Hands-on video reveals ASUS Padfone 2 design and specs

Earlier today, images leaked of ASUS’ upcoming Padfone 2, revealing the company’s second iteration of its half-phone, half-tablet hybrid. Shortly following the leak, a hands-on video emerged, unearthing the elusive device in all its glory.

The Padfone 2 will sport a a larger 4.7-inch HD display and a much improved 13-megapixel rear camera. Additionally, the new model is said to offer longer battery life, with the phone and tablet lasting between two and three days on a single charge. The video also provides more insight into the design changes, including the removal of the rear docking door. Catch the video below for the full run-down. (Note: the Padfone 2 segment begins at 1:40)

Click here to view the embedded video.

When It Rains… It Pours: More Leaked Photos Of The LG Nexus Surface

As we get closer and closer to the inevitable announcement of Google’s newest addition to the Nexus family, we now see yet another leaked photo of the Nexus 4 (or Optimus Nexus, whatever you prefer). Belerusian website Onliner.by obtained some sweet photos of the LG E960. As you can see off the bat, the device seems to feature a special coating and the traditional Google & LG logos on the back, while the front is all screen, nearly identical to the existing Galaxy Nexus smartphone. All in all, these photos seem to line up with the previous shots that we’ve seen before.

In addition to the photos that have surfaced, the website also takes some time to confirm some specs that were previously rumored to be featured in the smartphone. As of now, Onliner.by highlights the newest upcoming Nexus will feature a 1.5GHz quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro processor, 2 gigs of RAM, a 1280×768 HD display, 8MP rear camera and 8GB of on-board storage. Leave it to the Nexus line to stay consistent with featuring the best features and cutting edge technology.

In case you’ve forgotten, the device is expected to be announced at the end of the month. In the meantime, we’re sure you’re all itching to get more peeks of the upcoming device, so hit the break for all the photos you can handle.

source: Onliner.by

txtr reveals pocket-sized Beagle eReader

While the Kindle and Nook are busy adding HD displays and more storage, at least one company is focusing on making eReaders as portable as possible. German developer, txtr, recently revealed the Beagle, which it claims is the smallest eReader in the world, with a 5-inch screen and a weight of 128 grams (about 4.5 ounces)… Continue Reading txtr reveals pocket-sized Beagle eReader Section …

Sharp begins production of 5-inch 1080p displays with a 443 PPI for smartphones

Sharp just announced that they have begun production of 5-inch LCD panels that will sport a 1080p display and a 443 pixel per inch (PPI) density. These LCD panels employ a new pixel design called CG-Silicon technology, which allows them to achieve the same number of pixels as full-HD LCD TV’s.

It will be interesting to see if these displays end up on the upcoming DROID Incredible X (or possible Nexus variant) and/or the upcoming Oppo Find 5. Both of these phones will sport 5-inch 1080p displays.

Full press release after the break:

Sharp Begins Production of 5-Inch Full-HD LCD Panels

Sharp Corporation has started production of 5-inch full-HD (1,080 x 1,920 pixels) LCD panels for smartphones with a pixel density among the highest in the world. Production began at the end of September at Mie Plant No. 3 and full-scale production will begin in October.

This LCD panel employs CG-Silicon technology^*2, a new pixel design, and an innovative production process to achieve the same number of pixels in a smartphone-size screen as there are in a full-HD LCD TV. The panel, which has approximately 1.3 times the pixel density of conventional LCD panels^*3, can display crisp text, super-clear maps, and amazingly real HD images.

By providing ultra-detailed LCD panels to support the growing worldwide demand for smartphones, Sharp will contribute to smartphones with increasingly higher quality images.

• *1 As of October 1, 2012 (based on Sharp research).
• *2 Developed jointly by Sharp and Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
  (Head office: Atsugi City, Kanagawa Prefecture; President: Shunpei Yamazaki).
• *3 Sharp’s 4.3-inch HD LCD (1,280 x 720 pixels, 342 ppi).

Additional titles added to the Google Play 25-cent app sale

In a continuation of yesterday’s initial rollout of 25-cent apps, Google continues their 25 billion app download celebration by adding more titles. Hit the break for the full list of additional titles.

• Cut the Rope: Experiments
• SketchBook Mobile
• Flick Nations Rugby
• Dungeon Village
• Color & Draw for kids HD
• doubleTwist Alarm Clock
• Paper Camera
• FIFA 12 by EA SPORTS
• Mini Motor Racing
• World of Goo
• The Going to Bed Book-Boynton
• Shark Dash
• Color & Draw for kids phone
• Color & Draw for kids HD

As a reminder, Google is still featuring hot prices on 25 movies you must own, 25 banned books, 25 albums that changed the world and 25 of their top selling magazines. Those can be found in the banner ads across the top of the Play Store.

