Category Archives: Tech News

Nokia unveil Asha 210 with dedicated WhatsApp button

Nokia have unveiled the very first mobile phone with a dedicated WhatsApp button. The budget friendly Asha 210 will cost only $72, and is set to launch in many emerging markets by the end of Q2. The 210 will run the Series 40 operating system from Nokia and will be available in both single SIM and dual SIM options. The full QWERTY keypad with the WhatsApp button makes this a true dedicated messaging phone. The 210 also features a 2MP camera with a 2.4″ LCD display. While Nokia is having trouble competing in the high-end spectrum of phones with it’s Lumia line, they seem to be making up for it quite well with the Asha collection in the low-end. Check out the full spec list and intro video below for the new Asha 210 from Nokia.

Specs:

WiFi, Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR
2 mega-pixel rear camera
Single SIM and dual-SIM
2.4 inch LCD screen
QVGA resolution 320 x 240 pixels
Dedicated WhatsApp button
64MB memory expandable up to 32GB via microSD card

via: PCmag

T-Mobile iPhone 5 Now Available For $99

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T-Mobile has officially entered the world of Apple by kicking off sales for the 4G LTE enabled iPhone 5. The nations 4th largest carrier has been waiting patiently for the iPhone since it launched on AT&T nearly 6 years ago. T-Mobile’s new Uncarrier plans allow the iPhone to be purchased starting at only $99, with two years of $20 monthly payments. You also have the option of forking over $579 (which is $70 less than Apple) to pay the phone upfront in full. T-Mobile will also offer the 32GB and 64GB versions which will cost you an additional $100 and $200 respectively. As for the iPhone 4 and 4S, they will be available for even cheaper but only in certain markets. The 4S will cost only $69.99 down and $20 per month with a 24-month deal. The iPhone 4 will be sold for $14.99 and $15 per month for 2 years.

So…how will the iPhone do at T-Mobile? Techcrunch reported some lines at a T-Mobile retail location earlier today in New York City, so things look to be starting off well. Time will tell however if current T-Mobile customers and competing defectors will indeed jump on board in favor of no-contract plans and prices. The Big Magenta has also released its first iPhone commercial that accentuates the carriers 4G network and its contract free plans. With new iPhones, new plans, and an upcoming merger with MetroPCS, T-Mobile look to be heading in a really positive direction.

via: TUAW

Facebook Unveil $99 HTC First & Facebook Home for Android

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Mark Zuckerberg and Facebook have officially taken the wraps off their newest Facebook experience labeled “Home.” Home essentially turns any Android device into a dedicated Facebook phone via a unique launcher. The group of applications that form Home are essentially the same idea as a launcher for Android (Nova, Apex, Go). This Facebook Home skins your Android device to make it more Facebook centric, and brings most of Facebook’s features directly on your home-screen. Along with Home, Facebook unveiled a new app called Chat Heads. This app brings all the Facebook messaging application features and SMS to the forefront of your home-screen. The unique thing about Chat Heads is that the chat icon exists on every screen. This allows you to have a conversation at anytime on your phone without multitasking between apps. Facebook Home will launch on April 12th on select devices and will be available in the Google Play store for download. The first phones that will get Home will be the HTC One, HTC One X/X+, Samsung Galaxy S III, Galaxy S4, and Galaxy Note II. Home is also slated to arrive on tablets come this summer.

Next up for Facebook was the long anticipated Facebook phone. In a partnership with both HTC and AT&T, HTC’s CEO Peter Chou unveiled the HTC First. The world’s first true Facebook phone will be available in 4 colors and cost $99 on April 12th, with pre-orders starting today. The First will come pre-loaded with HTC Home and will be exclusive to AT&T. The device will feature 4G LTE connectivity as well. The First will be powered by a Snapdragon 400 chip from Qualcomm and an Adreno 305 GPU.See the complete spec sheet below (via – androidauthority)

HTC First specifications

Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 dual-core
RAM: 1GB
Display: 4.3-inch LCD, 720p
Camera: 5MP rear, 1.6MP front
Connectivity: Bluetooth, WiFi, GPS
Four color options: red, blue, white, black
4G LTE
Android 4.1 Jelly Bean + HTC Sense 4.1 + Facebook Home

So, what do you think of the new Facebook Android Home launcher and the HTC First? Is this a step in the right direction for Facebook?

via: engadget

T-Mobile’s “Uncarrier” Event Brings iPhone 5, Galaxy S4 and HTC One for $99

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T-Mobile has made some serious waves in the carrier wars today with their all new “uncarrier” event which was held earlier in New York City. The Deutsche Telekom U.S. subsidiary has unleashed all new devices, all new plans, new LTE networks, and new contracts… or lack there of. Check out the breakdown below on each of the new features T-Mobile is bringing to their new and improved network.

