Nokia XL – a 5inch Android Nokia smartphone unveiled at MWC 2014

Nokia was rumored to announce a Nokia Android budget smartphone at the MWC 2014  and they haven’t disappointed. Nokia has announced, not one, not two, but three Android powered smartphones at the MWC 2014 Under The Tree event. Among the three Nokia Android smartphones, the Nokia XL is the biggest of the lot. It competes with the 5inch mid-range Android smartphones in the Indian market.

Nokia XL runs on AOSP code overlaid by Nokia’s unique Lumia tile based experience compete with Asha’s Fastlane experience. The specifications on Nokia XL are as follows

• 5inch WVGA display ( 480×800 pixels)
• 1GHz dualcore Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Play
• 768MB RAM
• microSD card support up to 32GB
• 5MP auto focus camera with Flash and 2MP front camera
• 2000mAh battery
• OneDrive support
• Uses Microsoft’s Cloud instead of Google Cloud for app data
• Unique Nokia fastlane experience
• Dual SIM
• 3G, WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS with A-GPS
• Here Maps

The Nokia XL is the biggest of the three devices and has the same screen resolution(which can make things a little blurry), but 5inch smartphones are the way to go these days and Nokia has done it superbly with the Nokia XL. Like the other phones in the Nokia X, series the Nokia XL too will have access to various App markets along with Nokia’s own app market.

The Nokia XL is priced at 109Euros(approx Rs. 9500) and is expected to be available in Q2, 2014 across the globe.

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Nokia X+ announced at MWC 2014

We knew Nokia Android smartphones were coming, but we din’t expect three of them. As expected Nokia announced the Nokia X which was masquerading the rumorlands as Nokia Normandy for quite some and we are also having an interesting upgraded Nokia X in the form Nokia X+. Though Nokia wasn’t exactly specific about the specifications, it is clear from the naming convention that Nokia X+ will be a slightly better version of the Nokia X.

Nokia X is a family of Android running smartphones that is expected to sell below the price point of Nokia’s Lumia range. Nokia X series is mainly focussed on the affordable smartphone market and the specifications of the device clearly prove this point. Despite using Android’s Open Source code, Nokia have cleverly used Microsoft’s Cloud for app data instead of Google’s cloud and that opens up Microsoft to a whole new group of consumers.

The specifications of the Nokia X+ are

• 4inch WVGA display ( 480×800 pixels)
• 1GHz dualcore Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Play
• 768MB RAM
• 4GB internal storage with microSD card support up to 32GB
• 3MP fixed focus camera
• 1500mAh battery
• OneDrive support
• Uses Microsoft’s Cloud instead of Google Cloud for app data
• Unique Nokia fastlane experience
• Dual SIM
• 3G, WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS with A-GPS
• Here Maps

The Nokia X family shares the design language of Lumia range with bright vibrant colors and unibody design language. The Nokia X+ is expected to be available during early Q2, 2014 and is priced at 99Euros(approx Rs. 8,500).

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Nokia X – Nokia’s Android smartphone announced

At the MWC 2014, Nokia has just announced its first Android powered smartphone in the form of Nokia X. Nokia X was long rumored and it had been going around the rumor mill as Nokia Normandy. Nokia X’s software platform is built over AOSP with Microsoft’s Cloud services along with Nokia experience. Nokia X is one of the three Android powered smartphones that Nokia has announced today. Nokia X serves as the entry range option for the Nokia X series of AOSP powered devices.

The specifications of the Nokia X are quite entry range and you can check them out right below

• 4inch WVGA display ( 480×800 pixels)
• 1GHz dualcore Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Play
• 512MB RAM
• microSD card support up to 32GB
• 3MP fixed focus camera
• 1500mAh battery
• OneDrive support
• Uses Microsoft’s Cloud instead of Google Cloud for app data
• Unique Nokia fastlane experience
• Dual SIM
• 3G, WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS with A-GPS
• Here Maps

The talking point of the Nokia X is its unique experience and ability to run Android apps. It comes with Nokia’s own experience combined with Fastlane experience from Asha built over Android core. Nokia X will have access to various app stores including Nokia’s own app store that will have the best of curated content.

