Wednesday, January 22, 2014

LG Nexus 5 could have six new color options on the way

It appears that the LG Nexus 5 might soon turn into more mainstream device than any of its predecessors. A leaked video shows the Android reference handset in the Google Play Store, sporting a total of eight color options on offer.


Original Video- More videos at TinyPic

As you can see in the brief clip above, six new Nexus 5 color options appear alongside the black and white currently on offer - yellow, red, blue, green, orange, and purple. Despite the video’s brief duration and far from perfect quality, everything about it appears to be the real deal.

There is no word on the release date for the new Nexus 5 colors just yet. Hopefully, we won’t have to wait long to get the full scoop.

Source


Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/lg_nexus_5_could_have_six_new_color_options_on_the_way___-news-7636.php

iPhone 'white screen of death' expected to be fixed in iOS 7 update

iPhone 'white screen of death' expected to be fixed in iOS 7 update
Always resets are the exact worst time

Upgrading to iOS 7 gave iPhone users a fresh coat of paint on Apple's stale user interface, but it also gave the new, much more unwelcome "white screen of death" glitch.

Now the company is said to be in the process of fixing this random soft reboot problem, four months after the mobile operating system launched worldwide.

"We have a fix in an upcoming software update for a bug that can occasionally cause a home screen crash," Apple spokesperson Trudy Muller told Mashable.

This is the same reset glitch that sometimes goes by the name "black screen of death." In these cases, the phone reboot color is simply matching the black or newer space gray iPhone 5S bezel color.

It's the same obnoxious bug through and through.

iOS 7.1 around the corner

This erratic iPhone behavior is likely to be rolled into iOS 7.1, though Apple didn't go as far as to confirm this timing.

That may be because the iOS 7.1 release date for the public consumption is currently unknown. Right now, the fourth beta is in the hands (or handsets) of developers for testing purposes.

The beta hints that the long-awaited iOS in the Car feature will jumpstart at the same time this first major iOS 7 update rolls out.

Other minor bug fixes and improvements are possible for iOS 7.1, with a more robust feature list being predicted for iOS 8.


Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/iphone-white-screen-of-death-expected-to-be-fixed-in-ios-7-update-1217848

Apple reportedly decided on a 4.8” display for next iPhone

According to a note to investors by the Wall Street analyst Timothy Arcuri of Cowen and Company, Apple has already decided on the screen size of the next iPhone. The device will reportedly feature a 4.8” display when it goes official.

The information is said to be based on checks within Apple’s supply chain. In addition to the larger display, the upcoming iPhone will support the zippy Wi-Fi 802.11ac standard, as well as major software innovations brought by the next major iOS release.

A report on an Apple iPhone with a larger display in the pipeline is hardly a surprise – we’ve received a word about it on couple of occasions already. However, the analyst doesn't mention anything about the rumored 5.7” phablet by Apple.

If Apple remains true to its current release schedule, the next iPhone will likely break cover in September. Recent rumors however, suggest a launch time as early as June.

Source | Via


Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/apple_reportedly_decided_on_a_48_display_for_next_iphone_-news-7635.php

Facebook testing mobile ad network, shouldn't affect your news feed...for now

Facebook testing mobile ad network, shouldn't affect your news feed...for now
Facebook continues to weave an advertorial web

It seems like Facebook is trying to be a good samaritan ... to advertisers.

The social media giant announced it will begin testing a mobile ad network with a small group of advertisers and app developers.

Similar experiments have been done in the past without any solid results, but this time Facebook will have a guiding hand in the matter by "working directly with a small number of advertisers and publishers, rather than an outside ad-serving platform."

The app companies in question have not been mentioned.

So what?

While the thought of "more ads" is enough to punch your computer screen or throw your phone at the wall, it seems like none of this will directly affect your Facebook news feed.

For now, it looks like the advertisers and the third party apps will simply be benefitting from Facebook's "rich targeting," with the social media site reaping the revenue.

But it may only be a matter of time until all the outside testing begins to trickle into Facebook's own mobile app to rake in more dough.

The company has already been quite ambitious with its marketing endeavors like calling a truce with Google to sell ad space, and implementing sponsored Instagram photos. And don't forget the video ads.

Don't say we didn't warn you.


Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/facebook-testing-mobile-ad-network-shouldn-t-affect-your-news-feed-for-now-1217804

Apple wins key autocorrect victory in Samsung patent dispute

Apple wins key autocorrect victory in Samsung patent dispute
It's Samsung's predictive text system that's reportedly the problem

Samsung and Apple are about to go back to court, and Apple is already coming out ahead in pre-trial proceedings.

Judge Lucy Koh, who's been dealing with these two companies' bickering for years, has granted Apple two victories against Samsung as the March trial approaches.

One has to do with an autocorrect patent held by Apple; Judge Koh determined that Samsung's Android smartphones like the Galaxy Nexus and the Galaxy Note, which use a system that guesses which words users are typing and displays its guesses in real time, do infringe on it.

Samsung will now need to prove that Apple's patent is invalid in order to win in March.

Autocorrect this

The other blow relates to a Samsung patent for syncing media between devices, which Judge Koh ruled to be invalid.

She reportedly agreed with Apple's arguments that the Samsung-owned patent added too little to systems that existed before it to be considered valid.

That means Samsung will have only four claims left to fight over when the March trial arrives.

Alternatively, Apple and Samsung might find a solution when they duke it out privately in February, though considering how pointless their settlement talks have been in the past it's more likely this case will go to trial in March.

One of a kind

It's also come to light recently that Apple has been insisting that any settlement it reaches with Samsung has to include an anti-cloning provision.

What this means is that Samsung would be prevented from "copying" Apple products in the future.

Considering this years-long battle is at least partially based on Samsung's assertion that it doesn't copy Apple products, we're guessing that hasn't gone over well with the Korean company.

  • Check out TechRadar's review of the latest and greatest Apple phone, the iPhone 5S.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/world-of-tech/apple-wins-key-autocorrect-victory-in-samsung-patent-dispute-1217788

Three banned from using 3.9G term after tattletale EE runs to the ASA

Three banned from using 3.9G term after tattletale EE runs to the ASA
EE takes umbrage with Three's 3.9G boasts

Mobile network Three is no longer permitted to use the term 3.9G to describe its 'Superfast' DC-HSDPA data speeds, following a complaint from rival network EE.

EE had taken umbrage with the use of 3.9G in Three's advertising and marketing materials as it gave the impression that the speeds were 'very close' to those offered on a 4G LTE network and took its discontent to the Advertising Standards Agency.

Three claimed its use of 3.9G was to inform potential customers that its speeds were one step down from 4G and even demonstrated instances where DC-HSPDA exceeded speeds offered through 4G

However, the ASA were having none, upheld EE's claim that Three's claim was misleading and swung a vicious ban hammer in Three's direction, prohibiting the use of 3.9G from now on.

Close but no cigar

The ASA said" "Three provided information on the differences between 3G DC-HSDPA and 4G LTE technology. [It] said it showed that DC-HSDPA was extremely close to 4G LTE in performance, and in some cases outperformed it. [It] said the 1, 2, 3 and 4 mobile phone generation technologies were not based on technical standards, but merely described the evolutionary nature of the user experience."

"[It] said that although they had not intended the term '3.9G' as a technical one, [it] believed it was not misleading because [its] DC-HSDPA network was very close in terms of capability to 4G LTE."

Presumably stood behind the ASA poking its tongue out at Three, an EE spokesperson said: "We're pleased the ASA agrees that this ad was misleading."

Three began its 4G roll out in December, but is prepared to bide its time before giving the next generation mobile broadband tech the hard sell.


Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/three-banned-from-using-3-9g-term-after-tattletale-ee-runs-to-the-asa-1217784

BlackBerry deal with US Defence Department sends shares sky high

BlackBerry deal with US Defence Department sends shares sky high
Back in business

BlackBerry has maintained its position with the US government as the go-to choice for secure smartphones, thanks to a new deal with the Defence Department that sent shares skyrocketing.

The Defence Information Systems Agency (DISA) will be adding a whopping 80,000 BlackBerry phones to a new management network at the end of January, which will handle unclassified documents and employ a military app store. In contrast, only 1,800 Google Android and Apple iOS devices will be used.

BlackBerry, formerly known as Research In Motion, has traditionally been the company of choice for government contracts, largely due to its improved security such as email encryption, and a suite of enterprise and productivity features. Even US President Barack Obama is known for his use of a BlackBerry.

In recent years, however, Google and Apple have gained ground, threatening the very survival of BlackBerry, which has failed to attract customers in the booming consumer market. Shares at the company fell by a staggering 37 per cent last year, making it vital that it secures more lucrative government and enterprise deals.

