Sony Promises Another Xperia S Jelly Bean Bug Fix Update

Sony Xperia S owners waiting for Android 4.2 are going to have to wait through at least one more Android 4.1 Jelly Bean update as Sony has promised another Xperia S Android 4.1 Jelly Bean bug fix update that will be aimed at tackling some of the lingering issues owners have been seeing in Android 4.1.

At the end of May, Sony began rolling out its long-awaited Xperia S Android 4.1 Jelly Bean update, that an update that took the phone from Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich to Google’s latest Android user interface. And while that update brought along a bunch of new features and a new look, the update also rolled out with a host of issues.

Sony will roll out another Android 4.1 Jelly Bean bug fix update to the Xperia S.

In fact, the issues were so numerous that Sony was forced to issue a Jelly Bean bug fix update to the Xperia S just a few weeks after the initial Android 4.1 roll out. Since then, things have been a little quieter than they once were but that doesn’t mean that all of the bugs on the Xperia S have been eradicated.

Sony has announced that it will be rolling out Android 4.1 Jelly Bean bug fix updates for the Xperia S, Xperia SL and Xperia acro S in the coming weeks, though, it is mum about specific release dates. The company says that the updates will have fixes and more but it does elaborate.

The arrival of Android 4.1 Jelly Bean brought about GPS and Wi-Fi issues along with general UI lag, particularly in the camera application, issues with the volume keys that periodically wouldn’t work and a number of battery drain issues even with the battery conserving STAMINA mode turned on.

Sony Xperia News @SonyMobileNews

Confirming: new JB 4.1 firmware build incoming (eta few weeks) for Xperia S, SL, acro S - brings fixes & more. We'll flag w/ blog changelog

Users are still complaining about some of these issues with issues with battery, camera and crashing being prominent. We’ve also been hearing about issues with Bluetooth though it’s unclear how widespread those might be.

Hopefully, the second time will be a charm and the latest Android 4.1 Jelly Bean bug fix update will quell the rest of the problems that Xperia S owners have been having.

It’s still unclear when or if the Xperia S will get Android 4.2 Jelly Bean down the road.

HTC’s Robert Downey Jr. Ad Arrives to Battle Apple & Samsung

HTC is finally ready to show off the new marketing campaign it’s cooked up to take on the feature heavy commercials of rivals Samsung and Apple.

The new advertisements are part of a broad campaign that the company calls Change. As part of the program HTC is releasing a series of advertisements around the world that are designed to connect with potential users by appealing to the user’s thirst for not just change, but change for the better.

According to a press release from the company, with the advertisements HTC is trying to “to demonstrate [it's] role as a change maker.” As part of that, the ads will follow Robert Downy Jr. as he takes on the mantle of an instigator of change, going to different places and describing how HTC has brought innovation to the smartphone space.

Actor Robert Downy Jr. in the first ad to air as part of HTC’s Change marketing push.

Throughout the entire series of advertisements, viewers will be treated to reinterpretations of the company’s name with Downy Jr. declaring that HTC can stand for whatever people might want it to in the campaign’s first commercial. During that ad such names as Humongous Tinfoil Catamaran and Hold This Cat were both mentioned as stand-ins for what HTC’s initials actually are short for: High Tech Computer.

In what’s likely to get people talking more about the ads, HTC says that it’ll also add a level of “social engagement and experiential actives” to the ongoing campaign. It’s also promising that the ads are a part of telling a long-term advertising narrative. These marketing activities will put users in the front seat as they experience each random interpretations of the made up HTC acronyms for themselves. Users in the United Kingdom, the United States and Taiwan can look forward to these events, though every internet user wolrdwide can use the random HTC acronym generator to create their own interpretations right now on HTC.com

That last bit is key as it seems HTC is relying on the social engagements, the appearance of aloofness in its marketing materials and the star power generated by Robert Downy Jr. to connect with consumers. The company says that Downy Jr., contributed to the “creative direction” of the advertisements along with the company’s marketing firm 171 WordWide.

If the company’s plan works it could go a long way to helping HTC making inroads with users. Until fairly recently the company’s advertisements had been relatively low-key. By putting the spotlight on the things it does differently like the HTC Blinkfeed integration, and BoomSound audio enhancements, it could finally put the company on the right track to competing with Samsung.

That company’s advertisements have increasingly highlighted the software-centric features that only its smartphones offer. Clearly, for Samsung that message is resonating with consumers, earlier this year the company announced that the Galaxy S4 was its fastest selling smartphone to date.

