New Kindle Fire, gets twice the memory and drops to just $159

The Kindle Fire finally has a successor, the Kindle Fire. That’s right, a second generation Kindle Fire is finally here. What’s new? It has double the RAM over the first Fire and has a somewhat faster processor. According to Amazon, that means a 40% bump in power.
The looks on the Kindle Fire update will also remain pretty much the same as we already are used to.
Expected more from the Fire, huh? Keep a few things in mind before you get disappointed. First, the second-generation Kindle Fire will have lower price point than Google Nexus, now at just $159. Second, there are three other new members to the Kindle Fire family.
Now we have the Kindle Fire (2^nd gen), Kindle Fire HD 7-inch, and Kindle Fire HD 8.9-inch (and a 4G 8.9-incher as well). The HD models have plenty of high-end features that are worth getting excited about as well, though we’ll have more about them in an upcoming post. The Kindle Fire family is now much more crowded, but that also means we have more options with pricing ranging from $159 all the way up to $499 for the 4G 8.9-incher.

What’s Better: Kindle Fire HD 8.9″ or New Apple iPad?

Are you shopping for a new tablet this holiday season? Are you disheartened that the Samsung Nexus 10 is sold out? Fret not, because this is probably one of the best times to be a tablet customer. If you can’t decide between the Kindle Fire HD 8.9″ and the new Apple iPad, this is the comparison for you. The surprising thing is that even though the Kindle Fire HD 8.9″ starts at a full $200 cheaper than the starting price for the Apple iPad ($299 vs. $499), the specs on paper are actually very, very comparable.
Display
The iPad has a slightly larger 9.7-inch 2048×1536 display, but the Kindle Fire HD 8.9″ isn’t that far behind with its 1920×1200 panel. In fact, at 254ppi, the Kindle Fire HD has a touchscreen that’s only a touch less pixel-dense than the 264ppi iPad.
Dimensions and Weight
Because they have similarly-sized displays, it’s not surprising that the physical dimensions are pretty close too. The Kindle Fire HD is 164 x 240 x 8.8mm, while the iPad is 185.7 x 241.3 x 9.4mm. Similarly, the weight of the Kindle Fire HD is 567 grams, which is a little lighter than the 653g iPad.
Performance Specs
The new iPad is powered by a dual core Apple A6X processor running at 1.5GHz, while the new Kindle Fire HD 8.9″ has a dual-core TI OMAP 4470 1.5GHz processor. They both have 1GB of RAM too. Based on this, the actual performance for the average consumer should be roughly comparable.
Storage
The starting point for the both tablets is at 16GB. The Kindle Fire HD can get bumped to 32GB, as can the iPad, but it’s only the iPad that can go even further with 64GB of storage. Of course, you’ll have to pay more money for that too.
Wireless Connectivity
Both tablets are available in your choice of WiFi-only or Wi-Fi plus LTE. If you need to stay connected, either tablet will do the job.
Camera
While both tablets have a front-facing camera (1MP on the Kindle Fire HD, 1.2MP on the iPad) for video chats, only Apple’s tablet has a 5MP rear camera. This isn’t a huge deal–the Nexus 7 doesn’t have a rear camera either–but it could be an important differentiator for some people.
OS and Apps
The Kindle Fire HD 8.9″ is powered by a modified version of Google Android, but it does not have access to the full Google Play Store. You can only go through the Amazon Appstore, which limits your options. At the same time, some people might prefer the Amazon-ified OS over a more conventional Android interface, since it is simpler and more geared toward media consumption. The iPad, of course, is powered by iOS and comes backed by Apple’s gigantic App Store. If you want tablet apps, not much can compete with Apple’s juggernaut at this point.
Price
As mentioned at the top, this is really where the Kindle Fire HD 8.9″ beats the new iPad by a long shot. Starting at $299, Amazon’s tablet is only a little more than half the price of an equivalent iPad. Considering that the core guts are so comparable, it may be hard to justify the Apple tax on the iPad, but it is arguable that iOS is superior and there are more iPad apps.
For my part, if you’re choosing between these two and you’d rather buy into the Apple ecosystem rather than the Amazon ecosystem, it might make more sense to consider the $329 iPad mini instead. It’s not as powerful as its bigger iPad 4 cousin, but it’s a heck of a lot cheaper too.

Kindle Fire HD versus iPad Mini: Which is Right for You?

Up until now, it was really hard to call Amazon and Apple direct competitors. Sure, they both had tablets and sold services that were highly integrated into the overall experience. Yes, they both also had books and videos. What set them worlds apart was pricing and specs. This has changed with the introduction of the iPad Mini.
While Apple still demands a much higher premium price of $329, the Amazon Kindle Fire HD and Apple iPad Mini aren’t at all that different when it comes to hardware and even services. So which is better? That’s a hard question to ask. Better is often subject to a matter of opinion.
You might like iOS better than Fire OS (aka Android in a skin). You might feel like Amazon’s services aren’t quite as good as Apple’s, or vice versa.
Still, we will try to do our best to give you a fair comparison. We’ll start by looking at the hardware:
iPad Mini versus Kindle Fire HD: Hardware

• The processor: Both devices are dual-core tablets in a quad-core world. Sure, they handle games and other apps while enough, but they won’t blow anyone away. Overall performance here is a pretty close tie.
• RAM: We can’t say for sure, but it seems likely that the iPad Mini will feature 512MB of RAM like its bigger brother the iPad 2. If true, the Kindle Fire HD will outperform here with its 1GB of RAM.
• Storage: The iPad Mini comes in 16GB/32GB/64GB configurations. The Fire HD has 16 and 32GB. Unless you require the 64GB model, these areas are very similar.
• 3G/WiFi: Both are going to perform about the same for Wi-Fi. The only huge difference in wireless performance is that the Fire HD 7-inch versions don’t have a 3G/4G option and the iPad Mini does.
• Battery: While we can’t actually know for sure until we get our hands on the hardware, both should last around 10 hours or so. Again, a pretty strong tie.
• Camera: If you want to take pictures with your tablet, the iPad Mini wins. The Fire HD only has a 1.3MP front cam. The iPad Mini has a slightly weaker 1.2MP front cam but has a 5MP back camera as well.
• Weight: The Mini is less clunky and weighs less overall, even if not by much. The iPad Mini does have a bigger screen though, at 7.9-inches versus just 7-inches.
• Display: Resolution wise, the Amazon Kindle Fire HD wins by a little bit. The iPad Mini has a 7.9-inch display with a resolution of 1024 x 768 and 164 pixels per inch. The Fire HD has a 7-inch display with a resolution of 1200 x 800 and 216 ppi.

