Corning announced that it can produce Gorilla Glass three dimensionally. A new manufacturing technique allows the company to make the product conform to different shapes and designs without sacrificing its strength.
Durability is certainly a question on consumer's minds when they purchase their latest tech, so expect wearable technology makers to begin implementing the use of 3D Gorilla Glass on various watches, bracelets, and any other devices they can conjure up this year.
There haven't been any partner companies named which will employ the use of 3D Gorilla Glass just yet. We will certainly keep you posted on any further developments.
Users can now log in at the Vine.co page, where the experience is much the same as it is within the mobile apps for Android, iOS and Windows Phone.
However, there is one major difference, a new TV mode, which allows users to browse through Vines in a neat full screen mode. Within TV Mode the videos will play in sequence, meaning no loops and no endless scrolling and stopping.
First step
Vine's online launch comes after Instagram made the leap with photos and then videos in 2012. Like Instagram, Vine users will be unable to upload videos directly to the website, with that feature remaining mobile only.
The company said the roll out of web profiles is just the "first step" so perhaps uploads shouldn't be completely ruled out?
"This release is just a first step toward bringing you a richer, more enjoyable web experience. We look forward to introducing more improvements in 2014," Vine wrote on its company blog.
Early arrival for Galaxy S5 continues to appear more likely
Samsung's last major appearance at Mobile World Congress was in 2011, when it launched the Galaxy S2. Since then, the company has gone it alone with glamorous events and debatable success.
After the largely-mocked broadway-style Galaxy S4 introduction in New York last May, Samsung may be about to rejoin the chasing pack by revealing the Galaxy S5 at February's expo in Barcelona.
The rumour has been around for a while now, but it just a little more credence thanks to a hint from Samsung design director Dong-hoon Chang.
In an interview with reporters in Samsung's Korean homeland, Chang intimated that the handset will arrive with a new build material, while the possibility of a flexible display was "under review."
Stealing the show
Speculation has suggested Samsung will move forward the launch of the Galaxy S5 to counteract disappointing sales of the Galaxy S4 smartphone.
Should Samsung head back to Barcelona in February, the Galaxy S5 would undoubtedly steal the show.
MWC has lost some of its lustre in recent years as more and more manufacturers choose their own standalone events to launch their hero phones.
Samsung has been successful with record-breaking smartphones sales and a reported 95% of Android profits, but its chairman still wants to shake up its hardware concentration.
To do this, it has to “get rid of business models and strategies from five, ten years ago and hardware-focused ways,” said chairman Lee Kun-hee according to the Wall Street Journal.
Right now, the company has its TouchWiz interface and a number of homegrown apps available on Google-powered devices like the Samsung Galaxy S4 and Galaxy Note 3.
Teasin' Tizen
As Android users get accustomed to Samsung’s pre-installed software and sign up for its new services, the company’s developers continue to work on the Tizen operating system.
With HTC and LG trying to muscle in on Samsung’s Android territory and newcomers like Huawei threatening to do the same, Lee is asking his employees for constant innovation.
“Research & development center(s) should work around the clock, non-stop,” said the chairman.
That could bring us a Tizen-equipped smartphone sooner than ever, or at least the Samsung Galaxy S5 and Galaxy Note 4 a little bit more quickly.
A purported Nokia smartphone allegedly being developed for US carrier Verizon has been spotted donning an Incipio case on the makers own site. The device is identified as the Nokia Icon, which has been confirmed as the codename for the upcoming Lumia 929.
It's reported that the Lumia 929 was initially slated for a pre-holiday release, but has suffered a delay and got pushed back to January 16 instead.
Another important caveat surrounding the Icon moniker is that sources indicate that it could be released directly under its nickname, which would be a first for Nokia, that has always outed devices with a name and model number. Perhaps this has something to do with the pending Microsoft merger?
The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Lite, believed to be arriving in a matter of weeks, looks set to downgrade from a full HD to a 720p display.
"Hey, it's called the Lite for a reason, what did you expect?" we hear you cry. Well no, we're not exactly surprised by the information, which was spotted in a user agent profile for what is allegedly the non-LTE version of the phone.
The phone will still remain at the 5.7-inch size but the same profile says it won't be upgraded to Android 4.4 KitKat – still 4.3 for now. That may change when the phone actually launches, however.
Notable difference
The screen will also be switched from AMOLED to LCD, according to other reports, and will be bringing its 13MP camera down to an 8MP affair.
Let's hope it also gets a really tempting price tag to make the reductions worth it. If it does, Apple should probably hurry up and get a bigger iPhone out the door.
CES 2014 is just around the corner, but all rumours so far suggest the Note 3 Lite is holding off an appearance until MWC.
