Samsung has announced a 4G LTE version of the Galaxy Note 10.1 tablet, but so far only for Korea. When the Note 10.1 debuted on August, Samsung teased the arrival of an LTE model in the U.S., so its release may not be far behind.
Samsung has announced the availability of a 4G LTE Galaxy Note 10.1 tablet, but only for the Korean market. As well as the introduction of 4G LTE and VoLTE — that’s voice over LTE — the new Note 10.1 has Android 4.1 Jelly Bean installed along with a few new features added to the S Pen’s functionality.
You’ll remember that the S Pen is Samsung’s name for a stylus, and now it can access a quick launch menu where you can search the web, easily copy and paste content, plus use the same Air View feature seen on the Galaxy Note 2. Here, when you hover the pen over a picture gallery or folder, the contents can be quickly explored, or when watching a video, it becomes a quick way to scrub through scenes.
Otherwise, it’s business as usual for the Note 10.1, which means a 10.1-inch screen with a 1280 x 800 pixel resolution, a 1.4GHz Exynos 4 Quad processor, 2GB of RAM and a 5-megapixel camera with 1080p video recording on the rear.
The Galaxy Note 10.1 was announced back in August, after Samsung took its first attempt off the market to update the device following a less than enthusiastic greeting during Mobile World Congress.
At the time, Samsung released the Galaxy Note 10.1 with Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi plus 3G, but not a 4G LTE model, although it did confirm a Wi-Fi and LTE Note 10.1 would follow later in the year. Now, with the Korean launch set for November 23, a U.S. launch can’t be too far away.
Samsung hasn’t given a price for the Note 10.1 LTE, but as the standard Note 10.1 is around $499 in the U.S., expect it to be more than this when it arrives.
RIM's BlackBerry 10 operating system may be 'dead on arrival' when it eventually launches in 2013, according to one analyst.
James Faucette of Pacific Crest Securities told investors that the long-delayed OS is unlikely to be met with real enthusiasm and, in all likelihood, will fail.
He wrote: "We believe BB10 is likely to be DOA," and effectively advised that RIM shareholders cash in their chips while they still can.
"We expect the new OS to be met with a lukewarm response at best and ultimately likely to fail," he added.
Damning outlook
The damning outlook consigned RIM shares to their biggest drop since June, sliding 9.1 per cent to $8.24 (UK£5.13 / AUD$7.91) at the close of trading in New York.
RIM has continually insisted that it will not release the first wave of BB10 devices until the software is 100 per cent ready. The last estimate saw the ailing Canadian giant promise a Q1 2013 release.
The company is confident that BB10 can help it to regain its place among the smartphone elite, despite the delays that have seen the company fade from relevancy in 2013.
It also plans to license the software to third-party manufacturers for the first time in company history.
Whether Faucette's doom-laden prophecy comes to fruition or not, the fate of BB10 and handsets like the BlackBerry L-Series is sure to one of the biggest tech stories of 2013.
RIM's BlackBerry 10 operating system may be 'dead on arrival' when it eventually launches in 2013, according to one analyst.
James Faucette of Pacific Crest Securities told investors that the long-delayed OS is unlikely to be met with real enthusiasm and, in all likelihood, will fail.
He wrote: "We believe BB10 is likely to be DOA," and effectively advised that RIM shareholders cash in their chips while they still can.
"We expect the new OS to be met with a lukewarm response at best and ultimately likely to fail," he added.
Damning outlook
The damning outlook consigned RIM shares to their biggest drop since June, sliding 9.1 per cent to $8.24 (UK£5.13 / AUD$7.91) at the close of trading in New York.
RIM has continually insisted that it will not release the first wave of BB10 devices until the software is 100 per cent ready. The last estimate saw the ailing Canadian giant promise a Q1 2013 release.
The company is confident that BB10 can help it to regain its place among the smartphone elite, despite the delays that have seen the company fade from relevancy in 2013.
It also plans to license the software to third-party manufacturers for the first time in company history.
Whether Faucette's doom-laden prophecy comes to fruition or not, the fate of BB10 and handsets like the BlackBerry L-Series is sure to one of the biggest tech stories of 2013.
Google's October 29 event has reportedly been cancelled after a state of emergency has been issued in the US due to the imminent arrival of Hurricane Sandy, which will be passing through New York City, Google's venue for the event.
Although Google did not announce the specific purpose of the event, other than calling it an 'Android event', it was generally assumed that the company was going to announce the LG manufactured Nexus 4 smartphone and a 10-inch Samsung manufactured Nexus 10 tablet.
The event has likely been postponed to a later date although we are yet to hear when exactly it will be taking place. Meanwhile, Microsoft's Windows Phone 8 event in San Francisco is still on track, so we still have something to look forward to.
Asus has confirmed to TechRadar that Asus Padfone 2 will "definitely" be coming to the UK with its arrival set for early 2013.
That's according to Asus UK technical PR Adam King who told us, "We will definitely be getting it early next year.
"As to [exactly] when I can't say, but we'll hopefully have some more details before the end of this year."
