Study reveals web access revolutionized by mobile devices

comScore has released its 2012 Mobile Future in Focus report that examines the mobile and connected devices' landscape. The report clearly shows how mobile devices have changed the patterns that we have been following to consume digital content. It does so by exploring the key trends that have driven the adoption of mobile media usage in several categories like social networking, retail, mobile ecosystem dynamics and also shifts in multi-device digital media consumption in 2011. It shows an increase in the use of mobile apps, e-shopping and social network access using smartphones and a swift increase in the number of tablet users.

Web access has changed..now goes mobile (Image credit: Getty Images)

Firstly and not-so-surprisingly, the number of users adopting smartphones has seen a rise - 42 percent in the U.S. and 44 percent in EU5, comprising France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK. The use of mobile media for browsing the web and downloading content has also seen growth due to the increasing availability of public Wi-Fi. While Android and iOS have geared up to woo audiences, they form a major share in the U.S., the EU5 shows Android with significant gains, unseating market leader Symbian in 3 out of the 5 European markets.

"2011 proved to be a groundbreaking year for the mobile industry, with smartphones hitting the mainstream, tablets emerging as a formidable fourth screen, and consumers increasingly integrating mobile behaviors into their lifestyles. As the industry continues to innovate and more consumers look to multiple devices and platforms to consume digital media, we expect the mobile and connected device landscape to be shaken up even further in 2012," said Mark Donovan, comScore Senior Vice President of Mobile. "As mobile channels present a more personal, social, and ubiquitous experience to consumers, advertisers and publishers have an opportunity to better engage target audiences, given an understanding of how to connect and leverage the unique characteristics of these emerging platforms."

Another aspect is the growing use of mobile apps, compared to mobile browsers in the U.S. and in the UK. However, there are a considerable number of users accessing both mobile apps and browsers. More than half of the U.S. smartphone population use the device for retail research while inside a store in 2011, showing how savvy smartphone shoppers bring online shopping behaviours in-store –  this is a growing trend in other markets too. 1 out of 5 smartphone users scanned product barcodes and nearly 1 in 8 compared prices on their phone, while in a store, by the end of 2011.

64.2 million U.S. users and 48.4 million EU5 users have accessed social networking sites or blogs on their smartphones, at least once in December 2011. Tablets were also quick at getting popular in 2011. It took less than two years to account for nearly 40 million tablets in use among U.S. mobile users outpacing smartphones, which took 7 years to reach the same. The end of 2011 showed that about 15 percent of U.S. mobile users also had tablets, which again is a trend seen in other markets, too.

Apple halts "push" email services in Germany

Apple Inc has been forced to de-activate "push" notification features for mobile users of its iCloud and MobileMe services in Germany, after an injunction was issued in favor of rival Motorola Mobility Holdings Inc.

Customers using push services -- which automatically inform users about new messages on iPhones, iPods or iPads -- will now not be able to use them within the borders of Germany, Apple said on its German support website. However, users can get around that suspension of push services by adjusting their settings so that devices download new email at regular intervals, it added.

Apple said its push email service on Mac deskops, laptops and the Internet is not affected.

Push on hold

Apple and Motorola -- which Google Inc is in the process of acquiring -- are engaged in global patent litigation, part of a broader legal fight over the smartphone market, with billions of dollars at stake. A court in Mannheim three weeks ago granted a permanent injunction against the push-email service of Apple's iCloud, and any devices that can access it. According to patent expert Florian Mueller, Motorola sent Apple an enforcement letter demanding compliance with the patent injunction.

Mueller said on his widely watched blog, Foss Patents, that the "Motorola patent at issue in that litigation harks back to the time of pagers, a predecessor of text messages."

"Apple believes this patent is invalid and is appealing the decision," the company said on the website.

The same court ruled in December that Apple Sales International -- the company's European sales subsidiary in Cork, Ireland -- must stop selling or distributing mobile devices that infringe upon certain Motorola cellular communications patents. That forced Apple to briefly halt the sale of the iPhone 3G and 4 models and some iPads on its German online store. Apple was cleared to resume selling the older models via its online store on February 3.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 (10.1) and 7.0 - been there, seen that

At the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, among the big launches, Samsung has dropped the ball on their ‘next-gen’ Galaxy Tab 2 series, but it’s not what we hoped it would be. The new tablets will come in two sizes - a 7.0-inch and a 10.1-inch and will be launched in the UK first, next month, followed by the rest of the world. The Galaxy Tab 2 series, as it turns out, is a rebadged version of their existing Tab 10.1 (or Tab 750) and the Tab 7.0 Plus (or Tab 620) with some minor changes thrown in. 

