Nokia Lumia 930, Lumia 630 and Lumia 635 with Windows Phone 8.1 unveiled

Nokia unveiled three new Windows Phone 8.1 smartphones at Microsoft's Build 2014 conference on Wednesday - the Lumia 630, Lumia 635 and Lumia 930. The company also announced the Windows Phone 8.1 update will be available for the entire Lumia Windows Phone 8 portfolio as an over-the-air (OTA) update this summer - the Nokia-specific update will be called Lumia Cyan.

Stephen Elop, executive vice president of Nokia's Devices & Services division, made the announcements at the Build 2014 developer conference, after Microsoft's Windows Phone 8.1 and Windows 8.1 Update announcements.

Starting with the Nokia Lumia 930 - a device that the company calls a 'flagship smartphone which delivers the best of Microsoft and Lumia for the ultimate video and imaging experience.' Priced at $599 (roughly Rs. 35,800) before taxes and subsidies, the Lumia 930 will be available from June beginning in Europe, Asia, India, Middle East and Latin America, and then roll-out globally over the summer. The device won't be available in the US, as it is a variant of the Lumia Icon.



The Nokia Lumia 930 features a 5-inch (1080x1920 pixel) display with a pixel density of 441ppi. The display boasts of a Gorilla Glass 3 screen, the 'Super Sensitive Touch' feature, and 'a near 180-degree viewing angle'. The Lumia 930 is powered by a 2.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 SoC coupled with 2GB of RAM, and 32GB of built-in storage (7GB free OneDrive cloud storage).

The Lumia 930 (seen below) also sports a 20-megapixel PureView camera, which has optical image stabilization (OIS) and Carl Zeiss optics. A front-facing 1.2-megapixel wide-angle camera is onboard as well, apart from four directional microphones and integrated Dolby Surround Sound. A LTE quad-band chip and Bluetooth 4.0 LE support is featured.

Featuring an aluminium frame with metallic accents, and a curved polycarbonate back with Bright Orange, Bright Green, Black and White colours, the Lumia 930 runs on a 2420mAh battery, and boasts of built-in wireless charging.

The Nokia Lumia 930 comes with OneDrive, MS Office, Nokia Camera, MixRadio and HERE Maps, as well as specific imaging apps, such as Nokia Camera, Nokia Storyteller, Nokia Creative Studio and Nokia Refocus, pre-installed.

(Also see: Microsoft unveils Windows Phone 8.1 and Windows 8.1 Update)

The Nokia Lumia 630 and Lumia 635 smartphones were announced at the event as well, said to offer an "uncompromised Windows Phone 8.1 experience at an affordable price." The Lumia 630 will be available in single-SIM and dual-SIM (called Nokia Lumia 630 Dual SIM) variants that feature only 3G connectivity; while the Lumia 635 will offer 4G/LTE connectivity, but no dual-SIM variant.

The Lumia 630 (seen above) will start rolling out in May, beginning with Asia, Russia, China, India and Europe, starting at $159 (roughly Rs. 9,500) for the single-SIM variant, and $169 (roughly Rs. 10,100) for the dual-SIM variant. The Nokia Lumia 635 will be broadly available, including in the US, starting in July, from $189 (roughly Rs. 11,300). The polycarbonate devices feature changeable shells.



The common specifications of the Nokia Lumia 630 (Lumia 630 Dual SIM) and Lumia 635 include a 4.5-inch FWVGA (480x854 pixels) ClearBlack LCD display with Gorilla Glass 3 and a pixel density of 221ppi, a 1.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 400 processor with 512MB of RAM, 8GB of built-in storage, a 5-megapixel rear autofocus camera, no front-facing camera, and a 1830mAh battery. MicroSD card storage expansion of up to 128GB is also supported.

The Nokia Lumia 635 and Nokia Lumia 630 will come with WhatsApp, WeChat, Nokia Camera, HERE Maps, and free Nokia MixRadio pre-installed. They also have the 'SensorCore' low-power sensing feature, meant for 'the next generation of exercise and exploration apps' like Bing Health and Fitness.

