Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Android Community

Android Community

SoftBank’s plan to purchase 70% of Sprint for $20.1b confirmed

Posted: 15 Oct 2012 11:38 AM PDT

We heard all about SoftBank’s desire to purchase a majority stake in Sprint last week, but today, the two companies confirmed the deal. SoftBank will pay out $20.1 billion to take control of a 70% share in Sprint, with $12.1 billion of that going to current Sprint shareholders as consideration for the buyout. The rest of the money – all $8 billion of it – will be given to Sprint as new capital.


Current Sprint CEO Dan Hesse will be keeping his position after the buyout is complete, and Sprint’s headquarters will stay in Overland Park, Kansas. SoftBank has actually opened a subsidiary named HoldCo specifically for this buyout, which will have current Sprint shareholders retaining a 30% stake in the New Sprint. Through HoldCo, SoftBank will own the other 70%.

Not everything with this deal is said and done, however, so SoftBank has put some precautionary clauses in place. If SoftBank can’t complete this acquisition of Sprint, it will give the company $600 million. Likewise, if Sprint accepts a better offer from any other company, it will have to pay SoftBank $600 million, with $75 million going to SoftBank if Sprint’s shareholders reject the buyout offer.

By purchasing 70% of Sprint, SoftBank will be able to give its US operations a significant boost. The deal will also make Sprint, which has been struggling lately, more competitive in the US, as the influx of funding from SoftBank will allow Sprint to beef up its 4G LTE network at a faster pace. Should everything work out as planned, it may not be long before we see Sprint giving the big guys like Verizon a run for their money. You can read more on the buyout by clicking this PDF link.

[via SlashGear]

Photos taken with Nexus 4 camera appear on Google Plus

Posted: 15 Oct 2012 10:43 AM PDT

At this point, we can be pretty confident that Google is planning to reveal a brand new Nexus phone that’s made by LG, but just in case you needed more evidence, it seems that a couple Google and LG employees are more than happy to oblige. Over the weekend, Jason Parks, a Google employee, and Bae Sang-Hoon of LG’s Pyeongtaek Learning Center posted a handful of images to their Google Plus profiles (note: Sang-Hoon has since taken down his pictures). The images themselves are unremarkable, but the EXIF data for the snapshots gives away one particularly juicy detail.


According to the EXIF data, these images were taken with the camera on the Nexus 4. Not only does that tidbit of information indicate that the next Nexus phone is indeed about to be announced, but it basically confirms the name of the device too. It’s possible that “Nexus 4″ is just a work-in-progress codename for the new Nexus phone, but when the device appeared in Carphone Warehouse’s inventory last week, it was also called the Nexus 4.

So, ladies and gentlemen, it appears that “Nexus 4″ is the name of this incoming device. Of course, we’re not willing to say that’s a sure thing just yet, as we don’t have any official word from Google, but this is about as close as we can to get to actual confirmation without Google and LG saying anything. Now all we need is an announcement and we’ll be set.

If the current rumors are to be believed, we won’t be waiting long for that announcement either. We’ve been hearing that Google will unveil the Nexus 4 (or whatever it will be officially called) on October 29, which is exactly two weeks away from today. Stay tuned, because if recent leaks are indication, the next two weeks should be quite interesting.

[via The Verge]

Gameloft releases behind-the-scenes video of Modern Combat 4

Posted: 15 Oct 2012 10:21 AM PDT

One of the most popular mobile games for Android is almost certainly Modern Combat. Gameloft released a teaser video late last month showing off their latest and greatest, Modern Combat 4: Zero Hour, and today they’ve dropped another quick video giving us an awesome behind-the-scenes look at this upcoming shooter for Android.

So far we have to admit, this game looks mightily impressive. We already knew it was going to be pretty epic but today’s first of many videos shows us even more of what to expect. Gameloft is calling this the developer diaries where we’ll get to see detailed gameplay video and more over the coming weeks before release. Take a peek below.

During the video above we see some incredible graphics and gameplay situations for a mobile device. Getting a behind-the-scenes look at some of the content and game creations, and what went into the thought process and developers minds while making this next-gen game. With stunning graphics, an increased polygon count for detailed textures and more we’re certainly seeing one of the best mobile games to date here.

