BGR has gotten word that Apple’s carrier partners are currently testing iPhone models with 4G LTE technology. They couldn’t confirm if this iPhone in testing is the next-generation iPhone (iPhone 5), or something after that. The device runs an internal test-build of iOS. This has an LTE .plist file hidden inside it which confirms the usage of LTE technology.
Verizon Wireless today announced the BlackBerry Bold 9930 smartphone. It is immediately available to order via Verizon’s website, and in their stores starting August 25. The Bold 9930 will cost you $249.99 with a new two-year customer agreement
Key features of the BlackBerry 9930:
Hit View Post to see the full press release.
EISA, European Imaging and Sound Association, has awarded four products that come of interest to this blog. They’ve given out the award for Best Tablet, Best Social Media Phone, Best Camera Phone, and Best Mobile Phone.
Here we have the awards winners for 2011-2012.
Best Tablet:
The Acer ICONIA TAB A500 tablet features a 10.1-inch (26.6cm) LED backlit screen, nVidia Tegra 2 dual-core processor and the Android v3.0 Honeycomb operating system offering all the advantages that an Android-based tablet can offer. The tablet has a linear design with brushed aluminium frame and cover. In terms of connectivity 3G, Wi-Fi with DLNA compatibility and Bluetooth offer fast access whilst USB and micro USB ports, built-in GPS and a micro HDMI output allow users to enjoy 1080p video on their television. A rear-facing 5 megapixel camera with autofocus and flash is supplemented by a forward facing 2 megapixel one. The Acer ICONIA TAB A500 comes with plenty of pre-installed apps including the Clear.Fi media app which manages photos, music and videos.
Best Social Media Phone:
If you’re looking for the ultimate social networking mobile phone, the HTC ChaCha is one of the best. This elegant Android piece of art features a full QWERTY keyboard and direct access to the Facebook community at the push of a single dedicated button. Sharing pictures and comments is now more convenient than ever. Whether you wish to “chat”, send emails at the speed of light, listen to music (most codecs are supported) or surf the web, everything is amazingly simple. The 5 megapixel integrated camera will give you the chance to turn yourself into an official reporter for your community. With this incredible object in your hand, you will feel connected with the world.
Best Camera Phone:
With 8.7mm at its thinnest part the (Sony Ericsson) Xperia Arc is a fine superslim mobile phone which attracts the eye and easily slips into the pocket. Featuring a 4.2-inch (10.7 cm) display LED backlighting and driven by a Bravia engine for optimized video and pictures playback. The camera part is designed around the Sony’s Exmor R sensor at 8.1 megapixels which produces detailed photos even when the light is low. The Xperia Arc has video recording at 720p, LED flash and geo tagging. It is an Android v2.3 phone driven by an 1GHz processor. The device provides micro HDMI output not only to watch movies and photos on a television, but also mirroring it’s display at a larger screen.
Best Mobile Phone:
The Samsung GALAXY S II should attract huge interest due to its stunning Super AMOLED Plus 4.3-inch (10.9 cm) display as well as the speed of operation offered by a 1.2 GΗz dual core processor. With this device in your hands you feel like you can do whatever you want whether this is browsing the Internet, shooting Full HD video, playing back all kinds of media (most codec’s are included), gaming or taking pictures even in subdued light thanks to the integrated LED flash and 8 megapixel sensor. The super slim 8.49mm body, Android v2.3 operating system and the delightfully user-friendly Touch Wiz UX interface all combine to offer users an exciting and highly competent product.
Google just announced that they will buy Motorola Mobility for $12.5 billion. The deal is expected to close late 2011, or early 2012. Motorola made its comeback a few years ago with the help of their Android line of phones. Today they’re a pretty big manufacturer again. It will be interesting to see what the mother of Android can do to the company!
Here is the full press release.
Google to Acquire Motorola Mobility
Combination will Supercharge Android, Enhance Competition, and Offer Wonderful User Experiences
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. & LIBERTYVILLE, Ill.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Google Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG) and Motorola Mobility Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: MMI) today announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which Google will acquire Motorola Mobility for $40.00 per share in cash, or a total of about $12.5 billion, a premium of 63% to the closing price of Motorola Mobility shares on Friday, August 12, 2011. The transaction was unanimously approved by the boards of directors of both companies.
“Motorola Mobility’s total commitment to Android has created a natural fit for our two companies. Together, we will create amazing user experiences that supercharge the entire Android ecosystem for the benefit of consumers, partners and developers. I look forward to welcoming Motorolans to our family of Googlers.”
The acquisition of Motorola Mobility, a dedicated Android partner, will enable Google to supercharge the Android ecosystem and will enhance competition in mobile computing. Motorola Mobility will remain a licensee of Android and Android will remain open. Google will run Motorola Mobility as a separate business.
Larry Page, CEO of Google, said, “Motorola Mobility’s total commitment to Android has created a natural fit for our two companies. Together, we will create amazing user experiences that supercharge the entire Android ecosystem for the benefit of consumers, partners and developers. I look forward to welcoming Motorolans to our family of Googlers.”
Sanjay Jha, CEO of Motorola Mobility, said, “This transaction offers significant value for Motorola Mobility’s stockholders and provides compelling new opportunities for our employees, customers, and partners around the world. We have shared a productive partnership with Google to advance the Android platform, and now through this combination we will be able to do even more to innovate and deliver outstanding mobility solutions across our mobile devices and home businesses.”
Andy Rubin, Senior Vice President of Mobile at Google, said, “We expect that this combination will enable us to break new ground for the Android ecosystem. However, our vision for Android is unchanged and Google remains firmly committed to Android as an open platform and a vibrant open source community. We will continue to work with all of our valued Android partners to develop and distribute innovative Android-powered devices.”
The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including the receipt of regulatory approvals in the US, the European Union and other jurisdictions, and the approval of Motorola Mobility’s stockholders. The transaction is expected to close by the end of 2011 or early 2012.
Some lucky dude has managed to buy a HTC prototype device off of Craigslist. The device is what appears to be the HTC Holiday, an AT&T bound super phone. It is confirmed to come with the following specs:
The iPhone 4 is well over a year old now. It is however still priced like it was released a month ago. This is because Apple hasn’t released a “new-generation” iPhone, and the iPhone 4 is still the best Apple has to offer. Almost every day that passes, Apple makes a better profit by selling their iPhone 4. Components tend to get cheaper over time, and so has also the parts inside the iPhone 4.
In the image above, you’ll see how much the iPhone 4 costs to manufacture. You’ll see cost estimates divided into different component suppliers. The largest chunk of the iPhone 4 parts is supplied by Samsung. They have components inside the device worth of $45.68. In total, the iPhone 4 components cost $178, manufacturing $7, and a “Foxconn margin” of $7. So of the average selling price of $560, $192 goes into manufacturing the phone, while the rest, $368, goes to Apple for designing it. That’s a pretty good margin, isn’t it? :)
FCC has yet again shed some light on a new, still unannounced product. This time it is the Nokia 702T that is leaked by them.
The Nokia 702T is basically a Nokia E6-00, with support for China Mobile’s TD-SCDMA network, and also DVB-H Mobile-TV support (highly popular in Asia).
Check out the complete FCC filing here.
Matt Bencke, General Manager for Windows Phone Apps at Microsoft, just Tweeted that the Marketplace will be open for Mango apps starting August 22. This means that developers can submit their apps containing the Mango code from that date and forward. Due to the apps going though an approval process, you will not see Mango capable apps in the Marketplace on that same day. We’ll most probably see Mango go public shortly after this! Can’t wait!
