A new leak hints that Samsung will be overhauling its UI - and it could be ready in time for the Samsung Galaxy S5 launch.
Evleaks tweet twoimages showing a widget heavy UI (pictured above), though the widgets themselves sport a look that is somewhere between Windows Phone's Tiles and Google Now's Cards.
Besides the widgets, the app icons also receive a new pastel and slightly transparent look, though Google's native apps still look familiar.
Magazines
If anything, the purported new UI and home screen looks very much like Samsung's Magazine UX, showcased in its latest Galaxy Note Pro and Galaxy Pro Tab.
That alone has us inclined to believe that this very well could be what we'll be seeing on the Galaxy S5.
But while Evleaks is reputable in its leaks, we're still going to hold on tight to our grain of salt until we hear more from camp Samsung.
Chinese cell phone manufacturer, Meizu, is hard at work and have announced that they've got three new cell phones lined up, and each of them has a big screen.
The phones are MX4G devices, and not much is known about the handsets, except that they will all offer 4G connectivity.
We also know the general sizes of the screens of these devices. The "mini" version of the bunch will pack a whopping 5" display; hardly a "mini".
Jack Wong of Meizu has also hinted that at least one of the phones in the upcoming MX4G series will sport a 5.5" 2560 x 1536 display.
If the MX4G line is released anytime before the fourth quarter, it would break Meizu's tradition of outing their flagships closer to the end of the year. So it would be safe to assume that these handsets won't be coming out for a while.
Are you impressed with Meizu's phones and gaining traction in the mobile space?
Apple is now replacing cracked iPhone 5C screens at local stores near you.
Last week a report suggested that in-store screen replacement for iPhone 5C would come as soon as Monday. Turns out the rumors were spot on; an Apple representative told TechRadar the $149 (about £90/AU$169) in-store screen repairs for the cheaper new iPhone began January 20.
We were also told customers with devices enrolled with AppleCare+ protection plan get a discounted fixer-upper for $49 (about £29/AU$55) - a lump to pay for a new sheet of Gorilla Glass, but it's better than walking around with a clearly broken phone.
Cracked 5Cs can be brought in store for display repair or complete replacement. The Apple rep also pointed out that while the screen is a simple fix, Geniuses will have to take a consider alternatives for seriously damaged handsets.
If there are additional broken parts like a cracked plastic shell, it could mean extra fees and possibly sending out the phone to dedicated repair facilities.
Don't drop it
Shattered screens have been a bane for Apple mobile users since the first iPhone, but now users have the option of in-store repairs for two handsets: the iPhone 5C and iPhone 5.
Formerly, owners of shattered screens were left with the data-losing option of replacing their entire handsets.
The Apple rep told TechRadar the on-site maintenance is rolling out to Stores in all territories.
Reports from Korean site ETNews point to the forthcoming LG G3 and LG G2 Pro as the phones LG will equip with fingerprinting tech.
According to the report, the LG G2 was allegedly supposed to have a fingerprinting sensor but was scrapped due to time constraint and low yields.
But where to put it?
If LG is indeed thinking about placing a fingerprint reader on its phones, it's unclear where it would go.
The back of the LG G3 makes the most sense since its predecessor already has the power button and volume controls there - but it may be a little unwieldy and ultimately, too crowded.
It's expected that we'll see the Optimus G Pro drop in February - which is coincidentally when MWC 2014 takes place - and the G2 in May.
A Samsung insider says that a couple of former flagships will get updated to the latest version of Android 4.4.2 KitKat within the next couple of months. Namely, the Galaxy S3 and Note 2 should get the update by the end of March this year.
A Samsung software engineer with knowledge on the subject claims that both devices will be updated in late Q1 of this year, not long after the expected Galaxy S4 KitKat rollout. The update will include performance tweaks and updates, and a few new software features.
The transparent status bar, new print feature from settings, and immersive full-screen mode will be included.
The KitKat update for the S3 and Note 2 is expected to be outed in phases, which means that carrier branded variants will likely receive the update as much as a full month later.
This photo of the Lumia 929 'Icon' appeared briefly on Verizon's website
The Nokia Lumia Icon, apparently formerly known as the Lumia 929, has appeared on its own product page on Verizon.com.
