Huawei Ascend Mate7 slip out via TENNA

We learned earlier today that Huawei is set to go official with the new Ascend Mate7 smartphone on September 4 at the IFA 2014 press event. If you are excited about that smartphone some details on the device has slipped out ahead of the official unveil next month via the TENNA agency in China. At least, the images and details are believed to be of the Ascend Mate7.

TENNA shows two devices making their way through the certification process including the MT7-CL00 and the MT7-TL00. The CL00 device supports GSM/TD-LTE/CDMA networks while the TL00 supports GSM/TD-LTE/TD-SCDMA networks. Other than the network support difference, the devices have identical hardware.

The hardware inside includes a 1.8GHz octa-core processor, 2GB of RAM, and 16GB of internal storage. It's unclear exactly which processor is under the hood of these devices, but it is thought to be a Kirin 920 or higher. The smartphones have big screens measuring 6-inches with 1920 x 1080 resolution.

On the back of the smartphone is a 13MP camera with the front camera sporting 5MP resolution. Along with these specifications, TENNA also unveiled some images of the devices. One of the images shows the back of the device with what appears to be a fingerprint or heart rate sensor under the camera. We only have a few weeks before we know the official specifications of the smartphone when IFA 2014 kicks off.

SOURCE: Slashgear

Story Timeline

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


• Huawei mystery smartphone leaked with fingerprint scanner


• Huawei teases Sept 4 announcement of Ascend Mate7

Skype chat notifications adjusts to device you’re using

While having multiple devices is the new normal for most people, it can be a pain to receive notifications on all of them. Your desktop, tablet, smartphone and smartwatch all buzzing at the same time for the same app can be tedious and alarming. Skype has found a solution to that for their chat notifications, as you can will now only receive it on the device that you’re currently using.

If you’re chatting with your friends on your tablet but you’re still logged in to the app on your other devices (as is usually the case), you’ll only be able to receive the new message notifications on your tablet since it can detect that it’s the current gadget you’re using. And because Skype has previously introduced the read messages synchronisation across all devices, you’re also assured that when you open your chat on your smartphone later on, you won’t be flooded with many unread messages.

Once you’ve stopped using Skype Chat on your current gadget, all of your logged in devices will once again receive the notifications. But once you start using a certain gadget again, it will only buzz you where you are and stop notifications on all the other ones. But don’t worry, your chat history will still synchronise across all your devices so you can just pick up your conversations wherever is more convenient for you.

The update will roll-out through various app stores and devices in the next few weeks. If you don’t have Skype yet on your Android smartphone, tablet or smartwatch, you can download it through the Google Play Store and wait for the update to arrive in your gadget.

SOURCE: Skype

Story Timeline

• Skype for Android updated, still falls short


• Skype promises better cross-platform functionality, mobile experience in blog post


• Skype 5.0 for Android makes it easier to find friends

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