Great affordable phones from China incoming

Great affordable phones from China incoming

China is no longer the underdog when it comes to phone-making. Huawei, Oppo, Xiaomi are all brands that have grown tremendously and have an original design with a lot of interesting features.

Until now, though, you could not officially buy their phones in the United States.

This will change in 2018. Huawei, the world's third largest phone maker, has confirmed that it will bring its awesome Mate 10 Pro (review here) to US carriers. AT&T will be the first one to have the Mate 10 Pro in the US.

Meanwhile, Xiaomi has entered Europe in 2017 with one pilot market - Spain. The company has said that it is planning on expanding to the United States as well, but wants to arrive with a bang and is preparing itself carefully. All of this means more devices and more choice for consumers.

Samsung's Google Glass rival revealed!

 

A new patent seems to suggest that Korean firm Samsung is following Google into the smart glasses space. Google Glass competitor, complete with translucent frames, side controls and what appears to be a camera on the front, so you can record with little more than a wink.

Earphones will allow users to listen to music, but unlike Google’s offering – which can operate independently of other tech – these specs pair with your smartphone in the same way that Samsung’s Galaxy Gear smart watch does. There’s even some kind of connective plug on the back, which looks a bit old-fashioned to us.

Of course, this is just a patent and the final product – should it ever make it to market – will no doubt end up looking a lot different to these simple line drawings.

Are you excited about the concept of wearable tech, or do you think it’s a revolution that will fall flat on its face? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

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Microsoft Lumia, Apple's big event, Android KitKat, Samsung Galaxy Gear and more:

 

We’re here again at the end of the week, and that means it’s time for your gadget digest! And what a week it’s been, as we’ve been busy bees thanks to the massive IFA tech conference, and there’s been no shortage of top end phones and gadgets showing up from Berlin. Microsoft announced it had big plans for its phone division ahead, Google surprised all with its tasty new name for the next version of Android, Samsung showed off its hot new hardware, while Apple made its next big event official. We’ve got everything you need from this week in tech, and it’s all right here in your gadget digest.

Microsoft snaps up Nokia’s phone business

We’ve heard plenty of rumours that Microsoft has been wanting to make its own Windows Phone for months, but now it looks like its actually happening: the Redmond-based company is buying up Nokia’s devices and services divisions for a whopping $7.2 billion (£4.6bn), while the Finnish company will continue to focus on its technology, mapping and network infrastructure businesses. That means we could be seeing the Microsoft Lumia pretty soon – fancy one?

It’s a phone fiesta!

It wouldn’t be a week in tech without new phones, and we got our eyes on some all-new flagship devices over the past few days. Sony’s revealed its brand new top-of-the-range Xperia Z1 at this year’s IFA expo, which improves on the previous Xperia Z with a huge 20.7-megapixel camera and even faster internals.

Samsung also took to Berlin to announce its latest handset, and phablet fans were not disappointed. The next-gen Galaxy Note 3 is bigger and better than before, measuring up at a huge 5.7-inches, yet manages to be even slimmer and lighter. Along with improved S-Pen stylus features, Samsung’s attached a 13-megapixel camera on the back that’s even capable of shooting 4K video.

That’s not all Samsung had to show: after all the rumours and leaks, the South Korean company officially announced the Galaxy Gear, an Android-powered smartwatch that’ll keep you always connected to your Galaxy device. It’s got a 1.63-inch screen and even comes with 1.9-megapixel camera in the strap, along with plenty of apps to keep your phone in your pocket.

Taiwanese phone maker HTC also had a few new phones to shout out about, which included an all-new range of mid-range Desire devices. First up is the HTC Desire 601, a 4.5-inch Android phone that’s armed with 4G and comes with some of the software smarts of the HTC One. There’s also the HTC Desire 300, the new entry-level device, which packs in a 4.3-inch screen and a nippy dual-core 1GHz processor. HTC also fleshed out its flagship One and One Mini in a new colour: a bright vivid blue that’ll help you stand out of the crowd.

Android and iPhone massive updates officially on the way

Who would have though that Google would be naming its next Android version after a Nestle brand? That’s just what’s happened, as Google’s giving Android 4.4 the title of KitKat – named after Nestle’s famed four-finger treat. That’s not all, as there’s also a Willy Wonka-style competition that’s been woven into actual KitKat bars that could see you win a brand new Nexus 7 tablet or credit to spend in the Google Play store.

