LG to unveil L Fino and L Bello smartphones at IFA 2014

LG has announced a pair of new smartphones that it will be unveiling at IFA 2014 next month along with the rumored launch of the G Watch 2. The new smartphones include the LG L Fino and the LG L Bello devices. LG says that these two smartphones are aiming to extend the company footprint to markets by offering powerful devices at lower price points.

Both of the L series smartphones will have the LG Rear Key button and will feature an 8MP rear camera. LG will also use its proprietary UX features on the smartphones. A lot of effort was put into making the cameras perform well and to make it easy to take photos with no blur. Both of the cameras will include a Touch and Shoot feature that lets them tap on the display to focus and shoot an image.

A Gesture Shot feature allows the user to open and close their hand in front of the camera to start a 3-second countdown for the shutter. A front camera light adds a white background for softer lighting in self-portrait mode. LG is also fitting the smartphones with Knock Code and a QuickCircle Case.

The Fino will use a 1.2GHz quad-core processor, 4.5-inch 800 x 480 screen, 4GB of storage, and a 1900 mAh battery with Android 4.2.2 as the OS. The Bello will use a 1.3GHz quad-core processor, Android 4.2.2, 5-inch 854 x 480 display, 1GB of RAM, and 8GB of storage. LG is offering no pricing details at this time and the smartphones will land in Latin America this month with launch in Europe, Asia, and CIS coming later.

Story Timeline

• Samsung to unveil Galaxy Note 4 on September 3 before IFA [UPDATE]


• LG reportedly outing a G Watch 2 at IFA 2014

Nexus 7 takes center stage in Toyota’s Intelligent System

Although Google has announced Android Auto as its official venture into the automotive industry, that isn't going to stop other car makers from breaking out on their own. Toyota, who isn't (yet) part of the Google-initiated Open Automotive Alliance, is showing off its new "Toyota Intelligent System" or TIS, an infotainment system that curiously centers around a Nexus 7 tablet.

Both Android Auto and TIS aim to bring Android to cars, but while Google is working with automobile manufacturers to embed Android into each brand's unique infotainment system, Toyota is aiming for something a bit more generic. TIS by itself is a very basic infotainment system, but it will also let owners dock a Nexus 7 into it (or rather in front of the screen) to lend it the power of Android. This means that the infotainment system isn't tied down to a specific make and model and can be easily transfered to your next new car. Provided it's from Toyota too, of course.

This is definitely an interesting take on the conventional automotive infotainment system, one that is also more economical and probably more affordable as well. That said, such systems are still at their infancy so it isn't known which approach will win in the end. Toyota is partnering with Unimax, which is owned by ASUS, which in turn manufactures the Nexus 7, to build this peculiar system. At the moment, it all revolves around Google's tablet, but that could change in the future, provided the replacement has the same dimensions as the Nexus 7.

The Toyota Intelligent System has so far been unveiled only in Taiwan so there is no assurance that it will make it to the manufacturer's international models as well. The tablet part of the equation is pretty much an add-on, but a substantial one at that. TIS will still work even without the tablet docked, but its functionality will be limited, practically for audio controls. Based on the video above, however, it seems possible to pair it with some other mobile device via NFC/Bluetooth, though the exact features of that combination haven't been detailed yet.

VIA: Android Authority

Story Timeline

• I/O 2014 latecomers: set-top box, Auto Link head unit


• Android Auto brings Google into cars in a simpler way


• Android Auto gets first batch of car maker commitments

Samsung lets you charge three devices in new wall charger

Gone are the days when you would just need one USB wall charger since you only have one device that you need to charge. But since most people now carry multiple devices, and you cannot of course monopolise all the wall outlets at any given places, you would need a contraption that can power all your devices (or at least three of them). Samsung brings you its Multi-Charging Wall Charger, whose name explains itself already.

