| Interview: Mozilla on Firefox OS: 'what we're doing has a very good chance of working' Jul 13th 2013, 13:00, by Ben Everard 
In Linux Land, every year seems to start with a wave of prophecies that this will be 'the year of the something', usually the desktop. These predictions almost universally turn out to be over-hyped. However, 2013 could be the exception. With three new mobile operating systems - Firefox OS, Ubuntu and Sailfish - due to launch, maybe this actually will be the year of the Linux phone (or more accurately: the year of the Linux phone that isn't Android). As we write, the first phones running one of the new systems have just gone on sale: Geeksphone's Firefox OS devices. Our sister magazine Linux Format spoke to Jonas Sicking, who is working on Mozilla's mobile offering, to find out what we can expect… LXF: How did you personally get started with free software? JS: It was a long time ago! When Netscape became open source, in 1998, I thought, "Wow, that's really cool." I started looking at where the Mozilla project was, clicking around on its website and I found the source. I was like, "Wow, I understand this!" I was a web developer at the time and there was one technology that I wanted to use. There was some code to support it, but it wasn't actually working. I thought, "I wonder if I can make it work?" I got more and more involved, and then I got an internship at Netscape. Once I finished school, I joined Mozilla, and I've been working there ever since. LXF: What's the culture like? JS: I really enjoy it, even though I've been there for a very long time. It's very engineering-driven. It's actually quite weird for us to be working with mobile phone manufacturers. When you're doing code on mobile phones, you have to work with partners much more, so we have these external constraints that aren't coming from our own engineers, and that's very unusual for us. Usually, if you want to work on something at Mozilla, you start talking to people, and generally, if they get excited about your idea, you start doing it. It's a very bottom-up process, and we're very focused on doing the right thing. There's never any demand that "we have to do this because it makes us more money" or anything like that. So it's very engineering-driven and very open. You can go and talk to anyone. LXF: Did the idea for the phone come from within Mozilla, or is it something that the manufacturers wanted you to do? 
JS: It's something that has been an obvious next step for a long time. The browser has slowly developed from being a document-rendering tool into something people write web apps for, so it made sense to think that the browser was now enough of a platform to be an operating system. People were talking about what it would take, and what was needed for Firefox to become an OS, and at some point those discussions turned into "Let's try it!" The actual code started happening about a year and a half ago. LXF: Are there any plans to create a desktop computer for the OS? JS: Yeah. Firefox OS essentially consists of two major parts: the apps platform, which allows you to get apps, and gives you this sense of having something that's actually installed; and the pieces needed to make an operating system, such as interaction with the phone and getting Wi-Fi working. The apps platform is intended to be completely cross-platform. We actually started working on it on the desktop, but then we saw so much interest in mobile in general - I mean, mobile is clearly where things are moving - so we decided to focus on what we could do for apps on mobile. That was when Firefox OS started - it was the natural path to go down. The apps runtime we use also works on both Firefox for Android and Firefox for desktop, so you can write a single app that runs on all three platforms. The goal is that the app will run not only on Firefox OS, but on ChromeOS and Tizen, and natively on Android as well. LXF: Three new open source mobile platforms have just been announced - do you see them as complementing each other or as competitors? JS: I see them as experiments, and we'll see what will work, and what users will like, and they may be complementary or we may end up with one model that works better – and that's what will survive. One of our goals with Firefox OS is that apps should be cross-platform. You shouldn't have to write an iOS app, an Android app, a Firefox OS app… You should just have one web app that will run anywhere. A lot of people who are building other mobile platforms are also looking at web apps, so we're looking at co-operating with them and making sure we're using the same standard. LXF: So you're working with teams from other organisations? 
