O2 officially launches 4G LTE network, going live on August 29

Good news for O2's 23m UK customers

O2 has officially confirmed its 4G LTE network will go live in the UK on August 29, with SIM-Only tariffs starting at just £26 a month.

The company will switch on its next-gen network in London and Leeds and Bradford on the first day, with plans to open up 4G access in ten more areas before 2013 comes to a close.

Those additional cities will be: Birmingham, Glasgow, Liverpool, Newcastle, Nottingham, Leicester, Coventry, Sheffield, Manchester, and Edinburgh.

In its announcement the network did not go into specifics regarding the range of tariffs it will offer at launch, but told TechRadar 'Pay Monthly' contracts will be 'beyond' the cheapest £26 a month SIM-Only deals.

'Oxygen of modern life'

The launch finally brings some competition for 4G trailblazer EE, which has had the UK market to itself since October 2012 and racked up close to 700,000 customers already.

As has been widely documented, EE took its rivals by surprise by winning permission from Ofcom to convert existing 1800Mhz spectrum for 4G use, while the rest were forced to wait for the spectrum auction.

O2 splashed out £550m to secure its own 4G spectrum earlier this year including the largest proportion of the low frequency 800MHz frequency. The network's announcement comes on the day that spectrum was cleared for use by Ofcom.

The CEO of Telefonica UK, which owns O2, Ronan Dunne said: "Digital connectivity will be made ubiquitous by 4G and become the oxygen of modern life. It is our intention to use 4G to inspire the nation through the possibilities of technology, encouraging people to live more, do more and be more with O2.

"The full potential of 4G is as yet unexplored, but what we can be sure of is that it will allow for a whole new world of opportunity that people are now ready for. Over half of our customers say they use more data than two years ago and even more use wifi wherever they go, to always stay connected. Given this trend, there is no doubt that 4G will transform our lives, be it as consumers, in business or through public sector services."

Happiness, guaranteed

The company said that all 4G contracts will come with a 30-day Happiness Guarantee enabling customers to be transferred to a 3G tariff if unsatisfied with 4G speeds.

O2 also revealed it will provide provide options for businesses and, naturally, give all customers access to its 9,000 free O2 Wi-Fi hotspots in the UK.

The company recently teased the 4G launch was 'right around the corner' with a new Rocky-inspired Fit for 4G campaign.

We'll bring you specific details of tariffs as soon as O2 announces them, but at last UK mobile users are about to have a little choice when it comes to 4G and, hopefully, some better deals.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/o2-officially-launches-4g-lte-network-going-live-on-august-29-1170171

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SMS SOS: BlackBerry 10 users reporting messaging issues after latest update

BlackBerry magic makes messages disappear

As if BlackBerry hasn't had a difficult enough time re-establishing itself in the Android/iOS dominated market, the latest BlackBerry 10 update has certainly caused a few more brows to furrow.

According to N4BB, the latest operating system update has stymied the messaging attempts of a decent portion of the BB10 userbase.

Users have reported an inability to use messaging, while some others claim the update has erased their message history, leaving them unable to see what people said in the past, or are even texting them today.

While it's not uncommon for OS updates to cause issues for some users regardless of the device, accidentally removing functionality like the ability to send SMS texts is an bad omen for the re-emerging BlackBerry.

Missed messages

Since launching its new line of phones and the BB10 OS, BlackBerry has been struggling to gain the marketshare it lost to the likes of Android, iOS, and even Windows Phone 8.

Even with the Z10 and Q10 battling it out with the likes of the the Galaxy S4 and iPhone 5, BlackBerry hasn't been able to gain much ground (if any at all) these past few months.

Now, even if only a minority of BB10 users are feeling the effects of the message-eating update, the company is even failing those who adopted the fledgling phones.

The update hasn't yet hit U.S. consumers (it's due later this summer), but others around the globe in places like Canada, Europe, and some Asian markets are feeling the burn.

BlackBerry is now looking into the issue, but these types of growing pains won't win the company any favors from those thinking about making a switch any time soon.

• Which smartphone is best for you business: Android or BlackBerry?

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/sms-sos-blackberry-10-users-reporting-messaging-issues-after-latest-update-1170134

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Moto X to follow in iPhone 5's nano-SIM footsteps?

The Moto X, nano-SIM or not, will be unveiled tomorrow

Motorola's Moto X could be the next device to sport the new nano-SIM cards, judging by a photo that reportedly leaked out of Hong Kong this week.

Engadget today published this photo, which appears to show the Moto X with its nano-SIM tray ejected.

The nano-SIM is 40 percent smaller than the micro-SIM currently used in most devices, so it's easily recognizable, and the phone in the image appears to match up with some previous Moto X leaks.

If so, the Moto X will be the third handset, after the iPhone 5 and Asus Padfone Infinity, to adopt nano-SIM.

Casualties of the SIM war

The Padfone Infinity phablet's use of nano-SIM proves that you don't have to be as small as the iPhone 5 to utilize the new, smaller SIM standard.

But it's unclear why Motorola would choose to switch to nano-SIM, especially given its opposition of the technology.

A coalition formed of Motorola, BlackBerry (still RIM then), and Nokia dueled with Apple over what the next generation of SIM cards would look like, and Apple emerged victorious last year.

Nokia said in a statement at the time that Apple's nano-SIM was "technically inferior" to its own tech and even to the existing micro-SIM, and that "the existing micro-SIM (3FF) will continue to be a preferred option for many manufacturers."

But if today's leak turns out to be the real deal then it would seem Nokia's former SIM war bedfellow, Motorola, disagrees.

Designed by you

The phone formerly known as the Motorola X Phone is rumored to be highly customizable, coming with the possible tag line "designed by you."

Google's Motorola advisor Guy Kawasaki previously suggested that the Moto X will be as customizable as a classic Porsche, whatever that means.

