MasHD Blog

With the introduction of the new Nexus 7 , complete with the same name as it had in its first iteration, Google revealed that Android 4.3 would also be called Jelly Bean. This system’s detailing began with a boost to Multi-User abilities with Restricted Profiles – this is for parents, for the most part, allowing and dis-allowing bits and pieces of the operating system depending on the user. From there, Google launched directly into Bluetooth Smart – also known as Bluetooth Low Energy, this coming alongside Bluetooth 4.0. Google’s Android 4.3 will be coming in with OpenGL ES 3.0 for developers – this will open a lot of doors for next-generation games in an environment that brings a lot of support for higher-definition graphics and 3D gaming. Demoing 3D abilities with a showing by the folks at Silicon Studio, then moving on to a futuristic motorcycle game powered by the Unity gaming engine, Google made the case for Android being a prime spot for the next generation in groundbreakin...

This evening, the new Nexus 7 was spotted in a couple shots posted by a Reddit user, complete with packaging and a timestamp. A few short hours later, the folks over at Android Police have produced a full roster of specifications and benchmarks for the 7-inch slate, giving the most detailed look at the upcoming Nexus 7 yet. The Nexus 7 is codenamed Razor, and according to the benchmarks features a 7-inch 1920 x 1200 display, as various leaks have suggested. With the bar on the screen, the actual resolution works out to 1200 x 1824 pixels. Under the hood, there’s a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro quad-core 1.5GHz processor and 2GB of RAM. Andreno 320 is pegged for the GPU. Also as leaks have suggested, the slate runs Android 4.3, but we’ll have to wait a bit longer to find out what exactly the changes that come with that entail. As far as the hardware goes, the new Nexus 7 is pretty much on par with the Nexus 4, although the Quadrant benchmarks for the slate show it scoring a bit hig...

The new Nexus 7 appeared earlier this week in press photos, and today we’re getting another look at the device, this time in a couple of shots that include its packaging. The leak comes from a Reddit user who claimed to have just received the device, promising more images to follow shortly, though none have been provided yet. The images were posted by Reddit user xQckx, along with a timestamp in the images. One show the box the Nexus 7 2 came in, and the second shows the tablet resting on the opened packaging, with Google’s logo visible in the bottom and some plastic scattered about. Unfortunately, there’s not much to tell about the device from the leak. The user hasn’t yet responded to any questions about where he or she got the device, and has deleted at least one of his responses in the comment thread, so don’t get your hopes too high about more images. The tablet in the image does match the leaks we’ve seen in recent times, however, including the press shots that surfaced yest...

The next Sony Xperia flagship will be codenamed ‘Honami’. Some have pointed to the phone being a refresh of the Xperia Z and judging by the leaked pictures below, you can see why. With a number of renders and fan-made concepts flying around the place, it can be tricky sorting out the genuine leaks. However, these new pictures look like the real deal. They bear resemblance to the last set of photos we saw, but the aluminium frame has now been tinted black (much the same as the black version of the Xperia SP or Xperia Z Ultra). The huge speaker grill is at the bottom and there is a dedicated camera button, as per the previous leak. The placement of the camera lens and LED flash also match the ePrice leak from last week. We’ll bring you more news as we have it. Sony Honami rumoured specifications 5-inch 1080p AH-IPS with “Triluminous” 1/2.3-inch 20.6MP Exmor RS BSI sensor 28mm equivalent Sony G lens LED flash 16GB internal storage with microSD Snapdragon 800 at 2.25GHz 2...

Almost every phone in existence uses a SIM card, especially GSM-based devices. It turns out, that while SIM cards are encrypted, they can easily be breached with just a couple of text messages, and it apparently takes only a couple of minutes. The hack allows someone to listen in on calls and steal mobile data from a phone The hack consists of cloaking a text message so that it looks like it was sent from the carrier, and about a quarter of the time, an error message is sent back containing information about the SIM card that can be used to break into it. After that, another text can be sent that officially finishes the job, allowing hackers into your phone. Security researcher Karsten Nohl of Security Research Labs discovered the exploit and says that up to 750 million handsets could be vulnerable to the hack. However, he notes that only SIM cards using older data encryption methods are at risk, while SIM cards using the newer Triple DES encryption are safe. Out of all the mob...

