| New Halo game makes Spartan Assault on Windows 8 devices Jun 4th 2013, 13:00 
The Halo experience is about to go rogue for the first time, with brand new title Halo: Spartan Assault heading exclusively to Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 devices. With speculation kicking off this week that Spartan Assault would be the name of the next Console-based Halo (following the discovery of some registered domain names), the new title will actually be gunning for gamers on the go. The top-down shooter will be available on Windows 8 phones and tablets, as well as PC, with cloud saves meaning you can stop playing on one device and pick up where you left off on another. There are also a number of ways to play control-wise, including standard touchscreen, plugging in a mouse and keyboard, or even connecting an Xbox 360 controller. 343 industries said that the game will be priced in the US at around $6.99 (about £4.60, AUS $7.25) while a specific figure for the UK is yet to be confirmed. Combat evolved againDan Ayoub, executive producer of publishing at 343, told TechRadar that there was already "a lot of plans for content already for post-launch," adding that the game will include a challenge mode, with users able to share their scores on the leaderboard. This game will be released this July across all countries and devices, though a specific day for the global rollout is yet to be given. Ayoub also told us that Halo: Spartan Assault has been in development for about a year. However, we then remembered a certain job posting by Bungie back in early 2011, suggesting that this project might have been in the pipeline even longer. The game is set between the events of Halo 3 and Halo 4, mixing many of the action and sandbox elements that fans of the the franchise will be more than familiar with. "Halo has always led on its platform," said Ayoub. "And so we wanted to do the same thing on PC, tablet and mobile." The game uses an adaptive twin-stick touchscreen control system, meaning that when your thumbs glide up the screen, the circle pads move with them. "It's no exaggeration when I say we threw out at least twelve control schemes getting to this," admitted Ayoub.     |  | HTC has benefited hugely from the success of the One Jun 4th 2013, 12:49 
HTC's monthly sales report has shown signs of promise, with an increase in profits following a difficult few months. The manufacturer's sales report for May shows a 48 per cent increase in sales from April, and almost 100 per cent from March. This will be wecome news to HTC after previously posting poor sales figures and suffering a number of high-level executives leaving the company. It's not all good news, however. Sales are still down 3.35 per cent from May 2012 and it's not clear if these figures will improve, espcially since new deivces are likely to be launched soon by Samsung and Apple. Is the One an anomaly? The HTC One is the said to be the reason for the company's improved performance in the last few months, with sales hitting the 5 million mark in its first two months. Although impressive, HTC only managed to shift half as many units as the Samsung Galaxy S4 did in the same period of time. And, with Samsung announcing a range of new devices at an event in London this month, HTC's sales may be further strained by the increased competition.     | | ARM's new Cortex A-12 processor joins the battle for midrange smartphones Jun 4th 2013, 11:56 
British Manufacturer ARM has unveiled a new Cortex A-12 processor at Computex 2013, aimed at mid-range tablets and smartphones in the region of US$250 (about AU$258, £163) to US$350 (about AU$361, £228). The Cortex-A12 will succeed ARM's Cortex-A9 processor, which was used in the iPhone 4s, Galaxy S3 and a variety of android tablets. With up to four cores, ARM said that the new design is 40 per cent more efficient than the A9 and 30 per cent faster. Devices sporting the new A12 processor are expected to arrive in late 2014 or early 2015. Race to the middleJames Bruce, ARM's lead mobile strategist, said that there is huge growth in mid-range mobile markets, with devices above and around $200 (about £130, $206 AUS) expected to ship more than 500 units by the end of 2015. ARM faces stiff competition from other manufacturers who also want to capitalise on the growing affordable tablet and smartphone market. Intel recently announced a range of new processors, including the Bay Trial and Haswell processors, which are aimed at Android devices. Via Talk Android     | | Blip: Three's network goes weak at the knees, but it's still standing Jun 4th 2013, 11:00 
UK network Three has been having some rather serious issues overnight and this morning, with many users unable to make use of the carrier's data network. Its technicians are beavering away behind the scenes however and the latest from Three (via its Twitter channel) is: "We're happy to say internet access in London is up & running & the whole network should be back to normal this afternoon." The problem started last night, with the support channel Tweeting: "We're having some issues with our data network this morning. It's being worked on as a priority, sorry for any inconvenience." We've contacted the network for more information and we'll update this article when we hear back. Developing... More blips!If you're lost without your mobile why not take a few minutes to check out some more of our brilliant blips?     | | Blip: Jelly Bean set to be bigger than Gingerbread in under a month Jun 4th 2013, 10:34 
Android has forever been baited for its slow upgrade cycle and leaving many users stuck on older iterations, but the dominance of Android 2.3 (aka Gingerbread) is set to come to an end in less than a month. The latest figures are out for Android version market share and Jelly Bean has witnessed a 5.5 per cent increase to 33 per cent - closing the gap on the leader Gingerbread which has slipped to 36.5 per cent. Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich has also witnessed a small decline, down to 25.6 percent from 27.5 at the last count - and at this rate Jelly Bean will be the most used version come July. Better late than never. More blips!Why not chow down on some more bite-size chunks of news - here's a load more great blips!     | | 80% of Samsung's microchip revenue comes from Apple devices Jun 4th 2013, 10:25 
80 per cent of Samsung's 2012 revenue from producing microchips came from sales to its direct rival, Apple, according to analysis by Digitimes. In that same year, Samsung spent US$7bn (about AU$7.2bn, £4.5bn) to upgrade its range of foundries (specialised microchip factories). US$4bn (about AU$4.2bn, £2.6bn) of that went to a site in Austin, Texas, which is the same plant that produces Apple's iPhone 5 and iPad microchips. The notorious Taipei based tech news site, which is known for sometimes questionable Apple predictions, says that seven companies make up the remaining 20 per cent of Samsung's foundry revenue. It lists the seven companies as: Qualcomm, Texas Instruments (TI), Xilinx, Marvell, STMicroelectronics, Toshiba and Renesas. Legally bound
Apple and Samsung have been locked in a much publicised and ongoing legal battle, so this revelation of a more symbiotic relationship will come as a surprise to some.
