Friday, June 28, 2013

iPhone 5S batteries allegedly leak - in a good way

iPhone 5S batteries allegedly leak - in a good way
Also supposed to have a lot mAh battery life

The "S" in iPhone 5S certainly doesn't stand for secret, as a new image said to be of batteries belonging to Apple's next smartphone has leaked.

This purported iPhone 5S battery photo shows 24 black slates that appear to be roughly the same size as the iPhone 5 battery.

The picture was taken on a factory floor, according to French site NoWhereElse, before the batteries hit the assembly line.

The alleged batteries are sitting in two trays that appear to be stacked on top of similar white containers, meaning someone is gearing up to ship these batteries out for mass production.

This certainly ties into the September-bound iPhone 5S launch rumors, increase in leaked photos, and slightly better battery life of the forthcoming device we've been hearing about.

More blips!

Still have battery life in that brain of yours? Put it to use by reading more blips


Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/iphone-5s-batteries-allegedly-leak-in-a-good-way-1162477

Sony Xperia i1 allegedly resurfaces in latest leaked photos

Sony Xperia i1 allegedly resurfaces in latest leaked photos
Sony going through Xperia overload (credit: JustAMP)

Ever since Sony announced its Xperia Z Android phone, the Japanese manufacturer has been busy building up the brand with tablets and phablets alike.

While releasing the Xperia Tablet Z and the Xperia Z Ultra could hardly be seen as over-saturation, Sony might not be done with the Xperia variants just yet.

Back in April we heard the first rumblings of a new handset dubbed the Honami alongside reports of the Togari, which went on to become the Xperia ZU.

Then just a few days ago, more signs Sony was readying a new Xperia were spotted when pics of the supposed Honami, now called the Xperia i1, made a showing, and revealed a possible 20MP camera attached to the device.

On Friday, another set of entirely different images were discovered by Just Another Mobile Phone Blog, hinting that the Xperia i1's release might not be that far off.

Alternative Xperia-nce

Sony Xperia i1 Honami leak
20MP lens in its tiny glory (credit: JustAMP)

Though no new spec information was given, the pictures do give the rumored device a bit more grounding in reality.

The dedicated camera button on the Xperia i1 sets it apart from the Xperia ZU, and you can definitely see a different camera lens on the rear of the device than the one found on the Xperia Z.

It's still believed this will be a 20MP lens, which would give Sony's smartphone a definitive leg up on the competition, at least until the oft-rumored 41MP Nokia Lumia 1020 arrives on the scene.

The earlier rumors suggested the Xperia i1 would include a 5-inch 1080p display, 2.3GHz quad-core Qualcomm processor, and a Walkman audio chip, but those specs have yet to be substantiated.

It's also been hinted the smartphone would used Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean, feature 2GB RAM, include a a battery between 2,700-3,000mAh, and like the other Xperia devices, it too would be water- and dust-proof.

Sony is planning a July 4 event in France, and there's a strong chance the Xperia i1 could be the star of that show, so we shouldn't have to wait much longer to learn the truth about the next phone in the Xperia line.


Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/sony-xperia-i1-allegedly-resurfaces-in-latest-leaked-photos-1162459

Huawei Ascend P6 next to go Nexus? Company in talks with Google

Huawei Ascend P6 next to go Nexus? Company in talks with Google
An Emotion-less P6 could be in the works

The Huawei Ascend P6 smartphone may be the next Android device to forego its custom UI to give users the option of a 'Nexusised' Google Edition, the company revealed on Friday.

Speaking to Pocket-Lint, Kevin Ho, president of the Chinese manufacturer's handset product division, said Huawei has entered talks with Google over a version of the P6 with the pure Android experience.

"We are working with Google to analyse the possibility of bringing out a Huawei Ascend P6 with Google Edition," he told the site.

The standard edition of the 4.7-inch P6, which was recently-crowned the world's thinnest smartphone, runs Huawei's Emotion UI, which Ho said brings "hundreds of improvements" to Android.

