Microsoft and Nokia have already seeded the GDR3+Lumia Black update to Lumia 1020, 925, 920 and 820, while the Lumia 1520 is running it out of the box. As of today Lumia 625 has also joined the Lumia Black bandwagon.
Nokia Lumia 625 phones in various countries around the globe are already getting the notification for both the Windows Phone 8 GDR3 update and Nokia's Lumia Black improvements. In case your Lumia 625 isn't among those, you should be getting the update very soon as well.
The WP8 GDR3 update now allows you to close apps from the app switching UI, it also brings auto rotation on/off switch, Driving Mode, Bluetooth tethering, better storage management, custom ringtones for messages, and new accessibility options. Nokia's Lumia Black also update adds Bluetooth 4.0LE support.
Now that both updates have been optimized for Lumia phones with 512MB RAM so they work on the Lumia 625, we expect Lumia 520, 620 and 720 to get their updates shortly.
Huawei's ex-flagship, the Ascend P6, may have its downsides -- it's certainly not as widely available as competing models from Huawei's rivals, and it sure could make use of a more powerful processor -- yet nobody can contest that it is one sexy device.
The previous record holder for the world's slimmest smartphone (just 6.18mm!), the P6 has been one of Huawei's most popular models, and the company appears intent on further cashing in on its success by introducing a budget version of the phone. This is strictly unconfirmed, of course, but China's FCC-equivalent body, Tenaa, has certified a device bearing a model number G6-T00 and an unmistakable similarity with the P6. Chinese blog MyDrivers has further dug out some specific hardware intel from the listing and it reads pleasantly, granted that Huawei manages a very low price point. Included within is a quad-core, 1.3GHz MediaTek MT6582 built on a 28nm process, 1GB of RAM, a 8-megapixel rear shooter and a 5-megapixel front one. There's also apparently a slot for microSD card expansion, and despite its likely budget tag, the Android 4.2.2-touting phone is still super slender, with dimensions measured at 130 x 65 x 7.5mm. Lastly, based on the dimensions of the phone, MyDrivers is guessing a diagonal length of 4.5-inches, though this is obviously up in the air. As to when we might get to see this more frugal version of the P6, we simply don't know.
Huawei G6-T00Fullscreen
Ofcom has just announced it's going to free up satellite bandwidth to allow superfast internet access on trains, planes and boats in the UK.
The new broadband speeds should deliver ten times faster connections than are currently available while also being more stable. That means around 10Mbit/sec for each passenger.
The technology works using earth stations on vehicles which recieve large amounts of data from satellites in geostationary orbit. This method of connection will track the satellite closely for a stable connection, even at high speeds. Each earth station can receive up to 50Mbit/sec.
Philip Marnick, group director of spectrum at Ofcom, said: "We want travellers to benefit from superfast broadband on the move at the kind of speeds they expect from their connection at home."
"Today’s decision means that operators of trains, boats and planes will soon be able to begin the process of making these valuable services available to their passengers."
Ofcom expects to accept applications to license ship-mounted earth stations by February, and is working on aircraft versions now for a similar release time. Train based earth stations should be good to go by this summer.
It can be hard to tell at times when the videos you are watching on YouTube are legitimate content created because someone likes what they are showing off or when they are paid to produce the content. That line between paid content and normal content is a bit murkier on YouTube thanks to a marketing campaign that has surfaced from Microsoft. The campaign paid YouTube video partners to produce video content mentioning the Xbox One.
The photo you see above promoting the advertising campaign for Machinima video partners on YouTube surfaced recently. Microsoft is paying these video partners on YouTube to make and post videos that mention the new Microsoft game console, the Xbox One.
Microsoft is paying $3 per CPM for the videos. That means Microsoft will pay the video partner an extra $3 for each 1000 views the video gets. Considering some popular videos can generate tens of thousands of views, this program could pay out significant money to the video partners. The program limits payouts to the first 1.25 million views meaning that the video maker could earn a max of $3750 for the video.
The advertising campaign required the video partners to include at least 30 seconds of Xbox One game footage and mention the console by name. The video also had to have the tag "XB1M13" listed. The legal terms behind the campaign also leaked and clearly state that to get the money the video producers can't say anything negative about the Xbox One or any of its games in the video and have to keep the terms of the advertising campaign confidential.
SOURCE: ArsTechnica
Earlier this month it was announced that the Beats Music service would be launching on the iPhone on January 21. With January 21 here, the Beats Music service has now officially launched. The music service is available for iPhone users via an app on the App Store.
The app pushes the big features that Beats Music hopes will set it apart from the other music streaming services out there. Beats Music is focusing heavily on customization and curation. One of the big features is called Right Now. It will offer music based on data that the user enters to answer questions.
The data entered includes things like what the user is feeling, what they are doing, whom they are with, and what sort of music genre they want. The feature will then make an endless playlist for the user based on their answers and mood that will play from the songs in the Beats Music database. Reports indicate the question with the most bearing on the playlist is the music genre the user wants with answers on other questions not affecting the playlist much.
The app also offers music recommendations by genre and allows you to find playlists constructed by friends. Another big feature is a curated playlist from what the service claims are music experts from the industry. Beats Music is available now in the US for $9.99 per month. A free 7-day trial is available to let you try it out before you buy.
