AT&T Lumia 920 stock almost depleted, most colors sold out

The new Nokia Lumia 920 flagship for AT&T has sold out in every color but white at the major US retailers.

Among the first colors to get gobbled up were red, yellow, and cyan off of Amazon and Walmart's online store, as well as AT&T's own website.

The huge demand really comes as no surprise, considering the very enticing $49.99 price tag which AT&T is putting on the 920 with 2 year contract.

Hopefully AT&T will be able to fulfill all of the Lumia 920 backorders, as the last thing Nokia needs is a supply shortage while trying to salvage a horrible 2012 sales season.

Via

LG Optimus G for AT&T and Sprint review: Double impact

Introduction

With the dust barely settled after the Korean LG Optimus G's run around out review track, we have its LTE packing, US siblings on our hands. The LG Optimus G E970 for AT&T and its LS970 relative for Sprint are the two versions which are offered across the Atlantic. Thankfully, the wait for their arrival wasn't long at all - LG pulled off a launch which looked a lot like what Samsung did with the Galaxy SIII earlier this year.

LG Optimus G E970 and LS970 official photos

The LG Optimus G E970 and its LS970 relative are slightly different characters. The AT&T version comes with an 8MP camera and a microSD card slot. The Sprint-flavored Optimus G on the other hand, is practically identical to the Korean version, which we have reviewed already. This means that users will enjoy a larger, 13MP camera sensor, but will have to settle for 32GB on non-expandable memory.

Most importantly however, both smartphones come with the headline grabbing Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro chipset and two gigs of RAM, which means that, regardless which one they pick, potential users will get to enjoy the most powerful Android hardware around.

Here goes the full list of talents which the US LG Optimus G duo has to offer.

Key features

• Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE support
• 3G with HSPA; LTE
• CDMA network support (Sprint Wireless version only)
• 4.7" 16M-color WXGA True HD IPS Plus (768 x 1280 pixels) capacitive touchscreen, Gorilla Glass
• Android OS v4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich, planned upgrade to 4.1 Jelly Bean, LG Optimus UI 3.0
• Quad-core 1.5 GHz Krait CPU, 2 GB RAM, Adreno 320 GPU, Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro chipset
• 13 MP autofocus camera with LED flash and geotagging, image stabilization, Time catch shot, smart shutter (Sprint version)
• 8 MP autofocus camera with LED (AT&T version)
• 1080p video recording @ 30fps with continuous autofocus and stereo sound
• 1.3 MP front-facing camera, 720p video recording
• Wi-Fi a/b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct and DLNA
• GPS with A-GPS, GLONASS
• 32GB of built-in storage (Sprint version)
• 16GB of built-in storage; microSD card slot with 16GB card preinstalled (AT&T version)
• MHL-enabled microUSB port, USB host support
• Bluetooth v4.0
• Standard 3.5 mm audio jack
• Voice dialing
• Two app overlay mode for multi-tasking (Q Slide)
• Independent multimedia content output through MHL (Dual Screen Dual Play)
• Accelerometer and proximity sensor
• Active noise cancellation with dedicated mic

Main disadvantages

• No microSD card slot on the Sprint version
• No Jelly Bean at launch
• Screens have mediocre sunlight legibility
• Non user-replaceable battery

There is hardly a box left unchecked by the LG Optimus G duo. Both devices offer impressive hardware and gorgeous screens. Even the software is a massive improvement over LG smartphones of old.

Of course, the long list of features can do anything for a smartphone but guarantee its success. This is particularly the case in the US market, where the LG Optimus G has to face incredibly stiff competition.

LG Optimus G E970 and LS970 live shots

We are going to kick the review off with a quick unboxing, followed by a design and build quality inspection of both the LG Optimus G for AT&T and Sprint Wireless. The dedicated camera section on the other hand, will closely examine and compare LG's 13MP and 8MP camera sensors' performance.

