Jolla's been toolin' for a phone over which you'll be droolin' (credit: IBTimes)
Most smartphone owners are looking forward to Android Key Lime Pie or Apple iOS 7, but Finish phone developer Jolla is promising an OS lovefest on May 20.
"We are super excited to welcome you to hear about Jolla's next steps and get a sneak preview of what is yet to come," read the invite sent to various press outlets today.
The "Love Day" invitation isn't a belated Valentine's Day card that's three months old, but widely believed to be a summons to check out the company's first smartphone ten days from now.
Jolla, a start-up that consists ex-Nokia employees, has said that it's preparing a phone running its newly unveiled Sailfish operating system in the month of May.
Here MeeGo!
May 20 will be an opportunity for Sailfish to prove Nokia wrong after it had abandoned the MeeGo operating system that accompanied the Nokia N9 smartphone.
Jolla picked up where Nokia left off and intends to turn the Linux-based mobile operating system into an iOS and Android competitor.
The invitation doesn't hint at what Jolla's first smartphone will look like, but has said that the device will have a "modern Scandinavian design," according to Jolla Chairman Antti Saarnio.
That's a step in the right direction for Jolla's MeeGo successor, as something radically new would help it stand out in a marketplace where Windows Phone 8 and BlackBerry 10 are fighting for third place.
Think the Samsung Galaxy S4 is pretty great? Things are only getting started, as several variants could be one their way in the near future. The newest of these rumored devices is the Galaxy S4 Zoom.
It is a variant of the yet to be released S4 Mini, but this handset’s special niche is the fact is will boast a 16 MP rear facing camera, with 10x optical zoom. I’ll give you a minute to re-read that, yes 10x optical zoom. That blows the Nokia 808 PureView’s miniscule 3x zoom out of the water. According to Unwired View, this variant arrived for certification at the Bluetooth SIG this week under the model number SM-C101.
Samsung is making a run at a majority market share with all its variations of their Galaxy S4s (at least if rumors are to be believed). They have brought to the table the mini for those that don’t want such a large screen. Also a variant that is similar to the Xperia Z, made to be rugged and withstand the worst conditions that can be thrown at you, and now the S4 Zoom which will have amateur shutterbugs doing backflips at the possibility.
Thus far optical zoom was really the only thing traditional cameras had over the previously limited point and shoot cameras in mobile phones. This will pave the way for a new standard in mobile phone cameras if it takes off like I’m sure it will.
This variation is rumored to land soon, maybe even as early as June according to some of the circulating rumors. Keep your eyes open for more info on this handset. It will surely be a hit with users serious about photography and those casual snappers alike. What do you think about the Zoom? Is this a technology that you would like to see on your phone, or should it be left to the handheld camera market?
Facebook Home isn't doing so bad, but the HTC First may be another story
AT&T will discontinue sales of the HTC First, sending all remaining stock back to HTC, due to extremely poor sales of the Facebook Home device, a report this morning claimed.
As of last week, the HTC First had sold just 15,000 since its debut on April 12, according to BGR.
According to BGR's sources, that price cut is just a final effort on AT&T's part to ditch as many of the devices as possible before shipping the rest back to HTC once a contract between AT&T and HTC for in-store displays expires.
A social experiment
The HTC First is the only phone to come pre-loaded with Facebook's Android UI overlay Facebook Home.
The ill-fated HTC device was unveiled on stage by Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg in early April.
Facebook Home itself was nearing 1 million users as of last week, according to figures released by the social network.
Neither HTC nor AT&T will discuss the HTC First's sales performance, though an AT&T store sales representative told TechRadar last week that "people don't seem to want that phone as much."
We asked both companies to comment on this latest report. AT&T informed us that they "don't comment on the results of individual manufacturer device sales," and HTC has so far not replied.
Developers will start pouring into the annual Google I/O conference on Wednesday, but those wondering if the company's Motorola Mobility division could have something new to offer won't have to wait so long.
Android Guys today reported that an unannounced Motorola XT1058 smartphone turned up at the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently.
Judging from the FCC ID Label and Location document included as part of the filing, the handset bears a striking resemblance to the so-called "X Phone" which has been making the rounds in recent months.
The XT1058 model number matches a number of humorous handset codenames for Motorola's next device, which include Yeti, Ghost and Sasquatch.
