| BlackBerry founder and ex-CEO lining up bid to save the company? Sep 22nd 2013, 13:48, by Chris Smith 
Mike Lazaridis, the BlackBerry co-founder and former chief executive, is reportedly seeking to take control of the rapidly disintegrating mobile company. Lazaridis and Jim Balsillie stepped down as co-CEOs in the May 2012 after overseeing the firm's dramatic fall from grace as iOS and Android moved to dominate the mobile market. Now, according to a report in the New York Times this weekend, Lazaridis who still owns 5.7 per cent of the company, has approached private equity firms about a possible buyout. According to people 'familiar with the matter' the former boss has approached the Blackstone Group and the Carlyle Group over a potential takeover. Comeback kid?BlackBerry has been officially up for sale for the last month, with the company admitting it is actively encouraging offers. Just this Friday the company was plunged further into crisis when it announced it would be retreating from the consumer market and shedding 4,500 jobs. Could the man who, some would say, perhaps fell asleep at the wheel during the most crucial period in BlackBerry's history, really be the person to save it? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.        |  | BlackBerry pauses BBM for iOS and Android roll out following leak Sep 22nd 2013, 11:29, by Chris Smith 
BlackBerry has been forced to halt its global roll out of BBM for Android and iOS, after an unofficial version of the Android app was posted online this weekend. As the Waterloo-based company began rolling out in various territories around the world, an build of the Android app was posted online, prompting a rush among former BlackBerry loyalists to obtain the app. The unofficial version of the app was downloaded 1.1 million times in just 8 hours, but caused the company issues it spent most of Saturday attempting to resolve. As a result, the iOS rollout, which began in New Zealand yesterday, has been paused. The official Android release is still MIA, while the unofficial version has been disabled. ExpectationsIn a post on the official Inside BlackBerry blog, Luke Reimer wrote: "Prior to launching BBM for Android, an unreleased version of the BBM for Android app was posted online. The interest and enthusiasm we have seen already – more than 1.1 million active users in the first 8 hours without even launching the official Android app – is incredible. Consequently, this unreleased version caused issues, which we have attempted to address throughout the day." "Our teams continue to work around the clock to bring BBM to Android and iPhone, but only when it's ready and we know it will live up to your expectations of BBM. We are pausing the global roll-out of BBM for Android and iPhone. Customers who have already downloaded BBM for iPhone will be able to continue to use BBM. The unreleased Android app will be disabled, and customers who downloaded it should visit www.BBM.com to register for updates on official BBM for Android availability." The unfortunate situation is a blow for BlackBerry, whose long-awaited roll-out of BBM to other platforms was set to be a rare sunny moment for the ailing company. On Friday the company posted grim financials, announced it was moving away from the consumer market and cutting 4,500 jobs - around 40 per cent of its total workforce. The end seems nigh.        | | Latest iOS 7 bug allows calls to be made from a locked iPhone Sep 21st 2013, 15:18, by Chris Smith 
An iOS 7 user has discovered a worrying security flaw within the software, which enables calls to be made while the iPhone is locked. The flaw can be exploited using the emergency call screen that can be accessed from the lock screen. Once the phone's keypad is open, any number can be dialled by repeatedly tapping the call button. In a video shot by iPhone users Karam Daoud and passed onto Forbes, tapping the call button numberous times causes the screen to go black and the Apple logo to appear. After that, the call to any number, including international and premium phone numbers is completed as if the phone were unlocked. Any number, any time"Once the black screen appeared, it was pretty clear that this is a bug," says Daoud from Ramallah in Palestinian. "You can dial a number anywhere, any time." He also claims to have repeated the trick on older iPhones running older versions of iOS and enjoyed further success, so it appears the problem is not confined to iOS 7. The bug is the second security flaw uncovered within iOS 7 since its release in midweek. The first lockscreen vulnerability allowed access to the device's photos and email. However, that required a much more complex combinations of presses and swipes. Apple says it is working on a fix for the first issue, but is yet to comment on the more recent discovery. YouTube : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_1Tary_Qoc       | | Sprint's annual upgrade program 'One Up' available today Sep 20th 2013, 19:05, by Lily Prasuethsut 