Nokia Lumia 930

• KEY SPECS
• 
  

Display

5.00-inch

Processor

2.2GHz

Front Camera

1.2-megapixel

Resolution

1080x1920 pixels

RAM

2GB

OS

Windows Phone 8.1

Storage

32GB

Rear Camera

20-megapixel

Battery capacity

2420mAh

See full Nokia Lumia 930 specifications

Nokia Lumia 630

• KEY SPECS
• 
  

Display

4.50-inch

Processor

1.2GHz

Front Camera

No

Resolution

480x854 pixels

RAM

512MB

OS

Windows Phone 8.1

Storage

8GB

Rear Camera

5-megapixel

Battery capacity

1830mAh

See full Nokia Lumia 630 specifications

Nokia Lumia 630 Dual SIM

• KEY SPECS
• 
  

Display

4.50-inch

Processor

1.2GHz

Front Camera

No

Resolution

480x854 pixels

RAM

512MB

OS

Windows Phone 8.1

Storage

8GB

Rear Camera

5-megapixel

Battery capacity

1830mAh

See full Nokia Lumia 630 Dual SIM specifications

Nokia Lumia 635

• KEY SPECS
• 
  

Display

4.50-inch

Processor

1.2GHz

Front Camera

No

Resolution

480x854 pixels

RAM

512MB

OS

Windows Phone 8.1

Storage

8GB

Rear Camera

5-megapixel

Battery capacity

1830mAh

USB 3.1 port and reversible Type-C connector shown off in leaked images

IDF14 has seen Foxconn reveal some early renders of the USB 3.1 architecture implementation, and its accompanied USB 3.1 Type-C connecter cable.

Said to be smaller than Micro-USB, the USB 3.1 port allows the Type-C connector to be reversible in design, so that users don't have to worry about the cable's orientation while plugging it into the port.

The render images (via Golem.de) seem to be part of a presentation, and describe some details of the USB 3.1 specification, including HDCP support. However, there might be some final changes in its design before it reaches the end users.

The USB 3.1 port looks similar to that of Apple's Lighting Charger, and is described to be 8.3mm wide and 2.5mm tall. It has been also reported that the proposed USB Type-C connector will be able to support a SuperSpeed+ transfer speed for up to 10Gbps, which is twice the speed of existing USB 3.0 SuperSpeed transfer mode at 5Gbps. The USB 3.1 standard is aimed at reducing line encoding overhead to just 3 percent by changing the encoding scheme to 128b/132b.

USB 3.0 was released in November 2008. A USB 3.0 port is usually colored blue, and is backwards compatible with USB 2.0. The USB 3.1 standard will also be backward compatible with USB 3.0 and USB 2.0.

The USB 3.1 specification and accompanying USB 3.1 Type-C connector design is expected to be finalised by July, as per USB Implementers Forum, which had announced its plans in January

Samsung launches three tablets in new Galaxy Tab4 series

Samsung's much-rumoured Galaxy Tab4 tablet series is now official, and expands the company's overall Galaxy Tab line-up. The Samsung Galaxy Tab4 series includes three tablets, namely: Galaxy Tab4 7.0, Galaxy Tab4 8.0 and Galaxy Tab4 10.1.

The South Korean manufacturer has not revealed the pricing of the new Galaxy Tab4 series tablets. However,Samsung has confirmed that the new tablet series will be offered globally in Q2 2014 and will be available in Black and White colour variants. Considering that the Galaxy Tab3 tablet is the Samsung's budget tablet series, we can expect the Galaxy Tab4 series to be priced in mid-range segment.

Notably, the Samsung Galaxy Tab4 7.0, Galaxy Tab4 8.0 and Galaxy Tab4 10.1 tablets share many common specifications. They all run Android 4.4 KitKat and are all powered by 1.2GHz quad-core processors (unspecified chipset), alongside 1.5GB of RAM. Further, the three Galaxy Tab4 tablets sport a 3-megapixel fixed focus rear cameras and also house a 1.3-megapixel front-facing cameras.

