Huawei announces G330 and G600...

Huawei Ascend G600 pictured.

Huawei has revealed a new set of budget friendly droids the G330 and G600. The G330 is more friendly being priced at £155 while the G600 offers better specs for a price of around £235. Both these phones run Ice Cream Sandwich, dual-core processors and pretty good specs for the money you are paying.

First the specs of the G330, it packs a 4-inch display with WVGA resolution (480x800), powered by a dual-core processor clocked at 1GHz with 512MB of RAM. Camera's include a 5-megapixel rear-facing camera and a 0.3-megapixel front-facing camera for video calling. Internal storage is at 4GB but can be expanded by MicroSD card (up to 32GB), battery capacity is 1,500mAh and the phone runs Android 4.0 "Ice Cream Sandwich"

Secondly, the specs of the G600 include a 4.5-inch IPS display with qHD resolution (960x540), powered by a dual-core processor clocked at 1.2GHz with 768MB of RAM. Camera's on the device include a 8-megapixel rear-facing and a 0.3-megapixel front-facing. Internal storage is at 4GB but can be expanded using a MicroSD card, battery capacity is 1930mAh and the device runs Android 4.0 "Ice Cream Sandwich".

Samsung announces Galaxy Note 2...

Samsung has finally announced and revealed the Galaxy Note 2, after teasing it in a video. The device features a bigger 5.5-inch display and is 9.4mm thick making it thinner than it's predecessor. Design wise, the handset is based on the design of the Galaxy S3 and does well at making it look good despite the big screen.

Specs wise, we have a 5.5-inch display with 720p resolution (720x1280), powered by a quad-core Exynos processor clocked at 1.6GHz with 2GB of RAM. Camera's include the same 8-megapixel rear-facing and 1.9-megapixel front-facing cameras featured on the S3. Internal memory comes in 16/32/64GB flavours and can be expanded using MicroSD card (up to 32GB), battery capacity is a massive 3,100mAh and the device runs Android 4.1 "Jelly Bean" out of the box. 

Archos 101 XS tablet revealed...

Archos has just announced there new Gen 10 tablets, the Gen 10 tablets include 10,8 and 9.7-inch variants. The tablet has said to be going head to head with Asus's Transformer Prime, offering a magnetic keyboard. The tablet itself is 8mm thick and fuses metal and plastic for the casing.

Specs wise, the tablet offers a 10.1-inch display with WXGA (800x1280) resolution, powered by a dual-core TI-OMAP 4470 processor clocked at 1.5GHz with 1GB of RAM. Internal storage is 16GB but can be expanded using a MicroSD card (up to 128GB). The tablet has a front-facing 1.3-megapixel but no rear-facing camera, battery capacity is 6800mAh and the tablet runs Android 4.0 with confirmation of a update to Android 4.1.

"Updated" Samsung Galaxy Nexus coming soon?

Will Samsung be making the next Nexus? We may have an answer, a handset has shown up with the model number GT-i9260 on SamMobile, the Galaxy Nexus released last year was GT-i9250. The device shows a update on the specs but not a big update that will make it a flagship device. Design wise, we have no clue except that it most likely won't have any capacitive or physical buttons and instead have on screen buttons.

Specs wise, the device sees no update to the 4.65-inch SuperAMOLED HD screen, the processor may be the same or changed but will still be dual-core and operate at 1.5GHz (up from 1.2GHz of previous Nexus). Both Camera's are updated, them being a 8-megapixel rear-facing camera and a 1.9-megapixel front-facing camera. Internal storage is at 16GB but the best part of the "next Nexus" is that it will have expandable storage using a MicroSD card. 

Samsung Galaxy SII Plus leaked...

After being rumoured last Feburary, looks like Samsung will release a Plus version of the Galaxy S2 according to leaks from SamMobile, like the Galaxy S Plus to the Galaxy S, it will include a minor upgrade on hardware. I would say this is the last version to be released of it, but it may later be offered with Dual-sim compatibility at a later date. Design wise, the device is looking thicker than the original and will include four capacitive buttons instead of Samsung's usual button arrangement.

