Meizu MX smartphone official: Pentaband HSPA+ and 1.4GHz dualcore

Chinese electronics manufacturer Meizu has finally unveiled its next flagship Meizu MX smartphone, though it’s not quite the speed-demon we were originally expecting. A dual-core version running a 1.4GHz Samsung Exynos 4210 chip will arrive before the previously-spotted quad-core version, the faster model not expected to arrive until next year, going on sale in China on New Year’s Day. What does MX stand for? There’s actually a special reason for such a naming convention, since it actually borrows first two letters from the Chinese characters for the word “dream,” or “meng xiang”. And that’s most likely what Meizu hopes it will be; China’s dream phone of the year.

As well as the Exynos processor – paired with 1GB of RAM and 16GB of storage – there’s a 4-inch 960 x 640 ASV display and an 8-megapixel f/2.2 backside-illuminated camera with LED flash, all in a phone 10.3mm thick. Connectivity includes pentaband 3G with HSPA+ support – Meizu uses a Micro SIM, just like the iPhone 4S – together with MHL-HDMI and USB Host, and there’s a pair of microphones for noise cancellation and a 1,600mAh battery.

Android 2.3.5 will initially ship with Meizu’s own customized Flyme OS, though the company has promised an update to Ice Cream Sandwich sometime next year. The MX will be priced from ¥2,999 ($470) when it goes on sale at the beginning of 2012. Any SlashGear readers in China looking to get the Meizu MX when it comes out?

Article: RSS via SlashGear

Tags: 3G, 8 Megapixel Camera, Android, Dual-Core, Gingerbread, HSPA+, Meizu, Meizu MX, Smartphones

Posted in Android, Gadget News, Smartphones | No Comments »

Galaxy Nexus LTE casts slightly larger silhouette

Getting giddy of the thought of an LTE-powered Galaxy Nexus? Well, Google, has just unveiled a full 360-degree view of the Verizon-bound smartphone, and it’s packing a bigger caboose. Around 0.6mm thicker than the HSPA+ version available now in the UK, the 4G-stuffed version loses, at least visually, some of its curved charm and the chin’s become more prominent too. Fortunately, as the tech specs confirm, the slightly bigger body does cram in an extra 100mAh of battery juice, presumably to feed that LTE radio. Will it feel any different in the hand? It looks like we’ll have to wait until Verizon decides to furnish us with one — whenever that is.

Article: RSS via Engadget Mobile

Tags: 4G, Android, Galaxy Nexus, HSPA+, LTE, Samsung, Smartphones, Verizon

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Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus to cost 499 EUR in Europe

When Samsung announced the Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus, it forgot to mention how much it will cost. Thanks to Netbook.it we now know how much the Korean company will ask for the brand new tablet in Italy – 499 EUR. That’s not that bad for a device as capable as the Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus, which as you probably know builds on the success of Sammy’s original Galaxy Tab product. However, under the hood it’s a completely different beast with specs that include a dual-core 1.2GHz processor, HSPA+ and Wi-Fi connectivity, 3.2-megapixel camera with LED flash on the back, 2-megapixel front-facing camera, 1GB of RAM, the same 7-inch 1024×600 pixels capacitive touchscreen, while Android Honeycomb 3.2 is running the show.

Then again, you could get the Apple iPad for the same cash, though without the HSPA radio. That said, we’re sure the more affordable version of the Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus with Wi-Fi only will be released soon…

Article: RSS via IntoMobile

Tags: Android, Dual-Core, Europe, Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus, Honeycomb, HSPA+, Samsung, Tablet PC's

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Apple announces the iPhone 4S

Apple has announced the next-generation iPhone, the iPhone 4S. Although externally it appears identical to the iPhone 4, internally it’s seen many changes. It includes the same dual-core A5 processor that debuted in the iPad 2. Its graphics processor, which is also dual-core, provides up to 7 times the graphical performance of the iPhone 4′s A4 chip.

The iPhone 4S has improved battery life over its predecessor, and it now allows for 8 hours 3G talktime, 14 hours 2G talktime, and 6 hours of 3G web browsing.