It is understood that Apple is locked into a contract with Samsung over chip production. The contract will reportedly expire next year and Apple are looking to move its business to Samsung rival, the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, which could be a serious blow to Samsung's chip production profits.
Via Digitimes and Phonearena     | | Sony Xperia M rocks up as fully-featured budget blower Jun 4th 2013, 10:06 
There's a new smartphone in the Japanese firm's stable and it's arrived in the form of the Sony Xperia M. We've already seen Sony launch the Xperia SP, Xperia L and flagship Xperia Z this year and the triplets have now become quads with the new baby of the range. Sony is keen to point out the Xpera M arrives at "a new price point" for the firm, although it fails to tell us what that price will actually be. What we do know is it will be available worldwide from Q3 this year. Spec-tacular?The Sony Xperia M isn't going to cost you the earth, although don't think that means it skimps on specs with a 4-inch 854 x 480 display, 1GHz dual-core processor, Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and 5MP rear camera with HDR mode. 
It's not all good news however, with the puny 4GB of internal storage actually only giving you 2GB of available space - although there is a microSD slot - and the VGA front facing snapper isn't going to give you the best mug shots. A common theme with Sony handsets of late are their vast array of connectivity options and the Xperia M is no different boasting Wi-Fi, aGPS, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC, DLNA and a microUSB slot, plus there's the choice of single and dual-SIM variants. 
Strong on paperThere's a 1750mAh battery housed in the 124 x 62 x 9.3 mm chassis, which comes in black, white, purple and yellow hues, and at 115g the Xperia M shouldn't be overly cumbersome. So on paper at least, the Sony Xperia M is shaping up to be a decent contender at the bottom end of the market, but without knowing the price or having used the handset we'll reserve judgement for now.     | | Intel reckons these are the chips you're looking for Jun 4th 2013, 09:33 
Intel has launched a handful of new processors at Computex 2013 in Taipei, with a focus on smartphones and tablets. First up, the Intel Atom Merrifield chip has been specifically designed for smartphones. The firm claims they will bring increased performance and prolonged battery life. The 22nm Merrifield processor also includes a sensor hub which will allow handsets to provide users with personalised services - although Intel didn't reveal what sensors this covers. While it sounds all well and good, we will have to wait until next year before manufacturers start shipping handsets with Merrifield inside. Fast, 4G tabletsIt's not just smartphones that are getting some Intel loving: the company is also launching two new chips aimed at the growing tablet market. The first chip will appear in tablets later this year, and the 22nm quad-core Atom SoC (aka Bay Trail-T) is apparently capable of delivering more than double the graphical output than the current generation of processors. It supports both the Android and Windows 8.1 operating systems, and Intel claims it is capable of providing 8 hours of battery life and weeks of standby - although we'll reserve judgement until we see it in action. Finally Intel has also shifted some of its focus onto the 4G market with its quad-core XMM 7160 chip, which takes the "world's smallest and lowest-power multi-mode LTE solution" title - a bit of a mouthful, but well done Intel. There's currently no word on when we'll see the 4G chip hit tablets, but we'll be keeping an eye out for products sporting Intel's new offerings.     | | Do these 'leaked' iPhone 5S parts show Apple is about to change design? Jun 4th 2013, 09:21 
While far from legitimate, parts reportedly from the iPhone 5S hint at a new shape for the iPhone. These pics come from Weibo, which has played host to a number of leaks over the years, and show the parts compared to their two predecessors' versions, the iPhone 4S and iPhone 5. The SIM tray is now a golden colour, hinting at a wider range of colours – although it could as easily be simply a clarification of the standard silver by opting for a two-tone effect. What's more interesting is the internal stuff, which for the most part is dramatically reduced in size compared to what's come before. 
This could mean a few of things: the new iPhone 5S will be a whole new design, something that will reboot the franchise in the face of strong Android competition; space could be being made for new internal components (an updated camera and NFC), or Apple is just making it all a bit lighter and the iPhone 5S will look the same as the previous model. When's it coming?The iPhone 5S release date isn't set to be any time soon – traditionally it will show off the new software first and we haven't even got to 20 June when the updated iOS 7 software is set to be shown off. 
It's most likely we'll get a new iPhone in September of this year, as that's the time Apple has seemingly settled on for nabbing the most visibility with smartphone users, while also making sure it's got a strong product in the run up to Christmas. Or these pictures could all be bogus and Apple will make the iPhone 5S out of reconstituted banana. You never know, these days.     | | WWDC 2013: Is this really the iOS7 that will revolutionise your iPhone? Jun 4th 2013, 08:33 
With WWDC 2013 just around the corner, a supposed image of the new iOS7 has leaked out – but how real is it? The leak comes from iDownloadBlog, which isn't the usual place we come across these kinds of stories, and the fuzzy nature of the picture makes it difficult to tell what's really going on in the screenshot. Sir Jony Ive, the man with the magic Cupertino design pen, is leading the charge to overhaul Apple's mobile OS for iPad and iPhone, and is meant to be making a more 'flat' design, dropping the shadows and extra detail in favour of something more simplistic. 
