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HTC Announce Desire 600

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HTC Announce Desire 600; 4.5-inch Display with BoomSound, Quad-Core CPU and BlinkFeed

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Not too long after we first heard whispers of these new Desire devices, HTC have gone official with at least one of them; the Desire 600. It’s certainly an interesting name for the device, considering it doesn’t feature the Sanpdragon 600. Altogether this is a more modest type of handset that might not impress most of you but, in certain markets this is a device that should sell fairly well. Let’s take a look at the specs of the device shall we?
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  • 4.5-inch Super LCD2 qHD Display (960 x 540)
  • 1.2 Ghz Quad-Core Snapdragon 200
  • 1GB of RAM
  • 8GB of Internatl Storage
  • 8MP BSI rear-facing camera with 1.6MP front-facing camera
  • Android 4.1 with Sense 5
  • Dual Speakers
  • 1,860 mAh Battery
While the general specs don’t seem to be up to much, BlinkFeed and BoomSound do come along for the ride, along with the majority of Sense 5 features that debuted with the HTC One. The qHD resolution is really quite disappointing and after putting a 4.3-inch 720p panel in the HTC First, we wonder what led HTC to this to decision. Overall though, it’s more than likely price that led them to use such a disappointing display.
This is a device that is destined for release in Russia, the Ukraine and the Middle-East from early June. There’s no word on whether or not the device will be launching elsewhere but, I wouldn’t be surprised to see this launch in Europe and of course, in China.
This might seem like a strange move for HTC but, releasing such devices has worked for them in the past and while the One is a fantastic device, not everyone can afford one, which would leave Samsung to swallow up the budget end of the market as well. So, HTC continue to roll out these budget-minded handsets, albeit with some premium features in the form of BoomSound and the majority of Sense 5 (if you could call that a premium feature).
Take a look at some more images of the Desire 600 below:

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HTC One Stealth Black

Hands-on with the HTC One Stealth Black – image gallery and video

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We’re live from the CTIA 2013 convention in Las Vegas, where we got some hands-on time with the Stealth Black version of the popular HTC One.
There’s no question about it – the HTC One is one of the best looking (many say the best looking) smartphones on the market right now. It’s a beautifully worked piece of aluminum with smooth curves and seamless transitions between its design elements.
HTC has touted the attention it put into designing the make-or-break One more than once, as well as the work that goes into machining each and every unit. Our Kristopher Wook was impressed with the device when he reviewed the HTC One, and our drop test against the iPhone 5 shows that the One is as sturdy as it is pretty.
Up until now, we only got to play with the Glacial Silver HTC One, with the Stealth Black model eluding us for some reason. Well, not anymore, because Joshua Vergara paid a visit to the CTIA 2013 convention and got to spend some quality time with the black HTC One. Here are his impressions.
And here’s a gallery of the HTC One Stealth Black, showing us its best positions.

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ThL W100, The cheapest branded quad-core smartphone

ThL W100, the cheapest branded quad-core smartphone on the market

thl-w100-promo-imageSome people mistakenly think that all Android phones that come out of China are white-label devices with no support and no hope of future upgrades. That is true of some phones, but not all. China has several popular international brands including ZTE, Huawei and Lenovo. ThL is another brand that is popular in China where it has over 340 stores across the country. Its phones are also for sale internationally from places like Chinavasion. The ThL W100 is its latest smartphone and it was launched only this week. Not only does this phone have a 4.5 inch IPS display, sport a quad-core Cortex A7 based processor, include an 8MP rear camera along with an amazing 5MP front-facing camera, it only costs $169! That makes it the first branded quad-core Android smartphone to be offered internationally for less than $200.