SOURCE: 9to5mac.com
Sony D6503 Sirius details are leaking as if we are very close to unveiling, which leads us to the thought we might indeed see it appear at the MWC expo next month, just as rumored. We saw it earlier next to the Xperia Z1, and now we get screenshots of its Timescape interface, sitting on top of Android 4.4.2 KitKat.
The screens reveal that new features are in store with Sony's upcoming flagship refresh - 4K video recording from the 20 MP camera gets confirmed, as was rumored before, as well as a Glove mode for the screen, meaning you can operate it out on the ski lift, like any self-respecting Lumia these days. In the Storage settings we are also seeing that the phone will sport 16 GB of internal memory, plus a microSD slot for expansion, just as expected.
There are numerous other tweaks like another homescreen option for visually impaired, smart backlight control, USB DAC control, notification and quick settings tabs in the status bar, as well as a whole lot of transparencies and full-screen wallpapers, brought along by KitKat.
The USB amp option should be a hint that Sony has some plans for the Sirius to be a music-oriented handset, not only a cameraphone, and looking at the leaked pics of the actual device below, we are seeing two front speakers, not one, which are most likely stereo, like the HTC One pieces. One sits just above the LED notification light, the other is at the bottom, over what looks sophisticated noise-canceling mic setup at the bottom of the phone. Plenty to look forward to in Sony D6503 Sirius, it seems, and it might even be worthy of being called the Z2, if all these rumors pan out, especially if it arrives with a QHD panel.
HTC has published the UA Prof file for what seems like the HTC M8 (aka the successor to the HTC One), allegedly confirming its existence and the fact that the device will feature a 1080 x 1920-pixel display. User Agent Profile (UA Prof) files are specification files that describe the model, screen size and other features of the device before it gets officialized. Making such a file is not obligatory, but usually when published, this is done by the phone maker itself (in this case from HTC), and is a near-official confirmation of a device.
While the resolution of the HTC M8 is not expected to change from that of last year's HTC One, the size of the display is actually expected to go up slightly. The HTC M8 is rumored to have a screen of at least 5 inches in diagonal, but not larger than 5.9 inches. What does this mean? First and foremost, pixel peepers might be disappointed to learn that the newest HTC flagship won't match the oft rumored 2014 trend of QHD (1440 x 2560-pixel) displays.
To most people and even sharp-eyed consumers, though, we expect the difference between QHD and 1080p displays to be barely visible, so we would not necessarily count this as a flaw. Moreover, a device with a 1080p display would actually perform better as it has to process much less pixels than a QHD phone, and this might be a compromise some are willing to make.
Even without a QHD display, there is something else about the HTC M8 that makes it extremely interesting, and that’s the rumored twin-sensor rear camera. The twin sensors are said to improve the focusing ability, the depth of field and image quality of the M8’s camera, and we’re looking forward to seeing the possibilities that may come with it.
The handset is also said to retain a similar design and visual aesthetics to those of the original HTC One, but get beefier under the hood with a newer version of the Qualcomm Snapdragon system chip (we’d bet on either a newer version of Snapdragon 800, or the Snapdragon 805). Luckily, it’s also said to get released in just a couple of months, by the end of March, when all these rumors will be put to rest - brace yourselves, the wait won’t be too long.
The FCC today approved two unannounced Lenovo tablets - the A7600 and A5500 - sadly without revealing too much about them. Searching for more details, we discovered that both devices have been approved in China, too.
The Lenovo A5500 (the only of the two that’s being pictured) seemingly features an 8-inch IPS display with 800 x 1280 pixels, a quad-core 1.3GHz MediaTek processor, Dolby Mobile sound, and an 8MP rear camera. A recent GFXbench listing confirms the 1.3GHz processor, the 800 x 1280 pixels display, and Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean.
The Lenovo A7600 appears to have the same screen size as the A5500. The higher model number could mean that it has a higher pixel resolution - but we can’t be sure of this for now. In any case, this is also an Android tablet.
While the A7600 and A5500 models approved by the FCC are Wi-Fi-only, the ones certified in China have cellular connectivity (3G), and can make voice calls.
We don’t know when the two Lenovo tablets will be announced, but we assume it will happen in the near future. Both could be part of Lenovo’s IdeaTab series, which includes affordable tablets like the IdeaPad A1000 and IdeaPad A3000.
Hot on the heels of the AT&T pricing and availability announcement in the United States, LG spilled the beans on the European arrival of the curved G Flex. The phablet will officially make its way to over twenty European markets beginning next month.
Users in major markets such as the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Sweden, and Austria will be among the first to be offered the LG G Flex. The manufacturer is yet to release the complete list of European countries which will officially receive the device. The same goes for pricing and availability of the phablet (don’t expect it to come cheap though).
If we could put extra stress on the "may" of that headline, we certainly would. Right off the top, this is a rumor based on DigiTimes' least reliable source group - the nebulous "upstream supply chain". According to those upstream supply chain sources, Google may be aiming to ditch the 7-inch tablet market in favor of building a Nexus 8 for 2014.
Supposedly, Google is finding demand for this year's Nexus 7 as being weaker than expected, and since there is quite a bit of competition from other budget devices in the 7-inch segment; so, Google is setting its sights on an 8-inch tablet. The sources don't think it is likely that Asus will be losing the orders for the Nexus 8, but that is certainly not clear. We should know better what company has the orders after February. Additionally, sources are making it sound possible that Google could use the Intel Bay Trail-T for the device, but Qualcomm isn't out of the running.
