| EXCLUSIVE: Spotify hints it could monitor your heart to give you the right beat Jan 18th 2014, 14:06, by Chris Smith 
Spotify has hinted that metrics like the listener's heart rate, speed of motion and sleep patterns could someday be used to improve recommendation tools, as smartphone technology improves. In an exclusive interview with TechRadar, the streaming giant's product manager for discovery and recommendations, Donovan Sung, said deeper integration with mobile devices could better inform what its algorithms serve up. When asked about the possibility of creating the perfect recommendations tool, Sung said: "The more the engine knows about the user, the easier it is for it to make interesting recommendations. "Maybe with motion sensors in phones, we can start guessing things whether users are running, biking or driving? Maybe it the phone has a temperature sensor, or a heart rate sensor, we could guess whether the user is tense..." If paired with a heart rate monitor, the company could possibly provide workout playlists with limited user input or could provide a driving playlist (preferably with plenty of The Eagles' hits) if it detects users are moving at higher speeds. Sees you when you're sleepingHe also hinted the company would benefit from integrations with other apps and services, such as those that analyse the user's sleeping patterns, for example the popular Sleep Cycle app. Sung added: "Maybe it connects to some other services? For example if we know more about your sleeping habits through mobile tracking apps, this could help. "We would know what time you're likely to go to sleep or what time you wake up and recommendations could be tailored [to the time of day]." Of course, this seems to be mostly conjecture regarding the future of the company's already-exhaustive editorial, algorithmic and social recommendations tools. However it's interesting that Spotify is at least thinking of taking recommendations in this direction.        |  | How easy is it for your customer to make mobile payments? Jan 18th 2014, 13:30, by Dennis Jones 
An ever increasing number of people are turning to shopping on their mobile (m-commerce outstripping e-commerce by 200 percent). The issue as all shoppers know is that mobile shopping isn't as agile and speedy as it should be; checking out for example regularly takes you away from the mobile app/site to a payment page that isn't always optimised for mobile. This is just the start of the issue. Paying through a mobile is regularly done away from a fixed line internet connection and current mobile payment systems are too bulky and data heavy resulting in the large number of "failed transaction" messages and why judo research earlier this year highlighted that 23.7 million mobile transactions failed in 2013 Dizzying heightsShoppers want to use their mobile to shop, however for it to reach the dizzy heights expected in the next few years app developers must streamline mobile shopping processes Payments is integral to the mobile shopping experience. A shopper wants to feel confident that their payment details are being handled in a secure and confident manner. Businesses should take advantage of the technologies available to improve shopping services for consumers. PS.Postcards has recently installed judo's API technology into their app to reduce the time of making a payment to just two quick steps – 4 digit password and the payment cards CVS number and includes full PCI compliance for added security. - Dennis Jones, CEO at Judo Payments is a serial entrepreneur who is passionate about consumer experience, design and all things mobile
       | | Nintendo to finally embrace smartphones and tablets as hope fades for Wii U? Jan 18th 2014, 03:53, by Chris Smith 
Nintendo boss Saturo Iwata has admitted the company is considering "a new business structure," which may involve branching out into the mobile arena it has shunned for so long. After the company revised its 2014 Wii U sales forecast from 9 million to an unspectacular 2.9 million, the CEO suggested that it may be time for a change. With Wii U games sales new predicted to hit just 19 million units, rather than the previously estimated 38 million, Iwata seemed to indicate that change could be on the horizon. "We are thinking about a new business structure," Iwata told a news conference in Japan, while hinting the company is exploring the possibility of touchscreen handheld devices. Studying...Nintendo has long dismissed the possibility of launching versions of popular franchises like Mario, Zelda and Donkey Kong on smartphones and tablets, largely through fears of watering down its top earners. Now, with the company expected to post an annual lost of 35bn yen ($335m / £205m), Nintendo may finally ready to relent and answer the clamour for Mario and Link on iPhone, judging by Iwata's forlorn comments "Given the expansion of smart devices, we are naturally studying how smart devices can be used to grow the game-player business. It's not as simple as enabling Mario to move on a smartphone," he said. Could sharing Mario with a wider audience put Nintendo back in the spotlight? Or would opening up it's famous franchises beyond Nintendo hardware be an admission that Nintendo's on the way to becoming the next Sega? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.        | | Tricky, tricky: LG G3 could land May to sidestep Galaxy S5 Jan 17th 2014, 23:30, by Michael Rougeau 
