Will.i.am is about to launch the i.am+ iPhone add-on, a device that'll allow owners of Apple's smartphone to take 14-megapixel photos with their handset.
Songwriter, rapper, producer, DJ and self-proclaimed “chic geek” will.i.am is about to launch a piece of iPhone hardware that’ll boost the handset’s pixel count to 14 million.
Will.i.am told the Telegraph the device comes with its own sensor and a better flash, claiming it’ll turn Apple’s smartphone into a “genius phone”.
The i.am+ camera clips onto an iPhone 4, 4S and 5, and those using it will be encouraged to share their pictures on their own profile page at the neatly named www.i.am domain.
Little information is known about the device just now – we’ll be furnished with more details when it’s officially unveiled at a press conference in London on November 28. As part of its marketing push, it makes an appearance in the music video for will.i.am/Britney Spears recent collaborative effort Scream and Shout.
But is the i.am+ add-on just a pointless gimmick aimed at die-hard fans of the musician, or a serious attempt to take smartphone camera technology to a new level?
With the iPhone 5 already equipped with an 8-megapixel sensor, one wonders how many owners will be hankering for a contraption which will add bulk and weight to their phone even if it does boost its megapixel count.
And of course, more pixels doesn’t necessarily mean better quality pics – we’ll want to know more about the sensor and precisely what it’s capable of to see if the i.am+ really brings something new to the iPhoneography arena. And what about phone memory? These pics are going to be taking up nearly twice as much space as those taken with the iPhone 5′s built-in camera, so you might have to be more choosy about what you snap and how you manage your images.
Will.i.am has long been into all things tech, and in 2011 was signed up by chip giant Intel as director of creative innovation.
The i.am+ camera will be the first of a series of tech products to launch with will.i.am branding, the musician told the Telegraph.
A statement from Nokia UK hinted that Dinning, who held the position of lead programme manager for Imaging Experience, had decided to quit the company rather than move to Finland.
Great reluctance
The company said: "Following the relocation of key strategic roles to Finland, and with great reluctance, Damian Dinning has made a personal decision to leave the company effective 30 November 2012.
"We thank him for his service to the company and certainly wish him the best."
Dinning's decision to leave Nokia will be a blow for a company that, over the years, has built a reputation for its high quality camera technology.
A statement from Nokia UK hinted that Dinning, who held the position of lead programme manager for Imaging Experience, had decided to quit the company rather than move to Finland.
Great reluctance
The company said: "Following the relocation of key strategic roles to Finland, and with great reluctance, Damian Dinning has made a personal decision to leave the company effective 30 November 2012.
"We thank him for his service to the company and certainly wish him the best."
Dinning's decision to leave Nokia will be a blow for a company that, over the years, has built a reputation for its high quality camera technology.
Swedish telecommunications company Ericsson has released its new Mobility Report for the third quarter of 2012, and has discovered some staggering new numbers.
First and foremost, mobile data usage has doubled from where it was a year ago, and is expected to have a compound annual growth of at least 50 percent every year through 2018.
The massive jump in data was attributed streaming video, which Ericsson believes will lead to data usage expanding to 12 times that number over the next six years.
With 25 percent of all smartphone data and 40 percent of all tablet data spent on streaming video, it's not hard to imagine that much continued growth.
Smartphone, LTE subscription numbers growing
Additionally, Ericsson reported smartphones accounted for 40 percent of all mobile phone sales during Q3 2012.
As a result of more and more smartphone sales, Ericsson stated smartphone data usage will surpass the average usage from all other devices combined.
The Mobility Report also stated total mobile phone subscriptions are on pace to reach 6.6 billion by the end of 2012, and a target of 9.3 billion by 2018.
The data and smartphone adoption rates were bolstered by strong LTE subscriptions during Q3 2012, with some 13 million users switching over to the high-powered network.
LTE subscriptions are estimated to reach 55 million consumers by the end of this year, and total 1.6 billion by 2018.
That said, Ericsson pointed out WCDMA/HSPA networks still cover more than half of all subscriptions, with 65 million more added during the last quarter.
With the mobile market growing 9 percent year-over-year, and LTE networks expected to be available to nearly half the global population over the next five years, those numbers don't seem quite so unattainable.