Apple, meanwhile, gone and officially made 10 September as the big day for its next event, where we expect to go eyes-on with the all-new iPhone and the rumoured goodies that are set to be on show alongside it. We’re looking forward to seeing what Apple’s got in store, and we know you are too!

IFA’s in full swing!

This year’s massive IFA tech show is currently underway in Berlin, and all sorts of top gadgets have been spilling out of the convention centre halls. Pioneer is rolling out the next-generation of satnavs, which do away with your dashboard mounted GPS unit and instead use augmented reality tech to overlay your driving directions right onto your windscreen.

Smartphone maker Alcatel meanwhile had a few new phones to show off, but what really caught our eye was its new six-inch phone that comes complete with a phone cover that doubles up as an e-reader. The cover accessory lets you read ebooks or newspapers on the go without draining any of the main phone’s battery life, which makes it ideal for the commuter who only has a few pockets spare.

We’re not sure if this is genius or just plain bizarre, but Philips has announced a brand new male grooming trimmer that comes complete with a laser to keep your beard in check right to the millimetre. The Beard Trimmer 9000 is the first laser-guided trimmer in the world, and helps you line up the perfect cut so you’ll be able to craft the ideal five o’clock shadow each and every time.

Amazon and Spotify up your entertainment options

 

Amazon’s Kindles are still going strong, and the online retailer’s aiming to continue its dominance with the brand new Kindle Paperwhite that has an even brighter screen and is even faster than before. The Kindle software has also been given a sprucing up, with upgrades including a new scrubbing mode to let you check other pages, as well as a new children’s mode.

If music’s more your thing than reading, then Spotify’s latest addition will definitely be up your street. There’s already plenty of different ways to stream your music through the house, thanks to likes of Sonos, Pure’s Jongo line and Apple’s AirPlay, but now Spotify’s getting in on the wireless action with Spotify Connect which lets you stream down music from the cloud straight to compatible networked speakers. As everything’s in the cloud, you’ll also be able to pick up where you left off on any of your Spotify devices, so you can come straight home off the train and hit play on your iPad to continue exactly where you left off. Think you’ll give this a spin?

Dead Rising 3 preview

If you’re wanting some undead action in your next-gen gaming, take a look at this preview for the third outing of Dead Rising, exclusively on Xbox One.

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Samsung Galaxy Gear: Gigantic Android smart watch revealed!

 

This Wednesday is Samsung’s big day, when the company will be revealing its Galaxy Note successor and maybe even its next-gen smartwatch to the masses, but we’ve managed to spot a photo of the Galaxy Gear days before the wrist wear tech has even been formally announced. Are you ready for Samsung’s huge Android-powered smart watch?

VentureBeat has managed to nab a few spy shots of Samsung’s next big thing that will sit on your wrist and it looks like it has a focus on tracking your health, much like the Nike+ FuelBand but with added smarts and a larger screen.

Just how big? The watch display itself looks like it measures up at around three inches across – not much smaller than an iPhone 4S – and is expected to support voice commands via Samsung’s own S-Voice, and even snap pictures using the timepiece’s camera, a four-megapixel shooter that’s built into the strap. There’s also a tiny speaker included in the clasp, while watch itself has a few preloaded apps as well as a battery life that’s rated at more than ten hours. You’ll also find the Gear armed with Bluetooth to hook it up to Samsung’s range of smartphones and tablets, while it also has Wi-Fi for internet access, so you’ll be able to beam down your emails right to your wrist or share to your social networks while you check the time.

The smartwatch space is definitely heating up, with many indie watches grabbing crowdsourced funding from the likes of Kickstarter and Indiegogo such as the Pebble, and Sony has already announced its own SmartWatch 2 which is set to launch shortly. We’re also still waiting for Apple’s own answer to the wrist watch, while Google has been said to be joining the battle too. We’re excited to see Samsung’s new watch in action – are you too?

Do you think you fancy Samsung’s Galaxy Gear or are you sticking with your regular timepiece? Let us know what you think in the comments below and we’ll let you know as soon as it gets official.

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Samsung Galaxy Gear: Turbo charged Android smartwatch arrives next month!

 

It looks like Samsung’s got a gadget packed September for us: as well as the heavily rumoured Galaxy Note 3 phablet, according to a new report, it’s set to reveal its own take on the smartwatch, an Android powered wrist computer that can even make calls.