Old wine in old bottle

Let’s start with the Galaxy Tab 2 (10.1). Comparing it with the existing Tab 10.1, the new model is actually a little bit thicker and heavier, than its predecessor. There’s a slight change in the design, too, as the stereo speakers are more prominently placed facing the front, rather than the sides. While the screen resolution and type have remained the same, the Tab 2 (10.1) does get expandable memory support this time. It also has (we think!) voice call options now, although Samsung doesn't mention that explicitly. The 3MP camera can now record in 1080p, although I wouldn’t hold my breath too much on the quality of the recorded video. Along with GPS, the new tablet also supports GLONASS  positioning system. Of course, it will be running Android 4.0, along with TouchWiz UX UI running on top, so you may not be able to see much of a difference between the old and new one. Samsung haven’t revealed too much info on the type of SoC powering the tablet, except that it’s a 1GHz dual-core chipset. Rest of the specifications remain exactly the same. Here are some of the main features:

• Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich with Samsung TouchWiz UI
• 10.1-inch PLS LCD display with a resolution of 1280 x 800
• 1GHz Dual-Core Processor
• 3 Megapixel auto-focus rear camera with full HD 1080p video recording capabilities at 30fps
• VGA front facing camera for video calling
• 16/32GB Internal memory
• MicroSD Card support up to 32GB
• 1GB RAM
• GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
• HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100
• 3.5mm audio jack
• A-GPS, GLONASS, Bluetooth v3.0, USB 2.0, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct

Coming to the Tab 2 (7.0), Samsung let this one slip out about a week ago and not much has changed, since then. Physically, it’s going to be exactly the same as the current Tab 7.0 Plus and even internally, for most parts. The only addition here is the 1080p video recording support and GLONASS navigation support. This brings us to the question as to why Samsung bothered to release this in the first place? And more importantly, what happens to the existing 10.1 and 7.0 Plus? This brings us to the question - will they be getting ICS, after all? Samsung can’t drop the price any further, since it will clash with their other products and they won’t be able to make any profit, so the only option is to kill the existing product line and replace it with the Tab 2 series. Let’s wait and see how Samsung manage to untangle this web, which they’ve spun around themselves.

MWC 2012: Huawei officially unveils the Ascend D quad, XL and D1

Today, Huawei introduced the world’s fastest quad-core smartphone, the Huawei Ascend D quad. Powered by Huawei’s K3V2 quad-core 1.2GHz/1.5GHz processor and boasting the most compact design among 4.5-inch smartphones, the Ascend D quad runs Android 4.0 operating system and Huawei’s proprietary power management system, which provides up to 30 percent in energy savings. It measures just 64mm narrow and 8.9mm slim so it’s slim and lightweight. The phone will be available in China, Australia, Europe, Asia-Pacific, North and South America, and the Middle East in Q2 of 2012, while the Ascend D1 will come to these markets from April 2012.

The Ascend D quad

The Ascend D will join the other mega-phones with a 4.5-inch, 720P high definition touchscreen, and the industry’s most powerful 32-bit true colour graphic processor. This gives it a PPI of 330, so it’s in Apple’s Retina Display territory. This is complemented by Dolby 5.1 Surround Sound and Audience earSmart voice technology for a better audio experience. Its 8-megapixel BSI (Back Side Illuminated) rear-facing camera, 1.3 megapixel front-facing camera, and 1080p full HD video-capture and playback capabilities enables you to record your special moments in clearer, richer detail. The Ascend D quad is fitted with an 1800mAh battery, which they claim, lasts for one to two days with normal usage. The smartphone’s prowess is enhanced by Huawei Device’s proprietary power management technology, which provides a longer battery life of up to 30 percent compared to industry average by adjusting power consumption according to usage needs. It also ensures higher chipset performance and efficiency by maintaining a low chip temperature.

As part of the Ascend D series, Huawei also introduced the Ascend D quad XL and the Ascend D1 smartphones. The Ascend D quad XL comes with a 2500mAh battery which provides two to three days of normal usage. With the same specifications as the Ascend D quad, the Ascend D quad XL measures 10.9 mm slim, while the Ascend D1 runs on a 1.5 GHz dual-core CPU and has a 1670mAh battery, so it will be quite a bit cheaper when it launches.

QuickPic Gallery App Updated, v2.0 Offering New UI, Apps2SD And More

Popular gallery app QuickPic has received a pretty big update today, offering users some new and improved feature additions. The most noticeable, of course, being the revamped user interface to reflect Android design guidelines set forth at the release of Ice Cream Sandwich. It’s not only a visual upgrade, however, as the UI works more fluidly and seamlessly than ever before. Here’s the list of what’s new in the update to v2.0:

• New clean UI like Android 4.0(ICS), lots of UI optimizations
• Replace list mode to explorer mode, support hierarchical folders
• Bigger square thumbnails without border
• Fix some minor bugs
• App2SD for Android 2.2+

QuickPic is wildly popular with the Android community, so if you haven’t already given it a shot it’s highly recommended you do. Visit the Marketplace link below or capture the QR code.

Official Promo Videos Released for HTC One Series Devices

Today has been a big day at MWC for HTC. Fresh off the official announcement coupled with the announcements by AT&T, T-Mobile, and Clove UK, HTC has decided to release some promo videos to show off their fancy new One family. These beast of devices that are part sexy mixed with part high-end technology and are looking to set the tone for what to expect this year for Android as apart of HTC’s Hero Strategy. So without further hesitation, check out these official promo videos for the HTC One X, One S, and One V. If these don’t whet your appetite, or get you excited, then I don’t know what will. Enjoy!

