Perhaps the ZTE Grand X2 In’s greatest claim to fame is the hardware found under its hood – a dual-core Intel Atom Z2580 2GHz processor, as well as 8GB of storage and 1GB of RAM (storage expansion available via microSD up to 32GB). The Intel-Inside aspect aside, the handset also has a higher-end display, measuring in at 4.5-inches with an HD 1280 x 720 resolution. The phone runs Android Jelly Bean.

Another notable feature on the Grand X2 In is its 8-megapixel rear camera, which – in addition to offering 1080p recording – also features a rapid-shot mode capable of up to 24-frames-per-second without shutter lag. There’s also smart scene and facial recognition, and a real-time x2 axis stabilizer. There’s also auto-focus, an automatic flash, and a 1-megapixel front camera for video chatting.

The ZTE Grand X2 In also offers wireless display sharing (WiDi), as well as an unspecified integrated audio enhancement technology said to make the resulting audio of a higher quality. The phone itself is seamless and features a soft-touch finish, which helps keep fingerprints to a minimum. The battery has a decent capacity at 2,000mAh.

ZTE France’s Terminal Director William Chhao said: “We are proud to announce the ZTE Grand X2 In smartphone pursuing our multi-year strategic collaboration with Intel. The ZTE Grand X2 In is set to build on the success of the ZTE Grand X In, our first flagship smartphone in Europe to feature Intel Inside, and further increase ZTE’s growth in the high-performance smartphone market segment.”

SOURCE: Business Wire

Microsoft brings up the smartphone patent wars in its announcement, saying that such a reality could be sidestepped if companies recognized and fairly sought another’s creation. It boasts having patent licensing agreements with almost all major Android smartphone vendors, and says that 80-percent of handsets running the mobile OS are covered by such agreements.

For its part, Microsoft says it has shelled out in excess of $4 billion in the last ten years in acquiring intellectual property rights for its products, something it calls part of a balanced approach that has lead to its success with entering into license partnerships with many vendors. The company wraps up by mentioning that a few global businesses are still holding out from getting a license.

Says Horacio Gutierrez, Microsoft’s VP and Deputy General Cousel of Legal and Corporate Affairs: “The ZTE and Foxconn agreements show once more that technology companies around the world, including some of the world’s largest and fastest growing manufacturers anchored in China, recognize licensing is an effective way to share technology and build on each other’s work…”

[via TechNet]

The European Commission believes that Huawei and ZTE may possibly be receiving unfair subsidies that allow it in turn to undercut its European rivals. EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht is taking charge of this operation, and will ultimately be deciding whether or not to go through with the investigation. He will also be investigating whether or not these companies pose a danger to national security. Last February, he told Reuters that “there were ‘serious security concerns’ involving mobile telecom networks,” and noted Huawei in his statement.

The EU tried to seek help from several European manufacturers, including Ericsson, Alcatel-Lucent, and Nokia Siemens. All of the companies refused to offer their help because of the potential risk that follow along. If they were to participate in the investigation, they fear that they would be shut out of the Chinese telecoms market, a growing market that is very important for these businesses.

Along with the lack of support from European manufacturers, several EU countries are divided on the issue as well. Britain and the Netherlands are supportive of Huawei because it is a major job provider in Europe. Other countries are concerned about Huawei gaining more influence in their wireless markets. These countries are mainly concerned about the espionage rumors that have circulated both Huawei and ZTE.

Many countries had concerns that the Chinese government was using Huawei and ZTE devices to spy on other nations. This caused a huge scare amongst many countries. Canada considered banning Huawei devices from its government, the United States launched a provision that placed restrictions on U.S. government agencies from purchasing devices from these businesses, and Germany restricted Huawei from supplying its products for a national academic research network.

Huawei and ZTE have continuously denied that their devices are used to spy on other nations. They also say that they are not receiving unfair subsidies, and the low cost of their products is due to the low-cost of their manufacturing, as well as their own innovation. They say that they have always complied with international laws. Karel De Gucht will discuss the possibility of this investigation with other EU trade minsters at a meeting in Dublin this week.

[via Reuters]

While a (nearly) non-existent price tag is always nice, that two-year contract might not look so attractive in light of the Director’s unsubsidized price of just $99. For such a modest price, users will get a low tier ZTE handset that doesn’t have eye-catching specs, but that will provide those on a budget with all the basics you’d need in a smartphone.

Inside, users will find a 1.0 GHz single-core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor alongside 512MB of RAM, as well as 4GB of internal storage space. Because that little storage would prove problematic for just about everyone, there’s also a microSD expansion slot for more space. The rear camera is an adequate-but-lower-than-usual 3-megapixels; you’ll be able to take pictures, but don’t expect much from them.

The battery is a fairly average capacity at 1,500 mAh, which should last awhile when paired with the 3.5-inch WVGA display. There are some preloaded apps, including Amazon Music and Slacker Radio. If you’re interested, you can head on over to US Cellular and check out the rest of its specs. Overall, the Director won’t be taking names and winning awards, but it will make a nice handset to give to the kids.

[via Android Community]

This machine will have an undeniably strange combination of 8GB eMMC+1GBRAM. This means that while we’re working with a next-generation processor, we’ve still got just half the RAM we’d have on the rest of the hero devices out there today. With 8GB of storage inside, you’ll also be relying on this device’s microSD card slot for storage of games and whatnot.

The back-facing camera here is 8 megapixels strong, the front is a small 1 megapixel, and you’ll be kicking around a CPU frequency of 2.0Ghz – that’s nothing to joke about! This device is being released with this generation’s other ZTE devices like the Grand X IN (another Intel-based smartphone) and the ZTE V98 tablet. Have a peek at our ZTE tag portal for additional information on these devices.

Also have a peek at the timeline below to see the rest of the ZTE action we’ve covered over the past few weeks. Though most of these devices will not be reaching the USA, we’re still pumped up about the possibility of getting them in with their beastly processors ready to take on the games and high-powered apps of today regardless. Keep on cruzing, ZTE!

The French court rejected all of Huawei’s claims on patent infringement focusing on the EP724 data card. The French ruling follows similar rulings handed down in China and Germany. The court in Paris rejected the patent infringement claims made by Huawei that focused on the “rotor head” data card patents saying that the patent lacked novelty.

The French court also ordered Huawei to pay €100,000 in damages to ZTE. The company has said that it has won numerous patent rulings against Huawei over the last two years in courts around Europe. ZTE also says that it will resolutely defend 10 other patent infringement claims made by Huawei in Europe.

In June of 2012, the Chinese State Intellectual Property Office ruled that this same patent held by Huawei was invalid. In October 2012, the German Federal Patent Court issued a preliminary verdict making the patent in question invalid. The German court also rejected six Huawei patent modification proposals.

