Nokia could have more Android phones coming this May

Rumors of the Nokia Normandy are really heating up and soon it might just be the first of a whole pack of Android-powered phones.

Phone Arena posted a new report talking with an Artesyn Technologies source that says the Finnish phone company will have more Android phones coming this year including several higher-end models.

Supposedly this new slew of phones powered by Google's mobile OS will be revealed sometime between May and June. The source says the phones will come at different price points but there's no word if it will be able to reach the Play Store unlike the Normandy.

Shuffling technology around

The Phone Arena report goes on to say that Microsoft has put Nokia through the chop shop, leaving its new acquisition with the low-end Asha and feature phone departments.

Meanwhile, teams involved with Nokia's more notable hardware bits including PureView Cameras, HAAC microphones, and ClearBlack displays have been moved to Redmond.

Taking these technology shifts into account, its possible that a majority of Nokia's Android phones could come as budget handsets with the Asha overlay – essentially a faux-smartphone tiled, touchscreen interface.

Nokia's Android pathfinder

Thus far, the only Android Nokia handset we know about is the Normandy. The phone set to make its debut at MWC 2014 and its already shaping up to be an abnormal little droid.

Instead of accessing the Play Store, Microsoft plans to supply the handset with their own apps such as Here maps and Mix radio, and Nokia's own shop of Android apps.

Its already odd enough to see the Microsoft-owned company putting anything but a Windows Phone OS on just one of its handset, but we'll let you know if we spot any other goodies from Nokia featuring Google's green bot.

• Nokia might have some kind of Android, but the Motorola Moto G has KitKat, check it out in our revie

SlingPlayer flings itself to Roku, Windows 8.1 app coming next month

SlingPlayer users worried that the company's acquisition by Dish parent EchoStar might be stunting its growth will be happy to hear that the latest app updates actually expand its horizons.

Sling Media announced availability of SlingPlayer 3.0 for iOS and Android smartphones and tablets, along with the release of a dedicated Roku channel for streaming live or recorded television to even more places.

SlingPlayer 3.0 introduces a bevy of new ways to discover and view TV content from anywhere, with a redesigned user interface, split-screen navigation and richer social media engagement.

If just watching remote content wasn't enough, the SlingPlayer mobile app can now be used as a second screen companion by casting Slingbox content to a television, while the iPad can be used as both first and second screens at the same time.

New channels

Slingbox customers will also now have a couple of additional ways to view their content, with a free SlingPlayer channel for Roku 2 and higher, and an all-new app for Windows 8.1 on the way.

The Roku channel is also compatible with the Roku Streaming Stick, and Sling Media plans to add support for Roku HD and Roku LT models later in November.

Slingbox content can be sent from your TV to another using the Roku player, while the SlingPlayer mobile app can be used as a full remote control for changing channels or accessing the guide or DVR.

The dedicated SlingPlayer for Windows 8.1 app will debut in December with full compatibility for tablets including Surface 2 as well as desktop or laptop PCs and convertible devices.

• Six inches of fun? Find out in our hands-on review of the Nokia Lumia 1520!