MWC 2014: Here is what's going to happen
Here's a summary of what to expect at the MWC.
Samsung Galaxy S5: Practically confirmed
Samsung's event is titled Unpacked 5, making the Galaxy S5 the most likely phone to headline the event (here's a teaser video that puts 5 everywhere). The device will have a slightly bigger screen than its predecessor, 5.25", and either borrow the chipset selection from the Galaxy Note 3 or get the next gen Samsung and Qualcomm chips.
It's almost certain that the camera will be a 16MP shooter with 2160p video capture. There's no mention of optical stabilization yet though. We've been getting glimpses of the new TouchWiz too (the invite matches the teaser), which will be flat but still different from stock Android.
There has been talk of two S5 versions for a while – first it was plastic and metal, now it's 1080p screen and QHD screen. With recent developments, a plastic leather-textured back is a safe bet.
Samsung Galaxy Tab 4: Possible
A trio of Galaxy Tab 4 tablets leaked, reportedly waiting for a MWC launch. "More tablets?" you're probably thinking and you'd be right.
However, unlike the Galaxy Tab Pros these will be entry to mid-range tablets at 7", 8" and 10.1". Not as entry-level as the Galaxy Tab 3 Lite 7.0 though.
Samsung Galaxy Gear 2: Possible
The Galaxy Gear got Samsung in the smart wearable game and a quick refresh might be just what the doctor prescribed to expand the niche. Judging by rumors, there will be plenty of wearables at the MWC and Samsung wouldn’t want to be left behind. But will Gear drop Android in favor of Tizen? Speaking of Tizen, a new phone is unlikely – or Samsung really upped its security measures.
So Galaxy Gear 2 is a likely attendee, but Samsung may still be debating the price - the original was the priciest smartwatch.
Samsung Huron: Unlikely
Samsung seemed to have forgotten about the whole Windows Phone thing, but then the Huron leaked. That's for Verizon though and the US-based CDMA carrier has no presence at the MWC. The only hope of a Samsung WP phone is if the company brings out the GSM version of the Huron (no leaks about it though).
Sony Xperia Z2 (Sirius): Very likely
Sony had been having two flagships a year for the last years and 2013 was no exception - the first one (Xperia Z) was announced in January. This allowed it to be the first 1080p flagship, getting a lead on the Samsung, HTC and LG offerings.
Other than 2160p video capture and the 5.2" screen not much will change, if rumors are to be believed.
Sony Xperia Tablet Z2: Likely
While the Xperia Z1 is still fresh, the Xperia Tablet Z is starting to show its age. There's plenty to update, especially by moving from Snapdragon S4 Pro to Snapdragon 800, though current rumors are that the 10.1" screen will remain at 1080p resolution.
The Xperia Tablet Z2 will retain the headlining features of its predecessor – the thin body (even thinner this time around) and water resistance.
Sony Xperia G: Possible
Aside from flagship Z products, Sony might also bring a mid-range offering to try and capitalize on the success of the Moto G. The Xperia G (perhaps not its real name) will probably feature improvements over the Motorola, but water resistance will not be one of them.
LG G Pro 2: Already official
The LG G Pro 2 phablet is already official but we're itching for a chance of a hands-on. The device should go on sale in Korea in a few days, but we'll make sure to ask LG about concrete US and Europe launch plans ("not before April" is all we have now).
LG G2 mini: Already official
The G2 mini also went official before the MWC. Unlike the Xperia Z1 Compact, LG's mini features lower-end specs than the G2 flagship on all counts, especially the 4.7" qHD screen. Still, a hands-on is in order.
HTC M8 / All New One / One+: Not coming
HTC has an event scheduled for late March and that's probably when the One will be announced. The phone might (or might not) have two cameras and come in Gold, but we won't find out at the MWC.
HTC Desire 8: Likely
With no One successor, what will HTC bring to the MWC? The Desire 8 phablet is a possibility, but there seems to be a Chinese event scheduled for it (also in March).
The Desire 8 is a 5.5" phablet with a 13MP camera and BoomSound speakers. It promises to be very slim and has the specs to compete with the Xperia T2 Ultra and Ascend Mate2.
HTC octa-core: Unlikely
Two HTC mid-rangers were found in AnTuTu's database recently, including one with an octa-core chipset from MediaTek and a 5" 720p screen. Leaks about it have been sparse recently though.
Nokia X A110: Very likely
Nokia has put out several teasers for an upcoming device featuring a green X, which rumors tell us is the name of Nokia's Android-powered device.
The Nokia X A110 (aka Normandy) aims for the higher echelons of the Asha line and the specs are basically the same as the Lumia 520.
