Amazon phone release date, news and rumors

Will it look something like this?

With the runaway success of Amazon's Kindle Fire tablet - the media-happy device owns over half the Android tablet market - it seems only natural that the company would turn to smartphones next.

Amazon's strategy of putting all its media content directly into consumers' hands has worked out well so far, so wouldn't the Seattle company take the next logical step?

Like the Kindle Fire, an Amazon smartphone would be a veritable home-shopping network - replete with Kindle books, Android apps and Amazon Prime video - only as a phone, so it would be the only device users would really need.

Given the anticipation that's built up around a product that's not even certain to exist, we figured it wise to compile all the rumors and speculation in one place.

Get this: Amazon will give the phone away for free

We've heard of free shipping and low-priced phones on a two-year contract, but this is ridiculous. The latest rumor says Amazon will give its handset away for free.

Could it be true? Well, possibly. Amazon has a history of pricing its hardware dirt cheap, expecting to clean up on apps rather than the initial investment. It's not a bad plan, especially if the retail behemoth can get people signed up for Amazon Prime using the deal.

Amazon working on two phones, one of them 3D

We've debated whether it will be called the Kindle phone, Amazon phone or something else, but now it seems that Amazon is working on more than one device. That's the latest rumor coming in over the wire.

Beyond that, apparently one of the handsets will have 3D projection capabilities, sans glasses. That sort of technology has been a success for the Nintendo 3DS, but remember the LG Optimus 3D and HTC Evo 3D? We hardly do either, which makes us wonder what the online retail giant is planning.

Evi to be the Amazon Phone's Siri?

Back in January, Amazon acquired the startup behind a natural voice search engine similar to the Apple's Siri. Now the scent on the wind is that Amazon will be putting a chat-to app called Evi on its Amazon Phone .

It sounds logical, because Amazon would need this technology to be competitive, and it would be great on Kindle devices, too. Imagine yelling at those lock screen ads that you don't want Fifty Shades of Grey.

Amazon hires Windows Phone 7 head honcho

Amazon has added Microsoft's ex-Windows Phone General Manager to its stable of talent. Could this be a big name hire for developing the Amazon Kindle phone?

The former Microsoft man is named Kindel, Charlie Kindel, so we'd say he has the proper pedigree to help Amazon break into the market with an Amazon Phone or Kindle Phone, whatever the name ends up being. And despite the naming coincidence and the news breaking on April 1, we're confident there's nothing phony about this story.

"I'm building a new team going after a totally new area for Amazon. I'm hiring cloud and mobile developers and testers, program managers, and product managers," Kindel commented, immediately sending the internet into a flurry of rumors and sidelong interpretations.

Amazon phone to hedge its bets with a reasonable 4.7-inch display

According to Digitimes, so called "industry supply chain sources" have put a ruler to the Amazon Phone. They say the handset will have a 4.7-inch display, which would put it in between an iPhone 5 and a Galaxy S4 when it comes to visual real estate.

This supposed fact, combined with a rumored low asking price, suggests that Amazon is going for the casual smartphone user, one who does not want to spend a fortune and would like to be able to carry the phone in their pocket with ease.

Amazon phone will miss rumored Q2 2013 release date, still looking like a Foxconn product

It's all still the stuff of rumors, but previous rumblings pegged the Amazon Phone (or maybe Kindle Phone) as arriving in the second quarter of 2013. Now it looks as though that deadline will make a delightful whooshing noise as it blows past.

Somewhat infamous manufacturing mogul Foxconn is said to be on deck to produce the dirt cheap device. Its subsidiary Ensky Tech made the original Kindle Fire and now produces the Kindle Fire HD and the Kindle Paperwhite, so it would be no shock at all to see the two collaborate on the project.

As far as what's causing the delay, a report at Digitimes blames the "engineering verification test period due to issues related to its mobile platform," saying that the process, "has not been as smooth as expected."

This is surprising, given the great deal of experience Foxconn and its partners have in this field. It has us wondering what Amazon could have up its sleeve that's making the phone such a bother. As always, rumors are like cheap takeout; they just leaving you hungry for more.

Foxconn to manufacture Amazon phone for summer 2013 release date

This might be the most concrete rumor yet regarding the Amazon phone. Supposedly the online retail giant has inked a deal with Foxconn to manufacture its first smartphone. Industry insiders also expect a summer 2013 release.

According to the reports, the phone may also have a dirt-cheap asking price of $100-200 (around £60-120/AU$95-190). This would fall in step with Amazon's strategy with its Kindle Fire HD and Kindle Paperwhite line, devices sold at highly competitive prices in order to get customers investing in Amazon's media library.

While the involvement of Foxconn is not surprising, since the company has become a prolific manufacturer of all things electronic, it is somewhat troubling given its reputation for overworked, striking employees. Maybe the Amazon phone will be one of the first devices assembled in American Foxconn factories?

