Breaking! Microsoft plans to replace your actual windows with Windows 8

Microsoft announces a bold new plan to remove all windows and replace them with a new product it is calling Live Tiles, which bear little resemblance to the transparant transparent you've been using to peer out at the world beyond.

In a shocking move today, Microsoft has begun a drive to remove all windows from homes around the world and replace them with what the company is dubbing “Live Tiles.” Though they are completely different than their glass predecessors, CEO Steve Ballmer claims that the Live Tiles can replace windows with “no compromises.”

Live Tiles do not open, allow for airflow, or let light in, but do come in a number of neon colors. Though they have none of the benefits of an actual window, the Tiles can display a fraction of a weather report, rotating pictures of friends, or a static picture of the outdoors. Once you’ve paid the $40 upgrade fee and your windows have been switched, the change is irreversible without a rebuild.

“What the hell?! I want my old windows back,” said disgruntled rural homeowner Andrew Couts who shelled out $40 for what Microsoft told him was an upgrade to his windows. “My home looks like a goddamn Fischer Price set. I can’t get anything done.”

Those living in older homes will not be able to directly interact with the Live Tiles, but starting today, Microsoft began selling a new line of homes specifically designed with Live Tiles in mind. Office buildings and businesses with windows will also be forced to upgrade to Live Tiles, though it took them so long to install their last set of windows that Microsoft plans to give them several years to catch up.

As part of the Live Tile rollout, stores that previously sold windows, crews trained to install windows, and companies selling window accessories will be forced to convert their operations to support the millions of Live Tiles attempting to fill the gaps where windows once stood.

Though Microsoft is attempting to eliminate windows around the world, Ballmer repeatedly referred to windows as Microsoft’s future.

“Microsoft is dedicated to windows. Windows is our past, present, and future. We’ll always make windows,” said the CEO before chanting the word “developers” several dozen times to a crowd of aging programmers and journalists. Though homes will be full of Live Tiles, Ballmer claims that Microsoft is, in fact, selling windows.

The world-wide plan to replace all windows comes after several years of testing in mobile homes. Though few mobile home owners have converted to the Tiles, the lack of voluntary adoption has only emboldened Microsoft.

Source : http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/breaking-microsoft-to-replace-all-windows-in-america-with-live-tiles/

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New photo might show Samsung Galaxy Premier

Almost ready (credit: SammyHub)

A new image showing off Samsung phone GT-I9260, otherwise known as the Galaxy Premier popped up Friday.

The photo shows a sleek little white phone and is purportedly sourced from Taiwan's National Communications Commission (NCC), an agency like the U.S.'s Federal Communications Commission.

No specs accompanied the photo, though it does provide a more full-bodied image of the phone than another leak that surfaced earlier this week.

When and where this phone will land remains a mystery, though this new revelation points to a Taiwan release happening sooner rather than later.

Premier parts

According to @evleaks, which published the week's first Premier shot, the phone will have 1GB of RAM, a microSD slot for up to 32GB of extra storage, an LED flash and Samsung's TouchWiz user interface.

It should also run Android 4.1: Jelly Bean and host Bluetooth 4.0, NFC and DLNA.

What's more, users should find a 4.65-inch HD Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 180 x 720 and an 8-megapixel camera.

The processor is pegged as a 1.5GBz dual-core chip, and the Premier will likely include Wi-Fi and 16GB of internal memory.

Depending on how Samsung prices the Premier, it could be one hot little number.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/new-photo-might-show-samsung-galaxy-premier-1107815

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Swype-like Nexus Keyboard rumored for Android event

Farewell to tap typing (credit: Geek.com)

It's the Friday before a big tech event, so that only means three things: leaks, reports and rumors.

Among the whispers are a few rumblings suggesting a new Android keyboard could make an appearance at Google's shindig in NYC Monday, perhaps as part of an Android 4.2 update.

The new keyboard is rumored to have Swype-like functionality, where users trace their finger over letters as an alternate typing method.

It is unlikely that the keyboard would actually feature Swype, which was bought last year by voice-recognition company Nuance.

Rather, it is more fitting of Google's style to update its official keyboard while Swype remains an alternative for users to choose in the Google Play store.

Nexus Keyboard not the default?

Despite the report, changing the default Android keyboard may be too large of a shift for Google, as well as for some users. Google's new keyboard may also take the form of a separate Nexus Keyboard app.

As a separate app, the rumored Nexus Keyboard would match Google's pattern of offering alternatives to its own default Android services.

Google Maps, Google Mail and most recently Google Calendar have all broken off as independent apps to offer additional features compared to Google's default counterparts.

