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Sunday, December 23, 2012

Bendable Screens To Be Launched By Samsung During CES

Bendable Screen To Be Launched By Samsung During CES
Samsung Bendable Screen Display
(Image Credit: http://www.cnet.com)

Following reports on the possible launch of the Samsung Galaxy S4 next year, two bendable display screens are set to be unveiled by Samsung Display at the upcoming Consumer Electronic Show, a cnet.com report indicated. The bendable display screen is touted to create a huge impact on the future designs of smartphones and televisions.

It can be recalled that reports had hinted at the possibility that the Samsung Galaxy S4 may use a bendable or foldable screen display, which will make it virtually unbreakable.

One of the bendable display screens that will be unveiled is a 5.5-inch screen display that is expected to be used on smartphones and it features a 1280 by 720 resolution with a 267ppi pixel density. This may be used on the supposed Samsung GalaxyS4, if reports on the upcoming successor to the Galaxy S3 are true.

In addition to the 5.5-inch display, a 55-inch display is also set to be unveiled that will be used on a television.

Although the bendable screen can be curved without damaging it, it cannot be rolled up yet. Samsung Display is also set to create a cover lens and touch panel that can be used on the bendable display, which was created by the company.

Samsung initially unveiled a 4.5-inch WVGA display at the CES 2011 that featured a pixel density of 200ppi. The bigger screen size and resolution of the new display shows that the company is up to date with the expectations for the latest smartphone models.

For the moment, there are no new reports on the supposed Samsung Galaxy S4 although the upcoming launch of the 5.5-inch bendable screen display may be considered a part of the development of the upcoming device if it will indeed feature the screen display.

However, it can be expected that more reports of the supposed Samsung Galaxy S4 will emerge near the end of the holidays since everyone is too busy ticking off names on their gift lists.

Saturday, December 22, 2012

App Store For Raspberry Pi Launched

App Store For Raspberry Pi Launched
Pi Store
(Image Credit: http://www.cnet.com)

The Pi Store was announced recently giving Raspberry Pi users the opportunity to download applications, games, tools, and tutorials for their super-small-sized computer system.

Users can download or upload content through the X app from or into the Pi Store as revealed through the Raspberry Pi blog. All content will be moderated before they are added into the virtual shelves. Since the Raspberry Pi was primarily made to increase the interest of kids into programming, it was necessary to moderate the content on the Pi Store, which means you will not be able to find anything that is not suitable for children.

According to the announcement, the Pi Store is aimed at becoming a one-stop shop for all the needs of Raspberry Pi users. It also allows beginners to easily get the hang of using the system since it offers everything they would need free of charge.

The Pi Store will also allow developers to charge for the applications that they upload aside from offering them for free. It also features a tip jar where supporters can ‘donate’ to continue support for quality yet free applications. For the moment twenty-five titles are available for Raspberry Pi users, including FreeCiv, LibreOffice, and Iridium Rising.

Although it also offers despotify, the open-source Spotify client, it will be necessary to get a Spotify Premium account in order for it to work. For the moment there are no supercomputing apps available at the Pi Store even though one Raspberry Pi-based supercomputer is already available in the market.

With the availability of Raspberry Pi applications through the Pi Store, supporters are hoping that it will eventually result to an increase in the number of users of the mini-size computer system.

Friday, December 21, 2012

Report Hints At Cheaper Google Nexus 7

Report Hints At Cheaper Google Nexus 7
Google Nexus 7 Tablet
(Image Credit: http://pcmag.com)

The GoogleNexus 7 is already a relatively low-priced tablet but according to Digitimes, the online search giant is reportedly working on a much-cheaper version of the device.

The Google Nexus 7 was offered with a $199 price tag, which impressed a number of consumers. However, Google is reportedly working on offering a similar device that is priced under $150 with the ultimate goal of selling one at a price tag of $99.

The Taiwan-based tech site indicated that the low-priced Google Nexus 7 will be available in the market by the second quarter of 2013.

Components for the low-priced Nexus 7 tablet were already shipped by O-Film this month. The manufacturer reportedly offers a touch-screen glass to glass film technology that helped bring down the cost of producing the device aside from making is slimmer.

The lower production expenses will eventually bring down the price of the Google Nexus 7 to $99 although it is not possible for the moment. The report indicated that the upcoming model of the device will be price from $129 to $149.

