Monday, April 29, 2013

A 16GB HTC One will hit the store shelves in its homeland this week

A word has arrived that HTC One with 16GB of built-in memory will make it to its home market this week. All three major wireless service providers in Taiwan will offer the smartphone with the new, lower storage capacity.

The largest carrier in Taiwan, Chunghwa Telecom will begin selling the handset on May 1st. The remaining two carriers, Taiwan Mobile and Far EasTone Telecommunications have confirmed sales of the device this week, but without mentioning specific dates.

The 16GB HTC One will be priced at NT$19,900($675) in Taiwan, compared to NT$21,900($744) and NT$24,900($846) respectively for the 32 and 64GB versions of the handset.

Source


Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/a_16gb_htc_one_will_hit_the_store_shelves_in_its_homeland_this_week-news-5943.php

BlackBerry CEO expects to sell 'tens of millions' of the keyboard-toting Q10

BlackBerry CEO expects to sell 'tens of millions' of the keyboard-toting Q10
Heins expects to sell "tens of millions" of Q10 handsets

BlackBerry CEO Thorsten Heins is not tempering his estimations when it comes to the keyboard-toting Q10 handset, telling Bloomberg he expects the new phone to sell "tens of millions" of units.

If true, this would see the Q10 outselling the touchscreen-only BlackBerry Z10 multiple times over. In the 3 months since its launch the Z10 has sold over 1 million units, but with its classic keyboard design, the Q10 is expected to fare better with BlackBerry faithful.

"This is going into the installed base of more than 70 million BlackBerry users so we have quite some expectations," Heins said.

Don't call it a comeback

For better or worse, BlackBerry has made headlines time and again in the opening months of 2013. It launched the new BlackBerry 10 OS alongside the Z10 handset in January, and announced musician Alicia Keys as the company's Chief Creative Director; despite the artist's continued preference for the Apple iPhone.

The Z10 handset went on sale shortly after, first in the UK, where earlier reports suggested that the phone was selling out in many phone stores.

Following its release in the US, reports came in that the handset was being returned to stores by customers in high volumes. Some publications even ran articles suggesting that return rates exceeded sales in the weeks after launch, though Heins strongly denies this was ever the case, saying that BlackBerry's own data shows that returns are "better than with previous BlackBerry launches".

Perhaps most importantly, the company posted a profit for the final quarter of 2012 of US$98-million. This surprised a lot of financial spectators who still remember the US$125-million loss reported by BlackBerry for the same period 12-months prior.

Though this figure points to good things for the smartphone maker, it is important to remember that this profit is for a period before the Z10 launch. Heins is credited with making tough decisions within the company, including a 5,000 person reduction in the size of the workforce in an attempt to promote greater efficiency across the organisation.

Via Bloomberg


Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/blackberry-ceo-expects-to-sell-tens-of-millions-of-the-keyboard-toting-q10-1147873

EE's 4G bandwagon rumbles on, hits 12 more towns today

EE's 4G bandwagon rumbles on, hits 12 more towns today
One can now enjoy 4G at one's castle in Windsor

Aylesbury, Berkhamsted, Billericay, Blackpool, Brentwood, Dewsbury, Huddersfield, Lytham St Annes, Marlow, Pontefract, Thame and Windsor.

Not just a killer road-trip itinerary, but also the 12 latest towns in the UK to get 4G courtesy of EE.

Another 18 towns and cities to come by the end of June - check out the existing 50 here.

More blips!

Get more blip for your buck with our news nuggets, all of which you can find congregated round this virtual watercooler.


Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/ee-s-4g-bandwagon-rumbles-on-hits-12-more-towns-today-1147775

HTC One's front-facing speakers coming to budget 608t handset?

HTC One's front-facing speakers coming to budget 608t handset?
Are front-facing speakers to be HTC's new calling card?

Beyond its sleek aluminium chassis and its UltraPixel camera tech, perhaps the most lauded feature on the HTC One handset was its front-facing dual speakers.

Now, it seems, the Taiwanese company is hell bent on spreading this obvious-yet-innovative design feature to more smartphones, following the leak of a handset dubbed the HTC 608t on Monday.

The leaked handset, which looks more like the HTC One SV than the newer HTC One flagship device, showcases a rounded plastic, rather than metallic casing.