The newest Lumia handset has yet to be officially announced, so needless to say it was a surprise to see it on the carrier's official site.
The listing has since been taken down, but when it was up it featured a product photo of the Lumia Icon, a full specs sheet, and a placeholder price of $777 on- or off-contract.
Interestingly, those specs perfectly match the Lumia 929 specs that leaked months ago, in November 2013.
Twinsies
According to its now-missing product page, the Nokia Lumia Icon will feature a 5-inch full HD display, a 2.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 chip, 2GB of memory, 32GB of storage, NFC, and a 20-megapixel PureView camera.
That's exactly what the rumors back in November said - although they also mentioned wireless charging and a choice of black or white, the only parts that haven't been confirmed by Verizon's leak.
The product page also mentioned that the Lumia Icon is comprised of a metal chassis, a polycarbonate unibody, and Gorilla Glass 3.
Given all the leaks, we're expecting an announcement from Verizon and/or Nokia soon.
Sony loves a flagship smartphone and, if current rumors ring true, the Japanese firm is lining up its third in just over a year in the form of the Sony Xperia Z2.
January 2013 saw the arrival of the Xperia Z at CES in Las Vegas, which was followed in September 2013 by the Xperia Z1 at IFA in Berlin - and now we're hearing that the Xperia Z2 will arrive at MWC 2014 at the end of February.
Compare Sony's product cycle to the likes of Samsung or Apple - where we see an annual reboot of real flagships such as the Galaxy S4 and iPhone 5S - and you start wondering whether the Japanese firm has gone mad, or perhaps is onto something.
We've rounded up all the latest news, leaks and rumors surrounding the Xperia Z2 to bring you a comprehensive overview of what you may be able to expect from the phone.
Cut to the chase What is it? Sony's next flagship smartphone, the follow up to the Xperia Z1 When is it out? Rumors suggest an unveiling at MWC 2014 What will it cost? As a flagship phone it will have a hefty price tag
Sony Xperia Z2 release date and price
There were rumors suggesting the Sony Xperia Z2 would be outed at CES 2014, but instead we were given the Xperia Z1 Compact and a US variant of the Xperia Z1.
According to Xperia Z2 specs leaked online, the handset is in line for a stunning 5.2-inch display - up from the 5-inch screen on the Xperia Z1 - and, if true, it would mean the Z2 would match the LG G2 in terms of size.
With a rumored 506ppi, 2K screen, the Xperia Z2 will smash its rivals with its 2560 x 1440 resolution, with the G2 mustering 424ppi and the Xperia Z1 rocking 441ppi full HD solutions.
While the 2K screen will stand out, when it comes to power things appear to be a little less exciting with reports centering around the same 2.3GHz quad-core processor which you'll find in the Xperia Z1 and Z1 Compact.
That's not to say the Xperia Z2 will be under-powered - far from it in fact - but we were hoping to see perhaps an octa-core chip inside the next Sony powerhouse. Of course that is still possible, we'll just have to wait and see.
In terms of RAM inside the Xperia Z2 it seems the handset is inline for a boost here, with 3GB apparently on the cards.
Sony Xperia Z2 operating system
Initially it looked like the Xperia Z2 might launch with Android 4.3 Jelly Bean after a variety of screenshots made their way onto the XDA Developers forum, but fresher leaks suggest we could be in for a KitKat treat.
As well as Android 4.4 KitKat at its heart, a new set of screenshots also reveal a huge range of new features apparently destined for the Sony Xperia Z2 including; double tap to wake the screen, 4K video recording, a variety of camera modes, smart controls, a choice of homescreen launchers and more.
New cameras features for the Z2 (credit: Xperia Blog)
Sony Xperia Z2 camera
Sony always likes to make a bit of a song and dance about the cameras on its phones, and to be fair it's got a pretty strong track record.
Strangely though, leaked specs for the Xperia Z2 are pointing to the same 20.7MP camera as you get in the Z1.
This is by no means a bad thing, but with the same camera and processor the Xperia Z2 is beginning to look like a screen-bump update rather than a whole new device.
A good sign for phone photographers though is word that Sony will replace the LED flash with a Xenon offering, which provides a better balance of light for more natural shots.
