USA: Samsung to launch the Galaxy Note II in 5 major carriers.

WorldWide Tech & Science. Francisco De Jesùs.

USA: Samsung to launch the Galaxy Note II in 5 major carriers.

The Galaxy Note II will be available through AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless and U.S. Cellular by mid-November.  The device is Optimized for the fastest 4G LTE* and HSPA+ 42 networks.

Pre-order is available at:

Coming soon to:

Power and Performance

Galaxy Note II marks the U.S. debut of Samsung’s Exynos™ 1.6 GHz quad-core processor optimized for LTE networks. It has 2GB of internal RAM; and comes with 16GB of onboard file storage and supports up to 64GB of additional memory with a microSD® card. Collectively, these deliver easy multitasking, lightning-fast screen transitions, powerful browser performance and minimal app load time.

The Galaxy Note II is the first Samsung smartphone to launch with Android™ 4.1, Jelly Bean, which brings stunning graphical capabilities and an upgraded Google Now service, including new features such as contextual search. It is also a SAFE-designated device, which means it has additional security features to safe-guard sensitive data and communications.

The Galaxy Note II has a 5.5-inch HD Super AMOLED™ touchscreen with 16:9 aspect ratio, the standard for true HD video viewing, and comes with a 3,100 mAh battery, which is 24 percent larger than the original Galaxy Note.

Despite the much larger battery, the device weighs slightly less than the original Galaxy Note. As a result of a narrower bezel on all four sides of the screen, the screen is larger but the overall device is narrower. The Galaxy Note II is available in Marble White and Titanium Gray color options.

Create and Collaborate

At the heart of the Galaxy Note II and the ability to create and collaborate is the S Pen™, which has been ergonomically redesigned to provide a more precise and natural writing and drawing experience. The new S Pen can sense 1,024 levels of pressure sensitivity, four times more than the original S Pen.

When the new S Pen is removed from the Galaxy Note II, it automatically launches the S Pen menu, which opens a new home screen that allows one-touch access to most-used S Pen applications. Keeping track of the S Pen is simple now too because a visual and audible alarm appears if you forget to put the S Pen back inside the device.

The S Pen’s advanced features provide the ability to capture ideas, inspiration and information instantly, and to combine handwriting with any digital content directly on the screen, such as adding new calendar appointments by writing the event details directly on the day of the week, signing or adding handwritten notes to an email.

Selecting and cropping text, images or other content on the Galaxy Note II with the S Pen is very similar to a traditional "click-mouse" experience. When the S Pen’s side button is pressed down, the S Pen recognizes that you want to clip or edit the selected content on the screen. You can draw precise lines around the content to be cropped out, highlighted or copied into another application.

Key applications of the S Pen include:

• Easy Clip feature allows you to instantly outline and crop any content on the screen in any shape to save, share or paste. Once done cropping the image, you can freely edit the cropped content through coloring, shading or their own personal handwriting.
• Air View allows you to hover with the S Pen over an email, calendar entry, image gallery or video to preview the content without having to open it or wait for screen transitions. This feature also enables you to preview Web site content without opening the full site. Air View provides a title description for unrecognizable icons in various applications.
• Quick Command, the S Pen quickly activates applications and services people use most often. The command pad appears with one upward swipe on the screen with the S Pen button pressed down. You can send an email, make a call or search a location with pre-registered and customized S Pen strokes marks made on the command pad.
• Idea Sketch allows you to easily add illustrations by handwriting keywords on the S Note. It provides illustration images that match the handwritten keywords. It’s a fancy illustration match function that will allow you to express, organize and visualize ideas in a more innovative and creative way. You can even customize and add in their own illustrations library.
• Photo Notes launches a new browser window when you click on a link embedded in an email.

