| BlackBerry is down but not out as it releases a new software update Jan 28th 2014, 15:07, by James Rogerson 
BlackBerry's smartphone business may be dying a slow death, but the Canadian company isn't ready to bow out just yet, as it's continuing to support its customers with a new software update, bringing the BlackBerry 10 OS up to version 10.2.1. The update is rolling out to customers around the world starting today and it brings a treasure trove of features and improvements to BlackBerry's beleaguered OS. The new features include a 'picture password', which allows you to quickly unlock your handset by dragging the correct number over the correct part of an image. There's also a new device and battery monitor, which provides CPU stats as well as information on battery life and storage. Music to your earsIf you have a BlackBerry Z30, Q10 or Q5 and have been longing for an FM radio you're in luck, because the update adds one for those handsets, allowing you to listen to local stations without an internet connection. On the improvements front BlackBerry 10.2.1 allows you to swipe left to answer a call or right to ignore it, as well as adding new intuitive icons to the incoming call screen, making it easy to silence a call or message the caller. You can also create SMS and email groups, open lock screen messages with a tap, pinch the BlackBerry Hub to filter messages, customize the available actions on the Quick Settings menu, save web pages for offline reading, choose which sources to sync a contact from, receive automatic software updates and if you have BES 10.2 you'll also gain extra security features and IT policies. It's an impressive update for such a minor number jump and while it won't likely be enough to win many new customers it should at least keep existing users happy.        |  | Updated: Not even Google Maps, Angry Birds are safe from NSA and GCHQ spying Jan 28th 2014, 14:37, by Michael Rougeau 
The documents leaked by Edward Snowden continue to rain revelations, the latest being that government intelligence agencies use Angry Birds, other popular apps and Google Maps in their spying and data collection efforts. The popular birdbrain smartphone game is apparently "leaky" in that it inadvertently broadcasts users' data. The NSA and its UK counterpart the GCHQ are apparently all too keen to take advantage of that. The data can include anything from phone specs to sensitive information like a user's age, sexual orientation, gender, political leanings and more, according to reports from The Guardian, The New York Times and ProPublica. The data is collected and transmitted for "commercial" purposes, presumably related to ads, but the NSA and GCHQ "piggyback" on these apps to collect the info as part of their widespread global data collection efforts, the reports said. No wonder they're angryAngry Birds is not alone in this, either; Facebook and Twitter were also named in these reports, as well as Millenial Media, an ad platform that has partnered with big game companies like Angry Birds developer Rovio, Call of Duty maker Activision, and FarmVille developer Zynga. And although apps like Twitter and Facebook may delete location data and other metadata from photos and posts before they're published on the social networks, that information may briefly be available during the uploading process. So depending on when in this process the metadata is discarded and when the government agencies intercept the item being uploaded, that information may still be available. Google Maps is apparently a major source of information for these agencies as well, as they can piece together large swathes of location data from users' search and directions queries. Sworn to protectThis just-revealed data collection differs from the spying we knew about previously in that these reports claim the NSA and GCHQ are collecting data from smartphone apps in addition to calls and texts, data sources that were previously revealed. The NSA said in a statement that it doesn't target individual US citizens with its phone data collection practices, and that protections exist for citizens who are incidentally targeted as well as for foreigners who are not suspected of any wrongdoing. For its part, Rovio said it has no knowledge of data collection or spying activities on the part of the NSA or GCHQ, no idea whether ad networks like Millenial Media are complicit in these activities and no involvement whatsoever with these agencies or their surveillance programs. Update: Rovio's CEO Mikael Hed said in no uncertain terms: "We do not collaborate, collude or share data with spy angencies anywhere in the world. "As the alleged surveillance might be happening through third party advertising networks, the most important conversation to be had is how to ensure user privacy is protected while preventing the negative impact on the whole advertising industry and the countless mobile apps that rely on ad networks. "In order to protect our end users, we will, like all other companies using third party advertising networks, have to re-evaluate working with these networks if they are being used for spying purposes." Both the NSA and the GCHQ stressed that all programs operate within the letter of the law, and the NSA further claimed that revealing them to the public in this manner "is detrimental to the security of the United States and our allies - and places at risk those we are sworn to protect."        | | Why Facebook's latest Android update wants to read your text messages Jan 28th 2014, 12:00, by Kate Solomon 