First quarter deliveries are expected to reach 600,000 units according to delivery estimates. By offering the Google Nexus 7 at a price lower than $150 is seen as a challenge to the iPad Mini of Apple, which is priced around $329. When the price will go down to $99, the Google Nexus 7 is expected to give the tablet offering of Apple a run for its money. The quality of the low-priced Google Nexus 7 will reportedly compete with the quality offered by the iPad of Apple.

However, since the report is based on the supply chain of the device, its accuracy remains to be seen. Orders for the unconfirmed components of the supposed low-price Google Nexus 7 may be cancelled by the company any time, which means the report should be taken with a grain of salt.

For the moment, around one million units of the Google Nexus 7 is delivered by Asus and Google each month.

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Google Says Manufacturer At Fault In Google Nexus 4 Shortage

Google Says Manufacturer At Fault In Google Nexus 4 Shortage
Google Nexus 4
(Image Credit: http://www.cnet.com)

The inventory of the Google Nexus 4 has been limited ever since it was released into the market last month.

This shortage in the supply of the Google Nexus 4 was reportedly due to the limited and inconsistent supply from the manufacturer of the device, according to Dan Cobley, the UK and Ireland managing director of Google,.

The statement was made by Cobley in response to a number of questions about the Google Nexus 4.

Cobley indicated that what the consumers are experiencing is unacceptable and the company is working to deal with the problem. He offered an apology for the communication and service failures of the company throughout the entire process.

He also indicated that he was optimistic that there may be some good news in connection to the supply of the Google Nexus 4 although he did not give any commitments for the moment.

Cobley indicated that the orders for the device were already being processed for consumers who were informed of a five-day delivery schedule. Credit for the shipping cost will be credited to these customers. It is expected that processing of orders by consumers who received a pre-Christmas delivery schedule will be made this week.

The Google Nexus 4 was sold out within an hour after it was released into the market last month.

The 8GB model of the Google Nexus 4 became available in the market near the start of the month however supplies did not last long. The popularity of the latest LG smartphone offering resulted to a huge demand for the device, the Andy Coughlin, LG mobile head in the UK, indicated.

A spokesman for Google indicated that it will not release any other statements in connection to the supply of the Google Nexus 4 aside from the one released by Cobley  through Google+.

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Invitations For BlackBerry 10 Event Released By RIM

Invitations For BlackBerry 10 Event Released By RIM
BlackBerry 10
(Image Credit: http://www.allthingsd.com)

Invitations were released by Research In Motion for the launch of the BlackBerry 10 in an event that will be held in New York City.

The company sent the invitations to a number of media outlets for the event in Pier 36 for the world premiere of the BlackBerry 10. No other details were released by RIM except for the tagline “Re-designed. Re-engineered. Re-invented”.

Last month the company revealed that the BlackBerry 10 will be launched on January 30. A full-touch screen device is expected to be launched by the company during the event. RIM is also expected to unveil another device that has a similar design as the current BlackBerry Bold handset.

A number of delays have affected the launch on the BlackBerry 10, which was not made easier by a number of issues that the company has been facing for a number of months. The market share of the company has gone down even in the niche that it dominated, the enterprise niche.

Industry watchers have indicated that the BlackBerry 10 is the best chance of the company to be able to compete against the Android and iOS. RIM revealed last October that carrier tests were already being done, which show that the company was making some progress in the development of the operating system.

The company also launched the BlackBerry 10 Technical Review that gave enterprise, media, insurance, financial, and government clients to evaluate the operating system. Among the participants in this evaluation are a number of Fortune 500 companies.

The Notebooks feature of the BlackBerry 10 is expected to be demonstrated by the company during the event. The Notebooks feature is supposedly a folder-like object containing notebook entries.

A number of applications are also expected to be offered by the upcoming BlackBerry 10 OS of RIM.

Saturday, December 15, 2012

Report Hints At Samsung Galaxy Note 3

Samsung Galaxy Note 2
Samsung Galaxy Note 2
(Image Credit: http://www.techhive.com)

Although rumors have hit the net on the possible launch of the Samsung Galaxy S4 by January, a recent Korean Times report hints at the possibility that the South Korean company is already working on the Samsung Galaxy Note 3.

The supposed successor to the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 will reportedly feature an even bigger screen display at 6.3 inches. The report cited component suppliers as the source of the report on the supposed Samsung Galaxy Note 3, which indicated that Samsung will be using an OLED display instead of a LCD display.