Bloomberg reports today that Samsung will release its smartwatch, the Galaxy Gear, next month, on the same day as the Galaxy Note 3 – expected to be 4 September, just before the start of the IFA trade show in Germany. The device will run Google’s Android operating system, browser the web, show email and even make calls.

The report claims that while the Samsung Galaxy Gear we’ll be seeing next month won’t pack a flexible screen, the South Korean tech giant remains hard at work on a version that will bend, perhaps to better fit your wrist.

Regardless, the Samsung Galaxy Gear will face stiff competition. Many indie start-ups are hard at work on their own smartwatches after successful Kickstarter and Indiegogo crowdsourcing campaigns, while rival Sony has already announced its own SmartWatch 2, due out at the same time. Then of course there’s the 800 pound gorilla in the room, Apple, which is also believed to be hard at work on a timepiece that connects to your iPhone, and may even use Siri for voice control.

Which will you be rooting for? Do we even need smartwatches? Tell us where you stand in the comments below!

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Next-gen iPhone dated, new Androids aplenty, smart projectors and more

 

Here we go! It’s another Friday, and that means it’s time for another dose of your weekly round-up of the best stories in tech. We’ve got phones galore, including some gossip on the next-gen iPhone as well as a pair of BlackBerry blowers and a retro-inspired Samsung phone. We’ve also spotted some ridiculous tech, from a watch with a huge camera, to plenty of projector tricks that’ll make your next presentation one to remember. All of the week’s hottest stories are right here in your Gadget Digest.

Phones, phones, phones!

Let’s kick things off with what could be the biggest day of the year for Apple. We’ve heard that the company will be hosting a special event on 10 September, and that’s set to be the next-gen iPhone’s big reveal. Expect to see the latest version of iOS in all its redesigned glory, plus we could even see a cheaper, low-cost model alongside the next flagship phone.

Canadian company BlackBerry is still hanging on, and it looks like the company’s jumping on the phablet bandwagon with an all-new BlackBerry 10 blower. Meet the leaked BlackBerry Z30, the biggest BlackBerry device we’ve ever seen, and it’s all-screen too meaning you won’t find a physical keyboard on this phone. If you’re a fan of QWERTY keys though, BlackBerry’s outed a brand new phone that has the looks of a classic BlackBerry, but there’s one slight problem: it has the same ancient software too.

Samsung’s also going all retro this week: say hello to the Samsung Hennessy, a dual screen Android phone that boasts flipping powers – just like your classic Motorola Razr. Fancy one of these?

A little on the odd side

We’ve seen the all-new Xbox One controller, and while it looks a lot like an updated Xbox 360 pad, it could have been a whole lot different. This week, Microsoft revealed that there could have even been smellovision packed into each controller, even going as far as testing out cartridges that belch out smells related to what’s happening on-screen. We think we’ll pass, and we’re glad Microsoft smelt sense too.

If you thought Nokia’s chunky Lumia 1020 came packing some insane camera smarts, wait until you get a load of this. Swiss company Hyetis is cramming a full 41-megapixel camera into a titanium-cased smartwatch called the Crossbow, and that’s not all it’s found space for: the watch also boasts GPS skills and biometric and temperature sensors. Could this be the James Bond watch of your dreams?

Projector-powered tech

Projectors are great for presentations, watching films and kicking back and playing games on, but what if they did more? Ubi Interactive just made your screen interactive, by combining Kinect smarts with your projector to turn any wall into a multitouch-enabled surface. Angry Birds on the office wall? Yes please!

If you’re after something a bit more portable, meet the tiny Epict EPP-100, a pico-projector that packs an Android brain and can fit right in your pocket, meaning you could have your own personal cinema wherever you are – plus all the Google apps you can handle.

Grand Theft Auto V multiplayer trailer revealed!

We also got a good look at the brand new online multiplayer trailer for next month’s Grand Theft Auto V, and it looks nothing less than jawdropping. We can’t wait to get stuck in to the massive gameworld and tear up Los Santos with friends, and we’re sure you can’t either. Watch the video below and start counting down the days to 17 September.

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Samsung Galaxy Note 3 coming next month!

 

 

Phablet fans, hold on to your styluses: the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 is coming. Rumours about the next entry in Samsung’s hit series of giant Android phones with epic battery life have been whirling around for months, but now a new report has pegged it with a release date just a month away!