Definitely the ugly side of shopping during Black Friday, threats of violence and fights over low priced electronics have been reported yet again.
With plenty of YouTube videos being posted recording the retail chaos of snagging doorbusters, shoppers around the United States have continued the tradition of fighting on Black Friday at various retail locations including Walmart, Kmart and Sears. At a retail location of Walmart in Alabama, customers were filmed ripping apart a display of Xbox 360 games before police were called to break up the kerfuffle. At another unnamed Walmart location, crowds were filmed ripping apart a display of smartphones as Walmart employees in yellow security vests were pushed away.
According to the L.A. Times, a man at a Kmart location in South Sacramento threatened to stab customers in line waiting for the store to open. Police stated that the crowd became incensed when employees of the Kmart location came out to the line to hand out vouchers for doorbuster items and were screaming obscenities at the workers. At one point, one man started threatening to stab people with vouchers. However, police were contacted and customers were allowed into the store without further incident.
A similar situation at a Kmart in Indianapolis incited threats of violence when shoppers at the front of the line attempted to sell their vouchers for a 42-inch plasma HDTV that was being sold for less than $200. Only a few of these vouchers were being handed out at the stores due to limited stock. According to local affiliate WISH TV, the remaining people in the line were getting upset at the customers that were attempting to sell their vouchers for a profit. According to the police that arrived on the scene, customers yelling threats were escorted off the premises.
At a Sears location within a shopping mall in San Antonio, Texas, one man attempted to rush the door and cut in line in front of customers that had been waiting all night to grab the Black Friday doorbusters. The unnamed man punched another customer in the face during the argument and that customer pulled a handgun on the argumentative line-cutter. The impatient man fled the scene and police were called. However, the man with the handgun was not charged since he had a concealed carry permit.
Customers attempting to get their hands on doorbusters weren’t the only problem for retail stores opening for Black Friday this year. Police were called to several locations to arrest shoplifters taking advantage of the chaos within stores. According to local Dallas affiliate WFAA, police were called to the Town East Mall to break up fights in addition to catching a suspected shoplifter. A nearby shopper caught the incident on video which shows the suspected shoplifter being shot with a taser after he failed to listen to police.
Pepper spray also made another appearance this year after a mother of two used it last year at a Walmart location to get her hands on a discounted Xbox 360 during Black Friday. According to Fox Business, a customer was pepper-sprayed in the face at a JC Penney’s location. In addition, a woman attempting to shoplift at a shopping mall in Omaha and used pepper spray on a store employee as well as two security guards.
Check out our list of the latest mobile phones around
In the ever-changing mobile market, it can be hard to keep pace with the latest mobile phones. That's why we've put together this hub for our latest mobile phone reviews and hands on: to give you the ideal jumping-on point for choosing the best handset for you out of the most current models around.
We cover a plethora of brands, including Apple, HTC, Nokia, Samsung and Blackberry, and operating systems, such as Android, iOS and Windows Phone 8, so you should find something that piques your interest here.
In short, if you're seeking a new mobile phone, this is a great place to start.
Hands on
These phones are so new we've not even received a unit to put through our full review process yet.
Luckily TechRadar travels the world to get hands on with all the latest handsets as soon as they're announced, so we can give you our initial reaction right here, right now.
Huawei Ascend G330
After the success of the wallet-friendly Ascend G300 the Chinese manufacturer has decided to reboot the handset with the Huawei Ascend G330.
Expected to sport the same £100 price tag, the Ascend G330 features a 4-inch display, beefed up 1GHz dual-core processor, 512MB RAM, 5MP rear camera and Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich.
The handset itself is pretty uninspiring, but you're not going to get iPhone-esque styling on a device which is one fifth of the price so we can forgive Huawei here, but at 130g it's got a weight to it.
Unlike Samsung and HTC, Huawei doesn't go overboard with its Android overlay, with just a light sprinkling occurring on the ICS interface on the G330 – although icons have been changed, and look a little childish.
With its impressive spec sheet for the cash you'll pay out, the Ascend G330 could well be the new star of the budget smartphone market. Keep an eye out for our full review, when we'll reveal if it's really worth it.
