this week: IFA 2013

Alcatel One Touch Pop C1, C3, C5 and C7 Android 4.2 smartphones announced

Alcatel One Touch has announced range of smartphone in the Pop series, the Pop C1, Pop C3, Pop C5, and Pop C7 at the IFA 2013 in Berlin. These are aimed at youth and offers simplicity and style, says the company. These come in range of display sizes, colors and accessories. All the new Pop C-Series phones run on Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean).
The Pop C1 has a 3.5 (320×480 pixels), powered by a 1 GHz dual-core processor. It comes in range of stylish colors including neon green and pink.

The Pop C3 has a 4-inch (800 x 480 pixels) display and comes with a 3.2-megapixel rear camera. It is powered by a 1.3 GHz dual-core processor. It comes in range colors and has colorful protective covers.

The Pop C5 has a 4.5-inch display, powered by a 1.3 GHz dual-core processor and has a 5 megapixel rear camera and a front-facing camera.

The Pop C7 has a 5-inch display, powered by a 1.3 GHz quad-core processor and packs a 5-megapixel rear camera along with a front-facing camera.

Nokia Lumia 1520, leaked in a press image

The Nokia Lumia 1520 has finally leaked in full glory. We saw the 1080p GDR3 screenshot, we saw the aluminium case and the bezels, and then we saw the phone’s rather huge front in another leaked image, but this time, thanks to the leakmeister EVleaks, we have a full press image. From the looks of it, it is definitely made in polycarbonate, with the design closely resembling the Lumia 925, and the device is… just massive. If you don’t think it’s huge, just take a look at the Windows shortcut capacitive keys. It is also nice to see that the phone has really thin bezels.

Previously, it was claimed that the screen size would be 6 inches, which seems to pretty much a fact after so many leaks. With 1080p support added to Windows Phone 8 in the GDR3 release, Microsoft has thought adding a column of medium sized tiles would make a good idea of utilizing real estate. But I think they are very wrong this time, the screen looks too busy and cluttered to make it a clean experience, which Windows Phone WAS known for.
Other rumoured specs include a Quad Core Snapdragon CPU, a 20.7 Megapixel camera(like the Xperia Z1?). But ever since the Microsoft Nokia acquisition announcement, we have a doubt that if this will be a Nokia branded phone or a Microsoft branded Lumia? Our bet is on it still being Nokia branded as the deal will be closing only by 2014, but the marketing message should slightly vary, with more emphasis on Lumia rather than Nokia. The GDR3 update is said to launch with the Lumia 1520, which we hope will bring some much needed improvements like a simple rotation lock, different volume profiles. Lets not kid ourselves though, Microsoft might just give us nothing in this update, because that’s how it has been till now.
That said, lets see what Nokia has for us this month, as an event is rumoured to happen on the 26th of September. Will this see the announcements of the Lumia 1520 and the Nokia tablet? We’ll find out real soon.

Intex Aqua HD with 4.7-inch HD display, quad-core processor announced

Intex launched the Aqua i7, the company’s flagship Android smartphone earlier this week, Aqua HD  that appeared on the official website on the same. The phone is now available from online retailer Infibeam in India. It has a 4.7-inch (1280 x 720 pixels) HD capacitive touch screen display, powered by a 1.2 GHz quad-core MediaTek 6589 processor and runs on Android 4.2.1 (Jelly Bean). It has a 13-megapixel auto focus rear camera with LED flash and a 5-megapixel font-facing camera.

Intex Aqua HD specifications

• 4.7-inch (1280 x 720 pixels) HD capacitive touch screen display with corning gorilla glass protection
• 1.2 GHz quad-core MediaTek 6589 processor
• Dual SIM (GSM + WCDMA)
• Android 4.2.1 (Jelly Bean)
• 13MP rear camera with LED Flash, 1080p video recording
• 5MP front-facing camera
• 3.5mm audio jack, FM Radio
• 1GB RAM, 4GB internal memory (923MB user memory), expandable memory upto  32GB with MicroSD
• 3G HSPA+, WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth, GPS/A-GPS
• 1800 mAh battery

The Intex Aqua HD comes in Black and White colors and is priced at Rs. 15,900.

Lenovo S5000 with 7-inch HD display, quad-core processor and Android 4.2 announced

Lenovo has announced the S5000, a new tablet in the S series. It has a 7-inch (1280 x 800 pixels) wide-viewing angle display, powered by a 1.2 GHz Quad-Core Media Tek 8389 processor and runs on Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean). It has a 5-megapixel rear camera and a 1.6-megapixel front-facing camera. It is just 7.9mm thick and weighs 246 grams.  It has rear speakers and packs a 3450 mAh battery that offers up to 8 hours of  continuous WiFi browsing. It comes with 3G SIM support and voice calling and also available in WiFi-only variant.

Lenovo S5000 specifications

• 7-inch (1280 x 800 pixels) multitouch display with 178-degree viewing angle
• 1.2 GHz quad-core MediaTek MTK 8389  processor
• Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean) OS
• 7.9mm thick and weighs 246 grams
• 5MP auto focus rear camera
• 1.6MP front-facing camera
• 3.5mm audio jack
• 3G HSPA+ (optional), WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth, USB OTG
• 1GB RAM, 16GB internal memory
• 3450 mAh battery

The Lenovo S5000 is priced at 199 Euros for the 16GB WiFi version and the 3G version is priced at 249 Euros. It would be available in 4Q 2013.

Lenovo Vibe X announced, 5-inch 1080p display in a 6.9mm thin and 121g light body

Lenovo has announced the Vibe X, the company’s latest smartphone at the IFA 2013. It has a 5-inch (1920 x 1080 pixels) IPS “20/20 Vision” display at 440 PPI  for sharp images with Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection, powered by a 1.5 GHz quad-core MediaTek MT6589T processor and runs on Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean). It has a 13-megapixel rear camera with LED flash, BSI sensor and has a 5-megapixel front-facing camera with 88 degree wide angle lens. There is also a photo application to view and organize images, option to create puzzles and customize specific games from the photos, choose custom settings and filters and instant photo and video sharing.
It has premium polycarbonate body, advanced mold and  laser-engraved 3D tactile finish. It is just 6.9mm and weighs just 121 grams. We will bring you the hands on impressions of the device soon.
Lenovo Vibe X specifications

• 5-inch (1920 x 1080 pixels) Full HD IPS display with Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection
• 1.5 GHz quad-core MediaTek MT6589T processor
• Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean)
• 13MP auto focus camera with LED Flash, 1080p Full HD video recording
• 5MP front-facing camera with 88 degree wide angle len
• 3G, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth with A2DP, aGPS
• 3.5mm audio jack
• 2GB RAM, 16GB / 32GB internal memory
• 2000 mAh battery

The Vibe X would be available in China starting in October and in countries where Lenovo smartphones are sold beginning in December. It would not be available in Europe. Lenovo did not reveal any details about the price yet.

