HTC One UK launch delayed to March 29

The HTC One will be delayed in the UK from the previous projected March 15 until the end of the month - on March 29.

The information comes from HTC itself, which contacted one of UK's retailer Clove that are offering the device on pre-order.

An official spokesperson was reached by Android Central and commented on the issue:

"We will start fulfilling pre-orders by end March in certain markets and will roll out to more markets as we approach April."

We've previously heard that delays might be incoming as alleged industrial sources stated there are shortages in parts like the camera module and voice coil motor.

Estimates were that HTC could only ship between 800,000 and 1,200,000 units in the next couple of months, but we are sincerely hoping that this doesn't turn true.

Source 1 | Source 2

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/htc_delays_one_in_the_uk_from_march_15_to_march_29-news-5684.php

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HTC to miss target for One roll out, pushes it to April instead

When will we see you, One?

Mobile retailer Clove revealed today that it won't start selling the HTC One in the U.K. on March 15 as previously announced, and in the process opened up a Pandora's box of revelations about the phone's global availability.

Turns out the delay affects all global shipments - all, that is, except O2 in Germany.

"We will start fulfilling pre-orders by end of March in certain markets and will roll out to more markets as we approach April," HTC said in a statement sent to TechRadar.

Clove's announcement pinned the phone's U.K. launch on March 29, though HTC offered no specific shipping date for pre-orders.

What gives?

HTC's brief statement and Clove's website-posted words gave nothing by way of explanation for the April roll out. The only clue we have to go on comes from Clove, signaling that the root of the issue stems from the phone maker:

"We apologise for this delay, but you will appreciate that this is out of our control," read Clove's post.

March was pegged as the target time for the One to reach a number of markets, however an exact U.S. release date was never revealed.

Investment bank KGI Securities claimed to have information that certain components of the new phone, including its signature camera module, were in short supply.

Supply issues for the camera or other parts are likely the culprit here, but we'll update this story when and if we receive official word.

They no press is bad press, but with Samsung's impending Galaxy S4 launch, HTC might want to stir up some positive news for its new phone ASAP.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/htc-to-miss-target-for-one-roll-out-pushes-it-to-april-instead-1137062

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HTC One release roll out pushed to April

When will we see you, One?

Mobile retailer Clove revealed today that it won't start selling the HTC One in the U.K. on March 15 as previously announced, in the process opening a Pandora's box of details about the phone's global availability.

Turns out the delay affects all global shipments - all, that is, except O2 in Germany.

"We will start fulfilling pre-order by end of March in certain markets and will roll out to more markets as we approach April," HTC said in a statement sent to TechRadar.

Clove's announcement pinned the phone's U.K. launch on March 29, and it sounds as though those who've placed pre-orders will see their phones arrive before the month runs out.

What gives?

HTC's brief statement and Clove's website-posted words gave nothing by way of explanation for the delay. The only clue we have to go on comes from Clove, signaling that the root of the issue stems from the phone maker:

"We apologise for this delay, but you will appreciate that this is out of our control," read Clove's post.

March was pegged as the target time for the One to reach a number of markets, however an exact U.S. release date was never revealed.

Investment bank KGI Securities claimed to have information that certain components of the new phone, including its signature camera module, were in short supply.

Supply issues for the camera or other parts are likely the culprit here, but we'll update this story when and if we receive official word.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/htc-one-release-roll-out-pushed-to-april-1137062

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AT&T starts rolling out Jelly Bean updates for its Sony Xperia TL

Sony Xperia TL, which is the US version of the "James Bond" phone, is one of the better looking mid-range smartphones in the market. The good news for all of you who got the AT&T version of the Xperia TL smartphone is that the Android 4.1 Jelly Bean updates for the device is now officially available.

The latest Android 4.1 update for the Xperia TL comes with the usual goodies native to Jelly Bean along with the carrier's DriveMode application. AT&T DriveMode is an exclusive app that helps curb texting and driving.

