Samsung Galaxy S Duos 2 (GT-S7582) Emerges

South Korean mobile phone maker Samsung Electronics will bring to the market a successor for its Galaxy S Duos in the not too distant future, namely the Galaxy S Duos 2.

The smartphone has yet to be officially confirmed, yet a photo that allegedly depicts it has already leaked online, courtesy of Hungarian website Tech2. The new smartphone was spotted with model number GT-S7582 attached to it, and with hardware specifications similar to those of its predecessor, SamMobile notes.

The entry-level device will be launched with 768MB of RAM, up from 512MB on Galaxy S Duos, and with a 1.2GHz dual-core processor. It will also feature a 4-inch WVGA display and 4GB of internal memory, paired with a microSD memory card slot. Furthermore, the Samsung Galaxy S Duos 2 is expected to arrive on shelves with a 5-megapixel camera, a 1500mAh battery, and Android 4.2 Jelly Bean loaded on top.

Samsung Galaxy S Duos 2
Image credits to Tech2 via SamMobile

Samsung Galaxy S Duos 2
Images credits to Tech2

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Android 4.4 KitKat (Unofficial) Now Available for Google Nexus One

Google Nexus One owners rejoice, as Android 4.4 KitKat is not an impossible dream for them. Although unofficial, the latest version of the operating system is now available for the first Nexus smartphone launched by Google.

The custom build was released courtesy of XDA Recognized Developer texasice, along with his team, and is based on AOSP. However, this unofficial Android 4.4 KitKat ROM for Nexus One also contains extra features that enhance functionality even further, which can be disabled. The bad news is that some things are not working yet and there’s no telling whether they will be fixed anytime soon. Developers of the ROM have confirmed that the ART compiler in KitKat does not work, so it should not be used as it causes bootloops. Then, there’s the graphics drivers that are not yet fully compatible and not working as they should. Last but not least, users won’t be able to take screenshots on the phone, and the camera may not work perfectly.

Nexus One users who aren’t concerned by the bugs and broken features of this port can flash the ROM on their smartphones and take advantage of the rest of Android 4.4 KitKat functionality. Here is a rundown of the basic and extra features included in this ROM:

Basic features:

• Extended PowerMenu;
• Battery %;
• Volume button music control;
• Trackball Wake;
• Theme manager.

Extra features:

• Sixbar signal strength;
• Lockscreen dialpad, and a few lockscreen mods;
• However our biggest feature is the ability to turn all that off with one switch in the toolbox, giving you 100% AOSP look and feel;
• We also do eng builds (instead of userdebug like everyone else) providing more open experience (ie adb root by default) and full complement of commandline tools (busybox, vim, ssh, curl/wet with ssl support!);
• Our newest addition is a custom updater written from scratch by Preludedrew and myself, featuring automatic update checks, support for downloading gapps, and advanced automatic install (TWRP and CWM supported but TWRP preferred).

For more details on how to download and install the unofficial Android 4.4 KitKat ROM for Google Nexus One, you may want to head over to the original thread on XDA Developers forum.

Google Nexus One
Image credits to Google

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Jolla's First Sailfish OS Smartphone Starts Shipping

Last night marked an important event in the evolution of Jolla, a Finnish startup that dreams of changing the mobile market, as the first device designed by it has arrived in users’ hands.

The company held the phone’s launch event in Helsinki, where it also handed out the first 450 units of its smartphone, which runs under Jolla’s own Sailfish OS. The phone was launched in Finland in partnership with wireless carrier DNA. Built based on MeeGo, the mobile OS that Nokia has started to develop a few years back in collaboration with Intel, Sailfish promises a different experience than what other mobile OSes out there can deliver. The platform’s UI is gesture-based, and the device comes with no buttons on the front, featuring an “original Finnish design,” as Jolla notes on its website. The software comes with no pre-loaded applications, but users will be able to choose to install apps they need straight from the startup wizard. In addition to the aforementioned interface that takes heavy advantage of swipes and other gestures, Sailfish OS comes with support for natively developed applications and for Android software. Right from the start, users will receive access to over 85,000 Android apps, courtesy of a partnership with Yandex. Furthermore, the platform offers navigation services via Nokia’s HERE Maps.

The platform is still not complete as of now, and it lacks support for features such as DLNA, MMS, and Calendar sync, as the company notes in a series of posts on Twitter. The handset packs some appealing hardware specs inside (such as a 4.5-inch IPS screen, 1.4 GHz dual-core CPU, 4G LTE, and 8-megapixel camera) and also arrives with a series of customization options, courtesy of “The Other Half” smart covers. Put up for pre-order several months ago, Jolla’s smartphone has been reserved by people from 136 markets, but no info on how many devices were booked has been provided. For the time being, however, the company won’t ship outside Europe.

According to Jolla, its smartphone will be available through its webshop for direct sales as soon as all reserved devices have shipped. Unfortunately, no timeframe for when that might happen has been provided. Jolla appears to be confident on its ability to grow and capture market share around the world. It will certainly receive support from people in Finland, especially now that Nokia’s handset division is becoming part of Microsoft. You can learn more on the new Jolla smartphone and on what the Sailfish OS has to offer via the promo video embedded below. You can also sign up for info on the availability of the device on the vendor’s website.

