Apple reportedly pushing hard for iRadio launch as soon as June

Apple iRadio could launch this summer

Apple could launch its long-rumored iRadio service as soon as this summer, finally giving iTunes a streaming music app to take on Pandora and Spotify.

"iRadio is coming. There's no doubt about it anymore," an unnamed music industry source told The Verge.

The report says that Apple is pushing hard for a summertime launch of the streaming music app after making "significant progress" in talks with two top labels, Universal and Warner.

Another Apple rumor from today pins the iPhone 5S launch event to June 20, so the company's apparent push to have an iRadio app present at the event would make sense.

iRadio app negotiations

Apple has reportedly low-balled record labels in negotiations, and the record labels have, in turn, allegedly rebuffed the Apple and its ability to launch iRadio.

The initial offer from Apple is said to have been as low as 6 cents per 100 songs streamed when the Copyright Royalty Board's fair rate for non-broadcast companies is 21 cents per 100 songs.

To give some perspective, Pandora pays 12 cents per 100 songs streamed, while Spotify pays 35 cents per 100 songs streamed.

Whether or not Apple secures a much better deal than all of the other music streaming services out there, the unprofitable Pandora and Spotify are going to be seeking reduced licensing fees.

This will especially be the case if Apple's iRadio app takes on the internet radio spectrum.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/computing/apple/apple-reportedly-pushing-hard-for-iradio-summer-launch-1141613

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New benchmark could point to LG Optimus G2 complete with Snapdragon 800

LG's Optimus G2 may go beast mode on the competition

We've already been hearing word about LG's Optimus G follow-up for quite some time, though the rumor mill hadn't been as busy following CES 2013.

An early benchmark revealed some startling specs for a new LG smarpthone, and the Korean manufacturer even teased a possible CES reveal back in January.

The phone many believe to be the Optimus G2 supposedly features Android 4.2: Jelly Bean, a 5-inch full HD display, 2GB of RAM, 32GB of internal storage, 13MP camera and a 3,000mAh battery.

On top of all that, the processor inside could be an ultra-powerful quad-core Qualcomm CPU, the likes of which would blow away the Snapdragon 600 found in the HTC One and Samsung Galaxy S4.

If a brand-new benchmarking is to be believed, the 1.7GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 will be the chip, and the Optimus G2 could be a super-power phone for LG.

Gotta go to T-Mo

According to GLBenchmark, the Optimus G2 (under the codename LG-D801) will feature the MSM8974 processor, also known as the Snapdragon 800.

The Optimus G2 benchmarked here is set to arrive at T-Mobile, and will work on the carrier's 4G LTE network, and included a 1794 x 1080 resolution display.

The earlier benchmark from December 2012 was for a device on AT&T, but that doesn't mean the details about either phone are wrong.

The first Optimus G never made it outside of Asia, but seeing the benchmarks pop up for two other global carriers, as well as the success of LG's Nexus 4, bodes well for people in other countries hoping to get their hands on the high-powered device.

Neither LG or either of the carriers has officially announced any plans for the Optimus G2, but with benchmarks like these, it's only a matter of time.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/new-benchmark-could-point-to-lg-optimus-g2-complete-with-snapdragon-800-1141604

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Apple reportedly in talks with developers to launch proprietary game controller

Apple's iOS controller may finally be a reality (credit: Patently Apple)

Though there are plenty of gaming controllers already available for the iPad 4 and iPhone 5, none of them have come from Apple itself.

While patents have popped up in the past, Apple hasn't seen fit to develop its own gamepad for iOS gaming, and since 2007, has allowed third-party companies to rule the roost.

However, sources speaking with PocketGamer revealed that might not be the case for much longer, as Apple was reportedly testing the controller waters in secret at GDC.

Nobody saw the device as of yet, but the anonymous developers who sat in with Apple at the event claimed the Cupertino company was seeking day one support for the mysterious controller.

Button-mashing bandwagon

To this point, Apple has seemingly been satisfied with the touch-based controls its iOS devices use for gaming.

However, a recent influx of controllers and consoles from companies like Ouya and GameStick, as well as Samsung's own Galaxy S4 Game Pad may have forced Apple to be reactionary for once.

PocketGamer's sources said Apple was at GDC under a fictitious name, and didn't bring any hardware along to show off thanks to frequent leaks.

The controller is believed to make a showing at Apple's April event, which is typically home to the annual iPad announcement.