All three tablets also sport the same WXGA (1280x800 pixel) display resolution, though different screen sizes. The Galaxy Tab4 7.0, as the name suggests features a 7-inch display; the Galaxy Tab4 8.0 comes with an 8-inch display, and the Galaxy Tab4 10.1 sports a 10.1-inch display.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab4 7.0, Galaxy Tab4 8.0 and Galaxy Tab4 10.1 will be available in Wi-Fi /3G and LTE options. However, there is no word on voice-calling support via the SIM in the Galaxy Tab4 tablet series.

The Galaxy Tab4 7.0 tablet comes in 8GB/16GB inbuilt storage variants, which is further expandable up to 32GB (3G) and 64GB (LTE) with the help of microSD card. The Galaxy Tab4 8.0 and Galaxy Tab4 10.1 tablets, on the other hand, are available in 16GB inbuilt storage variant, which is expandable up to 64GB via microSD card.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab4 10.1 packs a 6800mAh battery, while the Galaxy Tab4 8.0 includes a 4450mAh battery. Although, there is no word on battery in the Galaxy Tab4 7.0 tablet.

Lenovo launches four tablets in new A-series

Lenovo has introduced a new range of Android-powered tablets in the market - its new A-series. Four new tablets have been introduced, specifically, Lenovo A7-30, A7-50, A8 and A10. Lenovo will be launching the A-series tablets in Q2 2014, and has provided UK pricing for three of the four tablets.

While all A-series four tablets run on an unspecified quad-core processor, the Lenovo A7-30, A8 and A10 tablets come with Dolby enhanced dual-front speakers. Unfortunately, detailed specifications have not yet been provided by Lenovo.

The Lenovo A7-30 (See Above) is a 7-inch tablet that is said to be focused on delivering good quality audio via its inbuilt Dolby-enhanced dual-front speakers. It also supports voice-calling. Its sibling, the Lenovo A7-50, is said to be aimed at offering a good viewing and reading experience as it features a 7-inch wide-view HD display.

The Lenovo A7-50 (See Above) also includes a 2-megapixel front-facing camera and a rear camera with an unspecified sensor size. 3G connectivity is also included in the tablet. The Lenovo A7-40 variant was also revealed, similar to the A7-50 but featuring Ebony colour, 8GB of built-in storage and a front-facing camera only.

The Lenovo A8 tablet (See Above), as per the firm, is a 'Home Entertainment' device on the go. The A8 tablet features an 8-inch wide-view HD display. Lenovo A10 (See Below) device features a 10.1-inch wide-view HD display and is said to be made "for movie lovers."

While Lenovo has not provided pricing for the Lenovo A7-30, it has priced the A7-50 at GBP 99.99 (roughly Rs. 9,929), A8-50 at GBP 139.99 (roughly Rs. 13,902), and A10 at GBP 169.99 (roughly Rs. 16,881).

Lenovo last week recalled the battery packs for a number of its ThinkPad laptops sold in the United States and Canada. The specific Thinkpad battery packs pose a fire hazard, caused by overheating and could lead to computer damage.

Asus PQ321QE 4K UHD monitor launched in India at Rs. 2,35,000

Asus on Wednesday launched the professional 31.5-inch 4K UHD PQ321QE monitor in India for a retail price of Rs. 2,35,000 (excluding taxes). The Taiwanese tech major claims that the Asus PQ321QE is the thinnest 4K display in the market today, measuring 35mm at its thickest point.

The Asus PQ321QE has a wall-mountable design with tilt, swivel, and height adjustments, apart from built-in 2W stereo speakers and a DisplayPort slot. Additionally, the LED-backlit anti-glare IGZO (Indium Gallium Zinc Oxide) display has an ultra-high definition (UHD) 3840 x 2160 pixel resolution, a pixel density of 140ppi, a response time of 8ms, a brightness of 350cd/m2, and a contrast ratio of 800:1.

Some of the other features on Asus PQ321QE monitor include a Kensington lock, and a 3.5mm jack for audio. Asus asserts that the 10-bit RGB panel on the PQ321QE monitor provides better image quality and colour accuracy.

