HTC confirms another tablet coming to the UK

HTC has kept pretty quiet on the tablet front, aside from some Windows brou-ha-ha. But according to PC Advisor, the company has plans to launch another tablet on British shores. The Flyer remains the last tablet to arrive — due to a lack of 4G networks, the Jetstream didn’t make the trip across the Atlantic. It remains a very vague tease, with no promise of a launch even within the year and not even a nod to whether the OS will be Android or something else altogether. HTC’s apparently holding back until it has something unique to offer, a strategy that other companies seem to be following in a bid to avoid the pile of tablet also-rans.

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HTC confirms another tablet coming to the UK originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 11 Jul 2012 05:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Amazon smartphone 4-5 inches and already in testing tip manufacturers

Amazon is currently testing prototype smartphones, with mass production potentially starting late in 2012 or early next year, with a screen size of 4-5 inches according to insiders. The online retailer is working with component suppliers on the hardware, sources at those suppliers confirmed to the WSJ, echoing reports last week that a smaller version of the Kindle Fire tablet was in the pipeline.

Exact specifications of the Amazon phone are unclear, and it’s unclear if the company has settled on a hardware design. A screen size falling in the range of 4- to 5-inches would put it up against the Galaxy S III and One X in terms of size, though if Amazon follows its strategy with the 7-inch Kindle Fire tablet, it might price the smartphone significantly cheaper.

That’s because Amazon views hardware as a means to an end, rather than the end-goal itself, using dedicated devices like the Kindle line-up to sell more content such as ebooks, music, video and apps. A Kindle phone could effectively be subsidized by the prospect of future content sales, therefore, undercutting Samsung, Apple, and other rivals.

How that would work with traditional carrier subsidies remains to be seen. Amazon has existing relationships with some carriers, who provide the 3G connectivity in the cellularly-enabled Kindle ereaders, but prefers to keep their names behind the scenes and emphasize the “free data” aspect of the deal.

The retailer could decide to offer the Amazon smartphone SIM-free and unlocked, following Google’s attempts to do the same and bypass carriers with the original Nexus One, or it could use the heft of its Amazon Wireless cellphone arm to negotiate exclusive tariff packages with one or more carriers.


Amazon smartphone 4-5 inches and already in testing tip manufacturers is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.


WSJ chimes in on Amazon smartphone rumors, says 4- to 5-inch device is in testing

Whether the possibility of an Amazon smartphone is growing any stronger or the Wall Street Journal just wants to prove it has sources too, the paper is saying parts suppliers are gearing up to build just such a device. According to the always informative unnamed sources, testing of a phone is underway, and mass production could start late this year or early next year. There’s still no revelations on what the software might be like or how the device could be sold, but the report does expand on Bloomberg’s initial revelations from last week by narrowing the possible size down to between 4- and 5-inches. Of course, if the rumors are correct then we’ll probably see a new Kindle Fire hit the streets first anyway, if it has any updated software to bring along then maybe we’ll have a better idea of what an Amazon phone could look like.

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WSJ chimes in on Amazon smartphone rumors, says 4- to 5-inch device is in testing originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 11 Jul 2012 02:10:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPad Mini to borrow iPod touch style tip prototype insiders

Apple’s iPad Mini takes styling cues from the 4th-gen iPod touch rather than the new iPad, sources supposedly familiar with the latest tablet prototypes have claimed, with production expected to kick off in September. Sales of the slate will begin in time to monopolize the holiday shopping season, Macotakara‘s insiders say, complete with WiFi-only and 3G/4G models. Even at the rumored price premium over the Nexus 7, meanwhile, analysts reckon Apple would have a multi-million seller on their hands by the end of the year.

Notorious Apple-enthusiast Gene “Where the heck is my Apple television?!” Munster of Piper Jaffray has informed investors that the iPad Mini could shift as many as 6m units this holiday season, AppleInsider reports. According to the analyst’s latest research note, “Apple could sell 4-6 million smaller iPads in the December quarter, assuming a holiday launch … if the launch occurs in [Q4 2012], we believe the smaller iPad would add about 1-percent to revenue and [earnings per share] in December.”

Meanwhile, although Munster concedes that there would likely be some cannibalization of Apple’s existing iPad sales, he believes it would be outweighed by the impact on Android-based tablets. 10-percent of current full-sized iPad sales would likely migrate to iPad Mini sales, the analyst estimates, whereas 30-percent of total Android tablet sales would likely be stolen by the smaller iOS model.

Aesthetically, the new iPad Mini is believed to follow in the footsteps of the 3.5-inch iPod touch rather than the new iPad. That could imply a chrome-finish back rather than the brushed aluminum of the 9.7-inch tablet, or it might simply be a reference to the media player’s curved edges rather than the more angular bevel of the iPad’s rear cover.

As for thickness, exact numbers are in short supply, but it is supposedly thinner than the current thinnest model; it’s not clear whether that’s a reference to other tablets on the market in general, or the 9.4mm thick new iPad. Previous leaks have indicated a roughly $299 starting price for the iPad Mini.


iPad Mini to borrow iPod touch style tip prototype insiders is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.


Microsoft Surface magnesium case reportedly hit by low yields

Microsoft ruffled more than a few feathers when it introduced its Surface tablet, although pricing and availability details were scarce at the event in June. One of the key features of the tablet was its premium magnesium construction featuring an integrated kickstand. Digitimes reports that Microsoft is seeing low yields with the case construction method, with the publication citing upstream supply chain sources.