Multitask and Share

The Galaxy Note II takes multitasking to the next level by enabling consumers to launch multiple windows on one screen, including high definition video. Multitasking features include:

• Popup Note lets you open an S Note instantly as a pop-up window to jot down a quick note during a phone call, checking email or watching a video.
• Popup Video extends the concept of ‘Popup Play.’ While watching a video, with the touch of a button, the video will become a floating window on the display. The video will continue to play and it can be re-sized or repositioned to any part of the Galaxy Note II’s screen. This versatility means that you are free to load other applications beneath it to browse online or work in other apps such as email, calendar or text messaging.
• Popup Browser launches a new browser window when you click on a link embedded in an email.

The Galaxy Note II contains many of the popular, real-life content sharing features introduced in June on the Samsung Galaxy S III including:

• S Beam: Tap back of Galaxy Note II against another S-Beam-enabled device to share large video files, documents or S Notes in seconds without using data service.
• Share Shot: Seamlessly share pictures taken with Galaxy Note II’s 8 megapixel camera to other phones from up to 200 feet away.
• Burst Shot/Best Shot: Capture rapid-fire still pictures with zero shutter lag; choose picture with optimal colors, lighting and clarity from Best Shot image recommendations.
• AllShare Cast™ and GroupCast™: Both have been expanded on the Galaxy Note II. Share premium video content, mobile games and movies and TV shows from Samsung Media Hub wirelessly with Samsung Smart TVs, laptops, tablets and other consumer electronics.

Customize and Accessorize

• Protective Flip Cover: Samsung’s unique flip cover enhances the look of the Galaxy Note II with a premium leather front and glossy backing, while providing privacy and protection. The Protective Flip Cover comes in seven vibrant colors to customize the Galaxy Note II, including Titanium Gray, Marble White, Blue, Pink, Mint, Lime Green and Orange.
• S Pen with Eraser: This ergonomic, full-featured S Pen features a button for gestures and an eraser tip for easy corrections. This updated version of Samsung’s original S Pen truly mimics the feel of a pen or pencil.

*4G LTE when used in relation to the Galaxy Note II refers to the fact that the device can operate on the relevant carrier’s LTE network.

Screen images simulated. Appearance of device may vary. Samsung, Galaxy, Note, Exynos, AllShare, S Pen and HD Super AMOLED are all trademarks of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Android is a trademark of Google, Inc. Other company names, product names and marks mentioned herein are property of their respective owners and may be trademarks or registered trademarks.

The above content is provided for information purposes only. All information included herein is subject to change without notice. Samsung is not responsible for any direct or indirect damages, arising from or related to use or reliance of the above content.

SAFE Disclaimer of Warranties
To the full extent permitted by law, Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.., Samsung Telecommunications America, LLC, and its affiliates (collectively referred to herein as "Samsung") expressly disclaims any and all warranties, express or implied, including without limitation warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose, with respect to information technology security protection and SAFE™ certified devices. In no event shall Samsung be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, punitive, or consequential damages of any kind whatsoever with respect to information technology security protection and SAFE™ certified devices. Enterprise IT security protection will be effected by features or functionality associated with the E-Mail Platform, MDM and VPN solutions selected by customer. Choice of an e-mail, master data management, and virtual private network solution is at the sole discretion of the software provider, solution provider or user and any associated effect on information technology security protection is solely the responsibility of the software provider, solution provider or user.

Motorola announced the Droid Razr M , Droid Razr HD, and Droid Razr Maxx HD

WorldWide Tech & Science. Francisco De Jesùs.

Motorola: Droid Razr M , Droid Razr HD, y Droid Razr Maxx HD.

Motorola Mobility, a unit of Google Inc, introduced three smartphones to compete with larger rivals such as Apple Inc and Samsung Electronics Co during the shopping season by the end of year festivities.

Verizon Wireless, the largest wireless carrier in the United States, will sell the  HD devices Droid Razr, Droid Razr Maxx and Droid Razr HD M, the companies said Wednesday.

The phones use Google's Android software.

Motorola phones were showed in a press event in New York, his first big meeting with the media since Google bought the company in May.

