28/06/2013

iOS 7 beta 3 due out July 8th


According to inside sources, Apple is looking to keep on a tight schedule and release new beta updates for iOS 7 every two weeks or so. The same sources for BGR were correct in their information on when to expect iOS 7 beta 2, so it seems reasonable that they would have accurate info on iOS 7 beta 3.

That means we should expect iOS 7 beta 3 on July 8th, and it would also mean that Apple would have time to get through approximately approximately 9 beta versions of iOS 7 by the end of September. Unfortunately, there's no word on what kind of improvements and features we should expect in the next beta version of iOS 7, but if the leak is right, we won't have to wait long to find out. 

Source: Phonearena
Posted by Unknown
on Friday, June 28, 2013
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Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom to launch in the U.K. on July 8th


Slowly, a picture of when the Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom will launch in the U.K. is coming into focus. According to U.K. retailer Clove, the camera centric device will be released on July 8th. Clove is accepting pre-orders for the model which will sell for a price of 369 GBP ($563 USD) before tax once released. The unit brings some new and unique functionality to Android. The Zoom Ring on the device is the ring around the lens. When twisted, it adds more options to the ones currently on-screen. Another interesting feature allows you to twist the Zoom Ring while on a voice call to automatically send an MMS picture to whomever you are speaking to.

The Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom features a 16MP sensor on back with an optical 10X zoom and Optical Image Stabilization. This is not a device for those who have small hands or like to carry their phone in a pants or shirt pocket. The camera is 15.4mm thick and with the lens, that rises to 25mm. To put that figure in perspective, the Huawei Ascend P6 is the thinnest smartphone at the moment with a 6.18mm thickness and you can fit four units of the Huawei model into the Galaxy S4 Zoom.

 Source: Phonearena
Posted by Unknown
on Friday, June 28, 2013
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Android 4.3 Jelly Bean video demonstration (on Samsung Galaxy S4 GT-I9505)


Android 4.3 Jelly Bean has just leaked out for the Samsung Galaxy S4 GT-I9505 and we quickly installed the new version of Google’s operating system to give you a quick demonstration of its features.

Let’s first mention that this is an unofficial build for the SGS4 dated June 26th, so it’s obvious that it is fresh and that Samsung has gotten early access to the new version Android, before Google officially announces it. 

If you are feeling adventurous, you can find instructions on how to install it on your Galaxy S4 here. Let us warn you, though, that this will void your warranty and if you haven’t flashed custom ROMs before, proceed with extra caution.

So with no further ado, let’s explore all the new features in Android 4.3 Jelly Bean.

Firing it up you notice that the interface hasn’t changed a bit. Android 4.3 has got the same looks as 4.1 for the most part. The biggest change is in the camera application where instead of having your settings around the radial focus ring, you have them separated on the bottom. As cool as the radial dial looked, it was not practical because your finger often got in the way.



You’ve also got the new ‘Sun Beam’ live wallpaper that we saw on the Google Edition Galaxy S4 and HTC One.

And believe it or not, that’s about it. At first look we were hard pressed to find any other changes in the visual appearance of Android 4.3.

However it seems that Google has focused on under the hood improvements, and actually that would be its focus in this release. We noticed that Bluetooth Low Energy support seems to have been added (it appears in Android System Settings). There is also now support for Bluetooth tethering, new developer options and new sort of GPU rendering. We’re just scratching the surface here, and we’re certain Google will provide a much more detailed changelog once Android 4.3 goes official

We also ran some standard benchmark tests and interestingly enough we noticed a slight change in the scores. Our first Galaxy S4 review unit scored around 25 000 on AnTuTu, and after flashing Android 4.3 Jelly Bean we noticed the score improve a bit:
  • AnTuTu (SGS4 with Android 4.3): 26698
  • AnTuTu (SGS4 with Android 4.2): 24701

That’s about it, we’ll continue exploring the new features in 4.3 Jelly Bean, but right now you can take a look at our quick hands-on video demonstration of the latest update to Android.

