Samsung announces Galaxy ACE Style smartphone

Samsung has announced a new mid-range Android smartphone aimed at the younger audience. Called the Galaxy Ace Style, the phone is said to have a "a fun, unique design with an enhanced camera and advanced features for superior performance."

The Galaxy ACE Style has a 4.0-inch, WVGA display TFT LCD, 1.2GHz dual-core CPU, 512MB RAM, 4GB internal memory with microSD card support, 5 megapixel rear camera with autofocus, VGA front camera, Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi b/g/n, NFC, 1,500mAh battery and Android 4.4.2 KitKat with Samsung's TouchWiz Essence UI on top.

The Samsung Galaxy ACE Style will be available globally in April in Cream White and Dark Gray colors.

Samsung Galaxy Note 4 specs, screen, features, release date, price, news and rumours

Samsung's Galaxy S5 might rule the roost when it comes to mainstream smartphones, but the Galaxy Note phablet range is king when it comes to big screens. The Galaxy Note 3has been on sale for over six months now, so it's time to start looking for rumours of its successor, the Galaxy Note 4.

SAMSUNG GALAXY NOTE 4 NAME

If Samsung is one thing, it is predictable. The Galaxy and Galaxy Note ranges are now household names; maybe not to the extent of Apple's iPhone, but easily the most well-recognised of all Android devices. It would be foolish for the company to abandon the Galaxy Note brand for the new handset, and now that it has finally abandoned roman numerals for its product names we're almost certain the phone will be called the Galaxy Note 4.

SAMSUNG GALAXY NOTE 4 DESIGN

Samsung keeps its flagship smartphone designs a closely guarded secret ahead of launch, but even without seeing the phone it's possible to work out what it will look like. The Galaxy Note 3 was a revised take on the Galaxy S4, albeit with a unique faux leather rear cover, so we would expect the Galaxy Note 4 to take design inspiration from the Galaxy S5. Whether the faux leather will return is unclear, as it has received a lukewarm reception from the technology press, but if customers like it, Samsung could decide to keep it for the new model.

Expect the Galaxy Note 4 to look like a mashup of the Galaxy S5 and Note 3

According to IT Today, the Galaxy Note 4 will retain the Galaxy S5's IP67 weatherproof build, although with so long to go until the reveal it's possible this will change. If Samsung decides there is demand, it could even make two models; one with weather-proofing and one without.

If Samsung is indeed targeting "premium" customers with the Note 4, it is possible it will finally move away from plastic to a metal design. With the iPhone 5s and HTC One (m8) using metal extensively, Samsung's smartphones are beginning to look a little cheap by comparison.

SAMSUNG GALAXY NOTE 4 SCREEN

As the Galaxy Note 3 has a 5.7in, Full HD display already, we're expecting Samsung to either go bigger, or add more pixels for the Galaxy Note 4. Considering that the Galaxy S5 has grown to 5.1in, it's most likely the Note 4 will grow to 5.9in - it's the next logical jump, seeing as the original Galaxy Note had a 5.3in screen, the Note 2 5.5in and the Note 3 5.7in.

Samsung itself has confirmed it is aiming for a 2014 release for higher than Full HD resolution screens - daum.net quotes Samsung representatives as penciling UHD (2,560x1,440) resolution screens for this year and, seeing as the Galaxy S5 is sticking with Full HD, the Galaxy Note 4 seems like a likely candidate.

A Samsung patent filing spotted in May 2013 suggests the company is working on three-sided bent displays, but neither the Galaxy Note 3 nor the Galaxy S5 used such technology. It's possible that the Galaxy Note 4 will mark the first appearance, but as it wasn't on the leaked roadmap this is a real long shot.

SAMSUNG GALAXY NOTE 4 PERFORMANCE

When it launched last year, the Galaxy Note 3 was one of the most powerful smartphones we'd ever tested thanks to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 system-on-chip (SoC), which ran at 2.3GHz and was paired with 3GB of RAM - more than any other Android handset. If Samsung is to continue that trend, it will need to outperform its own Galaxy S5, which has a 2.5GHz Snapdragon 801 CPU.

By the time the Galaxy Note 4 goes on sale, Qualcomm may have solved the performance issues it has been having with the upcoming Snapdragon 805; originally expected to arrive early this year, the chip was instead delayed and didn't make it into either the Galaxy S5 or HTC One (m8).

If it arrives in time, the 4K-ready chip should easily outpace everything else on the market, especially if Samsung adds 3GB or even 4GB of RAM into the mix.

There's also a very likely possibility that Samsung will debut its own quad-, hex- or even octa-core processor specifically for the Galaxy Note 4. It would probably be called Exynos 6, seeing as the Exynos 5 appeared in the international Galaxy Note 3.

