Next-Generation Smartphones to Feature Snapdragon 808/810 Processors

The latest flagship smartphones unveiled this year will arrive on the market with Snapdragon 801 processors from Qualcomm, though it seems that it won’t be too long before even more powerful handsets are released, featuring the company’s next-gen mobile processors.

Today, the chipmaker confirmed the upcoming availability of Snapdragon 810 and 808 processors, both set to make it inside the upcoming series of high-end, flagship mobile devices. The new chipsets are announced as part of the Snapdragon 800 family, while being aimed at delivering “the ultimate connected mobile computing experiences in video, imaging and graphics.” The company also notes that the new processors are built on Qualcomm Technologies' highest performing platform to date, and that they come to the market with 64-bit and LTE technologies packed inside, great for premium mobile computing devices. Moreover, the chipmaker adds that the new Snapdragon 810 and 808 processors will enable an exceptional overall user experience, courtesy of seamless connectivity, as well as leading power efficiency.

The new chipsets were designed with Qualcomm Technologies' 4th Generation Cat 6 LTE Advanced multimode packed inside, with support for the Qualcomm RF360 Front End Solution and for 3x20MHz Carrier Aggregation (thus supporting data rates of up to 300 Mbps). Moreover, the two processors were built using the 20nm technology node, with Cat 6 LTE capabilities and 64-bit technology, complemented by low power consumption for an excellent premium experience. The Snapdragon 810 CPU will support rich native 4K Ultra HD interface and video, as well as the Qualcomm Adreno 430 graphics processing unit inside, which was designed specifically for 4K screens. The processor was designed with 64-bit quad core ARM Cortex-A57 CPUs and Cortex-A53 CPUs inside, as well as with the new ARMv8-A ISA, which can deliver improved instruction set efficiency.

The chipset also comes with support for high speed LPDDR4 memory, Qualcomm VIVE 2-stream 802.11ac with multi-user MIMO for increased Wi-Fi efficiency, and support for Bluetooth 4.1, in addition to NFC, USB 3.0, and the Qualcomm IZat location core. Snapdragon 808, on the other hand, was designed for WQXGA (2560x1600) displays, with Adreno 418 GPU, two ARM Cortex-A57 cores paired with a quad Cortex-A53 CPU, LPDDR3 memory, and support for external 4K display via HDMI1.4. Qualcomm also announced that the new Snapdragon 810 and 808 processors should start sampling in the second half of the year, and that devices powered by them were expected to arrive on shelves in the first half of the next year.

Qualcomm intros Snapdragon 810/808 mobile processors
Image credits to Qualcomm

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Samsung 10.5-Inch AMOLED Tablet Full Specs Leak

Not so long ago, it was revealed Samsung SM-T800 was actually one of Samsung’s long-awaited AMOLED tablets.

Now SamMobile reports they have managed to get hold of the entire spec sheet of the upcoming 10.5-inch AMOLED tablet. The SM-T800 is the Wi-Fi only model, but an LTE one will be made available as well. Moving along the slate will have a 10.5-inch Super AMOLED screen with a 2560 x 1600 resolution and will draw power from a quad-core Snapdragon processor (it will probably be S801) combined with 2GB of RAM. Like with the latest high-end Galaxy NotePRO and TabPRO tablets, the slate will run Android 4.4.2 KitKat out of the box.

Further specifications include two cameras (8MP on the back and 2MP up in front), a choice between 16/32/64GB of internal storage, microSD slot, USB 2.0 connectivity and a pretty solid 7,900 mAh battery. As a recent benchmark listing revealed, an Exynos model could be on its way at some point too, although it would be a little bizarre to see the LTE model arrive with Exynos and the Wi-Fi model with Snapdragon. Anyway, if you were hoping to find out when this beauty will be released, I hate to disappoint you, but so far the launching date is shrouded in a veil of mystery.

Samsung's 10.5-inch AMOLED tablet full specs leak
Image credits to GalaxyClub

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Dual-SIM Samsung Galaxy S5 Goes Official in China

Following its official unveiling at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, Galaxy S5, the latest flagship Android-based handset from Samsung, has started to emerge in various markets out there, and it is now official in China.

