ASUS announces the 7-inch Fonepad tablet with 3G and call features

If the Nexus 7 doesn’t fancy you, then here’s another 7-inch Android Jelly Bean tablet from ASUS. Announced yesterday at the MWC, the ASUS Fonepad offers more features at around the same price point.

The ASUS Fonepad builds on the foundation as well as addresses the shortcomings of the Nexus 7. It’s a tablet with the same 7-inch display with a 1280x800 HD resolution. It does seem though that ASUS took out Gorilla Glass on the Fonepad.

Nevertheless, they added one major feature some Nexus 7 users are looking for — a camera. That’s right, the Fonepad has a 3 Megapixels main camera, and not only that, it’s an autofocus one, something not common on tablets with a low price.

Instead of going the plastic for the body, ASUS gave the Fonepad an aluminum affair. That gives it an edge over the Nexus 7 in the build quality department. The distinction between the two continues with the internals, as it uses Intel’s Atom Z2420 processor clocked at 1.2GHz, partnered by PowerVR SGX540 GPU and 1GB of RAM.

The Fonepad will come in 8GB and 16GB variants unlike the Nexus 7, though the former will have the inclusion of a microSD card slot should users need more space. And last but not the least, the Fonepad comes with 3G by default and ASUS was kind enough to enable the call function and include an earpiece on the tablet. Hey, that’s why it’s named Fonepad after all.

 

ASUS Fonepad Specifications and Features
Display: 7-inch IPS LED-backlit display with 1280x800 resolution at 217ppi
Processor: 1.2GHz Intel Atom Z2420 processor
PowerVR SGX540 GPU
Memory & Storage: 1 GB RAM
8GB / 16GB internal memory, expandable up to 32GB using microSD card
Camera: 3 Megapixels autofocus camera
1.2 Megapixel front-facing camera
720p HD video recording
Networks: GSM / EDGE - 850/900/1800/1900MHz
3G/HSPA+ - 850/900/1900/2100MHz
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n
Bluetooth 3.0
Sensors: GPS / GLONASS
Accelerometer
Proximity
Ambient light sensor
Compass
Others: Noise-cancelling microphone
Micro-SIM card
Battery: 4,270mAh battery capacity
Size & Weight: 196.4 x 120.1 x 10.4mm, 340g
Operating System: Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean OS

The ASUS Fonepad will come around this March and will have a price tag of $249 or around P10,200 for the 8GB model. That sounds quite good overall, isn’t it?

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Nokia announces the Lumia 720 and Lumia 520 for the budget-conscious

At the Mobile World Congress (MWC) today, Nokia announced the Nokia Lumia 720 and Lumia 520, two new Windows Phone 8 devices targeted for the mid and low end segments.

The Lumia 720 packs a modest set of hardware, including a 4.3-inch screen with 800x480 resolution, 1GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor, 8GB of internal storage, a 6.7 Megapixels camera with LED flash, and an improved f1.9 aperture for clear low light shots. It also supports wireless charging thru an optional snap-on case. It also comes with a 2,000mAh battery, which is big enough for a mid-range smartphone.

Nokia Lumia 720 Specifications and Features
4.3-inch IPS ClearBlack WVGA (800x480) display with Super Sensitive Touch
1 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 dual-core processor
512MB RAM
6.7 Megapixels autofocus camera with Carl Zeiss optics and LED flash, f/1.9 aperture
1.3 Megapixel front-facing camera
HD 720p video recording at 30fps
8 mass memory, expandable by 64GB using microSD
GSM - 850/900/1800/1900
3G/HSPA+ - 850/900/1900/2100
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n
Bluetooth 3.0
NFC
2,000mAh battery capacity with wireless charging
Windows Phone 8 OS

The Lumia 720 is slated to roll out this Q1 2013 in Hong Kong, Singapore, and Vietnam and in Q2 in Europe, Asia, Africa, and India. It will have an estimated price of €249 or about P13,400.

