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An image reported to be of the Lumia 925 has appeared online, just one day before Nokia's London-based press event. The leaked photograph comes at the same time as Nokia starts to tease a new smartphone via advertisements on British TV, seemingly showing a device that could possibly be the long-rumored Lumia 'Catwalk.'
Broadcaster ABC is said to be updating its iOS app to offer live streams of shows from local ABC stations later this week. New options for a "Live" button in the Watch ABC app for iPhone and iPad will mark it as the first major US broadcaster that provides live streams of its channels to app users, with the first markets to gain the service being New York and Philadelphia.
The anticipated ruggedized version of the Samsung Galaxy S4 has appeared for certification at the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG). The device had previously been alluded to by a Samsung executive who said that it would be releasing a device with water and dust resistance along the lines of the Sony Xperia Z and ZR. Its appearance on the Bluetooth SIG site is indicative that it is set to join the ever expanding range of Samsung Galaxy products in the next couple of months.
In tandem with the launch of the Sony Xperia ZR, Sony has rolled out a iPod shuffle inspired pair of stereo Bluetooth earphones. The new SBH20 uses a small shuffle-like case to enclose a Bluetooth 3.0 receiver and rechargeable battery, while also function as a remote control for a connected smartphone or other Bluetooth-enabled device. The SBH20 incorporates a clip that users can use to pin to their clothing, minimizing the amount of cabling while allowing the connected device to remain stored in a backpack or handbag.
Sony has revealed the latest addition to its smartphone lineup for 2013, the Xperia ZR. Like its 5-inch Xperia Z stable mate, the Xperia ZR is notable for its built-in water and dust resistance, rated at IP55 and IP58 respectively. Yet at the same time, it packs the same quad-core Snapdragon S4 found in the larger Xperia Z into a more compact, 4.6-inch device.
The Samsung Galaxy S4 will be available in an extra shade of blue, according to a Japanese carrier's promotional material. The images from DoCoMo arrive at the same time as other photographs that claim to show the Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini, something which has been suggested as launching at some point this month.
The HTC One is a crucial product for the Taiwanese smartphone maker. The company once was the market leading Android smartphone vendor and saw tremendous success and growth as a company. It worked with Google on the first Nexus smartphone and was often one of the first to market with new features, including the move to displays 4-inches or larger. However, the rise of Samsung as a smartphone maker has largely come at the expense of HTC, which has seen its fortunes rapidly decline as a consequence. See if HTC has done enough with the One to turn its fortunes around in our full review of the HTC One.
A spokesperson for the Pentagon has told Bloomberg that mobile devices using Apple's iOS 6 as well as Samsung devices supplemented with the company's Knox security lockdown as well as BlackBerry devices running BB10 are expected to be allowed onto the Defense Department's high-security data networks early next week, barring final approvals. The news comes on the heels of iOS's FIPS 140-2 certification for the CoreCrypto kernel module, which was added in the iOS 6 release.
The Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) has come under attack by a newly-proposed legislation. The Unlocking Technology Act of 2013 seeks to legalize the unlocking of cellphones, as well as clarifying that the DMCA should only apply in cases where circumventing digital rights management or other copyright systems will aid in copyright infringement itself.
Nokia has formally unveiled the Lumia 928, headed to Verizon as a network-exclusive. The smartphone, previously leaked through a billboard and an advertisement in Vanity Fair, has been revealed before its expected launch event in London on May 14th, with the phone manufacturer keen to continue promoting its 8.7-megapixel PureView camera with Carl Zeiss lens and Xenon flash with another test video.
A smartphone manufacturer in Thailand is making two mobile devices that use two high-resolution camera sensors, rather than one high and one low. Images published on Facebook by i-mobile show the IQ X and IQ XA, which boast an 18-megapixel rear camera and an 8-megapixel front-facing version, both of which have BSI sensors and autofocus.
Samsung has submitted a Galaxy S4 Zoom to the Bluetooth SIG group for Bluetooth 4.0 certification. The device is set to join the fresh battle for the rejuvenated camera phone segment with a 10x optical zoom built-in for users looking for better camera shots as their first priority in a smartphone. Listed on the Bluetooth SIG site as a “Samsung Mobile Phone” the device also carries the model designation SM-C101.
