this week

Images of Tegra 4-powered Nvidia Tegra Tab surface

Leaked photos of an Tegra-4 powered Tegra Tab slate.

Manufactured by the Chinese company Shenzhen Homecare Technology, the Nvidia Tegra Tab is a 7″ slate powered by the company’s latest Tegra 4 system-on-a-chip that’s shuold offer blazing fast performance. At the back of the device you can see the “Tegra Tab” branding and the cool overall design of the back cover. There’s no information regarding the materials used.At the top left of the Tegra Tab, there’s the main 5MP camera sans flash. Connectivity options on Nvidia’s first tablet are said to include an HDMI and USB port as well as Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. Naturally, there’s also an 3.5mm headphone jack. Some rumors have it that the Tegra Tab will feature a stylus, but that seems unlikely at this point.
The resolution of the 7″ display isn’t yet confirmed by any sort of leaks, though. Here’s hoping that Nvidia takes a page off the 2013 Nexus 7 and puts a high resolution display on its upcoming Tegra Tab.

ASUS PadFone Mini, MeMO Pad HD 8 and MeMOFone HD 5 leak

 ASUS presentation that took place earlier today in France. The presentation was of the ASUS roadmap, which aside from the already announced Nexus 7 and the Memo Pad HD 7 mentions the PadFone Mini, MeMO Pad HD 8 and MeMOFone HD 5.


Aside from the names we don't get specifics on the hardware. The PadFone Mini could be a competitor to the HTC One mini and Samsung Galaxy S4 mini but could also refer to another full-sized PadFone but with a downsized tablet in tow.


The MeMO Pad HD 8 should be an 8" device with a resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels, with similar specs to the PadFone HD 7.
As for the MeMOFone HD 5, one can easily guess it will be a 5-incher, but it's unclear if HD stands for 720p or 1080p. We'd bet on the former as it would make sense to make it more affordable than the PadFone's that are currently on offer.
Finally we come to the Transformer Pad FHD and HD. These could be referring to the current Infinity and 300 series only with a name-change or could turn to be either a new flagship device and auxiliary lower-res sidekick.
These slides provide names but no information on release dates, prices or solid specs info, but we'll let you know if we hear anything.

NVIDIA prepping its own tablet powered by NVIDIA Tegra 5

Chip maker NVIDIA is said to be looking beyond slinging silicon, to enter the highly competitive tablet market with its own slate. Expected not to see the light of day until early 2014, the high-end NVIDIA tablet would be powered by the company's next-gen NVIDIA Tegra 5 SoC which currently has the code name "Logan".At the same time, an unknown tablet that appeared on the GFXBench site is now believed to be a lower priced NVIDIA slate that featured a 7 inch screen with a resolution of 1280 x 800. Under the hood was a 1.8GHz Tegra 4 chip. Named the NVIDIA Tegra Note Premium, the slate was running Android 4.2.2 and its GFXBench score was just slightly lower than the score achieved by the NVIDIA Shield.While it is not known if the 7 inch tablet will eventually be released, sources from Europe say that the top-shelf "Logan"-powered model will be available sometime in the first quarter of 2014. There is some speculation that we might see the NVIDIA tablet introduced at the 2014 CES. The only drawback for NVIDIA,besides the tough competition in the tablet market, would be the negative feedback from NVIDIA's OEM customers who produce their own tablets.

Samsung Gear smartwatch concept shows a future of flexible screens

We have been hearing about a Samsung made smartwatch for months now - first leaked under its Altius codename, the device later appeared under a new name, the Samsung Gear - and with some patent filings showing a flexible display device, expectations are sky-high.Samsung is keeping it all carefully under cover and there were no substantial leaks of the Gear smartwatch, but if we were to look at all rumors, we could definitely paint a probable picture of the upcoming gadget.

