LG Optimus G sequel coming Q3 2013, will stick close to 5-inch screen size
LG's been teasing a big reveal for the start of May over in the US and we reckon it'll mark the official launch of the Optimus G Pro. But what about the not-so-humble Optimus G and the rest of the world? Well, we've been told that a (global-bound!) sequel flagship from LG will appear sometime in Q3. Direct from LG's HQ in Seoul, Won Kim, Head of Mobile Marketing says that we can expect "something different and something unique", which all sounds good to us. It'll also be something that won't skirt near the 5.5-inch screen size of the Optimus G Pro, and will instead stick closer to the five-inch mark. Unfortunately, he kept his explanation of new device tantalizingly vague for now, but it looks like LG will wait for the current flagship phone fight to settle a bit before it reveals its new weapon.
US Cellular intros Motorola Electrify M, gets a slice of the Droid RAZR M on November 8th for $100
Americans who were eying Motorola's Droid RAZR M and just weren't keen on Verizon's typically overt branding now have at least one alternative. US Cellular is giving the big-screened, small-sized smartphone a slight respin as the Electrify M, with a subtler (if less Kevlar-laden) design wrapping around the same 4.3-inch screen, 1.5GHz Snapdragon S4 and LTE that we've come to know. The carrier applies a light touch to the Android 4.0 build as well. Those who want to take advantage of US Cellular's giant LTE expansion this month won't have to wait long between the widened coverage and a new device to use with it: the Electrify M goes on sale online as of November 8th, and retail a day later, at the same $100 post-discount price as its Verizon counterpart.
U.S. Cellular to Launch Next 4G LTE Smartphone, Motorola ELECTRIFY M
Will be available online November 8 and in stores on November 9
Nov. 01, 2012
CHICAGO (November 1, 2012) – Next week, U.S. Cellular (NYSE: USM) and Motorola Mobility will unleash Motorola ELECTRIFY™ M – the 4G LTE high-performance smartphone with the big screen and compact design. Available on uscellular.com on November 8 and in U.S. Cellular stores the next day, the Android™-powered ELECTRIFY M will be attractively priced at US$99.99 after US$100 mail-in rebate in markets where U.S. Cellular offers 4G LTE service and elsewhere at US$149.99 after a US$100 mail-in rebate.
"The Motorola ELECTRIFY M is a great choice for customers who want a smartphone that gives them fast access to information and entertainment and can also help them stay organized," said Edward Perez, vice president of sales and marketing operations for U.S. Cellular. "As we continue to roll out the 4G LTE network to more customers between now and the end of the year, we're providing more options to help them select the right 4G LTE device that meets their needs and can enhance their lives."
The ELECTRIFY M comes equipped with a captivating 4.3-inch, virtually borderless display. Tapping out texts and emails is easier than ever, while reading on the go no longer puts a strain on the eyes. Web pages, apps, videos - it's all clear on the vibrant, high resolution Super AMOLED Advanced display.
But don't let the size fool you – ELECTRIFY M packs the high performance and web browsing power of your home computer in the palm of your hand. With 4G LTE speeds and a dual-core 1.5GHz processor, ELECTRIFY M lets you load web pages in a flash and multi-task like a pro. Surf the web quickly with Google Chrome™ and sync with your desktop version of Google Chrome to share bookmarks and view the same tabs. You'll also have access to more than 675,000 Android apps and games, millions of songs and books and thousands of movies and TV shows with Google Play™.
The ELECTRIFY M is built to handle the bumps, scrapes and slips of daily life. It has a scratch-resistant display made of Corning® Gorilla® Glass and a splash guard coating to protect the device, and everything you have in it, from the ever-present threats of rain and morning coffee.
"With the Motorola ELECTRIFY M, we focused on putting a premium smartphone experience in a compact and convenient package," said Jeff Miller, corporate vice president, North America Go-to-Market, Motorola Mobility. "The result is a pint-sized powerhouse that lets U.S. Cellular customers surf faster, play longer and see more without compromise."
