| Samsung sets sights on 4K smartphones in 2015 Nov 6th 2013, 12:51, by John McCann 
It's only a matter of time until we see 4K displays make their way into our pockets, and Samsung has revealed its intentions to bring the screen tech to smartphones in 2015. The information was disclosed during Samsung's second ever Analyst Day, where the company predicted when displays with an eye popping 3840 x 2160, 4K resolution would land. If 2015 is still too far off the Korean firm also has a treat for us in 2014, with WQHD displays on their way boasting a 2560 x 1440 resolution - or in other words, a 2K screen. Samsung is said to be working on a 5.2-inch 560ppi 2K AMOLED panel for phones, which could give stunning clarity to everything on screen, but that will jump up even more when 4K comes in. The future's hereLooking forward then and there's a good chance the Samsung Galaxy S5 could be one of the first smartphones to sport a 2K display, while in the camera department the Korean firm is working on a 16MP snapper. Could this be S5 bound too? Oh, and one last thing. You know that 64-bit A7 processor Apple has stuck in the iPhone 5S, iPad Air and iPad mini 2 ? Well Samsung is working on its own 64-bit core, with plans to ditch the ARM chips it's used previously. To get on-the-spot news, app tips and the full lowdown on Samsung's latest mobile announcements check out Samsung's Your Mobile Life on TechRadar. In short, Samsung's smartphones are set to become more powerful with increasingly eye catching displays over the next couple of years. Are you ready?        |  | Free games and movies for Xperia Z1, Z Ultra and Tablet Z owners Nov 6th 2013, 12:24, by Thomas Thorn 
It seems the folks over at Sony are getting into the Christmas spirit a little early, announcing that owners of the Xperia Z1, Xperia Z Ultra and Tablet Z can get their mitts on a range of digital goodies. In this digital party bag comes access to 10 games and 5 movies, all completely free. Sony's offer also includes a 60 day free trial to its Music Unlimited service, available to those that have yet to sign up. As with any promotion, there are obviously some stipulations, like owning one of the three aforementioned devices. Sony Xperia Z owners need not applyThis means that those with the older Sony Xperia Z handset in their pockets miss out on the digital love sharing. If, however, you are lucky enough to own an Xperia Z1, Xperia Z Ultra or Tablet Z, picking up the offer is as simple as going through the Xperia Privilege app. There are a few games titles from PlayStation Mobile, such as Hungry Giraffe, Tokyo Jungle Mobile and Ten By Eight, and some movie blockbusters including Elysium and The Amazing Spider-Man. With a lot of competition coming from the five-star iPad Air and the superb HTC One and Samsung Galaxy Note 3, this could give Sony a much needed edge in the run up to December 25.        | | Ex-HTC bods launch 'straight thinking' Kazam Android smartphones Nov 6th 2013, 11:30, by Kate Solomon 
There's a new phone manufacturer on the block and it's not afraid to swear or pour scorn on phone-related "gimmicks": meet Kazam. Not to be confused with the file sharing app Kazaa, beloved by teens of a certain late-90s era, Kazam was founded by two ex-HTC execs and launches with six phones up its sleeve. The entire Android-running line up offers dual-SIM capability so you can have two numbers running from one handset - perfect for travelers, workaholics, drug dealers and serial adulterers. ThunderationThe top end handset is the Kazam Thunder Q4.5. The 4.2-inch handset launches running Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean) with a 1.3GHz quad-core processor and with 1GB of RAM to back it up. There's 4GB of on board storage and a microSD slot for expansion, plus an 8MP autofocus rear-facing camera and a 2MP front-mounted snapper to boot. Skipping down the specs ladder, the Kazam Trooper range comes in screensizes from 3.5-inches to 5.5-inches, offering dual-core processors, Jelly Bean and 5MP cameras all round. What's more, Kazam is offering free screen replacement if you crack yours in the first year of phone ownership, which is nice, sure, but also a roundabout way of saying "Hey guys, our screens aren't all that durable, that cool?" The company says it is "time to shake up the status quo and bring some fresh thinking to the world of smartphones", that fresh thinking being a belief that "ruthless logic is revolutionary". If all that floats your smartphone loving boat, you'll be able to buy the phones in the UK before Christmas, apparently, although there's no word on pricing, release date, retailers, network deals or what company is actually manufacturing the handsets themselves as yet. It's not clear yet if the handsets will make it to the US, Australia and beyond. We suspect not.        | | HTC One Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update lands in UK Nov 6th 2013, 10:17, by Thomas Thorn 
