This week, HTC kicked off the #HeresToChange campaign, the Note 3 was leaked extensively, we learned about LG's tablet comeback, the Samsung Gear was confirmed, we heard some contradicting rumors about the next Nexus, while Sony's lens attachments got us scratching our heads.
Galaxy Note 3 leaked out
It's increasingly hard for manufacturers to keep a secret these days, and the Note 3 is the latest device to fell victim to the hungry blogosphere.
This week, a leak from Sam Mobile's insiders revealed that the Note 3 will be the first non-Nexus device to come with Android 4.3 out of the box.
Then it was time for the hardware specs to be thoroughly leaked – we now know that the Note 3 will feature a 5.68-inch AMOLED display, either a Snapdragon 800 or a Exynos 5420 chip (depending on the market), and 3GB of RAM. Check out our rumor roundup for all the details.
Hipster Troll Carwash and other tomfoolery
Just about everyone agrees that HTC needs to focus on marketing, so people actually know how great its products are. You know, like Samsung does to sell a bazillion phones every day.
The good news is that HTC is working on revamping its image and that Hollywood star Robert Downey Jr is on board to lend a helping hand. The bad news is the first results aren't exactly mind blowing.
HTC's "Change" campaign will stretch over two to three years and cost up to one billion. Presumably, the first spots in the campaign will serve to instill the idea that HTC is innovative and original, while future commercials will be more product focused.
New Nexus cometh
Rumors have already begun swirling around the new Nexus, and this year, there's an element of suspense at play. A noted leakster claims that the upcoming Nexus smartphone will be built by Motorola, Google's hardware-making arm. Meanwhile, out from distant Korea, rumors surface about a Nexus device that is loosely based on the LG G2.
What to believe? It's hard to say for now, but where there's smoke, there's usually some fire. The only problem is that, these days, the smoke is coming from two different directions. Could Google be preparing two Nexus smartphones this year?
Gearing up for a smartwatch
Before this week, all the clues we had about Samsung's upcoming wristwatch-like wearable computer were some trademark and patent filings and a few rumors originating from Korean websites.
This week, we got confirmation that the Galaxy Gear is real, and that it's coming on September 4, hand in hand with the Galaxy Note 3 at the Unpacked Episode 2 event. Bloomberg crushed our dreams of a flexible display, but at least we know that the Gear will be powered by Android and that it will allow users to complete basic tasks such as surfing the web or checking email.
Sony's attachment lenses are actually real
We were very skeptical when the first rumors emerged about a Sony-made lens gizmo that would turn regular smartphones into a kind of makeshift MILCs. But lo and behold, the camera-lenses are very real and they may be coming as soon as September 4.
Comprising of a lens system and a high-grade camera sensor, the QX10 and QX100 attach magnetically to the Sony i1/Honami and presumably other devices. The two devices presumably communicate via NFC and Wi-Fi.
Is this another faux pas from Sony or the beginning of a new era? We'll find out soon enough.
LG G Pad
Remember the Optimus Pad? Don't fret if the name doesn't tell you much. LG's last Android tablet crashed and burned about two years ago, and the experience was bad enough for the Korean manufacturer to give up making tablets for a while.
But times have changed – LG's phones are taking off, Optimus is out, and G is in. It's time for the G Pad! LG is reportedly going to launch the 8.3-inch G Pad at IFA in the first week of September. A quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM, and a Full HD display paint the picture of an appealing device, provided that the price will be right.
The ill-fated Optimus Pad
Video roundup
What's your take?
What do you think were the biggest news this week, and why?
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