Leadtek AMOR 8218 DECT phone with Tegra 2 Android tablet hands-on

While combing through the show floor at Computex, our fortunate selves stumbled upon a new phone-tablet duo at Leadtek's booth. Oh, don't worry, this isn't yet another phone-in-pad design; but actually a VoIP / home phone docked next to an Android tablet. Dubbed AMOR Multimedia Phone 8218, the idea here is that the docking station acts as both a DECT base and a WiFi router, but also packs ZigBee radio to relay data from compatible devices (for healthcare, home surveillance, home automation, etc.) to the web.

HTC HD7S coming to AT&T on 5 June for $199.99

AT&T will be expanding its Windows Phone 7 line with the large-screened HTC HD7S. The “S” in the name stands for S-LCD – the screen on AT&T’s HD7 model packs newer tech unlike the unbranded HD7, which uses regular TFT.

The HTC HD7S will hit AT&T’s shelves on 5 June – the Windows Phone 7 handset will go for $199.99 on a two-year contract.

For that kind of cash you can grab a cool Android or an iPhone 4, but you might want to hold off on that. The upcoming Mango update for Windows Phone 7 promises to make the OS so much more desirable.

You can sign up for email updates on AT&T’s site though you won’t miss much if you don’t – all you need to remember is HTC HD7S, $199.99, 5 June.

Nokia's WP7 phones to use U8500 dual-core 1.2GHz chipsets?

The CEO of ST-Ericsson got chatty in front of Forbes and said that Nokia’s Windows Phone 7 devices will be powered by the U8500 dual-core CPU and its successors will go on to power Windows Phone 8 phones too.

So far, Windows Phone 7 devices have been exclusively powered by Qualcomm chipsets (due to Microsoft’s limiting guidelines, which were revised recently). ST-Ericsson’s CEO however says that they will be one of two chip suppliers for Nokia’s WP7 phones (he didn’t who the other was).

The first Nokia devices will use the dual-core U8500 chipset, which has been seen running at 1.2GHz. Things might change by the time these devices come out, but they look to be the first dual-core Windows Phone 7 handsets.

The CEO also said that over the course of 2012 Nokia will release 12 Windows Phone 7 devices that will be based on future versions of the U8500 chipset. He also believes that ST-Ericsson will be a key supplier for Windows Phone 8, yep that's 8.

The Mango update is v7.5, so Windows Phone 8 is already very likely in the works (and the rumor mill suggests that it and Windows 8 will be closely related).

The U8500 has a powerful Mali-400 GPU, the same as on the Samsung I9100 Galaxy S II.

Sharp treats us to a waterproof 16MP Android clamshell in 3D

Prepare to feast your geeky souls on one of the hottest Android devices you have ever seen. Sharp has just unveiled the waterproof AQUOS PHONE THE HYBRID 007SH (a mouthful indeed) with a 16 megapixel camera and a 3.4” FWVGA stereoscopic display that doesn’t need glasses to work.

The Android 2.3 Gingerbread clamshell (yeah, you read that one right) sports GSM and WCDMA connectivity so it should be able to operate on networks worldwide. Unfortunately, the handset will initially only be available in Japan and knowing Sharp we doubt they will expand its reach, ever.

Anyway, with the AQUOS 007SH you will also be getting a 0.7” secondary OLED display as well as GPS, Wi-Fi b/g/n and Bluetooth 3.0 connectivity. There’s also an infrared port on board - a feature that’s still pretty popular in Japan.

The highlights list continues with a microSD slot that allows expanding the internal memory by up to 32 GB, 720p video recording, digital TV tuner and a microHDMI port. The waterproof body of the smartphone measures 113×51.8×19.3mm, which is pretty thick, but it only weighs 140 g.