Android 4.4 KitKat might have just launched with the Google Nexus 5, but as with seemingly all Android updates, other handsets are still waiting for the older software. We reported the other day that Android 4.4 KitKat will arrive to HTC One handsets in January, but with many of HTC's flagships still running 4.2, the update to 4.3 should help to keep users happy over the Christmas period. HTC's UK Twitter feed announced that the OTA update which also brings across the updated Sense 5.5 UI - the same UI as found on the HTC One Max. Slowly but surelyAs with all updates, these will hit network free handsets to start, with network providers still needing to run their own tests. The updated Sense 5.5 brings across an improved version of HTC's BlinkFeed, with the ability to disable it. Other features include updated HTC Zoe, and the ability to make animated GIFs. Android 4.3 also brings its own features, including multiple users, an updated keyboard and camera, and OpenGL:ES 3.0.        | | Samsung's practicing its origami skills for foldable screens in 2015 Nov 6th 2013, 09:55, by Hugh Langley 
Samsung's looking far into the future of flexible screen tech and it's planning to go beyond the Samsung Galaxy Round. Kwon Oh Hyun, Samsung Electronics SEO, revealed at Samsung's Analyst Day that the company has plans to releae fully foldable displays in 2015. Before that, Samsung will focus on "Bended" displays starting next from next year, which it has outlined in a loose timeline put up by Sammyhub. Round and round we goWhat would a foldable screen actually look like? If it's going to be exactly as it sounds, Samsung obviously has a lot of confidence in flexible screen technology, although it does note "Technology Barriers" that are yet to be overcome. 
But we could well be seeing flexible screens popping up in Samsung's phones and tablets very soon. Keown also added there's still "room for improvement" in the Galaxy Gear, which could be a hint at another area Samsung has its flexy sights set. To get on-the-spot news, app tips and the full lowdown on Samsung's latest mobile announcements check out Samsung's Your Mobile Life on TechRadar. Flexible displays look like they might be the next smartphone battleground, with the LG G Flex also recently revealed with self-healing abilities to boot.        | | Apple jabs at Google, Facebook in first-ever global transparency report Nov 6th 2013, 00:10, by Michelle Fitzsimmons 
Following months of revelations that the government has likely collected information from and about you (yes, you), Apple has issued its first formal transparency report. Google, Yahoo, Facebook and others have circulated these for some time now, but Apple, perhaps struck by a pang of duty, is out with its own data on government information requests for both accounts and devices. The data covers the period between January 1, 2013 and June 30, 2013. Apple pointedly noted that "[u]nlike many other companies dealing with requests for customer data from government agencies, Apple's main business is not about collecting information," a clear jibe at the likes of Google. Earlier part in the report, the company stated: "[O]ur business does not depend on collecting personal data. We have no interest in amassing personal information about our customers. We protect personal conversations by providing end-to-end encryption over iMessage and FaceTime. We do not store location data, Maps searches, or Siri requests in any identifiable form." Types of dataBecause of this, Apple said the "vast majority" of requests it receives are for information about lost or stolen devices. Apple logs these as device requests. "Only a small fraction of the requests" governments send Apple's way are for personal information related to an iTunes, iCloud or Game Center accounts. These requests typically involve the account holder's personal data and "their use of an online service in which they have an expectation of privacy." Apple categorizes orders for identifying information, email, stored photographs and other user content stored online as account requests. Account requests most commonly involve robberies and other crime or requests involving law enforcement searching for a missing person or child, finding a kidnap victim or hoping to prevent a suicide, Apple explained. These requests typically see Apple turning over information in someone's iTunes or iCloud account, like a name or address. "In very rare cases, we are asked to provide stored photos or email. We consider these requests very carefully and only provide account content in extremely limited