Nokia event with multiple product launches rumored for September 26 in New York

By Andy Boxall August 22, 2013

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Nokia has been working hard to get a new Windows Phone device out every few months this year, and it looks like we’re nearing the announcement of what is, presumably, its final hardware launch of 2013. According to a report by Reuters, Nokia will be holding this event in New York next month, where it could have more than one new product to show us.

The rumor comes from anonymous sources, who say the new range will include a phablet-style device. Traditionally, this has meant a smartphone with a screen larger than 5-inches, but today, that size has become the norm on regular range-topping phones. So could this be proof we’re weeks away from seeing the Nokia Bandit?

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A recent leak described the Bandit as having a 6-inch, 1080p display, and a quad-core processor, putting it firmly in smartphone/tablet hybrid territory. Apparently, the phone is already undergoing tests at AT&T, suggesting launch may not be that far away. If more than one piece of new hardware is going to be shown, the rumored Lumia 825 is a strong candidate. It’s said to have a 5.2-inch screen and a quad-core chip, but instead of a 1080p resolution it’ll be 720p, and the processor will have a lower clock speed than the Bandit’s.

Then there is the Nokia tablet, which after a few months absence from the headlines, has come back with a vengeance over the past weeks. If the rumors are correct, it will run Windows RT 8.1, feature a 10.1-inch display, and be powered by a Snapdragon 800 processor. Earlier leaks put the launch date at September 26, which fits in nicely with Reuter’s sources.

A screenshot supposedly showing a Nokia event registration page also backs up the claim. It states Nokia will be holding a get-together on September 26 and September 27 in New York, which interestingly are the same dates Nokia World was held in 2012. Nokia has left it a little late to organize a major developer conference this year – last year it was held in Helsinki and announced in March – but a smaller event that kicks off with some major hardware announcements (just like in the old days of Nokia World) would make up for it. If so, we can expect to see some invitations circulate in a few weeks time.

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Mobile

Google event next week suggests launch of next-gen Nexus 7 as new images hit Web

Google Nexus 7 tablet on Google Play

Check out our full review of the Google Nexus 7 (2013) review.
Google sent out notes to members of the press on Wednesday inviting them to breakfast with Google executive Sundar Pichai in San Francisco next week. While it’s a safe bet the July 24 event will involve more than simply coffee, croissants and some banal remarks about the weather, it’s not absolutely clear what exactly the Mountain View company has in store for attendees.
With Pichai now heading up Google’s Android division, there’s a chance he may pull the wraps off the next iteration of the Nexus 7 tablet, which, incidentally, is the exact device Android Central claims to have run into this week.
Android Central says it can’t say for sure whether the tablet is the finished product or a prototype, and recommended caution on the specs accompanying the device.

But here’s a summary of the information it has – the Asus-made slate will sport not one but two cameras. That’s right, it appears the Mountain View company has seen fit to whack a 5-megapixel camera on the rear, while the front camera will remain as a 1.2-megapixel offering.
“The listed motherboard points to Qualcomm’s APQ8064 with a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro processor,” Android Central says, noting that this is different to earlier rumors suggesting a Snapdragon 600 chip would be included.
A hefty 4GB of DDR3L RAM could, according to the accompanying spec sheet, also be included, as well as stereo speakers, reportedly located on the rear of the tablet. Also, it’ll likely launch in two flavors, 16GB and 32GB, the same as what’s currently available with the Nexus 7.
There was talk earlier this month that Google was preparing to unveil a new version of its year-old smaller tablet by the end of July, so let’s see what Pichai comes up with at breakfast next Wednesday. A new Nexus 7? More info on the Moto X? A fabulous new eggs Benedict recipe? Your guess is as good as mine.
[Images: Android Central]

Mobile

Nokia rumored to launch big-screen, Note 2-challenging, Windows Phone hardware later this year

