Intel Core i7-4770K CPU Retail Box

As the time nears for the introduction of Intel's fourth-generation Core series of central processing units, the world is watching for it closely.

So closely that even the smallest rumor or leak about the Haswell Core i3, Core i5 and Core i7 CPUs is reported on. The latest such report comes form, surprise surprise, Hermitage Akihabara website.  Apparently, the retail box of the Core i7-4770K CPU has appeared online. It has a cutout in the middle, allowing a clear glimpse of the chip's top layer (the IHS as it were, integrated heatspreader).

The box is covered in primary colors and has the theme “creativity.” Core i7-4770k has a price of $330. That corresponds to €253, according to exchange rates, although the EU tag is more likely to be of €330 instead.

Intel Core i7-4770K Retail Box
Images credits to Hermitage Akihabara

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MSI GeForce GTX 770 Graphics Card

NVIDIA has officially released the GeForce GTX 770 graphics card, and its many partners took that as a cue to do the same.

I spoke a bit too soon and said that KFA2 had launched the fastest one yet. Now I'll revisit the issue and say it was the fastest I'd gotten around to mentioning. Micro-Star International has one, the GTX 770 Lightning, that is definitely faster, with a GPU working at 1,150 MHz base / 1,202 MHz, versus KFA2's 1,110 MHz / 1,163 MHz. The other MSI video board, called GTX 770 Gaming Series OC, is fixed at 1098 MHz core, 1150 MHz GPU Boost.

In both cases, the 2 GB VRAM work at 7 GHz and the cooling is done by a dual-fan array (Twin Frozr IV). Pricing and availability information is unavailable.

MSI GeForce GTX 770 Graphics Card
Image credits to MSI

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KFA2 GeForce GTX 770 EX OC 2GB Graphics Card

KFA2 has released what might be the fastest GeForce GTX 770 graphics card yet, the KFA2 GeForce GTX 770 EX OC 2GB.

Obviously, while the memory capacity has been left alone (unlike on, say, Gainward's Phantom 4GB), the same cannot be said about the GPU. The GK104 graphics processing unit is clocked at 1,110 MHz, but that's just the default setting. In a pinch, the GPU Boost 2.0 technology pushes it to 1,163 MHz. To cope with the extra heat generation, a dual-fan cooler has been installed on KFA2's product.

Everything else is left alone: 7 GHz VRAM clock, 256-bit interface, 2x DL-DVI, HDMI, DP 1.2, and 6-pin 8-pin power inputs. Like the others, the KFA2 GeForce GTX 770 EX OC 2GB will have a price of $400 / €400, or a bit more given the extra speed.

KFA2 GeForce GTX 770 EX OC 2GB
Image credits to KFA2

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Windows 8.1 Officially Unveiled

Microsoft has just decided to officially unveil all details of the new Windows 8.1 operating system, emphasizing that the new version will be specifically designed to respond to customer feedback.

In addition, it will add improvements and new features in key areas such as personalization, Windows Store, built-in apps, and search, the company said in a press release. First of all, Microsoft has significantly improved the personalization side of the operating system. From now on, users can quickly turn their Windows 8 tablets, such as Microsoft’s very own Surface RT or Pro, into a full-featured picture frame by setting up the lock screen to display a slide show of pictures. The feature will support both local folders and SkyDrive accounts, the company explained. Users will also be able to take pictures with the built-in camera without having to log in.

The Start Screen will get a lot of improvements, so it will allow users to change colors and backgrounds. The company confirmed that users would be allowed to use the desktop wallpaper as a Start Screen background. “You can now select multiple apps all at once, resize them, uninstall them, or rearrange them. We also found people were accidentally moving tiles on their Start screen so in Windows 8.1, you press and hold (or right click) to move things around,” it said. In case you’re the kind of user installing tons of app, the Start Screen will allow you to filter apps by name, date installed, most used, or by category.

“So when you install a new app from the Windows Store, we no longer put that app on your Start screen. Instead, you’ll find these apps under apps view as mentioned above and marked as ‘new’ where you can choose to pin the apps you want to your Start screen,” the company explained. The built-in search feature will be provided by Bing and will allow you to search basically everything, including local folders, apps, files, SkyDrive, the web and even actions you can take. Quick actions will also be supported to play songs and videos. The Windows Store will get a major redesign, so it will display detailed lists of top free apps, new releases, and top picks for each category.

