Google Nexus 6 Named 'Nexus X' on Best Buy, to Launch October 31

Google Nexus 6 Named 'Nexus X' on Best Buy, to Launch October 31: Reports

by Hitesh Arora, August 25, 2014

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Motorola's much-leaked Shamu handset, rumoured to be the next Nexus smartphone, will now reportedly be called the Nexus X (and not Nexus 6 as previously rumoured), if a leaked screenshot of a listing at US retailer Best Buy is to be believed. In another report, the smartphone's secret launch is already being planned around Halloween, October 31.
The alleged Motorola Nexus X XT1100 Best Buy listing was spotted by Tktechnewsblog. The listing notes the smartphone's two-year contracted price will be $499.99 (approximately Rs. 30,000) on Sprint wireless carrier. According to the listing, the smartphone will feature a 5.9-inch Quad-HD (1440x2560 pixels) display, and a 2.7GHz quad-core processor, along with Android LMP operating system.
As we mentioned earlier, the next Nexus smartphone, the anticipated Motorola Shamu, was expected to be called the Nexus 6. However, referring to an earlier dispute with the family of author Philip K Dick, the Nexus 6 is a name Google may not be able to use. The WSJ had reported in 2010 ahead of the Nexus One's launch that Dick's family had claimed the use of the word Nexus was a clear infringement of the novel 'Do Androids dream of Electric Sheep?', where the Androids were called Nexus-6.
For the release date, a PhoneArena claims that it has been told that Google is planning a secret launch around Halloween, just like the launch of the Nexus 5. The report also says that Google might launch the alleged Nexus X without an announcement.
Earlier the anticipated smartphone was allegedly listed in benchmarks specifications as 'Google Shamu', with a 5.2-inch Quad-HD (1440x2560 pixels) display, a quad-core 2.7GHz (precisely 2649MHz) Snapdragon 805 processor (APQ8084), Adreno 420 GPU, and 3GB of RAM. The primary rear camera was suggested to be a 13-megapixel camera, while there will be a 2.1-megapixel front camera also onboard. The device was also listed to run Android L.

Samsung Galaxy Note 4 to have the same fingerprint sensor that's found on the S5 and Galaxy Alpha

Posted: 25 Aug 2014, 18:33, by Florin T.

Tags: Samsung+ Android+

While it’s no secret that Samsung’s Galaxy Note 4 will be officially announced on September 3, there are still plenty of unanswered questions regarding the upcoming device. One of them, however, seems to have found its answer today: according to Sam Mobile, the Note 4 will have a fingerprint sensor that uses Synaptics’ Natural ID solution - thus being similar to the sensors found on the Galaxy S5 and Galaxy Alpha. Just like on these two handsets, the sensor of the Galaxy Note 4 should have a part included in the home button, and another one incorporated into the lower area of the display.

In addition to coming with the fingerprint-related software features that you may already know from the Galaxy S5 (Screen Lock, Samsung Account Verification, PayPal Payments, and Private Mode with fingerprint authentication), the Note 4 will reportedly introduce several new features. Among them, Sam Mobile mentions Fingerprint Shortcuts, which seemingly lets you assign applications or commands to any registered fingerprint - so you’ll be able to open apps directly form the lock screen. Another new feature should be Web Sign-in, enabling users to sign-in to various websites just by swiping a finger over the home button.

Fingerprint sensor aside, the Galaxy Note 4 should come with an impressive list of high-end specs. According to previous rumors, the handset will have a 5.7-inch display with 1440 x 2560 pixels, a Snapdragon 805 processor, 3 GB of RAM, and a rear camera with optical image stabilization. Like the Galaxy Alpha, the new Note may sport a metal frame which could give it a more premium look compared to the Galaxy Note 3 (pictured above).  

source: Sam Mobile

Android One smartphones could be released starting next week,

First Android One smartphones could be released starting next week, Android L updates to come in October

Posted: 25 Aug 2014, 21:06, by Florin T.

Google is rather quiet when it comes to Android One - the initiative that the Mountain View giant announced back in June. Even so, Android One handsets are expected to be available this September in India, and The Economic Times has it that the very first one among them could be launched next week.

