Review TechRadar: Phone and communications news 01-23-2014

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Will the Nexus 5 come in six new colours? We're doubtful Jan 23rd 2014, 14:55, by Hugh Langley Is Google preparing to launch a bunch of new Nexus 5 colours? A certain video working its way around the internet reckons so. The dodgy home movie shows someone in a dark room, clicking through a number of different colour options for the currently-black-or-white handset: blue, purple, red, green, yellow and orange. We're throwing a lot of doubt on this one. As Phandroid points out, currently changing your colour choice involves a URL change on the Play Store, which isn't happening in the video clip. So while we'd love to believe this is real, it's very, very unlikely. Still, nice to imagine... Read our Nexus 5 review Video: This is how Nokia's Android Normandy handset should look Jan 23rd 2014, 12:41, by Owen Hughes Rumours surrounding the Nokia Normandy refuse to die, and with more leaks emerging every day, it looks increasingly likely that the Finnish firm will unleash an Android handset on the world in the coming months. We've seen a few images surface online recently, all claiming to show off the fruit of Nokia looms: a sort of Windows Phone 8-esque, Android mashup. Reports of late have floated February 25 as a possible launch date, meaning we may see the Normandy make a welcome appearance at MWC 2014. Of course, leaks and speculation are all very well and good, but being as flat-out crazy about tech we are, this just isn't enough to satisfy our excitement. So, we've taken it one step further, and put together our own vision of the perfect Nokia-Android partnership. See our version of the Nokia Normandy in all its glory in the video below, then tell us what you think of our handiwork in the comments. FutTv : 62x9s45ONGIO9 Updated: Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo confirmed, but it's not coming to the UK Jan 23rd 2014, 11:22, by Hugh Langley Updated: Samsung has confirmed to TechRadar that Samsung's upcoming phablet is actually called the Galaxy Note 3 Neo after all. TechRadar was told earlier today that the device's official name was the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Lite, however we've now been informed that there was some confusion between Samsung and its spokespeople, and the name is actually the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo. A spokesperson for the Korean firm also told us the device "will not be coming to the UK market." However, we weren't able to get any more information on where it will be available. We've been informed that this is the very same Galaxy Note 3 Neo handset that we've been hearing about. Neo enters the Matrix The Note 3 Neo has been showing up in various leaks, the latest of which included a bunch of purported press shots from a Belgian retailer. Nothing more on the specs for now, but there's talk that this could be the first hexa-core handset with both a 1.7GHz dual-core and a 1.3GHz quad-core processor. The Samsung Galaxy S5 is also coming... Yet more Samsung Galaxy Tabs tipped ahead of MWC 2014 Jan 23rd 2014, 10:30, by John McCann Samsung might be going a little tablet crazy at the moment, as after launching no fewer than five new slates in January 2014, three more have now popped up online. Details of the trio of mystery tablets appeared on Indian product import site Zauba, with model IDs SM-T535, SM-T531 and SM-T530 revealed. The SM-T535 and SM-T530 devices are both listed as 8-inch Samsung tablets, with the SM-T535 having the addition of "Single SIM" in its listing, suggesting it may be the 3G/4G variant of the SM-T530. The big one Meanwhile the SM-T531 is, slightly confusingly, down as a 10.1-inch Samsung tablet and the same model ID has also been spotted over at Bluetooth SIG giving the larger slate rumors slightly more creditability. There is talk of a Samsung Unpacked event happening at MWC 2014 on February 23, and while some suggest we might see the Galaxy S5 unveiled, we reckon you're more likely to see something along the lines of these tablets. We will be out in force in Barcelona to bring you all the latest from the show, including anything Samsung has to share. What else can you expect at MWC 2014? Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo appears in press image leak Jan 23rd 2014, 10:12, by Hugh Langley The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo has been popping up in various forms, but now we've got something that looks a bit more official. An anonymous employee at a Belgian retail store told Sammobile that the Neo's pre-order page is set to go live very soon, and provided some press shots too. The phone in these pictures looks identical to the standard Galaxy Note 3 phablet, and of course there's the possibility that these are 100% fake - however much of a certainty the Neo seems right now. Is it The One? The site also claims that the phone will have a pre-order price of €599 (about £490, $810, AU$920), which still seems a little high to us. Unfortunately there were no specs to go with then pictures, but