Amazon Phone rumors catch fire

Rumors of an Amazon Phone started to catch on in late 2011, when analysts began predicting the Amazon Phone's existence, despite a lack of hard evidence.

That hard evidence, by the way, still hasn't made an appearance, but that hasn't stopped the rumor mill from churning away.

Kicking things off, analyst firm CitiGroup reported that it discovered the existence of the then-unheard of Amazon Phone through its "supply chain channel checks in Asia."

Analyst Mark Mahaney led the Amazon Phone charge, proclaiming that the bookseller was in cahoots with infamous Taiwanese manufacturer Foxconn to build the device.

Other analysts agreed: "A smartphone would be a logical next step for Amazon," ABI Research's Aapo Markkanen told Wired in May.

"The lock-in effect of a great content ecosystem shouldn't be under-estimated," he continued.

Bloomberg fed more fuel to the Amazon Phone fire in July, when its anonymous sources ("people with knowledge of the matter") confirmed that Amazon and Foxconn remained hard at work on the smartphone.

Further, the same report claimed that Amazon is busy hoarding as many wireless patents as possible to defend itself from the inevitable infringement suits that follow any modicum of success in the market.

Windows Phone executives board the good ship Amazon

The summer heat must have helped the Amazon Phone fires spread, as July gave birth to yet another bout of speculation when two Windows Phone vets joined Amazon.

First Brandon Watson left the Windows Phone team to become Amazon's director of Kindle cross platform, then Robert Williams, previously Windows Phone's senior director of business development, joined Amazon as its app store director.

Of course, the mere fact that the two previously worked on Windows Phone in no way proved that Amazon had brought them on to work on its own phone - but then again, it's not that far of a stretch, is it?

To further stoke the flames, it appeared toward the end of July that Amazon's innovation center - Lab 126 - had been hiring workers to develop new mobile devices that would run on wireless carriers' networks.

In other words: an Amazon Phone. Imagine that.

Amazon Phone release date

In CitiGroup's original 2011 report, the firm predicted that the Amazon Phone release date would fall in Q4 2012, though that's looking less and less likely the more time passes without a peep from Amazon.

That doesn't mean it's not going to happen, of course, but other rumors since then have been somewhat less optimistic about the Amazon Phone release date.

Less than a week after Bloomberg's report that Amazon and Foxconn still had their collective noses to the grindstone, another source (this one from Amazon's component suppliers) told the Wall Street Journal that the bookseller was already testing Amazon Phone prototypes.

That report claimed that the device could go into production during the second half of 2012, and that the Amazon phone release could fall in late 2012 or early 2013.

Amazon Phone price

From the beginning, speculators foretold that an Amazon Phone would hit the low end of the price spectrum.

In part, it's assumed that Amazon would sell the device wholesale (or maybe even at a loss) in order to further expand its digital content distribution.

Every pair of hands holding an Amazon Phone comes with eyes, ears and a wallet, after all.

CitiGroup analyst Kevin Chang said in 2011, "For a normal brand like HTC, they need to price the product at $243 to make 30 percent gross margin. If Amazon is actually willing to lose some money on the device, the price gap could be even bigger."

That means the Amazon Phone price could sink as low as $170 or even $150, though Amazon would surely make up the difference somehow - just like it does with the Kindle Fire.

Amazon Phone specs

There's been little speculation about the Amazon Phone's specific hardware features, considering there's yet to be any official word - or even a measly leaked prototype image - to go off of.

But the WSJ's source claimed that the Amazon Phone's screen size would fall somewhere between 4 inches and 5 inches, placing it right in line with top Android phones such as the Samsung Galaxy S3 andHTC One X.

The Amazon Phone would at least need to perform well enough to reliably stream content and be integrated with Amazon's various media and cloud services, and the better the resolution, the more attractive the device would be for streaming video.

Battery life will be another important factor, as nothing will turn the average consumer off faster than being interrupted in the middle of "Real Housewives" by a pesky low power warning.

Will the Amazon Phone run Android?

An Amazon Phone is almost dead certain to run on some variation of Android, as Google and Amazon, despite occasionally finding themselves at one another's throats, can just as often be found sitting snugly in one another's pockets.

According to some reports, the retail giant has even considered stocking Google tablets like the Nexus 7 in its stores, indicating that their rivalry can't really be all that heated.

Besides, Windows Phone is sat firmly in Nokia's camp, at least for the lifespan of Windows Phone 8 - Microsoft's not about to throw away years of build-up just to hop in bed with Amazon.

That leaves BlackBerry maker Research in Motion, who - to be fair - is rumored to be shopping the BlackBerry 10 OS around for a licensing deal.