Google has said the phone maker will remain a separate unit and will produce less equipment than before.

The presentation was part of a series of launches of mobile devices across the industry before the beginning of the holiday season year end.

Previously, also on Wednesday, Nokia Oyj and Microsoft Corp. introduced its new phone, the Lumia 920, using the latest operating system Windows Phone.

Nokia did not announce any wireless carrier partner for your device.

Also expected to present on Thursday Amazon.com Inc's new tablet Kindle Fire, and Apple launched its latest version of the iPhone on September 12.

The Motorola Droid Razr Mobility HD has a screen of 4.7 inches with an image definition better than previous Motorola phones. Verizon Wireless announced the sale price, but said the device will be available in time for the holidays.

The Droid Razr M is a smaller more concerned consumer costs, with a 4.33 inch screen that covers most of the front of the phone. This unit is available for $ 99.99 when it goes on sale in Verizon Wireless stores next week.

The Droid Razr Maxx HD  will have similar features to the HD, but the battery life will be more extensive. Motorola promised that the device would work for 21 hours of phone calls or 13 hours of video playback.

The President of Google, Eric Schmidt, told the audience that consumers are now activating about 1.3 million Android phones every day.

Samsung, Motorola rival, is the largest manufacturer of phones with the Android system.

Verizon Wireless is a joint venture between Verizon Communications and Vodafone Group Plc.

RIM readying two BB10 beta devices for USA carriers.

WorldWide Tech & Science. Francisco De Jesùs.

BB10 start screen. Photo courtesy of Crackberry.

RIM readying two BB10 beta devices for USA carriers.

RIM`s CEO Thorsten Heins  said to the WSJ the company  will start delivering nearly complete versions of its new smartphones to USA  carriers next week.

He also indicates RIM is soon set to take two beta devices to carriers.

 "The physical shape and feel of the new phones is finished and the software nearly complete" and "We're near the finishing line."

The carriers noted in the article are Verizon Wireless and AT&T with comments coming from Mark Siegel, AT&T spokesman: "We value our relationship with RIM and look forward to working with them on existing and new products."

Crackberry site is pointing out RIM will roll out six phones eventually, three that are all-touch screen and three with physical keyboards and will have replaceable batteries and that RIM is about to or already has started inviting internal employees to take part in beta testing of the devices as well. RIM`s CEO Thorsten Heins is now carrying a BlackBerry 10 device.

In our before post  we said RIM is preparing BB 10 models L-Series all-touchscreen and N-Series w/keyboard. in June 26,2012.

USA: LG Optimus VU phatablet points Verizon LTE network, for a September launch.

WorldWide Tech & Science. Francisco De Jesùs.

USA: LG Optimus VU phatablet points Verizon LTE network, for a September launch.

Unwired View points to an LG  press release stating that the five-inch Optimus Vu will be released in the United States by the end of September, meaning Samsung’s popular Galaxy Note  will finally get some competition in the supersized smartphone space.

Although no carrier has been officially named yet, all signs point to Verizon supporting the Optimus Vu on its LTE network when it launches. In addition to its large 5-inch screen 1024 x 768 pixels, the Optimus Vu will feature a 1.5GHz dual-core processor Snapdragon S4 cpu , 8-megapixel camera, 1GB RAM, and 32GB of internal memory.

Price cuts on Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, Target ahead of iPhone 5 launch.

WorldWide Tech & Science. Francisco De Jesùs.

Price cuts on Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, Target ahead of iPhone 5 launch.

Target is offering the Verizon and AT&T flavors of the iPhone 4S for $179, while Best Buy has shaved $50 off the eight gigabyte iPhone 4, selling that model for just $49.

Those price drops join a promotion from Sprint, which is currently selling the iPhone 4S for $149, $50 less than its usual price.

Apple stores are also quietly matching prices from these and other retailers.

Apple is expected to announce a new fall product lineup, including the next iPhone, at an event on Sept 12.