JS: Yes. We talk to Ubuntu - I can't give any promises as to what will happen. We're talking to Samsung, for example, because it has the Tizen platform, to make sure our apps work on there, and Google is involved to make sure apps also work on ChromeOS. LXF: We've heard that you're targeting low-end phones. Is that because you see an opportunity in the market, or is it a long-term philosophical goal? JS: I'm not a business-oriented guy, but I think there's an opportunity there right now. It's definitely not a long-term goal to only target low-end devices - there's no reason why web technologies shouldn't be able to compete with very high-end solutions. We're not targeting low-end because we can't do better; there's an opportunity in the market right now, and that's where we initially found our partners. It's always a risk to launch a new platform and doing it low-end saves money. LXF: How receptive were hardware manufacturers to the idea of a Firefox mobile phone? JS: Actually, very! It's not been hard at all for Mozilla to find partners - both on the carrier and the hardware side. I think everyone has the expectation that web applications are where things are heading, and so it's just a matter of who manages to build a good enough platform first. I think people have been very willing to give Firefox OS a try because Mozilla has a very good reputation in the web world. People definitely believe that what we're doing has a very good chance of working. LXF: One perception of JavaScript - and web apps in general - is that they're not as quick as native apps. Is this something you're finding on low-end devices? JS: If you look at timing in an application, it generally isn't the C++ logic. If you look at a high-end game, it's often not the game engine that's the most critical bottleneck - it's things like rendering. If you look at productivity apps, such as an online office application, it's not the logic that's the major bottleneck, it's things like IO, network and so on. JavaScript is getting very competitive. Certainly some things are hard to do, but a surprising number work just fine - it hasn't been a limiting factor. LXF: What are you most proud of? JS: I'm very pleased that it's not just an open source project - the solution we're building is very much an open platform. Anyone can put up a web store, for example. You don't even have to put your app in a store at all - you can just promote it through your website. It's very nice how that has ended up working. I'm also pleased with our focus on security. We've really tried to transfer the sense of security people have on the web into apps, so you can go to any web store and install any app and know it's safe. If that app wants to do some privacy sensitive things, we'll ask the user. We've kept the number of questions fairly low and made them easy to understand. We don't ask things like "Do you want to give TCP socket access" or even "network access" - people don't really know what that entails. But questions like "Do you want to allow the app to access your pictures?" People understand that.     |  | Android fragmentation is no big deal, says Android co-founder Jul 13th 2013, 11:47, by Chris Smith 
Google's Rich Miner, the man who co-founded Android with Andy Rubin, has weighed in on the debate as to whether the mobile OS has become too fragmented. And, somewhat unsurprisingly, he thinks it isn't a major issue. Despite over 34 per cent of Android users still rocking phones carrying the near three-year-old Gingerbread 2.3 version of the OS, Miner said most people just don't care about having the latest OS Speaking at a Massachusetts Technology Leadership Council event this week, the Google Ventures employee said users are happy with the performance of their device, regardless of the OS version. 'Consumers don't care'He reportedly told attendees: "Us techies read the blogs and know what features we may be missing. "I think if you asked a consumer, 'Do you feel like your phone OS needs to be updated today?' they're pretty happy with the results and the performance they're seeing. So I'm not sure it's a major issue." While that may or may not be true, Milner's remarks come at a time when only 5.6 per cent of currently-active Android phones are running the latest Jelly Bean 4.2 OS. Combined with the 32.3 per cent of phones (active during the 14 days leading up to July 8) running Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, that monicker now has the largest percentage of users for the first time. The official Android data stated that almost a quarter (23.3 per cent) of users are still on the two-year-old Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. Apple can do it...why can't Google?The criticism of Android fragmentation, which makes it more difficult for developers to build apps suitable for all versions of the OS, is magnified by Apple's ability to get a majority of users on its latest OS quickly and easily. Last month, prior to the unveiling of iOS 7 it was reported that 93 per cent of all active iPhones were running the latest iOS 6.     | | Moto X leak bonanza continues as new snap emerges online Jul 13th 2013, 11:25, by Chris Smith 
Judging by a photo that emerged online late Friday evening, it seems Google chairman Eric Schmidt wasn't the only person to get his hands on the Moto X this weekend. Just hours after Schmidt was photographed using a mystery Moto device, Android Central received a photo from a reader who claimed to be holding the company's forthcoming flagship smartphone. Now, unless it's a child holding the device, it doesn't appear that the handset pictured (apparently it's the Verizon version) will smash through the 5-inch barrier as many recent smartphones have done. The apparent size, as well as the shape, rounded edges and rather sizeable bezels mean the device strongly resembles last year's 4.7-inch Google Nexus 4, which was made for the company by LG. The handset is also emblazoned with "confidential Motorola property" and "not for sale" stickers, also suggesting the sly photographer has his hands on the real deal. Android 4.3?Beyond the phone's design, AndroidCentral also points out a slight UI change that could indicate the device will ship with a new version of Android Jelly Bean. As you can see from the photo above, the background behind the on-screen soft keys is transparent, while the same keys are solid black in Android Jelly Bean 4.2.2. This small, but potentially significant, change could easily represent a minor UI adjustment from Motorola, or it could be a sign that the heavily-rumoured Android 4.3 update will ship with the device. The latest indications are that Moto and Google won't be released until August 23 so it might be a few weeks until we find out for sure.     | | Custom Moto X materials could include wood, metal, fabric and ceramic Jul 13th 2013, 04:04, by Chris Smith 
