EU committee could target Apple with new standard charger law

Apple's Lightning charger is superior to micro-USB in many ways Apple is the type of company that loves to do things differently, but soon that could become illegal in Europe where phone chargers are concerned. A committee within the European Union Parliament voted unanimously this week to create a law that requires all phone makers to use the same type...

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Sony SmartWatch 2 arrives in Europe to battle Samsung Galaxy Gear

So you think you're smart huh, SmartWatch 2? Unconvinced by the Samsung Galaxy Gear, but still want a wrist accoutrement to work in tandem with your smartphone? Well, Sony's SmartWatch 2 can now be strapped on in the UK and parts of Europe. The Android-based device, announced in June this year, is now on sale for £149 (about US$240, AUS$258) with a rubber...

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International HTC One getting treated to Android 4.3 right now

It's just a matter of time before every HTC One gets Android 4.3 The moment HTC One users have been waiting for is almost here: Android 4.3 updates for the Android flagship are finally going out. But right now only the unlocked, international version of the HTC One is being updated to Android 4.3, and the carrier-specific updates won't be out as soon as...

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Why am I so in love with massive phones?

Seriously... this was considered small? As a journalist, you're meant to stand by your convictions. But I'm about to do an amazingly blatant u-turn. Despite writing last week about how much I've been looking forward to getting my hands on an iPhone 5S, I've done the unthinkable in the eyes of many Cupertino disciples. I've cancelled my pre-order. That's...

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Classic Steve Jobs keynote used to invalidate German photo patent

Boy, have we patented it? (credit: Reuters) Nearly seven years after first showing off the iPhone to the world, a key Apple photo gallery patent has been invalided in Germany - and Cupertino has no one to blame but Steve Jobs himself. Foss Patents reported Thursday that Germany's Bundespatentgericht Federal patent court sided with Samsung and Motorola...

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Leaked LG G Pro Lite Dual may bring dual-SIM to Optimus G Pro

The LG Optimus G Pro may be getting a dual-SIM version called LG G Pro Lite Dual (now that's quite a mouthful). The rumor suggests the new device will keep the 5.5" True HD IPS+ display of 1080p resolution, but will demote the camera to 8MP resolution (still with BSI sensor). It's not entirely clear why this model bears the "Lite" moniker, as the camera downgrade...

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BlackBerry reports loss of $965 million in fiscal Q2

It's no secret that BlackBerry isn't doing too well, but no one knew just how bad until the company's just-released fiscal Q2 report. It highlights a whopping $935 million loss on the BlackBerry Z10. The "Z10 inventory charge," a clever way to say that the device simply isn't selling, is enough to almost wipe out the listed $1.6 billion revenue. When combined...

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Cheaper Moto X version might have exchangeable color covers

The Moto X is built in Fort Worth in Texas and ships to the US – and so far only to the US. There's talk, however, of a cheaper version, which the rumor mill has dubbed Moto DVX. It's this version that might be available outside the US, probably without the customization options. Not all of them anyway, a photo allegedly shows four back panels for the Moto DVX in four...

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Forget about Chou: Beats buys its shares back from HTC

Nuthin but a B thang The rumours were true: Beats Electronics is buying back all its shares from HTC for $265 million (around £165m / AU$284m). The Dre-owned audio specialist still plans to work with HTC as a partner, but neither company is willing to explain why the official link-up failed to work out. HTC bought up 50% of Beats' shares as well as a...

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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 now Vodafone and O2 have launched their new high-speed 4G networks, or, to put it another way, your mobile may soon...

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Samsung SIM-locking its droids made after July to home regions

Samsung has started locking its Android smartphones, built after the end of July 2013, to their respective home continents. So far the new practice has been confirmed for Europe and America (read South, North and Central, including the Caribbean). Each device will come with a sticker in the retail package, indicating the region it can be used in. The information...

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Galaxy S4 to support Galaxy Gear by end of October

Gearing up to work with more phones Eyebrows were raised when Samsung announced the Galaxy Gear smartwatch and revealed it would only initially work with the Galaxy Note 3 - luckily support for the Galaxy S4 is just weeks away. The Korea Times has quoted Samsung vice president Lee Young-hee confirming that the company will roll out an upgrade for the Galaxy...

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