This could be the Samsung Galaxy S4 processor

Power at the ready

The Exynos 5440 quad-core could well be the processor which finds its way into the Samsung Galaxy S4 sometime next year.
Samsung has confirmed that the quad-core chip, based on the dual-core version found in the Korean-made Google Nexus 10 tablet, on its Kernel Git webpage - so we know that it definitely exists.
Little else is known about the Exynos 5440 at this point and there's no guarantee that it will be the processor of choice for the Galaxy S4 but it's certainly a strong contender.

Four, not eight

This could put to bed rumours suggesting the Galaxy S4 may sport a quite frankly ridiculous eight-core processor although we're not completely ruling out that option just yet.
According to various sources, the Samsung Galaxy S4 will rock up with a full HD display somewhere in the region of 5-inches, boast a powerful 13MP camera and run the latest version of Android – possibly even Key Lime Pie.
More rumours suggest that Samsung will look to launch the Galaxy S4 in April with the Korean firm getting its next flagship smartphone out early on, but we're yet to hear anything official from the manufacturer itself.

From Samsung via Android Community

Samsung Galaxy S3 gets Galaxy Note 2 features with Android 4.1.2

New smarts for the Galaxy S3

The Samsung Galaxy S3 is starting to get the Android 4.1.2 update, which may not seem like a big deal on the surface, but there are some key new features packed inside.
First up the multi-view function lets you have more than one app on screen at a time for an enhanced multi-tasking experience.
First seen on the Galaxy Note 2, the Galaxy S3 is only the second handset to get this nifty functionality, letting you snap apps above and below each other on the phone's 4.8-inch display.

Galaxy S3 takes Note

Page buddy is something else we saw on the Note 2 and has now made the leap across to the S3 – for example, plug in a set of headphones and a dedicated homescreen will appear giving you options related to the action, such as offering links to the music player.
Also bundled in the Android 4.1.2 update is an updated gallery app which matches the one found on the Note 2, plus a customisable notification panel, swipe input for the keyboard and smart rotation – which will only rotate the screen if the phone detects you want landscape mode and are not just lying in bed with your S3 at a weird angle.
The roll out started in Poland and the over-the-air update will make its way round countries worldwide in the coming days and weeks – so keep an eye out for it on your Galaxy S3. No word on US availability just yet, but it's surely only a matter of time.

From CoolSmartphone

Latest smartphones give HTC a new lease of life

Onwards and upwards

HTC could well be on the road to recovery after a rocky year, as sales jumped more than 20 per cent in November.
The Taiwanese firm managed to rake in $730 million (around £453 million/AU$698 million) in November, which is 23.3 per cent more than it managed to coin in October.
The firm has launched several new handsets at the back end of 2012, with the HTC One X+, 8X and 8S all helping to boost sales, revenue and popularity of the brand which has been suffering a little of late.

Not all good

A strong November aside, HTC is still dramatically down on revenue in 2012 compared to 2011.
The latest figures show that total revenue for the year is still down a whopping 39 per cent compared to the same time last year, which shows HTC still has some way to go to regain a strong position in the market.
At least these latest figures are strong for HTC and we hope they signal the start of an upwards trend for a firm which makes some beautiful handsets, but has struggled to compete with Apple and Samsung in 2012.

From Digitimes

Asus Padfone 2 may arrive sooner than expected

Is it a bird, is it a plane? No, it's some kind of smartphone-tablet thing

The Asus Padfone 2 may arrive in stores sooner than expected after reports suggest the smartphone-tablet hybrid will go on sale in Germany on December 1.
According to German site Inside-Handy, it has received confirmation that the Asus Padfone 2 will be in stock from the beginning of December, although we've spoken to the Taiwanese firm and it is yet to confirm or deny this.
The original Asus Padfone failed to make it out of Asia but the Padfone 2 has been pegged for a European launch at least.