The exact degree of that customization has yet to be seen, but there's a whole rainbow of colors rumored as well.

• We won't have to wait much longer to find out for sure: the Moto X launches Aug. 1, and rumor has it the X shipped to carriers yesterday.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/moto-x-to-follow-in-iphone-5-s-nano-sim-footsteps--1170125

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Sony updates Xperia Z and Xperia ZL, improves performance

New firmware updates are now available for the Sony Xperia Z and Xperia ZL. Both new ROMs bring similar improvements over the system, signal and touch sensitivity, bug fixes and are still based on the Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean.

There is no official change log on the updates, but some users have already compiled a list of all the notable changes.

• More smooth Boot animation
• Efficient RAM management
• Home launcher is smoother, no more lag
• Update Center has new UI
• 3G Signal strength improved
• Touch response is improved a lot
• Faster sleep and wake
• Low-light image quality improved
• Changes in car mode app
• High resolution image snapping while recording a non-HDR video
• No screen flickering
• No unusual battery reading bug

Our tipster mentions unusual heating when running the AnTuTu benchmark, but there's no confirmation of that from other sources.

The updates are available both over-the-air and via the Sony PC companion.

Sony recently updated the Xperia Z and ZL with Android 4.2.2 but the ROM contained some bugs and it seems Sony was working hard to fix them as fast as possible. As you can see some new features made it with the update as well that weren't probably ready in time for the previous 4.2.2 major update.

Anyway, it's good to see Sony is taking good care of its flagships and is pushing faster than ever firmware updates.

Thank you, Jean Bassil, for a great tip!

Source

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/sony_updates_xperia_z_and_xperia_zl_improves_performance-news-6498.php

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Office Mobile shuffles onto Android phones, tablets left out

Pandas - the key to everyone's heart

After its launch on iPhone last month, Office Mobile is now rolling over to Android starting today.

Making the announcement on its blog, Microsoft declared that phones supporting Android 4.0 or higher will be able to get the app allowing access to Word, Excel and Powerpoint, although Android tablets won't be getting in on the action for now.

Of course, you'll also have to have bought Office 365 Home Premium and ProPlus service. They ain't giving that stuff away for free, you know?

Keep rolling

The app itself, however, is free of charge. And when you've downloaded it (and subscribed) you'll be able to keep working on documents on your phone when you leave your PC, with all files stored in Microsoft's SkyDrive.

Office Mobile is more for editing than actual document creation though, so don't expect to be getting the full 365 experience.

Office Mobile is available in the Google Play store today for US Android users. Microsoft says it will then be "gradually" expanding the software to 33 other languages.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/office-mobile-shuffles-onto-android-phones-tablets-left-out-1170072

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Samsung outs dual-mode LTE Galaxy S4 and S4 Mini versions

Samsung has made big claims regarding its readiness to support developing LTE markets, and its most recent announcement of two new Galaxy S4 and Galaxy S4 Mini variants supporting both FDD and TDD LTE networks confirms that sentiment.

As global LTE coverage expands, many markets are adding support for TDD-LTE networks, particularly in places where FDD-LTE technology is already in place.

The two dual-mode variants of the Samsung flagship and its compact counterpart are able to seamlessly switch between different types of LTE networks while maintaining uninterrupted voice and data communications.

Samsung's head of Mobile and IT JK Shin elaborated that the first commercially available dual-mode LTE handover devices will "will allow customers to fully enjoy the benefits of fast mobile data communications no matter where they are."

Samsung is vested in the LTE market more than simply through handsets. Through developing LTE infrastructure, its network gear division grew by some 30% since 2010, and is one of Samsung's more profitable ventures.

Source | Via

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_outs_two_new_versions_of_the_galaxy_s4_and_s4_mini-news-6497.php

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Microsoft releases Office Mobile for Office 365 Android app

Last month Microsoft unveiled the Office Mobile for Office 365 for iOS and now the Redmond company is following up with an Android version. It allows you to edit docs on your phone and sync them with SkyDrive.

The user interface looks lifted straight out of the Windows Phone 8 version, but the flat design goes well with Android's Holo looks. The app supports Word, Excel and PowerPoint docs with charts, animations, SmartArt Graphics, shapes and comments.

Better still, the Office Mobile for Office 365 reflows the docs so that they look good on your phone and are easy to edit, but that doesn’t break the formatting on the PC. Speaking of the PC app, the last files you edited will show up in the Recent Documents tab so you can continue editing on the phone right away, even the Resume Reading feature works (it takes you to the point of the document you were editing last).

Sharing is enabled, so you can easily share a doc from your phone when you're done with the corrections.

The Office Mobile for Office 365 (catchy name, isn't it?) is available right now in the Google Play Store, but there are some limitations. For one, the app is available only in the US, but Microsoft is promising to add more countries to the list in the coming weeks.

Also, you need an Android 4.0+ phone. Note phone, not tablet – it's an annoying limitation as people are more likely to edit a doc on a tablet than a phone. Also you need an Office 365 subscription to use the app (you can get a 30 day trial), unlike the WP8 version which is free out of the box. And unlike the iOS version, which also requires a subscription, you can't buy one from the app itself, you need to go www.office.come and get one from there.

Source

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/microsoft_releases_office_mobile_for_office_365_android_app-news-6495.php

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Xiaomi unveils quad-core Red Rice droid as Hongmi

Xiaomi has announced the long rumored Red Rice smartphone. Its official name is Hongmi which is Chinese for... well, red rice.

Xiaomi Hongmi packs a 4.7-inch 720p IPS display with 312ppi density, protected by a Gorilla Glass 2. The Hongmi is powered by Mediatek's MT6589 chipset featuring a quad-core 1.5GHz Cortex-A7 processor, PowerVR SGX544 graphics and 1GB of RAM. Other notable features are the 4GB storage plus a microSD card slot, and a 2000 mAh battery.

