Is this the iPhone 5? It sure looks like it [UPDATED]

We just got wind of the following video that shows what seems to be an iPhone 4 with a bigger screen. The phone seems to be the same size as the iPhone 4 but the screen now stretches from edge to edge with minimum bezel as those early mockups suggested.

Is this the iPhone 5?

Here's the video so you can see it for yourselves. And honestly, it does look legit no matter how hard it is to believe a working iPhone 5 unit has escaped Apple's stringent security.

Update: All evidence leads to this video being an incredibly carefully staged fake. We noticed that when launching the two apps - Safari and the game - the guy never lifts his thumb off the icon and iOS doesn't work that way. The game level also starts without anyone touching the Touch To Start button. Then the dates on the lockscreen and on the homescreen don't match up. The guy also doesn't show the phone all around and even makes a point of hiding the home button the whole time. We bet the whole thing it's probably shot on video and then used much like that elaborate joke we did for April's Fools Day back in 2010 - pretending we've installed iOS on the HTC Hero. So what do you say?

P.S. If you are interested, that game demoed on the video is ECA Games' Rock(s) Rider. We suppose that the whole thing was created to promote it.

Source:http://www.gsmarena.com/this_really_looks_like_the_next_iphone_for_real_video-news-3198.php

READ MORE - Is this the iPhone 5? It sure looks like it [UPDATED]

HTC Explorer Announced: Affordable Android for all

We've caught site of the HTC Explorer (formally the Pico) a couple of times previously, with both blurry cam and press shots in tow. Now however, it's time for the Explorer to strut its stuff officially. Today HTC announced the HTC Explorer as their latest Android device.

It finds itself as the most compact of its brothers measuring just 102.8mm x 57.2mm x 12.9mm and sporting a 3.2" HVGA display. The Explorer comes into HTC's product range underneath the Wildfire/Wildfire S and puts the Brew-based HTC Smart out to pasture whilst it's at it.

Being the scrawny new handset in the smartphone world can be daunting, but the Explorer has got a decent amount of hardware to keep it afloat. It essentially runs the Wildfire S hardware rebodied, but with HTC's intentions to make this their most affordable smartphone yet, aspects like the camera resolution have been turned down to 3.15MP (from the Wildfire S' 5MP unit) for example.

Beyond this however, the Explorer promises a full Android smartphone experience, complete with the latest Sense 3.5 UI. There's full web browsing with Flash support, social network integration and many other popular features that HTC consistently improve on.

A couple of extra features, unique to the Explorer that HTC are pleased to point out are the inbuilt data monitor, which based on the users they expect to go for this device, allows you to track and manage your data allowance and usage on your package, without looking for a 3rd party management system.

One other key ability that the Explorer possess is an exchangeable back cover system. Nothing new on its own, but the first in the current line of HTC droids, presumably just to mix things up. Colors include; Active Black, Active Navy, Metallic Black and Metallic Navy when purchased, with India-based customers having the additional options of Active Royal and Metallic Royal. Extra covers can be purchased separately in a further 4 colors at least; Active Blue, Active Orange, Active White and Active Purple.

The HTC Explorer should become available in Q4 this year with planned launches in key markets in Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia.

For now that's all we can tell you about the new HTC Explorer, but we have a sneaking suspicion it might pop up at a certain upcoming London event. If so we'll do the decent thing and grab both stills and a hands-on, naturally, but until then, we'll have to just keep staring at the pictures.

Source:http://www.gsmarena.com/htc_explorer_announced_affordable_android_for_all-news-3197.php

READ MORE - HTC Explorer Announced: Affordable Android for all

Samsung Nexus Prime coming October 11th with Android 4.0 ICS

Brace yourselves, fellas, for October will be one hell of a month for the mobile industry. The next iPhone will break cover on 4th, HTC will follow up with a phone of their own on the 6th and now we have confirmation that Google's next flagship will be announced a week later - on October 11th. Yeap, we are just two weeks away from seeing the Samsung-made Nexus Prime.