It would certainly make sense to reveal a new controller alongside the iPad 5, but there's also a chance this purported joystick could be part of a larger plan, like the oft-rumored Apple iTV.

Whatever Apple's plans are, the company clearly believes the controller is a secret to be guarded as closely as the next iOS device.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/computing/apple/apple-reportedly-in-talks-with-developers-to-launch-proprietary-game-controller-1141596

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Try not to break your HTC One. It's harder to fix than the iPhone

Don't try this at home (credit: iFixit)

We enjoy iFixit's now-standard teardowns of new tech offerings. Breaking devices down to their bare bones has often served up some useful tidbits on processor configurations, built in RAM and so forth.

Now the site has given the stunning new HTC One handset the controlled destruction treatment and is offering the following advice: Whatever you do don't break this thing, because you ain't fixin' it.

Following its somewhat arduous endeavours to turn the gorgeous aluminium-bodied handset into a pile of components, the site has awarded the new flagship handset a repairability score of just one. Out of ten.

That's comparable to the equally irreparable Microsoft Surface tablet, while the iPhone, notorious for its stubborn attitude towards non-professional repair-folk notched up an impressive 7 on the iFixit scale.

Possibily impossible

The site claimed opening the device without damaging the rear case was "possibly impossible," which in-turn made replacing a broken screen "nearly impossible."

iFixit also concluded, following its arduous 18-step teardown, that "the battery is buried beneath the motherboard and adhered to the midframe, hindering its replacement."

It also found that the motherboard and most of the other important components are shielded by copper, which is also a you-know-what when it comes to piecing a device back together.

The site did say that the "solid external construction improves durability," but if you run into problems, it looks like its replace or bust for the HTC One. Make sure you keep the receipt!

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/try-not-to-break-your-htc-one-it-s-harder-to-fix-than-the-iphone-1141569

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BBC 'forces' takedown of Microsoft man's unofficial Windows Phone app

Lawrence Gripper's BBC News app is coming down

An popular, unofficial BBC News application for Windows Phone, created by a Microsoft employee, will be removed from the Windows Store, with reports citing legal pressure from the Beeb.

In the absence of an official offering, Lawrence Gripper's free BBC News Mobile app, which pulls in feeds from the website, had admirably plugged the gap, earning an average rating of above four stars.

The app brought Live Tile support, allowed users to read or listen in-app or on the BBC website and served it all up in within a fine user interface that encouraged over half a million downloads in the past two years.

Well-known developer Gripper, who created the app and a subsequent Windows Phone 8 update as a "labour of love" before joining Microsoft, broke the news on his personal blog "with great sadness."

No further comment

Gripper, who is now a technical account director at Redmond, wrote: "[The apps] have been a labor of love for me since the launch of Windows Phone in 2010 and it is with great sadness today that I removed both applications from the store.

"I do not wish to comment any further on the matter except to thank the over half a million people who downloaded the application and all those who have supported, tested, rated and emailed over the years."

While the developer remained diplomatic about the real reason for the app's demise, The Verge reports that it was indeed pressure from the tax-payer funded BBC which resulted in the takedown.

The app does use the BBC's logo, but so do plenty of other unofficial offerings on the Windows Store, none of which have been as well received as Gripper's, which is still temporarily available for download.

Who knows? Perhaps it is worried that the official app won't be able to live up to the third-party offering? That's if it ever decides to grace Windows Phone fans with its presence.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/software/applications/beeb-forces-takedown-of-microsoft-man-s-unofficial-windows-phone-bbc-news-app-1141554

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Galaxy S4 mini confirmed by Samsung SVP

The Samsung Galaxy S4 has leaked a few times before but this slip comes from Lee Keon Hyok, Senior Vice President at Samsung Electronics who talked to BusinessWeek.

Apparently, “the Galaxy S 4 doesn’t come out until late April. It’s fast, has a big, bright screen, and will probably be another huge hit for Samsung, as will the S4 mini that will go on sale soon after”.

That’s not a lot to go on, but at least it confirms the Galaxy S4 mini exists and we’re not looking at a random Galaxy model (most look quite similar).

KnowYourMobile has gotten hold of some unconfirmed info on the upcoming diminutive smartphone. The main camera will have an 8MP sensor that will capture HD video (possibly 1080p) and there will be a front-facing camera of unknown resolution.

