SA: Android takes a 81% slice of the Q3 smartphone pie

The analysts over at Strategy Analytics has posted a report on the global smartphone shipments for Q3 2013. For the period, over 251 million smartphones have been shipped worldwide.

This marks a significant growth of 45% on an annual basis - Q3 2012 saw the shipment of 172.8 million smartphones. The main force behind the growth is "robust demand" for Android and Windows Phone devices in Europe and Asia.

Android took a whooping 81% global share with 204.4 million units sold. Google's market dominance means four out of every five smartphones now runs Android. Strategy Analytics points out Google's mobile OS keeps gaining user base at the expense of BlackBerry and Apple.

The Canadian manufacturer's smartphone position slid even further down from 4 percent in Q3 2012 to just 1 percent. Its BlackBerry OS 10 running smartphones combined sold just 2.5 million for the quarter. In comparison, in Q3 2012 BlackBerry sold 7.5 million units.

The surprise of the report comes from Redmond, Washington DC. Microsoft's Windows Phone now powers 10.2 million smartphones - a stark jump of 178% over the 3.7 million units that were sold in Q3 2012. As a result, the company's smartphone market share has doubled from 2 percent to 4 percent in the past year.

The success is largely due to the success of the Nokia Lumia line up in Europe, Asia and the US. Windows Phone is still struggling to gain traction in Japan, South Korea and Africa, Strategy Analytics points out.

Source

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/smartphone_shipments_soar_in_q3_2013_android_takes_a_81_slice-news-7111.php

Read More

Google's Nexus 5 takes a break, has a KitKat

The price is right

It's OK, you can come out now. Halloween is over, all the trick-or-treaters are gone, and we hid all the really cool gadgets from the zombies.

Let's all relax. It's November. Christmas is coming and the tech is getting PHAT (can we pull that off? We probably can't pull that off).

The KitKat's out of the bag

Yep, the Nexus 5 with Android 4.4 KitKat, after months of teasing, has finally launched - so obviously we had to play with it as soon as possible. Our hands on Nexus 5 review is coming but we all chipped in with our two cents in TechRadar Reacts.

Generally, the consensus was good - we liked the Nexus' screen size, processor and LTE, found the casing satisfyingly glossy, and were impressed by the specs, but the lack of microSD and the mediocre camera let the device down a little.

Android KitKat was a mixed bag, too: it looks clean - and we're interested to see how combining texts and Google hangouts will work out - but the features didn't quite blow us away.

However on the whole we found the Nexus 5's high-end specs excellent value for its mid-range price, and gave it a solid 4 out of 5 knee-jerk rating.

Google Glass gets some goodies

Before Google dropped the Nexus 5 on us, it let slip some details about Google Glass 2, nevermind that hardly anyone's been able to try Glass 1.

The upgraded hardware will come with a sleeker frame and earbud component after some people found the bone-conduction strategy to be, well, not really audible.

You'd be forgiven for hanging back from getting a pair for fear of looking a bit Geordie from Star Trek: TNG. But worry no more - Google, along with several third party companies, will be introducing stylish Google Glass accessories to make the look more customisable.

There will be coloured caps for the earbuds, various styles of attachable sun glass shades and shields, and the option to swap frames, finally making this epitome of wearable tech more individual. Sort of. A bit.

Bendy LG screens for iWatch?

While sir is parading around town in his fancy new computer-specs, would sir consider completing the look with a fabulous new Apple iWatch in 2014? Because the latest word is that LG, and not Samsung, may provide flexible OLED screens for the thing.

Could this be one of the "significant opportunities" that Tim Cook hinted at during Apple's Q4 2013 earnings call?

"We obviously believe that we can use our skills in building other great products that are in categories that represent areas we do not participate in today. We're confident in that," he said.

According to an "expert", "LG Display has been in talks over flexible light-emitting diode panels for quite a while and it looks like it will be sealing the deal with Apple." We "watch" (geddit!) with interest.

