Optimus G2: the universe's most powerful robot ... er... phone!
LG and Qualcomm today announced that the next G series phone will sport the super-specced Snapdragon 800 processor, confirming months of rumours.
Although details of the phone haven't been announced, the Optimus G follow up will supposedly feature Android 4.2: Jelly Bean, a 5-inch full HD display, 2GB RAM, 32GB internal storage, 13MP camera and a 3,000mAh battery.
With the Snapdragon 800 capable of hitting speeds of 2.3GHz and including LTE, the processor will make the Optimus G2 a very powerful, 4G-enabled phone.
"The new, best-in-class Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor will help deliver blazing fast web browsing, eye-popping graphics, seamless connectivity as well as an unmatched multimedia experience," said Murthy Renduchintala, Qualcomm's Executive Vice President.
The G series sequel
According to Renduchintala, the new LG phones will be "fully tailored and tightly integrated with the entire next G series platform".
Qualcomm touts that the Snapdragon 800 will deliver 75 per cent better battery performance than its S4 Pro processor, supports higher display resolutions and also allows the recording and playing of 4K, or Ultra HD, video.
While exact specs for the Optimus sequel is unknown, the new processor leaves the door wide open for a number of extra features for the Optimus G2.
Reportedly, the phone could also sport always-on voice command, which is also a feature set of the Snapdragon 800, allowing users to create custom phrases for phone commands.
LG and Qualcomm announced their collaboration on the next G-series smartphone. The successor of the LG Optimus G will sport Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon 800 chipset with quad-core Krait 400 CPUs.
The latest Qualcomm chipset promises up to 75% better performance than the Snapdragon S4 Pro. The new Adreno 330 GPU on the other hand, promises to deliver more than twice the oomph of the currently used Adreno 320.
The press release goes further to point some of Qualcomm Snapdragon 800's key features. They include support for advanced 4G LTE, Ultra HD video capture playback and display support, as well as dynamic power sensing for better power management.
Alleged screenshots, taken from the upcoming Sony Xperia Z Ultra phablet have emerged, thus confirming the previouslyleaked specs. Codenamed Togari, the large-screen device is expected to break cover next month, on July 4.
The screenshots reveal most of the phablet's specs (click to enlarge)
The screenshots confirm that the Sony Xperia Z Ultra features a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 MSM8974 chipset with 2.2GHz quad-core CPU, and Adreno 330 GPU. There's 2GB of RAM and 16GB of built-in memory on board, which can be further expanded via microSD card slot. The OS version is Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean.
The display's resolution is listed at 1080 x 1824 pixels. The remaining pixels up to 1920 are likely reserved for the trio of virtual buttons. The listed pixel density of 342ppi on the other hand, confirms that the unit sports a 6.4" diagonal.
AT&T took the wraps off the ultra-rugged, LTE capable NEC Terrain. The Android smartphone with full QWERTY keyboard and push-to-talk functionality will be available exclusively through AT&T Business Solutions and online on June 21 for $99.99 with a two-year commitment to the carrier.
The NEC Terrain features a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 SoC with a 1.5GHz dual-core CPU. There's 8GB of built-in memory on board, which can be further expanded via microSD card slot. A 3.1" display with a yet to be known resolution and the ageing Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich are also part of the smartphone's specifications.
Being a rugged business device, the NEC Terrain exceeds the MIL-810G specifications for water, dust and shock resistance. Combined with the full QWERTY keyboard and PTT functionality, the rugged credentials of the device are bound to make it a credible niche proposition.
The bond between Microsoft and Nokia may have narrowly missed getting even closer, according to a report out today.
The Wall Street Journal has it on the authority of "people familiar with the matter" that Microsoft was as recently as this month in advanced talks with Nokia to buy the company's device division.
Though such a union would significantly alter the mobile phone landscape, the Journal's sources said the talks have broken down, with one person advising the discussions won't likely pick up again.
Price was apparently one problem for Microsoft, but another facet of its decision to walk away was Nokia's "strategic predicament" behind Apple and Samsung, while other firms are gaining on the Finnish firm.
Nokia in demand
The talks, which took place in London, sound as though they made significant headway and were even on the cusp of an oral agreement before Microsoft backed off.
A plus of buying the foreign company's device business, the Journal noted, would have been that Microsoft could have used its approximately $66 billion in offshore subsidiaries to seal the deal.
Nokia and Microsoft are already bedfellows as the phone maker made a commitment over two years ago to solely use Windows Phone in its handsets. While WP is inching upward, the partnership hasn't yielded the big returns either hoped for.
Siri may soon be able to take you to exotic places
Apple recently revised some patent applications registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark office, possibly revealing some upcoming new Siri features.
The iPhone maker updated three trademark applications on June 13, plus one prior to those in May, Patently Apple reported yesterday.
The applications describe new Siri features including hotel booking and education services.
