| HTC One Max appears in public, plus details on the fingerprint scanner Oct 10th 2013, 11:30, by John McCann 
The HTC One Max is becoming increasingly more likely as the almost constant stream of rumours, leaks and speculation reaches tipping point - and now it has apparently been spotted in public. According to a posting on the Chinese social site Weibo, on user managed to snap a picture of the HTC One Max in action while riding on public transport - and it looks huge. Of course there's no guaranteeing that this picture is legit - it could of course be the work of someone who's a dab hand on Photoshop - but it appears to be consistent with rumours of a 5.9-inch, full HD device with the same stylings as the HTC One. Fingers at the ready That's not all though, as Chinese site Ctech has also spotted an image on the same social site which refers to the fingerprint scanner touted for the rear of the One Max.
While there's not a huge amount of detail to be gained here, it appears the HTC One Max will be able to recognise all your fingers, from thumb to pinkie, potentially allowing different digits to perform different tasks. This could see great functionality over Apple's TouchID system which features on the iPhone 5S - where users can unlock and makes payments with their print, but do little else. Various reports suggest HTC may be planning a One Max launch event sometime in the next week or so, with October 15 and October 17 being mooted as possible dates.        |  | Nokia Lumia 1320 said to be big screen Batman phone Oct 10th 2013, 10:26, by Hugh Langley 
Nokia is expected to announce six devices at its October 22 event, and one of them we might be seeing is the Nokia Lumia 1320 Windows phone. The first we heard was from evleaks, who first tweeted that the "Batman" codename was being used for the Lumia 1320 although didn't elaborate further. This was followed up when sources speaking to The Verge said that the handset will be the top low-end Windows Phone with specs comparable to the Lumia 625. It's all part of the planNokia is reportedly packing the 1320 with a large screen in the same vein of the 625, while the Dark Knight will also include a 5MP rear snapper and front-facing VGA camera. Nokia has done dealings with Batman before with a special bat-themed Lumia 800 to tie in with the release of The Dark Knight Rises - although there's no guarantee of a superhero tie-in come launch. We're expecting the Nokia Lumia 1520 phablet handset to be unveiled at the big Nokia event later this month, but what else has Nokia got up its sleeve? We'll either die heroes or live long enough to find out. - Is the Nokia Lumia 1020 the camera phone you deserve, or the one you need right now?
       | | How to get the Galaxy Gear running proper Android apps Oct 10th 2013, 10:21, by John McCann 
Smartwatches are slowly coming to the fore and while many have limited app offerings, the Samsung Galaxy Gear is capable of more. The folk over at Ars Technica have found out how to get the likes of Candy Crush onto your Gear. First up you'll need to head into settings and check the "USB debug" box. DebugPop the Galaxy Gear in its charging cradle, hook it up to your PC with the USB cable and download the Android Debug Bridge (or ADB) software on your machine to sideload apps. Not everything will work, and those more labour intensive offerings (Angry Birds included) will simply refuse to play ball - and that tiny 1.6-inch displays makes most things pretty pointless anyway. Let us know what you get running!        | | iPhone trade-in coming to UK Apple Stores soon? Oct 10th 2013, 09:46, by James Rogerson 
Apple looks set to roll out an iPhone reuse and recycling programme in the UK in the coming months and if it does, it will allow customers to bring an old iPhone into an Apple Store and exchange it for some credit towards a new one. It's already launched in the US in August, but according to a source who spoke with 9to5Mac, Apple has begun preparing training materials for a UK based version of the iPhone trade in service and has even started training staff in a few stores. Old for newThe service won't likely launch until staff in all stores are trained up, but when it does you can expect to be offered a price for your old phone based on its condition. However, assuming the system is the same as that in the US, the credit must be used then and there and can only be used towards a new iPhone, so if you're looking to jump ship this isn't the way to go. Apple has offered a similar scheme online for a while now and the online version is actually more flexible as you're not limited to just trading in an iPhone or only using your credit on a new iPhone. On the other hand it's a whole lot less convenient as you have to ship your device to Apple. Whether convenience will win the day here remains to be seen, but it looks like customers will soon at least have the option. - Has this news got you eyeing up a new iPhone? Then see what we thought of the iPhone 5S.
