Next iPhone in Final Testing Stage, Launches in September

Word has it that Apple is currently in the final testing stage, that being the AP stage, of their next generation iPhone. This means that the device is being carried around by high-level Apple and carrier executives, and we can expect the phone by September. This set of factoids comes from a source speaking with 9to5Mac that’d previously been “accurate” in providing inside tips. This news also came attached to some Verizon bits including the idea that Verizon and Apple have yet to strike a deal regarding FaceTime over 3G. Whether or not that means they’ll be waiting until 4G LTE is still up for question.

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The current word from this same source is that the newest generation iPhone will be out in September of this year, and that carrier support for FaceTime is still being worked on, kinks being ironed out regarding iOS 5′s support for over the air updates. Whilst taking a snoop around some iOS 5 SDK files they had lying around, 9to5Mac located references to “N94″ and “N93,” both of which are apparently unreleased iPhone models. The N94 model is more than likely the iPhone 4 with A5 dual-core chip that Apple is supposedly sending out to developers as we speak.
The N93 is more than likely simply a variation of the N94. what this more than likely means is a carrier difference, noting that with the current model, GSM is N90 and CDMA is N92, this pointing toward such a situation quite blatantly. Could this new model be being prepared for Sprint or T-Mobile? We shall see!
Additionally 9to5Mac have found rather disheartening connections leading to the following image:

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This is the same sort of situation that revealed the iPad 2 to be having the same camera as the fourth-generation iPod touch, now showing the newest generation iPhone to be rolling out with the same 5 megapixel sensor as found in the iPhone 4.
All this said, if you were asking yours truly, I’d say look for a slight reboot of the iPhone. Nothing too drastic – perhaps a bit bigger than the launch of the Verizon iPhone, but it’ll be no iPad 2. Look for a major reboot inside 2012, this 2011 model will be made simply to accommodate iOS 5 in its best form.
[via 9to5Mac]

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Samsung: Olympic edition smartphone coming in 2012

Photo : pocket-lint.com

Samsung has outlined its plans as Official Wireless Telecommunications Partner of the London 2012 Olympic Games, and one of the big announcements is that it will be releasing a special edition smartphone in the UK.

Speaking at the company's Olympic campaign press conference, with Pocket-lint (and David Beckham) in attendance, David Song, managing director of Samsung UK and Ireland, said that the company will be grasping the opportunity to help the Games be the most technologically advanced yet: "We are very privileged to present our technology to the UK market. Visitors will be able to enjoy and participate with the Games through our wireless mobile communications technology," he said.

But, more interestingly, he also revealed that there will be a special Olympic Games handset launched in the UK, in time for the sporting festival, and that it would be of high enough spec to stream live video from the different events: "We are going to launch a smartphone that all the UK citizens can enjoy," he teased. "Even if they are not in the stadiums, they will be able to see [the events] their devices."

However, Gyehyun Kwon, vice president and head of Worldwide Sports Marketing, said that the wireless infrastructure to ensure that such a device would stream seamlessly is still a work in progress: "We are talking with local and overseas [networks].

"This is not one of the easiest things," he added. "We need a lot of collaborations because we are hardware providers. We need to get the carriers and the software companies all together."

However, he does believe that it will all come together in time: "We are working to make this Olympic Games as 'Smart' as possible. We will be trying to push all of the information as speedily as possible."

Certainly, the rewards of a successful Games, with working wireless communications technology, could be of huge benefit to Samsung: "After this Olympic Games, we want to be recognised by British people as one of the most loved brands," said Kwon.

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iPhone 5 to go completely SIM-free with August release?

The iPhone 5 could do away with SIM cards altogether according to new rumours trickling in from Macotakara and Apple Insider.

Only last week Stephane Richard (CEO of France Telecom, owners of Orange) had revealed that the iPhone 5 was sure to be slimmer than the iPhone 4, but still felt the SIM card was an integral and important part of the picture. Now it seems the Cupertino-based firm are sidestepping SIM technology altogether in an attempt to make the handset as thin as possible.

Macotakara, who were on the money with iPad 2 details before its official launch, are also stating that the iPhone 5 will share similar looks to those of the iPhone 4, but will now be packing in an ARM Cortex-A9 processor to power the show.

Elsewhere, the now almost-mandatory camera update is expected to bump the megapixel count up to 8MP and feature a re-configured LED flash to make the dreaded red-eye effect less prevalent.

With little change to the industrial design, minor camera upgrades and a universally-expected processor update, this may well turn out to be a stepping-stone in the iPhone lineage, more an iPhone 4GS than a true iPhone 5. With this latest rumour also stating that the phone is now headed for an August reveal, we wont have too long to find out all the juicy details from official sources either way.

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Five Gadgets Your Smartphone Will Replace

The smartphone is what's called a convergence device: It's where multiple different gadgets converge, becoming one. And I've got apps on my Android smartphone that turn it into a camera, a camcorder, an MP3 player, a calculator, and even a flashlight.

Most of you already know that smartphones are starting to replace these gadgets. But you may be surprised at the territory our phones are now encroaching on:

5. Tablets

"Say what?" you ask. "Isn't the iPad the fastest-selling gadget of all time?" Why, yes, notes PCWorld. But what if your smartphone could replace it? That's what Asus is apparently asking for its rumored-to-be-upcoming Padfone tablet. (See, it's a 'pad and a phone! Aren't they witty?)

A hatch on the back lets you plug your phone into the much larger tablet, where it presumably serves as the tablet's processor -- and camera, thanks to a hole in the hatch. The two will apparently be sold as a package, and it's that package deal that may be the selling point. Why buy just a tablet when you can get a phone to go with it as well? Plus, the tablet could recharge your phone.

4. Laptops

This one you may have already seen, thanks to its commercials which feature a man explaining himself to the TSA's grope squad. The Motorola Atrix smartphone has an optional $150 laptop dock with a touchpad and keyboard and much larger screen.