The iPhone 4S’s wireless system has also been tweaked; the handset will now intelligently switch between antennas for optimal performance. This not only improves signal reliability, it also doubles the theoretical maximum speed from 7.2 Mbps on the iPhone 4 to 14.4 Mbps on the iPhone 4S. The iPhone 4S is also now a true “world phone” with integrated chipsets for both GSM and CDMA networks. This will simplify Apple’s product lineup and consumer buying decisions, as there will be only one “model” of iPhone 4S that should work on virtually any carrier in the world.

The iPhone 4S has a much-improved 8 megapixel camera that can shoot up to 3264 x 2448 images. Its backside-illuminated sensor allows it to capture 73 percent more light per pixel than the iPhone 4, and a five-element lens leads to photos that are up to 30 percent sharper than those on the iPhone 4. A new signal processor enables face detection and 26 percent better white balance. The camera also works much faster than on previous models; Apple claims it takes only 1.1 seconds to take the first photo, with subsequent shots having a delay of only half a second. The improved camera also features true 1080p HD video recording and video stabilization, a first for the iPhone.

Like the iPad 2, the iPhone 4 can now mirror its screen via AirPlay or a cable connected to the dock.

Perhaps the most anticipated feature of the iPhone 4S is its support for Siri, an “intelligent assistant” that enables recognition of voice queries and commands. We have further information on Siri itself available in a standalone post.

The iPhone 4S is available in capacities ranging from 16 all the way up to 64 GB (finally!) and pricing with a two-year contract goes from US$199 for 16 GB to $399 for 64 GB. Pre-orders begin on October 7, with the launch taking place on October 14. No mention yet on any pricing for possible unlocked models, but hopefully they will be available for those of us who don’t want to or can’t commit to a two-year contract.

iPhone 4S will launch on all major US carriers except T-Mobile — Sprint is getting it — and it will launch in US, Canada, Australia, UK, France, Germany, and Japan on October 14. 22 more countries get the phone on the 28th, with 70 more by the end of the year.

Completely MIA from the event: the supposed iPhone 5 with a redesigned exterior. If you were waiting for a major redesign, keep waiting, because the iPhone 4S is the only thing new under the sun today.

Article: RSS via TUAW

Tags: 1080p, 3G, 8 Megapixel Camera, AirPlay, Apple, CDMA, Dual-Core, GSM, HD, HSPA+, iOS, iOS 5, iPhone, iPhone 4S, Smartphones

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Samsung Galaxy Note announced: 5.3-inch display, built-in-stylus, custom ‘S Pen’ apps

Until a few days ago we’d heard surprisingly little about the Galaxy Note, a handset rumored to be launching alongside the Galaxy Tab 7.7 and Wave 3 at IFA. It’s ironic, really, because of all the phones to have kept a low profile, this is a memorable one. Behold, a 5.3-inch handset with a stowaway pen for note-taking, drawing and grabbing screen captures. In other words, a Dell Streak-esque hunk of a device that blurs the lines between phone and tablet. You’re looking at a Gingerbread-running LTE and HSPA+ handset with a 1280 x 800 Super AMOLED display, dual 8MP and 2MP cameras, a removable 2,500mAh battery and the same Samsung-made dual-core 1.4GHz processor you’ll find in the just-announced Galaxy Tab 7.7. For a phone this gargantuan, it’s actually quite thin at light, at 9.65mm (0.38 inches) thick and a reasonable 178 grams (6.3 ounces). We had a few minutes to handle the phone in advance of today’s press conference, and found it surprisingly easy to grip, even in our small hands. As with the Infuse 4G –whose own 4.5-inch screen once seemed impossibly sprawling — the thin shape makes it tenable, as does the lightweight, textured plastic lining the back.

As you’d expect, Android 2.3 comes layered with TouchWiz on top and, in this case, seven home screens and a touch-optimized interface dubbed “S Pen” designed to take advantage of that pen. These include S Planner, a native calendar and to-do list app, from which you can drag and drop appointments, changing time slots without having to open an entry. S Memo for note-taking, meanwhile, accepts voice, photo, text and handwritten input. We also got a quick glimpse of Virtual Whiteboard, a more collaborative form of note-taking. On top of that, Samsung says it’s releasing the S Pen SDK to third-party developers, and the company’s banking on more apps for organizing photos and drawing, among other things. For now, this is merely a global launch: Samsung says it’s still in discussions with carriers worldwide, so depending on your neck of the woods it might be awhile before you hear anything definitive about pricing or availability. Find the some fancy press shots (and a promo vid) after the break, and stay tuned for our hands-on.