As you can tell, these two tablets are REALLY quite close in almost every hardware related aspect. The iPad Mini is a little bit better in storage, connectivity (3G/4G) and camera. The Fire HD has a slightly better display and will likely perform faster thanks to more RAM.
Hardware alone doesn’t sell tablets, though. Let’s look at the ecosystem differences.

iPad Mini versus Kindle Fire HD: iTunes/iOS versus Amazon Services/Fire UI
Let’s start by looking at the UI. The Fire UI is powered by Android 4.0 but has an entirely customized look. What the Fire HD presents is easy to use and very attractive. Those who aren’t used to tablets and want a very intuitive experience will probably find this suites them fine.
Looking at the iPad Mini, iOS is a robust enough OS that is easy to use and learn. It can become even more useful by jailbreaking (once a supported jailbreak method arrives). If you are looking for a “full” OS, iOS 6 will provide that. The Fire UI is a bit more limited and feels more like a storefront not a traditional OS. (*update*) As mentioned by one of our readers, it is also worth noting that there are alternative launchers and other possible mods for the Fire HD that can also expand the functionality of the Fire UI as well.
Honestly– it is hard to declare a real winner here and it will depend on your individual tastes.
Next, let’s look at the biggest part of the ecosystem, the apps and services.

• AppStore: Both have an AppStore, but with the iPad Mini you get 500,000+ apps. The Amazon AppStore, on the other hand, has a little over 50,000. Clearly the iPad Mini wins here.
• Music/movies: Amazon Prime offers tons of streaming movies, music and more. Some are free with a yearly paid Prime subscription, others cost extra. As for Apple, they also have a HUGE selection of movies for rental or purchase, and a massive amount of music, too. The biggest advantage Amazon has here is that iTunes (currently) doesn’t do streaming.
• Books: Pretty close. With iOS you will also have several other programs to meet for your reading needs. Still, the Kindle brand is certainly well-known for its great library of books.

The bottom-line is that Apple iPad Mini IS better if you need a wide range of apps. Still, for the price difference you might not care. Before jumping in to either platform, check out their apps stores and see what you actually want/need. Even though the Amazon AppStore has a limited selection, you might find it has enough apps to get you by.
As we said before, there is no clear “Winner” here. Some things the iPad Mini does better, some things the Fire HD wins out at. Ultimately, decide what you need and what you’ll pay and go from there. For those that are leaning towards the Amazon Kindle Fire HD, you can snag yourself a 16GB model for just $199.

Apple Cuts iPad mini Shipping Dates to Just One Week

When the Apple iPad mini first hit the retail channels, it sold out pretty quickly and the shipping dates weren’t exactly ideal. However, it seems that Apple has finally gotten its ducks in a row and the supply chain is once again ready to roll, because the shipping dates for the iPad mini have been reduced to one week. What this means is, assuming everything goes according to plan, you can order a new iPad mini from the Apple website today and you’ll get it by about December 12 or so. If you plan on giving Apple’s mini tablet to a special someone in your life as a Christmas present–especially if you’re taking advantage of the free engraving–you should probably order within the next week or so. You know how these holiday rushes can be.
In any case, it’s good that we’re not stuck with multi-week waiting lists for this tablet anymore. That applies to both the WiFi-only versions and the cellular-enabled models for AT&T, Sprint or Verison. Head over to the Apple online store to see for yourself. Prices start at $329 for the 16GB WiFi-only model of the iPad mini, going up to $659 for the 64GB version with WiFi+cellular.

iPad Mini May Start at $329 for Base Model

How much would you be willing to pay for the upcoming iPad Mini? Apple is hoping you’ll say $329.
According to 9to5 Mac, they have new information regarding expected pricing. Keep in mind it is from an unnamed source, so take this all with a grain of salt. Supposedly, there will be three Wi-Fi only models with different storage configurations going up as high as $529. 4G variants could cost anywhere from $459 to $659 depending on how much storage is included.
With $329 pricing, the iPad Mini might still be considered a bit too pricey for some consumers.
What about the hardware? It sounds like the internals will be pretty close to what we currently get with the iPad 2, only in smaller form. Considering Apple marketing and popular demand, the iPad Mini will likely fly off the shelf even if there are competitors like the Nexus 7 at lower prices. This is even more true for those that already have bought quite a large collection of music, apps and movies through the Apple ecosystem.
You have to wonder with these price ranges if there is room from the iPad 2 once the 7-inch iPad arrives. At least one analyst seems to say, “no there isn’t“. It is more than possible that the iPad 2 will be phased out after this holiday season.
Below is a chart that has a price matrix that explains the expected ranges a little better. So what do you think, fair pricing or not? Do you think Apple will really start pricing at $329 or do you expect a more budget-friendly price for the base model?

iPad Mini is Official, will ship November 2nd for $329

Okay, so none of us are shocked by the appearance of the iPad Mini. That being said, it’s a pretty solid looking device. The iPad Mini is the perfect device for those looking for something more portable than a standard iPad while still offering a bigger screen than a 7-inch Android tablet.
As for the power under the hood, the iPad Mini performs rather similarly to the iPad 2 and features a dual-core A5 processor, a 5MP rear cam, an HD FaceTime front-cam, a lightning connector and a battery that is rated for 10 hours of life. The new iPad Mini is just 7.mm thick and weighs on 308g. As for the display, it is 7.9-inches and has a resolution of 1024 x768. There will also be a mobile broadband variant with support for 4G LTE.
How much will it set you back? As predicted earlier, the iPad Mini will cost $329 for the 16GB WiFi-only model and will arrive on November 2nd. The LTE versions will hit stores about two weeks later.
For those looking for a budget tablet, the pricing of the iPad Mini might be a little too pricey for you, especially when devices like the Nexus 7 start around $199. What do you think, excited for the iPad Mini or not?

With the iPad Mini Now in Stores, iPad Mini 2 Rumors Already Beginning

The iPad Mini is barely out the door and what do we already have? The first iPad Mini 2 rumor is already here. Unsurprisingly, it has to do with the addition of a Retina display.
According to DoNews, sources in Apple’s supply chain reported that AU Optronics is already working on a new 2048 x 1536 display, which will double the pixel density when compared to the iPad Mini. Sources also claim that Apple will use Sharp’s IGZO technology in the second gen iPad Mini.
With the iPad Mini only coming out five days ago, this is really early news but that doesn’t mean it is true. One of the biggest complaints for the iPad Mini is that it is weak and is essentially using 2-year-old technology from the iPad 2 shrunk into a slightly smaller package.
The idea of the 2nd generation iPad Mini getting a power boost and a retina display isn’t far-fetched. If the rumor is true, the iPad Mini 2 will go into production later this year with a Fall 2013 launch. Or they could pull a move like they did with the 4th generation iPad and release this in just a half year or so…. let’s hope not.
True or not, the a second generation 7-inch iPad is (hopefully) a year away. In the meantime, either enjoy the 1st gen iPad Mini or go swing for an 7-inch Android device.

Rumor: iPad Mini Press Event scheduled for October 17th?