AT&T is starting an offensive on T-Mobile today, offering users up to $450 per line if they drop T-Mobile. Reaching the full $450 may be difficult, but it's still a very salient – and aggressive – offer from the bigger carrier.
First, you can get $200 credit if you switch from a T-Mobile contract to AT&T's Next plan, activate a device you own or buy a new one at full retail price.
If you're getting a new device, you might also trade in your old one for up to $250. The carrier doesn’t say exactly which devices qualify ("the latest and most popular smartphones will qualify"), the exact amount you get will depend on the make, model and condition of the device.
If you opt out of trading and decide to keep your old device, you'll only get the $200 for switching carriers (as we said, getting the full $450 is tricky).
Keep in mind that these dollar amounts will be in the form of promotion cards, which can be used to buy eligible products from AT&T (phones included) or pay your bills with the carrier.
T-Mobile is said to unveil a similar deal for users switching away from other carriers, so this might a preemptive strike from AT&T.
MediaTek is quickly establishing itself as one of the most popular chipset vendors but it has only been associated with value-for-money devices. What it's bringing to CES will help it break away from that image and even jump on the wearables bandwagon.
One of the key components is the MT6290 modem. Built on a 28nm process, the modem supports LTE Cat. 4, meaning it can achieve downlink speeds of up to 150Mbps. This chipset is compatible with MediaTek's current application processors, so integrating it into new products should be easy.
The MT8135 will also be at the trade show – a big.LITTLE processor with two Cortex-A7s and two Cortex-A15s and a PowerVR Series 6 GPU (same generation as the iPhone 5s GPU). This chipset was announced back in July, so we hope to see actual devices with it at CES. The octa-core MediaTek MT6592 will be at the stands too.
Then there's the smallest chipset in the world (according to MediaTek), which will be used for wearables (a market set to explode in 2014). Smart TVs, another market gaining popularity, will be catered to by a chipset capable of decoding UHD HEVC-encoded video at 60fps. There will be products for home automation, indoor positioning an Qi wireless charging too.
With demand for NVIDIA Tegra chipsets waning, Samsung's 5th gen Exynos struggling and TI out of the game, MediaTek has a golden opportunity to become the other big player on the market (other than Qualcomm that is, which is making big promises too).
CES 2014 is just a matter of hours away and Acer has outed a bunch of devices that we'll be able to get our hands on at the Vegas show.
Included in the mix is its new budget smartphone, the Liquid Z5, which comes with a 5-inch screen, 5MP rear camera, dual-core 1,3GHz Cortex-A7 processor and 4GB of internal storage.
This one will come running Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean and will come with a bunch of software feature such as AcerFloat for multitasking and AcerRapid for one-handed control.
Don't break the bank
The Z5 also brings dual-SIM support, 3G with HSPA+ and a 2,000mAh battery. No word from Acer on what the screen resolution will actually be, however.
But at a price of €169 (about £140) you certainly won't be breaking the bank for what looks like an ok successor to the Liquid Z3, though it's no Moto G.
The exciting part is that the phone will come in two vibrant colour options - white and grey. Calm yourselves down, ok?
Acer has unveiled Liquid Z5 - the successor of the very affordable Liquid Z3. The new Z5 model comes with a bigger 5" FWVGA TFT display, though it is powered by the same MediaTek MT6572 platform.
The MT6572 is based on a dual-core 1.3GHz Cortex-A7 processor, Mali-400 graphics and 512MB of RAM. It should be enough to power the Android 4.2 Jelly Bean ticking inside the Liquid Z5.
The rest of the specs include a 5MP rear camera with a LED flash, a VGA front facer, 4GB of expandable storage, and a 2,000mAh battery. The Liquid Z5 also offers dual-SIM support, 3G with HSPA+, Bluetooth 3.0, Wi-Fi N, GPS and an FM radio.
The Acer Liquid Z5 will launch in white and gray flavors and will cost as low as €169. The first markets to get the Z5 are Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Ukraine and the UK.
If the New Year has inspired you to get fighting fit, then you've hit the right page. Technology has the tools to help you get in the shape of your life but it's not easy to know which product is right for your goals.
We've enlisted the help of T3.com Editor-in-chief and ultra runner Kieran Alger to put together a five-part guide to help you uncover everything you need to go from couch slouch to marathon finisher.
Your smartphone has revolutionised everything. From the way you work to how you shop, it's now the weapon of choice for most of life's battles. With innovations in motion-sensing, the arrival of Bluetooth LE and improved GPS chips, it now even has the power to transform you from sofa-dweller to marathon machine. That's right, even you.
Thanks to lighter handsets, more powerful processing and better sensors, smartphone-powered fitness has exploded.
Activity tracking innovations like Apple's M7 'motion coprocessor' - built to let your track your movements 24/7 with a lower drain on battery life - mean we're now able to learn more about ourselves and our fitness habits in real time.