Nokia X will be available immediately and is priced at 89Euros(approx Rs. 7,500). It would be available in a range of colors – Green, Cyan, White, Black, Red.

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An alleged photo of the Samsung Galaxy S5 box reveals the specs

The evidence that the Galaxy S5 will be unveiled at the MWC is mounting fast – now there's an alleged photo of the box the new flagship will come in. Samsung boxes feature key specs on the back and an anonymous tipster claims to have snapped a photo of the Galaxy S5 package.

The specs listed align with previous rumors. The chipset has a quad-core CPU at 2.5GHz and LTE Cat. 4 (150Mbps downlink). This is certainly a Snapdragon chipset and we're possibly looking at the Snapdragon 800 8974AC variety, which packs Krait 400 at 2.46GHz. The box also promises 3GB RAM, same as the Galaxy Note 3 (as can be expected).

Moving on, the screen is listed as 5.25" QHD (2,560 x 1,600), which is precisely what the latest rumors have been saying. That would push the pixel density to 560ppi, but keep in mind this is likely a PenTile Super AMOLED, so it should have a noticeable visual improvement over the current 5" 440ppi screen.

Same goes for the camera - a 20MP shooter, which is in line with the leaked 16MP photo that had 16:9 aspect ratio (20MP is at 4:3). Strangely, the video capture is just 1080p, we were expecting UHD like the Galaxy Note 3.

The final bit of specifications that the box reveals is Android 4.4 KitKat (no surprise here) and a 3,000mAh battery. There's not a peep about the body material (metal or plastic?).

Keep in mind that this box could have been Photoshopped, but nothing it shows is particularly surprising (perhaps aside from the video capture). The Unpacked 5 event (5, get it?) will be held at 20:20 CET on February 24 in Barcelona. We'll be reporting live from there and you can join in via livestream.

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Samsung Galaxy Star Trios

In the emerging markets like india dual sim mobiles are playing a crucial role,already we have seen many dual sim mobiles flooding into the indian market,Now samsung is a step ahead of its indian competitors by launching a triple sim mobile named Samsung Galaxy Star Trios

Samsung has recently launched it in brazil,it gone be soon launched into the indian market

Here are specs of galaxy trios
Running 

Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, the Star Trios features a 3.14-inch QVGA (240 x 320) display, single-core 1GHz Snapdragon S1 processor, HSDPA, Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n, 2MP rear camera, 512MB of RAM, 4GB of expandable internal memory, and a 1,300 mAh battery.

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LG Optimus L1 II Tri with triple-SIM listed on company's Brazilian website

A new budget Android-powered handset from LG, the Optimus L1 II Tri, has been found listed on the company's official Brazilian website along with its specifications.

The LG Optimus L1 II Tri handset has been listed on the company website, without pricing. However, the rumoured price is said to be around $127 (Rs. 7,000 approximately). The handset is expected to be released first in Brazil, followed by other regions.

The LG Optimus L1 II Tri runs on Android 4.1 Jelly Bean OS. It has been also noted that the handset comes with support for three SIM cards, which are also the most highlighted features of the device.

The handset features a 3-inch TFT capacitive screen with QVGA (240 x 320 pixels) resolution and 262K colour display. The Optimus L1 II Tri is also powered by an unspecified 1GHz processor paired with 512MB RAM.

The Optimus L1 II Tri houses a 2-megapixel rear camera with 4x zooming capability. The handset however misses out on the camera flash support and a front-facing shooter. The budget smartphone comes with a 4GB of in-built storage, which can be expanded up to 32GB via microSD card.