The LG G2 is official with a 5.2-inch screen, Snapdragon 800

 LG finally announced their latest flagship - the LG G2.At 5.2-inches, the LG G2 has a slightly bigger screen than the current crop of high-end smartphones. The resolution however, is the same at 1920 x 1080 px. The screen is a IPS unit with a brightness rating of 450nits. The LG G2 display uses something called Graphic RAM (GRAM) to reduce power consumption up to 26% when displaying a still image. LG claims this increases the expected overall battery life by up to 10%.
What's particularly striking about the phone is ultra-slim bezel and the lack of any hardware keys on the front

The only hardware key is actually positioned on the back. It's actually a combo of several buttons in one. That's the power/sleep key dead center along with the volume keys. The volume keys also double as shortcuts for the camera and Quick Memo feature. The reason behind the decision to position this key here is to make handling extra large smartphones easier and less prone to dropping.The LG G2 is based around a 2.3GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 chipset with 2GB of RAM and an Adreno 330 GPU. According to Qualcomm's CEO, who appeared in stage today, the G2 is the first phone to launch on a world-wide scale with this top-shelf processor.The storage capacity is set at either 16GB or 32GB. Supposedly, there is a microSD slot as well, but it seems that will only be available in certain markets and the units LG brought to NYC didn't have such a thing.The 13MP camera is on par with the rest of the top notch hardware. It's got optical image stabilization (OIS) and can record FullHD 1080p videos in up to 60fps.
LG has also worked hard on the quality of audio output. The phone can reproduce Hi-Fi 24 bit/192kHz. LG has also collaborated with the Vienna Boy's Choir to freshen up the available sounds and ringtones on the device.
The LG G2 runs Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean out of the box.
As customary for Android flagships, the LG G2 offers several proprietary features to differentiate. You can double tap on the screen to wake it up and tap again to turn it back off. The phone will readily auto answer a call when you pick it up to your ear. There is an innovative Guest mode to secure the privacy of your data when friends want to check out your new smartphone or when you hand down your phone to your kid.
Finally, you can get rid of a currently active app and minimize it by a three-finger swipe across the screen.
Speaking of multi-tasking, the G2 can store your app progress in up to three different apps. The screenshotting feature can capture a whole webpage or a long email, not just the content in your viewport.
The LG G2 also has an Infrared port that can be used to remotely control home entertainment devices by learning from their conventional remotes.
Connectivity-wise, the LG G2 makes use of the latest generation LTE-A connectivity (up to 150Mbps), as well as dual-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0.
For power backup, the LG G2 relies on a 3,000mAh Li-Po battery.
LG G2 will be available in black or white and will launch to over 130 carriers in the next eight weeks starting in South Korea, followed by North America, Europe and other key markets.

HTC announced affordable quad-core Desire 500 for Europe

The HTC Desire 500 offers a Snapdragon 200 chipset with a 1.2GHz quad-core processor and 1GB of RAM. On the imaging front the smartphone offers an 8 MP camera with a dedicated HTC ImageChip processor, f/2.0 28mm lens and a 1.6 MP front-facing camera. The 4.3" WVGA display up front is of the LCD variety and there will be a microSD card slot for cheap expansion of the 4GB internal memory by up to 64 gigs.


Along with HTC's Flipboard-like BlinkFeed and Beats Audio the Desire 500 will also feature Video Highlights - a 30 second video reel of your images. The battery on board the HTC Desire 500 is a 1800 mAh unit that HTC says is good for some 12 hours of talk time on 3G.

Samsung first with 'stacked' V-NAND memory, next flagships could reach 128 GB of storage

"Stacked" or "3D" chips are nothing new, as Intel is already having those out on the market in the form of the new Haswell processors in your computer, for example.Samsung, however, is applying the tech to flash memory modules for the first time, and the type that are to go into mobile devices like phones and tablets at that, or to cluster together for solid sate drives.Called V-NAND, the technology layers the memory chips on top of each other, instead of side-by-side, thus saving precious space and allowing for larger capacities, not to mention faster and more durable internal storage chips. Samsung managed to stack not one or two, but 24 of those NAND modules on top of each other, and it's the interconnect between those that it says is the "secret sauce" for making the memory faster.Not only faster, but in large capacities, too, as those V-NAND chips start you off with 16 GB of internal storage, shooting all the way up to 128 GB, thus all but eliminating the need for a separate microSD card slot, for example. The best part is that this is not some far-fetched technology years down the pipeline, but Samsung has actually sent those out for mobile device makers to sample, and is ready to produce them in mass quantities.

The V-NAND chips are expected to make it in SSD memory as soon as this year, and in mobile devices they will be landing in 2014, said Samsung, and added that the technology is a result of no less than 10 years of research on its part, now guarded by more than 300 patents.