The Phones:
iPhone 5 – Launch April 12th for $99, plus $20 per month for 24 months. AWS support and full LTE support with HD voice
Galaxy S4 – Launch May 1st $99, plus $20 per month for 24 months. LTE support
BlackBerry Z10 – March 26th $99, plus $18 per month for 24 months. LTE support
HTC One - Launch in late April for $99, plus $20 per month for 24 months
Galaxy Note II w/LTE – Available now for $199, plus $20 for 24 months. New Firmware update brings full LTE on board
iPhone 4S – Launch April 12th for $70, plus $20 per month for 24 months. No AWS support
iPhone 4 – Launch April 12th for $15, plus $15 per month for 24 months. No AWS support

The Network:
New 4G LTE network in seven major metropolitan areas, including Baltimore; Houston; Kansas City; Las Vegas; Phoenix; San Jose, Calif.; and Washington, D.C. The advanced 4G LTE network is expected to reach 100 million Americans by midyear and 200 million by the end of 2013.

The Plans:
Customers start with one line at $50 per month for unlimited talk, text and Web with 500MB of high-speed data. Customers can add a second phone line for $30 per month, and each additional line is just $10 per month. They can also add 2GB of high-speed data for $10 per month more per line. Unlimited 4G data is only $20 more per month per line.

The Catch:
The installment plan will only be available to “qualified customers,” which really means “credit qualified customers. If you do decide to leave T-Mobile, you will be responsible for what is owed on the phone if you do not fully own it. T-Mobile will offer a trade-in for partial credit on the device, or you can use that towards a new device. Last but not least is the compatibility question. Can an AT&T iPhone owner use their unlocked device on T-Mobile? Yes and No. Current GSM iPhones does not support the 1700 AWS band needed for T-Mobile 4G. Apple has stated that all iPhone sales starting on April 12th (and going forward) will support all LTE frequencies. That means AT&T iPhones on T-Mo will get data over the 2G Edge frequency, and 3G data on the 1900 mHz band (where available). However, customers who are looking to jump from AT&T to T-Mobile will need a new phone if they want true 4G LTE.

For full details on all the new hit the link below.

via: androidguys

Sony announces the Xperia SP (€419) & Xperia L (€299) smartphones

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Sony has unveiled two new members of the Xperia family today with the new SP & L mid-range smartphones. These phones will join the recently launched Xperia Z and ZL (which were announced back at CES in January) as part of the new 2013 line-up. Both the SP and L will not feature any of the Z’s waterproof or dust-proof features, but will offer similar styling points. The SP which is a step up from the L, will sport a 720p 4.6″ display with a 319ppi resolution screen. In terms of power the SP will feature a snapdragon 1.7GHz dual-core chip and will run Android Jelly Bean 4.1. An 8MP camera, DLNA, WiFi, Bluetooth, NFC, GPS, and a 2370 mAh battery with stamina mode round out the features.

Xperia SP Complete Specs:

General: 2G/3G/4G connectivity
Dimensions: 130.6 x 67.1 x 9.98 mm, 155 g
Display: 4.6″ 16M-color TFT capacitive touchscreen with a resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels (319ppi)
Chipset: Qualcomm MSM8960T
CPU: Dual-core ARM Krait 1.7 GHz processor
GPU: Adreno 320
RAM: 1GB
OS: Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean)
Memory: 8GB storage (5.8GB user-accessible), microSD card slot
Still camera: 8 megapixel auto-focus camera, HDR mode, panorama, face detection, touch focus and image stabilization; VGA front-facing camera, video calls
Video camera: Full HD (1080p) video recording
Connectivity: Wi-Fi a/b/g/n, Wi-Fi hotspot, Bluetooth 4.0, standard microUSB port with MHL features (TV Out, USB host), GPS receiver with A-GPS and GLONASS, 3.5mm audio jack, NFC
Battery: 2370 mAh
Misc: Sony custom UX, built-in accelerometer, multi-touch input, proximity sensor, gyroscope sensor, Glove mode, battery STAMINA mode, customizable ambient light strip, dedicated camera key

The Xperia L which is geared a bit towards the lower-end of the spectrum, still offers many top end features with a stunning design. It will feature a 4.3″ 218 ppi resolution display and will sport a cross look between the Xperia Z and last years Xperia T (Bond phone). The L will utilize a lower-end 1GHz dual-core snapdragon chip, but will still run Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. The L will also feature the same 8MP camera, WiFi, Bluetooth, microSD support, and a 1730 mAh battery with stamina mode.