Gameloft even details and mentions the Havok Engine is being used, which is similar to NVIDIA’s PhysX engine for a more realistic experience. This enables the game surroundings to change each time you play based on destruction, grenades, and other level altering situations. Some of those green trees sure reminds me of Crysis — just a thought. Who’s excited for this next-gen game from the folks at Gameloft? Modern Combat 4: Zero Hour should be arriving soon for Android so stay tuned.

Screen Shot 2012-10-15 at 10.03.24 AM Screen Shot 2012-10-15 at 10.03.09 AM Screen Shot 2012-10-15 at 10.02.41 AM


Google Nexus 7 is retailers best selling Android tablet ever

Posted: 15 Oct 2012 08:51 AM PDT

Carphone Warehouse announced that in the short time it has carried the Google Nexus 7, it has quickly become its best-selling Android tablet. This is not them calling it the best-selling Android tablet currently; it is the best-selling one in the history of the retailer. This just shows how the market is moving towards the more affordable, 7-inch tablet models and the power of the Google branding.



Of course, this is just one retailer, so it may not be indicative of the market as a whole. That being said, Carphone Warehouse are the UK's largest independent mobile retailer, so chances are great that the cross-section offered here is pretty valid of the market as a whole, at least in the UK. Besides the Nexus 7, Carphone Warehouse confirmed that it’s been seeing increased demand for smaller, cheaper tablets a whole.

The Kindle Fire HD is launching soon in the UK. This could cause a swing in the market, as the devices offer similar features and come in at around the same price point. Either way, taking over the market from a major retailer is no small feat, especially when you consider the short time the device has been on the market.

Nexus 7 could see its sales grow even more with rumors abounding about a new 32GB version hitting the market and replacing the 16GB version. If this happens, and buyers can grab double the memory for the exact same price, the Nexus 7 could extend it’s choke-hold on the small tablet market even further. We will keep you posted with that, and other Nexus 7 news as it develops.

[via The Telegraph]

LG phones beat Samsung in battery life

Posted: 15 Oct 2012 08:21 AM PDT

LG is claiming battery superiority, and it has just performed tests designed to prove it. LG tested its own Optimus G against a Samsung Galaxy S III. This is an interesting move on LG’s part. Going directly at one of its competitors and coming out ahead with a feature as important as battery life could be quite important for LG.



Both devices sport 2,100 mAh batteries. They put the devices head to head for talking on the phone, and watching and filming videos. According to LG, the Optimus G came out ahead on all fronts. LG’s results show that one could talk on the phone for 15.8 consecutive hours on the Optimus G compared to 9.5 hours on the Galaxy S III. They also found that the Optimus G records videos for 3.8 hours and plays them for 7.9 hours. The Galaxy S III, on the other hand, records for 2.8 hours and plays for 7.3 hours.

LG says the tests were conducted using the same conditions for both devices. Both phones were set to 50% backlight for the entirety of the test and both were on LG’s Uplus network. They also tested both devices for reporters at an event and showed the real-time difference in energy consumption between the two devices.

LG says it did not do this test as an attack against Samsung. Rather, they were attempting to clear up some misconceptions about the battery life of its device. Of course, beating the competition is a convenient bonus.

[via The Korea Herald]

Sony Nexus X mockup images appear

Posted: 15 Oct 2012 07:56 AM PDT

Today several images have leaked of what could be a new Sony smartphone called the Sony Nexus X. All kinds of rumors have circled regarding Nexus devices, but this is the first we’ve heard of this particular device. The photos of the device lack any Xperia branding, which seems a little bit odd. They were leaked on Picasa, and the device is certainly stylish, even if it might not be legit.



Of course this device could easily be a fake, and the lack of Xperia branding certainly makes us a little skeptical. The device itself looks legitimate, but it could be any Android phone with a person on the Internet calling it a Sony Nexus X. The device does say Google and Sony on the back casing, but that does not necessarily tell us that it’s real.

Unfortunately, the photos are all that was posted, and there are only two photos. The person who posted the photos did not list any specifications for the device, so we are left to wonder what is under the hood. The lack of specs also does not any credence to the leak, as one would think the person who posted it would share some specifications on the device in question.

