The device we’re seeing here is an extension of the excellence we’ve already seen both inside and outside of the United States with the LG Optimus G. That device worked with the first quad-core processor in a smartphone to hit the United States and also became the basis for the design of the multi-national ultra-popular Google Nexus 4. With sales of the LG-made Nexus 4 and Optimus G remaining strong several months after release, LG clearly hopes to extend their success through to Spring.

This LG Optimus G Pro comes with a beastly 3,140 mAh battery that’ll last you all night long and will be popping up with a 13 megapixel camera on its back. Inside you’ll also find 2GB of RAM, 32GB internal storage, and a microSD card slot for memory extension. This device is bringing on native 4G LTE connectivity for South Korean carriers as well.

BONUS: This device will be coming in Platinum White and Indego Black via NTT Docomo – how those shades differ from regular white and black, we do not know!

Have a peek at the timeline below for more information on the LG Optimus G series and be sure to check out the other bits LG has revealed this week. The LG Optimus L7 II, L5II, and L3 II have all been shown off to take on the 2013 mainstream market. We’ll be getting our hands on these devices without a doubt when we head to Mobile World Congress 2013 – join us later this month!

[via Unwired View]

Inside, there’s a 1.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon MSM8960 processor paired with 1GB of RAM, running Android 4.1, along with a 2,100 mAh battery, WiFi, Bluetooth, and GPS. The rear camera runs to 8-megapixels, and there’s a front-facer too; the 16GB of internal storage can be augmented with a microSD card (up to 32GB in size). Connectivity includes LTE.

It’s not the first time we’ve seen an NEC clamshell of this sort. A little less than a year ago, the company showed off a prototype of this very handset, though without any hardware details or, in fact, a working concept.

The two displays can be used as a single, stretched panel, or to run two apps independently. It’s also possible to flip the N-05E by 90-degrees and use the bottom panel as a sizeable touchscreen keyboard.

NTT DoCoMo claims the new phone will last up to 460hrs on LTE standby (up to 630hrs if on 3G), while talktime is up to 500 minutes on a 3G network. Of course, talking is a very different proposition from using two potentially-power-hungry displays, and you’ll have to accomodate a 12.2mm thick device in your pocket or bag.

That power issue is arguably what has prevented twin-screen phones from storming the market. Kyocera attempted it, with 2011′s Echo, and Fujitsu flirted with doubled-up displays even earlier, but battery concerns – and a shortage of apps to take explicit advantage of the extra screen – have kept the impact minimal.

NTT DoCoMo will offer the Medias W N-05E from April in Japan, though there’s no word on whether NEC will sell the smartphone elsewhere in the world.

[via Engadget]

Samsung has been working with NTT DoCoMo on developing the software, the insider claims, with the Japanese carrier particularly stinging from the absence of the iPhone in its line-up. Another alternative to Apple’s smartphone, beyond Android, and which it had a greater hand in shaping, would help retain existing subscribers and add new users, so DoCoMo’s thinking apparently goes.

It’s not the first we’ve heard of a Samsung Galaxy running Tizen; rumors of such a device broke back in September as well. Samsung is also believed to be considering merging its own, homegrown bada OS with Tizen, though no final decision has been made.

Among the lingering questions at this stage is what sort of processor the Samsung Tizen handset will run. The Tizen Technical Steering Group (TSG) is made up of Samsung and Intel, the latter having a vested interest in coaxing cellphone companies away from ARM processors and over to its Atom chips, as in the Android-based RAZR i. However, Samsung also makes its own ARM chips, the Exynos series, and it might be easier for the company to stick with an architecture it knows well for the first-generation Tizen range.

That certainly seemed to be the approach with the Tizen developer handset Samsung pieced together for a code-focused conference back in May. Inside lurks a 1.2GHz dualcore ARM chipset, along with a 720p HD display, though all involved were clear that it was a far cry from what we can expect to see released commercially.

[via TNW]

There’s also a 1.5GHz quadcore APQ8064 processor, WiFi, NFC, LTE, and a front-facing 1.2-megapixel camera, along with a waterproof and dustproof chassis. As with so many Japanese devices, there’s 1-Seg and NOTTV digital TV reception, and a 2,320 mAh battery to keep it all running.

