BGR called for the death of the “phablet” this past February when we reviewed Samsung’s mammoth Galaxy Note, but the market has spoken loud and clear. End-user sales of Samsung’s first true smartphone-tablet hybrid topped 5 million units within about five months, placing Samsung well on its way to achieving the company’s goal of selling 10 million units in 2012. According to a new report from market research firm ABI, Samsung’s Galaxy Note is just the beginning.

Shipments of smartphone-tablet hybrids like the Samsung Galaxy Note and LG Optimus Vu will surpass 208 million handsets annually in 2015 according to a recent report published by ABI Research. We now sit at “the dawn of the phablet era” according to the firm, and 2012 will see hybrid devices launched by HTC, LG and Huawei in addition to Samsung.

“One of the chief drivers for phablets is the amount of time people use their smartphones for web browsing, reading articles and newspapers on the go, or simply navigating their journeys,” ABI analyst Joshua Flood said in a statement. “The larger screen sizes make a significant difference to the user’s experience when compared to conventional-sized touchscreens between 3.5 to 4 inches.”

ABI defines phablets as touchscreen handsets with screens that measure between 4.6 inches and 5.5 inches diagonally, and the firm says shipments of such devices will increase by 10 times in 2012 compared to last year.

OmniVision on Tuesday announced the OV16820 and OV16825 smartphone camera chips. The two sensors support up to 16-megapixels and can capture video at a 4k resolution, known as Quad Full High Definition (QFHD), at 60 frames per second. “It was an industry-wide assumption that smartphones would cut into DSC/DVC sales; but at higher resolutions, we’re seeing a very distinct divide between the two markets and both remain strong,” said Devang Patel, senior product marketing manager at OmniVision. “Industry experts have observed that mainstream DSC products are shifting to 16-megapixel resolutions and are offering improved image quality and optics. The OV16820 supports such offerings, allowing DSC/DVC manufacturers to provide consumers a high-resolution, feature-rich point and shoot photography experience, while the OV16825 provides top-tier imaging and video recording capabilities for flagship smartphones.” OmniVision’s press release follows below.

OmniVision Launches 16-Megapixel CameraChip™ Sensors For DSC/DVC and High-End Smartphone Applications

OV16820 and OV16825 Provide 16-Megapixel Burst Photography, Support Emerging 4K2K Standard in High Resolution Recording

SANTA CLARA, Calif., May 22, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — OmniVision Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: OVTI), a leading developer of advanced digital imaging solutions, today announced the OV16820 and OV16825, two 16-megapixel CameraChip sensors that support 16-megapixel burst photography and can capture 4K2K video, or Quad Full High Definition (QFHD), at 60 frames per second (FPS). Built on the high-performance 1.34-micron OmniBSI-2™ pixel architecture, the OV16820 and OV16825 were developed by OmniVision to support emerging standards in high-resolution video recording for the digital still and video camera (DSC/DVC) markets and the high-end smartphone market, respectively.

“It was an industry-wide assumption that smartphones would cut into DSC/DVC sales; but at higher resolutions, we’re seeing a very distinct divide between the two markets and both remain strong,” said Devang Patel, senior product marketing manager at OmniVision. “Industry experts have observed that mainstream DSC products are shifting to 16-megapixel resolutions and are offering improved image quality and optics. The OV16820 supports such offerings, allowing DSC/DVC manufacturers to provide consumers a high-resolution, feature-rich point and shoot photography experience, while the OV16825 provides top-tier imaging and video recording capabilities for flagship smartphones.”

The 1/2.3-inch OV16820 and OV16825 image sensors are capable of operating in full resolution (4608 x 3456) video at 30 FPS, 4K2K (3840 x 2160) video at 60 FPS, and 1080p HD video at 60 FPS with extra pixels for electronic image stabilization (EIS). Additionally, the sensors enable full resolution 16-megapixel burst photography, a critical feature for DSC applications. All required image processing functions, including defective pixel and noise canceling, RAW scaling, image size, frame rate, exposure, gain, cropping and orientation are programmable through the serial camera control bus (SCCB) interface.

The sensors are offered with industry-standard connectivity, including up to 8-lane MIPI and LVDS output interfaces for high data transfer rates. The OV16820 is available for sampling in a ceramic land grid array (CLGA) package while the OV16825 will be available in die form (RW/COB). Both are expected to enter volume production by the fourth quarter of 2012.

Analysts repeatedly harp on how important China is for Apple’s iPhone. The Cupertino, California-based consumer electronics giant’s iPhone 4S launched in China earlier this year but despite reports of continuing negotiations, China Mobile — the world’s largest telecom carrier — still does not offer Apple’s iPhone to its massive subscriber base. But as Apple continues its efforts to make headway in the world’s largest smartphone market, an underdog has reportedly taken an early lead.

