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mobile
September 30, 2011
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Samsung unveils dual-core ARM Cortex-A9 Exynos processor

By on September 30, 2011 at 12:15 AM.

Samsung unveils dual-core ARM Cortex-A9 Exynos processor

Samsung announced is Exynos 4212 processor on Thursday, a new dual-core ARM Cortex-A9 chip. Samsung said the 4212 offers a 25% increase in processing power, 50% higher 3D performance and “double the logic density and a 30% lower power-level over the previous process generation” chip, which currently powers most of its Galaxy S II smartphones. The Eynos 4212 will be used in both tablets and smartphones; currently, Samsung’s Galaxy Tab 10.1 and Galaxy Tab 8.9 run dual-core Tegra 2 chips from NVIDIA. The Exynos 4212 processor also supports 1080p HD video recording and playback. Samsung expects to begin sampling the Exynos 4212 during the fourth quarter of this year. The company also announced a new 16-megapixel CMOS image sensor for tablets and smartphones, as well as a 1.2-megapixel HD video module that will be included in future device for video chat. Read on for the full Exynos press release from Samsung. More →

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mobile
September 7, 2011
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First image taken with iPhone 5′s 8-megapixel camera possibly uncovered

By on September 7, 2011 at 10:45 AM.

First image taken with iPhone 5′s 8-megapixel camera possibly uncovered

The image above, which shows a plate of sushi accompanied by a rather bland looking avocado roll, is reportedly the first publicly-posted image captured by the upcoming iPhone 5′s new 8-megapixel camera. Pocketnow claims to have found the image hosted somewhere on the web, though it neglects to specify its source. Previous images in the blog’s “test photo” series, of which this post is a part, typically source images from Flickr or Picasa. In this case, the image’s EXIF data indicates that it was captured by an iPhone 4 but the rest of the data suggests that a different device was used. “Although the image has been cropped to 2235×2291 (5.12 megapixels), the original picture was a much larger 3264×2448 — or just shy of eight megapixels,” the blog says. “What’s more, the lens was recorded as a 4.3mm f/2.4, which is closer to that of a point-and-shoot than the iPhone 4′s actual 3.85mm f/2.8.” Apple’s iPhone 5 is expected to launch next month alongside an updated iPhone 4. More →

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Legal
September 1, 2011
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Microsoft gets its own ‘Locationgate’ scandal with accompanying class action lawsuit

By on September 1, 2011 at 12:25 PM.

Microsoft gets its own ‘Locationgate’ scandal with accompanying class action lawsuit

Apple has repeatedly accused Samsung of “copying” its products, but it looks like Microsoft is now the one following Apple’s lead. A class action lawsuit filed in Seattle on Wednesday accuses Microsoft of unlawfully tracking users of smartphones that run the company’s emerging Windows Phone 7 operating system. According to the complaint, the camera application in Microsoft’s Windows Phone software continues to track users’ locations and transmit that data to Microsoft even if users opt-out of Windows Phone’s tracking and feedback functions. The class action suit seeks an injunction as well as punitive damages. Earlier this year, Apple was caught tracking iPhone and iPad users’ locations and storing them in a hidden file on the devices. Apple would go on to state that the issue was caused by a bug, and the Cupertino-based company quickly issued a software update to remedy the problem. Numerous complaints were filed as a result of the scandal however, and while damages have been minimal so far, several cases are still outstanding. More →

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Tablets
August 5, 2011
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AT&T HTC Puccini screenshots leaked

By on August 5, 2011 at 10:04 PM.

AT&T HTC Puccini screenshots leaked

Last month, we brought you exclusive images of HTC’s first 10-inch tablet, the HTC Puccini. Now, a few screenshots have leaked that give the device a little more context. We expect the Android Honeycomb tablet to be equipped with an 8-megapixel camera, a dual-LED flash, a 1.5GHz processor, and to end up landing on AT&T with support for the carrier’s HSPA+ network. The shots leaked on Friday all but confirm the tablet’s launch on AT&T. We can see it’s loaded with a few bloatware applications including AT&T Code Scanner, AT&T MyText and AT&T FamilyMap. It also looks like the Puccini will come preloaded with a few games including Cordy and Let’s Golf 2. HTC’s Snapbooth software is present, but we don’t see Scribe installed, which means this tablet might not offer all of the stylus-friendly features the HTC Flyer did. Read on for more images. More →

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mobile
July 27, 2011
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Gingerbread rolling out to T-Mobile G2x now

By on July 27, 2011 at 1:01 AM.

