Windows Phone 8 will support 1080p displays by the end of the year

Microsoft is planning to update Windows Phone 8 to support 1080p resolutions. Sources familiar with Microsoft's Windows Phone plans have revealed to The Verge that the company will issue an update later this year that brings support for the 1080p resolution and new 5-inch and higher devices. Windows Phone 8 currently supports WVGA, WXGA, and 720p resolutions. 

The update, known as a General Distribution Release (GDR3) for Windows Phone, will set the stage for new devices set to debut for the holidays. HTC had originally planned to release a "Zenith" flagship device with a 4.7-inch display and quad-core processor, but the company reportedly cancelled its plans as the device would have a lower resolution than its competing Android models. We understand that the GDR3 update will also provide support for new Qualcomm processors, allowing manufacturers to opt for quad-core devices with Windows Phone.

Microsoft's update will arrive as part of the new devices, but we understand that it's not directly related to the company's Blue plans for Windows Phone — a codename for a future upgrade. Windows Phone Blue is tentatively scheduled for early 2014 and will help bridge the gaps between Microsoft's Windows 8 operating system and Windows Phone 8. The software maker is planning to enable additional points of synchronization, including the browser, to further integrate both operating systems.

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Samsung Galaxy Mega 5.8 and 6.3 Specifications Confirmed

Earlier this week, we have reported that Samsung is working on two new smartphones. The Galaxy Mega 5.8 and Galaxy Mega 6.3 are designed to cover the empty range between smartphones and tablets.

According to leaked information, the specifications of the devices are finally confirmed. The Galaxy Mega 5.8, codenamed GT-I9152, comes with a 5.8-inch qHD TFT display. The display does not come with high screen resolution, supporting only 960 x 540 pixels resolution. The device comes with two cameras, an 8-megapixel rear-facing and a 2-megapixel front-facing camera.

The processor is a dual-core clocked at 1.4 GHz, and there will be 1.5 GB of RAM. The Galaxy Mega 5.8 sports Bluetooth 4.0, WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n and a GPS. The dimensions would be 164 × 83.8 × 9.7 mm, and it will have a 2,600 mAh battery.

The 6.3-inch phablet uses the same dual-core with somewhat higher clocks (1.7 GHz vs. 1.5 GHz) as well as the same amount of RAM. Among Bluetooth 4.0, WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n and a GPS, Samsung will release the Galaxy Mega 6.3 in two versions, one with and one without LTE. Due to bigger dimensions, which are 88 × 167.6 × 7.9 mm, Samsung will use the battery with 3,200 mAh capacity as well as the same 8-megapixel rear-facing, a 2-megapixel front-facing camera.

The two devices are running Android 4.1.2 / 4.2.2 Jelly Bean with Nature UX interface on it. Samsung expects to sell them sometime in June.

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Apple may see single-digit shipment growth for MacBooks in 2013

Apple MacBook shipments may only see single-digit growth in 2013, as related upstream component suppliers still have not yet seen any major increases in orders, according to sources from the upstream supply chain.

The orders may increase slightly after Apple releases its new MacBook products at the end of the second quarter.

Apple was confident about its 13-inch MacBook Pro performance for 2013, but the device's actual sales turn out to be weaker than expected, leaving the company still digesting its inventories in the first quarter.

The sources pointed out that Apple's MacBook Pros have strong attraction to consumers, but the devices' high prices are instead pushing consumers away. In addition, shipment delays last year due to weak panel yield rates also impacted shipment performance. However, Apple claimed its Mac series' weak sales are due to the iPad.

Apple shipped 13.03 million MacBooks in 2012, up 7.98% on year.

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Acer Plans to Slash Price of its 7.9-inch Tablet

Acer is looking to take a bite out of the tablet market share with its 7.9-inch tablet. Thanks to French online retailer Rue du Commerce, the tablet is ready for pre-order at €199. However, according to sources from the supply chain, Acer is considering lowering the price of its Iconia A1-810 tablet.

To compete with Apple mini, Nexus 7 and Amazon's Kindle Fire HD, the company would take the tablet from $249.99 to $149.99. However, Acer declined to comment about the rumors. The device should be available by the end of this month.

