| Early view: Samsung Galaxy Round vs Samsung Galaxy S4 vs Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Oct 9th 2013, 13:11, by Dean Evans 
The Samsung Galaxy Round is the world's first phone with a curved display, beating LG's rumored handset out of the gate. But is this eye-catching device any better than the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 or the multi-million selling Samsung Galaxy S4? Will the new design and the functionality that goes along with it improve the way we use a smartphone? See how the Galaxy Round compares to the Galaxy Note 3 and the Galaxy S4 below... Samsung Galaxy Round vs Galaxy S4 vs Galaxy Note 3 - DesignThe Galaxy Round is essentially a customized version of the existing Samsung Galaxy Note 3. But where the Note 3 has a flat 5.7-inch display, the Round features a concave 5.7-inch 1080p panel - the first of its kind in a commercial handset. The back of the Round is also delicately curved, enabling various 'tilt'-activated functions when placed onto a table. You can tilt the phone to quick-peek at key lock screen info (i.e. date, time, missed calls), tilt to skip tracks or to browse through photos. The eye-catching curved design makes a difference to the size and weight. The dimensions are almost the same - 151.1 x 79.6 x 7.9mm for the Round, 151.2 x 79.2 x 8.3mm for the Galaxy Note 3. The Round, however, is noticeably lighter, tipping the scales at 154g compared to the 168g bulk of its forbear. It's just a guess at this point, but the curved design of the Round should make it more comfortable to hold than the Note 3. 
Like the Galaxy Note 3, you'll struggle to fit the Round into a pocket - it's more tablet than traditional phone. The flagship Samsung Galaxy S4 is still the smaller, lighter handset, measuring 136.6 x 69.8 x 7.9mm and weighing 130g. Note how the Round matches the tiny waistline of the S4. Finally, the Galaxy Round is initially available in what Samsung has dubbed 'luxury brown', while the Note 3 comes in black, white and pink hues. Samsung Galaxy Round vs Galaxy S4 vs Galaxy Note 3 - DisplayAs previously mentioned, the Samsung Galaxy Round catches the eye with a curved 5.7-inch Super AMOLED display with a 1080p (1920 x 1080 pixel) resolution. It has the same technology, resolution and pixel density (386 PPI) as the Galaxy Note 3 and comes with the same S-Pen stylus for point-perfect touch control. Like the Note 3, the Round is also capable of running applications in multiple windows. How do the two devices compare to the Samsung Galaxy S4? The S4's 5-inch screen is 0.7 inches smaller, but uses a similar 1080 x 1920 Super AMOLED panel that has a sky-high PPI rating of 440.6. The S4 also supports Samsung's Multi Window functionality. 
Samsung Galaxy Round vs Galaxy S4 vs Galaxy Note 3 - CameraAway from the curved display the Galaxy Round, Note 3 and Galaxy S4 match each other for imaging technology. All three feature a 13MP lens on the back and a 2MP front cam. Features include autofocus, an LED flash, face and smile detection, HDR, image stabilisation, panorama mode and 1080p video recording, plus clever Dual Shot and simultaneous video/image capture modes. Samsung Galaxy Round vs Galaxy S4 vs Galaxy Note 3 - ConnectivityWith the Samsung Galaxy Round debuting in Korea, it comes with LTE-A (LTE Advanced) connectivity where the Galaxy Note 3 and Galaxy S4 are equipped with LTE chipsets. It's the only core difference between the phones, which all boast 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 4.0 and NFC options. Samsung Galaxy Round vs Galaxy S4 vs Galaxy Note 3 - Processor and softwareAgain, there are no surprises here - bar its curved display, the Galaxy Round is a variation on the Note 3, not a revamp. Consequently, the Samsung Galaxy Round comes packing the same 2.3GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 chip as its flatter brother, ably assisted by the Adreno 330 co-processor and 3MB of RAM - 1MB more than the S4.  The Galaxy Note 3 can support the Exynos 5 Octa 5410 silicon that was pegged for the Samsung Galaxy S4, so we'd expect the Galaxy Round to be just as flexible if it catches on with consumers. In terms of software, expect to find Android 4.3 on all three phones. Samsung Galaxy Round vs Galaxy S4 vs Galaxy Note 3 - StorageWhere the Galaxy Note 3 and the Galaxy S4 are available in 16, 32 or 64GB capacities, the Samsung Galaxy Round comes in a take-it-or-leave-it 32GB option. That said, it features the same microSD slot as the other two Samsung devices, enabling the storage to be boosted to as much as 96GB with the addition of a 64GB memory card. Samsung Galaxy Round vs Galaxy S4 vs Galaxy Note 3 - Battery lifeAs far as battery life is concerned, the Galaxy Round seems to feature a smaller 2800mAh battery, compared to the 3200 mAh cell in the Galaxy Note 3. This is obviously a disadvantage of the new curvy design. That said, the Galaxy Note 3 didn't gobble up battery life as expected, especially considering its 5.7-inch display. The Galaxy S4 hides a 2600mAh Li-Ion pack. So performance should be similar - Samsung rates the Note 3 with a standby time of 420 hours and a talktime of 21 hours. Use the Round for email, web browsing, music playback and all the other things that a smartphone is capable of doing, and you'll easily get a day's use on a single charge. Samsung Galaxy Round vs Galaxy S4 vs Galaxy Note 3 - Early verdictFar from being a new super-phone, the Samsung Galaxy Round is essentially a curved-screen version of the Galaxy Note 3. Bar LTA-A and 14g of weight loss, the two tablet-phones are almost identical, differentiated by the Round's flexible screen and the tilt functionality that it enables. The screen itself isn't any better (or worse) than existing displays and it's hard to see the populist value in the new design. If Samsung had debuted a truly flexible display, we'd be clamoring to own one. As is, the Galaxy Round is hardly going to change the game.        |  | How much will Nexus 5 cost? Oct 9th 2013, 12:54, by John McCann 
We're all waiting patiently for the Google Nexus 5 to arrive and while the search giant hasn't given us any firm confirmation that it's on the way, the tsunami of leaks, speculation and rumors makes us pretty confident of its existence. It looks like Google is planning on launching the next installment of its smartphone series sometime this month, and while that's all well and good what we really want to know is how much it's going to cost us. We've been going through all the chatter surrounding the Nexus 5 in our dedicated hub for the smartphone, and from there we've picked out some key pointers to help us discover the potential price. Nexus 4 price dropThe Nexus 4 launched at the incredibly low price (considering the spec sheet) of $299 (£239, AU$349) and $349 (£279, AU$399) for the 8GB and 16GB models respectively, which have since seen a healthy price cut making them even cheaper. Google's decision to drop the prices may be part of the process of clearing the way for the Nexus 5 to rock up at the older, higher price point as well as getting rid of stock. Nexus 5 pricing hintsThe chance of the Nexus 5 inheriting the original pricing structure of its predecessor has been given more credence after reports appeared online suggesting the same thing. An unnamed source leaked the information to PhoneArena in dollars and while some have made a direct conversion of the touted $299 price to around £185/AU$315 they're forgetting the taxes and other costs which are applied. If this is the correct US price the Nexus 5 won't be as cheap as the conversions suggest in the UK and Australia - with the original pricing of the Nexus 4 a much better guide. Other rumors have hinted that the Nexus 5 would arrive at half the cost of the iPhone 5S (that's around £275, $446, AU$473), which would make it a little dearer than expected. Money saving designFrom the various photo (and video) leaks claiming to show off the Nexus 5 it looks as though Google (and manufacturer LG) are planning on mimicking the design of the new Nexus 7 tablet. This would mean no glass rear with fancy disco ball effect, instead replaced by a rubberized back providing a lot of grip but little in the way of premium appeal. The transition to rubber and plastic could be an attempt by Google to keep the price of the Nexus 5 down, avoiding the more expensive metal cladding you find on the HTC One and iPhone 5S. Cutting costs in design could also allow for better tech under the hood. New Nexus 7 It's not just the Nexus 4 which sports a low price tag with Google's tablets - the Nexus 7 (2012) and Nexus 10 - also coming in at an affordable level. The new Nexus 7 is an enticing proposition and it has inherited the same pricing structure as its predecessor, which provides more support to the theory that the Nexus 5 will cost the same as the Nexus 4 did when it launched. Cash in the appsWe've got to remember that Google isn't looking to make money directly from the hardware it sells, it's looking to get Android in the hands of as many consumers as possible so it can create an income from the Google Play store. Being able to offer its Nexus devices at such competitively low prices means it can shift a lot of them and thus in the long term there's more people spending money on its platform rather than on iOS 7, Windows Phone 8 or BlackBerry 10. That means it's not totally out the question that the Nexus 5 could arrive at a potentially lower price point than its predecessor - and if Google could launch it at the current price of the Nexus 4 (it starts at £159, $199, AU$249) alongside the rumored spec sheet then it could take the market by storm. We don't think Google will go this low at launch as it would begin to cannibalize the already well established lower end of the Android market, but never say never.        | | In pictures: Gold HTC One Oct 9th 2013, 11:27, by Gareth Beavis 
OK, so gold phones are quickly coming close to being passe, but the HTC One Gold edition is something different: it's a proper 18ct gold edition. Designed for the MOBO awards, the HTC One has been gold plated to deliver that 'hyperbling' experience that marks it out from the rest. Apart from being the most reflective phone we've ever tried to photograph (and we've tried to do the same thing with chrome phones), the most remarkable thing about the handset is that it doesn't weight more than 4g more than the normal HTC One. 