According to Michel van der Bel, chief operating office at Microsoft for the Greater China region, Microsoft’s Windows Phone market share now sits at 7% in China. At last count, Apple’s share of the smartphone market in China was 6%, Emerce reports.

“We have only just begun,” van der Bel said. He continued, noting that the combination of Windows Phones and Windows 8 tablets will help Microsoft succeed in the Chinese market. “Our smartphone and tablet-pc are hybrid, making them suitable for the consumer, but also easy to insert within an existing company infrastructure. This will allow us to better anticipate the consumerization of IT than many competitors.”

The first Windows Phone-powered smartphone for the Chinese market launched less than two months ago.

[Via WMPoweruser]

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Despite some vendors seeing record smartphone sales, worldwide sales of mobile phones declined 2% year-over-year to 419.1 million units in the first quarter of 2012, according to research firm Gartner. The decline represents the first of its kind since the second quarter of 2009. “Global sales of mobile devices declined more than expected due to a slowdown in demand from the Asia/Pacific region,” said Anshul Gupta, principal research analyst at Gartner. “The first quarter, traditionally the strongest quarter for Asia – which is driven by Chinese New Year, saw a lack of new product launches from leading manufacturers, and users delayed upgrades in the hope of better smartphone deals arriving later in the year.”

In the smartphone market, Android accounted for more than half of all smartphone sales, with a 56.1% market share in the first quarter of 2012. Apple’s iOS captured second place with an increase from 16.9% in 2011 to 22.9%. “Samsung’s Android-based smartphone sales in the first quarter of 2012 represented more than 40 percent of Android-based smartphone sales worldwide,” the firm highlighted. “No other vendors achieved more than a 10 percent share of the market.” Gartner’s press release follows below.

Gartner Says Worldwide Sales of Mobile Phones Declined 2 Percent in First Quarter of 2012; Previous Year-over-Year Decline Occurred in Second Quarter of 2009

Samsung’s Android-Based Smartphone Sales in First Quarter of 2012 Represented More Than 40 Percent of Android-Based Smartphone Sales Globally; No Other Vendors Achieved More Than a 10 Percent Market Share

Egham, UK, May 16, 2012— Worldwide sales of mobile phones to end users reached 419.1 million units in the first quarter of 2012, a 2 per cent decline from the first quarter of 2011, according to Gartner, Inc. This is the first time since the second quarter of 2009 that the market exhibited a decline.

“Global sales of mobile devices declined more than expected due to a slowdown in demand from the Asia/Pacific region,” said Anshul Gupta, principal research analyst at Gartner. “The first quarter, traditionally the strongest quarter for Asia – which is driven by Chinese New Year, saw a lack of new product launches from leading manufacturers, and users delayed upgrades in the hope of better smartphone deals arriving later in the year.”

All vendors were impacted at different levels; however, white-box vendors seem to have suffered the most. While tier one players such as Nokia were negatively impacted on sell-in numbers (sold into retail), white-box vendors were unable to adjust production and were left with a build-up in inventory by the end of the quarter. Gartner expects some of this volume to be sold during the next couple of quarters, because the channel is likely to lower the prices to dispose of the stock.

“The lower results in the first quarter of 2012 have led us to be cautious about sales for the remainder of the year,” said Annette Zimmermann, principal research analyst at Gartner. “The continued roll-out of third generation (3G)-based smartphones by local and regional manufacturers such as Huawei, ZTE, Lenovo, Yulong and TCL Communication should help spur demand in China. In addition, the arrival of new products in mature markets based on new versions of the Android and Windows Phone operating systems (OSs), and the launch of the Apple iPhone 5 will help drive a stronger second half in Western Europe and North America. However, as we are starting to update our market forecast we feel a downward adjustment to our 2012 figures, in the range of 20 million units, is unavoidable.”

Samsung became the world’s top mobile handset vendor during the quarter, displacing Nokia which had held the No. 1 spot since 1998. Samsung’s mobile phone sales reached 86.6 million units (see Table 1), a 25.9 percent increase from last year. Samsung took back the world’s No. 1 smartphone position from Apple, selling 38 million smartphones worldwide. In addition, Samsung’s Android-based smartphone sales in the first quarter of 2012 represented more than 40 percent of Android-based smartphone sales worldwide; no other vendors achieved more than a 10 percent share of the market.

Sales of smartphones continued to drive mobile device market growth, reaching 144.4 million units in the first quarter of 2012, up 44.7 percent year-over-year. This quarter also saw the top two smartphone vendors, Apple and Samsung, raising their combined share to 49.3 percent, up from 29.3 percent in the first quarter of 2011, and widening their lead over Nokia – which saw its smartphone market share drop to 9.2 percent.