Any leaks like this need to be greeted with a great deal of skepticism. Could this be a real phone? Sure, Sony may well be working on a Nexus device, and this could be that device, but until we hear something more official, it is hard to necessarily believe this as fact. That being said, this device is on our radar, and we will keep your posted as anything new develops on a possible Sony Nexus phone.

[via Xperia Blog]

Microsoft’s Xbox Music service launching Tuesday and coming soon to Android

Posted: 15 Oct 2012 07:28 AM PDT

Microsoft has announced that its new music service is launching on Tuesday for a slew of devices. Sadly, Android is not among the initial device offerings, but Microsoft has confirmed that the Spotify competitor is coming to Android (and iOS) shortly after the initial launch. This means that Android owners can take advantage of the cool stuff Microsoft’s Xbox music service offers very soon.



Microsoft offers a free version of this service, but like Spotify, users looking to use the service on mobile device will have to pay $9.99 per month to get access to it. For owners of an Android and an Xbox 360, it might be worth switching to Xbox Music because it does offer some pretty awesome features, especially if you are using it on an Xbox. As you might expect, Xbox 360 owners need to have a Gold account to make use of the service.

On Xbox, users can watch unlimited music videos with the new service. This is something you will not find on other music services, and could very well be worth the switch. They also have a store available for purchasing tracks not already available. On top of that, Microsoft even implemented an iTunes Match competitor designed to match songs from your library, regardless of where they were purchased.

As you might expect, Microsoft has also implemented a Pandora Radio-like experience for those who want to let some music play and not control it at all times. Overall, Microsoft looks to have some serious advantages over its competition. While they have not confirmed a date for the Android version of the music service, we are certainly looking forward to checking it out when it hits the market.

[via SlashGear]

32GB Nexus 7 tablet could go on sale this week

Posted: 15 Oct 2012 07:01 AM PDT

It looks like Google could be bringing a 32GB version of its Nexus tablet to market as soon as this week. In a tip to ITProPortal from a person close to UK retailer Argos, they revealed that they plan to add the Nexus 7 to its Christmas gift guide, which hits the shelves this week. Shortly after, Spanish retailer Phone House added a preorder page offering the same device for £279 ($361.64).



The report from Argos says that the device will retail for £199.99 (@$259.23). Phone House is asking a full £80 more than the price confirmed by Argos. The Argos report claims that this new 32GB model will replace the 16GB version, so that is why they expect it to go for the same price.

Many retailers have been dropping the price of the 16GB version, which further shows the likelihood of a 32GB version hitting the market just in time for the holidays. Google has not officially confirmed the existence of a 32GB version of the popular tablet. Asus has also not said a word about the official existence of this device.

Only time will tell if the 32GB Nexus 7 is officially hitting the market, but reports from two major retailers happening at around the same time seems like too big of a coincidence. Hopefully, with these reports breaking, Google or Asus will step up and make an official announcement soon. Either way, we will keep you posted on all the latest Nexus 7 as it happens.

Source: Omio and ITProPortal

ALCATEL ONE TOUCH announces modular ONE TOUCH EVO7 tablet

Posted: 15 Oct 2012 06:05 AM PDT

ALCATEL ONE TOUCH just announced a new 7-inch tablet that has 3G data that can be added or removed at a later time. While most tablets have its data built in to the device, the ONE TOUCH EVO7 has a removable module that allows it to get access to 3G data. This module can be purchased with the device or separately at another time.



The tablet has a removable frame, which is designed to cover up the removable 3G module. Users can also grab these frames in a number of different colors to give their tablet a more personalized feel. The announcement shows frames in red, black, and blue. There could be other colors available, but they do not officially mention them.

The ONE TOUCH EVO7 comes with Android 4.0 ICS installed. It has full access to Google Play, so users can choose from all the apps available. It has a 1 GHz processor installed to help get things done.

The device has 1GB of RAM, and that is the only internal memory. It does support microSD, so users can add up to 32GB of memory to the new tablet. Either way, this looks like a pretty cool tablet with an interesting method of offering data. I certainly would not mind seeing other tablet makers use 3G that can be added later.