The connectivity options for LG Optimus L1 II Tri include Bluetooth 3.0,Wi-Fi, 3G, WAP, EDGE and GPRS. The budget device is backed-up by a 1540mAh Li-Po battery.

The Optimus L1 II Tri measures 102.6 x 58.9 x 13.3mm weighing 104.6grams and is available in Black, Pink and White colour variants.

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LG G Flex listed on company's India site at Rs. 69,999

The much-awaited LG G Flex, the company's first curved and flexible display smartphone, has now been listed on the company's India website, along with pricing details. LG has given the G Flex a maximum retail price of Rs. 69,999, and we can expect the market operating price to be slightly lower at launch.

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Nokia X budget Android phone launching in Asha series in March

The much-awaited but yet-to-be-announced Nokia X, aka the Nokia Normandy budget Android smartphone, is once again in the news, this time, with a report of the device being set to launch in March in India, under the Asha line-up.

The report, by GoAndroid, quotes an unnamed senior executive officer from Nokia India, whoreportedly also confirmed that the much-rumoured dual-SIM Windows Phone device, akaMoneypenny, would be launched in the country at the same time. 

The numerous rumours (some from established tipsters) surrounding the speculated first Android phone from Nokia are slightly difficult to believe, what with Microsoft's takeover of Nokia's mobile devices and services division - why would the Redmond giant allow Nokia to offer a device on a competing platform? We'll have to wait to see if such a device actually arrives.

The alleged Nokia X aka Nokia Normandy was previously reported to be introduced at the upcoming MWC 2014 event held in Barcelona, starting from 24 February. The March launch timeline is therefore in line with this report. 

Last week, the rumoured Nokia X has been leaked in live images, revealing design of the alleged device. A French publication, No Where Else, has posted three images of the alleged Nokia X, showing the front panel, the rear panel, and the side panel.

Also last week, a new leak via Browsermark 2 benchmark's database purportedly revealed the alleged Nokia X phone to come with model number RM-980. Unfortunately, the listing did not reveal any details about the device, but includes an image that purportedly showed Nokia X wearing Nexus 5's wallpaper and home screen icons. However, the current image contradicted earlier reports that claimed that Nokia, following the lead of Amazon, has been working on a fully-tailored or forked version of Android, like the software on the online retail giant's Kindle Fire tablet range.

The alleged Nokia X was also recently listed at a Vietnamese online retailer that revealed most of the specifications, including a 4-inch TFT display with a resolution of 480x854 (FWVGA) pixels; a 1GHz dual-core Snapdragon 200 processor; 5-megapixel rear camera; microSD card support and Android 4.4 KitKat.

Further, the Vietnamese retailer listing seemingly confirmed that the rumoured Nokia X would come with dual-SIM support, while connectivity options include 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPRS, EDGE, AGPS and Micro-USB. Other specifications include 4GB of inbuilt storage and Adreno 302 GPU. Notably, the listing claimed that the alleged Nokia X supports Google services like Google Play store, Google Search, Google Now, Google Maps, Calendar and YouTube.

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Nokia normandy leaked again showing its colours

This time around, the low-cost Android smartphone revealed its color range on Twitter, courtesy of @evleaks.

The leaked press image reveals the smartphone in six different colors – white, black, red, yellow, green, and cyan. They fall right in line with those of the budget-friendly Nokia Asha 503.

Furthermore, the press image showcases the homescreen of the Nokia Normandy, where Nokia MixRadio and dual-SIM functionality capture the attention. Curiously, with various apps on it, the homescreen resembles a lot the Windows Phone UI of the Nokia Lumia range.

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Apple is re-launching its iphone 4 model at around Rs 15,000

Apple is said to be re-releasing the iPhone 4 in India, specifically the 8GB model, according to The Economic Times. The move comes as a result to boost sales in the Indian market, which Apple has been losing to cheaper rivals running Android and Windows Phone 8.