While we're talking wearable tech, Oculus Rift's CEO Brendan Iribe this week revealed that we can expect a lighter mobile virtual reality headset and, at some point, a mobile version with the PC headset next year.

However, there is currently no support for Apple - although this didn't seem to worry Iribe:

"We have some exciting plans on the mobile VR side as the PC VR side," he said. "It's pretty incredible what [John Carmack has] been able to do."

RIP Plasma

And finally, it's official - Panasonic will stop producing plasma TVs by 2014.

"Due to rapid, drastic changes in the business environment and a declining demand for PDP in the flat panel display market," said the Panasonic statement. "It was judged that continuing the business would be difficult and a decision was made to stop production."

In other words, as our Steve May puts it, the future's bright, the future's 4K Ultra HD OLED TVs.

He writes, "My advice to plasma fans is doff your cap in respect, celebrate past triumphs, maybe grab a Panasonic panel while you can – they are bloody good after all – but then look unflinchingly toward to a new era of OLED and 4K Ultra HD, both areas in which Panasonic seems very intent on pursuing."

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/google-s-nexus-5-takes-a-break-has-a-kitkat-1195690

Read More

Black Nexus 5 16GB out of stock, others ship with delays

The Google Play Store was out of Nexus 5 16GB stock a couple of hours after the device was officially announced. The 16GB units are still out of stock in the US Play Store.

There are 32GB units available – both Black and White – but the bad news is if you haven't pre-ordered one already you're in for a wait. The Nexus 5 32GB in the US Play Store comes with the note "Leaves warehouse in 2 - 3 weeks".

In the UK Play Store, the White Nexus 5 units (both 16GB and 32GB) will ship in 1-2 business days, while the Black units will leave the warehouse "by November 8".

The German Play Store is also out of stock of Black 16GB units, while the 32GB Black units will ship by November 15. The 32GB White units will come the soonest – ship by November 8 – while the 16GB White ones will take 2-3 weeks.

It seems that Google has learned nothing (or refused to learn) from its previous device launches. We get that the Nexus 5 is a relatively low-margin product, but not even coming close to meeting the demand is still very annoying.

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/black_nexus_5_16gb_out_of_stock_others_ship_with_delays-news-7110.php

Read More

Apple iPad Air goes on sale today, iPad mini 2 nowhere in sight

Just as Apple promised at the announcement event, the iPad Air is up for sale now. The Apple Store, major carriers worldwide as well as select brick-and-mortar and online stores are offering the latest and greatest iOS slate.

The Apple iPad mini 2 runs iOS 7 out of the box and boasts storage options ranging from 16GB all the way to 128GB. Color options are just Silver & White and Space Grey & Black. As usual there will be Wi-Fi and 3G/LTE versions.

Checkout the image below to see how each of version of the iPad Air is priced in the US.

Pricing in Europe is a bit steeper than this. We've organized how prices stand and compare in the UK, German and French Apple Stores. Here go the pricing tables.

United Kingdom

Germany

France

As for the Apple iPad mini 2 with Retina display, it's going to become available for purchase around the end of November. Apple hasn't officially stated the reasons why both iPads haven't launched at the same time, but it's pretty clear that it's all due to supply shortages.

Tim Cook feels confident that his company will dominate the tablet market this Christmas. "I think it will be an iPad Christmas," Tim Cook said.

According to analysts, however, the second generation iPad mini is having serious production issues. As a result, only a limited number of iPad mini 2 units will be available for this holiday season. This could turn out to be quite a headache for the company and its next quarterly financial report.

Cook's comment regarding potential iPad mini 2 shortages states that "It's unclear whether we'll have enough for the quarter or not,". The fact that even Apple admits there is a problem with supply suggest that getting an iPad mini 2 before 2014 might be quite problematic.

Indeed, a new report surfaced today saying that the situation might be even worse than previously expected. The info comes from China and says that one of the two iPad mini 2 screen suppliers (LG Display) is having huge issues with the production and Apple was even forced to turn to Samsung to save the day. However, even so, full production is reportedly not coming until we are "well into next year".