The big business recovery

BlackBerry's established position with big businesses has given it a lifeline that it desperately needs to hang on to. It has attempted to expand beyond its comfort zone with the keyboardless Z10 and Z30, but its new CEO John Chen has promised to return the company to its roots by bringing more devices with physical keyboards to the market.

Bloomberg cited a report by Citron Research released earlier this month, which highlighted BlackBerry as a good investment with "a healthy balance sheet" and "ample liquidity." It said that shares should be worth $15 (£9, AU$17), just over one and a half times the current value, so there is clearly still room for growth.

The new government deal has given BlackBerry a major boost, with stock prices rising by as much as 12 per cent. Shares at BlackBerry were up by $0.85 (£0.51, AU$0.96) to $9.93 (£6, AU$11.20), an increase of 9.36 per cent, at the time of writing.


Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/blackberry-deal-with-us-defence-department-sends-shares-sky-high-1217772

Press images of Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo leaked

It seems that when we brought you the news about the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo with our exclusive coverage of its features last week we opened some sort of floodgates. The phablet can't stay out of the spotlight ever since, making numerous appearances through live images, benchmark scores and the FCC certification process.

Now, we have the press images of the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo that show the design of the phablet in all its glory. According to a report from SamMobile, the device is now available for pre-ordering in Belgium and the upcoming phablet is said to carry a price tag of €599 (about $812).

Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo sits right between the Galaxy Note 2 and the current flagship phablet, the Galaxy Note 3. The smartphone will feature a 5.55-inch 720p Super AMOLED display, a brand new Exynos chipset with a hexa-core CPU (1.7GHz dual core + 1.3 GHz quad core), 2 GB of RAM, 8 megapixel rear camera, 16 GB internal memory and a 3,100mAh battery.

The official announcement of the Galaxy Note 3 Neo might happen any day now, given the rate at which these leaks are coming. Worst case scenario, we'll have to wait until the Mobile World Congress, which kicks off on February 24 in Barcelona.

Source


Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/press_images_of_samsung_galaxy_note_3_neo_leaked-news-7634.php

AT&T expands its 4G LTE coverage to 20 new markets

AT&T has officially announced that it has expanded its 4G LTE coverage to several new markets in order to provide enhanced experience and faster network speeds to more of its consumers.



The service is now available in El Centro, Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, Jasper, Cedar Rapids, Danville, Richmond, Somerset, Cadillac, Niles-Benton Harbor, Tunica, East Liverpool, Erie, New Castle, Aguadilla-Isabela-San Sebastian, Fajardo, Ponce, Barre, Burlington, Wheeling and La Crosse.

If you are from any of the above mentioned regions, then you can head on to the AT&T website to know more about the data plans that will let you take advantage of the speedier network that has now blessed your area.

Source


Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/at_t_expands_its_4g_lte_coverage_to_20_new_markets-news-7632.php

Potatoes set to power phones and tablets within 3 years

Potatoes set to power phones and tablets within 3 years
Potato power!

The battery technology that currently sits behind the screens of all our screen heavy smartphones and tablets may be in line for a revolution following research at Virginia Tech University.

With the launch of the Samsung Galaxy S5 round the corner, complete with its supposed 2900mAh battery that will charge in under 2 hours, it is clear that batteries are being heavily looked at.

Virginia Tech's breakthrough comes from using energies that occur in natural sugars, rather than using chemicals like Lithium that graces modern batteries.

Sugar based batteries are ideal for use in mobile phones as, unlike other bio-energies including Hydrogen and Methanol, the sugar solutions are non-explosive.

It's only logical

According to Professor Y H Percival Zhang "it's only logical that we try to harness this natural power in an environmentally friendly way to produce a battery."

This natural power is harnessed from starch, found in foodstuffs such as the humble potato, broken down "slowly step-by-step by using an enzyme cascade" said Zhang.

By using this process, significant qualities of electrons are released to generate a current.

Sugar solutions have been experimented with before, but the breakthrough has come with the research team claiming the new batteries produce significantly more energy, as well as storing up to 10 times more energy than their chemical based counterparts

The report submitted to Nature Communications suggests that these new batteries could be being used to power our modern gadgets within three years, so we could be set to see the technology debut in the Samsung Galaxy S8 or Apple iPhone 7S.


Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/potatoes-set-to-power-phones-and-tablets-within-3-years-1217720

HTC M8 and HTC D310w certified, announcement imminent

The yet-to-be announced HTC M8, which is rumored as the successor of the company's flagship, the HTC One has shown up on the POSTEL (the Indonesian equivalent of the FCC) along with another device with model number D310w.

HTC D310w is showing up for the first time and the device could well belong to the Desire series of mid-range affordable smartphones.

Meanwhile, the recently leaked user agent profile from the HTC website confirmed that the screen resolution of the HTC M8 will be 1920 x 1080 pixels, which is same as on the HTC One. Apart from that, the upcoming smartphone is rumored to sport a 4.9" or 5", a Snapdragon 800 chipset and an Ultrapixel camera.

The POSTEL listing also suggests that the HTC M8 is drawing closer to its release. The announcement of HTC's new flagship smartphone at MWC 2014 seems very likely, but there is no official word just yet.

Source | Via


Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/htc_m8_and_htc_d310w_surface_on_postel_-news-7631.php

Sharp Aquos mini SHL 24 and Aquos Pad SHT22 go official

Sharp has officially unveiled a tablet dubbed Aquos Pad SHT22 and a smartphone named Aquos mini SHL24. Both devices are equipped with IGZO displays, which are more power efficient than the regular TFT LCD panels.

Sharp's newest additions have a very thin bezel on three of their edges and the company calls it EDGEST design. Better still, both devices have an IP 57 certification testifying of water resistance up to 1 meter for 30 minutes.

Aquos mini SHL24

Sharp's latest smartphone comes out of the box with a 4.5-inch IZO display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. The device is powered by a Snapdragon 800 processor along with 2 GB of RAM and features a 13 megapixel rear camera with f/1.9 aperture.

Aquos mini has 16 GB of internal memory and has Android 4.2 Jelly Bean on-board. Lastly, the juice for the smartphone is provided by a 2,120mAh battery. The smartphone measures 63 x 124 x 9.9mm and weighs only 115 grams.

Aquos Pad SHT22

The Aquos Pad SHT22 sports a 7-inch IGZO display with a resolution of 1920 x 1200 pixels. The slate features a Snapdragon 800 processor with four Krait 400 CPU cores clocked at 2.3 GHz, 2 GB of RAM 13 megapixel rear camera, 2 megapixel front shooter and 16 GB of internal storage with the ability to expand memory via microSD slot.

The rear camera of the slate has a "Bright lens" with an f/1.9 aperture, BrightEye image processor and NightCatch feature that allows you to capture quality images in low light conditions. Aquos Pad measures 104 x 173 x 9.9 and weighs about 263 grams. The slate runs on Android 4.2 Jelly Bean and packs a 4,080mAh battery.

Unfortunately, there are no details about the pricing and the availability of either device, but we know that the Aquos mini will be available in pink, blue, yellow green and white.

Source 1 | Source 2 | Via


Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/sharp_aquos_mini_shl_24_and_aquos_pad_sht22_go_official_-news-7629.php

Get marathon fit with your smartphone: the half / full marathon

Get marathon fit with your smartphone: the half / full marathon
Time to tackle the marathon

If the New Year has inspired you to get fighting fit, then you've hit the right page. Technology has the tools to help you get in the shape of your life but it's not easy to know which product is right for your goals.

We've enlisted the help of T3.com Editor-in-chief and ultra runner Kieran Alger to put together a four-part guide to help you uncover everything you need to go from couch slouch to marathon finisher.

If you're reading this we're going to assume three things. Number one, you've conquered the couch to 5k. Number two: you've successfully trotted out a 10k. Three: there's now a nagging question in your new runner's brain – could I go the distance and do a half or full marathon? The answer you're looking for is YES YOU CAN. You just need a little help.

In the final part of our four-step guide to getting marathon fit with your smartphone, follow our essential tips and we'll show you how you can use your phone to go the full 26.2.

1. Get a training plan that matches your goals

WalkJogRun

Whether you're looking to walk your first half marathon or run your twentieth full 26.2 miles, WalkJogRun is a fantastic training app created by coach and RunnersWorld.com expert Jenny Hadfield.

It'll tell you exactly how far you need to run, walk or jog each to day to train to reach your marathon goal. There are 23 carefully crafted training plans to choose from, covering everything from the absolute beginner to an advanced runner trying to hit a new personal best.

