Huawei CEO Says They “Can Be Third By 2015″


At least his ambitions are realistic. With Samsung and Apple clearly taking the first two spots in smartphone market share, Huawei CEO Richard Yu says his company can take bronze in just a couple more years. This is coming from a cell phone company that nobody even knew up until not that long ago.

To be fair, based on the IDC report in April, Huawei doesn’t have to do much to take the third spot, currently occupied by LG. You see, LG has 4.8 percent of market, but Huawei already has 4.6 percent. So, striving for third isn’t that out of reach. Perhaps the real story, then, is how Yu decided to frame it.

In a recent interview, Yu went on to slam the top two. Whereas he says Huawei wants “to provide the best, most beautiful, slimmest smartphone,” he says the Galaxy S4 is “much thicker” and is “just a so-so smartphone.” The super skinny Huawei Ascend P6 is not “made of plastic” like its Korean competitor. He also recognizes that a big part of Samsung’s success has come from heavy marketing and Huawei doesn’t have the budget to do that, so they “have to make our products better.”

And on Cupertino? He says Huawei shouldn’t try to learn from Apple. “We won’t catch up, because they are now slipping. We want to go higher than them.” Yu even bites the hand that feeds him, but ever so gently: “We have a good relationship with Google. We want Android to be more user friendly, so we have made a lot of enhancements. Google is good for an engineer but it’s not good for the consumer. It’s a little bit too complicated.”

It was only a few years ago that we thought Nokia and BlackBerry (then RIM) were unstoppable. Will Huawei be able to achieve the same kind of meteoric rise as a Samsung in the next 3-5 years?



Source : mobilemag[dot]com

LG's August event could see more than just the Optimus G2

LG's August event could see more than just the Optimus G2

An earlier leak shows what looks like the Optimus G2 at rest (credit: @evleaks)

LG is poised to unveil its LG Optimus G successor, the Optimus G2, at a special event on August 7, but a new report says that's not all that will be revealed.

The South Korean phone maker will also show off two other devices, according to TechTastic - an Optimus L9 2 (model number LG-D600) and something called the LG-D500.

The site claims a source tipped it off to the impending announcement of those two unannounced devices, and it's also got specs on hand for both.

It looks like the L9 2 is a mid-range successor to the Optimus L9, while the LG D500 is even lower on the spectrum.

Middle children

Neither unannounced new LG handset is a flagship like the Optimus G2, TechTastic claims.

The LG Optimus L9 2 is a mid-range device with a 4.7-inch 720p display, 1.4GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor, 8-megapixel camera, NFC and Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean.

The D500 on the other hand is a low-end device with a 1.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 200 processor, Adreno 302 GPU, 540 x 960 display, NFC, a 5-megapixel camera, Bluetooth 4.0, and Android 4.1.2.

Neither comes close to the Optimus G2's specs, in particular the next-gen Snapdragon 800 SoC that's been confirmed for the new handset.

In addition to that, the G2 is rumored to feature a 5-inch 1080p display, Adreno 330 GPU, 2GB of memory, a 13-megapixel camera and Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean.


Source : techradar[dot]com

Latest leaked Apple iPhone 5S photos focus on new chip

Latest leaked Apple iPhone 5S photos focus on new chip

iPhone 5S may include a processor from a new manufacturer (credit: MacRumors)

A lot of the iPhone 5S talk these past few weeks has focused primarily on the supposed dual-LED camera flash being spotted in leaked photos.

While there have been a few shots of the possible insides and casing of the new Apple handset, there's still been little confirmation about what hardware the latest iteration of the iPhone will be rocking.

On Monday that changed, when MacRumors got its hands on some leaked shots of the inner-workings of what could be the iPhone 5S.

Even though there doesn't appear to be a whole lot of information to glean from just a few images, the new processor is in clear focus, giving us an idea of just what kind of chip will be powering the next iPhone.

Lucky number seven

Earlier leaked images from the site didn't provide a clear look at the potential processor beyond a "1243" code, which indicated the prototype build was from October 2012.

