Android phone makers back platform but consider other options

Some phonemakers are quietly exploring alternatives to the Android operating system implicated in the Samsung-Apple ruling, industry watchers say, despite their public pronouncements they are sticking with the technology. Last week, a U.S. court ruled Samsung's Android devices were violating Apple patents - a major blow to the leading mobile software platform because it could lead to sales bans and high licensing fees. The impact could also hit smaller vendors that use Android like HTC , ZTE, and Sony. Android is used in more than two thirds of smart phones. Huawei , Sony, Lenovo and ZTE - which all use Android extensively - told Reuters they were continuing to bet on the Google's platform despite the ruling. "(The ruling) is not relevant to what we are doing," said Chris Edwards, chief of ZTE's business development in Europe. But as the mobile market matures and more patent cases look likely, some makers are looking at the alternatives. Samsung, which has used a number of platforms but now mostly uses Android, announced a new phone running on Microsoft's new Windows Phone 8 software at a consumer technology conference on Wednesday, sneaking ahead of a hotly-anticipated launch of a Nokia-Windows phone due next week. Shares in Nokia , which has partnered with Windows and is its main user, jumped after the Samsung ruling on expectations it might be a safer legal bet than Android makers. The California jury said Samsung infringed six of seven Apple patents in the case, including technology that recognises whether one or two fingers are on the screen, the front surface of the phone and the design of screen icons, which is a clear reference to Google's technology. After the verdict, Google said that most of the patents involved "don't relate to the core Android operating system." Phone makers are considering options Android was used in 68 percent of all smartphones sold last quarter, with Samsung making almost half of them, while Microsoft had 3 percent market share. The balance of power is unlikely to shift quickly as this season's new phones were all made before the ruling. Sony launched three Android phones this week at IFA, Europe's largest consumer electronics fair. Chinese phone maker Huawei launched four. "We have made our choice," said Lars-Christian Weissewange, vice president at Huawei's phone unit, adding that consumers were making the platform choice for them by picking Android phones. Sony said the ruling was not impacting its business. "This is probably not impacting consumer thinking," Gianfranco Lanci, chief of Lenovo's European operations, said on sidelines of the conference. But behind closed doors, companies are looking at alternative routes should the ruling impact ripple wider out, said several industry insiders. "Today, all Android vendors are considering their software options," said Pete Cunningham, an analyst at research firm Canalys. Samsung's brief, surprise launch on Wednesday of the world's first smartphone running on Windows Phone 8, should be interpreted as muscle flexing, analysts said. However, it should not be seen as a firm move away from Android as the model will likely struggle to stand out even among the other Windows phones, said Malik Saadi, analyst at research firm Informa. Illustrating the high interest at stake are the behind-the-scene meetings of Google's and Apple's chiefs Larry Page and Tim Cook on the patents. Despite its small market share, Windows Phone is still the largest alternative to Android as Apple and Blackberry maker RIM have not made their platforms available for other handset makers. At the same time, vendors are pretty much stuck with Android as Windows is way behind in terms of applications on offer, offering just 100,000 apps against half a million each on Android and Apple. "Microsoft needs to create a developer environment for the Window Phone, which is growing, but still trails behind the others," said Roberta Cozza, analyst at Gartner. Attracting developers is difficult with tiny market shares. Navigation firm TomTom launched an app running on Android this week but said it was not planning a Windows app. "I have a big bucket of (research and development) and if I had to decide where to put my money, I want to wait first to see whether Windows is a success," said co-founder Corinne Vigreux.

