| Nokia Lumia 525 leaked as budget blower follow up Nov 5th 2013, 10:49, by James Rogerson 
We're big fans of the Nokia Lumia 520 and we're not alone as it's proved to be the most popular Lumia yet. So the thought of a follow up is no bad thing. That follow up is the Nokia Lumia 525 and Chinese site Baidu recently got a hold of its specs. The phone apparently has a 1GHz dual-core Snapdragon 400 processor, 1GB of RAM, a 4-inch 800 x 480 IPS display, 5MP camera, 8GB of built in storage, microSD card slot and a 1430mAh battery. All of which is identical to the Nokia Lumia 520, other than the RAM, which is up to 1GB from 512MB. Even the dimensions and weight are the same. Headset heavenThe only other difference we can see so far is the suggestion that the Nokia Lumia 525 comes with the Nokia Guru Bluetooth Headset, which suggests it's aimed at music fans. So it's not the most exciting successor to the Lumia 520, but if the price is right then the jump to 1GB of RAM could still make it a great prospect. While its most immediate point of reference is the Nokia Lumia 520, the numbering of the Lumia 525 also brings to mind the big-screened Nokia Lumia 625, though it seems to have little else in common with that over sized handset.        |  | Blip: Sure enough, the LG G Flex can actually flex Nov 5th 2013, 09:31, by Hugh Langley 
Well whaddyaknow - the LG G Flex actually lives up to its name. The phone has been caught bending out of its unusual shape in a demo video. You can see the action taking place over on Engadget, although it's added that a "reasonable amount of force" is needed to contort the phone. Maybe not all that advisable then... While we've been briefed on the specs - 6-inch 720p OLED screen, Qualcomm 800 Snapdragon, 2GB of RAM, 13-megapixel camera - the flexy stuff has been a little unclear. We do know, however, that the G Flex will be able to heal itself. So that's pretty cool too. More blips!These blips are customized for a quick, fun read.        | | Apple to go big on sapphire in iPhone 6, iPad 6 and beyond? Nov 5th 2013, 05:02, by Michelle Fitzsimmons 
You've probably never heard of GT Advanced Technologies, but in future Apple devices, the firm could end up playing a headline-grabbing role. The company, which provides crystal grow equipment and materials for consumer electronics, among other industries, announced today 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. Now, word on the street is Apple could use the resilient material in future touchscreens. It's first go at the tech has been rumored for the iPhone 6, presumed to release in 2014. Apple would certainly extend the hard yet crystal clear sapphire coating to its other product lines, including the next iPad. Sapphire sharpAs part of the deal, GT will own and operate the equipment needed to produce sapphire at a new Apple plant in Arizona. GT Advanced Technologies is fast tracking development of next-gen, large capacity furnaces "to deliver low cost, high volume manufacturing of sapphire materials." Apple would have access to loads of this stuff on the cheap, ideal for mass production of millions of handsets, tablets and more. The GT Advanced Technologies and Apple deal is still young, and with the iPhone 5S, iPhone 5C, iPad Air and iPad mini 2 with Retina display newly announced, we're a ways away from seeing scratch-resistant sapphire make it to next-gen Apple products. Perhaps something prone to daily nicks and bruises could get a sapphire front first? Say, something like the iWatch?        | | Blip: Is the Moto Maker making its way to Sprint on November 11? Nov 5th 2013, 02:06, by Lily Prasuethsut 
Let's face it: Moto Maker is what sets the Moto X apart from all the other phones out there. OK maybe not entirely, but the customization options are an undeniable draw. Previously only available on AT&T, a memo has surfaced online stating the Moto Maker feature will arrive on Sprint starting November 11. Though the memo is questionable, Sprint's recent Moto X price cut indicates it might be priming the device for the holidays and hopefully other carriers won't be too far behind. There's only a week left to find out if Sprint customers can give their Moto X a make-over, and honestly, it's about time Motorola spreads the love. More blips!These blips are customized for a quick, fun read. Via Android Central        | | Forget 4G, even faster LTE Advanced is here - sort of Nov 5th 2013, 00:01, by John McCann 
EE has switched on the UK's first LTE Advanced mobile network, a little over a year since it launched 4G in Britain - offering theoretical speeds of up to 300Mbps. That's a considerably more than the 30Mbps top speed touted on its current 4G network and also easily eclipses the 60Mbps top speed offered by EE's double speed 4G, which is now available in 20 towns and cities. It's worth taking note of those "theoretical speeds" though, as average usage is likely to come way below the quoted maximums. That said, it will still be darn quick. Here's the catchIf those quoted speeds have got your heart racing then sit down and take a few deep breaths: it's not all good news. The LTE Advanced network has only be deployed in the Tech City area of East London and will be rolled out to the rest of the capital throughout 2014. You won't be able to take advantage of these super speeds just yet either, for a couple of reasons. Firstly, there are currently no handsets available in the UK which support this next-generation service. Secondly, EE will be hand picking specific business partners to trial the service, predominantly through a mobile broadband offering rather than a mobile phone solution. So when you can expect to be able to take advantage of LTE Advanced? Well EE reckons the first handsets will arrive in the UK in the middle of 2014, which is when it expects to be able to offer the service commercially. In the meantime we're stuck with boring old 4G. Hmph.   | | BlackBerry shares nosedive following revised investment offer Nov 4th 2013, 20:35, by Kane Fulton 