LG confirms Jelly Bean release schedule for several devices

Posted: 15 Oct 2012 05:43 AM PDT

LG has issued a release regarding its plans for updating many of its devices to Jelly Bean. Owners of some of LG’s Optimus devices will get to enjoy the new features of Jelly Bean, some starting as soon as next month. Users with an LG Optimus LTE II will see their phones update sometime in November, with updates for other devices continuing as time goes on.



The Optimus G will be the next in line to receive a delicious Jelly Bean. It should see the update sometime in December. This should have owners of the device on the edge of their seats in anticipation.

The next phones to receive the update will be the LG Optimus Vu and Optimus Vu II. For these devices, the news is not quite as good, as LG announced that they will get a Jelly Bean update sometime in the first quarter of 2013. Hopefully, this ends up being early in Q1 and not all the way in March. After all, owners of an LG Optimus Vu or Optimus Vu II want those sweet Jelly Beans as much as the rest of us.

Oddly, LG made no mention of the LG Optimus 4X HD. This phone was a flagship device not long ago, and it was only released in August. Seems odd that LG would not update this phone with LG’s Q Slide feature. Besides Q Slide, these Jelly Bean updates will also include UI improvements, and app enhancements.

Android Community Weekly: October 14th, 2012

Posted: 14 Oct 2012 03:41 PM PDT

After last week ending strong on Nexus rumors we all pretty much expected that to continue this week, and that’s exactly what happened. Sure enough we had leak after leak of Nexus rumors, plenty of hardware pics and more so lets get started with what was important to us in the world of Android. Starting with the Nexus of course.

To keep things short and sweet on the LG Nexus 4 — since we’ve seen it all week — the hardware has been in the hands of leaksters for a few weeks now and Friday we got a full out hands-on review of the LG Nexus 4. It was benchmarked and we even got plenty of photo samples of that 8 megapixel camera. Obviously it’s prototype hardware so everything is being taken with a grain of salt — but exciting nevertheless. Reports are suggesting the LG Nexus 4 will be jointly announced by Google and LG on October 29th. We’ll have to wait and see.

This week was finally one that was light on Samsung news. Although we did learn the Galaxy Note II will most likely be dropping from multiple carriers on the 24th following the Samsung announcement event. Then Samsung announced their new and smaller Galaxy S III Mini — although the specs are a bit underwhelming. Then we had tons of news from Motorola, Google and others so lets dig in.

Google announced Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean, with a few minor changes and nothing too major. It quickly rolled out to the Nexus 7 the same day. Speaking of the Nexus 7, a 32GB model is indeed coming and was even advertised on a few websites. Lastly from Google, Gmail 4.2 leaked with pinch-to-zoom and other awesome features — which is coming soon.

As far as hardware goes Motorola and Verizon confirmed the DROID RAZR HD and MAXX HD will officially arrive October 18th in store and online. Check out our RAZR HD hands-on for an idea of what to expect. We also enjoyed some time with Huawei‘s new quad-core devices. Check out the Ascend D Quad XL hands-on, then the MediaPad 10 FHD unboxing.

Last but not least Google updated the Google Play store with tons of new features, and we now can remove apps from the “all apps” list — something users have been wanting for a long time. Then the folks from Madfinger Games released the open beta of ShadowGun: Deadzone, and we’d highly recommend you check it out. Stay tuned for multiple reviews, news, and details coming next week. Who’s excited for the LG Nexus 4? Even if we only get 8 and 16GB of storage options?

Have a good weekend folks!
Posted by at 12:54 AM 0 comments

Monday, October 15, 2012

Android Authority

Android Authority

Tech giants war for Christmas: Samsung, Microsoft, Google and Apple spend billions

Posted: 15 Oct 2012 02:43 AM PDT

The advertising assault to capture your Christmas cash and secure a place as the must-have item this holiday season has begun. According to analysts, this Christmas is set to be the biggest yet because there are so many new products launching. We're talking about a marketing spend of several billion dollars in the last three months of 2012.

