Articles by Alexandra Burlacu
Samsung Galaxy S3 Jelly Bean Update Rollout Reaches Europe, Starting With Poland
At IFA in August, Samsung promised that the much-awaited Android 4.1 Jelly Bean update for its flagship Galaxy S3 smartphone will come "very soon." A company representative later told CNET UK that the update would arrive as soon as October. The representative did not offer any other details, such as which markets will get the upgrade first.
Tablet Market Surges: IDC Ups Forecasts, Apple Expected To Continue Its Dominance
Market research firm International Data Corp. (IDC) has raised its forecast for the worldwide tablet market in 2012, as well as for the next years, based on continued consumer demand and strong expectations for the fourth quarter. IDC now forecasts that Apple will continue to dominate the tablet market until at least 2016, while Microsoft's Windows for tablets will surge faster than expected.
Verizon Roadmap Leaked: Includes Droid Incredible X, Droid Razr Maxx & Razr Maxx HD
Verizon Wireless' year-end roadmap has reportedly surfaced online yet again, unveiling the carrier's smartphone plans for the near future, according to Phone Arena. As expected, the roadmap lists a handful of Android gadgets to come, including devices from as many as six hardware makers. If the leaked details prove to be accurate, Verizon will soon bring something for everyone.
Asus Padfone 2 Full Specs Leaked: 4.7-Inch Display, 1.5GHz Snapdragon S4 Processor & More
News about a second-generation Asus Padfone first surfaced back in May, with initial rumors saying the hybrid device would be released by mid-2013. Now, however, it seems that the Padfone 2 launch is just around the corner. Asus has already sent out invitations for an Oct. 16 event, and leaks and speculation are piling up ahead of the launch.
Samsung Galaxy S3 Developer Edition Is Out – And Out Of Stock
Soon after it became obvious that the regular Galaxy S3 launched with an encrypted bootloader that would never be unlocked, Samsung announced that a Galaxy S3 Developer Edition would soon become available for Verizon's 4G LTE network. Roughly two months later, Samsung has made good on its promise and started selling the Developer Edition of the Verizon version.
Nokia Capitalizes On Apple Maps Fiasco: 'Here's Why Our Maps Are Better'
Nokia may be trailing behind its competitors, but it seems to be wasting no time when it sees an opportunity. Amid Apple's map fiasco revolving around its Apple Maps, which replaced Google Maps in iOS 6, Nokia found the perfect time to boast about its own maps and tout the location services it offers in its own Windows 8 smartphones.
Apple Seeks Additional Damages, U.S. Ban On 26 Samsung Smartphones & Tablets
Apple seems to be seeking to capitalize on the initial success of its sixth generation iPhone, the iPhone 5, by gunning for its top smartphone rival Samsung Electronics in a bid to squeeze even more damages after winning a high-profile patent infringement case against the South Korean tech giant last month.
Why New Jersey Bans Smiling In Driver's License Pictures
If you want to get your driver’s license in New Jersey, be careful not to look too excited – the state has banned smiling in driver’s license photographs. Back in January, New Jersey invested in new face recognition software, and the state’s Motor Vehicle Commission said smiles confuse the tool. This move has gone under the radar for most of the year, until recently one resident refused to comply with the rules without getting a valid explanation why she can’t smile.
Facebook Turns Off Facial Recognition Feature In Europe – Why?
Facebook shut down its facial recognition tool in Europe on Friday, Sept. 21, based on recommendations from the Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC). The Commission did not specifically demand the feature be completely removed, but Commissioner Billy Hawkes said he is pleased with the end result. New Facebook users will no longer be able to access the feature, and current templates will be deleted by Oct. 15.
Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet 2 Price Revealed, Launch Confirmed For Oct. 26
Lenovo officially unveiled its ThinkPad Tablet 2 back in August, introducing the device as its first Windows 8 slate. The 10-inch tablet seems aimed at the business and executive market, and will come equipped with Windows 8 Pro and the full Office 2013 suite.
iPhone 5 Record Debut May Lead To Supply Shortages – Grab It While You Can
Apple is expected to have a record iPhone 5 debut, but the high demand has raised questions about the company's supply capacity and whether it will be able to keep up with demand. Customers lined up for days in Sydney, Tokyo, Paris, and New York, anxiously waiting to pick up the latest model of Apple's top-selling iPhone.
Samsung Galaxy S Duos S7562 Price Surfaces In Europe, Courtesy Of Amazon Germany
Samsung announced the Galaxy S Duos S7562 last month as a new dual-SIM smartphone in the Galaxy line. While the smartphone has yet to make its way to Europe, the retail price has now surfaced on Amazon Germany.
Kindle Fire HD $49 4G Deal: What Happens After The First Year?
