LG G Flex incoming - but what's the point in a bendy phone?

 

We’ve heard that LG has been working on flexible screen tech for some time now, and now the South Korean company says it’s ready to start production of its first bendy phone, which is set to be called the G Flex, beating Samsung to the punch in the process. LG’s brand new blower is nearly here, but what’s the point in a phone that bends anyway? Smartphones with 3D screens never took off, but this isn’t just another tech gimmick: here are a few reasons why flexible gizmos will be the next big thing.

Imagine a phone that starts small but can fold out to be even bigger

Remember the days of folding out a map to figure out where you’re going? That unravelling motion could soon make a come back with bendy displays, letting your pocket-sized phone fold out to a super-slate. It’s still early doors with the tech at the moment, but in the future you could see phones that fold out like a clamshell, without the ugly visible hinge in the middle. Take the Kyocera Echo, for instance, a dual-screened, folding Android phone that lets you use both screens as one: imagine that with a seamless, singular, flexible screen instead. Bendy screens just open up even more possibilities – your next newspaper could rock a folding E Ink display, for instance. Of course, we’ll need to invent flexible batteries and processors too – but this is the direction we’re heading.

It’s perfect for smartwatches

Small curved displays make for the perfect tech to sling around your wrist. We’ve even seen concept examples from the likes of Samsung in the past, but rumours are now circulating that Apple will be using similar screens for its smartwatch. With flexible displays steadily making improvements, and smartwatches currently all the rage, you could see the next-gen Galaxy Gear or Sony Smart Watch packing in a curved display to give your more screen space and a comfier fit.

Never smash your screen again

In addition to being bendy, flexible displays are also a lot more durable – potentially even unbreakable – meaning you can say goodbye to smashed screens. They can roll, they can fold, and they can survive a lot more than your traditional, brittle glass touchscreen too. That means you won’t have to deal with yet another scratched-up display, or fork out a premium to get it replaced.

Fit it anywhere

Phones are getting bigger and bigger these days, and that means that you might not be able to fit your phone in your pocket – and sooner rather than later if you’re into skinny jeans. That could change thanks to flexible screen tech: in time, you’ll be able to bend the whole phone and stuff it into your pocket better than a whole, rigid six-inch phone. As it’s flexible, it’ll contour to the shape of your leg too, so it’ll be a perfect fit into your pocket each and every time. And one day, when bendy screens mature even more, you’ll be able to just fold up your phone into a size that could even fit into your smallest jean pocket – yes, the one that no one seems to know is for.

www.easyappsbusiness.com

www.tell-me-first.com

Nokia's 41-megapixel monster, more Surface tablets incoming, and more:

 

Nokia's 41-megapixel monster, more Surface tablets incoming, and more: Gadget Digest

It’s the end of the week, and that means it’s time for the gadget digest. Missed some of the week’s top tech stories? Or just fancy a refresher of what’s been going on in the gadget world? We’ve got all the stories you need to know about right here, served up in bite-size chunks for your delectation.

Nokia Lumia 1020: 41-megapixel monster phone unleashed!

Nokia’s 41-megapixel Windows Phone 8 blower was the worst-kept secret in tech, and now it’s official. It looks a lot like standard Lumia fare, until you turn it around and see that 41-megapixel legend emblazoned on the back. That’s the same megapixel count as the company’s previous 808 PureView. With this and the Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom, is the compact camera dead?

BlackBerry A10 leaks: Biggest BlackBerry ever!

BlackBerry has a new phone up its sleeve, though it’ll have to be a pretty wide sleeve to fit this 5-incher in. The A10 – seen here in a leaked snap – is the biggest blower BlackBerry has ever made. But what’s with the screen resolution? It’s reportedly stuck at a paltry 720p, which will pale in the face of the 1080p displays seen on the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S4. Must do better, BlackBerry.

Microsoft teases even more Surface tablets are on the way!

