#TBT: Mobile phones: Then and Now

If you grew up in the 80′s or 90′s, you’d definitely see the huge difference and improvements in the mobile industry. For our Throwback Thursday this week, we look at one of the most popular handset of of the 21st century and compare it with the handset of the 20th century.

We’re sure you still remember the Nokia 5110. It was one of the best phones of the 90′s. We compare it to the Apple iPhone to see what we’ve gained and what we’re missing.

Sometimes, technology doesn’t really improve things — they just make them more complicated.

Source: Yugatech

ASUS MeMO Pad HD 7 Review

ASUS set really good standards on what a 7-inch Android tablet should be with theGoogle Nexus 7. Now that they have to launch their own 7-incher under the Nexus shadow, they needed something that can shine in its own right without getting burned by its pure-blooded cousin. The company’s answer is the ASUS MeMO Pad HD 7.

Design and Construction

At first glance, the HD 7 looks similar to the 2012 Google Nexus 7 especially if you look on the front. The dimensions are almost the same and if it weren’t for the ASUS logo found below the display it could almost pass as a Nexus 7.

Globe announces Huawei Ascend P1 LTE as its first ever LTE handset

Globe’s made good on their promise to out an LTE device on their network. The local telco has chosen the LTE version of the Huawei Ascend P1 as the first ever device on their LTE network.The Huawei Ascend P1 LTE is available for free at Globe Unli Surf 1799 with unlimited data, along with a  Php 800 monthly consumable for calls and texts, and three call and text freebies that can be changed monthly.

Globe will also be offering a lower postpaid plan for the Huawei Ascend P1 LTE, under  Unli Surf 999 at P500 cashout for 24 months. Prepaid kit is also available at P21,000. We’re not exactly sure who Globe is targeting with the pre-paid LTE kit for the P1, but we’re assuming that they’re trying to get early adopters of their LTE service to buy the LTE phone to stick their LTE SIMs inside instead of the USB dongle that was initially offered. The  Huawei Ascend P1 LTE has a 1.5GH dual-core processor, 1GB RAM, 4.3-inch Super AMOLED Capacitive Multi-Touch Screen, Android ICS with 8 megapixel camera, WiFi, and BlueTooth.

Sony Xperia V in the flesh, we got pics!

Remember Sony’s Xperia V that was announced back in IFA? Well, y’all be glad to know that it has managed to find its way to our shores. Sony didn’t officially launch it per se, but hey, if it’s here, it’s here, right? As expected, Sony’s soon to become mid-end device feels exquisite to the touch, and is extremely responsive, thanks to the Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Krait dual-core processor embedded in the device.

Sony’s rep told me that the new processor is roughly equivalent to other quad-core processors out in the market *cough*Tegra 3*cough* without the usual hit in battery life that these processors bring. The 4.3-inch display is hella sharp, and like we mentioned before, is extremely responsive. As for price and availability..well, we hope you’re sitting down. Sony says that this device will be available early next year, which means that if you really, really want it, you’ll have to exercise some of that EQ and hold off buying anything this Christmas.

HTC’s phablet is the J Butterfly, first ever 5-inch smartphone with 1080p resolution

Rumors of HTC’s own oversized smartphone (oft categorized as phablet) has been swirling ’round the net for a couple of months now, but it looks like the Taiwanese company has officially outed their own phablet offering in the form of the HTC J Butterfly that’s destined for the Japanese market. This particular smartphone holds the title of the first ever 5-inch smartphone with a 1080p capable display, which is achieved using a Super LCD 3 panel made by Sharp. That’s right folks – you’re getting a pixel density of 440ppi, which is the highest we’ve ever seen on a device of this size. There’s a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro, quad-core processor under the hood of the J Butterfly running at 1.5GHz, which is paired with 2GB of RAM. Connectivity-wise, you’re looking at 802.11a/b/g/n WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0 (LE), NFC, LTE and CDMA/GSM/UMTS/GPRS, which means that this is a truly global device that should work wherever it goes. Oh, did we mention that it’s also water resistant, and has a rating of IPX5. Naturally, everything will be powered by Android 4.1. Now all we need is the price and availability – one thing is for sure, we’re salivating at the opportunity to paw this thing.

And here's a Sony Xperia VL for you, Japan

Sony just can't stop announcing new Xperia models these days. Being dangerously close to running out of letters, the company has started using two-letter combinations for its model names as of late. Yet another such new model is the Xperia VL, a mid-end Android device exclusive to the Japanese market.

