Samsung Galaxy S4 Actives gets Snapdragon 800 CPU

It’s not a surprise that we heard the news from Samsung home country that rugged version of their Galaxy S4 smartphone, Galaxy S4 active receives a Snapdragon 800 CPU update. Samsung already did it with Galaxy S4 and Galaxy Note 3. The Galaxy S3 Active LTE-A is now included in the SK-Telecom lineup. Alongside the updated SoC with 2.3GHz quad-core CPU and Adreno 330 GPU, the newcomer sports an updated, 13MP camera and a new color scheme white. Original Galaxy S4 active had a 8MP snapper on the back.

The LTE-A equipped device has also shed a few grams compared to the I9295 (147g compared to 151g). The rest of the SK-Telecom’s Samsung Galaxy S4 Active specs are the same as those of the Snapdragon 600 version. Highlights include a 5” 1080p display, 2,600mAh battery, and IP67 certification.



There’s no word on international availability of the updated Samsung Galaxy S4 Active. But keep your fingers crossed. After all we are talking about Samsung here.
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Are you ready for water proof Android powerhouse yet - Sony Xperia Acro S is your dream phone

There are a few Android water-dust-shockproof are available in the market for sometimes. Motorola DEFY, DEFY+, Sony Ericsson XPERIA Active and Sony XPERIA GO are top on the list. Though these smartphones are tough, they sacrifice some of smartphone’s handy features. Most of them haven’t quality display or camera, even their outlook isn’t good at all. This happens to be an exception, as the Sony Xperia Acro S is rugged and comes with some stunning specs. Under the hood, you will find a 1.5 GHz dual-core processor, a 4.3-inch 720p display, a 12 MP camera and a 1.3 MP front shooter. Yeah you can shoot 1080p HD video with stereo sound and video stabilization. All of this running under Google's latest version of Android - Ice Cream Sandwich. It’s already available in US and many major countries. Amazon is selling this awesome tough Android phone for $530.

Here is the full specs of Sony Xperia Acro S:

• 4.3-inch LCD capacitive touchscreen with 1280 x 720 pixels resolution and 342 ppi
• Dual-core 1.5 GHz Qualcomm MSM8260 Snapdragon processor
• Adreno 220 GPU
• 1 GB of RAM
• 16 GB of on-board memory
• MicroSD card slot for expanding the memory to up to 32 GB
• 12 MP rear-facing camera with autofocus and LED flash
• 1.3 MP front-facing webcam
• Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich
• Standard Li-Ion 1910 mAh battery capable of running for 6-7 hours in talk time
• IP57 certified for dust and water resistance
• Water proof up to 1 meter and 30 minutes
• Scratch-resistant shatter proof glass
• Sony Mobile Bravia Engine
• WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 3.0, NFC, HSDPA, HSUPA
• 147 grams weight
• 126 x 66 x 11.9 mm dimensions

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Sony announces new rugged Android: Xperia acro S

Along with the announcement of IP67 certified Sony Xperia go, Sony announced another new waterproof droid today: Xperia acro S. Its slightly less rugged than Xperia go. The Sony Xperia acro S covers the IP57 rating requirements for dust and water resistance. But if you look at the feature list then you must be impressed. The Sony Xperia acro S has a large 4.3” HD Reality display with 720p resolution. The display of the Xperia acro S is covered by a reportedly shatter-proof, scratch resistant glass of unknown make and it supports the wet finger tracking technology. Sony used this technology earlier in Xperia Active.

The Xperia acro S has a 1.5Ghz dual core Snapdragon chipset and Ice Cream Sandwich will be on board right from the launch. There's 1 gig worth of RAM and 16GB of on-board storage. The camera on the back uses a 12MP Exmor R sensor and has a f/2.4 aperture and records 1080p Full HD video. A 720p 1.3MP camera is on the front. The Xperia acro S also has an HDMI port and NFC support.