However, front and centre are those Beats Audio-powered front-facing speakers, suggesting the company is definitely going with this calling card on future handsets.

Jelly Bean and quad-core too?

The HTC 608t is also said to offer a 4.5-inch LCD display with a resolution of 960 x 540, while Android Jelly Bean 4.1.2 is on board, according to the leak from Chinese site TENAA (translated).

The leak also tips a quad-core processor, 8-megapixel camera, a 1.6-megapixel rear camera and 1GB RAM.

The leaked snap features a China Mobile logo suggests a launch in that region initially, so we'll have to wait for official release details before making assertions about potential launches in the west.

Just last month the HTC 606w showed up in China, which brings the UltraPixel camera tech to a budget handset for the first time.


Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/htc-one-s-front-facing-speakers-coming-to-budget-608t-handset--1147839

New Rumors and photo add to Galaxy Note 3 mystique

New Rumors and photo add to Galaxy Note 3 mystique
Is this the Galaxy Note 3 next to the Galaxy S4? (credit: news.mydrivers.com)

The size of Samsung's rumored Galaxy Note 3 has been a subject of much debate, and those keeping score can add a new column to their charts: 5.99 inches.

Previously the two most popular guesses for the Galaxy Note 3's screen size were 5.9 inches and 6.3 inches, but the latest hint of exactly 5.99 inches falls somewhere in between (though obviously much closer to 5.9 inches).

An article on the Chinese-language site news.mydrivers.com hinted at the screen size and shed light on some possible Note 3 specs: a full HD display, an eight-core Exynos Octa with a 2GHz A15 processor and a 1.7GHz A7 processor, 3GB of memory, and Android 4.2.2.

The article, published Sunday, even has a photo for accompaniment, though as SamMobile pointed out, the bezel on the device shown next to the Galaxy S4 looks a bit big and the model number in the image, i9500, doesn't match up with the model numbers of other Note devices (N7000 Galaxy Note, N7100 Galaxy Note 2, etc.).

Lost in translation?

The original report is in Chinese, and admittedly Google is having a bear of a time translating for us.

As a result, it seems something may have been lost in translation, as according to what we're seeing the original report appears to suggest that the Galaxy Note 3 will actually sport a 5.9-inch screen (which falls in line with previous Note 3 rumors) and not a 5.99-inch display like SamMobile reported yesterday.

On the other hand, for the moment we're more inclined to believe the unofficial Samsung blog than Google's often spotty translation service.

Still, we've asked SamMobile to explain this discrepancy, but so far we haven't heard back. Who knows? Maybe someone in this equation is just doing some rounding.

Previous rumors have pegged the Note 3 with everything from a square metal body to an unbreakable flexible display, so until Samsung says something officially everything said of the next Note should be considered speculative at best.


Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/rumors-photo-of-a-5-99-inch-display-add-to-galaxy-note-3-mystique-1147828

Sony Xperia SP hits Orange and T-Mobile on PAYG for just £249.99

Sony Xperia SP hits Orange and T-Mobile on PAYG for just £249.99
The Xperia SP could be a great option for those on a budget

The mid-range Sony Xperia SP has arrived on the Orange and T-Mobile networks in the UK with a pretty attractive pay-as-you-go price point.

The somewhat scaled back version of flagship Sony Xperia Z is available for just £249.99 from the networks, both of whom have stock of the device.

The affordable handset was unveiled last month with a 4.6-inch, 720p display, a 1.7GHz dual-core processor, 8-megapixel camera and 4G LTE radio. Not exactly a lightweight by any means.

As XperiaBlog points out, T-Mobile's deal is slightly better as it does not require the minimum £10 a month credit top up.

Cheap at half the price

Earlier this month, Phones 4U made the device available on contracts through a host of the top UK networks, while Expansys has been offering the device for pre-order for £339.99.

So why should be excited about the Sony Xperia SP? Well considering it's available for around half the price of the flagship Xperia Z, it's a pretty fab option for those unable to afford the top of the range device.

In a recent hands-on review, TechRadar's Gareth Beavis summed up his early verdict by saying: "With this spec list wouldn't look too out of place on a new flagship phone from another firm right now – and with a lower price, that's an ace notion."

Check back soon for a detailed, in-depth review.


Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/sony-xperia-sp-hits-orange-and-t-mobile-on-payg-for-just-249-99-1147811

BlackBerry Q10 review

BlackBerry Q10 review

The BlackBerry Z10 arrived in a whirlwind of frenzied marketing at the beginning of the year, but that new phone smell is starting to wear off so here's the second new instalment from the company formerly known as RIM - the BlackBerry Q10.

While the Z10 saw BlackBerry tread new water in the mobile market with its first fully touchscreen device, the Q10 sees a return to more familiar territory with the handset sporting the firm's famous QWERTY keyboard.

BlackBerry is keen to keep up the premium appeal of its first BlackBerry 10 handsets, with the Q10 sporting an equally lofty price and you can expect it to set you back around £560 (around $850/AU$830) SIM-free.

BlackBerry Q10 review

Over in the US the BlackBerry Q10 will require you to part with $249 up front for a two year contract - which makes it more expensive than the Samsung Galaxy S4, HTC One and iPhone 5 - while in the UK it can be had for free on two year contracts starting at £36 per month.

The BlackBerry Q10 arrives as the natural successor to the Bold 9900 and Bold 9790 at the top end of the keyboard toting tree, which has been pretty much ignored by every other manufacturer as touchscreen smartphones are today's big business.

BlackBerry Q10 review

There's still a market for handsets sporting a set of physical keys though, with a number of people still preferring the dexterity and accuracy this option provides over their touchscreen rivals.

In terms of design BlackBerry hasn't taken any great strides forward and to the untrained eye the Q10 could be mistaken for the 9900.

BlackBerry Q10 review

What you will note however is the once curved keyboard has now been straightened out and the metallic frets separating the rows of characters are now slightly raised for improved tactile feedback - in other words you should be able to feel where your thumbs are on the board more easily.

We'll cover the keyboard in more detail in our Keyboard section, so keep your eyes peeled for that.

Despite packing a full on QWERTY keyboard the BlackBerry Q10 is only a shade wider than the Z10, and noticeably shorter measuring up at 119.6 x 66.8 x 10.35mm.

BlackBerry Q10 review

The textured rubberised rear of the Z10 is out and in comes a glass weave finish on the back of the Q10 which provides a decent amount of drip and a relatively solid, if not plastic feel.

Glass weave is a surprisingly tough covering and a tricky one to get scratched - although it's not impossible.

A single silver fret - reminiscent of the ones separating the keys on the front of the Q10 - runs horizontally across the back of the handset, elevating the 8MP camera lens (and single LED flash) from the surface you place it on, in a bid to avoid scratches.

BlackBerry Q10 review

The casing below this fret can be removed by simply sliding it down, to give you access to the 2,100mAh battery, microSIM, microSD port capable of handling cards up to 32GB in size - which compliments the 16GB of internal storage (of which 10.5GB is actually available to you).

You'll need to pop the battery out of the Q10 to gain access to the microSIM port, but thankfully the location of the microSD slot means you can swap out cards without have to remove the phone's power source.

BlackBerry Q10 review

The catch keeping the rear plate in place seemed sturdy enough fresh out the box, but we fear it could wear down pretty quickly and we've heard from other BlackBerry Q10 reviewers that their back plates are already feeling a bit loose.

Every now and then when we slide the Q10 out of our jeans the rear plate would come loose and while we maybe need to stay away from the skinny leg garments, it's a bit annoying.

BlackBerry Q10 review

Thankfully the headphone jack has been moved from its rather inconveniently positioned spot on the side of previous BlackBerry devices to the top of the Q10, allowing you to slide the handset into your pocket without fear of snagging the cord.

It joins a centralised metal power/lock key which looks identical to the one found on the Z10 and 9900 and is pretty easy to hit and responsive when you do so.

BlackBerry Q10 review

On the right you get the same trio of buttons as you find on the flagship Z10, with volume switches sandwiching a third key which activates voice control when held down.

All are within easy prodding distance, but the metal keys sport an angular finish and the edges can be quite sharp if you catch them at the wrong angle.

BlackBerry Q10 review

BlackBerry has continued with its dual port offering on the left of its BlackBerry 10 devices with both microUSB and microHDMI slots situated together allowing for an easy link up to a computer, TV or even a projector.

In terms of design and hardware the BlackBerry Q10 delivers the tried and tested method of the keyboard toting smartphone and although it may not plough any particularly new furrows it will offer a welcome familiarity for anyone looking to upgrade from a BB OS 7 handset.