The iPhone 4 was a popular model for Apple because of its relatively lower price compared to the newer iPhones in India. Apple and the iPhone in particular are aspirational brands in India and as such are on everyone's wishlist but the high price of the unlocked models means most people either go for the older cheaper models or some rival brand, of which there is no shortage.

With the iPhone 4 being discontinued last year after the launch of the iPhone 5c and the 5s, Apple lost one of its key sellers in the Indian market, along with its customers as well. With the relaunch of the iPhone 4, Apple is trying to gain back some of these customers.

According to the source, the iPhone 4 8GB will be priced in India at around INR 15,000 ($244) through buy back schemes and EMI options. The phone is expected to go on sale as early as next week.

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Sony announces updated models E1 and E2 dual

Along with the new Xperia T2 Ultra, Sony has also unveiled the Xperia E1 and E1 dual smartphones today. There is no word on the exact availability but we should be seeing the phones in the coming weeks.

“Xperia E1 combines the best of Sony’s audio technologies with a premium design and great hardware to create a smartphone for people who want to express themselves out loud.” said Calum MacDougall, Director of Xperia Marketing at Sony Mobile Communications.

Sony Xperia E1 features a 4-inch WVGA display, 1.2GHz dual-core processor, 512MB of RAM, 4GB of internal storage and microSD card slot. The phone also comes with a dedicated Walkman key and hardware controls for easy music control. It will be released in white, black and purple colour options.

According to Sony, Sony’s audio heritage can be clearly heard in Xperia E1 as key technologies come together with the 100Db speaker to produce a louder, cleaner sound that can hold its own in any environment.

There is no word on the pricing right now.

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Sony announces 6-inch Xperia T2 Ultra and T2 Ultra dual Android phones

Sony has announced the new Xperia T2 Ultra and Ultra dual smartphones at its China press event today. Targeted to emerging markets – Xperia T2 Ultra and its dual-SIM version will be released in the coming months.

“Xperia T2 Ultra will lead the category through its combination of advanced display and camera technologies, it will bring large-screen entertainment in an amazingly portable form factor and it will do it all whilst providing incredible value for money,” said Calum MacDougall, Director of Xperia Marketing at Sony Mobile Communications.

Coming to the specifics, Xperia T2 Ultra features a 6-inch 720p HD Triluminos display, 13MP rear camera, 1.1MP front camera, 1.4GHz quad-core Snapdragon 400 processor, 1GB of RAM and 8GB of internal storage. The phone also packs microSD card slot, 3000 mAh battery, and LTE support.

The phone is just 7.6mm thick and weighs only 173 grams, certainly a feat for a smartphone with such a large display.

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Android-running Nokia Normandy spotted once again

The codenamed Normandy, Android-powered Nokia smartphone has leaked once again. This time around we get to see a live picture of the KitKat-running handset and a glimpse of Nokia's proprietary launcher.

We already saw the Normandy numerous times in the wild, so we know pretty much everything there is to know about the anticipated droid - we know itsspecs, how it looks and even an alleged announcement date during the MWC this year.

And now, in case you've wondered what a Nokia-designed Android launcher would look like, you get a chance to see it. It's obviously inspired by the Asha lineup as is the hardware of the prototype and is unlike anything else in the market right now.

If the rumors are true we should be seeing Normandy go official next month in Barcelona. Or sometime later this year,

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Sony WP smartphone to come in 2014 under the Vaio brand

It appears that the negotiations between Sony and Microsoft have ended up successfully and the Japanese company will indeed be joining the list of Windows Phone hardware manufacturers. Microsoft’s Windows Phone director Greg Sullivan has confirmed that Sony will be releasing its own WP smartphone in 2014.
Better yet, the device is said to hit the market by the middle of the year, so we won’t even have to wait that long to see it. The new Sony smartphone will be carrying the Vaio brand, which should help you tell that it’s running a different OS from the Xperia handsets. With the limited customization options provided by the Microsoft partners, the Vaio smartphone will be relying on the Sony proprietary services such as Music Unlimited and Video Unlimited to help it stand out in the crowd.

