Update: Thanks to a tip from pc747, and a writeup from Android Authority which focused on a different aspect of this story, we need to make a correction. In the graphics benchmark of this device we see that the graphic performance numbers are off the charts and blow away any device currently available, including the SGS4 and the HTC One. This could mean a few different things, either the graphics story was completely fake, or perhaps the specs listed are inaccurate. Here's a quote with the benchmark results,

In the first test, “GFXBench 2.7 T-Rex HD C24Z16”, the Motorola XT1058 achieved 1485 Frames (26.5 Fps). In contrast the HTC One achieved 853 frames (15.2 Fps) and the Galaxy S4 GT-I9500 achieved 704 frames (12.6 Fps).

The second graphics test was the “GFXBench 2.5 Egypt HD C24Z16”, where the Motorola handset achieved 6078 frames (53.8 Fps), versus the HTC One's 4133 frames (36.6 Fps) and the Galaxy S4′s 4572 Frames (40.5 Fps).

If this is not a fake benchmark, then it is possible the hardware in the new X Phone could be ridiculously fast in the graphics department. Some are even speculating the device will be coming with the Snapdragon 800, but the benchmark results simply register the wrong device in their database because the Snapdragon 800 is so new! Sorry we didn't catch that before.

We have a couple of X Phone rumors to share today, and one of them seems to continue the gloomy Monday morning news trend started by the previous Google I/O story. First, if you remember not too long ago, one of Google's execs indicated that the next Motorola device would not "wow" us. If the most recent benchmarks for a device with the model name XT1058 and internal codename "Ghost" are any indication, that Google exec was dead-on in his assessment. Some specs popped up at a Benchmarking site for a device with precisely those names, and the specs were pretty disappointing,

• 4.7" 720p display 1196x720 resolution
• Snapdragon S4 Pro 1700MHz and an Adreno 320 GPU
• 2GB of RAM
• 32GB of storage with no SD card expansion
• Android 4.2.2

As you can see these are pretty lackluster, and seem more in-line to compete with last years models rather than the current cream of the crop.

The worst part of this is that the second rumor seems to corroborate this one. A new Motorola device just passed through the FCC on its way to AT&T. This device was labeled XFON ATT and had the model name XT1058. With the possibility that we may not even hear anything concrete about this at Google I/O in a couple of days, does this affect any purchasing decisions you might make?

Source: FCC & ... [Read More]

For those of us excited by the prospect of seeing new gadgets launched at Google I/O this year, we might be sadly disappointed. Sundar Pichai, the new Chief of Android recently attempted to quash some of the rumor-mill regarding Google I/O this year. According to him, this year's developer conference will focus on developers and not new products.

Based upon this and some additional intel we gathered, it looks like we will not be seeing the launch of the X Phone or the Nexus 5. It looks like Google and/or Motorola are planning a separate event(s) later in the year for those devices. It is still possible we will see a new Nexus 7 device at Google I/O 2013. We also will likely see more details about the evolution of Google Glass, but as far as new devices are concerned, we will likely have to wait.

Despite this, we can't forget that Google is a software company primarily, and there is still a ton of great innovation they will share on that front. This year's schedule is packed full of intriguing sessions and developer workshops, so stay tuned over the next few days as we bring you news as fast as we get it.

In the mean-time, Wired Magazine had a full interview with Mr. Pichai, in which he discussed a great many things beyond just the Google I/O 2013 stuff. You can check it out here: New Android Boss Finally Reveals Plans for World's Most Popular Mobile OS | Wired Business | Wired.com

For a while now we have heard rumors that Amazon is working on their own Kindle-Fire style Android smartphone. Today's new rumor suggests they are not working on one, but actually two different versions. Additionally, the second version will supposedly offer a glasses-free 3D display experience. Their new technology supposedly uses an eye-tracking camera to dynamically adjust the image so you have a 3D display from every viewing angle.

This rumor comes as part of a package. Apparently, Amazon is actually working on a series of new products with the codename the “Alphabet Project.” Despite this sounding like something out of a Saturday Morning School House Rock skit, it sounds fairly intriguing. Supposedly they have a number of devices corresponding with letters of the Alphabet, like Project A, Project, B, Project C, etc. Each letter represents a different project, and supposedly, besides the two Android phones they are working, Amazon is also planning some other stuff, including an audio-only streaming device and a set-top box of some kind. According to the source of this intel, these projects will likely launch sometime this year.

What do you guys think of this 3D Phone idea? Isn't this a concept that already died with the HTC EVO 4G LTE & the LG Optimus 3D?