The spec list includes a 4.5-inch screen, powered by a dual-core processor clocked at 1.5GHz (up from 1.2GHz) with 1GB of RAM. The main camera will be the original devices 8-megapixel rear-facing camera but the front-facing camera may see an update to 1.9-megapixel (same as the Galaxy S3's). Internal storage will be at 16GB with the chance to expand it by up to 32GB with MicroSD card, battery capacity may be higher than the original but no official value has been leaked yet and the Galaxy S2 Plus will run Android 4.0 out of the box.

LG Optimus Vu available globally this September, powered by Tegra 3...

After LG confirmed that the Optimus Vu will be available in the US in Q4, LG has gone further and announced global availability this September. Again, it is great to see the Optimus Vu finally launch outside of Korea, the global version will be powered by Nvidia's Tegra 3 processor instead of the dual-core Snapdragon S3 processor.

Besides that the device still packs the same old 5-inch display with 4:3 ratio 768x1024 resolution, rear 8-megapixel and front 1.3-megapixel camera's and 2080mAh battery.

Model numbers and pricing of upcoming WP8 phones from Samsung surface...

Device pictured is Omnia W.

Previously rumoured were some specs and model numbers of possible WP8 from Samsung, them being i8370 codenamed "Macro" and i8750 codenamed "Odyssey". Now however, the pricing of these handsets has been leaked.

The "Macro" will pack a 4-inch SuperAMOLED screen with WVGA resolution (480x800), powered by a dual-core Snapdragon processor clocked at 1.5GHz with 1GB of RAM. Camera's include a 5-megapixel rear-facing camera and a 1.9-megapixel front-facing camera for video calling. 8GB of internal storage is offered as well as expansion by MicroSD card. The device will be priced between €350 - €450.

The "Odyssey" will pack a 4.8-inch SuperAMOLED HD display with 720p resolution (720x1280), powered by a dual-core Snapdragon processor clocked at 1.5GHz with 1GB of RAM. Camera's will include a 8-megapixel rear-facing camera and a 1.9-megapixel front-facing camera for video calling. Two options will be available for internal storage, them being 16GB or 32GB both still being expandable by MicroSD card. The device will be priced between €500 - €600.

Samsung outs teaser for Unpacked event...

Samsung has just released a teaser for their upcoming Unpacked event in Berlin on August 29th. The Korean company is due to showcase a sequel to the Galaxy Note, in this video we hear about the uses Wim Wenders had for the device, we see the S-Pen and some drawing action.

However, there was very little sight of the device itself so, it's back to the leaks or the event itself which is only 9 days away. Until then, watch this video over and over until you get so excited that you run around the room 5 times.

Sony Xperia SL is official!

Looks like a Sony employee accidentally published an official page for the upcoming Xperia SL, a week before Sony's pre-IFA show on the 29th August. The page leaked colour options, battery life statistics and of course, the specs. The Xperia SL is a refresh of the Xperia S, hopefully these changes make an impact.

So, the phone packs a 4.3-inch display with 720p HD resolution (720x1280), powered by a dual-core Snapdragon S3 processor clocked at 1.7GHz (up from 1.5GHz) with 1GB of RAM. Camera's include a 12.1-megapixel rear-facing camera and front-facing camera of unknown resolution for video calling. Internal storage will most likely be at 16GB/32GB with no option to expand it. The phone runs Android 4.0 "Ice Cream Sandwich" as oppossed to the original Xperia S which ran Android 2.3 "Gingerbread".

Samsung making a 5.8" Galaxy Player?

Pictures and specs of a possible upcoming Galaxy Player have popped up on SamMobile, They received a tip pointing to a possible 5.8-inch Galaxy Player variant which runs Android 4.0 "Ice Cream Sandwich". A Galaxy Payer with this size of a screen might be welcome, I'm interested in seeing how this goes when marketed.

