Leaked pictures of Windows Phone Amber update on Nokia Lumia 925

A published report out of China shows the Nokia Lumia 925 powered by the Windows Phone Amber update. Screenshots of the recently unveiled device show the on screen clock that displays the time even when the phone is 'sleeping'. Another picture shows the FM radio that will be on most of the updated models, and a settings screen where color saturation and color temperature can be set by the user. The update will also allow users to select an option that will allow them to flip the phone and place it face down on a table to silence the ringer.

Besides being known as Amber, the update is also known as GDR2 for the second General Distribution Release. A third one is planned for later in the year. That update is expected to bring support for a 1080 x 1920 (FHD) screen resolution to Windows Phone 8 devices.

The Windows Phone 8 Amber update will come pre-installed on the Nokia Lumia 925 which was introduced on May 14th in the U.K.

Blue HTC One coming?

Earlier this month, a U.K. retailer had displayed a red version of the HTC One. But that was really no surprise since as early as February, HTC had included a red HTC One on its web site. Now, a published report out of the U.K. says that a blue version of the the Taiwan manufacturer's flagship Android model is on the way.

Both the red and blue versions of the HTC One will be launched together, according to the report, to go along with the current Glacial Silver and Stealth Black that the phone can currently be bought in. No timeframe for the launch of the new colors was revealed.

U.K. retailer Handtec was taking pre-registrations for the red model in the first week of May. While it did list an after-tax price of 503.99 GBP ($783.40 USD), no shipping date was listed and there was no place to leave credit card information. There was space for those interested to leave an email address so that they could be notified when the red version of the HTC One was available.

Rumor: Galaxy Note 3 camera to include optical image stabilization technology

A new report says that the Galaxy Note 3 could feature an improved camera capable to offer users optical image stabilization (OIS) features.
According to etnews, Samsung is apparently working on including OIS capabilities in the unannounced Galaxy Note 3, a feature that should help improve the pictures and videos taken with the phone’s main camera.

Google blimps will carry wireless signal across Africa

Search giant Google is intending to build huge wireless networks across Africa and Asia, using high-altitude balloons and blimps.
The company is intending to finance, build and help operate networks from sub-Saharan Africa to Southeast Asia, with the aim of connecting around a billion people to the web.
To help enable the campaign, Google has been putting together an ecosystem of low-cost smartphones running Android on low-power microprocessors. Rather than traditional infrastructure, Google's signal will be carried by high-altitude platforms - balloons and blimps - that can transmit to areas of hundreds of square kilometres.

Samsung Briefly Posts Galaxy S4 Mini On Its Apps Site, Adding New Credence To A Summer Release

Samsung has yet to officially confirm the Galaxy S4 mini, but the smartphone’s brief appearance on the company’s app store earlier today backs up rumors of a summer launch. The listing was spotted and screencapped by TGspot (link via Google Translate) before it was removed.

Samsung sold a record 12.5 million smartphones in China during Q1 2013: Strategy Analytics

Samsung topped China’s smartphone sales for the first time last year, and the Korean firm has taken that momentum into this year, after selling a record 12.5 million smartphones in China during Q1 2013, according to Strategy Analytics.
The research firm’s latest figures are reported by the Korea Herald (via Sammy Hub) and are particularly impressive given that Samsung sold a total of 30.06 million smartphones last year. That 2012  figure was a record annual sales haul for the firm — and tripled its sales from 2011 — but, given its early progress this year, Samsung looks set to smash that record once again in 2013.

Samsung to Unveil New Galaxy and ATIV Devices on June 20

Samsung has just announced an event called the "Samsung Premiere 2013," held on June 20, 2013 in London.
Absolutely no details were given about the event except three cryptic, black and white images (below) and two words: "Galaxy and ATIV." This suggests that the company plans to launch new Galaxy (meaning: Android) devices, as well as Windows devices which fall under Samsung's ATIV brand.
The event will start at 2PM ET on June 20, and will be livestreamed at Samsung's YouTube channel.

Smartphones to outsell feature phones in 2013

Growth at the high end of the smartphone market might be slowing, but it seems like nothing can stop the low-end smartphone market. Smartphones out-shipped feature phones for the first time in Q1 this year and according to market research firm DisplaySearch, smartphones will continue to dominate basic cell phones for the rest of 2013. The firm sees smartphone shipments hitting 937 million units this year, handily topping the 889 million feature phones expected to ship. By 2016, smartphones shipments will hit 1.45 billion units thanks to growth in emerging markets, and smart handsets will make up an estimated two-thirds of the global cell phone market at that time.

“The global smartphone market is expected to continue growing rapidly over the next two years,” said Shawn Lee, research director at DisplaySearch. “With larger, higher-resolution displays, faster processors, and higher-capacity cellular systems being built, the smartphone is not only becoming a must-have device, but is satisfying many needs that formerly required other computing and consumer electronics devices.”

New iOS 7 concept shows off enhanced Siri functionality

A new iOS 7 concept designed by Christian Lue and Ran Avni has been captured on video. The new build of Apple's mobile OS features panoramic wallpaper and a Quick Reply feature. In this concept, Siri displays rumored integration with Flickr and Vimeo as well as integration with some other iPhone applications. With the Music app, there are some new features that come in handy. Tap on the currently playing song in the Now Playing section and you get to see which tunes are coming up. Simple, but effective.

Some other interesting concepts include using thumbnail icons to launch a folder of related apps. The Settings application would give the user more control over certain functions such the ability to sort icons by usage or by name. The design itself has the flat look that Jony Ive is said to favor, and there is not a skeumorphic image in sight!

LG INTRODUCES NEW NEXUS 4 WHITE

LG Electronics (LG) today announced the launch of Nexus 4 White, the newest edition of the popular smartphone developed in collaboration with Google. Nexus 4 White features the same stellar Android™ experience as the original Nexus 4, combining LG’s sophisticated hardware design and popular Google Services such as Google Now and Photosphere for an outstanding overall user experience.

 

“Nexus 4 set the standard for Android 4.2 Jelly Bean smartphones,” said Dr. Jong-seok Park, president and CEO of LG Mobile Communications Company. “Nexus 4 White delivers the same Google experience to consumers in a stylish and attractive color option.”

 

Nexus 4 White comes with the superb 4.7-inch 1280-by-768 True HD IPS Plus display (320ppi) supported by Zerogap Touch technology. At its heart is the high performing Qualcomm Snapdragon™ S4 Pro processor and 2GB of RAM.

 

Starting in Hong Kong on May 29, Nexus 4 White will roll out globally in select markets in Asia, North America, Europe and the Middle East over the next several weeks.

 

Samsung reportedly confirms Galaxy Note III, hints at exciting new features

The third generation of the phablet that started it all was expected to launch later this year, of course, but a Samsung executive reportedly just confirmed the device for the first time. Korean language ETNews says it spoke with an unnamed Samsung exec who confirmed the Galaxy Note III will launch later this year. The anonymous official also discussed several exciting new features that might be included on the Note III, such as optical image stabilization and 3x optical zoom. Samsung’s next Note will also reportedly have a slimmer body, which will be appreciated considering the first two Note phablets were certainly on the thicker side. The report doesn’t state when the new Galaxy Note III will be unveiled, but the device is expected to debut at the annual IFA trade show in September.

Source:

ETNews