Amazon Kindle Fires to get refresh, packing Snapdragon 800 and higher res

Now that the Google has announced the next Nexus 7 and rumors of what could be the next Nexus 10 circulating online, it seems that the time is just right for Amazon to refresh its own Android tablets. And based on leaks, it just might indeed do that soon with some rather unusual and not so unusual upgrades to its Kindle Fire line.

The new 7-inch Kindle Fire HD will be sporting an upgraded resolution of 1920×1200 from the current 1280×800 resolution. On the other hand, the 8.9-inch model, which currently already has a 1920×1200 resolution, will be upgraded to an impressive 2560×1600 display. This gives it a pixel density rivaling that of the iPad and the Nexus 10. Both devices will be upgraded to 2 GB of RAM, which is not that unusual with today’s models.

What might be a bit surprising is that these new models will be running on a Qualcomm quad-core Snapdragon 800, which leaks say will be clocked to “around” 2 GHz. Considering that Texas Instruments, which provided the current Kindles’ CPUs, is no longer manufacturing mobile processors, it only seems natural to use Qualcomm’s chips. However, the power that the SoC provides might seem overkill for the Kindle, which could hint that Amazon might be planning to take the device into new territory.

With this set of tasty specifications, one could wonder how Amazon will keep prices down. Considering one of the biggest selling points of the Kindle is the affordable cost, it will be interesting to see how the company will solve this difficult balancing act.

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Rumor Has It: Attack of the giant iPhones

Rumorland never fails to entertain.

This week, LG filed for a million trademarks, including ones for GPad, G Watch, and G Band. One could guess that it's for a tablet, smartwatch, and activity monitor. Of course, why not? Now, trademark filings don't necessarily mean that these products are being worked on, but nobody would surprised if LG were to throw its hat into the smartwatch ring. I mean, everyone else is.

In other rumor news, Sony might be working on a new camera lens accessory that could attach to your mobile device or be used on its own. If this pans out, this'll be pretty awesome. Although I wonder why you'd carry this accessory with you, rather than your already awesome dSLR. But who am I to judge? The more accessories the better, I always say!

And finally, Apple is rumored to be working on bigger iPhone and iPad screens. Like, way bigger:5.7 inches, perhaps, and almost 13 inches for the iPad. Would that be something you'd like? Hit the comments and let me know.

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Android rumor roundup

Google I/O may have passed without any new hardware announcements or big Androidreleases, but we still heard chatter around the elusive white Nexus 4. This week also brought additional details about previously rumored devices.

White Nexus 4 (May 16, 2013)
Google will reportedly announce the white version of the LG Nexus 4 on June 10, according toAndroid And Me. After being tossed around the rumor mill for months, the handset is said to be the first to run a to-be-announced Android 4.3 Jelly Bean build.

The specifications should be nearly identical to the current model, but with IPX7 waterproof rating. Indeed, the so-called LG Optimus GJ could withstand being submerged in 1 meter of water for up to 30 minutes.LG Optimus GJ (May 15, 2013)
LG is rumored to announce a waterproof version of the Optimus G on May 22,according to ePrice.

Samsung Galaxy Note 3 (April 17, 2013)
Samsung may opt to stick with the same familiar plastic build and not the "higher quality" aluminum materials of the HTC One, according to SamMobile. While it does conflict with the blog's earlier reports, Samsung has long stuck by plastic, so this amended rumor doesn't come as a surprise.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 is rumored to feature either a 5.99-inch or a 6.3-inch display. Additional specifications for the device are reported to include an eight-core processor, a 13-megapixel rear camera, a 2-megapixel front camera, and 3GB RAM. The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 will presumably arrive in the fall, perhaps around October, which is in keeping with Samsung's release cycle.

Verizon may soon offer the HTC One.

Verizon HTC One (May 15, 2013)
An HTC smartphone that recently received Wi-Fi certification could be Verizon's take on theHTC One. As spied by Blog of Mobile (translate), the PN073XX features dual-band WI-Fi and LTE connectivity. Verizon has a press event slated for May 22 at CTIA in Las Vegas, so it makes sense to assume this is the big reveal; the Droid DNA also happens to be free (with contract) through May 21.

