapons or vehicles or building tools – are unlocked in the Toy Box, where you can also construct levels using impressive-looking editing tools. Video from the event showed whole cities built using the editor, with icons from old Disney properties like Uncle Scrooge’s Money Bin from Duck Tales, and more.

There are Adventures to play through in the Toy Box, a sort of campaign that teaches people how to use all of the tools available. But after that, players can build their own games using the Logic Editor that ties objects together. The demo showed players building a simple switch that can be used to open a door, but later in the presentation the Toy Box featured entire games created to mimic arcade classics like Robotron and Offroad, to a racing track based on Bowser’s Castle from Mario Kart. The world you create can then be uploaded to Disney Infinity Online. Unlike LittleBigPlanet or Minecraft though, Disney Infinity levels won’t automatically be accessible to other players over the Internet, as Disney plans to fully moderate the service. They’ll be uploaded to public servers if approved, and Disney also plans to run contests for people to submit their worlds. Any worlds constructed will also, naturally, be tied to the figures people buy. So even if you don’t want to upload it to the internet, you can bring your world to a friend’s house.

Pirates, Monsters, and The Incredibles won’t be the only Playsets available at launch in June, though Disney didn’t specify what else would be available. It did say that 20 additional action figures will be available, and more Playsets/figures would come out across 2013. Videos for the game and the game’s logo gave a taste of what’s on the horizon though, with characters from myriad Disney properties. Cars, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Wreck It Ralph, Tron, Phineas and Ferb, Aladdin, Dumbo, Toy Story, and more were shown off during the presentation. Conspicuously absent, however, were characters from Disney’s hugely popular subsidiaries Marvel and Lucasfilm. If Luke Skywalker and The Avengers are going to play in Disney Infinity, it won’t be in 2013.

Disney Interactive has struggled to find its place in video games over the past few years. While Disney’s social and mobile games are fairly popular, the company simply doesn’t have a major property to compete with either the big publishers like Activision, or even the indie darlings like Mojang. Disney Infinity takes one of the most promising games to bear a Disney license in recent years, Toy Story 3 by Avalanche, and marries it to the compulsive collectibility of Skylanders and the deep self-expression of Minecraft. This is one to watch. 

Source : http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/disney-infinity-preview-the-magic-kingdom-declares-war-on-skylanders-and-minecraft/

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Nationwide pay by text service coming to the UK next year

Pay by text coming next year

We don't really send that many texts anymore, but the UK Payments Council is working on a solution that'd give the good old-fashioned SMS an ultra-modern new purpose.

Amid a sea of mobile payment methods springing up over the last couple of years, come the spring of 2014, users in the UK will be also be able to send and receive money just by sending a text.

Members of the public will be asked by their banks whether they'd like to opt-in to a database which would tie their account details to their mobile phone number and allow for easy money transfers.

The BBC reports that the scheme is being backed by eight of the country's top financial institutions, including Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds, RBS and Santander. The rest are being courted by the Payments Council.

Playing catch-up

The scheme is similar to the Barclays PingIt app, which enables users to send money to another using a mobile phone number, but requires users to set up a digital wallet account with the app.

PingIt allows payments of up to £750 every day and makes it easier to settle emergency borrows, pay back money to mates who buy concert tickets or to split dinner bills.

The launch of a nationwide database will make it easier to send and receive money as it will be directly tied to each user's bank account and will not require a separate front-facing account.

Passcodes will ensure the system is not misused or insecure, the Payments Council said.

The UK is actually playing catch-up in this field as the tech has already been in use in the developing world for a number of years.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/nationwide-pay-by-text-service-coming-to-the-uk-next-year-1125291

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Visa's V.me digital wallet set for nationwide UK rollout in 2013

Will V.me revolutionise contactless payments in 2013?

Visa has revealed that 80 per cent of its UK customers will have access to its V.me digital wallet, before the end of the year.