Nokia’s mobile handset sales reached 83.2 million units, a 22.7 percent decrease from the first quarter of 2011. “Smartphone sales are becoming of paramount importance at a worldwide level. For example, smartphone volumes contributed to approximately 43.9 per cent of overall sales for Samsung as opposed to 16 per cent for Nokia,” Mr. Gupta said.

Driven by the continued success of the iPhone 4S, Apple’s sales grew 96.2 percent in the first quarter of 2012 as the new model expanded into new markets and carriers. Sales in China were particularly strong this quarter. With more than 5 million units, China became the second-largest market for Apple after the U.S. On top of the sales through official carriers’ channels, there was an increase in transshipments from Hong Kong where volume has been growing over the past few quarters to reach a sell-in of more than 3 million units.

RIM sold 9.9 million mobile handsets in the first quarter of 2012, with its global share declining to 2.4 percent as competition increased in its international market strongholds. “RIM desperately needs to deliver winning BB10 products to retain users and stay competitive. This will be very challenging, because BB10 lacks strong developer support, and a new BB10 device will only be available in the fourth quarter of 2012,” said Mr. Gupta.

In the smartphone OS market, Android accounted for more than half of all smartphone sales (56.1 percent) in the first quarter of 2012 (see Table 2). Gartner analysts said the smartphone market has become highly commoditized and differentiation is becoming a challenge for manufacturers.

“This is particularly true for smartphones based on the Android OS, where a strong commoditization trend is at work and most players are finding it hard to break the mould,” Mr. Gupta said. “At the high end, hardware features coupled with applications and services are helping differentiation, but this is restricted to major players with intellectual property assets. However, in the mid to low-end segment, price is increasingly becoming the sole differentiator. This will only worsen with the entry of new players and the dominance of Chinese manufacturers, leading to increased competition, low profitability and scattered market share.”

Successfully launching an iconic smartphone is a daunting task, and following up a blockbuster flagship phone launch is even more difficult. Apple and Samsung might make it look easy, but companies like Motorola, Nokia and RIM have shown us that the success of one phone is anything but a guarantee that sequels will be met with the same fanfare. Perhaps no recent smartphone launch better embodies that notion than the HTC EVO 4G, a smartphone that gave Sprint a much-needed smash hit when it launched in 2010, and its successor the EVO 3D, which is now all but forgotten less than a year after its debut. Now, Sprint and HTC are back again with the HTC EVO 4G LTE, a smartphone that is more than worthy of its “flagship” designation. Impressive though it may be on paper, can Sprint score an EVO 4G-sized hit with this upcoming superphone or is it destined to meet the same fate as the EVO 3D? My full review follows below.

The Inside

HTC’s business exploded beginning in early 2011, and the company went on a run that saw it post record revenue for six consecutive months. The vendor’s growth came to a screeching halt in the fourth quarter, however, thanks to the launch of Apple’s iPhone 4S and increased competition from Samsung. HTC is well aware that it fell behind, and it is also well aware that a window may have opened; the company’s direct response to a BGR article on the matter suggests HTC is ready for battle, and on paper, the HTC EVO 4G LTE — Sprint’s branded and redesigned version of the HTC One X — is a very powerful weapon.

As is the case with AT&T’s One X, the HTC EVO 4G LTE loses NVIDIA’s quad-core Tegra 3 chipset in favor of the LTE-compatible Qualcomm Snapdragon S4, which includes a 1.5GHz dual-core Krait CPU and an Adreno225 GPU. Performance and responsiveness may or may not take a hit as a result of the change, but I did experience the same performance hiccups covered in my review of the HTC One S.

HTC’s Sense 4 UI and service layer sits atop Android 4.0.3 Ice Cream Sandwich, and it is most definitely a step in the right direction compared to previous versions of Sense. As discussed in BGR’s review of HTC’s One S for T-Mobile, Sense 4 goes back to the basics for HTC. It focuses more on adding value for the end user and less on differentiation for the sake of differentiation.

Beyond the processor and operating system, this smartphone is packed to the brim with cutting-edge technology. In terms of connectivity it includes CDMA, EV-DO, LTE, Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n with DLNA and mobile hotspot support, Bluetooth 3.0, USB 2.0 and near-field communication (NFC) support. It also features 16GB of internal storage, a microSD slot for up to 32GB of additional memory, 1GB of RAM, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a proximity sensor, a compass and plenty more.

Though the EVO 4G LTE is only 8.9 millimeters thick, HTC managed to squeeze in a 2,000 mAh battery. While I couldn’t test the device’s battery performance on Sprint’s 4G LTE network since such a thing does not exist, battery life on Wi-Fi and 2G/3G was more than ample. I was able to easily make it through a full day of moderate usage on a single charge, and after charging the phone early in the morning, I often didn’t have to plug the EVO back in until mid-way through the following day.

Typical usage during my testing included streaming music via Pandora, regularly interacting with Twitter, monitoring Reddit with Baconreader, staying on top of the news with gReader and News360, capturing a bunch of photos and some video, browsing the Web in Chrome and sending and receiving more email than any man should ever have to deal with.