AT&T DriveMode application allows you to set-up customizable replies and sends it automatically in response to incoming messages once a vehicle starts moving at 25mph. The feature can also be used to reply to texts, emails and wireless callers.

The update notification will pop up on your smartphone and just in case you missed it, you can update your smartphone by connecting to Wi-Fi and selecting 'Applications', 'Settings', 'About phone' and 'Software update'.

Via

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/at_t_starts_rolling_out_jelly_bean_updates_for_its_xperia_tl_smartphones-news-5683.php

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Amazon phone release date, news and rumors

Will it look something like this?

With the runaway success of Amazon's Kindle Fire tablet - the media-happy device owns over half the Android tablet market - it seems only natural that the company would turn to smartphones next.

Amazon's strategy of putting all its media content directly into consumers' hands has worked out well so far, so wouldn't the Seattle company take the next logical step?

Like the Kindle Fire, an Amazon smartphone would be a veritable home-shopping network - replete with Kindle books, Android apps and Amazon Prime video - only as a phone, so it would be the only device users would really need.

Given the anticipation that's built up around a product that's not even certain to exist, we figured it wise to compile all the rumors and speculation in one place.

Amazon phone will miss rumored Q2 2013 release date, still looking like a Foxconn product

It's all still the stuff of rumors, but previous rumblings pegged the Amazon Phone (or maybe Kindle Phone) as arriving in the second quarter of 2013. Now it looks as though that deadline will make a delightful whooshing noise at blows past.

Somewhat infamous manufacturing mogul Foxconn is said to be on deck to produce the dirt cheap device. Its subsidiary Ensky Tech made the original Kindle Fire and now produces the Kindle Fire HD, the Kindle Paperwhite, so it would be no shock at all to see the two collaborate on the project.

As far as what's causing the delay, a report at Digitimes blames the "engineering verification test period due to issues related to its mobile platform," saying that the process, "has not been as smooth as expected."

This is surprising, given the great deal of experience Foxconn and its partners have in this field. It has us wondering what Amazon could have up its sleeve that's making the phone such a bother. As always, rumors are like cheap takeout; they just leaving you hungry for more.

Foxconn to manufacture Amazon phone for summer 2013 release date

This might be the most concrete rumor yet regarding the Amazon phone. Supposedly the online retail giant has inked a deal with Foxconn to manufacture its first smartphone. Industry insiders also expect a summer 2013 release.

According to the reports, the phone may also have a dirt-cheap asking price of $100-200 (around £60-120/AU$95-190). This would fall in step with Amazon's strategy with its Kindle Fire HD and Kindle Paperwhite line, devices sold at highly competitive prices in order to get customers investing in Amazon's media library.

While the involvement of Foxconn is not surprising, since the company has become a prolific manufacturer of all things electronic, it is somewhat troubling given its reputation for overworked, striking employees. Maybe the Amazon phone will be one of the first devices assembled in American Foxconn factories?

Amazon Phone rumors catch fire

Rumors of an Amazon Phone started to catch on in late 2011, when analysts began predicting the Amazon Phone's existence, despite a lack of hard evidence.

That hard evidence, by the way, still hasn't made an appearance, but that hasn't stopped the rumor mill from churning away.

Kicking things off, analyst firm CitiGroup reported that it discovered the existence of the then-unheard of Amazon Phone through its "supply chain channel checks in Asia."

Analyst Mark Mahaney led the Amazon Phone charge, proclaiming that the bookseller was in cahoots with infamous Taiwanese manufacturer Foxconn to build the device.

Other analysts agreed: "A smartphone would be a logical next step for Amazon," ABI Research's Aapo Markkanen told Wired in May.

"The lock-in effect of a great content ecosystem shouldn't be under-estimated," he continued.

Bloomberg fed more fuel to the Amazon Phone fire in July, when its anonymous sources ("people with knowledge of the matter") confirmed that Amazon and Foxconn remained hard at work on the smartphone.

