Updated ASUS PadFone Infinity A86 leaks, expected in September

The current ASUS PadFone Infinity has just been out in the market for a few months but ASUS is already working on its successor. The new PadFone Infinity A86 (the current one is A80) won't be a radically new from the current one but have just a handful of new features.

Chief among the changes is a switch to Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 SoC from the Snapdragon 600 in the current PadFone Infinity. The other change is a switch of color palette from the all-black design on the current model to an all-white design on the next one.

The design is going to be identical, which means the PadFone Infinity will continue to work with the tablet dock of the current Infinity.

The new PadFone Infinity is expected to be priced at 10,009 yuan and will go on sale in late September.

Source

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/updated_asus_padfone_infinity_a86_leaks_expected_in_september-news-6682.php

Read More

Flickr for iPhone adds the popular live filter previews ditched by Instagram

Yahoo Flickr-ing off Instagram with live filters

Yahoo has today outed a new version of the Flickr for iPhone app, which allows users to preview how each filter will look within their shooting environment before they take the photo.

The updated app introduces the live filter previews feature, once popular with Instagram users before the Facebook-owned company canned it in an update last year.

Beyond that, the major update also gives snappers the opportunity to express their creativity beyond the range of stock filters, with additional effects like vignettes, bursts and focus shifts.

iPhone photographers can now also access a pretty varied array of editing tools allowing for crops, tilts, rotation and flips, while also adjusting colour levels, brightness, sharpness, white balance and more.

iOS 7-inspired

All in all, the new app is a pretty comprehensive shooting and editing package, completely free of charge. It also arrives as one of the fist major apps to boast a new, iOS 7-inspired design and user interface.

The new features make it possible for more advanced photographers to fine tune their snaps, while 'point-shoot-filter' iPhone wielders won't find the depth of options too obtrusive.

So far the updates are only for Flickr's iPhone app and as yet there's no word on when the Android app will catch up, but it's unlikely to be too long.

The company has launched a big redesign to its website and given all users 1TB of free space earlier this year, so this latest iOS app update is a sure sign the company has its sights set on the top again.

Can the former king of photography on the web regain its throne under the stewardship of Melissa Mayer's refocussed Yahoo? Give the app a try and let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/photography-video-capture/flickr-for-iphone-adds-the-popular-live-filter-previews-ditched-by-instagram-1176692

Read More

Spigen posts a Samsung Galaxy Note III render on its site

A Samsung Galaxy Note III teaser with a rendered image of the device has been posted on Spigen's website. Spigen, in case you haven't heard the name, is a company that manufactures cases for a huge variety of smartphones.

So, out of the blue Spigen has published a teaser image of the upcoming Galaxy Note III phablet that is going to be unveiled on September 4. The render definitely looks plausible and while there's no way to know if it's the real deal, it probably bears quite a lot of resemblance to the final product.

The Galaxy Note III is rumored to pack a 5.7" 1080p Super AMOLED display and run on Snapdragon 800 or Exynos 5420 chipset depending on your region. It will offer 3GB of RAM, a 13MP sharpshooter, expandable 16/32/64GB storage and LTE connectivity. A huge 3200 mAh battery will power the monster and, naturally, you can expect an integrated S-Pen.

The third generation Samsung Galaxy Note will go official next month, on September 4 in Berlin. We will be live at the unveiling, so be sure to tune in for the full scoop on the phablet.

Source | Via

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/case_maker_spigen_issues_a_samsung_galaxy_note_iii_render_image-news-6681.php

Read More

Samsung may ditch plastic panels next year in favor of metal ones

The Samsung Galaxy lineup has taken the smartphone world by storm, but for the past two years the Koreans have been subjected to heavy criticism over their preference of plastic panels. If latest rumors are to be believed, though, this might change next year.

According to the latest reports coming from Samsung's homeland, the manufacturer is planning on changing the Galaxies design and switch from plastic to metal. There were some earlier rumors about Samsung showing interest in carbon fiber too.

The most likely candidates to replace the plastic are aluminum and magnesium. The new design and premium shells will premiere with the top of the line devices and then carry over to cheaper models. This means the new design language will probably debut with the Galaxy S5 next spring.

