| Exclusive: Nexus 5 will ship at the end of October with same specs as iPhone 5S Oct 1st 2013, 13:20, by Jay McGregor 
A source familiar with Google has told TechRadar that the much-anticipated Nexus 5 will be announced and shipped in the last week of October. The Nexus 4 upgrade will also be "half the price" of the iPhone 5S, which should make the Nexus 5 price land around £275 ($473 AUS, $446 US) and in line with Google's low-price high-performance smartphone policy. Our source was referring to UK shipping though we fully expect the rest of the world to also be getting it soon after launch. If it's true that the Nexus 5 will match the 5S in performance then this could turn out to be a massive boon for Google as they look to capitalise on the popularity of the Nexus 4 while simultaneously undercutting Apple. But what does "match the iPhone 5S" mean exactly? Will it ape certain features like the controversial fingerprint identity sensor? Or be available as a 64GB version unlike the Nexus 4? It's not clear but higher on-board storage would be preferable since the recently leaked photos appear to show no external memory slot. Counting down the daysHowever it's likely we'll see something similar to the the iPhone's 64-bit A7 processor. Apple kicked off an arms race with the 64-bit processor announcement and no doubt Google and Samsung will follow suit. Even Samsung's co-chief executive Shin Jong-kyun has said that Samsung's next smartphones "will have 64-bit processing functionality". If this is the case then we may see the Nexus 5 housing 4GB of RAM in an attempt to future-proof the device and create a desktop-like experience, although previous reports have suggested around 3GB - which is plenty. It's interesting that the source directly mentioned the iPhone to describe the capabilities of the Nexus 5. This could be an insight into Google's future strategy of taking some of Apple's 29% UK market instead of becoming the dominant Android device and eating into Samsung's huge 36.2% market share.        |  | Windows Phone doubles European users in a year Oct 1st 2013, 09:47, by James Rogerson 
Windows Phone might be having a tough time of it overall but things are looking up in Europe. Microsoft's smartphone OS now has a 9.2% share in the top five European markets - that's up from 5.1% this time last year. That's according to the latest findings by Kantar Worldpanel, which looked at the performance of various smartphones across Great Britain, Germany, France, Italy and Spain, along with a handful of countries in other continents. The numbers don't lieWhile Windows Phone is still on single digit figures overall, it now has 12% of the market share in Great Britain, up from just 4.5% this time last year and 10.8% in France, up from 5.6%. It's also neck and neck with iOS in Germany, where Windows Phone and iOS have 8.8% and 9.5% of the market share respectively. Windows Phone is still struggling, but its market share is increasing and in Europe it's happening at a faster rate than either iOS or Android. That's likely down in large part to strong sales of the Nokia Lumia 520. If Windows Phone can pull other successful smartphones out of the bag then it may yet become a major player. The bad news in this data is reserved for BlackBerry, which has seen a drop in market share across every region that Kantar Worldpanel provided data for, bringing its overall market share in the top five European regions down from 5.8% to 2.4%.        | | Nexus 5 spotted again, doesn't overly impress Oct 1st 2013, 09:12, by James Rogerson 
Is the Nexus 5 meant to be a secret? It's not a very well kept one, if so. Its latest appearance comes through the hands of a forum member who took the time to snap a quick picture and reveal a few thoughts on the handset. The forum member, going by the name 'weespeed', posted about the handset on MacRumors. He doesn't say much, but his picture does give us one of our clearest views of the back of the phone yet. What he does say is that it feels good in the hand, its screen is simply ok, the bezel is very small and it seems smaller than the LG G2. He also claims that the back cover feels a lot like the Nexus 7 (presumably the new 2013 model). Here, there and everywhereThis latest appearance follows on from a sighting at a bar and another during the Android 4.4 KitKat unveiling. We've also previously seen a rumoured specs leak for the Nexus 5, which claims that it has a 5.2 inch screen, a 2.3 GHz quad-core processor and 3GB of RAM. If the Nexus 5 really is smaller than the LG G2 the difference will presumably be largely down to that small bezel, since the rumoured screen size is identical. It's also interesting that weespeed wasn't thrilled by the screen, given that it's supposedly the same 1920 x 1080 resolution as that of the LG G2. Then again, resolution isn't everything. With an official announcement rumoured for October we should have concrete details on the Nexus 5 soon enough. - Want more Nexus 5 goodness? Check out an updated list of all the news and rumours.
FutTv : l9l7iCbAm25NN       | | In Depth: Nexus 5 release date, news and rumors Oct 1st 2013, 05:08, by Marc Flores
The Nexus 5 is going to be the successor to last year's Nexus 4, and from what we know so far, it's going to be made by LG - just like the previous model. We've seen numerous leaks of and about the device now - we even saw one from a Google promotional video for Android 4.4. KitKat - so we have a very rough idea of what he new Nexus 5 will be like. If we go by the Nexus line's history, there are a few things we can gather in terms of what the device will feature, or not feature. To start, there typically isn't expandable memory in Nexus devices - whether we're talking tablets or smartphones. It would be a safe bet to assume that the Nexus 5 won't have microSD support, so we're hoping that 32GB and 64GB options will be available. 