A new rumor claims that Apple is preparing for a special press event on Wednesday, October 17th. The topic of the event? The iPad Mini. The rumor comes to us from a supposed major Apple investor who says that he has heard about the event from multiple different sources.
According to the investor-turned-tipster, the 7.85-inch iPad Mini (or iPad Air as some call it) will be announced at the as of yet unannounced press event and wil llaunch on November 2nd- just in time for all the holiday sales hype.
Should we believe this? As much as we have heard about the iPad Mini, I’d say yes. Generally a rumor that has been cited so many darn times is either forgotten and dismissed eventually, or proves to be accurate. No one seems to be letting this rumor go, at least not yet. If it doesn’t surface in time for the holidays? Odds are that the iPad Mini was never anything more than hype.
My bet is that the iPad Mini will be a holiday bestseller and is in fact a real product. What do you think? Real product or nothing more than a product of hype, rumors and speculation?

iPad Mini Image Leak Suggests it will have Mobile Broadband

The iPad Mini this, the iPad Mini that. I’m sure everyone is more than eager just to see this thing get released so we can stop hearing about it everyday- hopefully we might soon get our wish. A new leak shows pictures of the 7.85-inch Apple tablet and gives us a few new details.
The tablet looks like it will have nano-SIM technology, which could means mobile broadband options will exist for the mini tablet. It also will have an anodized aluminum just like the iPhone 5. Whether you consider that a good or bad thing will be up to you.
Like we’ve been hearing for a while, the new tablet is more like an iPhone Jumbo than an iPad Mini when it comes to form factor. This means it has a smaller bezel and design cues that follow the iPhone more than the new iPad. As for specs? We don’t know anything official (heck, we still don’t even know if this product really exists), but many leaks and tips seem to point to specs that are very similar to the existing iPad 2.
If the device is in fact real, hits this holiday season and is priced around $250, would you consider it? Or is there another 7-inch tablet that hits your fancy?

Piggyback Concept combines Phone, Tablet and Laptop into one device

Brooks Benefiel’s Piggyback Tablet is a three-in-one concept that could render purchasing individual tablets and netbooks unnecessary.
The Piggyback Tablet concept uses a smartphone to power a tablet and netbook computer. While Motorola’s Atrix 4G smartphone has an optional laptop dock, the phone only becomes a netbook when plugged in, whereas when plugged into the Piggyback, the phone becomes both a tablet and a netbook. The Piggyback contains three different pieces, including the smartphone, tablet-sized display and keyboard. When the smartphone is clipped onto the display, the device becomes a tablet. When the keyboard is attached to the tablet, a netbook is created.
The tablet and netbook run off the smartphone. An advantage to the design is that if you want a larger screen, instead of buying a tablet, you can simply plug your smartphone into the Piggyback. If you want to type out a report, you just slot in the keyboard. Another advantage to the Piggyback is it eliminates the need to upgrade your tablet and netbook every time a newer version comes out; you just update your smartphone. Since the tablet and netbook run on the docked smartphone, with each new smartphone you buy you’ll also be increasing your tablet’s performance at the same time.
Additionally, such a device could help reduce the amount of e-waste disposed of each year. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, over 150 million CPUs, monitors, netbooks, keyboards and other hardware are thrown away each year. Over 120 million cellphones are thrown away each year.
Not to mention it would be cheaper to purchase one item instead of two. Potential concerns include that the combination of the phone and netbook might pale in comparison to the speed and functions of a real laptop. As well, certain phones, like the Atrix 4G itself, are designed to be used with touch screens, which might make the switch to keyboard slightly awkward.
We’ll see if the Piggyback Tablet concept gets picked up. Maybe Motorola will take the Atrix 4G one step further.

Motorola Targets Chinese Market with new Android-based Cloud Desktop

When you think of desktop computing, Motorola is probably one of the last brands that come to mind. Motorola is one of the kings of the Android smartphone and tablet world, right? While that’s true, it’s not stopping Google and Motorola from bringing out a new Android-powered desktop solution.
The new CloudBB is specifically targeted at the Chinese market and is described as a “home entertainment terminal”. As you can probably guess, this is a cloud computing device design to replace a PC.
While not much is known about the ‘under the hood’ aspects, we do know it has an 18.5-inch touchscreen. Prefer keyboard and mouse? Motorola has you covered by including a wireless set for your typing and clicking needs.
At the moment, Motorola seems to have no ambitions beyond the Chinese market. Would there be a market in the US, Canada and Europe for such a device? Maybe, it’s hard to call. Google’s cloud-based ChromeBox hasn’t exactly been received with open arms yet in the desktop market yet, but perhaps the Android-basis of the device would make it more appealing?
China Digital TV Media Group will be teaming up with Motorola to bring on-demand video, games and apps, and other cloud entertainment options to the desktop terminal. At the moment, China Digital has over 13 million customers, so there is a pretty big target here. How many would be interested in this thing? Again, hard to call.
Pricing will likely be key. Unfortunately, there is no official word on pricing and release dates for the CloudBB yet.
Would you ever consider an Android touch-desktop as a worthwhile replacement for a desktop?

VMK Smartphone and Tablet Designed in Africa

When we think about advances in technology and design, we might consider the Cupertino campus in California or perhaps a design house in Europe. That could be changing, as what you see here are a pair of products from a technology startup called VMK. They’re based out of Congo in Africa. I don’t need to tell you that the African economy, in general, isn’t as strong as some other parts of the world. VMK is trying to change that, turning itself into the Congolese equivalent of a Samsung in South Korea or an Apple in the United States. VMK has revealed two of its initial designs for public scrutiny.
The first, shown above, is a smartphone called the VMK Elikia. Meaning “hope,” the Elikia is only running on Android 2.3.6 Gingerbread and a 600MHz processor, so it’s clearly targeting emerging markets (like Congo). Taking on a gentled curved back reminiscent of the Palm Pre, the Elikia features a 3.5-inch display, 512MB RAM, 123MB internal storage, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and a 1300mAh battery. Expect this smartphone to sell for $170 outright.

The other product is the VMK Way-C tablet, which is similarly targeting emerging markets. Meaning “light of the stars” in the local Lingala language, the Way-C has a 1.2GHz processor, 512MB RAM and 4GB of internal storage. It is powered by Android 2.3.3 Gingerbread and has a 4200mAh battery. The Way-C is expected to retail for $300.
Neither device is groundbreaking in terms of design or performance, but it’s good to see a locally-designed family of products priced appropriately for the local African market.

