Gionee Elife E7 launched in India

Gionee has officially unveiled Wlife E7 in India starting Rs. 26,999. The Chinese handset maker has announced that the smartphone will hit the market by January 15. Goinee globally announced the Elife E7 in November this year, the successor to the Elife E6.

The Gionee Wlife E7 runs Android 4.2 Jelly Bean with the company’s custom Amigo 2.0 UI laye on top, much like its predessor. The gionee Wlife E7 comes with single SIM support.

It features a 5.5-inch full-HD (1080x1920) OGS (One Glass Solution) IPS display with Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection. The Gionee Elife sports a 16 megapicel autofioocus rear camera accompained by an LED flash and also includes an 8-megapixel fornt-facing camera.

It comes in two variants. The first one, priced at Rs. 26,999, comes with 2GB RAM, !6GB and is powered by a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 clocked at 2.2 GHz. The 32GB variant with 3GB RAM and a 2.5GHz processor is priced Rs. 29,999.

The Gionee Elife E7 packs a 2500mAh battery. Connectivity options on the Gionee Elife E7 include Bluetooth, NFC, Wi-Fi, GPRS, EDGE, GPS/AGPS, 3G and 4G (for 32GB variant). It measures 150.6x75x9.5mm.

Gionee has been aggressively launching its smartphone in India, which includes the flagship device, Elife E6 launched in October.

The Gionee Elife E6 features a unibody design and sports a 5-inch OGS (One Glass Solution) IPS display with a resolution of 1080x1920 pixels and pixel density of 441ppi. The phone is thin at just 6.18mm, and weighs 128grams. It is powered by a 1.5GHz MediaTek quad-core processor, along with 2Gbof RAM. The inbuilt storage offered by the phone is 32GB which is non-expandable.

The Gionee Wlife E6 sports a 13-megapixel auto focus rear camera with a second generation BSI sensor, along with an Led flash. It also has a 5-megapixel front-facing camera with a 28mm lens. Both cameras suport 1080p video recording. The smartphone runs Android 4.2 Jelly Bean with company’s custom Amigo UI layer. The phone is powered by a 2020mAh battery.

Earlier this month,Gionee unveiled Pioneer P3 budget quad-core Android smartphone at Rs. 7,499.

Google now tracking offline sales conversions

Google is already trying to make smartphones more intelligent by tracking the online and offline activity of users of its services, and offering them relevant alerts and notifications.

However, it looks like Google is also planning to leverage the user’s offline activity to allow advertisers to target audience in better way, if a new report is to be believed.

Google conducting a program that takes advantages of samrtphone location data to find out when consumes visit physical stores, according to a report by Digiday, which cities agency executives briefed on the program by Google employees, as a source for this information.

The program, which is currently in beta, links users’s store to their visits to their searches conducted on smartphones through Google, to establish the efficacy of its mobile ads.

For instances, if a users searches for a product name in Google mobile searches, with location tracking enabled, nearby stores that offers the product can bid to get their ad served to the user above other ads. Google can then connect and track the user    ‘s location data, and after comparing it with its listing, check if the user who was served the ad actually visited the store after viewing it.

However, as with other location-based services, Google will only be able to leverage this data if the user opts in to turn on location services on his/her device. Google can track the user’s location through Android devices and iOS devices with the Google app.

Through the program, Google will reportedly be able to offer advertisers a better and more concrete estimate of their returns on ad investments, and command higher ad rates for better targeting.

Xolo Q2000 quad-core phablet

Xolo’s latest quad-core phablet is now official for the Indian market, priced at Rs. 14,999. The Xolo Q2000 was earlier spotted on the company’s official site on Friday, but without pricing and availability details.

The Q2000 is dual-SIM device with support for GSM+GSM, and runs Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. The 5.5-inch IPS display on the Xolo Q2000 features a 720x1280 pixel resolution, boasting of a pixel density of 267ppi. The Xolo Q2000 continues the Q range tradition and equips a quad-core 1.2GHz MediaTek 6589W processor with a 357MHz powerVR SGX544 GPU. It includes 1GB of RAM and 8GB of inbuilt storage which is further expandable up to 32B. The Q2000 also sports a 13-megapixel rear autofocus camera with a ‘BSI 2’ sensor and flash, while there is also a 2-megapixel front-facing camera on board. The Xolo Q2000 packs a 2600mAh battery which the listing claim can deliver up to 17 hours of talktime and up to 520 hours of standby time.

The Xolo Q2000 smartphone expands the company’s Q samrtphone series, which already include six smartphones, namely the Xolo Q700, Xolo Q1000, Xolo Q1000S, Xolo Q800 and the recently launched Xolo Q900, all of which powered by quad-core processor.

Xolo has been aggressively launching smartphones across different price segments in the last few months. Recently, the company launched a new A-series smartphone in India, the Xolo A600, at Rs. 8,199.

The Xolo A600 features a 4.5-inch qHD (540x960) IPS display and a pixel density of 245ppi. The smartphone is powered by a dual-core 1.3GHz MediaTek 6572W processor with a Mali 400 GPU, coupled with 512MB of RAM. It runs Android 4.2 Jelly Bean and supports dual-SIM (GSM+GSM) functionality.

Mail.app update for OS X Mavericks for Gmail issues

Apple has released an updated Mail app for users of OS X Mavericks, it resolve the issues of users when they use the Gmail in their OS mobile in it or creates many issues following by them.

The mail app removing the issues like moving, deleting, editing, archiving messages for users with custom Gmail settings, which causes the issues for unread mail, count to be accurate. In addition to offering additional fixes that will be improve the functionality and stability of Mail, as per Apple.

To install the update, after backing up their systems, users can go to the Apple menu and click on Software Update to check for updates through the Mac App Store. Users can also download the manual update installer through the Apple Support Downloads website.

The Mavericks Mail app update was previously seeded to Apple developers and employees.

In addition to the update to the mail app, Apple has also released an update version of iBooks for Mac that fixes bugs and brings performance and stability improvements.

The iBooks app for Mac made its debut with Mavericks and enables users to download and read iBooks and iBooks Textbooks.

OS X Mavericks offers a lot of under the hood through it doesn’t feature many new user facing changes. It brings new features like Finder Tabs; Tags; enhanced multiple display support; updated native apps like Maps, iBooks, and Safari browser; and iCloud keychain, among others. It also brings under the hood changes for faster performance and longer battery life, including Timer Coalescing that groups low-level together so that the processor doesn’t use more power and battery is conserved, App Nap that saves power while working on multiple apps by slowing down the apps that are in the background, and compressed memory that frees up memory space for faster performance. 

Apple announced the public availability of OS X Mavericks on October 22, and for the first time offered it as a free download through the Mac App Store. 

Samsung Confirms Folding Display launch

At South Korea Samsung second analyst meeting has been taken in which its CEO has talk about its new upcoming gadgets and devices with newer technologies.

