| Samsung may return to Windows Phone 8 with this 1080p handset Jan 15th 2014, 13:59, by Hugh Langley 
Nokia dominates the Windows Phone scene right now, and it's certainly the only one selling Windows Phones with 1080p displays. But perhaps not for long: enter the Samsung SM-W750V. While that string of letters and numbers doesn't give much away, they may very well represent a 5-inch, high-end Samsung Windows Phone 8. The phone's User Agent Profile on Samsung's website, spotted by Phone Arena, pairs "Windows Mobile Lab" with Samsung, while it also claims that the phone has a 1920 x 1080 resolution. The phone is also now approved by the Bluetooth SIG, which hints that the handset will be touching down in North America. Move over, Nokia?Samsung has dipped its toe into the Windows Phone 8 waters before with the Samsung Ativ S, but seemed to have given up on it. However we recently reported that Microsoft had offered Samsung a substantial chunk of change to support Windows Phone - perhaps that was enough to convince the Korean giant. We could well see the Samsung Windows Phone arrive at MWC 2014 next month, so hold on tight.        |  | Samsung set to supercharge Galaxy S5 battery Jan 15th 2014, 13:54, by Thomas Thorn 
Hot on the heels of news that the Samsung Galaxy S5 won't pop up at MWC 2014 comes a little more detail about what we can expect at the South Korean's mid-March launch. According to a tip sent to Phone Arena, the Galaxy S5 will sport a much-improved 2900mAh battery, up from the S4's sizeable 2600mAh power pack. News of a larger capacity is nothing special, but the same tip suggests that the S5's juice pack will charge from zero to full in under 2 hours, perhaps employing the self-healing technology developed at Sanford University. This would be a massive boost, providing a viable alternative to the removable battery problem that has supposedly been the reason behind Samsung's lack of metal handsets. 2K or not 2K, that is the questionA larger battery would also make sense, given the persistent rumours that surround the inclusion of a 2K screen on the Galaxy S5. We might be in for a shock though, as a device under the moniker SM-G900A appeared on UAProf, coming complete with 1080p screen. This could prove to be a cheaper version of the S5, maybe the rumoured plastic Galaxy S5 or even the Galaxy S5 Mini. It could even be a completely new device. We'll keep our eyes peeled for more information, and report back our findings from here, as well as from next month's MWC.        | | How desperate is Microsoft for Windows Phone love? Very, apparently Jan 15th 2014, 13:54, by Thomas Thorn 
The battle for mobile OS dominance has taken another turn, with Microsoft effectively, and unsurprisingly announcing that it really, really wants you to own a Windows Phone. According to Mobile Review's Eldar Murtazin, the same blogger who broke the news about the $1 billion offer to Samsung earlier last month, Microsoft is apparently flashing the cash at a number of firms in the hope they'll build a Windows Phone device. The Samsung offer seems to have increased to $1.2 billion, while Chinese OEM Huawei is claimed to be in line for $600 million, and Japanese giants Sony set for $500 million. Who wouldn't want $500m?$500 million certainly seems like a big incentive, especially as Sony exclusively revealed to us at CES 2014 last week that is actively looking at Windows Phone. Whilst rumors of a Sony Windows Phone emerged in 2012, these were quickly quashed by CEO Kunimasa Suzuki. Could $500 million be enough of a persuasion? Rumors of a Windows Phone version of the HTC One seem to have been eliminated though, with no specific reference to the Taiwanese brand. It could be part of the $300 million earmarked to other developers, however. Whatever the future holds for Windows Phone, it is clear that the American firm doesn't want to be the sole provider of its handset. After all, where's the fun in that?        | | Meet the super secure smartphone which promises ultimate privacy from NSA Jan 15th 2014, 11:22, by Thomas Thorn 
It looks like privacy is set to be a big deal at MWC 2014 and Spanish mobile company Geeksphone is first out of the gates with its Barcelona-bound Blackphone. Thanks to a certain Mr Snowden, the whole world knows that the NSA has been paying attention to our private conversations, going so far as to access our offline PCs. Geeksphone hopes to make that a thing of the mobile past - rather than launching with a bazillion pixels, umpteen cores or the ability to turn water into wine, the Blackphone is all about making and receiving protected phone and video calls, sending private text messages and storing secure files. True Incognito modeAnonymous web browsing is also enabled via a VPN, thanks to a customized version of Android called PrivatOS. This was developed in partnership with specialist mobile encryption firm Silent Circle. Few will be familiar with the brand Geeksphone - the manufacturer's recent forays into mobile have been through the Firefox mobile OS. But as we become ever more aware of our digital footprints, we could see the Blackphone push Geeksphone to the fore and help it compete with the security-conscious likes of BlackBerry and Samsung Knox. Pricing and availability have yet to be announced, although pre-ordering will begin February 24 at MWC 2014.        | | Interview: Perzo: a military-grade messaging service that keeps the NSA at arms' length Jan 15th 2014, 08:30, by Kane Fulton 