The ELECTRIFY M is an ideal travel companion too. Whether you're on foot, in the car or headed out on your bike, type or speak your destination and Motorola ELECTRIFY ™ M will lead you there, with free turn-by-turn directions and voice guidance. Customers can search for restaurants, businesses and theaters, and get reviews from people in their Google+ Circles. You can also download maps and call them up later when you're offline. Voice Actions help you send text messages, read directions, place calls or play music when you don't have a free hand.
Key Features
* Virtually borderless 4.3-inch display
* 1.5 GHz dual core processor
* Google Chrome™
* Scratch-resistant and water-repellant
* Long-lasting 2000 mAh battery
* NFC support to share links, apps, YouTube™ clips and more with Android Beam™
* Android 4.0.4, Ice Cream Sandwich, and Android 4.1, Jelly Bean, upgradeable
* 8 MP rear-facing camera with HDR, 1.3 MP VGA front facing camera for video chatting
iOS 6.0.1 released, fixes iPhone 5 OTA software update issue and other bugs (update)
Been waiting for Apple to refresh its mobile operating system? Well, the wait is over, as Cupertino has just released iOS 6.0.1 with the promise of improvements and bug fixes. We just grabbed the update ourselves, and among the highlights are: a fix for the iPhone 5's inability to receive OTA software updates, problems with the phone and the 5th-gen iPod Touch connecting to WPA2 encrypted WiFi networks, and other cellular connectivity issues as well. There's also fixes for a passcode lock bug, a graphical keyboard glitch and a bug that prevented the 5's camera flash from firing. Sound good? Go grab the download and let us know how it's treating you in the comments below.
Photo Sphere May Be Android's Greatest Feature Yet
Photo Sphere May Be Android's Greatest Feature Yet - And Everyone Needs To Know About It
One of the most popular features introduced Monday with Android 4.2 was a revamped camera/gallery app (that we got a peek at early). The camera introduces a new focus/settings UI (popping up with an "options ring" only when you need it), a refreshed gallery interface, and of course – Photo Sphere.
Photo Sphere, for those who missed it, allows users to capture 360° images of their surroundings a la Google Maps, using XML data in concert with an enormous JPG file to help you save an immersive photo experience of where you've been.
The interface, which is activated from the camera app, is an ethereal grid plane that will guide you with helpful blue dots to each frame needed for a full sphere. Besides viewing your spherical creations on your handset, you can upload the images to Google+ for a web-based 360 experience.
As I mentioned earlier, the downloadable camera/gallery app also comes with editing options. Many of these are options we saw debuted in Ice Cream Sandwich, but it's still worth taking a quick look.
Users can add general filters, frames, and contrast effects, in addition to custom cropping, rotating, mirroring, and a handful of other handy editing features.
The build also includes a slightly refreshed Gallery. It has the same launcher icon and overall functionality like swiping from the camera app to a "filmstrip view," but the UI is slightly updated from its 4.0 and 4.1 counterparts.
To get the new camera/gallery on your device, you'll first of all need to be rooted. Assuming your device is already rooted, you'll just need to download the zip below and flash as normal.
Note: Original credit goes to XDA and AndroidCentral Forums but the download below contains a camera/gallery build that we patched to allow users of non-Nexus devices to capture and view Photo Spheres.
Sorry for this long while of absent but I'll back to do more review which could make me have interest on them! Cheers! Do you have anything need to be review?
Sony cuts Q2 2012 losses to $198 million, bumps revenue to $20.6 billion thanks to mobile
After losing a whopping $5.7 billion last year and $312 million last quarter, Sony's recent austerity measures seem to be paying off -- the company lost only $198 million in Q2. It's been madly restructuring since CEO Kazuo Hirai came on board last year and recently shuttered a lens plant in Japan while moving its mobile HQ from Sweden to Tokyo. Altogether, 10,000 jobs cuts are projected this year by Sony to help stanch the red ink, and it looks like it's started to pay off. Notably, the company saw a drop in restructuring costs over last year, when it incurred charges during the sell-off of its display businesses.