The LG G3 release date will arrive with the flowers in May. The Korean site asiae.co.kr has heard from "industry sources" that the G3 will launch then, earlier in the year than its predecessor the LG G2, which dropped in September 2013. This could offset other releases as well, such as the successor to the Optimus G Pro, which launched in April 2013. So why would LG throw its whole schedule out of whack? Reportedly, to make sure the G3 isn't completely buried by Samsung's Galaxy S5. G-unitThat said, the Galaxy S5 is rumored to be arriving in March, which would still place it months ahead of the G3. So who knows? Meanwhile, contrary to what common sense might dictate, the Optimus G Pro 2 will apparently launch in February, ahead of the LG G3. That's according to this same Korean industry source, at least. Both the Optimus G Pro 2 and the LG G3 will sport 1440 x 2560 resolution screens, said the source. Further, the G3 will supposedly have a QHD display. Other rumors have claimed the G2 successor will sport LG's new octa-core Odin processor, which could make it something of a behemoth. For now we'll just have to sit with our grains of salt and wait for official word.        | | Cracked iPhone 5C screens may get in-Apple Store repairs starting Monday Jan 17th 2014, 23:00, by klee 
Apple Stores could start repairing cracked iPhone 5C screens themselves as soon as next week. We first reported that Apple was rolling in machines to repair new iPhone screens on location last November. Now, it seems the plan to start in-store repairs for the cheaper model may begin January 20, as multiple sources have told 9to5mac. If a user has shattered their iPhone 5C screen, the store could have it fixed within an hour. Previously, the only fix for a sorely broken phones was replacing the entire unit, loosing installed apps and data along the way. But what about the other guy?It's likely a $49 (about £29/AU$55) screen replacement for customers bringing in an AppleCare-covered iPhone 5C. Those with maimed phones without Apple's insurance plan will probably have to fork over a costly $149 (about £90/AU$169). Unfortunately, the replacing of iPhone 5S screens reportedly won't kick off next week. Instead, the flagship iPhone is still in the small rollout stage of in-house repairs. Apple reportedly began replacing iPhone 5C screens in a small number of US stores over the past few months, but Monday's rollout would mark the full-scale repair operation for all the company's retail regions except Hong Kong and Canada.        | | Blip: Got wood? Moto X to add three more grains January 21 Jan 17th 2014, 21:55, by Lily Prasuethsut 
The Moto X is out with brand new options for customization on the Moto Maker - and it's great if you're into nature, or looking fancy. A bamboo wood finish is being released today and is apparently "the first-ever smartphone incorporating real bamboo into the body," unlike the Samsung Galaxy 3's plastic leathery look. But if bamboo isn't your cup of tea, Motorola is releasing three other wood finishes - walnut, teak and bbony - on January 21. To get the different backings slapped on your Moto X, it's an extra $25 on top of the $399 off-contract price tag. More blips!Fancy another blip?        | | Microsoft denies paying OEMs to support Windows Phone Jan 17th 2014, 21:55, by Alex Hamilton 
According to rumour, Microsoft will give up to $2.6 billion (£1.6 billion, AU$2.9 billion) to OEMs to support building Windows Phone devices. The head of communications at the company, however, is calling that number "complete fiction" in answer. The rumour had been started by Eldar Murtazin, chief editor of Mobile Review. In a Tweet, he claimed that a few OEMs that were coming back to Windows Phone in 2014 would get wads of cash from Microsoft in exchange. Out of those, Samsung was supposedly taking the lion's share with more than $1 billion (£600 million, AU$1.1 billion) of the payment. Frank Shaw, Microsoft's head of communications, has come out and called the numbers "complete fiction" in a tweet yesterday. He instead admitted that Microsoft does spend money on OEMs, but in co-promotions. He claims that they're covering OEM's R&D costs and helping them to switch to Microsoft's OS in order to launch new devices. Behind the scenesDespite this, there is certainly a strong incentive for Microsoft to pander to OEMs at the moment. Nokia is heading into the sunset, and its current dominance of the Windows Phone market will be transferred back to Microsoft. A precedent was also set when Nokia received sums of money every quarter for their investment in the platform. Nokia is a premium partner but now that has been done it's not unreasonable to assume Microsoft would try to entice other companies. The money doesn't have to be cash either. It's likely that this will include discounted or free licensing on the operating system, direct development support and other perks that Microsoft might be giving away. Even though the company is denying it, there's a strong possibility that behind the scenes cash and promises could be being swapped between Microsoft and OEMs for the future of the Windows Phone.        | | Looks like Google's Chrome remote desktop app will come to iOS, too Jan 17th 2014, 20:31, by Michael Rougeau 
