Surface not delayed and should be expected on October 26th

A lot of theories have been laid out regarding those delayed shipping notices for those who pre-ordered the Surface RT.
Customers have received an email noting that their order should not be expected to be fulfilled until November 2nd, obviously putting a damper on pre-ordering. Turns out of all the thought out reasons for the delay, none took into account the simplest: it was an error.

The official Twitter account for Surface (@Surface) just tweeted that “An incorrect email was sent to several customers who preordered #Surface. Customers should expect their devices by the original date given.” That should be a relief for those few who did receive an email, though we wonder if Microsoft will contact them directly (not everyone see Tweets or reads tech sites).

So, there’s no shortage of supplies or import delays or other shenanigans, just a simple erroneously sent email.

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Nexus 7: UK’s Best Selling tablet

Google launched Nexus 7 in 2012 at Google IO. Due to its cheapness, quality and Jelly Bean it sold like cakes. oh, sorry selling like cakes. After Kindle Fire its the most sold Android Tablet and still getting good response from users and buyers. This trust, cheapness and quality has made it best-selling tablet in UK.

The Nexus 7 tablet went on sale on July 27th in the UK by Carphone Warehouse and today it achieved best-selling tablet in UK title according to Carphone Warehouse, UK’s largest mobile retailer. Carphone Carphone didn’t reveal stats sheet. SO now it’s trending more than Apple’s iPad.

It has been estimated that Google could sell as many as 8 million Nexus 7 tablets by the end of year. The Mountain View-based company previously said that it hoped to sell 3 million tablets in 2012.

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Sony announces 2,000 more layoffs

Working at Sony (SNE) can’t be very much fun at the moment, as the company on Friday announced another round of layoffs that will reduce its workforce by 2,000 employees by the end of the year. Sony said that roughly half of the layoffs are “expected to be in support functions, including the headquarters of Sony” in Japan. Sony first announced plans to cut its workforce by 10,000 this past spring, and over the summer the company cut 1,000 workers from its mobile division. The company’s full press release is posted below.

Update on Restructuring of Sony’s Electronics Business Operations in Japan Sony Corporation (“Sony” or “the Company”) today announced additional steps it is taking to accelerate structural reforms of its headquarters and electronics business operations in Japan, including consolidating certain manufacturing operations and expediting measures to reduce its headcount.Amidst a highly competitive business environment, Sony has been undertaking a series of measures to revitalize and grow its electronics business. As part of its mid-term strategic initiatives announced in April 2012, Sony identified resource optimization as one of the key initiatives for transforming its electronics business and Sony has since been progressively implementing various structural reform measures to optimize costs, streamline its overall organization, accelerate decision-making processes and establish firm foundations for sustainable future growth. In its prior corporate strategy announcement, Sony stated that through the combination of these structural reform measures and business portfolio realignment it expected to reduce headcount across the entire Sony Group, primarily in the electronics business, by approximately 10,000 in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2013 (“FY12”), including approximately 3,000 to 4,000 in Japan.

Among the measures undertaken to date are integration and consolidation of sales offices and resource optimization in sales and marketing organizations, primarily in Japan, the U.S. and Europe. Within Sony’s headquarters and support operations, certain functions have been integrated and organizational structures have been streamlined, while the Company has conducted a thorough review of work content and work-flow process to ensure greater operational efficiency across these operations. Furthermore, on July 1, 2012, Sony established Sony Corporate Services (Japan) Corp., which is working to build a horizontal platform that incorporates support operations from across Sony’s consolidated subsidiaries in Japan.

As the proportion of Sony’s finished products being produced at its overseas manufacturing sites and by external ODM/OEM vendors continues to increase, Sony has also been taking measures, such as site consolidation, to better reflect the current scale of production, as well as steps to further enhance operational efficiency.

The new restructuring measures announced today, relating to Sony’s headquarters and electronics business operations in Japan are as follows.

Consolidation of Manufacturing Sites

In order to enhance the efficiency of Sony’s manufacturing operations relating to its digital imaging business, the manufacture of interchangeable lenses and lens blocks currently being conducted at Sony EMCS Corp.’s Minokamo Site (located in Minokamo, Gifu Prefecture) will be absorbed by EMCS Corp.’s Kohda Site (located in Kohda, Aichi Prefecture). As Sony concentrates its mobile phone business on the area of smartphones, the operations currently being carried out at the Minokamo Site relating to mobile phones will be partially discontinued and partially transferred to Sony EMCS Corp.’s Kisarazu Site. As a result of this realignment, the Minokamo Site is scheduled to close at the end of March 2013.

Headcount reduction resulting from optimization of organizational structure and realignment of business portfolio

In order to optimize personnel structure and assist employees to secure new opportunities outside the Company, early retirement programs will be implemented at Sony Corporation, Sony EMCS Corp. and other major consolidated electronics subsidiaries in Japan. These measures are expected to result in headcount reduction of approximately 2,000 employees by the end of FY12, with approximately half of the reductions (1,000 employees) expected to be in support functions, including the headquarters of Sony.In particular, at Sony’s headquarters operations where organizational integration and optimization have been actively implemented, a headcount reduction of approximately 20% is expected by the end of the current fiscal year through the introduction of an early retirement program and resource shifts. Headcount within the Home Entertainment and Sound Business Group, including the TV business group which has been implementing a series of ongoing profitability improvement measures, is expected to be reduced by approximately 20% by the end of October 2012 due to the transfer of employees outside the Company, together with a resource shift in personnel to other operations within the Sony Group. Following the sale of the chemical products businesses completed in late September 2012, approximately 1,800 employees have been transferred outside the Sony Group (as previously announced).


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Samsung to introduce the GT-B9150 with EXYNOS 5250 processor soon

Samsung will introduce a new GALAXY product soon. The Samsung GT-B9150 showed up on a couple of Japanese websites. The Japanese blogs are talking about a Android 4.1.1 based device that uses the EXYNOS 5250 1.7 GHz Dual Core processor, Wi-Fi and a HD resolution (1280 x 672) screen.

One of the biggest question would be what kind of device is the Samsung GT-B9150? Samsung mostly use the B series for hardware QWERTY Android based devices. Is this finally the Samsung Galaxy Q? Or just a new upcoming tablet? If you have any kind of information feel free to share with us!

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Best Android tablets for kids

Kids love touchscreens. They are accessible and intuitive to use. That makes tablets ideal for learning and for play. The Android platform offers some really great apps for kids and manufacturers are starting to see the potential for dedicated child-friendly devices. That means you can reclaim your Galaxy S3 or your Nexus 7 and keep the kids happy with a tablet of their own.

We thought we’d take a look at some of the dedicated Android tablets for kids that are now hitting the market. It’s worth considering one for your child for a number of reasons. They can help children to learn about various subjects, improve their motor skills, spark their creativity, and keep them amused on road trips or while you cook dinner.