Further, the same report claimed that Amazon is busy hoarding as many wireless patents as possible to defend itself from the inevitable infringement suits that follow any modicum of success in the market.

Windows Phone executives board the good ship Amazon

The summer heat must have helped the Amazon Phone fires spread, as July gave birth to yet another bout of speculation when two Windows Phone vets joined Amazon.

First Brandon Watson left the Windows Phone team to become Amazon's director of Kindle cross platform, then Robert Williams, previously Windows Phone's senior director of business development, joined Amazon as its app store director.

Of course, the mere fact that the two previously worked on Windows Phone in no way proved that Amazon had brought them on to work on its own phone - but then again, it's not that far of a stretch, is it?

To further stoke the flames, it appeared toward the end of July that Amazon's innovation center - Lab 126 - had been hiring workers to develop new mobile devices that would run on wireless carriers' networks.

In other words: an Amazon Phone. Imagine that.

Amazon Phone release date

In CitiGroup's original 2011 report, the firm predicted that the Amazon Phone release date would fall in Q4 2012, though that's looking less and less likely the more time passes without a peep from Amazon.

That doesn't mean it's not going to happen, of course, but other rumors since then have been somewhat less optimistic about the Amazon Phone release date.

Less than a week after Bloomberg's report that Amazon and Foxconn still had their collective noses to the grindstone, another source (this one from Amazon's component suppliers) told the Wall Street Journal that the bookseller was already testing Amazon Phone prototypes.

That report claimed that the device could go into production during the second half of 2012, and that the Amazon phone release could fall in late 2012 or early 2013.

Amazon Phone price

From the beginning, speculators foretold that an Amazon Phone would hit the low end of the price spectrum.

In part, it's assumed that Amazon would sell the device wholesale (or maybe even at a loss) in order to further expand its digital content distribution.

Every pair of hands holding an Amazon Phone comes with eyes, ears and a wallet, after all.

CitiGroup analyst Kevin Chang said in 2011, "For a normal brand like HTC, they need to price the product at $243 to make 30 percent gross margin. If Amazon is actually willing to lose some money on the device, the price gap could be even bigger."

That means the Amazon Phone price could sink as low as $170 or even $150, though Amazon would surely make up the difference somehow - just like it does with the Kindle Fire.

Amazon Phone specs

There's been little speculation about the Amazon Phone's specific hardware features, considering there's yet to be any official word - or even a measly leaked prototype image - to go off of.

But the WSJ's source claimed that the Amazon Phone's screen size would fall somewhere between 4 inches and 5 inches, placing it right in line with top Android phones such as the Samsung Galaxy S3 andHTC One X.

The Amazon Phone would at least need to perform well enough to reliably stream content and be integrated with Amazon's various media and cloud services, and the better the resolution, the more attractive the device would be for streaming video.

Battery life will be another important factor, as nothing will turn the average consumer off faster than being interrupted in the middle of "Real Housewives" by a pesky low power warning.

Will the Amazon Phone run Android?

An Amazon Phone is almost dead certain to run on some variation of Android, as Google and Amazon, despite occasionally finding themselves at one another's throats, can just as often be found sitting snugly in one another's pockets.

According to some reports, the retail giant has even considered stocking Google tablets like the Nexus 7 in its stores, indicating that their rivalry can't really be all that heated.

Besides, Windows Phone is sat firmly in Nokia's camp, at least for the lifespan of Windows Phone 8 - Microsoft's not about to throw away years of build-up just to hop in bed with Amazon.

That leaves BlackBerry maker Research in Motion, who - to be fair - is rumored to be shopping the BlackBerry 10 OS around for a licensing deal.

But there's a chance BB10 will be more or less dead on arrival, and either way, an OS swap at this point would just be too risky for Amazon, who'll already be tossing the dice with a smartphone gambit in the first place.

Furthermore, Citigroup's initial Amazon Phone report from 2011 claimed that the bookseller would have to pay royalties to Microsoft, all but spelling out that the phone would be another Android device.

