Smartphones

3D Displays for Amazon's Smartphone?

  • PDF

If one is to believe The Wall Street Journal the much-rumoured Amazon Smartphone will have at least one gimmick to beat the competition-- a retina-tracking display capable of creating "hologaphic" floating images. 

Hologram MobileThe glasses-free display will also allow users to "navigate through content using just their eyes," the WSJ sources continue. 

Holographic or not, the smartphone is said to be in development at Amazon's Cupertino Lab126 facility, alongside a second (probably) more conventional handset, an "audio-only streaming device" and an online video streaming TV STB. Such hardware efforts are reportedly known as the "Alphabet Projects," since internal nomenclature involves imaginative use of the, well, alphabet (as in Project A, B, C, D...). 

The WSJ has very little actual details on the devices in question-- the sources even warn "some or all" of the devices might even end up in development hell due to concerns of the performance or financial variety. 

Read more...

First Firefox OS Phones Hit the Market

  • PDF

Curious developers and customers can now test out the Mozilla's Firefox OS, courtesy of a pair of developer preview units from small Spanish phone maker Geeksphone. 

Firefox OS phoneOnce an Android handset maker, Geeksphone now makes part of the Firefox OS evangelists, alongside the likes of ZTE and operators such as Telefonica. 

What makes the platform different is the way it handles HTML5 apps-- web apps written in the language are native, meaning Firefox OS apps built should run on other smartphone platforms. 

“With early access to hardware, developers can test the capabilities of Firefox OS in a real environment with a mobile network and true hardware characteristics like the accelerometer and camera that are not easily tested on the Firefox OS Simulator,” a Mozilla blog post by head of developer engagement Stormy Peters reads. “Plus, new hardware is fun to play with!”

Geeksphone offers 2 Firefox OS phones-- the Keon (a low-cost, modestly-specced 3.5-inch number with a 1GHz Qualcomm processor and a 3MP camera) and the Peak (a 4.3-inch number with a dual-core Qualcomm 1.2GHz processor and 8MP camera). Both devices also feature 512MB RAM, 4GB internal storage, MicroSD slot, wifi, Bluetooth and micro USB port, and should be shipping now. 

Go Geeksphone

Go Geeksphone to start Selling Firefox OS Developer Preview Phones (Mozilla blog)

Carbon, Platinum Androids from Archos

  • PDF

Archos launches its first Android smartphones with the 35 Carbon, 50 Platinum and 53 Platinum-- unlocked 3G+ handsets with slim designs, IPS displays, Qualcomm CPUs and a dual-SIM option.

Archos smartphones“The smartphone market is shifting, as SIM-free sales versus subsidised sales are increasing. ARCHOS is prepared to respond to this change as we can offer retail channels affordable, unlocked and feature-rich smartphones without the heavy price tag,” Archos CEO Loïc Poirier says.

The 3 smartphones range from 3.5- (35 Carbon) to 5.3-inch (53 Platinum) in size. The flagship device is the 5-inch 50 Platinum, featuring a full black IPS display, quad-core 1.2GHz CPU, 4GB internal storage (expandable to 64GB via Micro SD) and 8MP camera, offering what the company claims is "an experience similar to a Samsung Galaxy S3 for half the price."

The OS of choice for all devices is unskinned Android 4.1.2 (Jelly Bean), while Archos media centre apps provide music and video access.

Archos should start shipping the 3 smartphones from May 2013.

Go Archos Unveils Unlocked Anrdoid Smartphone Line

Even Bigger is Even Better, Samsung Says

  • PDF

Samsung makes sure it keeps the "biggest handset maker" title with the Galaxy Mega-- a pair of smartphone-tablet hybrids (aka phablets) available in either 6.3- or 5.8-inch sizes. 

Galaxy MegaSuch sizes make the Mega bigger than the Galaxy Note II (whose display measures 5.3-inch) and Huawei's 6.1-inch Ascend Mate. 

Inside its massive frame the Galaxy Mega 6.3 carries a 1280x720 display, dual-core 1.7GHz processor, Android 4.2, 8MP camera 3200mAh battery, up to 16GB internal storage (expandable via microSD) and familiar Samsung software such as Air View, Multi Windows and Pop-up Play. 

Connectivity comes through LTE and HSPSA radios. 

The Galaxy Mega 5.8 sees a reduction in specs, with a 960x540 display, 1.4GHz dual-core processor and just 8GB of storage. 

Both Galaxy Mega models will be available for your larger-handed European and Russian customers from May 2013. 

Go Samsung

Sony Adds to Xperia Range

  • PDF

Sony broadens the Xperia mobile device family with not one, but two smartphones-- the 4G LTE-capable mid-range Xperia SP and "more affordable" Xperia L.

Xperia LApparently designed in collaboration with Bravia TV engineers, the Xperia SP carries a 4.6-inch 720p HD Reality display, dual-core 1.7GHz Snapdragon MSM896 Pro processor and 8MP Exmore RS sensor within a 10mm thick aluminium unibody (in red, black or white).

The SP sees a return of the Sony see-through strip, now with a customisable built-in notification light acting as either off-screen equaliser graphic with music or a means to check callers (with different colours depending on contact) without switching on the screen.

It runs on Android 4.1.2 with a selection of Sony software additions.

Read more...