Anyway, specs! It packs a 5.8-inch display with qHD resolution (960x540), powered by a dual-core processor clocked at 1GHz with 1GB of RAM. Snappers include a 3-megapixel rear-facing camera and a 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera for video calling. The internal memory storage hasn't been leaked but the device does support a MicroSD card up to 32GB, battery capacity is at 2,500mAh and it runs Android 4.0 out of the box.

Like I said, I'm interested to see what type of people buy this product. It's like the Galaxy Note, but it isn't a phone, could say it's a tablet? However, I don't see the point of these Galaxy Players, I'd rather get a Galaxy phone thus resulting in me carrying only one device. 

Huawei D Quad and D Quad XL to launch late August...

After countless delays, Huawei's D Quad and D Quad XL android smartphones are finally going to officially launch later this month. Having trouble spotting differences? The D Quad XL sports a larger 2600mAh battery and is thicker than the D Quad.

Besides the difference in battery, both pack a 4.5-inch display with 720p HD resolution (720x1280), powered by Huawei's own K3V2 quad-core processor clocked at 1.5GHz with 1GB of RAM. Camera's on both devices include a 8-megapixel rear-facing camera and on the front a 1.3-megapixel camera for video calling. Internal memory is at 8GB but can be expanded by using a MicroSD card, the battery capacity is 1800mAh in the D Quad and 2600mAh in the D Quad XL, however both phones run Android 4.0.

Lenovo 5-inch smartphone announced...

Lenovo have announced that they will be entering into the "phablet" market, with their new 5-inch smartphone named the LePhone K860. The phone is being called a "music phone" by Lenovo which presumably means that the phone will have some sort of sound enhancement.

The device itself is 9.6mm thick and packs a 5-inch display with a resolution of 720x1280, powered by Samsung's quad-core Exynos processor clocked at 1.4GHz with 1GB of RAM. Camera's include a 8-megapixel rear-facing camera and a 2-megapixel front-facing camera for video calling. There has been no word of how much internal memory storage the device has but it has a 2,250mAh battery and runs on Android 4.0.4.

Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 offerings...

A few more options for the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 have become available, Verizon are now offering the cheap Android 4.0 tablet with 4G LTE compatibility, thus making web browsing faster on the go. This will be available from today from all Verizon stores for $349.99.

Samsung are offering a special "Student Edition" bundle for those heading back to school/college/university by bundling a Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 with a keyboard, making it easier to type stuff up on the tablet and a USB adaptor which I'd say would be used to connect a mouse, but hurry because the offer will on be on for a limited time (19 Aug - 1 Sept) at BestBuy for $249.99.

Galaxy Note 2 picture leaked... again.

After yesterdays leak, another leak of the Galaxy Note 2 has been brought before us from KnowYourMobile. The picture looks trustworthy but we'll have to see at Samsung's pre-IFA show to see if this is the real deal.

The handset featured in the picture looks quite credible to the specs and look that we're rumoured. What seems odd to me is the extended bezel at the top and bottom but this could be to keep it in style with the Galaxy Note 10.1 which has just recently been released.

Samsung Galaxy Note 2 picture surfaces....

The picture shown above surfaced on GSMArena.com, the tipster has stayed anonymous. The form factor of the Galaxy Note 2 was rumoured to be similar to the Galaxy SIII, an analysis of the handset in the picture is relatively close to that form factor.

It includes the redesigned central home button, un-uniform rounded edges and a thin bezel. However, whether this is actually the Galaxy Note 2 is still a mystery, a mystery which will be wrapped up at Samsung's pre-IFA show on the 29th August.

Rumoured specs include a 5.5-inch display, quad-core Exynos processor clocked at 1.6GHz and a 12-megapixel camera. As expected with rumours, you shouldn't take them seriously.

Acer Liquid Glow available in UK...

