Lava Iris 356 and Iris 402 with Android 4.2 officially launched

Lava has launched two new smartphones for the Indian market, the Iris 356 and Iris 402 for Rs. 4,499 and Rs. 5,499 respectively.Earlier, Lava had quietly listed both these smartphones on its website. Now, the phone have been officially launched.

The Lava Iris 356 features a 3.5-inch HVGA display with a resolution of 320x480 pixels. It is powered by a 1.2GHz dual-core processor coupled with 256MB RAM. The device runs Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. There is a 1.3-megapixel rear camera with flash and a VGA front-facing camera. It includes just 100MB of internal storage space(available to the user) but supports microSD cards to expand storage up to 32GB. It also includes a 1500mAh battery that the company claims, delivers up to 5 hours of talk time and 200 hours of standby time. It supports dual SIM (GSM+GSM). The Lava Iris 356 includes connectivity options like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPRS, EDGE and 3G. It also includes preloaded apps like LAVA Zone, Twitter, Facebook, Gtalk, Google Maps, Local, MX Player and YouTube.

The Lava Iris 402 sports a 4.0-inch WVGA display with a resolution of 480x800 pixels. The device is powered by 1.2GHz dual-core processor with 256MB RAM and runs Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. It boasts of a 3-megapixel rear camera with flash accompanied by a VGA front-facing camera. It comes with 100MB user-available internal storage which is a disappointing. However, it comes with expandable storage of up to 32GB with the help of a microSD card. The device also includes a 1500mAh battery that can deliver up to 4 hours of talk time and 200 hours of standby time. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Edge, GPRS and 3G.

Lava claims that both the smartphones will be upgradable over-the-air (OTA).

Commenting on the launch, Hari Om Rai, Co-Founder & Director, Lava International Ltd. said, "Lava has introduced affordable, yet fully loaded entry level 3G android smartphones which will now fuel the aspirations of the evolving mobile user in India. The Lava Iris 356 and Iris 402 are uniquely designed smartphones which lets a consumer enjoy the power of 3G by consuming online content. As 3G-enabled handsets become affordable, mobile internet would be the next big thing in the country which would take penetration to the remote corners of the country. Lava is aiming to drive huge volumes with both models combined."

Both the smartphones come bundled with some accessories that include a screen guard and silicon soft pouch.

Lava Iris 356 key specifications

• 3.5-inch HVGA display with a resolution of 480x800 pixels
• 1.2 GHz dual-core processor
• 256 MB RAM
• Dual SIM with Dual Standby
• 1.3-megapixel rear camera with flash
• VGA front-facing camera
• 3G, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS
• Expandable memory up to 32GB with micro SD
• 1500mAh battery
• Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean)

Lava Iris 402 key specifications

• 4-inch WVGA display with a resolution of 480x800 pixels
• 1.2 GHz dual-core processor
• 256 MB RAM
• Dual SIM with Dual Standby
• 3-megapixel rear camera with flash
• VGA front-facing camera
• 3G, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS
• Expandable memory up to 32GB with micro SD
• 1500mAh battery
• Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean)

Apple patent wins could mean US import ban for some Samsung products

Some older Samsung Electronics Co. mobile devices face a sales and import ban in the United States after a U.S. trade panel ruled for Apple Inc. in a high-profile patent infringement case.The U.S. International Trade Commission on Friday ruled that South Korea's Samsung infringes on portions of two Apple Inc patents on digital mobile devices, covering the detection of headphone jacks and operation of touchscreens.

The decision is likely to inflame passions in the long-running dispute and could spark a rebuke from South Korea.

The panel moved to prohibit Samsung from importing, selling and distributing devices in the United States that infringe on certain claims on the patents. It is unclear how many Samsung phones and devices would be subject to the ban.All exclusion orders are sent to President Barack Obama, who has 60 days to review them. If he does not veto the order, it will go into effect.

Apple was ebullient. "The ITC has joined courts around the world in Japan, Korea, Germany, Netherlands and California by standing up for innovation and rejecting Samsung's blatant copying of Apple's products," said company spokewoman Kristin Huguet.

