Review TechRadar: Phone and communications news 01-24-2014

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Apple says it will not merge OS X and iOS Jan 24th 2014, 14:00, by Hugh Langley Apple is celebrating 30 years of the Mac, but what of its future? If you've been calling for Apple to merge OS X with iOS, it's not looking good. Speaking in an interview with Macworld, Apple's senior VP of worldwide marketing, Phil Schiller, doused the flames of speculation that Apple might be moving towards runing one OS across its computer and mobile products. "We don't waste time thinking, 'But it should be one [interface].' How do you make these [operating systems] merge together?' What a waste of energy that would be," he said. "The reason OS X has a different interface than iOS isn't because one came after the other or because this one's old and this one's new," said Apple's senior vice president of Software Engineering, Craig Federighi. "Instead, it's because using a mouse and keyboard just isn't the same as tapping with your finger." Double vision While Microsoft continues to bring its computer and mobile operating systems together, Apple believes that a total overlap would make for a bad user experience. "You don't want to say the Mac became less good at being a Mac because someone tried to turn it into iOS. At the same time, you don't want to feel like iOS was designed by [one] company and Mac was designed by [a different] company, and they're different for reasons of lack of common vision," said Fedrighi. "So you'll see them be the same where that makes sense, and you'll see them be different in those things that are critical to their success." Celebrating 30 years of the Mac Samsung confirms its phones and tablets will only get bigger Jan 24th 2014, 12:40, by James Rogerson Samsung's betting big on, well, big, as the South Korean company looks to be focusing on large, 5- to 6-inch smartphones and even bigger tablets, with sizes of up to 20 inches expected. G4Games is reporting that during its quarterly earnings conference call Samsung's Executive Director, Hyunjoon Kim, revealed the company's big plans. Samsung led the phablet charge with the Galaxy Note back in 2011 and it's still the market leader in that space, so it's no wonder the company is planning to focus on that area. Too big? But 20-inch tablets is another matter altogether, as they'll almost certainly be a fairly niche product, though we've recently seen Samsung edge in this direction with the 12.2-inch Galaxy Note Pro. Kim stated that these giant devices will be a new tablet category and that the slates will have high resolution screens. There's certainly a market for such things but we'd be surprised if they fly off the shelves. He also stated that the company will be producing various tablets which will be modified versions of the Galaxy Tab, as if the market wasn't already flooded with enough different Samsung tablets. Finally, Kim reiterated that the company will be improving the screen sensitivity of its devices, which will allow for the likes of improved Air Gestures. Don't want to wait for the new raft of phablets? The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 is out now. Samsung's 'hot corners' may bring ultimate one-handed control to your smartphone Jan 24th 2014, 11:30, by James Rogerson We might soon be seeing some major changes to Samsung's TouchWiz smartphone interface, as some recently uncovered patents point to the addition of 'hot corners'. By tapping one of the four corners of the screen a selection of shortcuts will apparently appear, giving users quick access to apps, settings and notifications. Not only would these shortcuts make it quicker and easier to access commonly used apps and features, but they could also make one-handed operation more viable on large handsets. Each corner seems able to house at least three shortcuts, for a minimum of twelve in total, though as the corners resemble dials it's possible that you can turn them to reveal even more shortcuts. Social sounds The patents, turned up by GalaxyClub, also suggest that Samsung is working on new social features for its music app, allowing users to share music that they like with friends and comment on other people's shared music. It's unclear if or when we'll see these features in a Samsung phone, but with a TouchWiz overhaul rumored for the Galaxy S5 it's not unreasonable to think that these changes might feature in the flagship handset too. Samsung may be looking at hardware changes too, with the home button rumored to be biting the bullet Galaxy S5 MWC 2014 launch is actually a Tizen event Jan 24th 2014, 11:25, by John McCann Remember all that fuss over a potential Samsung Galaxy S5 launch at MWC 2014? We weren't convinced, and it now looks like we were right to be wary. News is hitting the web that Samsung has started sending out invites to an event at MWC 2014 - but it won't be to launch the Galaxy S5, instead it'll be all about Tizen. The news broke on the Korean arm of ZDnet, revealing that Samsung will be providing a preview of various Tizen devices. Tizen only With this being a Tizen-only event, it reinforces suggestions that Samsung will give the Galaxy S5 its own launch event in March - in either New York or London. Before that though we'll be in Barcelona to bring you all the latest