LG Working on Phone With Always On Voice Commands

Our sources say that this would be beneficial in certain settings or environments, in particularinside automobiles. With hands-free laws gaining momentum, using voice command would allow users to more safely operate their smartphones for key functions without requiring them to touch the screen un-necessarily.

In one example, users can speak a voice command to tell Google Maps to pan around and switch views. Users can also tell Google Maps to zoom in or out. This is different from existing voice solutions, which are based mainly for searching, launching apps, and dictating. The navigation of the Android OS by voice will be a new user experience for some people.

This matches with what we’ve been hearing about the Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor, which will have always-on voice capabilities. Originally, we had thought that the feature would be limited to select voice commands, like Google Now, but it seems that LG is tapping into the hardware feature to make its phones more adaptive.

At this point though, it’s still unclear when LG intends to launch this phone. The Snapdragon 800 CPU should become available in phones later this year, meaning the hardware will be capable of handling LG’s new voice-based user experience so it’s up to the Korean smartphone-maker to deliver the software. The LG Optimus G2 is rumored to be among one of LG’s earliest phones to use a Snapdragon 800 chipset.

Nokia RM-941 passes through the FCC

NokiaPowerUser reports that the the Nokia RM-941 has just passed through FCC approval.

The handset has been spotted previously by AdDuplex, who noted it had a WVGA resolution.  They spotted it mainly in Taiwan, and the same handset was also seen in Hong Kong by WpDang, when it was designated the RM-941_apac_hong_kong.

The smartphone will have LTE support support in the LTE845 (Band 20), LTE1800 (Band 3), and LTE2500 (Band 7) bands, and NPU estimates the handset is 128.6 X 70mm,  comparable to 127.9 x  67.9 of Lumia 720, suggesting this may be the successor of that device.

Another picture below may give us an idea of the look of the device.

The indentation around the camera module suggests the handset will share a family resemblance to the Nokia Lumia 925, which has a similar look.

I am somewhat disappointed that Nokia is still hanging on to WVGA for their mid-range handsets, when 720P is increasingly becoming the mid-range standard. Does this bother our readers? Let us know below.

Evidence that Nokia is working on Snapdragon 800 shows up on Nokia’s Developer site

Some evidence popped up recently that Nokia is working on supporting a Quad core processor, probably the Snapdragon 400, with the older Adreno 305 GPU.

The news disappointed some of our readers, who were hoping Nokia would for once use the latest and greatest technology.

Those users should therefore be cheered by the latest leak, courtesy of Nokia’s developer forum schema, where clear references to supporting the Qualcomm SnapDragon S4 MSM8974 is made.

The GPU snob will also be cheered by references to support for the latest Adreno 330 GPU which accompanies it.

Techtastic, who uncovered the references, notes Nokia only added hardware to the schema which they actually used, so we can look forward to some new Lumia eventually supporting the technology, hopefully not after everyone has moved in to the next big thing.

Unfortunately no reference to 1080P screens have been uncovered yet, but I am sure that will also arrive on the platform eventually.

LG Optimus G Pro crosses 1 million sales mark in Korea

LG may have never had a strong reputation in the Western mobile décor, but locally the Optimus makers have always been a threat for the likes of Samsung or Apple. Need proof? How about if I told you Optimus G Pro sales have already topped 1 million units in Korea?

According to an LG press release issued earlier today, that makes the G Pro the company’s best sold device. Ever. Still not impressed? Then chew on this number – the Optimus LTE, LG’s previous sales record-holder, hit 1 million sales in 7 months.

For comparison, the Optimus G Pro has done so in a little under 4 months, having seen daylight towards the end of February. The 1 million sales across this period of time also translate to about 8,000 units sold every day, which you have to admit is pretty darn impressive.

The previous milestone – 500,000 unit sales – was achieved 40 days after G Pro’s release, which is again impressive, but at the same time a little worrying, since it means the 5.5-incher needed an additional 70 days or so to sell 500k more.

Put into further context though, the number should still put smiles on a few LG exec faces. After all, the thing’s biggest competitor and the phone that resembles it the most, Samsung’s Galaxy Note 2, needed almost as much time to hit 1 million units sold in Korea. More exactly, it needed three months and some change, having been released in late September 2012 and crossing the 1 million mark on New Year’s Eve.

With all that in mind, LG’s biggest problem likely remains the West, especially America, where, aside from the Nexus 4, the company’s phones are highly unpopular. For the time being, we have no G Pro sales numbers outside Asia, but the thing has only been available stateside starting May 10, so it will surely need a little while longer to hit any kind of important milestone.

Via [LG Newsroom]

Huawei Ascend P6 leaks in full

Huawei’s Ascend P6 will get its official reveal later today, with the company bringing “the world’s thinnest phone” to make its debut in London, but an inopportune leak has exposed the Android handset ahead of schedule. The smartphone had been teased a little by the company itself, but now ICTech [registration required] has shared a cluster of hands-on shots, showing off a form-factor that we can’t help but see several iPhone-esque elements to.

From the front, it’s mainly business as usual for Android. Huawei is expected to release black and white versions of the Ascend P6 – only the white has leaked so far – each with a 4.7-inch display running at 720p HD resolution, and there are pleasingly thin bezels as well as on-screen buttons, just as Google prefers.