The Korean company has already sent-out the invitations for the Unpacked event, which will be held at the CTIA expo and will be co-hosted by Google. And that might mean just one thing - it will be the event that will see the introduction of Android Ice cream sandwich and its first bearer - the Nexus Prime.

This also aligns nicely with the lengthy video demo of new Android version that we saw this morning. The platform seemed in pretty good shape on that demo, so it should be ready to hit the stage.

And it's not just the new reincarnation of the world's best-selling popular OS that deserves attention. The Samsung Nexus Prime should be a pretty hot piece of technology itself with its rumored 4.65" HD Super AMOLED screen and powerful Exynos chipset with a couple of 1.5 GHz CPU cores.

October seems like the month that will set the tone for the next year or so in the smartphone race.

Source:http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_nexus_prime_coming_october_11th_with_ice_cream_sandwich-news-3202.php

READ MORE - Samsung Nexus Prime coming October 11th with Android 4.0 ICS

BlackBerry Torch 9860 review: Keyless, not clueless

No QWERTY keyboard, no SurePress clickable screen gimmickry, the BlackBerry Torch 9860 is taking the plunge. Not the first time that RIM are venturing into touchscreen but they're past the point of no return with this one. The BlackBerry Torch 9860 will walk among deadly droids and iPhones - probably the most hostile of environments in smartphone land.

No wonder RIM are extra cautious. They had a couple of scouts in touchscreen territory that didn't return. The Storm phones were exposed despite their SurePress disguise. Now, this time RIM are not beating the drum. Their first real touch-only phone doesn't seem to warrant its own name. It's simply a regular team member. A keyboardless model in the Torch lineup.

We bet any of the Storms would kill to be in its place rather than a footnote in BlackBerry history. A history heading towards tablets, history in which the likes of the Torch 9860 will be playing an increasingly greater role.

BlackBerry Torch 9860

BlackBerry's latest OS 7 and the real-deal touchscreen experience will help the Torch 9860 find a niche of its own. Not that BlackBerry purists will ever get over the lack of a physical keyboard, but the Torch 9860 is not looking at them.

Instead, it has plenty to offer to long-term BlackBerry users with a taste for experiment. The Torch 9860 is part of a new generation of 1.2GHz-powered phones running the latest OS 7. It promises a new touchscreen experience and better specs across the board.

In case you wonder though about QWERTY in the list of cons - it felt right to sound a warning to traditional BlackBerry users. It's too radical a change. So, the Torch 9860 will have a massive point to prove. You can take the QWERTY out of a messenger but never the messenger out of a BlackBerry. Coming up next is our pros and cons list, so let's get down to business.

Key features:

• 3.7" 16M-color TFT touchscreen of WVGA resolution (480 x 800 pixels)
• Quad-band GSM support and quad-band 3G with HSDPA
• Single-core 1.2GHz QC8655 processor
• 768MB RAM
• BlackBerry OS v7
• BlackBerry’s proprietary email service and data security
• Wi-Fi b/g/n connectivity
• GPS receiver and BlackBerry maps preloaded, digital compass
• 5 megapixel camera with autofocus and a LED flash
• HD video recording, 720p@30fps
• 2.5GB of inbuilt storage
• 4GB MicroSD card prebundled
• Optical trackpad
• Four physical buttons at the bottom
• Solid build
• Hot-swappable microSD card slot (up to 16GB)
• DivX and Xvid video support
• Office document editor
• 3.5 mm audio jack
• Smart dialing
• Ultra-fast boot times

Main disadvantages:

• BlackBerry Internet Service account is a must to enjoy all phone features
• No physical QWERTY keyboard
• No videocalling and no front facing camera either
• No NFC
• No Flash support for the web browser
• No FM radio
• No haptic feedback

The Torch 9860 has all the makings of a fine smartphone, down to the very price tag. That last one is no joke. RIM have always charged a premium on their phones. Nowhere to run if you need their service.