Xiaomi Mi3 with 5-inch 1080p display, Nvidia Tegra 4 / Snapdragon 800 processor announced

Xiaomi has announced the most expected Mi3, successor of the Mi2 that was launched last year. It has a 5-inch (1920 x 1080 pixels) IPS display with 441 PPI, based one-glass solution (OGS) ultra-sensitive touch that lets you use the phone even when it’s wet or while wearing gloves. It comes with 1.8 GHz quad-core NVIDIA Tegra 4 processor with 72 core GeForce GPU for the TD-SCDMA variant and 2.3 GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 (MSM 8974AB) processor with Adreno 330 GPU for the WCDMA / CDMA2000 version. It runs on MIUI v5 on top of Android. It has a 13-megapixel rear camera with Sony Exmor RS BSI sensor, 28mm lens with f/2.2 aperture and a 2-megapixel BSI front-facing camera with 30mm lens. Both the cameras can record videos at 1080p full HD resolution.Xiaomi Mi3 specifications

• 5-inch (1920 x 1080 pixels) IPS display with 441 PPI resolution with Corning Gorilla glass protection
•  1.8 GHz NVIDIA Tegra 4 processor / 2.3 GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 (MSM 8974AB) processor
• Dimensions – 114mm×72mm×8.1mm, weight: 145g
• MIUI V5 on top of Android
• 13MP rear camera with LED Flash, Sony Exmor BSI sensor,  f/2.2 aperture, 1080p full HD video recording
• 2MP front-facing camera with BSI sensor,  f/2.2 aperture, 1080p full HD video recording
• 2GB DDR3 RAM, 16 / 64 GB internal memory
• 3G, WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n (2.4/5 GHz),   WiFi Direct, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS, and NFC
• 3050mAh battery

The Xiaomi Mi3 comes in range of colors and  is priced at 1999 Chinese Yuan ($327) for the 16GB version and the 64GB version costs 2499  Chinese Yuan ($408).

Lenovo Yoga 2 Pro ups the resolution to 3200 x 1800, has an auto-flattening keyboard in tablet mode

 

The Yoga 2 Pro ups the ante with a 13.3″ touchscreen of 3200 x 1800 (previously 1600 x 900) resolution resulting in an insane 276 ppi. The slate also runs on the fourth-gen Intel Core i7 Haswell processor and promises a battery life up to 9 hours.
The new Yoga 2 Pro is 15.5 mm thick (compared to a 17.1 mm thick Yoga of old) and now weighs 1.39 kg.

In case you’re not already acquainted with the Yoga – it’s Lenovo’s flexible ultrabook, that has an adjustable screen, that flips all the way round the back of the device into a tablet mode. In this mode the resulting tablet has the screen on one side, and the keyboard on the other. Going further with the same design, on the Yoga 2 Pro Lenovo has made the keyboard auto sink into its bed once you flip the notebook in tablet mode.

Sony announces Android 4.1 powered Walkman F886 music player

Sony has showcased its latest music player, the Walkman F886 at the on-going IFA consumer electronics exhibition in Berlin, Germany. The highlight of the newest addition is the high-resolution audio system along with its Android operating system.

With Sony Walkman F886 you can enjoy high-quality music and also share it among your friends without having to break a sweat, thanks to the built-in Bluetooth radio. The one-touch NFC connectivity allows you to pair your gadget to another NFC enabled device and stream your favourite music.
The Walkman F886 sports a 4-inch TRILUMINOUS display and has 32 GB of inbuilt memory. The portable music player runs on Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and the Wi-Fi connectivity option gives access to a wide range of applications that can be downloaded from the Google Play Store.

As always, the Walkman music player comes with a superior audio decoding capabilities of up to 192 KHz/24 bit. The device also supports S-Master HX digital amplifier for distortion and noise reduction in order to provide the said high-quality audio. The Digital Sound Enhancement Engine in the Walkman player restores high-range sound that is allegedly often lost in digital compression. Furthermore, the built-in noise reduction feature blocks 98% of the ambient noise while playing the music over earphones.
Another important aspect of a music player is its battery, which according to Sony lasts for about 35 hours on MP3 playback or for about 26 hours on Hi-Res audio.
Unfortunately, there is no word on the pricing and availability details of the impressive portable music player

Samsung announces the world's first curved UHD TVs at IFA 2013

 Samsung unveiled the world's first 'Curved UHD TV' in 65- and 55-inch - The Curved UHD TV combines superior technology and curved form factor to deliver a more immersive viewing experience

 With the Curved UHD TV, Samsung puts an end to the debate over technological superiority
BERLIN, GERMANY – Sept. 5, 2013 – Samsung Electronics showed its leadership in the UHD TV market today by unveiling the first Curved UHD TV in the world at IFA 2013, the largest consumer electronics tradeshow in Europe.
The 55- and 65-inch Curved UHD TV deliver unrivaled picture quality due to the combination of UHD TV's great details and curved shape providing a more immersive experience and enhanced sense of presence.
"We introduced the world's first "Curved UHD TV" at IFA 2013 to meet various consumer expectations waiting for next new generation TV technology," said EVP Hyun-suk Kim, head of the Visual Display business at Samsung Electronics. "This will be a milestone opening a new era of next generation TV by invigorating UHD TV Realizing curved UHD TV is more difficult to produce than curved OLED TV due to the panel characteristics. The world's first curved UHD TV proved Samsung's unbeatable position in TV technology once again.
Given that UHD TV market is still at its initial stage, Samsung's will release the Curved UHD TV to market based on consumer response and market demands.
The Curved UHD TV joins a growing Samsung line up of UHD TVs including 110 inches to 98-, 85-, 65- and 55-inch models. This extensive line up of UHD TVs confirms that the next generation of television technology has begun in earnest.
The Curved UHD TV follows the company's recent release of the Curved OLED TV that launched across the world including South Korea and U.S. after it was initially unveiled at CES 2013 earlier this year

Qualcomm announces new Toq smartwatch for Android smartphones

Qualcomm announced its own smartwatch, called the Toq. Pronounced as “talk”, the Qualcomm Toq pairs with your existing Android smartphone and brings all your notifications where you can see them at a glance.