 Source: Phonearena
Posted by Unknown
on Friday, June 28, 2013
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Rumor: Sony Honami to be announced in Paris on July 4


Hours after a second set of images allegedly showing the Sony Honami (Xperia i1) have hit the web, a publication claims that the phone will be unveiled in Paris, on July 4, during a special media event.
We wondered the other day whether the Honami could be unveiled at Sony’s next confirmed event and it looks like we were not that far off.
Rbmen says that the device in the teaser image released for the Paris event (image below) is actually the Sony Honami, not the Xperia Z Ultra, as it was believed before. As you can see, the teaser image shows a device that apparently features a dedicated camera button and a lanyard hole towards the lower right side of the handset, design elements that we have noticed in the most recent set of leaked photos.
Apparently Sony is interested in launching both the Xperia Z Ultra and the Honami simultaneously, although each device will have its own announcement event – that is if Google’s translation of the original article written in Japanese is to be believed.
The Honami’s specs are again rumored to include a 5-inch Full HD display (1920 x 1080) resolution, Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor, 20-megapixel camera, 2.2-megapixel front-facing camera, non-removable battery and Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean under the hood. Just like other recent Android handsets from Sony, the handset will be dust proof and water resistant.


Actual release dates for this flagship product are not available yet, but the handset is said to be launched by NTT DoCoMo in Japan.
That said, we’ll remind you that this is just a rumor at this point, which is yet to be confirmed, so take it with a grain of salt.

Posted by Unknown
on Friday, June 28, 2013
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Android 4.3 Spotted on Galaxy S4 Google Edition, Official Update Next Month


Only one day after the official launch of the Google Edition flavors of the HTC One and Samsung Galaxy S4 smartphones, info on their impending upgrade to Android 4.3 Jelly Bean started to emerge online, suggesting that July will be the lucky month for enthusiasts. 

Apparently, Samsung is already testing the new platform release internally as build JWR66N, which suggests that the official release is indeed near.

 Furthermore, SamMobile managed to obtain a series of screenshots showing Android 4.3 running on Galaxy S4, and unveils that the test build was originally intended for the Google Play Edition Galaxy S4 (GT-I9505G) handset. 

 

 The leaked screenshots point at the same build number for Android 4.3, namely JWR66N.S005.130625, where “S005.130625” reportedly represents Samsung’s internal numbering of test software.

Although no specific info on the matter has been provided as of now, it is possible that HTC is also testing the upcoming operating system release on its own Google Edition HTC One, and that it would be set to make the update available in the near future as well. 

Both devices were made available for purchase with the Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean operating system loaded on top, but with a series of minor tweaks compared to the initial platform release. 

Unfortunately, the Android 4.3 Jelly Bean OS isn’t official as of now, although it has been rumored for many months, and was even spotted on Nexus devices before. 

We still don’t have a specific release date for the Android 4.3 update for the two Google Edition handsets, though more on the matter might become available in the near future. 

It should also be mentioned that, provided that the OS upgrade is indeed set to become official next month, Google might have it delivered to Nexus smartphones and tablets first, especially given that updates for the Galaxy S4 and HTC One with stock Android will be handled by their manufacturers. 


 Source: Sammobile via Softpedia
Posted by Unknown
on Friday, June 28, 2013
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27/06/2013

BlackBerry Q5 release date set, QWERTY toting BB10 device to land next week


Having been formally unveiled at BlackBerry Live, BlackBerry’s cheapest BB10 handset to date has now been dated for launch with a BlackBerry Q5 release date confirmed for next week.

Follow on to the full touch BlackBerry Z10 and the QWERTY hosting BlackBerry Q10, the new, wallet friendly BlackBerry Q5 release date has now been set with the Canadian manufacturer to offer its latest physical keyboard boasting smartphone in the coming days.

“Most of our main network and retail partners will be going on sale [with the BlackBerry Q5] from next week onwards,” Morgan Evans, BlackBerry’s PR Manager for UK and Ireland .He added: “Pricing and availability will obviously vary between networks and carriers.”

