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Sunday, March 31, 2013

Citrix: Windows Phone is barely making a dent in the workplace

Citrix: Windows Phone is barely making a dent in the workplace:
iOS Android Windows Phone
If Citrix's mobile device management customers are any indication, then Microsoft (MSFT) has its work cut out for it in making Windows Phone devices staple features of workplaces. Citrix, which specializes in developing cloud, networking and virtualization technologies, reports that 62% of its North American MDM customers use iOS as their mobile platform of choice versus 35% for Android and just 3% for Windows. Although Citrix's picture of mobility in the enterprise is incomplete since it doesn't measure BlackBerry (BBRY) use, it does give an interesting glimpse into what industries use which platforms for their mobile computing needs. Among all the industry categories surveyed, Citrix found that only the oil and gas industry used primarily Windows-based mobile devices while iOS or Android topped every other industry.

One key to Samsung’s success: ‘They’re not stopping to think. They’re just making more phones.’

One key to Samsung’s success: ‘They’re not stopping to think. They’re just making more phones.’:
Samsung Success Analysis
There are many reasons for Samsung's (005930) recent success but one of the under-appreciated ones is their willingness to crank out new products at a rapid pace without fear of diluting their brand. In a lengthy profile of South Korea's largest company, Businessweek contrasts Samsung's gung-ho approach to releasing products with Apple (AAPL), which typically releases fewer products each year and prefers to enforce a certain uniformity of user experience across its product lines. Samsung, on the other hand, has made its name by cranking out smartphones and tablets of vastly different sizes, builds and prices aimed at appealing to as many different markets as possible.

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Heins: BlackBerry Q10 is being tested by 40 carriers in 20 countries

Heins: BlackBerry Q10 is being tested by 40 carriers in 20 countries: Now that Verizon has launched the BlackBerry Z10, the three major U.S. carriers that had planned to offer the all-touch BlackBerry 10 have each released the device and now attention turns to the QWERTY-equipped BlackBerry Q10; according to BlackBerry CEO Thorsten Heins, the model is being tested by 40 carriers in 20 countries...

Apple Cuts iPad Mini Shipments For 2Q13

Apple Cuts iPad Mini Shipments For 2Q13: DigiTimes, citing anonymous industry sources, claims that Apple has cut iPad mini shipments by as much as twenty percent.

Apple has reportedly cut its shipments of the iPad mini to between 10-12 million units for the second quarter of 2013, according to industry sources. The figure is based on shipment information given from multiple sources who provide various components for Apple's iPad mini.

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Know the Difference Between Types of Computer Monitors and Pick the Best One

Know the Difference Between Types of Computer Monitors and Pick the Best One:




It may seem like size is all that matters when it comes to buying a monitor, but there's a lot going on under the hood. This video from Techquickie tells you everything you need to know about LCD monitors as fast as possible.
We've run through your five favorite monitors before, but if you're shopping around, it's important to know what you're looking for. Gamers may want a "TN" monitor because they have higher refresh rates, while graphic designers will probably prefer an IPS monitor, which has more accurate color and better viewing angles. Check out the video above to see an insanely quick rundown of the different types of monitors, so you're better informed the next time around. If you want a bit more info, Coding Horror has a pretty good article on the subject, too.
LCD Monitor Panels Types - All You Need to Know as Fast As Possible | Techquickie

Apple reportedly dropping Samsung for iPad mini displays

Apple reportedly dropping Samsung for iPad mini displays:
Apple iPad Mini Display Samsung
Apple (AAPL) has continued to move away from its dependence on Samsung's manufactured components in new products. David Hsieh of NPD Group's DisplaySearch said on Thursday that the company will rely on Taiwanese firm Innolux and China's Century Display for touch panels in its next-generation iPad mini, the Taipei Times reported. Innolux revealed earlier this week that it plans to ship its first touch panels for smartphones and tablets with its touch-on-display technology by the end of this year. Digitimes also reported that Apple will move away from Samsung (005930) and instead rely on components from LG Display (LPL), Sharp (SHCAY), Japan Display and AU Optronics (AUO) for the iPad mini.