Apple already detailed part of what's new with Siri in iOS 7, so it may be that these features arrive in future updates, or not at all. Then again Apple hasn't described every new nook and cranny of Siri's consciousness and there could be many more new features awaiting us in the fall.
Siri, order me room service
One trademark application details new Siri features like the ability for the virtual personal assistant to make hotel reservations and provide services similar to what travel agents and concierges do.
Siri could also learn more about wine, the patent suggests, to answer the questions of more cultured iPhone users.
The patent from May describes Siri services that would provide information relating to education, including online instruction in fields ranging from elementary school to university-level subjects.
The Snapdragon 800 chip will make custom voice commands possible
LG is developing a phone with always-on voice commands for release in 2014, a report said yesterday.
Gotta Be Mobile spoke with three sources "who are familiar with the situation" and said that a new LG Android smartphone will feature voice commands integrated more broadly than virtual personal assistants like Apple's Siri.
The voice commands featured in the device will be designed to allow users to go hands-free more often, particularly while driving, the sources said.
The site said that voice commands will come built in on the device thanks to its use of the next-gen Snapdragon 800 SoC.
A flawless plan
Qualcomm announced in February that the Snapdragon 800 chip will feature a low-power always-on voice recognition system specifically for the purposes that are being described on the rumored LG phone.
The chip maker stated that manufacturers and users can create custom phrases for the phone to listen for, but BGR suggests the default will simply be "Hello."
That could cause some problems for users who accidentally activate their phones while trying to simply have a conversation.
The always on technology presents potential privacy issues as well, as shown by recent backlash against Microsoft's Xbox One console and its always-listening Kinect sensor.
Want the Snapdragon 800 but prefer Windows Phone? Nokia may have a new Lumia just for you.
Vdio has content from most major studios and networks (credit: GigaOM)
Update: "This summer" availability apparently meant June 19, as now everyone, Rdio Unlimited subscribers or not, can use Vdio.
"[S]tarting today, you don't have to be an Rdio listener to buy, rent, and share your favorite moves and shows with friends," wrote the Rdio team in a blog.
Vdio is still only available in the U.S. and U.K., and expectant users can hurry to the service's website or download the iPad app.
Original story from April 3...
The Rdio streaming music service that launched in 2010 has been joined by a related pay-per-video video service known appropriately as Vdio.
Unlike Rdio, though, Vdio has more in common with iTunes' video on demand model than it does with Netflix; Vdio is pay-as-you-watch, allowing users to "rent" movies and TV shows from major studios.
Rdio, on the other hand, is a subscription-based service (like Spotify).
The new VOD service is currently available in the U.S. and U.K., but there's a catch: only paying Rdio Unlimited subscribers can access it.
Say what?
Currently Vdio is only available to customers who are already paying for Rdio subscriptions. Those subscribers get $25 of Vdio credit to promote the launch of the new service.
Anyone else is currently out of luck, though Rdio Vice President of Product Malthe Sigurdsson told GigaOM that that will change this summer.
Sigurdsson also reportedly revealed plans to expand to Canada "in the coming months."
What sets Vdio apart?
Vdio has a few unique features to differentiate itself from competing streaming video services.
Chief among those are Vdio's social features, which are closely tied to Rdio and allow users to follow their friends and see recommendations based on their tastes.
Sigurdsson stressed to GigaOM that basing the service on users' personal networks "rather than a marketing department" is a major plus.
Content from major studios and networks including Disney, Fox, Warner Bros., Universal, NBC, CBS, ABC, Comedy Central, Showtime, and the BBC can be streamed over the web and an iPad app (though unfortunately you can't purchase anything through the app itself).
Rdio is already available on a number of platforms, though, and Vdio could hypothetically expand outward to Android, Roku and other connected devices too.
Sigurdsson also teased that Vdio subscriptions could be added in the future, according to the report.
The new BlackBerry Q5 smartphone will get an early debut on Thursday, but unless you're kickin' it in the sandy paradise that is Dubai, you're going to have to wait a little longer.
The new BB10 device, which rocks a physical QWERTY keyboard, wasn't expected to land until mid-July, but will make a premature bow to celebrate grand opening of BlackBerry retail store in the UAE.
However, while while we wouldn't read too much into this as straight-up currency conversions are never too reliable, the cost of the decidedly mid-range device may turn out to be greater than some expected.
In the UAE the SIM-free phone priced at a AED$1,499 which works out at around UK£261 and USD$408, which stretches the credibility of BlackBerry's "affordable" tag.
Tight budgets
The Q5 gives those on tighter budgets their first chance to experience the BlackBerry 10 operating system, following the launch of the flagship Q10 and Z10 models.
It features a 3.1-inch 720x720 LCD touchscreen, a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, 2GB of RAM, 5-megapixel camera and 4G LTE connectivity.
Will you be snapping up a Q5 when it launches in the west? Or have reports of a higher-than-expected price-tag put you off already? Let us know in the comments section below.
