Alleged specs and another photo of Sony Xperia G leak

Shortly after we got treated to a first look at the Sony Xperia G, another leaked photo of the upcoming device made the rounds on Twitter. This time around, the image comes with alleged specs for the mid-range smartphone.

According to the source of the leaked images, the Sony Xperia G will feature LTE connectivity, 4.8” display of unknown resolution (720p is likely), 8MP camera, 8GB of built-in memory (microSD card slot was clearly visible in the first leak), and a gig of RAM. The handset is tipped to come with no IP rating. There is no word on the chipset of the upcoming device.
The Sony Xperia G will likely break cover during MWC at the end of this month in Barcelona. We will be there live, so will keep an eye out for the device.


Source

Rumored upcoming Android-powered Nokia phone to cost $110

The rumored budget range Nokia device that's expected to run Android codenamed "Normandy" will supposedly make its way to market at the very competitive price of around $110.

But before you get too excited, the Normandy will supposedly not be able to access Google Play, and instead will run its own app store powered by Nokia, featuring popular Android offerings such as Skype, Facebook, Twitter and others.
Recent leaks regarding the low-cost droid - also known as the Nokia X - reveal that it'll follow the Asha design language, and feature a dual-core 1.2GHz Snapdragon SoC, 4GB of memoery, 512MB of RAM, and a 5MP shooter.
Nokia has scheduled a press event for the first day of MWC this month - February 24. Be sure to check back with us then for the expected announcements from all major vendors.


Source

LG G Pro 2 goes official with 5.9" display and Android 4.4 KitKat

LG officially took the wraps off the G Pro 2 Android phablet in Korea. The successor of the Optimus G Pro features a larger 5.9” Full HD IPS display and feature-rich spec sheet.

With a power/lock key and volume rocker located on its back, the LG G Pro 2 follows the design language which was introduced with the LG G2. The phablet will be available in three colors – black, white, and titanium.

The LG G Pro 2 packs Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 SoC with 2.26GHz quad-core CPU and 3GB of RAM. There are 16 or 32GB of built-in memory, which can be further expanded via microSD card slot. Connectivity options include LTE-A, Wi-Fi a/b/g/n/ac, NFC, Bluetooth 4.0, SlimPort, and microUSB port.

The 13MP camera of the LG G Pro 2 features enhanced optical image stabilization (OIS+) and the option to adjust the focus of a photo after its capture. Video recording capabilities include 4K UHD and 1080p @ 120 fps. The front-facing camera is a 2.1MP unit.

LG G Pro 2 boots Android 4.4 KitKat. LG has added a host of new features to its proprietary Emotional UX. Knock Code is one of them – it allows user to unlock his/her device by knocking on its display using a specific combination.

The measures of the LG G Pro 2 are 157.9 × 81.9 × 8.3 mm, while its weight tips the scale at 172 grams. The phablet is powered by a removable 3,200mAh battery.

There’s no word on international pricing and availability of the LG G Pro 2 just yet. LG will showcase the device during MWC this month, so be sure to tune in for hands-in impressions.


Source

Nokia to release Lumia 930 and 630/635

According to Nextleaks (another mobile phone rumor Twitter account, a la Evleaks), Nokia is planning to release the Lumia 930, 630, and 635 smartphones.

They should be officially announced at Mobile World Congress, which begins on February 24th.

The 930 is the higher spec'd of the devices, packing a quad-core 2.2GHz CPU, 2GB RAM, a 4.5” 1920x1080 resolution display, microSD card slot, 16GB of internal storage, 20MP camera, and a 2700mAh battery.

The 630/635 is the successor to the Lumia 620. They're both mid-range handsets, with the 635 reportedly being a dual-sim variant of the two. These phones will be sporting 4.3” WVGA displays, 8GB internal storage plus microSD card slots, 1GB RAM, dual-core 1.7GHz CPUs, 8MP cameras, and 2000mAh batteries.

There's also been talk that the Nokia Lumia ICON and Lumia 1820 will be making their debuts at MWC, along with some other unnamed Nokia devices. But again, these are rumors so nothing is official.

Are you excited to see what Nokia will bring to the table in Barcelona at the end of the month?