But there's a chance BB10 will be more or less dead on arrival, and either way, an OS swap at this point would just be too risky for Amazon, who'll already be tossing the dice with a smartphone gambit in the first place.

Furthermore, Citigroup's initial Amazon Phone report from 2011 claimed that the bookseller would have to pay royalties to Microsoft, all but spelling out that the phone would be another Android device.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/amazon-phone-release-date-news-and-rumors-1085821

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Cheap iPhone bound for China, according to new report

Made, leaked and soon-to-be sold in China (credit: iapps)

Add China to the list of words that the C in iPhone 5C could stand for - right next to color and cheap.

Apple is readying a shipment of the less-expensive iPhone to China Mobile, the world's largest wireless carrier, according to a Wall Street Journal report today.

Apple is said to have asked its overseas device manufacturer Foxconn to add China Mobile to the list of iPhone 5C carriers, reported the paper citing unnamed sources.

While the official agreement is between the companies is thought to be complete, the release date for the cheap iPhone in China is still unknown.

Staggering numbers

The deal would open Apple up to the Chinese carrier’s nearly 745 million customers.

To put that into perspective, the China Mobile customer base is seven times larger than the No. 1 U.S. carrier, Verizon.

Not even the U.K.'s Vodafone, the world's second largest carrier, touches China Mobile, which surpasses its subscriber totals by more than 300 million.

Leveling the playing ground

The iPhone 5C, expected to be announced on Sept. 10 alongside the iPhone 5S, may be made of plastic instead of aluminum. But that’s okay for the majority of the customers in Greater China.

That leads to another staggering number: the iPhone 5 is selling for about 5,000 yuan, or $815 (about £521, AU$887) without a contract, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Apple needs to bring the price down in the neighborhood of $200 (about £128, AU$218), which is how much a majority of smartphones cost in China.

If Apple is indeed making headway into the country with a China Mobile deal, it could help stem the worldwide domination that has Android devices controlling a whopping 79 percent of the market.

• Speaking of China, Apple is facing fresh labor abuse allegations

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/cheap-iphone-bound-for-china-according-to-new-report-1178840

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Will the Amazon smartphone come with a 'free' price tag?

Zip, zero, nada?

The Amazon phone is the device everyone knows is coming - it's just a matter of the etailer confirming the darn thing exists.

While we are no closer to Jeff Bezos admitting his company has a handset cooking, new details out today reveal that when the handset does launch, Amazon may offer it free of charge.

In a report on Jessica Lessin's blog, she and fellow former Wall Street Journal reporter Amir Efrati reveal that according to people familiar with the matter, Amazon is looking into launching its phone for free, though details of how this would work are still very murky.

One catch to this unprecedented move could be a requirement to sign up for an Amazon Prime membership.

While sources are unsure Amazon could pull off a free device, the company apparently wants consumers to have access to the phone regardless if they sign up for a new wireless plan concurrently. Carriers will often discount phones when customers opt for a new agreement.

Holy free-joles

Amazon has reportedly spoken with carriers about offering its handset, however it stands to reason it would also sell the device via its own online retail channel.

A free Amazon phone is far from a done deal, and a number of factors, including working out financial Xs and Os with hardware partners, could affect the plan.

Reports of the Amazon phone stretch as far back as two years ago, but the company has reportedly had a time of it finding hardware partners not already committed to pumping out Android devices.

Amazon has a line of tablets and ereaders, and is expected to launch a refreshed Kindle Fire HD 2, among other products, before the holidays. The Amazon phone release date remains a mystery, but it will likely run a forked version of Android, much like Kindle tablets.

If Amazon does successfully launch a free device, it could severely undercut hardware giants like Apple and Samsung. Apple is expected to launch a "cheap" iPhone 5C on Sept. 10, but Amazon's free phone could potentially snare that market share.

Like Google, Amazon's primary profits come not from hardware but from another core business (e-commerce for Amazon, online ads for Google). Unlike Apple and Samsung, Amazon can take a hit from a free phone in order to grab customers, especially in developing countries.

• A free phone is one thing, but Amazon may have a 3D-equipped handsets in the works.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/will-the-amazon-smartphone-come-with-a-free-price-tag--1178825

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Sony Xperia Z1 is offered with a free QX10 lens in UK

Potential buyers of the freshly announced Sony Xperia Z1 in the UK will surely find this deal difficult to resist. Sony's Android smartphone flagship is offered for pre-order with a free QX10 lens by the British retailer Carphone Warehouse.

The combo is available for both new and upgrade customers. It is offered on a variety of plans by all major UK carriers. Along with the free camera lens, users will also get £65 worth of content which includes top five movies, exclusive movie access pass, and two months of free music streaming.

