Meizu MX2 to Land Soon in China, Hong Kong and Russia

This week, Meizu made official its MX2 Android-based smartphone, which is expected to arrive on shelves in the near future in a series of Asian and Russian markets, it seems.

Although initially expected to land only in China, the phone is now said to be en-route to Russia and Hong Kong as well by mid-December. It has already received necessary approvals, it seems. Featuring internal capacities of 16GB, 32GB and 64GB, the handset is expected to feature a market price of RMB $2499 ($400 / 310 Euro), RMB $2999 ($480 / 370 Euro) and RMB $3999 ($640 / 500 Euro), respectively.

The handset is compatible with China Unicom’s WCDMA network, but it is also expected to arrive on shelves with support for China Telecom’s services. The handset was launched with a 4.4-inch screen, a quad-core processor inside, an 8-megapixel photo snapper, and Google’s Android 4.1 Jelly Bean platform loaded on top.

Meizu MX2
Image credits to Weibo / Meizu

Read more »

Oppo Find 5 Video Promo

Chinese mobile phone maker Oppo is set to bring to shelves in its homeland market a new device running under Google’s Android operating system, called Oppo Find 5.

The main selling point of the new device, which also gave it its name, is the 5-inch touchscreen display that can deliver a full HD resolution. This week, the company made available a video promo for the smartphone stressing on the fact that it can boast an impressive screen resolution at a 441ppi pixel density.

The video presents a history of the mobile phone, offering a glimpse at how the smartphone technology has evolved over the years. This is not the first smartphone in the world to boast such a panel on the front, yet it is the first of them to come from Oppo, which makes it highly valuable for the vendor.

http://www.gizchina.com

The Oppo Fine 5 Android phone is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated Chinese phones of the year and these latest details confirm some of the rumored spec!
According to the video the Oppo Find 5 will feature a 5 inch HD display along with a 16 mega-pixel rear camera!
Video credits to GizChina

Read more »

RIM BlackBerry OS 10.0.9 Bundle 1103 Pushed to Developers

Research In Motion has just announced the availability of a new software update for the BlackBerry 10 Dev Alpha Devices currently in the hands of developers.

Released as BlackBerry OS version 10.0.9 Bundle 1103, the new platform release brings along a variety of changes, including a rebranded app storefront. Furthermore, the previously announced changes to the app icons in the upcoming BlackBerry 10 operating system have been included in the new platform update. The changelog for the release includes:

• BlackBerry App World storefront has been re-branded as BlackBerry World
• BlackBerry World now supports payments for apps and games, and in-app payments
• BlackBerry Hub placeholder is now available
• When you turn on Development mode on the device, a notification is sent to the Hub and an indicator light flashes
• Various updates have been made to the look and feel of UI components and the standard size for application icons.

Developers interested in learning more on the changes that were made to app icons should head over to this page on RIM’s website to read all about them in the BlackBerry 10 UI guidelines. RIM also advises them to create a second BlackBerry ID for the Dev Alpha device, so as to make sure they do not lose BBM contacts from existing BlackBerry handsets. Should developers use the same ID, the BBM contacts will be transferred to the Dev Alpha device and erased from the first handset, without the possibility to automatically import them back.

At the same time, the company notes that there are a series of issues that developers who own a BlackBerry 10 Development Alpha B device might encounter. You can read all about them on this page. With roughly two months left until the BlackBerry 10 platform is officially launched, RIM appears to be making great progress towards applying the finishing touches to it. The company also announced the availability of a new developer handset, called BlackBerry 10 Dev Alpha C.

Blackberry logo
Image credits to RIM

Read more »

Contacts App in BlackBerry 10 [Video]

BlackBerry 10, the next major mobile operating system release from Canadian mobile phone maker Research In Motion, is set to arrive on devices with a focus on making communication much easier than before, it seems.

Thus, the company has worked on packing the new mobile platform with a brand new Contacts application, which should provide users with more features than before. According to BBin, which managed to score the video embedded above, users will be able to easily connect with their friends via over Twitter, Facebook, Foursquare and BBM, all straight from the Contacts app.

Finding info on a contact will work like a charm in the upcoming platform, it seems, the same as discovering new friends would, courtesy of a “Recommendations” tab available in the app. Have a look at the video above to learn more on this.

more info: www.bbin.in
Video credits to BlackBerryIndiaBlog

Read more »

BlackBerry Hub in BlackBerry 10 OS [Video]

Research In Motion’s upcoming BlackBerry 10 operating system will have to offer a nice range of new features to its users, including a so-called BlackBerry Hub, which can be seen detailed in the video embedded above.

The Hub represents a one-stop messaging center for users, where all BBM, email, SMS, Facebook, Twitter and more communications are viewable. From there, users will be able to easily reply to any conversation, without having to open each of the specific apps separately when the new BlackBerry 10 platform arrives in their hands in the beginning of the next year.

The guys over at BBin have managed to score the demo at a RIM presentation today, offering a visual rendition of the feature, so that users could understand more on what it has to offer to them.

more info: www.bbin.in
Video credits to BlackBerryIndiaBlog

Read more »

RIM Release Android Runtime for BlackBerry 10 Beta 4

Today, Canadian mobile phone maker Research In Motion made available for download a new beta version of its Android Runtime for BlackBerry 10.

