| Original iPhone becomes 'vintage' on June 11 Apr 30th 2013, 11:22 
Look out for the Primrose Hill set rocking a 2G iPhone after June 11, as the first Apple handset is set to be classified 'vintage' as of that date. At least, that's the case in the US according to this leaked internal Apple document - in the rest of the world, the 2G phone simply becomes obsolete. What that means is that Apple Stores will stop acknowledging the handset so if there are any issues with your ageing iPhone, you should get them sorted out ahead of the June 11 cut-off. One more thing...Also reaching obsolescence on June 11 are the 2005 Mac Mini, 2007 iMacs, the AirPort Express Base Station and a handful of MacBooks. Apple will stop offering repairs or parts for these products so any post-June 11 issues will have to be dealt with by an unofficial repair outlet. If you're still using an original 2G iPhone, we salute you. Tell us, how is that going?     |  | Apple and Samsung to do battle again this November as court sets date Apr 30th 2013, 10:52 
Apple and Samsung will be off to court once again come November 12 as the tussle over the level of damages the Korean firm is due to pay the Cupertino-based company continues. Last summer saw a long, drawn out legal battle between the two manufacturing giants, with Apple claiming a number of Samsung smartphones had infringed on a variety of its patents. Samsung was initially ordered to pay Apple $1.05 billon (around £652 million) in damages, but that was reduced by $450.5 million in March this year - and it's the latter of the figures which is up for debate in November. My dad is bigger than your dadObviously Samsung isn't too happy about having to pay Apple anything and this isn't the only topic the firms have clashed on, with a seemingly never-ending list of law suits and allegations between the two. The trial in November will focus on 13 Samsung products and the judge in charge of the case, Lucy Koh said: "This is going to be Groundhog's Day, you're going to be reliving July of 2012" - oh boy, sounds thrilling. We can't wait... So it looks like we're in for another gargantuan clash of the tech titans in the run up to Christmas, let's just hope Santa doesn't strike them off his list.     | | Impossibly slender Huawei P6 could be world's thinnest smartphone Apr 30th 2013, 09:22 
It's a title which changes hands every few months and the next handset in line to be crowned the "world's thinnest smartphone" could well be the Huawei P6-UO6. The Huawei P6 hasn't been officially announced yet but apparently it's already appeared at China's equivalent of the FCC, revealing specs and a couple of pictures. While specs such as a 4.7-inch HD display, 1.5GHz quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM, Android Jelly Bean and 5MP camera won't exactly set the heart racing, it's the dimensions of the P6 which pique our interest. Wafer thinAccording to the leaked details the handset - which could arrive on the market as the Huawei Ascend P6 - measures 132.6 x 65.5 x 6.18mm. At 6.18mm in depth it would make the P6 the thinnest smartphone around, with the iPhone 5 looking porky in comparison at 7.6mm and the current leader, the Alcatel Idol Ultra, comfortably beaten at 6.45mm. Huawei did hold the thinnest phone title for a while after it launched the Huawei Ascend P1S at MWC 2012, which came in at 6.7mm. We've contacted Huawei to find out if the P6 does indeed exist, or if this is just a fabricated rumour. We'll update this article once we hear back.     | | 4G promises mobile shopping boost Apr 30th 2013, 07:05 
More than a third of consumers reckon they are likely to buy more items by phone when they begin using 4G technology, according to a new survey. The eCustomerServiceIndex (eCSI) survey of 2,000 people, carried out in April by eDigitalResearch and IMRG, the online retail industry association, found that 39% of smartphone owners already use them for shopping, and that 34% are 'likely' or 'very likely' to do more – even though just 14% of devices have a 4G capability. This is being encouraged by early experiences with 4G, the new generation of wireless standards being phased in across the UK. Of the respondents who had it on their phones, 43% said it was 'considerably faster' in browsing the internet, and 39% said it was 'faster'. Derek Eccleston, Commercial Director at eDigitalResearch, said: "The introduction of 4G technology looks set to have a considerable impact on retail markets. With faster internet speeds and a better all-round browsing experience, more and more shoppers are likely to turn to their 4G enabled device to help them through their multichannel purchase journey."     | | BlackBerry CEO expects to sell 'tens of millions' of the keyboard-toting Q10 Apr 30th 2013, 01:23 