previous rumors have claimed that the phone will have both a 1.7GHz dual-core and a 1.3GHz quad-core processor, making it the world's first hexa-core phone. On top of that we're hearing it will pack a 5.5-inch 720p Super AMOLED display, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of storage with microSD slot, an 8mp camera, and will run Android 4.3. We've asked Samsung to comment on the matter and will update as soon as we hear more. Meanwhile, what's going on with the Samsung Galaxy S5? Telstra to cap voice call charges at $130 Jan 23rd 2014, 04:35, by Farrha Khan Telstra is moving to ease bill shock with a total charge cap of $130 for voice calls to standard Australian numbers, but only for customers signing or re-signing up for a new Everyday Connect plan. The cap means that if you are on a $60 plan and you exceed your voice call allowance, the highest you will be charged will be another $70 on top of your monthly charge - if you're on an $100 plan, you'll only be charged an extra $30 that month. Of course if you are on the $130 tier, this cap doesn't really matter as the plan offers unlimited voice calls anyway. But you should note, as we mention above, Telstra says that this is for "new and existing customers taking up a new Every Day Connect plan". Getting in line Telstra new cap for voice calls puts the telco more in line with both Vodafone and Optus, making its plans more competitive. Optus My Plans offer monthly price jumps of $5 or $10 to a higher plan tier if a customer goes beyond their minutes allowance for calls - same for data. Vodafone on the other hand offers free voice calls to standard numbers all of its three Red plans. "The safety net was introduced recently and is designed to protect customers from unexpected charges because you told us cost certainty is really important," Scott McGibbony said on Telstra's Exchange blog. Telstra also recently reduced and simplified its international roaming charges. "We know our work's not done and we're constantly looking for new ways we can better care for our customers," McGibbony added, alluding that more changes might be on the way. Here's our guide to the best 4G networks in Australia iPhone 'white screen of death' expected to be fixed in iOS 7 update Jan 23rd 2014, 00:56, by Matt Swider Upgrading to iOS 7 gave iPhone users a fresh coat of paint on Apple's stale user interface, but it also gave the new, much more unwelcome "white screen of death" glitch. Now the company is said to be in the process of fixing this random soft reboot problem, four months after the mobile operating system launched worldwide. "We have a fix in an upcoming software update for a bug that can occasionally cause a home screen crash," Apple spokesperson Trudy Muller told Mashable. This is the same reset glitch that sometimes goes by the name "black screen of death." In these cases, the phone reboot color is simply matching the black or newer space gray iPhone 5S bezel color. It's the same obnoxious bug through and through. iOS 7.1 around the corner This erratic iPhone behavior is likely to be rolled into iOS 7.1, though Apple didn't go so far as to confirm this timing. That may be because the iOS 7.1 release date for public consumption is currently unknown. Right now, the fourth beta is in the hands (or handsets) of developers for testing purposes. The beta hints that the long-awaited iOS in the Car feature will jumpstart at the same time this first major iOS 7 update rolls out. Other minor bug fixes and improvements are possible for iOS 7.1, with a more robust feature list being predicted for iOS 8. Read: Apple said to have 'locked down' iPhone 6 screen size at 4.8 inches. Facebook testing mobile ad network, shouldn't affect your news feed...for now Jan 22nd 2014, 23:05, by Lily Prasuethsut It seems like Facebook is trying to be a good samaritan ... to advertisers. The social media giant announced it will begin testing a mobile ad network with a small group of advertisers and app developers. Similar experiments have been done in the past without any solid results, but this time Facebook will have a guiding hand in the matter by "working directly with a small number of advertisers and publishers, rather than an outside ad-serving platform." The app companies in question have not been mentioned. So what? While the thought of "more ads" is enough to punch your computer screen or throw your phone at the wall, it seems like none of this will directly affect your Facebook news feed. For now, it looks like the advertisers and the third party apps will simply be benefitting from Facebook's "rich targeting," with the social media site reaping the revenue. But it may only be a matter of time until all the outside testing begins to trickle into Facebook's own mobile app to rake in more dough. The company has already been quite ambitious with its marketing endeavors like calling a truce with Google to sell ad space, and implementing sponsored Instagram photos. And don't forget the video ads. Don't say we didn't warn you. Check out our list of best tablets to cheer you up! Apple said to have 'locked