Sony Xperia Z2 additional specs
What else have we heard about the Sony Xperia Z2? Well, apparently it'll come running the last version of Google's mobile platform - Android 4.4 KitKat - but expect this is be covered in Sony's own interface layer.
Battery is also said to be getting a boost, up from 3000mAh to 3700mAh, but with more RAM and a larger and higher resolution display you might not actually see any extra life from the juice pack.
We may even have a glimpse of the Xperia Z2 after images claiming to show the handset with a thinner bezel and larger display appeared online. It certainly looks like a Sony smartphone.
Beats Music is here - sort of, kind of, in a way. The new music streaming service from the headphone-maker now has an iOS app on the Apple App Store but it's not going to be properly available until later today.
The new Spotify-baiting service is only available on the US app outlet for now, and there's no sign of the Android equivalent (although we're assured it will be hitting Google Play imminently, as well as the Windows Phone marketplace).
Boasting a music library of around 20 million songs, Dre's Beats Music will set you back $9.99 a month after a free seven day trial. The company is yet to confirm international pricing, although we'd expect it to follow Spotify's lead and hit £9.99 in the UK and $11.99 in Australia.
Last night a DJ saved my life
Beats' big thing is using your phone to deliver expert curation and personalised music discovery - basically Beats wants to be your own personal DJ.
An introductory blog post explains, "A great DJ picks the right song and knows the only thing more important than the song playing right now is the song that comes next. A great DJ gets bored before you do and knows when to switch gears to keep you listening."
The gang behind the app can't remember a "robot" ever found them "magic" rather than obvious choices ("You like Pantera? Have you heard of Black Sabbath?").
The result is a mix of music experts from across the music media and interrogative questions to work out what of these expert picks are right for you right now.
Sentencing
As well as highlights, genre options and creating your own playlists, there's also a cool 'sentence' feature which is a bit like that game consequences but instead of an hilarious story you theoretically end up with the perfect playlist for your situation.
You fill in the blanks in "The Sentence": I'm [somewhere] and feel like [doing something] with [someone] to [genre]. Then hit play for an infinite playlist.
The Google Play Edition of the HTC One got the latest Android 4.4 KitKat update in November and it was quickly followed by the Developer Edition of the handset and its US Unlocked units.
However, until today large parts of Europe were stuck waiting for HTC to expand the rollout. Well, worry no more - the latest release has now started seeding on the Old continent.
The French SFR carrier was among the first to start seeding the Android 4.4.2 KitKat to the HTC One units on its network. This is the first EU HTC One getting the update, which means other European regions and carriers will be getting the KitKat treatment soon enough.
The new 4.4.2 update brings Android 4.4.2 and its improvements plus the latest Sense 5.5 UI. Your phone will become noticeably faster thanks to the new firmware. Hopefully it won't take long before the other European Ones get to taste KitKat.
"Just root it" is something you've probably heard said if you've spent any meaningful time hanging around a hardcore Android user. But, unless you've spent too much time lingering in the darker corners of the internet, you probably get lost when people start comparing ROMs.
As Android phones have taken off, rooting (the process of getting super access to your phone, and being able to change it as you see fit) has become an increasingly mainstream thing to do.
The driving factor behind this is the manufacturers: to stamp their own seal on devices, big Android smartphone makers like Samsung, HTC and Sony put a 'skin' on top of the regular Android OS, changing the look and feel, and often replacing stock Android apps with changed varieties.
In the first case, then, some users don't appreciate the 'bloatware' – they'd rather have a clean, unskinned version of Android, as they often run faster, and Google's apps are arguably superior to the manufacturers' offerings.
But skinning Android creates a more serious problem – updates. When Google issues a major update for Android, something it sometimes does a few times a year, it takes months for the manufacturers to apply the updates to their Android skins, and then push the update to customers – and for some older handsets, they often don't bother at all, leaving owners high and dry.
Not a fan of Blinkfeed? Then you may want to root your phone
Rooting, and installing custom ROMs, overcomes a lot of that. Not only does messing with the software on your phone allow almost limitless tweaks to the look and feel of the thing, it also brings access to faster, more efficient versions of Android, with more frequent updates to boot.
