TechnoBuffalo's Adriana Lee covered Top 10 Mobile devices of MWC 2013

Mobile World Congress is going good in Barcelona, Spain. A lot of new devices have been announced, unveiled and launched with the latest of Tech including hardware such as processors. It's a good platform for the most of companies to show their products and well some of them have done so. 

Adriana Lee from TechnoBuffalo is senior reporter and has well covered some topics of MWC 2013. Here she compares the 10 fantastic mobile devices launched in MWC 2013. So we are highlighting her article here, just to let you know about these 10 products. Her article has her copyright as well as of TechnoBuffalo and we don't own any rights about it. It's just to give you info about these latest tech, as it's the motto of Digital news Hub :)

Samsung Galaxy Note 8

[Read our covering on Note 8.0]

What the new 8-inch Galaxy Note tablet lacks in looks, it has in improved S-Pen features, specs and a monster battery:  

• Android 4.1.2
• 1.6GHz quad-core A9 processor
• 2 GB RAM
• 16 or 32 GB storage
• 1,280 x 800 display res
• Improved S-Pen features that controls the menu and back buttons, expanded S-Pen recognition area
• microSD support (up to 64 GB)
• 4600 mAh battery
• Pricing unknown
• Available Q2 2013

HP Slate 7

Hewlett-Packard’s first Android tablet:

• Stainless steel frame
• 7-inch display
• Dual-core 1.6GHz chip (based on ARM’s Cortex-A9 architecture)
• Android Jelly Bean 4.1
• 8 GB of storage
• 1 GB of RAM
• microSD support
• 3 MP camera (rear) / VGA (front)
• Starts at $169
• Available in the U.S. in April

LG Optimus F7

Mid-range Android phone with fast LTE connectivity will likely target cost-conscious users: 

• Android Jelly Bean 4.1.2
• Dual-core 1.5GHz processor
• 4.7-inch HD display (1280×720)
• 8 GB of storage
• 2 GB RAM
• 8 MP camera
• microSD support (for up to 32 GB)
• Pricing details haven’t been announced

Asus FonePad

[Read our report on Asus Fonepad]

7-inch Android tablet with phone functionality:

• Android 4.1
• 1.2GHz Intel Atom Z2420 processor
• 16 GB storage
• 1 GB of RAM
• 1280×800 IPS display
• 3 MP camera (front) / 1.2 MP (rear)
• 4270 mAh battery
• Priced at $249 (£179, including VAT in the U.K.)
• Availability not announced yet

Asus Padfone Infinity

5-inch smartphone that docks into a 10-inch tablet:

• 1080p display (441ppi)
• 10.1-inch tablet dock with 1920×1200 display
• Android 4.2
• 1.7GHz Snapdragon 600 quad-core processor
• 2GB RAM
• 32 / 64GB storage
• NFC
• 13 MP camera (rear) / 2 MP (front)
• 2400mAh battery (in the phone, for up to 19 hrs 3G talk time; tablet adds another 11 hrs)
• Launches in Europe (April), with Asia to follow later

Acer Liquid E1

Mid-range phone with decent speakers and recent version of Android:

• Android 4.1.1
• 1GHz dual-core MediaTek processor
• 4.5-inch IPS display (960×540 pixels)
• 1 GB RAM
• 4 GB storage
• microSD support (up to 32 GB)
• Stereo speakers and built-in DTS sound
• Optional dual SIM cards
• Already heading to global market

ZTE Open Firefox Phone

Entry-level smartphone, the first official one with Mozilla’s Firefox OS:

• Open-source Firefox operating system
• 1GHz Qualcomm processor
• 3.5-inch display
• 512 MB storage
• 256MB RAM
• 3.2 MP camera
• All apps are HTML5 web apps
• Pricing unknown
• Available mid-2013 in Spain, Venezuela, Colombia

ZTE Grand Memo

ZTE’s first phablet:

• 5.7-inch 1080p display
• 1.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor
• 13 MP camera
• Android Jelly Bean 4.1.2 (with MyFavorite 3D UX)
• 2 GB RAM
• microSD support
• “One-hand” T9 keyboard (can sit on either side of the screen)
• No word yet on pricing and availability

Nokia Lumia 720

Mid-range Windows 8 phone is thinnest Lumia to date, offers decent camera:

• 1GHz Qualcomm MSM8227 processor
• 512MB RAM
• 8GB of storage
• microSD support
• 4.3-inch ClearBlack display (WVGA)
• 6.7 MP camera (rear) with Carl Zeiss optics and low-light performance / 1.3 MP (front) with “Skype HD Wide Angle” for video chat
• 2000mAh battery
• Colors: Red, yellow, cyan and matte black and glossy white.
• Available March 2013

