Mobile

HTC One GPE Receives Android 4.4.2 KitKat OTA Update

2013-12-16T09:55:00.003-08:00

HTC One GPE Receives Android 4.4.2 KitKat OTA Update

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Posted by: Sonia Rana December 15, 2013 0

Google made it official last month, via its official Android Google + account that Android 4.4 KitKat update for Google Play Editions (GPE) of Samsung Galaxy S4 and HTC One gadgets have been released.

Now, latest news is that up-to-the-minute version of Android 4.4.2 KitKat with build number KOT49H is hitting HTC One Google Play units. Users may check for the OTA update by navigating to Settings>> About Phone>> System>> Updates>> Check now.

Android 4.4.2 KitKat for Google Play Edition is rolling out in stages, it might not have hit all the devices yet. However, the rollout is expected to complete before Christmas.

In addition to Android 4.4.2 KitKat. HTC has also released updated Google Play Edition kernel source code for the Android 4.4.2 update and the framework files for the HTC One.

- See more at: http://www.pakistantribune.com.pk/7657/htc-one-gpe-receives-android-4-4-2-kitkat-ota-update.html#sthash.ZVjpJqVq.dpuf

Moto X wood back officially teased, likely coming very soon

2013-12-16T09:53:00.004-08:00

Since the August launch of the Moto X we’ve been waiting for the exquisite wood back option from Motorola, which was rumored to be a fourth quarter option for $50. According to Motorola, it should be available very soon.

The wood backs we saw on the Moto X at the phone’s launch in August may be available any day now based on a teaser from Motorola. On the company’s official Google+ page on Sunday, it showed off a wood back template for the Moto X with the following comment: “Put this DIY project on hold. Trust us.”

Previously, it was unofficially leaked that the wood back option for the Moto X would become available in the fourth quarter of this year for an additional $50. As the quarter is coming to a close, that rumor is looking good. I suspect Motorola will announced the wood back option this week — that’s just a guess of course — for new Moto Maker orders.

While it would be ideal for current Moto X owners to get a wood back, it’s likely this will only be for new customers. I suppose Motorola could offer a mail-in service to send in a current Moto X for a wood back swap, but the odds are unlikely. If the company did offer it, however, I’d likely take advantage of it, even if it meant being without my Moto X for a few days. I saw the wood backs in August and they looked fantastically unique and well made.

MOBILE PHONE EXPOSES ARMED ROBBER

2013-12-15T07:37:00.002-08:00

A 36-year-old Bulawayo man was exposed when an unsuspecting buyer used a stolen phone.
Nhlanhla Ndlovu, 36, has appeared before the courts facing three counts of armed robbery, aggravated indecent assault and malicious damage to property.

He pleaded not guilty before Magistrate Gladmore Mushove and was remanded in custody until December 27. It is the State case that on December 2 Tinashe Chimeramo, 20, and Francisca Thandi were driving between 12th Avenue when they stopped at a traffic light.

While the couple waited for the green light, Ndlovu and his unidentified colleague smashed the car window on the driver’s side and grabbed the ignition key.

The court heard that Ndlovu produced a knife and ordered the complainant to unlock the doors before commandeering their vehicle to a secluded place along Robert Mugabe Way. On arrival, Ndlovu and his unidentified colleague ordered their victims to surrender all their possessions which included a Samsung and Nokia X2 cell phones and a Nokia digital camera at knife point.

Ndlovu indecently assaulted the woman by inserting his fingers into her private parts suspecting she had hidden something between her legs leaving the complainant with some bruises. He went on to sell the loot to Boyed Nyoni, Nkosi Mayibongwe and Charumba Nomatter who turned State witnesses after being caught by the police in possession of the stolen goods.

Mayibongwe sold the Nokia X2 to Precious Masuku who used the mobile phone without changing the chat application account, leading to her arrest.
Nyoni was arrested when Masuku led the CID homicide detectives to the person who had sold the mobile phone. daily news

Sprint Considering Bid for T-Mobile

2013-12-15T07:35:00.003-08:00

Sprint Considering Bid for T-Mobile

A just released report from the Wall Street Journal has Sprint mounting a bid for rival wireless carrier T-Mobile. In what could be an uphill battle on Sprint’s part, the company will face challenges from all sides citing possible duopoly.

An effort to combine Sprint and T-Mobile will probably also face backlash from regulators, lawmakers, and consumers, though perhaps not as much as AT&T and T-Mobile.

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Apple Store Free iBook, Path API, Chase Joins Isis Mobile Wallet

2013-08-14T09:09:00.003-07:00

the Apple Store app is now offering iPhone users an iBooks freebie, which appears to be part of a new initiative to get retail store customers to download the app. The free title is Away in My Airplane by Margaret Wise Brown, and the app claims the e-book is "free for a limited time -- exclusively for Apple Store app users." According to one Apple employee briefed on the offer, the freebie expires on August 28 and is limited to the United States and only four other countries, and is the second such Apple Store offer this month.

Path Joins API Hands with Developers

Path announced Monday that the private social network is expanding its connectivity to other apps and services, starting with a group of "hand-selected developers we admire for their innovation and quality." The first 15 developers with access to the Path API include familiar names such as WordPress, Viddy and Over, and a number of lesser-known photography apps such as PicMix, PicFrame and Pic Stitch. The blog post notes that updates to some of the apps are available now, with others arriving in the coming weeks, along with additional developers who can apply for API access for sharing from their own apps to Path.

Chase Commits to Isis Mobile Wallet

Mobile wallet solution Isis announced Monday that Chase has joined the ranks as part of the service's national rollout later this year, which will include such popular credit card products as Chase Freedom, Sapphire and Slate. After extensive pilot programs in Austin, Texas and Salt Lake City, Utah, Isis is expected to go nationwide in the next few months, complete with iPhone support. The joint venture between AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon is hoping to succeed where Google's own Wallet initiative has thus far floundered, allowing near-field communication (NFC) payments from mobile devices at retail.

iOS App Store Still Reigns Supreme Over Google Play

Distimo released its July 2013 list of the global top apps on Monday, and Apple's iOS App Store again holds a strong defense against the Android-based Google Play, at least where paid apps are concerned. Aggregating data from 18 of the largest countries, Apple's mobile marketplace smoked Google Play almost everywhere except South Korea -- not much of a surprise, considering that's the home base of rival Samsung. Curiously, Russians spent more money on iPad apps than on the iPhone, but the U.S. spent more than any other country overall.