Regardless of the perceived superiority, it seems Ho is keen to give smartphone fans a choice.

The root of the issue

The clamour for Google Editions of popular Android devices began last month at Google I/O when the company announced a Samsung Galaxy S4 with the same UI that appears on branded Nexus devices.

HTC soon followed with a HTC One Google Edition, but both of which are only on sale in the US at present.

Custom skins like Samsung's TouchWiz and HTC's Sense have long divided opinion among Android fans, with some choosing to root their devices just to access raw Android.

The proliferation of Google Editions, something the search and mobile giant certainly appreciates as it attempts to reel in Android fragmentation, means users may no longer have to tamper with the device to avoid these homegrown skins.


Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/huawei-ascend-p6-to-get-nexus-treatment-company-in-talks-with-google-1162440

Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom UK release date set for July 8?

Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom UK release date set for July 8?
It's hardly the belle of the ball

If you're one of those folks who just can't decide whether you want a Galaxy S4 smartphone or a moderately acceptable compact camera, then your answer could arrive in the UK on July 8th.

Independent online retailer Clove has listed the new Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom for pre-order, pledging it'll be shipped a week on Monday.

The smartphone-glued-to-camera, which packs everything Android Jelly Bean can offer with a 10x optical zoom, has been priced at £440 by Clove.

So far there's been no official word of price and release date from Samsung, so all of this is still subject to change, but it's the best indication we have so far.

Knocking Nokia

For those hell-bent on condensing their photo-taking and call-making experiences into one package, a July 8 release date would be somewhat significant.

A couple of days later in New York City on July 11, Nokia will likely unveil its long-rumoured, often leaked EOS (or, as a leak this week suggested, Lumia 1020) handset.

That device is almost certain to pack the Finnish firm's Pureview, 41-megapixel camera sensor. It'll be the first Windows Phone device to do so.


Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/samsung-galaxy-s4-zoom-uk-release-date-set-for-july-8--1162413

BlackBerry shares crumble as it reveals poor BB10 shipments

BlackBerry shares crumble as it reveals poor BB10 shipments
Heins won't be happy right now

BlackBerry has delivered bad news today, reporting a quarterly loss that has seen shares freefall by 20 per cent.

Weak sales of the BlackBerry 10-toting Z10 and Q10 handsets contributed to a net loss of US$84m (about AU$92m, £55m) for the company, which is struggling to take on Apple and Samsung. It also predicted an operating loss for its next quarter.

BlackBerry confirmed during a conference call that it shipped just 2.7 million BlackBerry 10 devices in the first quarter, which won't fill a lot of people with hope. This means that most of the 6.8 million handsets shipped were last-gen devices.

On the positive side, revenue was up $3.1 billion, compared to $2.8 billion from the last quarter, though it's not enough to signal a change in fortunes for the company.

LackBerry

However, President and Chief Executive Thorsten Heins said in an investor call that there's light at the end of the tunnel. "BlackBerry 10 is still in the early stages of its transition," he said, pointing out that the operating system is just five months old.

"During the first quarter, we continued to focus our efforts on the global roll out of the BlackBerry 10 platform," he added in a statement.

"Over the next three quarters, we will be increasing our investments to support the roll out of new products and services, and to demonstrate that BlackBerry has established itself as a leading and vibrant player in next generation mobile computing solutions for both consumer and enterprise customers."


Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/blackberry-shares-crumble-as-it-reveals-poor-bb10-shipments-1162360

Android 4.3 snapped in the wild, could arrive July

Android 4.3 snapped in the wild, could arrive July
4.3 in the flesh (credit: SamMobile)

There appears to be more evidence that Android 4.3 is nigh, with some leaked screenshots purporting to be of the new Jelly Bean OS.

The screenshots show 4.3 running on a Google Play edition of the Samsung Galaxy S4 - GT-i9505G to be exact - from an insider with early access to the software.

