New HTC One camera will apparently turn blur into beauty

New HTC One camera will apparently turn blur into beauty

Smile for the camera, M8 (credit: MHelal, Google+)

We were already 99.7% sure that the the All New HTC One will come with two rear cameras, but we've now got some more information on the specifics of those snappers.

According to "sources familiar with the matter" speaking to Pocket-lint, the main rear camera will have the 4-megapixel sensor of the 2013 HTC One, while the second will be a 2-megapixel affair.

That second camera will enhance the bokeh (the blur of the out-of-focus bits of your photo) which gives a greater sense of depth, and will allow users to replace the background of any photo.

This will reportedly be controlled via an app which HTC is said to be "currently working on".

Sensor-ble

Additionally, the same report claims that the front-facing 2-megapixel camera is stepping up to 5 megapixels, as the company looks to put more of a focus on taking those lovely selfies that we're seeing every single day on Facebook. Every. Single. Day.

The All New HTC One 2 will be revealed on March 25, and we'll be there to bring you the news as it breaks.


Source : techradar[dot]com

Samsung Galaxy S5 to emerge with two different names

Samsung Galaxy S5 to emerge with two different names

Two flavours to sample

We're less than a week away from the Samsung Galaxy S5, but despite the ever-growing mountain of leaks there's still plenty we don't know.

Industry insider and Mobile-Review.com editor Eldar Murtazin took to Twitter to claim that Samsung's handsets will come with their own unique name - the "Samsung Galaxy S5 something".

Right now it's anyone's guess as to what those names might be (answers on a postcard please) but we'd expect the higher-end model to have a more premium name such as the Samsung Galaxy S5 Pro.

Goldfingers

As well as that, some cases for the S5 have appeared for pre-order on Amazon, and it's not just the colours that vary between the pictures.

Two of the images show the S5 with a physical home buttons, while the phone lacks any such button in the others.

GSM Arena, meanwhile, has apparently got its hands on a Vodafone internal document which outs a gold version of Samsung's upcoming phone.

Another to join the ranks of the iPhone 5S and HTC One, then.


Source : techradar[dot]com

Nokia X release date, news and rumors

Nokia X release date, news and rumors

An Android Nokia probably won't look like this

It started out as a pie-in-the-sky rumor: Nokia is making an Android device. Surely not, given the Finnish firm has only recently been acquired by software giant (and the Windows Phone peddling) Microsoft. So why would Nokia jump into bed with the enemy?

While many eyebrows were raised, and eyes rolled, when news of the Nokia X first took to the web (under the moniker Normandy), the sheer deluge of leaks have added more and more credibility to the handset's existence.

There are differing opinions to the name it will officially launch under though. In the red corner you have seasoned mobile leaker @evleaks claiming "Project Normandy = Nokia X", while in the blue there's a new Twitter player @NextLeaks who reckons "Nokia Asha 4xx = Nokia Normandy".

However going by the volume of leaks surrounding the "Nokia X" name that's the one we're inclined to believe.

Cut to the chase
What is it? Nokia's first smartphone to run Google's Android OS
When is it out? All eyes are on MWC 2014
What will it cost? Not a lot, around £70/$110/AU$120

Nokia X release date and price

Most Nokia X rumors are currently highlighting MWC 2014 in Barcelona as the platform for the Nokia Android smartphone to make its international appearance.

Nokia has a press conference confirmed for February 24, and all eyes will be on the Finnish firm to see if the Android Normandy handset does indeed exist.

We've even had Nokia tease us about the Nokia X's launch, as it's revealed images of tress, monkeys, UFOs, and treasure maps - with "X" references scattered throughout.

Nokia X - Teaser
Oh Nokia, you tease

It's not clear when, or even if, you'll be able to get your hands on the Nokia X, as its low-end credentials means it could be destined for emerging markets only - skipping the likes of the UK, US and Australia.

With low-end specs comes an equally low-end price, so you can expect the Nokia X to be a pretty affordable - if hard to come by - Android device, with figures of £70/$110/AU$120 being thrown around.

Here's what we reckon the Nokia X should look like:

Nokia X operating system

The signal biggest feature on the Nokia X will be its operating system. Nokia is heavily invested in the Windows Phone platform for its Lumia range, while its Asha devices run its own, in-house Asha OS.

The Nokia Normandy isn't expected to run either of these, instead opting for Google's Android operating system - albeit a hugely modified version.

We've seen numerous screen grabs appear online, claiming to show the Android setup on the Nokia X, with many drawing more comparisons with Windows Phone or the defunct MeeGo platform rather than its supposed Android base.

The first screens to appear don't give a great deal away, but the more detailed lockscreen notifications, an Android style dialer app and a Google-esque notifications bar hint that the Nokia X is packing a different, Google-flavored, OS.

Nokia Normandy - LEAK
Keeping us guessing (credit: @evleaks)

Then came a snap claiming to show the app list on Nokia Normandy - and this has an air of MeeGo about it as well as a similar notification bar to the previous screens.

Nokia X
Check out those apps (credit: Weibo)

The most detailed screenshots to date however come via @evleaks, and show what appears to be a long, vertical, scrollable homescreen made up of various live-tile esque boxes and application icons.

Some of the apps which appear in these screens (e.g. BBM and Plants vs. Zombies 2) are not currently available on the Windows Phone store, but do exist on Google Play, once again pointing towards an Android influence for the Nokia X.

Nokia Normandy - LEAK
A bit of MeeGo, Windows Phone and Android (credit: @evleaks)

Source : techradar[dot]com

Nokia X gives Android the live tiles treatment in latest leak

Nokia X gives Android the live tiles treatment in latest leak

The Nokia Android phone draws near

It seems Nokia really is going to go Android as the pre-MWC 2014 rumour mill continues to churn out Nokia X leaks, with the latest offering a series of images depicting said Android phone.

French site Nowhereelse.fr has apparently got hold of more images of the fabled Nokia X (previously known as the Nokia Normandy), showing off the front, back and side of the chunky handheld.

The homescreen is visible and the user interface matches previous leaks, showing a highly modified version of Android which resembles the live tile setup of Windows Phone more than Google's own creation.

Android, but no Google

The Finnish firm's own Here Maps application appears on one of the tiles - as does a simple "Store" icon - suggesting the Nokia X won't come with Google's own suite of apps such as Maps and the Play Store.

Nokia X - LEAK
Is this Nokia's first Android phone? (credit: nowhereelse)

In terms of design the Nokia X is shaping up to be a pretty ordinary slab of plastic, reinforcing the budget credentials it's been associated with so far - although we'll hopefully find out for sure shortly at MWC.


Source : techradar[dot]com

Is Huawei's smartwatch taking cues from the LG Lifeband Touch?

Is Huawei's smartwatch taking cues from the LG Lifeband Touch?

Blue's clues

It's hardly a surprise to see Huawei getting in on the smartwatch game, but this isn't quite what we thought it would have up its sleeve.

One Huawei official has posted a picture of an interestingly-looking wrist device over on Weibo, along with the message, "My new toy. Do you like this color?"

The colour isn't the problem – it's the design of the watch itself that will likely divide. Going by the pictures, it seems to be taking some inspiration from the LG Lifeband Touch's rigid style.

Fighting fit

However, this could be a separate health-focused wristband we're looking at, rather than a more straight-up smartwatch like the Galaxy Gear.

Huawei's smartwatch is expected to show up at MWC 2014, which kicks off in Barcelona on February 24.


Source : techradar[dot]com

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