On the other hand, opening may be opening up a branding can of worms. Users could easily reinterpreted HTC to mean both good and bad things, cheapening the effectiveness of the company’s already fragile brand.

Leaked Photos of Sony i1 Honami Confirms 20-Megapixel Camera

Newly leaked images of Sony’s oft-rumored i1 Honami smartphone reveals the handset’s design in detail, including the dedicated “G” branding for the optics system, an f/2.3 aperture, and confirms the 20.7-megapixel camera sensor making it an imaging powerhouse as Sony looks to compete in the camera phone space against the Lumia 1020 from Nokia and Samsung’s Galaxy S4 Zoom.

Images of the Honami were initially published on Esato and re-posted on Phone Arena.

The Honami smartphone is expected to get itsformal debut next month at Berlin’s IFA show. The device is expected to be a premium device that will succeed the current Sony Xperia Z smartphone, a waterproof phone with a slim and elegant design that features a 13-megapixel backside illuminated (BSI) Exmor RS camera sensor from Sony.

The G branding likely refers to the lens system inside the camera of the i1 Honami. Sony uses its G branding for professional grade lenses on its Sony Alpha range of DSLR cameras, though the company also makes Zeiss-branded lenses as well for the range. On smartphones, thus far, Zeiss lenses have primarily been limited to Nokia.

The phone appears to feature a charging connector that may be magnetic. This would allow the phone to be used elegantly in a dark or even a car mount.

In addition to packing more megapixels, the Honami had been rumored in the past to feature a point-and-shoot sized sensor as well. That would give the sensor more surface area for light to hit and the area of the sensor would be larger than that on a smartphone, but would be smaller than on some premium point-and-shoot cameras, like the recently reviewed Sony RX100 MK II.

What’s interesting about the Honami is that it’s rumored to come with a lens attachment that would work with the phone, though you wouldn’t need the lens attachments if you just want to use the Honami’s non-zoom built-in 20-megapixel camera. Sony is rumored to be introducing a zoom lens as well as a premium lens and sensor, like the one on the RX100 MK II, as optional accessories to complement the mobile photographer who uses the Honami.

Rumored lens attachment brings interchangeable lenses to the Sony Honami. Each lens would essentially be self-contained with its own wireless, optical system, camera sensor, and memory card. Images are previewed and transferred to the Honami or another smartphone over an NFC and WiFi link.

With the interchangeable lens camera (ILC) attachment, the Honami essentially becomes the DSLR viewfinder for the lenses and would pair with the lens over WiFi and NFC. The lens themselves are self-contained so they don’t have to screw on or be mounted to the camera on the phone itself. The lens will contain its own camera sensor, optical system, micro SD card for storage, and wireless capabilities.

Nexus 5 Release Date & Rumor Roundup

Google’s Nexus 4 endured quite a few bumps in the road but it remains one of the stop Android smartphones on the market. And with its one year anniversary fast approaching, consumer attention has started to shift from LG’s Nexus 4 to the Nexus 5, Google’s rumored Nexus 4 successor.

In November of last year, Google finally replaced the Samsung Galaxy Nexus, a device that certainly left a bad taste in the mouths of many owners who picked it up. The 2012 Nexus smartphone, was the first Nexus smartphone to be produced by LG and it offered a number of improvements over the Galaxy Nexus including a better processor, larger display, improved design and an extremely cheap unlocked price tag. It did not, however, arrive with 4G LTE data speeds.

Google is rumored to be working on a Nexus 5 to replace the Nexus 4.

The lack of LTE did not slow the Nexus 4 down. The device emerged as one of the most popular smartphones of the holiday shopping season, so popular, that it was completely sold out in December and January. Only in February did LG and Google get the device back on track in the Google Play Store. Since then, the device has remained in stock, tempting smartphone buyers with its Android 4.3 software, cheap price, and hardware that will still work out well for most buyers.

Like the iPhone 5, like the Galaxy S4, like any smartphone, the Nexus 4′s days in the limelight will come to an end and it will be replaced by something or somethings that Google and company declare to be better. With the fall fast approaching, rumors about a new Nexus smartphone, a Nexus 5, have started to gain a little bit of steam.

Whereas rumors from earlier this year seemed a bit wild, Nexus 5 rumors that have emerged in recent weeks are far more tame, far more believable. While there is still a bit to go before we know for certain what Google has up its sleeve for 2013, it’s now time to take a look at all of the early Nexus 5 release date and feature rumors.

