Nokia Lumia Play, 950 and 909 PureView offers divine decency

Nokia Lumia Play, 950 and 909 PureView offers divine decency

Under: Nokia
Date: December 27th, 2012

When it comes to Nokia Windows Phone devices the Nokia Lumia range of smartphones is doing rather well for the Finnish company. The latest Nokia handset is of course the Nokia Lumia 920, the first Windows Phone 8 handset from Nokia that should be officially releasing on Vodafone in the UK early next year, but what about future Nokia Lumia handsets?
Well we have three Nokia Lumia concept design handsets for our readers consideration today, devices dubbed the Nokia Lumia Play, the Nokia Lumia 950 and the Nokia Lumia 909 PureView, of course as these are concepts it doesn’t mean we will ever seem them in the mobile space, but it is interesting to see what designers can come up with.
So let’s kick things off with that Nokia Lumia Play, a device designed by Antonio Celestino, who describes the Nokia Lumia Play as an Xbox Phone, and this Windows Phone 8 device sports twin gaming pads on the back of the device that extend outwards to improve your gaming experience.

The Nokia Lumia Play would pack a HD 1139 x 640 pixel resolution touch screen along with Gorilla Glass protecting the display and sports a 10 megapixel rear facing snapper with full HD video capture along with a 5 megapixel from facing camera with 750p video functionality.
The handset would also pack the ability to interact with your Xbox 360 console, and offer both action buttons and directional pad along with a couple of shoulder buttons, and would be just 7.6mm thick with quite a few straight lines and edges, but no other specs have been mentioned.
Moving on to the Nokia Lumia 950, a concept by industrial designer Zelig Fok, that offers a both back and front curve design with both the top and bottom of the device said to be able to change colour and light up when a notification arrives and clear when notifications are off, and apparently the entire handset is wrapped in glass

Of course the Nokia Lumia 950 would run Windows Phone 8, sporting curved Gorilla Glass protection along with a 4.5-inch 768p touch screen and feature a 21 megapixel PureView rear facing camera along with a Snapdragon S4 Pro quad core processor, 1.5GB of RAM, 32GB of storage and wireless charging.
Lastly we have the Nokia Lumia 909 PureView smartphone designed by Karl Panase, again a Windows Phone 8 device naturally that sports a 4.8-inch 768 x 1280 pixel touch screen with both ClearBlack tech and PureMotion HD+ tech and Gorilla Glass 2 protection.

The Nokia Lumia 909 PureView would come with a 1.7GHz Snapdragon S4 dual core processor running the show along with an Adreno 320 graphics processor, whilst the smartphone would pack a massive 41 megapixel auto-focus camera with Carl Zeiss optics with 10x digital lossless zoom, improved low light and noise reduction, and Xenon flash.
The device would also offer 64GB of storage along with microSD expansion and 7GB of Skydrive storage, Qi wireless charging, a 2500mAh battery and all housed in an 8.5mm thick shell that weighs 180 grams.
Do any of these Nokia Lumia concept designs float your Lumia Windows Phone 8 boat?

Oppo Find 5 to see global release with 32GB model in tow

If you are a fan of the Android platform there is an increasing amount of new smartphones to choose from, and especially ones that now have a larger sized screen. One such device that has recently made an appearance is the Oppo Find 5, and some new information has come to light about the handset that includes a global release with a 32GB model in tow.
Recently there was some confusion over the availability of the Oppo Find 5 with one company executive suggesting the device would only be seen in the US and Chinese markets, but then another spokesperson from the company denied this would be the case without going into more details about the regions that would see the device.
Now though the company has taken to its official Facebook page to offer some more details about the phone that include the countries that can look forward to the Oppo Find 5 being released. They have also teased the handset coming in both 16GB and 32GB flavours costing $499 and $569 respectively.

The countries that have been listed to receive the handset when it is finally released include Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Finland, Greece, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.
These regions are added to the Chinese and US markets that were already down to receive the handset, and proves the handset is set to go global. There is still no exact date given for the Oppo Find 5’s release, but it is expected to arrive sometime during the first quarter of next year.
To recap the Oppo Find 5 will feature a 5-inch 1920 x 1080 Full HD display that offers an impressive 441ppi pixel density, which will be powered by a quad core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro APQ8064 processor clocked at 1.5GHz coupled with 2GB of RAM.
Providing the juice will be a 2,500 mAh battery unit with the smartphone, which will come running Android 4.1 Jelly Bean out of the box, and other specifications include a 13 megapixel camera on the back, 1.9 megapixel front facing shooter, Bluetooth, HSPA+ connectivity, NFC, GPS, and Wi-Fi.
When the Oppo Find 5 was officially announced by the company there were some concerned about the lack of a microSD card port, which could be used to increase the amount of storage, but considering there will be a 32GB model that is priced competitively the handset looks set to become a hit for the company.
Will you be considering the Oppo Find 5 next year?

Next iPhone and iPad could possibly sport IGZO display

I’m sure you know that anything to do with future Apple gear always captures the attention of the mobile space, and there have been previous rumours that Apple was looking to Sharp and their IGZO display tech; however that rumour seemed to have been quashed because Sharp couldn’t live up to Apple’s high expectations by passing their strict mass production approval process. However it seems that those rumours are no longer dead in the water.
A report by Apple Insider has it that the source of many an Apple rumour, DigiTimes has it that according to the usual unnamed people that are familiar with the matter, Apple is again considering using Sharp’s indium, gallium, zinc oxide (IGZO) panels for 2013, and is evaluating whether how much supplies of IGZO panels with be available in the year if the company was to use the tech in the next iPhone and Apple iPad.
Sharp’s IGZO screens are thinner than the current screens on the iPhone and iPad, and as you probably know Sharp has already introduced their own devices sporting an IGZO display in Japan and in Russia with the Sharp Aquos Phone SH930W.

It appears that Sharp has managed to improve their yield of IGZO displays enough for Apple to again be considering using the tech in future iOS devices, but of course Apple being Apple they are hedging their bets, and not taking anything for granted as the company has also been talking to display partner AU Optronics to see whether their L5C line could be utilised to manufacture IGZO displays.
Furthermore apparently Innolux in Taiwan has also been given a license to produce IGZO panels, and so Innolux could also be in the running to supply Apple with IGZO displays for their upcoming new iPhone and iPad units in 2013.
Earlier this month we reported that a prototype of the iPhone 6 had been revealed sporting a 4.8-inch Retina+ IGZO display along with an Apple A7 quad core processor, but of course that hasn’t been confirmed in any way and as such is still just a rumour, and of course there is also a rumour that the iPhone 5S could also come out to play packing an IGZO display.
Having said that as usual with Apple gear nothing it really confirmed until such times as Apple give the word, but there is always a possibility we could see the next iPhone and iPad comes with that Sharp IGZO panel tech in tow unless Apple decides to quash those rumours themselves of course.

HTC One S getting a taste of the Jelly Bean update

The saga of updating Android software to the Jelly Bean update is seemingly improving over the last few weeks with a number of different handsets finally being treated to the new firmware. While many of us were enjoying the festive celebrations though the HTC One S has been treated to a taste of the Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean update.
HTC normally keeps its customers informed about updating its hardware to a later version of Android, although it’s not always accurate, but the guys over on the XDA Developers forum have noticed the international version of the HTC One S has begun receiving the Android Jelly Bean update.
The company has recently released the software update to both the One X and One XL and now it’s the turn of the international version of the HTC One S midrange smartphone. The CID numbers of the handsets getting the update include HTC_E11, HTC _203, HTC_001, HTC_102, HTC_A07, HTC_032, HTC_A07, HTC_M27, and HTC_405.