The charger allows up to three micro-USB devices to be charged all at the same time. It has a 2A charge that will be divided evenly among the three devices. So if you have your smartphone, bluetooth device and a wearable plugged in all the same time, they will each receive 667mA, which isn’t much really, especially if you’re in a hurry to have all of them fully charged.

If it’s just two devices, then they’ll each get 1A of charging. And if you’re good in math, you’d know that just plugging in one device means it will receive all of the charger’s 2A power. But that kind of defeats the purpose of having a multi-charging wall charger right? But nevertheless, the charger detects just how many devices are plugged in and then optimally adjusts the distribution of power among or between the devices.

The charger is still “coming soon” and will available for purchase from the Samsung website for $39.99. That seems a bit steep for just a charging cable, but if you feel the need to have a portable and optimized multi-charging cable, then maybe you’d be willing to spend that much for this latest Samsung accessory.

SOURCE: Samsung

Samsung Galaxy NX roams the earth with Rover project

One small step for Samsung, a thousand giant steps for mankind (well, at least those who love photography). Inspired by the NASA’s Mars Exploration Rover, the OEM built a similar contraption to put its Galaxy NX camera on the road in different parts of the world to be able to let people remotely take pictures of places and events and send you the pictures instantly and upload them directly on the database.

The Samsung NX Rover is a combination of a photography and social experiment. Using the 4G connection of the Android-powered camera, the photos that you take remotely, controlled online and in real-time, are sent to you directly from the camera. This is one of the best things about the NX camera series, as it allows direct sharing onto social networks and other sites without having to save photos onto your hard drive.

Covering such events as the London Super Comic Con and a game at the home stadium of German and European champions FC Bayern, the Rover project announced in advance the “shooting schedule” so that those who wanted to participate would be online. They also teamed up with Getty Images and three famous photographers, (Gareth Cattermole, Julian Finney, and Ian Gavan) to do a little tutorial on how best to use the Samsung NX cameras to take action, portrait and landscape shots.

The Galaxy NX camera is a 20.3MP APS-C Sensor gadget that has a 1/6000 sec shutter speed and 8.6fps shooting capability, plus several connectivity options as well. As of now, there is announcement of a new event yet where you can test out the traveling robot, but you’ll be able to view the galleries of past events on the Samsung Galaxy NX Rover official site.

SOURCE: Samsung

Story Timeline

• Samsung Galaxy NX camera kit priced ahead of October release


• Samsung Galaxy NX camera spotted at FCC


• Samsung Galaxy NX camera arrives in the US

ZTE nubia 5S mini arrives in the US, unlocked and with LTE

ZTE is bringing yet another of its rare smartphones to the US, this time offering it without any carrier support or subsidy. The nubia 5S mini's 13 megapixel camera and focus on digital photography features, however, might make it a more interesting pick compared to the manufacturer's previous devices, even or especially those limited edition marketing gimmicks.

The nubia 5S mini LTE, a name that is likely to cause some confusion, is, for all intents and purposes, a mid-range device. It runs on a 1.2 GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400, with 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of internal storage, expandable up to 32 GB via a microSD card. The 4.7-inch 1280x720 display might not sound impressive, but ZTE boasts that it has applied Sharp's power-saving IGZO technology. It is powered by a 2,000 mAh battery and is compatible with US LTE networks. Unfortunately, it only uses Android 4.3 instead of the latest KitKat.

While the specs may sound mediocre or decent at best, ZTE is selling this device more as a camera-centric smartphone than an Android powerhouse. The 13-megapixel rear camera comes with a BSI sensor and an F2.2 aperture, is made up of five pieces of precision optical lens and protected by sapphire glass. The front piece is no underdog either with a 5 megapixel sensor. Of course, there are various software features designed to take advantage of that hardware, including different camera modes for different needs, editing and filter effects, as well as a "smile trigger" for easier selfies. ZTE is claiming to offer a DSLR-like photography experience with controls and photo editing capabilities.