Latest iPhone 5 rumors. Verizon hints Q4 2012 launch.

WorldWide Tech & Science. Francisco De Jesùs.

Latest iPhone 5 rumors.  Verizon hints Q4 2012 launch.

iPhone will have a thinner screen using in-cell technology from display makers Sharp, Japan Display and LG Display. The screen is thinner because it does without a touch-screen layer that is about a half a millimeter thick. That improves the quality of the images. The screen will also be larger, measuring at least 4 inches diagonally, compared with 3.5 inches all of the iPhone models.

The phone will boast the new operating system, iOS 6, which Apple says comes with 200 new features, 

including enhancements to “voice assistant” Siri;

a new 3-D maps service with turn-by-turn navigation;

integration with Facebook; a “Do Not Disturb” feature to avoid unwanted messages at night; 

and a new app called Passbook organizes loyalty cards, tickets and boarding passes to display the right card when needed.

A5X processor

Release date:

Last year’s iPhone 4S launched on Oct. 14. There are lots of rumors on the release date — a blog called Know Your Mobile, for instance, says it “can exclusively reveal” the date will be Aug. 7. 

As anyone who follows Apple releases know, most rumors tend to be false. In any case, all the major carriers are expected to begin selling the iPhone at launch.

Verizon CFO Fran Shammo, who hinted at the possible timing during the company's quarterly conference call today with a vague reference to a major phone the carrier expects to launch in the fourth quarter, and with the ability to tap into the faster 4G LTE network.

What MarketWatch says about the iPhone 5:

In a note Thursday, Gene Munster of Piper Jaffray said he thinks investors are generally expecting iPhone shipments in the 25 million-to-27 million range for the June quarter, though he thinks the number could be in the 28 million-to-29 million range. In any case, that’s down from the 35.1 million units shipped in the March period.

Earnings results from Qualcomm  QCOM +0.11% late Wednesday give some indication as to what the industry is expecting. The company, which makes modem chipsets used in the iPhone and several other wireless products, gave a lowball forecast for the September quarter, citing that it was still working through an industry-wide shortage of 28-nanometer chips. But the company predicted a “strong December quarter” as it expects to settle the supply issue, and also cited plans for new device launches in that period, as reasons for its optimism. It said nothing about the iPhone specifically, in keeping with the tight-lipped policy that Apple strictly imposes on its suppliers.

However, James Faucette of Pacific Crest noted that Qualcomm’s shares are rising, as “the mother of all handset pauses” has now been built into the stock. He believes Qualcomm could sell 40 million chipset units for the new iPhone alone. “iPhone 5 is going to be huge,” he wrote, maintaining an outperform rating on Qualcomm’s shares, which were trading up more than 4% to $58.43 by early Thursday afternoon.

Sources: WSJ and CNET

USA: Samsung Galaxy SIII available for pre-order on 5 carriers and on Samsung Direct.

USA: Samsung Galaxy SIII available for pre-order on 5 carriers and on Samsung Direct.

Samsung today announced full availability for pre-order in the USA on the 5 major carriers and on Samsung Direct:

The Samsung Galaxy S® III is optimized for peak performance on the nation’s fastest 4G LTE and HSPA+ networks, and will launch with AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless and U.S. Cellular. Galaxy S III will also be available at Samsung Direct.

To pre-order the Galaxy S III, select an option:

You can also sing up to get the latest news about the device:

Get the latest news and details about the Galaxy S III.






Source: Samsung

USA: Verizon ramp-up in car LTE connectivity.

WorldWide Tech & Science. Francisco De Jesùs.

USA: Verizon ramp-up in car LTE connectivity.

