Mobile Devices - Page 155

Google acquiring Motorola is only being felt in the market now, with the release of the Moto X smartphone. The Moto X is assembled by Motorola at a planet in Texas, which is a nice change to most phones being made in Taiwan or China.

Most companies complain about the increased costs of manufacturing on US soil, but according to IHS, the Moto X isn't that expensive to build. This is thanks to the smartphone featuring a year-old Qualcomm applications processor, and two chips from Texas Instruments, and even with the increased manufacturing costs of building it in the US, the total build costs come in at just $221.

IHS analyst Wayne Lam says: "What Google and Motorola are trying to do is not play the game of 'bigger is better' that everyone else is playing. They are looking for ways to differentiate themselves from the pack and push the user experience in a new direction." IHS estimates that the components used in the Moto X run up at $209, while manufacturing adds $12 per unit.

Today, Anker announced the release of its new Astro2 external USB battery pack. Featuring a capacity of 9000mAh, the Astro2 is capable of charging two mobile devices simultaneously meaning that you can now charge your smartphone and tablet at the same time while on the go.

Like the other devices in its second generation Astro line of external battery packs, the Astro2 is capable of detecting what device is plugged in and then adjusting the charging rate to deliver the fastest charge speed. It works on both iOS and Android devices including Apple's iPhone and iPad, as well as Samsung's Galaxy devices.

"Even with our Astro line of external batteries established as the top-selling external battery brand on Amazon, we continue to evolve and improve our product line by sticking to the basics of listening closely to our customers,"said Steven Yang, Anker Founder and Chairman. "We know people have different power needs but the same high standards for quality and design, and this Astro2 offers the same innovative design of our newest Astro3 but in a more compact package. For those who desire even greater portability, never fear - we have an even smaller addition coming for you in the near future."

It's hard to imagine that we're already here... talking about the Galaxy S5 and it's August of 2013. It wasn't too long ago that Samsung released the Galaxy S II, the first phone to truly compete with the iPhone. It wasn't until the S III that the tides began the change, and now the S4 truly rules the world.

Now we're hearing about the Galaxy S5, which is said to feature a new 16-megapixel rear-facing camera that is currently under development. This new camera would feature optical image stabilization (OIS) technology, too. The news is coming from South Korea's Electronic Times News. The report notes:

The report states that Samsung should be finished developing the new camera module before we ring in the new year, and will begin testing it in devices in early 2014. The Galaxy S5 should debut in 2014, at around the same time that the Galaxy S4 was released this year. We should expect it to feature a 5-inch (or so) display, and even Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie by then.

Today, HTC confirmed that the company will release an update that upgrades its flagship device, the HTC One, from Android 4.1 to Android 4.3 just as soon as the software has been certified. The company expects this to happen sometime in September with the update beginning to roll out later that month.

The confirmation comes via a leak, albeit barely legible, from the company's president, Jason Mackenzie, who said: "Lots of questions re 4.3 release for One. We r wrking hard (needs cert) to release 4.3 across all US, Canada skus by end Sept. DNA as well." I'm not joking, that really was his tweet, you can check it out for yourself at Source #2 below.

As an HTC One owner, this is some very exciting news. During my quest for a new smartphone, many tried to turn me away from the One as it ran Android 4.1 and everyone claimed it would be over a year before an update was available. I knew that HTC had to release an update soon to put it on par with the new Android 4.3 devices that will be arriving this fall. With the addition of Android 4.3, I officially think that the HTC One is the best smartphone ever made, and that nothing released or releasing soon by Apple or Samsung is able to compete.

As sales of Windows RT-based devices continue to decline, Dell has announced that it will no longer be selling the standalone version of its XPS 10 tablet. The Windows RT-based device first saw signs of trouble when the company slashed its price to $299 back in May, but that deal is no longer available as users are only able to pick up an XPS 10 in a bundle version that includes a keyboard dock.

This keyboard dock increases the price by more than $179, bringing the total price up to $479.99 for either the 32GB or 64GB model. A version with integrated LTE can be had for $579.99. Industry analysts suspect that Dell has nixed the standalone version in hopes of promoting the XPS 10 as more of a productivity device over a content delivery package.

In my opinion, Windows RT will never catch on as its lack of x86 compatibility is a major drawback for anyone wishing to use the tablet for anything other than simple Office functionality or Internet browsing. With Microsoft writing off $900 million on its Surface RT inventory, this is just another nail in the coffin for Windows RT.