  | | Sony Xperia Z1 Mini arriving in Japan Oct 10th 2013, 09:28, by James Rogerson 
We caught wind of the Sony Xperia Z1 Mini a while back, but now it's a whole lot more official and it's headed to Japan's NTT DoCoMo network. Japanese site ASCCI is reporting that DoCoMo announced the Xperia Z1F at an event, though stated that it's not headed to Japan until December. If and when it will arrive on these fair shores is not currently known. We asked Sony and they came back with "The Xperia Z1F is for the Japanese market and will be available exclusively from Docomo. We cannot comment further on availability in other markets at this stage." That doesn't sound overly hopeful for a UK release, but given the current obsession with mini versions of flagship phones, such as the HTC One Mini and the Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini it's no surprise that Sony wants to get in on the act too. Given that those phones seem to be doing pretty well over here it's not a stretch to think that Sony would give customers an Xperia flavoured option, when shopping for a pocket friendly handset. Specs glorious specsName change aside it seems like much the same phone as it was back when we were calling it the Xperia Z1 Mini. It has a 4.3-inch 720p screen, a 2.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 processor, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of built in storage, a 20.1MP camera, 2300mAh battery, NFC and Qi wireless charging. In other words aside from the shrunk down screen it's almost as spec happy as its big brother, the Sony Xperia Z1. The Sony Xperia Z1F is shipping with Android 4.2 and will be available in black, white, lime or pink when it launches in Japan. - 4.3 inches too small for you? Then check out the full sized Sony Xperia Z1.
  | | Sony Xperia Z1 Mini arriving in Japan Oct 10th 2013, 09:28, by James Rogerson
We caught wind of the Sony Xperia Z1 Mini a while back, but now it's a whole lot more official and it's headed to Japan's NTT DoCoMo network. Japanese site ASCCI is reporting that DoCoMo announced the Xperia Z1F at an event, though stated that it's not headed to Japan until December. If and when it will arrive on these fair shores is not currently known. We asked Sony and they came back with "The Xperia Z1F is for the Japanese market and will be available exclusively from Docomo. We cannot comment further on availability in other markets at this stage." That doesn't sound overly hopeful for a global release, but given the current obsession with mini versions of flagship phones, such as the HTC One Mini and the Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini it's no surprise that Sony wants to get in on the act too. Given that those phones seem to be doing pretty well over here it's not a stretch to think that Sony would give customers an Xperia flavored option, when shopping for a pocket friendly handset. Specs glorious specsName change aside it seems like much the same phone as it was back when we were calling it the Xperia Z1 Mini. It has a 4.3-inch 720p screen, a 2.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 processor, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of built in storage, a 20.1MP camera, 2300mAh battery, NFC and Qi wireless charging. In other words aside from the shrunk down screen it's almost as spec happy as its big brother, the Sony Xperia Z1. The Sony Xperia Z1F is shipping with Android 4.2 and will be available in black, white, lime or pink when it launches in Japan. - 4.3 inches too small for you? Then check out the full sized Sony Xperia Z1.
       | | Samsung Galaxy J turbocharges the Galaxy S4 Oct 10th 2013, 09:25, by Hugh Langley 
Yet again, someone else is getting a better variation of a phone we already have. This time it's the Samsung Galaxy J, essentially a superpowered Galaxy S4, which has just appeared on DoCoMo in Japan. The Galaxy J arrives with a 5-inch Super AMOLED HD display, 3GB of RAM, a Snapdragon 800 processor (up from a 600) and 32GB of internal storage. which pretty much makes it the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 in a smaller shell. The payoff is a slightly bulkier handset, weighing in at 146g, but we'd happily take it for more firepower. It also has microSD support so you can bulk up the your volume to 64GB. Coral blimey!And if you're not a fan of the available S4 colours, Samsung is rubbing it in your face with Coral Pink and Lapis Blue variations of the J. It's also available in Satin White, but we'd argue that one's not so exciting. In terms of camera, it's a 13.2MP job on the rear and 2.1MP on the front, so at least it's not digging the knife in deeper there. There's currently no word on global availablility for the Galaxy J though we don't expect we'll be seeing it any time soon. Shame.        | | Is Samsung serious about flip phones? Snapdragon 800 model spotted Oct 10th 2013, 00:35, by Chris Smith 
Samsung's recent flirtation with the flip phone form factor could be about to become a full on love affair, judging by a new leak suggesting a handset with high-end specs might be on the way. Documents submitted to Chinese regulator Tenna detail the SM-W2014, a smartphone with the quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 CPU that's appeared in many top all-touchscreen devices this year. Not only that, the spec sheet also promises the device will boast 2GB of RAM and dual 3.7-inch Super AMOLED touchscreens, both with 800 x 480 resolutions. Also listed is a 13-megapixel rear camera, a 2-megapixel front-facing snapper and the latest version of Android 4.3 Jelly Bean. Not too shabby. Flippin' 'eck!If accurate, those specifications would greatly surpass the recent Samsung Hennessey and Samsung Golden smartphones, which were recently unveiled for the Chinese market. The former has 3.3-inch 320 x 480 displays and a 1.2GHz quad-core processor, while the latter is a dual-core handset with an 8-megapixel camera. Unfortunately for those hoping to relive the flip phone halcyon days, this latest device is likely to be a Chinese exclusive too. However, Samsung does seem to be putting more and more effort into this form factor, so it's not inconceivable that an international launch could be on the cards. Interested parties should begin shouting loudly now.        | | HTC One Max specs supposedly leak, suggest a chip off the older processor Oct 10th 2013, 00:17, by Matt Swider 
There's certainly going to be more to the still-unannounced HTC One Max than its normal-sized counterpart has to offer, but how much more remains a mystery. The supposed full HTC One Max specs leaked today, giving us a possible answer courtesy of French-language tech blog NowhereElse.Fr. HTC is said to be sticking an older 1.7Ghz Snapdragon 600 processor in its phablet instead of upgrading to a Snapdragon 800 chip, as was previously rumored. But the rest of the phone sounds souped up from the alleged specs. HTC One Max is supposed to have a 5.9-inch Full HD display, 2GB of RAM, Android 4.3 and HiSense 5.5. Wait, the weight?The most interesting part of these leaked specs concerns the approximate weight of the new device. 