IGZO displays use indium gallium zinc oxide instead of amorphous silicon in the LCD, a more efficient material – 40x more efficient for electron mobility, in fact – that allows for smaller pixels. Those smaller pixels require roughly a third less backlighting, which cuts down on power consumption in normal situations, or allows for a standard backlight to produce a brighter picture.

NTT DoCoMo also says that the SH-02E supports pen input, and the narrow side bezels mean the phone is just 68mm wide. The display also supports a new audio system which vibrates the whole panel to transmit sound directly into the ear.

The SH-02E will go on sale in November or December this year, though there’s no word on whether a launch outside of Japan is planned.

Of course, eye tracking tech probably isn’t going to sell millions upon millions of tablets in the blink of an eye, but it does have its uses. The ibeam uses the Tobii IS20, which is described as “the most advanced and compact eye tracker in the world,” in a statement released today. During CEATEC in Tokyo, NTT DOCOMO will be showing off examples of natural user interfaces for PCs and tablets that are centered around eye tracking integration.

One of the benefits of eye tracking integration is that users would potentially be able to control the ibeam tablet using only their eyes. This means that you could have true hands-free functionality, and we imagine that using eye tracking tech would prove to be a lot easier than using voice commands. At the very least, when using eye tracking tech, you won’t be caught in public shouting commands at your device.

The ibeam certainly sounds like an interesting tablet, but unfortunately we’re going to have to wait for the lion’s share of the details. Since it sounds like the ibeam is in the early stages of development – keep in mind that NTT DOCOMO will only be showing off a prototype at CEATEC – the tablet is probably still a ways off from hitting the market (if it ever does at all). Still, it will be exciting to see what the ibeam can do, so keep it tuned here to SlashGear for more information.

This technology called in-cell touch has also been tipped as being prepared for use in the iPhone 5 (or New iPhone, whatever you like), as it’s revealed some time next month (if the rumors are true, of course.) The CEO of LG let the world know last week that they were ready and willing to make their ability to create said technology in real hardware form public knowledge, and here with the LG Optimus G, it appears that the first implementation of the innovation has been revealed as well.

This device features a True HD (1280 x 768 pixel resolution) IPS+ LCD, a display which LG says is able to head right up to the edge of the 3mm bezel – fun stuff! On the back of the device you’ll find a massive 13 megapixel camera, on the front you’ve got a 1.3 megapixel camera, and inside you’ve got 2GB of RAM – that’s power! Paired with the quad-core Snapdragon processor inside, it appears that the Samsung Galaxy S III will have some benchmark competition.

The LG Optimus G will be appearing on NTT Docomo in Japan as the L-01E in October or November, while a more standard Korea release will be happening next week. This device will measure in at 8.45mm thin – considering that this is thin already, even without considering the 2,100 mAh battery inside – the LG crew may have a pretty awesome device on their hands. This smartphone will also be released with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich right out of the box.

[via Engadget]

The joint-venture will specialize in semiconductor products with integrated modem functions “for use in communications equipment” according to the quartet. That equipment is likely to primarily consist of phones and tablets, most likely targeting the Japanese home market initially, but could also expand to laptops from NEC and Fujitsu, as well as mesh-networking in the so-called “Internet of Things.”

All four have already collaborated in the past on development work, and the Access project basically makes that an official endeavor. Fujitsu will control the majority stake, holding 52.8-percent ownership, while Fujitsu Semiconductor will hold 9.5-percent. NEC will control 17.8-percent, and DoCoMo will get 19.9-percent. Initial capital is 100m yen ($1.3m) with a workforce of approximately 85.

Timescales for the first chips to emerge from Access Network Technology Ltd haven’t been revealed, though Fujitsu says the goal is 7-percent of global marketshare for smartphone chips by 2014. Currently Qualcomm dominates that landscape, but Access aims to push ahead in LTE and other next-gen connectivity standards – already advanced in consumer deployment in Japan – to give it an edge.

The NTT DoCoMo Galaxy S III (SC-06D) is one of eight phones in the DoCoMo NEXT series. That also includes the Optimus Vu, LG’s oversized Galaxy Note rival, and devices from Panasonic (the Eluga Power P-07D), Sharp (the Aquos Phone sv SH-10D among others), and Sony (the Xperia GX SO-04D). All run Android 4.0.