Alongside the Lumia 720, Nokia also talked about the Lumia 520. It is their most affordable Windows Phone 8 device as of yet. It has a 4-inch screen also with 800x480 resolution, 1GHz dual-core processor, 8GB of internal storage, microSD card slot, and a 5 Megapixels autofocus camera. Nokia says that while the Lumia 520 is a low-end device, it still comes with their own digital camera lenses like the Cinemagraph.

Nokia Lumia 520 Specifications and Features
4-inch WVGA (800x480) display with Super Sensitive Touch
1 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 dual-core processor
512MB RAM
5 Megapixels autofocus camera
HD 720p video recording at 30fps
8 mass memory, expandable by 64GB using microSD
GSM - 850/900/1800/1900
3G/HSPA+ - 900/2100
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n
Bluetooth 3.0
1,430mAh battery capacity
Windows Phone 8 OS

Roll-out of the Lumia 520 will begin in Q1 in Hong Kong and Vietnam, and in Q2 in markets like Europe, Asia, China, India, Latin America, and Africa. It will retail for €139 or about P7,500.

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Smart Communications partners with Mozilla to launch Firefox OS smartphones

Smart Communications Inc., the country’s largest mobile carrier, announced a partnership with Mozilla to bring in affordable smartphones that run on their open-source Firefox OS.

This makes Smart the sole operator in the Philippines to bring Firefox OS smartphones. Firefox OS allows OEM and carrier customizations. That means Smart can add their own skins and apps on any smartphone to address the needs of their customers.

"Firefox OS brings the freedom and unbounded innovation of the open Web to mobile users everywhere," said Gary Kovacs, chief executive officer of Mozilla. Mozilla touts openness in the Firefox OS. Customers and users can do anything they want on their devices and assures they will be free from any restrictions.

"With the support of our vibrant community and dedicated partners, our goal is to level the playing field and usher in an explosion of content and services that will meet the diverse needs of the next two billion people online," he added.

Smart chief wireless advisor Orlando Vea said he is happy that Filipinos will be among the first to enjoy Firefox OS devices. "We're excited to see Firefox OS in the market because this will help bridge the digital divide. Its HTML5-based technology will make available affordable mobile devices with an open mobile ecosystem. This is aligned with our inclusive vision of putting mobile Internet in the hands of every customer," he said.

Mozilla also announced the other carriers that will carry Firefox OS smartphones. That include América Móvil, China Unicom, Deutsche Telekom, Etisalat, Hutchison, Three Group, KDDI, KT, MegaFon, Qtel, SingTel, Sprint, Telecom Italia Group, Telefónica, Telenor, Telstra, TMN and VimpelCom.

Manufacturers that already committed to make Firefox OS smartphones are LG, Alcatel, and ZTE, with Huawei to follow later in the year. Firefox OS smartphones will have Qualcomm Snapdragon processors.

Who knows, the next Netphone might run on Firefox OS?

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Samsung outs the GALAXY Note 8.0

Samsung did not wait for MWC to officially start and announced their new tablet, the GALAXY Note 8.0.

The Samsung GALAXY Note 8.0 is pretty much the same as the GALAXY Note 10.1, except that the Note 8.0 has a smaller, well, 8-inch screen with the same 1280x800 resolution. It comes with a 1.6GHz Exynos 4412 quad-core processor and 2GB of RAM. There’s a 5 Megapixels autofocus camera sans the LED flash, as well as a 1.3 Megapixel front facing one.

The GALAXY Note 8.0 includes all the software stuff Samsung has developed and launched on their other devices as well, like the Multi-window, Air View, Pop-Up Note, and all other S Pen optimized features. It runs on Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean, though Samsung opted for the phone-like the user interface like the one found on Nexus 7.

Finally, you can also make calls with the Note 8.0. You see the earpiece above the screen? Yes?

Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 Specifications and Features
8-inch LCD screen display with WXGA (1280x800) screen resolution at 189ppi, Digitizer
5 Megapixels main autofocus camera
1.3 Megapixel front-facing camera
16/32 GB internal memory
2 GB of RAM
4,600mAh of battery capacity
GSM / HSPA+
1.6 GHz quad-core Exynos 4412 processor
Digital Compass
Accelerometer
Bluetooth 4.0
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n 2.4 and 5 GHz
Wi-Fi Direct
Infrared
S-pen
Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean OS

Samsung says the GALAXY Note 8.0 will launch globally in Q2. No pricing has been mentioned although I suspect it will sell at around P22,990 to compete with the iPad mini.

