As we've already predicted Chinese manufacturers are preparing production of 4.5 to 6-inch smartphones during 2013. Size does matter afterall ...
"China-based telecom providers are reportedly planning to release a number of handsets that have tablet features ranging from 4.5- to 6-inch in size during 2013 in order to meet expected demand in China, according to China-based panel sources.
The sources said the providers have plans to release 4.5-, 5-, 5.3-, 5.5-, 5.7- and 6-inch handsets during 2013, which are also expected to have improved specifications including higher resolutions such as FWVGA/QHD."
Leaked parts have already appeared showingthe up-and-coming BlackBerry Z10 with a 4.3-inch display.
"The pieces of the BlackBerry Z10 puzzle are slowly coming together -- and today, that's almost literally true. ETrade Supply has obtained what's claimed to be the LCD, touchscreen digitizer and housings for RIM's future flagship device. The more production-worthy components appear to fit together properly, and they hint at a mid-size smartphone with a 4.3-inch screen and a microSD card slot. The biggest surprise may be the SIM slot, whose position varies depending on the parts at hand: the incongruity could either reflect late-stage design tweaks or else variants for different networks. We'll have to sit tight until January 30th to know what the individual elements represent when they're part of a working device, but those who don't mind seeing an upcoming phone in its rawest form can catch a video after the break."
Thanks to Michelle for sharing this ...I almost missed this one. A Russian based website managed to get details of the up-and-coming Samsung Galaxy S4 - i9500. It features the world's first laser keyboard and will be the thinnest smartphone available in 2013... check out this AMAZING video.
Perfect for nerds and geeks alike ... now you'll be able to really hack your Android smartphones. No more bloatware ... just pure OS to run the hardware.
"The Ubuntu operating system has been adapted to run on smartphones. The Linux-based software will allow users to run desktop apps on their handsets, allowing them to double for PCs when docked to monitors.
The code will initially be released as a file which can be installed on Samsung's Galaxy Nexus phone, replacing Android.
Some analysts question whether consumers really want the power of a fully fledged computer on their phone. Even so, Ubuntu's founder, Mark Shuttleworth, said he was in talks with manufacturers for devices to be sold with the system pre-installed within the year."
This year in 2013 will see smartphones with larger screens and more quad-cores, and possibly hexa-cores! I wonder if we'll get a smartphone upto or maybe even larger than 7-inches? Now that would be something!
"Smartphones with quad-core processors and displays of 5-inch or above will the mainstream technologies staged at the upcoming CES and MWC (World Mobile Congress) trade fairs, according to industry sources.
Additionally, new models introduced by most branded smartphone vendors and smartphone makers in China in the first half of 2013 will be powered by quad-core chips, making quad-core the standard for high-end models, said the sources.
However, rollouts of quad-core solutions from MediaTek and Spreadtrum Communications may drive quad-core to the mid-range smartphone segment in the second half of 2013, the sources noted."
As I said before ... it looks like an updated version of the Bold 9900. Nothing special, but I guess the only thing "new" about it is that it'll come with BB OS10.
"The BlackBerry N-Series has been more elusive than the L-Series. We haven’t quite seen so many leaks for the device. We did capture its first glimpse as a render in a promotional video.
Since then, we’ve only been given a Mr. Blurry Cam look at the back-side and front of the N-Series. Furthermore, we’ve learned the final production name for the N-Series might be BlackBerry X10."
LOL! ... photos of a bent iPhone 5 has be posted on a French website complaining about its build quality or lack of ... Reason: The iPhone 5 casing is made from Aluminum, which makes it lighter than the iPhone 4 (stainless steel). Shit happens heh ;)
"While we’d love to see products launch without a hitch, sadly that rarely is the case and most of the time these issues range from extremely minor to major. In the case of the iPhone 5, reports are coming in from China (via Nowhereelse) that the iPhone 5 is facing some “flexibility” issues (as pictured above). If you’re wondering why this is only being reported now, it’s because this issues seems to have come from China alone where the iPhone 5 was launched not too long ago.
It seems that when enough pressure is put onto the phone, it will cause it to bend in a rather ugly fashion, which we think might be the result of accidentally putting the phone in your back pocket and forgetting about it when you sit down. Given that the iPhone 5 uses aluminum, a softer metal compared to stainless steel on the iPhone 4/4S, we can see how this might be possible."
Well done to Africa for producing their "home-grown" smartphone and tablet ... it'll be interesting to see how well it will compete in this highly competitive market.
"A smartphone and tablet said to be the first designed by an African company have beenlaunched. The products, designed by Congolese entrepreneur Verone Mankou, are manufactured in China.
His company VMK's devices run Google's Android software. They will retail at $170 (£105) for the smartphone and $300 (£185) for the tablet.
"Only Africans can know what Africa needs," said Mr Mankou at the Tech4Africa conference in Johannesburg. "Apple is huge in the US, Samsung is huge in Asia, and we want VMK to be huge in Africa."
The smartphone has rear and forward facing cameras and a 3.5in (8.9cm) screen. There are plans to sell the devices across 10 other West African countries as well as Belgium, France and India."
390 Million ... now that's a lot of phones! But I'm sure they'll do it ... cos I'll be one of those suckers who will be buying a Samsung smartphone!
"With the final days of 2012 upon us, many companies are looking forward to “great success” in 2013. Samsung is expecting to sell 510 million mobile phones next year, which would represent a 20 percent rise compared to 2012. Of the 510 million mobile phones it expects to sell, 390 million will be smartphones with the remainder coming from the sale of feature/budget phones. "There are some possibilities that smartphone demand will slow in general. But we are seeing new demand for devices using Long Term Evolution (LTE),'' said Kim Hyun-joon, an executive at Samsung's telecommunications division."