Samsung has announced the dual-SIM version of the Galaxy S5 in China, where the country’s largest wireless carrier, China Telecom, will launch it. The smartphone was unveiled in the country with model number G9009D attached to it, and is expected to arrive on shelves in the country with a price tag of CNY5,299 ($850), as can be seen on this page on Samsung's Chinese website. Apparently, the company will bring the single-SIM flavor of Galaxy S5 to the market in China as well. Both devices are expected to hit shelves in the country on April 11, as SamMobile notes. The two versions of the handset are expected to sport similar hardware specifications, except, of course, for the number of SIM cards that can be inserted inside them, and the connectivity capabilities.

This means that both of them will feature the same 5.1-inch full HD touchscreen display that Galaxy S5 was unveiled with in February, and that they will also pack a 2.5 GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor inside. For those out of the loop, we should note that the mobile phone was made official with 2GB of RAM, as well as with 16GB of internal memory, and that it packs a microSD memory card slot for expansion purposes. On the back, the Samsung Galaxy S5 features a 16-megapixel ISOCELL camera, which can record videos in 4K resolution. A 2MP front camera for making video calls was also included. Samsung Galaxy S5 was also unveiled with a dust- and water-resistant body, with IP67 certification. The smartphone is powered by a 2800 mAh battery. The handset also comes with the usual set of connectivity capabilities and sensors packed inside.

The new flagship smartphone from Samsung arrives on the market running under Google’s Android 4.4 KitKat operating system, with Samsung’s own TouchWiz UI loaded on top. This means that users can enjoy a variety of exclusive applications and capabilities, including S Voice, S Health, Smart stay, Smart pause, Smart scroll, Air gestures, and the usual set of Google apps, such as Google Search, Maps, Gmail, Calendar, Google Talk, Picasa, and YouTube. The unveiling of a dual-SIM version of the mobile phone in China could signal the future release of the device in other markets out there too, since handsets with such capabilities are highly appreciated in various other countries too. Stay tuned for more on the matter.

Dual-SIM Galaxy S5 goes official in China
Image credits to Samsung

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Sony Xperia G (D5103) Leaks Once Again with HD Display, Quad-Core CPU, KitKat

Japanese handset maker Sony has announced several Android smartphones since the beginning of the year, but only a few have made it to the market in a handful of countries.

April is one of the most important months for Sony, as many smartphones previously announced by the company will make their way onto shelves. The Xperia Z2 and Xperia T2 Ultra have recently been launched in a few countries, but their rollout will continue throughout the month. However, it appears that Sony has another mid-range Android smartphone ready to be announced, the Xperia G. The device leaked back in February via the GFXBench database, where it was tagged as Sony D5103. Initially, we thought that the handset would be officially introduced in late February at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2014, but Sony only unveiled the Xperia Z2, Xperia M2 and Xperia M2 dual. Nevertheless, the folks over at GSMInsider have spotted the unannounced Xperia G (D5103) smartphone at POSTEL Indonesia. The regulatory commission equivalent to FCC (Federal Communications Commission) in the United States has the Sony D5103 in its database, but no details on the phone's specs sheet are listed.

Still, if we are to take into consideration the details leaked back in February when the D5103 appeared in GFXBench database, then we can definitely say that the Xperia G is a mid-range smartphone. It appears that the smartphone will be powered by a 1.4GHz quad-core Qualcomm MSM8226 Snapdragon 400 processor, which will be complemented by an Adreno 305 graphics processing unit. There's no word on the amount of RAM and storage, but judging by the rest of its specs, it will most likely pack 1GB of RAM and 8GB of internal memory. A microSD card slot for memory expansion (up to 32GB) will surely be present as well. Sony Xperia G will include dual cameras, rear facing and front facing, but the number of megapixels is a mystery for the moment.

It could be an 8-megapixel main camera, but this is just a speculation based on the phone's other specs, so we should wait for the confirmation from Sony. It also worth mentioning that the smartphone might pack a HD display of unknown size. Software-wise, the smartphone was listed in GFXBench database with Android 4.4.1 KitKat, but the final version of Xperia G may be powered by Android 4.4.2 KitKat in fact. We expect Sony to unveil the Xperia G in the coming months, though we believe it will be aimed at emerging markets. Stay tuned for more info on the matter.