The HTC 8S in second in line to the Windows Phone 8 crown at the Taiwanese firm, with the flagship 8X still the show at the top of the tree.
However that's not to say the 8S should be ignored, it's still a perfectly capable and well designed handset which won't cost you a huge amount of money.
The 8S will go head to head with the mid-range Lumia 820, with its fancy array of colour options, 4-inch HD display, 1GHz dual-core processor and the welcome addition of a microSD card slot – something which is missing from both Nokias and the 8X.
An advantage HTC has over its rivals is its partnership with Dr Dre and his Beats Audio technology – enhancing your music with added bass to really get the party started.
Design wise we reckon the Taiwanese firm is on to a winner with the HTC Windows Phone 8S, but we'll reserve proper judgement until we've fully reviewed it.
Not wanting to miss out on the Windows Phone 8 party, mobile giant Samsung has its own handset on the way, in the form of the Ativ S.
Taking design cues from the extremely popular Samsung Galaxy S3, the Ativ S offers up a solid Windows Phone experience and is ready to challenge the likes of the Nokia Lumia 920 and HTC 8X.
The Ativ S is an intriguing proposition packing a huge 4.8-inch display, 1.5GHz dual-core processor, huge 2,300mAh battery and an 8MP rear camera.
Although slower to market than its rivals the Samsung Ativ S could well be the best of the initial flurry of Windows Phone 8 devices.
As if the poor market performance as of late wasn't enough, Nokia just took another hit. Damian Dinning has decided to leave the company effective November 30.
Dinning started working at Nokia in April 2004 and took the role as the company's lead program manager for Imaging Experience and worked closely on devices like the Nokia 808 PureView and Lumia 920. Reportedly, the news of his leaving came as a shock to Nokia's execs.
Here's what Nokia UK have responded to AmateurPhotographer's request for additional information.
Following the relocation of key strategic roles to Finland, and with great reluctance, Damian Dinning has made a personal decision to leave the company effective 30 November 2012. During the past nine years, [Damian] has made many innovative and valuable contributions to Nokia, most recently as a lead program manager in our Smart Devices business. We thank him for his service to the company and certainly wish him the best.
Dinning hasn't revealed what path he'll take and whether he already has an offer to join another company. However, here's his tweet from couple of days ago giving some clues.
I'm incredibly excited about the 10th Dec, can't say more than that right now other than to say it's nothing to do with Nokia directly...Wed Nov 21 08:39:25 via Twitter for iPadDamian Dinning PhoneDaz
The unlucky majority who were unable to snap the brilliant Nexus 4 from Google after its release last week will soon be able to pick up the handset from Three…as long as they're willing to cough up 400 smackers for it.
From December 13 - which marks the end of O2's Nexus 4 exclusive offer - the service provider will be selling the handset for £399.99 on Pay As You Go, or for £35 per month on Three's The One plan with an upfront cost of £29.
Three is yet to reveal whether this price is for the 8GB or 16GB variety of the Nexus 4, but either way it's notably more than the wallet-friendly £279 Google is selling the 16GB model for SIM-free. It's also not yet known how long the £35 per month contract term is for, but it's probably two years.
Supply & demand
Google is currently selling the Nexus 4 at a loss, but network carriers have taken advantage of the handset's massive popularity (it's currently sold out on Google and several other outlets) by charging more for the device.
The higher prices are also to accommodate the contracts being sold with the phones.
Three's All in One 15 costs £15 and gives 30-day access to All-You-Can-Eat data along with 300 any-network minutes and 3,000 texts. Alternatively, All in One 25 costs £25 and offers All-You-Can-Eat data, 500 minutes and 3,000 texts and for a 30-day period.
We got a lot of good news about the Windows Phone 7.8 update lately, but every streak comes to an end as we now have a particularly unpleasant piece of information to share with you. The LG Optimus 7, which was one of the first Windows Phone handsets and is currently running version 7.5 of the OS, will not be getting updated to version 7.8.
This info comes from LG’s branch in Poland and may not apply to all regions, but LG has not officially announced anything else regarding the Optimus G.
This move shouldn’t come as a big surprise as LG decided to step away from Windows Phone to focus on Android (the company won’t be releasing Windows Phone 8 handsets).