Verizon's making a pointed effort to try and ramp up in-car LTE connectivity. Last Friday Verizon quietly announced that the company would be spending $612 million to acquire Hughes Telematics, a company that focuses on in-car computer technology. Now Verizon has also announced the creation of the 4G Venture Forum for Connected Cars, a forum spearheaded by Verizon to help make their LTE service the backbone of in-car technology:

BMW, Honda, Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors and Toyota Motor Sales, Inc. are joining Verizon as the initial members of the Forum. Professor Sanjay Sarma of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology also joins the Forum, providing members a link to track important advancements in related academic research. The group will collaborate and explore ways to deliver connectivity to vehicles of all types, by leveraging open standards and discussing ways to accelerate development of the 4G LTE ecosystem across automotive OEMs, suppliers, device manufacturers, application developers and content publishers.

And by "open standards," Verizon means standards approved by Verizon that shoves all vendors toward their own LTE technology. Verizon's already long pushed this technology in conjunction with OnStar, but apparently wants to see more dramatic progress in the in-car broadband market, which have stalled due to safety concerns -- and questions as to whether it's actually even needed in the smartphone/mobile hotspot age.

It remains unclear if consumers are on board -- given most users can now turn their smartphone into a mobile hotspot (and more easily updatable GPS system) wherever they go, making in-dash embedded technology less useful. Absent from the lineup of participating companies is the big auto makers, most of whom have their own ideas on this front. Ford, for example, has been playing with the idea of mesh network connectivity for communications and in-car safety network technology.

In Europe Alcatel_Lucent launched a similar program in 2009. http://www.ngconnect.org/program/connected-car.htm

What do you like best about the LTE Connected Car?

"...the tight integration to the web and that when I am in the car I am also, essentially, still at home...virtual mechanic would be incredible. I like ...[the] fact that it is tightly integrated and not simply a collection of add-ons."
– respondent from the United States^*

"...the fact that the car 'does' everything for the driver - scheduling test check,
tele-mechanic, etc."
– respondent from Poland^*

Video:

Best Buy today launched a pre-sale of the Samsung Galaxy S III for Sprint, Verizon and AT&T.

WorldWide Tech & Science. Francisco De Jesùs.

Best Buy today launched a pre-sale of the Samsung Galaxy S III for Sprint, Verizon and AT&T.

The retailer has revealed that it is now offering a pre-sale for the AT&T, Sprint and Verizon models in its retail stores across the United States.

This means that Best Buy, at least for the time being, will not be offering pre-orders for the other two Galaxy S III devices that will coming to T-Mobile and U.S. Cellular.

Press Release:

Best Buy Launches Pre-Sale of Samsung Galaxy S III.

Best Buy today launched a pre-sale of the Samsung Galaxy S III, across three networks – Sprint, AT&T and Verizon Wireless. The pre-sale is available in all Best Buy big box locations and the 334 Best Buy Mobile standalone stores across the country.

The Samsung Galaxy S III features Android™ 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich), has a 4.8-inch HD Super AMOLED™ touchscreen, a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 1.5 GHz dual core CPU and 2GB of internal RAM.

Best Buy offers consumers the choice of any carrier, any phone, any plan with lots of unbiased advice at all of the Best Buy and Best Buy Mobile stores. In addition, it features an array of services aimed at improving customers' experience, including Walk Out Working, Upgrade Checker, Happy 24 and a full array of accessories for customers to protect and personalize their new mobile devices.

Source: Best Buy

Verizon welcomes the Motorola Droid RAZR MAXX

WorldWide Tech & Science. Francisco De Jesús.

Verizon welcomes the Motorola Droid RAZR MAXX since today, to its Android smartphone stable. You can pick it up for $299 on contract. (Or $649 outright.) 

Droid RAZR MAXX specs:

Design

• Still one of the thinnest 4G LTE smartphones – measuring just 8.99mm – DROID RAZR MAXX provides additional usage performance with its 3300mAH battery. Made KEVLAR® strong, DROID RAZR MAXX also features a scratch–resistant Corning® Gorilla® Glass display and water–repellent nanocoating.

