For the kind of hardware you are getting, if you don't mind the rather large size of the device, the new price makes it a pretty good deal.
Source
Wednesday, 30 April 2014
Sony Z Ultra Google Play edition gets a $200 price cut
For the kind of hardware you are getting, if you don't mind the rather large size of the device, the new price makes it a pretty good deal.
Source
Google tipped to replace Nexus family with Android Silver lineup
According to a report in The Information, Google plans to stop offering Nexus devices. The search giant will replace the lineup with a new family of high-end devices dubbed Android Silver.
With Android Silver, Google will aim to further expand its influence within the Android ecosystem. Its plan includes offering devices with no third-party bloatware, as well as providing timely OS updates in a fashion similar to Apple’s. The latter involves pushing the update to all devices on the same day.
Reportedly, the smartphones and tablets from the upcoming Android Silver family will adhere closely to guidelines and specifications provided by Google. The tech giant is tipped to subsidize both the development and the marketing costs for its hardware partners. The number which Google is rumored to spend on getting the platform off the ground is rumored to be as much as $1 billion.
Speaking of hardware partners, LG and Motorola are pointed as the most likely candidates to manufacture Android Silver devices. Samsung, HTC and Sony might jump on the bandwagon at a later stage.
As a model range, Android Silver will compete against the Apple iPhone. It will also aim to put a check on Samsung’s expanding influence as the leading manufacturer of Android devices.
Source (subscription required) | Via
With Android Silver, Google will aim to further expand its influence within the Android ecosystem. Its plan includes offering devices with no third-party bloatware, as well as providing timely OS updates in a fashion similar to Apple’s. The latter involves pushing the update to all devices on the same day.
Reportedly, the smartphones and tablets from the upcoming Android Silver family will adhere closely to guidelines and specifications provided by Google. The tech giant is tipped to subsidize both the development and the marketing costs for its hardware partners. The number which Google is rumored to spend on getting the platform off the ground is rumored to be as much as $1 billion.
Speaking of hardware partners, LG and Motorola are pointed as the most likely candidates to manufacture Android Silver devices. Samsung, HTC and Sony might jump on the bandwagon at a later stage.
As a model range, Android Silver will compete against the Apple iPhone. It will also aim to put a check on Samsung’s expanding influence as the leading manufacturer of Android devices.
Source (subscription required) | Via
Samsung Galaxy S5 Google Play Edition leaked by Google
Having Google Play Editions of all popular flagships has become somewhat of a tradition. Now that the Samsung Galaxy S5 has been around for a while many fans are wondering if it will also get the GPE treatment.
Apparently, Samsung and Google are working on such edition and Google has just spilled the beans. The device popped up briefly on the Play Store among the others GPE devices.
Well, it didn't appear in its own listing, but under the Galaxy S4 name. Still, the image clearly shows the S5. A photoshopped S5 as it has both hardware and software keys at the bottom, which is not the case. But hey, it is the Galaxy S5 after all, it is on the Play Store, and someone at Google made those efforts to put it there, so this should mean something, right?
Now that the Samsung Galaxy S5 GPE images have appeared on Google Play, we bet the announcement should be around the corner.
Source (Cached) | Via 1 | Via 2
Apparently, Samsung and Google are working on such edition and Google has just spilled the beans. The device popped up briefly on the Play Store among the others GPE devices.
Well, it didn't appear in its own listing, but under the Galaxy S4 name. Still, the image clearly shows the S5. A photoshopped S5 as it has both hardware and software keys at the bottom, which is not the case. But hey, it is the Galaxy S5 after all, it is on the Play Store, and someone at Google made those efforts to put it there, so this should mean something, right?
Now that the Samsung Galaxy S5 GPE images have appeared on Google Play, we bet the announcement should be around the corner.
Source (Cached) | Via 1 | Via 2
Motorola to unveil a new smartphone on May 13
There isn't any other information on the device besides "Made to last. Priced for all", so we'll know more on May 13. There are currently two Moto handsets in the rumorland - the Moto E and Moto X+1.
The invitation text clearly suggest this will be a smartphone event, but we still hope to see more of the upcoming Moto 360 smartwatch too.
You bet we'll be on spot and we'll cover the press event as it unfolds. Stay tuned!
Alleged Apple iPhone 6 dummy shows updated design
We've seen alleged sketches of the Apple iPhone 6, which led to the creation of a 3D render of what the final deice might look like. Now, a "very reliable" source from China sent photos of a physical dummy of the device.
The dummy looks like an iPod touch, except with even more rounded sides. The front shows the outlines of the display (16:9 by the looks of it), but no hole for the Home key and not a lot of room for it either.
Alleged iPhone 6 dummy
The back shows a camera in the upper left with a round hole for the flash next to it. The dual-tone flash on the iPhone 5s was more rectangular than round, but the leaked sketches also showed a round flash. They show a Home button on the front too, as does an alleged photo of the front panel.
There's no size reference in the photos, but the front panel indicates a long awaited screen size increase – 4.7". The dimensions of the device itself are purported to be 137 x 66 x 7.1 mm.
Thanks to Steve for sending this in!
Source (in French)
The dummy looks like an iPod touch, except with even more rounded sides. The front shows the outlines of the display (16:9 by the looks of it), but no hole for the Home key and not a lot of room for it either.
Alleged iPhone 6 dummy
The back shows a camera in the upper left with a round hole for the flash next to it. The dual-tone flash on the iPhone 5s was more rectangular than round, but the leaked sketches also showed a round flash. They show a Home button on the front too, as does an alleged photo of the front panel.
There's no size reference in the photos, but the front panel indicates a long awaited screen size increase – 4.7". The dimensions of the device itself are purported to be 137 x 66 x 7.1 mm.
Thanks to Steve for sending this in!