Key features for Xperia acro S

• 4.3” 720p HD Reality Display powered by Mobile BRAVIA Engine gives razor sharp clarity
• 12MP fast capture camera goes from sleep to snap in just over a second with a single key press
• PlayStation™ Certified
• Full 1080p HD video recording and 720p HD front camera
• Scratch resistant mineral glass display with wet finger tracking
• IP55 and IP57 Ratings for dust and water resistance
• 1.5Ghz dual core processor gives consumers super fast performance
• Launching on Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich)
• Available in black, white and pink colours

The location services offered by the smartphone's GPS are additionally augmented with support for the GLONASS satellite positioning system. The Xperia acro S will be available in black, white and pink colors. It will be available worldwide from Q3 2012. There is no word about Sony Xperia acro S pricing yet.
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Sony announces new rugged Android: Xperia go

May be you all remember Sony Ericsson Xperia Active. It was one of the most rugged smartphone of all time! Now Sony era has begun. Sony just announced two new rugged Android phones. Among these two, Xperia go(also known as Sony Xperia Advance) is more rugged than Sony Xperia acro S. The Sony Xperia go has a 3.5” Reality display of 480 x 320 pixel resolution, a 1 GHz dual-core processor, 512MB of RAM and 8 GB of internal storage. At the time of release Xperia go will run Android 2.3 Gingerbread but it should be upgradeable to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich later on. On the back it has a 5 megapixel shooter capable of shooting 3D panorama shot with 720p HD video.

Key features for Sony Xperia go

• 3.5” Reality Display powered by Mobile BRAVIA Engine gives razor sharp clarity.
• 5MP fast capture camera goes from sleep to snap in just over a second.
• Scratch resistant mineral glass display with wet finger tracking.
• Highest level of dust and water resistance in a smartphone – IP67 Rating.
• 1Ghz dual core processor gives consumers super fast performance.
• Launching on Android 2.3 (Gingerbread), upgradeable to Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich).
• Available in black, white and yellow colours.
• Xperia go will launch in the US market under the name “Xperia advance”.

The Sony Xperia go meets the IP67 rating, making it a real survivor of a phone. It offers protection against water and dust. The Xperia go will be available in black, white and yellow colors. It will be available worldwide from Q3 2012. There is no word about Sony Xperia go pricing yet.
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Samsung Rugby Smart review: Advantages and Disadvantages

AT&T released a really necessary smartphone last week, Samsung Rugby Smart. It is a rugged Android smartphone from Samsung. It’s only priced $99.99 on contract. The Rugby Smart is far from being the prettiest handset around, but if you’re in need of a rugged device you’ll probably not mind that. Despite being a newcomer to the U.S. market, the Samsung Rugby Smart is hardly a revolution in terms of design or specifications. The new Rugby is dustproof, shockproof, and waterproof (it can be submerged in up to 1m of water for half an hour).

In this review as usual I am looking at Samsung Rugby Smart SGH-i847’s advantages and disadvantages to help you.

Lets start with main features of Samsung Rugby Smart-
Hardware

• 1.4 GHz single-core processor speeds up everything--from playing games to watching shows to opening files from work.
• 3.7-inch Super AMOLED Plus multi-touch display (480 x 800 pixels, 16 million color depth)
• MicroUSB port

Connectivity

• Ultra-fast 4G connectivity. Where 4G isn't available, your phone will connect with AT&T's 3G network.
• Wireless-N Wi-Fi networking (802.11b/g/n) for accessing home and corporate networks as well as hotspots while on the go.
• AT&T Mobile Hotspot capable enabling you to connect multiple devices--from tablets to gaming devices--to the phone's 3G/4G cellular connection via Wi-Fi.
• Next-generation Bluetooth 3.0 connectivity backward compatible with older Bluetooth-enabled peripherals and includes stereo audio streaming.
• Onboard GPS for navigation (using pre-loaded Google Maps or optional AT&T Navigator) and location services

Communications & Internet

• Full messaging capabilities including SMS text, MMS picture/video and IM instant messaging
• Full HTML browser (Webkit 5) with Flash 10.1 Support
• Personal and corporate e-mail access with support for Exchange ActiveSync as well as personal e-mail accounts (Google push, Yahoo!, POP3, IMAP).

