New photo of LG Optimus G2 and details on Optimus L9 II leak
LG seems to be cooking up refreshes for two phones that are overdue for an upgrade – the Optimus G flagship and the Optimus L9.Unfortunately, this image doesn’t confirm the 5" 1080p screen or the Snapdragon 800 chipset that rumors have assigned to the second generation Optimus G.
The Optimus G2 might serve as the basis of the Nexus 5, just like the original did for the Nexus 4. Rumor has it that LG is already working on the next Nexus.
The LG Optimus L9 II was more loose-lipped, however, and bared the "L9 II" label right on its face, instead of having us guess things based on a bug report email address. It helps that it hit GFXBench too.
The benchmark detected a 720p screen (presumably 4.7" as on the original), Android 4.1.2 (with LG's customizations visible in the photo) and a Snapdragon 400 chipset with two Krait 200 cores running at 1.4GHz, 1GB RAM and Adreno 305 GPU.
Optimus G2 and Optimus L9 II, promises more info on the camera and other specs of the L9 II, which should be officially announced next month. The rest of the second-gen L-series (the L3 II, L5 II and L7 II) were announced earlier this year at the MWC.
Apple picking up former AMD employees for GPU team
MacRumors has
been doing some checking on LinkedIn profiles, and has found that Apple
hired a number of people in January for positions like graphics
architect and hardware engineer. Apparently, AMD had let go a number of
employees last year, and more in January, and Apple has been busy
scooping them up. Apple has reportedly hired at least 12 former AMD
employees.
Now, Apple posted new positions
last month for Site Managers in both Orlando and Cupertino to head up
new GPU teams within the company. It may be a bit late for the Site
Manager to have much impact on the internals of the upcoming iPhone 5S
or iPad 5, but obviously Apple is focusing quite a bit on boosting GPU performance in its hardware.
Blurry picture of alleged Nokia Lumia 1030 reveals Windows Phone phablet
The screen on the device is 6 inches and can hold three medium tiles across the screen, or one medium and one large tile side-by-side. In addition to the size of the screen, we are also told the device is thin although you might not be able to get that impression of it by looking at the picture.
A little more than a week ago, we passed along a report stating that Nokia is prepping a 6 inch model that would be launched in Q4 of this year. Nokia could be waiting for the GDR3 update to Windows Phone 8 as that will bring support for 1080 x 1920 (FHD) displays.
The rumored Nokia Lumia phablet with a closeup (L)
|
Razer announces 14-inch Razer Blade and 17-inch Razer Blade Pro gaming laptops
Razer has updated their 17-inch gaming laptop – the Razer Blade – and it now comes with improved hardware and a new name. Called the Razer Blade Pro, the ultrathin gaming laptop gets some increased firepower under the hood courtesy of some next generation parts.For starters, Razer has swapped the previous Intel Ivy Bridge processor in favor of a new 4th gen Intel Core ‘Haswell’ processor. The GPU has been updated from the NVIDIA GTX 660M on the previous model to a GTX 765M. Other specs include 8GB DDR3 RAM, 128GB SSD (optional 256/512GB drives available), 3x USB 3.0 ports, HDMI, Ethernet, Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, HD webcam and the same 17.3-inch, 1920 x 1080 resolution display from the previous model. The Razer Blade Pro also has a secondary touchscreen LCD with Razer’s Switchblade interface that doubles up as the trackpad, and ten user configurable keys above.
The Razer Blade Pro is priced at $2,299 and will be available on Razer’s website in Q2, 2013. If you’re an indie game developer with a successfully funded Kickstarter, you can get a new Blade Pro for just $999.
The reason the previous Razer Blade was promoted to the ‘Pro’ status is because there is a new Razer Blade in town. The new 14-inch model carries over most of the important bits from the Blade Pro, including the Haswell CPU, the GTX 765M GPU, 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD and 3x USB 3.0 ports. The 14-inch display, however, has a resolution of 1600 x 900 and the Blade lacks the touchscreen LCD trackpad and the configurable keys of the Blade Pro. However, it is incredibly thin at just 0.66-inch in height, which Razer claims makes it the world’s thinnest gaming notebook.
The Razer Blade is priced at $1,799 and will be available in Q2, 2013.
Windows 8.1 release date, news and features
Microsoft continues to reveal details about the update to Windows 8, now known as Windows 8.1 and formerly known as Windows Blue.
Windows 8.1 shown off at the Microsoft Build developer conference in June and the final version will be available as a free dowloadable Windows 8 update.
Microsoft also said in early May that there would be a preview version available before full release which we'll get on June 26
The "first look" blog post by Microsoft's Antoine Leblond doesn't talk about a Start button. It does, however, say that the Start "tip" will change to "be the familiar Windows logo".
That's pretty much the same as before - so, sorry people, you won't be getting a proper Start menu. "The new tip appears anytime you move the mouse to the bottom left corner of the screen, and is always visible on the taskbar when on the desktop," says Leblond.
Leblond is Head of Windows Program Management and references the marked change of tune that TechRadar detected earlier this year: "Not only will Windows 8.1 respond to customer feedback, but it will add new features and functionality that advance the touch experience and mobile computing's potential." The feedback he's talking about is surely the mellowing of the Start screen dream and the reintroduction of a Start button of some sort.
"We're only a bit more than seven months into [a] new, bold approach to computing," continues Leblond. "The response to Windows 8 has been substantial - from new devices to strong app growth to key enhancements to the OS and apps. We've learned from customers in how they are using the product and have received a lot of feedback. We've delivered hundreds of updates to the product and to apps. We're just getting started, and the potential ahead is tremendous.
"We've been watching, we've been listening"
We've picked out the top 10 enhancements in Windows 8.1 along with some quotes from Leblond about each one.
Microsoft says it will be releasing more Windows 8.1 details "in the coming weeks. As you've heard us talk about before, Windows 8.1 will be available later this year as a free update."
