Haswell Refresh-Ready Motherboards Based on Intel Z97 Chipset Up for Order

Over the past couple of weeks, we saw several motherboards based on the Intel Z97 chipset get launched, though most of them weren't immediately available. Now they've started to crop up online though.

It wasn't exactly certain they would be put up for order this week, despite that quite a few of the products were supposed to become available this month (May 2014). There are, after all, still some days left before the Haswell Refresh series of central processing units reach stores (Core-series, Celeron and Pentium desktop and laptop chips). And, historically, when a company says that a product will debut this or that month, the chances of the release happening near the end of said month are about as high as the odds of it coming to pass in the first week. Nevertheless, the motherboards are already coming out. At least some of those from ASUS, Gigabyte and Micro-Star International anyway. Newegg has them listed. At the price of $150 / €150 we have the ASUS Z97-A and GIGABYTE Z97X-UD3H, then at $160 / €160 you'll find the MSI Z97-Gaming 5 and Z97-Gaming 7.

Even more expensive is the MSI MPower, at $200 / €200, while the ASUS Sabertooth Z97 and MSI Z97 MPower Max AC ship at $250 / €250 and $260 / €260, respectively. Searching “Z97” under the “motherboard” category will net all of these results, and some we haven't mentioned. Curiously, the ASRock mainboards that came out late last month (April 2014) aren't there, or weren't at the time of this article's writing. Odd, given how ASRock easily has the greatest collection (for now), numbering five distinct mainboard models. There are two main advantages to the Z97 chipset, besides the intrinsic support for Haswell Refresh CPUs. One of them is support for M.2 solid state drives. M.2 SSDs are much smaller than 2.5-inch and even mSATA, and are known as NGFF (Next Generation Form Factor) as well.

The other main asset of Z97 is native support for SATA Express technology, a type of SATA which enables a bandwidth of up to 12 Gbps by using PCI Express links alongside SATA ones. The ASUS HyperExpress SSD is an example of a storage device that can use the tech to reach almost 800 MB/s data throughput. No doubt the number of Z97 mainboards will increase by the end of the month. Probably within the next two weeks even, since Intel's CPUs will be out by then, and even if they don't debut that soon, the platforms normally precede the chips by a decent interval.

Gigabyte Z97 SOC Force
Image credits to Gigabyte

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LG G3 Specs Allegedly Confirmed Once Again

As the official release date of LG’s next flagship handset draws near, more and more leaked info on the device is available, the latest of which comes in the form of a new photo that allegedly depicts it, paired with supposedly confirmed hardware specifications.

Said image was published online by Twitter user Aleksey Ignatyev and offers a new close up look at the phone’s rear panel. In the background, one can see the phone’s hardware specs written on a sheet of paper, offering more info on what to expect from the device once it becomes available. The new photo appears to be nothing more than a clearer, larger version of a leaked image with the device that emerged online at the end of the last week. Additionally, the guys over at GSMArena claim to have received a scoop on the phone’s hardware specifications, and that it will indeed prove to be the high-end device that enthusiasts are waiting for.

Thus, LG G3 will feature a 5.5-inch 2560 x 1440 pixels screen that can deliver a 534ppi pixel density, as well as a 13-megapixel camera with OIS on the back. The phone will be powered by a 3000mAh battery and will sport a microSD memory card slot. Apparently, LG is planning two flavors of the handset, one with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of memory, and another with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage inside. Stay tuned for more on the matter.

LG G3
Image credits to Aleksey Ignatyev on Twitter

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BLU Life Pure XL Goes Official with 5.5’’ Screen, Snapdragon 800 CPU

Mobile phone maker BLU has made official a new high-end Android-based smartphone, in the form of BLU Life Pure XL, which is set to arrive on shelves with top hardware specifications packed inside but with a pretty affordable price tag attached.

The new BLU Life Pure XL appears designed to appeal to every Android enthusiast out there, due to said high-end specs inside it and should be able to easily compete with various flagship phones already available for purchase out there. The new handset has been announced with a 5.5-inch touchscreen display capable of delivering a full HD (1080 x 1920 pixels) resolution, as well as with a 2.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 processor packed inside, with Adreno 330 graphics next to it. BLU has also announced that the new handset will hit shelves with a 16-megapixel camera on its back, capable of recording videos in full HD resolution, as well as with an 8MP front camera for making video calls and snapping selfies while on the go.