The question is – are these dedicated child-friendly Android tablets worth getting as opposed to a standard Android tablet with the right collection of apps? Considering that you can install parental control apps and limit what your kids do with a standard Android tablet, the limitations of dedicated tablets for kids might be enough to make you think twice. Let’s take a closer look at what’s on offer.

Archos ChildPad ($140)

• 7-inch touchscreen (800×480 resolution)
• 1GHz single-core processor
• 1GB of RAM
• Android 4.0 (ICS)
• 4GB memory (and micro SDHC slot)
• WiFi
• 0.3-megapixel front-facing camera

You might be getting a sense of déjà vu because the Archos ChildPad is virtually identical to the Tabeo. The original ChildPad was $10 cheaper, but it had a resistive touchscreen, this updated version has a capacitive touchscreen and it works much better. It also comes with a bunch of pre-installed apps including Alvin & The Chipmunks 3 content thanks to some kind of deal with 20th Century Fox. There’s a clunky interface, parental controls, and a kid friendly app store with around 10,000 apps and games in it. This is tough to recommend.


Tabeo ($150)

• 7-inch touchscreen (800×480 resolution)
• 1GHz single-core processor
• 1GB of RAM
• Android 4.0 (ICS)
• 4GB memory (and micro SDHC slot)
• WiFi
• 0.3-megapixel front-facing camera

The Tabeo looks like a kid’s toy and it comes with a range of brightly colored plastic frames for that 7-inch screen. It also comes with parental controls and 50 pre-installed apps. There’s no access to Google Play so new apps have to be acquired through the Tabeo App Store which has around 7,000 to choose from right now. Even at $150 this isn’t a great tablet.


Fuhu Nabi 2 ($200)

• 7-inch touchscreen (1024×600 resolution)
• 1.3GHz quad-core processor
• 1GB of RAM
• Android 4.0 (ICS)
• 8GB memory (and microSD slot)
• WiFi
• 2-megapixel front-facing camera

This is a bit more like it, just because a tablet is for kids, doesn’t mean that it has to be underpowered and the Fuhu Nabi 2 proves it with a Tegra 3 processor. You also have the usual kid-friendly interface and curated content including Mom-approved apps, music, and optional TV shows (unlimited streaming of Spinlets+ TV is $2.99 per month). The parent mode is stock Android and you can also access the Amazon App Store on the Fuhu Nabi 2. In fact, you could even root the Fuhu Nabi 2 and add Google apps if you like. This tablet has a kid-friendly, tough exterior and a solid set of specs. The interface, the combination of entertainment and educational content, and the decent quality hardware make this well worth a look.

Oregon Scientific MEEP ($150)

• 7-inch touchscreen (800×480 resolution)
• 1GHz single-core processor
• 512MB of RAM
• Android 4.0 (ICS)
• 4GB memory (and microSD slot)
• WiFi
• 0.3-megapixel front-facing camera

The early reviews for this underpowered tablet are not good. The main selling point seems to be the durability factor as this is a rugged Android tablet designed to stand up to boisterous kids. It also has parental controls that can be adjusted remotely, which is a good idea. There are also some interesting accessories like a drum pad and steering wheel, but they cost extra. It’s tough to look past the disappointing specs here.

Kurio 7 ($150)

• 7-inch touchscreen (800×480 resolution)
• 1.2GHz single-core processor
• 1GB of RAM
• Android 4.0 (ICS)
• 4GB memory (and microSD slot)
• WiFi
• 0.3-megapixel front-facing camera, 2.1-megapixel rear-facing camera

A colorful rubber bumper, parental controls, and a batch of pre-installed apps combined with a decent set of specs make the Kurio a good option in this price bracket. The interface isn’t the most intuitive in the world and there’s no Google Play, just the limited Kurio App Store. There is an adult mode and kids might enjoy taking snaps with the rear-facing camera. If you can scrape together another $50 then you should skip this.

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Report: Would a 1080p phone screen really matter that much?

With large phones (or “phablets”) gaining popularity, we’re starting to see phones like the HTC J Butterfly popping up with 1080p displays. Now that we have the ability to create phones with 1080p displays, the question is: do we even need them?

Of course manufacturers are going to push the improved resolution, claiming it makes photos and videos clearer and more eye-pleasing. While the increased resolution certainly isn’t going to hurt image quality, it may not be as necessary as we might think. In an interview with Ars Technica, CEO of DisplayMate Dr. Raymond Soneira said “Even the tiniest image detail in a photograph is always spread over more than one pixel.” He added that “The image detail is never perfectly aligned with the pixel structure of the display.

Regarding video, Soneira said “For ordinary viewing of videos, 1920×1080 is really not going to make a visual difference.” You can already see this for yourself in a lot of situations, like televisions, for example. Unless you’re sitting relatively close, the difference between 720p and 1080p is negligible. That’s on a 40-inch television screen. Even with a 5-inch display on a phone, the difference will be hard to make out.

That isn’t to say that 1080p makes no difference whatsoever. With anything computer generated like fonts and icons, the increased resolution can make use of the extra pixels to improve the sharpness of the display. Still, according to Soneira, many people can’t make out differences in sharpness over 229 pixels per inch. Basically, unless you’ve got great vision, the improved sharpness still may not matter.

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Google Adds 25 Million New Building Footprints To Google Maps On Desktop And Mobile

Google just announced that it has added 25 million new building footprints to Google Maps. Most of the company’s recent announcement around mapping had to do with flashy updates like 3D maps and buildings in Google Earth or thousands of miles of updated street view imagery. Today’s update stands out because of the large number of footprints the company is adding. Among the areas included in this update are a number of major U.S. cities, including Houston, Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami and the San Francisco Bay Area, but chances are you will notice changes all across the U.S.

How was Google able to suddenly add this massive amount of new data to Google Maps? According to the announcement, the company is using aerial imagery and computer vision techniques to determine the shapes and heights of these buildings. “This process,” says Google, “enables us to provide more building footprints and a more comprehensive and detailed map than ever before.” The same aerial photography Google uses to render these footprints is, of course, also the basis of Google’s 3D maps and it’s probably no surprise that all of the cities Google is highlighting in this release are also included in its 3D maps.

Despite the fact that most of these shapes were created algorithmically, Google also continues to give its users the option to submit corrections through Google Map Maker.

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LG Nexus 4 (E960) might have a 16GB version after all

A new rumor about the LG Nexus 4 claims the phone would in fact have a much more reasonable 16GB version.

Having only 8GB of storage on a modern-day smartphone with an HD screen doesn't make much sense from a consumer point of view. That's the reason why reports of the next Nexus phone relying on the meager storage without any option to expand it set the Android community ablaze.

A reasonably reliable source of industry leaks has shared on Twitter today some specs of the LG Nexus 4. And even though we knew most of those from the extensive previous leaks, the mentioning of a 16GB version came as a nice surprise.

