Samsung White ATIV Smart PC in South Korea

Samsung launched their ATIV Smart PC, which runs Microsoft’s Windows 8 OS last year, and now they have launched a new version of the device in South Korea, although the only changes are the color scheme as this new version comes in white and keeps the same hardware specifications as the existing model.

The Samsung Ativ Smart PC features an 11 inch display with a resolution of 1366 x 768, and is powered by a 1.5 GHz Intel Atom Z2760 Clover Trail processor, it also comes with 2GB of RAM.

Other specifications on the ATIV Smart PC include support for Samsung’s S-Pen, 64GB of built in storage, and it comes with the keyboard dock which also features Ethernet and USB built in.

There are no details as yet on whether Samsung intends to launch the white version of their ATIV Smart PC outside of Korea, as soon as we get some more informati0n we will let you guys know.

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Samsung Acquires Nvelo

Samsung has just announced that it’s acquiring California-based Nvelo, a company developing SSD caching algorithms (or at least one). Nvelo software has been used with SSDs from other manufacturers such as OCZ Technology, Corsair and Crucial. The company’s one and only product is Dataplex, which uses a small SSD cache in combination with a mechanical hard drive.

This type of caching is not new; like similar solutions, Dataplex runs silently in the background and analyzes how data is moved on the disk. Frequently used files are moved to the SSD cache and consequently loads faster. These algorithms have proven to be quite effective and useful, although the performance improvement is of course never on par with an SSD-only alternative.

The main question is what Samsung has in mind for Nvelo, and whether its caching solutions will still be provided to Samsung’s competitors in the SSD market. Apparently, Nvelo and all its staff moved to Samsung, but few relevant details are known about the deal. It seems likely that Dataplex won’t be licensed to competing SSD manufacturers going forward.

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Samsung I9100 Galaxy S II Snap Review

The Samsung Galaxy S II (also known as the Galaxy S2) is Samsung's flagship mobile device, their fastest veer selling smartphone. This isn't surprising, the Galaxy S II improves over the original Galaxy S by a huge margin. When the Galaxy S II was announced, it was the thinnest smartphone in the world with a dual-core processor. Even today the specs of the S II is still considered market leading, rivalled only on paper by phones that aren't yet on the market.

Read on to find out what I think of the Galaxy S II.

Specifications:

• Exynos SoC with 1.2 GHz dual-core ARM Cortex A9 CPU and Mali-400MP GPU
• 1GB RAM and 16GB built-in flash storage
• 4.3" Super AMOLED Plus capacitive touchscreen with 480 x 800 resolution
• Quad band GSM and 3G
• 21 Mbps HSDPA and 5.76 Mbps HSUPA
• 8 Megapixel autofocus camera with LED flash and 1080p30 video recording
• 2 Megapixel front camera
• Bluetooth 3.0 and WiFi 802.11b/g/n
• GPS with A-GPS
• Digital compass

Despite being made entirely of plastic, the Galaxy S II's built quality is great. It feels great in my palms, and at 116g, is very light. The plastic does make it feel cheaper than say the HTC Sensation. Regardless, the Galaxy S II is also very thin, measuring 8.49mm at its thinnest point. A solitary 3.5mm headphone jack sits on the top, while the microphone and microUSB port, which supports Mobile High Definition Link (MHL) and USB On-The-Go, are found on the bottom. Unfortunately the MHL adaptor, required for HDTV-out, is not bundled with the device. On either side of the devices you will find the power button and volume rocker.

I have had my doubts in the past, but after a month of using the S II, I have grown to love the large 4.3" Super AMOLED Plus touchscreen capacitive display. The display, which is covered by Gorilla Glass and has oleophobic coating, is absolutely gorgeous. This is the same screen as seen on the Galaxy II, except that the pixels are now made up of RGB stripes rather than the much maligned PenTile stripes. While the resolution is still 480 x 800, the screen remained sharp, with strong contrast and black levels and colours so over saturated I had to reduce the colour levels in the settings.

Below the display are three hardware buttons. One, the Home key, is physical and the two (Menu and Back) are touch sensitive. By pressing it down, the Menu key also doubles as a regular Android Search key. Not being a fan of touch sensitive buttons, I am glad that the buttons are not too sensitive. You will find the earspeaker, 2 Megapixel front camera, ambient light sensor and proximity sensor.

At the back of the Galaxy S II resides the 8 Megapixel camera with auto-focus and macro capability. The camera is capable of full HD (1080p) video recording. A single LED flash sits next to it. While some may prefer Xenon flash, I found the LED flash to be more useful as it you can use it as a video light. Near the bottom of the back you will find a small speaker grill. The single speaker itself gives out a loud, but unfortunately unfulfilled audio experience. Best to stick with headphones. Underneath the thin textured battery cover you will find the none hot-swappable microSDHC card slot, a full size SIM card slot and a removable 1650 mAh battery. See Apple, this is how it's done.

The design of the Galaxy S II is simple, almost understated. Overall I liked the design, though I do wish Samsung has put in a bit more effort in differentiating their products. The Galaxy S II reminds me greatly of a couple of phones from Samsung's own portfolio as well as this one popular phone from a competitor of theirs... ;) Overall I liked the design, though I still preferred Sony Ericsson's effort with the XPERIA Arc a little bit more. Continue reading.....

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Progskeet 1.2 Testing Nand/Nor PS3

After a long while with progskeet 1.2 and trying to dump a NAND YLOD PS3, I can confirm that Progskeet 1.2 is completely working for NAND ps3's ..

Yesterday at D3M irc .. I talked with sir bailey and though it would be useful to make a detailed thread about what I did..

Setting up before using anything..

