HTC removes HDR microphone from the One's spec sheet

HTC has removed the HDR microphone from HTC One's specs sheet, promo pages and local official websites. This is a result of the legal battle between Nokia and the supplier - ST Microelectronics.

In case you've missed the news, HTC's flagship smartphone - the HTC One unwillingly got itself into trouble because of its HDR microphone. Nokia tried to issue a ban over the smartphone's sales in the Netherlands, but failed to do so (the preliminary ban was lifted just a day after the granted injunction).

Anyway, HTC is working on a microphone of its own and the HDR microphone branding is no longer to be seen anywhere in the smartphone marketing materials. Of course, existing smartphones are safe and HTC claims it will continue to integrate the STM HDR microphone until the available supplies of those in its warehouses last.

Here is the official HTC statement on the matter:

• Nokia has NOT obtained an injunction in the Netherlands, or anywhere else, against the HTC One.
• The Dutch proceedings were brought by Nokia solely against STM. HTC was not sued by Nokia in the Netherlands.
• The Dutch injunction prohibits STM from selling certain microphones to any company other than Nokia for a limited period.
• The judgment against STM states that HTC can continue to use microphones already purchased from STM in its products, because they were purchased in good-faith. Nokia's attempt to obtain a recall of microphones already sold to HTC failed.
• HTC will transition to improved microphone designs once its inventory of STM microphones is exhausted.

So, HTC One is out of the woods and it's up to Nokia and STM to resolve their issues.

Source

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/htc_removes_hdr_microphone_from_ones_specs-news-5961.php

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Samsung Galaxy Note III to pack Exynos 5 Octa, 8-core Mali-450

The Samsung's Exynos 5 Octa platform couldn't make it to all the Galaxy S4 flagships, so it was replaced by the fastest Snapdragon chipset available at that moment - the Snapdragon 600.

According to SamMobile's trusted insider, all Galaxy Note III smartphones will be powered by the Exynos 5 Octa platform. There is even more: the GPU inside the chipset will be Mali-450 with eight graphic cores. You could also expect 3GB of RAM.

Alleged image of Samsung Galaxy Note III

The rest of the Galaxy Note III specs should include a 5.99-inch 1080p Super AMOLED screen with the same pixel structure as the Galaxy S4's display, a 13MP camera, S-Pen, and full-blown connectivity package. As the rumor has it, the Galaxy Note III will be as big as the recently announced 5.8" Galaxy Mega, which means smaller screen bezel.

The Galaxy Note III is rumored to run on the latest Android version available, probably 4.3 Jelly Bean. The Samsung's proprietary TouchWiz Nature UI will be on top with some new S-Pen features for sure.

We expect Samsung to announce the Galaxy Note III at the IFA 2013 in September in Berlin.

Source

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_note_iii_to_pack_exynos_5_octa_8core_mali450-news-5960.php

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LG Optimus G2 spotted at Bluetooth SIG and in benchmarks

It's been six months since the LG Optimus G was released and it seems we have already come across its successor. The Optimus G2, as it is being called, was spotted getting its Bluetooth certification at the Bluetooth SIG and also in AnTuTu benchmark scores.

The benchmark scores reveal three variants of the G2, the F320K, F320L and F340L. The F320K has a 1.5GHz processor and runs on Android 4.1.2. The other two run on a 2GHz processor, which is most likely the Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 as it is the only processor that can clock that high as of now. The last two models run on Android 4.2.2 instead.

Interestingly, the F320L, despite the 2GHz processor, scores lower than the F320K in AnTuTu.

Other than the processor, it is being said that the G2 will have a 5.0-inch, 1920 x 1080 resolution display, 13 megapixel rear camera and 2.1 megapixel front camera. Hopefully, more information about this device will surface soon.

Source

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/lg_optimus_g2_spotted_at_bluetooth_sig_and_in_benchmarks-news-5959.php

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Motorola XT1055 leaks and world screams "X Phone!"

To be or not to be?

A handset going by the model number XT1055 has popped up on a benchmarking app, leading people to believe it could relate to the new Motorola flagship smartphone.

Spotted on the Antutu Android app by Japanese site Rbmen, the XT1055 apparently runs Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean while packing a juicy 1.7GHz quad-core processor.

