LG Optimus L9 II leakes again

A couple months ago first photo of the upcoming LG Optimus L9 II leaked, and now we have another one showing the front and the back of the handset.

The LG Optimus L9 II will feature a 1.2GHz dual-core Snapdragon processor, Adreno 305 GPU, 1GB of RAM, 8GB of internal storage expandable via microSD card, 8-megapixel camera on the back, 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera, 2,150 mAH battery and to run Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean out of the box.

IFA show in Berlin starts next week where LG is expected to announce the L9II.

Oppo explains N’1 back touch panel functions, handset spotted in the wild

Last week for the first time we heard about the Oppo N1 and now the company has posted a series of photos teasing the back touch panel of the upcoming Android flagship. Also the first photo of the Oppo N1 surfaced the net.

The touch panel will be on the upper part of the device, will support swiping, double click and long press and users will be able to use it for scrolling the web, changing songs, launching apps and much more.

And here is the first photo of the N1.

Looks good. What do you say guys?

Samsung Mega 6.3 an Informal but Thorough Review

Summer is winding down yet somehow my busy schedule is just as jammed pack as it could possibly be and I have three devices sitting on my desk begging for a review the Samsung Mega 6.3, the Nokia Lumia 1020, and the LG Optimus G Pro. I own the Mega and have been using it for about a month and just wanted to give you my quick informal review on this device.

Let's start with specs on the Mega 6.3 remember this is a mid-range android device with a huge screen.

• 6.3 Inch Screen
• 233 ppi
• 1.7 Ghz Dual Core Processor
• 1.5 Gb of RAM
• 8 or 16Gb of internal memory
• Micro SD slot (up to 64gb)
• 199 Grams
• 8mm thick
• 3200 mah battery
• 8mp rear camera
• 1.9mp front camera

If you didn't feel like watching my video review of this device here is the summary in a nutshell. This device is big but if you are buying this device that is why you are buying it soooo... who cares right? The low PPI really isn't noticeable unless you are use to a high PPI device or do a lot of web browsing. The 1.7Ghz dual core processor combined with the 1.5Gb of RAM does a fine job of running this device no lag or slowdowns to be found here. The 8mp camera while not the best in the smartphone world will do a quality job in almost any lighting condition you throw at it. The 3,200Mah battery should last you all day without an issue and you are going to want to get a thin case for this device it's a little slippery.

If anyone out there has anymore questions on this device that is not covered in this review feel free tosend me a tweet directly. I own this device so I will still be able to answer almost any questions you have on it.

Sprint to launch BlackBerry Q10 on August 30 for $199.99

Sprint has just issued a press release announcing that will start selling the full QWERTY BlackBerry Q10 starting this Friday, August 30.

David Owens, vice president-Product Development, Sprint said:

"Our customers have anxiously awaited the arrival of the BlackBerry Q10 smartphone. Its best-in-class physical keyboard, productivity features, enhanced security capabilities and apps make it easy to be productive at work and connected to friends and family after hours. With the Sprint Unlimited, My Way and My All-in rate plans, our customers will be able to use the BlackBerry Q10 smartphone as it was intended, without worrying about silly data caps or overages."

The BlackBerry Q10 features a 3.1-inch display with resolution of 720x720 pixels (328 ppi), it’s powered by a 1.5GHz dual-core processor and PowerVR SGX544 GPU, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of internal memory expandable up to 32GB via microSD card, 8-megapixel main camera, 2-megapixel front-facing camera for video calls, 4G LTE and 2,100 mAh battery.

It will be available for Sprint customers beginning August 30 for $199.99 with a new 2-year contract.

LG G2 to hit Verizon on September 12, AT&T on September 13

A couple of weeks ago, LG has launched its new flagship Android smartphone, the LG G2, and soon after all major US carriers: Verizon, AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile have confirmed that will carry the device but there was no actual release date.

According to sources familiar with LG's plans, Android Central reports that the LG G2 will be available from Verizon on September 12, while AT&T will start to sell the device from September 13 with a pre-order set for September 3rd. Still no news when the G2 will be available for Sprint and T-Mobile customers.

The LG G2 already launched in South Korea and is expected to hit UK around the end of September.

