| Opinion: Let the Apple ripen - real innovation takes time Aug 14th 2013, 12:02, by Kate Solomon 
Poor Tim Cook. Sitting in his glass office with a great mob of investors outside with pitchforks shouting "INNOVATE! INNOVATE!" while the Apple CEO stabs sadly at an iPod with a screwdriver. He glances at his desk phone and then back at the iPod as a wild grin creeps across his face. Hope and relief shine in his eyes. A shaft of heavenly light beams through the window as he picks up the receiver, picks up the iPod, puts the two together… then slumps. That's been done. He shakes his head, defeated - that Jobs is a tough act to follow. A sad sight, I think you'll agree. Over the last year, Apple has lost what the "industry" calls "momentum". It's got a bit boring. Iterative updates have taken the place of major new devices and, let's face it, when a redesigned Mac Pro is your most exciting device of the year, questions are going to be asked. Some say the company is doomed without Jobs; others think it's "extremely undervalued". Question timeOne of the people asking questions is Fox correspondent Charlie Gasparino. "What have they had lately?" he demands. "They have had the iPad, they've had a few other things, but they don't have anything innovating from what came from Steve Jobs. "And that concern is basically manifesting into pressure on Tim Cook to innovate - do something fast." We're not exactly expecting big things of September: we know we'll definitely see a new iPhone (5S), we might see a cheaper iPhone and we'll probably see a new iPad and an iPad mini 2. Rumour has it that a fingerprint scanner will be the headline feature of the new iPhone. A fingerprint scanner. So yeah, we can see why the board might be getting jittery, but just demanding Apple stop messing about and "innovate!" something - anything - hardly feels like a solution. Do something fast? No. Do something great. History repeatingHow long did it take the company to come up with the iPod? The MP3 player was launched in 2001, so you could argue that it took Apple 25 years from incorporation to its first full-on category-busting tech innovation. After that, it took a leisurely six years to put the iPhone together and unveil it to the world in 2007. It may then have been a hop skip and a jump on to the first iPad release in 2010, but the iPad was never as revolutionary as the iPod or iPhone. The technology world has morphed and warped since 2001. There were vastly fewer tech blogs shooting word bullets at Jobs' feet and demanding he dance when he and his team came up with the iPod. There was no heaving tech horde at the door, waiting impatiently, as one or two of the braver ones scurried in and grabbed scraps of rumours from under Apple's confusingly metaphorical dinner table. We've opined before about the relentless rumour cycle taking the magic out of tech - and yes, of course, Apple needs to INNOVATE! INNOVATE! - but, like any tech company, it also needs to take time to get things right. That means getting its existing products right as well as coming up with glitzy new ones. That means not launching a half-baked iWatch just because its board wants it to live up to some sort of imaginary timetable. Remember Maps? Never forget Maps. Like you, I want magic: at any tech launch, I'm hoping for something that will cause my eyes to widen and an involuntary "Oh wow" to slip out. I want it to do something useful, I want it to work perfectly, I want it to look gorgeous and I want it to be awesome. And hey, that's going to take a bit of time.        |  | Updated: Cheap iPhone 5C release date, news and rumours Aug 14th 2013, 11:43, by John McCann 
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 the cheap iPhone 5C could be on its way. Word of a budget iPhone (which seems destined to be called the iPhone 5C) 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 iPhone 5C and whether we will see it 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. Case manufacturer Tactus claims the iPhone 5C will arrive in October - which would fit in nicely with the September/October launch event Apple is thought to have planned. Update: Word on the street now is that the iPhone 5C will rock up on September 18 (that's Wednesday) and will arrive in a range of colours. How lovely. The report goes on to claim that the 5C could hit stores on September 27, in the US at least, setting punters back $349 (about £227/AU$376) for the 16GB model. 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 iPhone 5C will have a limited release at first, with the focus being put on emerging markets. How low can you go?Price is the single biggest factor when it comes to the budget iPhone 5C, 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 things we've seen regarding the price of the iPhone 5C is a rumour suggesting Apple is targeting the $330 (around £210/AU$310) price point - which would be nice. And the $300 mark looks to be a popular choice, with case manufacturer Tactus also touting the same price. FutTv : XP0bRhswt4LkBNo Retina for your retinasThere is some confusion over the screen size on the iPhone 5C, 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. Other reports suggest Apple may return to its origins and supply the cheaper iPhone with a 3.5-inch display. FutTv : PC8jKzEcv274RPlastic 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 on the iPhone 5C. 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 5C 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. 
And if you're unsure about that iPhone 5C name, then explain these boxes - of course they could be fakes but it adds another piece to the 5C puzzle. 