Facebook's latest Android update requires you to give it the fairly invasive permission to read your text messages. It was spotted and brought to the internet's attention by a Reddit user, who assumed that the inclusion of access to your phone's SMS and MMS messages was to allow Facebook to skim off more information about you for yet more targeted advertising. But Facebook tells us it's actually for a much less alarming reason. When we spoke to the social network, a spokesperson pointed us in the direction of Facebook Android engineer Franci Penov's response to the post. Two-factorHe explained that the READ_SMS permission is uesd to "automatically intercept login approvals SMS messages for people that have turned 2-factor authentication for their accounts, or for phone confirmation when you add a phone number to your Facebook account." If they could, Facebook's engineers would make the permission more specific, so that the app can read only the messages sent from a specific number (although Penov also notes that this would cause a lot of problems given that the numbers used vary from country to country). The other thing on the engineers' wishlist is to tailor the required permissions based on your own preferences - so if you didn't opt for 2-factor authentication on your Facebook account, the app wouldn't request permission to read your messages. So while the social network steered clear of explicitly telling us it's not skimming your messages for marketing reasons, a relatively innocent explanation for the rather alarming sounding request does exist.        | | Samsung Zeq 900 leaked as firm's first Tizen smartphone Jan 28th 2014, 10:34, by James Rogerson 
Samsung's first Tizen smartphone has appeared in a leaked photo, going by the name Zeq 9000 - but that's set to change. The image was leaked by South Korean website MovePlayer, which revealed that the Zeq 9000 will apparently have a 4.8-inch HD display and a 2.3GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor. It looks typically Samsung, with a dark textured plastic body with curved edges, and the home screen on the display looks distinctly Tizen. In other words, it looks believable - although we can't verify the authenticity of the leak. It's said to be 136.1 x 69.1mm, which would make it slightly smaller than the Samsung Galaxy S4, though there's no word on how slim it will be. Zeke after leakThe phone is currently known as the Zeq 9000, but the site suggests that the handset may be called 'Zeke' when it launches, because, according to MovePlayer's unnamed source, Samsung filed for the brand name in August. As it's not clear where MovePlayer is getting its information from it's hard to say whether any of this is true or not, but the image of the phone certainly looks the part. We should know soon enough as Samsung is expected to unveil its first Tizen phones at MWC 2014 in February. - There'll be plenty more to see at MWC. Check out our guide for what to expect.
       | | Nokia X specs appear again to reinforce budget credentials Jan 28th 2014, 09:54, by John McCann 
The Nokia X Android smartphone is gaining more momentum every day, and we've now got another set of specs to attach to the handset. Perennial mobile leaker @evleaks is at the centre of things again, posting up specs supposed linked to the Finnish firm's much rumored Normandy device. The tweet reads: "Nokia X: 2 x 1GHz Snapdragon, 4" WVGA, 512MB / 4GB / microSD, 5MP, 1500MAh, Nokia Store + 3rd party, dual-SIM, 6 colors" - which falls in line with specs leaked earlier in the week. Déjà vuThese are similar specs to the current baby of the Lumia range, the Nokia Lumia 520, although the Nokia X looks set to pack less internal storage and a slightly larger battery. The biggest difference however will be the operating system, with Nokia ditching Windows Phone 8 in favor of a potentially heavily modified Android platform. Of course these specs can't be taken as gospel, but @evleaks does have a pretty strong track record of being on the money - so watch this space. FutTv : 62x9s45ONGIO9       | | Touch ID only the start? Cook says Apple 'intrigued' by mobile payments Jan 27th 2014, 22:48, by Michelle Fitzsimmons 
Apple's old staples are selling well enough, but questions always swirl about what "one more thing" Cupertino has planned next. Some of the most recent speculation around a future area of interest for Apple is the mobile payments space, and CEO Tim Cook brushed on the possibility of entering it during the company's earnings call today. Cook, who refrained from levying the call's opening remarks as he normally does and stuck to fielding questions, called mobile payments an area "we've been intrigued with, and that was one of the thoughts behind Touch ID." "So I don't have anything specific to announce today, but you can tell by looking at the demographics of our customers, and the amount of commerce that goes through iOS devices versus the competition, that it's a big opportunity for the platform," he concluded of mobile payments. It certainly is: Apple has access to millions of users' payment information, not to mention their fingers at the ready to punch in purchases. Throw in Touch ID, an "incredibly simple and easy and elegant" way to make purchases that Cook said consumers have gravitated to, and it looks like Apple has the fruit to turn an intriguing idea into some dollar-making juice. But what else is next?Mobile payments weren't the only future tech Apple hinted at. "Hinted at" may be too generous - let's just say Apple is working on something we've yet to see from the company, though what that something is remains as close to the vest as ever. CFO Peter Oppenheimer said in prepared remarks that Apple is investing heavily in R&D for future products and services, though he didn't elaborate on what those could be. Corporate Controller Luca Maestri also teased that the company is investing "in areas that are not visible," adding the company is "very excited about them." When pressed on what Maestri meant, Cook expanded his comments, explaining that Apple is "working on things that are not shipping today. Things you can't see today." We'll leave it that, then. - It's got to be the iWatch, right?