“The app listing is more descriptive and informative and includes an area for related apps to help with app discovery. Categories are listed with other app commands such as links to your apps and your account information,” Microsoft noted. The tech giant will also improve the built-in Metro apps, including Mail, SkyDrive, Camera, and Music. Each will come with new features, plus support for the brand new 50-50 snap view mode. Windows 8.1 will also allow users to save files right in the SkyDrive account, so the built-in SkyDrive app will also get major improvements. It will allow users to quickly access files that are either locally-stored or saved in the cloud. Internet Explorer 11 will be officially launched with Windows 8.1 and will provide even better touch performance, Microsoft said. It will be faster and will pack new features, including the possibility to sync tabs between multiple devices.

Last but not least, Windows 8.1 will come with the highly-anticipated Start button. It will be always visible on the taskbar when you’re using the desktop mode, the company explained. “There are also options to change what the corners do, and options to boot into alternate screens. For example, if you prefer to see the Apps view versus all the tiles, you can choose to have the Start screen go directly to Apps view,” Microsoft concluded.

Images credits to Microsoft

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Lenovo S820 Is a Dual-SIM Smartphone for Chinese Female Users

Today, Chinese mobile phone maker Lenovo officially announced a new smartphone for its homeland market, namely the Lenovo S820, a dual-SIM device aimed mainly at female users in the country.

The new smartphone runs under Google’s Android operating system, while featuring a vivid red casing with a velvet finish, as Engadget notes. The specifications list of the smartphone include a 4.7-inch 720p IPS display, along with a 1.2GHz quad-core MT6589 processor and 1GB of RAM, as well as 4GB of internal memory.

Furthermore, the new handset sports a 2000mAh battery, a microSD memory card slot, a 13-megapixel photo snapper on the back, and a 2MP front camera for making video calls. The handset is set to land on shelves at ¥1,999 (around $326 / 252 Euro) on June 2, and has already been made available for pre-order.

Lenovo S820
Image credits to Lenovo via Engadget

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Windows 8.1 Start Button Leaked

A new screenshot showing what seems to be the Windows 8.1 Start button reached the web a few minutes ago, confirming that Microsoft will indeed bring this new option in the next Windows release.

Paul Thurrott of WinSuperSite.com writes that the Start button will look exactly like the Start Charm and will obviously be placed in the same place like the previous versions available in Windows 7. It appears that Microsoft is planning to offer the Start button with a dedicated option to allow users to disable it, just in case they love the Windows 8 design so much that they don't need this old feature back.

According to the report, the Start button is available in Milestone Preview build of Windows 8.1, so expect a new ISO to get leaked anytime soon. Microsoft is projected to officially unveil it at the BUILD developer conference in late June.

The new Start button is available in the Milestone Preview of Windows 8.1
Image credits to winsupersite.com

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XOLO Q1000 Goes Official in India at INR 14,999 ($267 / €207)

Today, XOLO made the XOLO Q1000 smartphone official in India, as part of its QCORE series of devices, which already includes the Q800 and Q700.

The new mobile phone was spotted online a few weeks ago, and was even listed at retailers in the country, as recently reported. In fact, XOLO too confirms that the new Q1000 is already available for purchase around the country, and that it sports a price tag of INR 14,999 ($267 / €207). “XOLO’s Q Core series is getting bigger and better with every new launch. After the successful launch of XOLO Q800 and Q700, XOLO announces the launch of its 3rd smartphone in this series. The new Q1000 is very sleek and is designed for single hand operation,” the company said, AndroidOS reports. The new mobile phone arrives on the market with a 5-inch 720p HD (1280 x 720 pixels) IPS touchscreen display with DragonTrail Glass, and features a 1.2GHz quad-core processor inside, with PowerVR SGX544 graphics.