Not even evolutionaryThat's the case here, but we were expecting something a lot more revolutionary from Apple as it bids to be a fresh competitor to the slew of Android phones that are dominating the market. The camera icon looks pretty similar to before, and the Newsstand icon is almost identical, which lends credence to the theory this is a fake shot. However, this is likely to be an early build (something corroborated by the more trustworthy 9to5Mac, which Tweeted a screenshot of the same picture and said this wasn't the final version) and will therefore not have all the expected elements. There are other issues though: the size of the gap between the top of the phone and the apps, and the size seems to hint at a dodgy photoshop at times. But as we're so close to the event it's very difficult to tell what's real and what isn't – if this is the eventual style for iOS then it doesn't look like it's going to be much of a change, which is sorely needed, especially if Apple is going to bring out an iPhone 5S as per usual.     | | Computex: Mozilla finds another Firefox friend in Foxconn as mystery tablet appears Jun 3rd 2013, 22:33 
Mozilla continued to hype its Firefox OS plans at Computex in Taiwan this week, revealing a deal with manufacturer Foxconn as well as the first Firefox OS tablet. Foxconn and Mozilla will collaborate on numerous devices using the HTML5-based Firefox OS, according to a press release sent out today. Foxconn's involvement won't be limited to hardware production, either. The announcement said that "Foxconn is extending past its origins…to a combination of integrated software and hardware offerings, which extends its domain to the open operating platform and positively carries out its integration plan of hardware, software, content, and services." Firefox OS getting off the groundFirefox OS is launching this month in emerging markets, and Mozilla is no doubt eager to see how its baby will be received. Partnerships with manufacturers like Foxconn are sure to help it gain ground. "Because of our shared vision, we are excited to work with Mozilla," said Foxconn Innovation Digital System Business Group General Manager Young Liu. "Firefox OS from Mozilla is based on HTML5 and open web technologies. The whole idea perfectly matches to the strategies promoted by Foxconn. We believe that the integration of software and hardware development will offer greater benefits to our customers and consumers," Liu continued. What's that tablet?Mozilla also showed off its first Firefox OS tablet at Computex, according to Engadget. Despite the tablet's appearance, though, few details were provided. It's unclear if the tablet is part of the Foxconn partnership or something else entirely, but hopefully more will be revealed soon. We've asked Mozilla to provide more information about the mysterious Firefox OS tablet, and we'll update this story if and when we receive any. - Waiting for your opportunity to switch to Firefox OS? Here's why TechRadar thinks it might be the next Android.
    | | HTC One Verizon release date, news and rumors Jun 3rd 2013, 21:19 
Verizon customers, mix some Bloody Marys, buy some red streamers and party hats. You've got reason to celebrate because the HTC One is finally coming to Big Red. Why are we so excited for you? Only because the HTC One currently sits atop our best smartphone list, and now it'll finally be available on one of North America's largest carriers. We personally know plenty of folks who have been waiting for this moment, but its not quite here yet. Verizon said the One will arrive "this summer," and last time we checked, summer is coming up in a couple of weeks. 
So we've got another case of a company making a major announcement somewhat murky. That's why we've rounded up every question and accompanying fact we can muster relating to the HTC One on Verizon. We'll keep this page up-to-date so check back as more information becomes available. HTC One Verizon: release dateVerizon took to twitter to announce that it will carry the HTC One "this summer." That's as specific as the carrier has been willing to get. We've reached out to Verizon for more information, and we'll update as soon as there's a more concrete date. The HTC One originally hit Sprint, AT&T and T-Mobile in March. That makes Verizon just a few months later. Hey, better late than never: Big Red never even stocked the awesome HTC One X and its successor the One X+, instead opting for its own variant, the quite good Droid DNA. HTC One Verizon: priceCurrently, the 32GB HTC One sells for $199 with two-year contract, and $599 month-to-month. The 64GB version is $299, and $650 off-contract. While Verizon isn't talking money - the HTC One isn't even listed on the carrier's website yet - we'd expect them to match the pricing around town. HTC One Verizon: storageJust 32GB, or 64GB as well? That is the question. Currently, only AT&T has an exclusive on the 64GB version, so if Verizon gets it that would break the monopoly. 
Obviously, since we're not in Asia, microSD storage is out of the question. Only the lucky folks in Japan and China get that version, and here's why. Hint: it's due to space inside the device. HTC One Verizon: colorsRight now, the HTC One is available in black or silver from Sprint and AT&T. T-Mobile just has the silver version. That begs the question, what colors will Verizon stock? 
Silver seems obvious, and we'd bet that it gets black, too. But what about an exclusive color? We've always thought the one would look awfully nice red? HTC One Verizon: Android versionThe HTC One is a Jelly Bean device, but it launched with 4.2.1, not the very latest version, 4.2.2, which you'll find on the Galaxy S4 and the Nexus 4. However, an update is in the works, and should roll out soon-ish. 
That leaves us wondering if the Verizon version will have 4.2.2 out of the box, or if users will wait for the upgrade? As usual, so many Android versions, so many questions. HTC One Verizon: stock Android 'Nexus Edition'Google took the phone community by surprise when it announced a "Nexus-ized" version of the Galaxy S4. That left us wondering if we'd see a stock Android version of the other favorite Android phone, the HTC One. There was some flip-flopping; first HTC said no, then they said yes, there would be a Sense-less version of its new flagship phone. However, this stock Android device is GSM only, meaning it will only work on AT&T and T-Mobile. 
