| Gary Marshall: Tech has gone flat, who will bring back the fizz? Nov 19th 2013, 14:34, by Gary Marshall 
According to Samsung's David Eun, the Galaxy Gear smartwatch is a tomato. He's wrong. It's a lemon. It's a lemon because it's a bad product. Not a badly designed product, necessarily, or a badly made product; Samsung's engineering is pretty great. But it's a badly conceived product, a product that doesn't meet any burning need and that exists for no good reason. There's a lot of them about. We're in the middle of a technological trough: after several waves of disruptive technologies, we're waiting for the next big thing. Unfortunately nobody appears to know what that next big thing is, and as a result manufacturers are doing one of two things. They're going into maintenance mode, or they're going completely mad. Iterating, not innovatingFirms such as Google and Apple, it's clear, are in maintenance mode. Check out the iPad Air or the Nexus 5. They're both wonderful bits of kit and represent the very state of the current art, but they're not significantly more wonderful or state of the art than the iPad with Retina Display or the Nexus 4 were last year. Apple and Google have simply taken their products and made them a bit better. With no obvious blockbusters on the horizon, other firms appear to be trying absolutely everything, no matter how gimmicky or useless. The humorist PJ O'Rourke once described Russian mafia wives as looking like they'd ran through boutiques naked and covered in crazy glue, keeping whatever stuck. Tech - mobile tech in particular - looks very similar. We have slightly curved screens, slightly bigger displays, a few more megapixels here, a half-arsed attempt at a smartwatch over there and displays that pause video when you're attacked by vampires. There's no reason to it, no vision beyond "Here's a slightly different thing! Please buy our thing!" It's the old consumer electronics playbook, releasing endless variations of the same product even though the changes are iterative rather than innovative. It's pretty dull, but it won't last. All kinds of good things are coming. The internet of things is about to become, well, A Thing. Researchers are transmitting data with LEDs, and harvesting power from thin air. Polymers will replace glass and pave the way for hitherto unimaginable new devices. What looks like pretty hot stuff right now is going to seem horribly old-fashioned in just a few years' time. Tech's rollercoaster ride isn't over. We're just waiting to start the next bit of the track.        |  | Updated: BlackBerry Porsche Design P'9982 launches as metal clad Z10 Nov 19th 2013, 14:03, by John McCann 
What should a company do when it's in trouble? Well if you're BlackBerry apparently it's launch a premium smartphone for the high rollers - introducing the BlackBerry Porsche Design P'9982. While it's got an all-new name and the Porsche Design branding splashed across its front, the P'9982 is actually a humble BlackBerry Z10 in a swanky Italian leather and stainless steel suit. The only hardware difference is the P'9982 comes with a sizeable 64GB of internal storage, trumping the paltry 16GB found in the Z10. That means you get the same 1.5GHz dual-core processor, 2GB of RAM, 4.2-inch 720p display, 8MP camera and the latest BlackBerry 10.2 OS - the P'9982 is certainly going for style over substance, then. What you do get is an official certificate of authentication in the box, plus an exclusive BlackBerry pin which starts "2AA" to let everyone know you're part of this elite club. In terms of on-screen goodies the P'9982 comes with a grey wallpaper (yes, plain grey), a special Porsche Design ringtone and a dedicated area in App World. How much?!n terms of price, this smartly dressed Z10 is going to set you back a fair bit, although the exact price hasn't been announced. TechRadar has been told that it'll sport a similar price tag to the previous Porsche Design smartphone - the P'9981 - which retailed at around $2400/AU$2500. Update: BlackBerry has told TechRadar "information on pricing for the P'9982 will be announced through Porsche Design and other retail partners. The suggested retail price for the P'9982 smartphone is $2350 (around AU$2500)." Meanwhile the Z10 can be yours for just $280 (around AU$340). At that price you'd think that the P'9982 would be a limited edition phone, but BlackBerry has said it'll sell as many as it can - so if you really want one you won't need to know "someone on the inside." If you're sold then you'll be able to nab the Porsche Design P'9982 from November 21 in selected retailers around the world - with Harrods in the UK getting the handset exclusively from that date.        | | Android 4.3 for Samsung Galaxy Note 2 nears completion Nov 19th 2013, 11:54, by John McCann 
