Google internally testing new Play Store design

Slimming down: the Play Store before and after

A Google Plus misfire from a quick-fingered Googler has revealed the next major redesign for the Play Store on Android devices.

A post from YouTube employee Eileen Rivera (since removed) included the image of the new Play Store, which is apparently in the "dogfooding" stage of development -- where Google "feeds" its own staff the next flavour of the app for testing.

In a cute reference to this, the Play Store app icon has been changed to a dog's bowl with Play services icons mixed up in the slop.

The image gives very little away as to what new features or usability tweaks we can expect in the update, though. We're hoping for more detailed search options, with filters to improve results, but then, we've been hoping for a change like this for a while now.

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Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/google-internally-testing-new-play-store-design-1143055

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Nokia Lumia 928 handset breaks cover, is it the new flagship device?

Lumia 928 is rumoured to be arriving in the US on Verizon

The Nokia Lumia 928, reported to be the company's next top shelf Windows Phone device has emerged in purported press shots leaked online.

The device, which is rumoured to be a thinner and lighter version of the Nokia Lumia 920 device, has appeared thanks to serial tech leak artist @evleaks.

The handset is branded with the Verizon Wireless US network, which suggests it'll be a counter to the Nokia Lumia 920, which is an AT&T exclusive in the country.

Previous rumours had suggested the device will launch on Verizon in April, but what isn't clear is whether Nokia will bestow the device upon Windows Phone fans in other territories.

Similar internals

Previous speculation had suggested that the Lumia 928 will bring a xenon flash to complement the 8-megapixel PureView camera.

Other internal features are expected to remain the same as the Lumia 920, while initial reports that the device would tout an aluminium body were soon rebuked.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/nokia-lumia-928-handset-breaks-cover-is-it-the-new-flagship-device--1143020

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Samsung infringes upon yet another key Apple patent, judge rules

Samsung in violation of text selection patent

Samsung's line of Galaxy, Nexus and Transform devices infringe upon part of a key Apple parent, relating to the selection of text in iOS devices, a judge has ruled.

In preliminary findings, the International Trade Commission judge said Samsung was in violation of the patent entitled "Method and apparatus for providing translucent images on a computer display."

Specifically, the offence relates to the translucent bubble that appears over the top of text when it is selected by the user within the web browser and in other apps.

The ruling was made on March 26 and only made public on Friday, but if the decision is upheld, the offending devices could face an import ban into the United States.

Final decision coming soon

The judge Thomas J. Pender ruled that Samsung had not infringed on a patent which covers how the devices recognise a microphone plugged into the headphone jack.

A final ruling is expected in August.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/samsung-infringes-upon-yet-another-key-apple-patent-judge-rules-1143016

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Press image of Nokia Lumia 928 for Verizon Wireless leaks out

A press image of the previously tipped, long-awaited Nokia Lumia 928 for Verizon Wireless has made the rounds on Twitter. The Big Red's upcoming Windows Phone 8 flagship will likely be officially released by the end of this month.

As its name mildly suggests, the Nokia Lumia 928 will be closely related to the AT&T exclusive Lumia 920 - it is expected to share the same CPU and display. The Verizon offering however, will one-up its AT&T counterpart by packing a xenon flash in addition to the standard LED one. It is also expected to ditch the 920's polycarbonate unibody for an aluminum outfit.

Source

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/press_image_of_nokia_lumia_928_for_verizon_wireless_leaks_out-news-5825.php

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Facebook Home can be disabled on HTC First, stock Android sits underneath

Facebook Home can be ditched for pure Android on HTC First

The new Facebook Home-optimised HTC First runs a stock version of Android Jelly Bean, which can be accessed simply by turning off the social network's new, custom UI, reports on Friday revealed.

The Phandroid site discovered that those seeking to use Android in its purest form can, ironically, achieve this by buying a phone designed to almost completely hide the Google-built OS from view.