The new device will be released in two different versions, one packing 16GB of internal memory and 2GB of RAM, and the other packing 32GB of internal storage, paired with 3GB of RAM. However, this is not all when it comes to the new BLU Life Pure XL, as the handset also comes with the entire set of usual connectivity capabilities and sensors packed inside. This would include support for HSPA+ networks, along with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 and NFC. Additionally, the phone offers Wi-Fi Hotspot capabilities, and a microUSB port. The handset’s screen is protected by Gorilla Glass 3.

On the downside, the new mobile phone runs under the Android 4.2 Jelly Bean operating system and does not come to the market with support for 4G LTE networks. It won’t feature a microSD memory card slot either, it seems, and it comes with capacitive buttons on the front, as droid-life points out. However, considering the fact that BLU will be offering the smartphone at only $399 contract-free, users will certainly look over its shortcomings. The 32GB variant of the handset is set to become available for purchase today, May 2, and those interested in grabbing it should head over to Amazon for that. The 16GB version of the device is set to be released on May 9, with a price tag of only $349. Those who would like to learn more on the new BLU Life Pure XL should head over to BLU’s website for that.

BLU Life Pure XL
Image credits to BLU

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Google Reportedly Killing the Nexus Series in Favor of “Silver” Lineup

Mountain View-based Internet giant Google is reportedly planning on partnering with various mobile phone makers out there for the launch of a new series of premium devices, called Silver phones.

This new family of handsets would arrive on shelves with high-end hardware specifications packed inside, as well as with close-to-stock Android software, and might replace the currently available Nexus lineup. These handsets are expected to become available for purchase both though Google’s own channels and via other retail channels, with only up to five such devices up for grabs at the same time. The info comes from The Information, which also claims that the program is well underway, and that Google is planning on conquering the very high-end of the market with these devices. Devices included in this lineup would feature specific hardware capabilities, while offering a pure Android experience, something that Nexus phones and Google Play devices can offer at the moment. Multiple manufacturers will be able to join the Silver program, it seems.

The same as Nexus handsets at the moment, devices included in the Silver program will receive new software updates fast, said report claims. One thing that should be noted here, however, is the fact that Silver phones appear to be so close to Nexus and Google Play Edition devices at the moment that it is possible that Google is merely moving to another stage with these two programs, bringing them closer together. Should this pan out, it remains to be seen what differences handsets included in the program will feature when compared to existing Google phones out there, or to other devices capable of offering a pure Android experience. Apparently, Google is planning on launching the program in the US, Germany and Japan next year, and it will also work with carriers and other retailers for the release of these devices, while planning on spending good money to promote them.

Additionally, the Internet giant is said to plan on paying for making them available through carriers too and might even be willing to pay for development costs, should that be needed. As one can imagine, no official info on the matter has been provided as of now, though chances are that more details will emerge sooner rather than later, especially with Android Police already unveiling some of them earlier this month. Specific details on manufacturers to enroll in this program haven’t emerged either, but it seems that LG and Motorola might be among the first to release Silver phones when the initiative is made official. Hopefully, it won’t be too long before more on this emerges, so stay tuned to learn the news.

Google to replace the Nexus series with new Silver handsets
Image credits to Google

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LG L80 Officially Introduced in Indonesia

Yesterday, we reported that a brand new L Series III smartphone leaked ahead of its official launch, the L80 dual. The smartphone was spotted in Russia, where it is set to arrive in late May for an unknown price.

However, it looks like LG has officially introduced the L80 in Indonesia several hours after the smartphone’s leak in Russia. This time, we have more details on the phone’s price tag and specs sheet. According to GSMArena, the LG L80 will be available for purchase in Indonesia soon for only IDR 2,500,000 outright, which is about €155 or $215. Although no exact release date has been confirmed, we can safely assume that the smartphone will go on sale next month. The LG L80 will be available in two variants, single SIM and dual SIM. Depending on the region, Android fans will be able to get one or the other. For example, customers in Russia will be offered the dual-SIM model, along with those in Indonesia, but in various European countries, the LG L80 might only be available in the single-SIM version.

What’s important is the fact that aside from that, both variants are similar when it comes to hardware and software configuration. This means that customers will be able to purchase a cheap smartphone that will come with Android 4.4.2 KitKat and all the exclusive LG features, like Knock Code, QSlide and so on. On the inside, the LG L80 packs a 1.2Hz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor and 1GB of RAM, which should be enough to run most of the apps and games in the Google Play Store with some exceptions.