Hardware

At the heart of the W100 is the MTK6589, a quad-core A7 processor designed for low power but yet quad-core performance. A7 cores are becoming increasingly popular and are starting to replace the Cortex A9 cores that were popular in dual-core phones. By using the A7 core the MTK6589 is able to reduce its energy needs, but at the same time offer quad-core performance. Here are the full specs of the ThL W100:
  • 4.5 inch, 960 x 540, 5 point multi-touch IPS display
  • Android 4.2
  • 1.2GHz MTK6589 quad-core CPU
  • PowerVR SGX 544MP GPU
  • 8MP Rear Camera + 5MP Front-Facing Camera
  • RAM: 1GB
  • Dual-SIM
  • 3G: WCDMA: 850/2100MHz
  • 2G: GSM 850/900/1800/1900MHz
  • WiFi: 802.11 b/g/n
  • GPS
  • Bluetooth
  • Full support for Google Play
  • Micro SD Card Slot
  • Proximity Sensor
  • Accelerometer Sensor
  • Light Sensor
  • Magnetic Field Sensor
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The device is 134 mm long, 70 mm wide and 9 mm thick which is reasonable considering the 4.5 inch display. However the phone is amazingly light. It weighs just 102 grams and when I first picked it up I thought I had forgotten to put the battery in! Much of this lightness is achieved by using lots of plastic, so no aluminum uni-body designs here, but still it is pleasure to hold.
The phone only comes with 4GB of internal storage that is divided into 1GB phone storage and 3GB external storage. This can be a problem for larger apps or games as they simply won't fit into the 1GB of phone storage. However the good news is that a microSD card can be added and in the settings the microSD card can be set as the default write location. This helps keep the price down but doesn't leave the user frustrated with no hope of expanding the storage.
Although the resolution of the screen is “only” 960 x 540 the display is remarkably high quality. The IPS screen has excellent viewing angles, the colors are vibrant and when on full brightness the screen doesn't look washed-out.  Below is a photo comparing the same image on a HTC One S, a Nexus 7 and the ThL W100. Although the HTC One S offers deeper coloring, I think the W100 is actually the best of the three displays (in terms of color at least).
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Connectivity

The phone has all the standard connectivity options like Wi-Fi ( 802.11 b/g/n), Bluetooth, 2G GSM and 3G. It doesn't have NFC nor does it support LTE but for only $169 that isn't a problem!
There are two SIM card slots both of which can be used for normal GSM services and messaging but only one of which can be used for 3G. It doesn't matter which slot is used for 3G as everything is configurable via the settings. Which SIM is used by default to make calls, which SIM is the default for SMS and which SIM should be used for 3G can all be set accordingly. Both slots are unlocked and will work with any SIM card, contract free.
For 3G the phone only supports 850 and 2100MHz.  The latter number is the “normal” 3G frequency and should work in most places around the world, however a lot of carriers also use a secondary 3G spectrum range. In Asia this tends to be 850MHz, as supported by the W100, while in Europe it tends to be 900MHz. I tested the 3G slot with a local carrier which uses 2100MHz and 900MHz networks. The 3G worked fine but the range and effectiveness wasn't as good as a phone that also supports 900MHz. The 3G connectivity will be optimal in areas with only a 2100MHz network or with a 850MHz/2100MHz network.
I compared the Wi-Fi signals strengths of the W100 with a HTC One S and a Nexus 7 using the free “Wifi Analyzer” app from the Google Play Store. The W100 performed just as well as those two devices and I was able to access the Internet from all around the house and outside without any problems.

Software

The phone runs Android 4.2.1 Jelly Bean and includes Google Play and Google Now. The phone is running a slightly tweaked version of stock Android. The most noticeable difference is the transparency of the app draw. When the app draw is opened the background (but not the desktop) can still be seen. It is visually pleasing and a nice touch from ThL. The other thing I noticed was that the settings app uses color icons. Other than that, everything looks to be stock Android.
The device supports Google Play and although not all the official Google apps like YouTube etc are pre-loaded, it is a simple matter to install them via the Play Store. Using Google Play was simple and I didn't encounter any “incompatible” apps. All the top free, paid and essential apps like Twitter, Yahoo! and Facebook all reported compatibility with the W100. For those who like customization it is worth noting that the phone isn't rooted by default.
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Performance

The MediaTek MT6589 is becoming increasingly popular at the lower end of the quad-core smartphone market and since it uses one of the the latest core architectures from ARM, it is a good choice for this phone (and other in the range).
I previously tested the 5.8 inch, 720p Mithril phone which uses the same processor and the results are very similar with the W100 getting slightly higher benchmark results mainly due to its smaller screen (and hence less effort needed by the CPU/GPU).
The phone scores 13,041 on AnTuTu (compared to the Mithril's 12,737). Putting that into some context it means that AnTuTu rates the W100 as being faster than the Google Nexus 7, the Asus Transformer Prime (both of which are Tegra 3 quad-core devices) and faster than the Samsung Galaxy Note. Similarly the W100 scores 4006 on Quadrant putting it on par with the Asus Transformer Prime. For further comparison the ThL W1, which is powered by a 1GHz dual-core Cortex A9 based MT6577, scored 6436 on AnTuTu and 2737 on Quadrant. Older dual core phones like the HTC One score just under 7000 on AnTuTu. Overall the phone performed well and there was no lags or annoying pauses. It felt as fluid and usable as any of the Android devices I have at hand, maybe even better.
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A quick test using Epic Citadel showed that the W100 can manage an average of 47.4 frames per second at 960 x 544 using the high resolution mode. The Tegra 3 based Asus Transformer TF300 manages 46.5 FPS and the Nexus 7 53.7 FPS.