Sony's mobile operations continue to generate more revenue, gaining $3.9 billion this quarter -- more than double last year's numbers -- though it still lost $296 million compared to $356 million in Q1. Its chip plants turned around last year's $230 million Q2 loss to earn $382 million this time, likely due in part to its sensors appearing in a large number of various company's DSLRs. Its own imaging division underperformed a bit compared to last quarter but still made a small gain, while its gaming, music and picture businesses each stayed in the black. Finally, while home entertainment products like TVs and home theater systems still lost $203 million, that's a big improvement over that division's dismal $526 million loss in Q2 2011.
Sony is projecting a slight drop in revenue for its fiscal year ending in March 2013, from $85 to $83 billion compared to August's forecast. But the company kept its operating income projection unchanged at $1.6 billion -- thanks to new acquisitions like cloud gamer Gaikai and Olympus, along with such products as the new 84-inch 4K LCD TV and revised PS3 gaming console.
The Apple Store is currently down, which could signal that new Apple products are about to be launched.
The sign on the Store says “We’re busy updating the Apple Store for you and will be back soon.”
It’s interesting to note that the “Store Down” sign has changed significantly from the sign Apple used in the past couple of years. Furthermore, the sign seems to be slightly crooked — somewhat odd for Apple, a company known for perfectionism.
Recent rumors pointed to an update to Apple’s MacBook lineup. A couple of weeks ago, we heard that the new 15-inch MacBook might be a significant departure from the current design, with a retina display and an ultra-thin profile.
Another likely culprit for the store being down, however, is the Nest Learning Thermostat, which appeared in the store earlier today.
1st Smartphone to Incorporate NVIDIA's Icera Modem Alongside The Tegra 2 Processor
ZTE intros the android 4.0 - powered Mimosa X, the first smartphone to incorporate NVIDIA's Icera Modem alongside the tegra 2 processor.
ZTE, alongside NVIDIA, announced today the upcoming Mimosa X, the world's first smartphone to reap the benefits of NVIDIA's purchase of chipmaker Icera.
The Mimosa X is powered by NIVDIA from front-to-back, and will intro as a good solid offering for anyone looking at the mid-range market:
4.3-inch qHD (960*540) display
1GHz Tegra 2 processor
5MP rear camera
Front camera (resolution not detailed)
450 HSPA+ 28Mbps Icera quad-band modem
Android 4.0
The Mimosa X is set to launch sometimes in Q2 2012, but global availability and price have yet to be determined. Keep an eye out for more info about this device at Mobile World Congress next week - we'll be there to give you all the details.
First Tegra-powered Smartphone Announced with NVIDIA’s Icera Modem Technology
New ZTE Mimosa X Brings the NVIDIA Mobile Experience to the Mainstream Market
SANTA CLARA, Calif.—Feb. 20, 2012—NVIDIA and ZTE today announced the ZTE Mimosa X, the first smartphone to be powered both by the NVIDIA ®Tegra® application processor and its Icera® modem, which came to NVIDIA through its Icera acquisition in mid-2011.
“The ZTE Mimosa X is exciting for a few reasons,” said Michael Rayfield, General Manager of the Mobile business at NVIDIA. “The Mimosa X marks the first time NVIDIA technology powers all the major processors in a single smartphone, and also the first time a premium mobile computing experience is coming to the mainstream smartphone market.”
The Mimosa X is powered by the NVIDIA Tegra 2 mobile processor, featuring a dual-core CPU and GeForce® GPU, and the NVIDIA Icera 450 HSPA+ modem, comprising baseband and RF processors, featuring excellent throughput and low power. It will run Ice Cream Sandwich (Android 4.0), feature a 4.3-inch qHD (960 x 540) screen, rear 5 MP and front cameras, and 4 GB of storage expandable to 32 GB.