With a number of networks and retailers already offering BlackBerry Q5 pre-orders, EE and Phones 4u are just two of the leading outlets set to offer the plastic clad smartphone.

With the 4G enabled BlackBerry Q5 set to land in black, white and red colour schemes, a selection of BlackBerry Q5 release dates have been teased as both next Monday, July 1, and Wednesday, July 3. 

Set to be made available free on a £21 per month with Vodafone, the BlackBerry Q5 will be bundled with 100 minutes, unlimited texts and a 100MB data limit on the two year deal. A range of other tariffs are available from all the leading networks.

A SIM-free BlackBerry Q5 price has been set at a not inconsiderable £320 by high street retailer Carphone Warehouse.


BlackBerry Q5 Features
A relatively compact QWERTY boasting handset that all sports a 3.1-inch 720 x 720p touchscreen display, the BlackBerry Q5 specs sheet sees a 1.2GHz dual-core CPU run the show alongside the latest BlackBerry 10.1 operating system.

Lining up at 10.8mm thick and 120g in weight, the BlackBerry Q5 features list is further enhanced by 2GB of RAM, 8GB of internal storage, expandable via microSD, and a 2180mAh Lithium-Ion battery.

With a 5-megapixel rear-mounted snapper partnered with an integrated LED flash and 1080p Full HD video recording capabilities at 30 frames-per-second, a second 2-megapixel snapper sits up front.
Posted by Unknown
on Thursday, June 27, 2013
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Which?: Galaxy S4 wins battery life test


Samsung's Galaxy had the longest battery life in a test of seven popular smartphones, with twice the call time of the low-ranking iPhone 5.

Each phone's battery life was tested for call time and internet use by Which? and the Samsung Galaxy S4 was a clear winner in both categories.
The popular phone offered more than 1000 minutes of call time or 400 minutes of internet use before its battery life ran out.
Apple's iPhone 5 came second from last in both tests, with less than half the call time of the Galaxy S4 at just 499 minutes.

The results reflect similar result rankings from tests of the phones' processing time earlier this week, where the Galaxy S4 again came first and the iPhone 5 was last.

Of all the phones tested for battery life, the Nokia Lumia 920 offered the least amount of time for both call time and internet use, with just 235 minutes of internet time.

Source:  Which? via Telegraph
Posted by Unknown
on Thursday, June 27, 2013
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Huawei Honor 3 leaked in China


Huawei is preparing to re-define what a mid-range device means. The company’s upcoming Honor 3 smartphone will provide quite a bang for the buck with its specs including a 4.7-inch 720p HD screen, 1.5GHz quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM, 8GB of built-in storage and 13-megapixel camera. Actually, it’s a high-end device by any merit; it’s just that we used to associate the Honor smartphones with mid-end of the market. That said, we tend to think this phone will be affordable, costing less than the company’s fancy-new Ascend P6. Heck I would expect it to sell for no more than 350 EUR sans any strings attached.
The problem, however, is that we have no idea when the Chinese company will officially launch the Honor 3 nor whether it will bring it to the Western hemisphere. We do hope Europe and the Americas are on their radar and that soon enough they’ll officially share some of the details we care about. More on this as soon as we have something new to add. Stay tuned…


Source: GSMinsider via Intomobile
Posted by Unknown
on Thursday, June 27, 2013
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Google Play Editions of Galaxy S4 and HTC One go on sale online


As originally promised, the Google Play editions of the Samsung Galaxy S4 and the HTC One have gone on sale today. Both top-shelf smartphones, running stock Android can be ordered from the Google Play Store in the United States.
Pure Android versions of both the Samsung Galaxy S4 and the HTC One smartphones have gone up for sale via the Google Play store in the US. These two top of the range phones are priced at $649 and $599 respectively (including delivery) however the devices won’t ship until July 9.
Overall hardware
The hardware on offer in these phones is exactly as in the versions you have seen before. Considering their bare hardware it is important to note the 32GB HTC One, comes with double the internal storage of the Galaxy S4 but lacks the expandability option of a microSD card slot. Although built with, what many would consider, better quality components the HTC One is $50 cheaper than Samsung’s Galaxy S4.

