Samsung Preparing Full HD AMOLED Screens for Future High-End Smartphones

South Korean mobile phone maker Samsung Electronics is reportedly gearing up for the production of full HD AMOLED touchscreens of its high-end smartphones, the latest reports on the matter suggest.

The company was already said to be working on full HD LCD panels, and it seems that it has also managed to come up with AMOLED displays capable of delivering a 1920 × 1080 pixel resolution.  The new screens use the FMM technology and will sport a pixel density of 440ppi, DDaily reports. Samsung might pack the new panels in handsets that sport screens of at least 5 inches, just as previous reports on the matter have suggested. However, it remains to be seen whether the company will have the displays ready in time for next year’s Galaxy lineup.

Recently, Samsung has made official the Nexus 10 tablet PC, which comes with a 2560 x 1600 UltraHD display measuring 10.1 inches diagonally.

Samsung to release smartphones with full HD AMOLED screens
Image credits to theandroidsoul

Read more »

HTC DLX, Supposedly Global Version of HTC DROID DNA

HTC and Verizon Wireless have been long rumored to plan the launch of a new DROID smartphone in the United States, and some more solid info on the matter has emerged recently, pinning down the handset’s launch to November 13.

With only a few hours left until all the necessary info on the smartphone is made official, all that remained to be seen was whether the phone would be an US exclusive or not. Apparently, chances are that it might hit shelves in other markets around the world as well, at least this is what a recent article on ePrice suggests. A new set of leaked photos with the device were also brought to the web, showing a handset similar to what we’ve already had the chance to see in leaked renders with the aforementioned DROID DNA for Verizon. However, it appears that the mobile phone will hit shelves in other countries under the name of HTC DLX, a moniker that has been spotted online before attached to this device.

Rumor has it that HTC is aiming at releasing the smartphone in various Asian markets as DLX, after launching it in Japan not too long ago as HTC J Butterfly. In the US, the smartphone will indeed be released as DROID DNA, the aforementioned report continues. HTC DLX is expected to become available for purchase in China and Taiwan on December 5 and December 10, respectively, and should be released in three different colors, namely white, black and brown. DROID DNA is expected to arrive on Verizon’s network on November 29, and said release dates for the Asian markets fall in line with this.

For the time being, however, there’s no official confirmation available on the device, and chances are that HTC will unveil a totally different device in all these markets, so we’ll take the above info with a grain of salt. Keep an eye on this space for more on the matter.

HTC DLX
Image credits to ePrice

Read more »

Nokia Lumia 920 White (SIM-Free and Unlocked) Arrives in the UK Tomorrow

Finnish mobile phone maker Nokia has partnered with wireless carrier EE for the launch of its Nokia Lumia 920 smartphone in the UK, but it seems that users interested in the device will also be able to purchase it SIM free and unlocked.

Online retailer Clove has announced that the White flavor of Nokia Lumia 920 will become available for purchase on its website starting tomorrow, and that it will be free of any carrier contracts. The smartphone will be available for purchase at £520 ($825 / 650 Euro), and will sport 4G LTE connectivity, just as EE’s flavor does. Basically, this will be the same smartphone as the one available through the aforementioned wireless carrier, but with no strings attached. Thus, users will enjoy the great viewing experience provided by the phone’s large 4.5-inch PureMotion HD touchscreen display, as well as the performance capabilities that the handset’s 1.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 dual-core processor and its 1GB of RAM can offer.

Nokia Lumia 920 arrives on shelves with an 8.7-megapixel photo snapper on the back, a PureView Camera with full HD video recording capabilities, as well as with 32GB of internal memory, but with no microSD memory card slot to expand it. The phone’s specs list also includes a 2000mAh battery, 4G LTE, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, built-in GPS receiver, NFC capabilities, and wireless charging features. Lumia 920 was built with a one-piece Polycarbonite body. In addition to the features that Windows Phone 8 arrives with, the new mobile phone was also loaded with various applications specific to Nokia’s devices, such as Nokia City Lens augmented reality app, Nokia Maps, Nokia Drive, and more.

Support for viewing and editing Microsoft Office and Outlook documents, including PowerPoint, Excel and Word, is included on this smartphone as well, along with social networking and appealing gaming capabilities. Those who would like to grab the SIM-free Nokia Lumia 920 from Clove will find it available on this page in a matter of hours.

White Nokia Lumia 920
Image credits to Clove.co.uk

Read more »

New DROID DNA Press Photo Leaks Ahead of Official Launch, Verizon Confirmed

Major carrier Verizon Wireless and Taiwanese handset maker HTC already sent out media invitations for their launch event on November 13.

Although the companies did not unveil any details on the product they will announce this week in New York City, the carrier recently teased the DROID DNA on its DROID DOES website. Apparently, the DROID DNA by HTC will be officially announced on November 13 and customers will be able to purchase the smartphone starting November 19. For the time being, we lack any info on the phone’s pricing options, but given the fact the DROID DNA will compete with Samsung’s Galaxy Note II, we expect it to cost around $250/€195 – $300/€235 on a 2-year term. DROID DNA is the US version of HTC J Butterfly, which has recently been announced in Japan and is about to hit shelves.

The smartphone will ship with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean operating system out of the box, along with a powerful 1.5 GHz quad-core Qualcomm APQ8064 S4 Pro processor. The DROID DNA is expected to pack around 16GB of internal memory, 2GB of RAM and microSD card slot for memory expansion (up to 32GB). However, the phone’s main selling point is the amazing 5-inch capacitive touchscreen display that supports full HD (1080p) video recording. Obviously, the DROID DNA will also come with full LTE support, so Verizon customers will be able to take advantage of blazing fast data speeds.

