Nokia Lumia 930 Could Be the International Lumia Icon

One of the smartphones that Finnish mobile phone Nokia was recently rumored to plan on bringing to the market in the not-too-distant future is the Lumia 930, a device expected to make an official appearance at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona later this month.

No official confirmation on the device has been provided as of now, but the official unveiling of Nokia Lumia Icon for Verizon yesterday could point at a near launch of this device as well, as pocket-lint notes. In fact, a quick look at the rumored specs of the device suggests that it might actually arrive on shelves as the international version of Verizon’s smartphone.

Nokia Lumia 930 was rumored to sport a full HD screen, a 2.2GHz quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM, and a 20-megapixel camera on the back. Chances are that it will be announced on February 24, so stay tuned to learn more on the mater.

Nokia Lumia Icon
Image credits to Nokia

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BBM 2.0 Arrives on Android and iOS with BBM Voice, Channels, and More

Today, Canadian mobile phone maker BlackBerry has officially announced the availability of a new version of BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) for the owners of Android and iOS devices, namely BBM 2.0.

The new app iteration will provide users with a great deal of new features, such as the previously rumored BBM Voice and BBM Channels, along with many other enhancements. One of the things we’re most excited about is bringing BBM Voice to iPhone and Android users. With the new flavor of the app, users will be able to easily make free calls to their BBM contacts, either over a data connection of over Wi-Fi. “When a BBM contact is available for a BBM Voice call you’ll see a green icon in the top right hand corner of your chat. To call them, simply touch the green icon and your call will be connected,” a post on Inside BlackBerry explains. With BBM Channels, users will be able to get in touch with other users on topics that interest them, such as products, hobbies and sports, entertainment, fashion, cars, and more.

These channels can be created by brands and businesses, but also by BBM users themselves, so that people can easily communicate directly and immediately with other users on common interests. At the same time, BBM 2.0 comes with support for location sharing, powered by Glympse. Users will be able to set the app to show their location only for a specific amount of time, after which it becomes private. Additionally, the new version of the application comes with support for easily sharing photos, voice notes, or other files, including calendar events and contacts. Moreover, it comes with Dropbox integration.

BBM 2.0 for Android
Images credits to Inside BlackBerry

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Platform 46 Is a Huge Android Tablet You Can Serve Coffee On

Android tablets have found a home in some unusual places, including ovens, refrigerators, cars and kitchens. But none of them has ever gotten so big.

Ideum and 3M appear to believe your living room is in need of some remodeling, so they are suggesting you spice things up with a large fancy Android coffee table. You hear that right, a coffee table. Basically, you’ll be serving tea and cookies to your guests on a mammoth Android tablet with legs; well, that is if you get over your concerns of damaging your probably expensive furniture nonconformism. Now you might be curious to know what specs this behemoth bundles within its midst. The tablet-table has a 46-inch / 116-cm diagonal, thus probably being the largest Android device available on the market today. Speaking of damaging it by spilling tea or whatever, you should know the table is waterproof and has a 3M 1080 display. Apparently, the tablets are capable of displaying content in any lighting environment due to the display capacitive technology, so don’t worry if you’re planning a brunch in the sunlight.

Powering everything on the inside is a 3.7GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 processor combined with 16GB of RAM and a 500GB of hard drive, so imagine all the games you’d be able to play on it. Not to mention you’ll be able to watch a vid or two while your friend is sipping her juice. The only problem is the table runs on Android 4.1. Just for fun’s sake, we’re going to say there’s no word on the Android 4.4 KitKat update. This huge Android table is called Platform 46 (sounds like the name is taken out of SF movies of sorts) and is expected to hit the market later this year. No word on the official price-tag yet, but we expect it to be pretty massive, like the Platform itself.

Platform 46 is a huge Android coffee table
Images credits to Ideum

With the Platform 46 Coffee Table, Android developers can now create large-format, multi-user Android applications that utilize 3M's multi-touch technology (up to 60 simultaneous touches) incorporated into Ideum's line of table and kiosk products.

See more at: http://ideum.com/coffee-tables/

Video credits to multitouchexhibits

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OPPO Find 7 (Two Versions Expected) Confirmed for March 19

A few days ago, rumors on the possible unveiling of OPPO Find 7 on March 19 have emerged online, and an official confirmation on the matter has already arrived, from the handset vendor itself.