Google Shells Out $2M to Squash Bugs

The Google Online Security Blog announced Monday that it's handed out more than $2 million dollars over the last three years since launching its Chromium and Google Web Vulnerability Reward Programs. The initiative rewards users who find and report bugs on these platforms, with more than 2,000 such issues reported and subsequently fixed. In an effort to step up patches on Chromium, Google is raising its reward level from $1,000 to $5,000 per bug, so it certainly looks like it pays to get out there and dig 'em up.

Nokia partners Airtel, launches mobile phones for youths •Denies importing sub-standard phones into Nigeria

2013-08-14T09:04:00.003-07:00

THE new Nokia Asha 210 and 501 provide a cloud compress of about 85 per cent smarter and affordable internet fit for the Nigerian market.

This was the submission made when Nokia, maker of the mobile phones partnered with Airtel, one of the Global Systems for Mobile communication(GSM) operators in Nigeria to launch the two products at the Airtel office on Tuesday in Lagos.

Describing the products as the latest stunning devices by Nokia, Operations, Accounts Manager, Airtel, Beatrice Olumhense said the Asha 210 and Asha 501 are what the youths really need in Nigeria.

Vice president, data and digital services, Airtel, Nitin Anand, said Nigeria is one of most important countries in the world in terms of technology, “there is no company that will not look at Nigeria whenever it wants to launch it’s devices.”

Olumhense said the Asha 501 has a bright and deep body with scratch-proof colours, it can swipe through and has a multi window browsing ability.

“The Nokia Asha 501 has an ecosystem that supports and brings new applications and old ones like the Facebook, Whatsapp, Games Apps and other important chat Apps for the youths. It has smarter internet and is affordable too” Olumhense explained.

According to her, the Nokia Asha 210 with about 64MB on-board memory space and 4GB memory card provides relevant social networks, has two smart buttons for social networks and camera, “it has top Apps that are ready to use. The phone is available in the market and youths will like it.”

Also, the managing director, Nokia Nigeria, Chris Brown has debunked allegations that the company was bringing substandard phones into Africa, especially Nigeria.

He said the company had no reason whatsoever to produce a type of quality of product for some continents and then go ahead to produce a lesser quality for other continents.

Responding to the accusations of having the company produce Nokia products that are more durable for continents such as Europe and America, Brown said “it will be illogical and a total waste of resources to have our manufacturers in China produce a particular quality for some countries and demand for the production of inferior quality which would be supplied to Africa.”

SANWINSON

2012-07-17T06:18:00.001-07:00

Samsung’s latest innovation in smartphones: stickers! (but actually they're pretty clever) Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2158704/Samsung-s-latest-innovation-smartphones-stickers--actually-theyre-pretty-clever.html#ixzz1xhGUELv6

2012-06-13T10:49:00.003-07:00

Smartphones are becoming the standard mobile phone now - and they pack more and more technology in them as the months go by.

But Samsung is looking back to an invention which pre-dates the technological age for their next innovative feature - and despite relying on little more than a humble sticker, it has some very clever uses.

The tech giant, which has just released the highly-praised Galaxy S3 Android phone, is now shipping 'TecTiles', which are postage-stamp sized stickers that you can adorn to your desk, your furniture, your walls - or anywhere.

Embedded in each sticker is an 'NFC' chip, a new communication chip which is beginning to appear on most high-end phones.

TecTiles: The new technology can help your phone operate in the real-world and follow your instructions without pressing a button

Touching your phone next to one of these stickers can perform almost any action on your phone - and by doing so, you can make phone very much at home in your house or office.

More...

For instance, if you have a wireless internet connection at home which your friends use when they pop round, you could discreetly place a sticker by your front door.

As guests arrive, they could touch their phone to the sticker, and instantly connect to your wifi without any fuss about searching for the network or scrambiling around for a password.

Placing a sticker in your car can let your phone know when its on the move

In the car, a sticker on your dashboard could activate a bluetooth in-car speaker, start playing music, and open a Google Navigation for directions.

Or a sticker on your desk at work could automatically tell your phone to connect to your work wi-fi, and put your phone on silent so colleagues are not disturbed by your Lady Gaga ringtone.

Another use could be to embed your business card details on a sticker - and then you can easily give your details to people with an NFC-equipped phone, like the S3 or HTC One X.

Back at home, another sticker on your table could tell your phone to text your partner saying 'I'm home', connect to your home wifi, and then start streaming music.

What is useful about the technology is that it is extensible, and app-agnostic. For instance, any app developer will be able to adapt their app to accept 'sticker' commands, meaning a variety of currently-unconsidered of uses will emerge over time.

The stickers are available in the U.S. for $15 (£10) for a pack of five, and should be available in Europe soon

Sony launches Xperia miro, tipo and tipo dual with Android 4.0

2012-06-13T10:46:00.001-07:00

Sony has announced the latest additions to its Xperia series in the form of Xperia miro, Xperia tipo and Xperia tipo dual. Thanks to the company's Facebook campaign, the Xperia miro came out of the closet almost 9 days ahead of its announcement.

The Xperia miro comes pre-loaded with Android 4.0, a 5MP rear shooter, a front-facing VGA camera and a 3.5-inch display. It is powered by an 800MHz Snapdragon processor with 512 MB RAM and has 3GB on-board memory expandable up to 32GB via microSD card.

It also features customisable illuminations and Facebook integration. The smartphone will be available in shades of black, gold, pink and silver.

