 | Security bug means virtually all Android devices could be prone to hackers Jul 4th 2013, 11:05, by Hugh Langley 
A security flaw discovered in almost all Android devices means that post-1.6 versions of the OS could be open to intrusion. The information was released by Bluebox Security, which claims that the "Android master key" makes 99 per cent of devices vulnerable – that's about 900 million devices. The flaw is down to the way Android app updates are verified, as developers are able to modify the code of an app update without breaking the cryptographic signature. In other words, it's easy for them to hack in and put some nasty code in an app on the store that appears perfectly innocent. "Depending on the type of application, a hacker can exploit the vulnerability for anything from data theft to creation of a mobile botnet," said Bluebox on the potential risks. Paranoid AndroidWhat's worse, the flaw has existed ever since Android 1.6. Bluebox claimed that the Samsung Galaxy S4 is the only device not prone to the problem, suggesting a patch may have already been installed on the phone. Google, which was informed of the exploit in February and is said to have since notified its device partners, and apparently working on an update for its Nexus line, but the responsibility to create and dispatch the patch for other devices lies with their respective manufacturers. We contacted Google for a response and will update if we hear more.     | | Nokia Lumia 1020 release date, news and rumours Jul 4th 2013, 10:48, by John McCann 
Originally touted as the Nokia EOS in early rumours it now appears that the Finnish firm's next flagship smartphone will launch under the moniker Nokia Lumia 1020. There won't be any surprise when it comes to the Luima 1020's operating system as Nokia deals solely with Windows Phone 8 now, plus we know its next flagship will be announced in New York on July 11. The big talking point with the Lumia 1020, however, will be what it's packing on its rear - with rumours hotly tipping it to sport a similar 41MP camera to that on the Nokia 808 Pureview. We've rounded up all the web chatter about the Nokia Lumia 1020 to bring you a complete round up of what you can expect from the handset formerly known as EOS. Nokia Lumia 1020 release date and priceNokia has already confirmed its "Zoom Reinvented" event in New York on July 11, which everyone assumes will be where it officially unveils the Lumia 1020. Earlier reports suggested the Nokia EOS would make an appearance at a May 14 event, or even on July 9 - but these were clearly wide of the mark. In terms of when you can expect the Lumua 1020 in stores, if it is wheeled out on July 11 we'd expect you'll be waiting until at least August before the handset goes on sale - if not a little longer. Price-wise we haven't heard anything regarding the EOS, but you can expect it to carry a hefty tag if the rumoured specs below turn out to be correct - so you might want to start saving. Nokia Lumia 1020 cameraWe'll jump straight to the camera to get this round-up going, as it will be the single biggest selling point for the Lumia 1020 if what we're hearing turns out to be true. We first caught wind of a Windows Phone device with Nokia's PureView camera tech on board all the way back in January 2013 when the Nokia EOS first leaked - complete with 41MP camera rumour. The camera spec talk has become consistent ever since the original leak, with subsequent sources agreeing the Lumia 1020 will indeed sport the 41MP camera tech. Nokia itself has even teased that there are "41 million reasons to zoom in to Nokia Conversations on July 11" - what more evidence do you need? To improve your shots in low light, the Nokia Lumia 1020 is also said to carry a Xenon flash on its rear, which produces much better light than the LED flashes which adorn most smartphones today. As well as sticking a fancy camera on the back of the Lumia 1020 it looks as though Nokia is also giving its camera software an