As Nexus 4 sells out completely, Google reportedly has no plans to restock it

Start to say your goodbyes

While the Nexus 5 was busy partying, the 16GB Nexus 4 was busy selling out at the U.S. Google Play Store. And it's reportedly never coming back.

According to a "trusted source" for The Verge, Google has no plans to restock the Nexus 4 back in any storage configuration in the U.S. It already sold out of the 8GB Nexus 4 after a price cut, and while "a few" devices remain in stock in other countries, once those devices are sold out, Google supposedly won't replace them.

A check of the Google Play Store has this message for the 8GB and 16GB phones: "We are out of inventory. Please check back soon."

Not that checking back will do any good.

Nexus 5 release date nearing?

It seems we are inching ever close to the debut of the Nexus 5. The phone has been popping up left and right, including in a bar, just like it's predecessor was outed before it's official release.

The phone we've seen so far could be far from the final product, but it looks like we can expect a device similar to the LG G2. Rumored specs include Bluetooth 4.0, NFC, dual-band 802.11 b/g/n/ac and 7-band LTE support.

Chances are we'll see it with Android 4.3, but Google could be calculating a release timed with Android 4.4 KitKat.

Nothing is official until Google gives the word, but all signs are pointing to an incoming Nexus 5.

• We may see new hardware from Valve soon, too.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/as-nexus-4-sells-out-completely-google-reportedly-has-no-plans-to-restock-it-1181616

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Google will no longer offer the Nexus 4 in the United States

According to a fresh report, the LG Nexus 4 has reached the end of the line in the United States. The smartphone is currently out of inventory in the Play Store and, according to The Verge, Google has no plans to restock it.

The US Play Store’s stock of the Nexus 4 in the United States got depleted shortly after the device received a massive price cut. The device is still on sale by Google in some countries, but once it’s sold out, it will not return to the shelves.

The end of the Nexus 4’s commercial availability arrives amid increasingly frequent leaks of its potential successor. The upcoming LG-made smartphone will likely be launched as Nexus 5 during the second half of October.

Source

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/google_will_no_longer_offer_the_nexus_4_in_the_united_states-news-6807.php

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Unannounced LG Nexus makes another unscheduled appearance

Hot on the heels of its FCC and Google campus visits, the highly anticipated next generation Nexus smartphone made yet another appearance. This time around, the LG-made handset got allegedly caught in live photos and video while exploring the bar scene.

The images of the handset above fall right in line with previous leaks. They show a pre-production unit whose look resembles closely the 2013 ASUS Nexus 7.

The short video of the handset on the other hand, gives us a glimpse of what could be the Android 4.4 KitKat lockscreen. You can check it out below.

Considering the increasingly frequent appearances of the upcoming LG Nexus, we reckon that it won’t be long before the device goes official. The latest rumor points at a late October release.

Source

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/unannounced_lg_nexus_makes_another_unscheduled_appearance-news-6806.php

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In case of emergency, new text alert system goes on trial in UK

Text alerts could help folks respond faster in emergencies

Mobile phone users in some areas of the UK will soon be receiving text messages when emergency situations develop in their locale, as part of a new government trial.

The Cabinet Office says it is working with the UK big three mobile networks, EE, O2 and Vodafone to test a US-style alert system, which will warn of severe weather, industrial incidents and other emergencies.

The scheme will be tested in on up to 50,000 mobile users in parts of Yorkshire, Suffolk and Glasgow via text and CB messages delivered directly to the handset. Alerts will be marked as 'test' during the trial.

Countries like the US, The Netherlands and Australia already have measures in place to notify users to be on the look out for cars suspected in kidnappings, escaped felons, wanted fugitives,

Other nations, such as Japan and Chile, which are more susceptible to natural disasters, are also in the process of implementing their own mechanisms.

Potential lifesaver?

The idea is that hopefully, the early alert system will keep mobile users vigilant and could even safe lives during emergency situations.

If you're interested, you can check out a list of those potential scenarios in the rather ominous sounding National Risk Register of Civil Emergencies 2013 government report.

• Did you hear about the US town that banned texting while walking last year?