Let's hope it's not a typo. Google's Nexus event is set for October 29, awkwardly coinciding with Microsoft's Windows Phone 8 launch event. The fact that the two events are held on either US coasts doesn't help us journalists a lot too. Still, the final third of October is shaping up to be really exciting for the industry.

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32GB Nexus 7 now in stock at Staples

After countless rumors and no official word from Google, it appears that the 32GB Nexus 7 is now a reality. It appears that the device is now currently in stock at Staples. They are not yet on sale though and there is no indication when they will be. The reason Google has stayed so quiet about the upgraded memory capacity is undoubtedly due to the Android event scheduled for October 29th, where we will mostly like receive an official announcement.

The device appears to be exactly the same but with a higher storage capacity. In fact, the rumored price is set to be $250. That’s right, that’s the exact price that Google originally sold the 16GB model for. This clearly suggests that the 32GB model is set to phase out the 16GB model. Or perhaps Google will drop the price of the 16gb model and phase out the 8gb model.

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iPad mini, LG Nexus 4 and Windows 8: get ready for the most exciting 10 days in tech in 2012

As this week draws to a close, we are approaching what will probably be the most exciting week in tech this year. Okay, okay, that depends on the point of view, but let us just mention three products that we’ll finally see in the coming days - the Apple iPad mini, the LG Nexus 4 and Windows 8 devices.

Those are clearly some of the biggest launches for the industry this year. Not only that, the iPad mini will give one huge boost to the affordable smaller tablet niche. The Microsoft Surface on the other hand marks the beginning of a new era at Microsoft, one where the company starts to manufacture its most important hardware itself, hoping it’s not too late to the mobile boom.

Finally, we’re eagerly anticipating Google’s Nexus event on October 29th. With so many companies fighting for the lime light, check out the slideshow below to see who brings what to win.

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Samsung Sweden confirmed Android 4.1 Jelly Bean for Galaxy S II (November) Galaxy Note and Note 10.1 (Q4)

Samsung Sweden confirmed to update the Galaxy S II to Android 4.1 Jelly Bean in November.

Samsung Sweden also confirmed to update the Galaxy Note in Q4. This means we will see Android 4.1 Jelly Bean on all high-end smartphones by Samsung before next year!
Samsung Sweden confirmed also to update the Galaxy Note 10.1 in Q4 to Android 4.1 Jelly Bean.
You will be able to update by using OTA or Samsung KIES.
Finally some words about the Galaxy S II and Galaxy Note.
Please be patient now!


The Jelly Bean update will have a few enchantments like:
- Better performance, thanks to Project Butter it’s even smoother and faster
- Reorganized settings menu
- 2 Home screen modes
- New Notifications bar
- Google Now
- Sizable Pop-up play screen

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How many iPads were sold last quarter?

Another Fortune survey of analysts finds a wide gap in forecasts, with a median estimate of 18 million for the third quarter.

Apple may have sold anywhere from 14.8 million to 23 million iPads last quarter, at least according to a poll of analysts compiled by Fortune. The low and high estimates offered by the 61 analysts showed a huge disparity in opinion.

On the low end, Morgan Stanley's Katy Huberty sees just 15 million tablets sold, while Stern Agee's Shaw Wu predicts 16.5 million. On the high end, many of the forecasts came from analysts who work for independent research firms -- not Wall Street investment groups -- and showed a range of 19.5 million up to 23 million.

The estimates were taken at different times of the year. Most of them are from October, but several are from September and a few date back as far as July. The average forecast among the analysts was 18.38 million, while the median was 18.13 million.

How do those numbers compare with those from previous quarters? In second quarter, Apple sold 17 million iPads, a jump from 11.8 million in the first quarter. In 2011, Apple sold 15.4 million tablets in the fourth quarter, up from 11.1 million in the third quarter.

Next Thursday, the company will report earnings from the third quarter -- which is Apple's fourth fiscal quarter. Apple's bread-and-butter is the iPhone, which likely contributes almost two-thirds of the company's profits, according to Business Insider. In contrast, the iPad may generate only around 10 percent to 15 percent of total profits.

The iPad may get some competition very soon, and from Apple itself. The company is hosting a media event on October 23 in which it's expected to unveil the iPad Mini.

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Acer introduces $200 Acer Iconia Tab A110 quad-core tablet

Acer unveiled the Iconia Tab A110 – a 7” tablet based on the quad-core NVIDIA Tegra 3 platform. It measures 11.4mm in thickness and weighs 370g.



What’s most interesting about the Tab A110 is its awesome price – Acer says it will be a sub $200 device. How about that?!

The Iconia Tab A110 features a 7-inch TFT display with a WSVGA resolution (1024×600 pixels), a 1.2GHz quad-core ARM Cortex-A9 processor, GeForce graphics, 1GB DDR3 RAM, 8GB internal storage expandable via microSD slot, a 5 megapixel rear snapper and a 2 megapixel front-facing snapper.

The wireless connectivity options include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 3.0 and GPS and there is also an HDMI port as well.

Acer’s Iconia Tab runs on the latest Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. It will be released Q3 this year and will be priced below $200, which most probably means $199.99, still an awesome price for a quad-core slate.

Acer also showcased the Iconia Tab A210, which has a virtually identical specs sheet to the A110, but for the 10.1-inch 1280×800 display and the regular USB port. It will be also released in Q3 but will cost a bit more.

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Is this the Surface phone? (Win phone 8 from microsoft)

Microsoft has draped a new Windows Phone 8 handset rather casually on the set of some Surface “hero” pictures.

Interestingly however the unbranded device does not look anything like any phone we have seen before, and the rather square design looks a lot close to the Surface than anything else.

It is of course rather unlikely that Microsoft is showing us a real Surface phone, but I think it does give us an idea of the direction of Microsoft’s possible designs.

See the original pictures after the break.

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Nokia sold 2.9 million Lumia Windows Phones in Q3 2012

Nokia sold 2.9 million Lumia Windows Phone devices in the third quarter of 2012, as sales of its Windows Phone-based smartphones declined from a 4 million sales peak in Q2 2012. Overall, Nokia smartphone sales stood at 6.3 million, and that means that Symbian sales stand at 3.4 million still outselling Windows Phone.

With more Windows Phone sales being sold and the share of Symbian rapidly diminishing, Nokia's average sales price (ASP) for smart device has also grown to 155 euro, up from 151 in the previous quarter.

But at the same time, the average price of Lumias continues falling sharply. From an average price of 220 euro per Lumia phone in Q1 2012 to 186 euro in the second trimester and now to the much lower 160 euro in the last quarter. Nokia was hoping to make a comeback in the United States with Lumia Windows Phones, but that obviously isn't happening and this quarter the company took an additional 50% hit in sales in North America.