It is also rumored that Samsung is already working on new designs and is testing new materials in its factories in South Korea, but also exporting some of the work to Vietnam.

We hope those rumors turn out the correct, because it is really the time Samsung brought its design to the level its software and hardware has reached. Still at this point you would do weel to take all of these rumors with a healthy pinch of salt until we get some actual confirmation.

Source (in Korean) | Via

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_may_ditch_plastic_panels_next_year_in_favor_of_metal-news-6680.php

Read More

Google Android VP exits to join Chinese phone maker

Don't let the door hit you on the way out

One of the more familiar faces at Google is leaving the company to join a Chinese phone maker.

Hugo Barra, vice president, Android Product Management at Google, is taking off to become Vice President at Xiaomi Global. Barra has become a fixture at Mountain View events, such as IO, and product unveilings, including introducing the new Nexus 7 and Android 4.3 last month.

"After nearly five and a half years at Google and almost three years as a member of the Android team...I have decided to start a new career chapter," Barra wrote on his Google+.

"In a few weeks, I'll be joining the Xiaomi team in China to help them expand their incredible product portfolio and business globally...I'm really looking forward to this new challenge, and am particularly excited about the opportunity to continue to help drive the Android ecosystem."

Bye bye Barra

Google confirmed Barra's departure to AllThingsD before he took to Google+, with a company rep stating, "We'll miss him at Google and we're excited that he is staying within the Android ecosystem."

Google's attitude seems to be: Best of luck Barra, and thanks for staying in the family.

Barra is the most recent high-level Android exec to put in notice. Earlier this year, Andy Rubin, head of Android and developer of the system, stepped down to start "a new chapter" at Google.

As ATD postulated, Barra's exit so soon after Rubin could cause shakiness at Team Android. There's no word yet on a Barra replacement or how his responsibilities will be handled.

• BlackBerry is another company in flux, but it appears a new phone, the Z30, is in the offing.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/google-android-vp-exits-to-join-chinese-phone-maker-1176631

Read More

Golden iPhone 5S casing leaks in a video alongside white 5C

A video has surfaced which shows the rumored iPhone 5S' golden casing and compares it side by side with the silver iPhone 5.

The prominent differences are the dual-LED flash cutout on the iPhone 5S casing, the different third microphone pinhole shape and the fact that the chamfered edges on the sides aren't colored and are instead just plain aluminum.

We've seen pictures of the champagne-gold casing more than once. Also a grey SIM tray points to a possible fourth color option.

The video also features a comparison of the would-be iPhone 5S casing with the would-be iPhone 5C one.

If these rumors are true and this actually becomes a reality on September 10, alongside iOS 7 we could expect pretty minor updates on the latest Apple gadget compared to the current iPhone 5. The screen and body would be all but the same.

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/golden_iphone_5s_casing_leaks_in_a_video_alongside_white_5c-news-6679.php

Read More

Sony Xperia Z1 leaks in high-res live photos

Sony Xperia Z1, previously rumored as Honami, is one of the regulars in our news section lately. We already know so many things about the gadget that we wonder if Sony will have any surprises left for us at the official announcement next week.

Anyway, today's leak brings us something we haven't seen so far - the Sony Xperia Z1 in good quality high-resolution photos. No more blurry cams!

Sony Xperia Z1

The Sony Xperia Z1 is expected to feature a 5" 1080p display and to run on a Snapdragon 800 chipset. At the back it will boast a 20.7MP camera with 1/2.3" sensor capable of 4K video recording, and a 3000 mAh battery.

Sony has already started the PR campaign on the gadget. We already saw the power key, the water-proof panels, the G-lens at the back, as well the slim profile which also revealed the announcement date - September 4 - the same day Samsung will premiere the Galaxy Note III. We'll be at both events, bringing the latest details as they come, so stay tuned for our coverage.

Source | Via

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/sony_xperia_z1_aka_honami_leaks_in_highres_live_photos-news-6678.php

Read More

IDC: Micromax close to overtaking Samsung in India

IDC released a report on the smartphone market in India and claims the country will become the world's second biggest smartphone market, displacing the US (which lost the lead to China in 2011).

