this week

LG Odin 2.2 GHz octa-core mobile processor prepped for G2 and G Pad successors

LG is apparently indeed testing a mobile chipset of its own, codenamed Odin, in both a quad-core and octa-core versions. The chips should sport Cortex-A15 cores clocked at 2.2 GHz, and a big.LITTLE configuration with four powerful Cortex-A15s, and four frugal Cortex-A7s, clocked at 1.7 GHz.Last time we heard about Odin, the numbers were 1.7 GHz, and 1.2 GHz, respectively, and it was supposed to appear in the G2, but apparently LG has decided to make its Odin series more futureproof when they are ready for prime time. Given what Qualcomm announced with the 2.5 GHz Snapdragon 805 the other day, we can't blame LG for the shot at perfectionism.

Mali-T604/T624 and T720/T760 are cited by the source as GPU candidates for the Odin series, but we'd chalk the last ones to wishful thinking, as T760 was just announced by ARM three weeks ago, and we doubt we'll see it in a chipset that is already in the engineering test phase.

The Mali-T604/T624 GPU is said to be clocked at the respectable 600 MHz, which would mean a pretty good performance, and with TSMC tasked to produce the Odin chipset with its 28nm process, we can be certain the power envelope will stay in decent limits, too.

The quad-core Odin is rumored to go in LG electronics like Smart TVs, while the big.LITTLE octa-core chipset is said to make its way in LG's flagship smartphones next year, as well as a rumored G Pad tablet successor.

64-bit Intel Bay Trail chips to be in Windows tablets next year, maybe Android

We've all known for a while that 64-bit processors are coming to Android soon enough, and of course it won't just be Qualcomm and Samsung getting into that chipset arena. Intel wants to be part of the conversation when it comes to mobile processors, even though it hasn't been in many devices outside of Windows 8 tablets.

At an investor meeting today, Intel CEO Brian Krzanich said that next year there will be Windows tablets running on its 64-bit Bay Trail processors. The first to market will be tablets running the 64-bit version of Windows 8.1, and after that will come Android tablets although it is unclear if those will be using the 64-bit processors. Krzanich says the Android tablets could start at just $150, which doesn't sound like a device that would use a 64-bit processor. In all, Intel is hoping to see 40 million tablets shipped with its processors in 2014.

This whole move started with Apple's 64-bit A7, and 64-bit optimized iOS 7, although very few iOS apps are optimized and of course the biggest benefit of 64-bit is in allowing for more than 4GB of RAM, and iOS devices have just 1GB. On the other side of things, the Android kernel is optimized for 64-bit because it inherited that from Linux. But the OS and apps aren't optimized yet (though Intel says it is working on a 64-bit version of Android 4.4), and no Android devices have hit the 4GB RAM mark, although that should happen soon enough.

The company best set up for the 64-bit push in mobile is Microsoft, because it is bringing down full Windows to tablets. Windows RT and Windows Phone aren't 64-bit optimized (and don't really need to be just yet), but Windows 8 certainly is and there are tons of legacy apps for Windows that have been optimized for 64-bit processors for years now.

Waze hits Windows Phone as the Store reaches 190,000 apps

Following the launch of the popular photo sharing app Instagram for Windows Phone, popular traffic and navigation app Waze has gone out of closed beta and is now available for download from the platform’s app store.

Waze, which was acquired by Google, brings crowd-sourced real-time information for road conditions, shortcuts, traffic jams and gas prices. If you want to try out Waze on your Windows Phone, follow the source link to download the app for free.
Meanwhile, the Windows Phone Store itself has some good news of its own. The app marketplace has surpassed the190,000 apps milestone. Daily, an average of 500 new apps are added. So far, the Windows Phone Store has accumulated 3 billion downloads with currently daily downloads now exceeding 10 million. Monthly revenue from paid apps is also up to 181% over last year, when Windows Phone 8 was released. The app downloads since then has also increased by a staggering 290%.