Report: Best Buy to have mini-Samsung stores open in time for Samsung Galaxy S4 launch

Report: Best Buy to have mini-Samsung stores open in time for Samsung Galaxy S4 launch: High traffic Best Buy stores will be removing two aisles in their mobile department and replacing them with a mini Samsung store in time for the launch of the Samsung Galaxy S4, which should take place by the end of next month; similar to the Apple section at a Best Buy, the Samsung Store will feature demos of Samsung products and staff will be trained on those devices...

Microsoft tweaks requirements, greenlights 7- and 8-inch Windows 8 tablets

Microsoft tweaks requirements, greenlights 7- and 8-inch Windows 8 tablets:
It’s been rumored for a while that Microsoft would eventually allow its partners to start building 7- and 8-inch tablets running Windows RT or Windows 8. After making a seemingly minor adjustment to the minimum Windows 8 hardware requirements, it appears as though Microsoft is now ready to open the floodgates. The spec change allows [...]

3D Printers Will Cost Less Than A PC by 2016?

3D Printers Will Cost Less Than A PC by 2016?: Industry analysts are predicting that 3D printers will be cheaper than a PC in the next few years. Just imagine how cool it would be if 3D printers were actually that affordable.

Widespread adoption of 3D printing technology may not be that far away, according to a Gartner report predicting that enterprise-class 3D printers will be available for less than $2,000 by 2016. With the technology set to become less expensive than some modern-day PCs, Gartner research director Pete Basiliere says the futuristic capabilities of 3D printers could be available far sooner than many had thought.

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Report: Apple iPhone 5S to be introduced June 20th, will launch in July; low-cost version to come in August

Report: Apple iPhone 5S to be introduced June 20th, will launch in July; low-cost version to come in August: The Apple iPhone 5S will be introduced during a special Apple event on June 20th, and launch a few weeks later according to the latest speculation about the next iteration of the iconic smartphone; additionally, a low-cost version of the iPhone will be released in August as a pre-paid phone for the emerging markets like China and India...

The most likely buyer of Nokia or BlackBerry now in talks to acquire NEC’s handset unit

The most likely buyer of Nokia or BlackBerry now in talks to acquire NEC’s handset unit:
Lenovo NEC Rumor
Reuters is reporting that Lenovo (LNVGY), the Chinese electronics giant, is in talks to acquire NEC's mobile phone unit. Lenovo has been speculated to be in talks with both Nokia (NOK) and BlackBerry (BBRY) over the past two years. Various brokerages have claimed that it is negotiating to buy Nokia's feature phone unit, Nokia's Lumia phone unit or BlackBerry's hardware operations. If Lenovo ends up buying the NEC handset operations, it would acquire a technologically highly sophisticated operation with a minuscule annual production volume of roughly 4 million units.

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Buy the BlackBerry Z10 for just $139 on contract from Walmart; phone tops Amazon's new releases list

Buy the BlackBerry Z10 for just $139 on contract from Walmart; phone tops Amazon's new releases list: Socks and undies aren't the only things on sale at Walmart as the discount retailer is offering the Verizon version of the BlackBerry Z10 for $139.99 with a signed two-year contract; the phone is also being offered for $149.99 on contract by Amazon where the all-touch BlackBerry 10 handset is on the top of the new phone releases list...

Indian smartphone market jumps 48% in 2012

Indian smartphone market jumps 48% in 2012: According to IDC, the Indian smartphone market expanded by a whopping 48% in 2012 although featurephones are still controlling the country with a nearly 91% share of the Indian mobile phone market; Samsung is the leading vendor of phones in the region with local names dominating the niche for phones priced under $100...

Saturday, March 30, 2013

iPad mini trademark rejected by US Patent Office

iPad mini trademark rejected by US Patent Office: A review by the US Patent and Trademark Office denied Apple’s application to trademark the iPad mini...

