BlackBerry Z10 review: Swipe clean

Introduction

The BlackBerry Z10 heralds the rebirth of a fallen leader in the smartphone market. It's a clean break from the past with a big touchscreen and novel OS, but the same business mentality that made it the favorite of office dwellers around the world. Except, this time BlackBerry has also added a dash of fun.

BlackBerry Z10 official images

BlackBerry's previous generation of touch-driven smartphones felt a lot like Nokia's early attempts to knock Symbian into shape for touchscreen. With the Z10, however, the company threw everything out and started fresh.

BlackBerry 10 that powers the phone is a modern operating system with a brand new gesture-based interface and support for powerful dual-core CPUs. If you think dual-core Krait is old news on Android, you'd be right, but the Z10 is closer to the iPhone in this regard - the OS has been optimized to run on very few devices (just one right now, one more on the way), allowing for maximum efficiency.

Then BlackBerry equipped the Z10 with a 4.2" WXGA screen - slightly bigger and sharper than the iPhone 5's retina display - but kept the package more compact than certain massive droids. Then came all the connectivity features, hardware ports and slots.

Here's what they ended up with, the good and the bad of it:

Key features

• Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE, tri/quad-band UMTS/HSPA, optional 100 Mbps LTE
• 4.2" 16M-color WXGA (768 x 1280 pixels) capacitive touchscreen TFT
• Dual-core 1.5 GHz Krait, 2GB RAM, Adreno 225
• BlackBerry 10 OS; advanced on-screen keyboard; Office document editor
• BlackBerry Hub with extensive social networking connectivity
• BBM with video chat and screen sharing
• 8 megapixel auto-focus camera with face detection and Time Shift; LED flash, 2MP front facing camera
• Full HD (1080p) video recording at 30fps; 720p recording with front-facing camera
• 16GB storage, microSD card slot; built-in Dropbox and Box integration
• Wi-Fi a/b/g/n, Wi-Fi hotspot; Wi-Fi sync
• Bluetooth 4.0
• NFC
• standard microUSB port, microHDMI
• 3.5mm audio jack
• GPS receiver with A-GPS

Main disadvantages

• Brand new UI has a steep learning curve
• Occasional crashes and unstable behavior
• BlackBerry World missing key apps
• BlackBerry Maps are even worse than Apple Maps
• Camera offers little control over image quality

As with any newborn platform, there will be growing pains - sparse app market and iffy maps for one. The biggest concern is whether the sleek new interface will put people off (both current and new BB users). It's fast and intuitive once you get used to it, but doesn't have the level of familiarity of the iOS or Android (which honestly took years cultivating).

BlackBerry Z10 in our office next to the iPhone 5

That's the mission ahead of the BlackBerry Z10. It can't single-handedly recapture the market and bring BlackBerry to its former RIM glory, instead it sets the stage for future devices (the Q10 is a couple of months away).

That's not to say that the Z10 won't achieve popularity - with quality hardware and software, the Z10 can easily net both people who need a BlackBerry but are tired of the aging BB OS 7 devices and new users who are equally tired of iOS and Android.

So, revolution or evolution? The hardware is miles ahead of Berries of old, but you'll have to jump over to the next page to see how it stacks up against current Androids and the iPhone.

Special thanks to Basatne Electronics for providing the review unit!

Sony Xperia C680X test scores hint at 1080p screen, 4.2 Jelly Bean

Sony unveiled its first two flagship Androids for the year early on at CES the C660X Xperia Z and C650X Xperia ZL but there seems to be another high-ender on the way, the Sony C680X.

The model name cropped up at html5test.com, a website that benchmarks a browsers compatibility with the HTML5 standards. The browser was running on Android 4.2 Jelly Bean device with a 1080p screen. Unfortunately, we dont know how big that screen was.

We checked the other usual sources (Picasa, GLBenchmark, NenaMark, Indonesias Postel) for more info on the device but theres nothing yet.

Considering that the difference between the C650X Xperia ZL and C660X Xperia Z is mostly in the external shell (different dimensions and waterproofing), how much different can the C680X Xperia be? And will there be a C670X?