Source : http://www.techradar.com/reviews/phones/mobile-phones/blackberry-q10-review-1129199/review

iPhone 5S may celebrate its independence in July

iPhone 5S may celebrate its independence in July
Summertime, and the iPhone 5S may be coming (credit: Nowhereelse.fr)

As we draw nearer to the start of Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June, reports of what the Cupertino company is bringing to the table have been escalating.

It just so happens that rumors about the iPhone 5S have been plentiful these past few weeks, with many sources pointing to the updated smartphone making a showing at WWDC.

We've already heard Apple may be readying the iPhone 5S for a summer launch, with some sources indicating the iPhone 5 successor is already well into production.

Those claims became a little more grounded on Monday, when marketing materials for Japanese telecommunications company KDDI leaked possible pre-order and release dates for the iPhone 5S.

Summer blockbuster

According to the leaked documents for KDDI's au wireless service, pre-orders for the iPhone 5S will begin on June 20, with the smartphone arriving at some time in July.

The leaked info also indicated the iPhone 5S will feature a 13MP camera, a fingerprint reader, and iOS 7, which are all certainly specifics we've heard touted at least once before.

French website Nowhereelse.fr uncovered the paperwork, with Apple Insider pointing out docs like this are used by the staff at official carrier stores as cheat sheets of a sort.

The June 20 pre-order window certainly jibes with what we've heard previously, and fits in with the timeline of an announcement of the 5S at WWDC during the week of June 10-14.

Releasing the iPhone 5S relatively soon after the HTC One and Samsung Galaxy S4 rather than later in the year would help Apple keep pace with its rivals, but rumors about iPhone release dates are about as common as the phone itself.

Until some more concrete evidence arrives, we won't be waiting for the summer winds to blow in the iPhone 5S.


Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/iphone-5s-may-celebrate-its-independence-in-july-1147796

iPhone 5S rumored to feature 2MP front camera, dual-shot support

The much anticipated next gen Apple iPhone (be it 5S or 6) continues to make the rounds in the rumor mill. According to the latest gossip it will feature an improved 2 megapixel front-facing camera.



The report comes from iOSDoc and says the next iPhone will come out with iOS 7 on board and the smartphone will have the ability to record full HD videos (shocker, right?). Furthermore, the latest version of iOS, which is yet to be announced, will have a new feature called dual-shot, which is quite similar to the dual-camera mode on the LG Optimus G Pro and Samsung Galaxy S4.

The dual-shot feature allows you to capture images and videos with both front facing camera as well as the rear camera at the same time. The feature is still in its beta testing phase and is expected to be integrated into the final iOS 7 version as soon as the testing is completed.

Unfortunately, the dual-shot feature will be made exclusive for iPhone 5S and will not be available on any older iPhones.

Source


Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/iphone_5s_rumored_to_feature_front_camera_dualshot_support_-news-5942.php

S4 'Samsung Style' Gangnam rip off is awful and brilliant in equal measure

S4 'Samsung Style' Gangnam rip off is awful and brilliant in equal measure
Okay, maybe tipping the scales to the awful side

Samsung India is getting a lot of flack today for a largely ill-advised aging-pop-culture-phenomenon marketing-tie-in video-thing advertising the Samsung Galaxy S4 through the medium of Gangnam Style.

Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh belts his way through a Gangnam Style parody heavy on the S4 specs in front of a largely unenthusiastic crowd backed up by Psy animations and besequined dancers.

Just watch Singh's face as he reluctantly whips his suit jacket off like he's turning tricks. He doesn't want to be here, but those bills aren't going to pay themselves. So he licks his lips, takes a breath and gets stuck in.

It's endearingly awful. So much love for the marketing team whose best day at work ever was probably the one on which they got tanked and penned the lyrics shoehorning Samsung Galaxy S4 features into the K-pop dance hit.

More blips!

Over it already? Then why not try the rest of our blips on for size.


Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/s4-samsung-style-gangnam-rip-off-is-awful-and-brilliant-in-equal-measure-1147740

Love Tetris? Then check out these iPhone and iPad block-stacking games

Love Tetris? Then check out these iPhone and iPad block-stacking games
The original Tetris is still one of a kind, but some of these alternatives are just as addictive

From the moment Tetris escaped its original home, an obscure Elektronika 60 in Moscow's Dorodnicyn Computing Centre, it became something of a phenomenon. There can be few games as immediately recognisable, addictive and enduring as the block-stacking classic.