Microsoft has let slip that more Surface tablets are coming next year. Updates to both the Surface RT and Surface Pro will be with us soon, the Redmond-based company accidentally revealed in a presentation. So what can we expect? Will they be powered by Intel’s Haswell processors? Will they run Windows 8.1? We’ll just have to wait to find out.

You can play PS4 games on any console!

That’s right, games for Sony’s next console can be played on any PS4. This is thanks to the company’s ‘play as you download feature’. So if you’re round a friend’s house, you can access your full digital library of titles from their console, as long as they have an internet connection, that is. Bonus. Microsoft really has some catching up to do with its Xbox One.

LG’s next-gen G2 gets leaked again!

This week, LG sent out an invite to the launch of its G2 handset, but the mobile has already leaked a couple of times. The latest snap shows it looking a lot like the Nexus 4, with the same rounded corners. And there are no buttons on the side, with the volume controls on the back under the camera. This is one seriously slim mobile, we can’t wait to get our hands on it.

www.tell-me-first.com

www.easyappsbusiness.com

Mobile World Congress 2013: Every new phone so far!

 

The 2013 Mobile World Congress is currently taking place in Barcelona and as usual, we’ve been gifted a generous helping of exciting new devices to look forward to this year.

All the usual challengers are present, with the likes of LG, ZTE, Asus and Nokia fighting for your attention – although cheeky Samsung is holding its own event on March 14th to announce the Galaxy S4, and has even tried to derail some of its opponents by handing out physical invitations during MWC 2013.

Scurrilous tactics aside, here are the best phones we’ve seen so far.

Nokia Lumia 720

Arguably the biggest announcement from Nokia during MWC 2013, the Lumia 720 slots into the company’s product line just below the 820, and removes the LTE connectivity seen in that particular model. Everything else is pretty impressive, particularly the 6.7 megapixel camera with a f1.9 Carl Zeiss lens. Removeable covers will appeal to fashion-conscious types – you can even obtain a cover which supports wireless charging.

LG Optimus G Pro

After making the popular Nexus 4 handset for Google, LG is on a roll – as this new phone clearly demonstrates. The Optimus G Pro has a gargantuan 5.5-inch 1080p screen, which might cause a bit of hand-strain but will be amazing for on-the-go movie viewing and gaming. Under the bonnet it features brand-new Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 technology, which contains a quad core chip running at a cool 1.7Ghz – that’s pretty damn fast in mobile terms. A 13-megapixel snapper and 32GB of storage round things off, making this a fearsome piece of consumer electronics. 2013 should be another bumper year for LG.

Nokia Lumia 520

Nokia is deadly serious about winning the low-cost smartphone sector, and has already impressed with the Lumia 620. The Lumia 520 is a similar proposition and has a 4-inch screen, a five-megapixel camera, dual core processor, 8GB of storage and comes in a range of appealing colours. While it’s not likely to trouble the quad core monsters at the other end of the spectrum, for an estimated price of £120, it should attract buyers on a budget.

ZTE Open

This dinky little blower clearly isn’t taking aim at the big boys, but the fact that it’s the first mobile phone to come with Mozilla’s Firefox mobile OS installed makes it a noteworthy challenger. Aimed at developing markets – which means it could end up here as a budget option – the ZTE Open is worth keeping an eye on, if only to see if the Firefox OS can really take on the likes of Android, iOS and Windows Phone.

Asus Padfone Infinity

The idea of a tablet which also contains a phone isn’t new – Asus has been banging on about the concept for quite some time now – but the latest in the Padfone line is something of a head-turner. For starters, it’s using the Snapdragon 600 chipset which means that quad core power is in play. Secondly, both the phone and tablet are rocking pin-sharp HD screens, which means zero compromise, regardless of which configuration you’re using. With a retail price of around £800 it’s not a cheap purchase, but where else can you get a cutting edge phone and tablet for that kind money?

www.easyappsbusiness.com

LG Magic Remote gives your TV Siri natural language skills!

 

Meet the next-generation LG Magic Remote, the smart TV controller with a twist. It’s still packing all the motion control skills it had before, but now it can boss around other gadgets, and even understand natural language commands.