South Korean news site Asia Economic reports that the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 will be unveiled on 4 September, two days before the big IFA gadget expo – where the Galaxy Note 2 was revealed last year – kicks off in Berlin, so we’re expecting the huge slate that makes calls will be the star of the show.

The report says we can expect Samsung’s much rumoured smartwatch to arrive on the same day as the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 – given the latter’s likely enormous screen (The Galaxy Note 2 display measured a huge 5.5 inches across) we could see them making helpful bedfellows: phablet for on the sofa, wrist display for alerts when you’re on the go.

Samsung’s sold scores of millions of Galaxy Note phones in the last two years, but it’s now facing tough competition in the new “phablet” category, with the likes of Sony, Huawei and Asus all outing their own takes on the plus-sized smartphone. Will the Galaxy Note 3 help keep Samsung on top? Tell us what you think in the comments below.

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New iPhone software, Samsung Galaxy gadgets galore, and everything from E3

 

We knew this week was going to be one of the busiest in tech, but we didn’t expect the sheer amount of news that kept on trickling out! From the wealth of Samsung Galaxy gadgets announced, to Apple’s enormous WWDC conference and iOS 7 and the long awaited reveal of Sony’s PlayStation 4 at E3 – get all the the incredible headlines from this week right here in your gadget digest.

Apple kicked off the week with its annual WWDC conference, bringing a few surprises along to the show, including a huge refresh to the MacBook Air line, equipping both the 11-inch and the 13-inch with Intel’s all-new fourth generation Core processors and an insane battery. That wasn’t the only hardware on show, as Apple unveiled the brand new Mac Pro with a radical design that packs an insane seven teraflops of performance under the hood.

Hardware wasn’t the only thing on offer, as the latest version of OS X was on show too. Dubbed OS X Mavericks, the latest edition packs in a whole suite of new features that will save you on your battery life and can even support full on multiple displays.

The star of the show was clearly the latest version of iOS, which brings an all-new user interface and lick of paint. Along with the new iOS 7 update, Apple’s free ad-supported streaming music platform was also announced: iTunes Radio. Missing from the conference was talk of a new iPhone, but there’s word that Apple has a giant iPhone phablet contender in the works that will go toe-to-toe against Samsung’s Galaxy Note. We look forward to the super-sized super-phone showdown!

The Galaxy train don’t stop!

It’s clear Samsung is very proud of its flagship Galaxy S4, so much that the South Korean giant is dishing out a whole range of phones under the Galaxy S4 banner, with each version taking on a different role. We first spotted the downsized Galaxy S4 Mini last week, but this week saw the Galaxy S4 Active, a toughened up version that can handle the great outdoors, while there’s also the Galaxy S4 Zoom, which features a huge 10x optical zoom and packs a 16-megapixel camera on the back.

Samsung also had the Galaxy Ace 3 on show, which crams in S4 skills into a smaller body, while we spotted the Android-based Galaxy NX super snapper today that looks like it’ll give even your DSLR a run for its money.

All things E3!

During this week’s E3, Sony finally revealed to the world the PlayStation 4, and even beat Microsoft at the pricing game by announcing it would be £80 cheaper than the Xbox One. Sony’s next-gen console won’t have to deal with the same game restrictions as the Xbox One and won’t require constant internet connection check-ins to play offline, either.

Of course, there were also games galore during the expo, with many big franchises returning and a few brand new titles too. Metal Gear Solid is back for its fifth outing on both next-gen consoles and current ones, and is set to go even bigger than ever before. Respawn Entertainment wowed Xbox fans with the futuristic, sci-fi shooter Titanfall, while Dead Rising returns as an open world survival game that’s set to release alongside the Xbox One. We’re sure the next-generation of gaming is going to be amazing, and we can’t wait.

Nintendo fans were also treated to a bevy of new games, including an all-new Mario Kart and Super Smash Bros., as well as a new look at the The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD.

Mad Catz unleashes its Ouya rival

Yet another Android-based gaming system has emerged, but gaming accessory maker Mad Catz is taking a slightly different approach with its Project Mojo console. The company is insisting that while it provides the hardware, you take care of the software side, as the Project Mojo micro-console will be shipping with a barebones Android installation, letting you take on any of the Android stores to fill it up with games.

Get Kinect skills on any screen!

While Microsoft has been hard at work on its next-gen Kinect, the tech geniuses at eyeSight have come up with a way to turn your webcam that’s built into your laptop, tablet or phone into a motion sensing pro, letting you swipe through your device with a simple wave in the air. Kinect who?