With the Sony QX10 priced at £180 on its own, the Carphone Warehouse deal on the Sony Xperia Z1 is as good as it gets these days. If interested, hit the source link for more details.

Source | Via

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/sony_xperia_z1_is_offered_with_a_free_qx10_lens_in_uk-news-6742.php

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Nokia Lumia 1520 makes a busy Twitter leak appearance

Will users need so many tiles? (credit: @evleaks)

We've possibly seen the Lumia 1520 cuddling with the Lumia 1020, but today a purported press shot gives us a look at the still-rumored phone's homescreen in full bloom.

@evleaks is out with yet another unannounced phone's mug, claiming via Twitter that the device is the Lumia 1520, and that it's due in 2013.

The image shows the front and back of the yellow handset, and it looks much like its smaller 1020 sibling, though without a hunking 41MP camera.

What we do see is a very busy homescreen littered with tiles. It's widely believed that the Lumia 1520 will come rocking an update to Windows Phone 8 referred to as GDR3. This could be a peak at the refreshed OS (sort of) in action.

Counting columns

While there's not too much to gather from @evleaks' post as far as specs are concerned, it backs up the assertion that GDR3 is indeed destined for the Lumia 1520.

Known in full form as General Distribution Release 3, the Windows Phone 8 update could come rocking an autorotate screen, a basic feature found in most other phones.

More uniquely, the Lumia 1520 will likely sport a 1080p screen, a first for a Windows Phone. As you can see in the leak, the Lumia 1520 flashes two additional columns on its homescreen.

Do we really need more tiles? It's not like Windows Phone is exactly swimming in apps, but perhaps by the Lumia 1520's rumored Sept. 26 launch, Microsoft and Nokia will have more to brag about.

• How does the Lumia 1020 stack up to the iPhone 5 and Olympus E-PL5 when it comes to snapping pics?

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/nokia-lumia-1520-makes-a-busy-twitter-leak-appearance-1178790

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Apple iPhone 5S retail packaging surfaces

Apple's upcoming iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C already look like one of the worst kept secrets in the tech industry. After appearing in leaked images, countless number of times, both smartphones are all set for an official unveiling on September 10.

We recently saw the images of the Apple iPhone 5C packaging and now, we have the leaked images of the retail packaging on the iPhone 5S.

It looks like the Apple iPhone 5S might come with a different packaging cover than the one we have with the iPhone 5. Somebody has also noticed there is a circle around the home button and if this indicates something, then the previous leaks would point us towards a finger print scanner option.

Also, the user interface of the iPhone 5S on the retail pack looks a bit different and it could as well be the iOS 7, which is expected to start seeding soon.

However, since the images are bit blurry, we are not quite sure if this is the real deal, it might as well be faked. Anyways, the wait is almost over, as Apple's event is just 4 days away. Do remember to check back with us as we will be bringing you all the latest news from Cupertino.

Thanks Arjan, for sending this in!

Source

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/apple_iphone_5s_retail_packaging_surfaces_-news-6741.php

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US, UK agencies said to have cracked online encryption

Decrypted for your reading pleasure

Edward Snowden may have spent his summer hanging out in a Moscow airport, but he's still dishing out the intelligence secrets, this time exposing U.S. and U.K. governments for successfully dodging online encryption methods.

BBC News today reported that government intelligence agencies in the United States and United Kingdom may have successfully cracked the encryption codes used to protect millions of internet users.

The top-secret operations are the latest disclosure from Edward Snowden, the former computer specialist who began leaking details about classified government surveillance back in May prior to seeking asylum in Russia last month.

According to the report, U.S. and U.K. intelligence agencies have successfully decoded encryption techniques in use by internet giants Facebook, Google and Yahoo, countless email, online shopping and remote communications portals as well as 4G-enabled smartphones.

Not-so civil wars

The U.S. National Security Association (NSA) is said to spend as much as $250 million (roughly £160M, AU$272M) per year to fund its own project, codenamed "Bullrun" after the first major land battle of the American Civil War in 1861.

U.K. spy agency GCHQ is said to have their own equivalent called "Edgehill," likewise named after the first battle of the English Civil War in 1642.

The latest disclosures outline the NSA's plan for running its own supercomputers capable of cracking internet encryption protocols, aided by "technical trickery, court orders and behind-the-scenes persuasion to undermine the major tools protecting the privacy of everyday communications."

British analysts were said to have been "gobsmacked" by the extent of the schemes, part of more than 50,000 documents provided by Snowden to news agencies, although they do not specify which technology companies may have participated.

• Tap into all the latest news on Verizon finally getting the HTC One!

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/internet/policies-protocols/us-uk-agencies-said-to-have-cracked-online-encryption-1178773

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EU proposes flat rate for calls as mobile roaming saga rumbles on

Will this new effort finally end the mobile roaming nightmare?