Despite a sluggish overall phone market (21% growth year on year, 4% quarter on quarter), smartphones are exploding in India. Smartphone shipments in Q2 2013 are up 50% quarter on quarter and have nearly tripled compared to the same quarter last year (9.3 million smartphones were shipped during the quarter, compared to 3.5 million in Q2 last year).

Cheap 3G and 2.5G smartphones are displacing feature phones (IDC estimates smartphone ASP will fall under $200 by the end of the year). Dual-SIM functionality and large screens are the most sought after features. Devices with 5-7 inch screens accounted for 30% of the market, growing a whopping 17 times year over year.

Foreign companies are still going strong in India, but local brands like Micromax and Karbonn shipped over half of the smartphones in the country during the second quarter.

Samsung is still on top, with the Galaxy Star pointed out as a particularly hot seller, but the company's mid-range and even high-end phones are selling well too. Even the Galaxy Note II, thanks to the zero interest Equated Monthly Installment plans.

Then there's Micromax in second with over 2 million smartphones shipped and its Canvas line is seeing growing screen diagonals (the Canvas Doodle 2 has reached 5.7"). Karbonn comes in third with increasing shipments too and popular A and Titanium series.

Nokia is fourth with the Lumia 520 one of its best sellers (it's very popular around the world too). Sony has climbed back to fifth with good sales from its mid-rangers and affordable dual-SIMs.

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/idc_bigger_is_better_in_india_as_phablets_take_a_third_of_the_market-news-6677.php

Read More

Best 4G phones 2013: 10 to choose from

Check out the best 4G phones compared

The UK saw its first, belated, 4G network appear for use late last year thanks to EE, which managed to wangle approval from regulator Ofcom to launch an LTE service before the other main providers.

But soon, the likes of Three, Vodafone and O2 will also be ready to let us connect to new, high-speed 4G networks of their own, or, to put it another way, your mobile may soon give you quicker uploads, downloads and ping responses than your home broadband thanks to these new mobile networks.

The downside is that you're probably going to need a new phone to use this super-super-fast data connection, as many older mobiles don't have the necessary radios inside them to hook into the frequencies used by 4G systems.

Luckily for you, though, the mobile networks are falling over themselves to stock new 4G-ready phones and updated versions of popular current models, with some of the best handsets from the top makers supporting our new LTE bands.

And we've done the hard work for you, so sit back, relax and check out the best 4G phones compared.

Samsung Galaxy S4

Samsung Galaxy S4 review

This year's Galaxy S series update was not without controversy. Its launch event was a bizarre music hall experience that some said was rather sexist, the phone's full of so much bloatware and additional Samsung software it's been complained about on TV, but none of these whinges have stopped the Galaxy S4 shipping in record numbers and making it the most popular Android phone around today.

The only model sold in the UK comes with a 4G-friendly radio inside it, so once you've got it, you've got the 4G power -- if your SIM and network allows it.

Huawei Ascend P1 LTE

Huawei Ascend P1 review

The massive Android budget phone scene hasn't yet embraced LTE, so unless you're prepared to pay big money there's not a huge amount of choice when it comes to 4G models as yet.

One of the most affordable 4G-ready Android models is the Huawei Ascend P1 LTE, an updated version of 2012's excellent Ascend P1. It features a 4.3-inch display running at 960 x 540 resolution, backed by an 8MP camera and 1.3MP front-facing chat cam.

It's an impressive performer, with Huawei only slightly meddling with Google's code. Only available on EE, from £31 a month.

iPhone 5

iPhone 5 review

If you want the amazingly popular iPhone 5 with the coveted 4G logo on it right now, the only way to get it is go to EE.

Due to the frequencies used by EE to provide its 4G network in the UK, the version of the phone it's selling won't work on the forthcoming LTE services from Vodafone and the rest, so if you buy it through EE you'd better be prepared to stick with the network for the duration of your contract.

As for the phone itself, the iPhone 5 isn't an enormous update over the previous models, but Apple doesn't need to change things to appeal to its eager fans. It's still the mobile phenomenon it always has been.

BlackBerry Z10

BlackBerry Z10 review

If you want something a little more avant garde, BlackBerry's new Z10 is also an early member of the UK's 4G phone club.

