HP set to rejoin smartphone race

Hewlett Packard is apparently set to rejoin the smartphone market that left in 2011 with the launch of two low-cost devices ' phablet '.

Even more surprisingly, those two devices well could be launched by the end of 2013.

According to sources of information, HP has built affordable smartphone 6 and 7 inches, which will launch in developing markets such as India, China and the Philippines, before 2013 comes to an end.

These devices will be sold at between $ 200 and $ 250-or between £122 and £153, in UK money.

This year has already seen HP hitting the market with a 7-inch Android tablet, the HP Slate 7. Has also recently (and silently) launched 10 HP Omni, a 10-inch tablet Windows 8.1 based.

Meanwhile, in the last year or so, HP's CEO Meg Whitman has made noises about the company's intention to reintegrate into the smartphone market with a range of Android-based phones.

However, recently as July Whitman argued that such smartphone plans wouldn't see the fruition "in the short and medium term."

HP has abandoned his previous plans when webOS smartphone, the pioneering mobile operating system it inherited when it bought Palm back in 2010, failed to take possession in an iPhone and a market dominated by Android.

This despite the fact that webOS has proved to be extremely influential in his treatment of multitasking and an emphasis on online services.

With the new year just over a week away, HP does not have much time if he wants to make his return low-key in 2013 smartphone.

Read more: best Android phones buy in 2013

Street: Verge

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Apple experimenting with enhanced quantum dot iPhone displays

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AppId is over the quota

Apple is experimenting with enhanced quantum dot iPhone displays according to a new patent.

According to a patent entitled “quantum dot-enhanced display having dichroic filter” filed with the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), Apple is experimenting with next-generation screen technology.

The quatum dot-enhanced displays would be capable of reproducing highly accurate and vivid colours.

Made from various semiconductor materials that exhibit special quantum mechanical qualities, the quantum dots are technically nanocrystals that can be tuned to emit very narrow light spectrums.

Nanocrystals’ wavelength and size are inversely related so the larger the quantum dot, the smaller the emission frequency.

When this is applied to colours, the bigger dots tend to generate longer wavelengths like red, but the smaller dots produce shorter, higher frequencies that create colours like violet.

This means the nanocrystals can be tuned to gradually reproduce the entire colour spectrum by varying in size. Current organic based LEDs emit light in a fixed spectrum so are more restricted.

Quantum dot technology could be used in future iPhone models to improve the Retina displays currently used in Apple latest products.

The technology would boost the colour reproduction while brightness would be boosted used prisms and other lighting techniques to create some of the most beautiful screens.

Apple even outlines the semiconductor materials it could use to fabricate quantum dots in a non-toxic manner for consumers.

This patent was originally filed in 2012, so it’s unsure when and if Apple will ever implement the quantum dot technology in its products.

The iPhone 5S, iPad mini 2, iPad Air and the iPhone 5C all use Apple’s Retina displays at present for a image density of 326ppi.

Read more: iPad Air vs iPad mini 2 with Retina display

Via: Apple Insider

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Samsung Galaxy S5 5.25 inch QHD enters production

With the release of the Samsung Galaxy S5 date time aired for only a matter of weeks away, more recent reports have suggested from 5.25-inch QHD screen of the phone has already entered production.

A leap forward in quality and size over the 5-inch Full HD Display on Samsung Galaxy S4, says the Samsung Galaxy S5 Korean media reported to have entered production as the producer prepares for a showpiece of Q1 phone unveiling.

While the S4 had a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels, now the standard for high-end flagship phones, the Samsung Galaxy S5 reportedly will be hosting a QHD Panel with a resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels, this monitor by offering a density of pixels per inch 560 image, a move that would make it a leader in the smartphone arena.

Contrary to recent reports that the Samsung S5 Galaxy would see the Korean manufacturer move cheaper LCD panels offer 5.25 inch QHD is said to be an AMOLED that offers.