The ongoing struggle to eliminate mobile roaming charges in the EU will see new legislation put forward next week, proposing a flat rate for calls across the region.

The new plans from Neelie Kroes, the European Commission's vice-president who speaks on digital affairs, aim to end the woes for travellers saddled with huge bills upon their return from travelling in the region.

If the legislation is passed, it would force networks to offer the same rate for calls, texts and internet use as mobile users enjoy on their home turf.

Effectively, it would create a single market for telecoms in the EU with a view to completely phasing out roaming by July 2014.

Stiff opposition

Naturally, the proposals have been met with stiff opposition from Europe's largest networks, including Vodafone, Orange and Telefonica - the owner of O2 - according to a Guardian report.

Eliminating the "cash cow" as Kroes puts it, could cost the networks £5.9 billion in lost revenue, with that cash instead being passed onto the customers.

Back in June, the EU enforced cuts to roaming charges as well as caps on how much users could be charged, but these new initiatives could end the extra charges for good.

Three UK has already by-passed the European red tape by offering its customers the same rates they enjoy in their homeland, in 7 countries around the world.

Pay as you go customers aren't charged extra, while pay monthly customers are able to use their monthly allowance to make calls and texts and use the internet.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/eu-proposes-flat-rate-for-calls-as-mobile-roaming-saga-rumbles-on-1178767

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Xbox One's SmartGlass app detailed, will hit devices by Christmas

Through the SmartGlass

The Xbox One will get an upgraded edition of Microsoft's SmartGlass app in time for Christmas.

The updated "second screen" experience will bring the speed and power of the Xbox One to your phones, tablets and laptops so you can use your devices as controllers, TV remotes and to browse the Xbox games store, among other things.

SmartGlass for Xbox One will see you pairing your devices almost instantly - Microsoft reckons it's about 3.5 times faster than the Xbox 360 app thanks to the fact that SmartGlass now commmunicates with the console over your own Wi-Fi/LAN network rather than via an external datacentre.

The company has also increased the number of devices you can connect to the console from four to 16, and will allow you to search the Xbox Games Store and check out achievements, activity and so on when you're out and about, as well as offering some basic TV controls.

Make me a match

One updated feature is matchmaking, which Microsoft's Ron Pessner calls "super important": it now lets you search for a similarly skilled player for a multiplay session without interrupting what's going on on the TV.

The Xbox One games that will have SmartGlass integration at launch include Dead Rising 3 and Project Spark, as well as other yet-to-be-announced titles.

You'll also be able to control some games using your tablet or smartphone because the connection between the two is so much more robust than its predecessors'. However, this will only be available on certain titles.

• TechRadar sat down for an in-depth chat with Ron Pessner - find out why SmartGlass is integral to the Xbox One here.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/gaming/consoles/xbox-one-s-smartglass-app-detailed-will-hit-devices-by-christmas-1178754

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Alleged press image of Nokia Lumia 1520 leaks on Twitter

Courtesy of notorious leakster @evleaks, comes this latest press image of current Rumorland resident Nokia Lumia 1520 (formerly known as Bandit). The leak is a supposed press shot of the 6" device, which shows the resized live tiles, a yellow unibody shell, and a big camera lens with a LED flash.

We've already seen an image of what appears to be the Nokia phablet in the wild.

However we see reason in calling this one fake. First off the camera lens and flash look just like the ones on the Lumia 925 and given the sheer rumored size of the Lumia 1520 the lens should appear smaller on its back.

Moreover the screen is an exact copy of a screenshot we saw earlier, which could point to a render. Then again the screenshot looks like it belongs on a press shot so who knows - we'll have to wait and see.

Source

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/alleged_press_image_of_nokia_lumia_1520_leaks_on_twitter-news-6740.php

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iPhone 5S: The Keynote Trailer

"Uplifting *****" - the internet

Cupertino, California 2013

Mankind's thirst for ever more powerful smartphones has left the world a scorched battleground, blistered and scarred from the mighty Androids that stalk the earth.

Now, humans live in a world overrun with devices of unprecedented size and capability.

But some are fighting back. Deep inside a research lab at the foot of the Santa Cruz Mountains, a band of technicians work around the clock on a device they hope will turn the tide in a viscous and perpetual war.

They call themselves Apple, and they dream of a thinner, lighter, less complicated future.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/iphone-5s-the-keynote-trailer-1178720

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China Telecom puts up an iPhone 5S and 5C pre-order page

Rumors of the new iPhones going to China are heating up – they're so hot, in fact, that China Telecom just went and posted a pre-order page. It was quickly taken down, but the carrier's Sina Weibo account also posted about the two iPhones (this post was taken down as well).