The first phone to run the company's new BB10 mobile OS, the Z10's software is a little quirky in places, but the powerful, feature-packed web browser and 4G connectivity makes it a decent contender for those after something fast and a little different.

Plus, with a relatively modest 4.2-inch display, it's one of the more pocketable modern smartphones and less of a slab than other big name models. Don't ignore it just because it's BlackBerry.

Samsung Galaxy Note 2 LTE

Samsung Galaxy Note 2 review

If you want the biggest AND fastest phone around, Samsung's high-end phone/tablet hybrid is the way to go. EE's offering the Samsung Galaxy Note II LTE on a range of contracts, while Vodafone's also selling the 4G-ready device on monthly contracts right now, which you'll be able to upgrade to an LTE speed connection later this year when Vodafone finally launches its 4G service.

The phone's a stunner, combining a 5.5-inch HD display with a quad-core processor running at 1.5GHz. And the S Pen stylus. And loads of Samsung software tools to play with. It's a portable activity centre for tech enthusiasts.

HTC One

HTC One review

This is HTC's best phone yet, and that's saying something. The HTC One is 4G-ready from the offset, so can be bought on any of the networks -- although only EE will let you use a 4G connection right now.

The HTC One earned rave reviews for its metallic chassis, superb low-light camera performance and the general smoothness of HTC's updated user interface, with the new HTC Sense social features also going down a storm. This phone and a 4G data connection would make most people very, very jealous indeed.

Samsung Galaxy S3 LTE

Samsung Galaxy S3 review

Samsung's 2012 flagship model has also been refreshed to feature 4G capabilities in the UK, with network EE offering last year's top-spec Android models on a range of 4G contracts -- starting at a very decent £36 a month.

For that you get a phone that's still extremely competitive, offering a quad-core processor, 4.8-inch 1280 x 720 display and a very capable 8MP camera, with the LTE version able to hit the theoretical 3G maximum download speed of 42Mbps and maxing out at a hard-to-comprehend (and unlikely to actually hit in the real world) 100Mbps on a clear 4G link.

Sony Xperia Z

Sony Xperia Z review

Sony's current highest-end Android model is the Xperia Z, which stuffs a lovely 5-inch display into a slim chassis, into which it's also somehow managed to include a quad-core chipset, 2GB of RAM and a 13MP camera.

It's one of the most impressive Android models around today, and is also ready for your next-gen mobile data connection thanks to featuring the required miniature internal coat hanger needed to pick up an LTE radio signal.

It operates on all known 4G bands, so you'll be free to switch providers and juggle SIMs at will once all the networks have their 4G service up and running.

Nokia Lumia 920

Nokia Lumia 920 review

Nokia's latest Windows Phone 8 model has been doing some good work in convincing people to give Microsoft's mobile OS a fair go, with its nicely sized 4.5-inch 760 x 1280 display a good option for those not yet ready to accept something up nearer the 5-inch range.

The Lumia 920 also features dual cameras (8.7MP and 1.3MP), a whopping great 32GB of onboard storage space for your photos and media, plus support for all of the key UK 4G bands is in for future-proofed connectivity.

It's been beaten now by the Nokia Lumia 925 - so we'll be updating this list as and when we get to compare the two.

BlackBerry Q10

BlackBerry Q10 review

If you want traditional QWERTY BlackBerry hardware to accompany your futuristic 4G data speeds, there's only one choice -- the new Q10.

The phone looks like your usual old BB with its chunky keyboard and landscape display above, but comes with the updated BB10 OS for adding a bit more style to proceedings.

The phone also includes NFC support, for transferring mobile data rather more slowly over distances of a couple of centimetres, should that ever really become a thing people want to do.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/best-4g-phones-2013-10-to-choose-from-1161825

Read More

Unknown HTC leaks, 4-inch WVGA display and slim profile in tow

An unknown HTC smartphone has leaked today via two photos. The device looks nothing we've seen so far from HTC and is very slim.

As the rumor has it the phone will pack a 4" or so WVGA display, 1GB RAM, 8GB storage, a 5MP rear and a 1.3MP front camera. There is no word on the processor, connectivity or Android version.