Editorial: You might notice that this review is shorter than usual and doesn't include all of our proprietary tests. The reason is it has been prepared and written far away from our office and test lab. The LG Optimus G for AT&T and Sprint are US-only phones, so they will probably never get to the shores of the Old Continent. Still, we think we've captured the essence of the phones in the same precise, informative and detailed way that's become our trademark. Enjoy the good read!

Our social login is back online, now supports Google too

The development of our social login system is finally complete and we just flipped the switch. It took us a while, but we hope its going to be worth it, as we have some big plans in store.

As of now, you can once again use your Facebook account to reserve your nickname for our opinion and comments sections. We've also added support for Google, so even if you dont have a Facebook account, you can still get a nickname of your own.

Another important benefit of our refreshed login is that we extended the browser cookie we use, so you dont need to click the login button every day anymore. The cookie will only expire once every three months now.

If you're still hesitant to use our anonymous login system, we've got a few reasons you should. For one, your posts wont need to be approved by one of our moderators to be published on our site, plus youll get the option of editing your comments for the first ten minutes after posting them, and you will be able to rate other peoples' posts in our comments section. Also, since we dont actually store any of your data or password, its perfectly safe.

In the future we also plan to use the social account login to help improve our user rating system and reduce fanboy down-voting.

If you experience any issues with the updated log-in, please report them right here along with your browser version. Happy browsing!

Rumor: Samsung to show a 4.99" 1080p Super AMOLED at CES

This year is coming to an end, which means one thing - next year's CES and MWC are near! This also means the "Company X will launch Y" rumors are heating up, including the rumor of a 1080p Super AMOLED display from Samsung.

We've heard the rumor already but the new chatter adds more details to the story - a 4.99" Super AMOLED display with 1080p resolution and 441ppi pixel density.

The first phones to use a 5" 1080p display are already available in some markets, but they rely on LCDs. The new display from Samsung is, of course, rumored to be used in the Galaxy S IV. What the gossip doesn't say is whether the display will use a PenTile or an RGB matrix. At this pixel density it might not make much difference but we'll see.

Anyway, the 5" 1080p Super AMOLEDs will supposedly go into production in Q1 of next year. This would be just in time for a Q2 launch (all three Galaxy S flagships launched in Q2).

Whether this rumor pans out or not, 2013 will be the year of 5" 1080p screens. HTC already started and so did Sharp, Sony (through Japan Display Inc) and LG are also reportedly working on smartphones with such units.

Source (in Korean) | Via

HTC Deluxe press image leaks out, causes excitement

For those of you who have been wondering when will the global version of the Verizon exclusive HTC DROID DNA become official, we have some great news. A press shot of the HTC Deluxe has made its way to Twitter. The yet to be announced smartphone will be the internationally available relative of the 5" 1080p display sporting HTC beast for Verizon Wireless.

There is no information on when will the HTC Deluxe become official. We doubt however that it will be a long wait before it gets announced. HTC can surely use a device of such stature to boost its sales. The combination of 5" full HD display, quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro, and two gigs of RAM is currently the best hardware available for Android.

While you are waiting for the official announcement of the HTC Deluxe, feel free to check out our extensive preview of its US sibling - the DROID DNA for Verizon Wireless.

Source

Meizu MX2 images leak ahead of official announcement

Meizu is all set to announce the successor to the Meizu MX later this month but before we get the official announcement, a couple of hands-on images of the phone have been leaked.

The new phone ditches the iPhone-like design to a, well, less iPhone-like design. Gone are the physical controls below the display, which have been replaced by the now standard on-screen Android navigation controls.

The display aspect ratio is also visibly different. Meizu stuck with the 3:2 960 x 640 resolution (that Apple uses for the iPhone) for their past two models and it has now been chucked in favor of what looks like 1280 x 768.

The phone supposedly runs on a quad-core processor and will have Meizu's Flyme skin on top of Android (hopefully Jelly Bean).

The device will officially be announced in China on November 27.

