HTC M8 Leaked Wallpaper Confirms 1080p Display

HTC M8 or One+ (Plus), or whatever its name will be, was rumored to pack a stunning 2K display, but according to the latest hearsay that will not be the case with this smartphone.

We reported several days ago some benchmark results pointed to an 1080p display instead of the rumored 2K screen, and now we have more proof that HTC M8 will indeed feature the former. Courtesy to @evleaks, we now have access to the official wallpaper of the unannounced HTC M8. The wallpaper has 2160 x 1920 pixels, which suggests the smarpthone will sport a large display that will support 1920 x 1080 pixels resolution. You can find the full sized original wallpaper here.

No other details have been confirmed either than the 1080p resolution of the display, but rumors hint to a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, 2GB of RAM, Android 4.4 KitKat and HTC Sense 6.0.

HTC M8 original wallpaper
Image credits to evleaks

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BBM Voice and BBM Channels for Android to Arrive in February

Canadian mobile phone maker BlackBerry is getting ready for the release of voice calling features for BlackBerry Messenger for Android devices, and appears set to make it available as soon as the next month.

The feature is called BBM Voice, and will provide users with the possibility to enjoy free calling to other BBM users out there. iOS users will also receive the new functionality. At the same time, the company is aiming at allowing Android users to browse and create BBM Channels from their devices, an option that has long been confirmed to arrive on other platforms beside BlackBerry 10. According to The Times of India, Krishnadeep Baruah, senior director, channel marketing in Asia Pacific for Blackberry was the one to confirm this, stating that both options will be delivered as part of an update set to arrive in the next few weeks. Moreover, he confirmed that BBM Video was also considered for release on Android and iOS devices, but did not provide a specific release window for it.

The feature will make it on more mobile operating systems in the not too distant future, but it’s unclear whether it will be part of the next app update or not. When asked about the availability of BBM for Windows Phone devices, Krishnadeep Baruah did not deny the possible release of such an app. "We're constantly evaluating and hopefully at the right time we will be able to launch on newer platforms," Baruah said, without offering further info on the matter.

Previously, BBM Voice and BM Channels were confirmed to arrive on other devices beside BlackBerry 10 smartphones before the end of this year, but no specific timeframe for the roll out has been provided. Hopefully, the Canadian vendor will deliver specifics on its plans for BBM for Android sooner rather than later, so keep an eye on this space to learn the news.

BBM Voice and BBM Channels for Android expected next month
Image credits to BlackBerry

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Samsung Galaxy TabPRO Line and Galaxy NotePRO Set to Arrive in the US February 14

Yesterday I brought you news saying one of Samsung’s latest Galaxy NotePRO tablet might be arriving in Europe, February 7.

But apparently an unnamed Samsung source speaking to RootzWiki claimed customers in the US can expect to see the Samsung’s Galaxy TabPRO series and the Galaxy NotePRO go on sale on Valentine’s Day (February 14). The insider also mentioned that Samsung employees would not going to be allowed time off between the dates of 2/14 and 2/16, so indicating the tech giant expects to sell a lot of tablets in the first few days. Nothing was mentioned of pricing, but European rates were leaked a while ago in the press and they go as follows:

• Samsung Galaxy TabPRO 8.4, Wi-Fi: €389 ($389?)
• Samsung Galaxy TabPRO 8.4, LTE: €519 ($519?)
• Samsung Galaxy TabPRO 10.1, Wi-Fi: €479 ($479?)
• Samsung Galaxy TabPRO 10.1 LTE: €609 ($609?)
• Samsung Galaxy TabPRO 12.2, Wi-Fi: €649 ($649?)
• Samsung Galaxy TabPRO 12.2, LTE: €749 ($749?)
• Samsung Galaxy NotePRO 12.2, Wi-Fi: €749 ($749?)
• Samsung Galaxy NotePRO 12.2, LTE: €849 ($849?)

Yesterday’s news also indicated the Galaxy NotePRO 12.2 (Wi-Fi model) will be selling for €749 / $1,024 in Europe, so it appears we're not far from the truth. So is it possible Europeans will be getting the chance to grab the slates a week earlier?

Samsung's new tablets might arrive on Valentine's Day
Image credits to GeekyGadgets

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Tango PC, a Fanless, Pocketable and Upgradeable Computer System

There are mini PCs, there are micro PCs, and then there are things like the Tango PC, which look more like portable HDDs than anything else. Nonetheless, they are full-fledged systems, albeit not overly powerful ones.