£2.99, iOS

Adidas miCoach

We've mentioned the miCoach app before, but the level of detail you get makes it worthy of a second appearance. The app lets you plug in your goal, including distance, date and time, asks for details - like how many times you'd like to train - and your current level of fitness and then fires out your own personalised marathon training plan.

You can view it all on your phone and the app uses your GPS tracking to make sure you're doing each session at the right pace and intensity, delivering coaching advice direct to your headphones.

Free, Android and iOS

Get marathon fit with your smartphone

2. Keep the fun in the run

Different types of training sessions are essential for improving your running to marathon standard. You'll need a good mix of long slow miles, hills, intervals, tempo runs and speed work.

Putting in all those hours on the road, during the cold winter months, is the thing most people find hardest. It can be a lonely place out there at 7pm on a Monday night but it doesn't have to be dull. These apps will help you keep the training fresh and add a healthy dose of fun into the mix.

Fartlek: Zombies Run

Fartlek is a form of training whose name comes from Sweden - the literal translation is 'speed play'. It involves breaking your run down into segments of varying length and then running them at different speeds.

A 100m fast pace followed by 50m recovery, then a 200m medium pace, and 300m recovery. You can do this on your own but Zombies Run recreates this for you by using your smartphone's GPS to create the feeling that you're being chased by hordes of the flesh hungry undead. Your job is to avoid them.

iOS and Android

Tempo: Strava Run

We recommended Strava Run as a good running app in part two and one of its strongest features makes it even more effective as a marathon training tool. The app works like any other GPS run-tracking app but lets you choose from a range of runs other people have completed and then go out to beat their time.

You can use this new form of competition as motivation for your tempo training, where you'll need to run a selected distance at a specific pace or heart rate.

Free, iOS and Android

Get marathon fit with your smartphone

3. Get the right fuel in your tank

It sounds obvious to say, but training and running a marathon is a whole different ball game to trotting out a 10k. You can't underestimate that. It means looking at what you eat to fuel your training, help you recover and actually power you on race day.

Myfitnesspal

A lot of people take up running to lose weight and see marathon training as the perfect motivation to drop a few pounds. However, it's vital that you're getting the right fuel for your training.

Myfitnesspal is a fantastic app that lets you track your daily intake, with detailed information on the main nutrient groups so you can ensure you're getting enough carbs, vitamins and all the vital fats. You can connect it with running apps like Endomondo to help make sure your calorie intake is at the right level, while the barcode scanner makes it a doddle to record almost any food.

Free, iOS and Android

Nom Nom Paleo

If you can get to the start line with more lean muscle mass and less of the blubbery stuff you'll run a better marathon. One popular eating plan for endurance runners is the Paleo diet that focuses on protein and getting your carbs from healthy vegetables rather than the gluten and wheat-filled pasta and bread.


The Nom Nom Paleo app gives you hundreds of fitness friendly Paleo recipes, taking the fuss out of fuelling your body with plenty to the right stuff.

£3.99, iOS

Get marathon fit with your smartphone

4. Motivation to make your journey social

We all know those people, the ones who constantly brag about their workouts and fitness. It's time to become one of them. Sharing your running progress on social networks is proven to keep you on the straight and narrow with your training.

Once your network of friends, family, colleagues and exes know you've signed up for a marathon, there's nowhere to hide. Failure is not an option. Plus you'll get some welcome pep talks along the way.

Blogging your journey is also a great way to stay motivated. It lets you track all the hard work you're putting in, helps you access advice from fellow marathoners and it brings the whole challenge to life. There are a few simple tools to make it easy to document your journey to marathon greatness.

Look up the Runblrs on Tumblr

Tumblr is a brilliantly easy blogging tool. Choose a URl, select from hundreds of free instant templates and with a few clicks you've got your own super-social website where you can add words, photos, video, quotes and links.

There's also a huge existing community you can tap into on #runblr or #fitblr, with thousands of runners and fitness types already sharing tips, keeping each other motivated and celebrating successes. It's like having a team of virtual running coaches, supporters and nutritionists.

Instagram

You're going to be putting in a lot of miles in a loads of new locations. En route you'll see things that amaze and confuse you in equal measure. Stopping to snap them not only offers a little breather from the run, but it's brilliant Instagram fodder.

