Nokia Lumia 929 leaks in a live photo , this time dressed in white

After taking a break for a few weeks, the previously leaked Nokia Lumia 929 for Verizon appeared in live photos yet again. This time around, the yet to be announced Windows Phone powerhouse showed up dressed in white attire.

Nokia Lumia 929 (click to enlarge)

Alongside the leaked photo, alleged information on the battery of the Nokia Lumia 929 made the rounds. The device will reportedly hit the shelves with a 2,510mAh unit on board.

The previously rumored specs of the Nokia Lumia 929 include a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 SoC, 5” 1080p display, and 20MP PureView camera (we’ve seen an alleged sample from it already). The handset will have 2GB of RAM, and 32GB of built-in memory to go with a microSD card slot.

The latest report suggests that the Nokia Lumia 929 will launch on Verizon in the second half of December. Previous rumors about November unveiling have obviously failed to materialize.

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LG G2 to get the Android KitKat update in Q1, 2014

The LG G2 received favorable reviews from critics as well as customers. Now that Google has announced the Android 4.4 KitKat update, naturally everyone who bought one is wondering when will they be receiving the update.

According to Mobile Syrup who contacted the Canadian division of LG, the company will be providing the Android 4.4 build to all the carriers in Q1, 2014, near the end of March. From then onwards it depends upon the carriers how quickly they start rolling out the updates. Those are using unlocked version of the handset can probably expect to receive the update a bit sooner.

The LG G2 is currently one of the best Android smartphones available on the market with top of the line specifications across the board. The software has been criticized for being over the top due to the many features LG tends to add in its phones. Although the KitKat update likely won't be fixing that problem, you would get all of the under the hood improvements that Google has introduced. Too bad there is going to be a long wait for it.

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SIM-free BlackBerry Z10 now available for $199

Black Friday is now behind us, but the Cyber Monday deals are already starting to come in. BlackBerry is among the first to give you a cool smartphone promotion, letting you have its former Z10 flagship for just $199.

That’s the price for SIM-free BlackBerry Z10 with no commitment to any carrier. Shipping is also free, so the price announced is final (no taxes included, of course). To take advantage of the promotion you need to use the promo code BFEMAILZ10 at checkout.

The BlackBerry Z10 didn’t quite manage to become the best seller its maker so desperately needed and it’s certainly not a device without its flaws, but it’s hard to argue that at $199 contract-free it offers excellent value for your money. If you are willing to stray off the beaten path and try a non-mainstream operating system this seems like a perfectly good chance.

The deal is only valid until Monday, so make up your mind quickly. If you decide to go for it, just follow the source link to place your order. And if you are still sitting on the fence, feel free to check out our review – it should answer all your questions about the smartphone.

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Quechua announces a rugged 5

Quechua in association with Archos has unveiled a rugged smartphone. The handset is designed with an active lifestyle in mind and is resistant to shock, mud, water, sand, cold and snow.

Quechua's newest smartphone is IP 54 certified and is powered by a 1.2 GHz quad-core processor and has 1GB of RAM on a Qualcomm chipset. The rugged device is built around a 5-inch display and offers a 5 megapixel main camera and 4 GB of internal memory that can be expanded via microSD card slot.

The smartphone runs on Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and packs a 3,500mAh battery, which according to the company lasts for about 22 hours on calling.

Quechua's rugged smartphone is priced at €230 (about $313). Unfortunately, there is no word on the availability of the device at the moment.

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Unlocked Moto G goes up for pre-order on Amazon in the US

A few days after it became available directly from Motorola in the United States, the Moto G also made its way to Amazon. The retail giant now has the budget-friendly Android smartphone up for pre-order unlocked, free of any contract commitments.

Amazon has the Moto G priced the same as Motorola’s own online store. The 8GB version starts at $179.99, while its 16GB sibling goes for $199.99. Both versions are scheduled to ship on December 4 – two days after Motorola’s own online store is scheduled to dispatch its pre-orders.

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Android 4.4 now seeding to Unlocked and Developer HTC One

Unlocked HTC One devices, as well as their Developer Edition siblings are now getting updated to Android 4.4 KitKat with Sense 5.5 in the United States. HTC USA announced the pleasant surprise on its official Twitter account.

HTC surely isn’t wasting time in updating its flagship smartphone to the latest version available. The Sense-d version of the HTC One saw KitKat only four days after the Google Play Edition got treated to the update, and barely a month after Android 4.4 made a debut on the Nexus 5.