Nokia Lumia 930: Likely
The Nokia that will still be the old Nokia, the Microsoft acquisition is a lengthy, recent process, not enough time to bring out Microsoft Lumias.
That doesn’t preclude the possibility of Nokia Lumias though. With Verizon's Lumia 929 already official, it's a good time to announce a GSM counterpart – the Lumia 930. That one is still based on the Lumia 1520 powerhouse but may feature an even smaller screen – 4.5".
Nokia Lumia 630/635: Likely
Nokia has had great success with entry-level Lumias and we might see a successor the its first entry-level WP8 phone, the Lumia 620. The Lumia 630/635 should offer a bigger screen and more powerful chipset than the Lumia 525.
Huawei Ascend P7: Confirmed?
Huawei is certainly bringing something to the MWC, but the video parodying Apple's Siri is kind of ambiguous. The rumor mill thinks the device will be the Ascend P7 – a 5" 1080p phone that uses HiSilicon's new Kirin chipset.
Huawei MediaPad X1: Likely
Huawei also has a tablet in the works, MediaPad X1, that uses the same chipset and is more compact and lighter than the Nexus 7 (2014). Rumored prices are cheaper too, considering the tablet will have LTE connectivity.
Since it's already certified in China, the device is most likely ready for show time.
Acer announced the mid-range Liquid E3 - essentially a €200 LG G2 mini competitor. We'll certainly be having some one on one time with it at the MWC.
Acer Liquid Z4: Already official
Acer also unveiled the Liquid Z4, which costs half as much as the E3 and is going to tackle the likes of the Xperia E1.
Acer Liquid S3: Possible
We know that Acer will be unveiling three smartphones at the MWC and we already have an entry-level one and a mid-ranger, which leaves room for a flagship. A successor to the Liquid S2 (the first phone with 2160p video capture) would be pretty sweet.
An entry-level BlackBerry leaked – touchscreen only, unlike the Q5 – but BlackBerry has made no indication it will be present at the MWC 2014. Still, the rumor mill thinks the device will make an appearance.
Samsung
Samsung's event will be on February 24, Monday, 6:30-9:00pm CET.Samsung Galaxy S5: Practically confirmed
Samsung's event is titled Unpacked 5, making the Galaxy S5 the most likely phone to headline the event (here's a teaser video that puts 5 everywhere). The device will have a slightly bigger screen than its predecessor, 5.25", and either borrow the chipset selection from the Galaxy Note 3 or get the next gen Samsung and Qualcomm chips.
It's almost certain that the camera will be a 16MP shooter with 2160p video capture. There's no mention of optical stabilization yet though. We've been getting glimpses of the new TouchWiz too (the invite matches the teaser), which will be flat but still different from stock Android.
There has been talk of two S5 versions for a while – first it was plastic and metal, now it's 1080p screen and QHD screen. With recent developments, a plastic leather-textured back is a safe bet.
Samsung Galaxy Tab 4: Possible
A trio of Galaxy Tab 4 tablets leaked, reportedly waiting for a MWC launch. "More tablets?" you're probably thinking and you'd be right.
However, unlike the Galaxy Tab Pros these will be entry to mid-range tablets at 7", 8" and 10.1". Not as entry-level as the Galaxy Tab 3 Lite 7.0 though.
Samsung Galaxy Gear 2: Possible
The Galaxy Gear got Samsung in the smart wearable game and a quick refresh might be just what the doctor prescribed to expand the niche. Judging by rumors, there will be plenty of wearables at the MWC and Samsung wouldn’t want to be left behind. But will Gear drop Android in favor of Tizen? Speaking of Tizen, a new phone is unlikely – or Samsung really upped its security measures.
So Galaxy Gear 2 is a likely attendee, but Samsung may still be debating the price - the original was the priciest smartwatch.
Samsung Huron: Unlikely
Samsung seemed to have forgotten about the whole Windows Phone thing, but then the Huron leaked. That's for Verizon though and the US-based CDMA carrier has no presence at the MWC. The only hope of a Samsung WP phone is if the company brings out the GSM version of the Huron (no leaks about it though).
Sony
The Sony event at the MWC will be on February 24, Monday, 8:30-9:30am CET.Sony Xperia Z2 (Sirius): Very likely
Sony had been having two flagships a year for the last years and 2013 was no exception - the first one (Xperia Z) was announced in January. This allowed it to be the first 1080p flagship, getting a lead on the Samsung, HTC and LG offerings.
Other than 2160p video capture and the 5.2" screen not much will change, if rumors are to be believed.