We've got new entries in Google's Nexus range. We've got Microsoft and the Windows 8 launch accompanied by the mobile platform reboot, Windows Phone 8. We've got the new iPhone, soon to be joined by an iPad mini if the persistent rumors are true. We've got a huge range of new Samsung products from the Galaxy Camera to the Galaxy S3 “mini” to the ATIV S to its TV line. We've also got a whole new range of Kindle e-readers and tablets from Amazon, not to mention big pushes from Nokia, Sony and many others.

Rob Enderle told the Guardian that this Christmas ad spending “is on a scale you don’t see outside presidential elections”.

Shaun Collins of mobile researcher CCS Insight added:

“We’ve got an unprecedented number of significant launches from vast global players in a short period of time and the combination of those three things is creating this tsunami of advertising. It’s as big a quarter as we’ve ever seen. The level of commitment each of these players is willing to put behind a mobile launch shows how valuable it could be if they get it right.”

The figures are staggering for 2012. Microsoft is set to spend $1.6 billion for the year, Samsung will spend $2.7 billion, Google will spend $1.5 billion, Amazon will spend $1.4 billion, and Apple will spend $933 million.

Microsoft is going all-out for Windows 8 and WP8, and manufacturers like HTC and Nokia will be hoping to benefit. Can it finally make a dent in the mobile dominance of Android and iOS?

What's going to be on your Christmas list? Will you be persuaded by a tempting ad? Post a comment and let us know.

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The iPad mini and Windows 8: Android’s worst nightmare is about to happen

Posted: 15 Oct 2012 02:33 AM PDT

Two things are going to happen during the next two weeks that have the potential to completely obliterate any chance of Android tablets ever taking off. One, Apple is going to announce a smaller iPad on October 23rd. According to the rumors, the base model is going to retail for 250 Euros. Add an extra 100 Euros to that and you can get cellular connectivity. Two, Microsoft is going to launch Windows 8 and their Surface tablet that runs Windows RT on October 26th. Rumor has it that Microsoft is going to spend as much as $1.8 billion promoting their new operating system.

If you’re an Android fan, both of these events spell bad news. Starting with the cheaper iPad, let’s all just confess something that we know to be true, but are afraid to say: People buy Android tablets because they’re cheaper than anything Apple makes. The Nexus 7, as much as we love it, is proving to be popular because it’s less than half the cost of a new iPad and exactly half the cost of the “old” iPad 2. We know Android is a superior operating system that enables people to be more productive, but at the end of the day it’s the price tag that drives the masses to Android.

With a 250 Euro iPad mini, which we assume will be $299 in the USA, people will not only be given a chance to enter Apple’s ecosystem for what’s arguably an “affordable” price, they’ll also have a chance to buy something that they know will give them access to a ton of high quality applications that are optimized for the tablet form factor. Again, we love the Nexus 7, but most of the apps in the Google Play Store are just scaled up phone applications.

Then there’s Windows 8. Now yes, we know that the PC market has effectively peaked and that it’s even starting to shrink, but Microsoft’s brand is still incredibly powerful. Think about this: Windows 7 came out three years ago. That means a ton of people bought new computers in 2009 to have a go at playing with the new OS. Those machines are due for an upgrade. People walking into stores are considering buying a tablet, because that’s all people seem to talk about these days. When those people step into a retail store and see the computer section filled to capacity with Windows 8 machines that are touch enabled, do you really think they’re going to go for something with Android on-board?

And speaking about retail stores, that’s a huge problem for Google. Walk into just about any shop and you’ll see Windows machines from a variety of companies, you’ll see Apple’s products, of course, but what about tablets running Android? What incentive does a store have to sell you a $200 Android tablet when they’d much rather you buy a $600+ laptop?

The Surface is a wildcard. Microsoft entering the hardware space is a dangerous move, but if it works then the payoff will be huge. Will people want to buy a Microsoft computer instead of one made by HP or Lenovo? It’s too early to tell.

So can Google do anything to lure people to their ecosystem? Yes and no. Google can pull an Amazon and sell their hardware at cost, meaning that they’re not going to make or lose any money, but then again that would piss off their partners who are already furious enough as is that Microsoft is entering the hardware game. Maybe the big PC makers are so angry at Microsoft that they’re all going to start experimenting with Chromebooks?