Perzo chief David Gurle knows a thing or two about communications. A messaging expert who previously founded Microsoft's Lync video conferencing service and once ran Skype's Business division, Gurle's latest app is a military-grade messaging system designed to keep private communications away from prying eyes. Gurle believes that communications tools should evolve to bring email, text and instant messaging together under a smart and intuitive interface while placing security high on the agenda. Perzo, which encrypts every message end-to-end using a three-layer encryption system, also brings collaborative features to the table - and it's free. Launched in December 2013, the service has more than 7,000 active users, racked up 60,000 sent messages, seen more than 2,000 files exchanged and adds on average around 100 users per day. TechRadar Pro spoke to Gurle to find out more. TechRadar Pro: The communications space is a crowded one. How does Perzo stand out from the crowd? David Gurle: It certainly is and the need for more secure communications has become a mainstream one in the wake of the NSA spying revelations. The security policies for existing communications platforms are upside down. The likes of Microsoft, Google and Yahoo have all built their services first and then added security on as an afterthought and for many service providers it's an inverse relationship between increased levels of security and convenience. To have more of one you get less of the other. Perzo is the natural evolution of communication tools where email, text and instant messaging come together into an intuitive and smart interface. We built security as the foundation of the product in this next era of communications - new technologies but also new behaviours, which will bring new problems once again. TRP: Perzo sounds like a Whatsapp equivalent but with military-grade security. Is that a fair description? DG: No, it's much more.Perzo is a secure communications application that integrates the best of email, Instant Messaging and SMS into an easy to use and viral web application. Perzo guarantees privacy and reliability of user's data whether they are messages, files or pictures. Perzo encrypts every message end to end. We use a three-layer encryption system along with a random key generator that encrypts each message with a different key. This ensures that there are no men-in-the-middle attacks. 
TRP: What collaborative features does Perzo offer? DG: You can think of Perzo like a privacy layer, sitting above all your existing communications tools and integrating them into one secure UI. We also have features like Off the Record messages that enable the content of the sent message to disappear after a set timer or Private Messages that enable further encryption to prevent a 3rd party from reading the content of a critical message 'over the shoulder' and ability to request a Read Receipt for each message if needed. TRP: Perzo is free. How is the company going to make money? DG: Perzo will always be free. Our roadmap will see us introduce contextual intelligence, which we call smart parsing, to Perzo users. When Perzo users decide to go to a movie, or have lunch or dinner they will turn on smart parsing and this will allow the end user to receive relevant information about the upcoming event they are talking about. It is like having search come to you at the most relevant time. So, for example when sending a meeting invitation you can choose for Perzo to also show you recommended locations from various sites likes Yelp, Zagat or Google along with local deals coming from Amazon Local, Yipit or Foursquare, etc… If and when the user selects one of these deals, Perzo will receive an affiliate fee from the site that offers that deal. TRP: Is Perzo aimed at consumers, businesses, or both? DG: We designed Perzo so that it can be used for personal and professional communications. Perzo has all the reliability, security and power to be used for making communications effective in businesses while it has all the features individuals will like to be used with friends and family. Perzo excels in business to business communications and business to consumer communications thanks to its ability to work on multi-operating system and multi-browser environments. TRP: How pleased are you with Perzo's reception since launching a month ago? DG: We are extremely pleased with the reception we are getting from users and from the industry. Since launch we've attracted 7000 active users, over 60000 messages sent, over 2000 files exchanged, and we're adding about 100 users a week on average. TRP: How has your time at Skype and Microsoft helped you with Perzo? DG: Yes significantly. I have not only learned the craft of building communication software that scales to massive number of users but I also realized that it is only outside of such big companies that I can develop a concept like Perzo which brings the best of email, sms and IM into an easy to use interface and offer true end to end security.        | | Telstra simplifies international roaming call charges Jan 15th 2014, 05:50, by Farrha Khan 
