Dual-OS Machines Aren’t Dead, Ramos i10 Pro Leaks in More Pics Ahead of Official Launch

There has been a lot of fuss about dual-boot machine lately since word got out the ASUS Transformer Book Duet might be discontinued due to pressure coming from both Google and Microsoft. But, strangely enough, the two giants don’t seem to be singing the same tune to the Chinese manufacturer Ramos.

We’ll explain what’s bizarre. For some time now, we have been telling you ASUS is faced with pressure coming from Google and most recently Microsoft. Both want to halt the production of the 2-in-1 tablet/laptop hybrid capable of switching between Android and Windows 8. For one, Google is fearing the move will increase the adoption of Windows 8 machines in detriment to its own platform. But why would the two giants be OK with the Chinese manufacturer doing exactly the same? Granted, we don’t currently know whether Ramos will market the device in the US or any other markets external to China, but even so, it would be interesting to know why the Asian continent seems a good place for dual-OS to flourish. Anyway, regardless of the paradox, Ramos is actively gearing up to launch the dual-booting machine at an event scheduled for March 20 in Beijing, during the Jing Park Art Center conference.

And today, we get the opportunity a more extensive sneak peak of what’s headed for us in a few days (via 1Pad). The tablet has also been put on display in recent days at CeBIT 2014 in Germany. As you can see in the new photos, the Ramos i10 Pro is indeed a dual-booting device capable of switching between Windows 8 and Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. Also visible is the 5MP rear camera, dedicated Windows keys, dual-stereo speakers and an UltraStick card slot that allows users to insert a SIM card to bestow 3G connectivity. Also evident from the pics, is the fact the tablet will become available in multiple colors, not just the bland black we see with other models, including a vivid yellow. Putting looks aside and going for what’s really important, the i10 Pro obviously comes with a 10.1-inch display with a capable 1920 x 1200 pixel resolution (which is the same as the ASUS Transformer Book Duet was supposed to have) and draws power from an Intel Bay Trail Z3770D processor combined with 2GB of RAM and backed up by 32GB of internal storage.

We’re going to be providing you with more details, like pricing and availability dates in the news few days. In the meantime, check out the gallery bellow.

Ramos i10 Pro will launch soon
Images credits to 1pad.cn

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QWERTY-Enabled BlackBerry Kopi Emerges in Leaked Photos

One of the handsets that Canadian mobile phone maker BlackBerry might bring to the market in the not too distant future is reportedly codenamed BlackBerry Kopi, and the smartphone has emerged online once again.

The phone was rumored to arrive on the market with entry-level specifications packed inside, while featuring a design similar to that of BlackBerry Q5. However, it has been canceled and will never be released, it seems. Blackberry has been long rumored to plan on bringing to shelves a new series of cheap smartphones, so as to grab some more market share, and the BlackBerry Z3 that went official last month during the Mobile World Congress proves that. However, some more such phones should hit the market in the coming months, and BlackBerry Kopi might be one of them. The same as Q10 and Q5 handsets, it should combine the traditional BlackBerry keyboard capabilities with touch features, for a better overall experience. As N4BB notes, the new mobile phone was initially set to become official in the first quarter of this year, but BlackBerry decided to cancel its release for whatever reasons.

It is said to be part of the company’s K-series lineup and to have been planned to arrive on the market with a Qualcomm Snapdragon MSM8960 processor packed inside. Moreover, the mobile phone is said to still be making the rounds at various BlackBerry partners, and no official info on what will happen with it has been provided as of now. According to N4BB, BlackBerry will still release a QWERTY-enabled BlackBerry Q20 handset before the end of this year, even if BlackBerry Kopi is not launched. In addition to the K-Series, the mobile phone maker was also expected to bring to shelves handsets in the C-Series family, also aimed at the entry level of the market. As you can imagine, BlackBerry has yet to offer any official confirmation on the above, and it remains to be seen which of said devices will actually arrive on shelves.

BlackBerry has had a series of very difficult quarters lately, and has lost a great deal of users and market share to rivals such as Android, iOS and Windows Phone, a trend that is expected to continue. However, the company is not leaving the fight just yet, and the release of appealing entry-level devices might actually help it regain its foothold, though it will certainly face fierce competition in the low-level market, especially from Android devices. Hopefully, it won’t be long before BlackBerry offers some more info on its plans for this year, so stay tuned to learn whether Kopi will be one of the phones to look for.

BlackBerry Kopi
Images credits to weibo via N4BB

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OPPO Find 7 Gets Fully Unveiled as Retail Package Leaks

Chinese mobile phone maker OPPO won’t make the OPPO Find 7 smartphone official until next week, yet there’s little left undisclosed on the device, especially following the latest series of leaks on the matter.

The vendor has already teased a series of details on the phone, including the fact that it will hit shelves in two flavors, one of which will sport a 2K screen, and all the necessary details on the handset’s hardware specs are now available online. Moreover, a new set of photos that leaked online today also provide us with a better look at the device itself, as well as at its retail package. Said images made it online courtesy of IT168, and allow us to make a better idea of what the yet unannounced smartphone should look like when released. As gizmobic.com notes, the phone looks highly appealing, especially with that black front panel and white back, though it remains to be seen whether it will be launched in other color versions as well. OPPO has already confirmed plans to make the device official on March 19, and should announce it with a 5.5-inch touchscreen display. It will arrive in two versions, one delivering a 1080p resolution and another packing a 2K screen, as mentioned above.

Moreover, Find 7 is expected to be powered by a 2.26GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor, paired with 2GB of RAM, which should ensure high performance capabilities. The handset is also said to pack Adreno 330 graphics inside, and should hit the market with 16GB of internal memory, most probably complemented by a microSD memory card slot for expansion purposes. On the back, the phone should feature a 12-megapixel camera with support for 4K video recording, paired with a 5MP front camera for making video calls. Previous reports have suggested that OPPO might actually include a 50-megapixel camera on the back of the device, but this is not the case. The technology inside the 12MP sensor, however, will allow it to shoot photos at a much higher resolution, it seems.

OPPO Find 7 should also land on shelves with the usual set of connectivity capabilities packed inside, as well as with the entire set of sensors that you’d usually find on a smartphone. Moreover, it is said to run under the Android 4.3 Jelly Bean operating system right from the start. No official confirmation on the above specs has been provided as of now, yet there are only 5 days left until OPPO announces the device, so stay tuned to learn more on it.

OPPO Find 7
Images credits to IT168 via gizmobic.com

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