Another thing - and this is pretty obvious - is that this upcoming smartphone will be the first to feature the latest version of Android: 4.4 KitKat. Nexus 5 release dateThe Nexus 5 may see a release date around November, much like its predecessor, the Nexus 4. Word is that the Google-powered LG smartphone will see an October announcement with a launch of a few weeks later. 
Not surprisingly, we're seeing a lot of the phone getting leaked in the wild, too. Most recently, following an unusual trend of where devices are getting leaked, the Nexus 5 was spotted in a bar. Moreover, a phone that looks very much like the coming Google phone was spotted at the FCC. The camera hold was as large as the module we've seen in leaked photos, so we suspect that the LG smartphone, labeled as model D820, is actually the Nexus 5. FutTv : l9l7iCbAm25NNNexus 5 inspired by LG G2Rumor has it that the new Nexus 5 is going to be heavily inspired by the LG G2, which is a good thing. While the hardware isn't as sexy as the HTC One, for example, it is by far the most powerful Android device so far this year. In terms of specs and raw performance, the G2 is really incredible. Its high-resolution display is amazing, and it has great color and contrast. 
The G2's benchmark performance is off the charts, and battery life doesn't seem to suffer at all as a result. We can only hope that the Nexus 5 does take all these elements from the G2, and place the power and volume buttons back where they belong - on the edges of the device. Perhaps we can also expect that amazing 13MP camera, too, since it performed exceptionally well in most lighting conditions. Judging by the huge module on the back of the Nexus 5, however, we might be in for even more. FutTv : XMsUw1y46PpizNexus 5 processor and powerWe've come to learn that the Nexus 5, which obviously isn't available yet, has destroyed the Samsung Galaxy S4 in benchmark tests. This isn't a surprise if the Nexus device ends up taking its cues from the LG G2. In our review, the G2 did exceptionally well in benchmark testing. 
Rumor is that the Nexus 5 will have a 2.3GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 with 3GB RAM. That's a lot of power and memory under the hood of a smartphone. One thing we can be sure of is that the new Google phone will give other Android flagships a good run for their money. Nexus 5 wireless chargingPerhaps it's a novelty for some of you, but wireless charging is very convenient. And it looks like the Nexus 5 will have this feature thanks to a little digging in Android 4.4 KitKat. It's also more than safe to assume that if a device like the Nexus 5 were to have wireless charging, it will also have NFC. What isn't clear is whether the charging device or dock is going to be sold as part of the package with the Nexus 5, or if it's going to be a separate accessory. Right now we'll hedge our bets and go with the latter. Nexus 5 priceRight now it's anyone's guess whether the Nexus 5 will see the same pricing scheme as the Nexus 4. The newer model, if it turns out anything like the LG G2, will be a monster of a device in terms of specs. Compared to the Nexus 4 the Nexus 5 is shaping up to be a smartphone in a completely new class. And with specs like that, it's hard to imagine that it will get the same pricing treatment that the Nexus 4 did with off-contract rates. Last year's model didn't even have LTE support! We would expect the newer Google phone to hover around $499 - $699 off contract, and perhaps even higher if Google decides to offer a massive 64GB version.        | | Vodafone expands $5 Roam Like Home to 34 European countries Oct 1st 2013, 04:19, by Farrha Khan 
Vodafone Australia has added Europe to its list of countries where roaming will be capped at $5 a day on its Vodafone Red plans. The second roll out of countries comes after launching the Vodafone Red plans in August, with Roam Like Home initially offered in New Zealand, the US and UK. All Vodafone Red 24-month plans include unlimited calls to standard national numbers and mobiles and unlimited SMS to local and international numbers. The $65 a month plan includes 1.5GB of data, $80 a month will give you 2.5GB and $100 will give you 5GB of data. The opt-in Roam Like Home option allows you to use your phone as if you were using it in Australia, so long as you stay within your monthly allowance or you'll be charge as per Vodafone's usual roaming rates. But the "infinite" nature of the plans means that you could standard national calls or SMS anywhere in the country you are visiting, or back in Australia, with the daily price capping at $5 – and only on the days you actually use your service. The 34 European countries include Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Turkey Roaming telcosOptus and Telstra announced their international roaming options soon after Vodafone announced Roam Like Home. Though not yet offered globally, Vodafone is differentiating their Roam Like Home option with the plan's "infinite" options, and noting that with data, it does not require the user to buy extra data packs. "Buying a data pack and then trying to monitor your usage is messy and customers say they find it complicated, so we decided to simplify roaming by allowing our customers to use their plan overseas just as they would at home. Our customers love it," said Vodafone Australia CEO Bill Morrow. He added that Vodafone Australia is still working to add more countries as quickly as they can, leveraging the international presence of Vodafone Group, which owns 50% of Vodafone Hutchison Australia, in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific and the US. "Vodafone has a real competitive advantage due to our international network, which means we can offer customers something none of the other providers can," he said. "One thing's for sure, our customers love to travel and we want to make sure we move with them." - Want to know which Ausslie telco has the best 4G? Then you should check out our 4G network comparison.
