Nexus 5 to be priced at $399, Nexus 4 LTE model in tow

The Google Nexus 5 has already appeared in several leaked images and the recent appearance in a hands-on video has left nothing to our imagination. Now, the pricing details of the upcoming Google Nexus smartphone have made its way to the rumorland.

According to a report from AndroidGeeks, the Google Nexus 5 will be launched in 16GB and 32 GB models. The base model is said to carry a price tag of $399, while the larger-storage option will cost you $449.

If the rumors are to be trusted, Google will also introduce an LTE model of the Nexus 4 and the new variant will allegedly cost you $299 for the 16GB model and $349 for the 32GB version.

Meanwhile, the Google Nexus 5 is expected to sport a 5-inch full HD display and feature a quad-core Snapdragon 800 SoC, 2 GB of RAM, 8 megapixel camera with optical image stabilization and Android 4.4 KitKat.

The Google Nexus 5 along with the latest Android version is expected to be unveiled later this month. However, there are no official confirmations at the moment.

Source

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/nexus_5_to_be_priced_at_399_nexus_4_lte_model_in_tow-news-6982.php

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Google Nexus 5 leaks in new images

The upcoming Nexus 5 has been pictured once again, this time in Russia.

The new snaps show the characteristic Nexus logo on the back, which appears to be highly prone to fingerprints as well - something we didn't see in previous leaked images.

The anticipated Nexus 5 flagship has made the rounds in rumorland land dozens of times, and we even saw a hands-on video showing it running on the upcoming Android 4.4 KitKat build.

The Nexus 5 is slated to run on a Snapdragon 800 chipset with a quad-core 2.3GHz Krait 400 CPU, Adreno 330 GPU, and 2GB of RAM. The display will likely be of the 4.95" fullHD variety, while a 2,300 mAh battery will be powering it all.

The Nexus 5 running on Android 4.4 KitKat is expected to get launched by the end of this month by Google, so be sure to check back with us for the full scoop.

Source | Via

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/google_nexus_5_spotted_again_in_new_leaked_images-news-6981.php

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Nexus 5 caught on camera again, this time in Russia

Oh hello again, Nexus 5 (credit: Google+)

Pictures of the supposed Google Nexus 5 are popping up all over the place at the moment, and the latest set of snaps have winged their way onto the web from Russia.

The images appeared on the search giant's very own social network, Google+, courtesy of Anton Kunzentsov from Russia, although they're not actually his photographs.

It's unclear where our man Anton picked them up from, but one thing is for sure - the handset in question looks very similar to previous leaked images also claiming to be the Nexus 5.

More of the same

What these photos provide us with is a quick look round the handset, with the same rubberised back and camera layout as the new Nexus 7, while on the front there's clearly no buttons in sight and a relatively large display.

Rumours suggest the Nexus 5 will pack a 2.3GHz quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM, 13MP rear camera, wireless charging, NFC and Google's latest software - Android 4.4 KitKat.

As to when we'll actually see the Nexus 5 for real, that's still a little up in the air. Some reports suggest sometime this week, while others point towards the end of the month for Google's announcement.

• Nexus 5 release date, news and rumors

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/nexus-5-caught-on-camera-again-this-time-in-russia-1189699

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Android KitKat wants to give you more choice when it comes to texting

Texting times

Android KitKat will let users decide what app to use for sending and receiving text messages rather than automatically defaulting to the classic Android Messaging app.

Once KitKat lands on Android handsets, users will be able to choose a default SMS app for themselves from within system settings.

The upshot for devs is that they need to adjust their hidden SMS APIs, for which full instructions are given in the blog post itself.

Getting set

In the post, Android reps outline what devs need to do to ensure their SMS apps are ready for the KitKat release, whenever that may be.

Previously apps were able to handle text messages in this way, but now that task will be set to one default app in the settings.

While it doesn't contain any concrete information about when KitKat is likely to launch further than "later this year", the post does "encourage" devs to update apps "as soon as possible" which suggests that the Android 4.4 launch will be soon.

Indeed, we're expecting KitKat to be unveiled this week alongside a new Nexus 5 handset.

• What's that? You want to know everything there is to know about the new Nexus 5?

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/you-can-choose-your-default-sms-app-in-android-kitkat-1189669

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Samsung Galaxy S5 ready to pack Apple-beating next-gen chip

The Galaxy S5's chip may be half the size and twice the power.