If your handset doesn’t have one of the CID numbers listed you can always manually check for the update yourself via the Settings option and About Phone before selecting HTC Software Updates. The update like always will be staggered so don’t despair if it hasn’t reached your example of the handset yet, and the update should be carried out using a strong Wi-Fi connection as it weighs in at a mighty 612 MB.
The update brings with it the usual Jelly Bean improvements with owners being treated to greater speed and smoother operation, which comes along with a number of new features such as Google Now and the HTC Android overlay Sense 4+. Those of you that can get the update can achieve it via an over the air update or by connecting the device to your computer.
Meanwhile TmoNews are reporting that the software is going into the beta phase of testing for T-Mobile in the US, and the carrier is asking for volunteers to test out the firmware before it sees a general release to the masses. The exclusive beta program is only available to a few selected customers of the carrier, but it will mean the rest of T-Mobile customers shouldn’t have too much longer to wait.
Has your HTC One S received the Jelly Bean update yet?

BlackBerry Z10 gets detailed and pictured

Everyone knows just how important BlackBerry 10 is to helping Research In Motion get back into the mobile game as one of the big contenders, and a couple of days ago we let our readers know that the word was the first of these saviour devices would probably be known as the BlackBerry Z10, and we have already reported that RIM claims BlackBerry 10 will have 70,000 apps available on launch. But what about that BlackBerry Z10 smartphone?
Well it appears some details on the specifications along with an image of the actual smartphone have been uncovered by Bbin.in, and they claim that the specs that have uncovered are the closest specs of the device, albeit some of these specs not 100 percent confirmed, whilst several of the specs have already been seen on the BlackBerry 10 Dev Alpha devices.
So here’s what the BlackBerry Z10, a device that is expected to be unveiled at the end of January 2013, has to offer those BlackBerry faithful, the device is said to sport a 4.2-inch 1280 x 768, 356PPi, 15:9 ratio touch screen along with an 8 megapixel rear facing auto-focus camera, a 2 megapixel front facing snapper, and 1080p video.

The first BlackBerry 10 handset is also said to sport a 1.5GHz TI OMAP 4470 dual core processor or a Snapdragon MSM8960 processor (Canada and the US), 2GB of RAM, 16GB internal storage, Wifi 802.11a/b/g/n, A-GPS, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC, hot swappable microSD slot, quad band HSPA+/UMTS 850, 900, 1700, 1900, 2100, quad band GSM/GPRS 850, 900, 1800, quad band LTE bands 2, 4, 5, 13, 17 (700, 850, 1700, 1900), microUSB, microHDMI-out, accelerometer, magentometer, gyroscope, face detect for calls, ambient light detector and an 1800mAh removable battery.
Apparently all those specs have been confirmed for the upcoming BlackBerry Z10 apart from those processors. The devices is said to becomes available in both white or black versions, and that’s about it on the BlackBerry Z10 other than there is a rumour that the second BB10 handset will be known as the BlackBerry X10.
Of course as there is still a little over a month to go before Research In Motion unveils these new devices to the mobile space during a BB10 event in January, so it is possibly that the above can change by the time we actually get the official low down from the Canadian company.
Still, taking the above specs as gospel, what do our readers think of the BlackBerry Z10, does the handset capture your attention enough to want to own one?

iPhone 5 untethered jailbreak concerns as iOS 6.1 even tougher

We’ve been bringing readers news on an iOS 6 /6.0.1 untethered jailbreak for some time now, or should we say the lack of it. A few days ago we gave readers details of an interview with renowned iOS hacker pod2g and were slightly more hopeful that an untethered jailbreak could come soon, even if it meant waiting for Apple to release iOS 6.1 first. However it now seems there are further concerns as another renowned member of the jailbreaking community says that iOS 6.1 is going to be even tougher to jailbreak.
Many, many iOS users are waiting anxiously for an untethered jailbreak for their device with iPhone 5 owners chomping at the bit and there have been many twists and turns in the story with hoaxes and scams by the bucketload and sometimes false hope that a genuine untethered jailbreak was on the way. When iOS 6.0.1 was upcoming there was speculation that maybe work on the untethered jailbreak was being put on hold for this but there was still no news. A few days ago though we told how Apple had now released iOS 6.1 beta 4 for developers, thought to be the final build and therefore a public release for 6.1 now looks pretty close.
This led to further talk that an untethered jailbreak was again being put on hold, waiting for the 6.1 update to arrive, although the major names in the jailbreaking community have kept pretty quiet on this so far. When pod2g spoke out recently he was asked about the jailbreak for iOS 6.x and he said again that he was still confident that the jailbreak would come but when speaking of future iOS jailbreaks he seemed to feel that this would become more and more difficult to do at a timely speed because of the tighter security measures that Apple continues to put in place.
Many iOS jailbreaking fans were then given a glimmer of hope though when pod2g also stated that there was a big chance that he would work on the iOS 6 jailbreak again and had already spent some time on it. He also mentioned that there had been suggestions of waiting now for iOS 6.1 to release. As you might expect this gave plenty of waiting potential jailbreakers something to smile about instead of starting to give up hope completely but news today from another well known and respected member of the jailbreaking community asserts that 6.1 will be even harder to jailbreak.

Many jailbreaking enthusiasts out there will have heard of Stefan Esser, aka i0n1c. He has just issued a tweet from @i0n1c talking about a change of guard at Apple and how even tougher protection had been added to iOS 6.1, despite the fact that the jailbreaking community hasn’t yet managed to jailbreak iOS 6. Although this is not a huge statement it does pack a punch, coming from somebody so much a part of the jailbreaking community and who came up with the untethered jailbreak for iOS 4.3.2, as reported by iClarified. As well as this he was responsible for the jailbreak for the iPad 3 on the iOS 5.1so i0n1c certainly knows what he’s talking about.
If you still hope to eventually jailbreak your A5 or A6 iOS 6 device then you may want to hold back on updating to iOS 6.1 when it comes, bearing in mind this rather gloomy news. As Cult of Mac reminds us, the “changing of the guard” that i0n1c alludes to is that iOS chief Scott Forstall recently received his marching orders and Craig Ferenghi who replaced him, seems to have even less tolerance of jailbreaking.
This will be a big blow to those waiting to jailbreak their iOS 6 devices but we need to remember that pod2g and others haven’t yet given up on an eventual iOS 6 jailbreak, even if it doesn’t exactly look close. However rather than waiting for iOS 6.1 it seems that was a red herring as it will be even harder to crack so remember, don’t update to it when it arrives soon if you still want to wait for a jailbreak at some point down the line.
Here at Phones Review we always remind people not to fall for the various hoaxes and scam jailbreaks that are out there, often being charged for. As we’ve said before, the best way you can keep tabs on an authentic iOS 6 jailbreak is to follow the Twitter accounts of some of the old guard jailbreakers such as @pod2g, @MuscleNerd, @planetbeing and others including of course @i0n1c as well as the websites of the Chronic Dev Team and iPhone Dev Team. We shall, of course, be following developments with interest but we’re pretty sad we haven’t been able to bring you news on an authentic iOS 6 jailbreak just in time for Christmas. Hopefully the New Year will see all systems go on this.
We’re always interested to hear from our readers and know from previous comments just how many of you are waiting to jailbreak your latest iOS devices. How do you feel about 6.1 being even tougher to jailbreak and i0n1c’s caution on this? Are you still holding out for some of the most prominent hackers to try to crack 6.0? Let us have your comments on this.

BlackBerry 10 confirmed to come with BBM Video

As you know, the other day we let you know that the first of Research In Motion’s saviour devices would more than likely be called the BlackBerry Z10, a device that the Canadian company hopes will capture the attention of the BlackBerry people. Before that smartphone was revealed though the last update to the BlackBerry 10 Dev Alpha revealed the device had a folder named BBM Video, which hinted that BlackBerry 10 would sport a new video feature in BlackBerry Messenger.
Well it appears that this BBM Video feature has now been confirmed for BlackBerry 10 devices, as a report by Crackberry has a few leaked sides that show off BBM Video in BlackBerry 10, although unfortunately we can’t show you those slides because they were requested presumably by RIM to remove the images.
However apparently the slides did show how BBM Video would work including face-to-face and screen sharing, and that where using BlackBerry Messenger, a chat between two contacts can be quickly switched over to BBM Video.

