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HP's new tablets may be its way back into the smartphone world
HP has long vowed that it would revive its smartphone efforts, and it may be near that comeback -- just not with the fanfare that some were hoping for. The Information claims that the company is weeks away from releasing a slew of phone-capable 6- and 7-inch Android tablets that would target developing markets, like China and India. They wouldn't cost more than $250 off-contract, and they would reportedly be recycled designs from manufacturers like Pegatron and Quanta. While HP isn't commenting on the rumor, it's safe to say that major smartphone makers wouldn't be losing sleep over the potential launch. The tipsters suggest that HP would instead be testing the waters -- it would enter fast-growing mobile markets while it works on original hardware, corporate apps and carrier deals that would be necessary in more established areas.
Samsung adds red and 'rose gold' colors to its Galaxy Note 3 lineup
Smartphones these days are as much fashion accessories as pure gadgets and Galaxy Note 3 fans will soon have two more ways to mix and match. First off, Samsung went straight for a trendy "rose gold" hue for the handset's metal edge against a black or white body color, giving it a blingy Chanel vibe. Also on tap is a "merlot red" so that exhibitionist types will have something more outré to lust after than the current jet black, classic white and blush rose finishes. The new shades will be launched in China later this month, with other regions getting them as per "market preference," according to Samsung. We're not sure what that means exactly, because the market usually prefers things yesterday.
IDC: 21 percent of smartphones shipped in Q3 were big-screened behemoths
Supersized smartphones have been increasing in popularity for quite some time, but IDC now believes that they've truly hit the mainstream. The analyst group estimates that about 21 percent of the 261.1 million smartphones shipped in the third quarter had displays five inches or larger; that's a huge jump from just three percent a year earlier. An influx of big flagships like the Galaxy S 4 and G2 no doubt played a major role in the growth. However, IDC notes that the average price of a large-screened phone has dropped by 22.8 percent in one year -- those shipments included a wave of lower-cost behemoths like the Ascend Mate and Galaxy Mega 6.3. IDC is also estimating market share for the quarter (shown after the break), although it's painting a familiar picture. Android now has more than 80 percent of the market, while iOS is treading water at 12.8 percent. Windows Phone grew quickly as well, climbing from two percent in Q3 2012 to 3.6 percent a year later. The fourth quarter may be a different story, however -- Nokia is getting into the giant handset game with the Windows Phone-based Lumia 1520 and 1320, while Apple is enjoying brisk sales of its recently launched (if relatively small) iPhone 5s. We won't be shocked if Google's mobile rivals grab a larger slice of the market.
Vivo Xplay review: $500 buys plenty of smartphone in China
A review of a smartphone that's primarily sold in China? Yes, that's exactly what this is, and with good reason. The Vivo Xplay merits attention because of the components it contains -- some of which are exotic, like its "HiFi grade" audio chips, and some of which are straightforward but desirable, like its huge, 5.7-inch 1080p display and Snapdragon 600 processor. The handset also helps to set a benchmark for what smartphone hardware is actually worth, since its $480 street price puts it closer to the smaller, Google-sponsored Nexus 5 ($350) than typical big-phones like the Galaxy Note 3 or HTC One Max, which fetch around $800 unlocked. Although US customers can import the Xplay for $520, it lacks the right bands for proper 3G support in North America and is actually more suitable for HSPA+ networks in the UK, where it costs £495. So, let's find out what China can deliver for that sort of money.
HTC One Max review
The debate around giant smartphones is over. Manufacturers like Samsung, Sony and LG have amply demonstrated that it's possible to build a pocketable, phone-like device with a screen bigger than five inches. Now it's HTC's turn. But instead of re-imagining the much-praised One for this new category of device, HTC's designers have mostly just cloned it, while adding a drop of Miracle-Gro to produce a 1080p panel that measures 5.9 inches diagonally, versus the One's 4.7 inches. The result is the One Max, a product that carries over some good things from the One while also finding room for a few notable extras like a fingerprint scanner and expandable storage. At the same time, it also introduces some major snags -- not least of which are the its intimidating size and weight. The job ahead of us is to somehow find the upper body strength to weigh it all up.