TechRadar's Amazon Phone wish list

We at TechRadar aren't immune to the charms of an Amazon Phone, even if it does only exist in the imaginations of analysts and tech bloggers at the moment.

That's where this wish list of Amazon Phone features came from, as well, after all.

On the list are such far-fetched notions as an at-cost Amazon Phone price point, something that's basically been assumed all along, as well as slick cloud and streaming integration, a refreshed app store, exclusive shopping discounts, and killer hardware features like NFC.

Whether any of that will actually come to fruition - or whether the Amazon truly even exists or really is just a figment of a thousand overactive imaginations - will be seen only when Amazon decides to step out of the shadows and into the firelight.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/amazon-phone-release-date-news-and-rumors-1085821

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Nokia readies aluminum Lumia 928 with xenon flash for Verizon

A curious rumor surfaced today, saying that Nokia Lumia 920 for Verizon will be called Lumia 928 and will feature a different shell and a xenon flash.

The Nokia Lumia 928 is rumored to replace the polycarbonate body with an aluminum chassis. The design will also change to something similar with the Lumia 720 and its squared edges. The Nokia Lumia 928 is also expected to be lighter and thinner than its international and AT&T version.

Finally, the Lumia 928 for Verizon will feature a xenon flash in addition to the LED one, which will improve the image quality in low-light conditions.

The rest of the specs sheet (screen, chipset, OS, connectivity) remains the same as the international Lumia 920 model.

Source

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/verizon_is_getting_redesigned_aluminum_lumia_928_with_xenon_flash-news-5682.php

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If Samsung's design is lazy, it could cripple the Galaxy S4

Change the record already, Samsung

We'll be honest - we're falling over ourselves with excitement here as the Samsung Galaxy S4 unveiling gets ever closer, but we can't help but fear it's going to be somewhat of an anticlimax.

The Samsung Express has been charging through the smartphone stations over the past couple of years, but like all great masters of the rails it has to come to a halt at some point, and the launch of the Galaxy S4 may be that tipping point.

"But why now?" we hear you cry. Well, there's no question that Samsung is going to continue to innovate the technology under the hood of the S4, but there's the fear that design is getting overlooked which could kill its current dominance.

We've seen the Sony Xperia Z and HTC One launched this year, both of which explore new design paths for the firms and see the inclusion of premium materials such as toughened glass and brushed aluminium.

Is plastic still fantastic?

Samsung though looks set to keep the plastic clad chassis which has served it, admittedly well, over the past three iterations of this top-end smartphone, but times are changing and it will increasingly struggle to stand out as a premium handset.

There are a number of people who won't be phased by the plastic exterior of the handset, and some will argue the Galaxy S4 will actually benefit from this allowing for more flex and thus a higher resistance to bumps and knocks.

However the 'plastic = cheap' philosophy still stands in many people's mind and since the Samsung Galaxy S4 isn't going to cost less than its premium clad rivals (unless Samsung pulls a highly unlikely Nexus 4 price crash) it's going to feel a little sub-par in the hand over the Xperia Z, One and even the iPhone 5.

To the average consumer in store that's going to potentially make the Galaxy S4 a difficult sell as customers want the new smartphone they're spending a small fortune on to actually feel like it justifies the price.

Samsung managed to dodge this bullet with the Galaxy S2 and Galaxy S3 by overloading the handsets with various specs and features, but the competition is more fierce than ever and it's going to take more than on-paper gloating to keep hold of the top spot.

History comes a knocking

It may seem pretty unlikely that the huge market share Samsung currently enjoys in the high-end smartphone arena will disappear overnight, but don't go thinking it's immune.

Look at the iPhone. Cast your minds back to the iPhone 3G and iPhone 4 and the frenzy which surrounded their launch saw the handsets heralded as game-changing and revolutionary.