However, it’s when you move off to the sides that some of Huawei’s possible inspiration begins to show itself. As we’ve noted before, the style of the Ascend P6′s frame-integrated antenna looks almost identical to Apple’s iPhone 5, on the upper edge certainly, though there’s at least some differentiation in the buttons and ports on Huawei’s phone.

One of those ports is for a microSD card, which is a welcome inclusion, while other specifications are expected to comprise Huawei’s own 1.5GHz quadcore K3V2+ processor and a healthy 2GB of memory. 8GB of internal storage, an 8-megapixel rear camera, and a supposed 5-megapixel front-facing camera round out the key features.

Huawei’s use of what looks like proper metal and glass certainly would be a welcome blast of quality from the company, and there’s no denying that the Ascend P6 – no matter where it takes its styling cues from – is a good looking phone. We’ll know more, including the all-important price and release date, when we catch up with Huawei and the Ascend P6 in the metal in just a few hours time.

VIA G4Games

Lava to launch a $50 Firefox OS smartphone in India

The first commercially available Firefox OS smartphones – the Peak and Keon by Geeksphone – are already pretty cheap, priced at €150 ($200) and €91 ($121) respectively. That doesn't mean, however, that smartphones powered by Mozilla's mobile platform won't go any lower than that. In fact, $50 Firefox OS handset are expected to launch in India, produced by a local smartphone company. 

Lava is the Indian company that has chosen tho give Firefox OS a try. It is currently known for producing affordable Android smartphones with a reasonable set of features for what they cost. It's latest Lava Iris model, for example, packs a 1.2GHz quad-core processor, 4.5-inch screen, and 8MP camera, yet can be bought for the equivalent of roughly $145. 

The upcoming $50 Firefox OS, on the other hand, will most likely have an unimpressive specs sheet. But hey, it might still be better than alternative phones costing as much. Lava has yet to announce any details as to when its low-cost Firefox OS smartphone may be released. In the meantime, you can keep an eye on the Geeksphone web page in case you want to grab yourself one of them Firefox OS phones.

source: My New Machine

HTC Desire 200 goes official: 3.5 inches of low-end Android with Beats Audio

After a dribble of leaks, including one that was entirely accurate, HTC has thrown the Desire 200 live on its website. We're still missing some key info on pricing and availability, but the specs have been laid out in full: a neat form factor housing a 3.5-inch, 320 x 480 LCD display; an aging Snapdragon S1 1GHz processor running an unidentified version of Android (likely 4.0) and HTC's Sense skin; 4GB of expandable storage and 512MB RAM; a 3G modem for HSDPA speeds of up to 7.2Mbps; 5-megapixel camera; and, finally, a pair of "high quality" Beats Audio in-ears (although the webpage depicts a pair of Solos). If anything lifts it above other budget Androids, it'll be the decent-looking build quality and styling, which we hope will come for a very functional price tag.

SOURCE: HTC

Dragon Mobile Assistant by Nuance goes 4.0, includes email dictation, auto Driver Mode and Voice Notifications

Nuance's awesome Dragon Mobile Assistant just got updated to version 4.0, where you can customize the wake-up word. It now includes Voice Notifications that tag along email dictation, as well as text messaging, email, Facebook updates, upcoming appointments and voice call readouts. 

The voice-controlled assistant will now automatically recognize when you are moving fast, and will switch to Driver Mode if you have enabled the function. A bunch of bug fixes is also in tow. Unfortunately Dragon is only US for now, but you search for the APK file and sideload it if you want to take it for a spin.

Apple testing new gestures, folder improvements in iOS 7

Apple has quietly tested some secret features for iOS 7 including improvements in folder management and additional gestures throughout the system. Appledeveloper Hamza Sood found out about features such as folders within folders and additional gestures for multitasking and navigation, but to enable them some additional tweaking is required.

Interestingly, Apple is testing swiping gestures from the edge and the corners that will work from anywhere on iOS. 

Another useful feature that Apple is testing is the ability to hide system apps. Folder management could get a lot of improvements as well including features such as pinch to close a folder.

Apple’s iOS 7 is touted to be the biggest redesign to iDevices software since the first iPhone launched in 2007. It introduces a brand new set of icons and animations, along with features like control centera and notification center. Some of the features have been well received, but others like the icons look surprisingly raw even for an Apple beta.

Adobe releases latest Creative Cloud apps, surveys disgruntled customers about pricing

Love it or hate it, Adobe's Creative Cloud subscription-based software is now the only way to get your favorite apps like Photoshop, Premiere Pro and the like. The company has just released the latest versions of most of those programs, now dubbed CC, which can be installed alongside the current apps for those afraid to change mid-project. Meanwhile, Adobe's trying to tempt previous suite or apps owners to transition to the new system for up to 60 percent off for CS6 owners during a 12-month period, or 40 percent off for those on CS3 to CS5.5. According toPhoto Rumors, Adobe is also considering a new pricing structure in response to a massive online backlash against the subscription model from existing clients, who feel it's too expensive. It sent out a survey asking some of them what they thought about paying $10 per month for three years for Photoshop, or $30 for the entire suite, while being able to keep a permanent CS6 copy of either at the end. Considering the level of vehemence we saw earlier, we'll have to wait and see if that'll fly -- meanwhile, check the PR after the break to see what's new in all the apps.