Expected to launch on KDDI by the end of the year, the Sony Xperia VL will offer goodies such as a 4.3" "Reality Display" with HD resolution and Mobile Bravia Engine 2, 13MP camera, dust and water resistance, 1.5 GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor 1 GB RAM, NFC and LTE.

By the looks of it - a pretty well-spec'd mid-ranger that should come at an affordable price. The preloaded OS will be Android 4 ICS, so Japanese customers are left to hope that a Jelly Bean update will follow soon.

 

Source: Sony

Sprint Samsung M400 Mobile Phone for Seniors

Sprint and Samsung launch the new SPH-M400 mobile phone with accessibility features designed specifically to meet the needs of senior citizens and people with disabilities. The phone has dedicated 911 key and an In Case of Emergency (ICE) button that stores up to three contacts so users can dial emergency contacts quickly. The flip-style handset has a 2.4-inch large main display and a 10.7-inch external display for users to see incoming calls and notifications easily and quickly. The adjustable font sizes makes it easy to read text on the screen.

Samsung’s M400, designed for seniors, features oversized keypad and a dedicated speakerphone button.It supports voice dialing for users to make calls by simply press a button and speak the name or phone number; and the Nuance VSuite 4.0 text-to-speech can read menus, submenus, text, dialed numbers, caller ID and missed calls to the user. The phone also a 1.3 Megapixel camera and supports Bluetooth 3.0. Family can also make use the built-in GPS-based Sprint Family Locator application to locate the phone and loved ones.

Samsung M400 is available for free with 2-year contract, after $50 main-in rebate.

Samsung Galaxy Nexus is just $320 at Daily Steals

Although it is nearly an year old, the Samsung Galaxy Nexus is still a pretty decent smartphone. It has a spacious HD screen, a snappy dual-core processor, and most importantly, it gets the latest Android software updates as soon as Google releases them.

Samsung Galaxy Nexus on sale for $320

And in case you've been waiting for the right time to get one, this might be it. The Samsung Galaxy Nexus is now being offered for $320 at Daily Steals, unlocked for use with any GSM carrier (sorry, Verizon and Sprint subscribers) and with no carrier commitment required. As a side note, the smartphone is being offered for $350 directly from the Google Play store. 

But as the name of the retailer suggests, the deal will expire at the end of the day – at midnight, EST, to be more specific. So if you are interested in a new, unlocked Samsung Galaxy Nexus, just follow the source link below and check the offer out. 

Source: Daily Steals via Android Authority

Analyst: T-Mobile might get the iPhone in 2013

Although one is still free to bring their iPhone to T-Mobile and take advantage of its unlimited data plans, purchasing Apple's pride and joy from the carrier itself isn't an option... yet. However, the nation's fourth largest carrier might start offering the iPhone in 2013, according to Morgan Stanley analyst Nick Delfas. Or in his own words, T-Mobile could "announce official iPhone distribution in early 2013," – a move which might result in Apple shipping an additional one to two million iPhone 5 units out of its warehouses over the course of Q1, 2013.

Now, the first logical question that comes to mind is which is the network that the iPhone 5 will run on, if it launches on T-Mobile? The carrier has already deployed a pretty robust HSPA+ infrastructure, but the smartphone's latest model supports the newer LTE connectivity standard, in addition to HSPA+. Thankfully, T-Mobile is already testing an LTE network of its own, and if all goes as planned, it might be operational in 2013, which lines up nicely with the possibility of an iPhone 5 launch. What's more is that the carrier is said to be trying out equipment compatible with the LTE Advanced standard, which is faster than the LTE used in the U.S. today, yet backwards compatible with it in order to support existing devices.

Of course, whether the iPhone 5 will ever launch on T-Mobile is still up in the air. Nothing is known with certainty, so don't get your hopes up high until the deal between Apple and T-Mobile is official. But if it ever does, would anyone be willing to get one? Lets us know down in the comments!

Source: Morgan Stanley via CNET

Sprint Samsung Galaxy Note II arriving October 25 for $299.99

Sprint just announced something a lot of its subscribers have been awaiting for with bated breath ever since we saw the device handled a month or so ago - the release date and price for the Samsung Galaxy Note II superphone on its network.

Here it is, folks, on October 25 the Note II can be in your hands for $299.99 on a two-year contract for new customers, and those who are eligible for an upgrade.