With rumors of a fingerprint scanner on Apple's iPhone 5S debunked, the rumor mill has turned to a new smartphone and leaked photos that are said to be of a fingerprint scanner on HTC's upcoming One Max smartphone. In the image below, you can see what appears a black square below the One Max's camera lens. The photo is quite pixelated, which instantly throws red flags for me.

For now, we will take website ePrice's word and assume that the HTC One Max will indeed feature a fingerprint scanner and assume that this photo is the real deal and that it's not just a black piece of tape. Assuming that it is real, I am left asking the question, "what would we use a fingerprint scanner for?" It may be cool to unlock your phone with your fingerprint or use it for password authentication, but is it really needed in today's smartphones?

Before I close this article out, I really would like to send a request out to all those leaksters out there who provide the world with early photos of unreleased devices. Please take higher quality photos! In the case of this photo, there is a perfectly good HTC One right beside the One Max. As a One owner, I know that the image quality would been far better than what was posted.

Headphone maker Beats by Dre is looking to sever its partnership with smartphone manufacturer HTC in hopes that it will pick up a new investor who can pump new money into the company. The midrange audio accessory manufacturer is said to be planning to buy out HTC as it begins talks with an investor that will provide debt financing and who will take a minority ownership in the company in the coming weeks.

The two companies first partnered up in 2011 when HTC began losing ground to rival Samsung. The partnership was expected to breathe new life into sales of the Asian smartphone manufacturer's products, but the numbers that were predicted never materialized. HTC invested $300 million for a 50 percent stake in the company as well as exclusively of the Beats audio IP used in smartphones.

Earlier this year, HTC sold back 25 percent of its stake to Beats for $150 million but retained the mobile exclusively rights. With a final buyback imminent, sources are saying that HTC will most likely retain those exclusivity rights after the deal is finished. On the bright side, the deal will inject some much-needed cash into HTC's coffers, which could set it up to once again claim the top spot in the mobile market.

For my first piece of the night, I have a juicy rumor concerning Sony's upcoming smartphone codenamed "Honami." The rumor comes from a user China-based social networking site, Weibo, who posted a presentation on Honami.

The presentation included a slide of the smartphone itself, stating it would be capable of shooting 4K videos. Sony's Honami smartphone could really put them in the spotlight, with rumors pegging the device to feature a 5-inch 1920x1080-pixel display, as well as the speedy and capable Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 SoC.

There were also rumors that Honami would sport a 20.7-megapixel rear-facing camera, which would be more than capable of shooting Ultra HD video. The presentation also said that the Honami would support a 4000x2000 resolution, but 4K televisions have a resolution of 'just' 3840x2160.

Something that will put a snake in Apple's boot would be for Google to launch its Nexus 5 smartphone, and price it like the Nexus 4. Well, it looks like Google may just do that according to some news from MyDrivers.

The Chinese publication reports that the Nexus 5 will arrive at the same price as its predecessor, at just $299. In order to get the price down that low, Google will have to make some compromises. First, we should expect the internals to include Qualcomm's Snapdragon 600 SoC, 2GB of RAM, and a 10-megapixel rear-facing camera.

We should expect a 5-inch (or so) 1920x1080-pixel display, and Android 5.0 "Key Lime Pie." When compared to the LG G2, it won't be as powerful, as LG's G2 features a 5.2-inch Full HD display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 SoC, and a 13-megapixel rear-facing camera with optical image stabilization.

It appears that LG is planning a return to the tablet market and is planning a 8.3-inch Android-based slate under its premium G series name. Originally leaked through the blog Techblog.gr, the new device will allegedly be named the G Pad. This will be LG's first foray back into the tablet world since its failed Optimus Pad back in 2011.

The G pad is said to feature an 8.3-inch touchscreen that packs a pixel resolution of 1920x1200, an unnamed quad-core processor, and 2GB of RAM. Some industry analysts are speculating that the overall dimensions of the device will be 8.3 inches with the actual screen only being 8 inches. This would put it in the same class as Samsung's Galaxy Note 8.0, which has an overall measurement of 8.3 inches wide.

The screen resolution of 1920x1200 lands it alongside other tablet such as ASUS' Transformer Pad and Google's newly released next-gen Nexus 7. If LG can manage to keep the cost down and can price it similar to the Nexus 7, we can see this new tablet flying off the shelves. No information has surfaced on a possible launch window, but we will be sure to keep you up to date on things as it unfolds.

Apple is close to unveiling the iPhone 5S, but just how big will the launch of their latest flagship smartphone be? We can expect the iPhone 5S, and cheaper iPhone 5C to be unveiled at its September 10 event, but an analyst is making a very big claim, before Apple has even announced the smartphone.

