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FCC filing hints at a couple of new Samsung Galaxy tablets
Samsung may have more than the Galaxy S 5 to show at Mobile World Congress this year. It just passed a couple of unannounced tablets through the FCC. One is a 10-inch SM-T530 that is clearly isn't one of the company's pro models; the rear camera doesn't have the telltale flash. As such, it's most likely to be a fourth-generation entry in the lower-cost Galaxy Tab line. There isn't any cellular data on this particular device, although we wouldn't rule it out for additional variants that have popped up at the Bluetooth SIG and an Indian import tracker. We also spotted what looks to be an 8-inch SM-T330, which is rumored to be the Galaxy Tab 4 and was spotted on Bluetooth SIG a few weeks ago. It too doesn't appear to sport any cellular bands, but as always, we wouldn't rule out LTE versions later down the line. No matter what, it's safe to presume that Samsung will have at least one more slate up its sleeve in the near future.
Leak looks like the Xperia G, Sony's newest midrange phone
Sony's not really been his bag before, but ViziLeaks appears to have gotten hands on with one of the company's phones before its official debut at Mobile World Congress. Two photos are claimed to show portions of the Xperia G, and were tweeted out along with some nebulous specs: LTE, 8GB of storage, an 8-megapixel camera and a gig of RAM, plus a 4.8-inch screen. Those internals, if accurate (we've asked for screenshots to confirm them) would position the G as a mid-range handset with a slightly smaller size and similar design as the Xperia Z1S laying on top of it. Unfortunately, the pictures themselves are less than helpful in telling us much else about the device, though astute readers will note the different camera and power button placement between the sibling handsets. For those who aren't familiar with ViziLeaks' work, it was proven prophetic in the summer of 2013 on multiple occasions. Those leaks, of course, were all about Nokia's Lumia 1020, but with MWC 2014 set to start in a week, we'll know soon enough if Vizileaks is just as prescient about the Xperia G.
Samsung Galaxy S5 teaser hints at new privacy and fitness features
We're not mathematicians, but we're fairly sure that you can't multiply Life to the power of five. That hasn't stopped Samsung, however, from claiming as much on its latest MWC invite. The company's "back-to-basics" Galaxy S5 is expected to dominate the show, and this is the first official hint of what we can expect. The grid of nine icons are grouped by color, with Speed, Curiosity and Privacy in team blue and Outdoor, Style and Fitness in healthy green -- and yes, all are multiplied to the power of five. It'd be hasty to leap to any conclusions just yet, but perhaps we'll see Samsung beefing up device security in the wake of PRISM and, hopefully, a renewed focus on fitness.
Nokia is reportedly unveiling its low-end Android phone this month
If you're eager to get an officially sanctioned glimpse at Nokia's rumored Android cellphone, you may not have to wait long. Sources speaking to the Wall Street Journal claim that Nokia will unveil the low-end handset, currently nicknamed Normandy, at Mobile World Congress later this month. The tipsters haven't shed new light on the hardware itself, but they support beliefs that the device's customized interface will revolve around Microsoft and Nokia services while stripping out Google content. If the leak is accurate, Microsoft may be in an awkward position once it closes its acquisition of Nokia's phone business -- it might have to sell a phone using the very platform it has been trying to destroy. [Image credit: @evleaks, Twitter]
Broadcom's new chips could put fast LTE in your budget smartphone
While entry-level smartphones are getting to be quite good these days, few of them have fast LTE; many have to make do with either basic LTE or 3G. If Broadcom is successful with its just-revealed M320 and M340 system-on-chip designs, though, advanced 4G could soon be very affordable. The new chips respectively bundle dual- and quad-core processors with 150 Mbps LTE radios, making it easier for small firms to ship cheap handsets (Broadcom expects sub-$300 pricing) with speedy internet access. They're already integrated with Android 4.4 KitKat, too, so companies don't always have to fuss over software support. Broadcom isn't saying when phones with the new chips will reach the market, but it's currently delivering sample units to "leading" manufacturers.
Samsung's new Windows Phone for Verizon reaches the FCC
Just in case it wasn't already clear that Samsung is prepping a next-generation Windows Phone for Verizon, the company has just passed the device (the SM-W750V) through the FCC. The approval confirms the presence of Big Red-friendly LTE and CDMA frequencies, as well as GSM and HSPA for world roaming. The handset is also large enough to hold that rumored 5-inch screen. The filing doesn't offer any clues as to when the hardware ships, but we wouldn't rule out the possibility of an announcement at or around Mobile World Congress.