The Atrix's problem is its execution. It isn't a phone that turns into a laptop, as the commercials would have you believe. Its accessory is a laptop that only works with your expensive phone plugged into it. It costs half as much as a netbook, but it does less than half; it can only run the Firefox web browser, and it runs that poorly. (I saw it crash while a salesperson demonstrated it, which doesn't bode well.)

3. Desktop PCs

Hat tip to the Atrix again, as it also has optional accessories that turn it into a desktop computer. These include a keyboard and a dock that has three USB ports and an HDMI port. Again, you can't use it for anything more than web browsing and Android apps. But darned if it isn't one of the smallest, cheapest, most energy-efficient desktop computers out there.

2. DVR

The Atrix can't actually record live TV, but it can play back movies on your big screen. And that desktop dock works a lot better when you've got it hooked up to your HDTV (according to Engadget). Remote control? Check. Sleek, Front Row-style interface? Check. Why Apple is selling Apple TVs, and not an Apple TV app for iPhones, the world may never know.

1. Game console

You probably already know that the iPhone and iPod Touch are making inroads into the handheld gaming market. And you probably also know that the Xperia Play is Sony's first "PlayStation Certified" Android smartphone, with a slide-out game controller, PlayStation Network access, and a store with exclusive games.

So why not go all the way and make it so you can connect your phone to your TV and play your games on it? Oh wait -- you can! With the iPad 2, at least -- and you can bet Apple's looking for ways to bring that feature to its iPod and iPhone lines.

Is this for real?

Given examples like the Atrix? Not yet it isn't. But give it time -- the GPS companies didn't see smartphones coming either.

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Samsung Demand to see Apple iPhone 5 and iPad 3

The legal battle between Samsung and Apple has taken another twist after judges gave Apple the right to look at various Samsung patent to check for breaches of copyright. Although Samsung went along with this request they haven’t taken it lying down and have demanded the right to look at Apple’s upcoming products before their official release date. Samsung believe if they can see the iPhone 5 and iPad 3 before they are released it would mean less chance of legal problems in the future.

Earlier this week a court order meant Samsung had to hand over various devices including the Droid Charge, Infuse 4G, Galaxy S II, and both the Galaxy Tab 10.1 and 8.9 tablets so Apple could decide whether they should form part of the legal case. At this stage its not known whether they will be included but Samsung isn’t going to sit around and wait and for the same reason has demanded access to the iPhone 5 and iPad 3.

On the face of it, this request appears to be the same as Apple’s except for one major difference. The products requested by Apple have already been announced with some available on sale already, neither the iPhone 5 or iPad 3 have been given a release date: in fact nobody really knows if they exist at all.

Despite this strange request, you can kind of understand where Samsung is coming from. Perhaps they just want to ensure Apple won’t turn around in two months time and say the iPhone 5 has been copied or indeed their new handsets do infringe Apple’s patents(although they should know this already).

Whatever you make of this current request, it’s clear to see this is just the beginning of the legal battle between the two brands. The final outcome is still a long time away.

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Get Your Game On With Sony’s Xperia Play Android Phone

Mothers, lock up your gamers. The PlayStation phone has arrived.

And while it’s a bit on the chubby side, we think that, for Sony Ericsson’s Xperia Play, big is beautiful.

You could almost call the Xperia Play the shorter, fatter cousin to the svelte Xperia Arc, which Sony Ericsson once described as the “world’s thinnest smartphone.” At .62 inches, the Play looks positively bulky compared to its Xperia-line relatives — a veritable Jan Brady to the Arc’s Marcia.

But Sony Ericsson had to make some trade-offs in size in order for the slide-out frame to hide the PlayStation controller underneath. If you’re a gamer, it’s worth it. We felt right at home with the familiar PlayStation controller configuration — D-pad on the left, with the square, circle, triangle and X buttons on the right.

And unlike other, flimsier slider phones, the plastic hardware isn’t chintzy. The Play still feels sturdy in hand, even in its open position, and most likely won’t break under the pressure of an excited gamer’s grip.

Instead of the centered joysticks found on a PS3 controller, two pressure-sensitive touchpads take their place. So rather than hog up precious screen real estate steering with your fingers on games that require touch-sensitive direction, you can use the two physical touchpads. It’s a nifty concept, and fairly well-executed. The games I played that utilize the pads were decent enough in reaction time, though I found the sensitivity a bit wanting.

The phone comes bundled with seven games, though only one was exclusive to the Play: Crash Bandicoot. It’s a PS One classic, and I was psyched to see it on the roster. But if I’m buying the long-awaited PlayStation phone, I want it to be running PlayStation games. Plural.

When I asked if Sony Ericsson would continue publishing PlayStation classics to the Xperia Play, the answer was cagey, though promising: “It’s the first step we’re taking down this path.” I’ve got my fingers crossed for a Twisted Metal port by the end of the year.

I actually enjoyed the experience of gaming on the Play. For the first time, I didn’t feel like I was playing a game slapped onto a phone interface. It feels like a standalone portable gaming device. That’s no easy feat to accomplish.

Polygons rendered beautifully on the Play’s 4-inch capacitive touch screen, which was plenty big enough to view the games we played. I did wonder if I’d be wanting more screen surface area while playing a first-person shooter like Call of Duty (or if we really wanted to get old school, Doom) — but since those games aren’t available for the Xperia Play, it’s a moot point for now.

You might think the Play is underpowered, given that its processor is a single-core, 1-GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon chip, not the dual-core Nvidia Tegra 2 processor found in many recent smartphone and tablet offerings. But that’s not the case: the Play ran games and rendered menu screens like a charm. We didn’t experience any noticeable lag while gaming, nor while running Google’s proprietary smartphone apps like Gmail or Calendar.