Xperia L Complete Specs:

General: Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE, tri/quad-band UMTS/HSPA
Form factor: Touchscreen bar phone
Dimensions: 128.7 x 65 x 9.7 mm, 137 g
Display: 4.3″ 16M-color FWVGA (480 x 854 pixels ) capacitive touchscreen TFT
CPU: Dual-core 1 GHz Krait
GPU: Adreno 225
RAM: 1GB
OS: Android 4.1 Jelly Bean
Memory: 8GB storage, microSD card slot
Camera: 8 megapixel auto-focus camera with face detection; 720p video recording at 30fps, LED flash, VGA front facing camera
Connectivity: Wi-Fi a/b/g/n, Wi-Fi hotspot, Bluetooth 4.0, standard microUSB port, microHDMI, GPS receiver with A-GPS, 3.5mm audio jack, NFC
Misc: Sony custom UX, accelerometer, ambient light sensor, Proximity sensor, Illumination effect, Stamina mode, dedicated camera key

The Xperia SP and Xperia L will be available worldwide starting in Q2, and will ship in a variety of colors. In terms of pricing the SP will start at €419 (about $545), and the entry-level Xperia L smartphone will carry a price tag of €299 (about $387) in Germany. The new Xperia SP and L make a great addition to the already highly admired Xperia Z and ZL smartphones. Sony in my opinion are building a fantastic portfolio of devices across various price points which is vital to the success of the brand. As Sony stated last month, they are really looking to capture 3rd place behind both Samsung and Apple in the smartphones wars. With the addition of the Xperia SP and L, I think they are well on their way.

via: gsmarena, slashgear

Say Hello To The New Galaxy S4 From Samsung

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Samsung have officially taken the wraps of their newest flagship device earlier this evening at Ba roadway styled event in New York City. The new Galaxy S4 which looks very similar in design to the S3, adds new hardware features and many more software features than ever before. The new S4 is taller, thinner, and lighter than it’s predecessor, and will come in both white and black color options. The device is set to launch in Q2 of 2013 (exact dates and price are yet to be determined) on all 4 major US carriers.

Hardware:

Android: Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean
Processor: Samsung Octa 5 processor OR Qualcomm Snapdragon, depending on the region.
Storage: 16GB/32GB/64GB models, microSD expandable to 64GB
Display: 5” Full HD Super AMOLED 441+ ppi
System Memory: 2GB of RAM
Battery: 2600 mAh
Main Camera: 13MP autofocus, with 1080p recording
Front Camera: 2MP front facing
Misc: Infrared emitter (for remote apps)

Software:

Air View / Air Gesture: enables you to interact with the device without touching the screen. Very similar to S Pen on the Note 2 but you use your finger.
S Health: a full blown Nike Fuel band built directly into your phone. Track your steps, stairs climbed, and your food intake and estimate calories consumed/burned
Smart Pause / Smart Scroll: smart pause automatically pauses a video you’re playing when you look away. Smart scroll allows you to tilt the phone up and down to scroll using the accelerometer.
S Translator: I personally love this one as I travel frequently. This feature will translate both voice and text instantly in 9 different languages. It also integrates into email, chatON , and SMS.

Final Thoughts:

Although I have still not spent time with the device, I was just not that impressed with the hardware. I do think the Galaxy S4 is worthy successor to the S3, and will make many S2 and S3 owners want to upgrade. Is this phone really evolutionary though? Probably not. Personally I am a big hardware guy and I was looking for a redesign, better materials, or new build. This launch to me is similar to an Apple “S” type device (3GS, 4S), the Galaxy S4 for me feels like and “S” type upgrade (minus the beautiful 441ppi screen). It looks almost the same, features some new bumped up specs, and adds some nifty new software tricks. But is this enough in today’s competitive landscape? With the likes of HTC, LG, and Sony just releasing massive flagship handsets, the S4 to me leaves the door wide open for others to steal some valuable market share. As a true hardware lover I am personally more intrigued to buy the HTC One or Xperia Z, that feature a great design with premium build components. Don’t get me wrong, the new S4 looks like a great phone and will probably sell more than the S3, but at the end of the day I just wasn’t wowed by the next NEXT big thing.

via: ubergizmo

Watch the Samsung Galaxy S IV livestream at 7PM EST

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Samsung is all set to launch their latest flagship device later this evening, the Galaxy S IV. The announcement will take place in New York City at Radio City Music Hall starting at 7PM EST. Samsung will also hold an open unveiling at the same time live from Times Square in New York City, which is open to the public. Check out all the action below from the official Samsung livestream which kicks off in roughly 3 hours.

