Mobile Devices - Page 144

T-Mobile has been talking up its new VoLTE service that launched in Seattle recently. The service will allow people in the area to make regular voice calls using their LTE connectivity rather than having their phone change over to older, presumably slower, technology to make those voice calls. The biggest catch is that only specific devices will be able to use the VoLTE service with T-Mobile.

Specific phones that we know will support VoLTE at this time include the Galaxy Note 3, LG G Flex, and Galaxy Light. Apple's popular iPhone is capable of supporting VoLTE service, but odds are it won't support VoLTE.

The iPhone 5, 5S, and 5C all have coding inside that points to support for VoLTE inside the firmware of the chip used for LTE connectivity. That chip is the Qualcomm MDM9615m used in all LTE capable Apple devices. Apple and T-Mobile haven't offered the carrier update needed to make support for VoLTE happen. The reason it isn't expected is that the iPhone LTE chip can't surf the web on a LTE connection and make a call at the same time. That means if you are surfing the web and a phone call comes in, the web pages you are browsing would close.

Since Android 4.4 was first announced by Google, handset manufacturers have been racing to update ROMs for their devices which would bring in the resource sipping next-gen mobile OS from Google. Today it seems like Sony has finally accomplished the task of bringing KitKat to several of its most popular devices. Android 4.4 updates have begun to roll out to the Xperia Z, Xperia ZL, Xperia ZR, and the Xperia Tablet Z.

LG has announced three new tablets that will be launching at a trade show in Europe that is happening May 13-16. The new tablets fall into the G Pad range and include the G Pad 7.0, G Pad 8.0, and G Pad 10.1. The G Pad 7.0 is designed to be held in one hand and is the smallest tablet in the line.

The G Pad 8.0 has an 8-inch screen and is a mid-size unit aimed at multimedia and multitasking. The last of the three tablets is the G Pad 10.1 and it promises long battery life for multimedia viewing. All of the tablets will include QPair 2.0 and Knock Code tech.

That QPair technology allows the tablets to be paired to Android smartphones via Bluetooth and to respond to calls and messages from the tablet. Knock Code allows the tablet to be unlocked by knocking on the screen.

A rumor is making the rounds that Microsoft is set to launch a new version of the Surface Pro tablet on May 20. While the rumor about a new tablet is making the rounds, the latest version of the Surface Pro 2 packing LTE connectivity has finally landed in the UK.

The Surface 2 with LTE isn't exactly cheap in the UK with a price of £539. It's unclear exactly what sort of specs the Surface Pro 3 might pack at this time. The device is expected to put some powerful hardware into a tablet likely with the latest Intel processors and 2K screen resolution.

The rumors also believe that there could be a new Surface mini tablet as well that will be offered as a more affordable alternative to the Pro and RT versions of the tablet that are already on the market. Cheaper tablets are where the big growth is in many parts of the world so this move would make sense for Microsoft.

We're beginning to hear more and more about upcoming 2560x1440 panels on smartphones, otherwise as QHD, something we should expect with LG's upcoming flagship smartphone, the G3. The G3 is said to feature a 5.5-inch 538ppi QHD panel.

Huawei, a Chinese manufacturer, doesn't see the point of these high resolution panels. Richard Yu, the Huawei CEO talked with TechRadar at the launch of its new Ascend P7 smartphone about the future of the company, and mobile technology itself. Yu said: "I don't think we need QHD displays on mobiles. Your eyes totally cannot identify between full HD and 2K on a smartphone. You can't distinguish the difference, so it's totally nonsense".

The Huawei executive continued: "We can [put a QHD display on a smartphone], but it's very bad for power consumption and it doesn't offer anything in return. You eyes cannot see the difference, so why should we do that? I think it's a stupid thing".

This morning Huawei launched its next-gen flagship smartphone in Paris, France, and TweakTown's Johannes Knapp was at the event to check out the device in person. The new Ascend P7 is a high-end class Android-based smartphone that features a 5-inch 1920x1080 resolution screen, a 1.8GHz quad-core processor and 2GB of RAM. 4G LTE connectivity is on hand as well as a 13-megapixel read facing camera with an 8-megapixel front imager for selfies.