SAMSUNG GALAXY NOTE 4 CAMERA

Unlike other aspects of the Galaxy Note 4, the rear camera is less of a mystery. When an internal roadmap was posted online late last year, it showed that the company planned to use 16-megapixel ISOCELL sensors on its flagship smartphones throughout 2014. It first appeared on the Galaxy S5, and we would expect it to be used again on the Galaxy Note 4.

The Galaxy Note 3 had a great camera, but expect the Note 4 to go one better

If it does use the same sensor, the Galaxy Note 4 could be a potent smartphone for photographers. The ISOCELL sensor is technically capable of delivering higher image quality than a similarly sized CMOS sensor, because it isolated individual pixels to reduce crosstalk by as much as 30 per cent. That means less light leakage between pixels, resulting in clearer, more accurate images.

SAMSUNG GALAXY NOTE 4 SOFTWARE

What version of Android the Galaxy Note 4 will launch with depends very much on Google's plans for the mobile operating system. Android 4.4 Kitkat has been around for the best part of six months, and will be approaching its first birthday by September 2014, so it's highly likely the company will update to either 4.5 or 5.0 in that time.

Samsung has been making more of an effort to speed up the upgrade process for its existing phones, but with the custom Touchwiz user interface being such a radical departure from stock Android, it's possible the Galaxy Note 4 will launch with KitKat, regardless of what the latest version will be when it goes on sale.

SAMSUNG GALAXY NOTE 4 LAUNCH / RELEASE DATE

Just like each of the previous Galaxy Note reveals, Samsung is expected to announce the Galaxy Note 4 during or around the IFA trade show in Berlin, which is scheduled for the first week of September. Last year this took place at the Tempodrom, which is one of the only places outside of the Berlin Messe itself to host the number of journalists and Samsung fans expected to turn up for the launch, so we'd expect a repeat for 2014.

The invite to Samsung's Unpacked 2014 Episode 1 event

The Galaxy S5 was launched at Samsung Unpacked 2014 Episode 1, so it's practically guaranteed we'll be seeing the Note 4 at an event called Unpacked Episode 2. IFA runs from the 5th to the 10th of September, so we would expect Samsung to make the announcement on the evening of the first day.

As for a release date, Samsung almost always makes its phones available a month after they are announced. If we get an early September reveal, expect the phone to go on sale from the beginning of October. You'll almost certainly be able to pre-order the phone first, with all the major networks clamouring for your two-year contract.

SAMSUNG GALAXY NOTE 4 PRICE

The Galaxy Note range has always been more expensive than the standard Galaxy line-up because of the oversized screens and bundled S Pen stylus, which cost more to manufacture. With the Galaxy S5 costing a massive £650 SIM-free directly from Samsung, that could mean the Galaxy Note 4 will cost anything up to and above £700.

According to a Bloomberg report, Samsung executives have suggested the Note 4 would be aimed at customers wanting a "premium experience" and will have a price to match.

BEWARE FAKE PHOTOS

When dealing with rumours and speculation on a product that doesn't officially exist yet, it's important to remember that many of the leaks and "news" posts we have to sift through will have been made up. We're happy to post 3D renders, as they can help visualise what a future product or feature might look like, but will always point out renders when we post them to avoid confusion.

Google working on Android TV - the successor to Google TV you actually want?

Google is reportedly working on Android TV, a new set-top box that aims to simplify Smart TV and replace your existing PVR, media streamer or set-top box with on-demand and catch-up content from a growing number of sources. According to documents leaked to The Verge, Android TV is currently in development, with major developers working on creating apps specifically for the big screen interface.

On-demand streaming apps sit side-by-side with Google's own content stores. Image credit: The Verge

This wouldn't be the first time Google has tried to muscle it's way into the living room; Google TV was a short-lived version of Android designed for larger screens, which arrived in the UK as Sony's NSZ-GS7 Internet Player. Unfortunately it wasn't quite ready for the prime time, despite Google CEO Eric Schmidt suggesting it would be appearing on the majority of Smart TVs launched in 2012.

Where Google TV tried to be too smart, however, Android TV aims to perfect the basics. It will have a simple, streamlined interface designed to put content first, with the Android operating system running deep beneath the surface. Google has reportedly stripped out much of Android's smartphone-centric features including telephone, camera, touchscreen and NFC support, and will be providing developers with ready-made interface mockups to keep apps simple and in keeping with the overall look.

That simplicity is embodied by the homescreen. A simple four-way directional pad on a remote control would get you from home screen to watching your content in just a few clicks, with films, TV shows, apps and games laid out in a series of cards.

Android TV will also include voice support and display notifications, although Google is apparently encouraging developers to be as sparing as possible with the latter feature.