IFA 2012: Huawei unveils Ascend G600, Ascend G330, Ascend Y201 Pro

Huawei yesterday announced three new Android 4.0 smartphones - the Ascend G600, the Ascend G330 and the Ascend Y201 Pro at the ongoing IFA 2012. Accompanying the phones was Huawei’s very own user interface called ‘Emotion’. The company stated that the new smartphones would go on sale in select markets by September this year, as per a report by WorldofPhones.Net. The high-end Ascend G600 is powered by a dual-core 1.2GHz Qualcomm processor and 768MB of RAM. The phone features a 4.5-inch IPS display (960 x 540), a 1930mAh battery, an 8MP rear camera, and a micro USB port. Other features include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and DLNA. The phone is expected to be available next month. Its 4GB of internal storage can be extended up to 32GB through microSD cards. The Ascend G600 also provides access to NFC. "We are very excited to introduce the new HUAWEI Ascend G600, which gives more functionality and power for people who expect more from their technology," said Shao Yang, Chief Marketing Officer, Huawei Device. "Building on the success of the Ascend range of smartphones, the HUAWEI Ascend G600 is the latest in our range of flagship products that make exceptional product experiences accessible for more people globally". The Huawei Ascend G600 Let’s take a look at the specifications of the Ascend G600: 4.5-inch IPS display at 960 x 540 pixel density Wi-Fi, DLNA, NFC (optional) Bluetooth 8 megapixel rear camera 4GB internal storage (expandable to 32GB via microSD) Next up is the Ascend G330. It comes with a 4-inch WVGA screen, a dual-core 1GHz processor, and a meaty 512MB of RAM. You get 4GB of internal memory, a 5-megapixel camera bolted on the back, and a 1500mAh battery on board. It runs Android Ice Cream Sandwich OS. It also has support for EDGE/ UMTS/ HSPA up to 5.76Mbps. Other functions including Bluetooth 2.1, GPS, and Wi-Fi complete the comprehensive package of attractive features. This phone will be available in November in select markets. The Huawei Ascend G330 Let’s take a look at the specifications of the Ascend G330: 4-inch WGA display Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth, DLNA, NFC (optional) 5 megapixel rear camera 4GB internal (expandable to 32GB via microSD) "Our primary goal is to provide everyone with their perfect smartphone – without compromising on features and functions", explains Lars-Christian Weisswange, Vice President, Huawei Device, Western Europe at Huawei Technologies. "The Ascend G330 is our proof that superb mobile entertainment need not cost a fortune". The last one is the Ascend Y201 Pro, which is the most affordable of the three phones, and is probably aimed at first-time smartphone users. It has a 3.5-inch display (320 × 480), Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and is powered by an 800MHz processor, and has 512MB of RAM. This phone comes with a 3.2MP camera, and a 1400mAh battery. The Huawei Ascend Y201 Pro Let’s take a look at the specifications of the Ascend Y201 Pro: 3.5-inch WGA display at 320 x 480 pixel density Wi-Fi, DLNA GPS Bluetooth 3.2 megapixel rear camera