POSTEL Indonesia listing
Image credits to GSMInsider

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Samsung Galaxy K (S5) Zoom Allegedly Emerges Online

South Korean mobile phone maker Samsung has been long rumored to bring to the market a successor for its Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom handset, and the phone appears to have already emerged online in a leaked photo.

Supposedly called Galaxy K, though previously said to arrive on shelves as Galaxy S5 Zoon, the mobile phone might sport a faux leather back cover, the same as the latest handsets from Samsung did, while also featuring a large camera sensor, the leaked photo available via kzoom unveils. However, the new mobile phone is said to feature a 20-megapixel camera on the back, up from the 16MP one present on the Galaxy S4 Zoom, as PhoneArena notes. It is also said to have been packed with a 4.8-inch touchscreen display capable of delivering a 720p resolution, as well as with a 1.6 GHz quad-core CPU (though it could sport a 1.3GHz hexa-core processor from Samsung in the end).

The specs list of this handset should also feature 2GB of RAM, as well as Google’s Android 4.4 KitKat operating system loaded on top. The same as its predecessor, the new mobile phone should offer 19x optical zoom. No official confirmation on the phone has been provided as of now, so we’ll take the info with a grain of salt for the time being. Stay tuned for more on the matter.

Allegedly leaked Samsung Galaxy K Zoom photo
Image credits to KZoom

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Sony Xperia Z2 Compact (Altair) Spotted at the FCC

Earlier this year, Japanese mobile phone maker Sony Mobile made official a mini version of its Xperia Z1 flagship device, namely the Xperia Z1 Compact, and it seems that the company is already working on a successor for it.

A Sony smartphone that features the codename of Altair has been spotted at the FCC, with model number SO-04F attached to it, and rumor has it that it might arrive on shelves as Xperia Z2 Compact. The mobile phone is meant to make an appearance on the network of Japanese wireless carrier NTT DoCoMo, considering its model number. For those out of the loop, we should note that Xperia Z1 Compact was launched in Japan last year, under the name of Xperia Z1 f, and that it needed about four months to be launched in other markets out there. As XperiaBlog notes, the new device appears to feature the same front-camera placement as the Xperia Z1 Compact, which suggests that it will indeed be released as an upgraded version of this phone.

Moreover, the smartphone was spotted at Japanese parts retailer Moumantai, which claims that it has a genuine back cover for the Sony SO-04F. The available images show that the new device might feature a back camera similar to that on Xperia Z1 Compact. Basically, this suggests that Sony will go for the same 20.7-megapixel Exmor RS camera with G Lens as on the already available device. Apparently, Sony could still make a series of changes to the design of the new phone, as it is suggested to move away from the plastic case used on the Xperia Z1 Compact. Considering the fact that Sony already launched the Xperia Z2 smartphone at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, and that the device was unveiled as the successor of Xperia Z1, it would not come as a surprise if it made a similar move with the Compact series as well.

Not to mention that the model number fits the current numbering scheme used by NTT DoCoMo, which released the Xperia Z1 as SO-01F, and Xperia Z1 f as SO-02F. The Xperia Z2 could arrive as SO-03F, with Xperia Z2 Compact expected to follow it as SO-04F. Moreover, chances are that Sony will pack the new phone with the same specs as the Xperia Z2, save for the screen size. This would include a quad-core Snapdragon 801 processor, 3GB of RAM, the aforementioned camera on the back, and IP55/IP58 certification. However, with no official confirmation on this available as of now, we’ll take the info with a grain of salt for the time being. Hopefully, more on this will be unveiled soon, so stay tuned to learn the news.

Sony Xperia Z2 Compact emerges at the FCC
Image credits to XperiaBlog

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Microsoft’s New Start Menu Is Just a Mockup, Could Look Completely Different

If you’re thinking that the new Start menu that Microsoft unveiled today at the BUILD 2014 developer conference looks really awesome, I’m sorry to disappoint you, but it turns out that the company is planning a completely different design for the final version of the feature.