In addition, claims that Samsung Galaxy S5 5.25 inch QHD entered production Panel confirms reports earlier this week that the S5 does not host a curved display as the offer Samsung Galaxy round recently.

One of the many items to Samsung Galaxy S5 to do the rounds in recent weeks, the S5-specific sheet will reportedly match high-end display with a new 64-bit processor, 3 GB of RAM and a 16-megapixel rear camera.

Elsewhere, the S5 has been tipped to run on Google's Android OS last 4.4 KitKat alongside a new metal form factor that will see the handset compete better with the iPhone 5S of market leader.

Read more: iPhone 6 voices

Via: SamMobile

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Sony Z Ultra game Google Edition

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Sony smartphone lovers have long waited for a Google Edition (MCP) device they can crow about Play, but unfortunately the $649 Sony Z Ultra MCP isn't it. Ridiculously large and awkward to use, at least as a traditional mobile handset, the Ultra is far from a flagship, pure-Android device like the HTC One or the Samsung Galaxy S4. What's more, it can't manage one of the Nexus 5's most impressive feats of balancing a compact size, affordable price, and excellent features. Even the Galaxy Note 3, while a big product takes up much less room in your fist and is ultimately a better phablet buy.

Yes, since this Z Ultra is officially sanctioned by Google, it runs a pristine version of Android 4.4 KitKat and it's available for purchase directly from the Google Play store. But even with those upsides, the Ultra is priced well out of reach of even the most well-heeled Android users. Now throw in the gadget's lackluster camera, and even the Z Ultra MCP's water resistant feature can't save it from drowning.

Design and build
I used to think that massive handsets such as the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 and HTC One Max were as big as a phone could possibly get. Boy, was I ever wrong. The Z Ultra Google Play Edition busted through my preconceived notions with the impact of a speeding 18-wheeler. Sporting a screen that measures a vast 6.4 inches across and a frame spanning 7 inches tall by 3.6 inches wide, the Z Ultra really pushes the phablet envelope and lands squarely in small tablet territory.

The Sony Z Ultra MCP's main draws are stock Android 4.4 KitKat and a lovely 6.4 - inch screen.

(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)

Amazingly the phone has a larger footprint than the Note 3 (6 inches by 3.1 inches by 0.33 inch) and One Max (6.5 inches by 3.2 inches by 0.4 inch), both astoundingly oversize mobile phones. The mighty Z Ultra even manages to dwarf the Samsung Galaxy Mega (6.6 inches by 3.5 inches by 0.3 inch), once the physical king of phablets.

I must give kudos to Sony for trimming down the Z Ultra's profile, though. At a mother 0.26 inch thick, the Ultra is noticeably thinner than HTC's and Samsung's phone/tablet hybrids. As a matter of fact, the device's slender frame makes it the most slim smartphone I've seen in recent memory. Of course, with the gadget tipping the scales at 7.5 ounces, the Ultra is by no. means lightweight.

Despite its massive size, the Z Ultra is breathtakingly thin screen.

(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)

No. doubt the Z Ultra's density is a direct result of its extensive use of glass, in both front and back. This, coupled with the Z Ultra's angular shape and black dark colors, helps the device achieve a very sophisticated and elegant look. Sony crafted the Z Ultra to be highly dust-and water-resistant too. That means that turning on the kitchen faucet all the way and casually tossing the device into the sink isn't a reckless move.

The glass backing of the Z Ultra is a smudge and fingerprint magnet.

(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)

As a matter of fact it's your best way of keeping the phone clean since all of the handset's shiny and reflective surfaces translate into one serious fingerprint and grease magnet. As I found with the Sony Xperia Z before it, the phone's flashy exterior becomes soiled from the moment I picked it up. Just be sure you remember to seal all the Z Ultra's flexible flaps closed. They create a barrier against liquids for the phone's ports.

The Z Ultra's ports have protective flaps to guard against dust and water.

