Xiaomi Red Rice Goes Official in China

Today, Chinese mobile phone maker Xiaomi officially announced the availability of a new Android-based smartphone on its homeland market, namely the Xiaomi Red Rice, a mid-range handset priced at only 799 Yuan ($130 / €98). The smartphone will arrive on shelves in the country on August 12, featuring a 4.7-inch HD IPS display and a 1.5GHz MediaTek MT6589T quad-core processor inside, paired with 1GB RAM. Furthermore, the new Xiaomi Red Rice sports 4GB of internal memory, dual-SIM capabilities, an 8-megapixel photo snapper on the back, and a 1.3MP front camera for making video calls. The specifications list of the device also includes WiFi, WiFi Direct and Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity, Gyro, Gravity and Proximity sensors, a 2000mAh removable...

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Microsoft Office Mobile for Android Now Available for Download

Today, Microsoft made available for download a new application for the owners of Android-based smartphones who also have a qualifying Office 365 subscription, namely Office Mobile for Office 365. Already up for download for Android 4.0 and newer handsets, the app comes as the Office companion, while also packing a series of optimizations for these devices. One thing that users should keep in mind from the beginning is the fact that this is Office Mobile for Android, and not the full Office suite, and that it will provide a mobile experience, different from what Office on a Windows-based PC can deliver. “You can access, view and edit your Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel and Microsoft PowerPoint documents from virtually anywhere,” Microsoft...

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Samsung Found to Tweak Galaxy S4 Benchmark Scores

Galaxy S4, Samsung’s latest Android-based flagship has managed to deliver impressive benchmarking results even before it became officially available for purchase, but it seems that things might not be as great as believed. In fact, a recent article on AnandTech claims that Samsung is performing some simple tricks on the device, all meant to boost the phone’s performance when a benchmarking application is launched, thus improving the overall score. To be more precise, the handset has been found to contain code that would boost its frequency for testing purposes, showing increased CPU and GPU performance levels. The news site claims to have been testing an Exynos 5 Octa-based model when finding this out. Said code specifically mentioned...

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MSI 990FXA-GD80 Motherboard Now Support The AMD FX-9590 5 GHz CPU

Not long ago, I wrote about MSI's Z87-G43, which happens to be the first motherboard certified for Windows 8.1 (Windows 8 Enterprise edition). Now, the same company has revealed a motherboard ready to run the strongest AMD central processing unit at its best. And by strongest CPU, I mean the 5 GHz 8-core FX-9590, of course. The motherboard that just got certified for use with the processor is called MSI 990FXA-GD80 and is equipped with four memory slots, five PCI Express slots (four PCI Expess x16 apparently) and a whole bunch of USB ports at the back, plus Gigabit Ethernet of course. Military Class components keep the platform stable and provide a long lifespan. Just be sure to go here if you have doubts about how to use the BIOS...

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New OPPO Find 5 Official Firmware Brings Huge Number of Changes (X909EN.13.130719)

OPPO’s Find 5 SmartPhone enjoys the benefits of its newly released firmware version X909EN.13.130719 that includes a huge number of fixed issues, improvements and new features due to users’ reports and suggestions. To be clearer, the package reverts “Clear apps” feature functions, and adds landscape mode for Messages application, Suspension lockscreen style, an “Add contact” shortcut on the homescreen, and an “All day event” option in the Calendar. Moreover, the Find 5 now has a “Cell broadcasts” setting for Messages, a new path for picture in File Manager, a “By Folder” option to add music files to a playlist, and an HDR feature for video recording when on a 720p resolution. Furthermore, issues with the playability of .acc files,...

