| In Depth: HTC M8 release date, news and rumors Nov 26th 2013, 13:23, by John McCann 
How do you follow up a phone like the HTC One? It was only the third smartphone to garner a highly coveted five star TechRadar review and the Taiwanese firm has got a job on its hands to repeat the trick with its successor. HTC is working on something though, as a myriad of leaks, rumors and suggestive benchmark results worm their way onto the web - all of which appear to reference the "HTC M8." Why is this significant? Well, the codename for the original HTC One during development was M7, so the M8 moniker makes logical sense for the firm's next flagship smartphone. The handset won't launch under the M8 name however; there's actually a bit of confusion over the name HTC will give it after backing itself into a little bit of a corner with its "One" brand. Currently HTC One Two is being bandied about, but we reckon that's more for convenience rather than a hard and fast name for the market. With 2012's One X, One S, One V and then One X+ followed by the One SV and headline making One in 2013 it's not clear where HTC will go next. The HTC One+ perhaps? Or how about the HTC One Magnificent? Bear in mind we also have the One Mini and One Max - variations HTC will no doubt want to exploit with its next-gen flagship - and we're left scratching our heads. One thing is for sure though, the HTC M8 is going to have some stiff competition as the Samsung Galaxy S5 will also be rocking up in 2014, along with the iPhone 6 later in the year. We've rounded up all the latest M8 chatter from around the web to bring you the best picture of what you may see from the HTC One Two. HTC M8 release date and priceWe have seen a mention of the HTC M8 release date, with perennial leaker @evleaks tweeting that the handset would be with all four US networks by the "end of Q1 '14." In other words the HTC One Two should be hitting stores before the end of March 2014, which pegs an unveiling earlier that month, or even in February - could there be a MWC appearance for HTC's next flagship? There's no mention of a HTC M8 price just yet, but if it does transpire to be the next flagship handset it'll carry a hefty price tag - so you might want to start saving now. HTC M8 displayBig screens are the order of the day for today's flagship smartphones and various reports seem to suggest HTC will build ever so slightly on the 4.7-inch display found on the One. It looks like the M8 will pack a 5-inch display, although one report says it could go as big as 5.2 inches. There's been a lot of talk around 2K and 4K displays on smartphones arriving in 2014, but if an Antutu benchmark result is to be believed HTC will stick to the same full HD, 1920 x 1080 resolution for the One Two. The 5-inch, full HD screen has been echoed by @evleaks - a usually reliable source of upcoming phone leaks. HTC M8 power
The HTC One arrived on the scene with a relatively decent 1.7GHz Snapdragon 600 processor, but things have advanced since then and numerous reports are all pointing to the same chip for the M8. That processor is Qualcomm's Snapdragon 800 SoC, and benchmarking results points towards the quad-core chip being clocked at 2.26GHz - the same as the LG G2. There was a rumor doing the rounds claiming that HTC was looking to boost the One to an octa-core processor and 3GB of RAM, but the handset never materialized - has it been held back for the M8? Several other leaks are quoting 2GB of RAM, which would be the same as the HTC One - but still plenty to run Android. For those of you who love gaming on your smartphone there's some potentially good news for you, as the M8 has also been linked to the Qualcomm Adreno 330 GPU which will enhance the graphical output of the handset. HTC M8 operating systemNo surprises here, when the M8 finally launches under whatever moniker HTC has managed to bodge together you can be sure Android will be hiding under the hood. The good news is that it's tipped to be the very latest version - Android 4.4 KitKat - and of course it will be coated in a heavy layer of HTC's Sense overlay. Word is that the One Two will come with a brand spanking new version - Sense 6.0 - although we hope it doesn't deviate to much from 5.5, which we greatly enjoy. If the details surrounding processor and RAM ring true then you can expect the M8 to run whatever version of Android it's rocking smoothly. HTC M8 cameraHTC broke the cameraphone mould with the One as it introduced its Ultrapixel lens and proceeded to slap it on the Mini and Max variants of the handset as well. The technology was met with mixed responses and questions were raised when the camera transpired to be equivalent to a 4MP snapper - albeit letting in a hell of a lot more light thanks to the larger pixels. 