Xperia Tablet Z

Self-proclaimed thinnest 10.1-Inch Tablet on the market is also water-resistant:

• Size/weight is 6.9mm and 495g
• Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro processor
• Android 4.1 (4.2 coming soon, says Sony)
• HD WUXGA display
• 2 MP HD camera (front) / 8MP rear camera with “Exmor R for mobile”
• Two built-in speakers with four “speaker halls” on left and right corners
• Wi-Fi version has 64GB of storage
• microSD support
• NFC and Universal IR
• Water-resistance (levels IP55 & IP57)
• Global availability in Q2 2013

So do you like this article? Share your views about these devices in comments.

Disclaimer: All the content is protected by respected owners. 

Source: TechnoBuffalo
Courtesy: Adriana Lee

Asus FonePad announced @ MWC 2013. One more tablet that lets you talk

Asus has finally announced the most rumored Fonepad at the MWC 2013 in Barcelona. It is loaded with a 7-inch (1280 x 800 pixels) IPS display, runs on Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) and is powered by a 1.2 GHz Intel Atom Z2420 processor, comes with 16 GB on-board memory and supports 32 GB expandable memory. The Tablet has a 3 MP rear camera and a 1.2 MP front-facing camera and has metal body and comes with 3G support with voice calling features. 

Asus has also done some work and added some of its own applications, including Floating App, which helps manage your multitasking apps, and SuperNote Lite, which is for making handwritten notes and doodling, as that in Galaxy Note II. Such feature(s) is becoming popular  day by day. You'll also get the ease of editing Microsoft Office documents on the go using Asus' WebStorage Office Online, and 5GB of cloud storage on the inventively-named Asus WebStorage.

The FonePad will be available in Europe for £179 / €219. At MWC, ASUS also confirmed a US dollar price of $249. There's no word on a release in the US. It'll reach Asia-Pacific around the same time for $249. 

[Press Release pictures]

{Click to view full size}

Read more @

Engadget, CNET, The Verge, TechCrunch

Galaxy Note 8.0 unveiled in Mobile World Congress 2013

Samsung has finally announced its latest Android tablet, Galaxy Note 8.0. It was much awaited and rumored. Company unveiled it at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.

Note 8 is exceedingly comfortable to hold, though its plastic body doesn't have the solid feel of iPad Mini, Nexus 7, and Kindle Fire HD. The bezel is larger than the iPad Mini's by a good amount. 

Galaxy Note 8.0 is equipped with an 8-inch 1280 x 800-pixel display, Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean, Exynos quad-core 1.6GHz processor, 2GB of RAM, 16GB or 32GB of internal storage, a microSD card slot for adding up to 64GB of additional storage and a 4,600mAh battery. Galaxy Note 8.0 is capable of making phone calls too, so it's a good competitor to iPad mini and Nexus 7 as none of them support phone calls.

Samsung’s S Pen stylus has been upgraded to work both on the touchscreen of the Note 8.0 as well as with the physical navigation buttons, and Samsung is also extending the functionality of the pen in other ways. Samsung has also upgraded it's Air View feature which allows users to view previews by hovering stylus over the device, without touching it. Now it is also supported by third party apps, and +Flipboard is first to use it. You can select and expand a tile by hovering the pen over a selection. 

In keeping with its portrait oriented design, the Note 8.0 also incorporates what the company calls "reading mode," effectively optimizing the slate's display for comfortable e-book use.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 will be available world wide (Europe, Korea, North America, S.E. Asia, S. W. Africa, the Middle East, China, Taiwan, and Latin America) in Q2. Availability and pricing in the U.S. has not yet been announced.

[Image Courtesy: The Verge]

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TechnoBuffalo, Android Central, The Verge, Engadget, TechCrunch 

Samsung developing 360 degree camera feature as Samsung Orb

Samsung is known to work on new tech, or I should say adapt new tech. They changed the Android Beam to S-Beam in their high-end smartphones such as Galaxy Note II, Galaxy S III, Galaxy Grand etc. Now a customization of +Android Photosphere is supposed to be developed by Samsung.

According to a report from Android Geeks, who supposedly have a friend on Samsung’s software engineering team, Samsung is developing a new version or customization of Photosphere as Samsung Orb. Samsung Orb will be similar to the 360 degree panorama image capturing Photo Sphere function included in Android 4.2. Besides that, Samsung Orb will give three dimensional experience as well.