HTC One Max is listed as weighing in at "130 grams (with battery TBD)," according to today's alleged spec sheet. Sure, the final weight is "to be determined," but 130 grams is actually a reduction from the HTC One at 143 grams. Maybe the blurry spec sheet is just not accounting for the missing fingerprint sensor that is rumored to be a part of the HTC One Max. The specs for this phone certainly seem a little lighter than its rival Samsung Galaxy Note 3 phablet, which contains the elusive Snapdragon 800 processor. We'll likely know where the HTC One Max weighs in by the rumored Oct. 18 launch event.        | | T-Mobile disrupts again, unleashes free unlimited international data, texts Oct 9th 2013, 23:30, by klee 
The "Un-carrier revolution" continues. At an event in New York 's Bryant Park headlined by Shakira, T-Mobile announced its Un-carrier 3.0 move, or the final phase in the company's plans to shake up the wireless industry. Chief among tonight's shake-ups was word that most Simple Choice customers will see their home data coverage expanded to more than 100 countries at no additional charge. That means unlimited data and texts and a flat rate of 20 cents a minute for voice calls. The new policy goes into effective October 31. That means no roaming charges on calls, text or data when you're using T-Mo phone on that Tahitian vacation. "The cost of staying connected across borders is completely crazy," said John Legere, president and CEO of T-Mobile US in a release. "Today's phones are designed to work around the world, but we're forced to pay insanely inflated international connectivity fees to actually use them. You can't leave the country without coming home to bill shock. So we're making the world your network – at no extra cost." The nitty grittyClearly international means, well, outside the U.S., and T-Mobile is stretching its unlimited data and texting option to over 100 "Simple Global" countries. Locales that qualifying Simple Choice customers can browse and message for free from include the United Kingdom, Spain, Argentina, Russia, China and Australia. Existing customers don't have to do a thing to take advantage of the new offer as it's being automatically added to their plans. It's not all roses however as connection speeds won't go faster than 2GB. Yes, you'll save potentially thousands on roaming fees, but you may be slow to get there. Power users can opt to buy speed boosters in three different packages: one day and 100MB for $15, one week and 200MB for $25 or two weeks and 500MB for $50. T-Mo also introduced a new option for those who want to keep up with friends and family in other countries. Stateside International Talk & Text is a $10 a month option that lets customers call and text folks located in any Simple Global country. Going global
Rounding out its international edicts, T-Mobile announced that it's enlisted Shakira's rather, erm, hip appeal as a global pop powerhouse. Don't worry if Carly is out of a job, T-Mobile says she'll still be riding around in hot-pink T-Mo colors as well as those delightful Bill Hader commercials pushing Jump. Shakira and T-Mobile have entered a multi-year, mutually beneficial partnership. T-Mo will support Ms. She Wolf's upcoming single and album releases, while the carrier will get first-serve access to her music. There's the usual PR mumbo about message spreading and content creation, but this duet sounds a little more fruitful than Alicia Keys' join-up with BlackBerry. 4G forwardT-Mobile's focus wasn't entirely global as it chirped its 4G LTE network now reaches more than 200 million people in 233 metropolitan markets in the US. This beats the carrier's goal of covering just that number by the end of 2013. T-Mobile said its 4G LTE is on top of its 4G HSPA+ network, a blanket that covers 229 million Americans. LTE download speeds are expected to range between six and 20 Mbps. HD Voice is supported on T-Mobile's network, which the company claimed is a solo achievement not offered by other US carriers. Before the year is over, it plans to deploy 10+10 MHz of 4G LTE in 90% of the country's top 25 metro markets, with 20+20 MHz LTE launched from next year on. T-Mobile let loose some bold moves but it's all a part of it plan to shake up the mobile industry. Phase one, announced in March, did away with annual contracts and added iPhones to the carrier's roster of handsets. A few months later, phase two introduced Jump, T-Mobile's early upgrade program, and credit card check-less family plans. How will the other carriers respond? The ball is certainly in their court.        | | Updated: Pulled T-Mobile page points to free global data in over 100 countries Oct 9th 2013, 22:31, by Michelle Fitzsimmons 