Some will be hoping HTC ditches the Ultrapixels tech in favor of the traditional megapixel approach and with the likes of the 41MP Lumia 1020 and 20.7MP Xperia Z1 on the market competition is fierce. There's been little leaked on the camera front of the M8, but the one revealing benchmark result we keep referring to quotes the same front and rear cameras as the One. HTC M8 chassisSomething which really made the HTC One stand out from the crowd was its all metal body - something only Apple had really fully embraced before, and it gave the handset a supremely premium look and feel. A couple of images have already slipped out claiming to show the body of the HTC M8, and from first glance it appears almost identical to the One - no surprise, why change a winning formula? The report reckons that HTC will keep the all metal body, but that the M8 will feature a slimmer form factor, making the handset even more pocketable - and hopefully a touch lighter too. 
       |  | Android users get in on Spotify Connect's Wi-Fi speaker streaming Nov 26th 2013, 11:53, by Hugh Langley 
Spotify Connect is a nifty little feature, letting you stream your music to select speakers locally over Wi-Fi and eliminating the need for any Bluetooth pairing faff. It's also something that iOS users have been able to rub in Android faces for the past couple of months. Now the feature has been made available for fans of Google's OS via an update for the Android app, as spotted by Android Police. There are currently only a limited number of compatible partner speakers, which include Philips, Argon, Revo, Pioneer and Bang and Olufsen, and of course you'll have to be using Spotify Premium before you can start streaming. Multi-room, multi-platformWhile you're streaming music over Spotify Connect you'll be able to take calls and just generally use your phone however you want without interrupting the music. You won't be able to play any local files though, just tracks you find on Spotify. But it's an especially handy feature if you want to get some of your own tunes rocking when visiting a friend's house. It also means you can be as far away from the speakers are you like, just as long as you're still in Wi-Fi range.        | | Sony Xperia Z1s could be the Z1 Max, not the Z1 mini Nov 26th 2013, 11:22, by James Rogerson 
There's been a lot of talk and rumors lately about the Sony Xperia Z1s, a handset believed to be a mini version of the Sony Xperia Z1. But as likely as that had previously seemed, a new image posted on Chinese site Digi-wo and found by Xperia Blog shows a phone that's supposedly the Xperia Z1s side by side with an Xperia Z1 and it looks anything but mini. In fact if anything it looks slightly bigger than the Xperia Z1. The angle of the image isn't great, so it's hard to say for sure, but the Z1s looks both taller and wider than the Z1, as well as having its headphone port near the middle of the top edge, rather than to the side as the Z1 does. Super size me
The size difference could mean that rather than being a shrunk down Z1, the Z1s is actually a slightly bigger version of the handset, perhaps with a 5.2-5.5 inch display and maybe even an increased resolution to match. If you were looking forward to a more pocket friendly Z1 though don't give up hope yet, as a shrunk down version known as the Z1F has already been confirmed for Japan. This new news may just mean that we're getting both a mini and a max version of the Z1.        | | HTC M8 smashes benchmark as most powerful HTC yet Nov 26th 2013, 11:04, by John McCann 
News on the successor to the five star, flagship HTC One is rife with new leaks suggesting the follow up M8 handset will be the Taiwanese firm's most powerful to date. The HTC M8 moniker is widely believed to be a codename for next-gen smartphone (the One was known as M7 during development) and while we'd be surprised if it launch as the HTC One Two, it's currently the most common name in circulation. Confusion over the name aside, after yesterday's brief outing the folks over at AnTuTu benchmark reckon they've uncovered a gem in their Android app - with a phone carrying the HTC M8 name posting some rather impressive information. Feel the powerIt's not clear how accurate the information is, but with a punchy 2.26GHz Snapdragon 800 quad-core processor and 2GB of RAM it would put the HTC M8 up there with (and ahead of) the LG G2, Google Nexus 5 and Sony Xperia Z1.