Oh, and did we mention that the Xperia Play is also an Android phone? Because it is, and not a shabby one at that. Over the five days we spent with the phone, Verizon’s network coverage was ample. From Seattle to San Francisco, we didn’t experience any dropped calls or have much of a problem finding a signal. One big bummer, however: The phone uses Verizon’s 3G network, not the newer, faster 4G network.

Like many other smartphones, it’s got two cameras — VGA on the front as well as a 5-megapixel back-facing brother — but they’re not the greatest. The few shots I took looked washed out, a bit grainier than I would have liked. But as far as camera phones go, they’ll get the job done.

But let’s be honest. Cameras aren’t the reason you’re buying this phone. It’s a gamer’s toy, and bells and whistles like front-facing cameras should be judged with that in mind.

Our verdict after a week with the Play?

Game on.

Wired: Unskinned version of Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) makes us happy. Sturdy hardware stands up to a frustrated gamer’s kung-fu grip.

Tired: Lacks 720p video recording capability, now a standard in smartphone releases. Wireless data is slower 3G standard, not 4G. Only one PlayStation title available at launch.

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HTC Sensation review: HTC Sense 3.0, hardware and operation

HTC’s brand new dual-core Android phone has launched in the UK exclusively through Vodafone at the moment, with the HTC Sensation featuring Android 2.3.3 running on a dual-core 1.2GHz processor, a 4.3″ contoured display, the very latest 3.0 update of the company’s Sense user interface and an aluminium “unibody” construction.

It is very exciting and we were rather intimated and terrified at the prospect of reviewing such a new and important Android phone. However…

…the bottom line is the HTC Sensation feels extremely similar to the rest of the 2011 HTC Android range. It’s like a big Desire S. It’s black with chunky silver volume and power buttons, much heavier than the Galaxy S II, while the “contoured” display basically means there’s a bit of a curved edge around the sides. It’s a friendly, familiar HTC lump!

The back of the phone is grippy rubber at the top and bottom, with a swoosh of aluminium running through the middle and wrapping around the sides. It feels cold when you poke your hand out from under the duvet and pick it up first thing in the morning, also giving the Sensation a robust, high quality feel.

Then there’s your dual-LED flash and the reassuringly recessed and therefore slightly protected camera sensor. It certainly has a tougher, more rigid, curved feel to it than the bland exterior of the Galaxy S II. We prefer holding the Sensation, as we always felt like the slippery S II was constantly sliding out of our hands.

Taking the back cover off feels like you’re actually disassembling the entire handset, as the back cover also incorporates the sides and top edge of the phone – so what you’re doing is more like popping the screen out to access the internals.

There’s a little plastic catch along the bottom edge to release the casing. It’s a bit flimsy. It feels like you’re voiding your warranty by opening it up like this.

Despite featuring a whopping 4.3″ screen, the phone itself doesn’t feel overly bulky. It’s slimmer than the Desire HD, and slightly less than a centimetre or so longer than the famous HTC Desire (above). We have already got used to it, basically. It’s not too big.

That’s the curved edge of the glass. It’s hard to take a photograph of. It’s also quite hard to notice and serves no real purpose, aside making the edge where glass meets metal appear perhaps a little neater.

It’s a little annoying that the USB connector is now found on the left-hand side of the phone. Makes using it while plugged in a little more cumbersome than the old HTC Desire with its bottom-middle connector. But that’s maybe a personal thing. You might like it better this way.

HTC Sense has been upgraded to version 3.0, with the best addition by far being the new interactive lock screen. Press the power button when the phone’s screen is asleep and you’re greeted by your chosen lock screen background, along with four customisable app icons.

You can have HTC’s FriendStream social network widget on the lock screen, or photos from your gallery, or share prices, or more. The weather animations are fantastic, and it’s surprising how enjoyable it is to have such quick, one-swipe access to the camera, Twitter or the browser or anything else you decide you want one on of the four hotspots.

It really is a lovely lock screen system. Don’t worry about pressing things by accident, either. You have to press the stiff power button to bring it up, then steer an icon into the lower circle to access a feature. The chances of that chain of events happening in your pocket are pretty remote.

You can also ignore people with it if they make the mistake of phoning you instead of emailing you. It’s safe to say we’ve had more fun messing about with the lock screen than anything else.

But that really is about it for significant HTC Sense 3.0 innovations, sadly. The 3D Home screen animations are more of an annoyance than an improvement, to be honest, with the 2D icons spinning around on some imaginary 3D plane and looking a bit rough as they go. But look, HTC has added a metal hinge mechanism to the side of its iconic flip clock!

The app drawer is exactly the same as that found on the HTC Desire S. It scrolls one “page” at a time, plus you’re able to filter apps by frequent use or ones you’ve installed yourself – or just have it as a big list of text.

HTC Watch is one of the big new apps, and you’ll be needing to register a separate HTC Watch account, which, rather oddly, has nothing to do with the HTC Sense account you also need to use some other HTC features.

We have no idea who would “buy” a film for £9.99 on their mobile phone. But the picture quality on the trailers we watched was excellent, so it’ll all look nice if you do go mad and decide that’s a good idea.

There’s also “Dock Mode” for having a subtle selection of clocks and social updates on display for night time use, plus shortcuts to the DLNA options and a digital photo frame mode. It’s OK. It features pretty clouds in the background when the display is not dimmed.

That’s it for this session. We’ll be back soon with a look at the HTC Sensation’s 8megapixel camera…

…that’s one (low-light, indoors, no flash) photo sample to be getting on with. Plus we’ll cover HTC’s other apps and put together some sort of summary about the general performance of the HTC Sensation once we’ve spent a little more time with the phone.