Nokia Lumia sales in North America (including the U.S.) stood at the meager 300,000 units.

"Q3 was a difficult quarter in our Devices & Services business," Nokia's chief executive Stephen Elop, the person who started the transition to Windows Phone, commented.

Nokia's feature phones headed by the Asha lineup continue sustaining the company's phone business throughout the transition. In Q3 2012, feature phone sales amounted to 76.6 million, up 4% consequentially, but down 15% when compared to the same period last year. Nokia Asha full touch phones sold 6.5 million, and those are too accounted as feature phones, of course.

Overall, Nokia's net sales stood at around $9.48 billion (7.24 billion euro). This means the company ended up around $754 million (576 million euro) in the red. This loss brings Nokia's net cash to some $4.7 billion (3.56 billion euro), down from $5.5 billion in Q2 2012. This is overall in line with analysts' expectations, the losses are only slightly larger than projected.

Next quarter will be very important for Nokia. The company launches its first Windows Phone 8 devices, the Lumia 920 with PureView camera and wireless charging and the more affordable Lumia 820. The Lumia 920 is expected to be an AT&T exclusive in its first months availability, competing with phones like the iPhone 5, Samsung Galaxy S III and the LG Optimus G.

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available for $249 : Google announces new Samsung Chromebook, (hands-on video and photos)

Google is making the case for the Chromebook to become everybody's second computer with a new model retailing for only $249. Available Monday, the new Samsung Chromebook is based an ARM chip (rather than Intel) which could help to explain the lower cost... only this particular ARM chip may perform better than most any we've seen before. It's a Exynos 5 Dual processor, which makes it the very first device to use ARM's new Cortex-A15 architecture. As far as the laptop goes, it connects to the internet solely via Wi-Fi, has an 11.6-inch screen, 16GB of storage and 2GB of RAM, and Bluetooth — and it has an SD card slot to expand storage further. It weighs 2.5 pounds and is 0.8 inches thick with two USB ports and an HDMI-out port. All of the internal specs are designed to keep the price down while keeping the speed up — Google is touting that it's able to run 1080p video at 30fps and SVP Sundar Pichai today showed the product running a YouTube clip at that resolution.

Because it's based on an ARM processor, it doesn't have a fan — or any other moving parts — and Google says that it will run for 6.5 hours on its battery. We're grabbing some hands-on time now, but it certainly looks every bit of its $249 price — which is to say it has decent but not inspiring build quality. The design is not unlike a plastic, 11-inch MacBook Air. The keyboard layout is nearly identical, with low-profile black keys. Despite the considerably lower price, however, the keys feel great and are surprisingly responsive. The display, on the other hand, is less inspiring. While offering a decent 11.6-inches with 1366 x 768 resolution, it offers little in the way of brightness and color representation. Hues are subdued and text can be difficult to read with conflicting light sources. With that dual-core Cortex-A15 chip under the hood, the new Chromebook loads and runs HD video quickly, and delivering the 30fps as promised. If Google's presentation was any indication, however, performance diminishes rapidly when pushed to a projector or external display.

While the Chrome OS remains largely unchanged, Google is offering 100GB of Google Drive storage to new Chromebook adopters, as rumored earlier this year. Those who pick up the new Chromebook, Samsung Series 3 Chromebook, or the original Samsung Chromebook will be able to redeem the additional storage for two years.

We'll be conducting more extensive testing of the new Chromebook soon, but those eager to see one for themselves can pre-order today or check it out when it hits retailer shelves on Monday.

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Skype on Windows Phone 8 gets a comprehensive video demo

Its amazing what pops up on YouTube some times, such as this detailed demo of the Windows Phone 8 Skype app, which has been completely rewritten for Windows Phone, and now integrates in the OS.

The app will now form part of the contact card, and will allow incoming calls without the app actually running.

The service the app uses will actually support other services, so expect Windows Phone 8 to be much more VOIP friendly in the future.

Update: As expected we were asked to take the video down, but I expect it will be published in about 10 days again

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Asus Padfone 2 to get JB next month, keyboard dock later

The Asus event, which brought us the new Padfone 2 smartphone/tablet was over all too quickly and some details almost slipped through. Among them were the Jelly Bean update schedule and the keyboard dock, which wasn’t presented.

According to an Asus representative, the company plans to have the Android 4.1 update ready by November. This means that even if you are among the very first to buy it, you will only have to wait a couple of weeks to get it.

As for the keyboard dock, that's still in development too. Asus says it's trying to create the best keyboard dock possible, but didn’t commit to a time frame. Of course, there's a possibility that Asus might ax the dock, but chances of that happening are slim.

Anyway, you can check out our hands-on impressions of the Asus Padfone 2 from Tuesday's event, complete with a close look at the hardware, some benchmarks of the Snapdragon S4 Pro chipset and even a sample from the 13MP camera.

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Microsoft fresh out of $499 Surface RTs after one day of pre-orders

This may be a good sign for Microsoft: a little over a day after putting its new Surface RT tablet up for pre-order, the entry-level $499 version of the tablet has sold out. Its estimated shipping time has slipped from October 26, Windows 8's release date, to a more nebulous "within three weeks."

What we don't know is how many Surface RT units Microsoft has manufactured for this initial run. The $599 and $699 models, both of which include the much-ballyhooed keyboard covers, continue to be available for delivery by October 26, which either suggests that interest isn't so high that people are clamoring for any Surface model they can get, or that Microsoft's margins on the upper-end models are higher, and that they've simply chosen to allocate more of them for shipment.

At the very least, this early sellout is a sign that at least a few people are eager to get Microsoft's first serious attempt at building PC hardware into their hands. Early Android tablets were hampered by the fact that they cost the same amount as the much higher-profile iPad, and have only found serious mainstream success after models like the Kindle Fire and Nexus 7 brought tablet prices down. With the amount of money and time that Microsoft has been spending on advertising and PR for Windows 8 and the Surface, it's probably hoping to avoid a similar fate.

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What if !

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Here is how Apple, Google and RIM see you (hint: RIM loves you the most!)

Here is a question of you to think about - how do tech companies actually see you, the user? Think about it. If you imagine yourself on the other side of the fence, what would you think of your customers?

With your products, pricing, everything you do as a company you send out a message. For Apple, users are willing to part with their hard earned cash for an exquisite design and simple functionality. For Twitter, you’re all about what you say.

And then there is the tech dreamer Google trying to serve you up with ads while doing what seems holding what seems the avant-garde in technology.

In the end of the day, it is you who vote with your dollar to support one of those attitudes. And have you asked yourself... what does RIM think of you?

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Google slapped on the stock exchange due to disappointing results

After a premature publication of quarterly results, Google was seriously mauled on the stock exchange. At issue: a fall of 20% of its net earnings, and despite a turnover increasing by 45% to more than $ 14 billion.