down' iPhone 6 screen size at 4.8 inches Jan 22nd 2014, 22:24, by Michelle Fitzsimmons Intrigued by the iPhone 5S' fingerprint scanner but unswayed by its 4-inch screen? Then we have good news. Apple has apparently settled on the iPhone 6's screen size, and it will be a significantly larger 4.8 inches. The word comes from an investor note by Cowen and Company analyst Timothy Arcuri, who cited "checks" within Apple's supply chain that indicate Cupertino is loosening its belt when it comes to the new iPhone's display. We're taking Arcuri's iPhone-sixth sense with a grain of salt, and recommend you do the same, however this is not the first time the 4.8-inch figure has appeared when talking about the phone's front. New iPhone specs Just over a year ago, word circulated the "iPhone Math" would square up to a larger screen. The Math, believed to be code for the iPhone 6, never materialized alongside the iPhone 5S as the initial rumor stated, but it was touted to carry a 4.8-inch display. Another spec floated last January was an 8MP camera for the iPhone Math. Though Arcuri has no details on the 6's snapper, he does report the new iPhone will have nimble 802.11ac Wi-Fi connectivity, an upgrade from the 5S' 802.11n. Look for the iPhone 6 in September, though Arcuri sources have noted a June release isn't "out of the question." Plus iOS 8 and a larger iPad Apparently in a prolific mood, Arcuri also wrote that Apple is cooking up "key software innovations" for the next major release of iOS, presumably referring to iOS 8. Leveraging iBeacon, Touch ID and Passbook, Apple will supposedly use the features to embark on new services related to mobile payments. Oh, and one more thing: Arcuri sees a 13-inch iPad landing later this year, one that will "blur the lines between tablets and PCs." Read our review of the new iPad? It's our first 5-star slate, you know. Apple slams Samsung with key victory in ongoing patent dispute Jan 22nd 2014, 20:48, by Michael Rougeau Samsung and Apple are about to go to court - again - and Apple is already coming out ahead in pre-trial proceedings. Judge Lucy Koh, who's been dealing with the companies' bickering for years, has granted Apple two victories against Samsung as their March trial approaches. One has to do with an autocorrect patent held by Apple; Koh determined that Samsung's Android smartphones like the Galaxy Nexus and the Galaxy Note, which use a system that guesses which words users are typing and displays its guesses in real time, do infringe on it. Samsung will now need to prove that Apple's patent is invalid in order to win in March. Autocorrect this The other blow relates to a Samsung patent for syncing media between devices, which Judge Koh ruled to be invalid. She reportedly agreed with Apple's arguments that the Samsung-owned patent added too little to systems that existed before it to be considered valid. That means Samsung will have only four claims left to fight over when the March trial arrives. Alternatively, Apple and Samsung might find a solution when they duke it out privately in February, though considering how pointless their settlement talks have been in the past it's more likely this case will go to trial in March. One of a kind It's also come to light recently that Apple has been insisting that any settlement it reaches with Samsung has to include an anti-cloning provision. What this means is that Samsung would be prevented from "copying" Apple products in the future. Considering this years-long battle is at least partially based on Samsung's assertion that it doesn't copy Apple products, we're guessing that hasn't gone over well with the Korean company. Check out TechRadar's review of the latest and greatest Apple phone, the iPhone 5S. Three banned from using 3.9G term after tattletale EE runs to the ASA Jan 22nd 2014, 20:45, by Chris Smith Mobile network Three is no longer permitted to use the term 3.9G to describe its 'Superfast' DC-HSDPA data speeds, following a complaint from rival network EE. EE had taken umbrage with the use of 3.9G in Three's advertising and marketing materials as it gave the impression that the speeds were 'very close' to those offered on a 4G LTE network and took its discontent to the Advertising Standards Agency. Three claimed its use of 3.9G was to inform potential customers that its speeds were one step down from 4G and even demonstrated instances where DC-HSPDA exceeded speeds offered through 4G However, the ASA were having none, upheld EE's claim that Three's claim was misleading and swung a vicious ban hammer in Three's direction, prohibiting the use of 3.9G from now on. Close but no cigar The ASA said" "Three provided information on the differences between 3G DC-HSDPA and 4G LTE technology. [It] said it showed that DC-HSDPA was extremely close to 4G LTE in performance, and in some cases outperformed it. [It] said the 1, 2, 3 and 4 mobile phone generation technologies were not based on technical standards, but merely described the evolutionary nature of the user experience." "[It] said that although they had not intended the term '3.9G' as a technical one, [it] believed