Shares in troubled smartphone maker BlackBerry have plunged to their lowest in a decade after the Canadian company failed to find a buyer. BlackBerry's shares fell 17% on Monday evening to $6.43 on the Nasdaq after the company scrapped a $4.7 billion rescue bid from Fairfax Financial Holdings (FFH), its largest individual shareholder. It will instead receive $1 billion investment from FFH and a group consisting of "Other Institutional Investors". The investment, which has a seven-year term, is a loan that can be converted into BlackBerry common stock at $10 per share down the line. According to a report by news agency Reuters, BlackBerry had been in talks with several companies including Cisco, Google, SAP, Lenovo, Samsung and Intel about selling parts or all of its units. Public affairRemaining public could dent BlackBerry's chances of a turnaround, according to analysts. Ovum Chief Telecoms analyst Jan Dawson said: "Fairfax's investment will buy the company some time, which it badly needs, but the company needs a new strategy more than ever. "If Fairfax had taken the company private, it could have kept that strategy to itself. But with BlackBerry remaining a public company, Chen and Fairfax Chairman and CEO Prem Watsa need to start communicating that new strategy very soon to inspire confidence in a turnaround." New leaderBlackBerry has also announced a change in leadership, with CEO Thorsten Heins leaving the company. John S Chen, who is taking over as executive chairman and will act as interim CEO, was formerly at the helm of software and services company Sybase, which was acquired by applications giant SAP in May 2010 for $5.8 billion. The smartphone maker was name Canada's most valuable company in 2008 with a market value of $83 billion and peaked in 2011, shipping 51.5 million handsets, according to analyst house Gartner. That fell to 32.5 million in 2012 and is expected to drop to 23 million in 2013.        | | Windows Phone continues march across Europe, UK growth beats iOS, Android Nov 4th 2013, 20:27, by Chris Smith -470-75.JPG)
Microsoft's Windows Phone mobile operating system was the only of the 'big three' to experience growth in its UK market share during the last few months, a report published on Monday has claimed. While still largely dominant over the chasing pack Apple's iOS (27 per cent) and Google's Android software (58.4 per cent) both experienced slight dips in their respective shares during Q3 of 2013, Kantar reports. Windows Phone on the other hand boosted its share to 11.4 per cent, which is nearly three times higher than the 4.2 per cent it enjoyed this time last year. The jump can be almost entirely attributed to improved sales of the rapidly expanding and improving Nokia Lumia range, as other manufacturers' interest in the platform has diminished rapidly. Bigger than iPhoneThat's not where the good news ends for Microsoft though. If the figures are accurate, it can now claim to be more popular than the iPhone in Italy. Windows Phone enjoys a 13.7 per cent share of the Italian market compared with 10.2 per cent for iOS. Overall, across the entire region, Kandar reports around a 10 per cent share for Windows Phone. The analysts expect Apple to bounce back strongly in the fourth quarter thanks to the launch of the iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C in September, so Microsoft's is likely to give back a bit of ground. Overall, the news is good for Microsoft as it continues its slow, but steady, progress. However, while offering up a "huzzah!" for Windows Phone, spare a thought for poor old BlackBerry. Its UK share is down to 3.1 per cent.   | | BlackBerry smartphones are here to stay, says company's new CEO Nov 4th 2013, 19:21, by Michelle Fitzsimmons
There are more twists and turns to the BlackBerry saga than a 99-cent romance novel, but one thing you can expect to stick around is the company's handset business. Speaking with Reuters, interim CEO John Chen said there are no plans to shutter the loss-making smartphone side of BlackBerry's racket. He added that BlackBerry has the resources to pull an 180. "I know we have enough ingredients to build a long-term sustainable business," he said. "I have done this before and seen the same movie before." Phone it inChen, who is replacing Thorsten Heins, didn't elaborate on what kind of phones BlackBerry would keep making. The company said in September it's ditching consumer handsets and instead focusing on enterprise and "prosumer-centric targeted devices." It also said it would cut its phone portfolio from six to four. Flush with $1 billion (about £62m, AU$1.05b) in fresh investor funding, BlackBerry could use some of that money to rebuild its damaged smartphones business. One place the funds won't find their way is to certain executive salaries, as Chen plans to shake up BlackBerry's upper ranks by bringing in new members and promoting others from within. Chen said he expects a turnaround to take at least six quarters. We wish him luck, but the old CEO promised a turnaround too, and he's out of a job.        | | In Depth: The GALAXY Note 3's stunning Full HD Super AMOLED display explained Nov 4th 2013, 15:31, by Your Mobile Life 
If you are a gamer or a movie fan, then you've probably found the expansive 5.7-inch Full HD Super AMOLED screen to be one of the Samsung GALAXY Note 3's biggest draws. After all, with a combination of vibrant colours and pin-sharp image quality, the Super AMOLED display can handle Full HD with ease. In this feature, we are going to take a deeper look into the tech behind that screen. What is Super AMOLED? How does it work? And what are the apps that will help you get the most from your Samsung GALAXY Note 3's display? 