The DoCoMo “with” Series, meanwhile, features seven more mid-range phones, including Panasonic’s Eluga V P-06D and Sony’s Xperia SX SO-05D. Again, all run Android 4.0, and three pack LTE connectivity.

As for the tablet, that’s the ELUGA Live P-08D by Panasonic, set to arrive in August, with a 10.1-inch 1280 x 800 display, 1.2GHz dual-core OMAP4460 processor, 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera, no rear camera but a chassis that’s both waterproof and dustproof.

The kid’s phone, HW-01D, has a 2-inch 240 x 320 display and is waterproof and dustproof, while the Mobile WiFi Router L-04D can share its LTE connection out over WiFi b/g/n connections with up to ten tethered devices.

DoCoMo will announce pricing later on, with the phones arriving from June 2012.

Although Panasonic has offered smartphones in Japan for some time now, devices outside of the country have been conspicuous by their absence. That’s all going to change in 2012, the company hopes, with an ambitious plan to push its Android-powered range in the European market with a 1.5m sales goal this year alone.

The ELUGA – or P-04D – is the first step in that, and will be followed by the larger ELUGA Power. An actual European release date is yet to be confirmed, though Panasonic is pointing to an April window for the ELUGA. Meanwhile the ELUGA Power went up for pre-order at the top end of this month, priced at £399 pre-tax ($633) for a late April release.

The P-04D supports VIERA streaming for owners that also have a Panasonic TV, along with WiFi Direct and an OLED display. More details in our hands-on.

[via The Verge]

Thought we don’t suppose Docomo will run out of these units any time soon, those of you reading from Japan and deciding when would be the best time to pick up the Galaxy Nexus should probably jump on this deal now. This deal is first come, first served and only works with the Japan-centric model here, not the “Global Model” – sorry everyone else. The way you can get this package is to first either have or purchase newly the SC-04D version of the Galaxy Nexus and submit to Docomo.

The way you submit to Docomo for this special offer is to have purchased the SC-04D version of the device between February 1st and March 31st 2012 and head do your local Docomo store. From there you’ve got to either scan the QR code they’ve got on hand or simply plug in the URL they’ve got handy to order your free Premium set. Look like the loveliest Galaxy Nexus you’ve ever seen? Grab one now!

This tablet is not the thinnest in the world, nor is it the sleekest in any way, but it is light. And it does not feel fragile in the least bit, that’s for sure. It runs Android 3.2 Honeycomb out of the box, and is powered by a Texas Instruments OMAP4430 1GHz dual-core processor. The display is 1280 x 800 pixels strong and it does seem to be, in general, a pretty OK tablet.

What you’re going to see in the hands-on video here is that this tablet runs a stock version of Honeycomb and has a collection of apps so strange it’ll make your head spin. Of course this version is the NTT Docomo iteration, that meaning it’s got carrier-added apps we (and I mean I) have never heard of before. When this device is released in the USA, expect it to have LTE speeds on AT&T. That’s not confirmed, but if I was a betting man, I’d bet on that.

According to the report, NTT DoCoMo’s president Kiyoyuki Tsujimura and VP Takashi Yamada met with Apple CEO Tim Cook earlier this month to work out the deal. The execs had reportedly reached agreeable terms, although previous reports from the WSJ suggested that Apple’s demand for a large sales volume commitment and its refusal to allow the carrier to add its own apps to the device had stalled the discussions.

Although the largest carrier in Japan, NTT DoCoMo has not had a previous distribution agreement with Apple, which has instead been selling its handsets through rival carrier Softbank. However, Softbank’s exclusivity with Apple ended with the iPhone 4S and Apple has since signed up carrier KDDI.

[via 9to5Mac]

Remember that the last we heard from DoCoMo, the device would be released inside November – in fact what’s actually going on is that pre-orders have already begun while the actual device will be shipped on the 2nd of December (that being this Friday). The specifications on this device are essentially the same as we’ve seen on the international edition of the device with a 4.65-inch HD Super AMOLED display (1280×720), a 1.2GHz dual-core OMAP4460 processor under the hood, and a 5MP main and 1.3MP front-facing camera. You’ll be connecting with FOMA support (14Mbps down / 5.7Mbps up) for DoCoMo though, so feel free to grab all the downloads and upload all the videos you like.

