LG G Pro 2 pics leak out, show the G2’s rear button setup mounted on a larger phone
LG only just announced that it’s launching the G Pro 2 phone next month, and now two pictures that claim to show the device have surfaced on a Korean forum, DC Inside. Following up on last year’s 5.5-inch Optimus G Pro, the pictured device features a rear-mounted button setup mirroring LG’s most recent flagship phone, the G2. The pics lack accompanying details, although Android Central mentions rumors have hinted at a size bump to 6-inches, support for faster LTE-A networks, a Snapdragon 800 CPU and 1080p screen — it’s also unknown if the G Pro 2 will follow the G2′s software tweaks with “knock on” and QSlide multitasking. Check after the break for one more picture — we should have all the details confirmed by the time the Mobile World Congress 2014 event begins in Barcelona on February 24th.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, LG
Via: Android Central
Source: DC Inside
LG opens its QSlide mini-app platform to developers
LG’s QSlide mini-apps are handy for quickly checking your calendar or playing a video, but they’ve been limited to just a handful of first-party offerings so far. You may get a healthier selection of bite-sized software in the near future, though, as LG has just published a QSlide developer kit. The framework lets third-party Android apps pull off the same QSlide tricks as official programs, including floating windows and transparency. While it will take some time before any of these augmented apps reach a device near you, coders who want to try the SDK can get started at the source link.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, LG
Via: TechnoBuffalo
Source: LG Developer
Smartphone sales may have topped 1 billion in 2013, depending on who you ask
You once had to look to the broader cellphone market to see more than a billion phones ship in one year. Well, times have changed… at least, if you ask the right analysts. IDC now estimates that smartphone shipments topped one billion for the first time in 2013. However, Strategy Analytics begs to differ — it reckons that shipments fell just short, at 990 million. Whether or not the industry hit its symbolic milestone, the roughly 40 percent increase over 2012 data shows that the smartphone market had plenty of room to grow last year. Samsung led the pack with 31.3 percent of the the market, while Apple dipped to 15.3 percent as both Samsung and Chinese manufacturers (including Huawei and Lenovo) chipped away at its second-place position.
As for what happened in the fourth quarter? Both analyst groups say that Samsung was once again the top vendor, although they note that the Korean firm’s share was largely flat at 29 percent. Not that Apple fared any better, as its record-setting iPhone shipments weren’t enough to prevent a slide to 18 percent share. Huawei, LG and Lenovo were the real victors — each of them typically gained a point or more of share in the past year. IDC chalks some of this up to the rise of very low-cost smartphones, which are quickly taking over developing markets like China and India. Companies which focus on more expensive handsets, such as Apple and Samsung, have the most to lose in these areas.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Apple, Samsung, LG, Lenovo
Source: IDC, Strategy Analytics
LG confirms G Pro 2 announcement in February
It has been a year since LG unveiled the 5.5-inch beast, original G Pro. According to the company, more than one million units of the product have been sold, while consumers enjoyed using its enormous screen, snappy Snapdragon 600 CPU and custom UI that LG loaded on it.
In the same press release, LG announced that the successor of the particular handset will be debuted in February. The company did not disclose any info about the specs of the device nor the exact date, though we feel suffice to speculate both. The second iteration of the line, LG G Pro 2, will ostensibly sport a larger display, around 0.2 to 0.5 inches bigger, with 2K resolution — which appears to be this year’s trend in the industry along with fingerprint scanners. The processor will be upgraded to either Snapdragon 800 or the 850 — announced in November, which offer double the performance of the soon to be outdated 600 SoC. To compete with Samsung’s counterpart, the Note 3, we might see three gigs of memory as well, instead of just two. Design wise, we hope to see much thinner bezels and enhanced ergonomics.
As far as announcement date goes, there is no doubt that we’ll see this happening during MWC 2014 in Barcelona, where all of the major manufacturers — except the Cupertino Giant — show off what they’ve got for the current season. The conference starts on the 24th and wraps up on the 27th.
Albeit not being a big fan of the Optimos line up, I can’t wait to see what LG has in store for us. We wonder what you guys think about LG’s upcoming monster so feel free to sound off in the comments down below.
Source: LG
T-Mobile LG G-Flex Pre-Orders Begin, Scheduled for Feb 5th Release
T-Mobile’s LG G-Flex has finally received an official out date. Up until today they only had a registration page up for those interested in the curvy flexible device from LG. Now you are free to jump in and get a pre-order placed for the device, or just mark your calendar for February 5th to head into a store.
Cost wise you are looking at $672 outright with $0 down and monthly payments of $28 for 24 months to pick one up. T-Mobile is also kicking in 6 months of Netflix with your purchase.
Quick recap of the LG G-Flex Specs:
- Quad-Core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor at 2.26 GHz
- 2 GB of RAM
- 32GB internal memory w/ expandable micro SD slot
- 13MP rear camera
- 2.1MP front facer, 88 degree Ultra-wide-angle, f/2.0 aperture
- 6-inch screen (Res 1280 x 720, 245 ppi)
- 3,400 mAh battery (Yes, that is 100 mAh less than the competitors)
- Android 4.2.2 at launch
- Flexible screen and body with self healing back
Anyone thinking of picking this up? Feel free to pop over to T-Mobile.com to take a closer look.