The colors are marble white and titanium gray, and the gigantic handset comes at this price not only because it offers the largest screen ever put in a phone, but also combines it with an excellent stylus and an array of productivity apps to take good advantage of it.

Sprint LG Mach Slim 4G LTE QWERTY Android Phone

Sprint adds to its 4G LTE lineup the new super slim LG Mach QWERTY Android smartphone. The mid-range handset is the thinnest QWERTY devices offered by Sprint. Measuring just 0.47-inch thin, the Mach managed to get a slide out full QWERTY keyboard for quick and accurate text input. It has a 4-inch WVGA 800×480 touchscreen display.

The LG Mach is boosted by a 1.2GHz dual-core Qualcomm MSM8960 processor and 1GB of RAM. It comes with a 5 Megapixel main camera with flash and Full HD video recording, and a 0.3 Megapixel VGA front-facing camera for video chat. The Time Catch Shot will take up to 5 images and allows users to choose the best one. Like LG’s other new phones, the Mach also includes QuickMemo function that allows users to add comments and drawing to screenshot and share them with friends quickly with simple swipes.

The LG Mach supports Sprint’s LTE 4G network as well as Bluetooth 4.0 and WiFi 802.11b/g/n. It has 8GB onboard memory and supports microSD/SDHC up to 32GB.


Source: itechnews

Samsung Galaxy III Mini official, dual-core 1GHz NovaThor U8420 processor, 4-inch display, 5-megapixel camera, Android 4.1 on-board

We talked about the supposed leak of Sammy’s latest product, the Galaxy S III Mini the other day, and lo and behold, it’s finally here. The initial leak of the device is pretty much spot on, and the only thing that was iffy was the processor – this particular device will be running a dual-core, 1GHz NovaThor U8420 processor. All the other specs stay the same – 4-inch Super AMOLED 800×480 display, 5-megapixel camera, 1GB of RAM and 16/32GB capacities, depending on what you fancy. The device will be powered by Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, so you’ll be getting all that Project Butter goodness and actionable notifications when you pick it up when it goes on sale. It still a bit puzzling why Samsung would release a smaller version of their Galaxy S III (especially since the original one was pretty ace to begin with) but the Korean company might know something that we don’t. No word on price or local availability as of this time.

Source: gadgetsmagazine

First software update coming to Verizon's HTC DROID Incredible 4G LTE

Back on July 5th, Verizon introduced the HTC DROID Incredible 4G LTE. It was geared more as a mid-level smartphone, sporting a 4" qHD display and a 1.2GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor for $149.99, but recently has been lowered to $99.99 with contract.

At that time, we were told that the device would eventually get Global Roaming support via a software update, but there was no time frame given on how long that would take, or which frequency bands it would work on.

It now appears that Verizon is gearing up to roll out the first update for the HTC DROID Incredible 4G LTE, as the support documents are currently listed on their web page. Included in the 154.8MB software update (version 2.17.605.2) is global roaming support for use in over 220 countries - but still does not specify the frequency bands, though we can speculate it will be the GSM/EDGE (850/900/1800/1900 MHz) and UMTS/HSPA+ (850/900/1900/2100 MHz) networks, as the device is using the Qualcomm MSM8960 SoC.

Also included in the update is support for Isis Mobile Wallet, which is a competitor to Google Wallet, using NFC to make mobile payments, as well as Verizon's Remote Diagnostic for phone troubleshooting, improved 4G LTE connectivity, improved transition between Wi-Fi and 4G LTE networks, audio support in Tango video calling, and updated Visual Voice Mail.

If you happen to own the HTC DROID Incredible 4G LTE, please let us know when you get the update and what you think of it.

Source: Verizon Wireless

Leaked T-Mobile roadmap includes launch date for HTC 8X of November 14th

Nothing like a leaked roadmap to really get your juices flowing. All of those upcoming handsets, some that we've already heard about countless times and some that are new, have expected launch dates making them all seem all the more real.

 

 The latest roadmap belongs to T-Mobile and comes from a leaked screenshot from its "Frontline Planner". It shows a variety of models including the Windows Phone 8 flagship for one manufacturer.