Source (in French)
LG G3
Unofficial preliminary specifications
Available as:
LG G3 D850 for Europe
LG G3 LS990 for Sprint
| General | 2G Network | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
|---|---|---|
| CDMA 800 / 1900 - CDMA version | ||
| 3G Network | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | |
| CDMA2000 1xEV-DO - CDMA version | ||
| 4G Network | LTE 800 / 1800 / 2600 | |
| LTE - CDMA version | ||
| SIM | Yes | |
| Announced | Exp. announcement 2014 | |
| Status | Rumored. Exp. release 2014, Q4 |
| Body | Dimensions | - |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | - |
| Display | Type | True HD-IPS + LCD capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors |
|---|---|---|
| Size | 1440 x 2560 pixels, 5.5 inches (~534 ppi pixel density) | |
| Multitouch | Yes | |
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Sound | Alert types | Vibration, MP3, WAV ringtones |
|---|---|---|
| Loudspeaker | Yes | |
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | |
| - Dolby mobile sound enhancement |
| Memory | Card slot | microSD, up to 32 GB |
|---|---|---|
| Internal | 32 GB, 3 GB RAM |
| Data | GPRS | Class 12 (4+1/3+2/2+3/1+4 slots), 32 - 48 kbps |
|---|---|---|
| EDGE | Class 12 | |
| Speed | HSDPA, 42 Mbps; HSUPA, 21 Mbps; LTE, Cat4, 50 Mbps UL, 150 Mbps DL/ EV-DO Rev. A, up to 3.1 Mbps | |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, Wi-Fi hotspot | |
| Bluetooth | Yes, v4.0 with A2DP, LE | |
| NFC | Yes | |
| Infrared port | Yes | |
| USB | Yes, microUSB v3.0 (SlimPort), USB On-the-go, USB Host |
| Camera | Primary | 13 MP, 4160 x 3120 pixels, autofocus, optical image stabilization, LED flash |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Simultaneous video and image recording, geo-tagging, face detection, HDR | |
| Video | Yes, 2160p@30fps, 1080p@60fps, HDR, stereo sound rec., video stabilization | |
| Secondary | Yes, 2.1 MP, 1080p@30fps |
| Features | OS | Android OS, v4.4.2 (KitKat) |
|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Qualcomm MSM8974AA Snapdragon | |
| CPU | Quad-core 2.26 GHz Krait 400 | |
| GPU | Adreno 330 | |
| Sensors | Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | |
| Messaging | SMS(threaded view), MMS, Email, Push Mail, IM, RSS | |
| Browser | HTML5 | |
| Radio | TBD | |
| GPS | Yes, with A-GPS support and GLONASS | |
| Java | Yes, via Java MIDP emulator | |
| Colors | Black, White, Gold | |
| - Active noise cancellation with dedicated mic - SNS applications - MP4/DviX/XviD/H.264/H.263/WMV player - MP3/WAV/FLAC/eAAC+/WMA player - Photo viewer/editor - Document viewer - Organizer - Voice memo/dial/commands - Predictive text input |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Stand-by | ||
| Talk time |
LG G3 image leaks via a case maker, shows front and back
Yet another case for the upcoming LG G3 leaked showing off the curios back design as well as the front. The G3 keeps the centered power/volume key setup below the camera, but adds a dual-LED flash and what looks like a sensor or an IR blaster flanking the camera.
Alleged images of the LG G3 in a rugged case
The front shows razor thin bezels around what is rumored to be a 5.5" QHD screen. Also the UI matches the leaked screenshots that leaker earlier. This either confirms the new, flat Optimus UI or it just means the leaked screenshot was used.
Anyway, the LG G3 is expected on May 27 with a 16MP camera, Snapdragon 801 chipset, 3,000mAh battery and an water-resistant IPX7 rating.
Thanks to Pest for sending this in!
Alleged images of the LG G3 in a rugged case
The front shows razor thin bezels around what is rumored to be a 5.5" QHD screen. Also the UI matches the leaked screenshots that leaker earlier. This either confirms the new, flat Optimus UI or it just means the leaked screenshot was used.
Anyway, the LG G3 is expected on May 27 with a 16MP camera, Snapdragon 801 chipset, 3,000mAh battery and an water-resistant IPX7 rating.
Thanks to Pest for sending this in!
Moto X to get a price cut on May 1 for a day only
Motorola will offer a discount on the 16GB, 32GB and Developer versions on May 1 only.
| Model | Normal price | Discounted price | Price drop |
| Moto X 16GB | $350 | $300 | $50 |
| Moto X 32GB | $400 | $325 | $75 |
| Moto X Developer Edition | $450 | $325 | $125 |
The offer is available tomorrow, May 1, from 12:01 ET and will last 24 hours. Unfortunately, this price cut is US-only. The phones are carrier-free and you can customize them.
Source | Via
Apple vs Android – an infographic on the rivalry
The rivalry between Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android has been an important factor in shaping the smartphone ecosystem the last couple of years.We’ve covered the whole ordeal in many articles here on GSMArena but there’s always more room for perspective.
The people over at ComputerScienceDegreeHub.com have concocted an inforgraphic based on various sources that depicts Apple viewed in 6 areas of investor concern, giving some numbers and facts.
The infographic shows the mobile marketshare war between Apple and Android and how it has changed in the last two years – 2012 and 2013. iOS’s share going down and Android’s going up.
Next up is an interesting perspective – developer interest and what OS developers are using. Moving on to lawsuits and their effect on investors, Apple’s upcoming multi-billion headquarters and more. Analysts are also involved in the infographic concerning their desire for cheaper iPhones, lower than estimated device sales and dropping stock prices. In the infographic one analyst quoted has predicted a steep decline of Apple’s current stock price of $590 to $320, which is a tad drastic in our minds.
Looking at the infographic it seems Apple’s iPad is the only true bright spot for the company. But here’s the thing – investors and analysts don’t reflect the full picture. Analysts deal their predictions based on a plethora of factors but sometimes get it completely wrong or over-exaggerated.
Anyway, here’s the infographic itself.
Source
The people over at ComputerScienceDegreeHub.com have concocted an inforgraphic based on various sources that depicts Apple viewed in 6 areas of investor concern, giving some numbers and facts.
The infographic shows the mobile marketshare war between Apple and Android and how it has changed in the last two years – 2012 and 2013. iOS’s share going down and Android’s going up.
Next up is an interesting perspective – developer interest and what OS developers are using. Moving on to lawsuits and their effect on investors, Apple’s upcoming multi-billion headquarters and more. Analysts are also involved in the infographic concerning their desire for cheaper iPhones, lower than estimated device sales and dropping stock prices. In the infographic one analyst quoted has predicted a steep decline of Apple’s current stock price of $590 to $320, which is a tad drastic in our minds.
Looking at the infographic it seems Apple’s iPad is the only true bright spot for the company. But here’s the thing – investors and analysts don’t reflect the full picture. Analysts deal their predictions based on a plethora of factors but sometimes get it completely wrong or over-exaggerated.
Anyway, here’s the infographic itself.
Source
Photoshop Express for iOS gets UI overhaul
The latest version of Adobe’s mobile version of Photoshop, Photoshop Express, has received an update for iOS. Thr new release refreshes the way the program works and how you interact with it.The new “editing experience”, as Adobe likes to call it, is not restricted to just the design change and usual bug fixes and optimizations, but also adds quick sharing options.
Other new features include pet-eye mode (which removes the green-eye effect when shooting pets), as well as updated tooltips throughout the UI. There’s also an auto-resume feature that means you don’t have to save your work when minimizing the app – it’ll remember where you left off and on what image.
Of course, the app interface is optimized for both iPhones and iPads, which the latter featuring the same updated editing features.
Finally, the app lets you quickly share via SMS or Instagram, and the Photo Picker tool has also been refreshed. Grab Photoshop Express for free here.
Via
Firefox 29 released, brings a new interface design
Mozilla has released version 29 of their desktop and mobile browser. But while the mobile browser only gets a few new features, the desktop version get a completely revamped interface.
Firefox for desktop interface features a new tab bar that looks like the one on Google Chrome, with its pyramid shaped tab structure. One interesting design feature is the way background tabs just blend with the background until you highlight them.
Mozilla continues to use separate address and search bars but on the right now is a new menu button design, again similar to the drop down menu on the Chrome. You find a few options there by default but you can also drag additional items there for quick access.
Firefox Sync has been given more prominence in this update, and it’s now easier to sync your bookmarks, history and saved passwords across devices.
On the mobile side, you don’t get a new interface, but you do get the new Firefox Sync feature for syncing all your stuff with Firefox on desktop and other mobile devices. You can now also get search
suggestions from Bing, if you set it as your default search engine. The browser also adds multiple quick share buttons.
