this week

World's thinnest smartphone, BBK Vivo X3T, receives certification from China

The world's thinnest smartphone  Vivo X3T with a thickness of 5.75mm. With that measurement, even the 6.18mm Huawei P6 looks like a fat slob and we won't even talk about the Oppo Finder which weighs in at 6.65mm thick.
The rest of the specs for the Vivo X3T include a 5 inch screen with resolution of 1080 x 1920 (FHD). Under the hood is a quad-core 1.5GHz MediaTek MT6589T processor with 1GB of RAM on board. The camera on back is 8MP while the front-facing snapper is 5MP. The phone is expected to launch on August 22nd for the world's largest carrier, China Mobile. Android 4.2 will be pre-installed out of the box.
The dimensions of the BBK Vivo X3T are 143.27mm x 71.03mm x 5.75mm. On the scale, the device weighs 150 grams. No pricing information was released

6-inch Alcatel One Touch Scribe Pro leaks

 Alcatel official presentation showing the One Touch Scribe Pro and its specs. The phablet has a "massive" 6.0-inch display of unknown resolution and runs on a quad-core 1.5GHz processor. The Scribe Pro also sports a 13MP camera, a 3400 mAh battery, dual-SIM support, a stylus plus an interesting flip cover with hidden LED screen.



Murtazin says Alcatel One Touch Scribe Pro will be released in Hong Kong this month and will cost $300. If true we hope Alcatel will launch the phablet soon in other markets too.
There is a second phone below the Scribe Pro that we haven't seen yet - the One Touch Idol mini. It runs on a dual-core 1.2GHz processor and comes with a 4.3" IPS display. The original OT Idol features a 4.66-inch IPS display.

Meizu MX3 to be unveiled on September 2

Meizu is getting ready to launch its new flagship - the Meizu MX3. It has already sent invitations for an event on September 2 in Beijing, China.
There is no further official information on the event, but there are a few rumors and leaks on the Meizu MX3, so we bet we'll get to see it unveiled there.
The Meizu MX3 has already leaked via a render image showing what the phone will look like. It’s also rumored to pack a 5.1" 1080p display and to be powered by Samsung's Exynos 5 Octa chipset. The rest of the alleged specs include 2GB of RAM, a 13MP camera and Flyme OS 3.0 that is based on Android 4.2 Jelly Bean.
We've already met with the Meizu's first generation flagships - the MX and MX 4-core and we really liked them. We are thrilled to see what's Meizu has prepared for us and hope this time around the company will try and make the smartphone available globally.

Snapdragon 800 seemingly confirmed for next Amazon Kindle Fire HD

The next-gen Kindle Fire HD by Amazon could brag with top-notch hardware specs and upgraded high-resolution displays. Well, this rumor might very well be on the right track, judging by another piece of evidence that just surfaced. An unknown Amazon device running Android 4.2.2 has appeared on GFX Bench, with a code name "apollo" attached to it, touting its high-end hardware specifications. The screen has a resolution of 2560 by 1600 pixels, indicating that we're indeed dealing with a tablet, while the presence of an Adreno 330 GPU and the 2.15GHz maximum CPU clock speed suggest that a Snapdragon 800 chip provides the device with processing power.

Our guess is that the tablet that got benchmarked was the upcoming successor to the 8.9-inch Amazon Kindle Fire HD. Rumor has it that this very same Amazon Kindle Fire model will have an 8MP main camera, a front-facing snapper, 2GB of RAM, optional cellular connectivity, and 16, 32, or 64GB of storage.

The next generation of Amazon Kindle Fire tablets is probably going to be announced later this fall.

Nokia's upcoming Windows RT tablet specs and details

Nokia tablet will launch with Windows RT 8.1, which would likely put the launch sometime in mid-to-late October, since Microsoft just set the Windows 8.1 release at October 17th.

According to the new rumor, the Nokia tablet will feature a 10.1" display running at 1080p resolution with 5-point multitouch and wide viewing angles. That sounds nice, but the 5-point multitouch seems odd given that most modern devices have 10-point multitouch. The tablet is said to be running a Snapdragon 800 clocked at 2.15GHz and have 32GB of storage. No word on RAM, though.

There is expected to be a detachable keyboard/stand that will work like the Asus Transformer keyboard and include a battery for extended tablet usage. The tablet is said to have full USB ports with micro HDMI & USB 3.0 port support, and Wireless N Cell compatible. We have heard before that it will come in various colors, but it is said that there will be an option for matte cyan.

Like most mobile devices in the Windows sphere, it is said the Nokia tablet will launch with an AT&T supported model. 

Sony Xperia Honami will record 4K video

A batch of photos starring the Sony Xperia Honami and the iPhone 5 leaked less than a day ago, but it turns out there's one more photo that's the most interesting of the bunch. It's a presentation slide that touts the Honami's 4K video recording capabilities.



4K video has 4000 x 2000 resolution according to the slide (though standard is 4096 x 2160). That's a lot – it will require a very capable chipset (the Snapdragon 800 officially supports the resolution), a capable sensor (the Honami is using a 20.7MP 1/2.3" Exmor R sensor and G lens) and tons of storage.