Sprint officially joins the other upgrade plans by announcing today that its annual program "One Up" is now available for new and old customers. One Up starts at $65, and offers customers a monthly installment plan to upgrade their smartphone every 12 months on top of unlimited talk, text and high speed data. You can also get an introductory $15 discount on its Unlimited, My Way, and All-In plans, one of which must be selected for One Up. The price point is a bit higher than previously reported, though Sprint notes that customers will see a savings of $45 a month on One Up "compared to similar plans from AT&T and Verizon." The plan also strategically launches the same day as the iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C, just in time for those eager Apple fanatics to trade-in. A brief how-toTo take part of the upgrade, you need to buy an eligible smartphone or tablet and agree to 24 monthly installments - no down payment is needed on certain phones, and there aren't any finance fees. After 12 months of consecutive payments, you can then upgrade your device to a new phone or tablet.   | | BLIP: Apple fan's iPhone 5S stolen in store, no chance to even set up Touch ID Sep 20th 2013, 16:26, by Chris Smith 
Apple's new Touch ID fingerprint sensor might safeguard the iPhone 5S against thieves, but it wasn't much good to one poor Apple fan who had his handset robbed before leaving the Apple Store on Friday. After queuing (probably for hours) at the flagship Apple Store on Regent Street in London, the unlucky fella unboxed his handset and placed it in his pocket, only to be pick-pocketed by a light fingered little toe-rag. He only realised the iPhone was gone after he left the store and now cops, who were out in their droves on Friday and still managed to miss the incident, are looking at CCTV footage to determine what happened. "It's not clear what happened, because the store is so busy," a Met police source told The Register. "This is why we draft in extra officers. There's always going to be people having their new phones nicked." More blips!Some more blips, with less heartbreaking iPhone thievery, can be seen here   | | In Depth: Can the Queen get 4G? Sep 20th 2013, 15:42, by Gareth Beavis 
With Vodafone and O2 launching their 4G networks to take on the increasingly speedy LTE offering from EE, we picked up a handset from each carrier (along with an 'Ultrafast' HSPA+ phone from Three) and trawled around London to see what kind of speeds consumers can really expect if they fork out the extra money for the next-generation mobile speeds. It's very hard to give definitive speed results in any given location, but as London is one of the only places in the UK with 4G from O2, EE and Vodafone at the moment (plus one of the highest densities of masts broadcasting the signal) we considered it adequate for getting a feel for what was on offer when it came to next generation speeds. How did we test?We decided to go with a variety of phones all capable of connecting to the 4G signal – in the case of 3 this wasn't necessary, so we stuck with the tried and tested Samsung Galaxy S4. For Vodafone, we chose the HTC One Mini; for O2 the Samsung Galaxy S4 was offered and with EE we went for the larger HTC One. (We'll be re-testing this with our double-speed 4G-enabled LG G2 in the near future, so stay tuned!) We used the Speedtest.net app to determine ping rates and download speeds in each location, ensuring there was a 4G connection (or HSPA+ in the case of Three) wherever possible – although no matter how hard we tried, there were occasions where an LTE signal just wasn't happening. Ping test: to determine latency (the delay) between your phone / tablet and the server. The lower the rate, the faster the connection, and the less time waiting for your data to start arriving. And in the interests of fairness, we ran the test at least three times on each phone, giving an average score at the end to ensure we didn't get caught out with an anomalous result during the testing. We gave each network a score out of four for each test to help us determine TechRadar's utterly unofficial Best 4G network. So how did each network get on? Does Three's claim that its Ultrafast network can be a good stopgap before it brings 4G later in the year hold water? Does EE's double-speed 4G network actually allow users to get much faster speeds (which would be unlikely, given no phones on the market can actually use the connection as yet)? And can one man walk around London holding nearly £2000-worth of telephony and not get mugged several times? TechRadar Towers – Balcombe St – 15.54 (indoors)