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1923 Leica 0-series becomes world's most expensive camera, fetches $1.89 million at auction

Just when we thought ancient wooden boxes were all the rage among camera collectors, a compact beauty has shattered our theories -- this 1923 Leica 0-series just sold at auction for €1,320,000, or about 1.89 million in US money. Curiously enough, the exact same auction house reportedly sold the exact same camera four years ago: No. 107, the first Leica to be exported, allegedly for a patent application inspection in New York. In 2007, it fetched a relatively paltry €336,000, which was apparently still a world record for Leica cameras at the time. Quite the return on that investment, no? Find more pictures and details at the links below. 

Leica Rumors AP, AFP (Herald Sun)

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Sony Ericsson Xperia Play hits O2 after two month delay

O2 launch Xperia Play with exclusive white handset

The Sony Ericsson Xperia Play has finally launched on O2 in the UK almost two months after the gaming-centric smartphone launched on other networks.

O2 has today confirmed the availability of the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play having held the handset back for almost two months from its official release due to issues it had with the device’s software.

The bubbly network will exclusive host the Xperia Play in white whilst also offering the portable blower in its standard black form.

Available for £430 as a standalone PAYG handset, O2 will also offer the Xperia Play on contracts with the handset coming free of charge on a £37 per month two year deal that will see users given a monthly allowance of 900 minutes and unlimited text messages. 500MB of monthly data will set those looking to take up the offer back a further £6 per month.

Despite the near two month delay the O2 arrival of the Xperia Play comes sooner than expected with the network provider announcing earlier this month that the handset would not land until June.

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TomTom GO Live 820 and 825 GPS Devices for Europe

 TomTom launches two new GPS devices for the Europe market, the GO Live 820 and the GO Live 825. Both devices come with one year of TomTom’s LIVE Service including the TomTom HD Traffic that offes accurate traffic information every two minutes. The Service also includes the Speed Cameras service, providing mobile and fixed speed camera alerts, while Local Search helps to pinpoint shops and businesses in the area. There are also QuickGPSfix that helps drivers to start navigation in seconds.


The GO Live 820 has a 4.3-inch touchscreen while the Live 825 comes with a 5-inch touchscreen. They both support Bluetooth for hands-free calling and voice control that allows users to use their voice to plan route and give command to the device. It has a microSD card slot for expansion.
The TomTom GO Live 820 and 825 will be available in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. The price is Euro 199 for GO Live 820 (regional version), $229 for GO Live 820 Europe and GO Live 825 regional version, and Euro 249 for GO LIVE 825 Europe. All of them have integrated mounting with flip screen.

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LG Optimus 2X bug fix still 'several weeks' away

LG Optimus 2X early adopters are to be left disappointed after LG confirmed it will be “several weeks” before it is able to fix an ongoing major bug with the handset.

With a number of Optimus 2X handsets being reported to have suffered from a ‘black screen of death’ issues that sees devices freezing and rebooting at random, LG has confirmed that despite prior intentions it could be a number of weeks until it is able to solve the problem.

Having previously revealed it would have a patch available to users by the end of May, a new post on the company’s Italian blog revealed Optimus 2X will face a further wait of “several weeks.”

"We regret having to announce that the software version expected by the end of the month – in order to solve the instability problems alleged by some customers – has been postponed for several weeks," said the company's statement.”

"Troubleshooting is taking longer than expected because of the systematic nature of the anomalies reported, involving only a part of owners of LG Dual Optimus [2X].

"However, we are aware of the hardships that some of you are [having] with our product. All resources are stretched to the limit of LG to release a best software [update] as soon as possible, but at present we have to move the deadline for issuing [to] the second half of June.

"We will do everything possible to bring forward this date."

Have you snapped up an LG Optimus 2X already, face the black screen of death issues? Let us know via the T3 Twitter and Facebook feeds.

Via: TechRadar

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Pentax Optio S1 Digital Compact Camera Review

Pentax Optio S1: Features

The Optio S1 has a 14 megapixel sensor and a 5x optical zoom lens, which is a 35mm equivalent of 28 - 140mm, for shooting landscapes and close-up. To help avoid blurry images, the camera has a Shake Reduction mechanism. Taking people pictures is made easy with Face Detection and Smile Capture modes.

Other shooting modes available are Auto, P mode, Blue Sky, Landscape, Flower, Sunset, Night Scene, Night Scene Portrait, Portrait, Natural Skin Tone, Food, Digital SR, Kids, Pet, Sport, Surf & Snow, Fireworks, Frame Composite, Party, Candlelight, Text, Miniature Filter and HDR.

The Optio S1 can also do some photo editing, such as rotation, red-eye compensation, resize and cropping as well as applying digital filters such as black & white, miniature, HDR, sepia, toy camera, retro, colour, extract colour, colour emphasis, soft and brightness.

The Optio S1 records videos in 16:9, 720p HD format as well as VGA (640x480) and QVGA (320x240) at 30 or 15.

Key Features

• 14 megapixel sensor
• Wide angle 5x optical zoom lens (28-140mm)
• 2.7in screen
• Sensor shift SR Shake Reduction system
• 720p HD Video recording at 30fps
• 5cm Super Macro mode
• 3.2fps continuous shooting
• Face Detection, Smile Detection, and Blink Detection
• HDR mode for high dynamic range
• SD/SDHC/SDXC memory card support
• In camera charging via USB
• 91mm x 53mm x 20mm

Pentax Optio S1: Handling

Using the camera poses no issues. Even though there are no rubber grips it is easy enough to hold, the buttons are well placed and easy to press. The menus are laid out well and simple to navigate through. The camera is ready to shoot within a couple of seconds and focusing speed is good, as is shot-to-shot speed.

The CIPA rating for the battery is 180 shots and during testing this seems about correct, if you are going out shooting for a whole day, it is worth considering carrying a spare.

Under drive shooting, the camera has a self-timer of 2 or 10 seconds and you can also use a Pentax Remote Control, which can be instant or on a 3 second delay. There is also Continuous and Burst Shooting. Continuous Shooting takes full size images when the shutter is held down and in testing was capable of 0.9fps. Bust Shooting reduces the resolution to 5 megapixels but shoots at 3.3fps.