The images were obtained by SamMobile, which claims that 4.3 will officially roll out next month, though Google is still keeping quiet on the update.

All for one..

The Galaxy S4 Google Edition is part of the Nexus scheme, alongside Google devices the Nexus 4 and Nexus 7, which means they're first to receive Android updates.

Going by what looks like it will be a simple update, rather than an overhaul of the Android OS.

It appears that the camera app has seen the most radical change, shifting from a circular menu to an arc towards the bottom of the screen. We'll keep you updated with any further developments as they appear.


Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/android-4-3-snapped-in-the-wild-could-arrive-july-1162346

BlackBerry posts a loss despite increased shipments, revenues

BlackBerry reported the financial results for the quarter that ends June 1 and there's some good news and some bad news. The company saw an uptick the two previous quarters, but this quarter ended with an operating loss of $84 million.

On the positive side, revenue was up to $3.1 billion, 15% higher than the previous quarter and 9% more than the year ago quarter. Shipments were up too – BlackBerry shipped 6.8 million devices, up from 6 million in the previous quarter.



The report doesn’t tell how many BlackBerry Z10s were shipped, the previous quarter it was 1 million). The Z10 was the sole shipping BlackBerry 10 product, but this quarter it was joined by the more affordable, QWERTY-equipped Q10. The lower-end Q5 launched at the beginning of the next quarter in the shifted fiscal year of the Canadian company. As for BlackBerry's sole tablet, the PlayBook, it shipped 100,000 units.

BlackBerry reports increased revenue from North America (30%), APAC (35%) and EMEA (9%), but Latin American revenue dropped by 6% (BB is blaming Venezuela's foreign currency restrictions).

At the end of the quarter BlackBerry's cash, equivalents, short and long-term investments totaled $3.1 billion, up from $2.9 billion at the end of the quarter before that.

BlackBerry expects to continue losing money over the next quarter too, but the company will continue its cost cutting efforts and focus on the BlackBerry 10 OS, Enterprise Service 10 and BlackBerry Messenger.

Source (PDF)


Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/blackberry_posts_a_loss_despite_increased_shipments_revenues-news-6293.php

Samsung: why do you hate the early adopters?

Samsung: why do you hate the early adopters?
Is the S4 already yesterday's phone?

I've got a real problem. I'm just too clumsy. Last year, the one day I took my Galaxy S3 out of its case - the one day - it met a grizzly end thanks to a kamikaze style jump from my gym locker onto the changing room floor. And they say that exercise is good for you!

I'm not alone in resenting "having" to put a case on my phone. I want to enjoy the pure experience, but instead, the first thing I do when I buy a handset is spend a small fortune maxing out on protection - because, despite the pledges of Gorilla Glass and Dragon's Trails, the stupid things break SO EASILY .

It's inconvenient, it's not ideal, but important. I'm proud to say I practice safe phone.

But now, I sit here with my lovely Galaxy S4 wrapped up like a newborn child when all I really want to do is rip that case off and stare at it all day long. If only the S4 was a bit tougher and could withstand as many of life's knocks as I've had, I'd be a happy chap.

Active-hate

Well it is, Samsung's just unveiled the Galaxy S4 Active. It's waterproof, it's sturdy, it's got nearly all the same specs as the standard version. It's the phone for me. Hands down. I want it. The problem is, I've just spent a wad of cash on the S4.

I watched the unveiling, I waited (impatiently) for a month for release and I queued (like a fool) on that morning in April to get that cold, hard-but-not-so-tough plastic in my hands. And now I'm left feeling like the one that's missed out.

Why? Because this strategy of manufacturers, to get us to buy their latest wares and then unveil a different alternative just weeks later, really sucks. It makes the early adopters - you know, the real fans - look like idiots. And makes them feel mugged off.

When I was a kid, I'd save up my pennies to go buy an album from the record shop and then feel outraged when it was re-released as a bonus edition months later, with extra tracks, for the same price. Spending my pocket money on a CD was bad enough. But putting down hundreds on a phone (or a lifetime signed away to airtime) is so much worse.

