Samsung Testing Android 4.4.3 KitKat for Galaxy S5 and Galaxy S4 LTE-A

Google has already announced Android 4.4.3 KitKat, which is supposed to fix some camera issues found in the mobile platform, but the update has yet to be released.

Well, it looks like a final version of Android 4.4.3 KitKat has been provided to handset makers, as confirmed by an internal document leaked recently via SamMobile. According to this document, Samsung is currently testing Android 4.4.3 KitKat update for Galaxy S5 and Galaxy S4 LTE-A. Unfortunately, there’s no ETA for the release of the update, as Samsung has tagged it with the “integrating” status. This means it might take at least one month until the upgrade may be ready for these two particular smartphones, and that’s if nothing wrong happens during testing.

The bad news is only two smartphones have been confirmed by this internal document to receive the Android 4.4.3 KitKat update, which means those who own other devices will have to wait a lot longer to get it in case Samsung decided to make it available for other models as well. We will keep an eye out for any additional details on the release of Android 4.4.3 KitKat for Galaxy S5 and Galaxy S4, so stay tuned for more updates on the matter.

Samsung internal document
Image credits to SamMobile

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MediaTek Will Not Launch Chipsets Supporting Windows Phone Anytime Soon

There has been a lot of talk regarding MediaTek’s alleged adoption of Windows Phone platform in its chipset design, but nothing concrete has emerged yet.

Even though some Chinese vendors have claimed that their Windows Phone handsets will be powered by MediaTek chipsets, and thus will be much cheaper than those equipped with Qualcomm’s SoCs, Microsoft and MediaTek were mum on the matter. In fact, Microsoft announced at some point that for the time being, it only supported Qualcomm reference design chipsets for Windows Phone, so MediaTek’s products are out of the question for the moment. It’s unclear why the Redmond-based company does not wish to co-opt another chipset manufacturer that would be able to produce cheaper SoCs for Windows Phone, but Microsoft might not be the one to blame here. It appears that MediaTek plans to focus a considerable amount of its production on the 4G smartphone market, which is now booming in China.

Digitimes reports that MediaTek is less likely to launch any smartphone chipset platform for Windows Phone this year, as the company is now looking for a way to boost its production of 4G chipsets. The information was provided by sources familiar with the matter, who also claim that MediaTek will try to ramp up its 3G chipsets production for handset makers in China, which are now looking to expand their businesses overseas. The first Windows Phone handsets launched by Chinese OEMs should arrive in the second half of 2014, even though some of these vendors are reluctant to releasing devices powered by Microsoft’s mobile platform due to higher costs than initially estimated.

Even though Microsoft has offered Windows Phone license for free, most Chinese OEMs are not ready to adopt the platform for mass production due to high costs. MediaTek’s chipsets could have reduced these costs considerably if the chipset vendor had decided to jump into the Windows Phone caravan and start producing SoCs for this mobile operating system. Anyway, the good news is that Qualcomm has already launched QRD (Qualcomm Reference Design) smartphones for Windows Phone, so Chinese vendors should start working on their handsets. Given the fact that the information reported by Digitimes hasn’t been confirmed yet, we suggest our readers to take it with a grain of salt until one of the two companies comes forward with an official statement. It’s also worth mentioning that MediaTek can eventually start producing chipsets for Windows Phone beginning next year, so not all is lost for the Chinese handset makers looking for ways to cut costs on manufacturing.

MediaTek logo
Image credits to MediaTek

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New Samsung Galaxy Tab S Pic Leaks, Shows Crisp Colors on AMOLED Display

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S unveiling is just around the corner and excitement levels are rising in anticipation of the event.

Samsung’s AMOLED set of tablets have been in the rumor mill for a long time, but were covered in deep layers of mystery. The standout feature here is the display technology which will allow the beautiful rendering of colors. So far, the Galaxy Tab S line-up has been teased in a few photos, but none of them showed what the display was actually capable of. Now a new picture posted by SamMobile, showcasing the 10.5-inch model, gives us a window into how the display differs from the standard LCD counterpart. The colors in the image seem quite crisp but of course, we’ll have to wait until the tablets make it into the wild before correctly assessing their quality. The Galaxy Tab S family is expected to be unveiled on June 12 in New York. The slates will arrive in 10.5-inch and 8.4-inch flavors sporting a resolution of 2560 x 1600 pixels and will draw life from an octa-core Exynos 5420 CPU with four 1.9GHz Cortex-A15 cores and four 1.3GHz Cortex-A7 cores.

