HTC One X is better than the Samsung GS3, HTC biasedly notes in a brochure

 
So, which smartphone is better? Is it the Samsung Galaxy S3, or is it the HTC One X? Well, we will leave that to you to find out. But a new report from Baba's Blog apparently shows that HTC is making a move to prove that its flagship One X is better than Samsung's. Of course, HTC's seemingly biased opinion doesn't come as a surprise. The blog was able to grab some documents that allegedly belonged to HTC. The said documents reveal a comparison of the two devices highlighting HTC's supposed superiority in terms of its CPU, camera, display, sound and even its design.

Now before you shrug those shoulders, check out the documents to see for yourself. The source said that HTC is reportedly preparing the documents for its sales team. Now obviously, if this is believed to be true, the document could be used by HTC's sales team as a training slide to persuade Android fans that the HTC One X is better. I for one cannot tell if the One X is better than the GS3. In case you missed our review of the HTC One X, check it out here. Also, standby for our upcoming review of the Samsung Galaxy S3.

LG Optimus L-Series make a fashionable debut

 
When cell phones were first introduced to the world, functionality took over form – and had a pretty long run before the design engineers decided that aesthetics should no longer take the back seat, but also be thrust to the forefront. Well, the LG Optimus L-Series is one such smartphone in the modern day context, where it has been thrust into the limelight thanks to a fashionable debut. In what is an exclusive collaboration with Vanity Fair UK and British celebrity fashion photographer Ralph John Perou, the LG Optimus L-Series targets style connoisseurs with an eye for great technology.

There are many models in the fashionable pictorial spread who hail from diverse backgrounds, ranging from dancers to makeup artists to neuroscientists, but the unifying factor that brought all of them together? Their effortless and strong sense of style, which is something that LG hopes to associate with the LG Optimus L-Series. While the LG L3 and LG L7 were launched earlier this year, there is still the L5 that is said to be released to the market sometime in the second half of this year. [Press Release]

Sony Xperia Mini Pro receives Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich update

 
We are seeing more and more Android-powered smartphones these days that come with the Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich update being released, which is a good thing – after all, who does not want to have the latest and greatest operating system version running on their handsets? The latest candidate in line would be the Sony Xperia Mini Pro, where you will need to have the proprietary PC Companion software installed beforehand prior to accessing this operating system update. I guess there has been no negative reports about this update just yet, so those who have applied the update, how do you find it? Did it manage to live up to your expectations?

Motorola unveils dual-core XT760 for China

Motorola introduced yet another Android smartphone for the Chinese market. Called Motorola XT760, the new droid is built around a 4" qHD screen and a 1GHz dual-core CPU of unknown architecture.

The mid-range Motorola XT760 comes with quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE support and dual-band 3G with HSPA. It runs on Android 2.3 Gingerbread and has a camera on either side of its chassis. The main snapper at the back can capture 8 MP stills and 1080p video, while the front-facing shooter is limited to VGA resolution.

The Motorola XT760 comes with 768MB of RAM and 2GB of built-in storage with microSD card slot for expanding that by up to 32GB. Local connectivity is well covered with Wi-Fi a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.1, USB 2.0 HS, a 3.5mm audio jack and an HDMI port.

Motorola XT760 is available from authorized Motorola resellers across China starting today, but its pricing hasn't been confirmed by the official Motorola press release. There's also nothing on the potential release of the smartphone in other markets.

Source | Via

Nokia Lumia 710 could be getting in on the Batman action as well

 
A while back we reported that there would be a Batman version of the Nokia Lumia 900. It would also be an extremely limited edition model and only 900 units will be made. Well if you're looking to get in on the Batman action but you'd rather not fork out the cash for a brand new Lumia 900, you might be in luck. In conjunction with the upcoming Christopher Nolan movie, the Dark Knight Rises, phone cases for the Lumia 710 have appeared and it looks like they will be sporting the Batman emblem as well.

According to WPCentral, these Xpress-on covers were spotted at a local T-Mobile store and were given out to new Lumia 710 purchases. It is unclear if these covers are officially licensed or if someone just got creative. It was also unclear as to whether these cases are part of a nationwide promotion or if it is just limited to that particular T-Mobile store, but if you're planning to get your hands on a Lumia 710, you could probably ask your local store rep to see if they have any Batman cases to give away. Admittedly not as exclusive or as cool as the Lumia 900, but we're sure that there are fans out there who wouldn't mind the freebie anyway.