  | | Telstra adds data sharing options Oct 1st 2013, 02:40, by Farrha Khan 
Introducing Data Share Packages, Telstra is Australia's first major telco to offer data sharing options beyond tethering or adding extra SIM accounts. Tied to the one SIM, the Data Share Package allows customers to spread their data usage on up to four devices, including laptops, smartphones or tablets. The add on features are for Every Day Connect and Business Performance customers, simply adding $10 a month to add the Data Share Package to your plan, and another $10 for each additional SIM card for your devices. This simply means that, for example, a $60 Every Day Connect plan will cost $70 a month to add the shared data package, and either another $10, $20 or $30 per month over 24 months if you want one, two or three extra SIMs, respectively. Telstra is offering an extra 1GB of data for your monthly allowance if you sign up before 31 December 2013. But if the data allowance on your chosen plan tier isn't enough, you could also add an additional data pack, but your monthly charge will go up. Playing SIMsNot all devices have slots for SIM cards, but for those that do, the Telstra's package could be a handy addition. Of course, you could just use Wi-Fi or Bluetooth tethering to share data between devices without any extra charges, though this could hit both device's battery quite hard. It should also be noted that the largest amount of data that Telstra offers on its Every Day Connect plans is 3GB, reserved for its highest tier. Consumer advocacy group the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN) applauded Telstra for offering flexibility with the add-on, but also noted that it was still at a cost. "The relatively high cost to use data sharing means the free tethering features built into devices are likely to be a sufficient alternative for some," Asher Moses, ACCAN spokesman, told Computerworld Australia.        | | Windows Phone sales share in Europe near double digits, close to iOS Oct 1st 2013, 01:36, by Matt Swider 
Not even Ballmer can cry with these numbers. Windows Phone sales were the highest ever in the last three months, accounting for 9.2% of smartphones sold in Europe's five major markets. That's just the average in Great Britain, Germany, France, Italy and Spain, according to the numbers from consumer research firm Kantar Worldpanel. Microsoft's mobile operating system has already crossed a double digit sales share in France with 10.8%. In Great Britain it's a solid 12%, which is a head-turning 7% year-over-year increase. "Windows Phone's latest wave of growth is being driven by Nokia's expansion into the low and mid-range market with the Lumia 520 and 620 handsets," said Dominic Sunnebo, strategic insight director at Kantar. "These models are hitting the sweet spot with 16- to 24 year-olds and 35- to 49 year-olds, two key groups that look for a balance of price and functionality in their smartphone." Windows Phone vs iOS vs Android salesMicrosoft is actually closing the gap between Windows Phone and iOS in some countries. It's sales share in Germany, for example, is just one percentage point behind iOS. Android still dominates smartphone sales throughout Europe, maintaining a 70.1% market share. But the report stated that its "dominant position is increasingly threatened" by Windows Phone and iOS growth. "After years of increasing market share, Android has now reached a point where significant growth in developed markets is becoming harder to find," noted Sunnebo. "Android's growth has been spearheaded by Samsung, but the manufacturer is now seeing its share of sales across the major European economies dip year on year as a sustained comeback from Sony, Nokia and LG begins to broaden the competitive landscape." The rest of the globeWindows Phone's popularity surge hasn't caught on everywhere in the world. In the U.S., for example, Microsoft's mobile OS only accounted for 3% of smartphone sales in the last three months ending in August. That's a year-over-year increase of just 0.4%. Sales of Windows Phone devices actually declined to a 2.1% share in China, going 2.6% in the wrong direction. But that's because Android was the only mobile OS to see an increase in the country, taking 9.2% more of the pie for a 72.4% share. Australia was more kind to Microsoft, registering a 6.5% sales share for Windows Phone, an increase of 2.8%, according to the Kantar numbers. With Windows Phone and Blackberry in switched positions, the new No. 3 could make a move on Apple's sales share in a couple of countries in the coming months.        | | Updated: New Verizon phones: 17 we recommend Sep 30th 2013, 20:56, by Lily Prasuethsut 
New Verizon phones 1-7Do you want a list of the new Verizon phones so you can just pick one without the hassle of endless research? Or are you just curious about what the upcoming Verizon phones are? If your answer is yes to both (or even yes to one) then you're in luck. We know it's tough keeping up with all the upcoming products for the check-mark carrier, so we've created a list of the company's new phones for your perusal. If you can't wait for the upcoming Verizon phones, have no fear - there are plenty of new Verizon phones to choose from below. iPhone 5S