So now we'd love to know if there will be a CDMA of this Googled-up phone. That would open it up not only to Verizon, but to Sprint, U.S. Cellular and MetroPCS, as well. HTC One Verizon: carrier brandingEvery carrier loves to put its logo and some bloatware on your phone, and Verizon is no exception. Will Big Red just slap its logo on the back and load up the typical slew of apps you can't install? Or will it do something closer to the Droid DNA?   | | It's no whiplash, but Windows Phone is growing faster than Android Jun 3rd 2013, 21:19 
Microsoft's Windows Phone is slowly gaining on its competitors in the U.S. mobile phone market, new research revealed today. Research group Kantar Worldpanel ComTech, which regularly publishes reports on the mobile industry, revealed some new numbers concerning the first quarter of 2013 as well as the previous year. Though Android still holds the lion's share of the market with 51.7 percent, Microsoft is growing faster than its Google-owned competitor, with 1.8 percent growth over the last year compared to Android's 1.4 percent. Apple's iOS, meanwhile, leads in growth with 2.3 percent but still lags behind Android with 41.4 percent of smartphone sales during the period. The slow rise of Windows PhoneYes, Windows Phone is still significantly behind with just 5.6 percent of the market, but at least it's experiencing healthy growth. And Microsoft isn't likely to let it stop there - we'd be surprised if Windows Phone doesn't continue to blossom. This isn't the first we've heard of Windows' upward ways, after all. "We're seeing increasingly high consumer demand for Windows Phones worldwide," a Microsoft spokesperson told TechRadar, citing separate research from IDC that found Windows Phone to be the fastest-growing mobile OS. "According to IDC's latest report, Windows Phone posted the largest year-over-year gain among the leading operating systems (131 percent year over year), more than doubling its size from a year ago and leapfrogging over BlackBerry for the third place," the spokesperson said. Unsurprisingly, Kantar Worldpanel reported that the majority of Windows' growth was driven by Nokia's flagship Lumia devices. No doubt HTC's impressive Windows Phone 8 devices, like the Windows Phone 8X, had something to do with it as well. Get smartAccording to Kantar Worldpanel's research, 42 percent of those who purchased a Windows Phone device during the first three months of the year upgraded from feature phones. Others upgraded from other Windows Phone devices (25 percent) or from Android phones (23 percent). It looks like that Apple brand loyalty we heard about last year is still intact, as it seems an insignificant number of iOS users switched to Windows Phone - that figure isn't even mentioned. As far as upgrades to iOS, only 31 percent came from feature phones. "But it's not just about capturing the market that is yet to upgrade," said Kantar Worldpanel ComTech Analyst Mary-Ann Parlato. "Windows is also seeing success in the younger group." She added that Windows Phone captured more 50- to 64-year-olds between 2011 and 2012, while in the last year the Microsoft OS gained ground with those aged 25 to 34.   | | In Depth: Hover craft: the art of using Air View Jun 3rd 2013, 20:23 
The Samsung GALAXY S4 is the first non-Note device to offer Air View, the hover-friendly technology that was introduced on the Samsung GALAXY Note II. Quickly becoming our favourite smart feature on the GALAXY S4, it's one of those things we never realised we needed until we had it. Now, we can't imagine our mobile life without it. What is Air View?Air View comes into play when you hover your finger over the Samsung GALAXY S4 (or the S Pen over the GALAXY Note II). For the most part, it's a means of previewing what's on your phone with minimum effort and fuss. For example, when in a gallery, it lets you see inside albums without opening them, while in the Email app, it gives you a look at the main body of each message. How is this better than opening a folder or an email? Simply put – it saves you time. It's instant, it doesn't disrupt whatever else you're doing and, if you do decide to tap-through, it lets you know you're opening the right thing. How do I turn it on? Air View isn't switched on by default on the Samsung GALAXY S4. To activate it, pull down the notification bar in the quick settings menu (by swiping from the top of the screen towards the bottom) and tap the top-right-hand button to display all your quick toggle options. 
Tap the Air View option to turn it green and you're good to go! How do I use Air View in S Planner?S Planner is the GALAXY S4's calendar app and boasts an advanced tabbed layout to quickly view your calendar by year, month, week, day, list view or task view. 
Air View takes this to the next level by digging down within each tab. So in year view, each month is magnified by a simple finger hover. In month view, each day's events can be accessed in the same way. In week view, a hover over a calendar entry will pull up a peek into event details such as location and time. How do I use Air View in Email?With its combined inboxes for multiple accounts and a white-on-black UI that takes full advantage of the HD Super AMOLED display, Samsung's Email app on the GALAXY S4 easily trumps its Gmail equivalent. With Air View, it also lets you see the content of each message before you open it, saving you from opening a dozen emails with the same subject line just to find the one you want. How do I use Air View in Gallery? Taking advantage of Air View in the Gallery app is a piece of cake. Just hover your finger over a folder and a pop-up window will appear showing a preview grid of thumbnail images. 
The more folders you have, the more helpful this becomes, and the easier it gets, the more it encourages you to take lots more photos, safe in the knowledge you'll never have any trouble finding that important design sketch among 500 cute pictures of dogs. How do I use Air View in Video Player? There are two great ways to use Air View when you want to watch a video. Firstly, you can use it for folder previews in just the same way as you can in the Gallery app – but with pop-out previews that actually move! 
Secondly, and even more ingeniously, you can even use it when a video is playing to get a glimpse of what's coming up without disrupting the playback. 
Simply float a finger anywhere along the timeline and a preview frame will appear, showing you the shot that corresponds with that point in the video. How do I use Air View in Flipboard?Flipboard is a feed aggregator that presents news and social media services in a handsome, magazine-style layout. It's not a native Samsung device, yet its developers have been quick to realise just how useful Air View can be. 
So, float a finger above one of the feeds on its front page, and you'll get an expanded view of the top three posts in that section, so it's easy to see if it's worth tapping through, be it a Facebook update, a tweet, or a breaking news story. Where else can I use it?Air View can also be used to display the name of contacts assigned to speed dial numbers, to magnify a portion of a web page, and to expand email and text message notifications in your notification bar. 