it was not misleading because [its] DC-HSDPA network was very close in terms of capability to 4G LTE." Presumably stood behind the ASA poking its tongue out at Three, an EE spokesperson said: "We're pleased the ASA agrees that this ad was misleading." Three began its 4G roll out in December, but is prepared to bide its time before giving the next generation mobile broadband tech the hard sell. Fighting Talk: Charting the superfast superfail BlackBerry deal with US Defence Department sends shares sky high Jan 22nd 2014, 20:03, by Dean Wilson BlackBerry has maintained its position with the US government as the go-to choice for secure smartphones, thanks to a new deal with the Defence Department that sent shares skyrocketing. The Defence Information Systems Agency (DISA) will be adding a whopping 80,000 BlackBerry phones to a new management network at the end of January, which will handle unclassified documents and employ a military app store. In contrast, only 1,800 Google Android and Apple iOS devices will be used. BlackBerry, formerly known as Research In Motion, has traditionally been the company of choice for government contracts, largely due to its improved security such as email encryption, and a suite of enterprise and productivity features. Even US President Barack Obama is known for his use of a BlackBerry. In recent years, however, Google and Apple have gained ground, threatening the very survival of BlackBerry, which has failed to attract customers in the booming consumer market. Shares at the company fell by a staggering 37 per cent last year, making it vital that it secures more lucrative government and enterprise deals. The big business recovery BlackBerry's established position with big businesses has given it a lifeline that it desperately needs to hang on to. It has attempted to expand beyond its comfort zone with the keyboardless Z10 and Z30, but its new CEO John Chen has promised to return the company to its roots by bringing more devices with physical keyboards to the market. Bloomberg cited a report by Citron Research released earlier this month, which highlighted BlackBerry as a good investment with "a healthy balance sheet" and "ample liquidity." It said that shares should be worth $15 (£9, AU$17), just over one and a half times the current value, so there is clearly still room for growth. The new government deal has given BlackBerry a major boost, with stock prices rising by as much as 12 per cent. Shares at BlackBerry were up by $0.85 (£0.51, AU$0.96) to $9.93 (£6, AU$11.20), an increase of 9.36 per cent, at the time of writing. Potatoes set to power phones and tablets within 3 years Jan 22nd 2014, 17:24, by Thomas Thorn The battery technology that currently sits behind the screens of all our screen heavy smartphones and tablets may be in line for a revolution following research at Virginia Tech University. With the launch of the Samsung Galaxy S5 round the corner, complete with its supposed 2900mAh battery that will charge in under 2 hours, it is clear that batteries are being heavily looked at. Virginia Tech's breakthrough comes from using energies that occur in natural sugars, rather than using chemicals like Lithium that graces modern batteries. Sugar based batteries are ideal for use in mobile phones as, unlike other bio-energies including Hydrogen and Methanol, the sugar solutions are non-explosive. It's only logical According to Professor Y H Percival Zhang "it's only logical that we try to harness this natural power in an environmentally friendly way to produce a battery." This natural power is harnessed from starch, found in foodstuffs such as the humble potato, broken down "slowly step-by-step by using an enzyme cascade" said Zhang. By using this process, significant qualities of electrons are released to generate a current. Sugar solutions have been experimented with before, but the breakthrough has come with the research team claiming the new batteries produce significantly more energy, as well as storing up to 10 times more energy than their chemical based counterparts The report submitted to Nature Communications suggests that these new batteries could be being used to power our modern gadgets within three years, so we could be set to see the technology debut in the Samsung Galaxy S8 or Apple iPhone 7S. Potatoes set to power phones and tablets within 3 years Jan 22nd 2014, 17:24, by Thomas Thorn The battery technology that currently sits behind the screens of all our screen heavy smartphones and tablets may be in line for a revolution following research at Virginia Tech University. With the launch of the Samsung Galaxy S5 round the corner, complete with its supposed 2900mAh battery that will charge in under 2 hours, it is clear that batteries are being heavily looked at. Virginia Tech's breakthrough comes from using energies that occur in natural sugars, rather than using chemicals like Lithium that graces modern batteries. Sugar based batteries are ideal for use in mobile phones as, unlike other bio-energies including Hydrogen and Methanol, the sugar solutions are non-explosive. It's only logical