BlackBerry CEO Thorsten Heins is not tempering his estimations when it comes to the keyboard-toting Q10 handset, telling Bloomberg he expects the new phone to sell "tens of millions" of units. If true, this would see the Q10 outselling the touchscreen-only BlackBerry Z10 multiple times over. In the 3 months since its launch the Z10 has sold over 1 million units, but with its classic keyboard design, the Q10 is expected to fare better with BlackBerry faithful. "This is going into the installed base of more than 70 million BlackBerry users so we have quite some expectations," Heins said. Don't call it a comebackFor better or worse, BlackBerry has made headlines time and again in the opening months of 2013. It launched the new BlackBerry 10 OS alongside the Z10 handset in January, and announced musician Alicia Keys as the company's Chief Creative Director; despite the artist's continued preference for the Apple iPhone. The Z10 handset went on sale shortly after, first in the UK, where earlier reports suggested that the phone was selling out in many phone stores. Following its release in the US, reports came in that the handset was being returned to stores by customers in high volumes. Some publications even ran articles suggesting that return rates exceeded sales in the weeks after launch, though Heins strongly denies this was ever the case, saying that BlackBerry's own data shows that returns are "better than with previous BlackBerry launches". Perhaps most importantly, the company posted a profit for the final quarter of 2012 of US$98-million. This surprised a lot of financial spectators who still remember the US$125-million loss reported by BlackBerry for the same period 12-months prior. Though this figure points to good things for the smartphone maker, it is important to remember that this profit is for a period before the Z10 launch. Heins is credited with making tough decisions within the company, including a 5,000 person reduction in the size of the workforce in an attempt to promote greater efficiency across the organisation. Via Bloomberg     | | Blip: EE's 4G bandwagon rumbles on, hits 12 more towns today Apr 29th 2013, 23:00 
Aylesbury, Berkhamsted, Billericay, Blackpool, Brentwood, Dewsbury, Huddersfield, Lytham St Annes, Marlow, Pontefract, Thame and Windsor. Not just a killer road-trip itinerary, but also the 12 latest towns in the UK to get 4G courtesy of EE. Another 18 towns and cities to come by the end of June - check out the existing 50 here. More blips! Get more blip for your buck with our news nuggets, all of which you can find congregated round this virtual watercooler.     | | HTC One's front-facing speakers coming to new budget handset? Apr 29th 2013, 22:14 
Beyond its sleek aluminium chassis and its UltraPixel camera tech, perhaps the most lauded feature on the HTC One handset was its front-facing dual speakers. Now it seems the Taiwanese company is hell bent on spreading this obvious-yet-innovative design feature to more smartphones, following the leak of a handset dubbed the HTC 608t today. The leaked handset, which looks more like the HTC One SV than the newer HTC One flagship device, showcases a rounded plastic, rather than metallic casing. However, front and centre are those Beats Audio-powered front-facing speakers, suggesting the company is definitely going with this calling card on future handsets. Jelly Bean and quad-core too?The HTC 608t (definitely not a final name) is also said to offer a 4.5-inch LCD display with a resolution of 960 x 540, while Android Jelly Bean 4.1.2 is on board, according to the leak from Chinese site TENAA (translated). The leak also tips a quad-core processor, 8-megapixel camera, a 1.6-megapixel rear camera and 1GB RAM. The leaked snap features a China Mobile logo suggests a launch in that region initially, so we'll have to wait for official release details before making assertions about potential launches in the west. Just last month the HTC 606w showed up in China, which brings the UltraPixel camera tech to a budget handset for the first time.     | | New photo, size questions add to Samsung Galaxy Note 3 mystique Apr 29th 2013, 21:42 
The size of Samsung's rumored Galaxy Note 3 phablet has been a subject of much debate, and those keeping score can add a new column to their charts: 5.99 inches. Previously the two most popular guesses for the Galaxy Note 3's screen size were 5.9 inches and 6.3 inches, but the latest hint of exactly 5.99 inches falls somewhere in between (though obviously much closer to 5.9 inches). An article on the Chinese-language site news.mydrivers.com hinted at the screen size and shed light on some possible Note 3 specs: a full HD display, an eight-core Exynos Octa with a 2GHz A15 processor and 1.7GHz A7 processor, 3GB of memory, and Android 4.2.2. The article, published Sunday, even has a photo for accompaniment, though as SamMobile pointed out, the bezel on the device shown next to the Galaxy