As for us poor Americans, we’ve still got to walk around in shame using our undeniably amazing Galaxy S II devices with a hacked version of Ice Cream Sandwich. What a horrible way to live! On the other hand, there’s no doubt that we’ll be seeing the LTE version of the Galaxy Nexus before too long, no matter what anyone says, so until then have a look at our review of the operating system Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and our review of the international version of the device: Samsung Galaxy Nexus!

Unfortunately there’s no specification detail included, which means we only have the previously leaked and rumored data to go on. That’s suggested a 4.65-inch 1280 x 720 Super AMOLED HD display, curved chassis and 1.5GHz dual-core processor, along with NFC, high-speed cellular connectivity and an 8-megapixel camera with Full HD video recording.

NTT DoCoMo does have an LTE network, so it’s possible the Nexus Prime could pack 4G too. There have been rumors of a Verizon exclusivity deal in the US, though so far unconfirmed, but that might imply that the Nexus Prime would be a World Phone, like the iPhone 4S, combining CDMA and GSM/UMTS support.

We’ll know for sure in a few hours time, and SlashGear will be in Hong Kong for the full unveil and to bring back all the details. Join us at 10pm ET today for everything on the Galaxy Nexus and Ice Cream Sandwich!

Samsung Galaxy Nexus teaser:

[via Engadget]

Although no official details are available yet, the Arrows Tab F-01D is expected to have specs that are not too shabby. It will sport a 10.1-inch WXGA display, a TI OMAP 4430 1GHz dual-core processor, and possibly support for LTE connectivity along with GSM and GPRS compatibility for roaming abroad.

It’s also expected to have both a front-facing and rear-facing cameras, micro-USB, headphone jack, and 16GB internal storage expandable with a microSD card slot. The tablet, however, is only rumored for a September launch in Japan on NTT DoCoMo. There’s no word on whether it would make it here to the states and it’s also unclear just how waterproof it will be.

[via Android Community]

Nokia has already ceased direct carrier deals in Japan since 2008 and this most recent move is not only a result of Nokia’s new commitment to Microsoft’s Windows Phone platform, but also reflects the plummeting demand for its Vertu feature phones as smartphones gain in popularity. Plus, the cost of Vertu handsets, which can be diamond studded, is around $7000 to $250,000 each.

Any users with Nokia phones running on the country’s NTT DoCoMo network will see their services discontinued once their contracts expire at the end of August. Nokia’s Tokyo office will remain open until the end of the year to handle any customer service issues or refunds.

[via Reuters]

We have talked about the F-07C smartphone before when its specs were leaked. The device is now official and will be landing on NTT DoCoMo in Japan. The official launch date and the official price aren’t noted. The specifications, however, are now official (PDF). The F-07C smartphone measures 125 x 61 x 19.8mm and weighs 281g. It will last 600 hours on 3G standby and 400 hours on GSM standby. The talk time is 370 minutes on 3G and 440 minutes on GSM. The smartphone will also support memory expansion with microSD cards.

The rear camera is a 5.1MP unit with face-detection and autofocus. The front camera has a resolution of 320,000 pixels. The key feature is the Symbian and Windows 7 OS’ on the smartphone. The device has Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 in 32-bit Japanese version and 32GB of storage. The battery is good for two hours in Windows 7 mode, it has WiFi, and Office Personal 2010 installed. The smartphone has GPS, mobile wallet capability, Bluetooth, and the screen is touch sensitive. It will operate on GSDPA/HSUPA networks. The processor is an Intel Atom processor at 1.2GHz and it has 1GB of RAM.

[via NTT DoCoMo]

There’s also WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS, digital TV and an HDMI output, despite the phone measuring in at 64 x 127 x 11.9-13.8 mm. The display is a glasses-free 3D panel, and the camera has onboard ProPix image processing and various auto scene modes.

NTT DoCoMo slap the TapFlow UI on top, and of course there are the usual Android niceties. The Sharp AQUOS PHONE SH-12C will drop in Japan on May 20, price tbc; no word on whether Sharp will cook up versions for North America and/or Europe, but we’re hoping they do.