The Nokia EOS rumor fire has been burning for a very long time now, but since recently Nokia itself has started adding fuel to it. The first rumors started soon after the last Symbian Nokia 808 PureView was announced and even though the Lumia 920 with OIS lens was carrying the PureView brand it didn't turn out the 41MP monster many fans hoped for.
Well the wait is almost over. The company just posted a second teaser for its July 11 event in New York, which says that there will be 41 million reasons to follow it. Get it? 41 million - the same as the number of pixels on the sensor of the upcoming WP8 smartphone.
Over the past few weeks we finally saw the firstlivepictures of the mysteriousNokia EOS device. Now that we also got to learn the resolution of its sensor, there are very few unknowns about it remaining.
Now the 41 megapixel sensor suggests we might also see an update of the Windows Phone platform pretty soon. Since the currently available WP8 release doesn't support higher-resolution sensors, either Microsoft will have to deliver an update with added drivers, or Nokia will have to do it by itself.
Naturally we'll cover the event so make sure you stick around when the time comes.
BlackBerry Q5 was announced last month at a dedicated BlackBerry event. It's a QWERTY smartphone targeting emerging markets and those on a tighter budget that was supposed to hit the shelves in the early days of July.
It seems the first BlackBerry Q5 stock is going to come a bit early though, as the Canadian company will be offering the Q5 at the opening of its BlackBerry Concept Retail Store in Dubai, UAE tomorrow. It will cost AED1,499, which translates to about €305 or $408. This price tag is not what we call an affordable one, but it's almost two times cheaper than the BlackBerry Q10.
The Blackberry Q5 is built around a 3.1-inch 720x720 pixel LCD touchscreen and one of BlackBerry's classic physical QWERTY keyboards. Inside the BlackBerry Q5 there's a dual-core 1.2Ghz CPU, a 5MP camera and 8 gigs worth of storage.
The Q5 is expected to hit Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia (including the Asia Pacific region), and Latin America in the beginning of July. You can have it in black, white, red or pink color.
So what's the world's fastest smartphone? The Samsung Galaxy S4? HTC One? iPhone 5? Wrong, wrong and wrong - if you're talking about mobile data speeds the Huawei Ascend P2 is the unlikely hero stealing the crown.
The reason the Ascend P2 lays claim to the world's fastest title is due to the Cat 4 LTE innards it sports, which can provide a theoretical speed of up too 150Mbps, but you're never going to actually see that.
With 4G baked inside the handset you can expect EE will be picking up the Ascend P2 pretty quickly in the UK, although we're yet to see any network commit to Huawei's latest flagship smartphone just yet.
You can pre-order the Huawei Ascend P2 with some online retailers, with the SIM-free handsets setting you back around £339.99 (around $530, AU$560), and we reckon this will probably translate into around £25 per month on a 3G contract.
Huawei has a bit of a reputation for being a budget phone merchant and the Ascend P2 is the Chinese firm's latest attempt at changing that assumption - and let's hope it does better than the Ascend P1 which arrived in stores with nothing more than a whimper.
In terms of competition the Ascend P2 doesn't enter at the top of the smartphone tree, with the likes of the Galaxy S4, iPhone 5 and Sony Xperia Z all offering a more premium - and expensive - experience.
However it's also got one of its own kind to contender with too in the form of the Huawei Ascend P6 - a super-slim smartphone which may not have such a blockbuster camera, 4G connection or as large internal storage, but it does sport a far more attractive design and it's difficult to see how the Chinese firm will be able to market both successfully side by side.
On paper the Ascend P2 looks relatively good value for money with a 4.7-inch, 1280 x 720 display, 1.5GHz quad-core processor, 1GB of RAM, 16GB internal memory, 13MP rear camera and front facing 1.3MP snapper.
Jelly Bean is the operating system of choice on board and along with the likes of 4G and NFC, Huawei has managed to make the Ascend P2 a compact 136 x 67 x 8.4mm, and the lightweight plastic body tips the scales at 122g.
In terms of design the Ascend P2 doesn't exactly break any new ground, but it's a relatively stylish, functional handset which sits reasonably well in the hand - although we found it offered little in the way of grip which lead us to worrying about dropping it, and sometimes actually dropping it. Whoops.
We're told though the back cover (which isn't removable by the way) on our review isn't the same as the one which will find its way onto the P2 which you'll be able to pick up from stores, so hopefully it will offer a bit more grip.
As you can't peel off the back cover there's no access to the 2420mAh battery housed inside the Ascend P2, which explains why the SIM-port is located on the right side of the handset under the easily accessible power/lock key.
The microSIM port itself is covered by a plastic flap which isn't too tricky to flip open, although popping your SIM in and out is more of a challenge and unless you have some decent length in your nails you'll need to use the little tool included in the box to manipulate the card.
An added bonus on the right hand side of the Ascend P2 is the inclusion of a dedicated shutter key towards the base of the handset, giving you instant access to the camera app as well as an easy way to snap photos.