It's the latest generation however that's finally becoming relevant in the outside world. More and better features, and refined user experience, RIM are keen to catch up with the standard-setters. It won't happen overnight and the Torch 9860 probably won't live to see it. But it won't be sorry for not trying.

BlackBerry Torch 9860 live photos

The BlackBerry Torch 9860 needs not be ashamed of not running Android or any other best-selling OS. It's part of a new wave of RIM hopefuls that demonstrate the company's confidence to take a new direction. Success is built on trust, and RIM of all companies should know that. They are trying to appear credible to a whole new set of users. If nothing else, interesting times ahead for the BlackBerry Torch 9860. Let's hope it's not a curse.

Source:http://www.gsmarena.com/blackberry_torch_9860-review-650.php

READ MORE - BlackBerry Torch 9860 review: Keyless, not clueless

iPhone 5 cases pop up in AT&T's inventory database

With only five days left before Apple officially spills the beans on its latest smartphone creation/s, we have yet another iPhone 5 related rumor. This time, it comes from AT&T's own inventory database, where cases for the most anticipated smartphone to launch this year have surfaced.

As you can see above, the covers, designed for the yet to be announced iPhone, come courtesy of Case-Mate - one of the major suppliers of this type of accessories for the current iPhone generation, and feature three different varieties. In case you are interested how they look, click here.

Source:http://www.gsmarena.com/iphone_5_cases_pop_up_in_at_ts_inventory_database-news-3204.php

READ MORE - iPhone 5 cases pop up in AT&T's inventory database

Samsung unveils Honeycomb-running Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus

Today Samsung introduced another member to its lineup of Android-powered tablets. The Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus runs on the Android 3.2 Honeycomb and packs the Exynos chipset with a 1.2 GHz CPU under the hood.

The slate's 7" PLS LCD has a resolution of 1024 x 600 pixels. The Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus has two onboard cameras - a 3 MP main shooter at the back that also does 720p video and a 2 MP front-facing snapper for video-chatting.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus in white

The Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus has quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE support (yeah, it has telephony!) and tri-band 3G with 21 Mbps HSPA. The tablet, which will come in 16GB and 32GB flavors (both packing a microSD card slot), comes with dual-band Wi-Fi a/b/g/n, GPS and Bluetooth radios.

The Android 3.2 Honeycomb platform has been spiced up with Samsung's home-backed TouchWiz UI on the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus. The included 1GB of RAM makes sure that Honeycomb will be able to fulfill its great multi-tasking potential.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus in gray

Coming with a decently sized 4,000 mAh battery the droid measures 193.65 x 122.37 x 9.96 mm and weighs just 345g.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus will be available in Indonesia and Austria from end-October with worldwide availability to follow shortly after that. No pricing info has been revealed so far.

Source:http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_unveils_honeycombrunning_galaxy_tab_70_plus-news-3206.php

READ MORE - Samsung unveils Honeycomb-running Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus

Motorola DEFY+ lands in the UK, costs £240

Motorola DEFY+ is the upgraded version of the last year's rugged droid - DEFY. It keeps almost everything the same but the chipset - it goes from TI OMAP 3610 to TI OMAP 3620. This means now you get a 1GHz single-core Cortex A8 as opposed to the 800Mhz one in the previous model but with the same PowerVR SGX530 graphics.

In case you need a refresh, Motorola DEFY+ comes with a 3.7-inch WVGA display, 512MB RAM, 2GB internal storage, a 5 megapixel snapper with HD video recording and all-round connectivity package.

Motorola DEFY+ runs on Android 2.3 Gingerbread out of the box and has the same IP67 certifications as its predecessor. The latter means dust and water proof, but doesn’t include shock resistance of any kind.

The carrier-independent Motorola DEFY+ is now available in the UK through The Smartphone Centre and Clove on about P240.