Sohu Digital News has obtained a red Lumia 920T and made some photos of it. The Lumia 920T is destined for China Mobile and the unit in the photos is a prototype. There's no word when the device will actually launch on China Mobile's network.
The smartphone sports a glossy red polycarbonate unibody and has TD-SCDMA support. The other (still not officially confirmed) difference between it and the global Lumia 920 is the Adreno 320 GPU inside, in place of the regular 225 that comes with the dual-core Krait chip.
The Nokia Lumia 920T for China Mobile
The rest of specs should be identical - the gorgeous 4.5" PureMotion display at the front, the PureView-branded 8.7 MP camera at the back and the Windows Phone 8 OS inside .
A communication between LG and an Optimus 7 Windows Phone 7 device owner has cast doubt over whether the aging phone will see the Windows Phone 7.8 update. If it's correct, will the Optimus 7 be the only one to suffer?
While Windows Phone 7 device owners wait patiently for news of the Windows Phone 7.8 software update, there could be trouble brewing, as according to an LG representative, its Optimus 7 phone may not be getting the update at all.
The news comes from a Polish WP7 blog, which published an email from LG to a customer inquiring about the release of WP7.8, saying it’s “not expected to introduce the software update for your version of the E900.” At least, that’s what Google Translate gives us.
We know the E900 better as the LG Optimus 7, one of the original Windows Phone 7 line-up released in late-2010. It was joined by the LG Quantum/LG Optimus 7Q, a close relation with a slide-out QWERTY keyboard which was only released in selected markets, the U.S. being one of them.
Like the majority of first generation Windows Phones, the Optimus 7 has a single-core 1GHz processor and 512MB of RAM, and it has subsequently been updated to Windows Phone 7.5 Mango.
What we’re saying here is that at first glance, there’s no obvious reason why it shouldn’t run Windows Phone 7.8. The concern then becomes, what if it’s not the only one?
Microsoft hasn’t been very forthcoming with details on the new software, saying only that new information would be coming in the next weeks. Nokia has been more careless, with a few pieces of information leaking from its camp recently, plus the OS has been seen running on a Lumia 900.
So, we know WP7.8 will make it to the Lumia 900, but are there any notable differences between it and the Optimus 7? It shipped with version 7.5, also known as Mango, already installed, while the Optimus 7 didn’t, plus the processor is a Qualcomm APQ8055 1.4GHz chip, and the Optimus 7 uses a 1GHz Qualcomm QSD8650.
The Lumia’s chip is part of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon S2 range, while the Optimus 7’s is a Snapdragon S1, and was first produced almost two-years before the S2 version. It’s also essentially the same chip found in the other first generation Windows Phones, including the HTC Trophy, HD7 and HTC 7 Pro, the Samsung Omnia 7 and the Focus, plus the aforementioned LG Quantum.
If the processor is the problem, there’s going to be more than a few disappointed owners out there when WP7.8 does arrive.
No cause for alarm just yet
There’s a good chance this may not be the case, as the Optimus 7 has always been a bit of a problem child. When Mango was released, the phone was one of the few that experienced consistent update fails, leading to Microsoft recommending that users don’t even try. This was also the case with Samsung’s Omnia 7.
A hardware problem which raised its head earlier this year resulted in LG replacing bricked, discontinued Optimus 7 devices with Android phones, plus users have reported issues with the headphone socket and the charging system too. Perhaps the Optimus 7 is just too far past its usefulness — in LG and Microsoft’s eyes at least — to be worthy of updating.
Finally, the LG representative could have got the facts wrong, and Optimus 7 owners will be able to enjoy Windows Phone 7.8 after all. However, we won’t know for sure until Microsoft gets round to providing a release date for the missing-in-action update.
Our constantly updated list of the best HTC phones.
So you've decided that HTC is the brand you want to spend the next 24 months of your life with - but that's not the end of the quest.
You have a plethora of devices, price points and operating systems to choose from and it can all get a little bewildering. But which is the best HTC phone for you?
Like Huawei and ZTE, HTC started life by building network-branded handsets, and has branched out and made their own name. The HTC Desire was the phone that truly launched it, and the Android OS, into the mainstream.