Source

Leaked Nokia docs reveal Windows Phone 7.8 features

Current Windows Phone 7 owners might have to wait until Q1 of next year to get their 7.8 update, but at least now we have some idea of what the update will bring. Microsoft officially promised a WP8-like start screen with resizable tiles, but leaked in-house training materials from Nokia give more details.

The lock screen will be customizable - users can pick an app to update the lockscreen periodically, something that sounds a lot like WP8's Live Apps service.

Internet Explorer will be updated with enhanced security, but it seems like Windows Phone 7.8 will keep using IE9 and won't get IE10. Another perk of the updated OS will be the MP3 editor that can be used to create ringtones out of songs. There will be more system colors available too, for a total of 20.

Phone makers will be adding their own touches to the 7.8 update. Nokia, for example, will add support for sharing media files over Bluetooth (for non-DRM protected files), update the Contacts Transfer app and enhance the ringtone editor.

Windows Phone Italy's Facebook page also promised support for Rooms (a new feature in WP8), SmartGlass and Xbox Music.

We shouldn't have to remind you that neither leaked training materials nor Facebook posts are particularly solid information, but until Microsoft officially spills the beans on the Windows Phone 7.8 changelog, it's all we have to go on.

Source (in Chinese) | Via

Apple iPad 4 review: Marching on

Introduction

Three Apple tablets in a single year. This is more than anyone asked for and yet, by some weird logic - or lack thereof, not too many for Apple to successfully sell. All fine and dandy, unless you got the iPad 3 - better luck next time if you were unfortunate enough to buy it in September.

Well, so much for the new iPad. Number 4 is the new new iPad. You must've heard the one about the double positives. Did we hear some iPad 3 owners say "Yeah, right"? To be honest, they're not without a point.

Apple iPad 4 official photos

Anyway, the tablet market is still Apple's to lose and the least it could do is send a message to the competition. The double November release may look like a knee-jerk reaction to Google and Microsoft's raid on the slate market but the fact is that Apple has the depth to compete on two fronts. The mini against compact droids and the iPad 4 against the Surface means Cupertino is leaving nothing to chance in defending its number one spot.

The fourth generation iPad is no major upgrade. It keeps the design, display and the main camera of its predecessor. What it gets is a new chipset and the new Lightning port. Oh, and there's an HD FaceTime front cam but that's barely worth mentioning.

Overall, it's the same tablet as the one released in March, with the class-leading Retina display and a welcome boost to the processing power. Plus, the Lightning port ensures seamless compatibility with the iPhone 5, which has sold by the millions.

Key features

• 9.7" LED-backlit IPS LCD touchscreen, 2048 x 1536 pixels; scratch-resistant, oleophobic coating
• Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n connectivity, carrier-dependent hotspot support
• Optional LTE connectivity (data only)
• Optional GPS with A-GPS and GLONASS support (for the 3G model only)
• Apple A6X SoC with 1 GHz dual-core processor
• PowerVR SGX554MP4 quad-core GPU
• 1GB of RAM
• iOS 6.0 with iCloud support and activation
• 16/32/64GB of inbuilt storage
• 652 grams of weight (662 grams for the LTE version)
• Bluetooth 4.0
• Lightning USB port
• 11,560 mAh battery
• Accelerometer, compass and three-axis gyro-sensor
• 5MP auto-focus camera
• 1080p video recording at 30fps
• 1.2MP secondary camera capable of FaceTime HD calls
• Four and five-finger gestures
• 1080p TV-output with the Apple Digital AV Adapter (purchased separately for $39), 720p video streaming
• Supports magnetic cases

Main disadvantages

• iTunes still required for uploading most of the content
• Reflective screen struggles outdoors
• No standard USB port
• No stereo speakers
• No GPS receiver in the Wi-Fi version
• No memory card slot
• Lack of basic iOS apps - weather, stocks, clock, calculator, voice memos

It's an Apple device so things like a file manager and a memory card slot are not even up for discussion. They'll probably never be. Nothing on the list above should come as a surprise and, if you are still with us, you are OK with most of it.