The credit card company's contactless payment solution will allow users to pay for goods using their smartphones at a number of their favourite stores, and a full nationwide roll out will take place this year.

Visa said that individual banks will be rolling out digital versions of debit and credit cards throughout the year, starting with NatWest and RBS this spring and with others coming as the year progresses.

Visa is hoping to capitalise on the growth of mobile payments in the UK. They quadrupled in 2012 and Visa expects the amount of transactions to quadruple once again in 2013.

PayPal rival

Visa reckons that there'll be a whopping 33.7m digital payment cards in the UK, which may be used in 175,000 places by the time 2013 comes to a close.

The company also announced that there'll be 80 Visa-certified smartphones on the market by the end of the year.

As well as the incoming digital wallet option, V.me is Visa's answer to PayPal, allowing consumers to pay for goods online, by only entering their credit card and shipping information once.

Can this all-in-one solution give the contactless payment drive the boost it needs to go mainstream this year?

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/visas-v-me-digital-wallet-set-for-nationwide-uk-rollout-in-2013-1125279

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Video provides a glimpse of BlackBerry 10 running on a BlackBerry Z10 smartphone

There’s still a couple of weeks to go before BlackBerry 10 is launched, but if you can’t wait to see the new operating system in action, you’ll want to see this hands-on video of the software running on a BlackBerry Z10.

Not everyone has to wait until the end of the month to see BlackBerry 10 in action, as Austrian tech blog Telekom-Presse has posted an extensive video test of Research in Motion’s new operating system in use on the BlackBerry Z10. The site notes the hardware is a pre-production prototype and it’s a beta version of the software.

The Z10 has been leaked several times already, but it’s good to get further confirmation of the device’s specifications. The prototype seen in the video has a 4.2-inch touchscreen with a 1280 x 768 pixel resolution, while inside is a 1.5GHz processor with an impressive 2GB of RAM. An 8-megapixel primary camera sits in the corner of the rear panel, and there is a 1.9-megapixel video call lens above the screen. Finally, a microSD card slot lets you add to the standard 16GB of storage memory.

If you watch the video below, you’ll get to see the BlackBerry 10 interface in action again, along with some of the very cool transitions between screens – just take a look at the fade as the lock screen is swiped away. However, unless you speak German, the commentary won’t be all that helpful. By using Google Translate on the accompanying written piece, it’s clear the author is impressed with BlackBerry 10, calling it, “Smooth,” and the camera, “Excellent.”

We had a chance to play with BlackBerry 10 again during CES 2013, and also found the experience vastly improved over previous versions. There’s just over two weeks to go until BlackBerry 10 is launched, and according to recent rumors not only is the application store filling up at a surprisingly fast rate, but the new hardware could be on sale in some places by the end of February.

Source : http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/blackberry-z10-caught-on-video/

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Samsung to launch Galaxy S II Jelly Bean update in February

Just over a week ago, Samsung announced the details surrounding the upcoming Galaxy S II Jelly Bean update, but didn't mention an exact date when for the start of its rollout.

Today a company spokesperson has told CNET the update for the former Android flagship is coming in the beginning of February in Singapore, with the rest of the markets to follow.

The update will be downloadable only via the Samsung Kies app and not over-the-air, because of its extra large size.

Launched with Android 2.3 Gingerbread back in 2011, Samsung has been taking good care of its former flagship upgrading it to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and now to Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. More than 40 million people have bought the device paving the company's road to the throne as the biggest smartphone manufacturer out there.

We'll continue to follow the news surrounding the update in the coming weeks.

Source

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_to_launch_galaxy_s_ii_jelly_bean_update_in_february-news-5350.php

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BlackBerry Z10 leaks in a lengthy 1080p video demo

We've seen the leaks over and over again, but this is the real deal.

Here's a lengthy video demo of the upcoming BlackBerry Z10 in its full glory. It's not an official demo, of course, we doubt we'll see one before RIM's unveiling event on January 30. But still, it's as good as it gets.