A recently spotted message has revealed that Google is working on a "Chromoting" remote desktop app for iOS. Chromoting is essentially a remote desktop client that will allow users to control their computers from their Android and, now it would seem, iOS devices. The message popped up on Google's developer site for Chromium, the open-source browser that's at the heart of Google Chrome. It appears to be from one developer to another, discussing the iOS and Android versions of the Chromoting app. Self-ChromotionThe Chromoting app is related to the Chrome browser's own remote desktop and screen sharing features, which as TechCrunch points out graduated from beta in 2012. There are plenty of similar services, like LogMeIn and TeamViewer, but Google's is free and works natively with Chrome. However, according to the developer post, the iOS and Android apps are in need of an aesthetic overhaul. "As noted, the iOS version is very unpolished at this stage," developer Hannah S. wrote. Icons, toolbars and more apparently need to be re-designed and re-organized. In addition the iOS version is reportedly further behind than the Android version. It will ship first, though no time frame was given. When TechRadar asked Google for more details, a company spokesperson replied that, "We're always experimenting with new features in Chrome, especially in the dev channel, but have nothing to announce at this time."        | | Signs point to Sprint riding Wi-Fi calling wave, starting with two Sammy phones Jan 17th 2014, 19:50, by klee 
Sprint could be getting ready to introduce Wi-Fi calling, starting with two Samsung devices. According to a training manual obtained by Android Central, Wi-Fi calling and texting will first come to the Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini and Galaxy Mega on an unspecified launch date. This feature supposedly will be unlocked with a downloaded "maintenance update." In addition to the two Samsung handsets, new devices running Android 4.2 and above will be able to cash in on Sprint's Wi-Fi calling. Details, detailsAs the name suggests, Wi-Fi calling allows users to get off the Sprint network and make VoIP calls and texts at no additional monthly charge. A useful feature when you're running low on minutes or in the basement of a building with no bars and a healthy Wi-Fi connection. The training manual documents that users enable the feature by visiting sprint.com/manage on a compatible device. To turn it off, users can toggle the feature in the settings of "approved" Sprint Android devices. Precious voice minutesThe service may sound like a win-win, but there are still restrictions. According to the training doc, Wi-Fi calls will only be supported domestically within the continental United States, US Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico. Android users will also have to turn on their Location Services in order to ring in over the net. And one last line item - calls started over CDMA can't be switched over to the Wi-Fi channel or vice-versa. If Sprints Wi-Fi calling really happens, the carrier will join the ranks of T-Mobile and Virgin Wireless. Virgin can can serve both Android and iOS handsets through its SmartCall App. Meanwhile, T-Mobile has had free Wi-Fi calling for Android devices since 2010.        | | HTC M8 release pinned on late March, twin-sensor rear camera in tow Jan 17th 2014, 18:46, by JR Bookwalter 
Will it be called the HTC M8? Or the HTC One Two? Monikers aside, it seems certain more than ever that HTC is planning a follow-up to the HTC One for release early this year. Bloomberg has the word that there will be a new version of the HTC One released at the end of March (a release time frame we've heard before). The phone will retain the first One's well-received design, but offer some changes both inside and out. One of the more notable transformations will be a screen said to measure "at least five inches," according to the unnamed tipster who posses direct knowledge of the Taiwanese manufacturer's plans. Powered by a more recent flavor of Qualcomm's Snapdragon processor, the new HTC One's screen will be slightly larger than the current flagship's 4.7-inch display but smaller than the HTC One Max's 5.9-inches. Wonder twinsAnother area HTC appears to be targeting for improvement is the One's Ultrapixel camera, which is designed to take higher resolution images with a lower megapixel count. Bloomberg's source claimed HTC is planning to use twin sensors on the rear-facing camera for better focus, depth of field and image quality. Despite critical acclaim for last year's HTC One, the smartphone maker has floundered in the market against the might of South Korean rival Samsung, currently the 300-pound gorilla of Android handsets. HTC may need more than just a refreshed One handset to stave off the competition, as the big-screen HTC One Max failed to stem the tide of losses in the company's second quarter earnings. - Is Apple's new Mac Pro right for you? Find out in our comprehensive review!