A potted history of Super Active Matrix OLED The two major types of display currently in use are variations on Liquid-Crystal Display (LCD) and Organic Light-Emitting Diodes (OLED). LCD is still common in many flat-panel displays and computer monitors but OLED is growing in popularity. Active Matrix OLED (AMOLED) adds a thin layer of semiconducting film behind the OLED panel that gives fast and accurate activation of each individual pixel and allows for large displays at very high resolutions. The 'Super' part of the Super AMOLED equation is Samsung's own twist on the technology, which embeds the touch-sensitive layer into the screen itself rather than using an extra layer on top. As well as slightly reducing the thickness of the screen, this helps reduce the reflectiveness of the display and improves viewing in bright sunlight. 
"It's like, how much more black could it be?" One of the most noticeable things about the Note 3's Super AMOLED display is how well it displays black. On an LCD screen there is a constant backlight that can leave 'black' looking more like a very dark grey. With a Super AMOLED screen, the light comes from each individual pixel and to 'show' black, that pixel is effectively turned off. This produces a true black rather than 'nearly' black, and the result is an incredible contrast that makes the surrounding areas of colour look even more vibrant. The lack of a backlight layer again means that the GALAXY Note 3's display can be even thinner, with the whole device clocking in at just 8.3mm in thickness. Like the Samsung GALAXY S4, the GALAXY Note 3's screen is specced as Full HD, meaning it can display true 1080p video at a 1,920x1,080 resolution. The Note 3 stays pin sharp even with its larger screen. 
The best appsThe Full HD Super AMOLED display makes the GALAXY Note 3 a brilliant entertainment device. Whether you want to watch HD movies or play the latest games, the Note 3 can handle it in style. Most apps look good on the GALAXY Note 3 but some really make the most of the display. Here are our picks of the best. 
Real Racing 3 Free – get it here One of the best-looking games available for Android devices. If played on a less capable system, Real Racing 3 can scale down its graphics but thankfully the GALAXY Note 3 has enough processing power to provide the oomph the game needs to really shine. With graphics on high detail the game still runs perfectly smoothly on the Note 3, and the vibrant display shows off both cars and the 3D track to their best advantage. 
Netflix Free – get it here (£5.99 a month subscription required) Netflix's streaming movies and TV look great on the Note 3's Super AMOLED screen. Whether you want to enjoy a film or settle down for some box-set TV, the GALAXY Note 3 offers the resolution you need to properly enjoy cinematic masterpieces and a screen that's generous enough to stop you having to squint. 
VLC for Android Beta Free – get it here The built-in Videos app can handle most common video codecs, but for more obscure files you may find that the Android version of the popular VLC video player is just the thing. It can also play most music files and handle streaming video in a variety of formats. 
Infinite Painter Free Free – get it here Now in a special edition that supports the GALAXY Note's pressure-sensitive S Pen, Infinite Painter is superb painting app that lets you create artworks using hundreds of brushes and effects. You can start from scratch or import photos from the Gallery app to retouch or 'paint over', turning them into pseudo-oil-painted masterpieces. The S Pen that comes with the GALAXY Note 3 is the most advanced yet and makes for a highly effective virtual paintbrush. 