circumstances," Apple assured. The company noted that in order to get user info, government agencies need a court order. The Apple legal team pours over these, and only after determining them "valid and appropriate" does it hand over "the narrowest possible set of information responsive to the request." Request revelationsWhile the account request orders for most regions are down to the number, there's one glaring exception. The United States has imposed a set of stipulations that limit the amount and type of information Apple can reveal. The company, for example, is required to combine national security orders with account-based law enforcement requests, and only a range in increments of 1,000 are allowed to enumerate the orders. For account requests, the US leads the pack in all categories, though again, no specifics are allowed. All we know is that total requests numbered between 1,000 - 2,000, and in an unspecified number of cases, some data was disclosed. Australia sent 74 requests, and data was disclosed for 41 of those. Thirty-four requests ended with no data disclosed. The UK issued 127 requests, and in one instance some unspecified content was disclosed. Apple didn't give out any information for 80 of those requests. Apple also recorded the number of times it objected to a request and when the end result was no information handed over. The company noted that in some cases where data wasn't disclosed, it may have objected to the request or found no relevant information after a search. As Apple stated, device information requests far exceed account requests in most regions. Apple received 1,178 device requests from Australia, and for 59% of those Apple provided some data. The UK issued 1,028 requests and received some info for 67% of them. The US filed 3,542 requests with Apple to receive some information on 88% of them. Singapore and Germany joined the three countries listed above in having over 1,000 device requests. Interestingly, the numbers tend to differ widely between device requests and number of devices specified in the request. The US, for example, wanted info on 8,605 devices within its 3,542 requests. Apple explained this is partially due to situations where, for example, law enforcement wants information for a shipment with hundreds of serial numbers. There are also differences in account requests and the number of accounts in a request, but the figures are closer together. Fighting Uncle SamThe report is littered with language about Apple's opposition to the US' "gag order" on providing more specific account request information. The US government imposes the restrictions on just about every company, not just Apple. Aside from presenting its case to the White House, US Attorney General, congressional leaders and courts, Apple said it's filed an Amicus brief with the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court "in support of a group of cases requesting greater transparency." The brief, sussed out by Foss Patents, shows support "of motions for declaratory judgement" filed by Google, Microsoft, Yahoo, Facebook and LinkedIn as the companies seek permission to make public the aggregate number of national security requests they receive as well as the number of accounts affected by the requests. Apple also plans to file another brief later this year in the country's Ninth Circuit in support of a case dealing with National Security Letters. Apple wrote it believes dialogue and advocacy on these matters is more productive than filing lawsuits against the US government. Finally, Apple said it's never received an order under Section 215 of the Patriot Act, a section made infamous in NSA revelations that it allowed the security agency to sweep up US phone records, among other controversial actions. "We would expect to challenge such an order if served on us," Apple wrote.        | | As it tries to keep from bleeding out, HTC will turn attention to budget phones Nov 5th 2013, 20:05, by klee 
You better start savoring the HTC One family now because it might be the last set of premium handsets HTC makes for awhile. The Taiwanese smartphone maker revealed today that it plans to lean more heavily on cheaper devices in the coming months as it tries to cut costs and bounce back onto more stable, profitable feet. HTC Financial Chief Chialin Chang said the company would look "at boarder products this quarter," with the goal of producing higher volumea into 2014 for "better profitability," in reference to making affordable smartphones. The move is in response to a dismal quarterly outlook - HTC told investors that it expects the current quarter saw profit fall up to 15% from the quarter before. A new dealIt's a major reversal in strategy since the company decided last summer it was going after the premium market occupied by mainly by iPhones and Galaxies. It followed that pronouncement with the unveiling of the HTC One this February. HTC had stated it wanted to own 20% of the high-end smartphone market in China, however recent research from IDC revealed 60% of all smartphones shipped to China cost $150 (about £93/AU$157) or less. Clearly, HTC is rethinking how it wants to approach the growing Chinese mobile market and whether costs accrued in other regions are really worth it. With rumors of the HTC One Two surfacing this week, we could see HTC reenter the high-end market with the HTC One follow-up. Only time will tell.        | | T-Mobile adds 1 million new un-carrier customers, while iPad Air lifts tablet sales Nov 5th 2013, 19:55, by Lily Prasuethsut 
Seems like T-Mobile's Un-carrier strategy is paying off since more and more people are joining the network. T-Mobile's recent earnings reports the company has gained 1 million new customers last quarter, thanks in part to the recent addition of Metro PCS. Because of Metro's success, CEO John Legere says starting November 21 you can expect to see more of it in other markets: "Part of our customer momentum comes from the MetroPCS acquisition. With MetroPCS we are making great progress, including the planned additional expansion of the MetroPCS brand into another 15 additional markets ..." The Un-carrier's bigger user base also means improvements to its LTE network; the company plans on increasing LTE coverage to more cities, and broadening the spectrum in cities that already have the service - so if you're on T-Mobile or Metro PCS, be on the lookout for better speeds and more coverage. Apple lends a handThe arrival of the iPad Air has been a blessing for many carriers, though T-Mobile is touting its love for the tab the loudest. T-Mo claims the Air's presence on its network has helped tablet sales grow exponentially, to a point where the figures have surpassed the company's previous quarterly tab sales. The Un-carrier did not provide actual numbers to back up its claim but AT&T is also stating triple digit numbers thanks to Apple's latest - Apple has yet to release its owns earnings. In addition to the deafening clamor for the perfect iPad Air, the un-carrier's move to provide free data for life - or 200MB if you buy or finance a tablet - will only continue to garner more attention for the company, especially since it has recently reaffirmed the offer.   | | Google Now for iOS just got a whole lot better, brought in line with Android Nov 5th 2013, 19:29, by Michael Rougeau 
Google has released an update for the Google Search iOS app that adds a bushel of features, ones that should look familiar to users of Android's Google Now suite. The iOS Google Search app has long been more than a simple app for discovering things on the web, but today its Google Now features were brought even closer to the full-blown Android experience. In version 3.1.0, the biggest improvement comes in the ability to initiate a Google search by saying the words, "OK Google" (on iPhone 4S and later), a much-hyped, hands-free feature on Android. OK Google, tell me moreThat's not all, of course; the updated app now features reminders and push notifications along with new types of Google Now cards. The new cards include helpful slides with information concerning everything from event tickets and boarding passes to car rental reservations and train schedules. The Google Search app with Google Now app can notify users automatically when it's time to leave for an appointment, if a flight is running late, or when the last train home is leaving. YouTube : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8Ey0AufD9gYou can also verbally ask the app to give you reminders; because it was designed to intuitively to understand your commands, it should notify you at the right time and/or place. Examples given are "Remind me to buy coffee beans at Starbucks" and "Remind me to check out the fair this weekend." The iOS Google Search app can now understand these requests and will display reminders when it detects you're at a coffee shop or when the weekend arrives. You can also press a "remind me" button from Google search to be notified when new episodes of a show air, when your favorite musicians put out new albums, when actors you like star in new films, when certain politicians make headlines and much more. And it still does searchOn top of all that, it seems searching with the iOS Google Search app has been improved as well. Shocker, we know. Google Search now features "a redesigned and simplified homepage," new gestures to interact with images, improved voiceover accessibility and one-touch sign-in if you use other Google apps on your device. Overall, the new iOS app sounds like a big improvement, but only time and testing will tell whether all of these impressive-sounding features function in practice for users.        | | Free for life: T-Mobile reaffirms its 200MB monthly data offer for tablets Nov 5th 2013, 19:22, by Matt Swider 