Jolla Sells Out Their First Batch of Devices

Jolla the spunky little start up from Finland seems to have found at least a solid niche with their Sailfish OS running devices. They have just sent out a press release stating that "The first production batch of Jolla smartphones fully booked with demand from 136 countries" 

Tomi Pienimäki, CEO of Jolla had this to say:

“We are delighted to see this great worldwide interest towards our very first device. When you see someone wearing an ‘I am the First One’ T-shirt, you see a proud future owner of Jolla, For those, who missed the first opportunity, we are now doing our best to offer a second chance, a new batch of Jolla smartphones later in the autumn. I encourage everyone interested in Jolla to sign up at jolla.com and be the first to know about any new developments, such as the opening of the next pre-sales campaign.”

While we don't know exactly how many devices were slated to be produced in this first batch it shows that there is strong demand for this device worldwide and that's always a great thing for a start up company.

Full Press release below:

Press Release

The first production batch of Jolla smartphones fully booked with demand from 136 countries

Helsinki – 21 August, 2013. The first production batch of Jolla smartphones has been fully booked by consumers and selected sales channels. Jolla launched its first smartphone at the #JollaLoveDay event in May. At the same time, Jolla kicked off an online pre-order campaign, which reached its first batch limit by mid-July. Online pre-orders were received from 136 countries in all.

 “We are delighted to see this great worldwide interest towards our very first device. When you see someone wearing an ‘I am the First One’ T-shirt, you see a proud future owner of Jolla,” says Tomi Pienimäki, CEO of Jolla. “For those, who missed the first opportunity, we are now doing our best to offer a second chance, a new batch of Jolla smartphones later in the autumn. I encourage everyone interested in Jolla to sign up at jolla.com and be the first to know about any new developments, such as the opening of the next pre-sales campaign.”

 The first Jolla is targeted to begin shipping by the end of 2013, starting in Europe. The Jolla phone production programme is proceeding as planned and sales will start in Finland with DNA, the first operator in the world to offer Jolla smartphones.

 About Jolla

Jolla Ltd., headquartered in Helsinki, Finland, is developing mobile devices and open Sailfish OS based on the heritage of MeeGo project. In addition to its R&D sites in Helsinki and Tampere, Jolla has offices in Hong Kong.

jolla.com/contact/

Jolla media contact:press@jolla.com

Unboxing of the Nokia Lumia 1020 and It’s Special Testing Accessories

Yesterday when I went to my front door I had a little surprise waiting for me from Nokia. It was a Nokia Lumia 1020 with a few extra goodies in it to help me test the device. Inside was the device itself, a cool "lens canister" that it came in, the little people from one of the displays at the 1020 launch, and holder that can hold two devices. One of those devices being the 1020 and the other being a competitors device for camera comparisons.

While I didn't get a chance to play with this device yet I did quick impromptu unboxing of sorts as I was opening the pack. Enjoy!

I can't wait to put this device through it's paces and test out it's game changing camera head to head vs other devices on the market.  If anyone out there has any questions on the Nokia Lumia 1020 or something that you would like me to test please leave it in the comments or feel free to send me a tweet directly.

HTC One Max leaks again, will feature a fingerprint scanner?

A couple of weeks ago first photo of the HTC One Max leaked the net, and now the upcoming phablet leaked again showing its back on a group photo with its smaller brothers, the One and the One mini.

From the photo we can see that the HTC One Max will feature a fingerprint scanner under the backcamera and a dock connector at the bottom of the right side of the handset.

The HTC One Max is rumored to feature a 5.9-inch full HD display, 2.3GHz Snapdragon 800 processor, 2GB of RAM, UltraPixel camera, BoomSound front speakers and 3,300 mAh battery.

According to the sources close to HTC, ePrice reports that the HTC One Max will be released at the end of October, but let’s hope that we will see the official announcement of the handset at IFA show in Berlin next month.

HTC One mini launching on AT&T on August 23 for $99.99

Along with the Samsung Galaxy Mega announcement, AT&T has issued another press release today announcing its plans to launch the HTC One mini.

Jeff Bradley, senior vice president at AT&T said:

"Our customers loved the HTC One, so we are excited to offer this slimmer, more compact version. We're proud to continue to offer our customers so many choices with a broad smartphone portfolio all on the nation’s fastest and most reliable 4G LTE network."

The HTC One mini has 4.3-inch 720p display (341 ppi) protected with Gorilla Glass 3, a 1.4GHz Snapdragon 400 processor with Adreno 305 GPU, 1GB of RAM, 16GB of internal memory, Ultrapixel camera on the back, 1.6-megapixel front-facing camera, BoomSound speakers on the front, 1,800mAh battery and runs Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean with Sense 5.0 on top of it.