May 3-10, 2013

Nexus 7 (May 10, 2013)
A more powerful Nexus 7 tablet may not have arrived at Google I/O but that doesn't mean it's not coming. According to KGI Securities analyst Mingchi Kuo, the rumored tablet will carry the same affordable $199 price tag, the 7-inch tablet may feature a 5-megapixel rear camera, faster Qualcomm processor, higher resolution display, and support for wireless charging. DisplaySearch analyst Paul Semenza told CNET in March that the next model may reach 323 pixels per inch, which could mean up to 1,900 x 1,200 pixel resolution.

Previous Amazon smartphone rumors indicate that the retail giant has scrapped plans for 4.3-inch screen in favor of a larger 4.7-inch display. Early reports had the phone arriving as soon as the second quarter, though it appears Amazon will now miss that mark. Presumably, both Amazon phones will employ a forked version of Android, similar to the Kindle Fire tablets. Allegedly, Amazon has tasked Foxconn with building the Kindle Phone.Amazon 3D phone (May 9, 2013)
Amazon is reportedly working on a pair of new smartphones, including one capable of creating 3D capabilities and hologram-like images. Details are light, but the phone is said to employ eye-tracking technology that makes images appear to be floating "like a hologram and appear three-dimensional at all angles."

An artistic render of the rumored Sony i1 smartphone.

Sony i1 (May 1, 2013)
Early details for a Sony "Homani" i1 suggest we could be in for an incredibly powerful and gorgeous experience later this summer. Leaked hardware specifications are purported to include a 2.3GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 processor, 32GB internal storage, 2GB RAM, and a camera up to 20-megapixels. Other features may include a form factor with glass, metal, and traces of carbon fiber.

Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom (May 10, 2013)
A Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom is may arrive as soon as June, reports Russian tech site Hi-tech.ru (translate). Features are alleged to include a 4.3-inch qHD AMOLED display and a 16-megapixel camera with 10X optical zoom. Documents found on a Bluetooth special interest group Web site list the device as model number SM-C101.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 8.0 (May 10, 2013)
Leaked benchmarks for a Samsung SM-T311 are linked to an upcoming Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 8.0. Specifications could include Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean OS with Samsung's TouchWiz interface, an 8-inch WXVGA (1280 x 800 pixel resolution) display, a dual-core 1.5GHz processor, 2GB RAM, and a 4,500mAh battery.

April 27 - May 3, 2013

The HTC "M4" looks to be a lower-powered and smaller take on the HTC One.

HTC M4 (May 1, 2013)
HTC will reportedly debut a smaller version of the flagship HTC One smartphone, according toPhone Arena. Operating under the codename of "M4," the handset is rumored to feature a 4.3-inch 720p display, an "UltraPixel" camera, a dual-core processor, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage, Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, and LTE connectivity. These reports confirm early chatter of a lesser-powered M7 (HTC One) would soon be announced. Presumably, the M4 will also run the latest version of HTC's custom Sense UI.

Motorola X Phone (May 2, 2013)
A trio of new images appear to suggest Ma Bell is in line to carry the so-called, and still unconfirmed, Motorola X Phone. The three photos, which come from oft-reliable Twitter source@evleaks, show a smartphone (or smartphones) that somewhat resembles previously leaked photos. Bearing the name "Blackboxed Motorola for AT&T," it appears to be the same handset found in a batch of images that have since been removed from a Vietnamese site.

New benchmarks surfacing this week show a potential X Phone running Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean. These new numbers conflict with scores from last week that tipped tipped Android 5.0.1. The scores, which can be easily rigged, showed a "Google X" with a 1.5GHz processor and a score of 15,479.

Could we be looking at one (or three) of AT&T's future X Phones?

Sources indicate that users might be able to customize multiple facets of the rumored device, including the outer materials and colors. Internally, reports suggest that the X Phone is actually part of a larger brand and an approach that could feature user-defined configurations for memory and processor options as well as carrier selection.

It likely won't be called the X Phone when the project hits prime time, but the project is at least very much real. A job posting on LinkedIn advertised for an "X Phone" product manager.

Plenty of other rumors swirl around the suspected device, including one that the X Phone may offer hardware choices that resemble the Droid Razr Maxx HD, according to one PhoneArenasource.