Which features you'll use most depends on how you use your GALAXY S4, but once you switch Air View on, the one thing your finger won't be hovering over is the option to switch it off again!     | | Computex: Acer forecasts most of its products will use touch screens by 2015 Jun 3rd 2013, 20:09 
The annual Computex show has only just kicked off, and already Taiwanese manufacturer Acer is making some bold statements and claims with its newly announced products. After announcing a new phablet, the Liquid S1, and a new, winnowed-down Windows 8 tablet in the Iconia W3, the range of touch screen devices manufactured by Acer is visibly on the rise. It shouldn't come as a surprise then to learn Acer Chairman J.T. Wang believes touch screen devices will dominate the landscape at the company in just a few years. According to Wang, up to 80 percent of Acer's products will feature touch screens by the year 2015, with that steady growth already present by the end of 2013. Touch too muchSpeaking with Reuters at Computex, Wang revealed sales of notebook computers with touch screens would rise from 25 percent this quarter to 30 to 35 percent by the end of this year. That 10 percent leap is only the beginning of the rapid growth Wang and Acer expect to occur over the course of the next two years. "Price and supply for touch panels provide some constraints now but that will ease and boost the penetration of touch devices," Wang said. Even with PC sales struggling mightily so far this year, Acer believes the growing touch screen market will help revive the declining PC consumer base. Acer has a variety of touch screen notebooks on the horizon, including the just-announced Aspire S7 Haswell revamp and the Zenbook Infinity, which could help it step out of fourth-place among PC vendors and into third. Intel is helping make a major push for the mobile PC market with its Haswell chips, which could help Acer reach its estimates, but both companies had better hope PC sales are revitalized soon, otherwise it won't matter how many touch screen computers the company has in its line-up.     | | In Depth: Share options: Group Play Music explained Jun 3rd 2013, 19:49 
Sharing music with friends used to be a real hassle. In the time it took to connect your phones and transfer the files, you might as well have made each other a C90 mix tape! But with Group Play pre-installed on the Samsung GALAXY S4, tuning in to your friends' tunes couldn't be simpler. Music to your ears? Here's how it works… 1. Leader Of The Pack
Group Play uses Wi-Fi Direct technology, which creates a personal Wi-Fi network for you and your buddies. 
All it takes is for one of you to tap on the app, create a group and then choose a password (because you don't want to share with the whole world). You now have a 'master phone' – and a gateway to a world of sharing. 2. Take Five
Once the master phone is enabled, simply tap another GALAXY S4 to the back of it, and the devices will synchronise using NFC, giving instant access the group. 
You can share your music across four other GALAXY S4 devices simultaneously, while continuing to use your smartphone's other impressive features normally. 3. Boom, Shake The Room
The master phone can not only control what you all listen to, but also how it sounds on each connected device. 
So if you're having a house party with an S4 in every room, it's easy to set appropriate volume levels for each one. 
With all the handsets dotted around one room, you can even set up a finely tuned surround-sound system! 4. Keep On Moving
And of course, sharing works equally well with headphones, so you can all enjoy the same music on the move without attracting the ire of other people in the vicinity! 
With Group Play on the bus or train, every trip becomes a silent disco, and having your earbuds in doesn't have to mean an antisocial journey! 5. All Together Now 
However you and your friends choose to listen to your tunes, once you've got a network going, there's no need to stop at sharing music, either. 
With Group Play enabled, you can also control photo slideshows across devices, jointly edit pictures and documents, and play multiplayer games. How's that for social networking!     | | Hold out no more: HTC One joining Verizon lineup 'later this summer' Jun 3rd 2013, 17:39 
The "will it, won't it" game is finally over. Verizon today confirmed that it intends to carry the HTC One. The company was the lone major carrier holding out on HTC's flagship device, but that all will change in a few months' time. "It's coming - the HTC One will be available on the #Verizon Wireless 4G LTE network later this summer," @VZWnews, the official Verizon news handle, tweeted. AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile already carry the handset, and many in the industry expected Big Red to join the One parade at some point. Though we don't have a firm release date, "later this summer" is as good as it's going to get for now. Oh happy dayWhen we asked HTC during CTIA 2013 if we would ever see the One on Verizon, we got a "nothing to announce" response that left little to interpretation. However, it appears the arrival was all but assured. There are still plenty of questions left unanswered, such as what software it may throw on the handset, color variations, price details and if the One will replace the Droid DNA. When asked all of the above, a Verizon rep only repeated the season-specific release time frame. HTC USA, which retweeted Verizon's initial announcement, said more details would come "closer to availability" when asked by @jjkamp if a stock vanilla Android version was a possibility. Why Verizon decided to forgo a formal press release or statement we don't know, though the casual tweet shouldn't undermine the heft of the news. Bringing HTC's acclaimed handset to its network is a coup for Verizon and its customers, not to mention HTC, a firm's with widely broadcast financial troubles. Now that the One is coming to all of American's major carriers and arriving in stock Android form June 26, perhaps the phone maker can start hoping for a turnaround, not to mention a One-ness among U.S. customers. Ommmm.   | | Updated: Cheap iPhone release date, news and rumours Jun 3rd 2013, 15:22 
The iPhone. For many it's the hottest bit of tech you can own, a fashion statement and powerful travel companion all in one - but for others it's an overly expensive solution to a problem which is solved equally well by cheaper Android and Windows Phone devices. But perhaps not for much longer. Alongside the talk of an inevitable iPhone 5S and iPhone 6, we've noticed a rash of slightly more eyebrow-raising news suggesting a cheap iPhone could be on the way. Word of a budget iPhone has been doing the rounds for the past few years, but the reports have intensified post-iPhone 5. Apple itself has been hit-and-miss when it comes to talking about a cheaper iPhone, with Senior Vice President of Worldwide Marketing Phil Schiller saying in January that the firm's focus will never be on low cost handsets, while CEO Tim Cook said "we are making moves to make things more affordable" in February - so make of that what you will. FutTv : 4hS8w7opLdtghWe've perused all the leaks, claims, suggestions and "upstream supply chain" comments to bring you the latest vibe on the cheap iPhone and whether we will see one or not. It's a (release) date!Apple has stayed true to form and hasn't given any details away regarding its next smartphone(s), but we're expecting the next iPhone instalment to arrive in September, and thus this seems the mostly likely time for the budget iPhone to stride onto the scene. Some sources have suggested the next fleet of iPhones could be with us sooner - around July/August time, which could mean we're in for a treat when WWDC (Apple's annual conference) rolls around in June. Updates: Case manufacturer Tactus