Phone in the tablet
Asus' affable chairman Jonney Shih was in bullish mood at this morning's European launch event in Milan and predictably hailed the new device as "incredible, I'm very proud of it".
The Taiwanese company has produced a new slide-in design for Padfone 2, which includes a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor and 13MP camera.
"I've spent nights sitting in a room with all our team leaders to drive the best customer experience in all aspects – and benchmarking [against] all our competitors including iPhone and Galaxy S3," Shih added.
"The combination of the phone and tablet means it can adapt to various lifestyles. We have tried very hard to look at all respects [of the device].
"I'm very proud of our engineers, they have tried very hard to drive down every part to achieve this miraculous weight – the phone and Padfone station together are lighter than the new iPad – we have tried out various different kinds of [dock] so your precious Padfone 2 is securely attached to the Padfone station."
To find out what we made of the handset, check out our hands on Asus Padfone 2 review.
We stop for a chat with Tech21 and saw first hand why the company's line of "Impactology" smartphone cases are so darn sturdy.
With the arrival of the iPhone 5, smartphone accessory companies are all undoubtedly racing to get their products heard to be the selected choice of accompaniment to this season’s hot new gadgets. Of the many phone cases we saw at Pepcom Holiday Spectacular in New York City this week, Tech21 definitely caught our attention. At first, it was the array of neatly boxed, sleek cases that brought us over to the table. But then, the orange goop. Oh, the orange goop.
I spoke to Michael Pratt, the U.S. rep for Tech21 (a United Kingdom-based company), who was more than willing to explain and demonstrate why Tech21′s cases provide a scientific solution to case durability. This brightly colored putty is actually the “D30 Impact Material” Tech21 crafts its cases with, and the putty, in its raw form, is extremely malleable and bouncy. When you roll it up into a ball and drop it on the floor, the material springs immediately back up. The ability for it to alleviate tension allows the case to protect your gadgets better, because D30 helps to distribute the force when the case is dropped rather than break at that sweet spot that receives impact.
What was ever crazier is that Pratt was more than willing to show me how sturdy this goop is. A few fingers under the impact material and right hand armed with a mallet, he slams the mallet straight onto this own left hand with the goop as his only protectant. The result? He was fine, I was thoroughly shaken, and the demonstration was slightly gimmicky but makes it clear: this stuff is hardcore.
With the material, Pratt says this allows Tech21 to build cases that are thin, lightweight but more protective than ever. The new line is available now for the Samsung Galaxy S3, iPhone 4/4S, and HTC One S; the iPhone 5 lineup is expected to be out within a few weeks. Cases start at $40 and go up for bigger, badder, more extensive gadget care. We have to admit, the whole hitting your hand behind a putty thing may be a bit of a showoff tactic, but the scientific explanation and molecular level logics are definitely intriguing.
The Apple iPhone 5 is finally here, with the latest arrival boasting a 16:9, 4-inch screen, new smaller port, thinner, lighter design and 4G LTE.
Last year's iPhone 4S always felt like an incremental upgrade rather than a true step change, and although it sold wonderfully for Apple and brought some interesting additions, few would argue against the suggestion that it opened the door for competitors.
As a result, this year's launch was perhaps most important for Apple since the very first iPhone arrived back in 2007.
For anyone following the iPhone 5 rumours over the past year, the iPhone 5 will not bring any major surprises, with many of the new features expected – including the new dimensions and the improved A6 chip.
The iPhone 5's camera is smaller, hardier and enhanced by the more powerful chip, and the front-facing camera is bumped up to a 720p version. Wi-Fi is improved and the inclusion of 4G is a must have in the current phone world.
But it is the size, design and shape that will win the most admiring glances. The all glass and aluminium chassis can claim to be the thinnest smartphone, at 7.6mm 'thin'.
iPhone 5 pre-orders TechRadar has joined forces with uSwitch to bring all the latest iPhone 5 pre-order deals from all the UK networks right to your inbox. Sign up here.
The 4-inch screen keeps the retina resolution despite the added length, which Apple has brought in to make the iPhone 5 more movie-friendly.
The added real-estate is welcome, especially given the growth of its rivals, and apps will apparently be easy to move onto the new screen size for developers.
In the hand the Apple iPhone 5 certainly feels comfortable. You can see why Apple decided to keep the width the same, since it fits the hand nicely – just as its predecessors have.
iPhone 5 vs iPhone 4S
The most relevant comparison for many is with its predecessor the iPhone 4S and, for those on the now common two year contracts, the iPhone 4.
The new phone certainly feels different – and although there will be the odd naysayer, the overwhelming majority will feel that the iPhone 5's design is a good step on from the now ageing chassis of both the 4S and 4.
The move away from glass is a welcome one, and the aluminium manages to bring a premium feel in a notable lighter device.
A new chip definitely brings a snappier feel. Many people with an iPhone 4 will be all too used to the lagginess when trying to do anything even slightly complex with the devices, and the Apple iPhone 5 manages to take things on as far as you would expect in more than two years.