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Nokia’s Windows RT Tablet (RX-114) Allegedly Spotted on GFX Bench

Finnish mobile phone maker Nokia has been long rumored to plan the release of its own tablet PCs, supposedly set to run under Microsoft’s Windows 8 operating system, and some more proof on the matter appears to have emerged online. A certain Nokia RX-114 device has made it to the website of GFX Bench, featuring a 1371 x 771 pixels screen, close to the 1366 x 768 pixels display of Surface RT, which suggests that it could indeed be a tablet PC running under Windows RT. The slate comes with a Qualcomm ARM processor paired with an Adreno 330 GPU, which suggests that it could sport the Snapdragon 800 CPU inside, WMPoweruser notes. This is not the first time that Nokia is said to be working on such a device, and there is a chance that...

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Samsung Galaxy S II Might Not Receive Android 4.2.2 Officially Due to TouchWiz Issues

South Korean mobile phone maker Samsung Electronics might not deliver the Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean OS upgrade to the owners of Galaxy S II handsets, mainly due to some “adjustment issues with TouchWiz,” new reports on the matter suggest. A recent article on Connect.de claims that Samsung has decided to skip Android 4.2.2 for the smartphone, and to leave it with Android 4.1.2 loaded on it forever. Furthermore, SamMobile notes that the same could happen to Galaxy Note too, given that it packs about the same hardware as the Galaxy S II. Apparently, the newer Galaxy S II Plus handset is set to receive the Android 4.2.2 upgrade, although things are uncertain where the original is concerned. Hopefully, Samsung will find a solution for...

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New Leaked Samsung Galaxy Note III Photos Show Handset’s Internals

Samsung Galaxy Note III, the upcoming large Android-based smartphone from South Korean mobile phone maker Samsung, can now be admired in two new leaked photos, though only a prototype of the handset has emerged online, it seems. However, the device in the aforementioned photos resembles the one seen in the previously leaked images with Samsung’s upcoming high-end product, and it also provides us with a view of the internal circuitry that could land inside it. Apparently, this is a late engineering phase unit, with the screen still not wrapped in the actual chassis, though it does appear to confirm that Samsung will include an elliptically-shaped home key on it, as phoneArena notes. Galaxy Note III is expected to become official...

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Samsung Galaxy Note III (SM-N900L) Emerges on GFX Bench with Snapdragon 800 CPU

More confirmation on the upcoming release of the Galaxy Note III smartphone is now available, courtesy of a listing on GFX Bench, where it emerged with model number SM-N900L attached to it. Furthermore, as SamMobile notes, the listing shows that Samsung is working on a Galaxy Note III model that will arrive on shelves with a 2.3GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 processor packed inside, paired with an Adreno 330 GPU. Other confirmed specs of the device include a 1920 x 1080 pixels display, support for LTE-A network speeds (up to 150mbps), given that it is a South Korean flavor, and Google’s Android 4.3 Jelly Bean operating system. The mobile phone is also rumored to arrive on shelves with a 5.7-inch screen (or 6-inch, for some models),...

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Panasonic KX-PRX120, Home Phone with Android OS

If I were to see just the left half of that photo up there, I'd be sorely tempted to say that the Panasonic KX-PRX120 is just another one of the company's Android smartphones. I'd be wrong though, because while it does look and behave like a smartphone, it isn't one. It's, in fact, a home phone with a wireless receiver. Basically, it's a smartphone that needs to be within reasonable proximity of the stand at all times. The KX-PRX120 digital cordless phone has a 0.3MP front camera, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, a 1450 mAh battery, a 3.5-inch HVGA display (capacitive multi touch screen), and Android 4.0 OS. The spec sheet also includes a microSD / microSDHC Card Slot on Handset, a micro USB charging port, Incoming/Outgoing Call Barring, a 40-minute...

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Porsche Design BlackBerry 10 Handset to Go Official Soon

Soon, BlackBerry enthusiasts out there might be able to purchase a new BlackBerry 10-based smartphone, this time made by Porsche Design. The company has already released a BlackBerry 7 device, namely the P’9981, which managed to become quite popular, despite its over $2,000 price tag, and it seems that it is set to make a similar move once again. In fact, a series of leaked photos that emerged over at Vietnamese website Tinhte suggest that the Porsche Design BlackBerry 10 smartphone might already be in the works. As N4BB notes, said images show a Porsche Design-styled battery cover, which could be very well attached to a BB10 device. Rumor has it that the battery door will arrive with genuine leather and with carbon fiber on the...