LG G Flex and LG Optimus F3Q coming to T-Mobile on Feb. 5
T-Mobile just announced that it has two new devices launching just in time for Valentine’s Day, the LG G Flex and LG Optimus F3Q. Both will be available Feb. 5 and can be pre-ordered now. The 4G LTE LG G Flex, which has a unique curved design, is even more curved than devices we’ve seen in the past like the Nexus S and Galaxy Nexus, and features a 6-inch OLED HD 1280 x 720 display, 2.3 GHz Quad Core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor, 2GB RAM, 32 GB eMMC ROM, 13 MP rear-facing camera, 2.1 MP front-facing camera, 3500mAh battery and Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean. As we’ve noted before, key features of this model are its curved display, curved battery, and a self healing back. It also offers a number of LG-exclusives such as KnockON, Slide Aside, Qslide Function, QuickTheater, and Dual Window. As for the LG Optimus F3Q, it’s designed for those that can’t live without a physical keyboard, which hopefully isn’t too many people anymore. The device comes with a 4-inch IPS TFT display and 5 MP camera, and also features some LG-exclusives, including QuickMemo(TM) and the QSlide function that allows users to float and use two apps over the main screen simultaneously.
T-Mobile notes that on its Simple Choice Plan, buyers will pay 24 equal monthly payments of $28 for the G Flex alongside their monthly voice, text and data charges, plus buyers get a 6-month Netflix membership.The Optimus F3Q will be $13 per month on the Simple Choice Plan. Hopefully, at least the LG G Flex gets an update to Android 4.4 KitKat soon, but if you’ve been looking for a new smartphone, be sure to check these out. T-Mobile
The post LG G Flex and LG Optimus F3Q coming to T-Mobile on Feb. 5 appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Nexus 5 might soon come in red
Currently, you can get the Nexus 5 in any color you want, so long as it’s black… or white. Those two options may have satisfied Henry Ford, but the modern consumer sometimes wants something a little racier. Twitter’s @artyomstar appears to have found a consignment of the smartphone clad in hot-rod red, something that’s sure to raise the hearts of anyone hoping to abandon monochrome devices. We can’t be certain, of course, but the images look a lot more real than the other leaks we’ve been sent, so let’s hope that LG and Google don’t make us wait too much longer before spilling the beans.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Google, LG
Via: Android Central
Source: Skazki (Twitter), (2), (3)
Red Nexus 5 may soon become a reality
A few days ago, rumors surfaced with a bogus rendition of colorful Nexus 5 variants. While it seemed as though the rumors were squashed, some more photos leaked from Twitter regarding the Nexus 5 in bright red.
Twitter user Skazki (@artyomstar) leaked the images at around 8AM this morning, and they actually seem legitimate. Not only did the front and back images on the box leak, but the bar code on the bottom also specifies the color.
Don’t get us wrong – this could absolutely be a hoax. But if it is, somebody went to great lengths to trick the heck out of everybody. Here’s to hoping they’re officially announced soon!
Via: Android Central
Source: Skazki (Twitter) 1, 2
The post Red Nexus 5 may soon become a reality appeared first on AndroidGuys.
LG shrinks losses thanks to strong TV sales, promises new flagship phone next month
LG doubled its profits in the last year — and it’s thanking an apparent boom in HDTV sales, not its mobile wares. From October – December 2013, the company made an operating profit of $220 million (238 billion won), more than doubling the operating profit from its TV range, but saw a net loss for the quarter of $59 million (64 billion won). Meanwhile, mobile (including both smartphones and the company’s return to tablets) went from profit maker to loss maker in the space of a year, with an operating loss in Q4 2013 of $40 million (43 billion won). That operating loss has been partly blamed on marketing spending, with LG advertising more aggressively for flagship phones like the LG G2 and the G Flex in the last 12 months. LG’s quarterly smartphone unit sales totaled 13.2 million units: more than a 50 percent increase from the same period last year.
The company has also announced that it’ll have a new G Pro model, the G Pro 2, to add to the flagship in February — presumably ready for when MWC 2014 kicks off in Barcelona — although it’s not specifying, well, anything about the new smartphone yet. LG also expects 2014 to be the year of OLED (although not flexible ones ), with the nascent screen tech becoming its “main growth driver” in TV and replacing LED sets in the process.
Filed under: Cellphones, Home Entertainment, HD, Mobile, LG
Via: Reuters
Source: LG Social (Korean), LG
[RUMOUR] Will LG be debuting the LG G Pro 2 at MWC 2014?
Assuming LG hasn’t lost its marbles recently, we are all expecting them to release a successor to the not-quite successful LG Optimus G Pro phablet. While competing with the equally mammoth Samsung Galaxy Note 2, the Optimus G Pro proved itself to be a decent phone in its own right with some semblance of useful stylus features, though its sales figures never seemed to reflect this. In the year since that phone was announced, LG has done away with the ‘Optimus’ nomenclature so we can probably expect the follow-up phablet to be called the LG G Pro 2 and if a report coming out of Korea is to be believed, we’ll be seeing this new phone next month at MWC 2014.
The report also specifies that such a device would carry specifications like a 6-inch display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 800, 3GB RAM, LTE/LTE-A support and Android KitKat. This sets the G Pro 2 squarely in the sights of the perennial phablet, the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 and it has to wage somewhat of an uphill battle. Even so, assuming this rumour is true, it will be interesting to see if LG includes a stylus again and if they have made any strides with the UI that so many complained about in the LG G2.
Do you think the LG G Pro 2 has any chance in today’s market? Let us know what you think in the comments.
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