Google saw its title severely rushed on the stock exchange Thursday night, breaking thus 9% before the rating is removed. In question, a premature publication, error, last quarterly results of the company.

But if this error has caused the sudden drop of the title is first due to the disappointing performance that reflect these results of the 3rd quarter. The disappointment however is not at the level of turnover, up over a year from 45% to $ 14.1 billion.

No, these are mostly the benefits of Google who suffer - while costs are progressing them strongly. Over the period, net income moves from 20% to $ 2.18 billion. And Motorola, purchased more than 12 billion, contributes to this degradation through a net loss of $ 151 million.

Other indicators concern, such as cost-per-click, what advertisers pay for each click on an ad. In the 3rd quarter, the CPC down 15%. And at the same time, the acquisition of traffic (affiliation) was more costly for Google: + 25% to $ 2.77 billion.

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Google Holding Android Event For October 29th In New York – Nexus 4 Unveiling?

Here we go, folks. The hype officially begins. We’ve just received an invite (above) from Google asking us to attend an Android event set for October 29th. We have a good idea what they have in store for the world, or at least a piece of the puzzle. The LG Nexus 4 has been Google’s worst kept secret, showing up in more leaked images than a Kardashian. But could that really be all Google has up their sleeves?

It’s interesting to note that there was no mention of a specific manufacturer. Last year’s invite (below) had a Google/Samsung logos branded on it. In fact, there’s not even a hint that this will be a device. Maybe this is Google’s way of announcing a change to the Nexus program, no way to be sure. We’ll keep racking our brains looking for clues. In the meantime, what do you guys think will be announced? What do you hope will be announced?

UPDATE: Google first used the term “The playground is open” in their post announcing Android 4.2 Jellybean from Google IO with a “play” on words regarding the wide world of wonders in the Google Play Store. It was later seen by a (much) wider audience when they slapped it as the tagline for an ad on Google.com (seen below) promoting the $199 Nexus 7 Tablet. Does this change your opinion at all on what the event could unveil?

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Titanium Lumia FX800 design concept screams 'Nokia, take note!'

Nokia Lumia 920 is already crushing the preorder pages in Europe, luring customers with its camera module suspension mechanism that allows it to soak up to five times more light than your typical smartphone cam. That optical image stabilization comes with a price, though, and it is a chubbier, heavier device than what we became accustomed to see in flagship smartphones in the last years.

Nokia already said it will unveil a new design paradigm for its Windows Phone 8 devices next year, as it has been coasting so far largely with variations of the polycarbonate unibody shell created initially for the Nokia N9.

Some of these plans might include the use of metal in the chassis, as a more premium material, which will place Lumia flagships on equal design footage with handsets like the iPhone 5, which utilizes glass and aluminum for the slick, thin casing.

One such design concept project comes in the form of the Nokia Lumia FX800, inspiration for which is derived from the Nokia 8910 Titanium, which was introduced way back in 2002. The idea is to give Nokia Lumia aficionados a slim and exclusive handset, which won't clash directly with the Lumia 920 sales, as it wouldn't offer the OIS tech, for instance.

The Lumia FX800 would be a stylish 8mm thin phone cast out of titanium, with a large, 4.65" HD AMOLED display, issued as a high-end exquisite offering by Nokia. What do you think, should the Finns take note from the titanium design concept you are seeing in the slideshow below?

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Internet Explorer 10 preview to hit Windows 7 in mid-November

Windows 7 users wanting to upgrade to Internet Explorer 10 will have to wait a bit longer. Microsoft announced today that it will be shipping a preview of Internet Explorer 10 for Windows 7 in mid-November. There's no public timeline for the release of the final version; delivery of that version will depend on "developer and customer feedback."

On the face of it, the delay is a little surprising. Internet Explorer 10 is included with Windows 8, and since Windows 8 was completed back in August, clearly Internet Explorer 10 must in some sense be finished. The extra time required for Windows 7 may be due to underlying platform differences—Windows 8 supports Direct3D 11.1, compared to 11.0 on Windows 7, for example. So if Internet Explorer 10 depends on Direct3D 11.1 features, either that dependence has to be removed, or Direct3D 11.1 has to be ported to Windows 7.

This would not be unprecedented. Internet Explorer 9 depended on features such as Direct2D and DirectWrite that were built in to Windows 7. To enable the browser to run on Windows Vista, Microsoft shipped an update package that added the new capabilities to the older operating system.

The November preview will be the first version of Internet Explorer 10 to run on Windows 7 since Platform Preview 2 back in June of last year. Subsequent releases were restricted to Windows 8 only. Rather than shipping standalone previews of the browser engine, Microsoft used the Windows 8 Developer, Consumer, and Release Previews to serve double duty as Internet Explorer previews.

Unlike those two Platform Previews—which embedded the new rendering engine into a rudimentary container that lacked even a back button—the November release will be a full browser preview. It will include not just a rendering engine, but also a full browser user interface and shell.

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Apple loses appeal in Samsung tablet copyright case

Ordered to run ads saying Samsung did not copy iPad

Apple has finally lost its appeal against British court ruling, which found that Samsung did not copy Apple’s tablet designs.

The verdict was originally handed down this summer, but Apple pledged to fight it and now it lost the appeal as well. What’s more, the verdict is valid across Europe, so it will stop Apple from filing frivolous suits elsewhere.

Samsung welcomed the decision saying it continues to believe that Apple was not the first to design a tablet with rounded corners. That distinction probably goes to Moses, who sadly isn’t around to sue Apple.

The court also ordered Apple to run ads saying that Samsung did not copy its registered tablet designs. After two years of claiming Samsung had slavishly copied its designs, the order looks rather embarrassing for Cupertino.

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ZTE confirms they will deliver a Windows phone 8 handset in Q1 2013

At a press conference for the launch of one of their Android handsets ZTE has confirmed they will be delivering a Windows Phone 8 handset in Q1 2013.

Such a device has previously been teased by ZTE, who tweeted the above, intentionally blurred picture.

We have previously heard that the company intends to release a “premium” Windows Phone 8 handset, but it remains likely that the eventually device will not command a high price, which should be good news for those looking for a good Windows phone 8 handset on a budget.

Via WindowsPhoneItaly.

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Motorola Occam and Manta shown running Android 4.2 with benchmarks

A few days ago we reported that two new Motorola devices, called the Occam and Manta, had shown up in the Android Police logs running Android 4.2 Jelly Bean.

The Occam (think Occam's Razor - or RAZR) smartphone is now listed in the AnTuTu Benchmark database of tested devices. It received an overall score of 9817, but shows a CPU frequency of 1512 MHz. Some speculation is that it could be using a quad-core processor to achieve that score, as well as a CPU Integer rating of 3670, or it could still be using the current Snapdragon S4 processor that is in the Motorola DROID RAZR M, and those higher scores show how much faster Android 4.2 JB is over the current Android 4.1 JB and 4.0 ICS.