HTC isn’t just relying on the One to turn its 2013 around: the company has the HTC One mini to help with that, a new 4.3-inch version of the aluminum smartphone. Slimming the flagship down – as well as some of the core specifications – the One mini is fronted by a 720p touchscreen where the One has 1080p, but still keeps the UltraPixel camera and Zoe photography system, among other things. We caught up with the new smartphone to see if the One’s undoubtable charms have been distilled down to a more hand-friendly size. .( visit SlashGear for more pictures ) Compared to its bigger brother ,the HTC one , which  measures in at 137.4 x 68.2 x 9.3mm and 143g, The HTC  One mini is 132 x 63.2 x 9.25mm and 122g and is really close in terms of size . The One mini has a glossy plastic ring running around its edge, however, which has a completely different feel to the metal and glass edge of the One, though both have the same bowed aluminum back.. Inside, you get a slower processor...

Acer reportedly plans to replace the first-gen Iconia W3, the first 8.1-inch Windows 8 tablet, with an updated version that could address screen complaints, potentially arriving as soon as September this year. The new model is expected to hit stores by the end of this quarter, Acer Netherlands spokesperson Star Swank told Tweakers, and be thinner and lighter than the current Iconia W3. Although Acer didn’t confirm it, the most important change is believed to be in the screen technology. The current Iconia W3 uses a TN-LCD panel which, supports only limited viewing angles, meaning as soon as you start to use the tablet off-center the image quality plummets. On the updated model, however, there’s a switch to IPS instead, which would deliver considerably greater viewing angles. It’s the same display technology as Apple uses on the iPad and Samsung uses on the Nexus 10, both of which have been praised for their screen quality. Acer wouldn’t confirm the IPS switch, but according to ...

Now I know we’ve seen a lot of these in the past year, but this budget tablet might have a few tricks up its sleeves. The 7-inch 1024×600 display is nothing to write home about, but it is of the IPS variant so that should ensure wide viewing angles. The MediaPad 7 Vogue has an aluminum unibody design coming in black and white colors, tipping the scales at 335 grams and is 9.5mm thick. Underneath that metal is Huawei’s own quad-core K3V2 Cortex-A9 processor, clocked at 1.2Ghz. This the same processor as the one found in the Ascend Mate which we reviewed a week ago, and we found the performance of the processor to be decent, however the Ascend Mate’s chipset was clocked at a higher 1.5Ghz. The MediaPad 7 Vogue also comes with 1GB of RAM, 8GB of internal storage, and a microSD slot for an additional 32GB worth of space. There’s a 3-megapixel camera on the back, and a 0.3-megapixel camera on the front. On the software side of things the tablet is running Android 4.1 Jelly Bean,...

The heavily-anticipated Moto X phone has posed for the cameras once again, this time in a sleek promotional video for Canadian mobile carrier Rogers. The demonstration video details many of the new features that'll debut on the device, including the always-listening voice command software that does not require users to touch the device. The so-called Open Mic feature will allow users to ask questions, bring up Google Now data, set alarms, or get directions just by talking to the device. Starting at 0:23 – “ Your Moto X is ready to listen and respond. Talk to it, and it learns your voice. With the power of Google Now, it tells you what you need to know, even when you’re not touching the screen.” Back when Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich was first introduced, there was a feature – and there continues to be a feature – tagged as “open microphone”. This is an experience that currently works with Android devices allowing voice dictation and streaming voice recognition – at the m...

Just a few minutes ago, it seems someone over at the official HTC blog pulled the trigger on an HTC One Mini teaser campaign a bit early. A post titled "Little Things That Pack a BIG Punch" was live for a few moments, only to quickly disappear. It was a pretty obvious hint at the upcoming HTC One Mini, which is perhaps best-known at this point as HTC's worst-kept secret. The post didn't detail specifications, or even specifically name the HTC One Mini, but the intent was plainly to tease the upcoming device. Here's the text of that post - "The HTC One, by many accounts, is the pinnacle of smartphone achievement. The beautiful metal design, powerful hardware, and innovative user experience pack a lot into a svelte package, making it hit with critics and consumers alike. This success has only boosted our passion to bring the One experience to as many people as possible. In that spirit, here’s an homage to little things that back a big punch. Can you think o...