(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)

The only physical controls are on the right side - a silver, circular power button and trim volume bar. Also here is a 3.5 mm headphone jack which Sony says is also waterproof despite lacking a protective flap.

For the Z Ultra, has proper dunking is all in a day's work.

(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)

Display
It was clear to me from the second I scooped up the Z Ultra into my hands that the device's purpose is its 6.4 - inch screen and the sprawling visual real estate provides it. The Z Ultra's LCD panel has a crisp full-HD 1080 p (1, 920 x 1, 080 pixels) resolution as well. It packs the same amount of pixels as do the Samsung Galaxy Note, HTC One Max, and Google Nexus 5. That said, since all those handsets have smaller displays, they also benefit from slightly higher PPI counts than the Z Ultra (342ppi).

I didn't notice any loss of detail and I enjoyed consuming all types of screen-centric content on the Z Ultra MCP. Whether it was Netflix movies, Web pages, pictures, or skimming Flipboard news articles, the Z Ultra served up a fantastic view. Also, while the device's screen lacks the truly arresting colors, contrast, and wide viewing angles of the Note 3's OLED display, it does get pretty bright and serves up vivid hues.

The Z Ultra MCP lacks the Google Experience Launcher you'll find on the Nexus 5.

(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)

Software and interface
A huge part of the appeal of any Google Play Edition handset is its pure and unadulterated Android software, and here the Z Ultra doesn't disappoint. While not a true Google Nexus device, the phone runs a squeaky clean version of Android 4.4 KitKat and all the bells and whistles that go with it.

This includes a smarter, sharper-looking interface, Google Now notifications and advanced search, more access to the company's vast catalog of digital content, apps, and services. Be advised, though, that the Z Ultra does not feature the Google Experience Launcher; that's only found on the Nexus 5. That means there's no enhanced quick launch bar at the foot of each home screen, nor will swiping all the way to the left fire up Google Now functions. For a full play-by-play breakdown of KitKat and how it handles on the Nexus 5, read our full Android 4.4 review.

The Z Ultra MCP runs stock KitKat and media landscape home screens.

(Credit: Brian Bennett/CNET)

The Z Ultra MCP does have one interesting software twist. Like its bigger sibling, the Nexus 7 tablet (and further evidence that the Ultra is more slate than phone) turning the gadget on its side activates a landscape view of the home screens and app tray.

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BlackBerry admits BB10 smartphone failures after £2.7bn Q3 loss

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AppId is over the quota

BlackBerry has admitted its BlackBerry 10 OS smartphones failures, after the company’s third quarter earnings announcement.

The Canadian smartphone manufacturer announced a third quarter net loss of $4.4 billion (£2.7 billion), including a huge write-down of assets.

Along with the huge net loss, the company’s revenues dropped by 56 per cent for the quarter from $2.73 million (£1.67 million) to $1.9 million (£1.16 million).

At its peak, BlackBerry was the top mobile phone manufacturer in the market, but has struggled to compete with the likes of Apple and Samsung.

During the company’s third financial quarter, it only managed to sell 1.9 million phones, compared to 3.7 million the previous quarter.

The BlackBerry 10 OS and its new flagship smartphones, the BlackBerry Q10 and BlackBerry Z10, were meant to completely rejuvenate the brand and entice more customers to move from Android and iOS.

However, the BB10 smartphones were continually delayed and failed to lure enough customers to support the struggling manufacturer.

“The most immediate challenge for the company is how to transition the devices operations to a more profitable business model”, said new BlackBerry CEO, John Chen.

BlackBerry has now signed a five-year deal with Foxconn, the world’s larger electronics manufacturer. The two companies will develop and manufacture select new BlackBerry products, with Foxconn looking after the inventory.

“This partnership demonstrates BlackBerry’s commitment to the device market for the long-term and our determination to remain the innovation leader in secure end-to-end mobile solutions,” added Chen.