T-Mobile shook things up when it offered 200MB of monthly data for free for the iPad Air and iPad mini 2 with Retina display, and did it again when it extended the deal to all tablets - new and old. There was just one tiny problem with that: a glitch in the company's system indicated that customers would be charged a less-than-reasonable $10 a month. That "executional error" has been fixed and the US carrier insisted this week that it isn't pulling the old switcheroo, reaffirming on its website that T-Mo tablets get a modicum of free data for the life of the device. "You can buy a tablet from us, or bring your own device. Either way, you will get 200MB free data for the time you own the device and use it on our network." T-Mobile promised to credit any customer who was erroneously charged a fee and reiterated that the small amount of monthly data is free going forward. Charge onTablet financing makes this "free for life" deal a little more complicated because you're paying for the device over the course of several months with an Equipment Installation Plan, or EIP. "As with our smartphones, there are conditions that apply to EIP financing," explained T-Mobile. "Well-qualified new customers can finance their tablet if they establish a paying service agreement with us on the tablet, with plans starting at $20 per month." The plan works a little bit differently for current subscribers. "Existing T-Mobile voice customers who are on a postpaid plan can also get $0 down financing for their tablet, even if don't take a paid plan on the tablet." The carrier stated that all of this is optional, as you can always buy the tablet outright from T-Mobile, the device maker or a third party and automatically receive 200MB of free monthly data. That pesky $10 SIM card kit feeThere is a $10 fee that T-Mobile isn't erroneously charging customers. It's the $10 SIM card kit fee that's a one-time occurrence. The carrier reminded customers that it's not specific to tablets and that rivals AT&T, Verizon and Sprint have pricier (as much as $36) activation fees. "It is a one-time purchase of a SIM card kit instead of a much higher activation fee (that our competitors charge) to get your device readied to work on the T-Mobile network." The "legacy elements" in T-Mobile's system and training activities are said to be the source of the erroneous $10/month confusion. That's a small price to pay, the company pointed out, when you "can send approximately 800 Instagram photos, more than 2,500 emails or stream 200 minutes of music - all for free."   | | Verizon launches its own affordable Android tablet, Ellipsis 7 Nov 5th 2013, 18:40, by JR Bookwalter 
Apparently not content to only offer tablets from the likes of Apple and Samsung, Verizon Wireless is serving up its own slice of seven-inch 4G LTE fun this week, courtesy of an affordable, unbranded slate. Verizon Wireless announced today the launch of the Ellipsis 7, a budget-priced seven-inch Android tablet that takes full advantage of the carrier's 4G LTE network, exactly as rumored only last week. Arriving in stores exclusively from Verizon on November 7, the Ellipsis 7 features a 1280 x 800 IPS HD screen in a compact frame for only $249.99 (about UK£156, AU$262) - an attractive option considering Google's newest Nexus 7 still can't be activated on the carrier's network. For a limited time, Verizon customers signing up for a new two-year data contract can grab the Ellipsis 7 for $100 (about UK£62, AU$105) off, a deal that also applies to any other tablet offered by Big Red. Google Play readyThe first product in what Verizon Wireless calls a "family" of Ellipsis products yet to come, the seven-inch tablet comes out of the box with a full range of Google services, including the Google Play Store. Powered by a quad-core 1.2GHz processor with 8GB of expandable storage, Ellipsis 7 also features a 3.2MP rear camera plus front-facing camera for video chats, a feature perfectly suited for families keeping in touch during the busy holiday season ahead. Ellipsis 7 also comes with Verizon Messages, the company's own app for sending and receiving text messages, which now includes the ability to send customized photo collages thanks to a major update released last Friday. Last but not least, Ellipsis 7 is running a relatively stock version of Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, making it one of the cheaper ways to experience 4G LTE without buying one of Google's own. - Find out why Apple's new iPad Air received an Editor's Choice review!
