Android 4.4 for Galaxy Note 3 now seeding in India and Baltic region

Poland and its S800-based Galaxy Note 3 unites were the first to taste the Android 4.4 KitKat with the latest TouchWiz upgrade. It seems the update has had no major issues as now Samsung is pushing it to other regions as well.

The Exynos-powered Galaxy Notes 3 in Russia have been recently updated with KitKat, while today both Exynos and S800 Note 3 units in South Korea, India, and the Baltic region (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania) are joining on the KitKat fun too.

We guess the update process will now be hitting full steam and may more countries will be joining those in a few days. Reportedly the OTA update weighs at about 360MB, so you might want to make sure you download it over Wi-Fi when the time comes.

8-core, 6-core and quad-core Xiaomi Hongmi 2 phones to launch April

Xioami’s entry-level Hongmi is ripe for an upgrade and April of this year could be the date it happens.

According to sources in Beijing the next generation Xiaomi Hongmi will launch in April of this year, around 12 months after the first Hongmi hit the scene and smashed sales records. Since the original Hongmi went on sale we have seen serious competition arrive in the form of the Huawei Honor 3C and 3X, and Coolpad’s Halo F1, to ward off this attack sources are saying 3 versions of the XiaomiHongmi 2 will launch!

According to the details each Xiaomi Hongmi 2 will boast a 5.5-inch 1280 x 720 display, however there will be a few options to choose from including an entry-level quad-core, flagship octacore and most intriguing of all a 6-core device!

We can assume that Mediatek will be the supplier for the octacore and quad-core units, but just who is producing a 6-core processor we have no idea!

Unknown Sony phone pops up in photos, hints at another Z1 revision could arrive next month Sony is doing a pretty job keeping itself in our line of sight right now. Not only did it out two (or almost two) new handsets at CES (the Z1 Compact, and a T-mo only Z1S), it also released a brace of mid-rangers a few days later. Today is all about the mystery handset you see in the picture above. A user on XDA claims the handset shows the model number Xperia D6503, and is potentially another Z1 variant. All we know from the image is that the mic grille is now three holes (not a mesh), and the lanyard hole is in a different location. Judging by the crash report on screen, there's some unstable software running, so if it's not a prototype Z1, then it's still almost certainly a pre-production model. XDA user iRimas claims the device has the familiar metal body, but that the thinner bezel houses a screen nearer to 5.2-inches. So, MWC is just around the corner, and Sony likely doesn't want to turn up without something new to show, but whether it's a Z1 "L"-type deal or the fabled/logical Z2/Sirius (or just a prototype) remains to be seen.

Sony is doing a pretty job keeping itself in our line of sight right now. Not only did it out two (or almost two) new handsets at CES (the Z1 Compact, and a T-mo only Z1S), it also released a brace of mid-rangers a few days later. Today is all about the mystery handset you see in the picture above. A user on XDA claims the handset shows the model number Xperia D6503, and is potentially another Z1 variant. All we know from the image is that the mic grille is now three holes (not a mesh), and the lanyard hole is in a different location. Judging by the crash report on screen, there's some unstable software running, so if it's not a prototype Z1, then it's still almost certainly a pre-production model. XDA user iRimas claims the device has the familiar metal body, but that the thinner bezel houses a screen nearer to 5.2-inches. So, MWC is just around the corner, and Sony likely doesn't want to turn up without something new to show, but whether it's a Z1 "L"-type deal or the fabled/logical Z2/Sirius (or just a prototype) remains to be seen.

Samsung Galaxy S5's new tile-based home screen

As Samsung's Galaxy S5 gets ready to launch, the rumor alert scale has already hit "yellow." The latest from @evleaks shows a possible TouchWiz home screen that would be a sharp U-turn from the current one, if real. It displays information and notifications like Google Now in a tiled format à la Microsoft's Modern/Metro UI -- not unlike the Galaxy Note Pro 12.2's Magazine UX. Naturally, there's no info about how the software would gather up such data, but in any event, the screenshot above could easily be a Samsung test or a fake -- we'll find out in a few short months.