The Outside

As is the case with most modern flagship phones from HTC, the EVO 4G LTE’s build is second to none. Barring one area that I will soon cover at length, HTC used top-notch materials on the EVO and the result is a solid smartphone that feels like a premium product should.

The display and capacitive navigation buttons on the HTC EVO 4G LTE are covered with Gorilla Glass by Corning, and a front-facing 1.3-megapixel camera sits above the top of the screen alongside the ear speaker. Calls on the EVO were loud and clear, and people I spoke to during my tests had no complaints whatsoever regarding call quality.

The display on this smartphone is very impressive. HTC opted for a Super LCD2 panel that squeezes high-definition 720 x 1,280-pixel resolution into display that measures 4.7-inches diagonally, and the result is a pixel density of 312 ppi. It’s a beautiful display.

While the clarity isn’t on par with the likes of Apple’s Retina display on the iPhone, it is certainly among the most impressive I’ve seen on a smartphone. Images and high-definition video look fantastic on the EVO 4G LTE’s screen, and UI elements are impressive as well. Colors aren’t quite as deep as they are on the Super AMOLED panel HTC used in the One S, but the higher resolution is well worth the trade off.

The right side of the phone contains a volume rocker and a dedicated two-stage camera shutter button — something that is noticeably absent from AT&T’s version of the One X — and the left edge of the phone is home only to a microUSB port. The top of the new EVO includes a power button, a secondary microphone for noise cancellation and a standard audio jack, while the bottom contains the primary mic. On the back of the smartphone sits a loudspeaker, a camera, a single LED flash and a red aluminum kickstand.

The bulk of the case is made of anodized aluminum, but HTC added a twist to its design that we have not seen before on any smartphone. The unibody aluminum part of the case is anodized in black across the entirety of its exterior surface, but then the anodized layer is ground away in a thin strip around the outer edge of the phone. The result is a sleek black case with red accents on the back, and then a brushed aluminum band around the outer edge of the phone.

It’s an interesting idea that might have made for a fantastic looking smartphone had HTC not used a glossy black plastic piece to cover the top half of the back of the EVO 4G LTE.

The Upside

I had a great deal of praise for HTC’s fourth major iteration of Sense when I reviewed the One S for T-Mobile recently, and Sprint’s EVO 4G LTE keeps the experience surprisingly pure.

“Sprint Zone” is the only carrier-branded application you’ll find on this smartphone out of the box, and it can hardly be categorized as annoying, intrusive or “bloatware.” Quite to the contrary, the app offers a single hub through which users can access account management features, app recommendations, a Sprint store locator and plenty more. In theory, this is great. In practice, the first time I tried to access anything through Sprint Zone (the Manage Your Account link), the app froze, couldn’t be killed using the EVO’s built-in task manager, and remained useless until I rebooted.

Beyond Sprint Zone and a visual voicemail app, the EVO 4G LTE experience is essentially exactly as HTC intended it. HTC dialed Sense 4 back a bit after taking user feedback to heart. The result is an attractive user interface that adds unique visual elements to Google’s Android 4 Ice Cream Sandwich UI, a suite of custom apps and a series of great features that enhance Android.

Samsung will push the envelope further with the launch of the Galaxy S III this summer, but HTC’s subtle functionality automation tweaks really add to the overall user experience where daily operation is concerned. The examples I mentioned in my One S review are still among my favorite: a simple setting has Sense greet users with the weather forecast each morning on the lock screen, another setting that automatically enables speakerphone mode when the phone is placed face-down on a table during a call and disables it when the phone is picked back up, and so on.

Moving past the software, the display on the EVO 4G LTE is another bright spot for this flagship phone.

In the television industry, display quality is everything. Vendors strive to outdo each other, and later this year we will see Samsung and LG push things to the next level when they release their debut 55-inch OLED TVs. Of course display quality will never be as important to smartphones as it is to TVs, for obvious reasons, but I believe we are quickly approaching a time when picture quality will be regularly named among users’ top priorities when choosing a device.

Samsung and Apple are clear leaders in this space right now. Apple’s Retina display on the iPhone 4S offers unrivaled clarity and Samsung’s Super AMOLED panels feature vivid colors that no other screen even approaches. Competitors are regularly narrowing the gap, however, and HTC can certainly be counted among the smartphone players that have recognized the importance of display quality on phones.

HTC’s One S utilized a Super AMOLED display panel on while the color reproduction is definitely more impressive, the Super LCD2 panel on the EVO is outstanding. Colors are often a bit more faint compared to AMOLED displays, but the clarity is where this screen shines. Compared to panels on HTC’s previous-generation smartphones, the EVO 4G LTE’s 720p high-definition display is clearer and brighter, and it really does have a significant impact on the user experience.