Mototola has at least 3 phones in the pipeline after the X Phone

Mototola has at least 3 phones in the pipeline after the X Phone: Yesterday, there were a couple new rumors that came out regarding Motorola, the X Phone. Most of the info pertained to things that we had already talked about. Our source has confirmed that it is unlikely that the X Phone will have hardware customization, and the release window has always been for late June or July, so there has been no delay. But, we've also confirmed another part of the rumor: Motorola has at least 3 phones in the pipeline after the X Phone...

Survey: Samsung takes the lead from Nokia, BlackBerry in key emerging markets

Survey: Samsung takes the lead from Nokia, BlackBerry in key emerging markets:
Samsung Emerging Market Share
One of the big stories to follow in 2013 will be the intensifying competition among smartphone vendors for market share in important emerging markets such as China, Brazil and India. Forbes points us to a new survey from mobile marketing firm Upstream showing that Samsung (005930) is the most popular smartphone brand for prospective buyers in Brazil, Saudi Arabia and India, while Nokia (NOK) holds onto the top spot in Nigeria, where Samsung didn't register on the survey. The survey also contained some potentially troubling news for BlackBerry (BBRY), which only registered double-digit interest from prospective buyers in Nigeria while falling below 10% in the other three countries. Upstream founder and CEO Marco Veremis tells Forbes that BlackBerry and Nokia tend to do well in African nations because they provide "easy access to social networks and the Web" and, especially in Nokia's case, they offer superior battery life.

Friday, March 29, 2013

NEC looking to hawk mobile division to PC partner Lenovo, says Bloomberg

NEC looking to hawk mobile division to PC partner Lenovo, says Bloomberg:
NEC looking to hawk mobile division to Lenovo, says Bloomberg
Though we don't get to see its smartphone wares too often stateside or in Europe, NEC has always said its mobile division was a big part of its business. Now it looks to be trying to fob that arm off to PC venture partner Lenovo, according to unnamed Bloomberg sources. The Japanese company is also said to be eying potential domestic buyers if that doesn't pan out, and Reuters recently reported that it's selling retail subsidiary NEC Mobiling to the tune of $850 million. The move is said to be in the works to bolster profitability after two straight years of smartphone operation losses and 10,000 layoffs, but as always, such unattributed material needs to be digested with beaucoup salt.
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Source: Reuters

Microsoft allows Windows 8 to run on smaller displays: is a reader-sized Surface on its way?

Microsoft allows Windows 8 to run on smaller displays: is a reader-sized Surface on its way?:
Microsoft relaxes Windows 8 rules to allow smaller screens is a readersized tablet on its way
Until now, Windows 8's official hardware requirements have been understandably ruthless: devices with anything less than 1,366 x 768 pixels need not apply. That policy was changed in a recent newsletter, however, to permit the creation of Windows 8 devices with a resolution of 1,024 x 768 -- likely representing a very different size and shape. Microsoft says the policy switch isn't meant to "encourage partners to regularly use a lower screen resolution", and it warns that such dimensions will be incompatible with Windows 8's split-screen feature, known as "snap". Which raises the question -- why mess with the rules?
Ed Bott over at ZDNet has an interesting theory. 1,024 x 768 matches the size and aspect ratio of many popular reader-sized tablets, like the iPad Mini, which are meant to be used in both portrait and landscape orientations. There's no official confirmation either way, of course, but Bott believes Microsoft's move could be deliberately aimed at allowing the development of 7- or 8-inch Windows 8 (or RT) tablets, possibly with the close help of Nook-maker Barnes & Noble. Indeed, Mary Jo Foley spotted that Redmond and B&N have registered a new joint venture, "NewCo", that explicitly mentions the creation of a "Microsoft reader". Considering all these clues, can a Wook (WiNook?) really be that far off?
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Source: ZDNet, Windows Certification Newsletter

Vizio brings pricing and release information to spring line of laptops and desktops

