Samsung teases the Galaxy S 4 with a dark and mysterious image

We are just two days away from the official unveiling of the next generation Galaxy S smartphone – tentatively called the Galaxy S 4 – in New York. But it seems Samsung is having a hard time keeping the phone under wraps until then and has decided to give us a sneak peek.

There is not a whole lot to see here. All we have is a dark and mysterious image that shows one corner of the phone. You will notice that the phone looks quite similar to the Galaxy S III, as we have seen from some of the leaked images before, and curiously, lacks an earpiece.

The conclusion we can draw from this is that the Galaxy S 4 indeed will look almost identical to the current Galaxy S III or that Samsung is messing with us by providing false information, lulling us into thinking that the new phone looks like the old one while they have something completely new to show at the event.

Considering the lengths that the company went through last year to keep the phone's design a secret, the second possibility does not seem all that implausible.

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Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_teases_the_galaxy_s_4_with_a_dark_and_mysterious_image-news-5677.php

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Lenovo CEO reaffirms Chinese interest in BlackBerry buyout

Could Lenovo's plentiful financial resources revive BlackBerry?

Chinese PC manufacturer Lenovo has once again indicated it is interested in a potential BlackBerry deal, sending shares in the Canadian smartphone company soaring on Monday.

Speaking to French newspaper Les Echos, Lenovo CEO Yang Yuanqing admitted that a buyout might be in the cards as the company seeks to gain more traction in the western mobile market.

He said that a deal "could possibly make sense, but first I need to analyze the market and understand what exactly the importance of this company is."

The inflammatory comments come after CFO Wong Wai Ming told Bloomberg in January that Lenovo was "looking at all opportunities," one of which was BlackBerry.

Rescue operation?

When Lenovo first publicly admitted its interest in buying the former mobile kingpin, BlackBerry CEO Thorsten Heins didn't exactly deny the possibility of a a partnership.

Heins, who in the past has not ruled out investment, a buyout or licensing BlackBerry 10 to other manufacturers said: "As always with these topics, we will talk about things when they are ready to be talked about and ready to be announced.

"There are other constituents in the process that need to be involved - if there would be anything."

How willing RIM is to sell-up are accept investment or a takeover bid remains to be seen.

Rather than crying over its fall from grace, the company has been on a PR offensive since the company launched its first handsets running BB10 on January 30, claiming strong early sales, while setting its sights on place in the mobile OS race.

Fair share

Monday's comments boosted the company formerly-known-as-RIM's share price, sending it up 14 per cent on Monday. Shares are up 26 per cent overall in 2013, Bloomberg reports, following a long period in the doldrums.

The next we may hear on the matter of Lenovo's interests is when Heins delivers the company's quarterly results to investors in a conference call on March 28.

That's unless Lenovo continues to continue to speak publicly on the matter.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/lenovo-ceo-reaffirms-chinese-interest-in-blackberry-buyout-1136864

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Not exactly prime, Amazon phone release date reportedly delayed

Fabled Amazon Kindle phone isn't very Prime-esque

The long-rumored Amazon smartphone isn't acting at all like the company's speedy Amazon Prime two-day free shipping service, as its release date has reportedly been delayed.

That means the Amazon phone's speculated second quarter release date is likely to be missed, according to DigiTimes, which cites sources in flat panel supply chain.

While the exact reason for the delay isn't clear, the report does say that production at manufacturing partner Foxconn International Holdings "has not been as smooth as expected."

It goes on to indicate that the Seattle-based company's phone is still under an "engineering verification test period due to issues related to its mobile platform."

TechRadar reached out to Amazon for comment and will update this story if the company responds.

Amazon Kindle phone?

Whether or not the Amazon smartphone will run a version of Google's Android operating system like its Kindle Fire tablets is unclear.

However, today's rumor about its delayed release date echos previous reports that the phone's production is being handled by Foxconn subsidiary Ensky Tech.

Ensky Tech is responsible for manufacturing Amazon's e-book readers like the Kindle Paperwhite and tablets like the Kindle Fire HD.

The Foxconn subsidiary is said to be unlikely to start mass production of the Amazon smartphone until June, which means the rumored roadmap has been pushed back by at least three months.

When the Amazon phone's release date does roll around, however, analysts have suggested that it will be able to garner attention with a large screen size between 4 inches and 5 inches and a price as low as USD$150 (£101, AUD$146).

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/not-exactly-prime-amazon-phone-release-date-reportedly-delayed-1136858

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Take that, eye scrolling: iPhone 5S said to have fingerprint scanner

Security could be the key to the iPhone 5S

The latest Apple rumors point - literally - to new security features built into the iPhone 5S.

According to the sometimes-questionable China Times, Taiwanese company Chipbond is developing touch display drivers for the next-gen iPhone to support both NFC and fingerprint scanning.

The rumor doesn't come as much of a surprise, especially following a recent Apple patent that would equip future iPhones with a fingerprint reader next to the home button.