The AQUOS PHONE THE HYBRID 007SH will become available at SoftBank shops in Japan next month.

via GsmArena

Dutchman integrates a 4.5GHz water-cooled rig into his d3sk

Cooler Master's 2011 Case Mod Competition looks to be the gift that keeps on giving. After serving up a Tron lightcycle and an architectural marvel, it's now playing host to a mod that redefines the idea of an all-in-one PC. Peter from the Netherlands has managed to fit a pretty bombastic set of components -- 4.5GHz Core i7-980X, two ASUS GeForce GTX 580 graphics cards in SLI, over 12TB of storage with an SSD boot disk, and two PSUs providing 1,500W of power in total -- together with a water-cooling setup and the inevitable glowing lights inside one enclosure, which just so happens to also serve as his desk. The three-piece monitor setup is also a custom arrangement, with a 27-inch U2711 IPS panel being flanked by two 17-inchers. Admittedly, this isn't the first water-cooled and over-powered desk we've laid eyes on, but that shouldn't prevent you from giving the links below a bash and checking out the amazingly neat design of Peter's l3p d3sk.

Sigma SD1 starts shipping in June for $9,700

Sigma knows that $9,700 is a lot of money to pay for, well, anything, so it's couching the hefty price tag on its new flagship DSLR, the SD1, in the context of it competing against medium format digital cameras -- whose prices don't generally fall below five figures. Trouble is, as professionally inclined, well designed, and durably built as the SD1 may be, it still only packs a 15.3 megapixel CMOS sensor that spans 24mm x 16mm (or APS-C size). That means it'll have to earn its stripes on the battlefield of image quality, which it'll be ready to march onto in less than a month's time. Sigma promises to start shipping units in early June, so if you have the cash to spare (plus a little extra to fund a suitably awesome lens), you can start building up your anticipation today. Full PR and camera specs can be found after the break.

Android Honeycomb has hidden Gingerbread interface, enabled by higher LCD density

Google's already indicated that tablets and smartphones won't be sharing the same Android build until Ice Cream Sandwich in Q4, though interestingly enough, it turns out that the tablet-friendly Honeycomb actually has Gingerbread's interface quietly tucked underneath. According to modder Graffix0214, all you need for making the jump is one simple tweak in a system file: assuming you already have root access, use your preferred method -- Pocketables recommends the LCDDensity for Root app -- to change the LCD density value to 170 or higher to emulate a smaller, denser display. After a reboot, you should then see some Gingerbread love as demoed by Graffix0214's video after the break; and likewise, set the value to 160 or lower to roll back. It sure is nice to have an option, eh?

Source: Pocketables

Nokia's Windows Phones will feature dual-core ST-Ericsson U8500

As you'll no doubt be aware, Qualcomm currently enjoys a stranglehold on processing hardware inside Windows Phone handsets. Its Snapdragon chip stars in both Microsoft's original and updated chassis spec for the platform, but its hegemony may soon be coming to an end. STMicroelectronics (the ST in ST-Ericsson) boss Carlo Bozotti is cited by Forbes as saying that Nokia will use ST-Ericsson hardware to power at least some of its Windows Phones. The dual-core U8500, a long-time Nokia favorite, is touted as the first such system-on-chip to appear, with its successors helping to populate Nokia's expansive WP lineup in 2012. The only intel we've had so far on Nokia's initial handsets for the new OS revolved around Qualcomm-based devices, so even if ST-Ericsson is indeed going to infiltrate the Windows Phone ecosystem, it doesn't look likely to be among the very first Nokias out of the gate.

via: engadget

HP Pre 3 gets a pre-order at Amazon.de, yours for 449 euro

The HP Pre 3 just received its first pre-order deal, courtesy of Amazon dot de. The 2.2-inch-screen WebOS smartphone will set you back 449 euro (about $640) with free shipping in Germany.
here are still no estimates as to when the phone could arrive at your door but Amazon says it will send out emails when they have more information.

The Pre 3 packs the WebOS UI, 5 MP autofocus camera with HD 720p video recording, 1.4 GHz Snapdragon MSM8x55 and 512 MB RAM. It also upgrades the screen department with a 3.58" WVGA (480x800) display.

Pantech unveils 1.5GHz dual-core Vega Racer droid

Pantech has just announced what looks like the most powerful Android smartphone to date. The Pantech Vega Racer packs a dual-core processor clocked at 1.5GHz plus the Adreno 220 GPU, which is a mouth-watering combo.

Unfortunately at launch the Pantech Vega Racer will only be available in Korea and there's no saying if availability in other regions will follow.

The Vega Racer is based on the same chipset as the HTC EVO 3D - Snapdragon MSM8660, but due to the overclocked 1.5GHz CPU should be even speedier.