That's a significant boost from the HTC One, which packs a 1.7GHz Snapdragon 600 chip - so not only will there be more power, but hopefully better battery life from Qualcomm's efficient 800 SoC. In terms of operating system the HTC One Two is tipped to launch with the latest version of Google's mobile platform - Android 4.4 KitKat. While the One Two may well have KitKat at its heart, HTC will almost certainly stick its Sense overlay on top. There's no mention of which version of Sense will adorn the HTC M8, but we could well see the new 6.0 overlay, following on from 5.5 which resides on the One Max. Storage huntersSo what else might we expect from the HTC One Two? Sadly it looks like there won't be any advances in the camera department, with the same 4MP (likely to be Ultrapixel tech) and 2.1MP lenses quoted for the rear and front of the device. Something else which strikes fear into us is the quoted level of internal storage - just 16GB. Considering the One doesn't come with an expandable memory option and the OS takes up 8GB there could be serious storage issues here. As we've already mentioned, these specs are certainly not set in stone and we'd be surprised if HTC didn't go down the 32GB and 64GB route for the One Two. Unsurprisingly this handset wipes the floor with its predecessor in all the benchmark tests on Antutu so, while you should take this with a generous dosage of salt, it's looking good over at HTC. Word on a HTC One Two release date is still relatively sparse, but it's thought the handset will make an appearance early on in 2014 - we can't wait.        | | Is Apple about to turn your smartphone screen into a fingerprint scanner? Nov 26th 2013, 10:53, by James Rogerson 
Touch ID was a big deal for Apple as it gave the iPhone 5S a major selling point beyond just improved specs, but if a patent that recently appeared is anything to go by Touch ID may just be the beginning. The patent, which turned up in the World Intellectual Property Organization database, shows plans by Apple to turn the entire display into a fingerprint sensor. Being able to tell which finger is touching the screen opens up a lot of possibilities beyond just security. It could be used for application shortcuts, for example swiping your index finger upwards could cause a specific app to launch. The same principle could be applied to games, allowing developers to add extra controls. Of course a patent doesn't mean this will happen and even if it does it could be years away yet, but it's certainly an idea with a lot of potential. You've got the touchThe same patent also details plans to turn the home button into a trackpad. Apple would likely use a modified version of the Touch ID sensor to do this, but basically all that's needed is for the sensor to be able to track the movements of your finger as well as the static imprint. This would then enable you to scroll maps and web pages simply by sliding your finger to one edge of the button, while rotating your finger could perhaps bring up a scroll wheel that could be used to launch apps. This, if it happens at all, is likely to arrive sooner than the full screen fingerprint scanner and may be enough to tempt Apple to explore bigger screen sizes, as it would make controlling the phone with one hand easier than ever.        | | Microsoft may unify Windows Phone, Windows RT in the future Nov 26th 2013, 00:28, by Matt Swider 
There isn't enough room in town for three separate versions of the Windows operating system, admitted Microsoft's Executive Vice President of Devices Julie Larson-Green. "We have the Windows Phone OS. We have Windows RT and we have full Windows. We're not going to have three," she confirmed last week at a UBS Global Technology Conference. Reading between the versions, Microsoft sounds as if it's looking for a unified, mobile-friendly edition of its operating system, while keeping the more intensive desktop version. Two months ago, the company hinted at just that, suggesting Windows RT could make its way into phones. 'We should not have called it Windows'Microsoft learned several valuable lessons from the ill-fated launch of Windows RT, and it paid heavily with a costly write-down of Surface RT tablets. "I think we didn't explain that super-well. I think we didn't differentiate the devices well enough," Larson-Green surmised "They looked similar. Using them is similar. It just didn't do everything that you expected Windows to do. So there's been a lot of talk about it should have been a rebranding." She went as far as to say that Microsoft should have called it something other than "Windows." "We should not have called it Windows. How should we have made it more differentiated? I think over time you'll see us continue to differentiate it more." Whether or not the product of Windows Phone and Windows RT takes that rebranding route seems to be up in the air at the Redmond, Wash.-based company right now. The new pathToward the end of her comments, Larson-Green noted that Microsoft's path includes a more defined mobile operating system. One that's different from the tablets like the Surface Pro 2 running full Windows 8.1. "We do think there's a world where there is a more mobile operating system that doesn't have the risks to battery life, or the risks to security," she said. She complimented Apple's efforts in this area, saying "you look at iPad in particular, and it's a turnkey, closed system. It doesn't degrade over time. "It doesn't get viruses. It's not as flexible, you can't do as much with it, but it's a more seamless experience, even though more simplified. "It also comes at the cost of flexibility," she concluded. "So we believe in that vision and that direction and we're continuing down that path." - Read our ongoing Xbox One review, proving Microsoft got it right with its unified One console.