MetroPCS announces the Activa 4G, Huawei's first LTE Android smartphone for the US

MetroPCS has announced a new LTE smartphone: the Huawei Activa 4G, which is available starting today, coming as Huawei's first LTE-capable handset made for the US market. Despite featuring 4G connectivity, the Activa is an entry-level smartphone. It offers a 3.5 inch HVGA display, Wi-Fi, stereo Bluetooth, 800MHz single-core processor, 5MP rear camera with LED flash, VGA front-facing camera, 1,880 mAh battery, and a 4GB MicroSD card pre-loaded with Kung Fu Panda 2. The handset runs Android 2.3 Gingerbread, and there's no word if it's ever going to get Android 4.0 ICS (probably not). For a limited time, the Huawei Activa 4G will cost just $149 (plus tax, following mail-in and instant rebate). At this price, the Activa 4G is the cheapest LTE handset you can get in the US without contract. You can buy the new smartphone either online, or in MetroPCS stores across the US. The Huawei Activa 4G is the fourth LTE Android smartphone available at MetroPCS at the moment, alongside the LG Esteem, LG Connect 4G, and Samsung Galaxy Attain 4G.

Sony Xperia Mini Pro gets Android 4.0

While we're not surprised by this story considering Sony Ericsson confirmed all 2011 phones except the Xperia Play would be getting Android 4.0, we're no less excited.

The little bundle of joy named the Sony Xperia Mini will be getting an upgrade to Android 4.0. While you'll find that the corner-endowed Timescape UI will remain intact,Android 4.0 will bring about some minimal interface and feature changes with certain apps.

But you'll also get to take advantage of the many apps which use the new Android 4.0 design guidelines. The companion app for PC is all you'll need to get started, but note that this upgrade is for unlocked, unbranded versions of the device, and that carrier-specific versions will be updated according to the carriers' wishes and schedule. Get started here. [via The Verge]

GSmart M1420, M1320, G1362, G1342

The Computex computer trade expo, held annually in Taipei, is one of the largest computer and technology trade shows om the world and it's only logical that smartphones will be there as well. Gigabyte has taken the opportunity to announce several new dual-SIM-capable smartphones, all as part of their GSmart ICS lineup. The GSmart M1420 features a 4.3-inch screen with WVGA resolution, it has a 1 GHz processor and an 8 MP camera, alongside 1.3 MP front-facing one. It has Wi-Fi b/g/n and Bluetooth support, and runs on the Mediatek Cortex A9 MT6575 chipset. The GSmart M1320 has a slightly smaller 3.5 inch screen, although with the same 480 x 800 resolution as the M1420. It runs on a 1 GHz processor, and has 4 GB of storage complete with 512MB of RAM, a 3 MP camera alongside Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity. The GSmart G1362 has a 4.3 inch touchscreen and is powered by a 1.2 GHz processor. It has 4 GB of internal storage, 512MB of RAM, and a 5 megapixel camera complete with front-facing VGA snapper. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 3.0 are also available. Gigabyte also showed off the smaller GSmart G1342, which we've known about for a while now. It's also a dual-SIM device, and has an 800 Mhz processor, 1 GB of storage and 512 MB of RAM. No word on market availability or launch dates yet. Source

Samsung Galaxy S III pre-orders live at Verizon, AT&T, and Sprint; shipping late June

 Samsung Galaxy S III pre-orders have gone live for three of the five carriers announced to receive the device in the US. Verizon, AT&T, and Sprint are all offering customers the chance to reserve their very own GS3 in a choice of Marble White or Pebble Blue finishes. Verizon and Sprint have the phone priced at $199 on a new two-year contract for the 16GB version and $249 for the 32GB model. AT&T is offering only a 16GB option, and its price matches that of VZW and Sprint.

As suggested yesterday, Verizon's site is showing a ship date of no later than July 9th. For AT&T the phone will begin shipping on June 18th, while Sprint will start fulfilling pre-orders on June 21st, the same day as T-Mobile's launch of the device. The phone will take advantage of all three carriers' LTE networks, and will also feature HSPA+ connectivity on AT&T. For this reason the phone will sport a dual-core 1.5GHz Snapdragon S4 processor instead of the quad-core Exynos chip found in the international version. Other hardware highlights include a 4.8-inch HD display, 8MP camera, and 2GB of RAM.

AT&T Galaxy S III pre-orders start, shipping June 18

 As promised AT&T is already taking pre-orders for the Samsung Galaxy S III. It will cost you $200 with a 2-year contract, while the no commitment price is $550.

Both the Pebble Blue and the Marble White colors of the Galaxy S III are available on pre-order, which means that the AT&T-bound batch wasn't affected by the production hiccups.

The Galaxy S III on AT&T is LTE-enabled so it will be based on a Snapdragon S4 dual-core chipset and will pack 2GB RAM, instead of the quad-core Exynos ticking in the international version (which lacks LTE support).