Each film, TV show, app or game is represented by a card, which should make navigation fairly simple. Image credit: The Verge

Amazon has only recently launched its own FireTV set-top box, which has virtually all of the features Google mentions in the leaked report, and Google itself has theChromecast dongle for streaming many of the app and on-demand services the company is attempting to court with Android TV, so it's unclear who this new device is targeting.

For now, Google is keeping quiet on Android TV; it refused to give The Verge any comment for its story and has declined all subsequent requests. With developers hard at work, however, and Amazon's FireTV set-top box already on sale in the US, we may not be too far from an official reveal.

comScore: Apple and Android continue to dominate in the US

The latest comScore report on the trends in the US smartphone industry for the three months ending in February, 2014 is out. As one can expect, Apple is the top smartphone manufacturer with 41.3% market share, while the global market leader, Samsung ranking a distant second best with a share of 27% in the United States.

LG saw a steady growth and the company now owns 6.8% of the US market. Motorola, which was recently acquired by Lenovo, is at the fourth spot with 6.3%. HTC's presence in the world's second largest smartphone market decreased further with the Taiwan manufacturer managing to capture just 5.4%. However, keep in mind that these results do not include the HTC One (M8) sales as it was introduced in March.

In terms of the mobile operating system, Android is the most popular with 52.1% (up by 0.2 percent points), followed by Apple's iOS with 41.3% (up by 0.1 when compared to last trimester). Microsoft's Windows Phone OS has surpassed BlackBerry and now owns 3.4% (up 0.3 points) of the US market.

The report also spreads light on the top web properties and applications on smartphones. Google sites attract 89% of the audience, while Facebook is the top ranked mobile app with 75.7% of smartphone owners using it.

Xolo Q1010i goes official with 5" 720p screen, 8MP camera

Xolo has announced its latest smartphone, the Q1010i. The newest mid-range offering is aiming to bring excellent camera experience at an affordable price tag.

The smartphone sports a 5-inch IPS display with a resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels. The Q1010i is powered by a MediaTek MT6582 chipset with a quad-core processor clocked at 1.3 GHz along with 1 GB of RAM. The device sports an 8 megapixel Sony Exmor R sensor with f/2.0 aperture, 1.4 micron pixel size and a 5-element lens.

Xolo Q1010i also features a 2 megapixel front facing shooter and 8 GB of internal memory with ability to expand it via microSD card. The connectivity options of the device include Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n and Bluetooth 4.0, but no 4G LTE support. The dual-SIM smartphone runs on Android 4.2 Jelly Bean and the juice for it is provided by a 2,250mAh battery.

Xolo Q1010i will cost INR 13,499 (about $225) and will be available in black. The device is expected to go on sale later this month.

Nokia Lumia 630 will be priced at €150 in Europe

Nokia announced the Lumia 630 alongside the Lumia 930 at Microsoft's BUILD conference in San Francisco. The company revealed that its newest Windows Phone 8.1 smartphone will be rolling out to the European markets in May, but there was only preliminary info on the pricing.

Well, that's no longer a mystery as Vodafone Italy has accidently leaked the final pricing of Nokia Lumia 630. The carrier is running a contest and is giving away 336 Lumia 630 units, 28 Lumia 1520 handsets for the lucky winners. The terms and conditions of the contest confirm the retail pricing of Nokia Lumia 630 to be €149.99 (about $205) including value added tax.

For that money, you get a 4.5-inch FWVGA ClearBlack IPS LCD unit, 1.2 GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, 512 MB of RAM, 5 megapixel main camera, 8 GB of built-in memory, microSD card and a full suite of connectivity options.

Meanwhile, if you are from Italy, then head on to the source link below to participate in Vodafone's promotional activity.

Blackberry Z3 shows up in a few live photos

A photo taken in Malaysia shows the BlackBerry Z3 inhabiting the same space as the Z10 and Z30.

So what's so special about the Z3? Well it's the first BB handset to be produced by Foxconn (BlackBerry entered a five deal contract with the company). They are in agreements with BlackBerry to manufacture handsets for emerging and low-income markets, with a 50% share of the profits.

All of the BB devices that are available in emerging markets now run BB OS 7, so the other factor that makes the Z3 special is that it's the first handset to run OS 10 that'll be available in developing mobile areas.

Blackberry also announced that they're going to start producing the 9900 again, and it'll still be running OS 7.

The Z3 has the same screen size as its older brother, Blackberry's current pride and joy, the Z30 (5-inch display), but it doesn't match the flagship's resolution: 540 x 960 vs 720 x 1280.

The Z3 will be available in Indonesia towards the end of this month, and then later on customers in other emerging markets will get to pick one up.

BlackBerry needs to grab market share wherever it can get it, as the company's downward financial spiral continues. If they are able to spread BB OS 10 in certain regions and establish it as a prominent mobile OS, then they may have a fighting chance.