Total control
For a prospective modder, the first step on the path is always rooting. To 'root' a device is to get total control over it. Although most people will never run into problems with having control over their phone, if you ever try to delete an in-built app, you'll find that there's a lot of things the normal operating system won't allow you to change or delete – something rooting changes.
The difficulty of rooting depends on your handset manufacturer. Rooting requires access to the bootloader, a low-level piece of software on your phone that boots up before the operating system, and tells the phone where on its memory to look for the OS.
Some manufacturers unlock the bootloader by default; others offer a tool (not normally exactly user-friendly) on their websites; whilst the worst offenders, by rooting standards, require more complicated (and often warranty-voiding) methods.
From there, rooting normally just requires hooking up your handset to a PC, downloading a few pieces of software, and hitting go. The exact method varies from phone to phone – step-by-step instructions can normally be found on XDA forums, a giant internet community dedicated to developing and modding smartphones.
Greenify - a power saver for your handset
Getting root access also opens the door to run other, more powerful apps. For example, the most complete backup app, Titanium Backup, needs root to function properly. Other apps, like the power-saving Greenify, also function better when they have complete control; and if you're on a phone plan that charges you extra for tethering your phone's data to your laptop, there are root apps that can get around that too.
However, rooting is just the first, rather limited step. If you want to get a completely un-skinned version of Android, are lusting after the most recent version of Google's OS, or just fancy a change of scenery, you'll want to flash a custom ROM.
Open source
A custom ROM is basically just a different version of the Android OS. Generally, the ROM is developed from the open-source Android code, but tweaked slightly.
The modifications vary massively - some just provide you with stock Android, whereas others completely change the look and feel of the phone. Mostly, the ROMs are developed by teams of hobbysists in their spare time, in return for no (or very little) money.
Installing a ROM is just a little more complicated than rooting. You have to install a custom recovery – a piece of software separate from Android, kind of like a very limited alternate operating system.
To start with. you'll need to boot the phone into 'recovery mode', usually achieved by holding some Konami-code-esque combination of buttons as you boot the phone up.
Once in the recovery, you can make system-wide changes like installing ROMs, deleting user data and more. The stock recovery that ships with phones is often very limited, so one of the steps in rooting a phone is normally to install a custom recovery.
There are two particularly common custom recoveries, ClockworkMod and TWRP. Just like the custom ROMs, these are freely available bits of software made by hobbyist hackers, not the actual phone makers, and can be every bit as buggy as you'd expect.
So, once the recovery is installed, all you have to do is find a custom ROM that'll run on your phone, download the file off the internet, copy it onto your phone, then boot into the recovery and flash away ('flashing' basically meaning installing).
AOKP - a mainstream mod with added unicorn
Finding a good ROM is probably the most difficult part of the entire operation. One of the most common mistakes for first-time modders is downloading a ROM intended for a slightly different model of smartphone.
Owing to the different mobile networks in various countries, there's normally a couple of versions of any one smartphone in circulation at any one time, which are normally visually identical but sufficiently different on the inside, so that trying to install the wrong bit of software will screw them up.
Mainstream ROMs
That said, there is at least a fair bit of choice. There are a number of 'mainstream' custom ROMs, like CyanogenMod, Android Open Kang Project, and the British attempt, MoDaCo. Some focus on upping the processor speed, whilst others offer a vastly different user interface, or better battery life.
If you have a recent, mainstream flagship phone, you'll most likely have all the choice you want; older or less well-known phones don't get the same selection of ROMs, as the demand isn't quite there.
Compounding the problems is the bugginess of many ROMs. Remember, these are bits of software written by enthusiasts in their spare time, and tested by internet forums – not quite the same quality control that big manufacturers go through.
As a result, the latest releases of software can be buggy, and probably aren't recommended to install. At the very least, make sure you read through forum threads to see what problems others are having before installing – problems like the camera or touchscreen stopping working aren't unheard of.
Cyanogen Mod is set for big things in 2014
If you do screw your handset up when trying to root or flash a custom ROM, chances are it's easily reversible. Because most features relating to uninstalling or reinstalling Android can be controlled via a PC and a microUSB cable, most problems can be solved by plugging your phone back into your computer, and re-flashing the stock software.