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Samsung Galaxy Note 4: Early Look at What to Expect

The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 was released in September, October in the United States, which means that it’s not going anywhere, anytime soon. However, at some point this year, the Galaxy Note 3 will be replaced by something newer, perhaps better. That something is likely going to be a Samsung Galaxy Note 4, a device that Samsung has already confirmed for arrival. Twice.

In September, Samsung took the stage at IFA in Berlin, Germany, as it typically does, and announced a Samsung Galaxy Note 3, a successor to the popular Galaxy Note 2 and a device that has carried the torch for a series that was once dismissed a niche product due to its large display and its S Pen stylus. Oddly enough, there are rumors that say that Apple itself is creating an iPhone with a large display, perhaps 5.5-inches in size. Imagine that.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 improves on the Galaxy Note 2 in just about every single way. The screen is better. The processor is faster. The camera shoots better photos and video. The S Pen experience has been tweaked and improved. The design is slimmer and much easier to haul around. The Galaxy Note 3 is a powerful device and one that will live a long life but it, like all smartphones, will see its life come to an end. And when it does, there will be another Galaxy Note waiting in the wings.

It’s still very early in the year but already, we’ve seen Samsung hint at the arrival of another Galaxy Note. The first hint pointed to a Galaxy Note release during the fall, per usual. The second came in the form of a report that claims Samsung is looking into releasing a Galaxy Note 4 with a three-sided display, echoing rumors that first emerged in 2013. It’s almost as if Samsung knows that we know that a Galaxy Note 4 is coming.

A Samsung Galaxy Note 4 launch is months away but we want to try and help set expectations for Galaxy Note 2 owners coming off contract and for those that may not be interested in the Galaxy Note 3 and are waiting for something better to come along.

Here, we take an early look at what to expect from the already rumored, basically confirmed, Samsung Galaxy Note 4.

SAMSUNG GALAXY NOTE 4 RUMORS TO FIRM UP IN JULY-AUGUST

While we’ve started to hear a little bit about the Samsung Galaxy Note, prospective buyers should expect the concrete, firm Galaxy Note 4 rumors to emerge much closer to the actual launch. We should see some sporadic Galaxy Note 4 details surface in the first half of the year but we expect the first half to be dominated by the Samsung Galaxy S5 and its pedigree rather than the Galaxy Note series.

Instead, July and August should be the months when we really start seeing the Galaxy Note 4 rumor mill get into full swing and start pumping out potential features and release dates and carriers. This is how Samsung launches typically play out and we aren’t expecting anything different this time around.

FALL RELEASE DATE

Samsung itself has already said that the Galaxy Note 4 should be coming this fall with new Samsung wearables. The Galaxy Gear 2 might launch with the Galaxy S5 in March but the company has made it clear that the Galaxy Note series will be joined on stage by a wearable of some kind, perhaps one that functions without the need for a smartphone.

Recent comments from another Samsung executive also put the Galaxy Note 4 release in the second half of the year so it’s clear that the company is sticking to its usual release pattern in 2014. While the fall launch might be disappointing to some, it makes sense. A Galaxy Note release in the second half of the year gives Samsung a two-pronged attack against the likes of Apple, which again, is rumored to be delivering a larger iPhone 6 this year.

So, consumers will want to temper those expectations. The Galaxy Note 4 is destined for a debut at IFA 2014 in Berlin, Germany which is set to take place September 5th to September 10th, or, the same time as last year.

NEW DESIGN

Rumors suggest that the Galaxy S5 will be coming with two different designs, one of them plastic and the other metal. Metal Galaxy flagship devices have been rumored for some time now but it looks like the Samsung Galaxy S5 will finally deliver the goods. Whether or not this translates to a metal Galaxy Note 4, we can’t be sure but we will say this. Expect a new design with the Galaxy Note 4.