Photosphere is one of the great features of Jelly Bean. Though it's not complete but still it provides a never seen before way to capture photos. Samsung's also said to be working with Facebook to bring easy social sharing of Orb images. That's in sharp contrast to Photospheres, which are shared primarily through Google+. It's unclear whether "Orb" panoramas will be compatible with the back-end stuff that Google's set up to support and share Photosphere images. Currently the only way to share these on the web is through the Google ecosystem, so it'll be interesting to see how the two standards live alongside each other.

Samsung is expected to announce the Galaxy S IV on March 14.

Read more @ 

Android Central, Droid Life, Techradar, TechnoBuffalo

Nexus 7 Sales reached 4.6 million in 2012

If you’ve been looking for some hard numbers regarding how many tablets ASUS and Google have sold of their popular Nexus 7, you won’t have much luck. Google has experienced healthy sales of their Nexus 7 tablet, but you won’t hear it from them.

Industry analyst Benedict Evans has this week released evidence and calculations that show that Google could have sold 4.6 million Nexus 7 tablets in 2012.

Evans estimates that based on Asus’s reported sales of 6.3 million tablets in 2012, and verbal statements from the CEO which gave a rough estimate of sales to date of the Nexus 7 as of October, the Nexus 7 likely sold around 2.2 million units between the end of Q2 2012 and during Q3, as well as around 2.4 million during Q4. 

Analyst Benedict Evans explains on his website:

“Google doesn’t say anything about Nexus device sales, but Asustek, the manufacturer of the Nexus 7, does. The chart below, from the Q3 IR deck, shows tablet unit sales for the first three quarters of 2012: today it announced that total tablet sales in 2012 were 6.3m units (in line with a target it stated in December). The Nexus 7 went on sale in Q3, and in October the CEO was quoted as saying: “at the beginning, it was, for instance, 500K units a month, then maybe 600, 700K. This latest month, it was close to 1 million.”

Next version of Nexus 7 is much awaited and expected to be launched in I/O 2013 with features such as a 1080p HD display, faster processor (possibly Snapdragon 600) with more storage, more resolution display and of course Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie. 

Read more @

TechCrunch, Geeky Gadgets, Android Community, Phandroid

Google released demo video of Glass Experience showing How it feels

Google knows that the people are confused that how Google Glass will work, as it's quite unimaginable for a little wearable gadget having functionality, as shown in promos, events and blog posts. So, the mountain view based Giant has uploaded a User Experience video on it's YouTube channel, to explain the users that how the Glass works. The video has name "How it feels [Through Glass]".

Glass is a never happened before kind of experience to explore the world. The video highlights the features of Glass such as voice typing and commands, you need to say ok glass and it'll start responding. Glass is also able to do hangouts, capture photos, shoot videos, help you navigate your way, provide you weather info, and even sharing in circles. 

Google has previously said it is aiming to launch Glass by early 2014, though the company is already pushing out developer editions, priced at $1,500.  Google Glass isn’t ready for mass consumption. It will be released when it’s ready and until then users have to enjoy the demo videos. 

"We're still in the early stages and, while we can't promise everything will be perfect, we can promise it will be exciting. We're looking for bold, creative individuals who want to join us and be a part of shaping the future of Glass," Google said.

[Google Glass: First demo video]

[How it feels (through Glass)]

Read more @

Engadget, The Verge, BBC, Techcrunch

Canonical unveiled Ubuntu for Tablets, images coming for Nexus Tabs

Canonical today unveiled Ubuntu for tablets, which it said will help unify the Ubuntu experiences across phones, tablets, PCs, and TVs. A Touch Developer Preview will be released on Feb. 21 via developer.ubuntu.com, which will work on the Nexus 7 and Nexus 10 tablets. So, now you have chances to enjoy Ubuntu on all of your favorite Nexus devices. 

Ubuntu for tablets isn’t some totally different operating system than Ubuntu for phones. Basically, it’s the same OS, but with an interface tailored to a tablet rather than the smaller screen of a phone. Canonical isn’t satisfied with just projecting a new interface onto a different display, and the OS will sport a “side stage,” which is a multitasking feature that will allow a phone app to appear on screen at the same time as, and work side-by-side with, a tablet app. 

Ubuntu Tablet is based on the same code that powers the Phone version of Ubuntu – so strong emphasis is placed on gestures. Like Ubuntu phone, the tablet interface doesn’t require hard or soft keys to be present for use.