Vizio brings pricing and release information to spring line of laptops and desktops:
Vizio brings pricing and release information to its spring line of laptops and desktops
For those opting to "replace" instead of "clean" this spring, Vizio's got a bit of news for you -- the outfit's latest line of touch-friendly laptops and desktops now have firm pricing details to pore over. Starting with the portables, the 14-inch Touch Thin + Light (CT14T-B0) will ship soon with an AMD A10 APU and a base price of $1,089.99; the Core i7-equipped CT14T-B1, however, will start at $1,419.99. For those needing a bit more screen to stare at, the 15.6-inch versions of these guys will go for $1,189.99 (AMD A10) / $1,469.99 (Intel Core i7). Sliding over to desktops, the 24-inch Touch All-in-One (CA24T-B0) will ship momentarily for $1,279.99 with an AMD A10 APU, while the Core i7-infused CA24T-B1 will start at $1,439.99 and the 27-inch CA27T-B1 will get going at $1,549.99. As you'd expect, Windows 8 will find itself on home across the entire range, and those looking to buy in immediately can do so at the source links below.
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Source: Vizio, Microsoft Store

HP's $169 Slate 7 tablet apparently delayed until June

HP's $169 Slate 7 tablet apparently delayed until June:
Maybe it's that $169 price, or maybe it's the inclusion of an honest-to-goodness memory card reader, but we know some of you can't wait to get your mitts on HP's new Slate 7 Android tablet. Back when it was first announced, the company indicated it'd be available by April, but it would seem that plan has changed: the product page on HP's site is now saying the Slate won't arrive until sometime in June. We're not sure why there's a delay (we're asking for comment), but we do know this can't be good news for HP. By June, after all, Google I/O will have come and gone, and the next-gen Nexus 7 might already be on sale.
[Thanks, jmartj]
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Source: HP

US Cellular to begin Samsung Galaxy S 4 pre-sales April 16th

US Cellular to begin Samsung Galaxy S 4 pre-sales April 16th:
US Cellular to begin Samsung Galaxy S 4 presales April 16th
AT&T's not the only operator to grant early adopters the opportunity to pre-order the Samsung Galaxy S 4 on April 16th -- US Cellular will be following suit as well. While the regional carrier hasn't announced pricing or any other details on availability yet, interested customers will be able to at least start the purchase process before it hits retail shelves. Head to the source to sign up for email alerts on pricing and availability, and we'll keep you posted as soon as we hear updates.
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Source: US Cellular

AUO unable to land orders for new iPad mini, say sources

AUO unable to land orders for new iPad mini, say sources: AU Optronics (AUO), a supplier of panels used in the 7.9-inch iPad mini, is unlikely to land orders for the next-generation iPad mini because Apple will demand Retina-class panels based on oxide TFT technology and AUO is technologically incapable of producing such panels for the time being, according to Taiwan-based supply chain sources.

Rumor: iPhone 5S to launch June 20, just 8 months after iPhone 5

Rumor: iPhone 5S to launch June 20, just 8 months after iPhone 5:
do you feel luckyApple fans, do you feel lucky?
Apple’s iPhone 3G was released on July 11, 2008, and followed a little more than a year later by the faster 3GS on June 19, 2009. The iPhone 4 was released on June 24, 2010, and followed by the 4S sixteen months later on October 14, 2011. The iPhone 5 was launched on September 21, 2012, and if a rumor from Japan is correct, it will also be followed by a 5S model, to be released on June 20.
That is just an eight-month gap.
According to MacFan, a Japanese Apple fanzine that is celebrating its 20th anniversary, June 20 is the announce date of the newest iPhone, which will then ship in volume in July. How exactly a Japanese fanzine would be in possession of that privileged information is difficult to determine, but the timetable does square with analyst expectations. As CNet notes, Gene Munster and other Apple followers have identified June as the most likely launch window for the 5S.
If accurate, that’s a lot quicker than Apple has brought out upgrades in the past. But the pace of innovation has quickened, and the competition is getting hotter.
Samsung just recently unveiled its Galaxy S IV, the successor to its best-selling Galaxy S III, and the Korean manufacturer’s flagship phone against which Apple’s current iPhone 5 and next models will be compared. Samsung had released the S III in May of 2012, so the IV came out just ten months after — a much quicker model succession than Apple has traditionally managed. In addition, Galaxy IV pre-orders were 446 percent higher than III, at least for some carriers, and iPhone trade-ins doubled in the month leading up to the IV’s launch.
In other words, the Galaxy S IV is a major competitive threat, and Apple needs to address it. Which makes the June-July timeframe credible, even if the actual launch date is not June 20.
The only question, really, is whether Apple is prepared to run a quarterback sneak and maybe, just maybe, release multiple iPhone models simultaneously for the first time. With one that is just a bit cheaper for emerging markets – the cheaper iPhone that is supposed to come out in the latter half of 2013.
Now that would be interesting.
photo credit: Mez Love via photopin cc