5 Samsung Galaxy Note 4 Confirmed Changes And Features Before Release Date

Samsung Galaxy Note 4 is set for release around September or October in the U.S., giving Samsung ample time to improve the device better than Note 3. Some features have either been confirmed or under works such as design, exclusive apps, UI and display for the next-generation Note phablet.

Built And Design

Samsung may not keep the same design concept on the Galaxy Note 3 for Galaxy Note 4 becuase of two possible reasons. First is the decision to make Galaxy S5 available in both plastic and metal versions. Second is the faux leather plastic of Galaxy Note 3 which didn't impress most critics. The company may have a hard time denying the metallic version release for future flagship devices such as Galaxy Note 4 after confirming it for Galaxy S5. However, Galaxy Note 4 could feature something better compared to the design used on Galaxy S5.

Improved Display Screen

Samsung Galaxy S5 boasts of QHD display resolution at 5.25-inch screen size that points the same heavy armament on Galaxy Note 4. Note 3 features full HD 1080 x 1920 under 5.7-inch screen size that needs some upgrading after a year. Galaxy Note 4 possible display upgrades include higher resolution, higher pixel density, increase in screen size and thinner bezel. In addition, YOUM technology may appear for the first-time on a commercial smartphone in Galaxy Note 4 having curved or multiple-sided display for better viewing experience.

Android 4.4 KitKat And New TouchWiz

Google's newest Android OS will definitely run Galaxy Note 4 with brand new TouchWiz on the hood. PRO editions of Galaxy Note and Tab tablets have featured the magazine-style TouchWiz UI that boasts of new notifications, new icon packs and new lock screen. New TouchWiz UI is also expected to appear on Galaxy S5. In Galaxy Note 4, we can see major upgrades on exclusive apps pertaining to its S Pen.

Galaxy Note Software Upgrades

Synaptics reported touch solutions for future Samsung devices are receiving major upgrades such as improved hovering detection on related features like Air View and greater distance hovering detection. S Pen stylus is also getting major enhancements such as touchscreen panel recognition of at least 2.5 pi pen point measurement, more elaborate and precise handwriting compared to Galaxy Note 3. These features are most likely to happen due to the lower manufacturing costs using a new printing technology by Synaptics.

Network Carriers

As usual, Galaxy Note 4 will be available in all major network carriers in the U.S. such as AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular and Verizon. Other territories in Asia and Europe are also getting access to Galaxy Note 4. But don't forget the network lock used on Galaxy Note 3, which requires some rules to deactivate as Samsung, may keep its commitment to improve security.

Expected Price And Release Dates

IFA 2014 in Berlin, Germany is typically the venue for the grand appearance of Galaxy Note 4 like what Samsung did last year with Note 3. In terms of pricing, don't get surprised on how expensive it will be based on the Galaxy Note 3's selling price.

Upgraded screen, software, exclusive apps and S Pen could simply point more than $199 under contract. According to Lee Young Hee, Samsung's executive vice president of mobile business, Galaxy Note 4 will target consumers who want more professional use and would be willing to pay more for handsets.

Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo LTE passes FCC

As if we needed more proof that the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo launch is fast approaching. After getting its detailed specs through an internal document and then seeing what it looks like in the flesh through a bunch of live photos, we're now seeing the upcoming phablet pass through FCC.

The US regulatory has approved the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo, meaning there's nothing preventing the handset from launching in the local market. Given that manufacturers rarely have units good enough for testing too long before the actual announcement, this suggests the development is virtually complete and the phablet will hit officialdom very soon.

Earlier rumors pointed to an MWC launch, but that's still over a month away. In light of the FCC certification, the Samsung Forum closed event, which starts in just 11 days, is also a candidate for the debut of the first hexa-core handset. Now long until we know for sure.