Some naughty insiders have been spilling the beans about Nokia’s future hardware plans to the Financial Times, and if the report is accurate, we could see one of the first tablet/smartphone hybrid devices to run Windows Phone from the company later this year. The sources say it’s, “The most innovative” device in Nokia’s 2013 range, and will be a similar size to the Samsung Galaxy Note 2, but feature a more advanced specification.
This comes just a few days after we heard about the next version of Windows Phone, currently known as GDR3, where support for 1080p screen resolutions and quad-core processors could be part of its OS enhancements. If Nokia wants to beat the Galaxy Note 2, it will need to add both these features to its challenger, and that’s before we know for sure what the inevitable Galaxy Note 3 will be packing.
There’s no indication when the Nokia phablet will go on sale, but assuming it needs the GDR3 Windows Phone update to compete, it probably won’t be until just before Christmas.
The FT report doesn’t end there though, as it continues with news on a few Nokia phones we’ve already heard a fair amount about already. First up is that we could see a Lumia phone with a 40-megapixel PureView camera in July. A PureView Windows Phone which rivals the original, Symbian-powered PureView 808 has been discussed for sometime, with a device known as the Nokia EOS most recently linked with the technology.
Next is further confirmation Nokia is at least considering making a lighter version of its Lumia 920 flagship phone. An aluminum-bodied 920, currently known by its Catwalk codename, is also a long-standing rumor, and there’s also a chance we could see it released as the Verizon-bound Lumia 928. Finally, a Lumia 820 replacement may join the revised Lumia 920 in the fall.
While we’ve heard enough about these rumors in the past to make them sound more than just idle speculation, they still refer to unofficial products which may or may not make it to store shelves. If the EOS PureView phone is coming in July though, it may not be long until we find out if at least that one is real.

Mobile

Samsung Galaxy S4 to be launched in Times Square, New York on March 14

Mobile World Congress closed its doors yesterday, and although it was an exciting and tech-packed few days in Barcelona, Samsung has swept aside any residual excitement surrounding it by inviting us all to see the Galaxy S4’s release on March 14. We say all of us because unlike last year, the event will be held in a very public venue - Times Square in New York City - and it’ll be live streamed via YouTube for everyone to enjoy.
This is no cryptic invitation open to interpretation either, as it says, “Be ready 4 the next Galaxy,” in massive letters - and one significant number - leaving us with no doubt we’ll be seeing the much-rumored and highly anticipated Galaxy S4 smartphone. Just in case it hadn’t made it clear enough, in the small print it adds, “You can watch via live stream and experience Samsung’s new flagship smartphone at Times Square.” As usual, Samsung has branded this an Unpacked event, then added an “Episode 1” at the base of the invitation - making sure we know there are more major events to come this year.
Putting an end to the mystery
The Galaxy S4 has been the subject of much discussion and while the exact specification and its design remains a closely guarded secret, rumors point to the phone having a 4.99-inch touchscreen with a 1080p resolution and Samsung’s Exynos 5 Octa processor. On the subject of the processor, more recently, a rumor appeared which suggested Samsung would be using a quad-core Snapdragon 600 chip instead, so let’s not get our hopes up that the S4 will be the first eight-core smartphone.
We really don’t know anything about the S4‘s design, but one leaked image showed a similarly shaped phone without a home button. At one time, the use of the number 4 in the phone’s name was in doubt, however this now seems to be unlikely. Finally, the Galaxy S4 could be accompanied by the release of a smart watch, currently known by its codename of the Galaxy Altius.
Samsung will be announcing the Galaxy S4 less than a year into the Galaxy S3’s life, and presumably, the release will come either just before or close to the S3’s one-year anniversary. The timing of its announcement is bad news for HTC, as it has yet to set a final release date for the new HTC One - it’s rival device to the Galaxy S4 - but has said it won’t be on sale before March 15. We wonder how many people who planned to buy it will end up being swayed by the Galaxy S4?
We’ll meet the Galaxy S4 on March 14, when the Times Square event begins at 7pm.