In fact, the 7 minutes worth of footage show the hardware and software of the BlackBerry Z10 (if that's the correct retail name at all) in such detail that we may as well stop reporting any future leaks before the announcement. Just kidding, alright?

The only downside to this clip is that the narrator speaks in German, which kinda leaves you without the first-hand commentary, if you are not fluent in the language. But hey, the action on the screen is more or less self-explanatory.

Of course, you shouldn't miss the the specs. The narrator mentions that the BlackBerry Z10 has a 1280x768px 4.2-inch screen (which kinda contradicts with the 4.3-inches we've heard before) and an 8 megapixel camera with a LED flash. It runs on a TI OMAP4470 chipset with 1.5Ghz dual-core processor. There's 2GB RAM and 16GB storage. The smartphone weighs only 125g.

The authors of the video from Telekom-Presse.at have also published a video, shot with the Z10, but the sample is rather shaky to judge anything from it (except perhaps the lack of video stabilization). if you are interested, check it out in the Source link below.

On the positive side, the title of the hands-on video embedded above says Teil 1, which means there is a Part 2 in the works. Stay tuned!

Source | Via

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/blackberry_z10_leaks_in_a_lengthy_video_demo-news-5349.php

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Forget Vegas, here’s what to expect from the real mobile monsoon next month in Barcelona

In just over a month, Mobile World Congress 2013 begins, and with it will come an abundance of new smartphone and tablet announcements. Here’s what we’re expecting the major manufacturers to bring with them.

Have you heard of Mobile World Congress? If you’re into gadgets, chances are you Mobile World Congress begins on February 25, and as CES 2013 didn’t provide quite the smartphone overload we hoped for, it’s probably going to be one of the busiest shows for several years. Due to a slightly quieter than usual CES, many of the devices rumored may now turn up at MWC, so let’s compare what we thought was going to happen in Vegas, with what we think will happen in Barcelona.

Samsung

As far as mobile phones are concerned, Samsung didn’t bother announcing any at CES, leaving Verizon to talk about the Ativ Odyssey and merely sending out a press release for the Galaxy S2 Plus. Rumors spread of the Galaxy S4 making its debut in Vegas, but that was almost certainly never going to happen and what’s more, it almost certainly won’t be at Mobile World Congress either.

The Samsung flexible phone did get its moment in the spotlight, but only as a prototype on stage during the company’s keynote presentation. Known as Youm, the device was shown running Windows Phone 8 and not Android as many expected, but it was very much a work-in-progress and won’t go on sale anytime soon.

So, what’s left for MWC? We’re still waiting on a 7-inch Galaxy Note tablet and a 1080p smartphone/tablet hybrid, which were both possible for CES, and they could be joined by the mid-range GT-iS6810 Galaxy Frame and a new version of the dual-SIM Galaxy Young Duos handset. The world’s first Tizen phone could also be at the show, although the rumor suggests if it is announced, it’ll be for Japan only.

LG

LG made no secret of the fact it was waiting for MWC to unveil its 2013 smartphone range, so what can we expect? LG’s VP of marketing said it would be bringing out “tier one” – which means flagship – phones with “various screen sizes” at MWC and throughout 2013.

Whether LG will announce more than one high-end smartphone isn’t clear, but the Optimus G2 is a candidate, as is a tablet/smartphone hybrid with a 5.5-inch, 1080p resolution screen. LG’s fashionable L Series range is due for an update, having been announced at the show last year, and the Korean firm may also re-enter the tablet market.

Nokia

Nokia didn’t announce any new products at CES, so if it has anything in the works, it’s sure to be bringing them to Mobile World Congress. Perhaps the most talked about device Nokia could launch is a Windows RT tablet, the specs of which are said to include a 10-inch screen and a Snapdragon processor. Microsoft needs all the help it can get to push Windows RT, and it would probably welcome a stylish tablet with Nokia’s name attached.

