Samsung Galaxy S4 Active coming with Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 chipset

Samsung is known for spinning out several versions of the same smartphone model. We have seen that in past with the Galaxy series models. Now it has been reported that Samsung is making a water proof and dust proof variant of Galaxy S4 smartphone, called Galaxy S4 active.

PhoneArena, which has reported this, claims to come across a GFXBench listing that points at the Galaxy S4 Active with quad-core 2.3 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 mobile processor running inside.

This is quite a surprise why Samsung is going crazy by using Qualcomm Snapdragon 600/800 chips on its smartphones. Earlier this week, Samsung quietly started selling the Galaxy Note II phablet with Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 chipset instead of the quad-core Samsung Exynos chip.

Quite possible that the new quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor bearing Galaxy S4 Active is meant only for the China and few South-East Asian countries.

87% data users in India access internet through mobiles: TRAI

A whooping 87 per cent of data users in India access internet through mobile phones and tablets, according to a report of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).

As per the report, there are 164.81 million users in India who have internet access. Out of that 143.20 million subscribers access internet through wireless phones, i.e. mobile phones and tablets.

TRAI data also reports negative growth in the Indian telecom sector. According to data released by TRAI today, the number of telephone subscribers in India increased from 895.51 million at the end of December 2012 to 898.02 million at the end of March this year, registering a growth of 0.28 per cent over the previous quarter Dec-12. This reflects year-on-year (Y-O-Y) negative growth of 5.61 per cent over the same quarter of last year.

On similar lines, total wireless (GSM +CDMA ) subscriber base registered a growth of 0.36 per cent over the previous quarter and subscriber base increased from 864.72 million at the end of December 12 to 867.80 million at the end of March 2013. Thus the year-on-year (Y-O-Y) negative growth rate of wireless subscribers for March 13 is 5.59 per cent.

Interestingly, urban teledensity declined from 149.90 to 146.96 whereas rural subscription increased from 338.54 million to 349.22 million, and rural teledensity increased from 39.85 to 41.02.

However, in a respite to the telecom service provider, the Monthly Average Revenue Per User (ARPU ) for GSM service has been increased by 6.99 per cent, from 98 in December 2012 to 105 in March this year, with YoY increase of 7.84 per cent.

However, though the ARPU for prepaid has increased by 6.62 per cent

(from 339 to 361), the same for the postpaid has been decreased by 0.76% (from

953 to 946). The rise in ARPU was quite obvious, in August last year, The Mobile Indian had reported the same as well .

Windows Phone devices to sync Google Contacts, Calendar till Dec 31

Transferring Contacts and Calendar entries to a new mobile platform is indeed painful. However, Google has been making that easy through the help of Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync protocol support. Earlier this year, Google had announced to drop the support for Exchange ActiveSync and that affected the Windows Phone devices directly.

The Verge received a statement from Microsoft stating: "We've reached an agreement with Google to extend support for new Windows Phone connections to the Google Sync service through December 31, 2013."

Google has been dropping and removing support for old protocols in order to accommodate the new ones. Such decisions obviously come with some damage to other platforms as well. For instance, the decision to drop the Exchange ActiveSync protocol support will directly affect the Windows Phone platform based devices. However, Google agreed to provide support for the protocol till July 31 this year for letting users sync Contacts and Calendar entries to Windows Phone devices.

Microsoft had reached out to Google for extending the support deadline and thus it has been pushed to 31 December this year. Microsoft has been pushing updates to add the support CalDAV for Calendars and CardDAV for contacts in Windows Phone devices. However, this support is not available to all Windows Phone devices. That will ensure better and smoother sync of the Google Calendar and Contacts with the Windows Phone devices.

Though Google played Mr. Nice Guy role here, that might indirectly reflect the slow work in progress on Microsoft's Windows Phone front. Of course, no operating system gets major feature overnight but certainly does not take a year for adding support for a new protocol.

All those who have bought the new Windows Phone 8 based devices should already be having the CalDAV and CardDAV support. Ensure you have your contacts as well as calendar entires synced as was backed up.

Sony sells 9.6M smartphones, turns small profit in Q1

Sony ended its fiscal 2012 year on a good note and it's starting off 2013 in the black too. The fiscal Q1 (April-June) saw an increase in sales and operating revenue by 13% year on year and a net profit of $35 million (it doesn’t sound like much, but in Q1 2012 the company posted a net loss $248 million).

The increase in revenues improved due to favorable currency exchange and a strong performance of the Mobile Products & Communications (MP&C) division responsible for the company's Android phones.

On a constant currency basis, the revenues decreased 3%. Sony points to lack of sales of its chemical division and weak performance of compact and video cameras. Operating profit is up thanks to strong sales of Android phones and higher operating income from Sony's Financial services.

