| Sony Xperia Z1S Mini pops up in States as release beckons Dec 13th 2013, 12:02, by John McCann 
The mini Sony Xperia Z1S has been involved in yet another leak, this time in the US, adding fuel to the fire that it will be arriving soon. Apparent the smaller version of the Sony Xperia Z1 has recently passed through the FCC in America, although this time it's got a new code name, Amami. According to the leaked FCC filing the Xpiera Z1S Mini is expected to roll out with Android 4.3 Jelly Bean, rather than the newest Android 4.4 KitKat operating system. Tiny power houseOther rumours point towards the Xperia Z1S being different to the likes of the Galaxy S4 Mini and One Mini, as it's hotly tipped to inherit the same processing power from its bigger brother. That would mean the Xperia Z1S would pack a punchy 2.2GHz quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM and an Adreno 330 GPU, plus it should also carry the same 20.7MP camera. Of course the main difference between the two handsets is the screen size, with the Xperia Z1S tipped to pack a 4.3-inch display, rather than the 5-inch offering on the flagship phone. Sony could well take the covers off the Xperia Z1S Mini at CES 2014, and TechRadar will be reporting live from the event to bring you all the latest news.        |  | Nexus 5 gains sturdier build as LG tweaks production Dec 13th 2013, 11:06, by John McCann 
Early adopters of the Nexus 5 look away now, LG and Google have tweaked the production process of the handset making it a slightly sturdier offering. Some users had complained about the rattling sound made by the power/lock and volume keys on the new Nexus 5, and according to a post on the XDA Developers forum LG has returned to the drawing board to solidify those buttons. It's not just the buttons which have been given some attention. There's also been a subtle change to the speaker grille on the base of the Nexus 5, with the machine drilled holes now ever so slightly larger than on earlier models. All change pleaseThere's no obvious advantage to be gained here for end users, perhaps the larger holes will allow for a slightly higher volume, but we don't expect much of a difference between old and new phones. This isn't the first time LG and Google have altered the manufacturing process of a handset, with the Nexus 4 gaining two dimples on its rear a few months after launch, designed to lift the handset off a surface allowing for better volume from the rear speaker. Of course this will all come as little comfort to those who did pick up a Nexus 5 early on, as there's no sign of a trade in program from Google or LG.        | | Illuminating deal for ARM as it snaps up games lighting specialist Dec 13th 2013, 08:56, by Patrick Goss 
Chip design giant ARM has snapped up gaming light specialists Geomerics, the company that has helped illuminate big titles like Battlefield 4 and EVE Online. ARM's focus on graphics is clearly growing, and the acquisition (for an as-yet undisclosed fee) represents another step forward for the company. Geomerics makes Enlighten - which is a popular dynamic lighting solution used in some of the biggest blockbuster games. Mobile gamingThe company's move under ARM's umbrella will see it continue its developments for console and, crucially, mobile platforms as well as look ahead to the next waves of devices. The upshot is that we're likely to be seeing a hell of a lot more gorgeous dynamic lighting in our next-next-gen mobile phones and tablets, as gaming on the go hits critical mass. If somebody could solve the whole physical buttons versus touchscreen problem ahead of that point that would be great.        | | US battle over lifting ban on in-flight phone calls poised to take off Dec 12th 2013, 23:47, by Michelle Fitzsimmons 
The US movement to lift the ban on in-flight phone calls just hit some turbulence. Hours before the US Federal Communications Commission held a 3-2 vote in favor of considering allowing calls, the nation's Department of Transportation announced it will look at banning them all together. A myriad of stakeholders - fliers, flight attendants, lawmakers and more - have reached out to the DOT, and the consensus is they are "troubled" by the idea of in-flight cell phone chit chats. "[A]nd I am concerned about this possibility as well," said Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx to the Wall Street Journal. The FCC can only determine if the ban on in-flight calls is technically sound, while it's up to the DOT to determine whether mid-air calls are fair to consumers, Foxx said. If the DOT bans calls while the FCC passes its proposal, connected activity like text messaging and browsing would be feasible, but not calls. If the DOT decides not to move forward with a ban, it would still be up to individual airlines whether to allow them. Well if you don't want it...The issue has become a decisive and emotionally charged