An recent interview with Nokia’s head of imaging technologies may prove to be well-timed, as it revealed it has some “very cool” new PureView camera technology in the works. It’s worth remembering the 808 PureView celebrates its first birthday at the show. As for its Lumia range, it seems a little early for the refreshed 920, codename Catwalk, to be announced, as it’s a model Nokia may save for its own event later this year. CEO Stephen Elop is listed on the official Mobile World Congress site as a confirmed keynote speaker.

Huawei

After Huawei announced the Ascend D2, Ascend Mate, and the Ascend W1 at CES, it would be reasonable to expect the company to give Mobile World Congress a miss; however this isn’t the case at all. A Huawei executive has said it’ll be launching two phones at the Barcelona show, the first being a successor to the Ascend P1 with a thin, metallic chassis.

The second could be the Ascend W2, another Windows Phone 8 device but this time with a higher specification. The W2 has been leaked before and its potential spec list includes a 4.5-inch HD screen, a dual-core processor and an 8-megapixel camera, all wrapped up in a 7.7mm thick body. Additionally, we’re hoping to hear some news on the international release for the Ascend D2 and Mate, as they’re current only slated for China.

Sony

Sony is one of the few companies which had a strong smartphone line-up at CES, however it only really announced one phone, with the Xperia ZL being a variation on the Xperia Z. It’s possible Sony will use Mobile World Congress as a launchpad for the remainder of its 2013 range.

Phones such as the C530X, codename HuaShan and the C550X, codename Dogo, are prime candidates for launch. Both run Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and the C550X could be another Sony device powered by a quad-core processor.

ZTE

Like Huawei, ZTE had a good CES 2013 line-up but will also be bringing more phones to Mobile World Congress. While it hasn’t be as explicit as Huawei regarding its plans, another couple of big-screen devices have been rumored, named the ZTE Grand Memo – with a 5.7-inch screen and a quad-core processor – and the Nubia Z7, boasting a massive 6.3-inch screen. The Z7 has some other big numbers attached to it, with talk of a 16-megapixel camera, 4GB of RAM, and a 2560 x 1440 pixel resolution. We’ll believe it when we see it.

HTC

As HTC was completely silent for CES, we’re expecting great things from it at MWC. The M7 has been the subject of much speculation over the past weeks, and the new flagship phone – potentially boasting another 5-inch, 1080p resolution screen – is likely to take pride and place at the show. The new phone could be accompanied by the announcement of HTC Sense 5, too.

Last year’s Mobile World Congress saw the introduction of the One X and several of its cheaper siblings, so the M7 could bring with it a selection of other phones as part of a brand-new collection for 2013, as hinted at in an extensive codename leak recently. HTC could also use the show to reveal its new brand identity.

Research in Motion

Mobile World Congress will begin less than a month after RIM officially launches BlackBerry 10, and should the leaked release date prove accurate, it’ll end just as the phones go on sale. The press coverage provided at MWC, plus the chance for attendees to try out the retail devices just ahead of launch, could be seen as critical publicity for RIM at a very important time.

This makes it all the more surprising to read rumors the company won’t be attending the show in any capacity. RIM was there last year, when it had nothing to announce except PlayBook OS 2.0, so for it to shun the show when it actually has something to shout about (and in which many people are interested) is very odd.

At the time of writing, Research in Motion isn’t listed as one of MWC’s confirmed exhibitors on the official event website. There’s also nothing on the company’s own event planner either, but then neither is anything past November 2012, so one can’t take this as confirmation just yet.

All The Rest

Acer, Asus, Fujitsu, and Alcatel should all have new hardware – some of it already seen at CES – on display, while Intel, Qualcomm, and Nvidia will also be there to talk mobile processors. Apple won’t be at the show officially, but members of its staff will undoubtedly be wandering the show floor.

Mobile World Congress begins on February 25 and runs until February 28 in Barcelona, Spain.

Source : http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/what-to-expect-at-mobile-world-congress-2013/

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Dual SIM Samsung Galaxy Grand to hit Europe in February

Samsung Ukraine has spilled the beans on the pricing and availability of the upcoming 5" Galaxy Grand smartphone.