1. Install progskeet 1.2 drivers for windows xp "drivers_winusb_111121"
2. Install injectus drivers that comes with "InfectusProgrammer-3.9.9.0"
3. Pogram the progskeet 1.2 with the newest bitstream "130415_2019 (NAND) & 130412_1647 (NOR)" the NAND one.
4. Download the newest winskeet "WinSkeet40000_130425_2056 for 1.2"

Now I had everything set up and I was ready to test :D

After testing on a TSOP-48 DIP adapter i had notice the NAND would be only recognized when connecting pin 12 on a 3.3v pin on skeet and pin 13 on ground from one side of the nand .. the other side of the nand wich has pin 37 3.3v and pin 36 GND must be connected to another "3.3v and GND" points on progskeet !

Then and only then the progskeet 1.2 would recognize my Samsung K9F1G08U0A-PIB0 chip as ECF1801540 when clicking AUTO button on winskeet.

Using TSOP48 socket for NAND/NOR Chips jumpered to Progskeet 1.2

Flashing and Dumping with correct chip ID, NOR tested. @ DigiProg , Helpful tips for NAND setup to be noted as follows:

- zif socket TSOP48 with awg30 wires
- Vcc and Gnd taken from ProgSkeet 1.2
- Short and shielded flat 15-pin cable
- Short usb cable
- R7 closed and R8 open as default
- Bitstream 1223 or 2019 (2019 is a little bit faster, about 5/6 seconds, almost identical)
- Winskeet, latest stable release, v111205

Samsung K9F1G08U0A-PIB0 is recognized as ECF1801540 Samsung, while Samsung K9F1G08U0B-PIB0 is recognized as ECF1009540 Samsung.

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LG Optimus G Pro: Is it really Big Screen?

LG is hoping to take on the U.S. market with its massive 5.5-inch Optimus G Pro — does it have the goods to take on the Samsung juggernaut?

If the Optimus G was LG's attempt to take on the Samsung Galaxy S III, the Optimus G Pro is LG's take on the uber-successful Galaxy Note II.

Now, this isn't LG's first attempt at the phone/tablet space (I hate the word phablet, but it does apply), the company previously tried its hand at the large-phone space with the LG Optimus Vu (released as the Intuition in the U.S.). Unlike the Optimus Vu, the Optimus G Pro has a much more streamlined design and aesthetic.

Big Screen. Really Big

Compared to the Galaxy Note II, the Optimus G Pro has a slimmer profile. Both devices have a 5.5-inch display, but the Optimus G Pro has a smaller bezel on the sides, which makes the device slimmer and easier to hold.

Still, make no mistake, the Optimus G Pro is a big phone. Even for large-palmed individuals, I could see the Optimus G Pro — and any smartphone of its size — being hard or impossible to use with one hand. I'm probably the last person who should use a 5.5-inch phone because my hands (and fingers) are so small.

LG has modes for the phone that are supposed to make one-handed use easier, including better access to a keyboard and dial pad, but it made little difference in my experience.

The 5.5-inch screen is a full 1920x1080 IPS display. That's higher resolution than the 1280x720 on the Galaxy Note II and in line with the full HD displays we've seen from HTC and on the Galaxy S4. It gives the Optimus G Pro a pixel density of 400 ppi, meaning that text and graphical elements are crisp and clear.

The display is bright and vivid, but while I normally prefer IPS panels to Super AMOLED and PenTile displays, I wasn't in love with the viewing angles on the Optimus G Pro. Colors are bright and vivid and video playback and text is super sharp — but the phone doesn't have great viewing angles from the side, which is a shame. Part of the appeal of a phone of this size is that you can easily share it with someone else.

Like the Galaxy line of smartphones, the LG Optimus G Pro has a home button. Unfortunately, because of the way LG designed its bezel (to make the footprint of the phone smaller), the button's shape and positioning is almost hard to press. It just doesn't feel good or comfortable to press.

That wouldn't be a problem if the home button didn't become an important part of navigating the phone itself. In this case, I wish LG had followed its steps with the Optimus G and the Nexus 4 and just gone for all soft buttons.

There is a volume button on the side and a button at the top that toggles LG's Quick Memo feature. QuickNote allows users to quickly draw or write on top of the screen. You do this with your finger — no stylus for the Optimus G Pro.

The phone is made of plastic and the back is removable. This means that the back can be replaced with a Quick Cover to add wireless charging and provides easy access to the huge 3140 mAh battery, the microSD card slot and the SIM.

The phone comes with 32GB of storage and an additional 64 can be added via a microSD card.

The phone also has NFC support, LTE and Bluetooth 4.0.

Under the Hood

The Optimus Pro G has a quad-core Snapdragon processor running at 1.7 Ghz and has 2GB of RAM. It's running Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean, rather than the latest 4.2.2 release. The differences between 4.1.2 and 4.2.2 are minimal, especially when you factor in LG's Android skin, but it is curious that the company wouldn't release the phone with the latest software.

The phone also has dual cameras: a 13 megapixel rear camera and a 2.1 megapixel front-facing camera. Like the Galaxy S4, the Optimus G Pro has a dual-recording mode for photos, video and video conferencing.

Using the phone, I found that performance was generally quite snappy, with little to no discernible lag.

Having said that, I did find myself getting frustrated with LG's Android skin. Maybe I'm just more used to TouchWiz (Samsung's Android skin) or HTC's Sense, but I wasn't in love with the interface.

And while HTC is really touting the importance of Quick Memo, the feature activates itself in some really frustrating ways, often when unexpected. There wasn't an easy way to turn it off altogether — though I'm sure it's possible — and can severely impede with the ability to use the phone.

LG is also touting its idea of on-screen widgets, known as QSlide. It allows for floating instances of other apps like a calculator, note pad or calendar on the screen itself. I can find this being useful — especially the calculator — but it's far from the "multitasking" that LG claims.

Like the Galaxy S4 and the Note II, the Optimus G Pro also has an IR port so that it can act as a remote control. This was one of my favorite features of the Galaxy S4 and the implementation on the Optimus G Pro is similar on the surface.