Up top there's a headphone jack and a microUSB port, which keeps the bottom of the Huawei Ascend P2 clear for the sweeping black, glossy plastic finish.
On the left you get the customary volume rocker switch and moving round the back reveals a camera lens and single LED flash housed in a textured metal frame for a bit of added protection, plus there's a dual speaker grille near the bottom of the handset.
Available in both white and black the Huawei Ascend P2 is a solid, well built, if not slightly uninspiring handset which won't look out of place next to its competition.
Contrary to Samsung's earlier announcement, the Samsung Galaxy mini 2 won't be receiving a Jelly Bean update due to not being able to ensure the "best user experience" under Jelly Bean, according to Samsung Mobile Spain.
Understandably, this will upset a lot of people, many of whom are hoping to enjoy the latest Android version from Google on their Galaxy mini 2.
The Samsung Galaxy mini 2, released in March of 2012, runs on a single-core 800 MHz processor with Adreno 200 graphics, with a 3.27-inch 320 x 480 pixel display. It comes with Android 2.3 Gingerbread out of box, and unfortunately, it looks like it will stay that way.
LG's long overdue flexible OLED display will start churning out en masse in Q4 this year, the company has confirmed.
The all-talk-no-walk technology will finally be coming to smartphones as LG Display has confirmed that we can expect to see production start towards the end of the year, further confirming that we could see the first commercial phone using the tech appear before 2013 is over.
"LG Display has completed the development of our first flexible displays. We've already shipped samples to clients including LG Electronics," the company told Korea Times in a statement.
"LG Display will mass produce flexible displays from the fourth quarter of this year."
Is that date flexible?
LG Display said that it expects to produce 12,000 sheets of the flexible OLED every month, which will be produced at the South Korean company's display complex in Paju.
LG previously said that the bendy tech would arrive before the end of 2013, and The Korea Times reiterates that the company plans to release its first flexible smartphone later this year.
However, LG is keeping mum on the specific things like resolution and which manufacturers might be using the new displays. Time to start guessing which manufacturers will be getting on board flexible OLED ship as it begins its bendy voyage.
The battle for dominance of the smartphone world is one that has been raging for a few years. With the migration of consumers from feature phones to modern wonders such as the iPhone 5 and the HTC One, or even the cheap as chips offerings like the Nokia Lumia 520 or Huawei Ascend G330, it is clear where the money, and the future lies.
We've seen some impressive hardware come and go, quad-cores grace most flagship devices (i.e. Sony Xperia Z or HTC One) and there is even the quad/octa core that sits inside the Samsung Galaxy S4, dependent on your location.
Needless to say, all the big guns in the tech industry have some level of input into the mobile OS world. Apple has iOS (just about to reach iOS 7), Google has Android, the most recent version being 4.2 Jelly Bean, Microsoft has Windows Phone 8, leaving BlackBerry with its hopes pinned on BB10.
Interface
The iOS 7 interface is a radical new look compared with previous iterations. Although with a clean and modern new look, the formula based upon simplicity is one that has been stuck to. Icons have had an overhaul, and there is transparency through apps, giving iOS devices a more unified feel.
Users familiar with previous iOS versions may be in for a bit of a shock, with elements such as the lock screen taking a new look. Elements now seem more rounded, and much brighter than before. On the face of it, things seem very different with iOS 7, but the real changes go deeper.
Android is currently sitting at version 4.2, which is another iteration of the popular Jelly Bean OS. Jelly Bean built upon the work done by 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, with everything being much smoother with 'Project Butter', and the introduction of Google Now.
Pretty much every OEM has placed a skin over the top of Android, take a look at HTC's Sense, Samsung's Touchwiz or Huawei's Emotion UI.
That said, nigh on every version builds on the use of multiple home screens populated with widgets, and apps being kept tidy in a 'drawer'.
Microsoft's offering bases itself around a system of 'LiveTiles'. These are used in a similar way to widgets on Android, providing information at a quick glance. Users of Windows Phone 7, or Windows 8 on tablets or desktops will feel right at home.
In terms of user customisation, much like iOS, Windows Phone 8 is relatively closed. Live Tiles can be resized, so that more important tiles can take up more screen real estate, and the tile colour can be any of 20 variations. It is also possible to change the lock screen, to bring up photos, or widgets and notifications.
Out of Canada comes BB10, with BlackBerry pinning pretty much all its hopes on the OS. In a similar way to Windows Phone 8, BB 10 allows 8 'Active Frames', of which only 4 are visible at one time.
These show the most recent apps used, as well as any information that app may offer, be it weather or calendar events.
Being a totally different OS to prior BlackBerry OS iterations, BB10 is at first a little confusing to use. Closing apps by running your finger up from the bottom of the screen feeling a little unnatural.
The BlackBerry 10 lock screen comes complete with notifications, calendar events and ability to quick launch the camera.