Release Date

The Nexus 4 arrived last November.

The last two Nexus smartphones, the Nexus 4 and the Galaxy Nexus, arrived at the end of the year. Specifically, the Galaxy Nexus was released in December while the Nexus 4 hit shelves in November. This doesn’t guarantee a Nexus 5 release at the end of the year but it does make one extremely likely.

It also helps that Korean outlet Daum, citing industry sources, claims that the Nexus 5 will be making its debut sometime in October, the same month that Google showed off the Nexus 4.

Taylor Wimberly, who was dead on about the Moto X, claims that a Nexus smartphone, made by Motorola, will be out sometime in the fourth quarter of this year, backing up that October window. The fourth quarter spans from October to December making one of those months a prime candidate for a Nexus 5 release.

Google likely hasn’t decided on a specific date yet so consumers shouldn’t expect to hear about any specifics until much closer to the launch event itself.

Design

Nexus 5 rumors have suggested that LG could be the maker of at least one variant of the new Nexus with the recently announced LG G2 serving as the device’s blueprint. That same report from Daumsuggests that LG has been developing the new Nexus alongside the LG G2, its new flagship that will hit shelves later on this year.

Today, a report from MyDrivers suggested the same thing. That the Nexus 5 will be made by LG and that it will borrow heavily from the new flagship G2. If that’s true, the Nexus 5 may have a lot of the same hardware, however, it likely won’t have the same design.

The Nexus 5 design is unknown.

Last year’s Nexus 4 took from the LG Optimus G, but it did not share a design with its counterpart. Instead, the device was made of plastic and featured a glass back, something that the Optimus G did not have.

Rumors haven’t suggested anything about the Nexus 5′s looks but MyDrivers suggests that the device will be 5.5 inches tall by 2.8 inches wide with an unknown thickness. The LG G2 is 5.45 x 2.79. So it could be that the dimensions are close but based on history, the designs won’t be.

Display

The past two Nexus smartphones have followed a popular Android trend. Flagship Android devices these days all have massive, high-resolution displays and with the Galaxy Nexus and the Nexus 4, we saw 4.5+-inch displays. With 2013 ushering in even larger displays, like the 5-inch Galaxy S4, rumors suggest that the Nexus 5 could follow suit.

All along, rumors have pointed to a display that is larger than 5-inches, possibly the same 5.2-inches as the LG G2. In fact, rumors that suggest that LG is making the phone have aligned on that 5.2-inch screen size, something that would work out nicely with the Nexus 5 name.

The Nexus 4 boasts a large display. But the Nexus 5 could utilize an even bigger one.

Resolution is thought to be 1080p rather than 720p like the Nexus 4, which would obviously be a huge boost for those that enjoy watching content on their smartphone display.

No word on the pixel-per-inch count but the Nexus 4 had a high ppi so it’s possible that the Nexus 5 will as well.

Camera

The Nexus 4 features an 8MP camera.

Initially, there were rumors that suggested that the Nexus 5 would have a big time camera, possibly one coming from Nikon. At the time, those rumors seemed plausible given that Google’s Vic Gundotra has promised better cameras on Google’s Nexus devices.

While it’s still possible, recent rumors suggest something that is less ground-breaking. The device is rumored to have a 13MP camera sensor on board, same as the LG G2 and Samsung Galaxy S4, and could also come with the same optical image stabilization technology that arrived with the LG G2 and is rumored for the Galaxy Note 3.

Cameras are typically one of the features that manufacturers upgrade year after year so the Nexus 5 is unlikely to have the same 8MP sensor that is found in the Nexus 4.

Processor

The Nexus 4 utilized a powerful Snapdragon S4 Pro quad-core processor. However, rumors suggest that the Nexus 5 will up the ante with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 quad-core SoC. The Snapdragon 600 is Qualcomm’s latest processor and if it is indeed on board the Nexus 5, it should mean better all-around performance and enhanced battery life.

The processor will apparently be backed by 2GB of RAM.

Software

Google, in the past, has released new Nexus hardware with new Android software. Most recently, we saw the new Nexus 7 tablet arrive with Android 4.3 Jelly Bean. Rumors, and Google’s track record suggest that the Nexus 5 will come with Android 5.0 Key Lie Pie, a replacement for Android 4.3, and the first major update to Android since Android 4.1 Jelly Bean.