Filed under: Business, Gadgets, Mobile, VentureBeat



Thursday, March 28, 2013

Apple cuts iPad mini shipments for 2Q13

Apple cuts iPad mini shipments for 2Q13: Apple has reportedly cut its shipments of the iPad mini to between 10-12 million units for the second quarter of 2013, according to industry sources. The figure is based on shipment information given from multiple sources who provide various components for Apple's iPad mini.

Intel to separate 3rd-generation ultrabooks into 3 price groups

Intel to separate 3rd-generation ultrabooks into 3 price groups: Intel has unveiled its plans for third-generation ultrabooks to downstream partners and is separating the segment into three major price levels, hoping to satisfy different consumer groups, according to sources from notebook makers.

Notebook brand vendors to secure touch panel supply with security deposits

Notebook brand vendors to secure touch panel supply with security deposits: As touchscreen notebooks are expected to account for a double-digit share of the global notebook market in 2013, up from only a single-digit percentage in 2012, notebook brand vendors have turned aggressive about securing touch panel supplies with many even placing security deposits to ensure smooth supplies, according to sources from the upstream supply chain.

Congress adds cyber-espionage review for government tech purchases, scrutinizes Chinese products from Lenovo, Huawei

Congress adds cyber-espionage review for government tech purchases, scrutinizes Chinese products from Lenovo, Huawei:
US Congress adds cyberespionage review process for government tech purchases, will scrutinize Chinese products from Lenovo, Huawei
Huawei's having a tougher time getting its network tech into the US, but Congress is apparently looking to shore up its security with other Chinese manufacturers too and has added a new purchase review law for NASA, Justice and Commerce departments of the government. Reuters reports that these branches won't be able to buy any IT system equipment without a federal law enforcement official giving it the okay, after assessing "any risk associated with such system being produced, manufactured or assembled" in China. The new restriction is folded into a 240-page spending law document and Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei has already requesting that the US to abandon the law. While it's difficult to spell out the repurcussions yet, it could affect more than just the telecoms infrastructure that ZTE and Huawei were selling, with the ever-expanding Lenovo likely to be buffeted by the same new regulations -- stripped down or not.
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Source: Reuters

BlackBerry makes $94 million on revenue of $2.7 billion, ships 1 million BB10 devices in 2013 Q4

BlackBerry makes $94 million on revenue of $2.7 billion, ships 1 million BB10 devices in 2013 Q4:
Image
This isn't quite the BlackBerry earnings story you're waiting for -- after all, the US figures covering the success (or otherwise) of the Z10 won't arrive until the next quarter. Instead, we're looking at the company's results from the end of the fiscal year to March 2nd, which shows that the smartphone maker made $94 million in GAAP income on revenues of $2.7 billion -- in contrast with the $125 million net loss it made in the same quarter last year. More importantly, however, it shipped out almost one million BlackBerry 10 devices during the three weeks of the quarter that they were available. In addition, it managed to push five million of its older smartphones and 370,000 PlayBook tablets out of the door, but saw user numbers fall from 79 million last quarter to 76 million now.
As revenue has remained relatively flat, the surge in profits can only be attributed to Thorsten Heins' aggressive cost-cutting measures, with the CEO remarking that the "numerous changes" he has implemented at the company have "resulted in [BlackBerry] returning to profitability." At the same time, Mike Lazaridis has announced that he'll retire from his position as vice-chair and director of the outfit he founded the better part of three decades ago. He'll exit the business on May 1st so that he can concentrate on his new enterprise, Quantum Valley Investments.
Update: During the conference call, Thorsten Heins has revealed that around two-thirds or three-quarters of the one million BB10 devices shipped have been sold.
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Source: ADVFN