Canonical is enhancing its Multi Screen technology, and it's not like that on Galaxy Note II. Ubuntu tablet works like most other tablets when you’re out and about, save for the fact that it’s running Ubuntu. But connect a monitor, keyboard and mouse and you suddenly have the traditional desktop experience, with a full window manager and multiple windows of concurrently running apps. 

Canonical has finished working on Ubuntu 13.04 which will be released in April 2013 and plans to release Ubuntu 13.10, which includes the the smartphone experience, in October. But carriers will then need to test that software, so actual phones probably won't come out until the first quarter of 2014. According to the Shuttleworth,  The tablet experience is expected with Ubuntu 14.04.

More info about Ubuntu for Tablet can be gained from here. (Official link)

Canonical have outlined minimum tablet specifications for partners to target both “entry level consumer” and these “high-end enterprise” audiences.

Entry Level

• Dual-core Cortex A15
• 2GB RAM
• 8GB Flash Storage
• 7-10″ Screen

High-End 

• Quad-core A15 or Intel x86
• 4GB RAM
• 8GB Flash Storage
• 10-12″ Screen

What do you think about this version of Ubuntu? Will it stand in the market and compete already placed giants? Would you like to test it on your Nexus? Share with us in comments.

Read more @

OMG! Ubuntu, Engadget, PC Mag, Geek.com, TechCrunch

Galaxy Note getting Jelly Bean 4.1.2 update

It was much awaited but finally it's making it's way. Samsung has started rolling out the Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean update for the first generation Galaxy Note GT-N7000. Now the original Note users can enjoy some experience of Galaxy Note 2.

The update brings a couple of new software features, including the split-screen app view first seen on the Note 2, SamMobile reports. The frame rate of page transitions has been increased too, making swiping around much smoother. It'll also get features like Multi-Window, Page Buddy, Smart Rotation and of course, Google Now. 

On a quick view, Galaxy Note will see following features after the update

• Android 4.1.2 – Build JZO54K
• Project Butter
• Multi-View (can also be disabled)
• Page Buddy
• Notification Panel can now be customized
• New Additions in Notification Panel
• Smart Rotation
• New Samsung Keyboard
• Samsung’s Cloud services
• Direct Call, Smart Stay and Pop-up Play Features
• New Widgets From the Galaxy S III
• 2 Home screen modes
• New Notifications bar
• Google Now

As usual, the update will roll out in phases depending on your country or carrier and is available via Kies or over the air. Currenlty you’ll have to be in Asia to get this update. For now this is just an initial rollout but more regions are expected to be updated quickly worldwide.

Read more @ 

Android Community, Android Central, Thinkdigit

Rumor: Samsung is going to launch Galaxy S4 on March 14, 2013

If the rumors from SamMobile.com goes true, then Samsung is going to unveil the next generation in the line of Galaxy phones on March 14. This information stems from a tweet sent by Eldar Murtazin, the founder of Russian telecom website Mobile-Review.

Of course, Murtazin’s message doesn’t automatically confirms that date, but because his reports are always close so we can expect it be released on March 14. We hope if he is right. 

March 14 is just two short weeks after MWC in Barcelona, which would give Samsung all of the spotlight in terms of their competition and no other phones being announced during that time.

What do you expect from Galaxy S IV? Would you like to have it or will gonna cherish yourself with Xperia Z or HTC One? Share with us in comments.

Read more @ 

TechnoBuffalo, Android Authority, Digital Trends

LG Optimus G Pro unveiled in South Korea, will come soon to USA

LG has finally unveiled it's most awaited Optimus G Pro in South Korea. From some time it was rumored that LG will unveil it in upcoming Mobile World Congress 2013.

Optimus G has quite fascinating specs and now the second iteration i.e. Optimus G Pro has more to impress you. It has a 5.5-inch, Full HD IPS 1080p display at 440 pixels per inch (ppi), 13MP rear-facing camera and a 2MP front-facing camera with Full HD capabilities. It is the first device to be equipped with one of the Qualcomm's new chips: Snapdragon 600 (Quad core) at 1.7 GHz clock speed. On the other side it has 2GB of RAM and 32GB of internal memory. Besides a 3,140 mAh removable battery, the device will also accept up to a 64GB microSD card.