[via ZTE]

Congress slipped the review process into the appropriations bill that was just signed by President Obama, and with it comes new stipulations for certain government agencies. Per the language in the law, the agencies must initiate a formal review in conjunction with law enforcement that looks into the risk of espionage and sabotage before purchasing “information technology systems” that have a connection, whether through manufacturing or assembly, to China.

The Department of Justice, NASA, and the Department of Commerce are all bound by the language to perform risk assessments before potential purchases that look into “any risk associated with such system being produced, manufactured or assembled by one or more entities that are owned, directed or subsidized [by China].”

This follows many alleged cyberattacks on American media companies, banks, and other systems by the Chinese government. Likewise, late last year the White House expressed concern that ZTE and Huawei could be used by the nation for spying purposes, with the government urging telecommunications companies to tread carefully. Backlash came from both ZTE and Huawei, and sources said soon after that the White House found no evidence of spying from the latter manufacturer.

[via Reuters]

The Quantum name may not be final, but its specs are fixed in place and fall into the mid range, with a 5-inch 720p display and larger-than-normal 13-megapixel rear camera, as well as a slightly smaller than usual 0.9-megapixel front camera. This information is said to come from an anonymous source who provided benchmark screencaps in addition to the phone images and specs.

Speaking of the display, the source is quoted as saying that the display has bad viewing angles. Inside, users will find a 1.5GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 MSM8960 processor and Adreno 225 graphics. There’s 1GB of RAM, and internal storage space is only 4GB, which is disappointing. Along the bottom edge of the screen are three capacitive buttons that will be familiar to anyone who has used a ZTE handset.

Connectivity includes Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n dual band, NFC, support for 4G LTE, but there’s no mention of Bluetooth. The handset’s screenshots show it running Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean. Its one unique feature is a SIM slot, which isn’t common for Spring handsets, perhaps indicating that the smartphone is global. For now, however, ZTE has said nothing about the phone, so file this one away as a rumor until we find out more.

[via Android Police]

Samsung may not have brought the Galaxy S4 to MWC – we’ll have to wait until mid-March to see that – but the company still had one of the largest stands of the show. It’s key new product was the Galaxy Note 8.0, slotting in-between the Note II and the Note 10.1, and taking on the iPad mini. What’s interesting is that, while Samsung has been accused of slavishly copying Apple, the Note 8.0 does have a distinct difference from the Apple slate in the shape of the S Pen stylus.

Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 hands-on:

Over at LG, the company was unabashed at taking on the Note II with its new Optimus G Pro, a 5.5-inch slab of beautiful LCD display and 13-megapixel camera tech. No stylus – though the Korean-spec demo units did have a fetching pull-out antenna for the digital TV tuner – but a 1080p display and speedy processor. LG fleshed out its cheaper models with new L series and F series devices, though it had spoiled the surprise some by pre-announcing them ahead of this week’s show.

Nokia had been more secretive, and so its new phones – the Lumia 520 and 720, taking the Windows Phone 8 range to five, and some cheap devices, the 105 and 301 – came as a moderate surprise. On the smartphone side, Nokia’s range is starting to look more and more thought through, though we’re still sticking with our stance that the Lumia 620 is the best of the bunch. Meanwhile, Nokia hit new price lows with the 105, a €15 ($20) handset ideal for developing markets and festival-goers alike, yet which didn’t abandon the company’s distinctive color schemes.

We also had a chance to sit down with some of Nokia’s top-level executives, and quizzed them on what little they’d spill on the roadmap (don’t hold your breath for a QWERTY Lumia any time soon) as well as their predictions for wearables and smart sensors.

Plucky upstarts ZTE and Huawei brought a brace of new devices along to Barcelona, though the reaction proved mixed. The ZTE Grand Memo played the big-screen card, overstepping the LG Optimus G Pro with a 5.7-inch screen, though arguably undermined it by opting for 720p resolution. Huawei made a similar schoolboy error with its Ascend P2, rocking high-end specifications everywhere but the number of pixels. ASUS, meanwhile, opted to go for confusion above all else, with the similarly-named FonePad and Padfone Infinit continuing to push the company’s modular strategy.

At the low-end, Firefox OS made its play for the developing market, with votes of support from eighteen operators worldwide and new handsets from Alcatel among others. At first glance, however, we’re less than impressed. The HTML5-based platform is sluggish on the cheap hardware, and it’s tough to see how – even with web apps – Mozilla plans to flesh out its portfolio in a way that legitimately challenges the ever-cheaper Android behemoth.

In chips, Qualcomm‘s Snapdragon 600 and 800 came out to flex their muscles, and were found in a number of the higher-profile phones of the week. NVIDIA had some chip news too, though the most exciting phone to use the new Tegra 4 was the Phoenix Developer Platform smartphone, which will allow coders and manufacturers to get to grips with Tegra 4i before it arrives later in 2013.

NVIDA Phoenix Developer Platform hands-on:

After two years of incredible public stands, Google took a more clandestine approach at Barcelona this year, holding a few private meetings rather than pushing people down an Android-themed slide like in 2012. We caught up with director of Android design experience Matias Duarte to talk Google Now and how it might just be the future of Android, as well as how it helped shape Google Glass. Duarte, unsurprisingly, has strong ambitions for Android, going so far as describing it as the “OS for humanity.”

Nonetheless, while MWC had its gems, the show felt more humble than in previous years. The new venue, a sprawling flow of halls joined by a serpentine hallway, is certainly far improved over the old location, but where the Congress of years past has seen flagships debut and companies stake their reputation, this year it felt a little like those same firms were holding their breath; saving their energies for individual events where they alone could control the news.

On a broader note, however, it’ll be interesting to see how the trade show calendar weathers the change in product launch strategy over the rest of the year. While smaller shows will happen in-between now and September, many eyes will be IFA 2013 early that month. The past few years, Samsung has used the Berlin show to debut several high-profile products – the Galaxy Note II and Galaxy Camera in 2012, for instance – but with the Korean firm withholding its big launches from CES and MWC, it’s unclear whether the Germans will get a headline-maker or not.

All this is just a sample of our coverage from this week; you can find all of our Mobile World Congress 2013 content in the show hub.

That works out to a screen that, although decent at first glance, simply lacks the rich pixel density of its Full HD rivals. Given the sheer size of the phone suggests it’s a media-centric device, that seems an odd choice to us.

ZTE Grand Memo hands-on video:

Elsewhere, though, things get somewhat better. The main camera runs at 13-megapixels – though it’s paired with a mere 1-megapixel front camera, where other devices might often have 2-megapixels or more – and has a 3,200 mAh battery to keep the big display running. You also get WiFi a/b/g/n (2.4/5GHz) and Bluetooth 4.0 LE, as well as LTE.