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Oppo to Launch N-Lens Devices with Focus on Camera Capabilities

Chinese mobile phone maker Oppo is reportedly preparing the launch of a new series of devices that would provide users with better camera capabilities when compared to the current series of products, and which should arrive on shelves under the N-Lens name, it seems. The company has already confirmed plans on the matter, an article on Engadget notes, and even said that this would be the "most important flagship series for Oppo going forward." Furthermore, Oppo reportedly confirmed that these new N-Lens cameras will still feature wireless connectivity. Most probably, said devices will run under Android, the same as Samsung’s Galaxy S4 Zoom. Unfortunately, no other details on the N-Lens series have been provided as of now, though...

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Snapdragon 600-Based Galaxy Note II Goes Official at China Mobile

Samsung’s Galaxy Note II smartphone will arrive on shelves at China Mobile in the not too distant future, as it has apparently been made official in the country, and packs a Snapdragon 600 processor inside. The handset sports model number GT-N7108, and will be released in China with support for TD-SCDMA, W-CDMA, TDD-LTE, and FDD-LTE connectivity (thanks to Qualcomm’s processor, it seems). The smartphone also features a 5.5-inch 720p touchscreen display, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of internal memory, a microSD memory card slot for additional storage space, a 3100mAh battery inside, and Google’s Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean platform loaded on top. Furthermore, the Galaxy Note II arrives at China Mobile with an 8-megapixel photo snapper on the...

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2013 Plastic iPhone Confirmed in Pegatron Report, Production Is Yet to Start

A report by the China Labor Watch on investigations carried out inside Pegatron factories reveals that the Taiwan-based Apple supplier is making plastic iPhones. Confirming that Apple indeed has plans to put forth a low-priced version of its iPhone this year (or the next), the watchdog noted in the report, “Its assembled products include iPhone 4, iPhone 4s, iPhone 5, and low-priced plastic iPhones.” The same white-paper, which looks at violations incurred by Pegatron in its labor practices assembling electronic products, adds, “Today’s work is to paste protective film on the iPhone’s plastic back cover to prevent it from being scratched on assembly lines.” This method has been used for all iPhones in the past, and it is standard...

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ASRock 990FX Extreme9 Motherboard Ready for 5 GHz CPUs

ASRock has quite gladly revealed that it has a motherboard perfectly suited for the strongest central processing unit that Advanced Micro Devices has to offer. And that says more than some might think. The FX-9590 central processing unit that AMD launched some time ago isn't the sort of chip that can work on just any platform. Or at least, it's not the sort of chip that can work at full throttle, because 5 GHz require a measure of energy and endurance. That is why ASRock is making such a big deal out of getting official support for AMD's processor on the 990FX Extreme9 motherboard. The platform was put through a number of tests that were meant to determine build quality. The BIOS was also updated to work with the unit. To prove its...

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Dell Project Ophelia, An Android PC on a Stick

The Android operating system started out as a smartphone OS, then extended to tablets and, not too long ago, actual laptops and PCs, though not to any great extent. The OS just isn't made for PCs and doesn't have much of a chance to supplant Windows. It can still do a lot though, especially on hardware that is just too weak for Windows. And since Windows RT hasn't seen much success, there's no threat from that end either. That's why some notebooks and smart TVs have been using Android quite a lot lately. That still leaves a lot of people that don't have smart features on their television sets though, and then there are those who want an easy way to carry around their system, not counting the laptop options. So Dell came up with Ophelia....