Christmas comes early

It's currently thought the Padfone 2 will arrive in Europe at the start of 2013 but this latest news does raise hopes of an earlier arrival.
You'll need some serious cash though if you fancy getting your hands on the Padfone 2 with the 32GB model reportedly sporting a price tag of €799 (around £642/$1020/AU$980), while the 64GB version will set you back €899 (around £720/$1150/AU$1105).
The Padfone 2 smartphone packs a 4.7-inch Super IPS+ HD display, quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM, 4G connectivity, NFC and 13MP camera.
The tablet dock offers up a 10.1-inch HD display and a 5000mAh battery, which will charge the phone when it's docked.
We're still unsure if the smartphone-tablet hybrid concept will be a success - with the high asking price Asus may find it hard to shift the combo.

From Inside-Handy via UnwiredView

Windows Phone 7.8 could hit devices in a matter of days

Soon, WP7 fans. Soon.

Nokia has let slip that Windows Phone 7.8 could be landing on users' handsets in just weeks, if not days, as the updated software has now been released to manufacturers.
The news comes from a developer seminar in Singapore, where the head of Nokia Asia Pacific Developer division let slip that the RTM had happened.
Reportedly, he told devs that the consumer roll-out would definitely happen before 2013, and added that WP7.8 won't be getting the swish new IE10 browser because the aging hardware can't support it.

Nearly but not quite

The not-quite-Windows Phone 8 software update will see Windows Phone 7 devices get some almost-WP8 updates like a revamped Start screen and Xbox Music, among other consolatory prizes.
We'd previously heard tell of a Windows Phone 7.8 release date following shortly after the Windows Phone 8 launch date (which was October 29), thanks to a post on the Italian Windows Phone Facebook page.
This was also backed up by a leak on a Chinese blog last week; so although nothing's for sure, all signs point to an imminent software treat for WP7 users.

From WM Power User via PocketNow

ZTE Grand X Pro appears but offers little

A new, affordable Grand X replacement on the way?

It looks like Chinese manufacturer ZTE is prepping a new flagship handset in the form of the Grand X Pro, if a leaked photo is to be believed.
The original ZTE Grand X crept onto the mobile scene earlier this year with a 4.3-inch display, 1GHz dual-core processor, 512MB of RAM, 4GB of internal storage, 5MP camera and running Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich.
We hope the ZTE Grand X Pro builds on the relatively average specs of its predecessor, but all we've got to go on is the name and an image, tweeted by EvLeaks.

Hush hush

EvLeaks has a relatively good track record when it comes to leaking handsets, with the same Twitter feed correctly revealing the HTC One X+ back in September.
Specs wise we don't have any leads, but you probably shouldn't get your hopes up for a Samsung Galaxy S3 challenging handset, with ZTE concentrating more on affordable smartphones.
If the ZTE Grand X Pro is indeed in the pipeline, it could well make an official appearance at CES 2013 in Las Vegas or MWC 2013 in Barcelona at the start of next year.
We've contacted ZTE about the Grand X Pro, and we'll update this article once we hear back.

From EvLeaks via Android Central

Sony admits: Our phones can't compete

Sony Mobile sales chief Dennis van Schie has said that Sony will soon be releasing a handset to directly compete with the iPhone 5 and Samsung Galaxy S3.
Speaking to the Financial Times Deutschland, van Schie openly acknowledged that nothing in the Japanese firm's current lineup of phones could stand up to the likes of Apple and Samsung's flagship devices.
He told the German newspaper, "We will create, in the near future, a flagship model that can compete with Apple's iPhone and Samsung's Galaxy S3". A spokesperson for Sony confirmed that the contender would appear at CES and the Mobile World Congress in spring 2013.

Too little, too late?