It looks like Samsung Galaxy Note 2 owners will be in for a Christmas treat as word on the Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update suggests it's almost ready to roll out. According to SamMobile, it has managed to get hold of a new version of the update which it claims is close to the final build. The newer Samsung Galaxy Note 3 already sports Android 4.3, while the latest version of Jelly Bean is also being rolled out to the flagship Galaxy S4 and the older Galaxy S3 - although there have been some problems with it. What's new?Galaxy Note 2 owners will be treated to some new features thanks to the Android 4.3 upgrade, including access to Samsung Knox - a security set up for business users - and Samsung Wallet, allowing you to manage your spending and various loyalty cards. Android 4.3 also bring various improvements and tweaks, but there are no major wholesale changes, with a lot of the difference occurring in the background of the OS. There's currently no official release date for the Android 4.3 Galaxy Note 2 roll out, but with the way the update is progressing users may be in for a nice Christmas present from Samsung.        | | BlackBerry refuses to give up as Z50 and Q30 tipped for 2014 Nov 19th 2013, 10:30, by John McCann 
It may not be looking particularly rosy over at BlackBerry at the moment, but if the latest reports are true the company is still ploughing ahead with new handsets. Word from Chinese site Ctech is that the Canadian firm is working on a new flagship handset, dubbed the BlackBerry Z50, which apparently sports a sizable 5.2-inch display. That's bigger than the recently launched 5-inch BlackBerry Z30 which received a relatively tepid response from the market, but with the Z50 potentially sporting a quad-core processor and full HD display it could make BlackBerry's proposition all the more enticing. It's not all good news though, as the BlackBerry Z50 release date is tipped for the third quarter of 2014 - that's quite some time to wait for a smartphone which apparently sports 2013 specs. Something soonerThere is another handset in the mix though, and the QWERTY keyboard toting BlackBerry Q30 is tipped to land early 2014, although details are relatively thin on the ground. If the Q30 is indeed on the cards you can expect it to replace the BlackBerry Q10, which currently sits above the Q5 in the BlackBerry 10 QWERTY keyboard totem pole. Additional sources have spoken to Pocket-Lint, who also claim BlackBerry is lining up new products for March and May 2014, so watch this space - even if the firm is on the rocks.        | | BlackBerry refuses to give up as Z50 and Q30 tipped for 2014 Nov 19th 2013, 10:30, by John McCann
It may not be looking particularly rosy over at BlackBerry at the moment, but if the latest reports are true the company is still ploughing ahead with new handsets. Word from Chinese site Ctech is that the Canadian firm is working on a new flagship handset, dubbed the BlackBerry Z50, which apparently sports a sizable 5.2-inch display. That's bigger than the recently launched 5-inch BlackBerry Z30 which received a relatively tepid response from the market, but with the Z50 potentially sporting a quad-core processor and full HD display it could make BlackBerry's proposition all the more enticing. It's not all good news though, as the BlackBerry Z50 release date is tipped for the third quarter of 2014 - that's quite some time to wait for a smartphone which apparently sports 2013 specs. Something soonerThere is another handset in the mix though, and the QWERTY keyboard toting BlackBerry Q30 is tipped to land early 2014, although details are relatively thin on the ground. If the Q30 is indeed on the cards you can expect it to replace the BlackBerry Q10, which currently sits above the Q5 in the BlackBerry 10 QWERTY keyboard totem pole. Additional sources have spoken to Pocket-Lint, who also claim BlackBerry is lining up new products for March and May 2014, so watch this space - even if the firm is on the rocks.        | | HP may be working on its first Android smartphone Nov 19th 2013, 09:59, by James Rogerson 
HP is only associated with smartphones in a failed way, thanks to the dismal post Palm purchase Pre 2, but there's a chance that could change as it unleashed an Android handset on the world. At least that's the sense we get from some benchmarks for a product called 'HP Slate 6 Voice Tab' which popped up on GFX Bench. Based on the name it looks like HP might be planning to market it more as a tablet than a phone, but at six inches and with voice support it sounds a lot like a phablet to us. Unfortunately it doesn't sound like the most exciting debut, as it has a 1 GHz quad-core Marvell processor and a 720p display. It's also running Android 4.2, which is now two generations behind. Phablets and tabletsAlongside the Slate 6 Voice Tab, benchmarks also appeared for a device called the HP Bowser 10 x2. This is very much a tablet and looks a little more powerful than its phablet companion, as it has a 1.8 GHz quad-core Tegra 4 processor, Android 4.3 and, at least according to GFX Bench, a 1920 x 1008 display, which would make it marginally worse than full HD. Those specs still aren't really anything special, but both devices could make for decent mid-range options if they're priced right. HP went low-end with its pricing on the Slate 7, so if it does the same thing with the new Slate 6, we could see a moderately attractive phablet for a rock-bottom price.        | | HP may be working on its first Android smartphone Nov 19th 2013, 09:59, by James Rogerson