Sony Xperia Tablet Z2: Likely
While the Xperia Z1 is still fresh, the Xperia Tablet Z is starting to show its age. There's plenty to update, especially by moving from Snapdragon S4 Pro to Snapdragon 800, though current rumors are that the 10.1" screen will remain at 1080p resolution.
The Xperia Tablet Z2 will retain the headlining features of its predecessor – the thin body (even thinner this time around) and water resistance.
Sony Xperia G: Possible
Aside from flagship Z products, Sony might also bring a mid-range offering to try and capitalize on the success of the Moto G. The Xperia G (perhaps not its real name) will probably feature improvements over the Motorola, but water resistance will not be one of them.
LG
LG's press event is on February 24, Monday.LG G Pro 2: Already official
The LG G Pro 2 phablet is already official but we're itching for a chance of a hands-on. The device should go on sale in Korea in a few days, but we'll make sure to ask LG about concrete US and Europe launch plans ("not before April" is all we have now).
LG G2 mini: Already official
The G2 mini also went official before the MWC. Unlike the Xperia Z1 Compact, LG's mini features lower-end specs than the G2 flagship on all counts, especially the 4.7" qHD screen. Still, a hands-on is in order.
HTC
HTC has scheduled a press conference for February 24, Monday, 3:15-5:30pm CET.HTC M8 / All New One / One+: Not coming
HTC has an event scheduled for late March and that's probably when the One will be announced. The phone might (or might not) have two cameras and come in Gold, but we won't find out at the MWC.
HTC Desire 8: Likely
With no One successor, what will HTC bring to the MWC? The Desire 8 phablet is a possibility, but there seems to be a Chinese event scheduled for it (also in March).
The Desire 8 is a 5.5" phablet with a 13MP camera and BoomSound speakers. It promises to be very slim and has the specs to compete with the Xperia T2 Ultra and Ascend Mate2.
HTC octa-core: Unlikely
Two HTC mid-rangers were found in AnTuTu's database recently, including one with an octa-core chipset from MediaTek and a 5" 720p screen. Leaks about it have been sparse recently though.
Nokia
Nokia's event will be on February 24, Monday, 8:30-9:30am CET.Nokia X A110: Very likely
Nokia has put out several teasers for an upcoming device featuring a green X, which rumors tell us is the name of Nokia's Android-powered device.
The Nokia X A110 (aka Normandy) aims for the higher echelons of the Asha line and the specs are basically the same as the Lumia 520.
Nokia Lumia 930: Likely
The Nokia that will still be the old Nokia, the Microsoft acquisition is a lengthy, recent process, not enough time to bring out Microsoft Lumias.
That doesn’t preclude the possibility of Nokia Lumias though. With Verizon's Lumia 929 already official, it's a good time to announce a GSM counterpart – the Lumia 930. That one is still based on the Lumia 1520 powerhouse but may feature an even smaller screen – 4.5".
Nokia Lumia 630/635: Likely
Nokia has had great success with entry-level Lumias and we might see a successor the its first entry-level WP8 phone, the Lumia 620. The Lumia 630/635 should offer a bigger screen and more powerful chipset than the Lumia 525.
Huawei
Huawei's press event is scheduled for February 23, Sunday, at 3:00-4:30pm CET.Huawei Ascend P7: Confirmed?
Huawei is certainly bringing something to the MWC, but the video parodying Apple's Siri is kind of ambiguous. The rumor mill thinks the device will be the Ascend P7 – a 5" 1080p phone that uses HiSilicon's new Kirin chipset.
Huawei MediaPad X1: Likely
Huawei also has a tablet in the works, MediaPad X1, that uses the same chipset and is more compact and lighter than the Nexus 7 (2014). Rumored prices are cheaper too, considering the tablet will have LTE connectivity.
Since it's already certified in China, the device is most likely ready for show time.
Acer
Acer Liquid E3: Already officialAcer announced the mid-range Liquid E3 - essentially a €200 LG G2 mini competitor. We'll certainly be having some one on one time with it at the MWC.
Acer Liquid Z4: Already official
Acer also unveiled the Liquid Z4, which costs half as much as the E3 and is going to tackle the likes of the Xperia E1.
Acer Liquid S3: Possible
We know that Acer will be unveiling three smartphones at the MWC and we already have an entry-level one and a mid-ranger, which leaves room for a flagship. A successor to the Liquid S2 (the first phone with 2160p video capture) would be pretty sweet.
BlackBerry
BlackBerry Z3 (Jakarta): No event scheduledAn entry-level BlackBerry leaked – touchscreen only, unlike the Q5 – but BlackBerry has made no indication it will be present at the MWC 2014. Still, the rumor mill thinks the device will make an appearance.
