Asus is launching a smaller version of its combinable smartphone and tablet-dock device range in the very near future. Invitations have been sent out to the media for a launch event in Taiwan on Wednesday, 11th of December, with the invitation naming the Padfone Mini outright as the device being shown off by the company.
Yota Devices has started shipping its dual-screened YotaPhone, a smartphone that sports a pair of displays. On the front is a typical 4.3-inch 720x1280-resolution LCD screen, while on the back is a 360x640 e-paper display, one which can be used to read ebooks, display signs or messages, or even as a low-power alternative to the LCD screen when the battery needs to be recharged.
Display manufacturer BenQ has rejoined the smartphone industry, by introducing a pair of quad-core devices in Taiwan. The F3 and A3 are both entry-level Android devices with similar 4.5-inch 960x540-resolution IPS displays, and though they both share the same external design and similar internal specifications, the two differ in terms of processor and rear cameras.
More details about another Huawei smartphone with eight-core chip have surfaced, including an image showing part of the device. Teased by Huawei CEO Richard Yu last week as forming part of the Ascend P6S, the same MediaTek MT6592 octa-core processor will apparently be appearing in the Huawei Glory 4 sometime in the future.
Motorola's modular smartphone has taken one more step into becoming a reality, thanks to a multi-year agreement with a manufacturing partner. 3D Systems has agreed to create a "continuous high-speed 3D printing production platform" for Project Ara, and ultimately creating modules as "Motorola's exclusive fulfillment partner" if it completes the platform's development.
Owning a smart phone or a tablet is great, but having the battery die while on the go is not so great. There are various ways to avoid having this happen -- one of them being a portable battery charger. SnowLizard's SLPower 7 charger provides 7000mAH of power that can be used to simultaneously charge two tablets or smartphones. Electronista has one of these to give away to our readers.
ZTE has launched a pair of updates to last year's Nubia Z5, with both smartphones to shop with LTE and 3G options, depending on carrier and region. The Nubia Z5S will have a five-inch 1080p IGZO display, while the smaller Nubia Z5S mini opts for a lower-resolution 720o, 4.7-inch display, and a drop in specification when compared to its full-sized counterpart.
An updated version of the Huawei Ascend P6 is on the horizon, one which will see it having an octa-core processor. Huawei president Xu Xun Quan revealed that the Ascend P6S smartphone will be getting the eight-core treatment in the future, though refrained from hinting at exactly when the device will be coming on the market.
AT&T has opened up pre-orders for the Nokia Lumia 1520, with the device shipping on November 22nd, later than first thought. Priced at $200 on a two-year contract, $585 off-contract, and $27 per month under AT&T Next, the Lumia 1520 offers a six-inch 1080p IPS display, a quad-core Snapdragon 800 processor clocked at 2.2GHz, 2GB of RAM, 32GB of storage, and a 20-megapixel PureView camera on the back.
British-based phone manufacturer Kazam, created six months ago by two former HTC executives, has launched its first ranges of Android devices. A total of six smartphones have been shown off, with one in the Thunder range and five Trooper devices, with phones ranging not only in size but also in internal specification.
Samsung has confirmed earlier rumors that AT&T will be the first US carrier to offer its Galaxy S4 Zoom to customers, from November 8th. Priced at $200 on a two-year contract or $25 per month under AT&T Next, the Galaxy S4 Zoom has a 4.3-inch qHD screen with a dual-core 1.5GHz processor, 1.5GB of RAM, LTE connectivity, and a 16-megapixel CMOS sensor on the back with optical image stabilization, a Xenon flash, and a 10x optical zoom.
Motorola will be hosting an event on November 13th for the launch of the Moto G smartphone. The Google-owned device manufacturer will be showing off the successor to the Moto X during a live event later this month, with the device name having previously been confirmed courtesy of a mistake on the Motorola website and a trademark filing.
After weeks of launch rumors, Google has finally introduced the Nexus 5 smartphone. The LG-produced device features a Gorilla Glass 3-protected 4.95-inch Full HD IPS display, giving it a pixel density of 445 PPI, powered by a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor clocked at 2.3GHz with 2GB of RAM and an Adreno 330 GPU.
An unboxing of the upcoming Google Nexus 5 suggests that there is an iCloud-style back-up system included in the device. Accompanied by a number of photographs that leave little doubt to the device's existence, the Nexus 5 is said to feel similar to the LG G2 when held, though without the volume control buttons on the back.
Motorola may be closer to launching another in the Moto line than first believed, thanks to a slip-up by Motorola itself. The Google-owned manufacturer allegedly leaked the existence of the Moto G through its website, less than a week after it was discovered that the company had applied for a trademark through the USPTO for the smartphone name.
Yet more leaks suggest that Google will be launching the Nexus 5 soon, thanks to a Canadian carrier and LG. Wind Mobile published and later pulled a pre-registration page for the Nexus 5, along with what could be a complete specification sheet for the device, while another photo shows that stock of the device may have already reached distributors.