You can download Firefox for desktop and mobile from the links below.
Firefox for desktop interface features a new tab bar that looks like the one on Google Chrome, with its pyramid shaped tab structure. One interesting design feature is the way background tabs just blend with the background until you highlight them.
Mozilla continues to use separate address and search bars but on the right now is a new menu button design, again similar to the drop down menu on the Chrome. You find a few options there by default but you can also drag additional items there for quick access.
Firefox Sync has been given more prominence in this update, and it’s now easier to sync your bookmarks, history and saved passwords across devices.
On the mobile side, you don’t get a new interface, but you do get the new Firefox Sync feature for syncing all your stuff with Firefox on desktop and other mobile devices. You can now also get search
suggestions from Bing, if you set it as your default search engine. The browser also adds multiple quick share buttons.
You can download Firefox for desktop and mobile from the links below.
Acer announces Iconia Tab 7 and Iconia One 7 tablets
Acer unveiled two new tablets today – the Wi-Fi-only Iconia Tab 7 and the 3G-enabled Iconia One 7. Both slates will go on sale in May on bargain prices.
Acer Iconia Tab 7 will be actually sold in two different versions depending on the market. Iconia Tab 7 A1-713 features a 7″ LCD display of 1024×600 pixel resolution, a 2MP rear camera and Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. Android 4.4 KitKat update will be seeded later this year though.
The Iconia Tab 7 A1-713HD comes with a 7″ IPS screen with 1280×800 pixel resolution and anti-fingerprint coating, a 5MP rear camera and Android 4.4 KitKat out of the box.
The rest of the Iconia Tab 7 specs (A1-713 and A1-713HD) include a quad-core processor, a front-facing camera for video chats, a microSD card slot, and Wi-Fi connectivity. Both variations feature GSM and 3G radios so you will be able to make calls and use mobile date.
Acer Iconia Tab 7 A1-713HD slate is headed to Europe, Middle East and Asia this May for €149. The less capable A1-713 tablet will hit the Latin American markets in June at MX Peso $1,990 (€109).
Acer has also announced the Iconia One 7 tablet with 7″ LED-backlit IPS display of 1280x800px resolution. It is powered by Intel’s Atom Z2560 with a dual-core 1.6GHz processor and PowerVR SGX544MP2 graphics. The rest of the specs include Wi-Fi connectivity, a microSD card slot, a rear camera and Android 4.2 Jelly Bean upgradable to 4.4 KitKat later this year.
Acer Iconia One 7 will hit the shelves across the EMEA region in May at €139, while the American markets will get in in June for $129.99.
Source 1 | Source 2 | Source 3 | Source 4 | Via
Acer Iconia Tab 7 will be actually sold in two different versions depending on the market. Iconia Tab 7 A1-713 features a 7″ LCD display of 1024×600 pixel resolution, a 2MP rear camera and Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. Android 4.4 KitKat update will be seeded later this year though.
The Iconia Tab 7 A1-713HD comes with a 7″ IPS screen with 1280×800 pixel resolution and anti-fingerprint coating, a 5MP rear camera and Android 4.4 KitKat out of the box.
The rest of the Iconia Tab 7 specs (A1-713 and A1-713HD) include a quad-core processor, a front-facing camera for video chats, a microSD card slot, and Wi-Fi connectivity. Both variations feature GSM and 3G radios so you will be able to make calls and use mobile date.
Acer Iconia Tab 7 A1-713HD slate is headed to Europe, Middle East and Asia this May for €149. The less capable A1-713 tablet will hit the Latin American markets in June at MX Peso $1,990 (€109).
Acer has also announced the Iconia One 7 tablet with 7″ LED-backlit IPS display of 1280x800px resolution. It is powered by Intel’s Atom Z2560 with a dual-core 1.6GHz processor and PowerVR SGX544MP2 graphics. The rest of the specs include Wi-Fi connectivity, a microSD card slot, a rear camera and Android 4.2 Jelly Bean upgradable to 4.4 KitKat later this year.
Acer Iconia One 7 will hit the shelves across the EMEA region in May at €139, while the American markets will get in in June for $129.99.
Source 1 | Source 2 | Source 3 | Source 4 | Via
LG G Watch to hit Europe in June for €199
It’s almost certain that the G Watch is going to be the base for the first Google Nexus smartwatch, which too will run the recently announced Android Wear OS. The G watch’s display is going to be always on and packs a resolution of 280 x 280 pixels.
Last week, LG uncovered a new Champagne Gold color to join the Stealth Black, which was showed at the official announcement of the watch. The G Watch is also rumored to sport 512MB of RAM and 4GB of internal storage.
Source | Via
Popcorn Time returns with series and movie torrent streaming for Android
Popcorn Time, which debuted a few weeks ago as a service providing torrent streaming for movies and TV shows, was promptly taken down due to obvious legal issues.Now, the service is back up with the promise that it will “never be taken down” again. Better yet, a new Android and updated desktop versions are just around the corner.
Currently available as a beta for Mac, PC, and Linux desktops, the service lets you browse for programs and movies using large thumbnail galleries, while letting you pick a torrent with the number of seeds or quality you’re looking for. Streaming obviously depends on your internet connection and the health of the torrent, but the service lets you pick from a selection of subtitles in numerous different languages.
The upcoming Android version has some great potential, as you could download a show while at work, and then cast it to your TV when you get home.
We’re not sure PT’s ambitious promise of never being taken down will last long, but if you’re inclined to give it a try, check out their official site.
Via
Nokia appoints new CEO, Rajeev Suri
Starting on May 1 Nokia will have a new CEO – Rajeev Suri. Suri has been with Nokia since 1995 and has been the CEO of Nokia Siemens Networks (now rebranded Nokia Networks) since October 2009.Considering Nokia Networks is the big bread earner in the new Nokia, the one after the sale of the phone division, the choice makes sense.
“As Nokia opens this new chapter, the Nokia Board and I are confident that Rajeev is the right person to lead the company forward,” said Risto Siilasmaa, Chairman of the Nokia Board of Directors. Siilasmaa served a sinterim CEO, but will go back to his Chairman position on May 1.
The interim president, Timo Ihamuotila, will step down from that position and will focus on his position as Executive Vice President and Group CFO.
Nokia’s remaining operations invested €2.5 billion in research and development last year. There are plans for a €5 billion “capital structure optimization program.” Hit the source link for more details on the program.
Source
Microsoft helps US schools get new PCs with a $1 billion donation
Microsoft, with the help of its hardware partners, is making a $1 billion donation to schools in the United States to help them modernize and buy desktop PCs. The PCs in question are under $300 each, and that’s where the help of the company’s hardware partners in the face of Acer, Asus, Dell, Fujitsu, HP, Lenovo, Panasonic, and Toshiba is felt most.
Microsoft’s Education CTO Cameron Evans told CNET that because of the donation, he hopes that the children will become loyal Windows fans in the future. However, currently the focus is helping them have access to better technology, which will improve the quality of education.
“As much technology as we’ve brought into schools in the last 30 years, there hasn’t been significant change,” Evans added.
This generous donation comes as a good addition to the White House plan to gear up 99 percent of students with access to high-speed Internet within the next five years. Here’s hoping more students across the globe have such great news coming their way.