Bluetooth Low Energy means we can also sync data collected by the multitude of new fitness apps with stats captured by other devices, like Wi-Fi scales, heart rate monitors and even devices that tell you how tired you are with less leeching of phone juice.
The result? It's easier than ever to build up a comprehensive picture of our health and fitness. We can effectively take control of our own fitness.
While that's amazing, all of this new technology is still only half the battle. If you want to get fit, you're going to need to overcome your inner instinct to sit on you backside and watch Homeland. To beat the human pre-disposition for laziness, you need a goal.
So with January upon us, New Year's resolutions being scribbled and Spring marathon season just around the corner, we're here to show you how to turn your phone into a running coach, nutritionist and motivator - your very own pocket personal trainer. We'll show you how you can go from couch to 42km with the help of that thing you mainly use to check Facebook.
The complete novice
Getting started is always the hardest part but the good news is it doesn't need to be complicated or expensive. If you've got a smartphone, plus a little willpower you're in a good place.
Now you're tooled up, you need to get fired up. Download the Amazon Kindle app or the Apple iBooks and treat yourself to one of the books recommended below. These are your inspiration. In the dark moments when you're doubting yourself, read these.
Download the Amazon Kindle app
Next you'd be wise to get an indication of your resting heart. Download something like Instant Heart Rate, an app that uses your phones camera to detect your pulse. Make sure you've been sat still for a good five minutes before and make a note of the rate. If it's stupidly high, see a doctor before you lace up.
You will need motivation while you're clocking up the miles. Most people use music. So either load your phone with MP3s or opt for a streaming music service like Spotify or Deezer and create yourself some playlists of varying durations. Need inspiration? Head to ShareMyPlaylist.com for ready-made fitness soundtracks.
If music isn't your thing then audiobooks are a great alternative.
Now it's time to get moving. If it's been a long time since you've run, or done any exercise, you need to build up slowly. Use an app like Nike Move – iOS only for the moment – and Samsung HealthMate, to track walks. Think in minutes rather than distance with the aim to get to a good fast-paced 45 minute walk without feeling the need to stop.
Once your base level of fitness holds up to a fast-paced 45 minute walk it's time to up the ante a bit. Download Endomondo Sports Tracker – a free GPS tracking app with a handy fitness test feature.
The app tracks how long it takes to walk or run a mile as fast as you can, lets you log your heart rate after and gives you feedback on your fitness levels. This will be your benchmark.
Now that you have the Endomondo app installed you can start to build running into your 30-minute walks and use the app to track everything from speed, pace and distance to the hills your climbed and rolled down.
The aim here is to use walk-running to slowly build up your fitness. Walk for two minutes to warm up, then run for two minutes. Once you get tired, walk again. Repeat until you hit the thirty-minute mark.
Keep doing this until you find you're able to run the whole thirty minutes. You'll be able to see your progress in the app and access all the data online for free.
Once you're running for 30 minutes solid, you're ready to move on to the next step.
Part 2 of our "Get marathon fit with your smartphone" series will be online soon. In the meantime, good luck!
CES officially starts next week but manufacturers are already unveiling new devices or rather pre-unveiling. ZTE showed five new pocketables and one wearable, plus a couple of miscellaneous devices, though details are scarce at the moment.
ZTE Grand S II
The ZTE Grand S II phablet has leaked on several occasions and is certainly the most interesting device in the roster. Unfortunately it's also the one with the fewest official details. The company advertises the phablet's three mics and noise cancellation tech, but that's it.
Rumored specs include a 5.5" 1080p screen and Snapdragon 800 chipset, but we'll have to wait a few more days for official confirmation on that. There was also info of a dual-SIM version.
ZTE Nubia 5S and Nubia 5S mini
The Nubia 5S is a 5" phone, while the Nubia 5S mini is only a tad smaller at 4.7". Both use Sharp IGZO displays and at least the big 5S has 1080p resolution (no info on the mini). Both use quad-core Snapdragon chipsets, but other that "screaming-fast" we have no technical details.
The ZTE Nubia 5S features a 13MP camera with a Sony Exmor RS sensor and a f/2.0 aperture. The camera can record UHD video too.
ZTE Iconic Phablet
The ZTE Iconic Phablet packs a 5.7" HD screen (presumably 720p) protected with Gorilla Glass. It's powered by a quad-core processor and can run two apps side by side on the screen. There's also Dolby Digital and wireless charging.
ZTE Sonata 4G
ZTE Sonata 4G is a phone for Aio Wireless with a 4" screen, Snapdragon 400 chipset with a dual-core processor at 1.4GHz and 1GB RAM and a 5MP camera with 720p video capture. The Sonata 4G packs a 1,780mAh battery.