Source: Kindle-FireForum.com via Phandroid

We have another bit of intel from an "analyst" in the mobile industry. As usual, feel free to be skeptical of this news. Supposedly, this analyst was privy to the new specs of the next-generation Google Nexus 7 Android tablet. Here's what was "revealed,"

• 7-inch LTPS display with 1920 x 1200 (WUXGA) resolution
• quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro processor (APQ8064)
• 5-megapixel camera
• HD front-facing camera
• Wi-Fi
• Bluetooth
• NFC
• 4000mAh battery with Qi wireless charging support
• Android 4.3 Jelly Bean

These specs are pretty enticing, especially considering the tablet is supposedly going to stay at its $199.99 price-point. There may be some credibility to this info, as it very closely jibes with earlier rumors regarding the device. As you can see, this new version will come sans NVIDIA hardware in the next go-around assuming this rumor turns out to be true. It will also come with an upgraded screen and the Android 4.3 version we have seen rumored for the past week or so. Finally, it's also interesting to see the added rear camera and wireless Qi charging support. Overall this new Nexus 7 is turning out to be a hardcore competitor.

As an interesting sidenote, this story came with some additional intel. Supposedly, Google will sell this device at about a $5-10 dollar loss when it hits the Google Play Store. Unfortunately we have no idea when that will be, although Google I/O next week should clear that up.

Source: AndroidTablets.net via AndroidAuthority

For folks on AT&T excited about LG's new flagship "phablet" the Optimus G Pro, you may want to head over to AT&T's online store today. The phone is available as of today for $199.99 on a new contract or $550 contract-free. Here's a refresh of its monster specs,

• 5.5-inches of IPS LCD 1080 x 1920 pixel display with 400 PPI
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 1.7GHz 600 & Adreno 320 GPU
• 2GB RAM
• LTE
• NFC
• 32GB of storage (expandable by up to 64GB via microSDXC)
• Huge 3,140mAh battery
• Dual 2.1MP / 13MP cameras with the option for dual-recording

As you can see, these specs are ultra-competitive with the rest of the current phablet phones in the market. This phone has been receiving some excellent reviews on the web from folks who enjoy the phablet sized devices. Sound off if you are going to check this one out.

Source: AT&T

Signs point to a new Nexus phone of some kind being announced at Google I/O next week. A couple of UK electronics retailers (Carphone Warehouse and Phones4U) have already retired their Nexus 4 products, even though the device is only 6 months old. Industry speculation suggests this is happening because they will soon be retailing a new Nexus device. It could be a Nexus 5 or perhaps Google plans to have a second edition version of the Nexus 4. I guess Nexus 4 2 doesn't exactly roll off the tongue though does it? (although it does sound like a cool Douglas Adams joke?)

Regardless, the Nexus 4 has been selling like hotcakes in these markets so the speculation of a new Nexus device makes sense. More than likely, if it isn't a Nexus 5, it will probably be the 32GB Nexus 4 LTE refresh. If this device retails for the same price as the previous model on the Google Play Sore, it will be a very good bargain. Luckily, we should know something for sure in about a week.

Source: AndroidAuthority

Here's a breath of fresh air in the world of smartphones and politics. A new bipartisan bill has just been introduced to Congress which aims to clean up the whole carrier phone unlocking issue. The new bill called the The Unlocking Technology Act was introduced by US Representatives Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Thomas Massie (R-KY), Anna Eshoo (D-CA), and Jared Polis (D-CO). Although most of these reps are Democrat, one of them is Republican and one of the Democrats is considered very moderate. This creates a pretty balanced bipartisan team to introduce this bill, which is something we don't see happen very often.

This new bill, internally called HR 1892, aims to redefine the way the DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act) works and add a permanent exemption for carrier unlocking. Just in case you were unfamiliar, the DCMA in its current form blocks consumers from unlocking their phone from their carrier; however, every three years it comes under review by the Library of Congress and usually gets a temporary exemption for carrier unlocking. As we reported previously here, earlier this year Congress let the exemption slide which made it illegal again to unlock your phone from your carrier. This bill intends to create a fix for that so that, under certain conditions, consumers will permanently be able to unlock their phones. The folks at AndroidPolice shared an excellent explanation of the three primary intents of this new bill. Here's a quote,

HR 1892 focuses on three things: one, re-defining the definition of DRM "circumvention" in the DMCA to cover only those exploits that specifically allow copyright infringement. So the DMCA would still make it illegal to pirate a video game via a cracked licensing tool, but unlocking or rooting your legally-acquired phone would be permissible, even if it means technically violating software copyright. The first provision of the bill also calls for a review of the DMCA in general, and section 1201 (the one which punishes copyright protection circumvention) in particular.