NVIDIA Tegra Note 7 LTE announced, Xolo announced as partner once again
NVIDIA announced the Tegra Note, the company’s first Tegra 4 tablet last year. Today, NVIDIA has announced the LTE variant of the tablet powered by Icera i500 modem. Xolo has been announced as the hardware manufacturer for India once again. Other specifications are exactly similar to the non-LTE version including a 7-inch (1280 x 800 pixels) IPS display with support for NVIDIA DirectStylus technology and quad-core NVIDIA Tegra 4 CPU, but this runs on Android 4.4 (KitKat) out of the box.
It doesn’t have Band 40 for 2300 MHz TD-LTE on Airtel, but you 3G support, that was not present in the first Tegra Note tablet. Check out the list of supported bands below.
- LTE-US:LTE: 700/850/1700/1900/2600 (Bands 2,4,5,17,7)
- LTE-EU: LTE: 800/1800/2600 (Bands 3,7,20)
- 3G: HSPA+: 850, 900, 1900, 2100 (Bands 1,2,5,8)
- 7-inch (1280 x 800 pixels) multitouch IPS display
- 1.8 GHz quad-core NVIDIA Tegra 4 processor
- Android 4.4 (KitKat) OS
- 5MP auto focus rear camera
- 0.3MP (VGA) front-facing camera
- 3.5mm audio jack, Front-facing stereo speakers
- 4G LTE / 3G, WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth, micro HDMI
- 1GB RAM, 16GB internal memory, expandable up to 32GB via micro SD
- 4100 mAh battery with up to 10 hours of HD video playback
Nokia HERE Maps will be available for all Windows 8.1 devices
Love the Nokia HERE Maps application, but don’t have a Nokia Windows Phone handset? Well you’re in luck.
With the Windows 8.1 upgrade, all Windows-based computers with the software update will get to enjoy Nokia HERE Maps.
This includes Windows RT devices, such as the Surface. Naturally as part of the upgrade, you’ll be able to use your mouse and keyboard with the application, enjoy high-res satellite images, zippier map loading, and a search history.
As always, Nokia HERE Maps will be completely free, and is available in North America and Europe starting now, and it’ll roll out to the rest of the world soon.
Excited to use Nokia HERE Maps on your Windows 8.1 device?
Microsoft cuts Windows 8.1 licensing fees 70%
The
report says that the licensing fee drop will specifically target
devices that will sell for less than $250. The fee had been $50 per unit
for devices at that price point, but now it will cost manufacturers
just $15. Bloomberg says that
the price reduction was a response to Google Chromebooks, which have
been doing extremely well in the sub-$300 market. But, we can't help
wonder if Android tablets might not also be part of the equation.
Windows
8 Pro devices have been dropping in price in order to better compete
with Android tablets. Some, like the Dell Venue 8 Pro have even gotten
as low as $299. If the licensing fee will cost $35 less, manufacturers
like Dell might be tempted to push for that $250 mark with those
tablets. Suddenly, you would have a full Windows 8 device in direct
competition with something like the Nexus 7. Of course, it doesn't
really explain where Windows RT fits in, but Microsoft wants to generate
sales any way it can at this point.
Sailfish OS global distribution, Android install, and Angry Birds smart-cover coming after March update
Jolla announced that its mobile
operating system, Sailfish OS, has reached v1.0 and will be ready for
global distribution soon. This means that, in the coming months,
Jolla will follow up on its plans to introduce the OS as free
downloadable software for Android devices. Before this happens, though, the
Finnish company will release a free Sailfish launcher. It will serve
as an appetizer, of sorts, for the full Sailfish experience on
Android devices. Last, but not least, Jolla announced newly-stricken
partnerships with F-Secure corp, Tieto Corporation, and fellow Finns
Rovio.
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Jolla sees a “huge volume
opportunity” in bringing over Android users. The company's
chairman, Antti Saarnio, points out that nearly 100 million users in
China alone installed a new OS (or ROM) on their devices last year.
As Sailfish OS is compatible with commonly available Android hardware
platforms and apps, it also caters to users that seek a new
experience or to re-discover an older Android device.
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Angry Birds smart-cover
|
Jolla announces Sailfish OS 1.0, starts selling to new markets
Jolla, the new phone manufacturer around the block comprised of former Nokia employees, has announced the launch of Sailfish OS 1.0. The update is an important milestone in the life of the mobile OS as it's the first commercial-ready release (so far the platform was in beta).There are a lot of features and improvements that the latest update introduces. In addition to the improved performance, Sailfish OS 1.0 brings a lot of small visual improvements, extended landscape support, new general settings and camera functionality.