The company says the IGZO panel used supports smaller transistors than amorphous silicon, which allows for much smaller pixels and much better detail. Furthermore, Asus says the panel supports increased pixel transparency and reduced current leakage for increased energy savings. Asus has given the PQ321QE monitor a limited warranty period of three years.

Speaking at the launch, Vinay Shetty, country head - component business, Asus (India) said, "The Asus PQ321QE is our new flagship product from our display range and a true 4K UHD monitor that provides stunning visuals with an ultra-high definition 3840 x 2160 resolution. The anti-glare 31.5-inch LED-backlit UHD display has a 16:9 aspect ratio and 140 pixels per inch (PPI) for highly-detailed visuals. By doubling the number of horizontal and vertical pixels, the PQ321QE True 4K UHD monitor provides every bit of detail, far surpassing that of a Full HD monitor. With four times the resolution of Full HD (FHD) and over 8 million pixels, users can experience larger screen real estate and clarity."

iWork apps for iCloud, iOS and Mac updated with new features and fixes

Apple on Tuesday updated its iWork apps for iCloud, iOS and Mac. The update has come within a week of Microsoft's release of the Office productivity suite for iPad.

Apple has updated three iWork apps - Pages, Numbers, and Keynote - for iCloud with some enhancements. These updated paid apps are now also available for download on iTunes App Store and Mac App Store.

The updated Pages, Numbers and Keynote apps now have improved Retina display support, and bring updated designs for the document, spreadsheet and presentation editors. It has also added the new sharing option that allows users to share documents in a view-only state. Previously, as 9to5Mac notes, anyone could edit documents shared via iCloud. Users can now directly open a document via iCloud Mail.

The Pages app has new templates and better text wrapping ability, and both Pages and Keynote app can now edit charts within imported files. The Numbers app now has improved pop-up menus like printing options, custom data formats, and custom table styles.

With the update, all three apps (Pages, Numbers and Keynote) on the Mac are expected to do a better job of exporting to Office's XML formats. The iCloud versions of the apps can now open password-protected documents, spreadsheets and presentations from Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Additionally, these iWork apps for the Mac and iOS will preserve custom number formats in charts imported from Office docs.

The move will help the Cupertino-based company to compete with Microsoft's Excel, PowerPoint, and Word apps for iPad. Microsoft had released the Office for iPad suite to users on Thursday. Although the Office for iPad is free for viewing Word, Excel and PowerPoint files on the iPad, it requires a subscription to Microsoft's Office 365 to create and edit documents on the device.

The Office 365 subscriptions cost $70 or $100 annually, and users can also get it for a lower price with more restrictions on the number and types of devices that can be used

iPhone 6 display variants spotted in leaked images, design schematics

A number of purported images and specifications of the proposed Apple iPhone 6 device have surfaced online, starting a new wave of rumours.

There are three images coming from different regions across the world that indeed show two variations of the next iPhone 6, corroborating a previous report about two-screen sizes - 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch.

The first wave of rumours come from popular French publication, Nowhereelse, which alleges to shows detailed schematics of the iPhone 6. From the image, it has been noted that the handset might feature a wide 85mm body, which is more than that of Samsung Galaxy Note 3's (79.2mm) and HTC One Max's (82.5mm) width. The image also shows the handset to be rather tall, with a 150mm height. If real, this schematic is probably of the rumoured 5.5-inch variant.

The second image comes from a Japanese magazine, MacFan (viaPhonearena), which also shows the schematics of the alleged iPhone 6 in detail but with minor changes as compared to that seen with Nowehereelse.

The image shows a flat smartphone which has almost bezel-less screen and rectangle volume buttons unlike the circular ones seen till now. The image shows drawings for two possible variants, one with 4.7-inch screen and one with 5.7-inch screen - contradicting the Nikkei report about a 5.5-inch display variant. While the 4.7-inch model is said to be 137mm tall, 66mm wide and 7mm thick, the larger 5.7-inch iPhone 6 model is seen with 157mm height, 77mm width and only 6.7 mm thickness.