The slates will run Android 4.4 KitKat out the box and come with a finger print scanner housed in the home button just like with Samsung’s latest flagship phone, the Galaxy S5.

New Samsung Galaxy Tab S shows up in new pic
Image credits to SamMobile

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Dual-Core Radeon R9 290X Graphics Card from PowerColor Is an Odd Piece of Work

You'd think that with Advanced Micro Devices selling the Radeon R9 295 X2 graphics card, its OEMs would do the same, but PowerColor decided to both follow and not follow in AMD's footsteps.

Which is to say, the OEM has released a dual-GPU Radeon R9 graphics card based on two Hawaii XT graphics processing units, but not actually called Radeon R9 295 X2. Instead, PowerColor settled for the following moniker: PowerColor Radeon R9 Devil 13 Dual Core R9 290X. It's like saying that you have two Radeon R9 290X boards fused together. Nevertheless, it's the same thing as the R9 295 X2 but under a different name. Well, not really. PowerColor seems to have used its own idea for a PCB (printed circuit board) and integrated circuit layout. Also, the core specifications are not the same as those on the R9 295 X2. The GPU frequency is of 1000 MHz instead of 1018 MHz, for one thing. Also, the newcomer has a triple-fan air cooler, instead of the hybrid air+water cooling module that AMD added to the R9 295X2.

On the flip side, the memory arrangement is the same though: 4 GB GDDR5 for each Hawaii XT graphics processing unit, connected via 512-bit interface. So, there are 8 GB of memory at 5 GHz operating over a total bandwidth of 1,024 bits. Add to that the crate-like box that the product ships in and there is more than enough reason to question why PowerColor would give its product a different price at all. We'd be tempted to think it's a misspelling, if PowerColor hadn't used the name Devil 13 Dual Core R9 290X in every single instance in its press release, and on the spec table too.

Anyway, at least the OEM included one of its own inventions: the Turbo Timer, a patent-pending device that keeps the video board cooler active even after the PC has been turned off, for a time. You get to specify the time. This way, the card will cool quickly and last for a longer time, which is good considering that this is a top-tier board you shouldn't need to replace for a decade, or half of it at least. Finally, the triple-fan cooler of the Devil 13 Dual Core R9 290X uses double blades design for the spinner. You can see what we mean in the pictures above and below: the fan blades each have a smaller one extending from them at the base.

PowerColor Devil 13 Dual Core R9 290X
Images credits to PowerColor

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New Part Leak Corroborates iPhone 6 Display Size – 4.7 Inches

Leaked in China by Sina Weibo (a social platform akin to our own Twitter), the part reportedly measures precisely 4.7 inches on the diagonal, which corroborates talks of the smartphone boasting a bigger display to compete with Samsung’s big handsets.

The component is said to be the LCD backlighting module which makes things on the screen visible with different brightness variations, depending on the level set by the user. The LCD backlighting module does not hold the LCD display itself. Rather, it is just a thin piece of material containing light-conducting pathways meant to evenly spread out the light coming from a small number of LEDs around the frame. In addition to its much bigger size, the module appears to have a redesigned connector. A comparison between the current-generation (iPhone 5s) part and the upcoming (iPhone 6) part is made in the above picture. The connector plug (that goes either onto the phone’s mother board or the display array) is not only longer and narrower, but also has a different pin layout. This is expected, as the entire phone’s innards are likely to have a completely different layout and form factor, mainly determined by the overall redesign of the smartphone.

Considering the abundance of leaks occurring in recent weeks, it is reasonable to assume that Apple is at least ready to begin assembling the next-generation devices, though some reports have gone as far as to claim that iPhone 6 production was in full swing. Various depictions of the end design created by concept artists based on leaked schematics indicate that Apple has achieved an even slimmer design with the bigger iPhone 6. The handset will reportedly embody design elements from the iPad and the iPod touch, including the tapering around the edges (most visible on the back of the device). Apple is using a metal construction yet again, according to photos depicting case molds and machinery meant to act as dies for casting. These leaks have yet to be corroborated but similar reports have proved accurate in the past (for device generations including the iPhone 5 and iPhone 5s).

Avid fans of Apple’s smartphones will have to wait until at least August to see Tim Cook and Co. lift the cloth off the new generation of iPhones which may or may not include an even bigger version featuring a 5.5-inch display. While there are considerably fewer leaks pertaining to this version of the handset, rumor has it that Apple is planning on fighting Samsung in the phablet segment as well. The bigger phone would presumably have a wider extent of new features, including Near Field Communication (NFC) technology, and other stuff. The iPhone 6 could also be priced a little higher because of its more expensive bill of materials (BOM) resulted from new parts, the bigger screen, and the overall novelties in technology and the assembly process.