Source

LG G2 mini coming on February 24

LG has just published a teaser for the LG G2 mini on its official Facebook page. It even features the back of the upcoming mini version of its flagship.

LG will be unveiling the G2 mini on February 24 - the first day of the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. You bet we'll be there to cover everything and bring you the news as the event unfolds.

There are currently no other details, specs or dates, but we'll know everything in ten days. We are just surprised there were no leaked photos prior to this teaser of such a high-profile device, but it appears LG has improved its security.

LG will be announcing LG G Pro 2 tomorrow, so you might want to keep an eye on our homepage for this one too.


Source

Verizon and Malaysian HTC One now getting Android 4.4 KitKat

HTC has started rolling out Android 4.4.2 KitKat update for the Verizon's HTC One, as well as the HTC One, One mini and One max for Malaysia.

Verizon's users should be getting the update notifications any moment now. The update weighs about 620MB and will bring the latest Android release and a bunch of new home-baked goodies by HTC to your One.

HTC One, One mini and One max sold in Malaysia are also getting the 4.4.2 KitKat update. Save for the carrier specific stuff, the releae brings pretty much the same improvements and new features.

The official HTC KitKat ROM will update your One device with the latest Android version and its proprietary optimizations. It will also improve the Blinkfeed service, the location settings, the Gallery and Music apps, the Do Not Disturb mode and will make your lockscreen widgets easier to configure. New Bluetooth profiles and Cloud Print Service are also in tow.

The European HTC One, plus its Google Play Edition, have been already updated to Android KitKat.


Source

Nokia and HTC sign a patent collaboration agreement

Nokia and HTC ended their prolonged legal war with a patent and technology collaboration agreement. The partnership ends all pending patent litigation between the two companies. Its full terms are confidential.

According to the official press release, HTC will make payments to Nokia, but the exact amounts haven't been disclosed. The Finnish company on the other hand will gain access to HTC’s LTE patent portfolio, thus further expanding its own expertise. Furthermore, the companies will look into future technology collaboration opportunities.

Unsurprisingly, representatives from both Nokia and HTC are pleased with the agreement. By staying out of court and sharing patents, both companies will be able to focus on making products which can better compete in today’s crowded marketplace.


Source

Sony rolls out firmware update for Xperia Z, ZL and ZR

Sony has started rolling out firmware update for the Xperia Z, ZL and ZR smartphones. This update is based upon Android 4.3 and brings with it several improvements to Bluetooth connectivity, battery, YouTube app and other software.

 firmware rolling for #Xperia Z, ZL & ZR (Tablet Z eta next week) – brings BT connectivity, battery, YouTube app improvements & more
    — Sony Xperia News (@SonyMobileNews) February 7, 2014

The update will soon be available for the Xperia Tablet Z as well, with the ETA to be announced some time next week.


Source

Black Edition Galaxy S4 and S4 mini go global

Samsung Galaxy S4 and Galaxy S4 mini were spotted with a faux leather back a couple days ago and now, the company has officially introduced the new variants of its flagship smartphones on its global site.

We have already lost count on the number of Galaxy S4 editions out there, but the newest one is arguably the best looking, joining the latest trend in Samsung devices. We rather like the leather-like textured covers, but if Samsung continues pumping devices with it at the same rate, it might start to wear out soon.

The Black Editions of both Galaxy S4 and S4 mini will feature new wallpapers for the home screen as well as the lock screens and will be equipped with several new and exclusive ringtones. Furthermore, all the accessories in the retail packages such as power adapter, data cable and headphones have been painted black to match the smartphones.

The minor design changes aside, the Galaxy S4 (review) and Galaxy S4 mini (review) remain identical to their original versions. Samsung says that the gorgeous looking Black Edition of Galaxy S4 and Galaxy S4 mini will go on sale in selected markets in the next couple of days, but there is no word on how much they will cost.


Source

HTC M8 first live picture is here, has two rear cameras

HTC M8, the successor of HTC One, has leaked numerous times before. We heard lots of rumors throughout the last couple of months - we saw the rear panel, alleged specs, heard rumors about a twin UltraPixel camera, saw its virtual buttons, the M8 even got tipped for a March release, after a New York announcement.