On the other hand, the Xperia tipo and tipo dual are budget Android smartphones with Ice Cream Sandwich on-board. They boast a 3.2-inch TFT display supporting a 480x320 pixel resolution. The Xperia tipo dual offers dual-SIM support, where users can switch SIMs with just a single touch. It also comes with Sony's xLOUD technology for an enhanced audio experience. The tipo comes in colour options of black, white, red and blue while the tipo dual is restricted to black and white.

There are no details on pricing or availability for any of new launches.

Sony Xperia miro Key specifications
3.5-inch (320x480 pixels) TFT capacitive touch screen display
Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich)
800 MHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor
9.9 mm thick and weighs 110 g
5 megapixel camera auto focus camera with pulsed LED flash, VGA front-facing camera
3.5 mm audio jack, FM Radio with RDS
3G, Bluetooth, WiFi b/g/n, DLNA, GPS / aGPS
512MB RAM, 2.9 GB internal memory (up to 2.2 GB user-accessible memory), up to 32 GB expandable memory with microSD
1500 mAh battery

Nokia Lumia 900 4G still on top of AT&T-authorized reseller’s bestsellers list

2012-06-13T10:42:00.003-07:00

When talking about the Windows Phone platform, the Nokia Lumia 900 4G could probably be the best handset in the whole ecosystem right now. A lot of our smartphone-crazed brethren who are into Windows Phone devices even claim that the Nokia flagship brings the best Windows Phone experience ever.

The handset is the product of the strategic alliance of Nokia and software giant Microsoft. Looking back, the Finnish manufacturer had to take the back seat in the smartphone competition for the longest time while it watched helplessly as the likes of Apple, Samsung, HTC and the like have all the fun in the smartphone market. With this unholy alliance with the software giant, Nokia has become relevant again in the smartphone competition when it shifted its focus to the manufacture of Windows Phone devices.

A lot of praise has been heaped on its older Lumia 710 and Lumia 800 handsets but nothing could come close to the seeming popularity of the Nokia Lumia 900 4G. The addition of the handset to the lineup of AT&T was announced as early as January but the handset’s actual date of release was April 8. When you come to think of it, April 8 was Easter Sunday – which obviously is a national holiday AND a Sunday and releasing a handset during days like this is a big no-no.

The Nokia Lumia 900 4G indeed made its debut on the shelves of AT&T on a national holiday and on a Sunday no less but nobody predicted the reception that our smartphone-crazed brethren had in store for the handset. On the same day that the handset made its first appearance in the shelves, it instantly shot to the top of an AT&T-authorized reseller’s bestsellers list and claimed the top and third spots respectively.

Two months later, we still see the Nokia Lumia 900 4G at the top of the same bestsellers list. In short, no device has been powerful enough to take out the Nokia flagship handset off of the number one spot. When you come to think of it, older devices are expected to give way to newer ones but it looks like the irresistible price point of the Nokia Lumia 900 4G has kept it at the top spot and repelled other newer devices such as the HTC One X 4G. What we are interested to see however is how the Nokia Lumia 900 4G will fare once the Samsung Galaxy S III finally hits the shelves of AT&T. But that is a story for another day, right?

Going back to the Nokia Lumia 900 4G, the handset is powered by Windows Phone 7.5 Mango while its QualComm APQ8055 SnapDragon processor brings to the table a Scorpion processor running at 1.4 GHz and 512 MB of RAM. The internal memory onboard the handset is pegged at 16GB while its 4.3-inch display is of the AMOLED and has a resolution of 480 x 800 pixels. The camera department of the handset on the other hand equips the Nokia Lumia 900 4G with an 8MP main shooter at its back panel while its front bezel is home to its 1.3MP video call camera. The Nokia Lumia 900 is available starting at $19 at select retailers.

Nokia Finally Launches 808 PureView For Rs 33,900 41 MP camera phone released after a brief delay; features a 4" touchscreen, 1.3 GHz CPU, and Symbian Belle.

2012-06-13T10:40:00.001-07:00

Nokia's latest Symbian Belle phone, the 808 PureView has been in the limelight for its 41 MP camera lens. It has already won many awards, including the prestigious Best New Mobile Handset, Device or Tablet at Mobile World Congress 2012. Over a last few weeks, there has been a lot of speculation regarding the smartphone's pricing. Putting all these rumours to rest, Nokia has finally released the 808 in India.

The runs latest iteration of the Symbian Belle OS, and is powered by a 1.3 GHz CPU. Its 4" AMOLED screen has pixel dimensions of 640x360. Other features include 512 MB of RAM, 16 GB of internal memory, expandable microSD card slot, HDMI out with Dolby Digital Plus support, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 3.0, USB OTG (On-the-Go), 3.5 mm jack that doubles up as a TV-out port, GPS, FM-transmitter, FM radio, GPS, and an NFC chip.

Before you go out and buy this phone, do take a look at our Nokia 808 hands-on article. For now though, the device will be available in black and white, while red variant is expected to release later this month.

Nokia launches Pureview 808 in India

2012-06-13T10:37:00.002-07:00

The HinduDirector and Head of Smart devices, Nokia India, Vipul Mehrotra during the launch of ''Nokia 808 Pureview'' smartphone with the 41 mega pixel camera in New Delhi on 13 June, 2012. Photo: S.Subramanium

Boasting of a 41-megapixel sensor camera, Finnish handset maker Nokia today launched its Pureview 808 in India, which will not only take head-on competitors like Samsung Galaxy SIII and HTC One, but also cameras from the likes of Nikon and Sony.

“Nokia has always been known for its imaging legacy. The 808 PureView stands for innovation and with partners like Dolby Laboratories and Carl Zeiss, we have jointly created the world’s first super camera phone,” Nokia India Director and Head of Smart Devices Vipul Mehrotra told reporters here.

Currently, most smartphones available in the country offer cameras with 5-12 MP quality. Nokia seems to have raised the bar pretty high, Mehrotra said adding that the initial response to the device is good.