Tetris originated from creator Alexey Pajitnov's childhood fascination with traditional puzzle toys, and the game's similarly elegant simplicity ensured it a place among gaming's greats.

Like other classics, it's easy to understand: pieces you can move and rotate fall into a well; make solid horizontal lines and they vanish; the game's over when the pieces reach the top. But also, Tetris is tough to truly master, allowing you to refine your technique over time.

The basic nature of Tetris also ensured that it found its way to countless platforms. The MS-DOS version spread Tetris to the west, but the true genius moment in Tetris history was in being bundled with the original Game Boy. The little monochrome version captivated the world; from that point on, there was no stopping it.

The Tetris juggernaut arrived on home consoles, handhelds, keychains and even the original click-wheel iPod. Of course, it's also found on iOS. EA's now had two cracks at bringing Tetris to the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad, and the original effort wasn't convincing. A problem with Tetris from an iOS standpoint is the game's reliance on responsive digital controls as the game speeds up. On-screen swipe equivalents never stood a chance.

For the newer version of Tetris (69p, iPhone; £1.99, iPad), the swipe version remains as Marathon Mode, but we prefer One-Touch. This mode shows locations into which the current piece can fit. A timer counts down (and speeds up as the game progresses) and you tap a location to confirm, or tap elsewhere to get more options. Purists might baulk at such a radical departure from the original controls, but we reckon the iOS revision gives you the strategy of Tetris without the frustration of imprecise touch controls.

There's also the puzzle-oriented Galaxy Mode where you dig down through junk, although it's a touch too reliant on power ups to achieve the best times - and the power-ups are, naturally, bought with In-App Purchases.

With Tetris being so popular, it should come as no surprise the App Store's littered with clones, which are typically brazen in their approach, only occasionally doing something slightly different (for example, adding the odd non-standard shape), presumably in an effort to not be sued.

Dream of Pixels

Therefore, we're only interested in block-stacking games that do something unique, rather like Dream of Pixels (£1.99, Universal). On the face of it, you might question our judgement, since Dream of Pixels looks an awful lot like an upside-down Tetris; in reality, it's Tetris in reverse, with you using the familiar shapes to take chunks out of a menacing cloud, which ends your game if it gets to the bottom of the screen.

However, what appears to be a cunning riff on Tetris in reality plays very differently, and interesting bonuses and game modes ensure Dream of Pixels is a must-have for action-puzzle fans.

Of the remaining titles in our selection, there's Tetris in the DNA, but also crossover with match games. The key differentiator from the likes of gem-swapper Bejeweled is that our choices all take place in an endlessly refilling well.

Shibuya

Some efforts simplify the basic block-stacking premise: Shibuya (69p, iPhone) has only a single column, and you must rapidly create chains of two or more like-coloured blocks.

Meanwhile, Unify (£1.49, iPhone) returns shapes that spin and move, but has them come at you from two directions. Fortunately, Unify's limited to stubby rectangles with two coloured pieces (a system Puyo Puyo fans will immediately recognise), and instead of forming complete lines, you're tasked with grouping four identically coloured squares, which subsequently explode. At first, this is simple, but once the game speeds up and gives you a half-dozen colours to track, it's like combining stripped-down Tetris with juggling.

MiniMeteors

Mini Meteors (£1.99, iPad) is equally frenetic, albeit in a different way. It's more or less a straight copy of the Nintendo DS title Meteos, with coloured blocks rapidly falling into the well. You arrange three or more in a row or column, at which point they abruptly ignite and take off, carrying the blocks above them. If the make-shift rocket is too heavy, it'll stall and fall, although you can give it extra power by rearranging the blocks in mid-flight.

If you're into more sedate fare, grab Slydris (£1.49, Universal) and Drop7 (£1.99, Universal). The former has you re-arranging lengths of horizontal blocks in a well. With each move, more fall from the top, and so you must think ahead and create chains that give you breathing space.

