this week

Microsoft changes resolution requirement, allowing for smaller Windows 8 devices

If you have been tempted by the nifty touch experience of Windows 8 tablets, but wished for some smaller sized hardware, you may have something to look forward to.Windows 8 devices have had a minimum resolution requirement of 1366x768, which is what you would find on a Surface RT tablet. OEMs would not be allowed to affix the Windows 8 logo to their products if they went below that resolution standard.Microsoft has changed that requirement, and it is a significant change. The minimum resolution requirement is now 1024x768, shared by the iPad mini and still in the ballpark with the Kindle Fire HD and Google Nexus 7. Microsoft is relaxing the requirement because
 “partners exploring designs for certain markets could find greater design flexibility helpful.”

That pretty much means smaller display options, and more compact hardware as a result.  The Kindle Fire HD and Google Nexus 7 are great sub-$200 tablets and they represent a segment that Windows 8 would be very late in joining the party should smaller Windows tablets come to market, but could certainly be a contender, especially while running the full Windows 8 operating system.
There is a significant trade-off though (there always is), manufacturers that adopt this lower resolution for their tablets must disable snap. Snap is the feature that allows to Windows Store applications to be viewed side-by-side. Moreover, OEMs that want Microsoft’s blessing must provide “conspicuous disclaimers” to customers.
The issue for Microsoft is loss of the positive experience provided by snap as a result of the lower resolution. So while the lower resolution will be permitted, the lower standard is below the “threshold for snap.”Does this mean we can expect to see a flood of smaller Windows 8 tablets? We would not say a “flood,” but the touch experience provided by Windows 8 will fit quite nicely in a smaller package and we would be interested in seeing what a mini-Surface might offer

Rumor: Sony prepping 5" Xperia Cyber-shot and Walkman phones for Q3 to lure camera and music buffs

Not that Sony didn't prove itself with the slim waterproof Xperia Z this season, but apparently CEO Kaz Hirai has a dream pet project to stuff everything that Sony is capable of in the camera and sound department (and that's a lot) into upcoming Xperia handsets, slated for release in time for the holiday shopping craze.

We've been hearing rumors for a while about this project, allegedly under the One Sony umbrella, but now a tipster of ours fleshed out the strategy with some heartwarming stories about Cyber-shot and Walkman tech about to be placed into flagship Xperia smartphones with Android. Of course, the information below is neither confirmed by Sony, nor verified, save for some rumblings on several company-centric forums, so we can't vouch for its credibility, but here's the full scoop:

Apart from the xperia a,ul,phablet launching in summer... There are three more parallel flagships coming in q3.

1. This one is 5 inch xperia cybershot. It will be equipped with best camera so far in smartphones. With sensor size almost equal to pureview 808 and carl zeiss optics it will stand out from the rest of the crowd. Other specs will be top of the line. Also, the waistline of the phone is well within limits.

2. This one is 5 inch xperia walkman. It will come with integrated amplifier chip and all other goodies of sony walkman series and same top specs.

3. This one is a direct iPhone competitor in a small form factor and small screen size with camera and other specs same as xperia cybershot.

Pretty interesting speculation, and it seems that this year will be the one when Android phones will finally get the much needed boost in the camera department. As you might have noticed, apart from reiterating the Xperia A and UL rumor, the tipster is also confirming the Togari phablet we wrote an article about, as slated for release in the summer, so if even a part of this rumor pans out, Sony will be in it to win it in the second half of the year, on the quest to become the third largest smartphone maker globally, after Samsung and Apple.

Company with Foxconn Source Says iPhone 5S Coming in June

Rumors regarding Apple’s next iPhone are inevitable. You can’t ignore them like you can’t ignore air. And this one is no different, but it carries a little more weight than what we’ve heard. According to a Shenzhen-based manufacturer that allegedly has an inside track with Foxconn, Apple is indeed planning a June launch for the next iPhone.
Unveiled by TechCrunch, a “confidential presentation” points to a “firm June 2013” launch of what’s known as the iPhone 5S. The unknown manufacturer claims it’s working directly with Foxconn as it ramps up production of Apple’s next handset so it can have products available immediately following the iPhone 5S’ launch.
June rumors have been gaining a lot of steam as of late, and this is the biggest indication yet we’ll see Apple’s next handset over summer. The company has been pretty quiet over the last few months—though the speculation has been rife with smart watch, iPad mini 2 and iPhone stories.