The camera and Beats Audio are two more big check marks in the plus column for this phone. The EVO 4G LTE sports an 8-megapixel camera with an f/2.0 wide-angle lens, and it is powered by a dedicated chip. It can capture 8-megapixel still images while recording 1080p HD video at 60 frames per second, and it can also shoot multiple full-resolution images per second in burst mode.

HTC’s camera on the new EVO can capture an 8-megapixel image and then return to a ready state in less than a second. The camera app in Sense also includes a number of Instagram-like photo filters that can be previewed in real-time, and having a dedicated two-stage shutter button makes the camera experience even better than it is on AT&T’s version of the One X.

Beats Audio works across all music apps on the EVO 4G LTE, as it does on all One-series phones, and it may very well offer the most impressive listening experience among all smartphones on the market. Beats tuning enhanced sound quality across every genre I played from my own catalog during testing, and it dramatically improves the listening experience with streaming apps like Pandora and Spotify as well.

The Downside

As impressed as I have been with the overall user experience offered by the HTC EVO 4G LTE, two gigantic road blocks lie between me and any possibility of an enthusiastic recommendation to run out and buy this phone when Sprint releases it in the near future.

First things first: it’s hideous.

I’ll elaborate — from the front, the new EVO is a great looking phone. It basically looks like any other full touchscreen handset. Tilting the device to its side exposes the brushed metal detailing that surrounds the outer edge of the phone, which is a unique feature that might help separate this phone from the pack. Flip the phone over to expose its back, however, and the fun is over.

HTC uses various plastics on the exterior casing that surrounds its many phone models. AT&T’s One X utilizes a sleek polycarbonate, and a number of other devices feature a soft-touch rubbery finish that feels great in the hand. I enjoy either of those options.

The EVO 4G LTE includes two plastics on the exterior of the device. Near the bottom of the back, there is a narrow hard plastic area near the speaker that nearly matches the aluminum finish above it. It breaks up the lines a bit, but it works. Above the aluminum region that sits near the middle of the back of the phone lies a red aluminum strip that houses the device’s kickstand. It’s not my cup of tea but there are definitely people who will enjoy this design element.

Then comes the cheap, glossy, flimsy, grease magnet of a plastic cover that houses the antennas and covers the microSD card slot.

During the week I have spent with the EVO 4G LTE, I asked more than a dozen friends, family and random people of varying ages for their initial impressions of this smartphone. Without exception, a complaint about the appearance of the handset was among the first few comments made, and it was often accompanied by an expression that might involuntarily cross one’s face after taking a big swig of milk that spoiled a month earlier.

I honestly have no idea who the look of the EVO 4G LTE might appeal to.

Why HTC chose this finish is beyond me, because the soft-touch finish found on other HTC models would have looked great here. I sincerely hope Sprint enlists the help of some top-notch protective case designers and offers a wide variety of high-quality third-party cases in its stores across the country, because something needs to be done to cover the back of this phone.

My other major qualm with this smartphone involves data speeds. Painfully slow data speeds.

T-Mobile and AT&T get jabbed constantly for marketing their HSPA+ networks as “4G.” In these cases, a matter of marketing is at the root of the debate and data speeds are typically more than adequate.

In the case of the EVO 4G LTE, Sprint is actually selling a device with “4G LTE” in its name and no 4G LTE network to support it. Sprint will roll out its LTE network over the next 18 months or so, but in the meantime, I spent a week testing a “4G LTE” phone with download speeds that averaged less than 1Mbps.

And as an aside, that name — ”HTC EVO 4G LTE” — is a horrible one. Enough with “4G” and “LTE” in phone names, carriers.

The Bottom Line

When it launches in the near future — the phone was supposed to be released on May 18th but a delay caused by a patent spat between HTC and Apple has left things up in the air — the HTC EVO 4G LTE will easily be one of the most impressive flagship smartphones Sprint has ever released. And one of the ugliest. And one of the slowest.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but I truly have no idea who might look at the back of the HTC EVO 4G LTE and think to him or herself, “now this is one gorgeous smartphone.” In my unscientific study, I did not find a single person who liked the look of this phone. Instead, each and every person I handed the device to said it was “ugly,” “gross,” “nasty,” or “hideous” without any provocation.

Aesthetics are open to discussion but performance is not. This smartphone, which includes the term “4G LTE” in its name, is the slowest flagship device I have tested in recent memory. Compared to Verizon Wireless and AT&T’s LTE networks or even T-Mobile and AT&T’s HSPA networks, the data speeds I experienced while testing the EVO 4G LTE were simply pathetic.

Of course this phone is slow, you might say to yourself. Sprint hasn’t yet begun to roll out its next-generation 4G LTE network!