There’s no denying it’s an odd beast, though. The processor and 13-megapixel camera are top-tier, but the screen resolution smacks of older technology and the build quality is a dire symphony in cheap plastic.

ZTE could redeem itself somewhat if the pricing is right, though the company isn’t talking figures yet. We’ll know soon enough, when the Grand Memo hits China in March and then rolls on to a European launch.

The “4S” concept spoken about this week by ZTE doesn’t necessarily mean that the company will be moving forward with devices with a “4S” in the name, but that their aim in the market will be living by those four pillars of strength. With the ZTE Grand Memo, the team employs – first of all – ZTE Assistant with power savings and Security.

Next you’ll find ZTE Drive for Safety – you’ll never be lost with this ZTE-branded navigation system. For Sound you’ve got Dolby Digital Plus technology – blasting forth from the device’s back-facing speaker. ZTE continues their dedication to creating amazing products with a first-ever integration of Qualcomm’s most powerful mobile processor.

With this integration, ZTE becomes the sole manufacturer with an announcement out of a device with such a set of powerful innards. This along with the device’s own unique user interface Mi•Pop over Android will create not just a great experience for the user, but one they’ll not find anywhere else.

Have a peek at the timeline below to see other recent Qualcomm Snapdragon-related posts from the recent past and have a tap with the ZTE tag portal for more information on the releases of this OeM this week. Also be sure to follow along with SlashGear this whole week with the Mobile World Congress 2013 tag portal for more hands-on and up to the minute news action than you can handle!

The Grand Memo also rocks a Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon 800 quad-core CPU, which clocks in at 1.5GHz with 1GB of RAM, and it marks the first time that Qualcomm’s new 800 processor is being used. The device also has a 13MP rear camera and 16GB of internal storage with Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean running on board. Overall, the specs look pretty good here, other than the slight lack of ample storage space.

What makes the Grand Memo unique, however, is how you unlock the device when you start it up. You either tap and hold on the screen for a few second, or you can do a pinch-out gesture that brings up a few shortcuts, like the phone, calendar, camera, etc. And of course, ZTE put their own little spin on the Android interface.

The Grand Memo will be launching in China sometime next March, with a European release coming sometime “later this year.” Unfortunately, there’s no word yet of pricing details, and as to whether or not you’ll see this device in the US, we’d have to say there’s a slim chance of that happening, so you’ll be sticking with your Galaxy Note II for the time being.

With ZTE once again joining up with NVIDIA to bring a “first” to the market, we’ve got to wonder how much of it we’ll see at Mobile World Congress (coming up in just a few days). ZTE generally brings quite a show to the international mobile event, but with an announcement set so close to the actual reveal, we can’t imagine a real bit of hardware really ready for the public so quick. Regardless, we will be seeing something big from NVIDIA and ZTE separately without a doubt.

Check our SlashGear 101: NVIDIA Tegra 4 in detail guide for more information on Tegra 4 as well – pump up your brain!

As far as this first Tegra 4 Super Phone from ZTE – whenever we do get to see it – it’ll be working with Android and will have the full-fledged NVIDIA Tegra 4 processor rather than the NVIDIA Tegra 4i we saw earlier this week. This means that the i500 LTE modem will not be integrated in on the SoC and the amount of GPU units inside will be higher as a result. While the Tegra 4i works with 60 GPU cores, the full Tegra 4 works with 72.

You’ll also be seeing the Tegra 4i in action with the Phoenix Reference Platform before too long as well. No release date has been mentioned with that device either, but we’re crossing our fingers for soon!

With ZTE bringing another hit to the market in 2013, we can’t help but hope that it’ll enter the USA this time around. ZTE is responsible for such cool devices as the ZTE Grand X with the first Tegra processor / Icera modem combo – we saw that last year at MWC as well. There’s also the ZTE U950, a Tegra 3-toting smartphone for less than $160 USD – an undeniably enticing combo.

Stick around in our Mobile World Congress 2013 portal for more information from the NVIDIA and ZTE teams in the near future – we’ll be flying in this weekend!

The Blade C comes in models V807, T807, and V889S. The handset features a 4-inch display with a WVGA resolution of 800 x 480. Inside, users will find a dual-core 1.2GHz MediaTek MTK 6577 processor and 512MB of RAM. There’s a low 4GB of internal storage, but sadly no mention of a microSD card expansion slot, which will be a limiting factor for some buyers.

Around back, there’s a 3-megapixel rear camera, but no front camera for those who enjoy video chatting. The battery is 1,600mAh, which is low for any handset, but especially one with a 4-inch display, meaning users will probably find themselves charging more often than they like. The entire device measures in at 124 x 64 x 11mm.

Graphics are via a PowerVR SGX 53, while connectivity includes Bluetooth 4.0 and 3G; sadly there’s no LTE support. The Blade C runs Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, its best feature aside from the low price tag. Overall, like many lower end handsets, the Blade C is a mixture of budget pricing and low-end hardware. There’s no word when it will make its appearance in the European market.

[via Android Community]

Right off the bat, we’re looking at a 1024×768 display, which isn’t high-res by any means, but it matches the iPad mini. The tablet will also run Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and will powered by a dual-core 1.4GHz processor. There’s also 1GB of RAM, 4GB of internal storage, a microSD card slot (with support for cards up to 32GB), a 3700 mAh battery, and a 2MP rear camera, with a 0.3MP front-facing shooter.

The tablet takes on mostly the same size and shape as the iPad mini, except it will be just slightly larger, thanks to the thicker bezel all the way around the display. The tablet will also come with HDMI, as well as all the other goodies you expect in a modern slate, including Wi-Fi 802.11n WiFi, Bluetooth 2.1, GPS, USB, and an accelerometer.

We have yet to hear about pricing details, which is one area that many prospective buyers are wondering about. Until we hear more about the tablet, you’re better off hold your breath and waiting for a price tag before you pull your wallet out so soon. However, it’s possible that the V81 could make an appearance at Mobile World Congress, so keep your eyes pointed to our MWC coverage next month to learn more.

[via Android Community]

That’s thanks to the phone’s excellent screen. At 5-inches in size and displaying at 1920×1080 resolution, the screen on the ZTE Grand S looks great. It’s also slightly smaller than its biggest competitor, the Note II, so this might be the phone for those who want a big screen but find Samsung’s massive phablet a little too large. Keep in mind that the Grand S sports an impressive 13-megapixel sensor on the back, which is something we definitely don’t see in every phone.