Xiaomi Hongmi

The phone comes with an 8MP BSI Samsung-made rear camera with 1.4ųm pixels for improved low-light performance and 28mm wide five-element lens. The Hongmi is capable of shooting 1080p videos. There is also a 1.3MP front snapper for video chats.

Xiaomi Hongmi is dual-SIM handset with support for GSM/3G and TD-SCDMA networks on both SIM slots.

The Hongmi is running on the proprietary MIUI V5 launcher on top of Android 4.2 Jelly Bean.

Xiaomi Hongmi

Here comes the best part of the news - the Xiaomi Hongmi costs only CNY799 which equals a few cents less than €99. The phone is already available on pre-order in China at QZone and is going to start shipping on August 12.

There are three flavors you can choose between - Black, Chinese Red and Metallic Gray. The battery cover is exchangeable and you can opt for additional blue, green and yellow panels.

Unfortunately the Xiaomi Hongmi is highly unlikely to leave China. We'll keep you updated if we hear something about international availability, though.

Source 1 | Source 2

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_unveils_ultracheap_quadcore_hongmi_aka_red_rice_droid-news-6494.php

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Is that what the Samsung Galaxy S5 will look like?

New look, new era? (credit: Patent Bolt)

Samsung could be about to ditch nature and shake up its smartphone design if a new patent is any indication.

With the Samsung Galaxy S4 now a few months old - and a slew of S4 variants out the door - it's little surprise that we're hearing rumblings of what could be next.

The patent images, unearthed by Patent Bolt, show off a rectangular shape but with edges that are slanted. All in all, it looks a little bit more in line with the HTC One, moving away from Samsung's current nature-inspired look.

Brand new galaxy

Samsung applied for the patents in 2012 in the US and 2011 in South Korea, so they're not all that new and there's nothing here to indicate when, or indeed if, such a handset might materialise.

But Samsung was no doubt thinking about its S4 follow-up during that time. Or, this could even be for a possible variant of the S4, though we'd say that's less likely given the design overhaul.

And let's not discount the Samsung Galaxy Note series either, although the design doesn't agree with the Galaxy Note 3 leaks we've been seeing.

We'd previously heard rumours that the Galaxy S5 could be the first Samsung phone with a fully aluminium chassis although these new patents give no indication of the materials that could be used on the new handset.

But throw this new patent into the bag and we might be getting a vague idea of where Samsung is heading.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/is-that-what-the-samsung-galaxy-s5-will-look-like--1170008

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Samsung denies rigging Galaxy S4 benchmarking results

We just don't know what to believe any more

In response to the accusation that it has been jimmying Galaxy S4 benchmark results just to make its handset look good, Samsung says nuh-uh guv'nor.

The company's statement explains that whatever GPU frequencies "BenchmarkBooster" rigged up on the Exynos 5 variant are "not intended to improve certain benchmark results" and the same maximum settings can just as easily be used to optimise performance on a users' handset based on what they're using it for.

That's as may be, Samsung, but using phrases like "BenchmarkBooster" in your code is still a bit suspicious in our book. It seems pretty clear that, regardless of whether these maxed out settings have real world use, Samsung was also hoping to beef up its benchmark results.

Now for the science

The full statement reads: "Under ordinary conditions, the Galaxy S4 has been designed to allow a maximum GPU frequency of 533MHz.

"However, the maximum GPU frequency is lowered to 480MHz for certain gaming apps that may cause an overload, when they are used for a prolonged period of time in full-screen mode.

"Meanwhile, a maximum GPU frequency of 533MHz is applicable for running apps that are usually used in full-screen mode, such as the S Browser, Gallery, Camera, Video Player and certain benchmarking apps, which also demand substantial performance.

"The maximum GPU frequencies for the Galaxy S4 have been varied to provide optimal user experience for our customers, and were not intended to improve certain benchmark results. We remain committed to providing our customers with the best possible user experience."

So to summarise: Samsung made sure its phone aced the benchmark tests, it got slightly found out, it justified the decision, phones keep going as before. Whoop.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/samsung-denies-rigging-galaxy-s4-benchmarking-results-1170026

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Government unveils plans to extend mobile coverage

You'd be lucky to get this in some parts of the country

Eastern Scotland, Cumbria, central Wales and Strabane will be the first parts of the UK to benefit from the Government's £150 million spend on improving mobile phone coverage in rural areas.

They are covered by the first phase of the Mobile Infrastructure Project, details of which have been published by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) on a map outlining the different stages of the investment. The first sites are expected to go live by the end of this year, and the Government is aiming to have them all in place by 2015.

The Government is providing the money for communications infrastructure company Arqiva to install the masts. The company has begun to identify suitable sites and apply for planning permission.

Four mobile network operators – EE, Telefonica, Three and Vodafone – will use the sites and cover the operating costs over the next 20 years.

• Check out our round-up of the best smartphones for business.

Communications Minister Ed Vaizey said: "This project will see mobile phone coverage extended to many of the people who currently live and work in areas where there is none. The project will provide a significant boost to local economies across the UK, and will be instrumental in helping Britain win the global race."

The DCMS has acknowledged that the project will not reach every area without mobile coverage. A spokesman told TRPro it will not be able to identify the 'not spots' until the survey work is completed, but that it is likely that a few areas will not get mast coverage in the long term because it would be uneconomical, and would need an alternative such as satellite phones.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/government-unveils-plans-to-extend-mobile-coverage-1169985

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Samsung Galaxy Note 3 leaked from inside out in yet more snaps

Cover yourself up, Note 3

With September 4 inching ever closer, more leaks about the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 are trickling out and, while we're still missing a proper photo of the thing, today's sees the handsets insides displayed for all to see.

These photos are supposedly of a prototype Note 3 and were posted on Weibo by an "insider" known as C Technology - yes, we'd say keep the sodium chloride handy for this one.