Samsuung Electronics CEO Kwon Oh Hyun gives the information about their new plans that will be launched in 2015; these devices are like their foldable mobile phone. He revealed that company works many projects are gives the best gadgets to them, Company works for their flexible screen device phablet, curved surface phones, wearable devices, and now it mainly work for foldable device mobile. Samsung CEO kwon Oh Hyun not specify any timeframe for the launch of foldable device phone but he will gives some hints about that the company launch very soon foldable device phone in 2015.

Kwon also acknowledged that the improvement of product sale of their first tech Gear, company is not 100% satisfied with their first wearable device (Galaxy Gear) product.

Whereas, JK Shin, President and CEO of IT & mobile communication claimed that the sales of Samsung tablets is increases 40 million in this year 2013 as compared to the last year 2012, that will be the double of their last sales productivity ratio. In meeting Samsung promised to their investors to add extra functionality to their tablets and renewing to their focus on tablets.

Not too be very long, Samsung launched their last mobile with the curved surface display that will be the variant of the Samsung Galaxy Note 3.

The Samsung Galaxy Round have the 5.7-inch display with horizontal curved surface display and also its weight is too less than the all other flat screen mobile and its grip the sale more as compared to other mobile. Samsung launched this mobile in South Korea but no any date of launch will be confirm to send it to the market.

Huawei Ascend P6 with 4.7-inch HD

Huawei's new smartphone, the Ascend P6, has been launched for the Indian market, at Rs. 29,999. The device was listed online in the fourth week of October on an ecommerce website for a discounted price of Rs. 25,750. Huawei first unveiled the Ascend P6 back in June this year.

The Huawei Ascend P6 is called the slimmest smartphone in the world by the company, and measures in at 6.2mm, while weighing 120 grams. The smartphone comes in Black, Pink and White colours. It features a 4.7-inch LCD display that has a resolution of 720x1280 pixels. It's powered by the company's in-house chipset, the Huawei K3V2 quad-core processor, clocked at 1.5GHz and coupled with 2GB of RAM.

The Ascend P6 includes an 8-megapixel rear camera with a BSI sensor, capable of recording 1080p HD video, apart from a 5-megapixel front-facing camera. It runs Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean and features Huawei's Emotion UI 1.6 OS layer on top. It offers 8GB of inbuilt storage expandable up to 32GB via microSD card and has a 2000 mAh battery. 

On Wednesday, two of Huawei's recently launched Android phablets, the Ascend G610 and Ascend G700, also made it to the Indian market via an online retailer. The Huawei Ascend G610 and Huawei Ascend G700 have been listed at Infibeam for Rs. 12,499 and Rs. 16,500 respectively. The Chinese major had unveiled both the devices back in September this year, at an event in Taiwan.

Huawei Ascend P6 key specifications

• 4.7-inch HD in-cell LCD screen with a resolution of 720x1280 pixels
• 1.5GHz quad-core Processor
• 2GB RAM
• 8GB Internal storage expandable via microSD card
• Dual-SIM with dual-standby support
• 8-megapixel rear camera
• 5-megapixel front facing camera
• 2000mAh battery

Apple releases iOS 7.0.3 update

Apple is now update their running iOS 7, 7.0.1 or 7.0.2 into their latest released operating system iOS 7.0.3 for their latest devices like iPhone 4, iPad 2, iPad mini, and the iPod touch.

This new updated operating system includes and support various features for iCloud Keychain, Which Apple had initially announced when it first showcased the OS at the WWDC event in June.

This new operating system update have size 67.7MB and it can be downloaded over the air for any devices or computers for iPhones devices, it can be easily updated.

In iOS 7.0.3 which we clears in starting that it would be adds iCloud Keychain, it allows the users to easily save and sync their account user names, passwords, and credit card numbers across all their approved iOS and Mac devices in the Safari web browser.

It also gives the functionality of the Password Generator which Safari unique, hard-to-guess passwords for user’s online accounts. The update also brings back the ability to search the web and Wikipedia through Spotlight search, allowing users to search for keyword via iOS’ universal search feature.

These two features were not introduced with the initial release of iOS 7, as they need users to run OS X Mavericks on their Macs if they want to benefit from the sync feature. Mavericks was made available only on Tuesday.

A number of users complained about iOS 7's motion graphics and animations and to address these issues, Apple has enhanced the Reduce Motion setting to minimise both motion and animation in the OS UI. It also updates the Bold Text setting to change dial pad text.

The 7.0.3 update also delays the display of "slide to unlock" when Touch ID is in use, for iPhone 5s users.

In addition to new features, the iOS 7.0.3 update also brings a number of fixes to the OS. It fixes iMessages issues that were being reported by a number of users including message sending failures and activation problems.

The update also fixes an accelerometer calibration issue. It's worth pointing out that it was reported that the iPhone 5s motion sensors were not giving accurate readings. The update might be able to fix the issue.

The 7.0.3 update addresses an issue that could cause Siri and VoiceOver to use a lower quality voice and one that could cause VoiceOver input to be too sensitive. It also improves system stability when using iWork apps, following reports of the iPhone 5s crashing while using the apps.

Interestingly, there's also a security fix as Apple mentions that the update fixes a bug that could allow someone to bypass the Lock screen passcode.

Apple had previously released the iOS 7.0.2 update in September to fix the lock screen vulnerabilities that were discovered after the public release of iOS 7. 

Micromax Canvas Turbo specifications leaked via purported design schematic

Micromax has started teasing its upcoming smartphone, the Canvas Turbo, but the company is yet to reveal the specifications of the device. When we first heard of the smartphone, the Canvas Turbo was rumoured to come with a full-HD display, the first such smartphone from Micromax.

A new rumour however, claims to shed some light on the specifications of the Canvas Turbo, and also reveals the presence of a 13-megapixel camera accompanied by an LED flash at the back of the phone. The leak come from MMXNewcaster, a source of leaks related to Micromax mobiles and appears to be from the manual of the yet-t-be-announced device.

As per leaked sketch of the Canvas Turbo, the device is said to come with a 5-inch full-HD display and would sport a 5-megapixel front-facing camera. The leaked sketch further suggests that the smartphone would be dual-SIM, with support for micro-SIM, with the slot placed on the left panel. Other features revealed include Micro-USB port housed at the top panel, a 3.5mm audio jack at the bottom panel, while power button and volume rocker buttons at the right side

Additionally, MMXNewscaster an alleged image of the Canvas Turbo’s top rear panel on the Twitter. The tweet revealed that the device would come with 13-megapixel rear camera placed on the top left corner at the back of the phone, much similar to the Canvas doodle 2 phablet.

As of now, not many other details have been revealed about the Micromax Canvas Turbo A250 smartphone. However, with the teaser ads running on the television and Internet showing the Micromax Canvas Turbo, the device can be expected to be launched soon.