There are quite a few tablets all competing for the 7-inch space, including the Nexus 7, Amazon Kindle Fire, Samsung Galaxy Tab, and countless budget offerings that you'd find in Walmart. The competition is much lighter in the 8-inch space (something Apple may have realized when designing the iPad mini.) The only real options in the 8-inch space are the iPad mini, LG G Pad 8.3, and Samsung Galaxy Tab 8 (soon to be replaced with the Tab Pro 8.4). So, it's not out of the realm of possibility that Google will do this, we're waiting on more confirmation before believing it.
source: DigiTimes
Chris Davies
Nokia's Lumia 1520 grabbed the bulk of the headlines at the company's Abu Dhabi event last October, but it wasn't the only phablet the company brought along. In addition to the 6-inch flagship there was another, more affordable phone, the Nokia Lumia 1320, trading some of the high-end specs in favor of mass-market appeal. Question is, with a lower resolution display and the sacrifice of PureView, has Nokia trimmed too much to make the Lumia 1320 a hit? Read on for the full review.
Hardware and Design
Compare the two phones, and the similarities are clear. Nokia describes the Lumia 1320 as a "large screen 4G business smartphone" but those who want movies on the move will find appeal here too: the 6-inch screen may only run at 1280 x 720 resolution - rather than the Full HD of the Lumia 1520 - but it still uses Nokia's ClearBlack IPS LCD technology for solid outdoor visibility and good viewing angles. It's also a super-sensitive touchscreen, which means you can use it while still wearing gloves.
The plastic frame looks like an enlarged version of the Lumia 720, with gently curved edges and bright colors. It fits into the hand comfortably, though the 164.2 x 85.9 x 9.8 mm size means it's a large device. Nokia offers it in black, white, orangey-red, and yellow, depending on how colorful you're feeling, though since it's removable you can swap it out for a different finish if the mood takes you. Even though it may not be as high-tier as the Lumia 1520, it still feels solid and well constructed.
Inside, you get a 1.7GHz dualcore Snapdragon S4 processor paired with 1GB of memory and 8GB of storage. That's on the low side for a modern smartphone, but Nokia has sensibly used some of that big chassis to accommodate a microSD card slot for adding up to 64GB more. Connectivity includes LTE, WiFi b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, and a microUSB 2.0 port, but there's no NFC or 802.11ac support. Still, neither are likely to be deal-breakers to the Lumia 1320's target audience.
Software and Performance
The Lumia 1320 runs Windows Phone 8 with Nokia's Lumia Black software update. The Metro UI homescreen is by now familiar, as are Nokia's custom apps, most of which overlap what we saw on the Lumia 1520.
It remains a comprehensive suite for the new-to-smartphones user, especially if you're jumping ship from Android or iOS. HERE Drive and HERE Maps remain some of the better free mapping and navigation options, with spoken guidance, offline maps, street-level photography, and Nokia's LiveSight augmented-reality system that overlays nearby points of interest on top of a live feed from the camera.
Nokia MixRadio, meanwhile, delivers free streaming audio, though there's also Xbox Music and Spotify apps out there if you'd rather a different platform. The Lumia 1320 also has an FM radio. Business users get Windows Phone's usual Office integration, while gamers get Microsoft's still criminally-undercapitalized Xbox LIVE integration. Nokia also throws in some special camera apps of its own, which we'll cover in the next section.
Performance-wise, though you're two cores and a few megahertz down on the Lumia 1520, the 1320 runs well. In SunSpider, the test of browser JavaScript performance, the 1320 completed the test in 698.7ms (faster is better); in contrast, the 1520 completed it in 542.3ms. Differences in everyday use are minimal, however.
Our biggest complaint from the Lumia 1520 is unfortunately carried over to the Lumia 1320: Windows Phone works on phablet-scale devices, but it doesn't really take advantage of them. The homescreen gets an extra column for Live Tiles but other than that the interface is basically blown-up, not made more detailed. The on-screen keyboard, for instance, still occupies roughly half of the display, when it really could be smaller and leave more space for the apps you're actually using.
Camera
The biggest difference between the 1320 and its more expensive sibling is the camera. Whereas the Lumia 1520 gets a version of Nokia's PureView technology, complete with lossless digital zooming and better image quality through pixel clustering, the Lumia 1320 has a far more mainstream 5-megapixel camera on the back and a VGA-resolution camera on the front.
You also get a pared-back version of the camera app we saw on the 1520, since you lack the full extent of the features the PureView optics allow. Nonetheless, there's still Nokia Creative Studio for piecing together multi-stage images based on rapid sequential shots, cutting out unwanted objects in-frame, and tweaking things like color and contrast. Cinemagraph creates moving shots, while Nokia Glam Me smooths out your skin tone and makes other tweaks to beautify you, though it can leave people looking a little like plastic store dummies, and the low resolution front camera is seriously underwhelming.
Things get a little better with the main camera, though it's certainly not in the top tier of Nokia's line-up. Close-ups have a good amount of detail, and the camera snaps frames quickly - particularly if you use touch-focus - but in broader scenes the lack of megapixels demonstrates its limitations, introducing noise and fuzz. Colors tend to be subdued.
