MSI Releases GE40 Gaming Laptop

Category: Mobile
Posted: June 15, 2013 06:12AM
Author: Nick Harezga

MSI is bringing a new laptop geared towards gamers to the market, the GE40. The GE40 is powered by an Intel Haswell i7 processor and an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 760M GPU. The inclusion of the 760M allows users to attach an additional two displays to the laptop. A 14" screen operates at a resolution of 1600x900. Users can choose from two storage configurations, both of which include a 750GB hard drive with the option of a 128GB mSATA SSD. The system is rounded out with 8GB of memory, Gigabit Ethernet, and Wireless N. Everything is packed into an aluminum enclosure and weighs just 4.4 pounds. The model with no SSD starts at $1,299.99 and the inclusion of an SSD brings the price up to $1,399.99. Be sure to enter the Just Game! contest that MSI is currently running to have a chance at winning the GE40.

Source: Press Release

Intel to Power Samsung Tablets

Category: CPU's, Mobile
Posted: May 28, 2013 11:38AM
Author: Tobias Thydal

Intel might finally be making its way into tablets and possibly smartphones soon. It appears Intel has made a deal with Samsung, which means that Samsung's Galaxy Tab 3 will feature a Clover Trail chip with clocks ranging between 800 MHz and 1.6 GHz. The Galaxy Tab 3 will be using Android 4.2.2. and has a 1280x800 pixel display. This comes as a small surprise, since Intel said, when Clover Trail was introduced, that the processor line was intended for low-powered Windows 8 devices.

The deal might bring a little hope to Intel, since the company has been struggling to get into the mobile market, where ARM-based chips are dominating. ARM's architecture is used in most of Apple's, Samsung's, and HTC's mobile products. But with the new Clover Trail line, Intel should be able to gain some market share. The new chips' power requirement has been reduced drastically while maintaining or improving the performance.

Intel also faces ARM on the server market, but Intel has the upper hand in that situation: it has the largest market share. Many companies still chooses to use its products due to the x86 architecture, making them compatible with most applications used in servers today.

It will be interesting to see how the mobile processor market looks in a few years, since both Intel and AMD are trying to enter the it.

Source: PCWorld

Qualcomm Sheds Some Light on Mirasol Displays

Category: Mobile
Posted: May 22, 2013 01:23PM
Author: Tobias Thydal

Qualcomm has been showing off a new display type called a Mirasol display, which is based on the company's micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS). This technology will have a significant impact on smartphones and tablets, since it will use only about one sixth of the power required by LCD or OLED displays. This will improve battery life by a substantial amount, as displays are one of the most power hungry parts in a smartphone or a tablet. According to Qualcomm, the display will provide a "convergent display experience with paper-like readability in almost any ambient condition," which means that as long as there is some light around you, you should get a good, clear image. However, the technology only works when there is light present because the pixels making up the display works by reflecting light at specific wavelengths. That problem can potentially be avoided by implementing a LED-based solution into the display that can be turned on and off, thus making the display readable at night.

Engadget was able to get a shot of a smartphone and a smartwatch, both using a Mirasol display. The smartphone is sporting a 5.1 inch panel with an impressive 2560x1440 resolution, giving it a pixel per inch count of 577.

The biggest problem with this new technology is that it is still being developed and it will need a few more years in research and development before it will appear in consumer electronics, so for now you will have to make due with regular LCD or OLED displays.

Source: Engadget

Thermaltake Releases New Mobile Power Pack

Category: Mobile
Posted: May 15, 2013 02:28PM
Author: Nick Harezga

Thermaltake is now offering a new mobile power pack through the LUXA2 brand name. The P3 2500mAh Power Bank is targeted at users of the iPhone 5 and similar mobile devices. The P3 comes with an iPhone 5 case to easily attach to your phone, and weighs just 70 grams making it easy to take with you. The 2500mAh capacity will allow users to double the battery life of their iPhone 5, and a standard USB connector provides easy access for plenty of other devices.