The Last of Us review

From the creators of Uncharted comes one of the PlayStation 3’s final big-name exclusives, and it’s a real treat. We put the game through its paces to find out if it can hold up against the rush of next-gen hardware and if it can be praised as a PlayStation classic

Brand new phablets, smartwatches, Windows 8 price slash and more:

 

Another week is drawing to a close: if you’re still working full pelt though and haven’t had a chance to keep up with all the top stories this week, don’t worry. We’ve got a round-up of all the stories that matter for you right here in your weekly Gadget Digest.

Phablets phablets phablets

It’s been a busy seven days in the world of giant phones-slash-slates. We’ve heard whispers about a new look, all-metal Samsung Galaxy Note 3, as well as rumours that Nokia is planning to crash the party with a Windows Phone 8 powered phablet of its own. We doubt either will be able to undercut Archos’ latest effort though: a 5.3-inch Android phone with an epic battery which costs just £200 unlocked.

High tech timepieces

While the noise about Apple and Samsung’s reportedly planned smartwatches has subsided, this week marked the entrant of another player into space: Microsoft. The software giant is said to be prepping its own timepiece with live alerts and information. Can’t wait for the gadget unicorns to come out of the wood? Maybe you can settle for TomTom’s brand new Runner watch instead, a durable smartwatch for runners that actually looks good, and is out this summer.

Low price touchscreen laptops on the way

If you’re after a low-price laptop, a Google-powered Chromebook is a serious option worth considering, but it may have company soon. Intel’s boss predicted this week that with the arrival of its new chip, prices for Windows 8 touchscreen machines would tumble to as low as $200. That sounds like a much better price for a Microsoft Surface, if you ask us.

Twitter Music debuts

Now we know what Twitter was doing with that music.twitter.com web address last week – getting ready to launch Twitter Music! The site is now live, complete with companion iPhone app, and aims to make discovering music from artists you love and might love much easier. We’ve got all the details on it here in our guide

Samsung unveils 6.3in Galaxy Mega smartphone

 

 

The Galaxy Mega is only slightly smaller than Google's 7in Nexus tablet

Samsung has unveiled the biggest smartphone to date - the Galaxy Mega, which features a 6.3in (16cm) screen.

The firm suggested its size made it ideal for watching videos or running two apps alongside each other.

Samsung helped popularise the so-called "phablet" category - in which phones approach tablet dimensions - with its original 5.3in Galaxy Note in 2011.

That proved more popular than many expected, but one analyst suggested the latest device might be a step too far.

Samsung is marketing the Android-powered handset as having a high-definition screen - however, a spokesman was unable to confirm whether it supported 720p or the "full HD" 1080p resolution.

Another South Korean firm, Pantech, currently lays claim to offering the biggest "full HD" smartphone with its 5.9in Vega No 6 which was announced in January.

China's Huawei had previously boasted having the biggest largest-screened 720p smartphone with its 6.1in Ascend Mate.

Samsung also makes the Galaxy Note 8.0. Some versions of this 8in-screened device feature an HSPA+ radio allowing them to make calls, but the machine is being promoted as a tablet with phone functionality rather than the other way round.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 3: Giant full HD Android tablet on the way!

 

It looks like the Galaxy train isn’t stopping with the Samsung Galaxy S4, as the South Korean manufacturer is set to update its Galaxy Tab range with a full HD successor to the Galaxy Tab 2. Nexus what now?

According to Sammobile’s sources, Samsung is going all out with a new Samsung Galaxy Tab 3, and is expected to unveil it in Berlin during the IFA trade show in September along with the Galaxy Note 3. Samsung is aiming its next-gen premium tablet squarely at the likes of Sony’s Xperia Tablet Z and the Apple iPad, and will reportedly bring a super sharp full HD display into the mix, making the iPad mini look grainy and out of date by comparison.

Last year’s Samsung-built Nexus 10 also packed in a super-high res display, and it looks like the company means to continue the trend with its next-gen tablet which will be toting either a 10.1” or a surprisingly large 11.6” screen.

You need plenty of horsepower to run that many pixels at once, and if Sammobile’s sources prove accurate, the Galaxy Tab 3 won’t disappoint: the slate will come packing Sammy’s speedy Exynos 5 processor, which is also set to power the Galaxy Note 3. If the Nexus 10 is anything to go by, you can expect Samsung’s next tablet to take on the best that Apple and Asus have to offer.