The customisation options for the "designed by you" Moto X phone could include the chance to choose from a variety of build materials for the device's backplate. According to Android and Me owner Taylor Wimberley, who's been firing off tips left and right recently, options for the casing will include wood, metal, fabric and ceramic as well as the default plastic. The tip follows reports earlier leaks claiming buyers would be able to choose colours and request custom engravings. In a post on Google+ Wimblerley wrote: "People keep asking for Moto X leaks, so here is another tidbit. Moto X features a curved design engineered from ground up for personalization. "As I reported awhile back, users will be able to pick the material for the backplate. Plastic is the default material, but wood is also an option that should be available at launch. Other materials like metals, ceramics, and fabrics should become available after the August 23rd launch." Tailored to youThe potential August 23 launch date was revealed yesterday thanks to the leak of a purported roadmap for US network Verizon. The device is expected to launch on all networks in Motorola's US homeland and beyond, but in his post on Friday, Wimberley hinted Verizon's great rival AT&T may have a little exclusive up its sleeve. He added: "AT&T has some kind of "exclusive" thing for the Moto X launch, but I don't know if it's an exclusive material/colour or something else completely different." If the Moto X went on sale with the aforementioned options, which backplate material would you choose? We'd have to say the wooden finish sounds rather appealing.     | | In Depth: Zooming in on the Lumia 1020's camera apps and features Jul 12th 2013, 20:34, by Luke Brown 
It's seemingly impossible to go a week without a new smartphone announcement, with manufacturers falling all over themselves to announce the "next big thing." Some may be tempted to write off yesterday's reveal of the Nokia Lumia 1020 as just another debut of yet another Windows Phone 8 device, albeit one with a humungous camera, but the Finnish firm is hoping consumers will find that it actually enhances the mobile phone experience. When CEO Stephen Elop took the stage to put the focus on the bombastic 41MP Pureview camera fitted into the Lumia 1020's frame, he showed the world the Nokia is ready to evolve beyond the traditional idea of a smartphone. In addition to attempting to blaze a new path in the cellphone sphere, Nokia believes its latest flagship will offer prospective users true control and confidence in capturing their lives at the press of a button. Two camera apps, one focus
That the Lumia 1020 has a better camera than most point-and-shoots, and low-end DSLRs for that matter, shouldn't intimidate potential users. For Nokia, one of the core concepts of its latest phone is putting confidence back in the hands of the amateur photographer. According to the company's research, consumers will take 7-10 pictures with a camera just to make sure they got the right image. As Nokia's reps explained to us, with the Lumia 1020, the first picture you take will hopefully be the picture you keep. Granted, it make take the phone a little longer to save the 15MB image, but the aim is that it's worth the wait. The phone's Pro Camera app should alleviate some of the unease and uncertainty users might have about getting the shot just right, as well. Useful features like Reframe allow you to craft multiple images from just one massive 41MP shot, while more experienced photographers will still find all the ISO, f-stop, and shutter speed options they could hope for, allowing them the same level of customization they have with a full camera in a device decidedly smaller. The features aren't inaccessible to the non-photogs among us, either. The Smart Camera app provides a range of "been there, done that" options at a slightly lower resolution, but is still capable of offering more creative ways to personalize your pictures. Though you won't be able to take 41MP images with Smart Camera on, you'll have much more freedom and flexibility for action shots and editing within Nokia's built-in Creative Studio. Technically, there's a third camera app in the default Windows 8 camera, but it's not fine-tuned for the new Pureview lens like the other two Nokia-developed apps. It will still take pictures just like you'd expect, but it doesn't offer any of the bonus features found in either Smart Camera or Pro Camera. Regardless of which app you use, all photos are taken with the new stabilization, multi-layered lens, and flash, which should help give even novices a chance at capturing the elusive "perfect" image. The forest for the trees
Unless you've got an actual photographer in your family, most of your photo albums are probably full of either close-ups or wide-angle shots. Your smartphone camera album is probably even worse, as most digital zooms end up looking awful and distorted. Pro Camera's Reframe takes all the guesswork out of the equation, and lets you snap pictures now and decide what the story is later, without the loss of pixel density or fidelity. To be fair, in our time with the Lumia 1020, we found zooming in all the way for the tiniest of details left things muddled, but the range of post-photo zooming is miles above what's available elsewhere. Reframing works as soon as the photo is saved, giving you the choice of repurposing the still to your exact specifications quickly and easily. While more savvy photo fiends are already doing these kinds of things in editing programs on their computers, having the option available instantly and on the go certainly helps the Lumia 1020 appear more flexible for the average consumer. 