The latest iPhone iterations from Apple have proven to be a big hit with the iPhone 5S boasting the more intense innards and "fancier" colors for the fans (black, space grey, gold), and selling out faster than hotcakes. Verizon joins the Apple party with iPhone 5S sales starting at $199.99 on a two-year contract or zero money down for $27.50 per month on Verizon Edge. You can also get it at the full retail price of $649.99. iPhone 5C
Sporting a set of flashy, neon colors is Apple's other new handset, the iPhone 5C. Though the "C" stands for colorful, it could also mean cheap as well since the phone starts at a low $99.99 on two-year contract, $23.06 on Verizon Edge and $549.99 at full retail price. There doesn't seem to be a huge difference between the iPhone 5 and the iPhone 5C but if you don't mind that or the plasticky feel (you're probably also less likely to scratch it up) then this phone from Verizon is worth checking out. HTC One
After much waiting, Verizon is finally carrying the super popular HTC One. The One starts selling for $199.99 with a two-year contract, and $599 month-to-month or you can pay $25.22 through Verizon Edge. Verizon's HTC One has basically the same essentials as other carrier models - the latest Android OS, 4G LTE, Beats Audio and more. LG G2
With a 5.2-inch 1920 x 1080 display, the LG G2 is definitely a phone for the phablet fans, and people who don't mind power buttons in weird places. The chipset inside is a Qualcomm MSM8974 Snapdragon 800, with a 2.26GHz quad-core Krait 400. In terms of processing power, it seems that the G2 is in no short supply. Verizon has the handset for $199.99 on a two-year contract and $25.22 through Edge, or $599.99 off contract. Moto X
The Moto X has been a hot topic since its Aug. 1 reveal inciting both positive and negative reactions. The 16GB version of the Moto X is now available on Verizon with 4G LTE for $199.99 on a 2-year contract, $599.99 full retail and $24.99 a month on Verizon Edge. The processor is a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro running a 1.7GHz dual-core CPU and Adreno 320 GPU. The Moto X lacks a memory slot, and it houses 2GB of RAM. The standard Moto X variant is 16GB, with a 32GB available online. Motorola Droid Ultra
The Droid Ultra is the centerpiece of Motorola's new line up of Droid smartphones on Verizon and has been available since Aug. 20. Pricing for the machine is $199 with a two-year contract. The Ultra has been touted as the future's "thinnest 4G LTE phone" on the market with an expansive 5-inch screen in a body that's just a mere 7.18mm thick. The Android 4.2.2 machine will have dual-core 1.2GHz Snapdragon processor and 2GB of RAM. It also has been treated with what Motorola representative Jeff Snow described as a water-resistant nano-coating to protect the device from spills. Motorola Droid Mini
Smaller not just than the Ultra and bigger-battery-toting Droid Maxx but also the last compact model, the $199 Droid Mini still feels like an essential component to the line up and not an obligatory offering. The guts of the Droid Mini are exactly like those in the Droid Ultra and Maxx, namely Motorola's new X8 8-core processing unit. The die has two processors devoted to running apps, one processor just for contextual computing, and one more devoted only to language processing, particular the Droid Mini's Touchless Control. New Verizon Phones 7-14Motorola Droid Maxx
Of the three Verizon Droids, the Droid Maxx is the $299 flagship, sporting Motorola's signature Kevlar backing and a real whopper of a battery. While all the new Droids have the same horsepower, the Maxx is the one with the most staying power. It has 32GB of storage to the others' 16GB, and since none of the phones support microSD, that's an important distinction. Nokia Lumia 928
The Nokia Lumia 928, exclusive to Verizon's 4G LTE network at a listed price of $99 on a two-year contract, is a bulky, bland slab available in just black or white, and vastly different from the usual bold Lumia colors. But this Windows Phone 8 handset has other standout features - namely a great camera with a lens built for low-light conditions, not to mention a very sharp screen. And the WP8 interface is great on any device; here it's certainly no slouch. Samsung Galaxy S4
Like the Lumia 928, Verizon carries the Samsung Galaxy S4 in white and black with an average amount of carrier branding. The Galaxy S4 is advertised as a 16GB phone, but after the Android 4.2: Jelly Bean OS, Samsung's TouchWiz software and Verizon's buffet of bloatware, users have only 9GB of storage to play with. Now, Verizon isn't the only one doing this, every version of the phone we've encountered has had far less than 16GB available. The Galaxy S4 is quite a popular phone and definitely worth checking out if you're on Big Red's plans. Motorola Droid Razr M
Likely in anticipation of the HTC One on Verizon, the Droid Razr M is now free year with a two-year contract. The Razr M is the lightest, thinnest phone in the refreshed lineup of Droid Razrs exclusive to Verizon. It's sleek and compact, but hasn't sacrificed anything in performance. It sports the same 1.5 GHz dual-core processor and 1GB of RAM found in its bigger siblings, the Droid Razr HD and Droid Razr Maxx HD. Instead, the phone is sized down in the screen, battery and storage departments to make for a compact and affordable little handset. The Droid Razr M is a jack-of-all-trades kind of phone. It's overall performance and premium make it a winner. What's more, it's just surprisingly snappy and sturdy for how affordable it is. HTC Droid DNA
