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NFC chip for next-generation iPhone 5 revealed?
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Rumors,
The next-generation iPhone 5 leaks continue, this time seemingly revealing a built-in NFC module. NFC code has been found in iPhone prototypes, and Apple has even patented its method for including NFC into a future iPhone--and it just so happens that the patents and the location of this new chip match up perfectly (the top-left corner of the front of the device.) At the iOS 6 reveal, Apple showed off its Passbook digital wallet app. Since then, many have commented that NFC might be the perfect companion to Passbook. We'll find out on September 12.
Read More 
| Apple.pro (Chinese)
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Google Wallet now works with all credit and debit cards, adds remote wipe feature
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Google, Software,
In our opinion, the one big factor that limited the appeal of Google Wallet was the fact that it has only been compatible with CitiBank MasterCard. Not exactly something that the masses have in their wallets. Today, that changes, as Google has announced that Wallet is now compatible with all Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover debit and credit cards. That's progress!
Also added is a remote wipe feature that allows users to disable Google Wallet remotely, blocking usage of the app with that device and clearing off card and transaction data as well.
You can now use Google Wallet to pay at over 200,000 locations across the US. You can download the new update today from Google Play.
Read More | Google Play
Apple set to release next iPhone on September 21
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Handhelds, Rumors,
After iMore broke the news that sources indicated that Apple would announce the next iPhone on September 12 with the launch of the device happening nine days later on the 21st, more outlets have independently confirmed the scoop. Publications that have chimed in include The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, All Things D, and even Jim Dalrymple at The Loop (he's likely the most trustworthy of the bunch.) This means that interested iPhone buyers have just six weeks to wait until Apple announces its next flagship product, and one more week on top of that to get their hands on it.
Gallery:
The design of the next iPhone has likely leaked multiple times, and is expected to feature a taller 4-inch display, two-toned rear casing, built-in NFC, and other improvements, including a new, smaller dock connector.
Google Nexus 7 review
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Features, Google, Handhelds, Product Reviews,
Google unveiled the Nexus 7 tablet at Google I/O 2012 (watch the keynote here,) making it the very first device to launch with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. Many were waiting for Google to compete directly in the tablet space, and the 7-inch Nexus 7 is the answer. The specs show that it's a powerhouse, and the sales have been off the charts, resulting in the 16 GB Nexus 7 being sold out briefly (it's back now.) Still, many consumers have the iPad on their mind when thinking about tablets, regardless of how hard companies like Amazon and Google are pushing their alternatives. Does the Nexus 7 have a place in the marketplace, meeting needs that other tablets can't? Join us in our full review as we explore Google's first tablet.
Click to continue reading Google Nexus 7 review
Great deal: Unlocked Samsung Galaxy Nexus for half price
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Google, Handhelds, Hot Deals,
You can currently pick up an unlocked Samsung Galaxy Nexus smartphone from Google Play for just $349, which is a savings of about $350 off the standard price. This is the current flagship Nexus device, and was the first phone to run Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, and Android 4.1 Jelly Bean is rolling out to the device over the next couple of weeks. You get a 4.65" 1280 x 720 Super AMOLED display, dual-core 1.2GHz TI OMAP 4460 processor, 1 GB RAM, 16 GB storage, NFC, and it supports 4G speeds. We're certain that this one won't last long, so if you are looking to get a great, contract-free deal on a fantastic Android smartphone, look no further.
Read More | LogicBuy
Leaked Samsung Galaxy S III surfaces in Vietnam
Posted by Andrey Malskiy Categories: Smartphones, Handhelds, Rumors, Videos,
Normally we wouldn’t trust leaks that come out of Asia since you have to take them with a grain of salt due to the fact that there are so many realistic fakes out there, but on occassion, there are some newsworthy items. Such is the case for the Samsung Galaxy S III, which was spotted on Vietnamese site Tinhte.
Currently, the smartphone goes by the mundane name of GT-I9300. However, if Samsung plans on sticking to its current naming scheme it’ll be called the Galaxy S III, and it should be fantastic. According to Tinhte, the phone boasts a 4.6-inch display with 720 x 1184 resolution. The phone is powered by a quad-core 1.4 GHz processor running Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich smoothly. The phone features 1 GB of RAM and 16 GB of built-in storage that's expandable using the micro SD slot. For those that are addicted to Instagram, you’ll be able to shoot away using the 8 megapixel camera, and the phone is also equipped with NFC.