Here's a possible sneak peek at the homescreen for HTC's next flagship
The online rumor mill's been working overtime where HTC's upcoming M8 flagship is concerned, with some even going so far as to conjure fake mock-ups of the device. Leave it to @evleaks then to give us our first alleged glimpse of the handset, albeit via the device's homescreen. From what we can see in the image above, it looks as though HTC's given Blinkfeed, its Flipboard-like service, a slight makeover. There's also the presence of onscreen virtual navigation buttons, which gives some weight to the recent gossip we've heard about the M8's build. Beyond that though, it's hard to tell just how much HTC's evolved its Sense UI for the device. But with Mobile World Congress just a few weeks away, we should know the full monty soon enough -- that is unless HTC's cooking up a separate event of its own.
NYT: Samsung Galaxy S 5 and Galaxy Gear 2 will be announced in three weeks
As Mobile World Congress approaches, it appears to become more and more evident that Samsung has chosen the Barcelona event later this month as the venue to launch the Galaxy S 5. This morning, the New York Times has confirmed through its sources that this will indeed be the case, and it's going to be quite a bit different from last year's Galaxy S flagship launch. Whereas last year's controversial show featured Broadway-style antics and blatant stereotyping, the NYT reports that "Unpacked 2014 Episode 1," the launch event, will be much more low-key. The publication also mentions a few details about the device itself. The GS5 will reportedly feature some design enhancements and spec improvements, such as a fancier camera and better processor (we'd wager that we'll see a 16MP camera and a choice of Exynos 6 or Snapdragon 805), but it sounds like Samsung plans to dial back the number of new firmware features. Curiously, the same sources tell the Times that the S5 oddly won't come with a bump in display resolution to Quad HD (2,560 x 1,440); if this is indeed the case, it likely means we'll be seeing a 1080p screen on two Galaxy S flagships in a row. We find this a bit surprising, but we wonder if supply constraints could be a reason why Samsung is holding off for now. The report also claims that we won't see an eye scanner this time around. Finally, the Times reports that Samsung isn't going to wait for its usual yearly product cycle to launch a new Galaxy Gear -- apparently, the second version of the smartwatch is also on the Unpacked agenda just a few months after its predecessor arrived. The product's quick turnaround would certainly be a huge surprise, but given its relatively poor reception and reportedly low sales, it's not unreasonable to suggest that the company wants to push out a new and improved version as soon as possible.
Samsung's 'Unpacked 5' event promises a new flagship device
Samsung sure knows how to whet the appetite of its fans. The Korean tech giant has announced that it's holding an "Unpacked 5" event at Mobile World Congress on February 24th -- a potentially not-so-subtle reference to the upcoming Galaxy S 5. There's no guarantees that the new high-end smartphone will appear in Barcelona, especially when Samsung has only unveiled one Galaxy S device (the Galaxy S II) at the trade gathering. However, our invitation mentions a "flagship product," and it comes nearly a year after the company invited us to get "ready 4 the show" -- we all know what that digit was referencing. Whether or not the fifth-generation flagship makes an appearance at the event, you can be sure that we'll be there.
Samsung's budget Galaxy Note 3 Neo reportedly caught on camera
Remember that talk of a lower-cost Galaxy Note 3? You may be looking at the phone right now. SamMobile claims to have photos of the rumored Galaxy Note 3 Neo (aka Lite), and they show what you'd expect -- a slightly smaller, less advanced version of Samsung's pen-toting flagship. The leak also includes benchmarks that back up rumors of an 8-megapixel camera, a 720p screen and a hexa-core processor with performance between that of the Galaxy S 4 and the full-size Note 3. There's no guarantee that the photos or the specs reflect a shipping product, but there are murmurs of a possible Neo launch at Mobile World Congress in late February; we may not have to wait long to learn more.
Tizen ready to unveil its newest devices in February at Mobile World Congress
Tizen is a relatively new operating system which will be featured on a wide range of devices, from smartphones and tablets to automotive computer systems, but it's been pretty quiet thus far, only getting into the hands of developers and just a couple of cameras available for general consumers. That's all about to change, as Tizen has sent us an invitation to check out the first set of devices running the OS on February 23rd in Barcelona for Mobile World Congress. It doesn't specifically mention that smartphones will be included in this lineup, but it's a pretty safe bet -- especially since the first handset with Tizen was supposed to be coming out at the end of 2013. As always, we'll be on the lookout for more details as they trickle in.