While setup was simple, I didn't like that I couldn't set the remote to truly act universal — controlling volume on the TV while changing the channel with a cable box. Perhaps that's something that could be merged in settings but in my limited time with the feature, it felt more like a kludge rather than a thought-out feature.

And that's the problem. There's a lot of stuff that on the surface looks cool, but the implementation doesn't feel fully formed. I could lob the same criticism at Samsung, but at least with the Galaxy S4 (and the Note II), it's relatively easy to turn off or ignore the features you don't want.

Camera

The 13 megapixel camera on the Optimus Pro G is solid but nothing to write home about. The camera software includes time shift features we've seen from HTC, Samsung and BlackBerry, as well as various automatic modes.

In my limited testing time, I was disappointed with the softness of some of the shots and the automatic white balance. I did, however, like how easy it was to focus and take a shot.

The same was true for video. It's fine quality, but nothing particularly stellar.

The dual video mode works similarly to the implementation on the Galaxy S4. Samsung, however, has done a better job with the camera software and it makes accessing that feature easier. Of course, it also helps that the Galaxy S4 is a physically smaller device. Trying to take a photo or video with a phone the size of the Optimus G Pro is only slightly easier than trying to do it with a Nexus 7 or iPad mini.

Call Quality and LTE Speeds

The Optimus G Pro is available exclusively on AT&T. AT&T's LTE network in New York City is really robust and easily rivals Verizon in most parts of the city. I was consistently getting 30 Mbps down and 20 Mbps up.

Call quality on the phone is solid, although I'd recommend using it with a Bluetooth headset or pair of earbuds to avoid looking like Zack Morris. Moreover, if you're a smaller person, the size of the phone just isn't easy to hold up to your face. So not only do you look silly, it feels awkward.

Overall: Solid, If Uninspiring

There's a lot to like about the LG Optimus G Pro. It has solid specs and is a good performer. But that's no longer enough for a great phone.

Right now the Android ecosystem has two hot phones, the HTC One and the Galaxy S4, that offer a more manageable experience, better performance and better software.

Moreover, while the Optimus G Pro is better than the Galaxy Note II in the spec department, it's only a matter of time before the Note III gets released. If you're interested in a large screen phone, that's what I would wait for — because it's sure to get Samsung's latest Galaxy S4 features and improvements.

At $199 (and less if you take advantage of AT&T's trade-in program), the Optimus G Pro is a good value but at the same time, I can't find myself getting overly excited about a phone that is a solid performer, but ultimately not very special.

This one didn't wow me, and the tricks that were designed to wow just turned out to be annoying.

Still, if you're in the market for a large, HD screen phone, the Optimus G Pro might just be the ticket. But maybe consider installing the Nova Launcher. - Mashable

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IPS vs AMOLED vs SLCD – smartphone displays explained

You’ll spend most of your time looking at the display more than anything else but what are smartphone display panels made of?

As with any technology, smartphone display panels are a mega business on their own. Japanese component and notebook giant Toshiba has had to brush aside rumours that Apple was planning to invest in a new production line built by Toshiba Mobile Display, such is the demand of high-quality, high-resolution display panels.

But when you start looking at the specs of smartphone displays, it can get very confusing very quickly. You might think you’re just looking at a bunch of pixels but how those pixels are created can affect everything from the price of your phone to how long the battery lasts.

The type of display your smartphone has is typically described by an alphabet soup – LTPS, AMOLED, SLCD, Super AMOLED and TFT LCD all represent different technologies used in the production of display panels. Knowing what each type does, its benefits and drawbacks will help you understand just how good (or not) your phone is.

LTPS – Low-temperature polycrystalline silicon

If you see these written as a display type, forget it – LTPS is a description of a manufacturing process, not a display technology. Low-temperature polycrystalline silicon can be used to make different types of screens – AMOLED as well as standard LCDs. It’s a way of creating tiny silicon crystals that go into making the pixels of a display. The “low temperature” part is important because it means this process can create screens using low temperatures, allowing low-cost substances such as plastics to be used as the backing material on which the display panel is infused or created. As a result, it also means you can create more flexible display panels.

AMOLED – Active-matrix organic light-emitting diode

Okay, this is a type of screen technology. OLEDs or organic light-emitting diodes have been around for a while now and they have one significant benefit: to produce black, you simply turn an OLED off. To produce a light colour, they have to produce light. So they have huge potential for power savings in mobile devices.

The “Active matrix” describes how each OLED is addressed or controlled. The alternative is a passive matrix display where rows or columns of OLEDs are addressed rather than individual pixels. As a result, AMOLED displays are not only brighter, use less power, they’re also faster.

The problem is that AMOLED panels are in high demand, with that demand exceeding supply.

The other issue with AMOLEDs is that because of the fabrication process, they can be difficult to see if viewed in direct sunlight. AMOLED panels are typically three layers, the AMOLEDs, the touch-panel sensor layer made of glass and then the top glass protective surface with air in between each layer. The diffusion of light through all three layers causes the AMOLED light to be diffused and difficult to see.

AMOLED panels are used in a number of phones including Google’s Nexus One and early versions of the HTC Desire.

Super AMOLED

So Korean giant Samsung decided to come up with a different method that combined the top glass layer and the touch-panel glass layer into one.

This promotional video gives you a brief overview of Samsung’s Super AMOLED technology.

By reducing the number of layers and removing one air gap, light dispersal is reduced, making these AMOLED displays easier to see in bright light.

Samsung uses the Super AMOLED panel in its Galaxy S phone and is expected to use it inside the upcoming Nexus S.