Carrier versions of the HTC One in the United States are due to get the update by the end of January. HTC vowed to do so earlier this month.

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Top 5 Deals on smartphones, tablets

Every month many smartphones are being launched, both by Indian as well as MNC players. The influx of so many handsets at such a rapid pace is forcing handset makers to reduce prices of their older handsets. Also, online retailers in a bid to increase their foothold are offering attractive discounts on items, especially mobile phones and tablets.

So like every week, this time also we have brought you the best deals available online on smartphones and tablets.

LG Nexus 4

Deal Price: Rs 21,717 Rs (Rs 19682 from Flipkart with SBI credit card)

Normal Price: Rs 23,000+

Though LG Nexus 4 is being offered by many online retailers for more than Rs 23,000, Indiatimes Shopping is now offering the handset for just Rs 21, 717. You don't have to apply any coupons to get the Nexus 4 for the same price. However, if you have a SBI credit card, you can check out Flipkart where you can get the handset for as low as Rs 19,682.

LG Nexus 4 comes with a 4.7 inch display with HD resolution. It has just received the Android 4.4 KitKat version. The Nexus 4 has a powerful 1.5 GHz quad Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 processor and huge 2 GB RAM. It has 16 GB ROM but misses out on expandable storage facility.

The LG made Google Nexus 4 also comes with a 2100 mAh battery, 8 megapixel rear camera, 1.3 megapixel front camera, WiFi , and Bluetooth .

SoundLogic MTV partner to launch new Fashiontronix headphones

MTV and SoundLogic have partnered to introduce youth focused accessories with vibrant colours. The new MTV Fashiontronix by SoundLogic line of accessories include earphones, headphones and Bluetooth speakers. The MTV Fashiontronix range has earphones - Studs and Wave, headphones - Boom and Bluetooth speakers - Twister and Soundbox. MTV and SoundLogic have partnered with Croma Retail to offer these new accessories from Croma offline stores as well as the online portal.

MTV Fashiontronix by SoundLogic includes the new earphones - Studs that bear metal casing and flat cables. The Studs earphones have a microphone integrated and support the standard 3.5 mm stereo jack for universal compatibility. Studs comes in three metallic colours - Red, Black and Purple at Rs 899.

Wave Stereo earphones come with a dual-colour physical treatment and flat cables with integrated microphone along with hands-free feature. Stereo sound promising Wave earphones comes in Blue & White, Green & Black, and Orange & Yellow colour options for Rs 1099.

For over the ear headphone lovers, the Boom is the stereo headphone with adjustable headbands and has built-in microphone in the flat cables. The large earcups promise decent sound output and the standard 3.5 mm audio jack enables universal connectivity. The Boom headphones are offered for Rs 1499 in Black, White and Purple colours.

Twister is the Bluetooth enabled rugged speaker that can be used outside at the parties or carried in the backpack anywhere. This shock-proof mono speaker connects with the mobile devices quickly and beams 3W sound output. Packing a rechargable battery, the Twister comes in Red, Blue and Black colours for Rs 2999.

Soundbox is the new Bluetooth enabled stereo speaker with a built-in microphone. You can carry it around anywhere and answer your calls along with others being part of the conversation. With dual Stereo speakers, the Soundbox stereo speaker comes in Black and Blue colours for Rs 3999.

The MTV Fashiontronix by SoundLogic line up are available in Croma Retail stores already. Soon the Croma Retail website will list these products online to be ordered from anywhere from the country.

Microsoft Surface 2 review: Sink or swim

GSMArena team, 29 November 2013.

Introduction

There is a tall task ahead of the Microsoft Surface 2. The first generation of the Microsoft tablet arrived with much fanfare but had little success, and the newcomer has to entice new customers, proving along the way that Redmond can be a factor in the consumer tablet marketplace and, more importantly, that Windows RT has a future as a platform.

Microsoft Surface 2 official photos

To make a case for itself, the Microsoft Surface 2 comes with an OS update. Windows RT 8.1 is a notable improvement over its predecessor, which includes welcome UI tweaks, better integration of Microsoft services, as well as a broader choice of third-party apps compared to a year ago.

In addition to the updated OS, the Surface 2 comes packed with some seriously capable hardware, including an NVIDIA Tegra 4 SoC, a 10.6" FullHD display, a 5MP camera, and a long list of connectivity and storage expansion options. Here goes its full list of talents.