one as consumers, regulators and airlines debate the merits of allowing calls on technical grounds versus common courtesy. In prepared remarks before a US congressional oversight committee today, FCC Chair Tom Wheeler said, "I do not want the person in the seat next to me yapping at 35,000 feet any more than anyone else. But we are not the Federal Courtesy Commission." He said the ban is out of date - it's from the 1990s - and must be lifted if the aim is do away with "regulations that serve no purpose." The US Federal Aviation Administration recently announced that airlines can allow the use of personal electronics during all stages of a flight, though it expressly forbade in-flight calls. As for the FCC's proposal, it is only at the public comment stage, with no impending action. The Hill reported Wheeler said he was pleased with the DOT's potential action, but we have a feeling this trip could get bumpy before all is said and done.        | | SwiftKey 4.5 beta adds 500 emoji, numbers row for Android devices Dec 12th 2013, 22:58, by Matt Swider 
Even though SwiftKey remains the top paid app in the Google Play Store, a new beta proves its creators haven't put a predictive period at the end of its Android keyboard's development. The SwiftKey 4.5 beta adds more than 500 emoji faces to the letters, numbers and symbols that users are accustomed to seeing from the keyboard app. Emoji representing everything from smileys and sports images to traffic signs and musical references are all part of the release. The emoji icons can be accessed through a popup panel. Tabs split the fun little pictures into five categories: people, objects, nature, places and symbols. Predictive emojiAs you might expect from the minds of SwiftKey, the emoji in today's beta are just as much a part of the predictive candidate bar as any matching word. "If a user starts typing 'pizza' they might see a tasty slice being served up on the candidate bar," illustrated SwiftKey. Even more timely for the holiday season, entering in the letters for the word "Santa" suggests a Christmas emoji. SwiftKey is even poised to learn which emoji icons you usually type after words and names. "If someone regularly uses a particular emoji next to a specific word, such as their girlfriend's name and a heart symbol, it will learn to suggest it in future," noted SwiftKey's press release. A (optional) numbers gameMore productive than exciting, the SwiftKey 4.5 beta on Android introduces an optional dedicated number row, which the company said was added by popular request. It appears at the top of the keyboard instead of forcing users to hold down the top row keys or toggle between numbers and letters. SwiftKey 4.5 can be downloaded in beta form through this APK right now.        | | Alliance for Wireless Power recharges with Rezence, CES 2014 products await Dec 12th 2013, 20:58, by Matt Swider 
There's an ironic power struggle when it comes to charging your favorite devices wirelessly, and one of the three standards vying for the without-wires job just rebranded itself as Rezence. The Alliance for Wireless Power, or A4WP, thinks Rezence is a more consumer-friendly brand name and that its new lightning bolt logo will strike a chord. "The name Rezence was derived from the words resonance and essence," said Geoff Gordon, A4WP marketing committee chair, in a press release. "The Rezence logo includes a simple, iconic mark in the form of a Z that can also be used as a standalone mark on a variety of applications." You'll be seeing the new name and logo on boxes of smartphones and tablets that can be charged wirelessly - eventually. Rezence-enabled products are due to launch in early 2014, and according to AllThingsD, A4WP plans to show prerelease phones and chargers with its tech at CES. Rezence vs Power Matters Alliance vs QiRezence is waiting for early next year to make its presence, but you can wirelessly charge electronics through the already-launched Power Matters Alliance and Qi standards. Plenty of major companies are playing all sides of the charging field including Samsung, LG, Sony and Qualcomm. But it may be the exclusives that matter most. The Power Matters Alliance is being proliferated by companies like AT&T, Otterbox, Sharp and Duracell. Qi (pronounced "chee") inductive charging is being backed by the Wireless Power Consortium and has Nokia, Motorola, Panasonic and Verizon on its side. Rezence has Intel in its corner and the advantage that it can charge multiple devices at once. This is a new feature that the Power Matters Alliance and Qi are working on. Problems and solutions for consumersThe problem with this external power struggle is that it's confusing for consumers if they buy a new device that promises to wirelessly charge, but is meant for "the other charging mat." Google, for example, recently launched a Qi charger for its Nexus 5, Nexus 4 and new Nexus 7. However, you're out of luck if you already bought into a Power Matters Alliance mat. It's Blu-ray vs HD DVD and VHS vs Betamax all over again. Hopefully, it won't be too long before there's a Blu-ray or VHS to declare a winner. For being wireless, it's awfully messy. It's best for consumers to avoid getting tangled until a winner rises.        | | Thousands of Sky users without phone and broadband as cable thieves strike Dec 12th 2013, 19:27, by Chris Smith 