Word is BBM Video shows a small display of the handset owner’s image at the bottom left of the display whilst a larger image of the other person takes up much of the screen, and word is BBM Video will launch after RIM launches BBM Voice.
So there you go, the BlackBerry faithful will gain video chat with BlackBerry 10, although it does have to be said that Research In Motion is somewhat behind the times when it comes to video chat as iOS and Android have had this feature for quite some time.
But it is nice to know that finally RIM is upping their game somewhat at least to bring the BlackBerry OS in line with other rival operating systems, but whether that will be enough to pull back the company’s lost customers remains to be seen.
If BlackBerry 10 is to be the saviour of the Canadian company, then it will need to offer a whole lot more than just BBM Voice and BBM Video, but as it isn’t that long now to wait until RIM unveils those BlackBerry 10 devices and feature, which is scheduled to happen at the end of January, we should all find out just what extra stuff RIM has up their sleeve that might entice people back to their devices.
Are any of our readers excited over BlackBerry 10 and what it thus far offers, or do you think RIM has simply left it too late?

Samsung Galaxy Note 7 GT-N5100 benchmarked again

A while back it was suggested that old Sammy was extending their popular Galaxy Note range of devices with the addition of a 7-inch Galaxy Note. A device going under the Samsung number of GT-N5100, which popped up in a NenaMark benchmark that delivered a few details on the supposed Samsung Galaxy Note 7, and now that same device has shown up in another benchmark.
Obviously the GT-N5100 is an unannounced Samsung device, and the devices has now shown up on GLBenchmark, reports Sam Mobile, which seems to confirm that the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 GT-N5100 will come out to play sporting a 1280 x 800 resolution display along with Android Jelly Bean 4.1.2 installed right out of the box and is powered by a 1.6GHz Samsung Exynos 4412 processor.
Of course those specs were revealed in the original benchmark of the Samsung device, and as such this new benchmark seems to confirm them as true, and that the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 will sport a resolution that matches the display of the Google Nexus 7.

The 7-inch tablet arena is certainly a lucrative one, and there’s no reason why Samsung shouldn’t wish to grab a nice share of that market with a 7-inch Note device and take on the likes of the Nexus 7, Amazon Kindle Fire, and iPad Mini to name just a few.
However, it isn’t clear at the moment whether old Sammy intends on unveiling the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 during CES 2013 in Las Vegas in January, or whether the Korean company might be keeping the Note 7 up their sleeve for Mobile World Congress 2013 in Barcelona in February.
Both Acer and Asus are expected to launch new Android 7-inch slates in the not too distant future, and no doubt Samsung will want to be not too far behind in getting their own 7-inch Note out to the mobile space to combat their rivals, so maybe, just maybe Samsung will show off the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 at CES, who knows.
Anyway, we’d love to know what out readers think about the possibility of the Samsung Galaxy Note 7, would you consider picking up the 7-inch tablet if the device came with the right price point, or do you feel there are enough 7-inch devices already out there?

Acer Iconia B1 to rival Kindle Fire and Nook Color

The 7-inch Android tablet space has seen quite a few small slates recently, but as they say there is always room for more. But obviously the big attraction with a 7-inch tablet over a larger 10-inch slate is the price, and it really is all down to the price of a tablet in the end, the cheaper it can be offered the more possibility of the device becoming a success especially in today’s economic climate.
Well it seems that Acer has latched onto that affordable price attraction, as according to a report by the Wall Street Journal, a person with direct knowledge of the project has stated that the fourth largest PC maker by shipments in the world is planning on launching an Android slate early in 2013 that will have a price tag of around $99 US.
Apparently Acer is hoping to be the first big brand firm to launch an Android slate priced to take on Chinese white box tablet makers for customers in developing countries.

The new Android Jelly Bean tablet will be called the Acer Iconia B1 and is a 7-inch slate with a 1024 x 600 pixel resolution touch screen, and powered by a 1.2GHz dual core processor, and is said to sport similar specifications to that of rival tablets the B&N Nook Color and the Amazon Kindle Fire.
However the Taiwanese company plans on undercutting both of those rival tablets that go for $139, by offering the Acer Iconia B1 at just $99, although the final price tag will be set country by country. However although the Acer Iconia B1 is currently residing with the Federal Communications Commission, it is a device for emerging markets and as such it is unclear whether the Iconia B1 will ever see the light of day over in the good old US of A.
According to the unnamed person familiar with the project, the launch of the $399 Nexus 10 has changed the outlook of competitive pricing and thus Acer has made project roadmap changes in response to tablet market changes, and also in response to Acer’s rival AsusTek who have been rumoured to be gearing up to put out an Android slate with a similar low price in 2013.
Furthermore the word is that Acer is also planning on launching a lower priced model of their Windows 8 slates early in 2013 because their current Windows 8 tablets are somewhat too pricey.

Oppo Find 5 to see global release with 32GB model in tow

If you are a fan of the Android platform there is an increasing amount of new smartphones to choose from, and especially ones that now have a larger sized screen. One such device that has recently made an appearance is the Oppo Find 5, and some new information has come to light about the handset that includes a global release with a 32GB model in tow.
Recently there was some confusion over the availability of the Oppo Find 5 with one company executive suggesting the device would only be seen in the US and Chinese markets, but then another spokesperson from the company denied this would be the case without going into more details about the regions that would see the device.
Now though the company has taken to its official Facebook page to offer some more details about the phone that include the countries that can look forward to the Oppo Find 5 being released. They have also teased the handset coming in both 16GB and 32GB flavours costing $499 and $569 respectively.

The countries that have been listed to receive the handset when it is finally released include Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Finland, Greece, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.
These regions are added to the Chinese and US markets that were already down to receive the handset, and proves the handset is set to go global. There is still no exact date given for the Oppo Find 5’s release, but it is expected to arrive sometime during the first quarter of next year.
To recap the Oppo Find 5 will feature a 5-inch 1920 x 1080 Full HD display that offers an impressive 441ppi pixel density, which will be powered by a quad core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro APQ8064 processor clocked at 1.5GHz coupled with 2GB of RAM.
Providing the juice will be a 2,500 mAh battery unit with the smartphone, which will come running Android 4.1 Jelly Bean out of the box, and other specifications include a 13 megapixel camera on the back, 1.9 megapixel front facing shooter, Bluetooth, HSPA+ connectivity, NFC, GPS, and Wi-Fi.
When the Oppo Find 5 was officially announced by the company there were some concerned about the lack of a microSD card port, which could be used to increase the amount of storage, but considering there will be a 32GB model that is priced competitively the handset looks set to become a hit for the company.
Will you be considering the Oppo Find 5 next year?

Sony Odin to come out to play as Xperia X

It is nothing unusual for a smartphone to see a name change before the device hits the mobile space, as most handsets often are referred to by their codename and then changed later on, and it appears that Sony is one of those that like to change device handles before they launch. We already know that the Sony Yuga will come out to play as the Sony Xperia Z and now the word is there is a possibility that the firm will also change the name of the Sony Odin.

The company’s flagship Sony Odin has been leaked quite a bit in the past and even an image surfaced of the device back in October, whilst the Odin is expected to unveil the Sony Odin during CES 2013 in Las Vegas next month. However a report over on Unwired View there is a possibility that the Odin will come out as the Sony Xperia X.
Now obviously Xperia X does have a nice ring to it and falls in line with Sony’s other Xperia handsets nicely, but sooner or later Sony will run out of letters to slap behind that Xperia brand, and when it does it could be interesting to see what way the company goes after that.
For all intents and purposes though, when it comes to specifications the Sony Xperia X is pretty much the same as the Sony Xperia Z, so we are looking at a 5-inch 1080p touch screen along with a 1.5GHz Snapdragon S4 quad core processor, 2GB of RAM, a 13 megapixel rear facing auto-focus snapper with LED flash, 4G LTE, 32GB internal memory, microSD expansion and runs Android Jelly Bean.
However whilst the Sony Xperia Z is apparently destined to play nice over in North America, according to a report over on Chinese site IT168, the Sony Xperia X is the international version of the smartphone. But just so customers don’t get confused the word is the Xperia X and Xperia X will differ in looks.
So there you have it, it seems when Sony shows off the Odin during CES 2013 it will be known as the Sony Xperia X just so you know before you wonder what ever happened to the Odin. Of course this hasn’t actually been confirmed by Sony so for now should be treated as rumour.
So what do our readers think about this name change, do you prefer Sony Odin or Xperia X?