The Motorola name isn't actually attached to the benchmark results, but the XT extension has been used by the now Google-owned manufacturer on previous handsets - the XT9825 is better known as the Razr HD, while the XT890 is the Intel-powered Razr i for example.

Born in the USA

According to the benchmark app the handset is question was tested in the States, although you should take all this with a pinch of salt as results can be faked.

There's been a lot of talk surrounding Motorola's next big handset, especially now it's owned by Google and talk of a "X Phone" seems to suggest we'll see something later in the year.

The annual Google IO conference takes place in a couple of weeks where there is a chance we'll see a new flagship smartphone bearing the search giant's brand there, but we're going to have to wait and see.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/motorola-xt1055-leaks-and-world-screams-x-phone--1148534

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HTC posts complete Q1 2013 results, projections for Q2 2013

HTC is still in a downhill slide, posting negative growth numbers quarter after quarter. Today, the company has released its consolidated results for the first quarter of the year and everything is down compared to the same quarter last year. The only positive development is that the company's expenses are lower, too.

Things are looking unchanged compared to the unaudited results we saw lest month. Revenue is 42.8 billion NT$ (USD1.4 billion) while net income was a lowly 85 million NT$ (USD2.8 million).

The gross margin in Q1 2013 was 20.3% compared to the 25% of last year's Q1, while operating margin has hit a new low at 0.1% compared to 7.5% a year ago.

Positively, HTC has shrunk its operating expense from $4 billion to $2.9 billion and for the next quarter it's projecting a revenue of 70 billion NT$ ($2.3 billion) and a higher gross margin between 22% and 24%.

Source (PDF download)

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/htc_posts_complete_q1_results_projections_for_q2-news-5958.php

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Jelly Bean now bigger than Ice Cream Sandwich, Gingerbread still dominant

Jelly Bean, Ice Cream Sandwich, Gingerbread - are we at a kid's birthday party?

Manufacturers are finally getting their heads around the idea of updating devices to the latest version of Android as Jelly Bean overtakes Ice Cream Sandwich for the first time.

In the 14 days leading up to May 1 Jelly Bean found itself on 28.4 per cent of devices worldwide, while Android 4.0 accounted for 27.5 per cent.

However the firm leader is still the ageing Android Gingerbread platform - also known as Android 2.3 - which happily sits on 38.5 per cent of phones globally.

More blips!

Has all this food-related tech left you hungry for more bite-size portions of awesome? Luckily there's plenty more where that came from, so grab a spoon and dig in.

• Call of Duty: Ghosts live demo leaping into May 21 new Xbox reveal
• Microsoft's E3 Xbox event is going down June 10
• That acronym isn't funny anymore: what's in a LOL?

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/jelly-bean-now-bigger-than-ice-cream-sandwich-gingerbread-still-dominant-1148505

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Samsung Galaxy Note 3 specs leak, hints at eight-core beast

This, but with even more POWER

The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 is set to be the most powerful smartphone in the world if the latest set of leaked specifications are to be believed.

Details of the supposed Galaxy Note 3 have appeared over at SamMobile, who claims that its "trusted inside sources" have let slip on some key specs - and the site does have a decent record when it comes to Samsung leaks.

According to the report the Galaxy Note 3 will arrive packing a punchy octa-core processor, eight-core GPU and a healthy 3GB of RAM.

It will also apparently run an upgraded version of Android Jelly Bean, the rumoured 4.3 update, which could appear at Google IO this month instead of Key Lime Pie.

My Note is bigger than your Note

The screen size debate continues to take numerous twists and turns and the latest suggestion is the Galaxy Note 3 will rock up with a 5.99-inch Full HD display, plus a 13MP camera round the back.

In terms of design the sources reckon the Note 3 will look similar to the Samsung Galaxy Mega, only with a thinner bezel.

We heard yesterday that Samsung was still mulling three different design options - one of them with a flexible display - so it doesn't seem to be cut and dry just yet.

When the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 was launched in September last year it took the crown as the world's most powerful smartphone and the Korean firm could well on track to repeat the trick this time around.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 launch is expected to take place towards the end of August/ the start of September to co-inside with IFA 2013 in Berlin, so keep your eyes peeled for then.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/samsung-galaxy-note-3-specs-leak-hints-at-eight-core-beast-1148482

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Mophie Juice Pack Helium for iPhone 5 review

Unless you spend your life within a metre of a power socket or never actually use your iPhone, it's likely that at some point you'll get frustrated by your iPhone dying at an inconvenient moment.