  

 

Galaxy S4 mini confirmed by Samsung SVP

The Samsung Galaxy S4 has leaked a few times before but this slip comes from Lee Keon Hyok, Senior Vice President at Samsung Electronics who talked to BusinessWeek.
Apparently, “the Galaxy S 4 doesn’t come out until late April. It’s fast, has a big, bright screen, and will probably be another huge hit for Samsung, as will the S4 mini that will go on sale soon after”.
That’s not a lot to go on, but at least it confirms the Galaxy S4 mini exists and we’re not looking at a random Galaxy model (most look quite similar).
KnowYourMobile has gotten hold of some unconfirmed info on the upcoming diminutive smartphone. The main camera will have an 8MP sensor that will capture HD video (possibly 1080p) and there will be a front-facing camera of unknown resolution.
According to the site the Galaxy S4 mini’s chipset (the Exynos 5210?) will pack just 1GB of RAM. The internal storage options are 8GB, 16GB and 32G with a microSD card slot. The estimated price for the Galaxy S4 mini is £300 / $450.
Keep in mind that KnowYourMobile’s data should be taken with a pinch of salt. Even Lee Keon Hyok’s comments should not be taken for granted

 

 

Sony working on 5-inch midrange device with qua-core MT chip

According to industry sources Sony is looking to expand its portfolio by bringing an affordable quad-core 5-incher to market. Details on specs are scarce but the device may be powered by the MediaTek MT6589 SoC, which offers four Cortex-A7 cores.
According to said sources the device production will be outsourced to Arima.


Arima is working with Sony on the budget-friendly Xperia E. Sony is also reportedly working with Compal Communications and Foxconn and plans for them to produce between 8 and 10 million devices this year.

Mystery Snapdragon 800 LG device tops GLBenchmark charts

An as yet unidentified device from LG has on the popular GLBenchmark GPU benchmarking site. This is hardly important on its own, but the results posted by its Snapdragon 800 beat out the competition by a significant margin.


The device is set to feature the new Snapdragon 800 (MSM8974) processor alongside Adreno 330 GPU with a screen resolution of 1794 x 1080 (which is 1080p with virtual buttons). The new GPU managed to easily outdo even the iPad 4, let alone the current smartphone top dogs.
Not much else is known about the device beyond the Android 4.2.2 OS, although with such a specs sheet it will be quite a high-end offering when LG decide to put it on the market.

Texas Instruments develops chipset enabling half the time needed to recharge battery

The new line of chips, seven in all, supply power twice as fast as the current generation of chipsets thanks to a new “battery path impedance compensation system.” These new integrated circuits for single-cell lithium-ion batteries can be used in a wide array of devices.

The “BQ2419x” line can find use not only in smartphones and tablets, but also LTE routers, Wi-Fi speakers, even mobile medical equipment and other portable devices.

It seems like battery technology has not been keeping pace with the advances in mobile hardware and network technologies. However, it has not been standing still either. Lithium-ion batteries have been seeing incremental improvements in density. The sector has also been contending with safety factors as well while it improves the technology overall.

The new TI “fast-charge units” meet Energy Star and EU charging specifications and are designed to run cool while being up to 92% efficient. That is not too bad for a component measuring just 4mm x 4mm. With smartphone sales expected to grow by leaps and bounds for the foreseeable future, this new chip by Texas Instruments is timely.

AMD busts out 'world's fastest graphics card' at GDC

Delays due to technical issues be damned: AMD had a bevy of graphics cards to unveil tonight and it wasn't going to let some set-up snags get in the way.
After an initial hold up, AMD's GDC 2013 press conference got off to an impressive start, though the company decided to save the best for last.
Just when attendees thought it was over, AMD's Devon Nekechuk, product manager for high-end graphics, broke out the never-before-seen reference design for the Radeon HD 7990.
"This is the world's first preview of this card," Nekechuck said. "This is the first public showing ever."