Source: Press Release

UK University Plans 5G Research Center

Category: Mobile
Posted: May 3, 2013 11:44PM
Author: EuroFight

Although we have only recently begun to see 4G mobile networks being rolled out, one UK university is already looking into the development of 5G . The University of Surrey has put in plans for a £35 million (~ $55 million) '5G Innovation Center' where it hopes to develop 5G mobile technology. The university also plans to install lamppost-based stations to be used to test any future technologies on a small-scale network.

The venture is being funded jointly by mobile and infrastructure providers, as well as the UK Research Partnership Investment Fund. Surrey University's professor of mobile wireless communications, Rahim Tafozolli, believes that 5G networks could be rolled out as early as 2020. As of yet, there is no defined standard for 5G communications, but with work from this research centre, and others around the world, it is hoped that the search for 5G connectivity will soon begin.

Source: BBC News

Four Tablets Rumored From Samsung

Category: Mobile
Posted: April 29, 2013 05:31PM
Author: Nick Harezga

Samsung is reported to be working on four tablets for release this year with a variety of sizes and features. The Galaxy Tab DUOS 7.0 will use a 7" LCD with front and back facing cameras. The dual core tablet will also have the ability to support dual SIM cards. The Galaxy Tab 8.0 features an 8" AMOLED screen with 1080p resolution, dual cameras, and a quad-core Exynos 4412 CPU. A pair of 11" tablets, the Galaxy Tab 11 and Nexus 11, appear to differ only in the CPU used to power them. The Tab will have a dual-core Exynos 5250 while the Nexus is expected to be the first eight core tablet. Both will have dual cameras and a 64GB Micro SD card.

Source: SamMobile

Google Glass Powered by Android Operating System

Category: Mobile
Posted: April 19, 2013 03:47AM
Author: EuroFight

Larry Page, CEO of Google, has today confirmed that Google Glass devices will run a version of Google's own Android operating system. This follows the reveal of the technical specifications of Glass last week, and comes as one of many recent announcements regarding the Google Glass project. To aid programmers in developing apps for Google Glass, Google has made its own API, called Mirror, to allow programmers to write apps specifically for Google Glass devices.

Google has also started shipping out developer models of the Google Glass to enthusiasts and developers priced at $1,500, although Page said this does not reflect the pricing when the product reaches general release. The use of Android in the project raises a number of the existing arguments regarding Android fragmentation, due to the large variety of devices running the operating system. Page put a positive spin on the reality of fragmentation, explaining how it highlights the flexibility of the Android kernel.

Source: CNET

Thermaltake Adds Power Pack to Accessory Line

Category: Mobile
Posted: April 13, 2013 06:04AM
Author: Nick Harezga

Thermaltake has announced a new power pack targeted at users with several mobile devices. The 8400mAh Portable Power Pack offers high power capacity capable of charging mobile devices multiple times on a single charge, charging an iPhone 3.5 times for example. The power pack has more than 500 recharge cycles in its lifetime and a 2.1A output allows charging of larger devices as well. Two devices can be charged simultaneously with the presence of dual USB ports.

Samsung Unveils 'Mega' Smartphones with Over 6-inch Screens

Category: Mobile
Posted: April 11, 2013 09:21AM
Author: EuroFight

Smartphone manufacturer Samsung has unveiled two new smartphones, both featuring the Android 4.2 operating system and a dual-core processor. They also feature 8-megapixel rear cameras, and come with 8 or 16GB of internal storage as well as the option of adding up to 64GB via a MicroSD slot. The main selling point of these two devices, however, lie in their screen size. The smaller of the two smartphones features a 5.8" screen, while the higher-end device boasts a 6.3" screen, as well as a faster processor. 

The devices have been named the Mega 5.8 and Mega 6.3, in accordance to their screen sizes, and will become available in Europe and Russia from May this year. Samsung has not set a worldwide release yet, but did say that the devices availability will vary.