Then there is the Manta tablet, which is shown with an overall AnTuTu Benchmark score of 8077 and is using a 1.7 GHz processor. We know that Motorola loves its code names, and their the XOOM tablet had the code name of Stingray for Verizon, and Wingray for the Wi-Fi model.

All of this adds fuel to the fire that there will be a new Motorola smartphone and tablet released (hopefully in the near future) that will come running Android 4.2 out of the box. Still, at this early date, it remains to be seen which carriers will offer the devices, and what their list of hardware features will be.

Source

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Apple reportedly orders 10M iPad Minis for fourth quarter

Apple is apparently thinking big for its iPad Mini, with an eye on not running out of the new tablet -- at least initially.
Component makers in Asia say they have received orders to make more than 10 million of the much-rumored but as yet unannounced tablet in the fourth quarter, sources in the supply chain tell The Wall Street Journal. That target is roughly twice what Amazon reportedly ordered for the Kindle Fire for the same quarter.
Apple has been pretty tight-lipped on its tablet plans, but CNET has contacted the company for comment and will update this report when we learn more.
Those demands fly in the face of reports that the smaller iPad is proving a difficult task for manufacturers. The company's supply chain is having a tough time producing the tablet due to the tiny device's complex design, according to Topeka Capital analyst Brian White. However, he still expects the Cupertino tech titan to sell a boatload of iPad Minis by the end of the fourth quarter, reaching sales of 5 million to 7 million units.

While Apple has declined to comment, iPad Mini rumors have been swirling for months. According to those rumors, the device will feature a 7.85-inch display and go on sale for a price that's far cheaper than Apple's current, larger tablet.

Apple has reportedly already begun mass production of the new tablet, and media invitations to its launch are expected to be sent out to the media later this week.

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Angry Birds Star Wars coming on November 8 to devices near you

The last few days Rovio released a couple of teasers about a Star Wars-themed Angry Birds title. There was even an event in New York and, long story short – a new Angry Birds is coming, along with board games and dedicated merchandise (plush toys, etc.).

The center of all those things, of course, is the Angry Birds Star Wars game coming one month from now, on November 8.

The compatible platforms at launch are going to be Android, iOS, Mac OS X and PC. I’m sure the console version will follow shortly after.

There is no info on the pricing just yet, but I guess it will cost the same as any other Angry Birds game.

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iPhone 5: Camera image effects

Products Affected

iPhone

Symptoms

A purplish or other colored flare, haze, or spot is imaged from out-of-scene bright light sources during still image or video capture.

Resolution

Most small cameras, including those in every generation of iPhone, may exhibit some form of flare at the edge of the frame when capturing an image with out-of-scene light sources. This can happen when a light source is positioned at an angle (usually just outside the field of view) so that it causes a reflection off the surfaces inside the camera module and onto the camera sensor. Moving the camera slightly to change the position at which the bright light is entering the lens, or shielding the lens with your hand, should minimize or eliminate the effect.

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T-Mobile and Nokia Introduce the Nokia Lumia 810

T-Mobile USA, Inc. and Nokia today announced the upcoming availability of the Nokia Lumia 810 — an exclusive to T-Mobile. The new Windows Phone 8 smartphone offers an enhanced camera, simple design and integrated navigation features. Combined with the only unlimited nationwide 4G data plan, T-Mobile customers will see a superior value with the Lumia 810, the latest addition to T-Mobile’s expanding lineup of Windows devices.

“We’re providing our customers with a unique Windows Phone 8 experience by offering an exclusive device paired with our Unlimited Nationwide 4G Data plan and a comprehensive set of enhanced features,” said Andrew Morrison, vice president of product management, T-Mobile USA. “The Nokia Lumia 810 gives customers speedy, 4G access to T-Mobile’s nationwide network and the content and features they want, whenever they need it. From navigation tools to an enhanced camera, the Lumia 810 provides a great value and a high-quality experience.”

“The Nokia Lumia 810 features a sleek design and high-quality hardware, combined with the efficient and intuitive Windows Phone 8 operating system,” said Olivier Puech, President, Nokia Americas. “When combined with applications such as Nokia Drive and Nokia City Lens, the Lumia 810 ensures that T-Mobile customers are getting the best experience possible out of their smartphone.”

Sleek Unibody Design and State-of-the-Art Wireless Charging Featuring a 4.3-inch OLED WVGA Clear Black display, the Lumia 810 offers high-end performance in a compact package. The new smartphone is powered by Windows Phone 8, making it easy for users to personalize their device and experiences and always stay connected to friends and family. T-Mobile will offer exchangeable shells in cyan and black, which will allow the device to take advantage of Nokia’s convenient and innovative wireless charging solution.

New High-End Camera Features to Capture and Share Quality Photos With an 8-megapixel camera engineered with Carl Zeiss optics, the Lumia 810 takes crisper and sharper pictures, bringing memories to life. The device also features a new 1.2-megapixel Skype HD certified front-facing camera, providing a high-quality mobile video chat experience. With the Lumia 810, users can capture, share and relive life’s moments with new camera features such as Cinemagraph, a lens that creates animated GIFs, as well as panorama settings and Group Shoot, which allows the customer to choose the best faces and smiles from a burst of photos and stitch them together to produce the perfect group shot.

Enhanced Navigation Experience The Lumia 810 also comes with new and enhanced navigation features including Nokia City Lens, which overlays information about restaurants, shops, hotels and more on the surfaces of buildings, providing a new augmented reality experience. The smartphone also provides a comprehensive, integrated mapping experience through new enhancements to Nokia Drive, a voice-guided, turn-by-turn navigation system, as well as through Nokia Transit, which provides directions to a location using public transportation.

Easier Entertainment The Lumia 810 also comes with Nokia Music, which features playlists that are curated by an expert team of global and regional musicologists, spanning a wide spectrum of music genres. Completely advertisement-free, and requiring no registration or subscription, Nokia Music allows consumers to enjoy the songs of their favorite artists without disruption. Nokia Music can also be enjoyed offline so consumers can listen to their favorite playlists anytime, anywhere.

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Maximizing Server Uptime with Secure Environmental Monitoring

As Internet commerce climbs in popularity, server uptime is essential to businesses. Uptime is a measurement of how long servers remain operational for users without crashing or requiring a reboot. The interactions between servers and their environment often pose a major risk to server availability. A crucial part of sustaining high availability lies in identifying and monitoring environmental threats, which enable prompt response to detected dangers before they escalate.

Rapid changes in temperature and humidity, encroachment of water, power outages, vibrations, human error and invasive intrusions are the most common environmental threats faced by businesses. Each of these threats can be monitored, but their effectiveness varies by the method used.
Typical environmental monitoring tends to constitute personnel observing the physical environment and reporting problems. When employing manual observation, many issues based on human error can arise, such as gaps in monitoring, the inability to recognize threats, accidental oversights, etc.