Earlier a leaked teaser image pointed to a smartphone in development dubbed Canvas Turbo A250 and was said to come with full-HD display.

If rumours are to be believed, then the Micromax Canvas Turbo will become the first phone from the domestic handset manufacturer to sport a full-HD display.

Adcom Thunder A-350i, Thunder A-400i, Thunder A-500 budget smartphones launched

Advantage Computer India Pvt. Ltd (Adcom) has launched three new smartphones for the Indian market, the Adcom Thunder A-350i, Thunder A-400i and Thunder A-500. The new Thunder smartphones are available between Rs. 3,285 and Rs. 6,999, notes the company. However, the exact pricing of the three Adcom Thunder smartphones have not been revealed by the company, yet. All the three new Adcom Thunder A-350i, Thunder A-400i and Thunder A-500 smartphones come with dual-SIM (GSM+GSM) support.

The Adcom Thunder is A-350i runs Android 2.3.5 Gingerbread and features the 3.5-inch display with 320x480 pixel resolution. It is powered with 1GHz processor with 256MB of RAM. Other specifications include 512MB of inbuilt storage that’s expandable up to 32GB via a microSD card, 2-megapixel rear camera and a VGA front-facing camera. It also packs a 1250mAh battery.

The Adcom Thunder A-400i features a 4-inch display with 320x480 pixels resolution and runs Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. Much like the Thunder A-350i, it is also powered by 1GHz processor along with 256MB of RAM. Other specifications on the Thunder A-400i include 512MB of inbuilt storage that’s expandable up to 32GB via microSD card, 2-megapixel rear camera and a VGA front-facing camera. Connectivity options on the device include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Micro-USB and EDGE. It packs a 1200mAh battery.

Last in the list, the Adcom Thunder A-500 features a 5-inch HD LCD display and runs Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. It is powered by 1.2GHz dual core processor and 512MB of RAM. Other specifications include an 8-megapixel rear camera, a 2-megapixel front-facing camera, 4GB of inbuilt storage that is expandable up to 32GB via microSD card, and a 2800mAh battery.

Commenting on the launch, Sanjeev Bhatia, founder of Adcom, said "Adcom is committed to give the consumers the latest technology and a chance to be a part of this ever-changing and continuously developing cell phone market and we are delivering the same."

Samsung Galaxy S4 LTE variant receives Android 4.3 update

Samsung Galaxy Note 3 was the first non-Nexus device in the market to run Android 4.3, and it seems company’s flagship smartphone, the Samsung Galaxy S4 will be the next device to run the OS version.

Sammobile reports that Samsung Galaxy S4’s LTE variant (GT-I9595) is receiving the Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update. The site suggests that the first country to receive the update is Germany and mentions that the Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update for Galaxy S4 is being rolled out in phases, which means that other countries and device will receive the update soon.

The S4’s Android 4.3 update is reportedly available both OTA (over the air) and via the company’s Kies software. Notably, the update will bring Galaxy Gear support to the Galaxy S4, making it the second device to sport that functionality, as previously announced by Samsung.

The site detailed changelog for the update, listing OpenGL 3.0 support; Samsung’s Wallet app comes with the update; improved RAM management; improved display colour reproduction which will reportedly make display look sharper than before; improved TouchWiz launcher; Samsung’s new keyboard; new Samsung’s default Browser; new camera firmware and minor tweaks in the UI for contacts, flashlight widget and dialog box apps. However, the report does not reveal the availability of Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update for Galaxy S4 (GT-I9500) variant which is available in India.

Recently, a report indicated that Samsung was planning an Android 4.3 update for its top of the line smartphones soon.

The report also claimed the devices getting the Android 4.4 update were the 2013 flagship, the Galaxy S4 in October while the 2012 flagship device, the Samsung Galaxy S III was expected to get the new Android update by October end or even November. He report further revealed that the Galaxy Note II would also be getting the taste of the new Jelly Bean iteration, but that would only be by the end of November, or early December.

Prior to this, while announcing the Galaxy Gear smartwatch at IFA, the South Korean major revealed that the compatibility for the Gear smartwatch would be extended to the Galaxy S4 ad the Galaxy S III with a software update that would be seeded to consumers in October.

Apple is believed to have cut Q4 orders for iPhone 5c

Apple Inc told manufacturer of its new iPhone 5c that it will cut orders of the smartphone for the final three months of the year, a source familiar with the supply chain situation said.

Pegatron Corp, a major manufacturer of Apple’s new phone, had 5c orders reduced by less than 20 percent, the source told Reuters on Wednesday, declining to be identified because the information is sensitive.

Hon Hai Precision Industry Co, Apple’s other manufacturer of the 5c, has had its orders for the same period reduced by a third, the Wall Street Journal reported.

The iPhone 5c (Review) and iPhone 5s (Review) were launched in September ahead of the year-end holiday season when sales tend to hit a peak. In the United States, the 5c is $100 cheaper than the premium 5s, which is retailer for $649 for the 16GB model. 

The cut in 5c orders will reinforce investor sentiment that the phone was overpriced and would not be well-received by consumers, some analysts say.

“This reflects failure in Apple’s pricing strategy, “said Bevan Yeh, a Taipei-based senior fund manager at Prudential Financial Securities Investments Trust. “The price differentiation between 5c and 5s is too small. It’s an iPhone 5 with plastic casing and isn’t worth the price.” 

Spokesmen at Pegatron and Hon Hai declined to comment, while Apple could not be immediately reached for comment.

In China, one of Apple’s most important markets according to Chief Executive Tim Cook, the 5c’s reception has been lukewarm. Some local bloggers say the price difference between the 5c and 5S is too narrow.

Apple said previously that sales for the 5s and 5c in the first three days of their launch in September totaled 9 million, and that demand for 5S exceeded initial supplies. I did not give separate figures for the 5c and 5s.

Prudential, which does not own Apple shares, forecasts assemblers will ship around 5c units in the final three months of this year and 10 million in the first three months of next year.

Some analysts caution against correlating the cuts to Apple’s supplier orders with poor sales, because of the complexity and opacity of the company’s supply chain.

“We’ve seen this several times. There are too many moving parts in the supply chain to draw any conclusion,” said Benedict Evans, who covers mobile and digital media at Enders Analysis, a research consultancy in London.

“We don’t know what other suppliers they use or what inventory they already have.”

Microsoft unveils third Windows Phone 8 update with large display support

Microsoft has finally announced the much-anticipated third update for Windows Phone 8. The company also mentions that the new update will be rolled out in the coming weeks and will be counting for some months depending on the carrier and phone models. However, the company has not detailed anything about region-specific rollouts of the latest third Windows Phone update.

