Huawei Ascend W1 Detailed Specs

In addition to bringing to the spotlight new Android-based devices, including the 6.1-inch Ascend Mate, Chinese mobile phone maker Huawei also detailed its Windows Phone 8-based Ascend W1.

The new mobile phone arrives on shelves with a Qualcomm MSM 8230-3 dual-core 1.2GHz processor, and featuring a 4-inch IPS display capable of delivering a WVGA (800 x 480 pixels) resolution. On the back, the new Ascend W1 sports a 5-megapixel photo snapper with auto focus, complemented by a front-facing camera that should provide users with video chatting, the specs that CNET Asia got hold of show.

Furthermore, the handset sports 512MB of RAM, along with a 1,950 mAh battery, NFC connectivity, and a microSD memory card slot with support for up to 32GB of additional storage space. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity capabilities were also included inside the mobile phone, along with built-in GPS receiver, and the usual set of sensors.

Huawei Ascend W1
Image credits to WPCentral

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Microsoft Praises Hacker Who Managed to Jailbreak Windows RT to Run Desktop Windows Applications

Microsoft has decided to release a public statement on the recent announcement that a security researcher managed to break into Windows RT and force the operating system to run unsigned desktop apps.

Even though the company initially wanted to remain tight-lipped on the subject, a Microsoft spokesperson has sent us a statement claiming that this effort poses no security threat to Windows RT users. “The scenario outlined is not a security vulnerability and does not pose a threat to Windows RT users. The mechanism described is not something the average user could, or reasonably would, leverage, as it requires local access to a system, local administration rights and a debugger in order to work,” the spokesperson said. “In addition, the Windows Store is the only supported method for customers to install applications for Windows RT. There are mechanisms in place to scan for security threats and help ensure apps from the Store are legitimate and can be acquired and used with confidence,” he added.

What’s more, Microsoft praised the security researcher behind this jailbreak, emphasizing that a future Windows RT update could block the hack. “We applaud the ingenuity of the folks who worked this out and the hard work they did to document it. We’ll not guarantee these approaches will be there in future releases,” the spokesperson continued. Microsoft is actually hoping that this kind of hack is so complex that only a few users would go for it, although we all know that it’s just a matter of time until a full-featured jailbreak application is released to make everything easier and faster.

Still, the company seems prepared to deal with such attempts, so don’t be too surprised if future Patch Tuesday updates will include Windows RT fixes supposed to lock the operating system even better.

Windows RT is also running on Microsoft's first tablet in history, the Surface RT
Image credits to Microsoft

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Adobe Gives Away Creative Suite 2 Software Bundle

Christmas may be over, but it looks like Adobe decided to start 2013 with a most welcomed offer, by giving away the Creative Suite 2 bundle.

Adobe provides direct download links and valid keys for the following software:

• Creative Suite 2 (Windows and Mac)
• Acrobat 3D 1.0 for Windows
• Acrobat Standard 7.0 (Windows and Mac)
• Acrobat Pro 8 (Windows and Mac)
• Audiotion 3 (Windows)
• Illustrator CS2 (Windows and Mac)
• InCopy CS2 (Windows and Mac)
• InDesign CS2 (Windows and Mac)
• Photoshop CS (Windows and Mac)
• Photoshop Elements 4.0/5.0 (Windows and Mac)
• Adobe Premiere Pro 2.0 (Windows)

These are not the latest versions of the software but that is not to deny the functionality. Keep in mind that much of Creative Suite 6 is based on features from earlier revisions. All you have to do is follow this link and sign in with your Adobe ID. If you’re not registered with Adobe you can create an account free of charge. We do not have any information about this offer or how much time it will be available, but at the moment of writing the download links are working and the keys are valid.

This does not appear to be region specific, at least not in Europe, as we’ve seen users from UK, Norway and Romania reporting successful download and installation of the software.

Update: The mystery has been solved; the availability of Creative Suite 2 bundle was just a glitch from Adobe and the link was destined only for CS2 owners that had trouble installing the software. The page might be no longer works.

Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Incopy and Acrobat Pro also on the list
Image credits to Adobe

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Nokia Lumia 620 Coming China Mobile Soon

One of cheapest Windows Phone 8 devices announced by Nokia, the Lumia 620 is about to make its entrance in China.

Aimed at emerging markets, the smartphone has already been confirmed in India for the end of the month, and GSM Insider reports that Lumia 620 will arrive at China Mobile as well. The device is likely to be known as Nokia Lumia 620T and ships with Windows Phone 8 platform onboard.

It will be powered by a dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 processor clocked at 1.2 GHz, which is complemented by an Adreno 305 graphics processing unit and 512MB of RAM. The phone also sports a ClearBlack capacitive touchscreen display that supports 480 x 800 pixels, as well as 5-megapixel rear photo snapper with autofocus, LED flash and HD (720p) video recording.