NEWS / SMARTPHONES

Samsung Galaxy Note II up for pre-order on Infibeam.com

The Samsung Galaxy Note II is up for pre-order on Infibeam.com for Rs 38,500. The phablet was announced recently at the IFA 2012 event in Berlin. The device was reportedly set for an October launch. As per the product listing on the site, the Galaxy Note II will be released on September 10, 2012, and will be shipped within 1 or 2 business days from the release date. We tried to get in touch with Infibeam.com to clarify the date discrepancy, and are expecting a statement soon. Galaxy Note II up for pre-order on Infibeam.com The Samsung Galaxy Note II has most of the specifications that had been speculated in the past. Also, Samsung has thrown in a new feature that can potentially change the way mobile phones are used. Apart from the facts that it features the Android 4v.1 (Jelly Bean) OS out of the box, and is powered by a 1.6GHz quad-core processor, the major talking point about the Galaxy Note II is that it features an all-new Air View feature. Here is a quick look at the highlighted features of the Samsung Galaxy Note II: 5.5-inch Super AMOLED touchscreen with a 1280 x 720 pixel density 4G LTE, EDGE, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n (2.4 and 5GHz), Wi-Fi HT40, NFC GPS with GLONASS and A-GPS support Bluetooth v4.0 with USB 2.0 Host 8 megapixel AF/ Touchfocus camera with full HD video recording and playback, 1.9MP VT Camera, BSI front facing camera 16GB, 32GB and 64GB versions, all with expandable support up to 64GB 2GB RAM MHL for AV out Samsung states that Air View allows users to hover with the S Pen over an email, S Planner, image gallery, or video to preview the content without having to open it. This feature enables users to quickly search and see more information in one view without screen transitions. The brand has redesigned the S-Pen. Samsung states that the new S Pen is longer, thicker, and ergonomically designed for the perfect grip. Therefore, it provides a more precise, comfortable, and natural writing and drawing experience.  Samsung states that the S Pen’s advanced features also provide enhanced capabilities to capture ideas instantly and to combine handwriting with any digital content directly on the screen. By simply pressing the dedicated S Pen button, the S Pen recognises that users want to clip or edit the selected content on the screen. The Easy Clip feature allows users to outline and crop any content on the screen in any shape to save, share or paste. Once done cropping the image, users can freely edit the cropped content through colouring, shading, or their own personal handwriting. Another expression feature called Idea Visualizer allows users to add illustrations by handwriting keywords on the S Note. It provides illustration images that match the handwritten keywords. It’s an illustration match function that will allow users to express, organise and visualise ideas in a more innovative and creative way. Users can even customise and add in their own illustrations library. Other highlighted features found here include Pop-up Note, Quick Command, Screen Recorder and a host of other interesting features that raises the bar over the previously launched Galaxy Note smartphone. For those who are worried about major battery drain, Samsung has added a 3100mAh battery here. The Samsung Galaxy Note II is available in Marble White or Titanium Gray colour options. The Samsung Galaxy Note II is set to launch in October starting in major European, Asian, and Middle East markets.

Motorola's next smartphone may feature edge-to-edge screen

With Motorola Mobility announcing last month that it would be axing 20 percent of its global workforce and shuting down almost a third of its offices across the world, it was apparent that the smartphone manufacturer would need to include something special in its next major mobile phone launch to make some sort of a splash. But it appears the company has taken the same view – Bloomberg reports that the next Motorola phone, due to be unveiled at an event with Verizon Wireless next week, will feature an edge-to-edge screen and work with LTE networks. According to the report, the new phone would do away with the screen bezels found on smartphones today completely, making for a device whose entire front surface would be used to maximise the screen-viewing space. May launch a bezel-free smartphone “The phone would be the most high-profile product debut for Motorola Mobility since the company was purchased by Google for about $12.5 billion. The model also would be one of the first full-screen phones in the U.S., meaning it uses the entire front of the device as a display,” the report reads. According to Bloomberg, Motorola will hold a press conference in New York on September 5 with Verizon. The report goes on to cite an anonymous source stating that the phone would go on sale later this year. September 5 is also when Nokia is planning to unveil its first Windows 8 smartphone. The new iPhone is also expected to be introduced on September 12. Motorola is certainly hard-pressed for success. Most of its market share in the smartphones business has been taken over by more successful players like Samsung and Apple. Moreover, none of its major launches this year have managed to make much of a splash. “Google, based in Mountain View, California, acquired Motorola Mobility to shore up its intellectual property and support its Android operating system, which the phone manufacturer was already using. The new phone will run Android and take advantage of the network speeds offered by Verizon’s LTE technology,” the report cited the source as saying.

