Mobile Devices - Page 152

Google is having one heck of a time keeping its upcoming Nexus products from leaking via its own Google Play website, and today new leak has surfaced that is cluing us in on what the Nexus 10 is made of. Phone Arena received a screenshot of the devices specifications before Google managed to take the leak down earlier today.

As expected the refreshed Nexus 10 features all of the top-of-the-line hardware we have been expecting which includes a 2560x1600-pixel display with a pixel density of 300ppi. Gorilla Glass 3 is present to keep the Nexus 10 scratch free while also preventing shattering in the event of a minor drop. A Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 Processor, Adreno 330 GPU and 3GB of RAM are also present as is 32GB of internal storage and Android 4.4 KitKat.

An 8-megapixel rear camera is onboard to handle imaging, while a 2-megapixel front-facing camera handles selfies and video chatting. MIMO-enabled Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC and a massive 9,500mAh battery round out the impressive specifications. It is widely believed that the new Nexus 5 will launch on November 1st and if so, we could see the Nexus 10 launched on the same day along with Android 4.4 KitKat.

Finally! One of the worst kept secrets lately from LG is its G Flex smartphone, which has just officially been unveiled and boy does it look nice. We have a 6-inch curved OLED display that is unfortunately hampered by its sub-standard 1280x720 resolution.

For the rest of the G Flex, it's quite impressive: Qualcomm's Snapdragon 800 SoC makes an appearance with a 2.26GHz clock speed, 2GB of RAM, a 13-megapixel rear-facing camera, 32GB of internal flash storage, Bluetooth 4.0, and of course: Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean with LG's own software sprinkled over the top.

One of the stand-out specs of the G Flex is that the rear of the curved smartphone features a "self-healing coating" which LG says it designed to automatically fill small scratches in the finish.

Apple broke some new ground with its iPhone 5S, with the included A7 processor being 64-bit capable. Samsung is the company who manufacturers the chip for the Cupertino-based giant, who is now preparing its own 64-bit SoC.

The new Exynos 5430 SoC is reportedly in an advanced stage of development, and will be 64-bit capable. This will help in more ways than one, and will push up the maximum memory supported by leaps and bounds, too. Samsung's new Exynos 5430 SoC is based on the ARM Cortex-A50 architecture, which is much more efficient and capable of processing more complex calculations, resulting in improved performance across the board.

The new chip will also support DDR4 memory, which should be very interesting when it hits mobile devices. Samsung will feature the new super-powered SoC in its upcoming Galaxy S5 smartphone.

MimoPower has hit Kickstarter with an interesting new portable charger for mobile devices, the BatteryBot. What makes the BatteryBot stand out from the crowd is the ability to choose a custom-designed portable rechargeable battery!

The battery itself will be a 5200mAh part, but could be bigger if they reach their stretch goals through Kickstarter. You can choose your favorite design, of which there are 10 to choose from, with more designs coming as the primary Kickstarer goal is hit. The first BatteryBot's will reach backers' doors in June 2014, with some interesting pledge gifts.

What will be good to see is more characters, with something like Iron Man, Spider-Man and my favorite, Superman. If I find a Man of Steel battery, you can bet your bottom dollar I'll be jumping on it first. You can read more about it here, and pledge for one of the BatteryBot's.

Today Microsoft confirmed that there is a bug in its Windows Phone 8 operating system that is allowing the built in Twitter feature to consume more data than it should be even when at idle. The issue is in the backend of the app and is causing the phone to re-download Twitter contact images frequently.

The Verge has reported that the Twitter feature on one of their Windows Phones has used over 3GB of data in under a week, which is many times more data than a lot of users consume in an entire month. This becomes a serious problem for people who have limited data plans, and are heavily taxed when their usage exceeds the predefined data caps.

Microsoft is working on fixing the issue, but as the problem lies within the Twitter feature, there is little that Microsoft can do to fix it. As for now, those who are worried about data overages can simply remove their Twitter account from the phone until a fix is found. If you would like to check your data usage, Windows Phone users can download the Data Sense app or can contact their provider for up-to-date usage metrics.

Apple has just unveiled a bunch of new products, including the iPad Air, but Steve Wozniak, the co-founder of the company isn't impressed. Wozniak told the Apps World conference in the UK on Wednesday that the iPad Air doesn't impress him as it doesn't include enough built-in storage.