We heard a few days ago that retailers were beginning to discount Microsoft’s Surface RT tablet, but it wasn’t clear if this was a retailer-focused sale, or if Microsoft was beginning to discount its lower-end tablet line altogether. However, Microsoft officially lowered the price of the Surface RT to a mere $349 in Microsoft Stores. The entry-level 32GB model costs only $349, which is a discount of $150 from the original $499 price tag. As for the 64GB version, that’s now selling for $449 (originally $599). Both Best Buy and Staples also have the discounts up and ready to go, although they jumped the gun a bit early a couple days ago. However, Staples noted that the sale lasted until July 20 (or while supplies last), but Microsoft’s website lists no specific end date, suggesting that the price drop may be permanent, which would officially undercut its main competitor by a whopping $150. This could lead to tablet buyers taking a second look at the Surface RT. Windows RT has lar...

Whether or not the Apple iWatch is really happening is yet to be officially determined, but the latest rumor to churn out from the mill is that the Cupertino-based company is planning to launch the iWatch sometime later next year, and they’re also hiring a bunch of new people in order to hurry up the design and development process. The iWatch has been rumored in the past with a release date for later this year, but it seems Apple might be hitting a slight snag with development of the new wearable device, and are bringing in more expert engineers and developers to give the project a boost of juice in order to give it some speed, although the later release window suggests that the company could be throwing away the playbook and starting from (nearly) scratch. The Financial Times reports that development of the iWatch “has stepped up”, but “questions over the ability of its own engineers to develop wearable technology” has some worried. We doubt that’s a huge problem, but considerin...

This week the folks at Samsung have suggested – without saying so to the public – that they’re not about to let ASUS leave them in the dust with a phone that docks into a tablet. While Samsung’s device isn’t exactly the same as the ASUS Padfone, the trademark we’re seeing here doesn’t put it all that far off from the mark. This filing number D685,774 suggests Samsungs machine wouldn’t bring on a traditional form for the tablet dock or smartphone itself, on the other hand. The rather interesting differentiator between ASUS’ solution and the Samsung patent filing is the shape of the two components. While the ASUS machine – each of several generations of the Padfone, that is, work with a smartphone that could very well pass off for a stand-alone smartphone without the tablet, Samsung’s device looks a bit more like the letter T. With the top of the smartphone having a swoop outward to the left and to the right, this smartphone fits in with its tablet dock like a glove. The tablet the...

An image of what is reportedly the BlackBerry A10, an upcoming BB 10 smartphone, has been leaked. The photo confirms that the handset will be build around a 5" display. The source claims that the BlackBerry A10, which is codenamed Aristo, will be equipped with a 1,280 x 720 pixel display, like its Z10 predecessor, rather than a full HD screen as available on most recent high-end smartphones. Other BlackBerry A10 we know so far include a Snapdragon chipset with a 1.5 GHz quad-core Krait processor along with 2 GB of RAM and an 8 megapixel primary camera. The design of the BlackBerry A10 looks quite similar to that of the BlackBerry Z10 except that this time the piece at the bottom is colored white, rather than black. BlackBerry A10 will run on BlackBerry 10 OS, but unfortunately, there is no word on the pricing and the launch date of the smartphone.

Rumors of Motorola’s upcoming smartphone are heating up. Currently known as the Moto X, the device has been the victim of numerous leaks and speculation over the last several weeks, and today we’re seeing yet another addition. Google Chairman Eric Schmidt was spotted using a mysterious device that we can only suspect to be the Google-owned Moto X device. At the annual Allen & Co. business conference yesterday, Schmidt was seen using a mysterious device that looks a lot like Motorola’s Moto X handset, based on the handful of image leaks that we’ve seen so far. The photos of Schmidt using the phone are highly detailed, allowing us a good look at the device that he doesn’t appear to be keeping on the down-low. The model that Schmidt is using appears to have a slightly glossy rear white shell with a curved shape. The camera module and LED flash are placed prominently in the center of the device toward the top, with what looks to be the speaker directly next to the camera. We also...

Finnish handset maker Nokia on Thursday launched new smartphone Lumia 1020 with 41 megapixel camera, saying it will strengthen the company’s leadership in imaging. “The Lumia 1020 will bring new meaning to pictures and continues to strengthen Nokia’s leadership in imaging,” Nokia President and CEO Stephen Elop said in New York. The Nokia Lumia 1020’s 41 megapixel camera comes with Xenon flash for still images, LED flash for video. It has ZEISS optics’ six physical lenses. Earlier, Nokia launched a Pureview 808 model which had similar sensor. The phone was launched in India at MRP of Rs. 34,999. Nokia Lumia 1020 has 1.2 MP front camera that can be used for making video calls. The phone is built on Microsoft Windows 8 platform and has 1.5 GHz dual-core processor from Qualcomm. It has 32 gigabyte internal memory, 2GB RAM, and 7GB of cloud storage that can be accessed by mobile Internet. Nokia will start selling Lumia 1020 in the U.S. exclusively with AT&T from around Jul...