The new flavor of the development tools brings along support for the building of apps with push capabilities, which should enable software developers with the possibility to expand the capabilities of their apps. At the same time, the new release features support for the ambient light and proximity sensors in the upcoming BlackBerry 10 devices. Those developers with applications that take advantage of such sensors can now port them from Android to BlackBerry 10 without having to change the code, RIM notes. To test whether their apps work well on the platform, developers simply have to download and install the latest BlackBerry 10 Dev Alpha update or the BlackBerry 10 Dev Alpha Simulator.

As for the aforementioned Push support, RIM notes that apps with Cloud to Device Messaging (C2DM) will have to be repackaged to take advantage of the technology on BlackBerry 10. RIM also explains how devs can build push-enabled Android apps:

• Register with the BlackBerry Push Service.
• Create a configuration file for your Android app.
• Specify Push as a required permission in BAR file’s manifest file.
• On the push-initiator server side, format the data to be sent to BlackBerry application servers.

Those who would like to learn more on the matter should head over to the Android Runtime API Support Page for extended Push API Support. To get started, devs will need the BlackBerry Eclipse Plug-in for Android Development Tools and Command-line tools, which will help them start using new Android Runtime features for the BlackBerry 10 Beta. Specific details on porting Android apps to the BlackBerry PlayBook or BlackBerry 10 are available on this page on RIM’s developer website.

Blackberry logo
Image credits to RIM

Read more »

BlackBerry 10 to Get BBM Video

BlackBerry 10, the next platform release from Canadian mobile phone maker Research In Motion, is expected to arrive on shelves with a nice range of new features when compared to what the current platform releases have to offer, including some related to BBM.

A certain BBM Voice feature has already been confirmed to arrive on the platform, and it seems that a BBM Video option will also land on the new operating system. According to CrackBerry, a bbm_video folder has already been sported in the latest BlackBerry 10 Dev Alpha update. The folder includes a video_chat.m4a file, which is said to be the ringtone for the BBM Video, since it is the same as the ringtone for PlayBook video chat.

For the time being, however, RIM hasn’t provided specific info on what the feature is all about, though it might do so soon. Stay tuned for more on this.

BBM Video to arrive in BlackBerry 10
Image credits to Crackberry

Read more »

BlackBerry Link for BlackBerry 10 Spotted, Updated SDK Available

While gearing up for the launch of its new BlackBerry 10 operating system, Canadian mobile phone maker Research In Motion is also updating the various tools and applications that both end users and developers need.

Among them, we can count the BlackBerry Link desktop app, which should replace the popular Desktop Manager when the new platform release will arrive. The guys over at N4BB managed to grab some screenshots with BlackBerry Link, the app set to provide users with the possibility to easily sync their pictures, video, music, and other files between a BlackBerry device and a desktop computer. Users will benefit from a new UI in this app, with features such as documents viewing and easier syncing of content. In addition to the desktop app, RIM will also offer new developer tools for the building of apps for the upcoming platform, and has just made available for download a new pre-release version of its development kit.

The new BlackBerry 10 SDK release brings along an update to the Visual Studio Plug-In beta, as well as forward compatibility for BlackBerry WebWorks HTML5 apps, sensor and orientation APIs for BlackBerry WebWorks, and other enhancements as well. This is the latest beta version of the SDK that RIM makes available for download. On December 11, 2012, the company will release the final flavor of the toolkit. “Developers from around the world are joining us on the last leg of the journey to the launch of BlackBerry 10 and we are thrilled at the enthusiasm we see from them. We have worked hard, and continue to work hard to meet the needs of developers,” said Alec Saunders, vice president, Developer Relations and Ecosystems.

“Developers asked for hardware to test their apps, and we delivered. They asked for the roadmap about the tools, and we posted it. They asked for RIM to show our confidence in developer success, and we’re doing it. We’ve continued to refine and add on to our developer programs to ensure we are giving developers the best opportunities for success with BlackBerry 10.”

Download BlackBerry 10 Native SDK
Download BlackBerry Ripple Emulator
Download BlackBerry 10 WebWorks SDK
Download BlackBerry 10 Simulator
Download BlackBerry 10 SDK for Adobe Air
Download BlackBerry Tablet SDK

Blackberry link
Images credits to N4BB

Read more »

BlackBerry 10 L-Series Next to Galaxy Note, Lumia 820 and iPhone 5

Canadian mobile phone maker Research In Motion still has to officially launch its BlackBerry 10 platform and devices running under it, yet new photos with the first such handsets offer us an idea of what it might look like.

A BlackBerry 10 L-Series smartphone, which is said to be the first smartphone that RIM will unveil with the new platform loaded on it, has been recently photographed next to popular devices already available on shelves. The smartphone can be seen in the photo above, available courtesy of BBin, next to a Samsung Galaxy Note, a Nokia Lumia 820 smartphone, and an Apple iPhone 5.

We have already seen it next to a Lumia 820 device, but now we can see how it stacks up against other top players on the smartphone market. The phone should become official on January 30, 2013.

BB10 next to Galaxy Note, Lumia 820 and iPhone 5
Image credits to bbin.in

Read more »

Nokia City Lens 1.5 Beta Arrives to WP7 Lumia Devices

A new flavor of the Nokia City Lens application is now available for download for the owners of Windows Phone 7-powered Lumia handsets.

