uk

May 24 2013

Samsung Galaxy Young launching in the UK this weekend

Galaxy YoungEntry-level handset coming to O2, Carphone Warehouse

Samsung has announced that the Galaxy Young, first revealed back in February, will be hitting British shores this weekend. The budget-focused handset packs a 1GHz CPU, 768MB of RAM, a 3.27-inch HVGA screen and Samsung's TouchWiz UI atop Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. Around the back there's a 1300mAh battery and 3MP camera. Not cutting edge by any means, but it's likely Samsung's looking to compete on price rather than specs here.

Samsung says the Galaxy Young will be coming to a range of outlets, including Carphone Warehouse and O2, in "a range of color options." On-contract prices start at £9.50 per month, or you can buy it outright on PAYG for £89.99

    


By Alex Dobie • carphone warehouse, galaxy young, international, News, O2, samsung, Smartphones, uk • 0

May 23 2013

Galaxy Mega 6.3 headed to Three UK

Galaxy Mega 6.3First UK network to confirm it'll carry Samsung's 6.3-incher

Three UK is the first (and so far only) major UK network to confirm plans to launch the 6.3-inch Samsung Galaxy Mega. The Mega 6.3, which dwarfs even the Galaxy Note 2, packs a 720p display resolution, Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean and the latest TouchWiz UI. On the inside it's running a 1.7GHz dual-core CPU and 1.5GB of RAM. And yes, it's a rather large telephone.

There's no date on the cards yet for the Galaxy Mega's arrival on Three, but reports from independent retailers point to a July launch. In the meantime, Three's published an official teaser video, which you can find over at the source link.

Source: YouTube

    


By Alex Dobie • galaxy mega, international, News, samsung, Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3, Smartphones, three, uk • 0

May 23 2013

Confirmed: Facebook holding off HTC First UK launch

HTC First

'Facebook phone' skipping British release, EE spokesperson confirms

It looks like the HTC First might never see the light of day in the UK, as a spokesperson for carrier partner EE has confirmed to Android Central that Facebook is holding off plans to bring the handset to British shores. "Facebook has decided to focus on adding new customisation features to Facebook Home over the coming months," the spokesperson said, "While they are working to make a better Facebook Home experience, they have recommended holding off launching the HTC First in the UK, and so we will shortly be contacting those who registered their interest with us to let them know of this decision."

Despite the decision to hold off the HTC First launch, the EE spokesperson said "we remain committed to bringing our customers the latest mobile experiences, and we will continue to build on our strong relationship with Facebook so as to offer customers new opportunities in the future."

The HTC First went on sale in the U.S. on AT&T last month, but had its price dropped from $99 to 99 cents on contract amid widespread rumors of poor sales. If the First has performed as badly as is being reported, this might explain the decision to curtail any wider launch plans.

An HTC spokesperson declined to comment on the report.

    


By Alex Dobie • ee, facebook, HTC, htc first, international, News, Smartphones, uk • 0

May 23 2013

Amazon Appstore now ‘in nearly 200 countries’

Amazon Appstore

Web-based Appstore now available in the UK

Amazon has announced that its Appstore for Android -- the Google Play rival operated by the online retail giant -- is now  available in almost 200 countries following its expansion of the service. In a press release today, Amazon also revealed that the Kindle Fire is spreading its reach across the globe, with the total countries in which it's available set to reach 170 on June 13. To celebrate, Amazon says it'll bring back the popular Fruit Ninja as a free app of the day, along with Cut the Rope: Experimentals and classic puzzler Tetris -- these will be available from May 23.

Finally the web-based Amazon Appstore is now available to users in the UK. Brits can point their browsers to www.amazon.co.uk/appstore to look through the selection of available paid and free apps.

More details in the presser after the break.

read more

    


By Alex Dobie • amazon, amazon appstore, amazon kindle fire, Applications, international, News, uk • 0

May 22 2013

Vodafone UK delays 4G LTE roll-out to September

Vodafone

Carrier will likely wait for compatible iPhone

Vodafone UK will wait until September to launch its 4G LTE services, according to reports. British national newspaper The Guardian reports that Voda will miss the originally-targeted summer launch window for its LTE network, which runs on 800MHz and 2600MHz airwaves purchased as part of the recent 4G spectrum auction.

The Guardian quotes Vodafone chief executive Vittorio Colao as saying "We want to be able to launch it when it's really ready. End of the summer means when there is going to be a good commercial window for launching it." That likely means the operator is waiting for refreshed iPhone hardware from Apple. The current iPhone 5 model sold in Europe supports LTE on 1800MHz, the frequencies used by rival EE, but not the 800MHz and 2600MHz that Vodafone will be using. (Most 4G Android phones sold in the UK support all three bands.)

As for rival networks, O2 is said to be targeting summer "at the earliest" for its 4G switch-on. Three UK has built its "Ultrafast" brand around DC-HSDPA and its upcoming LTE offering, but says it's in "no rush" to launch the latter, which it's currently targeting for switch-on in Q4.