The other specs highlights of the Vega Racer include a 4.3" LCD of WVGA resolution, 1GB RAM and a couple of cameras - an 8 megapixel one at the back and a 1.3 megapixel unit for video-calling.

Pantech Vega Raver will run on Android 2.3 Gingerbread when it hit the SK Telecom shelves later this month. Whether it will later set on a world tour remains to be seen, but it has every chance of going in the history books as the first 1.5GHz dual-core phone.

Pantech has also revealed that it is already working on a tablet of its own. They didn't give us an estimate as of when it might become available but we'll be on the lookout for more information about it in the future.

Next-gen iPhone will have an 8 MP OmniVision camera, no LTE?

The rumor mill is churning up new speculations of the next-gen iPhone camera. The upcoming iDevice could very well end up with an OmniVision camera, instead of the previously rumored Sony snapper. Also an LTE-enabled iPhone is unlikely to hit the market in 2011 due to low interest and the slow growth of the LTE networks.

According to the DigiTimes sources the next-gen iPhone will begin its production in August and go on sale as early as September. The device will supposedly be dubbed iPhone 4S, which if true might be one of the most unfortunate namings we have ever seen (just say it out loud and you will see what we mean). Also we got word that Qualcomm will be the manufacturer of the 3G and CDMA radios of the smartphone.

The camera of the iPhone 4S has been a target of discussion before, when we thought Sony will be the one to manufacture it, supplying their Exmor R backside illuminated sensors to Apple. However latest gossip points at OmniVision sticking around for another round. It's rumored that OmniVision will supply the image sensors, while Largan Precision the lens kits.

This leaves us guessing about the sensor resolution. Smart money are still on an 8 MP unit but OmniVision has just announced their new generation 5 MP sensor, the OV5690, which has the ability to shoot 1080p video at 30 fps or 720p video at 60 fps. The new sensor will be 20% slimmer side, which might help it find its place and knowing Apple's love for slim devices might end up in their next smartphone.

It's less than a month now until the WWDC (it's starting 6 June), where the iPhone 4S should be unveiled. We hope so as we've seen the best come out of Android for now and are eager to see what Apple will answer with.

PlayStation Store will return May 24th

We wouldn't recommend setting aside time to enjoy your "Welcome Back" package just yet, but it looks like we now have our first solid indication of when the PlayStation Store will finally return to PlayStation 3 and PSP users. According to a memo reportedly sent by Sony to its publishing partners and obtained by Gamasutra, the store is set to return on Tuesday, May 24th -- assuming there aren't any more unforeseen hiccups, that is. That will also, of course, bring with it a backlog of new games and other content that should have been released by now, although those will apparently be released in stages over the following weeks, rather than all at once.
via: Eurogamer

Fujitsu to launch 7-inch Android tablet later this year, might be priced lower than $400

Fresh off the Japanese launch of its LifeBook TH40/D Windows 7 tablet, it appears that Fujitsu is gearing up to release a new seven-inch Android slate. According to DigiTimes, Fujitsu's forthcoming slab is scheduled to hit the market during the third quarter of this year and will run on Android 3.1 Honeycomb. It's unclear whether or not the device will sport the same stylus support and sliding keyboard that its Windows 7 counterpart features, but Fujitsu is reportedly planning on selling the tablet for anywhere between about $350 and $700, which effectively ranges from "bargain" to "blimey." We're certainly hoping that the final price falls on the low end of that spectrum, but we'll have to wait and see if our dreams become a reality.

via

Unannounced Samsung 'Hercules' headed to T-Mobile, bearing demigod-like specs?

The Samsung Infuse 4G is a beautiful 4.5-inch tabletphone, but it's not for the spec junkies of the world -- a single-core processor and Android 2.2 just don't impress such folk these days, regardless of actual performance. However, This is my next reports Samsung's cooking up a $350 handset that ticks all the boxes on the superphone list -- a beast of a smartphone it's tentatively calling the "Hercules." Mind you, we're still in rumor territory, but feast your inner speed demon on the possibility of these: a dual-core 1.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon APQ8060 processor (the same as the HP TouchPad), a 42Mbps HSDPA radio, 1GB of RAM, 16GB of flash storage and Android 2.3, along with the same 4.5-inch 800 x 480 Super AMOLED Plus display as the aforementioned Infuse 4G. The same whispers say it'll have a 8 megapixel camera with 1080p video capture, MHL support and NFC, and should play for T-Mobile... assuming the buyout doesn't succeed. Our existing smartphones are already preparing to seethe with jealousy.

via [engadget]

Nokia N9 video ad leaks, teases with 12MP camera

A leaked teaser video that we just found shows a bunch of interesting details about the unreleased, unannounced Nokia N9 smartphone. Unfortunately, the fast-paced teaser leaves more questions than answers.