       | | Obama orders reforms to NSA phone data collection, end to spying on foreign friends Jan 17th 2014, 17:15, by Michelle Fitzsimmons 
President Barack Obama has called for an overhaul to how the US National Security Agency collects and uses citizens' phone records and an end to eavesdropping on foreign heads of state. In the second speech addressing the controversial NSA policies that have come to light from documents in the hands of Edward Snowden, Obama said Friday that he's "ordering a transition," one that will end "[the] bulk metadata program as it currently exists and establish a mechanism that preserves the capabilities we need without the government holding this bulk metadata." He maintained that the NSA's data collection program is an important tool in identifying and preventing terrorist threats. While he hasn't seen any cases of abuse in the agency's phone collection activities, Obama said he recognizes the potential is there for it to occur. So what will change? Obama has asked US Attorney General Eric Holder and intelligence officials to hand in a plan by March 28 that outlines how phone record data will transition from the government to a third-party agency. Who that third-party record keeper will be has not yet been determined. Starting now, the government will only investigate phone calls "that are two steps removed from a number associated with a terrorist organization instead of the three," the president said. The president is also requiring that the NSA obtain a court order before it can access phone records. The president plans to consult Congress on appropriate boundaries for phone records collection, and has tasked the legislative branch with forming a panel of public advocates to represent privacy interests to the FISC. Generally, Obama's reforms may take months if not longer to implement, and many of the NSA surveillance practices that came to light after the Snowden leaks remain untouched. Though Holder will look into reforming national security letters (a government subpoena seeking records for national security reasons) to lift the indefinite gag orders accompanying them, Obama won't require that a court order is needed to obtain them. Looking off shore Obama also ordered a cease to the eavesdropping on foreign leaders and governments considered friends or allies. In October 2013, German Chancellor Angela Merkel called Obama after information arose the US had tapped her private mobile phone. Pending a significant national security reason, the US "will not monitor the communications of heads of state and government of our close friends and allies," the president said. The president's speech comes after months of revelations of how the NSA collects and keeps information, raising alarms from those within the US government, global governments, private citizens, the tech community and privacy advocates. On January 16, new claims arose that the agency indiscriminately gathers up to 200,000,000 text messages daily. The UK's GCHQ reportedly has access to the texts.        | | Code clues show that Android 5.0 could come with more fitness smarts built-in Jan 17th 2014, 16:05, by Kate Solomon 
Some code squirreled away somewhere in the Android OS hints that a future version will come with souped up fitness tracking. While KitKat already features pedometer tech for counting your steps, future versions perhaps beginning with Android 5.0 will allow the software to harness "fitness data from sensors on your Android device." These could be built into future Android phones and tablets, but it's also likely that the API will play nicely with Android-based smartwatches and even Google Glass. Get fit quickA 'more info' pop up says the API should let you "view and edit your fitness tracking, health and activities data" - the fact that it allows both reading and writing of data means that it might store your vital stats on your Google account for access by other apps - you could potentially generate a fitness graph in Google Drive, for instance. As it's an API, it means that app makers will be able to use more biometric data in their software - alongside the pedometer, they could monitor your heart rate for instance. It's worth noting that this may not be code intended for Android itself though; it could also be part of a Google Play Services update.        | | Code clues show that Android 5.0 could come with more fitness smarts built-in Jan 17th 2014, 16:05, by Kate Solomon
Some code squirreled away somewhere in the Android OS hints that a future version will come with souped up fitness tracking. While KitKat already features pedometer tech for counting your steps, future versions perhaps beginning with Android 5.0 will allow the software to harness "fitness data from sensors on your Android device." These could be built into future Android phones and tablets, but it's also likely that the API will play nicely with Android-based smartwatches and even Google Glass. Get fit quickA 'more info' pop up says the API should let you "view and edit your fitness tracking, health and activities data" - the fact that it allows both reading and writing of data means that it might store your vital stats on your Google account for access by other apps - you could potentially generate a fitness graph in Google Drive, for instance. As it's an API, it means that app makers will be able to use more biometric data in their software - alongside the pedometer, they could monitor your heart rate for instance. It's worth noting that this may not be code intended for Android itself though; it could also be part of a Google Play Services update.   | | Panasonic to return, again, with shockproof smartphone at MWC 2014 Jan 17th 2014, 10:37, by John McCann 