Some would say that there's nothing to complain about - that I wanted an S4 and I got an S4. So why complain when something else is announced that trumps it? You get what you pay for.

The failure of blinding trust

Well, put simply, I think manufacturers like Samsung are taking the proverbial here. Had the S4 Active (and other variants) been announced at the same time, I could have weighed up the options. Would I like the Mini, the Active or the Advanced LTE model (if it comes to these shores).

Instead, I blindy handed over my notes to Samsung like the Apple sheep I often ridicule, trusting them to give me the best model.

And that's where Apple has the edge here. It unveils its products together in groups. You won't find an iPad being announced at one show and then another model announced a few weeks later. You'll know if you're getting a 16GB, 32GB, 64GB or 128GB model at the same time so can make an informed choice. Same with the iPhone. .

If updates are announced, there's enough space between them to make you feel less of a plonker in plumping for one. If you really want to copy Cupertino, Mr Shin, copy this strategy!

Six months is fine between product announcements. Six weeks, not so much, Samsung. I'd love to get my hands on the Galaxy S4 Active, but even I can't justify it to myself or my bank account. And frankly, going through the private sale route is just an extra hassle I don't need.

The likelihood is, I may end up with one in my pocket if my clumsiness continues - but only because my S4 has gone unintentionally to an early grave. In the meantime, the lesson learned here is that being an early adopter is becoming a punishment, rather than a badge of honour.

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/samsung-why-do-you-hate-the-early-adopters--1162131

Google beefs up BYOD management on Android devices

Google beefs up BYOD management on Android devices
Google is upping Android's BYOD game

Google has added new mobile device management features to its Google Apps for Business platform.

The search giant is pushing the mobile device management features found on the service, which allows IT administrators to manage Android smartphones and tablets owned by employees from a centralised console.

It has added four new features based on requests from its customers. Selective wipe allows IT administrators to remove Google Apps account data without wiping a user's entire device. The second feature, SD card wipe, wipes SD cards in addition to internal memory during a full device wipe.

The third addition, a Device Policy app, ensures that security policies are enforced across all devices by requiring its latest version. Finally, a new Wi-Fi configuration feature allows admins to enter Wi-Fi settings in an admin console once to then have it automatically pushed out to all managed Android devices.

Existing features

Other mobile mobile device management features already available as part of the service include setting granular policies and configuring mobile settings at the organisational unit level; controlling what devices can connect to users' Google Apps data using device activation; viewing all mobile devices in the domain connecting with Google Sync or Android Sync; and viewing all apps that access Google Apps data installed on an Android Device, a feature not supported on iOS or Windows Phone.

Analyst house Gartner recently forecast that half of employers will require employees to supply their own devices for work purposes by 2017, creating a greater need for businesses to establish a mobile device management policy to ensure data is secure and trackable.

According to research by Kaspersky, 60% of small and midsized businesses have only a basic understanding of what company data is stored on employees' devices. In addition, only 25% of IT managers admitted to having strict enough rules in place to provide an accurate overview of company information on personal devices.


Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/world-of-tech/management/google-beefs-up-byod-management-on-android-devices-1162291

Face off: shadowy data theft, and Ellen Page wants her ID back

Face off: shadowy data theft, and Ellen Page wants her ID back
Who's going to ask the girl with the gun if she stole that face?

It's been a shadowy old week, with tech rumours, security concerns and pointy fingers emerging from all sorts of quarters.

First up, Canadian actress Ellen Page accused PS3 horror game The Last of Us of stealing her face: "I guess I should be flattered that they ripped off my likeness," Page told Reddit at the weekend. "But I am actually acting in a video game called Beyond: Two Souls, so it was not appreciated."

Some of us think that Ellie, the character in question, looks more like Ashley Johnson - the actress who provides her voice. But we appreciate that having what looks like your face constantly eaten off by the fungus-horned infected might be uncomfortable viewing.