Perhaps more importantly to note, HTC and Sony have both begun preloading Android smartphones produced by the companies with native Swype-like keyboard.

A Nexus Keyboard app would step on far fewer OEM toes than a fundamental change to the default keyboard.

The rumored Nexus Keyboard could make its debut with the frequently leaked LG Nexus 4 handset, which is expected to be one of the featured devices at the event.

A Swype-like keyboard is on TechRadar's Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie wishlist, but Google could still surprise us with a Nexus Keyboard update before the new OS surfaces.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/swype-like-nexus-keyboard-rumored-for-android-event-1107792

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Tim Cook lets loose, gets cocky during Apple’s earnings call

Tim Cook took the opportunity to spice up a generally boring earnings call event by talking some smack. Setting his aims on seven-inch tablets and Microsoft, Cook made his opinion known on his company's competition while still managing to brag about Apple's future.

Tim Cook is starting to really embrace his role as Apple’s CEO. He’s had the position for over a year now but he finally seems to be getting the hang of filling in for Steve Jobs. The past few days have shown his biggest marks of progress as he’s spewed out several almost unjustifiably cocky statements about Apple’s creations while simultaneously attacking his competition. Jobs was the master of this art and managed to set the bar rather high for his successor. One of his more famous remarks was about his well-known distain for seven-inch tablets, and today we learned that Tim Cook agrees.

Always up for a challenge, Cook decided today’s Apple earnings call would be a good place to start dropping gems of wisdom and All reports seem to point to Cook putting on quite the show for his company. Between reciting numbers about growth and doing some masterful spinning on some of the tough situations like iPhone 5 rollouts, he also managed to make time to pat himself and Apple on the back with one hand while driving a knife into the hopes of Microsoft and others. Here’s a quick round up of some of our favorite quotes from Cook’s instant classic of an earnings call.

iPad Mini Pricing

When asked about the pricing philosophy that Apple uses when deciding the cost for one of its products, specifically the iPad Mini, Cook did his best to explain how quality justifies the cost: ”One of the things we try to do is to create a product that people will love for months and years and continue using. That’s what iPad mini is designed to do.” The emphasis here should be on months if you’re an iPad owner. Everyone excited about that new Lightning connector?

It’s not seven inches

The iPad Mini has been a point of contention in Apple’s overall plan, mostly thanks to Steve Jobs’ instance in the pointlessness of that size. Presented with a question about the company’s about face on the smaller sized tablet, Cook took the opportunity to defend the product.

“We would not make one of the seven-inch tablets. We don’t think they’re good products, and we would never make one. Not just because it’s seven inches, but for many reasons. One of the reasons, however, is size. The difference in just the realistic size between 7.9, almost 8, versus 7 is 35 percent.” Feel free to fast forward to the next major Apple event where Cook brags about having the fastest selling 7.9 inch tablet on the market.

Not entirely satisfied with that answer, Cook continued to defend Apple’s little tablet. “When you look at the usable area, it is much greater than that. You know, it is from 50 percent to 67 percent. And also the iPad Mini has the same number of pixels as iPad 2 does.” If you think about it, saying the iPad Mini has the same display power as a product you essentially made obsolete in the same press conference might not be the best line of defense.

Surface tablet neither flys nor floats

Having talked enough about his own company for awhile, Cook moved to discussing Apple’s newest competitor, Microsoft. When asked about the launch of the Surface tablet and how that may change the market, Cook was quick to go on the attack. “I haven’t firstly played with the Surface yet, but what we are reading about it is that it’s a fairly compromised confusing product. …I suppose you could design a car that flies and floats, but I don’t think it would do all of those things very well.” T-Minus 5 minutes before the web blows up with rumors of an invitation to another Apple event announcing a car, and 10 minutes until rumors of an iCar Mini.

We’re not sure if this has been in Cook’s repertoire this entire time and he’s been holding back, but we hope it continues. It’s fun to see guys in Cook’s position speak with some passion and confidence is entertaining. Let’s put it this way, it takes a lot to make a call about earnings interesting to those that aren’t rolling in the profit announcements.

Source : http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/tim-cook-cooks-up-some-quotable-moments/

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LG Nexus 4's wireless charging pad looks futuristic in leaked image

Charger of the future? (credit: Phone Arena)

The LG Nexus 4 may be an even more poorly-kept secret than even Apple's iPad mini was, and that's saying something.

But one of the earliest LG Nexus 4 rumors, which surfaced in early October just a day after the LG Nexus phone was first outed, claimed that the Jelly Bean handset would support wireless charging right out of the box.