Comparison between iPhone 6 and iPhone 5s backlighting modules
Images credits to Weibo via NoWhereElse.fr

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LG G3 for Verizon Leaks in Press Photo

Next week, South Korean mobile phone maker LG Electronics will make official its next flagship Android-based smartphone, the LG G3, and it seems that Verizon Wireless will be one of the carriers to add it to its offering.

Leaked press photos with the Verizon flavor of the high-end mobile phone have emerged online today, courtesy of evleaks, showing the very same design that the device was already spotted with a while ago. The carrier’s branding is clearly visible on the back plate of the smartphone, as well as on top of the screen, so there’s no question about the availability of the handset on its network. However, we should note that other wireless carriers in the United States have been said to plan on launching the smartphone as well, including T-Mobile and Sprint.

For those out of the loop, we should note that LG is expected to release the phone on May 27 and that it will unveil it with a 5.5-inch 2K screen, as well as with a 2.3GHz quad-core processor, paired with 3GB of RAM. The phone is also said to pack a 13-megapixel camera on the back, with 4K video recording capabilities, as well as a front camera for video calling. It will run under the Android 4.4.2 KitKat operating system right from the start.

LG G3 for Verizon
Image credits to evleaks

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LG Releases Three New LG G3 Promo Videos

South Korean mobile phone maker LG Electronics has already confirmed plans to make its next flagship Android-based smartphone official on May 27, and the company has started to tease more of the phone’s features and capabilities.

Today, the vendor has published three new promo videos for the LG G3, in an attempt to provide some more details on its camera, outer design, and display. As previously rumored, the mobile phone will arrive on the market with a 13-megapixel camera that will be accompanied by a new laser auto-focus system, and the first clip embedded below appears to confirm that. The second video is meant to offer a closer look at the handset’s outer design, which once again confirms the metallic brushed finish that previously leaked photos with the G3 have unveiled.

As for the third clip, it appears set to show more on what the 5.5-inch Quad HD touchscreen display of LG G3 will have to offer to its users. The videos are short, but they do make us want to see more of the smartphone. With all of the necessary details on it set to become official as soon as the next week, keep an eye on this space to learn more on the matter.

LG G3 promo video
Image credits to Youtube

G3 TVC Teaser - Camera편
G3 광고 속 힌트의 답을 찾아주세요.
www.LGG3event.com
추첨을 통해서 푸짐한 선물을 드립니다~
www.lgmobile.co.kr/microsite/LGG3/index.jsp


G3 TVC Teaser - Design편
G3 광고 속 힌트의 답을 찾아주세요.
www.LGG3event.com
추첨을 통해서 푸짐한 선물을 드립니다~
www.lgmobile.co.kr/microsite/LGG3/index.jsp

G3 TVC Teaser - Display편
G3 광고 속 힌트의 답을 찾아주세요.
www.LGG3event.com
추첨을 통해서 푸짐한 선물을 드립니다~
www.lgmobile.co.kr/microsite/LGG3/index.jsp

Videos credits to LGMobile KR

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Sony D2403 Is Another Mid-Range Smartphone with 4.7-Inch Display, Quad-Core CPU

Sony Mobile is one of the few major handset makers that have announced several mid-range Android smartphones this year, but some of them are yet to be released on the market.

Only Samsung and probably LG have announced that they will release a similar (or higher) number of smartphones in the first half of the year. Those who did not find any of the mid-range Android smartphones announced by Sony Mobile appealing enough will be pleased to know that the Japanese company is readying yet another mid-range handset. Dubbed Sony D2403, the smartphone has just appeared at GFXBench benchmarking website and judging by the specs listed, it’s aimed at the mid-range handset market. As always, we recommend our readers to take the information with a grain of salt until Sony goes official with the announcement. If you’re not bothered by the fact that this might be a prototype unit being tested by a lucky Android fan, then know that the Sony D2403 is powered by KitKat 4.4.2 operating system.

Specs-wise, Sony D2403 is listed as having a large 4.7-inch IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen display that supports qHD (540 x 960 pixels) resolution. On the inside, the smartphone is said to pack a 1.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor and an Adreno 305 graphics processing unit. Unfortunately, the amount of RAM of the D2403 is not listed, but we suspect that the phone will have at least 1GB of RAM inside. However, we do know that Sony D2403 packs 16GB of internal memory. Again, there’s no mention of microSD card slot, so there’s no telling if users will be able to further expand storage. Another piece of information unveiled by 3D graphics performance of Sony D403 is the fact that the mid-range Android smartphone will pack an 8-megapixel rear-facing camera with autofocus, LED flash, HDR and full HD (1080p) video recording.