Phone and Battery
In-call performance proved satisfactory, though at times the people we called complained we were quiet or a little echoey. That's despite the Lumia 1320 having active noise cancellation, though probably simply a matter of the size of the handset bringing the microphone further away from our mouths.
Despite the interchangeable back covers, the Lumia 1320's battery is non-removable. Happily, then, it's a sizable 3,400 mAh pack, which Nokia rates for up to 21hrs of 3G talk time, a month of standby, up to 98hrs of music playback, or 11.5hrs of WiFi browsing.
In practice, we made it through a couple of days use - with push-email turned on, and completing everyday tasks including some media playback, internet browsing, HERE Maps navigation, and photography - on a single charge. That's impressive for a modern smartphone, where nightly recharges have become the norm.
Wrap-Up
We like Windows Phone, and we like Nokia's design and many of its custom apps, but like its more expensive sibling the Lumia 1320 doesn't make the very most of its hardware. Having a huge screen is great for media playback - even at 720p resolution, not 1080p - but whereas it could have given email, messaging, and other apps more room to shine, the UI is just like that of smaller Windows Phones only enlarged.
It's a missed opportunity, but perhaps it matters less on the Lumia 1320 than it did on the 1520. Unfortunately, without Nokia's excellent PureView system the camera on the phone is only average, though battery life is great and we like the sturdy build quality.
In the end, while size matters, it's also what you do with it that really counts, and we're not sure Windows Phone yet does enough to warrant phablet-scale for every user. Although some groups will find enough to love about the Lumia 1320's screen, Microsoft needs to do a little more to refine its OS to deliver on its half of the bargain. That will undoubtedly come in time, but for now we'd be more tempted by one of Nokia's smaller Lumia devices, particularly those with PureView cameras.
Google+ user Nikolai Prettner has posted an unofficial concept of the next-generation HTC One (M8) handset, and we wouldn't mind if his predictions were to come true.
The next-generation HTC One is expected to keep a close design to the first-generation with a few subtle changes. As shown by Prettner, when you cut down on the HTC One's bezels and get rid of the capacitive touch buttons, the handset becomes even more stylish.
There haven't been many leaks for the new HTC One. The only images so far have shown afingerprint sensor on the rear - not much has been suggested about the front of the device. Of course, Prettner's mock-up is all guessing and hopefulness, but if he was spot-on HTC would have quite the stylish device on its hands.
The handset is expected to carry a larger 5-inch 1080p display, 2.3GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 processor with 2GB of RAM, 16GB of storage, a bigger 2,900mAh battery, microSD slot for expandable storage and Android 4.4 KitKat. Other sources have suggested the presence of two sensors for the camera too, with some Lytro light field effects possible.
The next HTC One is expected to launch soon. During a patent trial in late-2013, a Nokia lawyer brought evidence that HTC will launch the "HTC One Two" in the first quarter of 2014. HTC's lawyer didn't dispute Nokia's claim, and it left the judge to take Nokia's statement as valid.
For now, concepts like Prettner's will have to hold us over until we see more leaks or something official from HTC.
For the Apple developers out there, the latest beta for iOS 7.1 -- beta 4 -- has rolled out for the newest round of testing festivities. This release follows close on the heels of the beta 3 release, which hit developers' proverbial digital shelves earlier this month. Those who are registered can check out the full details in the iOS 7 release notes, and can nab the beta from the developer center or OTA.
This latest release is build 11D5134c, and with it comes Xcode 5.2 Developer Preview 4, as well as an Apple TV beta software update. As some who have already grabbed it pointed out, there's also a somewhat "shinier" Slide to Unlock animation, which can perhaps be considered polish upon the user interface changes that arrived with Beta 3.
Beyond that, the changes are less glamorous and more of the under-the-hood variety. The software itself is a modest 112MB, and as always, "should only be deployed on devices dedicated for iOS 7.1 beta software development." Some bug fixes come with the update in addition to the various improvements.
The average public user, of course, is still running on iOS 7.0.4, which rolled out late last year. When iOS 7.1 will be hitting the mainstream, so to speak, isn't yet known, though the clock is narrowing in. Hit up our timeline below for more iOS 7 news, and drop us a comment if you've already updated and found something interested in the latest beta release.
SOURCE: MacRumors
Hoyo is a new Kickstarter project that plans to keep your phone dry while you're in the shower.
We've all been in this situation before: you get an important call or text message while sopping wet, and are unable to answer without getting your phone drenched. Sometimes you may even want to control your music from the shower or watch a video.
The Hoyo allows you to slip your phone into a protective, waterproof pocket and take it in the shower with you. You get full control over the smartphone while hanging it by suction cup, and can even hear sound streaming out so you can jam along to the latest Miley Cyrus track while soaping your hair.
Given the Hoyo is a Kickstarter project, the company is trying to raise money to bring the product to market. For £12/$25 you get one Hoyo that can be hung in your shower or another wet and dusty climate like the garden. The funding period lasts until March, with estimated delivery set for June 2014.
On March 31st, Apple and Samsung are scheduled to start the second patent trial between the two rivals. Judge Lucy Koh has sent both sides off to try to work out a settlement deal so as to avoid the headaches, mudslinging and sparring that took place during the first trial. And that was only what went on between the media! But in all seriousness, Judge Koh has ordered that both sides get together on or before February 19th.