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“iPhone 5C” Packaging Leaked, Resembles iPod touch Case

Another day, another iPhone leak. A tantalizing picture is making the rounds on China’s WeiPhone forums showing the potential plastic enclosure, or shipping container, of the “iPhone 5C.” You read that right. If this image is to be believed, Apple apparently plans to call its budget smartphone “iPhone 5C.” Which, of course, doesn’t rule out the iPhone 5S, which is expected to look much like the current-selling iPhone 5. The iPhone 5C, on the other hand, is expected to have a plastic (polycarbonate) body, and specs that match those of the iPhone 5. A plastic enclosure would therefore also make sense, though it’s hard to believe Apple will move away from its environmental-friendly packaging just to make the shipping container consistent...

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No 5-Inch Nokia and BlackBerry Devices Until the End of 2013

Nokia and BlackBerry, two of the largest mobile phone makers in the world, are expected to bring to the market smartphones packing 5-inch or larger screens soon, but will do so only towards the end of the year or in early 2014, new reports on the matter claim. Industry sources cited by DigiTimes reportedly confirmed that Nokia is waiting for the Windows Phone 8 GDR3 (General Distribution Release 3) platform release before jumping on the 5-inch or larger screens bandwagon, and that Microsoft will release the OS update only at the end of this year. BlackBerry, on the other hand, is expected to unveil a 5-inch smartphone in the fourth quarter of the year, namely the long rumored BlackBerry A10, which should also become the company’s...

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Canonical Shows Ubuntu for Android and Ubuntu OS Running on Nexus 4

Canonical is promoting the concept of phone and PC convergence for Ubuntu Edge, but until now there wasn’t a proper demo of this technology. Ubuntu for Android has been announced over a year ago, but the development hasn't been advertised seriously until the appearance of Ubuntu Edge. “For over two months I’ve been running Ubuntu for Android on a Nexus 4 phone, and even with its much slower processor and smaller storage than the Edge will have, it’s still made my working life so much simpler. With just a phone I can do pretty much anything that I could do before on my laptop,” stated Canonical’s Victor Palau on his blog. You have to keep in mind that the software is still in its beta phase and it’s not the finally quality of the product. Ubuntu for Android is demoed on a Nexus...

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Moto X to Pack Laminated Aluminum Structure, Moto Magic Glass

Moto X, the upcoming new Android-based smartphone from mobile phone maker Motorola, is expected to become official on August 1 with some appealing design features packed inside, some of the latest reports on the matter suggest. Apparently, the company is set to include a certain Moto Magic Glass with the new handset, which is nothing else than a single layer of Gorilla Glass molded to a special polymer and wrapped around the screen and edges of the phone. Furthermore, the handset is said to sport a laminated aluminum structure, which would offer a lightweight but durable design, info coming from Taylor Wimberly unveils. Another interesting feature of the smartphone is said to be the addition of Dual LTE MIMO Smart Antennas, presumably...

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ASUS ROG Maximus VI Formula ATX Gaming Motherboard

Eager to take a hold of an Intel fourth-generation Haswell Core-series central processing unit, the ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) Maximus VI Formula high-end motherboard has arrived. ASUS was bound to launch a new Maximus Formula motherboard sooner or later, since it basically does it every time Intel unveils a new high-end processor series. The Maximus VI Formula is powered by the Z87 chipset, which means it doesn't fall under the causes of annoyance that Intel made a move against recently. Which is to say, CPUs can be overclocked on this platform, aided by the dual-channel DDR3-3100 memory (up to 32 GB via 4 slots). Speaking of slots, the newcomer has three PCI Express 3.0 x16 slots (in single x16 mode or x8/x8) and three-way CrossFireX...

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Samsung Tests Galaxy Note III in Three Screen Sizes

South Korean mobile phone maker Samsung Electronics has been long rumored to plan the launch of a new handset in the popular Galaxy Note series before the end of this year, and it seems that it still hasn’t decided what screen size the phone will pack. In fact, rumor has it that the handset vendor would be currently testing three different flavors of the upcoming Android device, with 5.5-inch, 5.7-inch and 6-inch screens, respectively. Recently, the smartphone was said to have been confirmed with a 5.7-inch touchscreen display, but it appears that this is not yet final. According to a recent article on UnwiredView, which cites info coming from Indian logistics website Zauba, all the rumors on Galaxy Note III’s screen could be considered...