SLCD – Super liquid-crystal display

LCD has been the mainstay for display panels from PDAs to notebooks to TVs over the last 15 years or so. What makes Super LCD so super is said to be improved light bleeding so that blacks actually look a bit more like black than they typically used to, giving better overall contrast. In comparisions with AMOLED, some reviews suggest that SLCD gives warmer colours than AMOLED. However, battery life appears to be worse with SLCD displays.

SLCD shouldn’t be confused with S-LCD, which is the name for the Samsung/Sony joint venture for manufacturing LCD panels.

Smartphone maker HTC began using SLCD panels in its Desire smartphones in August 2010 due to shortages in AMOLED panels from Samsung. If you have an early Desire, it’ll more likely have an AMOLED panel whereas those manufactured after August 2010 will have an SLCD panel instead.

IPS – In-plane switching

Apart from poor contrast ratios, the other issue with LCD panels is poor viewing angles. The further you move of the centre axis of an LCD panel, the worse the image becomes until you begin to see the reflected negative of that display. In-plane switching is a more expensive solution to the viewing angle problem by changing the direction in which the liquid crystal molecules move. So instead of the normal right-angle or perpendicular switching, IPS panels switch molecules in the same plane as the panel. It means light transmitted through the molecules can be seen at (almost) any angle.

IPS technology is most often used in LCD monitors – and usually at prices three times the going rate. It’s the technology behind Apple’s Retina display in the iPhone 4.

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Apple iPhone 6 Rumors: Release Date In 2013, But Cheaper iPhone 5 Won't Feature A Retina Display

For months, we've been talking about two different successors to the iPhone 5, including a true sequel with all the bells and whistles -- the iPhone 5S -- and an all-new design said to aim specifically at emerging and lower-income global markets like India and China. But to build this cheaper, more affordable "iPhone 6," one analyst believes Apple (NASDAQ:APPL) will release the phone without a Retina display.

On Friday, RBC Capital Markets analyst Amit Daryanani released a research note (via MacRumors) saying he believes the low-cost iPhone 6 will see its release date in June or July 2013, but the phone will not feature Apple's signature Retina display.

"Our supply-chain checks indicate that AAPL is working to launch multiple new phones in the June/July time-frame this year," Daryanani said. "Specifically, AAPL will launch the iPhone 5S and a more affordable but lower-income iPhone at the same time, in either late CYQ2 or Q3. The low-end iPhone will have the same 4" form factor as the iPhone 5 but will have plastic casing and no retina display [sic]. With a lower price-point, AAPL will be able to target a growing and important part of the Smartphone market (sub-$400 price-band)."

Several other analysts have said the iPhone 5S and iPhone 6 will both be released simultaneously in 2013, but Daryanani's note about the device's Retina display conflicts with other trusted reports from analysts who have proved accurate in the past. Specifically, KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who correctly predicted Apple's entire product pipeline in 2012, believes the iPhone 6 will indeed release in June or July, but will feature the same 326 ppi Retina display as the iPhone 5.

It would make little sense for Apple to introduce an inferior display in the iPhone 6. Even the iPhone 4, which is currently available for free in the U.S. (with a two-year contract), features a Retina display. If Apple wants to lower prices, reducing the screen density won't make much of a difference in overall cost. Instead, it's been reported that Apple will build the phone with different materials, opting for a "hybrid casing of fiberglass and plastic" that makes it lighter and slimmer than most plastic-encased smartphones, but certainly cheaper to make. KGI Securities' Kuo believes the iPhone 6 will still be heavier than the iPhone 5S, which will reportedly be cased in aluminum and released around the same time.

Need more reasons to believe the cheaper iPhone 6 will feature a Retina display? On Thursday, Apple officially told developers that all apps submitted to the App Store must support the Retina display resolution (326 ppi) and 4-inch screen size of the iPhone 5 and fifth-generation iPod touch starting May 1. If all developers are being forced to scale their apps to the new screen size in May, Apple will likely make a big iPhone and/or iOS-related announcement soon after -- most likely at its Worldwide Developers Conference in June.

Why Apple Should Release The iPhone 6 In 2013

Apple is facing stiffening competition from its rivals at Samsung Electronics (KRX:005935), Google (NASDAQ:GOOG), and even Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT); recently, Apple got to see Samsung release its newest flagship phone, the Galaxy S4, which looks to be the biggest competition to the iPhone in 2013 -- like 2012 all over again. Apple will need all the firepower it can muster in its smartphone line-up if it hopes to maintain customer interest in a tightening marketplace.

With the advent of cheaper, smaller, and more power-efficient chipsets, Apple can certainly afford to build an entry-level smartphone in addition to its current iPhone 5 (or 5S) -- either making it larger, like the Samsung Galaxy S3, or possibly a smaller iPhone Nano -- to appeal to consumers who can’t quite afford Apple’s most popular product, including many in China.

Reports of Apple's desire to build multiple iPhone models have been echoed on Wall Street. On Jan. 2, Topeka Capital Markets analyst Brian White said the company will likely release its iPhone 5 successor in more colors and screen sizes, implying that Apple might sell an iPhone that's smaller or larger than the current iPhone 5 or even the previous-generation iPhone 4S or 4 units.

"Although Apple offers a 4-inch screen on the iPhone 5 and a 3.5-inch screen on the iPhone 4S and iPhone 4, the company has never offered multiple screen sizes for a single model," White said. "We believe this is about to change with the next iPhone offering different screen sizes that we believe will allow Apple to better bifurcate the market and expand its reach."

China is the biggest new market for Apple at this moment: The company is reportedly trying to strike a deal in 2013 with China Mobile Ltd. (NYSE:CHL), the largest telecommunications carrier in the world with 703 million active subscribers, to build a TD-LTE version of the iPhone 5 to work on the carrier’s high-speed networks. Apple CEO Tim Cook even visited China Mobile headquarters on Jan. 10 to meet with company Chairman Xi Guohua to discuss “matters of cooperation,” but Apple needs this deal now: The Samsung Galaxy S4 will release on TD-LTE this year, which presents an enormous opportunity for Samsung if it can release its popular smartphone unopposed.