Amazon is offering a $49 4G-for-a-year deal for its new Kindle Fire HD, but while the program stirred some consumer excitement, it also raised questions about what happens to the price once that year is over. Between reports, speculation and assumptions, definite answers on the deal have now surfaced.
HTC Unveils 8X, 8S Windows Phone Smartphones To Rival Nokia – Can It Win?
HTC introduced two new smartphones on Wednesday, Sept. 19, bearing Microsoft's new Windows Phone 8 software. The HTC Windows Phone 8X and 8S mark a significant design push, with colorful designs, higher-end cameras, and improved audio.
Samsung Galaxy Note 2 Officially Hits U.S. Mid-November, On All Major Carriers
Samsung's Galaxy Note 2 "phablet" will go on sale by mid-November with the major U.S. carriers AT&T, T-Mobile USA, Sprint, and US Cellular.
Dell Unveils Business-Friendly Windows 8 Pro Latitude 10 Tablet – Top Specs & Features
With Windows 8 almost here, Dell has finally unveiled its expected business-friendly tablet, the Latitude 10. Packing a full-fledged version of Windows 8 Pro and Intel's Clover Trail Atom processor, this 10.1-inch tablet promises to offer a viable solution for business users.
Sony Unveils New Super Slim PS3, Spikes Price In The U.S.
Sony has again revised its PlayStation 3 and introduced a smaller, thinner model of its flagship console at the Tokyo Game Show. The new model is reduced in size and sports larger hard drive capabilities, but it will also have a higher price tag in the U.S.
ZTE, Mozilla To Launch Smartphones Running Mozilla OS: Posing New Threat To Android?
Chinese telecommunications equipment maker ZTE Corp, the world's fourth-largest mobile handset vendor, has teamed up with Mozilla, the company behind the Firefox browser, to introduce a new mobile operating system later this year or early next year.
Acer Iconia Tab A110 Will Ship Soon With Android Jelly Bean
Acer first unveiled its new Iconia Tab A110 in June at Computex, touting a promising tablet running on Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. Now, the company has officially announced that the A110 will start shipping soon, but it will pack the latest version of Google's mobile operating system, Android Jelly Bean 4.1.
Meet Motorola Razr i, The Company's First Intel-Powered Smartphone
Google's Motorola unit has launched its first Intel-powered smartphone, the Motorola Razr i. The smartphone is based in the mid-range Motorola Razr M sold in the U.S., which features an ARM-based Snapdragon processor.
LG Optimus G Unveiled: Quad-Core Snapdragon S4, 2GB RAM, 13-Megapixel Camera & More
After intensive rumors and speculation circling the Web, the LG Optimus G is finally official. LG has officially announced the handset in South Korea on Tuesday, Sept. 18, and was showed off at a press event scheduled Sept. 19 in New York City.
Tablet Market Surges, While Demand For 7-inch Tablets Increases: IHS
Global sales of tablet computers are expected to surge this year, driven by Apple's market-leading iPad, but also its smaller-format rivals, market research firm IHS reported on Monday, Sept. 17.
T-Mobile iPhone 5 Nano-SIMs To Come Mid-October For Unlocked Devices: Report
T-Mobile has never officially sold iPhones, but it has always supported the devices on its 2G networks by selling SIM cards that its customers can slip into their handsets. The iPhone 5, however, uses the brand new nano-SIM technology, which means that current T-Mobile SIMs will not fit into the handset.
Zero Devices Unveils Z2C Android PC-on-a-Stick With RockChip RK3066 Cortex A9 Dual-Core
Zero Devices is known for selling a range of mini PCs designed to run Google's Android operating system. Gadgets include small media center devices, in-car entertainment systems, as well as PC-on-a-stick devices, but the company's next mini PC may be its most powerful.
Samsung Galaxy S4 To Debut In February At MWC 2013 (Rumor)
Samsung's Galaxy S3 flagship smartphone has been less than four months on the market, but a Galaxy S4 is reportedly in the cards already.
Yahoo Employees To Get Latest & Hottest Smartphones For Free, Just No BlackBerry
After news that Microsoft will treat its employees to freebies, Yahoo! is also taking a turn at pampering its workforce. As part of a new program called "Yahoo! Smart Phones, Smart Fun!" new Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer will be offering a free Apple, Samsung, Nokia, or HTC smartphone to each of the company's employees. The choice of smartphones includes the latest and hottest handsets on the market, but BlackBerry is out of the question.
Google's Android vs. Alibaba's Aliyun: Why Acer Aliyun Smartphone Launch Was Cancelled?
Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba was about to make its big mobile phone breakthrough, launching a smartphone running on Aliyun, Alibaba's own cloud-based, open-source mobile operating system. On Thursday, Sept. 13, Taiwanese computer and phone vendor Acer was set to unveil a new smartphone running on Aliyun, aimed at the huge Chinese market.