Source: CNET

Galaxy S4 Eight-Core Variant May Be Unavailable in US and UK at Launch

Category: Mobile
Posted: March 22, 2013 11:37AM
Author: EuroFight

The eight-core Samsung Galaxy S4 variant will only be made available in Africa, Asia, and in certain countries in Europe, according to a report. The quad-core Snapdragon 600 variant will, however, be available worldwide. Apart from the processor, the eight-core GT-I9500 will feature a PowerVR SGX 544 graphics processor, and will be available on 3G HSPA+. The quad-core model, the GT-I9505, on the other hand, will offer a Adreno 320 graphics processor and 4G LTE connectivity.

Based on the specs, it would seem strange that Samsung would choose not to offer the eight-core variant in the more established markets such as in the US, however there is some speculation as to Samsung's reasoning. Analyst Gus Richard suggests that Samsung may have had some power issues with its new eight-core Exynos 5 Octa chip. This would mean that the device would likely need to be delayed for release until the issue is resolved. 

Source: XBit Labs and Baron's

Intel Rumored to Make Future Apple Mobile Processors

Category: Mobile
Posted: March 13, 2013 03:02PM
Author: Nick Harezga

Intel already provides the processing power behind Apple desktops and laptops, and now hopes to break into the mobile offerings from Apple such as iPhones and iPads. Intel is fighting an uphill battle to match the low power of ARM based CPUs that are currently used in the majority of mobile devices. The latest rumor has Intel getting its products into Apple devices, but not in the manner that it would like. Intel is rumored to take on up to 10% of Apple A-Series manufacturing through its foundry business. Lead analyst at Moor Insights & Strategy Patrick Moorhead said, "Many more competitors like Samsung and Huawei are now designing their own SoCs, and in Samsung's case, manufacturing them. This mitigates Apple's design advantage and they now need something different to be competitive and that 'something' is Intel's 14-nm capabilities."

Source: PC Magazine

Mozilla Has No Plans to Port Firefox to iOS

Category: Mobile
Posted: March 11, 2013 08:48PM
Author: bp9801

Firefox and iOS users are out of luck, as Mozillas has no plans to port its popular browser to the Apple mobile operating system. The reason is a rather simple one, in that Apple forces all browsers to use WebKit. Mozilla uses its own Gecko HTML engine for rendering, and because of Apple's restriction there won't be an iOS port of Firefox. Mozilla use to have a Firefox Home iOS app that was focused on bookmarks and tab syncing, however it was pulled last September so the company could work on other projects. There was also an experimental browser shown in the middle of last year, but like every other iOS browser it was running WebKit. Until Apple loosens its restrictions on iOS browsers, don't expect to see Firefox on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod. There are other options, like Chrome, Opera, and iCab, if you want something other than Safari, but you're unable to set anything else as the default.

Source: Ars Technica

Smartphone Sales to Exceed Feature Phone Sales for the First Time in 2013

Category: Mobile
Posted: March 4, 2013 10:29AM
Author: EuroFight

The worldwide sales of smartphones are expected to surpass those of standard feature phones this year, for the first time ever. The main contributing factors for this being the falling cost of smartphones, as well as the growth of 4G mobile networks. This year, over 910 million smartphones are expected to be sold, which is just over 50% of the total shipments in the industry. By 2017, this figure is expected to increase to 1.5 billion sales.

The bulk of these devices will be bought in developing countries such as China, Brazil, and India as smartphones become more and more accessible to the population. According to the IDC, sales of smartphones in these countries are also expected to exceed sales of smartphones in the US this year. This news will likely be gladly received by the big smartphone manufacturers such as Samsung and Apple, who have seen sales of their smartphones explode in recent years.

Source: CNET.com

Intel Breaks Into ARM Territory With 7-Inch Asus Tablet

Category: Mobile
Posted: February 28, 2013 11:15AM
Author: EuroFight

Intel has finally broken into the low-cost Android tablet market with the debut of a 7-inch tablet running an Intel Atom Z2420 processor. The tablet is designed by Asus and is priced at a modest $249. It features 3G data and voice connectivity, as well as boasting a 1280x800 screen and nine hours of battery life. The tablet's closest ARM competitor is the HP Slate 7, a 7-inch tablet with a dual-core processor and six hours battery life, but no 3G connectivity which is available for $169.

