Sony to launch Windows Phone handsets in 2014?

It's Sony again... It is rumored that Sony will Windows Phone (WP) handsets. You may remember the Sony Ericsson Jolie prototype that hits the eBay store a few years ago. But as I said, they (probably) will make WP handset(s) launch and will launch it in 2014. The device will announced at mid-2014 and will join the Sony's Vaio product line. (Source: The Information)

On the other hand, Microsoft after acquiring Nokia's devices and services, is still looking for new hardware partners to help expanding Windows Phone's ecosystem (to complete with Google's Android). Currently Windows Phone market is dominated by Nokia Lumia handsets (over 90%).

More details you can find on this link, or this, or this.

Be sure to follow us on Twitter so you don't miss any updates from us.

New year message from Sony Mobile hints a few clues on what Sony is planning for next year

Sony's new year message has been posted by Sony Mobile News blog. However, there are some clues on what's Sony have been working for 2014.

Here are the clues:

"Our OmniBalance design is, and will remain, a key element of what makes our products special."

“The water resistance design feature resonated with both the media and customers in a way that even we had not anticipated. The message coming back from consumers was clear. They loved being able to text in the rain and listen to music by the pool, safe in the knowledge that they weren’t risking damage to their smartphone.”

"It [Xperia Z1] is our strongest selling smartphone to date and will continue as our flagship into 2014."

"Our second generation SmartWatch 2 has exceeded our expectations in terms of sales and has been praised by media for the way it solves actual consumer problems. This is all thanks to feedback from you, and we are grateful for it. We are leaders in this space and there will be a lot to talk about in 2014."

"2014 is going to be an incredible year, we’ve got some truly exciting products coming up, new form factors to explore and more from our wearables team, so stay tuned and keep talking to us."

Anyway, (maybe it is too late,) Happy New Year 2014 to our readers!

Be sure to follow us on Twitter so you don't miss any updates from us.

Some more Samsung Galaxy S5 concept by GalaxyS5Info

This time it's a new Samsung Galaxy S5 concept by galaxys5info.

• Android 4.4 KitKat
• 64-bit Exynos octa-core porcessor
• 4 gigs of RAM
• 5.25" Flexible UHD (2K/QHD) display
• 16 MP ISOCELL camera
• Wireless headphones; quad-surround speakers
• Iris scanner

If you want to know more, here are some pictures to look at and enjoy.

Via (1 I 2) I Be sure to follow us on Twitter so you don't miss any updates from us.

Xperia T and V firmware certified (9.2.A.0.276); could it be the 4.3?

A new firmware update is now certified for Xperia T (LT30p, LT30a) and Xperia V (LT25i) with build number 9.2.A.0.276. The previous version of firmware update is 9.1.A.1.145, so it could be the major update. 

Sony says the 4.3 update should begin to roll out in December, however there's only one more day in December, so the update will likely start to roll out in January 2014. The update for Xperia TX (Xperia T for some markets) hasn't been certified so far, but we'll keep you posted.

Via I Be sure to follow us on Twitter so you don't miss any updates from us.

Sony's next flagship(s) leaked, to came on Jan '14 and May '14

After Xperia Z1, Sony is also working on a new flagships. There are two flagships next year, codenamed 'Sirius' and 'Canopus'. More details, check this out:

- Codenamed Sirius (same codename as Nokia Lumia 2520 by the way), will saw 5.2" display and a Snapdragon 800 SoC. The handset will launch in January 2014 (we'd predict if this handset could announced at mid-January or late January, as Sony said there are no more flagships unveiled in CES).

- Codenamed Canopus, will spot 5" display and Snapdragon 800 or 805 SoC. The handset will available in two versions, the cellular version and the WiFi-only version, and will unveiled at May of 2014.

There are very little known specs of the phone listed above, so let's stay tuned on what's happening in 2014.

Via
Be sure to follow us on Twitter so you don't miss any updates from us.

Latest Moneypenny leak shows 4G LTE support, but no dual-SIM

Take a look at the screenshot below courtesy of @evleaks.

This is the Moneypenny screenshot. As you know, Moneypenny have a dual-SIM and single-SIM version. Few days ago we reported the Moneypenny dual-SIM version screenshot (a little typo at the title), and now this is the single-SIM version that may have 4G LTE (look at the top of the screenshot). The dual-SIM may not have 4G. This seems to be the Lumia 635 screenshot, while the 630 has dual-SIM feature.