claims the cheaper iPhone will arrive in October - which would fit in with the September/October launch event Apple is thought to have planned. If the idea of a low-cost iPhone has taken your fancy then you may find it difficult to get hold of one when it initially goes on sale. According to a DigiTimes source the budget iPhone will have a limited release at first, with the focus being put on emerging markets. Talk of an earlier release still hasn't gone away, with another source eyeing up the possibility of a WWDC arrival of the cheaper iPhone at the end of June. How low can you go?Price is the single biggest factor when it comes to a budget iPhone, but it's one part of the puzzle which has not seen much in the way of leaks. A cheap iPhone needs to be able to challenge the cost effective Android and Windows Phone handsets which are currently populating the bottom end of the market, so really we'd like to see it rock up somewhere in the region of £200/$310/AU$300). The only thing we've seen regarding the price of a cheaper iPhone is a rumour suggesting Apple is targeting the $330 (around £210/AU$310) price point - which would be nice. Update: The $300 mark looks to be a popular choice, with case manufacturer Tactus also touting this price. No Retina for your retinasThere is some confusion over the screen size of the cheaper iPhone, with some reports suggesting it will pack a 4.5-inch display, while others point towards a smaller 4-inch offering - similar to the one found on the fifth generation iPods and iPhone 5. If Apple are really looking at a more affordable iPhone we'd be surprised if it turns up sporting a screen which is bigger than the iPhone 5, and we reckon 4 inches or below is far more likely. Don't go expecting the budget iPhone to pack the beautiful retina display of its brothers though, with the low-cost handset far more likely to land a lower resolution - possibly 1,136 x 640. Update: Other reports suggest Apple may return to its origins and supply the cheaper iPhone with a 3.5-inch display. Plastic fantasticWe've become accustomed to the iPhone's premium design, with high quality materials oozing style and class, but things could well get a lot more plastic with a cheaper iPhone. According to the Wall Street Journal, Apple is looking to clad the budget iPhone in polycarbonate, instead of aluminium and toughened glass, in an attempt to keep the cost down. These musings have be reinforced by Digitimes' famous "upstream supply chain sources", who also revealed the cheaper iPhone would rock up with a plastic body. Apparently the budget iPhone won't just be a jazzed up iPhone 3GS, nor will it be a scaled down iPhone 5, with iLounge claiming the cheaper iPhone will be an absurd mash-up of the latest iPhone and iPod, plus the original iPod classic - retro! Update: Our first proper glimpse of the cheap iPhone might be the offering below, which shows a while handset with a lovely plastic finish and a design which is reminiscent of the iPhone 3GS. According to this report you can expect to see the budget iPhone rock up in black, white, blue, red or yellow variants. 
Stop, colour timeWhat's this, an iPhone which doesn't just come in black and white? Well yes, that may become reality with a cheaper iPhone on the cards. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo (who actually has a decent track record) reckons the budget iPhone will be available in a range of colours, with apparently between four and six choices. This was followed by sources who spoke to Macotakara, claiming the cheap iPhone will be available in five colours - which could see it sport the same blue, red and yellow which accompany the black and white on the current range of iPods. More, more, moreIn terms of other specs details have been hard to come by for the budget iPhone, although we've now seen a report which suggests the handset will sport an A5 processor and 5MP rear camera.     | | Updated: Samsung Galaxy S5: What we want to see Jun 3rd 2013, 15:05 
The Samsung Galaxy S4 has finally landed - and we loved it, as you'll see through our in-depth review. It's light, slim and powerful, and has the best screen we've seen on a smartphone. But we know what you're like. You're already thinking about the Galaxy S5. You're looking at the S4 and wondering: "You know what, could Samsung have done better in some areas? Like make it FLY?" Well, clearly you're insane if you're asking for that, but your point is valid: there's always more than can be done to make the ultimate smartphone. Word is that Samsung is already hard at work on the design of the new range of devices: simply codenamed 'Design 3.0' top level meetings have already begun in Seoul to make sure the new Galaxy range is more revolutionary. To that end, we've put our thinking caps on and done the work for the South Korean firm - here are the things that we simply must have on the Galaxy S5 to make it a success and beat the new HTC One: A flexible designAnyone using an HTC One will know that the reaction it inspires really is immense. It's no exaggeration to say that more often than not, people will say: 'Wow, what's that?'. The sad fact is that we just don't get the same reaction from the S4, with most people just actually thinking it's the Galaxy S3. One of its predecessor's main criticisms was that the use of plastic made it look and feel cheap (that even applies to the Galaxy S2 from a few years back – though not the Galaxy S, since few people took any real notice of the first iteration.) When the S4 was announced, it didn't even need to be felt – people instantly criticised how cheap that all-plastic façade is going to feel. 
Sure, it keeps the phone light (in fairness, the HTC One weighs a fair bit in the hand, by comparison) but Apple's managed to pull off glass and metal and lightness with the iPhone 5 so surely Samsung can manage the same. If only to annoy Apple even more. The other ideal would be to utilise its flexible display technology - Youm - to bring some new techology to the new design. We're not talking a completely bendy phone (that would actually be rubbish right now) but how about the designs shown off at trade shows recently? That would be amazing. A sleeker systemOne of the things we've always liked about Samsung is that it pushed the envelope in terms of what its phones could do. It added innovation, it did things nobody else did, and then it worked out how to package it in a way that made things simple and looked half decent. In this respect, its nadir was the Samsung Galaxy S3. Yes, it felt too cheap, but it had tonnes of innovation under the hood (Smart Stay, for instance, wasn't a total waste of time). The problem was it went overboard with the Galaxy S4. Smart Scroll, Smart Pause and more all added complexity to a system that was already close to the limit, so all those selling points became annoyances and were quickly turned off. Samsung, you're great at one thing: making innovation usable. With the Samsung Galaxy S5 think about that and make sure that if you add in flexible screens or eye tracking technology to create auto-3D images, you do it in a way that genuinely adds something to our lives, not just innovation for the sake of it. If you need to make some space, get rid of that front and back cameras dual-recording feature. Nobody is ever going to use that. Bigger batteryWe always ask for these and the S4 has graced us with a larger power pack than the S3 – it's up from 2,100 to 2,600mAh. It's a fairly decent jump – but still likely to just give a day of moderate use thanks to that huge, sharp screen. Just look at the HTC One – that has a 2,300mAh power pack yet struggles to exceed the 1,440mAh battery of the iPhone 5 in daily usage. The fact of the matter is that the OS has a huge part to play – so upping the mAh count doesn't necessarily mean a revolution in terms of endurance. 