The new update, previously thoughts to be called the Windows Phone GDR3 update, brings some of the most awaited features to the Windows Phone platform that includes support for bigger display (5-inch and 6-inch displays) that will now house six Live Tiles instead of four, as found in previous version; support for higher resolution (full-HD or 1080p) displays, which paves the way for yet to be released Windows Phone devices (like rumoured Nokia Lumia 1520); support for more powerful processors, like the Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 quad-core processor, and improvements in Internet sharing, which now adds a pairing feature for a Windows Phone 8 device and Windows 8.1 PC or tablet over Bluetooth for sharing cellular data via W-Fi hotspot.

The third Windows Phone 8 update also adds more ‘Mobile Accessibility’ features for Windows Phone 8 devices, including a suite of apps like screen reader, meant for the convenience of blind and visually impaired users, allowing them to manage calls, contacts, texts, emails and also hear notification like calendar, alarm, events and low-battery warnings.

The latest update for the Windows Phone 8 platform brings a new Driving Mode feature that will limit notifications for calls, texts and emails on the phone’s lock screen while driving. This feature can also be set for automatic replies to contacts for calls and texts while driving.

There are some minor changes added to the third WP8 update that include custom ringtones for messages, emails, voicemails, reminders and contacts; new rotation lock option to keep the device’s screen in place while using it; new storage management feature that will allow users to free up space on the phone and manage temporary files; app switcher to close background apps; enhancements in connection quality for Bluetooth-attached accessories and finally a user will be prompted to set Wi-Fi during phone startup process.

Darren Laybourn, Corporate Vice President, Windows Phone further adds in a blog post, "When we sat down to plan our latest official update to Windows Phone 8, we had three main engineering goals in mind - enable incredible new Windows Phone devices, enhance the platform with new capabilities for current users and partners and improve overall quality." 

Nexus 5 leaked again, reveals build, more Android 4.4 KitKat features

A bunch of new images and a walkthrough video reportedly showing the alleged Nexus 5 smartphone running the new iteration of Google’s mobile operating system have surfaced on the Internet.

The new leaked live images reveals some of the new features of the Android 4.4 KitKat which include transparent notification and navigation bar; Google photos and Hangouts replacing the conventional messaging and gallery apps respectively; a new camera launch icon is now seen sitting on the left corner of the display on the lockscreen; ability to add more homescreen panes; new wallpapers; Google Now to activate by saying ‘Ok Google’ from the homescreen and new boot animation reportedly borrowed from the Play Editions of Galaxy S4 and HTC One.

The latest leaked images were posted on TuttoAndroid and were first reported by Android Police.

Further a new walkthrough video featuring the alleged prototype of the Nexus 5 has also surfaced. The video has been posted by gn5 and shows some of the preloaded apps that were seen on previous versions of Android like Live wallpapers, Chrome, YouTube, calendar, among others. It is also showcases the build of the Nexus 5, however, it is definitely an early build, or prototype, as there is no branding visible.

While the video also shows the storage of the device which has 16GB out of which only 12GB is user-accessible and the smartphone’s about section that reveals Nexus 5 running Key Lime Pie. The leak is accompanied with the speculation that the Nexus 5 will feature a rubberized back, just like the prototype version shown. The video has been shooting with the phone supporting the French language and could be deciphered.

As previously reported, Google is expected to unveil the next Nexus smartphone and Android 4.4 KitKat, the new iteration of Google’s mobile operating system on October 15, as per a recent report. 

Karbonn A16 and Karbonn A99 budget Android smartphones available online

Karbonn Mobiles has introduced two new budget smartphone for the Indian for the Indian market, the Karbonn A16 and Karbonn A99. Both the handsets have been listed at ecommerce site, Saholic. The Karbonn A16 is available for Rs. 5,990, while the Karbonn A99 comes for Rs. 6,190. The ecommerce site clearly mentions that both the handsets will be delivered next week i.e. October 17.

Both the handsets interestingly come with identical specifications; the only difference is that the Karbonn A99 packs a 1400mAh battery while the Karbonn A16 includes a 1350mAh battery. Both the Karbonn A16 and A99 are dual-SIM devices with support for GSM+GSM.

Other specifications of the two budget smartphones include 4-inch WVGA (480x800 pixels) display, dual-core 1.3GHz processor, 512MB of RAM, 4GB of inbuilt storage further expandable upto 32GB with microSD card, a 5-meagpixel camera, and a VGA front-facing camera. Both the handsets, the Karbonn A16 and Karbonn A99 are operated on Android 4.2 Jelly Bean out-of-the-box.

Some preloaded apps included on both devices are UC Browser, Opera Min, Kingsoft Office, Karbonn Live, WhatsApp and Flipboard.

Prior to this, Karbonn rolled out the Smart A51 budget device for Rs. 3,499. The Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich-based Karbonn Smart A51 features a 3.5-inch TFT LCD display with 320x480 pixel resolution. It is powered by a 1GHz processor, though chipset has not been specified in the listing and includes 256MB of RAM. It is a dual-SIM (GSM+GSM) device with dual standby time. There is a 3.2-meagpixel rear camera accompanied by an LED flash while there is a VGA front-facing camera. It runs on a 1.100mAh battery, though standby time and talktime have not been detailed.

Nexus 5 image leaked

The much anticipated successor to the Nexus 4 has made another appearance on the Internet. The latest leaked image comes courtesy Spigen, a case-maker that has posted an image of the expected Nexus 5, revealing the rear panel.

Spigen has posted the image to its Google+ feed and noted, “There will you be when the revolution begins?” accompanied by the #nexus5, #android and #google hashtags that suggests that case-maker wants more people to talk the upcoming Nexus smartphone.

The leaked image shows the rear camera with large sensor accompanied by an LED flash. The rear panel’s design appears to be identical to that of the Nexus 7 (2013) tablet. The image has a tagline which said, “Nexus 5 revolution is ready.” Unfortunately, the case-maker has not revealed any details about the availability of the alleged Nexus 5.

Earlier this month, the rumoured Nexus 5’s battery, pricing and storage details were leaked. The report claimed that the 16GB Nexus 5 model will supposedly be priced at $299 (Rs. 18,500 approximately), while the 32GB Nexus 5 might be expected to be priced at $399 (Rs. 24,500 approximately).

Additionally the report claimed that the next Nexus smartphone would come in two different battery sizes for 16GB and 32GB storage models. As per the report, the 16GB is said to include a 230mAh battery while the 32GB model is expected to pack a 3000mAh battery.

We had already reported that the rumoured Nexus 5 will come with 16GB and 32GB storage onboard, as the company has shifted to larger inbuilt storage on the device.

Rumoured specifications of the Nexus 5 include a 4.95-inch full-HD (1080p) IPS LCD display. Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 quad-core processor clocked at 2.3GHz, 2GB of RAM, 8-megapixel rear camera with OIS and a 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera. The alleged Nexus 4 successor has also been expected to include a host of sensors like ambient light, proximity, pressure as well as accelerometer, compass, notification LED and gyroscope.

