World's first bamboo smartphone- Is this true???

Plastic – you are probably tired of it, aren't you? Sadly, that is what most mobile devices, including some pretty high-end smartphones and tablets, are made of. That is why seeing an unusual handset design, such as that of the ADzero bamboo smartphone, is as refreshing as taking a breath of fresh air on a sunny Sunday morning.

So, what's the news with this bamboo smartphone we've been hearing about since early 2012? Well, the good news is that the device is getting closer to launch. In fact, ADzero will be taking to Kickstarter in order to raise the funding necessary to bring the smartphone to the market. The handset's retail price will be $700 at launch, but early birds can get one for $200 less by pledging $500 to the project. Furthermore, a pledge of $300 will allow you to get the bamboo smartphone for $100 off, and the pledge will count as a deposit towards the purchase.

But at the end of the day, what kind of hardware will a buyer get for their money? Here's the answer to that question: a 1.4GHz quad-core Exynos 4 processor made by Samsung, TFT LCD display with resolution of 720 by 1280 pixels and 326ppi, 1GB of RAM and 16GB of storage. There is a pair of cameras included as well - an 8-megapixel one with BSI sensor and f/2.0 aperture on the back, and a VGA snapper up front for video chats. The battery tucked inside the device's 11.8-millimeter body is rated at 2,050mAh. Stock Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich comes loaded out of the box.

In a nutshell, it seems like the bamboo smartphone by ADzero will be not just a fancy toy, but a very capable Android device too. In case you are interested, keep an eye out for it on Kickstarter as it is due to land there very soon.

source: ADzero via Clove

LG Nexus 4 Specs Review: Can LG's Nexus crush Samsung's "Next Big Thing"?

Without any notice in advance, Google has just announced its new Nexus smartphone - the LG Nexus 4. As the name implies, this time Google has decided to partner with LG for the production of its latest 'pure Android' handset, instead of Samsung, which was the producer of the Nexus S and Galaxy Nexus. Apparently, this year LG has managed to impress El Goog with the remarkable technology that it managed to pack inside its Optimus G - not only does this phone excel when it comes to the quality of its screen, but it also features a faster processor and more RAM... overall, it's a geek's dream come true.

Need For Speed Most Wanted now available for iPhone and Android

Right on schedule, Need for Speed Most Wanted has been released for the iPhone and the iPad. The latest installment of the popular franchise follows in the footsteps of previous releases and offers challenging races against police cars, rival AI street racers and real human opponents, resulting in what Electronic Arts calls the "most dangerous Need for Speed yet."
There are over 35 unique cars available in Need for Speed Most Wanted, ranging from the SRT Viper GTS and Porsche 911 Carrera S to the Hummer H1 Alpha and many more. Moreover, full-car damage has been implemented for an extra dose of realism, which is a first as far as mobile racing games are concerned. Features like car upgrades and modifications are also available, as is now tradition with Need For Speed games.

The iOS version of Need for Speed Most Wanted is priced at $9.99, which is quite on the hefty side, but die-hard fans of the series will probably be eager to try it out anyway. As for as the Android version of the game, we are expecting it to land in the Play Store pretty soon.


UPDATE: The Android version of Need for Speed Most Wanted has landed on the Play Store.

Need for Speed Most Wanted is out for iOS

Huawei Ascend D2 is announced with 5-inch HD screen, quad-core CPU, coming in 2013

Right after the announcement of the Huawei Honor 2 comes another high-end Android smartphone made by the Chinese manufacturer. Introducing the Huawei Ascend D2, which can be seen as a decent alternative to the Samsung Galaxy Note II as it packs a 5-inch touchscreen with HD resolution. But that isn't the only feature that the new handset has to brag with.

The Huawei Ascend D2 comes with a quad-core processor that maxes out at 1.5GHz, although it isn't exactly clear whether it is one of Huawei's homemade SoCs, or some other company's chip. There is a 13-megapixel camera positioned on its back, and a 1.3-megapixel front-facing snapper enables video conversations. A beefy 3,000mAh battery will provide the power to last a user through a day of usage, but there is no word as to how much bulk the cell adds to the handset. Android 4.1 Jelly Bean will come pre-installed.

It appears that the Huawei Ascend D2 will be released in China at some time in 2013, but it isn't known whether it will be launched on any other markets. Pricing has not been disclosed.

source: ZOL (translated) via Unwired View

Amazon takes on the Apple iPad mini

It has been thought that Apple launched the Apple iPad mini to compete against the low-priced 7 inch Android models which includes the Amazon Kindle Fire HD. Feeling some of that competition, Amazon earlier this week posted on its web site a comparison chart as part of its "much more for much less" campaign, showing features on the Amazon Kindle Fire HD that are not on Apple's 7.9 inch tablet. The online retailer boasts of the HD display on its slate vs. what it calls a "low-resolution display" on the iPad mini. The pixel density seems to prove this as the Amazon tablet has a 216ppi pixel density vs. 163ppi for the Apple iPad mini.

Apple iPhone 5 Review

Introduction:

They come hard, they come strong! That’s simply the reality of things nowadays for Apple, as competition from all corners has seemingly caught up with the iPhone 4S, and in some cases, surpassed it even. Not only are these competing devices boasting larger displays, faster processors, and higher capacity storage on paper than what the iPhone 4S had to provide, Apple’s pride and joy still somehow managed to stiffen the competition with its imposing mindshare. Last year, when Apple unveiled the iPhone 4S, many were wondering if the renowned company has lost its magical touch – maybe from all the years of being complacent with its past laurels and successes.

Perhaps, that kind of attitude was the requisite inspiration that spurred its rivals to fight back with a vengeance. And boy did they come with arms up and fists slamming, since for the very first time ever, the iPhone’s impenetrable façade exhibited subtle signs of fragility – a miniscule crack that blossomed into a gash, which shook its foundations tremendously. Whatever it was, there was no denying that innovation was now being seen by competitive devices such as the Samsung Galaxy S III, HTC One X, and Nokia Lumia 900 to name a few, which rose to prominence and established their presence in the landscape.

Despite the underwhelming response by critics alike, the iPhone 4S still managed to sell healthily, but under the surface, it still didn’t have enough substance to satiate the demands of hungry consumers looking for the most cutting-edge thing. Regardless of that, Apple managed to address some of the previous concerns, as the iPhone 5 is positioned to be the best iPhone since, well, the iPhone itself.

Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 Review

Introduction:

Perfection is something that most manufacturers strive to achieve with their products, and as we all know too well, Samsung isn't a stranger when it comes to delivering the goods. Has it really been 6 months since we first feasted our eyes on the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 back at Mobile World Congress? Yes, and during the time, the note-taking focused tablet has received its redesign to better have it ready to take on the competition head on.

For a second though, it makes anyone wonder why they would even unveil something that wasn't up to the expectations of being a viable competitor. Whatever is the case, the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 is here in the flesh – freshly packing some upgraded internals, while presenting itself as the premier paper and pen replacement. Donning a $500 starting price point, it's sure to fit in nicely with the existing crop, but in a world where novel features are perceived to be tertiary things with consumers, it's going to take more for the Galaxy Note 10.1 to establish itself in the same premier class as its rivals.