Lastly, three alleged images of the iPhone 6 popped up online from a Wiebo account. The live shots (See above) are said to have arrived straight from Foxconn, Apple's primary mobile manufacturer, and show an alleged prototype device. The images show an all-metallic smartphone with an Apple logo on the back panel and a slightly protruding camera from the body.

The protruding camera is nothing new to Apple as the firm has already went down the path with the same hardware in its iPod Touch. The Cupertino firm, as per the smartphone seen in the image, seems to be focussing more towards the curved hardware of the device rather than its screen. However, since nothing is confirmed, one can only take these images as a mere rumour.

Besides these image leaks, Reuters additionally mentioned that Apple suppliers will begin mass producing displays as early as May for the next iPhone. Japan Display Inc, Sharp Corp and South Korea's LG Display Co Ltd have all been tapped to make the screens, as per the reports.

The image leaks hinting the next iPhone to arrive in two screen size variants goes in line with what was mentioned last month. Reports suggested that the handset is expected to come in two versions with a 4.7- or 5.5-inch screen, up from the current four-inch panel.

Previous leaks have said the iPhone 6 will arrive with a much thinner body, a powerful processor and a higher pixel density screen. As for the processor, both Samsung and TSMC are rumoured to be making the new A-series 'Apple A8' chips for the iPhone 6, separately rumoured to be clocked at 2.6GHz. The iPhone 6 is also speculated to ship with an Ultra-Retina display, with a pixel density of 389ppi

Nokia 3310 given 41-megapixel camera upgrade on April Fools' Day

Just when one thought that Nokia will launch even more products in its Nokia X family running Android or new Lumia devices based on Windows Phone 8.1, April Fools' Day comes and Nokia announces its heritage 3310 in a new avatar.

The Nokia 3310, which was initially launched in 2000 and is one of the most successful phones ever released by Nokia, has made a modern-day comeback.

The Finnish giant has introduced its 3310 sporting a 41-megapixel PureView sensor with Zeiss optics and Xenon flash. Further, the 3310 is seen boasting a huge camera hump at the back panel, much like Nokia 808 PureView and Nokia Lumia 1020.

The company claims that the Nokia 3310 now runs a modified version of Windows 8 (yes, you heard it right) with a new 'ClearDiamond' 3-inch WXGA (768x1280) display.

The Nokia 3310 PureView will be available in Blue, Dark Blue, Green, Red and Yellow colour variants.

The revamped Nokia 3310 is a touchscreen device and also sports three soft-touch navigation buttons, alongside a Windows Phone 'home' button.

Other specifications of the Nokia 3310 include a 1.5GHz dual-core processor; 2GB of RAM; 1430mAh battery; 32GB inbuilt storage; Bluetooth 4.0; Wi-Fi and 3G.

The yesteryear device Nokia 3310 comes with pre-loaded with four games - Snake II, Pairs II, Space Impact and Bantumi. Other pre-installed apps include MS Office, Xbox Games, Outlook and OneDrive.

Nokia notes that the Nokia 3310 will be rolled out with 3G connectivity, while LTE-enabled devices will follow later this year.

Commenting on the Juha Alakarhu, Nokia's Head of Imaging Technologies said, "I'm really excited that we've found a way to marry our innovative PureView technology with such a beloved device. With its durable design and iconic look, we think even more people will enjoy our signature PureView magic."

Earlier on Tuesday, HTC and Samsung both showed off smart-gloves on April Fools' Day.

Samsung hit the hammer first, announcing its first 'all-over-hand' wearable device dubbed Samsung Fingers that features a flexible Super Emo-LED for the technology-sensitive consumer. HTC on the other hand teased its HTC Gluuv, which is also a smart-glove.

Google, despite being one of the biggest tech companies showed off its unique sense of humour and that's most apparent on April 1 every year. The Mountain View giant has a long list of gags that include Google Pokemon Maps, Gmail Shelfie, Emoji Translate in Chrome, Auto Awesome Photobombs, Google Magic Hand, Nest Total Temperature Contro and WazeDates.