Prior to this, a report suggested the successor to the Nexus 4 would be unveiled later this month, while it would be start shipping in the last week of this month. 

Sony Xperia Z1 f with 4.3-inch display, 20.7-megapixel camera launched

Sony has finally taken the wraps off its latest smartphone, the Xperia Z1 f which is a mini-variant of the flagship smartphone, the Xperia Z1.

The device has been introduced under Japanese operator NTT DoCoMo's winter smartphone line-up, and is expected to be released in late December 2013. No pricing details for the newly introduced Xperia Z1 f have been revealed by Sony and NTT DoCoMo.

The Sony Xperia Z1 f (SO-02F) features a 4.3-inch TRILUMINOS HD (720x1280) display with X-Reality for Mobiles. It is powered by a 2.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm MSM8974 processor along with 2GB of RAM, much like its elder sibling. The Xperia Z1 f runs Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean out of the box and is manufactured by a single aluminium frame with tampered glass on back and front panel. It comes with 16GB of inbuilt storage which is further expandable up to 64GB with the help of microSD card.

The highlight of the Xperia Z1 f is again the 20.7-megapixel Exmor RS sensor alongside BIONZ image processor engine and pulsed LED flash, as seen in Xperia Z1. It also includes a 2.2-megapixel front-facing camera. Connectivity options on the device include Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS/ GLONASS and NFC. The Xperia Z1 f packs a 2300mAh battery with STAMINA mode and is waterproof and dust-proof smartphone, like other high-end Xperia smartphones.

The Xperia Z1 f will be available in multiple colours, Black, Lime, Pink and White, as rumoured earlier.

Meanwhile, Sony unveiled its flagship, the Xperia Z1 at IFA in Berlin and launched the device in India recently.

Rumoured Nokia Lumia 1520 leaks again, pictured alongside Apple iPhone 4S

Images of Nokia’s much-anticipated phablet, the Lumia 1520 have once again surfaced online.

WMPowereuser has posted a couple of images of alleged Nokia Lumia 1520 once again confirming that the upcoming phablet would offer extra columns and rows for apps, very much in-line with previous reports.

The leaked images show the alleged Nokia Lumia 1520 pictured alongside the Apple’s iPhone 4S and a Lumia sibling. The leaked image did not reveal any details about the yet to be officially announced Lumia 1520 phone expect indicating its expected size.

Additionally, the site suggest that the alleged Lumia 1520 will borrow the rear panel features of the Nokia Lumia 925 to accommodate the camera and also to sport the 6 element OIS (optical image stabilizer) lens assembly.

Rumoured specifications of Nokia Lumia 1520 include a 6-inch full-HD display, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor, 2GB of RAM, 32GB of built-in storage, a nano-SIM and a microSD card slot. The device has also been expected to ship with a 20-megapixel rear camera.

Meanwhile, Nokia is expected to unveil six new devices at its October 22 event, due to hold at Nokia World in Abu Dhabi, according to a recent report.

The report further suggested that Nokia might unveil the long-rumoured Lumia 1520 phablet along with company’s first Windows RT tablet, the Lumia 2520.

Other Nokia devices expected to be unveiled at Nokia World include the Lumia 525, which is said to be the successor to the Lumia 520; Nokia Asha 502, the successor to the popular Asha 501 and treasure Tag, likely to work with Bluetooth 4.0 and Bluetooth low energy standards. 

Samsung Galaxy Round curved display smartphone

Samsung Electronics Co Ltd on Wednesday launched the world’s first samrtphone with a curved display, a variant of the Galaxy Note which moves the Asia giant a step closer to achieving wearable devices with flexible – even unbreakable – screens.

Curved displays are on the frontlines of Samsung’s innovation war with rivals such as Apple Inc and LG Electronics Inc, as the South Korean firm seeks to exits lead in the slowing market for high-end smartphones.

“It’s a step forward for having unbreakable gadgets and flexible devices eventually. But for now, the new phone is more of a symbolic product, “said Hana DAetoo Securities analyst Nam Dae-jong, adding that Samsung did not yet have capacity for large-scale production of curved touch-screen for the new Galaxy Round.

The Galaxy Round is Samsung’s attempt to gauge consumer appetite for curved phones although its lack of other eye-catching features means it is likely to be a hit, he said. “I don’t think it’ll be massively compelling enough for gadget buyers as the curved display doesn’t come with my unique features,” he said.

The Galaxy Round’s 5.7-inch (14.4-centimeter) display has a slight horizontal curve and weighs less than the Galaxy Note 3, allowing a more comfortable grip than other flat-screen models on the market, Samsung said in a statement.

Its key features include a tilt function which allows users to check information such as missed calla and battery life, even when the home screen is off. Users can also scroll through media files by pressing the screen’s right or left, the company said. The phone initially would be available only in South Korea and no decision had been made about releasing it in other market.

Design Challenges

Curved displays open up possibilities for blended designs that could eventually transform the high-end smartphone market, where growth has slowed amid competition from low-end producers.

Samsung’s Galaxy Gear smartwatch released last month has a flat screen, but the company is hoping to have the technology to make more attractive and wearable devices in what is shaping as a key battleground for consumer electronics companies.

Technology firms have yet to figure out how to cheap mass produce the parts and come up with display panels that can be thin and heat-resistant. Batteries also have to take new forms to support flexible screens that can be rolled out, attached to uneven surfaces or even stretched. The battery in the Galaxy Round is not curved, Samsung said.

Competition is heating up with Samsung’s cross-town rival LG Electronics planning to introduce a samrtphone with a vertically curved display in the first week of November, a source familiar with the matter said this week.

Its components affiliate, LG Chem Ltd, said on Tuesday it had started commercial production of a curved battery for use I the device.

The firm also said it has developed a battery in cable form, suitable for wearable devices, and expected to start commercial production within the next couples of years.

Technology analysts and media reports say Apple is working on a smartwatch, potentially with a curved screen, but there has been no word from the California-based company about its plans.

Samsung’s new curved-screen phone, available through South Korea’s biggest mobile carrier SK Telecom Co Ltd, costs 1.089 million won. 

Rumoured Xperia Z1 mini gets leaked in images revealing colour variants

Some new images revealing the Sony Xperia Z1 mini, a.k.a ‘Xperia Z1 f’ has leaked again. The new leaked images suggest that the rumoured Xperia Z1 mini will come in multiple colours, Black, Lime, Pink and White, unlike the original Xperia Z1 which comes in Black, Purple and White colours.

RBMen has published handful images of the rumored Xperia Z1 mini from leaked brochure documents from NTT DoCoMo Japan. According to the site, the NTT DoCoMo, a Japanese operator, will be introducing its all new winter smartphone line-up on October 10 and that the line-up also includes the yet to be officially unveiled Xperia Z1 mini.

There’s no new information about the alleged device, but as more rumours fly across the Web, it seems quite plausible that Sony may be planning to release the alleged mini variant of the Xperia Z1 soon, which will be an affordable alternative to the flagship smartphone.