Nekechuk struck a pose with the Radeon HD 7990

Rad, man

As Nekechuk noted, the dual-GPU unit shown tonight was just a preview, but he didn't skimp in piling praise on the red and black rectangle codenamed Malta.
"This packs two of our 7990 series GPUs. This is only a preview series today, so I'm going to have to hold back some of the details for you guys, but this is not only the world's fastest graphics card, this thing is whisper quiet with these three fans over here. This thing delivers massive performance and this is really the gamer's dream card."
The Radeon HD 7990 is part of the same family as other 7990s on the market, including the Asus Ares II and the PowerColor Double 13, the product manager said.
Details are sparse, and there's no word yet when we'll see its graphics prowess come to market, though AMD is expected to start shipping its new 8000 series before the year is up, putting some time squeeze on the 7990.

Take it to the sky

Before cameras were set a'flashing with Nekechuk's processor, AMD also revealed a new line of cloud gaming GPUs, the Radeon Sky Series.
"This is a dedicated series of graphics cards dedicated to cloud gaming," said David Cummings, general manager, professional graphics. Not just one but three products were introduced.
The Sky 900 is the beast of the bunch, housing 3584 stream processors, 6GB GDDR5 (3GB/GPU) memory and 480GB/s of memory bandwidth.

Cummings shows off the dual-GPU Sky 900

The Sky 700 is sliced down to 1792 stream processors, 6GB GDDR5and 264GB/s, while Sky 500 runs with 1280 stream processors, 4GB GDDR5 and 154GB/s.
The cards are passively cooled, Cummings explained, a sign that the processors are meant to live in not in consumers' home but in data centers owned by enterprise.
AMD built the Sky GPUs on its Graphics Core Next architecture and worked with a number of cloud gaming partners, including CiiNow, G-Cluster, Otoy and Ubitus, to bring about a complete and powerful gaming experience.

ZTE Grand Memo and ZTE Grand S are both launched in China

Two new handsets launched in China on Wednesday, the ZTE Grand Memo and the ZTE Grand S. The former made quite a stir at MWC when ZTE said that it was packing Qualcomm's high-end Snapdragon 800. The only problem is that no phone has yet to have the 800 inside, and Qualcomm denied the report. It turned out that different versions of the phone for different locations will have different specs and ZTE says that some variants of the phone will eventually be powered by the 800.

As it turns out, the version of the phone now for sale in China is powered by a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro after all, and includes 1GB of RAM. The huge 5.7 inch screen has 720p of resolution, which works out to 258ppi of pixel density. The 13MP camera on back captures video in 1080p while a camera of unknown size is around front. 16GB of native storage comes with the device, but there is no microSD slot aboard for storage expansion. A 3200 mAh battery keeps the lights on while Android 4.1 is installed out of the box. This device costs you 2,688 yuan ($432 USD). In case you're wondering, the version of the phone using the Snapdragon 600 or the Snapdragon 800 down the road, will have 2GB of RAM inside.

The ZTE Grand S is also now available for 3,399 yuan ($547 USD) and is equipped with a a 5 inch FHD display which works out to the usual 441ppi pixel density. The quad-core 1.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro processor is under the hood along with 1GB of RAM and 16GB of native storage. The latter can be expanded through the use of a microSD card. The 13MP camera on back captures FHD video and the 2MP front-facing shooter takes self-portraits and supports video chats. If there is one shortfall, it is the battery, which at 1780mAh seems woefully undersized. The ZTE Grand S is wickedly thin, measuring just 6.9mm. Back in January, the manufacturer's top North American executive said that this handset would be offered in the U.S by an unnamed carrier at an unknown date.

Now available in China, the ZTE Grand Memo (L) and the ZTE Grand S

Nokia N900 and NEMO Mobile snapshot 0.20130218.1.NEMO.2013-03-24.2

The last post on the 950 reminded me of this video I watched the other day on the Nokia N900 (note the resistive stylus that pops on the screen every now and again?).

