Nokia Amber update for the Lumia 920 and Lumia 820 leaks

The long-awaited update for Nokia smartphones running the Windows Phone 8 operating system dubbed Nokia Amber has leaked ahead of its official unveil. The Finns are planning to release the software suite of improvements for their WP8 handsets some time this month.

Thanks to the guys over at WindowsMania.pl, the owners of the Nokia Lumia 920 and Nokia Lumia 820 can get their hands on of the Nokia Amber update right now. Unfortunately, flashing the images of said update will erase all information on the phone, so it's recommended to do a full backup before proceeding.

We've already covered the full Nokia PR2.0 Amber update changelog, but just to refresh your memory, Nokia has destined the update for the Lumia 920, 820, 720, 620 and 520. The Amber update contains the official Windows Phone 8 GDR2 update that is coming later this year to every WP8 smartphone.

However, Nokia has added some exclusive features, such as the Glance Screen, Smart Camera, FM Radio, Flip for silencing the phone by flipping it as well as the Data Sense app. The HERE branding Location & Commerce app suite has also been updated and includes the Here Maps v3.4, Here Drive+ v2.2 and Here Transit v3.5 apps.

For more information on how the flash the Nokia Amber update images on your Lumia 920 or Lumia 820 follow the source link below.

Source (Polish) | Via

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_amber_update_leaks_for_the_lumia_920_and_820-news-6522.php

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Why has 4G gone from super-fast to cant-be-arsed?

Shared plans help, but 4G's still a premium product (credit: EE)

We're not fussed about 4G, it seems: according to a new report from Ofcom, 22% of UK smartphone users have no intention of upgrading to the cutting-edge mobile tech - and nearly two-thirds are unlikely to upgrade in the next twelve months.

That's hardly a surprise, because for now the UK's 4G market faces multiple obstacles.

The first and most obvious obstacle is that 4G isn't really here yet: we currently have a single operator on a single frequency band, and while hitting 60% population coverage is pretty impressive that still means coverage is limited to the bigger cities and towns.

Things will improve as the rollout continues and other operators get on board, but for now the majority of the country simply doesn't have coverage, and those of us who live in rural areas shouldn't hold our breath.

There are other issues too. Many of us are locked into long contracts that are expensive to leave early.

Some of us have phones that aren't 4G compatible (or that are 4G compatible but not for every network).

Some of us, I'm sure, are confused by the acronym avalanche - not just 4G but LTE and 4GEE too - and different operators' different frequency bands. And some people aren't convinced that 4G is worth paying for.

I think that last one is the biggie.

Good enough is good enough

Technology often hits a limit and that limit is called "good enough": if what you've got is good enough, it's hard to persuade you to upgrade - especially if that upgrade will cost you more money.

I think 4G suffers from that: assuming you can get the coverage, and you are out of contract, and your phone is compatible, and you don't run out of data allowance, is it really going to change your life? Is it going to make Twitter more tweety, YouTube more tubey, Spotify more musical?

Of course not.

Speed isn't everything. I've just dumped my super-speedy cable connection and replaced it with dull old DSL, because while the cable was significantly more expensive it wasn't significantly better. The headline speed was occasionally useful - downloading Windows 8 and uploading the odd enormous audio file was certainly quicker - but most of the time I simply didn't need it.

It seems as though 4G is the same: right now it's a luxury product, not a necessity. The challenge for the networks isn't to make us want it. It's to make us feel we can't live without it.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/why-has-4g-gone-from-super-fast-to-cant-be-arsed--1171046

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Apple iPhone 5C and iPad 5 shells leak yet in another video

We already lost count of the iPhone 5C casing leaks, but today brings us yet another one. The iPhone 5C panels pose in front of a camera along with the alleged iPad 5 shell.

We already know perfectly what the cheaper iPhone 5C should look like. It's also supposed to pack the same insides as the current iPhone 5 (rumored to be discontinued upon the 5C and 5S release) and the same 4" Retina display.