The smartphone also sports a secondary VGA front-facing camera for video calls. The usual range of sensors is included as well, such as: accelerometer, compass, lightsensor, NFC (Near Field Communication) and proximity. Sony D2403 will offer Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS with A-GPS support, among other connectivity options. This seems to be a single-SIM smartphone that lacks barometer and gyroscope. Sadly, nothing else is revealed in the benchmarking app, but we suspect that more details, including photos, will emerge in the coming weeks. We will keep an eye out for more details on the Sony D2403, so stay tuned for more updates on the matter.

Sony D2403 3D graphics performance
Image credits to GFXbench

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Huawei Ascend D3 Spotted in Benchmark, Specs Unveiled

One of the smartphones that Chinese mobile phone maker Huawei was rumored earlier this year to plan on releasing in the Ascend D series was the Ascend D3, and some more info on it is now available.

The handset, supposedly called Huawei Ascend D3, has reportedly emerged in AnTuTu, in the form of Huawei H300, and it appears set to land on shelves with an octa-core processor inside. Apparently, this will be a 1.8 GHz K3V3 chipset from Huawei themselves and will pack a quad-core Cortex A7 COU and a quad-core Cortex A15 processor, in a big.LITTLE setup. Moreover, the chip is said to sport the Mali T628 GPU, which will make it highly similar to MediaTek’s own octa-core processor. At the same time, the upcoming mobile phone is said to arrive on the market with 2GB of dual channel DDR3 RAM, as well as with 16GB of internal memory. The yet unannounced Huawei Ascend D3 is also rumored to sport a full HD touchscreen display, though the actual size of the screen hasn’t been provided as of now.

On the back, the upcoming mobile phone should sport a 13-megapixel camera, which should be able to record videos at least in full HD resolution. It will be accompanied by a 5-megapixel front camera for making video calls while on the go. According to info coming from Chinese website cnbeta, the new mobile phone will also hit shelves with a design similar to that of BlackBerry Z10, though no further details on the matter have been provided as of now. However, as GSMDome notes, the Huawei Ascend D3 is expected to run under the Android 4.4.2 KitKat operating system out of the box. Most probably, Huawei will also load its own user interface on top of the platform, just as it did with other phones in the Ascend series. Apparently, the Chinese mobile phone maker might be determined to release the new phone with a price tag of only 2888 yuan attached to it, which would make it a highly appealing device, that’s for sure.

What hasn’t been unveiled on this smartphone as of now, however, is when exactly we might see it released on shelves and which markets will receive it. We can assume that it will be launched in China first, though Huawei should launch it in other countries as well soon after, the same as it did with its predecessors. Hopefully, more on this will emerge sooner rather than later, so stay tuned to learn the news.

Huawei Ascend D3 AnTuTu Benchmark Result

Huawei Ascend D3
Images credits to cnbeta

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Finally, a Wireless Charging Technology that Works Across Rooms

Wireless charging technology isn’t as awesome as it sounds. Sure, it’s wireless, but it’s also range-less: you have to put the device on a pad and leave it there for energy to be recovered.

Soon, though, this will no longer be the case. Not if Energous has its way, and I’m pretty sure it will have the world eating from the palm of its hand soon enough. After all, when a company solves a problem that the MIT hasn’t been able to overcome (although it might have been due to focus on other things), you know you’re looking at something potentially world-changing. Energous has introduced WattUp, a wireless charging technology that can charge from a distance. All you need to do is connect the phone, or whatever, to an external receiver, or put it in a special protective case and leave it there for a while. Sure, it’s not the same as having the technology embedded in your phone, but it’s a big step forward.

A WattUp transmitter was shown capable of recharging smartphones, and there’s even a WattUp app that detects if any wireless charging devices exist in the area. The range is of 10 feet / 3 meters. Presumably, a phone case with WattUp would cost $75 / €75 to $125 / €125, while a primary transmitter, the source as it were, would go for $300 / €300. Not sure how many years it will take for retail availability to ramp up though. No word on adapters for stuff like the Motorola Moto 360 smartwatch, but I’m sure they won’t be left out.

Energous WattUp used in a coffee shop
Image credits to Energous

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