Trip Chowdhry, the Managing Director of Equity Research at Global Equities Research, thinks the iPhone 5S launch is going to be huge. He told Benzinga: "The new iPhones will be massively successful. This will be the most successful product launch ever in the history of Apple." Chowdhry believes Apple has a lot going for them right now, with the upcoming Ashton Kutcher starring 'Jobs' movie, which is centered around Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, and that it will "evoke positive emotions toward Apple and its products."

This is where I'll chime in, where 'success' and 'sales' are vastly different from pushing the industry, or consumers' expectations of the iPhone 5S. Sure, it might sell well, but the iPhone 5S will most likely not be that different to the iPhone 5. If Apple were to branch out and provide a few different sizes (4-, 4.5- and 4.8-inch for example) then things could be different.

I am willing to bet that many of you have never heard of Alcatel One Touch, much less know that they manufacture Android-based smartphones. Today, the company released its new Idol X smartphone that runs Android 4.2 Jelly Bean and is available in yellow, red and black.

The Alcatel One Touch Idol X feature some pretty beefy specifications that include a five-inch 1920x1080 resolution IPS display, 1.5GHz quad-core processor, and 2GB of RAM. A 13.1-megapixel rear camera is on board to handle all your imaging needs, while 8GB of internal storage is present that can be augmented by the addition of a microSD card.

The specifications get better as we learned that within the 6.9 mm thick chassis, Alcatel managed to somehow squeeze in a 2000mAh battery, yet keep the phone's weight to 120g. All those features are cool, and definitely give the HTC One and Samsung Galaxy S4 a run for their money, but the fact that the phone is basically bezel-less really kicks it up a notch. The Idol X will be arriving in the UK in the coming weeks, but pricing and carrier availability have yet to be released.

This morning, BlackBerry announced that the company's Board of Directors has formed a special committee that will explore strategic alternatives to enhance value and increase sales in an effort to accelerate BlackBerry 10 sales. The alternatives include options such as possible joint ventures, strategic partnerships, and a sale of the company.

"During the past year, management and the Board have been focused on launching the BlackBerry 10 platform and BES 10, establishing a strong financial position, and evaluating the best approach to delivering long-term value for customers and shareholders," said Timothy Dattels, Chairman of BlackBerry's Special Committee of the Board. "Given the importance and strength of our technology, and the evolving industry and competitive landscape, we believe that now is the right time to explore strategic alternatives."

Thorsten Heins, President and Chief Executive Officer of BlackBerry, added, "We continue to see compelling long-term opportunities for BlackBerry 10, we have exceptional technology that customers are embracing, we have a strong balance sheet and we are pleased with the progress that has been made in our transition. As the Special Committee focuses on exploring alternatives, we will be continuing with our strategy of reducing cost, driving efficiency and accelerating the deployment of BES 10, as well as driving adoption of BlackBerry 10 smartphones, launching the multi-platform BBM social messaging service, and pursuing mobile computing opportunities by leveraging the secure and reliable BlackBerry Global Data Network."

NVIDIA have let slip (or have they) by confirming they're working with Microsoft on a next-gen Surface slate. After a three-month stint of beating analysts' estimates, but failing to do anything special on the mobile front, NVIDIA's chief executive, Jen-Hsun Huang spoke with CNET, confirming that they still have a great future ahead of them.

He told CNET: "Now we're going to bring it with the second-generation Surface. We're working really hard on it, and we hope that it's going to be a big success." Microsoft have of course denied the rumors, but so did NVIDIA spokesman Ken Brown, too. Huang didn't confirm whether he was referring to the Surface RT tablet, or the higher-end Surface Pro tablet, I think he meant the latter.

Brown did state that NVIDIA's hardware didn't make it into the current Surface Pro, adding "so make what you will of that." With Microsoft pushed to record a $900 million write-down on the Surface RT, they'll want to not repeat that mistake again and it looks like NVIDIA is now a part of this course correction.

Bloomberg must really like Canonical\'s Ubuntu Edge as yesterday they pledged 80,000 to the company\'s crowd funding campaign on Indiegogo. At this point, Canonical has only managed to raise about one quarter of its $32 million goal and with just over 12 days left, things are not looking very good for the Ubuntu Edge smartphone.