The Asus tablet is one of the first mobile devices to feature a Lexington chip from Intel's low-cost Clover Trail series of processors. Intel hopes this series will help it gain some of the mobile market share currently dominated by the likes of ARM-based devices. 

Source: CNET.com

Samsung Devices Will Not Run Firefox OS

Category: Mobile
Posted: February 25, 2013 12:50PM
Author: EuroFight

A high-level Samsung executive has said that the company is not interested in adopting the upcoming Firefox OS for its smartphones and tablets. This follows Mozilla's debut of Firefox OS earlier this week during this year's Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, where a number of Mozilla's partners showcased their own devices running the new OS.

Mozilla does have number of powerful allies such as LG, Huawei, ZTE and Alcatel who are planning on producing devices running Firefox OS. Mozilla has also received support from chip-manufacturer Qualcomm who is interested in making chips for Firefox OS devices. The loss of Samsung, however, is likely to heavily affect initial sales of devices running the new OS, especially considering that it is now considered the dominant smartphone manufacturer, alongside Apple.

Source: CNET.com

Tactile Keyboard Technology Developed for Touchscreens

Category: Mobile
Posted: February 13, 2013 01:22PM
Author: EuroFight

A Californian company called Tactus Technology has developed a way to apply tactile keyboards to touchscreen devices. The technology uses a non-toxic liquid that moves around under the screen, through a number of small channels to specific areas. The liquid then increases pressure under the screen and causes the surface to rise.

Employing this technology would allow touchscreen smartphones and tablets to compete with other devices that feature physical keyboards, such as BlackBerry devices. The technology has a lot of potential, however it is not yet refined. Tactus Technology aims to begin production of these screens in late 2013, but did not comment on any partnerships it is working on.

Source: CNET.com

'evasi0n' Jailbreak Amasses 1.7 Million Uses in First Day

Category: Mobile
Posted: February 6, 2013 01:28PM
Author: EuroFight

iOS jailbreak 'evasi0n', released yesterday, has amassed 1.7 million uses in the first day of release. The jailbreak, compatible with iOS 6, and 6.1 has been used on the iPhone 5, the iPad Mini, and the iPad 4. 'evasi0n' is unique as it allows the jailbreak to write data to the iOS kernel, which has not previously been exploited. 

Apple has responded to the release of 'evasi0n' through updating its online jailbreak warning page to include the hazards involved in jailbreaking. The page warns users of the instability, battery life, unreliability, and security vulnerabilities that jailbreaking can use, however owners of Apple devices appear to have ignored this warning.

Source: CNET.com

Firefox OS May be Launched at MWC 2013

Category: Mobile
Posted: February 5, 2013 11:21AM
Author: EuroFight

Mozilla has sent out invites for a press conference at this year's Mobile World Congress later this month where it is expected to reveal the eagerly awaited Firefox OS. The OS was previously showcased at CES last month, and Mozilla is working hard to keep the tech world up-to-date with its developments. Mozilla is also planning to create two 'developer phones' for the development and testing of apps on its upcoming OS.

Firefox OS is set to be another open-source alternative to the likes of iOS and Android. Mobile operating systems have grown rapidly recently, and with the continued growth of the smartphone market, new OSes are springing up regularly. Although very little is known about Firefox OS at the moment, we expect a lot more information to become available after the press conference on February 24.

Source: CNET.com

New Jailbreak Available for iOS 6 Devices

Category: Mobile
Posted: February 4, 2013 03:54PM
Author: Nick Harezga

A method to jailbreak iOS 6 devices has just been released by a team of hackers known as evad3rs. The tool, evasi0n, uses a previously unknown exploit to jailbreak all versions of iOS 6 on iPhones, iPods, and iPads. The jailbreak software works on Windows, OS X, and Linux and offers the ability to do an untethered jailbreak. This means that "the iOS device doesn't need to be plugged into a computer to re-enable the jailbreak every time the device is rebooted."