This phone has two new features Dual Recording and Virtual Reality (VR) Panorama. Dual Recording will enable users to simultaneously capture video with both the front and rear cameras for a picture-in-picture result, while VR Panorama will enable both horizontal and vertical 360-degree panoramas (a kind of photosphere from Android 4.2)

The phone will launch on Korean carriers SK Telecom, KT, and LG Uplus, and it won't make its way to North America or Japan until sometime next quarter. The device will go on sale in the company's native South Korea this week, for the local price of 968,000 won ($897). The word has surfaced that the smartphone will make its way to North America at some point during the second quarter of this year. 

Quick Specs of Optimus G Pro 

• 5.5 inch Full HD 1080p (1920 x 1080) display, 440 ppi
• 150.2 x 76.1 x 9.4 mm
• 2 GB RAM
• 1.7 GHz Quad core Snapdragon 600 processor 
• 32 GB internal memory
• 64 GB Expendable memory
• 13 MP rear camera, 2.1 MP front camera 
• 3,140 mAh removable battery
• Android 4.1 

[Click on the image to get the full view]

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Official LG News Room, Engadget, TechnoBuffalo, Arse Technica, CNET

Galaxy S2 JellyBean update to be appearing in Canada

A great news of joy for Bell Network's Galaxy S2 users: The Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean update for Samsung Galaxy S2 GT-I9100M has started to roll out in Canada. Customers of Canadian carrier Bell can now look forward to the Galaxy S2 Jelly Bean update that will hit in the coming days, with other networks expected to follow soon after.

Users can either update via Kies, or wait for the OTA which is rolling out in phases to handsets. Samsung is also upgrading the user interface  to the Nature UX, found on the Samsung Galaxy S3 and the Galaxy Note 2. Update will bring following features to the device. 

• Improved performance from Project Butter
• Full User Interface Revamp (Same UI as of the Galaxy S III and Galaxy Note II)
• TouchWiz Nature UX
• Samsung’s S Cloud services
• Improved Camera features
• New Lockscreen With Many Customization Options
• New Features like Direct Call, Smart Stay and Pop-up Play
• New Widgets (From Galaxy S III)
• 2 Home screen modes
• New Notification bar With More Notification Toggles
• Google Now

Would you like to have taste of Jelly Bean of your S2? Or are you happy with your ICS? Share with us in comments.

Read more @ 

Android Central, Android Authority, Sam Mobile, Phones Review 

Mini version of Galaxy S4 is expected to be released in May 2013

Just recently we have heard the rumors that Galaxy S4 family of devices contains more than  one device. Samsung is planning to release few devices under this brand name viz Galaxy S4, Galaxy S4 mini and Samsung Smartwatch.

According to a report, the first two devices appear to be confirmed and now we have a new story from the same Source detailing launch plans for the Galaxy S4 mini. Sam Mobile on Thursday reported that Galaxy S4 mini accessories “need to be done by week 21,” which happens to be the May 20-26 week, but we have no way to confirm it at this time.

Galaxy S4 is expected to be released in to the market by April 2013. Samsung is expected to conduct a special private event to release Galaxy S4 rather than releasing the mobile along with other devices.

There's currently no word on pricing or features for the Galaxy S4 mini, but if the reports turn out to be true you can probably expect the handset to sport a smaller lower-res display, less powerful processor and smaller internal storage options. Samsung is staying tight lipped as usual on the subject of future devices, so we're going to have to just wait and see if these rumours develop into fact.

Read more @

Android Authority, Techradar

iPhone with 4.8 inch display rumored to be released in Summer 2014.

Apple is gonna to be enter the large screen smartphone market, but not now, even not by the end of this year. The new iPhone from Cupertino giant is expected to have a 4.8 inch screen and will be going to be released in Summer 2014.

The company is planning to launch an iPhone with a 4.8-inch display sometime in the future, and Jefferies analyst Peter Misek thinks it will not hit the market this year, but instead in 2014. Apple's plan was to release the bigger iPhone at the end of the year (October time frame) to prevent market share loss, but Misek reports Apple's screen suppliers are struggling to increase the size of the 4-inch iPhone  to 4.8-inches.

If Apple had released the iPhone 6 this year, it would have been the third new iPhone model for the year, according to Misek's roadmap. He says Apple will release a low-cost iPhone in June, as well as an iPhone 5S, which is a slight bump over the current iPhone 5.

Misek also suggested Apple will move to a quad-core or octa-core smartphone and will launch a brand new version of iOS that’s capable of taking advantage of those added cores. But that may be a expectation of Misek as of the devices launched in CES 2013, or may be that is going to be true. Who knows except time and Apple too. 

Would you like to have a 4.8 inch display iPhone? Share with us in comments. 

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TechnoBuffalo, Business Insider