The photos aren't really giving much away. The battery details have been scrubbed out and there's no way of knowing if the recently revealed 3GB RAM unit is present or not.

Elusive

Samsung's J. K. Shin has said that the Note 3 will come with a 5.9-inch screen, which could give some clues as to the size of the device itself.

However, the latest word is that there will be around three different Note 3 models with screen sizes ranging from 5.5-inch to 6-inches. Who knows which, if any, these photos are of.

We're also expecting an octa-core processor and a 13MP camera to feature when the handset lands.

The fuzzy nature of the snaps make it hard to tell if the chassis is plastic or some kind of aluminium unibody type affair - we're leaning towards plastic though, sorry metal fans.

Anyway, not too long until IFA 2013 and the big Note 3 reveal. Feel free to fill your boots poring over these photos til then.

Supposedly what the Note 3 will look like on the inside

• What else is what with the Samsung Galaxy Note 3? Find out everything we know so far

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/samsung-galaxy-note-3-leaked-from-inside-out-in-yet-more-snaps-1169973

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Spy shots reveal Moto X will be very compact, use nanoSIM

The Moto X phone will be announced at tomorrow's event but the specs won't be a huge surprise as we've seen so many leaks already and today brought a new batch. First off, the phone will use a nanoSIM card, instead of the more popular microSIM as revealed by a photo from Hong Kong.

Moto X will use a nanoSIM card

Why Hong Kong, when the Moto X should be assembled in the US? Here's hoping this means that Motorola will launch the phone worldwide not just the US (Google is usually quite terrible at this).

Other photos have surfaced, comparing the Moto X to the Motorola Milestone 3, which gave us an opportunity to measure the dimensions of the X. The photos are heavily cropped (presumably to hide the identity of the leaker), you can get a better look at the Moto X here.

Moto X sized up against the Motorola Milestone 3

The Motorola Moto X phone measures 8.7mm at its thickest part and just 5.8mm at its thinnest. The other measurements work out to 125.9mm tall and 66mm wide, which sounds amazing for a phone with a 4.7" screen. We got a little suspicious, so we measured the screen size in the first photo and ended up with 4.7".

Other specs on the Moto X include a 720p resolution for the screen, dual-core Krait processor, 10MP camera with an unusual image sensor that can shoot 1080p video at 60fps.

The Moto X will be announced tomorrow and we'll be covering the event, so make sure to tune in for the official specs and (hopefully) availability details.

Source

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/spy_shots_reveal_moto_x_will_be_very_compact_use_nanosim-news-6493.php

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BlackBerry Q5 hits Canada on August 13, USA to follow suit

BlackBerry has just announced its cheaper QWERTY smartphone - the BlackBerry Q5 - will be unleashed across Canada on August 13.

According to the official press release the Q5 messenger will be available through these authorized partners: Bell, Fido, Koodo, Sasktel, TELUS, and Virgin Mobile Canada, as well as retail stores Best Buy Canada, Future Shop, Target, TBooth Wireless, The Mobile Shop, The Source, Walmart, and WIRELESSWAVE.

BlackBerry Q5 will be available through all carriers and retailers in Black, while the Pure Red flavor will be exclusive to Virgin Mobile. Unfortunately the white model won't make it to Canada.

There are still no details on the pricing though.

BlackBerry Q5 is already available in selected European and Asian markets. The smartphone will supposedly hit the USA through AT&T after the Canadian premiere but there is no confirmation on the exact launch date.

We already spend some quality time with the BlackBerry Q5 and you can read all about it right in our review.

Source 1 | Source 2 | Via

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/blackberry_q5_hits_canada_on_august_13_usa_to_follow_suit-news-6492.php

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Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update rolling out to UK Google Nexus 4 handsets

Four Point Three hits Blighty

Reports have emerged seemingly confirming that the Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update is making its presence felt in the UK on Google's own-branded Nexus 4 handsets.

Multiple sources on Monday and Tuesday brought word from Nexus 4 owners who've been notified that the newest version of the software has arrived and is ready to be downloaded over the air.

The update began hitting Nexus phones and tablets in the United States soon after the launch event last week but, as usual, it has taken a little while to reach those on the other side of the great paddling pool.

Google, is able to prioritising its Nexus devices for the update, but it may be a while before devices from Sony, Samsung, HTC are updated, giving so Nexus 4 owners at least a few weeks to gloat.

Saving the best for later

In terms of updates, Android 4.3 wasn't the most newsworthy Google has ever introduced for its dominant mobile operating system.

Among its headline features are; the ability to add multiple user accounts, an autocomplete dial pad, improved Bluetooth connectivity and OpenGL 3.0 support to bring better graphics for Android games.

It also brings support for Google's new Chromecast dongle, allowing content to be beamed to a HD TV or monitor over the web.

Google is thought to be saving up its next big set of mobile innovations for Android 5.0 - codenamed Key Lime Pie - which is now unlikely to until late 2013 at the earliest.

Have you received the Android 4.3 update for your Nexus 4 yet? Let us know if you've noticed any improvements in the comments section below.

• Not a Nexus 4 owner? Find out when your handset will be granted the Android 4.3 upgrate

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/android-4-3-jelly-bean-update-rolling-out-to-uk-google-nexus-4-handsets-1169878

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Sony Xperia Honami's new camera UI may enable Facebook live streaming

AR dinosaurs!

Sony will debut its brand new, feature-packed camera interface to harness the rumoured 20-megapixel camera on its next flagship 'Honami' phone, leaked snaps seem to confirm.

The Gadget Helpline site, which brought us leaked snaps of the device (aka Xperia 1i) last week, has now posted pics of the new camera UI, previously outed by XDA developers earlier this month, running on the device.

