Review TechRadar: Phone and communications news 10-31-2013

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Opinion: Forget movies, smartphones are the new box-office winners for Sony Oct 31st 2013, 13:47, by Marc Chacksfield Olympus Has Fallen. This was the movie name-checked in Sony's recent financials, where it announced it has slashed its full-year profit forecast by a whopping 40%. It's an unfortunate title when you consider that one of the giants of the tech world has once again showed with a plummet in profits how volatile the entertainment and technology space is. The movie's poor showing at the box office was revealed to be one of the many things that has brought Sony slipping back into the red. This alongside an ailing TV and video camera business unfortunately masked an area where Sony is excelling – mobile phones. As with LG's recent earnings report, smartphones are big business once more for companies that were primarily known for their television output. They are propping up profits, plastering over the cracks other devices are continuing to add to brands. This is good news for the phone industry, but more importantly great news for mobile phone users. 2013 has been a golden year for mobile phones. Mobile redemption No longer are Samsung and Apple the only ones name-checked when someone asks 'what is the best mobile phone?'. The HTC One, LG G2, Nokia Lumia 1520 and Sony Xperia Z1 are all viable alternatives for the 'best phone' crown. Sony's redemption in the phone market has come at a great time for the company. Without its recent success in this space, where sales of its phones have grown to 39%, Sony's outlook for 2013 would be, well, even more bleak. And, despite criticism, it shows that at least one of the prongs on CEO Kazuo Hirai's three-pronged approach to the electronics market – mobile, imaging, and gaming – is sharp. But this doesn't mean that he should turn trim this approach into a solitary spike. Let the games begin Yes gaming was hit with a loss, because of PS Vita price cuts, but 2014 is certain to be different. The PS4 is launching, along with it better PS Vita functionality. The PS4 also makes fantastic use of Sony smartphones and offers the 4K functionality that could be key to kickstarting people buying televisions once more, two key things that could finally create the 'one Sony' eco-system the company is currently craving. Sony is struggling, but its renewed focus in mobile gives it hope. The news that there's a sequel to Olympus Has Fallen, does not. Nexus 5 leaks in a big way with photos, Kitkat details and more Oct 31st 2013, 12:51, by Kate Solomon The Google Nexus 5 is on its way - possibly today - and we've been treated to a host of leaked images and Android 4.4 details to whet our appetites. It looks as though several people around the world have got their hands on pre-release Nexus 5 handsets, with one enterprising self-starter taking to Reddit to do an AMA about it. He described the handset for his eager audience: "[The handset] doesn't feel cheap like a Samsung device, feels great in the hand, it's similar to holding a G2 but no volume controls [on the back]." The price is right He also claimed to be "99% certain" that the pricing would start at $349. That's about £220 or AU$370. And the question on everybody's lips: what does the Nexus 5 taste like? "Fresh plastic mixed with finger sweat." As for KitKat, it sounds as though there'll be some kind of cloud-based backup option and voice control. Not long to wait until we find out we've been had: we're expecting the Nexus 5 and Android 4.4 to launch later on today. Get up to speed: here's everything there is to know about the Nexus 5 so far Android 4.4 KitKat could spread the love to budget handsets Oct 31st 2013, 10:31, by James Rogerson Android has come on leaps and bounds since its launch in 2008, but many users are using old or low powered phones which aren't compatible with more recent versions of the OS. In fact versions as old as Gingerbread are still relatively common. Android 4.4 KitKat aims to change that according to a new leak from JessicaLessin.com. The leak states that Android KitKat "optimizes memory use in every major component" and makes it easier to develop memory efficient applications for entry level devices right down to those with just 512MB of RAM. So if you're stuck on a phone running Android Gingerbread there may be hope for an update. If this rumor bears fruit it could also revitalize sales of ageing handsets and make lower end Android phones a more attractive proposition as they might be in for an upgrade. Wear and walk Android KitKat also appears to be built with wearables in mind, as the same source states that KitKat will support three new types of sensors, specifically a step detector, a step counter and a geomagnetic rotation vector. The most obvious use for them would be in Google's