To kick off our test, we decided to start at home – right in TechRadar's offices. Checking the coverage maps showed that we were supposed to get good indoor coverage with O2, Three and EE, while Vodafone was outdoors only. Colour us as surprised as a leopard that realises it looks better in pinstripes to find that not only did O2 and EE not manage to get anywhere near the expected speeds (O2 not even finding a 4G signal) but Vodafone defied its own maps to provide blistering speeds time and time again. - Vodafone – 4pts
- EE – 3
- O2 – 2
- Three - 1
London Bridge – 20.15
Next up, a stop at the Shard later in the evening provided a great chance to test connection speeds. With loads of people milling around and a number of offices and homes within reach, this would surely test the signal in a new way, with all networks promising good coverage – and achieving it too for the most part. EE fans will be pleased to note that once the indoor shackles were off, it leapt to the top of the leaderboard. Vodafone did not fare as well with a 4G signal hard to come by, while O2 and Three sailed through the test. - EE – 4pts
- O2 – 3
- Three - 2
- Vodafone - 1
St Albans – 07.50
Now here's an odd one: while neither O2 nor Vodafone confirmed the outlying parts of London as towns or cities imbued with 4G, several of them were actually able to connect to the service, according to the coverage trackers. St Albans station was apparently covered with good outdoor 4G signal according to the coverage maps, but only EE managed to get such a thing while waiting for the train, with many other commuters playing with their smartphones at the same time (although few were likely running 4G speeds). Sadly, Vodafone didn't even manage to connect to the Speedtest.net app, despite multiple attempts, so scored nil points in this test. Three was once again a creditable distance behind the 4G rivals. - EE – 4pts
- O2 – 3
- Three – 2
- Vodafone - 0
St Pancras – 08.25
Now we hit the big leagues – outside one of the busiest stations in London at rush hour. With all networks promising good indoor and outdoor coverage, which would leap to the top of the leaderboard? Vodafone and O2 were the front runners in this test, with EE a close third and Three some way behind. The latency was a little slower than expected, but it seems the congestion from thousands of phones emerging blinking into signal all at once wasn't helping things. Fresh from its previous two disasters, Vodafone narrowly missed out on top spot – another excellent showing from the new boy O2. - O2 – 4pts
- Vodafone – 3
- EE – 2
- Three - 1
South Kensington – 10.25
So to quieter locations: in a more affluent area of London, would 4G speeds be slower? It seems not, as all four networks raised their game in this location. EE really began to flex its muscle in this more open space, while O2 kicked it up a gear once more. Three suddenly remembered that it could pump some pretty whizzy speeds over HSPA+, and even managed to beat the 4G-connected Vodafone into fourth place. - EE – 4pts
- O2 – 3
- Three – 2
- Vodafone - 1
Buckingham Palace – 10.55
For our final test, we wanted to ask the question everyone has been dying to know since the launch of the 4G networks: can the Queen get a 4G signal in Buckingham Palace? With 4G signals promised once more – and this time delivered promptly and powerfully – this was going to be the test that sorted the 4G men from the GPRS boys. Three bowed out early on, with a meagre result given its fine showing in Kensington. However, with many tourists thronging around and a number of businesses close by, its 3G networks may have been taxed rather heavily, while its unlikely foreign visitors would be paying up for 4G signal. Vodafone managed to finally get another one over on its launch rival, boasting speeds just faster than O2, which will please some lovers of the Big Red Network. However, EE showed that it knows what it's doing with 4G, bringing nearly double the download speed with the lowest ping rate. So if you can't decide whether you want to download an HD movie or watch guards changing at the Queen's London digs, then it looks like EE may be your best bet. - EE – 4 pts
- Vodafone – 3
- O2 – 2
- Three - 1
The results
There's no doubt there's a large gap between Three's 3G Ultrafast network and the next generation speeds on offer. However, there were times when the distance was narrower, so if you're able to hold on until December with speeds hovering around 4-5Mbps on average, then you might just be in for a 4G treat. EE has definitely got the most robust network on offer, with the fastest speeds shown in most locations, and more often than not far exceeding the competition. O2, with less spectrum on offer than its rivals, surprised us in this test by often providing fast and impressive results – however, with a high price plan it will be interesting to see if consumers pay up. Vodafone looks like it needs to do some more work, but with the red network promising to turn on a mast every 30 minutes in London, perhaps it won't be too long before its coverage map actually mimics real life usage. We'll be running the same tests again in two weeks' time to see if anything has improved, so stay tuned to see if EE can hold on to its impressive lead.   | | Fighting Talk: Please Apple, let me buy an iPhone so I can hate myself Sep 20th 2013, 14:15, by Phil Lavelle 
