1080p Droid DNA tipped for launch at Verizon and HTC’s November 13 event

HTC and Verizon have sent out invitations to a press event on November 13, where it's rumored to be announcing the Droid DNA, the US version of Japan's J Butterfly smartphone that's equipped with a 5-inch, 1080p display.

Phone fans could be in for a treat next week, as HTC and Verizon have sent out invitations to a press event to be held in New York on November 13, where we could get the first 1080p smartphone/tablet hybrid launched outside Japan.

The invite doesn’t appear to contain any hidden messages, showing nothing more than a lens-flared light on a dark background, but a few leaked press pictures could give us a better idea what these long-time partners are preparing for us.

The images popped up on @evleaks’ Twitter account this week, and show a big-screen, Verizon-branded HTC smartphone that bears a striking resemblance to the HTC J Butterfly.

Quite how such a bizarrely named phone could slip you memory, we’re not sure; but just in case it has, here’s what it’s all about. Announced last month in Japan, the J Butterfly has a 5-inch display with a headline-grabbing 1080p resolution. It seemed inevitable that HTC would let the Butterfly spread its wings at some point, and the Verizon event seems like the ideal launchpad.

Five-inch, full HD touchscreens are set to be the next big thing in the world of the smartphone display, with Sharp’s 1080p IGZO screen making its debut this week, and LG confirming recently that it’s also working on a similar panel.

It’s highly unlikely the J Butterfly name will remain on the US version though, and instead it’s likely to be another “Droid” device, this time the Droid DNA. That name has appeared on both the FCC’s website and a leaked Verizon price list, and has superseded other possible names including the HTC DLX and the HTC X5. Neither of those names are dead though, and could be used for a GSM version of the phone.

If the 5-inch, 1080p screen isn’t enough to get your pulse racing, then should the Droid DNA share the J Butterfly’s other features, it will also have Qualcomm’s high performance, 1.5GHz, quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro processor, plus Android 4.1 Jelly Bean as its operating system.

Previous leaks have suggested a December 6 release date for the phone, but we’ll have to wait for the November 13 event to confirm this, and all the other details concerning HTC and Verizon’s new device.

Source : http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/verizon-and-htc-call-november-13-press-event/

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HTC will hold an event in New York City on November 13

HTC has sent out invitations for an event in New York City, which will take place next Tuesday, November 13. The Taiwanese manufacturer will show off its “latest collaboration” with Verizon Wireless.

Given the recent string of leaks, we can all but confirm that the device scheduled to break cover is the HTC DROID DNA. The upcoming smartphone appears to be a close relative of the Japan exclusive HTC J butterfly. It is bound to pack an eye-catching 5” Super LCD3 display with 1080p resolution and pixel density of 440ppi. Quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro silicon, 16GB of built-in memory, microSD card, and Sense-d Android 4.1 Jelly Bean are also part of the device’s projected specs.

We are going to be live from the HTC event next week, so we’ll tell you all about the company’s latest creation.

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/htc_will_hold_an_event_in_new_york_city_on_november_13-news-5050.php

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LG Optimus G coming to the US on September 19

LG and Qualcomm sent invitations for a joint event that will be held in New York on September 19.

The invitation clearly shows that it will be all about some new smartphone and it would be a real shocker if the device in question isn't the US version of the Optimus G.

The event is called Live Without Boundaries, but that doesn't really give us much information about the nature of the smartphone to be announced. However there's still an important clue to be found on the invitation, pointing to the fact that the it's going to be quad-core Krait-powered LG Optimus G.

The LG Optimus G has already been announced for Korea so we have an official photo of it. Now if you use some image editing software to edit the invitation image and brighten up the shadows (as we did), you can see the device pictured has the same back as the Optimus G. The most telling evidence is the loudspeaker grille location and the texture on the back.

Of course it could all be merely a coincidence and LG might announce something else entirely, but chances of that happening are slim. We’ll be covering the event for you, so feel free to come back next Wednesday to find out.

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/lg_sends_invitations_for_a_joint_event_with_qualcomm_on_sept_19-news-4804.php

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Apple officially announces September 12 iPhone 5 event

It's official: Apple will hold a press event on September 12, where it is expected to unveil the iPhone 5.

The rumor was true: Apple sent out invitations today to a press event that will take place on September 12. As usual, the event will be held at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco. Festivities will begin at 10am PT.

Apple is expected to debut the sixth-generation iPhone, commonly referred to as the “iPhone 5,” at the Sept. 12 event, which was first reported by iMore on July 30. The new iPhone will reportedly go on shelves on September 21, nine days after the event. That rumor is based on the fact that Verizon Wireless retail sales staff are forbidden from taking vacation from Sept. 21 through Sept. 30.

While the text of the invitation provides little hint as to what Apple will announce next week, a closer look shows a clear “5″ in the shadow of the “12,” a blatant indication that the so-called iPhone 5 will be announced at the event — and, much to our surprise, a hint that it might indeed be called “iPhone 5.”

The new iPhone — whatever it may be called — will reportedly sport a larger, 4-inch touchscreen, and a new 8-pin dock connector. Leaked photos and video show that the speaker and microphone grills have also been updated, and the headphone jack has been moved to the bottom of the device. Whether the leaked iPhone 5 and the real iPhone 5 are one in the same, well, we’ll just have to wait until next week to find out.

Apple is also expected to hold a second event in October during which it will reveal the long-rumored iPad Mini, a smaller version of the world’s most popular tablet that has a 7.85-inch screen, as opposed to the 9.7-inch screen of the first three generations of iPads.

Source : http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/apple-september-12-iphone-5-event/

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