Cameras
From looking through the sample shots taken with these two smartphones in their regular and Google editions you can see some differences in how the cameras perform. Both these smartphones have high-end mobile camera units and feature their capabilities heavily in their promotions. Also it seems like both Samsung and HTC have done quite a bit of tweaking of settings to optimise these cameras in their skinned software smartphones. Colour balance settings, sharpness settings and so on look better in the original smartphones.
Battery
Both smartphones perform just as well if not a little faster with the stock Android experience but in benchmarks the differences were negligible “stock vs skinned and GS4 vs HTC One”. It was found that the plain Android version of the HTC One had a noticeably better battery life, it lasted a full hour longer in the battery tests used by The Verge.

Updates
An important thing to consider if choosing one of these Google Edition smartphones over a Nexus device is that the stock Android on them is “built and maintained by Samsung and HTC”. Google says the updates will be timely but they still have to go through these two companies before they get to you. The Verge notes that “there’s no guarantee that the stock GS4 and One will get same-day updates along with the Nexus line”.

The stock Android editions of the HTC One and the Samsung Galaxy S4 are bound to attract their fair share of Google purists, who aren't keen on living with some of the limitations the Nexus 4 has. Considering the difference in the pricing however, it is fair to think that the sales of the Nexus 4 are not likely to take a hit.

Source: Hexus
Posted by Unknown
on Thursday, June 27, 2013
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WP8 Huawei Ascend W2 shows its face ahead of announcement


After the official product shot leaked in late May, we knew it wouldn't be long before Huawei's Ascend W2 makes an official appearance.Yesterday the Huawei Ascend W2 was showcased at an official event in China. The W2 packs a 4.3-inch WVGA display and runs on the Qualcomm MSM8230 Snapdragon S4 Plus chipset with a dual-core 1.4GHz Krait processor, Adreno 305 graphics and 512MB of RAM.

 The rest of the specs include an 8MP camera, 8GB of internal expandable via a microSD card slot, and a 1700mAh battery. The Ascend W2 spreads at 134 x 66.7 x 9.9 mm and will be available in blue, red and yellow flavors.



The Huawei Ascend W2 has not been made official yet and there is no info on the pricing and availability. We guess the Chinese users will get the phone first because the model showcased at the event was headed to China Mobile.

 Source: Engadget via Gsmarena
Posted by Unknown
on Thursday, June 27, 2013
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Sony Xperia i1 leaked photo tips 20-megapixel monster


Sony's readying its own monster-megapixel photoblower, according to a new leak -- a 20-megapixel camera phone called the Xperia i1.
It's all about the back though -- or rather the camera on the back. If it's true that it packs a 20-megapixel sensor, it'll go up against the Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom and rumoured Nokia Lumia 1020 as a top-of-the-range camera phone.

Brazilian gadget gossip site TechTudo bagged the above snap, which shows the white Xperia i1 sandwiched between the 6.4-inch Xperia Ultra Z and the 5-inch Xperia ZL (called the ZQ in Brazil). That would likely make the i1 about 5.3 or 5.4 inches, and TechTudo claims the front of the device is all screen.
Previous rumours about the device reported by Android Beat, which referred to it by the codename Honami, reckoned it'll have a huge 1/1.6-inch sensor and a proper glass lens.
But with half the megapixel count of Nokia's bonkers gadget, and without the 10x optical zoom that makes the Zoom more camera than phone, it's hard to see how this purported blower will make much of an impression on shutterbugs.
It's far too early to be making any judgement, of course, and there's no doubting Sony's commitment to producing quality Android gadgets. The wonderfully waterproof Xperia Z and Xperia Tablet Z are two of our very favourite devices this year.
Source: Cnet
Posted by Unknown
on Thursday, June 27, 2013
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Best 4G phones 2013: 10 to choose from