Sony Xperia P SmartDock Aims To Bring “Full PC Experience” To Your Xperia Handset

To compliment Sony’s new Xperia phones, the company has also announced a SmartDock accessory that will connect your Xperia device to your home television. The dock itself outputs via HDMI and serves as a media hub to access your music, video as well as your photos. On a newer TV equipped with HDMI-CEC (Consumer Electronics Control), you can even use your television remote to navigate your smartphone or play with your favorite Android app. An optional keyboard and mouse is also available to help give you that “full PC experience”.

I beg to differ on the whole full experience viewpoint, but I must say this is definitely a nice solid step in the right direction for combining your smartphone with your home entertainment system. Make sure to keep tuned to TalkAndroid for more updates from Mobile World Conference 2012. Full press release after the break.

Sony Mobile Communications Introduces Xperia P and Xperia U – Smartphones for Connected Entertainment Experiences
Mobile World Congress, BARCELONA, Spain, February 26, 2012 /PRNewswire/
 

• Xperia P and Xperia U join Xperia S in the Xperia NXT series – next generation smartphones from Sony
• Xperia P delivers outstanding screen brightness using Sony “WhiteMagic” display technology
• Xperia U packs powerful Sony entertainment in a stylish and compact design

Sony Mobile Communications today unveiled the latest additions to its Xperia™ NXT series – next generation smartphones from Sony, the new Xperia P and Xperia U. In addition, Xperia S, the ultimate HD smartphone, is now shipping to markets across the globe, with first sales in the Sony Style store in Barcelona during Mobile World Congress.  Xperia P and Xperia U will be available to consumers globally in the second quarter of this year.
Xperia NXT series – a connected entertainment experience
Incorporating the best of Sony technology and premium entertainment, the Xperia NXT series is a cornerstone of Sony’s connected experience.  With easy connectivity, consumers can enjoy and share content on whichever screen best suits them, whether it’s their smartphone, TV, laptop or tablet.
With the next generation of smartphone design from Sony, the Xperia NXT series has a look that is instantly recognisable.  These smartphones have intriguing design features including the “transparent element”, a band that encircles the base of the phone and also integrates invisible antenna components.  The transparent element illuminates when receiving calls, texts and notifications.
The new User Interface (UI) follows the same design principles and enhances the Android™ experience – offering rich applications and content with a simple and clean look.   A new  album, video player and music player will deliver compelling entertainment experiences  and the new UI design also allows consumers to access their favourite application direct from the lock-screen.
Xperia P and Xperia U boast Reality Display powered by Mobile BRAVIA® Engine for razor-sharp clarity, along with fast capture to take the camera from sleep to snap in a little over a second with a single key press.  Both smartphones come with powerful 1 GHz dual-core processors for super fast performance.
As with Xperia S, Xperia P and Xperia U connect consumers to premium entertainment experiences with access to the Sony Entertainment Network*.  Out of the box, consumers can watch the latest Hollywood blockbusters on Video Unlimited or listen to millions and millions of songs** through Music Unlimited.
Xperia P - ultra-bright viewing experience    
With a full aluminium unibody design, Xperia P debuts WhiteMagic™ display technology from Sony for the first time on a smartphone.  WhiteMagic technology delivers the brightest viewing experience; whether at the beach or on the ski slopes. Smart power efficiency automatically adjusts the brightness of the screen to the surroundings to conserve battery life.
The new SmartDock, exclusively for Xperia P, offers simple connectivity to multiple screens, turning the smartphone into an entertainment hub for the living room.  Using a TV remote control consumers can easily navigate their smartphone’s media content to watch their HD videos, the latest movies or favourite TV shows on the big screen.  With USB support in the SmartDock, they can also use a wireless keyboard and mouse to write emails, browse and post on Facebook or watch videos from YouTube on their TV.
Key features for Xperia P

• 4″ Reality Display with powered by Mobile BRAVIA Engine.
• WhiteMagic™ display technology for an ultra-bright and power efficient viewing experience.
• 1 GHz dual-core processor for super fast performance with 16GB flash storage.
• 8MP camera with unique fast capture, HD recording and Sony technology to capture 2D and 3D panoramic images.
• Easy HDMI and DLNA connectivity to share content on any screen.
• NFC (Near Field Communications) enabled to access a growing range of NFC applications and services as well as Xperia SmartTags.
• Available in a choice of silver, black and red, all with an aluminium unibody.
• Launches on Android platform 2.3 (Gingerbread), upgrade to Android platform 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) during the second quarter of 2012.