Fujitsu to Release Phone for Seniors in the US and Europe

Fujitsu has now revealed plans to release its Raku Raku phone for seniors in the United States and Europe.
The Raku Raku smartphone has a simplified interface to make it easier for aging users to operate. The phone runs a modified version of Android 4.0 and has larger, better legible text and a home screen that allows just a few larger senior-friendly apps like email, phone book, phone dialer and the always requested weather app.
The phone also features a voice slowing feature that makes understanding those fast talkers easier. There is also noise cancelling features.
Masami Yamamoto, the company president said it hopes to bolster its sales from 8 million to a hopeful 10 million by 2014 with the overseas release.
There is no word on what carrier will have this phone or pricing, but we will continue to follow it and provide more details as they develop.

Apple In Talks to Bring IGZO Displays to iPhones/iPads in 2013

Earlier this month we presented you with rumors that a next generation iPhone might include a 4-inch 2272×1280 beyond Retina IGZO display with a pixel density of 652ppi. Now, those rumors are one step closer to becoming reality. According to a report from DigiTimes:

The sources said Apple is in further discussions with Sharp over IGZO panel production capacity estimates for 2013 and is also inquiring about whether AU Optronics’ (AUO) L5C line could be used to produce the technology.

DigiTimes did not say who these sources were besides adding that they were “industry sources”. Nevertheless, Sharp has been working on IGZO for a while now and has even received an investment from Qualcomm to help with the development.
Right about now, you are probably wondering what in the world is IGZO? Indium gallium zinc oxide, otherwise known as IGZO, is a material that will replace silicon as the active layer of a display. Electrons move up to 40 times faster in IGZO which would allow for many more pixels, less touch interference and less transistor refreshing.
To summarize, IGZO displays specifically aim to:

• use less power
• be more accurate and sensitive in terms of touch
• pack more pixels into the same space

Are you excited to see where IGZO and other new display technologies will take our devices in the future? Let us know in the comments below.

Nexus 10 and Nexus 4 Already Sold Out In Just About Every Market

If you were hoping to get the LG Nexus 4 or Samsung Nexus 10 today, good luck. You will certainly need it.
The Nexus 4 is already sold out on Google Play in the United States. As for the Nexus 10? The 32GB model is out, but you can still get the 16GB version (at least at the time of this writing). In the other international markets, things are even bleaker with all Nexus 4 and Nexus 10 models completely out of stock.
What’s even more crazy is how quickly this all happened. In many markets the sell-out of the Nexus 4 happened in 20-60 minutes. The Nexus 10 also sold very fast, with most markets selling out in an hour or two after its launch. Even worse, the Google Play Store had been experiencing issues do to server overload. The result was that many users that went to purchase a device found that the store was acting up and wouldn’t let them. By the time they were able to click to put things in their cart, the devices were sold out.
Google clearly underestimated the demand for the Nexus 4 and Nexus 10. More than likely, the company used past trends from Nexus smartphones and the Nexus 7 to help calculate demands. They probably even took this information and doubled up to “be safe”. The fact is that the pricing on the Nexus 4 and Nexus 10 are so desirable that a major first day sell out was inevitable. Would have been nice had enough stock to keep devices around for at least MOST of the first day though.
If you weren’t able to pick up the Nexus 4 or Nexus 10 for order today, you will probably get a chance in the next few days. That being said, it’s hard to say how long the next several shipments of stock will last at the rate these Nexus devices seem to be selling.
It’s worth noting that the LG Nexus 4 isn’t the only smartphone selling like hotcakes, the Nokia Lumia 920 is also reportedly out of stock in many locations across the United States and in Europe. Too many great smartphone and tablet choices out there— not enough stock.
Were you lucky enough to get the Nexus 4 and/or Nexus 10? If not, are you one of those that attempted only to have store errors or simply find out that Google was already out of stock?

Google’s Nexus 10 and Nexus 4 have Landed

The Nexus has landed. I repeat, the Nexus has landed. The LG Nexus 4 and Samsung Nexus 10 are finally available through Google Play.
Interestingly enough, ahead of the launch Google had already released the first minor update to Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. If you buy a Nexus 4 or 10 you will have access to the screen lock widget and a few other tweaks and changes, and Nexus 10 owners will now have multi-user support. None of these features were available to those that have prototypes and test units before today.
For those that have been living under a rock, the LG Nexus 4 is just $299 for an 8GB model with no contract. As for the Nexus 10? This powerful tablet has a display resolution higher than Apple’s Retina display on the iPad and yet is $100 cheaper at $399 for the base model.
So how about it, anyone excited to get their hands on the Nexus 4 or the Nexus 10?

Samsung Nexus 10 16GB Model Now Sold Out in US

November 13th saw the official release of the LG Nexus 4 and Samsung Nexus 10, at least for those lucky enough to actually order one before stock dried up. Within hours, almost every market was sold out of the Nexus 4 and Nexus 10, but the United States still managed to keep enough Nexus 10 16GB models in stock it seems. Until today, that is.
The 16GB version of the Samsung Nexus 10 is now “sold out” in the Play Store. At least it managed to last two days. You have to wonder why it lasted so much longer, though. Did Google incorrectly believe the 16GB Nexus 10 would outshine the 32GB model and prepare a lot more stock? Or simply was there limited interest in the smaller-sized option to begin with?
Although the recent Nexus launch has been a success when it comes to numbers, it has certainly been a bumpy ride with glitches and ordering issues for potential Nexus buyers and now the arrival of “back order” notices for many of the individuals that managed to “buy” the Nexus 4.
Were you able to get your hands on the Nexus 4 or the Nexus 10? If not, will you wait until they come back in stock or are you considering an alternative tablet or smartphone instead?

Comparing the Galaxy Nexus to the Upcoming LG Nexus 4

The recently announced LG Nexus 4 is here in just a little over a week. So how does the most recent Nexus smartphone compare with the aging Galaxy Nexus? Is the upgrade massive enough to warrant tossing out the Samsung Nexus device and moving over to the latest and greatest Nexus?
This is a great question, and something we will take a look at by comparing the overall hardware of the Galaxy Nexus next to its younger sibling.
As you read this article, keep in mind that this comparison is just looking at the specs “on paper” and isn’t a direct hands-on comparison of the two phones. We’ll do our best to accurately represent the features and options on both the phones– if we miss anything, just politely add to the comparison through the comments section.
Alright, so let’s jump in!
Size and Weight
The Samsung Galaxy Nexus originally sported a weight of 135g and had overall dimensions of 135.5mm x 67.94 mm x 8.94mm. Did the Nexus 4 rock the boat here or is it sporting a similar size and weight? It’s pretty close, for the most part.
The LG Nexus 4 is a few grams heavier at 139g. As for the dimensions, the Nexus 4 is 133.9 x 68.7 x 9.1mm. The bottom line here is that the phones are quite similar in size and shape, it shouldn’t be much of an adjustment for you if you plan on upgrading to the Nexus 4.
The Nexus Display
While the Samsung Galaxy Nexus had a 4.65-inch 1280 x 720 HD super AMOLED display, the Nexus 4 brings the screen size up to 4.7-inches and has an WXGA IPS Plus display with a resolution of 1280 x 768. While the LG Nexus 4 does have a better display, it’s not really THAT huge of a jump.