The company has published a new teaser image for the device, claiming that “Find 7 are coming,” which actually means that more than one version of the handset will be announced. According to Engadget, we’ll be looking at one model with a 5.5-inch 2,560 x 1,440 (538 ppi) touchscreen display, and at a second one featuring only a full HD screen, presumably also cheaper.

The handset is also said to arrive on shelves with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 800 processor packed inside, as well as with Android 4.3 Jelly Bean loaded on top. OPPO is planning on making the new mobile phone official in Beijing on March 19, at the 798 Art Zone.

OPPO Find 7 confirmed for March 19
Image credits to Oppo/Weibo via Engadget

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Sprint’s Galaxy S5 (SM-G900P) Emerges in UAProf

As it turns out, Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy S5 flagship smartphone is expected to arrive in the United States on the networks of various wireless carriers there, including Sprint.

We’ve already seen a User Agent Profile offering some info on the T-Mobile version of the device, and it seems that Sprint will also have the handset available for its users. In fact, another UAProf shows this phone as featuring model number SM-G900P, while packing a full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels) touchscreen display, in line with the rest of the info available on the device.

As SammyToday notes, however, the phone is listed with a 2011 processor, a 13-megapixel rear camera, 2MP front camera, and Android 4.4.2 KitKat loaded on top. Galaxy S5 has been previously rumored to pack a 16MP camera and a next-gen processor inside, so it remains to be seen whether the above details pan out. Stay tuned for more on the matter.

Sprint's Galaxy S5 emerges in UAProf
Image credits to Sprint

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Microsoft Planning to Allow Android Apps to Run on Windows

The idea of bringing Android apps on Windows isn’t new and in some way or another you can already do it, but it turns out that Microsoft itself is currently pondering a future mix that would allow adopters of its modern operating system run Android software on both desktop computers and Windows Phone devices.

The Verge is reporting via unnamed sources that a number of Microsoft executives have expressed their support to allow Android apps to run on Windows, but the internal (still ongoing) discussions are also involving a number of major drawbacks that could seriously harm the Windows platform completely. Basically, Microsoft wants to bring Android apps on Windows not only to boost the number of tools available for its users, but also to slow down the migration to Android, as this particular platform continues its high-speed growth started a couple of years ago. While this could clearly be a major hit for Microsoft, there are some critical drawbacks that Redmond is very afraid of, the report states.

First, Android apps on Windows could seriously lower interest in Metro apps and Microsoft has involved a fortune into campaigns supposed to bring developers closer to the company and encourage them to port software to Windows 8. Second of all, the arrival of Android apps in the store would create even more confusion for users and developers alike and Microsoft has been struggling to fight this thing ever since the launch of Windows 8. Microsoft isn’t the first company that would integrate Android support in its flagship platform, as BlackBerry did the same thing with BlackBerry 10, but the results have until now been well below expectations.

Redmond, on the other hand, is apparently working out a plan that would use BlueStacks as the core foundation. AMD is already working with BlueStacks and Intel is reportedly pressuring Microsoft to raise focus on technologies that could bring Android apps on Windows. Of course, the software giant would kill two birds with one stone and not only compete against Android devices much better than it currently does it, but it would also boost consumer appeal in the mobile and tablet market, two industry sectors where it invested millions of dollars without too impressive results.

The Verge writes that in case Microsoft’s plans to bring Android apps to Windows goes through, it’s very unlikely to happen until 2015 when Windows 9 is said to hit the market. Windows 9 is also supposed to merge the Windows stores and bring Metro apps on the desktop, so this could be the right time to introduce such a significant upgrade.

Microsoft could bring Android apps right in the Windows Store
Image credits to smh.com.au

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Samsung to Make Upcoming High-End Handsets Both Dust and Waterproof

South Korean mobile phone maker Samsung Electronics might soon bring to the market a great deal of high-end smartphones that are both dust- and waterproof, the latest reports on the matter suggest.

The company has been already rumored to aim at releasing a rugged version of the Galaxy S5, supposedly called Galaxy S5 Active, but it seems that its plans actually stretch further. According to a recent article on ETNews, Samsung’s upcoming premium smartphone models will feature these capabilities by default, so as to be able to pack them with in-mold antenna (IMA) technology. Apparently, while most high-end smartphones today feature a laser direct structuring (LDS) antenna setup, this technology cannot offer reliable performance when it comes to waterproof devices, an area in which IMA rules. Samsung is said to have already secured deals with suppliers focused on IMA technology, which suggests that the company might indeed come up with a great number of devices that include the feature.