"Huawei's relentless commitment to developing premium quality smartphones over the past three years has paid off. We are now ranked number three globally in terms of smartphone shipments, and our brand recognition is growing steadily in key regions such as China and Western Europe," said, Richard Yu, CEO, Huawei Consumer Business Group (BG). "Today, the launch of Huawei Ascend P7 once again challenges existing industry standards by redefining smartphone design, camera experience, and connectivity, to provide people with an unprecedented mobile experience."

Life as a submariner is full of restrictions including the ban on cellular phones, and electronic devices such as iPads. Fortunately the US Navy understands that submariners may not see land or even the surface of the ocean for weeks on end, and that reading is one of the more popular ways to pass the time. Unfortunately an iPad, Kindle, or other tablet-style device has been deemed too dangerous for use on US submarines.

To fix this issue, the US Navy has designed its own e-reader that only features the capability to function as an e-reader. The new Navy eReader Device or NeRD for short is an e-ink based reader that is quite similar to a Kindle except for the fact that it does not have any internet connectivity, removable storage, and no way to add or delete any data that it stores. This is mainly due to the fact that a stray Wi-Fi or Cellular signal emanating from the device could give the entire sub's position away to the enemy. Additionally, the absence of a removable storage device prevents any sailor from attempting to steal any sensitive data from the sub's network.

NeRD features a library of 300 books that have been chosen and pre-populated by the Navy and ensures that all of the reading material is Navy approved. The library includes modern fiction like Tom Clancy and James Patterson, who are popular amongst sailor, as well as a wealth of non-fiction naval and military history. At the moment, the Navy has only produced 365 NeRDs but says it will ramp up production in the near future.

The HTC One M8 is here, but before we know any serious sales numbers on it, the smaller One Mini 2 is being teased. The shrunken down One M8 would reportedly arrive in brushed metal, silver, and gold.

The One Mini 2 would not feature the dual-sensor Duo Camera that the bigger One M8 does, and it'll also drop the dual LED flash. The metal body from the One M8 will be used once again for the smaller One Mini 2, but it won't be metal up front like the M8. There will be a plastic rim around the screen, and up the top.

HTC will be shifting around the sensors and power button, but at the end of the day it'll resemble the One M8 in many more ways. We should hear more about the One Mini 2 in the coming weeks and months.

Google has been slapped by a class-action lawsuit, accusing the company of forcing smartphone manufacturers to use the Google search engine by default. Google's alleged actions ultimately led to higher smartphone devices, which hurts customers and their ability to purchase devices at lower prices.

"It's clear that Google has not achieved this monopoly through offering a better search engine, but through its strategic, anti-competitive placement, and it doesn't take a forensic economist to see that this evidence of market manipulation," said Steve Berman, Hagens Berman attorney. "Simply put, there is no lawful, pro-competitive reason for Google to condition license to pre-load popular Google apps like this."

The class-action lawsuit was filed by the Berkeley-based lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California - and says manufacturers have to agree to the Mobile Application Distribution Agreement (MADA), so Google apps are available pre-installed.

Blu Products has been making all sorts of smartphones that run Android and are affordable to buy off contract for a while. The latest offering from the company has surfaced and it is called the Blu Life Pure XL. This phone is notable because it has a high-end Snapdragon 800 processor.

Often Blu's devices have lower performing hardware inside. The phone has a 16MP rear sensor that is 1/2.3-inch for higher quality photos. The front camera on the smartphone is an 8MP auto focus unit. The Snapdragon 800 processor is paired with a quad-core Krait 400 GPU. The OS is Android 4.2.

The smartphone has 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage. A cheaper version of the phone can be had with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of storage. The screen is a 5.5-inch unit with 401ppi and full HD resolution. NFC technology is integrated for easy pairing. The smartphone is available as of today at Amazon for $399 for the 32GB version with 3GB of RAM. On May 9, the 16GB storage and 2GB of RAM version will launch for $349.