Don't cut the lifeline

Elsewhere, patron saint of the internet and dread king of the world wide web Sir Tim Berners-Lee advised against complacency in the face of government and corporate "online spying", warning that ignoring Prism-style data secrecy breaches could compromise the internet's value as a vital lifeline.

Week in tech
Facebook probably isn't listening to Sir Tim Berners-Lee

"Information on the web can be really important in people's survival," he said, while receiving the Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering. "Teenagers who are unsure about their sexuality who need to contact others, or people being abused trying to find helplines ... There are things that happen on the net that are very intimate, which people are going to be loath to do if they feel there's somebody looking over their shoulder."

Speaking of digital eavesdroppers, Facebook has found yet another way to get all up in our business - through our friends. You're not even safe if your profile is a blank page, or if your last activity was defenestrating a colleague in 2005 - because it turns out Facebook can still "shadow profile" you.

This involves nabbing your contact details from a friend's address book if they upload it, or recording employer or university-specific searches of your name. Facebook's behaviour is legally murky and pretty terrifying - especially since we would be none the wiser if it hadn't been for a well-timed Facebook security breach.

Not quite a phone, not yet a tablet (also a watch)

Happily, in among all this depressing news, there are also shiny new gadgets. We took a hands-on look at the Sony Xperia Z Ultra, Sony's new tiny-tablet-massive-phone mash-up, and we liked it for the most part, massive-screened oddness and all.

Sure, with a giant 6.44-inch screen it's not for the small-handed, but the HD is impressive and the apps are super-fast thanks to its Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 chip and 2.2GHz quad-core processor. However, the camera renders grainy images and the screen quality could be improved. All in all, though, we approve of this phone-tablet. Phablet? Tablone?

Week in tech
All you need is time, and a hand as big as a spade

Sony has also unveiled the SmartWatch 2 for Android, which has an additional water-resistent screen, and packs NFC for improved synching ability..

Finally, just in case you weren't cheered up enough, it looks like a viable alternative to the soon-to-be-late Google Reader is on the cards – from Digg. Digg assures us its new reader will look clean work fast and be launched in time for us to migrate all our feeds over from Google Reader. And if that doesn't do the trick, keep an eye on TR this weekend for our round-up of the best Google Reader alternatives.


Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/internet/face-off-shadowy-data-theft-and-ellen-page-wants-her-id-back-1162089

Android 4.3 spotted on Galaxy S4, screenshots inside

Leaked screenshots show Android 4.3, dubbed Jelly Bean, running on a Snapdragon-powered (I9505) Samsung Galaxy S4. The firmware was allegedly intended for the Google Edition Galaxy S4 (I9505G) and sports the build number JWR66N.S005.130625.

Just by looking at the screenshots we can't identify anything truly new, except for the camera UI, which is already present on the HTC One and Galaxy S4 Google Editions, and the fact that the release seems to retain the Jelly Bean name, instead of going for Key Lime Pie.


Android 4.3 on Galaxy S4 I9505

According to another report from WSJ, Google is feverishly working on finishing up Android 4.3 and releasing it and is planning on dropping Android Key Lime Pie (perhaps version 5.0) on the scene this fall. According to sources the next Android iteration (KLP, not JB) will be "better tailored to the lower-cost smartphones".

Reportedly Google is even developing low-cost devices on its own, without OEM branding.

And while we're talking rumors WSJ learned from unknown sources that Google is developing a smartwatch device and gaming console, both revolving around the Android platform. Seeing how much traction the OUYA console gained and that smart wristwatches are all over the news lately, we would hardly be surprised if Google wants to join the bandwagon. There's also talk of an upcoming second generation Nexus Q home entertainment device.

However there are a lot of ifs and buts, and uncertainties in the information so you should take it with a pinch of salt.

Source 1 | Source 2 | Via


Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/android_43_spotted_on_galaxy_s4_more_from_google_soon-news-6291.php