The N900 is running NEMO Mobile snapshot 0.20130218.1, part of the Mer project on MAEMO which otherwise looks like Harmattan                                                                                                          

Google+ now supports animated GIF images for your profile photo

Google+ is keen to maintain its reputation of being one of the most innovative social networks and has released a new update that allows you to set animated GIF images as your profile picture. Of course, MySpace has had this feature for a while, but with Google+, the feature is finally bound to get wider exposure.

The latest addition allows you to use the animated GIF images as your account’s banner and the image will be viewed by the users visiting your profile. The GIF images will animate on both the desktop version of the site and the mobile applications.
Meanwhile, Google is trying its best to promote its latest addition and is suggesting its users to make their own GIF images by re-directing them to “How to make a GIF” results in the Google search.

Windows Blue early build leaks, shows us some of the new features

A new build of the next update to Windows 8, codenamed Windows Blue, has been leaked on the internet. Build 9364 introduces quite a few changes and improvements to the existing Windows 8 and would make living with Microsoft’s newest operating system that much more easier.

One of the changes in Blue is addition of two new sizes for the live tiles. You can now have tiny, icon sized tiles, similar to the ones introduced in Windows Phone 8, as well as a giant new square tile that is twice the size of the previous largest tile. The theme settings have also been updated, with finer control over the color of the desktop background.
Other useful new addition is a 50:50 snap option for application windows. Earlier, this functionality was only available to desktop Windows apps but will now be available for apps using the Modern UI as well. In fact, you will be able to snap four apps simultaneously in this update, thus significantly boosting your productivity and reducing app switches.

Other changes in this build include a new improved Settings panel in the Modern UI with additional options, that will have you switching over to the more extensive desktop Control Panel app less frequently, new Charms, including a Share Charm for quickly taking and sharing a screenshot of the current app and Internet Explorer 11.
A public preview of Windows Blue is expected to be released in the coming months with the full release later this year. Hopefully, it will make using Windows 8 a better experience compared to what it is right now

Google Translate gets offline support for 50 languages

It's been a while since we've seen an update to Google's Translate app, but today brought a pretty big update. The update was pushed out this morning and it brought with it a new option to download language packs to be used for offline translations. That alone is pretty impressive, but even better: there are 50 language packs from which to choose.

This is a really nice update for anyone who likes to travel, because it means you no longer have to use a data plan to get your translations. So, no more data roaming, or paying for extra data while you travel. It’s also really nice for tablet users who may not have a data connection anyway.

After you update, just check the menu in the top right to download any language packs you may want. If you want to grab Google Translate, it’s available for free in the Google Play Store.

Microsoft to merge Windows RT into Windows Blue?

 

Microsoft might no longer launch Windows RT devices and will merge the operating system and devices with it in the huge new overhaul to Windows, Windows Blue, according to DigiTimes’ supply sources in Taiwan.

Windows RT is the name Microsoft uses for its ARM-based devices. Windows RT comes with the same modern interface like Windows 8, but unlike it, it does not support legacy Windows applications. It also suffers from compatibility issues

There is still no official confirmation on these Windows RT news from Microsoft, and we don’t really expect the company to say something earlier than the Microsoft Build Developer Conference 2013. It will take place in San Francisco from June 26th to 28th. So take this with a grain of salt for the time being.

What’s notable is that DigiTimes also expects Windows-based Intel device sales to drop significantly in the period before the launch of Intel’s fourth-generation Core chips, Haswell. The first Haswell computers are expected to arrive around June.

Sony prepping an inexpensive 5-incher for Q3

Tucked in an "industry observers" report from supply chain sources is the nugget that Sony will be launching an affordable 5-incher this year, alongside a sleuth of entry to mid-range handsets.

We already saw the Xperia L and Xperia SP announced, and the rumors keep coming for an Xperia A, Xperia  UL and the Togari flagship, hinting at a pretty respectable roadmap for the year, covering the gamut of consumer choices, as Sony already hinted it wants to take the second place amongst Android makers, after Samsung.

As per the inexpensive 5-incher, the saying is: "Sony also plans to roll out a 5-inch entry-level model in the third quarter, which is likely to be powered by a MediaTek quad-core processor and manufactured by Arima, indicated the industry sources."