Simple and smartEven if you'll be losing some of the ridiculous pixel density by using the Smart Camera app, there are still some advantages to the secondary application. We've seen camera features like action shots, multi-shots, face-swapping, and the ability to wipe moving objects before, but that doesn't make them any less relevant for a phone like the Lumia 1020. By including a wealth of options like those above, Nokia has effectively eliminated the hoping and praying typically associated with trying to get just the right shot. In theory, users will be able to take solace that no matter what, they're going to get the shot they wanted... with a little help from Nokia's software. Of course, there's something to be said for the lens and flash coming with the Lumia 1020 as well, as those components will do a lot of the heavy lifting in making sure photographs turn out the way you intended. Intelligent design
The Xenon flash isn't as harsh as an LED flash, but it is brighter and faster, which means images taken in low-light will come out stronger, even if people are moving. Outside of turning the flash on or off, that's not something you'll ever have to manage; that's just the way the phone is built. Additionally, the five lenses (one glass, four plastic) compacted together to create the Pureview design have stabilization measures built-in to ensure they all move in unison. By ensuring the lenses will never be out of sync, you have a markedly lower chance of shaky cam happening with stills or with video. Again, this should aid in taking all of the worry out of picture-taking, which in turn allows users have faith in their abilities, and should keep them snapping away without having to worry about standing perfectly still. Point of saleThe Lumia 1020 is still a pricey piece of hardware (priced at $299.99 in the U.S. or about £199/AU$327) when compared to some competitors, but Nokia and its products appear set to take a different path than phones like Samsung Galaxy S4 or the HTC One. The Lumia 1020 doesn't quite hold up to the screen and hardware power of its top rivals, but as the line between spec-heavy devices has blurred, Nokia's phone is a bold statement about where it sees itself going in the future. Based on our earliest impressions, every aspect of the Lumia 1020 has been fine-tuned to appeal to the snap-happy consumers that have flooded social networks with pictures of everyday life, while also offering power and performance that should impress pros. As it will be arriving in just a few weeks in the U.S., we won't have long to wait to discover if consumers are willing to shell out premium prices for the convenience, and confidence, the Lumia 1020 provides. You can find out more about the Lumia 1020's camera prowess in the video below: FutTv : aGu94vqC006Z2    | | The next Windows Phone 8 update is no Windows Phone Blue Jul 12th 2013, 18:58, by Michael Rougeau 
Microsoft detailed the next Windows Phone 8 update yesterday and revealed that General Distribution Release 2 (GDR2) will bring minor changes to the mobile OS. But 8 months after the initial release of Windows Phone 8, some users were expecting more major changes to the OS. After all, Windows 8 received its substantial Windows 8.1 update just 10 months after release. But despair not - The Verge claims to have learned that the major Windows Phone 8 update users are waiting for will drop next year, once Microsoft has had time to iron out some irksome bugs. That update will focus on adding new features to the software to support new hardware from Microsoft's OEMs with bigger screens and better processors, the publication said today. Updates and more updatesThe soon-to-arrive Windows Phone 8 update includes minor improvements to Xbox Music, Skype and Internet Explorer, plus the return of FM radio to some phones and a Data Sense app for some carriers, Microsoft revealed on its Windows Phone blog. It also allows users to set a default lens for the camera app and promises other improvements that aren't detailed. So yeah, nothing major. Stuff of more magnitude will have to wait until the "Blue" update - also the codename for Windows 8.1 before that was officially unveiled - drops in early 2014, according to The Verge. This more significant WP8 refresh will reportedly include a notification center, souped up multitasking, and more changes to built-in apps. However, the site expects another update, GDR3, to arrive before the end of 2013, and some of the features expected in next year's update, including a much-needed rotation lock option, could also be thrown in. ZDNet has also previously reported that the GDR3 update might come in the fall. Microsoft and Nokia sitting in a treeJust like it did for the Nokia Lumia 1020, Microsoft is believed to be working closely with Nokia and possibly other OEMs on development of future Windows Phone 8 updates. Manufacturers are reportedly dictating or requesting some of the changes to the OS, including leaving room for 5- and 6-inch 1080p Windows Phone handsets with quad-core chips. Those devices are thought to be arriving this year from manufacturers that work closely with Microsoft, like Nokia and likely HTC.     | | In Depth: Want to know when your phone will become your flexible friend? Jul 12th 2013, 15:40, by Simon Hill 
Let's face it: smartphone screens are getting a little boring. Apart from going closer to the edge of the bezel, it's all just increasingly larger displays in the same rectangular shape, with most attempts to deviate from this form factor failing. But what if we didn't have to put up with that? What if a radical new way of looking at our smartphone could mean we completely change the way we use our smartphones and tablets? Flexible displays could do just that, and it's a technology that could be worth billions in just over half a decade. The second you mention flexible displays, most people turn off. They don't see the point in being able to bend your phone - and if that was all that flexible displays allowed, they'd have a point. But imagine if your smartphone could expand to tablet size, or you could wear a curved display on your wrist. Many people already know that flexible screens can be rolled or even folded, but more importantly they also offer much greater durability. 