Thousands of Londoners face three days without internet and home phone service, after thieves sliced through and stole BT Openreach fibre optic cables earlier this week. BT is blaming a 'malicious attack' for the outage, suggesting the robbers were seeking valuable copper materials from the exchange in Bedford, but came away only with relatively worthless fibre optic material. Regardless of the intent, an estimated 37,000 Sky customers are without service, while TalkTalk and some of BT's own customers have also been hit by the outage. Engineers have been working on a fix since the incident took place on Tuesday night, BT believes work will continue until at least Friday evening. Knock-on effectThe theft at the Bedford exchange, which was accessed via a manhole cover, seems to have had a knock-on effect around the Capital. Exchanges in Stamford Hill, Dartford, Ewell, Mitcham, Wimbledon, Hampstead, Battersea, Chiswick and Beulah Hill also affected, according to Sky, as BT scrambles to splice the cables back together. A Sky spokesperson added: "Following a malicious attack on Openreach's network, there's currently a broadband and phone outage in parts of London. Sky and other companies are affected. Openreach engineers are working to repair the network as a matter of urgency. We apologise to all affected customers."   | | Mysterious 5.5-inch LG Gx spotted in print, packs serious specs Dec 12th 2013, 18:50, by JR Bookwalter 
Large and in charge, a new big-screen LG smartphone appears to be on the way to make those 4.7-inch displays look puny by comparison. Pocket Droid has the spot on possible LG plans for a another big-screen smartphone by way of some mysterious printed materials. Referred to as the LG Gx, the leaked handset will reportedly come equipped with a 5.5-inch full HD IPS display, making it slightly larger than the 5.2-inch LG G2 and dwarfing the already expansive 4.7-inch display on the LG Optimus G. That King Kong-sized screen lines up nicely against the LG Optimus Pro, the Korean manufacturer's earlier go at a 5.5-inch display. Gee, ex-tra large?While full details are still elusive, the leaked LG Gx specs run circles around the Optimus line, with a Snapdragon 600 processor backed up by 2GB RAM and an extra-large 3,140mAh battery. Measuring 9.4mm thick, the LG Gx is also expected to come packing 32GB of onboard storage, LTE-Advanced data capabilities and a 13MP rear camera, in keeping with the "bigger is better" theme. That just leaves the question of when this unruly beast might come stomping into carriers around the globe, along with the rumor of a LG G2 Mini currently making the rounds. All signs point to a launch at the CES 2014 kicking off in Las Vegas next month, but eager buyers will likely have to wait even longer than that to actually buy one.        | | HTC One family wins legal stay, back on sale in UK in time for Xmas Dec 12th 2013, 18:41, by Chris Smith 
Just in time to meet the Christmas rush, the HTC One family of smartphones can safely return to sale in the UK after the company won a legal stay on a court-imposed injunction. Last week the HTC One, HTC One Mini and HTC One Max, faced expulsion from Britain after the High Court court ruled favour of Nokia's assertions that the devices impinged upon its patents. HTC immediately vowed to fight the ruling and this afternoon the Court of Appeals gave the Taiwanese company the all clear to push the popular handsets back onto UK shelves. A company spokesperson said: "HTC is delighted that the Court of Appeals has granted a stay on the injunction against our products. We will immediately resume shipment of all of our devices into the UK, including the entire HTC One family." Continuing the fightbackThe company also stated it would continue to fight the "validity" of the court's decision, but would also seek different solutions with its chip-makers to avoid a repeat of this month's situation. "Similarly, our customers should feel confident in their ability to promote and sell all HTC devices," the company said. "Even though we plan to aggressively appeal the validity decision of Nokia's EP 0 998 024 patent, we will continue to work with our chip suppliers on alternative solutions to ensure minimal disruption to our business in the future." The patent EP 0 998 024, which HTC had infringed, according to the court, relates to the way the smartphones are able to transmit data.   | | Winter storm puts Motorola G shipments on ice Dec 12th 2013, 16:41, by J McGregor 