Meanwhile, Jolla has also announced it is expanding the availability of its smartphone to Hong Kong, India and Russia. Currently, the Jolla phone is sold primarily in Finland through local carrier's DNA shops. The phonemaker assures that it is in talks with more European partners for potential expansion.
However, the Jolla phone is also available to all users in the European Union through the company's official store for €399.
The Sailfish OS 1.0 will be pushed to the Jolla smartphone in the beginning of March.
Windows Phone 8.1 to bring universal search
Thanks to a new Windows Phone 8.1 SDK leak we can see that Redmond devs are planning to include a universal search feature in the next Windows Phone release.
A recent leak revealed theme and start menu customizations, which adds another line to the long line of expected improvements.
A universal search follows in the footsteps of Windows on desktop and just about every other mobile platform out there. Microsoft’s platform however will have even more use for such feature as Windows Phones handsets have a dedicated search button. If this feature lands it will offer message search, music (Artist, Song, Album, Playlist) and more.
Windows Phone 8.1 is expected to bring an Action Center, Notification Center and File Manager among other things.
Archos unveils three phones and a tablet before the MWC
As per usual, Archos has unveiled a number of devices to whet our appetites before the big event. We have everything from an entry-level phone to a tablet.Archos 50c Oxygen
The Archos 50c Oxygen is a dual-SIM version of the already announced 50 Oxygen. It's slimmer – 7.64mm vs. 9.9mm – and replaces the quad-core MediaTek chipset with a new octa-core MT6592 featuring 8x Cortex-A7 at 1.7GHz, Mali-450 and 1GB RAM.
Archos 50c Oxygen
The screen is a regression, a 5" 720p IPS LCD (down from 5" 1080p), and so is the camera – an 8MP / 1080p shooter (down from 13MP). It has two SIM slots, HSPA (21Mbps/5.76Mbps) and Bluetooth 4.0.
The Archos 50c Oxygen will cost £200.
Archos 64 Xenon
The Archos naming scheme is simple – the numbers indicate screen size. So, the Archos 64 Xenon is a 6.4" phablet, with 720p screen resolution and a MediaTek MT6582 chipset (quad A7, Mali-400).It has an 8MP / 1080p camera, 3G HSPA connectivity and half the storage of the 50c – 4GB but both have microSD card slots. The 9.3mm body of the phablet houses a small 2,800mAh battery.
The Archos 64 Xenon is not an impressive phablet but it's priced the same as the 50c Xenon - £200.
Archos 80 Helium 4G
For 30 quid more you can get an 8.0" screen and LTE with the Archos 80 Helium 4G (the name gives it away, doesn’t it). It's no Nexus 7 killer with its 4:3 1024x768 pixel screen and quad-core Snapdragon chipset but it does have LTE going for it.
Archos 80 Helium 4G
It's Cat. 4 LTE (150Mbps downlink, 50Mbps uplink) and the Nexus 7 2014 LTE is £300 with 32GB storage).
The Helium 80 4G has only 8GB storage, but compensates with a microSD card slot. It also packs a 5MP / 1080p camera, 10.5mm body and a 3,500mAh battery.
The Archos 80 Helium 4G will cost £230.
Archos 40b Titanium
The Archos 40b Titanium is a dual-SIM phone, very similar to the 40 Titanium with features only small changes.
Archos 40b Titanium
It has the same 4" WVGA screen, but the phone is 4mm narrower than before. It also keeps the chipset (with limited 512MB RAM), 3G HSPA connectivity, 5MP / 720p camera and most everything else. The battery is a tad smaller though – 1,400mAh vs. 1,500mAh – and dual speakers on the front .
The Archos 40b Titanium will carry a £99 price tag.
Broadcom introduces BCM4771, the first GNSS SoC for wearable devices
Broadcom, today announced the industry’s first Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) system-on-chip (SoC), BCM4771 for low-power wearable devices such as smart watches and fitness trackers. We had already seen Intel Edison, a 22nm ultra-small computer based on Quark technology. The Broadcom SoC is based on 40nm process technology and has sensor hub that integrates sensor inputs, location capabilities, wireless connectivity and more.
Highlights of Broadcom BCM4771 GNSS SoC
- Lets users accurately track and manage health with precision activity tracking and location data
- Constantly monitors user activity levels and location history to improve accuracy
- Combines location capabilities with an integrated sensor hub, contextual awareness, and GNSS to save battery life in wearable devices
- Has Broadcom’s Wireless Internet Connectivity for Embedded Devices (WICED) Smart for wireless connectivity
- Designed in 40 nanometer (nm) process technology
Acer Liquid Z4 with 4-inch display, 1.3 GHz dual-core processor announced
Acer unveiled the Liquid Z5 with a 5-inch FWVA display earlier this year, today the company has announced the Liquid Z4, ahead of MWC 2014. It has a 4-inch capacitive touch screen display, powered by a 1.3 GHz dual-core processor and runs on Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean). It comes with a 5-megapixel rear camera with f2.4 lens, LED flash and a 0.3-megapixel (VGA) front-facing camera.