Nexus 5 (May 1, 2013)
Google may again tap LG as the handset maker of choice for the next generation of Nexus smartphones, according to the Korea Times. No hardware details or time frames were given; however, we might anticipate something in the fall. Given that the trend as of late is to release the Nexus experience in the fall, we might expect specs and rumors to come in short order.

Toshiba's next Android tablet could feature a keyboard dock.

Toshiba AT10LE-A (May 2, 2013)
Toshiba is rumored to be testing a new high-end Android tablet capable of connecting to an external keyboard, reports Techblog. Hardware specifications are said to include Android 4.2.1 Jelly Bean a quad-core Nvidia Tegra 4 1.8GHz processor, 10.1-inch display, microSD, Mini-HDMI output, and stereo speakers. There are no indications yet as to which markets may carry the Toshiba AT10LE-A, nor are pricing details clear.

The Toshiba AT10LE-A seems to run the Android 4.2.1 version, and according to benchmarks that appeared recently Tegra 4 processor, will be clocked at 1.8GHz.

Might the NEC Terrain be a rugged take on the "business" form factor?

NEC Terrain (April 29, 2013)
AT&T looks to be readying another portrait QWERTY Android, this time in the form of an NEC. Known as the NEC Terrain, the phone should run Android 4.1+ and feature a display in the realm of 2.8-inches to 3.0-inches. No additional details are known however the rubber coating and moniker lead us to believe a rugged experience could be in order.

April 20 - April 26, 2013

Samsung Galaxy S4 Active (April 26, 2013)
According to a Wall Street Journal report, Samsung expects to release a waterproof and dust-proof version of the Samsung Galaxy S4. Known for now as the Samsung Galaxy S4 Active, the smartphone is rumored to touch down in July.

Samsung Galaxy Core (April 26, 2013)
Samsung could also be readying yet another member of the Galaxy family as word of a Samsung Galaxy Core trickles online (translate). Details for the smartphone point to a trimmed-down experience with specs such as a 4.3-inch (800x480) display, a dual-core 1.2GHz processor, 768MB RAM, 8GB internal storage (with microSD expansion), a 5-megapixel rear camera, and a 1,800mAh battery. Resembling pretty much every other Samsung handset as of late, the Galaxy Core figures to run Android 4.1 with TouchWiz UI.

The so-called Samsung Galaxy Core offers entry-level hardware specifications.

Sony Xperia ZR (April 26, 2013)
Sony may introduce a 4.6-inch variation of the Xperia Z in the near term, reports Xperiablog. Previously rumored under the moniker "Dogo", the C550X looks to feature a 720p HD display, 1.5GHz quad-core processor, 2GB RAM, 8GB internal storage, a 13-megapixel (Exmor RS) rear camera, and 2,300mAH battery. While the processor is listed as a Qualcomm design, it is unclear whether it will be a Snapdragon S4 Pro or Snapdragon 600 series. Like the Xperia Z, the so-called Xperia ZR is also rumored to be water-resistant.

Previous rumors for the handset line up closely with the Xperia ZR specs; however it's not an exact match. Details uncovered in March suggested the Dogo would feature a Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 CPU, though it was listed with 32GB internal storage. For what it's worth, this handset was also tied to the name "Xperia A" and was said to feature an IR blaster and NFC support.

Other rumors we're tracking

Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini (April 19, 2013)
Samsung looks to have delayed the release of the Galaxy S4 Mini by eight weeks, reportsSamMobile. Rumored to come in two colors (Black Mist and White Frost), Samsung may offer the handset in both single-SIM and dual-SIM flavors.

Dovetailing with previous rumors, the Galaxy S4 Mini could feature a 4.3-inch qHD display, an 8-megapixel camera, Wi-Fi, AGPS, and provide 8GB, 16GB, and 32GB storage options.

LG Optimus G2 (April 18, 2013)
The LG Optimus G2 could prove to be too thin for a conventional form factor, or so says tech site MyDrivers (translate). Word on the street is that the volume and power buttons will be moved to the rear, as they do not fit properly on the sides. First discovered by its model number, the LG D801 has been found to score considerably high on benchmark tests; all sources indicate LG may be readying one of the most powerful devices to date.

