Monday, September 9, 2013

EE's 4G network gains pace in the UK, hits one million customers

British carrier EE was one of the first to offer 4G LTE in the UK, and it seems that high speed network availability is in high demand among Brits. EE announced today that it was able to pass the one million 4G customer mark four months ahead of its stated deadline.



Arriving early to the LTE party is paying big dividends to EE, as rival providers Vodafone and O2 have only just launched their own 4G networks less than two weeks ago, while Three won't have theirs up all the way until December.

According to EE, more than 100 cities throughout the UK are able to take advantage of its 4G network, which is allegedly the fastest in Europe, and faster than those in the US and Japan. The UK also has some of the fastest global 4G adoption rates.

Via


Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/ees_4g_network_dominates_in_the_uk_hits_one_million_customers-news-6750.php

LG D820 is CDMA G2 model, not the Nexus 5

Three days ago we told you about an upcoming LG D820 that has already passed the FCC certification. Lots of people thought this might be the next Nexus 5 that is rumored to be manufactured once again by LG. It was even said to have leaked in a photo from the Android 4.4 KitKat announcement.

Unfortunately, according to the notorious evleaks, the D820 model is the CDMA version of the LG G2 flagship and not the next Nexus.

Sorry Nexus fans: LG D820 is just a CDMA G2 variant.

— @evleaks (@evleaks) September 9, 2013

The Nexus 5 is coming though and we'll probably see its announcement next month, but as it turns out D820 is not the model name we are looking for. Move along.

Meanwhile you are welcomed to check our in-depth review of the LG G2 right here.

Source


Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/lg_d820_is_cdma_g2_model_not_the_nexus_5-news-6749.php

Nokia Lumia 1520 springs another leak, new photos gush out

Nokia Lumia 1520 springs another leak, new photos gush out
Campaign to bring back the Bandit starts here (credit: The Verge)

While it may be on the road to Redmond, that's not going to stop Nokia launching its first Windows 'Phablet' in the form of the Lumia 1520 which has come out of hiding in a big way.

The Verge got its hands on an album's worth of photos of the thing, with the Lumia 1520 seemingly boasting a 6-inch screen capable of 1080p Full HD playback.

The tipster responsible also reckons the handset will come with 2GB of RAM, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor, 32GB of on-board memory and an SD slot to expand that out.

Camera talk

Peering at the photos reveals that traditional Nokia Lumia rounded-corner styling, an array of buttons on the edges of the handset, a front-facing camera of indeterminate megapixellage and a slightly protruding rear-facing PureView snapper too.

Nokia Lumia 1520
Credit: The Verge

That camera isn't expected to be quite as heavy on the megapixels as the Nokia Lumia 1020's 41MP sensor.

We've heard tell of the Lumia 1520 before too: the upcoming device was codenamed Nokia Bandit until scourge of mobile phone secret keepers @evleaks let slip that "Nokia Bandit = Lumia 1520" on Twitter.

No official word on when the Lumia 1520 will officially become official, but you might want to keep an eye on September 26.

  • How will the Lumia 1520 measure up to the snap-happy 1020? Prime yourself with the Lumia 1020 review

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/nokia-lumia-1520-springs-another-leak-new-photos-gush-out-1179199

Sunday, September 8, 2013

Amazon smartphone not coming this year and not for free

Amazon smartphone not coming this year and not for free
Amazon tries on ambuigity: If this is real, it won't be free or out this year.

Late last week, former Wall Street Journal reporters Jessica Lessin and Amir Efrati wrote that according to people familiar with the matter, Amazon is looking into launching its phone for free.

Just two days after the initial report, according to Efrati on Lessin's blog, an Amazon.com Inc. spokesperson has said that the company would not launch an Amazon smartphone this year.

The report went on to say that "if it did launch one in the future, it 'would not be free'."

While this doesn't quite confirm the existence of an Amazon smartphone, the spokesperson doesn't outright deny that the retail giant may still be working on a handset either.

Not free, but still cheap?

Previous Amazon smartphone rumours have pegged the phone to retail at a very cheap $100-200 (around £60-120/AU$95-190).

The 7-inch Kindle Fire HD has shown that Amazon is capable of putting together smartphone-like hardware at below-$200 prices, and with the company set to launch the Kindle Fire HD 2, an Amazon smartphone for a low price isn't so far reaching.

Of course, as the spokesperson has seemingly squashed any hopes of seeing a handset this year, we'll have to take any news with grains of salt until Amazon comes out with an announcement of the smartphone's existence.

Via: The Next Web


Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/amazon-smartphone-not-coming-this-year-and-not-for-free-1179169

Nokia Lumia 1520 leaks out in a number of live photos

Barely a couple of days after it showed up in a press image, the unannounced Nokia Lumia 1520 made yet another appearance. This time around, the handset emerged in a slew live photos, showcasing its hardware, and getting sized up against a Sony Xperia Z.


Also known as Nokia Bandit, the Lumia 1520 allegedly packs a large 6" 1080p display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 SoC, 2GB of RAM, 32GB of built-in memory, and a microSD card slot. There is no information on the camera of the device, though, with its pronounced hump, it looks a lot like the snapper of the Nokia Lumia 925.

The Nokia Lumia 1520 will boot Windows Phone 8 with the highly awaited GDR3 update. We have already seen a screenshot of the latter's FullHD display layout.

Source


Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_lumia_1520_leaks_out_in_a_number_of_live_photos-news-6748.php

The 10 apps to supercharge your iPhone 5S

The 10 apps to supercharge your iPhone 5S
The only app list you'll ever need... for the first few days, that is.