The report did not reveal the possible release date of the supposed Samsung Galaxy Note 3 although speculations have emerged that it may be available in the market in the later part of 2013. The display screen of the supposed Samsung Galaxy Note 3 is a step-up from the 5.5-inch display screen of the second version of the device, which in itself is also slightly bigger compared to the 5.3-inch size of the display of the original Galaxy Note.

Even as a number of industry watchers have given not-so-positive comments on the bigger screen size of the display of the device, it has proved to be popular in the market. Sales of the Samsung Galaxy Note reached five million units within two months after it became available in the market.

If Samsung will maintain 16:9 aspect ratio for its upcoming device, the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 may have a display that is 0.4 inches taller and 0.7 inches wider compared to the second generation Galaxy Note. It will also give indications that the pixel density of the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 will be 350ppi, which is higher compared to the iPhone 5.

However with the increase in size, it will also mean that it will not be easy to keep the supposed Samsung Galaxy Note 3 in your pocket when you are not using it.

However, the bigger display for the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 may be offset with a slimmer frame or smaller bezel.

Whichever the case may be, it will remain to be seen if the supposed Samsung Galaxy Note 3 will duplicate the success of its predecessors in the market . . . that is if the report is proven to be accurate.

Friday, December 14, 2012

Supplies May Have Affected Sales Of The iPad Mini

iPad Mini
iPad Mini
(Image Credit: http://crave.cnet.co.uk/)

The demand for the iPad Mini is rather high but if the supply is not enough to meet the demand, sales will definitely suffer.

This was the insight of Shaw Wu, an analyst from Sterne Agee, in a recent cnet.com report. Sales of the iPad were not as expected due to shortages in the supply of the iPad Mini, which has also affected the sales of the full-size model of the device.

The insight of the analyst is just one among many who were concerned of the sales of the popular products of Apple. However, Sterne Agee has a more positive outlook in the sales of the iPhone although the company was apprehensive of the sales of the iPad, particularly with that of the iPad Mini.

Even as the supply of the iPhone has caught up with its demand, sales of the iPad remained rather bleak. According to Wu, this can be attributed to shortages in the components for the Apple iPad Mini, which resulted to consumers purchasing the full-sized iPad instead of the iPad Mini.

This has resulted to an adjustment to the sales projection for the iPad from 25 million units to only 23.5 million units. A good number of analysts have projected iPad sales of not more than 24 million units. On the other hand, Wu projects sales for the iPhone to reach around 47.5 million units, which is much higher than the 46 million unit sales of a number of analysts.

An increase in supply will increase sales and more profits for Apple. With the upcoming release of the iPhone 5 in a number of countries before the end of the year, sales of the smartphone offering of Apple will likely increase.

However sales of the iPad Mini has yet to catch up with the demand and the supply is the likely culprit for its relatively limited sales. Factor in the effect of the iPad Mini on the sales of the full-sized iPad, sales are below expectations.

The supply problems of the iPad Mini have also affected the confidence of investors in the profit margins of the company. However Apple revealed that the current situation is only temporary due to the release of a number of devices into the market.

Apple will have to improve its supply of the iPad Mini in order to meet its demand and ultimately increase its profit margin and leave its investors with a smile on their face.

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Video Results To Speculations On Samsung Galaxy S4 Launch

Samsung
Samsung

Is the recent teaser post by Samsung pointing to the oft-reported Samsung Galaxy S4?

A post on the website of Samsung has hinted of a new product that the South Korean company is set to unveil during the Consumer Electronics Show 2013. Consumers are told to “get ready” for the revelation and it has resulted to speculations that the company may finally unveil the successor to the Samsung Galaxy S3.

The post and video told consumers to be ready for something to happen from January 8 to 11, which is also the dates of next year’s upcoming CES event.

Reports on the possible launch of the Samsung Galaxy S4 have emerged in recent weeks even as its current Android-powered flagship smartphone remains popular among consumers.

Nothing much can be taken from the video itself although it contains a phrase indicating that “the world is waiting”, which increased speculations that the company may finally unveil the Samsung Galaxy S4. The Samsung Galaxy S3 entered the market last May and has become one of the most popular smartphone offerings of the South Korean manufacturer.

It can be recalled that a Twitter post from Samsung quashed reports on the possibility that the Samsung Galaxy S4 will be released by the company next year. The Samsung Galaxy S4 will reportedly come with a 13MP camera and a quad-core processor.