In the same piece of news, DROID DNA was recently spotted at FCC (Federal Communication Commission), which is more evidence that the smartphone is close to being released in the US. Verizon Wireless is the only major carrier in the US that has yet to launch the Samsung Galaxy Note II. The carrier confirmed it would release the phablet on November 29, but did not offer any details on the reasons behind this delay. We wonder if this has something to do with DROID DNA’s launch on the 19th.

HTC DROID DNA
Image credits to EVleaks

DROID DNA unboxing
Image credits to Verizon Wireless

Read more »

Android 4.1.2 with Multi-View Coming Soon to Samsung Galaxy S III

Owners of a Galaxy S III smartphone might have the chance to get a taste of the Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean platform upgrade in the not too distant future, rumor has it.

The new OS version is now said to be only weeks away from landing on the device, with some appealing features packed inside, including the multi-view capabilities that Galaxy Note II users already enjoy. The feature has been spotted recently in a leaked Android 4.1 Jelly Bean build for the Galaxy Note, but it seems that Samsung is set to push it to its current flagship device as well.

The feature can be seen demoed on Galaxy S III in the video embedded above, while the new OS upgrade is expected to arrive in early December. Galaxy S III is also rumored to taste Android 4.2 in Q1 2013.

NTTドコモ：Exynos4412 1.6Ghz Quad-Core,100Mbps LTE,Android 4.1.1 JellyBean, 2GB RAM
Video credits to mappan777

Read more »

Samsung Is Charging Apple 20% More on Every A6X Chip Manufactured

Samsung Electronics, the sole manufacturer of A-series application processors for Apple’s iPhones and iPads, has demanded the Cupertino company to pay 20% more for the cost of each chip, reflecting new supply prices.

According to Chosun Ilbo (the English language edition of the Korea Daily News), one of the major newspapers in South Korea, Samsung Electronics raised the price of mobile processors supplied to Apple by 20 percent, citing a person familiar with negotiations between the two companies. The reason is not spite, as some may believe, but a simple supply chain adjustment that needed to be done.

The source reportedly said Apple initially declined Samsung’s demands, “but finding no replacement supplier, it accepted.” The Korean newspaper also mentions that Samsung Electronics is obligated by contract to supply chips like the A6X to Apple until 2014.

Apple A6X chip
Image credits to westpennjournal.com

Read more »

January 30, 2013 is Official Launch Day of The BlackBerry 10

Today, Canadian mobile phone maker Research In Motion has officially unveiled plans to hold a BlackBerry 10 event on January 30, 2013.

On that day, the company will officially launch the new BlackBerry 10 mobile platform in a series of countries around the world, complemented by info on two smartphones running under the operating system. On that day, the company will also make all the necessary details on the pricing and availability of the two devices official. The upcoming mobile OS has recently received FIPS 140-2 certification, which means that it will be available for government agencies, should they want to deploy BlackBerry 10 smartphones and BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10. According to RIM, this is the first time that BlackBerry products receive the certification before their official launch.

The handset vendor also reiterated its commitment to make the smartphones available in a wide range of countries around the world, and said that it was working with more than 50 carriers to test the devices so as to have them ready for their networks. "In building BlackBerry 10, we set out to create a truly unique mobile computing experience that constantly adapts to your needs," Thorsten Heins, president and CEO of Research In Motion, said. "Our team has been working tirelessly to bring our customers innovative features combined with a best in class browser, a rich application ecosystem, and cutting-edge multimedia capabilities. All of this will be integrated into a user experience - the BlackBerry Flow - that is unlike any smartphone on the market today.

"Thanks to our strong partnerships with global carriers and a growing ecosystem of developers, we believe our customers will have the best experience possible with BlackBerry 10. We are looking forward to getting BlackBerry 10 in the hands of our customers around the world." RIM also notes that BlackBerry 10 will enjoy a large catalog of applications when released, including games, apps for productivity, social networking, lifestyle and leisure, and others more. The platform will also arrive with features such as BlackBerry Flow and BlackBerry Hub, as well as with a new BlackBerry Keyboard, and with BlackBerry Balance, so that users can keep their private and business lives separate on the same handset.

RIM officially confirms BlackBerry 10's launch date for January 30 next year
Image credits to RIM

Read more »

Apple iPhone 5S Entering Production

Apple is not selling as many iPhone 5 units as it could, had Foxconn been able to churn up more units in time. But that’s not stopping the Cupertino giant from sourcing parts for the next-generation model, Chinese newspapers are reporting.

Citing a Chinese-language Commercial Times report, DigiTimes does its bit in spreading the word about a new version of the iPhone hitting the market next year. Trial production of “a new version of its iPhone 5, or iPhone 5S,” is expected to commence as early as December “with initial production volumes likely to top 50,000-100,000 units,” according to the Taiwanese trade publication citing the Times report. It adds that Apple’s iPhone 5 – the current-selling model – is facing low yield rates, a fact confirmed by Foxconn CEO Terry Gou himself. The culprit is the extremely sensible aluminum enclosure, which makes it highly prone to scratches and dings. “Facing low yield rates in the production of iPhone 5, Apple has accelerated the certification processes for related parts and components for the iPhone 5S,” the Chinese paper reportedly noted.

In other words, Apple is not willing to waste any time simply hoping for Foxconn to get their act together. Work is already underway on the next-generation model, as the iPhone’s annual refresh cycle continues without a hitch. The newspaper emphasizes that the iPhone 5S is likely to enter mass production in the first quarter of 2013 (December), and that Apple also has a new version of iPad planned for launch shortly after the new phone debuts. If history is any indication, all this will go down in fall of 2013.

The refresh will be to the iPad mini, “since the display resolution of its latest version of iPad has come out lower than expected,” according to DigiTimes’ interpretation of the Commercial Times’ story.

iPhone 5
Image credits to arstechnica.com

Read more »