The ZTE Mimosa X will deliver super multimedia capabilities, including advanced audio distribution profile (A2DP), Dolby sound, digital living network alliance (DLNA) compatibility for easy sharing of content, HD video record and play, dual microphones, and built-in gyroscope.
The Mimosa X will be launched around Q2 2012. Positioned squarely for the mainstream market, it brings new levels of performance and connectivity to this large segment of users.
Consumers will now be able to use a mainstream smartphone to experience the same speedy web browsing, smooth multitasking, and HD video, as well as console-quality gaming with TegraZone, that was previously available only in high-end phones. TegraZone™ is NVIDIA’s free Android Market app that showcases the best games optimized for the Tegra processor.
The NVIDIA Icera 450 supports up to 21Mbps category 14 HSPA+ with fast downloads in fading channels, IceClear™ interference cancellation technology for even faster throughput at the cell edge and advanced Release 7 features for an ultra-low latency network response.
Samsung Galaxy Mini 2 leaked, says it'll arrive later this month
Whoa there, another phone leak? It could only be the run-up to Mobile World Congress.
This time, it's Samsung that's let slip, and the not-particularly high-end Galaxy Mini 2.
Mini in size, minor in specifications, it will purportedly arrive with a 3.3-inch display at 480 x 320 resolution, running Gingerbread on an 800MHz processor.
Unfortunately, at that speed, don't expect to get any Adobe Flash action on this presumably entry-level phone. It'll be capable of HSDPA data speeds up to 7.2Mbps; add in a three-megapixel camera, 3GB of built-in storage and it's all starting to sound a bit 2008. GSM Arena's mole pegs it for a February release, so that could mean it sprints out ahead of MWC, but it'll find it hard to avoid the bright lights of Barcelona.
Sony's PlayStation Vita hasn't exactly sold like hotcakes over in Japan, so the company has sweetened the pot for the portable's potential Stateside buyers. Those who placed pre-orders will get a couple of extra goodies for their US$350. To go with the previously promised limited edition case, 4GB memory card and copy of Little Deviants, you'll also receive 250MB of data from AT&T and a PlayStation Network game gratis as soon as you activate 3G on the device.
Furthermore, folks buying a Vita on launch day can look forward to the same free data and PSN game, plus an 8GB memory card in exchange for their US$300. So, that enough to get you on the handheld's bandwagon? Sound off in the comments below.
Did the Galaxy S III just pop up on Samsung's support site?
Seriously, we can't caveat this one enough -- there is no way of knowing if this is in fact the Galaxy S IIIor, if it is, when it might come to market -- but, it looks like Samsung's "next big smartphone" just made a cameo on the company's support pages. Listed as the GT-i9300, the mystery device reared its head over at the Global Download Center of the United Arab Emerites site.
If Sammy is to keep with its naming scheme i93XX would be a flagship device -- the i90XX line was the Galaxy S, i91XX represents the S2 series, while the i9250 and i9220 are the Nexus and Note respectively. As we warned before though, this could be some mid-range device and Samsung could be changing its naming conventions. Or, perhaps, its yet another variation of an existing model. Still, we'll take this as a good sign that Seoul squad has something interesting brewing.
The first Xperia Smartphone from Sony, Xperia S. This phone is not just bringing HD screen with 4.3" screen but it's also another PlayStation Certified phone. With this 1.5Ghz Dual Core Processor, you can have unlimited gaming experience. Here's the perfect cutting design of our gorgeous smartphone.
You can visit Sony Ericsson's website for the specification (even though Ericsson is no more but their website still keep on using Sony Ericsson for our convenient). Here's the interview from Sony's team for bringing this phone to us. Enjoy the show
SONY INTRODUCES THE FIRST WALKMAN® MOBILE ENTERTAINMENT PLAYER POWERED BY ANDROID™
Sony today revealed the new Walkman® Mobile Entertainment Player. The new Z1000 Series, designed for music lovers, by music lovers, combines stylish hardware design with outstanding audio for the ultimate mobile entertainment experience. Featuring a gorgeous quick response and anti-reflective 4.3-inch multi-touch LCD touch screen, the Walkman® Z Player display is perfect for enjoying music, video and games on a large screen.
