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Galaxy Note II coming to T-Mobile on October 24th, say leaked documents
Samsung's Galaxy Note II is happily filling hands in Korea and the UK without so much as a release date announced stateside. We may now have one, thanks to the folks at TmoNews, who appear to have snagged an internal document which suggests the phablet will arrive at the Magenta carrier on October 24th. Coincidentally (or not), Samsung is holding an event the same day, marrying with our previous speculation that it'll be unveiling the various carrier editions of the 5.5-inch beast there. Our suspicions are flagged, however, at the mention that Need for Speed: Most Wanted will come pre-installed, a game that isn't slated for release until October 30th -- not that we haven't seen similar release partnerships from the Note crew before. Although we can't confirm the legitimacy of this leak, we can suggest you start building up that grip strength just in case.
HTC DLX specs purportedly slip, stuff Snapdragon S4 Pro and 12MP camera into a 5-inch frame
Talk of HTC's rumored, giant DLX has veered between the plausible and not-so-plausible. We might just toss the newest tip into that former category. Football4PDA, who's developing a reputation for uncanny accuracy in leaks, has posted what's claimed to be the core specifications of HTC's first phablet. The DLX would mirror earlier expectations of a 1.5GHz Snapdragon S4 Pro and a 5-inch, 1080p display, but push past the OneX+ in more ways than just physical heft: the extra space might just help it afford 1.5GB of RAM, a 12-megapixel rear camera, a 2-megapixel front shooter and a larger-still (but non-removable) 2,500mAh battery. We're not as much of a fan of the threadbare 16GB of storage that's supposedly in the cards, though, even with a new Android 4.1.2 build in store. Provided that there's more to the story than just 136 characters, the real point of contention is the ship date -- having mostly cleared the decks between its September event and its One X+ introduction, HTC hasn't left much time for the possibly Verizon-bound flagship to show its face.
Purported Nexus 7 with 32GB of storage gets accidentally delivered in Japan
Back when Google ecstatically unveiled its 7-inch Nexus tablet a few months ago, the company decided to keep things simple by only introducing 8GB and 16GB models -- much to the dismay of folks who prefer a device with a bit more storage space. One lucky customer in Japan, however, claims to have unexpectedly received a Nexus 7 loaded with more built-in storage than Mountain View currently advertises, having been delivered Google's Jelly Bean-packing slate with 32GB instead of the 16GB unit that was ordered. Interestingly enough, the surprise delivery comes at a time when Google is rumored to launch a new, more spacious 32GB model as soon as October 24th -- though only time will tell if that's actually going to be the case.
Slingbox 350 and 500 show up unannounced in Best Buy, flaunt 1080p and built-in WiFi
You might say Dave Zatz just had a happy accident. While he was hunting for the as yet unofficial Logitech Harmony Touch in Best Buy, he discovered the Slingbox 350 and 500 -- two more living room gadgets that have yet to receive an official introduction. The placeshifting hubs both look to be major improvements over the aging Slingbox Pro HD and Solo, making 1080p streaming available as long as the connection is up to snuff. Those who spring for the 500 should also get long overdue support for WiFi without having to use a wireless bridge, although they may miss the Pro HD's ATSC tuner. Outside of the networking, Sling Media is making expansion its upsell angle: the 500 supports USB media sharing and HDMI, while the 350 has to make do with whatever can pipe through its component and composite jacks. Zatz was unfortunately foiled in an attempt to buy one of the new Slingboxes and couldn't get final pricing, but Best Buy's suggestion to try again around mid-October hints that we won't have long to wait for a much-needed upgrade to our remote TV viewing.
Nokia Lumia 510 put under the regulatory limelight, hints low-cost Windows Phone 7.8 on the way
Here's a contradiction in action: a Nokia phone that goes down a model number, but up in features. That's what we'll see if regulatory screenings and leaks surrounding the unreleased Lumia 510 are any indication. China's TENAA, the FCC and Indonesia's DG PosTel have all taken a look at the device ahead of time and point to a short, squat design that won't have the budget chic of the Lumia 610. However, if Baidu tips are correct, the 510 may be an ever-so-slight upgrade to its higher-digit predecessor with a larger 4-inch screen and a likely fast track to Windows Phone 7.8. Just don't anticipate more than the existing 800MHz Snapdragon, 256MB of RAM and 5-megapixel camera -- or a US release, for that matter. The FCC has only tested the Lumia 510 against American GSM bands, which hints that its 3G support is meant for China, Indonesia and other countries where low-cost smartphones matter most.