The main feature of the Qualcomm Toq is the unique Mirasol display. Developed by Qualcomm, Mirasol is a type of interferometric modulator display that works without the need of a backlight. Just like e-paper displays, Mirasol displays can stay on constantly without requiring power and are perfectly visible even under bright sunlight. But Mirasol goes one step ahead of current e-paper displays and is capable of displaying full color and it also uses the ambient light as a backlight, thus significantly reducing the power consumption.
While Samsung claimed a battery life of around 25 hours for the Galaxy Gear, the Mirasol display on the Qualcomm Toq allows it to run for around three days on a single charge.
The Qualcomm Toq pairs with your Android smartphone (requires Android 4.0.3 and above) and pulls your notifications, while also letting you pick up calls, read messages, control music, etc. The Toq uses a buttonless design and relies completely on the display for interaction.
Qualcomm also has an optional pair of wireless Bluetooth headset that works with the Toq. The headset has two speaker modules that plug into each ear with no wires connecting them. They pair with the watch and you can answer calls and listen to music on them and control them through the watch.
Both the Toq and the wireless headset supports wireless charging, To charge the watch, simply place it in its case. The case also has provision to charge the headset so you don’t need additional chargers.
The Qualcomm Toq is expected to go on sale in the middle of next month and will sell for around $300.

Asus MeMO Pad 8 with 8-inch HD display, 1.6 GHz quad-core processor announced

Asus has announced the MeMo Pad 8 (ME180A) at the IFA 2013 in Berlin. It has a 8-inch (1280 x 800) LED-backlit HD IPS display, powered by a 1.6 GHz quad-core processor and runs on Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean). It has a 5-megapixel rear camera with 720p HD video recording and a 1.2-megapixel front-facing camera. It has dual speakers with ASUS SonicMaster audio technology for enhanced audio output. 
It is just 127mm from side to side and weighs only 350g, offering 30% more screen space than a 7-inch tablet.
Asus MeMO Pad 8 specifications

• 8-inch (1280 x 800) HD LED Backlit IPS multi-touch display
• 1.6 GHz quad-core processor
• Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean)
• 5MP rear camera with 720p HD video recording
• 1.2MP HD front-facing camera
• 9.95mm thick and weighs 350 grams
• 8 GB / 16GB internal memory, MicroSD card slot
• Accelerometer and e-compass
• WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth, micro USB
• 3,950 mAh battery with up to 9 hours of battery life

The Asus MeMO Pad 8 comes in Grey, White and Pink colors.  It also comes with optional protective TriCover case made from durable synthetic materials similar to the Fonepad 7. No word pricing or the availability yet.

Sony new Action Cam with enhanced performance and features announced

Sony has officially announced a new Action Cam model – HDR AS30V. The latest model is said to offer high-performance and a few new features like easy share via Wi-Fi, NFC one-touch remote, GPS, high resolution images and optional wearable live-view remote.

Sony’s Action Cam HRD-AS30V, the point-of-view video camera is designed exclusively to shoot full HD 1080p videos comes with an advanced design and optics. The Action Cam will come with a ruggedized waterproof housing, which is 35% lighter and 25% smaller than the previous models.
The latest addition also brings GPS on-board and the cam can now capture images at 11.9 megapixels along with its interval still recording mode. The Exmor R CMOS sensor at the back grabs all the attention with its ability to shoot FullHD videos and capture beautiful images.
With Action Cam HRD-AS30V, you can now select your recording modes likes FullHD for fast-moving action, STD HD, SD VGA or the two slow motion modes. Furthermore, you can make use of the built-in Wi-Fi that works with Sony’s PlayMemories app to share the content to a smartphone or a tablet.
Sony’s newest Action Cam also comes with SteadyShot image stabilization along with the Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens to capture all the action. The camera also has an expandable memory and comes with an HDMI output.
Last but not the least, the Action cam comes with a wide range of mounting attachments and it now includes Chest Mount Harness, Roll Bar Mount and Universal Head Mount kit.
The HDR-AS30V Action Camera will be available, starting from later this month and will cost you $299.99.

Samsung Galaxy Note 3 with 5.7inch Full HD display announced

Samsung Galaxy Note 3 was announced at the IFA 2013 in Berlin, Germany. The Galaxy Note 3 comes with a 5.7inch Full HD Super AMOLED display. Just like their flagship smartphone, the Galaxy Note 3 will come in two variants – the international variant sporting the Exynos Octa chipset and the USA variant sporting the Snapdragon 800 SoC. Both the variants will come with 3GB RAM and will have 16/32/64GB variants and a microSD card slot.

Like the usual Samsung premium devices, the Galaxy Note 3 is packed with a plethora of software features that include Samsung’s trademark Multi-Window, Smart Stay, Smart scroll, smart rotate, S-Beam, Air View. Like any other Note device, the Note 3 will also come with Samsung’s S-Pen stylus which is advanced. It will come with Samsung’s latest Samsung Knox for security features.
Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Specifications

• 5.7-inch (1920 x 1080 pixels) Full HD Super AMOLED display
• 2.3GHz Snapdragon 800 LTE / 1.9GHz Exynos Octa-Core
• Android 4.3 (Jelly Bean)
• 13MP camera BSI Sensor with High CRI LED flash with Smart Stabilizer
• UHD 4K video recording 30fps(Only Snapdragon version) / 1080p 60fps / Slow motion 720p HD 120fps
• 2MP front-facing camera with 1080p video recording
• 3.5mm audio jack with UHQA, FM Radio with RDS
• 3GB RAM,  32/64GB internal memory, Upto 64GB expandable memory via microSD card
• 4G LTE / 3G HSPA+, WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS/ GLONASS, MHL, NFC, IR blaster
• 3200mAh Battery

The Galaxy Note 3 will be available in Jet Black, Classic White and Blush Pink colors at launch and it will come with a wide variety of exchangeable back covers.
There is no word on pricing yet, but the Galaxy Note 3 will be available as soon as September 25th across 140 countries.

Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 Edition announced

Samsung announced Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 at the IFA 2013. It is a huge upgrade over the original Note 10.1 which was launched in 2012.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 edition comes with a high resolution 2560×1600 SC LCD display making it similar to the Samsung Nexus 10. The Galaxy Note 10.1 will launch with Android 4.3 Jellybean along with Samsung’s TouchWiz UI and features complete with S-Pen. Along with the improved display, the Note 10.1 will be powered by Samsung’s Exynos Octa-core processor clocked at 1.9GHz and it will have 3GB of RAM exactly like Galaxy Note 3. The Note 10.1 will come with a 8MP camera at the back and 2MP camera at the front.

Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 Specifications

• 10.1inch High resolution 2560×1600 display
• 2.3GHz Snapdragon 800 SoC / 1.9GHz Exynos Octa SoC
• 3GB RAM
• 16/32/64GB internal storage and microSD card slot
• Android 4.3 Jellybean
• Samsung TouchWiz UI with tons of features and S-Pen
• 8220mAh battery
• 3.5mm Audio jack and support for UHQA(Ultra High Quality Audio)
• Stereo Speakers
• Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4 & 5 GHz), Wi-Fi Direct, AllShareCast, BT4.0, USB2.0, GPS and GLONASS
• 8MP rear camera with BSI and 2MP front camera

Along with the high-end specifications and high resolution display, the Galaxy Note 10.1 will be packed with Samsung’s wide range of software features that include S-Pen and S-Note.
The Galaxy Note 10.1 will be available in three variants – WiFi only, WiFi+3G and WiFi+LTE and it will come in two colors – Jet Black and Class White. There is no word on pricing yet, but the device is expected to go on sale in Q3, 2013.

Samsung Galaxy Gear with 1.63inch display announced

Samsung Galaxy Gear smart watch finally went official at the IFA 2013 event in Berlin, Germany. The Galaxy Gear was one of the most expected devices at the Samsung Unpacked 2. Galaxy Gear smart watch comes with a 1.63inch 320×320 pixels AMOLED display.

In terms of design, the front of the Galaxy Gear is dominated by the display and it is surrounded by metal frame (unusual for Samsung). The strap on the smart watch is made of rubber and as predicted by the rumors, there is a camera that is built onto the strap. The Galaxy Gear isn’t anything on its own and it mainly serves as a companion for your smartphone. The Galaxy Gear is connected to the smartphone via Bluetooth.
Since only the latest version of Android (4.3 Jellybean) supports Low energy bluetooth profile, the number of compatible devices is expected to be limited at launch.
When connected to a smartphone, the Galaxy Gear will have the ability to receive calls, take voice memos and it will display all the notifications from your smartphone.
Samsung Galaxy Gear smart watch Specifications

• 800MHz Single core processor
• 1.63inch 320×320 AMOLED display ( 277ppi)
• 1.9MP AutoFocus camera with BSI sensor
• 720p playback and recording
• Bluetooth 4.0
• 4GB internal memory + 512MB RAM
• 315mAh battery

The Galaxy Gear smart watch will be available in six different colors at launch - Jet Black, Mocha Gray, Wild Orange, Oatmeal Beige, Rose Gold, and Lime Green.
There is no word on pricing yet, but the Galaxy Gear will be launching along with Galaxy Note 3 on September 25th across 140 countries.

Sony Xperia Z1 with 5-inch 1080p display, Snapdragon 800 processor, 20.7 MP camera announced

Sony has just announced the Xperia Z1, the company’s latest flagship phone at the IFA 2013. It has a 5-inch (1920 x 1080 pixels) Triluminos Display with with X-Reality engine that would offer rich, natural colours, powered by 2.2 GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 processor and runs on Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean). It has a 20.7-megapixel rear camera with Sony G lens with a 27mm wide angle f/2.0 aperture custom 1/2.3″ Sony Exmor RS image sensor, BIONZ image processing engine, , 1080p video recording and a 2-megapixel 1080p front-facing camera. It is 8.5mm thick and weighs 170 grams.
It has IP55 / IP58 rating for dust and water resistance. It comes with range of camera applications including Social live to broadcast live from the phone to Facebook, Info-eye which is a visual search application that offers info about landmarks, books and more from the live camera, the Timeshift burst mode takes 61 images in 2 seconds before and after you press the shutter and the AR effecsts act as a overlay a selection of fun, customizable animation using Sony’s AR augmented reailty tech.
It comes pre-loaded with integrated PlayMemories Online, a cloud-based image and video service, All-Sync feature that offers unlimited instant auto uploads.

Sony Xperia Z1 specifications

• 5-inch (1920 x 1080 pixels) Triluminos Display with X-Reality for Mobiles
• 2.2 GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 (MSM8974 (LTE) or MSM8274 (HSPA+)) processor
• Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean)
• Single Aluminium frame with tempered glass on the front and back
• 20.7MP Primary Camera with Exmos RS sensor, HDR photos & videos, 1080p video recording.
• 2MP front-facing camera with 1080p video recording
• 6.5mm thick and weighs 212 grams
• IP55 / IP58 rating for dust and water resistance
• 3.5mm audio jack, FM Radio with RDS
• 2GB RAM,  16GB internal memory, Upto 64GB expandable memory via microSD card
• 4G LTE / 3G HSPA+, WiFi 820.11 a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0 with APT-X, GPS/ GLONASS, MHL, NFC
• 3000mAh Battery with STAMINA mode

The Sony Xperia Z Ultra comes in Black, White and Purple colors. It would go on sale globally from September 2013. No word on pricing yet.

Sony’s QX100 and QX10 attachable cameras announced

Sony’s attachable camera modules, the CyberShot QX100 and QX10

The QX devices are cameras that have been stripped down to the basics – lens, sensor and power to keep it all going.
You tap the camera to an NFC enabled Xperia phone and it pairs automatically with it. Presumably you’ll need special app for that to work, we’re keeping our fingers crossed that this app will be available for any Android.
After the pairing is done, the QX camera streams the viewfinder image to the phone over Wi-Fi where you get all the controls you’re used to, including manual controls. You can either attach the QX camera to the phone

ASUS announces Transformer Book Windows 8 tablet convertible

Asus announced the new tablet convertible which runs full Windows 8 and allows you to detach the screen from the keyboard to use it as a tablet.

The ASUS Transformer Book T300 is a 13.3-inch 1920 x 1080 tablet hooked to a keyboard dock (or a 13.3-inch 1080p laptop with detachable tablet display, if you prefer). It runs full Windows 8 or Windows 8 Pro, and the best news of all is that it is powered by Intel's new Haswell chipset (it will come in i3, i5, and i7 models), which should mean pretty solid battery life. ASUS says the device will get "up to eight hours battery life", but it doesn't distinguish the tablet battery life from when it's hooked to the keyboard, so we're not sure what to expect there.

The device has a similar design to the Transformer Pad, and will come with "up to 8GB of RAM", your choice of 64GB, 128GB, or 256GB of SSD storage, and both a front 720p camera, and rear 1080p camera. Most of the ports will be in the tablet, which will feature 802.11n, Bluetooth 4.0 (optional), USB 3.0 port, Micro-HDMI 1.4 port, microSD card slot, and 3.5mm headphone/mic jacks. The keyboard dock only has USB 3.0 ports. The entire unit will weigh 1.9kg (~4.2lbs), or the tablet alone will be a hefty 1.1kg (~2.4lbs). 