We’re just weeks away from the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, where all the gadget giants reveal their new kit for 2013, but LG has jumped the gun and announced the new LG Magic Remote early. It can now be used to control all sorts of LG home AV equipment, from your smart TV to your Blu-ray player and even your sound-bar.

The big addition however is extra voice smarts. You could already use the LG Magic Remote to command supported smart TVs to change channel, but now it understands natural language commands. You don’t have to remember a specific word or phrase to change a channel – you can just say “show me Gangnam style” and it’ll search all your smart TV apps to find the video. It’s the difference between Windows Phone’s voice commands and Siri’s ability on the iPhone to answer questions no matter how you phrase them.

The new LG Magic Remote will ship with LG’s flagshiop Cinema 3D Smart TVs, while a larger version without backlights will come bundled with its standard Cinema 3D Smart TV models. Is this the Kinect killer you were hoping for? Let’s hear your thoughts in the comments

www.tell-me-first.com

Samsung and LG making 1080p smartphones: Is Apple's Retina Display old hat?

 

Samsung and LG making 1080p smartphones

Both LG and Samsung are working on bringing out smartphones with 1080p screens, according to internet rumours, CNET reports. Word is that Samsung’s next Galaxy S smartphone will have a 1080p display, while benchmarking data shows LG is readying a 1080p handset codenamed F240.

Both handsets will have a far higher resolution than the Retina Display found on Apple’s iPhone 5. A 1080p screen has a resolution of 440 pixels per inch (ppi), while the Retina Display manages 326 ppi. Which sounds better on paper, but will it actually make a difference?

Experts say the human eye can’t see any difference at that resolution. So it could just be another spec to impress us gadget buyers with.

HTC already has a phone with a 1080p screen, in the guise of the HTC J Butterfly. It’s rumoured to be called the HTC Deluxe when it hits these shores. With a 5-inch 1080p screen, it looks like a real challenger to the Samsung Galaxy Note 2.

www.tell-me-first.com

Samsung Galaxy v Apple iPhone - the smartphone duopoly

 

The excitement has been mounting for weeks. Fans have speculated about the precise specifications of the device, the company behind it has been doing everything it can to preserve the mystery and build up the anticipation. Yes, Samsung has learned quite a lot from Apple about the art of hype.

I've been to several major gadget launches - the original iPhone, Sony's PlayStation 3, Microsoft's Xbox Kinect - and last night's unveiling of the Galaxy S3 smartphone in London's Earl's Court may well have been the most over the top and extravagant yet. In the cavernous halls where everyone from Pink Floyd to Madonna has strutted their stuff, thousands gathered to see a rectangular slab of plastic and metal.

Why? Because only one smartphone has challenged - perhaps surpassed - the iPhone in terms of sales, technology and consumer appeal. And the latest version will undoubtedly set the standard for Apple and the rest of the industry to try to match.

For all the extravagant talk of a device which allows you to "live the life extraordinary", the latest Galaxy looks at first sight like any other modern touchscreen phone. It does have a bigger sharper screen than its predecessor, and some clever touches. There's a voice recognition function which seemed in the demo to do everything that Apple's Siri does and more, there's eye-tracking technology which means that the phone goes to sleep when you stop looking at it, and there's NFC (Near Field Communication) built in, allowing users to simply tap each other's phones to share content.

But at its heart is the latest Ice Cream Sandwich version of the Android operating system - and that's on plenty of other impressive phones from the likes of HTC, LG and Sony. Why the new Galaxy matters is that the previous models have established it in consumer minds as the number one Android phone - and in this business, it's increasingly apparent that the winner takes all.

www.tell-me-fitst.com

LG Miracle Windows Phone with NFC exposed

An image of a new LG phone reported to be named the LG Miracle has surfaced, revealing a mid-entry Windows Phone to compete with Android and iOS devices. Rumoured specifications of the LG Miracle have also surfaced, showing the LG Miracle to have NFC technology, a decent processor and HD video recording

The LG Miracle was first spotted in leaked photos last December. Back then the name of the device was known the ‘Fantasy’. A name change later and we have the LG Miracle, and with leaked specs revealing the LG Miracle to have a 1GHz Snapdragon processor, and a 4-inch NOVA display, Pocketnow reports.