The ruling was the latest in a patent battle between Apple and Samsung that has spread across several countries as the companies vie for market share in the lucrative mobile industry. Samsung and Apple are the Nos. 1 and 2 smartphone makers.But it comes less than a week after the Obama administration overturned an ITC decision from June that would have banned the sales of some older-model Apple iPhones and iPads in the United States for violating Samsung patents.

U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman vetoed the ban on Saturday, cited its "effect on competitive conditions in the U.S. economy and the effect on U.S. consumers."

That move, the first veto of an ITC ruling in decades, triggered concerns in the South Korean government and led to closer scrutiny of Friday's ruling than usual.Letting the ban on Samsung devices stand after having so recently intervened in the Apple case could spur allegations the administration is showing favoritism toward Cupertino, California's Apple.

But a key difference between the cases is that the patents Apple was said to have infringed were so-called standard essential patents, which cover technology that must be used to comply with industry standards. The patents in the latest case are considered commercial and non-essential.Four other patent infringements asserted by Apple were turned down on Friday by the ITC panel, which declared its investigation closed.

"We are disappointed that the ITC has issued an exclusion order based on two of Apple's patents. However, Apple has been stopped from trying to use its overbroad design patents to achieve a monopoly on rectangles and rounded corners," Adam Yates, a Samsung spokesman, said in a statement.

Apple had filed a complaint in mid-2011, accusing Samsung of infringing its patents in making a wide range of smartphones and tablet. Apple has alleged that Samsung's Nexus 4G and some Galaxy and Intercept devices were among those made with the infringing technology.Samsung has said its newer models incorporate features that work around disputed technology.

In a busy day in the long-running series of patent spats by the two archrivals, a U.S. appeals court earlier on wrestled with a request by Apple for a permanent injunction on sales of some phones made by Samsung for other alleged violations.

Apple is appealing a lower court ruling that rejected the iPhone maker's request that some older-model Samsung phones be permanently banned.

At stake is whether judges can permanently ban the sale of a complex device like a smartphone if a court finds that it violates a patent that covers just one of the device's hundreds of features. Samsung and other smartphone makers say a decision in favor of Apple could cripple the market.

At an hour-long hearing in Washington, U.S. Federal Circuit Court of Appeals Judge William Bryson questioned whether Apple wanted to use the appeal to set a precedent that would allow it to seek sales bans for newer Samsung phones in an expedited fashion.The current case has dragged on for two years.

Apple lawyer William Lee acknowledged that if the iPhone maker's injunction request was granted, the company would seek a so-called contempt proceeding to go after newer Samsung phones.

Samsung's popular Galaxy smartphones and tablets run on Google's Android operating system, which Apple's late co-founder, Steve Jobs, once denounced as a "stolen product."

Apple says Samsung has infringed its patents and caused financial losses. Samsung denies it copied Apple's patented features.The appeals court is expected to issue a written opinion but did not indicate a timeline.

The case is Apple Inc v. Samsung Electronics Co Ltd, Federal U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, No. 13-1129.

Report : Apple to unveil next iPhone on September 10: Report

Apple Inc, the world's largest technology company, is expected to present its redesigned iPhone in September, according to technology blog AllThingsD.

The blog cited unnamed sources as saying that Apple will unveil its next smart phone at a special event on Sept 10.

The company was not immediately available for comment.

Apple's iPhone launches are among the most-watched events on the tech industry calendar.

Reuters reported in June that Apple is exploring launching iPhones with bigger screens, as well as cheaper models in a range of colors, over the next year, according to several sources with knowledge of the matter.

The new iPhone would hit store shelves in time for the crucial holiday season.

Now HTC One makes an appearance in 'Blue'

HTC launched its flagship smartphone, HTC One in two colour variants, Black and Silver. Soon, the company also showcased the 'Glamour Red' version of the device. It looks like now the company seems to be gearing up for a fourth Blue colour variant of the phone, if a new rumour is to be believed.

Serial phone leaker @evleaks has posted an image of the HTC One in Blue colour. The image shows the front and back panel of the smartphone.

We had also reported about this earlier, when the company unveiled the Glamour Red version of the device.