rumoured smartwatch, but they could also benefit other smartwatches and Google Glass, while even phones could potentially utilize them, as fitness apps such as pedometers would surely be able to make great use of a step counter. The source further suggests that these sensors might also be used to help Google map out indoor locations and improve walking directions. With Android KitKat likely to be unveiled very soon it wont be long until we know just how true all this is. Have a break, have some more KitKat rumors. Google Nexus 5 arriving today, Android 4.4 probably in tow Oct 31st 2013, 10:04, by John McCann We've been waiting for what feels like ages for the Google Nexus 5 and Android 4.4 KitKat update, but at last both are finally upon us. Artem Russakovskii, who works for Android Police, announced on his Google+ page that the Nexus 5 would launch today after being tipped off by various sources. He writes: "Several previously reliable sources have confirmed that the Nexus 5 (I have no information about KitKat, sorry, just sticking to N5) launch is indeed scheduled for tomorrow, October 31st." We've been in touch with our own sources, and the general consensus is that yes, October 31 is the Nexus 5 release date, and Android 4.4 KitKat will be joining in the fun too. Timing is key Russakovskii goes on to say: "The release should happen no later than 11am Pacific, but knowing Google, it's probably going to be between 8-8:30 and 10am. 11am is the worst case scenario." That 8am-10am time slot translates into 3pm-5pm GMT on October 31 and 2am-4am EST on November 1. There is no mention of the new Nexus 10 tablet however, with Google's next slate looking increasingly unlikely to arrive at the same time. The LG-made Nexus 5 is expected to pack a 2.3GHz quad-core processor, 3GB of RAM, 5-inch full HD display, 8MP rear camera and of course the freshest version of Google's mobile OS - Android 4.4 KitKat. We'll be keeping our eyes peeled for all the latest information, so make sure you stay tuned for all the latest information if and when it breaks. Find out everything we know on the Nexus 5 so far Samsung Galaxy S4 Active mini all but confirmed Oct 31st 2013, 05:25, by Farrha Khan Mini smartphone models seem to be all the rage, and with FCC and Chinese equivalent filings joining benchmark entries, a Galaxy S4 Active mini model looks to be on the way. Chinese FCC equivalent Tenaa has a filing for a device called the "Samsung GT-I8580", giving us some pictures that look just like the S4 Active, but a little smaller. Add to this the fact that the spec list on Tenaa matches up with an FCC filing of a device also called Samsung GT-I8580, and we can't help but start to believe its another tangible mini outing from Samsung. Meanwhile, GFXBench also has a 3D Graphics performance entry for the Samsung GT-I8580, sporting the same spec list. Watering down the Active According to the spec lists, the Active mini will come sporting a slightly smaller 4.65-inch display with a resolution of 480 x 800, making it only slightly smaller than the original S4 Active, but with a heavy downgrade display sharpness. Most of the "mini" aspects of the device most likely refer to the general spec downgrades, as internally, it will be powered by a 1.2GHz dual-core Snapdragon 400 processor and 1GB of RAM, a drop from the original's quad-core processor with 2GB or RAM. The rear camera will sit at 5MP and the smartphone will run Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. It will also come with the same physical keys setup as the original S4 Active, and the same water- and dust-resistant features. As Samsung already has a Galaxy S4 mini out in the wild, an S4 Active mini isn't a far stretch for the company. But while FCC filings can generally be trusted, we'll be taking at least the spec details with a grain of salt – still, we'll be keeping our ears to the ground for more news about the so-called Samsung GT-I8580. Via: TheDroidGuy Here's 10 things you should know about the original Samsung Galaxy S4 Active. Facebook has 1.19 billion monthly active users, mobile use is skyrocketing Oct 30th 2013, 21:04, by Michelle Fitzsimmons China, India and Facebook. If you go by the numbers, Facebook (again) has enough users to be the world's third largest country. In reporting its Q3 2013 financials, the company boasted its monthly active users hit 1.19 billion as of September 30. That's an 18% increase year-on-year. Last quarter, Facebook notched up 1.15 billion monthlies. So yeah, the social network has been populous for awhile now. More importantly for the "mobile first" company, Facebook registered staggering mobile numbers. According to CEO Mark Zuckerberg on the company's earnings call, 48% of people who use Facebook on a daily access it entirely on mobile. In fact, web usage numbers declined for the first time last quarter, albeit only slightly. Mobile, baby