Since this is a prototype, expect the external look of the phone may change slightly. We’re assuming that Samsung will drop the tacky plastic rim around the handset, for example. Samsung has gone on the record by neither denying nor claiming the GT-I9300 as the next Galaxy S III, only stating “We will be able to tell you more at the 2012 Samsung Mobile Unpacked.” So we’ll just have to wait and see. Until that time, enjoy the video of the leak above.
Read More | Tinhte
Acer Liquid Glow: Ice Cream Sandwich, NFC, 3.7-inch display
Posted by Andrey Malskiy Categories: Smartphones, Google, Handhelds,
Acer has announced that its Liquid Glow smartphone will be running Google's Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich right out of the gate. The phone features a 5 megapixel camera, a 3.7-inch display, and NFC capabilities, allowing users to exchange data with other NFC-enabled phones. The Liquid Glow will be available in the summer, and is the first of Acer's smartphones to hit the market.
Read More | Acer via The Verge
Hack your Galaxy Nexus to run Google Wallet
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Google, Mods / Hacks, Software,
Be it Verizon's fault or Google's, owners of the recently released Galaxy Nexus smartphone can't tap into the device's built-in Near Field Communication feature for use with Google Wallet. It's just not going to happen.
Not going to happen, that is, unless you perform a few lengthy customizations on your smartphone. A crafty workaround has been found that allows Galaxy Nexus owners to use Google Wallet just like all of their friends that own Sprint's Nexus S 4G smartphones. But the hack comes with a few catches: Namely, you're going to hack off both Verizon and Google if you try it.
How's that? Well, the process for enabling Google Wallet on your Galaxy Nexus demands that you unlock the device's bootloader and root the smartphone. And once you've done that, there goes your warranty through Verizon should your smartphone encounter any errors (or catastrophic free-falls) in your future.
And that's just the first half. Google's own terms of service prohibit using Google Wallet, "on a mobile device or Android operating system that has been modified or customized in any way." There's no indication as to what could happen to you or your account should you proceed with the hack for your Galaxy Nexus.
Click to continue reading Hack your Galaxy Nexus to run Google Wallet
Samsung Galaxy Nexus and Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich first impression review
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Features, Google, Handhelds, Product Reviews, Software,
This is a huge deal. Ice Cream Sandwich is the biggest upgrade to Google's Android OS since Android 2.2 hit in May 2010, and possibly the most important update ever. From what I've seen so far in a day with the Samsung Galaxy Nexus phone, Android users should be demanding their share of Ice Cream—and it should absolutely make a difference in your phone purchases.
Google lent me an international developer unit of the Samsung Galaxy Nexus, the first ICS phone. This isn't the LTE device that Verizon Wireless will be selling in the U.S., but it's roughly the same size and shape with very similar capabilities, so it's a good way to judge what ICS will be like when it hits the USA.
RIM Announces BlackBerry Bold 9790, BlackBerry Curve 9380 smartphones
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Corporate News,
Yesterday RIM announced two new smartphones based on the BlackBerry 7 operating system—the BlackBerry Bold 9790 and the BlackBerry Curve 9380. The 9380 is the first device in the Curve lineup to include a touch screen.
The BlackBerry Bold 9790 features a 2.4-inch capacitive touch screen, along with the signature BlackBerry physical QWERTY keyboard. It is powered by a 1GHz processor, and includes 8GB of onboard memory, along with a microSD card slot that supports up to 32 GB of additional storage.
The BlackBerry Curve 9380, on the other hand, will drop the physical in favor of a 3.2-inch capacitive touch screen. It comes equipped with a 5-megapixel camera with LED flash and video recording capabilities. There are also a number of social networking apps preinstalled, including BlackBerry Messenger, Facebook, and Twitter.
Click to continue reading RIM Announces BlackBerry Bold 9790, BlackBerry Curve 9380 smartphones
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