S4 looks a bit big and the model number in the image, i9500, doesn't match up with the model numbers of other Note devices (N7000 Galaxy Note, N7100 Galaxy Note 2, etc.). With that, take the news with some grains of salt. Lost in translation?The original report is in Chinese, and admittedly Google is having a bear of a time translating. As a result, it seems something may have been lost in translation, as according to what we're seeing the original report appears to suggest that the Galaxy Note 3 will actually sport a 5.9-inch screen (which falls in line with previous Note 3 rumors) and not a 5.99-inch display like SamMobile reported. On the other hand, for the moment we're more inclined to believe the unofficial Samsung blog than Google's often spotty translation service. The difference is basically imperceptible, but hey, those extra millimeters count. Still, we've asked SamMobile to explain this discrepancy, but so far we haven't heard back. Previous rumors have pegged the Note 3 with everything from a square metal body to an unbreakable flexible display, so until Samsung says something official, everything said of the next Note should be considered speculative at best.     | | Sony Xperia SP hits Orange and T-Mobile on PAYG for just £249.99 Apr 29th 2013, 20:27 
The mid-range Sony Xperia SP has arrived on the Orange and T-Mobile networks in the UK with a pretty attractive pay-as-you-go price point. The somewhat scaled back version of flagship Sony Xperia Z is available for just £249.99 from the networks, both of whom have stock of the device. The affordable handset was unveiled last month with a 4.6-inch, 720p display, a 1.7GHz dual-core processor, 8-megapixel camera and 4G LTE radio. Not exactly a lightweight by any means. As XperiaBlog points out, T-Mobile's deal is slightly better as it does not require the minimum £10 a month credit top up. Cheap at half the priceEarlier this month, Phones 4U made the device available on contracts through a host of the top UK networks, while Expansys has been offering the device for pre-order for £339.99. So why should be excited about the Sony Xperia SP? Well considering it's available for around half the price of the flagship Xperia Z, it's a pretty fab option for those unable to afford the top of the range device. In a recent hands-on review, TechRadar's Gareth Beavis summed up his early verdict by saying: "With this spec list wouldn't look too out of place on a new flagship phone from another firm right now – and with a lower price, that's an ace notion." Check back soon for a detailed, in-depth review.     | | iPhone 5S may celebrate its independence in July Apr 29th 2013, 18:00 
As we draw nearer to the start of Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June, reports of what the Cupertino company is bringing to the table have been escalating. It just so happens that rumors about the iPhone 5S have been plentiful these past few weeks, with many sources pointing to the updated smartphone making a showing at WWDC. We've already heard Apple may be readying the iPhone 5S for a summer launch, with some sources indicating the iPhone 5 successor is already well into production. Those claims became a little more grounded today, when marketing materials for Japanese telecommunications company KDDI leaked possible pre-order and release dates for the iPhone 5S. Summer blockbusterAccording to the leaked documents for KDDI's "au" wireless service, pre-orders for the iPhone 5S will begin on June 20, with the smartphone arriving some time in July. The leaked info also indicated the iPhone 5S will feature a 13MP camera, a fingerprint reader, and iOS 7, which are all certainly specifics we've heard touted at least once before. French website Nowhereelse.fr uncovered the paperwork, with AppleInsider pointing out docs like this are used by the staff at official carrier stores as cheat sheets of sorts. The June 20 pre-order window certainly meshes with what we've heard previously, and fits in with the timeline of an announcement of the 5S at WWDC during the week of June 10-14. Releasing the iPhone 5S relatively soon after the HTC One and Samsung Galaxy S4 rather than later in the year would help Apple keep pace with its rivals, but rumors about iPhone release dates are about as common as the phone itself. Until some more concrete evidence arrives, we won't wait for the summer winds to blow in the iPhone 5S.     | | Blip: S4 'Samsung Style' Gangnam rip off is awful and brilliant in equal measure Apr 29th 2013, 15:37 