Rumored as the LG Optimus G2, details include Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean, a 1.7 GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 processor, a 13-megapixel rear camera, 2GB RAM, and an Adreno 330 GPU. Expected to offer a full-HD 1,920x1,080-pixel display, it's possible that the D801 will boast a screen size of 5 inches or larger.

Huawei Edge (April 11, 2013)Samsung Galaxy Ace 3 (April 18, 2013)
The first details for what is expected to be the Samsung Galaxy Ace 3 have arrived, suggesting that another midrange experience is on the horizon. Preliminary specifications are reported to include a dual-core 1GHz Broadcom processor, a display resolution of 480x800 pixels, 4GB internal storage, and a 5-megapixel camera. As often has been the case with European models of this kind, the Galaxy Ace 3 is rumored to come in a variety of colors and single-SIM and dual-SIM editions.

Huawei may dial up the Edge as the handset maker's flagship device for summer 2013. Recently leaked (translate) details suggest the smartphone will run Android 4.2 Jelly Bean and feature a quad-core processor, 2GB RAM, a 4.9-inch 1080p HD display, and 2,600mAh battery. Reportedly, the Huawei Edge will come in 16GB and 32GB models and could come in a svelte 6.3mm chassis.

Android-powered notebooks (April 2, 2013):

 Rumors out of Digitimes suggest that Google is building an Android-powered notebook PC that could arrive as soon as the third quarter. Reportedly, the "Androidbook" is one of Sundar Pichai's projects and could help accelerate Google's foray into the PC market.

Casio C881 Gz'One Commando (April 1, 2013):

 A Casio C881 Gz'One Commando has been recently spotted in FCC documents, tipping Verizon's hand for an upcoming military-spec device. Presumably a successor to last year's C771 Gz'One Commando, the details look to include CDMA and LTE support, as well as NFC, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi.

Sony Togari (March 27, 2013):

 Sony may introduce a massive 6.44-inch smartphone this fall with rather impressive specifications. Components are reported to include 3GB RAM, a 2.3GHZ Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 CPU, Adreno 330 GPU, 32GB of internal storage, and 13-megapixel Exmor RS camera. Powered by a 3,500mAh battery, the Togari should also feature a stylus, NFC, LTE, and an IR blaster.

HTC Droid DNA/Butterfly successor (March 27, 2013)

: A follow-up to HTC's Droid DNA phone is being planned, says HTC Chief Marketing Officer Ben Ho. Talking with reporters earlier in the week, Ho said that HTC would soon launch a second-generation Butterfly aimed at those looking for the large-screen experience.

Google's Android smartwatch (March 21, 2013)

: Google looks to be joining Apple in the development of a rumored smartwatch, according to a recent Financial Times report. Details are light, however, the watch is said to be designed by the "Android unit" at Google. An unnamed source said that the watch will "act as an extension to the smartphones using that operating system." According to a 2011 patent application, the watch will have dual-screened display and a interactive user interface.

Samsung smartwatch (March 18, 2013):

 Samsung has confirmed plans to release a smartwatch, but details like pricing and availability are unknown. "We've been preparing the watch product for so long," Lee Young Hee, executive vice president of Samsung's mobile business, recently said during an interview with Bloomberg. "We are working very hard to get ready for it. We are preparing products for the future, and the watch is definitely one of them."

LG smartwatch (March 22, 2013):

 LG could be cooking up both a smartwatch and a wearable computing device along the lines of Google Glass, reports the Korea Times. It remains unclear whether the LG watch will run Android or Firefox; both are likely candidates for the hardware maker.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 Plus (March 21, 2013): 

Samsung could introduce a Galaxy Tab 3 Plus later this year, according to a SamMobile insider. Reportedly, the high-end Samsung tablet will feature a Super AMOLED FULL HD Display and may come in either a 10.1-inch or 11.6-inch display size. Early rumors pegged pegged the device with a 2,560x1,600 pixel resolution and possibly a quad-core Exynos processor and at least 2GB RAM.

ZTE Quantum (March 19, 2013):

 Sprint is rumored to be testing a 4G LTE smartphone from ZTE, reports AndroidPolice. Carrying an N8910 model number, the Quantum is said to run Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean and feature a 5-inch 720p display, a 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor, 1GB RAM, and 4GB internal storage. Flanked by a 13.0-megapixel rear camera and front-facing 0.9-megapixel camera, the Quantum could be another lower-cost alternative for Sprint customers.