Pair of unannounced Leica cameras get leaked ahead of next week's Photokina
As you may or may not know, Photokina's taking place in Cologne, Germany in a few days, which has caused a plethora of cameras to make an appearance before they're even made official. The latest round of unannounced, leaked shooters brings us a couple of Leicas, including the high-end, LX7-esque compact pictured above and a superzoom that takes a design cue from its smaller sibling. Unfortunately, details like pricing and availability are still at large, but with Photokina right around the corner, it won't be long before we know more about this sleek pair. For now, head past the break to check out an extra pic, where you'll find the larger member of the two posing for the camera -- ironic, huh?
Olympus E-PL5 and E-PM2 interchangeable lens cameras leak into view
Secrets have been hard to keep in the camera world lately, and now Olympus has undergone its second leak in as many days, but this time with a couple of higher-profile actors -- the E-PL5 and E-PM2 mirrorless cameras. Both will use the Olympus E-M5 sensor with TruePic VI image engine and touchscreen, and are reported to be priced at €399 ($520) for the E-PM2 with a 14-42mm kit lens (in silver, below the break) and €599 ($780) for the E-PL5 with the same lens, shown above. That follows earlier leaks from Sony, Fujifilm and others, along with two upcoming lenses from Olympus that were also outed ahead of time. Hopefully, there'll still be a couple of surprises left when Photokina rolls around next week. [Image credit: Digicam Info]
Unnamed Olympus point and shoot leaks, looks like the XZ-2
Photokina's just around the corner, folks, so it's only natural for a few of the cameras to get leaked before their official debuts in Germany. What you see above is a picture scrounged up by the folks at Digicam info, and it appears to be of the Olympus XZ-2, an update to the company's XZ-1 point and shoot. From the looks of things, the new model largely retains the look of the old, save for a faux leather grip and the addition of a toggle switch of unknown purpose on the front. It also seems that Olympus will be rolling out an underwater case and a molded cowhide cover to go with the camera when it arrives. Folks searching for a closer look at the hardware can find it at the source below, or y'know, wait until we get our hands on it next week.
iPhone 5: the rumor roundup
We're on the cusp of Apple's sixth iPhone launch, and there's very different expectations than there were last year. The 2011 rumor cycle left more than a few people burned: the later-than-usual October launch and repeated claims of a heavily-remade design led some to a disappointment when the iPhone 4S arrived, even though the final product had a slew of camera, speed and voice command upgrades. This year, the rumors have been grounded well before there was an event date in our hands. There have been fewer instances of wild rumors. Instead, it's been based more around pragmatism, using either tangible leaks or sources that have a solid track record. Think of the perennial leaks from the Wall Street Journal or the increasingly well-established sourcing from iMore and The Loop. Whether you're conspiracy-minded or not, it's been hard to ignore the sheer number of claims that have tamped down expectations rather than inflated them. It's as though there's a collective fear we'll see a repeat of the 2011 hysteria and deal with fans (or detractors) complaining about missing features that were never promised in the first place. Where last summer was full of uncertainty, this year there's a mounting consensus as to what we'll see, how we'll get it, and when. Tracking everything that's been mentioned may be a handful, however. With that in mind, we'll dive in and gauge what's likely to emerge from behind Apple's curtain on September 12th -- as well as what we can rule out from the get-go.
LG Splendor now available at US Cellular for $80 after rebate, it's the Optimus L7 all over again
After having previously leaked, the LG Splendor is now officially available at US Cellular. A retooled version of the Optimus L7, it combines Android 4.0 with a single-core 1GHz CPU, a 4.3-inch WVGA display and a 5-megapixel camera that'll capture video at 720p. The phone also sports a front-facing VGA camera, 2GB of internal storage, a 4GB microSD card and a 1,700mAh battery. Unfortunately, its heritage means purchasers must deal with sluggish performance and forego basic amenities such as an ambient light sensor. Given its $80 price tag -- after a $100 mail-in rebate, mind you -- it's positioned as a poor alternative to the Galaxy S II, which is also available for $80 from US Cellular. Don't say we never warned you.
