A UK firm is searching for Vietnamese partners to market a smartphone that costs only one U.S. dollar, but it would be a long way to go for such an idea to be turned into reality. SocialEco, which has distributed its flagship One Dollar Smartphone in a few markets, is eying Vietnam as the next destination, a company leader said at a meeting with the Authority of Radio Frequency Management (ARFM) late last month. The super cheap handset will come with a SocialEco-developed ecosystem, called Social Economy Ecosystem, SocialEco CEO Cosmora was quoted as saying on the ARFM website on September 4. The $1 smartphone is intended to allow low-income earners to access the Internet and features and services offered by the Social Economy Ecosystem, according to Cosmora. As the smartphone is distributed almost free of charge, the manufacturer will cover all costs by selling ads. The SocialEco handset will thus have some pre-installed apps, whereas their wallpapers will automatically … [Read more...] about UK firm seeks partners for one dollar smartphone project in Vietnam
Pre launch app marketing
HTC Droid DNA review
Guanine, adenine, thymine, cytosine... Android? The Droid DNA the latest addition to Verizon's Droid series may not contain any actual nucleotides, but that doesn't make this HTC-made superphone any less of a powerhouse. On the contrary, we've been eyeballing this handset with eager anticipation ever since it first launched in Japan as the J Butterfly; much like its counterpart from the Land of the Rising Sun, the DNA boasts a jaw-dropping 5-inch, 1080p display. But while that may be the headliner-worthy feature, you certainly can't go wrong with a quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro processor and 2GB of RAM taking charge behind the scenes, along with an ImageSense camera and other top-notch specs. In certain respects, the Droid DNA is a sneak preview of what's to come in 2013: a wave of high-performance "superphones" that take advantage of this improved resolution, and offer a long list of other top-notch features. Indeed, that's a future we could all definitely live with, but let's … [Read more...] about HTC Droid DNA review
Huawei MediaPad 10 review: test-driving the company’s first 10-inch tablet
Toward the end of Huawei's Mobile World Congress press event this past February, company executives made a brief mention of an upcoming 10-inch, quad-core tablet. For the media in attendance, it was a coup d'oeil at best and a dangling hardware carrot, for sure. At the time, the company kept curious journalists at bay, but did confirm some high-end specs: a 1,920 x 1,200 IPS display, 8-megapixel rear camera, LTE (Cat 4) / DC-HSPA+ radios and a proprietary, quad-core K3V2 CPU buffered by 2GB of RAM. It wouldn't be until CTIA in New Orleans three months later when we'd actually get some hands-on time with device. Now that we're at the tail-end of the year and the MediaPad 10 is on sale in Europe, much of the buzz has evaporated in the wake of some high-profile product launches (think: Google's Retina-searing Nexus 10, or the recently refreshed iPad). But is there a reason to give the MediaPad 10 a second look anyway? Will a price of 424 euros and limited regional availability mar … [Read more...] about Huawei MediaPad 10 review: test-driving the company’s first 10-inch tablet
Microsoft launches Windows 8 in Asia Pacific
Microsoft today announced the availability of Windows 8 for its customers in Asia Pacific and around the world. Beginning on Friday, October 26, consumers and businesses will be able to experience all that Windows 8 has to offer: a beautiful new UI available on more than 1,000 Windows 8 certified PCs and tablets, and a wide range of apps with the grand opening of the Windows Store. Windows 8 will be available for download to upgrade existing PCs in over 140 markets and 37 languages. Devices from more than ten manufacturers—including Asus, Acer, Dell, Fujitsu, HP, Lenovo, LG, Samsung, Sony and Toshiba—will be available at retail locations throughout Asia Pacific. "With the launch of Windows 8, Microsoft is unveiling a reimagined Windows to the world," said Tracey Fellows, president of Microsoft Asia Pacific. "Whether you want to consume or create, whether you want to work or play—Windows 8 delivers a no-compromise computing experience. You no longer need to choose … [Read more...] about Microsoft launches Windows 8 in Asia Pacific
Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 review
When we review a second-generation product there are certain things we tend to take for granted: this new thing, whatever it is, will be thinner, faster, longer-lasting, maybe even with more bells and whistles in tow. With Samsung's Galaxy Tab 10.1, though, it's a little less obvious why its sequel is here. It offers near-identical specs, including a 10-inch, 1280 x 800 PLS display, dual-core 1GHz chip, 1GB of RAM and a minimum of 16GB of internal storage. What's more, this generation is slightly thicker and heavier, and sheds the LED flash that used to sit on the back side. But there's one detail we haven't mentioned yet: in addition to softening the specs, Samsung dropped the price by about hundred bucks, so that it now starts at $400. Clearly, then, the 10.1 has evolved into a mid-range tablet, whereas it used to be the best Samsung had to offer. That's good news for penny-pinching shoppers, but Samsung has a bit of a problem on its hands: it's jumping out of the frying pan … [Read more...] about Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 review