Microsoft also says that it will also be sharing more about Windows Embedded at Build. Embedded will be
"updated in the same timeframe as Windows 8.1. We're aligning the platforms even more to bring Windows to form factors of all types, including not only tablets and PCs, but also the growing category of devices such as ATMs, point of service (POS) terminals, and kiosks."
In a post on the official Windows blog early in May, Tamy Reller, Microsoft's chief marketing office and chief financial officer, confirmed what we already knew - the update will be available "later this year", and certainly by Christmas.
Reller went on to say that the update will provide "more options for businesses, and give consumers more options for work and play". Microsoft now has more than 70,000 Metro/Windows 8-style apps in the Windoes Store.
Reller later confirmed the Windows 8.1 name during a conference call with J.P. Morgan, where plans for the operating system were discussed.
Quite how the upcoming preview release will work in practice remains to be seen, but you might not be able to install it straight into an existing Windows 8 install.
If you happen to be one of the small number of users who have a Windows RT device like Surface RT, we're sure you'll be thrilled to know that the Windows 8.1 update will also be coming to your device.
Windows Blue will officially be deemed Windows 8.1, first revealed in early April. Mary Jo Foley of ZDNet's All About Microsoft blog said the original Windows 8.1 tip came from a reliable source and screenshots of the About Windows screen also appeared on Twitter - see below.
In stores, the update will still be called simply Windows 8 - that means Microsoft isn't about to start naming its incremental OS refreshes like Apple does (like OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion). But it does indicate a new attitude to the type of software updates that it has previously called Service Packs.
One thing we definitely would say, it's unlikely that Windows Blue will mean the merging of Windows 8 and with Windows Phone 8 into a single product.
However, we'd like to point out a big caveat with this screenshot - the new button shown by Thurrott looks awfully like Stardock's Start button replacement tool Start8. Will we actually get a Start button in Windows 8.1?
Credit: Windows SuperSite
Blue is also bringing in new Snap Views so you can share your screen 50:50 between different apps rather than the current 70:30, including across multiple monitors.
As expected, Microsoft is upping the Sky Drive integration, with some new treats like auto-camera uploads and more back-up options, as well as tab sync which will see your tabs mirrored across devices.
The grabs also reveal the inclusion of IE11 but not much detail on the next iteration of browser beyond that.
And for the personalisation fans, the grabs show a quick and easy menu of options for customising your desktop background and other design elements
Some coden supposedly includes an option that disables the start screen so users would jump straight to the desktop layout - known as "CanSuppressStartScreen".
Certainly there are no plans to ditch the desktop any time soon. In an interview with TechRadar, Windows Product Manager Ian Moulster was candid about the desktop's important role in Windows.
"To be honest I don't have an answer because I don't know. I'm loathe to speculate. It seems highly unlikely to me. I haven't seen anything either way. I'd be surprised, but that's my personal view."
"I think it's a continuation of us always building on what's there. Windows 8 is built on Windows 7 and starts from where Windows 7 stops, and I don't think there will be a change to that approach. We'd be crazy to throw anything away.
"But what form that takes we'll have to wait and see I suppose. I think we have said that we'll be releasing updates more frequently, but precisely what that means I don't know. There's the apps as well, we've released plenty of updates to our apps."
According to a February 15 job posting on the Microsoft Careers site, the software giant is seeking an engineer to join its Windows Core Experience Team.
That part of the operation will be working on improving the centrepiece of the new Windows UI, including the start screen, application lifecycle, windowing and personalisation, according to the post.
This seems to suggest that Windows Blue will bring more than a few tweaks under the bonnet and offer tangible visual enhancements to the Windows 8 software.
Indeed, the post mentions Windows Blue by name and says the updates will look to "build on and improve Windows 8" as time goes on.
An excerpt reads: "We're looking for an excellent, experienced SDET to join the Core Experience team in Windows Sustained Engineering (WinSE). The Core Experience features are the centerpiece of the new Windows UI, representing most of what customers touch and see in the OS, including: the start screen; application lifecycle; windowing; and personalization. Windows Blue promises to build and improve upon these aspects of the OS, enhancing ease of use and the overall user experience on devices and PCs worldwide."
Indeed, another post on Microsoft's job site mentions Windows Phone Blue by name, so that is definitely on the horizon.
The plan from Microsoft's point of view is reportedly to move towards a more regular update pace, rather than the three year gap that separated Windows 7 and Windows 8, with little improvements in between.
Apple has enjoyed great success in this arena, gradually adding new strings to the bow of Mac OS X every year, through its feline-themed updates.
Windows 8.1 shown off at the Microsoft Build developer conference in June and the final version will be available as a free dowloadable Windows 8 update.
Microsoft also said in early May that there would be a preview version available before full release which we'll get on June 26
The "first look" blog post by Microsoft's Antoine Leblond doesn't talk about a Start button. It does, however, say that the Start "tip" will change to "be the familiar Windows logo".
That's pretty much the same as before - so, sorry people, you won't be getting a proper Start menu. "The new tip appears anytime you move the mouse to the bottom left corner of the screen, and is always visible on the taskbar when on the desktop," says Leblond.
Leblond is Head of Windows Program Management and references the marked change of tune that TechRadar detected earlier this year: "Not only will Windows 8.1 respond to customer feedback, but it will add new features and functionality that advance the touch experience and mobile computing's potential." The feedback he's talking about is surely the mellowing of the Start screen dream and the reintroduction of a Start button of some sort.
"We're only a bit more than seven months into [a] new, bold approach to computing," continues Leblond. "The response to Windows 8 has been substantial - from new devices to strong app growth to key enhancements to the OS and apps. We've learned from customers in how they are using the product and have received a lot of feedback. We've delivered hundreds of updates to the product and to apps. We're just getting started, and the potential ahead is tremendous.