No word yet on pricing or availability.

Asus FonePad 7 announced with Intel Z2560 1.6GHz chip

Asus has just stormed into IFA with a torrential rain of mobile devices. Among them are two new FonePads, gadgets that are on the border between a phone and a tablet: the Asus FonePad Note 6 and the Asus FonePad 7. The index in the name stands for the screen size, so we’re looking at a 6-inch and a 7-inch device, and they come with pretty narrow bezels and Intel inside.Asus’ Jonney Shih introduced the FonePad 7 as a phablet, but it’s really more of a tablet with phone functionality, and now it comes in a new and upgraded version.The FonePad 7 leans decidedly towards the affordable - it packs a 7-inch display with a resoultion of 1280 x 800 pixels, runs on the older Intel Z2560 1.6GHz chip and has less RAM.
On a positive note, Asus still managed to include stereo front speakers, Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, a 5-megapixel rear and a 1.2MP front cameras, and battery capable of running for 10 hours on a single charge.

The device will also sport cellular connectivity and come in 8GB, 16GB and 32GB models. It’s 340 grams heavy and 10.5mm thick.

Asus FonePad Note 6 announced with new Intel Atom Z2580 dual-core chip

The Asus FonePad Note 6 is the smaller of the two and you could easily mistake this for a phone. It’s a ‘FonePad’ in Asus terms, but with a small bezels, other manufacturers have named such devices phablets with no hesitation.Now, the FonePad Note 6 is not a light or a thin device - it weighs 210 grams and measures 10.3mm. It also comes with a built-in stylus, a full HD 1920 x 1080 pixel display and runs on a brand new Intel Atom Z2580 dual-core chip with Hyperthreading. It’s an impressive device all around. The screen is sharp and luminant with brightness reaching the above average 450 nits. The Intel chip comes with 2GB of RAM, and the FonePad Note 6 features Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean.

Camera-wise, the device comes with an 8-megapixel rear shooter and 1.2MP front one. There is 16GB or 32GB of expandable internal storage. The battery is a pretty solid 3200mAh one.

Sony announced the world's first curved LED TV

Sony introduced the world's first curved screen LED television, model KDL-65S990A. Available in October at Sony Stores and select electronics retailers nationwide for $3,999.99, the KDL-65S990A provides an all-in-one cinematic experience for the home, combining a subtly curved visual panel with Sony's acclaimed TRILUMINOS® Display color system for accurate, deep, vibrant colors, and a powerful angled surround sound speaker system to complete the home theater like never before.

The unique curved screen of the Sony KDL-65S990A creates a new way for viewers to experience their favorite movies, sporting events, television programming and video games. The edge-to-edge curved construction is engineered to provide a greater sense of the picture's depth of feel, and allows for a wider viewing angle so there is not a bad seat in the house.
The KDL-65S990A features TRILUMINOS® Display, a color technology unique to Sony, and creates incredibly true, natural shades of colors – just the way directors, cinematographers and producers want viewers to see them. Hard-to-reproduce reds, greens and blues are displayed beautifully, so landscapes and seascapes look more vivid, richer and more intense. Faces look better, too, with satisfyingly natural skin tones. It's all thanks to a new-generation TV panel that makes colors pure and more distinct; giving images a heightened texture and a true, life-like feel to everything you watch.
Sony's X-Reality™ PRO picture engine allows the KDL-65S990A to present stunning picture quality with a wide range of detail, whether viewers are watching movies on Blu-ray Disc, regular cable or satellite TV broadcasts, web videos or low-resolution smartphone clips. Sony's latest-generation processing engine analyzes, cleans and refines images, restoring beautiful results from any source with more natural detail, richer colors and high contrast. The latest Sony innovations in its Reality Creation database and Super Resolution processing optimize images for incredible detail and sharpness, in both 2D and 3D.
Precisely-angled surround sound powerfully rich and immersive
The KDL-65S990A contains Sony's powerful signal processing technologies which transform any audio source into surround sound. Additionally, the S990A features a 4-channel Multi-angle Live Speaker configuration that provides sound you might expect from a dedicated surround sound system, enhancing your viewing experience. A total of eight front facing speakers (six front and two surround) are angled in multiple directions for a surround sound experience that is superior to a conventional slim, "flat panel" TV.
The inward facing speakers are precisely angled to deliver specific sounds, such as voice dialogue, directly towards viewers while the outwards angled speakers push sound outwards to fill the room and wrap audiences with clear, full-range surround sound, powered by Sony's power signal processing S-Force Front Surround technology. This Multi-angle Live speaker construction also features dedicated tweeters to create smooth, rich, satisfying audio with little distortion.
New ways to use your TV with Smart Connect
The KDL-65S990A also incorporates Smart Connect, Sony's solution for enhancing cross-device connectivity between BRAVIA® televisions and smartphones or tablets (Android™/iOS). With consumers increasingly using smartphones to take pictures and tablet devices to surf the web, Sony has developed new features such as One-Touch Mirroring and the TV SideView™ app to allow users to enjoy sharing and browsing experiences on their large screen TVs.
By briefly touching an NFC-capable phone to the One Touch remote control, users can instantly establish a simple wireless connection with the TV allowing them to view the content on their smartphone's screen on their BRAVIA® television.
TV SideView is an app allowing individuals to use their smartphone or tablet (Android/iOS) and Sony VAIO® (Windows8) as a second screen to increase their enjoyment while watching TV. The application will allow viewers to explore a variety of content from social networks like Facebook and effortlessly control BRAVIA television, as well as learn more about the movies and shows being watched.

Sony announces the VAIO Tap 21 with a 1080p display

Sony's tabletop Windows 8 slate  VAIO Tap 21, the follow-up packs a slightly larger, 21.5-inch display, and its design is more sophisticated, to boot.
In addition to boosting the PC's dimensions by an inch and a half, Sony's bumped up the touchscreen's resolution from 1,600 x 900 to a full 1,920 x 1,080. It's still an IPS panel, as the impressive viewing angles made clear in our hands-on time, and it still offers software programs such as Family Paint to take advantage of the 10-point multitouch. What's more, the company says it made the Tap 21 50 percent thinner than its predecessor, and we're looking at about eight pounds versus ten. Processor options include Core i5 and Core i7 Haswell chips, and the Tap 21 will be available with an SSD or hybrid hard drive.

Alcatel One Touch Evo 8HD tablet with 8 inch HD display, Aluminium build announced

Along with a few Android handsets, Alcatel has also unveiled a new Aluminum tablet – Evo 8HD. The Alcatel Evo 8HD is a sleek and stylish tablet with aluminum build and reasonably slim waistline.