Source: Ars Technica

Intel Focusing on Mobile World Congress with Atom Chips

Category: Mobile
Posted: February 1, 2013 01:37PM
Author: EuroFight

Intel has announced its intention to hold a booth at this year's Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. Yesterday, Intel announced that it aimed to show off a previously unseen mobile dual-core, dual-graphics platform that it's developing. It will also showcase a number of Android cell phones on display running its low cost Atom Z2420 processor.

This continues Intel's attempt to gain traction in the mobile processor market, a field in which it has previously lagged behind the likes of ARM and Samsung, its main competitors. Intel aims to take back some of this market this year with the advent of a number of advancements in its Atom SoC technology. The company will also showcase a number of tablets and convertibles running the Windows 8 operating system.

Source: CNET.com

Research In Motion Changes Name to BlackBerry, Formally Unveils Z10, Q10, and BlackBerry 10 OS

Category: Mobile
Posted: January 30, 2013 12:35PM
Author: bp9801

Research In Motion (RIM) was, for the longest time, the only name in the world of smartphones. Then along came Apple and Google, and soon RIM's once bright future with its BlackBerrys started to dim as sales fell. Last year, its co-CEOs stepped down and Thorstein Heins took over control of the company. Its newest OS had been teased for a while, as well as a new, all-touch phone that was capable of putting RIM back on track in the smartphone world. Earlier today, RIM held its BlackBerry 10 event to showcase the new phone and new OS, but that was only part of the event. You see, RIM has announced its new name is simply BlackBerry, with a tagline of "One brand. One promise." Considering only BlackBerry devices are created by the company, a simpler name makes sense. Heins said everyone from customers to shareholders know the brand as BlackBerry, so why not have the company name reflect the brand?

A new company name is all well and good, but the bulk of the BlackBerry 10 event is for the showcase of not one but two new phones running the BB 10 OS. The first phone is that all-touchscreen one, the Z10. This slate device features a 4.2" screen with a 1280x768 resolution, a dual-core TI OMAP 4470 processor at 1.5GHz, and 2GB of RAM. Internal storage comes in at 16GB, but luckily there is a microSD slot for even more storage needs (up to 32GB). The Z10 has an 8-megapixel camera on the rear capable of 1080p video recording, while a 2-megapixel up front can only do 720p. BlackBerry has packed in a micro SIM slot, micro-USB, micro-HDMI, a 3.5mm headphone jack, Bluetooth 4.0, 802.11a/b/g/n WiFi, and NFC capabilities into the Z10, which make it a pretty formidable phone. It comes in at 130mm x 66mm x 9.3mm, which is a little bulkier than some competing smartphones, but the 138 gram weight helps to make the Z10 easy to carry.

BlackBerry also introduced the Q10 phone, which packs a full QWERTY keyboard for those who don't want to go full touchscreen just yet. The Q10 features a 3.1" touchscreen with a 720x720 resolution, a dual-core processor at 1.5GHz, and 2GB of RAM. Below the touchscreen is RIM's BlackBerry's familiar keyboard, so you get the best of both worlds with this phone.

BlackBerry 10 OS had been discussed before in the past, but today's event was a chance for the company to show off more of the features. It's BlackBerry's first all-touch OS that is heavily gesture-based (hopefully without too many complicated ones), and features many familiar apps and services. Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Foursquare are all directly integrated into the OS, with Skype  receiving tweaks to ensure flawless performance. BlackBerry also showed off BBM video calling and Screen Share, which shows a mirror of your phone's screen to whoever you're talking with. 

If you're eager to try out BlackBerry 10 and either the Z10 or Q10, well, you may have to wait depending on where you live. UK residents receive BB10 tomorrow, Canada receives it on February 5, and United Arab Emirates (UAE) gets it on February 10. Residents in the US won't receive the new OS until the middle of March. Heins is blaming that on the US carriers needing time to test new devices, which may or may not be true. Both the Z10 and Q10 are available on every major carrier in the UK, with all Z10s being 4G-ready. Many UK carriers are offering the phone free on a per-month contract, though only EE's existing 4G service is able to be used right away. Canadian residents can pick up either phone on Telus, Rogers, Bell, Koodo, and Virgin Mobile, though prices weren't announced at this time.