Superior Audio Experience
With legendary premium sound, the Walkman® Z Player features the integrated S-Master MX digital amplifier to greatly reduce noise levels and distortion along with additional audio technologies to create an enriched music experience.
By touching the W.button, users can effortlessly launch the music player application for full playback control and intuitively browse their music collection or enjoy on-screen visualizations. Imagine being able to play music based on your mood. With SenseMeTM, users keep their music in tune with their mood by automatically categorizing music tracks into different channels.
Rich Entertainment
The new Walkman® Z Player serves as a portal to mobile entertainment. Tailored for music lovers, by music lovers, the Walkman® Z Player is the first MP3 player from Sony powered by AndroidTM 2.3 (Gingerbread). With WiFi® built in, users can access the Android MarketTM place, browse the Internet, check e-mail and enjoy a variety of digital content.
Music lovers will have access to over 10 million songs with Sony Entertainment Network's cloud-based Music Unlimited Service1. Users are able to discover new music, sync their own library to the cloud and even enjoy channels synched for off-line use. Walkman® Z offers easy transfer from iTunes®2 for Windows® or Windows® Media Player.
Share your Content
The Walkman® Z Player is more than just a music player. Users can throw personal content from the Walkman® screen direct to their DLNA enabled TV's, PC's and speakers. In addition, users can experience expanded connectivity by hooking their Walkman® up to the TV via a micro HDMI video output port for enjoyment of videos, games and photos. The ability to connect to Bluetooth® speakers, headphones, hi-fi systems or car stereos is also useful at home or on the go.
Pricing and Availability
The new Walkman® Mobile Entertainment Player will be displayed in U.S. for the first time at Sony Electronics Inc.'s booth at 2012 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in the Central Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center, booth #14200 and will be available beginning spring 2012 at Sony Stores, participating retailers and online at www.sony.com/walkman. The 8G Z Series will retail for about $249.99, the 16G for about $279.99 and the 32G for about $329.99.
SanDisk unveils 'world's fastest' 128GB SDXC card and new iNAND Ultra embeddable flash storage
There's no time better to announce new storage cards than at CES -- there's just so many new toys to plug them into. SanDisk's new SDXC card is available in both 64GB and 128GB sizes, with the latter capable of packing in around 10 hours of HD 3D video. Both cards will boast read speeds of around 45 megabytes per second -- the 'world's fastest', we're told, but that could be a heady claim during the high-speed turnaround of CES. No date's been offered up yet for when they'll hit stores, but when they do, expect the 128GB beast to set you back a feisty $400, while the 64GB card will ask your wallet for $200.
Meanwhile, fans of the embeddable kind can expect to see iNAND Ultra make itself known in 2012. Promising a tiny footprint and sizes up to 64GB, expect to see more of SanDisk's 19nm flash tech to make plenty of appearances in future teardowns -- it's apparently been designed for mobile operating systems. Flash memory fans can check the full releases below.
Pressed Released
MOBILE DEVICES ABLE TO ADD FEATURES, CAPACITY AND POWER IN 2012 WITH SANDISK EMBEDDED FLASH MEMORY
· iNAND Ultra™ embedded flash memory to be built on world's most advanced 19nm process technology
· Advanced manufacturing and innovative packaging techniques deliver storage capacities up to 64GB1 in tiny footprint for tablets, smartphones and other consumer electronics devices
· Optimized for next-generation mobile operating systems
Consumer Electronics Show, Las Vegas, January 9, 2012 - SanDisk Corporation (NASDAQ: SNDK), a global leader in flash memory storage solutions, today announced that the iNAND Ultra line of products will be the first of its embedded flash memory products to move to 19 nanometer (nm) manufacturing technology, the industry's most advanced chip making process.