For example, network administrators often rely on a single thermometer and subjective notions about "comfort" to control the temperature of server rooms and data centers. An individual may move equipment in a room without realizing its impact on the room's airflow, which could result in new hotspots. Increases in temperature can reduce the expected lifetime of hardware or cause a processor to throttle down its performance. Humidity that is too high or low may not be easily noticeable; low humidity in a warm server room may feel more comfortable to a human being, but can be extremely dangerous for servers due to a higher chance of electrostatic discharge. Power outages, “brown outs,” and voltage dips and spikes can cause downtime due to server hardware reboots or permanent circuitry damage, yet personnel may not have realized there was a power problem. An automated environmental monitoring system effectively addresses such weaknesses.

Through immediate detection and notification of threats, dedicated environmental monitoring systems prevent damage to server hardware and maintain necessary high uptime. Typical systems constantly monitor selected areas for environmental threats, which not only include ambient temperature and humidity but also inside the server rack – where early detection benefits are crucial. Other hazards, such as intrusions, are detected by door contact sensors, glass break detectors, tamper switches, and motion sensors. Smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, and liquid water and chemical sensors identify the presence of unsafe events. Such features are usually standard in environmental monitoring systems.

Personnel are immediately notified if the system detects an abnormal condition, allowing execution of preventive actions before a problem occurs. Alerts are often sent over the internet, telephone, or cellular network. Since dispatching all available information to personnel is critical, still pictures or video footage during an alarm are also frequently transmitted. A clear view of the actual changes in the server room can be essential to taking the correct course of action.

While environmental monitoring systems can help to prevent environmental damage to servers, they may not be shielded from such attacks themselves. For example, some environmental monitoring systems on the market may be susceptible to these problems: if power fails in the building, the monitoring system may also lose power; or if the network goes out, it may not be able to report a failure. Therefore, high availability and stability are essential in environmental monitoring systems in order to maximize server uptime, which Network Technologies Inc (NTI) incorporates in its product line.

NTI ensures high server availability with its ENVIROMUX environment monitoring systems. The new ENVIROMUX-MINI-LXO operates on the Linux kernel, which has a proven history of availability, security, and the ability to support sophisticated network interfaces. The Linux firmware protects against network intrusions that target the monitoring system itself, thus preventing any remote sabotage. With a field-upgradeable system, the newest firmware can be easily obtained online and installed when new features, sensors, or security threats emerge, providing an instant edge for dynamic businesses.

The ENVIROMUX-MINI-LXO constantly monitors temperature, humidity, and five contact sensors with fully customizable settings. The digital inputs sensitive to contact closure can be used with devices to detect liquids, chemicals, smoke, carbon monoxide, door contacts, vibration, motion, glass breaks, AC power failures, and much more. The system can also ping up to sixteen network devices, such as, wireless access points, routers and network-based IP time clocks. In addition to sending reports and alarms through internet, telephone (via the ENVIROMUX-AVDS-LCP), and cellular networks (via the ENVIROMUX-3GU), the ENVIROMUX system also possesses the ability to monitor surveillance cameras and send pictures along with statuses. The ENVIROMUX-MINI-LXO features an output relay that can be triggered on pre-programmed conditions or manually by remote users, which can be used to unlock doors or even activate emergency systems. Compact and efficient with its Zero-RU mounting capability, the ENVIROMUX-MINI-LXO saves valuable rack space. Couple a USB 3G cellular modem with the internal backup battery, and total power and network outages can still be announced to off-site personnel who may have never known there was a problem otherwise, effectively resolving key weaknesses in environmental monitoring systems.

The ENVIROMUX-MINI-LXO can securely identify and report problems regardless of changes in its surroundings, enabling it to keep all monitored areas safe and provide maximized server uptime – the ideal preventive measure for businesses.

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Installing PlayStation Mobile on a rooted Android device

PlayStation Mobile for Google's Android OS went live for certified devices earlier this week. But what about gamers who want to install the platform on non-certified devices?

Well, if you have a rooted Android-powered smartphone or tablet you just may be in luck. That's right, because XxXPachaXxX and the folks at Android Police have detailed a hack that may allow you to load PlayStation Mobile on your device in just a few minutes with a minimal amount of effort.

Essentially, you need to download and install the latest PSM apk from Sony and flash a zip from a custom recovery like ClockworkMod or TWRP via busybox. A full list of instructions can be found here.

The folks at Android Police managed to successfully implement the hack and test a game titled "Fuel Tiracas" without any issues on a Nexus 7 tablet.

However, one of the games purchased for testing didn't work, so as noted above, this hack may not work for all games and devices. Case in point? The Playstation Mobile store seems to be crashing on an EVO LTE smartphone.

Still, the hack may still be worth a shot for those interested in running PlayStation type games on their non-certified tablets and smartphones.

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Fall is upon us and the Thanksgiving holiday season (and all the numerous sales and discounts that arrive around that time of year) is getting ever closer. As was the case every single year, smartphone manufacturers are gearing up right about this time to provide the “best and latest” of the Android ecosystem, in an attempt to gain a place in the smartphone consumer’s heart, mind and wallet.
Some manufacturers have already laid out their cards, while some are preparing to do so in the next couple of weeks. At this point, one can paint a rough image of the best Android smartphones for the fall 2012 season. So without further ado, let’s take the time to review the flagship Android smartphones of fall 2012!

Samsung Galaxy S3

The Galaxy S3 is the best selling Android smartphone ever, so what better way to start our list than with this blockbuster? The hype surrounding the Galaxy S3 has surely faded in the past couple of months, but rest assured that the S3 is still a flagship Android smartphone in the true meaning of the word.

• Display size and type: 4.8 inch Super AMOLED
• Resolution: 1280 x 720 (306 PPI) – PenTile
• Processor: 1.4 GHz quad-core A9
• GPU: Mali 400MP
• RAM: 1 GB
• Android version: 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich (4.1 Jelly Bean update scheduled for October)
• Release Date: May 2012

Although the Galaxy S3 was launched back in May this year, the third incarnation of Samsung’s Galaxy S line is still the best Android smartphone currently around. The 1.4 GHz quad-core A9 Exynos 4 processor is the fastest processor currently available on the market, while its 4.8 inch SAMOLED display features a 1280 by 720 resolution (306PPI, but PenTile). While the supremacy of the Exynos 4 Quad SoC is likely to end once OEMs start implementing Qualcomm’s S4 Pro (quad-core Krait) SoC, the Galaxy S3 is still very well prepared to face competitors in the fall 2012 season, and perhaps well beyond. In addition, the Galaxy S3 will only get better once Samsung releases the Android 4.1 Jelly Bean update for it, an event that Samsung has scheduled for October.