ZTE will be selling the nubia 5S mini LTE unlocked through Amazon. The company claims that this shows its confidence in its product, meaning that they're confident users will buy them without the help of US carriers. The smartphone costs $279.99 and comes in only one color configuration of white with black front bezels. The nubia 5S mini LTE will officially launch on August 27 but is already available today for pre-order from Amazon.

SOURCE: ZTE

Huawei teases Sept 4 announcement of Ascend Mate7

While we’re still wondering whatever happened to numbers 3-6, the official announcement of Huawei’s Ascend Mate7 (the follow-up to the Ascend Mate2) is definitely pushing through on September 4 during the IFA in Berlin. The Chinese OEM has sent out teaser-invites for the event, although we’re once again confused as to why there are neon cats included in it.

The images are actually from a PowerPoint presentation and shows several clues as to what the Ascend Mate7 (or maybe other products that will also be announced) may be like. The photo of a fingerprint being scanned may be a reference to the security biometrics of the Ascend Mate7 and a “mystery smartphone” that was leaked earlier this week, which showed a fingerprint scanner at the back. There are also photos of an eight-speed transmission (probably to refer to the smartphone’s speed), the silhouette of a 7 (obviously), and mysteriously, several neon cats (Is there a special cat game installed? Is the phone going to be shaped like a cat? Is the graphic artist who made the teasers just a big cat person?)

Not much is known about the Ascend Mate7, except for a few leaked details. It will reportedly be a 6-inch smartphone which will run on Kirin 920. The main camera will be at 13 megapixels while the front-facing one will have a relatively high 5MP one. There will reportedly be two variants of the smartphone, with one having a 2k resolution and 3GB RAM while the other one has just a 1080p display and 2GB RAM.

All will be revealed in just a few weeks when Huwaei will announce what the cats really mean. And of course, what the Ascend Mate7 and maybe other gadgets will also be officially announced during the event in Berlin on September 4.

Story Timeline

• Leaked Huawei Ascend D3 photos betray a familiar design


• Huawei skips digits, Ascend Mate7 slated for Sept. 4


• Huawei mystery smartphone leaked with fingerprint scanner

Sony Xperia Z3 spotted in TENAA with Z2 specs

Stop the endless hardware specs race. Sony is planning to prove you that they can bring you a great Xperia Z3 with a similar Z2 internal hardware. With Sony’s official press event coming in 2 weeks, its Xperia Z3 is now certified by TENAA in China, listed as L55t and L55u models with different network bands.

According to the previous rumor, Xperia Z3 has an internal code name "L55t". The L55t from TENAA supports TD-SCDMA, TD-LTE network, while the L55u model supports WCDMA and TD-LTE network. As listed in the filing details, Xperia Z3 will be powered by a quad core 2.5GHz processor, comes with 5.2-inch Full HD IPS display, Android 4.4.x KitKat, 3GB RAM, 16GB internal storage, microSDXC card slot, Bluetooth, FM Radio, WiFi and GPS. There is also a 20.7 megapixel camera, and a 2 megapixel front facing camera. A screenshot from this leak has further revealed the processor to be Qualcomm MSM8974AC with Adreno 330 GPU.

As you can see from the above comparison tablet, Xperia Z3 and Z2’s internal hardware is almost identical except a faster Qualcomm processor. The main changes should be the phone design, at least it is slimmer and lighter with Xperia Z3. What’s not listed in TENAA certification is the rugged protection. The existing Xperia Z2 is protected with IP55/IP58, while we expect the Xperia Z3 to be equipped with the same durability feature too. It is not sure if Sony will take the protection to the next level with IP65/IP68 – which they just did it for Sony Xperia M2 Aqua this week.

Sony has scheduled its press event on September 3rd, be sure to follow us for live event coverage and other IFA 2014 announcements!

SOURCE: Tenaa (1), (2)

Photos from previous leak

Story Timeline

• More Sony Xperia Z3 pics leak, this time with details


• Sony Xperia M2 Aqua takes waterproofing to budget level


• Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact named in user manual