HTC One launched in India for ₹42,990

HTC has launched their latest Android flagship device, the HTC One, in India for ₹42,990, which is approximately $789, unlocked. The phone is expected to go on sale towards the end of this month. HTC has tied up with Reliance Communications to offer 1GB of free 3G data for three months to those who purchase the One.

The pricing of the HTC One in India is still fairly high but reasonable compared to some of their previous devices. The HTC Butterfly, for example, was priced at ₹45,990 ($845) and continues to be priced about the same since then. It's interesting to see the new flagship being priced lower than the existing one, although a price drop for Butterfly before the One hits the shelves cannot be ruled out.

The older One X, meanwhile, has seen a price drop in India, although the final price will vary by retailer.

Source

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/htc_one_launched_in_india_for__837742990-news-5830.php

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Vaya Mobile now offering Optus 4G

Can cheap rates convince you to switch from the established telcos?

Mobile Virtual Network operator (MVNO) Vaya Mobile is now offering 4G services on its post-paid plans, starting from $9 per month.

Vaya's plans go up to $45 per month, which includes 3GB data plus unlimited calling and messaging.

The service piggybacks on the Optus network, with coverage advertised for 97-percent of the Australian population. 4G coverage is much smaller, of course, with service in most of the capital cities.

The fine print

The post-paid offer operates on a month-to-month basis, letting customers cancel after each billing cycle. This is common with MVNOs, like Amaysim, whoi offer a similar deal.

There is one catch in the Vaya small print, though. The telco charges $20 for a SIM pack, which other usual give away or sell for a nominal sum. This equates to two-months worth of service for those signing up to the $9 plan, though the fee is waived if you agree to a 24-month contract with Vaya.

Excess data is charged at 4c per megabyte, which is a reasonable rate in comparison to the major telcos, and there is also the option to pay $7 per GB to increase your data plan in any given month.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/vaya-mobile-now-offering-optus-4g-1143325

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Apple job posting hints at fingerprint sensor tech for future iOS gadgets

Recent reports have suggested the iPhone 5S may have a fingerprint scanner

Apple has dropped another hint it is looking to integrate fingerprint sensors into forthcoming iOS and, perhaps, Mac OS X products with a new posting on its jobs site.

Recent reports have suggested that the iPhone 5S will arrive with a fingerprint sensor next to the home button, with the rumoured iWatch reportedly in line for the tech too.

Now the company is looking for a software engineer to join its new team at the Melbourne Design Centre on Florida's Space Coast, which is where the AuthenTech company Apple purchased last year is based.

AuthenTec, which specialises in fingerprint sensors and identity management, was snapped up by Apple for $356m (UK£233, AUD$342 ) prompting speculation the tech would soon be integrated within Apple products.

iPhone 5S may be too soon

The position, which is the only Florida-based role on the company's jobs website said applicants must be able to write "low-level code to configure and control hardware."

The job posting does not mention fingerprint sensors by name, but applicants must also have experience in hardware and firmware interaction.

It remains to be seen whether Apple is preparing an instant introduction with the iPhone 5S.

Speculation has also suggested that the handset, scheduled for launch later this year, would be more of an evolutionary update than a revolutionary new handset, so it would be a surprise in that sense.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/computing/apple/apple-job-posting-hints-at-fingerprint-sensor-tech-for-future-ios-gadgets-1143268

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BlackBerry Q10 release date: when can I get it?

If you want it, come and get it

The BlackBerry Q10 is the second handset to come running the new BlackBerry 10 operating system, but it's the first to offer a physical QWERTY keyboard alongside it.

The Q10 won't have the same appeal as the flagship Z10, but there are still people out there who swear by a physical keyboard on their smartphone, so we've searched far and wide to bring you the latest on where and when you'll be able to get it.

Carphone Warehouse

Carphone Warehouse has reduced the price of BlackBerry Q10, with it now listed at a still rather eye-watering £579.95 SIM-free (it was appearing at £600 originally), which is the same as the Samsung Galaxy S4.

You can also pick it up on contract for free from £36 per month - with all the major networks apart from Three represented - with stock expected to arrive "by the end of April".

Phones 4U

The Phones 4U site tells us it expects stock of the BlackBerry Q10 to arrive "in 4-5 weeks" and it's offering a free BlackBerry PlayBook to the first 300 who pre-order - we're not sure if that's an incentive or not.

Like Carphone Warehouse you can grab the Q10 for free on two year contracts starting at £36 per month, but there's no sign of Three or O2 here, nor does it appear to be offering the handset SIM-free.