Considering Apple’s urgency to strike a deal with China Mobile, as well as the growing competition to be compatible with China's most popular carrier, it’s likely we could see Apple release both the iPhone 5S and iPhone 6 this year in an attempt to dominate the growing markets in Asia.

iPhone 6 Rumors: What Features Might It Include?

iLounge editor-in-chief Jeremy Horwitz detailed in January what he called the "budget iPhone 5," which he said looks like the iPhone 5, but features several new design tweaks.

“Yes, it will be made substantially from plastic,” Horwitz wrote, echoing an earlier DigiTimes report that said the iPhone 5S or 6 would feature a hybrid chassis made of both plastic and metal. “No, it won’t just be a Retina- and Lightning-equipped refresh of the iPhone 3G or 3GS, Apple’s last plastic iPhones, nor will it look just like an all-plastic version of the iPhone 5. This new model is actually a cross between the iPhone 5, the fifth-generation iPod touch, and -- wait for it -- the iPod classic. Yes, really. It will have a 4-inch screen, like the iPhone 5, a bottom like the latest iPod touch and a shape that’s most similar to the iPod classic.”

The original DigiTimes report on the low-cost iPhone 6 said the new iPhone’s internal parts could “be seen from the outside through a special design." If this rumor is accurate, the finished design for the cheap iPhone 6 might look like an iPhone 5 mixed with the plastic enclosure of the iPhone 3GS from 2009 mixed with the final design for the Bondi blue iMac in 1998, which was characterized by its brightly colored, translucent plastic casing that could let users see the innards of their desktop computers for the first time.

Horwitz believes the low-cost iPhone 6 will feature specs nearly identical to those in the iPhone 5, but will be "a half-millimeter taller and a half-millimeter wider," as well as a full millimeter thicker. While these changes are minimal, Horwitz noted the biggest design change in the iPhone 6 will be the curves.

“Apple’s budget housing looks closest to the iPod classic in shape, though not in materials,” Horwitz said. “Unlike the plastic iPhone 3G/3GS, which featured soft curves on all sides, the budget iPhone’s curves start and end at flat surfaces, so each side and the back are flat. This seems like a trivial change, until you realize that it allows Apple to use flat rather than curve-matched parts: The right side has a flat, centered SIM card tray just like the iPhone 5’s, while all of the buttons and ports are on flat rather than curved surfaces. A flat-backed iPhone won’t rock on a flat surface when it vibrates, either.”

The proportions of the iPhone 6 will resemble those of the latest-generation iPod touch, with similar locations for the camera, microphone and rear flash, according to Horwitz. The bottom microphone, headphone jack, Lightning dock, and speaker are in the same locations as in the iPhone 5, but the new iPhone 6 is said to have an extra microphone on the bottom, as well as four individual holes for the speaker grill, rather than the 26 speaker holes at the bottom of the iPhone 5.

“In summary, the budget iPhone will look a lot like an iPhone 5 from the front, an iPod classic from the side, and an iPod touch 5G on the bottom -- only made from plastic rather than glass or metal,” Horwitz concluded. “It won’t make any bold departures from past Apple designs, but then, it’s supposed to be an inexpensive iPhone and achieves that goal pretty much as expected.”

Besides the form factor, Horwitz believes the next iPhone will feature a processor bump -- possibly an Apple-built A7 chip -- as well as improvements to the camera and flash, integrating a new aperture and 13-megapixel lens.

That said, most rumors about the iPhone 6 have revolved around its display, as Apple is reportedly investing a great deal of time, energy and capital on the screen for its next-gen iPhone 5S and iPhone 6.

A Jan. 3 report by the China Times said Apple might switch to a "Touch On Display" panel currently in development at one of the company's suppliers, Taiwan-based Innolux Corp. (TPE:3481), which has reportedly licensed Sharp's proprietary IGZO display technology.

Whether or not Apple taps Innolux to make screens for the next iPhone, however, the company will most likely feature Sharp's ultrathin IGZO display technology in its next iPhone -- the iPhone 5S, iPhone 6, or both.

In late December, Asymco analyst Horace Dediu and DigiTimes both mentioned Apple’s alleged investment in the ultrathin IGZO displays produced by Sharp, predicting the inclusion of the technology in Apple’s next batch of iOS devices, including iPhones and iPads. Dediu also pointed to Apple’s recent $2.3 billion investment in “product tooling, manufacturing process equipment, and infrastructure,” believing the cash was used to help bail out Sharp, which had been in financial straits last year. Sharp is reportedly going “all in” on IGZO technology, so it’s possible Apple saved Sharp to leverage its investment in the next generation of displays.

As noted by Tom's Hardware, the IGZO display is not only thin and tough, but also can handle even higher screen densities than Apple’s Retina display, which is visually stunning on its own. IGZO displays can reportedly handle display densities north of 330 ppi: In comparison, the new iPad 4 can only achieve 264 ppi.

One of the advantages of IGZO display technology is its lower power consumption. Most Apple products, from the iPhone 5 to the iPad 4, require cartoonishly big batteries to achieve just eight hours of power -- this is because current-gen Retina displays are extremely power-hungry. If Apple wanted its iPhone 6 not only to last longer during the day but also to charge faster when plugged in, IGZO seems to be the way to go for the next generation of iOS devices.

Apple sold 47.8 million iPhones and 22.9 million iPads in the company's fiscal first quarter ended Dec. 29.

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Samsung Galaxy Pocket S5300 repair, disassembly manual, guide

There is really a time negligence very unfortunate that my Samsung GT-S5300 aka Samsung Pocket fell from my pocket during these raining days. The problem goes need for servicing but I have to DIY and I found a good tutorial from YouTube just wanted to share to my readers.

