Prime

There’s leaks, and then there’s this. @evleaks has posted a full, rotating render of the HTC M8 Prime. The Prime is rumored to have updated specs and a larger design in order to better compete with the LG G3, rumored Galaxy S5 Prime, and a larger iPhone later this year. The full render is included after the break.
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Following various leaks and rumors, BGR has obtained a photo of Amazon’s upcoming smartphone. While the device itself is still a month or more away from being officially unveiled, the above image is the first to show off the device without a protective case obscuring the design.

The device itself is similar in appearance to the Nexus 4, which received praise for its understated design. As Amazon’s phone will likely compete on price, it isn’t a surprise that its materials will shy away from the flashy metallic materials of devices like the iPhone or the HTC One M8.
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The Galaxy S5 may have just hit store shelves and the hands of users, but it seems as if Samsung is already planning an upgraded version of its flagship device. According to a report from SamMobile (via Phandroid), the Galaxy S5 Prime will launch in June. In addition to the quad-HD (2560×1440) display, the device would also feature higher-end specs than the Galaxy S5:
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Update:  Amazon has now said that the phone won’t be launched this year, and it won’t be free. “We have no plans to offer a phone this year, and if we were to launch a phone in the future, it would not be free,” Amazon said in a statement to AllThingsD.

According to Jessica Lessin and Amir Efrati, Amazon is considering making its upcoming, long-rumored smartphone available to consumers free of charge. However, it is unclear what strings are attached to the deal:

There are many unanswered questions about the plan and what strings will be attached for customers. One of them is whether Amazon would require its  smartphone owners to pay for services such as Amazon Prime, the company’s loyalty program. But the people familiar with the matter said that Amazon wants the device to be free whether or not people sign up for a new wireless plan at the same time. (Wireless carriers typically discount the price of devices if customers sign up for a one- or two-year wireless contract.)

A launch date for the device is currently unclear. Like with the Kindle Fire tablets, past reports have suggested that the Amazon phone will run on a forked version of Google’s Android operating system.

Earlier this year, reports emerged with claims that Amazon is working on a bevy of products, including a phone with a 3D display, and various audio/media center devices. Amazon’s hardware development division for these products is (like Apple) situated in Cupertino.

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In a move to combat Amazon’s dominance in the delivery of physical products, Google is said to be in talks with “major retailers and shippers” to create their own rival service, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal. The companies that are reportedly considering partnering with Google — Macy’s, OfficeMax, and Gap Inc– are some of the same that recently signed up to integrate the company’s Google Wallet NFC platform into their retail locations. Google’s service will compete directly with Amazon’s Prime, which offers same-day or next-day shipping on all of their products.

Google plans to meld an existing product-search feature that directs shoppers to retail websites with a new quick-shipping service that the Internet giant will oversee. The quick-shipping service will be based on a Google behind-the-scenes system that allows shoppers to figure out whether stores have a product in stock and that allows them to find out whether they can get that product shipped to them within a day.

Amazon has seen huge success with their $79 a year Prime program. Not only do customers get expedited shipping on products, but get added bonuses on Amazon’s Kindle Fire when it comes to media downloads and their MP3 store. The report mentions that Google has talked to UPS to also partner in the program.

It’s not clear if the program will cost a subscription fee like Amazon Prime, or if it will be offered free through the help of their partnerships. Google seems to like to stick with the free model more than anything, so I wouldn’t discount the possibility.

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We got our first peek at the potential of the upcoming Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime when it was benchmarked late last week, but today Asus has officially announced the world’s first quad-core Nvidia Tegra 3-powered Android tablet.

While the 1.3GHz quad-core Tegra 3 processor with 12-core GeForce® GPU is definitely the star of the show, the rest of its insides are just as impressive. Transformer Prime will include a 10.1-inch SuperIPS+ Gorilla Glass display, 1GB RAM, 8-megapixel main cam w/ LED flash (1.2 front), microSD slot, microHDMI, and come in 32GB and 63GB variants. Asus is also promising 12 hours from the tablet and 18 hours when docked.

If you’re familiar with the Transformer Prime’s predecessor, the new model utilizes the same concept by allowing you to transform from tablet mode into a notebook form factor by docking the main tablet device into an optional keyboard dock ($149). When it comes to the new design, the backside of the Transformer Prime sports a “metallic swirl design”, a hydro-oleophobic coating on the display to prevent fingerprints, and will come in two colors– Champagne gold and amethyst grey.

Its measurements are equally as impressive coming in at 8.3mm, thinner than both the iPad 2 and Galaxy Tab 8.9, and other than the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, it’s the lightest Android tablet in the 10-inch category at 586 grams.

The device was originally supposed to debut on November 9th, but word has it we’ll have to wait until December to pick one up. While the delay was originally thought to be in anticipation of an Ice Cream Sandwich release, today’s press release confirms the device will ship with Android 3.2 (with an ICS update shortly after). You’ll be able to grab it for $499 (32GB) or $599 (64GB) when it finally lands. More images and full press release after the break.

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In a move that might drive more e-book-only tablet users to Amazon (opposed to iBooks or elsewhere), Amazon has announced a new book borrowing service called “Kindle Lending Library”.  The move is said to encourage Prime subscriptions, which are required for the service, but could be part of Amazon’s larger strategy as the $199 Kindle Fire prepares to enter the tablet market. Either way,

The service will allow users to borrow from a selection of approximately 5,000 books (up to one a month) that have been enabled for lending by the publisher. You’ll be able to return the book at any time without due dates, and bookmarks and highlights will be saved in the event you borrow or purchase the book in the future. Included in the available content will be 100 current and previous New York Times bestsellers.

Not so fast if you’re hoping to borrow books on your non-Kindle tablet, however. The service will only be made available to owners of an eligible Kindle device that are also Amazon Prime subscribers. A Prime membership is currently going for $79 per year, a pricey ask for just the book borrowing service if you’re not planning on taking advantage of the 10,000 movies and tv shows, and free two-day shipping available to Prime users. The good news is the $199 Kindle Fire will come bundled with one free month of Prime.

It appears Amazon hasn’t entirely convinced publishers of the long-term benefits of the service, as they note in the press release they are actually ” purchasing a title each time it is borrowed by a reader” to provide a “no-risk trial” for publishers:

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A few minutes early from This is my next who obtained an official press release, Samsung has officially announced one of the most anticipated devices of the year: the Galaxy Nexus. The Galaxy Nexus is the flagship Android device to run Google’s next version of Android, Android 4.o — aka Ice Cream Sandwich. The Galaxy Nexus is packing specs wise, featuring a 4.65-inch (1280 x 720) 720P HD Super AMOLED display, a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, and Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich.

Storage wise the device comes in a 16GB or 32GB version. The device features a 5-megapixel rear-facing camera (1o80p at 30FPS) and 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera. As it goes for connectivity the device features Bluetooth 3.0, USB, Wi-Fi, and NFC — which will hopefully have Wallet enabled.

We’re hearing the device features Google+ integration inside, but we’re sure that has to do more with Ice Cream Sandwich.

The device features the curved design that was rumored, making the Prime 8.94mm thick and 135g in weight. The device also features a barometer! We’re waiting for some official press shots, so hang tight until the event begins.

The Galaxy Nexus lands in November in U.S., Europe, and Asia, but no carriers have been announced