       | | iPhone and iPad are breaking records, but iPod is taking a plunge Jan 27th 2014, 21:50, by Michelle Fitzsimmons 
If you're getting a little ill over Apple's continued sales success quarter after quarter, we suggest you turn away from the rest of this story now. However, you can jump to the end for a little schadenfreude. The company reported Q1 2014 results today (covering October 2013 - December 2013), and among its high notes was word Cupertino set an all-time quarterly iPhone sales record of 51 million units sold. That's up from 47.8 million in the year-ago quarter. During the company's earnings call, Apple CFO Peter Oppenheimer didn't break down iPhone sales by model. He did note the iPhone 5S faced supply constraints, yet the line as a whole still managed to top 50 million for the first time ever. There's no word on how the iPhone 5C (which may be the last of its plastic kind) fared. From the company's earnings call, the sentiment seems consumers weren't impressed with the 5C's features at its price point. Other tech and a (very) low pointiPads also hit the all-time quarter record mark, striking upon 26 million compared to 22.9 million a year ago. Apple began selling the iPad Air and iPad mini with Retina display, two items that appeared to have pushed iPad sales to new heights. Turning to bigger screens, Oppenheimer called the last three months "one of the best Mac quarters ever." Apple moved 4.8 million Macs compared to 4.1 million during the same quarter last year. Not bad for a 30-year-old piece of tech. Software netted a nice cash flow for the company, with the update of devices to iOS 7 running at full steam. According to Oppenheimer, 80% of iOS devices are now running the latest software. Amidst the glowing numbers, one rain cloud stuck out in the shape of an iPod. Apple only managed to sell six million music players, down from 12.6 million in the year-ago quarter. What was once a hot-ticket item now appears hobbled, as Oppenheimer said Apple expects iPod sales to continue to decline during the March quarter.        | | Red Nexus 5 exposed in trove of cloak-and-dagger Twitter pics Jan 27th 2014, 19:34, by Michelle Fitzsimmons 
We pick up where our fellow gadget gumshoe left off. Another clue has stumbled into the case of the red Nexus 5. Make that a whole mess of clues, a rarity in this crazy mixed-up world of smartphone sleuthing. By way of @artyomstar, our peepers spy a legitimate-looking Nexus 5 box, identical to the one you'd find encasing the black or white version save for the red hue of the kit on the cover. Red or deadOur tipster went one further - upon opening the box, a scarlet Nexus 5 stared us straight in the face. At first glance the stamped "Nexus" is as hard to read as a fog-shrouded street sign, but a second look reveals the lettering right where it should be. Are we any closer to finding this handset put up in the Play Store? That, unfortunately, is a mystery for another day.        | | iPhone 6 could launch in June as A8 chip production ramps up Jan 27th 2014, 19:25, by Kevin Lee 
After a string of rumors linking the iPhone 6 to a larger screen size, it seems production plans for the handset's internals are gearing up as well. DigiTimes reports Apple has tasked a trio of semiconductor product packaging companies to supply the next-generation "A8" mobile processor. Amkor Technology, STATS ChipPAC and Advanced Semiconductor Engineering will apparently all handle packaging of the processor likely to power Apple's next iPhone and other iDevices. In addition, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) is also believed to have secured wafer bumping and foundry orders for the A7 follow-up. This is likely given that Apple and Samsung signed TSMC on as a third processor-making partner last December. By the second quarter of 2014, TSMC is expected to ramp up production on A8 chips using a 20nm process technology. The upcoming production date suggests the iPhone 6 is right on schedule for this year, and we may even see it land as early as June. Mini mobile processorsSources didn't give many specifics on the new processor except that it will utilize the same package-on-package solution design as the A7 to combine processors and mobile DRAM in a single design. The A8 will just be a few nanometers smaller. This design allowed the 64-bit A7 chip to blow almost every mobile processor out of the water, at least in benchmark tests. As the A7's successor, the A8 chip is expected to deliver even more power for Apple's future line of iPhones as well as the next iPad and future iPad mini. So far, signs point to next iPhone rocking a much larger screen than what we've seen before, and it may come accompanied by a 5-inch-plus iBrother. A new, larger iPad (tentatively called the iPad Pro) is also rumored for later this year. Just as the iPhone 5S was leaked into existence, we expect to hear more about Apple's next handset in the coming months. Stay tuned for more.        | | HTC to get with the program and move M8 buttons on screen? Jan 27th 2014, 18:25, by Chris Smith 