       | | MetroPCS enlists the Alcatel OneTouch Fierce, Evolve into its service Nov 25th 2013, 21:37, by Kevin Lee 
MetroPCS is adding two entry level Android Smartphones to its prepaid arsenal of handsets. After being on T-Mobile for about a month, Alcatel's One Touch Fierce and One Touch Evolve are joining the ranks of MetroPCS. The One Touch Fierce comes with a 4.5-inch screen 1.2GHz quad-core processor, 4G LTE connectivity support and Android 4.2. It's not quite as hot as the Nexus 5 or LG G2 specs, but it could be yours for just $99. Meanwhile, the smaller One Touch Evolve features a 4-inch 1GHz processor that runs Android 4.1 and has a 5-megapixel fixed focus camera. The entry-level handset sells for just $59. Bargain basementOn the T-Mobile-owned MetroPCS network, users won't have to ever deal with any contracts or additional services like Jump. The entry-level Android phones are also slightly cheaper than buying them on T-Mobile, where they come in at $149 introductory price for the One Touch Fierce, and $79 for the One Touch Evolve. Other phones worth noting on the MetroPCS network include the Nokia Lumia 521 and LG Optimus L9. Via Cnet   | | 50 Google Now voice commands shown off in one impressive video Nov 25th 2013, 19:38, by Michael Rougeau 
The new Google Now has more voice commands than ever before, but it can be difficult for users to keep track of them all. In walks the latest video from PhoneBuff, which shows off 50 of the voice commands available to Android users with the latest version of Google Now. The video shows off Google Now's capabilities on devices running Android 4.4: KitKat - the phone on display is a Nexus 5 running 4.4. But most of these commands should work on devices with the latest version of Google Now. OK Google, now read my mindThe user from PhoneBuff starts off asking conversational questions like "What's my schedule look like?" and "Where's my package?" He also readies a text to be sent, sets a location-based reminder and prepares an email, all with voice commands. YouTube : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vT0AWDq3DEOther questions touch on sports, vocabulary, stocks, movie times, language and number conversions and general trivia. The phone's UI even does a barrel roll when he commands it, and it appears Google Now may also replace Shazam. Google Now seems to be responsive and extremely helpful - much more so than Siri, in fact.        | | Android KitKat reportedly arriving on HTC One, Google Play Edition devices only Nov 25th 2013, 19:33, by Lily Prasuethsut 
HTC has been clear that owners of the HTC One will see an Android 4.4 KitKat update in January of next year but looks like some One owners are in luck. Android Authority is reporting a 300MB over-the-air update of KitKat is rolling out to the HTC One, Google Play Edition right this moment. Like the Moto X, the HTC update will not get the "Google Experience Launcher," a feature found on the Nexus 5, which adds a Google Now page to the home screen. But users at least get a lengthy range of other improvements with KitKat - the interface is much cleaner and boasts changes that help condense your device's memory. Be on the look outThe Google Play Edition of the Samsung Galaxy S4 should also be receiving KitKat, possibly as soon as today or this week since both the S4 and One saw a same day Android 4.3 update. Once the Galaxy S4 is updated, Google should be done with KitKat - at least until 2014 when the rest of the HTC One batch gets 4.4.        | | Crazy-fast mystery HTC handset benchmarked over 36K Nov 25th 2013, 18:48, by JR Bookwalter 
Whenever an unannounced smartphone takes a spin on popular benchmark apps, someone is bound to take notice and play connect the dots with other rumors making the rounds. PhoneArena reported today that a new Android handset of HTC origin has made an appearance on AnTuTu, a popular app used to benchmark the speed and performance of smartphones and tablets. Identified only as "HTC 0P6B120," the device raised a few eyebrows over the weekend by racking up a performance score of 36,532 - the kind of digits usually reserved for top-tier performers like the LG G2, Samsung Galaxy Note 3 or Sony Xperia Z1. In order to achieve such results, the mystery HTC handset likely appears to be running one of the coveted Snapdragon 800 chips - presumably a newer variety such as the MSM8974 model capable of 2.3GHz speeds. M8 could be greatAll signs point to the handset bearing the HTC M8 name, a device which popped up on the radar less than two weeks ago from the typically reliable Twitter account of @evleaks. Tipped to debut in early 2014, insiders speculate that the M8 will be the manufacturer's follow-up to this year's HTC One, a smartphone expected to bear more than a passing exterior resemblance to the handset that's kept HTC on life support throughout an otherwise rocky 2013. Other leaked details include a slightly larger 5-inch, 1080p HD display powered by the latest Android 4.4 KitKat with HTC Sense 6.0 ladled over it for good measure. There's still plenty of time for the HTC M8 to offer up further leaks before 2014 arrives, so firmer details are likely to solidify in the days and weeks ahead.        | | Updated: iPhone 6 release date, news and rumours Nov 25th 2013, 15:45, by Dan Grabham 
The iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C have been announced. So what does that mean for the iPhone 6? Well, we'll tell you. Or, at least, we'll tell you what we can glean from rumor and speculation - some reliable, some not so much. Given the iPhone's history - from the 3G onwards, there's always been a half-step S model before the next numbered iPhone - so it was no surprise the 5S was first and so we're looking at 2014 for a new iPhone 6. One thing is for sure, with potential refreshes of such super handsets as the Samsung Galaxy S4, Sony Xperia Z and HTC One, the next iPhone will have to seriously up its game. Cut to the chase
What is it? A major revision of the iPhone
When is it out? September 2014, we'd have thought
What will it cost? Expect premium pricing for a premium smartphone
iPhone 6 release dateThe iPhone 6 release date will be in 2014. It will follow the iPhone 5S which will be released at the end of this week.. Jefferies analyst Peter Misek says that there will be a June 2014 release for the iPhone 6. We reckon it will be later than that, around a year after the 5S. Citi's Glen Yeung also believes that we won't see an iPhone 6 until 2014, although that's no big leap. Interestingly, in May 2013 Stuff reported it received a photo of the till system at a Vodafone UK store (which it has since removed along with the reference to Vodafone), with '4G iPhone 6' listed. So could we see both an iPhone 5S and iPhone 6 in quick succession? Some reports suggest a new 5S in the late part of the year before a revamped iPhone 6 very early in 2014. FutTv : k5C7uNPo0Lkau
iPhone 6 casingIt's been suggested that there could even be three size variants of the new iPhone - check out these mocked up images by artist Peter Zigich. He calls the handsets iPhone 6 Mini, iPhone 6 & iPhone 6 XL (these look rather like the iPhone 5C variant though). However, as ZDNet rightly points out, different size variants aren't exactly easy to just magic out of thin air. 
The iPhone 6 will finally do NFCAbout time too. Well, that's what iDownloadblog reckons, quoting Jefferies analyst Peter Misek. Many Android phones now boast NFC and Apple appears to have been happy to be left behind here. See our video below on what Apple needs to do to slay Samsung's Galaxy S4 FutTv : 92l21W4GmvvIdThe iPhone 6 will run iOS 8With iOS 7 heading out of the traps now, who's betting against the next iPhone coming with iOS 8? We'd expect a September or October release date for iOS 8 in line with previous releases. 
iPhone 6 storageWe've already seen a 128GB iPad, so why not a 128GB iPhone 6? Yes, it'll cost a fortune, but high-spending early adopters love this stuff. iPhone 6 home buttonAccording to Business Insider, of the many iPhone 6 prototypes Apple has made, one has a giant Retina+ IGZO display and a "new form factor with no home button. Gesture control is also possibly included". It will surely include Apple's new Touch ID finger print tech though? iPhone 6 screenThe Retina+ Sharp IGZO display, would have a 1080p Full HD resolution. It's also been widely reported that Apple could introduce two handset sizes as it seeks to compete with the plethora of Android devices now on the market. Take this one with a pinch of salt, because China Times isn't always right: it reckons the codename iPhone Math, which may be a mistranslation of iPhone+, will have a 4.8-inch display. The same report suggests that Apple will release multiple handsets throughout the year over and above the iPhone 5S and 6, which seems a bit far-fetched to us. Patents show that Apple has been thinking about magical morphing technology that can hide sensors and even cameras. Will it make it into the iPhone 6? Probably not. Jefferies analyst Peter Misek also says he believes the new iPhone will have a bigger screen. Different sizes also seem rather likely to us - the word on the street after WWDC 2013 was that there would be 4.7 and 5.7-inch versions. More rumors in September 2013 point to a six-inch display, but this seems a little large to us. 