The new release takes advantage of the newly introduced LiveSight technology to deliver a more precise and intuitive augmented reality experience to users. Nokia City Lens, the application that Nokia has developed exclusively for its users, is the first in the world to take advantage of the capability. The new Nokia City Lens 1.5 Beta app is the first step that Nokia takes towards delivering a mobile application that fully takes advantage of the power of this technology. Following the testing period, Nokia plans on bringing the app in its final flavor to even more devices running under Microsoft’s Windows Phone platform, including the newly released Lumia 920 and Lumia 820 smartphones. Nokia City Lens 1.5 beta was meant to make the app easier to use, while also bringing along new viewing options and other enhancements.

The list of changes in the new app release includes:

• See just what’s in front of you. Normally, City Lens shows you all the places nearby—even around the corner or a block away. In crowded areas, that can be a lot to take in. Our new Sightline features lets you switch your view to only what’s in your direct line of sight, making it easier to spot great places that are right in front of you.
• Quick info– Get information while you look. Now you can quickly view a place’s address without leaving your camera view. Just tap to view the information overlaid on your display while you keep scanning. When you’re ready to learn more about the place, another tap pulls up its complete information.
• Pause your view. When scanning your surroundings in camera view, you can now freeze your view and study your options without having to keep your phone pointed at the target.
• Pin categories to start – Your most common searches with a tap. City Lens now lets you pin favorite categories to your homescreen. Now wherever you are, you can find something you love nearby with just a tap.

Nokia City Lens also provides users with the possibility to create Live Tiles, so that they can pin favorite searches straight to the smartphone’s homescreen. Nokia City Lens 1.5 Beta for Windows Phone 7 Lumia devices can be found on the Nokia Beta Labs.

Nokia City Lens
Image credits to Nokia

Read more »

Biostar Hi-Fi A85W Ready for AMD FM2 APUs

FM2 is the socket that AMD's Trinity accelerated processing units use (APUs), which means that the new mainboard from Biostar is the sort of platform that mid- to high-end PCs will use.

Advanced Micro Devices has come a long way in its quest to include all possible instructions and interfaces inside a single processor. Currently, its APUs pack not just the x86 cores and GPU (graphics processing unit), but also the memory controller. That leaves the A85X chipset with the minor role of making the connections between the features above and the rest of the things on the mainboard. This is one of the main reasons why motherboard makers don't always mind adding special features to their products. Indeed, if they didn't, the Trinity-compatible motherboard segment would be a very dull place.

On that note, Biostar’s Hi-Fi A85W has not only a noise-blocking multi-layer PCB (printed circuit board), but also a built-in amplifier and Non-Polarized Electrolysis Electric audio capacitors. The first of the three shields analog audio signals from digital sources. Then there is the Hi-Fi Power technology, which gives audio components an independent power design, one reliant on “Hi-Fi” resistors. The rest of the specifications are relatively ordinary: several video ports (DVI, HDMI, D-Sub), a debug LED, two USB 3.0 ports, 7.1-channel audio (Realtek ALC892 codec), Gigabit Ethernet, eight SATA 6.0 Gbps ports, two PCI Express x16 video slots, two PCI slots, two PCI Express x1 slots and four DDR3-2400 memory slots.

All in all, there seems to be enough to justify the Biostar Hi-Fi A85W price tag of 124.90 Euro ($124.90 – 161 Euro). It now falls to customers themselves to decide if the audio support is good enough to buy it over alternatives. Biostar's motherboard can be a good gaming platform, but it would not make sense to pay extra for audio quality if an add-in sound card is part of the plan as well.

Biostar Hi-Fi A85W
Image credits to Biostar

Read more »

Xen Cloud Platform 1.6 Now Available for Download

The Xen Cloud Platform, a turnkey open source virtualization solution that provides out-of-the box virtualization and cloud computing, is now at version 1.6.

Xen Cloud Platform 1.6 also features the Xen Hypervisor, an API toolstack for cloud, storage and networking solutions. Highlights of Xen Cloud Platform 1.6:

• XCP now has Storage XenMotion technology which allows users to freely move running virtual machines, without the need for shared storage;
• User can now relocate a VM's Virtual Disk Image (VDI) without shutting down the VM;
• Support for Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP) has been added;
• VLAN Scalability improvements have been implemented;
• Support for Emergency Network Reset and IPv6 Guest function has been added.

Check out the official announcement for a complete list of changes.

Download Xen Cloud Platform 1.6

Xen Cloud Platform 1.6 (ISO) [393 MB]
Xen Cloud Platform 1.6 (Source ISO) [2.40 GB]
Xen Cloud Platform 1.6 (Binary ISO) [1.70 GB]

Xen concept
Image credits to itcandor.net

Read more »

New Intel Core i3 and Core i5 CPUs Spotted

As odd as it sounds, most of the central processing units from Intel never get more than a passing mention in the press. The Core i3-2348M and i5-3230M CPUs are examples of this.

One might say these two don't count, since they have yet to be formally launched. The only reason we know of them is Fujitsu's product listings for Lifebook AH532, N532, NH532 and LH532 notebooks. That is beside the point though. While Intel does have a history of causing a press uproar over its best and brightest chips, the vast majority of them only get discovered by curious tech websites that comb through product spec lists deep within Intel's website. The Core i3-2348M and i5-3230M CPUs were probably never going to get special press releases or mentions in blogs. Then again, they aren't exactly that extraordinary, by Intel's standards anyway. Still, being part of the Core series is enough to seal their status as mid-range notebook chips. Core i5-3230M is bound to have two physical cores but, thanks to hyper threading technology, 4 logical cores.