Press Release:

NTT DOCOMO Unveils 24 New Mobile Devices
— Including biggest and most diverse lineup of smartphones —
Products & Services
TOKYO, JAPAN, May 16, 2011 — NTT DOCOMO, INC. announced today its 2011 summer lineup of 24 new mobile devices for launch on or after May 20, including nine smartphones, the largest and most diverse collection of smartphones ever released by DOCOMO, plus a wide variety of feature phones compatible with DOCOMO’s i-mode™ mobile Internet platform, as well as mobile Wi-Fi® routers for DOCOMO’s Xi™ (read “Crossy”) LTE extra-high-speed service.

The smartphone lineup offers user-friendly features for tethering, mobile-wallet (Osaifu-Keitai™) and infrared-based data exchange, plus downlink speeds up to a theoretical maximum of 14 Mbps starting from early June. The lineup also boasts the world’s first wirelessly chargeable smartphone. All Android™ smartphones, including the globally popular Xperia™ and GALAXY models, are preinstalled with Android 2.3.

DOCOMO’s new lineup meets a broad range of needs for mobile users in Japan:

Numerous i-mode services and technologies available for smartphones, including Area Mail™ disaster information service, i-channel™ push-based information service and Melody Call™ ringback tones.
Smartphones offering enhanced convenience and operability thanks to the new “docomo Palette UI” feature for easy sorting, searching and management of apps.
Eleven high-spec, i-mode-compatible feature phones equipped variously with 3D screens for dynamic viewing, HD-quality cameras and much more.
The i-motion™ video-clip distribution service for FOMA™ 3G feature phones now offers 50 MB capacity for both long and high-definition video. Batch downloads of various content are possible with DOCOMO’s new “content package” service.
Two mobile Wi-Fi routers compatible with DOCOMO’s Xi-brand LTE service, offering fiber-optic-level mobile connectivity for wireless devices. LTE service will include Japan’s six largest urban metropolises by July and other large cities including prefectural capitals by March 2012.

The new smartphone carriers the Aquos name and is the Aquos Phone SH-12C. The phone has dual 2MP camera sensors on the front with dual lenses to shoot 3D still photos and 3D HD resolution video. The smartphone also has an HDMI output that will shoot that 3D content out to the Aquos TV in your living room. The screen on the phone is a big 4.2-inch unit with a resolution of 540 x 960. It’s not clear if the screen requires glasses for viewing the 3D content or not.

The smartphone runs the Android 2.3 OS and has the TapFlow UI over the top of the OS. The smartphone also has WiFi and can be used as a hotspot as well. It will ship in Japan on May 20 according to Sharp and will come in white and black versions. Pricing and availability in other countries is unknown. The phone will hit NTT DoCoMo in Japan.

[via Android Community]

The commercial was for the NTT DoCoMo SH-08C smartphone that has a kidney shaped wooden case. The phone looks cool and since the specs are on a photo in Japanese, I am not sure what it’s all about. The phone isn’t the cool part here though, it’s the commercial.

The ad agency went to the woods and built a giant xylophone that they set up running down hill. A wooden ball was placed at the top of the xylophone ramp and then pushed down. As it plunks down the hill it plays Bach’s Cantata 147 also known as “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desire.” The director of the commercial says that the music is completely made with just the ball and the wooden xylophone planks, though some levels were adjusted. Check out the video below to see the commercial.

[via CNET]

NTT DoCoMo has announced that the official launch date for the tablet is March 31. That is this coming Thursday. The tablet will be in most DoCoMo stores with the exception of those that are still not in service from the earthquake and tsunami. We already know the specs of the tablet with the screen measuring 8.9-inches and having a resolution of 1280 x 768.

The tablet also has a dual-core processor and runs Android 3.0. Other features include a 5MP rear camera and a 1.2MP front camera. The tablet measures 150mm x 242mm x 12.8mm and weighs about 620g. The tablet also has an integrated 3G modem for mobile connectivity.

[via Android Community]

As before, the concept is to give users a sense of the physical presence of the person they’re communicating with, with cameras and motion-capture systems tracking each party and the Elfoid on the other end replicating their movements and gestures. The initial prototypes can’t actually move themselves, but future versions will get motors and shape-memory components allowing them to move facially and twitch their rudimentary limbs.