The new pics showcase the new Timeshift Burst mode, which enables users to select 'the best moment' from a selection of pictures, while there's also a new Effects & Filters post-production screen.

The AR Effect mode, which will could enable Augmented Reality images to be superimposed onto pictures, is also pictured running on the device. The example pictured above showcases a dinosaur walking across the frame. Scary.

Live streaming to Facebook

Another significant new feature mentioned, but not pictured, is Social Live which, TGH claimed, will facilitate live video streaming to Facebook.

There's also another look at a second AR feature called Info-Eye, which will enable users to discover more about their surroundings by using the device's camera.

Sony is yet to officially confirm 'Honami' or 'Xperia 1i' or whatever it decides to call it, but the device is likely to succeed the impressive Xperia Z phone.

Recent speculation has pointed to a 5-inch Full HD display, 2.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 chip, Qualcomm Adreno 330 graphics, 2GB of memory, 16GB of storage, microSD, LTE and NFC support.

• Already own an Xperia Z? Check out the best apps for your Sony smartphone

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/sony-xperia-honami-s-new-camera-ui-may-enable-facebook-live-streaming-1169106

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Trouble in paradise? Nokia blasts Microsoft for Windows Phone app failings

Nokia's hardware innovations being undermined?

Nokia has expressed frustration with Microsoft's failure to give smartphone users a convincing reason to switch to Windows Phone, in comments representing the public first signs of strain in the pair's relationship.

The Finnish company's vice president Bryan Biniak said Microsoft has not held up its end of the bargain because essential, frontline apps are still missing from the Windows Phone store.

In an interview with the IBTimes, Biniak said smartphone users are unwilling to compromise their mobile lives by switching to the platform, regardless of how impressive recent hardware releases have been.

He said Nokia is trying to 'change the culture' at Microsoft' in order to stress that the battle to overhaul iOS and Android cannot wait any longer.

Give me a reason

He said: "To give you a reason to switch, I need to make sure the apps that you care about on your device are not only on our phones, but are better. I also need to provide you unique experiences that you can't get on your other devices."

"People rely on applications for their day-to-day life and if you don't have something which I use in my day-to-day life I'm not going to switch [operating systems] because I don't want to compromise the way I live my life just to switch to a phone.

"It's not just about the hardware, it's about the tools that are on the hardware. You can't sell a phone without the apps, you just can't."

No time to waste

Nokia's recent launches have included the impressive Lumia 925 and the soon to be released 41-megapixel Lumia 1020 cameraphone.

However, the Finns are concerned these great handsets will stay under the radar for potential buyers due to Microsoft's lack of haste in attracting top developers to the platform

Biniak added: "We are releasing new devices frequently and for every new device, if there is an app that somebody cares about that's not there that's a missed opportunity of a sale.

"We are trying to evolve the cultural thinking [at Microsoft] to say 'time is of the essence.' Waiting until the end of your fiscal year when you need to close your targets, doesn't do us any good when I have phones to sell today."

If you want a job doing well...

Although the app gulf between Windows Phone and iOS and Android isn't as large as it was, Microsoft's platform is still missing apps like Instagram, a Facebook app worthy of the name, and of course, Google's impressive suite.

Nokia has attempted to take matters into its own hands, campaigning for the launch of Instagram on Windows Phone, while also securing an exclusive deal to bring FIFA '13 to Lumia Phones.

On that note, Biniak saved his most scathing comment until last. He said: "As a company we don't want to rely on somebody else and sit and wait for them to get it right."

Will Biniak's comments jar Microsoft into caring as much about Windows Phone as it does about Windows 8 and Xbox? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.

• The Lumia 1020 is the phone that will save Nokia, according to our own Gareth Beavis. Find out why he thinks the Finns are firmly on the comeback trail.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/trouble-in-paradise-nokia-blasts-microsoft-for-windows-phone-app-failings-1169097

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Another budget iPhone photo leaks, this time with FCC labels

So far we’ve been pretty skeptical of the budget iPhone leaks as they bear a very strong resemblance to a certain China-built Android phone. This, however, could be the money shot - the plastic budget iPhone with FCC labels on the back.

None of the other leaks we’ve seen (and there have been plenty) had such labels. The labels could, of course, be faked quite easily (especially in a blurry shot like this). Still, we’re on the lookout for official FCC docs - a non-blurry shot with the FCC ID clearly visible would be a great start.

Anyway, the rumor mill also says that this budget iPhone will be unveiled on September 6. There are other rumors that contradict this date so we'll see. For what it’s worth, the iPhone 5 was announced September 12.

Source | Via

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/another_budget_iphone_photo_leaks_this_time_with_fcc_labels-news-6468.php

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Android 4.3 has a sort-of hidden app permissions manager

Android 4.3 App Ops can be accessed with a third party app (credit: Android Police)

It can be hard for Android users to keep track of what exactly their apps are doing, but it looks like that's about to change with Android 4.3.

Android Police caught wind of a function called "App Ops" in the latest Android update that lets you control exactly what apps can access, be that navigation, data, phone calls or something else.

That way if specific apps are acting up and such as, for example, using your phone's GPS while you don't want to turn navigation off system-wide, you can go into App Ops and restrict the problematic app's permissions.

It seems the feature isn't fully ready yet, but there are a number of ways for adventurous Android users to activate it.

You have my permission to die

TechRadar asked Google to clarify whether users were meant to access these controls and whether the App Ops feature will ever be implemented more fully in the OS. We haven't heard back from the company yet, but we'll keep you posted.

In the meantime, it seems the easiest way to access individual apps' permissions on Android 4.3 is to open the app and navigate through the settings menu to "App Ops."

But to get the full App Ops experience you can download a third party called Permission Manager app from Google Play.

The app was launched yesterday, though it looks like these functions weren't yet meant to be accessed in this way, so use at your own risk.