HP is only associated with smartphones in a failed way, thanks to the dismal post Palm purchase Pre 2, but there's a chance that could change as it unleashed an Android handset on the world. At least that's the sense we get from some benchmarks for a product called 'HP Slate 6 Voice Tab' which popped up on GFX Bench. Based on the name it looks like HP might be planning to market it more as a tablet than a phone, but at six inches and with voice support it sounds a lot like a phablet to us. Unfortunately it doesn't sound like the most exciting debut, as it has a 1 GHz quad-core Marvell processor and a 720p display. It's also running Android 4.2, which is now two generations behind. Phablets and tabletsAlongside the Slate 6 Voice Tab, benchmarks also appeared for a device called the HP Bowser 10 x2. This is very much a tablet and looks a little more powerful than its phablet companion, as it has a 1.8 GHz quad-core Tegra 4 processor, Android 4.3 and, at least according to GFX Bench, a 1920 x 1008 display, which would make it marginally worse than full HD. Those specs still aren't really anything special, but both devices could make for decent mid-range options if they're priced right. HP went low-end with its pricing on the Slate 7, so if it does the same thing with the new Slate 6, we could see a moderately attractive phablet for a rock-bottom price.   | | Samsung said to be prepping 560ppi display, Galaxy S5 could be first up Nov 19th 2013, 02:01, by Matt Swider 
Next year's smartphones from Samsung could offer higher resolutions and more pixels per inch than the already-stellar-looking displays the company came out with this year. Samsung's preparing to make AMOLED displays with 560ppi for screens as small as five inches, according to German electronic site OLED.at citing Samsung Display CEO Kinam Kim. That means the South Korean electronics giant would have resolutions topping out at an even clearer 2560 x 1440 in 2014. While no specific phones were attached to this report, it could be a killer feature for Samsung's unveiling of the next-generation Galaxy S5 smartphone rumored for early next year. What 560ppi meansIf Samsung's future phones boast 560ppi and 2560 x 1440 resolution, it'll most certainly be a marketing cornerstone. Pixels per inch measures the number of pixels contained in one square inch of a display, so there would be 560 pixels in each square inch of Samsung's 2014 smartphones. Compare that to the company's precious 5-inch flagship, the Samsung Galaxy S4. It featured a Super AMOLED too, but it was only 441ppi with a 1920 x 1080 resolution. The iPhone 5S has an LCD with 326ppi and 640 x 1136 pixels. If Samsung were to release a Galaxy S5 smartphone with 556ppi, it would have 230 more pixels per inch than Apple's current hardware. Of course, the human eye may not be able to see the additional pixels packed into every inch, as anything beyond around 300ppi is lost without a microscope. But science is no match for marketing specs.        | | Samsung pulls Android 4.3 for UK Galaxy S3, S4 update withdrawn stateside Nov 18th 2013, 21:54, by Chris Smith 
Samsung has temporarily withdrawn the Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update for its Galaxy S3 handset in the UK following complaints, as Samsung contends with update problems on both sides of the pond. The long-awaited S3 update, which took the device directly from Android 4.1 to 4.3, arrived in the UK two weeks ago but brought several issues along to the party, angering those who'd jumped to upgrade their device. Among the reported flaws were rapidly increased battery drain, random freezing and alarms not going off (yeah, we've heard that one before), while some apps failed to work altogether. Samsung has finally responded with an official statement, withdrawing the download until the issue can be fixed. "As we are currently investigating the reported issues with Galaxy S3 4.3 Jelly Bean update, the upgrading service has been temporarily suspended," Samsung Mobile UK told the SamMobile blog in a statement. "We are committed to providing customers with the best possible mobile experience, and will ensure to resume the upgrading service at the earliest possibility." Trouble abroadMeanwhile, across the Atlantic, AndroidPolice reported that mobile carrier AT&T has pulled another Android 4.3 update, this time for the current flagship device, the Samsung Galaxy S4. Neither Samsung nor AT&T have commented on why the update has been pulled, but TechRadar has asked AT&T and will update this story if a response is forthcoming. Seemingly, the respective Galaxy S3 and Galaxy S4 updates were brought forward so Samsung could offer more devices to support the struggling Galaxy Gear smartwatch, which was only compatible with the Galaxy Note 3 at launch. Perhaps testing wasn't as vigorous as it has been in recent times?        | | Office Remote app for Windows Phone is the PowerPoint user's new BFF Nov 18th 2013, 21:15, by Chris Smith 