There is also a news report suggesting that the Taiwanese handset maker is prepping the variant of its flagship smartphone for a specific carrier. Phonearena reports that, "Verizon's inventory systems have been updated with an additional SKU (stock keeping unit) code, HTC6500LVWBLU along with the description 'HTC One in Blue'.

Just to recap, HTC One features a 4.7-inch screen with full-HD display. It is powered by a 1.7GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 processor along with 2GB of RAM. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, NFC, Infrared and Micro-USB. The smartphone was launched with Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) along with a brand new version of Sense UI. It has received the Android 4.2 update, as well.

Meanwhile, HTC is busy promoting its next device, which is expected to be the One Max, on Twitter. The company posted a teaser video on Tuesday, suggesting something big is arriving.

The new video was tagged as 'Big Things Ahead' and showed a person with an HTC device (which we believe is the HTC One Max) that featured the same design as that of the HTC One. The person with the device was shown waiting for a helicopter's arrival and then the person who gets down from the helicopter gives a land slap to the first person. The device is visible twice in the video though it is not clear whether the device is the new One Max or the original flagship device.

LG G2 press images leak ahead of official launch

LG may be all set to unveil its new flagship smartphone G2 at an event in New York later on Wednesday, but that hasn't stopped the device from making yet another appearance. 

The notorious @evleaks has posted some press images of the LG G2. The latest leaked press shots are in line with the previous leaks and show nothing new. One of the image shows the front panel of the yet to be announced smartphone that is dominated by the 5.2-inch display with thin bezel at the sides, while the back panel shows the rear camera along with an LED flash, power key and volume rocker keys.

The LG G2 has been hitting the rumour mills for a while now and has been spotted a number of times ahead of official launch. The G2 is rumoured to be powered by a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor coupled with 2GB of RAM and a 13-megapixel rear camera. The smartphone is also expected to be some thin that it features back-mounted volume controls, instead of ones on the side. It is likely to sport a 5.2-inch full-HD display and would run on Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean.

Earlier, LG also released a teaser video featuring the G2. The video ended with a teaser of the black round-edged device that clearly showed the rear camera with up and down arrows above and below it.

The company is aggressively promoting the handset globally with ad campaigns hitting the web and TV in various parts of the world.

With this the company also unveiled a series of colourful QuickWindow cases for its upcoming smartphone. The company announced that the all new line of premium cases for the LG G2 will be available at the same time as the smartphone. The cases will be available in seven different colours that include Black, White, Pink, Purple, Blue, Mint and Yellow.

Apple announces trade-in program for third-party chargers

Fears of dangerous shocks caused by unsanctioned chargers for Apple gadgets prompted the company on Monday to announce a trade-in program.

Beginning on August 16, people with counterfeit or third-party power adaptors will be able to swap them for certified Apple models for the local equivalent of $10.

"Recent reports have suggested that some counterfeit and third party adapters may not be designed properly and could result in safety issues," Apple said in a blog post.

"While not all third party adapters have an issue, we are announcing a USB Power Adapter Takeback Program to enable customers to acquire properly designed adapters."

People must bring the unwanted chargers along with a corresponding iPod, iPad, or iPhone to an Apple Retail Store or to an authorized Apple service provider.

 

Apple said device serial numbers need to be valid to qualify for the adapter trade-in program, which will continue until October 18.

Last month, Apple began investigating reports that a women in China was electrocuted while using an iPhone that was charging.

ITC delays word on whether Samsung infringes Apple's patents

The U.S. International Trade Commission said on Thursday it would delay a decision on whether some mobile phones and tablets made by Samsung Electronics Co Ltd infringe on Apple Inc's patents.

The decision had been expected on Thursday but was put off until August 9. No reason was given for the delay.

The ITC is a popular venue for patent infringement lawsuits since it has the power to ban the importation of devices that infringe on patents.

The delay comes as the same companies - which are waging legal battles in some 10 countries - await a decision from the Obama administration on whether to stick with an ITC decision finding that some Apple devices infringe a Samsung patent. That decision is now due.

The ITC ruled on June 4 that some older iPad and iPhone models made to use AT&T's network infringed on a Samsung patent that allows the ability of devices to transmit multiple services simultaneously and correctly through 3G wireless technology.