The operational frequency is said to be of 2.6 GHz, 3.2 GHz when Turbo Boost kicks in (dynamic overclocking when needed). The specifications list is completed by a cache memory of 3 MB and a TDP (thermal design power) of 35W, normal for current-generation notebook processors. It isn't clear what integrated GPU this CPU possesses (HD 3000 or 4000 most likely). The Core i3-2348M CPU, also a dual-core unit, runs at 2.3 GHz, but because of the absence of Turbo Boost, there is no way for the clock to rise if programs need more computing power than usual. At least Hyper Threading still exists. That leaves 3 MB of L3 cache memory and the HD 3000 graphics to complete the list of specs so far known.

Intel Core i5 logo
Image credits to Intel

Read more »

Gigabyte GA-C847N and GA-C807N, Two New Mini-ITX Motherboards

Most of the big motherboard announcements were made over the past two months, so now we are left with smaller models, many of which are best suited for HTPCs and other small PCs.

Gigabyte has just revealed two such motherboards, called GA-C807N and GA-C847N. Both of them ship with a central processing unit (CPU) already installed. The former features the 1.5 GHz Celeron 807 single-core processor, while the latter gets a 1.1 GHz Celeron 847 dual-core CPU. Both platforms possess two DDR3-1333 memory slots, some SATA ports (four and three, respectively, one with SATA 6.0 Gbps support), Gigabit Ethernet a PCI slot, UEFI dual BIOS, 5.1 channel audio and Ultra Durable 4 Classic.

 Prices haven't been revealed, unfortunately. The company did, however, say that GA-C807N has a D-Sub video output while the GA-C847N has not only D-Sub and HDMI connectors, but an eSATA port as well (explains the lower number of SATA connectors).

Gigabyte GA-C807N
Images credits to Gigabyte

Gigabyte GA-C847N
Images credits to Gigabyte

Read more »

Raspberry Pi Minecraft Edition Runs at a Blazing 40 fps [Video]

Minecraft: Pi Edition was announced a few days ago, at the MineCon convention in Disneyland, Paris, and the first videos are starting to pop-up.

This is not your ordinary Minecraft, it's actually the Pocket Edition ported for Raspberry Pi. It was ported a while ago for Android and it already runs on a large number of devices. Minecraft: Pi Edition comes with an extra feature. Users can program the world. The process is quite simple: set up a network connection to the running game and then send text commands to control the world. This means that users can program the game in any language that supports network connections and they can access the game from any computer connected to the Pi. Daniel and Aron from Mojang, the studio responsible for Minecraft, haven't been working long on the Minecraft: Pi Edition, but they have reported that it runs smoothly on all versions of Raspberry Pi. No overclocking is necessary.

Moreover, Daniel reported seeing 40fps with a 256MB Pi, although the development work has been done on a set of 512MB boards. The current working features aren't much, but they are off to a good start. Users place any block, at any location, ask what type of block is at any location, and keep track of events such as the player's movements. The Raspberry Pi is promoted as an instrument for children who want to learn programming, but there is no greater incentive than a game. Minecraft will certainly provide a boost for Raspberry Pi and we can't hardly wait to see what the community will be able to achieve.

Raspberry Pi relies on an ARM processor with a clock speed of 700 MHz, 512 MB of RAM, an SD card slot and a 5V Micro USB connector that supplies the power. It also features RCA and HDMI ports.

Raspberry Pi running Minecraft
Image credits to raspberrypi.org

Read more »

Gigabyte HD Motherboard Family Line

One would think that HDMI and DVI are fairly common sights on the mainboard market now, even together, but Gigabyte does not agree.

In fact, the company feels that it is so rare to see the two together that there is enough cause to name an entire series of motherboards after them. Still, since “motherboard featuring both HDMI and DVI” is a chore to blurt out in one breath, Gigabyte chose something simpler. Thus, it was that the HD Series of motherboards came to be. Basically, Gigabyte wants to put an end to the time when HDMI+DVI support is restricted to the high-end market.

Given the advanced graphics capabilities of CPUs and APUs, it makes sense for the digital interfaces to become more common. That the company chose to implement Ultra Durable 4 classic components is just a bonus. Check out this link for more information, including a full list of the mainboards.

Gigabyte intros HD motherboard series
Image credits to Gigabyte

Read more »

Rumor: Microsoft to Release Windows Blue, the First Free Windows Ever

Although Windows 8 was launched last month, Microsoft is already giving the final touches to Windows Blue, the new Windows iteration that’s apparently supposed to come with some really huge surprises.

Citing sources familiar with Microsoft’s plans, The Verge reports that Windows Blue is going to be released in mid-2013 and will comprise significant UI changes, most likely supposed to address the controversial Windows 8 features. The Redmondians are reportedly planning to make Windows Blue a low-cost or even free operating system, just to make sure all users will make the move to the new OS. The Windows SDK would also be updated to the new release, while Microsoft would encourage developers to create apps for Windows Blue, with a lowered focus on Windows 8.