As a general rule, if you can turn your phone on and get into recovery mode, but not the main operating system, it's 'soft bricked'; this is opposed to 'hard bricked', which is when you can't turn the phone on, and it won't talk to a PC. At that point, your options are pretty limited, beyond sending the phone back to the manufacturer and hoping they don't ask too many questions.
Rooting and modding handsets isn't for the faint-hearted – it'll take at least an hour or two to get set up initially, and there's always the outside possibility of bricking your phone – but in many cases, the rewards are worth it.
Whether there's a particular feature that drives you crazy on stock software, or you're tired of waiting half a year for an Android update, most every problem can be solved with a bit of modding. Just don't expect everything to work perfectly, all the time.
Yes, you read that correctly. Apple is relaunching its popular iPhone 4 in the Indian market. The phone was all the rage back in 2010 but is now barely running iOS 7 on a single-core 1 GHz processor, 512 MB of RAM and lowly 8 gigs of storage.
Then there's the pricing - instead of going for something reasonable Apple has priced the iPhone 4 at Rs 22,900, the equivalent of around $370. That's for an 8GB version, mind you.
It seems that the pricey iPhone 5s and uninspiring iPhone 5c aren't doing it for Apple in India where users aren't thrilled by the company removing the iPhone 5. The iPhone 4S looks a more reasonable smartphone at that price, even though it's over two-years old itself.
So what do you think - a blatant slap in the face of Indian buyers, an entirely cash-motivated move by the company or the cheapest way to get an iOS 7 smartphone?
Who would win in a fight between a robot and a genie?
The name 'Tizen' has been bandied about in mobile tech circles for some time now but for anyone other than the most ardent follower of mobile matters, the odd-sounding moniker mightn't mean all that much.
For those who are still unsure what exactly Tizen is, what it might mean to the general tech consumer, and wondering whether it'll prove a viable competitor to Google's Android, we've taken a closer look at this next gen-operating system...
Doing the robot
Since 2007, Google's Android mobile platform has gone from strength to strength, its inextricable rise to prominence mirroring that of the smartphones it powers.
In six short years, Android devices have become pre-eminent in the smartphone space thanks mainly to the continual innovation and powerful marketing strategies of Samsung- something that has seen the Korean firm's output dominating worldwide sales and establishing Google's OS as the mobile platform of choice for OEMs, developers and consumers alike.
Whether Android's seemingly unshakable position would have resulted without Samsung's backing, or Samsung's dominance of worldwide smartphone sales would have happened without Android in tow, is a debate that still rolls on.
Android is number one in world
What is clear however is that JK Shinn and co are increasingly looking at alternatives as a way to maximise potential revenues.
Why so? Because whilst Android may feature on its best-selling wares, the spoils from that particular eco-system - be it from in-game purchases, streaming services such as Play Music, or the lucrative mound of data accrued from such services (that can be subsequently used to leverage other Google products) - don't go into Samsung's bank account.
The solution to such a conundrum? A 'home-cooked' operating system that whilst open-source in nature, has the reigns held somewhat by Samsung. Enter Tizen...
System addict
So, this Tizen then. You've probably gathered that it's a mobile OS and that Samsung has its finger in this particular software pie.
Most casual observers probably aren't aware however that, much like Android before it, Tizen has its roots in Linux and is governed by a 'steering group' comprising of device manufacturers, software developers, and mobile network operators.
Samsung and chip maker Intel are the key drivers of the initiative first galvanised in 2012 - Tizen rose phoenix-like from the ashes of Intel and Nokia's much talked about (but never really made it out into the open) MeeGo OS and Samsung's decision to incorporate its ailing native platform Bada into the new venture.
Nokia's MeeGo never really got a fighting chance
The aim, although not explicitly stated as such, appears to be to take on the might of Android by extending the reach to third party devs by supporting JavaScript, CSS, and most pertinently, HTML5.
The fledgling OS is not restricted to mobile devices however - the Tizen Foundation envisage the platform's versatility allowing it to power netbooks, tablets, TVs, and in-car systems.