HTC's long-anticipated sequel to the five-star rated HTC One could be the company's first handset to move the traditional navigation buttons on to the screen, according to newly leaked information. The HTC M8 (or One Two or One+ as it's also rumoured to be named) will move the menu, back and multitasking buttons onto the display, a la stock Android, according to @evleaks. Any decision to remove the capacitive buttons from the frame would perhaps give HTC the opportunity to lessen the size of the bezel and bump up the display, as has been seen in recent unofficial renders. However, any shift could result in complaints from fans who feel the presence of an on-screen navigation bar reduces the usable screen real estate. Announcement imminent?The Twitter-based device-leaker's latest revelation comes amid speculation that HTC will choose to debut the M8 at the forthcoming Mobile World Congress expo next month February. Recent rumours have suggested that the handset will have a 5-inch, 1080p display along with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor clocked at 2.26GHz with a potential for 3GB RAM. In terms of the operating system, Android 4.4 KitKat is thought to be on board as well as a new version of the HTC Sense (6.0, by our count) user interface. Is the HTC One M8, or One Two, or One+ or whatever they want to call it, the phone you're most looking forward to in 2014? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.        | | In Depth: Getting marathon fit with your smartphone Jan 27th 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. Running a marathon is a bucket list favourite but training your body to be able to conquer the 26.2 miles is a really daunting prospect. From what kit to buy, to how many miles to run each week, marathon training takes time, dedication and, really importantly, knowledge. You could shell out for a personal trainer or even join a running club but there's also a new way to turn yourself into an endurance runner – using your smartphone. While it won't run the miles for you, use your mobile right and it can take the pain out of knowing how to get marathon-ready. Whether you're brand new to running or you've got the odd half marathon under your belt, this four-part marathon training guide gives you everything you need to get yourself to the finishing line. We'll show you the best smartphones for the job, which run-tracking apps to download and which phone-based training plans to follow. We'll also share the best motivational ebooks to read, where to go for tips on technique and how you can use your handset to run further and faster. From start to finishFor those who are just starting out, the first part of the marathon fitness plan will help you build up to running for 30 minutes non-stop. Once you've achieved that, part two takes you through the essentials you'll need to complete the journey from couch to 5k. Next we'll show how you can use your phone to keep your running fresh and exciting, as well as the things you can use to build on your base level of fitness, in preparation for your first 10k. The final part is all about getting ready for the big test – achieving that dream of running your first full marathon. We'll show you how to get a training plan that matches your goals, how to eat like a long distance athlete and best of all, how to share your new-found physical excellence with all your friends, family and colleagues. So you want to be a marathon runner? Step this way…   | | AT&T rules out Vodafone bid in immediate future Jan 27th 2014, 15:39, by Stu Robarts 
US telecoms provider AT&T has confirmed that it will not make an offer for Vodafone at the request of the UK Takeover Panel. The telco had been linked with a bid for the company after its chief executive said in October that mobile broadband in Europe represented a "huge opportunity" for investment. In a statement filed today with the UK's Panel on Takeovers and Mergers, AT&T acknowledged that there had been recent speculation regarding a potential deal and that and there had been recent movement in the share price of Vodafone, whose share price slid 7% on the news. Today's statement means that AT&T cannot make an offer to buy Vodafone for at least six months, unless it is invited to do so by the company or another firm announces an intention to table a bid. Perfect partnerAT&T is the second-largest mobile operator in the US and some speculation had suggested that a deal in the region of £70 billion and upwards was in the offing. There is some suggestion, however, that the a deal may yet be a possibility at a later date. Reuters reports that one banker hoping to advise on any future bid believes that Vodafone is the perfect partner for AT&T due to its European-wide presence. It was suggested that AT&T was simply not ready to make an offer, due in part to the recent NSA spying claims that have complicated the matter. Via: Reuters        | | In Depth: Nokia X / Normandy release date, news and rumors Jan 27th 2014, 15:37, by John McCann 