We might find out at the MWC, but seeing how late the first leak about the C680X is, we dont think its particularly likely. The C210X Xperia L and C530X Xperia SP are more likely candidates to be at Sonys booth at the show.

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Xperia Z confirmed to hit European markets on February 21

Word from Sony about the official launch of the Xperia Z in Germany popped up on the company's Facebook page. The smartphone will go on sale at the Sony Store in Berlin on the 21st.

While there is no word from the Facebook announcement on whether availability will also go for the rest of Europe from that date, we've also received an invite for an event outside of Germany, so likely February 21 will be a pan-European launch date for the Xperia Z.

Sony jumped on the 5-inch 1080p bandwagon quickly with its new Z flagship, and have delivered a quite impressive device complete with quad-core Krait processor, 13MP camera, 16 GB of internal storage, 2 GB of RAM, and a very slick glass panel design that's also waterproof to boot.

While we're busy cooking up our full review of the Xperia Z, you can check out our preview of the device here.

Thanks, Chris, for sending this in!

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Press image of HTC One in Black leaks out, looks sleek

The press image of the HTC One, which was previously known as HTC M7 was leaked in silver color variant earlier and now, a photo of the smartphone in black showed up.The latest press image comes from evleaks and considering their past record, it's probably the real deal.

The black variant seems to be the American press shot, as the silver version had earlier displayed London as the city. According to few rumors, the latest flagship device from HTC will be up for grabs starting from March 22 and the smartphone will be priced at $300 for 64 GB variant and $200 for the 32 GB model in the US. Naturally, those prices only come if you are willing to sign a two-year contract.

The rumored HTC One is expected to be launched at the upcoming press events, which will be held simultaneously in New York and London on February 19. Watch this space, as we will be covering the announcement live for you.

Thanks Vishal Soni, for sending this in!

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Lava launches XOLO A1000 in India

Lava Mobile has launched a new Android phone in India called the XOLO A1000. Unlike the previous XOLO X900 and the X500, however, the A1000 is not based on an Intel x86 processor.

The XOLO A1000 has a 5.0-inch, 1280 x 720 resolution IPS display with what Lava calls the One Glass Solution (OGS) that incorporates the display, the touch sensor and the glass in one layer, making the phone thinner and improving the image quality. The A1000 runs on a MediaTek MT6577 chipset with a dual-core 1GHz CPU and PowerVR SGX531 GPU.

Other than that there is 1GB of RAM, 4GB internal memory with microSD card slot, 8 megapixel camera with BSI sensor, 1.2 megapixel front camera with BSI sensor, 720p video recording, Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi, Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and a 2,100mAh battery.

The Lava XOLO A1000 is priced at '13,999 in India ($259) unlocked and will be sold in black and white colors.

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Sony Xperia ZL to hit Europe in April, priced at '599

The Sony Xperia ZL is coming to the old continent this spring for 599.99, and is slated to be available in Germany first through retailer Phone House. It will be available both online and in-store in black and white (but not red) color variants.

The Xperia ZL is a flavor of the new Sony flagship, the Xperia Z, without the extra waterproofing protection, and with a slightly smaller but thicker frame.

While you wait for the newest flagship duo of the Xperia family to come to your region, why not check out our preview of the Xperia Z, fresh off the presses?

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Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean makes a landing on the Nexus 4

Shortly after its tablet siblings got the treatment, the Nexus 4 also received its fix of Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean. The update is currently seeding to Nexus 4 smartphones over the air.

Along with the changes which the update brought to the Nexus family of tablets, Android 4.2.2 has added a unique wireless charging and low battery sound to the latest Google smartphone. The unofficial LTE support has also been taken away by Google.

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Samsung announces REX series of features phones in India

Samsung has launched a new range of budget feature phones in India. Called the REX, the series includes four models: REX 60, REX 70, REX 80 and REX 90.