US customers waiting to receive their Motorola G will have to wait a little longer as winter storm Dion has delayed shipments. The storm has stopped Motorola's Fort Worth depot in Texas from operating, which has subsequently put back the delivery date on some orders. In a letter to a customer, Motorola openly blames the storm on the delay and promises to ship the phone by the 14th December, via overnight courier. It's not clear exactly how many customers have been affected, but it appears to be an issue that only affects the US. Comeback kidThis obviously won't be welcome news for Motorola as it attempts to reassert itself in the smartphone market after losing so much ground to big boys Apple, Samsung and Google. The low-priced smartphone was released this month and touts some pretty impressive specifications, including a 4.5-inch edge-to-edge 720p display (329pp), a 1.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 400 processor, 1GB of RAM and up to 16GB in storage.        | | M-commerce causing sales figures to explode Dec 12th 2013, 16:19, by Alex Hamilton 
Christmas is known as much for hectic shopping centres as it is for mistletoe and goodwill. Having to rush around avoiding excited children, disgruntled parents and crowded shops is a familiar feeling to many. That could be partly behind the reason why so many are turning to using their 'digital wallets' by shopping online through their mobile phones. 2013 has been named 'the year of the mobile Christmas' and not without good reason. Sales in all fields would obviously be expected to rise around Christmas time but a trend is definitely emerging when it comes to sales from customers' smartphones. IMRG, the leading UK body for e-retailing, has predicted that compared with 2012, 64% more of smartphone owners will use their device to shop online during Christmas 2013. Rapid growthVisits to mobile retail sites grew by 135% between 2012 and 2013, while John Lewis reports that 50% of its site traffic comes from mobile devices. The rise in mobile shopping has also lead to the rise of apps by major retailers, designed to take advantage of this increase in popularity and make the experience easier for consumers. So rapid is the growth of mobile shopping that retail analysts have predicted consumer spending done via smartphone will rise to an estimated £23bn (around $37bn, or AU$41bn) by 2018. A combination of mobile optimisation, user friendly content and social media has made shopping on a device easier for consumers. This has drawn them from the chaotic shopping centres to the comfort of relaxing at home, purchasing gifts with their phone. Tamlin Roberts, Mercurytide's Director, said: "Mobile shopping's trajectory shows nothing but promise. The benefit of targeting these users has also resonated with business owners, mobile sites, apps and responsive websites have provided an ideal opportunity to build relationships with customers."        | | 0800 numbers to be free to call from mobiles Dec 12th 2013, 15:34, by Jay McGregor 
0800, 0808 and 116 numbers will be free to call from mobile phones, the independent regulator for UK communications industries, Ofcom, announced today. Previously 0800, 0808 and 116 numbers were only free from a BT landline, while mobile customers paid for the pleasure of being on-hold with their bank for hours. However, as of June 2015, mobile users will not be charged. Or, as Ofcom put it, "Freephone will mean free". Ofcom said on its website that it is developing a national campaign to inform customers when the changes are implemented. Sweeping changesOfcom has also fixed its regulating gaze on premium rate numbers. Companies will now have to disclose a 'service charge' when a user calls it, detailing exactly how much the call costs. Similarly, phone service providers will have to detail how much it costs to connect users to these premium rate numbers by detailing its 'access charge'. The hope is that this will increase competition because customers will be able to shop around for providers offering the best access charge rates.        | | Video: Here's what the HTC One 2 should look like Dec 12th 2013, 14:30, by Owen Hughes 
With the HTC One currently parading around as the number one smartphone in the world, you can bet we're on tenterhooks waiting for its successor. The HTC One 2 (aka the HTC M8) is currently being drip-fed through the rumour mill, and while details on the fame-bound handset remain sketchy for the time being, it's done nothing to quell our excitement. In fact, we're so excited for its arrival that we've had enough of squinting longingly at the few, poor quality "leaked" images currently doing the rounds online, and have taken matters into our own hands. Taking the snippets we've heard on the tech grapevine and adding a healthy dose of TechRadar imagination, we've come up with our very own 3D concept video. Check it out below, and be sure to tell us what you think in the comments. FutTv : 7aJ0chO3V2478  | | Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Lite to still sport supersized screen? Dec 12th 2013, 12:57, by John McCann 