According to the site the Galaxy S4 mini’s chipset (the Exynos 5210?) will pack just 1GB of RAM. The internal storage options are 8GB, 16GB and 32G with a microSD card slot. The estimated price for the Galaxy S4 mini is £300 / $450.

Keep in mind that KnowYourMobile’s data should be taken with a pinch of salt. Even Lee Keon Hyok’s comments should not be taken for granted.

Source 1 • Source 2 | Via

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/galaxy_s4_mini_confirmed_by_samsung_svp-news-5780.php

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Samsung Exynos 5 Octa does support LTE, so why isn't it in our Galaxy S4?

Western variants of the S4 will 'only' pack a quad-core processor

At its Galaxy S4 launch event a couple of weeks back, Samsung somewhat glossed over the new handset's octo-core processor, despite it being a world-first for a smartphone. We would soon find out why.

In the aftermath of the Broadway extravaganza, the company revealed that the US and UK, would miss out on the Exynos 5 Octa S4 and would have to settle for quad-core - albeit much improved quad-core.

Most observers had assumed it was to ensure Brits and Yanks, among others, had a faster phone, but also access to the faster internet too, as the LTE version of the device runs the Qualcomm Snapdragon E50.

However, in a post on its @SamsungExynos Twitter feed late on Thursday, the company confirmed that the new Exynos 5 does support LTE on all frequencies.

The tweet reads: "Update: The Exynos 5 Octa supports LTE and all 20 bands." So what gives, Samsung?

Supply shortage?

Confirmation that LTE support is not a factor seems to suggest that its a supply issue preventing the Exynos 5 Octa going global on the S4 handset.

This remains unconfirmed but, if true, it would represent somewhat of a failure on Samsung's part to get all their ducks in row before the Galaxy S4 goes on sale on April 26.

It does mean that an eight-core Galaxy S4 variant could potentially be rolled out once Samsung amps-up production of the phone, but Samsung is staying mum on that too.

The perceived benefits of the Octa 5 processor are efficiency rather than speed. The tech is built on ARM's big.LITTLE framework, meaning there are four cores for handling the power-sapping and four for handling the phone's mundane tasks, which will result in smoother performance and better battery life.

Octa-core? Quad-core? Does it matter to you? Let us know in the comments below.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/samsung-exynos-5-octa-does-support-lte-so-why-isn-t-it-in-our-galaxy-s4--1141548

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Could Facebook's new home for Android come on an HTC phone?

Home is where the News Feed is?

We're beginning to think Facebook must really like having people come visit, or at least we gather that by the number of events the company has been hosting at its headquarters lately.

Thursday the social network sent out media invites to "come see our new home on Android" during an event at 10 a.m. PDT April 4, a few weeks after it unveiled its new News Feed and just a couple of months since we got our first look at Graph Search.

This event promises to be quite different however, particularly as it's focusing on mobile, and a specific system at that.

What's more, this could be more than just a run of the mill app revamp: We could be in for something worth sharing in a status update.

Will we see a Facebook phone?

Sources speaking with TechCrunch say the event will reveal a modified version of Android with heavy Facebook functionality baked into the home screen.

What's more, this retooled OS may be housed in an HTC handset.

While not a complete rewrite, the OS is said to be a "flavor" of Android with extra Facebook spices included. Alternately, TechCrunch sources have heard the Facebook/Android mishmash referred to as an "application layer," one that leans heavily on native Facebook apps like Messenger and includes convenient social sharing functionality from wherever users find themselves on the device.

Yet another rumor calls the whole endeavor "Facebook Home," the marquee feature of which will be a home screen that bears the markings of Facebook through and through.

All of this bleeds into a report from 9to5Google intimating that Facebook and HTC are working on a joint advertising promo. AllThingsD meanwhile reported in 2011 that the two companies were breathlessly working with one another to build a deeply FB-integrated smartphone.

What all this means is that we could indeed see a Facebook phone come to life next week...or not. These are just rumors for now, so take all of the above with a hefty few shakes of salt. However, with the whole "where there's smoke, there's fire" credo, we could see something hardware related creep out of Menlo Park next Thursday.

TechRadar will be at the Facebook's event live to bring you all the latest, so tune back in for more on Facebook's Android aspirations.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/software/operating-systems/could-facebook-s-new-home-for-android-come-on-an-htc-phone--1141529

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