Priced at Rs 33,899, the phone is also placed cheaper than Samsung’s SIII (Rs 43,180) and HTC One (42,999).

Mehrotra however clarified that the handset would not compete with cameras per se.

“We are not looking at competing with cameras. Users can do other things with Pureview 808 apart from just clicking pictures,” he said.

Asked if one would see the Pureview technology coming to its other handsets, Mehrotra said, “We would like to introduce this technology across our lines of products.”

“Nokia is a full line player with focus across product lines. Our aim is to bring innovation at every price point, be it the Asha series or the Lumia devices. We would look at taking the Pureview technology, which has taken five years to develop, across categories,” he added.

Till now, Nokia was offering 12MP as the highest available capacity for cameras with its N8. It offers low-cost phones, especially under its Asha series, while its high-end smartphones include the Windows-powered Lumia series.

The Pureview 808 has Nokia Belle operating system, 1.3 Ghz processor, four-inch touch screen, internal memory of 16GB (expandable upto 32GB) and also allows HD video recording.

Nokia has struggled in the past in the smartphone segment with Korean giant Samsung and Apple grabbing major share of the global pie. It is betting big on its tie up with Microsoft (to bring Windows operating system to mobile phones) and Pureview 808 to help it reclaim its numero uno spot.

As per a Gartner study, Samsung topped mobile phone sales (with 86.6 million units) in the January-March 2012 quarter, dethroning Nokia which could sell only 83.2 million units.

Mysterious Samsung “T699″ phone heading to T-Mobile, could it be the Galaxy Nexus?

2012-05-17T13:12:00.001-07:00

Aside from launching a controversial but exciting advertising campaign for the HTC One S, T-Mobile is reportedly making efforts to strengthen its smartphone line-up, in an attempt to get back in contention with the “big guys”.

T-Mo hasn’t done a very good job at picking up “hero” devices lately, the Galaxy S2 being pretty much the most noteworthy exception to that rule. A freshly leaked User Agent Profile hints at a new device coming to T-Mobile in the near future, and, while it might not be a “super phone”, it could actually turn things around a bit for the carrier.

Codenamed SGH-T699, the future Samsung handheld is shrouded in mystery, with the only technical detail known about it being the display it will sport. Yes, it will come with a 1280 x 720 pix res screen, which is on-par with what all of today’s high-end phones feature, including the Galaxy S3.

Before getting overly excited and start assuming that this will in fact be the Galaxy S3, we should tell you that we are almost certain it won’t be Sammy’s new flagship. That’s because the Galaxy Note is codenamed T879, according to TmoNews sources, and a T699 code means that the phone will be more modestly equipped than the “phablet”.

We can also assume from the leaked document that the future Samsung phone will be powered by an ARM11 CPU, which unfortunately doesn’t tell us a whole lot. However, we already have a pretty good idea of what this T699 might be. Considering its display and the fact that it will probably be a device that fits into the space between mid-rangers and high-tech, it’s most likely that T-Mobile will finally receive its own Galaxy Nexus.

Whether that’s good or bad news it’s pretty difficult to tell right now, considering that the Nexus is still a very popular device in the Android world, but also that it was released way back in November 2011 in Europe, and in December in the US via Verizon.

There’s also a possibility that the T699 is not the Galaxy Nexus, so, for the time being, you should not put all your eggs in this one basket and wait to hear more on the subject. We should find out exactly what the T699 is in the coming weeks, so keep an eye on our website!

First Nokia Windows Phone 8 Apollo Smartphones To Be Released By The End Of 2012

2012-05-17T13:09:00.004-07:00

Nokia have teamed-up with Microsoft in their attempt to make the Finnish company profitable again. Asexpected, Nokia will continue to manufacture smartphones based on the Microsoft’s mobile platforms and the latest rumors say that the Windows Phone 8 Apollo devices are on their way.

A source of Techit, an Israeli tech blog, said that Nokia will release the first Windows Phone 8smartphones by the end of 2012. The Israeli website claims that the information saying that the Windows Phone 8 Nokia smartphones will hit the market until 2012 is up comes straight from an official of the Finland-based company.

June will be a busy month for the world of mobile operating systems, as three of the most important companies involved on this segment will be presenting the new versions of their mobile platforms. Apple will showcase the new iOS 6 at WWDC 2012, Google is reportedly planning the Android 5.0 Jelly Bean launch at Google I/O event, while Bill Gates’ Microsoft have been linked with the demo of Windows Phone 8 Apollo at Windows Phone Developer Summit, scheduled for the same month.

The first two Nokia smartphones underpinned by Microsoft’s Windows Phone 7.5 Mango, Nokia Lumia 800 and Nokia Lumia 710 were unveiled at Nokia World 2011 event in October and after seeing them everyone wondered where the flagship of Nokia’s WP line-up is.

The Finns haven’t kept us waiting for too long and in January 2012, at CES, they presented the amazing Nokia Lumia 900 with LTE support, as smartphone that made the Windows Phone enthusiasts form huge lines in front of AT&T stores in their attempt to get their hands on the $100 device.

The global variant of Nokia Lumia 900 was presented at Mobile World Congress 2012 in Barcelona and it has the same technical specifications as the US version of the handset, except for the 4G networks support.

The smallest and the cheapest Windows Phone Finnish smartphone is Lumia 610, a phone that Nokia hopes to become popular on the emergent markets.

But Nokia is the only OEM that will develop Windows Phone 8 Apollo devices. After LG announced they will no longer concentrate on Microsoft’s platform, Samsung have been linked with the mobile operating system of the Redmond-based giant. The rumor mill says that Acer will soon join the list of companies that build WP devices, as they will produce a full QWERTY smartphone underpinned by “Apollo.”

Returning to the Finland-based company, they initially announced that the current line-up of WP-powered smartphones will not be upgraded to Apollo, but a couple of weeks later they issued an official statement claiming that the Lumia smartphones will receive Windows Phone 8 upgrades.