Key features

• 10.6" FullHD LCD touchscreen, 1,920 x 1,080 pixels


• NVIDIA Tegra 4 T40 SoC with Quad-core 1.7GHz Cortex-A15 CPU, 2 GB of RAM, ULP GeForce 72-core GPU


• Windows 8.1 RT with deep Microsoft service integration


• 32/64GB of in-built storage; 200GB of free SkyDrive for 2 years


• Micro SD card slot, up to 64GB supported


• Dual-band Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n connectivity with Wi-Fi Direct


• Standard USB port, USB 3.0 host functionality


• Bluetooth 4.0


• HD video out


• Accelerometer, compass and three-axis gyro-sensor


• 5MP main camera capable of recording 1080p@30fps video


• 3.5MP front-facing camera capable of recording 1080p@30fps videoSuperb build quality and finish


• Built-in two-stage kickstand


• Built-in stereo speakers


• Full version of Microsoft Office available out of the box


• A year's worth of free Skype Out calls to sixty destinations worldwide


• Duo of available keyboard covers (sold additionally)


• Impressive battery life

Main disadvantages

• Windows RT app availability is still confined to the Windows Store


• Limited amount of good-quality apps available


• Heavy compared to most other 10" tablets


• Awkward to use in portrait mode


• Display resolution falls below the competition in the same price range


• There're options with the full-blown Windows 8.1, some at a lower price

At a quick glance, the Microsoft Surface 2 is a worthy successor of the original. It boasts beefed up specs and slightly improved ergonomics, while retaining the same signature design and dimensions, which have become a family staple. The same goes for its additional Touch and Type covers - they offer better experience and ergonomics than their respective predecessors.

The biggest question mark hanging upon the Microsoft Surface 2 concerns its OS. Windows RT has been abandoned by most major players in the industry, with Microsoft and Nokia left as the only manufacturers to go forward making devices to boot the OS. As a result, developers aren't exactly gushing over the prospect of creating cool apps for the platform, thus putting its very future in question.

There is also the matter of the competition which the Microsoft Surface 2 has to face. In addition to a duo of brand new iPad models and a host of premium Android offerings, the tablet has to deal with a few lower-priced Intel-powered tablets running full Windows 8.1.

Microsoft Surface 2 live photos

We will kick off our Surface 2 review with the usual unboxing session, followed by a look at the design and build. Read on to find out what Microsoft's latest and greatest slate looks and feels like in the flesh!

Editorial: You might notice that this review is shorter than usual and doesn't include some of our proprietary tests. The reason is it has been prepared and written far away from our home office and test lab. Still, we think we've captured the essence of the device in the same precise, informative and detailed way that's become our trademark. Enjoy the good read!

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Android 4.4 KitKat now seeding to Korean LG G2

We have some good news for the LG G2 users. The Android 4.4 KitKat update for the Korean unit has been finalized and is already seeding to the the smartphone in its home market. If you live in Korea and you own an LG G2, the new firmware is already waiting for you to get it. You just need to use the official LG Update Tool on your computer instead of the over-the-air service on your phone.

In the beginning of November we also saw a leaked roadmap of the French carrier SFR. It showed us the SFR users with LG G2 will be getting Android KitKat in November or December this year. There is still nothing official though, but December is upon us, so we guess the SFR G2 owners will get to experience the latest Android build soon enough.

Finally, the guys over Mobile Syrup have received some interesting info straight from LG Canada. According to their information, the Canadian G2 smartphones will be getting Android 4.4 KitKat in late Q1, 2014 (that's late March).

It seems the LG G2 around the world will be skipping Android 4.3 Jelly Bean and that's not bad given that it has helped it get Android 4.4 KitKat so soon after its release.

A hat tip to our anonymous tipster!

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Xolo unveils Q500, a dual-SIM Android phone

Xolo unveiled a new addition to its smartphone lineup. The Xolo Q500 is an affordable, compact dual-SIM Android phone, which has a 4" screen and measures 118.5 x 63 x 10.7mm.

The screen has WVGA resolution for 233ppi pixel density. The Q500 is powered by a Snapdragon MSM8225Q S4 Play chipset with four Cortex-A5 cores running at 1.2GHz, 1GB of RAM and Adreno 203 GPU. The phone runs Android 4.1 Jelly Bean.