Although Apple has banged out hyperbole at every subsequent iPhone launch event there's no getting away from the fact that the announcement of the iPhone 4S, and more recently the iPhone 5, have been met with a more muted response from the industry and fans alike.

While both are still excellent handsets - garnering 4.5/5 in our in-depth review process - there's been a noticeable lack of design inspiration and game changing features which left many slightly narked at the Cupertino-firms cheek of releasing more updated rather than brand new handsets.

Bye Bye Moto

Samsung will need to ensure it doesn't fall into the trap of resting on its laurels and assuming that it's now in an unassailable position - as the mighty can indeed fall.

The Motorola Razr V3 entered the mobile phone world in 2004 and blew our minds with its futuristic design and impossibly thin 13.9mm body, but then made the same thing again, and again, and again - now Motorola struggles to pique the interest of many when it quietly - almost bashfully - launches a new handset.

Hey guys, we're Moto, remember us?

We were secretly hoping the Galaxy S4 would see a new design twist from the Korean firm in an attempt to stay ahead of the game, but if the image teased by Samsung itself is anything to go by it looks like things are going to stay as they are.

While the Galaxy S3 and the Galaxy Note 2 aren't exactly hideous they didn't quite capture our imagination in the same way as the Razr V3, iPhone 4 or Galaxy S2 did and we fear when it comes to the fickle world of appearance the Galaxy S4 won't be able to gain that "it phone" status.

What if?

Of course the design isn't officially confirmed yet and Samsung could still throw in some curve balls.

If the Galaxy S4 does turn out to sport premium materials than this argument gets turned on its head, but from the vast swath of rumours we've sifted through that seems highly unlikely.

There's no doubt that the Samsung Galaxy S4 will sell by the bucket load, we just fear it won't be as many buckets as Samsung is hoping for and 2013 could well be the year it sees its lead dramatically shortened by an ever-improving chasing pack.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/if-samsungs-design-is-lazy-it-could-cripple-the-galaxy-s4-1136996

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Nokia 808 PureView and 701 get a firmware update

If you thought the Symbian platform was already dead, you though wrong. Nokia has just pushed a "Telephony update" for the Symbian OS on Nokia 701 and 808 PureView.

The update is small in size and you can get it over-the-air.

According to the log, the update is called Telephony update and brings "quality improvements". There are no new features to come with it, but the fact that Nokia pushed it probably means you better get it. It will most probably fix those network-switching glitches that some people were experiencing.

Source
Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_701_and_808_pureview_get_symbian_update-news-5680.php

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Motorola Mobility fires R&D staff in China, leaves only 200 salesmen

It's hard not to feel bad for Motorola and its belt-tightening measures and layoffs that were announced last week. On top of the 4000 employees that were sacked last year from Motorola, 1200 more will be shown the door in the coming weeks, and according to a report by Sina.com, the company's presence in China will be hit the hardest, as 800 more employees will be laid off.

As Motorola Mobility Beijing branch staff reports, around 1000 of the company's R&D, technology and sales and marketing employees in mainland China are going to be affected. Additionally, Google's plan for Motorola is to eliminate all R&D and technical positions in the country.

Effectively, this would leave just about 200 sales and marketing people to try and sale Moto's devices to partners in China. According to sources familiar with the matter, Google is taking all the necessary steps to move Motorola's operations back to the United States.

Source | Via

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/motorola_mobility_fires_r_ampd_staff_in_china_leaves_only_200_salesmen-news-5679.php

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EE and Three both confirmed to stock Samsung Galaxy S4

Well, buy me a bagel and call me Alfred - it's only EE hinting at the S4!

Three and EE will both be stocking the next Samsung handset, with pre-registration already going live for the former.

While not naming the actual handset, Three stated: "The latest flagship addition to the popular Galaxy range of mobile devices will be revealed to the world in New York on March 14th."

There's no information beyond that, and sadly no Galaxy S4 price or release date – but then again, we'd be gobsmacked if there had been. You can pre-register with Three here.