from MWC, including Samsung's Tizen goodies. Is Tizen the operating system that could thwart Android? Nokia's mysterious Android phone could launch as Nokia X Jan 24th 2014, 10:21, by James Rogerson The much rumored Nokia Normandy Android smartphone may in fact be called the Nokia X if and when it's officially unveiled. That's according to a tweet by the often reliable @evleaks, which said simply "Project Normandy = Nokia X". If the Nokia X does manage to break cover we could be looking at a 4-inch display, a Qualcomm S4 processor, 512MB of RAM, 4GB of storage and a 3MP camera according to a source which spoke to The Verge. Lower your X-pectations Nokia's Normandy handset has been popping up with alarming regularity lately and its very existence is a little puzzling given the Microsoft sale. But we've seen so much of it now that there's little doubt it exists and if the Nokia X is ever going to see the light of day it will likely do so during Nokia's press event at MWC 2014 next month. Though given those specs it's unlikely to be a show stealer. Wondering what other wonders might emerge at MWC? We'll guide you through what to expect. Here's how we think the Nokia X should look: FutTv : 62x9s45ONGIO9 SwiftKey for iOS allegedly leaks, could be as good as Android keyboard Jan 24th 2014, 00:30, by Matt Swider Apple improved the keyboard in iOS 7, but the Android-exclusive SwiftKey is still hands down the best on-screen input method out there. Developer TouchType could finally bring its AI-driven predictive keyboard to iPhone and iPad users if a leaked image from evleaks is to be believed. It shows what looks to be a SwiftKey app running on iOS with a suggestion-filled predictive candidate bar above an otherwise normal-looking keyboard. The allegedly SwiftKey app is running on an iPhone 5S and includes a promotional-friendly typed out message of "A super-fast typing ..." Keys to Apple's walled garden? Even if SwiftKey is working on an Android-to-iOS transition for its popular keyboard, it might not be able to take full advantage of the platform. That's because Apple doesn't allow third-party apps to tinker with the iOS on-screen keyboard. It's why SwiftKey, despite being the No. 1 paid download in the Google Play store, remains an Android-only app. SwiftKey for iOS could be hamstrung and unable to cure everyone's typos if it has to be enabled on an app-by-app basis. If that's the case the site "Damn You Auto Correct" can stay in business. Read our Google Glass review, as we may be talking to our devices in the future instead of typing. LG G Optimus G Pro 2 may show its 6-inch face at MWC 2014 Jan 23rd 2014, 23:24, by Lily Prasuethsut The rumors are heating up for big phone debuts at the upcoming MWC 2014. At last year's Congress, LG revealed the Optimus G Pro and an updated affordable L series, so we expect a similar array this year. It seems like the Korean site ETNews also believes LG will drop a new phone at the conference - specifically the LG Optimus G Pro 2. The report claims the company will tout the Optimus G Pro 2 as its latest high-end phone, while sporting the latest Android 4.4 update - the first in LG's line with the newest version of Android. Speculated specs The Electronics Times also suggests that the G Pro 2 will run a Snapdragon 800 processor and 3GB of RAM all behind a massive 6-inch Full HD display. LTE and LTE-Advanced networks are also purportedly part of the package according to "telecommunications industry sources" as cited by the site. With only a month left until the conference, we're sure more rumors will continue to pop up on the 'net. However, for the real deal, check back in February for full coverage of MWC. Will LG's latest entry make it onto our 20 best smartphones list? Updated: Qualcomm picks up Palm, truck-load of other mobile patents from HP Jan 23rd 2014, 22:00, by Michael Rougeau Update: A Qualcomm spokesperson sent over the following rather lengthy statement in response to TechRadar's queries. She clarified some points, explaining more about what these patents cover and what Qualcomm plans to do with them: "The acquisition further enhances the strength and diversity of our industry-leading mobile patent portfolio and will enable the company to offer even more value to current and future licensees. The patents and patent applications acquired by Qualcomm in this transaction cover many different aspects and features of mobile operating systems (such as rejecting an incoming call with a text and using location as a trigger for reminders), as well as several other technologies used in mobile products such as smartphones and tablets. "The technologies covered by these patents complement the technologies covered by Qualcomm's existing patents, which include, for example technologies related to cellular and other wireless transmissions of voice and data, semiconductor design technologies, display technologies, and wireless charging technologies in addition to mobile operating system technologies. "The purchase of these patents signals Qualcomm's commitment to its partners to remain at the forefront of wireless technology in our licensing business as well as our product businesses. Patent acquisitions such as this, along with Qualcomm's continued investment of a large percentage of its revenue in R&D, enable Qualcomm to provide