Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 10.1 and Galaxy Tab 3 8.0 specs surface

Detailed specifications of two upcoming Samsung tablets have just surfaced. The third generation of the Galaxy Tab mid-range lineup will feature a couple of slates armed with a 10.1" and an 8" display, respectively. Interestingly, the picture that came along with the leak confirms the hardware home button, which is still unusual for Android slates.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 10.1

The Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 10.1 will run on Andrdoid 4.1 Jelly Bean and will be powered by a 1.5GHz dual-core CPU and will have 1GB of RAM. That might as well be a typo as the Galaxy Tab 3 8.0 is said to have 2 gigs of operating memory. Unfortunately, earlier reports of a 2560 x 1600 pixel display weren't confirmed and the new rumors point to a resolution of just 1280 x 800 pixels.

The Galaxy Tab 3 10.1 will reportedly have 16GB of internal memory, which will be expandable through the microSD card slot. Connectivity options will include Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi, standard microUSB port and, depending on the version, HSPA or LTE. Power will be supplied by a 7,000 mAh battery, while imaging will be taken care of by a 3MP main camera and a 1.3MP front-facing snapper.

The larger of the two upcoming slates will reportedly measure 256.7 x 175.3 x 8.7 mm and weigh just 533g. That will make it both thinner and lighter than the Galaxy Note 10.1, which is the current Samsung flagship tablet.

Galaxy Tab 3 8.0

Moving on to the Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 8.0, we learn that it will feature the same CPU as its bigger brother. The 8" display will have a resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels and will be your window to Android 4.1 Jelly Bean at launch.

Connectivity options and cameras are the same as on the Galaxy Tab 3 10.1, while the battery has been trimmed down to 4,500 mAh capacity. If the rumors turn out true, the Galaxy Tab 3 8.0 will be impressively slim at 6.95mm, but will weigh 330g - about the same as the Galaxy Note 8.0.

The 3G versions of the Galaxy Tab 3 duo are expected to come to the market in May, while the 4G units will go on sale in June-July. Pricing of either device is unknown at this point.

Nokia set to boost lacklustre Windows Phone 8 camera app

The Windows Phone 8 camera app is pretty basic, offering users very little in the way of options and controls - but apparently that's all set to change for Nokia users.

According to unknown sources who spoke to Unleash the Phones, the Finnish firm will roll out its Nokia Smart Camera Lens in the next update for Windows Phone 8, giving Lumia owners a greater variety of controls within the camera application.

Smart Camera Lens will bring features which we've become accustomed to on Android to the Lumia range of WP8 devices, including things such as white balance control, shutter speed and advanced camera options.

Waiting game

The source was able to provide some screenshots of the supposed lens, adding slightly more credibility to the report, although these images could have just as easily been put together in a photo editing suite.

Smart Camera Lens will be one of the new features included in Nokia's PR 2.0 update, which will also apparently include other exciting features such as "double tap to wake" and "sleeping screen-like always on clock". We are giddy with excitement.

If you're eagerly anticipating getting Smart Camera Lens on your Lumia then you may want to chill out a little, as this update is apparently not going to be ready until July at the earliest.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 could be double trouble as 8- and 10.1-inch variants leak

The sound of Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 speculation is reaching a cacophonous state and the latest leak claims to have the specs for two tablets destined for the new range.

Details turned up on Greek site Techblog which reckons it has exclusive information of the next slates to come out of the Korean firm, reporting that 8-inch and 10.1-inch models are on the way.

According to the leaked specs, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 8 will sport an 8-inch 1280 x 800 display, 1.5GHz dual-core processor, 2GB of RAM, 3MP rear camera, 1.3MP front camera, 4500mAh battery and run Android Jelly Bean.

It will apparently measure a svelte 209.6 x 112.1 x 6.95 mm - smaller than the 7.9-inch iPad mini - and weigh in at a tidy 330g, slightly heavier than its Apple counterpart.

Big brother

Over in the 10.1-inch Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 court, the larger tablet is said to pack a screen with the same resolution plus the same processor, cameras and operating system as its 8-inch brother.

RAM will apparently be dropped to 1GB, while battery is boosted to 7000mAh in the 10.1-inch version.

In terms of dimensions this edition is set to be smaller and lighter than the 9.7-inch iPad 4 - which we find hard to believe - with the leaked specs endowing the 10.1-inch Samsung with a 256.7 x 175.3 x 8.7 mm and 533g body.

If the leak is correct you'll be able to pick both tablets up in 3G and 4Gvariants, with the 3G models going on sale in May, while the superfast LTE versions will arrive in June/July.

'Worried' Samsung to embrace the metal with Galaxy Note 3?

The near-universal standing ovation offered to the HTC One's aluminium body may have convinced Samsung to up its design game, according to reports this weekend.

The Korean company may have enjoyed a series of box office smashes with its Galaxy S and Galaxy Note devices, but each has been critiqued in some capacity for their plasticky, cheap-looking designs.

Now, according to Sam Mobile sources, the company is "worried" by how the HTC One raised the stakes and plans to strike back with an improved build material for the Galaxy Note 3, rumoured for later this year.

The site wrote: "According to SamMobile's famous insider, Samsung is planning to switch build quality for the next flagship device. He pointed out that the Galaxy Note 3 will not use the design guidelines of the Galaxy S4."

Taking Note

The report didn't elaborate on which material Samsung would be choosing for the Galaxy Note 3, but with the iPhone and HTC One going with aluminium, that would clearly be the favourite.

Sam Mobile said the company had experimented with a metal Galaxy S4, which was received very well internally, but would not have allowed Samsung to mass produce enough of the device in time for launch.

The perception that Samsung phones lack the build quality of some of its rivals has helped the chasing pack cling to its coat-tails in the last 12 months.

May the smartphone gods have mercy on their souls if Samsung really decides to go high-end with its design ethos.