       | | Blip: 'We want KitKat!' say thousands of petition-signing Galaxy Nexus owners Nov 5th 2013, 18:19, by Michelle Fitzsimmons 
Galaxy Nexus owners miffed their devices won't receive the latest Android 4.4 KitKat update can now take action! Sorry, we got a little caught up in the spirit of the 15,823 (at last check) people who've signed a Change.org petition asking Google to send the new OS down to their handsets. "We, the Galaxy Nexus owners and anticipators ask you, Google, to update the Galaxy Nexus for one last time and give us KitKat! Don't be an apple ;)," the petition cheekily read in part. Google revealed after its October 31 KitKat announcement that the Samsung phone falls outside the 18-month release window of devices it will update, clearly causing waves of disgruntledness to flow amongst those with older phones. Organizer Max Duckwitz wrote November 4 that he'd printed the signatures and comments, plus a letter and the petition text, and sent them to Android head Sundar Pichai. The ball is in your court, Mr. Pichai. More blips!The spirit of the people compels you to read more blips.        | | Updated: Nokia Lumia 525 leaked as budget blower follow up Nov 5th 2013, 15:49, by James Rogerson 
Update: Evleaks is up to his usual tricks, having just tweeted a new picture of what he claims is the 525 in orange, yellow and white. He also added "2013" in the message, suggesting we might be seeing it very soon. Original story below... 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 heaven
The 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.   | | UPDATED: Best Sprint Phone: 10 we recommend Nov 5th 2013, 02:55, by William O'Neal 
While other carriers quibble about data plans - unlimited, limited, throttled, not-throttled - Sprint offers some of the most easy to understand plans available. And while we haven't been quiet about our disappointment with the company's pace in rolling out its 4G LTE networks, the fact remains that for the most part, Sprint's networks are plenty fast. With that in mind, if you're a current Sprint subscriber or you're fed up with your current plan and want to make the jump, then you'll want to check out the best sprint phones available now. 1. iPhone 5S
While it's not the worst phone you can get, it's not exactly the best phone either. However, the iPhone 5Sis still a really good phone and Sprint would be a fool to not include the hate-it or love-it Apple iPhone in its offering. The fact is the 5S is an improvement on the iPhone 5 in terms of speed, camera features, inclusion of a fingerprint reader and just all around quality. If you're in the market to upgrade your old iPhone, the 4G LTE iPhone 5S on Sprint is a must, especially at the starting price of $99.99 on a two-year contract. 2. Moto X
The Moto X is definitely a phone made for the people, by the people thanks to Motorola's Moto Maker customization program. While originally only on AT&T, it seems like the Maker is on its way to Sprintsooner rather than later. The camera isn't super and the 5-incher is only a 720p screen, but the battery can definitely last you throughout the day. By opting for features rather than hardcore specs, hands-free Google Now voice commands, a clever notification system and camera access with the flick of wrist are a few worth mentioning that really highlight the phone's abilities. It's not the perfect device but it's well worth checking out on Sprint since it really does feel like the "everyman's" phone - plus, Sprint just knocked the price down. 3. Nexus 5
Though not quite out just yet, the Nexus 5 is sure to be a hit on Sprint, especially since it has alreadysold out in the Google Play Store. In addition to its ridiculously low price, many are drooling over the new Android 4.4 KitKat device for its well rounded specs; the colors are vivid on its 4.95-inch IPS LCD screen thanks to the Snapdragon 800 chip and the integration of Google Now is a welcome feature. The camera, an 8MP option on the Nexus 5, is a move forward again compared to the Nexus 4, with sharper images, faster processing and a wider gamut of options to help improve your pics. We only had a few minutes to test, but the lower light images seemed impressive enough, and the video was shake free compared to that on the Nexus 4. 4. HTC One
As we've said time and time again, this is the best HTC phone evert. But we'll go one better than that: It's the best phone on the market full stop. The Samsung Galaxy S4 isn't too far behind at all as it's a lot cheaper than the HTC One, but for sheer level of functionality, innovation and just overall effect it has in the hand, we can't help but recommend the HTC One to anyone looking to buy a new smartphone. It's got a full HD screen crammed into 4.7-inches, which brings a 468ppi - well above what's needed for the eye to discern, but it does definitely bring sumptuous sharpness throughout the use of the phone. On top of that there's a CPU and RAM combo that is barely bettered, a more-than-enough 32GB of storage and top-end Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and 3G / 4G LTE connections, all topped off by a completely re-imagined version of HTC Sense. What's not to like? 5. Samsung Galaxy S4