Sony Xperia L (March 6, 2013):

 A Sony Xperia L could soon be introduced as a mid-tier Android device, reports Xperia Blog. Details for the handset are reported to include a 4.3-inch, 854x480-pixel display, 1GHz dual-core processor, 8GB internal storage, microSD slot, and an 8-megapixel camera. Said to run Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean, the Xperia L is also known by its C210X model number.

T-Mobile could soon introduce an entry-level Prism II.

T-Mobile Prism II (March 3, 2013)

: T-Mobile may offer the Huawei U8686 as the T-Mobile Prism, indicates oft-reliable @evleaks. Specifications are reported to include Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean, a 1GHz single-core processor, and a display with 320x240-pixel resolution. Typically, a QVGA display falls at around 3.5 inches.

HTC G2 (February 1, 2013):

 Not to be confused with the another HTC smartphone of the same name, a low-end Android model is also rumored for a spring 2013 release date. Details obtained by Unwired View include a 1GHz processor, a 2.5-inch HVGA display, 512MB RAM, 4GB of internal storage, and 5-megapixel camera. Presumably aimed at first-time smartphone users, the G2 could run Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich.

Samsung Godiva (February 25, 2013): 

The Samsung Godiva, spied indicates Verizon may offer another member in the Stratosphere family. Details are rumored to include CDMA and LTE bands, GSM roaming, NFC, and support for future AWS networks. A photo obtained by Engadget, however, shows no physical keyboard.

Asus ME371MG tablet (February 7, 2013)

 Asus will allegedly debut an "ultra-budget" 7-inch Android tablet in the second quarter, reports Bulgarian tech site Tablet.bg (translate). The tablet could have an Intel Atom Z2420 dual-core processor, a microSD expansion slot, 1GB RAM, and a 3-megapixel rear camera. Powered by Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, the ME371MG is listed with a 7-inch 1,280x800-pixel IPS screen, 1.2-megapixel front-facing camera, and 4,270 mAh battery.

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New X Phone rumors surface, won’t have customizable hardware; Motorola will reportedly make a Nexus phone this year

There’s been a plethora of rumors concerning the Motorola X Phone this month. Some have claimed that the X Phone will offers customizable hardware and others have claimed that it’sslated for a November launch. And now another rumor coming from Android and Me is giving us more details about the phone.
This is just a rumor, as we can’t confirm any of this. However, the rumor seems to fall in line with some of the previous reports we’ve seen.
Android and Me‘s sources say that the X Phone’s launch date will be in July. It was originally slated for June, but manufacturing issues have caused a delay. The Wall Street Journalreported on this last year, saying that Motorola was facing “manufacturing and supply-chain management” issues.
The X Phone will have an ‘exclusive” launch in July with a broader launch around Thanksgiving, which falls in line with previous November launch rumors. This could indicate a few things. The device could be sold exclusively online for a time or it may not be available in certain markets until the broader launch in November. If a July launch is in mind, we should hear of it at Google I/O in May.

According to the source, the X Phone will also be user customizable, which follows up with earlier rumors. However, it does not appear that hardware can be modified aside from internal storage. Instead, consumers will be able to customize the design of the phone with some personalized software settings. Buyers will be able to order the device in a large quantity of colors while also being able to modify the material of the outer casing. Buyers will be able to pick from plastic, metal and carbon fiber.
Motorola will also allow buyers to further customize the hardware, but not with the first X Phone release. The company may want the idea to take off before getting into something so ambitious like hardware customization, which makes a lot of sense considering that devices could get very costly very fast.
The source says the X Phone will be a formidable HTC One competitor, but it won’t be a Galaxy S4 or an iPhone 6 killer. The X Phone brand will, for the most part, be marketed as a customizable phone that is able to connect up to a multitude of Google products, such as Google Glass and the smartwatch. Motorola seems to have more of a focus with software than hardware with the X Phone, so it would make sense to not have top-of-the-line hardware.
Android and Me‘s source also says that the X Phone will feature a Motorola logo on the back of the device, which will act as a touch sensitive button that allows you to launch various commands. There is a very high possibility that this could be true.
A couple of weeks ago, Google filed an application for a patent that would put back panel touch controls on a smartphone or tablet. What the source describes on the X Phone is nearly identical to the description of the back panel touch controls patent.
Another source told Android and Me that Google’s smartwatch could be made available around the time the X Phone launches, which would also make sense since the X Phone is supposed to have some sort of functionality between the smartwatch, Google Glass and possibly other Google products. It’s possible that the smartwatch could be an accessory to accompany the X Phone.
In addition to the X Phone, Motorola will be launching their own Nexus device at the end of the year. This device will not be apart of the X Phone brand, but it is interesting that Motorola could be making a Nexus device, as previous rumors indicated that LG could be making the next Nexus device.
Finally, the source says that Motorola will release more Droid phones on Verizon this year, as Google inherited an 18 month line of products when the search giant purchased Motorola Mobility.
The rumor could be entirely fake, as the source wasn’t identified nor can the information may be confirmed. However, if the rumor has any weight to it, we should at the very least, hear Google mention its existence at Google I/O in May this year.
Are you looking forward to the X Phone?