iPhone 6 processorNot a huge surprise, this one: the next processor one will be a quad-core A8 or an evolved A7. The big sell here is more power with better efficiency, which should help battery life. Anyone hoping for some juicy Samsung technology hidden under the iPhone 6 body will be disappointed though, as reports suggest Apple is looking to push its Korean rival further out of the iPhone picture with its eighth-gen handset. Apple is apparently cutting the amount of A8 processors it is having made by Samsung, although it hasn't severed ties completely just yet. iPhone 6 cameraApple's bought camera sensors from Sony before, and this year we're going to see a new, 13-megapixel sensor that takes up less room without compromising image quality. An Apple patent, uncovered by Apple Insider in May 2013, shows a system where an iPhone can remotely control other illuminating devices - extra flashes. It would work in a similar manner to that seen in professional photography studios. Interesting stuff. 
iPhone 6 Sapphire crystals GT Advanced Technologies provides crystal grow equipment and materials for consumer electronics, among other industries and has announced that it's signed a multi-year supply agreement with Apple to provide sapphire materials. Sapphire has figured prominently in recent Apple products - the iPhone 5S' Touch ID fingerprint reader features a cut sapphire crystal cover and the iPhone 5 was the first to feature a sapphire crystal lens.So what will we see in the iPhone 6? Certainly the Touch ID fingerprint reader, but also other scratch-proof materials. GT says it will own and operate the machinery to produce this stuff at a new Apple plant in Arizona. iPhone 6 eye tracking One thing seems certain - Apple can't ignore the massive movement towards eye-tracking tech from other vendors, especially Samsung. It seems a shoe-in that Apple will deliver some kind of motion tech within the next iPhone, probably from uMoove. iPhone 6 wireless chargingWireless charging still isn't mainstream. Could Apple help give it a push? CP Tech reports that Apple has filed a patent for efficient wireless charging, but then again Apple has filed patents for pretty much anything imaginable. The tasty bit of this particular patent is that Apple's tech wouldn't just charge one device, but multiple ones. Here are more details on the iPhone 6 wireless charging patent. Meanwhile, a further Apple patent seems to imply that future iPhones will be able to adjust volume as you move them away from your ear. And could the iPhone 6 really have 3D? It's unlikely, but the rumours keep on coming.        | | Nokia Lumia 1520 and its massive screen hit the UK's shelves next week Nov 25th 2013, 15:27, by Kate Solomon 
Now you can put the identity crisis that is Nokia's Lumia 1520 on your Christmas wishlist, as it goes on sale in the UK on December 6. The handset, which comes boasting a 6-inch full HD screen and souped-up 20MP camera will be set you back £38 a month on contract. SIM-free pricing is yet to be announced. You'll be able to pick the 1520 up from O2, Vodafone online, Carphone Warehouse, Phones4U and a smattering of independent retailers. BigPowering the thing is a Snapdragon 800 quad-core processor and, of course, it runs Windows Phone 8. Will you be counting down the days until you can get your mitts on Nokia's phone-cum-tablet? Let us know without using the word "phablet" in the comments below.   | | iPhone fans are most in love with BBM - who saw that coming? Nov 25th 2013, 13:08, by Thomas Thorn 
For those that haven't heard (where have you been?!), BBM has made it to both Android and iOS platforms, and it seems that the latter is proving far more popular. Since the cross-OS launch, BBM has seen a lot of press, albeit much being linked to problems encountered at its first launch attempt. Across both platforms, users have been downloading in droves, although BGR has noticed a distinct trend; BBM consistently ranks higher on the App Store compared to the Play Store equivalent. Despite having to battle it out with the likes of WhatsApp, BBM managed to make it into the top 5 iOS downloads in at least 50 countries, including Canada and the UK. This seems isolated to Apple handsets though as BBM only reaches the Play Store top 10 in 4 countries; Indonesia, South Africa, the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Who's to blame?In Argentina you'll find BBM as the number one download on iPhone, although only number 14 on the Play store. In the Philippines the split is 26th place to 144th. The reason for this could be down to the type of people who use BBM, with the Canadian firm's IM service fitting in with an older and more professional generation. It's a platform which is already heavily embedded in business and as people switch from BlackBerry to Apple they could be taking their messaging service with them. This is highlighted in comparison to the cross-OS app Kik, traditionally used by teens. It consistently ranks higher on Android than iOS; 38 vs 11 and 27 vs 12 in the US and Finland respectively. Should we be surprised though? iPhones and BlackBerrys are more popular amongst business users, the 'prosumer' market that the Canadian firm wants to target. With the success of BBM, we could see BlackBerry pulling back some of the market from California in the future, maybe the Z30 will help.   | | Samsung Galaxy Grand 2 pops out as Note 3's baby brother Nov 25th 2013, 11:29, by Thomas Thorn 