Source:http://www.gsmarena.com/motorola_defy_lands_in_uk_costs__pound240-news-3207.php

READ MORE - Motorola DEFY+ lands in the UK, costs £240

Sharp returns to the Euro market with the 3D Aquos PHONE SH80F

The Japanese electronics manufacturer Sharp is about to make a return to the European cell phone market. The announcement was jointly delivered by Sharp itself, Orange France and NTT DOCOMO.

Sharp is obviously taking this thing seriously as the first smartphone they are going to release in Europe is looking smoking hot. Dubbed Sharp Aquos PHONE SH80F (we know, a bit of a mouthful) the Android 2.3 Gingerbread smartphone comes with a glasses-free 3D screen and stereo cameras that allow you to capture your own stereoscopic content.

The Sharp Aquos PHONE SH80F LCD measures 4.2" in diagonal and has qHD resolution. The two 8 megapixel cameras can do 1080p video in 2D mode or 720p in 3D, while the VGA front-facing camera enables video-chatting.

Sharp Aquos PHONE SH80F has quite a lot to offer in terms of connectivity, too. You get 3G with HSPA, Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth, Infrared and HDMI as well as a microSD card slot.

There's a Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset inside this droid, which sports a 1.4 GHz Scorpion CPU (single-core we assume).

If you are interested and you are lucky enough to be living in France, you will be able to get the Sharp AQUOS PHONE SH80F from Orange for €199 with a €59/month contract. Sharp has also said that it's possible that this beauty hits other countries, but it didn't give a timeframe for that.

Source:http://www.gsmarena.com/sharp_returns_on_the_european_market_with_a_3d_android_smartphone-news-3208.php

READ MORE - Sharp returns to the Euro market with the 3D Aquos PHONE SH80F

Samsung Galaxy S II Android 2.3.5 update leaks – yours to try, if you dare

We already knew that Samsung are about to release an Android 2.3.5 update for the original Galaxy S, so the fact that its successor is getting the same treatment is not exactly shocking news. What you might be more excited to know is that one of the Samsung-made Android 2.3.5-based ROMs has escaped the security at their R&D centers and is, available to everyone that would like to give it a try right now.

We are not quite sure if it’s worth voiding your warranty, though, as Android 2.3.5 isn’t such a major update. We don’t have an official changelog for it, but from what we’ve seen so far, the improvements brought by it are focused in the Gmail app.

Still, if you feel like getting it, you might follow this link for instructions and download links. A quick registration is required, though. Alternatively, you might want to check out this forum for the first custom ROM based on the new Android release.

Source:http://blog.gsmarena.com/samsung-galaxy-s-ii-android-2-3-5-update-leaks-yours-to-try-if-you-dare/

READ MORE - Samsung Galaxy S II Android 2.3.5 update leaks – yours to try, if you dare

HTC Runnymede/Bass shown off in quick video, still not official

The HTC Runnymede peeks out of the rumor mill again, this time on video. It’s been spotted before, but seeing an actual running device means that it’s either very close to completion or already completed – and an official announcement can’t be too far off.

The Runnymede, or perhaps Bass, puts a 4.7″ WVGA S-LCD screen and Beats Audio in the same package as a 1.5GHz single-core CPU, among other specs.

Being a Beats Audio device, it’s a safe bet that the HTC Runnymede will come with an above-average headset as the other Beats-branded HTC phones. Rumor has it that it will cost £530 for the 16GB version (that’s $820) or £560 for the 32GB ($865). Keep in mind that the headset alone will run you about £65 ($100).

Check out the video:

An eager UK retailer put up an unlocked Runnymede for pre-order, calling it the HTC Bass, so that’s probably the name to look out for (around Europe at least). The one in the video shows Vodafone branding on screen, so chances are it will be available with carrier subsidies too.

The HTC Runnymede/Bass is the second contender for the guest of honor spot in HTC’s October 6th event, along with the HTC Amaze 4G. Which of the would you like to see more unveiled on the 6th?

Source:http://blog.gsmarena.com/htc-runnymedebass-shown-off-in-quick-video-still-not-official/

READ MORE - HTC Runnymede/Bass shown off in quick video, still not official