It's essentially the same device, although HTC did admit it was working out some of the connectivity issues that come with gold plating. However, thanks to its efforts into antenna reception in making the all-aluminium HTC One there are apparently no issues with getting a spot of 3G or 4G to play with. So there you have it: it's an HTC One with the most bling-tastic covering you'll ever see. Don't hanker after it too much, as it not only costs £2700 to make, but sadly it's never going to see shop shelves. Well, sadly for those that have just sold a mid-sized coupe and feel the need to waste the cash, that is. 
       | | In Depth: Cortana: everything you need to know about Microsoft's Siri rival Oct 9th 2013, 10:33, by Gary Marshall 
To anyone who's played the Halo games, Cortana needs no introduction: she's an advanced artificial intelligence and Master Chief's only real friend. And now she's coming to the real world: Microsoft is working on a rival to Siri and Google Now, and it's called Cortana. What is Microsoft Cortana? Cortana is currently the code name for a whole new way of controlling Windows Phone, and in the longer term maybe Windows too. It will respond to your voice, answer your questions, control your device and anticipate the information you need at particular times. Is Cortana a real product, or just vapourware? It's a real product. Steve Ballmer mentioned reinventing "the core shell of our family of devices" to be "deeply personalized, based on the advanced, almost magical, intelligence in our cloud that learns more and more over time about people and the world" in his enormous staff memo this summer. We're in uncharted territory: "Neither the desktop nor the social graph describes this new experience, and neither does the search box, the pin board or the file system," Ballmer says. "The shell will support the experiences layer and broker information among our services to bring them together on our devices in ways that will enable richer and deeper app experiences... Our shell will natively support all of our essential services, and will be great at responding seamlessly to what people ask for, and even anticipating what they need before they ask for it." That means the ambitions for Cortana go beyond what Google, Facebook and Siri currently provide. How does Microsoft Cortana work? 
Cortana is a combination of three things: Tellme natural language processing (which Microsoft acquired in 2007), Microsoft's enormous cloud processing power, and Satori (which is part of Bing). The Satori knowledge repository is designed to be more intelligent than traditional search. It's intended to answer your questions and anticipate your needs, not just present you with a page of links. To use Google's phrase, it's about things, not strings. Is Cortana the same thing as Bing Snapshots? They come from the same place, although Cortana will be much more advanced. The information US users see on Bing when they search for people or places is from Satori, and the questions they can ask (such as "what is the highest building in the world?") use the same language you'll use with Satori. Is Cortana going to be released in the UK? Yes, but not initially: Microsoft is concentrating its energies on US users and the US English language. How does Microsoft Cortana compare to Siri and Google Now? Microsoft, as you might expect, promises that Cortana will be better: it'll take the best of Google Now's analysis and Siri's user-friendliness, bring them together and then take everything one step further. Cortana won't just listen to you, she'll understand you, and she'll be aware of everything from your location to your personal preferences. So when you ask her to book a hotel, she'll book the kind of hotel you like in the kind of area you like to stay in at the kind of price you want to pay. If you're in an airport she'll anticipate that you need a boarding card and will have it ready when you unlock your phone. She'll be a wine expert and a travel agent and a personal assistant and anything else you might need to make your everyday life a little bit easier. The vision is of Cortana as a smart, well-informed helper or friend. How powerful will Cortana be? 