The Alcatel Evo 8HD comes with a 8-inch HD display, powered by a 1.6GHz dual-core Rockchip RK3066 processor and runs on Android 4.2 Jellybean. There is 1GB of RAM onboard and the Evo 8HD has only 4GB internal storage, but there is a microSD card slot that supports microSD cards upto 64GB. At the back of the device, we have a 3MP camera and on the front, we have a 2 MP camera. The Evo 8HD houses a 4160 mAh battery.

Going by the specifications of the tablet, it is aimed at mid-range markets. The thing that will differentiate Evo 8HD from other tablets is its aluminum build and its wide range of accessories. There are a couple of accessories like the LED MagicFlip cover that will display notifications directly on the flip cover and a simpler magnetic cover. A 3G/4G module is also available that can be attached to the tablet giving it connectivity on the go.

HDMI 2.0 officially announced: 18Gbps bandwidth, 60fps 4K, 32 channel audio 

HDMI Licensing are announcing HDMI 2.0 officially. Arriving just in time for the wide rollout of a new generation of Ultra HDTVs, it adds a few key capabilities to the connection standard. With a bandwidth capacity of up to 18Gbps, it has enough room to carry 3,840 x 2,160 resolution video at up to 60fps. It also has support for up to 32 audio channels, "dynamic auto lipsync" and additional CEC extensions. The connector itself is unchanged, which is good for backwards compatibility but may disappoint anyone hoping for something sturdier to support all of those suddenly-popular dongles. The cables won't change either, as the group claims current high-speed Category 2 wires can handle the increased bandwidth. Some companies have suggested upgrade paths for their UHDTVs already on the market -- hopefully we'll find out more about those plans this week at IFA 2013.

Alcatel One Touch Idol X announced, 5-inch 1080p display in a 6.9mm thin titanium alloy frame

Alcatel One Touch has announced the One Touch Idol X, the company’s latest flagship smartphone. It has a 5-inch (1920 x 1280 pixels) 2.4mm edge-to-edge capacitive touch screen IPS display with 170 degrees wide viewing angles. The display is based on one-glass solution (OGS) that reduces the phone’s thickness and has Dragontrail Glass for protection. It is powered by a 1.5 GHz quad-core processor and runs on Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean). It has a 13.1-megapixel rear camera with LED flash, 5cm macro lens, 1080p video recording and a 2-megapixel 1080p front-facing camera. 

It has a Titanium alloy frame that reduces the weight of the phone to just 130 grams and the is just 6.9mm thick. It also comes in dual SIM variant with 16GB of internal memory, but the micro SD card slot is present only in the 8GB single SIM variant. Other features include Flip to mute, TV link and more.
Alcatel One Touch Idol X specifications

• 5-inch (1920 x 1080 pixels) Full HD IPS display with Dragontrail Glass protection
• 1.5 GHz quad-core processor
• Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean)
• Dual SIM (Optional)
• 13MP auto focus camera with LED Flash, 1080p Full HD video recording
• 2MP front-facing camera
• 3G (DC-HSPA+ up to 42 Mbps), Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0 with A2DP, aGPS
• 3.5mm audio jack, FM Radio with RDS
• 2GB RAM, 8GB (single SIM) / 16GB (dual SIM) internal memory, expandable memory
• 2000 mAh battery

The Alcatel One Touch Idol X comes in Slate, Flash Red and Flash Yellow Colors. It is already on sale in several countries and would soon go on sale globally.

Alcatel One Touch Hero phablet announced

The Alcatel One Touch Hero is the company's first Android smartphone to pack a 6" display. It boasts a resolution of 1080p and uses IPS technology. Under the hood, there's a 1.5GHz quad-core CPU coupled by 2GB of RAM. Sadly, the company hasn't disclosed its make yet.

At the back of the Hero, Alcatel has opted for a 13 MP shooter capable of full HD video recording and backed by an LED flash. A 2MP snapper takes care of video chatting at the front.
Under the back cover, there's a 3400mAh battery and a microSD card slot for expanding the built-in storage, which is either 16GB of 32GB.
However, the Alcatel One Touch Hero is much more than your regular hard-to-wield smartphone thanks to its accessories. Firstly, the company has developed a desk stand that doubles as a pico-projector. It's capable of outputting 12 lumens worth of light output and projects an image larger than 70 inches.
Then, there's the E-Ink cover, which adds an intriguing extra E-ink layer on top of the Hero's display. Just like the pico-projector accessory, the E-Ink cover connects to the Hero via the pins on the back of the phablet. Alcatel has announced a second cover dubbed MagicFlip, which only adds LED lights to notify you of new notifications.
Finally, the last Hero accessory worth mentioning is the Bluetooth-enabled feature phone. Yes, the Hero enjoys a feature phone as an accessory (think HTC Mini). It's capable of not only placing and receiving phone calls, but also receive texts and sync the Hero's phonebook and calendar entries.
Alcatel is yet to announce the One Touch Hero's pricing and availability.

Alcatel One Idol Alpha announced

Alcatel one Idol Alpha is the mid-range smartphone spectrum with its 4.7" IPS display of 720p resolution. Thanks to the 1.2GHz quad-core CPU, the Idol Alpha will probably offer some respectable performance as well.

Alcatel is quite proud of the Idol Alpha's design, which mixes a metal case with quite curvy, translucent edges. It's reasonably thin as well with a waistline of only 7.5mm. Those translucent edges also light up when there are new notifications or the phone is charging and playing video (much like Sony's Ambilight LED).

The company hasn't shared much more regarding the Idol Alpha's specifications. Among the unknowns are its price and date of availability.

HTC Desire 601 with its 4.5-inch screen 1.4Ghz dual-core Snapdragon 400 chipset announced

HTC Desire 601 with its 4.5-inch screen seems really closely related to the HTC Desire 600 dual sim, however this one only has a single SIM slot. At 9.88mm, the Desire 601 is thicker than the Desire 600 dual sim but it has a beefier battery at 2100mAh. Not only that, but it also has a speedier 1.4Ghz dual-core Snapdragon 400 chipset with 1GB RAM.