Make no mistake - the Samsung Galaxy S4 is far, far more than a Galaxy S3 'S' - Samsung may be copying Apple according to some people, but it's not as brazen as the Cupertino brand in flogging the exact same design with a slightly updated processor and calling it a new phone. The Galaxy S4 is a great, great device in its own right, re-inventing what it means to own a brilliant smartphone in a number of ways. The gestures are cool, the touch-less experience amazing at times - in short, it's a wonderful phone you want to pull out of your pocket again and again and again. 6. LG Optimus G
With its beefy stats, beautiful display and 4G capabilities, the Optimus G is easily the most capable phone LG has ever produced. Still, as a $200 for two-year contract device on Sprint, it falls in with serious competition from the iPhone 5, Samsung Galaxy S3 and the HTC Evo 4G LTE. Then there's the matter of Sprint's small 4G coverage area in the U.S., and the approach of the Google Nexus 4 by LG, which is rumored to have specs very similar to the Optimus G. Is now the right time to go 4G on Sprint with the LG Optimus G? For the most part, we'd say yes. Thanks to powerful hardware and (some) 4G service, the Optimus G is most capable smartphone LG has ever produced. Media, games, web browsing and even Google Maps all benefit from that large and ever-so sharp display. 7. HTC Evo 4G LTE
We were already huge fans of the HTC One X, but the Evo delivers on many of the fronts that the One X simply fell flat. The expandable memory makes it a boon for delivering quality media content with limited restrictions. And then there's the matter of the battery, which has been chiefly resolved by just (somehow) managing to fit a larger battery inside. Simply put, the HTC Evo 4G LTE is the best phone on Sprint. If it takes Sprint a year to roll out LTE in your city, then you'll have LTE on your phone as soon as anyone else on Sprint's network does - and while those yet unfulfilled promises might make it a risky purchase, it's simply too good of a phone to really care. From snapping photos to Dropbox integration, to a very sleek and very sexy chassis, this is a phone you have every right to brag about, and should be proud of - promises yet fulfilled or no. 8. LG G2
The LG G2 is a beast of a phone packed with monstrously good specs that is LG's answer to the Samsung Galaxy S4 and HTC One. You'll first notice a 5.2-inch 1920 x 1080 display, which gives us a 424 PPI density. The chipset inside is a Qualcomm MSM8974 Snapdragon 800, with a 2.26GHz quad-core Krait 400. In terms of processing power, it seems that the G2 is in no short supply. It comes in 16GB and 32GB variants, with 2GB RAM. Connectivity includes Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, Infrared port and 4G LTE. 9. Samsung Galaxy Note 3
The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 is looking to continue in the same vein as the original Galaxy Note and Galaxy Note 2, offering you a phone which could almost be mistaken for a tablet and wants you to believe it's both. The Galaxy Note 3 has a heftier price tag than other phones on the carrier but if phablets are your thing, Sprint's got you covered. The display has grown again since the 5.5-inch offering on the Note 2 to a palm busting 5.7 inches complete with a full HD, 1080 x 1920 Super AMOLED display. You also get 3GB of RAM and the option of 32GB or 64GB of internal storage in the Samsung Galaxy Note 3, while the latest version of Google's operating system - Android 4.3 Jelly Bean - runs merrily on top of all this. 10. iPhone 5C
The iPhone is a decidedly divisive mobile device with people either clamoring for it or brazenly bashing it, especially when it comes to the iPhone 5C. Touted as the "affordable iPhone" or less nicely, the "cheap iPhone," it really isn't all that different from the iPhone 5 considering it has the same 1136 x 640 Retina display, A6 processor, 8MP rear camera, 1.9 MP front camera, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0. However, if you really, really want a newer Apple device and the iPhone 5S's price point is out of range, you can't go wrong picking up a 5C.   | | Leaked specs paint Lumia 929 as a high-end, high-power handset Nov 4th 2013, 23:10, by Michelle Fitzsimmons 
