Pebble appstore beta for Android now available

When the Pebble team said that the Android version of its new appstore would be available "very very soon", that was definitely an accurate statement. Pebble released the iOS version of its appstore earlier today, and now it has also released a version of that appstore for Android, although to be fair the Android version is still in beta.

In a blog post about the release, Pebble says that the beta v8 of the Android app is now available and it includes the appstore. But, because it is still in beta, there are some known issues in the software. For example, Pebble says you should pair the device before opening the app, you must exit an app before trying to change the settings, and "settings" will show for all JavaScript apps regardless of if there are actually options to configure. 

There are a couple other issues, and Pebble has said that it will update the blog post if there are more issues found. Still, the appstore should work well enough to allow you to install some new apps on your Pebble. And, just in case the update causes more problems than expected for you, Pebble has also listed beta 7 of the Android app (which doesn't include the appstore) in the blog post.

 

LG G2 Pro camera confirmed to have OIS and 4K video capture

LG released another bit of information on the upcoming G2 Pro phablet. After confirming the device’s name and release last Sunday, LG spilled the beans on the camera of the Optimus G Pro’s successor.

The LG G2 Pro will feature a 13MP camera with improved optical image stabilization (OIS+) and 4K (3840 x 2160 pixels) video recording. The front-facing camera of the device will be a 2.1MP unit.
Furthermore, the phablet’s camera will feature slow-motion video capture, as well as the capability to capture multiple photos in burst mode. In short, when available, the handset promises to improve on the already stellar camera experience of the LG G2.
The LG G2 Pro is likely to break cover during MWC in Barcelona at the end of this month. Alleged photos of the phablet reveal that it will feature similar design to the G2 smartphone.

Nokia X (Normandy) joining Asha lineup in March

Nokia X or Normandy is getting even closer to release. Аccording to a Senior Executive over at Nokia India, the device will be launched in March as a member of the Asha lineup.
The specs seem to mirror those of the Lumia 520 save for the OS being Android instead of Windows Phone. There will be a 4" WVGA (480 x 800) screen, 5 MP camera, dual-core 1.2 GHz chipset, 512 MB RAM and 4 GB of expandable storage - pretty much what we've known so far.

 

Samsung Galaxy Note Pro 12.2 goes on pre-order in the US

Samsung Galaxy Note Pro 12.2 appeared for pre-order in the United States. Office Depot has the 64GB version of the über-tablet ready to claim, with official availability set for next Thursday, February 13.
Unsurprisingly, the high-end Android slate doesn’t come cheap with a price tag of $849.99. Still, the tablet is considerably more affordable than in the United Kingdom, where Samsung charges £649 ($1076; €788) for a Wi-Fi version.
Home Depot hasn’t specified the chipset model of the Samsung Galaxy Note Pro 12.2 it sells. The slate is listed to have a quad-core CPU, so we reckon it is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 version which is on offer (the Note Pro 12.2 with Exynos SoC has an octa-core CPU).

Nokia Lumia 1320 review: Playing by the book

Introduction

Large displays are all the rage these days and a phablet with the right price is strategically set to win big. Nokia certainly sees the Lumia 1320 this way, aware of the need of a capable midranger to stand next to the premium 1520.
The Lumia 1520 was the latecomer that went on to steal the show, but not all Nokia had to say in phablets in 2013. The door was left open and the Lumia 1320, which is probably more important to Nokia in the long run, didn't need a second invite.

Nokia Lumia 1320 official images
The Nokia Lumia 1320 is toned down version of the Lumia 1520 and is tailored to fit both the needs and budget of its potential customers. We are more than used to seeing Lumia smartphones do well enough on far from stellar hardware, and Nokia's choice of the trusty Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro chipset and a 5MP camera, seems to make sense on a device like the Lumia 1320.
Here's what the Nokia Lumia 1320 is all about.

Key features

• Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE support
• Quad-band 3G with 42 Mbps HSDPA and 5.7 Mbps HSUPA support
• Penta-band LTE Cat4 support, 150Mbps downlink, 50Mbps uplink
• 6.0" 16M-color ClearBlack IPS CLD capacitive touchscreen of 1280 x 720 pixels; Corning Gorilla Glass 3; Nokia Glance screen
• 5MP sensor, 1/4" sensor size, LED flash
• 1080p@30fps video recording
• VGA front-facing camera
• Windows Phone 8 GDR3 OS with Nokia Black
• 1.7GHz dual-core Krait 300 CPU, Adreno 305 GPU, Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro chipset, 1GB of RAM
• Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band
• GPS receiver with A-GPS and GLONASS support
• 8GB of inbuilt storage
• microSD card slot, up to 64GB
• Active noise cancellation with a dedicated mic
• Built-in accelerometer, gyroscope and proximity sensor
• Standard 3.5 mm audio jack
• microUSB port
• Bluetooth v4.0 with A2DP and file transfers
• SNS integration
• Xbox Live integration and Xbox management
• Digital compass
• Nokia Music
• FM radio
• Excellent battery life
• Exchangeable back covers

Main disadvantages

• Non-user-replaceable battery
• No system-wide file manager
• No lockscreen shortcuts
• No NFC

The Nokia Lumia 1320 is a Déjà Vu of sorts - both on the inside and out. We've seen this particular hardware configuration in a handful of Lumia family members, and the similarities on the outside are hard not to notice either.
But if it ain't broke, why fix it, right? The Lumia 1320 is nothing out of the ordinary in terms of build and finish - but one can turn that around and say it's actually quite pleasant and friendly. A bright-colored polycarbonate back cover folds around the inner body, which holds a 6" 720p display.

Nokia Lumia 1320
The good news is that we're talking a massive phone here, so there's quite a lot of room for a battery and Nokia made good use of it. 3,400mAh is a lot and it's a promise this Lumia will run as a happy puppy for extended periods of time, while the dual-core Snapdragon S4 Pro chipset should ensure smooth sailing for Windows Phone 8 OS.
All the pieces of the puzzle tie nicely together when looking at the Nokia Lumia 1320 from afar, but a closer look may reveal the compromises that had to be made to reach this price point. We're all here for the close-up, aren't we? Let's start our journey with a thorough inspection of the Nokia Lumia 1320's exterior.

Here's what a 2560 x 1440 Quad HD phone screen looks like: first Vivo Xplay3S reviews appear

The first reviews of the world’s first smartphone with a Quad HD (2560 x 1440-pixel) have started coming in, showing what the world’s most dense display looks like and how it compares to some of the most p

opular devices out there - the Apple iPhone 5s and the Samsung Galaxy Note 3.

The phone in question is, of course, the China-made premium Vivo Xplay3S smartphone that should arrive in store shelves in Asia in around a week. It features a huge, 6-inch display with a thin bezel, so that the phone does not end up being too big. Pixel density comes at the impressive 490ppi, beating all other smartphones out there.

At first look, it also looks like a very well calibrated display with accurate colors that will please photography enthusiasts and pros. The Xplay 3S also makes a surprisingly strong appearance when compared against the Galaxy Note 3 and iPhone 5s, seemingly outdoing them in terms of brightness and sharpness. Right below you can examine the comparison images for yourself and get an up close look of the first Quad HD display out there. How does it look to you?

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