The keypad is built into the chest, but there’ll be a voice and gesture based control system for more complex feature navigation. Other hardware includes a temperature sensor and accelerometer. A fully-working model is expected to be finished within five years.

[via Pink Tentacle]

A slice of Gorilla Glass up-front keeps things from flexing, and should hopefully prevent accidental snapping when Japanese buyers inevitably sit down with the E-04C in their back pocket. Inside there’s Froyo, WiFi b/g/n, Bluetooth and, somehow, NFC as well.

NTT DoCoMo will be offering the NEC MEDIAS E-04C from March 4, with deliveries expected from March 15. The battery is apparently good for up to 360hrs standby. No word on international availability.

[via Android Community]

The tablet has a resolution of 1280 x 768 and will support 1080p video. Dual 5MP cameras allow for shooting photos and for video conferencing too. The camera will also shoot 3D images. We already knew all of those facts; the thing we don’t know is when it can be ordered.

LG has offered an answer for when you can order question, assuming you are in Japan and like NTT DOCOMO. Pre-orders on the NTT DOCOMO network will kick off on March 15. LG is mum on what the tablet will sell for, but it should be price competitive.

Via Android Community

Despite all that, the MEDIAS E-04C still manages to squeeze in NFC and a 1-Seg digital TV tuner, along with a 4-inch display. Considering Sony Ericsson told us they’d bypassed NFC in the Arc because it added too much bulk, that’s impressive engineering from the NEC team.

Japanese heft-haters will be able to pick up the NEC MEDIAS E-04C from February 24, pricing and full specs yet to be confirmed. International availability is unknown at this stage.

[via Android Community]

The same functionality will presumably be supported outside of Japan, with Sony partnering with local carriers. No mention of 3G subscriptions has been made, which leaves it unclear whether Sony will bundle some amount of inclusive data access in with the purchase price of the console – itself another unknown factor – or if gamers will be expected to pay some monthly tithe in order to get online while mobile.

As for the 3G connection itself, that will be for data only, rather than for making calls; we’re guessing that will help differentiate between the PSP2 and the upcoming Sony Ericsson XPERIA Play aka PlayStation Phone. Sony is believed to have developed a new processor for the PSP2, too; more details should be revealed when the console is officially announced, which is believed to be taking place on January 27.

[via OLED-Display]

A large chunk of this goal will be met more than likely by the Galaxy S smartphone, it being carried through mobile carrier NTT DoCoMo Inc in Japan. Nikkei believes that these projections are likely to have propped up Samsung’s earnings, this allowing them to avoid going teeth-to-teeth with Apple, yet… Then, Shin mentioned that Samsung is preparing to release “a wide array of tablets,” hinting at 10-inch screened devices that would compete with Apple’s iPad. Begun, this pad war, has.

[Via Reuters]

The issue appears to center around the messaging app and how entries have been saved in the contacts; depending on how recipients are put into a new message, it might not be sent correctly or – more worryingly – sent to the wrong person.  NTT DoCoMo are working on a fix, but it’s not expected to arrive until late September.

To be fair, though, it’s not like the bug is going to effect many people.  The carrier has confirmed sales of just 7,000 LYNX SH-10B units between its Japanese release on July 23rd and today.

There’s also WiFi and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, along with HSDPA/HSUPA which can apparently be used worldwide.  GPS/A-GPS and a 1-Seg digital TV tuner round out the main hardware specs.  Control is via a trackball just under the display.

Access to both the Android Market and NTT DoCoMo’s own download store seems to be included, as does Documents To Go and a photo editing app.  The whole thing measures in at 148 x 83 x 17.8 mm and there’s 3.4GB of user-accessible storage (with a microSD card slot to add more).  It’ll arrive in Japan on July 23rd in either red or white; no word on pricing nor if Sharp plan to look abroad for their next carrier hook-up.

As NTT DoCoMo’s president, Ryuji Yamada puts it, “We are discussing this with various plalyers.” And, as we just mentioned, the WSJ has put some of the puzzle pieces together as well, and calls out Nintendo as being one of the major players probably within talks with the wireless carrier. Considering the 3DS is still being worked on, with a launch date several months out, adding 3G to the mobile console may not be all that big of a deal at all. Plus, that “always connected” approach that Nintendo spoke about at the 3DS’ launch would make a lot more sense.

[via The Wall Street Journal]