overhaul with a recently leaked screenshot showing off the "Nokia Pro Cam" live tile. POWER!Until now, every Windows Phone handset has either sported a single- or dual-core processor, but with the Nokia Lumia 1020 that may all change as it's rumoured to be the first to offer up quad-core power. Recent benchmark results supposedly taken from the Lumia 1020 also suggest a quad-core chip will be housed inside the handset, and this would really make it a contender in the spec war with the HTC One, Samsung Galaxy S4 and Sony Xperia Z. It's thought that Nokia is eying up Qualcomm's Snapdragon 800 processor for the Lumia 1020 - which is the same powerful chip which you'll find inside the larger-than-life Sony Xperia Z Ultra. Looky hereThose hoping to clap eyes on a full HD version of Windows Phone 8 with the arrival of the Lumia 1020 may well be disappointed as reports point towards a 720p offering. According to a number of leaks the Lumia 1020 will sport a relatively modest 4.5-inch display - although there's some discrepancy when it comes to resolution and screen tech. Some sources are claiming that it will carry a 768 x 1280 AMOLED display, while more recently we've seen reports of 720 x 1280 OLED screens. More, more, moreIn terms of what else you can expect from the Nokia Lumia 1020 the battery department looks to be covered by a 2000mAh offering - although expect this to be locked into a unibody case. As far as internal storage goes the 1020 may turn up with 32GB inside - which will certainly be required as we reckon the image files produced by the 41MP camera will be pretty big. Of course storage fears would be laid to rest if the Lumia 1020 arrived with a microSD slot, and things looked promising on that front a few month ago. However reports after that seemed to suggest that the EOS actually wouldn't offer any expandable storage - so we're a little lost as to what will (or won't) appear on the final product. Radio fans can rejoice as other leaks point towards the Lumia 1020 being fitted with a FM radio transmitter, allowing you to enjoy one of the simpler pleasures in life - huzzah! DesignMetal or polycarbonate? It's a debate that rages on and it's still a little unclear which side of the line the Nokia Lumia 1020 will land. Some of the early reports we saw suggested the Nokia EOS would ditch the polycarbonate which adorns the likes of the Lumia 920 and Lumia 820 in favour of a fully aluminium chassis - one even went as far as to suggest it would be waterproof. However, polycarbonate could well be back on the table after other rumours claim the Lumia 1020 will match the Lumia 920 design. Your guess is as good as ours at this point. It's worth noting that Nokia's latest high-end device - the Lumia 925 - does sport a metallic chassis so, even though the rear is still soft touch, it's got some history working with the material. We've seen several photos slide out from various sources claiming to show the Lumia 1020, and there's even a video - but we'll leave you to make up your own mind on their authenticity. 
The first couple of images which crept out claiming they revealed the Lumia 1020 can be seen above and below here, with the large camera unit clearly visible. 
We then saw a clear, crisp shot from ViziLeaks which apparently revealed the rear of the handset in all its glory, although the camera MP rating was not revealed. 
Around the same time as the ViziLeaks image, the folks over at GSMArena popped up a couple of snaps also supposedly showing off the Lumia 1020 - and in terms of design everything seems to be matching up nicely. 
ViziLeaks got back in the leaked image action with another picture of the camera on the rear of the Lumia 1020, but still the megapixel rating is "XX" - although "41" will probably replace that. 
Over on Chinese social media site Weibo a couple more images appeared claiming to show the Lumia 1020 and its potentially metallic chassis - although this could just be a clever effect on a plastic case. 