The UK saw its first, belated, 4G network appear for use late last year thanks to EE, which managed to wangle approval from regulator Ofcom to launch an LTE service before the other main providers.
But soon, the likes of Three, Vodafone and O2 will also be ready to let us connect to new, high-speed 4G networks of their own, or, to put it another way, your mobile may soon give you quicker uploads, downloads and ping responses than your home broadband thanks to these new mobile networks.
The downside is that you're probably going to need a new phone to use this super-super-fast data connection, as many older mobiles don't have the necessary radios inside them to hook into the frequencies used by 4G systems.
Luckily for you, though, the mobile networks are falling over themselves to stock new 4G-ready phones and updated versions of popular current models, with some of the best handsets from the top makers supporting our new LTE bands. So here are ten of the finest smartphones that'll let you max out your 4G SIM from the moment it arrives.

Samsung Galaxy S4


This year's Galaxy S series update was not without controversy. Its launch event was a bizarre music hall experience that some said was rather sexist, the phone's full of so much bloatware and additional Samsung software it's been complained about on TV, but none of these whinges have stopped the Galaxy S4 shipping in record numbers and making it the most popular Android phone around today.
The only model sold in the UK comes with a 4G-friendly radio inside it, so once you've got it, you've got the 4G power -- if your SIM and network allows it.

Huawei Ascend P1 LTE


The massive Android budget phone scene hasn't yet embraced LTE, so unless you're prepared to pay big money there's not a huge amount of choice when it comes to 4G models as yet.
One of the most affordable 4G-ready Android models is the Huawei Ascend P1 LTE, an updated version of 2012's excellent Ascend P1. It features a 4.3-inch display running at 960 x 540 resolution, backed by an 8MP camera and 1.3MP front-facing chat cam.
It's an impressive performer, with Huawei only slightly meddling with Google's code. Only available on EE, from £31 a month.

iPhone 5


If you want the amazingly popular iPhone 5 with the coveted 4G logo on it right now, the only way to get it is go to EE.
Due to the frequencies used by EE to provide its 4G network in the UK, the version of the phone it's selling won't work on the forthcoming LTE services from Vodafone and the rest, so if you buy it through EE you'd better be prepared to stick with the network for the duration of your contract.
As for the phone itself, the iPhone 5 isn't an enormous update over the previous models, but Apple doesn't need to change things to appeal to its eager fans. It's still the mobile phenomenon it always has been.

BlackBerry Z10


If you want something a little more avant garde, BlackBerry's new Z10 is also an early member of the UK's 4G phone club.
The first phone to run the company's new BB10 mobile OS, the Z10's software is a little quirky in places, but the powerful, feature-packed web browser and 4G connectivity makes it a decent contender for those after something fast and a little different.
Plus, with a relatively modest 4.2-inch display, it's one of the more pocketable modern smartphones and less of a slab than other big name models. Don't ignore it just because it's BlackBerry.

Samsung Galaxy Note 2 LTE


If you want the biggest AND fastest phone around, Samsung's high-end phone/tablet hybrid is the way to go. EE's offering the Samsung Galaxy Note II LTE on a range of contracts, while Vodafone's also selling the 4G-ready device on monthly contracts right now, which you'll be able to upgrade to an LTE speed connection later this year when Vodafone finally launches its 4G service.
The phone's a stunner, combining a 5.5-inch HD display with a quad-core processor running at 1.5GHz. And the S Pen stylus. And loads of Samsung software tools to play with. It's a portable activity centre for tech enthusiasts.

HTC One


This is HTC's best phone yet, and that's saying something. The HTC One is 4G-ready from the offset, so can be bought on any of the networks -- although only EE will let you use a 4G connection right now.
The HTC One earned rave reviews for its metallic chassis, superb low-light camera performance and the general smoothness of HTC's updated user interface, with the new HTC Sense social features also going down a storm. This phone and a 4G data connection would make most people very, very jealous indeed.