Although this is great news for the Sony faithful, it may be the company should instead turn its attention to the next generation of smartphones, rather than trying to play catch-up.
It's already been beaten to the play by a long way, and if conjecture is anything to go by, both Apple and Samsung will be releasing the next incarnations of their bestselling smartphones next year, instantly casting a shadow over Sony's contender.
There have even been whispers that Apple's iPhone 5S could start going into production as early as next month, which already spells bad news for van Schie and his team.
Such comments are unlikely to sit well with owners of the recently-released Xperia T 'Bond Phone', which the Japanese firm has been touting as a handset worthy of consideration by today's smartphone buyers.
Sony is essentially trying to feel its way in the mobile space as a new brand, and despite raising fortunes since losing the Ericsson brand admissions like these, while honest, will do little to convince consumers it's a decent alternative.

Via TechCrunch

HTC J Butterfly transforms into a beautiful HTC Deluxe

Will it, won't it come to the UK?

The HTC Deluxe has been outed on Twitter, suggesting the HTC J Butterfly could be going global.
This has all come about thanks to EvLeaks, which tweeted a picture of the device along with the message "HTC Deluxe, global edition".
Back in October we saw HTC unveil the J Butterfly, boasting an eye-popping full HD 5-inch display, 1.5GHz quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM, 8MP rear camera, 2.1MP front camera, 4G connectivity and Android 4.1 Jelly Bean.

Big in the States

The super-sized handset has already made an appearance in the US, coming under the moniker HTC Droid DNA, as it looks to tackle the big phone of the moment, the Samsung Galaxy Note 2.
We could well see the HTC Deluxe break cover at MWC 2013 in Barcelona and TechRadar will be there to bring you all the news live as it happens.
There is a slight twist in this tale though, as we contacted HTC last month and a spokesperson said the firm had "no plans to bring the J Butterfly to Europe", so we're not getting carried away about the HTC Deluxe just yet.
We contacted HTC again regarding the Deluxe, but the Taiwanese firm would not be drawn to comment on the rumour.

From Twitter via Pocket-Lint

Android 4.1 Jelly Bean 'leaked' for Samsung Galaxy S2

Jelly Bean for Galaxy S2: Much awaited

A video has leaked online appearing to show Android's 4.1 Jelly Bean update running on a Samsung Galaxy S2.
The firmware looks to be a beta version of a 4.1.2 ROM, the same software that's currently rolling out to Samsung's flagship Galaxy S3 device. The leak comes courtesy of XDA Developers member izap.
In the video demonstration, a mystery person flicks through screens on a Samsung Galaxy S2, showing off distinctly Jelly Bean-like features. The device may also be running a little smoother than usual (Project Butter?), although it's almost impossible to tell, especially without a direct comparison.

Leaky beans

The accompanying screenshot seemingly confirms 4.1.2 firmware running on a GT-I9100 device, although we can't guarantee it's legit at this stage.
That said, we wouldn't be surprised if the Galaxy S2 is included on the list of devices Samsung is bringing the JB update to - especially after a source 'confirmed' it would be getting it.
Although Samsung's 2011 flagship is still a damned good phone, it's definitely beginning to show its age, particularly when put up against its S3 successor and the likes of the Galaxy Note 2 and Google Nexus 4. Now more than ever, S2 owners need something to keep them feeling catered for by Samsung.

Via Pocketnow

Huawei Ascend W3 leaked as high-end Windows Phone 8 handset

Huawei could be planning a fleet of WP8 phones

Images claiming to show the rumoured Huawei Ascend W3 have appeared online, revealing a high-end Windows Phone 8 device.
We've already seen numerousreports regarding the budget focussed Ascend W1, but the Chinese firm is yet to confirm or deny the existence of that, or any other potential Windows Phone 8 devices.
The latest snaps come courtesy of Chinese site WinP, and show are large-screened handset running Microsoft's latest mobile platform.

Credit: WinP

Sceptical

According to details added to the calendar app live tile, the Ascend W3 will sport a 4.5-inch display and measure 132 x 67 x 10mm, while round the back details next to the camera suggest it will sport a 8MP resolution and record 1080p video.

Credit: WinP

We remain sceptical about these specifications, although we can believe that Huawei is planning a range of Windows Phone 8 devices, plus the origin of the photos is unknown.
Word is that Huawei is waiting until CES 2013 to announce its Windows Phone 8 devices, we just hope that's not too late as Nokia, HTC and Samsung will all have phones available by then.

