iOS 7 concept artist wants widgets

Quick settings: Haven't we seen you somewhere before?

A dilligent designer has mocked up a video showing how he'd like iOS to work on his iPhone and iPad, with features like Android-style widgets on the top of his must have list.

Frederico Bianco has created quite a detailed breakdown of his vision for iOS 7, not just of what the features should be, but of how they should work, too.

As you might expect, a number of the features Bianco wants are some of the best ideas found on Android phones. He wants to be able to launch apps from the Lock Screen, for example, and he wants to access certain apps through widgets, rather than having to launch the apps themselves.

One of his better ideas is for a new app called Shelf. This would be a repository for all of the webpages you select to read later, with a two-step process for adding them through the Safari browser.

Take a look at Bianco's video for yourself and let us know which of his ideas you love, and which are completely bonkers.

Via Mashable

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Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/ios-7-concept-artist-wants-widgets-1143060

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Google internally testing new Play Store design

Slimming down: the Play Store before and after

A Google Plus misfire from a quick-fingered Googler has revealed the next major redesign for the Play Store on Android devices.

A post from YouTube employee Eileen Rivera (since removed) included the image of the new Play Store, which is apparently in the "dogfooding" stage of development -- where Google "feeds" its own staff the next flavour of the app for testing.

In a cute reference to this, the Play Store app icon has been changed to a dog's bowl with Play services icons mixed up in the slop.

The image gives very little away as to what new features or usability tweaks we can expect in the update, though. We're hoping for more detailed search options, with filters to improve results, but then, we've been hoping for a change like this for a while now.

Blips are TechRadar's new news nuggets that you'll find percolating through the homepage - or you can see them all by hitting the blip keyword below.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/google-internally-testing-new-play-store-design-1143055

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Nokia Lumia 928 handset breaks cover, is it the new flagship device?

Lumia 928 is rumoured to be arriving in the US on Verizon

The Nokia Lumia 928, reported to be the company's next top shelf Windows Phone device has emerged in purported press shots leaked online.

The device, which is rumoured to be a thinner and lighter version of the Nokia Lumia 920 device, has appeared thanks to serial tech leak artist @evleaks.

The handset is branded with the Verizon Wireless US network, which suggests it'll be a counter to the Nokia Lumia 920, which is an AT&T exclusive in the country.

Previous rumours had suggested the device will launch on Verizon in April, but what isn't clear is whether Nokia will bestow the device upon Windows Phone fans in other territories.

Similar internals

Previous speculation had suggested that the Lumia 928 will bring a xenon flash to complement the 8-megapixel PureView camera.

Other internal features are expected to remain the same as the Lumia 920, while initial reports that the device would tout an aluminium body were soon rebuked.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/nokia-lumia-928-handset-breaks-cover-is-it-the-new-flagship-device--1143020

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Samsung infringes upon yet another key Apple patent, judge rules

Samsung in violation of text selection patent

Samsung's line of Galaxy, Nexus and Transform devices infringe upon part of a key Apple parent, relating to the selection of text in iOS devices, a judge has ruled.

In preliminary findings, the International Trade Commission judge said Samsung was in violation of the patent entitled "Method and apparatus for providing translucent images on a computer display."

Specifically, the offence relates to the translucent bubble that appears over the top of text when it is selected by the user within the web browser and in other apps.

The ruling was made on March 26 and only made public on Friday, but if the decision is upheld, the offending devices could face an import ban into the United States.

Final decision coming soon

The judge Thomas J. Pender ruled that Samsung had not infringed on a patent which covers how the devices recognise a microphone plugged into the headphone jack.

A final ruling is expected in August.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/samsung-infringes-upon-yet-another-key-apple-patent-judge-rules-1143016

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