By the way the original screenshot resolution is 480x854, which is a resolution that Windows Phone doesn't support. The actual screen resolution may be 480x800, while the 54 extra pixel is used for on-screen buttons. Remember WP8.1 could have on-screen buttons?

(Look at the clock, it's 6:35)

The 630/635/'Moneypenny' should launch on Q1 2014 (we predicted that this phone would show up in MWC 2014).

Via
Be sure to follow us on Twitter so you don't miss any updates from us.

Back panel of Xperia Z1 mini surfaced?

The phone pictured below is Xperia Z1 mini (Sony D5503). This is the international version of Xperia Z1 f, which was announced exclusively for Japanese NTT DoCoMo carrier. As you can see, the back panel is similar to Xperia Z1 f and you can see the 20.7 mpix camera as seen on Xperia Z1. It also features an NFC one-touch sharing technology.

Source (log in or register to see the picture) I Via
Be sure to follow us on Twitter so you don't miss any updates from us.

LG's L-series II handsets to get 'Knock' feature via maintenance update

LG announced on Sunday in Korea that its premium feature called 'Knock' (formerly known as 'KnockON') will be standard for other new and future handsets. KnockON is a feature that allows user to easily wake the device from sleep. KnockON makes its first debut on LG G2, where the volume button is located on the back of the device, so users can easily wake the device with double-taps.

After G2, this feature also exists on the LG G Pad and G Flex, all have power button on the back, so user can easily turn his/her device on from sleep with double taps.

Now, all the LG Optimus L Series II phones (L7 II, L5 II, L3 II single-SIM and dual-SIM versions, and maybe other L Series II phones that is not listed, even the power button is not located on the back of the device) reported to get the Knock feature via maintenance update in January.

Here's the full press release report:

SEOUL, Dec. 29, 2013 — LG Electronics (LG) announced that its popular Knock feature (formerly known as KnockON) will be included as a standard feature in the company’s key mobile devices in the future while its line of L Series II smartphones will receive Knock through a global Maintenance Release upgrade starting in January 2014. 

Knock was first introduced in LG G2 as a convenient way to turn the smartphone on and off by tapping twice on the display since the power button was located on the back of the phone. Then Knock was featured in a tablet for the first time with the LG G Pad 8.3 followed by the G Flex curved smartphone which also shared the rear button design of the G2. The reaction of audiences to this new feature was so positive that a version for LG’s best-selling L Series II was developed to offer the feature to as many customers as possible.  

"Knock is distinctively an LG UX and a great example of what happens when you marry the latest in mobile technology with consumer-centric insights,” said Dr. Jong-seok Park, President and CEO of LG Electronics’ Mobile Communications Company, “No one ever thought that a power button needed to be improved until our engineers wondered why they couldn’t turn the entire screen into a power button.”

Source: LG I Via
Be sure to follow us on Twitter so you don't miss any updates from us.

Nokia Lumia 1320 starts its sales today

Remember the Nokia Lumia 1320? Yeah, it's basically a mid-end version of the Lumia 1520. The device was launched at Nokia World back in October and has some reasonable specifications at a reasonable price. Here are some specs:

-- 6" 720p HD display (not as sharp as the 1520 due to the price.)
-- Gorilla-glass screen protector, super-responsive screen (you can use it even when you're wearing gloves)
-- Dual-core 1.7GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor
-- Native Nokia apps like Storyteller, MixRadio, HERE Maps navigation service
-- microSD card expansion slot
-- Larger display means more Start screen columns

Today, the Lumia 1320 begins its sales in China, followed by Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore and other countries in the upcoming weeks, and according to MyNokiaBlog it is priced at $339 USD.

Source

Be sure to follow us on Twitter so you don't miss any updates from us.

Nokia pulls HERE Maps for iOS devices because of a buggy bug

As the title reads, Nokia pulls the HERE Maps app from the Apple App Store because they found a serious bug in iOS 7. In a statement, Nokia spokesman says that changes in iOS 7 would 'harm user experience'.  Here's what Nokia spokesman says:

"We have made the decision to remove our HERE Maps app from the Apple App Store because recent changes to iOS 7 harm the user experience. iPhone users can continue to use the mobile web version of HERE Maps under m.here.com., offering them core location needs, such as search, routing, orientation, transit information and more, all completely free of charge."

Yes, HERE Maps had a critical bug that froze the app, or when not, it would zoom in to maximum value (not to the medium value) if the user tries to zoom-in the map.

Source I Via

Be sure to follow us on Twitter so you don't miss any updates from us.