Reportedly, the Android One handset that might be available to buy in India next week features dual SIM capabilities, a 5 MP rear camera, and a 1700 mAh battery. Other features could include 1 GB of RAM, a quad-core processor, expandable internal memory, a screen of at least 4 inches, and Android 4.4 KitKat. Indian manufacturers Micromax, Karbonn and Spice are all set to start offering Android One devices, though it’s not clear which company will do it first. In any case, The Economic Times notes that their Android One handsets will cost between 7,000 and 10,000 INR ($115 - $165), while offering a user experience that’s usually found on mid- to high-end products.

Interestingly, it’s said that Android One smartphones will be updated to Android L in October - which means that regular Android devices should receive updates to the brand new version of Android at about the same time.

According to a previous report, Google plans to spend millions of dollars to promote Android One handsets in India. We guess that we’ll see soon if that’s true or not.

source: The Economic Times

LG G3 Stylus is now official: qHD display, quad-core 1.3GHz processor

LG G3 Stylus is now official: qHD display, quad-core 1.3GHz processor, 3G connectivity

Posted: 25 Aug 2014, 23:32, by Alan F.

Earlier this month, we told you that LG was coming out with a lower priced version of its LG G3 flagship model, called the LG G3 Stylus. LG played hide and seek with this phone on a promotional video, and finally made it official on Tuesday morning in Korea. The screen size remains the same as on the LG G3, but with the Stylus, the resolution is 540 x 960 as opposed to the 1440 x 2560 on the flagship model. If you want to look at it another way, the flagship version of the LG G3 has a QHD screen. The LG G3 Stylus screen is qHD. Who would have thought that a lower case "q" would make such a big difference.

A quad-core 1.3GHz GPU powers the Stylus, which includes 1GB of RAM and 8GB of native storage. A microSD slot allows you to add memory, and the back and front cameras weigh in at 13MP and 1.3MP respectively. Keeping the phone powered up is a 3000mAh battery. A stylus comes with the handset (hence its name), and Android 4.4.2 is pre-installed, out of the box. The LG G3 Stylus will have 3G connectivity and will be available in black, white and gold.

The features on the phone include Dual Window, which allows you to open up two apps at the same time. Smart Keyboard learns the way you type, and reduces errors by as much as 75%. The two steps you normally use to take a picture, are reduced to one with Touch and Shoot. Tap the device to focus, and to activate the shutter, in just one move. KnockCode allows you to come up with a pattern of up to eight taps to unlock the handset. And lastly, with Gesture Shot you open and close your hand in front of the lens to start a three-second countdown, that will result in a picture being captured.

The LG G3 Stylus will launch next month in 3G markets in Brazil. Other locations to follow include Asia, Middle East and Africa, and CIS. Pricing and availability will be announced with each local launch.

The LG G3 Stylus is now official

Android L becoming LMP; lemon meringue pie?

Posted: 24 Aug 2014, 11:48, by Michael H.

We know that Android L is coming within the next two to three months, but we also know that there will be a dessert-themed nickname for the update. There have been rumors that it would be Android Lollipop, but some new evidence is making it look like Google has chosen a nickname, and it may be going back to the bakery for this one.

Before the last minute change to KitKat, Android 4.4 was planned to be called Key Lime Pie. Google even put a key lime pie icon in the easter egg for the system. Since Google couldn't have its pie last time around, it looks as though it is going for a slice with this update. Multiple items have surfaced which refer to the Android L update as "LMP". This can be found in the Android L preview SDK with a reference to "lmp-preview-release", the Wi-Fi certification for the alleged HTC Nexus tablet includes LMP in the firmware info, and multiple entries in the AOSP repository mention LMP. 

So, at the very least, Google is using lemon meringue pie as an internal codename for the Android L release. That doesn't necessarily mean that the final update will carry that same nickname though. There is always a chance that Google pulls another marketing move with a major candy brand like Lemonheads, Lindor, or Laffy Taffy. For now, it looks like L will be Lemon Meringue Pie.

Indian Prime Minister Wants Every Citizen to Own a Smartphone by 2019

Happy Nagashetti

on August 25, 2014 at 7:33 pm

The Indian Prime Minister, Mr. Narendra Modi laid out some bold 21st century goals in his Independence Day speech. One important goal was the Digital India project which would connect India through its length and width. The project has been green-lit by the cabinet of ministers, and the Prime Minister hopes for an India where government services can be delivered through the creation of technological infrastructure.