The Acer Liquid Glow is now available sim-free for U.K. residents from Expansys.com, the budget handset will set you back a reasonable £147.99. Design wise, the phone looks good with it's rounded top and bottom ends and long form factor with 4 capacitive buttons at the bottom on the front.

The Liquid Glow packs a 3.7-inch display with WVGA (480x800) resolution, powered by a single-core Qualcomm processor clocked at 1GHz with 512MB of RAM. Camera's include a 5-megapixel rear-facer ut not front-facing camera. Internal storage capacity is at 1GB but can be expanded using MicroSD card. (up to 32GB) Other than that, the phone runs Android 4.0 out of the box which is awesome.

Acer Iconia Tab A110 available for pre-order from eBuyer, ships with Jelly Bean...

We first saw Acer's Iconia Tab A110 tablet at Computex, since then nothing has been said by Acer. However, now the Iconia Tab A110 has shown up on eBuyer, running Jelly Bean, available for pre-order for a price of £180 for the 8GB model.

The Iconia Tab A110 was the first 7-inch tablet to use the budget Tegra 3, the same processor use in the Neuxs 7, in comparison the Acer's screen is less denser (only 600x1024) and is in fact more expensive than the 8GB model of the Neuxs 7. The only key feature is a seperate HDMI port and a Micro-SD card slot which the Nexus 7 doesn't have and of course the Acer will get updates later than the Nexus 7.

Dimensions wise, the Acer is thicker than the Nexus 7 and more heavier. However, for those people who didn't like the Nexus 7 due to the lack of a MicroSD card slot, you can pick this tablet up for £180 in "46 to 48 days" time.

LG Optimus Vu coming to US this quarter...

LG has officially announced that the infamous Optimus Vu will hit U.S. soils this quarter. If you remember we had a leak showing us a Verizon branded Optimus Vu sporting Verizon's LTE bands. The Optimus Vu itself hasn't sold well, partially due to only being sold in Asian markets only.

Hopefully, the Optimus Vu will be met with good perception and furthermore be offered in more countries. Although I'm not particularly a fan of it's 4:3 ratio screen it may be perfect for you.

Black Galaxy SIII on the way?

Many, including myself were sad to see that the Samsung Galaxy SIII was only available in white and blue. It seems to me that people favour other colours other than black now. However, now we have some "confirmation" that a black version may be on it's way.

As you can see in this screenshot, the normal blue and white models are there with the addition of a black model. The screenshot was actually taken by a CarPhoneWarehouse "insider" but nevertheless, this could be concrete evidence that a black version of the phone may be available soon.

HTC Endeavour C2...

After a disappointing year for HTC even with a new range of flagship devices, they just couldn't keep up and now they are loosing money big time. However, HTC could be attempting to fix that by bringing new models to the market. You may have heard of the HTC One X+ for T-Mobile, well it may not be for just T-Mobile as a device by the name of "Endeavour C2" has popped up.

The Endeavour C2 has been said to sport the same design as the current One X available but have a faster processor clock speed, bumping up from 1.5GHz to 1.7GHz. This speed difference may mean that the Endeavour C2/ HTC One X+ will be thicker due to a larger battery. I don't think they'll be any difference to screen size or the a addition of a MicroSD card slot which we'd all love.

Sony Xperia tablet leaks... [UPDATED]

Remember the Sony Tablet S with it's unique wedge design? Well, a successor may be on it's way soon. Today's leak includes a picture of the successor and some of it's specs. The tablet looks the same except it's thinner, now only 8.8mm thick making it 42 percent thinner than the Tablet S.

So, hardware. The Xperia tablet will pack the same 9.4-inch display with the same 800x1280 resolution, and may be powered by Nvidia's Tegra 3 quad-core processor at a clock speed of 1.3GHz and will be mated with 1GB of RAM. Camera's will be upgraded, the Xperia tablet will apparently sport a 8-megapixel rear-facing camera and a 1-megapixel front-facing camera. Battery capacity is said to be 6,000mAh which could double internet browsing duration over the Tablet S to around 10 hours.