"We've been watching, we've been listening"
We've picked out the top 10 enhancements in Windows 8.1 along with some quotes from Leblond about each one.
1. Lock screen slideshow
"As people started using Windows 8, we found that people were using their Lock screens to show pictures of their families," Leblond says. So in Windows 8.1, you can turn your PC or tablet into a picture frame by making your Lock screen a slide show of your pictures - either locally on the device or photos from Microsoft SkyDrive. "We also added the ability to take pictures with the built-in camera right from the Lock screen without having to log in."2. More backgrounds
Windows 8.1 offers more colours and backgrounds for the Start screen - including some with motion. You can also choose your desktop background as your Start screen background.3. Different tile sizes
As in Windows Phone 8, the Windows 8.1 Start screen features a variety of tile sizes including a new large and new small tile. It's also even easier to name groups and rearrange tiles, says Leblond: "We found people were accidentally moving tiles on their Start screen so in Windows 8.1, you press and hold (or right click) to move things around." You can now select multiple apps all at once, resize them, uninstall them, or rearrange them: "View all apps just by swiping from the bottom to view all apps, and we've added the ability to filter your apps by name, date installed, most used, or by category. You want the Start screen to be about all the things you love. So when you install a new app from the Windows Store, we no longer put that app on your Start screen. Instead, you'll find these apps under apps view as mentioned above and marked as 'new' where you can choose to pin the apps you want to your Start screen."4. Aggregated search
Instead of having to select an app and then search when you go to the Search charm, Bing now powers an aggregated search system from the web, your files, SkyDrive and elsewhere. Leblond says: "We think this will really change the way you interact with the Web and with Windows making it quicker and easier to get things done. It is the modern version of the command line! Results from local files, apps, and settings are easily accessed in the same convenient view by scrolling to the left."5. Enhanced apps
New app enhancements are also promised to all the built-in apps. According to Leblond: "The Photos app now has some new editing features that let you quickly edit or adjust photos when you view them in the Photos app or open them from other places like the Mail, SkyDrive, and Camera apps. And our Music app has been completely redesigned to help pick and play music from your collection. We plan to talk more about updates to the built in apps in Windows 8.1 and some brand new apps we will be introducing in [the] future. We're also making improvements for using multiple apps at once in Windows 8.1."6. More snap views
If, like us, you use Windows 8 a lot, you'll have been frustrated by the lack of 50:50 split snap views. This is the game-changer for Windows 8 apps. "You will have more ways to see multiple apps on the screen at the same time," says Leblond. "You can resize apps to any size you want, share the screen between two apps, or have up to three apps on each screen if you have a multiple displays connected, you can have different Windows Store apps running on all the displays at the same time and the Start Screen can stay open on one monitor (yes!). This makes multi-tasking even easier. Also in Windows 8.1, you can have multiple windows of the same app snapped together - such as two Internet Explorer windows." We're really looking forward to that.7. An enhanced Windows Store
App updates will now install automatically in the background as they come through the Store. And search is available in the upper right hand corner for finding the apps you want. Leblond elaborates: "The improved Windows Store is designed to show more info than before in Windows 8 with detailed lists of top free apps, new releases, and picks for you on the homepage. The app listing is more descriptive and informative and includes an area for related apps to help with app discovery."8. Save direct to SkyDrive, plus offline files
In Windows 8.1 your files can be saved directly to SkyDrive. The SkyDrive app will also get a new update so that files are available even when offline - as in the desktop version.9. You no longer need the desktop Control Panel
The updated PC Settings in Windows 8.1 gives you access to all your settings on your device without having to go to the Control Panel on the desktop. "You can do things like change your display resolution, set power options, see the make and model of my PC, change the product key, let me do Windows Update, and even join a domain – all from PC Settings," says Leblond. You can also manage SkyDrive from PC Settings as well.10. A new Internet Explorer
Internet Explorer 11 will ship with Windows 8.1. "IE11 will offer even better touch performance, faster page load times and several other new features we think you will enjoy," says Leblond. "For example, you can now adjust the appearance of modern IE11 to always show the address bar and you can have as many open tabs as you like. And you can access your open tabs in sync across your other Windows 8.1 devices."11. Better with a mouse and keyboard
For devices without touch, Windows 8.1 features a number of improvements for easier navigation using a mouse and keyboard. "PCs today are evolving for a world of mobile computing where people interact with their devices through touch, and we designed Windows 8 for this," explains Leblond. "But we also recognize there are many non-touch devices in use today - especially in the commercial setting."12. A change to the Start 'tip'
You've already heard about this one, right? Leblond adds that there are also options to change what the corners do, and options to boot into alternate screens: "For example, if you prefer to see the Apps view versus all the tiles, you can choose to have the Start screen go directly to Apps view."Microsoft says it will be releasing more Windows 8.1 details "in the coming weeks. As you've heard us talk about before, Windows 8.1 will be available later this year as a free update."
Microsoft also says that it will also be sharing more about Windows Embedded at Build. Embedded will be
"updated in the same timeframe as Windows 8.1. We're aligning the platforms even more to bring Windows to form factors of all types, including not only tablets and PCs, but also the growing category of devices such as ATMs, point of service (POS) terminals, and kiosks."
Here are our earlier Windows 8.1 rumors
Windows 8.1 release date
The final Windows Blue release date is late 2013, while there will also be some new Windows Blue hardware.In a post on the official Windows blog early in May, Tamy Reller, Microsoft's chief marketing office and chief financial officer, confirmed what we already knew - the update will be available "later this year", and certainly by Christmas.
Reller went on to say that the update will provide "more options for businesses, and give consumers more options for work and play". Microsoft now has more than 70,000 Metro/Windows 8-style apps in the Windoes Store.
Reller later confirmed the Windows 8.1 name during a conference call with J.P. Morgan, where plans for the operating system were discussed.