Carriers seem to be slowly taking to Windows Phone 8 handsets, and today we have word of a high-end Lumia destined for Verizon in the near future. We've heard of the Lumia 929 before, but now nearly full specs plus some snaps of the device have appeared courtesy of Windows Phone Central. Described as a bigger, more powerful version of the carrier's current Lumia 928, the 929 does appear to be an all-around meatier machine. It's said to run a 2.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800, feature a 1080 x 1920 5-inch AMOLED display and house 2GB of RAM. While there's no microSD card, it rears 32GB of internal storage, all the while packing a 20MP PureView camera. Like the Lumia 1020 before it, the Lumia 929 oversamples, taking both 5MP and 16MP pictures. It will also reportedly have NFC, wireless charging, at least three HAAC microphones, a number of Verizon apps and be available in white or black. Let the Lumia inThe Lumia 929 release date is said to fall any time between Thanksgiving and the start of the new year, and when it launches customers should be treated to the latest Windows Phone Update 3 (GDR3). Previous pricing details have placed the off-contract price at about $500, but you can be sure Verizon will offer something more in the $200 range with a two-year service agreement. All in all, this new Lumia looks to be snappier, sleeker and more powerful than the Lumia 928. It could be the phone that convinces uncertain Verizon customers to take the Windows Phone plunge.   | | AT&T zeroes in on Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom November 8 Nov 4th 2013, 18:37, by JR Bookwalter 
Android handset buyers looking for DSLR niceties will want to head to their nearest AT&T store this Friday and grab the latest photo-centric flavor of Samsung's flagship smartphone. AT&T announced US launch plans today for the Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom, an upgraded version of the Galaxy S4 aimed at shutterbugs who can want more professional camera features. Available to AT&T Next customers for $25 per month or $199.99 with a two-year agreement, the Galaxy S4 Zoom features a 10x optical zoom as well as a manual control ring with DSLR-style spin to focus functionality. The carrier claimed the handset's camera is a first of its kind, offering a dedicated shutter button and Optical Image Stabilizer on top of a 16MP lens. The snapper can shoot 30fps video in 1080p HD or 60fps video in 720p HD. Trade-in and saveProspective S4 Zoom buyers can take advantage of an offer AT&T announced last week, which pays a minimum $100 AT&T promotion card with the trade-in of an eligible smartphone. Running through January 9, 2014, the offer also applies to customers purchasing a smartphone using an AT&T Next installment plan, and the promotion card can be applied toward a wireless service bill, accessories or even a data-equipped tablet. To get on-the-spot news, app tips and the full lowdown on Samsung's latest mobile announcements check out Samsung's Your Mobile Life on TechRadar. For new customers without a trade-in, the purchase of an AT&T Galaxy S4 Zoom can instead be used to grab a free 7-inch Samsung Galaxy Tab 3, although a two-year data plan through the carrier is required. Existing AT&T customers can also take advantage of this deal by adding the tablet to an existing Mobile Share data plan for $10 per month with the purchase of a Samsung Galaxy S4, Galaxy S4 Active, Galaxy Note 3 or Galaxy Note 2. - Check out our hands-on review of Google's new Nexus 5!
  | | Motorola marks November 13 for Moto G unveiling Nov 4th 2013, 17:48, by Michelle Fitzsimmons 
Mark your calendar for November 13, especially if you've tossed about at night wondering what Motorola's mysterious Moto G device is all about. The Google-owned hardware maker has put up a teaser landing page with the name "moto g," a spinning globe emblazoned with an "M" and the date shown as different regions would write it (13 de novembro, 13 November, etc.). There's also a link to sign up for a live online announcement, which you can do by entering your email address. The G-themed marketing spree doesn't stop there. On Motorola's main page, "Moto G" is now listed next to the Moto X. A click on the name will take you to the landing page. Last week, a similar listing appeared for a brief time before disappearing. To top it off, Motorola has sent out "save the date" notices to the press and tweeted the image and message to its 290,000-plus followers. The tweet says "hello" in several different languages. What could it all mean?The running theory is that the Moto G is a budget take on the Moto X. From today's clues, we can gather that this is likely a global device to compliment the US-only Moto X. In all likelihood the Moto G won't go on sale in the States, at least at launch. A promo card picked up by GSM Arena seemingly details the Moto G's specs, including Android 4.3 (no KitKat break for this phone), a 4.5-inch, 1280 x 720 edge-to-edge display and a 1.2GHz quad-core processor from Qualcomm. A 5MP camera on the back is paired with a 1.3MP on the frontside, and it's said to have 8GB of storage. The off-contract price floated by the site's tipster is £134.95 off contract. A straight conversion puts the Moto G price at about $215. Tune back to TechRadar on November 13 for all the latest on the Moto G.   | |
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