It started out as a pie-in-the-sky rumor: Nokia is making an Android device? Surely not, given the Finnish firm has only recently been acquired by software giant (and the Windows Phone peddling) Microsoft. So why would Nokia jump into bed with the enemy? While many eyebrows were raised, and eyes rolled, when news of the Nokia Normandy first took to the web, the sheer deluge of leaks, photo slips and screen grabs have added more and more credibility to the handset's existence. Nokia Normandy could just be an internal project for some of Nokia's employees to see what's possible on Android, but the volley of rumors point towards an actual Nokia Android release. Cut to the chase
What is it? Nokia's first smartphone to run Google's Android OS
When is it out? All eyes are on MWC 2014
What will it cost? Not a lot, it appears to be aimed at emerging markets
The Nokia Normandy moniker is generally considered a codename for the handset, but there are differing opinions to the name it will officially launch under. In the red corner you have seasoned mobile leaker @evleaks claiming "Project Normandy = Nokia X", while in the blue there's a new Twitter player @NextLeaks who reckons "Nokia Asha 4xx = Nokia Normandy". Place your bets now. Here's what we reckon the Nokia Normandy should look like: YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtERIbk7N-ENokia Normandy release date and priceMost Nokia Normandy rumors are currently highlighting MWC 2014 in Barcelona as the platform for the Nokia Android smartphone to make its international appearance. Nokia already has a press conference confirmed for February 24, and all eyes will be on the Finnish firm to see if the Android handset does indeed exist. It's not clear when, or even if, you'll be able to get your hands on the Nokia Normandy, as its low-end credentials means it may only make its way into emerging markets - skipping the likes of the UK, US and Australia. With low-end specs comes an equally low-end price, so you can expect the Normandy to be a pretty affordable - if hard to come by - Android device. Nokia Normandy operating systemThe signal biggest feature on the Nokia Normandy will be its operating system. Nokia is heavily invested in the Windows Phone platform for its Lumia range, while its Asha devices run its own, in-house Asha OS. The Normandy isn't expected to run either of these, instead opting for Google's Android operating system - albeit a hugely modified version. We've seen numerous screen grabs appear online (and reproduced further down the page), claiming to show the Android setup on the Nokia Normandy, with many drawing more comparisons with Windows Phone or the defunct MeeGo platform rather than its supposed Android base. The first screens to appear don't give a great deal away, but the more detailed lockscreen notifications, an Android style dialer app and a Google-esque notifications bar hint that the Normandy is packing a different, Google-flavored, OS. 
Then came a snap claiming to show the app list on Nokia Normandy - and this has an air of MeeGo about it as well as a similar notification bar to the previous screens. 
The most detailed screenshots to date however come via @evleaks, and show what appears to be a long, vertical, scrollable homescreen made up of various live-tile esque boxes and application icons. Some of the apps which appear in these screens (e.g. BBM and Plants vs. Zombies 2) are not currently available on the Windows Phone store, but do exist on Google Play, once again pointing towards an Android influence for the Normandy. 
Nokia Normandy screenDon't go expecting an expansive, 5-inch full HD display here; the Nokia Normandy is keeping things low key. The Nokia Android phone is tipped to sport a middle of the road 4-inch display with a mediocre 480 x 854 resolution. This tallies with the leaked image in the previous section, supposedly showing the dinky looking Nokia Normandy being held in a hand. Nokia Normandy designAs well as the leaked screenshots we've also seen pictures revealing the design of the Nokia Normandy, and it's on course to be more of the same from the Finnish firm. A unibody design in a range of bright colors appears to be the status quo at Nokia at the moment and the Normandy seems to be almost identical to the firm's latest range of Asha smartphones. 