Memory

• 4 GB internal memory
• Memory expansion via microSD card slot with support for optional cards up to 32 GB.

Camera

• 5-megapixel with flash
• Full HD 720p video capture
• 1.3-megapixel forward-facing camera for video chats and self portraits.

Multimedia

• Music player compatible with MP3, WMA, AAC, and WAV
• Video player compatible with MP4, M4V, AVI, WMV, and 3GP.

More Features

• 3.5mm headphone jack
• Hands-free speakerphone

Samsung Rugby Smart Advantages:

• IP67, MIL-STD 810F certified – shock, dust and water proof up to 1m for 30 minutes
• Tough but extremely pocket-able
• Quad-band GSM and dual-band 3G support
• Wi-Fi b/g/n; Hot-spot and DLNA connectivity
• Bluetooth 3.0 with A2DP
• GPS with A-GPS; Digital compass
• 1.4GHz Snapdragon CPU; Adreno 205 GPU; Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset; 512MB RAM
• 4GB storage, microSD card support up to 32GB
• 3.7" Super AMOLED display with WVGA (800 x 480) resolution; 252ppi pixel density
• 5 megapixel auto-focus camera; 720p HD video recording at 30fps
• Android 2.3.6 Gingerbread with TouchWiz 4.0 launcher
• Supports so many video formats
• Standard 3.5 mm audio jack
• Web browser with Adobe Flash 11 support

Samsung Rugby Smart Disadvantages:

• Front design is not looks pretty
• Dedicated camera button is missing
• Single core CPU
• Android Ice Cream Sandwich may never come
• US only AT&T based phone

In the meantime Amazon Wireless is happily offer you Samsung Rugby Smart only for $0.01. You better hurry.

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Rugged XPERIA Active is now on sale in Bangladesh for 25000 BDT

The Sony Ericsson XPERIA Active is water, dust and scratch resistant Android Phone. It runs Android 2.3 Gingerbread now buy Sony already confirms us a ICS upgrade is coming in May/June 2012. The handset sports a 3-inch Capacitive touchscreen display, a 5MP camera with digital zoom for HD video recording and playback, FM Radio, 512MB RAM, 320MB internal memory and up to 32GB external memory support to store your favorite multimedia stuff.

The phone kit includes a stereo headset with attachable ear hooks and an arm case and wrist strap to keep your phone close. There’s also a Micro USB cable for managing your media and a 2GB memory card for all your entertainment. Whether you’re calling a taxi in the rain or calling a friend poolside, the touch screen is fully functioning even when your fingers are wet. Mud battered bike rides, dusty trails or an accidental meeting with a puddle. You phone can handle any conditions in any weather.

This awesome rugged Android smartphone is now on sale in Bangladesh. Price of the unlocked handset is around 25000 Bangladeshi Taka($307). But due to USD to BDT rate fluctuation the price might change a bit. You can buy it from Bashundhara City level one mobile stores without any warranty.

XPERIA Active is also available in Amazon. Unlocked price is only $365 for now. If you are interested then don’t be late.

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Rugged Motorola droid DEFY+ cost £240 in UK

Motorola DEFY+ is the upgraded version of the last year's rugged droid - DEFY. It keeps almost everything the same but the chipset - it goes from TI OMAP 3610 to TI OMAP 3620. This means now you get a 1GHz single-core Cortex A8 as opposed to the 800MHz one in the previous model but with the same PowerVR SGX530 graphics.

Motorola DEFY+ runs on Android 2.3 Gingerbread out of the box and has the same IP67 certifications as its predecessor. The latter means dust and water proof, but doesn’t include shock resistance of any kind.