Recent reports have even hinted at the possibility that the Samsung Galaxy S4 will feature the bendable display screen that will make it tough to break.


Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Demand For Google Nexus 4 Underestimated

Google Nexus 4
Google Nexus 4
(Image Credit: http://www.cnet.com)

It seems the demand for the Google Nexus 4 is more than what LG had expected as the supply of the 8GB has reportedly run out again.

The latest Google smartphone was initially released last November and was quickly sold out in a number of retail outlets. Potential buyers had to wait for the inventory to be replenished and had their chance recently when it became available again in the market. However, the demand for the Google Nexus 4 was way bigger than what the company initially expected.

According to the mobile head of LG in the UK, Andy Coughlin, the demand for the Google Nexus4 was so high that retailers have a difficult time in meeting it. This may hint of the possibility that the company may have underestimated the popularity of the device in the market.

Coughlin added that LG is closely collaborating with Google in order to make sure that potential buyers will be able to purchase the Google Nexus 4. The Google Nexus 4 features a 4.7-inch IPS screen display, 1.5GHz quad-core Snapdragon S4 processor from Qualcomm, 2GB RAM, and an eight-megapixel camera at the back.

The Google Nexus 4 also features the latest Android OS, the Android 4.2 OS and is touted to be a possible rival to the iPhone 5 of Apple and the Samsung Galaxy S3.

Price Of Nook Simple Touch Reduced

Nook Simple Touch
Nook Simple Touch
 (Image Credit: http://www.pcmag.com)

Looking for a great gift for an avid reader for Christmas? How about the Nook Simple Touch? Barnes & Noble recently reduced the price of its e-ink reader by $20 and is currently being sold at $79.

The Nook Simple Touch may not be a fill-blown tablet but a number of consumers prefer its backlit display over e-readers offered by other manufacturers. The Barnes & Noble e-reader offers better readability when it is used outdoors compared to other similar devices.

In comparison to the Nook Simple Touch, the cheapest Amazon Kindle Fire is price at around $160. The e-reader is definitely a good gift choice to avid readers.

The Nook Simple Touch received positive reviews among industry watchers and it is considered an advanced model compared to previous models of the device.

If you want to save more, you can try to purchase refurbished models of the Nook Simple Touch, which is priced at around $50 over at Walmart, although it appears to have been sold out. The price of the e-reader was reduced to $60 during the Black Friday sale by Barnes & Noble.

The Nook Simple Touch is available through the retail outlets of Barnes & Noble as well as retailers like Best Buy, Target, and Walmart.

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Samsung Galaxy Muse Unveiled

Samsung Galaxy Muse
Samsung Galaxy Muse
(Image Credit: http://www.pcmag.com)

Do you fancy working out or jogging while listening to music but are not keen on lugging your Android-powered smartphone around? Well, Samsung recently unveiled a small and trendy MP3 player that may give the iPod Shuffle a run for its money. The South Korean company recently added the Samsung Galaxy Muse into its Galaxy line of devices.

The Samsung Galaxy Muse has a similar price tag as the iPod Shuffle but has a bigger storage capacity. It allows you to go through your workout sessions or jog on usual route while listening to your favorite music without having to bring your Android smartphone around.

The MP3 player from Samsung offers a total storage of 4G, which is twice the storage capacity of the iPod Shuffle. Both devices have a price tag of around $50. The Samsung Galaxy Muse features the Music Sync Android, which allows you to sync music from your Samsung Galaxy device without using a PC.

The Samsung Galaxy Muse can be linked with the Samsung Galaxy Note, Galaxy Note 2, Galaxy S2, and the Samsung Galaxy S3. It can be connected to these Galaxy devices through a connector cable, which comes with the Samsung Galaxy Muse package.  It offers the same playback controls as a standard media device including skip, shuffle, and go back.

The integrated clip on the Samsung Galaxy Muse will allow users to attach the device into their clothing.

The Samsung Galaxy Muse is currently available through Samsung.com and comes in two color options, marble white and pebble blue.

On-Time Delivery For Some Buyers Of The iPhone 5

iPhone 5
iPhone 5
(Image Credit: http://www.apple.com)

The iPhone 5 of Apple has apparently caught up with the demand in a number of countries as it is listed as’ in stock’ on the online store of the company.