HTC One (M8) mini and octa-core Desire 616 tipped to launch soon

HTC may not have officially revealed plans for a new mini-variant of the flagship 2014 smartphone, the One (M8), but a new report points to the possible existence of such a smartphone. In addition HTC's first rumoured octa-core smartphone, believed to be dubbed Desire 616, has been spotted again in China.

A publication citing a UK online retailer has claimed that HTC plans to launch the mini version of the One (M8), rumoured to be dubbed One (M8) mini in May.

Further, the source has suggested that the One (M8) mini will sport a premium unibody design like its elder sibling, though it will feature a 4.5-inch display. As of now, there is no word whether the alleged One (M8) mini will boast a full-HD display or HD display. The source has also claimed that the HTC One (M8)'s dual camera setup will be replaced with a single camera setup for the mini-version. For those unaware, the highlight of the HTC One (M8) is the dual camera setup that puts an UltraPixel camera alongside a depth-sensing camera that lets user's do things like refocussing images after they've been clicked. However, other features of the One (M8) mini are yet to be revealed.

(Also see: HTC One (M8) review: A worthy upgrade)

The HTC Desire 616, on the other hand, which is said to be Taiwanese handset maker's first octa-core smartphone, is tipped to be priced at CNY 1,299 (Rs. 12,500 approximately without taxes). Phone Arena in areport claims that HTC might launch the Desire 616 in April; however there is no official word on the global rollout of the yet-to-be-announced smartphone.

The alleged Desire 616 (Desire 616w) is said to be made out of plastic, instead of the metal body seen on the HTC One (M8). According to earlier leaked specifications, the alleged Desire 616 sports a 5-inch HD display and will run dated Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean. The rumoured Desire 616, if real, will be Taiwanese giant's first octa-core smartphone. It is said to be powered by a 1.7GHz octa-core MediaTek processor (presumably the MT6592) alongside 1GB of RAM.

Other leaked specifications include an 8-megapixel rear camera accompanied by an LED flash; measures 142x71.9x9.1mm and weighs 150 grams. The alleged Desire 616 is likely to be available in five colour variants namely Black, Blue, Red, White and Yellow.

Sony Xperia M Dual reportedly receiving Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update

Sony Xperia M Dual users can now experience the benefits of Android 4.3 Jelly Bean OS, updating their smartphones via the Sony PC Companion software.

The update comes after Sony rolled the Android 4.3 Jelly Bean OS Update to its Xperia M smartphone a week before. Also known by the firmware version 15.5.A.0.18, the Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update is said to be confirmed for Brazil and European regions, as per Xperia Guide website. It has been also mentioned that the update is sized more than 770MB.

The Sony Xperia M Dual, when launched in June in India, came with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean OS out of the box. However, now the dual-SIM smartphone comes with Android 4.3 Jelly Bean OS out-of-the-box, as per the Sony India site.

The Xperia M Dual is powered by a 1GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 Plus MSM8227 processor with 1GB of RAM. It features a 4-inch TFT LCD with a resolution of 480x854 pixels and boasts of a scratch-resistant covering. It now runs Android 4.3 Jelly Bean with Sony's Timescape UI on top. The phone offers dual-SIM (GSM+GSM) support.

The phone comes with 4GB of internal storage that can be expanded up to 32GB with the help of microSD card. The Xperia M Dual sports a 5-megapixel rear camera with LED flash and a VGA front camera. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi, 3G, Bluetooth 4.0, A-GPS and NFC. It also includes a 1750mAh battery that can deliver up to 10 hours of talk time and 498 hours of standby time on 2G networks, according to Sony.

The Sony Xperia M dual is available in Black, White and Purple colours.

Sony Xperia M dual

• KEY SPECS
• 
  

Display

4.00-inch

Processor

1GHz

Front Camera

0.3-megapixel

Resolution

480x854 pixels

RAM

1GB

OS

Android 4.2

Storage

4GB

Rear Camera

5-megapixel

Battery capacity

1750mAh