Google Earth Free – get it here Google Earth looks incredible on the GALAXY Note 3. Satellite imagery and close up aerial shots of the planet come alive on the Super AMOLED display, and you can easily navigate the Google Earth interface with either fingertip or S Pen. Explore the planet from above or zoom in to see amazing detail in major cities, many of which have been modelled in 3D for you to virtually fly through.        | | HTC One to get Android 4.4 KitKat from January Nov 4th 2013, 13:26, by Thomas Thorn 
The HTC One was only the third phone ever get our 5-star rated TechRadar review, and it looks as though the Taiwanese firm is set on trying to keep it at the top after revealing more on its Android 4.4 plans. HTC has confirmed to TechRadar that the Android KitKat update will begin rolling out to HTC One devices in Europe, the Middle East and Africa towards the end of January 2014. "Across EMEA, HTC will work with local carriers to begin the roll-out of Android 4.4 with Sense 5.5 for the HTC One from end of January," a spokesperson told us. No Sense 6.0?Sense 5.5 brings an improved version of HTC's BlinkFeed, with the ability to turn it off. Other features include updated HTC Zoe, and the ability to make animated GIFs. It seems that that Sense 6.0 may be being saved for the rumoured HTC M8, also known as the HTC One Two. HTC also confirmed that the Google Play edition of its HTC One is set to get Android 4.4 KitKat at the end of November. We know that the HTC One Max and HTC One Mini are in line for the same updates, although HTC is yet to reveal when we can expect these.   | | Motorola sets Moto G launch for November 13 Nov 4th 2013, 13:05, by Kate Solomon 
Motorola's getting in on the current penchant for the letter G in the tech industry, with the Moto G set to make its official debut on November 13. The invite isn't giving much away beyond Motorola being "hugely excited" about it and the illustration suggesting you'll be able to use it in towns, cities, countryside, while traveling and while yachting on M-shaped lakes. It is suggesting that the Moto G could be described as a "mobile" phone. Ooh ahh just a little bit (of money)At first it seemed as though the Moto G could be a smartwatch but then this festive Phones4U poster popped up in the UK. Instead, it is a low-cost Android 4.3 Jelly Bean handset - a cheaper, cut-down edition of the US-only Moto X. One tipster also pointed to the pricing starting at £135 off-contract which means it could turn out to be pretty sweet for those on a budget. - Want to know what to expect from the Moto G? Our Moto X review could be a good place to start
  | | Updated: Android 4.4 KitKat release date: when can I get it? Nov 4th 2013, 12:07, by Thomas Thorn 
If you hadn't heard Android 4.4 KitKat is out in the wild on the Google Nexus 5, where have you been? The update doesn't mean that all devices can have a break, with Android KitKat making the cut on some handsets, but not others. With the release of every update, no matter what OS, there are always devices that won't be supported. As the new kid on the block, Android 4.4 KitKat is what we are all clamouring for, right? Hopefully we will see the latest Android update land on a much wider range of devices, with KitKat supporting devices with as little as 512MB RAM. This will mean we should see it on new budget devices, and we can hold a little hope that older budget handsets will get a refresh - although it's unlikely manufacturers will revisit their older, cheaper smartphones. We have been in contact with various manufacturers, and we will continue to update this article as news trickles in, so keep your eyes peeled. Here's our guide to whether or not you're going to get the update to Google's latest iteration of Android, and when those updates should land. Google Nexus Android is Google's mobile OS, so the Android 4.4 KitKat update was always bound to land on certain Nexus devices. Unfortunately, the word 'certain' is key. It seems that Google is only supporting the Nexus 4, Nexus 7 (both editions) and Nexus 10, with the updates landing "in the coming weeks". The certain devices getting the KitKat update also include the Play editions of the Samsung Galaxy S4 and HTC One, but not the Samsung-made Galaxy Nexus. Reasons touted are that it doesn't fit in Google's 18-month update window, and that Texas Instruments no longer make mobile chips, so is unable to provide support. SamsungAs flagship devices, we're expecting to see news at some point saying the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 and Samsung Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat update is happening. Currently, Samsung devices are already receiving updates. Many devices including the Galaxy S4 and S3 are gaining updates to Android 4.3 Jelly Bean, meaning they gain Galaxy Gear support too. Samsung has a wide variety of handsets out at the moment, covering all shapes, sizes and ends of the market - and there's hope smartphones towards the bottom end will be treated to 4.4. As the Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini, S4 Active and S4 Zoom didn't gain 4.3 Jelly Bean updates, Samsung might have been holding out for