Processor & Ram
So far what we’ve seen of the Samsung Galaxy Nexus and the LG Nexus 4 paint the picture of a marginal upgrade. The good news is that this isn’t true when it comes to what really matters, things like processing power and RAM.
When the Samsung Galaxy Nexus debuted, its 1.2GHz dual-core OMAP 4460 processor and 384MHz PowerVR SGX540 GPU were rather impressive. The 1GB of RAM was also more than enough to get the job done. Since then, more and more budget devices are moving to dual-core processors and most of the high-end Android smartphones rock quad-core power.
The LG Nexus 4 leaps ahead with an impressive 1.5GHz Qualcomm quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro processor and an Adreno 320. As for the RAM? This time around the newest Nexus smartphone packs 2GB.
By today’s standards, the Samsung Galaxy Nexus is still quite capable and should run just about every app you throw at it. That being said, the Nexus 4 is a major hardware upgrade when it comes to processing, graphics and RAM.
Storage
Probably one of the biggest complaints for the Samsung Galaxy Nexus was the lack of microSD. The Samsung Galaxy Nexus instead simply had 16GB or 32GB versions that couldn’t expand the memory.
If you were hoping that the Nexus 4 would change all of that— bad news. Not only is there no microSD on the Galaxy Nexus 4, the storage options are simply an 8GB and 16GB version. If you are heavily invested in cloud streaming, 8GB will probably get the job done okay, but it is still a little disappointing that we don’t have larger storage options.
Connectivity
Not a lot of change here. Both devices have expected connectivity options like Bluetooth, NFC, Wi-Fi and more. The only additions are the support for wireless charging and the added SlimPort-HDMI.
Strangely enough, a version of the Galaxy Nexus did support 4G LTE while the Nexus 4 takes away 4G LTE altogether. It’s fastest supported mobile broadband speed is now the HSPA+ 42.
There is still the possibility of 4G LTE variants in the future though.
Battery
On paper, the Samsung Galaxy Nexus has a 1750 mAh battery versus the bigger 2100 mAh battery in the LG Nexus 4. Unfortunately bigger battery doesn’t tell us how much more battery power the LG Nexus 4 actually has— more processing power and graphics probably means need for a better battery to keep up.
Still, I wouldn’t be surprised if they are relatively comparable in actual battery length.
Cameras
The Samsung Galaxy Nexus originally had a 5MP rear cam and a 1.3MP front cam. For those that are hoping for improvements in the camera department, don’t worry — the camera is better this time around, though not by a ton.
The LG Nexus 4 features an 8MP rear cam, though the front cam stays the same at 1.3MP.

Operating System Both being Nexus devices, you get a vanilla Android experience here. It is worth noting that the Samsung Galaxy Nexus has now managed to update to Android 4.1 Jelly Bean (I believe) in all major markets.
If the latest version of Android is important to you, the Nexus line is well known for keeping up here. The LG Nexus 4 will be the first smartphone to ship with Android 4.2 Jelly Bean which includes several new features such as an improved keyboard, a Photo Sphere camera feature, improved notifications, improved Google Search and Google Now functionality and more.
Summing it up…
While I may have missed a few other crucial areas of comparison, this should give you a pretty good idea of how the LG Nexus 4 stacks up against its older brother.
If you have the Galaxy Nexus, should you rush out and buy the latest version? It depends. If you have the cash to spare and want the improved camera, better graphics/processor and RAM—sure, why not. Honestly though, if cash is rather tight and the Galaxy Nexus still seems to get the job done when it comes to apps and overall speed, you might want to hang on to the Galaxy Nexus a little longer.
Where the Nexus 4 really shines is for those that don’t have a Nexus device at all, or are still rocking the older Samsung Nexus S. Another MAJOR reason to consider a Nexus device is that it is a powerful yet affordable option for those that use a prepaid carrier that is compatible with the upcoming smartphone. The LG Nexus 4 will be available on November 13th in the US, Canada, Germany, UK, Australia, Spain and Germany. The US pricing is set at $299 unlocked for the 8GB version or $349 for the 16GB version.
So how about it, will you upgrade to the LG Nexus 4 or not?

With the LG Nexus 4 Hitting in Two Days, is it the Right Smartphone for You?

The LG Nexus 4 lands on the 13^th of November. For those that prefer to avoid contracts or simply wish to go down the prepaid route, the LG Nexus 4 represents a powerful, vanilla Android experience that is extremely tempting. If you are a developer who wants an unlocked and incredible Android experience without the hassle, this Nexus smartphone certainly could fit the bill.
That being said, you’ve probably heard about a few “negative” aspects for the Nexus 4 as well, such as the lack of LTE– which primarily only affects select U.S. Markets but is largely a non-issue for the vast majority of the globe– for now.
So is the Nexus 4 what it is cracked up to be? While we’ve yet to get our hands on the Nexus 4 directly at Mobile Magazine yet, we have done quite a bit of research, read several reviews and other first impressions in order to bring you a run down of the hardware and other factors like battery.
Overall Design
The LG Nexus 4 is essentially a rebranded LG Optimus G with a few tweaks, such as the removal of LTE support. While not be considered a “gorgeous” device, it isn’t ugly either. It has an all-black chassis that might be a little boring for some consumers.
It is also worth noting that the device’s frame is plastic, though the screen does feature Corning Glass 2 so it isn’t a ‘cheap’ build design by any means.
The design probably won’t WOW everyone around you, but that doesn’t detract from the many other WOW factors that surround its low pricing and powerful hardware.
As for size, the phone measures 133.9x7x9.1mm and weighs just 139 grams. This might not be as light as the iPhone 5′s 122 gram weight– but it isn’t a massive difference either.
The Actual Hardware
Alright, let’s start with a spec list that gives us a run down of the hardware inside this beast of a Nexus:

• 1.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro quad-core processor
• 2GB of RAM
• 8 or 16GB internal storage4.7-inch-inch IPS display with 1280 x 768 resolution
• no microSD support
• 8-megapixel camera
• 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera
• Quad-band GSM/EDGE/GPRS (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)
• Penta-band 3G (850, 900, 1700, 1900, 2100 MHz)
• HSPA+ 42Mbps support
• Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n
• 3.5mm headphone jack
• 2100mAh Litium polymer battery
• Sensors: compass, gyroscope, microphone, ambient light, barometer, accelerometer
• Bluetooth
• NFC
• GPS
• Micro USB
• SlimPort HDMI
• Weight: 139g
• Size: 133.9 x 68.7 x 9.1mm
• wireless charging (optional)
• Android 4.2 Jelly Bean

With a quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro, and Adreno 320 GPU and 2GB of RAM— the Nexus 4 is no slouch. But how well does it actually perform when it comes to real world results?