Motorola DEFY+ comes with a 3.7-inch WVGA display, 512MB RAM, 2GB internal storage, a 5 megapixel snapper with HD video recording and all-round connectivity package.

If you’re in the UK, you can now buy Motorola Defy+ from The Smartphone Centre for £239.95, shipping included. Or you could get it from Clove at the slightly more expensive rate of £246 where shipping is not not included. Both are offering you carrier free Motorola DEFY+.

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Water Resistant, Scratch Resistant and Dust Proof Smartphone- Motorola DEFY+ Fact Sheet

Motorola just announced their rugged droid, DEFY+ with IP67 certification. I can't resist myself to share the official fact sheet of Motola DEFY+ with you. Here it goes-

Motorola DEFY™+ Fact Sheet
The Water Resistant, Scratch Resistant and Dust Proof Smartphone Just Got Better
Aug. 15, 2011
Experience all life has to offer with the faster, smarter, richer smartphone Motorola DEFY™+, featuring enhanced MOTOBLUR™ technology that synchs your friends, e-mails, messages, feeds and happenings straight to your homescreen. The durable Motorola DEFY+ harnesses the power of the newest version of Android™ 2.3 (Gingerbread), to deliver an even better smartphone experience. The device offers even better social networking and entertainment features than its predecessor, but in an equally reliable and durable package.

Water resistant, scratch resistant and dust proof, Motorola DEFY+ can survive a sudden rain shower or an afternoon on the beach. It features scratch resistant Corning® Gorilla® Glass for outstanding protection against scratch damage.

The Next Generation of Smart
Motorola DEFY+ can keep up with your life and daily demands. With a 1GHz processor, this generation of the DEFY family allows you to stream and download content more quickly and efficiently ─ it’s so powerful that multitasking is a breeze. Motorola DEFY+ also allows you to experience the Web as it should be ─ the Adobe® Flash® 10-enabled browser packs the smoothest mobile Web experience available into a tough, yet sleek package. Easily organize your life with the Applications trays, which keep your favorite, most-used applications just a finger swipe away for ultimate convenience and personalization.

Boredom Proof Your Life
Boredom is history with the rich experience of Motorola DEFY+. It features the Music Player for listening to and sharing your favorite tunes. Equipped with Motorola Media Link, this device can also synch with your desktop at home or work for seamlessly transferring music, video and photo content. Zinio™ e-magazine service is a great way to keep up with new magazines. Motorola DEFY+ also features a 5-megapixel camera with flash, digital zoom and auto focus for capturing the best moments of your social life.

Motorola DEFY+ Features
Talk and Standby Time- 7.1 hours and 16 days in standby in 3G mode
Bands/Modes-

• Dual-band WCDMA 850/1900,
• 850/2100, 900/2100, Quadband
• GSM 850/900/1800/1900,
• HSDPA 7.2 Mbps, HSUPA 2Mbps,
• EDGE Class 12, GPRS Class 12

Dimensions- 107 x 59 x 13.4 mm
Display 3.7” FWVGA, 854x480 pixels
Weight- 118 grams
Battery- 1700 mAh
OS- Android 2.3 (Gingerbread)
Connectivity- 3.5mm headset jack, USB 2.0 HS, BOTA, PC Sync
Messaging- MMS, SMS, Email, IM (Dwnld Java, Embedded)
Camera- 5MP LED Flash with auto focus and LED flash
Sensors- eCompass, Accelerometer, Light and Proximity Sensor
Audio- FM Radio Receive, AAC, AAC+, AAC+ Enhanced, AMR NB, MIDI, MP3, RA, WAV, WMA
Video- Capture/Playback/Streaming, H.264, MPEG4
Memory- 2G internal storage; *2GB microSD card in box; expandable up to 32GB
Messaging- MMS, SMS, Email, IM (Dwnld Java, Embedded)
Location Services- aGPS (assisted)

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Another new rugged droid announced- DEFY+ is coming from Motorola

After toping on every smartphone genre, Android is looking to cut the field of others. Last week Samsung announced rugged waterproof Android, Galaxy Xcover. Only a week later Motorola announced their famous DEFY series update, DEFY+. The Motorola Defy+ is of course a follow up to the original Motorola Defy, keeping it's same rugged water resistant, scratch resistant and dust proof design. With IP67 certification, you can hold this droid under water for ten minutes. It is water resistant, scratch resistant and dust proof design which makes complete IP67 certification.