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Rumor: Sony planning Xperia Cyber-shot and Xperia Walkman smartphones

It looks like Sony isn’t going to be resting on the laurels of its flagship smartphones, the Xperia Z and ZL. Rumors of future Xperia devices have been flooding in over the past few days, including a low-cost 5-inch quad-core smartphone powered by a MediaTek processor, the Sony Xperia A or Dogo, the Xperia UL or Gaga, and the very intriguing Togari, rumored to be a 6.4-inch “phone.”  If true, these phones are slated for a summer release, and now, we have rumors of possible smartphones from Sony that will be out in Q3 2013.
According to a tip received by Phone Arena, Sony is readying three more smartphones which will feature Sony’s impressive Cyber-shot camera and Walkman tech. Here is a rundown of what can be expected from these devices -

• First is a 5-inch Sony Xperia Cyber-shot phone. It will allegedly have the best smartphone camera around, and will feature a sensor size almost equal to the Nokia PureView 808, along with Carl Zeiss optics. Unlike the PureView 808, the addition of such a camera will not affect the design aesthetics of the device. The other specifications are also high-end.
• The second is a 5-inch Xperia Walkman phone which will feature an amplifier chip and every feature that the Walkman technology has to offer. The specifications are also expected to be high-end.
• The third will take on the iPhone directly, with a small form factor and display size, with the camera and other specifications similar to that of the previously mentioned Xperia Cyber-shot.

If all the rumors are to be trusted, we are looking at nine new Sony smartphones in the works! With each boasting a similar 5-inch form factor (except the Togari and the iPhone competitor) it definitely makes  you wonder why Sony would be releasing so many devices with just minor differences between them. Take this information with a grain of salt, but if true, Sony is going the way of 2011 HTC, and we all know how that strategy worked out.
What are your thoughts? Are you excited about the possibility of a Sony Xperia Cyber-shot and Xperia Walkman smartphones? If the rumors are true, do you think it’s a good idea for Sony to release so many devices with minor upgrades between each?

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Rumor: Amazon smartphone to feature a 4.7-inch display

Ever since Amazon first entered the Android tablet space with the Kindle Fire back in 2011, there has been rumors floating around about the company working on a smartphone as well. Two years later and we’re still waiting for the alleged device that was “guaranteed” to be released in July last year. The speculation has been all over the place, ranging from a“confirmed” order received by Foxconn for 5 million Amazon smartphones, to just Amazonbuying more office space being indicative of the company working on a phone.
While the launch of a smartphone by Amazon can be good, especially it manages to stick to its pricing policies it applied for the Kindle Fire, the eventual availability of the device is still unconfirmed, but that hasn’t slowed the rumors down any. A Digitimes report three weeks back suggested that the initial Q2 2013 release of the smartphone will be pushed back, according to sources. Now, another report by Digitimes says that according to industry supply chain sources, the Amazon smartphone (Kindle phone?) will feature a 4.7-inch display.
The sources added that the company was initially considering a 4.3-inch display, but reconsidered after witnessing increasing consumer demand for larger displays. Amazon may also be upgrading other specifications of the device to keep up with the current crop of smartphones. The source also added that this could lead to an even further delay than the previously mentioned release date, since production hasn’t progressed as smoothly as expected.
Remember, this is the alleged display size of an alleged smartphone that will allegedly release by the end of the year. Pass the salt please? All we know at this point is if Amazon does release a smartphone, it will feature the company’s highly-customized Android-based OS.
What are your thoughts? Are you excited about the possibility of an Amazon smartphone? Do you think the rumored display size is the way to go? Let us know in the comments section below.