But if you do boot it up, it should display a list of all your apps with the specific functions each use and a timestamp showing the last time they used them. It's divided into four categories based on permissions related to "messaging," "location," "personal" and "device."

Selecting an app shows a full list of permissions for it with easy on/off toggles, though it seems those permissions won't show up there until the app has tried to use them at least once.

That means at this point you'll never know if the list is complete, since location permissions for Facebook won't show up there until Facebook has tried to use location services at least once. It's a slight annoyance that may be part of the reason this feature isn't 100 percent there yet.

In addition, if you turn off location services for, say, Facebook, then forget that you did so, the system won't remind you if you try to use geotags in Facebook and the app can't access the GPS. It simply won't work.

So again, use at your own risk, and hopefully "App Ops" will get more official in a future Android update.

• Android 4.3: when will your phone get it?

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/software/operating-systems/android-4-3-has-a-hidden-app-permissions-manager-1169025

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Android 4.3 has a semi-hidden app permissions manager

Android 4.3 App Ops can be accessed with a third party app (credit: Android Police)

It can be hard for Android users to keep track of what exactly their apps are doing, but it looks like that's changing in Android 4.3.

Android Police caught wind of a function called "App Ops" in the latest Android update that lets you control exactly what apps can access, be that navigation, data, phone calls, or whatever else.

That way if specific apps are acting up and, for example, using your phones GPS, but you don't want to turn navigation off system-wide, you can go into App Ops and restrict the problematic app's permissions.

It seems the feature isn't fully ready yet, but there are a number of ways for adventurous Android users to activate it.

You have my permission to die

TechRadar has asked Google to clarify whether users were meant to access these controls and whether the App Ops feature will ever be implemented more fully in the OS.

But in the meantime it seems the easiest way to access individual apps' permissions on Android 4.3 is to open the app and navigate through the settings menu to "App Ops."

But to get the full App Ops experience you can download this new third party Permission Manager app from Google Play.

The app was launched yesterday, and it seems these functions were not yet meant to be accessed in this way, so use at your own risk.

But if you do boot it up, it should display a list of all your apps with the specific functions they use and a timestamp showing the last time they used them. It's divided into four categories based on permissions related to "messaging," "location," "personal," and "device."

Selecting an app shows a full list of permissions for it with easy on/off toggles, though it seems those permissions won't show up there until the app has tried to use them at least once.

That means at this point you'll never know if the list is complete, since location permissions for Facebook won't show up there until Facebook has tried to use location services at least once. It's a slight annoyance that may be part of the reason this feature isn't 100 percent there yet.

In addition, if you turn off location services for, say, Facebook, then forget that you did so, the system won't remind you if you try to use geotags in Facebook and the app can't access the GPS. It simply won't work.

So again, use at your own risk, and hopefully "App Ops" will get more official in a future Android update.

• Android 4.3: when will your phone get it?

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/android-4-3-has-a-hidden-app-permissions-manager-1169025

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Google is working on real time translator phones

Android features speech-to-text, but how long before it's English-to-Spanish?

Google has its sights set on the future with projects like Google Fiber and Google Glass, and now it's adding real time voice-to-voice translation to that list as well.

Google's Vice President of Android Hugo Barra said this week that Google is now in the early stages of creating real time translation software that it hopes to perfect within the next "several years," according to The Times.

The company already has prototypes phones that can translate speech in real time, so that a user speaks into the device in one language and the person on the other end hears it in a different one, like the fictional Babel fish in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy or the TARDIS in Doctor Who.

"That is where we're headed," Barra said. "We've got tons of prototypes of that sort of interaction, and I've played with it every other week to see how much progress we've made."

Same old hurdles

Google's speech-to-speech translation project is reportedly being developed as part of Google Now, the Google services suite that's being designed to predict your needs before you know them yourself.

The real time translation is reportedly better for certain language pairs, such as Portuguese and English, but accuracy remains an issue.

Anyone who's tried to use Apple's Siri or Android's voice-to-text services knows that a little background noise can cause a lot of inaccuracies, and that's something Google is wrestling with still.

Translations per day: a billion and one

The groundwork for real time voice-to-voice translation certainly exists, though, between that speech recognition software and Google's online Google Translate service.

Google said that on that service alone it translates a billion entries per day in 71 languages, and it just added new languages from places like the Philippines, South East Asia and Indonesia.

Don't stop me now

Google discussed voice translation software back in 2010, when Google Distinguished Research Scientist and head of machine translation Franz Och made a prediction.

"We think speech-to-speech translation should be possible and work reasonably well in a few years' time," he said at the time. "Clearly, for it to work smoothly, you need a combination of high-accuracy machine translation and high-accuracy voice recognition, and that's what we're working on.

"If you look at the progress in machine translation and corresponding advances in voice recognition, there has been huge progress recently."

It would have been nice if he was right - we'd probably have real time voice translation on our Galaxy S4 right now. But at least we know they're still working on it.

• TechRadar spent a week with Google's newest search tool and wrote about what it's like living with Google Now.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/world-of-tech/future-tech/google-is-working-on-real-time-translator-phones-1169019

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Ubuntu may do it better, but Canonical head sees merits of Windows 8 efforts

A truly seamless switch?

Canonical is heading into the weekend with about $6.6 million (about £4.29m, AU$7.14m) raised for the Ubuntu Edge, not too shabby for the superphone's 5-day old Indiegogo campaign.

We chatted with Mark Shuttleworth, the software company's founder, on the day Edge was announced, discussing this "concept car" device and the potential crowdfunding as a mechanism for spurring innovation. We also dived into converging computing, which the Edge aims to accomplish by having it serve as the "brain" of a PC.

The Edge dual-boots Android and Ubuntu for smartphones, but when users plug into a monitor, Ubuntu for desktops kicks in. The Edge's proposed specs - 4GB of RAM, a multi-core processor and 128GB of storage - are built to take on the task of transforming into a PC manageable and seamless.