The video also shows an alleged iPad 5 shell. The slate has supposedly entered mass production in order to be ready for an early Fall release.

The new casing looks a lot like the iPad mini's, featuring slim bezels, only it's just bigger because of the 9.7" Retina display.

Here are two newly leaked shots of the iPad 5's front glass.

We expect even more leaks of this kind to follow as we come closer to the announcement.

Thank you, Sven-Erik Nystad, for the tip!

Source

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/iphone_5c_and_ipad_5_shells_leak_yet_in_another_video-news-6521.php

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Samsung schedules Note III Unpacked event for September 4

Samsung has just confirmed the date for its "Unpacked 2013 Episode 2" event that will take place in Berlin. The show will take place a couple of days prior to the start of the IFA 2013 expo is going to have the Galaxy Note III as its star.

There have been a ton of rumors regarding the third-generation Samsung phablet. Some reports suggest that Samsung hasn't decided on a screen size yet, while others suggest that the Exynos 5420 Octa is going to be powering the smartphone. While the company's new octa-core CPU would certainly not be slow, rumors suggest that Samsung is going to provide an alternative version of the Note III powered by the Snapdragon 800 chip.

Samsung is going to livestream the event on its YouTube page, but we'll be on the ground live to give you everything there's to know regarding the Galaxy Note III and whatever else the company announces (a smart watch is mentioned quite frequently lately).

The summer may be heading towards its end in the beginning of September, but the technology world is just starting to heat up. Stay tuned!

Via

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_schedules_unpacked_2013_episode_2_event_for_september_4-news-6520.php

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LG G2 manual leaks, reveals nano-SIM and rear unlock button

Two days ahead of the LG G2 release the torrent of leaks shows no signs of slowing down. This time thanks to French tech blog Nowhereelse.fr we get a glimpse of some slides from an alleged LG G2 manual.

The manual appears to be legit and reveals the phone will be using the nano-SIM standard like the Motorola Moto X and the iPhone 5. We also got confirmation of the 2610 mAh battery, which will also be user-removable.

Other interesting bits mentioned are the microSD card that allows cheap memory expansion and the button on the back, placed between the volume buttons isn't a fingerprint scanner but a power/lock key.

Slides from the leaked LG G2 manual

We expect the LG G2 to hit the shelves in select countries this month and the US in September. LG also keeps teasing its signature flip cover accessory called QuickWindow.

Thanks, Steve Hemmerstoffer for the tip!

Source

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/lg_g2_manual_leaks_reveals_nanosim_rear_unlock_button-news-6519.php

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Acer unveils Liquid Z3 - midrange droid with dual-SIM option

The Acer Liquid Z3 is a 3.5-incher running Android 4.2 Jelly Bean and is targeted at budget-minded smartphone users. It will go on sale in Belgium, Netherlands, France, Spain, UK, Italy, Germany, Ukraine and Russia for the price of €99 (around $132) from mid-August in two colors - Rock Black and Classic White.

Acer Liquid Z3

The Acer Liquid Z3 screen resolution is yet to be confirmed, and so is the architecture of its dual-core 1 GHz processor. There's going to be 4 gigs of onboard storage, 3 MP camera on the back as well as HSPA+ (up to 21 Mbps), Wi-Fi and GPS connectivity. The smartphone will also have a dual-SIM version.

Built around Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, the Acer Liquid Z3 features four custom modes that should help different types of users get around easier. There's Senior Mode for the older smartphone users, which gives quick access to messages, radio, clock, quick call contacts and has a magnify feature. A Basic mode for youngsters, which is all about calling and texting and even a Keypad mode, which has the dialer always at hand. A classic mode for those who like a more traditional Android experience is also at hand.

The Acer Liquid Z3 comes with a flip-cover and back cover accessories which will be available in Rock Black, Classic White, Sakura Pink, Pop Yellow and Lagoon Turquoise.

Source | Via

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/acer_unveils_liquid_z3__midrange_droid_with_dualsim_option-news-6518.php

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