Google has struck quite the cord with consumers with its Nexus line of smartphones, but what will the Nexus 6 materialize into? According to the latest rumors, Google will continue production with LG as it did with the last two Nexus smartphones, with the Nexus 6 being based off of the upcoming, and unannounced G3 smartphone.

The company has confirmed it will be launching the Nexus 6 in the second half of this year, which it has done with the previous two Nexus smartphones. The Nexus 6 will reportedly feature a fingerprint scanner, like Apple's iPhone 5S and Samsung's Galaxy S5. We should expect some serious horsepower, with a 5.2-inch QHD display, Qualcomm's Snapdragon 505 SoC which will see a quad-core processor clocked at 2.7GHz, 3GB of RAM and either 16GB or 32GB of on-board flash storage.

LG will reportedly bake a 5.5-inch QHD panel onto its G3, so a 5.2-inch panel on the Nexus 6 would see a slight shrink. We should also expect the Nexus 6 to see the next major version of Android on-board, hopefully arriving with Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie.

It seems that there are a number of people experiencing issues with their brand new Samsung Galaxy S5 smartphones, where the camera is popping up with a "Warning: Camera Failed" error.

Affected users are being asked to contact Samsung's customer care, with the company stating: "We have learned that a limited number of Galaxy S5 devices may have an issue that causes 'Camera Failure' pop-up error message. We ask that customers affected call 1-888-987-4357 or visit their carrier for service under Samsung's standard limited warranty".

Then when typing up this news, I remembered writing about Samsung reportedly having issues manufacturing enough of the cameras for the Galaxy S5 last month. Samsung was reportedly having troubles getting the 16-megapixel rear-facing camera modules thin enough to fit into the already-thin frame on its now-available flagship smartphone.

If you're in the market for a new smartphone, you really need to consider the OnePlus One smartphone - it has some of the best hardware baked inside of it, at just $299. It also runs CyanogenMod, which is a heavily modified Android ROM.

But how does it compare to the other super competitively priced Android-based smartphone, the Nexus 5? Well, Geek.com has booted both the smartphones up, with the OnePlus One taking just a couple of seconds to have the user in the OS, while the still-fast Nexus 5 takes much longer. I can't wait to get my hands-on the OnePlus One.

In a world dominated by the Galaxy S5 and iPhone, most other devices that aren't from the big players on the market don't really get a mention. Well, the OnePlus One smartphone might change all of that.

The company has said that the One smartphone would be "the most beautifully designed handset ever," which are some mighty big words. The OnePlus One packs some flagship hardware, starting with a 5.5-inch Full HD display, Qualcomm's brand new Snapdragon 801 SoC clocked at 2.5GHz, 3GB of RAM, a 13-megapixel rear-facing camera thanks to the Sony Exmor camera sensor, a 5-megapixel snapper up front, LTE Category 4 modem with global LTE connectivity, a 3100mAh battery and 16-64GB of on-board flash storage.

In terms of specs, the OnePlus One smartphone sounds like a winner. On the software side of things we have CynanogenMod, which is a nice touch as it's not just the same old Android + UI skin like everyone else does. The OnePlus One will be released into 16 markets including: Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, United Kingdom, and United States. Where it will customers over, is its price: $400.

Nokia has announced a product advisory in some countries for its Lumia 2520 tablet. The advisory has to do with a charger that was sold with the tablet in some European countries and the UK. The charger is the AC-300 unit and it is only used with the 2520 tablet.

Nokia says that customers in Austria, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Russia, Switzerland, and the UK are advised to stop using the charger immediately. Nokia discovered the issue during its normal QA process noting that the cover around the plug adapter could come lose and pose a risk of shock.

Nokia is also warning people who purchased the travel charger accessory for the tablet to stop using that charger. Together there are about 30,000 chargers covered in the advisory with 600 of the travel chargers sold in the US. The travel chargers were also sold in Austria, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Russia, Switzerland, and the UK. Sales of the tablet have been stopped in European countries and sales of the travel charger have been stopped in the US.

If you're like me, you're tired of the old and sometimes proprietary laptop chargers in the world of technology. Well, FINsix wants to change that with Dart, the "world's smallest, lightest laptop adapter," which is now on Kickstarter.