According to Professor Y H Percival Zhang "it's only logical that we try to harness this natural power in an environmentally friendly way to produce a battery." This natural power is harnessed from starch, found in foodstuffs such as the humble potato, broken down "slowly step-by-step by using an enzyme cascade" said Zhang. By using this process, significant qualities of electrons are released to generate a current. Sugar solutions have been experimented with before, but the breakthrough has come with the research team claiming the new batteries produce significantly more energy, as well as storing up to 10 times more energy than their chemical based counterparts The report submitted to Nature Communications suggests that these new batteries could be being used to power our modern gadgets within three years, so we could be set to see the technology debut in the Samsung Galaxy S8 or Apple iPhone 7S. Galaxy S3 and Note 2 to receive KitKat update by end of March Jan 22nd 2014, 17:17, by Thomas Thorn The Android 4.4 KitKat update process is in full swing, and it appears that those waiting on 2012's Samsung flagships might not be left waiting too much longer for the chocolaty update. According to a Samsung software engineer talking to Android Geeks, the update is set to hit both the Samsung Galaxy S3 and the Galaxy Note 2 "in late Q1 2014, soon after the Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 roll out." No new TouchWiz The engineer also added that UI changes will be minor, and there will be no new software added so it seems that Samsung will be saving its new interface exclusively for its 2014 handsets. This would give the older handsets a new lease of life, with both handsets easily capable of running the software thanks to quad-core chips and 1 or 2GB RAM sat on the the S3 and Note 2 respectively. We have to add, as we do with every update, that roll out times will vary depending on your territory as well as having to pass carrier testing, so don't go holding your breath just yet. Did you know the budget Moto G has already received the KitKat update? Galaxy S3 and Note 2 to receive KitKat update by end of March Jan 22nd 2014, 17:17, by Thomas Thorn The Android 4.4 KitKat update process is in full swing, and it appears that those waiting on 2012's Samsung flagships might not be left waiting too much longer for the chocolaty update. According to a Samsung software engineer talking to Android Geeks, the update is set to hit both the Samsung Galaxy S3 and the Galaxy Note 2 "in late Q1 2014, soon after the Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 roll out." No new TouchWiz The engineer also added that UI changes will be minor, and there will be no new software added so it seems that Samsung will be saving its new interface exclusively for its 2014 handsets. This would give the older handsets a new lease of life, with both handsets easily capable of running the software thanks to quad-core chips and 1 or 2GB RAM sat on the the S3 and Note 2 respectively. We have to add, as we do with every update, that roll out times will vary depending on your territory as well as having to pass carrier testing, so don't go holding your breath just yet. Did you know the budget Moto G has already received the KitKat update? In Depth: Get marathon fit with your smartphone: the half / full marathon Jan 22nd 2014, 16:00, by Kieran Alger If the New Year has inspired you to get fighting fit, then you've hit the right page. Technology has the tools to help you get in the shape of your life but it's not easy to know which product is right for your goals. We've enlisted the help of T3.com Editor-in-chief and ultra runner Kieran Alger to put together a four-part guide to help you uncover everything you need to go from couch slouch to marathon finisher. If you're reading this we're going to assume three things. Number one, you've conquered the couch to 5k. Number two: you've successfully trotted out a 10k. Three: there's now a nagging question in your new runner's brain – could I go the distance and do a half or full marathon? The answer you're looking for is YES YOU CAN. You just need a little help. In the final part of our four-step guide to getting marathon fit with your smartphone, follow our essential tips and we'll show you how you can use your phone to go the full 26.2. Missed a step? Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 1. Get a training plan that matches your goals WalkJogRun Whether you're looking to walk your first half marathon or run your twentieth full 26.2 miles, WalkJogRun is a fantastic training app created by coach and RunnersWorld.com expert Jenny Hadfield. It'll tell you exactly how far you need to run, walk or jog each to day to train to reach your marathon goal. There are 23 carefully crafted training plans to choose from, covering everything from the absolute beginner to an advanced runner trying to hit a new personal best. £2.99, iOS 10 best health and fitness accessories for your smartphone Adidas miCoach We've mentioned the miCoach app before, but the level of detail you get makes it worthy of a second appearance. The