iPhone 5S and low-cost iPhone reportedly expected this fall

A recent report by Apple Insider via
Japanese blog Macotakara claimed that
Apple is currently working on two
different iPhone models. One of these
will be a successor to the iPhone 5 with a
4.5-inch screen and the other a cheaper
smartphone model sporting a
polycarbonate body. The blog also
mentioned that the next iPhone is likely
to be expected by sometime in 2014,
while the cheaper model should launch
sooner.
Now, MacRumours is reporting via
Taiwan's Commercial Times that according
to Barclays analyst Kirk Yang, Apple is
indeed working on both an iPhone 5S and
a cheaper iPhone expected to launch in
the August-September this year.
Yang also believes that both the iPhone 5
successor and the budget iPhone will
have two models, with the second one
being manufactured especially for China
Mobile.
MacRumours further points out, "The
report claims that Apple is still weighing
production volume for the new phones,
working to estimate how much the lower-
cost iPhone will cut into iPhone 5S sales
and still gauging appropriate volumes for
an expansion to China Mobile. Regardless,
Apple does expect total iPhone shipments
to be higher than last year's levels."
Earlier this year, KGI Securities analyst
Ming-Chi Kuo, known for his accuracy
when it comes to Apple's product lineup ,
offered his predictions stating that Apple
will launch the majority of its new
products in the third quarter of this year.
Yang's report may be conflicting with that
of Macotakara's, but seems to coincide
with Ming's findings.
Kuo also mentioned that the next-gen
iPhone will be called iPhone 5S, which will
be identical to the iPhone 5 and will
feature a faster 28-nm A7 chip, a
fingerprint sensor, smart LED flash and an
enhanced camera with f2.0 aperture. The
phone is expected to be available in two
colours, just like the current iPhone.
He further indicated a low-cost revamped
iPhone 5 priced between $350 to $450,
sporting a slightly thicker (8.2mm) plastic
encasing and expected availability in six
colours.
MacRumours had earlier cited the findings
of analysts Brian White of Topeka Capital
Market and Jeffries' Peter Misek that
seem to strike similarity with Kuo's
findings . According to Brian's research,
Apple could offer the device in various
colours and also feels that the iPad could
be included in its multiple colour scheme.
White further thinks that the company
will bring a new iPhone model with
varying screen sizes that will help the
benefit the company in terms of reach.
He specifically mentions a smaller iPhone
version that could allow Apple to target
markets like China and open up
opportunities in India.
And of course, he believes that Apple
could unveil a larger screen size
compared to the recently updated 4-inch
screen on the iPhone 5, which seems to
be in line with what Macotakara reported.
Peter Misek's research finding mentioned
that the next iteration of the iPhone will
feature a new super HD camera/screen, a
better battery and NFC along with an
IGZO screen for Retina+, 128GB storage,
and could be available in 6 to 8 colours.
In this regard, Misek stated that many
iPhone 6 prototypes are doing the rounds,
especially a 4.8-inch screen model that
he finds interesting. According to him, the
device has a Retina+ IGZO screen, a new
A7 quad-core processor variant, a new
design with no home button and even
fully in-built gesture controls.
Misek also refers to a budget iPhone
offering at a $200-$250 price point on an
"unsubsidised basis", but claims that the
project has not yet been given the go-
ahead.

A new report claims Apple hopes its
alleged "iWatch" will offer between 4 and
5 days of use between charges, but
current prototypes get about half that.
The details were reported on Monday by
The Verge, which cited unnamed sources
apparently familiar with the prototype
hardware. Those people said Apple's
current test models only get about two
days of use maximum before a recharge is
necessary.

The prototype device allegedly runs the
same iOS platform found on the iPhone,
iPad, and iPod touch. iOS reportedly has
"several hooks" to operate with a watch-
like device, but the software currently
lacks an appropriate interface, suggesting
Apple may have more work to do on the
software front.
The details piggyback on an earlier report
from Bloomberg which claimed that Apple
could introduce its rumored wristwatch
device as soon as this year. That report
also indicated that the wearable device
will run Apple's iOS platform.