From WinP via KnowYourMobile

Google readying iOS Maps app to save beleaguered iPhone users

Has Apple Maps already reached the end of the road?

Google has apparently started distributing a test version of its iOS Maps app to certain individuals, as the firm looks to take on Apple's disappointing effort.
According to a Wall Street Journal source, several key figures outside of Google have received the test version of Google Maps on their iPhones.
The finishing touches are now being added to the dedicated application, which will mean iPhone users won't have to rely on the mobile browser version, with the app providing a more featured-packed experience – apparently similar to the one you get on Android.

Destination unknown

Apple Maps arrived alongside iOS 6 and the iPhone 5 this year, but it came under instant criticism after numerous errors, inaccuracies and bugs were discovered.
The situation was so bad it led to Apple CEO Tim Cook issuing an apology to customers and recommending that they use other mapping solutions while they work out the problems.
This leaves the door wide open for Google to come in and leave its mark on iPhones (in a similar way to Nokia Here), and if it manages to get the native app on the App Store before Apple addresses its issues, it could well be game, set and match for the search giant.
There's no word on when the final version will be available in the App Store, and Google is apparently yet to submit the app to Apple for its strict approval process.

From Wall Street Journal

App developers get BlackBerry 10 SDK release date

Apps at the ready

The final version of the BlackBerry 10 SDK will be available on December 11, giving developers less than two months to finalise their applications before the platform launches.
Announced via the BlackBerry Dev Blog, the Gold SDK marks a significant milestone for the heavily delayed BB10 platform, and shows that it is finally nearing completion.
Earlier this week RIM announced that BlackBerry 10 would be officially unveiled on January 30, however app developers will need to act quickly if they want to guarantee themselves $10,000 (around £6100/ AU$9700) of revenue as part of RIM's app scheme.

Submit apps by January 21

Apps will need to be submitted to BlackBerry App World storefront by January 21 to be eligible for RIM's generous revenue commitment.
A SDK beta update is also scheduled to arrive on November 29, bringing with it bug fixes and important updates for web developers.
BlackBerry 10 is the make or break platform for RIM which has been struggling to keep pace in the mobile market, and it has its eye locked on third place on the mobile OS podium – currently occupied by a difficult to budge Windows Phone 8.

From BlackBerry Dev Blog

Samsung hasn't screwed Apple after all

Apple and Samsung playing nice, for now.

News that Samsung is planning to hike up the price of its processors that it sells to Apple could well be false after a company official dismissed the reports.
At the beginning of the week we saw the Wall Street Journal quote a source who claimed Samsung was implementing the special 20 per cent price increase for Apple, but it looks like they may have got their facts wrong.
Seoul-based newspaper The Hankyoreh has spoken to an unnamed Samsung official who denied the Korean firm was pushing the prices up on components it sells to Apple.

Not that easy

We were slightly surprised when we heard that Apple would be forced to pay the inflated price, without so much as a whimper from the usually boisterous Cupertino-based firm.
The official noted that price changes don't happen easily, and we'd be surprised if Apple would let Samsung get away which such a cheeky ploy.
Apple relies heavily on Samsung for components found in its iPhone, iPad and iPod products and while the companies are fierce rivals, there's no escaping the fact they need each other.

From TheStreet

Intel, Qualcomm reportedly considering investment in Sharp

A new path may be in the cards for Sharp

Two chip making rivals are reportedly considering a joint investment worth $378 million (UK£238, AUD$363) into struggling consumer electronics company Sharp, according to a new report.
Citing two sources familiar with the situation, Reuters revealed the potential revival deal between Intel and Qualcomm Wednesday.
Sharp displays are found in iPads and iPhones and the company appears anxious to tap into the small screen and high-end laptop market as a way to resurrect its fortunes. Intel is apparently interested in Sharp's energy-efficient IGZO displays as it looks to profit in the growing Ultrabook scene.
A deal between Sharp and Qualcomm may come as soon as the end of November, one of Reuters' sources said. Details of an Intel deal are less firm as the company has its own murky financials to contend with.