Oppo N-Lens N1 cameraphone leaks with a 12MP shooter

N-Lens N1 Featuring a 12MP camera, the Oppo N-Lens N1 doesn't appear to be too obsessed with sheer number of pixels. Rather, the company is said to use a new image chip dubbed "Owl". Judging by its name, low-light photography is going to be one of the chip's strong sides. The Xenon flash next to the camera would certainly help getting the job done, too.
Naturally, the phone is going to run Android and in the usual Oppo fashion it's going to be featuring the company's proprietary user interface on top.

Purported Oppo N-Lens N1 promo images
Even at this early point of the N-Lens N1's rumored life, there are talks about its pricing. According to online gossip, Oppo's cameraphone will carry a $480 off-contract price tag. There's no saying when it might launch, though.

Pantech Announced the Vega LTE-A IM-A880S phablet in Korea

Pantech announced Pantech Vega LTE-A phablet. Pantech's prime market, even though it's got the smallest market share of all OEMs there. Even though we rarely cover handsets for the South Korean market, this time around we are talking one awesome-sounding smartphone.
To begin with, the Vega LTE-A supports the fastest LTE-A data transmission standard with speeds up to 150Mbps, which is enough already to put it into a rather exclusive club.

Pantech Vega LTE-A IM-A880S
On the front of the Vega LTE-A, sits a 5.6-inch 1080p IPS screen, while on the back there is a 13MP camera and a fingerprint sensor. A 2.3GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 chipset with 2GB RAM powers the whole thing with the juice coming from a 3100mAh battery, which can be fully charged in only 94 min thanks to the fast charger.
The Pantech Vega LTE-A will launch in South Korea next week as an SK Telecom exclusive (at least in the first few months).

Intel unveils two Android tablets targeted at students

The first of the two is a 7-inch tablet running Android 4.1 Jelly Bean on 1024×600 resolution capacitive display. The tablet runs on an Intel Atom Z2420 running at 1.2 GHz with 1 GB of RAM and 8GB of internal storage. Intel gives it a battery life of 8 hours. It has one USB 2.0 port, a microSD slot, and an audio in/out combo. While it does have WiFi connectivity, Bluetooth is strangely optional. Weighing at 0.78 lbs, it is just slightly heavier than the new Nexus 7′s 0.64 lbs.

The other half of the duo is a 10-inch tablet, sporting a 1280×800 resolution display. It has a slightly more powerful Intel Atom Z2460 chip, giving it clock speeds of 1.6GHz. It still has only 1 GB of RAM but has an upgraded internal storage of 16 GB. There is no microSD slot for this tablet and battery life is shorter at 6.5 hours. However it does support both WiFi and Bluetooth 2.1 connectivity. The 10-inch model also comes with a capacitive stylus. Strangely, this model runs an older Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. It weighs 1.5 lbs which makes it heavier than a Nexus 10, which weighs 1.32 lbs.
Being geared towards educational purpose, both tablets run Intel’s Education Software suite based on Kno Textbook software, giving students access to a wide variety of software like interactive eReaders, lab tools, note-taking apps, and painting apps. Intel has given no detail regarding the pricing and availability, but given the specifications, Intel could offer the tablets at low prices, especially when ordered in bulk, making it very enticing to school administrators.

Android smartphone with 5000 mA battery! Changhong big screen long standby

As fast and feature-rich today's smartphones may be, few of them will ever last through more than a day of heavy usage. That's because while screen, camera, and processor technologies have been advancing rapidly, little progress has been made in increasing the capacity of our handsets' batteries. Motorola's MAXX models have always been an exception, with the latest member of the team known as the Motorola DROID MAXX packing a massive, 3500mAh battery, but a little-known company in China may have something even more impressive coming off the assembly line.

The Changhong Z9 5000mAh battery next to a smaller, 2000mAh cell

The smartphone you see in the picture is the Changhong Z9. At a glance, it is nothing but your typical Android handset made in the far east, but a closer look reveals what makes this smartphone stand out. The maker of the Z9 has managed to fit a 5000mAh battery inside it. Battery life figures have yet to be revealed, but if the cell's capacity has not been grossly exaggerated by the manufacturer's marketing department, the Changhong Z9 should outlast any other smartphone in existence. At the same time, it reportedly has a thickness of just 9 millimeters, which is impressive considering what's tucked behind its back plate.