app lets you plug in your goal, including distance, date and time, asks for details - like how many times you'd like to train - and your current level of fitness and then fires out your own personalised marathon training plan. You can view it all on your phone and the app uses your GPS tracking to make sure you're doing each session at the right pace and intensity, delivering coaching advice direct to your headphones. Free, Android and iOS 8 phones to supercharge your fitness in 2014 2. Keep the fun in the run Different types of training sessions are essential for improving your running to marathon standard. You'll need a good mix of long slow miles, hills, intervals, tempo runs and speed work. Putting in all those hours on the road, during the cold winter months, is the thing most people find hardest. It can be a lonely place out there at 7pm on a Monday night but it doesn't have to be dull. These apps will help you keep the training fresh and add a healthy dose of fun into the mix. 10 essential fitness apps for iOS Fartlek: Zombies Run Fartlek is a form of training whose name comes from Sweden - the literal translation is 'speed play'. It involves breaking your run down into segments of varying length and then running them at different speeds. A 100m fast pace followed by 50m recovery, then a 200m medium pace, and 300m recovery. You can do this on your own but Zombies Run recreates this for you by using your smartphone's GPS to create the feeling that you're being chased by hordes of the flesh hungry undead. Your job is to avoid them. iOS and Android 10 best fitness apps for Android Tempo: Strava Run We recommended Strava Run as a good running app in part two and one of its strongest features makes it even more effective as a marathon training tool. The app works like any other GPS run-tracking app but lets you choose from a range of runs other people have completed and then go out to beat their time. You can use this new form of competition as motivation for your tempo training, where you'll need to run a selected distance at a specific pace or heart rate. Free, iOS and Android 10 essential fitness apps for Windows Phone 3. Get the right fuel in your tank It sounds obvious to say, but training and running a marathon is a whole different ball game to trotting out a 10k. You can't underestimate that. It means looking at what you eat to fuel your training, help you recover and actually power you on race day. Myfitnesspal A lot of people take up running to lose weight and see marathon training as the perfect motivation to drop a few pounds. However, it's vital that you're getting the right fuel for your training. Myfitnesspal is a fantastic app that lets you track your daily intake, with detailed information on the main nutrient groups so you can ensure you're getting enough carbs, vitamins and all the vital fats. You can connect it with running apps like Endomondo to help make sure your calorie intake is at the right level, while the barcode scanner makes it a doddle to record almost any food. Free, iOS and Android Nom Nom Paleo If you can get to the start line with more lean muscle mass and less of the blubbery stuff you'll run a better marathon. One popular eating plan for endurance runners is the Paleo diet that focuses on protein and getting your carbs from healthy vegetables rather than the gluten and wheat-filled pasta and bread. The Nom Nom Paleo app gives you hundreds of fitness friendly Paleo recipes, taking the fuss out of fuelling your body with plenty to the right stuff. £3.99, iOS 4. Motivation to make your journey social We all know those people, the ones who constantly brag about their workouts and fitness. It's time to become one of them. Sharing your running progress on social networks is proven to keep you on the straight and narrow with your training. Once your network of friends, family, colleagues and exes know you've signed up for a marathon, there's nowhere to hide. Failure is not an option. Plus you'll get some welcome pep talks along the way. Blogging your journey is also a great way to stay motivated. It lets you track all the hard work you're putting in, helps you access advice from fellow marathoners and it brings the whole challenge to life. There are a few simple tools to make it easy to document your journey to marathon greatness. Look up the Runblrs on Tumblr Tumblr is a brilliantly easy blogging tool. Choose a URl, select from hundreds of free instant templates and with a few clicks you've got your own super-social website where you can add words, photos, video, quotes and links. There's also a huge existing community you can tap into on #runblr or #fitblr, with thousands of runners and fitness types already sharing tips, keeping each other motivated and celebrating successes. It's like having a team of virtual running coaches, supporters and nutritionists. Instagram You're going to be putting in a lot of miles in a loads of new locations. En route you'll see things that amaze and confuse you in equal measure. Stopping to snap them not only offers a little breather from the run, but it's brilliant Instagram