Former Windows Mobile maker i-mate has apparently sparked back into life after looking as though it was all over just a few years ago. The troubled company is planning on returning to the market with a new 4.7-inch smartphone running the full Windows 8 desktop and tablet operating system – not to be confused with Windows Phone 8, which runs on Nokia, HTC and Samsung handsets. The company, now based in Redmond Washington, is developing the Intelegent smartphone to work in combination with a dock and a wireless tablet display to create comprehensive workstation with full mobile capabilities.
In its latest report, industry research firm Canalys is reporting on what it calls "worldwide smart mobile device shipments" for the first quarter of the year -- a term that includes smartphones, notebooks and tablets. Of the 308.7 million devices that fall under one of those categories that shipping in Q1, around 60 percent were said to be Android devices, reflecting the platform's strength in smartphones -- the fastest-growing area of mobile electronics. Apple's iOS placed second again, despite a dominant presence in tablets.
Magistrage Judge Paul S. Grewal, the judge in charge of pre-trial discovery issues in the second Apple vs. Samsung patent trial, has ruled that Google must provide Apple search terms used in the unearthing of documents related to the case. Google is now compelled to "produce search terms and a list of custodians that Google used in response to requests for production Apple served on it." The seven-page ruling makes a point clear -- Apple wasn't seeking further discovery, it just expressed concern on the information Google pulled for discovery.
Apple retook fifth place in the Chinese smartphone market during the first quarter of the year with an 8 percent share, according to Canalys data obtained by IDG News. Previously, during the third and fourth quarters of 2012, Apple had been relegated to sixth place. Samsung remained in control during Q1 2013, managing a 20 percent share. Local firms Yulong, Huawei, and Lenovo completed the top five.
A report claims that Amazon is creating a number of devices, including two smartphones and an audio-only device said to be designed for streaming. Though there are little in the way of details for the gadgets, one of the two phones is said to use a screen capable of showing 3D images without the need to wear special glasses.
Huawei will be putting its first Windows Phone 8 device on sale in the United States as a prepaid device in the near future. The Huawei Ascend W1, renamed the Huawei W1 for the US market, will be made available in Walmart stores and Walmart.com later this month, and retains the same specifications and feature set that Electronista saw at Mobile World Congress in February.
AT&T has officially launched Aio Wireless, an awaited MVNO carrier offering cheaper prepaid plans. Aio is offering Basic, Smart, and Pro tiers for phones, all of which including unlimited calling and texting. Basic costs between $35 and $40, and includes 250MB of data. Smart costs $55 per month for 2GB, and the $70 Pro plan ups the data cap to 7GB. Once a cap is exceeded, Aio begins throttling speeds. A special $15 tablet plan provides 250MB of data.
Nokia has updated its Asha range of devices with an entry-level touchscreen smartphone at a media event earlier today. The Asha 501, leaked yesterday, houses a three-inch 320x240 touchscreen in a case not too dissimilar from the Asha 210 QWERTY smartphone shown last month, along with a new mobile operating system.
A teardown of the 32GB US Samsung Galaxy S4 by research firm IHS iSuppli shows the device costs the Korean manufacturer just above $237 to build per unit. Many of the components are sourced within Samsung itself and is not far below the Bill of Materials (BOM) cost of the Galaxy Note tablet, which runs the company $270 per unit.
A Nokia smartphone being revealed in New Delhi tomorrow has allegedly been uncovered in a leak earlier than the manufacturer intended. A photograph showing a stack of phones, claimed to be the Asha 501, with the range of device casings matching the "add some color" statement made on an official Nokia blog post for the event.
Nvidia’s forthcoming Tegra 4 chip may have received an early benchmark if an AnTuTu score that has been posted online is to be believed. According to the post, the Tegra 4 produced a score of over 32,000 points, outgunning the 1.9GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 found in the Samsung Galaxy S4. By comparison, the Galaxy S4’s Snapdragon chip produces a score of 25,000 points, while the HTC One with the same Snapdragon chip clocked at 1.7GHz scores 23,600 points.
Nokia is continuing to tease its impending launch of the Lumia 928, by comparing its camera against that of the iPhone 5 and Samsung Galaxy S III. A video on the Nokia website using footage from the three phones claims to show how the 8.7-megapixel PureView camera stands up to those found in competing handsets in low-light conditions.
T-Mobile USA's first quarterly results of the year appears to show its Uncarrier campaign is working in attracting prepaid customers, though still lost high-earning postpaid accounts. Despite adding more customers overall, revenues for the quarter hit $4.68 billion, a drop of seven percent compared to $5.03 billion received for the same quarter last year.