Samsung Galaxy S3 LTE


Samsung's 2012 flagship model has also been refreshed to feature 4G capabilities in the UK, with network EE offering last year's top-spec Android models on a range of 4G contracts -- starting at a very decent £36 a month.
For that you get a phone that's still extremely competitive, offering a quad-core processor, 4.8-inch 1280 x 720 display and a very capable 8MP camera, with the LTE version able to hit the theoretical 3G maximum download speed of 42Mbps and maxing out at a hard-to-comprehend (and unlikely to actually hit in the real world) 100Mbps on a clear 4G link.

Sony Xperia Z


Sony's current highest-end Android model is the Xperia Z, which stuffs a lovely 5-inch display into a slim chassis, into which it's also somehow managed to include a quad-core chipset, 2GB of RAM and a 13MP camera.
It's one of the most impressive Android models around today, and is also ready for your next-gen mobile data connection thanks to featuring the required miniature internal coat hanger needed to pick up an LTE radio signal.
It operates on all known 4G bands, so you'll be free to switch providers and juggle SIMs at will once all the networks have their 4G service up and running.

Nokia Lumia 920


Nokia's latest Windows Phone 8 model has been doing some good work in convincing people to give Microsoft's mobile OS a fair go, with its nicely sized 4.5-inch 760 x 1280 display a good option for those not yet ready to accept something up nearer the 5-inch range.
The Lumia 920 also features dual cameras (8.7MP and 1.3MP), a whopping great 32GB of onboard storage space for your photos and media, plus support for all of the key UK 4G bands is in for future-proofed connectivity.
It's been beaten now by the Nokia Lumia 925 - so we'll be updating this list as and when we get to compare the two.

BlackBerry Q10


If you want traditional QWERTY BlackBerry hardware to accompany your futuristic 4G data speeds, there's only one choice -- the new Q10.
The phone looks like your usual old BB with its chunky keyboard and landscape display above, but comes with the updated BB10 OS for adding a bit more style to proceedings.
The phone also includes NFC support, for transferring mobile data rather more slowly over distances of a couple of centimetres, should that ever really become a thing people want to do.

Source:Techradar
Posted by Unknown
on Thursday, June 27, 2013
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26/06/2013

Gold and platinum HTC One unleashed


The smartphone market has decidedly become a buyer's market – incredible diversity to suit most any taste and a price range that can put at the very worst a somewhat smart device in an increasing amount of hands. But if price isn't within the checklist you go through before you make a purchase, then GoldGenie, a London-based expert in embellishing precious metals on gadgets, including phones, has a treat for you.

Two days ago, a blog post on the GoldGenie site announced that the last to receive the special treatment was the HTC One. GoldGenie knows you'll be looking for a good deal, so they've thrown an unlocked, SIM-free HTC One that comes with a fancy cherry oak box in tow, too. Not enough? As we're sure you wouldn't settle for anything less than a real bargain, the company has decided to also throw a pair of Beats audio earphones as well. The price of this luxurious deal? About $2900 for the 24ct. gold plating, $3100 for the rose gold and $3200 for the platinum HTC One.

For those of you looking for more, the company also offers to do their thing on a wide variety of items, including embellishing your Wii, your tablet or even your golf club.

 Source: Phonearena
Posted by Unknown
on Wednesday, June 26, 2013
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Sprint gets its first Windows Phones -- HTC 8XT and Samsung ATIV S Neo




Today Sprint and Microsoft outlined plans to launch two Windows Phone 8 handsets on the US network. The HTC 8XT and Samsung ATIV S Neo will be packaged with Truly UnlimitedSM Sprint 4G LTE this coming summer. Both phones will be able to take full advantage of LTE speeds, offering consumers a rich experience when using the device while out and about.
The mobile operator is highlighting the main benefit, which is that data, text and calling to any mobile have no metering, there's no throttling on data usage and overages. Here's what Fared Adib, senior vice president-Product Development, Sprint had to say about the announcement:
"We know our customers are anxious to get their hands on these Windows Phone 8 smartphones, HTC 8XT and ATIV S Neo. Without a doubt, they will rival any smartphone on the market today. Our customers will appreciate being able to use them all day, every day without worrying about overages or data caps."
We've covered in the past how Sprint has been on the fence when it comes to Windows Phone but has been quielty looking at supporting the platform. Customers currently subscribed to the network have proved to be among the most loyal base for Microsoft and we're pleased Redmond is looking to introduce new hardware for consumers. So, what's the hardware going to be like?