For starters, the Digital India project is a Rs 113,000 crore project directed towards setting up of a broadband highway. It hopes to connect 2.5 lakh villages by broadband and phones and bring Wi-Fi capabilities in 2.5 lakh schools, all universities and setup public Wi-Fi hotspots for citizens. It is expected to create about 1.7 crore direct and 8.5 crore indirect jobs. It will be particularly beneficial for delivering e-governance and e-services.

As of now mobile phones have reached about 74% of Indian population, which considering India’s massive population is a huge number. While a major portion of this population resides in urban areas, Mr. Modi hopes to change that in the coming future. He wants every Indian citizen to have access to a smartphone by 2019. He hopes to see mobile phones grow as welfare services delivery tool.

The main aim of the Digital India Project is to convert India into a connected knowledge economy which offers world class services. The government plans to take assistance from tech giants such as Cisco and Facebook in creating the infrastructure as well as spread awareness regarding the plan.

E-Governance is not just economical, it provides immense convenience to citizens

The cornerstone of his speech on Independence day was transforming India into a manufacturing hub of the world. The government of India plans to bring net electronics import to zero by 2020 which is an audacious plan. This will also help in curbing down the huge outflow of income that is spent by tech crazy Indian population. The manufacturing process will no doubt get a boost from the high-speed informational connectivity.

The Telecom Minister of India, Ravi Shanker Prasad said that the National Optic Fibre Network (NOFN) venture which had been lying dormant for some years will be reinvigorated. The progress of the network will be monitored by the Prime minister himself.

Investment in Technological infrastructure will lead to a speedy growth in the economy. Not only will it help a farmer in the remote region of the country to know the right price of his produce, it will also make the government functioning transparent. It will also help in bringing better, technology aided education to the children of India, thereby leading to an optimistic future about the country. All we can ask the Prime Minister right now is to bring Google Fibre to India and speed up the urban economy right away.

HTC teases something with "820", possibly a 64-bit Desire 820 smartphone

Posted: by Luis D.

It was only yesterday when we were invited by HTC to "save the date" for the company's "IFA Breakfast". Rumors have been swirling that HTC will be bringing forth a 64-bit Android smartphone in time for the annual IFA expo in Berlin. Next, we published the story of Qualcomm's leaked product map that shows its mid-range 64-bit processors are almost ready to start rolling off the fab. 

The HTC rumor makes even more sense with this revelation into account, and now the company posted a teaser image on Weibo, which shows the digit "820". It's known that the only HTC products with three-digit names are its Desire series of low and mid-tier phones, which leads us to the conclusion that HTC is possibly preparing a Desire 820 phone based on Qualcomm's upcoming Snapdragon 610 or 615 chips. 

Looking at the "8" in its name, the Desire 820 might as well go for the octa-core Snapdragon 615, but that's purely speculative. Besides, the latest phone in the series, the Desire 816, has a quad-core CPU. If HTC wants to keep the price down, it will probably go for the quad-core Snapdragon 610.

HTC is known for its pursuit towards being the first to bring cutting-edge technology to its smartphones. After all, this is the company that made the first consumer Android smartphone, launched the first smartphone with a 1080p display, and experimented with UltraPixel cameras to the dismay of some consumers. If there's one company we'd bet on coming up with the first 64-bit Android phone, it's HTC. We'll see what the future holds on September 4th.

via G For Games

Leaked roadmap shows Qualcomm could bring out its 64-bit processors by this year's end

Posted: by Luis D.

It seems Qualcomm doesn't have much idle time to spare. The silicon slinger's 2014-2015 product roadmap that popped up on China's Weibo social network shows the company is preparing to give its lonely Snapdragon 600 chipset some 64-bit company.

The Snapdragon 610 (MSM8936) and Snapdragon 615 (MSM8939) are scheduled to appear on the market by this year's end. Both are made on 28nm technology and have the Adreno 405 as their graphics arm. However, the Snapdragon 610 has four Cortex-A53 CPU cores clocked at 1.8GHz, while the Snapdragon 615 is an eight-headed beast that sees the aforementioned cores joined by four additional A53 cores clocked at 1GHz.

The Snapdragon 800 will get new 64-bit friends as well. Between the second and third quarter of 2015, the Snapdragon 810 (MSM8994) and Snapdragon 808 (MSM8992) will become available to manufacturers. The Snapdragon 810 is an eight-core processor backed by the Adreno 430 GPU found in the rare Snapdragon 805. The Snapdragon 808 is a less powerful, but not modest at all hexa-core (six cores) processor backed by the Adreno 418 GPU.