US residents, on the other hand, can pick up the phones on the four major carriers, but only Verizon and AT&T are carrying both (right now). Sprint users get the Q10 while T-Mobile users get the Z10, but both of those could change in time since only those two were mentioned. The Q10 is expected about a month after the Z10 arrives in the US, so Sprint users have to sit tight a little longer. The Z10 will start at $149 on AT&T and Sprint, while Verizon users can shell out $199. Verizon also has the exclusive white color in the US, while Phones 4U in the UK has exclusive rights on both colors at first.

Source: Engadget (1), Engadget (2), Engadget (3), Engadget (4), Engadget (5), Engadget (6), Engadget (7), Engadget (8), Ars Technica (1), Ars Technica (2), and Wall Street Journal

Next Nexus 7 to Have 1080p Resolution

Category: Mobile
Posted: January 29, 2013 03:45PM
Author: Nick Harezga

Google is expected to announce the successor to the Nexus 7 Android tablet at some time in May. It is also expected that Google will once again work with Asustek to create the new device. Engineering samples released by Google point to the new tablets having the same price tags of $199 for the less powerful unit and $249 for the beefier tablet. Also included in the upgrade will be a 1080p screen with a thinner border. An upgraded version of Jelly Bean will provide the brains of the operation.

Source: Digitimes

Unauthorized Phone Unlocking Soon to be Illegal

Category: Mobile
Posted: January 25, 2013 01:22PM
Author: EuroFight

From this Saturday, it will become illegal to unlock a smartphone in the US without permission from the carrier it was locked by. This follows changes in the DMCA (Digital Millenium Copyright Act) made in late October of last year. The changes only affect new phones, however, and will not impact used phones.

The rule is intended to prevent users from purchasing a discount phone with the intention of unlocking it. Phones that have been purchased unlocked will also be exempt from this ruling. The application of this ruling will most likely be passed to the mobile carrier, who could then track those who breach the ruling with the backing of the DMCA.

Source: CNET.com

Windows Phone 7.8 to Arrive January 31

Category: Mobile
Posted: January 24, 2013 11:54AM
Author: EuroFight

Following the release of the Windows Phone 8 SDK two days ago, Microsoft is expected to roll out the update to end users by the end of this month. The first announcement was made by the Columbian version of Microsoft's Facebook page, however the update will be released on a carrier-by-carrier basis due to the software verification process performed by carriers. Some carriers, however, will be rolling out the update alongside the official release, such as the UK wireless carrier O2.

The update will be made available for many existing Windows Phone 7.X users through Microsoft's Zune software. Advantages of Windows Phone 7.8 over previous versions include access to the resizable live tiles on the home screen, updates to Bluetooth, and a number of aesthetic improvements. Unfortunately, the update will not bring access to all of the features included in Windows Phone 8 such as support for multitasking, microSD cards, and encryption.

Source: PCWorld.com

Mozilla Reveals Firefox OS Developer Phones

Category: Mobile
Posted: January 22, 2013 05:29PM
Author: Nick Harezga

Mozilla is planning to work with Spanish company Geeksphone to create developer phones for the upcoming Firefox OS. A pair of phones will be created, each targeted at a different user base. The Keon is aimed at budget users and will provide plenty of basic functionality to allow for testing and use of apps. It has a 3.5" touch screen, a 1GHz Snapdragon S1 processor from Qualcomm, and a 3MP camera. The Peak features more functionality and more powerful hardware. This phone features a 1.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4, a pair of cameras, and a 4.3" touch screen. Both are equipped with HSPA/GSM radios, Wi-Fi, and MicroSD slots. Pricing hasn't been set on either device and Mozilla has only said that the Keon will be available sometime next month.

Google Announces Two Google Glass Hackathons

Category: Mobile
Posted: January 16, 2013 01:18PM
Author: EuroFight

Google has announced it is organising two hackathons for developers to get hands on with its Google Glass project. The hackathons will be held in San Francisco and New York, and will be open to developers that invest $1,500 for the developer edition of the glasses. Developers who attend the hackathons will enable developers to get an early look at the device well ahead of its 2014 release, and will even get to try one of the devices while they are on-site.