Nearly three months after the latest model of the iPhone was released into the market, consumers will not have to wait for the delivery of the iPhone 5 in a number of countries. The ‘in stock’ notice on the online store of the company for the iPhone 5 is a pleasant surprise for consumers who have been waiting to purchase the smartphone.

This is better compared to earlier reports that the waiting time for the iPhone 5 was four business days.

This is a major improvement from the initial waiting period of around four weeks when the device was released into the market last September 21. However, this long waiting period has gradually improved until it recently became available immediately for online shoppers.

On the other hand, the unlocked model of the iPhone 5 has a waiting period of around three business days. The unlocked model of the smartphone was made available recently by the company.

This improvement followed the launch of the iPhone in South Korea. The company also revealed that it aims to release the device to fifty more countries before the end of the year. Among the countries that will see the release of the latest model of the iPhone are Russia and Brazil.

Premium Suite Coming To Samsung Galaxy S3

Samsung Galaxy S3
Samsung Galaxy S3
(Image Credit: telegraph.co.uk)

The current Android-powered flagship smartphone of Samsung is set to receive a Premium Suite upgrade. A video was unveiled recently revealing the features that are set to be released for the Samsung Galaxy S3.

The Samsung Galaxy S3 is considered as the one of the most popular Android-powered smartphones that is currently available in the market. The third quarter saw shipments reaching 18 million units, which is much higher compared to the 5.4 million shipped units in the second quarter.

The features on the smartphone prior to the Premium Suite upgrade have attracted a number of users to purchase the Samsung Galaxy S3. It appears that the coming upgrade may further increase its appeal in the market.

Among the features on the upgrade is the Page Buddy feature that allows the device to enhance user experience based on the actions of the users of the smartphone. For instance, if earphones are plugged into the Samsung Galaxy S3, the Page Buddy feature will start loading the music player. The Premium Suite upgrade also brings the multi-window feature into the Samsung Galaxy S3.

The Premium Suite upgrade will also bring a contextual menu feature into the Samsung Galaxy S3. The feature will display the most frequently used applications of the users instead of showing the complete list of applications. Users will also be able to share web pages and modify the size of text through the Reader Mode feature.

Facebook fanatics will also find the Facebook Lock Ticker appealing since it will display the social news feed of the user on the lock screen of the Samsung Galaxy S3.

Although the South Korean company unveiled the Premium Suite upgrade for the Samsung Galaxy S3 through the video, the specific release date has yet to be revealed. The release date of the update will depend on the mobile service provider and the country where the users are currently located.

Monday, December 10, 2012

Can The HTC M7 Be The Next Android Flagship Phone Of HTC?

HTC
HTC

Recent reports have hinted at the possibility that HTC may be aiming to get back on track following a slump that has affected sales of its devices recently. The company will reportedly release its next Android-powered flagship smartphone soon, the HTC M7.

Although the HTC Droid DNA only made its appearance in the market recently, the rumored HTC M7 may give the company the boost it needs to get back its share of the market. In addition to the rumored HTC M7, a questionnaire recently hinted at the upcoming release of the latest Windows Phone 8-powered smartphone of the company, the HTC Titan III.

Unnamed sources of HTC Source have indicated that the rumored HTC M7 will reportedly feature a quad-core S4 Pro processor from Qualcomm, five-inch HD screen display with a resolution of 1920 by 1080, and a 13MP camera. Since it will reportedly be the next Android-powered flagship of the company, it is expected to run the latest Android OS version.

Reports have hinted at the possibility that the HTC M7 will be released in the first quarter of 2013 with an initial supply of around five million units.

Although HTC normally unveils its flagship smartphones during the Mobile World Congress, it may launch the HTC M7 earlier if it aims to make it available in the first quarter of next year. This means it may be unveiled during the Consumer Electronics Show, which is schedule to be held from January 8 to January 11.

However the company may not be ready to unveil the HTC M7 since it does not appear to have an exhibitor booth at the CES.

If HTC aims for a running start in the coming year, it may be advisable for the company to rethink its marketing strategy for the HTC M7 in order to go up against one of the biggest Android device manufacturer from South Korea.

Samsung Galaxy S4 May Feature Foldable Display

Samsung
Samsung 

The flexible displays of Samsung have been paraded by the South Korean company in a number of tech events in the past. The technology has not yet been used in any Samsung product, that is, until the Samsung Galaxy S4 is released into the market.