Microsoft told CNET that Satori is currently adding 28,000 DVDs of content every single day, and that it is supported by more than 50,000 nodes in a Microsoft compute cloud. The data collected so far would stretch to Venus with 7 million pixels left over. Isn't Cortana just Microsoft Bob all over again? Pretty much, but then Bob was years ahead of his time: he was made in 1996, when the world didn't have decent mobile broadband, let alone cloud computing and the enormous amounts of data Satori can process. When is the Microsoft Cortana release date? That's a good question. Microsoft says that it won't release a rival to Siri and Google Now until "we have something more revolutionary than evolutionary." What operating systems will Microsoft Cortana support? For now, Cortana development appears to be limited to Windows Phone 8.1 - although it might not appear on that release if Microsoft feels it isn't advanced enough. Microsoft's published Entity API, which enables developers to tap into Satori, only works on Windows 8, 8.1 and the Xbox One. Will it be called Cortana when it ships? 27,226 Halo fans think so: there's an online petition urging Microsoft to keep the codename for the final release. You can understand why Microsoft might not want to do that, however: in Halo 4, a key plot line focuses on Cortana's increasing unreliability and digital decrepitude.        | | So the Nokia Lumia 1520 is pretty much nailed on then, right? Oct 9th 2013, 10:02, by Thomas Thorn 
In less than two weeks we're off to Abu Dhabi to see what Nokia has been teasing us all about - will it be the first Windows Phone with a quad-core processor and full HD display? What we're hoping for, and almost expecting, is the announcement of the rumored 6-inch Nokia Lumia 1520 and new details emerging today via NokiaPoweruser sheds some more light on what we might see. A questionable screenshot was posted on Twitter claiming to be taken from the Open Mobile Alliance, and according to this listing it "confirms" the Nokia Lumia 1520 name, as well as that much talked about display. Full HD on its wayThe good news is the screenshot shows that the Lumia 1520 will come packing a Full HD, 1080 x 1920 screen, which will be sure to excite the many movie loving enthusiasts. This puts it on par with the Samsung Galaxy Note 3, albeit a whole 0.3 inches larger. 
With the Nokia Sirius tablet also heavily rumored, the Lumia 1520 might well be the sign of things to come after the Finnish brand merged with Microsoft. For full details of the launch you'll have to check back with us on October 22, but in the mean time why not check out everything that we know about the Nokia Lumia 1520 so far? Go on, you know you want to.        | | So the Nokia Lumia 1520 is pretty much nailed on then, right? Oct 9th 2013, 10:01, by Thomas Thorn
In less than two weeks we're off to Abu Dhabi to see what Nokia has been teasing us all about - will it be the first Windows Phone with a quad-core processor and full HD display? What we're hoping for, and almost expecting, is the announcement of the rumoured 6-inch Nokia Lumia 1520 and new details emerging today via NokiaPoweruser sheds some more light on what we might see. A questionable screenshot was posted on Twitter claiming to be taken from the Open Mobile Alliance, and according to this listing it "confirms" the Nokia Lumia 1520 name, as well as that much talked about display. Full HD on its wayThe good news is the screenshot shows that the Lumia 1520 will come packing a Full HD, 1080 x 1920 screen, which will be sure to excite the many movie loving enthusiasts. This puts it on par with the Samsung Galaxy Note 3, albeit a whole 0.3 inches larger. 
With the Nokia Sirius tablet also heavily rumoured, the Lumia 1520 might well be the sign of things to come after the Finnish brand merged with Microsoft. For full details of the launch you'll have to check back with us on October 22, but in the mean time why not check out everything that we know about the Nokia Lumia 1520 so far? Go on, you know you want to.   | | Samsung Galaxy Round: the world's first curved display smartphone revealed Oct 9th 2013, 04:06, by Matt Swider
Samsung has thrown a bit of a curveball with its latest release - announcing the Galaxy Round, declaring it to be the world's first smartphone with a curved display. The concave phone has a unique 5.7-inch AMOLED screen, which makes it the same size as the recently launched and suddenly very flat-looking Galaxy Note 3. At 7.9mm thick and weighing 154g, the Galaxy Round is described as offering "a comfortable hand grip feeling to users, and exclusive experiences of [a] curved display," via the official Samsung Tomorrow blog. Of course, even if you're due for a Galaxy handset upgrade, Samsung has revealed that it's only going to be available in the company's home territory, South Korea, starting tomorrow, October 10. This backs up recent comments from Samsung executives that teased a curved smartphone set to be announced in October. It also correlates to the SM-G910S mystery device that was discovered to have gone through testing a week ago. Galaxy Round 'Roll Effect'Until Samsung announces a Galaxy Round release date for other regions (if it ever does), the rest of the world can be mesmerized or perplexed by this video of the phone's wobbling Roll Effect. YouTube : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UIEExKSjWi4 Explaining a bit more about the phone, Samsung says on its blog: "As a result of its unique curved design, users can take advantage of round