EE

EE announced at the launch of the BlackBerry Z10 in January that it "also plans to range the forthcoming BlackBerry® Q10 smartphone. Details on pricing and availability will be announced at a later date".

And we're still waiting on those prices and release date.

O2

O2 reckons we might have a bit of a longer wait here in the UK for the BlackBerry Q10, with a coming soon date of May and the option to "keep me in the loop" on its info page.

Three

Three is yet to announce whether or not it will be ranging the BlackBerry Q10, but considering all its rivals will be selling the phone we'd expect the data-friendly network to follow suit.

Vodafone

Vodafone has told TechRadar: "We will be offering the BlackBerry Q10 for sale in the UK in the coming weeks. Details of pricing and any pre-order will be announced soon."

Online retailers

You can pre-order the BlackBerry Q10 at Expansys, but the site isn't currently displaying a price for the QWERTY keyboard device, nor is there a release date.

Unlocked Mobiles has the handset listed for pre-order at £529.98 and a Blackberry Q10 release date of April 26.

The Q10 is slightly more on Clove's pre-order page, with a price of £534.99 for the SIM-free handset and a note saying "first stock due late April".

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/blackberry-q10-release-date-when-can-i-get-it--1143212

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Facebook Home leaks ahead of Friday rollout

Check out those settings (credit: MoDaCo)

Facebook Home is set to be launch on the Google Play store on April 12, but for those of you who really can't wait a second longer, a beta version has been leaked.

The beta was published by MoDaCo, and interestingly the APK works on a range of Android handsets outside of those Facebook specified as compatible, which includes the Nexus 4.

The device does, however, need to have a maximum resolution of 1280x768 – and you need to be able to uninstall your current Facebook app too.

There's a leak in our home

As expected though, the beta leak does have limited functionality right now. Chat Heads isn't working, and as this is taken from a pre-release ROM, there are a few bugs in the mix.

But the biggest thing we're learned here is that Facebook Home has the potential to be put on a lot more devices down the line, which is pretty interesting in itself.

But be warned - for those interested in grabbing the beta, MoDaCo warns "you do so at your own risk".

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/facebook-home-leaks-ahead-of-friday-rollout-1143184

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Images of Micromax A115 Canvas 3D surface online

The Micromax A110 Canvas 2 and the Micromax A116 Canvas HD enjoyed quite good reception and it looks like the Indian firm is all set to introduce the 3D version of its phablet. The images of Micromax A115 Canvas 3D have surfaced online.

The 3D version of the popular phablet is said to come out with a 5" WVGA display and the device will be powered by a 1 GHz Dual-core MediaTek MT6577 processor. Furthermore, the Micromax A115 Canvas 3D is rumored to feature a 8-megapixel rear camera, 2 megapixel front camera, 1 GB RAM, 4 GB of internal memory, Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean and 3D imaging with playback.

Leaked images of Micromax A115 Canvas 3D

Micromax is allegedly working on the successor of its A116 Canvas HD phablet and the upcoming device is said to be named as A120 Canvas 3. The third generation Canvas is rumored to feature a 5" Super AMOLED display and is expected to be powered by a Quad-core processor. Micromax A120 Canvas 3 will also feature a 13-megapixel rear camera and the latest Android 4.2 Jelly Bean OS.

Unfortunately, there is no official confirmation on the release date and the pricing of either upcoming device.

Source | Via

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/images_of_micromax_a115_canvas_3d_surface_online_-news-5829.php

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Samsung Galaxy Mega specs confirmed, 5.8-inch display in tow

Samsung is all set to introduce a new series of "Galaxy Mega" smartphones and the detailed specifications of the first of those have surfaced online.

According to a report from SamMobile, the Galaxy Mega 5.8, which is codenamed as GT-I9152 will be a Dual-SIM phablet. The Galaxy Mega will sport a 5.8" qHD display with a resolution of 960 x 540 pixels and will measure 164 x 83.8 x 9.7mm. The device will feature a 1.4 GHz Dual-core processor with 1.5 GB of RAM, 8 megapixel rear camera and a 2 megapixel front shooter.

Samsung Galaxy Mega 5.8 will come with the latest connectivity options, which include Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi 80211 a/b/g/b and GPS support. The upcoming phablet will be powered by Android 4.1.2 or 4.2.2 Jelly Bean and as usual Samsung will be preinstalling its own Nature UX on top of that. The juice for the phablet is coming from a 2,600mAh battery.