Wozniak consumes loads of digital data, such as TV shows, and he wanted an iPad with enough storage to store every single episode of The Big Bang Theory, but he can't. He said: "When I finally took a look at the devices, the iPads didn't hit my needs. Yes it's thinner, but I wanted storage. I don't have broadband at home, and you can't get great broadband connection in hotels, so I carry all my personal media in the iPad. So I was hoping Apple has a 256GB iPad. I was hoping for more storage so I could put every episode of Big Bang Theory on my iPad. So I emailed my wife and said 'nope, I don't want one of those."

My thoughts exactly, really. I was hoping for a 128GB+ model, as well as touchscreen-capable Retina displays on the MacBook Pro side of things. But, unfortunately, that didn't happen which makes Windows 8.1-powered devices look that much more appealing.

During todays Nokia World event in Abu Dhabi, the company unveiled a new Camera app for its Lumia smartphones. The new app basically unifies the existing Pro and Smart camera apps found on existing models and introduces three new modes. Smart Mode is designed to shoot a sequence of images, and then will allow the user to select the best shot and easily remove unwanted objects by using segments of the other photos.

The Reframe and Zoom modes also make a reappearance, allowing customers to once again easily control the zoom and framing of shots taken after the fact. Nokia also announced that it will be bringing RAW image support to its flagship Lumia 1520 and 1020 devices. This will allow photogs to capture 41-megapixel and 21-megapixel images in their natural uncompressed form. Users beware though as RAW files are significantly larger than their jpg counterparts, so storage space will fill up much faster than usual.

For more than two months now, we have been hearing rumors and watching leaks appear on a 6-inch phablet from Nokia, and today the company finally put an end to it all by releasing the Nokia Lumia 1520. The device features a 6-inch, 1080p screen that is made out of Gorilla Glass 2 for added impact and scratch resistance.

The Lumia 1520 is every bit of what a high-end phablet should be as well and features hardware that is powerful enough to do anything shy of hardcore 3D gaming. Inside the Lumia 1520 is a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor clocked in at 2.2GHz with 2GB of RAM backing it up. A 20-megapixel PureView camera is present on the back and features a BSI f/2.4 Zeiss lens with optical image stabilization.

The new Phablet runs the latest version of Windows Phone 8 and features the recently released GDR3 update installed from the factory. The phones outer shell is constructed of recycled polycarbonate and is available in a vivid yello, red, black and white. Nokia has managed to up the microphone count to four and now offers stereo audio recording for a truly immersive video experience. The phablet houses 32GB of internal storage and can be upgraded to 64 via the included microSD slot.

For over a year now, we have heard rumors and seen little tidbits of information leaked about a Nokia-branded 10-inch tablet that would run a form of Windows. At this mornings Nokia World conference, the company formally unveiled the all new Lumia 2520, a 10-inch tablet that runs Windows RT.

The new Lumia 2520 is quite the Windows slate too, featuring a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 CPU clocked at 2.2GHz and 2GB of RAM to keep everything nice and fast. LTE connectivity is present and the 10-inch screen is built out of Gorilla Glass 2 to provide ample scratch and impact resistance. The screen features a brightness of 650nit and is capable of illuminating the screen enough to read through Flipboard in the brightest of sunlight.

The Lumia 2520 host a 6.5-megapixel rear camera that features a Zeiss lens, while front imaging is handled by a 2-megapixel unit. Unfortunately, Nokia seriously dropped the ball when it comes to battery capacity, and only managed to pack in a 800mAh battery. This was done on purpose in my opinion to sell the Nokia Power Keyboard accessory which is said to "Greatly improve battery life" on the 2520. Ideal pricing must have also not been much of a concern for the Tablet as Nokia somehow managed to come to the conclusion that $499 was the sweet spot that consumers would like. Plan to tack on an additional $149 for the power keyboard if you like battery life.

Today Apple officially announced the next generation of the iPad. Known as the iPad Air, this new device is very similar in styling to the iPad Mini we saw unveiled this time last year. The major difference is that the iPad Air is thinner, lighter and features a much smaller bezel than previous models.

Featuring the all new 64-bit Apple A7 processor, and the M7 motion processor, the iPad Air is said to be 8-times faster than the iPad Mini and 72-times the graphics performance of its predecessors. A 5-megapixel iSight rear camera, and Facetime HD front facing camera handle the imaging duties while its high-capacity battery provides up to 10 hours of continuous use.