This isn't the first time we're hearing the 4K video capture rumor, but seeing it up on a slide gives it some credibility. If this rumor pans out, Sony will be able to claim a smartphone camera first at the Berlin event on September 4.

Samsung Hennessy clamshell Android smartphone now official

Samsung China has just officially announced the Hennessy - a flip-phone with dual screens running the Android operating system.


More specifically, the Hennessy is boasting a pair of 3.3" touch displays of 320x480 resolution each. It's powered by a 1.2GHz quad-core CPU and 1GB of RAM that helps it run Android 4.1 Jelly Bean.
The Samsung Hennessy is quite thick and heavy, measuring 110.85 x 59.3 x 18.62mm and tipping the scales at 208g. Under the back cover resides a 1,500mAh battery, the microSD card slot for expanding the memory as well as the two SIM card slots supporting tri-band GSM and dual-band CDMA.
Also on the back sits the 5MP camera with LED flash. Samsung hasn't disclosed its video recording capabilities, but an educated guess would be a minimum of 720p.

Samsung Hennessy W789 official photos
The Samsung Hennessy (W789) is the second Android flip-phone with a pair of screens that Samsung features in its portfolio of smartphones. The first was the Samsung W999, which looks very similar to the Hennessy, but didn't actually make an international debut.
There's no info if the Hennessy will leave China either, or about its pricing and availability there.

Samsung Hennessy (W789) official photos
With the candybar form factor dominating the Android smartphone space, it's somewhat puzzling to see one of the big players on the market do this kind of a phone. The flip phones waste a lot of space for a smartphone world obsessed with huge batteries, large screens and slim waistlines. We'd be glad to be proven wrong though - unlocking some new smartphone potential we haven't considered just yet is always refreshing.

BlackBerry Z30 to support wireless charging

BlackBerry Z30 supposed to be Z10's bigger sibling with a 5.0" OLED 720p display, but to keep the same internals.
Latest piece of info comes from the Wireless Power Consortium, where the BlackBerry Z30 is listed as a Qi wireless charging compatible device.
We don't know yet if you'll need an additional accessory cover (like the Lumia smartphones), or the feature will be available out of the box. We guess we'll have to wait for the official announcement.
BlackBerry is having some trouble lately and is seeking for alternatives and considers a potential buyer. Let's hope this won't impact the development of the rumored BlackBerry Z30 and BlackBerry Z15 QWERTY/touch hybrid.

Hyetis Crossbow smartwatch packs a 41MP camera with ZEISS optics

Your Nokia Lumia 1020 has a 41MP image sensor and ZEISS optics? That’s cute – so does the Hyetis Crossbow smartwatch. Also, the specs sheet is so long it will make your head spin (and in the dizziness you’ll wonder if this is just vaporware).

The watch has a Swiss-made movement and that’s the only thing that will remain constant – Hyetis is promising to update the rest as time goes on.
At start (it’s not entirely clear when that might be), the watch will have a high-res touch screen (but there’s no exact resolution given) and will pair with your iOS, Android or Windows Phone handset over Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. There’s NFC and a microphone too. All that’s missing is LTE.
The thing that sticks out of the 12 o’clock position is the 41MP camera with ZEISS lens (not a typo). Then you have a biometric sensor in the wrist band. Inside is a GPS receiver, with a barometer (and a depth sensor, the watch is rated at up to 25atm/250 meters) and a thermometer.
The promised battery life is 4 days, which sounds near impossible for the form factor and all those radios. There are two rechargeable batteries somehow fitted into the wristband (which is the most ridiculously over-specced wristband ever) and a regular watch battery powers the watch movement (so it’s not a mechanical watch). The watch is charged via wireless charging and takes “a few hours” to fill up the battery.

The casing of the watch is titanium and the touchscreen on the face is sapphire glass with antiglare coating.
The Hyetis Crossbow will soon be available for pre-order for $1,200 and should ship later this year. You’ll have to be quick though, only 500 watches will be made initially, then Hyetis will try to do a customizable version of the watch a la Moto X (the bezels and wristbands are mentioned specifically).
You know what they say – if something is too good to be true, it probably is. But if Hyetis actually pulls it off, this will be one of the most impressive gadgets ever.

Windows 8.1 arriving on October 18

We had heard rumors that the Windows 8.1 update would be arriving some time in October this year but now we finally have the proper release date.

According to a blog post on Microsoft’s Windows blog, the Windows 8.1 update would be released to the general public on October 18 at 12:00 a.m New Zealand time. The Windows 8.1 would also be available at retail outlets and pre-installed on new devices on the same date.
For those unaware, Windows 8.1 is the first major update to the Windows 8 operating system and brings many new changes, such as Internet Explorer 11, integrated Bing search, Skype and SkyDrive integration, UI changes and that Start button that everyone missed so much. A preview of the 8.1 update is available for download on the Windows Store, with an RTM releasing shortly and the final version on the previously mentioned date.

Samsung Galaxy Note III specs get detailed ahead of launch

The specs of the hotly anticipated Samsung Galaxy Note III have allegedly been revealed. The second flagship handset by Samsung this year will launch in at least two different versions, dubbed SM-N900 and SM-N9005.