Slydris

Drop7 demands maths skills along with spatial awareness and planning. Instead of shapes or blocks, you drop numbered discs into the well, and should the number on any disc match how many are in its row or column, it'll explode. That might not sound that straightforward, but Drop7 has the same pickup- and-play brilliance and tough-to-master sneakiness as Tetris, although it certainly gives a work out to a slightly different part of the brain.

Our final two games also take block-stacking away from the purely abstract, although they rely on letters, not numbers. SpellTower (£1.49, Universal) has rows of letters cleared by making words, Boggle-style. Tower Mode is laid back (a static grid and no pressure), but Puzzle Mode adds a new row for every word you create. By the time you get to Rush Mode and its relentless timer, you'll be yelling at the screen, demanding to know why there are so many unusable letters huddled together.

Puzzlejuice

Still, it's good training for Puzzlejuice (£1.49, Universal), which doesn't stray too far from the truth when it states it will "punch your brain in the face". It merges Tetris and SpellTower with Unify's colour-matching - complete rows of squares and match coloured blocks to transform them into letters, which are removed by dragging out words.

Add power ups and you've got a creation that pays homage to Tetris, match games and word games, while merrily ensuring steam will shoot out of your ears at regular intervals. We're a little bit surprised the developer didn't bung some shooting and sports in there for good measure!


Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/gaming/love-tetris-then-check-out-these-iphone-and-ipad-block-stacking-games-1146872

Google Now arrives on iPhone and iPad

Google Now arrives on iPhone and iPad
Now you see it

Google has just updated its Search app for iOS, which finally makes Google Now available for both iPhone and iPad.

The app is almost identical across both iOS devices, while following the style seen on Android when it debuted last June.

For those not in the know, Google Now pulls info from all of Google's services to provide you with information before you even ask for it. So it might remind you to take an umbrella with you if the weather forecast is bleak.

The info is displayed on little cards and in notifications which can be easily dismissed once you've been alerted.

We want it now

However, some of the features, including Activity Summary, Boarding Pass, Concerts and Nearby Events aren't available for the iOS version right now, though we expect them to appear in the near future.

All you have to do to get Google Now on your iOS device is download Google Search from the App Store and then get playing.


Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/google-now-arrives-on-iphone-and-ipad-1147737

LTE-enabled LG Optimus F5 now available

LG announced the Optimus F5 back in February, prior to the MWC in Barcelona. We were promised the Optimus F5 by the end of Q2 and here it is arriving right on schedule.

The first country to get the LG Optimus F5 is France. The handsets should be available through all major carriers and retailers in the next couple of days. The pricing is yet to be announced.

LG is going to continue the rollout of the Optimus F5 with the rest of Europe, followed by Central and South America, and Asia in the next couple of weeks.

In case you need a refresh, the LG Optimus F5 has a 4.3” IPS LCD screen of qHD resolution (256ppi), a 1.2GHz dual-core processor with 1GB of RAM and a 5MP camera. It has 8GB of built-in storage and a microSD card slot too. The Android version ticking inside is 4.1.2 Jelly Bean. The major selling point of the Optimus F5 is its LTE connectivity.

Source


Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/lteenabled_lg_optimus_f5_now_available-news-5941.php

Alleged specs and info leaks about Sony Honami and Togari

Sony is rumored to be working on two new flagships for the second half of the year. They are codenamed Honami and Togari and will likely have version numbers of C670X (Honami) and likely C680X for Togari.

How we're hearing some new information about the two handsets coming mostly from Chinese sources. According to an alleged Xperia-tester who went on Baidu, Togari could prove Sony's first phablet device with an alleged 6.44" 1080p display (giving a density of around 342 ppi) and a design similar to that of the all-glass Xperia Z. We've seen benchmarks, which could belong to the Togari smartphone but sadly don't reveal much about the device's specs besides the screen.

The Sony Togari will likely be very slim (probably Xperia Z-slim) and have an all-white color option with white bezels. The Togari could be launched first in Japan as early as July.

The Sony Honami is likely the successor to the Xperia Z and ZL with a 5" 1080p screen, either a 16 or 20 MP Cyber-shot CMOS sensor with Carl Zeiss lens and a Sony-made Walkman amplifier (perhaps the S-Master MX Digital Amplifier). According to ePrice the Honami could have an IPS White Magic display and end up using the Snapdragon 800 chipset with four Krait 400 cores clocked at 2.3 GHz with the Adreno 330 GPU, 2 gigs of RAM and a battery capacity somewhere between 2700 and 3000 mAh. There are rumors of a dual-LED and Xenon flash on board. According to the same source the Honami could premiere in China on Unicom this July and see a gobal release later in August or September (perhaps on the IFA floor in Berlin?).