Quite how the upcoming preview release will work in practice remains to be seen, but you might not be able to install it straight into an existing Windows 8 install.
If you happen to be one of the small number of users who have a Windows RT device like Surface RT, we're sure you'll be thrilled to know that the Windows 8.1 update will also be coming to your device.
- Microsoft: emphasis on Start Screen shackled Windows 8
Windows Blue is actually Windows 8.1
Windows Blue, we now know for sure that Windows Blue will not be the software's official name. Shame. Instead Windows Blue is just the internal name for the software.Windows Blue will officially be deemed Windows 8.1, first revealed in early April. Mary Jo Foley of ZDNet's All About Microsoft blog said the original Windows 8.1 tip came from a reliable source and screenshots of the About Windows screen also appeared on Twitter - see below.
In stores, the update will still be called simply Windows 8 - that means Microsoft isn't about to start naming its incremental OS refreshes like Apple does (like OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion). But it does indicate a new attitude to the type of software updates that it has previously called Service Packs.
One thing we definitely would say, it's unlikely that Windows Blue will mean the merging of Windows 8 and with Windows Phone 8 into a single product.
Windows 8.1 Start menu
There has been a lot of speculation over whether Windows 8.1 will actually introduce a Start Button and on May 30 we saw a preview of what the brand new button will look like, thanks to Paul Thurrott at Windows SuperSite.However, we'd like to point out a big caveat with this screenshot - the new button shown by Thurrott looks awfully like Stardock's Start button replacement tool Start8. Will we actually get a Start button in Windows 8.1?
Credit: Windows SuperSite
New Windows 8 apps
As well as the operating system itself, Microsoft is apparently building some new Windows 8 apps, looking at new ways to run apps side-by-side on smaller-screened devices without needing hefty black-box-level resolution. That's in addition to the March updates for standard Windows 8 apps.Blue is also bringing in new Snap Views so you can share your screen 50:50 between different apps rather than the current 70:30, including across multiple monitors.
As expected, Microsoft is upping the Sky Drive integration, with some new treats like auto-camera uploads and more back-up options, as well as tab sync which will see your tabs mirrored across devices.
The grabs also reveal the inclusion of IE11 but not much detail on the next iteration of browser beyond that.
And for the personalisation fans, the grabs show a quick and easy menu of options for customising your desktop background and other design elements
Windows Blue desktop
Could Windows Blue enable users to boot straight to the desktop? Some rumours think so. You can't boot straight to the desktop in Windows 8, though you can resume to it.Some coden supposedly includes an option that disables the start screen so users would jump straight to the desktop layout - known as "CanSuppressStartScreen".
Certainly there are no plans to ditch the desktop any time soon. In an interview with TechRadar, Windows Product Manager Ian Moulster was candid about the desktop's important role in Windows.
"To be honest I don't have an answer because I don't know. I'm loathe to speculate. It seems highly unlikely to me. I haven't seen anything either way. I'd be surprised, but that's my personal view."
"I think it's a continuation of us always building on what's there. Windows 8 is built on Windows 7 and starts from where Windows 7 stops, and I don't think there will be a change to that approach. We'd be crazy to throw anything away.
"But what form that takes we'll have to wait and see I suppose. I think we have said that we'll be releasing updates more frequently, but precisely what that means I don't know. There's the apps as well, we've released plenty of updates to our apps."
Windows Blue sync
It seems that more features
will be synchronized between PCs and your user account with Windows
Blue. It looks like this will extend to the Start screen as well as
device associations and Internet Explorer tabs.
Further Windows developmentAccording to a February 15 job posting on the Microsoft Careers site, the software giant is seeking an engineer to join its Windows Core Experience Team.
That part of the operation will be working on improving the centrepiece of the new Windows UI, including the start screen, application lifecycle, windowing and personalisation, according to the post.
This seems to suggest that Windows Blue will bring more than a few tweaks under the bonnet and offer tangible visual enhancements to the Windows 8 software.
Indeed, the post mentions Windows Blue by name and says the updates will look to "build on and improve Windows 8" as time goes on.
An excerpt reads: "We're looking for an excellent, experienced SDET to join the Core Experience team in Windows Sustained Engineering (WinSE). The Core Experience features are the centerpiece of the new Windows UI, representing most of what customers touch and see in the OS, including: the start screen; application lifecycle; windowing; and personalization. Windows Blue promises to build and improve upon these aspects of the OS, enhancing ease of use and the overall user experience on devices and PCs worldwide."
Windows Blue will extend to other platforms
It is also thought that Windows Blue updates will be extended to multiple Microsoft platforms, including Windows server, the mobile OS Windows Phone 8 and applications like SkyDrive and Outlook.com.Indeed, another post on Microsoft's job site mentions Windows Phone Blue by name, so that is definitely on the horizon.
The plan from Microsoft's point of view is reportedly to move towards a more regular update pace, rather than the three year gap that separated Windows 7 and Windows 8, with little improvements in between.
Apple has enjoyed great success in this arena, gradually adding new strings to the bow of Mac OS X every year, through its feline-themed updates.
NVIDIA reveals GeForce GTX 700M series GPUs for notebooks
All of the chips feature NVIDIA's GPU Boost 2.0 and Optimus technologies, and work with the GeForce Experience game auto-settings utility. The 700M series should start showing up in a host of laptops soon, and a bunch of OEMs have already pledged their allegiance. Check out a video with NVIDIA's Mark Avermann after the break, where he shows off a range of laptops packing 700M GPUs, and helps us answer the most important question of all: can it run Crysis? (Or, in this case, Crysis 3.)
Samsung Galaxy S4 mini unveiled with 4.3" screen, Snapdragon 400
The Samsung Galaxy S4 mini was just officially announced and it's everything the rumors made it out to be. It packs a 4.3" qHD Super AMOLED display and many of the advanced features of Galaxy S4The Samsung Galaxy S4 mini runs Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean with Samsung's extensive TouchWiz customizations on top. That includes the WatchON app with IR blaster, an 8MP camera with Sound & Shot and Panorama modes (but no double shot or 360 photo), Group Play and S Health (but without the barometer, temperature or humidity sensors).