Google to launch Android Jellybean device by Dec

2012-05-16T12:00:00.001-07:00

Google is readying another version of Android operating system, known as Android 5.0 Jellybean, and devices based on this operating system will be available as early as this year end, according to the Wall Street Journal. Google, however, is yet to officially comment on the report.

Currently, Android 4.0 is the latest version of the world largest mobile operating system. However, the Android 4.0 ICS is yet to be rolled out for many devices. Infact, only a handful smartphones have Android ICS operating system.

Google is expected to make an official announcement on Android 5.0 Jellybean during its annual I/O developer conference, which is set to take place this June end.

Though not much known about Jellybean's features, but it is expect to bring Chrome browser integration, better enterprise security related features, and a voice assistance feature similar to SIRI of iOS.

Better power management for improved battery life and easy upgrade path is also likely to be new additions.

Google has followed the alphabetical order in the naming of Android operating systems which are named on deserts. While the first two Android's did not get name (or were not announced to public) the rest of them have been named as Cupcake, Donut, Eclair, Froyo, Gingerbread and Ice Cream Sandwich. The next two versions are expected to be called Jellybean followed by Key Lime Pie.

Nokia Saudi Arabia Mobile Price List May 2012

2012-05-16T11:57:00.003-07:00

Nokia is still one of the liked mobile phone brands among the people who just want to use basic features of a mobile phone. Features like making and receiving phone calls, sending text messages, using calculator, alarm feature and few basic games. One of the most like feature in Nokia Mobiles is its ease of use and easy interface understanding. Being easy to use makes Nokia Mobile Phones favorite for labors and technical workers.

In this post I also added prices of few Nokia Accessories including Nokia Bluetooth headsets, Nokia Leather cases and carry cases.

If you are a Nokia fan you may follow Nokia Prices category at my blog. Where I publish recent Nokia prices monthly. If you want to know other brands mobile prices just follow Mobile Prices Category. In this category I publish all smartphone and basic mobiles prices from brands like HTC, Samsung, Motorola, iPhone and iPad, Sony Ericsson and BlackBerry.

Nokia 110, Nokia 112 dual-SIM phones

2012-05-15T11:50:00.002-07:00

New Delhi: Making yet another attempt to retain its hold over the low-end mobile phone market, Finnish handset maker Nokia launched Nokia 110 and Nokia 112 models on Tuesday.

The phones run on Nokia's Series 40 Operating system. Both sport 1.8-inch TFT LCD (128 x 160 pixels) displays.

While the Nokia 110 measures 110 x 46 x 14.8 mm and weighs 80 grams, the 85.5 grams heavy Nokia 112 has dimensions of 110.4 x 46.9 x 15.4mm. Both phones support MicroSD cards up to a capacity of 32GB for massive media storage.

Nokia 110 offers 10.5 hours talktime from a charged battery, and the Nokia 112, 14 hours. Standby time is 26.5 days for the Nokia 110 and 35 days for the Nokia 112.

Other features include FM Radio & Media player, VGA digital camera.

Connectivity features of the phones include GPRS/EDGE, 2.0 mm Charger Connector, Bluetooth v2.1 with EDR and 3.5 mm AV connector

Nokia introduces new range of mobile phones to provide a fast, affordable internet experience

2012-05-15T11:47:00.000-07:00

Karachi, Pakistan - Nokia has today unveiled two new mobile phone models as it continues to accelerate its strategy to connect the next billion consumers to information and the internet. The Nokia 110 and Nokia 112 have been designed to appeal to young, urban consumers who want to experience a fast, affordable online experience.

Both devices are perfect for communicating across Facebook, Twitter and social media networks. The internet experience is also smooth thanks to the Nokia Browser. This innovative technology allows users to consume less data by up to 90%, by compressing websites in the cloud. Both devices offer direct access to Facebook and Twitter from their home screens. The Nokia 112 also features preloaded eBuddy instant messaging service right out of the box, so users can use popular chat services to keep conversations going 24/7.

In common with other Nokia mobile phones, consumers can choose from thousands of apps to download on the Nokia Store. With the upgraded camera, they can now customize their contacts with pictures, and share them with friends via social networks and Bluetooth.

"Today's mobile phone users want a quick internet experience that allows them to discover great content and share it with their friends - but without being held back by high data costs," said Mary T. McDowell, executive vice president, Mobile Phones, Nokia. "The new Nokia 110 and Nokia 112 devices combine browsing, social media, apps, world-class entertainment and long battery life to create a great package for young, urban consumers who want to do it all."

Perfect for all-day and all-night entertainmentThe devices all feature a generous 1.8" display optimized for a great gaming experience. In the coming months, the Nokia 110 and Nokia 112 will bring free* 40 key EA Games, valued at EUR 75 if bought separately, including well known titles like TetrisR , BejeweledR , Need for Speed(TM) The Run, Monopoly Here & Now, and SimCity(TM) Deluxe. Consumers will be able to easily access the content by clicking on the Games Gift EA icon on their home screen which will take them to the Nokia Store to download the games. Once they have accessed the offering, they will have 60 days to download the games of their choice, keeping the games forever.

Both new phones offer an improved VGA camera for sharp and clear pictures with support for up to 32GB of external memory, enough for more than 6000+ songs or 90,000 pictures. Consumers can tune into their favorite radio stations and share their favorite songs with friends over Bluetooth. The phones have been optimized to provide a long-lasting battery life, with over 10 hours of talk time and nearly a month's standby, meaning that consumers can stay in-touch and entertained all day long.

Dual SIM capabilityThe Nokia 110 and Nokia 112 are both Dual SIM phones, featuring the benefits of Nokia's unique and industry leading Easy Swap technology. This enables users to switch between SIMs quickly without having to remove their battery or turn off their phone. The Easy Swap technology can personalize and remember up to five different SIM cards, giving consumers full control over their costs.

The Nokia 110 will also be available as single SIM versions - Nokia 111 and Nokia 113, with this last one available in Europe and Eurasia only.