So what does Bloomberg get for their $80,000 donation? 115 Ubuntu Edge smartphones are included in the deal alongside several best practice workshops, 30 days of online support that allow the company\'s chief information officers and IT managers to integrate the devices into their system, and--of course--free shipping. If the funding campaign is successful, Canonical hopes to have the phones shipped around March of next year.

Today, LG Electronics unveiled its latest flagship smartphone in the form of the LG G2. This is the first device introduced under LG's new "G" series which is reserved for premium devices only. LG says that the G2 is a beautifully designed smartphone that brings together functionality and convenience in a comfortable package.

"Our definition of innovation today is technology that truly resonates with consumers," said Dr. Jong-seok Park, president and CEO of the LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company, who welcomed the guests to the event. "We have always listened to and learned from consumers in pursuit of innovation. We took these insights to new heights in developing LG G2, the most exciting and ambitious mobile phone in our company's history."

The G2 features a 5.2-inch full HD 1080x1920 IPS display that packs 423 pixels per inch, and is powered by a quad-core QUALCOMM Snapdragon 800 clocked in at 2.26Ghz. 2 GB of low-power DDR3 800 is present and a 3000mAH battery keep things up and running for quite a long time. A 13-megapixel rear camera handles imaging duties, while a 2.1-megapixel front-facing camera is in control of the selfies.

Today, CyanogenMod announced that it has added 11 new devices to its 10.1 white list, with most of the devices being of Motorola origin and a few Samsung handsets tossed in. Additionally, three new tablets have been added to the list as well.

For our readers who have never heard of CyanogenMod, it is a custom ROM for Android devices and is widely believed to be one of the best alternate Android ROMs on the market. Cyanogen 10.1 is based on Android 4.2 Jelly Bean and is closer to stock Android than any other custom ROM. The development team behind CyanogenMod says that work on CM 10.2 is already underway and that it will be based on Android 4.3 Jelly Bean. They alluded to what could be the next generation of Custom ROMs with a top secret project named Nemesis that will feature a new camera app called Focal.

The list below contains the names of all the new devices that been added to the 10.1 white list.

It's getting to that time of the year where we hear more and more about Apple's product releases, with two new videos to show you. The first, below, is of the fifth-generation iPad.

As you can see, the video shows the front and back shells to the iPad 5, assembled together for the first time. The Apple logo looks to have gone through a little change, instead of the silver logo we're accustomed to, it's a transparent or translucent logo. We should expect Apple to launch the fifth-generation iPad as soon as next month.

As for the budget iPhone 5C, we have that video, above. The iPhone 5C video shows the rear shell and front bezel parts from the budget iPhone, which we should expect to arrive to our hands as the iPhone 5C.

Today, Samsung has admitted to allegations that developers were paid to mention its developer competition in the forums of the giant developer community Stack Overflow. Samsung says that a PR firm hired to promote the competition was offering the bloggers and developers "cash for content." In a statement to The Verge, Samsung condemned this behavior and says that it is "clearly against Samsung corporate policy."

Samsung says that as soon as it learned of the bribery taking place, it canceled the plans for the developer competition and parted ways with the firm. Samsung said, "We remain committed to engaging in transparent and honest communications with consumers." PR firm Fllu, the culprit behind the content buying tactics, apologized and claimed that they were a third party firm hired by another firm to handle some of the PR duties for the competition. Fllu's COO said in a statement that the tactics his company used were "misguided, unethical, and wrong."

This whole practice of seeding forums, blogs, and comments with paid content is known in the industry as "Astroturfing" and it is common for third, fourth, or fifth party shady ad agencies to do this without the main PR firm or client ever knowing about it. Not every client is innocent, though, because as the inception grows deeper, it makes it very hard to trace it all the way back up to the top and catch a major corporation red-handed.

BlackBerry's launch of BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) for Android and iOS is quickly approaching and today, the company's CEO confirmed that they have began pushing out beta invitations to both Android and iOS users in an attempt to thwart off any major bugs on launch day. While we have no definitive date on when the messaging platform will debut on either of the mobile operating systems, we do know that it will happen sometime this summer. With the beta launching today, the official public launch can not be very far away.

An image of the BBM app running on a Samsung Galaxy SIII has popped up on BGR recently that gives us a glimpse of how the app will look on the Android platform. The report also says that users of Android 4.0 or higher will be getting the invitations before iOS users but as to why, we are still unsure. It is also unclear as to why BlackBerry is pushing out its proprietary messaging service to the rival OS' in the first place as BBM has widely been thought of a BlackBerry's final ace-in-the-hole. Our only guess is that the company is looking for other sources of revenue as its hardware business continues to sink out of popularity.