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Huawei wants $445 for the Ascend Mate 2

The Huawei Ascend Mate 2 saw the light of day a few days ago at the Consumer Electronics Show in Vegas and already has a price on its head. Courtesy of Huawei online shop Vmall the device can be had for CNY2,688, which is the equivalent of around $445.

The device packs a massive 6.1" display of 720p resolution, quad-core 1.6 GHz Hisilicon V9R1, 3G, 2 gigs of RAM, Emotion UI 2.0-ed Android Jelly Bean 4.3 and a 5 MP/13 MP front and back camera capabilities. There's also a quad-core 1.6 GHz Snapdragon 400 variant that packs LTE connectivity but it's for outside of China.

The built in memory is 16 GB but is expandable through an microSD card slot. The Ascend Mate 2 has a nifty trick up its sleeve - a 4,050 mAh battery that not only acts as a main power supply but can also charge external devices.

There's no world on global availability yet but word is Huawei intends to bring the Ascend Mate 2 stateside after it finds local carriers to collaborate with.

You can find our hands-on with the Ascend Mate 2 here.

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LG G3 to launch in May with 5.5" QHD screen, G Pro 2 at MWC

Rumors of various 2014 flagships have started and now LG is the target of gossip. Apparently the company is working on a Optimus G Pro successor, which will be unveiled at the MWC and pave the way for the LG G3.

LG unveiled the G2 relatively late last year – Sony, HTC and Samsung announced their flagships in Q1, while the G2 announcement came in August. The flagship launch timetable has been moved up this year, according to Korean publication Asiae.

According to its sources, the LG G3 will launch on May 17, compared to the G2, which was released in September. There's speculation that this is to counter the alleged Galaxy S5 launch in March.

The publication goes on to add that LG continues the one-upmanship by using a QHD (2,560 x 1,440) that's as big as 5.5". Both Samsung and Sony's upcoming flagships are rumored to have 5.2" QHD screens. To put things in perspective, 5.2" is the same size as the G2, while 5.5" is the screen size of the Galaxy Note II.

LG will allegedly unveil the Optimus G Pro 2 in late February at the MWC (the original was announced at the MWC too). The second generation phablet is said to have a 5.9" QHD screen.

Concrete details on other specs of either device are not known at the moment, but there's probably going to be a Snapdragon 80x chipset at their hearts (hopefully 805) and quite possibly an OIS camera. If the launches are indeed so close, we should be seeing leaks of near-final hardware soon, so we might not have to wait long.

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Xperia Z1 to launch in Samsung’s home market of South Korea

Sony has announced that it plans on releasing the Xperia Z1 (C6903) and SmartWatch 2 in South Korea. Sony has traditionally steered clear of South Korea, which is understandable given it is Samsung’s home market.

As well as being sold through the Sony Store, the Xperia Z1 will be available from carrier KT (Korea Telecom). Sony did sell the Xperia Z in South Korea, but only direct to consumers through the website. The Xperia Z1 is priced at KRW 749,000 (£431, €517, $704) and the SmartWatch 2 will be KRW 219,000 (£126, €151, $206).

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Sony will release Android 4.3 for the SP, T, TX and V this month

Owners of the Sony Xperia SP, Xperia T, Xperia TX and Xperia V have grown impatient waiting for their Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update and have pressured Sony to release more information. As a result, Sony has announced on one of its Twitter accounts, that its currently undergoing final preparations and will start rolling the update from the end of January through early February.

The update will commence at different times for all regions and carriers. The Sony Xperia Z, Xperia ZL, Xperia ZR and Tablet Z were already graced by Android 4.3 Jelly Bean, but the waiting of their lower standing siblings is now almost over too. The update brings various changes and additional features, which you can check out here.

As for those awaiting for Sony to move on to Android 4.4 KitKat - we have no new information. Back in November, the company said that the Xperia Z, Xperia ZL, Xperia Z1, Xperia Z Ultra and the Xperia Tablet Z will be in the queue to get the latest 4.4 KitKat update. The Sony Xperia ZR and Xperia SP have also been revealed to be under consideration for an update to KitKat, but we don't know if they've made the cut just yet.