We'll just have to wait and see what Sony eventually brings to the market, prices start at $399.99 for the 16GB version going up to $599.99 for the 64GB version respectively. The tablet is expected to be revealed at Sony's pre-IFA show on August 29th and come to market in September.

[UPDATE: More specs and a press photo leaked!]

LG Optimus Zip announced for TracFone...

Today, TracFone has announced a new phone they'll be carrying, the LG Optimus Zip. This android smartphone is definitely at the budget end of the market coming with relatively low-end specs. However, this is a great phone for people who are just embarking on their smartphone adventure because it has a built-in QWERTY keyboard.

The phone encases a 3.2-inch HVGA (320x480) display, powered by a single-core processor clocked at 800MHz. Camera's include a 3.2-megapixel rear snapper but no front-facing camera. Memory capacity hasn't been announced but it has been conformed that it can be expanded by a MicroSD card (up to 32GB).

Lenovo Windows 8 tablet announced...

Lenovo has officially announced a new Windows 8 tablet, the tablet know as the ThinkPad Tablet 2 will be available in stores in October. Like the Galaxy Note 10.1, it has an active digitizer for stylus use which will be hand graphic orientated people. The tablet is thin at 9.8mm and is available with a portable keyboard.

The tablet packs a 10.1 inch IPS display with a resolution of 768x1,366, powered by Intel's atom processor. Camera's include a 8-megapixel rear-facing camera with a LED flash and a 2-megapixel front-facing camera for video calling. The tablet runs the Pro version of Windows 8.

BLU introduces VIVO 4.3...

Today, BLU -the company responsible for the Studio 5.3 phablet, has announced a new budget-friendly Android smartphone called the VIVO 4.3, it has a dual-core processor, dual-sim compatibility and Android 4.0.

Exacts specs include a 4.3-inch WVGA (480x800) SuperAMOLED+ display, powered by a dual-core  MediaTek MT6577 chipset processor clocked at 1GHz with 1GB of RAM. Camera's include a 8-megapixel rear-facing camera and a 1.3-megapixel on the front for video calling. Internal storage is at 4GB but can be expanded by up to 32GB using a MicroSD card, the device also runs Android 4.0 "Ice Cream Sandwich".

The device will be available in September in the U.S. and will cost you $250 which for a device with these specs is excellent. 

HTC planning One V successor?

HTC may be preparing a One V successor already after the current One series has failed to get the Korean company out of financial jeopardy. The device is known as HTC "Proto" and has better specs than the One V currently offered packing a bigger screen and Snapdragon S4 processor.

All of the specs include a 4-inch WVGA (480c800) Super-LCD display, powered by a dual-core Snapdragon S4 (M8225) with 512MB of RAM clocked at 1GHz. Camera's include the typical 5-megapixel rear-facing camera and no front-facing camera. Internal storage is at 4GB and can be expanded by MicroSD (up to 32GB), battery capacity hasn't yet been said and the device will probably run Android 4.0.

All in all, a great device and depending on pricing, it may actually sell well. This device may actually be unveiled with the rumoured HTC One X+, until such day, we can only speculate. 

Galaxy Note 2 rumours...

This past month (I'd say), we've been hearing about loads about a possible successor to the Phablet phenomenon, the Galaxy Note. This is a sum up of all the rumours that have been heard by tech sites and myself. Some can be believable others, not so much. These are the ones that are believable in my opinion.

5.5-inch display - 0.2 inch bigger, some people are surprised it's getting bigger. However, I'm not, and I can't wait to see the device. People praised the Galaxy Note's screen for viewing content large enough to be seen even at arms length. I don't know if a 1080p screen is being considered by Samsung so resolution will probably be the same on the Galaxy Note 2.

Quad-core processor with 1.5GB of RAM - Extra two cores and 512mb of RAM should make this device one of the best smartphones on the market. (specs-wise) This will also mean that gaming will be more comfortable due to the processing power and bigger screen. (I hate gaming on little screens)

Same design as SIII - Many people had a bone to pick with the SIII's styling when it was first announced, in my opinion the SIII looks amazing and the thin bezel (which Samsung is aiming for) will mean that it'll still fit in out pockets even with a bigger display.