Xperia U – powerful Sony entertainment in a stylish and compact design
Xperia U combines powerful Sony entertainment in a stylish and compact design that consumers can personalise inside and out.  With xLoud™ and Sony 3D surround sound audio technology integrated into the music player, consumers will enjoy a crisp and loud sound experience. They can also stream music from their Xperia U to wireless speakers with a touch using DLNA.
In Xperia U the transparent element illuminates to match the colour of photos viewed in the gallery or the album art of music tracks currently playing. Xperia U can also be personalised with exchangeable caps and themes to reflect consumers’ personality and mood.
Consumers listening to music on their Xperia U can also enjoy improved sound quality with the stylish new Smart Headset forAndroid smartphones, which features SmartKey – a dedicated application launch key that consumers press once to launch a favourite app.
Key features for Xperia U

• 3.5″ Reality Display powered by Mobile BRAVIA Engine.
• 1 GHz dual-core processor for super fast performance.
• 5MP camera with unique fast capture, HD recording and Sony technology to capture 2D and 3D panoramic images.
• Crisp and loud listening with xLoud and 3D surround sound audio technology.
• Available in a choice of white or black, with pink and yellow exchangeable caps for the base of the smartphone in the box.
• Launches on Android platform 2.3 (Gingerbread), upgrade to Android platform 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) during the second quarter of 2012.

*Sony Entertainment Network services are subject to availabilityby region, please see http://www.sonyentertainmentnetwork.com  for more details.
**The number of available songs varies by region.
“Sony”, “BRAVIA” and “Sony Entertainment Network” are registered trademarks or trademarks of Sony Corporation. All other trademarks or registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
About Sony Mobile Communications
Sony Mobile Communications is a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation, a leading global innovator of audio, video, game, communications, key device and information technology products for both the consumer and professional markets. Through its Xperia™ smartphone portfolio, Sony Mobile Communications delivers the best of Sony technology, premium content and services, and easy connectivity to Sony’s world of networked entertainment experiences. For more information:http://www.sonymobile.com
Appendix:

    Xperia P specifications All services mentioned in this list may not be
                            available in every market.

    Colour                  Silver
                            Black
                            Red

    Facts                   Size: 122 x 59.5 x 10.5 mm
                            Weight: 120 grams
                            1 GHz STE U8500 dual-core processor
                            Google Android(TM) 2.3 (Gingerbread), upgradeable
                            to Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich)

    Camera                  3D Sweep Panorama(TM)
                            8 MP camera
                            8x digital zoom
                            Auto focus
                            Face detection
                            Flash/Photo flash
                            Flash/Photo light
                            Front-facing camera (VGA)
                            Geotagging
                            HD video recording (1080p)
                            Image stabiliser
                            Red-eye reduction
                            Scene recognition
                            Self-timer
                            Smile detection
                            Sony Exmor R(TM) for mobile image sensor
                            Sweep Panorama(TM)
                            Sweep Multi Angle(TM)
                            Touch capture
                            Touch focus
                            Video light
                            Video recording
    Music                   3D surround sound
                            Album art
                            Bluetooth(TM) stereo (A2DP)
                            Clear bass
                            Clear stereo
                            Music Player
                            PlayNow(TM) service
                            SensMe(TM)
                            TrackID(TM) music recognition
                            xLoud(TM)
    Internet                Android Market(TM)
                            Bookmarks
                            Google(TM) search
                            Google Voice(TM) Search
                            Google Maps(TM) for Mobile with Street view and
                            Latitude(TM)
                            NeoReader(TM) barcode scanner
                            Web browser (WebKit(TM))
    Communication           Call list
                            Conference calls
                            Facebook(TM) application
                            Facebook inside Xperia(TM)
                            Google Talk(TM) application
                            Noise suppression
                            Xperia(TM) Timescape(TM)
                            Speakerphone
                            Twitter(TM) (Timescape(TM) integration)
                            Video chat ready
    Messaging               Conversations
                            Email
                            Google Mail(TM)
                            Instant messaging
                            Multimedia messaging (MMS)
                            Predictive text input
                            Sound recorder
                            Text messaging (SMS)
    Design                  Auto rotation
                            Gesture input
                            Keyboard (on-screen, QWERTY)
                            Live Wallpaper
                            Reality Display with Sony WhiteMagic(TM)
                            technology
                            Screenshot capturing
                            Mobile BRAVIA(R) Engine
                            Touch screen
                            Contains post consumer recycled plastic and
                            waterborne paint
    Entertainment           3D Album
                            Accelerated Adobe Flash Video
                            Media browser
                            Motion gaming
                            Radio (FM radio with RDS)
                            Send to web
                            Sony Entertainment Network
                            TV launcher
                            Video streaming
                            YouTube(TM)
     Organiser              Airplane mode
                            Alarm clock
                            Calculator
                            Calendar
                            Contacts
                            Document readers
                            eCompass(TM)
                            E-Manual
                            Notes
                            Setup guide
                            Stopwatch