Considering the fact that IMA comes with low high-frequency (RF) performance and that it cannot be fit inside very thin devices, it would not make sense for Samsung to adopt it unless it is planning more rugged phones ahead. Apparently, IMA antenna makers are already working on new thin-film injection molding technology that will allow them to pack their products in slimmer handsets while boasting the same performance as LDS antenna. One such product comes from Daesan Electronics and is called ‘high-performance in-mold antenna (H-IMA), capable of outpacing the performance and thickness level of LDS antenna. However, there’s no telling on whether vendors will adopt it.

“As press and injection molding technologies are gradually advancing, LDS antenna is facing a new challenge,” an industry insider said, according to ETNews. “We are keeping our eyes on the antenna market, expecting yet another technological competition in the market.”

Samsung to launch more dust and waterproof high-end devices
Image credits to Samsung

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Nokia to Launch More Android Phones Following Nokia X (Normandy)

Finnish mobile phone maker Nokia is reportedly planning the launch of more than one smartphone running under the Android operating system, and it should unveil such devices after the launch of Nokia X (Normandy), rumor has it.

According to info coming from a source at Artesyn Technologies, Nokia is also planning the launch of high-end devices running under Android, a post on tech.qq reads. Moreover, said source claims that Nokia might be set to unveil these sometime in May or June this year, and that they will be covering multiple price points. Apparently, Nokia will be left only with the Asha lineup and its feature phone business after the Microsoft acquisition, and it will try to gain some market share in the Android area with said devices. Considering the competition in the Android segment at the moment, it remains to be seen whether the company will indeed be able to make a name for itself there or not. By the looks of it, it will have little chance to attract users in the high-end market, and it might find it difficult to compete even in the mid-range segment.

However, given the popularity of Asha handsets in emerging markets, the company might try to attract users to its Android devices in these countries, as PhoneArena notes. What remains to be seen, however, is whether said devices, provided that they will indeed arrive on shelves, will sport the same forked Android platform that Nokia X is expected to be launched with. For those out of the loop, we should note that the device was rumored to arrive without a series of Google services, such as Google Play, set to be replaced with Nokia’s own products, such as HERE and others.

For the time being, however, nothing has been officially confirmed on the matter, and we’ll take info above with a grain of salt until it is confirmed. Nokia X might be announced at MWC, so stay tuned for specifics on the matter.

Nokia rumored to plan more Android devices, including high-end smartphone
Image credits to Nokia

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Samsung Galaxy Mega Plus Emerges in China with Quad-Core Processor

South Korean mobile phone maker Samsung Electronics appears set to expand its series of mid-range handsets with new large smartphones, and the Galaxy Mega Plus might be one of these devices.

The mobile phone has made an appearance on Samsung’s official website in China with model number I9152P attached to it, and with the same hardware specifications as the Galaxy Mega 5.8. However, unlike the already official smartphone, the new device packs a 1.2GHz quad-core processor inside, and with features such as Multi Window, Popup Play, Group Play, Story Album, S Translator and more, as sammyhub reports.

The phone’s specs include the aforementioned 5.8-inch qHD (960 x 540 pixels) screen, an 8-megapixel camera on the back, 1.9MP front camera, and dual-SIM capabilities. Moreover, the phone sports Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, GPS receiver, a microSD memory card slot, and a 2600mAh battery inside.

Samsung Galaxy Mega Plus
Image credits to Samsung China

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Another Leaked HTC M8 Photo Confirms Phone’s Final Design

As the official unveiling of HTC M8 is getting nearer, more and more leaked info on the device emerges online, and a brand new image with the phone is now available for your viewing pleasure, supposedly confirming the final design that it will employ.

The handset in this photo (available courtesy of HTCFamily.ru) falls in line with some of the previously spotted leaked images with the phone, as well as with the concept renders that we’ve seen recently, though it’s uncertain whether HTC M8 is indeed featured in it. The handset should come with on-screen buttons and a tiny bezel, while also expected to sport a 5-inch display, quad-core processor, and 2GB of RAM. It will also sport a new Sense UI version.

One of the most interesting features it was reported to come with is the presence of twin UltraPixel cameras on its back, supposedly set to provide users with much better imaging capabilities than its predecessor.

Another HTC M8 leaked photo
Image credits to HTCFamily.ru

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