If Apple does offer a settlement package, it will probably include an anti-cloning stipulation, something that HTC agreed to when it signed its deal with Apple. This provision would allow Apple to sue Samsung, even after a settlement is agreed to, if Apple feels that Samsung's design on a device resembles the design on an Apple device. One important part of the stipulation says that Apple could invoke this provision if Samsung's offending design could be easily avoided by a "designaround".
Samsung sees the anti-cloning provision as something that could get in the way of its goal of ruling the smartphone industry throughout the world. Samsung has been telling the court that Apple's settlement offers to it have not included an anti-cloning provision. As far as Apple's Chief Intellectual Property Counsel B.J. Watrous is concerned, Samsung's statements are incorrect. This issue is important because Apple's willingness to license its patents can actually hurt its chances to get an injunction issued in court. So Apple is trying to say that while it is working on a settlement, it isn't willing to give up everything. Samsung is saying that Apple never brought up the anti-cloning issue, trying to show Apple's willingness to license its patents. Ah, Law. Don't you love it?
For those who want to look at some actual court documents, we have Apple's reply in support of a permanent injunction against Samsung, below.
Google+ user Nikolai Prettner has posted an unofficial concept of the next-generation HTC One (M8) handset, and we wouldn't mind if his predictions were to come true.
The next-generation HTC One is expected to keep a close design to the first-generation with a few subtle changes. As shown by Prettner, when you cut down on the HTC One's bezels and get rid of the capacitive touch buttons, the handset becomes even more stylish.
There haven't been many leaks for the new HTC One. The only images so far have shown afingerprint sensor on the rear - not much has been suggested about the front of the device. Of course, Prettner's mock-up is all guessing and hopefulness, but if he was spot-on HTC would have quite the stylish device on its hands.
The handset is expected to carry a larger 5-inch 1080p display, 2.3GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 processor with 2GB of RAM, 16GB of storage, a bigger 2,900mAh battery, microSD slot for expandable storage and Android 4.4 KitKat. Other sources have suggested the presence of two sensors for the camera too, with some Lytro light field effects possible.
The next HTC One is expected to launch soon. During a patent trial in late-2013, a Nokia lawyer brought evidence that HTC will launch the "HTC One Two" in the first quarter of 2014. HTC's lawyer didn't dispute Nokia's claim, and it left the judge to take Nokia's statement as valid.
For now, concepts like Prettner's will have to hold us over until we see more leaks or something official from HTC.
Sony’s unannounced D6503 appeared in some leaked photos over the weekend, this suggesting that the Japanese company may officially unveil the smartphone soon.
Today, XperiaBlog reportedly confirmed some of the features of the upcoming handset, also noting that this is the same device previously rumored to be codenamed Xperia Sirius. According to the blog, it’s been confirmed that the D6503 / Sirius features: a 5.2-inch display with 1080 x 1920 pixels, a 2.3GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 MSM-8974-AB processor (which may also be included in HTC’s rumored One+ / M8), Adreno 330 GPU, 3GB of RAM, a 20.7MP rear camera, and a 2.1MP camera on the front.
We still don’t know if the D6503 / Sirius will be called Xperia Z2. Sony might announce the new handset at MWC next month, possibly alongside the 5-inch Xperia Canopus.
Some screenshots allegedly presenting the UI of the D6503 were posted by XperiaBlog, as well as in a thread at the XDA Developers forum. It’s said that the screenshots date from November 2013 - that’s why they show Android 4.3 Jelly Bean running on the device. But the handset should run Android 4.4.2 KitKat at launch, so the UI will be different. You can see the screenshots below.
Sony D6503 / Sirius UI screenshotsFullscreen
Most of us in Europe and North America try not think about how much we're getting smoked by Asia in terms of internet speeds, but here's another reminder: residents in South Korea will soon enjoy 300Mbps wireless on the nation's largest carrier, SK Telecom. That follows on the heels of a similar effort by CSL in Hong Kong, which achieved the same speed by combining two 20MHz LTE bands. However, the Korean carrier is using so-called LTE-Advanced 3-band carrier aggregation tech, which combines one 20MHz and two 10MHz bands. Before residents there can download the proverbial 800MB movie in 22 seconds, though, the new format will have to be standardized globally and adopted by smartphone and chip makers, a process SK said is underway. While you're mulling that, the carrier will actually be showcasing even better 450Mbps tech in February at Mobile World Congress -- so enjoy your 75Mbps max LTE, citizens.
Apple may launch the iPhone 6 with a 4.7-inch screen at WWDC in June and follow-up with a 5.7-inch iPhone later in the year.
According to Chinese analyst Sun Chyang Xu, who predicted the Moto X ahead of time, the new iPhone 6 is going into production next month. He says this will be a trail production with full scale manufacturing in May - just in time for WWDC in June.
The iPhone 6 will come with a 4.7-inch display which, Chyan Xu claims, will be the same 1136 x 640 resolution screen as the current model. A higher resolution will appear on the larger 5.7-inch model which will follow later in the year. Despite the shift in release dates we'd expect both to be announced at the same time at the 10 June WWDC.
That being said Apple has exhausted it's easy growth through distribution expansion as it's arrived in China. Now it's likely the fruit giant will need to have more than one phone launch a year - hence the two sized handsets. Whether that will mean another launch event other than WWDC is unclear but it would be a first for Apple.