Talk surrounding a more affordable version of the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 is refusing to go away, and now some specs for the Note 3 Lite have appeared online. The details cropped up on Korean site ETNews, with an "industry source" claiming that the Galaxy Note 3 Lite would sport a 5.68-inch display - pretty much the same size as the Note 3 - although it wouldn't be treated to the same AMOLED screen tech. Instead Samsung will apparently opt for a cheaper LCD display for the Lite version, and while the resolution isn't stated we wouldn't be surprised if this model didn't have a full HD offering. Apparently Samsung's decision to not reduce the size of the screen on the Galaxy Note 3 Lite is due to the S Pen stylus, which works better on larger displays. Snap not-so-happyThe Galaxy Note 3 sports a 13MP camera, the same as you'll find on the flagship Galaxy S4, but the Galaxy Note 3 Lite may have to make do with an 8MP sensor - which was found on both the original Note and Note 2. Apparently Samsung has already started production of the Galaxy Note 3 Lite, and it's still in line to make an appearance at MWC 2014 in February. Samsung risks confusing consumers with its supersized handsets, as there are reports of a Galaxy Grand Lite and Galaxy Grand 2 also lined up for MWC appearances. If all three handsets make it out they would join the Galaxy Note 3, Galaxy Mega and Galaxy Grand in Samsung's big phone line up, and if you ask us that's simply too many.   | | Sony: 'Android 4.3 update is around the corner' Dec 12th 2013, 10:37, by John McCann 
Owners of Sony smartphones are waiting with baited breath for an upgrade to the latest version of Jelly Bean, with reports suggesting the update for the Xperia Z1 has been certified. According to Xperia Blog the Android 4.3 upgrade for Sony's latest flagship model has passed through the PTCRB testing system, which means it should be with us in the coming weeks. A Sony spokesperson told TechRadar: "After sharing our latest upgrade plans last month, Sony's Android 4.3 Jelly Bean upgrade is around the corner, set to kick off throughout December. "We'll be sharing more details and plans on Android 4.4 KitKat in the New Year" Phones in lineThe statement Sony released in November confirmed that a range of handsets would be getting the Android 4.3 update. "We're pleased to tell you that we'll start rolling Android 4.3 for Xperia Z, Xperia ZL, Xperia ZR, Xperia Tablet Z, Xperia SP, Xperia Z Ultra and Xperia Z1 from next month." It went on to reveal which devices will be first in line for an Android 4.4 upgrade next year. "The first raft of Xperia products that we'll make Android 4.4 Kit Kat available for are: Xperia Z, Xperia ZL, Xperia Tablet Z, Xperia Z Ultra and Xperia Z1." We just hope Sony has done a better job with Android 4.3 than Samsung, who has been dogged by issues on the Galaxy S4 and Galaxy S3.   | | O2 moves some customers to 4G for free Dec 12th 2013, 09:51, by John McCann 
4G is still finding its feet in the UK, but now that all four networks have their superfast services up and running there's hot competition for customers and O2 is the latest network to rework its tariffs. From today, O2 has cut the cost of its pay monthly 4G tariffs giving you more data for less money. On the 12 month, SIM-only O2 Simplicity contract you now get 1GB of data plus unlimited calls and texts for £21 per month, down from £26. The 3GB, £31 per month tariff has been scrapped, replaced instead with 5GB at £26 and O2 is now offering customers an 8GB data option at a palatable £31 per month. If you're already an O2 4G customer and are feeling a little hard done by, the bubbly network has confirmed that you'll be getting a bump in your monthly data allowance - sort of like an early Christmas present. Free 4G for 3GThe big news though is that some O2 3G customers will receive an upgrade to the firm's 4G network at no extra cost. To qualify for the 4G upgrade you'll need to be on a tariff with at least 1GB of data per month and have a 4G-ready handset. If you're on the right tariff, but are still languishing on a 3G mobile O2 will allow you to upgrade to its Refresh contract, giving you a 4G phone and 25% off your remaining line rental. EE, O2 and Vodafone will be feeling the pinch of Three's free 4G upgrade for its customers - EE has already cut its 4G prices - and it's no surprise that the networks are reworking tariffs to make them more affordable. O2's 4G network has now been switched on in 13 cities and 140 towns across the UK, and it claims it now covers almost a third of the population.   | |
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