These latest shots provide a better look at the chip inside, and indicate the iPhone 5S may indeed be packing an ARM A7 processor.

The etched codes on the border of the new chip read "APL0698," which falls in line with the A6's "APL0598" designation, and the A6X's "APL5598" (found in the new iPad) branding.

Additionally, it's possible to see the "1239" marking for the 1GB of DRAM, suggesting that portion of the chip was crafted in September 2012, with the completed prototype phone reportedly being put together in December 2012.

This isn't the first time we've heard reports about an iPhone coming with an A7 processor, but it is the first time we've heard such tales about the iPhone 5S rather than the iPhone 6.

However, since the prototype model's chip doesn't have the same tiered numbering as the A6X processor, it's certainly within reason to speculate the iPhone 5S will be the recipient of the next ARM chip upgrade.

Win some, lose Samsung

In May, we first heard reports Samsung would no longer be responsible for the manufacturing of Apple's processors, with TSMC ready to step in and take over.

The new chip spotted in these leaked photos may provide some truth to those rumors, as new markings for the manufacturer don't fall in line with previous Samsung etchings.

The "K1A0062" tag is a mysterious one, as Samsung's codes typically begin with an "N," but it's not exactly clear to which company the "K" belongs.

It's entirely possible TSMC could be prepped to take over production for Apple's chips, but that would go against the previous belief the Taiwanese manufacturer wouldn't step in until 2014.

Whatever Apple's true plans, we likely won't learn more until later this year, but at least now we've got some more potential details on the iPhone 5S beyond its new camera.


Source : techradar[dot]com

New Sony Xperia ZU Pictures Leak to the Web

ZU

With all the leaks and rumors surrounding the Sony Xperia ZU, sometimes we forget that Sony has yet to confirm that the large-screen handset even exists. Official word or not, we now get yet another sign of proof that the ZU is indeed real: a clear look at the front and back of the device thanks to newly leaked images.

While images can be faked, these certainly look legit. So what can we expect from the Sony Xperia ZU? The device will feature a 6.44-inch 1080p display, a quad-core 2.2GHz Snapdragon 800 processor, 2GB RAM, 16GB storage, 3000 mAh battery, 13.MP front cam, 8MP rear cam and Android Jelly Bean onboard.

ZU

The big question is when will we actually get official information from Sony about the Xperia ZU (formerly known as Togari). The device was originally believed to have its big unveil event sometime in early-July but apparently new rumors suggest an announcement could come as early as tomorrow.

What do you think, would you like to get your hands on a nearly tablet-sized Sony handset or not?



Source : mobilemag[dot]com

Nokia Asha 501 to illuminate UK in next few weeks

Nokia Asha 501 to illuminate UK in next few weeks

Nice threads

Already tempted by the Asha 501, Nokia's featurephone disguised as a smartphone? Well the phone is about to roll out globally, meaning it won't be long until you can pocket Nokia's vibrant little number.

The Finnish phone maker confirmed that the Lumia-like handset will be launching in Thailand and Pakistan this week and then roll out to Europe and other countries in "subsequent weeks". This one won't be hitting the US and Canada for now.

Don't get too excited about the specs though - with only 2G connectivity on offer, the 501 is the budget buyer's choice. It also packs a 2-inch QVGA display, 3.2MP camera, along with a 4GB memory card in the box.

The phone runs on Nokia's overhauled Asha software, which brings in the big Windows Phone icons and simple swiping. Meanwhile there are two main screens, the 'Home' and the 'Fastlane'. The former has the traditional grid of apps while the latter is a feed of messages and updates, as well as recently-used applications.

Phoenix from the Ashas

Still, set at a recommended retail price of €75 (about £65), it promises to be perfect for those bridging the gap to a full smartphone, or for festival-goers looking for a decent backup handset that won't break the bank.

Not only will it be coming in at a budget price, it'll also be presenting itself in six colours: yellow, cyan, bright red, bright green, black and white.

Nokia claims that the phone will also offer 47 days of battery life on standby, and 17 hours of talk time. Not bad if you ask us.


Source : techradar[dot]com

It's free
index