Earlier this month, the ‘Xperia Z1’ with model number SO-02F was leaked alongside the Xperia Z1 (SO-01F), which was launched last month at IFA 2013. The former was believed to be the yet-to-be-announced Xperia Z1 mini.

Rumoured specifications of the Sony Xperia Z1 mini includes a quad-core 2.2GHz Snapdragon 800 processor, the same as we have seen on the Xperia Z1; a 4.3-inch TRILUMINOS display with 720x1280 pixels resolution; 16GB of inbuilt storage ; 2GB of RAM, apart from a 2300mAh battery. It supposedly also boasts of IP55/IP58 certification (dust and water resistant), just like the Xperia Z, Xperia Z1 and Xperia Z Ultra.

Interestingly, the alleged Xperia Z1 mini is said to ship with the same 20.7-megapixel camera as the Xperia Z1, one of the recently unveiled flagship’s biggest highlights. Additionally, the Xperia Z1 mini is said to feature the same Sony G lens, f/2.0 aperture and the same ½.3” sensor which has been seen on the Xperia Z1. 

Purported Nexus 5 service manual leaks, reveals complete specifications

Fresh purported evidence about the rumoured Nexus 4 successor has been spilled out, thanks to a leaked service manual that is said to reveal its specifications.

Android Police has published a service manual for the LG-D821 variant which was formerly believed to be the LG G2’s CDMA-variant. The leaked manual reveals complete specifications of the alleged Nexus 5 along with diagrams, images, and flowcharts of the device.

The specifications revealed by the alleged leaked manual include a 4.95-inch full-HD (1080p) IPS LCD display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 quad-core processor clocked at 2.3GHz, 2GB RAM, 8-meagapixel rear camera with OIS and a 1.3-megapixel front facing camera. It is also evident by the alleged manual that the rumored Nexus 5 will come with 16GB and 32GB storage onboard as the company seems to shift to larger inbuilt storage on the device. However, the manual reveals noting about expandable storage.

The Nexus 5 is also rumored to include a host of sensors like ambient light, proximity, pressure as well as accelerometer, compass, notification LED and gyroscope. Connectivity features expected on the device include NFC, Bluetooth, A-GPS and WI-Fi. It is also suggested by the leaked manual that the device will come with 2300mAh battery and also support wireless charging. One of the images in the manual show the alleged Nexus 5 with large camera sensor as seen in at the back, which was first spotted in the Android 4.4 Kitkat announcement video.

There’s not much more that can be leaked out about the Nexus 5, expect for the device itself to actually be officially announced. A recent report had indicated an October release for the Nexus 5 while the device would ship in the last week of October.

Samsung Galaxy Note 3 with dual-SIM support surfaces online

Samsung has yet to announce a dual-SIM variant of the new Galaxy Note 3 phablet, through a report claims that the South Korean maker has made the device official in China.

According to a Vietnamese media report, the South Korean has introduced the Galaxy Note 3 with dual-SIM support for the Chinese market. The handset has been priced at 735 Euros (Rs. 61,300 approximately) in Asia, claims the report. The alleged Samsung Galax Note 3 dual-SIM is said to be carrier unlocked, unlike many Galaxy smartphones. However, the company has not released any official press note or possible availability details of the device, yet.

The alleged Galaxy Note 3 dual-SIM is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor much like the N9005 version of the device. Other specifications of the device are expected to be similar to the single-SIM variant of the Galaxy Note 3, expect the dual-SIM support features.

The South Korean major officially unveiled the Galaxy Note 3 phablet at the sidelines of IFA 2013 in Berlin. It comes with a 5.7-inch full-HD Super AMOLED display. The Galaxy Note 3 includes a 3GB of RAM and a 13-megapixel rear camera alongside 2-megapixel front camera. It is powered by 3,200mAh battery and runs Android 4.3 Jelly Bean. The Galaxy Note 3 is available in 32 GB and 64GB variants. Both variants come with support for up to 64GB of additional external storage.

Recently, it was reported that Samsung’s Galaxy Note 3 and other high-end smartphones were region-locked. Following widespread outrage, Samsung later issued a statement and said that the company is SIM-locking new device including the Galaxy S III, Galaxy S II, Galaxy S4, Galaxy S4 Mini, and Galaxy Note 3 device produced after the end of July 2013.

Samsung also clarified that all these devices will sport a sticker indicating the same and that the region lock could be removed free of charges through a Samsung service partner if the device is used outside the region it’s meant for and had not been used with a local SIM of that region. 

iPhone 5s motion sensors delivering inaccurate readings: Report

The motion sensors on Apple's iPhone 5s are not working properly and delivering inaccurate results, if a new report is to be believed.

The various sensors of the phone, including the Level, Gyroscope, Compass, and Accelerometer, were put to test by Gizmodo, and the site found out that the readings were way off compared to the ones taken by the iPhone 5's sensor. Both the phones were running iOS 7, which implies that it's not a software problem and cannot be fixed through an update.

The site found a major difference between the iPhone 5s' internal inclinometer/ level readings and a real measurement of inclination. Compared to a Stanley spirit level, the iPhone 5s level's reading in iOS 7 compass software was 2-3 degrees off. The reading was accurate on the iPhone 5. The results were similar even on a third party app. Same was the case with the Gyroscope impacting gameplay on the phone.

Testing the Compass, Gizmodo found out that there was a difference of 8-10 degrees between the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5. Compared to a real compass both the phones' readings were off but iPhone 5's reading was more accurate. This issue could affect mapping and navigation apps leading to differences in location detection.

The iPhone 5s' Accelerometer registered more latent motion than the iPhone 5's Accelerometer. This would again impact gaming and motion tracking-based fitness apps.

It's also possible that the iOS 7 software is not accurately calibrating the iPhone 5s' sensors for which a firmware update bringing a fix could be released. However, different users are reporting different levels of discrepancies on forums. It's also possible that the sensors have not been calibrated properly in the factory, as the report notes. 

HTC posts first-ever quarterly losses as troubles multiply

Taiwan’s HTC Corp slid into the red for the first time in the third quarter, with sales hit hard by fierce competition in the smartphone market, supply chain constraints and internal turmoil.

Underscoring a dramatic decline for a company which boast award-winning smartphones but has failed to develop a durable brand of handsets, it posted an operating loss of T$3.5 billion as sales for the quarter tumbled by a third from the same period a year earlier.

At a net level, it booked a loss of T$2.97 billion, bigger than an expected loss of T$1.8 billion, according to Thomson Reuters Smart Estimates. That compares with a net profit of T$3.9 billion in the same quarter last year.

Its shares were down 2.3 percent in early trade.

HTC lacks the scale of bigger rivals Apple Inc and Samsung Electronics Co Ltd and its troubles this year have only multiplied.