Pentax Optio S1: Performance

When shooting wide and with full optical zoom, detail is good throughout the images. Images are well exposed with good colour, although in the below wide-angle example there is some clear purple fringing in the trees. The camera has a minimum focus distance of 5cm so it is difficult to get really close to your subject but when using Super Macro mode, pleasant macro images are produced with plenty of detail.

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Samsung Galaxy S2 Contract Deals

Samsung is the most trustable mobile phone manufacturing brand in this mobile phonee industry. All the Samsung devices have provided the users such huge amount of satisfaction with high standards and quality services that the mobile phone users can now easily go for any mobile handset of this company without giving a second thought to their decision of availing a Samsung mobile phone. The company is also continuously working for the benefits of the users and its main target is to satisfy its customers. The wonderful Samsung Galaxy S2 Contract are also another proof of this amazing fact. The users have made this handset a great hit within a very short time and the fan club for this device is continuously increasing. Various stylish and amazing features of this mobile phone are making it a great companion of the handset users.

Talking about the various mobile phones UK market, the Samsung mobile market is continuously increasing in this country and the users like to have a device of this company in their pocket. The several Samsung Galaxy S2 deals are promising the users the new age features. These features include a superb quality camera of 8MP which is capable of providing the users the pictures of very high resolution of 3264 x 2448 pixels with high quality visibility. Also the device contains the 16GB and 32GB internal memory options which can be further expanded up to 32GB with the micro SD card. The device contains a 4.3 inches super AMOLED capacitive touch screen which is capable of providing high resolution display of 480 x 800 pixels.

The connectivity under different GSM bands and under the HSDPA bands is just awesome with this mobile phone. Also the internet facility is provided with the inclusion of the GPRS, EDGE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and 3G technologies. These all the features are making this mobile phone a great handset in the Mobile Phones UK market. Also this gadget is available under all the popular networks in the UK. These all the networks are highly known in the country and the users want to use their devices on these networks only. These networks are Vodafone, Three, T Mobile, Orange, O2 and Virgin. Hence the mobile phone users have great chances to avail their most favorite device under different Samsung Galaxy S2 deals and thus they can get full satisfaction of having a really wonderful and very stylish mobile phone in their pocket.

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Rumor: iPhone 4S to debut at WWDC, after all

 

Nobody thought it would happen. But if the latest rumor is true, Apple will unveil its next-generation iPhone at this year's Worldwide Developers Conference.

At its Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco on June 6, Apple will reveal… something. We don’t yet know what that something will be. But according to a rumor started by UK gadget blog Electricpig, the mysterious announcement could disclose none other than Apple’s next-generation iPhone.

So, what makes Electricpig think that Apple will defy common assumption, and make a surprise reveal of the new iPhone? Because Apple’s PR team, “specifically the team dedicated to all things iPhone,” is trying to convince them, as well as other UK tech journalists, to attend WWDC.

Until now, many in the technology press have more or less ruled out the possibility that the next iPhone — currently rumored to be dubbed the “iPhone 4S,” as opposed to “iPhone 5” — would make its public debut at this year’s WWDC. This inclination began to brew as soon as the annual conference was announced in March. The Apple flier promoted the “future of iOS and Mac OS X,” not the iPhone.

At the time, this itself was news, as WWDC has historically been Apple’s release event for the new iPhone, a tradition the company has stuck to since the debut of iPhone 3G in 2008. More rumors followed that corroborated the idea that the new iPhone would make a late entrance. September became a widely floated time frame for new iPhone’s release. Later dates, like October, December and even sometime in 2012, were also milling around as possibilities.

Then came the revelation of the iPhone 4S. Like the iPhone 3G S, this still-unconfirmed device is thought to be a stepping stone to a more “magical” and “revolutionary” iPhone 5. Its design will be much like the iPhone 4, but with a faster A5 processor, and probably a few more bells and whistles to keep the critics from getting their britches in a bunch.

It’s entirely possible — even probable — that Apple will unveil the next iPhone at WWDC. The company likes to keep people (especially tech journalists who watch and report every flicker of its shadow) on their toes, and then deliver a veritable bombshell when the time for actual facts comes around. Like the Electricpig rumor, however, this is all entirely speculation, and there’s not a publicly-known fact in the world to back it up. Luckily, WWDC is a mere 11 days away. And then, we’ll know the truth, won’t we?

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Lenovo ThinkPad X1 on sale now from $1,199

Lenovo’s ThinkPad X1 laptop has gone up for sale, with the 13.3-inch ultraportable priced from $1,199. Your money gets you a 2.1GHz Core i3-2310M processor, Intel HD 3000 graphics and 4GB of GDDR3 1333MHz memory, though a 2.5GHz Core i5-2520M processor is an $105 option.

The entry-level model gets a 320GB hard-drive, though a 128GB SSD is $280 while an Intel 160GB SSD is $360. Maximum memory is 8GB, though since there’s only a single DIMM slot it’s a whopping $450 to upgrade. Bluetooth 3.0 is another $20.

WiFi b/g/n is standard, but can be upgraded with various Intel b/g/n 2X2 or 3X3 WiFi cards and optional WiMAX. There’s also the choice to fit the X1 with a $125 Sierra Wireless MC8355 Gobi 3000 WWAN card. Find out whether the ThinkPad X1 is worth the money in our full review.

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Droid X Gingerbread release details leaked

It looks like Motorola Droid X users won’t have to wait too long to get their hands on the tasty Gingerbread update for their phones. According to a Motorola employee’s response to an impatient customer on the Motorola Support forum, the Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) will be here before the second quarter of the year ends though they can’t say exactly when. Here’s what the post said:

“I can say that the Droid X update is currently scheduled to be released before the end of the second quarter of this year or sooner. The other updates are currently scheduled to be released before the end of the third quarter or sooner.

The above estimates are dependant on Verizon approving the OTA (over the air) updates.”