The Nokia N9 was always rumored as running whatever version of MeeGo is latest, but this video kinda suggests the user interface will be heavily influenced by Symbian Anna.

The 12MP camera on the other hand is not something new, as it's been present in previous leaks. But yes, this is the first time we get to see it confirmed semi-officially. We also see that it's got a 28mm wide-angle Carl Zeiss lens and an aperture of F2.8, so it sounds a lot like the unit we've seen in the N8. It's only not as bulging as on the N8. And it has a dual LED flash, not a xenon unit as the N8.

It was only recently that we saw a mention of the N9 in some FCC files, so the announcement might as well be just around the corner. Or not! We're yet to see about that.

Android security hole makes stealing your personal info easy

Security is a relative term in digital communications, as German researchers discovered after putting Google’s Android OS through some testing. Reportedly, 99.7% of all droids could be broadcasting the authentication key to your personal Google data when connected over unsecured Wi-Fi networks, making it easy for opportunist attackers to gain access to it.

The problem lies in how some Android apps communicate with the cloud servers. You see, researchers discovered apps transmit user name and password to the server securely and the server returns an authentication token to be used so that the app doesn’t have to log in every time it makes a request.

Researchers discovered, however, that this token is the weak link as it's often transmitted insecurely (making it very easy to steal). An attacker can easily steal one of these tokens by sniffing the unsecured public Wi-Fi network you use. And since the token is valid for up to two weeks (from any device), the attacker can go on and sync your contacts or calendar entries to a device of their own.

In short, your droid may be leaking the key to your personal info without you even knowing it. This type of attack is very similar to how the notorious Firesheep could once steal people’s Facebook accounts.

The researchers tested different Android phones, from different vendors, running different OS versions and found that syncing contacts and calendar data is done insecurely prior to v2.3.3. The Gallery app (developed by a third party and not Google) uses the insecure method even in the latest smartphone version of Android.

Unfortunately, the problem isn't limited to Android’s native apps, third party apps are vulnerable too and will have to be updated to patch the hole.

You can read the blog post by the researchers that found the loophole for more info.

We don't know about you, but that sounds scary to us.

KDDI iida INFOBAR A01 is a cool, Japan-only droid with custom UI

Refreshing design? Check. 3.7-inch qHD screen? Check. Android 2.3 Gingerbread with a unique, flexible UI? Check. The KDDI iida INFOBAR A01 stars in today’s installment of "We want a Japanese smartphone" drool fest.

The KDDI iida INFOBAR A01 has a 3.7” qHD (540 x 960) pixels capacitive screen with about 300 ppi (Retina display on iPhone 4 has 326 ppi). The screen uses ASV LCD technology, which promises excellent viewing angles.

The iida INFOBAR A01 runs Android 2.3 Gingerbread with the custom iida UI – it’s a highly customizable interface that lets users arrange widgets into a grid. Kinda like Windows Phone 7, don't you think?

Here’s a promo video that does a better job at explaining the interface.

Samsung P1010 Galaxy Tab Wi-Fi

Samsung P1010 Galaxy Tab Wi-Fi

  