Announced back in December last year, the Grand is going to land in Europe in February. Ukraine is going to be the first country to get it and there, the phone will sell for €409 ($547).

This seems a bit too high of a price for a smartphone which packs a dual-core 1.2GHz processor, 1GB of RAM and 8GB of internal memory (wexpandable via the microSD card slot). Additionally, the 5" LCD display only offers WVGA resolution.

The specs sheet also includes a 2,100mAh Li-Ion battery, 8MP camera with LED flash, Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean, Bluetooth 4 and Wi-Fi a,b,g,n.

Source | Via

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/dual_sim_samsung_galaxy_grand_to_hit_europe_in_february-news-5348.php

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Android 4.1.2 update for Samsung Galaxy Note N7000 goes live

The original Samsung Galaxy Note N7000 is now in the process of receiving the 4.1.2 Jelly Bean update, with users in Poland reporting successfully downloading the update via Samsung's KIES software.

Besides the usual array of optimizations which come with the new Android version, the Jelly Bean update for the Note brings with it the Premium Suite package of applications introduced with the Galaxy Note 2. Included are a number of S-Pen optimized applications and features, such as Multi View, which brings true simultaneous multitasking to the phablet.

If you're in Poland, you may have luck finding an OTA update via your devices' settings menu before looking through KIES.

No word yet on availability in other areas, but seeing as how it's already being pushed out to users, we should see other regions get the update pretty soon.

Source

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/jelly_bean_update_for_samsung_galaxy_note_n7000_goes_live-news-5347.php

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LG shies away from Google Nexus 5 speculation

End of the line for LG's Nexus adventure?

LG has played down reports that suggest the Korean manufacturer has been lined up to produce the Google Nexus 5 smartphone.

Branding the claims as "unfounded" an unnamed LG spokesperson spoke to Korean site Chosun Biz about the firm's dealings with Google and the Nexus line of products.

This isn't a huge surprise after Google blamed LG for the delay in shipping Nexus 4 stock plus the search engine likes to share the Nexus spoils among manufacturers, with HTC, Samsung and LG all getting a bite of the apple so far.

Nexus 4 supply issues not LG's fault

The LG spokesperson also defend the firm when quizzed on the supply issues surrounding the Nexus 4, claiming that no such delays existed at the firm's end.

This switches the blame back onto Google who some have accused of purposely throttling the number of units available in an attempt to increase hype and demand around the product.

It's unlikely that we'll ever get the real reason behind the Nexus 4 shortage with both Google and LG seemingly happy to pass the blame.

The NexTus tablet

According to the folks over at Mobile PC Online the Google Nexus 5 will arrive with a quad-core processor and 1080p display before the end of the year alongside a new tablet currently being dubbed the Google Nexus 7.7.

As the name suggests the new Nexus tablet will apparently feature a 7.7-inch display which the Chinese site claims will be full HD, alongside a Tegra 4 quad-core chip and 2GB of RAM.

While the suggestion of a new Nexus smartphone and tablet is hardly groundbreaking stuff, we're a little more reserved when it comes to the exact specifications of the devices with the sources of this information unknown, so don't get too excited just yet.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/lg-shies-away-from-google-nexus-5-speculation-1125165

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Oppo Find 5 goes on pre-order in China, to arrive on January 29

The Oppo Find 5 is one of the phones that’re leading the 5” 1080p craze and Oppo is already taking pre-orders for it in its home country, China. Priced at 2,998 Chinese yuan ($480), the Find 5 can challenges flagships from HTC (the DROID DNA / Butterfly) and Sony (the Xperia Z).

Anyway, Chinese pre-orders will be fulfilled on January 29. That’s for the 16GB. There will be a 32GB version too, though pricing for this one hasn’t been announced in China yet.

Elsewhere, the 16GB version will be $500 and the 32GB version will be $570. You can check the list of countries that will be getting it here.

