Nokia could have more Android phones coming this May

Nokia could have more Android phones coming this May

The Nokia Normandy in its first candid shots (credit: @evleaks)

Rumors of the Nokia Normandy are really heating up and soon it might just be the first of a whole pack of Android-powered phones.

Phone Arena posted a new report talking with an Artesyn Technologies source that says the Finnish phone company will have more Android phones coming this year including several higher-end models.

Supposedly this new slew of phones powered by Google's mobile OS will be revealed sometime between May and June. The source says the phones will come at different price points but there's no word if it will be able to reach the Play Store unlike the Normandy.

Shuffling technology around

Nokia Normandy, Nokia X Phone, Android, Asha, Smartphones, Mobile Phones, Budget Phones, NewstrackThe Phone Arena report goes on to say that Microsoft has put Nokia through the chop shop, leaving its new acquisition with the low-end Asha and feature phone departments.

Meanwhile, teams involved with Nokia's more notable hardware bits including PureView Cameras, HAAC microphones, and ClearBlack displays have been moved to Redmond.

Taking these technology shifts into account, its possible that a majority of Nokia's Android phones could come as budget handsets with the Asha overlay – essentially a faux-smartphone tiled, touchscreen interface.

Nokia's Android pathfinder

Thus far, the only Android Nokia handset we know about is the Normandy. The phone set to make its debut at MWC 2014 and its already shaping up to be an abnormal little droid.

Instead of accessing the Play Store, Microsoft plans to supply the handset with their own apps such as Here maps and Mix radio, and Nokia's own shop of Android apps.

Its already odd enough to see the Microsoft-owned company putting anything but a Windows Phone OS on just one of its handset, but we'll let you know if we spot any other goodies from Nokia featuring Google's green bot.

  • Nokia might have some kind of Android, but the Motorola Moto G has KitKat, check it out in our revie

Source : techradar[dot]com

Samsung Galaxy S5's new Touchwiz icons pop up in colourful leak

Samsung Galaxy S5's new Touchwiz icons pop up in colourful leak

"Give me some colours" "Green, blue, purple, pink, err, green!"

When Samsung tweeted a teaser for its MWW 2014 Unpacked event this week, most of us believed it was a pretty big hint at the new Touchwiz design coming on the Galaxy S5.

A new screenshot has now appeared that could confirm that we (and the rest of the internet) were on the money.

The picture could either be from a Tizen phone or the Samsung Galaxy S5 itself. Either way, the icon styles match those from the invitation, and two of them – the 'Curiosity' and 'Outdoor' icons – are identical.

Tizen, Tizen, burning bright

IconsWe're big fans of these rather funky new flat, circular icons, so here's hoping they do make it into the S5 after all of this.

The handset is also expected to come with a 2.5GHz quad core processor, 3GB of RAM and a 20MP rear camera.

Other hints in the invite suggested Samsung will also be putting more focus on fitness and privacy. Fingerprint scanner ahoy?

Meanwhile we're expecting to hear more about Samsung's Tizen very soon - quite possibly as soon as MWC.


Source : techradar[dot]com

These are the 10 best smartphones you can buy right now

These are the 10 best smartphones you can buy right now

Smartphones, assemble!

Our top 20 best phones list always draws a bit of controversy. Nobody wants to see their handset of choice left out of the lineup, and the endless power struggle between Apple and Android fans means one side always ends up going home with their feelings hurt.

Still, there can only be one winner.

We saw a lot of movement at the end of last year and after a couple of nice surprises in early 2014, we've revised our list of the best mobiles currently on the market.

In the video below we've cut down our selection to cover just the top 10. So, if you're currently on the lookout for a new phone and are only interested in the best of the best, click the play button and find out which mobile deserves that lonely space in your pocket.


Source : techradar[dot]com

LG G2 Mini official as LG Facebooks photo of big things with mini things

LG G2 Mini official as LG Facebooks photo of big things with mini things

Big thing, little thing, cardboard phone

The LG G2 Mini seems locked on for a MWC 2014 unveiling after LG posted a photo of the back of the handset to its Facebook page.

Well, we assume that's what it is, since it's a smaller handset pictured next to a bigger handset and that bigger handset is the LG G2.

It's also joined by a big shoe and a smaller shoe, a big starfish and a smaller starfish and a big cupcake next to a smaller cupcake.

Mini-G

Is there a hidden meaning to these seemingly random items? Will the LG G2 Mini come with a shoe-cleaning peripheral? A starfish fishing app? Or a free cake?

It seems unlikely. Less unlikely is that the handset will feature the G2's funny back-mounted volume slider, a Xenon flash and a camera.

We've heard all kinds of rumours about the G2 Mini's screen size, with the decidedly not-that-mini 4.7-inch option proving most enduring.

LG G2 Mini

The LG G2's display is a 5.2-inch affair and looking at the difference in size between the two handsets pictured, we'd say there's a good chance that 4.7-inch screen rumour will prove true.

Not too long to wait until we know for sure - the caption under the photo on Facebook says, "Experience the MINI. Mobile World Congress 2014-02-24."


Source : techradar[dot]com

Galaxy Note 4 may be Samsung's first waterproof flagship

Galaxy Note 4 may be Samsung's first waterproof flagship

Does this spell the end for the Active range?

It seems that Samsung is planning on taking a leaf out of Sony's book by making its upcoming flagships both water and dustproof.

Not content with launching niche devices such as Galaxy S4 Active, the Korean firm is looking at ways to bring the selling point to a wider audience.

According to ETNews, Samsung has cancelled an order for 5 million LDS (Laser Direct Structuring) antenna - which are difficult to waterproof - in favour of newer H-IMA (High-performance In-Mold Antenna) technology.

LDS antenna provide far better reception than the waterproof friendly IMA options, but the development of H-IMA means manufacturers can now ensure reception is still good while sealing up their smartphones.

A waterproof Note 4?

Anyone hoping the technology will make it into the Samsung Galaxy S5 will be a little disappointed, as H-IMA isn't ready to go into phones right now.

This means that we could see the H-IMA antenna inside the Galaxy Note 4 or Galaxy S6, or maybe even in the LG G3 later this year, as sources claim that LG suppliers are also embarking on the same antenna development.

If the report is correct it would mean Samsung will be giving the likes of the Sony's Xperia Z1 and Z1 Compact (and the rumoured Xperia Z2?) a swim for their waterproof money.


Source : techradar[dot]com

It's free
index