The final piece if info in this rumor is the smartphone's price - $210. Since the leak source is Chinese, we guess China will be the first market to get it and the phone will probably support dual-SIM. Another China-bound Desire perhaps?

Source

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/unknown_htc_leaks_4inch_wvga_display_and_slim_profile_in_tow-news-6675.php

Read More

Skype turns 10: did Microsoft's bet pay off?

Skype replaced Microsoft's ageing Windows Live Messenger in March 2013

Skype's users like it a lot, and when the Microsoft deal was announced in 2011 they had three key concerns.

One, that Microsoft would cut off support for non-Microsoft platforms; two, that Microsoft would shove it into every conceivable Microsoft product whether it fit or not; and three, that Microsoft would find some way to screw it up.

They needn't have worried. Rather than absorb Skype into its Borg-like embrace, Microsoft decided to keep Skype as a separate division - and that perhaps prevented Skype from doubling down on Windows to the exclusion of all other platforms.

In addition to Windows platforms there are clients for Macs and Linux, iOS, Android and BlackBerry, compatible home entertainment devices and phones and even the PlayStation Vita. Windows does appear to get the most attention, but other platforms are still being actively supported: the Mac client was updated in March and the Linux one in November, with the iOS app getting an update this month.

• Skype turns 10: how the video star changed communication forever

Skype's user numbers have grown from 170 million at the time of the acquisition to 300 million earlier this year. Windows Live Messenger, which Skype was bought to replace, had dropped from a peak of 300 million to around 100 million in 2011.

Did Microsoft pay too much?

Skype's users spend 2 billion minutes per day on the service, and according to research from market analysts TeleGeography, Skype usage is equivalent to one-third of all the world's telephone traffic. That research was prior to Skype's replacement of Windows Live Messenger earlier this year, so those numbers should be considerably higher now.

As for shoving it into Microsoft's own products, Skype was acquired to replace the aged and ailing Windows Live Messenger, and it's largely gone where you would expect: it connects with the Microsoft Lync enterprise messaging platform, is available in Outlook.com, is installed by default in Windows 8.1 and takes advantage of the Xbox One's Kinect camera - although you won't be able to Skype on the Xbox One unless you pay for an Xbox Live Gold account.

Skype has been integrated with Outlook.com to deliver Google Hangout-style chat

The big question is whether Microsoft overpaid, and the answer is simple: of course it did. $8.5 billion - 32 times Skype's operating profit - was much, much more than Skype was worth, with Steve Ballmer betting that Skype's long-term growth would justify paying what most analysts agreed was four times Skype's value. The numbers are improving - the Skype division's revenues (not profits) are up to $2 billion compared to Skype's $800 million in 2011, although the newer numbers also include Lync - but it'll be a while before Microsoft gets its money back.

However, the acquisition wasn't just about monetising Skype's users. Buying Skype was also a defensive move, designed to fend off competition from Google and Cisco in the enterprise markets, and to give Microsoft a key player in the mobile Voice over IP market - a market that's still very much in its infancy, and one where Microsoft has been taking baby steps.

The long term vision is for Microsoft to be the hub of your voice and video communications, no matter what device you happen to be using, and Skype is a crucial part of that.

A new video messaging feature was added in June. It's like voicemail, but with video

What's next for Skype?

There may be a cloud on the horizon, however. In July, Steve Ballmer announced a major reorganisation: "we are rallying behind a single strategy as one company - not a collection of divisional strategies," he wrote.

Skype will become part of a new Applications Group alongside Office and Bing, and Skype president Tony Bates is off to take charge of developer relationships and evangelism. If Skype owes its current success to its arms-length relationship with Microsoft, then the One Microsoft policy could prove to be its undoing.

• Now read Skype turns 10: how the video star changed communication forever

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/internet/voip/skype-turns-10-did-microsoft-s-bet-pay-off--1176537

Read More

Samsung Galaxy Gear may wrap wrists in 6GB and 8GB versions

No Adam. No we're not.

IFA 2013 is less than a week away, so it's no surprise that talk of the now-confirmed Samsung Galaxy Gear smartwatch is heating up.