Furthermore, the new XOLO Q1000 sports 1GB of RAM, along with 4GB of internal memory, while also packing a microSD memory card slot with support for up to 32GB of additional storage space. The specifications list of this smartphone also includes an 8-megapixel rear photo snapper, with BSI and HD video recording capabilities, as well as a 1.2MP camera on the front, to enable video calling while on the go.  The device also features Dual-SIM (GSM+GSM) capabilities, a 2100 mAh battery (which can deliver up to 10 hours of talk time on 3G, or up to 346 hours of standby time), WiFi, Bluetooth, and the usual set of sensors. XOLO Q1000 runs under Google’s Android 4.2 Jelly Bean operating system, and can be seen on this page on flipkart’s website (at the moment, the retailer lists it as out of stock).

XOLO Q1000
Image credits to Flipkart

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Leaked Screenshots Show Nokia Amber/GDR2 on Lumia 925

Nokia Lumia 925, the latest Windows Phone 8-based smartphone from the Finnish mobile phone maker Nokia, will arrive on shelves with a series of new, highly appealing features, and leaked detail-loaded screenshots are now available online.

These features are expected to arrive on existing Windows Phone 8 Lumia handsets as well, in the form of a software update called Nokia Amber, which is said to be based on the Windows Phone 8 GDR2 platform release. Among the enhancements that existing Lumia users will enjoy in Nokia Amber, and which can be seen in the screenshots attached, available courtesy of DoSpy.com (via WPCentral forums), we can count FM Radio, an improved color management screen, along with Data Sense, for the monitoring of data usage.

Additionally, the update will provide users with a flip to silent feature, ISO settings up to 3200, and privacy enhancements in Internet Explorer 10, as WMPoweruser notes.

Nokia Amber/GDR2 on Lumia 925
Image credits to DoSpy.com via WMPoweruser

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Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini Confirmed with 1.7GHz Snapdragon 400 CPU

More info on the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S4 mini smartphone is available, as the handset is rumored to arrive on shelves with 1.7 GHz dual-core Snapdragon 400 processor now, and not with the Exynos chip previously said to have been packed inside it.

According to a recent report for AllAboutSamsung, AnTuTu benchmarks with the upcoming mobile phone confirmed the processor inside it. Apparently, Samsung has decided to include the Exynos chip only in high-end devices, something that the smaller flavor of Galaxy S4 won't be (it should also sport an affordable price tag).

The Galaxy S4 mini is also expected to land on shelves with Adreno 305 GPU, a 4.3-inch (540 x 960 pixels) touchscreen, an 8-megapixel photo snapper, and Google’s Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean platform loaded on it, with Samsung’s own Nature UX interface loaded on top.

Samsung GALAXY S4 mini benchmark
Image credits to AllAboutSamsung

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MSI Z87-GD65 Gaming Motherboard

Gaming motherboards will come out in droves this week and the next, seeing that Computex Taipei 2013 will host the introduction of Intel's new Haswell CPUs (fourth generation Core series).

Micro-Star International has a very important one, so deemed by the Committee of the show. Called Z87-GD65 GAMING motherboard, the platform has won the Golden Award winner in the IC & Components category. That means that Functionality, Innovation and Market Potential are all very high.

Obviously, the newcomer is powered by the X87 chipset, top-tier from the 8-series. Perhaps not so obviously, the newcomer also has Killer E2205 Game Networking technology, plus Audio Boost technology and OC Genie 4 one-second overclocking technology. The basic details can be gleamed from a look at the press shot included above. Pricing and availability will have to wait a bit though.

MSI Z87-GD65
Image credits to MSI

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Samsung Galaxy Note III to Pack a Snapdragon 800 Processor

Samsung’s next Galaxy Note smartphone, the long rumored Galaxy Note III, might arrive on shelves with a Snapdragon 800 processor packed inside – at least in some markets, based on Galaxy S4’s launch –, some of the latest reports on the matter suggest.

Apparently, Galaxy Note III is the fourth smartphone currently rumored to be powered by Qualcomm’s upcoming chipset, mobileaks found out. LG Optimus G2, Pantech IM-A880, and the Sony Xperia Honami (i1) should include it as well. The info comes from zdnet.co.kr, and contradicts previous rumors claiming that Samsung would pack the device with an Exynos 5 Octa CPU. However, the same as Galaxy S 4, the upcoming device might include both processors, depending on the market in which it will be released.

No official confirmation on this has been provided as of now, but Samsung might make a formal announcement on it soon, so stay tuned.