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Yet Another WLAN-fixing Update for Surface

Microsoft rolled out its third software update for Surface, Surface Pro, and Surface RT, focused on fixing WiFi connectivity issues. The three tablets are hit by numerous WiFi glitches that include connection drops, untimely DHCP lease expiry without renewal (the so called "Limited Connectivity" bug), and software crashes that result from these connectivity drops.

Dated April 9, the newest software update for the three Surface tablets, in the words of Microsoft, addresses the following for Surface RT:

• Certain "Limited Connectivity" issues resolved
• Improves WiFi to handle a wide range of access points.
• Resolves system crashes caused by certain WiFi issues.

The update for Surface Pro has its own share of issues addressed:

• Resolves an issue with on screen touch navigation in the UEFI boot menu.
• Resolves some Surface Type and Touch cover connectivity issues.
• Support for 106/109 keyboards on North American Surface devices.
• Resolves an issue where toggling airplane mode would disable the WiFi driver.

Users can either wait for the next automatic updates look-up, or navigate to Settings > Change PC Settings > Windows Update, and manually check for updates.

This is the third batch of "cumulative updates" for Surface this year, addressing WiFi connectivity issues, the previous being February and March.

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ZTE Rolls Out Geek Atom Smartphone

At the IDF 2013 event in Beijing, smartphone maker ZTE unveiled the not so cleverly named ZTE Geek. An IDF launch naturally hints at the device being Intel x86-driven, which it is. An Intel Atom Z2580 "Clover Trail+" SoC clocked at 2.00 GHz, the same chip that drives Lenovo K900. The chip is backed by 1 GB of RAM, and 8 GB internal storage that's expandable with micro-SDHC.

The 5-inch smartphone features an unspectacular yet acceptable 1280 x 720-pixel display resolution, with its display being accented by a curvy Gorilla Glass panel. In the imaging department, you get an 8-megapixel primary camera with LED flash, and a respectable 1-megapixel front-facing one.

Intel's XMM 6260 soft-modem is in-charge of connectivity, which includes UMTS 900/2100, 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, and AGPS. Android "Jelly Bean" (not sure if 4.1 or 4.2), is at the helm. Looks-wise, the Geek looks similar to the ZTE Grand S, which the company unveiled at this year's International CES.

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Galaxy Note 2 vs iPhone 5 vs Galaxy S4: Which is the better smartphone on the market in 2013?

You may be choosing between the Apple iPhone 5, Samsung Galaxy Note 2 or Galaxy S4 as all three will be arguably the best handsets on the market this year around the globe. So which is the best? 

While the iPhone 5 has enlarged its screen to a 4 inch display screen, the Galaxy Note 2 has a massive 5.5 inch screen.  This could be a great feature for watching videos or reading, however, a complaint with the size is that you have to use two hands to do almost anything on the Galaxy Note 2.  The Galaxy Note 2's processor is twice as fast as the iPhone 5 with more RAM, and has double the battery size at 3100mAh. The iPhone 5 still has a great battery life of 8 hours(talk time) which lasts you a whole day, but I guess if you want to take your phone camping for a whole weekend with no charger, then the Note 2 is the way to go with a remarkable 35 hours of talk time battery life. 

Jelly Bean while the Apple iPhone 5 has its own proprietary OS, iOS 6.  The iOS system is deemed the better functioning of the two by the public. Apple's App Store has apps that tend to be more polished and with a more pleasing appearance. 

The sleeker look and display would go to the Apple iPhone 5 with the Samsung handset looking somewhat cheap with to its plastic materials.  Both phones have 8 megapixel cameras on the back. The Note 2 has with a 1.9MP shooter on the front while the Apple iPhone 5 a 1.2MP.  The Galaxy Note 2 does have a cool feature with split screen, and even triple screen that is very cool.

So in summary the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 has bigger display and battery, storage and processor.  The Apple iPhone 5 has better price tag, looks, design and the camera with better photos in low light and faster image capture.  The Galaxy S4 has a bigger screen, better battery and potentially revolutionary features.  In the end it comes down to which operating system you prefer, Android or iOS. 

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