In a move similar to Optus last year, Telstra has revamped the way it charges for international roaming by introducing eight zones. For the 192 countries that Telstra offers roaming services in, the zones begin at $1.50 for Zone 1, which includes New Zealand, South Africa and Singapore, rising in increments of 50 cents to $5 for Zone 8, which includes countries like Bangladesh, Maldives and Zimbabwe. The zone rates include calling and receiving, and will now be charged in 60 second blocks instead of 30 second blocks. Telstra has also done away with call connection fees for post and pre-paid customers, while it will still be free to receive and SMS and cost 75 cents to send an SMS. Simple, but not cheaperUnlike Vodafone's aggressive Red Roam Like Home plans and Optus' traveller packs, Telstra's changes don't make using your phones while overseas significantly less costly. The zones certainly make it easier to figure out what your charges will be, but in many instances, like with $3 per minute charges for the US, it will actually be more expensive to make or receive a call within the US now ($2.19 and $2), though making a call to Australia or another country from the US will be cheaper ($3.35 and $3.57). Of course, it does standardise the charges, so it's still a positive move. Previously, each country had different roaming charges, and within each country (as can be seen above) there were different charges for calling within the country, calling to Australia, calling to another country and receiving calls. Telstra last year also introduced 30-day data packs for use in 50 countries and dropped standard roaming data charges to $3.00 per MB. The new roaming call charges will be applicable from 24 March 2014. - Don't have a holiday booked for any time soon and more concerned about the state of the local network? Check out our guide to the best 4G network in Australia.
       | | BlackBerry may taste the fruit of another, open up to native Android apps Jan 14th 2014, 22:22, by Michael Rougeau 
BlackBerry has reportedly begun approaching Android app and game developers about getting their native Android apps directly onto the BlackBerry World app marketplace. Apparently the next BlackBerry firmware update will support native Android APK files directly, and porting them over will require very little work from developers, according to Good e-Reader. The digital publishing news site reported that it spoke with at least four Android app developers at CES 2014 who confirmed that BlackBerry had approached them about publishing their apps directly to BlackBerry 10. These developers need do nothing more than make BlackBerry World profiles and submit icons, screenshots and app descriptions for their existing Android apps to appear in the BlackBerry 10 app ecosystem. A whole new worldIt's not just about devs - BlackBerry 10 users will reportedly be able to download these apps directly to their devices, just as if they were normal BB10 apps. These devices are said to include the BlackBerry Q5, Q10, Z10 and Z30. BlackBerry stands to benefit enormously from its app ecosystem being inundated with Android apps, and if it really is that easy for Android developers to expand to BlackBerry World then that could very well happen. Easy as a slice of blackberry pie, right? Good e-Reader claims this feature will become available in the BlackBerry 10.3 update, but users in a CrackBerry forum thread discussing the article claim that it will actually be in BlackBerry 10.2.1. In either case, it seems the feature could arrive soon. We've asked BlackBerry to provide a statement and clarify when BlackBerry devices will support native Android apps, and we'll update this article when possible.        | | The Moto G gets Google Play Edition treatment, stripped OS now truly stock Jan 14th 2014, 22:15, by klee 
The Moto G is already one of the best overall mid-range phones around, plus it comes unlocked direct from Motorola. But for any customer that wants to pick up a truly stripped down phone, Google has started selling the Moto G in Google Play Edition form. The Moto G, and its elder brother the Moto X, were created under the close eye of Google, but the Play Edition strips what little non-stock elements of Android were still there. The Play Edition comes with Android 4.4 preloaded and is available in 8GB and 16GB flavors. Of course, one of the big advantages of being a Google Play Edition handset is receiving updates early, so look for this phone to start packing the latest Android 4.x before others. Different personality, same bodyOther than the stripped OS, the Moto G is still the same phone, even down to its $179 (£135/ about AU$199) price for 8GB and $199 (£159/ about AU$222) for double the storage. The 4.5-inch smartphone comes rocking a 1.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor with 1GB of RAM. Even though the handset only houses a 1280 x 720 resolution screen, at 329ppi it just beats the 326 pixel per inch density display on the iPhone 5S. The only truly budget quirks about this phone are the 5MP rear camera and the fact that it only has a 3G antenna. It's definitely not a handset for data speed lovers.        | | iPhone 6 may get tougher with a Liquidmetal touch Jan 14th 2014, 15:25, by Hugh Langley 