NOVA displays promise to be better and brighter than some of the Super AMOLED displays we’re now seeing on the latest Android phones such as the forthcoming Samsung Galaxy S Advance and even the Samsung Galaxy S3.

For storage we’re talking 8GB of built-in space for photos, movies, music and apps. Other leaked features include HSPA connectivity, front-facing VGA camera, and a five-megapixel rear camera capable of 720p HD shooting.

The LG Miracle is also being reported to feature an NFC chip that would let the LG Miracle exchange and share information with another NFC-enabled phone by tapping the two devices together.

NFC technology is still in its early days, currently being adopted by more manufacturers in the hope that we will use the technology more often as an alternative to Bluetooth sharing, and paying for small goods at shops by touching our phones on a sensor, sending a payment via a users phone bill.
Availability and a release date have yet to be revealed, but expect to hear more at the upcoming Mobile World Congress convention in Barcelona at the end of this month

Top 5 smartphone launches we're excited about

Is the smartphone in your hand starting to look a little dated, a little slow and frankly a little 2011? Well, there are some pretty amazing smartphones set to launch and here we take a look in the crystal ball and predict when we’ll see them on the high-street.

If 2011 was all about the battle between Android versus Apple (expect to see a repeat some time this year as the Apple iPhone 5 rumours kick start again), 2012 is all about size as three of our favourite smartphones for 2012 all turn up sporting an over-sized jacket. Check out our top 5 smartphone launches for 2012 we’re excited about.

LG Prada 3.0
The LG Prada Phone 3.0 itself has a 4.3-inch display, 1GHz dual-coreprocessor, 1GB of RAM and 8GB of internal storage for photos, videos, apps and more. An 8-megapixel rear camera for photos and 1.3-megapixel camera for video calls, and the aforementioned Android operating system round up the features. Delayed from December, expect the Prada 3.0 to hit in February.


BlackBerry Bold 9790
The BlackBerry Bold 9790 will feature the latest BlackBerry 7 operating system, and have a 1GHz processor, which should make for a fast, yet smooth performance. You’ll be able to make the most of the high-resolution 2.45-inch touchscreen display with BlackBerry’s optical trackpad and QWERTY keyboard. Expected to hit in April


Sony Xperia S
The Sony Xperia S looks like it will be one of the must-have devices of 2012. Rocking up with a 4.3-inch screen, something we’ll see a lot of this year, you’ll also feel all David Bailey with its huge 12.1MP camera that gives perfect photos, while the 1.5GHz dual-core processor means this Android smartphone is as fast as it is lean. No official launch date yet but we’re thinking March would be a good launch time.


Nokia Lumia 900
Nokia is making a great deal of noise with its Windows Phone range and while the Nokia Lumia 900 has only been announced for the US to-date, we’re pretty sure the Finns will be bringing it to the UK too. This 4.3-inch monster has the looks and style of the smaller Lumia 800, but you’ll find a front-facing camera and all the extras we’ve come to expect from Nokia, such as great maps, music and camera. Pundits have put this down as a June launch for the big Windows Phone.

LG Optimus LTE takes on Samsung Galaxy S II HD LTE

LG Optimus LTE takes on Samsung Galaxy S II HD LTE

The LG Optimus LTE follows hot on the heels of the Samsung Galaxy S II HD LTE, and offers many similar features. If you want your smartphone to beat the rest, it could be well worth waiting for. Join us after the cut to find out more about the LG Optimus LTE.

If you care more about specifications and high-end features than anything else when picking a smartphone, you’ll love the Samsung Optimus LTE.

Since it was launched, Apple’s iPhone 4 has proudly boasted the sharpest screen, but even the iPhone’s display looks slightly low rent compared to the LG Optimus LTE’s 1280×720 “IPS True HD” display.