Advanced Manufacturing and Packaging Enables Slim, Powerful Mobile Devices
Shrinking the size of electronic circuitry allows equipment makers to develop products with larger storage capacities, providing consumers the ability to enjoy more content on smartphones, tablets and other electronic devices. A nanometer measures one-billionth of a meter, meaning that 19nm circuit lines are so small that about 3,000 of them could fit across the width of a human hair.
iNAND Ultra solutions are used by leading mobile device makers around the world. The e.MMC™ (standards-based embedded mobile interface) devices built on SanDisk's 19nm technology will use the company's two-bit per cell technology – SanDisk's tenth generation of multi-level cell products. Sleeker, slim form factor product designs are also enabled by SanDisk's innovative packaging technology that provides up to 64GB of storage capacity in a package just 11.5mm x 13mm in size. Advanced packaging techniques allow SanDisk to offer certain capacities in packages as thin as 1mm.
"The iNAND Ultra products will be the first of our three iNAND embedded flash memory families to migrate to leading-edge 19nm process technology in 2012," said Amir Lehr, vice president, Embedded Memory Business. "SanDisk's advanced manufacturing and packaging expertise allows us to support increased storage capacities and smaller device footprint requirements to meet the growing demand for sleeker, more feature rich mobile devices."
Fast Performance and Tight Host Integration Deliver Improved User Experience
iNAND Ultra products are optimized for current and future generations of leading mobile operating systems such as Google Android and Windows Mobile. This hardware optimization for key operating systems combined with outstanding random performance characteristics help provide consumers with mobile devices that are highly responsive and deliver outstanding browsing and multitasking performance.
The new products feature up to 20 megabyte per second (MB/sec) sequential write and up to 80MB/sec sequential read performance for faster file transfers. In addition, SanDisk works closely with major OEMs and chipset vendors to ensure the tight integration required between the host device and embedded flash memory. This helps ensure the best possible mobile user experience and has resulted in SanDisk embedded memory technology being incorporated into leading mobile reference designs.
Segmented Product Portfolio Meets the Needs of All Mobile Devices
As smaller, more powerful mobile devices have proliferated throughout the consumer electronics market, the use of flash memory has expanded from mobile phones and tablets to enable new products and new usage models. The SanDisk iNAND product family includes an embedded storage solution for every performance segment and capacity point in the mobile market. The SanDisk iNAND™ family includes iNAND, iNAND Ultra and iNAND Extreme™ products.
At today's Sony event at CES, the company took the wraps off its "newest progeny" the Xperia Ion. Running Android 2.3.7, the device isn't loaded up with the latest Google mobile OS -- that'd be Ice Cream Sandwich, but the company assures us it's coming in the 2nd quarter of this year. And, yes, it'll be rocking a skinned UX -- sorry, folks. The handset strikes a definite presence in hand, bucking the thinner is better trend we've seen over the last few days for a bulkier, premium build. Beneath that hulking construction lies a dual-core 1.5GHz Qualcomm MSM8660 processor, powering the 4.6-inch display. Fans of the new, Ericsson-less Sony can snag this handset when it goes on sale globally in March. We got a chance to spend some time manhandling the devices, so follow on after the break to find out our first impressions.
As we mentioned earlier, the Xperia Ion definitely cuts a heavy presence in the hand. Rather than push out a high-end smartphone wrapped in a cheap-feeling plastic casing, this handset is solid. In fact, the unibody design bars users from accessing the phone's internals. That's right, there's no accessing the battery or swapping out a microSD card, you just get the 16GB of onboard storage. It should definitely suffice, but users looking to take full advantage of that 12MP rear camera and its 1080p video capture might find themselves minding their media.
We only spend a few moments fussing with the camera app, but in that short time we were please to note the impressive quality of photos taken with the Exmor-R module. Those of you interested in video-calling will be glad to know the phone sports a 1.3MP front-facer capable of 720p, so your friends and loved ones can see you as you were meant to look.