With the Camera app being one of the most widely used features on the modern smartphone, it is only natural that every OS has given the camera a certain level of attention. One feature we are very fond of, that appears on iOS 7, pretty much every Android UI and BB10 is the ability to launch the app directly from the lock screen.
iOS 7 brings in a raft of changes to the camera app. There isn't a whole load of changes deep down, these being limited more to photo effects; varying lens shapes and live photo filters giving you the Instagram look, without having to use the app. Elsewhere, the interface has become more swipe-friendly.
The Gallery app has also had a few tweaks, meaning that photo's are arranged by location, being titled 'moments'. Pinching to zoom will re-draw your library, highlighting days out or holidays. Pinching further shows an overview of the year's photos, complete with location tags.
Android's camera app is one that gets a lick of paint with each UI that is placed over the top. Also, with the incredible variation in Android devices, each camera is different, the HTC One being most notable for camera tech with UltraPixel and HTC Zoe, or there is Samsung with Burst Mode found on the Galaxy S3 or S4.
Android Jelly Bean camera app
That said, there is an underlying theme that graces Android's camera and gallery app. Photo filters are common place, even the basic Android devices offer Sepia, Monochrome and Negative effects. Gallery apps are a little more varied, however most can pull down images from the cloud, from Picasa/Google+ web albums, with some going so far as Facebook albums too.
Being a unified OS across all devices, Windows Phone 8 camera settings are common. Pinch to zoom has been brought in, and the ability to take photos by tapping the screen making the app feel a little more natural. There is also the idea of 'lenses', that allow you to use camera tools that you have downloaded, rather than via a separate app.
Windows Phone 8 camera app
BlackBerry was keen to show off their camera at the BB10 launch. The reason for this is something that the Canadians are terming 'Time Shift'. This is a nifty piece of tech that, if selected, allows you to go 'back in time' to find the perfect smile. It even works on multiple faces, however needs good lighting.
BB10's other features include standard scene and shooting modes, as well as the ability to use the volume keys as a shutter button.
The original iPhone launch in 2007 put media on phones very much back in the spotlight. iOS7 continues that, given that it will be available on the 5th gen iPod Touch, as well as later iPad versions.
iOS 7 now incorporates your iCloud stored media, allowing you to see all your tracks in one place, with a wall of album art in Landscape mode adding a nice look to things.
The biggest revolution it brings is iTunes Radio, Apple's much rumoured and talked about music streaming service, previously dubbed iRadio. We are unable to comment on the exact release, with availability confirmed for 'this fall' in the US, with the rest of the world left waiting for news. We can say that there will be both a free (ad-funded) and premium service, though.
As for apps, Apple's App Store is by far the most famous of all app stores/markets across all OS'. iOS7 brings in some updates, such as being able to search for apps based on age range, or the 'Apps near me' feature, which shows you the most popular apps in your location. Apps can also update in the background.
Storing all this media, and all your apps is done in true Apple fashion, with varying sizes of internal storage available. MicroSD is still unsupported, although we never expected, nor ever expect that to change.
Playing catch up in the media department, Google has launched its Play Books, Play Magazines, Play Movies and Play Music apps. Whilst nowhere near as popular as the iTunes version, media downloading is now a lot easier on Android devices.
Downloading apps is also very easy, as Google's rebranded Play Store has become a very attractive and very functional marketplace, with different sections and lists of apps for you to peruse. Auto updating is available, and disable-able too.
The Windows Phone 8 and BlackBerry app stores are far less populated in comparison to both the Google and Apple offerings, although we would be doing them a disservice by calling their offerings sparse (BB10 has 120,000 apps compared to iOS' 900,000), especially given that the Microsoft OS has Xbox compatibility.
Since Android 2.2 Froyo, apps to microSD has been a standard feature, alongside its long supported media storage feature. App installation on microSD is also supported via Windows Phone 8, with standard microSD support also being available in BB10.
NFC
With NFC slowly becoming more prevalent across devices, it has been noticed on the lower end handsets that we have reviewed (LG Optimus L5 2, Huawei Ascend G510, Samsung Galaxy Fame to name but a few), OS support is vital.
NFC wasn't something that wasn't explicitly mentioned with the launch of iOS7. Until now, previous iOS devices haven't come with NFC chips. We could look into this and say things about upcoming iOS touting devices, such as the unlikelihood of NFC inclusion, with the claim that there's 'No need to wander around the room bumping your phone with others.' That said, apps will be able to share information via Airdrop, provided that it supports Share Sheet.
Android has supported NFC for a while. Android Beam has been used on devices to share data since Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. Certain manufacturers have taken it a little further, with Samsung adding it's S title to create S Beam. Google's wallet application is also likely to make use of NFC as mobile payment becomes increasingly popular.
Windows Phone 8 also packs in NFC support, with its very own Microsoft Wallet app to rival Google's version, and BlackBerry has long had NFC in its handsets so it's no surprise BB10 also makes use of the technology.