The REX 60 is the cheapest of the lot and has a 2.8-inch QVGA resolution resistive touchscreen, 1.3 megapixel camera, 30MB memory with microSD card slot, dual-SIM support, 1,000mAh battery, Facebook, Twitter and GTalk apps, Opera Mini browser, 10 full Gameloft games, ChatON, Yahoo, ChatFree Games, Music & Apps from Samsung App store.

The REX 70 has a 3.0-inch, QVGA resolution display, 2 megapixel camera, 10MB memory with microSD card slot, dual-SIM support and 1,000mAh battery. Other features are similar to REX 60.

The REX 80 has similar features as the REX 70 but a higher resolution 3 megapixel camera, 20MB memory with microSD card slot, Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n and 1,000mAh battery.

The top-of-the-line REX 90 has a 3.5-inch, HVGA display, 3.2 megapixel camera, 10MB memory with microSD card slot, dual-SIM support, Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n and 1,000mAh battery.

The prices for these devices start at INR4,280 ($79) for the REX 60 and go up to INR6,490 for the REX 90 ($120).

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Mid-range Alcatel One Touch Star unveiled

TCL has just unveiled its latest smartphone. The Alcatel One Touch Star is a mid-range handset with a stylish design and extremely attractive price tag that we are hoping to see showcased at the MWC in two weeks.

The One Touch Star sports a 4" display, 1GHz dual-core processor along with 512 MB of RAM, a 5-megapixel rear camera with LED flash, a front-facing VGA camera, 4 GB of internal memory with microSD support and a 1,500 mAh battery.

Surprisingly, the device will run on Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, which is still pretty rare to be found in the mid-range.

Alcatel One Touch Star will retail for around 2,000 SEK (about $315) in Sweden and is expected to be available in European markets very soon.

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Samsung to keep the physical home button on the Galaxy S IV

According to recent reports in South Korean newspaper Korean daily, Samsung has decided to keep the physical Home button for its Galaxy S IV upcoming flagship. If the reports are true, this means that Samsung will indeed keep the two capacitive buttons (back and menu) on the both sides of the home key.

Moreover, the speculations regarding the inclusion of an S-Pen in the Galaxy S IV have been refuted by this latest report. However, they confirm that the smartphone will come with some sort of non-contact gestures.

More details regarding the Samsung Galaxy S IV will be known at the end of March, when the company is rumored to hold an Upacked event, dedicated exclusively to its next flagship. The device itself is expected to hit the shelves only a couple of weeks later in April.

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Image of Windows RT tablet shows up at Nokia event

Rumors of a Windows RT powered Nokia tablet have been going around since at least March last year and a potential slip-up at a Nokia event in Pakistan will only fuel that fire. An image shown during the presentation featured a Windows RT tablet sandwiched between a Nokia Lumia 620 and a desktop monitor displaying the Windows Start screen.

Measuring the ratio of the Lumia 620 screen and the unknown tablet, we arrived at around 11.6 inches screen diagonal. Thats a fairly popular diagonal for Windows RT tablets.

Nokia has literally bet its house on the Windows ecosystem succeeding, so a tablet might help push things along. Microsoft is quiet on Surface RT sales, but with Nokia having established itself as the Windows Phone maker, it might have better luck selling a Windows slate.

According to a rumor from December last year, the Nokia tablet will have USB and HDMI ports plus a sheet battery with two extra USB ports and a kickstand. The MWC is fast approaching and it might be the launch venue for the Finns' first tablet. Well be there, holding a pinch of salt.

Thanks to Swapnil for sending this in!

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Huawei Ascend P2 to be water and dust protected

Huawei is either not that good in keeping secrets or not trying too hard to do so. Even before the CES press conference we already knew almost everything about the Ascend D2 and Mate. It seems the case will be similar to the upcoming MWC event, where Huawei is expected to unveil the Ascend P2.

The upcoming smartphone will feature smaller (compared to the D2) 4.5-inch 1080p screen and will run on a chipset with a quad-core 1.8GHz processor. The camera department will be the same as on the D2 - a 13MP snapper with 1080p video recording. We even got to see the first live photos of the smartphone a while ago.