According to report, the Honami will feature a 4.8" 1080p display with around 459 ppi density and 13.1 MP camera.

According to VR-Zone Honami (and possibly the Togari, too) may end up using a Triluminos display, which means the panel could produce more natural colors by placing a filer between the White LED backlighting and the panel itself, converting the White LED backlighting into an RGB lighting of sorts.

Finally the sources point out that both devices will the dust and water resistant.

There are a lot of questions regarding both handsets and the preliminary information there is could turn out to be nothing more than a hoax, but we'll keep you posted as soon as anything becomes official.

Thanks, gmfady for the tip!

Via


Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/alleged_specs_and_info_leaks_about_sony_honami_and_togari-news-5940.php

Beginning of the end for SMS as Whatsapp and co take over

Beginning of the end for SMS as Whatsapp and co take over
Not such a happy birthday now

The trusty old text message has been eclipsed by instant-messaging through chat apps like Whatsapp for the first time.

The statisticians over at Informa say that app-based IM-ing saw over 19 billion messages sent per day in 2012, while we managed only 17.6 billion texts per day between us.

This isn't exactly stellar news for the phone networks who are losing out on all that juicy text messaging revenue - chat apps use up tiny amounts of your data allowance, while SMSes are a proven income stream of yore.

Vibez

Informa's research was a little selective when it came to messaging clients - Whatsapp, BBM, Viber, Nimbuzz, iMessage and KakaoTalk made the cut, but others didn't - so the volume is likely to be higher. Facebook Messenger, for example, seems a glaring omission.

The research house reckons that data-based messaging is set only to grow, predicting that nearly 50 billion messages will be sent daily via app by 2014, while it sees only 21 billion SMSs going out per day in the same year.

So is it the end for the text message? Informa says not - "There is a lot of life still in SMS," Informa's Pamela Clark-Dickson said, citing the fact that billions of people are still on app-less feature phones rather than smartphones, particularly in developing countries.


Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/beginning-of-the-end-for-sms-as-whatsapp-and-co-take-over-1147661

O2 joins forces with BT in preparation for its 4G rollout

O2 joins forces with BT in preparation for its 4G rollout
Can O2's 4G really be the best?

BT has put its weight behind O2's 4G rollout as the two firms put pen to paper and sign a ten year deal.

O2 came out poorly from the 4G spectrum auction at the beginning of the year, gaining the least amount of the valuable frequencies so its new partnership with BT will come as welcome relief.

The deal will see BT build a new high capacity transmission network to ensure O2 has the capacity it needs to support the increased data demand - thought to be up to 400 per cent - on the 4G network.

'Mind-blowingly aggressive'

We've already heard from O2 that its 4G rollout will be 'mind-blowingly aggressive' in comparison with its 3G rollout, and the additional infrastructure support is now has from BT will help make that claim a reality.

O2 reckons it will be able to offer "unrivalled mobile phone and internet browsing experiences" - something we're pretty sure EE, Vodafone and Three probably won't be in agreement with.

While EE has had a decent head start in the 4G arena take-up hasn't exactly exploded, leaving the door open for the other networks to claim a decent chunk of the LTE market when they come online later this year.


Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/o2-joins-forces-with-bt-in-preparation-for-its-4g-rollout-1147637

Key Lime Pie may be on the back burner as Android 4.3 surfaces

Key Lime Pie may be on the back burner as Android 4.3 surfaces
Android ready to spill yet more beans

Google may not be prepping Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie for its annual IO conference next month with fresh reports suggesting Android 4.3 may be on the way instead.

The folks over at Android Police have apparently spotted some server logs which point towards Nexus 4 and Nexus 7 devices running an updated version of Jelly Bean - Android 4.3.

According to the report the IP addresses of the devices have be traced back to Google's offices and two separate employees, although we remain sceptical on that particular fact for the time being.

Delayed?

Last week we heard reports that Key Lime Pie wasn't going to appear at Google IO, as the search giant could be delaying its launch to allow manufacturers time to roll out Jelly Bean to their current crop of handsets.