Little else is known at this early stage. Expect to hear more after the crazy announcement-fest that is Mobile World Congress in February.
Mechanical buttons and dials may be nearing extinction in most modern electronics, but one area where they remain loved and appreciated is among camera enthusiasts. Fujifilm's next iteration promises to satisfy these desires with a gluttonous variety of physical control — there are dedicated dials for exposure, shutter speed, and ISO, while a closer inspection of the teaser image suggests there are even dials under the dials.
MORE MANUAL CONTROLS THAN YOU'LL KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH
Fujifilm is celebrating the 80th anniversary of its founding today by revealing the look of its next major camera and the date of its full unveiling: January 28th. The rumors up to this point suggest the new shooter will be titled the X-T1 and will feature an articulating screen, a weather-sealed body, and a 16-megapixel APS-C sensor. The electronic viewfinder is also described as "extra large," which the big SLR-style bump above the Fujifilm logo would seem to corroborate.
With the Japanese company among the leaders in the present trend for recreating the aesthetics and ergonomics of classic film cameras, much will be expected of this upcoming model. The top of Fujifilm's line hasn't been updated since the X-Pro1 two years ago, and this mooted X-T1 looks set to take over the flagship mantle.
We got tipped on some speculated details about the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S5, half of which corroborate what we've heard before from other sources. but a few different tidbits are rather interesting. Bear in mind this is just one source hinting at stuff, so it could be all just wishful thinking, despite sounding rather detailed and plausible.
The tipster claims that Galaxy S5 will sport a 2K QHD display, which we've already heard numerous times, and is not hard to believe, considering that LG and Sony are also rumored to release flagships with 1440x2560 pixel screens. They also state that the S5 will come with a 2900 mAh battery, not the 4000 mAh unit bandied about before. In fact, the latest we heard is that the handset will sport a 2900 mAh juicer indeed, with rapid charging tech, so that's not hard to believe either.
Here we arrive to the more exotic claims. Our tipster says outright that the camera on the back is going to be 20 MP, which will put the Galaxy S5 in line with the camera on the Xperia Z1 and the upcoming Z2, and up there with the highest-resolution cameras on an Android handset. That's the new thing, as so far every leak has pointed to a 16 MP rear cam to be on the S5, made with Samsung's ISOCELL technology, and perhaps with optical image stabilization, if OIS modules yield is enough to cover the number of sales an S5 is expected to amass. That rumored 20 MP camera is said to record 4K video, and simultaneously snap pictures while recording, too. Those claims aren't hard to trust either, considering we will likely have a new,more powerful processor in the S5, and 4K recording has been unlocked even on some current handsets as well.
In addition, the source confirms we will have some sort of a "state of the art iris sensor and wide range of health accessories," and that's not the first time we are hearing that the S5 will have an eye-scanner that will serve to unlock the device and possibly authorize services, similar to what Apple did with its TouchIDfingerprint scanner on the iPhone 5s. The technology for this is out there, so we wouldn't bet against this rumor, too. What do you think about these claims, is there anything that piques your interest?
Last but not least, our tipster claims that those who are expecting the rumored metallic design, will be in for a disappointment, as the Galaxy S5 will be still made out of plastic, yet feature a different design language, compared to what we've come to expect from a Samsung flagship in the last few years. We don't know if the faux leather back of the Note 3 and Samsung's PRO tablet line counts as a "refreshed design", but certainly hope not.
Thanks for the tip, Rajdeep!
Sony has just announced at CES 2014 the Xperia Z1S and Xperia Z1 Compact, both based on the company's flagship smartphone. Now it seems that a new model, currently called the Sony D6503, is on the way and also bears some resemblance to the Xperia Z1, with a few minor alterations.
The Sony Xperia Z1 represents the electronics manufacturer's current highest standards for a smartphone, not only in terms of hardware and software but also in design. And it seems to work quite well for consumers so it is no wonder that Sony would want to play around with that a little bit longer. The Xperia Z1S is practically the same Xperia Z1, with a new name and marketed exclusively to T-Mobile subscribers in the US. The Xperia Z1 Compact, on the other hand, is pretty much a miniature Xperia Z1.
Much of this rumored Sony D6503 is still a mystery but, based on this set of leaked photos, it seems to continue the tradition of using the Xperia Z1 design. You even have the dedicated camera shutter button that Sony has revived in its flagship. There are, however, a few key differences, particularly on the location of some of the slots on the sides.
On the left side of the device are the SIM card slot and USB port. Both openings are covered by a single magnetic flap. On the right side one will have access to the microSD card slot, also covered by a magnetic flap. In contrast, the Xperia Z1's SIM card is located on the right side alone, while the left side houses the USB port and the microSD card slot, each possessing its own flap cover. Whether this new arrangement makes sense remains to be seen.
Another key difference is that the Sony D6503 is said to have a larger 5.2-inch display, but the pixel resolution is still unknown at this time. It is also believed to have the same 20.7 megapixel rear camera also found on the Xperia Z1. The Sony D6503 is expected to also be thinner than the 8.5 mm of the Xperia Z1, though we'll have to wait for an actual device to verify that claim.