Not much is known about Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie but more and more it’s looking like it’s going to be arriving later this year. In fact, we’ve already seen a Key Lime Pie build emerge in a Chromium bug list that showed off build KRS36B running on a Nexus 4 and Nexus 7. The ‘K’ is thought to stand for Key Lime Pie, much in the same way that current builds use the letter ‘J’ to stand for Jelly Bean.

Even with the discovery, details about Key Lime Pie are scarce and they aren’t likely to make themselves known until much closer to Google’s second big Nexus launch of the year.

Carriers

Might the Nexus 5 come to Verizon?

Android head Sundar Pichai left the door open for a Nexus smartphone with the same Qualcomm multi-mode carrier support as the new Nexus 7. And thankfully, rumors suggest that Google may be including this type of support with the Nexus 5.

If true, it could mean that the Nexus 5 will be available for AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon, just like the Nexus 7. And while there is no mention of 4G LTE data speeds but it’s likely if this type of support is on board.

One of the biggest drawbacks to the Nexus 4 was that it was only available on AT&T and T-Mobile and on HSPA+ not 4G LTE.

Price

The Nexus 5 is rumored to have a $299 starting price, same as the Nexus 4, which would again make it one of the most affordable unlocked smartphones on the market. This price would not only help it challenge the likes of the iPhone 5S and Samsung Galaxy Note 3, but also take on Apple’s rumored cheap iPhone model, the iPhone 5C, which is expected to be aimed at budget Android devices.

Google also sells a 16GB Nexus 4 which costs $350, a price that still undercuts the unlocked price of the iPhone 5 16GB by $300.

Name/Manufacturer

Many manufacturers have been interested in the Nexus program but we’ve only seen a trio of companies produce a Nexus smartphone. To date, HTC, Samsung and LG have been the only companies to make a Nexus smartphone. And rumor has it, that might change in 2013.

Nexus 5 rumors have and continue to center around LG as a manufacturer of the new Nexus. However, Motorola has also been rumored to be making a Nexus that is unlike its Moto X flagship which was announced earlier this month.

Motorola is rumored to be making a Nexus smartphone as well.

It’s unclear if LG and Motorola are competing for the new Nexus or if Google is planning on releasing several different Nexus models this year. Rumors in the past have suggested multiple Nexus smartphones but ultimately, those rumors were proven false at launch.

With sources pointing to LG and Motorola though, it’s possible that we could see a major shake up with the Nexus program in 2013.

Google Boosts Speech Features of Google Glass

Following today’s update, Google Glass users will be able to watch videos, and even stay abreast of the latest traffic and email alerts, using the device’s new Google Now cards system.

The update, which should start appearing for Google Glass users today and take a few days to reach every Glass owner, allows users to monitor the latest sports scores, traffic conditions and weather conditions from their Google Glass device.

These new cards are powered by a Google Glass-centric version of Google Now, the application that allows Android and iPhone users to get the latest event, weather and other information directly from Google.

According to today’s press release, users will also be to get reminders for hotel reservations, event tickets and movie time information that is sent to their Gmail account.

Google Glass features a premium design with a titanium band, bond conduction tech and more.

That’s not all that’s in the update either. Users are also getting access to a new set of voice features on Glass, with Google noting that “[Users] can now add voice commands from other services to the main menu. To kick things off, we’re introducing two new voice commands: ‘Post an update’ (first supported by Path), and ‘Take a note’ (first supported by Evernote).”

Google will add more voice commands to Google Glass over time, and the company does note that users can expect more services to arrive on the device at some point in the future. No doubt, that’s good news for users who aren’t already using Path but already have Facebook and Twitter accounts that they’d like to use with the device.

Unfortunately, there’s still no way for users to get their hands on a Google Glass device outside of the Google Glass Explorer program. Today’s update is just the latest in a series of upgrades that have brought new features to Google Glass in the last few months.

Read: Google Glass Coming to Stores By End of 2013 for Less Than $1500

Previous updates have added wireless streaming capabilities and its very own version of Google Chrome.

Google is expected to ship a different version of Google Glass meant for average users sometime this year, though the company itself hasn’t detailed any concrete plans for a wider launch just yet.

iTunes Dazzles With Steep Discounts on Blockbuster Movie Bundles

For a limited time Apple is offering a movie promotion that features entire collections of some of the most beloved movie franchises of the last decade, for as little as $9.99.

