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!