A study by warranty provider Square Trade suggested that iPhone and Android device owners in the UK spent £1.2 billion on repairs between 2007 and 2012, and the most common cause of damage was accidental drops. While traditional glass touchscreens shatter and scratch, flexible displays can survive similar falls unscathed. The technology dates back to the 70s, when research company Xerox PARC produced the first flexible e-paper display. Billions of pounds have been sunk into the research and development of flexible displays since then, with limited results. Cambridge-based Plastic Logic showed off a concept newspaper that could be rolled up and put in a bag around seven years ago, but the technology has struggled to get off the ground. At the same time Polymer Vision, a company spun out of the Philips R&D lab in Eindhoven, tried to release a folding e-ink display, but couldn't get to the economy of scale needed - plus, the company told us, it was hard to convince people that their new device wasn't horrendously brittle. Thankfully in the last couple of years we've seen a flurry of prototypes heralding the arrival of this technology on the consumer electronics scene, meaning we could gett our hands on the new wave of devices in the not-too-distant future. A recent report from Visiongain suggested "the global flexible display screens market will reach US$260.3 million" this year, but expects it to be the "benchmark technology for mobile devices" by 2018. An IHS report from early June is also optimistic about the future of flexible displays suggesting that worldwide shipments will climb to "792 million units in 2020, up from 3.2 million in 2013", taking market revenue to around US$41.3 billion, although other reports are more circumspective, suggesting that the market will only be worth $3.2 billion by 2017. Designing the futureThe numbers are still very much up for debate, as we're not even at the product stage yet. However, prototypes for flexible devices already range wildly and the potential is exciting. At the shallow end, there are displays that simply curve around the edge of a traditional rectangular smartphone, as shown by Samsung. Manufacturers could design user interfaces to make use of these spaces as distinct touch control areas for navigation, or as secondary displays for specific information. Imagine a permanent battery meter and signal strength display, or a dedicated notifications area that provides at-a-glance information regardless of your activity or the app that you are in, without detracting from your normal smartphone use. One could easily see a version of Android being brought out to cater for this, using the top, bottom or spine of the phone to deliver notifications. As the technology improves, smartphone forms will become a great deal more imaginative. Freed from the restrictions of rigidity, we could see a real drive toward designs that fold up to be truly portable, but also allow us to expand our smartphones to large tablet size for watching video. The trend toward larger displays and hybrid smartphone/tablet devices indicates clear demand in the market already. Interact in a new wayWe could also find new ways to interact. The Nokia Kinetic, on show at Nokia World 2011, allowed users to flex the device in order to control it. You could scroll by twisting, or answer the phone by giving it a squeeze. It's clever ideas like this that will capture the imagination of the public when a manufacturer delivers the first truly malleable phone - not just the fact that you can wrap it around your finger. 
A similar idea has obviously occurred to Apple, as you can see from this patent application which discusses a system to detect "force exerted on a flexible display". A touchscreen that could determine the force you apply and react accordingly would be a great deal more intuitive to use. It could also have major implications for apps and games. A harder strike on a virtual piano key, for example, could play a louder note - this is already possible, but flexible screens would give the user so much more relevant feedback. The potential applications in wearable tech are also striking. Flexible displays could serve the burgeoning smartwatch industry, or be uses in clothes themselves - imagine a display on your sleeve that bursts into life when you have an incoming call and prompts you to pop your earpiece in. But we're getting way ahead of ourselves here. So, what's actually happening now?All major manufacturers of smartphones are working on flexible displays, in one form or another, for a multitude of devices. Samsung, LG, and Nokia have all shown off prototypes, where Sony, Phillips, Sharp, Toshiba, and others have revealed they're also working on the technology. Even Apple has already filed patents in this area, showing that the race to release the first smartphone with a flexible display is clearly on - although the early pacesetters look to be LG and Samsung. 