Are you looking forward to Samsung’s premium tablet killer, or are you happy with your current tablet? Let us know what you think in the comments below.

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Samsung Galaxy S4 unleashed, brand new rivals reviewed, and next-generation PCs:

It’s been another epic week for tech fans, with brand new gadgets to play with, and one monster new flagship phone. We wouldn’t blame you if you struggled to stay on top of it all. Luckily, our Gadget Digest roundup is here to help: read on for everything you missed.

The Samsung Galaxy S4 arrives

The rumours were swirling for months, but at long last, it’s finally here: the Samsung Galaxy S4. Samsung unleashed the new Android super phone at a press event in New York last night, and it didn’t disappoint: it’s specced out to the max, and comes running some clever new software too, with a universal translator on board, as well as a feature that pauses videos for you when you look away from the screen. That’s not all either: the South Korean tech titan also served up a bunch of insane accessories, from a game pad to a wireless weighing scale.

Next-gen PCs galore

It’s been a big week for desktop computing too. Xi3, the company behind the tiny Piston gaming rig that’s been dubbed the first unofficial Steam Box, thanks to Valve’s involvement in its creation, put the device up for pre-order – though at $1,000, it might not have Sony and Microsoft too worried for their own consoles. Dell meanwhile unleashed its own bizarre desktop all in one PC, which doubles up as a gigantic, foot and a half long Windows tablet. Speaking of Windows, Apple did Mac users a solid and updated OS X to allow for Windows 8 installs – is the MacBook Air now the best Ultrabook?

Up close with the HTC One

It’s not just the Samsung Galaxy S4 we got to grips with this week: we also posted our full review of its new rival, the HTC One. Can the Taiwanese company’s all-metal Android monster phone and its UltraPixel give Samsung and Apple a run for their money? Check out our verdict to find out.

Chrome OS gets super charged

Google too has been hitting the headlines this week. Just days after we reviewed the beautiful Chromebook Pixel laptop, Android boss Andy Rubin stepped down. The search giant revealed that his job would be taken over by the company’s Chrome and Chrome OS boss – which got us wondering. Is Google’s lightweight laptop software about to get an influx of Android apps? Now that really should have Microsoft scared.

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MWC 2013: Samsung shows off the Galaxy Note 8!

 

Samsung may be holding back its Galaxy S4 announcement until a later date, but the Korean firm did have something to show at this year’s Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. The Galaxy Note 8 is gunning for the Nexus 7 and iPad Mini, and slots neatly in between the “phablet” Note 2 and the full-scale Note 10.1 in the company’s tech portfolio.

It’s just 8mm thick and weighs only 338g, making it the ideal travelling companion. There’s a quad core processor inside to keep things nippy, and the inclusion of a SIM card slot means the device is truly mobile. You can even make calls on it, although holding something that size to your ear in public won’t do your street cred any favours.

The star of the show – and what will set the Note 8 apart from its aforementioned rivals – is the iconic S Pen. Already a hit on the smaller Note models, this stylus allows you to doodle on the tablet’s 1280×800 resolution screen, making it perfect for shopping lists and general note-taking.

The only potential sticking point is the price – given that you can make phone calls on this thing, its likely to cost more than a standard Note 2, which retails for about £500 when purchased without a contract. Considering the Nexus 7 costs less than half that figure, the Note 8 could find itself in a tough position, but we’ll wait for final pricing before we cast any dismal predictions.

Is the Note 8 the mid-size tablet you’ve been waiting for all these months? Leave a comment to tell us what you think.

Samsung hands out invites for Galaxy S4 launch event at MWC 2013

 

The Mobile World Congress event is currently running at full force, but not all of the world’s big smartphone makers are showing off their wares in sunny Spain. Samsung is instead choosing to announce its highly anticipated Galaxy S4 device at its own shindig in New York city.

In a rather cheeky move, the Korean company has been handing out invitations for Samsung Unpacked 2013 at this year’s MWC – a tactic no doubt designed to steal some thunder away from rivals like Sony, Nokia and LG. The magical date to enter into your calenders is 14th March.

Little is known about the Galaxy S3 review here successor at present, but we’ve heard rumours that it will possess an unbreakable screen with full HD resolution.

The grapevine also suggests that the handset will be powered by a quad core 2GHz Samsung Exynos 5450 processor, which will make it one of the most powerful mobile devices on the face of the planet. Wireless charging and a cavernous 2,600mAh battery are also rumoured to be making the cut.