In its hands-on time with the device, Phandroid found that the Facebook Home skin can be completely disabled with one tap of the app's settings menu.

It also found that the Android notifications bar, missing from the core Facebook Home experience, could be summoned through the same setting application, while still using Facebook Home.

You want pure Android? Turn of Facebook Home

HTC later confirmed to The Verge that this was indeed the case and stock Android is the beneath-the-surface version of the OS.

Why is this somewhat of a surprise? Well HTC phones are usually dripping in its own skin for Android, the love-it-or-hate-it Sense UI.

In fact, it hasn't launched a Sense-less Android phone since 2010's T-Mobile G2 handset. Indeed, the company recently admitted it was "very proud of Sense" and wants it to ship on every device.

Android fans are often seeking more handets with pure versions of the operating system, beyond the Nexus series, so the 'Facebook Phone' could all of a sudden become an option for those folks.

Check out the video below from around 6:30.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/facebook-home-can-be-disabled-on-htc-first-stock-android-sits-underneath-1142942

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Apple slide-to-unlock patent invalidated by the German court

It seems Apple is going to lose its slide-to-unlock gesture patent, at least in the EU, since a German court has declared it invalid.

Everything started last year when Apple won an injunction against Motorola Mobility and attempted to ban the sales of certain devices. Encouraged by its victory Apple tried to sue Samsung over the same technology, but the case was suspended until German Patent and Trade Mark Office decides about the validity of Apple's patent.

Meanwhile Motorola Mobility appealed the court's decision and this time around it won the case. As it turns out the court ruled the Apple's slide-to-unlock patent is invalid because it doesn't meet the necessary technical requirements.

Motorola's victory will save Samsung the same lawsuit. This takes the whole lawsuit drama in Europe another step closer to its end. Here's hoping that the US cases follow suit so everyone can stop with this madness and get back to the development race?

Source

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/apple_slidetounlock_patent_gets_invalidated_by_a_german_court-news-5824.php

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Apple device sales projected to shut out Windows for the first time

Windows pains

Apple has always had a leg-up in the "cool factor" over Microsoft, but its devices may also finally outsell Windows hardware in 2013, according to a market research group this week.

Devices such as the iPhone, iPad and Mac will result in more sales than Windows PCs, tablets, and smartphone, according to analysis by Gartner picked up by The Financial Times.

This is significant because Windows PCs have long-dominated Apple's market share.

However, it's not all that surprising given consumers' trend away from buying PCs in favor of purchasing smaller devices like smartphones and tablets.

Apple vs Microsoft sales in 2013

Apple's Mac and iDevice sales totaled 159 million in 2012, with hardware running Microsoft's Windows operating system slightly ahead at 175 million.

For 2013, Apple's sales forecast is currently at 233 million, according to Gartner, with Microsoft reaching 181 million, but losing its lead over its long-time rival.

"If consumers don't buy [Windows], developers aren't interested in it," said Gartner analyst Carolina Milanesi to the Times.

"Microsoft needs to win in the consumer space if they want to remain relevant."

Microsoft's game plan

The good news for Microsoft is that it saw this trend coming before these forecasts were released - though perhaps a little too late.

The company went so far as to release its own tablet, the Surface, and it's rumored to be developing a Surface smartphone, possibly one that runs its Windows Phone 8 mobile OS.

Microsoft isn't the only company struggling in this PC-turned-mobile world, as other computer manufacturers are complaining about the slow sales of Windows-based products.

Samsung, for example, called Windows 8 no better than the much-maligned Vista operating system. Likewise, Fujitsu referred to W8 demand as "weak," and blamed its poor sales on the OS.

Whether or not sales of Microsoft-branded devices reverse Apple's rising trend remains to be seen. At the same time, it's just as unclear if Apple can maintain its level of cool now that it's no longer the underdog.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/computing/apple/apple-device-sales-projected-to-outpace-windows-for-the-first-time-1142908

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