Samsung showed off its bendable OLED displays, dubbed Youm, at CES earlier this year, where LG Display followed up with something very similar at the Society for Information Display conference a few months later. Both prototypes were crafted from thin plastic and based on OLED (organic light-emitting diode) technology - the same kind that's powered the high-performance displays in the Galaxy S2, S3 and S4. Flexible LCD displays are possible, but OLED is preferable because it doesn't require a backlight. This enables thinner and lighter designs, critical for a bendable screen. OLED also offers deeper black levels, higher contrast ratios, and greater power efficiency. The e-ink / flexible display combination is the most advanced example of this technology – and you're probably already using it today if you're one of the millions of ebook readers. The Amazon Kindle, for instance, is packing a flexible display - that's what makes it so robust. However, bringing out a completely flexible ereader on the same scale would be too expensive, and require a flexible case, battery and processor too. And while e-ink is good for the written word, it's not use in smartphones as it can't handle HD video. It even struggles to reproduce colour to the same degree as a Super AMOLED or LCD display. The general consensus is summed up in a recent IHS report into the possible state of the flexible display market: "We predict OLEDs will be the leading flexible display technology during every year for the foreseeable future." Wait - there's a problemBut can a flexible display offer anything approaching the resolution and clarity as seen on the stunning HTC One and Samsung Galaxy S4? "It's very difficult to have high definition screens that are also bendable and flexible," Professor Andrea Ferrari from Cambridge University told us. That's because of current technology limitations. LG Display already demonstrated an unbreakable and flexible 5-inch plastic OLED panel for mobile devices that was labelled as HD, but it's unlikely that early flexible displays will match their rigid counterparts when it comes to pixel density. Raza Ali, IT & Telecom Analyst at Visiongain, added: "The flexible screens in early devices will not be as good as traditional glass OLED initially. However, the quality will get better with time and eventually surpass glass OLEDs." Making everything else flexibleThere's also the issue of the myriad other components needed to enable a bendy phone or tablet. It's fine for the display to flex, but if the battery and other components can't do the same, then how can we ever expect progress here? That's what makes the recent developments with graphene so exciting. This flexible carbon is extremely strong and could be used to make the display and the rest of the components in a smartphone flexible as well. Professor Ferrari told us that graphene is the "strongest and most stretchable material, flexible and bendable, transparent and conductive," going on to explain that "these properties are ideal for interactive displays." Plastic Logic is already using the material to overcome the barriers to flexible screens, working with the Cambridge Graphene Centre to overcome the inherent issues. "Plastic Logic is working with new materials which will help make batteries flexible and energy-dense enough to power these flexible display screen devices" according to Ali, explaining that "there will be a whole new submarket working on subsidiary electronic components needed for flexible display devices. There is a lot of research and development going on... to make truly flexible display devices a reality in the near future." 
As for the touchscreen, we are used to glass, and plastic simply doesn't have the same feel. Luckily the makers of Gorilla Glass, Corning, are already working on something called Willow Glass which is flexible and (according to Corning) "formulated to perform exceptionally well for electronic components such as touch sensors". This material will even allow electronics to be printed directly onto the substrate and combined with the glass all in one manufacturing process - another big advantage that OLED technology has, as it can be printed in a variety of ways. YouTube : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXQEpVRtGtwBut will anyone be able to afford a flexible phone?Cost is always a consideration with new technology - OLED TVs are a brilliant idea, but have been hampered for years by eye-watering price tag. 
Ali suggested "the biggest challenge to be faced by OEM's in the flexible display screens market is balancing the performance and the price of the product to ensure premium user-experience and the best value for money at that price point." He states they will be "high-end and luxury consumer devices for early adopters", and it could be 2018 before the costs fall significantly enough to entice the new smartphone buyer to splash out on a new device. But, like LCD and plasma TVs in the last decade, identifying new materials and fine-tuning the manufacturing process will bring costs down over time to a price people are comfortable with. When can I buy a smartphone with a flexible display?But don't think the iPhone 5S will be a wibbly wonder. Predictably, it will be some time before the full potential of the technology can be realised. Professor Ferrari believes "[displays] are becoming less and less of a science issue, and more of a development and marketing decision," so we could see smartphones using graphene in the display within a year or two. But when it comes to transistors, casings, batteries and other components, there is still a great deal of research to be done - although there are loads of companies with extremely interesting patents popping up all over the place. It's even possible we'll see a smartphone with a flexible display before the year is out, thanks to LG's Mobile Division VP, Yoon Bu-hyun, suggesting that LG could release a smartphone with a flexible display before the end of the year. But there may have been some confusion over what that means, as Global Communications Director for LG, Ken Hong, told us. "What he was referring to was the 'plastic OLED' display which is often translated as 'flexible' by some media, but that means it's not as rigid as glass, not that it can wrap around one's finger," he clarified. He went on to explain that "it's about resilience and durability first", and confirmed that LG is "still targeting the fourth quarter of this year to introduce a smartphone featuring a plastic OLED display." There were strong rumours that the flagship Samsung Galaxy S4 might sport a flexible display, but they proved unfounded, with whispers pointing to manufacturing issues delaying Samsung's efforts to produce this technology. The latest rumours are that the forthcoming Samsung Galaxy Note 3 may be the first mass market device with a flexible display, but the company has yet to announce any firm plans. So, should I really care about a bendy phone?Early flexible display devices aren't likely to offer much, or indeed anything, in the way of functionality beyond current smartphones. What they will offer in the short term is the possibility of lighter and stronger