Microsoft said at BUILD that the Start menu would come back at some point and even though no specifics have been provided, it’s believed that Windows 8.1 Update 2 or Windows 9 could be the OS versions that could feature such an option. Many praised Microsoft for the design of the new Start menu, but we’re hearing that what we got to see at BUILD was just a mockup and the company is actually planning a much simpler design.

The existing version of the Start menu mixes the Start screen and the traditional menu options available in Windows 7, offering a pretty eye-candy tool that allows you not only toaccess your favorite desktop and Metro apps, but also reboot or shut down your computer with ease. If Microsoft indeed decides to go for a different design, nobody should actually be surprised, as rumors about a very simple Start menu have been swirling around for a while. Rumor has it that Microsoft is internally calling the new Start menu “mini-Start” and it’s pretty clear that the actual design isn’t quite matching such a designation.

The Start menu mixes traditional and modern elements
Image credits to Microsoft

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Sony Xperia SP Receiving Firmware Update 12.1.A.1.201, Adds Improvements

Sony Xperia SP owners disappointed that their smartphones will not receive the long-awaited Android 4.4.2 KitKat update may be appeased by the fact that the Japanese company has released a new firmware version that brings some necessary improvements and bug fixes.

According to XperiaBlog, Sony has just started the rollout of firmware version 12.1.A.1.201 for Xperia SP, so it should be available worldwide in the next couple of days. Keep in mind that the update is available for all free Xperia S models: C5302, C5303 and C5306. Firmware version 12.1.A.1.201 is still based on Android 4.3 Jelly Bean and is available OTA (over the air), as well as through Sony PC Companion desktop software. The official changelog of the update has already been published by Sony and mentions that it adds many improvements for the Xperia SP, such as enhanced user experience, improved battery life and software performance enhancements.

Some bug fixes are included as well, though no additional details are provided. Sony Xperia SP owners who have yet to be notified of the update should manually check for it by heading to Settings / About phone / Software update / Update. Make sure your phone’s battery is at least 50% charged and back up your sensitive information just in case.

Sony Xperia SP update changelog
Image credits to Sony Mobile

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Windows 8.1 Update Now Available for Download

As announced earlier today, Microsoft released the new Windows 8.1 Update on MSDN, so subscribers can now download the released files and install the product before everyone else does it on April 8.

Although Terry Myerson hasn’t mentioned it during his keynote, Windows 8.1 Update is available on MSDN in two different flavors, as MSU installers and as standalone ISOs that allow users to perform a clean install, without the need for relying on Windows Update to deploy the files. The Windows 8.1 Update ISO measures 3924 MB and allows users to install any of the available versions of the operating system, including 8.1 Core, 8.1 Embedded, and Server 2012 R2. The MSU installers, on the other hand, have 360 MB in size for x86 and 770 MB for x64 and provide support for the same versions.

Windows 8.1 Update brings a long series of changes to the modern platform, including a revamped Start screen, context menus in the Modern UI and options to pin Metro apps to the taskbar. All users should get the new Windows 8.1 Update on April 8, the same day when Microsoft releases the Patch Tuesday fixes to resolve glitches in its software. Of course, it’s going to be offered free of charge to all those running Windows 8.1.

The new builds are now available on MSND
Image credits to MSDN/Microsoft

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Microsoft Officially Confirms the Return of the Start Menu

Exciting news for users of modern Windows at BUILD 2014! Microsoft has decided to bring back the Start menu in Windows in a future update, in an attempt to make the operating system more appropriate for desktop computers.

Microsoft’s Terry Myerson confirmed at the show that the Start menu will return sometime in the future, but he refused to provide any specifics on when exactly this is going to happen. As you can see in the screenshot posted above and shown during his keynote, the new Start menu will mix the classic design with a modern touch, showing both the list of installed apps, as well as live tiles. The main power options are still there, so you can easily shut down or reboot your computer.

The same screenshot shows that users will be allowed to launch Metro apps in their very own windows, which means that the company is working to mix the Modern UI and the desktop in a future update. Previous reports indicated that such a change could take place in Windows 9, but Myerson hasn’t mentioned anything else besides “a future Windows update,” so expect these improvements to be released to users sometime this year, maybe as part of a second major update for Windows 8.1.

This is the new Start menu of Windows
Image credits to Microsoft

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