Mobile monthly active users number 874 million strong, a huge leap of 45% from the same time last year. On average there were 507 million mobile daily active users scrolling through News Feeds and posting statuses during the quarter. And if you don't think ads are here to stay or that they won't grow more pervasive on mobile, get your head out of the sand. Zuckerberg said 49% of its $2.02 billion (about £1.2b, AU$2.12b) revenue came from the platform. This was the company's first two billion dollar quarter, by the way. Zuck wouldn't bite on answering when we'd see video ads in our feeds, but said the presence of video on Instagram has "been very positive so far." Facebook is taking its time rolling out auto-play ads he said, as the company wants it to be "a positive thing" for users. Quick Insta-caveat - the photo-centric site has 150 million monthly active users, its parent company reported. One negative for Facebook was that, as far as it can tell, teen users have taken a dive. It's hard to be totally accurate, CFO David Ebersman said, as people self-report and therefore can lie about their age, but the company's own metrics have found younger daily active users dropping off. Facebook is doing fine, but it may need to re-think its cool factor for the under-18 set. Facebook to buy BlackBerry? It could happen, and make sense. Blip: Google Nexus 5 caught out of the box in probable pre-release hours Oct 30th 2013, 21:02, by Michael Rougeau Google's Nexus 5 has been spotted out of its box today, hours before the new Android flagship is expected to officially go trick-or-treating with an announcement on October 31. The image of the powered-off Nexus 5 sitting next to its recognizable blue retail box appeared in a Photobucket album, though it has since been deleted. The reportedly LG-made Nexus 5 probably saw its shadow, which we believe means there are at least three months of winter ahead. Thought blurry, this appears to be the front of the device with a screen guard reading "Nexus 5" stuck on. The Nexus 5 will likely be the first handset to ship with Android 4.4: KitKat, the newest edition of Google's mobile OS. It's been the subject of countless leaks, but we're expecting all that to end on All Hallow's Eve. More blips! Get out of your box and read more of TechRadar's blips. Dell promises there is no cat pee in its laptops Cop tickets driver for wearing Google Glass, cue the great debate 'Moto G' makes Motorola site appearance before being pulled Samsung Galaxy Note 12.2 specs may be as powerful as the tablet is large Oct 30th 2013, 20:17, by Matt Swider You know what they say about large tablets - the specs have to match. That's exactly what we are thinking now that the Samsung Galaxy Note 12.2 is rumored to boast some of the most powerful tablet hardware available. The unconfirmed 12-inch tablet has apparently found enough room to pack in a speedy quad-core 2.3 GHz Snapdragon 800 processor and a healthy 3GB of RAM, reported Chinese-language benchmarking site AnTuTu. The unconfirmed Galaxy Note 12.2 is said to also include an 8-megapixel camera in the rear and 2-megapixel camera in the front. The total storage on the benchmarked device is said to be 32GB, though that could be just one of several configurations Samsung is planning. The larger-than-normal Galaxy Note 12.2 is said to have a screen resolution of 2560 x 1600, which is the same as the newly released Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 Edition. Android 4.3 on board? The reported Galaxy Note 12.2 tests indicated that the device is running Android 4.3 Jelly Bean, which is currently the latest version of Google's mobile operating system. That out-of-the-box OS may be a little dated by the time Samsung launches its biggest tablet yet. Google is expected to announce the next version, Android 4.4 KitKat, tomorrow along with the Nexus 5. Of course, for all that benchmarks are worth, none of the tentative data can tell us when the South Korean company plans to release the Galaxy Note 12.2. The good news for display-deprived tablet lovers is that it seems to be only a matter of time before Samsung releases this 12-inch mega slate to the world. Want a matching mega-sized phone? Check out our Galaxy Note 3 review. Already leaky Nexus 5 reportedly heading to Sprint Oct 30th 2013, 18:55, by JR Bookwalter Judging from the sheer number of leaks, Google's next Nexus-branded handset is likely to be short on surprises - unless your carrier is Sprint. Android Headlines reported Tuesday that the still unannounced Nexus 5 handset has popped up on the radar yet again, with signs pointing to Sprint customers actually being able to use the handset on their favorite network. According to a typically brief tweet from @evleaks yesterday, the Nexus 5 will be "coming to Sprint," although the electronic missive provides little in the way of solid evidence