With these time-frames in mind, it's logical to assume that the first 64-bit Android phones powered by the new Snapdragon 610 & 615 processors could start showing up as early as Q1-Q2 2015. The more powerful Snapdragon 808 and 810 could appear in products from the second half of 2015. This is how it played out when the Snapdragon 600 and Snapdragon 800 succeeded the good ol' Snapdragon S4 Pro back in 2013.

Qualcomm isn't one to hold surprises, so if you are interested in reading more about its upcoming processors, you can do so straight from the company's page.

Google Nexus 6 to be Released During Halloween 2014 as 'Nexus X'

Google Nexus 6 to be Released During Halloween 2014 as 'Nexus X': Smartphone to Feature High-End Technical Specifications

By Rahul R

August 25, 2014 08:41 BST

A concept design photo of Google's upcoming Nexus 6.Concept Phones

Google's Nexus 6 has become a hot topic of discussion across the world. It all started with LG reportedly backing away from supplying handsets under the 'Nexus' initiative. Later, there were reports that hinted on Motorola supplying Nexus 6 handsets under the codename 'Shamu'.

Now, according to a PhoneArena report, Nexus 6 will be accorded the nomenclature of 'Nexus X' (said to be used internally by Motorola), and the smartphone will have model number XT1100.

The PhoneArena report also states that Nexus 6 will not be the official name of the next Nexus smartphone.

Another important aspect that has surfaced is the fact that the Nexus X will be secretly released during the Halloween season that begins during late October.

People anticipating the Nexus 6, can expect the smartphone to be launched anytime between late October and mid November this year.

Technical Specifications and Pricing

The latest speculations indicate that the Nexus X will have high-end tech specs that are said to be in line with Motorola Shamu's hardware aspects, which were leaked out earlier.

According to the available information, Nexus X will likely be the Motorola Shamu (or Motorola S), which means that the smartphone will feature a large 5.9in display and is expected to run Google's (most anticipated) Android L; straight out of the box.

As Google is known to launch its most important products (both software and hardware) during the fall every year, it should come as no surprise if we get to witness the Nexus X and Android L being officially launched together.

As of now, an Android L update is expected to reach earlier Nexus devices viz., Nexus 5, Nexus 4, Nexus 7 and Nexus 10 in October this year.

Other tech specs of Nexus X could include a 2.7GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 processor with 3GB RAM, 13 MP primary camera with a 2MP secondary camera, and connectivity options like 4G-LTE, Wi-Fi, NFC and microUSB.

However, the pricing aspects of the Nexus X are yet to surface. Considering the fact that the device will cater to people preferring 'high-end' smartphones, Nexus enthusiasts should expect a comparatively high price tag on the Nexus X.

Moto X+1 said to be coming with optical zoom and... 3D display?

Posted: 25 Aug 2014, 02:18, by Chris P.

It feels like it's been forever since we first started hearing about the next-in-line Motorola flagship. Dubbed the Moto X+1, the device has been making rounds for a while now, and new pieces of the puzzle are seemingly added weekly. Today is no different, and will go towards the X+1's quota for the coming week.

Now, in complete fairness, the following information is nothing more than hearsay, so don't go crazy just yet, but Hellomotohk (a source with a decent track record) claims that the Moto X+1's camera will sport optical zoom. That's right -- the already peculiar shooter (due to its seemingly built-in two LED flash diodes) will apparently also allow you to do some lossless zooming, though we'd imagine that, if true, we won't be talking x10 zoom like with the Samsung Galaxy K Zoom. 

Another interesting piece of information has to do with the curious sensors at the X+1's front. As you can see from the above render, courtesy of @evleaks, the Moto X+1 may have a feature along the lines of the Amazon Fire Phone's 3D Display. Having said that, we're mostly skeptical that Motorola will go down that path (it apparently took Amazon years to make the feature acceptable, and we're yet to see if that investment will pay off), so perhaps these sensors will instead unlock some kind of gesture interactions with the phone. Those would be a neat addition to the Moto X+1, which will likely also inherit Touchless Controls and Active Display from the Moto X.

The Motorola Moto X+1 is expected to be unveiled on September 4th.

source: Hellomotohk via Webtrek (translated)