Google has created a new map that shows videos trending on YouTube by area. The Trends Map displays the most popular videos being viewed in major markets across the US, with the added option of viewing the top videos in areas by age band and gender. While it is covering the United States initially, the YouTube Trends blog states that there are updates due in future, which could include providing data on regional viewing habits in other countries.
Details of a new mid-ranged smartphone from Sony has appeared online, complete with an alleged test of its 5-megapixel camera. The C1905 is said to be an Android Jelly Bean-based phone that will form part of the Xperia range, and will sit alongside the Xperia L in the company's product catalog, with the leak coming shortly after claimed specifications of the camera-oriented Xperia i1 Honami were reported.
iOS made significant gains in US mobile web traffic during April, according to Investing Analytics data obtained by Piper Jaffray. The platform reached a 69 percent share, up from 66.4 percent in March. The growth primarily at the expense of Android, which declined from 28.7 percent in March to 26.5.
Huawei is preparing an extremely thin smartphone for release, according to recently-surfaced photographs. Three shots of a device alleged to be the Huawei P6-U06 have appeared, showing a minimalist front display without physical buttons, and a metal edging on the sides that bears a passing resemblance to that of the iPhone 5.
Another confirmation for the existence of the Nokia Lumia 928 has surfaced, in the guise of a magazine advertisement. The promotion in Vanity Fair and accompanying product page arrives at the same time as rumors that the Lumia 928 will not be the only device launched at a Nokia media event being held in London on May 14th.
A parts supplier with a good track record of providing advance information on smartphones is now saying that it has heard that Apple is planning more than just a single model of the so-called "low-cost" iPhone. The rumored phone, which has been speculated on for over a year, is said to be aimed at developing markets where pre-paid phones and plans dominate and is thought to be largely plastic-based, but have most of the same functionality as current iPhone models -- but cost around $330-$400, as much as 50 percent less than the off-contract price of a current iPhone.
Samsung is steadily improving its profitability in the smartphone area, but Apple continues to be the dominant player when it comes to making money on smartphones sales according to the latest report from Canaccord Genuity. Apple's lower profit margin on smartphones in the first calendar quarter of the year led to a significant drop in its share of smartphone profits but was enough to allow the iPhone maker to claim 57 percent of the entire industry's profits, with Samsung taking the remaining 43 percent.
BlackBerry could be preparing an alternative to its strong-selling Q10 to add to its BlackBerry OS 10-compatible range. Images and leaked specifications suggest that the phone maker is creating another QWERTY keyboard-based smartphone dubbed the R10, one that has appeared in both black and red-colored casings.
Amazon has launched its Android Appstore for paid apps in China, ahead of Google and its Play store. The release of the Appstore in the country now means that Amazon is the first of the two main Android app stores to launch in the region and opens the door to Amazon releasing its Kindle Fire tablets in China and other nearby territories.
Samsung has launched the Galaxy Core, a new mid-range smartphone that is also available in a dual-SIM variant. The new device continues with Samsung’s current Galaxy styling with rounded corners and an arched back, while also retaining the plastic body. It also carries Samsung’s S-Voice and Smart Stay function that allows tracks a user’s eyes recognizing when to keep the display on or turn it off.
An advertisement on a billboard allegedly showing the rumored Nokia Lumia 928 has appeared online. The new image, if genuine, presents the smartphone as having "the best low-light smartphone camera," as well as showing that it is heading to Verizon Wireless, and hints that the device may be launched sometime in the near future
By returning to its roots, BlackBerry may have provided itself with a winner. Citing checks with assorted retailers, an analyst predicts that BlackBerry's hardware QWERTY handset, the Q10, is selling well in both Canada and Britain. The phone is the second model BlackBerry has released in the past few months, and arguably the model more anticipated by BlackBerry fans due to its retention of a physical keyboard.
An LG ‘phabet’ has been leaked courtesy of @evleaks, although it remains a mystery at this point what it is and where it fits into LG's product line. The device looks similar to the 5.5-inch LG Optimus G Pro, which has just gone up for pre-order with AT&T. However, it is possible that it features a slightly larger display edge-to-edge display as it omits the home button found at the bottom of the Optimus G Pro. It also seems to omit physical buttons on the sides of the device as well.