Leaked screenshot shows a fresh roadmap for T-Mobile

Let's start a week from next Thursday with the expected launch of the BlackBerry Armstrong. This is a name we have heard before, from an earlier T-Mobile roadmap leaked last July and is believed to be the BlackBerry Curve 9320. This is a low-end handset with a 240 x 320 (QVGA) resolution on its 2.44 inch display. It's worth noting that this is not a touchscreen model. ON October 29th, the carrier is planning a 'color refresh' for the Samsung Galaxy S II. On Halloween, the Huawei Summit is scheduled to launch, scaring you with tales about espionage and spying. On that same date, the top-end model of LG's Optimus L line, the LG Optimus L9 (hey, that rhymes!)  should be making its debut. The device was officially introduced by the nation's fourth largest carrier this week and brings its 4.5 inch qHD display to the table.

Turning to November, the first launch of the month is expected to take place on November 7th with the release of the Samsung Toba. This is a new name that we haven't heard before. The next week, November 14th, we expect to see the launch of the Windows Phone 8 flagship for Taiwan's own HTC. Of course, we are referring to the HTC 8X. This phone has a ridiculous (we're saying that in a good way) 342ppi pixel density on its 4.3 inch Super LCD 2 screen and is another phone powered by the dual-core 1,5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 MSM 8960. Lastly, also on the same day, the roadmap shows the Dell BMW which is expected to be a Windows 8 laptop.

Source: TmoNews

Smartphone anti-virus products the next feature in service plans?

It is inevitable. Carriers will begin integrating mobile security products and services across the board of their offerings.

AT&T is already on that track, having made available to all its business customers a service for an anti-virus app and app filtering service that runs on their network. AT&T Mobile Security will expand a version of these services to consumers next year. These services are arriving just in time, as McAfee reports that its mobile database of malware has over 13,000 samples, of which more than 4,000 were added in just the past year, most of which target the Android operating system.

There are already several downloadable security apps. They are the traditional type of anti-virus. The programs scan the device and files for known malware. In AT&T’s service however, the company provides an app for the phone, and it also analyzes data in its own network to see if it matches anything known to be harmful before it even reaches your device.

We are simply witnessing the beginning of what happened with the evolution of personal computers and the types of security they now need. As Android and iOS continue to gain market-share in the business space, chipping away at reliably secure BlackBerry platforms, services like this will become more relevant and in demand from businesses and IT departments.

What is a service like this worth to you? Do you use security software on your device? Do network enhanced features like what AT&T is offering appeal to you? 

Source: Technology Review

Cricket ZTE Engage Android 4.0 Smartphone

ZTE is pretty aggressive in the US market. Following the Warp Sequent for Boost Mobile and Anthem 4G for MetroPCS, the firm’s Engage is heading to Cricket on 2 October. The phone is powered by Qualcomm’s MSM8655T Scorpion 1.4GHz processor and comes with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich operating system.

The ZTE Engage sports a 4-inch WVGA capacitive touchscreen, a 8 Megapixel main camera with LED flash, a VGA front-facing camera, as well as support for Bluetooth 2.1 and WiFi. It supports Cricket’s Muve Music service and comes with a 4GB Muve Music SD card. a 1900mAh battery is included.

The Engage is priced at $249.99.

Source: itechnews

Boost Mobile LG Venice Slim Android Smartphone

Boost Mobile launches the LG Venice, its version of the Optimus L7. The stylish, slim smartphone measures just 8.8mm thick and is lightweight at 122g. It is powered by a 1GHz processor and runs Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich with an enhanced LG Optimus 3.0 interface and QuickMemo for capture, create and share notes quickly and easily.

The Venice has a 4.3-inch touchscreen display protected by Gorrila Glass and a 5 Megapixel camera with LED flash and 720p HD video recording, and a VGA front-facing camera. It supports Bluetooth, GPS and WiFi connectivity.

Coming on 10 October, the LG Venice is priced at $219.99 without contract. It can be used with Boost Mobile’s no-contract $55 Android monthly unlimited plan.

Nokia Asha 308 and Asha 309 Most Affordable Capacitive Touchscreen Phones

Nokia adds to its Asha Touch line the new Asha 308 and the Asha 309, which are the company’s most affordable capacitive touchscreen mobile phone. Coming in Q4, the two S40 devices will be available for about US$99. They support GSM/EDGE 2G only.

Nokia Asha 309

Both new Asha phones feature a 3-inch WQVGA 400×240 capacitive touchscreen display for smooth touch operation, and a 2 Megapixel camera. The Asha 309 supports WiFi connectivity, and the Asha 308 supports Dual-SIM with Easy Swap technology for quick switch between the two SIM cards, and has no WiFi. While both handsets support 2G network, the 309 supports quad-band GSM, while the 308 works on only GSM 900 and 1800 bands.