What is perhaps more suprising is just how much snappier this feels than the iPhone 4S. The A6 chip clearly has a significant amount more grunt under its smaller hood – but what is surprising is that you can immediately tell when you use the device alongside its predecessor.
Practically speaking, this probably isn't enough to make you want to leave a 4S unless you are a hardcore fan, but it will convince many iPhone 4 users to stick with the Apple ecosystem for another generation – and you get the impression that this is goal number one for the company.
The added length could have made the phone unwieldy, but the loss of thickness ensures that it maintains its balance and premium feel.
Those people who have got used to the iPhone 4 and 4S will certainly notice the difference that the new iPhone 5 design brings. It served to make the device feel more modern, and the materials used keep that premium feel that Apple has put so much stock in.
Thinner, lighter and more screen were always on the cards, and the fans' desires are understandable.
The aluminium backplate feels lovely – just textured enough to feel very different from its predecessors and, to our taste, preferable to the glass.
The iPhone 5 screen is bright and colourful, although it's difficult to truly appreciate the small upgrade that Apple has made in the bright lights of the show room.
The camera is also more difficult to test properly, but it certainly seemed faster to take a photo, something that can be a frustration on older iPhones.
From a software perspective, iOS 6 brings with it a wealth of new features that will certainly make a major difference to not only the way the iPhone 5 feels, but also its predecessors the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S when they get the updated software.
Maps, for instance, is significantly altered after Apple ended its longstanding agreement to use Google Maps and pushed forward with its own offering, in conjunction with sat nav giant TomTom.
The new maps certainly look the part, with some beautiful 3D renders and snazzy looking new vector graphics. We really want to take some time to tell you just how well the new offering performs in the wild, when we get a handset in for our full iPhone 5 review, coming soon.
The showcased flyover mode was great for the riverside of London, but as you would expect fell flat pretty quickly once you left the tourist districts and got to residential areas.
Early indications elsewhere are good, however, as the 'Apple designed' tag is pushed to the fore. The tilt and rotate view functionality looks gorgeous, and the turn-by-turn navigation is likely to attract plaudits with a simple and intuitive interface.
Siri has been given a major, and frankly much-needed, overhaul with the voice 'companion' functionality extended into new languages and new territories in an attempt to turn the iPhone 4S's overhyped and under-featured personal assistant up to a useful level.
It coped better with the noise of the press room than its predecessor – presumably due to the new microphone set up in the new iPhone 5, and could answer the two or three stock questions we asked it.
Given the obsession with Facebook, the need for better integration was a key addition for Apple in its latest operating system, and the iPhone 5 and its older brothers will benefit from a major overhaul of the way in which the social network links up with your handset.
The Facebook (and Twitter) functionality feels much more central to the experience this time around, and having the ability to post from the notifications screen feels like an obvious inclusion that works well.
Early verdict
Given the level of hype around the Apple iPhone 5, it's almost inevitable that phone itself ends up feeling a little underwhelming when it is launched, but Apple is a past master at ticking the boxes, and giving its growing legion of fans enough to justify an upgrade.
Is it going to sell like hot-cakes? Of course. Will it send shockwaves shuddering through the tech world and turn competitors back to their drawing boards? No.
Not having NFC is a real misstep, as it would have made the Passbook application in iOS 6 much better (and in keeping with its Android and Windows Phone rivals) and it certainly would have been nice to see something remarkable in addition to some nice, but not startling, upgrades.
But, in truth, Apple will be well aware that it doesn't need to reinvent the wheel to succeed and, in this case, it has yet again provided a fine phone that will keep it battling at the top of the charts for another year.
ARM has told TechRadar that the impending arrival of 4G networks in the UK is "really important" to getting the next generation of mobile tech into the British market.
ARM's director of mobile solutions, Laurence Bryant, explained that the next generation of smartphones need access to data faster, and also how that throws up new challenges.
"I think it's going to be really important," Bryant told TechRadar. "Clearly today the handsets have got to the point where you are doing more and more on the devices.
"What's going very quickly in this market in terms of what you can do in terms of features and what you get [in terms of data] is increasing what you want to do on your mobile device.
"You can go a long way on 3G and you can go a long way with Wi-Fi but clearly LTE brings benefits.
"You 'chat' more frequently on the network… and when you have large amounts of data you want to be able to process that information quickly.
"Having a diverse range of processing support is vital as you are doing more and more on your devices.
"We are packing all the computing performance you need into a handset. I think that's why LTE 4G is a fundamental part of how the mobile experience will evolve and OEMS are putting this together in a more seamless smart device."
Super or smart?
ARM's CEO Warren East has suggested in the past that 4G combined with more capable handsets meant he arrival of a new category of 'superphones', and Bryant highlighted the Samsung Galaxy S3 as a good example.
"A whole combination of things make a smartphone a superphone for me," said Bryan.
"It's a short-lived thing and it's what defines the latest and greatest in smartphones. If you want an example of a superphone today then it's the Samsung Galaxy S3."