The latter in particular seems to be a sector ready to embrace the platform with director of the Tizen Foundation and Intel platform and business manager, Chris Croteau, recently commenting that the OS has "a strong base built up in automotive" and that the "automotive grade Linux consortium, led by Toyota and Jaguar and Land Rover, is all based on Tizen."
Is Tizen destined for Jaguar?
Indeed, this ties in with the Tizen Foundation's gathering of support from no less than 36 other companies including Huawei, Fujitsu, Panasonic, Konami, eBay, and Japanese network NTT Docomo to call on in their quest to broaden commercial possibilities for the platform beyond that of Samsung's initial goal of lessening its dependence on Android.
So, the cornerstones all appear to be in place, so when will we see it on an actual phone?
Left to their own devices
The cynical out there might suggest that Tizen could have a touch of MeeGo's smoke and mirrors about it, given that the internet has been awash with talk of the OS since its launch at Mobile World Congress 2013 and yet actual devices running it have been thin on the ground.
Recent developments however have looked more promising - a mid-November report published by the Korea Herald covering a local think-tank on the future of smart TVs shed more light on the situation. Quoting the head of Samsung's visual display unit, a Tizen-powered TV will not launch until the OS makes its smartphone bow, now slated for 2014.
The Samsung Z9005 RedWood
This, when coupled with a video of the platform being demoed on a developer unit called the Z9005 Redwood doing the rounds, at least suggests that Samsung and the rest of the interested parties haven't forgotten about Tizen.
As ever with this kind of caper, Samsung has remained tight-lipped, choosing to ignore tech journalists calling it out on its unfulfilled promises of launch dates and the continual shifting of goalposts. The resulting information vacuum has of course caused the rumour mill to go into overdrive with industry analysts and the like going to town on how Tizen will eventually manifest itself in hardware form.
The latest addition to the saga comes via the announcement of the Tizen 3.0 iteration at the Tizen Developer Summit in South Korea last month.
The new variant is said to include support for 64-bit chips, which given that next-gen smartphones such as the Samsung Galaxy S5 are tipped to rock such architecture, is significant and adds weight to rumours that the next Samsung flagship could appear in both Android and Tizen versions.
Unfortunately for eager Tizen-ites, the release date for version 3.0 is given for Q3 2014, so we could be waiting for quite a bit longer.
We're gonna need a bigger app store
If what we know of Tizen so far is correct, the OS looks to be on to a winner. The extended reach enabled by support for other coding languages, the versatility that allows it to be utilised in other non-mobile devices (plus a string of high-profile partners lined up to get on board), support for 64-bit chips and the ability to sustain 3D user interfaces, all bode well.
If history teaches us anything though, it's that mobile OS' live or die by the wealth of apps available in their app stores. Just ask BlackBerry.
So, with that in mind, it's safe to say that Samsung and all who sail in the good ship Tizen will have to pull out all the stops to pique the interest of third party developers and get them creating high-quality apps to entice a potential user-base.
Thankfully, those involved in the venture foresaw this and set about creating a series of incentives to get devs on board, the first of which was the 'Tizen Port-a-Thon' - an initiative that targeted developers for Samsung's now defunct native OS, Bada.
The invite-only scheme opened in April this year and encouraged Bada devs to register and submit apps for entry into the Tizen market, offering $3,000 as a basic incentive and providing developers with hardware on which to tweak their wares.
Never ones to rest on their laurels, Samsung (and the Tizen Foundation) followed that up with the announcement of the 'Tizen App Challenge', a similarly positioned initiative only this time offering a combined total of $4m in prizes for those devs successful in getting their apps certified.
The Tizen App Challenge ran until December 2013 and offered financial reward for apps in various categories including a hefty $200,000 grand prize for game app developers, and perhaps most notably a $50,000 purse for each of the top ten rated HTML5 apps.
Whether this will provide app creators with the impetus they need to develop for Tizen remains to be seen, but given that the Tizen Foundation has also partnered with app crowdfunding outfit appbackr as well as third party 'middleware' porting tools including Construct 2, and Havok's Project Anarchy, the signs are positive.