    Connectivity            3.5 mm audio jack (CTIA)
                            aGPS
                            Bluetooth(TM) wireless technology
                            DLNA Certified(R)
                            HDMI support
                            Media Transfer Protocol support
                            Micro USB support
                            Native USB tethering
                            NFC
                            PC Companion
                            Synchronisation via Microsoft(R) Exchange
                            ActiveSync(R)
                            USB High speed 2.0 support
                            USB host
                            USB Mass Storage
                            Wi-Fi(R)
                            Wi-Fi(R) hotspot functionality
                            Wisepilot(TM) turn-by-turn navigation
                            All services mentioned in this leaflet may not be
                            available in every market.
    Display                 4" Reality Display with Sony WhiteMagic(TM)
                            technology
                            960 x 540 pixels (qHD)
                            16,000,000 colour TFT
                            Hard coated shatter proof sheet on
                            scratch-resistant mineral glass
    Memory                  Internal phone storage: 16 GB (up to 13 GB
                            user-accessible memory)
    Networks                UMTS HSPA 850 (Band V), 900 (Band VIII), 1900
                            (Band II), 2100 (Band I)
                            GSM GPRS/EDGE 850, 900, 1800, 1900
    Battery life            Talk time GSM: Up to 6 hrs*
                            Standby time GSM/GPRS: Up to 470 hrs*
                            Talk time UMTS: Up to 5 hrs*
                            Standby time UMTS: Up to 475 hrs*
                            Music listening time: Up to 80 hrs
                            Video playback time: Up to 4 hrs
                            Battery: 1305 mAh typical, 1265 mAh minimum
                            *Values are according to GSM Association Battery
                            Life Measurement Technique. Battery performance
                            may vary depending on network conditions and
                            configurations, and phone usage.
    In the kit              Xperia(TM) P, embedded battery, clear audio
                            certified stereo headset, fast charger, micro USB
                            cable for charging, synchronisation and file
                            transfer, and user documentation

    Xperia U specifications All services mentioned in this list may not be
                            available in every market.
                            Black
    Colour                  White
                            Size: 112 x 54 x 12 mm
                            Weight: 110 grams
                            1 GHz STE U8500 dual core-processor
                            Google Android(TM) 2.3 (Gingerbread), upgradeable
    Facts                   to Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich)
                            3D Sweep panorama(TM)
                            5 megapixel camera
                            16x digital zoom
                            Auto focus
                            Face detection
                            Flash/Photo flash
                            Flash/Photo light
                            Front-facing camera (VGA)
                            Geotagging
                            HD video recording (720p)
                            Red-eye reduction
                            Self-timer
                            Send to web
                            Sweep Multi Angle
                            Sweep panorama(TM)
                            Video light
    Camera                  Video recording
                            Album art
                            Bluetooth(TM) stereo (A2DP)
                            Clear bass
                            Clear stereo
                            Manual equalizer
                            Music Player
                            PlayNow(TM) service
                            SensMe(TM)
                            TrackID(TM) music recognition
    Music                   xLoud(TM)
                            Android Market(TM)
                            Bookmarks
                            Google(TM) search
                            Google Voice(TM) Search
                            Google Maps(TM) for Mobile with Street view and
                            Latitude(TM)
                            NeoReader(TM) barcode scanner
    Internet                Web browser (WebKit(TM))
                            Call list
                            Conference calls
                            Facebook(TM) application
                            Facebook inside Xperia(TM)
                            Google Talk(TM) application
                            Noise suppression
                            Xperia(TM) Timescape(TM)
                            Speakerphone
                            Twitter(TM) (Timescape(TM) integration)
    Communication           Video chat ready
                            Conversations
                            Email
                            Google Mail(TM)
                            Instant messaging
                            Multimedia messaging (MMS)
                            Predictive text input
                            Sound recorder
                            Text messaging (SMS)
                            Gesture input
    Messaging               Voice input
                            Auto rotation
                            Keyboard (on-screen, QWERTY)
                            Picture wallpaper
                            Reality Display with
                            Mobile BRAVIA(R) Engine
                            Screenshot capturing
                            Touch screen
                            Live Wallpaper
    Design                  Contains post consumer recycled plastic and
                            waterborne paint
                            Media browser
                            Radio (FM radio with RDS)
                            Sony Entertainment Network
                            Video streaming
    Entertainment           YouTube(TM)
                            Alarm clock
                            Calculator
                            Calendar
                            Airplane mode
                            3D Album
                            Infinite button
                            Contacts
                            Setup guide
                            Stopwatch
    Organiser               Timer
                            3.5 mm audio jack (CTIA)
                            aGPS
                            Bluetooth(TM) wireless technology
                            DLNA Certified(R)
                            Media Transfer Protocol support
                            Micro USB support
                            Modem
                            Native USB tethering
                            Media Go(TM)
                            Synchronisation via Microsoft(R) Exchange
                            ActiveSync(R)
                            USB High speed 2.0 support
                            USB mass storage
                            USB Host
                            Wi-Fi(R)
                            Wi-Fi(R) Hotspot functionality
                            Wisepilot(TM) turn-by-turn navigation
    Connectivity            All services mentioned in this leaflet may not be
                            available in every market.
                            3.5" Reality Display with Mobile BRAVIA(R) Engine
                            854 x 480 pixels
                            16,000,000 colour TFT
    Display                 Anti-reflection coating on scratch-resistant
                            mineral glass
                            RAM (for active apps and OS services): 512 MB
                            System memory (for Android firmware): 2 GB
                            Phone memory (for downl. apps and apps data): 2 GB
                            Internal storage (for photos, music, videos and
                            downl. apps): 4 GB
                            Internal phone storage: 8 GB (up to 6 GB
    Memory                  user-accessible memory)
                            UMTS HSPA 850 (Band V), 1900 (Band II), 2100 (Band
                            I)
                            GSM GPRS/EDGE 850, 900, 1800, 1900
                            UMTS HSPA 900 (Band VIII), 2100 (Band I)
    Networks                GSM GPRS/EDGE 850, 900, 1800, 1900
                            Talk time GSM: Up to 6 hrs 36 min*
                            Standby time GSM/GPRS: Up to 260 hrs*
                            Talk time UMTS: Up to 5 hrs 36 min*
                            Standby time UMTS: Up to 472 hrs*
                            Music listening time: Up to 45 hrs
                            Video playback time: Up to 6 hrs
    Battery life            Battery: 1320 mAh typical, 1290 mAh minimum