The Motorola RAZR Maxx has been out since last summer and manages to pack in a 3,300mAh battery, which genuinely puts the hours in. Since Samsung is such a technologically advanced company, if it were to come up with something huge like a 4,000mAh pack that's slim to boot, it would nail the Android market (even more.) Come on boys – you have a year to do this. Stereo speakersAgain we're drawing a comparison with the HTC One here but that's to be expected; especially since said device will be its main Android competitor (along with the Sony Xperia Z, of course, which we mustn't forget.) But there is something unique here. See, HTC has raised the bar here – the sound bar, that is. Some assumed it would be a gimmick, putting two speakers on the front of the phone and calling it BoomSound. But here's the thing: it does sound amazing. To the extent that we often leave calls ringing longer than we need to so that we can enjoy the ringtone. 
The Galaxy S4 doesn't go for anything so lavish – offering a mere grill on the back with a small speaker we fully expect to be loud, yet tinny. Sure, there may be limited call for deep surround sound or anything as elaborate, but why scrimp on features when including so much in other areas? We imagine Group Play will be Samsung's answer – but considering that requires other Galaxy owners, it's a bit of a faff. Samsung could really pull something unique out the bag here – especially considering it's got a proven relationship with audio extradordinaires Bang and Olufsen. Even the iPhone 5 speaker is fairly decent – so come on Sammy.. finger out, please. FM RadioOdd one this, but the S4 is the first Galaxy device to not ship with an FM radio. It's a bit of an add-on that many don't use, but others (especially commuters) are very attached to their FM radio feature on their phones. Samsung's already stated that it left the S4 FM radio out not through any technical issue, but because more people are now streaming their music through YouTube and online services. Which is true. Apps like TuneIn Radio do offer a great service. 
The problem is that you're reliant on a good web connection for this – at the very least, 3G, and even then, there can be problems with buffering. The majority of journeys will pass through different signal strengths and types and this just means that you'll have to stop listening to the radio whether you want to or not. Sure, we know that firm decisions lead to progress (look at Steve Jobs refusing to fit a floppy drive on the original iMac) but this just smacks of silliness since it would have made absolutely no difference to Samsung. We're even thinking of writing to our local MP about it. Beam it up, SammyWe'll lay this on the line before we start: this is one of our more fanciful wishes, given the technology (and desire from many consumers) is a long way away. But we'd love to see a projector built into the S5. Samsung managed it already with the Galaxy Beam last year, even though that was a bit of a niche device. But it makes perfect sense. Forget AllShare (or maybe not 'forget' but at least run it alongside) and turn the S5 into something that everybody can enjoy. The problem is now that if you want to share your photos/videos etc, you either have to buy a dongle or have a Smart TV. It's very niche. 
Apple has managed to do well with marketing its AirPlay so you can stream YouTube etc to Apple TV but again, you have to fork out for an Apple TV to do it, then turn the thing on, change your TV input source and so forth. Wouldn't it be great if you could just stream everything using a projector to a wall? Obviously, there are issues with light interference, but we're sure Samsung could invent something that overcomes that problem. And with those amazing stereo speakers we're lobbying for, it would also sort out the audio problem. Hey, it could even lead to more uptake of things like WatchON, with people buying movies and then streaming them straight to the wall when friends are round. There's an incentive for you there, Samsung. Streamlined storesSpeaking of WatchON, this would be something we'd like to see sorted: a true partnership with Google. Sure, we realise that hell is more likely to see temperatures drop below freezing before then, but the issue is that there is just too much choice. We're all for freedom – but when you have both Google and Samsung trying to sell you songs, movies, books, apps and magazines at the same time, through competing apps, it gets a little tiring. 
The app drawer is littered with more options than you can shake a stick at and for those who aren't completely au-fait with smartphone tech, it's a little confusing and intimidating. Apple makes so much of the whole fact that it is just one company providing everything – the next best thing would be for Samsung to work out with Google a common strategy for sharing revenue here and at least streamlining it for the consumer. We know it's not going to happen because Google won't want to favour Samsung – and also there is the matter of Samsung wanting to end its dependence on Google (hence the Tizen revolution we're not really expecting), but it's nice to dream of one, unified store. 3D screenWe've left this one to last as this probably sounds the most ridiculous – but it's worth giving it a moment's thought. See, screen resolutions have hit the ceiling now. Back when Nokia invented the 7650 with its tiny colour palette, we cooed. When the 7210 came along with a square screen rocking 4096 hues, we gasped. And when the iPhone 4 launched with the famous Retina branding, it really was revolutionary. But phones like the S4 and HTC One now have PPIs that destroy home flatscreen TVs. There isn't any point in making them sharper, because the eye can't discern any difference. We have, pretty much, reached a plateau. 3D's not taken off as well as it could have with TV's. Yeah, it's great to play with, but it's hardly making the waves that the HD revolution did. And it has been tried before with LG. Remember the Optimus 3D? We only gave it 3.5 stars when it came out the best part of two years ago and there was a reason: glasses-free 3D just wasn't there. As we'd seen with the Nintendo 3DS, it tired the eyes very quickly, it had to be viewed at exactly the right angle and was pretty much just a fad. 