“Partnering with Foxconn allows BlackBerry to focus on what we do best – iconic design, world-class security, software development and enterprise mobility management – while simultaneously addressing fast-growing markets leveraging Foxconn’s scale and efficiently that will allow us to compete more effectively.”

Read more: Best smartphones of 2013

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Samsung Galaxy S5 to forgo flexible form factor

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Contrariamente alle recenti indiscrezioni, il Samsung Galaxy S5 non caratterizzerà un fattore di forma flessibile o curvo, rapporti più recenti hanno suggerito.

Secondo senza nome "fonti del settore" parlando con prese di notizie in Corea nativo di Samsung, Samsung è "altamente improbabile" conferire l'ammiraglia Samsung Galaxy S5 con un display curvo e simile a quella del Samsung Galaxy rotondo di LG G Flex a causa di tassi di rendimento basso e aumento dei costi.

Anche se si era ipotizzato che ampiamente atteso Samsung Galaxy S5 potrebbero trarre beneficio da un pannello curvo, ora si ritiene che le nuove tecnologie di visualizzazione sono ancora troppo in precedenza, nel loro sviluppo a disposizione per un portatile che si prevede di vendere decine di milioni di unità.

"La capacità di corrente per pannelli flessibili non è abbastanza alta per la galassia S5, che sarà esteso all'inizio del prossimo anno," Kim Jong-hyun, analista presso la base di Seoul Eugene & titoli di investimento detto l'araldo coreano.

"Quelle curve sarà svelato alla fine dell'anno prossimo come una variante del Galaxy, piuttosto che come un modello di punta".

Anche se il Samsung Galaxy S5 sembra destinata a perdere su un display curvo, la volontà di telefono attualmente non confermate secondo come riferito essere conferito con ogni sorta di componenti high-end.

Secondo le recenti voci di Samsung Galaxy S5, S4 proseguimento ospiterà un processore a 64 bit a fianco di 3 GB di RAM, una fotocamera da 16 megapixel e più recenti Android 4.4 KitKat mobile sistema operativo di Google.

In cima a questo, il design di Samsung Galaxy S5 è stato capovolto per vedere l'azienda adotta un nuovo fattore di forma metallica tutti. Il telefono dovrebbe essere presentato durante la Q1 2014.

Per saperne di più: iPhone 6 voci

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HTC One mini Android 4.3 and Sense 5.5 update arrives

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AppId is over the quota

The HTC One mini Android 4.3 Jelly Bean and HTC Sense 5.5 update is available to download now.

Launching as an over the air update, the HTC One mini users will now have access to the Android 4.3 Jelly Bean and Sense 5.5 UI update.

This now means that all of the HTC One family, including the flagship HTC One and fingerprint-sensor offering HTC One Max, will run on Android 4.3 and feature the latest HTC Sense 5.5 UI.

The HTC Sense 5.5 UI boosts the HTC One mini’s performance and improves the BlinkFeed news aggregator home screen with content from Instagram, Google Plus and other sources.

HTC has also introduced the ability to lock focus and exposure in the camera app, added a new video highlights reel with customisation options.

Android 4.3 adds features like Restricted Profiles, OpenGL ES 3.0 support and Bluetooth 4.0 LE.

HTC One mini Features
The HTC One mini has a 4.3-inch 720p HD display with a 431ppi image density and is a full five millimetres smaller in height and width than the HTC One.

Powered by a dual-core 1.4GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor with 1GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage, the One mini has a 1800mAh battery.

It lacks a microSD card slot, but comes with Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi and 4G LTE connectivity. It also has HTC BoomSound technology and the dual forward-facing speakers.

In the rear is the same HTC UltraPixel camera as the HTC One, offering f/2.0 aperture and 28mm lens with Full 1080p HD and HDR video recording.

The front-facing camera option for the HTC One mini was downgraded to 1.6-megapixels from 2.1 in the HTC One.

Read more: Best smartphones of 2013

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