With the launch of the Android 'One' line, and Windows Phone based '8' line, alongside the continuation of the Desire range, how does HTC's new slim lined range stack up?
Thankfully TechRadar is on hand to help you out - check out our run down of all the HTC phones around at the moment:
1. HTC One X+
OS: Android 4.1 Jelly Bean
Not being a complete overhaul of the impressive One X, the HTC One X+ is comparable to the Sensation XE over the original Sensation.
Launching in matte black, with red accents, the HTC One X+ launches with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and HTC Sense 4+ on top of a 1.7GHz quad core Nvidia Tegra 3 processor, powered by a massive 2100mAh battery.
It's ticked the boxes that we were looking for in an improvement to the One X, and should be a real consideration for anyone looking for their next smartphone.
Looking at the HTC One X, it is clear that phone was designed to be at the fore of the mobile market. The quad core processor, Android 4.1 and Sense 4+, and HD screen make the HTC One X a powerful media phone.
This is backed up with 32GB of internal storage, highly necessary given the lack of microSD support. It's still one of the best HTC phones around, and now is a little more palatable on the price front thanks to the appearance of the HTC One X+.
Baby brother to the HTC One X, the One S, might not have the same highly-powered insides, but that doesn't mean it's not special in its own right.
Its slightly smaller than the One X, and only has a dual core processor, but the Super AMOLED display reproduces colours faithfully. For those looking for a high end handset, but not looking for high end prices, the One S is a real alternative, and if you can't stand the thought of a larger screen then this is the number one handset from HTC, especially given the micro-arc oxidised back it's rocking.
The recent Windows Phone 8 launch means that new devices such as the brightly coloured HTC 8X are the hot topic of conversation.
The HD display with 342ppi easily matches the iPhone for clarity, and the dual core 1.5GHz processor powers WP8 along with aplomb. Like the One X, it doesn't come with microSD support, which is a little frustrating given that this is now supported by WP8.
However, it's a strong handset with a number of top features, including Beats Audio and a dedicated internal amplifier... plus we're digging the alternative design.
Coincidentally launching 2 years after the original Desire, the HTC Desire X may well be designed to catch users coming to the end of their 24 month contract.
With a design reminiscent of the HTC One series, the Desire X comes with a dual core 1GHz processor, Android 4.0.4 and an impressive 4 inch Super LCD screen.
It's main strength is that it comes in at a slightly cheaper price bracket, and should be rolled up to Jelly Bean at some point soon.
The lowest specced model of the HTC range is the HTC Desire C. This might seem a little odd, given that the Desire range was once the jewel in the HTC crown.
The big selling point of the HTC Desire C is the low price, so you might forgive the 600MHz processor, or the HVGA 3.5-inch screen. Looking at it though, you'd fool just about everyone as the HTC Desire C looks like a high end device.
It's not got the grunt or the clout of the new One Series, but the big advantage the Desire C has over the competition is the addition of HTC Sense, an overlay which supercharges the device compared to the boring stock Android.
You have to feel a little bit sorry for the HTC One V - it was an unloved cookie from the start. Despite having a similar design to the popular HTC Hero and Legend, few outlets ever picked it up, despite the lower-ish price tag.
Actually, it was the cost that condemned it - a single core processor, no chance of Jelly Bean and an underpowered camera meant that the fact it was up there with the One S in terms of price meant there was very little reason to choose it.
But it's still around and a darn sight cheaper, so if you like iconic, premium design and aren't too fussed about specs then it's a good alternative choice.
We shouldn't have this phone on the list as it's just too old now - well, over a year, which is aeons in this business.
However, it's cheaper than gone-off chips now, so if you're after a budget choice then this can still do a job. It's got pre-Beats SRS surround sound enhancement, a microSD slot and a 600MHz processor, as well as a 3.2MP camera.
According to a Yahoo China report Nokia has received more than 2.5 million orders for the Lumia 920 across the globe, which is more than the entire Lumia lineup sold in Q3 of 2012.
The report also says the Lumia 920 and 820 have been sold out in the United States, Germany, Australia and elsewhere, which goes in check with previous reports of the Lumia 920 being sold out in the US.