On the back, the mid-range Android smartphone packs a 5-megapixel photo snapper with LED flash and video recording, while in the front, there’s a secondary camera for video calls. Connectivity-wise, LG L80 offers 3G with HSPA on SIM 1 (on the dual-SIM version) and EDGE on SIM 2. In addition, the device comes with Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi, GPS with A-GPS support and FM Radio. It is also worth mentioning that the L80 only packs 4GB of internal memory, which is why those who decide to go for it should take into consideration acquiring an additional microSD memory card (up to 32GB). LG Indonesia has also confirmed that the smartphone will be powered by a generous 2540 mAh battery, which has yet to be rated. Last but not least, LG L80 sports a larger 5-inch WVGA IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen display that supports 480 x 800 pixels resolution.

LG L80
Images credits to chip.co.id

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Huawei Ascend P7 Leaks in New Photos Ahead of Official Release

Next week, Chinese mobile phone maker Huawei should make a new flagship device official, namely the long-rumored Huawei Ascend P7, and a new set of leaked photos with the device is now available for your viewing pleasure.

Available courtesy of NowhereElse, these photos show a design similar to that of Ascend P6 last year, which does not come as a surprise, since the phone was already rumored to resemble its predecessor a lot. When unveiled in early May, the Ascend P7 will feature a 5-inch touchscreen display capable of delivering a 1920 x 1080 pixels resolution, as well as a 1.6GHz processor inside, coming from Huawei itself. Moreover, the upcoming flagship device is also expected to land on shelves with 2GB of RAM packed inside, as well as with 16GB of internal memory, and a microSD memory card slot for expansion purposes.

On the back, it will sport a 13-megapixel camera, capable of at least full HD video recording, paired with a 5MP front camera for video calling and selfies. Huawei Ascend P7 is also said to sport a 2.460mAh battery inside, and to run under the Android 4.4.2 KitKat operating system, with Huawei’s own Emotion UI loaded on top. The phone hasn’t been officially confirmed as of now, but its smaller version, Huawei Ascend P7 mini, was unveiled this week. Images gallery below, click for larger image.

Huawei Ascend P7
Image credits to NoWhereElse.fr

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Intel Might Not Have a Choice but to Use ARM Cores from Now On

The idea that Advanced Micro Devices would start to use ARM technology in its processors is one that has been both supported and dismissed by the world at large for the past year. No longer though, and Intel might have to adjust its tactics because of that.

You might have already come upon the news about the new APUs (SoCs really), the Beema and Mullins chips that AMD has just launched. I’ve already explored pretty much everything in regard to them that can be of interested to us common mortals. I have even taken a closer look at that nifty little Intelligent Boost technology that overclocks the processor while taking into account how warm/hot the skin on your hands is. However, in the end, the most game-changing element in the new chips is the ARM Cortex A5 core that AMD built into the accelerated processing unit systems-on-chip. With this, the hybrid nature of AMD’s processor lineup is extended from two-fold (x86+GPU) to threefold (ARM+x86+GPU). Some may say that the ARM core has no bearing on performance so it shouldn’t be counted, but I disagree. The core may not actually compute much, technically, but it has a very important role.

It’s all about security

I’ve already explored this, but I’ll make a summary here as well: the Cortex A5 core enables AMD’s TrustZone technology to operate. What the technology does is decide whether or not the system should be allowed to boot. More importantly, it will divide the APU/SoC in two, using the Cortex A5’s own ROM and SRAM memory. The unsecured “half” of the SoC does the heavy lifting (work documents, games, media playback, etc.) while the secured half handles network and Internet data exchanges, transactions, antivirus, and so on. All in all, the Cortex A5-enabled TrustZone technology provides a level and type of hardware encryption not seen before. For a microcontroller, the chip has a very important role.

Intel might have to reconsider its stance on ARM

For the longest time, Intel has steadfastly stuck to its policy to only use x86 technology in its central processing units and compute modules. Admittedly, now that it has the Quark and other chips with arguably low TDPs, it’s not “critical” to try ARM designs, even though ARM technology is still more energy-efficient. However, AMD has shown a very out-of-the-box use for the technology. And while its Beema and Mullins APUs will only be used in mid-range PCs and mobile devices (respectively), I don’t have trouble imagining AMD launching Opterons with TrustZone, or other server chips.