to support that claim. Indeed, the horizontally angled image which accompanied the tweet shows zero carrier branding of any kind, nor any indication that it might be a CDMA variant of the unannounced smartphone. Where's Nexus? Historically, Nexus-branded handsets have been targeted at customers of U.S. GSM networks such as AT&T and T-Mobile, who can easily swap SIM cards between unlocked handsets. One rare exception was the Samsung Galaxy Nexus, which actually made its way to Verizon Wireless, but by all accounts fared rather poorly on the nation's largest carrier. Yesterday's tweet-leak suggests that the Nexus 5 could arrive in both GSM and CDMA variants, the latter intended for third-placed carrier Sprint. Tipsters also provided a series of images such the one above, apparently extracted from Sprint's website, where the handset is presumably waiting for Google to pull the trigger - officially, that is. Find out if it's "game on" in our hands-on review of the Archos GamePad 2! Nokia gunning for HTC One UK sales ban after major patent victory Oct 30th 2013, 18:19, by Chris Smith HTC is facing the prospect of a UK sales ban on flagship handsets like the HTC One after losing another round of its ongoing global patent war with Nokia. The Finnish manufacturer says it will seek an import ban on the devices, including the HTC One, HTC One SV and HTC Wildfire, following the High Court ruling on Wednesday. Nokia is chasing compensation as well as the sales injunction after the court ruled HTC had infringed on a patent (EP 0 998 024) governing the transmission of voice and text data over mobile networks. It is now up to the court to decide the scale of HTC's punishment, with the Taiwanese manufacturer vowing to "immediately" appeal against the verdict. Significant Nokia, which has filed suit against HTC in over 50 countries called the victory "a significant development in our dispute with HTC. The soon-to-be Microsoft-owned company believes the verdict also relates to the HTC One Mini, the HTC Desire X and the Windows Phone-packing HTC 8S and 8X as they also use same chip. A spokesperson for HTC said: "Naturally HTC is disappointed by the decision that the UK court has reached in this case and we will be seeking to appeal the finding immediately." Any ban would be a giant blow for HTC as it struggles to challenge Samsung at the top of the Android tree, despite the overwhelmingly positive reviews bestowed upon the HTC One. Speaking of positive reviews, did you know the HTC One sits proudly at the summit of our 20 best mobile phones in the world today chart? Buying Guide: Holiday Gift Guide: Tech and Games Galore Oct 30th 2013, 17:13, by TechRadar Consoles and handheld gaming devices The holiday season is usually met with indecision, headaches and a flurry of last-minute shopping as you frantically try to balance life (because it never gives you a break) with finding the perfect gift for your favorite people. To help you survive the winter madness, TechRadar has put together a neat little list of the best tech goodies you can get, so you can spend more time knocking back eggnog while watching faces of the people you love light up with joy as they receive an awesome present from you. After all, that's what the holidays are about right? Having a good time with great people, and giving something to get that smile and squeal of excitement. So happy holidays from all of us at TechRadar and get some shopping done with our techtastic and gamerific 2013 Holiday Gift Guide! Consoles and handhelds The console war between gaming veterans Sony and Microsoft has been amplified this year with the upcoming release of two new next-gen consoles. Other gaming names refuse to be left out though, and have entered their machines into the console race for a chance to sit in your living rooms. PlayStation 4 First up on our list is the Sony PlayStation 4. The system boasts great features like free streaming and recording and the PS4 is more developer-friendly - meaning the list of games will continue to grow allowing more variety. Along with making gamers as happy as possible, the console has big ambitions to be the most affordable, high-end gaming machine on the market and it looks like the company's hard work is paying off since demand for the PS4 is off the charts. With its $399 price tag - the PlayStation Eye will be sold separately for a mere $59.99 - it's no surprise pre-orders filled up and nearly disappeared before its Nov. 15 launch date. However, Sony claims there should be enough to go around as the holidays draw closer, so be on the look out as this machine will be gone before you know it. Check out the PS4 Dualshock 4 hands on. Xbox One Microsoft's Xbox One is the other crazy popular (and much more controversial) console. Selling for $499, it's a bit pricier than its opposition - but the Kinect comes included with the whole