So, any takers? For comparison, an HTC DROID DNA for Verizon will set you back $600 without a contract (it has 16GB storage and “only” an 8MP camera), but it has HTC’s brand name behind it. It is pricier outside the US ($890 in Australia) though. There's the Sony Xperia Z too, but that one is muuch more expensive than the Find 5 as well.

Source (in Chinese) | Via

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/oppo_find_5_goes_on_preorder_in_china_to_arrive_on_january_29-news-5345.php

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BlackBerry 10 app frenzy: Developers submit 15,000 BB10 apps in single weekend

A special event held by Research In Motion over the weekend saw BlackBerry and Android developers submit 15,000 apps in under 38 hours to the soon-to-launch BB10 platform.

Research In Motion is now just a couple of weeks away from unveiling its next-generation BlackBerry 10 platform, a platform it hopes will grab the attention of consumers and business users alike and propel the mobile company back to success.

As it gears up for the January 30 event, it’s pulling out all the stops to get everything ready, including bolstering the number of apps offered by its BlackBerry World store. Over the weekend the company held a virtual Port-A-Thon event encouraging BlackBerry and Android developers to port their apps to the BB10 platform.

It seems like the event was a big success for RIM, with an impressive 15,000 apps submitted in just 37.5 hours. Of course, we don’t know if any of them are actually any good, or how many will be accepted into the BlackBerry World store, but surely there has to be at least some quality work in amongst so many submissions.

To focus the developers’ minds during the event, RIM offered a few incentives. For starters, it promised to pay out $100 to every approved app (20 apps max per developer), meaning it could potentially be $1.5 million down by the time it’s finished assessing them all.

On top of that, the first 200 to have between 5 and 10 apps approved will receive a BlackBerry 10 Dev Alpha device as well as “other rewards”, the Ontario-based company said on a webpage about the Port-A-Thon event.

More than 10 app approvals gets a developer a Dev Alpha device and, for the first 10, an all-expenses-paid trip to BlackBerry Jam Europe to celebrate the launch of BlackBerry 10.

RIM’s chief marketing officer Frank Boulben told Fierce Wireless at CES last week that the new BB10 platform will launch with around 70,000 apps.

He also said at least six BB10 handsets would hit the market during this year. Though the first two phones are set to be unveiled on January 30, their exact launch date is still unknown, though RIM’s chief operating officer Kristian Tear said a couple months ago it’d be some time in February. A report over the weekend suggested the expected touchscreen model – possibly called the Z10 – may go on sale on February 28 for $800.

Source : http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/developers-submit-15000-bb10-apps-in-single-weekend/

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Leak shows T-Mobile has BlackBerry 10 phone penciled in for March 27 release

A new leak indicates T-Mobile USA will release a BlackBerry 10 device on March 27, a month after Best Buy Canada is rumored to do so, and two months after Research in Motion’s global BlackBerry 10 launch event.

Last week, a leaked screenshot of Best Buy Canada’s stock inventory system showed a possible February 28 release date for a BlackBerry 10 phone, although it wasn’t clear exactly which one. Now, a roadmap of forthcoming hardware for T-Mobile USA has been published and it too shows a BlackBerry 10 device, but the possible street date is a little later.

Instead of late February, T-Mobile has apparently penciled in a phone called the BlackBerry Lisbon for March 27, a month after the Best Buy date and nearly two months after Research in Motion plans to unveil the new operating system and its accompanying hardware.

If you’ve not heard of the BlackBerry Lisbon, it has been rumored for some considerable time, with references to it dating back as far as December 2011. Despite this, little is known about the device, with speculation revolving around it being a variation of the already leaked BlackBerry Z10 or London, as it has also been known. There’s a chance the London is a world phone for all markets, leaving the Lisbon to take care of U.S. GSM networks and a device codenamed Laguna for CDMA carriers.