Dart is very powerful, packing in 65W of laptop charging prowess into its small form factor. Not only is it small, but it's simple, compatible - with most laptops, stylish and cool. It has AC input of 90V-265V and 50/60Hz, weighs just 60gm, and has a cable length of 6 feet. Dart is designed to work with all major laptop brands and models.

How does Dart do this where others have either failed, or not even attempted? FINsix has managed to get Dart small by using a patented MIT technology called very high frequency (VHF) power conversion. Where a standard AC/DC power converter sucks the power out of your wall, regulating it to the right voltage, and pushing it into your devices, the VHF platform makes these converters much, much smaller.

The HTC One M8 has been around for a while now and has proven to be one of the more popular smartphones HTC has launched in recent memory. The device launched late last month and prices have started to come down a bit on the smartphone. Amazon started offering a special with a new contract last week that allowed buyers to get the M8 for $150.

For those who don't want a contract, buying a phone outright and unlocked is the way to go. The M8 is quite expensive if you go that route costing around $680 unlocked. That is a lot of money for a smartphone no matter how you cut it.

A new rumor making the rounds suggests that next month a new version of the One M8 will hit the market with a key change to significantly reduce the cost. The change is said to be eliminating the aluminum case of the current version in favor of a plastic case.

Part of having kids is letting them become independent enough to go palces on their own. That is tough for a parent because they need to know where kids are at all times for safety reasons. Sprint has announced a new device that is specifically made to let parents keep up with kids and help kids feel safe.

The device is called the Sprint WeGo and it is a small handheld mobile phone that supports texting and talk. WeGo offers kids limited SMS texting options to keep them from talking to people the parent doesn't know without permission. The device will alert parents via text or email if the phone exceeds a pre-set speed, if the panic alarm is pulled, or when SMS messages are received.

WeGo also has on demand GPS functions that let the parent track their child on a map at anytime from a PC, Android device, or iOS device. Scheduled find services keep an eye on the kids to make sure they are where they are supposed to be at a specific time. The mobile device is shatterproof and can survive drops up to 12-feet high and is water and dust resistant too. WeGo can be purchases for 24 monthly payments of $9.99 and has 1000 talk minutes and 1000 text messages.

We've heard so many rumors that Apple would release a new iPhone this year, while other rumors point to two new iPhones to be released from the company. Well, now we have KGI Securities analyst Ming Chi Kuo predicting that the company will release two 'all-new design' iPhones, coming in 4.7- and 5.5-inch variants.

The 4.7-inch iPhone would be released sometime in Q3, where we should see it unveiled toward the end of September - but then there's the case of the second iPhone. This iPhone would be much bigger, sitting at 5.5 inches, and would be released toward the end of this year. There's not much known about this 'all-new design', but I'm expecting a big departure from what we're used to from the iPhone - and it's about damn time.

Considering we already had a "newly designed" from the ground up with the iPhone 5, what was all of that about when Apple did that? After five years of no changes to the iPhone, we had a big change. But now that Samsung has become an almost unstoppable threat for the company, Apple has been forced to go back to the drawing board it seems. Gone are the days of marketing videos pushing that you can use the iPhone with just one hand, and that any other phone that makes you do this is inferior.

Samsung may have just launched its new Galaxy S5 in over 125 countries around the world, but if you want to use a Galaxy S5 from one country in another - region locking has been stamped into the new flagship smartphone.

Samsung now requires a user to make a five-minute phone call on the Galaxy S5 with a local SIM card before the device can be used with SIM cards from other regions. A warning message on the European version of the Galaxy S5 reads: "This product should be activated with a SIM card issued from a mobile operator within Europe. (as defined EU/EEA, Switzerland and the following Non-EEA countries Albania, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (F.Y.R.O.M), Monaco, Montenegro, San Marino, Serbia and Vatican City.)"

The South Korean electronics giant adds: "To use SIM cards from other regions, a cumulative call over five minutes must first be made with the SIM card from European operators". This isn't something that Samsung is doing to hurt its consumers, but it is trying to stop "grey" imports of its products, which will stop it from bleeding unnecessary lost profits around the world.