Smartphones

Samsung Reveals Galaxy S 4

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Samsung does like every other vendor and reveals a flagship smartphone for 2013 at the Samsung Unpacked event-- the Galaxy S 4, the biggest and most powerful smartphone from the Korean company yet. 

Galaxy S 4Looking a like a cross between the Galaxy S III and the Galaxy Note 8, the Galaxy S 4 is a massive 5-inch handset (up from the 4.8-inch Galaxy S III), with a glove-friendly 1920 x 1080 Super AMOLED touchscreen featuring 441 ppi pixel density. 

Like previous Galaxy S models construction is in plastic with a 136.6 x 69.8 x 7.9mm chassis weighing 130g. Inside are some fairly impressive specifications-- 1.9GHz quad-core/1.6GHz octa-core (depending on region) processor, 2GB RAM, 16/32/64GB internal storage (expandable via microSD slot), 2600mAh battery and a 13MP rear-facing camera. 

Connectivity options include wifi 802.11ac, IR blaster, NFC, Bluetooth 4.0+ME and MHL 2.0

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Amazon Smartphone Meets Delays?

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If one is to believe DigiTimes reports Amazon's smartphone plans might have hit a hitch-- originally planned for a Q2 2013 launch, a smartphone from the online retailer will not be available until at least Q3.

Amazon phoneAccording to flat panel supply chain sources production of said smartphone is still going through an engineering verification test (EVT) period due to "issues relating to its mobile platform" before it enters volume production in June 2013.

Reportedly taking care of Amazon phone development is FIH subsidiary Ensky Tech, the company responsible for Kindle eReader and tablet production.

DigiTimes is not the only source claiming Amazon has pushed back its smartphone release. A February 2013 Apple report from Jefferies analyst Peter Misek states "our checks indicate that Amazon’s phone seems to have been delayed."

No actual details on the Amazon smartphone are available as yet-- although judging from the retailer's Kindle tablets, one can assume it will make use of a custom Android version and ship at a fairly low price.

Go Amazon Much-Fanfared Smartphone May be delayed (DigiTimes)

Go Amazon Delayed Plans for Smartphones (Business Insider SAI)

HTC Reveals One X Successor

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Just days before Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2013 HTC unveils its Android smartphone flagship-- the HTC One, a 4.7-inch successor for the One X mobile family.

HTC OneUnibody construction is in aluminium with an optically bonded 4.7-inch LCD display featuring 1920 x 1080 resolution and 468ppi pixel density. Inside are a 1.7Ghz quad-core Snapdragon 600 chip, 2GB RAm, 32 or 64GB of internal storage and a 2300mAh battery. Jelly Bean is the Android version of choice, as reskinned with the latest version of HTC Sense UI.

Connectivity options include HSPA, LTE, NFC, Bluetooth 4.0, 802.11ac wifi and IR (allowing use as a TV remote control via HTC Sense TV app).

HTC claims the One offers "the best audio experience" through "BoomSound," the combination of x2 front-facing stereo speakers (apparently with the biggest sound chambers in a phone), integrated Beats Audio technology and a dual-microphone HDR recording option.

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LG Reveals 5.5-inch Optimus G Pro

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LG announces a successor to the Optimus G smartphone-- the Optimus G Pro, a 5.5-inch number running on the latest Qualcomm processor, the 1.7GHz quad-core Snapdragon 600 revealed at CES 2013.

Optimus G ProThe 5.5-inch IPS display handles 1920 x 1080 resolution at 400 dpi. Further internal details include 2GB DDR RAM, 32GB internal storage (expandable via microSD slot) and Android 4.1.2 as OS.

LG claims the battery offers "largest capacity in its class" at 3140mAh.

Software features include dual recording (uses both cameras simultaneously), VR Panorama (360-degree photo stitching similar to Google's Photo Sphere) and updated versions of the QSlide, Live Zooming and QuickMemo apps.

The Optimus G Pro is slated for a February 2013 launch in Korean markets. Details on an eventual European release should be available following Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2013 next week.

Go LG Optimus G Pro

Asus to Intro "Fonepad" at MWC?

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According to DigiTimes Asus may have an interesting announcement at Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2013-- the Fonepad, a 7-inch Android 4.1 smartphone/tablet hybrid (aka "phablet").

fonepadThe device will reportedly carry an Intel processor (specifically the Atom Z242), together with a 1280x800 IPS touchscreen, 1GB RAM, 16GB internal storage, 3MP rear-facing camera and 3G, wifi, Bluetooth and GPS support.

The Fonepad name is a reversal of "PadFone", the other Asus hybrid device (a smartphone with a tablet-sized display dock). With the market showing preference for oversized smartphones, will Asus manage to prove that bigger is even more beautiful?

Go Asus Likely to Unveil 7-inch Fonepad at 2013 MWC (DigiTimes)