For a limited time users can pick up entire movie collections from the iTunes Video store to own. The Movie Bundle assortment includesThe Lord of the Rings, The Bourne Collection, Harry Potter Complete Series, X-Men Quadrilogy, Alvin and the Chipmunks Triple Pack, Star Trek Movies 1-10, Spider-Man Trilogy, Austin Powers Collection, Lethal Weapon Movie Collection, Teenage Mutant Turtles 1-3, The Matrix Trilogy, Jurassic Park, Scar Face + Casino, Underworld, Charlie Angel’s, Ice Age Triple Pack, Night at the Museum, and The Godfather.

Apple isn’t detailing how long the sale will last, but it certainly is a huge deal for Apple users who are fans of those franchises being offered. For fans of the Harry Potter series, that’s every movie at the cost of just $1.20 per title.

The iTunes Movie Bundle Sale is a perfect manifestation of the things that continue to elude competitors like Google Play and Microsoft’s Xbox. While those two companies have continued to focus on their core experiences — the operating system — Apple has continued to offer the most well stocked, best digital content experience of any company. It’s one of the reasons why Apple continues to perform well given the onslaught of more feature rich, cheaper alternatives to their devices.

For example, the iTunes Store continues to be the only media store that offers music, music videos, television shows, movies, books and podcasts all in one place, and on multiple devices. While Apple tends to use this content as lock-in, the benefits to the user are clear. The iTunes Store simply makes it easier to buy and use all the entertainment and applications you want, on as many form factors as possible.

For its part Harry Potter is actually on sale in the Google Play Store as well, however those users are limited to $1.99 rentals. iTunes bundle purchasers will own those movies, and be able to stream them to any Apple device, at any time or download them for offline viewing.

iPhone 5S Release Nears, Best iPhone Trade in Prices Arrive Next Week

The iPhone 5S announcement is as good as confirmed for September 10th, and in true Apple fashion the iPhone 5S release date could take place just 10 days later on September 20th.

While there are still almost 40 days until the expected iPhone 5S release date, the best time to trade in an iPhone 4, iPhone 4S or iPhone 5 for top dollar is fast approaching. Buyers should lock in an iPhone trade in price between September 19th and September 23rd to get the best price.

The best iPhone 5 and iPhone 4S trade-in values are actually several weeks before the Apple announcement. As we approach September 10th, the iPhone 5 trade-in value could drop as much as 10-15%.

This information comes from NextWorth, who tracked the average selling price for the iPhone on eBay for the months leading up to the iPhone 5 announcement last year, and found the overall value of any iPhone is set to drop. The chart below shows this decline.

iPhone trade-in values will likely drop 10-20% in the next several weeks.

“There is a predictable 15-20 percent value decline seen across all older iPhone models in the six-week period surrounding the new iPhone launch,” Jeff Trachsel, CMO of NextWorth said in a statement to Gotta Be Mobile. Trachsel suggests looking into quotes for the iPhone 5, iPhone 4S and iPhone 4 right now.

In the next two to three weeks iPhone trade-in prices will drop, enough that it could mean the difference between paying nothing out-of-pocket for the iPhone 5S and pulling cash out of your wallet.

The iPhone 5S release approaches, and within a week prices for the old iPhone will start to drop.

Users need to trade in the iPhone 5 or iPhone 4S early to get the best value, which means it is definitely time to start considering where to trade-in an iPhone or when to sell.

For most users it is too early to trade in, even though it means taking a 10% hit on the iPhone 5 trade in price, but within the next 7-10 days, users can lock in a great trade in value and keep their iPhone until the iPhone 5S release date arrives.

NextWorth extended it’s 21 day price-lock to 30 days, and competitor Gazelle also offers a 30 day price-lock. Users can take advantage of these offers to lock in a iPhone trade in quote at a high price and keep using the iPhone. Amazon is another popular iPhone trade-in service, but they only offer a 7 day price lock.