As you can see from GeekBench, the LG Nexus 4 actually does quite well for itself, outpacing other major devices like the Galaxy S3 and the iPhone 5. For some reason it even manages to out perform the LG Optimus G that it is based on — probably because it is a vanilla experience without out all the extra ‘fluff’ to weight it down?
It is worth noting that the LG Nexus 4 is said to get rather hot during extreme use sessions. Bottom-line, you will be hard-pressed to find another smartphone that performs much better. Of course the smartphone world is constantly changing and it won’t be long before something better comes along, but the quad-core power in the LG Nexus 4 isn’t going to disappoint and should happily chug along with any app out there into the foreseeable future.
The Display
So how good is the LG Nexus 4′s display? A 1280 x 768 IPS display with 320 ppi is a slightly less in pixels than the iPhone 5, though it probably would be almost impossible to notice the difference for the average person. The screen is easy to read and is one of the best display around.
The Camera
The Nexus 4 features a 8MP back cam and 1.3MP front cam. Are they the best smartphone cameras around? Probably not, but the 8MP back cam seems more than good enough for taking clear and vibrant pictures and new features like “Photo Sphere” and new photo filters in Android 4.2 can take your camera experience to the next level.
Battery Performance
The LG Nexus 4 should handle moderate usage quite well and will last about a day and a half, according to most of the reviews showing up on the net. As for high usage? If you are pounding the device hard with things like videos, expect about 4 ½ hours of battery life.

Other Notable Stuff
The LG Nexus 4 not only comes with the newest version of Android, Jelly Bean 4.2, but being a Nexus device means it will get first dibs on upgrades and other improvements for quite a while to come.
Yes, there is no LTE, but this really isn’t as big of an issue as many folks are making it out to be. If you live in an LTE market— it might be a dealbreaker. The fact is that globally, that’s a pretty small amount of folks. If you want a phone with LTE and don’t mind a locked experience, perhaps you should look for the LG Optimus G or maybe even go for something entirely different like the upcoming HTC Droid DNA 5-inch 1080p smartphone.
Also worth mentioning, the Nexus 4 has a few “negative” aspects such as a non-removable battery, the aforementioned lack of LTE and the lack of a micro-SD port.
Bottom Line
For $299 unlocked for an 8GB version, the LG Nexus 4 is a steal. Is it perfect? No.. LTE would have been nice. Having a microSD port and a removable battery would have been epic as well.
There are some trade-offs, here– that much is true. In many ways, the “openness” we love about Android is stifled a little by the lack of these features but from a developer/modder point of view, the ability to load ROMs and other customizations with ease makes up for some of this. If you can’t live without LTE, microSD and don’t want a non-removable battery— there are other phones out there that might appeal to you more. If you want a solid vanilla Android experience that is blazing fast (with the exception of mobile broadband speed), this is an excellent phone. Aside from the few missing features, this is a wonderful device.
So what do you think? Interested in getting the LG Nexus 4 or is there another phone that looks like a better fit for you?
Looking for even more great information on the Nexus 4? Here are just a few of the great Nexus 4 hands-on reviews out there on the net:

Want an LG Nexus 4 with 4G LTE? The Optimus G is Now $100 at Amazon

Tired of waiting around for the LG Nexus 4 in the United States? Want it now? Well, you can’t quite get it yet, unless you are willing to go with the T-Mobile version and get it for $199.99. Still, there is another option, the LG Optimus G.
For those that don’t know, the LG Nexus 4 is based on the LG Optimus G, though it has a few differences when it comes to design and the Nexus 4 has removed 4G LTE support. In many ways, you could argue that the hardware (mainly because of LTE) is better with the LG Optimus G. Why is it that the LG Nexus 4 is so popular then? For one, the LG Nexus 4 is extremely low priced at $300 for the base model without any contract or commitment. For another, Nexus devices always get the latest version of Android and are more open for modders.
If you can put up with contracts and don’t mind having a little more of a locked down phone, Amazon Wireless is now offering the LG Optimus G for just $100 with a contract. This is actually pretty damn good, and is $100 less than T-Mobile is charging for the LG Nexus 4. You can choose AT&T or Sprint for the two year commitment.
Which should you go with? It depends. With Sprint, you get 32GB internal storage, 13MP rear-cam and no SD support. With AT&T, you get 16GB of internal storage, an 8MP rear cam, and an SD card. Otherwise, they both have the same 1.5GHz quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM, 2100 mAh battery, NFC and 1.3MP front cam.
Alright, so it’s not bad priced, but it is still a totally locked down smartphone, right? Luckily, there might be a solution for that as well.

Project FreeGee Allows Unlocked Bootloader on LG Optimus G

While this is currently in closed Beta, Project FreeGee is designed to allow you to open up that bootloader and can flash custom ROMs onto the flagship LG device. For now the distribution of the method seems limited to a few XDA users for testing.
In time this will be opened up and will allow users of the Sprint and AT&T versions of the phone to start modding and enjoy freedom that is similar to what you’d get with the LG Nexus 4. Keep in mind that Canadian and Korean models aren’t currently supported by FreeGee though.
Even if/when the LG Optimus G becomes fully unlocked, there are still reasons why you’d probably want to stick with the regular LG Nexus 4. Again, you’ll get first dibs at new versions of Android. Second, you can easily bypass the whole contract process with the LG Nexus 4. Still, some users might appreciate the low contract pricing and the modding potential that lies with LG’s flagship smartphone.
So how about it, with a lower contract price and the strong likelihood that you’ll be able to use custom ROMs, is the LG Optimus G now worth considering or not?

LG Optimus G coming to AT&T

While LG doesn’t build bad hardware, it is generally far from “cutting edge”. This is probably why the LG Optimus G is such refreshing change. The Optimus G has great specs and a reasonable $199.99 price tag with a two-year contract via AT&T.
As for the power under the hood? The device has a quad-core 1.5GHz Snapdragon S4 processor, a 4.7-inch TrueHD IPS+ display with 1280 x768 resolution, a 15:9 aspect ratio, 32GB storage, 2GB of RAM, microSD, 8MP rear cam, 1.3MP front cam, 4G LTE, NFC, Bluetooth 4.0 and 2100mAh battery power for starters.
This smartphone is no pushover, and is quite attractive as well. The bad news is that it isn’t running Jelly Bean and instead gives us with Android ICS and a custom LG Skin. That being said, the custom skin isn’t all that bad.
Should you get the LG Optimus G? That’s a hard question. It is a solid phone that really pushes the boundaries of what LG is capable. That said, many other great devices including the LG Nexus (which may be based on the Optimus G) are just around the corner. For those curious about Windows Phone 8, the Nokia Lumia 920 is also on its way to AT&T soon. Now is clearly a great time for consumers when it comes to options. From the iPhone 5 to Android or Windows Phone 8, the choices are near-limitless.
Interested in the Optimus G or holding off for another smartphone this holiday season?