Given the incredible popularity of Samsung’s previous Galaxy S blowers, we’d imagine that plenty of people will be waiting expectantly to see what March 14th will bring. Are you holding off upgrading your mobile device until you see what the S4 is capable of? Then let us know by posting a comment.

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Is Samsung making a smartwatch for the Galaxy S4?

 

Just days after we heard that Apple is working on a smartwatch that’ll pair up with your iPhone to shove notifications to your wrist, a new report hints that Samsung is doing the very same thing for its next flagship, the Samsung Galaxy S4. Read on for all the details.

SamMobile has published the names of a leaked list of accessories for the Samsung Galaxy S4 line of products – codenamed Project J – including a “J Mini Serrano”, which could well be a trimmed down version of the phone in the same vein as the Galaxy S3 Mini. Most intriguing of all though is the mention of a “Project J Active Fortius”, which comes with an arm band, a bike mount and a pouch.

To us, that sounds like Samsung has crafted a fitness gadget to go with the Samsung Galaxy S4, much like Sony’s smartwatch and Motorola’s Motoactv GPS watch powered by Android. It’s got some experience in the area – back in 2009 it released its own mobile phone watch with a touchscreen, pictured above, and another one as far back as 2003.

What else a Samsung smartwatch could do is unknown at this point, but those accessories suggest that it’ll at least log your runs and speed – but don’t be surprised if it connects to your emails and message inboxes as well. Will you be able to control it using S-Voice? We’ll hopefully find out very soon: the Samsung Galaxy S4 is expected to launch as soon as next month.

Would you buy a smartwatch to go with the Samsung Galaxy S4? Let us know what you think in the comments below!

Smart refrigerator runs apps for recipes

 

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Toronto - Refrigerators are getting smart. A new model released earlier this month runs apps to help users browse recipes, create shopping lists and manage the expiration dates of items like yogurt and milk.

The T9000 refrigerator by electronics company Samsung has a 10-inch Wi-Fi-enabled touchscreen and includes apps such as Epicurious for recipes and Evernote for note-taking.

“The fridge, because it's the hub of the family and the kitchen, is now another access point without having to drag around your tablet or have your phone with you in the vicinity of where you're cooking or entertaining,” said Warner Doell, a vice president in the home appliance division at Samsung Canada.

The display enables users to keep up with the news, weather and even Twitter from the fridge door. It can also replace hand-written calendars with Google Calendar integration, and run slideshows of photos, according to Doell.

Shopping lists can be created on the fridge with the Evernote app, which will sync to smartphones and recipes can be found at Epicurious.

“You can say, 'I have these ingredients in the fridge - what can I make?' and it will show you recipes that you can prepare,” said Doell.

For people who have trouble keeping track of expiration dates of food items, there's an app for that, too.

But with smartphones and tablets are already ubiquitous in homes, does the smart refrigerator offer more than novelty?

Doell said it does.

“I get asked a lot why do you need a screen on a refrigerator? And it's a good question because we're inundated with technology today,” said Doell.

The main reasons, he explained, are ease-of-use in managing settings, such as the refrigerators' temperature, and for convenience because consumers are demanding pervasive connectivity.

“This isn't only about today - it's about what will the next five to ten years look like,” he added.

The T9000 is geared towards the young-minded consumer who turns to technology for convenience, according to Doell.

Whether it's to control heating, air conditioning, lighting or window coverings, Doell said that apps for home automation will be increasingly penetrating the home.

“The technology is converging across all product categories. With appliances being the traditional staid industry, it has not been fast to adopt it,” said Doell, adding that Samsung plans to take a leadership role in the area.

The refrigerator runs the Android operating system, but it is not possible to install other Android apps. It will be available worldwide in the spring for a suggested retail price of $3,999.

www.easyappsbusiness.com

Samsung Galaxy Note 2: Giant budget phone on the way!

 

The Samsung Galaxy Note 2 is unquestionably one of the finest gadgets we’ve tested this year. Its gigantic screen, software and stylus make for a winning combination, and according to a new report, it’s one that’s about to get much more affordable: a budget edition of the epic phablet is in the works.