So, with x86-based CPUs that also have this ability to encrypt everything coming in and going out of a computer without touching (and slowing) everything else, I imagine that server makers will be quite interested in the concept. Micro-server clients in particular. That’s not even taking into account that AMD has fully ARM-based server solutions, and that adding TrustZone will only make them more appealing. Not to say that Intel’s chips don’t have hardware-based security, because they do, but AMD’s approach is novel enough to cause ripples.

The possible futures

I haven’t heard Intel commenting on AMD’s inclusion of ARM tech in its chips, not yet, and I’m pretty sure that the “purely x86” stance will go on for at least a while. However, I believe the odds are good that Intel will at least consider this kind of hybridization, even if it reconsiders and never tells anyone about its inner turmoil. I’m making abstraction of Chipzilla’s wearable device-intended SoCs here of course.

The AMD TrustZone technology explained
Image credits to AMD

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Samsung’s First Tizen OS Smartphone to Land in Russia in May

South Korean mobile phone maker Samsung Electronics has already confirmed plans to launch its first smartphone running under the Tizen OS sometime in the second quarter of the year, but no official release date for it has been provided as of now.

According to the latest reports on the matter, however, we might see the company making the upcoming device official in Russia in May. According to a post on tizenindonesia, the phone will also come to other markets soon after, including Brazil, and other countries where Samsung’s Bada OS has managed to get some traction. No confirmation on the matter has been provided as of now, but said news site notes that the info comes from a Samsung official, who also confirmed that the mobile phone would be a high-end device. Until Samsung makes a formal announcement on this, we should note that a company’s handset supposedly running under Tizen has made an appearance in India, where it is undergoing some testing.

As sammytoday notes, the phone has been spotted on the website of Indian import-export firm Zauba with model number SM-Z910F attached to it, and with a 4.8-inch touchscreen display. The phone is being tested in three different country versions, destined for Russia, the UK and France, it seems. However, despite its possible limited initial availability, the handset might arrive in more markets soon after.

Samsung's first Tizen OS handset to land in Russia next month
Image credits to tizanindonesia

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Samsung SM-G906S Spotted Online Again, Could Be Galaxy S5 Prime

One of the devices that South Korean mobile phone maker Samsung Electronics might bring to the market in the not-too-distant future is a premium version of the Galaxy S5, and the device appears to have emerged online once again.

A certain Samsung SM-G906S has been spotted in official Samsung documents for the Find My Mobile service, where it is listed among the devices supported in the service, despite the fact that Samsung hasn’t made it official as of now. Previously, the mobile phone was spotted in benchmarks with a 2K (2560 x 1440 pixels) touchscreen display, which suggested that this might indeed be the premium device model that enthusiasts were looking for, as SamMobile notes. Supposedly called Samsung Galaxy S5 Prime, the device is now said to be launched sometime in June with an aluminum body and a possible 2.5GHz quad-core Snapdragon 805 processor packed inside, paired with 3GB of RAM.

The smartphone is also said to feature a 5.2-inch screen, 32GB of internal memory, and a 16-megapixel or better camera on the back. No official confirmation on the matter has been provided as of now, and Samsung even took its time to deny any plans for a premium version of Galaxy S5, but it seems that a formal announcement could be made sooner rather than later, so stay tuned for specifics on the matter.

Samsung Galaxy S5 Prime allegedly spotted in Samsung documents
Image credits to galaxyclub.nl

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Android 4.4 KitKat Update for Meizu MX3 Now Available for Download

We reported about two weeks ago that Chinese company Meizu confirmed it would offer Android 4.4 KitKat updates for its MX2 and MX3 smartphones on April 28.

True to its promise, Meizu has just started to seed Android 4.4 KitKat for the MX3. The information has been confirmed by meizufans.eu forums where the full changelog of the update has been published as well. The update contains an update for Flyme OS 3.6.1A and lots of new features, improvements and bug fixes. There’s also a new ART mode, which can be enabled via Developer Tools. Some camera bug fixes have been included in the update as well, along with the music player issues. New compatible Bluetooth Smart devices that support Bluetooth Smart bracelet have been added, as well as the option to add call log sync.

Some optimizations to Notification bar and Gallery are also included, along with some improvements to input method and unlock. Those with rooted devices should clear date, otherwise the smartphone may not boot. A synchronization backup is recommended in order to avoid losing contact and other sensitive data. For the full list of changes included in this Android 4.4 KitKat update for Meizu MX3 please head over to the original forum thread.

Android 4.4 KitKat update for Meizu MX3
Image credits to meizufans.eu

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