Nokia Lumia 620
Image credits to Nokia

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ZTE U935 with 5-Inch Full HD Display and Quad-Core CPU Gets Approved in China

Chinese handset maker ZTE is about to unleash a new lineup of hot Android smartphones.

We reported last week on the company’s upcoming Nubia and P945 handsets, which are among the best Android devices launched by ZTE. However, it looks like GSM Insider has just spotted another ZTE smartphone that is making its way onto the market in China, the U935. Although the ZTE U935 comes with a slightly smaller 5.0-inch capacitive touchscreen display that supports full HD (1080p) resolution, the phone is said to be powered by a 1.2 GHz quad-core processor manufactured by MediaTek.

Furthermore, the handset will pack 1GB of RAM and only 8GB of internal memory, which can be further expanded up to 32GB via microSD memory card. It will come with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean platform out of the box. ZTE U935 will be launched at China Mobile for 1500 yuan outright, which is about $240/ €180. Stay tuned for more details on the matter.

ZTE U935
Image credits to tenaa.com.cn

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Nokia Rumored Plan New Firmware Update for Symbian^3 Devices

Finnish mobile phone maker Nokia might soon have available for download a new firmware update for its Symbian^3 devices, which are powered by Belle Refresh right now.

The new update version is said to be 111.050.0003 at the moment, though the final flavor could sport a different version when released. No official confirmation on this has emerged so far, but the rumor appears to be close to the truth, especially with Belle Refresh pushed to users as version 111.040.1511.

For the time being, however, no specific info on what the new platform release might bring to devices has emerged, nor on when it should be made available for download. As MyNokiaBlog notes, the new update might bring along some new features, along with fixes and app updates to devices, as well as other enhancements.

Nokia E7
Image credits to Nokia

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Intel Introducing Atom Z2420 CPU for Smartphones

Computer maker Intel came to the 2013 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas with a new processor aimed at smartphones in its pocket, namely the Atom Z2420.

The chip was designed mainly for devices created for developing markets, and comes with full support for Google’s Android operating system, the company announced. In addition to partnering with various handset vendors for the use of this processor inside new phones, Intel also built a reference design smartphone based on it, and showcased it at the event.

The device features a 1.2GHz single-core processor with HyperThreading, while boasting a 3.5-inch 320 x 240 pixel display, dual-SIM with dual standby support, microSD memory card slot, and FM radio. It also includes a custom Intel radio inside with support for HSPA+, as well as 1080p hardware-accelerated encode/decode capabilities and Imagination SGX 540 graphics processor.

Intel intros new mobile processor for smartphones
Image credits to The Next Web

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Huawei Ascend D2 Official with 5.0-inch Full HD Display and Quad-Core CPU

As expected, Chinese company Huawei has just announced the Ascend D2 at the Consumer Electronics Show 2013 (CES).

The Ascend D2 is one of the best-featured Android smartphone launched by Huawei, so we expect this device to packs innovative technologies and top notch features. The phone's main selling point is the powerful quad-core Huawei K3V3 processor clocked at 1.5 GHz, as well as the stunning 5.0-inch full HD (1080p) capacitive touchscreen display with 443ppi. On the back, the superphone boasts an incredible 13-megapixel photo snapper with autofocus, LED flash and full HD (1080p) video recording. The folks at Engadget also report the phone's impressive camera features f/2.2 aperture, a 5P lens and a hybrid IR filter. The Huawei Ascend D2's body is water- and dust-proof. It is also worth mentioning the smartphone drains energy from a high-capacity 3,000 mAh Li-Ion battery, which has yet to be rated by the manufacturer.

Software-wise, the Ascend D2 is powered by Android Jelly Bean operating system out of the box, though we're not sure if it will come with version 4.2 or a slightly lower version. Interestingly enough, the smartphone comes with something called “super hands free” which allows users to talks to the device from up to 2 meters away. However, it remains to be seen how well this will work in crowded areas. It appears that Huawei won't make the same mistake as it did last year with its entire lineup of Ascend smartphones that were announced in February and made it to shelves more than six months later. According to Huawei, the Ascend D2 smartphone will be launched on the market as early as next month. Sadly, there are no details on pricing options and exact release date for the moment, so stay tuned for more updates on the matter.

Huawei Ascend D2
Image credits to 

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Huawei Ascend Mate 6.1-Inch

Today, Chinese mobile phone maker Huawei made official the long rumored 6.1-inch Ascend Mate phablet, the largest Android-based smartphone to date.

