Mobile rumours: Samsung, HTC, Google, and more

There are a lot of mobile phone manufacturers out there making things for us consumers to enjoy, but with that many companies creating that much stuff, how are you able to keep track of it all? Welcome to out daily mobile rumour round-up, where we find the best rumours and goings on in the world of mobile tech, so you don’t have to sift through the depths of the internet to find them yourselves.

1. The new Nexus might be a Motorola-made phablet

A lot of people have been eagerly waiting for the newest Nexus phone, especially since it was confirmed at Google’s I/O that the company isn’t done with the brand. The rumour is that the phone will be a 5.9-inch phablet made by the folks at Motorola. The codename, Shamu, is in keeping with Google’s trend of naming devices after sea creatures (the Nexus 5 was known as Hammerhead), and is very apt based on the  reported size of the device.  The device is also reported to have a fingerprint scanner.

It’s still early days for Nexus rumours, so we need to be cautious about what we do, and do not, believe. Since Shamu does appear as a bug inside Android L, it’s safe to assume that Google is working on something with the name, but it’s not clear whether it’s even hardware. But as long as we stay patient, more will likely be revealed in time. [Engadget]

2. Disappointing leaks suggest that the Samsung Galay Alpha’s display will only be 720p

The more we hear about the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Alpha, the more disappointing the phone sounds. The latest leaks corroborate existing rumours that claim the phone will have a 4.8-inch screen with a lowly resolution of 720p. It’s not the worst thing in the world, but the £120 Moto G also runs in 720p, so what has been widely assumed to be Samsung’s new flagship device could do an awful lot better. Leaks also suggest that the phone will not be coming with microSD expansion, and has a plastic case because Chinese industry is currently overwhelmed by the production of metal cases for Apple.

That last piece of information is a little bit strange, but the rest of the information seems to have a great deal of evidence backing it up. Sorry to disappoint you, but the Galaxy Alpha certainly isn’t living up to the original hype. [TechRadar]

3. Don’t hold your breath for the Tizen powered Samsung Z, it’s been delayed yet again

Ever since it was announced that Samsung would be substituting Android for Tizen on it’s line of Galaxy Gear smartwatches, people have been anticipating the release of a Tizen based Samsung phone. Now Samsung has confirmed that the Samsung Z, as it’s being called, has been delayed yet again because the company doesn’t feel that the Tizen build is ready for public release. Which makes sense, because if it’s terrible nobody will buy a Tizen phone.

There’s no new launch date yet, but it’s not likely to be something Samsung will be giving up on easily. [Liliputing]

4. Samsung’s VR will utilise the smartphone

Virtual reality is getting a lot of attention recently, what with the Oculus Rift and Google Cardboard being released to the public, and it turns out that Samsung is working on it;s own verion of virtual reality, one that will utilise your smartphone. How do we know? Well what is apparently the mobile interface has leaked online. Gear VR manager is mostly a guide on how to use your smartphone with the upcoming VR headset, but also includes early versions of cinema and panorama apps.

There isn;t any information on a full public release, but with a working app, and a headset in development in conjunction with Oculus Rift, you might be seeing more of Samsung’s virtual reality reams coming to fruition in the near future. [SamMobile]

5. HTC are planning to release aversion of the One M8 running Windows Phone

The HTC One M8 has been an immensely popular, and well received phone, so it’s hardly surprising that HTC has set its sights on releasing a version of the phone running Windows Phone 8.1 instead of Android. Known as the HTC W8, the phone apparently keep the Boomsound and Dual cameras that have gone down so well on the One M8. Rumours state that the phone will also include a 2.3GHz Snapdragon 801 processor, 2GB of RAM, a 5-inch full HD display, interactive phone covers, and a 2600 mAh battery.

This information comes from noted leaker @evleaks, who has a track record of providing accurate information, so we should expect to see this phone sometime later this year. [@evleaks]

6. Specs leak for the Xperia Z3

The Xperia Z2 may have only just been released, but it sounds like Sony is already looking towards the future and working on the phone’s successor, the Xperia Z3. According to the leak, once again from @evleaks, the phone will feature a 5.5-inch full HD display, and a 22 MP camera. Some sources say that the phone will include a Snapdragon 801 processor and 3GB of RAM, while others claim that it’ll have a Snapdragon 810 processor, a wide angle camera, and a 2560×1162 display. Whatever the actual specs might be, I’m sure we’ll find out a lot more in the weeks to come. [Liliputing]

Featured image: Nexus 6 concept from AirHerald.com