Jolla's phone starts shipping
Image credits to Jolla

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Titanium Backup Adds Support for ART Runtime on Android 4.4 KitKat

An updated flavor of the Titanium Backup is now available for download for the owners of Android-based devices, namely version 6.1.4.1.

The new application release brings along initial support for ART runtime on Android 4.4 KitKat, while also packing a series of updated translations. Titanium Backup was made available for Android devices as a simple to use tool for backing up and restoring applications, user data, and Google Play links.

“This includes all protected apps & system apps, plus external data on your SD card. You can do 0-click batch & scheduled backups,” the application’s description reads. However, users will need to be rooted to enjoy the features of this application. The software works with all devices running under Android 1.5 or higher.

Titanium Backup for Android
Image credits to Google Play Store

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Jolla's Sailfish OS Smartphone Launches Today

Today, the first Jolla smartphones become available for purchase in Finland, at a launch event set to kick off at 7pm in Helsinki.

Jolla, a Finnish startup that has designed its smartphone around Sailfish OS, a brand new platform based on Nokia’s MeeGo OS, has partnered with wireless carrier DNA for the launch, and also plans on bringing the phone to more markets in the near future. Today, the first 450 Jolla phones will be handed to users who pre-ordered the device, at a pop-up store in central Helsinki, ZDNet notes in a recent article. The smartphone was put up for pre-order with a price tag of €399 attached to it, and should start shipping to users who reserved it in the not too distant future. For those out of the loop, we should note that the handset packs a 4.5-inch IPS qHD display that is protected by Gorilla Glass 2.

Furthermore, it arrives on shelves with 1GB of RAM inside, 16GB of internal memory, and a microSD memory card slot for expansion purposes. On the back, the new device features an 8-megapixel camera with LED Flash, while packing a 2-megapixel front camera. The specs list of the device also includes GSM/3G/4G LTE connectivity, and a battery that can deliver up to 10 hours of talk time on 3G. The phone measures 131 x 68 x 9.9 mm and weighs 141 grams. As mentioned above, Jolla’s device runs under the Sailfish OS, which should prove to be a truly open platform, different from what other mobile operating systems out there have to offer.

The fast and intuitive UI that Sailfish comes with is complemented by the availability of a wide range of applications for the platform, either designed specifically for the OS, or developed for Android. This is possible courtesy of a partnership that Jolla signed with Yandex.Store Android apps portal for the distribution of software to Sailfish OS devices.

Jolla's Sailfish OS phone
Image credits to Jolla

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Lenovo Vibe Z Confirmed to Arrive on November 28

Unveiled two weeks ago, Lenovo Vibe Z is about to go on sale in China. The smartphone’s specs sheet has already been revealed and judging by what’s on the paper, this should appeal Android fans looking for a high-end device.

According to GizChina, Lenovo is expected to release the Vibe Z in China on November 28. However, no details on the phone’s price have emerged yet, though the latest rumors point to a price tag between 3000 yuan ($490/€365) and 3700 Yuan ($605/€450) outright.

Lenovo Vibe Z, also known as K910, will ship with Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean operating system out of the box and a powerful 2.2 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor inside. The smartphone also boasts a vibrant 5.5-inch capacitive touchscreen display that supports full HD (1080p) resolution, as well as an impressive 13-megapixel rear-facing camera with autofocus and LED flash.

Lenovo Vibe Z
Image credits to Lenovo

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Kingston HyperX Predator DDR3 Memory Operates at 2800 MHz

The normal frequency for mobile RAM (laptop DDR3) is 1333 MHz, and the one for desktops is 1600 MHz, both most people can make do with less too. So memory at 2800 MHz will stand out any day.

That goes doubly for the new HyperX kits from Kingston, even though some might say that the opposite is true. After all, HyperX has always been associated, as a brand, with high performance, so a clock of 2000 MHz or more shouldn't raise too many eyebrows. Still, 2800 MHz is a lot no matter what anyone says. It's no wonder Kingston is so gung ho about the HyperX Predator and the many overclockers and “extreme system builders” it is supposed to sell to. “We are proud to offer our flagship 2800MHz memory kits to overclockers, benchmarkers and extreme system builders throughout the world,” said Krystian Jaroszynski, European product marketing manager, HyperX and Server, Kingston.

“Our HyperX engineers will continue working hard to improve high-speed yields to get faster product in the hands of our customers.” There are eight kits in the new line total, with capacities of 8 or 16 GB and varying latencies. They all should start showing up in stores soon, if they haven't already. Here is the list (you'll note than only one works at the vaunted 2.8 GHz though).