ZTE Grand S to take slimmest phablet crown

It seems that Chinese handset maker ZTE is pushing out a fair few smartphones lately what with the ZTE Grand X launching in Indonesia, and then there is the 5-inch ZTE Nubia Z5 expected to launch at some point, it now appears ZTE has yet another device up their sleeve that is expected to be shown off during CES 2013 in Las Vegas next month.

The new device is called the ZTE Grand S, a phablet that is said to be the world’s slimmest yet according to a report by Slash Gear, and the ZTE Grand S is said to be just 6.9mm thick, which would indeed make the handset the slimmest thus far.
Apparently it has been confirmed via Weibo that ZTE will showcase the ZTE Grand S at CES 2013 on the 8th of January, however the company hasn’t yet revealed all the specifications for this new phablet, but some are available.
Those rumoured specs for the Grand S are as impressive at the ZTE Nubia Z5 so we are talking about a 5-inch full HD 1920 x 1080 touch screen, a 1.5GHZ Snapdragon S4 quad core processor, 2GB of RAM, and word is the device will sport a 13 megapixel rear facing camera although that little bit of info hasn’t yet been confirmed.
Where the ZTE Grand S differs from the Nubia Z5 though is in battery size, with the Grand S said to sport a 2500mAh battery. Naturally both devices will also differ when it comes to pricing, with the ZTE Nubia Z5 expected to command a price tag of roughly US$550 whilst the ZTE Grand S is expected to have a price tag of around $US450.
Apparently the device will be made out of ceramic and will feature a ‘traditional Chinese style’, and apparently is ideal for the ‘fashionable set.’
Other than those revealed specifications nothing else is known about the ZTE Grands S at the moment but no doubt the device will run the latest Android OS like the ZTE Nubia Z5, so that would be Android Jelly Bean.
Although ZTE will be showcasing the ZTE Grand S during CES 2013 next month that doesn’t mean the phablet will see the light of day outside China, but then again there is always a possibility, we’ll just have to wait and see.
Are any of our readers impressed with those specs for the ZTE Grand S and would you consider picking up the handset if it ever released in your part of the globe?

iPhone 5S with projector and transformer-like actions

The Apple iPhone 5 has only been with us for a few months and already thoughts are turning to what the company may have up its sleeves for the next version of its flagship smartphone. While this is always open to speculation and leaks for the lead up to every product Apple releases, we often get some great ideas such as today with the iPhone 5S with projector and transformer like actions.
Away from all the component leaks and case mock ups we often get to see some great concept ideas about a number of different smartphones from a variety of companies. Recently there has been talk of the next iPhone whether it will be called the iPhone 5S or iPhone 6, but a designer going under the name of Fran_Snk has come up with a really neat idea that can be seen in the video below.
A video that is titled The Secret of iPhone 5 begins by showing just a normal example of the handset but as it continues shows off some rather neat tricks, which would really ramp up the competition if such an idea ever came to fruition.

The device has some built in projectors that provide a work interface as well as a virtual keyboard that is projected on to the desk in the video when the handset opens up. This will turn the Apple iPhone into a fully fledged Apple computer that seemingly provides a similar OS X experience that is found on a Mac.
It seems in the concept idea that the new iPhone model would open up to reveal the projectors that are integrated into the handsets main body, and then projects a full sized virtual keyboard for the user to take advantage of.
The concept iPhone features four mini projectors so if any such device was actually made it would certainly need some sort of new battery technology to be able to cope with all of those demands the features would require.
Other than the transformer like actions to reveal the built in projectors the rest of the handset looks pretty similar to what is seen now with the iPhone 5, and while this is only a concept idea it would be great if the engineers over at Apple, or any other smartphone manufacturer, could actually make the idea work at a reasonable price.
What do you think would you like to see anything like this on a smartphone?

Best Android Games 2012 as selected by Google

There are many Android gamers in the mobile space that love playing Android games on their smartphone or tablet, and over on the Play Store there are a great deal of games available, but which of those games are considered the best of 2012? Well hot on the heels of Google selecting the best applications of 2012, they have now selected their best Android games for the year.

Whilst the selection of the best games available on the Play Store was difficult, Google has come up with the selection entitled Games We Love: Best Games of 2012, and include free games and discounted games available on Google Play.
Google’s selection range from the cute to the latest blockbuster racing title along with action and shooter games, and as the year is 2012, the Google guys have picked 12 best games for that list.
That list of best Android games includes The Bard’s Tale, a funny 3D RPG where you play a selfish rogue that can summon characters via song to join the battle, heal and take damage from you. Then there is Nun Attack, where the gamer fights evil leading their squad against the Fallen Nun with over 40 missions.
Next up is Granny Smith, which is a cutesy racing platform game where the gamer helps Granny Smith get to the apples before they are stolen. How about ZooKeeper Battle, an action puzzle game where you have to capture as many animals as possible in 30-seconds.
The next one is Devil’s Attorney, a turn based strategy game set in the 80′s, where the gamer plays defence attorney Max McMann with the object of freeing all your clients. Then we have Strikefleet Omega, a strategy game that has you leading an armada of warships in the defence of the Earth to save mankind.
Or how about Funky Smugglers, a quirky arcade game where the gamer has to smuggle stuff through an airport and features a funky 70′s style soundtrack. Next there is ShadowGun: DeadZone, a game that enables you to get into heroic multiplayer battles with up to 12 online players with two modes Deathmatch and Zone Control.
Or if you prefer racing then there is Need for Speed: Most Wanted, where you can evade the cops, out drive your friends and out smart rivals in over 40 of the worlds most exciting vehicles. Or maybe you’d prefer Hamlet, an Android game that features tricky puzzles , unrestrained creativity and humour.
Next is Subway Surfers, a chase game whereby you help Jake escape from a grumpy inspector and his dog, dodge trains, fly with your jetpack, and grind trains to stay ahead. Lastly there is Naught, a game that lets you play with real gravity to feel the motion as you lead Naught through a mysterious underground land.
So there you go, Google’s pick of the best games on Android in 2012, do you agree with their choice, or do you have your own list of top Android games for 2012?

Galaxy Note promised Premium Suite via Jelly Bean update

Over the last few weeks we have seen the Samsung Galaxy S3 being treated to the Android Jelly Bean update, and the latest one has brought features to the handset that were previously only found on the Samsung Galaxy Note 2. Now though the handset that started the craze for the phablet device the Galaxy Note has been promised by Samsung to receive the Premium Suite of goodies via the Android 4.1 Jelly Bean update once it is released.