Then again, when the package measures 4.9 x 3.15 x 0.5 inches / 125 x 80 x 13.5 mm, there's hardly any room to complain. Especially when, despite the small package, you can still upgrade the storage and memory and still be able to carry it in a pocket, like you would a wallet. Obviously, the performance won't match that of laptops or desktops. The size demanded sacrifices after all, not the least of which was the CPU. Since it's a fanless computer, the chip needed to make do with a low TDP and, thus, a low performance as well. Nonetheless, the AMD A6-5200 is still quite capable, a quad-core APU (accelerated processing unit) with a core frequency of 2 GHz and integrated GCN-based graphics, the HD 8400. 2-8 GB Ram back it, data is stored on an mSATA SSD (SATA III 6.0 Gbps).

High-end PC games won't run on it, but Call of Duty 4 (a shooter from 2007) should run fine, and Battlefield 4 might manage 20 FPS. Not that it'll be playable. But you could play the ever so enduring Counter Strike, or pretty much any title from up to five years ago. Just mind the gameplay and video settings. That said, video will run just fine of course, so if you happen to carry a projector with you, as well as a foldable white sheet of some sort, you can even project movies when camping on some peak or another, or in a forest clearing. It should scare animals away quite nicely, if nothing else.

Keep in mind, though, that the reason the Tango PC (that's the name of the device) is so small is because it has a separate docking system, which provides USB, HDMI, Ethernet, AV and power powers. You'll need to plug the PC in the dock for anything to work. So, I suppose this is, in the end, a PC cartridge. Fortunately, it can be used with multiple docks, and it's not like the dock itself is all that big: 5.3 x 5.3 x 1.06 inches / 135 x 135 x 27 mm.

Tango PC pocket system
Image credits to TangoPC

Tango PC joined us onsite at CES to demo their shirt pocket or purse PC. This super small and powerful PC features an AMD A6-5200 APU and can run any laptop PC compatible OS. Learn more about it by checking out their indiegogo page. 
http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/tango-pc-worlds-most-powerful-pocketable-dockable-gameable-officeable-pc

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Video credits to AMD

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CyanongenMod 11 Android 4.4 KitKat Nightlies for Nook Tablet Available

Owners of the original Nook tablet interested in trying out the new Android 4.4. KitKat build, should know than the official Cyanogenmod 11.0 (Android 4.4) nightlies has been released for their device.

The ROM is compatible with Nook Tablet 512M/8GB and 1GB/16GB. The device code name is “acclaim”. Before trying out this new ROM, you should have a CWM recovery. If you’re installing CWM coming from a stock device, you will need a special SD card. Updating to Android 4.4 KitKat will offer increased performance and reliability over stock Android for your Nook, but note you might stumble upon a few issues too. For example from time to time boot hangs/crashed and users will be forced to reboot. This is an ongoing problem and a fix is currently in the works.

After downloading the new ROM for your specific device, you can find detailed instructions on how to install the new release on the xda-developers forum. Be warned that installing the Cyanogenmod 11.0 (Android 4.4) nightlies on your Nook tablet will void your device warranty.

CyanongenMod 11 Android 4.4 KitKat Nightlies for Nook available
Image credits to IamFanof

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HTC’s Unannounced Octa-Core Smartphone Leaks Online

Taiwanese mobile phone maker HTC Corporation is reportedly gearing up for the launch of an octa-core smartphone, and allegedly leaked images with it are now available for your viewing pleasure.

According to info coming from ePrice, which also brought said images online, the smartphone will be launched as part of the company’s HTC Desire lineup, which means that it will be only a mid-range phone. Furthermore, the news site brought some of the hardware specs for the device to the light, suggesting that it will hit shelves with a 5-inch touchscreen display, capable of delivering a 720p resolution.

On the back, the phone should sport an 8-megapixel camera, supposedly capable of full HD video recording. It is also said to pack 1.5GB of RAM inside, and to be running under Android 4.3 Jelly Bean, with the HTC Sense 5.5 UI loaded on top. HTC is reportedly planning on making the smartphone official next month at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, and might release it in multiple color versions. Stay tuned to learn more on it.

HTC's octa-core Desire smartphone
Image credits to ePrice

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