 

The news that Sony and Microsoft have reached an agreements comes as little surprise, given that the deal will obviously be beneficial to both company. Sony has already expressed its desire to add a second platform to its smartphone lineup and Windows Phone is the most obvious choice. Microsoft, on the other hand, is looking to expand the reach of its mobile OS and a major manufacturer such as Sony will definitely help. Not to mention that the two companies have quite the long history of partnership in both mobile (remember Windows Mobile?) and desktop platforms. 

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Wirelessly charge your Samsung Galaxy Note 3 with the new S-View flip cover

Samsung is now offering an accessory that not only protects the Samsung Galaxy Note 3, but also allows you to wirelessly charge the phablet. This is achieved by combining a regular S-View flip cover with a rear panel that supports wireless charging. The price of the accessory is $69.99, and you will still need to shell out money for the wireless pad. That could add another $30 to $40 into the mix.

Using an outlet and a cable has to bother you a lot to make you spend more than $100 on the case and the pad. When the case is closed the window lets you use your finger or S-Pen to scroll through various menus. For example, you can use the camera, play music, or use the Action Memo without having to open the cover. You can also select different color options from the window screen, allowing you to customize the images.

The back snaps onto the rear battery cover but does not leave the device any bulkier. All you need is a Qi-compatible wireless pad and cables and cords are a thing of the past. The covers are available in black or white. and can be ordered directly from Samsung.

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Apple seeks ban on Samsung phones, tablets in the US

Apple has asked a federal judge to bar US sales of Samsung smartphones and tablet computers in the blockbuster patent case involving the two electronics giants.
In a court filing in California, Apple said the smartphones and tablets were found to have violated patents in a jury trial held last year.
Apple renewed its bid for a permanent injunction on sales of a number of Samsung products after an appeals court decision last month cleared the way for a new hearing on the matter.

In the latest filing dated Thursday, Apple's attorneys wrote that the court "previously concluded that Samsung's sale of infringing products has irreparably harmed Apple."

The document added that the appeals court decision "makes clear that the record evidence collectively demonstrates a sufficient 'causal nexus' between Samsung's infringement and the irreparable harm to Apple."
Apple added that "money damages are not an adequate remedy for Samsung's infringement of these patents."
The US firm is seeking a ban on Samsung's smartphone models Captivate, Continuum, Droid Charge, Epic 4G, Exhibit 4G, Fascinate, Galaxy Ace, Galaxy Prevail, Galaxy S, Galaxy S 4G, Gem, Indulge, Infuse, Mesmerize, Nexus S 4G, Replenish, Vibrant,Transform and three versions of the Galaxy S II.
Bans are also being sought on the Galaxy Tab and Tab 10.1 tablets.
The request does not affect the newest Samsung devices, which were not at issue in the trial because of the fast product cycles in the industry.
The South Korean firm, the world's biggest maker of smartphones, has been ordered to pay Apple more than $900 million after a retrial on some of the issues in the case.

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Exclusive: new Nokia R feature phone leaked, has a 2MP camera and runs on a refreshed Nokia OS

Exclusive: new Nokia R feature phone leaked, has a 2MP camera and runs on a refreshed Nokia OS

 

A reader of ours, who has chosen to stay anonymous, has just sent in a few snaps of a new Nokia feature phone, dubbed simply as the Nokia R. The 2.4-inch device has a typical Nokia look, though we're told that the software powering it, known as Nokia OS, has seen a refresh of sorts. Sadly, the source wasn't very talkative and didn't mention exactly what the update would entail.