Apple patent filing describes phone concept with wrap-around AMOLED display

Apple patent filing describes phone concept with wrap-around AMOLED display:
Apple patent filing describes phone concept with wrap-around AMOLED display
Behold, the iPhone 6. Nah, we're only joking -- what you see above is a diagram lifted from an Apple patent application that popped up at the USPTO today, which describes a "consumer electronic product" that's nothing but screen. The patent involves building a device from an open-ended transparent body (of glass, for example) that becomes a full wrap-around display when a flexible AMOLED screen is unfurled within it. It doesn't imagine all that real-estate will necessarily be used at once, though, and includes details of a "detection mechanism," such as a camera and facial recognition software, which would determine how much of the screen you can see, so that power is only sent to the parts that are in view. It's important to note that, apart from mentioning some real-world applications, the concept and method of constructing a wrap-around display are all the application covers. In other words, this patent does not describe anything close to a complete device. Apologies if we've killed your buzz, but we're just managing expectations before we move onto some interesting spitballing from Apple about what other design features such a device could carry -- read on after the break for more.
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Source: USPTO (1), (2)

Samsung Galaxy S 4 heads to AT&T for $250 on contract, pre-orders begin April 16th

Samsung Galaxy S 4 heads to AT&T for $250 on contract, pre-orders begin April 16th:
Samsung Galaxy S 4 heads to AT&T for $250 on contract, preorders begin April 16th
Just two days ago, T-Mobile's potty-mouthed CEO John Legere gave us a tentative May 1st launch date for Samsung's Galaxy S 4 on that network. And now, AT&T's making its S 4 plans public, opening up pre-orders for the device on April 16th. Subscribers that sign-up for a two-year plan will be able to snag the 5-inch 1080p GS 4 for $250. As to when it'll actually ship, well, that bit's still up in the air and we expect AT&T to elaborate in the weeks to come. But you can bet it won't be long before Samsung rushes to get its next big Galaxy thing into eager hands.
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Source: AT&T Consumer Blog

Lenovo rolls out extra-compact ThinkCentre Edge 62z all-in-one for $549

Lenovo rolls out extra-compact ThinkCentre Edge 62z all-in-one for $549:
Lenovo ThinkCentre Edge 62z stuffs an all-in-one into a tiny space for $549
Some of Lenovo's pro customers can be very fussy: hospitals and schools want multiple computers in a small area, but without skimping on the usual features they'd expect from desktops. If any PC could resolve those contradictory demands, it might be the company's new ThinkCentre Edge 62z. The extra-angular design purportedly fits a 18.5-inch all-in-one into a third of the space of a 20-inch display, all while carrying up to a Core i3 processor and a DVD burner. Whether or not you see the 62z as a feat of engineering, the design has some room to grow with up to 8GB of RAM and a 1TB hard drive. The price may be the real clincher for some customers -- Lenovo expects this lower-tier ThinkCentre Edge to cost $549 when it reaches the US in May, which could squeeze it into a few more IT budgets.
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Via: Far East Gizmos
Source: Lenovo Singapore

Lockheed Martin's technology hub brings startups closer to government needs

Lockheed Martin's technology hub brings startups closer to government needs:
Lockheed Martin's technology hub brings startups closer to government needs
Wondering who would be the first to concoct a Kickstarter for governmental wishes? We suppose it's Lockheed Martin. Today, the aforementioned outfit has launched an initiative "aimed at expanding its collaboration with Silicon Valley companies to meet the diverse technology needs of the federal government." Called the Lockheed Martin Silicon Valley Alliance, the hub will reportedly "provide the federal government with greater visibility into innovative technology solutions developed locally," even going so far as to suggest that a game developer could use their resources in order to improve the realism of a military simulation system. It sounds as if Lockheed will end up being the middleman between aspiring companies and entities like the Department of Defense and NASA, essentially ensuring that whatever is built meets federal requirements. Those interested in venturing down such a rabbit hole can give the source link a look, but as always, we'd caution you to register at your own risk.
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Source: Lockheed Martin