Not content until it has cornered every sector of the smartphone market, Samsung has announced the sequel to the Galaxy Grand, the aptly named Samsung Galaxy Grand 2. The Galaxy Grand 2 fits neatly between the Galaxy Note 3 and the Samsung Galaxy S4 in terms of screen size, although it comes with less power than both and without the Note's S Pen stylus. It does manage to keep the Note 3's faux leather back, though, along with a 1.2GHz quad-core processor, 1.5GB RAM, 5.25-inch HD screen and 8GB internal memory. In true Samsung tradition, microSD is also supported up to 64GB. This means an upgrade over the 1.2GHz dual-core processor and 1GB RAM that was found in the original Grand. Grand in name, grand in nature?The original Grand's screen has been stretched by 0.25-inches, gaining an improved HD 1280 x 720 resolution in the process. There is no AMOLED tech here though, with the TFT screen sat inside a 146.8 x 75.3 x 8.9mm chassis and weighing 163g. The Galaxy Grand 2 comes running Android 4.3 Jelly Bean, but doesn't pack the same 4G technology that made its way to the Samsung Galaxy Ace 3. Other key specs include dual-SIM, a 2600mAh battery, 8MP rear camera, 1.9MP front camera and Wi-Fi a/b/g/n. We are still waiting for pricing and an official release date, but it will make it to the UK and when it lands you'll be able to get your hands on a black, white or maybe even a pick version. Which one would you go for?   | | Is LG planning an even more flexible G Flex 2? Nov 25th 2013, 11:10, by Kate Solomon 
LG's not resting on anybody's laurels with word that it is speccing out the LG G Flex 2 and wants to give the handset a screen that can bend almost 90 degrees. That's tiptoeing into foldable territory, with the handset supposedly set for a hard rubber body to accommodate the bend. ZDNet Korea reckons that LG is already planning mass production for the G Flex 2 which suggests that we'll see the handset launch at some point in 2014. Fold it now... hit itSamsung is also looking at the folding phone market and seeing dollar signs, with a foldable prototype doing the rounds as well as this crazy 3-sided phone patent on its books. LG's not letting anything official slip about the G Flex 2, however, so all we have to go on for now are these supply-chain rumours. We recommend them only as part of a high-sodium diet.   | | Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini gets treated to Android 4.3 Nov 25th 2013, 10:26, by Thomas Thorn 
The roll out Android 4.4 KitKat may have just started, but Android 4.3 Jelly Bean is still rolling out to the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini. According to MobileSyrup, Canadian networks Bell, Rogers and Telus are reporting that the Samsung Galaxy S4 and Galaxy S4 Mini are getting the latest version of Jelly Bean. We've heard a lot about the Galaxy S4 getting the update to 4.3, but this is the first time we've heard that the S4 Mini will follow suit. Keeping watchGalaxy Gear support was added to the Galaxy S4 Mini via a separate update, with the older flagships, the Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note 2, getting the same support from the confirmed 4.3 update. This update could also bring Samsung KNOX, Bluetooth smart technology and OpenGL:ES 3.0 to Galaxy S4 Mini handsets, although we'll have to wait and see. Canadian users will find the update available OTA via the settings menu. We've contacted Samsung for more information, but we'll be keeping our eyes peeled just in case.   | | HTC One goes gold for Christmas to the delight of cash-strapped Wise Men Nov 25th 2013, 09:37, by Kate Solomon 
Since the limited edition HTC One in 18 carat gold that we got our, er, teeth on earlier this year went down quite well, HTC has launched a new gold version of the handset for Christmas. It's not actually made of gold like the Mobo-edition device, which means it won't set any modern-day Wise Men back the thousands of pounds the original Gold One would have if it'd had gone on sale. That's what they brought baby Jesus, right? Gold phones, frankincense and myrrh? Anyway, the gold edition HTC One, which joins the Gold Samsung Galaxy S4 and gold iPhone 5S, is coming to Europe by Christmas, but it's anyone's guess as to which networks will stock it at this point. More blipsFour calling birds, three french hens, two turtle doves and a partridge in a blip tree.   | |
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