Thanks to the faster processor, the Desire 601 offers LTE and HSPA+ 42Mbps connectivity, as well as HTC's proprietary software features - HTC Zoe and the Video Highlights in the Gallery - which were first introduced on the HTC One family of smartphones. HTC Zoe automatically captures short 3-second video clips to accompany each still shot, while the Video Highlights in the Gallery automatically creates 30-second video montages of the clips and stills taken at a particular place or event.
Funnily, the 5MP camera on the HTC Desire 601 has higher resolution than that of the HTC One flagship, but this one doesn't make use of the much touted Ultrapixels. The regular 5MP camera however has some of the One's tricks such as Sequence shot, Always Smile, Object Removal and VideoPic. It uses a 1/4" BSI sensor with a wide F/2.0 aperture and a 28mm wide lens and is helped by HTC's in-house image processing chip, called HTC ImageChip.
In terms of video recording, the Desire 601 offers capture up to 1080p, but lower resolution video can be shot in slow motion with variable speed playback..Unfortunately, the battery is not removable.
HTC Desire 601 specifications

• 4.5-inch (960 x 540 pixels) pixels display
• 1.4 GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor
• Android 4.2.2  (Jelly Beam)
• 5MP rear camera with LED Flash, f2.0 aperture, 28mm lens, BSI Sensor, 1080p video recording
• 0.3MP front-facing camera
• 3.5 mm headset jack
• HTC BlinkFeed, HTC BoomSound, Dual frontal stereo speakers with built-in amplifiers
• 1GB RAM, 8GB internal memory, expandable memory up to 64GB with micro SD
• 4G LTE / 3G (HSDPA up to 42 Mbps), WiFi  802.11 a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0 with aptX, GPS + GLONASS
• 2100 mAh battery

The HTC Desire 601 comes in White, Black and Red colors and would launch in select markets across Europe, the Middle East and Africa from mobile operators and major retailers in October 2013. No word on pricing yet.

HTC Desire 300 with 4.3-inch WVGA Screen 1Ghz dual-core Snapragon S4 announced

The HTC Desire 300 has a 4.3-inch WVGA screen and a 1Ghz dual-core Snapragon S4 chipset with 512MB RAM.

HTC Desire 300 may not use HTC Zoe, but it comes with Blinkfeed, which turns your smartphone's homescreen into a dynamic list of titles and social network updates.
HTC Desire 300 specifications

• 4.3-inch (800 x480 pixels) display
• 1 GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 processor
• Android Jelly Bean OS with Sense UI
• 5MP auto focus rear camera with f/2.8 aperture and 34 mm lens
• 0.3-megapixel (VGA) front-facing camera
• 10.12mm thick and weighs 120 grams
• 3.5mm audio jack
• 512MB RAM, 4GB of internal storage and expandable up to 64GB with microSD
• 3G (HSDPA 7.2 Mbps) , Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0 and GPS /aGPS
• 1650 mAh battery

The HTC Desire 300 comes in White and Black colors and would launch in select markets in October 2013. No word on pricing yet.

Microsoft to acquire Nokia’s devices & services business, license Nokia’s patents and mapping services

In a surprising fashion, Microsoft has reached a deal to acquire Nokia's devices and services units. The deal will also include the Finnish company's patents and mapping services.

Microsoft Corporation and Nokia Corporation today announced that the Boards of Directors for both companies have decided to enter into a transaction whereby Microsoft will purchase substantially all of Nokia’s Devices & Services business, license Nokia’s patents, and license and use Nokia’s mapping services.

Under the terms of the agreement, Microsoft will pay EUR 3.79 billion to purchase substantially all of Nokia’s Devices & Services business, and EUR 1.65 billion to license Nokia’s patents, for a total transaction price of EUR 5.44 billion in cash. Microsoft will draw upon its overseas cash resources to fund the transaction. The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2014, subject to approval by Nokia’s shareholders, regulatory approvals and other closing conditions.However, the patent deal between Espoo and Redmond isn't exclusive and the Finns are free to license their patents to other companies as well.

Building on the partnership with Nokia announced in February 2011 and the increasing success of Nokia’s Lumia smartphones, Microsoft aims to accelerate the growth of its share and profit in mobile devices through faster innovation, increased synergies, and unified branding and marketing. For Nokia, this transaction is expected to be significantly accretive to earnings, strengthen its financial position, and provide a solid basis for future investment in its continuing businesses.
The deal will see Nokia's CEO Stephen Elop return to Microsoft, where he will head the Devices division. Risto Siilasmaa will be Nokia's CEO on an interim basis going forward.
Once the deal closes, 32,000 people will transfer to Microsoft. Out of those, 4,700 are in Finland, while 18,300 are directly involved in manufacturing and assembly of products worldwide.
The deal is expected to close in the first quarter of 2014, after it goes through the usual round of regulatory approvals.

Verizon to acquire Vodafone for $130B, will gain full control of Verizon Wireless

It's officially official. Verizon has confirmed that the rumored deal that would have Verizon buying out Vodafone's 45% stake in Verizon Wireless is going to happen. Verizon has agreed to pay $130 billion in cash and stock to buyout Vodafone, which would finally give Verizon full control of Verizon Wireless.

In an official statement on the deal, Verizon CEO Lowell McAdam said:

This transaction will enhance value across platforms and allow Verizon to operate more efficiently, so we can continue to focus on producing more seamless and integrated products and solutions for our customers. We believe full ownership will provide increased opportunities in the enterprise and consumer wireline markets.

Vodafone first invested in Verizon Wireless back in 1999, when it bought a 45% stake in the company for $70 billion. Verizon is expecting that this deal to buyout Vodafone will be completed as soon as Q1 2014, depending on any regulatory investigations.

Meizu announced Meizu MX3 with Exynos 5 Octa and 8MP

Meizu has officially announced its latest flagship smartphone, dubbed MX3. Meizu's newest addition packs a punch with its powerful hardware and brings a touch of class with its Android 4.2 Jelly Bean-based Flyme 3.0 user interface, which is said to bring 324 updated interactions and 1,579 new visual features.
Meizu MX3 comes with a 5.1-inch display with an unusual 1800 x 1080 pixels resolution and just a 2.9mm of screen bezel. The smartphone measures 139 x 71.9 x 9.1 mm and weighs about 143 grams.

Under the hood is an Exynos 5 Octa chipset that has four Cortex A15 cores running at 1.6 GHz along with the quad Cortex A7 clocked at 1.2 GHz. MX3 also features 2 GB of RAM, a Sony-made 8 megapixel sensor that comes with f/2.0 lens, zero-delay image stabilization and Fujitsu's ISP to enable capture speeds up to 20fps. The 2-megapixel front facing shooter completes the camera department.
Meizu MX3 is equipped with Wolfson audio chip that gives 113dB signal-to-noise ratio with a low distortion rate of 0.002%. The Dirac HD codec and a dedicated audio amplifier are also present along with the triple-mic setup for a better voice clarity.