Nokia’s new Ashas include also Bluetooth 3.0, FM radio, loud speakers and a microSD card slot. Running S40 system, they come with free gift of 40 premium EA games, standalone Facebook and Twitter clients, Nokia Messaging service and support for video streaming through the browser.

Nokia Asha 309

Nokia Asha 308

Source: itechnews

Nokia outs Asha 308, Asha 309 budget phones

The Finnish company has just broadened their affordable touchscreen portfolio with the announcement of the Asha 308 and Asha 309.

Aimed at budget-conscious market, these new Ashas should be able to handle your basic phone needs and maybe even more. The Nokia Asha 308 and 309 are alike in almost all aspects with the exception of the dual-SIM functionality of the former and the built-in Wi-Fi of the latter.

Although there has been any official word about its pricing, we’re expecting these two devices to be priced around Php4-Php5k, maybe even less. These two handsets are set to hit the shelves latter part of this year.

BlackBerry Jam Americas event hopes to stir up developer support with Facebook and Twitter apps

In case you didn't realize, today starts the "BlackBerry Jam Americas" conference in San Jose, CA. We're not kidding, RIM is holding a conference right now. You may be surprised to learn about this since there has been no real news about it, and many of us were surprised to find out about the event. It certainly hasn't had the buzz preceding it as have recent events from Microsoft, Nokia, Apple, Motorola, or even HTC.

RIM is holding this developer conference in order to try to build up some developer interest in the upcoming BlackBerry 10 platform, which isn't expected to hit the market with its first devices until the first quarter of 2013. This conference is designed to be more like Microsoft's developer preview of Windows Phone 8, rather than a product announcement like the other events recently, but even Microsoft's developer conference got big attention (which is why we always say that you can't discount Microsoft in this game, no matter what the current market share for Windows Phone).

New RIM CEO Thorsten Heins may not have put much of the company resources towards marketing the event, but has been able to secure support from some big name companies and developers to fill up BlackBerry 10's App World store. Already so far, the company has announced that BB10 will launch with apps from Facebook, Twitter, foursquare, and LinkedIn. So, that basically covers the social networking sphere pretty well. RIM even got an endorsement from the foursquare team in describing how easy it was to develop for BB10.

The foursquare app has been the most impressive app shown so far today, because it really looked like a true native BB10 experience. The app had the "cards" and sliding panels that are at the core of the BB10 Cascades framework. The team also said it took only "30 lines of code" to add the  pull-to-refresh feature, and off the app's full BBM integration.

The Facebook app was also shown off, but it did not look like a native experience at all. In fact, it looked quite a bit like the app that you'd find on iOS or Android. Of course, it does seem that Facebook is trying to develop its app to look the same across platforms, so it could very well be that the app is a native BB10 app. It seems likely given that Mark Zuckerberg publicly stated that the company made a mistake with HTML5, and would be moving towards native development. The Twitter and LinkedIn apps weren't shown off, but the BlackBerry App World was also shown, but the BlackBerry Hub was shown, which is to be the unified messaging system for BB. Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn are planned to be built-in along with BBM.

The BlackBerry App World screenshots also displayed some other big name developers that will be in on BlackBerry 10. The amazing tower defense game from Hexage, Radiant Defense, was shown in the store, as was The Bard's Tale. Apps that were visibly listed in the App World shots were from Box.net, Slacker Radio, and of course the Pacemaker music app that we've seen before on the BlackBerry PlayBook.

That's a good start as far as developer support, but the platform will need quite a bit more if it is to make BlackBerry relevant again. Recently, Apple announced over 700,000 apps in the iTunes App Store, Google announced more than 600,000 in the Play Store, and even Microsoft has over 100,000 apps in the Windows Store.

BlackBerry did state that it has more than 100,000 apps in the App World as well, but not all of those apps are optimized for full touchscreen phones, so BlackBerry needs that to change, and needs to have more than just the big names available. And, for that, RIM also announced that the company will start to accept app submissions for BlackBerry 10 on October 10th (10/10, get it?). Additionally, the App World will be getting music and video downloads, just like every other content store around, and will be able to accept payment through your BlackBerry ID.

So far, things are looking good from RIM, BlackBerry 10 is looking to be smooth and refined. We'll let you know as more info comes from the BB Jam Americas event, which will end on the 27th. It may well get developers excited for the platform. Now, let's see if RIM can build on this bit of momentum, and carry it through the actual product launch... which may not be for another 5 or 6 months.

Source: The Verge via RIM