HTC launches One Max with huge 5.9-inch display and fingerprint scanner
The bigger the phone, the harder it is to hide. After a slew of detailed leaks, HTC is finally ready to announce the HTC One Max: an enlarged version of the original One that boosts the size of the 1080p LCD panel up to 5.9 inches while attempting to keep the One's classy aluminum look and feel. This attempt is made regardless of the impact on general portability -- the One Max weighs 217 grams and is over 16 centimeters long and 10.3mm thick, thanks in part to the front-facing BoomSound speakers. And the phablet only gets phatter if you squeeze it into something like HTC's $90 power case, which contains a bendy 1,200mAh battery to add to the capacity of the built-in (and non-removable) 3,300mAh battery. Aside from its size, the One Max brings other big changes, including a fingerprint scanner on its rear side. We've had the chance to use the scanner and, while it isn't as neat as the iPhone 5s's, it does the basic job of letting you log in with a swipe of your fingertip. We'd have happily swapped it out for optical stabilization on the UltraPixel camera, however. The back cover is now removable, letting you expand the 16GB or 32GB of onboard storage with up to 64GB more via microSD -- a feature that was missing on the One and on the One X before that. The One Max sticks with a Snapdragon 600 (with 2GB of RAM) for processing, rather than the superior Snapdragon 800 used in rival devices like the Sony Xperia Z Ultra and Samsung Galaxy Note 3. The supported bands suggest healthy support for LTE networks in Europe and Asia, and as well as for Verizon and Sprint in the US, and HTC says global availability will start rolling out as early as this week. On the software side, we're looking at a significantly revised version of HTC's Android skin, Sense 5.5, which runs on top of Android 4.3 and provides a new level of customization for the BlinkFeed news-glancing widget, as well as a list of other features that are summarized in the press release and spec sheet below. Check out the gallery below too, and standby for our review coming very shortly.
Pantech Vega Secret Note includes fingerprint reader, stylus and the kitchen sink
Don't look now, but Pantech just managed to combine five hot smartphone trends in one device. Its new, 5.9-inch Vega Secret Note centers on a fingerprint reader that hides personal info. However, that's just the start of a feature list that includes seemingly every major trick we've seen in the past few months -- there's also pen input, a rear touch sensor, LTE-Advanced data and an optional windowed front cover. It's no slouch in the performance department, either. On top of its big 1080p screen, the Vega Secret Note packs a Snapdragon 800 chip, 3GB of RAM, a 13-megapixel rear camera, a 2-megapixel front shooter and 32GB of storage with USB host support. Pantech hasn't said when its new flagship arrives, although it should reach all three major South Korean carriers for an estimated 900,000 won ($839) off-contract.
BLU Studio 5.5 smartphone carries big screen, $179 off-contract price
Is that big-name giant smartphone way beyond your price range? No problem: BLU Products has just shipped the Studio 5.5, one of the more affordable large phones that we've seen in a while. The Android 4.2 device won't impress with its 854 x 480 resolution, quad-core MediaTek chip or 4GB of expandable storage, but it also costs just $179 contract-free -- much less than many rivals. The bright colors and dual unlocked SIM slots don't hurt, either. If you're interested in BLU's big budget handset, you'll find it at Amazon and Best Buy in the near future.
Nokia Lumia 1520 launch reportedly delayed in wake of Microsoft deal
If you believe the rumors, Nokia was supposed to launch the supersized Lumia 1520 (aka Bandit) as soon as next week. However, this unannounced Windows Phone may have hit an unofficial snag: Reuters claims that Nokia has delayed the unveiling by "several weeks" in the wake of Microsoft's plans to buy the company's device business. There's no word on an adjusted release date, although the historically accurate @evleaks has heard that the 1520 might appear in late October. Not surprisingly, Nokia isn't commenting on delays for a product that doesn't officially exist -- but don't be shocked if there's a new flagship Lumia later in the fall.