Motorola to bring Android 4.4 KitKat to 10 of its smartphones

Motorola wasn't among the first companies to announce its Android 4.4 KitKat upgrade plans even though it is owned by Google. It seems the wait was worth it though, as the Motorola's support website shows 10 smartphones will be getting the KitKat treatment next year.
Motorola's latest Moto X and its Developer's Edition will be getting Android 4.4 KitKat everywhere. Verizon's Moto X update rollout has already begun, while the other carriers will be getting it very soon.
Somewhat surprisingly, the dated Motorola Electrify M for US Cellular and ATRIX HD for AT&T will be getting Android 4.4 KitKat as well. Oddly enough though the ATRIX HD Developer's Edition won't get the same treatment and will remain stuck on Jelly Bean.
Verizon's DROID Ultra, DROID Maxx, DROID Mini, DROID RAZR HD, DROID RAZR Maxx HD, and DROID RAZR M will be all getting Android 4.4 KitKat. Now this is some great news to all Motorola users on Verizon contracts.


More good news for Developer edition owners - the RAZR HD and RAZR M Developer editions will both be receiving KitKat down the road.
There is nothing on the timing of the updates just yet, but we guess Motorola will announce its plans as the updates' development advances.
Those who own an older Motorola device on some of the US carriers are eligible for the Motorola Trade Up program. You can return your old Motorola smartphone and get a $100 rebate on a new Jelly Bean-running Moto handset that will be later updated to KitKat.

Qualcomm unveils Snapdragon 805 with Adreno 420 GPU

Qualcomm has announced today a new generation Snapdragon 805 chipset with better 2.5GHz quad-core processor and 4K graphics.
The Snapdragon 805 delivers 4K display support in addition to the 4K video recording support, which was already available on the Snapdragon 800. More interestingly, the new chipset features a brand new Adreno 420 GPU, which has 40% more processing power than the previous generation Adreno 330 chips.
The latest Snapdragon 805 chipset also comes with an improved quad-core processor. The cores have a new Krait 450 architecture and have a maximum clock speed of 2.5GHz and memory bandwidth of up to 25.6GB/s. The Krait 450 is still a 32-bit processor, so we guess there is one more generation hardware to pass before Qualcomm outs 64-bit processor cores.
Qualcomm has also embedded a completely new modem called Gobi 9x35. It's manufactured on a 20nm process and is smaller, more power efficient, and, of course, faster. It supports LTE Category 4, dual-band WiFi ac and even allows 4K video streaming via Wi-Fi.

Finally the new Snapdragon 805 chipset incorporates a new dedicated camera processor, which will significantly increase camera speed and might even help boost image quality. It also uses the gyro sensor to stabilize the captured photos.
Qualcomm is ready to mass produce the Snapdragon 805 chips and we should see them in commercial devices in the first half of next year (the first ones will probably debut at CES in January and MWC in February).
The Snapdragon 805 seems like a decent upgrade over the Snapdragon 800, but we are yet to see if it will be able to dominate the competition the way its predecessor did.

MediaTek unveils MT6592 true octa-core processor

MediaTek has officially taken wraps of its newest chipset, dubbed MT6592, which is a true octa-core solution for the mobile platform. The MT6592 features an advanced eight-core processor that is said to have a better balance between performance and the power consumption.
MediaTek's latest addition is designed to deliver a premium gaming experience, advanced multi-tasking, and enhanced web browsing performance for high-end smartphones and tablets. The chipset is built on the 28nm architecture with each of its eight cores capable of clocking up to 2GHz.

The advanced MediaTek scheduling algorithm will monitor the temperature and the power consumption of the SoC to make sure that chip delivers optimum performance. There's a multimedia subsystem with a quad-core graphics engine and a video playback system that supports up to 4K Ultra-HD playphone. The chipset can also support up to a 16 megapixel camera and fullHD display.
Furthermore, MediaTek's ClearMotion technology converts the 24/30 fps video to 60fps and ensures smoother playback. An advanced multi-mode cellular modem is incorporated in the MT6592 along with the dual-band 801.11n Wi-Fi, Miracast screen-sharing, Bluetooth, GPS and an FM tuner.
MediaTek MT6592-powered smartphones running on Android Jelly Bean are expected by the end of this year, while devices with Android KitKat will make it to the market in early 2014.

Nokia shareholders approve Microsoft deal

The Microsoft and Nokia deal has been put to vote by Nokia's shareholders today and 99.7% of them approved it. This means Microsoft is now allowed to proceed with the acquisition.