Rovio Officially Unleashes Bad Piggies In The Play Store

Rovio’s next budding smash hit is finally here folks. Right on cue with the expected September 27th launch date, Rovio has made Bad Piggies available available in the Play Store. In case you’ve forgotten, instead of playing as one of the various birds trying to destroy any and every pig, users will actually play with pigs as the main character. From there, users will need to create the ultimate form of transportation and try to go from level to level, all the while stealing those precious, precious eggs on the way. Creating your unique forms of transport is simple, yet creative as there are over 30 objects in the game available to help users create their their ultimate machine like umbrellas, motors, wings and so on. To compliment the vast number of transportation objects is at least 60 levels available, with a possible 30 additional levels that can be unlocked by three-starring previous levels.

The game is available for all Android devices featuring Froyo 2.2+. Oh and lest we forget: the great thing is there’s a regular version for smartphones and a special HD version available for tablet devices. So what are you all waiting for? The new game won’t install itself, so hit the Play Store link or scan the QR code today to grab the game and potentially lose countless hours of productivity.

Play Store

Swedish retailer ousts Xperia V release at December 3rd

Thus far, Sony has been giving vague answers as to when the Sony Xperia V would launch. While Q4 was the general answer given, it looks like something more specific has surfaced as the Swedish retailer Dustin.se has recently put the phone up for pre-order with a 3rd December 2012 release date. At current exchange rates, you can expect it to cost £404, €508 and $656.  If you’ve forgotten what this device offers, here’s a rundown of its specs:

• 4.3” HD Reality Display powered by the Mobile BRAVIA Engine 2 for razor sharp clarity
• 13 MP fast capture camera with full HD video recording.
• Latest generation 1.5GHz dual core processor for improved battery life, fast performance and ultra sharp graphics
• LTE for the fastest data download speeds (in markets where technology is available)
• Easy connectivity with One-touch ‘One-touch’ enabled by NFC
• Clear audio+ for the highest level of sound quality
• PlayStation™ Certified
• Android version 4.0.4 (Ice Cream Sandwich). Will be upgraded to Android version 4.1 (Jelly Bean) following launch. Detailed timing to follow
• Highest levels of dust and water resistance in a smartphone (IP55/57+) ensure protection from the effects of immersion up to 1m for 30 minutes
• MHL connectivity for viewing content on a big screen without the need for a charger
• Available in Black, Pink and White colours

Would this be a device our European readers would consider pre-ordering?

source: Xperiablog

Featured Play Store Newbie: The Bard’s Tale [Arcade & Action]

Some of you might already be familiar with the PC classic trilogy, The Bard’s Tale. Well in inXile Entertainment just released a mobile version in the Google Play Store, and it just might be the funniest game you will every play. It might also be the largest in terms of file size to date because the HD version will set you back 3.5GB (1.7GB for non HD version). That’s pretty hefty, but not surprising since the game includes over 20-30 hours of gameplay.

It’s a fantasy RPG, and you play Bard, a selfish rogue weary of pointless sub-quests and rat-infested cellars. There’s something else about Bard that’s interesting and it’s the fact that he has the ability to cast spells by singing songs. You will encounter all kinds of enemies to fight, but this game throws some bonuses like a lot of cleavage and when was the last time you saw a zombie dance off?

Features:

• 50 enemy types (not counting bosses!)
• A vast world to explore with towns, wild forests, rivers, castles, towers, secret dungeons, snowy mountains, caverns, haunted tombs and more
• A full cast of bizarre NPC’s
• Over a dozen special boss enemies to defeat
• 16 magical characters to discover and then summon at will to aid you
• Over 150 unique items of weaponry, armor, instruments, tokens, artifacts and loot!
• More Song & Dance numbers than any other game, including a zombie dance-off!
• Over 14 hours of outstanding voice-acting from top Hollywood talent, including Cary Elwes (The Princess Bride) as the Bard, and the inimitable Tony Jay as the Narrator

The Bard’s Tale was already available on iOS, but the Android version gets these new additions:

• Leaderboards—for accumulated Silver and Experience!
• Achievements—over 50 spread throughout the game!
• Autosave—option to save automatically when you near a save-book in game.
• Time-Savers—optional in-app purchases are available to pump up your Bard and save you time! (Note: All such items are attainable through normal game-play, with time and persistence, just as in the original console release.)
• Includes the original classic game The Bard’s Tale I: Tales of the Unknown! 2 & 3 coming soon!