In other news Nokia's stock documented a 25% rise yesterday, which is probably mainly due to the positive sales figures of the Lumia range.
Marko Ahtisaari, head of Nokia's Design unit, went on YouTube to talk about the designing of the Lumia 920. Here goes the video.
The Huawei Ascend G330 is a fairly uninspiring phone, but is designed to appeal to those that want to spend only a little on a smartphone. These people may want something more than a £70 effort from the bargain bin, but won't break the bank.
Which makes the G330 a little bit of an oddity, especially when compared to the barnstorming Ascend G300 predecessor, which rightly holds its place in our top mobile phones list.
When it was first announced the G330 was touted at being around 60% more than the G300 – although the specs have been given a boost to compensate - but the Chinese firm now expects it to land at around £100 SIM-free.
This means we're looking at a dual-core 1GHz processor, a 5MP camera and Ice Cream Sandwich on board as standard.
It's also rocking a nice 512MB of RAM to help out that meatier CPU, and also packs 4GB of internal storageand a 1,500mAh battery.
But enough of the internals – what's the phone actually like in the hand? The same 'uninspiring' term pops up again here, as it's got some fairly cheap (if acceptable) chassis effects.
The plastic shell feels OK in the hand, the top-placed power and lock button is easy enough to hit (although could do with a little more travel) and the three soft keys to control the Android 4.0 OS are pleasant enough to hit.
There's also a slight attempt at an overlay here, although it's not the fancy-pants Emotion UI that we're going to be getting on the more impressive Huawei handsets.
The Ascend G330 allows you to control some of the connectivity elements from the pull-down notification bar, which we're a big fan of as it's much easier to pop on Bluetooth or turn off mobile data this way.
Early Verdict
We're not sure how we would recommend this phone. It reminds us of the ZTE Grand X, which is a misplaced handset if ever we saw one.
It's going to be fighting with the likes of the HTC Desire C, and that's not a fight you'd want to enter into with the might of the name and Sense UI on board.
Some people might like the fact most of the Ascend G330 is stock Android, as the Holo Theme is actually pretty cool. But for us, there's nothing to really write home about here – although we will be testing the gaming prowess Huawei is so proud of, thanks to the Adreno 200 GPU on offer.
Research in Motion's touchscreen BlackBerry 10 handset, the L Series, has been leaked again, this time showing it compared to a BlackBerry Bold 9700. RIM will officially announce BlackBerry 10 and its hardware on January 30 next year.
The L Series BlackBerry 10 phone has been leaked again, this time appearing in CrackBerry.com’s forums, where a handful of pictures showed the phone up close, as well as being compared to a BlackBerry Bold 9700.
Research in Motion’s L Series handset is one of two phones on which it will launch the BlackBerry 10 operating system next year, where it will be joined by the more traditional QWERTY keyboard-equipped N Series.
In the snaps, the L Series — marked as an evaluation unit — looks the same as it did back in September, when both it and the N Series phone last appeared. The long, black chassis remains, while the front has the slight look of Sony’s Xperia range to it, thanks to the edgeless screen. Sitting next to the Bold, it also looks quite long.
The source of the leak hasn’t provided any more information on the specification, but if previous rumors are correct, that’s a 4.2-inch screen with a 1280 x 768 pixel resolution, and a dual-core processor should be hiding inside.
RIM has already announced when the L Series will be made official, as it will be holding an ambitious, global launch event for BlackBerry 10 on January 30 next year, where both phones and the new software will finally make their public debut.
There were concerns RIM would miss the first quarter release date, which it has continually stood by, but according to the company’s COO Kristian Tear, BB10 handsets will on sale within 30 days of that event. This means it’ll make its self-imposed deadline, but only by a whisker.
The Chinese firm is mounting an assault on the budget end of the market with the Ascend G330 landing in the UK at the start of December.
The Ascend G330 builds of the successful Huawei Ascend G300 which offered impressive specs for a smartphone sporting a £100 price tag.
TalkTalk will be the first, and only, network to offer the Ascend G330 before the year is out, with other carriers promised in the new year.