The Normandy has also been teased by Twitter leaker @Vizileaks, who posted the following snap online with the "and the waiting game begins..." - oh, you tease. There's no way to be sure any of these snaps are legit as they are all missing vital Google/Android branding/screens. 
One particular leak from @evleaks shows six color options (green, white, yellow, blue, red and black) as well as a single key below the screen - the same as the Nokia Asha 503. 
Nokia Normandy specsIn terms of other specs the Android toting Nokia Normandy is tipped to sport a 1GHz dual-core Snapdragon processor, Adreno 302 GPU and 512MB of RAM - hardly worth writing home about, but once again it reinforces the "budget" angle. Round the back the Normandy will apparently feature a 5MP snapper capable of 720p HD video capture, but there doesn't appear to be any front facing option. Word of 4GB of internal storage is also rather disappointing (especially as the operating system will take up chunk of it), but the Nokia Normandy will also rock a microSD card slot according to a spec list leak.        | | HTC may take another swipe at Moto G with octa-core smartphone Jan 27th 2014, 15:12, by Thomas Thorn 
HTC might be on the verge of launching the refresh to its five star HTC One handset, but that doesn't mean it has forgotten its other customers (you know, those who can't afford £500) as it looks to take on the budget market with a new Desire model. Suggestions that HTC is planning on launching a new budget model first surfaced last week, and today more details have emerged giving us a rather colourful taste of what is on offer. Chinese site ePrice has been passed pictures apparently showing a new HTC handset in a variety of colours (red, orange, blue and yellow), leaving it to take to take on the incredible budget Moto G handset. Cheap and cheerful?The new handset is expected to include a 5-inch 720p HD screen with an 8MP camera, leaving the UltraPixel technologies to remain on the high end HTC One range. The upcoming Desire will apparently run Sense 5.5 over the top of Android 4.3 Jelly Bean, leaving it lagging behind the KitKat toting Moto G. The leak also suggests that a MediaTek octa-core processor and 1.5GB RAM will also come inside the upcoming budget handset, retailing at 2000 Yuan (around £200, $330, AU$380). While we can't vouch for the authenticity of the shots - so take the report with a decent pinch of salt - we may be looking at an MWC 2014 launch for this handset.   | | BlackBerry eyes up MWC 2014 for new handsets launch Jan 27th 2014, 12:44, by John McCann 
BlackBerry's woes are well documented, but the Canadian firm isn't giving up without a fight as news surfaces that it's planning to launch some new handsets very soon. The news comes from Foxconn's CEO Terry Gou, whose company recently signed a deal with BlackBerry to design and produce a series of low-end handsets for emerging markets over the next five years. BlackBerry is said to be eyeing up MWC 2014 in Barcelona as the platform to showcase its new wares, with Gou being quoted by Focus Taiwan saying: "We are working with them to design a new device, and we will showcase multiple devices at the trade show in Barcelona in February." BlackBerry set to emergeOne of the rumoured entry-level handsets is apparently codenamed "Jakata", and will be targeted at countries such as Indonesia and Mexico. BlackBerry is shifting its focus to a more business-orientated view, but insists it isn't giving up on the consumer side of things - and perhaps its new focus here is low-cost, low end devices. It's not clear whether BlackBerry will aim to bring any of the rumoured handsets to the UK, or indeed how many phones it will actually reveal during MWC at the end of February.   | | KitKat and Sense 6.0 release dates for HTC One leaked Jan 27th 2014, 12:16, by John McCann 
If you're getting bored with your HTC One then good news, there are a couple of software updates on the horizon for the flagship smartphone. HTC confirmed on its Twitter feed that US-based HTC One owners can expect the Android 4.4 KitKat update to land within the next week, which means it can't be too far off the rest of the world. The tweet in question reads: "We're getting close. Final KitKat software has entered carrier labs for final testing, and we expect certification next week." This is hardly a surprise, as HTC had revealed it planned to get the KitKat update out to One handsets in February - so it looks like the manufacturer is bang on schedule. We need more Sense!With the HTC M8 - the successor to the One - hotly tipped for an arrival in the next couple of months sporting both Android 4.4 KitKat and the new Sense 6.0 UI, questions are being raised over whether its predecessor will also get the new version of Sense. Apparently Sense 6.0 is due to land on the HTC One during summer or autumn of 2014 - that's if you believe the leaked software update plans posted by @LlabTooFeR - while older handsets such as the One X, One X+ and One S will miss out on all the goodies. We have pressed HTC for more information on the various software updates planned for the one, and we'll update this article once we hear back.   | | Nokia going low-end Android with the Normandy, according to new specs Jan 27th 2014, 12:16, by Thomas Thorn 