Back at the end of November an unofficial version of the Android Jelly Bean software was leaked for the Samsung Galaxy Note raising hopes of an imminent release, but earlier this month reports suggested the firmware update wouldn’t be arriving until January at the earliest. Now though ahead of the software’s release Samsung has confirmed what the Jelly Bean update will bring to the handset when it arrives.
Once released owners of the Galaxy Note can look forward to the Premium Suite that Galaxy S3 owners have recently been enjoying once receiving the Jelly Bean 4.1.2 update. Obviously the company hasn’t yet revealed an exact date for the software to be released, and then owners have to deal with certain carriers pushing the new software out to end users.
The Premium Suite update includes the excellent Samsung Multi-Window feature that allows users to run two applications at the same time on the display, which is ideal on the larger sized screen the original Note has. Also coming in the update will be the S Planner handwriting feature as well as enhancements to the S Note, which will be welcomed to those that use the S Pen a great deal.
Away from the Premium Suite update there will be a number of new features contained in the Android 4.1 Jelly Bean firmware, which includes features such as Google Now along with a smoother and quicker user experience compared to the Android Ice Cream Sandwich UI.
Hopefully this news is an indication that Samsung is almost ready to release the new software so at least owners of unlocked versions of the Samsung Galaxy Note can have something else to celebrate come the New Year.
This may also mean that the company’s other flagship smartphone of 2011, the Galaxy S2, will also soon be enjoying the delights of the Jelly Bean operating system that will see both handsets given a new lease of life. Are you looking forward to Jelly Bean on your Galaxy Note?

Nexus 7 charging problem fix after 4.2 Jelly Bean

One of the most popular tablet purchases of 2012 has been the Google Nexus 7 made by Asus. This was released in July running the brand new Android operating system at the time, 4.1 Jelly Bean and then 4.2 Jelly Bean became available for the pure Android Nexus device. However the Nexus 7 hasn’t been devoid of problems and we have previously spoken of reports that some units are getting hotter as well as some problems that hit the Nexus 7 after the 4.2 update. It seems that some Nexus 7 users have been hit by a charging problem and we have some details for you of a tip to fix this issue.

Back in November we told readers that the 4.2 Jelly Bean update seemed to have caused some real problems for readers using the Nexus 7 device, with some owners reporting Bluetooth issues, oversensitive autoscreen brightness, the December bug, system suddenly rebooting and much more. By the end of November we were able to tell you about the Android 4.2.1 update and the fact that the rollout meant the Nexus 7 would be receiving fixes for some of the bugs and issues that had struck it. However another issue has been brought to our attention and we have news of what looks like an easy fix for some readers who may be encountering a battery-charging problem.
Droid-Life reports that according to Android Central forum posts a number of people have noticed a Nexus 7 charging issue since 4.2 Jelly Bean. In these cases it seems that letting the device run completely dry or just leaving it idle for long amounts of time, can lead to it being difficult to turn back on or getting it to recharge again. The worst issues seem to occur when the Nexus 7 has been allowed to completely drain of battery power and then when it is connected to a charger the screen simply flashes. In these cases users have found that no amount of button pressing will get the device to turn back on.
However the team at Droid-Life have come up with a fix that worked for their Nexus 7 device and although we can’t guarantee it will also work for yours, it’s certainly worth a try. If you have a dead Nexus 7 then you first need to plug it in to a wall charger and then instantly press both Volume Down and Power simultaneously. At this point you should be able to see the bootloader menu although you may need to experiment with timing and chargers before you see it. Once you can see the bootloader menu you need to hit Volume Down and you will eventually see Power Off Device. Select this with the Power button and once the device turns off then first disconnect the charger and then reconnect it to the device. Hopefully at this point you will see the battery meter showing signs that your Nexus 7 is finally charging again.
Thanks to Droid-Life for that and we really hope that for those readers who are facing the problem of a dead Nexus 7 this fix works. The best other advice is to not let your Android Nexus 7 completely drain and to start topping it up if you see if fall as low as around 10% battery charge to avoid the problem in the first place. We’d really like to hear your thoughts on the Nexus 7 and subsequent problems from 4.2 Jelly Bean. Are you still facing issues such as this battery-charging problem? Maybe a completely different concern has beset your Nexus 7? Let us know with your comments.

Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 ban sought by LG

Old Sammy isn’t new to the game when it comes to dealing with fighting a ban of their devices, as we all know Samsung had been at legal loggerheads with Apple over claimed patent infringements for quite some time. However there are other firms that are also going after Samsung with a view to get Sammy gear banned from sale, and it appears LG is the latest to attempt to get an injunction against Samsung.

A report over on English Capital has it that South Korean display maker LG Display has filed an injunction against rival Samsung asking for a ban of the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1, and claims that the Android tablet infringes on LG patents.
This is the latest move in the ongoing confrontation between LG Display and Samsung Electronics, and follows a lawsuit that was filed by Samsung Display Co back on the 7th of this month that claimed LG infringed seven of Sammy’s liquid crystal display patents, and LG has responded by claiming Samsung infringe on three of their patents and have asked for the Note 10.1 to be banned from sale in the country.
In a statement LG Display has stated they are seeking the complete halt of sale, manufacture and importation of the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 and is looking to be awarded some one billion won, roughly $933,000 in damages a day if the Note 10.1 continues to be on sale.
The LG patents at issue in the lawsuit are to do with viewing tech embedded in display panels that enhance the viewing quality regardless of the viewing angle.
Naturally Samsung deny any infringement of LG patents and has stated that the company’s claims are unjustified.
So there you have it yet another legal battle for old Sammy to contend with, but no doubt this latest lawsuit will take quite some time to sort out like most of these legal fights, so whether we will actually see a ban of the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 come into force remains to be seen.
Of course both company’s could simply get around a table and thrash out their differences and reach an agreement out of court, but these days that simply doesn’t seem to be the preferred route of action and firms would rather fork out large lumps of cash, which they obviously have plenty of, to their legal teams.
Not being that legally minded, I’m not too sure if LG Display actually are successful in getting the Note 10.1 banned from sale whether it will only apply to Korea or elsewhere in the world as well.

Samsung Galaxy S4 rumored inclusion infers Note merger

As we head towards the New Year the Samsung Galaxy S4 (S IV) no longer seems so far away, especially as there have already been rumors of a possible March release. We’ve already been writing about rumored specs, wish lists, speculation and insight for the Galaxy S4 as we know that many readers are already considering what it will bring. We’ve heard of some new and exciting possibilities, such as flexible displays being incorporated, but the latest rumor that we’ve just heard involves an S Pen stylus for the Galaxy S4, the same sort of stylus that comes with the Galaxy Note handsets and there is even speculation of a merger of the two flagship Samsung devices.

We’ve recently considered the likelihood of the Galaxy S4 being launched on the next major Android OS, so far being dubbed 5.0 Key Lime Pie and also showed readers some great concept designs for the Galaxy S4 and also the Galaxy Note 3. However, one thing that had not crossed our minds among all the various possibilities for the Galaxy S4 was an S Pen. In our various posts we have suggested what we’d like to see for this next Samsung flagship device and readers have added items to our wish list for the Galaxy S4 and yet we don’t recall ever seeing any mention from anybody yet that they’d like to see a stylus for it.
It’s surprising then and in a way refreshing to see something rumored that we hadn’t even thought of and this latest news comes from Korean sources who claim the Galaxy S4 will indeed sport an S Pen, as reported by Phandroid, along with specific S Pen features usually seen on the Galaxy Note handsets. If you’re reading this then you’re probably already a Samsung device fan and will know that apart from the screen sizes, the S Pen stylus is one of the major differences between the Galaxy S line and the Galaxy Note line and so in a way it seems odd that Samsung would want to blur the line between the two. Or maybe that’s the whole point?
We recently wondered if the Galaxy S4 might increase again in display size from the 4.8-inches of the S3. The display was also made bigger from the S2 to the S3 so this does follow a trend, especially as larger-screened devices appear to be so popular right now. Similarly the Galaxy Note 2 increased in screen size to 5.5- inches from the 5.3 inches of the original Galaxy Note and so may be even bigger again for the Note 3. We have already heard rumors of a whopping 6.3-inch display for the Note 3 but have taken them with a pinch of salt for now, as it seems unlikely.
However this latest news does stir up the mix somewhat and maybe Samsung does intend the Galaxy S4 to be larger to utilize the S Pen stylus while the Galaxy Note 3 will be almost the size of a small tablet? The other alternative is that maybe the Galaxy S line and Galaxy Note line will be merged into one device but considering the popularity of each phone it would seem crazy to us that Samsung would even consider this. Another angle on this from Phandroid though is that it would make sense rather than having one Samsung flagship playing “second fiddle” to another.
The same sources in Korea also say that the Galaxy S4 will release in April so there really isn’t too much longer to go until we can start to unravel this rather mysterious news. Other factors rumored for the Galaxy S4 include a 5-inch 1080p AMOLED display, Exynos quad-core processor, 13-megapixel rear camera with stereo sound for 1080p video, Google Chrome as the default browser, 2 or 3GB of RAM, and a form factor measuring 9.2mm thick. In fact when considering this right now this doesn’t sound unlike the Galaxy Note line rather than the Galaxy S line so maybe Samsung really does intend to merge the two instead!
We’re not sure how we feel about this. It still sounds unlikely to us that when Samsung has two such major products on its hands it would do anything to encroach on the success of either, surely that would be a backward move? Also we should remember that although both devices are extremely popular, both have their own legion of fans, for example Galaxy S enthusiasts may well prefer the alternative of a smaller handset while others just like to have a choice.
We’d really like to hear your thoughts on this latest rumor. If the Galaxy S4 appears at around the same size as the current S3 but with the addition of an S Pen, do you think this would be a welcome move? Although it’s purely speculation at this point, do you think there’s any credence to the idea that Samsung could be intending to merge its two flagship devices? If so what do you think about this? Let us know with your comments.