Motorola's working on a new tablet and it could be made-to-order through Moto Maker
Motorola's not just pinning its hopes on the success of its new smartphone, the Moto X, it's also going after tablets. As CEO Dennis Woodside told Engadget at the company's Fort Worth facility, "That's something we are working on, but [there's] nothing specific to talk about right now." While we're sure this new Moto tablet X will be a far cry from the company's past Xoom and Xyboard efforts, it's not clear if the device will be available to consumers through Moto Maker, the company's made-to-order site. But with Woodside and other Motorola's execs insistence that customization is the way forward, chances are you're likely to see the in-the-works slate arrive with various configuration options. There's also a likelihood Motorola could release a phablet-sized Moto X. Woodside said the company also plans to explore other form factors that incorporate "some of the design cues, as well as technologies, from the Moto X[.]"
Samsung's 38 million Galaxy Note sales show that large phones are here to stay
Remember when Samsung's big-screened Galaxy Note line was considered niche? Those days are long gone. JK Shin now says that the company has sold more than 38 million Note smartphones since the original launched in late 2011. That's 28 million more than Samsung reported a year ago; for context, Nokia has sold a total of 27.3 million Lumia smartphones as of its latest earnings report. Not surprisingly, Shin sees a bright future ahead for the Galaxy Note 3. He expects Samsung to sell over 10 million units of the third-generation handset, and history suggests that the tech giant could easily reach that goal despite an abundance of competition.
Telus to bring Galaxy Note 3 and Galaxy Gear to Canada on October 4th
Canadians won't have to wait much longer than their American counterparts to get their hands on the Galaxy Note 3 and Galaxy Gear. Telus sends word that it will carry both Samsung devices on October 4th, just a few days after AT&T gets its turn at the Note 3. The carrier doesn't yet have pricing. As for additional Canadian networks? We've reached out to Bell and Rogers for their launch details, and we'll let you know when they have something to share. If history is any indication, though, other providers will quickly follow in Telus' footsteps.
Extra-large Nokia Lumia 1520 surfaces in press image
Want a clear look at Nokia's Lumia 1520 (aka Bandit)? You may just have it. After posting a screen capture earlier in the week, @evleaks has released what's reportedly a press image of the super-sized, 1080p Windows Phone. The render largely matches what we've seen before, including the additional Live Tiles on the home screen, but the back is new. It suggests that there will be a Lumia 925-style camera hump -- sorry, no 41-megapixel sensor here -- along with aesthetics borrowed from other members of the Lumia family. There's no guarantee that this image is real, but we won't be surprised if it accurately represents Nokia's last flagship before Microsoft takes the reins.
Nokia's giant Lumia 1520 reportedly poses for the camera
Rumors are circulating that Nokia's first extra-large smartphone, possibly called the Lumia 1520, is near launch. If it's real, you might be looking at it -- Windows Phone Central has obtained a photo that purportedly shows the device for the first time. The snapshot presents a behemoth that makes even the Lumia 1020 look dainty. Unfortunately, there's little to corroborate claims that a quad-core processor, a 20-megapixel camera and Windows Phone 8 GDR3 lurk inside. We've also seen a previous fake that looks like this, although the new phone's bezel both matches that from a July part rumor and carries the prototype stamp common to Nokia test units. When there's talk of Nokia unveiling the 1520 in late September alongside a Windows tablet, we may learn the truth behind the photo within a few weeks.
LG exec: tablet, phablet, smartwatch and Firefox OS device coming soon
LG's mobile communications head in Bulgaria, Dimitar Valev, has laid out some of the company's key plans in an interview with Dnevnik.bg. For starters, he confirmed that the company will fire up its temporarily mothballed tablet lines with a new model, likely the 9.8-inch V500 we saw at the FCC earlier today. On the smartphone side, LG will trump its 5.5-inch Optimus G Pro model with a 6-inch handset and finally release its own Firefox OS device early next year. Most intriguingly, he said the company would give the smartwatch category another kick at the can, despite indifference to LG's GD910 Watch Phone model several years ago -- adding that the device might use flexible LCD tech. We're not sure if Mr. Valev was speaking out of turn, but if accurate, it'll be interesting to see how the new hardware pans out -- especially LG's take on Firefox OS.
