Leaked Samsung spec sheet reveals new Nexus device in the works

Leaked Samsung spec sheet reveals new Nexus device in the works

New specs for a new Nexus device have been leaked

Samsung's Galaxy Nexus just dropped, and the company's flagship phone, the Galaxy S3, has been a rather large success so far, moving more than 10 million units since launch.

That doesn't mean the Korean manufacturer doesn't have any more tricks up its sleeve. Quite the opposite really.

In fact, new leaked documents point to a phone merely dubbed "Nexus" currently in development at Samsung.

Though the Nexus, codenamed the GT-I9260, doesn't have a proper name yet, the new device is clearly influenced by both the Galaxy Nexus and Galaxy S3.

What do you get when you cross a Galaxy Nexus and an S3?

Samsung's new Nexus device is a hybrid of both the Galaxy Nexus and the Galaxy S3.

According to the specs, the Nexus will have an HD Super AMOLED screen like the Galaxy S3, however it will only be 4.65 inches like the Galaxy Nexus.

Additionally, the GT-I9260 shares the same 8 megapixel rear camera, and 1.9 megapixel front camera the Galaxy S3 utilizes.

Unfortunately, the 1.5GHz dual-core A9 processor is only a slight upgrade over the Galaxy Nexus' (or GT-I9250) 1.2GHz dual-core A9 processor.

While the Galaxy S3 may have its quad-core capabilities to itself, this new Nexus does supposedly include an SD card slot, as well as a 16GB internal memory.

Don't count your Nexus before they hatch

There are no images of the phone anywhere yet, so there is reason to be slightly skeptical of this new information.

The leaked documents also relay the information about the HD Super AMOLED screen incorrectly, and call it a Super AMOLED HD screen instead.

That wouldn't necessarily be a problem, however these are supposed to be leaked internal documents, and it's highly unlikely Samsung would get the name of its own branded screen wrong.

Needless to say, we'll be keeping a close eye on whether or not there's any truth to the GT-I9260 being a real Nexus device.


Source : techradar[dot]com

Worth the Wait: Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch preview

Namco's decision to hold Ni no Kuni back for more than a year after its Japanese release was rough, but a demo proves it worth the wait.

Namco Bandai announced that it would localize Level-5 and Studio Ghibli’s role-playing game Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch for the United States and Europe in October 2011, just a little over a month before the game came out in Japan. On the one hand, it was a relief for fans of Hayao Miyazaki’s films like My Neighbor Totoro and of Level-5’s RPGs like Dragon Quest VIII alike. The original Ni no Kuni for Nintendo DS looked as sweet as actually going on a magical adventure since it came with a hardbound book of spells, but that game never made it out of Japan. On the other hand though, Namco said the PS3 version of Ni no Kuni wouldn’t be out in the west until 2013. The game was finished, so what was the hold up? Localization takes time said Namco Bandai. The fans scoffed. Sure it does, but more than a year? 

There was no need to scoff. Namco Bandai swung through New York to preview its upcoming games. These were the same suspects that peopled Namco’s E3 booth, but it was the first time that I’d gotten an opportunity to sample No no Kuni. E3’s blaring lights and thumping bass don’t exactly make for an ideal setting to absorb a quiet RPG, let alone one as emotionally tender as Ni no Kuni. For those unfamiliar, the premise is more thoughtful than the usual RPG rigmarole of angular-haired teens saving the universe from a big monster. Oliver, Ni no’s lead, is trying to see his mother one last time after she’s passed away. Mr. Drippy, the stuffed animal she made him, comes to life and leads Oliver on an adventure to see his mom in “Ni no Kuni,” or “another world.”

Just translating the game’s dialogue and text wouldn’t have been enough for this game to elicit the emotional impact it should. It really needed to be localized, adapted and reconsidered for international audiences with different cultural expectations and social mores. From the brief session I played, the extra time Namco’s spent properly localizing Ni no Kuni has served the game well.