Update: T-Mobile really does want you to connect whenever, wherever. The carrier confirmed its plan for unlimited international data plus texting this evening, and we've got all the details for you right here. Just a heads up, there's more than just Simple Choice Plan extension to over 100 countries, but no spoilers here. Original article... T-Mobile may have let the cat out of the bag a little too soon. But don't worry, there's still Shakira to look forward to. A now-missing post on the magenta carrier's website teased what we may hear in just a few hours - that phase 3 of T-Mobile's Un-carrier plan is free global data. "The world is your network at now extra charge," the page read. "T-Mobile's nationwide data is going global. With coverage in 100 countries. Coming late October." The message, along with a pink globe, are now gone, perhaps acting as more unwitting confirmation of what we're in for later. Shakira!Spoken in an accusatory, not fan-girl, tone. While the pop star probably has better things to do than leak mobile carrier plans, her Facebook fan page apparently doesn't. As reported by Droid-Life, the page posted a teaser pic of Shakira, who's set to perform as part of the Un-carrier 3.0 event this evening in New York City, with these words: "Now your data plan has a passport. Global data coverage in over 100 countries at no extra charge." We have no other details yet, but when those become available, we'll fill you right in.        | | Windows Phone 8.1 could grow devices up to 10 inches Oct 9th 2013, 18:36, by Michael Rougeau 
Windows Phone 8 device displays might soon reach previously unheard of sizes if a report published today holds any water. Over at the Windows SuperSite Paul Thurrott shared some scoops, including word that the expected Windows Phone 8.1 "Blue" update could add support for devices with displays up to 10 inches large. We already heard that the GDR3 Windows Phone update might add support for 5- to 6-inch devices, but it seems the update after that - the Windows Phone 8.1 release, code named "Blue" - might push that even farther. Although "this obviously infringes on Windows RT/8.x tablets," as Thurrott put it, "so it's not clear what the thinking is there." This town's not big enoughCompatibility with more devices is generally a good thing, but there are few key questions that signal extending Windows Phone 8.1 to tablet-sized devices may not be a great idea. Among them, can Microsoft possibly maintain and explain three different operating systems that are all on devices of the same size? Windows 8 and Windows RT are already doing battle over the 10-inch Surface tablet. What will be left standing if Windows Phone 8 tablets of the same size join the fray? Finally, will Windows RT and Windows Phone 8 eventually merge? Microsoft may want to think twice before potentially cannibalizing itself any further, though it would behoove us to keep in mind that this is nothing more than an unsubstantiated rumor at this point - and one that doesn't necessarily make sense, anyway. 'Back' to the futureThe same report highlights some other potential features of WP8.1, like increased API compatibility between Windows Phone and Windows RT - which actually supports the idea that they could someday merge. In addition, Windows Phone will reportedly become less Android and more iOS with the substantial update when Microsoft axes the "back" navigation button from hardware specifications because it "just doesn't makes sense." Finally, multitasking will reportedly improve and become more efficient with Windows Phone 8.1.        | | Google Chromecast hits Amazon UK, nearly three times more expensive than US Oct 9th 2013, 18:30, by Chris Smith 
The Google Chromecast HDMI streaming dongle is now available to buy in the UK from Amazon, 24 hours after it temporarily became available globally from the retailer's US site. However, Brits who marvelled at the device's $35 (about £21) US price-tag will have to fork over almost triple that, at £59.99 to get their hands on Chromecast. Shipping will be free. Google is yet to officially announce international availability for its versatile Apple TV rival, months after bringing it to Statesiders, but Amazon UK's listing claims to have Chromecast in stock. On Tuesday some punters were able to snap up the device from the Amazon.com and have it shipped to the UK for the American price, but the company is no longer offering the international shipping option. PotentialChromecast, a surprise announcement at Google's Android 4.3 launch event this summer, allows content to be sent from iOS, Android, Chrome OS Windows and Mac OS X devices to be played on a HD TV. Rather than streaming directly from the mobile device or laptop, Chromecast works by pulling the content down to the device from the cloud, making the origin device more of a trigger or remote control. So far it lacks widespread support from third-party developers and apps are thin on the ground, but the potential is there for Chromecast to be a much more inclusive, versatile device than Apple's £99 hockey puck-like set-top box. The good news for Brits is that we can now get our hands on the device, but we're not sure about that massively inflated price point. Perhaps when Google has something to say about a UK launch, we'll see a semblance of parity restored.   | | Disney simulates the magic of touch with touchscreen vibration algorithm Oct 9th 2013, 17:43, by Michael Rougeau 