integration experiences like the Roll Effect. "That enables the user to check information such as the date, time, missed calls and battery easily when home screen is off, and the Gravity Effect for creating visual interaction with the screen by tilting the device." Samsung's Bounce UX has a similar effect on music when the display is off and a song is playing. Pressing the uneven phone to the left plays the previous track, while tilting it to the right goes to the next track. Pictures and videos use the company's Slide Mirror feature, which allows users to scroll through an album with the exact same right and left tilting mechanics. Making a dent in the Galaxy Note 3The rest of the Galaxy Round seems to retain the Galaxy Note 3's features, including the leather-like (really: plastic) back and Multi Window for running simultaneous applications. However, it may be easier to perform one-handed operations on this curved phablet thanks to its concave nature. The Galaxy Round also one-ups the Note 3 with LTE-Advanced, as indicated by the LTE-A insignia on the rear of the phone. Samsung is issuing the phone in "Luxury Brown," and teasing that "more colors will be available soon." Samsung had good reason to make its curved phone concept a reality sooner rather than later. LG is producing curved OLEDs too and is rumored to be launching the LG Z1.        | | Qualcomm backpedals on calling Apple's 64-bit chip a 'gimmick' Oct 9th 2013, 00:34, by Matt Swider 
Qualcomm looks as if it's calming its chief marketing officer, who dismissively called Apple's 64-bit iPhone 5S processor a gimmick in a recent interview. "I think they are doing a marketing gimmick," said Anand Chandrasekher last week. "There's zero benefit a consumer gets from that." Maybe not zero benefit now. The San Diego-based chipmaker issued a statement, backtracking from Chandrasekher's harsh criticism. "The comments made by Anand Chandrasekher, Qualcomm CMO, about 64-bit computing were inaccurate, a Qualcomm spokesperson told TechRadar. Going for the same 'gimmick'Qualcomm's newfound stance on 64-bit mobile processors could indicate that it is likely going down the same path, as evidenced by its additional remarks today. "The mobile hardware and software ecosystem is already moving in the direction of 64-bit," told us in a statement. "The evolution to 64-bit brings desktop class capabilities and user experiences to mobile, as well as enabling mobile processors and software to run new classes of computing devices." Likewise, the semiconductor company probably doesn't want to become an enemy of Apple right now. After all, the iPhone maker is looking for ways to ditch Samsung, which still manufacturers its A7 processor. At least Qualcomm fessed up to Chandrasekher's comments being "inaccurate" instead of trying to explain them away by saying 64-bit isn't a "gimmick," but something it wants to "mimic."        | | ACMA to hold a forum on mobile network performance Oct 8th 2013, 23:50, by Farrha Khan 
As more and more Aussies take up mobile devices, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has announced that it will be holding an open forum to discuss with the public how to reduce consumer dissatisfaction with telcos and mobile network performance. In a discussion paper, the ACMA noted that customer complaints had risen in last few years. "We want to explore whether consumers are able to understand what is happening when they have a poor experience using their mobile device, and whether they are able to compare and choose mobile networks according to their particular needs," said ACMA deputy chairman Richard Bean. The ACMA said that it would look more closely to network performance rather than network coverage, but that "the increasing complaint numbers suggest, at the very least, that consumer expectations of network performance are not aligned with their experiences of network performance." It has previously taken a firm look at international roaming and it was being handled by telcos after reports of bill shock, implementing a new international mobile roaming standard last month. Forum for youWhile Aussie telcos have this year reshaped and redesigned their brands, plans and even overhauled their entire network, the ACMA is looking to understand better the reason for customer complaints and if these issues are being addressed. To be held next month, the key issues that the forum will focus on are what shapes a user's perception of good or bad mobile performance, as well as the information that users have available to them to better understand network performance and how to better provide this information. ACMA's forum will also focus on the technical aspects involved in performance, network management and "stages of the consumer lifecycle at which mobile performance may be most relevant". So if you have a thing or two to say about Aussie telcos and their network performances, the open forum will be held on November 14 at the ACMI cinemas, Federation Square, Melbourne. There will be a panel of guest speakers, and there will also be a Q&A session, so you can either attend in person, view the live webcast, tweet the panel your questions, ask a question on Facebook, or send in an email or video question.   | | Google Chromecast now shipping outside the US, via Amazon Oct 8th 2013, 23:49, by Chris Smith 