A new report from AmongTech, quoting sources at the Samsung Warehouse in Texas, brings us a load of new specs we might be seeing in a few days.

To start off, the 2.5-inch OLED display we'd heard about is reiterated here, apparently with a 320x320 resolution.

The watch will reportedly pack 10 hours of battery life, a dual core 1.5GHz processor and 1GB of RAM.

Android Jelly Bean is said to be on board, although the exact version is not specified and we'd imagine it'll be fairly stripped-back, while an accelerometer and Bluetooth 4.0 are also set to feature.

One big thing that differs on these specs is the camera, which is now said to be 4 megapixels and capable of 720p capture - much better than the 2MP affair we've been hearing about.

Lee Young-hee, executive vice president of Samsung's mobile business, recently confirmed that Samsung will be unveiling the Galaxy Gear on September 4 at its Unpacked event in Berlin.

Note the date

We're also hearing that Samsung may be releasing the Galaxy Note 3 in Taiwan on September 27, three weeks after the big reveal.

This isn't hugely surprising as Samsung tends to release its devices soon after their announcement. Pre-orders are supposedly set to begin on September 16.

Young-hee also confirmed that we'll see the Note 3 on September 4. The device will touch down with a 5.9-inch OLED display, as revealed by Samsung's head of mobile, J.K. Shin.

• Everything we already know about the Samsung Galaxy Gear

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/portable-devices/samsung-galaxy-gear-may-wrap-wrists-in-6gb-and-8gb-versions-1176531

Read More

Nokia Lumia 625 is now on sale for £240 in the UK

Nokia Lumia 625 is the latest WP smartphone to come out of Nokia. It comes with a 4.7" WVGA IPS display, runs on a dual-core 1.2GHz Krait processor with 512MB RAM, supports LTE connectivity, and packs a 5MP snapper with 1080p video recording. Just like the Lumia 620, the Lumia 625 also offers exchangeable battery covers in different youthful colors.

Various UK retailers have begun selling the WP8 Nokia Lumia 625. The lowest price we could find is at Expansys - the phone costs just £239.99 - though there are only 14 units in stock and they are all of the black flavor.

Clove is selling both the black and white models and they cost £252 with VAT. Phones4U offers the Lumia 625 for free through Vodafone with a two-year contact, while MobilePhonesDirect is selling the SIM-free version for £244.99. Carphone Warehouse expects the first Lumia 625 stock in September.

Nokia Lumia 625 is now available in India as well. There you can get the Black, White, Yellow or Green flavor for INR19,499 which equals at about €220.

We guess other markets will be getting it any moment now, if not already.

Via

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_lumia_625_is_now_on_sale_costs_240_in_the_uk-news-6674.php

Read More

Galaxy Note III to go on pre-order on Sep 16, sales start Sep 27

The Samsung Galaxy Note III will be unveiled at IFA on September 4 (that's next Wednesday) and according to ePrice it will go on preorder in Taiwan not long after that – September 16.

Less than two weeks later, the Note III will go on sale – September 27. This matches earlier rumors that the new phablet will ship in September.

There's a good chance Samsung will do a much wider initial release, so the dates should be valid for other countries too. According to rumors, each country will be getting a different version of the Galaxy Note III – either powered by an Exynos 5 Octa or a Snapdragon 800.

Other rumored specs include a 5.68" 1080p Super AMOLED screen, 3GB of RAM, 3,200mAh battery and 4K video capture.

Source (in Taiwanese) | Via

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/rumor_note_iii_to_go_on_preorder_on_sep_16_on_sale_sep_27-news-6672.php

Read More

iOS 7 beta locking users out of iPhones, forcing iOS 6 roll back

Looks so innocent...

Experiencing some weird iOS 7 behaviour today? You're not alone - a number of users of the iOS 7 beta are reporting that their phones have bricked completely, forcing them to step back to iOS 6.

Apple is currently refusing to say what's happening outright, but it seems to be a case of cracking down on non-developers who have installed iOS 7 via a developer friend's account.

A lot of people reporting the problem had beta 3 installed at the time and others with later versions don't seem to be experiencing the same problem, so it could just be the third iteration that's programmed to lock phones down.