Disney is not normally at the forefront of technological advancements - unless we're talking about theme parks - but its new technique for "feeling" touch screens sounds pretty magical. The company's Pittsburgh researchers, including one Dr. Ali Israr, have developed an algorithm that generates "electro-vibration" when a touchscreen user's fingers touch certain points on the display. When users' fingers land on something that should feel textured, the device emits vibrations, creating the illusion of an object with actual, physical texture. And because many touchscreen devices already have vibrating feedback motors the system should be easy to implement, according to the researchers. Good vibrationsThe Disney touchscreen technique simulates what it really feels like to touch textured objects, like pineapples, fossils and interactive maps, by recreating that feeling using small vibrations. Apparently its algorithm creates vibrations that are pretty close to what actually happens when you touch something. "Our brain perceives the 3D bump on a surface mostly from information that it receives via skin stretching," said Ivan Poupyrev, head of the interaction research group that developed the technology. The vibrations reportedly stretch the skin of a user's fingertips just enough to make it seem like they're really feeling something. When it's described like that, it seems obvious - haptic feedback is important, after all. That's why your phone vibrates when you type a letter. The system is also more versatile than other haptic feedback touchscreen gimmicks, like the Tactus microfluid tech touted last year, because it can "tune tactile effects to a specific visual artifact on the fly," said Israr.        | | Turn on, tune in and See It, all from a tweet Oct 9th 2013, 17:16, by JR Bookwalter 
It's no secret Twitter is the perfect place for television fans to hold real-time conversations about their favorite shows, but now viewers can actually control the boob tube from the very same place. Twitter today announced a new partnership with Comcast and NBCUniversal called See It, which allows Xfinity TV subscribers the ability to actually control their cable box from tweets about their favorite shows. Rather than just engage in chatter about a show, See It enables viewers to change the channel, set the DVR to record and even play a show On Demand, all from an expanded tweet. "By partnering with Comcast, we'll be able to make it easier than ever to turn on the show everyone is talking about and jump into the conversation," Twitter's Vice-President of Business Development & Platform Jana Messerschmidt explained in a blog post. See it soonTo activate See It, Comcast Xfinity TV subscribers tap a button in their Twitter app, which prompts the user to log into their account and select where they'd like to view the program. With the fall television season now in full swing, See It will be enabled for a wide variety of NBCUniversal content across the company's entire network, which includes NBC as well as cable properties such as USA, Syfy, Bravo and E!. Shows with See It enabled will include Sunday Night Football as well as popular primetime fare such as "The Voice," "The Blacklist," "Suits" and the upcoming Winter Olympics being held in Sochi, Russia. Twitter hopes to expand its partnership with Comcast to include additional content providers, although the microblogging service remains mum on current plans to bring it to competing services. - Get up close and personal with LG's latest Optimus L9 smartphone in our full review!
       | | Is Lenovo planning to buy HTC? Oct 9th 2013, 13:50, by Kate Solomon 
Newspapers in Korea and China have both reported that Lenovo and HTC have been in talks over a partnership or sale since August. HTC doesn't have an official statement on the rumours but the Korean manufacturer told the WSJ that is is "not interested in selling" and neither HTC nor Lenovo would say whether they have a different kind of partnership under way. It's no secret that HTC's bank balance is in freefall as it reported its first ever loss earlier this week, despite the fact that it has made what TechRadar deems to be the world's best phone in the form of the HTC One. Fire saleTop smartphone skills haven't seen HTC nabbing a seat at the top table with the iPhone 5S and Samsung Galaxy S4 though. Last month the company sold off its Beats shares for a sweet $265 million cash injection (around £165m / AU$284m). As for Lenovo, while it still rides high in the ailing PC market, it hasn't had much luck on the smartphone or tablet side of things; linking up with HTC could give it a boost in this arena. We'd be very surprised to see an outright sale a la Microsoft/Nokia but a partnership could be on the cards. Neither company is commenting for now, however, so we'll just have to wait and see.   | |
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