So, here's what's going on – Apple has scheduled a dedicated event in China (a first for the company) for September 11, a day after the US event for the Western press. The rumor is that this is to announce that the two new iPhones will be available in China, including on the country's biggest carrier China Mobile (the only one of the top three that so far doesn’t offer the iPhone).

It appears that neither model will be exclusive to the carrier and China Telecom will offer them, too. September 20 is the launch date in the Apple Stores according to a post on Sina Tech (in Chinese), while Chinese retailer Dixintong will have the iPhones 5 days later, according to a leaked photo of internal documents (in Chinese).

The pre-order page for the iPhone 5S and 5C that China Telecom posted

The images show the gold iPhone 5S and also what should be the iPhone 5C in multiple color options. However, the 5C looks like the current iPhone 5 just with a different paint job, rather than the plastic-encased iPhone 5C that multiple rumors and leaks point to.

The China Telecom page contained more than images – the text read (according to Google Translate):

According page display, iPhone 5S using a larger screen, touch on the display panel, A7 processor, running iOS7 system, sapphire master keys, a gold version, support LTE-A technology to support wireless charging, larger battery capacity, support slow motion video capture, dual flash.

On a second look at the Chinese scrip, we also noticed NFC written in Latin, sitting there on the top row.

The larger screen is particularly interesting – with Android phones going over 5" in screen size, Apple may be feeling that 4" won't cut it and bump the size again. The rest of the such given specs also make total sense, so here we are with our fingers crossed that indeed there will be indeed, a larger screen iPhone. Though... on a second thought, we wouldn't hold our breath just yet.

Source | Via

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/china_telecom_puts_up_iphone_5s_and_5c_preorder_page-news-6739.php

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Hands on: Sony Smartwatch 2 review

With all the hoo-ha surrounding the Samsung Galaxy Gear, we take another look at the other smartwatch – and one with a more obvious name too.

The Sony Smartwatch 2 is a device that doesn't attempt to do as much as the recently-announced Galaxy Gear, but manages to be a more sleek and focused beast as a result.

Shorn of the need to speak to your wrist, the Smartwatch 2 instead focuses on being a companion to the smartphone running Android 4.0 and above, offering more basic functionality.

The Smartwatch 2 is a decently-designed device – there are metal and rubber watch straps on offer, and without the camera that adorns the Gear you've got far more flexibility in the designs you can use, with most standard straps fitting the watch.

It looks far more like a watch than the Samsung version for one simple reason: it doesn't have to turn off. The now-iconic power key on the side is there for when you want to fire the display up a notch, but in general standby mode the display will revert to a low-power clock face.

It's a little tricky to hit that side button, but it's chunky and easy to find without needing to turn your wrist a rather unnatural way to see where you're pressing.

Otherwise, the design of the Smartwatch 2 ticks all the boxes we could have hoped for really, in that it's sleek, light enough to not be obtrusive, looks premium and most importantly of all: doesn't look like a geeky smartwatch… more something like a fashion house of Diesel's nature might have come up with.

The main draw of the Smartwatch 2 (Sony is keen to point out this is actually the third or fourth iteration of its wrist-based gadgetry, but the naming convention took precedence here) is the fact it's not only touchscreen based but runs a heavily cut down version of its Android overlay.

It's a very simple system to cycle through, with homescreens expanding as you download more apps for your watch. These are increasing all the time, and while there's no specific number to crow about, privately Sony is pretty chirpy about how far ahead it is of its South Korean watch-rival in terms of app numbers.

The screen, a 1.6-inch screen is a 220 x 176 resolution option, which is smaller and lower res than the Galaxy Gear. It's not high resolution either, and feels like a companion device when flicking through the apps rather than a more 'headliner' feel that you get with the Gear.

That said, at least Sony's Smartwatch 2 is water resistant, coming in with an IP57 rating to make it something you can keep on the wrist when washing up.

It's also got a much longer battery life, with 6-7 days apparently easy to manage if you only use it to get text notifications and call updates on the arm.

And the final kicker? It's only going to cost around £170, compared to the Gear being nearly double that.

Early verdict

The Sony Smartwatch 2 is the ideal foil to your Sony, or any Android Ice Cream Sandwich or above, smartphone, making it a much more universally appealing device.

It's got sleek lines, a lower price and a decent range of apps available at launch, making it a toy you can legitimately ask for at Christmas and then spend all day playing with.

It's not got the lag we've seen with so many other smartwatches, and a long battery life makes it much more of a proposition for the charging-naysayer compared to the Galaxy Gear.

Technologically speaking, it doesn't have the specs to match up to the Gear, nor does it have the functionality. But to some people, those looking for a simple device that quietly alerts them to text, call and Facebook updates, this could be an ideal candidate to replace the Timex.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/reviews/gadgets/sony-smartwatch-2-1161409/review

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Nokia shocks, Galaxy Gears and all things IFA

Nokia's Stephen Elop has brought the phone manufacturer inside Microsoft

You know those weeks where you get a year's worth of news in just seven days? This is one of those weeks. We've got so much news there's barely room for sarcasm and jokes!