Sharp's struggles

Sharp's situation is no secret - various reports have it cutting its workforce by almost 11,000 in two years, selling off assets and contending with $13.8 billion (UK£8.71, AUD$13.2) in debt.
Over the course of 2012, Sharp has seen three-quarters of its value whither away. Its total lose for the year could reach $5.7 billion (UK£3.59, AUD$5.4), including a $1.1 billion (UK£6.94m, AUD$1.05) restructuring charge.
The firm also reportedly struggled to meet screen supply demands for the popular iPhone 5, though it later denied those claims.
An investment by Intel or Qualcomm, or both, could lay out an entirely new future for Sharp, one that steers it completely away from TV land and wholly towards mobile technology.

Via Reuters

Samsung defiant: 'We don't intend to negotiate with Apple'

Samsung has said that it is not looking to negotiate with its fierce rival Apple, with an HTC-style settlement looking increasingly unlikely.
Speaking to the Korean media, Samsung's mobile president Shin Jong-kyun revealed the firm was sticking to its guns in its continuing battle with its Cupertino-based rival.
Jong-kyun was quoted by Yonhap News saying: "It may be true that HTC may have agreed to pay 300 billion won (£173 million/$276 million) to Apple, but we don't intend to [negotiate] at all."

Say no to negotiation

At the start of the week Taiwanese manufacturer HTC announced that it had resolved its patent disputes with Apple, agreeing a 10 year licensing deal with the iPhone maker.
The ongoing game of one-up-manship between Apple and Samsung in the courts is well documented, and becoming ever more tedious, and this latest revelation will not help a resolution arrive any quicker.
We now lay in wait for Apple's sarcastic response, possibly in a similar fashion to the way it "apologised" for accusing Samsung of copying its products.

From Yonhap News via TheNextWeb

Motorola Xoom and Google Nexus S miss out on Android 4.2

Stuck on the first round of Jelly Bean

Google has confirmed that the Motorola Xoom and Nexus S smartphone will not be treated to the freshest version of the firm's mobile operating system, Android 4.2.
The news was revealed on Google's forum by Jean-Baptiste Queru, who is the Technical Lead for the Android Open Source Project in a post regarding the Android 4.2 update.
Details about the devices not receiving the update are at the end of the post, with Queru writing: "There is no support for 4.2 on Nexus S and Xoom. Those devices should continue using 4.1.2."

Reasoning unknown

Both devices got an upgrade to the original Jelly Bean, Android 4.1 earlier this year, and while the update from the Xoom raised some eyebrows, Google's recent acquisition of Motorola goes some way to explain why the tablet got treated.
What's possibly more puzzling is Google's decision not to bump both devices up to Android 4.2 – which itself isn't a vast leap forward in terms of development from 4.1.
Queru offered no reasoning as to why Google has taken the decision to stop the updates at Android 4.1.2 for the devices, so we've contacted the search giant to try and find out more.

From Google via TalkAndroid

Fabled Huawei Ascend W1 could make CES 2013 debut

We may finally see a Huawei WP8 device in January

The fourth and final manufacturer given clearance by Microsoft to launch a Windows Phone 8 handset will apparently launch its device at CES 2013, in the form of the Huawei Ascend W1.
The muchrumoured handset looks pretty certain to be the the Chinese manufacturer's first Windows Phone 8 device, although Huawei itself is yet to officially confirm or deny the Ascend W1's existence.
Chinese site WPDang claims it can exclusively reveal that the Huawei Ascend W1 will indeed make an appearance in Las Vegas in January and, while this is no great surprise, the source of this information is unknown.