The most recent image leak comes via the oft reliable @evleaks and reveals the Nokia Pro Cam app on a handset which sports the same shape as the Lumia 920.     | | Nokia Lumia 1020 gets snapped with Pro Cam in focus Jul 4th 2013, 09:25, by Hugh Langley 
Nokia's July 11 event draws ever nearer, promising to bring the Nokia 1020 (previously known as the Eos) to our fingers, but as these things tend to go, we might have just been given our early preview. Serial leaker @evleaks previously claimed that the new flagship would be named the Nokia Lumia 1020, and now the mysterious tipster has tweeted a picture to offer alongside that claim. From what we can see, the phone has taken its design cues from the Lumia 920. However we can't see the rear of the handset, which is where the the real magic will be happening. The 1020 is rumoured to be arriving with a not-so-modest 41-megapixel PureView camera and will succeed the Nokia 808 PureView. Focus carefullyOn closer inspection, you'll notice the Nokia Pro Cam tile on the screen, an app that's been rumoured to be on the handset. The image shows the phone on American network AT&T and @evleaks captioned the picture simply, "Nokia Lumia 1020 for AT&T, 2013" With the new trend of super-snapper phones beginning to take off, including the Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom, can Nokia offer the market a compelling early option? We should find out for sure at Nokia's event next week.     | | HTC One Mini leaks on O2 roadmap alongside HTC One Max Jul 4th 2013, 09:05, by John McCann 
The chance of us seeing two new handsets from HTC in the coming months is becoming more and more likely as leaked documents from a German carrier reveal the HTC One Mini alongside the HTC One Max. Speculation on a shrunken and super-sized HTC One variants has been rife with a flurry of leaked snapshots and specs spilled by various "sources" and it seems O2 Germany has added further fuel to the fire. According to the folks over German site mobiFlip, they have managed to get their hands on a leaked internal document from the network which lists the One Mini in black and sliver, and the One Max in silver only. Nokia, squaredIt doesn't provide any other information on the handsets, so potential release dates and firm specs are still unknown. Previous rumours suggest the HTC One Mini will feature a 4.3-inch display (Galaxy S4 Mini anyone?), dual-core processor, 2GB of RAM and 16GB storage, while the One Max is expected to pack a 5.9-inch full HD screen and beefy 2.3GHz processor. The listing also reveals a couple of Nokia handsets with code names "Eros" and "Mars" appearing under the current crop of Lumia smartphones - although there's no guarantee this document is genuine.     | | Microsoft revamps OneNote mobile app Jul 4th 2013, 08:26, by Kane Fulton 
Microsoft has redesigned the mobile version of its note taking app OneNote, saying it wants to give users a more consistent experience across multiple devices. It has engineered the app to make notes appear the same across all clients and on different platforms, including Windows, Windows Phone, Android and iOS, in addition to introducing new formatting and customisation options. Microsoft has also added support for notebooks stored on Office 365, SharePoint, and SkyDrive Pro. Additionally, OneNote also now allows groups of people to collaborate on notes in real-time in a similar way to Google's Apps for Business platform. WidgetsThe software giant has added widgets to the Android version that can be edited on the home screen, while the iPad version of the app has gained Microsoft's Office ribbon. It has also made its OneNote apps for iOS and Android completely free, removing the limitation of 500 notes previously available to users before they had to pay.     | | Moga mobile game controllers coming to Australia Jul 4th 2013, 07:09, by Farrha Khan 
App gaming is about to get a boost in Australia, with Moga announcing the Aussie launch of its "mobile gaming systems" set for late August. Manufactured by PowerA, the Moga controllers work with Android phones and tablets. Both the Moga Pocket and Pro have been available in the UK and US, but it will be making its first appearance in Australia soon. "We're really excited to be bringing the MOGA gaming ecosystem to the Aussie audience, as it's already been a proven game-changer in the US and UK markets" commented Eric Bensussen, president of PowerA. The Moga Pocket Controller uses Bluetooth for connectivity and has dual analogue sticks, shoulder triggers and four action buttons. A bracket, called the Moga Arm, holds your phone securely for gameplay. Designed for longer play, the Moga Pro Controller is more similar to console controls. It also has dual analogue sticks, but also full sized grips and a D-pad. The PAX preview Both controllers will be previewed at the PAX Australia in Melbourne from July 19 to 21. Backed by a number of game developers, users will be able to access a number of compatible games through the Moga Pivot app, which can be downloaded from Google Play for free. Key launch titles will include Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, Real Soccer 2013 and Pacman. EB customers will also get Modern Combat 4: Zero Hour for free if they pre-order before the launch in August. The RRP for Moga Pocket is $59 and $79 for the Pro.     | | Roamz shuts down, shifts focus to Social Measure Jul 4th 2013, 04:07, by Farrha Khan 