The air is thick with uncertainty, which makes the next few months that much more exciting.

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LG Optimus G Jelly Bean update coming in December, LG Optimus 4X HD left out of Android 4.1 upgrade?

Posted: 15 Oct 2012 01:42 AM PDT

LG's first Jelly Bean-running Android device will be the upcoming Nexus 4 – which will run Android 4.2 out of the box, a software version that will still be part of Jelly Bean according to rumors – but what about other LG Android handsets, especially high-end ones?

The South Korean company has apparently shared more details about its Jelly Bean plans and there are a few of interesting surprises there.

First of all, the company's latest flagship device, the Optimus G, will receive its Jelly Bean love in December, while the Optimus LTE 2 will get its Android 4.1 share a month earlier. The Optimus Vu and Optimus Vu 2 will be upgraded in the first quarter of 2013, but for some reason, the Optimus 4X HD is not mentioned in LG's official press release. The updates will be rolled out sequentially, starting with South Korea, but there aren’t any actual release dates for the software revealed at this time.

If you own any other LG Android device, you won't be happy to hear that LG has not mentioned yours in its immediate Jelly Bean upgrade plans. Sure, there are always other ways to enjoy Google's latest Android version on devices that have not been updated yet to run it, or on devices that will never get it. But that doesn't mean that all Android users out there is ready to perform the necessary steps to get these unofficial ROMs on their device.

Any thoughts about LG's Jelly Bean upgrade plans?

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Breaking: Japan’s Softbank confirms Sprint acquisition for $20.1 billion

Posted: 15 Oct 2012 01:36 AM PDT

The Softbank-Sprint acquisition is official. The earlier rumored Sprint acquisition by Softbank has been announced by the Japanese telecoms company itself. In a press event in Tokyo, Softbank has announced that it will merge with Sprint to form a new company.

It is interesting to note that both companies are ranked third in both their respective markets (U.S. and Japan). As for the acquisition terms, Softbank will acquire US$ 8 billion in newly-issued Sprint shares, as well as $12.1 billion in existing shares from the market. This will result in a 70% stake in the American carrier.

Based on the Strategic Acquisition document from Softbank, the acquisition has the following merits:

  • This will enable the company to establish an operating base as one of the largest mobile Internet companies worldwide;
  • The deal will enable Softbank to leverage its expertise in smartphones and next-gen mobile networks to enhance Sprint’s competitiveness in the U.S.
  • The deal will provide $8 billion in fresh capital for Sprint.

You can check out the source link (PDF) for a more technical explanation of the deal. Do you think this capital infusion will help both carriers grow in their respective markets, in terms of mobile and Internet offerings and customer base?

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LG Nexus 4 name confirmed by photos shared by Google and LG employees

Posted: 15 Oct 2012 01:26 AM PDT

We keep talking about the upcoming flagship Nexus smartphone, a device that we keep calling LG Nexus 4, without it being officially confirmed. Not even the name of the product is official yet, which is why we're still naming it the LG Nexus 4, although there are many – maybe too many – leaks detailing the handset.

But what if “Nexus 4″ is exactly what Google and LG decided to call this Optimus G family member? According to new data obtained from EXIF photo details, the name "Nexus 4" has been spotted on at least a couple of pictures taken with the new device and uploaded to Picasa and Google+ by Google and LG employees, respectively.

The image above was taken by a Googler and posted on Picasa, while the following photo belongs to an LG employee and was shared via Google+.

But while the Nexus 4 monkier makes plenty of sense considering that this LG-made Nexus smartphone will be the fourth model in Google's lineup, it will be strange to see it actually be baptized Nexus 4.

Apart from the HTC Nexus One, none of the models that followed it respected a logical naming criteria. The second Nexus was called Nexus S, while the third one was launched as the Galaxy Nexus – so we didn’t have a Nexus Two or Nexus Three. Rumor has it that Samsung didn't want to have a device with named "Nexus Two" because the company wasn't second to anybody. So will LG's Nexus have a boring “Nexus 4″ name for its first-gen Nexus smartphone?