Google Nexus 4 still hard to get, stock availability checkers

The long-running stock availability saga for the Google Nexus 4 smartphone continues, with still no imminent signs of more stock arriving to be sold through the Google Play Store. With the ‘sold out’ signs still in evidence for both the 8 and 16GB versions, many potential customers are understandably irritated that they can’t even order one at the moment and one of the most frustrating things is having to incessantly check Google Play in the hope of seeing that the Nexus 4 is back in stock. The Nexus 4 by LG is still hard to get but we have news today of some stock availability checkers that will help take make the task less wearisome as stock alerts can be sent to you.

We’ve recently discussed whether the handling of the Nexus 4 launch by Google and LG was bad business practice or just a sorry saga so we’ll not bang on about the whole story of shortages of the device since its initial release in November. If you want to find out more on this though then hit the above link or also look at our previous post here about the fact that it’s not just the phone itself that’s unavailable but there is also a distinct lack of official accessories for the Nexus 4.
In some regions the only way to get hold of the Nexus 4 is through the Google Play Store for that area but of course as we all know, stocks are virtually non-existent at present. In other areas, it’s possible to get the Nexus 4 through a carrier too but in these cases the phone is a lot more expensive than purchasing through Google Play and let’s face it the low cost of the phone is one of its main attractions, as well as those top-notch specs of course. Some people have resorted to other avenues such as eBay but as you can imagine many are paying silly money to obtain them this way.
A glance at the Google Play Store today shows it just the same as most other days, with the 8GB and 16GB version of the Nexus 4 both listed as ‘sold out’ with no option to order. There’s also no way of signing up for email stock notifications from Google either but there is a way of taking the hard work out of this situation and knowing that as soon as there’s availability you’ll be informed. Back in November we told of an app to keep readers updated about Nexus 4 stock but there are two more apps available now, one of which has just been updated. As we could still be looking at several weeks before Nexus 4 stock is flowing again using either of these apps could be a useful alternative to constantly refreshing the Google Play Store page.
The first app is the Nexus Availability Checker by Julien Vermet and it’s available from Google Play here. It’s a free app for devices running Android 2.0 or later and was updated yesterday. The app shows not just availability of the Nexus 4 but of all Nexus devices in whichever country you are in where Nexus devices are sold. When new stocks become available the user of the app will receive a notification to their phone along with a ringtone and vibration alert. Nexus devices are checked for availability every few hours and the app is rated 3.5 /5 and there’s also a donation version of the app, which is ad free and allows the user to change refresh rates.
Another Android app now available is simply called Nexus Checker by Claudio Mezzasalma from Google Play here. It’s a free app and compatible with devices running Android 2.3.3 or later and also checks for worldwide availability of Nexus devices. It can check any Play Store worldwide and not just the one that you’re connecting from although apparently there are issues for Australia right now, hoped to be resolved shortly. It also provides notifications from within the app although the developer notes these can be a “bit buggy.” Despite this though the app has a rating of 4.4 /5 at the Play Store so it seems many users are highly impressed with this app.
If you are fed up with constantly checking the Google Play Store for Nexus 4 availability then hopefully at least one, or both, of these apps will save you the job and you’ll be assured of hearing as soon as stock becomes available again. We’d like to hear your thoughts on Nexus 4 stock availability. Are you tired of hitting the refresh button and will try one of these apps instead? Maybe you’ve already used either of the above apps and could recommend them, or not, to our other readers? Let us know with your comments.

Apple iPhone 5 news, strongest start ever in US

The Apple iPhone 5 is another runaway success for Apple and has been flying off the shelves since its September release. It was on backorder for some time after its release and it was only recently that Apple caught up with supplies to match the phone’s high demand. Today we can now realize why Apple seemed a little unprepared for how many of the iPhone 5 it could sell initially as it seems that the iPhone 5 has had the strongest start sales-wise in the U.S. over any previous iPhone.

A week or so ago we were rather surprised to tell of reports that sources in China did not think the iPhone 5 would be as successful as the iPhone 4S. This led at least one analyst to drop Apple’s earnings estimate for fiscal year 2013 /2014 as well as cutting back shares price targets. The suggestion that the iPhone 5 would not do as well as the iPhone 4S alarmed many people and there were suggestions that perhaps interest in the iPhone line had now peaked. However, the latest sales figures tell a different story as in the US at least, over the last 12 weeks the sales of the iPhone 5 have accounted for 53.3% of smartphone sales overall.
The latest data came from Kantar Worldpanel research as reported by Apple Insider and signifies that the introduction of the iPhone 5 led to a remarkable soar so that Apple share of sales reached their highest point ever in the US market. When comparing figures from the US to last year we can see that the sales of the iPhone in the 12 weeks ending November 27, 2011 accounted for 35.8% of all smartphone sales over the same time. However the figure this year for the 12 weeks ending November 25, 2012 was sharply higher at 53.5%, up an astonishing 17.5% and the first time that Apple’s share of the smartphone market in the U.S went over 50%. The time periods concerned of course include the time when the iPhone 5 was first released.

Google’s Android share of the US smartphone market fell though, down from a 52.8% share over the same 12 weeks in 2011 to 41.9% at the end of November 2012, down 10.9%. Meanwhile RIM’s fortunes continued to slide from a 7% share in the same period last year to only a 1.4% share for BlackBerry devices this year. However we shouldn’t be too shocked at this as the new BlackBerry 10 and devices running it are not due to be unveiled before a big event on January 30. RIM has definitely put all its eggs in one basket with the new operating system and we imagine that once available, RIMS’ BB10 might start to swell the coffers again.
Global consumers interest director at Kantar Worldpanel Com Tech, Dominic Sunnebo, talked of this latest milestone for Apple and anticipates further sales during this month. Outside the US though, Samsung stayed top of smartphone share in the 5 largest countries of Europe where the company’s phones held 44.3% of smartphone market share above Apple in second spot with a much lower 25.3% over the same 12 week timeframes. It seems then that although Apple is not doing as well outside of the US, the support within the States is still very much evident and that iPhone popularity there is actually growing.
We’d really like to hear your thoughts on this. Are you an Apple iPhone enthusiast and if so would you say that your interest in the line is still as strong as ever? Are you from the US or another country? Maybe the idea that sales of the iPhone line have reached a plateau now sounds ridiculous in the light of this latest data on the iPhone 5, especially where the US is concerned? Let us know with your comments.