package. The new One console wants to be your one-stop entertainment solution for the living room by integrating live TV, games, movies and web services such as Skype, all controlled using Kinect's improved voice recognition features. By getting one person an Xbox One for gaming, you're also picking up a whole entertainment system for the entire family. Microsoft says with Skype and SkyDrive functions, the system would also make a great platform for businesses. Essentially, the One is a multipurpose console that could be given to anyone, so you really can't go wrong picking one these guys up. Check out the Xbox One Gamepad hands on Mad Catz Mojo Mad Catz is a first time contender in the console war with its Android powered Mojo. More of a mini console, or "micro-console" to be specific, the Mojo still packs a veritable amount of power which of course means your wallet will be giving up some moolah - $250 to be exact. The Mojo comes pre-loaded with TegraZone, Google Play and remains an open platform that will be compatible with various mobile games from several different storefronts. Read the full Mad Catz Mojo hands on. 2DS Thanks to its affordability and durable looking build, the $130 Nintendo 2DS is sure to be a hit with parents looking for a handheld for the younger gamers. The 2DS serves as an introductory gaming system and is definitely geared towards families with multiple kids who all want a handheld. The 2DS's more expensive predecessors are already a popular bunch and with popular Nintendo-only games like Pokemon and Mario, you really can't go wrong picking up a 2DS. 5 things Nintendo's Hiroshi Yamauchi gave to gaming Holiday Gift Guide: Mobile phones Do you know someone in your life who really needs to get rid of their half broken phone? You know, the one with the cracked screen, shoddy battery life and missing on/off button? With all the great choices available on the market, maybe it's time you help them out and send a little holiday smartphone cheer. iPhone 5S The iPhone 5S is probably the hottest phone out there (or in the top five at least) and would make a great gift for the Apple fanatic in your life. Unlike the iPhone 4S, it actually feels like you're getting a brand new phone thanks to the addition of Touch ID, new camera, better battery life and faster guts all around. Boasting new color choices - black, space grey, gold - the iPhone 5S sales start at $199.99 on a two-year contract. Here's where you can get the iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C iPhone 5C If you're looking for something a bit more flashy, Apple's neon array of iPhone 5C's is your best bet. Hate it or love it, we think its still has a spot on our holiday gift guide. Some feel the phone is a bit childish and cheap because of the colors and its polycarbonate exterior. But if you know someone desperate for an iPhone 5 but can't afford it, you really can't go wrong picking up the 5C since they're essentially the same phone with a few upgraded tweaks here and there. Starting off at a low $99 on a two-year contract from most carriers also means you'll still be able to buy more than one person gifts. Huzzah! Not sure which iPhone to give? TechRadar can help with that Moto X Another popular handset this year, the Moto X debuted to a hesitant crowd but has proven itself to be a great compact, stylish handset with decent specs and good battery life. Plus it's polycarbonate like the iPhone 5C which makes it less prone to scratches and scuffs. Oh, and it likes to talk to you. (Not as creepy as it sounds, we promise.) You can speak to your phone at will, using the phrase "OK, Google Now" and the phone will respond only to your specific voice. The Moto X starts off at $199.99 on a two-year contract for the 16GB version. All the places you can get the Moto X HTC One The HTC One released earlier this year but definitely remains a top dog in the phone arena. It's full HD screen crammed into 4.7-inches, which brings a 468ppi - making everything you're looking at crisp, clean and swoon worthy. On top of that there's a CPU and RAM combo that is barely bettered, a more-than-enough 32GB of storage and top-end Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and 3G/4G LTE connections. The HTC One is without a doubt the best phone from the Taiwanese firm, and is currently selling for $199 with two year contract Read the full HTC One review Samsung Galaxy Note 3 The latest and greatest from Samsung, the Galaxy Note 3 is a fantastic device, but decidedly not for everyone thanks in part to its hugeness. It's not going to have the broad appeal of the Galaxy S4, nor catch the eye of the fashion-conscious iPhone 5S purchaser. But for those with Apple-fatigue and actually would prefer a larger screen (maybe the business types you know?), the 5.7-inches of full HD, 1080 x 1920 Super AMOLED display makes the Galaxy Note 3 is the perfect