I tackled the first real quest area where Mr. Drippy leads Oliver to a wise old tree in the other world. The tree teaches Oliver some basic wizarding skills like how to cast fire and healing spells as well as ho to create monster companions. The first of these little cartoon beasts is the goofy caped swordsman pictured above.

The whole sequence is beguiling. Mr. Drippy’s ebullient Scottish expounding, the old oak’s patient baritone, and Oliver’s enthusiastic credulity—The acting and dialogue are of a higher quality than in some of the Ghibli films that have been localized for the West. The effort is obviously unfinished as well. Even in this early portion of the game, there are chunks of Japanese text, as when you walk into a new area and its name washes across the screen. 

It’s harder to say how the game will feel in battles over the full 40-hour adventure. After the charismatic story sequence, you set out into the field on an errand for the old oak, getting into fights with scrub monsters on the way. Oliver doesn’t fight alongside his first monster pal, but switches out with him as one or the other weakens. It’s a weird rhythm for an RPG, and at first it feels slow, but after just gaining just a few levels from fights raising basic stats, the battles become more fast paced. They are challenging too; forget to switch out to a healthy partner and you can die all too quickly. This is only the basic feel of Ni no’s skirmishes though. Later on, as your stable of monsters and their skills grow, it will no doubt feel very different. I didn’t even have a chance to play around with its Kingdom Hearts 3D; Dream Drop Distance-style monster raising portions where you feed and play with your monsters to grow their skills. 

Half an hour with an RPG is no way to judge its overall quality. My take away from this preview session was simple: Ni no Kuni looks as wonderful as it did when it was still a Japan exclusive, but Namco Bandai and Level-5’s slow, deep localization will make it perfect for the West.

The fall blitz is just starting but it’s hard not to feel like the best games on the horizon are waiting in 2013.


Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

iPhone 5 coming in September, confirms German carrier

iPhone 5 coming in September, confirms German carrier

The iPhone 5 will be bigger, thinner and faster, says Mobilcom

German carrier Mobilcom Debitel seems awfully certain of the iPhone 5 release date.

So certain, in fact, that the carrier has begun advertising for a new iPhone coming in September, ahead of any announcement from Apple.

The iPhone 5 announcement is expected to come during an Apple event on Sept. 12, where the iPad Mini could also be announced, and both could be released on Sept. 21.

But Mobilcom Debitel apparently couldn't wait - "In September, it's finally time for a new generation of smartphone to go on sale," its site read on Tuesday.

"Mobilcom-debitel allows you to find free e-mail about everything worth knowing about iPhone."

Except for, you know, any real details

While Mobilcom Debitel may claim to have all the juicy details, it seems the carrier is as much in the dark as anyone whose name isn't Tim Cook.

In fact, its entire schtick appears to be based on pure speculation.

"The new smartphone special surprises?" the carrier asks on its site.

"Perhaps a bigger screen of 4 inches or a thinner cell touchscreen? The world expects a faster processor or higher graphics performance? Maybe even a memory of 1 GB? It will be exciting…"

There's no doubt about that

All of Mobilcom Debitel's claims simply corroborate what's already known about the iPhone 5.

A photo of the iPhone 5's backplate leaked in May, indicating a 4-inch screen, and a report in June claimed the new iPhone will have 1GB of memory.

Numerous reports have claimed that the iPhone 5 will feature a thinner, lighter screen as well.

And a faster processor and better GPU are a given.

So while Mobilcom has nothing to add to the iPhone 5 rumors, at least their information confirms what's already known.

Let's just hope for their sake that the iPhone 5 information is removed before Apple notices.


Source : techradar[dot]com

Using scrap parts, iPhone 5 comes to life

Using scrap parts, iPhone 5 comes to life

A (not quite) fully assembled iPhone 5 (credit: iResq.com)

The iPhone 5, or sixth-generation iPhone, whatever you'd like to call it, is taking shape before our very eyes.

Monday, the smartphone's rumored front panel leaked, boasting a 4-inch, elongated display. TechRadar also found new dock connector photos purporting to belong to the phone and iPad Mini, showing off a white color, 9-pin port and bottoms-up headphone jack.