Article: RSS via Engadget

Tags: 8 Megapixel Camera, Android, Android 3.2, Dual-Core, Galaxy Note, HSPA+, LTE, S Pen, Samsung, Smartphones, Stylus, Super AMOLED, Tablet PC's

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Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 official: dual-core 1.4GHz CPU, Android 3.2, HSPA+

Here it is, official as official gets: Samsung just announced the Galaxy Tab 7.7. As the name suggests, it has a 7.7-inch (1280 x 800) display — specifically, a Super AMOLED Plus panel. Like so many other 7-inchers hitting the market, it runs Android 3.2 and yes, that’s a skinned flavor of Honeycomb, with Samsung’s tablet-optimized TouchWiz UX layered on top. Inside, it runs the same Samsung-made dual-core 1.4GHz processor found in the new Galaxy Note, along with an HSPA+ radio promising theoretical download speeds as high as 21Mbps. Other specs for the 0.74-pound (335-gram) tablet include 16GB to 64GB of internal storage, a microSD card slot, a 5,100mAh battery rated for 10 hours, 802.11n WiFi, GPS, Bluetooth 3.0 and dual 3MP and 2MP cameras. In a nutshell, it’s the in-between-sized do-over a lot of folks have been awaiting since the original Galaxy Tab grew stale — a slate that promises faster speeds and some seriously improved viewing angles. We’ll be the judge of that in our review, but in the meantime stay tuned for some early hands-on impressions.

Article: RSS via Engadget

Tags: Android, Android 3.2, Bluetooth 3.0, Dual-Core, Galaxy Tab, Galaxy Tab 7.7, GPS, Honeycomb, HSPA+, Samsung, Super AMOLED Plus, Tablet PC's, WiFi

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New MiFi – coming soon to Three.

Today Three announces a new, high speed Mobile Wi-Fi device – the Huawei E586 MiFi – which will be the first mobile Wi-Fi device in the UK to feature next generation HSPA+ mobile broadband technology.

The new MiFi will allow customers to experience significant speed gains compared to the existing award-winning MiFi. Initially around 40% faster, those figures will increase even further as Three ramps up its upgrade programme and rolls out the HSPA+ 21.1Mbps standard across its high-speed 3G network.*

The features and functionality Three’s customers have come to know and love from the Three MiFi are still there. Fast, secure Wi-Fi for iPads, laptops or handheld games consoles at the touch of a button. An OLED screen displaying key information like the amount of data used, speed of the current connection and length of browsing time, and a new look dashboard for viewing SMS and changing settings. In addition a new feature allows users to see their Wi-Fi user name and password on screen at the touch of a button for fast pairing with new gadgets.

David Kerrigan, head of mobile broadband at Three commented: “As the UK’s biggest 3G mobile broadband network, we’re delighted to introduce our high speed mobile Wi-Fi product. This joins our award winning HSPA+ dongles making us the only operator offering an entirely next generation HSPA+ enabled range of mobile broadband products. Aside from this step up in speed, the new cradle charger, which looks great, will help people get the best performance in the home.”

The new MiFi, built by Huawei, will be available in store and online from September.

Key features:

• Charging cradle
• 21.1 Mbps technical standard Download (HSDPA )
• 5.76 Mbps technical standard Uplink (HSUPA)
• Internal Memory slot for micro SD card that supports up to 32GB
• Approximately 4.5 hours battery life

* Three is aiming to have 80% of its network upgraded to HSPA+ by the end of this year, with the rest following soon afterwards

For more information on Three’s broadband products visit: 3 Mobile Broadband

Tags: 3, 3G, 3G Network, HSPA+, Huawei, Huawei E586, MiFi, Mobile Broadband, Three

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GSM turns 20 today, still rocking the world

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkZn7jFd9Rc

Happy birthday, dear Global System for Mobile Communications! 20 years ago today, on July 1 1991, the world’s first GSM call was made by Finnish Prime Minister Harri Holkeri. The historic call used Nokia gear on GSM’s original 900MHz band. Today GSM is all grown up and ruling the world — connecting 1.5 billion people in 212 countries and serving 80% of the planet’s mobile market. GSM gave us a number of firsts. It was the first fully digital cellular system using TDMA to cram more information into less spectrum and provide better sounding, more reliable calls using less power. It introduced the Subscriber Identity Module (SIM), the idea of switching handsets at will (something carriers have sought to subvert by locking phones), and the reality of international roaming.