Samsung Galaxy Note II
Image credits to Samsung

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Silicon Power Jewel J10, Newest and Shiniest Flash Drive

We don't doubt that there are some who would like to own a flash drive, or really anything else, with a case made of gold or silver, but the gadgets of that type are rare, which is why paint and other alternatives, in this case stainless steel, are used most of the times instead.

Thus, the Silicon Power Jewel J10 is just a bit less of a jewel than the company would have everyone believe. Still, it has its assets and uses, like all flash drives, especially those that want to pass off as luxurious accessories. The Jewel 10 is definitely small enough to hang from a keychain and add some attitude and allure to one's appearance, however slight. First, we'll get the technical specs out of the way. The storage space can be of 8 GB, 16 GB, 32 GB and 64 GB, while the USB technology supported is 3.0. All inside a frame of 31.5 x 12.2 x 4.6 mm / 1.24 x 0.48 x 0.18 inches. It also supports not just Windows, but Mac and Linux operating systems. Which leaves us with the design features meant to reel consumers in, and we're talking about more than just the silver sheen.

The COB3.0 (Chip On Board) technology is a major advantage. Without it, the size would have been impossible. That the case is water, dust, shock and vibration proof definitely doesn't hurt either. Then, there is the cap-less design (for easy sue and storage). Everything combines into a “stylish and exquisite design with sparkling-silver casing and delicate logo sculpture.”

Silicon Power's 10 g (0.35 ounce) USB 3.0 flash drive unit should already be up for sale, or will be soon enough. The package includes a 60-day trial of the Norton Internet Security software suite, plus SP Widget application software (seven major backup and security tools).

Silicon Power Jewel J10
Image credits to Silicon Power

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Complete AMD Radeon HD 8000 Graphics Cards Specs

It's one thing to know that a company is preparing a new range of graphics cards, and another to know what those cards will be and what specifications they bear. That is why we didn't skim over this Chiphell forum post.

AMD's Radeon HD 8000 series of desktop graphics cards will be powered by the GCN 2.0 architecture which, in turn, comes in multiple versions. One of them is called GCN 2.0 Curacao architecture and has 55 million transistors, all inside a die of 420 mm2. The GPU boasts 2,304 stream processors, 144 TMUs, 36 CUs and 48 ROPs, while the clock speed is of 1,100 MHz. Meanwhile, the 6 GB of GDDR5 VRAM operate at 7 GHz over an interface of 384 bits. For something priced at $599 / €599, the parameters aren't that bad (floating point performance of 5.07 TFLOPS). The TDP is 250W and the advantage over the HD 7970GHz is of 35%.

The second video card, Radeon HD 8950, has the XT 28nm process GCN2.0 Hainan architecture, with 35 million transistors and 270 mm2 die size. There are 28 CUs, 1,792 stream processors, 112 TMUs, 32 ROPs and a memory interface of 256 bits. The GPU operates at 1,200 MHz, while the 4 GB of GDDR5 VRAM function at 7 GHz. Everything demands 190W of energy. The price of the Radeon HD 8950 video board will be of $399 / €309 – 399. The performance is 10% superior to HD 7970GHz.

The third card, HD 8870, is 40% better than the HD 7870 and has a price of $299 / €231 – 299. It has a GCN 2.0 GPU with 32 ROPs, 24 CUs, 1,536 SP, 256-bit interface and 1,100 GHz speed. As for the 2 GB VRAM, they work at 6 GHz. The adapter has a TDP of 160W. Finally, the HD 8850, powered by the Hainan LE 28nm GCN 2.0 GPU, has 20 CUs, 1,280 SPs, 80 TMUs, 32 ROPs and 256-bit memory interface. The GPU and memory run at 1 GHz and 6 GHz, respectively, and the TDP is of 130W. Sales will start sooner or later for $229 / €177 – 229. The board will be 15% faster than HD 7870. The information is more or less the same as what was rumored last year.

AMD Radeon HD 8000 detailed
Image credits to AMD

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Pantech IM-A880X Spotted in AnTuTu Benchmark with Snapdragon 800 Processor

South Korean mobile phone maker Pantech appears set to bring to the market a new high-end device in the not too distant future, one that sports the model number IM-A880X, and which has just emerged in the AnTuTu benchmarking application.