Brian Warner, Senior Member Services Manager for Linux Foundation Collaboration Projects said of the partnerships: "We've been really impressed with the flurry of new developer tools and activities in support of Tizen and firmly believe in the value of the competition because history has shown time and again this is the best way to foster vibrant, robust ecosystems."
That's a wrap
From what we've learnt during the course of this little 'examination', it could be that Android may well have a viable competitor to contend with in the near future should all the pieces fall in to place.
Samsung, Intel and the rest of Tizen's interested parties have clearly done their homework and addressed the main pitfalls of getting a new OS and associated eco-system off the ground.
Well, except on that is; turning the heads of both developers and consumers with an actual Tizen device. On that front, the silence has been deafening but given that those other two mobile platform upstarts - Jolla's Sailfish and Mozilla's Firefox OS - are now out there on commercially available devices, we'd hedge our bets on a Tizen phone showing up soon. MWC 2014 anyone?
Microsoft and Nokia have already seeded the GDR3+Lumia Black update to Lumia 1020, 925, 920 and 820, while the Lumia 1520 is running it out of the box. As of today Lumia 625 has also joined the Lumia Black bandwagon.
Nokia Lumia 625 phones in various countries around the globe are already getting the notification for both the Windows Phone 8 GDR3 update and Nokia's Lumia Black improvements. In case your Lumia 625 isn't among those, you should be getting the update very soon as well.
The WP8 GDR3 update now allows you to close apps from the app switching UI, it also brings auto rotation on/off switch, Driving Mode, Bluetooth tethering, better storage management, custom ringtones for messages, and new accessibility options. Nokia's Lumia Black also update adds Bluetooth 4.0LE support.
Now that both updates have been optimized for Lumia phones with 512MB RAM so they work on the Lumia 625, we expect Lumia 520, 620 and 720 to get their updates shortly.
What's new? A lot apparently. (credit: Xperia Blog)
Not one but two lots of Sony Xperia Z2 screenshots have leaked in the last 24 hours or so. The first set, posted on the XDA Developers forum, is from an old build as it's running Android 4.3 and it mostly just serves to show some changes to the UI.
However the second set, revealed by XperiaBlog, claims to be from an Android 4.4.2 KitKat build and is far more revealing.
The camera has seen some upgrades since the Sony Xperia Z1, as the screenshots show that the Xperia Z2 supports 4K video recording and a 'Timeshift video' feature, which allows you to record video at a high frame-rate and apply slow motion effects.
The screenshots have revealed a bunch of other new features on the Xperia Z2 as well, such as the ability to wake the screen by double tapping it (as you can on the LG G2), use the touchscreen while wearing gloves and adjust the white balance of the display.
Smarter than your average phone
Then there are a couple of new 'smart' controls. Smart backlight control sounds a lot like Samsung's Smart Stay feature as it ensures that the screen stays on when you're looking at it.
While Smart call handling allows you to answer calls by bringing the phone up to your ear, reject them by shaking the device or mute the ringer by flipping the handset over. We've seen other manufacturers implement these features on their handsets and Sony now appears to be following suit.
It also looks like the Sony Xperia Z2 will have not one but two home launchers to choose from. There's the standard one, called 'Xperia Home' and another called 'Simple Home', which gives it a simplified layout while increasing the size of fonts and icons.
The screenshots show that the Xperia Z2 will also give users some control over the notifications screen and status bar, as you can pick exactly which apps display notifications and choose which icons to display in the status bar.
Then there's a 'What's New' feature, which you seemingly access by swiping up, in much the same way as you'd access Google Now. By the looks of things though it just highlights new features and content from Sony.
That covers the big changes, but the screenshots also show an enormous number of small changes and additions, such as a new 'Printing' option under system settings and a built in answering machine with a selection of greetings to choose from.
As if we weren't already excited enough about the Sony Xperia Z2 all this suggests an almost overwhelmingly feature packed handset. There shouldn't be long to wait for it now either, as the Xperia Z2 may break cover at MWC 2014.
After more information on the Sony Xperia Z2? Look no further.
The rumors surrounding the next generation Galaxy S smartphone are coming in thick and fast. Firstly, the device was tipped for a March release, which was even backed up by a statement from the company's VP, but we then had a Samsung executive saying that their flagship smartphone will not be showcased at the Mobile World Congress.