Source | Via • Via (2)
Microsoft’s Education CTO Cameron Evans told CNET that because of the donation, he hopes that the children will become loyal Windows fans in the future. However, currently the focus is helping them have access to better technology, which will improve the quality of education.
“As much technology as we’ve brought into schools in the last 30 years, there hasn’t been significant change,” Evans added.
This generous donation comes as a good addition to the White House plan to gear up 99 percent of students with access to high-speed Internet within the next five years. Here’s hoping more students across the globe have such great news coming their way.
Source | Via • Via (2)
MacBook Air to get a tiny spec bump [Update: Now available, with a $100 price cut]
Apple Stores in the US have started getting stock of a newer version of the MacBook Air that should go on sale soon. Unfortunately, this isn’t the major update we have been waiting for but just a tiny spec bump, perhaps the last update for this generation before the major update by the end of the year.
The latest update features a very slightly faster version of Intel’s CPU, with the standard clock speed getting boosted from the current 1.3GHz to 1.4GHz. The Turbo Boost speed has gone up from 2.6GHz to 2.7GHz.
The rest of the specifications remain identical for now, including the display, design, memory and price. Apple likely won’t even mention the fact that the models have been updated.
The updated models are expected to go sale today in the US (and soon everywhere else).
Update: The updated model is now on the US store and has a $100 price cut across the board.
Source
The latest update features a very slightly faster version of Intel’s CPU, with the standard clock speed getting boosted from the current 1.3GHz to 1.4GHz. The Turbo Boost speed has gone up from 2.6GHz to 2.7GHz.
The rest of the specifications remain identical for now, including the display, design, memory and price. Apple likely won’t even mention the fact that the models have been updated.
The updated models are expected to go sale today in the US (and soon everywhere else).
Update: The updated model is now on the US store and has a $100 price cut across the board.
Source
Man makes Raspberry Pi phone for $150
When the Raspberry Pi was released, hackers and tinkerers around the world rejoiced at all of the wonderful things they would be able to accomplish with the little $40 computer that could.
You can add create a working cell phone to the list of amazing feats that the Raspberry Pi is capable of.
David Hunt was able to turn the Pi, along with a few other additional parts, into a fully functional smartphone (the PiPhone) for about $150.
Now it definitely isn’t a looker, nor is it the most svelte of devices, but it is fully capable of making phone calls, which David demonstrates in the video.
Again, it might not be the most practical of solutions (the Moto G retails for $180 unlocked), it is pretty neat to know that you can create a cell phone out of the tiny computer.
Source | Via
You can add create a working cell phone to the list of amazing feats that the Raspberry Pi is capable of.
David Hunt was able to turn the Pi, along with a few other additional parts, into a fully functional smartphone (the PiPhone) for about $150.
Now it definitely isn’t a looker, nor is it the most svelte of devices, but it is fully capable of making phone calls, which David demonstrates in the video.
Again, it might not be the most practical of solutions (the Moto G retails for $180 unlocked), it is pretty neat to know that you can create a cell phone out of the tiny computer.
Source | Via
Viber practically gives its user data away
Are you a Viber user? Well you may want to be a little more careful about what you say over the popular smartphone messaging service.
New reports reveal that Viber actually gives up user data: both messages and phone calls.
The research was conducted by the University of New Haven. User data is stored on Viber’s servers, but the data is unencrypted and anyone who has a link to the data can access it. No passwords. No protection, just open access to anyone who wants to see it.
Viber did say that they fixed the issue, however:
Does anyone feel a bit more wary about using internet messaging services? Will you do a little more research before sending private data over them? Let us know in the comments!
Source
New reports reveal that Viber actually gives up user data: both messages and phone calls.
The research was conducted by the University of New Haven. User data is stored on Viber’s servers, but the data is unencrypted and anyone who has a link to the data can access it. No passwords. No protection, just open access to anyone who wants to see it.
“The data is stored on Viber’s server in an unencrypted manner. There is also no authentication method used, so anybody who has access to these links can look at this data, retrieve this data, and do whatever they want with it. “Viber isn’t the only culprit in the mobile messaging game: Whatsapp was also found to have severe vulnerabilities which can easily be exploited. Using simple traffic sniffing tools, both Viber and Whatsapp user data were extrapolated with little difficulty.
Viber did say that they fixed the issue, however:
“This issue has already been resolved. It is currently in QA and the fix will be released for Android and submitted to Apple on Monday. As of today we aren’t aware of a single user who has been affected by this. “It does seem troubling that Viber had to fix the issue in the first place. It isn’t as if the messaging service had been hacked; Viber just didn’t provide any encryption for the data.
Does anyone feel a bit more wary about using internet messaging services? Will you do a little more research before sending private data over them? Let us know in the comments!
Source
Sailfish OS can now be ported to the Nexus 5
So you want to try out Jolla’s mobile operating system, but don’t feel like it’s a practical decision to shell out a bunch of cash for an entirely new device?
Well there’s good news for you: it’s possible to port Sailfish to Android devices, as a video has surfaced on the internet showing a Nexus 5 rocking the mobile OS.
The Nexus 5 isn’t the only Android device that can run Sailfish. Martin Brook previously ported it to the Nexus One, Nexus 4, and the Galaxy S3. Brook worked with Siteshwar Vashish to get the unofficial Jolla mobile OS port on the Nexus 5.
But just because this Nexus 5 port is unofficial, doesn’t mean that Jolla doesn’t want you flashing your Android devices with their mobile software. In fact, they released Sailfish OS flash images specifically for the Nexus 4. Jolla also has plans to release a Hardware Adaptation Development Kit (HADK). The kit should be available in a few weeks and will let CyanogenMod 10.1 users create Sailfish OS ports for their devices.
Source | Via
Well there’s good news for you: it’s possible to port Sailfish to Android devices, as a video has surfaced on the internet showing a Nexus 5 rocking the mobile OS.
The Nexus 5 isn’t the only Android device that can run Sailfish. Martin Brook previously ported it to the Nexus One, Nexus 4, and the Galaxy S3. Brook worked with Siteshwar Vashish to get the unofficial Jolla mobile OS port on the Nexus 5.
But just because this Nexus 5 port is unofficial, doesn’t mean that Jolla doesn’t want you flashing your Android devices with their mobile software. In fact, they released Sailfish OS flash images specifically for the Nexus 4. Jolla also has plans to release a Hardware Adaptation Development Kit (HADK). The kit should be available in a few weeks and will let CyanogenMod 10.1 users create Sailfish OS ports for their devices.
Source | Via
HTC One (M8) Harman/Kardon edition goes official for Sprint
At an event in New York City, Sprint and HTC took the wraps of a special edition One (M8) Harman/Kardon. The previously leaked, premium audio-centric smartphone will be sold exclusively on Sprint Wireless in the United States in a black/gold color scheme.
As expected, the biggest change which the Harman/Kardon M8 brings is enhanced audio experience. The handset offers lossless HD audio via a 24 bit/192kHz DAC. The latter delivers roughly six times the information of compact disc music and 60 times the information of an MP3 or streaming music source when playing FLAC files.
HTC One (M8) Harman/Kardon edition official photos
Furthermore, the special edition device will ship with Harman Clari-Fi application. Available for the first time in a mobile device, the app “rebuilds” a track’s audio quality which was lost during its compression.