                            *Values are according to GSM Association Battery
                            Life Measurement Technique. Battery performance
                            may vary depending on network conditions and
                            configurations, and phone usage.
                            Xperia(TM) U, battery, exchangeable caps, stereo
                            headset, charger, micro USB cable for charging,
                            synchronisation and file transfer, and user
    In the kit              documentation

Orange Announces Intel-Powered Android Smartphone, Codename: Santa Clara

Well it looks like Europe will be the first country to get their hands on a Medfield-powered device as Orange just officially announced Intel’s Santa Clara (likely a codename). If you’ve seen any of our previous write-ups, you would most likely notice that the Santa Clara looks strikingly similar to the Medfield reference model as we have seen it before, both in specs and hardware design. The Santa Clara comes equipped with Intel’s Atom Z2460 processor, a 4-inch 600 x 1024 display, an 8MP rear camera, NFC capabilities and remains just under 10mm thick. The device currently runs Android Gingerbread but Orange plans on a timely ICS update shortly after the device’s launch. Not only should the Atom Z2460 processor provide plenty of umph to power the device, Orange’s HSPA bands can also provide browsing speeds of of 21.1Mbps down and 5.6Mbps up.
Some other notable specs include HDMI-out via the devices MHL port, built in gesture navigation and Orange’s HD voice calling feature. Since the Medfield is capable of operating with such low voltage requirements, they are also touting battery life with a 14 day standby period or eight hours of continuous talk time. This is a breath of fresh air when talking about download speeds similar to LTE because we all know how battery life is with today’s 4G devices.
Not only does the Santa Clara sport mid-range but respectable specs, Orange says the device will remain “aggressively priced” as compared to some of their other town-named handsets. You can expect to hear plenty more about this device in the coming weeks and when we learn of it’s launch date and price point we will be sure to let you know.

Video Interview with Head Designer of ADzero Bamboo Phone

The folks over at The Verge have posted up a video interview with Middlesex University undergraduate and designer of the ADzero bamboo phone, Kieron-Scott Woodhouse.
From the video we find out why he chose bamboo as the material for the ADzero, and what designers influenced him and were his inspriation. The phone is still in development but should be ready within the year, and Woodhouse talks about how it feels to see his creation nearing completion.
The Verge also got to see rosewood prototypes as well as the bamboo one. Pretty classy and unique, as you can see from these pictures.

To see the full video interview, as well as all the pictures, hit up the source link below.

Samsung Officially Announces the Galaxy Note 10.1

We already knew we were going to see the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 after we saw the huge billboard in Barcelona yesterday, but now we have the official announcement and device specs. Not to be confused with the Galaxy Tab 2, the Galaxy Note 10.1 provides more of a desktop experience and allows for ‘multiscreen’ use, having more than one app open at the same time. That means you can be watching a video or reading an email all the while simultaneously taking notes or browsing the web. The Galaxy Note 10.1 differs from the Galaxy Tab in that it comes with an included  S Pen (specialized stylus), as seen with the the smaller Galaxy Note smartphone.
The 10.1 Note sports a 1.4GHz dual-core processor, has 1GB of RAM, runs ICS with the Touchwiz overlay, a 3MP rear camera and a 2MP front shooter. The device comes equipped HSPA+ connectivity, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 3.0, GPS and Glonass features. The display measures 10.1-inches diagonally, has a resolution of 1280 x 800, and looks to be flanked by front facing speakers on the left and right sides. There will be 32 and 64GB variations, both of which come complete with a microSD card slot for up to an additional 32GB of storage.
Some of the software included with the 10-inch Note are Adobe Photoshop Touch, Adobe Ideas, S-Note, Shape Match and Formula Match (for digitizing images and mathematical formulae), along with the usual Android suspects. Pricing and availability are still unknown at this time but we will let you know as soon as we hear more. Jump past the break for the full press release.