The estimated retail price for Nokia 110 and its single SIM versions is about EUR 35 and they are expected to start shipping in the second quarter of 2012. The estimated retail price for Nokia 112 is about EUR 38, excluding taxes and subsidies, and is expected to start shipping in the third quarter of 2012.

*data costs may apply.

About Nokia
Nokia is a global leader in mobile communications whose products have become an integral part of the lives of people around the world. Every day, more than 1.3 billion people use their Nokia to capture and share experiences, access information, find their way or simply to speak to one another. Nokia's technological and design innovations have made its brand one of the most recognized in the world

Nokia 311: Manual and Leaked Images

2012-05-14T10:19:00.000-07:00

Nokia 311: Manual and Leaked Images Appear Online [SLIDESHOW]

Images of the Nokia 305, 306 and 311 mobile phones have leaked online, along with a user manual showing off features that seem similar to the Meego interface on the N9 smartphone.

If rumours are true, the Nokia 305 will be a dual-SIM handset with a two-megapixel camera, while the Nokia 306 will have the same specs but with a single SIM.

The Nokia 311 is expected to add WCDMA and WIFI connectivity, as well as increasing the camera resolution to 3.2-megapixels.

The Nokia 311 may also be known as the 'Sonic' version of Nokia's S40 handset, although that title has not been confirmed yet.

Nokia is expected to launch the range of S40 handsets in the coming months.

A manual written in the style of an airline flight instructions document has also leaked online, showing off many of the features of the Nokia 311

Nokia 808 PureView coming to the US after all

2012-05-12T12:18:00.004-07:00

Nokia's groundbreaking, 41-megapixel smartphone will be officially released in North America

Nokia's upcoming 808 PureView, which will include a gigantic 41-megapixel camera sensor

Despite rumors to the contrary, the president of Nokia U.S. has confirmed that the company's amazing 41-megapixel smartphone, the 808 PureView, will be receiving an official North American release.

American users have been waiting with baited breath for the Finnish manufacturer to throw caution to the wind and release the device in the U.S, and after recently confirming plans to release it down Mexico's way, the fine folks in Espoo have obliged!

The device, which won best in show at February's Mobile World Congress, will be launched through selected retailers. Although the phone won't be picked up by any carriers, it will offer support for two of the nation's most popular: AT&T and T-Mobile.

In an interview given to PCMag, Chris Weber spoke about the company's recent highs and lows, and when asked about the future of the 808 PureView he responded by saying that "We'll figure out a way to make that available in the U.S. in the next couple of months." That statement is likely to be music to the ears of photography majors.

There's no word yet on which retailers will be stocking the device, or indeed, what pricing Nokia has in mind. But you can rest assured we'll have our noses to ground and will bring you all you need to know as soon as it surfaces

Samsung Introduces 4" Omnia M Windows Phone 7.5 Smartphone

2012-05-12T12:16:00.003-07:00

If there's one company beyond Nokia that seems dead-set on supporting Windows Phone as a platform, it's Samsung. Just after launching the Focus 2 for AT&T, now Samsung is introducing the Omnia M, a sleek looking slate-style phone that'll ship first in Europe before bringing more of Microsoft's mobile OS to more places. As for specifications, there's a 1GHz processor, 4" Super AMOLED display, Samsung’s ChatON communication service, Samsung AllShare, Music Hub, and access to SkyDrive. There's an HSDPA 7.2Mbps cellular radio, Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n module, a 1500mAh battery and microUSB. It'll ship with Windows Phone 7.5 (Mango), 4GB of user memory and 384MB of RAM. No word on pricing yet, but we're guessing it'll be quite affordable on contract.

What the Windows Phone OS Offers Mobile Users

2012-05-12T12:13:00.002-07:00

Everyone these days are either talking about Android or iOS devices. This rings true in both consumer and corporate markets. Both of these companies are battling it out for the top position among end users. One of them, Google, is open source and comes in a wide range of phones and form factors. The other mobile operating system, iOS, is tied to Apple’s ecosystem and exclusive to the iPhone. However, there is also a third player in this market that is emerging and this platform is Microsoft’s Windows Phone 7. Like Google’s Android platform, Microsoft’s Windows Phone 7 platform is outsourced to various hardware vendors. Microsoft doesn’t make the hardware itself or rely on a single manufacturer. Companies like Samsung or Nokia come up with the hardware. It is also quite different from the other two in regard features, expectations and integration of the Windows environment through a user interface called Metro and tiles.

Windows Phone was launched in the second half of 2010 and first half of 2011 depending on what region of the world you live in. It is a successor to the Windows Mobile platform that was geared to enterprise users who wanted to use traditional Microsoft software on their handsets as if they were sitting in front of tablets, PCs, and notebooks. However, mobile phones are different devices entirely and Microsoft is learning this with the Windows Phone platform. Microsoft originally partnered up with Nokia as the main hardware manufacturer for the platform, as reported by PC World – although now there are other vendors also utilizing Windows Phone.

The User Interface and Features

The OS comes with a user interface, Metro, that the upcoming Windows 8 for tablets will also feature – although modified for larger displays and Windows 8 features. This means Microsoft is targeting ease-of-use over technical functionality and made the OS as consumer-friendly as possible. Tiles, central to Metro, are kind of like apps you come to know and expect on iOS, but look and feel much different.

An innovative search function – also sometimes referred to as a Web search engine– that is also included in Windows Phone 7, is called “Bing.” This feature allows users to search for things using audio, voice and vision. For instance, you can find a song and let the phone figure out what it is by allowing it to listen to it playing in the room. Bing Vision allows you to use your handset’s camera to look up product information by bringing the object to view. This is the type of unique interaction that Windows Phone really excels at, and separates itself from the competition, including the iPhone despite Siri now being available.