Samsung India is getting a lot of flack today for a largely ill-advised aging-pop-culture-phenomenon marketing-tie-in video-thing advertising the Samsung Galaxy S4 through the medium of Gangnam Style. Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh belts his way through a Gangnam Style parody heavy on the S4 specs in front of a largely unenthusiastic crowd backed up by Psy animations and besequined dancers. Just watch Singh's face as he reluctantly whips his suit jacket off like he's turning tricks. He doesn't want to be here, but those bills aren't going to pay themselves. So he licks his lips, takes a breath and gets stuck in. It's endearingly awful. So much love for the marketing team whose best day at work ever was probably the one on which they got tanked and penned the lyrics shoehorning Samsung Galaxy S4 features into the K-pop dance hit. YouTube : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJs7N3aM75Y#!More blips!Over it already? Then why not try the rest of our blips on for size.     | | In Depth: Love Tetris? Then check out these iPhone and iPad block-stacking games Apr 29th 2013, 15:31 
From the moment Tetris escaped its original home, an obscure Elektronika 60 in Moscow's Dorodnicyn Computing Centre, it became something of a phenomenon. There can be few games as immediately recognisable, addictive and enduring as the block-stacking classic. Tetris originated from creator Alexey Pajitnov's childhood fascination with traditional puzzle toys, and the game's similarly elegant simplicity ensured it a place among gaming's greats. Like other classics, it's easy to understand: pieces you can move and rotate fall into a well; make solid horizontal lines and they vanish; the game's over when the pieces reach the top. But also, Tetris is tough to truly master, allowing you to refine your technique over time. The basic nature of Tetris also ensured that it found its way to countless platforms. The MS-DOS version spread Tetris to the west, but the true genius moment in Tetris history was in being bundled with the original Game Boy. The little monochrome version captivated the world; from that point on, there was no stopping it. The Tetris juggernaut arrived on home consoles, handhelds, keychains and even the original click-wheel iPod. Of course, it's also found on iOS. EA's now had two cracks at bringing Tetris to the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad, and the original effort wasn't convincing. A problem with Tetris from an iOS standpoint is the game's reliance on responsive digital controls as the game speeds up. On-screen swipe equivalents never stood a chance. For the newer version of Tetris (69p, iPhone; £1.99, iPad), the swipe version remains as Marathon Mode, but we prefer One-Touch. This mode shows locations into which the current piece can fit. A timer counts down (and speeds up as the game progresses) and you tap a location to confirm, or tap elsewhere to get more options. Purists might baulk at such a radical departure from the original controls, but we reckon the iOS revision gives you the strategy of Tetris without the frustration of imprecise touch controls. There's also the puzzle-oriented Galaxy Mode where you dig down through junk, although it's a touch too reliant on power ups to achieve the best times - and the power-ups are, naturally, bought with In-App Purchases. With Tetris being so popular, it should come as no surprise the App Store's littered with clones, which are typically brazen in their approach, only occasionally doing something slightly different (for example, adding the odd non-standard shape), presumably in an effort to not be sued. 
Therefore, we're only interested in block-stacking games that do something unique, rather like Dream of Pixels (£1.99, Universal). On the face of it, you might question our judgement, since Dream of Pixels looks an awful lot like an upside-down Tetris; in reality, it's Tetris in reverse, with you using the familiar shapes to take chunks out of a menacing cloud, which ends your game if it gets to the bottom of the screen. However, what appears to be a cunning riff on Tetris in reality plays very differently, and interesting bonuses and game modes ensure Dream of Pixels is a must-have for action-puzzle fans. Of the remaining titles in our selection, there's Tetris in the DNA, but also crossover with match games. The key differentiator from the likes of gem-swapper Bejeweled is that our choices all take place in an endlessly refilling well. 
Some efforts simplify the basic block-stacking premise: Shibuya (69p, iPhone) has only a single column, and you must rapidly create chains of two or more like-coloured blocks. Meanwhile, Unify (£1.49, iPhone) returns shapes that spin and move, but has them come at you from two directions. Fortunately, Unify's limited to stubby rectangles with two coloured pieces (a system Puyo Puyo fans will immediately recognise), and instead of forming complete lines, you're tasked with grouping four identically coloured squares, which subsequently explode. At first, this is simple, but once the game speeds up and gives you a half-dozen colours to track, it's like combining stripped-down Tetris with juggling. 