The A6X chipset potentially doubles the processing power but let's be honest, the real life gain is not enough to make anyone throw away a still fresh iPad 3. Yet that's what Apple just did - you can think of that as investing in the future-proofing of the device more than anything else.

iPad 4 over iPad 3

• Apple A6X chipset with PowerVR554MP4 quad-core GPU for allegedly 2x faster performance
• 1.2MP front FaceTime camera with HD video
• GLONASS support (for the cellular version only)
• Lightning USB port

Whether or not Cupertino will admit to feeling the pressure from Microsoft, they knew the right thing to do is prepare. Apple could not afford to have development split between flagship devices running different hardware.

Someone had to take the hit and leaving iPad 3 users out in the cold was probably a hard decision for Apple. The new product launch schedule may've put the iPad 4's market prospects in question too - users are less certain whether they should commit to a new device that may soon become outdated. Apparently, the new Apple tablets are doing great, but the iPad 4 seems to be the one that's always in stock, while the mini takes about 2 weeks to deliver.

But the iPad mini already had its moment in the spotlight here, it's now iPad 4's turn to have our full attention. Before we get busy, we should note that numbers are the short and easy way to set the different generations of Apple tablets apart. What was until recently known as the New iPad (iPad 3) is now discontinued. The current model (iPad 4) is officially called iPad with Retina. The only older generation Apple tablet officially in circulation is the iPad 2. Quite a mess, indeed.

Apple iPad 4 live photos

Anyway, that should be enough introduction already. Let's take a closer look at the iPad 4 hardware. Join us right after the break.

Android and Samsung build on their market shares in Q3 2012

Android's market share increased significantly during the third quarter of 2012, with the Google OS powering 72.4% of all smartphones sold in the three months' period. Apple's iOS came a very distant second with a market share of 13.9%.

This is an impressive accomplishment for Google's mobile OS, considering Android's market share was 52.5% in Q3 of 2011.

Samsung saw its position as the leading mobile manufacturer increase to 22.9% after selling almost 100 million phones in the three month period ending in September. This was mostly at the expense of Nokia, which saw its market share slide almost 5 percent points year-over-year.

The holiday season should see Apple take back some of both of those pies, as many iOS-faithfuls held off on replacing their smartphones until the iPhone 5 came around. Apple's new smartphone top dog is expanding its availability to many new markets in Q4, which should help Apple arrest the fall in iOS market share.

Source | Via

Nexus S and Motorola Xoom to remain on Android 4.1.2

While announcing the availability of Android 4.2 on AOSP, lead Android developer at Google Jean-Baptiste Quru confirmed that the Nexus S and the Motorola Xoom will not be updated to Android 4.2 and will remain on Android 4.1.2.

We honestly can't say we didn't see this coming. Both devices, the Nexus S in particular, had started struggling while running the newer versions of Android, with their antiquated hardware unable to properly run the new software that is clearly designed for more powerful devices.

Still, both had a good run. The Nexus S was launched with Android 2.3 and since then has seen two major updates. Same goes for the Xoom, which was released with Honeycomb and received ICS and Jelly Bean afterwards.

It's worth noting that both devices are currently running a newer version of Android than many Android devices launched in the last six months, even though both have been around for close to two years now. While it does tell us that Google has been quite committed to updating its own devices, it also tells us how messed up the Android update situation is on non-Nexus devices.

Of course, just because the official support has stopped doesn't mean the unofficial support will cease as well. Custom ROM makers such as CyanogenMod will continue support for both devices for a while and you should see an Android 4.2 ROM for both pretty soon.

Source

T-Mobile to sell unsubsidized 16GB Nexus 4 for $499 in US

T-Mobile has announced that they would be selling the 16GB Nexus 4 for $499 in the US, unsubsidized. That's rather high, as the phone costs only $349 on Google Play.

The other option they offer you is the ability to purchase the phone for $199 but with a two-year contract, so any money saved on the phone's purchase will be spent through the monthly bills and you will certainly end up paying more than $349.