Samsung Galaxy S4 mini official images
The smartphone is powered by a 1.7GHz dual-core processor with 1.5GB RAM and while Samsung didn’t explicitly say what the chipset is, it's clear that it's the Snapdragon 400 chipset used in the Mega 6.3. There's 8GB of built-in storage, expandable via the microSD card slot.
The Samsung Galaxy S4 mini measures 124.6 x 61.3 x 8.94mm and weighs 107g compared to 136.6 x 69.8 x 7.9 mm and 130g for the full-sized Galaxy S4. It packs a 1,900mAh user-replaceable battery and will launch with two color options, White Frost and Black Mist.
On the connectivity side there are three options – the top of the line model with LTE connectivity (and NFC), a 3G HSPA+ model and a dual-SIM 3G model. There's also dual-band Wi-Fi a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0 and GPS + GLONASS.
The Samsung Galaxy S4 mini will be shown off at the June 20 event. It's probably then when we'll also learn more about its pricing and availability.
If the Galaxy S4 mini had a 720p resolution screen, it would have fitted the bill quite successfully. Here's hoping that others will follow.
Huawei Ascend W2 official photo surfaces, rumored to cost $290
Huawei's very first Windows Phone 8 smartphone, the Ascend W1, will soon turn 6 months old and by the looks of it, the company is looking to issue a refresh in the face of the Ascend W2.With its specs entering rumorland last month, we got a basic idea of the Ascend W2's personality, but not of its looks. Today this changes, thanks to the popular leaks source, which has provided an official photo of the smartphone's front.If the rumors turn out true, the Ascend W2 should pack a 4.3" HD display, 8MP camera with LED flash and 1.5GHz Snapdragon S4 CPU with 1GB of RAM. Under the back cover reportedly resides a 2000mAh battery and the phone will come with a decent connectivity suite featuring of Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS and HSPA+ support.
The price of the Huawei Ascend W2 is suggested to be below the $300 mark, so it should be definitely on the list of Windows Phone 8 customers looking for an inexpensive update in the near future. Sadly, nobody knows exactly when the Ascend W2 would make it to the market.
Nokia exec hints at 16-lens array camera and dual SIM for future Lumias
The
exec talks about "computational photography", capturing much more
detail than the eye can see upon taking the shot, and then playing
around with it, like changing the focus post-shot. The Pelican Imaging
tech allows this, and Nokia's Jo Harlow mentioned that so far the
biggest obstacle has been processing power, which with today's
smartphone CPUs is no longer an issue. Will we see some of this in the
upcoming Nokia EOS phone with a new camera app remains to be seen, but it seems poised to arrive at some point in future, more powerful Lumias.
That other things that seems to be on the horizon, according to the interview, is dual-SIM Lumias. Nokia is a traditional powerhouse in phones with two SIM cards,
which are huge in emerging markets like India, for instance, but
Windows Phone's development has halted this trend for its smartphones
lately. Apparently support for more than one SIM card is coming in
Microsoft's mobile OS, as Jo Harlow pointed out: "...there
are things that are currently missing. Dual-SIM is an important one and
to be really successful in the Indian market. And that’s something on
our radar to bring to the portfolio."
Entry-level LG Optimus L4 II smartphone leaks
If this fresh rumor is
to be trusted, LG will be expanding its L-series lineup further with a
couple of new low-end models. The LG Optimus L4 II and Optimus L4 II
Dual, as they are allegedly called, were just exposed by a source with a
good track record.
These two Optimus L4 II models are very similar in terms of hardware specs,
with one of them being a single-SIM device, while the other is a
dual-SIM smartphone. The latter has four capacitive buttons underneath
the screen, while the former sticks to LG's now traditional, 3-button
arrangement.
According to the source, the LG
Optimus L4 II packs a 3.8-inch IPS LCD screen with resolution of 320 by
480 pixels. That translates into a mediocre pixel density, but at least we can hope that its colors and viewing angles
will be acceptable. A 1GHz, single-core SoC by MediaTek is running the
show – the MT6575, paired with 512MB of RAM and 4GB of expandable
storage. On the back of the LG Optimus L4 II is said to reside a 3-
megapixel camera with a BSI sensor and LED flash, but a front-facing cam is nowhere to
be seen. Battery life is likely to be good as the smartphone will come
with a 1700mAh battery, which is very decent for its class. Android 4.1
is expected to be pre-loaded on the Optimus L4 II with the usual visual
modifications applied by LG.
Clues lead us to
believe that the LG Optimus L4 II will be released in Russia, but
chances are that other markets will follow suit. The dual-SIM model is
rumored to be carrying a $190 price tag at launch, while the single-SIM
variant should retail for about $174 off-contract. Expect seeing these
on shelves by the end of June.
WP8 GDR2 / Nokia Amber Leaked Images Running on Lumia 925, Shows FM Radio, Smart Camera, Sleeping Screen and More
While we sit patiently waiting for Nokia and Microsoft to deliver the next update to our previous phones, somewhere out there in the wild someone has a Lumia 925 running Nokia Amber (or WP8 GDR2). Below are a couple pictures showing off some of the features coming in this latest update including:
- Sleeping screen (Image above)
- FM radio (yay!)
- Color picker/saturation (we saw this leak on the WP store a while back)
- Nokia Smart Camera
- Flip to silence
- Camera ISO up to 3200
High-end Acer tablet with Windows 8 dubbed Bulgari is reportedly in the works
A high-end Windows 8 tablet by Acer, featuring the latest generation Intel Core i3 Haswell is reportedly in the works. Dubbed Bulgari, the upcoming slate is rumored for an official reveal next month.Along with the latest Intel silicon, the Acer Bulgari is tipped to sport an impressive 11.6″ IPS display with a resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels. The rest of the rumored specs include 4GB of RAM, 64GB of built-in, expandable storage, and an 8MP camera.