Here it is next time if your Samsung Pocket happen swim during the rainy days all you have to do is open the case and buy Laquer Thinner wash it immediately, good I have my Rework Station at home and used this "hot air" to dried myphone. Luckily after I serviced it it goes back to my normally without bringing to the Cellphone Shop.

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iPhone 5 vs Galaxy S3 vs Google Nexus 4

Google has finally unveiled its next generation of Nexus smartphone – the Nexus 4, which is built by LG and designed by Google. The Nexus 4 features a 4.7-inch 1280 x 768 IPS display, a 1.5GHz Quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro processor, 2GB of RAM, 8 megapixel rear camera and a 1.3 megapixel front-facing camera. The phone will come in two variants – 8GB for $299 and 16GB for $349, unlocked and without any contract. Surely this phone is priced very attractively and is a powerful offering from LG and Google.

The Nexus 4 is LG’s first attempt on building Google’s flagship – Nexus branded phone. The technical specs of this phone matches to that of the LG Optimus G smartphone but the Nexus 4 is priced more competitively.

Here’s a side-by-side comparison of the LG Nexus 4, Samsung Galaxy S3 and the iPhone 5.

The Nexus 4 is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro clocked 1.5GHz and Samsung is powering their Galaxy S3 by an Exynos 4412 1.4GHz. Apple on the other hand powers iPhone 5 with the 1.2GHz dual core A6 processor, which means that the iPhone lacks the same processing power as its Android rivals.

The Google Nexus 4 debuts with the latest version of Android – the Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. The 4.2 version is still called as Jelly Bean, which can be considered as an upgraded version of 4.1. Samsung’s Galaxy S3 will soon be upgraded to 4.1 Jelly Bean and the Apple’s iPhone 5 already comes with the iOS 6 – Apple’s latest mobile operating system.

Talking from the storage point of view, then the Google Nexus 4 comes in both 8GB and 16GB variants and doesn’t comes with any microSD expansion. The Samsung Galaxy S3 comes in 16GB, 32GB and 64GB variants and it also offers support to expand the memory up to 64GB via a microSD card. The iPhone 5 offers three variants – 16GB, 32GB or 64GB and doesn’t allows support for microSD card.

One thing that is missing on Nexus 4 is 4G LTE, whereas the Galaxy S3 and iPhone 5 comes equipped with 4G LTE. But then again, by looking at the price of the Nexus 4 at $299 SIM free for the 8GB model, we cannot complain much. For this price, you are getting a Quad-core processor, big screen and the latest version of Android. Surely Nexus 4 seems to be a budget-user’s dream of getting their hands on Android. - source

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Huawei is 3rd in global smartphone shipments, LG grows, Apple slows, Samsung leads

A new report by research and consulting firm Strategy Analytics outlined global smartphone shipments for Q3 2013. Total smartphone shipments reached a record 251 million last quarter, a rise of 45 percent overall. Here are some of the firm’s findings:

Huawei

China’s Huawei smartphone shipments grew 67 percent since this time last year to 12.7 million units. That makes Huawei the third-largest smartphone manufacturer in the world, confirming IDC’s findings in Q4 of last year.

Huawei might still be hitting hurdles from government regulators (most recently in Taiwan), but the company is steadily expanding its global reach.

Samsung

Samsung (KRX:005935) leads the pack with a 35 percent share of all smartphone shipments worldwide. It grew 55 percent annually and shipped 88.4 million smartphones, increasing its lead from 33 percent.

Apple

Apple (AAPL) sits in second place, but only grew half as much as the industry average. It shipped 33.8 million iPhones, but only grew 26 percent. Apple just released a decidedly weaker earnings report today.

LG

LG (KRX:066570; LSE:LGLD) actually grew the fastest of any smartphone maker, putting it in fourth place, according to the report. The South Korean smartphone maker has been expanding rapidly in Europe, growing 71 percent overall.

Lenovo

Lenovo (0992.HK) took fifth place with 10.8 million smartphones shipped and a four percent market share. Even with Huawei and Lenovo’s combined market shares, Chinese smartphone makers still trail far behind Apple and Samsung.

(Source: Herald Online)

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Apple ‘cuts order for iPhone5 parts’ on 2013

Apple has slashed orders for the screens used on its iPhone5 because of weak sales while arch-rival Samsung has sold its 100 millionth Galaxy S device, in a sign of changing fortunes in the mobile market.

The iPhone maker has almost halved its order of liquid-crystal display panels from key suppliers, according to the Japanese newspaper the Nikkei.

Apple has told three suppliers, Japan Display, Sharp and LG Display, that it requires fewer screens, after previously requesting as many as 65 million units for the January to March quarter. Japan Display’s plant in Nomi, a key iPhone supplier, is expected to reduce output temporarily by between 70% and 80%, compared with the October to December period.

The iPhone5 is longer and lighter than previous models, but consumers have been underwhelmed and there have been glitches, notably the flawed maps function.

Apple has dominated the smartphone market with iPhone since its launch in 2007, but Samsung has caught up in recent years, following the launch of the Galaxy S series in May 2010. Last year, the latest model, the Galaxy S III, helped the South Korean firm to leapfrog its US rival to become the world’s top-selling smartphone manufacturer.

Sales of Samsung’s Galaxy S series have reached 100 million in under three years — faster than Apple’s iPhone, which took nearly four years.

Apple’s share price has tumbled by a quarter since September when iPhone5 debuted. In contrast, Samsung’s shares powered to a new record last week.

Both companies are benefiting from the mobile boom as consumers prefer smartphones and tablets to the traditional desktop or personal computer. Research firm Gartner reported today that global sales of PCs slumped 5% in the last three months, to 90.3 million. Gartner said the launch of “compelling low-cost tablets” — such as the Google Nexus and Amazon Kindle Fire — was helping to drive the shift from PC to tablet. - source

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Exynos 5 Octa Upcoming Galaxy S4

Samsung's upcoming Galaxy S4 handset could be powered by the company's new Exynos 5 Octa system-on-chip processor, if new leaked details are correct.