If the decision is upheld, the import or sale of the iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, iPad 3G and iPad 2 3G distributed by AT&T would be banned in the United States.

The case delayed on Thursday at the International Trade Commission is No. 337-796.

A customisable Android smartphone, Google unveils Moto X

Motorola on Thursday unveiled a new smartphone that consumers can personalize with a choice of colors and materials, hoping to stand out in a crowded market and justify the $12.5 billion that Google Inc paid for the ailing handset maker.

The highly anticipated "Moto X" marks the cellphone maker's first flagship device since Google bought the company in 2012, and is its latest attempt to break into a smartphone market dominated by Apple Inc and Samsung Electronics.

The phone's customization options are a novel touch which may appeal to fashionistas, analysts said. But some analysts questioned whether the Moto X offers the kind of technological breakthroughs that will vault Motorola back into the top rungs of the mobile rankings.

"We would have expected magic from somebody like Google, and this is not magic," Roger Entner, an analyst with Recon Analytics, said.

"Motorola could have done this without Google equally well. Or for that matter, another hardware manufacturer not owned by Google could have made this phone," he said, citing the phone's average hardware specifications.

The Moto X will go on sale in the United States at the end of August or the beginning of September for a suggested retail price of $199.99 to customers who sign a two-year contract at five of the biggest U.S. mobile network operators.

Google faces a steep climb in its effort to revive Motorola, which once claimed the No. 2 spot in the global phone market but according to research firm Strategy Analytics now commands a mere 2 percent market share. Shut out of the Apple-Samsung battle, Motorola competes with other smaller players such as HTC, Nokia and BlackBerry.

Motorola is betting that it can win over consumers by offering a huge palette of colors to personalize their phones, as well as unusual phone materials such as wood.

"They're not playing the 'mine is bigger than yours game,'" Avi Greengart, an analyst with Current Analysis, said. "Their approach is that this is what consumers actually need.

"I have no doubt there are people who want to customize their phones. The question is how many of them," Greengart added.

AT&T Inc, the No. 2 U.S. mobile service provider, will have exclusive rights to let its customers customize the phone from a selection of 18 colors for the back, two for the front and seven accent colors for an undisclosed time period.

While AT&T will allow customers to customize their phones, rivals Verizon Wireless , Sprint Corp, T-Mobile US and U.S. Cellular will only be able to offer black-and-white versions of the device.

In order to promise delivery of customized phones within four days, Motorola had contract manufacturing partner Flextronics International Ltd build a factory in the United States.

Sony Xperia i1 Honami spotted again in leaked picture view insight this blog

Sony's much-hyped alleged upcoming flagship smartphone, Xperia i1 Honami is in the news again.

A Vietnamese Xperia fan club has posted a purported picture of the alleged upcoming flagship device. The new leaked picture shows the rear panel of the smartphone. The back panel shows the camera housed on top left side of the device with a XX.XMP code printed along with the camera, which is said to be 20-megapixel.

Another technology site, Android Beat claims that the reason the device is showing 'X' along with the camera is probably because it's a prototype device. It is likely that the Japanese major is testing the camera of the next flagship smartphone and what will launch may be different than what is being currently tested. The company can use a different-sized camera sensor and not essentially 20-megapixel camera.

Sony is said to be holding an event in September at Berlin where it's widely expected that the world will see company's next flagship smartphone.

The Xperia Honami has been in news for some time now thanks to regular leaks that have appeared online.

Earlier, we reported that the Xperia Honami has been spotted in some images that reveal the design, form-factor and the user-interface of the device. The images that were posted suggested that the Xperia Honami phone follows the same design - complete with squared edges and corners - seen in the Xperia Z, Xperia ZL and Xperia ZR devices, launched earlier this year.

Another report claimed that Sony Xperia i1 will come with a 5.0-inch display with 1080p resolution. It will be powered by a 2.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 processor with 2GB of RAM. The most-talked about specification is its 20-megapixel Exmor RS camera that would also feature Sony G-lens and BIONZ image processor which are usually found in some of Sony's digital cameras.

The device is also said to come with IP57 certification which means it is dust-and water-resistant.