The Android-based Ouya game console is spreading its retail reach in the United States, ahead of the holiday sales. Previously launching in a number of Target, GameStop, and Best Buy stores, the console will now be available in all Target locations across the US, reports Polygon, with store availability of the Ouya in Western Europe and the Middle East also said to be increasing in the next month.
New photos and a video demonstration for the oncoming LG G Flex have surfaced, this time shown with an active display. The smartphone, with its signature curved OLED screen, demonstrated the extent of its x-axis curvature on an Argentine television show, despite the company's apparent lack of announcement of the device.
Nokia has revealed a pair of Lumia phablets, a first for the manufacturer. Both the Lumia 1520 and the Lumia 1320 sport six-inch displays and Windows Phone 8, and though the two are superficially similar, the Lumia 1520 is a premium offering, while the 1320 is meant to be a more affordable, lower-specification model.
Rumors of an Amazon-created smartphone have had a boost, thanks to a recently filed patent application. The unearthed filing for "User guided object identification" provides details for how a smartphone can recognize an object and then provide the user with an appropriate Amazon product page, a feature that was mentioned in a rumor from earlier this month.
Specifications for the Nokia Lumia 1520 have surfaced again, this time in the form of the company's own store in China. The official Nokia Tmall store in the country lists the smartphone, codenamed "Bandit," as shipping with a large 6-inch, 1,080x1,920-resolution display, ahead of the company's event being held tomorrow.
Protective accessories manufacturer OtterBox has announced the release of its latest rugged smartphone case line, the Preserver Series. The Preserver Series is promoted as being fully waterproof -- withstanding submersion in water up to 6.6 feet for 30 minutes -- as well as dust and drop proof. The cases fit the iPhone 5, and will be coming soon for iPhone 5s, 5c and Samsung Galaxy S4 as well.
Pantech is adding to its Vega smartphone range with another device, one which introduces some extra privacy features. The Vega Secret Note, complete with a 5.9-inch 1080p display, sports a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor which can be used to not only unlock the device, but to also reveal hidden notes, photos, and videos stored on the device from view.
Following on from rumors of a tablet and the upcoming budget-Moto X dubbed DVX, Motorola is believed to be working on a phablet and another smartphone. The Xplay, said to have a 6.3-inch display, is accompanied by rumors of a new smartphone for Verizon's popular Droid range called the Droid Quantum.
The battle for mobile devices with curved displays is heating up, with reports suggesting that Samsung could announce such a smartphone soon, if not before the end of this week. The device, said to be called the Galaxy Round, could end up being revealed before rival LG launches a version with its own mass-produced curved screen.
Apple continues to have the highest market share of smartphones, according to the latest comScore MobiLens report. While Android manages to top the list of smartphone platforms for the period, Apple managed to increase its lead on Samsung, HTC, Motorola, and LG from the start of the period by 1.5 percent, reaching a new market share total of 40.7 percent.
Samsung Mobile has announced the US-wide launch of its media centre platform, HomeSync. Consumers can use their Galaxy smartphone or tablet to control entertainment choices on their TV, as well as upload and download mobile content using its 1TB secure storage. Originally unveiled in February, the $300 device is set to be available across the US beginning October 6, 2013.
More rumors have surfaced concerning two possible Amazon smartphones. Fresh from the launch of refreshed Kindle Fire and Kindle Fire HD tablet lines late last month, the online retailer is said to be still working on a pair of mobile devices, with one said to have a similar 3D user interface and eye tracking system as reported about earlier this year.
LG will be following its success with curved televisions by announcing a smartphone with a curved screen in the future, claims a report. The manufacturer has entered mass production of the device, dubbed the LG Z, with the central feature consisting of a flexible display attached to a rigid body, and will apparently have similar specifications to the recently-launched LG G2.
Another photograph showing what is believed to be the next Google Nexus smartphone has surfaced, giving a close look of the Nexus 5 outside of the recent FCC filing. The closer image comes at the same time as an alleged leak of logs for the Nexus 5 running on Android 4.4 Kitkat, apparently providing a fairly complete list of specifications for the smartphone.
Motorola could be working on a low-cost version of its Moto X flagship smartphone, according to filings at the FCC. Images in the filing, submitted to show how the smartphone is set-up for testing, gives an almost complete front and back shot of what is believed to be the Motorola DVX, with only a few minor stickers placed on the rear.
BlackBerry has released its quarterly financial results, on the same day as its Z30 smartphone goes on sale in the United Kingdom. Just as it expected, it managed to earn $1.6 billion in revenues for the second quarter, down from the $2.9 billion in the same period last year, though the operating loss is marginally less than the $1 billion predicted, reaching $965 million.
Toshiba has introduced a smartphone camera module that utilizes two sensors to capture "deep focus" images. The technology appears to be similar to Lytro's cameras, simultaneously capturing images and depth data. Users can then manipulate the depth of field or focal plane after taking a single picture.
Chinese mobile phone manufacturer Oppo has launched its teased smartphone, complete with unique camera module. The Oppo N1 allows its top-mounted 13-megapixel camera unit to rotate around 206 degrees, allowing the same camera to be used for front-facing, rear-facing and alternative angled photographs.