Sony's theme for its CES press event was "Play" and part of the fun was a smart tennis sensor that adds vibrational and gyro detection to your racket, linking up with your smartphone through Bluetooth to offer up improvement suggestions and surprisingly deep information on your racket game. While we got in a few serves and forehands right after the event, the announcement, like its incomingCore life-logging / wearable sensor, was a broad one. A spokesperson told us back in Vegas that Sony hadn't yet decided on a concrete name, let alone a price or release date. Well, Sony had plenty of answers at today's press event, announcing at a tennis club near its Shinagawa HQ that the sensor would launch (at least, in Japan) this May, priced at 18,000 yen ($175).
We'll admit, we had some suspicions that Sony's Smart Tennis Sensor might never arrive in the real world (the demonstration area wasn't that far away from a row of conceptual smart glasses), but it seems that Sony's taking this new possible market pretty seriously. The sensor will launch compatible with around six Yonex EZone and VCore tennis rackets, with more models promised after launch. At the moment, you'll need a dedicated sensor for each player: if your buddy uses your racket, their data will be folded into yours, but the team added that this is something that they'll be working on in the future.
Sony has also readied a companion app on both iOS and Android to launch alongside the sensor hardware when it arrives in late May. The app, alongside displaying stats and heat maps of where the ball hits the racket, will also be able to record a video of your earth-shattering serve and replay it alongside the metrics captured by the sensor. Maybe that ace wasn't quite so earth-shattering. We've added Engadget editor Michael Gorman's attempts right after the break.
Welcome to IRL, an ongoing feature where we talk about the gadgets, apps and toys we're using in real life and take a second look at products that already got the formal review treatment.
By now, we've written nearly everything there is to say about the iPad Air, but that doesn't mean we can't revisit it here in "IRL." In particular, our own Jon Fingas bought one to see if it was lighter and faster than his third-gen model. Surprise: it is.
I like big-screen tablets, but I'm not a fan of the bulk that comes with them -- a 1.5-pound slab isn't especially comfortable to hold during an hour-long reading session. That's why I leaped on the iPad Air when it launched this fall. In theory, it's a large tablet that's as nice to hold as more compact devices, including the iPad mini. But does it really defy the laws of physics?
Almost. The Air isn't quite weightless, but it's still wonderfully compact and light. I have no problems holding the tablet while I'm reading a couple of book chapters or playing an involving game. I can even thumb type with it, which wasn't realistically possible with previous full-size iPads. It's hard to imagine going back to any heavier slate after this; I'd rather carry an Ultrabook instead, since the added weight at least comes with more functionality.
The Air is also one of the quickest mobile OS tablets I've used. Web browsing is about as fast as you'd expect from a desktop, and most current apps don't seem to faze it. I just wish developers would make better use of the A7 chip; right now, the best showcases for its processing power are media editing tools and intensive games like Infinity Blade III. iOS 7 runs smoothly and is certainly easy to use, although I've very occasionally seen the iPad crash without warning. It's clear the software is still rough around the edges.
If there's any major concern, it's simply that the iPad Air won't sway those who want a more PC-like experience. If you want to view more than one app at a time, you'll have to get a suitably equipped Android or Windows tablet. There also aren't any widgets, live tiles or other elements that would make better use of the screen real estate. While the iPad is excellent at most everything it does, there's room for it to do more.
-- Jon Fingas
source:
Huawei quietly put out an S version of its super-thin Ascend P6 smartphone. The Huawei Ascend P6 S is 0.3 thicker, but still only goes as high as 6.5mm, though it has the same battery capacity of 2,000mAh.
The chipset has been bumped up a bit and now features a quad-core 1.6GHz processor (up from 1.5GHz). It’s not clear if it’s Huawei’s own chipset again, but there’s no LTE support either way. It’s a dual-SIM, dual-standby phone, the original P6 had a dual-SIM option.
The rest of the specs are identical - 4.7” LCD with 720p resolution (the display works with gloves), 2GB RAM, 16GB storage, 8MP main camera and a 5MP front-facing camera.
The Ascend P6 S runs Android 4.2 Jelly Bean with Emotion UI 2.0 on top. The phone is currently available on Vmall (Huawei’s own web store) and is available only on China Unicom.
The price is CNY 2,700 ($446 / €330), but is temporarily CNY 300 off (until tomorrow). This puts the price at the same level as the 8GB Ascend P6 (CNY 2,400). The regular price is the same as the Ascend Mate 2, which went on sale a couple of days ago.
Thanks to Prime leak for sending this in!
Source (in Chinese)
LG is allegedly planning to skip the Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update for some of its smartphones and move them straight to the latest Android 4.4 KitKat, according to a report from PhoneArena.
In fact, some of the smartphones will also jump the Android 4.2 Jelly Bean update and go from 4.1 to Android 4.4 version. The devices that are expected to get the KitKat release with their next major update include LG Optimus F3, LG Optimus F6, LG G Pad 8.3, LG G Pro Lite, LG Optimus F7, LG Optimus L9 II, LG Optimus Vu II, LG Vu III and a couple unannounced models such as LG-D315 and LG LS740.
The report also claims that the LG Optimus 4X HD will be stuck on Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean OS as it looks like the smartphone has completed its software upgrade cycle. However, there is no official confirmation at the moment. So, take it all with a pinch of salt.