The rest of its hardware specs aren't that bad either. The Z9 comes with a 5.5-inch, 720p display, a quad-core MediaTek SoC running at 1.2GHz, 1GB of RAM, 8MP main camera, and Android 4.2 out of the box. Pricing is not known at this time, but handsets bearing Chinese brands are often quite affordable and the Changhong Z9 will probably be no exception. Too bad that seeing this handset launch anywhere outside of China is very unlikely.

Images of BlackBerry Z30 and Z15 leak

BlackBerry Z30 and BlackBerry Z15, which will allegedly be joining the company's portfolio in the near future.
The BlackBerry Z30 isn't actually a new smartphone - we've seen it before under the codename BlackBerry A10. The info about the name change comes from a leaked official tutorial, so it's a pretty certain detail.

BlackBerry Z30 renders
As you might remember, the BlackBerry Z30/A10 is expected to feature a 5" OLED screen of 720p resolution and a Qualcomm chipset, consisting of two 1.7GHz Krait cores, a quad-core Adreno GPU and 2GB of RAM.
Moving on to the BlackBerry Z15, you have to keep your salt shakers at a hands distance. This one is far from being certain to exist and the rendered images themselves don't seem too trustworthy either. Anyway, the source points to this as the first slider in the BlackBerry 10 family.

BlackBerry Z15
We didn't get any other specs for the BlackBerry Z15, but if it turns out to be more than just a fan-made mockup, we are sure those will follow shortly

Acer Liquid Z3 is official

The Acer Liquid Z3 is a 3.5-incher running Android 4.2 Jelly Bean and is targeted at budget-minded smartphone users. It will go on sale in Belgium, Netherlands, France, Spain, UK, Italy, Germany, Ukraine and Russia for the price of €99 (around $132) from mid-August in two colors - Rock Black and Classic White.

The Acer Liquid Z3 screen resolution is yet to be confirmed, and so is the architecture of its dual-core 1 GHz processor. There's going to be 4 gigs of onboard storage, 3 MP camera on the back as well as HSPA+ (up to 21 Mbps), Wi-Fi and GPS connectivity. The smartphone will also have a dual-SIM version.
Built around Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, the Acer Liquid Z3 features four custom modes that should help different types of users get around easier. There's Senior Mode for the older smartphone users, which gives quick access to messages, radio, clock, quick call contacts and has a magnify feature. A Basic mode for youngsters, which is all about calling and texting and even a Keypad mode, which has the dialer always at hand. A classic mode for those who like a more traditional Android experience is also at hand.
The Acer Liquid Z3 comes with a flip-cover and back cover accessories which will be available in Rock Black, Classic White, Sakura Pink, Pop Yellow and Lagoon Turquoise.

Available in black or white, The Acer Liquid Z3 will launch in mid-August across parts of Europe, including Belgium, Netherlands, Ukraine, France, Spain, UK, Italy, Germany and Russia. In addition, Acer will release a selection of accessories, such as flip-covers, replaceable back-covers in multiple colors, and a standard screen protector film.

HTC One Max shows its face for the first time, 5.9" display

HTC One flagship called HTC One Max 5.9-inch version supposed to run on the Snapdragon 800 chipset and hit the shelves this September


HTC One Max
As you can see the HTC One Max looks just like the other two members of the One family - the original One and the HTC One mini - it has dual speakers at the front, aluminum unibody and a polycarbonate strip that runs along the sides of the phone.
Rumor has it the HTC One Max will feature a 5.9" 1080p display and a Snapdragon 800 chipset with a quad-core 2.3GHz Krait 400 processor, Adreno 330 graphics and 2GB of RAM. The rest of the rumored specs include 4MP UltraPixel camera with OIS, 16GB expandable storage, a 3300mAh battery and a 9.4mm profile.
The HTC One Max should launch running on Android 4.3 JB skinned with HTC Sense 5.5.
The source of the leak says the HTC One Max is undergoing testing in China and the Chinese users will be getting three different versions for China Mobile, China Telecom and China Unicom.