It has front-facing camera and DTS Sound technology, similar to the Liquid E3, that was also unveiled earlier today. It has Acer RAPID button on the back for one-hand control to unlock and/or wake-up the screen, launch the camera, take a picture, launch apps from home screen and pick up phone calls easily. It has Quick Mode profiles such as Basic Mode, Senior Mode, Classic mode and Keypad mode, Acer Float User Interface for better multitasking.
It is 9.7 mm thick and weighs 130 grams. It comes with usual set of connectivity features such as 8.8 mm thick and weighs 147 grams 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS. It has 4GB internal memory and expandable memory up to 32GB. Details about RAM and Battery capacity are not available yet.
The Acer Liquid Z4 comes in Essential White and Titanic Black colors and would be available in Europe starting from April at a suggested price of 99 Euros (Rs. 8,460 approx). Acer would showcase the smartphone at the Mobile World Congress 2014 in Barcelona next week.
Acer Liquid E3 with 4.7-inch HD display, 13MP camera announced
Acer has announced the Liquid E3, successor of last year’s Liquid E2 ahead of MWC 2014. It has a 4.7-inch (1280 × 720 pixels) capacitive touch screen IPS display, powered by a 1.2 GHz quad-core processor and runs on Android 4.2.2 (Jelly Bean) OS.. It has a 13-megapixel rear camera with LED flash and a 2-megapixel front-facing camera with LED flash for selfies.
It also has AcerRAPID key on the back for one-hand control to unlock and/or wake-up the screen, launch the camera, take a picture, launch apps from home screen and pick up phone calls. it has front speaker with DTS Studio. It comes with Acer SnapNote to capture presentations , AcerFLOAT apps for multitasking, AcerCloud for cloud backup and more apps.
Acer Liquid E3 specifications
- 4.7-inch (1280 × 720 pixels) capacitive touch screen IPS display
- 1.2 GHz quad-core processor
- Android 4.2.2 (Jelly Bean) OS, upgradable to Android KitKat 4.4 later this year
- 8.9 mm thick and weighs 135g
- 13MP auto focus camera with LED Flash, 1080p HD video recording
- 2MP front-facing camera with flash
- AcerRAPID key, DTS audio
- 1GB RAM, 4GB internal memory, expandable memory up to 32GB
- 3G HSPA+, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth and aGPS
Facebook agrees to purchase WhatsApp for $19 billion
Facebook has agreed to purchase WhatsApp. The social networking giant will pay the staggering $19 billion for the massively popular cross-platform messaging client in cash and stock ($4 billion in cash, $12 billion in stock, and additional $3 billion in restricted stock which will vest over the four years after the deal’s closing).
As part of the agreement, WhatsApp will continue to operate independently. Jan Koum, one of the messenger’s creators and current CEO, assures WhatsApp users that there will be “absolutely no ads interrupting your communication”.
According to Facebook’s CEO, the company counts on its new acquisition with over 450 million users (70% active on a daily basis) to complement its currently available messaging services. Furthermore, the CEO of WhatsApp will join the social network’s board of directors.
Facebook’s acquisition of WhatsApp comes less than a week after Viber got acquired by Rakuten. At $900 million however, Viber (300 million users on its own) looks like a bargain compared to WhatsApp and its $16 billion valuation.
Meizu and BQ Readers will ship Ubuntu phones this year
Canonical announced its first hardware partners which will manufacture Ubuntu smartphones. Meizu and the Spanish manufacturer BQ Readers will ship Ubuntu handsets globally this year.
Ubuntu’s founder Mark Shuttleworth pointed that the initial partners were chosen because of their expertise in penetrating emerging markets. More established manufacturers are expected to hop on the Ubuntu bandwagon in 2015.
The upcoming Linux-based smartphones are said to feature “the latest hardware.” Canonical is serious about app support too. It aims to have the top 50 mobile applications available on Ubuntu by the end of the year.
We are yet to see an official announcement of Ubuntu smartphone. MWC in Barcelona next week could be the venue of such event.