But so many things are updated this time. New DEFY+ has a 1GHz TI OMAP 3620 CPU, Android 2.3.4 with Moto's latest UI skin and 1700mAh battery. There is a 5 megapixel camera on the back with LED flash is capable shooting decent quality image. You will find a 2GB memory card inside every DEFY+ box with 2GB of internal memory. As always you can use up to 32GB of microSD card. Motorola DEFY+ will be available in Asia, Europe and Latin America starting in early fall. No word on specific carrier availability was given. And there is no information about its pricing yet.

Here is the official press release-

Motorola Mobility Reveals Motorola DEFY+

It's faster, smarter and richer – Motorola DEFY+ is now equipped with faster Web-browsing and the social networking tools you crave to stay connected wherever you go

LIBERTYVILLE, Ill. – Aug 15, 2011 – Live life to the fullest with the latest life proof smartphone from Motorola Mobility, Inc., Motorola DEFY™+. Building on the Motorola DEFY's life proof heritage, Motorola DEFY+ offers exceptional protection from whatever life throws your way with its water resistant, scratch resistant and dust proof design (IP67). In addition, Motorola DEFY+ has a 1GHz processor that runs 25 percent faster and is more fun with the latest version of Android™ 2.3 (Gingerbread) delivering a smarter operating system and better battery life to fully enjoy your experiences. Motorola DEFY+ will be available in Asia, Europe and Latin America starting in early fall.

Water resistant, dust proof, and featuring scratch resistant Corning® Gorilla® Glass Motorola DEFY+, can survive a sudden rain shower, a day on the beach, an all-night party – or even a tough workout with the pre-loaded CardioTrainer application, which transforms the device into the perfect running mate. Its brilliant 3.7-inch high-resolution touch-screen display enables you to easily view and track your work out progress. Wherever your days – or nights – take you, Motorola DEFY+ is the life proof device that can keep up with your toughest demands and wildest adventures.

Motorola DEFY+ is faster than ever, keeping up with your on-the-go lifestyles so you can effortlessly browse the Web, stay updated with social networking sites on your homescreens and stream and download rich media content more quickly than before. Motorola DEFY+ offers an Adobe® Flash® 10-enabled browser for a rich web experience that allows users to watch their favorite movies or view videos on the Web.

Powered by Android 2.3 (Gingerbread), Motorola DEFY+ is smarter than ever. This new version of Android boasts a better battery life, a more intuitive user interface and improvements on the features you use most – including enhanced calendar and email features and home screen options. Users can make Motorola DEFY+ their own by organizing and personalizing their Application trays for easy and quick access to their most used tools, games and content.

Boredom proof your life; the richest experiences in entertainment and social media are always within reach with Motorola DEFY+. The Music Player lets you access and share your favourite music. You can also stream your favorite music straight from your desktops at home or work, with Motorola Media Link. Motorola DEFY+ also features Google Talk™ to keep you connected with friends and colleagues, while built in apps like the *Zinio™ e-magazine service allow you to keep up with favourite publications on-the-go. Entertainment doesn't stop there: Motorola DEFY+ also features a 5MP camera with flash, digital zoom and auto focus, letting users capture the best of their social life and create their very own entertainment whatever the conditions.