In Addition to internal feuding and executive exits, sources have said that it is facing casing shortage for its HTC One Mini. It has also lost some patent cases and media have reported that three of its design executives have been arrested on suspicion of leaking trade secrets.

HTC’s share of the global smartphone market has plummeted from a peak of 1.9 percent in 2011 to 2.6 percent in the most recent quarter, according to research firm Gartner and analysts have said it needs a wholesales reevaluation of its strategy in order to survive.

New iPad, iPad mini to sport improved 8-megapixel rear camera: Report

Apple will put an improved 8-megapixel rear camera sensor on the fifth generation iPad and the second-generation iPad mini, if KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo’s predication is to be believed.

The analyst’s predications have been pretty accurate in the past. Kuo mentions that the new camera module will features a larger aperture, similar to the one found on the recently launched iPhone 5s. He has also indicated that the ASP (average Selling Price) of the camera lens module will increase by 10 to 20 percent due to this change.

In a note (via MacRumors) the firm said, “We predict Apple (US) will launch new iPad 5 and iPad mini 2 (so called retina iPad mini) in 4Q13. As the tablet market becomes increasingly competitive, Appl could upgrade the camera as a selling point for the new iPad in a bid to increase competitiveness. We expect the upgrade will include 8MP rear camera, up from 5MP, and larger aperture. Lens modules ASP will raise 10-20 percent on this optics spec upgrade.”

Apple has not focused much on the rear cameras of its iPad tablets, at least not when compared to its focus on the iPhone’s camera. The current-generation iPad and iPad mini both sport a 5-megapixel camera without an LED flash.

It’s not clear if the other components of the next-generation iPad and iPad mini’s camera modules will also be upgraded to make them on par with the iPhone 5s camera. The iPhone 5s camera includes a True Tone Flash that features a white LED and amber LED which work with software algorithms to adjust flash intensity and colour temperature. It also offers a Slo-Mo mode to shoot slow motion video at 120 frames per second at 720p.

Kuo also mentions that the Retina display equipped iPad mini launch in the fourth quarter of 2013. Interestingly, a new report indicates that Apple will be unable to widely roll out a new versions of the iPad mini with a high-resolution “Retina” display in October, citing people who work in the company’s supply chain as a source. These people added that Apple’s supply chain is only now gearing up to make Retina displays for the iPad mini,, which means the tablets could be available in only limited quantities this year, if at all.

Apple is expected to unveil the new iPad tablets at an event in October; however, there’s no official word from the company on the same.

Sony Xperia C with 5-inch display, dual-SIM available online for Rs. 20,490

Sony seems to be geared up to officially launch another mid-range smartphone, the Xperia C for the Indian market. The device is currently available online for Rs. 20,490 on Saholic, while it is up for pre-order on Flipkart with the same pricing. Both the ecommerce sites have mentioned that the device will be available from second week of October. The Xperia C was officially unveiled earlier this year at the Mobile Asia Expo.

The Sony Xpreria C is the first smartphone from the Japanese handset to be based on quad-core MediaTek MTK6589 processor; clocked at 1.2GHz. It comes with 5-inch TFT LCD qHD (540x960 pixel) display and runs Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. It includes 1GB of RAM and 4GB of inbuilt storage, which can be further expandable up to 32GB via microSD card. The Sony Xperia C is a dual-SIM smartphone (GSM+GSM) with dual standby.

The Xperia c sports an 8-megapixel rear camera with Exmore R sensor. The rear camera comes with features like face detection and Sweep Panorama, and is also capable of shooting videos in full-HD (1080p) mode. There is a 0.3-megapixel front camera onboard also. Connectivity options include 3G, Wi-Fi, DLNA, Bluetooth 4.0 and GPS. The smartphone will be available in White, Black and Purple colour options.

Other features on the Sony Xperia C include motion-gaming, FM radio with RDS, walkman app and ‘screen mirroring’. The device is backed by a 2330mAh battery, which the company claims can deliver up to 10hours of talktime and up to 588 hours of standby time.

Sony Xperia Z1 mini allegedly revealed

While Sony is still busy on promoting its latest flagship smartphone, the Xperia Z1 globally, a site has posted a purported official document revealing the Xperia Z1 mini.

Xperiablog has published some leaked documents from NTT DoCoMo Japan, revealing the rumored specifications of the ‘Xperia Z1 f’ with model number SO-02F alongside the Xperia Z1 (SO-01F), which has already been launched last month at the IFA. The former is believed to be yet-to-be announced Xperia Z1 mini.

The leaked documents also reveal specifications of the ‘Xperia Z1 f’ a.k.a. ‘Xperia Z1 mini,’ which supposedly boast of a quad-core 2.2GHz Snapdragon 800 processor, the same as we have seen on the Xperia Z1. It is said to come with a 4.3-inch display with 720x1280 pixels resolution, 16GB of inbuilt storage, 2GB of RAM, apart from a 2300mAh battery. The documents reveal dimensions of 127x64.9x9.4mm for the Xperia Z1 mini, and also claim it will come with IP55/IP58 certification (dust and water resistant), just like the Xperia Z1 and Xperia Z Ultra.

Interestingly, the listing also reveals that the alleged Xperia Z1 mini will ship with the same 20.7-megapixel camera as the Xperia Z1, one of the recently unveiled flagship’s biggest highlights. Additionally, the Xperia Z1 mini is said to features the same Sony G lens, f/2.0 aperture and the same 1/2.3” sensor which has been seen on the Xperia Z1. One of the documents also show the Xperia Z1 compared alongside the alleged Xperia Z1 mini, wich gives some indication about its expected size.

Looking at the documentation, there are no details about the launch of the alleged Xperia Z1 min, but its provenance certainly does hint that the device may be launched first in Japan.

Prior to this, the Xperia Z1 mini was spotted in purported leaked images that revealed front panel with Sony branding on top beneath the earpiece. The design of the leaked front panel of the alleged Xperia Z1 mini was visibly different from the Xperia smartphones launched until now.

Meanwhile, the Sony Xperia Z1 was unveiled at IFA last month, while the device was released in India few days ago.

Windows Phone gains in Europe, iOS up in US: Survey

Windows-based smartphones are making significant inroads in Europe, while Apple’s iPhone is strengthening its position in the United States, a survey showed Monday.

Data from Kantar World panel ComTech for three month ending in August Showed Windows Phone, the mobile platform from Microsoft, has posted its highest ever sales share of 9.2 percent in the five major Europe markets.

Windows had a 12 percent share in Britain, 10.8 percent in France, 9.5 percent in Italy, 8.8 percent in Germany and 2.2 percent in Spain, the survey found.

“Windows Phone’s latest wave of growth is being driven by Nokia’s expansion into the low and mid range market with the Lumia 520 and Lumia 620 handsets,” said Kantar analyst Dominic Sunnebo.