Microsoft is planning to release a new version of Windows Phone

Microsoft is planning to release a new
version of Windows Phone for the
holiday season, according to a job listing
posted by the company.
In the listing, Microsoft is looking for a
software development engineer which
would work on Windows Phone
software.
According to the listing :
This is a great time to join as we’re
completing our current release are
getting ready for our next release
targeting the holiday of this year and
we’re chartered with keeping the
momentum for Windows Phone by
bringing new killer devices and delightful
user experiences. There are enormous
growth opportunities in this role and
organization.
Windows Phone is considered key to
Microsoft’s mobile strategy, as well as
Bing’s mobile market share. However,
Windows Phone has been slow to catch
on with consumers, a majority of whom
continue to snap up iPhones
and Android devices.
“Next release” does not give us much in
terms of features or any other details,
but we’d expect the update to be a
major one, since Windows Phone 8 was
launched in October 2012, and the
previous major update, Windows Phone
7.5, was released in September 2011.
According to earlier reports, the next
WP release, codenamed “Windows
Phone Blue,” should bring both kernel
updates and user-interface
improvements.
Microsoft recently released “Portico,”
the first significant WP8 update, and the
software maker is planning other
improvements under a broad effort
known as “Apollo Plus.” for the
holiday season, according to a job listing
posted by the company.
In the listing, Microsoft is looking for a
software development engineer which
would work on Windows Phone
software.
According to the listing :
This is a great time to join as we’re
completing our current release are
getting ready for our next release
targeting the holiday of this year and
we’re chartered with keeping the
momentum for Windows Phone by
bringing new killer devices and delightful
user experiences. There are enormous
growth opportunities in this role and
organization.
Windows Phone is considered key to
Microsoft’s mobile strategy, as well as
Bing’s mobile market share. However,
Windows Phone has been slow to catch
on with consumers, a majority of whom
continue to snap up iPhones
and Android devices.
“Next release” does not give us much in
terms of features or any other details,
but we’d expect the update to be a
major one, since Windows Phone 8 was
launched in October 2012, and the
previous major update, Windows Phone
7.5, was released in September 2011.
According to earlier reports, the next
WP release, codenamed “Windows
Phone Blue,” should bring both kernel
updates and user-interface
improvements.
Microsoft recently released “Portico,”
the first significant WP8 update, and the
software maker is planning other
improvements under a broad effort
known as “Apollo Plus.”

Asus Transformer Pad To Get Android 4.2 Update Today In The US, Will Roll Out Globally This Month

Asus has started rolling out an update
to Android 4.2 Jelly Bean for
its Transformer Pad TF300 tablet.
The software update means that the
Transformer Pad 300 is the
first tablet to get Android 4.2 Jelly
Bean aside from Google’s Nexus
7 and Nexus 10. Asus is rolling the
firmware out in the US from today and
other regions during March.
In a time where Android 4.2 is still a
rarity for those who don’t own a Nexus
device, ASUS has come along and, once
again, put a lot of OEM to shame with
swift action on the latest version of
Android.
Along with all of the goods Jelly Bean
4.2 brings, including widgets on the
lock-screen and user profiles for
multiple users, ASUS will also have
significant updates in tow for its App
Locker, its virtual keyboard, the lock-
screen and setup wizards. Users can
grab the upgrade over-the-air so be
sure to take a quick trip to the Settings
> About Tablet menu where you’ll be
able to pull this one down.
In related news, ASUS has confirmed
several other tablets in its lineup that
will get Android 4.1 in the second
quarter of this year. These tablets
include the Transformer Pad Infinity,
the ASUS MeMO Pad Smart 10, and the
MeMO Pad.
Good going Asus!