Gingerbread rolling out to T-Mobile G2x now

T-Mobile has officially announced that it is now pushing out Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) to its LG G2x customers. The update includes the following enhancements:

  • Improved battery life
  • Improved front-facing camera operation when using Qik record and share
  • Improved disabling Car Home
  • Helps address unexpected reboots.

T-Mobile confirmed the update is rolling out over the air (OTA) now, but you should be able to manually check for the software by going to Settings > About Phone > Software Update. We heard early reports that some G2x customers were experiencing a lot of bugs with their devices so we hope this update fixes most, if not all of them. More →

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Exclusive
July 26, 2011
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HTC Puccini, the company’s first 10-inch tablet, uncovered

By on July 26, 2011 at 11:05 AM.

HTC Puccini, the company’s first 10-inch tablet, uncovered

In addition to exclusively revealing the first photos of AT&T’s Samsung Galaxy S II earlier this morning, we also got our hands on the first solid images of HTC’s upcoming 10-inch slate, codenamed the HTC Puccini. While confirmed specifications are light for the time being, the tablet will feature an 8-megapixel camera with what appears to be a dual-LED flash, as well as stereo speakers and a microphone. Also, as we can clearly see in the image above, the Puccini will support stylus input just like the HTC Flyer. Earlier reports suggest the tablet will include a 1.5GHz processor, Android Honeycomb, HTC Sense and a 4G LTE radio. There’s still no word on a launch date, but let’s hope it’s sooner rather than later. Check out the rest of the photos in our HTC Puccini gallery below.

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mobile
July 21, 2011
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Nexus S for AT&T landing on July 24th for $99.99, pre-orders start today

By on July 21, 2011 at 11:21 AM.

Nexus S for AT&T landing on July 24th for $99.99, pre-orders start today

Samsung on Thursday announced that an AT&T-ready version of its Nexus S smartphone will be available from Best Buy and Best Buy Mobile Stores beginning on July 24th for $99.99 on contract. The Nexus S offers a “pure Google” experience and is the first device to get new Android updates. It runs Android 2.3.x (Gingerbread), is powered by a 1GHz processor and is equipped with a 4-inch Super AMOLED Contour display, a 5-megapixel camera, a forward-facing VGA camera for video chat, and a 1,500 mAh battery good for up to 6.5 hours of talk time. Pre-orders for the Nexus S for AT&T begin today. Read on for the full press release. More →

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Legal
July 19, 2011
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Kodak win in patent case against Apple will stand, ITC says

By on July 19, 2011 at 5:44 PM.

Kodak win in patent case against Apple will stand, ITC says

The U.S. International Trade Commission said on Tuesday its May ruling that Kodak did not infringe on Apple’s patents will stand. The two companies have been locked up in two separate legal battles for the better part of this year. Here’s how it started: Kodak first filed lawsuits against Apple and Research In Motion and accused both firms of infringing on its camera patents. That case was called “In the Matter of Certain Mobile Telephones and Wireless Communication Devices Featuring Digital Cameras, and Components Thereof.” A judge has already ruled in favor of RIM and Apple in that lawsuit, and it could end up costing the camera maker millions of dollars. Shortly after that case was filed, however, Apple responded with own suit against Kodak titled: “In the Matter of Digital Imaging Devices and Related Software.” That’s the suit that Kodak won in May and the one ITC ruled today will stand. “We are pleased that the commission has confirmed the ALJ’s finding that there is no violation by Kodak,” David Lanzillo, a Kodak spokesman, told Bloomberg. More →

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mobile
July 19, 2011
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Nokia ‘Sea Ray’ Windows Phone spotted in video leak [video]

By on July 19, 2011 at 1:26 PM.