If everything goes as planned, Microsoft will acquire Nokia Devices and Services early next year for $7.2 billion and Stephen Elop will return back to Microsoft. He is also on the shortlist to succeed Steve Ballmer's as a CEO of the company.
The CEO candidates reportedly includes Stephen Elop, Ford's CEO Alan Mulally, former Skype president Tony Bates, and the executive vice president of Microsoft's Cloud and Enterprise group - Satya Nadella. Alan Mulally later stated he has no plans to leave the company though.
Nokia's Lumia and Asha brands will be owned by Microsoft once the deal is complete, while Nokia patents will be licensed to Microsoft for the next 10 years. Microsoft hasn't revealed any plans for the future of the division yet.
It will be very interesting to see who will be Microsoft's next CEO. If this is indeed Stephen Elop, we might see Microsoft selling its Xbox business and killing the Bing services. Steve Ballmer still has future plans for those, so it is uncertain if Elop will be able to do what he wants though.
Anyway, while the Nokia Devices and Services future is yet to be decided, one thing seems certain - the division is going to Microsoft next year.

ZTE announces Nubia Z5S and Nubia Z5S Mini

ZTE has officially announced the Nubia Z5S and the Nubia Z5S Mini smartphones. With the new additions, ZTE will be looking to strengthen its position in the world's largest smartphone market.
ZTE Nubia Z5S is the company's latest flagship smartphone, which sports a 1080p Sharp IGZO display. The smartphone packs a punch with its 2.3 GHz Krait 400 CPU on along with 2 GB of RAM on a Snapdragon 800 chipset. There's also support for LTE connectivity.

The Z5S comes with a 13 megapixel rear camera with OS, which also has the ability to shoot 4K video and slow motion videos at 120fps. The 5 megapixel front shooter completes the camera department. The handset runs on Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean and the juice for it is provided by a 2,300mAh battery.
The ZTE Nubia Z5S Mini is a more compact and more affordable smartphone, sharing the design of the Nubia Z5. The Z5S Mini is just 7.6mm thick and weighs 120g. The mid-range smartphone is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor clocked at 1.7 GHz and features 2 GB of RAM for trouble-free multi-tasking.

Just like the Z5S, the mini variant too has a 13 megapixel rear camera, but there is no optical image stabilization. The device will come with 16 or 32 GB internal storage and there is no microSD slot. Lastly, Nubia Z5S Mini runs on Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean and supports LTE connectivity.
The 3G model of the ZTE Nubia Z5S with 16GB memory is priced at CNY1,999 (about $328) in China, while the 32 GB LTE variant costs CNY3,456 (about $567). The 16 GB version of the Z5S mini 3G carries a price tag of CNY1,499 (about $246) and the 32 GB LTE option can be yours for CNY2,345 (about $348). There's no word of an international launch just yet, though.

Galaxy S5 might sport a 5"+ 2560x1440 AMOLED screen, leaked Samsung Display CEO presentation hints

We heard through the grapevine during Samsung's Analyst Day not long ago that the company might be releasing a 560ppi mobile display next year, which we immediately thought would be a perfect fit for a flagship phone like the Galaxy S5 or even an eventual Note 4.

There were no reporters allowed during the Analyst Day presentations given by Samsung head honchos, so most of the rumors what's in the pipeline were hearsay from Korean analysts that were present at the events. Now, however, we have the whole presentation of Samsung Display's CEO Kinam Kim leaking out, and on slide number 11 below 2014 is clearly marked as the year Samsung will reach 560ppi phone displays, and of the Super AMOLED variety at that.

Next up in the lofty goals is making such displays with plastic substrate, like on the Galaxy Round, but mass producing such panels is probably some time off still. Nevertheless, a 560ppi AMOLED screen on the Galaxy S5 would be pretty amazing, as it would mean resolutions in the 2600x1440 pixels ballpark at a 5.3" size. That's roughly the so-called WQHD resolution that you see mentioned in one of the slides as ready for next year, whose standard is exactly a 2560x1440 resolution, or 3.7 million pixels at your disposal on a small phone screen, pretty crazy.

Not that we have any problem with the current Full HD 1080p screens, but if the new panels also sport some fancy new energy-saving tech like during the jump from 720p to 1080p screens, we are all for it. In any case, this is just speculation at this point, though we doubt that if Samsung has heard plans for 2600x1440ppi smartphone screens from competitors, it will leave next year's flagships to chance.