This is indeed the case, and while Sprint is under immense pressure to catch up in terms of network technology, launching the EVO 4G LTE without any 4G LTE network to support it — and having the audacity to include “4G LTE” in the device’s name — is putting the cart before the horse at best. At worst, it’s disingenuous.

The simple truth is that most customers who consider purchasing the “EVO 4G LTE” will do so with the belief that the phone will come alongside “4G LTE” service. For early adopters, this will not be the case. In fact, even months from now as 2012 rolls into 2013, a huge chunk of Sprint’s nationwide network will still not support LTE service.

At $199.99 on contract, the EVO 4G LTE offers a user experience that is second to none… as long as you cover it with a third-party case and stay within range of a Wi-Fi network. If you would prefer to roam about freely and maintain fast data speeds, or if you shudder at the thought of ruining the handset’s 8.9-millimeter thick profile with a bulky case, looking elsewhere might be the best option.

Purported details surrounding an unannounced high-end smartphone from LG have emerged alongside a leaked image, possibly revealing LG’s upcoming flagship smartphone intended to take on the Samsung Galaxy S III and HTC’s One X. BriefMobile on Thursday published an image of the LG LS970, rumored to launch on Sprint in the coming months as the LG Eclipse 4G LTE. According to accompanying specifications obtained from an unnamed source, the Eclipse will compete directly with high-end flagship phones from other vendors including the new Samsung Galaxy S III as well as the HTC One X and EVO 4G LTE. Highlights include a 4.67-inch, 1,280 x 768-pixel LCD display, a quad-core 1.5GHz Snapdragon S4 processor, a 13-megapixel camera, 16GB of internal storage, 2GB of RAM, a 2,100 mAh battery and a case that is just 8.6 millimeters thick. No information regarding a possible launch time frame was provided.

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As Samsung and Apple continue to sue each other all over the world, Apple has repeatedly asserted that the South Korea-based vendor builds “copycat” devices that make unlawful use of Apple’s patents and steal elements of Apple’s designs. Only one court has wholeheartedly agreed with Apple’s claims thus far, but the battles continue and will likely carry on for quite some time despite renewed settlement talks. An image of a new Samsung smartphone was published on Wednesday evening and while the specs that leaked alongside the unannounced device may or may not be accurate, one thing is certain: Apple will never claim Samsung copied its designs with this smartphone.

A photograph of the Samsung SPH-L300 smartphone was published by BriefMobile on Wednesday, and the handset reportedly features a dual-core Snapdragon processor, 1GB of RAM, 4GB of internal storage, a WVGA display, a 5-megapixel camera, 4G LTE and a design that is a substantial departure from Samsung’s typical styling in a number of ways.

For one thing, the device’s capacitive Android navigation buttons appear to be etched into the plastic case beneath the display. For another, the look of the smartphone is a blatant ripoff of HTC’s design aesthetic. Replace the etched Ice Cream Sandwich buttons with a trackball, and the yet-to-be-released SPH-L300 could definitely be mistaken for the 28-month-old Nexus One. Even without any changes, this handset could easily be mistaken for any one of a dozen old HTC phones.

HTC has bigger concerns right now, and a door through which it might walk, so we doubt we’ll see any lawsuits pop up over the striking similarities between this upcoming Samsung phone and its older handsets, even though “other designs are possible.”

The number of people accessing the Web through mobile devices has doubled since 2010 and now accounts for 10% of worldwide Internet usage. According to numbers compiled by Pingdom, Asia’s mobile usage amounted for 17.84% of the country’s total Internet usage, a 192.5% increase over the past 18 months. Africa’s mobile usage placed the region in second with 14.85%, usage in North America sat at 7.96%, followed by Australia, Europe and South America at 7.55%, 5.13% and 2.86% respectively. Pingdom notes that while worldwide mobile usage may only account for 10% of Web access, the number is growing at an extremely fast rate, and some countries’ Internet usage, such as India, is already nearing 50% from mobile devices.

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Rovio on Wednesday announced that its Angry Birds franchise has surpassed one billion downloads across Android, iOS, Windows and Mac OS X, with 350 million downloads having been served in 2012 alone. The latest Birds installment, Angry Birds Space, was downloaded more than 10 million time in less than three days and a whopping 50 million times in 35 days, making it the fastest growing mobile game of all time. The immensely popular franchise generated $106 million for the company in 2011 and drew in 200 million active monthly users. Rovio’s video announcement follows below.

Sprint on Wednesday announced that its upcoming flagship Android smartphone, the HTC EVO 4G LTE, will become available on May 18th for $199.99 on contract. While Sprint doesn’t yet have a nationwide 4G LTE network to support the new One-series smartphone, subscribers will find plenty of cutting-edge technology to tide them over until Sprint begins flipping the switch on LTE. Key features of the new phone include a 4.7-inch 720p HD display, a dual-core 1.2GHz Snapdragon processor, an 8-megapixel camera with HTC’s Image Sense technology, and Sense 4 atop Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. BGR took a hands-on look at the EVO 4G LTE last month and called it an impressive smartphone with an aesthetic that may be a deal-breaker for some. Sprint’s full press release follows below.