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iPad mini pricing leaks, October 23 announcement seems confirmed

Posted: 15 Oct 2012 01:04 AM PDT

A few days ago we told you that Apple is reportedly going to unveil the 7.85-inch iPad mini during a special media event set for October 23. Now, that date seems to be even more likely considering that Reuters is also reporting that the smaller iPad will be officially announced next week, on October 23.

Obviously, the long-rumored iPad mini will be Apple's response to the increasing demand of 7-inch affordable tablets, with Amazon's Kindle Fire line and Google's Nexus 7 tablet being the best sold devices in this category, at least for now.

But unlike Amazon and Google which aren't making any money from actual tablet sales but rather from digital content distribution, Apple is likely to turn a profit on its Apple mini:

Sterne Agee analyst Shaw Wu said that, if Apple prices the smaller tablet between $299 to $349, it could maintain the current margins.

“The biggest cost in a tablet is the display,” he said. “On a mini, the display will be a bit cheaper.

If the tablet is priced below $299, Apple could still maintain a decent margin if it offers 8 GB of storage instead of the minimum 16 GB storage it has in the current iPad, Wu added.

And it seems that such analyst talk is now backed up by a leaked inventory screenshot from German retailer Media Markt that reveals the iPad mini pricing structure. Apple will apparently launch two 7.85-inch tablet versions, Wi-Fi-only and Cellular + Wi-Fi and offer four capacities for each one, from 8GB all the way up to 64GB. Add to that the fact that each version will be available either in black or in white and you end up with 16 flavors to choose from. Comparatively, the newest 9.7-inch iPad is also available in Wi-Fi and Cellular + Wi-Fi options; in the same two color options, but offers only three capacities, from 16 to 32GB – therefore 12 iPad 3 versions are available in stores, not including the iPad 2 that’s still selling alongside the current flagship product.

Here's what you can expect the iPad mini to cost, depending on what model you will choose from:

  • 8GB iPad Mini Wi-Fi – €249
  • 16GB iPad Mini Wi-Fi – €349
  • 32GB iPad Mini Wi-Fi – €449
  • 64GB iPad Mini Wi-Fi – €549
  • 8GB iPad Mini Cellular + Wi-Fi – €349
  • 16GB iPad Mini Cellular + Wi-Fi – €449
  • 32GB iPad Mini Cellular + Wi-Fi – €549
  • 64GB iPad Mini Cellular + Wi-Fi – €649

In case the numbers above are real, then we should expect U.S. iPad mini pricing to also start at $249 and go up all the way to $650. We'll be back with more details about the iPad mini and comparisons to top 7-inch Android tablets in the near future.

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Pre-order for Windows 8 RT-powered Asus Vivo Tab starts at $599

Posted: 15 Oct 2012 01:02 AM PDT

The tablet landscape is about to get more interesting with the expected announcement of the iPad mini and the arrival of Microsoft's Surface tablet in the coming weeks. We haven’t heard of the Surface’s price ever since it was unveiled back in July, though good old Steve Ballmer was quick to quash any hope of seeing it being priced to move.

Thanks to several retailers listing of the new Asus-made Windows RT tablet, we now get a better idea of just how much the "budget" line of tablets will be offered for. We say “budget” relative to the premium Intel-powered Windows 8 tablets.

The Asus Vivo RT tablet is now up on Staples, Futureshop, and other online retailers, and the first of the company's Microsoft-flavored tablets can be pre-ordered for $599. The tablet boasts a 10.1 Super IPS HD display at 1,366 x 768 resolution, NVIDIA's Tegra 3 1.3GHz quad-core processor, 32GB storage, microSD support, 8MP rear camera, 2MP front cam, WiFi b/g/n, HDMI output, and Bluetooth 4.0.

The price, naturally, doesn't include the keyboard dock, which costs an extra $170 – at least from Staples.

With such pricing point, it's apparent that Microsoft is not interested in pitting the Windows RT tablet against the likes of Nexus 7 and Kindle Fire HD. The Asus Vivo Tab is also pricier than the latest iPad, which starts at $499. Shipments for the Asus Vivo Tab RT begins at the end of the month.