Playing catch up

Huawei may have a job on its hands to make inroads in the Windows Phone 8 market, with the Nokia Lumia 920, Lumia 820, HTC 8X, HTC 8S and Samsung Ativ S all going on sale before the end of this year.
However the one trump card Huawei may have up its sleeve is price, with separate reports suggesting the Ascend W1 will be the cheapest Windows Phone 8 smartphone once it launches – which may open up the new mobile platform to the lower end of the market.
We've contacted Huawei for more information and we'll update this article if and when we hear back.

From WPDang

Some Samsung Galaxy Nexus owners get treated to Android 4.2 early

Still Jelly Bean, new flavour

The official Android 4.2 Jelly Bean update could be on its way to Samsung Galaxy Nexus handsets as some owners report an over the air update.
According to Engadget, some Galaxy Nexus owners have received the official upgrade from Google but it seems locked to GSM handsets for the time being.
There's no official word from Google or Samsung on when Android 4.2 will roll out fully to various regions, but it should hopefully be in the next few weeks if these reports are to be believed.

Work around

If you're more technically minded and really can't wait for Android 4.2 then the folks over XDA-Developers have taken the update and made it available for all versions of the handset.
Of course there are the usual warnings about hacking your device, and if you choose this option it's at your own risk – we'd recommend holding on for the real deal.
Or, if you want a handset running Android 4.2 straight out the box then check out the Google Nexus 4, which went on sale today, but you'll need to be quick as stock is selling out fast.
We've contacted Google and Samsung to try and glean more information on the Android 4.2 update and we'll update this article once we hear back.
Update: A Samsung spokesperson has told TechRadar: "We will announce rollout plans for Android 4.2 to our Galaxy portfolio of devices in due course."

From Engadget and XDA-Developers

Analyst: Apple to sell 46.5 million iPhones this quarter

Supply woes are easing, says analyst

Apple could sell as many as 46.5 million iPhones in the quarter ending Dec. 31, according to one analyst.
Sterne Agee analyst Shaw Wu brings word from supply chain sources that the Foxconn plant has been able to up its manufacturing capacity for the new iPhone 5 handset.
The Chinese factory had experienced difficulties in the large scale manufacture of the new 4-inch handset, due to component shortages and assembly troubles, leaving Apple less able to fulfil demand.
Earlier this week Foxconn chairman Terry Gou reportedly admitted: "It's not easy to make the iPhones. We are falling short of meeting the huge demand."

Issues resolved

However, the easing of these issues, Wu told investors, will clear the way for Apple to quickly replenish stocks and sell an ungodly amount of iPhones in the run up to, and immediate aftermath of, Christmas.
If Apple achieves the lofty 46.5m prediction, it would represent a gigantic leap of well over 50 per cent year-on-year, compared with the 26.9m sales it racked up during the final quarter 2011.
With Apple's share price taking a beating after missing sales expectations during the last quarterly financial report, a solid Christmas season could be the key to stocks crashing through the roof once again.
 

Via AppleInsider

LG Optimus L9 arrives in Europe

Put with the Nexus 4 for company, who would buy it?

The LG Optimus L9 has touched down in Germany, where consumers can purchase the smartphone online SIM-free.
Available for €299 (around £240) on Amazon, LG has been slow to roll out the Optimus L9 to Europe, making it available in Asia and the US first.
It's the most powerful handset in the Korean firm's L-Style range, with the disappointing LG Optimus L7, and rather uninspiring Optimus L3 already on sale in Britain, while the Optimus L5 remains pretty anonymous.

Middle of the road

LG lifted the lid of the Optimus L9 at the end of August, revealing its 4.7-inch True IPS display, 1GHz dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM, 5MP camera and Android 4.0 innards.
There's nothing here to get the heart racing, but if LG keep the Optimus L9 at a competitively low price it could turn out to be a decent mid-range phone – we just hope it works better than the L7.
LG may have cannibalised the Optimus L9's sales though; with the Google Nexus 4 boasting far superior specifications and starting at just £239 SIM-free, we're not sure who would plump for the L9.
We have contacted LG to find out if the Optimus L9 will make it across the channel to Britain, and we'll update this article once we hear back.

From UnwiredView