Notably, Apple's patent described a liquid crystal security window for scanning fingerprints, which fits with Chipbond's specialty in developing LCD drivers.

iPhone 5S - the S stand for security

Rumors of fingerprint scanners and NFC support in Apple's devices trace back to last July when Apple bought mobile security firm AuthenTec for $356 million (UK£238 million, UA$346 million).

AuthenTec's specialization was in fingerprint scanning technology, a specialty shared by biosecurity firm Microlatch, which Apple has reportedly also been in talks with since last year.

While fingerprint scanning could be used as added security to unlock a device, it's also rumored to be a key part of the next iPhone's NFC support by asking for fingerprint confirmation to make payments more secure.

Apple's actions speak to its interest in using fingerprint scanning and NFC technology in its devices, and if the rumors are true and the chips are already in production, then we may be looking at a key iPhone 5S security feature.

How this special features stacks up to the Galaxy S4's reported eye scrolling tech, we may not know for a few months. But fingerprints vs. eyeballs could make for an interesting dichotomy between the two firms.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/take-that-eye-scrolling-iphone-5s-said-to-have-fingerprint-scanner-1136817

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NFC and fingerprint scanner rumored for iPhone 5S

Security could be the key to the iPhone 5S

The latest Apple rumors point to new security features with both a fingerprint sensor and Near-Field Communication reader built into the iPhone 5S.

According to the sometimes questionable China Times, Taiwanese company Chipbond is developing touch display drivers for the new iPhone to support both NFC and fingerprint scanning.

The rumor does not come as much of a surprise, following a recent Apple patent that would equip future iPhones with a fingerprint reader next to the home button.

Notably, Apple's patent described a liquid crystal security window for scanning fingerprints, which fits with Chipbond's specialty in developing LCD drivers.

iPhone 5S, the S stand for security

Rumors of fingerprint scanners and NFC support in Apple's devices trace back to last July when Apple bought mobile security firm AuthenTec for $356 million.

AuthenTec's specialization was in fingerprint scanning technology, a specialty shared by biosecurity firm Microlatch which Apple has reportedly also been in talks with since last year.

While fingerprint scanning could be used as added security to unlock a device, it is also rumored to be a key part of the next iPhone's NFC support by asking for fingerprint confirmation to make payments more secure.

Apple is clearly interested in using fingerprint scanning and NFC technology in its devices, and if the rumors are true and the chips are already in production then we may be looking at a key iPhone 5S security feature.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/nfc-and-fingerprint-scanner-rumored-for-iphone-5s-1136817

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AT&T offers refurbished Samsung Galaxy Note II for $0.99

Samsung Galaxy Note II is still one of the most powerful droids and is one of the hot sellers in the market. The second generation phablet currently carries a price tag of $239.99 from Amazon, but a new deal on refurbished devices lets you have it for far less.

If you are planning to lay your hands on the Galaxy Note II and if you feel that the price tag is quite expensive, then AT&T is offering the refurbished Samsung Galaxy Note II for just $0.99. This is one of the best discounts on refurbished products that you can get, so it's certainly worth considering.

As expected, the offer will only be available with a new two year contract. Check out the official listing on the AT&T website for more information on plans and services.

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Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/at_t_offers_revamped_samsung_galaxy_note_ii_for_099_-news-5676.php

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Will Samsung 3D video conversion software pop up in Galaxy S4?

2D to 3D and back again

The Samsung Galaxy S4 may offer a 3D camera, or so it seems from a new trademark filing made by the South Korean firm.

Filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office as trademark number 85866868 (there will be a quiz on that number), the mark is not exactly for a 3D Galaxy S4 lens, but instead a logo for a new 3D camera feature called "2D 3D Movie & Still."

The logo has circular arrows pointing between the words 2D and 3D, indicating that the feature can convert movies and still images between 2D and 3D formats.

According to the trademark, it was filed for under a class of patent covering "[a]pplication software for smart phones; application software for tablet computers; digital cameras; USB flash drives; mobile telephones; portable media players; portable computers; rechargeable batteries; smart phones; tablet computers; wireless headsets; lenses for cameras."

What device will support it?

The trademark's intended use for smartphones, as well as the recent filing date on March 5, has led to speculation that the feature is intended for the Galaxy S4.

The trademark could just as easily apply to the firm's tablets or non-smartphone cameras, so a 3D camera in the Galaxy S4 is far from confirmed.

All the trademark indicates for certain is that Samsung is developing a feature to convert videos and photos from 2D to 3D and vice versa.

The Galaxy S4 is set to debut at Samsung's Unpacked event on March 14, so there's mercifully little time left for speculation. TechRadar will be in New York in 3D, high-def, surround sound, etc., so stay tuned for all the latest.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/will-samsung-3d-video-conversion-software-pop-up-in-galaxy-s4-1136772

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