"Motorola DEFY+, our latest life proof smartphone, delivers the endurance and design strength to keep up with even the most demanding lifestyles, along with the social and entertainment capabilities that put friends and fun in easy reach," said Alain Mutricy, senior vice president, portfolio and device product management, Motorola Mobility. "We designed Motorola DEFY+ with all the smartphone features you need for a demanding lifestyle."

Smart Accessories
A suite of smart accessories ensures users get the most from the Motorola DEFY+. Available accessories include Vehicle Dock, Bluetooth Headset, Bluetooth Car Kit, Portable Power, and Car Charger.

Key Features and Specifications:
• Powered by Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) and features more than 250,000 apps from Android Market™
• 1GHz processor that runs 25 percent faster for efficient Web browsing and multitasking
• Water resistant, scratch resistant and dust proof to withstand all that life throws your way
• Features scratch resistant Corning Gorilla Glass
• 3.7-inch high-resolution touch screen display
• Music Player connects you to all your favourite artists
• MOTOBLUR lets users stay in touch with friends, providing quick access to social media accounts and live widgets directly from the homescreen
• Motorola Media Link allows users to sync their media content from their desktops at home or work
• Loaded with the ability to create group emails and communication to stay in touch with friends
• Adobe Flash Player 10 for uncompromised viewing of applications, content and videos
• 5MP camera with auto focus, flash and digital zoom
• 2GB internal; *2GB microSD card in box, expandable up to 32GB
• Access to Google™ Apps (Google Maps™ 5.0 with Navigation, Google Talk™, Browsing)
• 1700mAH battery for 7.1 hours of talk time and 16 days in standby

Availability
Motorola DEFY+ will be available in Asia, Europe and Latin America starting in early fall.

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Waterproof Rugged Samsung Android Galaxy Xcover is coming in October

For the last 6 months I am using a rugged cyber shot camera, Sony TX5. And it is totally awesome experience. No matter where I am, what is the weather condition is- my camera is always with me. Because it is waterproof, dustproof, shockproof and freeze proof. I am waiting for such a Droid after that. Now the great news is coming from Samsung. They are expanding their Galaxy lineup with a rugged Android level. More importantly for many of us it is not a high end mobile phone. So most of the people around the around are capable of buying this phone.

Samsung Galaxy Xcover, the world's first Android device with IP67 certification, announced today on Samsung German site. IP67 certification means Galaxy Xcover is safe against dirt and dust, falls and water of up to 1 meter for up to 30 minutes. The Xcover runs on Android 2.3 Gingerbread. It has a 3.6-inch scratch-resistant display, a 3.2 megapixel camera with LED flash, and 7.2Mbps HSDPA. CPU information is not out yet.

The phone will be available in Germany and Ukraine from October. We are still in dark about the pricing and availability of Samsung Galaxy Xcover. But we are hoping that the device will have a wider distribution around the globe. Here is the press release for you-

Water-resistant case meets social networking and Android ™ 2.3: The Samsung Galaxy Xcover
Schwalbach / Ts., 9 August 2011 - With the Galaxy Xcover Samsung expands its range of rugged mobile phones for outdoor use. The device combines outdoor skills with the ability of a powerful smartphone.

Whether water, dust or hard surfaces: the Samsung Galaxy Xcover is well prepared against harmful environmental influences. This IP67 certified enclosure protects the unit against dust and dirt there. In addition, the Samsung Galaxy Xcover to a depth of one meter for a period is waterproof up to half an hour. The touch-screen display with a diagonal measurement of 9.27 inches is made of scratch-resistant tempered glass. The 3.2-megapixel camera of the Samsung Galaxy Xcover is supported by an LED photo light, which can be used when needed as a flashlight or signal light.
Smart through social networking apps and running the Samsung Galaxy Xcover with the Android ™ 2.3 platform and is using apps ideally suit her personal needs. Provide wireless connectivity for fast n-standard, and an HSDPA connection with a transfer rate of up to 7.2 Mbit / s.

The Samsung Galaxy Xcover is available from October in the trade.

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