additional value to its licensing customers over time. In addition, Qualcomm generates several billion dollars in annual product sales. We are not and have no plans to become a 'non-practicing entity.'" Original story below… Qualcomm has purchased a large batch of patents from HP, raising a number of questions for one company while seemingly wiping the hands for another. In a press release, the companies said the sale was aimed to "further enhance the strength and diversity of Qualcomm's Incorporated's industry-leading mobile patent portfolio." The portfolio includes roughly 2,400 granted patents and pending applications related to HP's Palm, IPAQ and Bitfone technologies. Most of those - 1,400 - are from the US, while 1,000 are from other countries. However, they didn't spill the beans on how much Qualcomm paid for the IP. Big plans, maybe The announcement says most of these patents cover technologies like "fundamental mobile operating system techniques." There are no clues as to what Qualcomm plans to do with these patents, besides the press release's vague promise that they "will enable the company to offer even more value to current and future licensees." Qualcomm has been riding high in recent years, as its Snapdragon brand processors are powering top smartphones like the Samsung Galaxy S4, the HTC One and many others. HP meanwhile has done its darndest to wash itself of Palm. The company sold its operating system, webOS, to LG early last year. There's no word on how Qualcomm's purchase will affect LG's webOS-based Smart TVs, if at all. According to Recode.net, HP will retain licensing rights to the patents. We've asked Qualcomm to elaborate on its plans for this portfolio and will update this article if we hear back. In the meantime, check out TechRadar's list of the best tablets available now! OnePlus 'One' CyanogenMod phone will launch globally in the coming months Jan 23rd 2014, 21:45, by klee Android lovers can already get their hands on one pre-rooted Android phone, but soon they'll have One other. OnePlus, Cyanogen's startup manufacturer partner since late last year, took to its Google+ and Facebook pages to reveal it plans to release its first phone globally during the second quarter of 2014. The device OnePlus teased on is called the One - a name sure to cause HTC some grief. The company described the phone as "built using only the best components and 2014 flagship specs, both inside and outside." One bandwidth That's not a lot of specifics to work with, but the smartphone upstart noted the One handset would come with 9-band LTE support. This includes LTE Bands, namely 1/3/4/7/17/38/39/40/41 to help mobile users keep calling and calling around the world. If the phone comes to the US it will likely come to T-Mobile, which runs on LTE band 4. AT&T users surf on bands 4 and 17. Root the day Of course other than wireless LTE spectrum options, the phone's most notable feature is CyanogenMod. Thus far rooted operating system only appears on the Oppo N1, which did receive a Godfather-style blessing from Google itself. Oppo N1's CyanogenMod 10.2 allows user to fine-tune a rooted version of Android 4.2, making the OS lighter, more secure and completely customizable. Thanks to Google's approval, the phone can also access the Google Play Store to download apps instead of manually loading them on. OnePlus claimed that its version of CyanogenMod won't be the same rooters are used to seeing. Instead it will feature "new, specially customized features and new exciting elements to the CyanogenMod experience." Again, OnePlus wasn't ready to release specifics on the One just yet. But the early teases are tantalizing, we'll have to wait and see if the device-making youngster can deliver in the coming months. Games might finally, actually, maybe come to Apple TV. Apple could stick sapphire to screens, processors and more in iPhone 6 Jan 23rd 2014, 20:15, by Michael Rougeau Apple has filed a patent that reveals some of the ways it might utilize sapphire in its future devices, like the iPhone 6 and the next iPad. The patent actually describes ways that sapphire might be attached to electronics, but in doing so it reveals potential applications for the material. We already know that Apple might use a sapphire coating to make its devices' screens even tougher than the Gorilla Glass it currently uses. Sapphire is hard to break and literally crystal clear, after all. But how about using sapphire to dissipate heat from an iPhone's processor? Melting for sapphire It turns out sapphire conducts heat just as well as some metals do, and the new Apple patent describe mounting the crystal to a device's chip to help absorb some of those degrees. When it comes to how the sapphire would actually be mounted, the patent describes a few techniques. In one instance, melted plastic or metal is poured through an aperture in the sapphire surface, thereby binding them together when it cools. Then electronics can be attached to the metal or plastic. Another method describes a molding technique that would attach other materials directly to the sapphire substrate's edges. A sapphire future Sapphire is already being used in Apple's devices - as the camera lens cover on the iPhone 5, and as the fingerprint sensor cover on the iPhone 5S. And crystal specialists GT Advanced Technologies