First up, the not-entirely-shocking news that Microsoft is buying Nokia's phone business. As Nick Broughall explains, "According to the men who orchestrated the deal, the real advantage will be the accelerated growth of the company's mobile device offering." Nokia keeps its mapping and services, but Microsoft gets the Lumia and Asha lines.

"The big question is whether it'll work," says our columnist Gary Marshall. "There's another famous firm that makes the hardware, makes the OS and runs the App store - a firm that isn't doing nearly as well as Apple." Its name, of course, is SORRY WE'RE OUT OF TIME TOO MUCH NEWS.

This week, we also learned the Xbox One release date: it's going to trail the PlayStation 4 in America, but beat it by a week in Europe.

We also also learned that Apple will announce its new iPhone next week. Or, at least, it will announce something. Something colourful.

Oh, and in a move that shocked and saddened Key Lime Pie fans everywhere, Google announced that Android 4.4 will be known as KitKat. It's even teamed up with Nestle for the whole thing. So much for not being evil, eh?

Gearing up for a watch war

The Galaxy Gear: is it just a faster horse?

We might be days away from seeing Apple's legendary and quite possibly fictional iWatch, so the announcement of Samsung's Galaxy Gear smartwatch may be something of a spoiler.

This isn't Samsung's first smartwatch - as our in-depth guide to the surprisingly long history of the smartwatch points out, the Galaxy Gear is Samsung's third major attempt at such a device - but it's definitely the smartest one yet.

Is it any good? Only one man knows the answer, and his name is Gareth Beavis. In our Galaxy Gear review, he explains that the odds are stacked against it - "it's going to be pricier than a lot of mid-range smartphones out there" - and it suffers from a "laggy and buggy interface."

The styling is odd: "We're willing to bet it's going to be tough to convince a number of consumers to shell out for this new device." That's partly because for now, it only works with the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 or the new Galaxy Note 10.1.

Also, it's a horse.

Explain yourself, Gary Marshall! "Henry Ford famously said that he didn't ask people what they wanted, because they would have asked for faster horses. The Galaxy Gear is a faster horse," he says.

It's essentially Samsung's 2009 smartwatch, the S9110, given an update: that "was a fine piece of engineering, but it wasn't a paradigm-shifting, world-changing, envelope-pushing, category-defining sensation, which is why you almost certainly aren't wearing one on your wrist right now."

For Marshall, the magic is missing. "Where's the wow?" he asks. "Where's the killer app?" What would turn a smartwatch from an interesting and unnecessary accessory to something you'd sell your grandmother for? Maybe it's OH NO TIME FOR MORE NEWS!

On to Berlin

The IFA expo in Berlin brought a slew of new products

IFA. What does it stand for? It's a mystery, unless you look it up. The annual Internationale FunkAusstellung Berlin, or international radio exhibition Berlin, is the world's largest consumer electronics show - so naturally we were all over this year's exhibits like a thing that's all over a thing.

There were so many exciting new products at this year's IFA that you could fill a giant exhibition in Berlin with them. There was the Sony HMZ-T3W, an amazing if expensive 3D gaming headset. There was the LG G Pad 8.3, a nifty little slate. There was the new Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 2 Pro, a Windows laptop/tablet hybrid.

There was the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 and Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 2014. And there were new smartphones, tablets and laptops from pretty much everyone, not to mention 4K TVs, smartwatches and some really intriguing screenless cameras.

Naturally you'll find all the details in our exhaustive guide to IFA 2013, which COME IN, WEEK IN TECH! YOUR TIME IS UP!

• Read all the highlights of our on-the-ground IFA coverage here

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/nokia-shocks-galaxy-gears-and-all-things-ifa-1178622

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iPhone 6" in testing, say people in the know

But is bigger better?

There could be a 6-inch iPhone on the way as Apple is reportedly trying a few new screen sizes out.

Although the word only comes from "people familiar with the matter" speaking to the WSJ, it wouldn't surprise us to discover that Apple is trying bigger screens out since the success of the Samsung Galaxy Note range.

Apparently the iPhone is being tested with screen sizes ranging from 4.8-inches up to 6 - a fair jump from the existing iPhone 5's 4-inch display.

Supposedly, Apple is quite taken with the 4.8-inch screen.

Size matters

We're not expecting Apple to tinker with the screen dimensions on the iPhone 5S that will be announced on September 10, nor do we think the cheap iPhone 5C will come with a larger panel.

But the iPhone 6, which will be a bigger upgrade and should land in 2014, could well come bearing a larger screen.