If rumors prove to be true, Windows Blue won’t be available as a standalone OS, so users would need an older Windows to upgrade. Last but not least, Windows Blue would also be the first product supposed to kick off a yearly update schedule for Microsoft, as the Redmond-based technology giant is looking into ways to challenge the other companies on the market, such as Apple and Google.

Windows Blue could see daylight in mid-2013
Image credits to hdwallpapers.in

Read more »

Meizu MX2 Now Official with 4.4’’ Screen and Quad-Core CPU

Today, Meizu Mobile has made its new Meizu MX2 smartphone official in Beijing, after having announced last month that the phone would be launched today.

The new device was announced as the successor of the handset vendor’s Meizu MX, with a nice range of enhancements packed inside, as well as with better hardware specifications. The new mobile phone was made official with a 4.4-inch touchscreen display on the front, capable of delivering a 1280 x 800 pixel resolution (HD+). It also offers a 347ppi pixel density. The smartphone features an incredibly thin bezel and is made of stainless steel. A physical button is also present on the device’s front (which actually makes it resemble the Apple iPhone a lot). The handset’s covers are made of plastic, and Meizu decided to go for black and white color combinations for it (a black front and a white back plate). Meizu MX2 was unveiled with a 1.6GHz MX5S quad-core processor inside, complemented by 2GB of RAM for increased performance capabilities.

The handset also comes to the market with an 8-megapixel photo snapper on the back, with support for recording videos at full HD resolution (1080p at 30fps). Furthermore, it comes with a front camera to enable users to make video calls while on the go. The specifications list of the new mobile phone also includes Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, along with built-in GPS receiver, and support for 3G networks. Meizu MX2 is powered by Google’s Android 4.1 Jelly Bean operating system and features the handset vendor’s Flyme 2.0 user interface loaded on top. The device was announced for the Chinese market for the time being, and there’s no info available on whether it will be launched in other countries as well. Unfortunately, Meizu hasn’t provided specifics on the handset’s price tag either, though it should unveil these details soon.

Meizu MX2
Image credits to Weibo/Meizu

Read more »

BlackBerry 9620 at Nextel

A new BlackBerry smartphone has made an appearance online today, namely the BlackBerry 9620, which can now be seen on Nextel’s website.

Featuring a 1.2GHz Qualcomm MSM8655 processor and 768MB of RAM, the new device also sports a 2.44-inch display that can deliver a 480 x 360 pixel resolution. Moreover, the new mobile phone arrives on shelves with 2GB of internal memory, complemented by a microSD memory card slot. It also sports a 5-megapixel photo snapper on the back, along with WiFi connectivity, built-in GPS receiver and PTT support. It runs under BlackBerry OS 7.1.

For the time being, no specific info on when the new device will arrive on shelves has been provided, yet the wireless carrier notes on its website that December will be the lucky month for enthusiasts. Details on its pricing have yet to be made official.

BlackBerry 9620 at Nextel
Image credits to Nextel

Read more »

Fujitsu ARROWS V F-04E

Today, Fujitsu and NTT DOCOMO officially announced the upcoming availability of ARROWS V F-04E on the wireless carrier’s network starting with November 28, 2012.

The new mobile phone will arrive on shelves with a 1.5GHz quad-core processor packed inside, as well as with support for the operator’s LTE network. The handset was also announced with 64GB of internal memory, as well as with a 13.1-megapixel camera on the back, and with a 2,420mAh battery inside. ARROWS V F-04E should provide users with great performance capabilities, courtesy of its NVIDIA Tegra 3 Quad-Core CPU, the wireless carrier notes.

There is also a 4.7-inch HD display that users will enjoy, along with DLNA capabilities, Bluetooth4.0, WiFi, NFC and the like. The smartphone also features IPX5/8 water resistance and IP5X dust resistance, as well as infrared communication capabilities.

Fujitsu ARROWS V F-04E
Image credits to NTT DoCoMo

Read more »

Huawei Ascend W1 New Photos Emerges

Chinese mobile phone maker Huawei is expected to make its first Windows Phone 8 smartphones official in the beginning of the next year, yet we can already make an idea of what the devices might look like.

The company has been rumored to plan the release of Huawei Ascend W1 and W2 next year, and the former can now be admired in a new leaked photo, available courtesy of WPXAP.com (via WMPoweruser), next to other Windows phone handsets coming from Nokia and HTC. The smartphone is expected to arrive on shelves with a 4-inch WVGA touchscreen, along with a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, 512 MB of RAM, and 4GB of internal memory.

Moreover, the new mobile phone is also said to sport a 5-megapixel photo snapper on the back, while being powered by a 2,000 mAh battery.

Huawei Ascend W1 next to other Windows Phones
Image credits to wpxap.com

Read more »

Dual-SIM Samsung Galaxy Note II Now Official in China

Samsung China has just announced the upcoming availability of the Galaxy Note II. Nothing unusual here. However, the Chinese Galaxy Note II comes with dual-SIM capability.

The smartphone supports both microSIMs and standard SIMs. It will be available for purchase beginning December 3 for 5699 yuan outright, which is about $915/€710. Aside from dual-SIM ability, the smartphone does not come with anything new in comparison with the international version.