Mobile Miscellany: week of July 22nd, 2013
If you didn't get enough mobile news during the week, not to worry, because we've opened the firehose for the truly hardcore. This week brought hints of a jumbo-sized Lumia smartphone, an early preview of an advanced camera app for CyanogenMod and the arrival of the Meizu MX2 in white. These stories and more await after the break. So buy the ticket and take the ride as we explore all that's happening in the mobile world for this week of July 22nd, 2013.
Reuters: Apple considering 4.7-inch and 5.7-inch iPhones, $99 model
Apple could be looking to buttress its iPhone range considerably over the next year by adding larger 4.7-inch and 5.7-inch models and a cheaper, $99 handset with a wider range of colors, according to sources from Reuters. The media outlet added that the moves are still under discussion, but represent an attempt to gain back share from arch-competitor Samsung, which has flooded the market with so-called phablets like the Galaxy Note II along with a wide range of inexpensive handsets -- neither of which Apple currently makes. That jibes with earlier rumors of a budget, plastic-bodied iPhone, and CEO Tim Cook didn't exactly deny it when asked if the company was interested in large-screen phones. Still, the manufacturing sources said it's unclear whether the company will actually proceed with any of those plans -- meaning the information should be taken with a very large dose of salt. Update: We reached out to Reuters for a little more clarification on the $99 price for the lower-end device. While they're unsure, they believe that to be a subsidized price.
Sony Mobile event invites tease sizable surprise, could mean Xperia Z Ultra
Several French sites report receiving invites (shown above) to a Sony Mobile press event promising a surprise of size while showing off a device's slender side profile and a stylus. The reference could be a teaser for the rumored Xperia Z Ultra, believed to be a Sony competitor to the Galaxy Notes of the world featuring a 6.44-inch 1080p display and possibly a Snapdragon 800 CPU inside. The buttons also seem to match another leaked image, and invites have also gone out for events in Germany and China on June 25th, while the message itself encourages recipients to "note" it in their calendar.
HTC M4 possibly spotted next to two monstrosities: alleged Nokia Lumia 1030 and Sony 'Togari'
If there's an award for the meatiest leak of the year, then this would make a fitting nomination. The above photo (reformatted for this page) was tweeted earlier today by France-based Dahny El Perro, who claims the blue device in the top right corner is an upcoming Nokia Lumia 1030. While it's hard to tell the physical features from the blurred shot, the wider spacing around the Windows Phone soft keys suggests this might be a larger device than the existing Lumia 920. More interestingly, its screenshot features an extra tile column, which is a feature rumored to be part of the Windows Phone 8 GDR3 update, according to ZDNet's Mary Jo Foley. Next up we have what appears to be the rumored 6.44-inch, 1080p Sony "Togari," whose front panel was first spotted way back in January. Alas, there's little to see here, but we were quickly distracted by the much smaller HTC device next to it. Many have simply dismissed this as the One, though if you look close enough you should notice the subtle differences: the frame is white all around the phone, and the speaker grills are shorter. Indeed, this device matches @evleaks' earlier render of the 4.3-inch M4, thus making this leak its first real-life appearance. But of course, there's also a good chance that this is merely a very clever hoax involving three unannounced devices, not to mention that the Twitter account is also super fresh, so we won't be placing any bets just yet. Update: WPCentral's sources say Nokia currently does not have plans for this type of over-sized phone, and they've confirmed that this image is inaccurate. Upon further research and analysis, we're leaning towards believing this is indeed an elaborate hoax. Update 2: Well, judging by the latest leaks a few months later, it looks like the large Nokia phone is real, after all.
Huawei Ascend Mate review: a supersized phone with supreme battery life
When Huawei revealed the Ascend Mate at CES this year, it felt like smartphones had reached an end point -- they surely couldn't get any larger. We've since been proven wrong by Samsung's Galaxy Mega 6.3, but the 6.1-inch Ascend Mate has gone on sale first, and it's every bit as intimidating as it was in January. The question is whether or not Huawei has more than just size on its side. Is this nearly tablet-sized device worth putting in our pockets, and can it fend off the suddenly tiny-looking Galaxy Note II and Optimus G Pro? Read on past the break, and you'll find out.%Gallery-189060%