Moving on, according to the specs-sheet image that we were asked to keep private, the Nokia R is expected to see the light of day sometime in April next year. True to its humble beginnings, the Nokia R's specs read like something taken from a decade ago – a 240x320 pixel resolution display with up to 65K colors, 16MB of RAM, FM and MP3 players, all of which powered by a 1100mAh cell. The handset is also fairly chubby at 116.4x50.3x13.25mm, though that's not untypical for its class. It's also worth pointing out that the Nokia R will apparently only offer 2G GSM connectivity, meaning relatively glacial speeds compared to what's available nowadays.

If anything, this serves to showcase just how much of a role Nokia's feature phone division has played in keeping the company afloat as it was hemorrhaging dollar bills in the smartphone market, and it would appear that it continues to do so. And while such devices may appear almost comical, it would be wise to remember that about half of the world still buys into them, and it'll be a long while until this changes.

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Low-end Lumia phone with 4.5-inch display pops up online

Nokia's upcoming low-end offering, Nokia RM-977 with a 4.5-inch dispaly pops up online

We know that Nokia is working on several new devices based on Windows Phone 8.1 for 2014 as the vendor is testing a lineup of new devices. While we have heard about some of these phones, speculations are anew with another phone in the pipeline.
As per Zuaba website (via Nokia Power User), that tracks the imports and export into India has come across an unannounced Nokia phone with the model number RM-977. The phone has been imported by Nokia from Finland and it is in the testing and evaluation phase.
Though details about the Nokia RM-977 remain scant, it is said to be a single SIM phone fitted with a 4.5-inch touch screen display, hinting that it is a Lumia phone. The phone is tipped to be priced at Rs 7,966 (approx. $130).
Nokia earlier announced Lumia 525 handset flaunting a 4-inch WVGA IPS LCD display with 480x800 pixel resolution. Equipped with a 1GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 processor teamed up with 1GB of RAM, the device brings onboard a 8GB of onboard storage, which can be further expanded up to 64GB using a micro SD card along with free 7GB of SkyDrive cloud storage. 
To handle your imaging requirements, there is a 5-megapixel rear snapper without flash and front-facing camera. Other goodies on board include 3G, Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth and a 1,430 mAh battery which promises up to 10.6 hours of talk time and 14 days of standby time.

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Nokia Lumia 525 is a 1GB RAM WP8 smartphone on the cheap

The Nokia Lumia 520 is by far the best-selling WP8 smartphone, helping the platform to some remarkable growth over the past few months. This means it's only natural for Nokia to bring up a successor sooner rather than later. That would be the Lumia 525, which brings more RAM, which would expand the app compatibility of what was an already well working package. As you know some of the apps in the Windows Phone Store are incompatible with 512MB RAM smartphones.
The Nokia Lumia 525 packs double the RAM at 1 GB and comes with Windows Phone 8 with the Lumia Black update out of box. The rest of the specs are similar to the Lumia 520 - a 1,430 mAh battery, Nokia's Here Maps, Drive and Transit, 8 gigs of storage (expandable via microSD card), 5 MP camera (without a flash) and a dual-core 1 GHz Snapdragon S4.

 Nokia hasn't provided specifics on availability but we're guessing soon and in time for the holiday season. The price is also a mystery but we're guessing it won't be much higher than the Lumia 520

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Sailfish-based Jolla now available

Jolla costs €399 and comes with a 4.5" qHD IPS display. It is powered by Snapdragon 400 chipset with a dual-core 1.4GHz Krait processor, Adreno 305 graphics and 1GB of RAM. There is an 8MP rear camera, 16GB expandable storage, and rich connectivity options including I2C.
Jolla is running on the MeeGo-succeeding Sailfish OS, developed by ex Nokia employees. It relies heavily on gestures and is able to run Android apps. The Sailfish OS comes with acess to 85,000 Android applications through its preinstalled Yandex store. Nokia HERE Maps comes pre-installed, too.
Here is the latest promo video of the Jolla smartphone.
Jolla is available in 9 different colors. Smart exchangeable covers are sold separately and you can change the looks of your phone at any time.
Jolla is already available in Finland, but it will be rolling to 135 more countries in the near future.

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