| Nexus 5 caught on camera again, this time in Russia Oct 15th 2013, 12:15, by John McCann 
Pictures of the supposed Google Nexus 5 are popping up all over the place at the moment, and the latest set of snaps have winged their way onto the web from Russia. The images appeared on the search giant's very own social network, Google+, courtesy of Anton Kunzentsov from Russia, although they're not actually his photographs. It's unclear where our man Anton picked them up from, but one thing is for sure - the handset in question looks very similar to previous leaked images also claiming to be the Nexus 5. More of the sameWhat these photos provide us with is a quick look round the handset, with the same rubberised back and camera layout as the new Nexus 7, while on the front there's clearly no buttons in sight and a relatively large display. Rumours suggest the Nexus 5 will pack a 2.3GHz quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM, 13MP rear camera, wireless charging, NFC and Google's latest software - Android 4.4 KitKat. As to when we'll actually see the Nexus 5 for real, that's still a little up in the air. Some reports suggest sometime this week, while others point towards the end of the month for Google's announcement.        |  | Android KitKat wants to give you more choice when it comes to texting Oct 15th 2013, 10:54, by Kate Solomon 
Android KitKat will let users decide what app to use for sending and receiving text messages rather than automatically defaulting to the classic Android Messaging app. Once KitKat lands on Android handsets, users will be able to choose a default SMS app for themselves from within system settings. The upshot for devs is that they need to adjust their hidden SMS APIs, for which full instructions are given in the blog post itself. Getting setIn the post, Android reps outline what devs need to do to ensure their SMS apps are ready for the KitKat release, whenever that may be. Previously apps were able to handle text messages in this way, but now that task will be set to one default app in the settings. 
While it doesn't contain any concrete information about when KitKat is likely to launch further than "later this year", the post does "encourage" devs to update apps "as soon as possible" which suggests that the Android 4.4 launch will be soon. Indeed, we're expecting KitKat to be unveiled this week alongside a new Nexus 5 handset. - What's that? You want to know everything there is to know about the new Nexus 5?
       | | Samsung Galaxy S5 ready to pack Apple-beating next-gen chip Oct 15th 2013, 09:12, by James Rogerson 
It looks like Samsung might be working on a smaller, much faster and much more efficient chip for the Samsung Galaxy S5, using its Exynos technology to bring out a chip to rival Apple's powerful A7 found at the heart of the iPhone 5S. Samsung is said to be working on a 14nm (or 14 nanometre) chip for its new flagship, which would be half the size of the 28nm chip in the Samsung Galaxy S4, according to South Korean site DDaily, which is reporting that according to 'industry sources' Samsung is the tentatively-titled Exynos 6. The smaller size should cut the power consumption of the chip by a large amount, and by using less power it also produces less heat, minimising the chance of the Samsung Galaxy S5 overheating. Smaller chips have the transistors packed closer together, which means that they can work faster and more efficiently, using less power. Most smartphones at the moment, including Samsung's, use 28nm chips and the next logical step down in size would be to 20nm, but Samsung seems to be skipping that altogether and jumping straight down to 14nm chips. Out-doing AppleThis follows on from previous rumours that the Samsung Galaxy S5 might use a powerful 64-bit chip. The move to 64-bits holds advantages of its own, as it will be able to work with more memory at once, allowing for devices with more than 4GB of RAM. It's also better able to multitask and can better tackle demanding apps and processes than a 32-bit chip, improving performance in the process. If all this is true then it then the Exynos 6 should be enough to out-do Apple, which recently made waves with the move to a 64-bit chip in the iPhone 5S. Samsung will not only be able to match Apple with a 64-bit chip of its own, but actually one-up the Cupertino company with a chip that's faster, cooler and smaller. The move to 64-bit architecture also opens the floodgates for more powerful Android handsets with a theoretically almost unlimited amount of RAM in the future.        | | HTC Desire 601 heading exclusively to Vodafone Oct 15th 2013, 07:04, by Farrha Khan 
While the new HTC One Max may be the talk of the town at the moment, the smartphone maker has also today announced that the super-fast but affordable HTC Desire 601 will be available exclusively from Vodafone. You'll be able to pick up the Desire 601 with no monthly handset repayments on Vodafone's 24-month plans starting from $40 per month. The Desire 601 will attract $5 handset repayments on the lowest 24-month $30 plan, while 12-month contract prices start from $68 total per month. HTC boasts the phone as "blazing fast data speeds" with its Category 3 LTE, which can give you up to 100Mbps download speeds on Vodafone's 4G network. Desire less specsWith the HTC One moniker the new premium brand, the Desire brand has been reallocated to the mid-range space, but with its sleek HTC design and mid-range price tag, it'll be an attractive buy touting some decent specs. Powered by HTC Sense UI and Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, at the higher-end, it has Cat 3 LTE connectivity as mentioned above, as well as premium in-house features in the form of HTC Zoe, BlinkFeed and BoomSound. However, the 4.5-inch screen has a mid-range qHD display, as well as middling 1GB RAM and dual-core 1.4GHz Snapdragon 400 processor. Thankfully, though it only has 8GB on board, it does sport a microSD. A good thing as, though it only has a 5MP camera without the Ultrapixel sensor found on the One, it does shoot 1080p video – and coupled with Zoe, it'll take up quite a bit of space.        | | Updated: Google confirms reward scheme for mobile users who agree to be tracked Oct 14th 2013, 22:26, by Chris Smith 