The most exciting aspect of contemporary virtual reality is its implications. Even using Oculus VR's early duct taped-prototype, most users immediately "get it." You're transported to, say, Tuscany, or an underwater exploration vehicle, or a space fighter, and that experience is enough to trigger a flood of ideas for other potential interactions -- interactions that are dramatically heightened by employing a VR headset. How about deep-sea exploration in 4K? Or maybe Mars? And we're not talking just video games, but experiences. Valve VR lead Michael Abrash detailed that notion in a recent talk:
"Not only could VR rapidly evolve into a major platform, but it could actually tip the balance of the entire industry from traditional media toward computer entertainment."
Abrash believes that VR headsets so vastly outperform other interaction methods (TV, theaters, etc.) that how folks absorb media in general may be impacted by the coming wave of head-mounted displays. His concept of our potential future may be distant-sounding, but the beginning of consumer-grade, extremely polished VR headsets isn't far off: 2015. At least that's what Abrash and Valve are targeting as primetime for VR, and they're laying the groundwork right now.
This is a VR prototype headset from Valve
Valve's first ever game developer conference, dubbed Steam Dev Days in honor of the company's ubiquitous digital storefront/ongoing socio-economic experiment, took place this week. Abrash gave a talk titled "What VR Could, Should, and Almost Certainly Will Be Within Two Years," where he detailed the current state of VR, what challenges the technology faces going foward, and when he (and Valve) believe it'll be ready for primetime. In it, he established a baseline of standards for VR: perfect timing to lay a base given Oculus VR's own standards for VR game development going live at nearly the same time.
First, any VR headset needs to create "presence" for the person using the headset. Abrash defined presence as such:
"It's the sense of being someplace else while in virtual reality; many people feel as if they've been teleported. Presence is an incredibly powerful sensation, and it's unique to VR; there's no way to create it in any other medium."
Cliché as it is, VR headsets aim to do exactly what their name implies: simulate a new reality for the user, real enough to fool the human brain. Oculus VR CEO Brendan Iribe echoed that sentiment to us earlier this year when he said that the closer the experience is to reality, the better the experience is for the user. Sadly for us writers, "presence" -- or rather the experience of using a virtual reality headset and being convinced -- is incredibly hard to convey with just words. "Most people find it to be kind of magical, and we think that once people have experienced presence, they'll want it badly,"Abrash noted during his talk.
Moreover, Abrash thinks that the VR hardware available right now -- including the latest Oculus Crystal Cove prototype -- is still a step or two away from the specs required for true presence. He even has a list of target specs required for creating presence (which Valve has functioning in an R&D headset right now, and was shown to developers during Steam Dev Days):
The Crystal Cove prototype that Valve provided support for is "a big step in the right direction" Abrash said, but still not enough to create the sense of presence he and Valve are aiming to achieve. While Valve continues R&D on virtual reality hardware -- Abrash said "several" companies are working on VR headsets, though we only know of two officially creating consumer products (Oculus and GameFace Labs). The company's also building out Steam's VR software support to stay ahead of the curve. That's why SteamVR just went live (a VR version of Big Picture Mode) in beta; why VR games now have their own category in the Valve's store; and why the company created the SteamVR API (read: it makes games play nice with the SteamVR platform).
Valve's yet to give press a chance to try its VR hardware prototype, but developers who tried it at Steam Dev Days are responding positively thus far. It apparently has specs similar to what's detailed above, and we're not entirely clear on whether or not it uses a camera in conjunction with the headset for positional tracking (a la the latest Rift prototype). Given Valve's openness during Dev Days and Abrash's assertion that Valve is open to working with any partners to push VR forward, we're certain to hear more in the coming year(s).
source:engadget.com
A new web site from developer Sherif Maktabi promotes his new Sex with Google Glass app for the connected specs. The idea, as the site succinctly puts it, is to "Wear Glass. Have Sex." Both participants start up the app by saying, "OK Glass, it's time," and you can turn off the app by saying, "OK Glass, pull out." While in use, the app shows you everything that the other person is seeing. And you can even arrange for Glass to turn off the lights, play music, and suggest positions. You can even connect a smartphone and check out all of the angles.
After the lovin' (a great tune by Englebert Humperdinck), Glass puts together a video of the, uh, action and sends it up to the cloud for 5 hours. After that time period expires, the videos are deleted from all servers, never to be seen again. And while you're waiting for Google Glass to be available for one and all, you can download a free Apple iPhone version of the app. Just hit the sourcelink to sign up for the latter.
The Android 4.4 kernel source code for the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 has been released by the Korean OEM. This will allow for the creation of custom ROMs for the device by developers. If you're a code jockey, or just curious, you can find the code by clicking on the sourcelink below. The release of the source code could be an indication that the Android 4.4 update will soon be making its way to Samsung Galaxy Note 3 units around the globe.
Last week, Polish owners of the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 started receiving Android 4.4.2, also known as firmware version N9005XXUENA6. As we explained before, Samsung has a large R&D center in Poland, which probably explains why that region received the update before, say, the U.S. Consider it to be similar to Motorola's soak test where a smaller number of units are tested with a software update just to make sure that any problems with the update are limited to the small number of units being tested.
Last month, French carrier SFR revealed that the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 (along with the Samsung Galaxy S4) would be receiving Android 4.4 in late January, which dovetails perfectly with the source code release.
source: Samsung via SamMobile, GSMArena