The HTC 8XT


HTC will be unleashing a new version of its popular 8X Windows Phone on the Sprint network, the HTC 8XT (or 'Tiara'). It's a notable upgrade with HTC BoomSound, which will introduce dual front-facing speakers with dedicated amplifier to help bring video, music and games to life. Beats Audio is also said to be bundled to further enhance the audio output from the device. As well as that, HTC is also packing advanced dual microphones and better audio processing to capture those loud moments. Doesn't this ring a bell?
Specifications will include a 1.4GHz dual-core Snapdragon CPU, 1GB RAM, 8GB internal memory (with MicroSD support), 4.3-inch display and a 1,800mAh battery. An 8MP camera is also bundled with a 1.6MP FFC.The 8XT will be available for $99.99 with a new line or eligible upgrade, two-year service agreement and a $50 mail-in rebate. 

The Samsung ATIV S Neo



As for Samsung, we're rather surprised (pleasantly, might I add) the company is continuing to throw out hardware running Windows Phone. The ATIV S Neo will sport a 1.4GHz dual-core processor, 1GB RAM,16GB internal storage (with microSD support), 4.8-inch display (probably utilising Super AMOLED), 8MP shooter (with 1.9MP FFC) and a 2,000mAh removable battery. It's quite the work horse.
While no images have been supplied, we imagine it'll not stray far from the ATIV S we've come to know and love today. The ATIV S Neo will be priced at $149.99 with a new line or eligible upgrade, two-year service agreement and a $50 mail-in rebate.
Sprint HTC 8XT and Samsung ATIV S Neo
SAN FRANCISCO (BUSINESS WIRE), June 26, 2013 - Sprint (NYSE: S) and Microsoft Corp. today outlined plans to launch the first two Windows Phone 8 smartphones to offer Truly UnlimitedSM Sprint 4G LTE this summer – HTC® 8XT and Samsung ATIV S™ Neo. Customers will appreciate access to the advanced features and capabilities of these devices with the benefit of unlimited 4G LTE (available in select markets) data, text and calling to any mobile with no metering, no throttling, and no overages, all while on the Sprint network.
HTC 8XT will be available for $99.99 with a new line or eligible upgrade, two-year service agreement and $50 mail-in rebate via reward card1. ATIV S Neo will be priced at $149.99 with a new line or eligible upgrade, two-year service agreement and $50 mail-in rebate via reward card1. Exact availability dates and full feature lists for both smartphones will be shared at a later date. Customers can preregister for more information and email updates about Windows Phone 8 from Sprint and HTC 8XT and ATIV S Neo at www.sprint.com/windows8.
“We know our customers are anxious to get their hands on these Windows Phone 8 smartphones, HTC 8XT and ATIV S Neo,” said Fared Adib, senior vice president-Product Development, Sprint. “Without a doubt, they will rival any smartphone on the market today. Our customers will appreciate being able to use them all day, every day without worrying about overages or data caps.”
Windows Phone 8 won the PC Magazine Readers’ Choice Award for best mobile operating system in March 2013. The only phone with Live Tiles, Windows Phone 8 offers a truly personal smartphone experience designed to keep customers connected to the people and things that matter most. Windows Phone brings together the best of Microsoft with the same modern look and feel, including Bing, Office, Xbox and Skype, for a rich customer experience. In addition, the Windows Phone Store includes more than 160,000 apps to choose from, with hundreds added daily.
”We are excited to be bringing the most personal smartphone experience to Sprint customers this summer,” said Terry Myerson, corporate vice president, Microsoft Windows Phone Division. “With compelling hardware from HTC and Samsung, coupled with unlimited 4G LTE from Sprint, these Windows Phones will offer the complete package.”
Must-Have Features from HTC
Music-lovers will appreciate the amazing sound capability of HTC 8XT with HTC BoomSound™, introducing for the first time on Windows Phone 8 dual front-facing stereo speakers with a dedicated amplifier that brings people closer to their music, videos and games they love. In addition, Beats Audio™ enables studio-quality sound, so listeners hear music the way the artist intended with unique audio tuning that delivers thundering bass, soaring midrange and crisp highs. And HDR recording uses advanced dual microphones and audio processing to capture clean, rich sound that is worthy of high-definition video.