General 2G Network N/A
Announced 2011, Q1
Status Available. Released 2011, March
Size Dimensions 190.1 x 120.5 x 12 mm
Weight 385 g
Display Type TFT capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors
Size 600 x 1024 pixels, 7.0 inches
- Gorilla Glass display
- TouchWiz UI
- Multi-touch input method
- Accelerometer sensor for UI auto-rotate
- Three-axis gyro sensor
- Touch-sensitive controls
- Proximity sensor for auto turn-off
Sound Alert types N/A
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakers
3.5mm jack Yes
Memory Phonebook Practically unlimited entries and fields
Call records N/A
Internal 16 GB storage, 592 MB RAM, 512 MB ROM
Card slot microSD, up to 32GB, buy memory
Data GPRS No
EDGE No
3G No
WLAN Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi hotspot
Bluetooth Yes, v3.0 with A2DP
Infrared port No
USB Yes, v2.0 (proprietary)
Camera Primary 3.15 MP, 2048x1536 pixels, autofocus, LED flash
Features Geo-tagging
Video Yes, 720x480@30fps
Secondary Yes, 1.3 MP
Features OS Android OS, v2.2 (Froyo)
CPU ARM Cortex A8 processor, 1 GHz processor; PowerVR SGX540 graphics
Messaging Email, Push Mail, IM, RSS
Browser HTML
Radio No
Games Yes
Colors Black and Grey
GPS No
Java Yes, via Java MIDP emulator
- Social networking integration
- Full HD video playback
- TV-out
- MP4/DivX/WMV/H.264/H.263 player
- MP3/WAV/eAAC+/AC3/FLAC player
- Organizer
- Image/video editor
- Thinkfree Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PDF)
- Google Search, Maps, Gmail,
YouTube, Calendar, Google Talk, Picasa integration
- Readers/Media/Music Hub
- Adobe Flash 10.1 support
- Predictive text input (Swype)
Battery Standard battery, Li-Ion 4000 mAh

RUMOR: Eldar Murtazin: Microsoft will enter negotiations to buy Nokia's mobile division next week

Yes, this is a rumor, and by golly it strains the limits of credulity, but take note of its source. Firstly, the details: according to Eldar Murtazin, Microsoft and Nokia will enter talks next week to discuss the potential for the American software giant to purchase the Finnish company's mobile arm, meaning the part that makes all those delectable smartphones. Eldar's not been able to dig up any further intel, but expects a deal could be closed as early as the end of this year. We're inclined to believe there's at least some semblance of truth to Eldar's words because of his track record. Way back in December of last year, when nobody believed Nokia would deviate from its Symbian strategy, Eldar reported the similarly incredible-sounding news that Microsoft and Nokia were in discussions about the latter using Windows Phone as its main smartphone OS. That turned into reality this February, and more recently, the Russian mobile spy managed to also accurately predict Nokia killing off the Ovi brand in favor of an eponymous naming scheme for its services. And that's all on top of Eldar's knack for obtaining Nokia prototypes way ahead of release.

So, assuming for a moment that Microsoft does indeed have its eyes set on turning Nokia's handset business into its own mobile hardware division, what would it all mean? Well, we can only see this making sense for Espoo if underwritten by a humongous check from Microsoft, but that might not be a problem. The Redmond camp has recently shown its determination to get what it wants by spending $8.5 billion on Skype, and previously offered north of $44 billion for Yahoo, a good deal more than Nokia's total market cap of around $32 billion. Let's not forget, Nokia once used to manufacture galoshes and tires, so it already has a history of transformative change. And hey, having an ex-Microsoft guy at the top means that if this kind of move were to ever happen, now might just be the right time for it.

Update: As Reonhato pointed out in comments, Mark Squires, UK Communications Director for Nokia, has already issued an uncharacteristically pointed non-comment. "We typically don't comment on rumors. But we have to say that Eldar's rumors are getting obviously less accurate with every passing moment." Burn.

via [Engadget]

Vodafone unveils new Huawei built, own brand handset

Vodafone has today (May 16) announced the launch of it latest own-brand, prepay handset the Vodafone Smart, which will retail for €90 (£78.50) and be available in the next couple of months across the operator’s European markets.

The Smart (pictured), which comes in a variety of colours and runs Android 2.2 is manufactured by Chinese company Huawei.

The device is also fitted with a zoom camera and has a capacitive touch screen as well as 3G, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.

It also has a heavy emphasis on first time smartphone users – the home screen is pre-loaded with direct links to features such as Facebook, Twitter and Vodafone Music,

Speaking about the Smart, Vodafone group terminals director Patrick Chomet said: “Continuing to push the boundaries through our own-brand range, the Vodafone Smart is a new smartphone concept.

“It takes the higher end mobile internet experience and packages it for the mass market, its range of covers and accessories making it a fun fashion statement.”