Today's scoop from rumorland brings another live shot of the Huawei Ascend P2, along with an interesting bit about its specs sheet. The smartphone will reportedly be dust and water protected. The Ascend P2 will be carry IP54 certification, which means it will be protected from just from water splashes, not water submersion.

Anyway, the Ascend P2 will be officially announced at the Huawei's pre-MWC event on February 24 in Barcelona. We'll be there to cover it live for you, so stay tuned.

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Nokia sells its Peltola campus in Oulu, Finland for $40.8M

After selling its headquarters in Espoo, now Nokia has decided to sell its campus in the Finnish town of Oulu.

The company has sold the place to the domestic business space provider Technopolis for 30.5 million (roughly $40,8 million). However, just like it did in its Espoo deal, Nokia will keep using approximately 17,400 square meters of the office space on long-term rent.

Here's what a Nokia spokesperson told TechCrunch:

Nokia will lease from Technopolis the same space that we currently use, 17,400 square metres, so our occupancy in Oulu is not affected by the sale and our operations will also continue there as today.

TNW reports that Technopolis will be able to fill 64% of the office space by the middle of the year and reach 90% in two years' time. The company will utilize the space to expand its Kontinkangas campus in the area.

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Vertu Ti is the company's first Android smartphone

The Vertu Ti is the first truly new phone model Vertu has to present after they parted ways with Nokia. It's also their first Android smartphone.

And Vertu has done a nice job in making sure the specs are as up-to-date as possible. There's a dual-core 1.7Ghz CPU, 1GB RAM and 64GB of in-built storage. It's got an 8MP camera capable of recording 1080p video plus a 1.3MP front camera. Software-wise, it makes use of Android 4.0 ICS with a custom UI.

At 3.7-inches the WVGA display on the front is not as big as on the recent super-phones but Vertu claims these are the biggest sapphire crystal glass panels they've built. The body is made out of Grade 5 titanium, and there is a set of stereo speakers, tuned in collaboration with Bang&Olufsen.

The body of the phone consists of 184 individual parts and each unit has been built by a signgle one of the company's craftsmen in England. The side key on the left-hand side has an V-shaped in-set ruby to highlight the brand's traditional design language.

The company is keen on touting the rigidity of their new smartphone and claims it's got a body that's 5 times stronger than the competition and a screen that's 4 times harder to scratch.

Besides a face that only a mother can love, you can guess the luxurious phone has also got a price tag to match all these modern-day amenities. Pricing starts from 7900 for the most basic trim - Titanium Black Leather and there are three even more expensive editions.

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Supposed leaked images of the Apple iPhone 5S surface

Images of is supposedly an upcoming variant of the iPhone 5, the iPhone 5S, have surfaced.

Not much is known about the phone which is speculated to be announced at some point this year, possibly alongside the iPhone 6.

According to the leak, the Apple iPhone 5S is expected to be both stockier and cheaper, with a plastic casing 8.2mm thick, compared to the 7.6mm aluminum unibody of the current flagship. There are rumors of it being available in up to six colors as well.

While the leak shows off what is undoubtedly an assembly line producing what appears to be iPhones, many speculate that this is a factory that produces iPhone knockoffs rather than the real thing. Given that Foxconn is usually doing pretty well to prevent leaks from within its manufacturing plants, take these images with the usual grain of salt.

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Australian parliament questions Apple and Microsoft on pricing

In what seems to be a global first, the Australian Parliament has ordered Apple, Microsoft and Adobe System to appear before it and explain why their products are priced higher, despite the country's strong currency.

The global companies will be appearing before the parliament in Canberra on March 22 after all the three companies had earlier declined to appear before the special committee, which was set up to investigate the issue.

The Australian dollar is currently valued higher than the US dollar and yet a 16 GB Wi-Fi-only iPad 4 costs the equivalent of $539 in the land of OZ, $40 above the US price. Similarly, Microsoft's Office 365 is priced at the equivalent of $119 in Australia against that of $99.99 in the United States.