fodder. You'll be able to show those lazy people still in bed at 6am on a Sunday morning what a beautiful sunrise over your local park looks like. Oh, and that cat with its head stuck in a bucket. Essential Reading: Motivational e-reads to help you through the hard times Running with the Kenyans If you want to run faster, further and with better form, then why not learn from the undisputed world leaders? That's what runner and author, Adharanand Finn, decided to do. This book tells his story as he heads to Kenyan running Mecca Iten for a slightly terrifying, intensive, six month training session with some of the world's fastest long distance athletes. Great tales, magical insights and the odd running secret are revealed. What I talk about when I talk about running Japanese novelist Haurki Murakami has been a lifelong runner. It's so much a part of his life that he has built the daily miles into his creative process, intrinsically linked to his ability to write. This gripping and inspiring read follows this concept as Murakami discusses what it means to be a runner and push yourself beyond your limits. Samsung Galaxy S5 may finally abandon that physical home button Jan 22nd 2014, 11:55, by Thomas Thorn As the launch of the Samsung Galaxy S5 edges closer, we have been treated to leaks of what the UI may look like, yet what the handset will look like has remained a mystery.. until now. A patent granted by the USPTO contains designs for a buttonless smartphone, first filed on July 20 2012, signalling a major design change for the Korean manufacturer. Samsung handsets have traditionally incorporated a home button and soft keys below the screen, and while it's been said that Samsung is keen to move away from the design of the Galaxy S4 as many (including ourselves) saw it as too similar to the Galaxy S3 - the patent suggest the overall design won't be radically different. What about retina? More interestingly the patent doesn't seem to show any sign of the oft rumoured retina scanner, although the design eludes to the inclusion of a fingerprint scanner. An unexplained rectangle appears in the back of the handset, conveniently sitting in an ideal spot to scan your digits as you hold the device - perhaps it's the volume rocker, but that appears to be in its standard location on the side of the device. We'll have to wait and see just how much of this design actually makes it to the final Galaxy S5, so keep your eyes peeled here for the latest news. Here's everything you need to know about the Samsung S5 so far HTC M8 incoming? Two new handsets get the green light Jan 22nd 2014, 11:17, by Hugh Langley The mythical beast known as the HTC M8, rumoured successor of the HTC One, is getting ever closer. Two as-yet-announced handsets have just been given certification by the Indonesia equivalent of the US FCC, as spotted by GSMinsider, hinting that an announcement isn't far off. The HTC M8x and HTC D310w received their certification on January 13. It's a safe bet that the M8x is the M8 or at least a variation of the upcoming phone. Of course, we expect that HTC will be giving the device a more attractive name for launch. Undisclosed desires The identity of the HTC D310w, on the other hand, is a little less certain. Right now there's speculation that this could be the next phone in the HTC Desire series, possibly aimed at emerging markets. So when might we see these the M8 show its face? There have been whisperings that a launch is set to take place towards the end of March, though there's a chance we could see it revealed at MWC 2014, complete with a full HD display and Android 4.4. What else is new with the HTC M8? Motorola boss hints at a super cheap smartphone Jan 22nd 2014, 10:35, by Thomas Thorn It seems that Motorola isn't resting on its budget based laurels, as it looks to crush the Moto G in the price stakes. Talking to TrustedReviews, Motorola CEO Dennis Woodside questioned a need for higher price points saying "why can't these devices be $50? There's no reason that can't happen so we're going to push that." This would give the potential device a price tag of about £30 (AU$56), a saving of approximately 75% over Motorola's cheaper handset, leaving it to compete against the more expensive feature phones and super budget smartphones. The Moto G was expensive? Unfortunately, we might not see the baby Moto G reach our shores as it may be targeted at emerging markets, with Woodside commenting "in much of the world $179 is a lot of money so there's a big market at a price point of less than $179". Details as to when we might be able to see this super cheap handset, or just what could be inside are also missing, but needless to say we're not expecting a massive HD display or a bundle of cores. Woodside may also have let slip a few more details regarding further customisation and Motorola's Project Ara modular smartphone, saying "Today you have colours and beginning of materials but you don't have screen size and you don't have functionality and we're going to bring all that in in the next year or so."

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