Another big draw of the phablet is that its so thin. That will definitely be a major factor for some consumers, as that slim form factor helps it feel less clunky and more sleek. Clunkiness is a big risk with phones this size, but thankfully, the Grand S avoids that pitfall. The phone feels great, though it should be pointed out that I have large hands, so those with smaller hands may struggle a bit.

The phone’s 2GB of RAM keep things moving at a pretty quick pace too, and Android 4.1 Jelly Bean helps make the whole package rather impressive. Unfortunately, at the moment this phone is only confirmed for China, and despite how much I liked it, a release in North America seems like a longshot. We’ll be waiting for more details from ZTE, but in the meantime, have a look around our CES portal to find our complete coverage roundup from the show!

The exact length of the partnership is unknown, with the announcement simply stating that it is a “multi-year” agreement. Nuance will bring its voice software to ZTE’s portfolio of upcoming handsets starting this year. The voice features will encompass 25 languages, although it didn’t state which languages those are.

There’s not much info in terms of what apps will be gaining Nuance’s voice functionality features, with the exception of one: Car Mode. This app is said to include voice control via Nuance and allow users to do hands-free activities, such as making calls and sending texts. The app is optimized to work in the loud environment of a car, and does not require any sort of broadband connection.

It also offers some other features that could arguably be utilized just as effectively outside of the vehicle as during a trip. Do No Disturb mode is present, which allows the driver to disable incoming calls and notifications until the drive is over. The app can be awoken hands-free with voice commands, and will provide verbal notifications about texts and incoming calls.

[via Android Community]

RIM and T-Mobile have announced the BlackBerry Curve 9315, and new rumors are saying that the LG Optimus G2 might get a reveal at CES 2013. Facebook has added free Voice Messaging and limited VoIP to its Messenger app, and GameStick reached its Kickstarter goal today, just one day after launching the campaign. The ASUS ME301T 10-inch tablet leaked today, complete with a Tegra-3 processor and Jelly Bean, while Corning announced that it will be debuting Gorilla Glass 3 at CES 2013.

It looks like Pebble will be hosting a CES event of its own, and Archos has announced TV Connect, which turns any HDTV into a smart Android TV. comScore’s market share results for November 2012 are here, with Samsung, Google, and Apple at the top, and we learned today that Angry Birds was downloaded 8 million times on Christmas Day. Chicago has agreed to a new deal with Microsoft for city-wide cloud service, and Samsung has announced the NX300 mirrorless camera.

We found out that Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition was downloaded 5 million times in 2012, while one analyst is saying that the Wii U underperformed at GameStop during the holiday season. Sony has a patent application on the books for technology that would allow it to block access to used games on its future consoles, and Samsung has delivered a patch for the Exynos security hole that is present in Galaxy S III handsets. Finally tonight, we have reviews of the HTC One VX and the EliteBook Folio 9470m ultrabook for you to check out, while Chris Davies tells us why he thought Apple would jump on Leap Motion first instead of ASUS. That does it for tonight’s Evening Wrap-Up, we hope you enjoy the rest of your night folks!

This device is set to be working with a quad-core 1.2GHz processor quite possibly made along the same lines as the Z5. The model number P945 is attached to a 5.7-inch display and you’ve got a couple of logos on the back that let us know that we’ll be seeing this device on China Mobile first and foremost. The ZTE smartphone you see here works with an 8 megapixel camera on the back and has a single LED flash.

You’ll also find that this device works with Dolby Digital Plus speaker technology and is able to blast your hands off if you turn it too loud – though that might just be an oversimplification of the situation. You’ll be working with a standard headphone jack at the top, a microUSB port on the left, and a volume button on the right. The power button/ lock is up on top as well.

Inside this device which is being tipped as coming in with a sub-9mm thin body, you’ll find a 3000 mAh battery and Android 4.0 “ICS or above”, as the tipster speaking with the source does so say. We’ll be expecting it to be in testing mode right now with ICS but that we’ll see some form of Android 4.1 or 4.2 Jelly Bean by the time this ZTE machine is revealed for real.

Check the timeline below for more ZTE action as it’s popped up extremely recently, and get ready for this device to appear at CES 2013, too! We shall see – the other option is that this beast will be popping up at MWC 2013 – both are quite possible.

ZTE is going all-out when it comes to phablets, it seems, pumping out two high-end, ultra-thin handsets back-to-back. The Nubia Z5 got to hold the title of thinnest phablet for a full day before details about the Grand S were announced. Not many images are available, but those that have surface over at Weibo show a thin phone with a light rounded back and dark face.

As far as specs go, they’re as impressive as the Nubia Z5′s. The display measures in at 5-inches with a full HD 1920 x 1080 resolution. Around back, there’s a 13-megapixel camera, and presumably there’s a front camera as well, although that is unconfirmed. Inside you’ll find a Snapdragon S4 1.5GHz processor and 2GB of RAM. The only difference between the Grand S’s specs and the Nubia Z5′s is the battery – the Grand S has a lower capacity battery at 2500mAh.

The other difference is in price: the Nubia Z5 is priced at about $550USD, while the Grand S, if rumors are true, will cost about $450USD. This will put the handset at a lower price point than its competition. That’s all we know until CES rolls around, which we’ll be covering, so stay tuned and we’ll keep you updated as new details surface.

[via Android Community]

Lending further support to what we see in the images is the filing itself, which mentions T-Mobile’s WCDMA 1700 AWS network. It is safe to assume, then, that the Grand X will be hitting the market via the carrier, although when that could happen and what price range we’re looking at is anybody’s guess. Thus far, nary a peep has been uttered in the rumorsphere about either of them.

ZTE’s Grand X features a nicely-sized IPS display at 4.3-inches with a resolution of 960 x 540. Inside you’ll find a dual-core 1GHz processor, and, assuming the specs are the same as the one we got our hands on back in July, there will be 4GB of internal storage space and 512MB of RAM. Around back you’ll find a 5-megapixel camera, and a 1,650mAH battery to run it all.

We took a peek through the user manual up on the FCC’s website, and nothing stands out as particularly different or new. While the specs are decent, the handset will run Android Ice Cream Sandwich, meaning there is officially nothing exciting about the device. Still, given ZTE’s usually low price-point, this could end up being a decent budget phone for those wanting a large display.

[via Android Community]

The Nubia Z5 features a 5-inch full HD display at 1920 x 1080p. Inside, you’ll find a 1.5GHz Snapdragon S4 Pro and 2GB of RAM. The handset runs Android Jelly Bean 4.1.2, and features a 2-megapixel front-facing camera and a 13-megapixel rear camera. The battery is 2,500mAh. The design itself shows a relatively small bezel and three buttons along the bottom, meaning users won’t lose any pixels to on-screen buttons.