LG has launched a new addition to its Optimus Vu smartphone range, one which uses a 4:3 aspect ratio display. The LG Vu 3 retains almost the same screen dimensions of its predecessor, as previously rumored, with a 5.2-inch 1,280x960 IPS display and the addition of a Rubberdium stylus bringing it closer to being competition for the Samsung Galaxy Note range.
Sprint has joined Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile in offering customers a way to upgrade earlier. The Sprint One Up program, as leaked last weekend, will allow subscribers to upgrade their smartphone or mobile device once per year, with the carrier also providing a discounted price plan to accompany the new mobile phone upgrading scheme.
Sony is hoping to tighten up its security surrounding its mobile devices in the future, after the launch of the Xperia Z1. The electronics giant has allegedly placed posters in its offices to warn its staff away from sharing details with non-employees, complete with its list of rules for handing confidential, prototype mobile devices.
BlackBerry has added another touchscreen-only device to its BlackBerry 10 OS range, as reported previously. The follows on from the BlackBerry Z10 in losing the physical keyboard, but with a larger 5-inch Super AMOLED display with a 1,280x720 resolution and a dual-core 1.7GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro with 2GB of RAM and an Adreno 320 GPU.
As teased by the company last week, Asus has launched the updated version of its PadFone Infinity. The new version of the combined smartphone and dockable tablet system uses an improved quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 clocked at 2.2GHz with 2GB of RAM, instead of the 1.7GHz Snapdragon 600 used in its predecessor, as well as a few other minor changes.
Google has run out of stock of the 16GB model of its Nexus 4 smartphone on Google Play in the United States, and is unlikely to make a return. The sell-out of discounted mobile devices, coming two weeks after the 8GB version did the same, is said to be a stock clearance before Google starts selling its expected Nexus 5 smartphone.
T-Mobile will be opening up pre-orders for the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 later this week, starting from the 18th. While T-Mobile will commence sales of the Samsung phablet from Wednesday, AT&T will be doing the same for the Galaxy Gear smart watch from midnight tonight, having already started its Galaxy Note 3 pre-orders earlier.
On the eve of Apple's announcement of new iPhones, the Wall Street Journal is reporting that the long-rumored home button fingerprint scanner will become a feature of the iPhone 5S, the company's next model of premium smartphone. The fingerprint sensor will likely be used in addition to standard security measures such as PIN numbers or passcodes, but add a significant extra layer of security which could push e-commerce, banking and other high-security applications forward, in addition to making iPhones less valuable to thieves.
According to reports today, Amazon is attempting to make its long-rumored smartphone free when it becomes available. Details are sparse at the moment, but Amazon seems to want to not charge for the phone regardless of contract details, and likely requiring an $80 annual subscription to Amazon Prime.
Lenovo is looking towards shipping a new premium smartphone in October, adding to its existing mobile device range. The Vibe X has a five-inch "20/20 Vision" IPS display with a resolution of 1920x1080 and a pixel density of 440PPI, protected by Gorilla Glass 3, packed into a polycarbonate body measuring just 6.9mm (0.27 inches) thick.
The 8GB model of the Google Nexus 4 has sold out on Google Play in the United States. The smartphone, recently subjected to a price cut of $100 down to $199, is now showing as "out of inventory" for its lower-capacity model, and directly hints towards an overall clearance of the device, potentially as preparation for the speculated Nexus 5.
Acer has revealed three new Android devices it will be showing off at IFA this week, alongside extra options for current tablets. The Iconia A3, complete with a 10.1-inch, 1280x800 IPS LED display, is accompanied by a 24-inch all-in-one for desktops, the 6-inch Liquid S2 smartphone, and new color choices for the Iconia A1 and Iconia B1 tablets.
Archos has revealed what mobile devices it will be showing at IFA in Germany next week. A number of smartphones and tablets running on Android will be on display, including changes to its mobile phone line-up, and the company also teases a range of "Connected Objects," along with its own take on the smart watch concept.
Ukrainian company, iblazr Lab, has added a cold shoe mount option on its Kickstarter for its iblazr LED constant flash. The company has met its target goal with six days left in the campaign, but consumers can pre-order the multi-functional synchronized flash by backing the project. The iblazr originally was intended just for smartphones, tablets and laptops, but the cold shoe mount allows for the flash to be added to any DSLR that has video mode and to portable cameras with a hot shoe mount. Considered the smallest constant light system available (in terms of luminosity), the iblazr with shoe mount package can be pre-ordered for $50 in plastic, $70 in aluminum, and $100 for both. Estimated delivery on the project is December 2013.
The Moto X has gone on sale through AT&T. The Motorola flagship smartphone is available through both AT&T's website and through retail stores, with the site offering the plain black and white options, and customers buying a Moto X card in-store being able to customize their device's color scheme through the Motomaker website.
LG will be releasing a tablet by the end of this year, according to a company executive. Dimitar Valev, mobile communications head at LG Bulgaria, also revealed that it will also launch a new phablet later this year, as well as hinting at what to expect from the company in terms of smart watches, bendable displays, and Firefox OS devices next year.
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