The device is said to pack a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor inside, and appears to be capable of delivering far better performance capabilities when compared to what Samsung’s Exynos 5 Octa-based Galaxy S4 has to offer. As AndroidAuthority notes, the smartphone can perform 10 percent better when compared to what Galaxy S 4 has to offer, with a score of 30133 in AnTuTu, with Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean on top.

Furthermore, as the news site points out, the Snapdragon 800-powered device can best the Snapdragon 600-based Galaxy S 4 as well, if the benchmarking results are indeed accurate. Hopefully, more on this will emerge soon, so stay tuned.

Snapdragon 800-based Pantech smartphone spotted in benchmarks
Image credits to rbmen

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Nokia Lumia 925 Superman Limited Edition to Land in China Soon

Users in China will soon be able to purchase a Limited Edition flavor of the new Nokia Lumia 925 smartphone, the latest reports on the matter claim.

Apparently, the company is preparing a Superman Limited Edition of the device, set to become available in China one day after the new Superman movie, Man of Steel, launches on June 14. The new smartphone flavor is expected to arrive with a Superman livery on the back, a recent post on WPDang unveils. Furthermore, Nokia will release a wireless charging cover with the same logo on it as a separate accessory.  However, no changes will be made to the smartphone’s internal hardware, it seems, though Nokia will load on it the newly released Man of Steel application for Windows Phone 8, as GSMArena notes. The Nokia Lumia 925 Superman Limited Edition is expected to sport a price tag of CNY 3,999 ($652 / €505) when released. Unfortunately, no info on the handset’s arrival in other countries around the world has been provided as of now.

For those out of the loop, we should note that Nokia Lumia 925 was made official with a 4.5-inch touchscreen display, capable of delivering a 768 x 1280 pixels resolution. The handset also features a 1.5GHz dual-core processor inside, 1GB of RAM, and 16GB / 32GB of internal memory. On the back, the smartphone sports an 8.7-megapixel photo snapper, with full HD video recording capabilities, as well as a front camera for making video calls while on the go. The specs list of the device also includes WiFi a/b/g/n and Bluetooth capabilities, 3G and 4G LTE connectivity, NFC, wireless charging, and the usual set of sensors.

Overall, Lumia 925 is similar to the Lumia 920 when it comes to specs, though it is slimmer and lighter, and also sports an aluminum ring around it, which also embeds its antenna.

Nokia Lumia 925 Superman Limited Edition cases
Image credits to WPDang

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Samsung Galaxy S4 Mega next to Galaxy S 4, Galaxy S4 Mini

Samsung has been long rumored to plan on launching new high-end, large devices in its Galaxy lineup, and a new such smartphone has made an appearance online, next to the already made official Galaxy S4.

A leaked photo that emerged over at mobileaks.nl shows the new smartphone, supposedly called Galaxy S4 Mega, though it might very well be Galaxy Note III, next to Galaxy S 4 and a smaller smartphone, supposedly the unannounced Galaxy S4 mini. The phone appears to pack a smaller bezel when compared to the Galaxy S4, while also suggested to pack a 6-inch touchscreen display, falling in between the Galaxy Mega 5.8 and Galaxy Mega 6.3 smartphones.

Unfortunately, no info on the specifications list of the smartphone has been provided as of now, though it might not be too long before such details are unveiled, so stay tuned.

Samsung Galaxy S4 Mega next to Galaxy S 4, Galaxy S4 mini
Image credits to mobileaks

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Gigabyte's Low-Cost Haswell-Ready LGA1150 Motherboards

We've already seen Mini-ITX Z87 and top-tier Z87 ATX motherboards from Gigabyte, but the company isn't done yet. In anticipation of next week's release of Intel Haswell CPUs, it has introduced some low-cost LGA 1150 mainboards too.

The names of the new platforms are B85M-D3H, the Z87-D3HP, and the Z87-UD3H, and their prices are of under $150 / €150. The Z87-UD3H, as one might have guessed, is the most feature-packed of the lot, with heatsinks colored blue, silver, and pink. It uses a pair of PCI Express 3.0 x16 slots, one PCI Express 2.0 x16 slot (electrical x4), three PCI Express 2.0 x1 slots, a legacy PCI, a 24-pin ATX connector and an 8-pin EPS port. Then, there is an optional SATA power connector that can stabilize power domains, plus an 8-phase CPU power supply. Storage-wise, the Z87-UD3H gets 8 SATA 6 Gbps ports, 10 USB 3.0 ports, 8-channel HD (audio optical SPDIF) and Gigabit Ethernet. The Z87-D3HP is the cheapest Z87 motherboard Gigabyte has, with one PCI Express 3.0 x16 slot, 6 SATA 6 Gbps ports, a PCI Express 2.0 x16 slot, legacy PCI x1, three display ports (DVI, D-Sub, and HDMI, the Z87-UD3H has them too) and 8 USB 3.0.