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/in-case-of-emergency-new-text-alert-system-goes-on-trial-in-uk-1181583

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Possible iOS 7-heavy changes coming to Twitter mobile apps

Tweet, tweet, change is coming

Amidst all the hubbub over Twitter's recent IPO filing, word on the 'net is that the not-so-little birdie may be releasing a series of mobile updates.

A new app rollout isn't too far off though, especially since Twitter recently asked users to sign up for its Android beta program to squash out bugs.

Twitter will release a small app update following Apple's Sept. 17 iOS 7 release with sources at All Things D claiming the newly designed app will be available a bit after in a larger update.

With the Facebook interface always morphing, Yahoo's recent logo switch and Google's own purportedly impending logo change, it's not surprising Twitter feels the need for a refresh to stay current.

Pictures, pictures, pictures

According the The New York Times, the Twitter app will update the tweet stream to be more visually appealing.

All those pictures and videos in your Twitter stream will be displayed automatically without the need to click and expand, much like the Discover tab, for an image-heavy experience.

Additionally, the Times says Twitter will be taking cues from iOS 7 and aim for a more crisp and clean look to "feel more alive."

The mobile update will also include the ability to swipe from stream to stream, and do away with the four buttons on the bottom, for seamlessness that allows for more content and less interface.

• Will we be seeing a new iPad 5 and iPad mini 2 soon?

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/internet/possible-ios-7-heavy-changes-coming-to-twitter-mobile-apps-1181553

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Samsung reportedly already planning Galaxy Gear 2 with GPS

The Galaxy Gear 2 could already be in the works

Samsung just announced its Galaxy Gear smartwatch, but a second-gen successor is reportedly already in the works.

The Galaxy Gear 2 will feature improvements like greater device compatibility and GPS capabilities, Korean site media.daum.net (via Tech Kiddy) reported today.

Rumor (and logic) has it that the Galaxy Gear 2 could launch next year at CES or MWC, two of the biggest tech conferences out there.

But besides the much-appreciated addition of a GPS chip, other possible improvements in the Galaxy Gear 2 are the stuff of speculation.

To-do list

The current Galaxy Gear will only be compatible with the Galaxy Note 3 at launch, though future Android updates like the Android 4.3 release for the Galaxy S4 will add more devices to that list.

To improve on that the Galaxy Gear 2 will need to launch with full Android device compatibility, which seems perfectly reasonable to us.

In addition, the first-gen Gear reportedly comes with a battery life of about 25 hours, so users who wear it all day will probably need to charge it overnight.

In comparison Sony's Smartwatch 2 can supposedly go three to four days between charges, so an improvement in battery life for the Gear 2 would help catch it up to its competition.

Beyond that we're just guessing, but from where we're standing it seems Samsung would do well to take that $299/£299 (about AU$320) price point down a few notches as well.

Pre-orders for the Galaxy Gear kick off tonight at midnight on AT&T.

• It's a battle of the wearables: Samsung Galaxy Gear vs Sony SmartWatch 2 vs Pebble vs Qualcomm Toq

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/portable-devices/other-devices/samsung-reportedly-already-planning-galaxy-gear-2-with-gps-1181539

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Samsung Galaxy S5 may touch down in Android and Tizen versions

Android and Tizen, assemble!

The Samsung Galaxy S5 is one of life's inevitabilities, and it seems like the wheels are well in motion. First we heard that it will most likely come packing a 64-bit processor chip and now it sounds like the phone may offer up both Android and Tizen variations.

Samsung is clearly keen to push Tizen OS but will be keeping a grip on the popular Android interface for the time being, with Android 4.4 KitKat expected to go live October.

Co-CEO of Samsung, Boo-Keun Yoon, said that the plan is to use Tizen on future phones and tablets, with the S5 likely to come in both a Tizen and Android version.

Eye of the Tizen

Other rumoured features of the phone include an optical image stabilisation camera and a body built from aluminium and magnesium.

We even saw some patent images surface recently, pointing to what might be a less nature-inspired look found on the Samsung Galaxy S4.

Right now we're expecting Samsung to stick to its cycles and release the Galaxy S5 in March 2015.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/samsung-galaxy-s5-may-touch-down-in-android-and-tizen-versions-1181488

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