Sprint Debuts HTC EVO 4G LTE on May 18 for $199.99

HTC EVO 4G LTE is now available for pre-order at www.sprint.com/evo4glte

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (BUSINESS WIRE), May 09, 2012 – Sprint (NYSE: S), the only national wireless carrier offering truly unlimited data for all phones while on the Sprint network1, and HTC, a global designer of smartphones, announce the Friday, May 18, availability of the next evolution of the award-winning HTC EVO™ family, HTC EVO™ 4G LTE.

It will cost $199.99 with a new line of service or eligible upgrade and two-year service agreement (excludes taxes). Pre-order began May 7 at www.sprint.com/evo4glte.

“HTC EVO 4G LTE sets the benchmark for Android devices this year with its incredible 4.7-inch screen, advanced camera features and future HD voice capabilities when combined with the speed of Sprint’s upcoming 4G LTE network,” said Fared Adib, vice president-Product Development, Sprint. “Its cutting-edge technology pairs perfectly with Sprint’s unlimited data plans to let our customers enjoy their wireless experience without worrying about overage charges or throttling.”

HTC EVO 4G LTE is built on Android™ 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich, integrated with HTC Sense™ 4. It focuses on exceptional improvements in camera technology, audio and voice quality on both the network and device.

HTC ImageSense™ brings improvements to every part of the amazing camera experience featuring a superfast autofocus to enable continuous shooting, the ability to capture still images while taking video, and increasing the quality of photos taken in adverse conditions such as low light, no light or with bright backlighting.

HTC EVO 4G LTE is Sprint’s first device with HTC’s Authentic Sound experience integrating Beats Audio™. The technology enables customers to hear music the way the artist intended with unique audio tuning that delivers thundering bass, soaring midrange and crisp highs. Beats Audio is enabled across the entire phone experience, including playing music stored on the device, streaming from a favorite service, watching a movie or YouTube™ video, or playing the latest hot game.

HTC EVO 4G LTE boasts brilliant features, including a vibrant 4.7-inch HD display, future HD voice capabilities2, 2000mAh embedded battery and 8-megapixel rear-facing and 1.3-megapixel front-facing cameras. It is powered by the Snapdragon™ S4 processor by Qualcomm, delivering best-in-class performance and a power efficient platform for exceptionally long battery life. HTC EVO 4G LTE brings back the fan-favorite kickstand built into the smartphone’s refined, slim design.

“With the HTC EVO 4G LTE, we’re launching a true successor the original EVO, bringing a focus on innovation, design and industry-leading consumer experiences,” said Martin Fichter, vice president, product management, HTC America. “The millions of current and new EVO fans will appreciate our amazing camera that’s superfast, easy-to-use and takes video and photos at the same time as well as our enhanced audio experience that you need to hear to believe.”

Respected device critics are buzzing with excitement for HTC EVO 4G LTE. Here are a few of the praises that poured in when it was announced earlier this month:

“The HTC EVO 4G LTE is a good looking phone and will make fans of Sprint’s EVO line very, very happy. It packs every spec anyone could possibly ask for: dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor, 8-megapixel camera, 4.7-inch HD display, and the latest Android 4.0 operating system, enhanced by Sense 4.0. Oh, let’s not forget the kickstand!” – Eric Zeman, Phonescoop

“The original superphone has been reborn.” – Mark Spoonauer, Laptop Magazine

“As for first impressions, I was shocked when I finally got to hold an EVO 4G LTE. In the presentation videos the phone looked thick and bulky. In person, it’s anything but. It is thin, deceptively lightweight and absolutely beautiful.” – Gary Krakow, TheStreet.com

“Yesterday Sprint and HTC made a joint announcement, unveiling the brand new EVO 4G LTE. It’s an impressive device. Thin, light, fast, powerful, the whole package.” – Steve Kovach, Business Insider

HTC EVO 4G LTE customers can enjoy an unlimited data experience with Sprint Everything Data plans. Sprint’s Everything Data plan with Any Mobile, AnytimeSM includes unlimited Web, texting and calling to and from any mobile in America while on the Sprint Network, starting at just $79.99 per month for smartphones – a savings of $40 per month versus Verizon’s comparable plan with unlimited talk, text and 2GB Web, or $10 per month savings versus Verizon’s 450-minute plan with unlimited text and 2GB Web (excludes taxes and surcharges).

HTC EVO 4G LTE is one of the first devices available with Sprint Professional Grade, a new designation for select smartphones that deliver enhanced security, device management and Exchange Active Sync capabilities to business users. Click here to learn more about Sprint Professional Grade designation.