Judging by what the spokesperson said, it looks like the update is good to go and all it just needs is the green light to be rolled out over the air. If it makes anyone feel better, the Droid X2 that hits retail outlets tomorrow will be launched with Android 2.2, with an update to Gingerbread promised to arrive soon as well. Maybe Motorola has plans to roll out both updates at the same time.

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BlueStacks brings Android apps to your Windows computer

If you’ve always wanted to run all your favorite Android apps on your Windows computer, you’re in luck. A company called BlueStacks has recently come up with a solution that will allow you to do just that. Called BlueStacks, this program for Windows computers will grant you an Android interface for which you can use to run all your Android apps.
Designed for laptops, netbooks and tablets, BlueStacks lets users experience the functionality of both Windows and Android without having to purchase two devices – it’s an elegant way to experience the best of both worlds.
In addition to running Android apps on a Windows computer, data can be shared between both operating systems, introducing a whole new level of functionality to your Android apps. Apps that are run in BlueStacks work with touchscreens, regular mice, and magic trackpads. This means that you’ll even be able to install BlueStacks onto a Windows tablet to run your Android apps from there without a hitch.
Other interesting features include:

• The ability to run Windows and Android on two separate displays if you have a computer with dual monitors.
• Users can easily switch between Android and Windows with the press of a button – there’s no need for a reboot.
• App store downloads (official Android Market is unsupported at this time but Amazon app store is said to work)

BlueStacks also aims to let Windows apps run on Android – but that won’t be happening anytime soon. At least not until we have versions of Android that run on x86 processors. Watch a video demonstration or head over to the BlueStacks website to find out more.




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Glasses-free 3D TV on sale

Philips splinter group Dimenco has released a 52-inch glasses-free 3D (described in the fine print as 2D plus depth) TV in Japan for a staggering £13,000. It manages 1080p resolution at 60Hz and a 2000:1 contrast ratio. All great, except it’s only available in Japan right now. And really expensive
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Apple to launch 64GB iPhone 4 before iPhone 5 lands?

Apple iPhone 4 to be given 64GB storage update

Apple could be preparing a curveball with a leaked memo suggesting a 64GB iPhone 4 is just a matter of weeks away from launch, seemingly scuppering the expected arrival of the much mooted iPhone 5.

Following the leak of a 64GB iPhone 4 prototype earlier this year an internal memo from a third party handset retailer in the US has seemingly outed the release of a 64GB iPhone 4 with the increased storage handset to be exclusively to the heavily delayed but recently released white model.

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How sci-fi writer predicted 2011's technologies in 1972

What will the world look like in the not-too-distant future? It's a fun game to play sitting around the pub/dinner-party table, but unless you grew up in the house of the astronomer and science-fiction writer Sir Fred Hoyle (who, incidentally, coined the term "big bang", even though he rejected the theory), where lunches with the physicist Richard Feynman were not uncommon, chances are your beautiful "vision" will evaporate with the inexorable passing of time.

So it is a brave man who commits such ideas to paper. Which makes it all the more delicious that when Sir Fred's son, Geoffrey, was asked to do just that in the early 1970s, he got so many things right. And though 2011: Living in the Future was intended for children, the renewed interest in Hoyle's work (Facebook groups, a new US publisher) owes as much to Hoyle's prescience as it does the period charm provided by theaccompanying illustrations by Alasdair Anderson that have become something of a cult.

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How would you change Samsung's Galaxy S 4G?

Oh, sure -- Samsung's Galaxy S II should be hitting American airwaves quicker than you can say "Where'd my weekend go?," but we're living in the here and now, aren't we? Now that you've survived whatever scare was scheduled for today, it's time to get back to what matters most: answering fictional questions. This week's episode of HWYC involves the T-Mobile variant of Samsung's heralded Galaxy S. Yeah, this one's been around the block on other carriers before, but that makes our prodding all the more pertinent. If you had the power to overhaul T-Mob's Galaxy S 4G, would you? And if so, how? Upgrade the battery? Change the construction material? Toss a fresher copy of Android on there? Feel free to let us know in comments below -- you've managed to live another day. Won't you do something worthwhile?
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11 healthy video game gadgets that don't need a gym membership

Staying healthy and fit should not be a painful job or even a chore. And you shouldn't have to spend hefty amounts of money on gym membership fees just to do a few reps on the old bench press and then head back home. In fact, why can't exercise be fun and entertaining? Actually it can be, with the right equipment — fitness gadgets disguised as video games.

It's Healthy Week here at Syfy, and to kick off the festivities we've compiled a list of 11 fun healthy video game gadgets that can keep you looking lean and mean right in your very own home. Sorry, hot sweaty strangers are not included with any of these.
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Pantech releases the world first Dual Core 1.5Ghz Android Smartphone in Korea

Looking for a fast android 2.3 Smartphone? We just what you are looking for with Pantech new Vega Racer! Available in Korea via SK Telecom or Sky, the Vega Racer also known as IM-A760S/IM-A770K/IM-A780L comes with the Qualcomm latest 1.5GHz Dual Core Snapdragon CPU 1GB of RAM and Adreno 220 GPU! Since speed is nothing without style, Pantech also added to its Vega Racer a gorgeous 4.3” WVGA display, with an 8Mpix Camera for photos and Full HD Video as well as 1.3Mpix Front facing camera for Video Calls.
The Vega Racer comes with a 9mm thin body for just 120g and a 1650mAh Battery
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Unlock your iPhone with your face

This hack is yet another example of why jailbreaking your iPhone 4 is oh so sweet. RecognizeMe is a little tweak available for jailbroken iPhone 4s that uses the front FaceTime camera to scan your face and unlock your smartphone. Yeah, facial recognition tech on the iPhone!