Recent reports have hinted at the possibility that the next Android-powered flagship smartphone of Samsung will feature these bendable displays. In addition to the display, which will make the Samsung Galaxy S4 virtually unbreakable, the reported smartphone will also feature a 13MP camera and a quad-core processer.

The company may build up the interest in the bendable display to give consumers another motivation to want to buy the supposed Samsung Galaxy S4.

According to Mark Newman, an analyst from Sanford Bernstein, the Samsung Galaxy S4 or the Samsung Galaxy S5 may feature the foldable display once they enter the market although it remains to be seen when they will be released. Using a bendable display on the Samsung Galaxy S4 brings to mind the time of the flip phones although the upcoming smartphones using the bendable displays may be more of roll-outs rather than folding phones.

Reports have hinted that the Samsung Galaxy S4 may be released into the market near the middle of 2013. And if the device will feature the foldable display, it can be expected that a number of video sharing sites will see an increase in the number of gadget torture test videos being posted.

Sunday, December 9, 2012

Improvement In iPad Mini Waiting Time Noted

iPad Mini
iPad Mini
(Image Credit: http://digitaltrends.com)

The improvement in the iPad Mini waiting time hints at the possibility that the supply of the smaller versions of the iPad is finally catching up with the demand.

Recent reports have indicated that the iPad Mini waiting time has improved from two weeks to just one week, just in time for the holidays.

This is good news for consumers who may want to give the device as a gift to their loved ones for the holidays. This improvement in the iPad Mini waiting time is applicable to all models of the device including the 16GB Wi-Fi only model.

The recent improvement in the iPad Mini waiting time follows reports that hinted at the possible issues affecting AU Optronics, which may affect the supply of the panels for the device. Aside from AU Optronics, the panels of the device are also manufactured by LG Display.

A recent report indicated that the panel supply from AU Optronics has declined, which was later refuted by the company. With the improvement in the iPad Mini waiting time, sales of the iPad 4 may go down further after analysts had indicated that the release of the smaller iPad in the market has affected the sales of its big brother.

Despite some issues had affected the production of the iPad, this recent improvement in the iPad Mini waiting time will result to a significant increase in sales.

The supply of the iPad 4 and the iPhone 5 is better compared to the iPad Mini, but this may change soon as the iPad Mini waiting time has started to improve.

Budget-Friendly Nokia Lumia 620 Launched

Nokia Lumia 620
Nokia Lumia 620
(Image Credit: http://www.pcworld.com)

Nokia appears determined to make a comeback in the mobile device market as another Windows Phone 8 device was announced by the company recently. The company revealed that it will be offering the Nokia Lumia 620 into the market.

The Nokia Lumia 620 will be the most reasonably-priced Windows Phone 8 device of the company with a price tag of around $250 without any contract. Due to this affordable price tag, the Nokia Lumia 620 has features that are consistent with budget mobile devices.

The Nokia Lumia 620 features a 1GHz dual-core Snapdragon processor from Qualcomm, 3.8-inch screen with a resolution of 800 x 480, 512MB RAM, and an internal storage of 8GB. However the internal storage can be expanded through a microSD memory card up to around 64GB. It also comes with free 7GB storage on the Microsoft SkyDrive service.

In addition to these features, Nokia revealed that the lens of the five-megapixel camera of the Nokia Lumia 620 is similar to the one found on the Nokia Lumia 820 and the Nokia Lumia 920. The phone also features a VGA camera in front and NFC support.

The color options of the Nokia Lumia 620 include white, black, cyan, yellow, magenta, orange, and lime green.

The $250 unlocked Nokia Lumia 620 will become available in Asia by the start of next year. In addition to the Asian market, the phone will also be released into the European and Middle Eastern markets.

The Nokia Lumia 620 is considered as the most reasonably-priced Windows Phone 8 device in the market with its $250 price tag. However, potential buyers will only have to add $50 to be able to purchase the Google Nexus 4, which offers better features compared to this Windows Phone 8 device.

Saturday, December 8, 2012

Limitations On iPhone 5 Purchases Removed

iPhone 5
iPhone 5
(Image Credit: http://www.apple.com)

After the supply of the iPhone 5 stabilized and the availability of unlocked models of the device, it appears that Apple is already allowing customers to purchase more than two units of the device at a time.

The limitation was nowhere to be found on the order form for the iPhone 5 at the Web store of Apple. This indicates that the supply of the device has finally caught up with the demand. In addition to the two-unit-limit for the iPhone 5, the company has apparently removed the ten-unit-lifetime limit was also removed by the company.