EE Squared

EE has joined the party too, but more cryptically – it's posted a picture to its Twitter feed of the banner in Times Square.

It's not an actual confirmation, but there's no way the network would be talking up the next flagship handset otherwise.

EE also upped the crypticity with this response to our question as to whether it will have a pre-registration page: "As the only UK network to offer superfast 4G, we regularly introduce new handsets to our range, to provide our customers with a choice of the latest high end smartphones"

Let's be honest here: if any of the networks DON'T take the Samsung Galaxy S4 it will be more of a story. But hey – it's launch week, so we can't help but bring you every juicy morsel ahead of our coverage of the launch event itself.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/ee-and-three-both-confirmed-to-stock-samsung-galaxy-s4-1136983

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More Motorola X chatter points towards Key Lime Pie debut

Are we about to say 'Hello Moto' again?

The Motorola X is slowly becoming more likely as new sources claim to reveal details about Google's next Nexus smartphone.

Ever since Google took over Motorola Mobility last year we've been waiting for the search giant to harness its new found handset division for a new Nexus device and, as rumours ramp up around the Motorola X, we may finally get our wish.

Initially a blurry press image and a set of specs hit the web via Dutch site Android World, but these were later dismissed after it was revealed the information was more fabricated than fact.

It doesn't stop there though, as Australian website AusDroid now claims to have gotten wind of the real specifications for the Motorola X from a "well placed individual".

The pie is almost ready

It's still up for debate just how "well placed" the source actually is, so we're taking the following details with the required dosage of salt.

Apparently the Motorola X will sport a 5-inch full HD display, although it could drop to 4.7-inches as there are apparent difficulties in sourcing the 5-inch choice.

Round the back you'll probably be greeted with a 10MP snapper - which is a departure from the 16MP lens which had been touted previously - plus there's an outside chance of what would be a market-leading 5MP front-facing camera.

We raised eyebrows at the suggestion the Motorola X would sport a dual-core processor, considering the Nexus 4 sports a punchy quad-core offering we'd find it odd if Google was to dial down the power.

It's currently thought that the Motorola X will be the first handset to carry Google's upcoming Key Lime Pie version of Android, and both the new device and OS could feature at the firm's I/O event in May.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/more-motorola-x-chatter-points-towards-key-lime-pie-debut-1136954

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iPhone 5S release date, news and rumours

Could the 5S be just around the corner?

The iPhone 5 may only be around six months old, but we're already hearing information about a successor. In keeping with Apple's naming convention this should end up being called the iPhone 5S.

The early arrival of the iPad 4 and the iPad mini - just eight months after the release of the iPad 3 in March - has meant that Apple still has the ability to surprise and we could well see an iPhone 5S appear earlier than expected.

Nevertheless, it's more likely that the iPhone 5S will hit stores in the latter part of 2013, following the trend set by the iPhone 5 and 4S. It's even possible that Apple will skip the iPhone 5S and hop right on to the iPhone 6, though there is little suggestion that this would be the case.

And, as for the software, we're expecting that to be revised too. Some developers contacted The Next Web in early January to say they had seen a new iPhone6.1 identifer in logs - a device running iOS 7.

Apple's past 'S' models have featured the same shell as the core model, though with different features and slightly different tech specs.

The iPhone 5S isn't expected to differentiate itself from the iPhone 5 too drastically, though a better camera and slightly faster processor will surely be part of the package.

One analyst has claimed Apple could use the iPhone 5S to increase its margin for iPhones as a result of falling profitability.

iPhone 5S release date

That means the iPhone 5S release date could be as early Spring 2013. However, we believe it's still likely that we'll see another iPhone later in 2013.

But that's not what everybody thinks: the Chinese-language Commercial Times estimates that full commercial production of the rumored iPhone 5S has begun already. That's borne out by further rumors suggesting a March manufacturing start date, followed by a mid-year release.