The rest of the device’s specs have remained unchanged. The HTC One (M8) Harman/Kardon edition totes a Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 SoC with 2.3GHz quad-core CPU, 5” 1080P display, Ultra Pixel camera, and Sense-d Android 4.4.2 KitKat.
In addition to the attractive new color scheme, the HTC One (M) Harman/Kardon edition will ship with Harman/Kardon AE-S headphones in the box. Users who opt for the smartphone will also be able to snag a Harman/Kardon Onyx Studio speaker for $99.99, down from its regular price of $399.99.
To top things off, Sprint customers will receive six months of free Spotify premium. All they need to do is opt for the carrier’s Framily plan.
The special edition HTC One (M8) Harman/Kardon will be available to order online this Friday, on May 2. It will hit retail stores on May 9. The smartphone can be purchased with $0 down and 24 payments of $28.34 (a total of $680.16).
Source
As expected, the biggest change which the Harman/Kardon M8 brings is enhanced audio experience. The handset offers lossless HD audio via a 24 bit/192kHz DAC. The latter delivers roughly six times the information of compact disc music and 60 times the information of an MP3 or streaming music source when playing FLAC files.
HTC One (M8) Harman/Kardon edition official photos
Furthermore, the special edition device will ship with Harman Clari-Fi application. Available for the first time in a mobile device, the app “rebuilds” a track’s audio quality which was lost during its compression.
The rest of the device’s specs have remained unchanged. The HTC One (M8) Harman/Kardon edition totes a Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 SoC with 2.3GHz quad-core CPU, 5” 1080P display, Ultra Pixel camera, and Sense-d Android 4.4.2 KitKat.
In addition to the attractive new color scheme, the HTC One (M) Harman/Kardon edition will ship with Harman/Kardon AE-S headphones in the box. Users who opt for the smartphone will also be able to snag a Harman/Kardon Onyx Studio speaker for $99.99, down from its regular price of $399.99.
To top things off, Sprint customers will receive six months of free Spotify premium. All they need to do is opt for the carrier’s Framily plan.
The special edition HTC One (M8) Harman/Kardon will be available to order online this Friday, on May 2. It will hit retail stores on May 9. The smartphone can be purchased with $0 down and 24 payments of $28.34 (a total of $680.16).
Source
SA: Samsung and Apple lose ground to Huawei and Lenovo
Strategy Analytics has released its latest report on the smartphone market. The smartphone shipments worldwide throughout the Q1 this year grew 33% annually setting another record with 281 million units. The mobile phone shipments (including featurephones and smartphones) also grew by 9.4% to 407.9 units shipped globally.
Even though the smartphone shipments are growing rapidly, the top manufacturers are losing market share in favor of the second-tier ones. Samsung keeps its first place in the smartphone market with 31.2% share, dropping 1.2% down from Q1 last year. Apple also lost 2.2% share and is now holding 15.3% at the second place. Huawei kept its third place with minor boost, while Lenovo shipments grew by 0.8%.
All global mobile phones shipments, as we already mentioned, have also reported a noticeable increase. Here Samsung, Nokia, and LG are all losing small bits of market share in favor of Apple, Huawei and the second-tier of manufacturers (TCL-Alcatel, Coolpad, Lenovo, Xiaomi and others).
Now that Lenovo is on the verge of acquiring Motorola and Microsoft has just completed its Nokia Devices deal, we should be seeing some interesting changes in those reports throughout the upcoming quarters.
Source 1 | Source 2 | Via
Even though the smartphone shipments are growing rapidly, the top manufacturers are losing market share in favor of the second-tier ones. Samsung keeps its first place in the smartphone market with 31.2% share, dropping 1.2% down from Q1 last year. Apple also lost 2.2% share and is now holding 15.3% at the second place. Huawei kept its third place with minor boost, while Lenovo shipments grew by 0.8%.
| Global Smartphone Vendor Shipments (Millions of Units) | Q1 '13 | Q1 '14 |
| Samsung | 69.4 | 89.0 |
| Apple | 37.4 | 43.7 |
| Huawei | 10.1 | 13.4 |
| Lenovo | 8.4 | 13.3 |
| Others | 88.7 | 125.6 |
| Total | 213.9 | 285.0 |
| Global Smartphone Vendor Marketshare % | Q1 '13 | Q1 '14 |
| Samsung | 32.4% | 31.2% |
| Apple | 17.5% | 15.3% |
| Huawei | 4.7% | 4.7% |
| Lenovo | 3.9% | 4.7% |
| Others | 41.5% | 44.1% |
All global mobile phones shipments, as we already mentioned, have also reported a noticeable increase. Here Samsung, Nokia, and LG are all losing small bits of market share in favor of Apple, Huawei and the second-tier of manufacturers (TCL-Alcatel, Coolpad, Lenovo, Xiaomi and others).
| Global Mobile Phone Vendor Shipments (Millions of Units) | Q1 '13 | Q1 '14 |
| Samsung | 106.6 | 113.0 |
| Nokia | 61.9 | 47.0 |
| Apple | 37.4 | 43.7 |
| LG | 16.2 | 16.4 |
| Huawei | 11.6 | 14.2 |
| Others | 139.0 | 173.6 |
| Total | 372.7 | 407.9 |
| Global Mobile Phone Vendor Marketshare % | Q1 '13 | Q1 '14 |
| Samsung | 28.6% | 27.7% |
| Nokia | 16.6% | 11.5% |
| Apple | 10.0% | 10.7% |
| LG | 4.3% | 4.0% |
| Huawei | 3.1% | 3.5% |
| Others | 37.3% | 42.6% |
Now that Lenovo is on the verge of acquiring Motorola and Microsoft has just completed its Nokia Devices deal, we should be seeing some interesting changes in those reports throughout the upcoming quarters.
Source 1 | Source 2 | Via
Tuesday, 29 April 2014
How to disable BlinkFeed on the HTC One (M8)
EU takes action to reduce smartphone patent wars
The European Commission made a landmark ruling on Tuesday regarding an infringement claim by Motorola against Apple regarding the use of a standard-essential patent it had licensed.
The Commission decreed that smartphone and tablet makers could no longer seek injunctions against rivals they had signed patent licensing agreements with, a step that should significantly reduce patent wars within the confines of the EU.
In light of the numerous legal disputes with rival manufacturer Apple, the EU's anti-trust enforcement office has also accepted an agreement from Samsung Electronics not to seek injunctions against rivals it currently licenses patents from. The Commission also ordered Motorola to resolve its legal disputes with the Cupertino company outside of the courtrooms through arbitration.
Jaoquin Almunia, the European commissioner in charge of anti-trust enforcement, said decisively that patent wars should not come at the expense of consumers.
Source
The Commission decreed that smartphone and tablet makers could no longer seek injunctions against rivals they had signed patent licensing agreements with, a step that should significantly reduce patent wars within the confines of the EU.
In light of the numerous legal disputes with rival manufacturer Apple, the EU's anti-trust enforcement office has also accepted an agreement from Samsung Electronics not to seek injunctions against rivals it currently licenses patents from. The Commission also ordered Motorola to resolve its legal disputes with the Cupertino company outside of the courtrooms through arbitration.
Jaoquin Almunia, the European commissioner in charge of anti-trust enforcement, said decisively that patent wars should not come at the expense of consumers.
