Sony to Launch Snapdragon 800-Powered Xperia Z Model

Japanese mobile phone maker Sony Mobile is reportedly getting ready for the launch of a new flavor of its latest flagship Android-based smartphone, the Xperia Z, namely one that would feature a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor inside.

No official info on the matter has been provided as of now, but Mobile-Review’s Eldar Murtazin said on Twitter that the device is real, and that he has already had the chance to take it for a spin. He also claims that the device is very fast, and that the prototype he played with packed a screen similar to the Super LCD 3 on HTC One.

Specific details on when the new Xperia Z flavor might arrive on shelves haven’t been provided as of now, though chances are that we’ll see it launched before the end of the year, should Sony indeed plan its commercial availability.

Sony Xperia Z
Image credits to Sony

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Huawei MediaPad 7 Vogue Tablet

Today, Chinese mobile phone maker Huawei made official a new Android-based tablet PC, namely the MediaPad 7 Vogue.

The new device had been tipped a few times before, but nothing has been officially confirmed on it until today, when the phone maker announced it as available in China later this month in black and white flavors.  Packing a 7-inch touchscreen display and an aluminum unibody design, the tablet PC is expected to arrive on shelves in other markets around the world as well, Huawei announced. MediaPad 7 Vogue also hits the market with a quad-core processor packed inside, while being capable of providing users with voice calling capabilities. "Building on the popularity of the HUAWEI MediaPad series, we’ve created a new tablet that caters to fashionistas, technology seekers, entertainment junkies, and people who simply expect more from their technology," said Richard Yu, chief executive officer, Huawei Consumer Business Group.

"We’re delighted to introduce the MediaPad 7 Vogue, our call-enabled tablet with world-class entertainment capabilities and long-lasting battery power. The MediaPad 7 Vogue is a perfect example of Huawei’s dedication to making extraordinary experiences possible." MediaPad 7 Vogue was unveiled with a 1.2GHz quad-core CPU paired with a 16-core graphics processor, DC-HSPA+ connectivity, and a 4100mAh Li-Polymer battery for over 20 hours of talk time. The slate also sports a 7-inch screen capable of delivering a 1024 x 600-pixel resolution, Wi-Fi connectivity inside, and a body that is only 9.5mm thin and weighs 335 grams. “Running on Android 4.1, the MediaPad 7 Vogue is pre-installed with email, word processing, Facebook, YouTube, and GPS navigation, and also features Huawei’s proprietary Emotion UI 1.5 providing a more user-friendly and personalized experience,” Huawei notes.

“Offering seamless connectivity, the MediaPad 7 Vogue’s Micro USB port is compatible with a full-range of accessories including an external keyboard, mouse and USB flash disk, while the Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Airsharing functionalities allow for swift content sharing wherever you are.”

Huawei MediaPad 7 Vogue
Image credits to Huawei

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Sony Xperia Z Ultra New Photo Emerges

Tomorrow should prove a great day for Xperia enthusiasts out there, as the Japanese handset vendor is expected to announce at least two new mobile phones, one of which is said to be the 6.4-inch Xperia Z Ultra phablet.

The device has made it to the headlines quite a few times before, although it hasn’t been officially confirmed as of now, and can be seen in a new allegedly leaked photo, available courtesy of ePrice. Just as previously rumored, the upcoming smartphone will pack support for a stylus, and the newly leaked photo appears to confirm that.

Furthermore, as XperiaBlog notes, the photo shows the white flavor of the device, which means that there will be at least two color options available for users when it lands on shelves. More info on the matter should become available tomorrow, so stay tuned.

Alleged Sony Xperia Z Ultra
Image credits to ePrice

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Windows 8.1 Preview Metro File Manager Details Leaked

Microsoft will finally introduce a Metro file manager in Windows 8.1 Preview that will allow users to control not only locally-stored data, but also files saved in the cloud.

New details reveal that the SkyDrive app won’t automatically sync all SkyDrive files to the PC, but instead download what are being called placeholders to let you quickly access them. “These small files look like the full file and have thumbnails and metadata, but they take a tiny fraction of the disk pace of the full file,” Microsoft explains in the leaked info.

Once you try to open a placeholder, the application automatically downloads the full file in the background, thus saving space on the disk. In addition, new options will mark the file as available in offline mode, which means that users can access them without an Internet connection.

SkyDrive is a file manager for locally-stored files and items saved in the cloud
Image credits to mydigitallife.info

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Motorola Moto X Accessories Emerge Online

Mobile phone maker Motorola has already confirmed plans to bring to the market a so-called Moto X smartphone before the end of this year, and accessories for the device have already started to emerge online, it seems.

To be more precise, Skinomi has listed online a TechSkin Motorola Moto X Skin Protector, which can be seen on this page with a price tag of $19.95 (€15.23) attached to it. “The Motorola Moto X Skin Protector is the clear choice for maximum scratch protection. The Motorola Moto X Skin Protector goes beyond your traditional Motorola Moto X screen protectors, skins, covers, and cases,” the company says.

As PhoneArena notes, the handset should become official as soon as the next month, with Google’s Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean platform loaded on top, a 720 x 1280-pixel screen, and with a 1.7GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 processor packed inside.

Skinomi TechSkin Motorola Moto X Skin Protector
Image credits to Skinomi

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HP Makes the Android-Based Slate 21 AIO Official

Today, computer maker Hewlett-Packard made official a new Android-based device, namely the HP Slate 21 all-in-one (AIO), which packs a large 21.5-inch touchscreen display.

Designed as a desktop computer, the HP Slate 21 packs a kickstand on the back, while being powered by an Nvidia Tegra 4 processor, thus capable of offering an appealing experience, at least when compared to devices powered by the Tegra 3 chip. Apparently, the main purpose of the new AIO was that of a home entertainment product. The device was made official at the HP World Tour event in Beijing, but no specific info on its availability worldwide has been provided as of now.

HP will deliver such details on a market-by-market basis, CNet reports. Specifics on its pricing will be announced at a later date as well.

HP Slate 21 AIO
Images credits to HP

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Nokia to Unveil a New Smartphone on September 19

Finnish mobile phone maker Nokia is set to make official some new devices later this year, and it appears that it has already started teasing forthcoming announcements.

The company has posted a new photo on its Facebook page, featuring a smartphone that supposedly hints at an event set to take place in Stockholm on September 19, at noon. The photo doesn’t hint at anything more, but its caption could, as it states “What have you planned for this Sunday? Schedule some time for being awesome.” According to a recent post on Nokiapoweruser, the handset vendor might be set to make official its first Windows Phone 8 smartphone with a screen larger than 5 inches, just as some of the previous rumors suggested.

The company is expected to make another announcement as soon as the next month, on July 11, when it might announce the long-rumored 41MP Nokia EOS handset.

Nokia teases September 19 "awesome" announcement
Image credits to Nokia Facebook Page

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