Droid is Verizon's brand, but HTC has constructed a slick looking device with enviable specs and a mammoth high-resolution display. HTC Droid DNA also runs Android 4.1: Jelly Bean, making it the second HTC phone to launch with this version of the Android OS, next to the HTC One X+. In addition to the Droid's good looks, it has the brilliant display and snappy camera HTC phones are known for. Sadly, its also got some of the HTC turn-offs, like a closed body without microSD support, just 16GB of storage inside, and a battery that often struggled to make it through the day. Similar to the Droid Razr M's contract change, the HTC Droid DNA is now just $50 with a two-year contract. Blackberry Q10
The BlackBerry Q10 arrived just recently (in June actually) and without a doubt, holds the best QWERTY keyboard smartphone on the market, which is certainly a bold claim - until you consider, what other high-end smartphones are sporting a full-on keyboard these days? Exactly. It may be the best, but it's the best of one. People will buy the Q10 for its QWERTY keyboard, it's a business tool and in that arena it excels. However start stacking the Q10 up against handsets which have a similar price tag and you can't help but think it's possibly one of the most expensive keyboards on the planet, with little in the way of stand out features to justify its cost. Blackberry Z10
Lock eyes on the BlackBerry Z10 and you'll notice it's an unassuming slab of black glass and plastic that mimics the general aesthetically designed smartphone these days. The Z10 is a little bezel-heavy with a sizable gap above and below the screen, and that's before we even get to the additional plastic chunks stuck on both ends of the handset. It does pretty much everything we'd expect from a high-end device and there are no major flaws to go running to the press about. That said, the Z10 also lacks any killer selling points. It's hard to find reasons why we'd recommend this over say the iPhone 5, Sony Xperia Z or Nokia Lumia 920 - all of which are around the same price as the Z10. Upcoming Verizon PhonesTake a gander at the phones below to see what's coming to Verizon, and what might be heading towards Big Red. We'll keep updating with every hint of a release so check back often for the latest from the red check-mark. Lumia 929
Fresh outta the rumor mill, it seems like Verizon will be taking on the next Windows Phone iteration, the Lumia 929. At 5-inches, the 929 qualifies as a phablet but isn't too hefty, unlike it's alleged big brother the Lumia 1520 (which is 6-inches). The 929 might sport a 20MP camera and a 1080p display costing you around $500 off-contract. BlackBerry Z30
Though not confirmed nor floating around the internet rumor mills as much as other handsets, the BlackBerry Z30 seems like a likely phone Verizon would pick up. There are already other BlackBerries on the carrier so it wouldn't be too surprising if we eventually see the Z30 make its way onto the availability list - especially if BB has hopes of keeping the company alive. HTC One Mini
Like the BlackBerry Z30, there's no word that Verizon will pick up the HTC One Mini, but perhaps the popularity of its predecessor the HTC One will garner enough attention for the mini wonder to find another home. The Mini is quite similar to the One anyway, but more portable and cheaper so again, is appealing.        | | HTC One Max may actually squeeze into view on Oct. 17 Sep 30th 2013, 19:43, by Michael Rougeau 
Those waiting on the edge of their seats for more HTC One Max news can celebrate today, as long as an unsubstantiated rumor of a slightly later HTC One Max release date is enough to satiate. The latest comes from the Chinese site ePrice, reporting that the HTC One Max will launch on Oct. 17. Previous rumors held that the HTC phablet would launch Oct. 15, so this report is not exactly blowing any minds. Either way, it's thought that HTC will time the One Max to go out around the same time as Apple's new iPads - and ePrice said it will cost about the same as the Galaxy Note 3, which is rumored near $950 (about UK£600, AU$1,000) SIM-free. HTC One Max rumorsThe HTC One Max has been the subject of plenty of leaks and rumors. The device's alleged fingerprint scanner got our attention early on, even before the iPhone 5S was confirmed to have one of its own. Other HTC One Max rumors have described part of the phone's specs sheet, including Android 4.3, a 2.3GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 chip, a 5.9-inch 1080p display and 2GB of memory And there have been plenty of pictures. Pocketnow said on Sept. 27 that the HTC One Max recently went through TENAA, the Chinese equivalent of the U.S.'s Federal Communications Commission, another sign that it's coming soon.        | | Lumia 929 may arrive in US soon with not-really mysterious tablet in tow Sep 30th 2013, 18:38, by Lily Prasuethsut 