Aside from the iPhone 3G's SIM card eject tool, nothing has really come out of the agreement Apple signed with Liquidmetal Technologies back in 2010. But rumours of a Liquidmetal iPhone 6 have been bubbling for a while and a bevvy of newly-published patents that add credence to the speculation. While many aren't assigned to Apple directly, the inventors mentioned are Apple employees - ones MacRumours notes have been tied to Apple's work with Liquidmetal in the past. Powerful alloysSo why is this good news? Liquidmetal alloys will mean higher strength and resistance for hardware like the notoriously short-lived home buttons on iPads and iPhones. Another use is to improve the accuracy of touch touch sensors on iOS devices. Apple's also been granted a patent for a flexible wraparound display, made using a powder Liquidmetal process, however we expect this one might not show up until the iPhone 7.        | | Opinion: Motorola was doing so well... and then the Moto X turned up Jan 14th 2014, 13:07, by John McCann 
Motorola. A brand I thought had started an amazing comeback. The Moto G? A piece of cut-price brilliance. But with the launch of the Moto X, it's undone all that good work. Late to arrive? A price tag and spec sheet which makes it more expensive than the excellent Nexus 5, yet less powerful? I'm left scratching my head as to why Google has allowed this to happen. Motorola says that UK-dwellers have been eagerly anticipating the potential arrival of the Moto X on our shores - and yes, back in August last year even I was excited about the possibility of it turning up here - but that was six months ago. The fact of the matter is the Moto X's time in the sun has long since passed, and that initial excitement and hype has been lost - along with its biggest selling point: customisable handsets. 
That's right, the Moto Maker service which lets Americans customise their Moto X any which way with various colours, finishes and engravings has not made the transition over the Atlantic. So with that key USP unavailable, what's left to shout about on the UK variant of the Moto X? The answer is... not a lot. During my briefing at the Moto X launch I was shown how I could quickly open the camera app by taking the phone out of my pocket and then twisting it twice in my hand. 
The action did work every time, but it's nothing more than a novelty. Almost every smartphone these days has a shortcut to the camera app on the lockscreen, which takes perhaps an extra second or so to load versus the X. That's hardly a deal breaker. If you want a quick launching camera, put a hardware button on the side. It's simple, recognisable and useful. Touchless control meanwhile lets you say "OK Google Now" to wake up your phone, and then bark voice commands at it. Once again it works, but these aren't features worth inflating the price tag above the Nexus 5. Active Display? A potentially handy notification shows a pulsating icon of the type of communication you've just received without waking the whole screen. But again, not going to blow you away, and not a good reason to part with that extra cash. Motorola has a good thing with the Moto G and it now risks overshadowing what is the best budget smartphone on the market with the overpriced, averagely-featured and late-to-the-party Moto X. Want my advice Motorola? Ditch the X, concentrate on the G and launch a high-end flagship later this year. You could even talk to Google about a certain Nexus device. Just a thought.   | | Don't hold the phone, the Samsung Galaxy S5 won't be at MWC 2014 Jan 14th 2014, 11:16, by James Rogerson 
While there has been some suggestions that the Samsung Galaxy S5 would be launched at MWC 2014 in February, two of the latest rumours dispute that. The first comes from Italian journalist Flavio, who tweeted that a 'reliable source' had confirmed to him that the Samsung Galaxy S5 would be launched at an event in London in mid March. This would mirror the launch of the Samsung Galaxy S3 which also launched in the Capital, although the Galaxy S4's launch venue of New York could be on the cards instead. London or New York?ZDnet Korea cites a 'senior Samsung official' as saying that the main purpose of MWC is a business meeting and that the timing is wrong for the launch of the Galaxy S5, and rather than a London launch the Samsung Galaxy S5 will be unveiled in New York in March. We were always sceptical that the Galaxy S5 would launch at MWC, so this news is somewhat unsurprising. A March launch does mean a slightly longer wait for the handset though, and kills rumours pointing towards an early Feb reveal. As for whether it will be unveiled in New York or London (or both) we'll hopefully know soon.   | | Moto X UK release date set for February 1, with the SIM-free price of £380 Jan 14th 2014, 08:30, by Chris Smith 