That leaves the B85M-D3H, powered by the B85 chipset (obviously). It doesn't have CPU overclocking features but does get a simple 4-phase CPU power supply, four SATA 6 Gbps ports, a pair of SATA 3 Gbps ports, 4 USB 3.0, the same video outputs as on the other two, Gigabit Ethernet, and 8-channel audio.  Finally, the B85M-D3H supports Small Business Advantage (comes in micro-ATX form factor) and has four DDR3 memory slots, plus a PCI Express 3.0 slot and a PCI Express 2.0 x16 (electrical x4) slot. 2 legacy PCI slots round up the spec sheet.

Gigabyte B85M-D3H

Gigabyte Z87-D3HP

Gigabyte Z87-UD3H
Images credits to Gigabyte

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Nokia to Launch Dual-SIM Lumias, New Low-End Handsets

Finnish mobile phone maker Nokia has registered a great success with the cheapest smartphones in its Lumia series, especially with the Windows Phone 8-powered Lumia 520, and it appears set to focus on this segment to increase its market share.

In fact, Jo Harlow, Nokia’s executive vice president for smartphone business, has already confirmed this, while also adding that the company is focused on launching devices that pack features currently missing from the lineup. One of them would be Dual-SIM capability, which is highly appreciated in various emerging markets such as India, Jo Harlow said in an interview with DNA.

“We will continue to push the boundaries of how low we can take Lumia. That’s one thing. […] Dual-SIM is an important one and to be really successful in the Indian market. And that’s something on our radar to bring to the portfolio,” Harlow said, BGR reports.

Nokia Lumia 520
Image credits to Nokia

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Galaxy S4 Zoom Spotted in UAProf

One of the smartphones that South Korean mobile phone maker Samsung has been long rumored to plan on bringing to the market before the end of this year is the Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom, which appears to have been confirmed in a User Agent Profile.

The Android device emerged on Samsung’s website with model number SM-C101 attached to it, and with an ARM11-based processor inside. Furthermore, as Techtastic notes, the aforementioned UAProf confirms that the smartphone would pack a screen capable of delivering a 960 x 540 pixel resolution.

According to previous rumors on the matter, Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom is set to hit shelves with a 16-megapixel photo snapper on the back, capable of 10x optical zoom. Unfortunately, no official info on the new mobile phone has emerged until now, but it might not be too long before Samsung decides to unveil it, so stay tuned for more on the matter.

Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom UAProf
Image credits to Samsung

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Android 4.3 Spotted on Nexus 4[Photos and Video]

Google did not make the Android 4.3 Jelly Bean operating system official at the Google I/O conference earlier this month, but that doesn’t mean that the company isn’t working on this platform release.

In fact, proof of that has already emerged online in the form of leaked photos with a Nexus 4 running under this OS version, complemented by a video posted online to show some of the changes that Google is expected to pack it with. Nexus 4 was spotted at the Thailand Mobile Expo with OS build JWR45B loaded on top, a post on XDA-Developers explains. Furthermore, as Droid-life notes, Android 4.3 might spot two other build numbers when released, namely JWR46 and JWR39D. Apparently, the build also included a new kernel, one that came out in May, suggesting that Android 4.3 is indeed nearing its official release. The aforementioned leaked photos with the smartphone, users can have a look at the settings menu in this platform release, and will also catch a glimpse at an updated camera interface that Android 4.3 is expected to arrive on devices with.

A video sneak peek with the new camera UI inside the upcoming platform release also emerged alongside said photos, showing more of what users will receive in the software update. It seems that the new camera app will provide users with fast access to settings through gestures on the screen, making it all more intuitive than before. Furthermore, it is expected to arrive with a new timer option, new icons and information for HDR, along with some other enhancements, as Android Community notes.