The processor, which is also believed to power the soon-to-be-released Galaxy Note 3 phablet device, isn't an eight-core chip in the traditional sense: as well as four high-performance processing cores based on ARM's Cortex-A15 design, it apparently includes a further four Cortex-A7 cores processing cores that offer less power but require less energy to operate. When the smartphone is running a processor-intensive application, such as a 3D game, the high-performance cores activate; when the phone is being used for less intensive work, such as making a call or listening to music, the high-performance cores are deactivated and the low-power cores used instead. However, only one set of four cores can be active at once.

The design is part of a system ARM calls big.LITTLE, similar to the 'companion core' concept found in Nvidia's Tegra 3 and 4 processors, but Samsung is the first company to attempt to launch an eight-core device into smartphones and tablets.

According to details posted to the AnTuTu Benchmark site, the Samsung Galaxy S4 will feature the model number GT-I9500. No other details were made public by the benchmark results, but previous rumours claim that the handset may feature a new 4.99in display with a Full HD 1080p resolution, 2GB of RAM and a high-resolution 13-megapixel rear-facing camera. The handset is expected to launch with Android 4.2 Jelly Bean as its operating system, becoming one of the first non-Nexus devices to feature the latest build of Google's popular mobile platform.

Thus far, Samsung has not commented on the rumours surrounding its Galaxy S4 handset plans. - source

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Apple iPhone 5C and 5S launch gives China hang up over high price

Chinese analysts and consumers at Apple press event in Beijing say plastic 5C model is not low-end as publicity had suggested.

China's Apple fans tend to meet the company's product releases with the same anticipation and reverence as their western counterparts. Yet in Cupertino, the California-based company's unveiling of two new iPhone models on Tuesday night left some of them scratching their heads.

On Wednesday morning Apple showed taped footage of its Silicon Valley product release to about 80 reporters at a swish Beijing hotel. It was the company's first-ever media event in China, leading many analysts to believe that one of the new models would be specifically aimed at capturing the Chinese smartphone market, currently the largest in the world.

Many China tech analysts predicted that one of the new models – the iPhone 5C, a slightly less expensive, plastic-backed version of the iPhone 5 – would cost 3,000 yuan (£310), giving it an edge over low-cost competitors. Yet on Wednesday, the company announced that a 5C with 16GB of memory would cost 4,488 yuan (£465), roughly the same cost as the iPhone 5. The other model, the iPhone 5S – which features faster hardware and a fingerprint reader beneath the home button – will sell for 5,288 yuan (£547).

Nicole Zhou, a 30-year-old employee at a state-owned enterprise, bought herself a Samsung S4 phone on Wednesday afternoon, hours after the announcement. "I didn't know the price was going to be 5,000 yuan," she said. "I don't see any really big difference between this and the other new iPhone."

Users of China's most popular microblogging service Sina Weibo chimed in as well. "The C stands for costly," was one common refrain. The "S" in 5S, some users surmised, may stand for "superfluous" or "super-expensive".

Other users compared the 5C's colourful plastic shell to a potato peeler. "Every family in Britain could use an iPhone 5C … because you need something in the kitchen to take care of all those potatoes," wrote a user calling themselves A-Chuan Wants to Rest.

Apple stores in China will begin selling the handsets on 20 September, the same day as they hit shelves in the US.

"Even though Apple has a lower-end iPhone now, its price is still considered mid-end in China and not low-end," Sandy Shen, a Shanghai-based analyst for Gartner, told Reuters. "Considering Apple's old rival Samsung and domestic players such as Huawei, Lenovo and Coolpad all have phones in that category, Apple will still lose out in market share in these key segments."

China is Apple's biggest market outside of the US and Europe, but its market share has declined precipitously over the past year, as international competitors such as Samsung and local brands such as Huawei and Xiaomi introduce comparable phones at lower costs. Apple is currently ranked seventh in the country in terms of sales.

While Apple has lost much of its market share, it has not lost its prestige. "It's like, all of my colleagues were watching the media release really closely," said Chen Xin, 23, a human resources employee at a five-star hotel in Beijing. "For them, the price means nothing compared with the prestige of the brand. Everybody thinks that Apple products are really cool."

Chen used an iPhone 4S until last year, when she bought a Samsung phone. She doesn't plan on switching back to Apple. "It's just too expensive," she said. - source

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Blackcat USB SPI Flash Programmer ST SPANSION MXIC AMD

BlackcatUSB a multi-protocol flash memory programming tool

Capable of programming thousands of flash memory devices using JTAG or SPI connections.

This eBay item includes: a new BlackcatUSB board, USB cable, and a jumper cable of your choice.

Features:

• Open-source software supports multi-languages: English, French, German, Portuguese, Spanish
• Fast 16MHz RISC processor
• 32KB Flash (upgraded from 16KB!)
• 2 DIP switches for mode application changes
• Upgradeable firmware over USB
• On board reset button
• Universal CFI Flash programming support (over JTAG)
• SPI Mode 0, 1, 2 compatible
• USB 1.1 / 2.0 compatible
• Dual voltage (3.3v or 5v) output

This product includes a choice of these three cables for your target device:

This device can be used to program the flash memory of thousands of different memory devices, including the BIOS chips often used on many newer motherboards for both PC and laptops. It can be used on millions of devices to fix broken devices due to bad or corrupted firmware.