revealed in November 2013 they had signed a multi-year supply deal with Apple. Apple's plans for the material going forward are unknown, but it's clearly investigating every option for its new iDevices. Is a fancy sapphire fingerprint reader enough to make the iPhone 5S the best? Read TechRadar's review to find out what we think. Nokia Normandy Android phone may see MWC reveal, if Microsoft doesn't stop it Jan 23rd 2014, 19:31, by Michelle Fitzsimmons Nokia may be turning its handset business over to the Big M soon, but it may still have one more smartphone surprise up its sleeve. That is, if Microsoft lets Nokia unveil it. The Finnish firm has scheduled a press event for next month's Mobile World Congress, and it's during the February 24 gathering that it could launch the rumored Android Normandy phone. Nokia sources speaking with The Verge said the company was planning on debuting Normandy in Barcelona. The press event date almost matches a recent leak that suggested a February 25 Normandy reveal. What's to come Although the stars look aligned for a MWC debut, with Microsoft's purchase of Nokia's device and services division expected to close the quarter, it's doubtful Redmond will let Finland announce (let alone release) and Android phone. If Nokia doesn't get the chance to show off Normandy at MWC, it may still have another hardware trick to perform. We could be in for the Lumia 929 "Icon" Windows Phone, though admittedly it would be a little strange to launch a device seemingly destined for US carrier Verizon during a giant European tech event. Don't look for Microsoft to have a big presence at the MWC 2014, however more Verge sources say April's Build conference will have plenty on Windows Phone 8.1. TechRadar will be on the ground at MWC and Build, so stay tuned for all the latest. See our vision of what a Nokia/Google hardware collab would look like! FutTv : 62x9s45ONGIO9 Apple said to be plotting pair of bigger iPhones for release this year Jan 23rd 2014, 18:58, by klee Apple may have big plans for its smartphones this year. And we mean big. The Wall Street Journal (pay wall) is reporting that Apple is plotting two iPhones with screens that stretch further than ever before for 2014. One will have a display measuring over 4.5 inches diagonally and the other will reach beyond 5 inches diagonally, the report claimed. These screens would overshadow the 4-inchers found on the likes of the iPhone 5S. Although larger, both phones are said to share the same metal clad design as the 5S. Unfortunately for its iPhone 5C brethren, Apple is apparently planning to cease producing plastic phones. However, we think it's unlikely the 5C will disappear completely so soon after launch. Finally, those hoping for curved new iPhones are out of luck; those displays reportedly won't find their way to the larger Cupertino cells. Larger iPhones abound Recent reports have pinned the iPhone 6 has sporting a display larger than 4.5-inches (4.8, to be exact). Though not mentioned by name, it would appear the iPhone 6 is set on having a larger screen than its predecessors. The smaller phone is apparently further along than the larger model, and nearing readiness for mass production. The larger of the two is still stuck in the early stages of development, though Apple plans to have it out this year. Of course, any and all details of the new iPhones could change before they reach final release. Game of screens Apple is swinging to big-size phone screens partially to compete with larger handsets like the Samsung Galaxy S4 and LG G2. However, the Journal also noted Apple is following this gargantuan display path because big screens are popular in China. Rumors and reports of bigger screens of Apple have been bubbling for some time now, even boiling over to tablets. Beyond phones we recently heard murmurings of a 13-inch iPad that will blur the line between tablets and PCs. Is Google Glass worth the stares and social judgment? We find out in our full review. LG G2 Pro phablet on the cards ahead of LG G3 Jan 23rd 2014, 11:57, by John McCann The LG G3 is widely expected to arrive sometime in 2014, but it may be towards the end of the year as news arrives suggesting LG will squeeze in another top-end handset before its big reveal. Korean site ETNews is reporting that the manufacturer is lining up the LG G2 Pro, a move which would mirror the launch of the LG Optimus G Pro - the successor to the original Optimus G. Apparently the LG G2 Pro will get a screen boost from 5.2 inches up to 6 inches, propelling it firmly into the "phablet" sector. It'll keep the same 1080p resolution as the LG G2 though, with the QHD display supposedly being held back for the G3. All eyes on MWC As far as other specs go the LG G2 Pro is touted to have a quad-core Snapdragon 800 processor, 3GB of RAM and Android 4.4 KitKat - the latest flavour of Google's mobile platform. A LG G2 Pro release date is pegged for sometime in the next month or so, and with MWC 2014 just around the corner all eyes will be on Barcelona come February 24. Here's what else to look out for at MWC 2014 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 rumours 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 rumours 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?

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