Today we have the first live picture of the HTC M8, not just the panel. It shows its back, where we can clearly see the twin cameras and the dual-LED flash. This means the next One won't pack a fingerprint sensor, or at least it won't be one on its back.

So, summarizing all the rumors to date, the HTC M8 should pack a 5" 1080p display, run on Snapdragon 800 chipset, and sport twin UltraPixel cameras of unknown (but probably higher than 4MP) resolution. The official announcement event will probably happen in New York very soon, while the M8 is expected to hit the shelves in March.


Source

Moto G launched in India exclusively on Flipkart

The Motorola Moto G has finally been launched in India. For the first time, the company has collaborated with an online retailer for a launch. Moto G will be available exclusively on Flipkart, India's largest e-commerce website, starting tomorrow, February 6.

If you're curious about the pricing, you'll be happy to know that Motorola and Flipkart have done a brilliant job with it. The 8GB model is priced at just INR 12,499 ($200) and the 16GB model is priced at INR 13,999 ($225), unlocked without any contract and inclusive of all taxes and shipping charges. Considering the phone lacks expandable memory and there is not much difference between the two prices, it makes sense to go for the 16GB model.

It must be noted that the Moto G being sold in India is a dual-SIM variant, unlike the one sold in the US. The phone comes with Android 4.3 at launch and is said to get the 4.4 KitKat update in the coming weeks. This is a departure from the model sold elsewhere that is already running KitKat. It remains to be seen how quickly this model gets the software updates in future and if Motorola maintains the speed it has shown with the Moto X and Moto G in other markets.

For now, Flipkart has an exclusivity deal with Motorola to sell the Moto G in India but that may change in the near future.


Source

Sony ends support for 2012 Xperia phones but Xperia T, TX and V

Sony has begun updating its support pages for the Xperia smartphones released in the year 2012. All of those pages list Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich or Android 4.1 Jelly Bean as the smartphones "latest and final version".

There are only three droids from this lineup, which fate is still uncertain - the Xperia T, Xperia TX and Xperia V. Sony says their KitKat update is "under investigation". So there is still hope for those three, but given the fate of their siblings chances aren't too great.

The 2012 Xperia phones to be left stuck forever on Ice Cream Sandwich are: Xperia U, Xperia tipo (and tipo dual), Xperia sola, Xperia miro, and Xperia arc S. Android 4.1 Jelly Bean will be the last for Xperia SL, Xperia ion, Xperia acro S, Xperia J, Xperia go, Xperia S, and Xperia P.

We'll be keeping our fingers crossed for all Xperia T, TX and V owners. We guess the rest should turn to some third-party developers for newer Android releases.


Source

EE and Three join forces in new £1B LTE deal

Three has been taking its time bringing 4G connectivity to its network. In its recent partnership with EE - the first 4G carrier in the UK - the two companies are looking to invest a combined 1 billion pounds into strengthening their combined 4G network presence.

EE, which is the largest carrier in the UK and the result of the T-Mobile and Orange merger in 2010, invested £1.4B into bringing 4G to the UK before any of the other carriers. It was able to do so a full year ahead of the next competitor.

The recent deal looks to benefit both carriers, as EE hopes to reach an impressive 70% 4G coverage throughout the UK by the month's end, while Three hopes to have 4G coverage in 50 major UK cities by the end of the year, and a whopping 98% network coverage by the end of 2015.


Source

Microsoft offers to buy your old smartphone or tablet for $250

Microsoft is currently running two promotions that might be of interest to people looking to get a new device and get rid of an old one.

The first one is a trade-in deal that can net you up to $250 worth of store credit if you trade in an old smartphone or a tablet. There are serious restrictions though – first of, the deal is for US Microsoft stores (including Puerto Rico) and Canada.

Second, it must be a working device, with no cracks on the screen, no water damage and you must even provide the original charger and other accessories. The device must also not be password protected (to prevent trading in stolen or found devices). The exact amount you get will be determined by a Microsoft Store employee. The deal is valid until March 2.

Another deal (this one US-only) is a Nokia Lumia 520 or 521 with a 12-month subscription to Xbox Music for $99 total. The Xbox Music Subscription alone costs $99 usually, while the Lumia 520/521 is $60-$70 in the Microsoft Store.