The Google Glass device was first demonstrated in June last year. At that point, the glasses had video and audio capabilities, as well as a built in compass and accelerometer. The company is also said to be experimenting with voice command and touch pad input methods for the device. The release date for the developer edition of the Google Glass is expected to be later this year, but the hackathons will certainly provide an insight into the final product.

Samsung Galaxy S II to Receive Jelly Bean Update

Category: Mobile
Posted: January 15, 2013 01:56PM
Author: EuroFight

Samsung has announced on its Korean website that it will begin updating its Galaxy S II smartphone to Android 4.1 'Jelly Bean' in February. The message has since been removed, but not before Samsung fansite SamMobile managed to get a screenshot of the page. The update will be available through the Samsung Kies software, and will take up 1GB of the device's internal memory.

The update will add functionality to the device, and is set to extend its already long two year lifespan. It also follows the release of the Galaxy S II Plus last week, a Jelly Bean version of the Galaxy S II, powered by a dual-core ARM Cortex A9 processor clocked at 1.2GHz.

Apple May be Developing Cheaper iPhone

Category: Mobile
Posted: January 10, 2013 10:28AM
Author: EuroFight

According to a source that declined to be named, tech giant Apple is planning to sell a cheaper version of its iPhone this year. The device is said to cost between $99 and $149, and would debut in late 2013 at the earliest. Apple has been developing this device since February 2011 and is aiming it at emerging markets around the world, following the success of Apple devices in China earlier this year.

This new initiative has not been attempted by Apple before, preferring to reduce prices of older device models instead of introducing a new, cheaper product. This low-cost model would be produced with much cheaper components sourced from different manufacturers. The device may also be considerably smaller than current models of the popular mobile phone.

RIM's Revenue Drops; BlackBerry 10 Still Set for January 30 Release

Category: Mobile
Posted: December 20, 2012 08:31PM
Author: bp9801

BlackBerry manufacturer Research In Motion (RIM) has just released its third-quarter (three months prior to December 1, 2012) numbers for the year, and some things are not good. RIM posted a five percent revenue drop from last quarter to $2.7 billion and an adjusted net loss of $114 million. There are some positives, however, like a GAAP net income of $14 million ($9 million after adjustments from "discontinued operations"). The company also shipped 6.9 million BlackBerry phones and 255,000 PlayBook tablets, while the subscribers dropped a little from last quarter to 79 million. There was a bigger loss in subscribers in North America, which is to be expected given the popular of Android and Apple devices.

RIM's Chief Information Officer, Robin Bienfait, has decided to retire, though she'll stay on as an advisor to help with the transition. CEO Thorsten Heins said that despite the revenue drop, BlackBerry 10 is still scheduled for release on January 30, 2013. The company will start to increase its "marketing spending" to prepare for the launch of the new OS, and hopefully show off the first device or devices running it. However, that marketing push should result in another loss as people hold off on buying a new BlackBerry until the reveal.

Samsung To Gain Top Spot in Cell Phone Market

Category: Mobile
Posted: December 20, 2012 02:41PM
Author: EuroFight

Samsung is to take the top spot from rival Nokia in the cell phone market. Nokia has been comfortably sitting at the top of the worldwide cell phone market sales table for almost 14 years, however analytics company IHS has suggested that this will soon change. IHS has said that Samsung will end Q4 2012 with a 29% market share, while Nokia will be left with a lower 24% market share. A large proportion of Samsung's share comes from its high-end Android handsets such as the Galaxy S3.

For those looking for the figures, Samsung reported $7.4 billion profit after 98 million sales during Q3, while Nokia reported a $1.24 billion loss after 82 million sales. When looking at the proportion of smartphone sales, Samsung also has the lead with the sale of 55 million units during Q3, while Nokia sold just 7.2 million units. IHS believes this trend will continue through Q4, leaving Samsung in the top spot in the cell phone market, and Nokia facing a 5% decrease in smartphone shipments.