Roamz, the Australian-made app for searching for local haunts, shut down operations today. And though it was a well-received app, it only ever garnered about 200,000 downloads. Roamz sent out emails to its users this morning to inform them of that it would be closing down the iPhone and Android app, as well as the web application. The apps have now also been removed from both iTunes market and Google Play, while Roamz.com redirects to its new venture, called Local Measure. If you never knew about Roamz, it's almost like it never existed. Measuring up Roamz has had a difficult couple of years since its launch in 2011, and while the move to shut down Roamz seems sudden, its future has been tenuous for a while. Not being able to attract users and monetize the app, founder Jonathan Barouch earlier this year said that he wasn't sure about the future for Roamz, according to TechCrunch. In his email to Roamz users, he and his team were now focusing on Local Measure, an app focused instead more on business clients. "Similar to Roamz, Local Measure merges local content, social media and mobile technology, to provide an aggregate view of conversations taking place, in real time, at an individual store or on a store-by-store basis for retail chains," Barouch wrote. "We're sad to see Roamz go, but thankful to have the opportunity to apply our learnings in our new business product, Local Measure." Via: LifeHacker     | | New Telstra customers to Play with Android gift card bonus Jul 4th 2013, 00:55, by Farrha Khan 
Need a new phone? Telstra might just be able to lure you with a $50 Google Play store gift card if you purchase an eligible Android handset between July 2 and September 2, 2013. On Wednesday night, the telco confirmed to Ausdroid that the gift cards will be available to anyone who purchases a HTC One or One XL, Sony Xperia Z, LG Optimus G, Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1, Galaxy S4, Galaxy Note II and Galaxy S III 4G in that time period. The gift card can be used on books, games, apps, music and movies. To redeem it, all you'll need to do is send the IMEI 15-digit handset number as an SMS to the phone number 810, and you'll be sent another 15-digit code back that you'll need to enter in at http://play.google.com/redeem. Carded giftsTelstra's promotion confirms that Google Play gift cards are finally going to be made available in Australia, at least for Telstra customers. Currently, Google Play gifts cards are available in the US, UK and Canada, but Australia has so far been left out. Although there hasn't been any official word from Google yet, TechRadar is hopeful to see these gift cards available alongside other retailer and iTunes gift cards, as this promotion shows that at least the infrastructure is there for Aussies. Via: Ausdroid     | | Blip: Budget iPhone eyed in blue, joins four other possible pigments Jul 4th 2013, 00:50, by Matt Swider 
We know you were just screaming, "But what about blue??" when leaked photos showing alleged green, yellow and red cheap iPhone models appeared earlier this week. Calm down, as now comes word (or sight) that Apple may be planning to have a blue budget iPhone join the low-cost trio, as the latest snap from a Chinese factory seem to indicate. What appears to be a half-assembled iPhone blue shell has been photographed alongside the three previously leaked of colors and a white version, according to French site Nowhere Else. With the pigments popping up left and right, we wouldn't be surprised if we soon see a fuchsia, burnt orange and taupe model soon. More BlipsThe colors making you dizzy? Take three blips and call us in the morning.     | | Juicy Vine for iPhone update introduces 'revining.' Like retweeting, but for Vine Jul 4th 2013, 00:13, by Chris Smith 
Twitter's Vine app is seemingly ready to meet the threat of Video on Instagram head on, after launching a significant update for iPhone today. The headlining feature within the update, which the company says is its biggest yet, is the introduction of 'revining' which, like retweeting, allows users to share Vine videos they enjoy among their own followers. The company hopes this will help popular Vines become more visibile among the community of users by going viral. Discovery is also emphasised by the new Explore section, which allows users to view videos that are popular, on the rise, or tagged with specific terms. Creators can now post to specific channels like Comedy or Cats too! Better camera, more protectionHowever, it's not all about showcasing the posts of others. Perhaps wounded by the assertions that Instagram's video shooting experience is superior, Vine has updated camera functions too. There's now a redesigned shooting UI, the addition of a photo grid and a focus button and the addition of a 'Ghost' button, which showcases the last frame of the previous shot. Each of those additions will be welcomed, in particular, by those using the app for stop-motion animations, where it's important to frame the shot perfectly and track the movement of your subject from one shot to the next. Vine has also added greater security for shy users by introducing protected accounts that, like Twitter, allow users to approve new followers before they can view their posts. The new features are for Vine's iPhone app at present, but the company says they'll be introduced to Android soon, starting with the protected posts feature today, and continuing next week.     | | HTC One Mini photo leaks are back in black Jul 3rd 2013, 23:27, by Matt Swider 
The unannounced HTC One Mini keeps showing up in leaked photos acting as if it were officially unveiled, but this time the smartphone is sporting a look that's a horse of a different color. The latest unconfirmed HTC One Mini pictures feature a new black color option, according to unnamed tipsters who sent the images to Bulgarian site SmartNews. This contrasts with the previous images of a grainy silver or white version of the phone that showed up online last month. The HTC One Mini color options are pretty unsurprising, as its bigger brother, the HTC One, has offered silver and black choices since its March release date. 