Verizon has the Lumia 928 and the older Lumia 822 up for grabs in its store, but another Windows Phone may be headed to Big Red. Windows Phone Central claims the Lumia 929 will hit the checkmark carrier's shelves quite soon - Nov. 6 to be exact. The 929 will supposedly sport a 20MP camera and 1080p 5-inch display, costing you around $500 (about £309, AU$535) off-contract. WPH notes that the Lumia 929 release date coincides with the massive Lumia 1520's own launch, a rumored first-time phablet from Nokia that seems to be headed for competitor AT&T in November. And perhaps a tablet too?A mysterious tablet may also join the Lumia 929 pretty soon. A recently outed FCC filing shows that a Nokia device called the "RX-114" has been approved - and Engadget noticed the report features LTE bands which can be supported on various carriers, including Verizon. The Lumia 2520 (a.k.a. Sirius) has already made the rumor rounds as Nokia's first tablet and could be the device in question. We'll find out more quite soon at Nokia's upcoming Oct. 22 Abu Dhabi event, especially since a combo of six phones, tablets or whatever might just show up.        | | First! Samsung on the defensive over gold phone rat race with Apple Sep 30th 2013, 17:39, by Michael Rougeau 
Welcome to another game of Apple vs Samsung, where two of the richest tech companies in the world - and their fans - fight pointless, petty battles and everyone loses. This time Samsung finds itself on the defensive as Apple fans accused it of copying the gold iPhone 5S with its gold Galaxy S4. Samsung revealed the gold Galaxy S4 to the world last week, but the phone was actually announced in the Middle East in late August and launched in the region before the iPhone 5S was even unveiled - and there lies only part of Samsung's argument. In fact, on Sept. 28 the official Samsung blog Samsung Tomorrow published a non-comprehensive chronicle of its history with gold handsets, the first of which actually dates back to 2004. All that glitters is at least colored goldThe Samsung Mobile Arabia Twitter handle sounded off last week about the gold Galaxy S4, pointing out that it went on sale in the UAE two days before the iPhone 5S was unveiled. And according to the company's blog post, Samsung's first gold phones were the Anycall SCH-E470, SPH-E3200 and SPH-E3250 from 2004. Since then it launched gold-colored phones (some even with real gold) in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, and 2013, including the Samsung Galaxy Golden flip phone this year. Not all were widely available (or available at all), but they existed nonetheless. And the gold Galaxy S4 was launched in the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Qatar in September. There's no indication that this battle will reach a court, since luckily even Apple and Samsung can't trademark a color (yet). Normally, that wouldn't stop fans from fighting the companies' petty battles for them in message boards and comments - but maybe we can put this one to bed, people?        | | Latest Gmail for Android app suggests mobile ads are on the way Sep 30th 2013, 17:37, by JR Bookwalter 
Android users: Enjoying the latest Gmail 4.6 update released last week? Now imagine it chock-full of ads, and you might have some idea of what Google plans for the near future. Android Police reported this weekend that last week's release of Gmail 4.6 for Android wasn't just about adding new cards and a cleaner design - the APK file is also hiding something a bit less welcome inside. According to code extracted from the latest build 836823 released on Sept. 27, the Gmail app may soon be infested with mobile advertising - including the ability to potentially save ads to your inbox. Although the code to power ads in Gmail isn't currently active, it appears that all Google needs to do is flip a switch on its end and version 4.6 could start serving 'em to upwards of a billion Android users. The little thingsJudging from the contents of the Gmail APK, Google's approach to such mobile advertising could be done with some degree of restraint, although for some users, any intrusion is likely to be unwelcome. Thankfully, the Gmail 4.6 build isn't all bad news - in addition to the aforementioned new cards, the app also includes a few less noticeable tweaks, such as darker UI icons and the removal of the Cancel button while sending a message. Last but not least, the app also serves up a warning about any unsent messages that may be lounging about in a user's Sent folder, and also removes the generic avatar picture used for contacts who don't have one assigned while viewing messages in Notifications. And what about those ads potentially waiting in the wings? "We're always experimenting with new features, but have nothing new to share at this time," a Google spokesperson told TechRadar in response to our request for comment. Time will tell if these Gmail ads come to pass.        | | Cool story, Nokia! New 'Storyteller' photo app for Windows devices leaked Sep 30th 2013, 17:15, by Chris Smith 