Camera

The W100 includes an 8MP camera which takes vibrant pictures and is certainly well beyond what to expect in this price range. Also the inclusion of a 5MP front facing camera is remarkable. The built-in camera app includes features like face detection, HDR, continuous shooting and panorama. The camera works well for quasi-macros shots and I was able to get a good focus lock on objects even when quite close. The dandelion picture below demonstrates this the best.
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Battery

In the box ThL provide two 1800 mAh batteries. The advantage of two batteries is that you can leave home with both fully charged and know that you will get double the battery life during long journeys or times away from a mains socket! The device includes a fairly standard USB mains charging adapter and the phone can also be charged from a laptop or PC since charging only requires 500mA. My battery tests revealed that the ThL W100 can play video for about six hours on one charge. In another test I found that a full battery will allow you to watch YouTube videos over Wi-Fi for about five hours or play heavy 3D games for about three hours.

Conclusion

For those with questions about buying electronics online from China, see our guide (part one, part two) – it isn't as difficult as you might imagine. For $169 this phone could be missing half the features it has an I would still recommend it! OK, this isn't a Samsung Galaxy S4 or a HTC One, but it costs a lot less than they do. The W100 has a quad core processor based on ARM's low power consumption Cortex A7, a vibrant IPS display, good connectivity options, reasonable battery life and a nice 8MP camera. The support for only 850MHz and 2100MHz on the 3G  side could be limiting to some, but there are other advantages like dual-SIM support plus features like GPS and a compass. All that from a branded Chinese company for just $169.

Lenovo’s K900


Lenovo’s K900 Launches in China at Long Last

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Easily one of the best handsets to hit the Chinese market in a long time now, the Lenovo K900 is finally available to buy in China! Pricing is going to depend on which carrier you buy it through etc etc but, this is not your average Lenovo phone, so don’t expect a cheap price. This is a quality piece of hardware, encased in aluminum and packing some serious horsepower. Take a look at the specs below, and let us know if you’re picking one up in the comments below:
  • 5.5-inch 1080p IPS display
  • 2 GHz dual-core Intel Atom chip
  • 13-megapixel rear camera with dual flash/ 2-megapixel front-facing camera
  • 2GB of RAM
  • 16GB of storage
  • Weight: 5.7 ounces
  • Thickness: 6.9mm

ZTE's Grand Z2 In

ZTE Announce Grand Z2 In, Coming to Europe Soon

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It’s not everyday that we hear of ZTE bringing their more higher-end devices to Europe to to hear that the Grand X2 In is coming is good news. It’s an Intel-powered smartphone with a 720p display and while that doesn’t sound anything to special, it should be more than enough to keep up with the rest of the pack.

Sony Xperia UL

Sony Xperia UL Heading to Japan’s KDDI Soon?

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If you thought that the Xperia A was enough for Sony, then  you’d be wrong, because the Xperia UL has just broken cover. It’s said this is to become a KDDI exclusive – at least in Japan – and could be the first Sony smartphone to use the Snapdragon 600 over the aging S4 Pro. It’s codenamed “Gaga” and apparently comes with 2GB of RAM, 32GB of storage and it is, of course, waterproof and dustproof. Perhaps Sony is gearing up for a bigger summer than we thought?

China’s MeituKiss Smartphone-A Phone For the Ladies


China’s MeituKiss Smartphone Has Two 8MP Cameras, A Phone For the Ladies

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Have you wondered what it be like to have a quality shooter at the front of your smartphone, as well as the rear? Well, with the MeituKiss you can finally find out! Coming to China soon, this feminine handset comes with two 8 MegaPixel cameras, one at the rear and one at the back, both with a respectable f/2.2 aperture. As well as this there’s a Android 4.2.2, a quad-core MediaTek MT6589, a 4.5-inch 720p display and a 1,800 mAh battery.

Fonepad Goes on Sale in Taiwan

Updated Fonepad Goes on Sale in Taiwan

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The Fonepad has hardly been on sale very long and yet ASUS are already upping the specs! The tablet now comes with a slightly fast 1.6 Ghz Intel Atom Z2460, and 32GB of Storage for NT$10,900. Not too bad, right?

Micromax Readying Full HD 5.5-inch Device

Micromax Readying Full HD 5.5-inch Device

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Our Indian readers will know of Micromax for their quality but affordable devices, now it looks like they might be ready to hit the high-end. A new phablet is apparently on the way from the company, with a 5.5-inch Full HD display, a quad-core MediaTek CPU and 2GB of RAM. The device would cost somewhere in the region of 20,000 INR and could surface as early as next month.

