Samsung Launches Galaxy S III Mini Value Edition

Samsung has launched an updated version of its 17-month old Galaxy S III mini. It’s called Samsung Galaxy S III mini Value Edition and is already on sale in the Netherlands.

The Samsung Galaxy S III Mini Value editions offers faster dual-core 1.2GHz Cortex-A9 processor and newer Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean version. The rest of the specs remain intact.

Samsung continues to surprise us with new Galaxy phones everyday. This one’s not really new; we are basically looking at an overclocked version of the original Galaxy S III Mini. On sale exclusively in the Netherlands (for now), the Galaxy S III Mini Value Edition carries a price tag of €180, is powered by a 1.2 GHz dual-core Cortex A9 based chipset, and runs Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean. The rest of the specifications remain identical to the original handset, introduced nearly 18 months ago.

There are two variations of the handset listed at the Bluetooth SIG: a GT-I8200N, which is seemingly made for Europe, and a GT-I8200L for South America. The FCC tested only the GT-I8200N, revealing that it comes with dual-band Wi-Fi and 3G (1900 MHz). The sketch of the GT-I8200N seen at the FCC suggests that this new S III Mini looks a lot like the old one, possibly exactly the same. Its specs (display, processor, etc.) could also be similar.

The Galaxy S III mini Value Edition is not a “Lite” version of the device in that it does not feature watered-down hardware. It’s the international version of the upgraded AT&T and Verizon models that were recently released in the U.S. recently, with a faster processor (1.2 GHz dual-core) and Android 4.2 Jelly Bean out of the box. Other hardware details are the same as what we saw on the original Galaxy SIII mini, which include a 4-inch WVGA screen (800 x 480), 8 GB internal memory, 1 GB RAM, micro-SD slot, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, microUSB 2.0, 5 MP camera and a 1,500 mAh battery. The Galaxy S III mini Value Edition is available for €180 ($249) in the Netherlands.

The Value Edition has quietly hit the shelves in the Netherlands last week and costs about €180. There is no info on if this overclocked edition will hit other markets as well.

Nokia X will be available in India from March 15

Nokia’s first Android smartphone, the Nokia X dual-SIM, will be available in India from March 15, as the Finnish firm takes head-on the likes  of Samsung to grab a share of the burgeoning affordable smartphone market.

The Finnish manufacturer had soon after its MWC 2014 event, listed the Nokia X, Nokia X+ and Nokia XL dual-SIM variants on its India site, without pricing or availability details. At the MWC 2014 launch, the company had said the Nokia X would go on sale ‘immediately‘ in Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe, India, Latin America, and the Middle East.

Nokia X is a dual SIM handset featuring  a 4-inch WVGA display having a resolution of 800 x 480 pixels. It is powered by a 1GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Processor, backed by 512MB of RAM and 4GB of internal memory and supports expandable memory up to 32GB.. There’s a 3MP fixed focus camera on the rear side of the device. Besides being a dual SIM handset, it also supports 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS with A-GPS connectivity options. The makers have added a 1500mAh battery fitted inside. The Android 4.1 Jelly Bean powered handset also features FM Radio and is powered by Android Jellybean OS.

The Finnish firm, whose handset business was bought by Microsoft last year, had unveiled its Nokia X range of smartphones-X, X+ and XL -powered by Google’s Android operating system at the Mobile World Congress on February 24.

The Finnish giant is targeting the emerging markets with its first-generation Nokia X family of devices. And, as expected, the India release of Nokia X handset will happen within this month.

India’s largest mobile retailer, has, apparently, started to offer the Nokia X at a price point of Rs. 8,500. As per the listing, the Nokia X (Dual SIM) will be made available from Saturday, March 15. The phone will arrive in Black, Green, Cyan, Yellow, Red and White color. However, there’s no update as to when Nokia India will officially release the phone in the Indian market.

Click here to visit GSMARENA specs page of Nokia X

Its 2nd BirthDay for Google Play Store

Today the Google Play Store turns TWO years old. Originally known as the Android Market, which has been around for more than a few years, the redesigned and improved Google Play Store is celebrating its second birthday today by giving the millions and millions of Android users a few deals worth checking out.

If you open the Play Store, you will find the special anniversary menu right in front of you. Google is giving us sweet deals for the next 24 hours on select music, movies, apps, and magazines. All of which are going to be discounted for our purchasing pleasure.The reason for the deals is to celebrate a birthday.

Live on Google Play Store, the ‘special offer on great games’ is branded as ‘Google Play Birthday Present’ on the Play Store home page, and on the promotion page, a message from the search giant reads, “Let’s celebrate Google Play’s 2nd birthday with us! Enjoy great games and do not miss special offers!”

The list of games currently includes Hay Day, Larva Link, Re-Volt 2, Dungeon Keeper, FIFA 14, Garden Mania, Akasha, Dungeon Hunter 4, Star Girl: Beauty Queen, Punch Hero, Dead Ahead, Heroes of Camelot, Radiohammer, Venture Towns and Final Fantasy V. Out of these, only the last three games are paid and get a discount on their purchase price and the rest all offer discounts

The  birthday sale got underway in Australia a couple of days before the actual anniversary. It included FIFA 14, Theme Park for free and Disaster Movie for 99 Australian cents.

Here is the list of various limited time offers..

• FIFA 14 is Free
• Disaster Movie is discounted to 99 cents (only for Australian Play Store)
  
• “Theme Park” By EA is Free
• “I Came To Say Goodbye” the Book is $4.99
• “Heroes of Dragon Age” By EA is Free
• “Tiny City by Chillingo” International is Free
• “Outback Dreams” the book is $4.99
• “The Sims Free to Play” is   Free
• Taste.com.au magazine issue is $2.99
• “Need for Speed” by EA is $5.49
• “Vanity Fair the Movie” is $0.99
• “Bejeweled Blitz” by EA is Free
• “The Luminaries Book” is $4.99
• “13″ The Movie is now $0.99
• “Blurring Lines” the Book is $4.99
• “Dungeon Keeper” by EA is Free
• “Super Food Ideas” Magazine is $1.99
• “Dead Ahead Game” by Chillingo International is Free
• “NBA Jam” is $5.49

Click this link to go directly to the page:  Promotions Page in Play Store