Short Messaging Service (SMS) was first launched on GSM networks, along with packet data (GPRS and later EDGE), which made internet access practical on mobile devices. Eventually, GSM expanded to the 400, 800, 1800 and 1900MHz bands and evolved into WDCMA-based UMTS (3G) and later HSPA and HSPA+, followed byLTE (4G) networks. So next time you’re at the coffee shop sipping on that latte while uploading that video to YouTube at 10Mbps using your LTE phone, remember to be thankful for that first GSM call 20 years ago — that’s when the mobile revolution really started.

Article: RSS via Engadget

Tags: 2G, 3G, 4G, 900MHz, Cell Phones, EDGE, GPRS, GSM, HSPA+, LTE, Mobile Networks, Mobile Phones, SIM, Smartphones, SMS, UMTS, WDCMA

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Huawei outs ‘first’ Android 3.2 7in tablet

Confirms Honeycomb currently not good for seven-inchers

Chinese handset maker Huawei has taken the wraps off its latest tablet: the 7in, Android 3.2-based MediaPad – the first of its kind to run that version of the Google OS, Huawei claimed.

Huawei confirmed that 3.2 is the first version of Honeycomb to be “suitable” for 7in tablets – previous versions, 3.0 and 3.1, are not, said Victor Xu, Huawei’s marketing chief – and the first designed specifically to support that size of screen.

Key features include a 1.2GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon CPU; 1080p HD output through HDMI; 5Mp and 1.3Mp rear- and front-facing cameras; 2.4/5GHz 802.11n Wi-Fi; Bluetooth 2.1; and 14.4Mb/s HSPA connectivity.

Huawei made a big deal out of the MediaPad’s 217 pixels per inch display, comparing it to the iPad 2′s 132ppi, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1′s 149ppi and the Motorola Xoom’s 160ppi.

These rivals are all 9.7in or 10.1in displays so for a given resolution, of course they’re going to be lower than a 7in panel. It’s a lot lower than the iPhone 4 3.5in screen’s 326ppi.

Huawei didn’t state the display’s resolution.

And the MediaPad is a chunky boy too: 11mm edge on, though it weighs just 390g, Huawei said.

There’s a 4100mAh battery on board good, the company said, for six hours’ video playback. The MediaPad will be available in “selected markets” in Q3. Huawei kept mum about pricing.

Aerticle: RSS via Reg Hardware

Tags: 1080p, 5 Megapixel Camera, Android, Android 3.2, Bluetooth, Dual-Core, HD, HDMI, Honeycomb, HSPA+, Huawei, MediaPad, Tablet PC's, WiFi

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Sony S2 clamshell Android tablet clears FCC with AT&T HSPA+

One of Sony’s first Android tablets has been caught at the FCC, complete with HSPA+ support and a removable Li-Ion battery pack. Engadget spotted the dual-screen Sony S2, listed as the Sony SGPT211US, as it gained approval for its Ericsson F5521gw modem, which supports the 850 and 1900 MHz 3G bands that AT&T uses, with up to 21Mbps HSPA+ speeds network-depending.

There’s also WiFi b/g/n 2.4GHz confirmed, along with Bluetooth. The battery is a 3080 mAh pack; Sony is yet to suggest how many hours of runtime users will be able to expect from the clamshell tablet, which has a pair of 5.5-inch touchscreens.

Sony has previously said that the S2 will arrive sometime this fall, along with its single-screen sibling the S1. No indication of pricing or what processor the tablets will use has been given, though Sony has made it clear that it intends to customize the UI somewaht.

Article: RSS via SlashGear

Tags: 3G, Android, AT&T, FCC, HSPA+, Sony, Sony S2, Tablet PC's

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