Check out our smartphone best buys!

Measuring in at 4.5 inches, LG’s stunning display is similar to that found on the Samsung Galaxy S II HD LTE, but LG claims it’ll be first to market.

The rest of the LG Optimus LTE is also impressive, with a dual-core 1.5GHz processor and 8-megapixel camera. All this is crammed into a device that’s just 10.4mm in depth, so it’s still relatively pocket-friendly despite the huge display.

Set to launch in South Korea on October the 5th, there’s currently no word on when the LG Optimus LTE will be available in the UK.

Similar screens, similar specs, which would you buy? The Samsung Galaxy S II HD LTE, or the LG Optimus LTE? Leave a comment and let us know.

LG Optimus LTE sports most advanced display yet!

 

Details of LG’s latest smartphone – the LG Optimus LTE, or LU6200 – have been leaked, and it looks like being one of the most advanced handsets yet. With the sharpest screen we’ve heard of, coupled with a powerful processor and decent camera, it could be one of the best smartphones to hit the market.

For all its other features, it’s the 4.5-inch screen on LG’s new LU6200 – also known as the Optimus LTE – smartphone that intrigues and impresses us the most. It features a staggering 1280×720-pixel resolution, bettering the majority of netbooks and even matching laptops when it comes to screen real estate. Packed into the smaller form factor, however, it should be incredibly sharp.

LG has also packed its new baby with one of the biggest batteries on the market, at 1830mAh. With that screen to power, along with what’s claimed to be the most powerful dual-core processor found in an LG smartphone so far, a big battery is most definitely needed.

Other features include an 8-megapixel camera, 4G connectivity and a microSD card for adding extra storage.

We can’t wait to get our hands on it! Would you upgrade from your current smartphone? Leave a comment and let us know.

Windows Phone Mango: What smartphones will launch first?

Windows Phone may have been late to the smartphone party, but it still feels like one of the freshest and nicest operating systems to use. It’s not perfect, but it should get a lot better when the latest ‘Mango’ version gets released later this year. Manufacturers have now been able to get their hands on Mango, and there are a host of new smartphones in the pipeline. Read on to find out more.

Mango is the latest version of the Windows Phone operating system. It’s already a great OS, but with a few tweaks it could be even better. Manufacturers have now got their hands on the latest ‘Mango’ version of Windows Phone, which means we’ll be seeing some new phones in the not too distant future. The manufacturers below will be among the first.

NokiaOut of all the smartphone manufacturers to release Windows Phone handsets, Nokia is one of the most eagerly anticipated. We can’t help but feel that the Finnish company’s future rests on the latest operating system from Microsoft, so it needs both the hardware and the software to be spot on. We’ve already seen that Nokia can manage stunning hardware – if Mango is as good as we hope the combination could be a match made in heaven.

Toshiba FujitsuToshiba has a history of making high-end smartphones – it was the first company to release a 4-inch handset with a 1GHz processor – but in a bid to take the king of the smartphones crown Toshiba has got together with Fujitsu. The result is set to be the catchily titled Fujitsu Toshiba Windows Phone IS12T, and it’s likely to be the first Mango smartphone to hit the shops.

SamsungSamsung has a proven track record when it comes to making smartphones with different operating systems, and was one of the first to release a Windows Phone 7 device. Following on from the success of the Android-based Samsung Galaxy S II, we can’t wait to see what the South Korean company has up its sleeve when it comes to Mango, but we bet it’ll be one of the best handsets out there.

HTCThe newest smartphone manufacturer in this group, HTC weren’t even on the scene until the late 90s. The company made a name for itself with Windows Mobile devices, however, also having incredible success with Android handsets. Along with Samsung, HTC released its own Windows Phone 7 device, so expect to see a Mango-based smartphone from HTC as well.

LGLG has made some of the most innovative smartphones this year, including the LG Optimus 3D. If it can bring the same sort of innovations to Mango and Windows Phone, then there’s no reason we couldn’t see a world-beating smartphone from the South Korean company.