Now, we may have proof of such a feature.

On Friday, an image supposedly showing what the LG Nexus 4's wireless charging pad will look like was leaked to the internet by an "anonymous tipster."

The charger of the future

Wireless charging seems on the cusp of industry-wide adoption, with high-profile devices like the Nokia Lumia 920 and now the LG Nexus 4 apparently jumping eagerly on board.

Friday's leaked image shows a disc-shaped platform with a curved base and a rubbery-looking top surface with "nexus" etched into it.

PhoneArena, the original recipient of the image, pointed out that the supposed charging pad sort of resembles Google's Nexus Q media-streaming orb, which itself resembles some alien artifact from the Assassin's Creed video games.

It could be the real deal - or it could be a fake mock-up made by someone with too much free time.

Only the official LG Nexus 4 announcement, believed to be arriving at an Android event Monday, will tell for sure.

The wireless charging competition

However the LG Nexus 4's wireless charging accessory winds up, it'll face stiff competition in the Nokia Lumia 920 and Lumia 820's options.

Three varieties of wireless charging accessories for Nokia's Windows Phone 8 handsets are currently available for pre-order: the plate, the stand and the "Fatboy pillow."

All three options will be available in colors to match the Lumia phones themselves, including red, yellow, blue, white and black.

According to the latest reports, though, the LG Nexus 4 will only be available in black or white, so the Nokia phones may well have the advantage - aesthetically, at least.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/lg-nexus-4s-wireless-charging-pad-looks-futuristic-in-leaked-image-1107769

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Tips and tricks to insta-turn you into a better Instagrammer

While most of us love Instagram, we don't always know how to use it best. Use these tips and tricks to perfect the images you're sharing on the network, as well as improve how you're interacting within the extremely loyal Instagram community.

Instagram: For some of us, it’s an addiction. For others, it’s a marketing tool. Either way, we can all agree that the service has revolutionized photo-sharing by giving us something that’s incredibly simple, fun to use, nostalgic, and most of all social, all wrapped up in one beloved platform. Being a photo-based platform, there are ways to get better photos with your device in your quest to gain more comments and likes. Here are a couple of tips to start off.

Advanced isn’t everything

Straight out of the box, Instagram for Android provides you with its Advanced Camera setting. Head over to the menu/profile settings and turn it off. Your device’s standard capabilities are much better and also provide you with more versatility when it comes to getting a better photo.

The Advanced Instagram Camera can make composition easier for you. It can also eliminate the need for cropping your image afterward if you know exactly what you want. But just like in real photography, there is no reason to limit yourself if you want to change your creative vision later.

Android Users: Experiment with exposure

Most Android devices have exposure control settings. Users can control variables like contrast, exposure compensation, ISO, white balance, and more. Playing with these settings can help you to get better results before you apply Instagram’s filters. Let’s run through this quickly:

• Contrast: How much of a difference there is between the bright and dark areas. The more contrast, the greater a difference. It also greatly affects colors.
• Exposure compensation: Telling the camera to make the overall exposure brighter or darker.
• ISO: How sensitive the camera will be to light. It’s a good idea to usually just leave this in the Auto setting. However, if you’re taking photos of your dog, baby, or another squirmy subject that just won’t stay still, feel free to raise this up to ISO 800 or 1600.
• White balance: This changes the overall color rendition of the image without making it look monochrome or Sepia. 

Getting a better image to begin with will mean that Instagram’s filters will also do a potentially better job and you’ll get a higher quality final result.

iPhone Users: Lock it up

This is a popular technique many iOS power users love:

• Touch the screen to focus on a subject; you’ll see the blue box show up when you tap, and then hold for a second. This will lock the focus and exposure.
• Recompose the image, if need be.
• If needed, also provide a bit of fill flash.

Sometimes, a flash can provide light that is too harsh. Try putting a tissue over the light so you don’t blow out all of the lovely natural colors on your sushi plate (just a hunch).

Get creative with Instagram’s arsenal

Photography, for artists, casual users, and just about everyone in-between is all about falling in love just a little bit every day with each picture we take. With that said, you can make your images better by experimenting with all that Instagram gives you. For example, some filters are more versatile than others, but there are certain ones that were meant for specific shades of light or that look best with their included borders.

Want to make your images look like they weren’t taken with a phone? Compose your scene so that it can possibly have some sense of depth, and then apply the tilt/shift filter accordingly.