Samsung Galaxy S 4 mini will reportedly go on sale shortly after GS 4

Samsung Galaxy S 4 mini will reportedly go on sale shortly after GS 4:
Samsung Galaxy S 4 mini will reportedly go on sale shortly after GS 4
Not too long after the Samsung Galaxy S 4 was announced, we started hearing whispers of a "miniature" version of the device -- which makes sense, given the Galaxy S III had a smaller sidekick of its own. Today, however, Bloomberg reported the unannounced device is indeed coming soon after the flagship makes its appearance at the end of April. If it follows a similar pattern to its bite-sized predecessor, it likely will be offered in Europe as a lower-cost alternative to the Galaxy S 4. The device is rumored to offer a dual-core 1.6GHz processor, a 4.3-inch display and 8MP camera. Sadly, no official details were given, but we've reached out to Samsung officials for comment and will update when we receive word.
Update: Samsung pinged back with the following comment, which doesn't do much towards confirming or denying whether or not the GS 4 mini is indeed on the horizon. A spokesperson informed us: "We have not announced the product mentioned in the Bloomberg story."
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Via: SamMobile, 9to5Google
Source: Bloomberg

Nexus 4 gets subtle design tweaks, nubbin to write home about

Nexus 4 gets subtle design tweaks, nubbin to write home about:
Nexus 4 gets mystery design tweaks, still no LTE
If the one thing you wanted from your Nexus 4 was LTE (we mean proper support), then still no joy. That said, some recent modifications suggest that LG and Google are still working to improve it in other -- albeit utilitarian -- ways. Spotted by German site MobiFlip, was the addition of a small protuberance at the base of the rear, and a difference in the aperture of the camera hole. It's suggested that the former might exist to help project sound from the rear speakers while the phone rests on a table, or to prevent that smooth, glass back from scratches. The camera tweak, however seems less clear, and possibly less functional in its existence. So, if you have one of the newer designs, let us know when and where you got it. If you don't, then just think of yours as a limited edition.
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Via: Android Police
Source: MobiFlip (German)

The best news for BlackBerry: Its success may not hinge on the American market

The best news for BlackBerry: Its success may not hinge on the American market:
BlackBerry American Consumer Market
Everything we've seen so far suggests that AT&T (T) has put absolutely no effort into marketing the BlackBerry (BBRY) Z10 to its customers or has even trained its retail staff how to talk about the benefits of the Z10. But there's some good news for BlackBerry out of all this — it made not even need the American consumer market to thrive. Barron's points us to a new note from Bernstein Research analyst Pierre Ferragu, who says that the slow start on AT&T shouldn't derail BlackBerry's fortunes long-term because "BlackBerry isn’t a U.S. story anymore."

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Amazon reportedly increasing Kindle phone screen size in response to ‘phablet’ fever

Amazon reportedly increasing Kindle phone screen size in response to ‘phablet’ fever:
Amazon Kindle Smartphone Specs
Earlier reports have suggested that Amazon (AMZN) is preparing to launch its long-rumored Kindle smartphone later this year. According to Digitimes, the new device will include a 4.7-inch display, slightly bigger than the 4.3-inch display that the company had originally planned. Amazon is said to have increased the screen size in response to the growing demand for larger devices among consumers. The company has also reportedly been working on "enhancing other specifications of the smartphone," which may relate to recent reports of manufacturing delays. The Kindle smartphone will presumably run a heavily customized version of Android, similar to the Kindle Fire tablet, and could cost between $100 and $249. The device is expected to be released sometime after June.