We've come to love Mophie's battery cases, and often depend on them when away from power for a day. Now there's a version for the iPhone 5. Juice Pack Helium for iPhone 5's capacity is even a little higher than the iPhone 5's own battery at 1500mAh (a chunkier Juice Pack Air is also available, at 1700mAh), so you're almost doubling the life of your iPhone if you slip one of these cases on it.

Mophie gear has always been well made, but this is a real step up, even from its usual high build-quality. It really feels like a premium accessory, and the iPhone 5 is so slim and light that even adding the Juice Pack Helium's (not excessive) bulk, it still doesn't feel too bulbous.

There's one frustrating (though perhaps inevitable) design compromise. The headphone jack gets recessed inside a hole on the bottom edge of the unit. Although some headphones will still fit, Mophie supplies a short extender for those that don't. (There are some intriguing metal contacts on the bottom flanking the Micro-USB port through which you charge it; we've asked Mophie if this is for an easy docking system, but it's keeping schtum.)

Verdict

The Juice Pack Helium is expensive, but if you regularly find your iPhone 5 running out of power, we have to recommend it. It's well built, robust, light and looks great on your new iPhone.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/reviews/phones/mobile-phone-accessories/mophie-juice-pack-helium-for-iphone-5-1147592/review

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Android in Apr 2013: JB overtakes ICS, Gingerbread still rules

Google unveiled the latest numbers showing the adoption of the various Android versions in the past month (April 2013). This report is the first to use the new, more realistic metric. It keeps track of how many users manually visited the Play Store. Previous scores were calculated based on how many devices connected to a Google server (even automatically, behind the scenes).

So, it’s not quite clear how much of the changes in distribution are due to the new metric and how much due to users actually upgrading their phones.

One thing is clear though - Gingerbread is here to stay - the OS that debuted in the end of 2010 still had the majority share this April (it fell 1.3 percentage points).

Meanwhile, Jelly Bean (4.1 and 4.2 branches combined) overtook Ice Cream Sandwich (4.0). Very few users are on 4.2 and ICS users still outnumber 4.1 users, but both combined account for a larger user base than that of ICS. Also, 4.1 got more new users (it’s up 3.1 percentage points) than 4.2 (up 0.3 percentage points).

Ice Cream Sandwich, Android 4.0, which actually grew in market share in March is down 1.8 percentage points in April. Perhaps that's due to the introduction of the new metric.

Confused about the differences between Android versions? Check out our detailed rundown here.

Source

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/android_in_april_jb_overtakes_ics_gingerbread_still_on_top-news-5957.php

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iOS 7 to feature a major UI redesign with a flat new look

We have already talked about iOS 7 getting a major redesign under the leadership of Apple's Senior Vice President of Industrial Design - Jony Ive. Now we are hearing more reports from the people familiar with the matter that iOS 7 will be going for a flatter look for the UI, a ‘very, very flat’ look, in fact.

Ever since the first version of the OS, iOS has always had a preference for skeuomorphism, seen in UI elements such as the shutter effect in the camera app and the general use of shadows and gloss for the icons. Over time this got out of hand with things such as leather, paper, wood and linen infiltrating the otherwise clean UI.

In comparison, the competition decided to go in the other direction. Honeycomb onwards Android took on a flat, minimal design direction. Window Phone has always been completely flat, with simple, clean shapes and absolutely no drop shadows or gloss of any kind seen anywhere in the UI.

Now, it seems, Apple is finally ready to shed its skeuomorphic roots and go for a cleaner, more modern look for the iOS UI. It will be interesting to see to what degree the new look would be implemented in the UI. A complete overhaul seems unlikely as Apple has traditionally been a company to evolve UI design gradually rather than changing it completely at the drop of a hat as the latter is likely to confuse existing users. Still, even if it isn't a complete overhaul, a new look would still go a long way in increasing the life and visual appeal of iOS, which has started looking long in the tooth now compared to the competition.

Source

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/ios_7_to_feature_a_major_ui_redesign_with_a_flat_new_look-news-5956.php

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