Sayonara, screenshots

It happens to the best of us: Sometimes, we can’t help but share those hilarious text or Twitter exchanges with our dear Instagram followers. But adding that Walden filter to it is a bit unnecessary – meaning, don’t do it. This just isn’t the place to share those text-moments, head over to Twitter, Facebook, or Tumblr for that. And the moment is too good not to post to Instagram, it is also well worth #nofilter.

The personal touch

Go ahead and use some hashtags, just don’t make a habit out of listing every possible topic for a photo.  No more than two or three are ever really necessary – you don’t want to be that person (see if you can spot which of the examples below completely overuses hashtags while also failing to add a caption that sounds even remotely human). Also, be sure to act like a real person; interact with other users genuinely, like you would in real life, and don’t pretend to be something you’re not (it’s okay to just take pictures of your cat or your food, just don’t wax philosophically in the comments about your artistic eye). 

Source : http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/tips-for-better-instagrams/

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HTC reports dismal Q3 profits as Samsung beats out Apple in sales

Much rests on this HTC device

Rough and tumble HTC, the Taiwanese company banking on phones like the Windows Phone 8X and recently announced J Butterfly to push it forward, announced its third quarter financials Friday.

The company reports a net profit of about $133 million (£82.6, AUD$128.5), down 79 percent from $639 million (around UK£397, AUD$617) during the same period one year ago.

Revenue stood at $2.4 billion (UK£1.49, AUD$2.31) last quarter, down from $4.64 billion (UK£2.88, AUD$4.48) last year, or a 48 percent drop.

Moving into the fourth quarter, HTC expects revenue to fall to around $2.05 billion (UK£1.27, AUD$1.98) as it struggles with an operating margine of one percent.

That leaves the firm with a pre-tax income of slightly over $20 million (UK£1.24, AUD$19.3) for Q4.

Not in Nokia's shoes

Despite the tough figures coming out of Taiwan, HTC could at least pat itself on the back for earning an IDC rank as one of the top five smartphone vendors last quarter. IDC is a market intelligence firm.

HTC, along with Samsung (No.1), Apple, RIM and ZTE all made the cut as the largest smartphone manufacturers. Nokia, on the other hand, didn't.

The Finnish company fell from No. 3 during the second quarter to not even making the top five.

Samsung claimed 31.1 percent of the market, followed by Apple at 15 percent (up from 13.8 percent a year ago).

It beat out Apple by selling 56.3 million smartphones around the world, whereas Cupertino almost hit 27 million.

RIM took 4.3 percent, a drop from 9.6 percent during the same period last year, while ZTE nabbed 4.2 percent.

HTC squeaked by with 4 percent.

Nokia also has Windows Phone 8 devices dropping on the market soon, with most eyes centered on the Lumia 920 to lead the charge.

Microsoft has offered its support for both HTC and Nokia, including both firms on invites to its WP8 kickoff event Monday.

Though both are getting some strong Washington backing, the two firms seemed poised to fight for market scraps.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/htc-reports-dismal-q3-profits-as-samsung-beats-out-apple-in-sales-1107756

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Google's upcoming Nexus 10 tablet leaks out in live images

Google's upcoming Nexus 10 slate has leaked out in live photos, confirming previous rumors for the Samsung made tablet. Set to be officially unveiled on Monday, the device packs impressive specifications, headed by a stunning 10.1" display with a iPad beating resolution of 2560x1600 pixels and a pixel density of 298.9ppi.

The Google Nexus 10 will feature a brand new dual-core Samsung Exynos 5250 chipset, whose Cortex-A15 cores run at 1.7GHz. The new silicon is reportedly faring better in benchmark scores than the quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro. The Mali -T604 GPU is also brand new - it should be able to handle the massive amount of pixels with ease. Two gigs of RAM, 16GB of non-expandable built-in memory (other options will likely be available), 5MP camera (you can check out its samples here) with front-facing companion, and full connectivity suite are also on board.

The back of the slate appears to be made of metal, while the dual-speakers at its front remind us of its Samsung roots. The tablet is said to be remarkably thin for its size.

The Google Nexus 10 will launch with Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, which will bring a number of improvements to the OS. They include improved camera UI, support for multiple user accounts, as well as quick settings bar.

The Google Nexus 10 will break cover at a Google event in New York City on Monday, October 10. We will be there live, so be sure to stick around for the full scoop on everything Android.

Source

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/googles_upcoming_nexus_10_tablet_leaks_out_in_live_images_-news-5004.php

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HTC reports Q3 profit of $133M, says disappointing period ahead

Much rests on this HTC device

Rough and tumble HTC, the Taiwanese company banking on phones like the Windows Phone 8X and recently announced J Butterfly to push it forward, announced its third quarter financials Friday.