Unfortunately, no official details on Android 4.3 Jelly Bean and the enhancements that it would pack inside have been provided as of now, and it remains to be seen when exactly Google will take the wraps off it. Rumor has it that June 10 might be the lucky day for enthusiasts.

Android 4.3 Jelly Bean emerges on Nexus 4
Images credits to XDA-Developers

New version of Android on Thailand Mobile Expo.
Video credits to Ivan Brcic

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Nokia Lumia 925 Antenna System Explained

Nokia Lumia 925, the latest Windows Phone 8 smartphone from the Finnish mobile phone maker, is the first of them to arrive on shelves with metal as part of its outer design, and Nokia has decided to provide some details on the matter.

According to the company, the aluminum frame that Lumia 925 sports was meant not only to add robustness to the device, but also as part of its antenna system.  “This looks gorgeous, and adds robustness to the phone. But what’s worth noting is that it does not impact on the strength of the signal you’ll be able to receive on the phone,” a post on Nokia Conversations reads. “On the Lumia 925, the aluminum ring around the phone actually acts as parts of the phone’s radio antenna system.” The aforementioned post also explains that the main antenna is placed in the bottom area of the phone, and that there are two other antennas placed at the top of the device, and that stripes separate them from the other parts of the metal ring.

Additionally, the blog post explains that Nokia has included specific technology inside the antenna so as to maximize its use of radio bands, regardless of whether on GSM, WCDMA or LTE networks. “It will also adjust the ‘balance of power’ between the antennas according to how you’re holding your phone,” the blog post continues. “The end result is that you’ll get equally good radio performance out of the Lumia 925 as you would from a wholly polycarbonate phone, plus the most important benefit in the form of a stunning design.”

However, the company also notes that users will be able to reduce the signal strength when deliberately using both hands to cover every edge of the phone. This will also make it harder to operate the buttons of the device.

Nokia Lumia 925
Image credits to Nokia Conversations

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Samsung GT-i8800 Emerges in Leaked Photos, Runs Tizen 2.1

Although Samsung hasn’t provided specific info on its upcoming smartphones that will run under the Tizen OS, more and more details on them are pouring in, the latest of which include photos with one of these smartphones, supposedly featuring model number GT-i8800.

The handset, said to sport the codename of Redwood, can be seen in the aforementioned photos (available courtesy of Tizen Greek Community) below, with Tizen 2.1 loaded on top. The phone has already made headlines a few times before, and has even been confirmed by a User Agent Profile spotted on Samsung’s website (as GT-i8805), and is said to sport the codename of Redwood.

As Engadget notes, the leaked photos with the device unveil that it will arrive on shelves with S-Voice capabilities inside. No further details on the smartphone are available as of now.

Samsung GT-i8800
Images credits to tizen.gr

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Huawei Ascend P6 Press Photo, Launch on June 18

Chinese mobile phone maker Huawei is said to be working on the launch of a smartphone that will be very slim, and a press photo with the device appears to have emerged online, courtesy of @evleaks.

The smartphone, supposedly called Huawei Ascend P6, is said to be only 6.2mm thick, which should make it the thinnest Android phone in the world. Huawei has yet to deliver specific details on the new mobile phone, and it seems that June 18 might be the lucky day for enthusiasts, according to Engadget.

Rumor has it that this device will arrive on the market with a 1.5GHz quad-core processor packed inside, 2GB of RAM, 8GB of internal memory, and a 4.7-inch 720p HD display. Running under Android Jelly Bean, the smartphone will also pack Huawei’s Emotion UI on top, it seems.

Huawei Ascend P6
Image credits to @evleaks - weibo

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Samsung GT-I8805 (Tizen-Based) Spotted in UAProf

South Korean mobile phone maker Samsung has yet to make any Tizen-based smartphone official, and it seems that the previously leaked GT-I8805 might be the first such handset to hit shelves from the company.

The mobile phone has been spotted recently in a User Agent Profile on Samsung’s website, one that confirms that the Tizen OS has been loaded on it, and that it would arrive on the market with a 720 x 1280 pixels screen. According to Techtastic, the new device will also feature 4G LTE connectivity when released, as well as a Cortex A9-based processor packed inside.