The Samsung Galaxy Note III SM-N900 will reportedly pack a 1.8GHz Octa-core Exynos 5420 SoC and ARM Mali-T628 MP6 GPU.
There is no info on the CPU and GPU of the SM-9005 version. However, we will be surprised if the handset doesn't come with Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 SoC with quad-core Krait 400 CPU and Adreno 330 GPU. Previous leaks have pointed in this direction.
The display will be a 5.68" 1080p Super AMOLED unit for both versions. There will be 3GB of RAM on board and 16, 32, and 64GB of built-in memory available. A microSD card slot will also be present.
The Samsung Galaxy Note III SM-N900 is tipped to come without LTE connectivity on board. The SM-N9005 on the other hand, will come with 4G on board. Both devices will be powered by a 3200mAh battery.
Android 4.3 Jelly Bean will be present out of the box on both version of the device. Naturally, Samsung TouchWiz and the usual host of software trickery are also to be expected.
The third generation Samsung Galaxy Note will go official next month, on September 4 in Berlin. We will be live at the unveiling, so be sure to tune in for the full scoop on the phablet.

LG G Pad is a ‘Retina’ 8-inch Android tablet, to get unveiled in September

LG might be making a comeback in the world of Android tablets with the LG G Pad, a new 8.3-inch tablet with an extremely sharp display and powerful silicon. The LG G Pad is said to be much like a Nexus 7, but in a larger body and with a slightly larger display.
Resolution on the 8.3" display is at the same 1920 x 1200 pixels, the processor is a quad-core one of unspecified kind and there is 2GB of RAM.
Sources that have allegedly seen the device confirm it is extremely thin and lightweight, and also featuring a minimal side bezel. Actually, it’s so compact that it easily slips into back pockets.
The G Pad is not likely to include a pen like the Samsung Galaxy Note series do, but it will support cellular connectivity and a call-enabled SIM card.
We have already seen the codename G Pad leak along with G Watch, G Glass, G Band and G Hub, so there is mounting evidence the device is indeed real. Good news is the LG G Pad is coming soon - the device should get officially announced in September at IFA 2013 Berlin.

Nokia Lumia 825 might be a budget 5.2" Windows Phone with quad-core Snapdragon 400

An interesting notion surfaced about Nokia's upcoming big-screen phones portfolio. Sources indicated that leaked specs for a "budget" phablet of sorts are actually what might end up as a Nokia Lumia 825.

The phone is expected to sport a large 5.2" display with 720p resolution, and be powered by a quad-core 1.2 GHz Snapdragon 400 processor, pointing at the Lumia that leaked on GFXBench not long ago.

This means that the phone should arrive with the GDR3 Windows Phone update that introduces support for higher resolutions and more processor cores. The new Lumia is said to also sport Miracast and NFC wireless connectivity, dual SIM version, and the QuickCharge option.

There's certainly a place for big-screen Windows Phones, and Nokia will apparently be ready to deliver as soon as Microsoft ends its sweet development time with the WP8 GDR3 update.

Windows Phone Store hosts 170,000 apps

Windows Phone Store the latest data shows 170,000 apps in the store for a pick up of 25,000 over the last two months. Of course, quantity is important, but so is quality and that means making sure that the platform supports the most popular apps.
Instagram recently cracked down on third party Windows Phone apps like Instance, banning it from uploading to the official site. This could be all solved with an official Windows Phone version of Instagram which has yet to be launched. Vine is another app missing from the Windows Phone Store. If Windows Phone is going to ever challenge Android or iOS, it needs to make sure that the software everyone wants is available.
On the other hand, it could take a run-up to 200,000 apps and beyond to convince developers that it is financially worthwhile for them to develop a Windows Phone version of their apps. With momentum returning to the platform, perhaps it won't be terribly long before the Windows Phone Store hosts Instagram, Vine, and some of the other high profile apps it is missing.

Rumored specs for the LG Vu III include Snapdragon 800 chip, 5.2-inch display

According to reports published by Korean media, LG is working on a third-generation Vu handset. This upcoming device will succeed the LG Optimus Vu II, retaining its odd 4:3 display aspect ratio. Some things are bound to change, however. The screen, for example, will be slightly bigger on the LG Vu III, measuring 5.2-inches in diagonal, with an improved resolution of 1280 by 960 pixels. A Snapdragon 800 chip, a 13MP camera, and LTE-Advanced support are also said to be present on the device, according to the source. Out of the box, Android 4.3 will be pre-installed on the third-gen LG Vu.

LG's Vu handsets didn't really gain much traction anywhere outside of the company's homeland. While one million Vu units were sold in Korea, Verizon's LG Intuition (which was basically a rebranded LG Optimus Vu), couldn't make much of a splash. Chances are the third LG Vu smartphone will follow suit and be targeted primarily at its home market, but then again, you never know what the company's plans might be. The LG Vu III is expected to be announced in September, presumably during the IFA electronics expo in Berlin. Its launch is said to be scheduled for later next month.