Apple has managed to deliver twice the Wi-Fi bandwidth thanks to a new MiMo 802.11n radio, but had curiously left out support for the new 802.11ac Wi-Fi protocol. As I mentioned earlier, the new iPad Air is much thinner and lighter than previous models, and weighs just 1-pound while measuring a mere 7.5mm thick. The iPad Air will ship in silver, white, space grey and black colors and will retail at a pricing point of $499 for the Wi-Fi version and an LTE model will run $629.

Many business men and women have moved over to using their personal or company-supplied smartphone during conference calls because it does not tether them to their desk or a landline. Logitech has just released a new device that will enhance the speakerphone experience for those users.

The all new Mobile Speakerphone P710e is described as a peripheral for phones, tablets, and computers that connects via USB or Bluetooth. A built in slot on the top allows users to "prop up" tablets and phones that gives them a proper angle for viewing during video calls. The device can pair with up to eight bluetooth devices, and if the phone or tablet is NFC equipped, pairing is as simple as a quick bump.

Answering calls is easy as well, and is as simple as using the devices on-screen controls or touching the dedicated buttons on the top of the speakerphone unit. Noise cancellation, and a dynamic audio equalizer are present as well. The Mobile SPeakerphone P710e can be powered by and AC Adapter, USB cable, or through a built in battery for those times when the conference call must take place pool side. The P701e will begin shipping in November and will cost $170.

Today Archos added four new smartphones to its Platinum line of mobile devices. Each of the new smartphones run Android 4.2.2 and feature a MediaTek dual-core 1.3GHZ processor and 512MB of RAM. Continuing with the low-end phone theme, the devices house just 4GB of internal storage which can be augmented by a microSD card.

Each of the four phones feature a 5-megapixel rear camera and the obligatory LED flash. Wi-Fi, FM Radio and Bluetooth are available as well, but 4G LTE connectivity is missing from the list. The major difference between phones is in their screen size. The 40 Titanium features a 4-inch, 400x800 display, while the 45 Titanium boast a 854x480-pixel 4.5-inch screen. As you could guess, the 50 Titanium houses a 5-inch, 960x540 resolution screen. The flagship is the 5.3-inch 53 Titanium model which has a resolution of 854x480.

Acer has just unveiled a new tablet that features Windows 8.1. The all new 8-inch Iconia W4 features an extremely sharp 1280x800-pixel IPS display that is built with Zero Air Gap technology, which lends the panel enhanced clarity and brightness. Acer has also forgone the typical Qualcomm or NVIDIA chips we see in so many tablets, and has opted for an Intel Atom processor instead.

Acer says that they designed the Iconia W4 fit comfortably in ones hand while still featuring enough display real estate to keep everyone happy. Acer is targeting the active and professional user markets, and says that the new Iconia W4 represents a Windows-based tablet that is not only easy to carry, but can handle the multitasking needed for someone with a busy schedule.

The 8-inch 1280x800 resolution IPS display is viewable up up to 170 degrees, and features a 16:10 ratio for wonderful widescreen video experiences. The Iconia W4 houses a 2-megapixel front facing camera while a 5-megapixel rear shooter handles 720p video at up to 60 frames per second, or 1080p at 30 frames per second. Acer says that this camera provides exceptional image quality and an easy to use interface.

Many cellular customers around the country are currently on voice and data plans that are no longer offered by their carriers. This type of plan is known as a "grandfathered" plan, meaning that the contract was signed before changes were made, and perpetuated by both the customer and the carrier for years since the plan was stopped being offered.

Often times, these plans are costly to a cellular company's business model, and it appears that T-Mobile is looking to dump them as fast as possible. Today T-Mobile has confirmed that it will be laying to rest all plans that are considered to be "grandfathered in." A spokesperson for the company told Engadget that customers affected by the closure of legacy plans will be offered new plans with similar or even better features at the nearly the same pricing point.

T-Mobile's full statement can be read below:

After weeks of build-up, leaks, and speculation, HTC this morning announced the launch of the HTC One MAX. The One Max is the Phablet version of the HTC One, and does not sacrifice power for a larger screen unlike many of the phablets on the market today. HTC has also kept to their word, and retained the aluminum unibody chassis its flagship One is so famous for.

The new HTC One MAX features a 5.9-inch full 1920x1080-pixel display which is quite impressive as many phablets on the market today do not even boast a true 720p resolution. HTC also managed to retain the quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 processor which is featured in the smaller HTC One. 2GB of RAM is on hand to keep everything nice and smooth while onboard storage in 16GB and 32GB configurations is present. Unlike its little brother, a microSD port is featured and can support cards up to 32GB. This gives the One MAX a total storage capacity of 64GB.