Microsoft's second screen endeavours have developed further with the launch of the Office Remote app for Windows Phone 8, giving the handset full control over the Word, PowerPoint and Excel apps. The app, which is similar to the SmartGlass mobile app for the Xbox 360 and Xbox One, allows users to swipe and glide their way through documents, presentations and spreadsheets on their PC. The standout use, of course, will be the ability for users to wirelessly control Office presentations, using Bluetooth to navigate between slides and point out objects on screen using a remote laser pointer. At present, Office Remote is only available for WP8 and only compatible with Office 2013 for Windows 8 and Office RT for the ARM-based OS, but it will prove useful for those folks who tick all Microsoft's boxes. Diversity on the way"With Office Remote you can start your PowerPoint presentation, advance the slides, see your speaker notes, and control an on-screen laser pointer with a touch of your finger - all from your phone," said project manager Burt Van Hoof. "You can also navigate between Excel worksheets and graphs, and control data slicers from the palm of your hand," he wrote. "And you can scroll through a Word document or quickly jump to specific sections or comments. You can also navigate between Excel worksheets and graphs, and control data slicers from the palm of your hand. And you can scroll through a Word document or quickly jump to specific sections or comments." Microsoft said the initial launch is just the beginning with a roll out coming to a "diverse society of devices" in the future. We can presume that to mean an iOS and Android version of Office Remote might be in tow.        | | Android cameras might get facial detection, RAW image support Nov 18th 2013, 19:43, by Kevin Lee 
A newly discovered code reveals Google could be working on a new slew of Android camera tools including face detection, burst fire and RAW image support. Originally spotted by ArsTechnica, the new camera features are documented in a public Android source code, which appears to have been in the works since December 2012. The code would have been included with KitKat, but some time around October it appears the API was tagged as "not yet ready" and hidden away. Current Android users almost had a camera with built-in facial detection capabilities, too. Another missed feature is burst mode, which lets smartphone snappers take a quick succession of photographs, and is ideal for "action shots" or cameras without image stabilization. Finally, the code reveals that users were close to getting RAW image support. RAW images are much larger compared to JPEGs that smartphone cameras usually take, but they also hold a lot more detail and are useful for recovering photos that were shot over or under exposed. Playing catch-upOther than a few standout smartphone cameras such as Ultrapixels on the HTC One and LG G2's optically stabilized lens, Android cameras have been sorely lacking compared to the iPhone 5S and Nokia Lumia 1020. Looking at the list of new camera features, it's easy to spot a few that look like ways for Google to play catch-up. After all, Apple also just introduced its own burst mode with iOS 7. RAW image support meanwhile is still something not found on most smartphones expect for a few photography-focused models. If Google hopes to make Android a serious smartphone camera platform, the ability to shoot unprocessed and uncompressed photos could be the golden ticket shutterbugs are looking for. There's no word on when or if Google plans to release these camera improvements, but we'll keep an eye out.        | | Blip: Attention students: You can now sign-up for 1 year of free Sprint coverage Nov 18th 2013, 19:31, by Michelle Fitzsimmons 
Parents, commence your sighs of relief. Sprint and Best Buy have wrapped your student's holiday gift in a neat shiny bow. The retailer and carrier are running a student-only promo for 12 months of free talk, text and 1GB of data. The offer applies to qualifying students who are actively enrolled in K-12, university or an accredited program and who sign-up for an Unlimited, My Way plan. The deal, which ends January 1, 2014, is only available at Best Buy stores. The not-so-small catch is that data will be capped at 1GB. After that, students can upgrade to unlimited data for $10/month more (plus a $36 activation fee). Those who don't get the extra data will have to cough up overage charges. More blips!No cap here with our blips - read as many as you like. We dare you.   | | Apple awarded another chance to ban some Samsung phones, tablets Nov 18th 2013, 18:08, by Michelle Fitzsimmons 