"While patent holders should be fairly remunerated for the use of their intellectual property, implementers of such standards should also get access to standardized technology on fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory terms."The ruling sets a precedent that will likely be imposed on other manufacturers looking to pursue legal action against rivals within EU member countries. This should hamper the likes of Samsung and Apple, currently suing each other in more than 10 countries, from further widespread litigation - at least in the confines of the EU.
Source
Nokia unveils Q1 results: phone division sales take a hit
Nokia posted an operating profit of €304 million (11.4% of net sales) in the first quarter of this year, up from €254 million (8.1% of net sales) for the same quarter.
This will be the last but one quarter with the phone division on Nokia's books – it spent the month of April with the Finns, but as of a few days ago it's part of Microsoft. This may be sad news for fans, but financially it's good news for Nokia.
The phone division (now labeled "discontinued operations"), brought in €1.93 billion with an operating loss of €326 million. That's a decline in sales from €2.77 billion, but an increase in loss from €120 million.
Nokia's Continuing operations totaled €2.67 billion with an operating profit of €242 million. Most of the cash came from Nokia Networks - €2.33 billion (17% down from €2.8 billion in the year ago quarter).
HERE brought in €209 million in revenue (down from €216 million a year ago) with an operating profit of €10 million. Technologies raked in €131 million with an operating profit of €86 million (at a high operating margin of 65.6%).
The sale of Nokia's Devices & services division closed at a price of €5.44 billion, €170 million higher than the initial price. The Indian plant whose fate was uncertain will remain with Nokia. Nokia will produce phones for Microsoft there.
Nokia's cash and other liquid assets declined €2.3 billion over the past year, largely due to debt facilities of €1.8 billion in Q1 this year. If Nokia had sold its Devices & services division prior to Q1, gross cash would have totaled €10.5 billion, rather than the €6.9 billion it is now.
Also, Nokia is welcoming a new President and CEO - Rajeev Suri.
Hit the source link for more detailed numbers.
Source
This will be the last but one quarter with the phone division on Nokia's books – it spent the month of April with the Finns, but as of a few days ago it's part of Microsoft. This may be sad news for fans, but financially it's good news for Nokia.
The phone division (now labeled "discontinued operations"), brought in €1.93 billion with an operating loss of €326 million. That's a decline in sales from €2.77 billion, but an increase in loss from €120 million.
Nokia's Continuing operations totaled €2.67 billion with an operating profit of €242 million. Most of the cash came from Nokia Networks - €2.33 billion (17% down from €2.8 billion in the year ago quarter).
HERE brought in €209 million in revenue (down from €216 million a year ago) with an operating profit of €10 million. Technologies raked in €131 million with an operating profit of €86 million (at a high operating margin of 65.6%).
The sale of Nokia's Devices & services division closed at a price of €5.44 billion, €170 million higher than the initial price. The Indian plant whose fate was uncertain will remain with Nokia. Nokia will produce phones for Microsoft there.
Nokia's cash and other liquid assets declined €2.3 billion over the past year, largely due to debt facilities of €1.8 billion in Q1 this year. If Nokia had sold its Devices & services division prior to Q1, gross cash would have totaled €10.5 billion, rather than the €6.9 billion it is now.
Also, Nokia is welcoming a new President and CEO - Rajeev Suri.
Hit the source link for more detailed numbers.
Source
Samsung Galaxy K zoom
Available as:
Samsung Galaxy K zoom with 3G
Samsung Galaxy K zoom SM-C115 with 3G & LTE
Also known as Samsung Galaxy S5 zoom
| General | 2G Network | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - all versions |
|---|---|---|
| 3G Network | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - all versions | |
| 4G Network | LTE 800 / 850 / 900 / 1800 / 2100 / 2600 - SM-C115 | |
| SIM | Micro-SIM | |
| Announced | 2014, April | |
| Status | Coming soon. Exp. release 2014, Q2 |
| Body | Dimensions | 137.5 x 70.8 x 16.6 mm (5.41 x 2.79 x 0.65 in) |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 200 g (7.05 oz) |
| Display | Type | Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors |
|---|---|---|
| Size | 720 x 1280 pixels, 4.8 inches (~306 ppi pixel density) | |
| Multitouch | Yes | |
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Sound | Alert types | Vibration; MP3, WAV ringtones |
|---|---|---|
| Loudspeaker | Yes | |
| 3.5mm jack | Yes |
| Memory | Card slot | microSD, up to 64 GB |
|---|---|---|
| Internal | 8 GB, 2 GB RAM |
| Data | GPRS | Yes |
|---|---|---|
| EDGE | Yes | |
| Speed | HSDPA, 42 Mbps, HSUPA, 5.76 Mbps; LTE, Cat4, 50 Mbps UL, 150 Mbps DL | |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, Wi-Fi hotspot | |
| Bluetooth | Yes, v4.0 with A2DP, LE | |
| NFC | Yes | |
| USB | Yes, microUSB v2.0 (MHL), USB On-the-go |
| Camera | Primary | 20.7 MP, 5248 Ñ… 3936 pixels, auto/manual focus, 10x optical zoom (24-240mm), optical image stabilization, Xenon & LED flash |
|---|---|---|
| Features | 1/2.3'' sensor size, geo-tagging, touch focus, face and smile detection, HDR, panorama | |
| Video | Yes, 1080p@60fps | |
| Secondary | Yes, 2 MP |
| Features | OS | Android OS, v4.4.2 (KitKat) |
|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Exynos 5260 | |
| CPU | Quad-core 1.3 GHz Cortex A7 & dual-core 1.7 GHz Cortex A15 | |
| GPU | Mali-T624 | |
| Sensors | Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | |
| Messaging | SMS(threaded view), MMS, Email, Push Mail, IM, RSS | |
| Browser | HTML5 | |
| Radio | No | |
| GPS | Yes, with A-GPS support and GLONASS | |
| Java | Yes, via Java MIDP emulator | |
| Colors | Charcoal Black, Electric Blue, Shimmery White | |
| - S-Voice natural language commands and dictation - Dropbox (50 GB cloud storage) - Active noise cancellation with dedicated mic - TV-out (via MHL A/V link) - SNS integration - MP4/DivX/XviD/WMV/H.264/H.263 player - MP3/WAV/eAAC+/AC3/FLAC player - Organizer - Image/video editor - Document viewer - Google Search, Maps, Gmail, YouTube, Calendar, Google Talk, Picasa - Voice memo/dial/commands - Predictive text input (Swype) |
| Battery | Li-Ion 2430 mAh battery | |
|---|---|---|
| Stand-by | ||
| Talk time |
| Misc | SAR US | 0.51 W/kg (head) 1.07 W/kg (body) |
|---|---|---|
| SAR EU | 0.40 W/kg (head) 0.37 W/kg (body) |
Samsung Galaxy S4 zoom
 | 2G Network | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - all versions |
|---|---|---|
| 3G Network | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - all versions | |
| 4G Network | LTE (market dependent) | |
| SIM | Micro-SIM | |
| Announced | 2013, June | |
| Status | Available. Released 2013, July |
| Body | Dimensions | 125.5 x 63.5 x 15.4 mm (4.94 x 2.5 x 0.61 in) |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 208 g (7.34 oz) |