Notifications and Control
Notifications are something that are very important across devices, giving quick access to Calendar events, Emails and Text messages. Device control is equally important.
iOS 7 makes a big deal out of both notifications and Control. The notifications centre that was accessed by swiping down from the top has become a full-screen affair, also available via the lock screen.
The Control Centre is where the real innovation lies, however. Previous iOS versions had a very basic centre, however now quick settings such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth can be enabled or disabled, as well as controlling screen brightness, music being played, and access to AirDrop and AirPlay controls.
Android has had its notifications bar longer than Apple, so it has come on in leaps and bounds. Jelly Bean also brings in expandable notifications, showing more information about the top event, as well as being able to swipe to dismiss.
Many custom UI's include access to the quick settings (Touchwiz has gotten this nigh on perfect) in the notifications bar. Android also include a Power Control widget that can be placed on home screens, giving quick access to a lot of important settings.
With BB10, there is a dedicated Notifications hub, accessed by swiping from the left hand side of the screen, as well as notifications that can be seen for individual apps such as Email, Texts or social networks.
Maps
Given the kerfuffle surrounding the launch of iOS Maps on iOS 6, there was a disappointing lack of map based announcements with iOS7, although 'developers have been making great improvements to Maps', which will bring features such as being able to push mapping info from a Mac of MacBook to an iDevice.
There has been no such problems for mapping on Android, given that Google has managed to port across its Google Maps desktop browser application so successfully.
Google maps provides one of the most comprehensive mapping apps available, as well as being able to provide information through its Local app, and sat-navving via the Navigation app. Google's recent acquisition of Waze is going to throw in user based traffic updates as well.
Microsoft has also got a decent map app. Bing maps brings over many features that were prevalent throughout Nokia phones of old, including Nokia's turn-by-turn directions from Nokia Drive. Other useful features include downloading maps for offline use, pinning favourite locations and Local Scout (similar to Google's Local).
BB10 provides a basic mapping option as well, covering turn-by-turn and traffic updates. The app is a fairly basic affair, with fewer features than the other options available on other devices.
Browser
You would expect, given that it was the key to revolutionising mobile browsing, that Safari on iOS7 would be important. You wouldn't be wrong. The URL bar is now resizable, you can swipe through the history, and the bookmarks and tabs have had an overhaul.
Bookmarks now sit on the home screen, drawing in data from your Twitter feed. Tabbing is no longer limited to 8, and is synchronised across multiple Apple devices through iCloud.
Since Ice Cream Sandwich, Google has mobilised its Chrome browser, which now interestingly sits alongside the native Android Internet app. We've not understood why both browsers are run side by side, but it provides a little choice. Google bookmarks can be synced across, and incognito browsing is available too.
Internet Explorer is available on Windows Phone 8 devices, with the version being nearly identical to IE10, even if it looks a little different. Internet Explorer is a very accomplished mobile browser overall, and comes with the Do Not Track feature by default, as well as SmartScreen phishing protection.
BB10's browser is a minimalist design, with the URL at the bottom of the page, akin to IE on Windows Phone 8. BB10 does pack in some useful features, such as a Reader mode that lifts text and images, making it more readable. We also found that the BB10 browser was lightning fast, which is a major tick in anybody's book.
Multi-Tasking
iOS7 brings more changes to the Multi-tasking window as well. No longer does a swipe from the bottom bring up recently used apps, but a newer interface that shows information from the app screen, as well as the app icons along the bottom.
Google's multi-tasking has been handled for a long time through the long press of the home button, if the device has one, or through the dedicated button on total touch screen devices. This brings up a quick window of what was last on the app whilst you were using it, and can be swiped to dismiss.
Windows Phone 8 has a similar method of bringing up its multi-tasking window. Long pressing the back button brings up the multi-tasking screen, allowing users to flick across to the app they wish to use.
RIM have implemented a multi-tasking action, which is vaguely reminiscent of cards on WebOS. The Canadians call this 'Cascades', accessed by swiping left to right. BB10 also uses the multi-tasking screen on the home page we mentioned earlier, that gives access to your eight most recently used apps, shown four at a time.
Apple have said that iOS7 will be available on a large amount of its iDevices, from the iPhone 4 upwards, iPad 2 and up, iPad Mini and iPod Touch 5th generation. iOS7 is due to launch 'this fall', and we would highly expect it to launch alongside at least one new iDevice, the iPhone 5S/6, iPad 5 or iPad Mini 2.
Android Jelly Bean has been around for two years now, available on devices from multiple OEMs, and with devices now being launched 4.1 or 4.2. There is a lot of talk of Android 4.3 Jelly Bean also being released at some point this year, and rumours of the Key Lime Pie (Android 5.x) also being launched this year.
It is available on the highest end devices, from a variety of OEMs, such as the five star HTC One, and at the bottom end of the market on devices such as the LG Optimus L3 2.