There’s no word on whether the handset will be available outside of China, but one can hope. Two other ZTE phablet-sized smartphones are also slated for release in the upcoming year, likely slated for the earlier part of 2013. Unfortunately, not all the handsets will be as high-quality as the Nubia Z5, including the recently announced U887.

The U887 is the Nubia Z5′s antithesis, offering a resolution of only 800 x 400, and a paltry 512MB of RAM alongside its dual-core 1.2GHz processor. The internal storage comes in at 4GB, although there’s presumably a microSD slot like on ZTE’s other handsets. The battery is smaller at 2,000mAh. There’s no word on when it will be available.

[via Android Community]

The ZTE U887 has a 5-inch display with a resolution of 800 x 400. Inside you’ll find a 1.2GHz dual-core MT6577 processor and 512MB of RAM. There’s a mere 4GB of internal storage space, which isn’t enough for most users, particularly not those looking to use the phablet as a tablet substitute. The battery is decent at 2,000mAh.

This is the third 5-inch phablet from ZTE to appear, none of which have been launched. The U887 joins the likes of the Grand S and the Nubia Z5, which is set to launch this Friday, assuming the Mayan apocalypse doesn’t strike. The Nubia Z5 has high-end hardware, unlike the U887, offering a 1.5GHz quad-core processor and 1080p display.

Needless to say, the U887′s biggest appeal is what is sure to be a very reasonable price tag in combination with its large 5-inch display. This handset is ideal for those looking to score a phablet without signing up for a contract or shelling out mad cash for a high-end handset. We’ll be sure to keep you updated on the latest info as it becomes available.

[via Engadget]

Tim Cook and Marissa Mayer have been singled out as TIME Person of the Year finalists, and YouTube has released a new video that aims to mash up all of the biggest viral stars of the year. Thieves in Washington somehow managed to make off with 7,000 Nintendo Wiis, while a new Google-run library is bringing you the Dead Sea Scrolls digitally. Samsung has passed Nokia to become the top cellphone brand of 2012, and Apple is now offering free next-day shipping on everything it sells, just in time for that last-minute holiday rush.

Xbox Live received a bunch of different video apps today, while Samsung launched a new 3,000 mAh battery for the Galaxy S III. The iPad mini and the iPhone 5 received a Wi-Fi fix with iOS 6.0.2, Twitter for BlackBerry was given Discover and Connect tabs, and a Brazilian company has released a device called “iPhone” that’s running Android. ZTE revealed its new Grand Era LTE that comes equipped with dual-mode LTE, and we saw a few screenshots that are reportedly from BlackBerry 10. We learned that 84% of Kickstarter projects miss their launch dates, and we caught a glimpse of the Huawei Ascend D2 in a leaked press shot.

There’s a new expansion coming next year for Star Wars: The Old Republic, and Google Fiber service is expanding to more neighborhoods in Kansas City. Foursquare and Apple might be close to striking a Maps integration deal, and finally tonight, we have reviews of the Samsung ATIV Smart PC and the Sony HX850 BRAVIA Internet TV for you to check out. That does it for tonight’s Evening Wrap-Up, we hope you enjoy the rest of your night folks!

This machine works with ZTE’s own flavor of user interface over the top of Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich by the name of Mifavor. This UI is not shown on the press photos, mind you, and will be revealed in full at the time of its final launch. You’ll see an 8 megapixel camera on the back of this device along with a single LED flash and a mix of soft plastic up top and hard plastic through most of the body of the device, all in dark shades of gray.

The ZTE Grand Era LTE is set to help ZTE showcase it’s FDD/TDD dual-mode MF93E uFi device and the MF825 data card on the new Hong Kong network throughout 2013. According to ZTE, the size and average power consumption of the MF93E and the MF 825 have both been reduced by “nearly a third” when compared to the first generation of LTE devices. This also means that they’ve been reduced in size and increased in speed.

We’re not expecting this device in its current form to be visiting the shores of the USA any time soon as a consumer product, but we’ll likely get to have a peek at it when we visit ZTE at CES 2013. Don’t forget to visit our CES 2013 tag portal from here until early January to get all your favorite consumer electronics action right from the source, in Las Vegas, Nevada with SlashGear!

[via ZTE]

The MF823′s user interface is operated via the Web, and, according to the press release, is compatible with Windows 8, Windows XP, Mac OS X and “all major operating systems.” The device supports IPv6, GPRS/GSM, UMTS-HSPA+, and LTE-FDD. The LTE-FDD supported download and upload speeds are 100Mbps/dl and 50Mbps/ul, while the UMTS-HSPA+ supported speeds are 42Mbps/dl and 5.76Mbps/ul.

The MF823 dongle uses 30-percent less energy than its first-gen counterpart. Says ZTE, the device has the “lowest working temperature in the industry,” so it’ll feel cool to the touch even after prolonged periods of use. In addition, the unit has improved radiating properties, and has been optimized for a combo of high bandwidth/high communication rates and low delays.

In addition to boasting having launched the world’s smallest 4G LTE USB modem, ZTE also has claims to fame in other related areas. Earlier in 2012, the Chinese company unveiled the first multi-standard USB modem available. Also, says the press release, ZTE was the first mainland Chinese vendor to make available a 4G LTE smartphone.

The tease includes a photograph of what appear to be twin smartphones clad in white or black cases. Little detail was offered along with the photograph other than a bit of info of what is claimed to be the screen resolution and size of the device. The screen is tipped at 5.9-inches in size.

A 5.9-inch screen would put this mysterious ZTE Windows Phone on par with the other phablets on the market already. The key difference between what ZTE is claiming, and other devices on the market is that Lu Qian Hao says that the 5.9-inch screen will support full HD resolution of 1920 x 1080. If you’re familiar with Windows Phone, you might be a bit curious about that resolution.

As WMPowerUser points out, Microsoft doesn’t offer official support for full HD screen resolution. Official support is for up to 720p resolution. However, coders claim that the underlying Windows Phone 8 kernel is capable of handling 1080p requiring minor tweaks to unlock the higher-resolution. That would mean if that resolution claim is true, ZTE has made those tweaks to support full HD resolution.

[via WMPowerUser]

The ZTE U950 measures in at 9mm thick, and features a 4.3-inch display and runs Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. Inside you’ll find a 1.3GHz quad-core NVIDIA Tegra 3 processor and 1GB of RAM. There’s a rear 5MP camera, and VGA-resolution front camera for video calls. Sadly, the device only has 4GB of internal storage space.