AT&T has confirmed that the new Samsung flagship will begin shipping on June 18. This means the US largest GSM carrier will have a three day advantage over rivals Sprint and T-Mobile, which will start fulfilling pre-orders on June 21.

Verizon and US Cellular, which are the other two operators to offer the Samsung Galaxy S III in the US are yet to announce details on the actual availability of the smartphone on their networks.

Source | Via

Verizon confirms global roaming for the Samsung Galaxy S3

 
Verizon had recently announced that several of their 4G LTE compatible devices would be receiving an OTA update that will allow the handsets to roam globally. This is great news for those who travel frequently and don't wish to have the hassle of owning two phones or having to switch carriers. Well if that describes you and you were planning on getting your hands on the Samsung Galaxy S3 on Verizon's network, fret not as Verizon has confirmed that the Galaxy S3 will also be gaining global roaming capabilities via a OTA update. Prior to this confirmation, Verizon's Galaxy S3 was spotted at the FCC with some semblance of global roaming capabilities, but we guess that particular feature is now confirmed. Global roaming is not available at launch but it is expected to arrive down the road as an update, so we guess you'd still be in for a wait.

Nokia introduces the Asha Touch range with three new handsets

Nokia announced the first three members of the newly created Asha Touch family of handsets. The Nokia Asha 305, Asha 306, and Asha 311 bring the range of feature phones even closer to smartphone territory, while still maintaining seriously low price tags. As Nokia's naming convention suggests, the Asha 311 will sit on top of the newly formed range of devices. The feature phone sports a CPU clocked at 1GHz and 256MB of internal memory, which can be further expanded through a microSD card slot. A 3.2MP camera can be found on the back of the device. The screen is a 3.0” capacitive touch unit with WQVGA resolution. Connectivity is fully covered with Bluetooth 2.1, pentaband WCDMA, microUSB port, and a 3,5mm audio jack. Accelerometer, proximity sensor and ambient light sensor complete the spec sheet, and make it worthy for any budget minded smartphone. Its measures are 106 mm x 52 mm x 12.9 mm, while its weight is 95 grams. A 1110mAh battery powers the handset. On the software side, the Asha 311 will offer 40 free EA games, preloaded Angry Birds, as well as the cloud accelerated Nokia Browser. Next, we have the dual-SIM Nokia Asha 305. The handset will offer a 3" resistive touch screen with WQVGA resolution. A 2MP camera, microSD card slot and dual-band GSM/EDGE connectivity are part of the specs too. Just like in the case of its bigger brother, the Asha 305 sports Bluetooth 2.1, microUSB 2.0 connector, 3.5 mm audio jack, and accelerometer. The handset's measures are 110.3 mm x 53.8 mm x 12.8 mm, while its weight is 98.3 grams. It is powered by the same 1110mAh battery as the Asha 311. The Nokia Asha 305 will also offer 40 free EA games and Nokia Browser. Nokia Maps will be available in select markets. As its name suggests, the Nokia Asha 306 is rather closely related to the 305. In addition to its specs, the 306 offers WLAN, as well as video streaming over both GPRS and WLAN. Nokia Asha 305 will begin shipping in Q2 with a price tag in the €63 range. Nokia Asha 306 and 311 will follow in Q3, priced at €68, and €92 respectively. Source

Microsoft to launch Windows Phone 8 on June 20? [Rumor]

 

DigiTimes is reporting that Microsoft is planning  release Windows Phone 8, allegedly codnamed Apollo, this coming June 20. The Taiwanese publication is basing its report on reliable sources from the industry who also reportedly mentioned that most branded smartphone vendors, with the exception of Nokia, will be adopting a wait-and-see attitude toward the launching of the new OS. Why? DigiTimes explains that because the market share enjoyed by Windows Phone 7.5-based smartphones hasn't reached the desired expectations, it will be impractical to expect the launching of Windows Phone 8 to bring a turnaround for Windows phones immediately.

Sources are also saying that Microsoft is focusing more on the promotion of Windows 8, at least for now. That's because a successful launching of Windows 8-based tablet PCs will presumably encourage more smartphone vendors to jump into the Windows Phone 8 segment. “Nokia and branded vendors including Samsung Electronics, Hewlett-Packard, Dell, Acer, Asus, and Lenovo which are capable of rolling out cross-platform mobile devices, are likely to the first batch of vendors to launch Windows Phone 8 smartphones,” DigiTimes said. Of course, it's important to take these matters with a grain of salt in hand. Unless we can verify the authenticity of the report, let's keep our fingers crossed.