Panasonic will apparently re-enter the smartphone market for a second time at MWC 2014 as fresh reports suggest the firm is working on a new, rugged handset. Remember the Panasonic Eluga? Launched at MWC 2012 as Panasonic's return to the mobile game the waterproof phone sunk without a trace, resulting in the firm pulling out of the smartphone market completely in 2013. According to Japanese site Asahi it won't be gone for long, as reports now point towards a shock proof handset being readied for the Barcelona show at the end of February. When the going gets toughThere's not a huge amount of detail on the mystery Panasonic smartphone, but the unnamed sources do reveal that it will sport a 5-inch screen. Apparently Panasonic is targeting users such as construction site workers for its next handset, suggesting that this may not be a particularly mainstream device. TechRadar will be out in force at MWC 2014 to bring you all the latest from the show, including any possible return to form from Panasonic.   | | Apple, Samsung smartphones muscle out the competition in US Jan 16th 2014, 21:14, by Matt Swider 
Apple and Samsung smartphone sales continue to push their US market share numbers north and their competitors out of the picture, a new study revealed today. iPhone ownership reached 42% in the fourth quarter of 2013, according to an NPD Group study, giving Apple a 7% bump over last year's market share of 35%. The iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C weren't the only key drivers behind this gain. T-Mobile offering the iPhone last year played a significant role, an NPD Group spokesperson told TechRadar. Meanwhile Samsung devices dominated the Android platform and increased their market share to 26% in the latest quarter. That's up 4% from 2012. Combined, Apple and Samsung control 68% of the smartphone market, leaving little room for their competitors when attempting to appeal to the six in 10 people who now own a smartphone in the US. 
Everyone else fights for scrapsThere's more to these numbers than just Apple and Samsung, of course. LG's smartphone market share rose 1%, tying it with Motorola at 8%. That's not good news for the Google-owned company and its Moto X, as it was previous sitting at 11%. HTC is also down despite the HTC One smartphone garnered positive reviews all last year. It's lead among non-Samsung Android phones shrunk from 12% to 7%. Least surprising of all, BlackBerry is in the red too. Previously at a 5% market share, it managed to dip even lower to just 2%. "Other" smartphone makers are lumped into the remaining figure of 7% There's very little room for increased sales when Apple and Samsung are taking the largest slices of the market share pie, and that may not change considering the hype around the iPhone 6 and Galaxy S5.   | | Updated: Sprint transforms 'One Up' into 'Easy Pay,' kind of like T-Mobile Jan 16th 2014, 19:09, by Michael Rougeau 
Update: A Sprint spokesperson sent TechRadar a statement to let us know that the carrier's new Easy Pay program is indeed available to new customers, but only with certain types of plans: "Existing customers can use Sprint Easy Pay to upgrade their current handset today," the spokesperson wrote. "Existing customers can visit www.sprint.com/upgrade to check their eligibility. Then, they can purchase an eligible wireless phone through the Sprint Easy Pay program, paying for it in 24 monthly payments. "New customers can choose Sprint Easy Pay when they sign up for Sprint service on a Sprint Framily plan or Unlimited, My Way plan." Original story follows… Sprint has announced a new early upgrade program, just days after it axed its previous one - which it only introduced mere months ago. The new program, cursed with the incredibly generic-sounding name "Easy Pay," takes a few pages out of T-Mobile's big, pink Un-carrier book. With Easy Pay, customers put a down payment on a phone and then pay the rest in monthly installments tacked onto their normal bills. To upgrade devices, you simply have to pay off your current one, then start the cycle again. Limited time offerBut the new program looks like it's only being offered to existing Sprint customers, and the carrier says it will be available for just "a limited time." The company's Easy Pay support page says it's available in "select Sprint stores" and will arrive on other channels, including sprint.com, "soon." TechRadar has asked Sprint to provide a specific launch date, and we'll update here if we hear back. Another nice wrinkle is that Easy Pay customers can also sell their old phone back to Sprint or simply keep it. But Sprint seems to be treating Easy Pay like an experiment, and it's unclear what will happen to customers who sign up should the carrier decide to cancel it. FlexibilitySprint's previous early upgrade program, "One Up," was introduced in September 2013. For an initial payment of $65, users could pay off new phones over 12 months, at which point they'd be eligible for an upgrade. Obviously the new Easy Pay program is more flexible for customers, which may be why Sprint seems hesitant to commit to it.   | |
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