Nokia is apparently plotting a new photography application which would enable users to form 'stories' using their photo albums. Revealed by serial Twitter leak artist @evleaks this weekend, the so-called 'Storyteller' app for Windows devices will seemingly showcase a Timeline of photos, a Photo Map and albums centred around Events. There's also a Shared tab depicted within the leaked image, which suggests that users will be able to share albums with friends and family, perhaps in a similar way to Apple's Photo Stream tool. The person behind the @evleaks Twitter account, which has been responsible for some high-profile, uncannily accurate leaks in recent times, claims the app will arrive Oct. 22 at Nokia World. Are you Sirius, bro?That event is also supposedly scheduled to see the launch of a 10.1-inch Windows RT tablet codenamed Sirius as well as the rumoured Nokia Lumia 1520 phablet, codenamed 'Bandit'. The latter of those devices looks like it could be Nokia's most impressive Windows Phone handset yet. Speculation has suggested it'll have a 6-inch screen, 20-megapixel camera and quad-core processor. The Sirius, Nokia's first Windows tablet, faces a tougher task to impress expectant onlookers if it is indeed running the largely derided and largely abandoned Windows RT software for ARM-based devcies. We'll find out for sure at the Nokia World in Abu Dhabi in three weeks time.        | | Blip: AT&T says it's almost time to buy Samsung Galaxy Gear, Galaxy Note 3 Sep 30th 2013, 16:11, by Michelle Fitzsimmons 
"Around" Oct. 1 turned out to be sort-of right for the Galaxy Note 3 and Galaxy Gear release date at AT&T. Ma Bell announced today that the phablet and smartwatch hit the streets Oct. 4. Both devices are set to sell online and in AT&T stores, with the Note 3 retailing for $299.99 on contract. With AT&T's early upgrade Next program, customers can pick up the 5.7-inch display smartphone for $35/month. The Gear is also heading out the door for $299.99, but no contract needed here. Unlike rival Verizon, AT&T is only offering the Sammy smartwatch in black and white. Oh, and no dice for those in the mood for a pink Note 3 either; AT&T is keeping it classic with the black and white for that gadget too. An AT&T spokeswoman reminded us that while the Gear and Note 3 can be purchased separately, customers need the Note to utilize the smartwatch's non-watch features. More blips!Slap these blips on your wrist. No, that doesn't make any sense, but you should still read these tasty news nuggets.   | | Sony Xperia Z1 Mini gets its colours out in latest leak Sep 30th 2013, 14:52, by Hugh Langley 
The Sony Xperia Z1 Mini popped up earlier this month along with some purported specs, all of which is looking to be accurate with the latest apparent leak of the shrunken Xperia Z1. A spec sheet has been spotted from a brochure in Japan, delving into some of the gory details for the smaller handset, previously referred to as the Xperia Honami Mini, which it titles the Sony Xperia Z1 f. The quad-core 2.2GHz Snapdragon 800 CPU and 20.7-megapixel camera of the bigger Xperia Z1 are, interestingly, both featured on the phone, alongside 2GB of RAM and 16 GB of internal storage. You and whose Honami?However the screen has been shrunk down to a 4.3-inch 720p display, leaving a device that's smaller but thicker than the "regular size" edition. The accompanying picture also shows the phone in four variations of colour – black, white, pink and lime green (or is that yellow?) - following in the footsteps of Apple's iPhone 5C and Nokia's own penchant for vibrant handsets. It seems an awful lot of effort to go to in order to fool the internet, so while we always advise a healthy dose of skepticism, we'll err more on the side of optimism this time. We're expecting to go official with the phone some time in the next couple of months. Though we're yet to hear whether it will also be waterproof and dustproof, we'd say the chances of it keeping such features are are pretty likely.        | | In Depth: Top 10 GALAXY S4 and Note 8.0 apps for horror fans Sep 30th 2013, 14:43, by Your Mobile Life 
Horror, when done right, can stay with you forever. Whether it's the slow creep of Nosferatu's shadow down a flight of stairs, the lightning-fast emergence of a chest-burster, or the gentle rap rapping of an Edgar Alan Poe poem, these are moments that can send both pulses and minds racing. It's not just movies and books that can create true horror, though – games and apps can too. Yes, your friendly-looking Samsung GALAXY S4 or Note 8.0 is just a few app downloads away from offering up the ultimate scare factor. If you're of a nervous disposition, look away now. Here we list the apps and games that will give you a truly terrifying experience this coming Halloween. So, switch off the lights, find yourself a cushion to hide behind and turn up the volume… 
The Walking Dead: Assault£1.29 – buy it here Originally a cult graphic novel, The Walking Dead made the successful transition from page to screen in 2010 and since then a number of popular games have brought the zombie tale to interactive life. This Android version was released to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the comic, and is a searing slice of survival horror that melds original storylines with 3D visuals. 
Eyes: The Horror GameFree – get it here Although the plot may slip into cliché at times – you start off in an abandoned house and have to search each room for valuables – play Eyes for a while and you will be immersed in a lovely slab of haunted horror. It's all in the first person and the 3D graphics are impressive for a free game, so keep your wits about you because there are more than a few scares around each corner. And don't forget that the walls have eyes. Lots of eyes. 