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Android 4.3 Sports Hidden App Ops Feature

Android 4.3 Jelly Bean, the latest mobile operating system flavor from Google, arrives on devices with some appealing new features packed inside, including one that expands the control that users have over the permissions that applications benefit from. Called App Ops, the option has been found to be hidden by default, but to be easily enabled via a third-party app called Permission Manager and already available for download, a recent article on Android Police notes. Through it, users will be able to fine tune the apps’ permissions to read contacts, access location, read call logs, post notifications, and the like. App Ops doesn’t appear to be ready for widespread use as of now, and no specific info on when it could be activated...

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BlackBerry 10.2 to Bring Separate BBM Groups Notifications

The upcoming BlackBerry 10.2 operating system will bring along some appealing new features to BBM enthusiasts, including support for separate notifications for BBM Groups, the latest reports on the matter suggest. According to CrackBerry, the info comes from Michael Clewley, who posted it on his BBM channel, although he did not offer further info on the matter. However, chances are that the availability of this feature will translate into two types of notifications in the BlackBerry Hub, as well as into individual settings for both BBM and BBM Groups. It should also allow users to keep things better organized. Unfortunately, no specific info on when BlackBerry 10.2 will be released to users has been provided as of now, though the...

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CyanogenMod Focal, New Camera App From CyanogenMod

Today, CyanogenMod announced a new application for devices running under its custom Android software, namely CyanogenMod Focal, the first new feature to arrive on devices as part of the recently teased Nemesis. The new camera application comes with a feel similar to that of the stock Android camera, though it does have a variety of customizations on top. The software packs features that Android users should already be accustomed with, including photosphere (called Picsphere) and panorama, as well as the option to snap photos while shooting a video. CyanogenMod Focal comes with a radial menu, offering fast access to options such as Front-Facing camera, Picsphere, Video, Panorama, and Photo, as Android Police reports. However, these...

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Samsung Galaxy Note III Emerges Again with 5.7’’ Screen

Galaxy Note III, the upcoming large smartphone from Samsung, has made yet another appearance online, with its hardware specifications allegedly confirmed by a source from the handset vendor itself. The upcoming member of the popular Galaxy Note family is expected to make an official appearance on September 4 at IFA in Berlin, and should pack a 5.7-inch touchscreen. Previously, the smartphone was rumored to have been designed with a 5.99-inch display, and it seems that Samsung has indeed tested such as model, though it eventually opted for a smaller design. According to Korea’s Business Daily, the Galaxy Note III will also hit shelves with a Snapdragon 800 processor packed inside, and with support for LTE-Advanced connectivity. Furthermore,...

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Lenovo K6 Emerges with Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 Processor

Chinese mobile phone maker Lenovo is reportedly getting ready for the launch of its own smartphone powered by the powerful Snapdragon 800 processor, and the device has already leaked online under the codename of K6. The handset, reportedly set to arrive on shelves with dual-SIM capabilities (and also known as X910, it seems), has been spotted on Lenovo’s Chinese forum, and can be admired the photos attached to this post. As Engadget notes, one of the leaked images with the yet unannounced device show it as packing a MSM8974 chip inside, with Adreno 330 GPU, as well as a 1920 x 1080-pixel display, which might be a 5-inch screen. No other details on the smartphone have been provided for the time being, and its availability timeframe...