Apple and Samsung are back at it in their "it's really not done yet?" patent trial, and while this go-round focuses mostly on monetary damages, Cupertino had its bid to ban certain Sammy devices re-ignited by an appeals court today. The ruling was a unanimous decree that Judge Lucy Koh made errors in denying Apple's post-verdict request for a permanent injunction on 26 Samsung phones and tablets. While the appeals court stuck with Koh's denial from a design patent perspective, it decided another look is needed when it comes to a different set of patents. "[W]ith respect to Apple's utility patents, we conclude that the district court abused its discretion in its analysis and consequently remand for further proceedings," the court's ruling read. In layman's speak, the court wants Koh to look more closely at evidence that Apple was "irreparably" harmed when Samsung decided to play copy cat. Oh the legal morass...Apple argued that Samsung copied its "revolutionary" iPhone, a device that took thousands of man hours and billions to develop. While Apple was awarded many millions in damages, it also referred to the case that captivated the tech world last year as a "classic" example of an instance when patent infringement should lead to a product ban. For its part, Samsung has said that the monetary damages it's been ordered to pay do a dandy job of covering any IP infringements. The South Korean firm has been ordered to pay Apple $550 million (about £341m/AU$585m), but it's currently trying to cut that figure down. The 26 devices in question are predominantly older products and don't include flagships like the Galaxy S4 or Galaxy Note 3. If you were in the market for a Samsung Droid Charge, for example, now may be the time to buy one in case Koh ends up banning the handset after re-examination. However, Apple also sought a ban on any product that makes use of the infringing utility patents even if it wasn't listed, meaning newer devices could be subject to an import and sales injunction. Today's ruling may also give Apple leverage in a separate patent case with Samsung, set to start next year. We've asked Apple and Samsung for comment on the federal appeals court ruling, and a Samsung spokesperson sent us this statement: "We are pleased that the Federal Circuit affirmed the denial of a permanent injunction over Apple's design patents and trade dress. While the Federal Circuit also ordered the district court to reconsider a portion of its rationale concerning only Apple's utility patents, the remand concerns a very narrow scope of evidence presented by Apple. Therefore, we are confident that an injunction will be avoided." We're still waiting for word from Apple.        | | SlingPlayer flings itself to Roku, Windows 8.1 app coming next month Nov 18th 2013, 17:39, by JR Bookwalter 
SlingPlayer users worried that the company's acquisition by Dish parent EchoStar might be stunting its growth will be happy to hear that the latest app updates actually expand its horizons. Sling Media announced availability of SlingPlayer 3.0 for iOS and Android smartphones and tablets, along with the release of a dedicated Roku channel for streaming live or recorded television to even more places. SlingPlayer 3.0 introduces a bevy of new ways to discover and view TV content from anywhere, with a redesigned user interface, split-screen navigation and richer social media engagement. If just watching remote content wasn't enough, the SlingPlayer mobile app can now be used as a second screen companion by casting Slingbox content to a television, while the iPad can be used as both first and second screens at the same time. New channelsSlingbox customers will also now have a couple of additional ways to view their content, with a free SlingPlayer channel for Roku 2 and higher, and an all-new app for Windows 8.1 on the way. The Roku channel is also compatible with the Roku Streaming Stick, and Sling Media plans to add support for Roku HD and Roku LT models later in November. Slingbox content can be sent from your TV to another using the Roku player, while the SlingPlayer mobile app can be used as a full remote control for changing channels or accessing the guide or DVR. The dedicated SlingPlayer for Windows 8.1 app will debut in December with full compatibility for tablets including Surface 2 as well as desktop or laptop PCs and convertible devices.        | | Check out this picture of the Sony Xperia Z1s stood next to the Z1 Nov 18th 2013, 16:08, by Hugh Langley 
That Sony Xperia Z1S refuses to remain hidden - even Sony's let slip - and the phone has now popped up sat next to its older sibling. The Z1s was shot next to the Xperia Z1 to give some clearer comparison on the size, and while we can't verify if this is the real deal it does agree with everything we've seen so far. The person who posted the image also claimed that the phone will have an IPS display instead of Sony's usual TFT panels. From A to Z1So far all things are pointing to the phone having a 2.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor, 2GB of RAM and 32GB of storage. It also looks set to have its older sibling's 20.7MP camera and share its waterproof and dustproof exterior. Mostly the hardware is pretty similar to the "regular" model then - although, as the new picture shows, the Z1 will arrive with a smaller screen. A 4.3-inch 720p display is what's currently rumoured, since you're asking.        | | Enhanced multi-tasking on the Samsung GALAXY Note 3 Nov 18th 2013, 15:43, by Your Mobile Life 
The Samsung GALAXY Note 3 has a wealth of great features built in, and one of the best is its excellent enhanced multi-tasking, with Multi Window and the new S Pen-controlled Pen Window allowing you to be loads more productive every day. Let's take you through these great features on the Samsung GALAXY Note 3, explaining just what multi-tasking is and how you can get the most out of it. 