Meanwhile, Samsung has some great plans for bendable, foldable, and even stretchable displays going forward, on anything from wearables, through cars, to fashion even. The whole presentation can be found at the source link, but take a look below at the handpicked slides from it, which refer to mobile displays, and marvel at what's ahead. In any case, it looks like Vivo's Xplay 3S phone might hit the market with a WQHD display first, but it won't be the only one for long

ARM and Samsung putting final touches on a 64-bit Exynos, 128-bit mobile chips fleshed out, too

A "senior ARM official" has confirmed for Korean media that the chip architecture developer has been working with Samsung to bring a 64-bit processor to its smartphones and tablets next year.

The CPU should belong to Samsung's Exynos family, and is likely planned as a direct response to the 64-bit Apple A7 chipset, as found in the iPhone 5s and the new iPads. “Executives from Samsung and ARM had a meeting today. They discussed the ARM 64-bit chip, which is expected to be used in Samsung’s smartphone next year,” were the senior manager's exact words.

Cortex-M processors, for devices such as a smart home system, have been discussed during the meeting as well, where ARM’s executive vice president of commercial and global development, Antonio Viana, has allegedly been present. The insider also noted that 128-bit processors are being bandied about at ARM as a possibility, but not until two years from now.

ZTE to offer a Windows Phone model and a smartwatch in 2014

Chinese manufacturer ZTE will be joining other manufacturers in the smartwatch race, starting with the launch of more than one timepiece next year. A published report in the Financial Times on Monday quotes  ZTE's executive vice president He Shiyou as saying that "ZTE wearable smartwatches will be launched as early as the first quarter." Apple is expected to release its iWatch device sometime next year with a smartwatch also due from HTC. The ZTE executive added that the company is thinking about producing connected glasses in the future, similar to Google Glass.
With ZTE ranked as either the fourth or fifth largest smartphone manufacturer in the world, depending on who is doing the counting, Shiyou said that the company wants to break into the top three.To reach this goal, ZTE will be focusing on higher-end smartphones instead of low-priced feature phones and entry-level Android handsets. ZTE will also start producing Windows Phone powered handsets once Microsoft completes its acquisition of Nokia. Microsoft brass recently visited ZTE to assure the Chinese based manufacturer that it wants a wide range of handset manufacturers producing Windows Phone flavored models.

"The next three years will be critical for ZTE’s devices business. There is a window of opportunity to push ZTE into the top three in terms of market share."-He Shiyou, executive VP, ZTE

He Shiyou also made comments bound to start a number of rumors. The ZTE executive said that the company is considering making an acquisition or merger to add to its market share in the smartphone industry. Shiyou would not name any specific targets. BlackBerry would seem out of the question considering that the Canadian government has no intention of allowing a Chinese corporation to purchase the troubled handset manufacturer. There is speculation that a Lenovo led bid for BlackBerry was blocked by the Canadian government.

Nokia details the Assertive Display tech on Lumia 1520, says that's the best mobile screen it's ever done

The Lumia 1520 elevates the excellent mobile displays on the Lumia range to a whole new level, thanks to the Assertive Display technology utilized, which we saw recently to be leaps and bounds ahead in terms of outdoor visibility in comparison with the iPhone 5, Xperia Z Ultra and Note 3.

We already had Nokia's High Brightness Mode and Sunlight Readability Algorithms on flagship Lumias, which could pump up an OLED display to the unprecedented 600 nits, and achieve stellar outdoor visibility, coupled with Nokia's ClearBlack filter tech.

Assertive Display, a technology developed by Apica, is a whole different approach, which adjusts the image on the screen in real time, depending on the lighting conditions and the image displayed, just as our eyes work, constantly adjusting to the environment around. "If the content on the screen is darker on the right than on the left, the pixels on each side will be stimulated differently to each other to maximize both visibility and quality," says Nokia.

That's a pretty granular level of detail we are reaching here, but the Finns also confirm that the Lumia 1520 will adjust perfectly not only outdoors, but inside too, dimming each pixel to the appropriate level. This way you won't burn your retinas when you have to check on something in the middle of the night while in bed, for instance. Nokia has chosen to place this technology in a rather niche phablet device like the Lumia 1520, but we hope to see it in future flagships too, now that the future is so closely tied with Microsoft's Windows Phone efforts.