Huawei 6.1-inch Ascend Mate Note 2 rival seen in video ahead of CES 2013

The smartphone market has changed a great deal in the last few years with handsets now offering consumers so much more choice, and this has more recently included handsets that feature larger screen sizes. Currently the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 with its 5.5-inch display is arguably leading the way, but other manufacturers are also getting in on the act by offering larger displays that are also Full HD. One of these is Huawei with the Ascend Mate that has now been seen in a video ahead of the CES 2013 launch.

We first heard rumours of the handset back in October but at the time that’s all they were, until earlier this month the device was confirmed by an executive from the Chinese company. The handset was expected to be seen for the first time at next month’s CES event in Las Vegas that kicks off on the 8th, but now as Fone Arena are reporting the device has actually been shown off by a Huawei executive.
Richard Yu who is the Chairman of devices at the company showed off the Ascend Mate at a store in Guangzhou, China recently. The handset also stars in a video that we have embedded below for your viewing pleasure, and the smartphone features a massive 6.1-inch 1080P Full HD display offering a tasty 361ppi pixel density.

Other specifications that are only rumours for the time being include a quad core HiSilicon K3V3 processor under the hood that is clocked at a massive 1.8GHz, which is thought to be packaged into a form factor that is only 9.9mm thick. There will be many that will be worrying how the battery life will be on a handset of this size coupled with such a powerful processor, but rumours are suggesting there will be a massive 4000 mAh unit providing the juice.
It was revealed though the display is a low temperature polysilicon type of screen, and the company is expected to officially unveil the Ascend Mate alongside the Ascend W1 and Ascend D2 at CES 2013, with the Mate expected to be priced around $480.
Next year could be great if you are thinking of getting a new smartphone and could even better what we have seen this year, as we will still see the next flagship handsets from Apple and Samsung that will surely improve on previous offerings, but there are rumours that the likes of Google are working with Motorola and are set to bring out something special in 2013 for the smartphone market.
Do you think the Huawei Ascend Mate is too big?

BlackBerry Z10 gets detailed and pictured

Everyone knows just how important BlackBerry 10 is to helping Research In Motion get back into the mobile game as one of the big contenders, and a couple of days ago we let our readers know that the word was the first of these saviour devices would probably be known as the BlackBerry Z10, and we have already reported that RIM claims BlackBerry 10 will have 70,000 apps available on launch. But what about that BlackBerry Z10 smartphone?

Well it appears some details on the specifications along with an image of the actual smartphone have been uncovered by Bbin.in, and they claim that the specs that have uncovered are the closest specs of the device, albeit some of these specs not 100 percent confirmed, whilst several of the specs have already been seen on the BlackBerry 10 Dev Alpha devices.
So here’s what the BlackBerry Z10, a device that is expected to be unveiled at the end of January 2013, has to offer those BlackBerry faithful, the device is said to sport a 4.2-inch 1280 x 768, 356PPi, 15:9 ratio touch screen along with an 8 megapixel rear facing auto-focus camera, a 2 megapixel front facing snapper, and 1080p video.

The first BlackBerry 10 handset is also said to sport a 1.5GHz TI OMAP 4470 dual core processor or a Snapdragon MSM8960 processor (Canada and the US), 2GB of RAM, 16GB internal storage, Wifi 802.11a/b/g/n, A-GPS, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC, hot swappable microSD slot, quad band HSPA+/UMTS 850, 900, 1700, 1900, 2100, quad band GSM/GPRS 850, 900, 1800, quad band LTE bands 2, 4, 5, 13, 17 (700, 850, 1700, 1900), microUSB, microHDMI-out, accelerometer, magentometer, gyroscope, face detect for calls, ambient light detector and an 1800mAh removable battery.
Apparently all those specs have been confirmed for the upcoming BlackBerry Z10 apart from those processors. The devices is said to becomes available in both white or black versions, and that’s about it on the BlackBerry Z10 other than there is a rumour that the second BB10 handset will be known as the BlackBerry X10.
Of course as there is still a little over a month to go before Research In Motion unveils these new devices to the mobile space during a BB10 event in January, so it is possibly that the above can change by the time we actually get the official low down from the Canadian company.
Still, taking the above specs as gospel, what do our readers think of the BlackBerry Z10, does the handset capture your attention enough to want to own one?

Twas the Night Before Christmas best app choice

Christmas Eve is nearly upon us and families all across the world will be celebrating the festive season in different ways. One common theme for many people though is the traditional reading of the classical Xmas story, “Twas the Night Before Christmas,” to spread the joy and magical feeling of the occasion with children and the rest of the family. With this in mind we thought that we’d give you details of some of the best apps, for both Android and iOS devices, for those that want to relate the story in a modern way.

We are just one family among many worldwide who still enjoy this time-honored tale at Christmas and it’s now become as much a part of our Christmas as other customs such as the turkey dinner and watching the movie “It’s a Wonderful Life.” Without further ado then we’ll give you some of the best app choices. Simply click on the title links to go to the relevant Google Play or App Store to find out more information or to download.
The first app we have for you is The Night Before Christmas by Fantom Apps. This is a free app and is suitable for devices running Android 2.2 or later. You’ll find the original 1912 story of Twas the Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore and it’s a highly rated app with illustrations by Jessie Willcox Smith.
Another Android app is Twas the Night Before Christma by Brindleware. This app is priced at $0.99 and is suitable for devices running Android 2.2 or later. Again it’s the holiday classic of 1912, but as a talking book, and a portion of proceeds from this app go towards the Gutenberg project to provide electronic books for all. This latest version was revised on December 11 this year and is now faster loading and uses less storage.

Another highly rated app is Twas Night 3D Before Christmas. This is an Android app by FlyingWord and is priced at $1.99 as a special offer for a limited time. As you would expect from the title this one is an interactive 3D pop up book app that you can see, hear and also touch. 3D pop up artwork is by Greg Hildebrandt and interactive features include touching Santa’s belly to make him laugh, moving the reindeer to see the sleigh fly and touching the sugarplums to watch them dance. This one is for devices running Android 2.0.1 or later.
Onto some apps for iOS devices then and first we have Twas the Night Before Christmas – Christmas Edition by moglue. This is a free app and compatible with iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, iPod touch 3rd, 4th and 5th generation and iPad running iOS 4.3 or later. This brings the traditional story to the modern world as it’s an interactive ebook with full-page illustrations, sounds and animation. Touching Santa and the gifts helps to interact with the story and a handy hint that is detailed is to try shaking or tilting your device to play with the stockings that are hanging up. This was updated to version 1.0.4 on 21st December this year bringing a bug fix and also new viewer.

Another highly rated iOS app is Twas the Night Before Christmas Digital Book by Stories by Kathleen Marie. This is a beautiful looking app compatible with iPhone, iPod touch and iPad running iOS 3.0 or later. It features original illustrations by Jessie Wilcox Smith and really shows off this timeless classic. While you read you’ll see animated snow on each page, evoking the traditional emotions of Christmas.
Finally if you’re looking for something slightly different then there’s Twas the Night Before Christmas by Moving Tales Inc. This is only for the iPad running iOS 6.0 or later and is priced at $3.99. It’s a 3D animated version of the poem and could be described as slightly cheeky but playful. There is 3D animation on every page, three narrations to choose from, original music, the option to record your own voice to be played, animated surprises, and the ability to swipe or tap to turn the page. Watch out for Santa in a home dance routine! The latest version 1.2 brings stability improvements as well as enhanced compatibility with iOS 6. This app is also available at $3.99 for the iPhone and iPod touch at this iTunes link.

Hopefully with this choice of top apps you’ll be able to find just the app to help you continue your tradition of Twas the Night Before Christmas on Christmas Eve, or maybe you’re about to start a Christmas tradition of your very own! All that remains for us to say is ‘Have a very merry Christmas!’

Android Happy Holidays video flaunts Nexus accessories

Sometimes truth is stranger than fiction and here’s a case in point. Yesterday we wrote an in-depth article about the mess that Google had made of the Nexus 4 launch where we said it wasn’t just the phone that wasn’t available but there was a dearth of accessories too. In the article we mentioned lack of accessories for the Nexus 7 and 10 tablets as well and so you can imagine our surprise today when we came across a Google Happy Holidays from Android video where docks were flaunted for both the Nexus 7 and Nexus 10.