Mini Meteors (£1.99, iPad) is equally frenetic, albeit in a different way. It's more or less a straight copy of the Nintendo DS title Meteos, with coloured blocks rapidly falling into the well. You arrange three or more in a row or column, at which point they abruptly ignite and take off, carrying the blocks above them. If the make-shift rocket is too heavy, it'll stall and fall, although you can give it extra power by rearranging the blocks in mid-flight. If you're into more sedate fare, grab Slydris (£1.49, Universal) and Drop7 (£1.99, Universal). The former has you re-arranging lengths of horizontal blocks in a well. With each move, more fall from the top, and so you must think ahead and create chains that give you breathing space. 
Drop7 demands maths skills along with spatial awareness and planning. Instead of shapes or blocks, you drop numbered discs into the well, and should the number on any disc match how many are in its row or column, it'll explode. That might not sound that straightforward, but Drop7 has the same pickup- and-play brilliance and tough-to-master sneakiness as Tetris, although it certainly gives a work out to a slightly different part of the brain. Our final two games also take block-stacking away from the purely abstract, although they rely on letters, not numbers. SpellTower (£1.49, Universal) has rows of letters cleared by making words, Boggle-style. Tower Mode is laid back (a static grid and no pressure), but Puzzle Mode adds a new row for every word you create. By the time you get to Rush Mode and its relentless timer, you'll be yelling at the screen, demanding to know why there are so many unusable letters huddled together. 
Still, it's good training for Puzzlejuice (£1.49, Universal), which doesn't stray too far from the truth when it states it will "punch your brain in the face". It merges Tetris and SpellTower with Unify's colour-matching - complete rows of squares and match coloured blocks to transform them into letters, which are removed by dragging out words. Add power ups and you've got a creation that pays homage to Tetris, match games and word games, while merrily ensuring steam will shoot out of your ears at regular intervals. We're a little bit surprised the developer didn't bung some shooting and sports in there for good measure!     | | Google Now arrives on iPhone and iPad Apr 29th 2013, 14:49 
Google has just updated its Search app for iOS, which finally makes Google Now available for both iPhone and iPad. The app is almost identical across both iOS devices, while following the style seen on Android when it debuted last June. For those not in the know, Google Now pulls info from all of Google's services to provide you with information before you even ask for it. So it might remind you to take an umbrella with you if the weather forecast is bleak. The info is displayed on little cards and in notifications which can be easily dismissed once you've been alerted. We want it nowHowever, some of the features, including Activity Summary, Boarding Pass, Concerts and Nearby Events aren't available for the iOS version right now, though we expect them to appear in the near future. All you have to do to get Google Now on your iOS device is download Google Search from the App Store and then get playing.     | | Summer holiday app round-up: Last minute getaway tips Apr 29th 2013, 13:55 
Summer's soon here and if you don't want to suffer the indignity of being stuck in the house with bored, screaming kids for the duration of the sun-friendly months ahead, you need to book yourself a last minute bargain getaway. And the GALAXY Note II is, as ever, your friend in this most worthwhile of endeavours, with a welter of great apps that work a treat on its expansive 5.5-inch HD Super AMOLED screen. Here's our choice of the top ten best last minute getaway tips for your Note II this summer. 
Hotels.com Free The latest update of this all-encompassing hotel search app is designed specifically with GALAXY Note II users in mind. The app has been optimised for the phone's generous display, with a 'Draw a Search' function, which uses the handset's S Pen to personalise a specific search area. Hover the S Pen over a chosen hotel to get exact details on room rates and availability, along with images of the accommodation. There's a huge range of options, with listings for more than 154,000 hotels in 200 countries. So wherever you end up going on holiday, this neat add-on will have it covered. 