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Microsoft releases first ad for Windows 8 [video]

Posted: 15 Oct 2012 12:51 AM PDT

Android is about to welcome a new competitor. With Windows 8 — and a slew of accompanying tablets and computers — set to officially launch at the end of the month, Microsoft has officially started what's bound to be an all-out marketing blitz by releasing the first ad for the new touchscreen-centric operating system.

The ad starts with a countdown, but one that doesn't run all the way to end and instead stops at 8. You'll be hearing and seeing lots of "eights" throughout the 30-second spot, which isn't a total surprise given that that's the magic number.

It then shows rapid snapshots of the flagship operating system running on tablets, laptops, and desktop computers from manufacturers like Acer, Samsung, Sony and possibly more. The tagline, as shown just before the final scene, is "Windows Reimagined."

The official launch date for Windows 8 and devices powered by the OS is October 26, which will be preceded by a special press event a day before.  Any thoughts about the first Windows 8 ad to hit the airwaves?

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Rumor: Amazon to buy Texas Instruments’ OMAP unit

Posted: 15 Oct 2012 12:21 AM PDT

Every Amazon Kindle Fire tablet that has been sold thus far has had a Texas Instruments processor under the hood. Last month, we reported that TI was looking to shift their focus away from the mobile chip business and instead concentrate on embedded systems. Today, courtesy of The Next Web, we now have a rumor that says Amazon is considering buying the division within Texas Instruments that designs chips for smartphones and tablets. You and I know this unit better as “OMAP”. The source of the rumor is the Israeli newspaper Calcalist, which has a track record of getting these kind of stories right. They were the first to cover Apple’s purchase of Anobit, for example.

It should be noted that the Samsung Galaxy Nexus has an OMAP chip, which is incredibly odd, because Samsung tends to use their own Exynos processors inside their high end mobile phones. Their budget devices, such as the Galaxy Chat, use Broadcom chips.

Back to Amazon, assuming they indeed buy the OMAP unit, what does that mean for you? Not much to be perfectly honest. According to research that was published last week, Texas Instruments is the 5th largest mobile chip maker in terms of revenues. We don’t know how small their share of the pie is exactly, but with Qualcomm taking 48% of all the money spent on mobile processors … you’ve got to think that TI isn’t really an important player.

Will Amazon ever make a smartphone? That’s something that’s been rumored for ages now, and we can see why. Amazon has deals in place with content providers, they have deals in place with operators to make sure their 3G enabled electronic readers work anywhere in the world, and they’re in a good position to become the biggest online retailer should they start setting up fulfillment centers in other major countries.

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IM+ 6.4 update brings new emoticons, improved interface

Posted: 14 Oct 2012 03:48 PM PDT

Popular instant messaging app IM+ was updated to version 6.4 last week, bringing the interface up to date with newer versions of Android and adding new features like Rage Face emoticons.

IM+ is popular with users due to its features and the wide ranges of services it can connect to. Google Talk, Facebook, AIM, ICQ and Jabber are just a few of the features the app supports. The new update brings two new services to the ever growing list: Gadu-Gadu and MeinVZ.

Version 6.4 of IM+ brings some very useful new features in addition to the fun but not so useful Rage Face emoticons. Sleep Mode, for example, is a new feature that allows you to select a time range when you won’t be bothered with notifications.

Users can now bulk export chat history to an SD card, which is very useful if a chat contained important information that you want to make sure isn’t lost. Other new features include the option to further customize notifications and the option to automatically start “off-the-record” messaging.

IM+ has also improved its interface, claiming that it “feels like Ice Cream Sandwich.” While the UI is definitely better for users of Ice Cream Sandwich and Jelly Bean, the app isn’t fully Holo-themed.

The day after IM+ was updated to 6.4, another update followed, bringing the version number to 6.4.1. This is a maintenance release comprised of crash and bug fixes.

IM+ is a free download in the Google Play Store and works on devices running Android 2.1 and up.  Certain features are only available in IM+ Pro which will cost $4.99, but this version also removes ads and includes extra services like Skype, which is an in-app purchase in the free version of IM+.

Are you an IM+ user? How do you like the  features in the new update?

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