Dead TriggerFree – get it here A decent first-person shooter game on Android is hard to find. One that can scare you rigid is even rarer, which is why Dead Trigger is such a gem of a game. Near console-quality graphics that sparkle on the GALAXY S4 or Note 8.0, alongside furious gameplay that never lets up, Dead Trigger offers a sublime horror experience. It will also equip you with all the knowledge you'll need if the world is ever overrun with zombie hordes, which is nice. 
Dark Meadow: The PactFree – get it here If you are a fan of Bioshock's eery steampunk dystopia, then Dark Meadow: The Pact is for you. Given a similar setting, the first-person shooter sets out to shock almost immediately. The game allows you to get acquainted to the easy on-board controls then… bang! You are hit with your first monster. This isn't a game for the faint of heart, but it is great for those who love shocks and scares, quality graphics and who don't mind giving up a whopping 1GB of onboard storage to make way for this expansive game. 
Popcorn HorrorFree – get it here To be honest, despite its name, we don't think you would manage to stomach much popcorn while using Popcorn Horror. This app is the gateway to a wide selection of horror shorts that you can watch for free on your GALAXY Note 8.0 or S4. Don't expect premium movies here – Popcorn Horror is all about user-generated content. While the thought of this is often enough to fill anyone with dread, don't panic: this app is packed with well-scripted horror and grindhouse movies that manage to instill just as much terror as the latest box-office slasher. Couple this with a creepy community and what you get is a fantastic fear-filled app. 
Murder RoomFree – get it here Ah, Murder Room. With a name like that, we reckon you may be able to guess what sort of game lies in store. Yup, this app is set in a room where a murder takes place – and a rather grizzly one at that. It's made by Japanese horror game studio Ateam Inc and is full of the sort of ghostly goings on that 'J-Horror' moviemakers are well known for. At its diseased heart, Murder Room is a typical 'room escape' game – but this one comes complete with added scare factor. 
Bloody Mary Ghost Adventure HD£1.31 – buy it here We all know the folklore: if you say "Bloody Mary" several times into a mirror, the spirit of a young woman is said to appear, and carnage can often ensue. Personally, we think this only happens to people who have had too many Bloody Marys, but this game takes that idea and adds a nice bit of augmented reality. Instead of a mirror, you hold your handset up to your surrounding area, use your GALAXY Note 8.0 camera technology and see if Bloody Mary is to be found. It's all good scary fun, even if the ending of the game doesn't quite live up to its jump-ridden beginning. 
The Abandoned SchoolFree – get it here What's black and white and red all over? Believe it or not, that's not the start of an awful joke, but actually a decent description of The Abandoned School. Melding black-and-white imagery that any cinematographer would be proud of with all sorts of ghostly gameplay, The Abandoned School is a brilliant example of how to bring point-and-click puzzlers kicking and screaming (mostly screaming) into the 21st century. 
Best Horror Movies Database£1.30 – buy it here If you are the sort of person who thinks horror begins and ends with The Exorcist, then the Best Horror Movie Database will be something of an eye-opener for you. Packed with thousands of horror movies and links to where you can find them online, this is a must-have app for anyone who wants to dip their severed toes into the genre, or those who already class themselves as aficionados. We'll admit that this does seem to be the only horror movie database available for Android, so the name of this app is a little misleading but, hey, we suppose that does make it the best of the one available, and it certainly delivers everything it promises. 
Urban LegendsFree – get it here We'll admit it – when we mentioned Bloody Mary earlier, we may have looked her up with this creepy compendium of urban legends. She joins hundreds of other 'legends' to make up this collection. Some of them are unbelievably freaky – the church of carnage is one story that will stay with us for a long time – and some of them are, well, a little light on terror. Sorry, but we are never going to get scared about ice cream. All of the urban legends are presented as mini stories, so you'll certainly get a decent amount of use from this simple but suspenseful app.        | | iPhone 5S and 5C can now hop onto O2's 4G Sep 30th 2013, 13:21, by Hugh Langley 
The iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C have touched down with more LTE love than ever, but O2's 4G network was missing from the lineup of networks offer the super fast speeds on the new handsets from launch. But that's now changed, with O2 customers able to hop onto 4G on their flashy new iPhones starting today. But hold your horses. In order to enjoy the speedier speeds you'll need to update your carrier settings, which you can do by connecting the phone to Wi-Fi or iTunes. Your iPhone will then be able to support the 800mhz band on which O2's 4G runs. Double timeNeedless to say, you'll also have to be in an area that's actually covered by O2's 4G. So that's London, Leicester, Leeds, Birmingham, Bradford, Coventry, Sheffield and Nottingham. Those of you in Edinburgh, Newcastle, Liverpool, Glasgow or Manchester can also expect to be covered by the end of the year. - Still not sure which one's right for you? Go read our extensive reviews of the iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C.
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