Sony Xperia Z2 may make MWC 2014 appearance according to @evleaks.
The phone is currently known as the Sony Sirius and has a 5.2-inch display with a Qualcomm Snapdragon MSM8974AB SoC chipset.
Earlier rumours suggested that it would have a 1080p full HD display with 506ppi, a quad-core Snapdragon 800 processor, 3GB of RAM, Android 4.4 and a 20.7MP camera with a xenon flash.
No word on whether optical image stabilisation is on board. This would be a killer feature.
Apart from the usual bug fixes, this beta also changes the appearance slightly of some of the screens.
First up is the keyboard shown on the right. It’s slightly darker and looks sharper in places.
The icons top right are newer and again slightly darker toned.
The power off screen has changed too as shown above.
The dialler above on the right looks much better with all rounded buttons but do you agree?
And finally the music shuffle text is much clearer. This was the one area that I felt definitely needed improving.
So have you installed the new beta, and what do you think of the new screens?
The Moto G devices in the UK are now receiving the latest verison of KitKat.
The update includes the smart dialer, Hangouts SMS as the default SMS handler, and printing support. Once the update takes, the build will be KLB20.9-1.10-1.9.
If you haven’t received the notification for the update yet you can go to Settings>About phone>System updates. .
Twitter user @evleaks published a photo of Samsung’s potential new Touchwiz skin as shown above. This is one area that in my opinion needed a consistent refresh so any consistent change should be a good thing.
It’s all very well Samsung launching new tablets with decent specifications but what will make these tablets special is the included software. And this is where Samsung seems to be pulling out all the stops.
Below is the official announcement from Samsung re the included services and software. Looks good.
The Samsung Galaxy NotePRO and TabPRO (12.2) come equipped with a variety of productivity tools to help users to manage both their personal and professional lives.
Multi Window enables users to split the screen up into four different windows and an innovative, Virtual Keyboard provides them with enough space to type comfortably, leveraging haptic feedback to produce a more realistic typing experience.
The Samsung S Pen included with the Galaxy NotePRO delivers a more responsive, productive and overall efficient tablet experience with access to features such as Action Memo, Scrapbook, Screen Write and S Finder. In addition, Pen Window enables users to simply draw a window of any size on the screen, and instantly access unique in-application features such as YouTube or a calculator.
Users can easily access and control their home or office PC directly through their Galaxy NotePRO or TabPRO with Remote PC in order to seamlessly edit and save files remotely.
The Galaxy NotePRO and TabPRO also come pre-loaded with Cisco WebEx Meetings platform, the industry’s leading web conferencing solution that provides users with an easy way to meet with anyone, anywhere. And now for the first time on Android tablets, users can share anything on their screen as well as starting a WebEx meeting from contact list. Samsung e-Meeting provides collaboration capabilities by giving users the ability to share content during a meeting without having to access a central server or network.
Ultimate User Content Gift Package*
For additional value and productivity right out of the box, the Samsung Galaxy NotePRO and TabPRO (12.2) will feature up to approximately $700 worth of the premium pre-paid, long-term subscription offers from best-selling news, social media and cloud storage providers, including: Bitcasa, Bloomberg Businessweek+, Blurb, Cisco WebEx Meetings, Dropbox, Easilydo Pro for Tablet, Evernote, Hancom Office for Android, LinkedIn, LIVESPORT.TV, NY Times, Oxford Advanced Learner’s A-Z, and Sketchbook Pro (content packages may vary by region).
The Samsung Galaxy NotePRO and TabPRO line will come in various connectivity options: WiFi Only, WiFi and 3G, or WiFi and LTE. Users can choose between the 12.2-inch Galaxy NotePRO that comes with an included S Pen, and the 12.2-inch Galaxy TabPRO, Galaxy TabPRO 10.1-inch and 8.4-inch without the S Pen.
Designed to extend productivity even further, the following optional accessories are also available for purchase with the Galaxy NotePRO and TabPRO: Various Book Covers, USB LAN HUB, Universal BT Keyboard and S Action Mouse (accessories may vary by product model).
If you need to recap on the hardware specs , scroll back to yesterday post.
These tablets could really start to challenge the iPad.
Sony took its flagship Xperia Z1, reduced its physical size and created the Z1 Compact. This version comes with nearly the same specs of the bigger Z1. That is the same waterproof coating, Snapdragon 800 processor and 2 gigs of RAM. The Z1 Compact also matches the Z1’s camera with the same 20.7 MP shooter with f/2.0 lens and Exmor CMOS sensor, which Sony promises is one of the best mobile shooters in the business.
The Z1 Compact’s only drop in specs is that Sony opted for a smaller, 4.3-inch display with 720p resolution. Sony also opted for a more colorful finish, and the Z1 Compact will ship in black, white, yellow and pink.
Finally, a mini version of a flagship phone that still has the flagship specs. This phone could sell like hot cakes.
Sony also announced the Z1s for T-Mobile. This has double the memory at 32gb of the standard Z1 and is now IP58 rated. This means it’s now waterproof instead of water resistant.