Windows Phone 7 also includes organization and social network integration through a service called “Hubs.” The Hubs combine local and online content and allow for users to have integrated content to social networks. A “People Hub” is used to organize contacts. This service allows contacts to be imported from social networks such as Facebook, Windows Live, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Microsoft launched a piece of hardware in 20009 called Zune HD that was a multimedia device designed to compete with Apple’s iPod. However, it didn’t catch on with consumers. There were also previous Zune products including a Toshiba-branded 1089 that was created in 2006 with Microsoft’s cooperation. These devices were more similar to early iPod models pre-touch. Despite this, Microsoft has continued to support Zune software for Windows Phone handsets. This is an entertainment and synchronization software akin to iTunes in a way and allows users to have integration between PCs and Windows Phone handsets. Windows Phone hardware is seen as the successor product line to the Zune HD by many sources and Microsoft is said to have encouraged the transition in late 2011.

There are a couple different versions right now of Windows Phone 7 OS. One of them is called the Mango and is also referred to as Windows Phone 7.5. This is really the second version of Microsoft’s consumer operating system geared for handset users – or an update to a first-generation OS depending on the way you want to look at it. This means that Microsoft still is behind Apple and Google related consumer-based mobile OS experiences – remember Microsoft has traditionally been an enterprise-focused company. However, Mango takes many standard features Android and iOS users come to expect and integrates them into the Windows Metro environment. According to an Engagdet review of Mango, it was released in late 2011 and comes with over 500 new features.

How Windows Phones Compare to Android and iOS Devices

Like Google’s Android OS, one of the many complaints you may hear related to the Windows Phone platform is the lack of apps and developer support. This is obvious when drawing comparisons to the iPhone. However, Microsoft is providing some great incentives to developers including providing financial backing and giving away devices to get development support for the platform. This should continue as Windows 8 enters the scene with tablets and Windows Phone 8 handsets. Remember, this is Microsoft’s first consumer-based platform and it has only been out for a couple years.

According to CNET, “Microsoft has eagerly contributed money to developers, anywhere from $60,000 to $600,000, to help build apps. That’s the type of cash the developers themselves could never raise on their own.”

One Windows Phone aspect that has been gaining fans is the clean and functional Metro interface. It comes with mainly two home screens to toggle between and makes it hard for users to get lost looking for specific apps.

There is a lot more variation in terms of carriers, sizes, shapes, and looks when picking a Windows Phone over the iPhone. The iPhone comes packed with a standard size and you can expect certain features. However, this isn’t the case with the Windows Phone platform. Right now, Windows Phone is a lot more similar to Android than it is to iOS.

Conclusion

Even though Microsoft failed with the Zune, and hasn’t been supporting smartphone hardware themselves, some latest players have finally come around to using Windows Phone 7 to the fullest. One of these is the Nokia Lumia 900. Whether the Lumia can pose a significant threat to the iPhone or Android handset remains to be seen. It seems Microsoft finally understands the consumer market. It will be a gamble for them to be able to catch up to Apple anytime soon, but it is good seeing a variety of competent smartphones on the marketplace at once. This will force Apple and Google to continue innovating features in their smartphone operating systems. It also gives consumers more choices, which is always a good thing

Nokia patent appeal dismissed

2012-05-10T11:25:00.003-07:00

A British court dismissed Nokia’s appeal against a June 2011 High Court ruling which found the Finnish mobile phone maker was infringing a patent of Germany’s IPCom.

Nokia said the dismissal would not affect its sales in Britain, although IPCom said it would still seek an injunction on sales of Nokia phones in Britain.

Last June a court in London ruled the 100A patent held by IPCom was valid, marking a major victory for the German firm in its long legal battle with Finnish phone maker.

Nokia and IPCom have been fighting in several courts for five years over the patents and Nokia has said IPCom’s licensing fee demands are excessive and unjustifiable.

The iPhone 5 will destroy the Samsung Galaxy S3

2012-05-10T11:23:00.002-07:00

New iPhone

Published on May 10, 2012

The Samsung Galaxy S2 is, hands-down, one of the greatest smartphones ever created, joining the likes of the HTC Desire, iPhone 4 and Nokia 3310 in the immortals club. The slab-like device had everything today’s modern user expected from a flagship handset: a gorgeous display, bleeding-edge hardware, an intuitive UI and a great overall design.

Following its release the Galaxy S2 went on to sell by the boatload with sales recently hitting the 30-million+ mark. This combined with Samsung’s other ventures – Windows Phone and Bada – cemented the Korean manufacturer as the world’s number one mobile phone maker, ending Nokia’s 14-year reign at the top of the market.

Apple retained the mantle of world’s biggest ‘smartphone’ manufacturer, as of Q1 2012, having sold 35 million iPhone devices during the quarter. Samsung wasn’t far behind though with smartphones sales of 32 million, putting it in a very close second place – all of a sudden the plethora of lawsuits issued during 2011 begin to make sense.

Going forward into 2012-2013, therefore, means that Samsung needs another Galaxy S2-like device to ensure that it maintains it’s current growth. That device, at least for the latter part of 2012, was meant to be the Galaxy S3. But the handset didn’t make much of a lasting impression at its official London launch on May 3 2012. Check our first-look at the Galaxy S3 here.

Samsung’s iPhone 4S

The Samsung Galaxy S3 is essentially the iPhone 4S. It’s an incremental update, bringing some extra oomph in the specs department and lots of voice-oriented stuff, but little else. The iPhone 4S, at least, kept its build quality. The Galaxy S2 looks better, as well as feels better, than its successor – and that’s never good.

Don’t believe us? We asked several non-tech-minded people in the office to pick the newest model out of the Galaxy S2 and the Galaxy S3. 90 per cent said the Galaxy S2 looked newer and more modern. We have to agree, as well, the Galaxy S2 is a far better looking device, featuring more attractive styling and a far superior build quality. Samsung was insane not to have acknowledged this fact back when the device was on the drawing board.

Exynos 5

The Galaxy S3, although running on the undoubtedly impressive Exynos 4212 Quad chipset, will be bested by therelease of Samsung’s next-generation Exynos 5 CPU later on in Q4 2012. Does this mean Samsung will produce a new launch device to debut this ultra-powerful A-15 Dual Core mobile CPU inside?