Here is the first official picture of The All New HTC One
The HTC One successor will be announced on March 25 in London and New York. This is all the official information we have so far.Luckily, thanks to numerous leaks throughout the past few months we know the HTC codenamed M8 will be the company's next flagship. The smartphone is tipped to come with a 5" 1080p display and Snapdragon 800 chipset ticking inside. The most interesting feature of the M8 is supposed to be the new UltraPixel technology which should use two cameras at the back and a dual-LED true-tone flash.
Anyway, thanks to the notorious @evleaks we already know the HTC M8 will be called The All New One. It is rumored to come in Silver, Grey and Gold flavors at launch. Just hours after @evleaks told us the name and the colors, he now has the first official render of the device.
So, The All New One, which we will probably call HTC One 2014, looks a lot like its One predecessor. It has slimmer screen bezels though and, of course, the dual-camera setup at the back.
The official announcement is just a month away, but we feel we already know everything there is to know about The All New One. Here is hoping HTC will still manage to surprise us in a good way come March 25.
Samsung unwraps new LED flash modules, Galaxy S5 to use one of them
Samsung has officially announced its new camera flash LED unit, which it intends to use in future smartphones and tablets. The company has confirmed that one of them find its way in the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S5 flagship later this month.
The new LEDs in question include two reflector-integrated flash LED packages, plus a flip-chip flash LED, as well as two side-view LEDs. Samsung touts the new LED modules are perfect for high-end devices as they provide a wide field of view and don’t take as much space as previous solutions.
The most interesting one is the new reflector-integrated flash LED (3432 1.8t (FH341A), which delivers over 165 lux at 1A and a minimum CRI (Color Rendering Index) of 80. Samsung assures it delivers quality photos in both daylight and at night. The 3432 1.8t is exactly the one that will be used in the next Galaxy smartphone.
Samsung will showcase all of them at MWC with the start of their mass production scheduled for March. Except for the one that will debut on the Galaxy S5, the modules will start appearing in actual products in Q2 2014.
Oppo Find 7 to come with a 1080p and QHD screen options
Oppo's teasers revealed that the upcoming Find 7 phablet will come in two versions, but so far we didn’t know the exact differences. AnTuTu's team comes through once again, digging up both versions in their database.
Specs for both Oppo Find 7 versions as detected by AnTuTu
The X9007 differs from the X9077 in the screen resolution – the lower model has a 1080p screen, while the other one has a QHD screen (2,560 x 1,600). Both have the same screen diagonal, 5.5", even though the benchmark didn’t detect the screen size on the 1080p model.
Other than that both Oppo Find 7 devices are identical – they run Android 4.3 Jelly Bean on a Snapdragon 800 chipset with 3GB of RAM, have 16GB of built-in storage, 13MP main camera and a 5MP front-facing one.
There's also an new photo of the phablet – in a bright purple color, it looks almost like an Xperia with its flat back and rectangular body. For a view of the front, check out the spy shots of the front panels.
The Oppo Find 7 in purple
The Find 7 will be unveiled on March 19 at an event in Beijing.
LG G2 mini is official with 4.7" screen, mid-range specs
According to the earlier teaser, the G2 mini would debut at the MWC, but LG Netherlands turned out a bit too eager and released the details on the upcoming smartphone today.There'll be two versions of the LG G2 mini, giving you a choice between a Snapdragon 400 or Nvidia Tegra 4i chipset. Both will have 1.2GHz quad-core CPU and 1GB of RAM. Non-LTE versions will also be available, as well as a dual-SIM variant.
The display is a 4.7" unit of qHD resolution (540x960 pixels), not 720p as initially rumored. Luckily, it runs Android 4.4 KitKat out of the box garnished with LG's Optimus UI, which comes with cool software features such as Guest Mode.
The back of the LG G2 mini keeps the design introduced by its bigger brother and holds an 8MP camera with LED flash. The G2 mini packs a 2,440mAh battery, which is user-removable as well as a microSD card slot for further expanding the 8GB of on-board storage.
LG says the G2 mini will roll out in March with Russia getting it first. The Middle East, Latin America, Asia and Europe will follow in April. The LG G2 mini will be available in black, white, red and champagne colors.
Samsung US announces KitKat update plans
We have some great news for the
Galaxy users in the USA! Samsung has announced the list of devices
which will be updated with Android 4.4 KitKat. More than 15 Galaxy
smartphones, phablets and tablets will get the KitKat treatment over the
upcoming months.
Samsung is developing Android 4.4 KitKat firmware for these smartphones:
The availability and launch date will vary by carrier, but eventually all those devices will end up with update notifications. The official roll out starts today, probably with the most recent devices, and the entire update process should take a few months to complete.