Unfortunately, you have to take the good with the bad and we can't say this is a handset that zips along. In fact, we noticed a bit of sluggishness when attempting to navigate through Sony's Android overlay, which is surprising given its dual-core 1.5GHz processor. The likely culprit here is the company's own skin not being optimized for the chipset, but hopefully that performance hiccup can be sorted out when that Ice Cream Sandwich upgrade hits in Q2 2012. One other area of the device that also seemed to evince a hit or miss workability were the four capacitive buttons at the base. You'll notice in our hands-on video that we had to continually tap on the menu, back, search and home icons to get a response. It seems our fingers had to be aimed quite a bit lower to trigger the soft keys.
Of course, you're probably wondering just how gorgeous that HD Reality display is and we can verify -- it is, indeed, quite sweet. The 4.6-inch expanse of the screen boasts a 1280 x 720p resolution that should delight users keen on streaming content from the likes of Netflix to their smartphone. If you happen to be possessed of tiny hands and tiny fingers, this is obviously not the handset for you, as we even struggled to manipulate it one-handed. No, this is a beast phone and requires beast claws, but don't let that discourage you should you fall on the smaller digital spectrum.
NFC is supported on the device, as is AT&T's brand of 4G, which we were able to test here in the showroom. Despite being deep inside the convention center and amidst an invisible bevy of wireless demand, the network did seem to perform speedily. So, if you're in the market for a high quality, outsized display and happen to have a proclivity for LTE, a distinct lack of Carrier IQ (thanks, Supercurio) and all things Sony, then you'll want to check the Xperia Ion out when it hits this spring.
The Sony Xperia Arc S is a smartphone with a bit of an identity crisis, which is to say that there were two versions of the same handset on the showroom floor -- one with the now oddly outdated Sony Ericsson branding along its top bezel, just above the speaker grill and another which simply reads "Sony" in big, block letters. And really, the new naming convention doesn't seem to out of place on the Android 2.3 handset -- it's got a bit more room to breathe up there. And besides, the gorgeous Arc S looks right at home alongside Sony's other glossy hardware.
The Arc's bright 4.3-inch display monopolizes the upper 2/3 of the handset. Just below this, you'll find three white dots. These line up with the home, menu and back button. Icons for each are embedded in a a sliver of thick glass casing. Upon seeing the handset, we found ourselves attempting to touch the icons themselves -- it turns out it's actually the aforementioned dots that activate the functionality. We appreciate the clear focus on aesthetics here, but the whole thing is a bit counterproductive.
The handset itself has a nice feel, with a concave back, which makes the handset a bit thick than the segments of the Android population attempting to win the title of the "world's thinnest." But hey, you've got to have some place to shove that 1.5GHz CPU and 1GB of RAM, right? And it's good they did, this handset is quite zippy.
World's Super-Thin Android Smartphone, Huawei Ascend P1-S, in 6.68mm
Huawei has been up to some impressive stuff lately, so we're not totally shocked to see this top-spec phone reveal itself at CES. Perhaps the Ascend P1 S's most surprising attribute is its thickness -- a mere 6.68mm (0.26-inches), which would let it glide past the 7.1mm Droid RAZR with barely a slice in the air. The screen is 4.3-inches along the diagonal, qHD 540 x 960, and -- to HTC's shame -- it claims to be Super AMOLED.
There's a dual-core TI OMAP 4460 inside, clocked at 1.5GHz and accompanied by a SGX 540 GPU, which should be plenty sufficient to record 1080p video on the eight megapixel backside-illuminated camera. As if that wasn't enough, the Chinese manufacturer has also taken the raps off an Ascend P1, which does away with the 'S' but packs a chubbier 7.69mm waistline and likely a lower -- though as yet unknown -- price tag. Expect to see both models in the US and elsewhere in Q2, plus some full hands-on treatment on these pages much sooner than that -- as in, hopefully later today.