ZTE has been swept up recently in accusations of possible espionage for the Chinese government, which has also been brought against Huawei. The US House Intelligence Committee recommended that ZTE and Huawei both be avoided, saying, “China has the means, opportunity, and motive to use telecommunications companies for malicious purposes.” ZTE responded with the statement, “ZTE has set an unprecedented standard for cooperation by any Chinese company with a congressional investigation.”

While the features are all pretty basic, it’s obviously the processor power-to-cost ratio that makes the phone attention-worthy. The U950 is priced at 999 yuan, which is about $160USD. The handset is slated for release in China next month. There’s no word on whether this cheapo quad-core will be making its way stateside or elsewhere.

[via Engadget]

Huawei had responded with a statement that the Chinese company “has a well-demonstrated track record of responsibly adhering to local laws and regulations in the markets in which it does business.” A little over a week after the accusation was made, a source who claimed to be close to the matter told Reuters that the White House had found no evidence of Huawei engaging in espionage. Now, to further its push in clearing its name, chairman of the Huawei Australia branch, John Lord, has stated that “Huawei is willing to offer complete and unrestricted access to our software source code and our equipment in such an environment.”

The environment he refers to is a transparent framework in which foreign vendors can be subjected to security testing procedures. Said Lord, this system would allow tech products made overseas to be evaluated independently, and that such a setup is necessary for safety. The UK already has a similar system in place to which Lord referred when making the proposal.

In addition to the proposed avoidance in the U.S., Huawei was shunned by Canada in light of the accusations, which was previously considering using the company as part of its upcoming government communications network. Adding another blow into the mix, Huawei was also banned from being involved in the construction of Australia’s National Broadband Network. Says John Lord, “We are disappointed [in the ban], we have accepted the government’s decision and we have moved on.”

[via ABC]

A report by the US House Intelligence Committee states, “China has the means, opportunity, and motive to use telecommunications companies for malicious purposes.” Both companies denied the claims, saying that they were not financed by the Chinese government or military, and that they were not spying for either. Huawei retorted that the accusations were baseless, and that the company “has a well-demonstrated track record of responsibly adhering to local laws and regulations in the markets in which it does business.” ZTE also offered a response, saying that it has “set an unprecedented standard for cooperation by any Chinese company with a congressional investigation.”

Two sources “familiar with the probe” told Reuters that the review had concluded that Huawei’s products were risky due to vulnerabilities that could prove favorable for hackers. What the review didn’t seem to find, however, was evidence that Huawei has engaged in espionage for China. Still, the sources did not say whether these vulnerabilities were intentional.

The White House inquiry involved reviewing reports of suspicious activity, and questioning almost 1,000 telecom equipment buyers. The While House declined commenting on the review. Huawei was a bit more vocal, however, stating that the lack of evidence for spying didn’t surprise the company.

[via Reuters]

Canada has plans to implement a secure Canadian government communications network that would carry government phone calls, emails and data center services. Canada was going to bring Huawei on board to help out with the initiative, but after hearing about the claims against the Chinese device manufacturer, Canada is thinking about excluding them from the project.

Huawei actually has been doing very well in Canada. In 2008, they were awarded a contract to build networks for Telus Corp and Bell Canada, and the company even received a C$6.5 million ($6.6 million) grant from Ontario towards an investment by Huawei in research and development that would cost a total of C$67 million.

The US House Intelligence Committee warned Canadian companies not to do business with Huawei, and it warned that China could be using equipment made by Huawei to spy on certain communications and threaten critical systems through computerized links. The potential ban on Huawei could have negative effects on both Huawei and Canada, and this certainly may not be the end to this madness.

[via Reuters]

NASA’s Curiosity rover has scooped up its first “handful” of Martian soil, while Verizon announced today that it will have 4G LTE in 418 US markets by the end of the day on October 16. Not only did Samsung announce the Galaxy Music smartphone today, but it also started teasing a “groundbreaking” Windows 8 device reveal for October 15. Microsoft has released a Windows 8 update ahead of its launch at the end of this month, while we heard that Windows Phone 8 pre-orders might open up on October 21.

Despite Apple’s best efforts, its Lightning chip has been cloned, and today the company was said to be in a long-running relationship with a carbon fiber manufacturer. We got to take a look at some snazzy new iPad Mini renders today, and were told that BlackBerry 10 might not launch until sometime in March 2013. Today was the day that Felix Baumgartner was supposed to attempt his record-breaking skydive, but at the last minute Red Bull had to pull the plug on the mission due to bad weather, with tomorrow’s jump called off for the same reason. Firefox 16 was released today, and Amazon filed a new patent for an online haggling system.

Ice Cream Sandwich finally hit the Motorola Atrix 2 today, while Jelly Bean was arriving on Galaxy S IIIs in Korea. Tens of thousands of Chrome users have fallen victim to a bogus adware app claiming to be Rovio’s Bad Piggies, and Valve has invited players to fill out playtest surveys for a chance to come into the studio to test new games and hardware. Gearbox released the Mechromancer DLC for Borderlands 2 a week early today, and the Humble Bundle is back, only this time it doesn’t feature any games. Skype users are being plagued by a trojan, so if you use the service a lot, it’s probably a good idea to check out our post to see what you can do to stop it from infecting your computer.

Finally tonight, we have a pair of original posts for your to read through. Chris Davies tells us why a Nexus 10 won’t solve Google’s problem with getting developers to make apps aimed at Android tablets, while Chris Burns has given us a review of the Acer TravelMate P243 notebook. That does it for tonight’s Evening Wrap-Up, enjoy the rest of your night folks!

That blanket approach to security caution is unfeasible, ZTE argues, given the predominance of China-based production of equipment from so many vendors. “Particularly given the severity of the Committee’s recommendations,  ZTE recommends that the Committee’s investigation be extended to include every company making equipment  in China, including the Western vendors” the company counters. “That is the only way to truly protect US equipment and US national security.”

ZTE and Huawei were singled out by the US committee over concerns that the Chinese government could use backdoor loopholes in telecoms hardware to access trade secrets among American companies as well as to commit acts of cyberterrorism. In a series of recommendations, the bipartisan group suggested that US companies should look to other suppliers for safer equipment, and called for greater oversight into international hardware orders along with a block on acquisition and merger attempts by either Chinese firm.

“Given ZTE’s cooperation and the facts ZTE has presented to the Committee, ZTE is disappointed that the Committee chose to narrowly focus its review on just the two largest Chinese companies and to exclude Western telecom vendors and their Chinese joint venture partners. Given that virtually all US telecom equipment is produced in China, in some measure, the Committee’s narrow focus addresses the overall issue of risk to US telecom infrastructure so narrowly that it omits from the Committee’s inquiry the suppliers of the vast majority of equipment used in the US market. ZTE is a relatively small US telecom infrastructure equipment supplier in comparison with most of the Western vendors. Sales of ZTE’s telecom infrastructure equipment in the US comprised less than $30 million in revenue last year. Two Western vendors, alone, last year provided the US market with $14 billion worth of equipment” ZTE

Huawei has already voiced its protest, accusing the committee of being “committed to a predetermined outcome” despite its best efforts at openness. ZTE has taken a slightly different approach, highlighting its existing work with the so-called “Trusted Delivery Model” that sees the company’s hardware, software, and firmware all reviewed “by a highly respected independent US threat assessment laboratory.”