The phone will ship with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean operating system out of the box. In addition, it will pack a 1.6 GHz quad-core processor and 2GB of RAM. Obviously, the main selling point of the Samsung Galaxy Note II is the stunning 5.5-inch Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen display that supports HD (720 x 1280 pixels), and features Corning Gorilla Glass 2 coating.

Samsung Galaxy Note II
Image credits to Samsung China

Read more »

Mac Mini 2012 with Ultrafast 450 Mb/s Wi-Fi

The latest Mac minis introduced by Apple in September boast an unadvertised ultra-fast Wi-Fi capable of transferring data at 450 Mb/s – the same as the MacBook Pro and iMac.

French site Macg.co ran some tests on Apple’s Late 2012 Mac Mini and found that it features enhanced Wi-Fi antennas, which translates into Wi-Fi speeds of up to 450 Mb/s. Some conditions need to be met to create this ultra-fast wireless but according to the French publication, both Apple’s Time Capsule and Airport Extreme will do the job just fine. Apple this year updated the Mac mini with third-generation dual-core Intel Core i5 and quad-core Intel Core i7 processors with integrated graphics up to 65 percent faster than its predecessor.

The computer ships standard with 4GB of 1600 MHz memory with support for up to 16GB. Apple also threw in an additional USB 3.0 port (for a total of three), a Thunderbolt, HDMI, SDXC, Gigabit Ethernet, and FireWire 800 ports.

Mac mini WiFi tests
Image credits to macg.co

Read more »

No Official Jolla Sailfish OS Support for Nokia N9

Jolla’s Sailfish operating system won’t be ported to Nokia’s N9 smartphone, at least not officially, the company has announced on Twitter.

The startup said that it cannot deliver official support for Nokia’s products, but that there’s nothing preventing enthusiasts from bringing the platform to the device. “We cannot support Nokia's product officially. Technically there is nothing preventing for porting to eg. N9,” the company said.

Owners of the MeeGo-based smartphone who feel that the new operating system would breathe new life to N9 might actually be able to download and install a Sailfish port to it in the not too distant future. However, no specific info on the matter has emerged. “Sailfish OS can be technically ported to N9, but experience is not same than Jolla devices,” the company notes in another tweet.

Nokia N9
Image credits to Nokia

Read more »

Nokia Transport Updated for Symbian, Windows Phone 7 and 8

The Finnish handset maker Nokia has just announced that it has updated its Transport mobile application for Symbian, Windows Phone 7 and 8.

In fact, the application has received a major update for Windows Phone 8 platform, whereas Windows Phone 7 and Symbian users will be able to download and install new beta versions of Nokia Transport. Both Windows Phone 7 and 8 versions of the application have received important UI improvements, which makes Nokia Transport more intuitive and easier to use. Moreover, devs added a new segment map that is said to provide a detailed map view for each part of a route the user chooses to follow. For those users who like to plan in advance, Nokia introduced a new feature that allows them to enter a date when they want to meet their friends, along with a departure time to view the route options. Select the preferred route and the application will let you know when you need to leave from home, which station you need to get to and the transport you need to catch in order to reach to the meeting place in time.

Nokia has added more features that will enable Transport app users to choose to display distance in miles or kilometers, as well as the latest info on departure times. According to devs, “Nokia Transport for Windows Phone now makes it easier to find your previous destinations and lets you easily delete your destination history if you prefer to keep it clean.” The beta version of Nokia Transport for Symbian has been improved with a better user experience and search function. Moreover, the application has received the ability to get coverage update OTA (over the air). Keep in mind that the Windows Phone 8 application is now available for download via Windows Phone Store, whereas Symbian and Windows Phone 7 users can grab their versions via Nokia Beta Labs.

Nokia Transport
Image credits to Nokia

Read more at http://nokia.ly/Y63gun.

Building on its smart, easy-to-use interface, Nokia Transport (v 3.0) for Windows Phone 8 introduces new features to make it even easier to simply glance and go. A new segment map provides a detailed map view for each part of your route that orients to where you are and shows where you need to be next. What's more, Nokia Transport lets you look at future routes and departure times, so you can plan ahead for your trip across town.
Video credits to heremaps

Read more »

Jolla Sailfish SDK Detailed, Built on Qt and Mer SDK Tools

Following the official unveiling of its new Sailfish mobile operating system, Jolla detailed the Sailfish SDK today, offering more info on what developers need to know on the building of applications for the new platform.

Jolla’s Sailfish OS has been built on top of Mer project and Qt, while the modern interface it proposes to users was built with QML and QtQuick, designed to offer support for the standard QtMobility APIs. However, Jolla will continue to use the MeeGo API (via the Mer core), including Qt 4.7 [Qt47], Qt Mobility 1.0 [QtMob], and OpenGL ES 2.0 [OGLES]. The company also notes that the Sailfish SDK was built on the underlying Qt and Mer SDK tools. It is developed openly and the work is done in the Mer Project. The Sailfish SDK is lightly customized and sports a series of Sailfish components. “The Sailfish SDK consists of QtCreator, a virtualised Mer Platform SDK and Sailfish components,” the company notes. “Code is developed in Qt-Creator on the host device; then, through shared storage, the code is passed to the virtualised Mer SDK where it compiles inside the Virtual Machine.”

