Samsung’s previous dabble with an Android-powered camera, the Galaxy Camera, was largely a hit and miss effort. While many praised the addition of 3G and WiFi connectivity into a digital camera, the actual imaging prowess of the hybrid camera itself wasn’t up to par for a device of its size. The freshly-announced Galaxy S4 Zoom further reduces the Galaxy Camera footprint into a size slightly larger than the Galaxy S4 smartphone, with a smaller 16MP sensor with 10x optical zoom.

It appears the Korean company is clearly pushing hard into Android-powered cameras. Samsung CEO JK Shin reportedly revealed to reporters that “Samsung will release (their) latest mirrorless camera that runs on Google’s Android software.” Interestingly, this came at around the same time that press images of a “Galaxy NX” mirrorless camera appeared online, showing off a Samsung mirrorless camera with three interchangeable lens and what appears to be a touch display with familiar TouchWiz icons.

The Galaxy NX is rumoured to sport a 20.3MP APS-C sensor with proprietary NX mount lenses. Some of the interchangeable lenses also feature Optical Image Stabilisation. If the rumours are true, the Samsung Galaxy NX is set to make an appearance at this week’s Samsung Premiere event in London.

(Sources: Tinhte via The Verge, GSMarena)

Korean giants Samsung are rumoured to already be working on a refreshed variant of its three-month-old flagship, the Galaxy S4. While the Galaxy S4 already features three variants for various markets around the world (LTE, non-LTE, and an LTE powered by Samsung’s Exynos Octa processor), with a whole other family of Galaxy S4 devices (Galaxy S4 Mini, Galaxy S4 Active, Galaxy S4 Zoom) trickling out of the production lines as we speak, the Korean company clearly isn’t resting on its laurels.

As VR-Zone reports, Samsung is in the midst of preparing a refreshed version of the Galaxy S4. The most significant change for the refreshed GS4 is in the processor: Samsung is reportedly powering the new device with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor, currently the most powerful chipset that Qualcomm offers. And, if the Antutu benchmark scores posted over the weekend (picture above, spotted with a Korean model number) are to be believed, the Galaxy S4 refresh will undoubtedly be one monster of a device.

Besides the major processor bump and support for LTE Advanced, the other specs of the refreshed Galaxy S4 will largely remain unchanged. That, along with the version of Android it’s currently running on, may change in due course as the device nears its announcement later this year, possibly alongside the Galaxy Note 3.

(Source: VR-Zone)

When Apple introduced the iOS 7 at WWDC 2013, it also announced that it has, for the first time ever, has added support for MFi game controllers to its SDK. This means that developers can easily write gaming apps for the platform using physical hardware keys. The company gave a brief explanation during the developer’s conference and it looks like the final product might not be too far away.

According to an image obtained by Kotaku, it looks like Logitech has already started on working on an iPhone 5-compatibal gamepad with its G branding. The picture features a device with an iPhone-shaped hole right in the middle of the 4-button gamepad. It also has a Lightning adapter sticking out of the right side of the adapter.

Logitech will not be the only manufacturer of these third-party gaming consoles for iOS 7 devices, according to Kotaku, there will be a whole load more and hopefully, they will make a grand debut along with the public availability of iOS 7.

(Source: Engadget, Kotaku)

Perhaps Apple is feeling the blow from Samsung and how it’s spamming the market with a huge collection of smartphones of a different price group, different size, specs and such. According to multiple sources from Reuters, the Cupertino company currently has several projects at hand with regards to the iPhone – an affordable iPhone, a larger iPhone and of course, the next generation iPhone that might be called the iPhone 5S.

None of these rumors are completely new of course, the affordable iPhone has been rumored for quite some time now and according to Reuter, there will be a lot of color options and will retail at USD$99. While the regular iPhones are manufactured by Foxconn, the low-cost iPhone will be assembled by Pegatron.

Apple is also reported to be working on a larger option with screen size of either 4.7” or 5.7”. If it pulls through, Apple will launch it as early as next year. As for the iPhone 5S, sources from Reuters also mentioned that an iPhone 5S is due for a release later this year and will include a fingerprint sensor.

Larger, cheaper or the regular iPhone, what’s your pick?

(Source: TheVerge)

Is it a Samsung Galaxy S4 mini? Is it a Samsung Galaxy Camera 2? Well, only time will tell but until that, it looks like a Russian website, Hi-Tech.mail.ru has gotten their hands on the purported Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom and even wrote what looks like a full review for the device, complete with benchmarks, sample images and more.

Available at this link, the Galaxy S4 Zoom is a 16MP camera with has 10x optical zoom, the most powerful phone camera in the market right now. Since it’s a Galaxy S4, it runs on Android 4.2.2 with TouchWiz UX, meaning it will get all the features that makes the S4 unique such as intrared port, S Voice, S Translator, Samsung Hub and such.