devices in familiar form factors. It may not be thrilling, but, as Ali explains, "it is a huge leap forward in terms of display technology, especially since conventional glass screens are so prone to cracking even if dropped from a low height." By comparison flexible displays "would be unbreakable, and would be able to take a huge amount of wear and tear before showing signs of abuse while maintaining a high screen quality and resolution." As the technology matures over the next couple of years, we'll see some designs that use flexibility to maximise space and offer additional displays and controls. When manufacturers can make batteries and other components flexible as well, then we will see some really inspiring designs. It's highly likely in the short term we'll see one of the Asian manufacturers bringing out a standard smartphone with a flexible e-ink display on the back for web and ebook reading, but this will be a niche product to test the market in the same way as the Samsung Galaxy Beam with built-in projector. But who wouldn't love to have a small, highly portable smartphone that's capable of expanding to full 10-inch tablet size? That will be a device that people will rush out and buy… but there's still time to enjoy the Samsung Galaxy S5 before that comes about. Check out Samsung's Your Mobile Life to discover loads more about the infinite possibilities of the GALAXY S4, Note 8.0 and Note II     | | Opinion: BlackBerry isn't working: time to call it quits Jul 12th 2013, 15:30, by Phil Lavelle 
You know that feeling when you're at a party, someone's on stage doing karaoke and they're dying on their arse? You just want to drag them off because it's painful to watch. It's how I feel every time I see an article about Blackberry these days. In fact, I could sum up that emotion in a sentence: Taxi for BlackBerry - it's time to go. Just this week, the boss, Thorsten Heins, was urging investors not to write the company off, begging for more time to let his three-stage turnaround strategy work. Shares fell by almost 30 per cent in June - just months after the much publicised launch of the Z10, the Q10 and OS, BlackBerry 10. You wonder how much time Heins needs - considering an instant success could be measured easily. 20 million Galaxy S4's sold by Samsung in two months, for example. That's the kind of maths Mr Heins is praying for. But it ain't coming, by the looks of things. Pre-Christmas, the tech world was eager to see what fruity treats the company formerly known as RIM could offer. But the January blues set in as punters and retailers realises the magic was gone. The Z10 appears to have been a flop. And even though BlackBerry and Selfridges were keen to point out there were queues for the Q10 when it launched exclusively there, one swallow does not a summer make. In fact, the swallow seems to have died on the wing and fallen out of the sky. Now, investors - and voyeuristic tech journalists who can see what's happening - are wondering how many second chances this company needs. Outside the gates of its HQ in the aptly-named Waterloo, this battle is being lost. Good old daysPart of the problem is beyond BlackBerry's control. These days, apps sell a phone as much as the design and the OS. Would the iPhone be as popular if there was no third-party love, as was the case at launch? The twist here is that BlackBerry has always supported third party apps - before Google and Apple started biting into market share. Many were - and still are - poorly designed, overpriced tat, but the underlying fact is that RIM always had its doors open. The launch of the App World made that official but many of the big names have stayed away. BlackBerry has made a nice looking shop with a lot of crap, expensive stock on the shelves. It wasn't always this way. 10 years ago, a BlackBerry was the status symbol. Hell, even five years ago, it was a big deal. When I received a company BlackBerry while working at the BBC, I was giddy with excitement - not at the model, since they'd gone budget (license fee money, after all), but the fact I suddenly became somebody. Calls of "I'm on my BlackBerry" as I headed out of the office were pretty common. (As were comments of "You're a tosser" thrown back at me, I'm sure, as I manoeuvred my big head out of the office door.) And BlackBerry was diversifying. Out went the fear of cameras (lest security-conscious IT managers screamed about espionage concerns) and in came a big push to get BBM down with the kids. For the last few years, BlackBerries have been just as synonymous with teenagers as traders. But the advent of services like WhatsApp is once again proving that there are alternatives out there. And don't even go there with the PlayBook. #FAIL. Resorting to the robotSo, where does it go from here? Here's a radical idea: why doesn't RIM ditch OS 10 and adopt Android? It may sound crazy on the surface, but there are reasons why this could work. Firstly, Android and iPhone sales are taking away what was once BlackBerry's core market. This would allow RIM to tackle the competition head on with an if-you-can't-beat-them-join-them approach. Secondly, it would give RIM instant access to a huge app library, with all the big names. And thirdly, as we've seen with the likes of the Kindle Fire and Nook HD, Android can be tailored to look and feel exactly as the owner wants. An Android-running BlackBerry could be made to look exactly like an OS 10 running BlackBerry, to make the user feel familiar and comfortable with what they're holding. The beauty is here that BlackBerry can have its cake and eat it. It can still run its services independently within an Android framework if it wants to reassure customers. Remember the Siemens SK65 or the Nokia E61? Both third-party handsets, which accessed BlackBerry's services. Neither sold well, but they were examples of RIM's core service working on other native operating systems. This may be akin to dancing with the devil. But if RIM doesn't stand up and put those dancing shoes on, it may find itself waltzing off into the sunset sooner rather than later. I've reviewed dozens of phones and tablets for TechRadar over the years - each time putting them through their paces in the most unbiased, rigorous way possible. But as well as being a professional, I have a love/hate relationship with tech, and that's what these columns are all about: the passionate howlings of a true fanboy. Tell me why I'm right, wrong or a hopeless idiot in the comments below or by tweeting @techradar or @phillavelle.     | | Eric Schmidt can't talk about but can show off Moto X Phone Jul 12th 2013, 14:56, by Kate Solomon 
Google's Eric Schmidt rocked up at the Allen and Co media conference with a phone we expect is the Moto X Phone. Sadly, he 'couldn't comment on the nature of' the handset, but was happy enough to wave it around in front of photographers' cameras. He's nothing if not unassuming. JazzyThe sleek white handset doesn't come with the traditional boxy Motorola stylings - in fact, it looks quite nice and less chunky than previous leaks have suggested it will be. The back panel looks sort of cross-hatched in a similar style to the Google Nexus 4's snazzy jazzy back plate. 