The rest of the handset’s hardware specifications are unknown for the time being, but it might not be too long before Samsung decides to make it official. As previous reports suggested, the handset might be formally introduced later this summer.

Samsung GT-I8805 UAProf
Image credits to Samsung

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Intel Core i7-4770 and i7-4770K CPUs Now Available on eBay

It is true that Intel won't officially introduce the Haswell series of central processing units, the fourth generation Core series, before Computex Taipei, which will take place between June 4 and 8.

That doesn't mean the chips aren't already out though, or at least up for pre-order in certain regions. We've already seen them in China, among other places. Now, the Core i7-4770 and i7-4770K chips have surfaced again, this time on eBay. Or at least they did briefly. The auction for the former ended early, and the chip wasn't sold, while the latter should still be there.

The starting bid was of $990 / €990, but offers were at $1,289 / €1,289 at the time of this blog's posting. Curiously, other online stores where the chips are actually up for order ask for less money than that.

Intel Core i7 logo
Imgage credits to Intel

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Nokia Confirms to Launch 41MP Lumia on July 9

Finnish mobile phone maker Nokia is expected to bring to the market a Windows Phone 8-based Lumia device packing a 41-megapixel photo snapper on the back, and the handset is said to have been already confirmed.

Apparently, the device will be able to deliver a great video recording experience, with three different frame rate options available for 1080p video capture only, a post on mobilegeeks reads. The smartphone, supposedly called Nokia EOS, will feature a redesigned camera interface, a 4.5-inch screen, and a body thinner than that of Lumia 920, despite the large camera sensor.

Nokia has yet to confirm details on this device, but it seems that it might not be too long before that happens, as the smartphone is rumored to have been pegged for a July 9 unveiling. Stay tuned for more on this.

Nokia logo
Image credits to Nokia

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LG Optimus GJ Official with Waterproof Capabilities

South Korean mobile phone maker LG Electronics has made official a new smartphone in its Optimus lineup, one that comes to the market with waterproof capabilities, namely the LG Optimus GJ.

The new device was made official in Taiwan with IXP5 and IPX7 certification, said to withstand immersion in water at one meter for up to 30 minutes. Unfortunately, LG did not offer specific info on the smartphone’s landing in more markets around the world, yet it might release it in more of them as well. The specs list of the new mobile phone includes a 4.7-inch IPS display that can deliver a 1280 x 720 pixels resolution, protected with Corning Gorilla Glass. The smartphone is powered by a 1.5GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon APQ8064 processor, paired with 2GB of RAM, and sports 16GB of internal memory, as well as a microSD memory card slot with support for up to 64GB of additional storage space. On the back, the LG Optimus GJ features a 13-megapixel photo snapper, with support for full HD video recording, complemented by a 1.3MP front camera for making video calls.

Measuring 139.6 x 68.9 x 9.39mm and weighing 141.2 grams, the new mobile phone packs a 2280mAh battery inside and runs under Google’s Android 4.1 Jelly Bean operating system. The new smartphone also features WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity, 4G LTE support, GPS receiver, and the usual set of sensors. However, it lacks NFC capabilities, it seems. The LG Optimus GJ is said to arrive on shelves in Taiwan with a price tag of NT$17,990 ($600 / €467) attached to it, contract free. It will be released in Black and Red flavors.

The smartphone is expected to become available for purchase in Taiwan in June, ePrice reports. Apparently, LG might be set to put it on pre-order starting with June 1, and should start shipping it about two weeks later.

LG Optimus GJ
Image credits to ePrice

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Limited Edition Gold Porsche Design BlackBerry P'9981 Goes Official

Porsche Design’s BlackBerry P'9981 smartphone was already an appealing device, but it seems that the company felt there was room for more, so a new flavor of the handset is set to arrive on shelves in July, all dressed up in gold.

The new flavor of the device is said to be made out of a stainless steel case with a gold-colored titanium coating, while also featuring a 24-carat gold layer on top, and a 24-carat gold camera cover. The device will arrive on the market in a very small number of units, as only 25 such devices will become available for purchase worldwide through certain Porsche Design stores.

However, as CrackBerry notes, no changes will be made to the hardware specifications of the mobile phone, which means that the gold P'9981 will be identical with the other models.

Gold Porsche Design BlackBerry P'9981
Image credits to Crackberry

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