Any of these iPhone trade-in services will cover shipping and there is no obligation to send the iPhone in, so it’s in your best interest to lock in a price, even if you are on the fence when it comes to buying an iPhone 5S. NextWorth shares the following trade in prices which are subject to change and will vary based on condition. It’s a good idea to compare prices before locking in.

iPhone 5 Trade In Prices

• iPhone 5 16GB – AT&T – $314
• iPhone 5 32GB – AT&T – $316
• iPhone 5 64GB – AT&T – $410
• iPhone 5 16GB – Verizon – $314
• iPhone 5 32GB – Verizon – $315
• iPhone 5 64GB – Verizon – $370

iPhone 4S Trade In Prices

• iPhone 4S 16GB - AT&T – $210
• iPhone 4S 32GB - AT&T – $214
• iPhone 4S 64GB - AT&T – $245
• iPhone 4S 16GB - Verizon – $170
• iPhone 4S 32GB - Verizon – $171
• iPhone 4S 64GB - Verizon – $205
• iPhone 4S 16GB - Sprint – $170
• iPhone 4S 32GB - Sprint – $171
• iPhone 4S 64GB – Sprint – $205
• iPhone 4S 16GB – T-Mobile- $171

The iPhone trade in prices will drop soon.

iPhone 4 Trade In Prices

• iPhone 4 8GB - AT&T – $135
• iPhone 4 16GB - AT&T – $137
• iPhone 4 32GB - AT&T – $140
• iPhone 4 16GB - Verizon – $71
• iPhone 4 32GB - Verizon – $73

iPhone 3GS Trade In Values

• iPhone 3GS 16GB – $32
• iPhone 3GS 32GB - $33

Even if the iPhone is damaged with a crack or marks, it is still worth something, and could help pay for a new iPhone.

iPhone 5S Rumors

The iPhone 5S will likely look like the iPhone 5 with a 4-inch Retina Display and the familiar two-tone aluminum and glass design, but inside we could see new features.

At this point we expect an Apple A7 processor that could help Apple deliver better battery life and a new camera sensor that could help deliver better low-light photos. Parts point to a dual-LED flash that could help deliver a more natural flash.

The video above highlights the iPhone 5S rumors in under four minutes, which will help you understand what to expect in September.

Additionally we also anticipate an iPhone 5S fingerprint reader in the home button that could make the iPhone more secure, by letting users log in with a fingerprint.

$300 LG Nexus 5 Poses Serious Threat to iPhone 5C

Though LG executives had seemingly denied that the company is working on the successor to the current Nexus 4, LG is once again back in the spotlight with a Nexus 5 rumor. The co-developed Google Android smartphone would have updated specs to keep it competitive in the smartphone space, but the device’s killer features according to the latest speculations would be that the Nexus 5 may cost as little as $299, or the same price as the Nexus 4 sold today.

LG’s denial doesn’t mean that the company isn’t interested in a future partnership with Google.

Next Nexus smartphone rumored to be based on LG G2 flagship design

For consumers and developers interested in a pure Google Nexus experience, this means that you’ll be getting a lot of Android for your money in terms of hardware specs. With a specs sheet that rivals today’s high-end Android phones, like the HTC One and the Samsung Galaxy S4, the rumored LG Nexus 5 and its price tag will give you some of the finest, albeit not the best, specs for the money. It would also mean that the Nexus partnership with LG, if this latest rumor is accurate, would allow Google to undercut its own hardware division run by Motorola Mobility; the Moto X by Google’s Motorola sells for $575 to $629 without a carrier service agreement, depending on storage configuration.

The LG Nexus 4 retails currently for $299 for an 8 GB variant with no expandable storage and $349 for a 16 GB model. It’s unclear if the LG Nexus 5 would come with a micro SDXC card slot to add more memory. Storage may continue to be a problem for the Nexus line with no removable storage card slot, especially given the 1080p display would allow higher resolution graphics in apps and the 13-megapixel camera would mean each photo captured will be a little bit larger in size.

Though the design of the LG Nexus 5 is said to be borrowed from LG’s recently announced G2 flagship, there will be some variations in specs.

For one, the G2 features the top shelf Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor whereas the G2 may make due with the Snapdragon 600 processor. This isn’t shabby at all given that the Snapdragon 600 would still be more powerful than the Snapdragon S4 Pro found on the recently updated Nexus 7 tablet made by Asus for 2013 and the chipset is the same powerful CPU that’s powering the Galaxy S4 and HTC One in the U.S. market.

The G2 will also feature a full HD 1080p display, matching the high-end screens of Samsung and HTC and besting the Moto X’s 720p HD display.

SlashGear is listing the full specs of the phone as:

• 5.2-inch display
• 1080 x 1920 pixel resolution
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 quad-core SoC
• Internal storage: 16, 32GB
• 2GB RAM
• Multi-mode modified carrier support*
• 3000mAh battery
• 13 megapixel camera
• 5.5 inches tall x 2.8 inches wide x UNKNOWN THICKNESS

Given that LG is investing in its camera experience with the LG G2, a Nexus 5 based on the G2′s optical image stabilized camera may be a huge win for consumers looking to take photos in low light.