On the connectivity side, the Xolo Q500 offers two SIM cards with 3G with HSPA (7.2Mbps downlink, 5.76Mbps uplink). There's also Wi-Fi b/g/n, Bluetooth 3.0, A-GPS and FM radio.

The Xolo Q500 has a 5MP camera on the back that can shoot 720p videos and a VGA camera on the back.

A cool software trick lets you snap a photo with Hindi text that will be automatically translated into English. You can have the phone read the translation out loud too. This feature is called X-TransPic and will be available on other Snapdragon-based Xolo phones.

The Q500 packs 4GB of storage that can be expanded with a microSD card (up to 32GB). The battery has 1,450mAh capacity.

The Xolo Q500 is priced INR 7,999 ($130) and is available right now in India.

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Samsung Galaxy S4 goes free on BestBuy

BestBuy is now offering the Samsung Galaxy S4 for free with a 2-year contract on Verizon, AT&T and Sprint. More specifically, it's the Snapdragon 600 version of the phone with 16GB of on-board storage.

Available in black and white, BestBuy also offers its own exclusive Arctic Blue model for no upfront fee. Additionally, the Galaxy S4 Active is also eligible for a free grab with a 2-year contract on AT&T in either blue or brown.

Normally, the phone costs $249.99 on Verizon and $199.99 on AT&T, but with this deal you can save the hassle of reaching for your wallets thanks to this Black Friday deal.

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Samsung unveils Galaxy Note 3 in red and rose gold

Samsung Argentina has unveiled two new colors of the Galaxy Note 3 flagship. Currently the phablet is selling in black, white and pink, but it seems Samsung will be adding more options to the pallete.

The red Galaxy Note 3 is rumored to hit the shelves in the first week of January, while the rose gold edition will launch two weeks later. Both version will be available globally, but some carriers and retails may get some exclusivity deals for a month or two.

Here are some official images of the new flavors.

Samsung Galaxy Note 3 in red and rose gold

There is still no official info on when those new colors will be hitting Argentina and the rest of the world.

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Android 4.3 update for S4 and S III gets to Europe

Some users are seeing their Samsung Galaxy S4 and S III receiving the Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update in Europe.

The update was first rolled-out but was shortly found to be infested by a lot of bugs and was since pulled. Not after AT&T resumed seeding the fixed version of the update. And now the update has started making its way to other regions.

The update brings improvements to performance, the Galaxy S4 gets Galaxy Gear and Knox support along with Group Play 2.5 and more.

Users that have installed the buggy 4.3 update should shortly receive a small patch update through Samsung Kies. And the Galaxy S4 should receive Android KitKat soon as well so this isn't the last one.

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Red and white gold flavors of Galaxy Note 3 coming in January

Samsung is prepping to launch two new colors of the Galaxy Note 3 flagship, according to inside sources. Currently the phablet is selling in black, white and pink, but it seems Samsung will be adding more options to the pallete.

The red Galaxy Note 3 is rumored to hit the shelves in the first week of January, while the white gold edition will launch two weeks later. Both version will be available globally, but some carriers and retails may get some exclusivity deals for a month or two.

The images you are seeing below are just renders made by the guys over at Android Authority and are for illustrative purposes only.

We still don't know what this white gold version is supposed to look like. The champagne which the rendered image suggests isn't quite what white gold looks like but who knows. Anyway, January is just a month away, so we'll find out soon enough.

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5.5-incher from Huawei leaks with octa-core processor

Leaked images of a Huawei smartphone going by the G750 codename have surfaced. The smartphone is running on MediaTek's new true octa-core MT6592 chipset.

MediaTek has been high on praise for its new chipset, which it claims is the first "true octa-core" solution, being capable of running all eight cores simultaneously. This is in contrast to chipsets like Samsung's Exynos 5 Octa SoC, which runs either its four faster cores or four slower cores depending on processing needs.

The new SoC from MediaTek also has the ability to support 4K video playback and cameras that do up to 16MP stills and fullHD recording,.

But going back to the G750, the device is expected to sport a 5.5-inch screen of a rather disappointing 720p resolution, alongside 2GB of RAM and 32GB of internal memory. According to the about screen, Android 4.2.2 is the OS version.

The G750 shares many of the internals leaked from Huawei's unannounced Glory 4 handset, so it's possible that we're seeing that same device under a new name here.

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