The HTC One will be available exclusively from AT&T beginning August 23 for $99.99 with a two-year agreement.

HTC is Not Done With Windows Phone HTC One WP8 Device Coming

A little while back it was reported that HTC was pulling out of the Windows Phone to concentrate solely on Android devices. Between the huge success of the HTC One and quickly shrinking HTC profits it was assumed that HTC was simply going where the money was. This now has been denied by HTC in a Twitter conversation between Mary Jo Foley and HTC's Senior Global Online Communications Manager Jeff Gordon.

Not only does HTC plan on still making Windows Phone devices according to the rumors they still plan on making a Windows Phone variant of the HTC One coming this fall.

Rumored Specs:

•  4.7 inch 1080p Super LCD 3 screen
•  Beats audio
•  2GB of RAM
•  32GB of memory

For Windows Phone fans this is awesome news the HTC One has killer hardware it simply runs the wrong OS. Anyone in on a HTC One running Windows Phone?

ZTE Nubia Z5 mini renders and specs leaked

It looks like "mini" versions of flagship smartphones is a new trend and ZTE is soon joining the club as photos and specs of the ZTE Nubia Z5 mini leaked the net.

The ZTE Nubia Z5 was announced in December last year and was company's first 1080p smartphone. The Nubia Z5 mini is rumored to feature a 4.7-inch 720p display, it will be powered by a 1.5 GHz quad-core Snapdragon 600 processor, 2GB of RAM, 8-megapixel camera on the back, will measure 65.7x134.8 x 10.3mm will weigh 160g. Lastly and will run Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean.

The release date is still not known, but after these leaked renders, announcement will happen sooner rather than later.

Nokia Lumia 1020 officially announced

At a special event in New York, Nokia has officially announced its long awaited 41-megapixel Windows Phone 8 smartphone, the Nokia Lumia 1020.

Stephen Elop announcing the Lumia 1020 said: "With the 1020, pictures will mean more to you. You'll see things that you've never seen before. It'll change the way you shoot."

The Nokia Limia 1020 features a 4.5-inch AMOLED WXGA (1280 x 768) PureMotion HD+ display protected by Gorilla Glass 3, dual-core 1.5 GHz Snapdragon S4 processor, 2 GB of RAM, 32 GB of internal storage, stereo Rich Recording technology, a 1.2-megapixel wide angle front-facing camera, 2,000 mAh  battery and will be available in yellow, black and white color options.

The biggest feature of the Lumia 1020 is the 41-megapixel backside illuminated sensor with dual Xenon and LED flash capable to take 34 and 38- megapixel images in 16:9 ratios and 5-megapixel mode for easier sharing. You can also zoom in or zoom out the same image after it’s taken without losing quality. Nokia has also brought oversampling to video with up to 1 billion pixels per second.

The Nokia Lumia 1020 will debut in the US through AT&T for $299.99 with a new 2-year contract on July 26, but the handset will be available for pre-order starting July 16.

Telefonica will have the exclusivity of the device for European and South American market, but the launch date and pricing has not been announced, we can expect it sometime this quarter.

That's it guys, share your thoughts about the Nokia Lumia 1020 in the comments section below.

Official photo samples and first hands-on video with the Nokia Lumia 1020

Nokia has just announced the Lumia 1020 and posted an official camera samples taken with the 41-megapixel PureView sensor and a first hands-on video of the device. Check them after the break.

To see the images in full size visit this link.

And here is the official hands-on video posted by Nokia (and few other official videos showing the camera features of the Lumia 1020).

I would just say impressive!

What do you say guys?

Huawei MediaPad 7 Youth unveiled, 7-incher in aluminum body

Huawei has announced its new 7-inch Android tablet, MediaPad 7 Youth.

Wang Yinfeng, Vice President of Huawei said:

"The MediaPad 7 Youth is a versatile tablet that provides an unsurpassed experience across hardware and software. Ideal for young people who are always on the move, the MediaPad 7 Youth delivers on Huawei's promise to make extraordinary technology experiences accessible for all."

Huawei hasn't revealed all the specs, what is known is that the MediaPad 7 Youth is made of aluminum unibody, it's 9.9mm thick, weighs 350g, packs 7-inch display (unknown resolution), rear and front-facing cameras, 28nm dual-core 1.6GHz processor, 4,100mAh battery, HSPA+ 21, Wi-Fi, voice calling, SMS, MMS and will run Android 4.1 Jelly Bean out of the box.