| Display | Type | Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors |
|---|---|---|
| Size | 540 x 960 pixels, 4.3 inches (~256 ppi pixel density) | |
| Multitouch | Yes | |
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Sound | Alert types | Vibration; MP3, WAV ringtones |
|---|---|---|
| Loudspeaker | Yes | |
| 3.5mm jack | Yes |
| Memory | Card slot | microSD, up to 64 GB |
|---|---|---|
| Internal | 8 GB (5 GB user available), 1.5 GB RAM |
| Data | GPRS | Yes |
|---|---|---|
| EDGE | Yes | |
| Speed | HSDPA, 21.1 Mbps; HSUPA, 5.76 Mbps; LTE, Cat3, 50 Mbps UL, 100 Mbps DL | |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, Wi-Fi hotspot | |
| Bluetooth | Yes, v4.0 with A2DP, LE | |
| NFC | Yes | |
| Infrared port | Yes | |
| USB | Yes, microUSB v2.0 (MHL), USB On-the-go |
| Camera | Primary | 16 MP, 4608 Ñ… 3456 pixels, autofocus, 10x optical zoom (24-240mm), optical image stabilization, Xenon flash, check quality |
|---|---|---|
| Features | 1/2.33'' sensor size, geo-tagging, touch focus, face and smile detection, HDR, panorama | |
| Video | Yes, 1080p@30fps, check quality | |
| Secondary | Yes, 1.9 MP |
| Features | OS | Android OS, v4.2.2 (Jelly Bean) |
|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Pega-Dual +XMM6262 | |
| CPU | Dual-core 1.5 GHz Cortex-A9 | |
| GPU | Mali-400 | |
| Sensors | Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | |
| Messaging | SMS(threaded view), MMS, Email, Push Mail, IM, RSS | |
| Browser | HTML5 | |
| Radio | No | |
| GPS | Yes, with A-GPS support and GLONASS | |
| Java | Yes, via Java MIDP emulator | |
| Colors | White, Dynamic Black | |
| - S-Voice natural language commands and dictation - Dropbox (50 GB cloud storage) - Active noise cancellation with dedicated mic - TV-out (via MHL A/V link) - SNS integration - MP4/DivX/XviD/WMV/H.264/H.263 player - MP3/WAV/eAAC+/AC3/FLAC player - Organizer - Image/video editor - Document viewer - Google Search, Maps, Gmail, YouTube, Calendar, Google Talk, Picasa - Voice memo/dial/commands - Predictive text input (Swype) |
| Battery | Li-Ion 2330 mAh battery | |
|---|---|---|
| Stand-by | (2G) / Up to 570 h (3G) | |
| Talk time | (2G) / Up to 13 h (3G) | |
| Music play | Up to 46 h |
| Misc | SAR US | 0.35 W/kg (head) 1.05 W/kg (body) |
|---|---|---|
| SAR EU | 0.14 W/kg (head) 0.20 W/kg (body) | |
| Price group |  |
| Tests | Display | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) / 3.118:1 (sunlight) |
|---|---|---|
| Loudspeaker | Voice 73dB / Noise 66dB / Ring 75dB | |
| Audio quality | Noise -91.5dB / Crosstalk -90.5dB | |
| Camera | Photo / Video | |
| Battery life |
Sprint's G Flex and Verizon's Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 get KitKat
The firmware update for the curved LG smartphone brings performance improvements, updated status and navigation bars, improved battery life, Knock Code feature and cloud printing.
The update process is gradual though it has already begun and should be completed by May 7.
Samsung is also rolling out an Android 4.4 KitKat update. It's for the Verizon's Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 Edition and includes faster multi-tasking, could printing, multi-user mode and immersive mode (automatic full screen mode). There are also the usual bug fixes
.
Both updates are available over-the-air or via manufacturers' dedicated update tools.
Sprint | Verizon | Via
Rumored Galaxy S5 Prime spotted in India
There have been some murmurs that Samsung, in an effort to grab some of HTC's premium phone market share (and undoubtedly the upcoming iPhone 6's), release a high-end version of their Galaxy S5 phone, called the S5 Prime. The upgraded version of the Korean manufacturer's latest flagship is supposed to have an aluminum encasing, 2K screen, and 3GB RAM.
Now Samsung has been mum on their plans with the Samsung Galaxy S5 prime, and haven't even acknowledged that they're working on the device, but it seems to be a pretty poorly kept secret with a series of leaks hinting at the phone's development.
The latest development is an Indian shipping manifest that shows a device with a code number SM-G906S, which is supposed to be a regional version of the Galaxy S5 Prime.
The G906S has also shown up on GFXBench, with the following specs detailed:
•5.2-inch 2560×1440 display
•2.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 quad-core processor •with Adreno 420 GPU
•3GB of RAM
•32GB of storage
•16 MP rear/ 2MP front-facing camera
•Android 4.4.2 KitKat
We have to yet to see if these rumors are going to turn out true, and in the meantime, we'll just be forced to play the waiting game. Let's say that these leaks are credible and Samsung is indeed planning on releasing a premium version of the S5, would you be willing to pay a premium price for a premium S5?
Source
Now Samsung has been mum on their plans with the Samsung Galaxy S5 prime, and haven't even acknowledged that they're working on the device, but it seems to be a pretty poorly kept secret with a series of leaks hinting at the phone's development.
The latest development is an Indian shipping manifest that shows a device with a code number SM-G906S, which is supposed to be a regional version of the Galaxy S5 Prime.
The G906S has also shown up on GFXBench, with the following specs detailed:
•5.2-inch 2560×1440 display
•2.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 quad-core processor •with Adreno 420 GPU
•3GB of RAM
•32GB of storage
•16 MP rear/ 2MP front-facing camera
•Android 4.4.2 KitKat
We have to yet to see if these rumors are going to turn out true, and in the meantime, we'll just be forced to play the waiting game. Let's say that these leaks are credible and Samsung is indeed planning on releasing a premium version of the S5, would you be willing to pay a premium price for a premium S5?
Source
Samsung Galaxy S5 Neo leaks again, 5.1-inch display in tow
The Samsung device that goes by the model number SM-G750 has popped up again on an Indian import database site Zauba. We've seen the model number before and speculations suggest it could turn out be the Galaxy S5 Neo. In its previous leak it sported a screen resolution of 720 x 1280 pixels and an 2.3 GHz CPU.
Though the new leak we gather some new information - the screen size is slated as a 5.1" - the same as the Galaxy S5. The SM-G750 is listed as SM-G750A, SM-G750F and SM-G750H - probably regional options for different markets.
Previously it was though the SM-G750 is the Galaxy S5 mini but that goes by the name of SM-G800 and sports a 4.5" display.
Sadly that's all the info we get at this point. Hopefully the Galaxy S5 Neo goes official and we get some solid information soon.
Source | Via (in Dutch)
Though the new leak we gather some new information - the screen size is slated as a 5.1" - the same as the Galaxy S5. The SM-G750 is listed as SM-G750A, SM-G750F and SM-G750H - probably regional options for different markets.
Previously it was though the SM-G750 is the Galaxy S5 mini but that goes by the name of SM-G800 and sports a 4.5" display.
Sadly that's all the info we get at this point. Hopefully the Galaxy S5 Neo goes official and we get some solid information soon.