You can find ZTE’s full statement here.

We also had plenty of news about SpaceX’s Dragon capsule, which launched for the ISS yesterday. The launch went well despite a rocket blowout, and we learned that the capsule is carrying – among other things – ice cream and silly putty to the space station. Later on in the day, SpaceX released a statement about the minor problems on the launch pad, telling us that the mission should still go as planned. We heard that 10 million iPad Minis are on order, despite the fact that we don’t know for sure that it exists yet, and today Google started calling for more tablet-friendly apps.

The Samsung Galaxy S III was named T-Mobile’s best-selling device of all time today, and speaking of T-Mobile, the carrier received the LG Optimus L9 today as well. A 32GB Nexus 7 model was accidentally shipped to one lucky Japanese customer, and Microsoft has launched free Wi-Fi in both New York City and San Francisco. Windows 8 PCs started showing up early on HSN’s website today, and Microsoft released a Kinect SDK for Windows 8 too. Microsoft has apparently dropped its “Live” branding from its Windows 8 launch, and T-Mobile looks primed to receive iPhone 5 owners with a new NanoSIM delivery.

After being teased last week, Rovio revealed Angry Birds Star Wars today, an announcement that was quickly followed by additional details. XCOM: Enemy Unknown is available for pre-order on Steam today, while Blizzard told us that a World of Warcraft hack that allowed one player to murder others one city at a time has been patched. Pokemon Black and White 2 launched yesterday, and PETA has something to say about it, while Nokia announced that its new Lumia 810 will be bringing the Windows Phone 8 touch to T-Mobile.

That about does it for tonight’s Evening Wrap-Up, but before we part ways, we have one original story to cover: Chris Burns tells us why Nokia will need to push its graphic design abilities when it comes to making Windows Phone 8 a success. Enjoy the rest your night folks!

 ”The report notes that modern critical infrastructure is incredibly connected, everything from electric power grids to banking and finance systems to natural gas, oil, and water systems to rail and shipping channels. All of these entities depend on computerized control systems. The risk is high that a failure or disruption in one system could have a devastating ripple effect throughout many aspects of modern American living” Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence

Among the recommendations are the suggestion that US carriers should look elsewhere for their infrastructure components, as these could potentially allow Chinese government snooping onto the telecommunications backbone, and that new legislation to put firms “with nation-state ties or otherwise not clearly trusted to build critical infrastructure” under the microscope should be considered. The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) should take an active role in purchasing agreements, it’s proposed.

“Any bug, beacon, or backdoor put into our critical systems could allow for a catastrophic and devastating domino effect of failures throughout our networks.  As this report shows, we have serious concerns about Huawei and ZTE, and their connection to the communist government of China.  China is known to be the major perpetrator of cyber espionage, and Huawei and ZTE failed to alleviate serious concerns throughout this important investigation.  American businesses should use other vendors” Mike Rogers, Chairman, House Intelligence Committee

The committee also saved some scolding for Huawei and ZTE’s perceived attempts to block investigations, with Huawei particularly singled out for a tongue-lashing. “Huawei, in particular, must become more transparent and responsive to U.S. legal obligations” the report insists, having “failed to provide thorough information about its corporate structure, history, ownership, operations, financial arrangements, or management.”

Chinese responsibility – although often only speculated at – for cyber attacks on US systems is responsible for fueling much of the concern within the report. “Recent cyber-attacks often emanate from China,” the committee suggests, “and even though precise attribution is a perennial challenge, the volume, scale, and sophistication often indicate state involvement.” Those attacks are often intended “to steal trade secrets and other sensitive proprietary data.”

As for security programs in operation elsewhere in the world, such as the Cyber Security Evaluation Centre formed in the UK with Huawei and the UK government, the US team argues that such projects can “create a false sense of security” as they encourage companies to bypass their own checks in deference to a perceived external validation of safety.

In addition, the committee casts doubt onto the usefulness of examining software/hardware in a single “snapshot” at any one point in its lifecycle, given that new functionality can be added at any time. That’s even before you get to malicious code that has been purposefully hidden. “If we also consider flaws intentionally inserted by a determined and clever insider,” the report argues, “the task becomes virtually impossible.”

“The Committee did not expect Huawei to prove that it has “no ties” to the government. Rather, in light of even experts’ lack of certainty about the state-run capitalist system in China, the Committee sought greater understanding of its actual relationship with the Chinese government. The Committee requested that Huawei support and prove its statements about its regulatory interaction by providing details and evidence explaining the nature of this formal interaction. Any company operating in the United States could very easily describe and produce evidence of the federal entities with which it must interact, including which government officials are their main points of contact at those regulatory agencies” House Intelligence Committee

The full report is available here [pdf link].

House Intelligence Committee recommendations:

1. US government systems and US government contractors, particularly those working on sensitive systems, should exclude any Huawei or ZTE equipment or component parts. Additionally, the Committee on Foreign Investments in the United States (CFIUS) must block acquisitions, takeovers, or mergers involving Huawei and ZTE given the threat to U.S. national security interests.
2. U.S. network providers and systems developers are strongly encouraged to seek other vendors for their projects.
3. Unfair trade practices of the Chinese telecommunications sector should be investigated by committees of jurisdiction in U.S. Congress and enforcement agencies in the Executive Branch. Particular attention should be paid to China’s continued financial support of key companies.
4. Chinese companies should quickly become more open and transparent. Huawei, in particular, must become more transparent and responsive to U.S. legal obligations.
5. Committees of jurisdiction in Congress should consider potential legislation to better address the risk posed by telecommunications companies with nation-state ties or otherwise not clearly trusted to build critical infrastructure, including increasing information-sharing among private sector entities and expanding a role for the CFIUS process to include purchasing agreements.

According to earlier leaks, the Cisco-branded hardware – initially produced under license by ZTE, as a way of reducing costs and becoming more competitive against Huawei in China and other markets in Asia, though from 2010 simply resold by ZTE – had been discovered on a July 2011 parts supply list in a deal between ZTE and an Iranian telecommunications company. ZTE had apparently agreed to supply five Cisco switches to a part of the consortium controlling the company.