Just as previously reported, the phone’s large touchscreen display can deliver a 720p resolution, and there is also a 1.5GHz quad-core processor packed inside the device, capable of delivering great performance capabilities (coming from Huawei's HiSilicon semiconductor division). Furthermore, the Huawei Ascend Mate comes with an 8-megapixel photo snapper on the back, capable of full HD video recording, and with a front-facing camera for making video calls.

The phablet will arrive on shelves with the Huawei Emotion UI loaded on top of Google’s Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean operating system. The smartphone also features a 4050mAh battery inside, 2GB of RAM, 8GB of internal memory and a microSD memory card slot. According to droid-life, Huawei managed to keep the handset pretty thin, and will launch it in black and white versions.

Huawei Ascend Mate 6.1
Image credits to droid-life

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BlackBerry 10 Handsets Said to Have Great Build

There are a little over three weeks left until Canadian mobile phone maker Research In Motion makes its new BlackBerry 10 operating system official, along with the first smartphones to run under it, and some more info on the matter is now available.

According to a post on Business Insider, the first BlackBerry 10 smartphones will have a great build quality, while featuring a rubber back and replaceable batteries, along with a high-resolution screen, and great performance capabilities. The OS was built for speed as well, it seems, with fast browsing capabilities, fast boot time and the possibility to keep your personal and work lives separate on the same device.

Even so, the news site suggests that RIM will have a lot to work to ensure that its new platform and devices are received well, due to the increasing competition from Android and iOS.

Blackberry 10
Image credits to Youtube

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Samsung Galaxy S IV to Pack New Wireless Charging Technology

Supposedly called Galaxy S IV, the next flagship Android-based smartphone from South Korean mobile phone maker Samsung might arrive on shelves with a brand new wireless charging technology packed inside.

Rumor has it that Samsung might pack the new device with a wireless charging system that would also sport built-in communication capabilities. Apparently, the mobile phone maker has filed for a wireless charging patent back in July, and has had the system detailed last month, after the patent was published. The technology combines wireless charging with a modulated carrier signal, which would enable the smartphone to communicate with the charger. This means that the charging pad or stand could be designed so as to provide additional functionalities, while also expanding people’s options when it comes to using the phone while charging. For example, users could easily pair the phone with a set of wire-free speakers included in the dock, all without the need to activate the Bluetooth capabilities of the device for that, expertreviews.co.uk notes in a recent post.

Mobile phones with wireless charging capabilities are already available for purchase around the world, yet none of them with such technology inside. For those out of the loop, we should note that handsets such as Nexus 4 from LG or the Lumia 920 from Nokia offer the wireless charging feature to their users. To take advantage of the capability, one needs to have a compatible wireless charging device at hand, and to simply drop the smartphone on top of it. Provided that Samsung indeed manages to implement the technology inside its next-generation Galaxy S smartphone, users will be able to perform a variety of actions on their devices even when it is sitting on that stand to replenish the battery juice.

However, it remains to be seen whether it will indeed have the wireless charging system ready for deployment in the coming months, since Galaxy S IV was rumored to arrive before June 2013.

Alleged Samsung Galaxy S IV leaked photo
Image credits to SAMMobile

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iPhone 5 Running iOS 6.0.2 Jailbreaked

Planetbeing, one of the prominent hackers involved with iOS jailbreaking, takes to Reddit to clear away any confusion regarding the iPhone 5 / iOS 6 jailbreak. In a nutshell, don’t hold your breath for a release until iOS 6.1.

Planetbeing, well known for his work on past jailbreaks, decided to stop all negative speculation about a potential untethered jailbreak for iOS 6 / iPhone 5. So he opened a thread on Reddit where he wrote, “Yeah, I'm not really sure what all the doom and gloom is about. The fact is, I have an untethered iOS 6.0.2 JB running on my iPhone 5 right now.” Had Planetbeing left it at that, the jailbreak community would have been up in arms at this point. Luckily, he didn’t. “The reasons it's not released are because 1. releasing it would burn an exploit we want to save for ourselves so we can always get in to look at new firmware and help JB in the future, 2. iOS 6.1 is coming very soon and will likely break a small part of it anyway, there's no point in sacrificing the many bugs it won't break,” he explains.

In other words, the hackers cannot afford wasting months of hard work over people’s whining. The release will center on iOS 6.1. Period. Planetbeing makes a reassuring note, saying, “Anyway, where there are 4+ bugs (that it took to get this to work), there's gotta be one or two more so while jailbreaking is getting harder, reports of its death are highly exaggerated.” He also explains why he decided to use Reddit instead of Twitter to convey all this to his followers. The gist of it: Twitter’s 140-character limitation. For who’s asking, iOS 6.1 shouldn’t be too far off with WWDC only six months away. Apple needs to clear developers’ desks of any old software to start focusing on the new stuff.

iPhone 5
Image credits to article.wn.com

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