MSI Eclipse Motherboard

MSI P6NGM Motherboard

MSI P6NSLI Motherboard

Easy to use Microsoft Windows based software:

Reading flash data using JTAG mode

Writing flash data using SPI mode

FREE Open-source software compatible with:
Windows 2000, 2003, XP, Vista and Windows 7 (32-bit and 64-bit versions)
Mutli-language support: English, French, German, Portuguese, and Spanish,
(Download software and driver, version 330)

Verified to work with these CFI Flash devices:

AMD S29GL320 Intel  28F128J3 Samsung  K8D3216UB MXIC  29LV800BMC AMD 28F400BT Intel  28F160B3 Samsung  K8D3216UT SHARP  28F320BJE AMD 29DL322GB Intel  28F160B3 ST M28W160CB SHARP  LH28F160BJHG AMD 29DL322GT Intel  28F160C3B ST M29D323DB SHARP  28F160S3 AMD 29DL323GB Intel  28F160C3T FUJITSU  29DL323GB SHARP  28F320S3 AMD 29DL323GT Intel  28F320B3 FUJITSU  29DL323TE Microchip  SST 39VF1600 AMD 29DL324GB Intel  28F320B3 FUJITSU  29LV160B Microchip  SST 39VF1601 AMD 29DL324GT Intel  28F320C3 FUJITSU  29LV160T Microchip  SST 39VF3201 AMD 29LV160DB Intel  28F320C3 FUJITSU  29LV320BE Microchip  SST 39VF800 AMD 29LV160DT Intel  28F320J3 FUJITSU  29LV320TE ST / Micron  MT28W320 AMD 29LV320DB Intel  28F320J5 FUJITSU  29LV800B ST / Micron  MT28W320 AMD 29LV320DT Intel  28F640B3 Micron  28F160C34B ST / Micron  29W320DB AMD 29LV320MB Intel  28F640B3 Micron  28F160C34T ST / Micron  29W320DT AMD 29LV320MT Intel  28F640C3 Micron  28F322P3 ST / Micron  M29W160EB AMD 29LV400BB Intel  28F640C3 MXIC  25FL0165A ST / Micron  M29W160ET AMD 29LV800BB Intel  28F640J3 MXIC  29LV161B ST / Micron  M58LW064D Spansion  29AL016M Intel  28F640J5 MXIC  29LV161T ST / Micron  M29W800AB ATMEL  AT49BV/LV16X Intel  28F800B3 MXIC  29LV320B TOSHIBA  TC58FVT160B ATMEL  AT49BV/LV16XT Intel  28F800C3 MXIC  29LV320B TOSHIBA  TC58FVB321 HYHYNIX  HY29F400TT Samsung  K8D1716UB MXIC  29LV320T TOSHIBA  TC58FVT160 HYHYNIX  HY29LV1600T Samsung  K8D1716UT MXIC  29LV320T TOSHIBA  TC58FVT321

Verified to work with these SPI Flash devices:

Atmel  AT25DF641 Microchip  SST 25WF040 ST / Micron  M25P64 MXIC  MX25L128 Atmel  AT25DF321 Microchip  SST 25WF040B ST / Micron  M25P32 MXIC  MX25L256 Atmel  AT25DF161 Microchip  SST 25WF080 ST / Micron  M25P16 EON EN25F20 Atmel  AT25DF081 Microchip  SST 25WF080B ST / Micron  M25P80 EON EN25F40 Atmel  AT25DF021 Microchip  SST 25WF016 ST / Micron  M25P40 EON EN25F80 Atmel  AT26DF081A Microchip  SST 25WF016B ST / Micron  M25P20 EON EN25F16 Atmel  AT26DF161 Microchip  SST 25WF032 ST / Micron  M25P10 EON EN25F32 Atmel  AT26DF161A Microchip  SST 25WF032B Windbond  W25X40 EON EN25F64 Atmel  AT26DF321 Microchip  SST 25WF064 Windbond  W25X80 PMC  PM25LV010 Atmel  AT45DB011 Microchip  SST 25WF064B Windbond  W25X16 PMC  PM25LV020 Atmel  AT45DB021 Microchip  SST 25WF128B Windbond  W25X32 PMC  PM25LV040 Atmel  AT45DB041 Spansion  S25FL256S Windbond  W25X64 PMC  PM25LV080B Atmel  AT45DB081 Spansion  S25FL128S Windbond  W25Q80BV PMC  PM25LV016B Atmel  AT45DB161 Spansion  S25FL128P Windbond  W25Q16BV PCT 25VF512A Atmel  AT45DB321 Spansion  S25FL064 Windbond  W25Q32BV PCT 25VF010A Atmel  AT45DB642 Spansion  S25FL032 Windbond  W25Q64BV PCT 25VF020B Atmel  AT45DB011D Spansion  S25FL016 MXIC MX25L10 PCT 25VF040B Atmel  AT45DB021D Spansion  S25FL008 MXIC MX25L20 PCT 25VF080B Atmel  AT45DB041D ST / Micron  N25Q00A MXIC MX25L40 PCT 25VF016B Atmel  AT45DB081D ST / Micron  N25Q512 MXIC MX25L80 PCT 25VF032B Atmel  AT45DB161D ST / Micron  N25Q256 MXIC  MX25L160 PCT 25VF064C Atmel  AT45DB321D ST / Micron  N25Q128 MXIC  MX25L320 PCT 26VF016 Atmel  AT45DB642D ST / Micron  M25P128 MXIC  MX25L640 PCT 26VF032 ST / Micron  N25Q064

Verified MCU specific devices supported:

Nordic nRF24LE1 (16KB  flash over SPI) Xilinx CoolRunner-II  series (XC2C32A, XC2C64A, XC2C128, XC2C256, XC2C384, XC2C512)

If you need to program a flash here that is not listed, just contact us and request to have it added. We are able to add any SPI or CFI compatible flash to our software free of charge. If you need a specific MCU supported (such as a device with on board memory that can be programmed via SPI or JTAG), contact us!

New feature: manual configure for SPI devices

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