HTC One Mini specsAside from the new black color, the HTC One's latest appearance backs up its all-but-confirmed specs. This includes an Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean mobile operating system on a phone outfitted with a 4.3-inch display, 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal memory. Although that's a downgrade compared to the HTC One's 4.7-inch display and 32GB and 64GB storage capacities, the Mini's Sense-driven version of Android is actually an upgrade. The HTC One from carriers comes with Android 4.1.2. Only stock Android models of the phone from the Google Play Store include the newest version of the mobile OS. With so many leaked details about the HTC One Mini, it appears that the only thing HTC needs to do is confirm a release date and price for its Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini competitor. - Read about the opposite of the HTC One Mini, the HTC One Max
    | | Pick it, paint it, carve it, ship it: Moto X phone customizations detailed Jul 3rd 2013, 22:39, by Michelle Fitzsimmons 
The Moto X is the talk of the phone world this week, thanks in no small part to those ads splashing across major American newspapers and a sign-up page popping up to boot. Today more details of the "design yourself" device have burst forth, reportedly outlining the customizable process by which consumers can create their own X phone, just the way they like it. According to sources speaking with ABC News, customers will be able to select the color of their device, plus engrave a name or message on the back, a la Apple iPods and iPads. The customization process will be done through a website, and consumers may even have the option to upload a photo for inclusion as a personalized default wall paper. The Android phone will be sold in standard variables at carrier stores, the report noted. A version running Android 4.2.2 is reportedly in network testing now, and Verizon is among the carriers checking it out. Cosmetic changesSome purported images of the back casing of the X Phone have also popped up on French site Nowhere Else today, appropriately highlighting the exterior of the device. We say appropriately because according to ABC News, the customization runs just below skin deep. Customers won't be able to choose the inner parts of their X Phone, though different storage options will be available. 
Image credit: Nowhereelse.fr The sensors, as alluded to by Motorola CEO Dennis Woodside in May, are said to be where the real innovations lie. A flick on the phone will activate the camera, added voice capabilities are included thanks to parent company Google, and it will apparently even switch to speakerphone mode when it figures out its owner is driving. Close to homeMotorola is making much of the fact that the X Phone, expected to launch by October, will be assembled in the U.S. It's a good marketing scheme, but it also reportedly serves a functional purpose: Being built on U.S. soil will allow customized phones to make it to American customers in a matter of days. We've yet to hear details on international availability, but this is sounding like a U.S.-only phone at least to start. We're still waiting on specs for the X Phone, but in its report, ABC News referred to the Moto X phone as a mid-range device. However, as Woodside put it, the handset is a hero device meant to take on the iPhone and Samsung's Galaxy line. Perhaps we'll see an option for high-, mid- and low-end X phones pop up further down the road? - There are a few changes afoot with BlackBerry 10.2, according to a new leak. Check them out.