The company reports a net profit of about $133 million (£82.6, AUD$128.5), down 79 percent from $639 million (around UK£397, AUD$617) during the same period one year ago.

Revenue stood at $2.4 billion (UK£1.49, AUD$2.31) last quarter, down from $4.64 billion (UK£2.88, AUD$4.48) last year, or a 48 percent drop.

Moving into the fourth quarter, HTC expects revenue to fall to around $2.05 billion (UK£1.27, AUD$1.98) as it struggles with an operating margine of one percent.

That leaves the firm with a pre-tax income of slightly over $20 million (UK£1.24, AUD$19.3) for Q4.

Not in Nokia's shoes

Despite the tough figures coming out of Taiwan, HTC could at least pat itself on the back for earning an IDC rank as one of the top five smartphone vendors last quarter. IDC is a market intelligence firm.

HTC, along with Samsung (No.1), Apple, RIM and ZTE all made the cut as the largest smartphone manufacturers. Nokia, on the other hand, didn't.

The Finnish company fell from No. 3 during the second quarter to not even making the top five.

Samsung claimed 31.1 percent of the market, followed by Apple at 15 percent (up from 13.8 percent a year ago). RIM took 4.3 percent, a drop from 9.6 percent during the same period last year, while ZTE nabbed 4.2 percent.

HTC squeaked by with 4 percent.

Nokia also has Windows Phone 8 devices dropping on the market soon, with most eyes centered on the Lumia 920 to lead the charge.

Microsoft has offered its support for both HTC and Nokia, including both firms on invites to its WP8 kickoff event Monday.

Though both are getting some strong Washington backing, the two firms seemed poised to fight for market scraps.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/htc-reports-q3-profit-of-133m-says-disappointing-period-ahead-1107756

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Panasonic planning European smartphone market exit, less than a year after its return

Panasonic could be planning to withdraw from the European smartphone market, despite only having rejoined at the beginning of the year. Poor sales are cited as the reason, but a lack of effort and financial problems could be closer to the mark.

A new report indicates Panasonic is considering withdrawing its range of phones from Europe, despite only having re-entered the market at the beginning of the year.

Having previously left Europe in 2005, so it could concentrate on sales at home, Panasonic announced its return in February, and showed off its new handsets during Mobile World Congress. A Reuters report says it wanted to sell 1.5 million phones this year, but it’s unlikely to reach this figure, prompting talk of a withdrawal.

It placed its hopes on two phones, the Eluga and the Eluga Power. The former is an Android 2.3 Gingerbread phone with a 4.3-inch touchscreen, and a 1.2GHz, dual-core Texas Instruments processor. Despite boasting a slim, 7.8mm chassis and an attractive, waterproof body, this specification barely provided the phone with the power to compete with devices from Samsung, Apple and HTC.

The Eluga Power could have been a bigger success, as it has a 5-inch, high definition touchscreen, a dual-core Snapdragon S4 chip, Android 4.0 and IP57 water and dust proofing. A true competitor to the Galaxy Note, then.

Both phones could be purchased through online retailers, but Panasonic never appeared to sign any deals with UK networks. While this isn’t quite as important as it is in the US, it would have been essential for Panasonic to re-connect with buyers and promote its new phones.

Evidence of trouble brewing came when the firm told TechRadar.com in August that it was selling its two phones “to consumers in Germany and Italy and currently does not have any plans to change this.” A report in The Times around the same time said Panasonic had put its European smartphone plans on hold, and “looked likely to abandon its mass market ambitions.”

The smartphone market is tough, but Panasonic’s potential exit could be directly related to the $7.6 billion bailout given to it by Japanese banks this month after record losses, rather than any failure to perform following its half-hearted attempt to break back into Europe.

Source : http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/panasonic-could-be-about-to-leave-the-european-smartphone-market/

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Samsung tops the global smartphone market, as HTC, Nokia and RIM fall further behind

Research published by market analysts IDC has put Samsung way out in front of its rivals in the global smartphone market share charts, where Nokia has disappeared from the top five for the first time, and HTC has dropped several spots too.

Market analyst company IDC has released the latest version of its Mobile Phone Tracker information chart, showing where it places the world’s major phone manufacturers regarding smartphone market share and sales. Samsung is the star of the show, a fact reflected in its own quarterly results, while Nokia, HTC and Research in Motion all show signs of suffering at both its, and Apple’s hands.

Samsung has retained its position at the top of the charts, with a 31.3-percent market share, up from 22.7-percent last year. It’s estimated to have shipped 56 million smartphones between July and September, a huge improvement over the already impressive 28 million from the same period last year.