It looks like Samsung might be working on a smaller, much faster and much more efficient chip for the Samsung Galaxy S5, using its Exynos technology to bring out a chip to rival Apple's powerful A7 found at the heart of the iPhone 5S.

Samsung is said to be working on a 14nm (or 14 nanometre) chip for its new flagship, which would be half the size of the 28nm chip in the Samsung Galaxy S4, according to South Korean site DDaily, which is reporting that according to 'industry sources' Samsung is the tentatively-titled Exynos 6.

The smaller size should cut the power consumption of the chip by a large amount, and by using less power it also produces less heat, minimising the chance of the Samsung Galaxy S5 overheating.

Smaller chips have the transistors packed closer together, which means that they can work faster and more efficiently, using less power.

Most smartphones at the moment, including Samsung's, use 28nm chips and the next logical step down in size would be to 20nm, but Samsung seems to be skipping that altogether and jumping straight down to 14nm chips.

Out-doing Apple

This follows on from previous rumours that the Samsung Galaxy S5 might use a powerful 64-bit chip. The move to 64-bits holds advantages of its own, as it will be able to work with more memory at once, allowing for devices with more than 4GB of RAM.

It's also better able to multitask and can better tackle demanding apps and processes than a 32-bit chip, improving performance in the process.

If all this is true then it then the Exynos 6 should be enough to out-do Apple, which recently made waves with the move to a 64-bit chip in the iPhone 5S.

Samsung will not only be able to match Apple with a 64-bit chip of its own, but actually one-up the Cupertino company with a chip that's faster, cooler and smaller.

The move to 64-bit architecture also opens the floodgates for more powerful Android handsets with a theoretically almost unlimited amount of RAM in the future.

• Looking for more Samsung Galaxy S5 news? We've got all the rumours in one place.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/samsung-galaxy-s5-rumoured-to-have-apple-beating-chip-at-its-heart-1189596

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Samsung Galaxy S4 mini said to be experiencing lackluster sales

Last year, Samsung started the trend of releasing 'mini' versions of their flagship smartphones (although technically they were normal sized versions of their giant phones). The Galaxy S III mini was the first of the lot and this year they followed it up with the Galaxy S4 mini.

But while the prospect of having a smaller version of a flagship device sounds amazing, the handsets themselves have been anything but. Packed with mediocre specifications and sold at a premium, it was hard to get excited about these devices and it has shown in the sales reports.

According to DigiTimes, the Galaxy S4 mini has been doing poorly with lackluster sales. This can be blamed on the average specifications of the device and the high price. You can, for example, get the last year's Galaxy S III for the same price as the S4 mini, with the former being a much superior device.

So far only Sony has managed to come up with a desirable compact Android smartphone in the form of the Xperia Z1 f. Unfortunately, that is only available in the Japanese market for now. Hopefully, other OEMs will take notice and come up with something similar of their own.

Source

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_s4_mini_said_to_be_experiencing_lackluster_sales-news-6980.php

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HTC Desire 601 heading exclusively to Vodafone

Do you Desire cheap super-fast 4G?

While the new HTC One Max may be the talk of the town at the moment, the smartphone maker has also today announced that the super-fast but affordable HTC Desire 601 will be available exclusively from Vodafone.

You'll be able to pick up the Desire 601 with no monthly handset repayments on Vodafone's 24-month plans starting from $40 per month.

The Desire 601 will attract $5 handset repayments on the lowest 24-month $30 plan, while 12-month contract prices start from $68 total per month.

HTC boasts the phone as "blazing fast data speeds" with its Category 3 LTE, which can give you up to 100Mbps download speeds on Vodafone's 4G network.

Desire less specs

With the HTC One moniker the new premium brand, the Desire brand has been reallocated to the mid-range space, but with its sleek HTC design and mid-range price tag, it'll be an attractive buy touting some decent specs.

Powered by HTC Sense UI and Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, at the higher-end, it has Cat 3 LTE connectivity as mentioned above, as well as premium in-house features in the form of HTC Zoe, BlinkFeed and BoomSound.

However, the 4.5-inch screen has a mid-range qHD display, as well as middling 1GB RAM and dual-core 1.4GHz Snapdragon 400 processor.

Thankfully, though it only has 8GB on board, it does sport a microSD. A good thing as, though it only has a 5MP camera without the Ultrapixel sensor found on the One, it does shoot 1080p video – and coupled with Zoe, it'll take up quite a bit of space.

• Here's our review of the HTC Desire 601.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/htc-desire-601-heading-exclusively-to-vodafone-1189577

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