One reporter, Rachel Abrams, reports that Schmidt insisted, "I'm not allowed to comment on the nature of this phone." 
So that was useful. If it is indeed the Moto X Phone, we expect that back plating to come in various colours to tick off the whole 'customisable' bend Motorola is going on. Still not too much to report spec-wise, although with the device on show like this we don't imagine it'll be too long before Motorola and Google make the handset official.     | | BLIP: Verizon HTC One, Moto X release date leaks point to August Jul 12th 2013, 01:33, by Matt Swider 
The HTC One for Verizon is expected to come to the Big Red network at the top of next month, and its customers will also be able to get the Motorola Moto X soon after. The long-awaited Verizon HTC One release date is August 1, according to a leaked internal memo sent PhoneArena. This Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean smartphone has been available on Verizon competitors AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile since as far back as April. The Motorola Moto X is another flagship phone using the Verizon network that is expected next month, with the same memo pinning its release date down as August 23. As Motorola's first flagship smartphone since being acquired by Google, it is anticipated that the company will release the Moto X for AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile as well. More blips!What should you do while you wait for the Verizon Moto X release date? X marks the spot to more blips.   | | Talking and texting forever is basically possible with Sprint's new plans Jul 12th 2013, 00:41, by Michelle Fitzsimmons 
T-Mobile isn't the only carrier that gets to have all the plan reshuffling fun. Sprint has confirmed the new service offerings first leaked yesterday, introducing what it promises is unlimited talk, text and data for the entire life of a line of service, forever and ever and ever. The caveat is that customers have to sign up for a new Unlimited, My Way or My All-in plan, which both kick off Friday. Unlimited, My Way lets customers mix smartphones with basic phones, with talk and text plans starting at $50/month for the first phone and $10 off each subsequent device ($40/month for phone No. 2, $30/month for phone No. 3, etc.). They can choose how many lines they want up to 10, and select what kind of data they want for each type line (it's $30/month for smartphones and $10/month for basic). Double downCustomers can opt for 1GB of data at $20 per month for smartphones or no data at all on basic phones, which levies no charge. The overall idea is really geared towards families as the savings accrue the more lines are added, Sprint explained. With the My All-in plan, Sprinters can grab unlimited talk, text and data plus 5GB mobile hotspot usage for $110 a month, though the carrier's "Unlimited Guarantee" doesn't apply to capped data use options. New and existing customers are eligible for the new plans, and those already under contract won't see their contract extended. Those who do sign up for the new plans should see savings: The Unlimited plan runs at $109.99 per month per line, with $49.99/month tacked on for 6GB hotspot.   | | Pool or beach? Sprint, Boost ready with Kyocera Hydro Edge Jul 11th 2013, 17:45, by JR Bookwalter 
Hitting the beach for summer fun no longer means worrying about water and sand ruining your smartphone, assuming you own Sprint's submersible Kyocera Hydro Edge. Sprint today announced the Edge, the latest member of the manufacturer's line of waterproof Android 4.1 Jelly Bean smartphones that will hit stores next week. Available starting July 19, the 4-inch touchscreen Hydro Edge is capable of being submerged in up to 3.28 feet of water for as long as 30 minutes, which should be enough to take the worry out of dropping it in the pool or even the waves. The Kyocera Hydro Edge is also affordable at only $19.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate with two-year agreement, and the handset will also be available contract-free for $149.99 from Sprint-owned Boost Mobile beginning July 23. Samsung Boost, tooBoost also made its own announcement Thursday for the Samsung Galaxy Prevail II, an Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean smartphone now available contract-free. Priced at $179.99, the 4-inch, WVGA touchscreen handset is powered by a 1.4GHz processor capable of both digital photos and video chat, courtesy of a 5MP rear camera as well as a 1.3MP front-facing camera. Touted as "a premium Android smartphone experience at a real value," the Wi-Fi and GPS-enabled Galaxy Prevail II can be paired with Boost's $55 Android Monthly Unlimited plan, and thanks to Shrinking Payments, customers could ultimately pay as little as $40 per month. The Samsung Galaxy Prevail II is now available at Boost Mobile retailers and independent wireless dealers as well as direct from the Boost website, complete with free shipping. - Check out last year's CTIA hands-on of the original Kyocera Hydro!
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