Update: The iPhone 5C chassis may have even been leaked in a YouTube video, which poses the simple question "iPhone 5C?" YouTube : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvrE5zZUoLkUpdate: Rarely do we see leaked images which aren't blurred, but in the case of the iPhone 5C a couple of rather crisp photos have popped up online from SonnyDickson, claiming to show the budget iPhone. 
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. Update: However if you would rather believe other rumours, black won't feature on the iPhone 5C after all, being replaced by green instead. 
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. Update: There might be some good news in the camera department on the iPhone 5C however, with recent reports suggesting the cut-price iDevice may in fact sport a 8MP rear snapper instead of the 5MP option we'd originally seen touted.        | | Updated: Samsung Galaxy Note 3 release date, news and rumours Aug 14th 2013, 08:57, by John McCann 
With the Samsung Galaxy S4 now out of the way the door has been thrown open for the Korean firm's other high-end smartphone to get a reboot in the form of the Samsung Galaxy Note 3. Rumours are circulating about Samsung's next super-sized handset, suggesting it's going to get even bigger - even though the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 raised eyebrows with its larger size. Samsung executive J.K. Shin has confirmed the existence of the Galaxy Note 3, revealing it will feature a non-flexible 5.9-inch OLED display. Samsung Kazakhstan has also slipped up, accidentally revealing the Galaxy Note 3 on its official website alongside the Galaxy Z4 Zoom and Galaxy Tab 3 10.1. We're constantly on the look out for Galaxy Note 3 news and you'll be able to find all the latest right here. You lucky things. Galaxy Note 3 release date and priceUpdate: After a tentative Samsung Galaxy Note 3 release date of September 4 was leaked a while back the Korean firm has now revealed that it will be holding an Unpacked event on that date at IFA 2013. We've already had one Unpacked event this year which saw the introduction of the Galaxy S4 and "Episode 2" (as Samsung is calling it) carries the tagline "Note the date" - wonder what it might be announcing? You can expect the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 to carry a hefty price tag, probably in line with the Galaxy S4 - making it more expensive than its Chinese rivals the ZTE Grand Memo and the Huawei Ascend Mate. The Note 3 will probably set you back at least £550 (around $800/AU$770) give or take, plus there will be regional variances too. Does the screen need to get bigger?Although exact specs are still unknown the general consensus seems to suggest that the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 will sport an even bigger screen than its 5.5-inch predecessor. Early reports pointed towards a whopping 6.3-inch display, which would see the handset dwarf the 6.1-inch Ascend Mate and 5.7-inch Grand Memo. Other sources have claimed that the Galaxy Note 3 could actually pack a slightly more modest 5.9-inch AMOLED screen. We thought Samsung may have let the cat out of the bag on its own website after listing a smartphone accessory compatible with screens from "4- to 6.3-inches", potentially hinting at a massive display bump for the Note 3 - although with the announcement of the Galaxy Mega 5.8 and Galaxy Mega 6.3 this is now less likely. Screen size, then, remains a mystery but that's not the only quandary we have regarding the display on the Galaxy Note 3. Oh no, there are now reports suggesting it will be the first phone to sport a flexible OLED display. Samsung did show off such a display at CES 2013 - although it wasn't part of a phone at the time and we reckon there's still some way to go before it's ready to hit our handsets, but it certainly gives us food for thought - especially now there are reports that Samsung is mulling three designs, one of which includes a flexible option. We're also hearing that the Galaxy Note 3 may actually pack a 5.99-inch, Full HD display (although this came from unknown "inside sources"), as well as word that Samsung is potentially working on a number of variants with varying screen sizes. Could this be Samsung replacing the Note range, or adding more feathers to its super-sized cap? With JK Shin "confirming" the existence of the Galaxy Note 3, the Samsung exec is also reported revealing the 5.9-inch OLED display the super sized handset will pack. The 6-inch screen size gets another shout out as part of an image leak on Twitter, with @punkpanda noting the screen was "accounting for 84%" of the front of the device. Update: A full HD resolution looks to be pretty much on the cards whatever size the screen ends up being after more leaks pointed towards 1080 x 1920 for the Galaxy Note 3. The operating system conundrumWe can be pretty sure that the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 will roll up running Google's Android platform, but which particular version that will be is not so black and white. Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie was expected to be announced at Google's IO event in May, but it failed to materialise and since then we've seen the search giant launch a new version of Jelly Bean, Android 4.3. However if history has taught us anything it's that assuming is for fools - as we've seen numerous handsets launched with older versions of Android - but Key Lime Pie is pretty unlikely and there's no guarantee the Galaxy Note 3 will arrive with Android 4.3 on board. It could well run Android 4.2 out of the box, but he latest reports do point towards the Note 3 running Android 4.3. SpecsThe big screen won't be the only feature Samsung will want to shout about though, as you can expect the Galaxy Note 3 to be packing some serious tech under the hood. Check out Samsung's Your Mobile Life to discover loads more about the infinite possibilities of the GALAXY Note II It could be another industry leading handset (the Note 2 was the most powerful smartphone when it launched) with reports suggesting it will follow in the footsteps of the Galaxy S4 with a ridiculous octa-core chip. Update: And like the Galaxy S4 the Exynos 5 Octa version may not be available in some markets with Qualcomm's 2.3GHz Snapdragon 800 quad-core chip likely to feature in some variants. As this device will fall into Samsung's "Note" family you can expect the fabled S-Pen to make another appearance here as it looks to rub shoulders with the Galaxy Note 8.0 and Galaxy Note 10.1. According to Android Geeks a software engineer has spilled the beans on the S Orb camera feature which is apparently destined to debut on the Galaxy Note 3, after reports earlier this year suggested it would arrive on the Galaxy S4. The usually reliable SamMobile has also had its say on the Note 3, with its own "inside sources" claiming the handset will be the most powerful in the world with a octa-core processor, eight-core GPU, 3GB of RAM, 5.99-inch Full HD display and a 13MP rear camera. There's been further leaks surrounding that 13MP camera, with news claiming the snapper will sport optical image stabilisation tech, which will apparently give traditional cameras a run for their money. Update: The suggestion of 3GB of RAM was given another boost by a second source "confirming" the memory of the Note 3 and since then reports that Samsung has been ramping up production of 3GB RAM has added further fuel to the fire. Apparently the Galaxy Note 3 will measure 8mm in thickness and weigh in at 183g, so slimmer than the Galaxy Note 2, but pretty much the same weight. Update: With all that power, and of course the huge display the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 is going to need a decent battery and the latest from the rumour mill points toward a 3450mAh power pack which would beat the 3000mAh battery in the Sony Z Xperia Ultra. Plastic or metal?Many were hoping the Samsung Galaxy S4 would see the Korean firm change its way when it came to chassis construction - ditching the plastic for a fancier metallic finish, but alas this wasn't the case. The whole plastic vs metal debate isn't over though and now rumours are suggesting the Galaxy Note 3 could well sport a hard alloy case. SamMobile sources reckon the HTC One has "worried" Samsung, leading the manufacturer to consider a new material for the Note 3. We've also seen an image slip out online claiming to show the metallic body of the Galaxy Note 3 and a completely new design language for Samsung - although we're not overly convinced by this. 
Those hoping Samsung will pull out some premium materials for the Galaxy Note 3 may have their dreams dashed as inside sources claim the handset will follow in the footsteps of the Galaxy S4 and Galaxy S3 in terms of design. More images of the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 have surface, this time showing off a rounder handset which bears more of a resemblance to the Galaxy Note 2 and Galaxy S4. 
       | | Globalgig's lets you be a Jetsetter with cheap data roaming Aug 14th 2013, 06:47, by Farrha Khan 
Globalgig, a data-only MVNO on the Optus network, has today launched new roaming plans starting from just $19 per month for 1GB, usable in 10 countries. This launch comes soon after Vodafone announced its "Roam Like Home" plans, which will cap roaming charges at $5 for data and voice use within your plan's allowances, though the pricing for the new plans have yet to be announced. But Globalgig's Jesetter plans, though data-only on 3G networks, has the convenience of not requiring a lock-in contract. Data fuelled travelsOffering a SIM card for $2 or a Wi-Fi 3G hotspot device for $49, its Flexi and Home & Abroad plans only offered either 5c megabyte or 20c per megabyte pay-as-you-go options for international data roaming, depending on the country. Called Jetsetter, its new plans comes in three options: $19 per month for 1GB, $35 per month for 3GB and $49 per month for 5GB. Those prices include use within Australia, but also roaming in the US, UK, Austria, Denmark, Hong Kong, Italy, Portugal, Republic of Ireland and Spain, with 5c per megabyte for excess use in these countries. For the other available countries, like New Zealand and Germany, it will fall back to the pay-as-you-go charge of 20c per megabyte. Via: GoodGearsGuide        | | ISPOne vs Telstra as mobile wholesaler tries to save its contract Aug 14th 2013, 03:10, by Farrha Khan 