Source: The Guardian

    


By Alex Dobie • 4g, delay, international, lte, News, uk, Vodafone • 0

May 21 2013

Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3 coming to the UK in July

Android Central

6.3-inch Galaxy Mega to go on sale at UK retailer in July for £459.99

If the likes of the recent 5-inch devices, or the Galaxy Note 2 just aren't quite big enough for you, then you may be interested in the Samsung Galaxy Mega. A colossal 6.3-inch smartphone, the Mega was announced back in April for launch in Europe and Russia sometime in May. We're now seeing the first signs of UK availability for this monstrous device, and it can be yours in July, though the exact date is still unknown.

Retailer Clove Technology has started taking pre-orders for the Mega, and for £459.99 you get the 16GB version in either black or white. Other notable specs on the device include Android 4.2.2 and Samsung's latest version of Touchwiz, a 1.7GHz dual-core CPU, a HD display, LTE, an 8MP rear camera, 1.5GB of RAM and a pretty sizeable 3200 mAh battery. You may also need large hands to use one. 

Get all your pre-order information at the link below, and if you're thinking of picking one of these up, do please tell us in the comments below. 

Source: Clove

    


By Richard Devine • international, Samsung Galaxy Mega, Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3, Smartphones, uk • 0

May 20 2013

Sony Xperia Tablet Z now available in the UK

Xperia Tablet Z

On sale today, prices start at £399 for 16GB + Wifi

A couple of months after Sony first started taking pre-orders, its Xperia Tablet Z slate is now available to buy in the UK. Prices start at £399 for 16GB of storage and Wifi connectivity (black only), or you can opt for 32GB with Wifi (black and white) or 16GB with Wifi and 4G LTE connectivity (black only). The Tablet Z isn't the cheapest Android tablet option around, but it does boast a Snapdragon S4 Pro quad-core CPU inside, a 1080p display and Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, backed up by Sony's suite of apps. For the hacking crowd, there's also AOSP support through Sony's GitHub.

Across the Atlantic, Sony's still taking pre-orders for the Xperia Tablet Z through its official online store, with devices expected to ship out this Friday, May 24.

Source: Sony Store UK

    


By Alex Dobie • international, News, Sony, Sony Xperia Tablet Z, Tablets, uk, xperia, xperia tablet z • 0

May 14 2013

Phones4U to sell Huawei Ascend P2

Huawei Ascend P2

Phone seller will have exclusivity over white Ascend P2

Independent British retailer Phones4U has announced plans to stock the Huawei Ascend P2 when it's released next month. It's only the second retailer or operator to announce that it'll carry Huawei's latest handset, after Three UK revealed its plans last week.

Phones4U also says it'll exclusively offer the white version of the phone.

The Huawei Ascend P2, which packs a 1.5GHz quad-core CPU, a 4.7-inch, 720p display and Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, is due to launch in the UK starting next month. For more on the device, check out our hands-on coverage from Mobile World Congress.

    


By Alex Dobie • ascend p2, huawei, huawei ascend p1, international, News, phones4u, Smartphones, uk • 0

May 10 2013

Huawei Ascend P2 coming to the UK in June

Huawei Ascend P2

London event scheduled for June 18, Three UK confirms plans to carry the device

Huawei has announced that its latest flagship handset, the Ascend P2, will be hitting British shores this June. And on a related note, it's sending out press invites to an event in London on June 18. It'll be "a special moment to celebrate beauty, glamor and inspiration," the invite says. It's possible we might see some more unannounced Huawei stuff in London next month, but we're expecting the event to be very much P2-focused.

The Ascend P2 was announced back at Mobile World Congress in late February, with a 1.5GHz quad-core CPU inside, a 4.7-inch 720p display, a 13-megapixel camera and Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. In terms of specs and build quality it's not quite up to the standards set by the Galaxy S4 and HTC One, but it looks like a solid mid-to-high-end device regardless.

In other Ascend P2 news, Three UK is the first British operator to announce plans to sell the device. Three says it'll support its 'Ultrafast' network on DC-HSDPA out of the box, and 4G LTE when it launches later in the year.

Source: Three, Recombu

    


By Alex Dobie • ascend p2, huawei, international, News, Smartphones, three, uk • 0

May 10 2013

BBC Watchdog to investigate Samsung Galaxy S4 internal storage controversy

Galaxy S4

British consumer affairs show will air segment on Samsung's new handset next Wednesday

There's been some controversy over just how much of the Samsung Galaxy S4's internal storage is actually available for apps, music, pictures and other content. Of the 16 gigabytes on the current crop of GS4s, around 9.5 is available on the international model. On some U.S. carrier-branded models, it's even less.

Now it appears the phone's storage issues have caught the attention of long-running BBC consumer affairs show Watchdog, as a clip from the end of this week's edition reveals that it'll be investigating the S4 on its next broadcast, to go out next Wednesday, May 15. In the teaser, which we've embedded after the break, presenter Anne Robinson says "[Samsung] claims its new Galaxy phone has an extra-large memory - what did it forget to mention?"

The show will likely get into the difference between available and advertised storage, as well as reasons why a microSD card isn't necessarily a cure-all for storage problems on Android. For those wanting to tune in, Watchdog goes out on BBC1 at 8pm UK time next Wednesday.

Source: YouTube; via: Clove Blog

read more

    


By Alex Dobie • android, bbc, galaxy s4, international, News, samsung, Samsung Galaxy S4, Smartphones, storage, uk, watchdog • 0

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