Having a shared thread among various devices draws comparisons to Microsoft's Windows 8, but Shuttleworth said there are some important disctinctions.

"I think our story scales a bit more smoothly from phone to tablet to PC," he said, drawing up Ubuntu's strenghts over the Softies' offering.

"I think we have an advantage in that our core OS is much lighter in a way. Because it works on phones it makes it to the PC faster - we're stripping out all the fat on the phone."

Still...

Canonical is clearly trying to draw its own path with Ubuntu and the Edge, but Shuttleworth wasn't without a degree of deference for Microsoft's labor.

"Microsoft has clearly articulated a design vision that's designed to expand across platforms," he said. "As much criticism as the [Windows 8] has taken, I have to agree with them. It recognizes it needs to make a bold foundation. It's very difficult to make bold transitions like that without tickling somebody's nose hairs."

Ubuntu is in its early mobile device days - the Edge won't even be out until May 2014 - but we could be in for an interesting OS war that's for once not Android and iOS.

• Speaking of Android, had a gander at Android 4.3 yet?

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/software/operating-systems/ubuntu-may-do-it-better-but-canonical-head-sees-merits-of-windows-8-efforts-1168992

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IDC: Apple and Samsung lose market share in Q2

According to the latest figures from Internation Data Corporation (IDC) market analysis, Apple and Samsung continue to dominate the smartphone market. However, the companies have seen their shares slip in Q2 of this year compared to what they had last year.

Of the estimated total of 237.9 million smartphones shipped this past quarter, Samsung accounted for some 72.4 million units, or 30.4%. Despite shipping more units in Q2 than for the same period of last year, Samsung's market share dropped from 32.2% due to seasonal sales rates and lost market share to up-and-comers like LG and Lenovo.

LG was able to ship 12.1 million units in Q2, giving it a 5.1% market share, while Lenovo sold 11.3 million units, or 4.7%. Those two saw their shipments increase by 108.6% and 130.6% YoY, respectively.

Apple, meanwhile saw its market share drop by almost a quarter to 13.1% in Q2. The (highly) rumored release of a budget iPhone model alongside the iPhone 5S should hopefully bring things back for the Cupertino-based company, but the effects of those will only be properly felt in Q4.

iCharts

The lost market share is likely of little concern to either Apple or Samsung, as both are raking in huge profits from their smartphone offerings. Particularly Samsung, who is celebrating a record $8.5 billion profit for Q2.

Source | Via

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/apple_and_samsung_lose_market_share_in_q2_according_to_idc-news-6467.php

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'Siri, why do I hate you so much?'

Maybe he didn't hold it close enough to his mouth...

You know what I hate about iPhone owners? Siri.

I can't stand them for it. I have this notion that they're all sitting around in bars, screaming into their phone that they want to know what the weather is like (have you looked out the window?), or asking if they have emails from Mum.

They're probably not, as I've never actually seen anyone use Siri in real life. Nobody has. We've all heard the double-plunk of it being fired up, only to be followed by an under-the-breath "balls", and then the sad sound of it being switched off.

But, real or imaginary, you know why I don't like these people? Ask Siri - I'm sure she'll tell you (or he, depending on what country you're in). It's because I really want it, and I can't believe more people aren't desperate for a proper voice recognition app in their phone.

Google, not Now

I'm an Android user at the moment – flitting between the consumers' pet, the Galaxy S4 and the enthusiasts' grail (and TechRadar's best phone in the world), the HTC One like some kind of demented tech-addict yoyo. Both ultra-smooth. Both ultra-capable. Both Android devices.

And yet, both lacking one thing: A decent digital assistant.

A couple of years ago, when Ice Cream Sandwich was all the rage, and Jelly Bean was simply a sweet-tasting pie in the sky, we got whisperings that Google was working on an ultra cool digital assistant that would make Siri look rubbish.

That may have been the case at one time, but right now we're still left wandering around trying to get Google Now to do all the things that it's supposed to do - I've yet to hear of anyone getting relevant flight or sports details, despite their best efforts.

Google's attempt isn't meant to be a Siri challenger. It's what Google calls 'intelligent' and is meant to be different. We all know how the cards system works and that it learns from us all. .

And yet, it seems to bring up information that isn't relevant to millions of people (like stocks and shares) whilst making it impossible to carry out the simplest of tasks – like play music.

The impossible dream

OK, so I admit it, Android-fans. I have cheated in the past. I'm not wedded to Android and have enjoyed owning and using every iPhone iteration there has been. And this is where I can tell you that Apple wipes the floor with Android.

There is so much to be said for driving and being able to tell your phone to play a particular song and have it just do the damn thing. Siri is brilliant, and while it's a little limited, it does what it's supposed to do better than anything out there. If you've not tried it properly on your iPhone or iPad, at least to see if you can use it more often, you're an idiot.

And don't tell me you look stupid talking to your phone. That's what they were designed for - it's just you being embarrassed because you're unsure about what might happen.

Google Now is supposed to do something similar, but it fails miserably at searching local content when I just want it to play a song I have stored in my memory card. Forums littered with complaints will attest to my frustration.

Samsung tried to convince us that it had solved the problem when it unveiled the Galaxy S3 last year, announcing S-Voice. You'd think it could wipe out third world debt, the way Samsung sold it. Unfortunately, it can barely do the simplest of tasks. Nailed the industry, this has not. It can't even set a timer properly.

Theoretically, one of Android's strong points is the fact you can customise it so well. If you don't like the gallery, download a replacement version. Hate the keyboard? No problem, tap away on a third party one that you installed.

But this goes to show how so many people are trying to cash into the digital PA and failing miserably – with dozens of options from Skyvi and Sherpa, to Robin and Jeannie, with Iris and others in between. And all are as bad as each other, with Speaktoit Assistant having the highest success rate, albeit with its own flaws, when ordered to do something.