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Nokia’s 6-Inch Handset Screen Leaked, Alleged Specs Also Unveiled

Finnish mobile phone maker Nokia has been long rumored to plan the launch of a large Windows Phone 8 smartphone before the end of this year, and some more details on the handset are now available, complemented by a leaked photo that allegedly shows the device’s screen. The leaked photo, available courtesy of Weibo user @ictech, shows that the smartphone will arrive on shelves with a very thin bezel, and also confirms that it will be a Windows Phone handset, given the usual buttons placed beneath the screen. As WMPoweruser notes, the photo shows a production-ready pane, and chances are that Nokia is already working on having some prototype units up and running while planning the phone’s launch for the end of the year. According to...

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AMD A10-6800K Makes New World Record, Overclocked to 8.2 GHz

“The Stilt” is the name of a Finnish group of Overclockers. Remember it because they've just set a new world record. Naturally, I'm talking about the world record for CPU overclocking. Using an AMD A10-6800K accelerated processing unit, they managed to push the frequency all the way up to 8.2 GHz. They achieved the result (8203.01 MHz) by setting the bus clock at 130.21 MHz and the multiplier at 63x. The lower core voltage was at 1.968 volts the entire time. Furthermore, thanks to an x87 patch, the A10-6800K managed to post better SuperPi scores. Seeing as how The Stilt previously scored a record 8000.48 MHz with a bus clock of 126.99 MHz and applying 2.008 volts to the CPU, this later feat is quite the jump. Check out the filing...

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Boot Animation of Moto X [Video]

Mobile phone maker Motorola appears set to make a difference with the upcoming Moto X smartphone, and the boot sequence for the device, which can be seen in the video embedded above, shows exactly that. Moto X, a smartphone expected to become official on August 1 and to land on shelves later that month, has already been teased by Motorola with increased personalization capabilities, although it will pack only mid-range hardware inside. The boot sequence spotted by Android Police on Moto X is completely different from what has been seen on other handsets from the company lately, and suggests worldwide availability. For the time being, Motorola did not confirm specific details on when or where the smartphone will be released, but previous rumors did suggest that it will land in...

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Android 4.3 Factory Images (AOSP) Now Available for Download

Google has just gone official with Android 4.3 and those who already own one of the newer Nexus device will be happy to know the search giant immediately released the corresponding factory images. Starting today, owners of Nexus 4, Nexus 7, Nexus 10 and Galaxy Nexus (GSM model) can download and flash the latest Android 4.3 operating system in case they need it. All the binary image files provided by Google are to be used for restoring Nexus device's original factory firmware. Keep mind that in order to be able to use any of these files you will be to have the “fastboot” tool in the PATH of your device. The device need to be in fastboot mode and the booloader need sot be unlocked. All Android 4.3 factory images for Nexus devices...

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High-Quality Video Shows 2013 Plastic iPhone Shell in All Its Glory

The plastic iPhone Apple has prepared for us this year seems all but confirmed, as leak after leak shows the same form factor and design, and even the same set of colors. The latest video from DetroitBORG up on YouTube doesn’t bring many new details to the table, but it does show the plastic 2013 iPhone shell in all its glory, complete with a very comprehensive commentary on behalf of the narrator, who takes us through the technicalities. Design-wise, it seems the phone is a combination of the iPhone 3GS and the newest iPod touch models. As for the tech specs, they’ll probably be on par with the iPhone 5. Sonny Dickson in Melbourne, Australia is said to be the source of this leak, so I’m giving him the proper credit here as well. Hit the play button above and enjoy. This...

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Canonical's Ubuntu Edge Phone Will Run Windows Office Apps

Canonical has announced its next generation phone, Ubuntu Edge, and users now have a general understanding of the product, but one feature has been grossly overlooked. Ubuntu Edge will be the first product to achieve true convergence between PC and a mobile device, if the crowd-funding project presided by Canonical succeeds. Beyond the great technical specifications and the dual-boot option between Android and Ubuntu OS, another interesting feature has gone relatively unnoticed. “For enterprise users who are already running their desktop in the cloud, here’s something amazing. Ubuntu for Android even supports thin-client access to cloud-hosted Windows applications like Microsoft Office,” stated Leann Ogasaware, the leader of the...

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