Note: As our tech-savvy readers have undoubtedly noticed, I have only talked about the international version of the Galaxy S3. The US version of the Galaxy S3, one that uses a Qualcomm S4 (dual-core) SoC is still a good smartphone, but it’s really little match for many of the flagships listed in this article.

HTC One X+

When HTC announced their One X flagship smartphone back at MWC 2012, many considered it to be one of the slickest looking device to ever reach consumer’s hands. The HTC One X + is basically an upgraded version of the One X, one that keeps the same sexy design and amazing display, but with a little more processing power.

HTC One X+ Specs

• Display size and type: 4.7 inch Super LCD 2
• Resolution: 1280 x 720 (312 PPI)
• Processor: 1.7 GHz quad-core A9 Tegra 3
• GPU: GeForce ULP
• RAM: 1 GB
• Android version: 4.1 Jelly Bean
• Release date: fall 2012

While the One X + doesn’t really bring a whole lot more to the table when compared to the international version of the One X, the best thing about the One X+ is that its US AT&T-bound version will retain the upgraded Tegra 3 processor, instead of using a Snapdragon S4 processor as its older brother did. The display is as amazing as it was on the One X (many experts still call it the best display to ever grace a smartphone), the internal storage space was bumped to 64GB, while the quad-core Tegra 3 processor has been overclocked to 1.7 GHz per core.

Another great thing about the HTC One X+ is that it will come with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean pre-installed. I’m just dying to feast my eyes on benchmark results for the HTC One X+, which will be available on AT&T carrying the same specs as the international version. Tegra 3 + LTE: it’s an interesting combination.

Motorola Droid RAZR HD

Motorola has been less present in the news for the past six to eight months than other smartphone manufacturers, say Samsung or HTC. The US Android manufacturer (now owned by Google) is still one of the few manufacturers to add that touch of “unique” to their smartphones, which is something many feel is missing from today’s flagships. The Motorola Droid RAZR HD is basically an upgraded Motorola Droid RAZR, but this doesn’t mean that the latest flagship from Motorola is a poor smartphone (not by a long stretch).

Motorola RAZR MAXX HD Specs

• Display size and type: 4.7 inch Super AMOLED
• Resolution: 1280 x 720 (312 PPI)
• Processor: 1.5 GHz Snapdragon S4
• GPU: Adreno 225
• RAM: 1 GB
• Android Version: 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich
• Release date: October 2012

Starting off with the good things, the Motorola RAZR MAXX HD has a great display, unique design, and probably the sturdiest case around (the back is actually covered by Kevlar, although I wouldn’t suggest using it to protect yourself against a drive-by). Another good thing is the fact that Motorola has mostly done away with Android UI customization, meaning that the RAZR MAXX HD offers a pretty close experience to that of stock Android.

On the downside, the dual-core Snapdragon S4 onboard the RAZR MAXX HD is slower than the S4 Pro or the Exynos 4 Quad, not to mention that the reason why Motorola (remember: a Google-owned company) would use 4.0 ICS instead of 4.1 Jelly Bean eludes me. All in all, a great smartphone, although there’s the feeling that Motorola couldhave done a bit better.

LG Optimus G

Given that LG is a company that many Android fans don’t keep close to their hearts, you’re probably becoming a bit skeptical right about at this point. But if you can go beyond your LG-suspicion (assuming you have such feelings for the second-best Android manufacturer based in South Korea), you’ll find that the LG Optimus G is likely to be the best Android smartphone of the fall 2012 season, period.

LG Optimus G Specs

• Display size and type: 4.7 inch True HD IPS PLUS
• Resolution: 1280 x 768 (317 PPI)
• Processor: 1.5 GHz quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro
• GPU: Adreno 320
• RAM: 2 GB
• Android Version: 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich
• Release date: fall 2012

At a time when other smartphone manufacturers release their first Snapdragon S4 (dual-core) smartphones, LG is really pushing it by announcing a quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro flagship. Judging from leaked benchmarks, the S4 Pro really blows everything right out of the water. Add 2 GB of RAM memory and it becomes clear that the LG Optimus G is a beast, albeit a good looking one if you ask me.

The display is up there with the best of them, there’s a 13 MP camera on the back (although in the digital photography world it’s really not all about pixel counts). The way I look at things, the only reasonable downside to the Optimus G will be the LG Optimus UI v3.0, which is regarded as one of the worst custom Android interfaces around.

Samsung Galaxy Note 2

On to the phablet territory, the Galaxy Note line has recently accommodated its second member, the Samsung Galaxy Note 2. The improvements over the original Galaxy Note are evident and make up for a phabulous device.

Samsung Galaxy Note 2 Specs

• Display size and type: 5.5 inch Super AMOLED HD
• Resolution: 1280 x 720 (264 PPI)
• Processor: 1.6 GHz quad-core Exynos 4
• GPU: Mali 400MP
• RAM: 2 GB
• Android Version: 4.1 Jelly Bean
• Release date: October 2011

The Galaxy Note 2 is definitely not for those of you on the lookout for an easily pocketable phone, but if you can handle the large footprint, Samsung awards you with 5.5 inches of SAMOLED goodness (the display isn’t running PenTile, so this is probably the best SAMOLED display currently around). The 1.6 GHz quad-core processor is a beast, the 2 GB of RAM make sure multitasking isn’t a pain in a sensitive place, while the S-Pen (along with the S-Pen optimized apps, of course) makes drawing on the Galaxy Note 2 as smooth as silk. An incredible smartphone overall!

Oppo Find 5

I admit it, when I first read about the specs Oppo is planning to fit inside the Find 5, I stood up, took a couple of deep breaths and read it again. I just couldn’t believe that such a powerful device could come from a basically unknown company such as Oppo. Fortunately, my eyes did not deceive me.

Oppo Find 5 Specs

• Display size and type: 5 inch LCD
• Resolution: 1920 x 1080 (441PPI)
• Processor: 1.5 GHz quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro
• GPU: Adreno 320
• RAM: 2 GB
• Android Version: 4.1 Jelly Bean
• Release date: fall 2012 (rumored)

The specs above mean that Oppo will probably be the first company to release a smartphone with a full HD display. At this resolution and size, the PPI spikes like crazy, meaning videos and images will be crisper than ever before. Pack that together with a quad-core Krait processor and 2 GB of RAM, and the Oppo Find 5 is definitely one the most exciting smartphones that I wrote about in the past couple of years.

And like this still wasn’t enough, the Chinese manufacturer claims that the Oppo Find will also be just 6.65 mm thick. If the specs turn out to be real (and judging by the fact that they come via an official press release and not some sort of leak / rumor, I’m betting that they will), this is my next smartphone, and the best smartphone of the fall 2012 season (currently, we have no official release date, but rumors place the Oppo Find 5 release date at some point during this fall).

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