If rumors pan out to be the real deal, the upcoming Acer slate is certain to attract a good deal of attention. We’ll keep a close eye on any further developments on the subject.
Updated Windows Phone App for Desktop now available
One of the features that had not enjoyed such a smooth transition is the step away from the fully packed Zune desktop platform and the step toward its replacement, Windows Phone App for Desktop, which serves basically as a synchronization interface and nothing else.
Where the depth of functionality of Zune was sacrificed, the Desktop App made up for in relative efficiency in helping Windows Phone users actually switch to the device. Windows Phone Desktop App is very good at scanning a user’s iTunes library and enabling syncing to a Windows Phone with little flash or flair. However, it also removed the ability to do things that used to be possible, like play music from your library on your computer and we will not even start with the fact that Xbox video is still not supported on Windows Phone 8.
Microsoft seems to be listening and learning and while this update does not bring back the depth of functions of the old Zune app, it is an improvement. The change log touches on four major areas, bug fixes, flexibility in library selection, easier updates and expanded podcast support.
Galaxy S4 Active gets FCC certified, more S4 Zoom rumors
The Galaxy S4 mini was just made official and according to rumors there will be two more S4 family members joining the party soon – the Galaxy S4 Active and the Galaxy S4 Zoom.The Galaxy S4 Active will be an IP57-certified version of the regular S4 – unlike the mini, it will pack almost the all of the high-end specs like a 5" Super AMOLED display with FullHD resolution, quad-core Snapdragon 600 chipset, Android 4.2 Jelly Bean and LTE connectivity.
The main camera has been stepped down to 8MP, but the rest should be the same, a 2,600mAh battery, 16GB of built-in storage, microSD card slot, dual-band Wi-Fi and so on.
The AT&T version of the phone just passed FCC certification as the I537. While the FCC docs don't have a proper picture, these leaked images already revealed what the Active looks like.
The rumors continue with the Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom. It's allegedly an S4 mini variant with the same 4.3" qHD Super AMOLED display, Android Jelly Bean, 8GB of storage and microSD card, 1,900mAh battery, but with a different processor clocked at 1.6GHz (presumably an Exynos 5 model). It's odd that the rumor states there won't be LTE connectivity on the S4 Zoom, as both the Galaxy Camera and Galaxy S4 mini have LTE.
Anyway, the camera is the headline feature of the Galaxy S4 Zoom – a 16MP shooter with 10x optical zoom. This is also the hardest to believe bit of the rumor, but we've heard the same thing in the past and we'll see what happens on June 20 when Samsung will announce new Galaxy and Ativ devices.
Moto X smartphone gets confirmed for assembly in the USA
Motorola's upcoming Moto X flagship smartphone got officially confirmed by the company's CEO Dennis Woodside. The upcoming handset from the reinvented, Google-owned Motorola will be the first smartphone to be assembled in the United States.US versions of the Moto X will be assembled in a former Nokia plant in Fort Worth, Texas. Motorola's global network of operations will not change - the company will continue to manufacture devices in Brazil and China through its partner Flextronics.
Curiously, Motorola didn't reveal any details on the specs, or images of the Moto X (the render above is from a previous leak). Dennis Woodside however, confirmed that the upcoming flagship will be broadly distributed across numerous carriers.
Snapdragon 800 to power the Samsung Galaxy Note III
The latest report coming from Samsung's homeland suggests the next Samsung Galaxy Note III will be powered by Qualcomm's top-notch Snapdragon 800 platform instead of the octa-core Exynos.If this is true, Samsung either still has some troubles manufacturing its homebrew chipset or it just considers the Snapdragon 800 more powerful and probably cheaper. Unlike the Exynos chipset, the Snapdragon 800 platform has an embedded LTE radio, while Samsung needs a third-party hardware to enable LTE support on Exynos.
The Snapdragon 800 chipset has a quad-core Krait 400 processor that can be clocked up to 2.3GHz. Adreno 330 GPU is in charge of the graphics and it supports up to 4K video playback and recording. Snapdragon 800 also comes with a new generation LTE chip that supports category 4 (Up to 300Mbps downlink, up to 75Mbps uplink) and 7.1-channel sound.
Additionally, Samsung Galaxy Note III is rumored to pack at least 6" Super AMOLED display, 2+ GB of RAM, a 13+ MP camera and naturally, an S-Pen.
We expect Samsung to announce the Galaxy Note III at an UNPACKED event at IFA in Berlin this September and launch it soon after.
Specs of Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 10.1 and Galaxy Ace 3 leak
The specifications of the rumored Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 10.1, codenamed Santos 10, have leaked along with the specifications of the next generation Galaxy Ace smartphone, according to a report from Hi-Tech Mail.The Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 10.1 is said to sport a 10.1-inch TFT-LCD display with a resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels and will be powered by a 1.6 GHz dual-core processor along with 1 GB of RAM. The slate will also feature a 3 megapixel rear camera, 1.3 megapixel front facing camera, 16 or 32 GB inbuilt memory and a 6,800mAh battery.
The Galaxy Tab 3 10.1 measures 243.1 x 176.1 x 7.95mm and weighs 510g. The slate will be available in June and, contrary to previous leaks, is expected to run on Android 4.2 Jelly Bean rather than 4.1.
The report also reveals the specifications of the Samsung Galaxy Ace 3 and according to it, the device will sport a 4-inch TFT-LCD display with a resolution of 800 x 480 pixels. The Ace 3 will be powered by a 1GHz dual-core processor along with 1 GB of RAM and will feature a 5 megapixel rear camera, 0.3 megapixel front-facing camera, 4 GB inbuilt memory and a 1,500mAh battery.