Microsoft is said to have approached a number of chassis makers, saying that it planned to construct five million Surface tablets by the end of 2012. Manufacturers apparently balked at the idea, unable to meet Microsoft’s construction demands. Microsoft eventually found a Chinese supplier to construct the casing, but because they’re a “second-tier maker” the process has resulted in low-yields. Microsoft is said to be paying close attention to the manufacturing process as a result.

Aside from the magnesium casing, Surface for Windows RT will feature an NVIDIA Tegra 3 quad-core processor, while Surface for Windows 8 Pro will have one of Intel’s low-power Ivy Bridge processors. The Pro variant will be slightly thicker a result, but will be more powerful and run the full version of Windows 8. Rumors have indicated that the pricing for the RT tablet will be around $599 for the 32GB model, while the Intel-based Pro version will run $899.


Microsoft Surface magnesium case reportedly hit by low yields is written by Ben Kersey & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.


A bevy of Nokias allegedly leak into a developer app: ‘Lumia 1001’ tops theoretical new lineup

DNP Did a cluster of Nokia's just leak into a developer app

There’s nothing easier to photoshop than a phone display, but a Nokiapoweruser reader claims to have RDA screenshots leaking five (count ’em) different upcoming Nokia smartphones. The reputed models shown — without any other proof — are the Nokia 510, Nokia Belle 805 and Lumias 920, 950 and 1001. These are on top of another we already saw from the same type of source, the Nokia 910, giving us a Bizarro world view of Nokia’s entire possible WP8 lineup, before the company has even issued a peep. We’d love to ruminate about potential specs and pecking order, but since we’re talking about an entirely abstract slate of phones, go ahead and invent your own.

[Image credit: Nokiapoweruser]

A bevy of Nokias allegedly leak into a developer app: ‘Lumia 1001’ tops theoretical new lineup originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 09 Jul 2012 06:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung Windows RT tablet tipped for October with Qualcomm chip

Samsung’s first Windows RT tablet will drop in October, sources have claimed, running Microsoft’s slate-version of Windows 8 on ARM processors from Qualcomm. The tablet’s release is expected to be alongside initial availability of Windows RT models, Bloomberg‘s insiders say, despite high-profile drop outs such as HP deciding not to follow the RT path.

Talk of Samsung partnering with Qualcomm to use Snapdragon in Windows RT hardware first surfaced back in December, with Microsoft supposedly playing matchmaker between device manufacturers and chipset companies. At the time, Qualcomm supposedly selected Samsung because of its comprehensive manufacturing capabilities, in addition to the fact that Samsung already had its Galaxy Tab series of Android slates in the marketplace.

Exact specifications for the Samsung Windows RT model have not been confirmed, though as it stands the company looks likely to use a Snapdragon S4 processor. Such chips have been found in recent high-end phones  like the Samsung Galaxy S III variants in the US, and indeed Qualcomm provided developers with Windows RT prototypes using the processors earlier this year.

Microsoft threw the tablet cat among the pigeons in recent weeks, revealing its own Surface tablet running Windows RT. Though HP subsequently insisted that its decision to bypass the RT slate segment (in favor of full-fat Windows 8 tablets running x86 processors from Intel and AMD) was settled prior to Surface being revealed, rumors indicate many of Microsoft’s high-profile OEM partners were frustrated by the own-brand tablets.


Samsung Windows RT tablet tipped for October with Qualcomm chip is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.


AllThingsD: New Kindle Fire will feature 1,280 x 800 resolution, ship in Q3 2012

AllThingsD: New Kindle Fire will feature 1,280 x 800 resolution, ship in Q3 2012

Rumors and scuttlebutt are already afoot: Amazon is ramping up to release a Kindle Fire successor later this year. It certainly seems reasonable enough; come November the original $200 slate will be a year old, outpaced by the young Nexus 7. According to AllThingsD, however, Amazon aims to keep things fresh — updating the tablet with a thinner profile, a 1,280 x 800 resolution display and a built-in camera. According to sources “familiar with Amazon’s plans,” the tablet is slated for a late Q3 launch, agreeing with its previously rumored July / August debut. The finer details — like the unit’s price and internal specs — are still MIA, but we’ll let you know if the rumor mill churns out anything new.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

AllThingsD: New Kindle Fire will feature 1,280 x 800 resolution, ship in Q3 2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 08 Jul 2012 19:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nokia Lumia 910 pops up in developer tool, has us chasing phantoms

Nokia Lumia 910 pops up in developer tool, has us chasing phantoms

The often rumored Nokia Lumia 910 has proven to be an ephemeral spirit so far. If the company’s Remote Developer Access tool is an indicator, though, it may become corporeal before too long. A Nokiapoweruser reader has spotted the phone’s name hanging out as one of the selectable devices. Unfortunately, we’re not getting much more than that: there’s no hardware specifications lurking about that we know of. Earlier rumors had it being a slight spin on the Lumia 900 with a 12-megapixel camera and even a Verizon edition, but the lack of hard evidence outside of the name may leave us all wondering for some time yet as to what Espoo’s flagship might get in a refresh. We won’t be shocked if any future overhaul waits for Microsoft’s latest and greatest platform to arrive.

[Thanks, Nish]

Nokia Lumia 910 pops up in developer tool, has us chasing phantoms originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 07 Jul 2012 12:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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What Features Would You Want in an Amazon Phone? [Chatroom]

The Amazon phone rumor mill is in full force right now, and regardless of whether they’re true or not, the idea of Amazon making phones is an intriguing prospect. But without an operating system of its own, Amazon would need to imbue such a device with features that make it stand out. If you were responsible for an Amazon phone, what features would you stick in it? More »