128 GB Meizu MX3 goes on sale in China

Meizu unveiled its latest flagship smartphone, the MX3 a while ago. Back then, the company had also announced the availability of the 128GB model along with the 16, 32 and 64GB versions.
The 128GB model of the Meizu MX3, is the first smartphone to feature such an extensive internal storage (although 128GB was achievable with the help of a microSD slot earlier), is now available in China for a price of CNY3,999 (about $660).

However, the 128GB variant of the Octa-core smartphone works only on the TD-SCDMA networks, which means that the device will be functional only on the Chinese mobile networks for now. Unfortunately, there is no word on the global availability of the 128GB variant.
Meanwhile, if want to know more about the Meizu MX3, head to our detailed review to learn all its secrets.

Nokia Lumia 929 said to hit Verizon Wireless on November 21

A word got out that the yet to be announced Nokia Lumia 929 is going to hit the Verizon shelves this week, on November 21. The Windows Phone 8 powerhouse is rumored to launch alongside the Nokia Lumia 2520 tablet.

The Nokia Lumia 929 has made a few of unscheduled appearances, but it is yet to go official. The Windows Phone handset is expected to feature the same specs as the Nokia Lumia 1520 phablet, except for the 5” 1080p display.

Microsoft files patent application for "Quiet Time" feature

Microsoft has filed a patent application for a system that can be used to prevent a teenager's phone from making phone calls while behind the wheel of a moving car, or prevent audio from coming out of the speakers of a phone inside a movie theater. Called "Quiet Time," the feature could prevent phone calls from being made during certain times of the day, or while at certain locations.
Based on diagrams from the patent application, a block could be placed on a phone based on a certain time period. The example in one diagram shows a phone in "Quiet Time" from 11pm to 7am, while calls would be allowed only to Mom or Dad or to 911. "QuietTime" might also be implemented in houses of worship, movie theaters or businesses and those walking into such locations could find their phones' audio and communication features disabled while in the affected location. The feature would be disabled when a quieted device bumps with the main mobile device.
In another scenario, parents could set up the "Quiet Time" function before their child gets into the car and drives. One setting could lock the phone and prevent phone calls from being made or received and will unlock when the driver pulls over. A motion sensor would determine if the phone is in a moving vehicle. Calls to Mom or Dad or 911 only, would be allowed. Other options lock a teen driver's phone if the parents are not in the car while a more experienced teen driver might be allowed to use the phone using hands-free technology.
Microsoft filed this application with the USPTO in Q4 of 2012 which means we have no idea when this technology might actually be seen on a Windows Phone.

More details on QHD Vivo Xplay 3S emerge

The Vivo Xplay 3S is shaping up to be a Galaxy Note 3 killer. A new batch of leaked specs reveal more about the mysterious phone with a 5.5" QHD screen (2,560 x 1,440). That resolution (4x 720p) requires a beefy GPU.
The chipset is a Snapdragon 800 with Adreno 330 and it's the 8974AB version, which has the GPU clocked at 550MHz instead of 450MHz, which is the norm in most Snapdragon 800-powered devices (including the Note 3). There's 3GB of RAM too.
The device will have a camera of unknown resolution with an f/1.8 aperture. There's also a built-in Hi-Fi audio chip" and USB 3.0 connectivity (which is unique to the Note 3 among pocketable devices).
Other connectivity includes 4G LTE – of the international and Chinese varieties.
The Vivo Xplay 3S is yet to be officially announced but rumors point to a launch in the first half of next year.

Octa-core Ascend P6S confirmed by Huawei president

The Huawei Ascend P6 is not only one of the slimmest, but also among the best looking smartphones around. It is also a pretty decent smartphone with the only part of its hardware that wasn’t quite impressive being the chipset, which tended to deliver more heat that actual processing power.
The Chinese manufacturer has obviously acknowledged that as it’s now preparing to release an upgraded version of the smartphone featuring a new chipset with an octa-core CPU. The news was delivered by the company’s president Xu Xin Quan through the Weibo blogging platform.
Powering the upcoming Huawei Ascend P6S will be another custom designed SoC that will come to replace the K3V2 on the company’s products. It will come will a true-octa core processor, meaning that all cores will be able to operate simultaneously, unlike the current crop of Samsung Exynos chipsets which only allow up to four cores to work at a time.
The rest of the Ascend P6S specifications remain unknown, but the naming suggests that it won’t be a huge upgrade over the Ascend P6 (pictured above). We also have no information just yet on pricing and launch dates for the new smartphone