Source | Via (in Dutch)
Samsung announces the Galaxy K zoom camera phone
Samsung has officially announced the Galaxy K zoom camera phone, the successor to the Galaxy S4 zoom launched last year. Like its predecessor, the Galaxy K zoom combines a regular smartphone with the hardware of a point and shoot camera.
On the smartphone side, the Galaxy K zoom has a 4.8-inch, 1280x720 resolution Super AMOLED display, Exynos 5 Hexa SoC with six CPU cores comprising of four 1.3GHz ARM Cortex A7 and two 1.7GHz ARM Cortex A15; along with a Mali-T624 GPU, 2GB RAM, 8GB internal memory with microSD support (up to 64GB), LTE, Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, NFC, 2,430mAh battery and Android 4.4 KitKat.
The Galaxy K zoom will be available in May in black, white and blue for €499.
Source
On the smartphone side, the Galaxy K zoom has a 4.8-inch, 1280x720 resolution Super AMOLED display, Exynos 5 Hexa SoC with six CPU cores comprising of four 1.3GHz ARM Cortex A7 and two 1.7GHz ARM Cortex A15; along with a Mali-T624 GPU, 2GB RAM, 8GB internal memory with microSD support (up to 64GB), LTE, Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, NFC, 2,430mAh battery and Android 4.4 KitKat.
The Galaxy K zoom will be available in May in black, white and blue for €499.
Source
More alleged details on HTC M8 Ace make the rounds online
More alleged details on the previously leaked HTC M8 Ace made the rounds online. According to a report in Engadget, the yet to be announced smartphone will offer Samsung Galaxy S5-matching specs for significantly less money.
The HTC M8 Ace will reportedly feature plastic unibody design, similar to the one seen in HTC Desire 610. The specs are tipped to include a 5” 1080p display and Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 SoC with 2.5GHz quad-core CPU.
Most importantly, the launch price of the smartphone is said to be CN¥3,000 (around $480).This means that the M8 Ace will significantly undercut the Samsung Galaxy S5 when available.
Source
The HTC M8 Ace will reportedly feature plastic unibody design, similar to the one seen in HTC Desire 610. The specs are tipped to include a 5” 1080p display and Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 SoC with 2.5GHz quad-core CPU.
Most importantly, the launch price of the smartphone is said to be CN¥3,000 (around $480).This means that the M8 Ace will significantly undercut the Samsung Galaxy S5 when available.
Source
LG Q1 2014 results show 12.3 million smartphones sold
LG's financial report for Q1 2014 is out and things are looking good for the Korean company as it managed to ship 12.3 million smartphones for the period. That's a 19% increase compared to the same quarter of 2013 and helped LG's mobile division to ramp up its revenue to KRW3.41 trillion ($3.19 billion) - a 6% YoY increase.
Out of the 12.3 million smartphones, 5 million were LTE-enabled, which is the highest the company has sold in a quarter so far.
Additionally, the financial results press release points to the launch of the upcoming LG G3 in Q2. Not only did it confirm the name of the phone, but it also confirmed the launch of more L-series III smartphones.
We saw the LG G3 leak in an exclusive picture sent to us by a tipster. The rear-mounted keys are here to stay and the phone is rumored to pack 3GB of RAM and a 5.5" QHD display. We also saw a bunch of screenshot depicting the phone's latest Optimus UI with a flatter design.
Overall, the company's Q1 net profit marks a 319% yearly increase - to KRW92.60 billion ($86.62 million). The consolidated first-quarter revenues are KRW 14.27 trillion (USD 13.35 billion). Compared to the same quarter in 2013, that's a 1.2% increase.
Source
Out of the 12.3 million smartphones, 5 million were LTE-enabled, which is the highest the company has sold in a quarter so far.
Additionally, the financial results press release points to the launch of the upcoming LG G3 in Q2. Not only did it confirm the name of the phone, but it also confirmed the launch of more L-series III smartphones.
We saw the LG G3 leak in an exclusive picture sent to us by a tipster. The rear-mounted keys are here to stay and the phone is rumored to pack 3GB of RAM and a 5.5" QHD display. We also saw a bunch of screenshot depicting the phone's latest Optimus UI with a flatter design.
Overall, the company's Q1 net profit marks a 319% yearly increase - to KRW92.60 billion ($86.62 million). The consolidated first-quarter revenues are KRW 14.27 trillion (USD 13.35 billion). Compared to the same quarter in 2013, that's a 1.2% increase.
Source
Samsung’s Q1 2014 results reveal a net profit of $8.2billion
Samsung released its 1 2014 earnings report. In line with the earnings guidance from earlier this month, the Korean giant posted a net profit of 8.5 trillion won ($8.2 billion) from 53.68 trillion won ($51.8 billion) of revenue.
The company’s net profit took a 3% dip compared to the same period last year. Samsung attributed the second straight fall of quarterly profit to a weakness in the market for flat-screen panels and maturing high-end smartphone segment.
Samsung’s mobile division raked in an operating profit of 6.43 trillion Won ($6.2 billion USD) for the quarter. The number is down 1.2% from a year ago, but 18% up compared to the previous quarter.
Unsurprisingly, Samsung Galaxy S5 is expected to lead increased demand over next quarter, despite continued weak seasonality. Samsung expects its current flagship to outsell its predecessor, the Galaxy S4.
Going forward, Samsung expects its profits to increase in the next quarter thanks to improved sales of display panels and home appliances. The upcoming World Cup in Brazil is expected to be a major sales booster for the company.
Source | Via
The company’s net profit took a 3% dip compared to the same period last year. Samsung attributed the second straight fall of quarterly profit to a weakness in the market for flat-screen panels and maturing high-end smartphone segment.
Samsung’s mobile division raked in an operating profit of 6.43 trillion Won ($6.2 billion USD) for the quarter. The number is down 1.2% from a year ago, but 18% up compared to the previous quarter.
Unsurprisingly, Samsung Galaxy S5 is expected to lead increased demand over next quarter, despite continued weak seasonality. Samsung expects its current flagship to outsell its predecessor, the Galaxy S4.
Going forward, Samsung expects its profits to increase in the next quarter thanks to improved sales of display panels and home appliances. The upcoming World Cup in Brazil is expected to be a major sales booster for the company.
Source | Via
BlackBerry Z3 goes on pre-order, specs finally detailed
Aside from the standard Z3 there will also be a Jakarta Edition, which will have the name of the Indonesian capital engraved on its back panel. The special version will be available for a limited time to commemorate the launch of the first BB smartphone built for the Indonesian market.
Just as previously promised, the device will cost under $200 - BlackBerry expects a price of IDR 2,199,000 (amounting to around €137 and $190). We also got a recap of the specs of the smartphone - there wasn't much info about those when the Z30 was announced.
The BlackBerry Z3 has a 5" qHD (540 x 960) display, 8 GB of expandable on-board storage, 1.5 GB of RAM to accompany the dual-core 1.2 GHz Snapdragon 200 processor. The cameras are a 5 MP unit on the back along with a 1.1 MP 720p unit on the front.
There are no physical QWERTY keyboards here, this is a full touch device. The BlackBerry Z3 will carry BlackBerry OS version 10.2.1 and be powered by a 2,500 mAh battery.
Sadly word on availability outside the Indonesian market wasn't given.
Source | Via
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