Another handset that keeps popping its Nordic head above water is the Nokia Normandy (or Nokia X), the Finnish brand's long awaited Android toting handset. Ahead of a possible February 25 launch date (smack bang in the middle of MWC 2014), Vietnam's largest online retailer thegioididong.com may just have given away a rather comprehensive looking specs list. Running on a 4-inch 480 x 854 FWVGA screen comes a skinned version of Android 4.4 KitKat, the very same skin that we have seen from twitter tipster evleaks. A 5MP camera capable of recording HD 720p video is also included although there is no flash, and no forward facing camera for those all important selfies. This seems a little odd given that the image clearly shows a Skype tile. A budget blessing or midrange misstepTo keep all this running is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 200 SoC with a dual-core 1GHz CPU, Adreno 302 GPU and 512MB RAM. Those that like to download a lot of apps may be left a little disappointed as there's only 4GB of storage, although this can be expanded up to 32GB through microSD. The good news for app fans is the Normandy looks to have Google Play Store, as the same listing shows that the Nokia Normandy will support "Google Play, Google Search, Google Now, Maps, Gmail, YouTube, Calendar". If you've got the ability to have those on there, then Google has to have certified the phone is imbued with the correct hardware on board, so apps-a-plenty seems on the cards. 
Now, before you get all over-excited, remember retailers have a habit of combing the net and putting up rumoured specs and leaked photos as a holding page, rather than always accidentally leaking a product page too soon - here's hoping it's the latter in this case though.   | | In Depth: Mobile coprocessors: the secret to smarter smartphones Jan 27th 2014, 11:50, by Dean Evans 
The launch of Apple's iPhone 5S with its M7 'motion coprocessor' has highlighted a change in the way that future mobile devices could be designed. While today's quad- and octa-core chips are built as do-everything super-processors, they aren't the most power-efficient way to action every task. So the future of mobile technology is taking its inspiration from computing's past. 
What is a coprocessor?Back in 1980, Intel developed the 8087 chip, a floating-point math coprocessor designed to boost the performance of its 8086 CPU when running calculation-heavy CAD or graphical applications. The function of a coprocessor is to assist the primary processor with specific tasks, increasing performance or freeing up processing power that can be used for something else. Dedicated graphics chips (GPUs) began life as coprocessors, taking the heavy demands of visual processing away from the CPU. Ditto custom sound cards like the Soundblaster Audigy, which added superior multi-channel audio playback and real-time DSP effects. Ageia's original PhysX chip, engineered solely to process physics calculations, is another example, since absorbed into Nvidia GPUs. And anybody remember the Trusted Platform Module (TPM)? Chances are that your desktop or laptop PC/Mac has a dedicated cryptoprocessor chip built in. Apple's M7 motion coprocessorBy diverting resource-intensive tasks away from the main processor, task-specific, low-power coprocessors have the potential to boost system performance. But how might this approach work in a mobile phone? You only have to look at the M7 chip for inspiration. It's capable of processing information gathered by the digital compass, accelerometer and gyroscope in the iPhone 5S, storing it and making it accessible to applications via Apple's CoreMotion API. And it can do all this without waking the main A7 CPU. 
This independent operation is key. Most of today's smartphones feature a typical SoC design - a dual- or quad-core CPU paired with a dual- or quad-core GPU. The advantage? Incredible raw processing power - console-quality graphics, HD video playback and real-time speech processing. The disadvantage? The CPU is a jack-of-all-trades and needs to be powered up whether you're playing a processor-intensive game or simply checking a text message. Battery life can suffer as a result. Without the M7 coprocessor, the A7 chip in the iPhone 5S would have to monitor the motion sensors and crunch the data from them. It's not a power-efficient approach, especially if you have an always-on application running, such as a fitness app. On the one hand, Apple's low-power, low-clock speed M7 chip essentially adds the guts of a FitBit or a JawBone UP into the iPhone. On the other, the idea of offloading small tasks to speciality silicon heralds an important change in smartphone design that could pave the way to smarter smartphones. Motorola's X8 mobile computing systemThe iPhone 5S isn't the only smartphone with a co-processor onboard. The newest Motorola DROID handsets and the Moto X feature the company's clever X8 mobile computing system. The X8 features eight processing cores, but it's not classed as an octa-core processor in the same mould as Samsung's punchy Exynos 5 Octa. The X8 system is based on Qualcomm's Snapdragon S4 Pro hardware, incorporating a 1.7GHz dual-core Krait CPU, backed up by a quad-core Adreno 320 GPU. That's six of the eight cores accounted for. 
