| Vine launches web profiles, planting seeds for six second satisfaction Jan 3rd 2014, 22:21, by Chris Smith 
Twitter-owned video sharing service Vine has rolled out its web profiles, allowing users to browser their feeds and visit the profiles of other users. After announcing the plans, and inviting users to sign up for vanity URLs last month, the company has wasted little time in launching the profiles. Users can now log in at the Vine.co page, where the experience is much the same as it is within the mobile apps for Android, iOS and Windows Phone. However, there is one major difference, a new TV mode, which allows users to browse through Vines in a neat full screen mode. Within TV Mode the videos will play in sequence, meaning no loops and no endless scrolling and stopping. First stepVine's online launch comes after Instagram made the leap with photos and then videos in 2012. Like Instagram, Vine users will be unable to upload videos directly to the website, with that feature remaining mobile only. The company said the roll out of web profiles is just the "first step" so perhaps uploads shouldn't be completely ruled out? "This release is just a first step toward bringing you a richer, more enjoyable web experience. We look forward to introducing more improvements in 2014," Vine wrote on its company blog.        |  | Galaxy S5 set for MWC launch? Samsung designer drops biggest hint yet Jan 3rd 2014, 21:14, by Chris Smith 
Samsung's last major appearance at Mobile World Congress was in 2011, when it launched the Galaxy S2. Since then, the company has gone it alone with glamorous events and debatable success. After the largely-mocked broadway-style Galaxy S4 introduction in New York last May, Samsung may be about to rejoin the chasing pack by revealing the Galaxy S5 at February's expo in Barcelona. The rumour has been around for a while now, but it just a little more credence thanks to a hint from Samsung design director Dong-hoon Chang. In an interview with reporters in Samsung's Korean homeland, Chang intimated that the handset will arrive with a new build material, while the possibility of a flexible display was "under review." Stealing the showSpeculation has suggested Samsung will move forward the launch of the Galaxy S5 to counteract disappointing sales of the Galaxy S4 smartphone. Should Samsung head back to Barcelona in February, the Galaxy S5 would undoubtedly steal the show. MWC has lost some of its lustre in recent years as more and more manufacturers choose their own standalone events to launch their hero phones.        | | Samsung chairman to employees: ditch hardware focus, innovate non-stop Jan 3rd 2014, 19:25, by Matt Swider 
Samsung has been successful with record-breaking smartphones sales and a reported 95% of Android profits, but its chairman still wants to shake up its hardware concentration. To do this, it has to "get rid of business models and strategies from five, ten years ago and hardware-focused ways," said chairman Lee Kun-hee according to the Wall Street Journal. His annual speech at the start of the new year is the latest indication that Samsung wants to improve its software and reduce its dependency on Android. Right now, the company has its TouchWiz interface and a number of homegrown apps available on Google-powered devices like the Samsung Galaxy S4 and Galaxy Note 3. Teasin' TizenAs Android users get accustomed to Samsung's pre-installed software and sign up for its new services, the company's developers continue to work on the Tizen operating system. Tizen is Samsung's Linux-based operating system that's being prepped for its smartphone debut later this year. It's already powering one Samsung camera in South Korea. With HTC and LG trying to muscle in on Samsung's Android territory and newcomers like Huawei threatening to do the same, Lee is asking his employees for constant innovation. "Research & development center(s) should work around the clock, non-stop," said the chairman. That could bring us a Tizen-equipped smartphone sooner than ever, or at least the Samsung Galaxy S5 and Galaxy Note 4 launches a little more quickly.        | | AT&T dangles up to $450 in incentives for T-Mobile customers to switch Jan 3rd 2014, 19:16, by Michael Rougeau 
AT&T must really be getting sick of T-Mobile's disruptive "uncarrier" shenanigans. It's trying to lure T-Mobile customers away with a pair of incentives worth up to $450 if certain conditions are met. Beginning January 3, T-Mobile customers who switch to AT&T can earn a $200 credit per line if they also sign up for AT&T Next, buy a full-price device, or activate a device they already own. There are some qualifiers in the fine print: you need to sign up for an AT&T Mobile Share Value plan, and the credit is not available if you sign up for a two-year contract. A very merry uncarrier to youIn addition, T-Mobile customers who switch to AT&T and trade in their existing phones will receive a promotion card for up to $250 that can be used on AT&T products and services. Not all phones will earn that much, but AT&T's announcement says the "latest and most popular" ones will. Those interested can learn more at www.att.com/switchfromtmo. T-Mobile has spent the last year or so initiating risky changes, like unlimited international data and texts, to differentiate itself from the competition - and it seems to be working. In December T-Mobile teased that it will soon make another "uncarrier" announcement, so expect something big and beautiful at CES next week.        | | Newly redesigned TomTom Go navigation tech launches in April Jan 3rd 2014, 16:00, by Lily Prasuethsut 
TomTom is gearing up for another ride with refreshed units of the TomTom Go line. Though previously announced, TomTom has finally released more info about the Go products. With the goal of creating a "more intuitive" experience, the interface has been stripped down to provide a simpler interface free of pesky nested menus. Vice President of Marketing Tom Murray told TechRadar that the new TomTom Go is more "reliable and covers a wider road network." We can expect the devices to retail in April 2014 with a specific launch date yet to be announced, but the new range will be on display during CES 2014. 
See Tom goTomTom Go boasts new features including an Interactive Map, TomTom Traffic and 3D Maps - though feature availability depends on which version you pick up. Via a free TomTom MyDrive mobile app, the Traffic feature allows you to connect your smartphone up to the device to receive warnings on road closures, traffic jams and road work. TomTom claims its information is more reliable and precise than its competitors thanks to the usage of more than a 100 million anonymous probes through a road network that functions better than the usual traffic management centers. All the portable sat nav devices will come in 4.3-inches, 5-inches and 6-inches sizes and will range from $119, $129 and $159 respectively but will only pack Lifetime Maps and a trial of TomTom Traffic. The next pricing tier up offers the full version to Traffic and 3D Maps. The top pricing tier includes the aforementioned full package of features along with pinch and zoom capability plus Speak and GO where TomTom notes "Drivers can control the device with the sound of their voice." Only a 5-inch and 6-inch option will be available and retail for $249 and $299 respectively.        | | Looks like the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Lite will downgrade to a 720p display Jan 3rd 2014, 15:57, by Hugh Langley 
The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Lite, believed to be arriving in a matter of weeks, looks set to downgrade from a full HD to a 720p display. "Hey, it's called the Lite for a reason, what did you expect?" we hear you cry. Well no, we're not exactly surprised by the information, which was spotted in a user agent profile for what is allegedly the non-LTE version of the phone. The phone will still remain at the 5.7-inch size but the same profile says it won't be upgraded to Android 4.4 KitKat – still 4.3 for now. That may change when the phone actually launches, however. Notable differenceThe screen will also be switched from AMOLED to LCD, according to other reports, and will be bringing its 13MP camera down to an 8MP affair. Let's hope it also gets a really tempting price tag to make the reductions worth it. If it does, Apple should probably hurry up and get a bigger iPhone out the door. CES 2014 is just around the corner, but all rumors so far suggest the Note 3 Lite is holding off an appearance until MWC.        | |
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