Now, we have another report from Mobile Review's Eldar Murtazin, who says that the hotly anticipated Samsung Galaxy S5 smartphone will be announced on February 23. It has to be noted that the same guy had correctly predicted the Galaxy S4 launch date last year.
Samsung Galaxy S5 launch - 18.00. Barcelona. 23 February. Price the same. Launch - end of April. Specs - u know them :) new touchwiz ;)
Samsung will announce its 2014 flagship Galaxy S5 smartphone at a dedicated event in Barcelona on February 23, which is a day before the Mobile World Congress kicks off. Furthermore, Mr. Murtazin claims that the device will be available in the stores by the end of April, which alligns nicely with earlier rumors.
Meanwhile, Samsung Galaxy S5 is expected to sport a 5.2-inch display with a resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels and the device is said to offer a choice between the Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 chipset and Samsung's next generation Exynos. The other hardware specifications of the Galaxy S5 include 3 GB of RAM, 16 megapixel rear camera, fingerprint sensor, new TouchWiz user interface and a 3,000mAh battery.
However, these are just speculations based on the previous rumors and there is no official confirmation at the moment. We will keep you posted when Samsung starts sending invitations for its next Unpacked event.
Apple is seeding the iOS 7.1 beta 4 to its testing partners. The previous beta iteration of iOS 7.1 was released almost a month ago in December, so it was about time we got a new one.
The company is rumored to release two more versions of the beta before seeding the full iOS 7.1. If it keeps the pace it's currently going at, Apple is expected to do so by the end of March.
The Beta 4 of iOS 7.1 is said to bring fixes to the keyboard, contacts app, changes to the phone UI as and more minor bugs. According to people who've tested the build, Apple has managed to fix large memory leaks that some users using iOS 7 suffer from.
Once Apple's testing partners are done with their job on the iOS 7.1 beta 4, the company will make it available to developers.
What's this? It's only a Samsung Galaxy S5 release date. Get out your diaries, grab that ballpoint and thumb your way to February 23... wait. What?
According to seasoned mobile leaker and blogger about town, Eldar Murtazin, Samsung will apparently launch the Galaxy S5 in Barcelona on the Sunday before MWC 2014 kicks off.
The tweet reads "Samsung Galaxy S5 launch - 18.00. Barcelona. 23 February. Price the same. Launch - end of April. Specs - u know them :) new touchwiz ;)", which sounds lovely and all - but we're not convinced.
Look at the facts
Samsung has steered clear of MWC in previous years, launching the Galaxy S3 and Galaxy S4 at separate events after the show, allowing its products to garner the maximum amount of publicity instead of being lost in the noise of a trade show.
Various sources have also tipped the Galaxy S5 launch for March, with an event taking place in either London or New York - not Barcelona.
Either way we'll find out in a month's time if Murtazin was on the money, or off the mark.
Have we had our first glimpse of Sony's next flagship smartphone?
New leaked images, courtesy of XDA Developers, show off a supposed Xperia Z2 out in the open (or rather, sat on a table).
The Xperia Z1 may be only a couple of months old, but that hasn't stopped rumours regarding its successor rearing their head.
2K-O
Alleged specs circling the web point to a 5.2-inch, 2K screen, rocking a needle-sharp 506ppi. Naturally, all this pixel power means a bump in juice will be required, so a 3700mAh battery has also been mooted.
So is this really the Xperia Z2? Click on the video below and judge for yourself.
Back when Motorola announced the Moto G smartphone, we had heard that India will be one of the countries to get Motorola's latest smartphone. Now, according to sources at BGR India, Motorola will be launching the Moto G in India some time this week.
As some of you may be aware, Motorola does not have any official presence in India any more, after the company quit business in the country a couple of years back. Due to this, Motorola does not have any channels to distribute the phone any more, which is why it will be partnering exclusively with online stores to sell the Moto G in India. Flipkart is said to be one of those stores, although it's unknown if it will be the only one. It will be interesting to see how the after sales services are handled.
The Moto G to be launched in India will be the dual-SIM model. No word on pricing yet but the phone should be priced around INR 15,000-16,000 for the 8GB variant.