Boost your Creativity and Productivity with GALAXY Note 10.1
A new device category, GALAXY Note 10.1 comes with an immersive 10.1” screen and
S Pen versatility to unlock your creativity and productivity
Barcelona, February 27, 2012 – At Mobile World Congress, Samsung announced the launch of GALAXY Note 10.1, which expands the GALAXY Note experience in creativity, productivity, and learning.
With its large display, GALAXY Note 10.1 provides multi-screen functionality to maximize efficiency in learning, work and creative endeavors. Its multi-screen functionality enables you to do a true multi-tasking, by viewing Internet pages, videos or other applications side by side while writing or sketching your ideas.
GALAXY Note 10.1 features S Note, a unique and efficient tool that lets you combine notes or sketches together with web content, images and other digital media into your own personalized storyboards. It gives you a new way to create stories as S Note provides various ready-to-use templates such as meeting minutes, recipe, cards, diary, magazine and more. Also, hand-drawn geometric shapes can be perfectly digitized by using the Shape Match function, which helps users to create more organized idea sketches and storyboards.
Moreover, by using the S Note’s integrated knowledge search engines, users can quickly search, obtain information, and easily drag & drop the cropped images and content onto S Notes without having to switch between screens.
GALAXY Note 10.1 enables an extraordinary learning experience. Students can watch a lecture live-streamed on video while writing down comments on S Note; research a college essay on the web while taking notes; or even read a full e-textbook while annotating it. Similar to the Shape Match, Formula Match function helps to correct and digitize formulas hand-drawn with S Pen, making the device a more powerful education tool.
Users can fully enjoy PC-like premium photo editing and drawing experiences with Adobe® Photoshop® Touch and Adobe Ideas. Photoshop Touch lets users transform images with core Photoshop features and combine multiple photos into layered images, make popular edits, apply professional effects, and more. Adobe Ideas is an easy-to-master drawing tool that allows users to sketch ideas, choose amazing color themes and import images. Both are specially optimized for S pen and are exclusively pre-loaded on Samsung GALAXY Note 10.1.
“GALAXY Note 10.1 takes productivity on a Note to a whole new level. With a larger, fully utilizable screen and superior performance, it combines the intuitiveness of handwriting with all the versatility of digital content to let users be more productive across all of life’s demanding tasks-whether working, learning, or simply creating their own stories,” said JK Shin, President of IT & Mobile Communications Division at Samsung Electronics. “With GALAXY Note 10.1 we are demonstrating Samsung’s commitment to extend the mobile category and are working with key partners like Adobe to provide extraordinary experiences for users that enable them to be more productive, express themselves creatively and add a touch of fulfillment to their lives.”
Ensuring intuitive multitasking and web browsing, GALAXY Note 10.1 runs on AndroidTM 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) and features a 1.4GHz dual-core processor and HSPA+ connectivity. Its real-time video streaming and Full HD video playback add to the device’s content versatility.
GALAXY Note 10.1′s innovative S Pen, the most advanced pen input solution on the market, is completely integrated into the device’s original applications. It provides enhanced pressure sensitivity, superior accuracy and control when editing or writing, providing an analog pen writing experience on a digital device.
The GALAXY Note 10.1 is exhibited at Samsung stand (Hall 8), Mobile World Congress 2012. For multimedia content and more detailed information, please visit www.samsungmobilepress.com.

Samsung Announces Galaxy S WiFi 4.2 For Gamers

As Mobile World Congress officially kicks off, Samsung is showing off some unique devices. One interesting, or perhaps confusing, device is the newly announced Samsung Galaxy S WiFi 4.2. Similar to their Samsung Galaxy S WiFi from last year, this device comes without phone radios, but also adds an improved sound system called SoundAlive, which delivers “great sound either through a front stereo speaker or headphones“. The rest of the specs seem pretty ho-hum.

• Android 2.3 Gingerbread (really?)
• 4.2-inch display
• 8.9 mm thick
• 512MB of RAM
• 8GB or 16GB versions
• 1 GHz processor
• 1500 mAh battery
• 2MP rear camrea
• VGA front-facing camera
• Gyroscope sensor

It will come pre-installed with EA’s Need For Speed Hot Pursuit, which is what makes it a gaming device I suppose. I don’t know. After the Galaxy Note 10.1 announcement, this just seems rather dull in my opinion. Maybe if the price is right it could make a splash since it’s still a decent mid-level device. But when I hear “gaming” attached to the marketing of a device, I expect specs that are at the very high end of the spectrum, not a list that looks like last year’s models.
Full press release after the break.

Game On With Samsung GALAXY S WiFi 4.2
February 27, 2012
Samsung introduces GALAXY S WiFi 4.2, the best of Android experiences with powerful gaming on the go. This experience is further enhanced with the device’s superior SoundAlive audio system, offering great sound either through a front stereo speaker or headphones. A gyroscope sensor enables the user to control the device by moving it, providing truly engaging and intuitive gaming.
The GALAXY S WiFi 4.2 is exhibited at Samsung stand (Hall 8), Mobile World Congress 2012. For multimedia content and more detailed information, please visit www.samsungmobilepress.com.
Samsung GALAXY S WiFi 4.2 Product Specifications