LG Nexus 4 and Optimus G successor in the works, to be named the LG Optimus G2?

Even though it is largely being overshadowed by its Google Nexus 4 offspring, the flagship LG Optimus G smartphone is a pretty great piece of hardware. Not satisfied with sitting on its laurels, LG is reportedly already working on a successor to the Optimus G and it will–appropriately enough–be called the Optimus G2. And it could be even more beastly. Chalk this up to unconfirmed rumors for now, but word out of Korea is that the LG Optimus G2 will come with an impressive 5-inch 1080p display. This would follow in the footsteps of the HTC J Butterfly (Droid DNA), plus the rumored 5-incher on the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S4. This isn’t the first time that LG has gone to this size–you might remember the LG Vu–but this is the first 1080p smartphone from the Korean manufacturer.
Under the hood, we’re hearing that the Optimus G will come powered by a 2GHz Qualcomm chipset, though it’s unclear how many cores it will have. We’d guess that it’ll have 2GB of RAM and a hell of a camera, but I hope that they do improve the battery life over what we have now in the Optimus G.
According to MK Business News of Korea, the LG Optimus G2 will be ready for launch as early as May 2013. Given that timeline, it would not be all that far-fetched to at least see an announcement at CES in January.

Sprint To Compete Against Isis: NFC In 2011, Google Bank?

NFC capable devices are ramping up and soon you will be able to wave your mobile at a teller to complete a purchase of goods. Quick, fast, it’s Wave and Pay by Sprint. The third largest wireless carrier in the US tipped Bloomberg about a plan to beat rivals AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon to the NFC game. How will they do it? By becoming first to market. Kevin McGinnis, Sprint’s vice president of product platforms confirmed they are working with payment processors and smartphone makers on their own near-field communication service, the clincher, it won’t cost retailers a dime. Isis on the other hand — the NFC joint venture between AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon — is expected to launch in 2012 and will have “lower merchant transactions.”
“We intend to make this an open solution where consumers can use their phone in a variety of physical locations,” McGinnis told Bloomberg. “Because we’re allowing other brands and other institutions to participate, they can also tell their consumers that this is available on Sprint.”
Google is also working on creating an NFC platform said the $50B company last week, they are in talks with Mastercard and CitiGroup. The Google Nexus S has an NFC chip and could be one of the first phones supporting the technology in North America. Stay tuned for Google Bank.

CyanogenMOD 10.1 Gets Ported to LG Optimus G

For many intents and purposes, the LG Optimus G is fundamentally the same smartphone as the hotly desired Google Nexus 4, aside from some differences in form factor and the fact that the Optimus G doesn’t run “vanilla” Android. However, it looks like the LG Optimus G could soon be a “better” Nexus 4 with the port of CyanogenMOD 10.1. The custom ROM is based on the Android 4.2 Jelly Bean build that is found on the Nexus 4. It strips away that LG Optimus UI and gives you the free CM experience that you’ve come to expect from previous CyanogenMOD builds. This is an early build, though, so there are problems. The WiFi, NFC and capacitive keys don’t work yet, for example, but they’re hopeful it’ll all be fully functional by year’s end.
Remember that the Optimus G ships with just ICS under the hood, so this is likely a much faster way to get to Android 4.2 than waiting for an official update skinned by LG. Getting to load these custom ROMs is easier too, as there is a $1 app in the Google Play Store called FreeGee that allows you to unlock your bootloader and remove LG security. You could still bootload the old school way, but the app is easier.
Should you want to brave the early build on your LG Optimus G, you can find the CM 10.1 download on XDA. As with all these kinds of mods, proceed at your own risk and discretion.

Samsung Projected to Sell Over 500 Million Phones in 2013

From billion dollar settlements to the next big thing and everything in between, it has been a crazy year for Samsung. Nonetheless, Samsung is still projected to ship out a total 420 million phones in 2012.
According to The Korea Times, Samsung expects to do even better in 2013, selling 510 million phones. the majority of those phone will be smartphones (390 million) and the rest will be feature/discount phones (120 million).
Kim Hyun-joon, an executive of Samsung’s telecommunications division noted the following:

“There are some possibilities that smartphone demand will slow in general. But we are seeing new demand for devices using Long Term Evolution (LTE)”

With China’s mobile market still exploding, it is hard to believe that the mobile industry will slow anytime soon. Furthermore, the majority of current mobile users will continue to upgrade their devices on a 2 or 3 year basis. If Samsung’s projections are true, they will surely remain #1 in terms of phones and even gain a leg up on Apple.

Has Samsung truly become the dominant force in the mobile industry? What do you think Samsung will do next with so much revenue? Let us know in the comments below.

Use Your NFC Smartphone to Replace Your Hyundai Car Keys

Many people have replaced their Starbucks cards, for example, with a mobile app that offers even more functionality. You might already be using NFC on your smartphone to replace some credit cards, but what if you could replace your car keys too? Hyundai wants to make that happen. When you think about it, this really makes a lot of sense. So many cars have push-to-start these days where the actual physical key doesn’t really matter all that much. All you need is something that can provide the appropriate signal and the NFC technology in compatible smartphones sounds like a perfect fit. Hyundai is aiming to replace traditional car keys with NFC-based apps by 2015. This wireless technology is likely an option, as some people will still want regular keys, but it is certainly intriguing.
But it’s not just about unlocking your doors and starting the engine. Hyundai wants to make it possible to set specific user profiles based on which smartphone is being used. In addition to opening the door, it might automatically set your seating and mirror positions, for example, and automatically switch to your favorite satellite radio station. And the cars would likely have an inductive charging plate to provide power to your mobile devices too.
I like it. There are already smartphone apps to work with compatible “smart” door locks, apps to pay for things, and apps to replace customer loyalty cards. It’s only a matter of time before we abandon traditional keys and wallets in favor of an all smartphone lifestyle.

“Touchy” Claims to Make Anyone a Human Camera

So I’ll ask the obvious question, Have you ever wanted to be a camera? Yeah me either, however Hong Kong’s Eric Siu thinks you should at least give it a go with his new invention, Touchy.
This helmet based camera system claims that it can turn anyone into a kind of a human camera. The helmet is attached to the “Touchy Bulb”, a tiny globe. When another person touches the globe and the wearer for 10 seconds, a signal is sent to the helmet, apertures open over the wearers lighted eyes and a photo is taken.   The photo can then be previewed on a small 3.5 inch LCD display at the back of the helmet.
I gotta be honest, I don’t get the point. But hey maybe this is a niche in the market that I haven’t thought of. Or maybe it is just one of those things that exists because it can. What do you think? Do you want one or see a potential special use for the Touchy?