Second, HR 1892 calls for a permanent DMCA exemption for carrier-based phone unlocking, with or without the carrier's approval. This would put an end to the three-year cycle of congressional approval and renewal by adding this particular exemption to a list of permanent DMCA section 1201 exceptions. It also covers the tools used for carrier unlock, and makes them legal - again, under the somewhat nebulous definition of non-infringing DRM circumvention. The relevant portion of the bill is quoted below.

Lastly, the bill includes a direction that the executive branch (i.e. the President and his staff and appointees) clear up any conflicts that this bill might cause with international agreements. It's been argued that at least some international trade treaties negotiated by the US Trade Representative could be incompatible with a national legal standard for unlocking phones; this provision basically tells the President to clean that mess up.

As you can see, this is great news for consumers and is a rare showing of bipartisanship for the protection of consumers' interests. Now the bill has to... [Read More]

Here's a bit of news that's not terribly exciting but is interesting regardless. Besides just the main CPU, there are some additional subtle differences between the U.S. version of the Samsung Galaxy S4 and the Korean version. The U.S. version uses a separate Fujitsu image processor to handle the eye-tracking features of the device. The Snapdragon 600 can't handle the multi-tasking of this feature as well as the Samsung Exynos 5 Octa-core chip, so they needed to add this additional component to help it function properly.

This was some interesting additional info revealed by the IHS teardown we shared yesterday. This says more about that Exynos 5 Octa-Core than it says about the Snapdragon 600. The Snapdragon is an impressive piece of hardware, but it looks like there is just more headroom potential in Samsung's newest chipset. Impressive!

Source: Korean and American Versions of Galaxy S4 as Different as Kimchee and Coleslaw, IHS Teardown Reveals - IHS iSuppli?s® Teardown portal provides deeper insights into bill of materials, BOM cost, photo analysis and graphical representation of electronic

Here's another few Motorola X Phone rumors for you guys this morning. A couple of them are about as "iffy" as yesterday's story, but one of them seems to track with previous rumors. An "unnamed" tipster shared some supposed details about the device. First, the tipster claims the ROM for a device he previewed showed "X" as the device type. Here are the specs he shared for the device,

• 4.8-inch (1280x720 resolution) display
• Android 4.2.2
• 2GB of RAM

The tipster didn't include anything about the processor but claims it benchmarks around the same speed as the Samsung Galaxy S3 in AnTuTu benchmarks. That is pretty lackluster to say the least, but it could simply be alpha hardware.

Another interesting tidbit the "source" shared is that the device will be coming to Verizon first, although no details from this source suggest any other carriers. The next tidbit the tipster shared is the device will come in two different variants. It will supposedly have an X Edition version and an X M Model, suggesting a mini version of the device. This somewhat tracks with our previous report suggesting the X Phone will be a new "series" of devices.

Finally, one other thing the tipster shared is a new feature will be introduced with this device called "Droid Blast." Here's a quote with a description,

There’s also a feature called “Droid Blast” that lets you “Instantly send photos or videos to friends near you with a simple gesture”. Looking at the screenshot, you can see that Droid Blast offers gesture sharing, ability to share accounts with others, privacy settings for sharing, and the ability to limit sharing to a WiFi or mobile network, which seems to indicate that large or streamed files are a possibility for Droid Blast. Also note that you can set the gesture type for Droid Blast, which is an intriguing feature.

Obviously, as always take any of these "rumors" with a generous helping of salt. Until something is actually confirmed by someone from Google or simply a highly reputable source, nearly anything is possible. Let's cross our fingers Google will share the scoop with us at Google I/O in a week.

Source: HotHardware

We have a triple play story for you guys today for OUYA. First, the OUYA will be delayed a bit. Instead of launching on June 4th, they have pushed things back until June 25th. There are two reasons for this: One, they are working out a sticky controller button issue. Two, they wanted to make sure they ramped up production levels to create a smooth retail launch because demand outpaced their original projections. That seems like bad news wrapped in good news a bit.