8GB 1866MHz DDR3 Non-ECC CL9 DIMM (Kit of 2) XMP Predator Series

16GB 1866MHz DDR3 Non-ECC CL9 DIMM (Kit of 4) XMP Predator Series 

16GB 1866MHz DDR3 Non-ECC CL10 DIMM (Kit of 2) XMP Predator Series

8GB 2133MHz DDR3 Non-ECC CL11 DIMM (Kit of 2) XMP Predator Series

16GB 2133MHz DDR3 Non-ECC CL11 DIMM (Kit of 2) XMP Predator Series 

8GB 2400MHz DDR3 Non-ECC CL11 DIMM (Kit of 2) XMP Predator Series

8GB 2666MHz DDR3 Non-ECC CL11 DIMM (Kit of 2) XMP Predator Series 

8GB 2800MHz DDR3 Non-ECC CL12 DIMM (Kit of 2) XMP Predator Series

As you can see, they all have XMP certification (Intel Extreme Memory Profile) and come in the standard, full-height DIMM form factors, normal for desktops.

Kingston HyperX Predator
Image credits to Kingston

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BBM Will Come Pre-Installed on Select Android Devices

We’ve heard it before from various OEMs in India and other emerging market, but now it’s confirmed by BlackBerry as well. The Canadian company has just announced that BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) will come pre-installed on a wide range of Android devices.

Well-known OEMs from Africa, India, Indonesia, Latin America and the Middle East will be allowed to pre-load BBM for Android on their devices. BlackBerry has confirmed that, starting next month, the following devices will have the popular instant messaging application pre-installed: Be, Brightstar, Celkon, EVERCOSS, IMO, Micromax, Mito, Snexian, Spice, TECNO, TiPhone and Zen. Furthermore, BlackBerry has reiterated the fact that BBM will continue to be available as a free download from Android app stores, including Google Play. “It is clear that smartphone customers see BBM as a must have app for active conversations. The uptake we have seen for BBM since the launch on Android and iPhone is amazing.

“We're thrilled to be working with leading Android smartphone manufacturers from across the globe to help bring their customers the best out-of-the-box experience with BBM preinstalled,” said Andrew Bocking, executive vice president for BBM at BlackBerry. BBM for Android comes with only a handful of the features that are now available on BlackBerry version, but the Canadian company has promised that it will continue to improve the application and add these features in the future via major updates. The last update for BBM arrived on Android platform less than two weeks ago and added support for BBM Contact Categories, more options for sharing BBM PIN Barcode and more.

BBM proved to be more popular on Android and iOS operating systems than on BlackBerry, which is understandable if we take into consideration the fact that these platforms have well above 75% market share combined on the smartphone market. Hopefully, BlackBerry will add more important features like BBM Voice and BBM Video, which are currently missing from the Android application. Stay tuned for more updates on the matter.

BlackBerry Messenger logo
Image credits to BlackBerry

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Dual-SIM ZTE Grand S II Dual Spotted in AnTuTu Benchmarks

It looks like Chinese handset maker ZTE plans to launch a sequel to the Grand S, but this time, the name of the device suggests that it will offer dual-SIM support.

GSMInsider reports that an unannounced ZTE Grand S II Dual has been recently spotted on AnTuTu Benchmark database. The smartphone scored 33,357, but other than that, there aren’t any additional details available for the moment. If ZTE plans to launch an improved version of the current ZTE Grand S, which comes equipped with a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro, then it will add a more powerful Snapdragon 800 chipset into the mix.

Hopefully, the ZTE Grand S II Dual will not be limited to the Chinese market and Android fans in other regions will be able to take advantage of the smartphone’s dual-SIM capability. Stay tuned for more updates on this one.

ZTE Grand S II Dual listing at AnTuTu
Image credits to GSMInsider

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BlackBerry’s COO and CMO Leave, CFO Gets Replaced

Today, Canadian mobile phone maker BlackBerry has announced new changes in the executive team, as the company’s chief operating officer and chief marketing officer will leave the company.

As part of the re-organization plans that the handset vendor is undergoing, Kristian Tear, BlackBerry CFO, and Frank Boulben, the company’s CMO, will leave BlackBerry. Furthermore, the smartphone designer has announced that Brian Bidulka, currently chief financial officer at the company, will be replaced by James Yersh, but that he will remain with the vendor as a special advisor to the CEO for the remainder of the fiscal year. "I thank Kristian and Frank for their efforts on behalf of BlackBerry. I look forward to working more directly with the talented teams of engineers, and the sales and marketing teams around the world to facilitate the BlackBerry turn-around and to drive innovation," said John Chen, executive chair and CEO of BlackBerry. "I also thank Brian for his eight years of dedicated service to BlackBerry. I look forward to working with James and his Finance team as we move forward, execute on our plans and deliver long-term value for our shareholders."

Chen has also noted that BlackBerry enjoys a strong cash position at the moment, and that it will continue to deliver trusted and secure mobile device management solutions to enterprises around the world. He has also noted that, moving forth, the company will work hard “to deliver the best devices, mobile security and device management through BES 10, provide multi-platform messaging solutions with BBM, and expand adoption of QNX embedded systems.” James Yersh, the next BlackBerry CFO, has been with the company since 2008. He served as senior vice president, controller and head of compliance for the vendor, and enjoys over 15 years of expertise in the telecoms industry.

Roger Martin, a board member at the mobile phone maker since 2007, has resigned, the company also announced. Furthermore, the vendor unveiled plans to reveal its financial results for the third quarter of its fiscal year 2014 on December 20.

BlackBerry logo
Image credits to BlackBerry

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