The Samsung Galaxy Ace 3 measures 121.2 x 62.7 x 9.8mm and runs on an as of yet unknown version of Jelly Bean. The device is expected to be priced at 9,900 rubles (about $316).
LG planning new tablet for Q3 2013, not working on a Nexus 5.
In an interview with Dutch All About Phones Vice President LG Mobile for Europe Kim Won has revealed that LG is indeed working on tablet hardware for this year, which, if we hypothesize, should probably make an appearance at the IFA congress in Berlin this September.Kim Won had other interesting things to say as well. He admitted LG isn't working on a Nexus 5 smartphone as of now but doesn't dismiss working again with Google in the future. He added that releasing a flagship device, rebranded with AOSP Android (like Samsung and Google did) isn't on the table as LG will not have advantage with a device, stripped of its custom UI.
He also said that LG isn't happy with the duopoly of Android and iOS and said that LG might be looking for another sustainable OS for future business but made clear he was not referring to Windows Phone - so perhaps Tizen or Firefox OS then?
Finally, Kim Won said that LG might work on its own chip design for smartphones in the future.
MediaTek announces quad-core MT8125 processor for tablets
MediaTek has officially announced its new quad-core processor –
MT8125 designed for tablet devices. The latest processor from the
company utilizes a power-efficient quad-core Cortex A7 CPU clocked at
1.5 GHz in its heart.
The MT8125 module also comes with a PowerVR series 5XT graphics and the processor supports a wide range of networks that includes 3G HSPA+, 2G EDGE and Wi-Fi versions.
The MediaTek MT8125 supports up to Full HD 1080p video playback and recording, 13 megapixel cameras with an integrated image signal processor and display output with a resolution of up to 1920 x 1200.
The MT8125 also includes full support for the MediaTek’s 4-in-1 connectivity combo – Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS and FM. Unfortunately, there is no word on the availability of the latest quad-core SoC from MediaTek.
The MT8125 module also comes with a PowerVR series 5XT graphics and the processor supports a wide range of networks that includes 3G HSPA+, 2G EDGE and Wi-Fi versions.
The MediaTek MT8125 supports up to Full HD 1080p video playback and recording, 13 megapixel cameras with an integrated image signal processor and display output with a resolution of up to 1920 x 1200.
The MT8125 also includes full support for the MediaTek’s 4-in-1 connectivity combo – Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS and FM. Unfortunately, there is no word on the availability of the latest quad-core SoC from MediaTek.
Samsung trying OIS for the Galaxy Note III camera
But that won't be the only feature that the 13MP camera of the Note III will be capable of. According to the source, users will be able to edit photos on the fly with the included S Pen. Another feature that Samsung was reportedly discussing was a 3x optical zoom, but this had made the device thicker than needed, so the idea was rejected.
The newspaper has even quoted a Samsung employee, who states that the company is experimenting with various technologies. Here's the full quote.
We are pondering various technologies at this stage – for example, OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) and shutter functions. But, nothing has yet to be confirmed, so we cannot conclusively say that those functions will be added to the Galaxy Note 3.Granted, Nokia and HTC have both adopted OIS solutions in selected smartphones, so it won't be at all surprising to see Samsung offer the benefits of the technology in its own upcoming devices. We just feel pessimistic that they would introduce such a cameraphone-centric feature on no other than the Galaxy Note III.
Other than that, rumors have it that the Galaxy Note III will pack a 5.99-inch 1080p Super AMOLED screen with the same pixel structure as the Galaxy S4's display, a higher clocked Exynos 5 Octa chipset and 3GB of RAM. We'll find out more at the IFA 2013 in early September, the event where the last year's Note II was announced.
Press shot of the world's thinnest phone Huawei Ascend P6 leaks out
While we are waiting for the rumored June 18 unveiling
of the "Beauty. Worth waiting for." handset, as Huawei calls it, let's
regurgitate the specs - ultra-slim body, 1.5 GHz quad-core processor
running the show, aided by 2 GB RAM and 8 GB of internal storage, while
Huawei's Emotion UI 1.6 is painted on the software side of things.
At
record 6.2mm thin, despite the alleged metal-clad housing, we tend to
agree with Huawei that the P6 will be a thing of beauty, but how
practical and performing it will be in reality we'll know after we grab a
review unit.
New rumors says HTC One Google Edition "will be announced within the next two weeks"
The report says that HTC is having serious
discussions about a "Google Edition" HTC One, and goes on to say that
the device "will be announced within the next two weeks". The report
also confirms LlabTooFeR's prediction of a late summer release. The move
would be expected to strengthen HTC's ties with the developer
community, following the expansion of the HTC Dev program, and the HTC
One Developer Edition.
Nvidia introduces GeForce GTX 780 GPU
Nvidia has introduced the GeForce GTX 780 GPU, the latest evolution in its range of GPUs that delivers enhanced performance and smooth visuals for the next generation of PC gaming titles, including Call of Duty: Ghosts, Watch Dogs and Battlefield 4.
Designed for gaming enthusiasts, the GeForce GTX 780 boasts of the Kepler GPU with 2,304 cores and 3GB of high-speed GDDR5 memory. The GeForce GTX 780 supports Nvidia's latest array of gaming technologies, including PhysX and Nvidia TXAA, while the newest GeForce drivers reduce frame time variations. The GTX 780 also features Nvidia SLI multi-GPU technology.
"The GeForce GTX 780 delivers the fastest frame-rate and smoothest animation at a value never before seen in PC gaming," said Scott Herkelman, general manager of the GeForce business unit at Nvidia. "This level of performance allows gamers to become fully immersed into a game the way the developers originally intended."
The GeForce GTX 780 includes Nvidia GPU Boost 2.0 technology, which automatically increases the GPU's clock speeds for enhanced performance, while adding temperature target and fan controls, as well as extra over-voltage headroom and optimisations for advanced water-cooling solutions.