That BlackBerry 10 phones are headed to T-Mobile soon isn’t a surprise, as the network issued a statement earlier this year saying it is, “Extremely optimistic that it’s going to be a successful product.” T-Mobile joins Verizon and AT&T as North American networks already aboard the BlackBerry 10 train, with Vodafone, O2 and EE all confirmed in the UK too.

Research in Motion has scheduled its global BlackBerry 10 launch for January 30, and an executive for the company has previously indicated the first phones with the new OS would go on sale within 30 days of the event. While this fitted perfectly with Best Buy Canada’s stock computer, if this rumor is correct, it appears T-Mobile may be slightly behind the curve (if you’ll excuse the BlackBerry-themed pun).

Source : http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/t-mobile-could-launch-blackberry-10-phone-on-march-27/

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Budget iPhone to go back to plastic?

Plastic fantastic

There's a growing voice saying Apple is working on an entry-level iPhone and the latest report suggests it will ditch the fancy glass finish for a more economical plastic chassis.

Apple is no stranger to the use of plastic on its phones as it used the material on its handsets up to the iPhone 3GS, with the well known glass-metal combo only coming into effect with the iPhone 4.

Now Digitimes has spoken to one of its infamous "upstream supply chain sources" who has "confirmed" that the budget iPhone will sport the plastic chassis of old in an attempt to keep costs down.

No brainer

This hardly comes as much of a surprise as using cheaper materials for the handset's body is one of the key ways for Apple to keep the price of the final unit low.

A plastic chassis could be music to the ears of clumsy iPhone owners who have seen their shiny smartphones shatter as they hit the deck – just ask our very own Kate Solomon and Gareth Beavis, who both managed to smash iPhone 4s back in the day.

We're not counting our chickens just yet though as Digitimes doesn't have a particularly glistening track reckon with these sort of leaks and there's been no official word from the Cupertino-based firm that it's even considering a cut-price iPhone.

According to the same source the first entry-level iPhone will hit stores in the second half of 2013 – we'll just have to wait and see.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/budget-iphone-to-go-back-to-plastic-1125139

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We’re not to blame for Nexus 4 stock shortage says LG

Even though the Google Nexus 4 is still proving difficult to find in stock online, LG has said production of the device is running smoothly and any rumors of problems are unfounded.

Anyone who has been trying to purchase a Nexus 4 since its release understands you need to be quick, as when stock arrives online it rarely lasts long. There are even a few apps available inside the Google Play store which streamline the stock checking process, ensuring you have the best possible chance of bagging one of Google’s popular smartphones.

Last month, some enterprising fans of the Nexus 4 decoded the serial number of the device, revealing LG and Google had directly shipped approximately 370,000 phones since release. Many questioned whether LG’s production lines were working at full capacity to meet the high level of demand.

Now, LG has chimed in on the situation, telling a Chinese publication its production plant in Pyeongtaek, South Korea where the Nexus 4 is built, has been operating perfectly and the company has no problems with supplying the device to Google. The spokesperson called the rumors of issues, “Unfounded.”

Although Google has never come out and explicitly blamed LG for being slow, a Google UK director said in December last year, “Supplies from the manufacturer are scarce and erratic,” after responding to complaints from people unable to order one.

LG’s statement is exactly as one would expect, but by deflecting blame from itself, it has essentially said the problems are Google’s own doing. It’s difficult to have sympathy or understanding for either company, as a smooth and easy buying process is Retailing 101, and even if everything that goes on behind it is a shambles, the product needs to reach customers’ hands without a hitch.

Interestingly, networks all over the world are still announcing the Nexus 4, with Virgin UK the latest to do so. Here’s the difference: A Nexus 4 with Virgin costs £99 plus a £34 per month contract for two years, giving a grand total of £916. Buying the device through Google and adding a cheap Pay-As-You-Go SIM with unlimited calls and data will cost less than half of this. We doubt many networks are upset the Nexus 4 is proving so difficult to find through Google.

Source : http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/nexus-4-production-is-running-smoothly-says-lg/

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