God knows. Cortex-A9 is still very much the flavour of the month at present. So, we’re not disputing the power of Samsung’s new Exynos 4 setup, but the A-15 Cortex Exynos 5 that’s scheduled for release in the latter part of 2012 will absolutely destroy the Exynos 4 chip inside the Galaxy S3.

Surely Samsung will want a device to debut its new ultra-power efficient A15-based dual core system-on-a-chip (SOC) inside? Either that or it will wait until mid-2013 to unveil a new flagship handset or launch a new Galaxy Tab that uses it.

Apple’s A6 CPU

There’s a lot of talk about Apple’s A6 CPU circulating as the launch of the iPhone 5 draws ever closer. Some reports claim it will be an ultra-powerful Cortex-A15 dual core SOC, like Samsung’s Q4-bound Exynos 5 setup.

Other reports, rather more conservatively, say that Apple will stick with a Cortex-A9 dual core chipset, similar to the one used in the iPhone 4S. Massive changes in the design and display size, as well as the inclusion of LTE, will be enough for the vast majority of punters. Could Apple just got with a slightly modified version of its A5X chipset?

The iPhone 5 will look better

If there’s one thing Apple can do well it is design. The iPhone 4’s design, now two years old, still looks contemporary, especially when compared to some of its peers like the HTC Desire or Nokia N8. Use these handsets as a point of reference and you’ll see where we’re coming from – the iPhone 4/iPhone 4S is a gorgeous handset.

But the iPhone 5 should see some big changes in the design department. At present no one is 100 per cent sure what these changes will be, but what is certain is that the iPhone 5 will not look like the iPhone 4S. That means a new chassis, a larger display and significantly different proportions.

Samsung Focus 2 Versus Nokia Lumia 900: Which is the Better Sub-$100 Windows Phone?

2012-05-10T11:21:00.001-07:00

Samsung Focus 2 Versus Nokia Lumia 900(Photo: Samsung | Nokia | M & A)

The Focus 2 is Samsung's first Windows Phone handset to offer 4G LTE connectivity. On top of that, Samsung is pricing the device at $50 on AT&T (with 2 year contract), which is definitely a plan to undermine the Nokia Lumia 900, which goes for $99 with a 2-year contract.Samsung might have the Android market under control with its Galaxy line of smartphones, but things are quite different in the world of Windows Phone where Nokia and its Lumia line rules the coop. On Monday, Samsung officially announced the Samsung Focus 2, the company's latest 4G LTE offering on the Windows Phone platform.

Dale Sohn, president of Samsung Mobile said in a statement: "Samsung is the unmatched leader in offering smartphones across a variety of platforms and the Focus 2 is a powerful example of our continued commitment to Windows Phone."

"As our first 4G LTE Windows Phone, the Focus 2 is a fast and versatile device for productivity, entertainment and social networking."

The Focus 2 is the successor to the original Samsung Focus, which was released way back in 2010 as one of the very first Windows Phone devices. It follows after the Samsung Focus S and Focus Flash, which were all released 2011.

The big question now that requires an answer is, how does the Samsung Focus 2 stack up against the Nokia Lumia 900, which it will be directly competing with. Both devices are sub-$100 smartphones, both run the latest version of Windows Phone 7.5, but there are some big differences between the two that consumers should consider before taking the plunge.

Screen size

The Nokia Lumia 900 has a huge 4.3-inch Clear Black AMOLED display, while the Samsung Focus 2 could only manage a 4-inch Super AMOLED display. Winner - Lumia 900

Cameras

Samsung added the same amount of megapixels to the Focus 2 that is found in the original Focus, which is 5 megapixels. We do not yet know if it takes better stills, what we do know is it has the ability to take 720p HD videos, something every Windows Phone handset is capable of doing. Nokia on the other hand took it a step further with an 8-megapixel camera with a dual LED flash. The camera is also capable of taking 720p HD videos.

When it comes to front-facing camera, Nokia steps it up again with a 1.3-meapixel front facing cam, while the Focus 2 chooses to focus on a meager 0.3 megapxel VGA cam. Winner - Lumia 900

Internal Storage

Both devices have internal storage but lack a microSD card port. This is a restriction brought on by Microsoft, so there is nothing much handset makers can do about that. However, Samsung found a way to bend the rules with the first Focus when the company added a microSD card slot. Too bad it didn't do the same for the Focus 2. We understand that only 8GB of storage will be found in the Focus 2, while the Nokia Lumia 900 is rocking twice that with its 16GB internal storage. Winner - Lumia 900

4G LTE Connectivity

No winner here, folks. Both the Samsung Focus 2 and the Lumia 900 are packing 4G LTE on AT&T, which is a good sign for the Windows Phone platform. Winner - Draw

Design

This is a no brainer, really. Nokia is well known for its designing prowess, and the company came out guns blazing with the its first Windows Phone, the Lumia 800 which has one of the best smartphone design we have ever seen. The Lumia 900 followed suit with a similar design as Nokia continues to work its way back to the top of the food chain.

The Focus 2 design is similar to countless Android smartphones, and to make matters worse, it's made of plastic, for crying out loud. Winner - Lumia 900

Finally, price

Because of the cheap plastic design and overall weaker specifications than the Lumia 900, the Samsung Focus 2 walks away with this one. It will be available on AT&T for only $50 with a two year contract. The Nokia Lumia 900 is a little bit more expensive at $99 with a two year contract. Winner - Focus 2

Verdict

Obviously the Nokia Lumia 900 came out on top here. The Samsung Focus 2 might be cheaper at $50, but we believe it would be a better investment to get the Lumia 900 if you want a phone that is built to last, more storage, better camera, bigger screen, and better design. When it comes to applications, Nokia exclusive apps for the Lumia line of devices are unmatched. So not only would you be a part of the Windows Phone ecosystem, you would also be a part of Nokia's own ecosystem as well.