An FBI investigation was triggered after ZTE’s own general counsel for its US subsidiary accused the parent company of attempting to cover up the Iranian deal, including destroying evidence. He was subsequently put on administrative leave.

“ZTE is highly concerned with the matter and is communicating with Cisco” spokesperson David Dai Shu said of the US company’s decision. “At the same time, ZTE is actively cooperating with the US government about the probe to Iran. We believe it will be properly addressed.”

Cisco, meanwhile, declined to comment specifically on the ZTE deal. However, CEO John Chambers did say that Cisco would not “tolerate any direct or indirect sales” of its hardware to Iran, “and when that occurs, we step up and deal with it very firmly. So I think you can assume that you will not see that happen again.”

ZTE and Huewei have found themselves at the center of a security scare in the US, with the House Intelligence Committee releasing a report today that recommends US businesses do not use hardware from either firm, out of concerns that the Chinese government could subsequently petition for access. Meanwhile, the Committee, a bipartisan group of Republicans and Democrats, has advised that regulators block any attempts by ZTE or Huawei at mergers and acquisitions in the US. Both companies deny the allegations.

Huawei and ZTE have each denied being financed by the Chinese government or military, or indeed providing information about international customers to intelligence agencies in their home country. Speaking on behalf of Huawei, spokesperson William Plummer described the accusations as “baseless” and said that the company “has a well-demonstrated track record of responsibly adhering to local laws and regulations in the markets in which it does business.”

“ZTE equipment is safe” director of global public affairs David Dai Shu said of the claims, pointing out that “ZTE has set an unprecedented standard for cooperation by any Chinese company with a congressional investigation.”

Work on the inquiry began in November 2011, amid concerns that Huawei and ZTE hardware contained backdoor access points for information extraction that could be used by the Chinese government. Evidence supporting that was sourced from former company employees, apparently, though the report does not include specific accusations. An annex to the report which, unlike the main summary itself, will be kept confidential, supposedly includes more substantiative information.

The Chinese government too has reacted strongly, with a spokesperson arguing that companies from the country make their business decisions based on sound economic practice. “The investments they make in the US show the win-win aspect of China-US trade relations” foreign ministry spokesperson Hong Lei said earlier today. “We hope that the US Congress can reject bias, respect the facts and do more to promote China-US economic relations, rather than the opposite.”

“The investigation concludes that the risks associated with Huawei’s and ZTE’s provision of equipment to US critical infrastructure could undermine core US national-security interests” the committee wrote, unconvinced by Huawei and ZTE’s insistence that, should the government in China demand access to equipment made by the firms, they would be bound by US rather than Chinese laws.

The House Intelligence Committee is unable to pass laws or enact policy change on its own, but intends to submit the report to the Department of Homeland Security as well as the Justice Department.

[via WSJ; via Telegraph]

The smartphone uses a 1.4 GHz processor and has an eight-megapixel camera on the back with LED flash. The smartphone offers all the features that people know love with Android 4.0 such as customizable home screens and Swype predictive text. The smartphone supports the Muve Music service from Cricket Wireless.

The service allows subscribers to access unlimited downloads of their favorite music along with access to exclusive artist commentary and video. The 1.4 GHz processor I mentioned is a QUALCOMM MSM8655T Scorpion. Along with that eight-megapixel rear camera, the smartphone also has a VGA resolution front camera for videoconferencing.

Storage on the device is via a 4 GB Muve Music microSD card that is included. The microSD card is removable, and the phone supports up to 32 GB of storage. The device has integrated Bluetooth, and its battery has 1900 mAh of power. The smartphone will sell for $249.99 with contract-free plants starting at $50 monthly and going up to $70 monthly.

Ever wonder how much Americans have spent on iPhone repairs? Wonder no longer, because SquareTrade says that we’ve $5.9 billion on repairs since 2007. Samsung once again reiterated its intentions of taking Apple to court over the iPhone 5, while HP announced a range of new ultra-light notebooks today. HP didn’t stop there though, as it also revealed a brand new ENVY desktop, which we have to say looks pretty sleek. Verizon talked about how good its Share Everything plans are during an investors conference today, and the ASUS Padfone 2 might be getting a reveal next month.

Prices for the freshly-revealed HTC 8X and 8S were announced today, and Chinese manufacturer Cube has a new tablet incoming that sports a display similar to Apple’s Retina display. Qualcomm was seen touting its Snapdragon S2 processor today for some reason, and SkullCandy revealed a trio of new gaming headsets. Speaking of gaming, we heard rumors that Half-Life 3 will have open world elements, and were amazed by a new multiplayer trailer for an upcoming game called Cube World. Amazon’s Kindle eReaders and tablets have been banished from the shelves of Walmart, and the all-new ZTE Anthem will soon be heading to MetroPCS complete with 4G LTE capabilities.

Android users were given The Bard’s Tale and Fort Courage today, while the US Senate claimed that Microsoft avoided paying $6.5 billion in taxes over the last three years. Facebook Messenger got an update on Android today, as did the regular Facebook app, and Sony told us why we didn’t see a price cut on existing PS3 models when the company revealed its brand new super-slim console. Microsoft can officially claim another victory over Motorola in Germany, and finally tonight, we have a hands-on with the excellent 10Terra Nexus 7 Bamboo case, which is looking to get funded on Kickstarter right this minute!

That does it for tonight’s Evening Wrap-Up. Enjoy the rest of your night, and join us back here tomorrow as we wrap-up Friday’s news and ring in the weekend!

The ZTE Anthem will be ZTE’s first 4G LTE device to hit the US market, and while it isn’t a beast by any means it offers a decent package given the price. It certainly isn’t pretty to look at, and is that Gingerbread? Yup sadly this device is launching with a severely outdated OS. Running on the old Android 2.3 Gingerbread operating system.

Other specs include a 4.3-inch wVGA 480 x 800 resolution display, a Qualcomm 1.2 GHz dual-core processor, we’ll assume 1GB of RAM (could be 768) and packing a 5 megapixel camera with flash on the rear. Other than the old and outdated Gingerbread this device is a rather attractive offering for the no contract 4G LTE plans at MetroPCS.

“As our first U.S. 4GLTE smartphone, we’re proud to launch the Anthem 4G with our long-time partner MetroPCS because we share their goal of providing consumers with outstanding value and a strong 4G LTE experience,” said Lixin Cheng, CEO, ZTE USA

Why ZTE or MetroPCS are allowing this out of the factory with Gingerbread is beyond me, but what do I know. You’ll also get micro-SD support and HDMI-out for those looking to stream anything to the big screen. The ZTE Anthem 4G will be available in the coming weeks on MetroPCS with no annual contract for just $219.

[via PRNewswire]