Nokia ‘Sea Ray’ Windows Phone spotted in video leak [video]

A second video of Nokia’s “Sea Ray” Windows Phone has been leaked online. We first saw the Sea Ray during a company presentation by Nokia CEO Stephen Elop. In that video, Elop described the “pillow shaped” backing of the “top secret” device and discussed its Gorilla Glass display. The new video leak gives us a full 360-degree tour of the Sea Ray and we’re definitely impressed with what we see so far. The phone has a thin form factor, a large display, and metal accents on the volume controls and around the phone’s camera. If you look close enough it looks like there’s the typical Carl Zeiss branding around the camera lens, too. The videographer even powers on the Sea Ray and gives us a quick tour of Windows Phone Mango running on the device. Hit the jump for the video. More →

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mobile
July 18, 2011
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Samsung QWERTY slider leaked for Verizon

By on July 18, 2011 at 7:00 PM.

Samsung QWERTY slider leaked for Verizon

A Samsung QWERTY slider with Verizon Wireless branding was recently leaked by Android Central. The phone’s slide-out QWERTY keyboard and overall design make it look stunningly similar to the Epic 4G on Sprint, but it’s supposed to offer beefier hardware. Rumor has it the device will run on Verizon’s 4G LTE network and is powered by Android 2.3.4 (Gingerbread). It’s equipped with a 1GHz processor, 512MB of RAM, possibly a Super AMOLED Plus display, an 1,800mAh battery, a 5-megapixel camera as well as a forward-facing 1.3-megapixel camera for video chats. If it does indeed pack a single-core processor, you can be rest assured this probably won’t launch as a modified Galaxy S II. Depending on the price and release date it looks like the phone could serve as a good option for those who want an alternative to the Motorola DROID 3. Read on for a two more images.
More →

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mobile
July 14, 2011
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iPhone 5 may have been delayed due to faulty Apple processors

By on July 14, 2011 at 6:50 PM.

iPhone 5 may have been delayed due to faulty Apple processors

Apple may have delayed the iPhone 5 launch until next year due to an overheating dual-core A5 chip, a new report from Sohu.com suggests. Rumor has it (and it’s purely a rumor right now) that Apple will instead launch the iPhone 5 later this year or early next when the A6 chip is available — or after it figures out the A5 overheating problems. Sohu.com also said Apple will instead introduce a slightly upgraded “iPhone 4S” device, with the same form factor as the iPhone 4, in September or October. The device is expected to feature an 8-megapixel camera, and it will also sport a faster dual-core processor, two specs that are on a par with earlier reports. With all the recent chatter surrounding a more significant iPhone update due later this year, it’s likely that Sohu.com is working with old intel in this instance. More →

70 Comments
Legal
June 30, 2011
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Apple, RIM win big as ITC reverses earlier decision in Kodak patent case

By on June 30, 2011 at 8:20 PM.

Apple, RIM win big as ITC reverses earlier decision in Kodak patent case

The International Trade Commission on Thursday reversed an earlier decision in a patent case that could cost camera maker Kodak hundreds of millions of dollars from Apple and RIM. Kodak had filed suit against both firms, claiming that their mobile devices infringed on multiple patents owned by the Rochester, NY-based company. An initial ruling in favor of Kodak was under ITC review, and the commission on Thursday reversed parts of the decision that had previously been ruled in Kodak’s favor. Other parts of the original ruling were sent to be examined by a judge of administrative law, and a final ruling is scheduled to be made on August 30th. More →

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mobile
June 28, 2011
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T-Mobile announces myTouch 4G Slide

By on June 28, 2011 at 8:01 AM.

T-Mobile announces myTouch 4G Slide

T-Mobile and HTC officially took the wraps off of the new myTouch 4G Slide on Tuesday, an Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) handset. As its name implies, the myTouch 4G Slide offers support for T-Mobile’s HSPA+ 4G network. We recently sat down with HTC for a preview of the phone before its launch, and the manufacturer said it spent a great deal of time tweaking the camera software so that the myTouch 4G Slide would offer the best photo performance of any phone HTC has launched. It has improved low-light performance, should have zero shutter lag, and more. We also appreciated the solid design of the myTouch 4G Slide during our demo, and liked that the keyboard was comfortable and didn’t add too much bulk to the phone when it was stored away. The phone runs HTC’s brand new Sense interface on top of a dual-core 1.2Ghz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, so everything was fluid and fast, too. The myTouch 4G Slide is equipped with a 3.7-inch WVGA display, 8-megapixel camera with 1080p video recording, has support for SWYPE, has Netflix software pre-installed, and more. T-Mobile has not announced a price just yet, but the myTouch 4G Slide will be available in July in khaki and black. Read on for the full press release. More →

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