Processor	1 GHz Processor
Display	4.2” WVGA(480×800) IPS TFT
OS	Android 2.3(Gingerbread)
Camera	Main(Rear): 2 Megapixel Camera Sub(Front): VGA for Video Call
Video	Codec: MPEG4, H.263, H.264, VC-1, DivX, WMV7, WMV8, WMV9 Format: 3GP, ASF, AVI, MP4, WMV, FLV, MKV Playback/ Recording: HD@30fps, VGA@30fps
Audio	Codec: MP3, AAC, AC-3, AMR, FLAC, WMA, WAV, OGG Music Player with SoundAlive Front Stereo Speaker 3.5mm Ear Jack
Value-added Features & Services	Premium EA Games preloaded - Need For Speed Hot Pursuit
	Samsung Apps
	Samsung Hub - Social Hub - Readers Hub*/ Music Hub*/ Game Hub* (Downloadable via Samsung Apps)
	Samsung ChatON mobile communication service
	Samsung Kies / Samsung Kies air
	Samsung AllShare
	Samsung SmartView: Smart TV remote control application
	GoogleTM Mobile Services - Android Market™, Gmail™, YouTube™, Google Maps™, Syncing with Google Calendar™, Google Search, Google +
	Bluetooth Handsfree
Connectivity	Bluetooth technology v 3.0 USB 2.0 Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n
Sensor	Gyroscope , Accelerometer, Digital compass
Memory	8/16GB User memory + 512MB (RAM) microSD (up to 32GB)
Dimension	124.1 x66.1 x 8.9 mm, 118g
Battery	Standard battery, Li-ion 1,500mAh

* Availability and launching time of the services may differ by region.
* All functionality, features, specifications and other product information provided in this document including, but not limited to, the benefits, design, pricing, components, performance, availability, and capabilities of the product are subject to change without notice or obligation.

BlackBerry PlayBook 2.0 pictures and hands-on

BlackBerry has finally released its PlayBook 2.0 operating system bringing with it a host of new features -most importantly email and calendar options. But has it been worth the wait and do the new additions now make it the best budget tablet on the market?

Messages

When the PlayBook was announced in 2010 we were promised email, when it launched in 2011 we were promised email, finally after all that waiting we now have email beyond just accessing it via your BlackBerry smartphone.
The good news is, is that the PlayBook email client is a joy to use. Signing in and setting up your email account is simply a case of entering your email and password and if you use a service such as gmail the software will do the rest for you.

Once you've done that you can start checking your emails and emailing people without their needing to have a BlackBerry.
Here you get all the usual email features. You can choose to have your emails automatically download images or not, send them on, put them into a specific folder or go full screen if it is something you need to read properly.

LG Optimus 4X HD, Optimus 3D Max and Optimus Vu get the hands-on treatment

LG has been announcing its new handsets over the last week, one a day, in the run-up to Mobile World Congress 2012 - where it'll presumably have nothing to announce, but plenty to show.
Well that's no longer the case, as Italian website Telefonino.net seems to have played with the new handsets and made short videos them for all to see. No sneaky, low-res garbage either, as they're all laid out in full high-definition for you to enjoy - although, naturally, they're all in narrated in Italian.
Above we have the Optimus 4X HD, the most conventional of the line-up, offering a Tegra 3 quad-core chipset and a 4.7-inch HD IPS display. Even if you speak no Italian it's worth a view just to see how Ice Cream Sandwich has been implemented and to marvel at the fact that "pinch to zoom" in Italian appears to be "pinch to zoom".
The Optimus 4X HD looks lightning fast. The lockscreen looks innovative and the feel of ICS has mostly been preserved, although some of LG's icons looks a little bland, we have to say. The video shows little of the design and focuses mostly on the app tray and customisation of the homescreen. Still, it looks a solid step forward from the Tegra 2 Optimus 2X, which never really felt comfortable, or fast.
Next up is the LG Optimus Vu. This is a rival to the Samsung Galaxy Note and it's size and the inclusion of a stylus suggest it's aimed mostly at the Korean market, but it's notable because of its odd 4:3 display aspect. It's the very definition of phablet at 5-inches.
The chap in the video is even good enough to put it side-by-side with the aforementioned Samsung device for a quick comparison. Interestingly, the Optimus Vu shares many design highlights with the Prada Phone by LG 3.0 that we reviewed recently.
Finally we have the LG Optimus 3D Max. One of the big boasts of this phone is that it now offers a complete 3D platform, including video editing. Although the phone is slimmer than the original, it’s launching on Gingerbread and the UI looks frighteningly similar to the last version, if a little faster.
So, having seen these three models (and remember there is also the new L-Style devices to investigate) it does look very much as though the LG Optimus 4X HD will be the star of the Mobile World Congress show.

Android 'Smoked by Windows Phone'

How quick is Windows Phone 7 exactly? Much quicker than the fastest Android handsets apparently. That's according to Microsoft, which has turned its "Smoked by Windows Phone" stunt from CES into a fully blown ad campaign.
The premise is that fandroids pitch their Android smartphone against a Windows Phone 7 handset (the HTC Titan II) to see which handset performs everyday tasks the quickest.
"Last month, we kicked off Smoked by Windows Phone at CES as a fun way of showing the world why Windows Phone is simply faster at the real stuff that real people do on their smartphones every day," explained Ben Rudolph on the Windows Team Blog.
"Since the show, where we won 88 per cent of our challenges (95 per cent, including the wins from our tour of California) against the best smartphones in the business, we’ve seen a huge swell of support for Smoked."
Apparently, WP7 fans demanded an ad campaign featuring the challenges. So now, Microsoft has posted a series of 15 to 30-second videos of the action on sites such as Forbes.com, Entertainment Tonight and Geek.com.