More and more people may be relying on their smartphones for portable entertainment, but Sony isn’t willing to leave even a shrinking PMP market to Apple’s iPod, hence the new E-Series Walkman range. The Walkman E580 and Walkman E380 each support music, video, and photo playback, with the E580 having a 2-inch display and a battery good for up to 77hrs of use, while the smaller E380 scales it down to 1.77-inches of screen and up to 30hrs of runtime. The Walkman E580 – effectively an iPod nano alternative – comes in 8GB and 16GB capacities, good for up to 3,700 tracks. It will play MP3, WMA, Linear PCM, AAC, HE-AAC, FLAC, and Apple Lossless audio, and AVC, MPEG4, and WMV 9 video, and comes with a set of MDR-NC31 noise-cancelling earphones. They work with Sony’s own Clear Bass, Clear Stereo, and Clear Phase digital processing, as well as “Virtualphones Technology” (VPT) which is basically the company’s attempts at modeling different environments, such as a recording studio or a cl...

An 18 year old girl was at work when her Samsung Galaxy S III exploded in her pocket. If you have the guts to look at the photo of the burns to her leg, then here you go . To make a long story short, her boss had to tear her trousers off in order to save her. Go head and make your joke. Done? Right. Samsung Switzerland says they’re investigating the incident(see statement below) and will likely send the phone back to Korea for closer examination. "Once we have been able to contact this person, we will launch a thorough investigation to shed light on the accident and, in this context, what is left of the phone will probably be sent to Korea. [Samsung submits its products to ] rigorous quality controls."-Mirjam Berger, spokesperson, Samsung Switzerland What can you do to prevent this from happening to you? I hate to say this, but there’s really nothing you can do. You have to remember, Samsung has sold over 20 million of these. What I’m about to say is perverse, but if o...

The Moto X rumors have been ramping up over the past weeks, complete with leaked images and specs and Google’s own teaser advertisements for the handset. Among the rumors was word that a private press event was slated for July 11th, but that speculation can finally be laid to rest: Motorola has confirmed that this is false. The rumor started a tad after Motorola launched its teaser advertisement for the Moto X last week, in doing so confirming the handset. Shortly after this, word surfaced in a few places alleging that a press event would be held on July 11, revealing some details for the handset. Others, basing off these rumors, interpreted the “X” and “I” shapes made by the individuals in the image above as confirmation of this. The rumor took off, however, after tech blogger Leo Laporte confirmed that a private event was going to be held on that day for “50 or so press members.” Our friends at Android Community reached out to Motorola for more information, and the company resp...

THL is a name that makes us cringe whenever we come across it, not only because its logo is clearly "inspired" by HTC's older counterpart, but more so because it's been shamelessly cloning designs from the likes of HTC, LG and Samsung. Alas, these KIRF phones sell well in China, thus letting THL rapidly expand its retail business in recent years -- there are now a handful of THL stores in Shenzhen alone. But today, the company finally has something worth writing about: the Android 4.2.2-powered W11, also known as "Monkey King" (a main character from the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West). Officially launched in Shenzhen earlier today, the W11 is a WCDMA phone that boasts a whopping 13-megapixel front-facing camera with the usual beautification offering. This means bad news for local competitor MeituKiss, which was just launched in May with an 8-megapixel selfie camera. Just to rub salt into the wound, THL's latest phone comes with another 13-me...

Following on from the Canvas HD launched earlier this year, Micromax unveiled its newest flagship in India today: the Canvas 4 (aka A210). It's pretty similar to the HD, packing an identical 5-inch 720p IPS LCD display (under a Gorilla Glass panel), MediaTek MT6589 1.2GHz quad-core processor, 1GB of RAM and 2,000mAh battery. Improvements over the HD that may justify its higher price include the 4's 16GB of internal storage (expandable to 32GB), 13-megapixel main camera with Sony sensor and 5-megapixel front-facing shooter. An aluminum rim wraps the handset, which measures 8.99mm thick (0.35 inch) and tips the scales at 158 grams (5.6 ounces). With dual-SIM support and a radio capable of HSPA+ data speeds, the device runs Android 4.2.1 Jelly Bean and touts software features like blow-to-unlock, look-away video pausing and pop-up window multitasking. Available in "Pristine White" and "Smoky Grey," the Canvas 4 costs Rs 17,999 (around $295) with a free alumin...