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Screenshots reveal Nokia Normandy user interface

Fresh Nokia Normandy information made the rounds on Twitter thanks to @evleaks. The latest pieces of the puzzle are a couple of screenshots revealing the potential user interface of the phone. With live photos and press renders out and about, the Normandy looks to be a real deal after all.

The screenshots reveal what looks to be homescreen and notification area of the Normandy. The left screenshot is the homescreen, which is reminiscent of the Windows Phone 8 live tiles. At first, we were suspicious if this is Android at all, but the BBM app icon gave it away. The tiles look to be configurable and can either take a third of the screen (three on a row), or two thirds, like the Photo tile on the third row.

The notification area, which is on the right side of the photo, is a cross between standard Android notification area and the app launcher. There are alerts for the alarm clock, calendar, Skype, missed calls, gallery and SMS. In a true Android fashion, some of them are expandable, too, like the calendar, gallery, phone and SMS texts. They also give you quick action shortcuts with contextual menus for each notification.

Below the photo @evleaks states that there are "two ways to interact with Normandy", which could mean that those are the only two screens from the whole Android users are going to get. That's highly unlikely though, as it looks like those are two different views of the same thing - the homescreen with tile and list modes.

You can also see that the Nokia Normandy is going to be available in a dual SIM version, as shown in the status bar.

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LG G Flex pre-orders begin on Sprint in the United States

Sprint Wireless in the United States opened the pre-order books for the curved LG G Flex. The 6” top-end Android phablet is priced at $299.99 with a two-year contract.

Customers who pre-order the quirky handset can expect to have it in their hands by January 31. Pre-orders of the device will ship with a free QuickWindow Folio Case by LG, valued at $59.99.

The LG G Flex will be available to purchase from the carrier’s retail stores on February 7. Its commitment-free price is set at $649.99.

The curved LG phablet will also be available on AT&T and T-Mobile in the United States. Both carriers should announce their own pricing and availability any moment now.

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Xperia E1 in the wild pictures

Press renders are all very well and good, but it’s always nice to see how a phone looks in real life. We were eager to see how the brilliantly designed entry-level Xperia E1 looks in the flesh and came across the pictures below. It is so refreshing to see Sony’s premium design cues filter down its range. We may not get a new design language in 2014 from Sony, but judging by the pics below, we have no problem with that. 

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Xperia T2 Ultra hands-on pics; get a look at the 6-inch IPS display

Following on from the live pics of the Xperia E1 earlier, here are some hands-on pictures of the 6-inch Xperia T2 Ultra. It is nice to see Sony start to use better displays in its handsets – both the Xperia Z1 Compact and Xperia T2 Ultra will sport IPS displays. The evidence can be seen below with the Xperia T2 Ultra sporting wider viewing angles than other Xperia handsets launched in 2013. Once again, the Xperia T2 Ultra is beautifully designed, although we’re not sure if it usurps last year’s Xperia Z Ultra. We can’t wait to get hands on ourselves to find out. 

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Background Defocus camera app available to download on Xperia Z devices

Are you running Android 4.3 on an Xperia Z series device? If so, you’ll be glad to know that the Background Defocus camera app is now available to download. The app creates a bokeh effect, blurring the background to focus on a particular part of the image. More details on what the app does can be found in our previous post here.

The app was exclusive to the Xperia Z1s for T-Mobile in the US, however as the handset has now launched it was a matter of time before it leaked. You can install the apk from the link below, this will work on all phones (no root required). Install like you would any other third-party apk. We had no problems installing on a Xperia Z1, but we would expect it to work on all Xperia Z devices (Xperia Z1, Z Ultra, Z, ZL, ZR and Tablet Z) running the latest Android 4.3 update. 

Download

Backfground Defocus apk file

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