It’s unclear if LTE will be part of the equation for 2013. The faster 4G mobile broadband networking protocol was noticeably absent from the Nexus 4, leading many to bemoan the smartphone. However, given Asus was able to implent a tri-band LTE radio that’s compatible with three of the four largest U.S. carriers on the 2013 Nexus 7 tablet, an unlocked Nexus 5 that would use the same radio/modem and could be unlocked to operate on AT&T Mobility, T-Mobile US, and Verizon Wireless would be a huge win for consumers who may be commitment-phobic.

Coupled with the low asking price unlocked, the device may be perfect for contract-less plans on T-Mobile’s Jump program, AT&T’s Next, and Verizon’s Edge plans, neither of which offer device subsidies for a contract-free existence.

An LG Nexus 5 rumor may bear some credence given that LG has stated that it won’t be offering aGoogle Play Edition of its LG G2 flagship. If the company is making a Nexus 5 based on the LG G2, it may not want to confuse customers whereas Samsung, HTC, and Motorola all are offering Google Play Edition variants of their flagship Galaxy S4, One, and Moto X respectively. Sony is the other manufacturer without a Google Play Edition phone at this time.

At the announcement event for the LG G2, LG stated that the phone would be headed to all four major networks in the U.S.

In addition to LG, Motorola Mobility was also recently rumored to be a front-runner in building Google’s Nexus 5. The Nexus 5, along with the next generation Android Key Lime Pie OS, colloquially referred to as Android 5.0, are expected to be unveiled this fall, offering some competition to Apple’s rumored iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C debuts.

Swiss-Made Smartwatch with 41-Megapixel Zeiss Camera Makes the Lumia 1020 Seem Like a Bargain!

If you’re not ready to switch to Microsoft’s Windows Phone 8 platform to take advantage of the stellar 41-megapixel camera on the Nokia Lumia 1020, you may want to consider this Swiss-made smartwatch made by Hyetis. The Hyetis Crossbow smartwatch is able to pair with Apple’s iOS-powered iPhone, any number of Android smartphones, and devices loaded with Windows Phone 8 and features a camera sensor with 41 megapixels of resolving power and Zeiss optics. However, to pair Hyetis’ camera-powered smartwatch to your current smartphone ecosystem will be a huge cost as Swiss craftsmanship doesn’t come cheap. The Crossbow is expected to retail for $1200.

The Crossbow is one of the few watches that would work with Windows Phone 8 at this time.

This is much higher than the $300 on-contract price that AT&T Mobility is asking for the Lumia 1020. Even without signing a two-year agreement, the Lumia 1020 could be had for under $700 through various retailers, including Amazon, Best Buy, and Microsoft’s retail stores.

The smartwatch appears to combine analog watch movements set on top of a digital circular display that could provide notifications. A funky retro steampunk-inspired design with a camera on top, the watch face itself is not unattractive and looks the part of its premium price tag. On paper, at least, the watch seems well built and looks a lot classier than current smartwatches like those from Pebble, Sony, and even the Italian-made i’m Watch.

“There’s no better way to share your feelings or ideas, than sharing all the informations regarding the moment you live. Crossbows wireless integrated communication management device allows you to manage WiFi, Bluetooth and NFC links,” the company boasts.

Currently, though, specs about the camera isn’t provided.

Nokia is boasting that it’s camera sensor size is larger than those found on traditional point-and-shoot cameras and significantly larger than the sensor area on smartphone cameras. This allows for more creative control and flexibility, including capturing images with shallow depth of field. Additionally, the Lumia range is well regarded for its low light performance, and in dark environments a Xenon flash is included. The Xenon flash is not present on the wrist-worn camera of the Crossbow.

It appears that Hyetis would provide developers an SDK to integrate their apps with the Crossbow.

Are you ready to ditch your classic Tag Heuer watch for a digitally-inspired Crossbow with a 41-megapixel sensor? If you are, preorders will begin soon and Hyetis will be taking your $1200 deposit on the smartwatch.

Apple, Google, LG, Samsung, and Microsoft are all rumored to be developing their own smartwatches. Samsung’s Galaxy Gear Smartwatch could debut as early as next month at the IFA show in Germany.