ZTE BlueWatch
ZTE is also jumping on the smartwatch bandwagon with the BlueWatch. The watch hooks up to a smartphone via Bluetooth and can control calls, display Facebook and Twitter updates, control photography (not clear if it has a camera or just serves as a remote shutter.
It also features a pedometer to help you exercise and collects additional data for “quantified self” information like body fat percentage.
Others
ZTE also unveiled the Projector Hotspot – a 2-in-1 mini projector and 4G Wi-Fi hotspot. There's also the AT&T Wireless Home Base.
Hopefully, ZTE will release more details and images of the new devices soon.
The notorious @evleaks has brought us yet another juicy leak. It's an official image of a two upcoming LG G Flex versions - one for AT&T and one for T-Mobile.
LG G Flex was announced and launched first in Korea back in October, but later it was revealed the curved phablet will be hitting Germany, USA and other countries in early 2014. It seems the US premiere is upon us as the official pictures have already popped up on the internet.
There is still nothing on the official LG channels, but we believe the Koreans will keep their promise to expand the G Flex availability very soon.
Samsung has decided not to bring its curved Galaxy Round outside South Korea, but latest rumors suggest an upcoming Galaxy flagship with a curved display will be announced at MWC or shortly after. This is one more reason LG will be in a hurry to supply the G Flex to as many markets as possible.
Ongoing speculation suggests that Apple is set to go bigger in 2014, but we're still unsure whether it's the iPhones or the rumours themselves that will prove to be inflated.
Back in June we heard that Apple was mulling over both a 4.7-inch and a 5.7-inch iPhone, and sources from within Foxconn are allegedly now claiming the same thing.
The same insiders also said that the new handsets will come with a form of biometric sensor, which we'll assume to be Touch ID.
By the numbers
It's a bit of a 'guess the number' game at the moment. We recently reported (once again) that Apple was testing a 6-inch iPhone that could be launched as early as May.
It may be the case that Apple deemed 6 inches too big for our hands and has opted for a 5.7-inch model instead, which would go up against the Samsung Galaxy Note 3. The 4.7-inch model could theoretically replace the 4-inch iPhone 5S.
Or, alternatively, these sources at Foxconn don't know what's really going on. After all, the story claims that the anonymous source spilled the beans at a Christmas party, so there's a good chance that these claims came from nothing more than a cocktail of alcohol and factual inaccuracies,
Preliminary specifications of the upcoming HTC M8 smartphone have leaked courtesy of evleaks giving us a better idea of what the Taiwanese are up to with their HTC One successor.
In a previous leak of his, evleaks suggested the codenamed M8 phone relies on a Snapdragon 800 chipset and today he confirms this, specifying HTC has chosen the MSM8974 model. While not providing further information, an educated guess would be the quad-core Krait CPU will run at 2.2-2.3GHz. Sadly, the latest leak suggests the M8 will tout 2GB of RAM instead of 3GB as earlier purported.
We've already caught a glimpse of what the HTC M8 is capable of in a leaked AnTuTu score. It manages to beat the Galaxy Note 3, the Sony Xperia Z1 as well as the LG G2.
HTC seems keen on using its UltraPixel camera technology, and the M8 will feature one at its back as well. There's no information wether it'll be the a 4MP one just yet. At the front, there'll be a 2.1MP snapper, probably the same as the one on the HTC One'. Below it will sit a 5" display of full HD resolution, resulting in a pixel density of 441 ppi. It won't be of much surprise if HTC bets on Super LCD3 technology for the M8's display.
In addition to the Wi-Fi module supporting the latest 802.11ac standard, the HTC M8 will run Android 4.4 KitKat garnished with Sense 6.0.
As suggested by leaked photos of the HTC M8, it's going to tout an aluminum unibody construction, which closely resembles that of the HTC One. The back is going to be very similar as well with the exact same camera and LED flash location. Furthermore, it's going to be a lot slimmer than the One, if the leaked photos are anything to go by.
In 2013, HTC released its flagship range consisting of the One, One Max and One mini, but the latter was haunted by difficulties in its production and couldn't meet consumer and carrier demand. The HTC One experienced a similar issue back in April last year, but HTC swiftly managed to get around the problem.
Nevertheless, Q3 2013 financial results weren't so rosy for the Taiwanese, who experienced their first quarterly loss ever. The last quarter of 2013 will probably be equally grim with HTC forecasting $1.4-1.5 billion in revenue with a gross margin of around 20%. HTC made $2 billion in revenue during 2012's Q4.
The company can't allow for any more mistakes to happen and its CEO Peter Chou knows the HTC M8's supply chain, production and marketing have to be impeccable in order for HTC to catch a breath of fresh air.