Both deals have a limit of one per customer and cannot be combined with other deals, i.e. you can't pawn your old phone and grab a Lumia 520/521 with the money.


Source

Samsung Galaxy S5 Unpacked event scheduled for February 24

Samsung announced the time and date of its next Unpacked event. The Korean giant’s next major mobile product announcement will take place this month, on February 24 in Barcelona, right at the MWC kickoff.

The invitations contain more than a subtle hint that the Samsung Galaxy S5 will break cover during the event. They have the number 5 on display which is as clear a suggestion as it gets in our book.

A potential appearance of the Samsung Galaxy S5 during the Mobile World Congress guarantees it a great deal of spotlight. Samsung was relatively quiet during last year’s MWC and did not announce any flagship products.

Rumored specs of the Samsung Galaxy S5 include a 2K display and 16MP f/2.2 camera. The smartphone is tipped to launch with a revamped TouchWiz user interface sitting on top of Android 4.4 KitKat.


Source

Windows Phone 8.1 screenshot surfaces

A leaked screenshot of Windows Phone 8.1 has surfaced showing what looks to be a panel for quick settings. Obtained by TheWinCentral, the screenshot aligns nicely with the previously leaked snap from evleaks, which showed on-screen navigation buttons.

If the screenshot is to be believed, a quick drawer panel will be available when you swipe down from the top of the screen. It takes about half of the display and holds two volume rockers for ringer and notifications plus media and apps. There's also a shortcut for silent mode and settings in addition to quick music controls.

It's possible for the screenshot to be photoshopped, so we won't hold our breath too much on it.

Nevertheless, the notification area still hasn't leaked. Quite possibly, it won't be too much different from the style guidelines of the quick settings drawer that we see on the left.

Finally, we shouldn't forget that Microsoft is also working on its own virtual personal assistant for Windows Phone. It's believed to be called Cortana and will be deeply integrated into the OS experience just iOS and Android do with Siri and Google Now.

The new features are part of the Windows Phone "Blue" update, also known as Windows Phone 8.1. Its announcement is expected to come at Microsoft's Build 2014 conference. It kicks off April 2 and end on April 4, so if announced there, the update would probably be available towards the fall of 2014.


Source

ABI Research: WP sales more than double in a year

ABI Research has posted its report on the smartphone market in the final quarter of 2013 and according to it total shipments grew 38% Year-on-Year and 25% sequentially to 287.8 million units. iOS was the big winner in the three month period, increased its sales over Q3 of 2013 by 51% to snatch 18% of the market.

In comparison Android shipments grew just 20% sequentially, which caused its market share to dip to 77% from 80% in Q3. In fact, growth was mostly driven by what the analyst company calls AOSP devices – those that used a modified version of the Google platform and don’t have access to the Google services.

Windows Phone was in a similar position to Android, only managing to squeeze 19% of extra sales in the quarter including the holiday season. Even the multiple price drops didn’t help BlackBerry 10 improve its position as sales continued to slide, but surprisingly the old BlackBerry handsets saw an increase in sales. It still looks very much like game over for the Canadian manufacturer at this point, though and if the company’s to try and regain its positions it will have to start from scratch.

Comparing the current numbers to those for the same period of 2012, tells a slightly different story. Windows Phone is the quickest gainer, managing to more than double its sales, while Android gained 51%. iOS stagnated, adding just 7% to its sales, while BlackBerry saw its shipments fall to half what they were.


Source

French government website lists HTC One 2 single and dual-SIM

There have been a lot of purported names for the HTC One's successor flying around the internet; the One+, the M8, but it looks like these previous stories are false, that is, if a report by a French government website is to be believed.

The HTC One successor may be called the One 2, and there is a dual-SIM variant in tow. The new nomenclatures were spotted on the New Caledonia's Office of Posts and Telecommunications site, so it looks like this lead is fairly solid.

There isn't much information on the devices, except that they will both have 3G connectivity. It is also interesting to see that HTC will be launching a dual-SIM version of their flagship phone. Dual-SIM functionality is usually relegated to handsets with less than impressive tech specs, so if the rumors are true, dual-SIM fans may have reason to rejoice.


Source