Windows Phone 8 is also available on devices from different OEMs, with Nokia Lumia devices being the most talked about. HTC, Samsung and Huawei also have their own devices out and about.
Talk of Windows Phone Blue, or 8.1 has also been bandied about, with an expected release alongside Windows 8.1. Current devices span the market, again from a variety of OEMs, with the high end Nokia Lumia 925, or the low end Lumia 520.
BB10 is unavailable on all new BlackBerry devices, the BlackBerry Z10, Q10 and Q5. Being a whole new OS, it is unavailable on previous BB7 toting devices.
As for BB10 on the PlayBook, your guess is as good as our at this point, with BlackBerry's 2012 annual conference stating that it would make its way across, although 12 months later, there is still no update. Being an all new OS, BB10 is now available on the BlackBerry Z10, BlackBerry Q10 and announced BlackBerry Q5.
The iOS7 launch is arguably as important to the Cupertino-based firm since Steve Jobs first took the stage in 2007 to launch the original iPhone.
A number of previous devices (iPhone 4, 4S, 5, iPad 2, 3, 4, iPad Mini and iPod Touch 5th generation) will be getting the update, with the OS also being a major precursor to the upcoming iPhone 5S/6, iPad 5 and iPad Mini 2.
Apple therefore has a very large existing customer base ready to upgrade, with those on earlier iDevices also potentially looking to the launches of the next line of products. iOS is also highly successful in the business market, as well as the personal market.
It is therefore almost impossible to say that iOS7 will be a flop, after all the trouble that Apple maps gave iOS6, it is still very popular. Android is Apple's biggest worry, with Windows Phone 8 and BB10 making strides through the mobile market, yet still not as firmly established.
Android handsets are still the most popular on a world wide scale, but only just over a third are actually running Jelly Bean, with the fragmentation the major negative point against what is a highly versatile platform.
iOS7 will be massive, but don't forget it is really just the first OS refresh to launch this year, with Windows Phone 8.1, Android 4.3 Jelly Bean and/or 5.0 Key Lime Pie likely to arrive later in 2013. Expect to see the competition really heating up.
We're hearing that the world's biggest social network is on the hunt for a new friend to help it with its mobile strategy, as it was apparently less than impressed with its HTC fling.
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has met with the head of Samsung in South Korea to discuss various partnerships between the two firms - which has led many to think it's on the lookout for a manufacturer for the much-talked-about Facebook Phone.
With a disappointing reception for the HTC First, Facebook is licking its wounds as its new Home software overlay for Android appears to be a flop, so turning to the world's biggest smartphone manufacturer seems to make sense.
Ad's the word
According to Bloomberg, Zuckerberg discussed ways to generate ad revenue from mobile phones, as the social networking site finds more and more of its users logging in with their smartphones, and thus bypassing the majority of the ads you get on the desktop site.
Meanwhile the Korea Herald is reporting that Zuckerberg was talking about a "Facebook-friendly" smartphone with the Samsung executives - although the South Korean firm has tried to distance itself from these reports.
Separate sources claim Samsung doesn't currently have any interest in developing a phone with Facebook - so it's all a little confusing at the moment, although it's worth remembering Zuckerberg himself has previously said Facebook doesn't have any plans to develop a network branded handset.
Same size? Or is one just further away? (credit: FanaticFone)
A few pap snaps of what is claimed to be the iPhone 5S have made their way to the web, and suggest that Apple won't be shaking things up too much with the outer design of the new handset.
There's been plenty of talk about Apple toying with different screen sizes for future iPhones, but if these leaky pics are anything to go by, Apple will be sticking with the status quo for the 5S as the dimensions appear to be identical to the 5.
It's on the inside that the differences lie, however, as we can see that one of the flex cable connectors is now facing vertically, while both on the 5 are currently positioned horizontally.
Not all that exciting on the face of it, but it could suggest that Apple is shifting parts around to make room for some new hardware, as previous info leaks have suggested.
The fifth dimension
The pictures came from both MacRumours and FanaticFone and appear to match up, but of course it's worth taking with a decent dose of salt on the side.
If true though, it means that production on the iPhone 5S is very much underway, meaning the September/October release timeframe is looking good.
Right after releasing the much teased Huawei Ascend P6 comes the target of the company to ship around 10 million this year. That's according to Huawei Device CEO Yu Chengdong, who's very proud of the smartphone's design and the work that went into making it.
Apparently the flagship will be priced around €450 in Europe and CNY2,688 (around €327) in China. That's a very competitive price going, when compared to the likes of the HTC One, Samsung Galaxy S4 and the Apple iPhone 5.
According to some sources over a thousand Huawei Research and Development engineers worked on the Ascend P6.
Huawei apparently has allocated $11 million for the marketing of the super slim smartphone in China and some $30 million more for promoting it in Europe. That's still a fraction of Samsung's and Apple's marketing spending marketing expenditure, but you have to remember we are only talking one smartphone here.