KitKat. Hopefully we'll find out soon. HTCThe big question when it comes to HTC devices is likely to be 'Will the HTC One get Android 4.4 KitKat?' The good news is that HTC America's CEO, Jason Mackenzie has confirmed that the One, One Max and One Mini will all be treated to the KitKat update. Update: So when will the update be landing? Well a HTC spokesperson has told TechRadar: "Across EMEA, HTC will work with local carriers to begin the roll-out of Android 4.4 with Sense 5.5 for the HTC One from end of January. "The Google Play edition will start to receive the update earlier, starting from the end of November. Details regarding the HTC One max and the HTC One mini will follow." We'll also soon see if any of HTC's older devices, such as the HTC One X and One X+, will get KitKat too. SonySony has yet to announce which of its Xperia devices are set to get future updates, although we would be hopeful, if not a little expectant, that the Xperia Z and Xperia Z1 Android 4.4 KitKat updates are to be announced soon. Sony isn't going to keep the world waiting. We should find out in the next few days, as the official Sony Xperia News Twitter account said on November 1 to watch out for news. "re. #Android @KitKat, we're excited – next week our news on: 4.3, 4.4; products & more... #SonyXperia" Sony tweeted. We'll be keeping an eye on the Sony Blog, and will let you know as soon as we hear anything. LGGood news, the LG G2 Android 4.4 KitKat update is real. Given that LG built the past two Nexus devices, we were a little hopeful. LG has reiterated that the Nexus 4 is expected to receive its update in the next few weeks, whilst also confirming the LG G2 will get Android 4.4 KitKat, saying "the date for the G2 update is yet to be confirmed". Other LG devices, including the LG G Pad 8.3 and its Optimus range could also be set of a refresh, with Android 4.4 KitKat supporting devices with RAM as low as 512MB. MotorolaGoogle acquired Motorola not so long ago, if you count 18 months as not so long. Since then, the only major release that we have to speak of is the US-only Moto X. Being both the parent company to the hardware and software components, we would at least hope to see a Moto X Android 4.4 KitKat update. On a new devices front, we might see the Moto G, an expected budget device. Could this roll up with Android KitKat? HuaweiWhen it comes to devices, Huawei may be famed for its budget offerings. This sometimes means that software updates can be a little hard to come by. The Huawei Ascend P2 and Ascend P6 both have a lot to shout about, though, so we might well see Huawei Android 4.4 KitKat with the Emotion UI landing on both devices. As for other devices, we've mentioned once or twice that there is support for lower end devices, so we may see support for more devices. ZTEAlongside Huawei, its Chinese compatriot ZTE is another firm that is famed for lower end devices. Both the cheaper quad-core ZTE Blade V, now on the market toting 1GB RAM, as well as the 512MB RAM ZTE Blade 3, are both technically supported by KitKat. Although ZTE currently has no word on planned updates, we could see an Android 4.4 KitKat upgrade land on these devices. AcerAcer isn't necessarily a brand that many will associate with Google's mobile OS, however it does have a few devices out there running Android software. With tablets such as the Iconia A1, and Liquid branded smartphones like the Acer Liquid S1, we might well see some Android 4.4 KitKat update love being shared to the Taiwanese firm's devices. As with every other manufacturer, we have contacted Acer to find out more.   | | Android 4.3 Jelly Bean arrives on Samsung Galaxy S4 Nov 4th 2013, 11:30, by John McCann 
There's good news for Samsung Galaxy S4 owners in the UK as the Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update begins to roll out on the handset. The Android 4.3 rollout began in early October, but it is only now making its way to British shores. Our in-office Galaxy S4 has received the update, which includes a boost from version 4.2 to 4.3 of Jelly Bean plus support for Samsung's Galaxy Gear smartwatch. If the update hasn't appeared on your S4 just yet, don't panic, as these rollouts do tend to take a few days to reach every handset. That said, our Galaxy S4 didn't actually notify us of the update, but heading to Settings > More > About Device > Software Update saw the Android 4.3 upgrade waiting for us. Gearing upYou'll need to be connected to Wi-Fi to download this hefty over-the-air update (it's almost 700MB in size), but other than that it's a straightforward procedure. One of the major inclusions in the update isn't actually a Google offering though. It's support for the Samsung Galaxy Gear smartwatch. Up until this update the Galaxy Note 3 was the only smartphone capable of playing nicely with the smartwatch, but now punters have two phones to choose from - with support for further handsets on the way. There are numerous improvements, upgrades and additional features arriving with Android 4.3 including a boost to colour reproduction, better RAM management, a new internet browser and various UI updates.   | |
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