Specifications | GeForce GTX TITAN | GeForce GTX 780 | GeForce GTX 680 |
Chip | GK110 | GK110 | GK104 |
CUDA Cores | 2688 | 2304 | 1536 |
Base Clock | 837 MHz | 863 MHz | 1006 MHz |
Boost Clock | 876 MHz | 900 MHz | 1058 MHz |
Memory Configuration | 6 GB | 3 GB | 2 GB |
Memory Speed | 6.0 Gbps | 6.0 Gbps | 6.0 Gbps |
Memory Bandwidth | 288 GB/s | 288 GB/s | 192 GB/s |
Power Connectors | 1 x 6-pin 1 x 8-pin |
1 x 6-pin 1 x 8-pin |
2 x 6-pin |
Outputs | DL-DVI-I DL-DVI-D HDMI Mini-DP |
DL-DVI-I DL-DVI-D HDMI Mini-DP |
DL-DVI-I DL-DVI-D HDMI Mini-DP |
TDP | 250 W | 250 W | 195 W |
SLI Options | 3-way | 3-way | 3-way |
"The GeForce GTX 780 thermal solution is the most sophisticated we've ever created," said Andrew Bell, vice president of engineering at Nvidia. "The human ear detects not just sound intensity, but also sudden variations in noise levels. For this reason, we created brand new adaptive temperature controllers to reduce unnecessary fan speed variations and deliver beautifully silent operation. This makes the GeForce GTX 780 an awesome choice for powering enthusiast-class PCs including desktop gaming towers as well as the new breed of sexy, small form-factor PCs."
In addition to launching the GeForce GTX 780, Nvidia has released to production the Nvidia GeForce Experience software, which delivers to GeForce gamers the gaming drivers, advanced features and optimal playable settings at a single place. GeForce Experience automatically configures the 3D setting for each game to ensure the best experience. In addition, it notifies gamers of software updates and automatically installs GeForce Game Ready drivers.
NVIDIA announces GeForce GTX 770 GPU for $399
NVIDIA announced its newest GeForce GTX 770 GPU, which is the slightly more affordable version of the GTX 780 we saw last week.The GeForce GTX 770 is based on the NVIDIA Kepler architecture for superior gaming performance. It features 1,536 cores and either 4GB or 2GB of high speed 7 Gbps GDDR5 RAM.
The latest GPU also includes NVIDIA GPU boost (2.0) technology, which automatically increased the clock speed for enhanced performance when needed and adds temperature target and fan controls.
The GeForce GTX 770 GPU supports a wide range of gaming technology, including the PhysX engine, NVIDIA TXAA and GeForce software enabling the users to have smooth gaming experience.
The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770 GPU is currently available in the market from suppliers such as ASUS, EVGA, Gainward, KFA2, Gigabyte, Inno3D, MSI, Palit, PNY, Point of View and Zotac. The pricing of the GTX 770 is supposed to start at €329 for a 2 GB version in EU and $399 in the US.
Nokia N9 and Jolla Phone with Other Half: Comparison, Similarities, Advantages over Nokia N9 and Vice Versa
As Jolla launched its first Flagship Jolla
Phone with Other Half, we come up with a quick comparison with its big
brother Nokia N9 or its unofficial predecessor, similarities between two
and advantages of Jolla Phone over Nokia N9.
So let’s start
As Jolla didn’t disclosed much about spec of Jolla Phone, we just only compare, what Jolla disclosed about spec.
Similarities
Sailfish OS Navigation based gestures like Pull, Push, Flick, Tap and Tap & Hold. We’ll tell you more about Sailfish and its gesture based navigation system on our technical articles. So stay tune.
Jolla Phone Advantages over N9
Advantages of Nokia N9 over Jolla Phone
So let’s start
As Jolla didn’t disclosed much about spec of Jolla Phone, we just only compare, what Jolla disclosed about spec.
Nokia N9 | Jolla Phone (Other Half) | |
Processor | Single Core ARM Cortex-A8 | Dual Core |
Display | 3.9 inch AMOLED Gorilla Glass | 4.5 inch Estrade Display (Probably HD) |
Design | Nokia’s FABULA Design Language | Jolla Design |
Network | 2G/3G | 4G(Depend on operators and supported network) |
Storage | 16/64 GB Internal | 16GB Internal +Micro SD Support |
Camera | 8 MP AF with Dual LED Flash | 8 MP AF with single LED Flash |
Battery | 1450mAh Non Replaceable | User Replaceable |
Cover | No Cover Included | Included Other Half Cover |
Operating System | MeeGo 1.2 Harmattan | Gesture based Sailfish OS |
Apps | MeeGo Harmattan Apps Only | Sailfish OS apps + AndroidTMapplication compliant |
USB | Micro USB | Micro USB |
Audio | 3.5 mm Headphone jack | 3.5 mm Headphone jack |
UI | Nokia’s Swipe gesture based with Button less display | Gesture Navigation with button less display |
- Card Based Multitasking
- Gesture based Navigation
Sailfish OS Navigation based gestures like Pull, Push, Flick, Tap and Tap & Hold. We’ll tell you more about Sailfish and its gesture based navigation system on our technical articles. So stay tune.
Jolla Phone Advantages over N9
- Operating System
- Eco-System
- LTE Enabled
- Micro SD
- User Replaceable Battery
- Dual Core Processor
- The Other Half
- Android™ Applications Compliant
Advantages of Nokia N9 over Jolla Phone
- Iconic Industrial Design
- Nokia Maps
- Full-fledged offline map viewing.
- Maximum countries coverage
- Voice guided navigation
- Lifetime subscription of Nokia maps
- Swipe Gesture
- Carl Zeiss Camera Optics
- NFC (Near Field Communication)
- Standby Screen
- MeeGo Harmattan OS
- Openness
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