Hasta La Gadget!

Ho ho ho! Even on this special day, the folks at Oppo decided to drop a bomb on its “Ofans.” According to a fresh teaser on its Facebook page, not only will Oppo be offering the $499 16GB version of the quad-core, five-inch 1080p Find 5 in the US (as we already knew), but there’ll also be a 32GB flavor for $569. What’s more, the image also lists many additional countries: Canada, UK, Spain, Australia, Germany, France, Belgium, Malaysia, Sweden, Singapore, Finland, Greece, Denmark, New Zealand, Norway, Japan and Hong Kong. Just to be sure, we reached out to Oppo and were told that it’s aiming to hit all these markets within Q1 next year; and better yet, it’ll try to do that as close to the early-January China launch as possible. Sounds like the company’s pushing for a global online retail channel (the blurred out URL probably indicates that it’ll be a centralized website), and it’ll be interesting to compare its performance to Xiaomi’s more humble attempt closer to home.

Update: We’ve been told that this is only a partial list, so fret not if your country isn’t there.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile

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Source: Oppo (Facebook)

While Netflix Watch Instantly movie streams are mostly useful for casual viewing, if you’re interested in the actual quality of the video provided you may have noticed a few changes recently. Chronicled in a thread on AVS Forum and reported to us by several tipsters, more than a few users have noticed their streams on 1080p-capable hardware (PlayStation 3, WDTV Live) no longer rock the “X-High” notification (on PS3, hit select to view more information bout your streaming details) that had previously let them know they were getting the highest quality possible. We checked with Netflix, and according to the company, it’s rolling out better encoding that improves picture quality despite using a lower bitrate. That means 1080p works even for people with slower connections, and increases detail on “textures, shadows, skies, and particularly faces.” As a result, what was previously called “X-High HD” is now being labeled a tier lower.

While it wasn’t mentioned specifically, some are theorizing the move is tied into Netflix’s use of eyeIO’s video encoding tech, which it announced earlier this year, to shrink the size of streams. eyeIO claims it can chop bandwidth by more than half for a 720p stream, something we’re sure a company that’s pushing as much data as Netflix would appreciate. Still, some viewers in the thread are claiming a noticeably softer picture as a result. Check after the break for the statement from Netflix, then take some time for “research” and let us know if you’re noticing any changes in picture quality lately.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Continue reading Netflix 1080p streams no longer called X-High, company credits improved encodes

Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD

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Source: AVS Forum, Tech of the Hub

LG seems to be on a roll lately, and they’re wasting no time delivering device after device. They recently launched their flagship Optimus G handset, as well as the Nexus 4 for Google. Up next may possibly be the Optimus G2, which is rumored to launch sometime in May of 2013, and it could come packing with one of those 5-inch 1080p displays that we’re hearing all about.

While “Optimus G2″ may not be the device’s official name, it’s been reported that the phone is already being worked on, and will include some pretty impressive specs which would make it the company’s next flagship phone to take on the Samsung Galaxy S IV, which is rumored to be released sometime in February, or possibly even March of 2013.

With HTC’s 5-inch 1080p DROID DNA out of the way, competitors are now trying to match it with 1080p smartphones of their own. The Galaxy S IV is rumored to have one, as well as the Optimus G2. On top of that, the G2 could come packing with a 2.0GHz quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM or more, and a high-MP camera (possibly larger than 8MP). If reports are true, LG may take the spotlight away from Samsung.

LG has never been considered a top contender in the smartphone market, but they have recently been throwing themselves into the ring several times, and it seems to be working. Releases like the Nexus 4 and the Optimus G are shedding a positive light on the company, and many users may soon look to LG for a powerhouse handset.

[via Android Community]

LG Optimus G2 tipped for May 2013 release is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

It’s finally that day, folks. The day when you can now get your grubby little hands on the smartphone that has the highest pixel density of any other display in the entire world right now. It’s the 5-inch 1080p HTC DROID DNA, and it’s available starting today at Verizon stores across the US and online.

Verizon is asking $199.99 for the DROID DNA after signing a two-year contract, but if you want to get the handset without an agreement, it’ll cost you a pretty $599.99. The phone was announced earlier last week, and it’s the first smartphone to be equipped with a 1080p display, which gives it an unimaginable pixel density of 440ppi.

The DROID DNA is the US version of the HTC J Butterfly that was unveiled back in October in Japan. The handset has Android 4.1 Jelly Bean on board, with HTC’s Sense 4+ UI running on top. There’s also a quad-core 1.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 processor, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage (non-expandable), and a 2020mAh battery.

You’ll also find Beats Audio, Bluetooth 4.0, a 2.1MP front-facing camera, with an 8MP rear camera that can simultaneously record HD video and photos. There’s the obvious 4G LTE connectivity, as well as global roaming capabilities. For an in-depth look at the device, be sure to skim through our review to learn more.

HTC DROID DNA now available at Verizon is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

By now you should already know that HTC, Sharp and Oppo share a common theme: 1080p display on their five-inch phones. As it turns out, Lenovo also wants in on the VIP list. Spotted on Sina Weibo earlier this week (but have since been deleted) are the above three screenshots showing off Lenovo’s customized Android UI in 1080p glory. As with many phones in China these days, the device in question supports dual-SIM connectivity — the screenshots indicate that it’s connected to China Telecom’s CDMA2000 network and China Mobile’s 2G network simultaneously.

Our own source wouldn’t directly confirm that it’s a five-inch display on this mysterious phone, but we were told that it’ll be somewhere between 4.5 inches and 5.5 inches — we’ll take that as a yes, especially since the only 1080p mobile panels available right now are the five-inch, 440ppi ones from Sharp and JDI. Our source also said the phone’s entered DVT (Design Verification Test) phase for some time, so it might not be long before we hear an official announcement in China. As always, stay tuned.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Lenovo

Lenovo’s upcoming five-inch 1080p phone to feature dual-SIM connectivity originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 17 Nov 2012 02:08:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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