The second news bite is obviously good news. OUYA has garnered some big attention and has now received another $15 Million dollars in financial backing. The venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers has led an investment drive worth $15 million for the project. Along with this piece of news is the third morsel. Included in this new influx of investment capital a pretty big name in the gaming industry has joined OUYA's board of directors, ex-Chief Creative Officer of EA Bing Gordon. Here's the full press release,

OUYA RAISES $15 MILLION IN NEW FUNDING; KLEINER PERKINS PARTNER AND
VIDEOGAME EXECUTIVE BING GORDON JOINS BOARD
Funding from Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Mayfield Fund, and Others Will Support OUYA’s
Video Game Developer Ecosystem and Expand Production
LOS ANGELES – May 09, 2013 – Video game startup OUYA today announced $15 million in new funding led by Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers (KPCB), with participation from the Mayfield Fund, NVIDIA, Shasta Ventures, and Occam Partners. The company intends to use the additional funding to support OUYA’s growing game development community, and meet increased demand for the upcoming retail launch. KPCB General Partner Bing Gordon will join the company’s board of directors, which also includes Julie Uhrman, OUYA founder and CEO, and Roy Bahat, chairman of the Board.
OUYA’s vision for a new kind of game console, open to all game developers, was brought to life through the support of early backers who crowdfunded the initial product development on Kickstarter. The crowdfunding effort set Kickstarter records, and delivered $8.6 million –almost nine times the target raise — signaling strong consumer demand for the console. Venture funding validates the business strategy.

“We want OUYA to be here for a long time to come,” said Uhrman. “The message is clear: people want OUYA. We first heard this from Kickstarter backers who provided more than $8 million to help us build

OUYA, then from over 12,000 developers who have registered to make an OUYA game, next from retailers who are carrying OUYA online and soon on store shelves, and now from top pioneering investors.”

Before joining KPCB where Gordon is focused on digital investments, he was a long-time executive at Electronic Arts, beginning with EA’s founding in 1982 which had initial funding from KPCB. As an OUYA board member, Gordon will advise the company as it scales its development community and executes its retail strategy and product development plans. Gordon also serves on the board of directors of Amazon, Klout, Lockerz, MEVIO, Zazzle and Zynga.

“OUYA’s open source platform creates a new world of opportunity for established and emerging independent game creators and gamers alike,” said Gordon. “There are some types of games that can

... [Read More]

What have we here? It appears Asus is teasing a new Transformer device. It's not hard to reach the conclusion that Asus intends to launch a new Transformer device when they slap an obvious slogan at the top, “We Transform.” Make sure you check out the 0:32 point of the video. You will get a glimpse of a tablet-style device with a stylus. That's an interesting new direction for the company. This is a teaser for their Computex event on June 6, so we should know the full details then.

In the mean-time if we find any early intel on this device we will share it with you guys.

The Samsung Galaxy S4 is the hottest new smartphone on the planet right now. The 16GB version sells in the range of $600-700 USD unsubsidized. The folks at market research firm IHS did a tear-down of the device to create a full breakdown of parts including pricing details. The results of their analysis shows the SGS4 costs Samsung around $237 USD to build (not including overhead and advertising).

When comparing this to the 16GB version of the Apple iPhone 5, we see that the Samsung cost a bit more to build, since the iPhone's build cost is around $205 USD. This is also more than it costs to build the Nokia Lumia 900, which clocks in at $207 USD. It comes in cheaper but fairly close to the price of the Samsung Galaxy Note, which has a build cost of approximately $270 USD.

It's also interesting, but unsurprising to note (no pun intended) that most of the components inside the SGS4 are supplied in some way by Samsung themselves. What is surprising is that Samsung pays itself more for the Exynos 5 Octa-core chip in the international version ($28) than it does for the Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 chip in the U.S. version ($20). Here's a quote with some additional info,

Most phone manufacturers source their components from many different suppliers. But Samsung, a large, diversified manufacturer of many different kinds of electronic components, has used its significant capabilities to supply itself with many of the key parts inside most versions of the S4 phone sold around the world.

“Samsung’s strength is this ability to in-source to itself,” IHS analyst Vincent Leung said in an interview. “They just keep adding to the list of components that they can supply to themselves.”

One key component that Samsung did not supply to itself for versions of the phone being sold in the U.S. was the main applications processor. U.S. versions of the phone contain a Snapdragon processor from Qualcomm, which contributes $20 to the overall cost.

Versions of the phone sold in Korea and other markets around the world contain a Samsung-made chip called the Exynos 5 Octa that costs $28. Samsung is known to be manufacturing at least four variations of the phone for different market geographies around the world, including at least two being sold in the U.S., one going to AT&T and T-Mobile, and another going to Verizon Wireless and Sprint, said Andrew Rassweiler, another IHS analyst.

“Samsung is demonstrating its ability to suit the tastes of carriers in different regions of the world,” Rassweiler said. “It comes down to what the market is willing to spend on the features offered.”

The fact that Samsung used the Qualcomm-made chip is a testament to the U.S. chipmaker’s prowess. “Even with all the vertical integration it’s doing, it’s not like Samsung has given up on Qualcomm,” Rassweiler said.

Source: AllThingsD