The Ascend P6 certainly looks good on paper and its beautiful , but we'll have to wait and see if the 720p display will be enough to bump heads with those 1080p ones out there and if the smartphone will be able to truly make an impact.
An intrepid iOS 7 user has unlocked a few little secrets the beta version of the operating system, pointing to some new features that may be coming in the final version later this year.
Hamza Snood tweeted his findings, which include new gesture and multitasking functions that Apple has clearly been playing around with.
We're most interested by the feature that offers the ability to choose new types of gesture for using the iPhone. As the posted video shows, these include "Edge Swipe", "Corner Swipe" and "Press-and-Hold".
Another handy new feature allows you to put folders within folder. There's no guarantee that these will be in the final version of iOS 7, but it looks like they'll be surfacing down the line.
New ways to play
But the iOS 7 news doesn't stop there. A video showing iOS 7 running on an iPad has appeared online, and while it's currently still in its beta state, it's enough to give us a solid idea of what the new OS looks like on the larger tablet.
The video was posted by a Russian YouTuber who goes by the pseudonym of Rozetked. As you might expect, it looks pretty much the same as on the phone, but, well, bigger.
Yesterday we were treated to some screen grabs of iOS 7 running on the iPad, but we have to say that it looks a lot better in motion. We can imagine that the parallax effect is especially more awesome on the tablet.
The upcoming iPhone 5S keeps leaking piece by piece – we've already seen the frame of the screen, now the whole front assembly has been photographed. Put alongside the front assembly of the current iPhone 5, there's barely any noticeable difference.
The screen size and the bezels are exactly the same even the positioning of the earpiece, front-facing camera and the sensors seems identical. The flex cable that feeds the display and digitizer have been redesigned, which suggests the internals of the iPhone 5S have been moved around.
Front assemblies of iPhone 5 and (allegedly) the iPhone 5S compared
There are other minor changes visible on the back of the assembly, but nothing that would suggest Apple will unveil a new design. Or this could be the cheaper iPhone that the rumor mill has been buzzing with. Or it could be fake, of course.
FanaticPhone, the site that posted these images is promising a video comparison of the iPhone 5 and iPhone 5S front assemblies.
Cue up your lepidoptera-related puns: the HTC Butterfly S is now official and it comes with a 5-inch screen and that rumoured BoomSound audio nous.
Running Android Jelly Bean (although whether it's 4.1 or 4.2 is unclear), the handset will come with Sense 5 on board, which means you can get the most out of the Zoe-supporting 4MP Ultrapixel camera on the back.
Those selflies won't take themselves though, so the Instagram massive will be pleased to hear there's a 2.1MP camera on the front too.
Flutterby
The 5-inch Super LCD 3 screen rocks 1080p for Full HD video and the whole shebang comes with a 1.9GHz Snapdragon 600 processor which means it should prove nippier than the HTC One (a little handset we like to call the best phone in the world today).
If an HTC Butterfly S flaps its wings in Taiwan in July, will it have any effect on phone sales in the rest of the world?
Unlikely - and we don't expect to see a handset named the HTC Butterfly S land on foreign shores any time soon. If HTC does bring a similar device to the UK, US or Australia, we'd expect a name change at the very least.
If you're jazzed about the sound of the Butterfly S, you'll want to take a little look at the thing in action with this video from HTC itself:
HTC has just made the Butterfly S official and it's a significant bump over the first Butterfly. The smartphone is powered by a 1.9GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 - the same as the one in the Samsung Galaxy S4 - and has 2GB of RAM.
It's built around the same 5" display boasting full HD resolution and a pixel density of 440ppi. Internal storage is 16GB, and as is usually the case, HTC has teamed up with Dropbox to provide 25GB of free cloud storage for 2 years. MicroSD card support is available, too.
At the back of the Butterfly S, there's the same UltraPixel camera as the HTC One. It packs a 1/3" BSI sensor size with a 2.0 micron pixel size and wide F/2.0 aperture. Since the smartphone is running Android 4.2 Jelly Bean with the latest Sense UI 5 skin on top, there's HTC Zoe with HTC Share and Video highlights.
HTC Butterfly S official photos
Not much has changed in terms of visuals, and the Butterfly S looks more or less the same as its predecessor, safe for its thickness and different color variations - red, white, gray - and some details here and there. The most prominent of which is the metal ring surrounding the camera glass at the back.
Measuring 144.5 x 70.5 x 10.6mm, the Butterfly S weighs 160 grams and is significantly thicker than before. That's because under the hood, there's a 3200mAh battery, a lot bigger than the original Butterfly's 2020mAh unit. Connectivity options are the usual for a high-end offering and include Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi, DLNA, NFC, GPS.
The HTC Butterfly S is expected to debut in Taiwan for NT $22,900 (US $766) in July. The company's plans for a wider release at this point are still unclear.