Digitimes reckons the iPhone 5S release date will be a little later, citing predicted sales targets of relevant component manufacturers. "Apple is expected to introduce its next-generation iPad and iPhone series around the middle of 2013... Component orders placed by Apple, which climbed to high levels prior to the iPhone 5 rollout, will rise again between March and April, the observers indicated."

iMore rumours in early March pointed to the 5S being out in August 2013.

iPhone 5S display

iPhone 5S or iPhone 6 will include a Super HD screen display and camera according to new reports in December 2012. The China Times says a 'Touch On Display' panel is being developed by Taiwanese supplier Innolux with 10 point multi-touch and a 0.5mm thickness. Apparently the site spoke to sources inside Apple's supply chain.

iPhone 5S casing

According to further rumours, the iPhone 5S might not be the only Apple handset we see this year - rumours abound about cheaper, plastic iPhones, while Apple could be readying an even bigger smartphone to launch in June, apparently called the iPhone Math.

According to the hit-and-miss China Times wesbite the iPhone Math will carry a sizable 4.8-inch display and an 8MP camera.

The new, larger, lower-cost handset could be aimed at emerging markets such as China.

However, it remains likely that the iPhone 5s will simply use the iPhone 5 shell given Apple's penchant for doing this with the iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4S.

iPhone 5S camera

In January 2013 iLounge received information that indicated the handset would sport the same design as the iPhone 5 with the key difference being a beefier camera and larger flash on the back.

That's hardly ground breaking from Apple, with the touted 13MP camera on the 5S hardly bucking the trend considering the Sony Xperia Z already has this and we'd expect the Samsung Galaxy S4 to offer up something similar.

New rumours from January 2013 pointed towards the iPhone 5S having a 13MP camera as well.

Have we already seen the iPhone 5S?

It was reported on 6 December that images of a purported next-generation iPhone have surfaced on French website Nowhereelse.fr, revealing an exterior virtually identical to the current iPhone 5 but with slightly different internals.

It appears little will change inside the next iPhone [Image credit: Nowhereelse.fr]

Phones Review suggests that a dual-SIM iPhone 5S could be released, hot on the heels of a rumoured Samsung Galaxy S4.

More parts appeared in photos shown by BGR towards the end of January 2013.

iPhone 5S NFC

Rumours have abounded for years that the iPhone will incorporate NFC at some stage, but this has proved unfounded. Indeed, Apple decided to incorporate Passbook into the iPhone 5 and iOS 6 as a way to provide a similar, if different, feature.

Now, according to the often-wrong China Times, Apple is rumoured to be equipping the 5S with NFC in addition to a fingerprint scanner for added security. We're really not sure about this one, though rumours of fingerprint scanners and NFC support in Apple's devices trace back to last July when Apple bought mobile security firm AuthenTec for $356 million (UK£238 million, UA$346 million).

It's possible, then.

iPhone 5S wireless charging

According to CP Tech, Apple filed a patent application last month for Wireless Power Utilization, a wireless charging system with near-field magnetic resonance (NFMR). That means we'll get wireless charging at last.

Needless to say, TechRadar will be keeping a close eye on all the iPhone 5S rumors and will bring you the latest developments as they emerge - on this very page.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/iphone-5s-release-date-news-and-rumours-1111911

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Samsung Galaxy S IV I9502 video surfaces, reveals more secrets

The Samsung Galaxy S III was a master-class in secret keeping by Samsung, but its successor seems much harder to keep under wraps. Yesterday we saw the first live photos of the alleged dual-SIM version of the Galaxy S IV for China Unicom and now we get to see a prototype unit on video.

Given the similarities between the leaked smartphone and the official image that Samsung teased earlier today, it's quite possible that this is, in fact, the real deal. Let's have a look at the video first:

The most important thing to notice is, of course the Samsung Galaxy S IV design, which is pretty similar to that of its predecessor. The back panel seems to be made of a different kind of plastic, though, and the smartphone seems to be slimmer overall (judging by size of the standard 3.5mm audio jack compared to the overall thickness).