Google has just announced that it’s joining forces with Audi, GM, Honda, Hyundai and Nvidia to create the Open Automotive Alliance. In other words, it’s planning to take Android to the automobile.
Looks like the race to connected cars is truly on with Apple looking to fill this space.
And if brand is anything to go by, Apple is already linked with Ferrari.
LG has announced two new wearable devices. The first is the Lifeband Touch, a fitness-focused device that connects to your phone over Bluetooth. The Lifeband Touch provides health and fitness data tracking, feeding it back to your phone via a connected app. The device has a touchscreen OLED display.
For the fitness wearable category, LG has announced Heart Rate Earphones, a wired headset that connects to both the Lifeband Touch and your phone over Bluetooth. It also provides media playback and regular fitness updates during your workout, whilst measuring your heart rate and feeding that data back to your Lifeband Touch for better fitness tracking.
Not sure what to make of this. What do you think ?
Twitter user @evleaks has revealed there are 3 different sizes to the Pro range from Samsung –
Samsung Galaxy NotePRO 12.2-inch, Galaxy TabPRO 12.2-, 10.1, and 8.4-inch. The specifications are –
Galaxy NotePRO 12.2-inch with S-Pen
-Wi-Fi/3G: Exynos 5 Octa (1.9GHz x 4 + 1.3GHz x 4)
LTE : Snapdragon 800 2.3GHz x 4
-WQXGA
-8MP / 2MP
-3GB RAM / 32GB/64GB storage
-9500mAh
-KitKat
Galaxy TabPRO 12.2-inch
-Wi-Fi/3G: Exynos 5 Octa (1.9GHz x 4 + 1.3GHz x 4)
LTE : Snapdragon 800 2.3GHz x 4
-WQXGA
-8MP / 2MP
-3GB RAM / 32GB/64GB storage
-9500mAh
-KitKat
Galaxy TabPRO 10.1-inch
-Wi-Fi/3G: Exynos 5 Octa (1.9GHz x 4 + 1.3GHz x 4)
LTE : Snapdragon 800 2.3GHz x 4
-WQXGA
-8MP / 2MP
-2GB RAM / 16GB/32GB storage
-8220mAh
-KitKat
Galaxy TabPRO 8.4-inch
-Snapdragon 800 2.3GHz x 4
-WQXGA
-8MP / 2MP
-2GB RAM / 16GB/32GB storage
-4800mAh
-KitKat
Whilst the hardware looks good, the included software is what will make these even more interesting.
Before you think to yourself, “I don’t remember reading day 4 and 5” you would be correct as I skipped 2 days.
I thought I would leave a few more days to see how things have progressed. Sadly, I’ve giving up on the Note 3 and I am back with the iPhone 5S. No that’s not true and I know some of still believe I will fall back to the iPhone 5S.
Using the Note 3 now is becoming a pleasure and not a frustration. I am still waiting for Google to update their Play Music app so I can stream my tunes and for for the official twitter app to allow me to receive notifications. Update. I fixed this. See separate post. Apparently twitter need to clear my cache but there support service is dreadfully slow.
Samsung’s WatchOn app remote control now operates my TV and DVD player properly and has a shortcut widget on the lock and home screen which is very handy.
And to reset or switch off and back on I have to untick allow scanning in the advanced wifi settings to avoid a reboot loop. Apart from that it’s faultless.
In the meantime, I am using Robird for twitter, a pleasurable experience, and for low light shots A Better Camera App that allows the Note 3 to take great low light photos providing their is no movement and you are using a tripod or similar. In fact, this app using the Hi-Res Night mode can produce some crazy good quality shots.
I have started to tweak everything a little bit more and I am finding everything just works a treat now. It was a painful beginning but it is starting to provide dividends.
Even the free music offer which at first didn’t work, just did yesterday when I tried again. Human error probably but it wasn’t as obvious as I would have thought. I also found a free game Monster University for Note 3 users available on the Samsung Games stores. I also have a different view of the Samsung Hub. Whilst it is not perfect, it does cover all aspects of media and is definitely Samsung’s next strike to remove itself from Google’s services in the future.
With the Note 3, Samsung included a wealth of extra software and third party software services which makes this whole proposition really hard to refuse.
I have activated Find My Phone and Sim Activation Lock. Scrapbook which I thought was a gimmick is actually wonderful to use. It provides a fluid way to clip and record properly items of interest.
Screen and battery life and amazing. I have nearly every option turned on from air gestures, to motion and smart options. The small on screen floating apps are useful although not many of them. Handy for the calculator and whatsapp. Using Flipboard, My Magazine, Business Week and other news type apps is a joy due to the large screen. I never really bothered with Flipboard on the iPhone but it is lovely to view on the Note 3.
I have now added gestures with Nova Launcher so double type, and one or two finger swiping up and down launches specific apps, saving time.
There is no away I can see myself drifting back to an iPhone despite all its positives. The Note 3 is leagues ahead in many ways and the honeymoon period is just improving.
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