choice. Just be wary that the big phone means it'll cost you big bucks - around $299 to be exact. Is the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 better than the Galaxy Note 2? Find out here! Holiday Gift Guide: Tablets Almost everyone has a tablet nowadays, so why not pick one up for the person in your life who doesn't have one? Tablets are more portable and lightweight than laptops but provide the extra screen surface a smartphone can't. Our holiday gift guide wouldn't be complete without the busload of new tablets that came out this year especially since they all seem to be better than the next one, specs-wise and price wise (we wouldn't be surprised if you got one for yourself). New Nexus 7 Google's earlier Asus-made Nexus 7 was already an amazing compact tablet so it's no wonder the new Nexus 7 is also a dream. With a low starting price, great battery life, powerful performance and beautiful HD screen it hurdles right over the expensive less impressive iPad mini - and for just a little more money, it offers greater functionality than a Kindle Fire HD. The 16GB or 32GB go for a mere $229 and $269 respectively, with an LTE version selling for $300. The old Nexus versus the new Nexus in case you were wondering iPad mini 2 with Retina display The iPad mini was missing one little thing to really compete with Google's Nexus 7 powerhouse, and with the newest iteration from Apple, it looks like the search engine giant will have a worthy Cupertino 7-incher. Actually, the iPad mini 2 measures in at 7.9-inches, exactly the same size as the year-old iPad mini, but the display comes with a resolution boost of 2048 x 1536 meaning that it has a Full HD display. This doubles the original iPad mini's 163ppi to 326ppi. With the Retina technology on board, the new iPad mini comes with a resolution of 2048 x 1536 meaning that it has a Full HD display. This doubles the original iPad mini's 163ppi to 326ppi. Hmm, which is better: the iPad mini or the iPad mini 2 with Retina display? Surface Pro 2 Microsoft's latest tablet seems pretty much the same as the previous iteration but in actuality, the 10.6-inch Surface Pro 2 is much more powerful. The added upgrades really can't be ignored especially if you're looking to get a Windows 8.1 device. Running Intel's latest i5 Haswell chip gives it some appreciated speed and battery life making it almost as quick as an Ultrabook. The $899 price is steep, especially for a tab, but someone in your life would probably greatly appreciate this well-made machine over its bulkier, even more expensive counterparts. Does Windows 8.1 make the new Surface Pro 2 worth getting? Kindle Fire HDX If you know someone looking to upgrade their Kindle, Amazon has a new line of tablets out: the Kindle Fire HDX with a new Fire OS 3.0 called Mojito. Confused about the "HDX" part of the name? Apparently, it's Amazon's Retina display-beating tablets with the 7-inch variety boasting 323 ppi in its 1920 x 1200 resolution screen and the 8.9-inch tablet touting 339 ppi in its 2560 x 1600 resolution screen. Coming in 16GB, 32GB and 64GB, with Wi-Fi only or 4G-enabled, there's plenty to pick from. Pricing for the 7-inch HDX will start at $229 for the 16GB Wi-Fi only option, while the 8.9 HDX will start at $379 for the same configuration. Maybe Amazon's newest Kindle Paperwhite is better for your recipient? iPad Air Apple hater or Apple lover, you know the iPad Air is going to be a major seller this year which is why it's definitely on our holiday gift guide. We really can't blame the Apple fans in your life for desperately wanting an iPad Air tablet though - it's 20% thinner at just 7.5mm, which is a whopping 2.2mm thinner than the outgoing iPad 4 and more than a millimeter thinner than Google's Nexus 10 or Nokia's 2520. You can pick up this faster, lighter, slim-bezeled beauty from a variety of places starting at $499 for a 16BG Wi-Fi only model, where 32GB costs $599, 64GB is $699 and the 128GB for a hefty $799. If you want a little cellular data with your Wi-Fi connection, you'll have to dish up to $620 for 16GB, $729 for 32GB, $829 for 64GB and $929 for 128GB. 10 things you should know about the Apple iPad Air Holiday Gift Guide: Grab bag If you managed to get the big gifts out of the way and want something else to add to the pile, our holiday gift guide also includes a grab bag of sorts for you to sift through and maybe find a few stocking stuffers (albeit a few listed here are pricey so they could actually be a bigger gift). Or perhaps you'll find a few accessories and peripherals for the tech and gamer people in your life who already have it all. Chrome Sentinel Backpack A new backpack for all the goodies you've just bought would be the icing on the cake for your recipient. The Chrome Sentinel is a tad expensive at $130, but it's comfortable (albeit a little small), super-sturdy, weatherproof and guaranteed