Sony RX1 camera leaks with full-frame sensor in compact body, laws of physics slightly bent
Here's something you probably didn't expect: a compact Sony camera with a full-frame sensor. While Photoprice.ca was uncovering a treasure trove of leaked press shots that include the Alpha A99 and NEX-6, it also came across images of the RX1, whose body looks borderline pocketable yet stuffs in the same kind of sensor (and likely image quality) you'd normally reserve for pro-grade models. Several extra details reveal themselves right from the start. The RX1 is carrying a 35mm, f/2.0 lens with no apparent button to detach the lens -- the included glass is probably as good as it'll get. However, the RX1 is most definitely tuned for experienced shooters, with a toggle for macro focusing as well as dedicated controls for aperture and exposure compensation. We're also liking that there's a pop-up flash, a standard hot shoe for accessories and three custom settings on the mode dial. The slip doesn't include mention of a release date or a price, but talk during the A99 slip mentioned a September 12th unveiling that wouldn't shock us if it included multiple cameras -- and we would be equally unsurprised if the RX1 carried the same high price commonly associated with other full-frame bodies.
Sony Alpha A99 poses for someone else's camera, no optical viewfinder in sight
Technical details of Sony's rumored Alpha A99 have been overflowing. The actual camera, however, has been elusive until now. A press photo just spotted on Xitek (and passed along to Sony Alpha Rumors) is believed to be authentic and speaks volumes about Sony's pro camera strategy: as shown, there's no obvious space for an optical viewfinder, hinting that the company's full-frame shooter is going with an OLED-based electronic eyepiece like that of its crop-frame A77 precursor. The image doesn't show much more than that and a conspicuous orange ring to remind us that we're gazing upon an Alpha, but it's tough to ignore that more compact (and hopefully lighter) body. Whatever the cosmetics are like, rumors now assert that the 24.3-megapixel, translucent-mirrored A99's early September release has been locked down to September 12th; if that's true, it may give photographers as much reason to be happy that day as phone buyers.
Claimed iPad mini shell reappears, now with more rear camera and less Mr. Blurrycam
The last time we saw the purported iPad mini's aluminum backing, someone forgot to turn on a light. There's no such murkiness with NetEase's fresh turn at pre-release photography. Its view of a WiFi model gives us both a much clearer look as well as some hints that Apple wants more than a basic slab at the iPad's potential new entry level: there's a conspicuous cutout for what's likely a rear-facing camera, along with space in the top frame for a front camera. We've already seen the mini dock connector that fits in that hole at the bottom edge, of course. Nothing's definite unless there's either a smoking gun leak or an official event, but we may have just a month to wait to know whether or not the Kindle Fire HD 7-inch has some fresh competition.
Sprint training docs cast doubt on 2012 iPhone launch timing, but don't panic yet
The next iPhone's unveiling date is safely locked down. Whether or not it arrives at every US carrier simultaneously is up in the air, however, and there's signs that Sprint's model might not ship as quickly as we'd like. Carrier training documents obtained by iSource, which we've since verified are real, would require that sales staff and technicians all be ready to offer "in-store Apple support" on October 15th, wrapping up their earliest training by the 30th -- that's up to a month after the introductory event, which would reduce the chances of a simultaneous launch if the first wave of iPhone availability is as close as the rumors would have you believe. Before you start plotting a carrier switch out of impatience, we'll add that there's a few disclaimers at play. First is simply that October 15th is a Monday, which is very out of step with Apple's habit of launching iPhones on Fridays. We'd see that day as the target for training alone, and that's assuming that Sprint needs everyone on the same page before the iPhone is in stores. More importantly, we know from our own tips that Sprint's internal calendar is in flux: the provider may not have concrete plans until after Apple's executives leave the event stage next week. As such, we'd treat the document leak more as a heads-up than a guarantee of trouble in Sprint's schedule.