For those who don't "get" the whole concept of being a tech addict, the thought of queuing up outside an Apple store on launch day is alien. I get that. I don't understand why people queue up for the January sales. They're crazy. Total oddballs! But I can't quite apply that logic to my own behaviour. And so, on a rather chilly morning in late September 2013, I found myself standing in the middle of Cambridge, having gotten up at the kind of time that would make reasonable people wince, just to buy an iPhone 5S. I was in the city the night before for work - and being from the big smoke, I did that whole London thing of thinking I'd be stealing the march by getting my iPhone from a smaller city. "No-one's gonna queue in Cambridge! They're all either in bed (students) or in work (rich folk)," I laughed to myself. I'm not laughing now. And yet I can't stop wanting one. It just doesn't work6am, I arrived. Two hours prior to opening. That is late, late, LATE by Apple launch standards. I was practically being chased along by a white rabbit in a dinner jacket, waving a stopwatch. And what a waste of time it was. More than 1,500 people stood outside chatting - and 1,400 of them were turned away at 8am because stock was sold out. I didn't get it. In fact, I don't get several things. Firstly, what is Apple playing at? How can you globally launch a product with such a rubbish amount of stock? There is NO justification. The company was not ready for the launch. Pure and iSimple. But the other thing I don't get is my own behaviour. My own determination to get one. That need, that hunger. Soft launchThe launch wasn't that spectacular. I've spent the last week waving my Galaxy S4 around, telling iSheep to just bore off. But the sad fact is, I really want a 5S. I've not been true to myself. I'm a fraud. The sad thing is, I don't know why. I mean, it's not as if the iPhone 5S is ultra amazing. It has a smaller screen than my S4, and though the processor may be enough to power a hydraulic dam, do we really need one that powerful in a phone? I suppose there is the fingerprint scanner. Actually, that bit is cool. Really cool. I'm gonna be wearing that out from day one! When I get my hands on the flaming thing. Apple has a mean marketing machine. The worrying thing is that I know I've been brainwashed. Even going into a shop and playing with one after the launch, mentally torturing my empty hand, I was lusting. It's the capability of genius - make that desire come alive. I wouldn't mind but I love Android. I love its openness, its customisation abilities and all the rest of it. Sometimes, it can be a little rough around the edges and I hate the adverts you are stuck with on some apps, but it's a trade off. Yet all I can think of now is getting my face firmly nestled once again in Mother Apple's warm eco-bosom. And I dread to think when that's going to happen. So far, I've looked at eBay (what do you mean "wait 10 days?" That just isn't an option!) and the one I want (Gold 64GB) is going for around £1,400. It's the old story of supply and demand. And the fact is that loads of these beauties went to people who queued up for hours, days even, not because they wanted one but because they wanted to sell them for a profit to mugs like me. It'll probably be months before I get one. But that hasn't diminished my lust for an iPhone 5S. I still long for the days when I can finger the Touch ID sensor, pressing down to enter. And every time I do, the Android-lover in me will shudder. But I can't help it. Damn you, Apple. 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.   | | In Depth: Apple Stores generate long lines as gold iPhone 5S availability pushed to Oct. Sep 20th 2013, 10:55, by Matt Swider 
Apple Stores around the country are seeing long lines filled with hopeful iPhone 5S owners who've been unable to pre-order the company's latest smartphone online. It's rare for Apple to launch a new iPhone without a pre-order in place a week ahead of time, but that process was limited to the cheaper iPhone 5C. In Santa Monica, Calif., Apple fans and paid line sitters have been camping out in front of the Apple Store since 2 p.m., many hoping for the gold iPhone 5S. The first spot in line is actually going for quite a bit of gold - $1,000 for the position guaranteed to have a person's choice model and color of the iPhone 5S in stock. 
Going for the gold, may only get silverWe found consumers most anxious for the gold iPhone 5S, but reports have indicated that gold and silver are going to be the hardest to find in stores. Online, the Apple Store sold out of the gold iPhone 5S for normal one to three day delivery within a few minutes on all networks. It has since been pushed back to shipping in October. 