This latest news jives pretty well with suggestions of a delayed Android 5.0 arrival and Google may be releasing a little Jelly Bean update in May to keep everyone sweet in the meantime.

Additional weight has been added to the Android 4.3 argument after a Reddit user did some snooping of their own, claiming to have found various pieces of evidence relating to the existence of Android 4.3.

These sort of details can be forged and while Android Police claims it's traced some of the information back to Google itself, we still can't be sure what we're going to see at Google IO in May.


Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/key-lime-pie-may-be-on-the-back-burner-as-android-4-3-surfaces-1147616

Huawei P6-U06 leaked, claims the thinnest smartphone title

Huawei is known for building thin smartphones and it looks like the company has done it again. The specifications and images of Huawei P6-U06 have been leaked online and if the info is indeed legit the device might be the world's thinnest smartphone.



Huawei P6-U06 has already got the stamp of approval from the Telecommunication Equipment Certification Center in China. The smartphone measures 132.6 x 65.5 x 6.18mm and weighs just 120g.

Furthermore, the Huawei P6-U06 sports a 4.7-inch display with a resolution of 1280 x 720p. The device is said to feature a 1.5 GHz quad-core Hisilicon K3V2 processor along with 2 GB of RAM, 8 megapixel rear camera, 2 megapixel front shooter and a well geared connectivity department.

The upcoming smartphone from Huawei will run on Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean and will be available in Black, White and Pink color options. Unfortunately, there is no word on the availability or pricing of the smartphone.

Source


Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/huawei_p6u06_leaked_claims_the_thinnest_smartphone_title_-news-5939.php

Samsung announces Galaxy Tab 3 7.0, with new S4-like design

Samsung announced a brand new 7" Android tablet, dubbed Galaxy Tab 3 7.0. It brings the now familiar S4 styling (just like its 8" cousin) and comes in Wi-Fi and 3G versions, with the 3G one being fully voice call capable. It even adds a proximity sensor, you know, if you want to put up the tablet up to your head.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 7.0 is also noticeably more compact and lighter (188.0 x 111.1 x 9.9mm, 306g) than the Tab 2 7.0 (193.7 x 122.4 x 10.5 mm, 345g) and Tab 7.0 Plus (193.7 x 122.4 x 9.9 mm, 345g).



Other than that it’s very hard to tell what’s changed – the Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 7.0 still uses a 7” WSVGA (600 x 1024) TFT screen, a dual-core 1.2HGz processor with 1GB of RAM, has 8/16GB of built-in storage (expandable via the microSD card slot), dual-band Wi-F a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 3.0 and a 4,000mAh battery

Yes, the Tab 3 7.0 does launch with a newer version of Android, but it’s 4.1, so not even catching up to the Galaxy Megas.

Anyway, Samsung will begin to gradually roll out the Galaxy Tab 3 7.0 globally in the beginning of May for the Wi-Fi version and in June for the 3G version.

Source


Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_announces_galaxy_tab_3_70_with_new_s4like_design-news-5938.php

HTC President pleased with the Galaxy S4 reviews

A majority of the Samsung Galaxy S4 reviews hit the internet this past week (although ours was out a month ago because that's just how we roll) and although Samsung should be generally pleased with the response the phone has received it seems HTC even more pleased.



Talking to Business Insider, HTC North America President Mike Woodward said “It's really been a great week for us,”. He also said “We look at [the Galaxy S4 reviews] through the lens of the HTC One, and it stands up positively. The design seems to be attracting the most attention and we're really proud of that.” Speaking about the sales of the HTC One, Woodward commented they are seeing “brisk sales so far” without going into any details.

The Samsung Galaxy S4 has been universally lauded for its features and performance but the one area where the S4 has fallen short on everyone's expectations is in the design and build quality aspect, where the phone is significantly inferior to the aluminum unibody HTC One and it seems HTC couldn't be happier about this fact.

But will the build quality be enough to swing customers in HTC's favor? The company has already had several set backs in terms of supply issues and a legal skirmish with Nokia in Netherlands. Let's see if HTC can make for that when the phone becomes more widely available worldwide and how much of an impact does the inferior build of the Galaxy S4 affects its sales.

Source


Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/htc_president_pleased_with_the_galaxy_s4_reviews-news-5937.php