Specs wise, it has similar specs with the S4 mini, powered by a Exynos 4210 dual-core processor at 1.5GHz. It his a 4.3” qHD Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 960 x 540, 1.5GB of RAM, 8GB of internal storage expandable up to 64GB via microSD and a 2,330mAh removable battery on board. Dimension wise, it measures at 125.5 x 63.5 x 15.4mm and weighs at 208g.

We don’t know Russian, but if Google Translate didn’t fail us, it looks like the device is something Galaxy Camera fans should look forward to because it’s 20% cheaper than the initial price of Galaxy Camera (we don’t know if the same will apply for our market) retailing at 19,990 rubles, which is a whopping RM1,950. Dimension wise, it is much smaller, thinner and lighter than the Galaxy Camera so if you wish to get your hands on the humongous Galaxy Camera, hold your horses; according to the website, the Galaxy S4 Zoom is a third the thickness of the Galaxy Camera.

Other notable things mentioned in the review includes how Samsung designed the zoom toggle around the lens so it sort of gives you a DSLR feel when you wish to zoom in or out – simply turn the ring.

Check out the website for much, much more information. The author even placed the device next to its competitors such as the Nokia 808 PureView, Galaxy Camera and the S4.

More pictures after the break.

(Source: Engadget, Hi-Tech.mail.ru)

A Google Edition of one of the most popular Android smartphone in the market right now – Samsung Galaxy S4? Check. A Google Edition of one of the best-designed Android smartphone in the market – HTC One? Check. A Google Edition of the latest flagship Android smartphone that has a tough build and is water- and dust-proof? It looks like Sony will be checking that off the list very soon.

According to rumors, Sony will be making an Xperia Z with stock Android experience, with everything under the hood, except for Sony’s UX. This means that specs wise, everything will be the same – 5.0” 1080p display, 1.5GHz Quad-core Snapdragon S4 processor, 2GB RAM, 16GB internal storage expandable via microSD, 13MP camera, and a tough build that is dust- and water-proof.

The device is rumored to be on sale in Google Play Store in the U.S. “later this year”.

(Source: TheVerge)

A brand new week, a brand new set of rumors from Samsung. It looks like the Samsung’s event that will be happening on 20 June 2013 in London will be a very, very action-packed one, the company has recently confirmed two upcoming devices – Galaxy S4 mini and Galaxy S4 Active, and here are more brewing in the rumor mill -  Galaxy Note 3, Galaxy Tab 3 and the one I’m looking forward to, the Galaxy S4 Zoom.

First up, prototypes of the Galaxy Note 3 has recently made its way to the internet, sporting a rather square design that sort of reminds me of the Galaxy S II. While I’m glad that this may be a hint that the company is finally retiring the recently Galaxy design language, going back a step isn’t very pleasing either. Of course, this is only a prototype, the device is scheduled to be announced in September so plenty of time for Samsung to work on it.

Specs wise, according to recent rumors, it’s supposed to pack a 5.99” Full HD Super AMOLED display, powered by an octa-core Exynos 5 processor or a quad-core Snapdragon 800, 13MP camera with OIS, and will run on Android 4.3 out of the box.

As for the Galaxy Tab 3, last week, the company confirmed the Galaxy Tab 3 8.0 and 10.1, which will be available for showcase in its London event. The company did not mention any color availability in its press release and if you were wondering if Samsung would use any other color besides the typical black and white option, @evleaks recently posted a picture of the said device in gold-brown color.

Finally, remember the Samsung Galaxy Camera? It looks like Samsung took the Camera, redesigned the front to look like the S4, and called it the Galaxy S4 Zoom. According to recent leaks (and rendering from SamMobile), the S4 Zoom will look like an S4 mini thanks to its 4.3” display, and will pack all the goodness of a physical camera – a physical shutter button and a gigantic lens hopefully packing some great zooming capability and optical image stabilizer.

More pictures available after the break.

(Source: PhoneArena1, PhoneArena2, PhoneArena3)

Perhaps one of the most exciting things about the upcoming Worldwide Developers Conference 2013 (WWDC 2013) is the upcoming update to Apple’s mobile OS – iOS 7. It has been brewing in the rumor mill for quite a long while now, on top of a whole load of new features purportedly taking design cues from Mac OS X, here is a list of what else to expect.

Flat

Just days ago, Apple released its official WWDC 2013 application for developers. The app contains the schedule for the event, allowing attendees to prepare their trip, but it revealed something a little more than that, it hinted at a “flat” design. Compared with the WWDC app for the previous 2 years, the one this year has a new shadow, a flat black & white design with no shadows.

Story continues after the jump.

(Source: 9to5Mac)