Beta woes

However some developers have also come across the same outage. If you're a developer, you can fix the problem by logging onto your devaccount and upgrading to the iOS 7 beta 6.

The full version of iOS 7 is expected to live alongside the iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C on September 10.

Experiencing iOS 7 woes yourself? Let us know by sounding off in the comments below. We'll let you know as soon as we hear more.

• Everything you need to know about iOS 7

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/ios-7-beta-locking-users-out-of-iphones-forcing-them-to-roll-back-1176504

Read More

HTC One Max spotted again with dual SIM slot and removable back

The HTC One Max has surfaced yet again, this time in China, sporting a dual SIM slot and a fingerprint scanner. The SIM slots are placed underneath a back cover, which unlike on the One and One Mini, can be removed.

The fingerprint scanner can also be seen below the camera sensor and there is also an button in the notification screen that shows a fingerprint icon.

Lastly, there are also metal connectors on the side that hint at a case for wireless charging. The current metal body of the One Max wouldn't allow wireless charging directly without a snap on case, which is likely what the connectors are for.

The One Max, is essentially a bigger HTC One (although it looks more like the One Mini) with a rumored 5.9-inch 1080p display, Snapdragon 800 SoC, UltraPixel camera, Android 4.3 and Sense 5.5. The phone is expected to be announced next month, around the same time as the Samsung Galaxy Note III.

Source

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/htc_one_max_spotted_again_with_dual_sim_slot_and_removable_back-news-6671.php

Read More

O2 and Vodafone launch 4G services to finally give EE competition

O2 and Vodafone join in almost a year after EE

It's the day we've all been waiting for - August 29. The day O2 and Vodafone launch their 4G services in the UK to finally give some form of competition to EE, which has been going it alone since October last year.

It's not all good news though, as O2 is initially launching its LTE service in just three cities to start with - London, Leeds and Bradford - while Vodafone is being even more conservative by starting its service off in the capital only.

Both Vodafone and O2 have committed to bringing their 4G service to a total of 13 cities each before the year is out, but they are still going to be some way off EE which hit the 100 cities and towns milestone - and thus 60% population coverage - yesterday.

• Find out who has the best 4G offering in the UK

More speed, more money

As with EE anyone looking to jump onto O2's or Vodafone's 4G networks will have to stomach the premium cost the networks are attaching to the service, which claims to offer speeds up to 10 times faster than 3G.

Of course we're still waiting for one more network to join the 4G brigade, and Three confirmed that it would be arriving even later to the party with its service launching in December this year.

Crucially however, Three won't be charging customers any extra for 4G which could well give it an advantage over the trio already peddling it.

If you're not lucky enough to be in one of the cities currently benefiting from 4G then just hold tight, as all four networks will continue to roll out the super fast network to more regions next year, with 98% of the country covered by the end of 2015 - although EE reckons it'll have this done by the end of 2014.

• Fancy a bit of 4G action? Here are our best 4G phones 2013

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/o2-and-vodafone-launch-4g-services-to-finally-give-ee-competition-1176480

Read More

Nokia Lumia 1520 first photo leaks, sized up next to Lumia 1020

Nokia Lumia 1520, previously known as Bandit, is rumored to feature a 6" 1080p display and run on the latest Snapdragon 800 chipset. Other alleged specs include a 20MP camera on the back, wireless charging support, a polycarbonate body and Windows Phone 8 GDR3.

Today we get to see what is allegedly a live photo of the phablet. How we know it's indeed the 6" Lumia 1520? Well, the phones next to it is the recently launched Lumia 1020 and it's easily dwarfed by the Lumia 1520.

Last month we saw a picture of the front glass of a 6" Lumia phablet and it looks the Lumia 1520 is using the same panel. So we guess the Lumia 1520 existence is pretty certain at this point and all we have to wait for is for Nokia to announce it officially.

Yesterday's Nokia press event in Moscow turned out to be about the Nokia 515 not the Lumia 1520. We guess the official premiere will happen about the same time all other phablets are going to war - sometime in September.

Thank you, gmfady, for the tip!

Source

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_lumia_1520_first_photo_leaks_sized_up_next_to_lumia_1020-news-6670.php

Read More