The unlocked model of the iPhone 5 became available recently, which means users are free to choose which mobile service provider they want to sign up with. Since any nano-SIM card of any supported mobile service provider, users will be able to bring the iPhone 5 when they travel abroad. They would only have to find a mobile service provider that supports the device in their country of destination.

The lifting of the restrictions may result to purchases by resellers who aim to offer the iPhone 5 in countries where it is not currently available. But these resellers will have to work fast since Apple is bent on offering the latest model of the iPhone in over fifty more countries before the end of the year.

Similar to its previous product launches, the company had to deal with problems in the supply of the iPhone 5 following its launch last September. However these issues have apparently been dealt with as the waiting time for the device has gone down to around four days as compared to the initial month-long wait when the smartphone was initially offered in the market.

Images Of Possible iPhone 5S Leaked

iPhone 5S
iPhone 5S
(Image Credit: http://www.pcmag.com)

Even before the supply of the iPhone 5 has fully stabilized, it appears that Apple may already be working on the next model of its smartphone offering, the iPhone 5S.

Nowhereelse.fr, a France-based website, reportedly found images of what may be the iPhone 5S on a iPhone5parts.net forum. The leaked images show a device that has a similar exterior to the Apple iPhone 5 although it has a number of slight modifications.

However some industry watchers are suggesting that the supposed image of the iPhone 5S may have been a prototype of the iPhone 5 since the current model of the iPhone has only been in the market for a few months.

The supposed iPhone 5S also has an ‘x’ mark at the location where information about the device is supposed to be positioned. The image also shows that the screws have a different location compared to the iPhone 5, which will be released into fifty more countries before the end of the year.

For the moment, Apple has not issued any statements in connection to the supposed image of the iPhone 5S. A China Times report last month hinted at the possibility that trial production for the next model of the iPhone has already started. The supposed iPhone 5S will reportedly be available in the market within the first quarter of the coming year. However, for the past two years the latest models of the iPhone were released by Apple in the fall.

Reports of the supposed iPhone 5S has started to emerge with some indicated that it will offer minor enhancements to the current model of the device in the same way the iPhone 4S offered internal enhancements rather than modifications on its design.

Competition has started to become tighter in the smartphone market as a good number of Android smartphones are released into the market offering innovative designs. But if no official statements are released by Apple, the accuracy of the reports about the supposed iPhone 5S will remain uncertain.

Friday, December 7, 2012

Samsung Galaxy S3 Of AT&T Receives Android 4.1 Update

Samsung Galaxy S3
Samsung Galaxy S3
(Image Credit: telegraph.co.uk)

The Jelly Bean Android 4.1 OS was finally released to the Samsung Galaxy S3 of AT&T. The availability of the latest version of the Android OS was confirmed by the mobile service provider recently.

The JellyBean Android update for the Samsung Galaxy S3 of AT&T will be released through the Samsung Kies software and will not be available as an over-the-air download. Users who do not have the Samsung Kies software can download the update through the website of the South Korean manufacturer.

After installing the Jelly Bean Android update into their Samsung Galaxy S3 units, users are asked to connect the smartphone into a PC and visit the support site of the smartphone manufacturer. They will have to go through the step-by-step procedure on the page.

Samsung advised Samsung Galaxy S3 users to fully charge their units since the upgrade will not be completed if the charge level falls below fifty percent.

According to Ryan Lee, the product manager of AT&T, the Samsung Galaxy S3 will be enhanced with the Android 4.1 update, which will also offer a number of new features into the smartphone. Among the enhancements that the Android 4.1 update will bring to the Samsung Galaxy S3 include an improvement in Image quality under low light conditions while the notifications feature will be improved. The device will also receive some new features including Google Now.

Users will also have the capability of disabling notifications, incoming calls, and alarms at a specific time period.

The Android 4.1 update for the Samsung Galaxy S3 will also simplify user experience through the Easy Mode while texting and typing will be made simple through the Swype keyboard.

In addition to the AT&T version of the Samsung Galaxy S3, the update is also available to the Verizon, T-Mobile, and Sprint versions of the smartphone.

Google Nexus 4 Available On Google Play Europe

Google Nexus 4
Google Nexus 4
(Image Credit: http://www.cnet.com)

At the heels of the resumption of Google Nexus 4 sales in the US, this popular smartphone offering of Google has become available at the Google Play stores in Europe.