The Bard’s tale is priced at $5.95 and works on devices running Android 2.3 and higher. As I mentioned above, the original PC game was a trilogy and with this download, you actually get the original The Bard’s Tale I: Tales of the Unknown. You will also get The Bard’s Tale II: The Destiny Knight and The Bard’s Tale III: Thief of Fate at a later date for Free.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Play Store Download Link

MetroPCS to Launch ZTE Anthem 4G

It’s been a busy morning for the budget-minded manufacturer ZTE. First they announced the Blade III‘s availability in Finland for release this month, followed by a launch in Sweden in October. They’ve now followed that up with the announcement of the Anthem 4G available from MetroPCS which will be the first 4G LTE Android smartphone from ZTE available in the United States. The device will run on Android 2.3 Gingerbread,  will sport a 4.3″ WVGA display, and feature a dual-core 1.2 GHz Snapdragon processor. The Anthem 4G from MetroPCS can be had, “in the coming weeks,” for $219 after rebates, while the LTE plans range from $40-$70. We’ll keep you posted if a solid release date is announced. Hit the break for the full press release.

MetroPCS Adds ZTE Anthem™ 4G to its Expanding 4G LTE Smartphone Portfolio
Anthem 4G is first ZTE 4G LTE AndroidTM smartphone in the U.S.

September 20, Richardson, TX – MetroPCS Communications, Inc. (NYSE: PCS) and ZTE Corporation (H share stock code: 0763.HK / A share stock code: 000063.SZ) (“ZTE”), a publicly-listed global provider of telecommunications equipment and network solutions, today announced the availability of the ZTE Anthem™ 4G, the first 4GLTE Android™ smartphone from ZTE available in the United States. The Anthem 4G will be available at MetroPCS stores and online in the coming weeks.

The ZTE Anthem 4G features 4GLTE connectivity, a dual-core 1.2 GHz Snapdragon™ processor and a 4.3” WVGA capacitive touchscreen, making it an ideal choice for the style-conscious consumer who also demands speed, performance and ease of use. Available with any of MetroPCS’ tax and regulatory fee-inclusive 4GLTE service plans ranging from $40 – $70 per month and including the new $55 unlimited 4GLTE promotional plan, the ZTE Anthem 4G makes it possible for value-conscious customers to experience the power of MetroPCS’ 4GLTE network.

“As our first U.S. 4GLTE smartphone, we’re proud to launch the Anthem 4G with our long-time partner MetroPCS because we share their goal of providing consumers with outstanding value and a strong 4G LTE experience,” said Lixin Cheng, CEO, ZTE USA, and president, North America Region, ZTE.

The ZTE Anthem 4G offers an exceptional user experience for customers who want to do more with their smartphones, such as share multimedia content in the moment. The Anthem 4G features HD video output via a HDMI connector, which makes on-the-go HD video playback a reality. Consumers can connect the Anthem 4G to a television or computer monitor via the HDMI port to share their favorite HD videos and films on the big screen with family, friends and colleagues, and with Dolby® Surround Audio, the multimedia playback experience becomes more realistic and immersive.

The Anthem 4G also features dual microphones with noise cancellation, delivering impressive sound quality by extracting surrounding noise from the primary microphone. The smartphone runs on Android™ 2.3 (Gingerbread).

The Anthem 4G will be available in the coming weeks for $219 plus tax after mail-in-rebate for a limited time at local MetroPCS stores or online at www.metropcs.com. The ZTE Anthem 4G supports MetroPCS’ 4GLTE Mobile Hotspot service for an additional monthly charge.

American Airlines flight attendants to receive Samsung Galaxy Note devices as part of new InFlight Tablet program

Today American Airlines announced a new program for the 17,000 flight attendants working throughout their entire fleet. The InFlight Tablet program will see Samsung Galaxy Note devices deployed to all flight attendants. The tablets are being handed out so flight attendants can quickly, and electronically, access customer information. Flight attendants will be able to access traveler’s names, seat assignments, special meal requests, and loyalty program status. Flight attendants will also be able to provide connecting flight status, gate information, and weather updates when WiFi is available. According to Lauri Curtis, American’s Vice President – Flight Service, “By giving a device to all of our active flight attendants we are better enabling our people to deliver an exceptional customer experience.” In addition to the information about customers, American anticipates the devices will eventually be used for food purchases in flight. American also plans to eliminate the paper manuals used by flight attendants.

According to American, they tested several devices as part of their pilot program that has been underway the last few months. The Samsung Galaxy Note was chosen due to its thin, portable design coupled with the relatively large 5.3-inch HD screen. In a video describing the program, American also noted the devices were a good size to quickly slide into a pocket.

Check out the video below for more information on how American plans to use the Android-powered devices to improve the customer experience.

Click here to view the embedded video.

source: Yahoo! Finance