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Rumor Has It: Google jumps aboard the smartwatch train

Also on this week's show, the next-gen Xbox might not use its optical drive for games, according to leaked documents. At least it'll play Blu-ray (maybe)! Google Play might be getting a new UI, which is very exciting for some people, but definitely not exciting for most others. And a$99 Kindle Fire is probably not going to be happening any time soon. At all.Another day, another smartwatch rumor. This time, it's Google that was feeling left out, what with all the "iWatch" rumors and Samsung throwing its hat into the ring. What do you think about Google's rumor smartwatch? What do you think would make it different from the plethora of other smartwatches that are out there? Leave a comment and let us know what you think!

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Rumor indicates Amazon is preparing to release a $99 7-Inch Kindle Fire HD

The 7-inch and 8-inch tablet market continues to heat up with plenty of new players joining all the time. Amazon might be one of the leaders in the cheap tablet space, but they need to do something big if they want to keep it that way. If a new rumor is to be believed, that ‘something big’ is a $99 Kindle Fire HD.
At $99, the Kindle Fire HD is said to come equipped with a 1280 x 800 resolution display, just like the current 7-inch Kindle Fire HD. As for the processor, Amazon supposedly will continue using chips from Texas Instruments. Beyond that, it isn’t clear how Amazon will adjust the specs to reach such a low price tag.
It might seem a little odd that Amazon is still planning on going with TI, considering Texas Instruments has essentially moved away from the mobile chip business. The idea, as suggested by IDC Research Director Tom Mainelli, is that Amazon might be cutting a deal with TI to buy up remaining stock from TI on the cheap.
Keep in mind that this is all rumor and speculation at this stage, but it does make sense for Amazon to bring down their pricing structure even more than they have already. Amazon is continually seeing pressure from both ‘true’ Android tablets and even the iPad Mini. Let’s not forget that the Nexus 7 2 could be just around the corner, and then there is the low cost Android tablets from brands like Coby.
The idea of a $99 Amazon tablet seems crazy-cheap, but if vendors like Coby can do it, so can Amazon. This is especially true when you consider that Amazon doesn’t need to make money on its tablets, it can sell at cost and make back the money through its services.
Despite the writing on the wall that indicates Amazon needs a cheaper offering to stay competitive, Amazon actually denies a price drop of this magnitude is coming. “We are already at the lowest price points possible for that hardware,” a company representative claimed to TechCrunch. Of course they did say that hardware, and didn’t directly deny that they could be preparing a cheaper version with similar hardware.
What do you think, would you pay $99 for a Kindle Fire HD, or does its locked-down Android fork keep you from being interested?

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Meizu MX3 is rumored to feature an Exynos 5 Octa processor

Looking for a sexy and unique smartphone without paying a fortune? You might want to forget all the shiny new handsets coming out of Korea, Japan and the United States, and instead turn your attention to China. There are plenty of great brands to be found in China, including Oppo, Xiaomi, Huawei, and Meizu. The later of these is actually preparing for its successor, the Meizu MX3.

We can’t say for sure if the Meizu MX3 will live up to the aesthetically pleasing design seen with the MX2 (pictured above), but its specs certainly will make your mouth water.

The phone is expected to feature a 5.1-inch display with a 1920 x 1200 display and an impressive Exynos 5 Octa processor. Yes, that’s the same processor as you’ll find in theSamsung Galaxy S4. The phone is also believed to have a bezel that is ultra-thin on both sides to make it easier to handle with one hand, similar to what was seen with the recently leaked picture of what is believed to be the Xiaomi MI-3.

Not much else is known about what the next-gen Meizu phone will bring to the table, nor do we have any idea when it will hit or how much it will cost. There is also the possibility that this is nothing more than a rumor. Still, if you are a fan of high-end Chinese handsets, the Meizu MX3 is probably going to be worth keeping an eye out for.

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