Samsung is developing Android 4.4 KitKat firmware for these smartphones:
- Samsung Galaxy Note 3
- Samsung Galaxy Note II
- Samsung Galaxy S4
- Samsung Galaxy S4 mini
- Samsung Galaxy S4 Active
- Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom
- Samsung Galaxy S III
- Samsung Galaxy S III mini
- Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3
- Samsung Galaxy Light
- Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 Edition
- Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1
- Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0
- Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 7.0
- Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 8.0
- Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 10.1
The availability and launch date will vary by carrier, but eventually all those devices will end up with update notifications. The official roll out starts today, probably with the most recent devices, and the entire update process should take a few months to complete.
HTC confirms big announcement event for March 25
The oft-leaked upcoming flagship, the HTC M8, will finally be announced next month at a couple of parallel events in New York and London.
The HTC M8, which could be called the One+ or One 2, is expected to sport a 4.9-inch or 5-inch 1080p display and Snapdragon 805 chipset, 2GB of RAM, and a dual primary 6MP/8MP camera setup, along with a 2.1MP front-facer, and a 2,900 mAh battery. Android 4.4 KitKat overlaid with HTC Sense 6 is expected to be the software configuration.
HTC is also going to be attending the MWC, but will probably use the show to showcase some other less exciting products.
The company will then hope to stand apart in its own event afterwards. Be sure to check back with us on March 25 for full coverage of the event.
MediaTek working on Cortex-A53 quad and octa-core chips
MediaTek chipsets may have a bit of a reputation for being mid-range but you have to give it to the young company – it moves fast. It was the first to jump on ARM's new core, the Cortex-A17, and will be among the first to use the 64-bit Cortex-A53.Leaked documents show MediaTek is working on the MT6732 and MT6752, quad and octa-core chipsets respectively. The Cortex-A53 core is based on the new instruction set, ARMv8, and should offer a performance boost over Cortex-A7 at the same clockspeed with similar low-power usage.
It's impressive that MediaTek's chipsets will have on-board LTE support (including the Chinese flavor), which so far only Qualcomm has managed (Samsung, Intel and NVIDIA use separate LTE modems; Apple uses Qualcomm tech).
The new chipsets aren't official yet and so there are no devices announced with it, but then there's nothing with Qualcomm's Snapdragon 410 (quad-core A53 + Adreno 306) either. One thing is for sure though, other chipset makers need to step up the game.
Windows Phone 8.1 with fingerprint support, UI customizations
A new WP 8.1 SDK leak points to fingerprint scanner support in the next OS update, which should put Windows Phone level with iOS and Android.
Also there will be some sort of Start and Theme customization options but it’s unknown what those will be, perhaps the option to finally choose a background wallpaper like in Windows 8.1 on desktop? Finally there’s some leaked information on how WP 8.1 will handle messaging on dual-SIM smartphones.
In the next image you see the rumored fingerprint scanning software – creating a private key by scanning your finger.
Next up we’ll show you the start+theme customization setting that has leaked.
And finally the messaging settings regarding dual-SIM messaging.
We know it’s no fun to look at leaks without actual screenshots and we know these leaked images could be whipped up in no time for an elaborate joke. But logic points to a high possibility of a fingerprint scanner in every flagship this year so it does make sense.
We’ve seen what Microsoft is planning with its next update, including the desired notification area, navigation bar, voice assistant Cortana and more. The update could drop as early as this April.
Samsung to produce Apple’s A8 chips no more
Samsung helped to create the speedy iPhone 5S by manufacturing the 64-Bit A7 chipset that powers the phone.
Apple and Samsung’s CPU partnership may be coming to an end, however, as reports indicate that Samsung will stop producing the chips for Apple.
Picking up where Samsung left off will be Taiwanese media company, TSMC. They’re a huge manufacturer: the largest independent semi-conductor foundry on the globe.
Samsung’s reasons for not manufacturing Apple’s A8 is that it just isn’t that profitable for the Korean tech giant at their current work capacity to produce the chips.
This isn’t to say that Samsung may not be able to nab up future chip-production contracts with Apple, just that they won’t be producing the CPU hardware for the iPhone 6.
Anyone here think that switching from Samsung to TSMC is bad news regarding the iPhone’s 6 processor performance? Or is a CPU just a CPU?
Acer to announce a new Liquid smartphone at MWC 2014
The little pieces of info we got suggest Acer will be unveiling several "must have" products for the MWC 2014. The announcement should happen in four days and there will be at least one new Liquid smartphone.
Acer is known for offering great performers on bargain prices. A while ago there were even rumors Acer might be premiering wearables on the MWC.
So, whatever it is that Acer is prepping for the upcoming expo, it should be interesting. We'll make sure we cover everything in detail for you, so stay tuned and keep an eye on hour homepage for more news.
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