The companies have blamed the high operating costs of their branches in the land down under, due to the high local wages and relatively high import fees. The small market, too, has contributed to the high pricing of the products, according to some other multinational IT companies.

If the questioned companies fail to appear before the committee on the schedule, it could lead to contempt of parliament charges, fines and even jail terms.

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LG Optimus L3 II shows its face ahead of announcement

Just two days ago we informed you about the upcoming upgrade of the LG Optimus L lineup. As the latest rumors have it the Optimus L3, L5 and L7 will get new editions with various hardware and software upgrades.

Today, we can show you a real life photo of the white Optimus L3 II. Its model number is E435F and while we can't be sure if this small fella is the same as the one on the previously leaked official pictures from two days ago, it's still a phone we haven't seen yet.

The source claims there will be an E430 model, which will be the same phone but with dual-SIM support. Most of the first generation Optimus L phones had a dual-SIM siblings as well, so this sounds plausible.

The entry-level LG Optimus L3 II is expected to feature a beefier 1GHz CPU, a 3.2-inch WVGA IPS display and a 5MP camera.

The LG's MWC event is just two weeks away now and we expect at least 4 phones to be announced there (according to the invite). We bet the Optimus G Pro will be one of them, but we also expected a whole new lineup from LG - the mysterious F series, so we aren't sure where this L II series will fit. Anyway, we'll be covering the event live, so make sure you keep an eye on our homepage when the time comes.

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Samsung starts testing Jelly Bean firmwares for Galaxy Ace 2

Samsung Galaxy Ace 2, the successor of the popular Galaxy Ace smartphone might get the much awaited Jelly Bean update siib. As expected, the Galaxy Ace 2 will be skipping on ICS to get Android 4.1 Jelly Bean.

Samsung has already started making Jelly Bean test firmwares for the Galaxy Ace 2, according to SamMobile, who claims to have received few screenshots of a pre-release firmware for the handset.

The Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean for the smartphone is expected to be rolled out in the month of March or April. The upgrade will also feature the latest TouchWiz Nature UX interface and for obvious reasons, the UI will be a trimmed down version of what the Galaxy S III has.

Samsung is also rumored to start testing out firmwares for its other mid-range smartphones like Galaxy Beam, Galaxy Music, Galaxy Chat, Galaxy Ace Plus and Galaxy Mini 2 soon.

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Samsung makes 8 of the top 10 most used Android devices

It's no secret that Samsung is dominating the Android market, but the margin of its lead might be a bit surprising to some. According to a report from mobile analytics firm Localytics, the Koreans account for eight of the top 10 Android devices in use.

As one can expect, Samsung's latest flagship Galaxy S III and its predecessor Galaxy S II are the top guns, holding a combined share of 17.4%. The mid-range Galaxy Ace is a distant third spot with 3% of the Android market, followed by the Note and the Note II phablets with 2.6% and 2% respectively.

Amazon's Kindle Fire sneaks in the list with 1.7% of the Android users. The tablet is followed by the Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 with 1.4% of the Android devices. The other smartphones in the list are Galaxy Y, Droid RAZR and Epic 4G.

According to the report, Samsung controls whopping 47% of the total Android market share.

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Alleged image from HTC One ultrapixel camera surfaces 

HTC's upcoming flagship device was rumored to feature a stacked sensor with ultrapixels and HTC itself reinforced the rumors by promising new sound and camera experience in 2013. Now, an alleged image taken with the HTC One (or M7 as it was previously known) has shown up on Flickr.

Alleged images from Flickr

HTC One's ultrapixel camera technology is said to be made up of three 4.3-megapixel sensor layers, which will combine to give a single 4.3 MP image with no interpolation.

The EXIF data of the Flickr image also confirms the rumored HTC One to be the final name of the smartphone. The resolution of the actual image is 1158x2048 pixels, but it's unlikely that is the largest the smartphone is capable of as it's probably downsized.

HTC's press conference on February 19 is certainly an event to keep an eye on. Just make sure you come back when the time comes as we will be covering it live.

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