UPDATE: International orders appear to be suspended at present, but reports suggest those already placed are unaffected. Original story continues below... Google's Chromecast streaming dongle can now be obtained by those outside of the United States, thanks to some newly-available international shipping options on Amazon. The small HDMI dongle, which enables content to be streamed from a smartphone or tablet, directly to a hi-def television set, has previously only been available in the US. Google is still holding off on an official international expansion for its $35 device, but Amazon's new shipping option will mean those desperate to obtain a Chromecast dongle can do so for some heightened shipping costs. Brits hoping to buy the device will have to fork over £22.50 for the device, plus £5.79 for standard shipping. Android Central is also reporting the device can be shipped to addresses in Australia also. Apple TV killer?Chromecast arrived as a highly affordable competitor to the Apple TV platform. It is compatible with Android, iOS, Windows, Mac OS X and Google Chrome OS devices. It uses cloud mirroring to pull down content from the web, rather than streaming it directly from the smartphone or tablet. Apps for the device are thin on the ground so far, but content providers are expressing an interest. Still trying to decide which mobile-to-TV streaming device is right for you? Peruse the following: Apple TV vs Google Chrome: Which is better?   | | AT&T begins pushing Android 4.3 to HTC One owners Oct 8th 2013, 20:59, by Matt Swider 
Owners of the HTC One on AT&T can finally catch up to their Sprint and Google Play edition counterparts, as the U.S. carrier began rolling out the Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update today. "AT&T 4.3 update has officially begun to push. You should see it thru the ATT sw update," tweeted Jason Mackenzie, president of HTC America. "Have seen others commenting about having downloaded it," he wrote in another tweet. That downloading, however, has only applied to AT&T and Sprint customers in the past week, as HTC has yet to divulge when Verizon and T-Mobile plan to update their versions of the HTC One to Android 4.3. Verizon customers at least received Android 4.2.2 pre-installed when the phone finally came to the nation's No. 1 network. But all other major U.S. carriers launched the HTC One with Android 4.2. Only the Developer Edition had Android 4.3 before this week, having leap-frogged over 4.2.2 when it made the update. We've asked HTC, Verizon and T-Mobile when Android 4.3 would be available to download on their respective networks and will update this story when we hear back. Android 4.4 KitKat right around the cornerHTC isn't going to get a break from customers who want the Android 4.4 KitKat version of Google's operating system. Although the Android 4.3 update includes notable improvements like Bluetooth 4.0, restricted profiles, and a reworked camera user interface, KitKat is rumored to be right around the corner. Android 4.3 launched with the Nexus 7 tablet toward the end of July, meaning it took just over two months for half of the major U.S. carriers to deliver the update. That means existing device owners who are also Android 4.4 hopefuls may have to wait until next year for the next big update, even if it's announced this month.        | | AT&T exec hints at Voice over LTE smartphone coming this year Oct 8th 2013, 20:25, by Michael Rougeau 
AT&T could launch a Voice over LTE-capable smartphone as early as this year, according to one executive from the carrier. AT&T Labs President Krish Prabhu said during a keynote at the PCIA wireless infrastructure conference in Florida that there "might be a VoLTE-compliant device for the holidays this year," Fierce Wireless reported today. He added that AT&T is testing the network upgrade that will enable VoLTE "right now," although a full, commercial VoLTE launch won't occur until 2014. In other words, change may be coming slowly - but it appears it really is coming. A painless transitionThere's no word yet on what AT&T's first VoLTE-compatible phone will be. We asked the carrier if it had more to share, and will update this story if and when we hear back. Voice over LTE will provide HD call quality, but only if both parties on the call are using VoLTE phones, Prabhu said. The transition should be painless, as new phones will release with VoLTE support built in and existing 4G LTE networks will be upgraded gradually. The competitionSamsung announced in August that new Galaxy S3 handsets will come with VoLTE out of the box, starting in Korea. Meanwhile Verizon is expected to roll out its own VoLTE service and handsets this year as well. Verizon was testing VoLTE deployment as early as a year ago, when it was bragging about hitting its 400th LTE market. According to Fierce Wireless, Verizon's first Voice over LTE phone will launch this year, with the service launching commercially in the first half of next year, much like AT&T.        | | Google Hangouts SMS and MMS rumor 'all but confirmed,' says site Oct 8th 2013, 19:11, by Michael Rougeau 