The MediaPad 7 Youth is expected to hit Russia, China, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Europe in Q3, 2013. There's no word on pricing yet.

AT&T Launching the Nokia Lumia 520 for only $99.99 No Contract

AT&T has just announced that starting on Friday the 26th they will add the Nokia Lumia 520 to their pre-paid "Go Phone" line up for only $99.99. Which is an incredible deal and is a full fifty dollars cheaper than what T-Mobile is charging for their version of the this device the Lumia 521. The Nokia Lumia 520/521 has been flying off the shelves in every market that sells it and is now the world's best selling Windows Phone. This move by AT&T will only serve to accelerate the 520's monster sales growth. It seems that Nokia has finally found a way to get mass adoption of Windows Phone and compete with the low end Android devices all at the same time. Full press release below.

AT&T Launches First Windows Smartphone for GoPhone, The Nokia Lumia 520, on July 26

Dallas, Texas, July 22, 2013

Beginning July 26, AT&T* will offer customers even more choice with the launch of the Nokia Lumia 520, the first Windows Phone  in the AT&T GoPhone portfolio. The 4G-capable Nokia Lumia 520 will be available for $99.99.

The Lumia 520 offers the intuitive functionality of the Windows Operating System and the outstanding imaging capabilities found on other smartphones in the Nokia Lumia family, all in a more affordable package. You can take great photos with the 5-megapixel camera and Nokia digital camera lenses, add motion to your pictures with Cinemagraph, or capture super-wide-angled pictures to take in more of the scene. In addition, you can use Smart Shoot to capture five sequential images and select different faces and portions of the photos to compile into one final group picture.

The super sensitive 4-inch IPS LCD WVGA display allows you to use the phone with fingernails or while wearing gloves.

"We are excited to launch the first 4G Windows Phone 8 smartphone in our GoPhone portfolio," said Jeff Bradley, senior vice president - Devices. "A diverse device ecosystem benefits everyone, and the addition of an affordable Windows device gives our customers yet another choice that fits their needs."

AT&T GoPhone customers can enjoy the affordability and simplicity of no annual contract wireless plans on the nation’s largest 4G network. AT&T 4G service is available with any GoPhone smartphone plans.

The Nokia Lumia 520 comes with access to free** global HERE Maps which provide information, photos and reviews on popular nearby places including directions or use HERE Drive to access turn-by-turn navigation, even when offline... To make getting around even easier, HERE Transit provides instant access to the best way across town using public transportation, offering a detailed overview of stations and stops, departure and arrival times, and estimations on your walking times.

Like our other Nokia smartphones, the Lumia 520 comes with Nokia Music that lets you stream unlimited music for free***. Tap into the latest tracks or create your own channels based on the artists you love. Accessing your favorite things is easy with this Windows Phone 8 smartphone. Customers can pin playlists, HERE routes, web pages and documents directly to the start screen as Live Tiles to get to your favorite content quickly. Select from various apps to be placed as Live Tiles and resize to reflect your personal priorities. Microsoft Office is built into your phone, and can seamlessly sync with laptops.

Key Specifications Include:

Battery Detail	1430 mAh Li-Ion
Talk Time (Hrs)	Up to 10
Standby Time (days)	Up to 13
Audio playback (hr)	Up to 63.5
Operating System	Windows® Phone 8
Display	4.0”IPS LCD WVGA (800x480 resolution), flat glass (2D), Capacitive touch, Color depth 24bit, 16M colors,  ppi235
Internal Memory	RAM : 512MB Internal memory : 8GB
Usable Storage internal memory	5GB
External Memory	MicroSD up to 64GB with  7 GB of free SkyDrive storage

For more information on AT&T GoPhone and a complete listing of plans, visit www.att.com/gophone.

*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.

About AT&T

AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is a premier communications holding company and one of the most honored companies in the world. Its subsidiaries and affiliates – AT&T operating companies – are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and internationally. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation's largest 4G network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet, voice and cloud-based services. A leader in mobile Internet, AT&T also offers the best wireless coverage worldwide of any U.S. carrier, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries. It also offers advanced TV services under the AT&T U-verse® and AT&T |DIRECTV brands. The company's suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world.

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