For several weeks before then, we've seen parts here and there, and even a supposedly fully assembled phone, but now, thanks to some plucky scrap finders, we have our first look inside a pieced together next-gen iPhone.

The parts are still scarce, so this is only a skeleton outline, but we can clearly see some distinct features marking the next iPhone as distinct from current iOS pack.

Side-by-side comparison of iPhone 5 and iPhone 4
iPhone 5, on the left, and iPhone 4. Credit: iResq.com

Perfectly assembled

Most noticeable among what we're seeing here is the diminutive port compared to the 30-pin dock connector in the iPhone 4S, which means faster connection speed and a more reliable connection.

Though it doesn't look too much thinner, the iPhone 5 is rumored to be the thinnest iOS phone yet, ringing in at 7.6mm, 1.7mm smaller than the previous iPhone iteration.

Noteworthy too is the revelation the phone's speaker looks like it fits inside, just as it does in the iPhone 4 and 4S. If this photo's telling the truth, the next iPhone will have one speaker as all other Apple handsets do.

The assembled phone includes the leaked docking port and headphone jack, inserted snuggly into the phone's frame/back casing.

Tinkerers at iResq, who put together the device out of scrap parts (how they got their hands on them is another mystery) and found the pre-aligned screw spaces and threading fit like a glove.

While many parts are still missing - we likely won't see every cranny filled until September 12 - this helps form a rough idea of what the iPhone, expected to set sales records left and right, will look like on the inside.

Laid back on leaks

Speaking of Apple, where is the fire and brimstone we're used to seeing this company throw at leakers?

TechCrunch reminisced about the time Apple security and local PD raided Gizmodo editor Jason Chen's house, seizing his computers and other devices as part of a probe into how he obtained an Apple iPhone prototype.

Apple still doesn't like leaks, with Peter Oppenheimer, Apple's chief financial officer reportedly saying, "Our weekly iPhone sales continue to be impacted by rumors and speculation regarding new products," however the Cupertino company seems to be focusing its energies on frying bigger fish rather than going after individuals and manufacturers.

What impact this new laid back attitude has on Apple's sales and its production environments remains to be seen.


Source : techradar[dot]com

Microsoft opens $14.99 Windows 8 upgrade registration, other pricing details leak

Consumers who purchased a Windows 7 PC on June 2 or later -- up until January 31, 2013 -- can now register for the Windows Upgrade Offer announced in May, which will give them the option to purchase an upgrade to Windows 8 Pro for only $14.99. Those eligible for the promotion will receive a promo code via email after the operating system is generally available on October 26.

Over at the Windows Upgrade Offer website users will need to provide Microsoft with details including name, email address, phone number, the date of purchase, the retailer, the PC brand and model, and in some cases, the 25-character Windows 7 product key associated with the PC.

You will have until February 28, 2013 to register for the offer to get Windows 8 Pro for $14.99. The code will be redeemable through Microsoft’s Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant, bringing down the regular $39.99 upgrade price for Windows XP, Vista, and Windows 7 systems purchased prior to June 2.

The $40 upgrade price for older systems is only good if you purchase it online -- it will be sold for $69.99 at retail stores. The company hasn’t yet announced the price of a full retail version of Windows 8, but The Verge says it has received an insider tip claiming it will be priced at $199 after a promotional price of $69.99 expires on January 31, 2013. Apparently, a Windows 8 to Windows 8 Pro upgrade option will also be sold at retail stores for $69.99 until January 31, when the price reverts to $99.99.

The lower prices are designed to drive adoption of the new OS early on. If the reports are accurate, once the promotional period is over, Windows 8 will actually be priced similar to its predecessor at launch.

The latest report contradicts a previous rumor suggesting Microsoft would ditch the full retail version of Windows 8 in favor of the presumably cheaper OEM option for home users building a PC, in addition to their upgrade offers for users of a previous version of the operating system.


Source : techspot[dot]com

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