As part of the HTC EVO 4G LTE launch, Sprint will be giving customers a chance to share their LOVE on Facebook. To learn how you could enter for the chance to win UNLIMITED LOVE, make sure to visit Sprint’s Facebook page on May 18 for details.

Sprint recently announced Atlanta, Baltimore, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City and San Antonio are expected to have 4G LTE and enhanced 3G service in mid-year. The anticipated launch of these large metropolitan areas demonstrates the continued commitment by Sprint to invest in its network through Network Vision. Sprint customers in these areas will soon enjoy ultra-fast data speeds and improved 3G voice quality. For the most up-to-date details on Sprint’s 4G LTE rollout, please visit www.sprint.com/4GLTE.

Sprint’s director of consumer acquisition, David Owens, said at the CTIA Wireless trade show on Tuesday that he’s “still bullish on Apollo,” possibly indicating the nation’s third-largest carrier plans to soon offer a wider selection of Windows Phone devices, PCMag reported. Owens at CES in January said the network’s only Windows Phone handset, the HTC Arrive, hadn’t “done well enough for us to jump back into the fire.” He did say, however, that Sprint would look into Windows Phone 8, known as Apollo, in the “August-September time period.” When asked about Samsung’s Galaxy S III, Owens said the carrier was “very pleased with the success of the Galaxy S II,” but he would not give further details about Samsung’s next-generation flagship phone. Owens did say that Sprint plans to release “12-15 LTE devices” between now and the end of the year, including smartphones, tablets, USB modems and hotspots. So far, the company has announced the Samsung Galaxy Nexus, LG Viper and the HTC EVO 4G LTE.

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Apple on Monday filed litigation that narrows the number of patent infringement claims against Samsung by roughly half, and Samsung five hours later offered to drop five of its twelve asserted patents, FOSS Patents reported. The South Korean manufacturer has argued that Apple’s case is still far too big to go to trial later this summer, and wants the  the iPhone-maker to drop additional claims. The Cupertino-based company has accused Samsung of being uncooperative, claiming the company became the number one smartphone vendor in the world by copying and infringing on its technology, and is seeking billions of dollars in damages. Samsung responded, stating that its smartphones and tablets contain “innovative, independently developed technologies.” If a settlement is not reached, a trial between the two companies is scheduled to begin in July.

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AT&T Mobility CEO Ralph de la Vega said he feels good about the future of the company’s shared family data plans. “I’m very comfortable with the plan that will be offered to our customers,” de la Vega told CNET at the CTIA Wireless trade show. The comments mark a 180-degree reversal from previous statements the CEO made in January. De la Vega had said the company had run into complications over IT and billing issues, as well as complications regarding how the carrier would subsidize devices. “We want to make sure we get it right,” he said in January. A shared data plan would allow families to buy a larger bucket of data that can be shared by multiple devices, like a pool of voice minutes. The executive wouldn’t comment further on specifics and only said plans will be available in the coming months, though AT&T may be looking to beat Verizon Wireless to the punch.

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Research In Motion on Tuesday named two new executives as the shake-up atop its organization continues. Recently-appointed chief executive officer Thorsten Heins said during his first day on the job that finding a new marketing boss and making drastic changes to the company’s marketing strategy were top priorities for the struggling smartphone maker. While the company’s marketing efforts have yet to pay off — though it does seem to be trying new things, at least — a new chief marketing officer has now been named. Frank Boulben, former executive vice president of strategy, marketing and sales for LightSquared, has been appointed CMO effective immediately, and joining him is new chief operating officer, Kristian Tear, who comes from Sony Mobile where he was the company’s executive vice president. “Kristian and Frank bring extensive knowledge of the rapidly changing wireless global market and will help RIM as we sharpen our focus on delivering long-term value to our stakeholders,” RIM CEO Thorsten Heins said in a statement. “Most importantly, both Kristian and Frank possess a keen understanding of the emerging trends in mobile communications and computing.”

When asked about the slow roll-out of updates for its Android-powered smartphones and tablets, AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson claimed Google was at fault and the carrier could do nothing about it. “Google determines what platform gets the newest releases and when,” the executive said. “A lot of times, that’s a negotiated arrangement and that’s something we work at hard. We know that’s important to our customers. That’s kind of an ambiguous answer because I can’t give you a direct answer in this setting.” The Mountain View-based company has fired back, however, and said the CEO’s statements are not accurate. 

“Mr. Stephenson’s carefully worded quote caught our attention and frankly we don’t understand what he is referring to. Google does not have any agreements in place that require a negotiation before a handset launches,” a Google spokesperson told 9To5Google. “Google has always made the latest release of Android available as open source at source.android.com as soon as the first device based on it has launched. This way, we know the software runs error-free on hardware that has been accepted and approved by manufacturers, operators and regulatory agencies such as the FCC. We then release it to the world.”

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