Galaxy S IV specs all but official thanks to an AnTuTu scorecard

The Samsung Galaxy S IV specifications
are now all but officially confirmed thanks
to a leaked AnTuTu benchmark test that
the phone has undergone.
Samsung's upcoming flagship will sport an
Exynos 5 Octa 5410 chipset with a CPU
running at 1.8GHz, 2GB of RAM and a
PowerVR SGX 544MP GPU. Previously the
Galaxy S IV was rumored to sport the
Exynos 5 Octa 5450 chipset rather than
5410. Still, the four Cortex-A15 cores
combined with four Cortex-A7's are sure
to be a pretty capable combo.
Additionally, the AnTuTu testing also
confirms a 4.99" screen of Full HD
resolution, providing a pixel density of
441 ppi. Android 4.2 is what the Galaxy S
IV will run on out of box.
Interestingly, the scoresheet confirms
that the Exynos Octa chip on the Galaxy S
IV supports GSM, WCDMA as well as LTE
networks. This refutes the rumor that
Samsung will launch the phone in two
versions with different chipsets .
Meanwhile another piece of Galaxy S IV
gossip comes from Eldar Murtazin, who
says that the device is going to be built
from plastic. Mind you, he also claimed
that the S III is going to sport a 12MP
camera, and that he has personally played
with it. We all know how facts turned out
to be in the end.
Lastly, according to the benchmark's
report, the camera of the Galaxy S IV is
going to be 13MP, breaking Samsung's
habit of using 8MP sensors in its high-end
devices (Galaxy S II, Galaxy Note, Galaxy S
III and Galaxy Note II).
The Samsung Unpacked event is going to
take place in New York on March 14.
We're sure it will be quite the show and
naturally we'll be covering it live, so stay
tuned.

Asus Fonepad to hit the shelves in March, costs €265

Asus announced the Fonepad slate (it is a
slate, right?) a few days ago at the MWC
2013 in Barcelona along with the Padfone
Infinity. We knew the Fonepad will come
in two version - one with 8GB internal
storage and a 3MP rear camera for the
APAC region, and a 16GB model without a
rear camera for the European markets.
Well, now we know the 16GB model will
be hitting the shelves in Russia this
month. It will cost €265 - slightly above
what Asus has promised us - €219. We
guess the Fonepad will be hitting other
EU markets this March as well and we
hope the price there stays closer to the
one suggested by the manufacturer
(smartphones and tablets tend to cost
more in Russia than in the EU).
In case you need a refresh the Fonapad is
a 7” tablet with an IPS screen of 1280 x
800 pixel resolution. It also sports full
phone functionality with 3G HSPA+
connectivity. The Fonepad is powered by
an Intel Atom Z2420 chipset with a
single-core CPU clocked at 1.2GHz, 1GB
of RAM and PowerVR SGX540 GPU. A
microSD slot is available too plus 5GB
web storage. It will run Android 4.1 Jelly
Bean at launch

Samsung unpacks Galaxy S4 teaser video

Samsung has posted a video teasing
the upcoming Unpacked event in New
York City where the smartphone giant
is expected to unveil its Galaxy S4
phone.
The video introduces viewers to
Jeremy, a boy who Samsung says will
be the "secret messenger" for its
Unpacked event. In the video,
Jeremy is allowed to look inside a box
that ostensibly houses the Galaxy S4,
and runs home with it. At the end of
the video, Jeremy sits down at a desk
in his room and the video ends with a
"to be continued."
Samsung sent out invitations for its
Unpacked event last month. The
event, which will showcase the next
Galaxy S device, has the tagline, "Be
Ready 4 the Next Galaxy." It'll be
held on March 14 in New York City.
Rumors have been swirling around
the Galaxy S4. Among the features
that might come to the device is an
eight-core Exynos processor, a
separate eight-core graphics
processing unit, a 4.99-inch Super
Amoled display, 2GB of RAM, a 13-
megapixel rear camera with 1080p
video capability, a 2-megapixel front-
facing camera, and the latest version
of Android, known as 4.2.2 Jelly
Bean.
Check back in with CNET on March 14
as we detail every last announcement
at Samsung's event. Until then, here's
today's teaser video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIEfNaNCkKM&feature=youtube_gdata_player