First we’ll tell you about the Happy Holidays video itself as it’s heartwarming stuff and not to be missed, especially for all Android platform enthusiasts. You can see the video in full below this story and basically it tells the story of a Bugdroid looking particularly lonesome and gazing out of the window as everyone else seems to be imbued with the festive spirit. One kindly soul manages to spot the isolated Bugdroid and takes it upon himself to surround it with Nexus devices showing Christmas scenes. The little Bugdroid actually appears to smile and is then joined by lots of other tiny Droids so that he is now among friends.
It’s a very cute, winsome tale and one that’s well worth looking at so do take a look below to check it out in full. However what was brought to our attention was the Nexus 7 and 10 docks that were plainly shown in the video. Yesterday when we discussed the scarcity so far of Nexus device accessories we mentioned that a magnetic cover had been reviewed for the Nexus 10 tablet but had not yet been released for sale. We also discussed how a docking station accessory had been spotted for the Nexus 7 tablet but again, this has not yet been put on sale.

Now Google’s official Android YouTube channel with its Android Happy Holiday video flaunts docks for both the Nexus 7 and Nexus 10, neither of which consumers can actually buy yet. It’s almost as though Google is taunting us in a similar way to the recent promotional videos for the Nexus 4 smartphone that is still sold out and virtually impossible to get hold of. Another way of looking at it though, is to think that if these docks appear on a Christmas holidays video then the releases may not actually be too far away… fingers crossed.
We’d like to hear your thoughts on this. What do you think of the Happy Holidays from Android 2012 video? Do you feel pleased or teased to see Nexus dock accessories that are not yet available to purchase? Send your comments to let us know.

Samsung Galaxy Note 7 GT-N5100 benchmarked again

A while back it was suggested that old Sammy was extending their popular Galaxy Note range of devices with the addition of a 7-inch Galaxy Note. A device going under the Samsung number of GT-N5100, which popped up in a NenaMark benchmark that delivered a few details on the supposed Samsung Galaxy Note 7, and now that same device has shown up in another benchmark.

Obviously the GT-N5100 is an unannounced Samsung device, and the devices has now shown up on GLBenchmark, reports Sam Mobile, which seems to confirm that the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 GT-N5100 will come out to play sporting a 1280 x 800 resolution display along with Android Jelly Bean 4.1.2 installed right out of the box and is powered by a 1.6GHz Samsung Exynos 4412 processor.
Of course those specs were revealed in the original benchmark of the Samsung device, and as such this new benchmark seems to confirm them as true, and that the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 will sport a resolution that matches the display of the Google Nexus 7.

The 7-inch tablet arena is certainly a lucrative one, and there’s no reason why Samsung shouldn’t wish to grab a nice share of that market with a 7-inch Note device and take on the likes of the Nexus 7, Amazon Kindle Fire, and iPad Mini to name just a few.
However, it isn’t clear at the moment whether old Sammy intends on unveiling the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 during CES 2013 in Las Vegas in January, or whether the Korean company might be keeping the Note 7 up their sleeve for Mobile World Congress 2013 in Barcelona in February.
Both Acer and Asus are expected to launch new Android 7-inch slates in the not too distant future, and no doubt Samsung will want to be not too far behind in getting their own 7-inch Note out to the mobile space to combat their rivals, so maybe, just maybe Samsung will show off the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 at CES, who knows.
Anyway, we’d love to know what out readers think about the possibility of the Samsung Galaxy Note 7, would you consider picking up the 7-inch tablet if the device came with the right price point, or do you feel there are enough 7-inch devices already out there?

iPhone 5 untethered jailbreak concerns as iOS 6.1 even tougher

We’ve been bringing readers news on an iOS 6 /6.0.1 untethered jailbreak for some time now, or should we say the lack of it. A few days ago we gave readers details of an interview with renowned iOS hacker pod2g and were slightly more hopeful that an untethered jailbreak could come soon, even if it meant waiting for Apple to release iOS 6.1 first. However it now seems there are further concerns as another renowned member of the jailbreaking community says that iOS 6.1 is going to be even tougher to jailbreak.

Many, many iOS users are waiting anxiously for an untethered jailbreak for their device with iPhone 5 owners chomping at the bit and there have been many twists and turns in the story with hoaxes and scams by the bucketload and sometimes false hope that a genuine untethered jailbreak was on the way. When iOS 6.0.1 was upcoming there was speculation that maybe work on the untethered jailbreak was being put on hold for this but there was still no news. A few days ago though we told how Apple had now released iOS 6.1 beta 4 for developers, thought to be the final build and therefore a public release for 6.1 now looks pretty close.
This led to further talk that an untethered jailbreak was again being put on hold, waiting for the 6.1 update to arrive, although the major names in the jailbreaking community have kept pretty quiet on this so far. When pod2g spoke out recently he was asked about the jailbreak for iOS 6.x and he said again that he was still confident that the jailbreak would come but when speaking of future iOS jailbreaks he seemed to feel that this would become more and more difficult to do at a timely speed because of the tighter security measures that Apple continues to put in place.
Many iOS jailbreaking fans were then given a glimmer of hope though when pod2g also stated that there was a big chance that he would work on the iOS 6 jailbreak again and had already spent some time on it. He also mentioned that there had been suggestions of waiting now for iOS 6.1 to release. As you might expect this gave plenty of waiting potential jailbreakers something to smile about instead of starting to give up hope completely but news today from another well known and respected member of the jailbreaking community asserts that 6.1 will be even harder to jailbreak.

Many jailbreaking enthusiasts out there will have heard of Stefan Esser, aka i0n1c. He has just issued a tweet from @i0n1c talking about a change of guard at Apple and how even tougher protection had been added to iOS 6.1, despite the fact that the jailbreaking community hasn’t yet managed to jailbreak iOS 6. Although this is not a huge statement it does pack a punch, coming from somebody so much a part of the jailbreaking community and who came up with the untethered jailbreak for iOS 4.3.2, as reported by iClarified. As well as this he was responsible for the jailbreak for the iPad 3 on the iOS 5.1so i0n1c certainly knows what he’s talking about.
If you still hope to eventually jailbreak your A5 or A6 iOS 6 device then you may want to hold back on updating to iOS 6.1 when it comes, bearing in mind this rather gloomy news. As Cult of Mac reminds us, the “changing of the guard” that i0n1c alludes to is that iOS chief Scott Forstall recently received his marching orders and Craig Ferenghi who replaced him, seems to have even less tolerance of jailbreaking.
This will be a big blow to those waiting to jailbreak their iOS 6 devices but we need to remember that pod2g and others haven’t yet given up on an eventual iOS 6 jailbreak, even if it doesn’t exactly look close. However rather than waiting for iOS 6.1 it seems that was a red herring as it will be even harder to crack so remember, don’t update to it when it arrives soon if you still want to wait for a jailbreak at some point down the line.
Here at Phones Review we always remind people not to fall for the various hoaxes and scam jailbreaks that are out there, often being charged for. As we’ve said before, the best way you can keep tabs on an authentic iOS 6 jailbreak is to follow the Twitter accounts of some of the old guard jailbreakers such as @pod2g, @MuscleNerd, @planetbeing and others including of course @i0n1c as well as the websites of the Chronic Dev Team and iPhone Dev Team. We shall, of course, be following developments with interest but we’re pretty sad we haven’t been able to bring you news on an authentic iOS 6 jailbreak just in time for Christmas. Hopefully the New Year will see all systems go on this.
We’re always interested to hear from our readers and know from previous comments just how many of you are waiting to jailbreak your latest iOS devices. How do you feel about 6.1 being even tougher to jailbreak and i0n1c’s caution on this? Are you still holding out for some of the most prominent hackers to try to crack 6.0? Let us have your comments on this.