Nokia Lumia 822 and 5-inch HTC device found in Verizon systems
The Nokia Lumia 820 is fresh on everyone's minds, and rumors of a 5-inch Android device from HTC are floating around, so why not add a couple more pieces of kindling to the fire? We've been handed images of Verizon's device management system (DMD, for short) showing off a couple new devices: the Nokia Lumia 822 (in Gray and White) and the HTC 6435, which we've seen leaked as the potential Galaxy Note competitor. While this doesn't guarantee a surefire launch in any way, phones typically pop up in the DMD a few weeks prior to launch -- and it's good news for two groups of people: Windows Phone fans anxiously awaiting something fresh on the LTE carrier, and phablet fans looking for a device not called the Intuition. [Thanks, Anonymous!]
Sprint sending Jelly Bean to Samsung Galaxy Nexus and Nexus S 4G tomorrow?
We haven't heard much from the Now Network about upgrading its handsets with some Jelly Bean goodness, but see that picture up there? That leaked screenshot says that Galaxy Nexus and Nexus S 4G owners on Sprint will be getting Android 4.1 on September 6th, which is tomorrow. So celebrate, Sprint customers -- if accurate, that means that your Nexi will be the first stateside CDMA phones enjoying Mountain View's latest buttery smooth mobile OS. Let's just hope Big Red follows suit with a final release for its Nexus owners sometime soon. [Thanks, Anonymous]
Pantech Flex user manual discovered: Easy Experience mode shown in detail
And just like that, our pleas for more details about the Pantech Flex have been answered. We've come across the full 108-page user manual for AT&T's newest LTE device -- also known as the P8010 or Oscar -- which offers a heap of screenshots, included features and plenty of other tidbits. In it we learn many of the details concerning the manufacturer's new Easy Experience mode, which is geared toward first-time smartphone buyers. Look below to find the manual in its entirety, and past the break we'll break down some of the most important or interesting factoids we uncovered in the manual. %Gallery-164202%
Unreleased Nokia Lauta QWERTY slider emerges, shows where MeeGo might have tread
Those of us who remember Nokia's late-stage MeeGo phone development will recall how the dreams fell apart: we got the N9 and the developer-tuned N950, but the future grew dark almost immediately as Nokia swung its attention further towards Windows Phone. If MyNokiaBlog's prototype leak is accurate, however, the engineers in Espoo had planned at least one more MeeGo phone for the general public: meet the Lauta, or RM-742. It would have been an "immediate" follow-up to the N9 that brought a tilting, sliding QWERTY keyboard to the party, with performance identical to its touch-only sibling. Nokia was reportedly committed enough that it had fully functional prototypes and had penciled in a fall 2011 release to give the N9 some company. We don't really know why Nokia scrapped the Lauta, although it's not difficult to surmise that the company wanted to simplify its lineup at a time when profits were falling fast. The real tragedy may not be so much the decision to axe the Lauta as the absence of a true heir to what it represented -- between Nokia's public silence and recent departures from the relevant software team, MeeGo's future is more in doubt than ever.
Sony NEX-6 spotted in the wild, electronic viewfinder and mode dial in tow
We've had furtive glances of Sony's upcoming NEX-6 before, but only in the very clinical space of a government test lab. Apparently, no mere agency can confine it: photography workshop director Vincent Kang has posted a photo of the pre-release mirrorless camera on Weibo for all to see. Posing next to 24mm and 50mm lenses, the NEX-6 looks to be very much the in-between camera we suspected it was, without as much dedicated control as the NEX-7 but still carrying an electronic viewfinder, a pop-up flash and a dedicated function key near the shutter release. The dedicated mode dial is also more conspicuous -- there's no question that Sony wants to free up controls on the back for the future camera's more experienced target audience. Between the new design and the already known inclusion of WiFi, it's looking as though the NEX-6 may hit the sweet spot for shooters who want more control than the NEX-5R without sacrificing all its newer features. We just need to wait for official launch details to make it all real.
Nano-SIM for next iPhone makes appearance ahead of launch?
First we saw a supposed leak of the next iPhone's nano-SIM tray, and now we're seeing alleged photos of the nano-SIM itself. iFun posted an image of what it says is a new T-Mobile nano-SIM that has just started arriving at the German carrier. The package apparently came with a message telling carriers that these SIMs are for smartphones about to go on the market, and that they're not to be given to customers -- yet. Cupertino, of course, tweaked its nano-SIM design earlier this year, and this photo does come ahead of an Apple announcement event rumored for next week.