Indian researchers create technology for taking 3D pictures on smartphones

Indian researchers have managed to create a new smartphone technology that allows you to take 3D pictures on your phone. The researchers – Kshitij Marwah and Ramesh Raskar from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology – have created technology that can provide developers a way to integrate features usually found in DSLR (digital single-lens reflex) cameras into smartphones. According to the Economic Times, Marwah, currently in Bangalore to introduce the technology to the R&D (research and development) heads of smartphone makers, says: "We have developed a new camera design called Light Field Camera technology that can be fitted inside a cellphone camera to capture the bundle of light rays coming from the scene, giving users the ability to capture single-shot 3D photos." Imagine taking 3D Pictures on your smartphone The practical uses of having the capability of taking 3D pictures using nothing more than a smartphone are many. Instead of boring pictures, you'll be able to see people showing off entire "scenes". Also, the DSLR features that could be used on smartphones will give users many ways to edit their pictures and give them a more professional look. Also useful will be the ability to change the point of focus of the picture after having taken the picture. Recently, Samsung had managed to do the opposite of this by revealing a camera that is running Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, which is generally an operating system used by smartphones and tablets. The Galaxy Camera was announced at IFA 2012. Samsung claims that the Galaxy Camera combines high performance photography with the latest Android v4.1 (Jelly Bean) operating system and wireless network connectivity, thereby creating a new type of device. Andy Rubin, Senior Vice President of Mobile and Digital Content at Google, congratulated the Samsung team on the occasion of the launch and said, “When we first started work on Android, we envisioned building a smart camera that would take digital photography to the next level. The Galaxy Camera is an innovative product that speaks to the openness and flexibility of the Android platform." Samsung claims that users of the camera will not need to sacrifice picture quality in order to edit and share their photos instantly, as it easily outperforms any smartphone camera. This model features a 21x zoom lens and a bright 16M BSI CMOS sensor. The device also features ‘Smart Pro’ technology, which is a series of modes that make professional-looking photography easy. The Galaxy Camera runs on the latest version of the Android OS. Wireless connectivity enables the device to load applications for photo-editing, sharing and much more. Users will experience all of Galaxy Camera’s features on a HD Super Clear LCD display. The Galaxy Camera’s 21x optical zoom can be controlled by either the physical button or through the touchscreen, while the optical image stabiliser ensures that images stay clear. The camera’s 16 megapixel 1/2.3-inch BSI CMOS sensor captures images in good colour and resolution, while the 23mm aperture lens delivers wide-angle shots. There is no word on the pricing or availability of the Galaxy Camera yet. As Samsung has just announced the device, we expect the model to be launched in the near future.

Karbonn Mobiles introduces Smart A18 Android phone for Rs.12,990

Karbonn Mobiles has announced its flagship mobile device – the Karbonn Smart A18 running Android 4.0 ‘Ice Cream Sandwich’. The Karbonn Smart A18 is all set to fulfill every technoratti’s dream of a fully-loaded and affordable smartphone. The smartphone is powered by a 1GHZ processor and is fuelled by a 1500 mAh battery. The Karbonn Smart A18 smartphone features a 4.3-inch display and sports a 5MP shooter. Karbonn Mobile Smart A18 smartphone Here's a quick look at the specifications of the Karbonn Smart A18: 4.3-inch display (10.9cm) IPS Screen with wide-angle view 3G, GPRS/EDGE, Wi-Fi with Wi-Fi Hotspot 5 MP AF Camera, Front Facing 1.3MP Camera  32GB expandable Memory The official statement adds that the Karbonn Smart A18 smartphone features Dual SIM capabilities, where SIM 1 supports 3G and SIM 2 supports 2G. It also offers USB Tethering, Sensor Support (G-Sensor, Magnetic G-Sensor, Proximity Sensor, Light Sensor). The 5MP shooter on the Smart A18 smartphone features continuous shooting and face detection. The continuous shooting feature is not to be confused with the Burst Mode that the HTC One S and One X and Galaxy S IIIfeature.  Other features include: Google Apps like Google Currents, Google Maps, Google Search and Gmail, Pre-Embedded Apps like Facebook, Whatsapp, Karbonn Smart Browser, King Soft Office, NexGTv, PayTM. These features make it the phone of choice for the emerging smartphone user of the country. It also comes with a 3.5mm headphone jack.  Karbonn Mobiles details that its latest handset has been launched under the hugely successful Karbonn ‘Smart’ eco-system, which brings to the discerning mobile phone consumer of the country a vista for innovative technology and product excellence. Shashin Devsare, Executive Director Karbonn Mobiles, said during the introduction of the Karbonn Smart A18 smartphone, “Through this product, we wish to strengthen our positioning as a global leader in technologically advanced networked devices and intend to bring engaged mobility solutions to the consumers all across the world.”