    | | First Tizen phone might have to wait for your holiday wish list Jul 3rd 2013, 20:31, by Michael Rougeau 
Tizen phones were supposed to begin arriving this month, but now the first Tizen handset may well be delayed until the end of the year. At the very latest Tizen was supposed to arrive in September, but according to reports out today, that's not going to happen either. The site spoke with mysterious "people familiar with Samsung's plans," who said the first Tizen phone has been delayed until the fourth quarter of 2013. Tizen is the open source mobile OS based on Linux, and Samsung may use it to wean itself off of Google's Android. That is, if it ever arrivesThe first Tizen phone was supposed to officially break cover this month, but we're three days into July and we haven't heard a peep. Now Korean site i24news expects the first Samsung Tizen phone to be unveiled in September at the IFA 2013 in Berlin. We've asked Samsung to clarify whether Tizen phones are still expected to launch this quarter, and we'll update if we receive any information. The problem of appsNo U.S. carriers have thrown their full support behind the Tizen OS by agreeing to carry it yet, though Sprint has an interest in the project as one of the 11 partners backing it. Elsewhere, NTT Docomo in Japan and Orange have reportedly shown interest. Unlike the relatively affordable Firefox OS devices slowly entering the global smartphone market, Tizen handsets are expected to be rather high-end when they do debut. But it will still struggle to gain ground if its app store is found lacking, a problem that's plagued other systems like Windows Phone 8 in recent years. That fact may even be part of the phone's delay.     | | BlackBerry OS 10.2 leaks, lets you reply to messages from notifications Jul 3rd 2013, 16:29, by Kate Solomon 
BlackBerry 10 users, have you been dreaming of the day that you get Wi-Fi Direct compatibility and souped up notifications? Because we have excellent news, if so. Some leaked screen grabs of BlackBerry OS 10.2 show that both of those features are en route to your BB10 device. The screen grabbed leaks hit the Crackberry forums (of course) and brought with them news of 'actionable notifications' which is a horrible way of saying that you can reply to messages and that kind of thing from within notifications instead of having to spend precious seconds opening the messaging app. 
Sharing and caringWi-Fi Direct, meanwhile, allows users to share bits and pieces between devices over Wi-Fi, but without needing to go through a router or an established Wi-Fi network - similar to Bluetooth. Other new bits and pieces include a native Evernote app (oooh!), an upgraded settings app (aaah!) and a better app manager (swoon). As for when the software will launch, your guess is as good as ours. One thing's for sure though, it's not coming to the PlayBook.     | | EE unveils new shared plans for small businesses Jul 3rd 2013, 14:49, by Kane Fulton 
EE is making its push to open up the small business market for its 4G service with a bunch of new plans to become available on July 17. It says the shared 4GEE plans will give small businesses the option to connect up to five devices on a single contract, and open the door for employees to share data with colleagues or across several of their own devices. Customers can choose an initial 4GEE phone plan for their own device and up to four more at additional cost. Pricing starts at £31 per month for 500MB of data, rising to £36 for 750MB, £41 for 2GB, £46 for 10GB, and £51 for 20GB. Users wanting unlimited data and calls with their plan will have to opt for a new 4G handset, which adds on a minimum of £18 per month. Extra phonesCustomers can add an existing 3G or 4G phone to their 4GEE phone plan from £12 per month SIM free on a minimum contract of 12 months, which gives the new addition access to unlimited calls and texts in addition to shared data. Alternatively, a 4G device can be added to the plan starting from £22 per month on a minimum 24 month contract. An additional 1GB of data can be added onto the plan at a cost of £12 per month per user, which increases as customers upgrade to larger data pots. EE says the sharing option will allow businesses to cut costs, giving the example that a small business sharing 8GB of data between four handsets saves £19 per month compared with the equivalent individual 4GEE plans. Summer campaignIt is also running a summer promotion for small businesses offering double speed 4G with bigger data allowances from 17 July. Businesses that sign up to a 24 month 4GEE phone plan before 30 September will bag both double speed 4G and a data allowance double the size of standard plans for the duration of the contract. Prices range from £30 per month for 2GB of data up to £50 per month for 32GB. The company is offering extra bonuses for those signed up to small business Shared 4GEE Plans in the form of next day warranty replacement, UK-based customer services, Clone Phone Lite and 2-4-1 cinema tickets with EE Film. EE has also confirmed it will be boosting the speed of its 4G service free to 4GEE business customers in 12 major UK cities from tomorrow: Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Derby, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Nottingham and Sheffield. Users will see a theoretical top download speed of 150Mbps, which the company claims is on par with those available in South Korea, while current average speeds will be doubled to between 24Mbps and 30Mbps.     | |
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