ISPOne has found itself back in court this week, having filed an urgent application with the Australian Federal Court to stop Telstra from terminating mobile services to its customers on Monday. According to a statement from ISPOne on Monday, Telstra had threatened to terminate services as ISPOne had failed to pay invoices by the due date. However, ISPOne claimed that Telstra actually owes it money. "ISPOne claims that no amount is presently due and payable, and that Telstra owes it money based on Telstra's incorrect rating of data pricing for prepaid mobile services," the company said. The company also claimed that Telstra breached its agreement, engaged in misleading, deceptive and unconscionable conduct, and is entitlement to damages because of problems it experienced earlier this year with Telstra's mobile prepaid platform. He said, she saidISPOne went on to say that it had tried to resolve the issue with Telstra, but as it was not successful, it filed the court application as a last resort. In light of these accusations, Telstra has maintained that ISPOne had not paid its invoices in time, saying that it too had tried to reach a payment agreement with ISPOne. "We will continue to defend the claims raised by ISPOne," a Telstra spokesperson said. "Over a period of several months, we have given them every opportunity to develop a repayment plan for their debt, but to date, we have been unable to reach a satisfactory agreement." A Telstra wholesale customer, ISPOne supplies services on Telstra's network to over 280,000 customers through retailers and MNVOs such as Kogan Mobile and Aldi Mobile. Earlier this year, Kogan Mobile took ISPOne to court after over 600 customers were kicked off the network without warning for using too much data. ISPOne was later ordered to pay Kogan Mobile for damages. According to ITWire, during court proceedings, Telstra said that it did not believe ISPOne would be able to pay all of its debts. Courting mediationOn Monday, the Federal Court ordered Telstra and ISPOne to attend mediation. Representatives from Aldi Mobile and Kogan Mobile had yesterday attended the mediation as well. Kogan Mobile yesterday issued an email to customers, saying: "If Telstra terminates its contract with ISPOne, this is very likely to impact Kogan Mobile's own customers' services (through no fault of Kogan Mobile)." "We are monitoring these developments closely, as they may affect the continuity of our prepaid mobile services," it added. As mediation between the companies continued on until last night and with a judgement expected to me made at 2.15pm tomorrow, Telstra has maintained that: "We have contingency plans in place to limit the impact on end users." This could entail direct or temporary deals with affected MVNOs to maintain service to customers.        | | HTC One Max may stretch out jean pockets before year's end Aug 13th 2013, 23:27, by Matt Swider 
If the 4.7-inch screen of the HTC One wasn't big enough for you and the HTC One Mini moved things in the wrong direction, you may want to wait for the rumored HTC One Max. The Taiwanese company is said to be crafting a 5.9-inch phablet version of its well-received flagship smartphone, and all signs point to it launching before the end of the year. The HTC One Max, also known as the HTC T6, is said to be pictured in a "non-final artwork" render leaked this week ahead of an expected September announcement. HTC has denied this particular photo leak is accurate. To that point, HTC told TechRadar that "HTC does not comment on rumor or speculation" when asked about the HTC One Max. Phablet in the fourth quarter?While the render can't be confirmed, the mere existence of the HTC One Max looks backed up by comments reportedly made by HTC Chief Marketing Officer Ben Ho. "The company plans to unveil ... a variant of its flagship One series in the fourth quarter," he said, according to Focus Taiwan. Having already launched the HTC One Mini to compete with the Galaxy S4 Mini, the phone manufacturer is expected to go from small to big again before year's end. HTC One Max specs speculatedThere's a minimum amount of information available about the still-unconfirmed HTC One Max. However, rumors suggest that it'll received bumped up specs in addition to the screen that's 1.2 inches larger. It'll one-up the One's internals with a 2.3GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor and 3,200mAh battery, while sticking with 2GB of RAM and HTC UltraPixel camera, according to Phandroid. Another move that makes sense is only offering the HTC One Max in 32GB and 64GB flavors of internal memory, dropping the puny 16GB version of the phone in the transition. Finally, HTC One Max should cut to the chase and come loaded with Android 4.3 considering HTC launched its smartphone with 4.1.2 only to start upgrading it to Jelly Bean this month.        | | Backwards thinking: BlackBerry launches 9720 phone running BB7 OS Aug 13th 2013, 18:16, by Chris Smith 
Normally, when a company is desperately trying to reinvent itself with a new 'with-the-times' image, it'll avoid the things that saw it fall so far behind. BlackBerry, it seems, has a different idea. Today it launched the new BlackBerry 9720 smartphone, not running the BlackBerry 10 operating system it is desperately trying to establish, but the BB7 OS that stood guard during the company's fall from grace. The device, which harkens back to the Curve handsets of previous years, brings the traditional QWERTY keyboard, a 2.8-inch touchscreen, a video-capable 5-megapixel camera, Wi-Fi and an FM radio. The new 9720 also arrives with BBM and the Multicast tool, enabling users to post statuses to multiple social platforms at once. QuestionsThe company is planning to launch the BB7-running handset in selected markets in Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America, but there are no specific country-by-country details as of yet. BlackBerry may be of the opinion it can still bring in some much-needed revenue in emerging areas, in much the same way Nokia was able to with its Symbian OS, long after deciding the software was passé. However, with BlackBerry desperately attempting to shift the spectre of the last few years, the decision to continue with the dying platform will certainly be questioned in some quarters. YouTube : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9eTpojlWF8       | |
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