Reasonable
Contracts will start at a reasonable £10 per month, including a free handset, and Huawei expects retailers to offer the Ascend G330 for around £100 SIM-free.
The Ascend G330 packs a 4-inch 480x800 display, 1GHz dual-core processor, 512MB RAM, 4GB internal storage, 5MP camera, microSD slot and comes running Android 4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich.
Huawei announced the G330 alongside the larger Ascend G600 at IFA 2012 in Berlin, although there's currently no word on when (or if) its big brother will come to Britain.
Remember when people were disappointed that the Nexus 4 doesn’t have LTE? And then iFixit dug up an LTE chip in the phone? Well, it turns out that the chip can be enabled surprisingly easy.
Several people are reporting that the LTE connectivity works in Canada on Band 4 (1700Mhz / 2100MHz), which the one what all LTE carriers in the country use.
To enable LTE, you need to go into a debug menu (by typing *http://gsmarena.com/http://gsmarena.com/http://gsmarena.com/#*http://gsmarena.com/http://gsmarena.com/http://gsmarena.com/#4636http://gsmarena.com/http://gsmarena.com/http://gsmarena.com/#*http://gsmarena.com/http://gsmarena.com/http://gsmarena.com/#* into the dialer) and change the setting from WCDMA preferred to one of the LTE-enabled options. It seems that this is all you need to do on TELUS, while on Rogers you need to create a custom APN to get the LTE working.
Nexus 4's debugging menu • Speed test on LTE • on HSPA
Here’s a video from TEK.GADG that shows the Google Nexus 4 working on LTE, complete with speed tests on both 4G and 3G.
And here’s another video, this one is for the Rogers network:
AT&T, MetroPCS and Cricket Wireless in the US use Band 4 (as will T-Mobile soon), so the trick should work on their networks too, but we haven’t seen reports of successful attempts there yet. It’s not clear what other LTE bands the Nexus 4 supports, but AT&T’s LG Optimus G, which shares its internals with the Google phone works on 700/1700/2100MHz.
So, will you be buying a Nexus 4 once it gets back in stock?
Well, that's the report from GSM Arena, the site that nabbed the press shots of the upcoming phone.
The same source also states that the phone will be called the HTC Deluxe DLX, but we can't see that really being the form it would appear in for the UK.
Deluxe suite
For a start there's no Deluxe to add a suffix to, in the manner of the HTC Sensation XE; and then there's the fact the letters are just a capitalised contraction of the name itself.
Either naming way, there's a lot to get excited about here. If the HTC Deluxe is similar to the Butterfly, we're talking a 1.5GHz quad core processor, 2GB of RAM, 4G connection and the jewel in the crown: a full 1080p display crammed into that screen.
In terms of a HTC Deluxe release date, we're still very much in the dark… but given we've got these press shots (although they could still be fake despite the fact there are multiple angles on show) the smart money is on a launch at one of the upcoming trade shows, so keep your eyes trained on CES 2013 to see if HTC makes an announcement.
This microphone connects to your iOS device's 30-pin dock connector. Though it mimics the iPhone 4's aesthetic, its plastic silver trim doesn't immediately scream quality.
On the bottom edge is a headphone socket to take input from devices - including musical instruments - with a line out. On the right side is a mini USB port, through which your iOS device can be kept powered up from an external battery. But the port isn't wired for syncing data with a PC or Mac, so you'll need to detach Mikey to connect a different cable for that.
The mic pivots through more than 180° to face the source of sound. The only physical control is a three-position gain switch.
Auto mode proved extremely sensitive when surrounded by noise. Even a light brush of the iPhone's body triggered a light show from the three red LEDs that indicate the input is being clipped. Setting the gain switch to deal with loud noises fixed this by lowering the input's gain.
Even speech next to a busy road was clear, though it inevitably became much quieter in the process. Make sure you have an app such as GarageBand in case you need to boost it in post-production.
It's designed for iPhone 4 and 4S, fourth-gen iPod touch running iOS 6, and iPad 2 and 3. Blue doesn't mention iPhone 5, but we had no trouble using the mic with Apple's £25 adaptor.
Inevitably, that makes the mic protrude further from the phone, and while that's ungainly, it isn't a bothersome issue in practice.