Firing it up from the main lock screen, a red scanner-like bar will give your face the once-over and determine whether your face matches the one you originally set as the unlock. Why would you want this? Well, your face, like your fingerprints is a much stronger "password" than any string of numbers or letters.
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Novatel Wireless Expedite E362 4G LTE Embedded Module

Novatel Wireless announced that its Expedite E362 4G LTE embedded module has been approved to run on the Verizon Wireless LTE network. The module is optimized for power efficiency, thermal performance and weight. Other than support for multimode LTE 4G network, the Expedite E362 is also backward compatibile to existing 2G and 3G GSM and CDMA networks.
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Gigabyte 2.5-Inch Portable HDD Boasts USB 3.0

There may already be a whole slew of portable storage devices running around the IT industry, but Gigabyte figured it wouldn't hurt to deliver another one, especially considering the choice of interface.

When it comes to moving files from a PC to another, one might say that the world is way past the point where DVDs are the first thing that comes to users' minds.

Instead, consumer or business users go for a flash drive or other portable, high-capacity products, be it a solid state drive or hard disk drive.

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Sigma’s amazing 46Mpix DSLR SD1 to land in Japan June 10th!

And “voila” this now official, Sigma’s all mighty 46Mpix DSLR, the SD1 will finally be available for us all leaving in Japan starting from June 10th!
Excited? Well yes you should be, but before rushing to the nearest travel agency to book your flight to Japan to grab one of these DP1, we have to warm you that this SD1 won’t be cheap! Indeed Sigma is asking around 700,000 Yen (3.5x time the price of a Canon 5D MK II in Japan) or $9,700 in the USA for such monstrous sensor and Camera!

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Panasonic DMP-BDT210 review

After the online content hubs of last year, is the next big thing in Blu-ray players iPhone control? It seems a bit harsh on the squillions of Android phone owners, but Panasonic has fitted its latest high-end 3D Blu-ray deck with an iPhone app as well as Skype video calling and a wave-controlled disc ejection system.

The latter isn’t some kind of hydro electric powered system but something rather more twee; you wave your hand across the top of the machine and the disc tray opens. Unfortunately the sensor is in the middle of the top of the machine (a mottled black plastic design that’s different to the brand’s lower-end Blu-ray players, 3D or otherwise) so unless you put the BDT210 on display for all to see, this feature is largely worthless.

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Bugatti Grand Prix Inspired Desk Is An Easy Way To Blow A Quarter Million

If you ever find yourself caught up in a Brewster’s Millions type situation where you have to spend a lot of money really quickly, I highly recommend the custom furniture offerings of Luzzo Bespoke. Specifically, their Bugatti Grand Prix racing car inspired desk that features intricate details that reflect the company’s design sensibility of the 20′s and 30′s. If you were hoping to find something that looked like the Veyron, you’ll want to move on.

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Belkin GripVue for iPod Nano 6G review

 Apple's sixth-generation iPod Nano is a remarkable feat of engineering, with its tiny multi-touch screen. Some would go so far as to say it's too small, and easy to drop.

For this reason, it makes sense to protect your investment with a case to prevent scratches or worse damage to the casing and screen. Belkin's GripVue is a tough rubbery case that acts much like Apple's Bumper strip for the iPhone 4. It stretches a little to help take it on and off - useful as the pack includes not one but three cases: blue, grey and black. The thickness of the case helps to prevent scratches on the screen, although it's still wise to use a screen protector as well. 

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Facebook granted patent for tagging digital media

It's taken the US Patent and Trademark Office four and half years to consider it, but Facebook now finally has a patent on one of its central features: photo tagging. Applied for in October 2006 and just granted this week, this legal doc gives Mark Zuckerberg and a couple of his buddies credit for designing a method for identifying users in "a selection of an item of digital media." That could be photos, video, audio, or text -- the main drive of the patent is that it lets people associate a given chunk of media with a person and inform others of this association.

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Garmin Montana 650t Rugged Handheld GPS Device with 5MPix Camera

Garmin introduces a new rugged handheld GPS device, the Montana 650t with 5 Megapixel auto-focus camera for taking geotagged photos. The rugged device is durable and waterproof and is built to withstand numps, dust, dirt and humidity.

The Montana 650t features a 4-inch 272×480 dual-orientation sunlight readable touchscreen. It sports high-sensitivity, WAAS-enabled GPS receiver and HotFix satellite prediction for locating your position quickly and precisely; and a built-in 3-axis tilt-compensated electronic compass, which shows your heading even when you’re standing still, without holding it level.

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Secret Apple launch planned for 19 May?

There's nothing quite like an Apple rumour to get the online world a buzz with excitement. And the latest rumour is that Apple has a special event planned this week - on 19 May.

BGR is reporting a "solid Apple source" as stating that "something big" is being planned for 19 May, as it's the 10-year anniversary of the opening of the first Apple Stores (in McLean, Virginia and Glendale, California).

The source claims that Apple staff are being lined up for extra night shifts where they'll have to lock their phones away whilst working and sign a NDA with Apple.

The Apple Stores have received "hardware to install" for the event - although nothing is to be opened by anyone yet and Apple staff have received password protected training instructions via email.

Black curtains are also apparently going to be put up to stop the frenzied fanboys from snooping in.

It's all very cloak and dagger.

So what could the event be in aid of?

The iPad 3 is highly unlikely as it's far too soon for a follow up to the 2. The iPhone 5 could be on the cards, although all indications point to a September release for the next-gen handset. Mac OS X Lion is a good shout - a "Summer 2011" release is stated by Apple (May isn't quite summer though).

It may well be that Apple uses the date to go live with its iCloud services - although launching a platform that doesn't really need a physical store presence would be a strange thing to launch in Apple Stores.

Our best bet then? A one-day sale, Debenhams-stylee. They could call it the iCross sale...

What do you guys think? What has Cupertino Computers got up its sleeve for the 19th (if anything)? Give us your thoughts using the comments below.