Network

• CDMA 800, 1900 EVDO REV A/LTE B13 700

Dimensions

• 5.15(h) x 2.71(w) x 0.35(d) inches
• Weight: 5.1oz

Operating System

• Android 2.3.5 (Gingerbread) OS with Motorola Application Platform, upgradable to 4.0 ICS

Display

• 4.3” Super AMOLED Advanced Display, qHD res0lution (960x540) for hyper–vibrant colors and images

Keyboard

• Virtual QWERTY Keyboard

Battery

• 3300 mAH Li–Ion
• SAR: Head 1.45 W/kg / Body–worn 0.71 W/kg
• Talk Time – 21.5 hours or Standby Time – Up to approx. 15.8 days

Memory / Processor

• Dual core 1.2 GHz processor & 1 GB of LP DDR2 RAM
• 16GB internal memory + 16GB microSD card preinstalled

More information on: Motorola  and Verizon

2012: Verizon latest smartphones.

WorldWide Tech & Science. Francisco De Jesús.

Verizon Wireless is set to offer the Motorola-made Droid 4, an Android-powered device with slider form factor and QWERTY keypad, which will reach customers in the “coming weeks.” Also in the pipeline from this vendor is the Droid Razr Maxx, a variant of the Razr smartphone with an extended battery life, and a purple version of the standard Droid Razr.

The US number one will also offer an exclusive device from LG Electronics, called Spectrum. Available from 19 January, it is said to feature “a 4.5-inch True HD In-Plane Switch (IPS) display,” based on the same technology used in the vendor’s premium televisions.

Verizon’s new portfolio also includes several non-smartphone devices. It is to offer an LTE-enabled version of Samsung’s Galaxy Tab device with a 7.7-inch screen, as well as Jetpack-branded hotspots from ZTE and Novatel Wireless.

4Q 2011: Verizon Wireless announced a strong growth in revenue.

WorldWide Tech & Science. Francisco De Jesús.

Verizon Wireless announced a strong growth in revenue for the fourth quarter of 2011, driven by increased smartphone penetration and contract customer spending.

The company added 1 million total net connections during the period, with growth of 1.5 million retail customers partially offset by a loss of 490,000 wholesale and other connections, including “a loss of telematics customers.” This took its total to 108.7 million, up 6.3 percent over the end of 2010.

Smartphones accounted for 44 percent of the Verizon Wireless retail contract customer base, up from 39 percent at the end of the third-quarter 2011 and from 26 percent in the year-ago quarter. It also said there had been 2.3 million LTE device sales.

Operating income for the wireless business was US$4.34 billion, compared with US$4.85 billion in the prior year, on operating revenue of US$18.3 billion, up 13 percent.  Service revenue was US$15.1 billion, up 6.4 percent.

The company noted strong growth in its mobile data business, with revenue up 19.2 percent to US$6.3 billion in the quarter, making up 41.6 percent of all service revenue.

Lowell McAdam, Verizon chairman, president and chief executive officer , said: “Verizon Wireless produced particularly strong growth in the fourth quarter. While that diluted wireless margins in the short term, it is good news for revenue and margin growth over the long term, particularly given our leadership in the rapidly developing 4G LTE ecosystem.”

The company had previously noted that its margins have been impacted by sales of Apple's iPhone, which it launched early last year.

The operator is continuing the rollout of its 4G LTE mobile network which, as of yesterday, covered more than 200 million people in 195 markets across the country. Six new LTE devices were introduced in the quarter, while a number of new devices were also unveiled at the CES 2012 event.

The quarter also saw the company inking deals to buy spectrum from a joint venture of Comcast, Time Warner and Bright House Networks, and from Cox TIM Wireless. The deals are subject to regulatory approval.

On a group level, the company trumpeted a 7.7 percent year-over-year revenue growth, increasing to US$28.44 billion, growth described as “a company record.” However, it reported a loss of US$212 million, compared with a profit of US$4.65 billion, with the company noting the effect of non-cash pension items.

It noted growth in demand for its FiOS fibre optic services, and “strategic business products and services.”