  

Photo Credit: Samsung

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Nokia Lumia 720 and Lumia 520 revealed in leaked photos

What you see above is the Nokia Lumia 720, a mid-range smartphone from Nokia, which was revealed for the first time in a series of leaked photos. Along with it is the Lumia 520, Nokia’s new low-end Windows Phone 8 device.

The Lumia 720 is expected to have a 4.3-inch display of yet unknown resolution, a 1GHz dual-core processor, 512MB of RAM, 8GB internal storage and a microSD card slot. On the other hand, the Lumia 520 is said to have a 1GHz dual-core processor and 512MB of RAM too, along with a smaller 4-inch display, 5 Megapixels camera, and 4GB internal storage. Both devices will run on Windows Phone 8.

The Nokia Lumia 720 and Lumia 520 is expected to be announced tomorrow at MWC.

Source: evleaks (1), (2)
Via: The Verge

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LG announces new LTE phones, the Optimus F5 and Optimus F7

Four days before the Mobile World Congress (MWC), LG has formally announced their latest F Series smartphones, the LG Optimus F5 and Optimus F7. The two new devices from LG aims to bring 4G LTE to a mass audience.

The Optimus F5 seems like an upper mid-range smartphone with a very decent hardware. It sports a 4.3-inch IPS display with qHD (960x640)  resolution. A 1.2GHz dual-core processor accompanied by a 1GB of RAM runs under the hood. There’s a 5 Megapixels camera on the back for your picture-taking needs. To top it off, there’s a capacious 2,150mAh battery.

Moreover, the Optimus F7, it’s high-end sibling, comes with a 4.7-inch IPS display with HD resolution, a slightly faster 1.5GHz dual-core processor, 2GB of RAM, an 8 Megapixels camera, and a larger 2,540mAh battery. Both Optimus F5 and Optimus F7 come with 8GB of storage. They also run on Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean and supports 4G LTE.

LG Optimus F5 Specifications and Features
4.3-inch IPS display with qHD (960x540) resolution at 256ppi
1.2GHz dual-core processor
1GB of RAM
8GB internal storage, expandable using microSD up to 32GB
5 Megapixels auto-focus camera with LED flash
1.3 Megapixels front-facing camera
2,150mAh battery capacity
LTE
Size: 126.0 x 64.5 x 9.3mm
Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean OS

LG Optimus F7 Specifications and Features
4.7-inch IPS display with HD (1280x720) resolution at 312ppi
1.5GHz dual-core processor
2GB of RAM
8GB internal storage, expandable using microSD up to 32GB
8 Megapixels auto-focus camera with LED flash
1.3 Megapixels front-facing camera
2,540mAh battery capacity
LTE
Size: 131.7 x 68.2 x 9.6mm
Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean OS

LG will be presenting the Optimus F5 and Optimus F7 at the Mobile World Congress. It is expected to launch in Europe in the second-quarter of 2013 with the other markets to follow afterwards.

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First image of the HTC M7 leaks out

UnwiredView, thru the infamous @evleaks, got hold of an allegedly render of HTC’s flagship smartphone for 2013, the HTC M7.

The image you see above is the front (I initially thought it’s the back part) face of the device, with the earpiece on the top, and the front-facing camera and other sensors on its opposite sides. The loudspeaker seems to have been moved to the front of the device, which should alleviate the muffling of the sound that’s plaguing other devices with the loudspeakers on the back.

The image reportedly came from an internal instructional video for SIM card installation, thus the missing branding and other details. The HTC M7 is expected to pack a 4.7-inch 1080p full HD screen and a 1.7GHz quad-core processor, supposedly the S4 Pro from Qualcomm. UnwiredView also says HTC added an IR port on the top of the device just beside the power button.

The HTC M7 is expected to be announced at the Mobile Word Congress (MWC) in Barcelona this February. It will reportedly come with a price tag just upwards of $600.