"The addition of the HTC One max means that we now have an HTC One phone for everyone. The family has been built on quality and game-changing innovations and the HTC One max is certainly no exception," said Peter Chou, CEO of HTC Corporation. "The upgrade to HTC Sense 5.5 will provide our most amazing mobile experience yet, with the HTC One max delivering the size and power required to do everything you want, and more, without compromise."

Lenovo has confirmed it is working on expanding its range of Android-powered devices, starting with the Lenovo IdeaPad A10. There had been some speculation that the IdeaPad A10 had been cancelled, but Lenovo has said "the product has not been canceled, it will be going out to the market."

There aren't many details on the IdeaPad A10, but we should expect a budget-based machine, with a 10-inch touch-capable screen, with a "HD" resolution, a quad-core Rockchip A9 processor at 1.6GHz, up to 32GB of storage, and up to 2GB of RAM.

The Lenovo IdeaPad A10 will also reportedly sport a trackpad for mouse support, a front-facing camera, and an SD card slot. We should also be greeted with USB ports (both normal sized, and microUSB), HDMI, and a 3.5mm jack.

Windows users will remember their fair share of BSoD's (Blue Screen of Death) over the years, but those days are mostly behind us thanks to Windows 7, and up. But, it looks like some iPhone 5S users are experiencing their own BSoD screens.

The BSoD isn't what it used to be in the early Windows NT days, where it usually resulted in the installation of a bad driver, but it looks like those who are installing the free iWork apps, then trying to multi-task, a BSoD appears briefly before it restarts. Some iPhone 5S users are also reporting that they're experiencing random reboots, too.

Apple's latest iOS 7.0.2 doesn't address the BSoD or random reboot errors, but it does appear to fix up the security holes found in the lockscreen, thankfully.

Sony's flagship smartphone, the Xperia Z1 is highly regarded as one of the best smartphones on the market today. Looking to build off of that momentum, Sony has announced the launch of a smaller version of the phone. The new Sony Xperia Z1F is a shrunken down version of the of the Z1 and sports a 4.3-inch screen.

The smaller display retains the 1080p resolution of its larger counterpart, and a Qualcomm quad-core 2.3GHz processor is present. 2GB of RAM, and 16GB of internal storage is also featured. Sony did opt to keep the same 20.1-megapixel camera on the rear of the device, which should make many small screen loving users very happy people. The device is expected to launch in Japan in December with a world wide launch still uncertain.

Love it or hate it, you still have to admit that HTC's Sense 5 Android overlay is a pretty decent skin as far as Android UIs go, and today we got a look at what the next-generation of Sense might look like. Website Android Revolution HD managed to take possession of some leaked screenshots of what is said to be HTC's Sense 5.5.

At the moment the images only clue us in on two new feature updates, with most of the UI looking like its predecessor, Sense 5. The first thing one might notice off the bat is that BlinkFeed is now easily turned off via a new toggle button. Turning off BlinkFeed was previously a headache, and required digging through your phones settings. Now a simple single tap on a button and BlinkFeed disappears.

Secondly we notice that the camera is getting a new Panorama+ mode as well as Dual Capture that will allow the user to capture from both cameras at the same time. Being the owner of an HTC one, the Panorama+ mode is very exciting to me and I hope that we see Sense 5.5 released sometime soon. It also appears that the task switcher is more refined and features larger icons than before. No release date was mentioned, but maybe we will see Sense 5.5 released beside the HTC One MAX on October 15th.

The next iPhone won't be released until 2014, but we knew that the rumors would begin sooner rather than later. The bigger change we can expect from the upcoming next-gen iPhone would be a larger screen, moving into the 4.8-inch space.

Peter Misek from Jefferies & Co. said yesterday in his research note that the iPhone 6 would feature a 4.8-inch display, the biggest iPhone yet. According to their estimates, roughly 50% of smartphones shipped now have larger than 4-inch screens, with the iPhone 6 wanting to hit those customers wanting a bigger screen.

It makes sense, because people are getting sick of the same old small screened iPhones and want something bigger. Unfortunately Apple don't offer anything bigger, so their only options would be to change brands, to something like Apple's biggest competitor: Samsung. Samsung have countless phones ranging from smaller 3-inch (or so) devices to massive 6.3-inch devices.