I don't want witty conversation with a piece of code, I just want the flaming thing to play Bonnie Tyler when it's told to.

Maybe this is something that Google will sort out with Key Lime Pie – but I doubt it. Android's motivation is to drive you towards the internet. Which is why Google Now is brilliant at web searching and not so brilliant at simpler tasks.

Until then, keep shouting at Siri. See if I care. (I do.)

I've reviewed dozens of phones and tablets for TechRadar over the years - each time putting them through their paces in the most unbiased, rigorous way possible.

But as well as being a professional, I have a love/hate relationship with tech, and that's what these columns are all about: the passionate howlings of a true fanboy. Tell me why I'm right, wrong or a hopeless idiot in the comments below or by tweeting @techradar or @phillavelle.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/-siri-why-do-i-hate-you-so-much--1168909

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T-Mobile US drops all phones to $0 on contract, iPhone 5 included

T-Mobile has dropped the upfront cost of all phones available in the carrier's stores to $0, including flagships like the Apple iPhone 5, Samsung Galaxy S4, Sony Xperia Z and Nokia Lumia 925.

There's a catch though – you still have to pay for the phone, you just do it in monthly installments on top of your regular monthly payments. Starting tomorrow, customers can grab a new phone on T-Mobile's Simple Choice Plan (starts at $50 for unlimited talk and text plus 500MB high-speed data).

Here's a table that shows the monthly payments for some of the most popular devices. We've added a third column, which is the total cost of the device over 24 months (which T-Mobile conveniently neglected).

Device	Down Payment	Monthly Payments 24 equal monthly payments for 0% APR on approved credit1	Total for 24 months
Samsung Galaxy S® 4	$0	$25	$600
Samsung Galaxy Note® II	$0	$27	$648
Samsung Galaxy S® III	$0	$22	$528
Xperia® Z from Sony	$0	$25	$600
iPhone 5 16GB only	$0	$27	$648
Nokia Lumia 925	$0	$20	$480
Nokia Lumia 521	$0	$5	$120
BlackBerry® Q10	$0	$25	$600
HTC One®	$0	$25	$600
Samsung Galaxy Tab(TM) 2 10.1	$0	$20	$480

Note that this is a limited time offer and T-Mobile didn’t say when it ends. You can also sign up for the JUMP! upgrade program that costs $10 a month and adds insurance and the option to sign a new contract (and get a new phone) every six months. It's similar AT&T Next (which goes live today) and Verizon's Edge.

Source | Via

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/tmobile_us_sells_all_phones_at_0_on_contract_but_theres_a_catch-news-6466.php

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Multiple Samsung Galaxy Note 3 models looking more likely than ever

Take note

After whisperings of such a thing previously, the Galaxy Note 3 could arrive in triplicate according to the latest leak which suggests the company is working on 5.5-, 5.7- and 6-inch varieties.

The current Galaxy Note 2 totes a 5.5-inch screen which some might say is plenty big enough for a phone-tablet-crossover-thing.

On an Indian import and export shipment tracking database, one eagle-eyed phone fan spotted the Note 3 affiliated model number SM-N900 surface with the three screen sizes alongside it.

Big, bigger, biggest

They're tagged as "for R&D purpose" which at the very least means that Samsung is considering each of the sizes.

However, as with the Samsung Galaxy S4 and Samsung Galaxy Mega, the company could quite easily be planning to launch various devices under the Galaxy Note 3 banner.

• Is that a good idea? Phones and tablets editor Gareth thinks not

Talk of the 6-inch dimension has surfaced before, most recently in a Twitter leak. We've also heard word of a 6.3-inch Note 3 and a 5.9-inch Note 3…

The true size of the thing is likely to be revealed to us all in early September at IFA 2013. We'll be there to bring you the over-sized phone news as it breaks.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/multiple-samsung-galaxy-note-3-models-looking-more-likely-than-ever-1168910

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Video: Apple should drop the iPhone

How does the Apple Tornado sound?

The Apple iPhone. A product synonymous with the advent of the smartphone and largely credited for shaping the current crop of mobile devices - but is it time for a change?

Back in 2007, the iPhone brand wooed fans with its simplistic concept (who puts the description of the product in the brand name anyway?), but the novelty is wearing thin.

Perhaps Apple is alienating those who are not hardened fans, the people who are put off by the iPhone brand no matter what the handset actually offers.

So could a new name reignite interest by those turned off by the iPhone and open up a whole new market to Apple? Let's find out.

More QuickRadar

Has the mere suggestion of Apple dropping the iPhone brand got your blood boiling? Then get ready to pop with more QuickRadar videos.

• HTC One meets HTC One Mini
• Xbox One takes on the PS4
• Google Glass - half full or half empty?

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/video-apple-should-drop-the-iphone-1168564

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3CX updates MDM to extend Android control

It's added email on Android into the mix

IP telephony firm 3CX has updated its cloud-based Mobile Device Manager (MDM) service to give small and midsized businesses (SMBs) greater control over corporate email on Android devices.

The company has equipped Version 6.3 of its MDM with AquaMail, a commercial Android email client that allows administrators to remotely push configurations to users' devices, store and delete attachments and emails (including wiping accounts if an employee leaves), and view logs.

The update also includes integration with 3CX's DroidDesktop Android app, which IT teams can use to free a smartphone's space remotely by dragging files from a desktop window that displays its interface.

Other features

MDM's existing features include mobile device management with the ability to deploy, remotely review and install apps, and monitor malware. It also allows adminstrators to remotely wipe mobile devices by sending an SMS in the absence of an internet connection.

Companies can try a fully-featured version of 3XC's Mobile Device Manager service with a free account that supports up to five devices by signing up here.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/software/business-software/3cx-updates-mdm-to-extend-android-control-1168877

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