Those who would like to learn more on the Sailfish SDK will have to go to this page on the platform’s wiki for info on how to build their own copy of QtCreator. The underlying source code can be found on this webpage. “It's early days for building applications on Sailfish OS; at the moment you have to build your own copy of QtCreator and then work with the people in #mer and #nemomobile on irc,” Jolla explains. The company also notes that they are using Qt with the Sailfish UI components and that QtCreator plugins will soon become available for download for other people to take advantage of as well. The developer kit is self-contained with no user-data. Its being produced in the SDK allows people to build their own flavor of the kit.

“You get all the power of a complete OS in an SDK (eg we're running a small web application framework to permit SDK management and this allows other interesting features too),” Jolla continues.

Sailfish OS on Nokia N950
Image to MTV 3 Finland

Read more »

Root Your Sony Xperia AX (SO-01E)

Xperia AX (SO-01E) is one of the most appealing devices that Sony has launched in Japan on NTT DoCoMo’s network with Google’s Android operating system on board.

The handset became available for purchase last week, and today a rooting method is already available for it. Unfortunately for those interested in rooting their devices, it seems that the method is not a simple one, and that users without experience in the matter should stay away from it.

People still interested in getting through with this will find all the necessary instructions over at Xperia-Freaks (apparently, they flashed the AU ROM from Xperia VL, rooted the device, and then flashed it back to DoCoMo firmware). The process seems rather unsafe, and users should wait for a simpler rooting method to arrive. We encourage them to leave the phone as it is, since achieving root will also void warranty.

Sony Xperia AX (SO-01E)
Image credits to NTT DoCoMo

Read more »

Lenovo LePhone S890 Arrives in China

Lenovo’s LePhone S890 smartphone has reportedly arrived on shelves in China, with a price tag of RMB $1,999 (around $320) attached to it.

The handset comes to the market with a 5-inch screen with Color Enhance technology, as well as with a dual-core 1.2GHz Cortex-A9 processor packed inside. Furthermore, the smartphone has been unveiled with 1GB of RAM, an 8-megapixel photo snapper on the back, and a VGA camera on the front for making video calls.

Featuring support for dual-SIM and dual-standby mode, the Lenovo LePhone S890 sports a 2250mAh battery, while running under Google’s Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich operating system. Launched in China as the upgraded flavor of LePhone S880, the smartphone is available for purchase in three colors, namely blue, green and white, GSMInsider notes.

Lenovo LePhone S890
Image credits to Lenovo

Read more »

Freecom Mg Portable HDD with Dual-Interface, USB 3.0 and Thunderbolt

Anyone who owns an Apple Mac system or laptop, but also wants a portable storage device that isn't a flash drive, may want to check out the Mg series of mini HDDs from Freecom.

Already formatted with the HFS+ file system, they support Thunderbolt connectors and, thus, can communicate at up to 100 MB/s. Magnesium alloy holds and protects the inner platters, scribing components and motor. This isn't just something that can be used with Apple products though. Motherboard equipped with Thunderbolt connectors are compatible as well.

More importantly, a USB 3.0 port is part of the HDD too. All it will take to make the Mg line compatible with normal PCs is to format it using a different file system. With a capacity of 1 TB, the Freecom Mg sells through the official web store for 229.95 Euro / $229.95.

Freecom Mg portable HDD
Image credits to Freecom

Read more »

ECS Leaks Intel 8-Series Motherboards

We'd love to give some details on all the products that ECS probably didn't mean to spill the beans on, but we cannot. We do not have the information.

What we do have, thanks to TechPowerUp, are the names of the platforms that will run Intel LGA 1150 Haswell central processing units: Z87H3-AX Extreme, Z87H3-AX Golden, and H87H3-M4. The Z87 models will be mostly identical, with the exception that the Z87H3-AX Golden has gold-colored components.

As for the H87H3-M4, it could be a micro-ATX motherboard. The H87 chipset supports everything the Z87 does, except overclocking. We still have to wait for info on Intel's CPUs, and the chipset for that matter, but at least we know there are at least three motherboards ready to receive them. Sooner or later (probably the former), more will come.

An ECS Golden motherboard
Image credits to ECS

Read more »

Jolla Demoing Sailfish OS on Nokia N950, Official Handsets in 2013

Jolla’s Sailfish mobile operating system has been made official today at the Finnish Slush conference, yet it won’t arrive on shelves until next year.

The company has confirmed that the first devices powered by the new Sailfish OS would be launched in 2013, and it also unveiled that it would focus on making them available in China, the country with the largest mobile user base in the world. No other details on these smartphones have been provided as of now, though Jolla did confirm that they would pack STEricsson’s NovaThor platform inside (though the platform comes with support for other chipset technologies as well). “We warmly welcome STEricsson onboard. It is great that this industry leader is partnering with us and Sailfish. STEricsson’s NovaThor platform combined with Sailfish OS will enable vendors to bring highly competitive mobile products to the market,” Marc Dillon, CEO Of Jolla, said.

“We welcome other players in the mobile industry to join and contribute to this game changing movement. We also target to announce other chipset provider partnerships soon.” At the Sailfish OS launch event, Jolla also demoed the user interface the new platform will arrive on shelves with, stressing on the ease-of-use it has to offer, as well as on the multi-tasking capabilities it was developed with. Jolla also presented a video demo of the new UI, which we included in our previous post on the Sailfish OS, but which did not offer as many details as some might have wanted regarding the use on an actual device.