You'll be able to show those lazy people still in bed at 6am on a Sunday morning what a beautiful sunrise over your local park looks like. Oh, and that cat with its head stuck in a bucket.

Get marathon fit with your smartphone

Essential Reading: Motivational e-reads to help you through the hard times

Running with the Kenyans

If you want to run faster, further and with better form, then why not learn from the undisputed world leaders? That's what runner and author, Adharanand Finn, decided to do.

This book tells his story as he heads to Kenyan running Mecca Iten for a slightly terrifying, intensive, six month training session with some of the world's fastest long distance athletes. Great tales, magical insights and the odd running secret are revealed.

What I talk about when I talk about running

Japanese novelist Haurki Murakami has been a lifelong runner. It's so much a part of his life that he has built the daily miles into his creative process, intrinsically linked to his ability to write.

This gripping and inspiring read follows this concept as Murakami discusses what it means to be a runner and push yourself beyond your limits.


Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/get-marathon-fit-with-your-smartphone-the-half-full-marathon-1217651

Samsung official confirms Tizen delayed once again

A Samsung official from the Samsung Electronics' Media Solution Center in South Korea has given a statement that Tizen will be, sadly and once again, delayed.

He shares no details on when the custom Lunux-based OS will hit the market but only says that previous plans were to release a smartphone running Tizen in the first half of this year in "several countries, including Korea and Russia".



This put the projected release date of Tizen, in the most optimistic case in the second half of the year and not, as previously rumored, at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona in February. The news comes after NTT DoCoMo decided that releasing a Tizen-powered smartphone in this current market climate in Japan is not a smart move.

Meanwhile we also got confirmation that Tizen 3.0 has 64-bit processor and LTE-A advanced connectivity support, so at least it won't be terribly outdated when (and if at all) it launches.

Source | Via


Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_official_confirms_tizen_delayed_once_again-news-7630.php

Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Olympic Edition comes out

Back in October last year, Samsung announced the Galaxy Note 3 as the official phone for the Winter Olympics in the Russian city of Sochi. As the Games draw near the company also unveiled a dedicated Olympics edition that you can purchase as some sort of geeky souvenir.

Offered by Dutch carrier KPN, the Olympic Games Edition Samsung Galaxy Note 3 comes with a special flip cover case with a unique Sochi theme and box packaging along with tickets to skating sessions in Amsterdam. Buyers of the special edition will also get the chance to win a free ticket to see the Olympic Games in Sochi.

The phone will also be available in more European markets at a later time, but Samsung hasn't specified any particular dates or partners.

Moreover, Samsung will give a free Olympic edition Samsung Galaxy Note 3 to each Sochi 2014 athlete participating in the Games. We assume the Olympic Edition Galaxy Note 3 will come with the Samsung Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics app pre-installed.

Source | Via


Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_note_3_olympic_edition_comes_out-news-7628.php

Samsung found to infringe on yet another Apple patent

In the latest Apple vs. Samsung patent trial held in California's Northern District court, Judge Lucy Koh entered a summary judgment yesterday finding Samsung's Android-based devices as infringing on a specific patent held by Apple.



Besides being found as infringing of the text autocomplete patent used in iOS, Judge Koh has also tossed Samsung's patent related to "multimedia synchronization method and device". Koh claims that the latter patent - purchased in September 2011 some 5 months after the start of patent disputes between the two companies - was only acquired by Samsung to use against Apple in court.

The latest ruling increases Apple's likelihood of scoring a ruling in its favor once the multi-patent trial against Samsung begins on March 31 of this year. The summary judgment strengthens Apple's case for its patent related to the autocomplete function, not to mention the other four patents still in play. The dismissal of Samsung's patent leaves them with a total of four.

Check out the full 49-page summary judgement below:

Source | Via


Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_found_to_infringe_on_yet_another_apple_in_latest_trial-news-7627.php

Sony Xperia Z Ultra morphs into Wi-Fi-only tablet

Sony Xperia Z Ultra morphs into Wi-Fi-only tablet
It's morphin' time!

Updated: A Sony spokesperson has told TechRadar that there are currently "no plans to make this available outside of Japan". Sorry folks.

Original story below...

Just as we'd finally come to terms with the idea of phablets, Sony's mixing things up even more by launching a "tablet" version of its large Xperia Z Ultra.

What does that mean? Simply, it's just a Wi-Fi version of the handset, but Sony is acknowledging this version of the super-sized phone as a tablet in the press release before you start the "is it or isn't it?" arguments.