The 8GB Google Nexus 4 will be available for delivery in the UK within five weeks time, while the 16GB model can be delivered within two weeks. Images and information about the notices released by Google were posted by Reddit users. The notice informed consumers that the inventory of the Google Nexus 4 at the Google Play store in Europe has been replenished

The Google Nexus 4, which is manufactured by LG, sold out within a few minutes after it became available in the market. Due to this, potential buyers had to wait for some time before stocks of the device were replenished by the manufacturer. The smartphone uses an unadulterated version of the Jelly Bean Android OS. Despite the absence of 4G LTE capabilities, the Google Nexus 4 remained popular in the market.

This popularity may have caught up with the supply once again as reports have indicated that stocks of the Google Nexus 4 in the US market is running low. Stocks of the 8GB model of the device have apparently been sold out a few days after Google announced its replenished inventory of the device. On the other hand the 16GB model will reportedly be delivered to users within six-weeks-time.

The unlocked smartphone offering of Google was initially available in the market last November 13 with the 8GB model priced at around $300. The 16GB model of the Google Nexus 4 costs around $350.

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Survey Hints At HTC Titan III

HTC Titan III Questionnaire
HTC Titan III Questionnaire
(Image Credit: http://www.wpcentral.com)

Following the announcement that the HTC 8S will not be offered in the US market, it appears that HTC is set to offer another Windows Phone 8 smartphone in the US. A recent survey on Xbox Live Rewards has inadvertently leaked an upcoming Windows Phone 8 device from HTC, the HTC Titan III.

The supposed HTC Titan III smartphone, which will reportedly be offered through AT&T soon, was found in the list of a monthly questionnaire.

The questionnaire reportedly asked for the excitement level of survey participants if they will receive some handsets. The choices in this particular question included the Nokia Lumia 920, Droid Razr Maxx HD, Galaxy S3, iPhone 5 and the HTC Titan III.

The leaked question that included the HTC Titan III resulted to speculations that the upcoming smartphone may be the HTC Zenith. Earlier reports revealed that the HTC Zenith, or what is already called the HTC Titan III by industry watchers, will feature a quad-core processor, 4.7-inch Super LCD display, eight-megapixel camera, NFC and HSPA+ support.

The HTC Zenith was initially touted to become a part of a line of HTC devices together with the HTC Rio. However, the HTC Rio later became the HTC 8S Windows Phone device. Another smartphone that was supposed to be included in the line of smartphones was the HTC Accord, which became the HTC 8X.

The HTC 8S and HTC 8X were released on time, however the HTC Zenith or the HTC Titan III may not see the light of day until after this year.

The HTC Titan III is expected to be officially unveiled during the Consumer Electronics Show, which is around one year after the HTC Titan II was launched by the company.

Industry watchers also expect the HTC Titan III to be released through AT&T, although it remains uncertain if the mobile service provider that offered the HTC Titan II will also offer its upcoming successor.

Possible Reasonably-Priced Asus Tablet Spotted At Benchmark Site

Asus
Asus

With the flood of tablet devices in the market, manufacturers will have to think of ways in making their products appealing to consumers. One of the strategies that manufacturers can use is offering the devices at a reasonable price and it appears that Asus may be taking this route following reports that a possible reasonably-priced Asus tablet may enter the market soon.

Specs of a possible reasonably-priced Asus tablet emerged from GLBenchmark, a benchmark website.

Although the information about the upcoming reasonably-priced Asus tablet is limited, it appears that the upcoming device will feature a 1GHz processor, Mali 400 graphics chip, and will run the latest Android OS, the Jelly Bean Android 4.1 OS.

The upcoming reasonably-priced Asus tablet will also feature a display with a 1024 by 552 screen resolution, basing on the benchmark.

The reasonably-priced Asus tablet, which was given the codename Asus ME172V, does not appear to be similar to the Google Nexus 7, which was also manufactured by the same company. The information from the benchmark site also does not show the number of processors that the reasonably-priced Asus tablet will have.

The recent revelation brings to mind an earlier speculation that Google and Asus are preparing to launch another Nexus tablet that will be priced at around $99. However, the report was later clarified by Digitimes following the revelations that Quanta Computer may be the partner of Google in producing the cheaper model of the Nexus tablet.

For the moment no statements were released by the manufacturer on the reports about the supposed reasonably-priced Asus tablet.