“Inspired by the design that won the prestigious ‘red dot award: product design 2013,’ the new HTC 8XT brings a truly crafted smartphone with brilliant color, soft-to-the-touch texture and tapered design to be comfortable in the hand,” said Mike Woodward, president North America, HTC Corporation. “A pleasure to hold and a pleasure to hear, the front-facing stereo speakers are a first for a Windows Phone and deliver sounds that demand to be heard.”
HTC 8XT is also ideal for photo buffs with an 8-megapixel main camera with autofocus and LED flash, and a front-facing 1.6-megapixel camera. The main camera takes great photos in bright-light and low-light situations, and the ability to shoot video and take still pictures simultaneously. It also offers multishot burst mode to help capture the best picture of a moving photo subject, and a dedicated Windows Phone camera button to open the camera quickly, even when the phone is locked or sleeping, so users never miss an opportunity to capture life’s most important moments.
Inside the beautiful HTC 8XT is a Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 400 processor with 1.4GHz dual-core CPUs supporting 4G LTE and 1080p video capture, 1GB RAM, 8GB ROM memory, microSD™ memory card slot with support for up to 64GB memory cards, a crisp 4.3-inch display, Wi-Fi®, Bluetooth®, GPS support and 1,800mAh lithium-ion battery.
Advanced Features from Samsung
ATIV S Neo will offer a 1.4GHz dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM, microSD memory card slot, international roaming, 4.8-inch high-definition display, Wi-Fi and 2,000mAh lithium-ion removable battery. Sharing is easier than ever with ATIV S Neo featuring ATIV Beam using near field communication (NFC) to share photos, music and video with other Windows Phone 8 and select Android™ devices. ATIV S Neo includes the Samsung exclusive Now feature, which highlights top news, weather and relevant information at a single glance.
“Samsung is committed to offering smartphones across a variety of platforms and the rich Windows Phone 8 experience on the ATIV S Neo is a testament to this effort,” said Kevin Packingham, Samsung Mobile chief product officer. “The ATIV S Neo makes it easy to stay in-the-know while connecting with friends, family and colleagues, through new sharing features and powerful productivity applications.”
Having ATIV S Neo in your pocket means users can do more with their smartphone camera. It will offer an 8-megapixel main camera with LED flash and a front-facing 1.9-megapixel camera for video chat. It will include a variety of camera apps preloaded, including the Beauty Shot mode for smoother looking skin in headshots, Manga Camera to give pictures a fun twist by turning friends and family into cartoons, and built-in Photo Editor that allows the user to edit, color, effect, decorate or share their pictures quickly and easily.
These smartphones also make it easy for customers to stay productive with Office Mobile for Windows Phone. With Office Mobile, people can access, view and edit Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint documents from anywhere. Plus, customers can count on Office Mobile to keep content and formatting intact so documents still looks great when back on a PC, Windows tablet or Mac.
Microsoft Office 365 offered by Sprint is available for small and mid-sized businesses. It includes Sprint’s unique Carefree Cloud migration and onboarding assistance, end-user level support, predictable monthly costs with no up-front infrastructure expenses, pay-as-you-go plans, savings by bundling all of the necessary tools and advanced options to simplify management further, all with a single bill and single point of contact. Sprint recently announced expanded plans available with Office 365, including enhanced audio conferencing and availability at select Sprint retail stores.
Sprint offers 4G LTE in top summer destinations like Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles and San Juan, Puerto Rico. Sprint offers 4G LTE service in 110 markets nationwide and expects to provide 200 million people with LTE by the end of 2013.


Source: Wpcentral
Posted by Unknown
on Wednesday, June 26, 2013
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