It seems purchasing the phone through Google Play is still the best option. Unfortunately, the phone quickly went out of stock on Google's store, so if you want it urgently for some reason, T-Mobile would be your only choice.

Fortunately, as The Verge reports, the handsets sold by T-Mobile are identical to the ones sold directly by Google, which means they have no carrier bloatware and will get updates at the same time.

Source

T-Mobile releases Jelly Bean for the Galaxy S III

T-Mobile is the second US carrier to unleash Android 4.1 Jelly Bean to its Galaxy S III customers. Last month Sprint started seeding the Jelly Bean update to the Galaxy S III units on its network.

The update is available OTA or from Samsung's Kies software. Users who are rooted and don't want to wait can download the update from here and then manually flash it on their devices.

The Galaxy S III will receive Project Butter for a smoother, more fluid UI performance, the improved notifications, "freestyle widgets" that automatically reorder your homescreen content before they are placed and more.

Here's a video by Samsung showcasing the various improvements. Below it is a video dedicated to the improvements and novelties in TouchWiz itself.

Now with T-Mobile on the bandwagon it seems AT&T and Verizon are lagging behind, something their customers are very vocal about in their respectful forums.

Source | Via

Steven Sinofsky, head of Windows division, leaves Microsoft

In a rather surprising move, Steven Sinofsky, head of the Windows division at Microsoft, has decided to leave the company. This move comes shortly after Microsoft's biggest launch in years and a product Sinofsky directly worked on. He will be replaced by former Coporate Vice President of Windows Client - Julie Larson-Green - effective immediately.

Sinofsky joined Microsoft back in 1989 and along with working on various versions of Windows also oversaw the development of Microsoft Office. He also worked as a technical adviser for Bill Gates back in the day.

Upon leaving the company, Sinofsky had nothing but kind words for the company and the people whom he worked with. In a letter he released, he says:

"It is impossible to count the blessings I have received over my years at Microsoft. I am humbled by the professionalism and generosity of everyone I have had the good fortune to work with at this awesome company."

Even Steve Ballmer, CEO of Microsoft, had nice things to say about Sinofsky in his letter to his employees.

However, it seems all was not peachy within the company when it came to Sinofsky. According to the sources at The Verge, Sinofsky was dubbed as abrasive and hard to work with and not a good team player, putting the interests of his own department over anything else. It seems he wasn't exactly fired, but a lot of people within the company would be happy to see him go. This sounds very similar to the recent departure of Scott Forstall from Apple, who also exhibited similar characteristics.

Sinofsky didn't clarify on what he will be doing next, other than saying he will leave the company to "seek new opportunities that build on [his] experiences". We imagine he and Forstall must be on a beach somewhere sipping pia colada, along with Jon Rubinstein.

Source 1 Source 2

Android 4.2 update now rolling out for the GSM Galaxy Nexus

Right on the day of the Nexus 4 launch, Google has started rolling out the Android 4.2 update for the Galaxy Nexus.

Currently, only a few users have reported receiving the update, and none of them are using the Sprint or Verizon versions. If you have the GSM variant, preferably the "takju" variant you are most likely to receive the update.

Post update you will be treated to all the new 4.2 features, including Photo Sphere mode, Gesture Typing, multi-user mode, notification settings, Daydream, Miracast sharing, improved Google now and other performance and stability updates.

Eventually we believe the update will be rolled out to all the users but if you're impatient, you can download the update by following this link to Android Police. Just make sure you read the instructions carefully.

Source

Nexus 4 and Nexus 10 go on sale, immediately run out of stock

It looks like people know a deal when they see one, as the new Google flagship smartphone, the Nexus 4, has sold out in less than an hour after appearing on the Play Store in the UK and Australia. The same applies to the 10 inch Nexus tablet - both 32 and 16 GB variants.

We're still waiting for the imminent launch of the devices on Google Play for the US, where we expect to see a similar picture. The Google Nexus 4 is expected to drastically impact the smartphone market with its impressive specs sheet and super aggressive pricing.