Via: bgr.com Via: appleinsider.com

www.pocket-lint.com

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Apple's MacBook Air duo to receive Sandy Bridge and Thunderbolt upgrade in June or July?

The Taiwan-based supply chain for Apple products will begin shipments of new 11.6-inch and 13.3-inch MacBook Air models featuring Sandy Bridge platform and Thunderbolt interface in late May for launch in June or July, according to makers in the supply chain. While Apple's PR representatives in Taiwan have neither confirmed nor responded to the report, it has long been understood that Apple always keeps silent about its new products not yet launched, the sources emphasized.

Main supply chain makers for the new models remain about the same as for the existing MacBook Air, with Quanta Computer solely responsible for assembly, Catcher Technology supplying casings, Auras Technology a main supplier of thermal modules, Shin Zu Shing supplying hinges, and Simplo Technology and Dynapack supplying batteries, the sources pointed out. However, none of the makers have confirmed their participation in making new MacBook Airs.

Based on history of Apple's taking deliveries, the order volume of new MacBook Air in the month of initial launch, June or July, will be considerably large and prices are relative high compared with orders from other vendors. Therefore, Taiwan-based supply chain makers rest the hope on Apple orders for revenue contributions.

In addition to Apple, other vendors of notebook PCs have scheduled increasing monthly shipments to meet traditional peak sales in the third quarter, and consequently shipments in June will be the monthly peak in the second quarter, the sources noted.

Since MacBook Air is symbolic of ultra-slim notebook PCs, other vendors including Hewlett-Packard, Dell, Acer and Asustek Computer are also offering slim models of notebook PCs but these models are inferior to MacBook Air in thickness due to consideration of production costs and sales price.

Apple shipped over 2.7 million notebook PCs in the first quarter of 2011, historically the second highest quarterly level and only 5% lower than the shipment volume in the preceding quarter. The 5% sequential drop was lower than the corresponding industry average decrease of more than 10%, and this was mainly due to booming sales of new MacBook Pro models. Along with shipments of the new MacBook Air, Apple's notebook PC shipment volume in the second quarter is expected to rise by 5-10% on quarter and may attain 3.0 million units.

www.digitimes.com

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Nokia N8 in your own words: A reader review retrospective

 

The Nokia N8 was the most divisive, controversial mobile of the last year and our fabulous readers -- that's you! -- had plenty to say on the matter, both sticking up for the Finnish flagship phone and utterly tearing it to shreds. Here's the best of a brilliant bunch of user reviews.

Engines thinks Nokia has blown it: "This was supposed to be Nokia's latest and greatest but it is just so full of problems that it should not have been released onto the market." Marcin Szyjduk agrees: "The phone would be quite good but it crashes like five times a day or crashes for a long time like two-three days! I seriously don't understand how Nokia could launch that phone!"

Some, however, found their dream phone. "It's great with everything and working great, it's the best multimedia phone ever. It's so beautiful and very fast with a good battery life and the camera is just perfect," gushes Ozhin Williams.

Inn gadget couldn't be happier with the phone, but was less pleased with our review: "This is a fully loaded smartphone and NO other phone comes even close to this one. Comparing this to iPhone and saying it's not as usable is something I would expect it from a layman, but certainly CNET seems to have found a new low in tech reporting."

Andrew Grimshaw is thrilled: "The camera is one of the best I have ever seen integrated into a phone." The camera is undoubtedly the best thing about the N8, but is it the only good thing? "Eventually I got so frustrated I simply stopped using it and bought myself an iPhone 4 -- best decision ever -- though I do miss the camera," says Peter Wilson. "People giving 5 stars are hard working salesmen," writes Lamarr, rather cynically.

We found the phone's software unintuitive, and so it proved for many of you. "To go back [in the browser]," writes Nigel Plummer, "you have to go into a menu then hit 'back' which gives you a choice of your last screens. You then have to choose the one you want, hit 'select' then confirm that the page can reload. All that just to go back!"

We'll give the last word to The Leif, as he puts it so succinctly: "A living nightmare. I received the device for free on an upgrade, delivered to my door at 09.45, 25 hours later I sent it back. Awful. Even for free. DON'T GO THERE."

In spite of all the controversy, your user ratings came out exactly the same as ours: an average of three stars. Maybe we were right all along. It's always great to know your thoughts, so why not write your own user review? Speak your brains!

crave.cnet.co.uk

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Samsung's 11.6-inch Series 9 now shipping in the US, priced at $1,160

It's been about a month since Samsung's 11.6-inch Series 9 laptop first surfaced for pre-order on Amazon, and now it's finally available for shipping. Touting a $1,160 price tag, this duralumin-enclosed little beast packs an Intel Core i3-380UM processor, 2GB of RAM and a 64GB SSD. The 2.3-pounder also ships with 802.11b/g/n wireless, Bluetooth 3.0 and WIMAX 4G capabilities, along with a 1.3-megapixel HD webcam and a 1366 x 768 display with 340 nits of brightness. The newest addition to the Series 9 family is available on Amazon, Circuit City and Tiger Direct, but if they don't suit your fancy, you can check with Samsung to find a full list of retailers, below.

Via Netbook News

source Amazon





www.engadget.com

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Chinese Tabtech M009S Android 2.2 tablet on sale – £75.99 via Amazon

If we didn’t know any better, we might think that £75.99 for a 7″ Android tablet running Android 2.2 was quite a bargain. For that small amount of money, buyers get a resistive 800×480 screen, a 0.3megapixel camera, Flash Player support (!) and access to the Android Market…of sorts.

The amazon listing comments make for interesting reading. The Tabtech M009S would appear to ship with a Chinese language version of the Android Market, which rather makes us doubt its legality, plus a stylus for getting the most out of the resistive toushscreen.

Which makes it a bit of a punt. But could be fun to try or useful if you need a disposable internet device for a stag weekend in an East European danger spot.

www.eurodroid.com

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