The Korean company has also announced its financial report for the same period, posting $7.4 billion in profits, beating its previous record for the fourth consecutive time. A Reuters piece on the subject puts its smartphone shipments at 58 million, slightly higher than IDC’s figure, and says that between 18 and 20 million of that amount were Galaxy S3 handsets.

HTC drops behind RIM and ZTE

Apple comes second in IDC’s ranking, with 15-percent of the smartphone market, up from 13.8-percent this time last year, and we all know how it has been performing recently. Research in Motion is gamely holding on to third position with a market share of 4.3-percent, down from 9.6-percent last year, but ZTE is a mere 0.1-percent behind — making a position change likely in IDC’s next report.

Finally, the top five is rounded out by HTC. This time last year, it had a 10.3-percent market share, and was ahead of both RIM and ZTE, but now, with a dismal 4-percent, it trails both of them. It’s shown to have sold 7.3 million smartphones this quarter, highlighting the gulf that has opened up between it, Apple and particularly Samsung.

To try to drum up some business in Europe, HTC has today launched Best Deals, a variation on the popular daily deal system, where HTC owners can enter their own deal preferences and, based on location, the app will return relevant offers. There are 12 providers signed up to Best Deals, including iVoucher, Daily Deal, Qype and LivingSocial, but perhaps crucially, not Groupon. The Best Deals app looks to be part of HTC Sense, is compatible with the One X, One S, One X+, the 8X and 8S, and will be available in the UK, Italy, Germany, France and Spain in November.

Nokia leaves the top five for the first time

Finally, we come to Nokia, a company absent from IDC’s top five smartphone companies for the first time since it first began keeping records in 2004. It does still appear in the overall list of general phone manufacturers though, and in second position. It has shipped a massive 82 million phones during the third quarter, down from the 106 million it shipped during the same period last year, and it retains an 18.7-percent market share.

Samsung again tops this list, with a 23-percent market share and a grand total of 105.4 million phones leaving its warehouse.

There’s no sign of the global smartphone market slowing down either, as the 179 million smartphones sold this summer is 45.3-percent more than this time last year.

Source : http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/research-shows-samsung-tops-the-global-smartphone-market/

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Unlocking your smartphone will soon be illegal, and other DMCA new rule insanity

New rules governing exemptions to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) dictate that it will soon be illegal to unlock your smartphone without carrier permission. Jailbreaking your tablet is also forbidden, as is ripping a DVD into a digital format.

Every three years, the Register of Copyrights at the Library of Congress reviews the ways in which consumers may or may not circumvent Digital Rights Management (DRM) of copyrighted products covered under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) — what you can and cannot do, legally, with the gadgets and digital content you buy. And yesterday, the latest rulings (see below) came in — some of it good, some bad, some decidedly insane. Here is a quick breakdown of what you cannot do with your smartphones, tablets, DVDs, game-consoles, and more, according to the law.

Note: The new rules below go into effect on Sunday, October 28, 2012.

Jailbreaking smartphones: Allowed

Jailbreaking smartphones to allow users to download “unauthorized” apps has been legal under DMCA since 2010, and nothing changes for this year.

Jailbreaking tablets: Illegal

In a decision that some might call “crazy,” the Register has decided that tablets may not be jailbroken, even though smartphones are exempt. Their reason? Because dang near anything could be considered a “tablet” these days, including e-readers, handheld game consoles, or even laptops. Because of this so-called lack of definition, the Register says that jailbreaking your tablet (or “tablet”) is against the law.

Unlocking smartphones: Illegal

That’s right — unlocking your smartphone so you can take it to another wireless carrier will soon be illegal, unless authorized by your carrier. This, despite the fact that the Register has allowed unlocking since 2006.

There are some exceptions to this rule — but they aren’t worth cheering for. Specifically, you may unlock any phone you own now, or buy between now and “ninety days after the effective date of this exemption.” As of January 2013, however, unlocking your device without permission is decidedly against the law.

Now, you’re probably asking “Why in tarnation did they change this?” Because, according to the Register, the firmware on your phone — the software that, among other things, locks you into a specific carrier — is copyrighted, and therefore cannot be changed without violating the law. And since there are many more unlocked handsets on the market nowadays, and wireless carriers often provide ways for customers to unlock their phones, there’s really no reason for you to do what you want with your device. Makes sense, right? Right?! Sigh…

DVD ripping: Illegal (mostly)

Ripping a DVD you legally own so you can watch the movie or TV shows on a device that cannot play DVDs, like a tablet or laptop without an optical drive, is illegal. Same goes for CDs. As Michael Weinberg of consumer advocacy group Public Knowledge notes, this rule “flies in the face of reality,” especially given the fact that both the MPAA and RIAA agree that consumers should be allowed to do this.