Bearing in mind how much Samsung really wants to get one over on LG here (only recently, we looked at the intense competition between the two firms in Seoul), just think how much this could motivate Samsung to pull out a really decent solution. There's a glimmer of hope here: Samsung has already patented the idea to use dual camera to track your eye direction, which would mean the 3D image would follow your eyes and would completely negate the need to keep your head in the 'sweet spot'. App makers are more likely to make 3D apps for the Galaxy range because it is not an also-ran Android line but (at least some would say) the Android iteration to go for. And Samsung could sponsor these apps to get them in the Google Play store (or Samsung's own). Movies, the camera, games, even the OS, could be transformed with the right technique. And there concludes our wish list. Sure, it's elaborate. And we'll be surprised if the less obvious points above make the final build of the S5. But there is no doubt that Samsung will already be hard at work on planning the S4's successor – and we'd love to see some really unique features introduced. A year's a long time in mobile life. And we've seen just how much a company can go from HTC Hero to zero (OK, HTC wasn't quite at the lowest level – but don't ruin our analogy). HTC was the Android maker for a time and has been usurped by Samsung. It may be on the up with the HTC One again – it certainly stands a chance – but the competition is fiercer than it's ever been. And it'll get uglier before it gets better. Samsung will need to work hard to keep its Android crown.     | | In Depth: Mega bites: essential foodie apps for the S4 and Note 8.0 Jun 3rd 2013, 14:53 
Food, glorious food. Can't live without it… no, you really can't. Good food used to be the preserve of chefs and show-offs, but with ever more foodie apps available for your Samsung GALAXY device, there's no excuse for not eating like a king – and we don't mean a Burger King, either. Here are 10 lip-smacking apps guaranteed to whet your appetite for a bit of culinary creativity. You'll wonder how you ever coped in the kitchen without them – just remember not to mistake your Note 8.0 for a really classy chopping board! BigOven
Free Get it here This app certainly lives up to its name, with some 250,000 recipes on offer. And with options to search them by keyword, ingredient or collection, if you can't find something here to tickle your tastebuds, you probably haven't got any. It can even help you rustle up something scrumptious when your cupboards are almost bare, by matching your limited list of ingredients with dishes from its database. Evernote Food
Free Get it here Created by the same folks behind the similarly named note-taker, this app is designed to record your best food finds. Jot down meal ideas (using the S Pen on the Note 8.0), add photos, save shop and market locations, and build your own cookbook by clipping recipes from around the web. And when you don't fancy slaving over a hot stove, you can even search for restaurants and book a table. Food Planner
Free Get it here With options to sync across a range of devices as well as your Google Calendar, this app helps you keep on top of your weekly meal plan right down to the last mouthful, no matter where you are. So why not put your feet up at home and make a shopping list using your GALAXY Note 8.0, while your other half schleps round the supermarket with it instantly updating on his or her GALAXY S4? Foodspotting
Free Get it here These days we all like to photograph our food. And with the cameras on both the GALAXY Note 8.0 and the GALAXY S4 ideal for getting classy shots of your latest culinary creation, why on earth shouldn't we? Acting as a social network of sorts, this app allows you to upload your best foodographs, add comments, and find decent restaurants nearby for snapping and snacking alike. BBC Good Food Recipes
Free Get it here This free app offers just 20 recipes, but it's a great way to get a taste of the excellent premium version, which offers hundreds more. As well as some really great recipes (broken down into categories including quick dishes, cakes, and party ideas), it also offers handy cooking information, such as the best way to chop specific vegetables and how to properly poach an egg. Dinner Spinner
Free Get it here This handy app uses a barcode scanner to suggest meals you can make with what's in your cupboards. Drawing its content from the vast archives of alltherecipes.com, it also lets you search for recipes by cooking time or ingredient, or find inspiration by shaking your device for a random recipe. Whether delicious or disastrous, integrated buttons for Twitter and Facebook make it easy to share the results! Jamie's 20 Minute Meals
£2.99 Buy it here When he's not trying to save schools from a culinary disaster, Jamie Oliver is also one of the best chefs around, making this app something of a must-have. Detailed videos hosted by Jamie show you how to make many of the meals and look great on the GALAXY S4's AMOLED screen and the Note 8.0's larger display, while further video guides are full of informative tips and easy-to-follow advice. Man v. Food
Free Get it here Man v. Food is an epic TV battle in which the host chows down on the biggest, most gut-busting bites the US restaurant trade has to offer. Happily for your insides, this spin-off app doesn't suggest you follow in his fat steps, but instead offers a diverting food-based game that sees you trying to assemble the biggest meal you can before it all tips over into so much floor pie. Recipe Search
Free Get it here Boring name, brilliant app. Boasting the most comprehensive recipe listing service around, Recipe Search offers a whopping 150,000 dishes from around the world, sourced from cooking community website allthecooks.com. Voice search functionality is great when you've got sticky fingers, and you can even add your own recipes to the massive database through the app. Urbanspoon
Free Get it here This fantastic restaurant finder will suggest the best, cheapest or nearest places to eat in a wide range of countries, including the UK and the USA, with new places being added all of the time. Simply shake your GALAXY S4 for a random suggestion, or lock different options to narrow the results. As the name suggests, its best used in big towns and cities, but that is where you tend to be spoiled for choice.     | | Is Microsoft moving away from software? Sources say yes Jun 3rd 2013, 14:52 
A major restructuring of Microsoft could mean that the company is moving away from software and focusing instead devices and services, in a development led by CEO Steve Ballmer. According to a report from All Things Digital, several high-level executives are also being moved around to facilitate the change in direction. Ballmer had previously indicated that such a shift was part of the company's plan. In the 2012 annual company report, Ballmer wrote: "Last year in this letter I said that over time, the full value of our software will be seen and felt in how people use devices and services at work and in their personal lives. "This is a significant shift, both in what we do and how we see ourselves - as a devices and services company. It impacts how we run the company, how we develop new experiences, and how we take products to market for both consumers and businesses." New challengerThe shift in focus doesn't necessarily mean that Microsoft will spend less time doing what it's good at - developing software. Windows is still one of the biggest desktop operating systems in the world and Microsoft is unlikely to neglect its pioneering software. There is, however, increased competition from an improving Ubuntu OS as well as desktops that run Android and Apple's OSx that's spreading influence across a range of devices, which may have forced Microsoft to rethink its future strategy.   | |
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