to last a long time. Timbuk2 Power Q Backpack Another well-known brand for being durable and long lasting, Timbuk2's Power Q Backpack is just that and a little bit more. What makes it really standout is the inclusion of the Joey T1 Power Supply which allows for two on-the-go smartphone charges if there's no outlet nearby. The Power Q also has plenty of pockets to spare but again like the Chrome, the bag itself is on the smaller side which is something to consider since the $199 price tag is kind of hefty. Creative Sound Blaster EVO Zx Though the Creative Sound Blaster EVO Zx headset is for the PC, we're sure you know at least one PC gamer who would appreciate new headphones, especially since they get better every year. Creative Sound Blaster is a known presence in computer audio and has been making headphones for awhile now. They aren't always perfect, but you'll get decent sound quality from the EVO Zx. If this pair isn't up to your standards, there are plenty of other gaming headset options out there to choose from. Bose QuietComfort 20i Bose QuietComfort 20i (with the "i" standing for the Apple version) in-ear headphones are definitely a must for the audiophile in your life, if you have $300 to spend. But heart attack inducing price aside, you really get what you pay for - amazing noise canceling tech and incredible sound added to the fact that the QuietComfort 20i is also really quite comfortable. There's also the neat "Aware Mode" feature which is designed to help you be able to hear important things that the noise canceling may drown out. Chromecast Google's Chromecast has been a popular little guy since its launch, and shows no signs of stopping thanks to app additions and compatibility with both Android and iOS devices. Great for anyone who loves to Netflix, Hulu Plus, YouTube, etc., but wants to watch on a bigger screen without paying for a set-top box (or console), the $35 dongle is practically a steal. The Chromecast goes up against Apple TV: which is better? Amazon phone may arrive in 2014 with 3D gesture and eye tracking Oct 30th 2013, 16:18, by Hugh Langley There's been plenty of buzz around a possible Amazon phone, and just when we thought the rumours had run out, they pull us back in. The latest word, according to AppleInsider, is that the phone will use 3D gesture and eye-tracking control for input and will arrive in the second quarter of 2014. The phone will apparently have six camera modules, four of which will be VGAs, one on each of the device's four corners. These will be the ones that detect 3D gesture and eye tracking. There will also be a 13-megapixel camera on the rear and a 12-megapixel front-facer, while the phone is said to have a 4.7-inch touch display and Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor. This all comes from people "familiar with the company's plans," but AppleInsider states that the same sources have been on the money with their information in the past. No TV box for 2013 The Amazon phone isn't all we're hearing about though. AllthingsD is reporting that Amazon's adventure into our living rooms is facing delays, with the rumoured Amazon TV box apparently not touching down until, most likely, spring 2014. There are a number of possible reasons for the delay, but the favourite going around right now is that Amazon doesn't believe its effort is distinguished enough from its competitors right now. The Amazon TV was believed to be arriving towards the end of this year but time is quickly running out. Still, we'd rather wait and see a stronger contender that really gives Apple TV and Roku a run for their money. App updates tease arrival of Android 4.4 KitKat and Nexus 5? Oct 30th 2013, 10:50, by Thomas Thorn With numerous Google apps all being updated, it seems there is something brewing over at Mountain View, something that could give us a bit of a break. Nearly all of the Google suite of apps are gaining updates, with that number currently sitting at 16, an increase from the original 12 that were spotted. This could signal the imminent arrival of Android 4.4 KitKat, the OS update that we are heavily expecting to launch alongside the LG-built Google Nexus 5, and perhaps the new Nexus 10 tablet. App updates usually pass by unnoticed, but when 16 updates are all being spotted at once, there's definitely something fishy going on. Is this apocalyptic news? These updates have also not rolled out to devices, and there are no change logs (just an updated date in the Play Store), so what is Google waiting for? The easiest and most obvious answer here is Android 4.4 KitKat. We're all starting to get excited, as November 1 is a date that has been touted, and that is the day after tomorrow. We'd bet all our savings on this launching alongside at least one Nexus device: the Nexus 5. What do we know about the Nexus 5?

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