Nokia Lumia Prices Continue to Fall

The Nokia Lumia 820 and 920 were released to the U.S. market just a few months ago now, but as The Wall Street Journal reports, their starting prices are already dropping quite significantly.
The flagship Nokia Lumia 920 was released through AT&T for only $99 when it first hit the market.  While that is still what AT&T is selling them for, they can be found on Amazon for as little as $39.  The Lumia 822 was originally released through Verizon also for $99.  Now Verizon offers the phone for free with a 2 year contract. As for T-Mobile, they are offering the Lumia 810 for free with a 2 year contract.
Dough Dawson, a Nokia spokesman said, “Pricing is always a carrier decision, but holiday season promotions are fairly standard at this time of year”. With 3 major carriers dropping the prices down, does that mean doom and gloom for Windows Phone 8 handsets? Not at all.
The fact is that Windows Phone 8 is still a very new ecosystem, and everyone involved knows this: that means carriers, Microsoft and Nokia. Cheap pricing to begin with was a good start, continued steep discounts during the holiday season are an even better move.
At this point Microsoft and Nokia need to get these handsets into as many hands as they possibly can. It’s hard to say if these low prices will even stick going into January, with the holidays behind us.
Is it possible that lack of sales could be the issue as well? With the Nokia Lumia 920 still selling out in many locations and continuing to have shortages globally– it doesn’t seem that likely of an issue.
Looking at Q2 sales, you see that the Lumia line sold 4 million units. This is rather paltry when compared to Apple’s 35.1 million sales for the iPhone, but let’s not forget a few things here.
First, Q2 was a transitional point that still saw many Windows Phone 7 Lumia devices on the market and had yet to see the more aggressive marketing and pricing sales from the Windows Phone 8 line.
Second, the iPhone line is very established and highly popular at the moment. For a new ecosystem, 4 million out of nowhere is actually pretty impressive, especially with the Lumia line reportedly having low stock available to begin with. At this point it is best to reserve judgement on how well the Nokia Lumia Windows Phone 8 line is doing. We should know more going forward into 2013, though.
What are your thoughts on the Nokia Lumia WP8 line?  Do you have one, and if so, do you like it?  How do you feel it compares to other phones in its class?

RIM Pays Nokia $65+ Million In Patent Settlement

After almost 9 years fighting it out, Nokia and Research in Motion reached a settlement. The announcement came on December 21, ending the long lawsuit over Nokia’s WLAN patents (wireless networking technology).
The new agreement brought an end to all patent litigation between the two companies in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Germany. But for Research in Motion, peace and love came at a steep price. Furthermore, RIM was forced to pay a one-time payment of 50 million euros or $65 million.
Unfortunately for RIM, the settlement comes at a time where the American Dollar is much weaker than the Euro. With market share continuing to fall towards 0% and no true profits in sight, what else could go wrong for Blackberry?
According to CNET, Nokia’s WLAN patents were not the only ones that were violated:

Nokia patents that had been cited in lawsuits against RIM touched on a number of technologies including the following, according to the SEC filing: power consumption in a mobile station; a network activation service scheme using point-to-point short messaging service; and a security improvement scheme for packet-mode transmission in a mobile communication system.
-CNET

Do you think that Research in Motion and Blackberry will ever recover? Does this settlement mark the end of Blackberry forever? Let us know in the comments below.

HTC HD2 Smartphone Now Running Windows RT?

When the HTC HD2 originally hit the market it was just an ordinary Windows Mobile 6.5 handset, nothing special or worth gawking at. Now, years later? The HD2 has continued to dodge the Grim Reaper by continuing to live on as a hackable device that allows would-be modders to push modern software onto the device.
The HTC HD2 not only moved past Windows Mobile 6.5 over to Windows Phone 7 via hacking efforts, it was also recently shown off by Cotulla running Windows Phone 8. While the HTC HD2 probably doesn’t run these modern operating systems blazingly fast, the fact that it can run them at all is impressive.
Not impressed with the HD2 running both Windows Phone 7 and Windows Phone 8? What about Windows RT, the ARM-version of Windows 8? That’s right, Cotulla has now returned with a new mod that allows Windows RT to be installed onto the HD2.
Considering RT is meant for big screens, this probably doesn’t run or look all that wonderful, but it is still pretty cool.
For those that are hoping for something less Microsoft-ish, there have also been hacking efforts in the past that put Android onto the device as well.
So what’s the secret to the HD2′s hacking success? Part of it is that it managed to lure in some very dedicated and talented hackers. The second reason is that its Qualcomm chip and the rest of the hardware is all very hack-friendly and highly compatible with a vast array of operating systems it seems.
Do you have an old HD2 laying around? Have you tried any similar projects to give the device renewed life?

iPad 4 and Mini: Redsn0w 0.9.15b3 Jailbreak Saves iOS 6 Blobs to Cydia

Do you have a new iPad mini or a new iPad 4? It looks like the Dev-Team people are once again on your side, because they’ve released an update to redsn0w that allows you to save your iOS 6.0 blobs off to Cydia. Naturally, they recommend that you stick with 6.0 if that’s where you are at the moment. They also note that several bug fixes come along with redsn0w 0.9.15b3, including an error that Windows users were encountering with the Restore button, as well as an iTunes error for stitched files. As per the Dev-Team blog:

Version 0.9.15b3 fixes the redsn0w “error 2601” that Windows users were seeing using the Restore button. It also fixes a related Windows iTunes error 14 for stitched files. Note that if you have a baseband, you should probably avoid stitching and simply use redsn0w’s native Restore (not iTunes).
Those lucky recipients of new iPad minis and iPad4s on Friday can use this redsn0w to save your 6.0 blobs off to Cydia. First connect your new device and turn it on, then use redsn0w’s Extras->SHSH Blobs->New and point it at the 6.0 IPSW.

I didn’t see any updates since, but they were also promising an ultrasn0w compatibility update for iOS 6.0 that is “mostly useful for 3GS old-bootrom users who are currently enjoying the untethered 6.0 jailbreak.” That will have the same baseband support as with iOS 5.x.
In any case, the downloads of redsn0w 0.9.15b3 are available now for OS X and for Windows.

Google Nexus 10 Supply Scarce

Wanting to get your hands on a Google Nexus 10 for the holidays? You are not alone, and unfortunately it seems you won’t be able to snag one in time.
The Nexus 10 was listed on Staples site yesterday and has been struck with the sold out curse.  Walmart online is also as of today showing the Nexus 10 as Sold Out.
This leaves us wondering if the initial supply sent to retailers was adequate or were there really just that many people clamoring to get one.  The tablet is also out of stock at the Google Play Store.
This could be seen as good news in forms of an adequate competitor of the Apple iPad.  For consumers, though? This trend of “sold out” status on Nexus items in particular is definitely getting frustrated, and it would seem manufacturers should step up supplies in advance.
Where you one of the lucky few to get a hold of the Nexus 10?