Not all hope is lost. The iPhone 5S in space gray (which looks more like black) and silver are still available with one to three days delivery on AT&T, Sprint and Verizon. T-Mobile is the only carrier showing seven to 10 days delivery for these two non-gold iPhone 5S colors. Then there's the plastic iPhone 5C models in a variety of colors. Plenty of them are available it seems, even though pre-orders began a week ago.   | | Stock shortages mar iPhone 5S launch day: networks respond Sep 20th 2013, 08:53, by Gareth Beavis 
Want to get a fancy new iPhone on release day? We've spoken to the networks to find out why there are so few around. The iPhone 5S launch has been beset by a lack of handsets across the UK - leading to some networks not having any in store at all. According to Twitter, the Regent's Street and Cardiff stores have already sold out of the 5S an hour after flinging open their doors, while we've seen first hand that the phone is out of stock in the Cambridge Apple Store too. The new handset, which features fingerprint recognition and a boosted camera, has gone on sale today in the UK - but those on O2 are going to miss out. O2We spoke to the effervescent network, which confirmed buyers may have to wait a month and a half to get their hands on the new device: "We won't have iPhone 5S stock in stores to sell but customers will be able to place their order with us in-store. They can also order online or over the phone. "If customers are in store they'll be able to get a demo of the phone and place their order with the help of one of our store advisors. "We anticipate that orders made in our stores for the 5S will be available to collect at the store in three to six weeks. The customer will receive a text when their handset is ready for collection." EEThat's not good news when EE has confirmed to us that it will have a 'limited' level of stock, with a leaked document sent to us last night showing that there will be over 80 stores with 50 or more units on sale this morning. "Most of the pre-launch interest we've received for the iPhone 5S has been from customers wanting it on 4GEE, so with limited supply we've configured the stock we have to work with our 4GEE service," said a spokesperson. "We're expecting to receive further deliveries of stock soon, so customers who want the iPhone 5S on Orange or T- Mobile can place an order in store or with our telesales agents, who will contact them as soon as stock becomes available." Orange and T-MobileIt doesn't look good if you're after an iPhone 5S on one of these networks, as the new handset is being pushed straight through to EE to get people onto the 4G speeds (and thus paying more each month). We spoke to EE about this, and a spokesperson confirmed the strategy, with the only recourse for Orange and T-Mobile users looking to get an iPhone 5S now will be to use EE's new Swap deal, which lets them transition onto the 4G network. VodafoneVodafone has been in touch too, and seems to be somewhere between O2 and EE when it comes to stock levels, with many Twitter users confirming they've been able to buy from a variety of stores up and down the country. Vodafone sent us this short statement: "There's stock in all stores, which is being sold on a first come, first served basis." ThreeAnd Three is being quite tight-lipped on its stock levels, refusing to comment when asked about its iPhone 5S stock levels. However, it did confirm on Twitter that it will have some units in store today: "iPhone 5S is available now on Three, the network rated No.1 for iPhone… go in store or buy online." Twitter users have confirmed that Three has a limited stock, with many stores selling out in the first hour and some outlets only selling to new customers, with those wanting to upgrade being forced to wait. We'll keep an eye on this story as it develops, but it looks like if you aren't there by midday, you won't have much luck in getting a flagship iPhone. Loads of iPhone 5C units though, if you want to make things a little cheaper…   | | iPhone 5S and 5C go on sale today, interest expected Sep 20th 2013, 08:01, by John McCann 
The iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C have officially touched down in the UK, and you can expect droves of people to descend on Apple Stores, high street retailers and networks as they clamour for the latest goodies from the Cupertino firm. If you're looking for the latest, premium offering from Apple then you'll want to check out the iPhone 5S with an upgraded A7 processor, enhanced camera and nifty fingerprint scanner hidden under the iconic home button. For those of you who fancy a bit more colour in your life then you'll want to check out the 5C, which arrives in five different shades - although be warned there's no metal on display here with a distinctly plastic body and the same specs as last year's iPhone 5. Both handsets do arrive running iOS 7, arguably the biggest overhaul Apple has given its mobile platform since its inception in 2007 with a whole new colour palette, redesigned icons and a raft of new features. O2 warningA word of warning if you're planning to swing by O2 at some point to pick up a shiny new iPhone 5S though - the bubbly network doesn't actually have any in stock yet. The announcement was made via the carrier's Twitter account yesterday and read: "Nearly #O2iPhone Friday! Get 5C in store & order 5S online & on phone. No 5S in stores but they'll order for you and say when it's in." Of course if all this is a bit too fruity for your likely then there are plenty of other top end smartphones for you to choose from including the Samsung Galaxy S4, HTC One and Nokia Lumia 925.   | |
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