A quick screenshot-based calculation points to a thickness of just under 8mm, which is a notable improvement over the 8.6mm of the Galaxy S III, but then again, the resolution of the video is a quite low so take this with a pinch of salt.

The video also shows us a confirmation of the Samsung Galaxy S IV removable back panel, hot-swappable microSD card slot and 2600 mAh battery. The loudspeaker has also been relocated from alongside the camera lens to the bottom left corner of the back panel.

Towards the end we also get a glimpse of the system info screen of the main menu, which shows the Android 4.2.1 platform that the Galaxy S IV will likely be running at launch.

Source

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_s_iv_i9502_video_surfaces_reveals_more_secrets-news-5678.php

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Samsung teases with Galaxy S4 image, looks suspiciously like Galaxy S3

It's an image striaght out of Samsung, but it seems to be missing a few things

Bad news if you're not a fan of the Samsung Galaxy S3 styling as the first official teaser from the Korean firm has revealed the hotly anticipated Samsung Galaxy S4 is set to sport a similar design to its plastic clad brother.

Samsung US posted the picture on its Twitter feed yesterday evening, coupled with the message: "The countdown for #TheNextBigThing has begun. Who's ready for the Global Unpacked Event on March 14?"

The handset in the image is heavily in shadow, with the top left portion basking in the eerie light revealing a volume rocker switch on the left and the same curved edges as the Galaxy S3.

I can't hear you

We not completely convinced that this is the real deal though, as there's no sign of an earpiece, front facing camera or sensors above the screen - with just the Samsung logo occupying this space.

There have been a handful of leaked images claiming to show the Galaxy S4 over the last few months, although none have been totally convincing but it seems likely that Samsung isn't going to be drastically changing its design ethos for its next flagship iteration.

Thankfully we only have a couple of days to wait until the Samsung Galaxy S4 is officially unveiled in New York and TechRadar will be there to bring you all the news as it breaks.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/samsung-teases-with-galaxy-s4-image-looks-suspiciously-like-galaxy-s3-1136907

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BlackBerry still on the menu for Lenovo

Could Lenovo's plentiful financial resources revive BlackBerry?

Chinese PC manufacturer Lenovo has once again indicated it is interested in a potential BlackBerry deal, sending shares in the Canadian smartphone company soaring on Monday.

Speaking to French newspaper Les Echos, Lenovo CEO Yang Yuanqing admitted that a buyout might be in the cards as the company seeks to gain more traction in the western mobile market.

He said that a deal "could possibly make sense, but first I need to analyze the market and understand what exactly the importance of this company is."

The inflammatory comments come after CFO Wong Wai Ming told Bloomberg in January that Lenovo was "looking at all opportunities," one of which was BlackBerry.

Rescue operation?

When Lenovo first publicly admitted its potential interest in buying the former mobile kingpin, BlackBerry CEO Thorsten Heins didn't exactly deny the possibility of a a partnership.

Heins, who in the past has not ruled out investment, a buyout or licensing BlackBerry 10 to other manufacturers said: "As always with these topics, we will talk about things when they are ready to be talked about and ready to be announced.

"There are other constituents in the process that need to be involved - if there would be anything."

How willing RIM is to sell-up, accept investment or entertain a takeover bid remains to be seen.

Rather than crying over its fall from grace, the company has been on a PR offensive since it launched the first handsets running BB10 on January 30, claiming strong early sales, while setting its sights on place in the mobile OS race.

Fair share

Monday's comments boosted the company formerly-known-as-RIM's share price, sending it up 14 per cent.

Shares are up 26 per cent overall in 2013, Bloomberg reports, following a long period in the doldrums.

The next we may hear on the matter of Lenovo's interests is when Heins delivers the company's quarterly results to investors in a conference call on March 28.

That's unless Lenovo continues to continue to speak publicly on the matter.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/blackberry-still-on-the-menu-for-lenovo-1136864

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