Sam Mobile’s source says that a cheaper version of the 5.5-inch Samsung Galaxy Note 2 Android phone-cum-tablet is in the pipeline: the plan is to get as many people as possible using its enormous displays, likely in the hopes that it’ll stop them from ever going back to a tiny iPhone. This Note 2 may not come with a stylus, and may use an inferior LCD display, but should still be just as effective as the original at Getting Things Done on the go.

Samsung Galaxy Note 2 aside, the source also had some other interesting titbits to share: Samsung is reportedly working on a giant 13.3-inch tablet with a keyboard dock, though it’s not clear if this will run Windows 8 or Android. And the Samsung Galaxy S4, likely the Korean company’s flagship phone for 2013, is being prepared under the name “Project J”.

Stay tuned: if you’re an Android fan, it sounds like there’s lot to look forward to soon, whatever your budget.

www.tell-me-first.com

Samsung Galaxy S4: Next gen Android will pack unbreakable screen!

 

The Samsung Galaxy S4, already? Yup. Samsung’s latest flagship phone has only been around for six months, but the South Korean giant is already pushing the pedal down on the accelerator to get the phone’s successor developed and released, which may come as early as April – and it may come with an unbreakable screen.

According to analysts, the new phone, likely to be known as the Samsung Galaxy S4, is expected to sport a blazing fast quad-core processor, a 13-megapixel camera, and an even bigger and better full HD display that packs a pixel density of 441 pixels per inch (ppi) – which is even sharper than the iPhone 5’s Retina Display.

Samsung is also reported to be developing an “unbreakable” screen, which is sure to be a feature in the next-generation Galaxy S4. Samsung has shown flexible and foldable display prototypes in the past, so it wouldn’t be that much of a stretch to see them start popping up in the company’s next must have handset – and good luck shattering something you can bend to fit in your pocket.

So, that’s good news for those who drop their phones often, but is this really an essential feature? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below

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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.

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Samsung Galaxy Note 2 rivals: Five phablet rivals to watch out for

 

The Samsung Galaxy Note 2 and its predecessor have all but invented a new genre: the phablet. Short for phone-tablet, they can make calls, and they’re just small enough to hold to your ear for a chinwag, but they’re big enough to browse the full size web, watch videos and much much more.

Samsung’s Galaxy Note 2 is the undisputed king of the category right now – it’s already sold more than three million worldwide – but it’s got some fierce competition coming up. Read on to meet the contenders.

HTC Droid DNA

HTC says it’s not a phablet, but with a huge five inch screen, it’s hard to argue that point. The HTC Droid DNA is an absolute beast of a phablet, with 4G and a full HD resolution screen, making it the sharpest phone on the planet right now. One thing it lacks compared to the 5.3-inch Samsung Galaxy Note 2 however is a stylus for handwriting and doodling memos and pictures: it’s fingers all the way here. It’s out later this month in the US, though it’s not clear when we’ll see it in the UK just yet.

 

LG Optimus Vu 2

The LG Optimus Vu 2 will be the Samsung Galaxy Note 2’s biggest rival when it arrives in the UK: what makes this five-inch beast stand out isn’t the blazing fast 1.5GHz processor (they’ve all got one), but its unusual aspect ratio. Like an iPad, it’s got a much wider 4:3 aspect ratio than the widescreen you’re used to on smartphones, which LG hopes will make web browsing easier and more productive. Time will tell – we’ll bring you a review of the LG Optimus Vu 2 as soon as it hits our shores.

Huawei’s giant secret

If you thought the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 was big, you ain’t seen nothing yet. Chinese giant Huawei is reportedly gearing up to crash the phablet party, with an epic 6.1-inch Android device to call its own. Huawei’s still a relative unknown in the UK, but if it can partner with a big mobile network, it could take the market by storm.

ZTE’s epic Windows Phone

Much of the Samsung Galaxy Note 2’s competition will run Android, but not all, it seems. Last week, images leaked out of a 5.9-inch Windows Phone device from ZTE, Huawei’s arch-rival. Curiously, it’s supposed to be a full HD number like the HTC Droid DNA, but this isn’t a resolution that Windows Phone 8 officially supports – yet.

Pantech Vega R3

This bad boy may never see the light of day outside of South Korea, but the Pantech Vega R3 certainly packs the specs to kick it with the Samsung Galaxy Note 2. As well as a 5.3-inch screen, it boasts a beefy 2GB of memory, as well as a monster 13 megapixel camera sensor.

What do you make of the new trend for phablets? Daft or desirable? Let’s hear your thoughts in the comments

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