However, if Apple is only now testing these sizes out, it may take longer than a year to put the new manufacturing processes required into place - iPhone 7, anyone?

Unsurprisingly, Apple is not commenting on the rumours. We'll just have to wait until the post-iPhone 5S iPhone 6 leak deluge to find out more.

• Live in the now: find out what we expect from Apple's iPhone 5S

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/iphone-6-in-testing-say-people-in-the-know-1178661

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Here go the first Galaxy Note 3 camera samples from IFA 2013

We've got some early camera samples from the Samsung Galaxy Note 3, which we were able to snatch off the Samsung booth at the IFA 2013 floor. While we like to step outside for these matters we were still happy to see how the 13 MP snapper on the Note 3's back does even inside the venue.

Before we dig in, let's put the technicalities aside. The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 carries a 13 MP snapper on the back, capable of delivering 4128 x 3096 images. It has a single LED flash (which we didn't use here), it captures 2160p@30fps and 1080p@60fps video and offers many proprietary Samsung-developed shooting modes.

Also keep in mind that IFA's artificial lighting conditions aren't the best in trying to determine a smartphone's full camera potential.

Anyway, back to the images. The Galaxy Note 3 shows good early signs and we can bet that it uses some of the Galaxy S4's proven imaging prowess in its own snapper - whether it's the camera sensor, module or just the processing. Images turn out good with very high levels of detail.

Also the Note 3 was able to shoot at below-100 ISO in an environment where we thought it will surpass 200. Noise is kept well in check as well. The camera was super snappy to focus and shoot.

And in case you were wondering - we snapped the pink Note 3 on display with another pink Note 3. Noteception at its finest.

Samsung Galaxy Note 3 camera samples

And here's a 1080p video shot at 30 frames per second. We will be testing the 60 fps and 2160p quality in due time.

Stay tuned for more coverage on the Note 3.

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/here_go_the_first_galaxy_note_3_camera_samples_from_ifa_2013-news-6738.php

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Alcatel outs One Touch Pop C1, C3, C5 and C7 cheap droids

Alcatel is going all in at this year's IFA, outing the Idol S and Idol Mini along with Hero and Idol Alpha and now it's introducing the low to midrange Pop C series smartphones.

The One Touch Pop C7 is the most interesting of the bunch with a 5" screen and 1.3 GHz quad-core chip. The Pop C5 has a 4.5-incher, the C3 has a 4-incher of WVGA resolution and dual-core 1.3 GHz processor and finally, there is the C1, which offers a 3.5" HVGA display and dual-core 1 GHz processor.

All devices will sport Android Jelly Bean 4.2.

The Pop C1 and C3 will be available this October, the Pop C5 in November, while the 5-incher C7 is expected at the end of the year.

Source | Via

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/alcatel_outs_one_touch_pop_c1_c3_c5_and_c7_cheap_droids-news-6736.php

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WIN! A year's Sky subscription, Sigma DSLR, Sony home theatre and more in our £10,000 giveaway

Future is giving away £10,000 worth of tech prizes

TechRadar's parent company Future is giving away a massive stash of tech worth £10,000 in our biggest ever prize draw.

The prize pool includes a year's Sky+HD subscription, £2,000 Sigma D-SLR camera, Sony BDV-N590W home theatre system, a JVC GCXA1 Action Camera, Pure Jongo S3 and lots more gadgets besides. There's even a mountain bike and Garmin Edge 810 Bike Computer!

There are 45 prizes which will all go to one lucky winner.

To be in with a chance of winning, simply text the code TRR to 87474 (texts cost £1 plus standard rates of approx. 10-12p).

Find out more at greatgadgetgiveaway.com

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/world-of-tech/win-a-year-s-sky-sigma-d-slr-sony-home-theatre-and-more-in-our-10-000-giveaway-1178619

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Major US carriers announce Note 3 pre-order, shipping in October

The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 is all over the news today in the US as AT&T has opened its pre-order page for the phablet, Verizon has said it will do so today as well, while T-Mobile says it will open up pre-orders soon.

AT&T expects to ship the Galaxy Note 3 around October 1 and it will cost $299.99 on a two-year deal or $35 a month with AT&T Next program. T-Mobile has the Note 3 on their Simple Choice Plan for $199 up front and consequently $21 a month for two years and expects to ship October 2.

Verizon hasn't specified its prices yet but we expect the biggest US carrier to do so today.

The Samsung Galaxy Gear smartwatch will go on sale "in the coming weeks" for $299 but you can get it for free as a set with the Galaxy Note 3 if you sign up for this T-Mobile page (the page will notify you when the Note 3 becomes available for pre-order and shipping).

Source 1 | Source 2 | Source 3

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/major_us_carriers_announce_note_3_preorder_ships_october-news-6735.php

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