“These models are hitting the sweet spot with 16 to 24 years-olds and 35 to 49 years-olds, two key groups that look for a balance of price and functionality in their smartphone,” he said.

Android, the Google platform used by Samsung and several other manufacturers, remains the top operating system across Europe with a 70 percent market share but it is being threatened by higher growth from Windows and Apple’s iOS, the survey found.

“After years of increasing market share, Android has now reached a point where significant growth in developed markets is becoming harder to find, “Sunnebo said.

“Android’s growth has been spearheaded by Samsung, but the manufacturer is now seeing its share of sales across the major European economic dip year as a sustained comeback from Sony, Nokia and LG begins to broaden the competitive landscape.

In the United States, Android has also seen its market share drop to 55.8 percent from 60.7 percent a year earlier, while Apple’s share was up more than five percentage points at 39.3 percent. Windows rose to 3.0 percent from 2.6 percent.

Kantar said it expects Apple’s share “to spike in the coming months with the release of the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5C,” unveiled on September 20.

Apple and Android are roughly even in Japan with 48.6 percent for iOS and 47.4 percent for Android. But the agreement with Japan’s largest carrier, NTT DoCoMo, for the first time makes it likely that Apple will pull ahead of Android in this market, according to Kantar.

Apple also made strong gains in Britain, France and Spain, the survey found.

Blackberry’s woes have deepened, with the Canadian firm accounting for just 2.4 percent of sales across the five European markets and 1.8 percent in the United States, Kantar said. 

Samsung confirms Galaxy Note 3 and other high-end smartphones are region-locked

We’ve all heard of region-locked DVD players and DVDs, but it turns out Samsung wants to introduce the same resolutions on its smartphones.

It all started with UK-based mobile retailer Clove detailing certain functionality limitations regarding SIM cards on the Samsung Galaxy Note 3, the newest iteration of Samsung’s popular phablet.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 box featured a sticker that said that the phones are only compatible with a SIM-card issued from a mobile operator within Europe.

Following a disclosure, a number of customers shared a images of the American box as well, that had a sticker which mentioned that the phone was compatible with a SIM-card issued from a mobile operator within the Americas, including North, South and Central Americas and the Caribbean.

When phones by carriers under contracts are locked to prevent violations, it’s hard to understand why carrier-unlocked phones should come with regional restrictions except for preventing grey market imports and exports. But this also implies that customers would not be able to buy phones from other regions.

After widespread outrage, Samsung issued a statement to German website All about Samsung saying that the company is SIM-locking new devices including the Galaxy S II, Galaxy S III, Galaxy Note, Galaxy S4, Galaxy S4 Mini, and Galaxy Note 3 devices produced after the end of July 2013. It is also clarifies that all these devices sport a sticker indicating the same and that the region look can be removed free of charge through a Samsung service partner if the device is used outside the region it’s meant fro and has not been used with a local SIM that region.

The statement doesn’t clarify if users will be able to use a local SIM-card when travelling outside their region, and it even mentions that internationally roaming services would work. However, developer Jan Ole Suhr tweeted about Samsung Germany clarify that the region lock is automatically removed once a user plugs in the local SIM-card.

iPhone 5s costs $191 to make, cheaper than iPhone 5: IHS

While the iPhone 5s includes of new features that set it apart from Apple’s previous model, the actual cost to make the phone hasn’t changes very much, according to a new study.

An IHS Inc. teardown of the new smartphone found that the components make up a 16-gigabyte iPhone 5s (Review) cost $190.70. Manufacturing costs add another $8, bringing the total production cost to $198.70.

In comparison of iPhone 5 that will be hit the market last year ago that costs up to $197 to make.

According to a Andrew Rassaweiler, the IHS director the cost of the benchmarking service has been noted the iPhone 5s includes the extra new features that gives extra functionality to this smartphone, such are 64-bit apps processor and a finger-print identification sensor without any kind of significant jump in the costs of this iPhone.

Also the research firm also dissected a 16-gigabyte iPhone 5c (Review), a cheaper version of the 5s, and put its total production cost at $173.45, including all the manufacturing costs that are $7.

In the last press interview, Rassweiler said the 5c is basically an iPhone 5 wrapped in plastic, nothing that it has basically the same features, but benefits from typical components price drops, along with its cheaper plastic enclose.

The starting price of iPhone 5c is $549, but it will sell for $99 with a two year wireless contract. It’s Apple’s least-expensive iPhone ever and is an effort to boost sales in China and other areas where people don’t have as much money to expend on new gadgets as they do in the U.S. and Europe. But critics have said that the phone is still too expensive to sell well in emerging markets.

IHS said that while I cost substantially less to produce an iPhone 5c than it did an iPhone 5, those costs are still on the high side.

It added that in order to merit the low-end smartphone pricing of $400 that many industry observers had expected while maintaining typical Apple profit margins the company would need to reduce its 5c production to about $130.

Monday Apple reported that it sold 9 million of the two new models since their launch on Friday – its strongest iPhone launch ever – and that demand was exceeding supply.

In midday trading, shares of the Cupertino, Calif., company slipped $5.98 to $483.12.

HTC One Android 4.3 update reportedly begins rolling out

While we have not heard any official word from HTC about the Android 4.3 update to the HTC One, it seems the company has started the rollout in its home-turf, according to reports.

@LlabTooFeR, who claims to be a ROM developer, has posted an image of the screenshots of the Android 4.3 update for the HTC One Twitter. The tweet mentions, “HTC One in Taiwan just started getting Android 4.3.”

The latest Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update for the HTC’s flagship smart phone looks to be available over the air (OTA). The screen reveals the software build number to be 3.18.709.2 and is about 512MB. The tweet also mentions that the update brings bug fixes and enhancements for the HTC One which is majority include battery charging animation in power-off state, improvements in gallery and camera department with upgrade to colour contrasts in low-light situations and adding soundtracks to highlights. However, the official change log has not been revealed, yet.

It was also rumored that with Android 4.3 update, the HTC One would also receive the new Sense 5.5 UI, however there’s been no mention of this with the currently reported update.

Last month, a tweet by HTC’s president of global sales, Jason Mackenzie confirmed that the Android 4.3 update would be rolled out to the HTC One in US and Canada by the end of September. HTC’s 2013 flagship smartphone was released in February and natively ran Android 4.1 Jelly Bean with Sense 5 UI out of the box. Despite the company announcing an update for the One to Android 4.2.2 in Asia and European markets, the update has not been rolled out across the globe.

For those unaware, the HTC One comes with a 4.7-inch full-HD display with 468 pixels per inch packed in an aluminium unibody. It is powered by a 1.7 GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 processor alongside 2GB of RAM. HTC One comes with 32GB and 64GB storage options, but without expandable storage. Connectivity options include Wi-FI 802.11 a/ac/b/g/n. Bluetooth 4.0, GPS, NFC, Infrared and Micro-USB.