Update: Google has just clarified that this is an existing program, rather than something in development. It reached out The Verge to explain that existing participants are the only group who'll be taking part, so those still seeking to profit from a spot of Google snooping are out of luck. And so much for that "rumor and speculation" line. Original story continues below... Google is reportedly preparing to offer a bounty of 'rewards' for smartphone users willing to sign up for a scheme that'll track their web and app usage. According to Engadget's sources, a so-called Mobile Meter app for Android and iOS devices will encourage folks to opt in for the initiative, which would see harvested data sent back to Google for analysis. The report said Google will 'compensate' those users who take part in the voluntary program, but did not offer any insight into what participants might receive for their troubles. Naturally, Google has so far refused to comment on the report, calling it "rumour and speculation." Do Not Track in reverse?Giving users the opportunity to opt in for a tracking scheme rather than requiring them to opt out, would be somewhat of a turn up given Google's recent history. Users are required to wade through the Chrome web browser settings and make adjustments if they don't wish their activity to be tracked by advertisers. That's just one example. Late last week the company also announced it was changing its terms of service, allowing it to use your face, name and reviews within ads on Google, unless you go to the trouble of opting out.        | | BlackBerry pens letter reminding the faithful that it's still here Oct 14th 2013, 21:02, by Michael Rougeau 
BlackBerry published an open letter to customers and partners today in an attempt to curb the public perception that it's struggling to stick around. "You've no doubt seen the headlines about BlackBerry," the letter opened. "You're probably wondering what they mean for you as one of the tens of millions of users who count on BlackBerry every single day. We have one important message for you: You can continue to count on BlackBerry." The letter continued to claim that BlackBerry has "extensive cash on hand and a balance sheet that is debt free," and that the company is restructuring to cut expenses by 50% "in order to run a very efficient, customer-oriented organization." A lot of talkBlackBerry's letter to customers and partners was published on social media today and will appear in 30 newspapers in nine countries, including the Washington Post and the Wall Street Journal, around the world starting on Tuesday. The company has faced troubles recently as Android and iOS claim more and more market share. The BlackBerry PlayBook tablet was a failure, and BlackBerry 10 is seen by many as too little, far too late. But it's not all bad; the company recently agreed to a deal to go private, and its original founders are considering buying it back. "These are no doubt challenging times for us and we don't underestimate the situation or ignore the challenges," today's letter read. "We are making the difficult changes necessary to strengthen BlackBerry. "One thing we will never change is our commitment to those of you who helped build BlackBerry into the most trusted tool for the world's business professional." It goes on to boast of BlackBerry's "best in class" productivity tools (BlackBerry 10), security, enterprise mobility management, and "mobile social network" in the still-unreleased BBM for iOS and Android. "We believe in BlackBerry," the letter said toward the end. But does anyone else?        | | Gary Marshall: Bring on the bendy phones: here's why we should all get ahead of the curve Oct 14th 2013, 15:15, by Gary Marshall 
I hate to disagree with my colleagues, but I think Phil Lavelle is being a little bit harsh on Samsung: in his analysis of the Samsung Galaxy Round, he says that "maybe one day we'll have a use for a phone with a curve in the screen." Oh Phil. Phil, Phil, Phil. We have loads of uses for them already. Here's my list: non-surgical buttock enhancement! Handy holders for street food! Effective protection for sporting gentlemen's unmentionables! Instant power shoulders for businesswomen! Need more? It's a Shawshank Prison escape kit! It's a rocking chair for rodents! It's an emergency fascinator for weddings! It's a skateboard park for ants! It ensures accidental drops don't smash the screen! It gets publicity for a phone that wouldn't be newsworthy otherwise! OK, OK, the penultimate point is the only sensible one and the very last item is the most likely explanation for the whole thing. But while it's easy to mock, the problem isn't that Samsung has backed the wrong horse here: it's that Samsung's telling us that it has a horse when it's clearly pointing at a pony. Love your curvesThere are plenty of perfectly sound reasons for curved displays, and one of the soundest is that they can be lighter and thinner: for example, by making its forthcoming flexible displays from plastic substrates rather than glass, LG can reduce both the weight and the heft of smartphone screens. That's not just relevant to smartphones, but to other smart devices too: imagine how sleek the Samsung Galaxy Gear would be if it swapped its flat sheet of glass for something much flimsier and more flexible. There's the issue of ergonomics, too. You might find - as I do - that beyond a certain size, flat phone screens become uncomfortable for one-handed use, with the furthest corners too far away for your thumb. Curved screens could address that, and of course banana-shaped phones would be a better fit on your head when you're making a call, assuming that you still use your phone for such old-fashioned tasks. And then there's the potential for new and thrilling form factors. Phones are the shape they are because that's the shape we expect based on today's trends and manufacturing capabilities, but that doesn't mean there isn't a better way of doing it. I can't help thinking that Samsung is doing with the Galaxy Round what it did with the Galaxy Gear: that is, take an idea it's been unsuccessful with before and present it again as a brand new thing. Because of course, this isn't the first Samsung with a curved screen: that honour goes to the Nexus S, which was unveiled three years ago. Reviews said that it made the phone very slightly more comfortable to hold, but that the curvature certainly wasn't a killer feature. Reviews of the Galaxy Round are likely to say the very same thing.        | |
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