There are some exceptions to this rule, however: The Register now allows ripping DVDs in order to use “short portions of motion pictures for the purpose of criticism or comment,” as long as the clips are used in noncommercial videos, documentaries, and videos used for teaching purposes in kindergarten through college.

Game console modding: Illegal

Modding your game console to run software other than what came on the device is still illegal for the same reason that unlocking a smartphone is illegal — it requires changes to the firmware, which are copyright protected.

Wins for disabled customers

As maddening as some of the changes listed above may be, the Register did make some good exemptions for customers with vision and hearing impairments. Namely, hearing impaired customers may circumvent any “technological measures” included in e-books that prevent them from using read-aloud technology. Also, it is now legal to crack DVDs in order to create DVD players “capable of rendering visual representations of the audible portions of such works and/or audible representations or descriptions of the visual portions of such works to enable an individual who is blind, visually impaired, deaf, or hard of hearing” — as long as the DVD was obtained legally, of course. Researchers are also allowed to crack DVDs for research purposes.

DMCA facepalm

Clearly, some of these new rules (no jailbreaking tablets, no ripping DVDs so you can watch them on tablets, no unlocking phones without permission) are ridiculous from a user standpoint. But such is the complicated (some would say “broken”) nature of copyright law. Let us know your thoughts on the new rules in the comments. And check out the full ruling below.

DMCA Rules 2012

Source : http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/unlocking-your-smartphone-will-soon-be-illegal-and-other-new-dmca-rule-insanity/

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HTC One X gets Android 4.1.2 In Asia today, One S to follow soon

The General manager of HTC North Asia, Jack Tong announced at a press event that the Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean update will start rolling out for the One X today. He also said that the One S will also be graced with the firmware update, but didn't specify a time frame.

The new firmware update will not only bring the One X to the latest Android release (not counting Monday's Google announcement, of course), as well as the latest Sense UI version.

Jack Tong also mentioned the One X+ and One S SE updated edition, which will hit shelves in Asia on October 30. No other markets were mentioned, but we recon they shouldn't be too far behind the schedule.

Thanks for the tip, Daniel!

Via

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/htc_one_x_gets_android_412_in_asia_today_one_s_to_follow_soon-news-5002.php

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Panasonic pulls out of the European mobile game… again

But it can't fail! It's waterproof!

Panasonic's decided that if it can't make it in nine months, it'll never make it in the European mobile market. So it's pulling out. Again.

According to Japanese newspaper Nikkei, the company has decided to discontinue mobile sales in the European market by spring 2013.

It was December 2011 when Panasonic announced that it was going to give Europe another go, and it unveiled the Panasonic Eluga at MWC 2012 the following February.

Fruity

The newspaper column cites the dominance of Apple and Samsung as a major cause for its pull-out.

Apparently Panasonic plans to focus more on partnerships in Japan rather than eyeing world domination.

The Panasonic Eluga's luke-warm reception was thanks in-part to its distinctly average performance (we gave it three stars) and the fact that a higher-specced edition was announced before it even hit Europe's shop shelves. But it is waterproof, so there is that.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/panasonic-pulls-out-of-the-european-mobile-game-again-1107661

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Samsung profits double year-on-year thanks to Galaxy S3

The Galaxy S3 has been raking in the cash for Samsung

Samsung has posted another successful quarter of earnings, as the Korean firm reveals profits have almost doubled since last year.

The electronics manufacturer revealed it had generated $47.5 billion (around £29.5 billion/AU$46 billion) in revenue during the third quarter of 2012, with an operating profit of $7.4 billion (around £4.6 billion/AU$7.2 billion) and a net profit of $5.97 billion (around £3.7 billion/AU$5.8 billion).

It notes that the profit represents a 91 per cent increase on earnings during the same period in 2011, which is sure to thrill Samsung's bosses and investors alike.

Mobiles lead the way

The company says its smartphone business has played a large part in its huge profit gain this year, with the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S3 proving very popular around the world, with the mobile division accounting for almost half of Samsung's total revenue.

Samsung also highlighted its Organic Light-Emitting Diode (OLED) and Liquid Crystal Display panels as contributing factors to its strong financial results, with the displays appearing in a variety of smartphones, tablets and TVs.