The Nexus 4 features a 4.7 inch True HD IPS Plus display of 768 x 1280 pixels resolution, a quad-core 1.5 Ghz Krait processor, 8/16 GB of storage, 2 GB of RAM, an 8MP shooter capable of 1080p video, powered by a 2100 mAh battery all of this priced at $299/$349 without contract.

You might find yourself doing some frantic refreshes of the Play Store in the coming weeks to see when it will be up for sale (again) in your area, and frankly, we don't blame you.

Source

HTC DROID DNA gets revealed before its announcement

In a manner, which has shaped up to be quite fashionable lately, the previously leaked HTC DROID DNA for Verizon Wireless got revealed only a couple of days before its official announcement is scheduled to take place. The DROID DNA name has been confirmed on Verizons own DROID DOES webpage, while press renders of the photo have made an appearance in Twitter.

The leaked press photos reveal yet again that the upcoming Verizon DROID looks similar to the Japan exclusive HTC J butterfly, save for the Verizon livery on its black body with red accents . The same goes for the specs which will include a 5 full HD display, quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro chipset, and 2GB of RAM.

HTCs Android powerhouse with 1080p display for Verizon is scheduled to be announced this coming Tuesday, on November 13, at an event in New York City. We will be covering the unveiling live, so be sure to stick around for the full scoop on the device, including hands-on photos and initial impressions.

Source 1 | Source 2 | Via

Samsung I930 ATIV Odyssey for Verizon image leaked

We reported couple of weeks ago about an upcoming Windows Phone 8 device for Verizon's network in the US. Called the Samsung ATIV Odyssey the device seemed like a variant of the ATIV S for Verizon's network.

We now have an image of the device, courtesy of @evleaks on Twitter. The phone looks like the original Samsung Focus from the front and the ATIV S from the back. But somehow, it does not strike us as a high-end device, with the display size seemingly around the 4-inch mark.

Other than the 4G LTE badge on the back and the microSD card slot on the side, we are not sure of any other spec of the device, so we will have to wait till we hear more about this one.

Source

Sony offers 24K gold-plated Xperia P as contest prize

We haven't seen any gold phones in a while, but we didnt expect Sony to be the one to fill that void. Sony ran a contest on its Facebook page over the weekend with the prize being a 24 karat gold-pated Sony Xperia P.

The contest is for Nordic countries only and will be over in a couple of hours. If you want to participate, you have to send an email to fans.se@sonymobile.com answering the question "What is a gold Friday for you?" (this is an automatic translating so it may not be 100% accurate, but we're sure people in Nordic countries don't need Google Translate).

Sony Xperia P Limited 24K Gold Edition

The Xperia P launched early this year and one of its major attractions was the aluminum unibody. The Limited 24K Gold Edition will go to a lucky winner today and they might be the only ones to have it.

Sony's Facebook page makes no mention of this limited edition going on sale. And even if it did, did anyone buy those gold-plated Nokias? Sure, this has the advantage of running Android rather than Symbian - or worse still - S40, which puts it head to head with the Lamborghini TL700 and the Mobiado Grand Touch.

Anyway, the winner of the Sony Xperia P Limited 24K Gold Edition (who is yet to be announced) has our congratulations.

Source | Via

HTC and Apple end their patent feud with a "global settlement"

In a rather surprising fashion, Apple and HTC have settled their patent disputes. The two companies have reached a global settlement with confidential terms, which dismisses all their current lawsuits. The agreement includes all current and future patents held by the two giants and will extend over the next ten years.

Naturally, both companies CEOs issued a statement on the matter. Heres what Peter Chou from HTC had to say:

HTC is pleased to have resolved its dispute with Apple, so HTC can focus on innovation instead of litigation.

And here goes the statement of Apples CEO Tim Cook:

We are glad to have reached a settlement with HTC, and we will continue to stay laser focused on product innovation.

A settlement between players of such magnitude is nothing short of great news for both the companies and their followers. Heres hoping that more such events will follow.

Source