Although FCC documents don't currently include telltale photographs of the rumored "XFON," the docs do reveal AT&T 4G LTE-compatible antennas, squashing hopes the handset might be part of a new Droid lineup at rival Verizon Wireless.
Beyond the carrier bands and a sketch of the rear casing with FCC "CE0168" approval label, the report claims that an NFC chip and possibly even stock Android 4.2 appear to be in the cards.
Unfortunately, we will probably have to wait a few more weeks before laying eyes on the elusive X Phone. Hopefully it's worth the wait.
When it comes to Windows Phone there's a new player in the starting line up in the form of Windows Phone 8 – Microsoft's latest attempt to make a significant dent in the mobile market.
While Android and iOS lead the way when it comes to mobile operating systems, you can draw many similarities between the two which may leave you feeling like you want some new. A fresh start, a new perspective.
That's exactly what Windows Phone 8 offers with a completely new way of providing you with your smartphone fill.
We've taken the time to go through all the Windows Phone devices available to pick out the best ones around and while there's some serious Nokia dominance in this list a handful of other manufacturers are also getting in on the action.
1. Nokia Lumia 520
Usually the number one place in our top lists is claimed by a powerful, flagship smartphone but as you can see here that's not always the case will the incredibly affordable Lumia 520 grabbing the "Best Windows phone" title.
While it may not have a ridiculous amount of power, super sized screen or market leading camera, what the Lumia 520 does offer is the perfect smartphone experience on a budget.
It's got a decent spec sheet for such a keenly priced device with a 1GHz dual-core processor, 4-inch display, 5MP camera and micro SD card slot to make up for a small internal storage.
In may not have a front facing snapper or fancy NFC technology, plus the battery life could better, but for the money you'll be hard pressed to get something better than the Lumia 520.
All in all it's cheap and extremely cheerful and if you want to try Windows Phone 8 but don't want a handset which will break the bank, or your pocket then the Nokia Lumia 520 is the one you should plump for.
What's better than a top Windows Phone 7 handset? A Windows Phone 8 one, and we've got no qualms about telling you the Lumia 920 is one of the best Windows Phone out there.
Simplicity is the key here, the Lumia 920 does the basics well, from contact integration and calling, to web browsing and messaging – oh and it's 4G enabled.
The 8MP camera on the back of the Lumia 920 is one of the best we've used and for anyone looking to get a top end cameraphone you need to seriously consider this Nokia.
The 4.5-inch display is also a good'un, crisp and clear it makes watching movies, surfing the web or Facebook stalking an enjoyable experience, thanks to the PureMotion HD technology on offer.
It's major flaw though is its size, so if you've got delicate hands you may want to side step the weighty Lumia 920 for something a little more manageable - perhaps take a look at the HTC 8X.
Oh and you can even use it with gloves on... what more could you want? You're right: holograms. But they don't exist yet.
If you're pockets aren't so deep, or your hands are a little smaller, you may want to take a look at the Nokia Lumia 820, which still provides you with the full Windows Phone 8 experience, albeit on a slightly smaller screen.
The 4.3-inch AMOLED display is still a strong performer, while the camera comes with the Nokia class that we've come to expect.
It still has the fancy tricks of Lumia 920, including wireless charging, 4G, NFC connectivity, but it also brings changeable covers so your phone can reflect your mood – exciting times.
There aren't any giant flaws with the Nokia Lumia 820, and while there may be a couple of minor niggles they certainly don't get in the way.
The Samsung Ativ S is one of the unsung heroes of the Windows Phone 8 brigade, a handset which hasn't been thrust into the limelight and while it may be a little tricky to get hold of you won't be disappointed.
Sporting a similar design to its Android toting brother the Samsung Galaxy S3 the Korean firm works on its winning design formula and breaks away from the styles employed by the likes of Nokia, HTC and Huawei.
It's also so light and slim. Given the size of the handset, the weight and dimensions genuinely surprised us when we picked one up.
With a 4.8-inch display it's already the sort of phone that may poke out of your pocket, so the skinny design is much appreciated.
A removable battery and miroSD card slot are welcome bonuses and helps set the Ativ S apart from the rest of the Windows Phone 8 crowd.