12MP camera - We've seen Sony reveal phones with 13MP cameras, so this is believable and hopefully it does come with a 12MP camera. A better camera will mean that the graphic orientated people will be able to edit high resolution photos with it distorting.

Reveal at Unpacked Event - Samsung has sent out invited for a Samsung Mobile Unpacked event at Berlin, Germany. Apparently a Samsung representative has actually confirmed that it will be revealed at this event. We'll find out on August 29th.

Sony Xperia LT30 will be marketed as Xperia T...

We saw a Sony device known as "LT30" get bluetooth certified, now the device has been given a DLNA certificate and is believed to be marketing with the name of "Sony Xperia T", this is believable considering the way Sony is naming their devices these days.

If you remember, the only specs that were leaked told us that  the Xperia T/LT30 packed a 4.6-inch 720p display, 13-megapixel camera and ran Android 4.0. Although by the time it reaches the market, it could be running Android 4.1 "Jelly Bean".

Cheap tablets galore...

Ematic has announced a budget friendly tablet, the eGlide. The eGlide packs 7-inch WVGA (480x800) display, powered by a single-core processor clocked at 1GHz with 256MB of RAM, Internal memory is at 4GB but can be expanded using a MicroSD card (up to 32GB). The tablet runs Android 2.1 and is priced at a very cheerful $79.

Karboon is releasing a new Android tablet in India, the Smart Tab 1. It packs a 7-inch display, powered by a single-core MIPS processor running at 1.2GHz, memory provided is at 4GB but it can be expanded using a MicroSD card which may support up to 32GB. The tablet runs Jelly Bean out of the box and is priced at $125.

Cricket now offering contract-free Huawei Ascend Q...

The United States network, Cricket is now offering the Huawei Ascend Q for a pre-pay price of $140 or on contract $55 (Unlimited mins, texts and data). The phone itself is a entry-level/budget Android handset but may be good for text-aholics as it does come with a QWERTY keyboard.

The Ascend Q packs a 3.2-inch HVGA (320x480) display, powered by a single-core processor clocked at 800MHz with 512MB of RAM. Cameras on device includes a 3.2-megapixel rear-facing camera and no front-facing camera. Internal memory is 2GB and can be expanded using the MicroSD card slot by up to 32GB (4GB card is included with phone). The device runs Android 2.3 which was expected by myself given the specs. 

Invites sent for a Samsung Unpacked event...

Invites have been sent out to press for a Unpacked event, if you remember the last one. Samsung unveiled the most anticipated device this year the Galaxy SIII. The event takes place on August 29th and this time round however, there is two device's being anticipated for release and this is shown in the invite, you'll notice "Samsung's full product lineup will be on display", This could mean that we finally see the international version of Galaxy Note 10.1 and Galaxy Note 2 in all of their glory.

Them two devices may only be a start as well, we've seen rumours of a Galaxy Tab 11.8 with a retina display and many more rumours circulating. What do you think? Will all of these devices be revealed? or are they just rumours?

Archos teases new Gen 10 Tablet...

Archos took to their facebook to tease us a little with their new upcoming Gen 10 tablet. The official announcement is in 3 weeks, let's see what Archos will deliver. All we can tell is the tablet is running Android 4.x. 

New Acer Iconia Tab A210 outed on YouTube...

The Acer Iconia Tab A210 was shown at Computex 2012 a month ago, since then there has been no indication of when it will actually be released. However, today a advert for the tablet was released on YouTube by Acer themselves.

The advert itself demonstrates how the tablet is great for all situations and intentions including gaming and enterprising. Some of the tablet's specs include a 10.1-inch 800x1280 display, Nvidia's Tegra 3 quad-core processor clocked at 1.2GHz and a 2-megapixel front-facing camera.