The MP&C division's sold 9.6 million smartphones, which compares favorably to the 8.1 million shipped over the previous quarter and the 7.4 million for the same period of last year.

Revenue increased 36.2% year on year (14% up on a constant currency basis) to $3.92 billion due to the significant increase in smartphone sales and a higher average selling price. The division also scored $71 million due to patent royalties. Operating income was $60 million compared to an operating loss of $285.8 million in the same quarter last year.

Sales of $1.19 billion for the Game division were flat with positive currency exchange rates offsetting lower PS3, PS2 and PSP sales. The division recorded an operating loss of 149 million due to higher R&D costs associated with the upcoming PlayStation 4.

Imaging Products & Solutions saw a 10.4% decrease in sales to $1.75 billion and saw an operating profit of 82 million. The shrinking digital and video camera market resulted in a significant decrease of sales of Sony's products in this category.

The Home Entertainment & Sound scored higher sales and an operating profit of 34 million thanks to an 18.2% increase in sales of Sony TVs. Last year the company lost money on TVs, but a better mix in LCD TVs and reduced costs offset a significant decrease in unit sales.

Sony Pictures and Sony Music scored $38 million and $109 million operating income respectively. Operating income includes a sale of Sony Pictures Entertainment's music publishing catalog for $106 million. After Earth underperformed and hurt Sony Pictures' sales.

You can read more about Sony's financial performance in Q1 this year here (PDF) and its forecast for the fiscal year ending in March 2014. The company has divisions we didn’t cover (including the Sony Life insurance company, which was one of the best performing divisions).

Source (PDF)

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Sony Xperia ZR Android 4.2.2 update now seeding

Following the updates it launched for the Xperia Z and Xperia ZL yesterday, Sony has started seeding Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean for the Xperia ZR as well.

More specifically, the Sony Xperia ZR software update was released yesterday at 4:20pm and is almost identical to the one its bigger brothers have started to receive.

The user interface after the update is pretty much the same as that of the Xperia Z and ZL, with the firmware version now reading 10.3.1.A.0.244. Talking of UI, the Update Center app has got some visual enhancements, which should better represent the software state of the phone.

Sony reports that the 3G signal strength is improved as is the screen contrast. It's now higher, which should result in dark text looking better on light background. The company has also added the Quick Settings option in the notification panel - yet another trait of Jelly Bean that has previously been missing.

Finally, there's now the Jelly Bean 4.2.2-introduced DayDream screensaver option as well as new Accessibility option allowing you to magnify the UI of the whole phone.

The update is now seeding, so hold on tight and expect Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean on your Sony Xperia ZR soon. In the meantime, you should really check out our review of the Xperia ZR right here.

Thanks for the tip, Anurag!

Source

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Next Apple iPad Mini to sport Retina display made by Samsung

Apple and Samsung's legal battle may have soured the partnership but certainly not ended it. Apple is under pressure to release the next version of iPad Mini with a better display. The Wall Street Journal reported that Apple is looking to order Retina displays made by Samsung. However, it is not sure whether the next iPad Mini set for launch later this year is bound to have a Retina display.

Apple-Samsung squabble over patents and device design did put their partnership in troubled waters. However, that has not stopped Apple from considering Samsung as one of the premium suppliers for the high-resolution offering Retina display but in the 7.9-inch size. Currently, the Apple iPad Mini comes with LCD panel display supports 1024x768 pixel resolution natively.

We believe Apple might bump just the native resolution but may not get the Retina display based iPad Mini this year. The native resolution of the next iPad Mini might be bumped to support full 1080p HD.

Google has recently announced the new Nexus 7 with full 1080p HD resolution and Amazon is rumored to give powerful refresh to its Kindle Fire line-up. That leaves Apple with no choice but at least match up the hardware to beat the competition if not provide the Retina display based iPad mini. Also recent discovery in the iOS 7 beta 4 code reveals traces of the non-Retina display bearing iPad mini model.

Sony Xperia i1 Honami to come with 20 MP camera: Report

Sony's upcoming Android super phone, the i1 Honami, will come with a 20 megapixel rear camera, according to leaked images.

The leaked images, published Android Beat , is said to be the sample unit of the upcoming Sony smartphone and shows a 20 megapixel image sensor at the back. Along with that the picture also reveals a sleek body which will be the signature of this 5 inch touchscreen bearing smartphone.

Earlier also, few images of the smartphone were published on some websites .

Sony's Xperia i1 Honami smartphone is expected to feature a 5 inch display with full 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution. The display is said to feature the Triluminos display technology for better visuals.

Moreover, it will have the same camera sensor as the one featured on the Samsung Galaxy camera. The 9 mm thick smartphone would pack a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 family chipset running a 2.2 GHz along with the newest Adreno graphic chip. There would be 2 GB RAM in the phone as well.