Windows Phone 8 update to activate FM radios, enable double-tap to wake Lumia 920

Microsoft is currently preparing a new Windows Phone 8 update, The Verge has learned. Sources familiar with Microsoft's plans have revealed that the software maker plans to support FM radio hardware in its latest update, returning a hardware feature that the company dropped with its latest mobile OS. Windows Phone 7 used to support FM radio hardware, and Microsoft has been working to bring this support back to Windows Phone 8. The hardware support will be part of a General Distribution Release (GDR2) for Windows Phone 8. We understand that the Lumia 920 and Lumia 820 will support FM radio, while other compatible handsets will also include the support.

Nokia is also building in its own firmware improvements into GDR2. Sources familiar with Nokia's plans have revealed to The Verge that the company will add a new screen activation gesture. Lumia 920 and Lumia 820 owners will be able to double-tap the screen to wake the device from standby. Other firmware specific improvements from Nokia include a flip to silence option, and Lumia color profile settings for the device screen. We're told that the update, which is minor, will be made available over the coming months

Sony Xperia A and Xperia UL Uncovered 

Two new Xperia devices have been uncovered, and they might already put the Xperia Z and ZL into retirement. Although, as noted by Xperia Blog, these devices are likely destined for Japan, possibly this summer, with no indication they’ll make it over to the States. Be that as it may, the information provided are just rumors anyhow, so lets not write off Sony’s current flagships just yet.
One of the devices, known as Xperia A (codenamed Dogo), will sport a 4.6-inch HD display (likely 720p, but XperiaBlog said it might be 1080p) and a Snapdragon 600 chipset. The device will also have 2GB of RAM, 32GB of internal storage, 2300mAh body, a water/dust resistant body, mobile wallet and an IR blaster.
The other handset, the Xperia UL (codenamed Gaga), will come equipped with a 5-inch 1080p display, Snapdragon 600 chipset, 2GB of RAM, 32GB of internal storage, a removable 2300mAh battery, and the same features as the Xperia A. In addition, Sony might also be working on a 6.4-inch handset (Togari) with 1080p display, but little else is known about the massive phablet.
None of this information has been verified, so they’re big fat rumors for now. Sony’s handsets will likely score big in Japan, but elsewhere? If they do make it overseas, they’ll have to do battle with handsets such as the HTC One and Samsung Galaxy S4. So far, those two seem like the gold standard for this year.

HTC Desire P and Desire Q official images surface, specs in tow

HTC has let a couple of official photos of its latest smartphone offerings the Desire P and Desire Q make it to the web, garnished with some specs. Both devices are running Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and are what appears to be replacements for the Desire SV and Desire U, respectively.

HTC Desire Q • HTC Desire P
The mid-range HTC Desire P (T326h) is built around a 4.3" display of WVGA resolution. At the back of its plastic body there's an 8MP camera with LED flash, while inside resides a 1GHz dual-core CPU of unknown variety.
The Desire P has a few nice bonus features like Beats Audio and microSD card slot. At the front, there's also a front-facing camera. The smartphone is bound to hit China and will be offered by China Mobile for a purported price of $365.
As for the HTC Desire Q (T328h), it's smaller and cheaper than the Desire P and packs a 4" display. Its resolution is still unclear as are the rest of the specs. However, it's known to boast Beats Audio capabilities and will retail for $235 in Taiwan. It'll likely be available in China as well

 Nokia Transit for full touch Asha phones goes into beta

Nokia Transit is a great app for those relying on public transportation, but so far it was exclusive to Lumia phones. Well, not for long – a beta version of the app can be installed on the full touch Nokia Asha 3xx phones.

In case you’re unfamiliar with Transit, here’s what it does – it finds nearby stations (or you can search for stations by address), tells you about departure times and can plan a route to your destination, even across several lines and modes of transportation. There are detailed instructions for each route and favorite routes can be saved for offline usage.
The Nokia Transit app for Asha will work on Asha 305, 306, 308, 309 and 311. The 310 was left out of the list for some reason.

You can grab the beta version of the app from Nokia Beta Labs, you’ll need an account (free signup). Windows Phone-powered Nokia Lumia phones can enjoy a full version of the app from the Marketplace.