Meizu's latest smartphone comes with a wide range of connectivity options that include NFC, dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 and GPS.
The juice for the elegant device is provided by a 2,400mAh battery, which according to the company lasts 9 hours on 3G browsing, 10 hours on Wi-Fi or 7 hours on 1080p video playback.
Meizu MX3 will be available in 16, 32, 64 and 128 GB of memory options and the device will be up for grabs starting from CNY2,499 (about $410) and reaching CNY3,999 (about $650) for the 128GB version. Unfortunately, there is no word on the global availability of the smartphone.

Acer announces the first 4K-capable smartphone - Liquid S2

Acer announced the first smartphone with 4K video recording support - the Liquid S2. The device comes running Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean and is powered by a Snapdragon 800 chipset with a quad-core 2.2 GHz processor and 2GB of RAM.

At the front you get a 6" Full HD IPS display (368 ppi) covered in Gorilla Glass 3, while inside a 3300 mAh battery provides the juice. The 16 gigs of storage is expandable by a whopping 128 GB thanks to the microSD card slot.
The main camera on board is a 13 MP unit with a 28 mm wide-angle lens and a back-side illuminated sensor. The front cam features an ultra-wide 88-degree 24 mm BSI sensor of 2 MP resolution and 1080p video recording. Speaking of which the Acer Liquid S2 can capture 4K UHD (Ultra HD) video along with high-framerate Full HD (60 fps) and slow motion video.
There's a panorama mode that produces up to 27 MP shots, quick first shot lets you capture an image straight off the unlock screen.
The Acer Liquid S2 footprint measures 166 x 86 mm and the phablet is 8.99mm thick. There's 4G LTE support, Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi ac/a/b/g/n as well as the usual connectivity goodies - 3G and GPS.
The Acer Liquid S2 will launch at the end of October across Europe, but there's no word on specific countries availability or price just yet.

Acer announces 24-inch Android all-in-one powered by Tegra 3

The pre-IFA festivities from Acer continue, as the company has just announced the DA241HL, a 24″ Android-powered all-in-one featuring a quad-core Tegra 3 processor.

The AiO operates on the Android 4.2 build, which allows you to enjoy the latest games and apps in all their glory on the fullHD 24-inch display.
The Tegra 3 chip is usually found in mobile devices, but it makes sense for Acer to put it in this large-screened touch panel as it’s already optimized to work with the Android platform. The 4.2 Android release also features multi-user support, meaning that it can support custom settings and apps for up to 5 individual users.
The DA241HL comes with MHL connectivity and an HDMI port, meaning that it can connect to a PC to become a 2-point touch display as well.
Look for the Acer DA241HL in mid-October with a starting price of €429.

Acer announces T272HUL 27″ WQHD LED touchscreen display at IFA

Acer is on a roll with new announcements at the IFA (which is actually yet to start). Among the long range of products they announced today is the Acer T272HUL monitor.

First of all, the T272HUL has a 27-inch WQHD VA panel, which means it has a resolution of 2,560×1,440, which is four times the resolution of a 720p panel. Secondly, it is a touchscreen panel with 10 point mult-touch support, so it will work great with Windows 8.
The T272HUL has a 2 megapixel front camera with microphone for video calls, dual 2W speakers, dual-link DVI, DisplayPort 1.2 and HDMI 1.4 input, along with three USB 3.0 ports. The T272HUL also supports wall mounting.
The Acer T272HUL is priced at €799 and will go on sale later this month.

Acer updates Aspire R7 notebook with Haswell processor and Active Pen stylus

Acer announced the Aspire R7 notebook a few months back with the unique Ezel hinge that allowed it to be folded in various ways and be used as a notebook or a tablet. Acer is now updating the Aspire R7 at IFA with some new hardware features to keep it up to date.

First of all, the Aspire R7 gets the latest generation Intel Core series processor, commonly known as the Haswell series. It also features up to 12GB of RAM and 1TB hard drive (or 256GB SSD) for storage, along with a backlit keyboard and Windows 8.1.
The other addition is the presence of the Acer Active Pen stylus, which lets you get more out of the 15.6-inch 1080p touchscreen panel. The stylus is pressure sensitive for more accurate input and can also be used with gesture controls.
In other news, Acer has also updated the Aspire E1 series notebooks with 10 point multi-touch displays. You also get the option of Intel fourth generation processor or AMD A-series processors, NVIDIA GT720M, NVIDIA GT740M and AMD Radeon™ HD 8000M options on the 15.6-inch models and NVIDIA GT720M on the 14-inch model.
The Aspire R7 will be available in Europe, Middle East and Africa in Q4 2013 for €999. The Aspire E1 will be available mid-October for €399.

Acer announces quad-core Iconia A3 10″ tablet

Acer announced its Iconia A3 10″ tablet in both Wi-Fi and 3G versions.

The slate is running Android 4.2 Jelly Bean on a 1.2GHz quad-core Cortex-A7 CPU. The 10″ display is of IPS variety and features a modest 1280 x 800 pixel resolution resulting in a pixel density of 149ppi.
The Acer Iconia A3 boasts what the company calls optimal speaker placemen for great audio experience, which is further enhanced by the Dolby Digital Plus chip on board. It provides a 5.1-channel surround sound experience on headphones. The tablet will be offered in a couple of storage options – 16GB and 32GB – both of which have microSD card slot for further memory expansion.
The battery capacity isn’t specified, but Acer claims 9 hours of video playback, which sounds about right for a tablet of this size. At the back of the tablet, there’s a 5MP camera capable of shooting full HD video, in case you have no other device next to you to do the job.
The company has backed some pretty neat extras on the software side. Most notable of which are the Acer IntelliSpin and Acer Touch WakeApp. The IntelliSpin feature ensures that the tablet’s screen will continue to rotate to match the tablet’s orientation when turned even when lying flat. The Touch WakeApp functionality provides users with fast access to their favorite apps straight from sleep mode.
The Acer Iconia A3 16GB Wi-Fi version will be available in Europe, Middle East and Africa early October with a starting price of €249, while the 3G version will come out in early November for €299.

Samsung Galaxy Note 12.2 image leaks

Samsung is working on a 12.2″ tablet. Back in June the Korean site ETNews revealed that such device is on the way. Then in July the popular tipster evleaks tweeted about a Samsung SM-P900 12.2-inch slate running on Exynos 5 Octa chipset and having a 2560 x 1600 pixel screen.

Today we get to see the first render of this SM-P900 tablet, which is supposed to be dubbed Galaxy Note 12.2.
There is no new details on the specs besides this first picture. Since the slate will supposedly join the Note lineup, we should expect S-Pen support and various stylus-enabled apps that Samsung is usually providing as part of the TouchWiz UI.
If the device is real we guess it will go official around the IFA expo in a few days.