Is it just me or it looks like the back face of the iPhone 5?

Source: UnwiredView

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HTC One Series Announced! Meet One X, One S, and One V

HTC has also announced their own range of new Android phones at MWC. The new HTC One series is highlighted with an amazing camera and authentic sound experience.

“The best moments in life are captured with a photo or remembered by a song, so it was key for the HTC One series to improve these emotional experiences with an amazing camera and authentic sound experience,” said Peter Chou, CEO of HTC Corporation. “We are very focused on creating a camera and audio experience customers will love and use often and we believe the HTC One series delivers this in a way never seen on a phone before.”

The HTC One series includes the new Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich OS, the new HTC Sense™ 4, and their new HTC ImageSense™ feature that will set apart the HTC One series from their other smartphones.

HTC One X
The HTC One X features a beautifully crafted polycarbonate unibody that has the ruggedness of metal but is super lightweight. With seamless construction, the unibody combines a unique high gloss 'piano' finish and a matte back. HTC One X is blazing fast with the new NVIDIA® Tegra 3 Mobile Processor for clear graphics, faster applications and longer battery life. It includes a 1.5GHz Super 4-PLUS-1™ quad-core with an integrated fifth Battery Saver Core and a high-performance 12-Core NVIDIA® GPU. The HTC One X also has an amazing 4.7-inch, 720p HD screen crafted from contoured Corning™ Gorilla Glass.

Features and Specifications
4.7-inch screen with 720p HD resolution
1.5 GHz quad-core processor
8 megapixel camera with auto focus, smart LED flash, and BSI sensor
1 GB of RAM
32 GB internal storage
Beats Audio™
1800 mAh battery capacity

HTC One V
Utilizing the classic, award-winning design of the HTC Legend, the HTC One V brings top-end design to a smartphone with broad appeal and a premium experience that delivers an amazing camera and authentic sound. It features a simple, iconic aluminum unibody design that exudes craftsmanship and quality.

Features and Specifications
3.7-inch screen with 480x800 resolution
1 GHz single-core processor
5 megapixel camera with auto focus, smart LED flash, and BSI sensor
512 MB of RAM
4 GB internal storage with microSD card slot
Beats Audio™
1500 mAh battery capacity

HTC One S
The HTC One S is for people who want a high-end smartphone in a more compact size. It is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 processor with up to 1.5GHz dual-core CPU’s. It also includes a 4.3-inch screen crafted from contoured Corning™ Gorilla Glass. HTC One S brings HTC’s innovative metal unibody styling to a new thin 7.9-mm design, making it HTC’s thinnest phone yet. The HTC One S sports two new finishes that break new ground in mobile phone innovation. The first is an ultra-matte black Ceramic Metal surface that is the result of a microarc oxidation (MAO) process originally developed for use in satellites. It transforms the surface of the aluminum unibody into a ceramic, super-dense crystalline structure that is four times harder than anodized aluminum, enabling the HTC One S to look great over time. The second finish for the One S takes anodizing to a new level with a new patented process that creates a light-to-dark gradient fade that looks gorgeous and sophisticated.

Features and Specifications
4.3-inch screen with 540x960 (qHD) resolution
1.5 GHz dual-core processor
8 megapixel camera with auto focus, smart LED flash, and BSI sensor
1 GB of RAM
16 GB internal storage
Beats Audio™
1650 mAh battery capacity

The HTC One series will be launched here in the Philippines sometime in April. The lineup will be available on both Smart and Globe.

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Nokia 808 PureView is Now Official!

Nokia has just announced the successor of the N8, meet the Nokia 808 PureView with 41 Megapixels camera resolution!

Nokia 808 PureView Features and Specifications
41 megapixel camera sensor with Nokia Pureview Pro imaging technology and Carl Zeiss optics
1.3 GHz single-core processor
512 MB RAM
4-inch AMOLED ClearBlack screen with 640x360 (nHD) resolution
Full HD 1080p video recording
Symbian Belle Feature Pack 1
1400 mAh battery capacity
Gorilla Glass
16 GB internal memory

Nokia 808 PureView Product Page

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