Source

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_mega_confirmed_to_sport_a_58inch_display-news-5828.php

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Is Google trying to buy WhatsApp?

'WhatsApp, Google?' 'Not much, just buying some stuff'

Google's hunger for new acquisitions appears to remain unsatisfied as rumours surface that the company is looking to buy WhatsApp.

WhatsApp, the popular cross-platform messaging app that has rapidly eclipsed text messaging as we know it, has been predicted as a big buy for some time. Now it looks like Google is the one circling a deal, if inside sources speaking to Digital Trends are to be believed.

However, word is that the mobile messaging service is playing hard to get, demanding more than Google is currently offering - which is said to be around $1bn (£653m/AUS$963m).

Chatterbox

With Facebook finding its home on the HTC First, 2013 could prove to be a big year for the new age of messaging services, with bog standard text messaging beginning to feel like a thing of the past.

And WhatsApp feels like a no-brainer for Google, which will most likely bring the service as an integrated part of Android in the future if a deal takes place.

Rumours have been swirling that Google is looking to release an all-under-one-roof messaging service named Google Babble, so we'd expect to see WhatsApp play into that

But if Google is to announce Babble at May's Google I/O developer conference, it might want to get this WhatsApp deal done and dusted post haste.

We've contacted Google to ask if it can verify the rumours of this acquisition, and will update if we hear back.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/is-google-trying-to-buy-whatsapp--1143138

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Unaudited Q1 results from HTC show 98% decline in net profit

HTC included some preliminary Q1 results in its monthly financial report and the numbers aren’t looking good. After a poor performance in the second half of last year, HTC was hoping the One will help it bounce back up, but difficulties in manufacturing meant that the company had to push back the launch. Only three countries saw the One launch on time.

The net income for HTC in the first quarter was just $2.8 million, a painful 98% drop compared to the year ago quarter. Still, any profit is better than a loss, so it's not all bad. Revenue for Q1 2013 was $1.4 billion, down 37% over the year ago quarter (which saw $470 million in net income).

An analyst from Taipei-based Daiwa Securities says "HTC One’s production shortage means lost sales in the first quarter will be lost forever, not just delayed," but thinks the One will still launch early enough ahead of the Samsung Galaxy S4 launch to give HTC a "good chance" of posting good second quarter results after six consecutive quarters of declining results.

There’s also the Facebook phone – the HTC First – which targets the social network's 1+ billion people with a Facebook-made launcher called Home.

Anyway, these are the early unaudited results. We can expect to see the detailed report later on.

Source (PDF) | Via

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/unaudited_q1_results_from_htc_show_98_decline_in_net_profit-news-5827.php

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HTC One delay leads to lowest profits ever

We still love you, HTC One

The HTC One might be our favourite mobile phone in the world right now, but it hasn't be so good for its manufacturer. Thanks to delays in production of the handset, HTC's financial results for Q1 2013 are its lowest of all time.

The One was supposed to be available in 80 countries before the end of March, which would have put it ahead of Samsung's looming Galaxy S4.

Instead, it was available in just three, and now - despite HTC just unravelling its Facebook phone, the HTC First - the company is feeling the burn.

HTC Want

The company brought in a first quarter net profit of 85m Taiwanese dollars (US$2.85m, £1.85m, AUS$2.72m) - a 98 per cent plummet and the lowest on record since HTC started reporting its quarterly profits in 2004. Yowza.

But this comes after months of bad news for HTC, which has been in a period of market share decline. All hope was pinned on the One to drag the company back to more positive realms.

The reason for HTC's less-than-speedy delivery of its phone is said to be due to a shortage of camera components. Let's hope that with the One and the First both on their way, HTC can see a reversal of fortunes.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/htc-one-delay-leads-to-lowest-profits-ever-1143101

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Samsung announces global availability for the Galaxy Win

The Samsung Galaxy Win was announced last week as a China exclusive, but today the company announced it's going to be making the mid-ranger available globally.

The smartphone runs Android 4.1 Jelly Bean on a 1.2GHz quad-core CPU, packs a 4.7” TFT screen of WVGA resolution (199ppi pixel density). It has a 5MP camera that shoots D1 video, a 3MP front-facing camera and a microSD card slot. The battery has 2,000mAh capacity.

Available in two color variants - Ceramic White and Titan Gray - the Galaxy Win will be hitting multiple markets in single-SIM and dual-SIM versions. Pricing and availability, however, are still undisclosed by Samsung.

Via

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_announces_global_availability_for_the_galaxy_win-news-5826.php

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