Google may be working with South Korean electronics manufacturer LG in order to develop a follow-up to last year's Nexus 4 handset. The rumored handset could be a retooling of the existing device, as was reported last month, but it may in fact be a new and distinct Nexus phone. The two companies are said to be discussing how they can further collaborate going forward.
Two analysts from Wall Street investment bankers JP Morgan have produced an analysis of possible scenarios for the rumored (but not announced) "low cost" iPhone model expected to debut later this year, aimed at the large worldwide "prepaid" market. Based both on research of existing entries in that market space as well as Apple traditions, Gokul Hariharan and Mark Moskowitz believe that when Apple does bring out the device, it will not be a cheap "bargain" iPhone but instead a "mid-range" entry that should cost between $350 and $400.
Though the combined sales of Android smartphones continues to best Apple as a platform, Google's mobile OS continued to lose marketshare in the US in the latest quarterly comScore survey, as Apple solidified its position as market leader despite the lack of any new iPhone model in since before the holidays. Apple's share of the US smartphone market is now 39 percent, up 2.7 percent since December. Though Samsung was able to increase its US share slightly, the other three major Android vendors all lost ground in the most recent quarter.
Industry giants Verizon and AT&T are both looking at moving more aggressively into pay-as-you-go phone offerings. Carrier software developer ItsOn will be launching a consumer facing portal later this month, likely under the Verizon umbrella. Additionally, AT&T is readying its "All In One"-branded plan, likely supplementing -- rather than replacing -- the GoPhone network already in place.
Verizon has updated the iOS and Android versions of My FiOS, an app supporting the company's fiber service. Both apps have integrated important FiOS TV functions, namely TV listings, DVR scheduling, and a remote control. Previously the app's video functions were limited to watching video on demand.
Nokia CFO Timo Ihamuotila has talked up the rumored forthcoming Lumia 928 as a ‘hero’ device, suggesting that the Finnish handset maker is aiming to directly target new handsets like the Samsung Galaxy S4 and the HTC One. Speaking to analysts following the company’s Q1 results, which featured upbeat Lumia sales, Ihamuotila and Nokia CEO Stephen Elop said that Nokia is working on exclusivity agreements with carriers in the US and the UK to help give the phone a headline billing. Nokia has a special launch event scheduled for the official reveal of the aluminum-claddevice in London on May 14, where it also aims to pitch the photographic capabilities of its latest flagship Windows Phone 8 device.
Mozilla has rolled out a new version of its Firefox OS simulator, in order to help with application development. The emulator update to version 3.0, surfacing just after the first developer devices started shipping, adds a number of features, including rotation simulation, basic simulation of a geolocation API, newer versions of the Firefox rendering engine and Gaia UI, Push to Device, and a number of other bug fixes. The simulator is available to download as a Firefox desktop browser extension.
Early purchasers of the Samsung Galaxy S4 have discovered that approximately 45 percent of the storage on the 16GB model is occupied by Samsung's Android implementation, and unusable by the owner. Upon inspection of the device, the base Galaxy S4 model has only 8.82GB available to the user -- with the rest filled by Samsung with new features like the TouchWiz UI, Samsung Hub, and ChatON.
Google has issued a written denial of claims that its new-to-iOS "Google Now" feature, which relies heavily on Location Services, is causing unusual battery drains for iPhone users. The company recently added the feature -- which attempts to predict what the user will ask based on location, direction and other factors and presents some useful information without user input -- to its Google search app already available for iOS devices. In the statement, Google says both that reports of battery drain are "incorrect" but then asks for users to contact them if they are having a battery problem.
BlackBerry today announced the US Department of Defense (DoD) has approved BlackBerry 10 smartphones and PlayBook tablets with BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 to be used on unsecured networks out of the box and unmodified. The new devices have been tested by the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA), and are now listed on the Unified Communications Approved Product List.
The cellphone industry -- including both carriers and phone makers -- is turning a blind eye toward the problem of smartphone theft, to its own benefit, a New York Times piece claims. The paper, for instance, quotes District of Columbia Police Chief Cathy Lanier as saying that "the carriers are not innocent in this whole game. They are making profit off [smartphone theft]." In 2012, the DC area witnessed a record 1,829 phones being stolen.
BlackBerry has revealed a plan to entice users of revision 7.0 of its operating system to upgrade to the 2011-vintage version 7.1. Until June 3, the company is offering 10 pre-selected paid apps to users in France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, United Arab Emirates, and the UK that make the transition. The offer is notably not available in the company's home country of Canada, or the US.