As the rumoured launch date draws closer, the Xiaomi Mi3 breaks cover once again in leaked benchmarks showing off a Nvidia Tegra 4 processor and 1080 display! GFXBench is a 3D graphics benchmark suite which allows you to compare performance of phone and tablet GPU’s. The online database is also a treasure trove of facts which include a devices screen resolution, processor and more and guess which phone has just been spotted there? Chinese tech site MyDrivers are claiming to have spotted the Xiaomi Mi3 over on GFXBench where the phone not only performed admirably against the Samsung Galaxy S4, HTC One and even the Nvidia Shield, but also let slip a few details about it hardware specs. In particular this version of the Xiaomi Mi3 seems to be running a Nvidia Tegra 4 processor clocked at 1.8Ghz, packs a 1920 x 1080 display and is running Android 4.2.2 (current Xiaomi phones don’t run above Android 4.1). Although a great find it still doesn’t confirm that Xiaomi have finalised th...

Nikon has created a new division to develop cameras competitive with the rise in smartphone photography, as the company watches its compact camera sales shrink in the face of the ubiquitous cellphone. The team – which is working with Nikon’s existing imaging division, president Makoto Kimura told Bloomberg – is hoping to “create a product that will change the concept of cameras” Kimura teased. Exactly what that game-changer might look like is still unclear. “It could be a non-camera consumer product” Kimura suggested, though declined to comment on whether that was a thinly-veiled hint at a Nikon smartphone. As Kimuro sees it, Nikon’s challenge isn’t one of making cameras relevant, but of encouraging buyers to pick a Nikon device for their pocket rather than a phone or a small interchangeable-lens model. “The number of people taking snapshots is exploding” the president pointed out. “We’ve centralized our ideas around cameras but can change our approach to offer products to that b...

Amazon has apparently dropped the price of its Kindle Fire HD ereader-tablet in what appears to be a response to Barnes & Noble’s NOOK HD cuts, dropping the 7-inch Android-based slate by as much as 15-percent in the US and UK. The price adjustment sees the 7-inch Kindle Fire HD come down to £139 in the UK (saving £20) for the 16GB model, and to $169 (saving $30) in the US, compared to the latest 7-inch NOOK HD at £129/$149 for the 16GB model. In the US, Amazon lists the Kindle Fire HD change as a “limited time” offer, though it’s worth noting that B&N has used the same nomenclature for its own discounting. Our suspicion is that the cuts will last for roughly as long as the other company’s do, given the fierce competition between the two firms. Despite Amazon’s changes, the NOOK HD is still the cheaper of the two. For a start, B&N offers an 8GB version, which is $129, and has no direct capacity equivalent in the Kindle Fire HD range. However, B&N’s motivations a...

Nintendo Japan has warned Club Nintendo users to change their passwords, after revealing that the member rewards site was hacked back in June, leading to tens of thousands of unauthorized logins. The first Nintendo realized of the compromised security was a dramatic increase in errors spotted on July 2, with subsequent investigation turning up 23,926 stolen logins and almost 15.5m attempts. However, the first of the hacks apparently begin on June 9, continuing up to July 4, Nintendo Japan says. All passwords for the Club Nintendo service have been reset, and users will need to create new credentials when they next try to log in. Club Nintendo is the company’s membership scheme, which offers rewards – including both in-game content, special limited edition games, warranty extensions, and real promotional gifts – in return for playing games on the Wii U, Wii, 3DS, and other Nintendo consoles. There’s no indication that Club Nintendo US or Club Nintendo UK have been compromised. F...

Following on from the release of the Sony Xperia Z, SP and L, the ny Xperia M is now available for order So.  This smartphone is positioned towards the bottom of the Sony range, but that doesn’t mean it should not be considered. It has a compelling specification for the asking price and includes technologies such as NFC and HDR on its camera.  This means that it can take advantage of easy to configure wireless connections to other phones and also accessories.  A powerful 1GHz dual-core processor included, along with Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean).  So you will be able to take advantage of the latest apps available. The same design philosophy seen with other Xperia smartphones is in evidence.  With a minimalistic feel which includes a highlighted camera lens and power button.  A dedicated camera button provides the ability to quickly take photos, even from the lock screen.     The Sony Xperia M Key Features Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) One-touc...