However, it seems that the company also demoed the platform on a Nokia N950 smartphone to MTV 3 Finland, and that the video has already emerged online. You can have a look at it below. The UI shows running applications in the form of cards, though users can easily interact with them even without having to launch the apps themselves. Moreover, the application drawer can be found beneath the homescreen, accessible through swiping up anywhere on the homescreen. There is also a Pulley Menu that offers fast interaction with information and personalization. 

One other important thing that has to be said about the platform is the fact that it will also offer support for Android applications. Many of them will work unchanged, though they will need to be ported to take advantage of the OS and its features. Jolla has already promised a mobile OS unlike other, and it seems that Sailfish might indeed arrive on devices as advertised, although we’ll still have to wait a while before being able to learn that firsthand.

Sailfish OS on Nokia N950
Image credits to MTV 3 Finland

Jolla introduces their new Sailfish OS! Jolla introduced their Sailfish OS to public in an event called Slush12. It took place 21.-22.11.2012 in Helsinki Finland. The rights for this video belongs to MTV3 Media in Finland.  The reason for this video to be uploaded was because the original source requires silverlight to play the video.

Jolla.com http://jolla.com
Slush12 http://slush.fi/
Sailfish http://sailfishos.org

Original source:
http://www.katsomo.fi/?progId=154747
Video credits to sadsadsatr

Read more »

Samsung Showcase 8-Core ARM CPU in 2013

Samsung is one of the first handset vendors in the world to have launched a smartphone powered by a quad-core processor, and it seems that the company is gearing up to push mobile computing to a new level.

Next year, the vendor is expected to showcase a new heterogeneous, 8-core processor based on ARM's big.LITTLE computing concept. The chip is said to sport a quad-core 1.8GHz ARM Cortex-A15 CPU aimed at delivering great performance when needed, complemented by a quad-core 1.2GHz Cortex-A7 CPU that will take over when no heavy computing is needed.

No specific details on the 28-nm SoC have been provided as of yet, but Samsung is expected to make it official with support for both smartphone and tablet PC use, it seems. Furthermore, EETimes notes that Qualcomm and Nvidia will also unveil similar chips next year.

Samsung to showcase 8-core mobile CPU next year
Image credits to GSMArena

Read more »

Dual-SIM Samsung Galaxy S III (SCH-i939D) Spotted in China

South Korean mobile phone maker Samsung has already registered impressive success with its Galaxy S III smartphone, but appears set to grab even more market share with it, thus working on packing more features inside new models.

The Galaxy S III i939D recently spotted in China is one such example, as the device is said to hit shelves with support for two SIM cards at the same time. Featuring model number Samsung SCH-i939D, the device will provide support for GSM and CDMA SIM cards (one of each kind), while featuring the same appearance and specs as the original Galaxy S III. Thus, those who choose to purchase the new mobile phone will be able to enjoy the same 4.8-inch Super AMOLED HD touchscreen display on its front, along with the quad-core 1.4GHz Exynos 4412 processor packed inside. Furthermore, the dual-SIM flavor of Galaxy S III will include 1GB of RAM when launched in China, and will be powered by Google’s Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean operating system.

On the back, the new smartphone model will pack an 8-megapixel photo snapper with flash and support for full HD video recording, complemented by a 1.9MP camera on the front, great for making video calls while on the go. The new device is expected to become available for purchase in the local markets sometime in December, yet no specific info on its price tag has been provided as of yet. For those out of the loop, we should note that Samsung has been also said to plan the release of a dual-SIM Galaxy Note II model in China in the not too distant future. According to UnwiredView, there’s a chance that these handsets will never be launched in other markets around the world, yet Samsung has to confirm any specific plans on their availability.

Samsung Galaxy S III SCH-i939D
Image credits to IT168

Read more »

Oppo Find 5 Launch in China on December 12

Android fans in China will be happy to know Oppo Find 5, the latest masterpiece of the Chinese handset maker, will be launched on December 12.

Although the Oppo Find 5 was expected to go on sale in the Mainland by the end of November, it looks like the Chinese company confirmed the phone for a December release. This puts it in the same timeline with HTC J Butterfly, though the Taiwanese company’s 5-inch smartphone will be initially launched in Japan. The smartphone is said to boast an amazing 5.0-inch capacitive touchscreen with full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels) resolution and 441ppi. And this is not the only strong point of the Oppo Find 5. Even though Oppo has yet to provide details on the Find 5 specs sheet, rumor has it the smartphone will be equipped with a powerful quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro, probably clocked at 1.5 GHz. In addition, the Oppo Find 5 is said to pack no less than 2GB of RAM and 16GB or 32GB of internal memory.

Word is Oppo plans to release multiple versions of the Find 5 with different amounts of storage, but this has yet to be confirmed, so stay tuned for more updates on the matter. The Find 5 was initially rumored to be only 6.9mm thin, but latest reports indicated the smartphone might be around 8-9mm thick. Anyway, we also know it will boast an impressive 12-megapixel rear photo snapper, along with a 2-megapixel front-facing camera for video calls. Surprisingly, Oppo Find 5 will come with Qi Wireless Charging, a technology similar to that included with Lumia 920.

Last but not least, the smartphone will ship with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean operating system out of the box, and will be available for around 3,000 yuan outright, which is about $485/€365.

Oppo Find 5 launch ad
Image credits to Weibo

Read more »