1. What is multi-tasking? Multi-tasking is the ability to perform more than one action at the same time – something we've long been used to on our desktop computers, but which is also now increasingly common on our smartphones. Android smartphones have been able to perform multi-tasking actions, such as running several apps together, for a while and, with the awesome Multi Window feature, Samsung has built on this foundation to provide the best experience around. As the power in our smartphones increases they are able to perform more and more tasks at the same time, truly making them computers in our pockets. On the Samsung GALAXY Note 3 you can access the multi-tasking menu by holding down the home key below the screen. This allows you to see a list of the apps which are currently running on the device. 
2. How the GALAXY Note 3 takes multi-tasking to the next level While multi-tasking may not be anything new in the smartphone world, the Samsung GALAXY Note 3 takes things to the next level in a number of ways. Firstly, the GALAXY Note 3 is the most powerful smartphone in the world, boasting a supremely powerful 2.3 GHz Quad-Core processor and 3GB of RAM. The 5.7-inch Full HD Super AMOLED screen is also perfect for multi-tasking, allowing users to have multiple applications visible on the expansive display at the same time. Finally, the impressive 3,200mAh battery housed inside the Note 3's slender frame means you're able to multi-task for longer without running out of juice. This raw power, expansive display and superb battery life means the Samsung GALAXY Note 3 is able to cope with more tasks than most phones, making it the perfect multi-tasking tool. 
3. The Multi Window tray While you can still access the stock Android multi-tasking menu on the GALAXY Note 3 by holding down the home button, Samsung has taken things up a level – delivering a more immersive multi-tasking experience. The Multi Window tray is your first step to enhanced multi-tasking on the GALAXY Note 3 and can be easily accessed by holding down the back touch key just below the screen. Hold the key down for around a second and you'll notice a little arrow tab appear half way up the display – tap this and a tray pulls out from the side with a column of applications. You can also hide the tab and tray by holding down the same key. From here you can drag apps from the tray onto the main area of the screen, and the GALAXY Note 3 will allow you to have two open side by side – now that's a true multi-tasking experience! 
4. All new Multi Window Multi Window has been around for a while, making appearances on top Samsung devices such as the GALAXY Note 8.0, GALAXY Note II and GALAXY S4, and it's now been enhanced on the GALAXY Note 3. Multi Window now allows you to toggle between recently used apps without closing windows or having to open new pages, thanks to the Switch App function. This makes for a more streamlined multi-tasking experience, and along with the inclusion of Switch Window and Drag and Drop, the GALAXY Note 3 is easily the most complete multi-tasker on the market. The above-mentioned options can be accessed by tapping the blue circle between the two open windows, bringing up a menu that shows all three options plus an exit key. 
5. ChatON and on and on... Another enhancement within Multi Window is the ability to have the same app open twice. You can now have two separate ChatON messaging windows open simultaneously, allowing you to speak to two people without having to continuously close and reopen message streams. It's not just ChatON that benefits from this feature. For example, you can have two browser windows open, allowing you to view two separate websites, and thanks to the generous 5.7-inch screen on the GALAXY Note 3 the pages are still easy to navigate. 
6. It's as easy as Drag and Drop The new Drag and Drop feature within Multi Window on the GALAXY Note 3 makes it really easy to share content between various applications. To enter Drag and Drop mode you'll need to have two applications side by side on screen, tap the blue dot between them and select the option from the pop-up menu. You will then be able to move content – such as text or an image – from one window to the other. We found this particularly useful when dragging pictures from our Gallery into emails and text messages. 
7. Paired windows are a match made in heaven If you find yourself using the same combinations of dual windows a lot you can save the set-up to make accessing your preferred layout even quicker in the future. Once you have your two favourite apps on screen at the same time you'll need to head over to the tray, hit the arrow icon and press "create." This will then save your selection as a paired window – you can name your pair so it's easy to find – allowing you to access both apps together later on. 