It's been rumored for months that Google Hangouts will get SMS and MMS message support, and a report from yesterday made that seem even more likely. Android Police rated its confidence in the SMS for Google Hangouts rumor "a 9 out of 10," saying "it's almost a sure thing." According to the Android blog, Google Hangouts' version 1.3 update will add SMS message functionality, possibly merging the mobile OS's existing SMS messaging app with Hangouts just like the last update did with Google Talk. The Hangouts update will reportedly add video sharing as well. It's all in the detailsAnd the site produced alleged leaked screenshots, seen above, to prove it. SMS messages sent via Hangouts will reportedly sport a "via SMS" tag so users know exactly what the app is doing. MMS multimedia messages will also be supported, though the site could not confirm with its sources whether that includes MMS video or just MMS images. And the leaked screenshot shows settings toggles that include wireless alerts, auto-retrieval of SMS messages while roaming and otherwise, delivery reports, and a toggle for SMS in Hangouts itself. The one thing this rumor lacks is an expected release date for the Google Hangouts 1.3 update, but if the screenshot is legit then SMS in Hangouts is probably being tested and could arrive soon.        | | Office for iPad on the way, but not before 'touch first' for Windows Oct 8th 2013, 17:19, by JR Bookwalter 
There is indeed an iPad version of Microsoft Office coming down the pike, but the company is initially saving that touch-friendly experience for its own Windows devices. The Verge reported today that Microsoft Chief Executive Officer Steve Ballmer confirmed the existence of Office for iPad - but it's no closer to landing on Apple's market-leading tablet. Speaking at the Gartner Symposium ITXPO in Orlando,Fla., the outgoing Microsoft CEO revealed the company's "in progress" plans for a "touch first interface," but has no plans to make it available first on a competing platform. "iPad will be picked up when there's a touch-first user interface," Ballmer remarked to conference attendees, suggesting that Office for Windows will be where the new version will make its premiere. Owning productivityAccording to Microsoft insiders, that sentiment appears to have been echoed by Chief Operating Officer B. Kevin Turner, who recently proclaimed the company's intention to "own the productivity experience across all devices." That's certainly not the case just yet, with Office restricted to an iPhone-only app that requires an annual subscription to use - despite persistent leaks and rumors that an iPad version actually does exist. Microsoft Executive Vice President, Applications and Services Qi Lu also confirmed "touch-first versions of our core apps in the Office suite" during a recent meeting with analysts. For now, "touch-first" appears to also mean "Windows first," but Microsoft isn't giving any indication of how soon that initiative might land in the waiting hands (and fingers) of users. - Check out our full review of Apple's latest iOS 7 operating system!
       | | Samsung import ban goes ahead as Obama refuses to step in Oct 8th 2013, 15:41, by Hugh Langley 
President Barack Obama has refused to veto a ban on Samsung products in the US. Back in August the International Trade Commissions ruled a ban on the import of certain Samsung smartphones and tablets for infringing Apple patents. The devices in the list include the Galaxy S 4G, Galaxy Tab, Galaxy Tab 10.1, Fascinate and Captivate, among others. The White House was given 60 days in which it could veto the devision, but it seems Obama has given the no-no. Playing politics"After carefully weighing policy considerations, including the impact on consumers and competition, advice from agencies, and information from interested parties, I have decided to allow [the ban to go ahead]," said US Trade Representative Michael Froman in a statement. Apple found itself in the same situation in August but in a rare move Obama chose to veto the ban, arguing that it risked damaging competition in the US. It's unlikely that this proves too damning for Samsung, given that its successful newer products, such as the Galaxy S4, aren't affected. However it could still take the case to a US appeals court if it so wishes, so it might not be game over just yet.        | | BBC's greatest radio content given global app Oct 8th 2013, 15:02, by Patrick Goss 
The BBC has announced that its iPlayer Radio app will go global in 2014, with the famous old British broadcaster keen to bring its special brand of talk to the world. The BBC is perhaps most familiar to US and Australian audiences for its TV output - including hits like Dr Who and Sherlock - but its World Service is one of the world's most familiar radio stations. The iPlayer Radio launched in the UK last year and has been a popular app, but the new director general Tony Hall chose a high-profile event about plans for the future of the broadcaster. Next big step"Last year we launched the iPlayer radio app for UK users and now we're going to take the next big step making it globally available next year," said Hall. "We're going to unlock all the fantastic speech programming on Radio Three, Radio Four and the BBC World service. "We're calling this project open minds it will be the home of intelligent content for curious people with an amazing range of output designed to fit your life. "We're going to tell you what's new in science, fill your train journey with great ideas and we'll work with great British institutions to bring their seminars, interviews and special events and help them to speak to the world. It will be the best of British thinking on any device, anywhere."        | | Nexus 5 price leak also points to bigger battery Oct 8th 2013, 14:30, by Hugh Langley 