For the final quarter of the year Samsung predicts strong sales in the tablet PC market, plus the impending holiday season will boost demand for technology, however it expects its PC memory sector to witness a weak quarter as demand diminishes.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/samsung-profits-double-year-on-year-thanks-to-galaxy-s3-1107591

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LG Nexus 4 SIM-free price and colour options possibly revealed

Info leaked left, right and centre

According to a retailer's listing, the upcoming LG Nexus 4 will be available for £389.95 SIM-free in two colour options.

UK retailer Carphone Warehouse looks to be at it again, after listing the Nexus 4 complete with specs on its website yesterday, today there's a screen shot claiming to be from the firm's internal system revealing for details.

According to the snapped screen you'll be able to pick up the LG Nexus 4 in either black or white, for just under £400 (around $645 or AU$625).

Dubious source

The image was tweeted to the guys over at MoDaCo and while the system looks relatively kosher there's no guarantee that it's the real deal.

At just under £400 the LG Nexus 4 would be reasonably priced for a quad-core handset, however this price is always subject to change.

All will be revealed on October 29, when Google takes to the stage in New York where we expect it to uncover the new Nexus smartphone, possible alongside new Nexus 7 tablets and a larger Nexus 10 slate.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/lg-nexus-4-sim-free-price-and-colour-options-possibly-revealed-1107560

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‘Don’t underestimate BB10,’ RIM boss says during demo of upcoming BlackBerry OS [video]

As the iPhone 5 flies off the shelves and Samsung reports record profits, the boss of the firm that once ruled the smartphone roost has said in an interview that BlackBerry 10 – set for launch early next year – should not be underestimated.

With so many product launches taking place in the tech world this month, it’s not hard to think Research In Motion should be in the mix too, rolling out its new BB10 phones and next-generation mobile operating system. But, of course, it’s not. For RIM’s new offerings we still have to wait at least several more months.

The company is trying to keep itself in the picture though – lest it be completely forgotten by consumers playing with their newly acquired iPhone or Samsung device – with RIM boss Thorsten Heins giving an interview to the BBC this week, offering a glimpse of the new OS while answering a few questions about the company’s current state of affairs.

The demo – given on a Dev Alpha B device similar to the one handed out to developers earlier this year – involves a good deal of touching and swiping, as well as a little bit of ‘blending’ (check out the demo below to learn more), with Heins describing the theme of BB10 as “the integration of various applications into what we in BB10 call the BlackBerry flow…..[so there’ll be no] application grid.”

BB10 is about real-time multi-tasking, Heins said, enabling the user “to live in the multi-taking space,” making it simple to jump between running applications. He also mentioned the BlackBerry Hub, which acts as a kind of notification system that pulls in information from various apps and programs.

Too late?

Heins, it has to be said, didn’t look particularly pleased when Cellan-Jones suggested it was all coming too late, staring straight back at the BBC man with an expression that suggested he was momentarily imagining a scenario involving the interviewer, the Dev Alpha B device and a painful surgical procedure, but overall Heins was cheerful and enthusiastic throughout. And by the way, in response to the accusation that RIM has missed the boat, Heins said, “Don’t underestimate the dynamic this platform is going to create in the market.”

Interestingly, when asked about the recent NY Times article which featured people claiming to be embarrassed about getting their BlackBerry phone out in public, Heins said, “Without going into detail, I would kind of question the sources that were used for that article,” adding that, according to what he sees in markets outside the US, there’s “huge growth and huge commitment to BlackBerry.”

You can check out the interview below.

Source : http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/dont-underestimate-bb10-rim-boss-says-during-demo-of-upcoming-blackberry-os-video/

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Samsung I9260 Galaxy Premier images leak

We have seen some images of the Samsung I9260 Galaxy Premier in the past but they have mostly showed the front of the device. But these latest pictures show us some of the other sides of the device, including the back.

The Galaxy Premier looks very similar to the Galaxy S III from the front, but has a prominent chrome strip around the bezel. The sides use glossy plastic and the back looks like it is matte, just like on the Galaxy Nexus.

From the previous leaks we know that the Galaxy Premier has a 4.65-inch, 1280 x 720 resolution display, 8 megapixel camera, dual-core 1.5GHz processor (we're guessing the TI OMAP4470), 1GB RAM, 8 megapixel camera, 16GB internal memory and microSD card slot.

One would assume why Samsung would be releasing a phone with specs so close to the Galaxy S III, but they could just be trying to fill the hole that would be left in their line-up once the Galaxy Nexus gets replaced by the LG Nexus 4 next week.

Source

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_i9260_galaxy_premier_images_leak-news-5001.php

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