The Wi-Fi version appeared in a leak on Sony's website earlier in the week but the announcement is now official, however the handset is only available in Japan for the time being.

Pha... tabulous?

The specs of the handset are exactly the same - 6.4-inch 1080p display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor and 2GB of RAM. It's still as waterproof as ever, too.

But coming in at around $499, £300, AU$560 it's a fair bit dearer than rivals such as the Nexus 7.

We asked Sony whether we might see this handset break out of Japan but it declined to comment. It wouldn't surprise us if we see this one closer to home in the near future, and hopefully with a more attractive price tag.


Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/mobile-computing/tablets/sony-xperia-z-ultra-morphs-into-wi-fi-only-tablet-1217480

Samsung Galaxy S5 may finally abandon that physical home button

Samsung Galaxy S5 may finally abandon that physical home button
Is it finally time to abandon buttons? (credit: Credit: USPTO)

As the launch of the Samsung Galaxy S5 edges closer, we have been treated to leaks of what the UI may look like, yet what the handset will look like has remained a mystery.. until now.

A patent granted by the USPTO contains designs for a buttonless smartphone, first filed on July 20 2012, signalling a major design change for the Korean manufacturer.

Samsung handsets have traditionally incorporated a home button and soft keys below the screen, and while it's been said that Samsung is keen to move away from the design of the Galaxy S4 as many (including ourselves) saw it as too similar to the Galaxy S3 - the patent suggest the overall design won't be radically different.

What about retina?

More interestingly the patent doesn't seem to show any sign of the oft rumoured retina scanner, although the design eludes to the inclusion of a fingerprint scanner.

An unexplained rectangle appears in the back of the handset, conveniently sitting in an ideal spot to scan your digits as you hold the device - perhaps it's the volume rocker, but that appears to be in its standard location on the side of the device.

We'll have to wait and see just how much of this design actually makes it to the final Galaxy S5, so keep your eyes peeled here for the latest news.


Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/samsung-galaxy-s5-may-finally-abandon-that-physical-home-button-1217535

Verizon gets exclusivity on Rose Gold Galaxy Note 3

Samsung unveiled a Rose Gold version of the Galaxy Note 3 in late November last year and a couple of days later announced it will launch in China in December. Now it has come to the US too as a Verizon exclusive, following a Korean launch early this year.

The Rose Gold Note 3 is based on the White one but with the silvery highlights (the sides, the earpiece, the top of the S Pen) colored in, you guessed it, rose gold. The exact details of the launch are unclear at the moment as Verizon's web site still only shows the regular Black and White versions.

However, leaked documents indicate that the Rose Gold version of the phablet will come with a $100 mail-in rebate.

The Rose Gold version was announced alongside a Red Samsung Galaxy Note 3 – that one is red all over (and the red leather back looks pretty cool). There's no sign of it in the US though, not yet anyway. It's already out in Korea, so maybe we'll see it after a few weeks delay too?

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Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/verizon_gets_exclusivity_on_rose_gold_galaxy_note_3-news-7626.php

Motorola boss hints at a super cheap smartphone

Motorola boss hints at a super cheap smartphone
The Moto cheap as chips

It seems that Motorola isn't resting on its budget based laurels, as it looks to crush the Moto G in the price stakes.

Talking to TrustedReviews, Motorola CEO Dennis Woodside questioned a need for higher price points saying "why can't these devices be $50? There's no reason that can't happen so we're going to push that."

This would give the potential device a price tag of about £30 (AU$56), a saving of approximately 75% over Motorola's cheaper handset, leaving it to compete against the more expensive feature phones and super budget smartphones.

The Moto G was expensive?

Unfortunately, we might not see the baby Moto G reach our shores as it may be targeted at emerging markets, with Woodside commenting "in much of the world $179 is a lot of money so there's a big market at a price point of less than $179".

Details as to when we might be able to see this super cheap handset, or just what could be inside are also missing, but needless to say we're not expecting a massive HD display or a bundle of cores.

Woodside may also have let slip a few more details regarding further customisation and Motorola's Project Ara modular smartphone, saying "Today you have colours and beginning of materials but you don't have screen size and you don't have functionality and we're going to bring all that in in the next year or so."


Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/motorola-boss-hints-at-a-super-cheap-smartphone-1217498