Samsung Set To Unveil Galaxy S IV on March 14th

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Samsung have officially confirmed the March 14th unveiling date for their latest Galaxy S flagship phone, the Galaxy S IV. Although the date was leaked last week, Samsung’s mobile chief J.K Shin confirmed the actual event date earlier today from Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. The event which is labeled “UNPACKED” will start at 7:00PM EST live from New York City. Samsung will stream the entire event from their youtube channel so be sure to tune in.

Here are the projected specs of the new Galaxy S IV:

5-inch 1080p 440ppi display
Exynos 5 1.8GHz quad-core chip/ Snapdragon 600 quad-core???
2GB RAM
13MP camera with 1080p video
2MP front camera with 720P video
Wireless charging
Improved NFC capabilities
Thinner more premium design and feel
Multiple colors and sizes

Are these specs worth the upgrade from your S III or iPhone 5? We shall indeed see what exactly Samsung has for us come the 14th. Stay tuned!

via: ZDnet

HTC unveils new flagship smartphone: The HTC One

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The struggling Taiwanese mobile phone maker HTC, have officially unveiled their latest smartphone offering with the all new HTC One. The new device will be the successor to the One X+, One X, Droid DNA, and Butterfly devices which are still not that old. The new “One” is constructed from a premium metallic design and weighs a solid 143 grams. In terms of size and look it is very similar to the new BlackBerry Z10 which was unveiled a few weeks back. The device measures 5.4 (137.4mm) x 2.7 (68.2mm) x 0.37 (9.3mm) inches. The impressive 4.7″ Super LCD 3 screen packs a huge 468 dpi resolution protected by Gorilla Glass 2. The One will be powered by a 1.7GHz quad-core Snapdragon 600 CPU, with 2GB of RAM, and will sport a 2,300 mAh battery. The camera on the new One is set to impress with a new Ultrapixel shooter with HTC Zoe. HTC Zoe automatically captures HD photos and HD videos simultaneously. It creates a “living gallery” that combines static photos and short videos. In terms of software the HTC One will feature the all new HTC Sense 5.0 and will run Android 4.1 JellyBean.

The device will come in both silver and black colors with 32GB and 64GB options. The HTC One will launch on more than 185 different mobile carriers across 80 regions around the world beginning next month. Here in the U.S. we can expect the device in March as well with AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile all on board. Verizon customers could be stuck with the Droid DNA for some time as they have opted out of the HTC One. Check out all the specs and video below.

HTC One Spec Sheet:

Size: 9.3mm thick, 137.4mm long, 68.2mm wide
Weight: 143g
CPU: Snapdragon 600, quad-core, clocked at 1.7Ghz
GPU: Adreno 320
RAM: 2GB
Storage: 32GB/64GB, no microSD card slot
Display: 4.7-inch Super LCD 3, full HD 1980 x 1080 resolution, 468ppi
Rear camera: 4 Ultrapixels, OIS, HDR video, ImageChip 2
Front camera: 2.1 MP, 1080p recording
Connectivity: LTE/3G, Bluetooth 4, Wi-Fi 802.11ac, DLNA, MHL
Sensors: GPS&GLONASS, Infrared blaster, NFC
Battery: 2300mAh
Operating system: Android 4.1.2, Sense 5 and BlinkFeed
Sim card: microSIM

via: engadget, Androidauthority

BlackBerry Z10 arrives in U.S. on Solavei for $999

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The small T-Mobile piggbacking MVNO Solavei will be the first carrier in the U.S. to offer up the latest BlackBerry device, the Z10. Unveiled by it’s retail partner GSM Nation today, the Z10 will run for a whopping $999 (SIM free). The device which is already selling quite well in Canada and in the U.K, is not expected to hit most major carriers in the U.S. until late March. For those exclusive folks who wish to have the device before others, the near $1,000 price tag may be worth it—-but to most of us probably not. If you are looking to save some cash on the new Z10 it is available now on eBay through various sellers for around $850-$950. I still think your best bet is to wait it out as the phone will most likely be offered for $199 on a 2 year contract on your preferred carrier (Sprint not included).

via: afterdawn