Huawei Ascend Mate 2 4G hands-on

Huawei has just unveiled its new Ascend Mate 2 phablet here at CES 2014, and we've got all the juicy details for you to sink your teeth into.

The Huawei Ascend Mate 2 hands-on shots
The changes are mostly cosmetic with this second generation, as Huawei has managed to squeeze in the same 6.1" 720p screen, 2GB of RAM, and 4050 mAh battery into a package that cuts 2.5mm in height, 1mm in width, and is 0.4mm thinner.

Samsung Galaxy Note Pro and Tab Pro hands-on: First look

Introduction

Traditionally Samsung hasn't been the most exciting company to watch at CES, but this year the Koreans are really making their presence felt. Bringing the big tablet guns, the company definitely has some of the hottest hardware of the show at its booth.
As a welcome change of pace, we aren't just treated to TVs and Smart home appliances. Samsung has the Pro range of tablets on display, which spans across two families of ultra-high-res powerhouses.
The Samsung Galaxy Note Pro leads the charge and there are three Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro slates to cover its back. Here's the kicker - we have a new tablet size in town - 12.2 inches. That's not very surprising of Samsung, as the company has been keen on experimenting with new form factors and sizes, some of which have yielded amazing results - take the Galaxy Note line-up of phablets, for example.
The new standard is offered on two different slates - the S Pen-enabled Galaxy Note Pro 12.2 and the conventional Galaxy Tab Pro 12.2. Those two are joined by the more straightforward Galaxy Tab Pro 10.1 and another new size for Samsung with the Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4. The latter is a direct competitor to the LG G Pad 8.3 and we're eager to see whether it's a worthy one.
Anyway, we have met with all of them at the CES 2014 and we're ready with our first rundown. Before that though, let's take a look at what the Samsung Galaxy Note Pro 12.2 and the variously sized Galaxy Tab Pro slates offer.

Moto G gets Android 4.4.2 KitKat update in the UK

The Motorola Moto G is quickly becoming the little smartphone that could. After the very positive reviews earlier, Moto G owners have something else to boast about. They are now the proud owners of an Android KitKat smartphone.

Motorola just announced that all Moto G handsets are ready to be upgraded to Android 4.4.2. So users will now enjoy a faster and more secure phone, full screen mode, the new and improved Hangouts app, and gallery photo editing.
All of this for £135 ($180), and the Moto G is beginning to look like a better and better deal. If you didn't receive an update notification on your Moto G handset, then you can do a manual check. Just head to the settings menu, go to "About Phone", then click on "System Updates" and you will be asked if you want to update your Moto G. Click the source link below if you're having trouble and let us know how your Moto G performs after the KitKat update!
Source | Via

LG Nexus 5 review: Back to the future

Introduction

Nexus phone releases are timed to let Google have the last word - and what a way to have it! A phone that matches any flagship on specs and premieres the latest OS version, but costs barely half as much as some of them. The Nexus 5 promises a great finale to yet another exciting smartphone season and it's not only the droids that stand to attention.
This could have been a deja-vu moment for everybody but the fifth gen Google phone will probably have to work harder than ever. There's already a bunch of Snapdragon-800-powered Android flagships, while Qualcomm's latest is ticking inside Windows Phone-powered devices by Nokia too and Apple has the new 64-bit A7 chipset.
On a second thought, Nexus phones have never been too keen on getting into the skirmish, keeping their distance, aloof and somewhat out of touch, nothing to prove to anyone. The best of Google on your homescreen - that's what it's all about - and at a price that's almost too good to be true.


Nexus 5 official photos

Windows Phones smartphones achieved record sales in Q4

Microsoft has announced that they've seen record sales of Windows Phone handsets during the holiday season. The tech super-giant had this to say:

"We’ve seen record sales of Windows Phone this holiday worldwide, nearly doubling phone sales during Christmas week (YOY). In the third quarter this year, according to IDC, Windows Phone reinforced its position as a top three smartphone operating system and was the fastest-growing platform among the leading operating systems with 156% year-over-year gain. Windows Phone is the #2 smartphone operating system in 14 markets, and shipped more units than iPhone in 24 markets in Q3. Our portfolio continues to expand: from award-winning flagship devices like the Nokia Lumia 928/1020/1520, to affordable new innovations like the Lumia 520/625/1320 and Huawei W1/W2."

Next-gen Samsung TouchWiz UI leaks

Thanks to @evleaks, we can now catch a glimpse of an upcoming smartphone user interface that Samsung is currently working on. A trio of leaked screenshots show a phone UI that looks like the next major version of the company's TouchWiz UI.
According to the prominent leakster, Samsung is currently only "exploring" the user interface, which you can check out below. More mature than the current TouchWiz UI versions, the new design is a bit more toned down and feels a bit more rounded.

Motorola to bring another smartphone to EU next week

Motorola is planning to add a new smartphone to its European family of products. The company has sent out invites for a special event in London, UK on January 14, where it'll launch the new device.