Xiaomi To launch “Red Rice” Smartphone; Cheapest Yet

Xiaomi To launch “Red Rice” Smartphone; Cheapest Yet

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Xiaomi are known for their affordable smartphones but, there’s word of them pushing things even further with the rumored “Red Rice” device that could well cost as little as $130! That’s lower than the company has even gone and would be great for teenagers and first-time smartphone buyers. The rumored specs aren’t much but, they won’t be for that much:
  • Dual-core processor running at 1.2 GHz, claimed to be a Leadercore LC1810
  • 4.7 inch 720p display (1280×720 pixels)
  • 1GB RAM
  • 8GB internal storage (no word whether it will support microSD)
  • 8 megapixel main camera
  • 2 megapixel front camera
  • 2,000 mAh battery
  • MIUI v5

Aquos Pad SH-08E Comes With Full HD 7-inch Panel

Aquos Pad SH-08E Comes With Full HD 7-inch Panel

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Here’s something that will really make us Westerners jealous. Sharp are bringing a tablet to NTT DoCoMo alongside their new smartphone and it’s packing a 7-inch 1920 x 1200 display, a 1.7 Ghz Snapdragon 600 and a sizable 4,200 mAh battery inside. It’s also waterproof and dust proof. As with their new smartphone, Sharp’s IGZO panel tech will make that battery last that little bit longer. It’ll be available in Japan from July or so.

Aquos Zeta SH-06E Packs 1080p IGZO Display

Aquos Zeta SH-06E Packs 1080p IGZO Display

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Here’s another device for NTT DoCoMo, this time from Sharp,
 packing a 4.8-inch 1080p IGZO panel,
a 1.7Ghz Snapdragon 600,
2GB of RAM,
a 13 MP camera.

It’ll be available in blue, red and white from May 24th. Lucky Japan!

Sony Xperia A Announced for Japan’s NTT DoCoMo

Sony Xperia A Announced for Japan’s NTT DoCoMo

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It’s that time of year again in Japan and one of the bigger announcements was the Xperia A for NTT DoCoMo, following in the footsteps of the Xperia Z and ZL, this is a device that’s a little smaller and a little less on the high-end side of things but, it’s still a solid performer and will serve you well. Here are the specs:
  • 4.6-inch OptiContrast OLED at 1280 x 720
  • 1.5 Ghz Quad-Core Snapdragon S4 Pro
  • 2GB of RAM
  • 13MP rear-facing camera with dedicated camera key and 15 fps burst rate with 0.3 MP front-facing
  • NFC and LTE Support
  • 2,300 mAh battery
  • Android 4.1

XOLO Announce Q700 Quad-Core Smartphone

XOLO Announce Q700 Quad-Core Smartphone

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It’s been a little while since we heard anything from Indian company XOLO but, now they’re back with the Q700. This quad-core smartphone comes with some impressive specs and a number of special features, like the ability to set profiles for widgets etc. Let’s take a look at the specs:
  • 4.5-inch (960 x 540 pixels) 16M color capacitive touch screen IPS display at 245 ppi
  • 1.2 GHz quad-core MediaTek 6589W-M processor with 238 MHz PowerVR SGX544 GPU
  • Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean)
  • Dual SIM (GSM + GSM)
  • 5MP rear camera with LED Flash, BSI sensor and 720p HD video recording
  • 0.3 (MP) VGA front-facing camera
  • 10.2 mm thick and weighs 151.3 grams
  • 3.5mm audio jack
  • 1GB RAM, 4GB internal memory, 32GB expandable memory with MicroSD
  • 3G (HSDPA: 21 Mbps, HSUPA: 11 Mbps), WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 3.0, GPS
  • 2400 mAh battery

Smartphones and Tablets

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Wow, what a week it’s been, Google I/O has pretty much come and gone like a tsunami! Although, it left behind more positives, with more tools being handed over to developers and of course, Hangouts. But, what’s been going on around the rest of the world? Well, I’m glad you’re here because that’s just what I am going to address here in another edition of Droid Worldwide Weekly, where we bring you the biggest Android News from around the globe. News that might be more relevant to your little corner of the globe. Read on to see what’s been happening in the World of Android this past week!

French Proposal Would Tax at 1%; Pile the Money into Art and Culture Funding
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A proposal has been handed to the French President recently that details a tax on “Internet-capable” devices like smartphones and tablets of 1%. The money would then be piled back into funding that goes towards art and culture projects. It doesn’t matter where you are in the world these days, money is tight and yet Apple, Google and Amazon are all making a whole lot of money off of these devices. 1% is hardly a pill to swallow and would net roughly €86 Million a year, do you think this is a good idea?

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