8. Fine-tuning Multi Window As well as creating paired windows, you can further customise Multi Window to give you the best set-up for you, offering a personalised multi-tasking experience. Firstly you can reorder the applications in the Multi Window tray, so the apps you use most frequently can be dragged to the top of list for easy access. Secondly if there are some applications you end up not using at all in Multi Window then they can be quickly removed, giving you a clutter-free line up in your tray. To remove an application from the Multi Window tray all you need to do is tap the arrow at the bottom of the list and hit edit. You can then drag and drop apps in and out of the tray. Finally you can also dictate on which side of the screen the tray appears – perfect if you tend to hold the GALAXY Note 3 in your right hand as it makes it easy for your thumb to manipulate the Multi Window offering. Just hold down the arrow tab and drag the tray to the other side of the screen. 
9. What is Pen Window? Pen Window is yet another multi-tasking enhancement on the GALAXY Note 3 and it harnesses the power of the S Pen to create a unique user experience. Using the S Pen, draw a box on screen, select an app to open in it and it will sit on top of whatever you're currently viewing. The beauty of Pen Window is that you're not just limited to one window – you can draw as many as you want on the screen, while at the same time still being able to control the phone behind them. Thanks to the impressive power housed inside the Note 3, everything continues to run smoothly, something that will frankly blow your mind while using this cutting-edge smartphone. 
10. How to use Pen Window To get Pen Window working, first of all slide the S Pen out of the GALAXY Note 3 and the Air Command menu will appear on screen. Tap the Pen Window icon and then draw a box anywhere on the display – it doesn't matter if you're in the middle of doing something in another application, Pen Window works anywhere. Once you've drawn your box – the size of which is completely up to you – you can select from a range of applications to open in the designated space. You can then move the Pen Window around the screen, minimise it to the size of an app icon and launch into the full screen version of the application. Finally, if you find you've drawn the window too big, or too small, you can also resize it on the fly using the S Pen.        | | Could the Nexus 5 have been called the Nexus G? Nov 18th 2013, 12:57, by Thomas Thorn 
Romeo Montague once asked "What's in a name?"... turns out quite a lot according to Google, as it appears it blocked LG's request to call its latest Nexus device, the Nexus G. According to Korean media, the search giant denied a request that would have put the LG's second Nexus device in line with Samsung's second, the Galaxy Nexus. Under the moniker 'Nexus G', the newest addition to the Nexus family would have been more in line with the existing range of LG Android products; the LG G2, G Pad and G Flex. LG and Google, star-cross'd lovers?The Mountain View firm is keen to not show favourites, Google clearly prefers to keep the Nexus 5 in line with other Nexus devices, the Nexus 7 and Nexus 10 tablets. So what is in a name? Would the Google Nexus 5 still smell as sweet as the Nexus G? Does it really matter? It certainly would have made the Moto G make a lot more sense as the Nexus' little brother... Via G4Games.   | | Want a longer battery in your phone? Self-healing could be the answer Nov 18th 2013, 12:34, by Thomas Thorn 
Researchers at Stanford University might have made the batteries that sit behind the screens of our mobiles and tablets a lot better. They'll soon be able to repair themselves. You won't be able to physically smash them to pieces then watch them reform before your eyes, but inside the new batteries, something very similar happens. This is a result of the techniques developed in chasing larger power packs, increasing the energy density while allowing retention of the same form factor that we are all used to. One of these techniques has been to incorporate silicon into the cathode. This allows more energy, but leads to an unusable battery after a few discharge cycles. Silicon is prone to cracking, as it expands when packed with electrons to increase power. Once cracked, the broken silicon is unable to hold charge. This has been remedied with a newly developed polymer coating. It's a chemical attractionResearch from Chao Wang at Stanford University, California, and Hui Wu of Tsinghua University, Beijing, led to the realisation that by deliberately breaking certain bonds, the chemical bonds would be attracted back. According to Stanford Professor Zhenan Bao, they "found that silicon electrodes lasted 10 times longer when coated with the self-healing polymer, which repaired any cracks within just a few hours". At the moment, electrodes are only working without fail for around 100 charges, although the hope is that this technology will be able to cope with 500 cycles in phones. Advancements in battery tech will be blessing as we've noticed that modern smartphones demand more power than ever. This can be seen by looking at HTC's two 5-star flagships. Advanced technology coupled with an increase in screen size mean that the HTC One's power pack is around 65% bigger than that of the original HTC Desire. We're hoping this soon becomes reality, although we're more sceptical about the designs of transparent batteries.   | |
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