Flightboard £2.39 This natty app is ideal if you've got tight connections to make on your last-minute trip. Flightboard covers 3,000 airports and 1,400 airlines, so unless you're plotting some serious off grid action in western Mongolia or the Namib desert, chances are it'll have your arrival or departure covered. As well as being a practical must-have that'll stop you searching out screens in cramped departure lounges, it's also a joy to look at. The design is based on the classic ticker board at Paris's Charles De Gaulle airport. It's also chock full of social features so you can share info with everyone else on your trip via Facebook, Twitter and email. 
XE Currency Free Getting stung at the bureau de change is no way to start your holiday. XE Currency serves up real time info on the latest exchange rates, whether you're after US dollars, Euros or Bulgarian Lev. That way if you can't reach an ATM, you can always check to see if the people you're buying your money from are giving you the best deal. What's more, it syncs currency conversions offline, so there's no need to pay hefty data roaming fees on your Note II when you touch down on the other side. 
TripAdvisor Hotels Flights Free Getting the perfect hotel or choosing the right airline is imperative if you want to make your last minute summer break a relaxing one. TripAdvisor's reviews are always refreshingly honest and give an up-to-the-minute insight that guidebooks just can't manage. The app is a doddle to use - browse restaurant reviews by food type, cost and rating and compare flight prices on one page. A nifty 'Near Me Now' feature uses your location to tell you the best places to go in your area, making this the ultimate replacement for your tatty old Rough Guide. 
Voice Translator Free Learning the lingo is always common courtesy, but moving beyond 'hello', 'goodbye', 'please' and 'thank you' can sometimes be a daunting task. That's where Voice Translator comes in. This app lets you type in what you want translated or simply dictate it via your Note II's microphone. You can listen back to the translation and either attempt it yourself or simply hand the phone to a local and hold your conversation in a whole new way. Over 50 languages are supported, including Vietnamese, Welsh, Yiddish and Hindi. You'll be hard pushed to find a destination where this app doesn't help. 
National Rail Enquiries Free If you're opting to stay in Blighty rather than fly off to foreign climes, then sticking this freebie on your GALAXY Note II is essential. National Rail Enquiries serves up live train departure and arrival times for every station in the UK, so whether you're spending a week on the beach in Cornwall or a few days on the West Highland Way, you'll know exactly when to get your train there and back. You can check a specific journey between two stations, track trains in real time to check on delays and even buy tickets via third parties. 
AA Route Planner £1.99 Alternatively, if you'd rather use the car than take the train, AA Route Planner is a smart bet for the directionally challenged. While it serves up standard ways of getting from A to B, its directions also point out local landmarks, making it easier to work out when you need to turn off the road or carry straight on. There are route options for caravans and those looking to avoid toll roads. You also get the full route and turn-by-turn instructions via a specially design interactive map. No more crawling down country lanes and wondering if you've made a wrong turn. 
Camping Trip Planner 69p Hardy camping types, this one's for you. This app features a handy, editable checklist of things you'll need to take to ensure you don't find your week under canvas an uncomfortable dirge. You can add things you'll need depending on what time of year you're going away or what sort of destination you're planning on camping. So, if you're hitting Provence, remember to pack a corkscrew. Or, if you're Alps-bound, ensure you've got walking boots marked down on the list. You can even save different lists depending on where you're headed. 
WeatherPro £2.49 Before you click 'buy' on that too-good-to-be-true last minute package, hit WeatherPro. This app is just about the best weather add-on going and serves up extremely detailed forecasts for myriad destinations around the globe. Get long-range forecasts, check cloud cover and make sure that where you're going is getting all the sun you could possibly want. Two million locations are covered, you get radar images of Europe and the US and even info on wind speed, air pressure and rain percentages. Perfect for plotting a sunny getaway. 
TravelSafe Pro 99p It pays to be prepared; especially when your holiday has been booked in a hurry and you're busy deciding how many swim suits to pack. TravelSafe Pro packs a plethora of essential information, including local numbers for emergency services, embassy contact details and 12 different language settings to help get over any communication barriers. Everything's stored locally, so if something bad does happen, then you won't be hit by high data charges while abroad. ---------- Also check out on Your Mobile Life: Working on the go made easy VIDEO: A Beginner's Guide to the Samsung GALAXY Note II Living with the Samsung Galaxy Note II Writers, designers and gamers: how the Note II brings innovation to the smartphone space Streamline your office with S Note and S Planner     | |
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