Motorola has also added two specialised, low-power processors - a Natural Language Processor (NLP) and a Contextual Computing Processor (CCP). The NLP incorporates audio sensors, noise cancellation and speech recognition technology to constantly listen for voice commands. It's always-on, enabling owners to wake the phone and interact with it without touching the screen or even picking it up. The CCP works in a similar way to the M7, analysing data from the accelerometer, light sensor and gyroscope. Using this data, it knows when the Moto X is lying face down on a surface or is in your pocket, only bringing the screen to life when you pick it up. The minimalist onscreen notifications in the Moto X's Active Display mode are also be handled by the contextual core, reducing the load on the main processor and conserving battery life. That's not the end of the CCP's talents either. When the gyroscope detects a certain twist of your wrist (along with accelerometer and light sensor data), it activates the Quick Capture camera mode. There's also a Driving Mode that detects when you might be driving and connects automatically to Bluetooth, so you can safely answer calls and have your text messages read aloud to you, hands-free. Enabling always-on applicationsBy offloading small tasks like speech processing and motion sensing to low-powered coprocessors, the Moto X and the iPhone 5S don't take an extra hit on battery life as the main dual-core CPUs aren't being used. The coprocessors also free up the primary processors for other tasks, improving overall system performance. Most importantly, these chips enable 'always-on' functionality - there's no need to unlock the Moto X to access the camera; no need to start the iOS Runkeeper app to track an individual workout. Add in extra sensor information and you could wake future iPhone models with a wave of your hand or a signature shake. The M7 already claims to reduce network pinging when sensor information suggests that your phone hasn't moved and will seamlessly switch from giving driving directions to offering walking directions based on your speed of movement. Features like these point towards a future where our phones are more aware of their surroundings, automatically adjusting settings to suit our location, movement and calendar schedule. So we argue that adding more number-crunching power to the CPU isn't what future smartphones need. We've arguably reached a point where handsets such as the iPhone 5S, Sony Xperia Z1 and the Samsung Galaxy S4 are zippy enough. How you differentiate a new phone when every handset packs a multi-core processor and an HD screen? More speed doesn't make a smartphone any smarter. Perhaps what matters next isn't how many cores a future smartphone has. It's how many coprocessors are riding alongside them.   | | Nokia Lumia 1520 mini may launch as Lumia 930 with fewer headlining specs Jan 27th 2014, 11:08, by Thomas Thorn 
We've heard a few things about the upcoming Nokia Lumia 1520 mini, including that it might be called the Nokia Lumia 1520V, or even the Lumia 930. We're now able to put a potential face to those names, as well as reveal a little more about what the Lumia 1520V may pack inside its slender frame. An image spotted on microblogging site Weibo MiLeaks claims to show the upcoming Nokia Lumia 1520V (the V stands for Viisi, the Finnish word for five). Interestingly, the picture shows the full three columns of live tiles that also adorn the Lumia 1520 phablet. That 4.3-inch full HD screen which has been rumoured previously might actually be a 4.45-inch HD screen with a more realistic sounding 768 x 1280 screen, according to WMPoweruser who spotted the new specs on WPBar. 
New specs sound sensibleOther leaked specs include a 2370mAh battery, giving it slightly more juice than the 2300mAh battery that is found in the upcoming Sony Xperia Z1 Compact - which seems more palatable than the 3000mAh option we've seen elsewhere. According to twitter tipster @NextLeaks the Lumia 1520V will actually launch as the Nokia Lumia 930, presumably as an update to the Nokia Lumia 925. Given that @NextLeaks has only posted six tweets to date, we are currently advising a far less healthy dose of salt, even if the Lumia 930 name seems a little more realistic. Either way, we shouldn't be left waiting to long to find out who is right with the Lumia 1520 mini expected to launch alongside Windows Phone 8.1 in April.   | |
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