At first glance some might dismiss the iPhone 5S as a clone of its predecessor, but look closer and you'll find a few subtle differences. There's an improved display, a faster processor, and a better camera, to name but three.

It's a little while before you can get your hands on the new device, but to whet your appetite we've put together our tailored guide to your first iPhone-5S-powered trip to the App Store, bringing you the best apps that will keep you gazing lovingly at your new toy when you feverishly rip it from the box.

Flipboard (Free)

Flipboard

Serving up fresh batches of filtered news in a stylish way, Flipboard is the ideal window onto the web. Sprinkle in sources you like, from the BBC, to Talk Sport, to Tech Radar; there are thousands of RSS feeds out there.

If you don't know where to start, then check out some of the popular curated magazines on offer. You can also fold in your social media accounts for a complete real-time picture of the stuff you care about most.

Private Photo Vault (Free)

Photo vault

We don't need to know why you have photos on your iPhone that you'd rather keep private; it's none of our business and Private Photo Vault keeps it that way.

You can safeguard private albums behind a password, PIN, or pattern. The app lets you view, edit, share, and transfer photos as normal, it just doesn't let anyone else in.

You can even set up a decoy password, and capture a photo and GPS location when there's an attempted break-in.

TurboScan (£1.49)

turbo

We've all got an old flatbed scanner gathering dust under the desk, but thanks to TurboScan it can be relegated to the car boot pile in the garage.

This app transforms your iPhone into a document scanner. You can capture letters, or sign contracts, and then convert them into PDF or JPG files to store or send by email. It's quick and easy to use, the scans are sharp and clear, and it supports AirPrint too.

TuneIn Radio (Free)

TuneIn radio

For a steady supply of music or chat, TuneIn Radio is all you need. We're talking about access to over 70,000 radio stations worldwide, and more than 2 million podcasts or shows, all wrapped up in an accessible package.

Everything is neatly divided into categories and genres, so you can let your mood guide you, search for something specific, or you can trust in the pack and check out the recommended and trending lists to discover something interesting.

Zeebox (Free)

Zeebox

If you want to make sure that you don't miss any episodes of your favourite TV programmes then zeebox can serve as a handy reminder service.

It provides listings for seven days in advance. You can also use the app as a remote control for your Sky+, Virgin Tivo, and some models of TV (provided they're connected to the same Wi-Fi network).

You'll find the app provides loads of extra info and real-time social network commentary on whatever you're watching.

Evernote (Free)

Evernote

An elephant never forgets and Evernote is your very own iPhone-based elephant. Write down shopping lists, record voice notes, take photos and annotate them; whatever you need to note down, this app serves as your notebook in the cloud.

It can sync across all your devices, and you can share notes easily via email and social networks. Spend some time getting to grips with Evernote's impressive feature set and you'll find it's the only note and to-do list app you'll ever need.

Camera+ (£1.49)

Camera

You'll find a bucket load of extra camera-related features in Camera+. You can select from various modes that will help you fine-tune your camera settings to capture the very best shots possible.

There are also effects and filters you can apply, and a range of editing tools for cropping and applying borders or captions.

It's so intuitive to use that you don't need to have any real photography skills to feel the benefit. You'll be sharing your creations in no time.

Change4Life Meal Mixer (Free)

Change4Life

There's a whole series of Change4Life apps from the NHS. They're designed to help us all get a bit healthier. The Meal Mixer is focussed on healthy recipes and it's especially useful for busy families.

You'll find over 100 calorie-counted recipes within, you can search by ingredient to generate ideas for using whatever's in the cupboard, and there's an option to add recipes directly to your shopping list.

This is all about budget-conscious, tasty and healthy options for everyday use.

LogMeIn (Free)

LogMeIn

Of all the remote desktop apps on the market this is probably the easiest to use. LogMeIn lets you remotely control your PC or Mac on your iPhone via Wi-Fi or your mobile network connection.

That means you can grab, or even edit, files that are on your desktop at home, wherever you happen to be. You have full access to remotely run software.

This is also a great remote control solution if you have an HTPC setup or media server.

Snapguide (Free)

Snapguide

Seizing on the wholly-positive potential of the Internet to enable us to do just about anything for ourselves by following someone else's step-by-step instructions, Snapguide is a truly great idea.

For the most part you'll find easy to follow recipes with insider tips that elevate your results, but there are loads of categories within and how-to guides for just about anything you can think of.

You can even earn yourself some karma by creating a guide for others.


Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/the-10-apps-to-supercharge-your-iphone-5s-1179129

Want an unlocked Galaxy Note 3 and Galaxy Gear combo? It'll cost you £848

Want an unlocked Galaxy Note 3 and Galaxy Gear combo? It'll cost you £848
Samsung offering £100 off when you buy Note and Gear

Samsung has stuck an official price tag on its unlocked Galaxy Note 3 smartphone, ahead of its release in the UK later this month.

On its UK website, the company has priced the SIM-free version at a lofty £649 with interested parties able to pre-order the device in black or white ahead of the September 25 on-sale date.

Pre-orders are also open for the Galaxy Gear smartwatch, also announced at the IFA tech show in Berlin last week, for £299.

If both devices are bought together, Samsung will knock £100 off, for a total cost of £848. How kind.

Trade-in option

Samsung is also offering the first 500 customers who pre-order to pick up from the fancy Samsung store at the Westfield shopping centre in Stratford, London £50 off when they trade in an old smartphone.

The Galaxy Note 3 packs a 5.7-inch screen, Android 4.3 Jelly Bean and a Full HD Super AMOLED screen with a 1920 x 1080 resolution.

Check our hands on video below


Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/want-an-unlocked-galaxy-note-3-and-galaxy-gear-combo-it-ll-cost-you-848-1179057