We've got more rumoured info on the Nexus 5 – which means that now you should wonder what don't we know about the forthcoming Google superphone. Well, there are a couple of new tidbits of just-surfaced info which we weren't aware of, concerning the differences between the two versions of the handset. According to a source speaking to PhoneArena, each variation will be powered by a different capacity battery. The 16GB Nexus 5 will allegedly have a 2,300mAh battery while the 32GB will pack a 3,000mAh variant. Oddly however, the leaked LG Nexus 5 manual we spotted the other day claimed the 32GB model has a 2,300mAh battery - the opposite of what we're hearing now. The price is rightThe same source also reports the prices of the models. Apparently the 16GB will be priced at $299 (around £186, AU$315) and the 32GB will cost $349 (around £217, AU £368). A 3,000mAh 32GB model will certainly go down better with buyers, but it's just a shame that we won't be getting that 64GB variant we so wanted. Then again, this could be nonsense, so remain open-minded for now. The Nexus 5 is expected to touch down this month and be the first device running Android 4.4 KitKat, which is going to excite those looking for the best vanilla Google experience.   | | Nexus 5 price leak also points to bigger battery Oct 8th 2013, 14:30, by Hugh Langley
We've got more rumoured info on the Nexus 5 – which means that now you should wonder what don't we know about the forthcoming Google superphone. Well, there are a couple of new tidbits of just-surfaced info which we weren't aware of, concerning the differences between the two versions of the handset. According to a source speaking to PhoneArena, each variation will be powered by a different capacity battery. The 16GB Nexus 5 will allegedly have a 2,300mAh battery while the 32GB will pack a 3,000mAh variant. Oddly however, the leaked LG Nexus 5 manual we spotted the other day claimed the 32GB model has a 2,300mAh battery - the opposite of what we're hearing now. The price is rightThe same source also reports the prices of the models. Apparently the 16GB will be priced at $299 (around £186, AU$315) and the 32GB will cost $349 (around £217, AU £368). A 3,000mAh 32GB model will certainly go down better with buyers, but it's just a shame that we won't be getting that 64GB variant we so wanted. Then again, this could be nonsense, so remain open-minded for now. The Nexus 5 is expected to touch down this month and be the first device running Android 4.4 KitKat, which is going to excite those looking for the best vanilla Google experience.        | | Telstra looks to expand and develop its 4G future Oct 8th 2013, 09:33, by Farrha Khan 
Two years into offering 4G services, Telstra today announced that there are currently 3.2 million 4G devices being used on its network. That adds up to more than 360,000 4G smartphones connected since the end of June 2013. "There has been unprecedented demand for superfast mobile services over the last two years," Warwick Bray, Telstra's Group Executive Director for Mobile and Wireline. And Telstra is forging ahead with its LTE network, with Mike Wright, Telstra Executive Director Networks stating that the telco had switched on its 2500th 4G base station. "We will switch on another 1000 4G base stations by Christmas 2013 which will take 4G to 85 percent of the population, including 300 regional towns and holiday hotspots," said Bray. 4G warsDespite having higher plan and data rates than other telcos, Wright explained that Telstra's focus has been on developing its network and maintaining high quality of the service. "Our superior coverage means that our customers can make calls and get online in more places and their calls will be more reliable on the train, on the way to work or when they walk to the back of their house," he said. "Our customers will also experience a more reliable speed experience when they use our data services." Along with network expansions, Telstra has revised the speeds it will be offering on its network. "As a result of expanded spectrum and network capabilities, we are now amending the typical download speeds customers can expect to receive on the 4G network from 2 to 40Mbps up to 2 to 50Mbps, highlighting the continued strength and reliability of the network," Wright said. Telstra has also been testing new 4G technology, LTE-Advanced, which can deliver typical download speeds of up to 150Mbps, though Telstra has said it can be pushed to near 300Mbps. The network is also purportedly developing new 4G tech that could push speeds up to 450Mbps. - So what exactly is 4G? We explain all that is 4G and LTE.
  | | HTC One Max on the cards as October launch announced Oct 8th 2013, 08:58, by Hugh Langley 
After yesterday's splurge of HTC One Max leaks, it feels the perfect time for HTC to stop playing the denial game and let us know when we'll be seeing the long-rumoured phablet. It's not quite official confirmation but HTC has sent out invitations to an event on its home turf in Taiwan on October 18 for a big unveiling set to take place at 6pm local time. However, it's also sent out invitations for an event in Hong Kong taking place on October 16, so that could be the one for your diaries. No word yet on whether there will be a live stream, but we'll let you know if we hear any different. Fingers at the readyAlso of note is the following poem (translated) found on the invitations: "One finger opens up big view
You are invited to immerse in the sound with us" Sounds very much like a hint at that fingerprint scanner that we seem to already know everything about, while also referencing those BoomSound front speakers. Again, there isn't a direct reference to the HTC One Max, but we added 2 to 2 together and, funnily enough, out popped 4. - It's been a long time coming - here's everything we know about the HTC One Max
  | |
No comments:
Post a Comment