Source | Source (2) | Source (3)

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/apple_ipad_air_goes_on_sale_today-news-7109.php

Read More

Nexus 5 release date and price: where can I get it?

A day's wait? Not bad

Blimey Nexus 5, we were starting to wonder if we'd ever see you.

Now that Google has gone official with the Nexus 5, which is the first device to come packing Android 4.4 KitKat, the good news is that you don't have long to wait to get your hands on its chocolatey goodness.

So we've pulled together a list of networks and retailers who will be offering up the handset. Keep an eye on the list though, we'll be updating as we hear more...

• Nexus 5: Everything you need to know

Google Play Store

As expect, you can buy the Nexus 5 straight from the Google Play Store. It's available for £299 for the 16GB model in black or white, or £339 for 32GB.

Carphone Warehouse

Carphone Warehouse is stocking the Nexus 5 - though just the 16GB model - from Friday November 1. The handset is £295 SIM free - a whole £4 cheaper than Google - and it's also available for no cost if you join a £32 per month 3G contract on O2.

That includes unlimited calls and texts and 1GB of data. Oh, you can get it on a 4G contract for £37 per month, which will lump on an extra 2GB of data fun.

Even better, the first 1000 customers who order the Nexus 5 on a 4G contract on the Carphone Warehouse website will bag themselves a free 16GB Google Nexus 7. Last year's version though - sorry.

O2

While Vodafone and EE aren't getting in on the Nexus action, O2 is offering the phone directly, but only in the larger 32GB variant.

Available on O2's Refresh tariff, the phone is free on a £32 per month deal, which gives you 600 minutes, unlimited texts and 750MB of data.

Three

Data friendly network Three is also stocking the Nexus 5 and it has confirmed the handset will be supported by its 4G service which is due to roll out in December.

You can bag yourself unlimited data (plus 500 minutes and 5000 texts) on the Nexus 5 from just £29 per month, although you'll need to stump up £49 at point of sale.

The 16GB Nexus 5 is also available on PAYG, but at £399.99 it's extremely expensive so you'd be better off going via Google direct.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/nexus-5-release-date-and-price-where-can-i-get-it--1195465

Read More

HTC bringing Android 4.4 to all the HTC One in the US in 90 days

HTC has shown remarkable commitment to the HTC One regarding the software updates, eschewing traditional notions that OEMs don't update their phones in a timely manner. Sticking to that commitment, HTC has now announced that it will be updating the HTC One to Android 4.4 KitKat.

Jason Mackenzie, president of HTC America, has confirmed that the carrier locked version of the HTC One in North America will receive the 4.4 update within 90 days. Although that's a pretty large time frame, at least HTC has given one, unlike most other OEMs out there.

Meanwhile, those who purchased the unlocked developer edition of the handset will be receiving the update within 30 days. Finally, those who bought the Google Play edition will get it the quickest, that is, within 15 days.

So far, Motorola is the only other OEM that has announced Android 4.4 update for their handset. We are hoping other OEMs will join in on the KitKat party soon.

Source

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/htc_bringing_android_44_to_all_the_htc_one_in_the_us_in_90_days-news-7108.php

Read More

Motorola to update DROID Mini, Max, Ultra and Moto X to 4.4

Yesterday, Motorola announced the Android 4.4 KitKat update, arriving on the Nexus 5 first and some of the other Nexus devices later. Now it's the turn of the Android OEMs announce when they will be bringing the update to their devices. Being a wholly owned subsidiary of Google, you'd expect Motorola to be the first one to confirm, and the company has delivered.

Motorola has confirmed through a post on Google+ that they will be bringing Android 4.4 to some of their devices shortly. The list of devices includes the DROID Maxx, DROID Ultra, DROID Mini and the Moto X.

Motorola is making no promises regarding when the update will actually be made available but it's good to see at least a confirmation of the update arriving at some point in future, hopefully a not too distant one.

Source

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/motorola_to_update_droid_mini_max_ultra_and_moto_x_to_44-news-7107.php

Read More