Motorola has confirmed the Moto X handset will finally make its way across the pond, with an official UK release date set for February 1. Ahead of Tuesday's media event, during which Motorola was widely expected to unveil the device for a UK audience, the Google-owned company said it will offer the device for £380 SIM free from multiple retailers. The 4.7-inch 720p handset, which packs Motorola's own 'X8 Mobile Computing System' and the stock version of Android, will also be available on contract, starting at £25 on the O2 network, while Phones 4U has dibs on the white device. Judging from Moto's media release it appears that the 'Moto Maker' customisation options which helped to make the handset an attractive proposition for stateside buyers won't be available in the UK. What up, G?The Moto X, which will join its highly-rated cheap-as-chips sibling the Moto G on the UK market, does arrive in the UK packing the voice activated Google Now software. Motorola's camera software will also bring an innovative shooting mode which can be enabled simply by twisting the wrist twice and tapping anywhere on the screen and could also ensnare smartphone fans. The camera, in case you're wondering, is equipped with a 10 megapixel sensor and Motorola's 'Clear Pixel' technology, but before you get too excited, it was described as "the most inconsistent snapper on a flagship phone," in a TechRadar review last summer. All day battery life and a "water repellant" Gorilla Glass display are also some of the hefty promises made by Motorola, but at more than double the asking price is the Moto X really a better option than the Moto G? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.   | | Mystery 5.5-inch Samsung smartphone shows up in India Jan 13th 2014, 12:28, by John McCann 
Samsung has been linked to several potential handsets that it may launch at MWC 2014, and now there's more news of a big screened smartphone - although one unlikely to challenge the Galaxy Note 3. Popping up on Indian site Zauba, the handset goes by the moniker Samsung GT-I9405, and it's apparently touched down in India "for testing and evaluation." Other than the 5.5-inch screen size, the leak gives very little away about the handset, but considering its ID doesn't fall in line with either of Samsung's flagships products (the Galaxy S4 is the I9500) it's not going to be the Galaxy S5 or a direct relation to the Note 3 (N9000). Who are you?We've seen reports suggesting a Galaxy Note 3 Neo, Note 3 Lite, Galaxy Grand Neo and Galaxy Grand 2 - could this latest leak be linked to one of these - or is it something completely different? Samsung likes to launch a phone for every single segment of the market, so the GT-I9405 could well be a handset engineered to plug a hole in a specific market, rather than try to dominate globally. TechRadar will be out in full force at MWC 2014, and we'll be reporting live on all the new phones and tablets, including anything from the Samsung booth.   | | Slew of KitKat-running LG handsets leak ahead of possible MWC 2014 unveiling Jan 13th 2014, 11:02, by John McCann 
With CES 2014 out of the way, we're starting to get excited about the next big tech event of the year - MWC 2014 in Barcelona - and LG is one of the firms in line to launch new smartphones at the show. Several LG handsets appear to have popped up on benchmark site HTML5Test, revealing Android 4.4 KitKat inside all of them. The complete list of phones appearing on the site are; LG-D830, LS740, LG-D410, LG-D320, and LG-MS323. A good signOnly a handful of smartphones currently run the latest version of Google's operating, so it's good to see LG ploughing ahead with the new software (although we're expecting MWC 2014 to be pretty heavy on the KitKat phone front). The LS740 ID has also appeared on the Bluetooth SIG certification site, suggesting the 4G handset is going through the final phases of testing before being launched on the Sprint network in the US. Other rumours suggest that a LG G2 mini is on the cards, so we wonder if one of the five phones featured here could be the cut-down flagship. LG is staying tight lipped on the topic, but TechRadar will be at MWC 2014 to bring you all the latest news as it breaks at the end of February.   | | Updated: Android 4.4 KitKat starts rolling for Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Jan 13th 2014, 10:24, by John McCann 
There's good news for anyone rocking a Samsung Galaxy Note 3, as reports say the Android 4.4 KitKat update has started to roll out for the super-sized smartphone. The news comes via SamMobile, which claims that Android 4.4.2 has shown up on Galaxy Note 3 devices in Poland, with users having to update their handsets via Samsung's Kies desktop software. Over the air updates are yet to be confirmed, but it's highly likely that Samsung will push the update out over the wireless medium as well. Fingers crossedWe're hoping that the Android 4.4 build will be more stable than Samsung's Android 4.3 upgrade, with numerous users reporting issues when attempting to sync their handsets to Microsoft's services. For those of you outside Poland you'll still have to wait for the update - unless you want to dabble with the leaked firmware, but we don't recommend that - but hopefully it won't be too long until KitKat hits Note 3 handsets worldwide. We have contacted Samsung for more information on its Android KitKat plans, and we'll update this article once we hear back. Update: A spokesperson for the Korean firm has told TechRadar: "Samsung UK will announce rollout plans for Android 4.4 in due course."   | |
No comments:
Post a Comment